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“A Comparative Exploration: Lord Krishna’s Routine in Bhagavata and Daily Routine recommended in Modern Positive psychology”
B S Hariprasad
Research Scholar,
Dept. of Sanskrit,
Bangalore University ,
Bangalore
Abstract
This comparative exploration examines the routines of Lord Krishna from the Bhagavata Purana and one recommended by modern positive psychologists. It highlights the importance of a well-planned routine and ideal components of it.
It explores the commonalities between Krishna’s routine and the ideal routine recommended by modern positive psychologists. The article discusses aspects such as morning routines, mindfulness, meditation, music, gratitude, service, compassion, dressing well, and self-care. While positive psychology offers evidence-based strategies, Lord Krishna’s routine encompasses a broader spiritual context. The comparative exploration reveals common themes of gratitude, mindfulness, compassion, self-improvement, and spiritual connection, supplying insights into a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Keywords: Lord Krishna, Bhagavata Purana, positive psychology, routine, mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, service, compassion, well-being.
“A Comparative Exploration: Lord Krishna’s Routine in Bhagavata and Daily Routine recommended in Modern Positive psychology”
Introduction: This article aims to explore and compare the daily routine recommended by modern positive psychologists with the routine of Lord Krishna as described in Hindu religious texts, particularly the Bhagavata Purana.
While the Hindu religious texts like Bhagavatha are intended to supply insights into the spiritual teachings but positive psychology is a branch of applied psychology which promotes well-being and personal growth. By examining their commonalities and distinctions, we can gain a deeper understanding of the principles that contribute to a fulfilling life. This document elaborates on few key aspects & tries to compare both.
Routine & Importance of Routine.
“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” – John C. Maxwell
Most of the successful people have two things in common – one knowing the importance of a well-planned & disciplined routine & second practicing it consistently.
Constructive Daily habits can change anybody is life & take them towards betterment. It improves mood of a person, health & one’s ability to succeed. But these habits demand committed & disciplined practice. Lot of care should be taken to select & fine tune the daily routine as every task we do will have certain impact. It is recommended to watch successful people & pick up the impactful daily routine from them.
Practicing consistent & positive routine is also one among them. Bhagavatha notes the daily routine of Sri Krishna which is astonishingly similar to the ideal routine what positive psychologists are recommending today.
Cecilia Lazzaro Blasbalg notes the important habits that should be part of daily routine who aspire for success in her blog. We are comparing these with Krishna’s routine as in bhagavata.
Krishna has always been an example to humankind and has exemplified the qualities & Traits which each one of us should long for, through his behaviour. He not only has taught expressively through the words but also through his practices & behaviour. He was clearly aware that world would mimic him as he notes the same in Bhagavad-Gita.
“मम वर्त्मानु वर्तन्ते, मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः”[1]
(Everyone follows me & my path in all respects.)
The aspects which we find common between Krishna’s routine & ideal positive psychologists recommended one.
1. Getting Up or starting the day Early
A Harvard Business Review study [i] found that “people whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success.” Starting your day out early allows you to devote more of it to your performance goals and have more time for a successful routine.
“ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त उत्थाय वार्युपस्पृश्य माधवः”[2][ii]
(Having Got up in Brahmi-Muhurta Madhava (Krishna) used to perform ablutions touching water. )
Bhagavata documents that Krishna used to rise during the brāhma-muhūrta[3] period and start his day. In general Brahma muhurta spans between 4:30 AM to 5:15 AM. This is the early part of the day which is ideal for waking up and start the day on a positive note.[iii]
2. Mindfulness and Meditation
Meditation is the practice of training your attention and awareness and calming your mind by drawing your focus away from thoughts that cloud your judgement.
Both positive psychology and Bhagavata emphasize the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Many people do not know the benefits of mindfulness and its role in enhancing well-being. Even just 10 to 15 minutes each morning can have a significant impact on your day. It allows you to step away from the busyness and complexity of life in order to tackle your day with much more ease.
