Thrivakra or one with three curves

10/17/09

Thrivakra was the make-up woman in Kamsa's palace. She combined make-up ingredients like sandalwood powder or paste, Rose water, kumkumam etc in the right proportion and made available for King Kamsa and other royal family members. She had three big curves in her back and she was known as Thrivakra, one who was curved three times. Insensitive adults made up this name and she was often a victim of ridicule for the abnormalities with which she were born. She felt sad and found comfort in praying Krishna even though she was an employee of Lord Krishna's number one enemy.

 

When Krishna came to Madhura for the Dhanuryaagam, He took a tour of Madhura and on the road side Thrivakra also was eagerly waiting to see Him. She had the make-up ingredients ready in her hand and when Krishna came after killing the arrogant washer man, Thrivakra offered the scented paste she carefully prepared with extreme devotion and love. Krishna accepted it, held her head with His right hand and stepping mildly on her right foot, straightened her body and made her a beautiful woman.Thrivakra almost became a Thriloka Sundari or most beautiful woman of all the three worlds.

 

Now let us look at the symbolic meaning:

 

Three curves of her back represents three states of matter -jaagrata (awake), swapnam (dream), sushupthi (deep sleep)

 

Thrivakra herself- represents all of us who are striving to go beyond the three states to reach the state of Thuriya to get enlightened.

 

Servantship of Kamsa- represents our Rajogunam

 

Makeup paste in her hand- represents our Identifying ourselves with body or Shareeraaabhimaanam or ahmakaaram or ego. 

 

When Thrivakra offered all her Shareera abhimaanam or ahamkaaram or all the feeling of "I' and "mine" with deepest devotion to the Lord,, Bhagavaan freed  her from the world, binding three states of matter. She was blessed with enlightenment and Bhagavaan fulfilled her wishes.

 

 

 

(based on Jnaananda Saraswathi's explanation)