This story is inspired by a real incident last Friday, where a moment of quiet professional validation was abruptly interrupted by an awkward display of public insecurity. While the setting, industry, and individual identities have been completely changed to protect the privacy of those involved, the underlying behavior remains entirely authentic. The intent behind sharing this narrative is not to criticize or demean anyone, but rather to highlight a valuable workplace lesson on professional maturity, true competence, and the self-defeating nature of unprovoked insecurity.
Insecurity and incompetence are inseparable companions. A person who truly knows his craft remains composed, content to let his work do the talking. When real expertise is missing, however, every gathering feels like a threat to a fragile ego. Insecurity drives incompetent people to make noise at the most unexpected moments, desperately hoping to appear important. Sadly for them, this urge to steal the spotlight usually backfires, transforming simple ignorance into comedy for everyone else in the room.
This tendency unfolded in full glory during a grand renewable energy summit at a plush hotel in Hyderabad. The hall was packed with Ministers, corporate leaders, policy makers and engineers, all discussing solar power policies for rural India. On stage sat a veteran engineer, a man who had spent thirty years in dusty fields actually building power grids while others merely made presentations. The organizer invited him to address complex grid integration rules. With effortless calm, the veteran dismantled difficult technical doubts raised by nervous investors. Impressed by this intervention, one the ministers on stage introduced him as a true pioneer who had built foundational solar models during his long tenure at a reputed national energy agency.
Sitting in the last row, dressed in a suit three sizes too sharp, was a newly baked successor, Sharma from that very same agency. Sharma possessed very little knowledge about power grids, but he had an endless supply of self importance. Watching the veteran receive unanimous praise was too much for Sharma to digest. Insecurity hit him like a jolt of high voltage electricity.
Before anyone could stop him, Sharma leaped out of his chair like a jack in the box. He practically began shouting his name and company title into it. I am Sharma from National Energy, I am Sharma, he declared, as if announcing a grand arrival. The room fell silent, expecting some brilliant technical insight. Instead, Sharma launched into an energetic speech about two rural electrification drives, completely missing the fact that the conference was discussing solar grid integration, not basic wiring. To make matters funnier, those two projects he boasted about were actually designed and executed years ago by the veteran himself, long before Sharma even learned how to spell infrastructure. Sharma gesticulated wildly, dropping buzzwords that made no sense together, while senior engineers in the audience exchanged suppressed giggles.
The moderator, trying hard to keep a straight face, finally interrupted the performance. Mr Sharma, the moderator asked politely, do you have any specific suggestion regarding rural grid policy, or should we move back to the agenda? Sharma froze. His mouth stayed open for a second like a landed fish. He looked around, realized nobody was clapping, stammered something about how his organisation has managed projects and that they plan to also empanel under the project, and quickly collapsed back into his seat. His desperate attempt to make his presence felt, born purely out of insecurity and incompetence, turned what could have been a silent afternoon into the best entertaining break of the summit.
A classic case of
Trying to Steal Thunder ending up Catching Lightning
My connection with Bhajans began long before I understood their spiritual depth. None of this would have unfolded without my parents. They never forced devotion upon me. Instead, they gently created favorable circumstances for me to step onto this path of my own volition. As five year old child, I remember being taken to local Ayyappa Bhajana Mandali. I sat quietly amidst aroma of camphor, incense, and fresh flowers, soaking in thunderous reverberation of Kanjira, rhythmic clash of manjira, and collective chanting and Bhajans. I did not know exact meaning of every chant or Bhjans then, but sacred environment my parents ushered me into allowed that energy to seep deep into my consciousness.
The true turning point arrived when I was in Class 3, barely eight years old. It was crisp cold Deccember evening, and Ayyappa Bhajana Mandali in Lakkasandra (then operating out of a seasonally rented hall) was filled with devotees. Someone handed me lead microphone. My hands were tiny around it, and my heart raced. I closed my eyes and began Atma Nivasi Ram, a Bhajan taught to me by Madam Saraswathi in KM School (Yes, this school founded by Late Shri Sridhar and Late Narmada were as intrumental to instill a sense of Sanatana Dharma in me). As verse unfolded, initial nervousness gave way to sudden, overwhelming stillness. I was not just chanting, chant was singing itself through me. Afterward, elderly lady walked up, placed gentle hand on my head, and praised innocence and power in my voice. Thereafter it became a regular affair in the Mandali. She passed away recently, but her quiet blessing remains frozen in my memory as moment simple childhood habit turned into life calling. Today this Bhajan Mandali is a full fledged Swami Ayyappa Temple in Laljinagar, Bengaluru built as advised by renowned Kerala Temple Architect Shri Kanipayyoor)
From that evening on, there was no looking back. Bhajans became unyielding rhythm of my youth. Every year was anchored by intense discipline of Mandala Makaravilakku season, consisting of 56 unbroken days of devotion with 41 days of Mandala Kalam followed by 15 days of Makaravilakku. Rain or shine, homework or exams, those 56 evenings belonged entirely to Swami Ayyappa. My school days were equally steeped in this devotion. Whether leading morning assemblies or standing before massive crowds at neighborhood Samoohik Ganesh Pandals during Ganeshotsav, Namasankirtan was where I felt most grounded.
