Another devotee who worshipped the deities thought Srila Prabhupada loved the deities more than anything else. Yet, another who raised funds for the temple believed Srila Prabhupada would be most happy with his service.
Srila Prabhupada’s answer however was: “I will be most pleased if you love Krishna.”
All that we do in Krishna consciousness is to ultimately develop loving attachment to Krishna.
During Kartik, we can increase our love for the Lord by increasing our hearing and reading of Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan.
Krishna would perform sweet, childhood pastimes to attract the hearts of His devotees. Srila Vishwanath Chakravarty Thakur, one of the foremost Vaishnava Acharyas has given detailed commentary on Krishna’s pastimes. He says in ‘Sarartha darshani’ that Krishna performed these pastimes so that Brahma and Shiva who understand Krishna’s majesty can now know that simply by knowledge we can’t understand Krishna; Krishna is really appreciated only by love. His sweetness exceeds His greatness.
The tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes Krishna’s playful activities. Mother Rohini tried calling Krishna and Balaram for lunch but both the Lords were absorbed in play. She then asked Yashoda to call the boys because she knew Yashoda had more love and hence more influence on the two children.
Mother Yashoda rushed to the spot where Krishna and Balarama were playing with their friends, but she stayed at a distance and loudly and lovingly called out their names, urging them to come for lunch. Why did she shout from far and not go closer? Srila Vishwanath Chakravarty says she feared that if she goes closer, the boys may run away and if she remained a little distance away, the children might not feel threatened about an interruption of play, and she may have a greater chance to influence the kids to return home. So she placed herself strategically with the intention to get Krishna and Balarama to come home for lunch.
She first called out the various, beautiful names of Krishna. Krishna however, continued playing.
She then explained how Nanda Maharaj, His father, was hungry and waiting for both the boys to return. Krishna ignored even this appeal and busied with play.
Then Yashoda invoked Krishna’s charity spirit.
