30th January 2020

Day of Remembrance of our glorious acaryas!

Hari Hari!

Today early morning we were there in Radha Damodar temple, ISKCON Solapur and devotees had gathered in big numbers and they are also chanting on the zoom conference. Yesterday I had said that we will be discussing the conversation between Raya Ramanand and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but after mangala arati it was announced that there are many Vaisnava tithis of significance today. If you had gone to an ISKCON temple for mangala aarti you would also have heard these announcements. Today we will discuss the significance of these Vaisnava tithis.

Our acaryas are to be remembered in the morning. There is the disappearance day of some and appearance day of a few, and there is also Vasant Panchami and Sarasvati puja today. What should we celebrate and who all should we remember? We will talk about these tithis and talk about the glories of these acaryas by which they will bless us which will lead to improving our consciousness. That will also lead to improving the quality of our japa. We also may get some bhava bhakti or develop loving emotions towards the Lord. There are so many unwanted things imprinted and stuck in our brain. We keep on remembering or have to remember at times some notorious personalities or demons, as we keep meeting such demons, people with demonic mentalities, terrorists, actors , politicians . But remembering our acarya is the auspicious remembrance. Whatever we hear and read we keep remembering that and in this way we keep remembering characterless personalities. In place of such remembrance when we replace that with auspicious remembrance of acaryas then the other memories will get wiped off which will lead to our welfare. In Marathi they say,

Thor mahatme houn gele
Charitra tyanche paha Jara
Aapan tyanchya saman whave
Hach sapade bodh khara.

In this it is said that one should read and hear the glorious characters of great personalities and acaryas and get inspired by that. Develop determination that we too can imbibe such good qualities. We cannot become similar to them, but we can definitely follow in their footsteps. Bole taisa chale tyachi vandavi paule. We should not be imitating them, but we have to follow in their footsteps. By this we will gain enthusiasm and will be able to progress in our devotional life. This is also termed ‘acaryopasana’ which is the worship of acaryas. Remembering them is also a type of worship. Let’s see how many of them we can remember in this conference. This is a challenge for me as there are so many appearance and disappearance days and Vaisnava tithis today. There are very few days like this in the year and today is such a rare day.

Today is Vasant Panchami. Today is the first day of Vasant Ritu. In Vrindavan , Radharani sometimes goes to her in laws place in Javat and sometimes she is with her parents. Today she comes to Barsana from Javat. In Javat there are many restrictions and Jatila and Kutila constantly keep watch on her and do not let her meet Krsna. They constantly keep creating some obstacles in meeting Krsna. But on the day of Vasant panchami Radharani goes to Barsana, so she is free and can meet Krsna without any restriction, which makes her happy. I have also read somewhere that Nanda Maharaja gives time to Krsna for playing. From today onwards for 40 days Krsna doesn’t go to herd His cows. There is no Gocaran Lila. Krsna will play with his friends, gopi and with Radharani. It’s vacation for Krsna. Whenever there is vacation what do children do? “We will play! We will play! It’s time for playing.” There is lot of significance of Vasant Panchami.

There was one associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu named Kavi Karnapur, who was the son of Sivananda Sen. He has written so many glories of Vasant Panchami. He has narrated beautifully so many astonishing past times of Vasant Panchami. You all should also read that sometimes.

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ
gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo ‘ham
ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ

Translation:
Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brhat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring. ( BG. 10.35)

The Lord has explained in the 10th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita His various opulences that, out of all seasons , “I am the Vasant Rutu.” Kusumakaraha, – Kusum is a flower. The season in which there is the blooming of so many flowers and the cuckoo starts singing sweetly kuho ss kuhu ss . The Lord explains that, ‘Such season of Vasant is Me only.’

In Navadwip there is one island called as Ritu-dwip. There was a conference of all the seasons before the appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They were discussing in which season the Lord would appear? Everyone was boasting that it will be during his time. There is the season of Varsha and Grishma, Sharad , and Shishir. Like that there are six of them. Each ones time period is for 2 months. But at the end Vasant season exclaimed, ‘Stop this discussion. Lord will appear in Vasant only’. You will notice that Gaur Purnima falls in Vasant season itself. All glories to such season of Vasant! All glories to Vasant Panchami! It’s Panchami, the fifth day of the bright fortnight. Raag Vasant is sung during this time. There is also the significance of the colour yellow on Vasant panchami. Yellow coloured garments and yellow flowers are used in Vrindavan for the Lord. Today so many ISKCON Ratha-yatras are being conducted.

Earlier on we could celebrate Ratrha-yatra on which ever day we wanted. There were no restrictions. But now there are certain restrictions that have been put in place by the pandas in Jagannatha Puri. However today’s day is considered one of the auspicious days when Ratha-yatras can be conducted and so there are many Ratha-yatras today in India as well as outside India. In Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Latur and many other places Rath-yatras are being conducted.

Today is also the appearance day of Pundarik Vidyanidhi.

tapta-kanchana-gaurangi
radhe vrindavaneshvari
vrishabhanu-sute devi
pranamami hari-priye

Translation:
“O Srimati Radharani, I offer my respects to You whose bodily complexion is like molten gold. O Goddess, You are the queen of Vrindavana. You are the daughter of King Vrishabhanu, and are very dear to Lord Krsna.” ( Sri Radhika pranam mantra)

King Vrsabanu, father of Radharani appeared in the form of Pundarik Vidyanidhi. Vrsabanu of Sri Krisna Lila or Radha-Krsna Lila. King of Barasana, father of Radharani appeared in the form of Pundarik Vidyanidhi in Gaur Lila. It was observed that Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had special affection for Pundarik Vidyanidhi. He used to love him very much and why not? As Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Radharani herself. Radharani in the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu had special affection for Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Pundarik Vidyanidhi became disciple of Madhavendra Puri, and then Gadadhar became disciple of Pundarik Vidyanidhi.

jaya sri-Krsna-caitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri-adwaita gadadhara
Srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

Translation:
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara Pandit, Srivas Thakur, and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.

This Gadadhar from Panca tattva is also Radharani. Gadadhar accepted to become a disciple of Pundarik Vidyanidhi. So you see the connection. Radharani has become Gadadhar and Vrsabanu has become Pundarik Vidyanidhi.

Today is also the appearance day of Sri Raghunandan Thakur. All glories to his appearance day!! Raghunandan is from the place called Sri-khand. Many of the associates and followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to do Katha over there. Then the whole team from Sri-khand would come to Jagannatha Puri for Ratha-yatra, to get direction and association of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This Raghunandan Acarya was from Srik-hand. Mukund Datta , Madhav and Narahari Sarkar were three brothers. Raghunandan acarya was the son of Mukund Datta . But this son was more mature in devotion than his father.

Once Mukund Datta had to go to Howrah station and he instructed Raghunandan to offer bhoga to the Lord. He told him not to eat food without offering. Raghunandan should eat only after Lord has eaten. So Raghunandan offered bhoga to the Lord and the Lord ate it. We offer all the time, but at that time He finished all the food in the plate. When Mukund Datta returned he asked for the maha prasada from the offered bhoga. But Raghunandan said that nothing was left and the Lord ate up everything. Then he told Raghunandan to show him how the Lord eats. “Offer bhoga again. I want to see.” Then again lunch was prepared and offered again along with the chanting of mantras. That time Mukund
Datta was hiding behind the curtain to see whether the Lord really eats. But that time Lord did not finish the whole plate, but ate only laddu and that to only half. Mukund Datta saw this. Father enquired from Raghunandan why the Lord ate only half a laddu? Raghunandan replied that some time back the Lord had taken a full meal , so how could He eat 2 meals at a time. If His stomach would have been empty he would have eaten everything, but that was not the case so He ate only half of the laddu. Raghunandan was such an acarya , who had such a close, deep and loving relationship with the Lord. Once when Raghunandan acarya and Mukund Datta were present in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He asked them, who is the father and who is the son out of both of you? Sri Mukund Datta replied that Raghunandan is my father. Father is usually older than the son. But one type of old age is according to the number of years and the other type is counted by the knowledge one has. One is ‘vayovriddha’ and other is ‘Jnanavridha’.

Raghunandan was so full of devotion that his father admitted that he is more progressed in devotion than him and so he is his father. Raghunandan acarya is the inspiration for Gaudiya Vaisnavas. To become Gaudiya Vaisnava is in itself glorious. There are four authentic Vaisnava sampradayas. Out of which Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya is supreme as they are in Radha bhav or Gopi bhav. They follow Raganuga bhakti path. Due to this Gaudiya Vaisnavism is best.

