Krishna the Chiropracter.

Even a visit to the chiropracter can lead to thoughts of Krishna! On Monday I went to have the atlas-bone at the top of my spine 'fixed'. The atlas-bone is the very topmost bone of the spine, which supports the head; when it becomes out of alignment with the head, it can cause the whole spine to become crooked, which had happened in my case, making walking and sitting painful.

The treatment took only ten minutes, but I walked out of the treatment room feeling straight and walking with ease. And then I remembered the story of Krishna, meeting the hunchback, Kubja, in Mathura. She had offered Krishna some freshly made sandal-wood paste to cool Him down in the heat of the sun. Krishna was pleased with her loving attention and to reciprocate with her, He pressed her feet with His toes, caught her by the cheeks and gave a quick jerk which straightened her out. Well just see! Krishna was the first chiropracter!

And while waiting for my appointment, I read that the atlas-bone is so called because it holds the whole weight of the head, just as Atlas, in Greek mythology, held the heavens on his shoulders. I thought of Atlas, muscles straining with effort, oppressed by that great burden and compared the image with that of Sri Ananta-Shesha, the form of God as a many-headed serpent, who holds the Universes on the top of His heads. And does this so effortlessly, that it's described that the universe feels to Him like a mere mustard seed - He barely notices that it is there, only as a slight tickle on top of His head.

The contrast was amusing. I appreciated the understanding of God offered by the Vedas. God is mighty hard to fathom, but these images help us get an inkling of His wonders.

(Photos:top, of Atlas; below, of Vishnu reclining on Ananta-shesha.)