麻豆社

Good morning,

Last week marked the biggest festival of the Hindu calendar - Lord Krishna's birthday known as Janamastami. Over 50,000 pilgrims came for worship, and that was just at The Bhaktivedanta manor in Watford. Krishna is the most popular personality of God in the Vedic tradition, and countless other Hindus around the world also celebrated the festival. He is valued for being generous and loving whilst respecting individual choices in all his activities. He is especially popular with female devotees both historically and among Hindu women today, who find safety in His willingness to protect others. One popular example is the attempted disrobing of his devotee and sister in law, Draupad墨. She was surrounded by many men who should have and could have protected her. But when she saw no one would rescue her and that holding onto her own robes tightly was futile, she let go and raising her arms she called out loudly to Krishna. Although, Krishna wasn鈥檛 physically present, he saved her by transforming her sari into an immeasurable piece of cloth. Her tormentor gave up after becoming too exhausted trying to remove the endless fabric and Draupad墨 was saved.

We underestimate the impact it has on someone when they are violated, and this has been recently highlighted in a UK study that has shown that happiness among girls and young women is at its lowest since 2009 and much of it is to do with increasing amounts of unwanted digital sexual content being sent to them or being requested of them. The perpetrators are putting their desires ahead of the welfare and choice of their victims and think that access is the same as permission. Impatient to make a connection that satisfies their needs, online predators don't consider what they鈥檙e putting these girls through.

In Krishna's life, we hear that in his relationships with others, He has an attitude of loving service. He is seeking to do what is best for the other, giving more than he receives. He comes to Draupadi鈥檚 rescue in an unexpected way, when she asks Him to. He is said to be willing to wait eternally for the time when we're ready to turn to Him. He embodies the patience that comes with love.

Digital media has made all of us more accessible but in a world where people are experiencing more isolation and loneliness. The desire to connect when coupled with an attitude of service to the other, easily overcomes the impatience that often drives intrusive behaviour. Celebrating Krishna and His patient loving nature brings many Hindus solace in times of vulnerability, it also reminds us that permission and protection go hand in hand.

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