20th July 2019

abhinnatvat nama namino

I would like to thank the devotees from Melbourne who chant with us every Saturday. They sit in Prabhupada quarter and chant. It’s not morning there still they chant with us, so I thank them and also welcome them.

We have started a new padayatra called Maharashtra padayatra from Pandharpur. That will be Maharashtra limited, travelling, preaching and propagating the holy name. Looks like they have just started and they are on the road. So, they have also joined us this morning. So, we have All India Padayatra party chanting and now we have Maharashtra padayatra party chanting.

Dr.Shyamsundar Prabhu from Nagpur is chanting with us. when I saw him I was reminded of, we started Annamrita kitchen in Nagpur. This is for the midday meal scheme. To begin with, we will be serving 10,000 midday meals to the school going children in Nagpur. Dr.Shyamsundar Sharma donated land to build this kitchen, it’s a bog kitchen. There was an inaugural function which I attended. This is good morning news.

I received a bad news also a devotee from Nasik who chants with us lost his father yesterday. So pray for the departed soul by chanting loudly from your heart.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare Hare

Brahma had addressed to the Lord, we find this at the beginning of 10th canto of Bhagavatam.

dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [BG 4.7]

All the religious principles had declined and it was time for Lord to appear. So, all the demigods they had also included bhumi, (earth) and the whole delegation by Brahma. They all had gone to Svetadvipa and prayed to Lord for His advent. Lord had listened to their appeal and call and He had appeared in this world and performed lots of pastimes and gave darsana to the whole world. His name, fame, form, qualities become popular and spread in all direction. And in this way dharma was established.

dharma-saḿsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge[BG 4.8]

Now once again the demigods, there are varieties of names mentioned here in Bhagavatam in 11th canto chapter 6. Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Guhyakas, Maruts, Ādityas, Vasus, Aśvinīs, Ṛbhus, Aṅgirās, Rudras these are different kinds of demigods or demigoddess. We just say devtas but there are many as described in Bhagavatam.

dvārakām upasañjagmuḥ sarve kṛṣṇa-didṛkṣavaḥ [SB 11.6.4]

They all have come to Dvārakā. First when they wanted the Lord to appear they had gone to Svetadvipa, milk ocean. But now towards the end of pastimes in the world they all have come to Dvārakā. One reason mentioned is,

sarve kṛṣṇa-didṛkṣavaḥ

They are very eager, very anxious to have darsana of the Lord. They want to have darsana of the Lord, drink the beauty of the form of the Lord. They are desirous to see the Lord. This is one reason why they have come to the Lord. Upon arrival there they are praying and praising the Lord.

śrī-devā ūcuḥ

It’s amazing how they are praying together; they know what is in the hearts and minds of each other and other demigods assembled there. They are all talking together and offering praying to the Lord. So you could read the prayers, how they were glorifying Lord Dwarakadhish. They went on and on praying to the Lord.

So they have addressed Lord as, ‘Asesatman’, unlimited atma, paramatma or parmeshwar. Then after that combined or joint session of praying together then only brahma is praying to the Lord. He is thanking the Lord for listening to their prays some 125 years ago.

śrī-brahmovāca
bhūmer bhārāvatārāya
purā vijñāpitaḥ prabho
[SB 11.6.21]

In the past, we had prayed to you Lord, to appear to relive the earth of her burden.

dharmaś ca sthāpitaḥ satsu
satya-sandheṣu vai tvayā
[SB 11.6.21]

There was irreligion all over but you appeared and established dharma among pious men who are always firmly bound to the truth.

kīrtiś ca dikṣu vikṣiptā
sarva-loka-malāpahā
[SB 11.6.22]

You have also distributed Your glories all over the world, and thus the whole world can be purified by hearing about You. The most significant statement, as I was reading yesterday Lord Brahma says,

yāni te caritānīśa
manuṣyāḥ sādhavaḥ kalau
śṛṇvantaḥ kīrtayantaś ca
tariṣyanty añjasā tamaḥ
[SB 11.6.24]

It’s good that you appeared and performed varieties of pastimes. Those pastimes are compiled in the form of Bhagavatam by Vyasadev. They would be made available for the people of this age of kali. They would be greatly benefited by doing the, srnvantaha kirtayantha. As they would be listening to your pastimes and glorifying those pastimes, the people of this Kaliyuga will greatly benefited and they will be released from the darkness of ignorance.

