Hare Krsna,
I was just meditating on the fact that just as the glance of the Supreme Lord is the active ingredient that creates the five gross elements, the same glance of the Lord transforms material to spiritual. For example, the bhoga we offer to the Lord is transformed from mundane food to spiritual remnants (prasadam). Speaking about the five gross elements, I have heard in one class (I do not remember which class) that the offering of five ingredients to the Lord during the arati ceremony also involves these five gross elements. The offering of incense (dhoop) and flower (pushpa) denotes offering of the earth element through fragrance (smell). The offering of water denotes the offering of the water element. The offering of lamp (dipa) denotes the offering of the fire element. The offering of chamar (yak-tail) denotes the offering of the air elements. The offering of the handkerchief denotes the offering of the ether element. The sound of conchshell and bell denotes the offering of the ether (sound) element. I could not understand how the offering of these five gross elements to the Lord transform them from material to spiritual. This arcanam process also transforms the devotee from mundane platform to spiritual platform. All by the merciful glance of the Lord. Bhakti-yoga is such a beautiful and perfect process that everything can be dovetailed in the service of the Lord. The result is that we get purified, satisfied, and transformed to a better devotee.
The merciful glance of the Lord is, therefore, so desirable and pleasing. If we earnestly pray to Krsna for His merciful glance, He can transform our material conditioned existence to a pure transcendental existence. This merciful glance of the Lord reminds of the Bhismadeva’s prayers in the first canto.
In one of the prayers, Bhismadeva prays: In obedience to the command of His friend, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered the arena of the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra between the soldiers of Arjuna and Duryodhana, and while there He shortened the life spans of the opposite party by His merciful glance. This was done simply by His looking at the enemy. Let my mind be fixed upon that Kṛṣṇa. (SB 1.9.35)
Lord Krsna’s merciful glance is considered as cool as a lotus flower. In the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, Bilvamangala Thakura wrote, “If I become thoroughly bathed by Your merciful glance, then I may be saved. Therefore, my Lord, I am requesting You to please bestow upon me Your merciful glance.”
In the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta it is also said, “My dear Lord, You are the ocean of mercy. With my arms placed upon my head, I am bowing down before You with all humility and sincerity. I am praying unto You, my Lord. Would You be pleased just to sprinkle a little of the water of Your glance upon me? That will be a great satisfaction.“
Therefore, one must always hanker for the merciful glance of Krsna. The best method to beg Krsna for such mercy is to constantly chant His holy name – kirtaniya sada harih – in a humble mood.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 