Acaryas like Raghunath das Goswami are the crest jewel of this glorious Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara. We may discuss any number of past times of such acaryas but they are not enough. He was the son of big landlord and he met Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Santipur when he was very young. His family was preventing him from giving himself totally to the service of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.’They then galyat bandhala londhana.’ Some heavy object is tied around the neck of cows or buffaloes which is called as londhana. They got him married. Still very tactfully he broke all the ties of material attraction. He had met Haridas Thakur in Saptagram to get his association. Further he was blessed by Vidyananda Prabhu and he ran towards Jagannatha Puri and join the Krishna conscious movement. Caitanya Mahaprabhu kept him in the association of Swarupa Damodara and told him to take care of Raghunatha das Goswami. Because of this later he was recognised as Swaruper Raghu. Swarupa Damodara became Counsellor and Raghunath das Goswami became counsellee. Raghunatha das Goswami wrote a diary about the various pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu which he performed there. This was called Kadcha. Whatever he saw and experienced hewrote. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu completed His manifest past times and returned, then Raghunatha das Goswami was very distressed by separation from Mahaprabhu and wanted to commit suicide. He went to Vrindavan. There other Goswami from shad Goswami Vrinda like Sanatana Goswami tried to pacify him. Then Raghunatha Das Goswami agreed and stayed there in Vrindavan for a further 40 years on the bank of Radha-kunda. Krsna das Kaviraj Goswami also stayed there on the bank of Radha-kunda. Later Krsna das Kaviraj Goswami wrote Caitanya-caritamrta as he was requested by others to write a scripture explaining the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna das Kaviraj Goswami had heard of the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu from others, but had never met Him. In Vrindavan Raghunatha Das Goswami daily explained the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the people. On the basis of the diary which was written by Raghunatha Das Goswami, Krsna das Kaviraj Goswami compiled Caitanya-caritamrta.

tyaktva turnam asesha-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat
bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kanthasritau
gopi-bhava-rasamritabdhi-lahari-kallola-magnau muhur
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Translation:
These Gosvamis left their very comfortable lives as ministers, Zamindars and learned scholars and joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement, just to show mercy to the fallen souls of the world (dina-ganesakau karunaya). Accepting very humble lives as mendicants, wearing no more than loincloths and torn quilts (kaupina-kantha), they lived in Vrndavana and followed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s order to excavate Vrndavana’s lost glories. (Verse 4 of Shad-goswami astakam.
Narrated by Srinivasacarya)

All the Goswamis were emblems of magnanimity. They left everything wearing only kopin and a torn quilt . It was very simple living.

sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasani-kritau
nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau catyanta-dinau ca yau
radha-Krsna-guna-smriter madhurimanandena sammohitau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau ( Shad-goswami astakam verse 6)

All of you want to chant properly? Then you should follow Raghunatha Das Goswami and all the Shad Goswamis. They chanted sankya poorvak. This much chanting must be finished. They respected all. Not that they only offered obeisances to the Lord or worship the Lord only, but they also offered obeisances to the devotees of the Lord again and again and honoured them, fell at their feet. This was also the behaviour of Raghunatha Das Goswami. There were two Goswamis named as Raghunatha. One was Raghunatha bhatta Goswami and the other one is Raghunatha Das Goswami. His samadhi is there on the bank of Radha-kunda.

On the day of Vasant panchami Sri Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur went back to Godhead. Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur is also a prominent name among Vaisnavas. At one time he was the only protector and chief acarya of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. He was from Bengal. He reached Vrindavan and stayed there. He had a disciple named Baladev Vidyabhusan. Viswanath Chakravarti has written many books, which are available. All glories to disappearance day of Srila Viswanath Chakravarty Thakur.

Today is the appearance day of Vishnupriya Devi. Vishnupriya was the second wife of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The first one was Laxmipriya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to East Bengal and at that time Laxmipriya left her body in pain of separation from Him. Then on advise of Saci Mata Caitanya Mahaprabhu married again. He didn’t spend much time with her as shortly after marriage He accepted the renounced order. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had given His own Deity to her and told her that He is non different from the Deity and she should worship That. Vishnupriya worshiped that Deity . There is one famous temple of Dhameswar Mahaprabhu in Navadwip. That deity of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is still present over there. It is a very important temple. Whenever we go to that side in Navadwip we make it a point to take darsana of Dhameswar Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu’s padukas are also there. The pujari keeps them on the head and we are blessed by the touch of the padukas of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Along with the worship of this Deity she also used to do worship of Harinama.

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

She would worship the name. She had taken shelter of Harinama. While chanting she kept grains of rice at her side. After finishing one round moved a grain of rice to the other side. We hear about this one grain after one mantra or after one round both. Whatever rice was collected in that way was the rice she would have. Most of her time was spent in chanting only. Chanting means remembrance of the Lord. sravanam kirtanam visnohu smaranam – she would remember Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Mahaprabhu was an Avadhut. He was visiting various places during Madhya lila. He met one person named Jagannatha Khatri. Visnupriya was in Mayapur. Being a renunciate it was not possible for Visnupriya to get the association of her husband, but she associated with Him by chanting His names. All glories to appearance day of Visnupriya Devi!

Today is also Sarasvati puja also. Sarasvati is considered as one of the goddesses among many demigods. Vagyisha Isha yasya vadane …

Vak means vachan. Words of glorification. Isha means swamini. Yasya vadane of the mouth. She is present in the lotus face of the Lord. She is one of the potencies of the Lord. Whenever the Lord speaks Sarasvati makes Him speak. She serves Him. Laxmi yasya vakshyasi. Laksmi Devi is present on the chest of the Lord.

Out of the following three saktis – Samvit, Sandini and Hladini – Samvit sakti is present in the heart of the Lord. Sarasvati puja mahotsav ki Jay!

All should chant more on this auspicious day. It’s a time for darsana now.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Hare Krishna!

29th January 2020

The Lord lights the lamp of knowledge

Welcome all you souls to this Japa conference who are chanting the names of the super soul.

The best thing is to chant. This is called nama sankirtana. Once again I am remembering the conversation between Raya Ramananada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Earlier we have already discussed this conversation in a japa talk. The conversation kept on going with many discussions, Once assumption is that Vishakha Devi appeared as Raya Ramananada and the second assumption is that Arjuna also appeared as Raya Ramananda. His father is Bhavananda Raya who is Pandu Maharaja. Hence this conversation which took place between Arjuna and Krsna is Bhagavad-Gita. But this conversation which is taking place is not possible between Krsna and Arjuna. It should be between Krsna and Vishakha.

Srila Prabhupada used to say that Bhagavad-Gita is primary study. Srimad-Bhagavatam is graduation and Caitanya-caritamrta is post graduate study, but we should not misunderstand that Bhagavad-Gita is less important. This conversation between Raya Ramananda and Krsna is more confidential than Krsna and Arjuna’s conversation.

Raya Ramananda would ask Caitanya Mahaprabhu to wait to discuss pastimes. The Lord told him that He wants to be with him for his entire life. He also asked Raya Ramananda to join Him in Jagannatha Puri where Lord Caitanya stayed in the gambhira and also spent time with Swarupa Damodar who is Lalita and Raya Ramananda who is Vishakha.

lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda

Translation:
With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna.

Raya Ramananda stayed with Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri where such conversations took place everyday. Lord Caitanya remained in Radha Bhava and both these sakhis spent time in Gopi Bhava. The Lord appeared to experience this ecstasy and re-establish dharma.

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

Translation:
Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjun, at that time I manifest myself on earth. [BG 4.7]

The Lord went everywhere and spread the holy names without considering other’s qualification.

patra apatra naahi kari vichaar

Since He spread the holy names like this, we are able to chant. Lord Caitanya always chanted in the mood of Radharani and established nama sankirtana in the age of Kali. In this way we have received the holy name which we are chanting. He said, “My names will spread everywhere. All jivas belongs to Me and I am also theirs wherever they may be. So jivas are everywhere in heavenly planets including on the earthly planet.

teṣhām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśhayāmyātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

Translation:
Out of compassion for them, I, who dwell within their hearts, dest Raya the darkness born of ignorance, with the luminous lamp of knowledge. [B.G. 10.11]

Earlier there was only a single country known as Bharat, but now all the sudras are influenced by ignorance hence they are fighting. All the jivas are brothers and sisters and we all are children of the Lord. This fact is forgotten by all the jivas due to the influence of ignorance. When the Lord feels compassion for such jvas who have danger at every step, padam padam vipadam, at that time the Lord appears and removes darkness caused by ignorance.

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa purāṇārko ‘dhunoditaḥ

Translation:
This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.[SB 1.3.43]

Above in Srimad-Bhagvatam also it is said that we can’t see properly in age of Kali. That’s why Lord appeared in form of Bhagvatam. It is mentioned that all jivas will lose their vision that is why the Lord gave them sastras by which they can see. The Lord also says that He lights lamps in their heart.

jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā [BG 10.11]

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah [BG Mangalacharan]

Translation:
I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

Translation:
The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success. [CC Madhya Lila 22.54]

He gives us the company of Guru who put jnananjana in our eyes which becomes premanjana. Lord Caitanya established nama sankirtana, Bhagvatam, Gita. He also made sadhu sanga available. He inspired Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur who inspired Abhay Babu to preach all over the world. In 1922 he received instructions to spread Bhagavad Dharma in English among Western countries and in 1966 he established ISKCON to spread Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement. The main aim of ISKCON is to provide sadhu sanga to all without discrimination so that everyone gets the benefit in the association of the sadhus.

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Translation:
Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. [SB 2.4.18]

Srila Prabhupada prepared his entire lifetime for this. He said that those who may belong to any places of the world and who take shelter of the association of sadhus will be uplifted.

kali-kālera dharma–kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana

Translation:
The fundamental religious system in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement. [CC Antya Lila 3.7.11]

Lord Caitanya said, “My names will spread everywhere.” Hindu, Muslim, Christianity is not an eternal religion, but we have assumed it our self. In the age of Kali, nama sankirtana is the religion. Lord Caitanya spread this movement in India and left the rest of the task of spreading this movement all over world to ISKCON and whatever I said is the truth.

Keep on chanting. We will discuss this conversation between Raya Ramananda and Lord Caitanya some other day. This is the most confidential discussion between Vishakha and Krsna. Lord did not discuss such pastimes with Arjuna.

Thank you

Gaur Premanande!
Hari Haribol!

28th January 2020

Hanuman gets the ultimate embrace

Hare Krishna. Let’s start our Japa talk. All of you are welcome in this conference.
Lord Rama was pleased with the service of Hanuman.He didn’t just say thanks to this great servant, but He embraced Hanuman.