What we understand, Brahma is making kind of prediction that not only people those who are currently present on the planet while Krsna was on the planet but then onwards in the future people will be benefited. As Lord making His appearance, Lord has given us topic to talk about, think about.

Also Vrindavan dhama to visit.

sri radhika madhav yora paar madhuryalila guna rupa nam nam (Guruvaṣṭakam verse 5)

Radha Madhava pastimes, Lord made pastimes available by appearing for those people present there, to this day and to the future. If Lord had not appeared we would not be chanting His names.

śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇa
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām
[SB 1.2.17]

nityam bhagavat sevaya, all this would not have happened.

So you and me, we all are being benefited by the appearance of the Lord. Krsna making His appearance 5000 years ago and performing all pastimes. So Brahma is talking, this is the kind of benefit, we the people of age of kali are deriving by appearance of the Lord.

We the people of this age of Kali are very fortunate, Lord Sri Krsna appeared at the end of dwapar yuga. Those who appeared prior to appearance of the Lord, then there was not so much opportunity to hear about Sri Krsna, Supreme Personality of Godhead- svayam bhagavan. In that sense we are very fortunate that first Lord appeared then we appeared, giving us opportunity to hear about Sri Krsna.

The big chunk of Bhagavatam is Krsna lila. Out of 335 chapter of Bhagavatam about 90 chapters of 10 canto are Krsna lila. The 11th canto of Bhagavatam also Krsna lila continues, just now we are talking of 11th canto. Also 11th canto has Uddhav Gita- Krsna addressing Uddhav. It’s like Bhagavad Gita. So like this whole 10th canto and 11th canto, so big part of Bhagavatam is Krsna lila. Krsna is ashraya. One of the 10 topics is ashraya and that is Sri Krsna. This is only possible as Lord made His appearance 5000 years ago.

One thing is on the mind of all the Demigods, is they want to thank you Lord. They want to give big thank you to the Lord for listening to their prayers. Now, they say my dear Lord

tataḥ sva-dhāma paramaṁ
viśasva yadi manyase
sa-lokāl loka-pālān naḥ
pāhi vaikuṇ ṭha-kiṅkarān
[SB 11.6.27]

If You wish You may return to Your abode the purpose for which you had come that has been served. We are very happy and thankful for all that you did.

śarac-chataṁ vyatīyāya
pañca-viṁśādhikaṁ prabhu [SB 11.6.25]

You have spent 125 years on this earth, if You wish now You may return to Your abode thank you very much.

So as demigods had arrived in Dvārakā they offered their obeisances to the Lord. They are offering sastanga dandavat pranam.

This word sastanga has been explained or commented upon by acaryas, by Sanatana Goswami. So they have quoted the verse that mentions the asta means 8 and anga means body part’s. when one is offering pranam, he is using 8 different parts of his body to offer obeisance, then that obeisance is called sastanga dandavat pranam.

Sanatana Goswami is quoting a verse,
dorbhyāṁ padābhyāṁ jānubhyām
urasā śirasā dṛśā
manasā vacasā ceti
praṇāmo ’ṣṭāṅga īritaḥ
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 8.162,360)

These are 8 parts of the body used to offer sastanga. dorbhyam-two arms, padabhyam-the two legs, janubhyam- two knees, urasa- the chest, sirasa- the head, drsa- the eyes, manasa- the mind and the vacasa- power of speech. If you are offering obeisances but not saying prayers that’s also offense.

So these are the 8 parts mentioned in the commentary. The demigods are offering prayers to the form of the Lord and the form of the Lord is non-different form the Lord.

deha-dehi-vibhāgo ’yaṁ neśvare vidyate kvacit [CC Antya 5.123]

There is no distinction between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at any time. Lord and Lord’s body is same. We have body- deha and soul-dehi inside. But Lord’s body is spiritual, this is how Lord should be understood tattvatah, this is sidhhanta. This siddhanta has also been stated in this section of Bhagavatam by acaryas.

abhinnatvat nama namino

Like there is no difference between deha and dehi like that there is no difference between nama and nami- no difference between Lord and His name. Further contemplate on this, meditate –do manan and assimilate this that it becomes part of your thought process.

Hare Krishna

19th July 2019

Offences against Holy Name

I was reading Vyasa puja books, there are two – one in Hindi and other in English language. Many of you have mentioned about our zoom Japa conference, how you are appreciating my endeavors and how you have benefited through this conference. I am happy and you are happy with me hence I will continue to do this conference. You are happy that I am chanting, likewise I am also happy to see you chanting. As I see you chanting I am happy. We are increasing happiness of each other by chanting in this conference. You are making use of the prime time that is brahma muhurta.

