Idea of God
Yesterday, I was reading an article published in Vijayakarnataka, where the author had shared his views on God. The author had commented, “I like a God who is almost human, very reachable and child-like”. He then proceeded to share a story (of Lord Shiva/Parvathy) that was close to his heart. As I read through this story, I remembered yet another story that had a similar streak in it. This story makes the God so human, so attainable and very much amidst us. 
In a small village, there lived a widow with her only son. She used to do odd jobs and run the family. Since the child had expressed his desire to be educated, she gets him admitted to a school in a far off village. In order to reach the school, the child would have to cross a dense forest area. For the next few days, the mother diligently escorted her child to his school. But then realized that if this continued, she will not be able to earn their livelihood. Hence, she asked her son to travel to school by himself.
The first day the child travels alone, he is really scared. The forest is dark with not much sunlight streaming in. Occasional cries of animals disturbs the eerie silence often. It is not a comfortable feeling to the small child. However, he does go to school and back. He comes home and cries his heart out to his mother. He tells her how scared he was and if she could accompany him the next day. The mother is at cross-roads. She then prays to the Lord Krishna and tells her son, “Son, I had forgotten to tell you that you have a cousin. His name is Gopala. He stays close by the forest area. He has asked me to tell you that you could call out to him whenever you are passing through the forest area. He would come to your help/rescue”.
The simple minded child believes her. The next day, as he is passing through the forest, he cries out to his cousin, “Gopala anna (brother Gopala), Gopala anna, I am scared… Please come to my help”. And soon, he sees another small boy, as tall as himself, but bluish in color with a peacock feather stuck to his hair with a flute in his hands walking towards him. The bluish boy introduces himself as “Gopala anna” and reassures the boy that from that day onwards, he would also be with the boy to and fro his journey between school and home.
Days pass by and the child is very happy. He comes home and regales his mother with all that happened in the forest between him and his Gopala anna. The mother assumes that her child is imagining things, but listens to him. She is happy that he is happy and has overcome his fear.
One day, the school teacher decides to have a potluck lunch at school and asks all children to bring one or the other food item from school. He tells the little boy to get a pot full of curd.
The child comes home and tells his mother about the potluck and requests for a pot of curd. However, the poor mother has no money to buy even a bowl of curd. Again, she prays to God and tells the child, “Ask your Gopala Anna. He will help you”.
Next day, when the child meets Gopala Anna, he requests his help to buy a pot of curd. And truly, Gopala anna gives him a small pot full of curd and sees him off. The child hands over the same pot to the teacher, who smirks at the size of the pot. It would be the smallest of all pots other kids would have brought.
Nevertheless, the potluck starts and all kids share the goodies. Its time to eat the curd. The teacher starts serving curd to all students and to his astonishment, the small pot is always full to the brim. It never receeds down. He requests other teachers to bring big earthern ware and vessels and fills them with curd. Despite which, the small pot still remains full.
He eyes the little boy with suspicion and asks him, ” Child, tell me where did you get this pot of curd from”. To this, the child honestly answers, “My Gopala anna gave this to me. He is the one who escorts me every day to and from home to school”. To this, the teacher asks to be taken to Gopala anna. The child agrees.
That evening, the teacher accompanies the boy through his journey home. As they start into the forest, the child starts crying out to his “Gopala anna”. But Gopala Anna does not turn up. The teacher asks the child to describe his anna. The child says, “he is bluish in color and always wears a peacock feather in his hair. He wears garland made of flowers and wears yellow silk dhoti. He plays the flute so well and all cows just love him”. Now the teacher is really suspicious and accuses the boy of lying.
When thus accused, the child starts crying and calls out loudly to his beloved Gopala anna. He pleads, “Dear Gopala anna, why are you not coming today? Would you like me to be called a liar? My teacher is here to meet you and yet you are not showing up. Why are you doing this to me?.
At that instance, there is a voice that speaks to them. It says, “Master ji, you are right in guessing that it is I, Lord Krishna, who was helping the child through the forest area every day. I am visible only to those, whose hearts are pure and who believe in my existence to the fullest, without an aorta of doubt. I helped him with the pot of curd too. He is my beloved devotee”.
Hearing this, the teacher is ecstatic. He hugs the little boy and tells him there is no greater devotee of the lord than himself. He also escorts the child to his house and shares this incident with the mother. She is muted to hear this but her heart fills with pride. From that day onwards, the small pot of curd becomes their life source. By selling the curd in the market, the mother starts earning enough money for their livelihood, and she also starts helping other poor people of her village.
From that day onwards, the child never sees his Gopala anna. But for whatever reason, he has no fear crossing the forest area. He feels safe with the knowledge that his Gopala anna is watching over him.