When my professional journey began and took me to Nashik, Bhajan life slowed down slightly. My demanding routine left little space for large gatherings, but inner yearning for Satsang never faded. I remember wandering into newly establishing ISKCON center during those early days in Nashik. Sitting on floor with small group of devotees and taking turns to chant the Shri Krishna Mahamantra, I realized distance and context did not matter because divine string was unbreakable.
After my stint in Nashik, I returned to Bengaluru, keeping my connection to Bhajans alive before work took me to Chennai. That move to Chennai deepened this journey immeasurably. My regular and intense association with Art of Living shifted everything. It is here that my deepest sense of gratitude belongs, to Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Through His unconditional love and guidance, He sharpened my ability to conduct Satsangs dedicated purely to His teachings. Gurudev taught me most profound lesson of all, to make Satsang entirely about Act of devotion and never about Actor leading it. Ego melted away, leaving behind only pure instrument of His grace.
In Chennai, this realization turned into wonderful journey alongside incredible souls like Soundar ji, Dhanraj ji, late Anju ji, Aravind, both Vijis, and so many others who made those years unforgettable.
Returning home to Bengaluru permanently in 2006 sealed my path forever. Satsang ceased to be something I did on special occasions and became essential part of my daily existence. This piece would be incomplete without honoring where current Bengaluru chapter began at Uttarahalli Art of Living Centre. We started as one large passionate team, and today that single seed has grown into multiple sub teams performing Satsang Seva concurrently across many places.
Out of this collective movement grew AnantAnsh, (you can click on the link that takes you to the official You Tube Channel of our Team), the name that reminds us that we are simply small part of Infinite. I am especially grateful to Sindhu who has been integral and crucial pillar of AnantAnsh, since 2009 and along with Sweta, Bharathi, who are regular fellow Satsangis these days. Our original team of Sumathi, Saraswati, Rajeshwari, Latha, Nalini, Raghav, Kavya, Vinay, Hema, Swati, Alpita, Veeru ji, Hemadri ji, Lalitha ji, Ravikala ji, Sumathi ji, Roopa, Mahesh Nyamati ji, Krishna Raju ji, Manjunath ji, Prabhakar ji and endless list of dedicated souls made the journey so fulfilling. My heartfelt gratefulness also goes out to our Bannerghatta Road volunteers/teachers, Sujatha, Padmini ji, Vinita ji, Prashanth ji, Vijay, Dipanvita ji, Prasad ji, Vikrant ji, Sapna ji, Aarti ji, Shantesh ji, Sandhya ji, Shruti ji Preeti ji, and so many more who regularly organise Rudra Pujas, Gurupujas and Satsang. Special thanks to Sadhvi Madhubala ji for connecting us to beautiful Sahasra Deepika where we regularly do Satsangs with 80+ girls who are taken care by this amazing organisation. Not to forget Varadaraj ji of Sneha Seva Trust, Vishwas Helpline for having us over to regularly conduct Sessions for the Children they support for their education.
To all teachers and devotees who organize Guru Puja Satsangs and invite us to lead them, thank you. Thanks to them, we are able to conduct over 100 Satsangs every year, balanced alongside our demanding work schedules. It is living miracle that by Gurudev grace and blessings, time, energy, and bandwidth somehow expand to make room for this Seva.
None of this would be possible without my family, Aparna, Divya, Vishnu, and now Anay. Their unconditional support has given me freedom to pursue this passion wholeheartedly. Without their constant backing, this long journey would not have been possible, let alone as joyful and fulfilling as it has been.
Finally, my deepest gratitude goes to every single rasika who joins us, sits with us, and participates. To everyone who encourages us and gifts us their genuine smiles, you are ones who make us want to carry out this Seva forever.
