ICONIC LEADERSHIP

DR K M SONI, CHIEF ENGINEER, CPWD, MUMBAI

Krishna, a BORN LEADER• Whether great leaders are born or made?• Whatever may be the answer but;

LORD KRISHNA WAS A BORN LEADER

(en.brajdiscovery.org)

Krishna had A CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY

• Putana came to kill Lord Krishna and put her poisoned smeared nipple in baby Krishna’s mouth.

• Krishna in place of taking milk in his body, put poison in Putana’s body. Thus Putana was killed. LORD KRISHNA HAD CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY

(krsnabook.com)

Lord Krishna protected friends

• Putana’s brother Aghasur took the form of a big snake in which friends of Krishna went inside his mouth mistaking it as a cave. Though Krishna prevented them not to venture new cave like structure but when his friends went in, he also entered though he knew the reality. Then he killed Aghasur and protected his friends.LORD KRISHNA WAS A PROTECTOR

(en.wikipedia.org)

Krishna saved his friends from asurs by acting from the front• Krishna saved his friends from asurs like

Arishtasur, Kesi, Vyomasur, Sakatasur, Trinavart, Vatasur and Bakasur.

• Lord showed the charisma to villagers and friends by eliminating the demons at a small age and acted from the front. THUS LORD KRISHNA NOT ONLY HAD CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY BUT ALWAYS LED FROM FRONT

(radhanathswamiyatras.com)

(krsnabook.com)

Krishna adopted appropriate strategy

• Lord Brahma hid village boys and cattle to test Krishna. Krishna adopted different strategy and created as many village boys and cattle and didn’t confront directly with Lord Brahma.

• Krishna provided the feelings of safety and security in his friends.

• THUS LORD KRISHNA ACTED WITH APPROPRIATE STRATEGY

(krsnabook.com)

Krishna gave credit to them who actually deserved

• Krishna asked villagers to worship Govardhan, source of their livelihood in place of Indra. Thus he was instrumental in giving credit to Govardhan who deserved as it provided direct and indirect support to the villagers. LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS GAVE DUE OR MORE CREDIT TO THE DESERVING ONES

(rajasthantourism.gov.in)

Krishna HAD NO FEAR AND showed strength and charisma

when required• When Indra God became angry with villagers and started

stormy and incessant rains to devastate the village, without any fear Krishna protected them by lifting Govardhan on his finger, or may be taking villagers and their cattle in the caves of Govardhan mountain.LORD KRISHNA HAD NO FEAR AND SHOWED HIS STRENGTH TO INDRA

(zeenews.india.com)

Krishna showed the courage

• Krishna went into Yamuna where Kaliya Nag lived though nobody dared to go inside his territory. He defeated Kaliya and forced him to leave the place for protection of his followers.LORD KRISHNA HAD COURAGE TO FACE ANY CONDITION

(harekrsna.com)

Krishna Loved to all• Krishna loved to elders, friends, and young

ones. He also loved animals, birds and even non livings. He loved everyone without differentiating in gender, or caste.LORD KRISHNA LOVED ALL LIVING ANIMALS AND NATURE WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENTIATION

(quora.com) (vrindavan.de)

Krishna believed in teamwork

• Krishna always worked as a member of the team with his friends during all occasions like the work, play, trouble, dance, happiness.

• Krishna never posed himself as a leader though he was an undisputed leader of the villagers at the age of 8 years. LORD KRISHNA BELIEVED IN TEAMWORK

(fineartamerica.com)

Krishna was a leader at all places

• Kansa invited Krishna to Mathura to eliminate him. Krishna accepted the challenge.

• Krishna made public in his favour in one evening.• Krishna snatched and distributed royal dresses among his

followers, gave therapy to Kubja, a hunch backed woman and converted her into a beautiful one and broke bow meant for ceremony to show his strength, make public in his favour and create terror in his opponent’s mind.LORD KRISHNA WAS A LEADER AT ALL PLACES INCLUDING IN A DEN OF THE ENEMY

(bhagavatam-katha.com)

Krishna was a leader attached to common people and believed in

knowing the ground reality • Krishna made survey of the site where Kansa was

organising ceremony, primarily to eliminate him. As a leader, he was aware of every site particulars before the fight.