So I am happy you are chanting in prime time in countries like India and Mauritius. Some have mentioned that they were chanting late in the day, are now chanting in the morning. Thus leaving the anarthas. So keep chanting and also engage others also for quality chanting.

In one weeks’ time I will begin with my overseas tour to America, Russia I am just thinking how to manage, it will not be possible to chant on this time. I am telling you this so that you keep this practice to chanting regardless of temporary zoom conference not being there. You have developed taste for chanting. Keep up the spirit of chanting during the zoom conference time.

Keep chanting with full faith, full faith in the glory of the holy name without offences. One of the offence is misinterpretation about the holy name, this misinterpretation minimizes the importance of holy name. No one can get such benefit just by chanting . Such misinterpretations are detrimental to the glories of holy name, stay away from such anarthas.

I would like to share one story how Lord was misunderstood by non-other than Parvati.

avajananti mam mudha manusim tanu asritam[BG 9.11]

As Krsna has said some mudha fools think, form of Krsna is like just another human also His name is ordinary, not potent. One time Shiva and Parvati were returning from Bhagavat katha and they were passing through Panchavati near Nashik. Kidnapping of Sita had just happened. Lord Ram was missing Sita he was asking everyone even the trees, have they seen Sita. He was in tears, completely lost. Parvati had misunderstood Ram, she was thinking he must be an ordinary husband. He is crying for his wife. He must not be God, He must be just an ordinary husband.

Of course Siva, he had offered his obeisances to Lord Ram from a distance. But Parvati was not offering obeisances in fact she was saying, “why are you offering obeisances to a ksatriya, just an ordinary person he is not even brahman.”

So of course Shiva had his reasons and convictions that Lord Ram is Supreme Personality of Godhead but Parvati was not understanding. Shiva proposed you could test whether he is Supreme Personality of Godhead. So she dressed just like vanavasi Sita and then she went towards Ram she was sure he will think Sita has come, and he will come running towards her, “oh! Sita where were you I was missing you.” As he is just an ordinary man, he will take me as Sita.

So as Parvati disguised as Sita proceeded towards Lord Ram.

om parvate namah

Lord Ram, He offered his obeisances to Parvati Devi next thing He said “why are you alone why Shiva is not there with you in this deep forest. Where is my dear Shiva.”

So Ram passed the test. He immediately recognized and offered his obeisances. Parvati was embarrassed, she sat there and she was meditating and the whole scene changed. There were Ram Sita Laxman sitting there amongst saints and

yam brahma varunendra rudra marutah stunvanti divyaih [SB 12.13.1]

Demigods are praying and glorifying Them this was Lord’s nitya lila.

Parvati was seeing this. And the kidnapping of Sita was just a part of prakat lila. When Shiva asked how did the testing go? She just said I offered obeisances and came back, she did not disclose what had happened, how she dressed like Sita. She kind of lied. She was very guilty of her behavior.

Ram feeling separation and looking for Sita and undergoing inconveniences and tribulations. Prabhupada has stated that Lord is teaching a lesson to those who are attached to their wives or to husband. That’s message or lesson to be learned from this episode. That Lord is also not spared, this is what could happen to you if you are too much attached to your wife. Guideline for grihasta, better not to take wife when you are travelling long distance. Lord Ram is acting like a man or human being because it was possible to kill Ravan as he had received benediction that he will not be killed by any of the 84 lakh species and he did not even think of human being as he thought human beings can never kill him.

Demigod knew this so they prayed to Lord, oh Lord you come as human being so that you can kill Ravana. So He is searching for Sita acting like a mere man. He is proceeding towards Sri Lanka. And as human form He can kill Ravana. That’s another reason Ram is acting like an ordinary human being. This whole pastime is that Lord Ram is considered as human.

avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam
paRam bhavam ajananto mama bhuta mahesvaRam

But we should not think as Lord Ram is acting like a human so He is a human. No He is Lord Himself. That param bhava He eternally exists and we should understand Him as Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we should be careful of misinterpretation on the holy name.

The glories of holy name are rare and intact they should not be considered as exaggeration. I am trying to explain you through this lila, so that you don’t commit offences against the holy name. We should have full faith in the potency of holy name.

