Krishna, The Charioteer

Sri Krsna's role in Mahabharata as charioteer for Arjuna sitting in the front, with one of the legs resting on the knee, looking behind at Partha and showing the Jnanamudra with the right hand exemplifies His desire to steer the course of His devotees like Arjuna for the establishment of righteousness.

2. As a diplomat and as one interested in averting war between Kauravas and Pandavas, He donned the mantle of a messenger of peace. When His mission failed, they were forced to fight. Both Duryodhana and Arjuna reached Dwaraka at the same time to seek the help of Krsna. He was having his afternoon siesta. Arjuna sat at the foot of the bed, Duryodhana at the head. When He woke up, He saw Arjuna first and thereafter Duryodhana. Both requested help. He told them that He had taken a vow not to take up arms in the ensuing war. However, He agreed to help both sides. To one side He would give his famed thousand million soldiers, the Narayaniya. On the other side He himself would be present, but without arms. Since on waking He had seen Arjuna first, He gave the choice to him. Arjuna chose Krsna, who agreed to be his charioteer on the battlefield. In the words of Nityalilalina Sri Hanumanprasad Poddar "He had made the Lord the sole support of his life. Therefore, caring little for the divinity of the Lord, and making the Beloved Lord, the embodiment of love, his only helper and guide, he had handed over the reins of his chariot as well as of life to the Lord".

3. The role of charioteer posed a formidable challenge. Krsna had to bear the brunt of the rapid volley of arrows from the Maharathis like Bhisma, Drona and Karna. However the combination of Krsna and Arjuna proved to be deadly. In his blow-by-blow account of the battle, Sanjaya told Dhritarashtra :

"Victory and justice are ensured when there is a combination of
Arjuna, the wielder of the bow and Krsna , the Lord of the Yoga"

Though the victory of the Pandavas was assured because Lord Krsna was on their side, the onerous task of convincing Arjuna about the need to fight and destroy the Kauravas was left to Lord Krsna , who spoke the Gita, the quintessence of total wisdom of humanity.

4. Having prepared the ground for Arjuna to fight, Krsna discharged meticulously his duties as a driver. In addition to preparing the chariot every day, He led the horses to the river at dusk and applied healing balm to their wounds. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says that Krsna set an example by his actions that 'Seva to both men and animals is dear to God'. Arjuna's horses were tormented by arrows during the battle against Jayadratha and were feeling thirsty. They were, therefore, harnessed. Sri Krsna swiftly pulled out the arrowheads from their flesh, bathed them, made them eat grass and drink water and after some time yoked them to the chariot.

5. Though He had vowed not to wield any weapon during the war, there was an occasion when He went back on His word with the twin objective of blessing His devotee Bhisma and protecting the Pandavas. On the ninth day of the battle Bhisma could not be stopped when he was playing havoc on the Pandava army and Arjuna was not fighting as was expected of him.

6. To remind Arjuna of his duty and finding him helpless Krsna jumped from the chariot throwing away the reins of the horses and rushed towards Bhisma with his discus in hand. Bhisma Pitamaha was overwhelmed that as an ardent devotee he was able to experience His gracious nature. Thus Krsna saved the life of Arjuna, his devotee and at the same time enhanced the glory of Bhisma, another devotee.

7. For safeguarding the interest of Arjuna, Krsna endured against His chest the evil effect of Vaisnavastra , the all devastating weapon hurled by Bhagadatta. Again He saved Arjuna from the serpent mouthed arrow hurled by Karna by pressing the chariot under His feet and to protect Arjuna's chariot which was almost burnt by the impact of the arrows.

8. In the famous Tiruvallikeni temple at the heart of Chennai, the only Divyadesam where the Lord sports a moustache as per the custom of charioteers, the grand, bewitching and ever smiling Utsava Moorthy has scars on His face caused by arrows from Bhisma during the Mahabharata war. The Divya Mangala Vigraha, with conch in the right hand and Jnana Mudra in the left hand pointing to His sacred feet signifies the famous Carama sloka of Bhagvadgita. The colour of the face changes to gold copper tint after ‘Tirumarjanam' and thereafter to bluish black. Even experts in metallurgy are said to be baffled by these regular colour changes.