• A leader always gets ready in advance by getting required information. LORD KRISHNA WAS A LEADER WHO WORKED ON GROUND

(templepurohit.com)

(krsnabook.com)

Krishna worked in democratic manner

• After killing Kansa, Krishna freed his parents and Ugrasen. Krishna asked public about the choice of the king of Mathura after Kansa and giving weightage of the public vote, Krishna made Ugrasen as the king of Mathura.LORD KRISHNA WORKED IN DEMOCRATIC MANNER

(youtube.com)

Krishna, an intelligent personality

• Krishna completed his formal education just in sixty four days in Sandipani’s ashram.LORD KRISHNA WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY INTELLIGENT, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSONALITY

(patrika.com)

Krishna, showed friendship

• Sudama, a friend of Krishna denies having chickpeas during stormy night when they were stuck in the jungle. Krishna never told him that he knew of his having and eating chickpeas and not providing him.

• Krishna treated Sudama as a best friend and ensured that he keeps his self respect. He provided help to his family without disclosing him.LORD KRISHNA WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIEND.

(bhaktisangrah.com)

Krishna took blame for the safety of the public

• Jarasandh attacked Mathura seventeen times and to ease the sufferings of citizens, he left Mathura and took blame of calling “Ranchhod”. Also he meticulously planned death of Kalyavan, an aid of Jarasandh and without even direct fight, eliminated him. LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS WORKED FOR THE PUBLIC WELFARE

(templepurohit.com)

Krishna unfolded the truth• King Paundrik, got stitched two extra arms and

wore accessories. He then advertised him being incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He, then challenged Krishna with a belief that Krishna will not dare to fight with him.

• Krishna fought with him and revealed the truth by removing his stitched arms. LORD KRISHNA LIKED TRUTH

(btg.krisnna.com)

Krishna respected love• Krishna married Rukmani as she loved him though his

brother Rukmi was opposed to it.• He spared Rukmi on the advice of Rukmani.

LORD KRISHNA RESPECTED LOVE AND WAS LOVE FOR LOVING ONES

(en.wikipedia.org)

Krishna made relations with all who loved him

• Krishna married to Jambvati, daughter of Jamvant, Satyabhama, daughter of Satrajit as they offered their daughters to him.

• Krishna married to Kalindi, Mitravinda and Bhadra as they loved him.

• Krishna won Nagnajiti and Lakshmana in swamyavar. • Thus Krishna had family relations with many kingdoms.

LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT SOCIAL FIGURE

(ritsin.com)

Krishna provided patronage to the needy

• Bhaumasur (also named as Narkasur) had abducted 16,100 girls. On freeing them, no one was ready to accept them. Krishna married them to give them patronage. LORD KRISHNA WAS ALWAYS FOR THOSE WHO WANTED HIM

(vcm.org.in)

Krishna showed his support for justice

• In the swayamvar of Draupadi, when no prince could target the fish, Arjun dressed as Brahmin succeeded. On this, princes present there tried to make objections on Arjun being Brahmin. He supported Arjun and told that he was with him and will fight in his favour as he made effort only after they failed. Thus, he convinced the mob.

• LORD KRISHNA HAD A GREAT CONVINCING POWER

(nynjbengali.com)

Krishna foresaw the problem and gave proper advice

• Yudhishther wanted to organise Rajsuya yajna ceremony. Krishna foresaw the problem and asked Yudhishther to fight first with Jarasandh. He took Arjun and Bhim with him and went to Magadh where Jarasandh ruled as he knew that only one of them was a match to him.

• Krishna knew weakness of his opponent and shared with Bhim who eliminated Jarasandh, thus made Rajsuya yajna of Yudhishther successful.LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS FORESAW THE PROBLEM

(en.wikipedia.org)

Krishna believed in forgiveness but to a limit of

self respect• Krishna forgave one hundred abuses of

Shishupal in Indraprashtha but thereafter punished him. LORD KRISHNA WAS A KIND HEARTED, FORGIVER BUT HAVING SELF RESPECT

(http://ajitvadakayil.blogspot.in/)

Krishna foresaw the problem and cautioned timely to

pandav• Krishna foresaw the problem and advised

Pandav to be careful from Duryodhan after Draupadi insulted Duryodhan by saying “Blind son of Blind father”.