Hare Krsna

18th July 2019

Always stay high- stay inspired

I was happy, pleased yesterday as you posted your comments, what you liked the most about Pandharpur Vyas puja & Prabhupada ghat opening festival. Of course, many of you were personally present and those who were not personally present they were watching through Mayapur TV. They also expressed their appreciation about the program. The festival gave us boost and inspired us. So, now the challenge is to stay high, stay inspired that we have to make sure that we don’t get into bad habits.

kvacin nivartate ’bhadrāt
kvacic carati tat punaḥ
prāyaścittam atho ’pārthaṁ
manye kuñjara-śaucavat
(SB 6.1.10)

Elephant takes nice bath and enjoys very happily then it comes on the bank of the river and again puts dirt on his body. We have to be cautious and careful so that we don’t fall into bad habits and again put aparadha and anrathas in us. So we should try to stay high. MWhat we did in Pandharpur can be summarized. We did 5 different activities pradhana anga. There are 64 activities listed in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. There can be many but 64 are listed and out of them 5 are main activities.

1. Sadhu Sanga

2. Nama sankirtanan- Lots of chanting and sankirtana

3. Bhagavata sravan -We heard Guru katha and Krsna katha

4. Worshiping the deities

One Mataji said “Yesterday maharaj on ashadi day I managed to have darsana of Pandhuranga on that day in midst of lakhs of warkaris.”

5. Dhama vasa- we were all residing in dhama for 4 days.

So, we were busy and we were absorbed in following these five processes of devotional service and that gave us joy, pleasure, inspiration and boost. So, you all are back to your respective places now you have to carry on doing that at your pace. Prabhupada gave us Vrindavan and Mayapur festival, idea was devotees are busy with preaching devotees and non-devotees. Some of your family members may not be devotee or anti Krsna. So, devotees tend to lose their energy so while dealing with them, Prabhupada wanted that such practitioners and preachers should come together and go to dhama and get their battery charged. They come to festival and get inspired and fired up and get fully charged. So in this festival Prabhupada is behind this festival and we had great fortune of being part of the Pandharpur festival.

These 5 limbs of devotional service we have to practice on daily basis. We have two forums we have ISKCON temples and your place of residence. ISKCON temples where Krishna is Vishnu lok. You could also make your home as temple. You must be having altar at home but not of demigods or you will land up in heaven, then that’s not dhama. Dhama means where Krishna is worshipped. So these are the possibilities ISKCON temples and your homes where you reside.

So, go to temple regularly, also attend Sunday feast. Get associations of temple devotees, some of them may be your friends, your siksha guru so get their association. When you have sadhu sanga, sadhus will always remind you to do nama sankirtana, they will tell you to worship deities, sometimes they will bring you to Mayapur or Vrindavan dhama.

So one of the limb is sadhu sanga then there will be,

bodhayanta parasparam

[ Bg 10.9]

They will tell some Bhagavad katha, they will remind you to make sure you have Prabhupada books at home and you read them. They will make sure you have deities at home and then your home is dhama. This is importance of sadhu sanga. You are also grihastas and you are practicing Krsna consciousness, you are duly initiated devotees. You yourself are sadhus, your husband is sadhu, mataji is sadhavi. Even children are practicing Krsna consciousness they are also sadhus like Prahlad Maharaja. Do not think sadhus are only in temples and dhama, no you are also sadhus under training. Take association of sadhus at home.

As Lord says, bodhyanta parasparam

Discuss amongst yourself, you know Dhruva maharaja said this, benefit by association at home. I want to see you stay high forever never go low always stay high. So I am reminding you to visit ISKCON temple and your house is also dhama.

Bhaktivinod Thakur says,

je-dina grihe, bhajana dekhi, grihete goloka bhaya

When there is nagar sankirtana at my home I experience my home has become Golok. I invite sadhus there in sankirtana, mridanga is played and my heart is jubilant and I experience I am in Golok atmosphere of being at dhama or temple and this is done by sadhu sanga. You could act as sadhus. That way you could always stay high.

Hare Krsna

17 July 2019

Utsava Gives Utsaha

Devotees are back from Pandharpur. Now they are joining us again on zoom conference. When I see you all chanting, I feel very happy.

