Lord Krsna is worshiped by the Gayatrimantra, and the specific mantra by which He is worshiped is called Kama-gayatri. The Vedic literature explains that that sound vibration which can elevate one from mental concoction is called Gayatri. The Kama-gayatrimantra is composed of 24 1/2 syllables thus: klim kama-devaya vidmahe puspa-banaya dhimahi tan no 'nangah pracodayat. This Kama-gayatri is received from the spiritual master when the disciple is advanced in chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In other words, this Kama-gayatrimantra and samskara, or reformation of a perfect brahmana, are offered by the spiritual master when he sees that his disciple is advanced in spiritual knowledge. Even then, the Kama-gayatri is not uttered under certain circumstances. In any case, the chanting of Hare Krsna is sufficient to elevate one to the highest spiritual platform.
In the Brahma-samhita a nice description of the sound of Krsna's flute is given: "When Krsna began to play on His flute, the sound vibration entered into the ear of Brahma as the Vedic mantra om." This om is composed of three letters -- A, U, and M -- and it describes our relationship with the Supreme Lord, our activities by which we can achieve the highest perfection of love and the actual position of love on the spiritual platform. When the sound vibration of Krsna's flute is expressed through the mouth of Brahma, it becomes Gayatri. Thus by being influenced by the sound vibration of Krsna's flute, Brahma, the supreme creature and first living entity of this material world, was initiated as a brahmana. That Brahma was initiated as a brahmana by the flute of Krsna is confirmed by Srila Jiva Gosvami. When Brahma was enlightened by the Gayatrimantra through Krsna's flute, he attained all Vedic knowledge. Acknowledging the benediction offered to him by Krsna, he became the original spiritual master of all living entities.
The word klim added to the Gayatrimantra is explained in the Brahma-samhita as the transcendental seed of love of Godhead, or the seed of the Kama-gayatri. The object is Krsna, who is the ever green Cupid, and by utterance of klim Krsna is worshiped. It is also stated in the Gopala-tapani Upanisad that when Krsna is spoken of as Cupid one should not think of Him as the Cupid of this material world. As already explained, Vrndavana is the spiritual abode of Krsna, and thus the word Cupid is also spiritual and transcendental when applied to Krsna. One should not take the material Cupid and Krsna to be on the same level. The material Cupid increases the attraction of the external flesh and body, but the spiritual Cupid increases the attraction the Supersoul exerts upon the individual soul. Actually, lust and the sex urge are there in spiritual life, but when the spirit soul is embodied in material elements, that spiritual urge is expressed through the material body and is therefore pervertedly reflected. One who actually becomes conversant with the science of Krsna consciousness can understand that his material desire for sex is abominable whereas spiritual sex is desirable.
Spiritual sex is of two kinds: one in accordance with the constitutional position of the self, and the other in accordance with the object. When one understands the truth about this life but is not completely cleansed of material contamination, he is not factually situated in the transcendental abode, Vrndavana, although he may understand spiritual life. In this stage he can utter the Kama-gayatri with the kama-bija. When, however, he becomes free from all bodily sex urges, he can actually attain the supreme abode of Vrndavana.
Ramananda Raya then explained that Krsna is attractive for both men and women, for the movable and the immovable -- indeed, for all living entities. For this reason He is called the transcendental Cupid. Ramananda Raya then quoted a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.32.2) stating that when the Lord appeared before the damsels of Vraja smiling and playing on His flute, He appeared just like Cupid.
The different kinds of devotees of the Supreme Lord have different aptitudes and relationships with Him. Any relationship with the Lord is as good as any other because the central point is Krsna. In this connection there is a nice verse in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu that states: "Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasures, and He is always attracting the gopis by the spiritual luster of His body. He especially attracts Taraka, Pali, Syama and Lalita. Krsna is very dear to Radharani, the foremost gopi." Like Krsna, the gopis are glorified by Krsna's pastimes. There are different kinds of relationships with Krsna, and anyone who is attracted to Krsna in a particular mellow is glorified.
Krsna is so beautiful, transcendental and attractive that He sometimes attracts even Himself. The following verse appears in the Gita-govinda (1.11):
- visvesam anuranjanena janayann anandam indivara-
- sreni-syamala-komalair upanayann angair anangotsavam
- svacchandam vraja-sundaribhir abhitah praty-angam alingitah
- srngarah sakhi murtiman iva madhau mugdho harih kridati
"My dear friend, just see how Krsna is enjoying His transcendental pastimes in the spring by expanding the beauty of His personal body. His soft legs and hands, just like the most beautiful moon, are used on the bodies of the gopis. When He embraces different parts of their bodies, He is so beautiful! Krsna is so beautiful that He attracts even Narayana, as well as the goddess of fortune who associates with Narayana."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.89.58) the Bhuma-purusa (Maha-Visnu) told Krsna and Arjuna, "My dear Krsna and Arjuna, I have taken the brahmana's sons just to see you." Arjuna had attempted to save some youths who had died untimely at Dvaraka, and when he failed to save them, Krsna took him to the Bhuma-purusa. When the Bhuma-purusa brought forth those dead youths as living entities, He said, "Both of you appeared in order to preserve religious principles in the world and to annihilate the demons." In other words, the Bhuma-purusa, being also attracted by the beauty of Krsna, concocted this pastime just as a pretext to see Him. It is recorded in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.16.36) that after the serpent Kaliya was punished by Krsna, one of Kaliya's wives told Krsna, "Dear Lord, we cannot understand how this fallen serpent got the opportunity of being kicked by Your lotus feet when even the goddess of fortune underwent austerities for many years just to see You."
How Krsna is attracted by His own beauty is described in the Lalita-madhava (8.34). Upon seeing His own picture, Krsna lamented, "How glorious this picture is! It is attracting Me just as it attracts Radharani."