Yesterday we had Sankirtana in Ichalkaranji. Maharashtra Padayatra also joined the Shobha yatra. Where the Padayatra ended, was a beautiful temple of Hanuman. There we had darsana of Hanuman. Hanuman is the ideal acarya for brahmacaris, sannyasis and also grihasta brahmacaris. He is ideal for all asramas. In that Shobha yatra,we sang a Tukaram abhanga.

govinda govinda mana lagaliya chhanda
govinda dehaya bheda nahi kaya
anandile mana preme pazarti lochana
tuka aane aali jevi nure chi ve gali

Translation
My mind is attracted/addicted to Govinda.There is no difference in Krishna , His form and His Holy Names. My mind is filled with Anand and eyes with love, seeing His form. [Tukaram Abhanga]

In the end Tukaram was saying.

tuka aane aali jevi nure chi ve gali

He is saying that he can’t live without Govind and it has become his hobby. He is saying that when the Lord embraces him then what else remains to be asked from Him? He doesn’t need anything. His life is successful. “If the Lord embraces me and accepts me then this is the perfection of life.” We had this discussion at Ichalkaranji during the evening satsang. At that time we had darsana of Hanuman. I told them how the Lord embraced Hanuman. Then I asked them, “Do you want to be embraced by the Lord? They all said yes. I’m saying this now that this is the right of all living entities. The Lord says that the jivas come to Him or approach Him. Why? Because every living entity or bhakta is very dear to Him. Then why won’t He embrace us? To get such an embrace is the right of all living entities. But a few jivas have become demons (badamaash) and they embrace some others. When the Lord was embracing Hanuman he was expressing his gratitude to Hanuman.

Many teams were looking for mother Sita. All of them were sent to the South. Sugriva had said that they all had 1 month and if they didn’t find her then they would be killed. All the teams returned within one month without any information of Mother Sita.

But Hanuman was very determined to find Her. He realised that one month had already passed. Then Angad said at that time, “I know my uncle and he is very cruel. Let’s rather fast and die over here.” I was hearing this yesterday. When they thought to kill themselves they met Sampati, the brother of Jatayu. Sampati had such power that he could see Sita in Lanka in Ashokavan. It was about 800 miles away. Sampati had received a benediction that when he serves Sri Rama then he will get his wings back. He told them that Sita is alive and gave Her address. When Sampati was just thinking like this to serve which was a great service indeed as it was going to reunite Lord Ram and Mother Sita, he started to fly again. Hanuman and company realised that there is the Indian Ocean in between. They started to discuss how far they could jump? Jambavan said that Lanka was 800 miles away. Angada said that he could go, but could not come back. While this conversation was going on, Hanuman was maintaining silence.

Jambavan turned towards Hanuman and made him remember his mystic power. He is pavan putra and he has so much potential that he can go to Lanka and come back very easily. Hanuman recognised his power and jumped from Mahendra Parvat (mountain) with the speed of wind. When he jumped some trees also started to go along with him just as few leaves or dust goes along with a moving vehicle. Hanuman is not just powerful, but intelligent also (shakti-yukti yukta). Everything doesn’t happen with strength alone. You need intelligent tricks also.

In this way he found Mother Sita. There are many incidents which are described. He kills various demons, son of Ravana (Aksh) and then is brought in front of Ravana in his assembly. Ravana put his tail on fire thinking that Hanuman will die. He is about to die when the wind started to blow and entire Lanka started to burn. Hanuman touched his burning tail against all the windows. In this way he showed a trailer of Lord Rama’s arrival in Lanka. Entire Lanka started burning. Then he went to the sea and extinguished his burning tail. He as looked at his reflection and saw that his face had turned black due to the smoke of the fire in Lanka. Then he returned to Rameswaram. Angad was very happy to receive Hanuman.

Then they went to Kishkindha where Sugriva was ruling. Earlier Bali was ruling there. Lord Rama had helped Sugriva to defeat him. There were all of them as well as an army of monkeys and bears. This party headed by Hanuman reached Rama and informed Lord Rama about Mother Sita. He said that he gave Lord Rama’s ring to Mother Sita and She gave him Her own ring to return to Lord Rama.

At that time Lord Rama said, “If I was in Ayodhya then I would have given you so many rewards. But now as I’m in a forest and I’m empty pocketed. Actually I don’t even have pockets”. At that time Lord embraced Hanuman expressing His gratitude and appreciation. Same thing is being expressed by Tukaram Maharaja – the jiva meets the Lord with eagerness. What else is needed?

Keep on chanting. When you have love towards the Lord then you will also chant with love.

Earlier I used to chant committing offences(nama-apradha), then one reaches namabhas where one have yet to realise the name completely. It’s just like the sun hasn’t risen over the horizon yet. The same happened with Ajamila. As one gets free from the offences, one reaches the level of ruci. As offences reduce then one reaches asakti, bhava. When we save ourselves from the remaining offences then we can chant with love.

Lord Caitanya is waiting for such a moment. The Lord is waiting for us. We have to make ourselves qualified. Keep chanting.

Gaur Premanande!
Hari Haribol!

27th January 2020

Sanghe shakti kalau yuge!

namo maha-vadanyaya, krsna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-chaitanya, namne gaura-tvishe namah

Meaning of the mantra:
O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

Hari Hari!

We have 426 participants from different locations. I am in Iskcon Aravade. All the ISKCON temples from my zone, namahattas and Bhakti vrikshas over there are all chanting together.

Sanghe shakti Kalau yuge….

In Kaliyuga there is lot of power in uniting together. We display the power of devotion when we unite together or chant together. We are sangh. There are many types of such sanghas. People unite together and then they display their power. Or one gains power by uniting together. For doing Japa also these two are important. One is ‘Sangh’ – the way we are members of an International Society or sangh for Krishna consciousness. In this Krishna consciousness sangh we get ‘sang’ – that is association. One is ‘sanga’ and other is ‘sangh’. In talking about sangh we are united in big numbers, and by that we get more and more sang or association of other devotees and sadhakas. By that we derive power.

param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam ( Siksatakam verse 1)

What is meant by sankirtana? When we unite together and do kirtana it is called congregational sankirtana. If we do it alone, then it becomes difficult. We may sleep and there is nobody to wake us up. We all sadhakas who are doing this japa – yajna. We remain protected and our mind stays at one place and doesn’t run around. When we chant or perform devotional activities amidst the association of devotees, then the concentration of our mind increases, and the wandering of the mind reduces because otherwise mind just keeps on wandering. This is the business of the mind because unsteadiness is the basic nature of mind.

cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram

Translation:
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.(BG. 6.34)

In the 6th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita Arjun inquires from the Lord, which actually we should have inquired but we don’t know how to and so on behalf of us Arjun has inquired. What did he say? cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa….. he is calling out to the Lord although the Lord was in front of him. He is in conversation with Krsna. cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham pramathi — balavad dridham , the mind just becomes obstinate whenever it wants to meet someone or go somewhere Then he wants to do it for sure – pramathi – it’s also very powerful – balavad – it is determined to do so many things and then that becomes our character. Our mind, everyone’s mind, is an element. The way there is earth, water, fire, air and ether. There are three more and that is mind, intelligence and false ego. These are elements of which some are gross and some are subtle. The mind is the mind, but it differs from person to person in a way that stability of the mind varies person to person. Everyone’s mind is powerful in more or less quantity in a negative sense. It just keeps desiring things. It keeps oscillating between various choices and determinations ( sankalp and vikalap)

tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye – Arjun then said tasya ,to control this mind , samaha damaha… this way the Lord explains in the 18th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita, sense control , mind control , tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye , it is very difficult. Arjun said it is very difficult. Vayoriva suduskaram. It’s possible that if there is a cyclone that possibly I could stop. “O! Air you cannot progress further in this direction”! I can control air or cyclone, but it is very difficult to control mind. Su-duskaram it’s a very difficult task to stop the mind. In Marathi they say,’Man jikana jag jikanya evadha sopa nahi’. You can win over the world and become digvijayi meaning you have conquered the four directions, and have become the conqueror of the world. But such a person also could not be said to have won over the mind. To conquer the mind is even more difficult than conquering the world in four directions. Such was the experience about his own mind that Arjun had narrated to Krsna. With this the Lord and Arjun are giving us insight to understand the mind. We cannot trust the mind. It becomes possible to have some control on the mind when we are in the association of the devotees. This is the thing I am trying to explain to you. In association in this International Krishna consciousness society or sangh we get association or sang of sadhu’s. Then we our self start becoming sadhu. There could be misunderstanding that we are sadhu and we will just give association, but will not take association. Sadhu also needs association.
Bodhayantaha parasparam……

What do all my devotees or sadhu’s do? ( O! You are sleeping? You are sleeping during the day? thambala to sampala aani zopala to hi mela. – one who stops is finished and one who sleeps is also as good as dead. ) If we are in someone’s association they may wake us up. If we are doing it alone then who will wake us up? Who will remind us? If we are in any asaram – Grihastha or Brahmachari, then we get association in the asaram. Other devotees also care fo rus , remember us, whether we are attending mangala aarti or not. There is also roll call and attendance during mangala aarti. Once one devotee had not come for mangala aarti so they went to search for him in the asaram, and find out ,why he didn’t come? Those were the cold days of winter. They heard some voice was coming from somewhere, vande guro sri caranaravinda…. Then temple commander was searching and thinking that someone was doing mangala arati there. On searching further he discovered that one of the devotees was doing mangala aarti in his sleeping bag. He didn’t come out. Inside only he was singing, samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-… Yes ! Samsara is davanala. Then

Bodhayantaha parasparam……

For such devotees in whom there are some drawbacks or faults, who will remind them? Those who are with them and they are the friends well wishers they will remind them by doing

Bodhayantaha parasparam……

In Grihastha asaram also, people can make others wake up. They can wake their children up or if the wife is not getting up her husband can wake her up.

The Lord also gets up during Brahma muhurt in Dvaraka. He had kept cocks in every palace in Dvararka. You know cocks? They make this sound cucoo cucoo! On hearing this sound of the cocks the Lord used to get up. In those days there were no alarm clocks. It was done with the nature’s arrangement. The whole lifestyle was based in tune with nature. Nature is not independent, but of course under the control of the Lord.