What we have consciously decided as a team is to avoid any kind of professional instruments or make the Bhajan sessions very professional, just Simple, straight from the heart and not as a performance. Have always kept it simple, even got rid of a Keyboard that used to regular accompaniment and stick to traditional, Dholak, manjira. Satsangs are conducted in a manner anyone can join the team and lead the Bhajan. Very rarely we seat in Stage-Audience formation. The Satsang team is always part of the audience. And most importantly it is done absolutely Free of any Cost to the organiser. Absolutely FREE. We carry our own Audio system and instruments and with our own transport. We conduct Satsang for any number in the audience be it 20 or 2000. We have kept the format spontaneous without any set template or patterns, the unpredictability makes it even more enjoyable, just like the nature of our Guru & how he wants it done
Looking back across decades, everything has shifted, including cities, stages, and faces in room. Yet when we sit down today with team of AnantAnsh, close our eyes, and start chant, feeling is identical to that eight year old child leading Atma Nivasi Ram. Outer world quietens down, mind settles, ego disappears, and all that remains is Name.
During a Satsang organized a couple of days ago (on 29th August 2026) by Art of Living volunteer faculty Hemadri ji and other volunteers at the Yoga Hall in Omkar Layout Centre, several participants raised common questions on how to address naysayers who critique the life and actions of Shri Krishna. Sri Krishna is one of the most revered deities in Sanatana Dharma. His life presents fascinating paradoxes that deeply inspire millions of devotees across the globe. To an untrained mind, seeing Bhagavan Shri Krishna as a butter thief, a flirt, or hearing Mahamantra of wisdom like Bhagavad Gita on a battlefield full of violence might appear contradictory. However, deeper spiritual study reveals profound truths hidden inside these divine events. Towards the end, I have also shared 3 popular anecdotes and lessons that we can draw from those.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami marks arrival of divine consciousness in world clouded by ignorance and chaos. Beyond midnight celebrations and fasts, life of Bhagavan Shri Krishna serves as practical guide for modern living. Whether viewed as divine incarnation, philosopher, or master strategist, His life stories offer universal values that apply directly to daily challenges, workplaces, and communities. We often think of Janmashtami as a historic event celebrated at midnight. But spiritually, Krishna’s birth represents light arriving in the darkest of places. And let’s be honest, between work pressure, personal challenges, and global uncertainty, we all face our own “dark midnights” occasionally.
Please read my earlier Article Beyond the Festivities: Shri Krishna Janmashtami in which I have described traditions, legends, and spiritual significance of Shri Krishna Janmashtami. From divine childhood miracles to vibrant South Indian home celebrations and community satsangs, I share how welcoming little Krishna brings enduring hope, peace, and joy into our everyday lives today.
Navaneeta Chor
In his childhood at Vrindavan, Shri Krishna frequently stole butter from cowherd women called Gopis. This act was not driven by material greed, but carried deep Vedantic symbolism. Butter comes only after patient churning of milk. It represents pure essence of human mind, free from worldly impurities. Gopis used to hide butter pots near roof ceilings, which symbolizes how human beings conceal their pure devotion under ego and worldly fear. By breaking those pots and taking butter, Shri Krishna actually steals ego and accumulated karmas of his devotees. Unlike human theft which arises from greed, divine theft is supreme grace where Ishvara claims what originally belongs to him.
Vastra Harana
Another pastime often misunderstood by critics is Sakae Vastra Harana, where young Shri Krishna hid the clothes of bathing Gopis on the banks of Yamuna. This act was not about physical nakedness or mischievous pleasure, but an essential lesson in shedding spiritual ego. The Gopis were performing Katyayani Vrata, seeking Shri Krishna as their divine lord, yet they retained their last lingering layer of worldly attachment—body consciousness, bodily shame, and social conditioning. By removing their clothes, Shri Krishna showed that one cannot approach the Supreme Divine while holding onto worldly masks or physical illusions. True devotion requires absolute innocence and complete surrender without any hidden layers between Jivatma and Paramatma.
Shri Krishna- Living Life to Fullest
Life of Shri Krishna teaches us to live with total freedom and joy. He is not a distant ruler watching from heaven, but an approachable divine entity who can be loved as a child, friend, or guide. Through his divine play called Leela, Shri Krishna shows that spiritual path does not require complete isolation or sorrowful asceticism, which is how we have come to associate spirituality with. One can celebrate every moment of life while remaining detached from material worldly traps.
