Story of Uddhava, friend and confidant of Sri Krishna, is
spread across the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. He was a descendant of Vrishna of the
Yadava race of ancient India. He was a disciple of Brihaspati and son of
Devabhanga. He was greatly attached to Sri Krishna.
On account of his sharp intellect, he was the counselor of
the Vrishnis. He carried a message from Krishna to Nanda, his foster father, in
Gokula. The gopis of Gokula enquired about the welfare of Krishna and implored
Uddhava to fetch him back to Gokula. The devotion of the gopis to Krishna deeply
impressed Uddhava who firmly believed in liberation through wisdom. This visit
to Gokula taught him about the greatness of unwavering devotion.
Jarasandha, infuriated at the death of his son-in-law Kamsa
at the hands of Krishna, attacked Mathura repeatedly. Uddhava advised Krishna
on the best method to be adopted for vanquishing Jarasandha. The Yadava forces
effectively defeated the siege of Mathura by Jarasandha.
Uddhava suggested the performance of Rajasuya ritual by
Yudhisthira for vanquishing Jarasandha.
Uddhava who was a scholar and intellectual firmly believed
that Krishna and Balarama were manifestations of Lord Vishnu and he came to
this conclusion on the basis of the childhood miracles of Krishna and his elder
brother.
Uddhava witnessed all the actions of Krishna on earth and he
also had the misfortune of being the messenger to inform Yadavas about the
death of Sri Krishna and about the impending doom of the Yadava clan and the submerging
of Dwarka under sea.
Several important works on Bhakti and philosophy in Hinduism
is associated with Uddhava.
The Sanskrit works, Uddhavaduta ascribed to Madhava, and
Uddhava Sandesh composed by Rupa Gosvami (1490 – 1563 CE), describe the role
of Uddhava as the emissary of Krishna to Gopis of Vrindavan. There are
numerous other works on the same theme including the Uddhava Shatak of
Jagansnathadasa Ratnakara.
The most popular work associated with Krishna and Uddhava is
the famous Uddhava Gita. Bhagavad Purana (XI, chapter 7-29) describes the
teachings of Krishna to Uddhava on spiritual topics.
Uddhava forms an integral part of Badri Narayana, where a separate
vigraha of Uddhava is worshipped close to the murti of Narayana.