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

Translation
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.( BG. 9.10)

Such was the arrangement of the nature to wake people up. People kept cocks, as they were used to wake them up. They used to be grateful to them. Thank you! Thank you! O cock! You woke me up.

jiv jago, jiv jago, gauracanda bole
kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole ( Arunodaya kirtana song 2 in Gitavali by BVT)

Gaurachanda is calling , wake up o! souls. Same message on behalf of Krsna is given by cock. Cock makes us wake up. O! Soul wake up!! People use to be grateful to the Cocks. But now a days, people of Kaliyuga think that these cocks are disturbing us. Our early morning sweet sleep is getting disturbed. They have given the name to the early morning sleep as ‘sweet sleep’. That sleep is disturbed by cocks, so instead of being grateful to them what they do? They just cut their throats and eat them up. O! Notorious creature!! You are disturbing my sleep? I will eat you up!! This is the type of behaviour with others and with cocks by the people of Kaliyuga. By eating cocks they slip more into mode of ignorance.

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

For this only we have this International Society for Krishna consciousness to give association and to take association.

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

Translation:
There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam – hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service. ( NOI Verse 3)

pra-sidhyati , siddhi of harinama japa

We also need association. What do you think? Don’t you need association? Who all think that they need sadhu sang? Rupa Goswami Prabhupad said, saṅga-tyāgāt. Just now we’re talking about having sang or association, and now he is saying, saṅga-tyāgāt. Whether we want sanga or we don’t want it? It’s both. saṅga-tyāgāt. He is saying we have to abandon the association, but which association? Asat sanga tyagat vaisnava aachar. We have to leave one type of association and accept another kind of association. Abandon the asat-sang and accept sat-sang. ṣaḍbhir. Six nectarean things which he had discussed in that he talks about this sang or association.

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati

In other sloka he says,

atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca
prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca laulyaṁ ca
ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati

Translation:
One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements. ( NOI Verse 2)

If you do these six things ,then you will gain and strengthen your devotion and there are other six things which if you do, will destroy your devotion. One leads to achievement of devotion while the other leads to its destruction. In another list he tells

atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca
prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca ….

This Jana sanga , one of the political parties name is also ‘Jana-Sangha’. These people out of which some maybe Karmi or some will be Jnani , everyone will have something different. If we take such association of worldly people then what will happen? ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati

One sang leads to blooming up of devotion while another type of sanga will lead to its destruction – progression and destruction. There are two types of association. We all have to understand properly that whatever one is doing currently, whether it is satsang or a asat-sang. For that one needs intelligence. It is called sad -asad vivek which means power of discrimination. Sad-asad buddhi. This association is good sat-sang and that one is asat-sang. Lord is ‘sat’ and Maya is ‘asat’. This is Maya that is Krsna this is Krsna that is Maya, one needs intelligence to keep on discriminating this way. When bodhayantaha parasparam happens among devotees then we gain intelligence. The Lord bestows intelligence in such satsang. If we are buddu (unintelligent) then one will become intelligent. ‘Doka aahe ki khoka aahe?’( Marathi) means whether the head is full or it is an empty box, which is weak in itself. Scriptures say about uttam-anga. Anga means body part. Head is termed as uttam-anga. Out of all body parts which is the best part? It is the head.

īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
hṛd-deśe ‘rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā

Translation:
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy. ( BG. 18.61)

yantrārūḍhāni māyayā – this body is like a machine and who is sitting in it? Whenever any machine or aeroplane is in action which is the most important part? Driver! If you are going by car or aeroplane if others sleep it is fine, but if the driver sleeps? Finished! Crash! Accident! Similarly if other body parts are a little weak or slack it is fine, but intelligence has to be sharp. If the driver is active and sharp then our journey becomes safe and comfortable. Similarly this life is also a journey ‘from womb to tomb’. From womb to finally till the graveyard. If we have good driver meaning sharp intelligence, then this journey will be smooth and in proper order and safe. Even if there are some obstructions that can be dealt with. How can we become intelligent? By sadhu sang. This association gives us intelligence. Lord also bestows intelligence to Arjuna. It is also called Buddhi-yoga even though it is actually Bhakti-Yoga. His mind was also unsteady. Then on the battlefield of Kurukshetra the Lord himself gave association to Arjun.

kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ
pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me
śiṣyas te ‘haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam

Translation:
Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me. (BG. 2.7)

Arjun accepted to become disciple of Krsna and accepted Him as Guru.
krsnam vande jagat gurum.

The Lord plays the role of an acarya, a spiritual master, guide, friend. He gave guidance to Arjun and made him intelligent. He didn’t want to fight, but then this pair achieved success.

Yato dharmaha tato jayaha… (verse quoted in Mahabharata 11 times.)

Wherever there is religion, there will be victory. Wherever there is victory, there is religion. The Lord is establishing the religious principle by explaining Bhagavad – Gita. Arjun became Dharmadyaksa ( knower of the religion) and also protector of the religion. He followed his religion that is Ksatriya Dharma and achieved success. All glories to Krsna and Arjuna! All glories to Bhagavad-Gita. Their conversation is available to us in the form of Bhagavad-Gita in which the Lord became Guru or Sadhu and then bodhayantaha parasparam happened. That conversation is useful for us also or in fact that is for us only who are so fallen.

Keep chanting. It is beneficial to chat in the association of the devotees.

Gaur Premanande!
Hari Haribol!

26th January 2020

Our real identity is to be a servant of the Lord.

Hare Krishna.

All of you are welcome.

Here we are celebrating the 11th anniversary of Aravade temple opening. It would have been great if you would have been in Aravade. As Srila Prabhupada reached New York, he was the only one chanting Hare Krishna. He was not getting any other facility of preaching. He used to do kirtana on the footpath swithout a microphone.

He left India and went to another country and was preaching Krishna consciousness on the instruction of his Guru Maharaja. Prabhupada was struggling alone. But in one sense he was not alone. Where there are devotees of the Lord, the Lord is also present.

atra yogesvarah krsno
yatra partho dhanur-dharah
tatra srir vijayo bhutir
dhruva nitir matir mama

Translation:
Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion. (Bhagavad Gita 18.78)

Wherever there is Arjuna, Lord is also there. The Lord didn’t say this, but Sanjay did. Where there are devotees like Arjuna there the Lord is also present along with 4 other things. Bhagavad Gita ended with this 700th verse.

Srila Prabhupada was doing kirtana and chanting alone on the footpaths in New York. But when he was singing alone, was there anyone else chanting with him? No one was with him. People were walking nearby. They did not know who this old person is, which country he belonged to, with a new hairstyle of no hair on his head and wearing a dhoti kurta. They were seeing everything for the first time in their life. Seeing his dhoti they were reminded of a bed sheet. By seeing his tilak, they were thinking why he was painting that on his head. Everything was surprising for them. When Srila Prabhupada did kirtana, the tune of Hare Krishna was different for them. They didn’t have any clue, what this Hare Krishna is? While doing kirtana he would stop in between and show a picture of Radha Govind and Radha Damodara. He would say that this is Krsna and He is God. Then they would ask what’s this lady (Radharani ) doing nearby Him? This is the difference between people born in India and other countries. In India even a small child knows about Krsna and Radha. If Narayana is there Laxmi will also be there. But In western countries, people didn’t know about this. You can imagine how Srila Prabhupada was preaching amongst such people who had no knowledge of Bhagavata Dharma or Sanatana Dharma. He was preaching and doing kirtana among such people. Those people were not familiar with Krsna, but they were stopping to see what’s going on. They were attracted by the kirtana. Someone was stopping them. They didn’t understand who it was, but Krsna was stopping them. In one sense those boys and girls were unaware of Bhagavata Dharma. Even if the body might belong to any country, be it a boy or girl, without the presence of the soul, the body can’t exist. All the souls are familiar with the Lord. They know the Lord. All these souls belong to the lord.

mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati

Translation:
The embodied souls in this material world are my eternal fragmental parts. But bound by material nature, they are struggling with the six senses including the mind. (Bhagavad Gita 15.7)

This is said by Bhagavan. He is knowledgeable. He knows everything. He is omniscient. He said, “All the souls of this world are My parts and parcels.” By the way, every living entity knows the Lord, but has forgotten. At one time we knew Him, but something happened and we developed a desire for sense gratification. The living entity is bahirmukha (attracted by the external feature) and wants to do bhoga-vancha (wants to enjoy life without Krsna, without God). When such kind of mentality develops, the Maya which stays close to us covers jiva and makes him forget the Lord. Lord is sac-cid-ananada vigraha. His form is of eternity, knowledge and bliss. Jiva is a fragment of the Lord so whichever qualities are there in the Lord also exist in a living entity. Just like the qualities which gold possesses while present in a gold mine, the same qualities are also present in a gold ring. Similarly, the Lord has many qualities and we also have the same qualities of sac-cid-ananada in us being His parts and parcels. People don’t want to die. Do you want to die? I ask this question everywhere, not only in India, but also in America and Australia. But no one is ready to die. All have the same symptoms. We are all pearls of the same necklace. Nobody wants misery in their life. Everyone seeks happiness.

Sukha sampati ghara aave,
Kashta mitte tan kaa
Om Jai Jagadisha hare.

The whole world is praying that they should not get any miseries. No one asks for sorrow. Everyone wants to be happy. We are by nature eternal. We have nothing to do with death. We are eternal soul and at any point, we don’t die.

nainam chindanti sastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na cainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah

Translation:
The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. (Bhagavad Gita 2.23)

No water or flood can wet him. The soul is never annihilated. We souls have forgotten who we are because it is attracted by the external feature and studies Geography and Cosmology. He goes overseas for his studies. He tries to know all the world, but doesn’t know who he is?