Rasa Leela and Maya Roopa
To a worldly mind blinded by material desire, Rasa Leela might appear like human romance or flirtation. However, ancient scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam clarify that Rasa Leela is the ultimate spiritual union between Jivatma, the individual soul, and Paramatma, the supreme soul. Gopis of Vrindavan were not ordinary women seeking physical romance, they were realized sages and pure devotees who spent lifetimes doing intense penance to attain closeness with Bhagawan Shri Krishna. When Shri Krishna played his divine flute on full moon night of Sharad Purnima, Gopis instantly abandoned their homes, families, and worldly responsibilities. This sudden exit symbolizes complete surrender where a seeking soul breaks all physical bondages, ego, and worldly attachments to merge with divine supreme consciousness.
During Rasa Leela, Shri Krishna expanded himself into multiple divine forms using Yogamaya, his divine potency. This cosmic phenomenon created a divine play where every Gopi experienced Paramatma standing directly beside her, dancing exclusively with her. This Maya Roopa or divine manifestation proves that God is omnipresent and capable of reciprocating unlimited personal love to every single devotee simultaneously. Moreover, scriptures mention that Shri Krishna was merely a young child during this event, proving that Rasa Leela is entirely transcendental, sacred, and completely free from any material or carnal desires. Through Rasa Leela, Purushottama Shri Krishna revealed the pinnacle of Bhakti Yoga, where pure spiritual love conquers all material limitations.
Bhagavad Gita on Battlefield
Many wonder why supreme knowledge of Bhagavad Gita was revealed amidst conch shells, war cries, and impending death at Kurukshetra instead of a quiet forest ashram. The war field represents internal conflict inside human mind where righteousness constantly fights against ignorance. Spirituality that works only in peaceful environment is incomplete. By guiding Arjuna during peak moments of panic, Bhagavan Shri Krishna proves that true spiritual wisdom must help us navigate chaotic real world challenges.
Facing Duty Without Fear
Arjuna wanted to run away to forest to avoid fighting his own relatives. Sanatana Dharma teaches that running away from righteous duty due to emotional attachment is delusion, not true detachment. Shri Krishna taught Nishkama Karma, which means performing one’s duty without attachment to final results. Bleak setting of battlefield also served as perfect background to explain immortality of Atman. While bodies perish in war, eternal soul remains completely untouched by weapons, fire, or time. Through this timeless message, Purushottama Shri Krishna inspires humanity to stand firm in duty with unwavering mind.
Lessons from 3 Anecdotes from His Lfe
Signing off this article sharing three powerful anecdotes from His life highlight how simple actions can teach us about humility, environmental respect, teamwork, and duty.
Friendship Beyond Status
One of most touching accounts in life of Bhagavan Shri Krishna is His reunion with childhood friend Sudama. While Shri Krishna ruled as King of Dwarka, Sudama lived in extreme poverty. When Sudama visited Dwarka, he carried only small pouch of flattened rice as humble offering. Upon seeing his old friend, Bhagavan Shri Krishna did not care about social standing or wealth. He ran barefoot to welcome Sudama, washed his feet with tears of deep affection, and accepted simple offering with great joy.
In modern workplaces and society, people are frequently judged by titles, designations, and material success. This story reminds us that authentic relationships are built on respect and emotional connection, not social status. True leadership begins with humility and treating every individual with dignity, irrespective of position.
Strength in Unity and Environmental Consciousness
During His youth in Gokul, villagers regularly performed rituals to appease Lord Indra for rain. Young Shri Krishna encouraged people to shift their gratitude toward Govardhan hill, forests, and cattle that directly nourished their community. When torrential storms followed, Bhagavan Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on His finger and asked every villager to support weight with their wooden sticks.
This incident carries dual significance for contemporary world. First, it emphasizes ecological balance and necessity of protecting natural resources that sustain life. Second, it demonstrates strength of collective effort. Complex challenges are rarely solved by single individual; real progress happens when communities unite and contribute toward common objective.
Dignity of Labor and Calm Guidance
On battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhagavan Shri Krishna assumed role of charioteer for Arjuna. Despite being supreme authority, He drove chariot, tended to horses, and steadily guided Arjuna through intense conflict and moral doubt.
In daily professional and personal life, individuals often hesitate to take up tasks perceived as secondary or low-profile. Bhagavan Shri Krishna demonstrated that no work is small when performed with sincerity and commitment. True excellence lies in carrying out responsibility with focus, keeping ego aside, and remaining calm in midst of chaos.
Living the Wisdom Today
Shri Krishna Janmashtami is not merely historical remembrance. It serves as continuous reminder to approach life with balance, practice empathy in relationships, work collaboratively, and fulfill responsibilities without fear. By integrating these timeless principles into daily routine, individuals can build meaningful lives and stronger communities.