If one delves slightly deeper into Bhagavata, one can find Lord Krishna’s routine of meditation and contemplation, depiction of his deep connection with the divine through meditative practices.
“दध्यौ प्रसन्न-करण आत्मानं तमसः परम्”[4][iv]
(With a clear mind He would then meditate , the single, self-luminous, unequaled and infallible Supreme Truth, known as Brahman.)
Krishna soon after waking up, used to meditate soon after his ablutions.
Meditation is an important early morning task which invariably suggested by all positive psychologists. It is great booster of calmness of mind which directly affects the ability of achieving excellence in all that you do in a day.
3. Starting day with calming music
It is music which puts you into a soothing or productive mood. Using it as a way to wake up, easing into your day with some tranquilizing sounds should improve your mood very easily. Having happier mood will have significant impact on the actions we take throughout the day.
Bhagavatha notes that Krishna’s day used to start with beautiful sounds from nature like humming of bees and Birds chirping which are the most scintillating music of nature.
वयांस्यरोरुवन्कृष्णं बोधयन्तीव वन्दिन: ।
गायत्स्वलिष्वनिद्राणि मन्दारवनवायुभि”[5][v]
(The bees’ buzzing, caused by the fragrant breeze from the pārijāta garden, roused the birds from sleep. And when the birds began to sing loudly, they woke Lord Kṛṣṇa like court poets reciting His glories.)
The natural sounds from nature are bound to raise your senses positively & give immediate boost to the positivity of mind.
Further Bhagavata notes that he used to listen to fine music & watch the dance at the later part of the day too.
मृदङ्गवीणामुरजवेणुतालदरस्वनै: ।
ननृतुर्जगुस्तुष्टुवुश्च सूतमागधवन्दिन:[6] [vi]
(These performers would dance and sing to the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, vīṇās, murajas, flutes, cymbals and conch shells, while professional poets, chroniclers and panegyrists would recite the Lord’s glories.)
Soft music will always be soothing and expected to boost up the energy levels and energize to work for longer hours.
4. Gratitude & Appreciation
Positive psychology encourages practicing gratitude and appreciation as a daily habit. This involves acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the positive aspects of life. It is no secret that happy people are more successful people. And according to a Harvard Medical School study on positive psychology, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness [vii]. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. There are many ways to do this, and none of them as brushed aside as wrong.
Similarly, Lord Krishna’s teachings emphasize gratitude towards the divine and recognizing the blessings bestowed upon us.
Bhagavata notes that “Gratitude & Appreciation” was being practiced by Krishna on a daily basis in the below verse.
“उपस्थायार्कमुद्यन्तं तर्पयित्वात्मन: कला:
देवानृषीन् पितॄन्वृद्धान्विप्रानभ्यर्च्य चात्मवान् “[7]
(Each day the Sri Krishna worshiped the rising sun and propitiated the demigods, sages and ancestors)
Krishna used to express his gratitude to Sun god – who is the chief source of life followed by other gods, Rishis & his ancestors in form of Tarpana[8]. Tarpana is one of the important rituals of Hinduism to express the gratitude and acknowledging the indebtedness to whom we are offering Tarpana.[viii]
5. Service and Compassion [ix]
Chris Winfield in his blog, notes “there is something extremely satisfying about helping those around you. It does not have to be huge acts of service either. Something as simple as opening the door for someone or giving a stranger (or loved one) a genuine compliment has the ability to make a significant impact on their day…and yours.” [9]
Make it a goal to do something good for someone each day…and the smile on your face will be as big as the one on theirs.
If you have time, you might also want to volunteer at a local charity or non-profit organization.
Krishna as noted in Bhagavata is very generous in this regard. He used to give away huge fortune worth to the needy & scholars.
“कामांश्च सर्ववर्णानां पौरान्त:पुरचारिणाम् ।
प्रदाप्य प्रकृती: कामै: प्रतोष्य प्रत्यनन्दत “[10]
(He (Krishna) sees to it that the members of all the social classes living in the palace and throughout the city were satisfied with gifts. After this He would greet His ministers, gratifying them by fulfilling all their desires.)[x]
He was ensuring to gift each class of people Viz commoners to his ministers as per their desires. We may not be able to match unto his level but it is worthwhile to do some social service on a daily basis.
