I Am Never Born

Since last 5100 and odd years, the birth of Krishna is being celebrated. But Krishna says, ‘I am never born’

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It is like this, a potter makes a pot and suddenly the space is born inside the pot. Can you say the space is born now? No! Space was already there, it was only encapsulated with mud all around. Mud, by itself, didn’t have any value. Space by itself is available everywhere and it has no value. But when the mud and the space came together, it assumed a value.

Now when you move the pot from one place to another place, does the space inside the pot change? No. From one day to another day, does the space inside the pot change? No. Yesterday the mud pot had 1-litre space, today it became 2-litre, tomorrow it becomes 3-litre, does that happen? No. Mud can wear in due course of time. You can carbon date and fnd out when this pot was made. Is there any way to measure the time (or age) of the space inside the pot? No. Te space inside the pot is beyond time and space. So, Krishna identified himself with the space and not with the pot. Tat’s why he said, “These foolish people see me as a human being. People do not see me as the immortal space which was never born. Tey only see me as a pot”.

Janmashtami assumes great significance for devotees because that day you remember all the qualities that Krishna came to manifest. In Hindi they say ‘Prakat hona’ which means unveiled or manifested. Space was there already, but it took a shape and form. Our ancient seers are very intelligent. Tey said, “Yes, Krishna was never born but he manifested (prakat bhayo)”.

Krishna was there before too, but he became visible, he manifested. Why? It was the wish of the devotees to see Krishna with their eyes, to listen to him with their ears, and touch him with their hands. To fulfill these wishes of his devotees, Krishna manifested. Krishna was there earlier too, but he manifested (prakat Hua).