We all are servants of the Lord. But nowadays people are becoming a servant of a dog. No one says, ‘I am a servant of the Lord’, but this is our only real identity. If we self-realize this, then we will be happy.

Srila Prabhupada wanted to start the Krishna Consciousness Movement from India, but he didn’t get much response. He was left alone. He wanted some colleagues. When he met grihasthas, he would ask them to give their sons to help him. But no one was ready. One time one family was repeatedly asking for a blessing for their son when they were in the train with Srila Prabhupada. They were repeatedly requesting. Srila Prabhupada finally told them to give his son to him so that he can engage him in the Lord’s service. So when that person heard this he went into another coach.

Then he went to New York from where we have Ekalavya Prabhu who was also born in the same year when Srila Prabhupada reached New York. We also have Sundarlala Prabhu who also was born on the same day when Srila Prabhupada reached New York ie on 17 September 1965 who is now going to take sannyasa.

Prabhupada was doing kirtana, which is Krsna Himself. Through this kirtana a relationship was built up with some living entities. They were hearing the kirtana. Then slowly Prabhupada rented one shop. When he met people on the footpath or park, he welcomed them into that shop. His books are like time bombs. Bombs of this world result in devastation. But Hare Krishna bombs lead to development. He took the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, Bhagavad Gita as bombs. Many were giving up their life of illusion and souls were reborn. When Srila Prabhupada was giving Bhagavatam or Krsna prasada, such gifts were matchless. When we give Bhagavad Gita, we give the Lord Himself. So Bhagavad Gita and prasada are the Supreme Lord Himself.

When Prabhupada took that shop on rent, a signboard was hanging on its forefront. On it was written ” Matchless Gift”. After some days people suggested to Srila Prabhupada to remove that signboard. Srila Prabhupada refused, saying, “We are distributing matchless gifts.” And that gift was:

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

In the same way here at Radha Gopal Temple at Aravade we are celebrating the 11th Anniversary (Brahmotsava). Matchless Gift at 26th Avenue, becomes the first centre of ISKCON. Slowly, many temples were established. This temple was inaugurated 11 years ago. A temple is also called a namahatta. Nowadays there are so many malls and shops where so many materials are being sold. Over here a namahatta was opened where the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is being distributed.

nadīyā-godrume nityānanda mahājana
patiyāche nām-haṭṭa jīvera kāraṇa

Translation:
In the land of Nadiya, on the island of Godruma, the magnanimous Lord Nityananda has opened up the Marketplace of the Holy Name, meant for the deliverance of all fallen souls.( Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

(śraddhāvān jan he, śraddhāvān jan he)
prabhura ājñāy, bhāi, māgi ei bhikṣā
bolo `kṛṣṇa,’ bhajo kṛṣṇa, koro kṛṣṇa-śikṣā

Translation:

O people of faith! O people of faith! By the order of Lord Gauranga, O brothers, I beg these three requests of you: Chant “Krsna!” worship Krsna, and teach others about Krsna. ( Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

For all the faithful living entities, this namahatta has opened. Srila Prabhupada was alone in 1965 chanting Hare Krishna. In the same year I was alone over here. One turned into many. Now the temple is full. The specialty of ISKCON is that the younger generation also come to temples. Not only old people who are free and alone. Our Lord is young and is attracting all the youth. I was also young and joined the temple in 1971. I was studying in Mumbai at Dadar Kirti College. People would ask me, “Is this time to chant Hare Krishna? Are you mad?” I was alone at that time. But now see how many thousands of youths are chanting. In 2004 we had the All India Youth Convention in Pune under the leadership of Radheshyam Prabhu sand myself. 5000 youths attended that Convention. In 1971 I was alone. When the 50th anniversary of ISKCON was celebrated in Pune in 2016, 15000 local students were gathered. Some days before at Indira Gandhi stadium which is the biggest stadium in Delhi, 15000 students were gathered. The Lord wants everybody – young and old. Youths are also welcome on this 11th anniversary.

I am not only talking to the people in Aravade, but to all the people from 400 different places across the world. Every day we chant on the conference. You all are welcome.

Gaur Premanande!
Hari Haribol

25th January 2020

Arrival of Lord Caitanya in Aravade made me fortunate.

Hare Krishna.

All of you are welcome.

Lord Caitanya was preaching the holy names in South India and one day He reached Aravade. I reached here yesterday and Lord Caitanya gave me birth over here. This became my birthplace. As Lord also came over here, I became fortunate because of him.

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

Translation:
According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service. (CC 19.151)

I was studying at the college in Sangli district. Then I thought to be a graduate of Bombay University. So I went to Bombay. There I went to the Hare Krishna festival organized by Srila Prabhupada to see the ‘American and European sadhus’. There I came in contact with Srila Prabhupada. There came a revolution and the right direction in my life just by seeing and hearing Prabhupada. I was veryinspired by the ‘American, European sadhus’ who were doing kirtana. I stayed in Dadar, Mumbai with some people from my village.

I have told you earlier that whenever my roommates went out I would perform kirtana alone in my room closing all the doors and windows. Having seen the Hare Krishna devotees doing kirtana and dancing with all their hearts, with all their strength and energy, with so much devotion and enthusiasm, I also started doing kirtana alone like them and became mad.

There is a long story. Then I came back to my village. Here also I was doing kirtana and chanting. I stayed for about 10 days in Juhu Temple and became a Hare Krishna devotee. Then my brother brought me back to the village. I didn’t stop kirtana. Villagers were saying that how good that boy was and now he has become mad. I was not as mad as Lord Caitanya. All the residents of Mayapur were calling Lord Caitanya mad. There is nothing wrong with them calling me mad. The whole world is crazy.

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

As you all are chanting, you would also have been called mad by your relatives, neighbours, and friends. When I came to my village, my friends were playing as usual. I was chanting. I was not playing with my friends. And this happens. Narada Muni also said that he was not interested in playing.

baalastaavat kreedaa-sakta, tarunas taavatt taruni-sakta:
vruddhastaavat chintaah-sakta, parame brahmani kopi na sakta.

Translation:
The childhood slips away in attachment to playfulness. Youth passes away in attachment to woman. Old age passes away in worrying about many things. Alas, there is hardly anyone who wants to be lost in parabrahman.( Bhaja Govindam Verse 7)

Naturally, children keep on playing. I was not playing like them, I was chanting. I haven’t given up chanting for the last 50 years. My relatives, brothers, sisters were trying to stop my chanting. They were looking for an astrological solution. They were looking for a solution such that I leave Hare Krishna. But I continued my chanting. The Lord didn’t leave me. I didn’t leave Him either. Then, my sister also started chanting and became mad. She also gave up the village and went to Pandharpur. She also didn’t return to the village.

One day I came back to the village with the Hare Krishna devotees from Radha Rasabihari Temple, Juhu to celebrate the Hare Krishna Festival. There is the glory of this festival. I am also the fruit of the festival. Due to the festival, I became a Hare Krishna devotee. If there was no Hare Krishna festival there in Mumbai then I wouldn’t have become a devotee. A Festival becomes the medium to spread the sankirtana movement.

anya-dharmams tiras krtya puras krtya mahotsavan
tada naham harer daso loke tvam na pravartaye

Translation:

Then Narada Muni made a promise. “If I cannot establish bhakti, and only condemn other dharmas, such as varnasramadi-dharma, I promise you, O Devi, I will never be known by the name Haridasa.” (Bhagavata-mahatmyam verse 14)

Narada Muni also said, “I will promote Bhakti.” Then he was asked how he would spread Bhakti. Then he said, “Mohotsavan. I will organise festivals rejecting other things. Mohotsavan puras krtya.I will promote Bhakti Devi.” Srila Prabhupada was also the representative of Narada Muni. Following the tradition of Narada Muni, he also organised the Hare Krishna festival. I also organised the Hare Krishna festival here in Aravade. All the villagers participated in that festival. One day after the festival one person named Shinde met me and immediately he started to chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Earlier he used to chant Ram mantra or Jaya Jaya Ram Krishna Hari. But when he attended the Hare Krishna festival, he took a vow that he would chant 16 rounds daily. I sent a report on this festival to Srila Prabhupada. That festival has so many gatherings. Nobody was there in their homes.

All of them came to the ground of one school to hear from me ” the madman”. Many become a madman. The rule works if you come in the association of a madman, you will also become a madman. Similarly, if someone associates with a drunkard. he also becomes a drunkard. And if someone associates with a thief, he learns how to steal. If someone chants Hare Krishna maha-mantra and becomes mad, then by associating with him others also become mad.I wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada regarding the festival.Food for Life was set up. It was “one kitchen, one family.” We are all one family. The same happens in the Lord’s abode. All friends of the Lord including gwala-bala come together to have a feast like one family. It gives a special experience.

At the time of Asadi also we have a similar feast when thousands of pilgrims go to Gopalpur were they have Gopalkala. Kala means so many dishes. There are so many experiences.Prabhupada was so happy by reading the report. He sent me the reply also. Prabhupada wrote that, ”A person who is ready to chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra make that person representative of ISKCON in your village.” Srila Prabhupada was remembering this place and he was thinking to uplift this village. He was thinking about the bright future of our village. He planned and asked me to have a representative over here. That person became the representative and started preaching.

My uncle and that person who was started chanting, both of them got initiated. One was given the name Bhagavat Dasa and my uncle, whose name was Raja Ram, was initiated as Radha Krishna Dasa. I gave him the name Radha Krishna. Both of them started preaching. Everyday Satsang was happening and they started to read Srila Prabhupad’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is every day. They studied one sloka or some slokas every day. Then they also started Nagar-sankirtana. Then a Hare Krishna centre was established.

