The Purpose of Reconnecting

When I read mythologies and as I experience life, I am confounded with a simple question: does life emulate mythology or mythology emulate life? And the recent interactions with my Alma Mater after a gap of 20 years made me further reminiscent and reflect on this question and many others. But before I get into the questions and answers, let’s start with a story.

Krishna, his brother Balaram and rest of their friends were busy creating a raucous in Vrindavan. To end the raucous, Nand and Vasudev decided to send their kids away to Sandipani ashram for a formal education. As the news of the brothers going to the ashram spread like wild fire, other parents in Vrindavan too decide to send their kids to ashrams in the vicinity.

Amongst Krishna’s friends, Sudhama, a poor boy from a Brahmin family, was adamant to go along with brothers to Sandipini ashram. Nand and Vasudev took Sudhama along with their sons and left the three kids with Rishi Sandipani at the ashram. Sudhama being a Brahmin avoided learning politics and military science, while Krishna and Balaram being Kshatriyas learnt how to maintain peace, preserve army, motivate army prior to fight, pacify, etc. before learning the intricacies of military science.

During the course of learning, the three often ventured into the forest to collect firewood for the kitchen. On one of these trips, the kids lost their way and the timid Sudhama in fright turned pale and Krishna held his arms and assured his safety. In return to Krishna’s love and affection, Sudhama always carried a pack of aval (flattened rice) and jaggery (unprocessed sugar) at the corner of his dhoti to satiate the hunger of his dear friend Krishna. Over the next several years, the three boys bonded and imbibed necessary skills and knowledge to lead their lives before going their own ways.

Krishna and Balaram returned back to their kingdoms, got married became kings, protected and cared for their people. Balaram moved on to teach both Pandavas and Kauravas the art of fighting with a mace and remained neutral in the war between them, while Krishna turned himself from a King to a Kingmaker assisting Pandavas in their fight against Kauravas.  While the brothers were busy, Sudhama married a simple Brahmin girl and began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures, praying, and forsaking worldly pleasures and material pleasures.

Many years passed by before Krishna and Sudhama had their reunion. Even today their meeting is still regarded as test of longstanding friendship, mutual love and admiration they shared for each other. At the behest of his wife, Sudhama decided to visit Krishna at his Kingdom. Upon seeing Sudhama, Krishna leaves his throne and runs down the stairs to embrace him. As a sign of respect, he washes the feet of his dear friend, and anoints him with sandalwood past and makes him sit beside him on the throne.

Following a royal meal, the two friends decided to exchange the stories of their life starting with their departure from the ashram. Quickly sensing the difficult life at Sudhama’s end (Krishna's life wasn't a bed of roses either.); Krishna refrained from bragging about his life. Not only was Sudhama reluctant to ask his friend for help, but also ashamed to share the small gift of aval and jaggery that he carried at the end of his dhoti. Krishna noticing the small parcel innocently asks him if he has brought him a gift. He helps himself with three servings of the aval and jaggery as they shared their stories. Finally, Sudhama filled with happiness from seeing Krishna and reminiscing good old days leaves for home without asking Krishna for any help. Memories are precious!

Upon reaching his village Sudhama couldn’t identify his house, wife and children. A friend’s goodwill transformed his life and ended the ill-fortune. There is nothing that unexpressed love and friendship can’t give or heal.

Krishna and Sudhama’s friendship did not end at ashram. In fact, those years of separation transformed them in putting their education to use, defining their purpose of life, starting a family and helping them mature as individuals. Let's draw inspiration from mythology to engage and discuss in way we imagine the selfless friendship between Krishna and Sudhama. Also, let's take this opportunity to bury our hatchets, opinions and worries, selflessly express and reminiscent our love for each other, and continue to help each other in the journey of life without expectations.