How was the festival? From utsava comes utsaha. I hope it has inspired you in your devotional life. I hope you all have benefited from the festival. Lots of memories of Prabhupada were shared and some memories about myself were also shared. There was Prabhupada ghat opening, pandal programs and prasadam. Lots of association with devotees.

dadāti pratigṛhṇāti
guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati
bhuṅkte bhojayate caiva
ṣaḍ-vidhaṁ prīti-lakṣaṇam (NOI Verse 4)

Some rare souls managed to get darshan of Panduranga, lakhs of warkaris come for darshan, so having darshan of Panduranga, for all was not possible. I want you all to share your realizations about the festival. Some liked my kirtan, the management, the pandal programs, Prabhupada glorification, my house at Aravade, the lectures at Dehu. The Nityananda charan event, association of devotees, Srila Prabhupada ghat was liked by many devotees. Many were watching the festival online also. Some liked prasadam, 8500 devotees honored prasadam and all the prasad management was by Chowpatty devotees, Gauranga prabhuji and his team. I am grateful to them. They arranged breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some liked travelling with me for 3 days.

6000 books were distributed, Prannath Prabhu was in charge of book distribution. Some liked pada-puja. Bhakti Vedanta gurukul we have started. The padayatra bulls were attraction for the warkaris and some of you have not seen bulls.

‘Guru vidhi japa nidhi’ book published by Akinchan Bhakta Dasa, thanks to him. Also we have found marathi devotee who also wants to publish japa talk in marathi and also in English, work is going on.

To me the drama was inspirational it gave me boost, it was amazing. I was overwhelmed watching the drama. From that moment, I was not the same person any more. I thank Svetadvipa Prabhu from Pune.

Chandrabhaga temple was liked by many. Many books were published and one of them “Amcha Lokanath” in Marathi was liked by the Marathi devotees. Some said Vyasa puja event was memorable. 500 devotees walked from Dehu to Pandharpur, that was inspiring. Some liked adivasa in the evening and kirtan of Kamalochan Prabhu. Someone liked 70Kg cake. Someone said I was afraid of dancing but as I joined ISKCON I happily danced in kirtan. Istagosthi with devotees, arrival of All India Padayatra was liked by many. My dance was liked by some, I am an old man now.

‘Yadi prabhupada na hoite’ –then I could not imagine, this Pandharpur festival would not be there, so all credit goes to Srila Prabhupada ki ..jai!

priti lakshanam,

I hope you all must have experienced priti lakshanam. Some liked Bhakti Vikas Maharaja books. 7000 prasad plates were distributed. 7000 japa malas were distributed by Keshav Prabhu’s team. We had 70 hours kirtan mela. And it was 7 days festival. 4 days in Pandharpur and 3 days in travelling we reached Dehu. Now your memories are unending.

Keep chanting,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

While chanting you have topics to remember to think about in Pandharpur. High thinking, you could remember those high point, those highlights of the festival.

You could read and also write down and post your comments about the festival. You could also share your memories about the festival that inspired you.

Hare Krishna

16th July 2019

Inspiring devotion of Tukaram Maharaja

So, the part of the preparation, this morning chanting, we prepared the previous day, so that we could chant better, chant attentively during the morning hours. So, I would say, for me, I have prepared. I did the preparation, of my this morning chanting yesterday as we visited Dehu Gaon, the birth place of Tukaram. Yesterday, as we visited Dehu Gaon, the Dehu village, of course, we had several hundreds of devotees with us. We were remembering and sharing the memories of Tukaram, so that is inspiring, that has become an inspiration for this morning’s chanting. As I was chanting today, this morning, I was remembering our visit to Dehu Gaon, the life of Tukaram Maharaja. Hari Hari!

So, this is certainly Lord’s arrangement. Lord sends His pure devotees into this world and the way they live their lives and their dealings and thoughts and acts and all their dealings, whatever they do, becomes an inspiration, a glaring example for the whole world to follow.

Does Vaikuntha exists?