• Krishna vey well knew that insult before others leads to quarrel, disputes and even war.LORD KRISHNA NEVER INSULTED ANYONE. ALSO HE WAS A GOOD ADVISER

Krishna knew– a leader must know his weakness

• Krishna knew weakness of Yudhishther and thus cautioned him. His advice could prevent Mahabharat. LORD KRISHNA NEVER SHOWED ANY WEAKNESS

(christkrishna.wordpress.com)

Krishna helped to those who asked for

• When nobody helped Draupadi, Krishna helped, particularly when she was helpless before he own relatives.LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS HELPED THOSE WHO PRAYED TO HIM

(en.wikipedia.org)

Krishna, a great visionary

• Krishna advised Pandav (Yudhishther) to pray to Sun God to get magical vessel to satisfy their hunger. He very well knew that without satisfying hunger, they would never remain fit to fight in future. Thus he aborted Duryodhan’s plan. LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT VISIONARY

(templepurohit.com)

Krishna knew importance of food

• Krishna asked Draupadi to give him food when she remembered him to provide food to rishi Durvasa and his disciples. Krishna ate grain left in akshya patra which satisfied his hunger as well others. LORD KRISHNA SHOWED THE WAY OF NO WASTAGE OF FOOD

(funbuzztime.com)

Krishna believed in avoiding disputes

• Krishna tried to mediate between Pandav and Kaurav and went to Hastinapur risking his life. He tried to take even five villages on behalf of Pandav. When Duryodhan tried to arrest him, he showed a glimpse of his strength. LORD KRISHNA KEPT CALM AND COOL IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS ALSO AND AVOIDED DISPUTES TILL LAST

(iyadav.com)

Krishna helped to those who came to him for help

• Though Duryodhan tried to arrest him in Hastinapur, he gave him his army when he came to him for the help.

• Arjun asked for him and he agreed. Arjun knew that a great leader is worth more than a large powerful army even if unarmed.

• LORD KRISHNA WAS A GIVER AND HELPED WHO PRAYED FOR

(bolokids.com)

Krishna, a great visionary, AND ALSO A GREAT planner and strategist

• Krishna suggests Pandav name of Dhristdumn as commander as he knew that he will be able to take on with Dronacharya (who insulted Drupad, his father), his brother Shikhandi with Bhism and his father Drupad with Kaurav due to insult to his daughter. LORD KRISHNA WAS A GREAT PLANNER AND STRATEGIST

Krishna, a great motivator• Krishna motivated Arjun by giving discourse known

as Bhagwadgita. Motivation was without known motivation factors like money, fringe benefits, appreciation and power.LORD KRISHNA PROVIDED DISCOURSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMAN BEINGS. HE DESCRIBED “KARM” i.e. PERFORMANCE OF “OWN DUTY” AS SUPREME

(bhagwad-gita.us)

Krishna NEVER Left his followers

• Krishna had decided to remain unarmed during Mahabharat but when Bhishm took vow for forcing Krishna to take weapon, he broke his promise and took wheel to protect Arjun and keep vow intact of Bhishm who was also his follower. A leader works for his followers even at his cost. LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS WORKED FOR HIS FOLLOWERS

(harekrsna.de)

Krishna protected his followers

• Krishna protected Arjun at many occasions including the day when he took oath to slain Jayadrath before sunset and if not for self immolation. LORD KRISHNA WAS ALWAYS WITH HIS FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS AND PROTECTED THEM

(ritsin.com)

Krishna accepted even the curse from his followers

• When Gandhari gave curse to him after Mahabharat, he accepted it though when he narrated incidences of mediation between Pandav and Kaurav to her, she repented. Even after the curse, he told Pandav to treat Gandhari as their mother. LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS RESPECTED ELDERS AND PARENTS

(allindiaroundup.com)

Krishna gave teachings of Love

• Krishna preferred love and devotion over disputes and quarrels and gave teachings of Love and affection to Uddhav which are in the form of Uddhavgita.LORD KRISHNA ALWAYS SPREAD LOVE AND AFFECTION

(vidsshare.com)

Krishna believed in forgiving• Krishna even forgave to the hunter who by

mistake shot arrow in his foot due to which he left this world. He told that death is certain so embrace death as an event of life.LORD KRISHNA TOLD THAT ONE SHOULD PERFORM HIS DUTY WITHOUT ANY DESIRE ON THE RESULT AS RESULT IS NOT IN YOUR HANDS. IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ONE SHOULD REMAIN EQUIPOISE, i.e. TO HAPPINESS AND SORROW.

Krishna was a leader of the leaders

• Yudhishther, Arjun, Bhim, Duryodhan, Bhishm, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Karn, Drupad, Dhristdumn, Jarasandh, Kans, Balram, and Shalve were great leaders of that period but Krishna proved leader of those leaders. LORD KRISHNA WAS THE LEADER OF THE LEADERS AND THE LEADERS OF THAT PERIOD UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED IT HE HAD ALL THE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, ONE CAN IMAGIN

REFERENCE: LORD KRISHNA AND HIS LEADERSHIP by Dr Krishna Murari Soni, Diamond books publications, Delhi, 2015