Wonderful Krishna bhajan - Avari apuli hi bansuri

 Hari Aum.

As Janmashtami approaches, I was exploring some new Krishna bhajans and came across one that I particularly love-- I'd like to share it here.

This bhajan was composed in Marathi by a saint known as Tukdoji Maharaj who lived in Maharashtra, India in the past century (I had not previously heard of him until I came across this beautiful poem written by him).

In the song, Tukdo ji describes the state of the devotees of Krishna who are spellbound by His playing of the flute. These are the famous gopis, the cowherd women of Vraja, who were deeply in love with Him throughout their lives. The gopis are busy women with many things to do; yet while performing all their duties, they keep their minds on Krishna, the Supreme Being. Thus, they remain in a state of yoga (uniting one's consciousness with God) while living an apparently normal external life.

The sacred scripture, the Bhagavatam, describes the gopis as the most excellent examples of devotees-- practitioners of the path of bhakti yoga. There never has been, is not and never will be any devotee higher than them. They are the examples that all bhakti yoga practitioners aspire to follow. Sivananda, my own Guru, and many other realised souls advise their disciples to emulate the example of these wonderful  yogis.

With this introduction, let me share the YouTube video (please see the link below) of this exquisite poem by Tukdo ji Maharaj. You will see in the comments section of the video that many have described that they found it so enchanting that they listened to it several times in a row. I must admit that it has had the same effect on me too-- I cannot stop listening to it at the moment. Everything about it is so beautiful-- the words of the poem, the devotion expressed, the superb music, the intonation and style of the young girls singing it, just everything about this song is perfect in my view. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SdDjik3v6E

Hope you enjoy the song, may it transport you into a blissful state of contemplation of Krishna like the gopis. :)

Om Shri Krishnaya Namah

Om Shri Gopijana-vallabhaya Namah

Hari Aum Tat Sat