So many ask this question; we all have that question. So, yesterday we were there, we visited the Vaikuntha Viman landing spot and then we remembered the whole episode how Tukaram boarded that plane. While leaving his last words were, he had compiled four thousands abhangas. The last abhanga he recited that he compiled and spoke, sang, as he sat on the plane.

ami jati amchya gava amcha rama rama ghyava

This was his last abhang wherein he sings, “I am going back to home, please, accept my Ram Ram Ram Ram, I am going.” He went, the aircraft, Vaikuntha Viman departed and he never returned. Now, these villagers, of course, they were thinking that Tukaram will make a few rounds up there and will come back.

ami jati amchya gava amcha rama rama ghyava

His gaon is right here. But they were disappointed. They were waiting and waiting for hours, for days, but Tukaram never returned as the aircraft never returned, went back to home, back to Vaikuntha or back to Goloka. So, he is giving some proofs like this. You want a proof of Vaikuntha or Vaikuntha exists and people go back to home? Look, there is life of Tukaram or departure of Tukaram, he left for Vaikuntha. Hence, there is no samadhi of Tukaram also. In Alandi there is a Samadhi but there is no samadhi of Tukaram or anywhere on this planet, there is no samadhi of Tukaram. This is another amazing thing, with his own body, he departed. So, it is an amazing evidence of the existence of Vaikuntha of devotees leading the life of devotion, they do go back to home, back to Vaikuntha or Goloka.

kirtaniya sada hari

Tukaram Maharaj always chanted the holy names of Panduranga, Panduranga, jai jai Ram Krishna Hari. So, it was difficult for him to stop singing and chanting. For us, it’s difficult to chant, utter these names, But Tukaram, once he started chanting and singing, he would just go on and on and on and he was unstoppable. So, he was always doing as is expected by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He gave goal to His devotees, kirtanya sada harih! And Tukaram Maharaja, yet, another example of someone who did kirtaniya sada hari all the times.

Then one morning, a person, he was not a gentleman, he was an anti-party, he was an offender, he had come to Tukaram’s home. He inquired, “Tukaba, are you here?” So, the family members told, “No, he would be just now coming. Please hold on, just wait here.” So, after some time, Tukaram returned. During the morning hours, he had gone to the fields to take care of his body, pass stool. Coming back, and this person who was vaisnava aparadhi, Tukaram aparadhi, he saw Tukaram returning. Seeing he had lota in his hand, in Tukaram’s hand, he asked, “Did you take bath?” “No, not yet.” “And you are chanting, doing harinama, kirtana, without taking bath? Such a fool you are! Offender! You do not know the basic rules how to keep clean, ‘suchi’, and then begins the process of worship or chanting or dharmic activities he performed.”

So, Tukaram said, “I am sorry, I, it’s very difficult to follow, for me to follow this rule and only after I have taken my snana, my bath and then I begin my singing or remembering or worshiping. “And Tukaram Maharaja said, “You know, I am not able to stop chanting. It’s beyond me. Something within me is forcing me, dictating me, prompting me to chant and I just cannot stop. If you wish, you could try stopping my chanting.” Then there is this person, the aparadi, the karmakandi, paakhandi, he stepped forward and he held the neck of Tukaram tight so that he does not chant but the chanting did not stop. Now, not only his mouth was chanting, Tukaram’s whole body was chanting. From the pores of his body there was the trance of the holy name of the Lord. His body was trembling and vibrating and singing was on and neither Tukaram was not able to stop chanting on his own and neither any external forces or parties were able to stop that chanting because, in fact, personalities like Tukaram, of course, nobody’s body chants, its soul chants.

So, Tukaram’s soul is chanting and he is chanting and chanting and never stopping. So, this way we also heard and remembered how Tukaram Maharaja was always doing his kirtaniya sada hari activity or process. Now, we also remembered, one thing, there are karmakandis and pakhandis and hypocrites and offenders; offenders of the vaishnavas, aparadis and nama aparadis. And Tukaram was becoming popular and well known, he was loved by all and they were not very happy with the name, fame, glory of Tukaram Maharaja.

Similar to what they did to Sri Namacarya Srila Hari Das Thakura, a prostitute was sent to Tukaram, like was sent to Hari Das Thakura. And the prostitute tried her best and she could not succeed as Tukaram was busy absorbed in bhajan with his veena in one hand, chipdya- some kind of kartal, and he is absorbed and singing, ‘Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari, Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari.’

So, what could the poor prostitute do? Tukaram was fully absorbed and fully satisfied within chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no vacancy with something external or outside. Tukaram was calm and just happily chanting. So, prostitute did all that she could do, was dancing and trying to get the attention of Tukaram but she failed. She surrendered unto Tukaram Maharaj, begged for forgiveness for such an offensive attempt to cause his fall down but there was no way maya could, prostitute could cause his fall down. He is like achyuta, he is with achyuta, he is stuck with achyuta, infallible. So, it was not possible, so, very similar to what happened to Namacarya Srila Hari Das Thakur and a prostitute that happened not far from here, Dehu Gaon with Tukaram Maharaj, very same thing. We should be contemplating upon, take inspiration to keep chanting Hare Krishna and we you are not alone and then you could become victorious.

yatra yogesvarah krsno
yatra partho dhanur-dharah
tatra srir vijayo bhutir
dhruva nitir matir mama(BG 18.18)

There is victory and no defeat. So, Tukaram Maharaj became victorious and prostitute also became victorious in a sense, she surrendered unto Tukaram Maharaj and she had a glorious life then onwards. Tukaram Maharaj was free from kamini, kama vaasna and also free from kanchan, the gold or the wealth.