11 years before Radha Gopal Temple was established and inaugurated. Temple was opened on Nityananda Trayodasi. Every year we are celebrating Brahmotsava of this temple. For many years we are celebrating on 26 January as it’s also a holiday and people can come. Tomorrow we will be celebrating this festival. I also have come here to celebrate. HH Rama Govind Maharaja and HH Rupa Raghunatha Maharaja have also arrived and many Maharajas of ISKCON will arrive. All of you are welcome for the 11th anniversary (Brahmotsava) of Radha Gopal. They are exquisitely beautiful. You won’t find such beauty anywhere else. They will steal your heart (Chit chor).

They are not alone. We have Nitai Gaursundara, Sita Ram Laxman Hanuman, VitthalaRukmini, Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra are also there. All darsanais in one temple. Also the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya are installed here. There is Gauragaon nearby here. It is 2-3 km from here. This proves that Lord Caitanya passed through this village. He was traveling from Kolhapur to Pandharpur. While traveling he passed through my village and He gave birth to me. Now this is not just a village, but it has become dhama.I’m asking you to come to the dhama. From name to the Lord’s abode. Keep on chanting the holy names which will take you to the Lord’s abode. Never give up chanting the holy names.

If you are chanting it means you already have reached dhama. This is also one understanding. Where else to go? Keep on chanting. Distribute Srila Prabhupada books. Panchali Mataji received a prize as a book distributor in Pune from Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. Altogether ISKCON Pune distributed 3 lakh Bhagavad Gitas. What a single person can do compared to the whole village together? Congratulations to everyone! Take inspiration from them and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Nitai Gaur Premanande
Hari Haribol!

24th January 2020

Japa-talk is an expression of my love for you!

Keep on chanting. You all are welcome.

All over the world devotees are chanting. There is no one foreign over here. We all belong to the Lord. Today’s Indian citizen goes to Dubai and becomes a foreigner. French citizens also come to India and become Indian. We all are foreigners in one sense as we belong to the spiritual world that is Vaikuntha, Goloka, Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Mayapur, Jagannatha Puri or Pandharpur Dhama. These all are our true worlds and we have to return to our spiritual world and we have to attract Lord’s attention by calling out the holy names.

Someone calls or sends message that we have met with an accident or in the hospital or we are in trouble. Please help. So, we all are in trouble in this temporary world of miseries. There is no guarantee over here. Anything could happen at any moment. That’s why we call the Lord. Draupadi also called out to the Lord when she was in trouble and the Lord appeared over there.

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

Remember the Lord and call out to Him and whenever you call Him, remember Him. Chant remembering His form. kar katevari thevonia… ( Sundara te dhyana – abhang of Tukaram Maharaja) how He has kept His hands on His waist. This way you can call and remember Pandurang Viththala.

bamsi vibhushit kara navneer dabhaat ( Anonymous)

How does He play the flute? How are His hands? He is holding a flute in His hands and His hands have been decorated due to holding the flute. There are 3 different kinds of flute. Bamsi, Murali and Venu.

vanand aravinda dala kataksham

So remember that.

baal charitanicha

Yasoda herself churns curd for her baby Krsna to feed Him butter so that her child will give up stealing butter from other places as she thought the servants could not make it tastier. While churning curd, she is remembering the butter stealing pastimes of the Lord at various gopis’ houses. In this way, she is doing her work remembering the Lord. We need to remember the Lord while chanting His name. We can remember the Lord in many ways such as His name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode, followers… There are so many topics. There is no restriction that you should just remember only this.

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragaha

Translation:
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus you have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these names. (Sri Siksastakam verse 2)

There is no restriction for time as well as when to remember and when not to remember the Lord. There is no restriction to just remember a few pastimes such as rasa lila, but we can remember the battlefield of Kurukshetra also. We can remember the instructions of the Lord.

The Lord said:
patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

Translation:
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”(BG. 9.26)

Remember and follow the instructions of the Lord. I am seeing that few mothers are cooking in the kitchen for their children who are about to go to school. Remember that you are cooking bhoga for the Lord and the Lord is the enjoyer. Cook vegetables only.

Lord didn’t accept Duryodhana’s feast as there was no love and devotion within it. Then He came to Vidura’s place. He was an exalted soul. He was living in a simple way – simple living and high thinking. He got confused when the Lord came to eat vegetables in His house. Vegetables means leaves (patram) and bananas means fruits (phalam). These all are natural and received from trees. Tulasi leaves are also leaves (patram). Vidurani fed Him banana peels not bananas, but the Lord accepted that as it was fed with Love. The Lord gave His own menu (patram puspam phalam toyam) while He was having a discussion with Arjuna. Like we ask our guests what they would like to have for breakfast or dinner. When we go to a restaurant, what we eat is important, but along with that which emotions they are feeding is more important. It is important to offer food with love and devotion.

Duryodhana was not offering with love. He was not a yogi, but a bhogi. What Vidurani was offering, even though it was simple like vegetables or banana peels, the Lord appreciated that as the best meal He ever had in His life.

Sabari also fed fruits to Lord Rama as she lived in a kutiya (hut). She was a disciple of Sage Matanga. She wanted to die, but she was asked by Sage Matanga to live as Lord Rama will come to her and she can have His darsana. One day Lord Rama came. Laksman was also there. Laksman was not going to eat anything. He fasted for 14 years. Lord Rama also just ate uncooked food like a vanavasi. He didn’t eat cooked food. Sabari had already collected Jujube fruit for Lord Rama as He could come anytime. Then she offered her fruit to Lord Rama. The Lord was very pleased with her offering. He thanked her. The Lord just wants love. He is pleased with our love and devotion and if the Lord is pleased then we are automatically liberated. In this way, Sabari fed Lord Rama and had darsana. Then Sabari was liberated. She collected some wood and entered into the fire and returned to Ayodhya or Saket dhama.

Lord said
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī mām namaskuru
mām evaisyasi satyam te
pratijāne priyo ‘si me

Translation:
“Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me.” (BG. 18.65)

This is Kali Yuga. You worship the Lord by performing Hari kirtana.

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

This is aradhana. And we should do deities worship as well.

sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Translation:
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages His disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (Gurvastakam verse 3)

Syama Preshtha Mataji is worshiping Deities. But while worshiping deities, there should be kirtana. Like Gaura arati or we play a recording of kirtana at mangal arati.

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā (CC. Adi-lila 7.76)

There should kirtan with every service or worship. As we play kirtana, our worship becomes free from faults.

Lord said that we should think of Him, become His devotee, worship Him and offer obeisances unto Him. One who doesn’t offer obeisances, how can he be devotee? The Lord is so incredible that as soon as we offer obeisances, He does His magic.

Krishna jinka nama hai, Gokul jinka dhama hai
Aise Sri Bhagwan ko, mere Barambaar pranam hai

We should offer Him our obeisances again and again. And what will happen if you do this? The Lord said, “You will surely return to My abode.” Why am I telling you all this? Because you are very dear to Me. He is not just speaking to Arjuna, but all of us also. Parents love their all children. Krsna loves us.

‘Oh all my dear souls!’ Navayogendra Swami Maharaja addresses devotees in this way. All souls are very dear to the Lord and if we are dear to the Lord then we automatically become dear to our spiritual master and all devotees.

prema ki ganga bahaate chalo
jot se jot milate chalo ( Bhajan by Bharat Vyas)

Love the Lord in this way and spread this Ganga of love and light, the lamp of love with the one you have. Help others to revive their love for Krsna, distribute prasada, Harinama and Srila Prabhupada’s books to them. Don’t just say I love you, but show it. Don’t just do lip service.

I also express my love by speaking this Japa talk and addressing you all. Please accept my love.

Gaura prema nande hari haribol!

23rd January 2020

Ecstatic meeting of Swami and Bhrtya!

We were listening to the conversation between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai. But we have not heard or read the first ecstatic meeting between Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai. Maybe sometimes in the past we may have heard it, but we have not discussed that on this zoom conference. It was a sweet union or meeting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to Jiad Narsingh ksetra in Simhachalam. He had moved further along the banks of Godavari River. At Godavari he was reminded of Yamuna. He crossed the river and took bath over there.

godāvarī dekhi’ ha-ila ‘yamunā’-smaraṇa
tīre vana dekhi’ smṛti haila vṛndāvana

Translation:
When He saw the river Godavari, the Lord remembered the river Yamuna, and when He saw the forest on the banks of the river, He remembered Sri Vrndavana-dhama.( CC Madhya 8.11)

When he saw a small forest over there he was reminded of Vrindavan.

sei vane kata-kṣaṇa kari’ nṛtya-gāna
godāvarī pāra hañā tāhāṅ kaila snāna

Translation:
After performing His usual chanting and dancing for some time in this forest, the Lord crossed the river and took His bath on the other bank. ( CC Madhya 8.12)

Mahaprabhu did kirtana over there. When he was reminded of Vrindavan he started dancing in ecstasy.

hena-kāle dolāya caḍi’ rāmānanda rāya
snāna karibāre āilā, bājanā bājāya

Translation:
At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Ramanand Rai came there on a palanquin to take his bath.( CC Madhya 8.14)

There was one procession passing by and Ramanand was coming in that. He was sort of a Governor of Andhra Pradesh at that time.

tāṅra saṅge bahu āilā vaidika brāhmaṇa
vidhi-mate kaila teṅho snānādi-tarpaṇa

Translation:
Many brahmanas following the Vedic principles accompanied Ramanand Rai. According to the Vedic rituals, Ramanand Rai took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.( CC Madhya 8.15)

Many brahmins were accompanying him and they were chanting various mantras. This way Ramanand Rai took bath according to all the rituals.

prabhu tāṅre dekhi’ jānila — ei rāma-rāya
tāṅhāre milite prabhura mana uṭhi’ dhāya

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramanand Rai. The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him. (CC Madhya 8.16)