6. Dressing up self & self-care
Dressing up well can contribute to personal eminence and make a positive impression on others.
Dressing up well can impact personal eminence through:
Enhancing Self-Confidence: When you dress well, it can boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. This can enhance your personal presence and contribute to a sense of eminence.
Creating Professional Image: In professional settings, dressing up well can help create a favorable impression among colleagues, clients, and superiors.
Paving better Perception and First Impressions: People often form initial judgments based on appearances. Dressing up well can create a positive first impression.
Personal Branding: Your appearance is a part of your personal brand. Dressing up well can align with the image you want to project and can reflect your personality, values, and professionalism.
The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna’s enchanting appearance and divine beauty. Bhagavata depicts Krishna often wearing exquisite garments and ornaments that enhance his divine appearance. Krishna is adorned with a peacock feather in his hair, a sacred mark (tilaka) on his forehead, and wears beautiful jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. These adornments symbolize his divine status and add to his captivating presence.
आत्मानं भूषयामास नरलोकविभूषणम् ।
वासोभिर्भूषणै: स्वीयैर्दिव्यस्रगनुलेपनै:[11]
(He would decorate His body, the very ornament of human society, with His own special clothes and jewelry and with divine flower garlands and ointments.)
Conclusion: It is important to note that while positive psychology provides evidence-based strategies for well-being, Lord Krishna’s routine, as described in Hindu religious texts, encompasses a broader spiritual context that incorporates devotion, divine connection, and a higher purpose. The practices and principles in positive psychology can complement and enhance one’s overall well-being and align with the values and teachings espoused in Bhagavata.
The specific routine and practices of positive psychology and Lord Krishna have lot of commonalities, as they share common themes of gratitude, mindfulness, compassion, self-improvement, and spiritual connection, which can contribute to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
7. Bibliography
- Srimadbhagavata —- Vol 7 & Vol 8 published by Bharatha Darshana Prakashana
- Srimadbhagavata from Vedabase.io (online version)
- Srimadbhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya by Srimanmadhwacharya,
- Bhagavad-Gita by Geeta Press, Gorakhpur
- Geetha Bhashya by Srimanmadwacharya
- https://www.wix.com/blog/habits-of-successful-people#viewer-1ldmu
- https://iskconchowpatty.com/
- https://hbr.org
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/
- https://www.vedicastrologer.org
- https://buffer.com/resources/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
[1] Bhagavadgeetha Chapter 4 Verse 11
[2]Srimad Bhagavatam – 10.70.4
[3] Brahmamuhurta is a 48-minute period that begins one hour and 36 minutes before sunrise, and ends 48 minutes before sunrise
[4] Srimad Bhagavatam – 10.70.4
[5] Srimad Bhagavatam 10.70.2
[6] Srimad Bhagavatam 10.70.20
[7] Srimad Bhagavatam 10.70.7
[8] Tarpana means “satisfying” or “satiating” to express gratitude. One acknowledges the debt one has to devas (gods), rishis (sages) and pitrs (ancestral manes) and tries to satisfy them using this ritual – P.V.R. Narasimha Rao
[9] The Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self: Build your Daily Routine by Optimizing Your Mind, Body and Spirit — https://buffer.com/resources/daily-success-routine/
[10] Srimad Bhagavatam 10.70.12
[11] Srimad Bhagavatam 10.70.11
[i] The Early Bird Really Does Get the Worm (hbr.org) – Study conducted by Biologist Christoph Randler , published in Harvard Business Review.
[ii] https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/70/4/
[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmamuhurtha
[iv] https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/70/4/
[v] https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/70/2/
[vi] https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/70/20/
[vii] Giving thanks can make you happier – Harvard Health – https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
[viii] https://www.vedicastrologer.org/tarpana/
[ix] https://buffer.com/resources/daily-success-routine/
[x] https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/70/12/
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