One time, Shivaji Maharaj wanted to send or he did send a special gift, some clothes and ornaments. He had sent his rajadhuta or messenger,Tukaram Maharaj was out of station, was not in. So, his wife, Tukaram’s wife accepted all the gifts. She started wearing ornaments and putting clothes on and giving, “okay my dear, you take this” to son and daughter, and wearing makeup and they were really happy, seeing they’ve never experienced any expensive clothing and ornaments. But Tukaram arrived and he said “No, no, no what are you doing?” and took all those, took away all those ornaments and clothes from children and from wife and returned, “You take them, we don’t need this kind of gift and have no interest in this.

para-dravyesu lostavat

Wealth of others is like dirt or pebbles or rock, no interest, no attempt to enjoy or exploit wealth like this. So, this is Tukaram.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad isa kamaye ( Siksastakam verse 4)

We are praying. Tukaram’s prayers were already heard and he had no interest in dhanam the wealth and janam the following and sundarim beautiful women, the opposite sex, he had no interest whatsoever. He has only interest in Krishna’s name and that is wealth, right? That is the wealth.

Golokera prema dhana, dhan, said dhan, prem dhana, so Tukaram had dhana, so he was the wealthiest person in Dehu, in the world in fact. So, he was not, no interest in wealth or this, that. Jai Tukaram Maharaj ki, jai!

So, Shivaji Maharaj did want to give some wealth or some gifts, some gold. So, he thought he is not accepting this, maybe he is thinking others would watch him and he does not want others to see while he is receiving these valuable gifts and ornaments, so let us do this hiding when there is no one around on the wealth available, or made available, then certainly he will grab it. So, thinking so, now that is a little different strategy of Shivaji Maharaj and his gifts deliverers or messengers. So, what they did was one early morning, they went to Indrayani Ghat. They knew that Tukaram Maharaj comes there during the dawn time and there is less light and to take bath. So, they placed gold and ornaments and wealth like that, displayed it and they thought for sure he will be by himself, no one will be able to see him taking it or accepting. So he would go for it but that did not happen. When Tukaram went he saw all ornaments there. They are dazzling, shining golden ornaments. So, Tukaram Maharaj left that place and went to an another ghat to take snana that morning. Another said, “oh, you are taking bath here today? Why not your ghat, every morning you have been in such and such ghat but today you are bathing here?” He said, “I think someone has passed stool there.”

The stool also has complexion like gold. So, he wanted to stay away from the stool, golden stool and so he was fully detached and no hankering, no liking, no wanting wealth like this because he was fully satisfied chanting:

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

And it is possible to be fully satisfied by chanting. How do we know? We know from life of Tukaram. He was happy, fully satisfied. What was the cause of his satisfaction? Joy and the holy name, in another word, Lord’s name, Lord’s pastimes, Lord’s darsana, Lord’s service until the Lord.

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

harer namaiva kevalam This we can understand from. Kindly, Lord has sent such saints, Sant Tukaram in this world. Residence of Pune, Punnya Nagri are very fortunate. Tukaram birth place is just around the corner from here. So, we should make Tukaram a hero and follow the example of Sant Tukaram Maharaj ki, jai! Yesterday also we said that Tukaram Maharaj was a, householder, not a sannyasi like ourselves, like me or Radhanath Maharaj or Gopal Krishna Maharaj. He was a grihastha. Devotees have made a congregation so for them they could see how another grihastha, the special one from their town, from Pune, Dehu, not two towns, they are the same town, so, study his life and teachings, follow his footsteps and make your life perfect, especially by chanting the holy name of the Lord the way Tukaram chanted or relished chanting.

Okay, time has come to stop.

Hari nama sankirtan ki, jai!
Sant Tukaram Maharaj ki, jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki, jai!
Gaura bhakta vrnda ki, jai!