On seeing that personality , who was the chief among that procession,Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought that this must be Ramanand Rai. Although he had never seen him before , but Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya had told him, “During your travel when you reach Andhra Pradesh please do meet Ramanand Rai.” This thing had a deep impression inCaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mind that one day He has to meet Ramanand Rai. On seeing that personality in the procession he thought this must be Ramanand Rai.

tāṅhāre milite prabhura mana uṭhi’ dhāya

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so eager to meet him that he just wanted to run and go to him. In HIs mind he was thinking let me go and meet him.

tathāpi dhairya dhari’ prabhu rahilā vasiyā
rāmānanda āilā apūrva sannyāsī dekhiyā

Translation:
Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was running after him mentally, He remained seated patiently. Ramanand Rai, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him. ( CC Madhya 8.17)

But Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought that being a sannyasi to exhibit such eagerness would not be the right thing for him to do. Thinking this way he just remained seated over there.

rāmānanda āilā apūrva sannyāsī dekhiyā

But by then Ramanand had seen Mahaprabhu who was in the attire of sanyasi.

sūrya-śata-sama kānti, aruṇa vasana
subalita prakāṇḍa deha, kamala-locana

Translation:
Srila Ramanand Rai then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals. ( CC Madhya 8.18)

Rai Ramanand observed Caitanya Mahaprabhu from a distance. How was he viewing Him? Arun vasan He was wearing saffron clothes as just few months prior he had accepted the renounced order of life and so He was wearing saffron clothes. Aruna Sama- kanti. He was effulgent like the sun.

sūrya-śata-sama kānti, aruṇa vasana
subalita prakāṇḍa deha

He had a big body. He was bigger in size. Usually people from Bengal are of short stature but Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very huge in size , prakand deha. and kamala-locana- His eyes were like the petals of a lotus.

dekhiyā tāṅhāra mane haila camatkāra
āsiyā karila daṇḍavat namaskāra

Translation:
When Ramanand Rai saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod. ( CC Madhya 8.19)

When Rai Ramanand saw Him from a distance , it was an astonishing sight. chamatkar ko namaskar hota hai. Whenever people see some marvellous things they bow down to that. He offered prostrated obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

uṭhi’ prabhu kahe, — ūṭha, kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’
tāre āliṅgite prabhura hṛdaya satṛṣṇa

Translation:
The Lord stood up and asked Ramanand Rai to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna. Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very eager to embrace him. (CC Madhya 8.20)

Mahaprabhu told him to Remember Krsna. It’s talk of sravanam kirtanam visnohu smaranam. ( SB. 7.5.23-24) He looked at the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. prakand deha kamal lochan surya sam kanti. Try to visualise this description in your mind. Remember this form. Ramanand Rai took darsana of such a form of the Lord and he also offered his obeisances unto Him. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu told him, ‘Get up! Get up! Get up!’ and not only this but he was told to chant Krsna! Say Krsna! Krsna Krsna!

Jīva Jago jīva Jago Gaurachand bole … .( Bhajan from Geetavali by BVT)

‘Get up and listen to what I am saying’ and what he was saying? To say Krsna ! Chant Krsna! Krsna Krsna!

We also could do the same things. We also offer obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu in our mind. And Mahaprabhu can tell us also get up. Get up! Say Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Say Krsna! Say Krsna!

tāre āliṅgite prabhura hṛdaya satṛṣṇa

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Ramanand an intense desire developed in His mind sa-trisna ( strong desire) , what was that? Intense desire to embrace Ramanand Rai.

tathāpi puchila, — tumi rāya rāmānanda?
teṅho kahe, — sei haṅa dāsa śūdra manda

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramanand Rai, and he replied, “Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community.” (CC Madhya 8.21)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu still first enquired with him whether he was Ramanand Rai. There was eagerness in the mind to impress him, but still He first inquired just to confirm or make sure whether he was Ramanand Rai. teṅho kahe, — sei haṅa dāsa śūdra manda Ramanand explained that he was that. He was a lowly and unintelligent person. That Ramanand Rai who is from the low caste. That Ramanand Rai who is bereft of any intelligence. Just note that, this is the humility.
Amanina manaden ….. and trinadapi sunicen. He didn’t introduce himself in a positive manner, “I am that Ramanand who is the governor of this province.” Such thoughts never arise in the minds of such sincere devotees.

tabe tāre kaila prabhu dṛḍha āliṅgana
premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya doṅhe acetana

Translation:
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramanand Rai very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.(CC Madhya 8.22)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Ramanand Rai firmly in his long hands. He not just touched him, but embraced him firmly. premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya doṅhe acetana When they embraced each other then premāveśe prabhu-bhṛtya, one is Prabhu – master and other is bhrtya.- servant. Prabhu is Mahaprabhu and bhrtya is Rai Ramanand. Our state is also the same. We are also bhrtya.

isvara ekala krsna ar san bhrtya. ( CC Adi 5.142) Krsna is Swami, Jagannatha Swami or Krsna is the Isvara or parameswar and all others are bhrtya. We all are Bhrtya. When Prabhu and Bhrtya embrace each other they became unconscious to the external world. They lose body consciousness. They even forget that they were standing and they lose the balance.

svābhāvika prema doṅhāra udaya karilā
duṅhā āliṅgiyā duṅhe bhūmite paḍilā

Translation:
Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell to the ground. ( CC Madhya 8.23)

While embracing each other they lost bodily consciousness. They even forgot that they wear standing and so they lost balance and then they fell on the ground.

stambha, sveda, aśru, kampa, pulaka, vaivarṇya
duṅhāra mukhete śuni’ gadgada ‘kṛṣṇa’ varṇa

Translation:
When they embraced each other, ecstatic symptoms — paralysis, perspiration, tears, shivering, paleness and standing up of the bodily hairs — appeared. The word “Krsna” came from their mouths falteringly. ( CC Madhya 8.24)

Their whole body started exhibiting such symptoms as they became ‘stambhit’ – like a rod, like a stambh or pillar. Pillar never moves here and there, both of them became that way like the pillar. Then there was trembling , and they fell down on ground and there were tears from their eyes. Their hairs were standing on end. At times they were laughing and then they were crying. Both of them were in such an ecstatic state.

dekhiyā brāhmaṇa-gaṇera haila camatkāra
vaidika brāhmaṇa saba karena vicāra

Translation:
When the stereotyped, ritualistic brahmanas who were following the Vedic principles saw this ecstatic manifestation of love, they were struck with wonder. All these brahmanas began to reflect as follows. ( CC Madhya 8.25)

Rai Ramanand’s brahmans, ministers, servants were all there at some distance on the bank of Godavari. They were viewing this exhibition of intense emotions. When they saw this they were surprised, to see this meeting and such exhibition of ecstatic symptoms.

ei ta’ sannyāsīra teja dekhi brahma-sama
śūdre āliṅgiyā kene karena krandana

Translation:
The brahmanas thought, “We can see that this sannyasi has a lustre like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a sudra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?”

The level of the brahmanas who were accompanying Rai Ramanand was low. It was meeting of bhrtya and Swami. Gauranga and Rai Ramanand were in an ecstatic phase and in comparison to the state of their mind , their superior thinking , the level of the brahmanas was low. They were not able to understand , what was happening, and then they started commenting and criticizing. They just started pointing faults in both of them, and started discussing it. ‘Oh! Look at this sannyasi! Sannyasi should be serious and grave but this sannyasi is crying. And why he is crying?’ Although Rai Ramanand was the Governor but by birth he was sudra. He was the son of the Bhavanand Rai. The brahmins where thinking that Ramanand is sudra and this sannyasi is embracing the sudra? And look how he is crying.

ei mahārāja — mahā-paṇḍita, gambhīra
sannyāsīra sparśe matta ha-ilā asthira

Translation:
They thought, “This Ramanand Rai is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a maha-pandita, but upon touching this sannyasi he has become restless like a madman.”

And our chief Rai Ramanand, although he is very learned , but on touching the sannyasi he has turned so unstable. Why is he crying?

ei-mata vipra-gaṇa bhāve mane mana
vijātīya loka dekhi, prabhu kaila samvaraṇa

Translation:
While the brahmanas were thinking in this way about the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw those outsiders and restrained His transcendental emotions. (CC Madhya 8.28)

These Brahmanas are termed vijatiya. sajatiya and vijatiya. Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Rai Ramanand were of one caste or jati. They were filled with the same kind of emotions of devotion, so they were sajatiya. Brahmins were vijatiya. They were of the other type, or of the lower level. There was la big gap between both of their thinking and so they are termed vijatiya. Both of them observed that the other party is not understanding their emotions and they are gossiping among each other, criticising them. They must have heard something or must have guessed their talks.

Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Rai Ramanand composed themselves. The site of their meeting was confidential. It was not for the public. Actually this meeting should have happened in seclusion, but circumstances were not like that and so the meeting took place on the bank of Godavari itself. And then everyone witnessed their ecstatic emotions. All the people who were accompanying Ramanand Rai were vijatiya, among which were ritualistic brahmanas, and many other people. Preaching to the faithless is an offence. Preaching should not be done to those who have low faith or no faith. Ecstatic emotions of a higher level should not be executed in front of them. They won’t understand or they will understand it incorrectly and then we will commit offences. Because of this preachers and Spiritual Masters should be very cautious. Preaching to the faithless is an offence. Disclosing confidential things to low minded people or new people is an offence. To protect themselves from committing such an offence Mahaprabhu and Ramanand withdrew their ecstatic symptoms.

Then they had further conversation. We have just discussed the meeting and their glancing at each others. Till now their talk has not begun. Now they will introduce themselves to each other.

Further Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami has written in Caitanya-caritamrita. We will see further. This chapter is very important. Till now just the meeting is taking place. Then they kept on meeting everyday for 7 more days and kept conversing. This conversation between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand is part of Caitanya-caritamrita and is a very famous incident. Many confidential matters were discussed and disclosed in this conversation. Many things and theories and confidential matters of Madhurya lila pastimes were discussed in this. There are many such questions/answers from the discussion between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai, which are like Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Perfect questions, Perfect answers.’

