Previously, I had drawn several pictures of Shri Krishna—but always with His flute or with the peacock feather adorning His head, and sometimes portraying Him with a very innocent and gentle expression. Every time, my mother and others would lovingly appreciate my drawings. But this time, I tried to portray Shri Krishna differently. I drew only His shadowy silhouette, without the flute or the peacock feather. I also gave His form a more masculine, powerful, and strong presence. When my mother saw it, she said, “Without the peacock feather, this does not look like Shri Krishna, and His gesture does not match the way you have portrayed Him in your drawing.” Because the familiar symbols were missing, she could not quite accept the figure as Krishna or appreciate it in the same way. Her words made me reflect deeply. Perhaps we often recognise Shri Krishna through the images and symbols that we have lovingly associated with Him—the peacock feather, the flute, the gentle smile, the innocent face. These forms have a beautiful place in our devotion. Yet, through the teachings of the Gita, I wonder whether Bhagwan Shri Krishna is inviting us to look beyond merely the form that our eyes and minds have become accustomed to. If the familiar symbols disappear, does our recognition of Krishna also disappear? Maybe this is where devotion can become deeper—not merely recognising Krishna in a particular appearance, but seeking to understand what Bhagwan Shri Krishna points towards: Truth, wisdom, freedom from the ego, and the right way of living. I am not claiming to have understood this fully. This incident simply made me question myself. Perhaps the real question is not only, “Does this look like Krishna?” But also, “What is it that I truly recognise as Krishna within myself?” Maybe removing the familiar peacock feather from my drawing has reminded me to look beyond the outer image and humbly inquire into the Krishna whom the Gita reveals. 🙏🏻
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