22nd January 2020

Saari Bhumi Gopal Ki

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Amravati’s Temple President, Ananta Sesa Prabhu has sent a message about ISKCON Amravati’s Nama Japa Yajna. They are in need of land. So they are going to perform Nama Japa Yajna till they get land for the temple. All of you please give your best wishes. Keep on performing Nama Sankirtana Yajna all ISKCON Amravati devotees. All the land belongs to Gopal. But they are trying to claim it. They try to claim the land as their own and don’t want to give land to construct a temple. Those who don’t give land will get punished. To save oneself from it one should offer the land. We are trying to fight between me and mine, keeping the Lord away.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati

Translation:
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries. [BG 5.29]

Those who understand this will become peaceful.

Hadapsar devotees also need land. They should also do Sankirtana Yajna.
Srila Prabhupada called this 29th verse of 5th chapter the Peaceful Formula.
Those who falsely claim that land belongs to them and cannot donate the land for the construction of the temple get punished. If we want to avoid punishment, we have to understand this sloka. The Lord is the enjoyer and hence is offered everything. We should become yogi and Bhagavan is bhogi. If we don’t offer then we become rogi.

“Whatever yajna you perform offer that unto Me.”

Any activity we perform should be offered to the Lord. We should act for Yajna. Every single activity should be Yajna. Yajna means Supreme Lord. Lord is Yajna Purusha.

yajnarthat karmano ‘nyatra
loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samacara

Translation:
Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. [BG 3.9]

All activities should be offered unto the Lord.

tad kurum madh arpan – The tongue of the Yajna is the Lord’s tongue. If we don’t act for the pleasure of the Lord then it becomes a cause of bondage. It will become a knot in our heart. Why is the Lord the enjoyer? Because everything belongs to Him.

sarva-loka-mahesvaram [BG 5.29]

Oh fools, you also belong to the Lord. I belong to the Lord. This is the right ego or aham. You start from here – ‘I belong to the Lord’. That’s the end. There shouldn’t be any false ego. I’m servant of Krsna and this is the correct and true ego. As we identify ourselves as servants of the Lord then aham is finished. Then mama also gets finished. If we don’t identify ourselves as belonging to the Lord then something remains apart. Then this false identification leads to aham brahmasmi which Srila Prabhupada calls the last snare of Maya. With manasa deho geho everything finishes. I belong to the Lord. So I’ll perform Yajna and sacrifice everything which I was considering mine. I’ll use it in the service of the Lord. Everything belongs to the Lord and it has to be utilised in the service of the Lord.

In Bengal a house is called Thakur badi. They open an account in the name of the Lord. There is then no question of mamma or me and mine. Such a person is always liberated. For such people an airplane from Vaikuntha will come. We need to be liberated in order to get back to Vaikuntha. Maya has been described in Srimad-Bhagavatam in two words ME and MINE.

Aham mamma ja iti this is Maya.
Aham + mamma + iti

Aham means ‘me’, mamma means ‘mine’, iti means ‘this much’

They say there is no peace. If you all say there is no peace, if you aspire for Bhakti,
mukti, siddhi, then you won’t be peaceful.

kṛṣṇa-bhakta–niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī–sakali ‘aśānta’

Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.
[Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta-Madhya 19.149]

If we understand these three things:
1.Lord is enjoyer means Bhokta.
2.Why is the Lord the enjoyer? – sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Because everything belongs to Him.
3.Our heart or supersoul. Suhrdam

“Oh all living entities. I’m your best friend”. He is giving us this information. In English we say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” One who helps us when in need, is our true friend. Lord isn’t our friend for namesake. He always helps when we are in need. The Biggest problem is birth, death, disease and old-age. This will go on again and again.

punarapi jananam punaripi maranam
punarapi janani jathara sayanam,
iha samsra bahudusare krpaya’ pare
Pahi murare

This is a prayer to Murari made by Sankaracarya even though he preached Mayavada. He is pleading for help. No one can help. Neither scientists, doctors nor actors. Who has the solution? This problem will keep on going. We have established our temporary army of relatives, wife…. Which Sukadev Goswami calls false as it can’t help you to get rid of 4 real problems of ‘birth, death, disease and old age’. The Lord says that only He can help. One who knows these three things will attain peace. Let there be peace. May the minds of people in Amravati experience peace! The industrialists in Amravati also want peace so make them understand how they can get peace by giving up this false claim. It is a start at least. Let there be peace in India, America,Russia and everywhere.

This is the mission of Lord Caitanya and this is the purpose of ISKCON. So instruct everyone about the teachings of Krsna. Contemplate on this. Do you want peace in Damodardesh, Hadapsar? If you want, then preach truth and do Harinama. Essence of all truth is Nama Sankirtana. Give up garbage and grab the essence. Apart from the holy name there’s nothing valuable in this 14 planetary system. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur said this

kṛṣṇa-nāma-sudhā koriyā pān,
jurāo bhakativinoda-prāṇ,
nāma binā kichu nāhiko āro,
caudda-bhuvana-mājhe

Translation:
Drink the pure nectar of the holy name of Krsna. There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds. (From the Vaisnava Bhajan Udilo Aruna Puraba Bhage, Verse 8 by Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

It has filled the soul of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Thank you
Hare Krishna

21st January 2020

Sarvatma Snapanam

Hare Krishna. I. I am very happy and pleased that nearly 495-500 participants are chanting with us from all over the world.Keep chanting.

When I was rewarded this garland of flowers, I was reminded of Lord Caitanya when He visited Simhachal.

sri mahaprabhu simhachal gela

Gela is a Marathi word. Así means mother. Saci Mata is called as Aai which is also used in Marathi.

Lord Caitanya went to Simhachal. Simha means Narasimha and achal means Mountain. So Simhachal is where Lord Narasimha stays on the top of the mountain hill. Lord Caitanya offered His obeisances to Lord Narasimha. When you read, the idea is that we also see when we hear. That scene should be in front of us. We should see Lord Caitanya offering obeisances to Lord Narasimha. Both are the same Lord. The Lord is offering obeisances to Himself. He is also dancing and glorifying.

Jai Narasimha
Jai Jai Narasimha
praladesa jaya padma
mukha padma bhrnga

Praladesa means Prahalad+esa. The Lord of Prahlada means Narasimha. Bhrnga means bee. Only saying Jaya Narasimha is singing glory. Prahaladesh means the Lord of Prahalad. Laksmi has become bhrnga (bee) and She Is wondering around His face. We can also say that the Lord has become bhringa. Laksmi who is also called Padma stays on the chest of the Lord and is also there. The Lord has become a Bee and is drinking the beauty of the lotus face of Laksmi.

Ugram viram mahavishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham narasimham bhishanam bhadram mrtyum mrtyum namamyaham

In this sloka the 9 names of Narasimha are described.

There are 8 Narasimhas in Andhra Pradesh and a 9th in Simhachal. Are you taking darsana of the 9 Narasimhas that I am showing you?

We have published a photograph in our Padayatra Magazine. In that you will find darsana of Narasimha. Lord Caitanya is singing the glories of the Lord in ecstasy. The temple pujari brought the garland of Narasimha and offered it to Lord Caitanya. He also would have offered Tulasi at the feet of the Lord. In this way, the pujari welcomed Lord Caitanya. This is also the garland from Narasimha Kshetra which I have been offered. I was reminded of that when I was offered this garland.

In yesterday’s Japa talk we were discussing the conversation between Ramanand Rai and Mahaprabhu on the banks of the river Godavari.

When we read or hear anything, that scene should be in front of us. We should visualise Lord Caitanya offering obeisances to Lord Narasimha. Have you visited Simhachal? Srila Prabhupada and I had also gone to Simhachal. If you have not visited, then please go because one day we have to leave this world. Do not be attached to your house. When Lord Caitanya took darsana of Godavari, He immediately thought of Yamuna Devi. He was so Krishna Conscious. Any little fragrance or touch or water made Him remember Vrindavan. As soon as He sees a cloud He remembers Syamsundar. How are the clouds? They are dark just like Syam. This kind of remembrance used to take place in the case of Radha and the Gopis. Lord Caitanya is in the mood of Radharani. Whenever He saw any river, He remembers Yamuna. When He saw any forest, He would remember Vrindavan, the forest of Vrinda. If He used to see any hill, He would remember Govardhan. He has fully developed Krishna consciousness.

This is simple living and high thinking. Krsna’s thoughts are only high thinking.

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

When we are doing Kirtana, Lord Caitanya is pleased. Because He Himself chanted the maha-mantra. As soon as Lord Caitanya saw a river, a cloud or a hill then He would directly connect with Krsna. When we chant Hare Krishna we also establish direct contact with Krsna. Lord Caitanya was so Krishna conscious that there was no limit to his ecstasy.

anandam budhi vardhanam

We sing in Damodarastakam

itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe

Lord Damodar plays such pastimes and the Vrajavasis and associates of Lord Caitanya are taking a dip in the ocean of ecstasy when they witness the Lord’s pastimes.

Lord Caitanya has sometimes spoken on the chanting of Hare Krishna in His own astakam.

sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

When we chant our soul is having abhishek. We also take a dip in the ocean of the nectar of the holy name. There is no limit to the ecstasy. We also have to experience this ecstasy. Our past acaryas have experienced this. We have the means – nama sankirtana by following the rules and regulations of Japa and by learning how to chant.

One devotee of ISKCON has compiled a book, ”Art Of Chanting”. We need to learn this. At the time of initiation, we are given this homework. Chant a minimum 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily. Follow the 4 regulative principles. We are reminded of the ten offences. The aim of our life is to get Krsna Prema. We should attain Krsna Prema as soon as possible.

Hare Krishna
Thank you.