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Remember ‘all of Krsna’ While Chanting 6th January 2020
6 January 2020
REMEMBER ‘ALL OF KRSNA’ WHILE CHANTING!
I am in Pandharpur. This talk is not only for those who are in this conferencebut alsofor the temple devotees. Pilgrims who have arrived over here are also asked to chant astray do in Mayapur. In this way the message of Krsna, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa, is being instructed to everyone.
om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
caksur unmīlitam yena tasmai śrī-gurave namah
When we chant, it is also called as nama-smaran, remembering the holy name. Remembering Krsna means nama-smaran. Somebody was mentioning in the japa reform post the 64 qualities of the holy name as mentioned in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. As Prabhupada said, “When we chant, we have to remember ‘All of Krsna’ such as the pastimes of Krsna, His qualities, forms and abode. This is a straight forward thing. We should understand this non difference
nama chintamani caitanya rasa vigraha nitya suddha mukta abhinatvam, abhinatvam nama namino
There is no difference in nama and nami. They are the same. One whose name is being addressed is called nami, one who has his dham, is called dhami. One who has lust is called kami or lusty.
Krsna says
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah ( BG 9.34)
Translation
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.
‘Remember me! Remember My name is also remembering Me. Remember My form.
Sundara the dhyana ubhe vitevari ( abhang of Tukarama Maharaja)
Translation
Beautiful enchanting form of the Lord is standing on the brick.
The form is Me. Remember My pastimes and abode. It’s the same as Me. The Lord’s name is His form.
I am writing a book in Hindi entitledSri Krsna Swarupa Cintana. Cintana means contemplation. This book has 5 chapters.
mac-citta mad-gata-prana
Every chapter is Sri Krsna swarupa. First chapter is about nama-cintana, next chapter is rupa or swarupa cintan. Name is also a form or swarupa. When we say form it means the Lord looks like this. We see photos or make a video. The Lord’s form is not His only form but His name is also His form.
Caitanya-caritamrta describes:
Kali-kāle nāma rūpe krsna-avatāra( CC Adi. 17.022)
In the age of kali, Krsna incarnates in the form of the holy name. Name is also form. Name is non-different from the Lord.
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
Lord asks us to remember his name, form, pastimes, qualities and abode. They all are swarupa of the Lord. It’s all Krsna’s kindness. He is very kind that these all are also His swarupa.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
When we chant the maha- mantra, we do sravanam kirtanam visnu smaranam. ( SB. 7.5.23, 24) We remember Krsna, Rama, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna is Rama or Narasimha. When we chant then there are many things worth remembering.Just hear. Don’t remember Krsna. Don’t contemplate on His form, qualities, pastimes… This is voidism or impersonalism. Lord is very sweet. What about his sweetness then? Srila Prabhupada has clearly told Sivananda Prabhu. When we chant Hare Krishna, we have to remember ‘All of Krsna’, everything related to him.
vama-bahu-kruta-vama-kapolo
śrī-gopya ūcuḥ
vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo
valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum
komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ
gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ ( SB. 10.35.2/ Yugal geet)
Translation
The gopis said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute which He has placed to His lips, blocking its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance.
The Gopis also remember Krsna. There are many songs in Srimad-Bhagavatam such as Yugala-geet, Bhramara geet, Venu geet, Gopigeet, etc in the 10th canto. gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ. Gopis also remember Mukunda and sing His glories. Yugala means two gopis are singing together. They are remembering the Lord and glorifying His qualities. They always see Krsna and be with him. Gopis know how is Krsna. Have you seen Krsna? I haven’t seen Him but I have heard from those who have seen Krsna. How does He look?
The Gopis are one party who always see Krsna and want to be with Him. A few Gopis and Manjaries appeared over here 500 years ago. Rupa Manjari appearing as Rupa Goswami. He wrote a few books such as Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (The Nectar of Devotion),Ujwala Nilamani. Madhurya lilas has been described in The Nectar of Devotion but he was not satisfied with this book so he wrote another book namely Ujwala Nilamani which is exclusively dedicated for conjugal dealings of Radha and Krsna. He had so much information and wrote so many books. Other Goswamis also wrote regarding name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode and associates of Krsna.
When we read or hear all these things then chips of our brain will be filled with this knowledge and then we will remember the Lord. When we hear or study, it means we are doing sravanam and when we speak with the devotees,
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca ( BG. 10.9)
Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
We enlighten each other. Srila Prabhupada asked us to chant in the morning session and then we see the Lord whose name we chanted and remembered. Then we worshipacarya.
acharyavan purusho veda.
Translation
One who follows the acaryas knows things as they are.”(Chandogya Upanishad, 6.14.2)
This line is very important.
tad viddhi pranipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadeksyanti te jñānam
jñāninas tattva-darśinah.
Translation:
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.( BG 4.34)
Those who are following the acarya will get knowledge. We worship our Gurus, perform Guru Puja. This is included as a part of sadhana. Then there is Srimad-Bhagavatam class. Nityam bhagavat sevaya. So, there is one part of chanting and another part of hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. These both are complementary with each other. When we chant attentively then we will realise Srimad-Bhagavatam and we will act with irrevocable faith. Knowledge will turn into realization. When we chant then we will realize while hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam.When we hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, our japa will improve. So, study sastras such as Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam. It will help when we chant Hare Krishna. Remembering Krsna is a part of japa. How japa should be done? We could describe it in one word – attentively or meditatively.
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
Remember the Lord. Hear Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are 10 topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The ultimate topic is asraya and that is Sri Krsna. All other 9 topics are there to help to remember the Supreme. satyam param dhimahi( SB1.1.1) When we hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, we will remember the Lord and then we will take shelter of Lord.
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam śaranam vraja ( BG18.66)
As we hear, we can take shelter of the Lord. As you hearSrimad-Bhagavatam you will have a nice time while chanting. This is a preparation for chanting which includes the study of scriptures. We don’t just chant. harer nāmaiva kevalam. It has been said to just chant, but Jiva Goswami says that whatever you do has to be accompanied by chanting of Hare Krishna. All other angas of bhakti namely śravanam, kirtanam, visnu smaranam, pāda-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dāsyam, sakhyam, ātma-nivedanam have to be accompanied by the chanting of Hare Krishna. Work with the hands and chant with the mouth. nishidram karoti. When all our activities and duties are accompanied by chanting of Hare Krishna then all the loopholes or flaws will be rectified by it. So the Gopis always remember the Lord as I was discussing in Yugala geet.
gopya irayati yatra mukundah
They have all sights stored in their mind.
vama-bahu-kruta-vama-kapolo
They have seen His cheeks, His tilted body or bends.
valgita-bhrur adhararpita-venum
komalangulibhir ashrita-margam
He is moving His eyebrows up and down as if they are dancing. He holds His flute on His lower lip and with His soft fingers, He opens and covers a few holes of His flute.
His hands are dancing. His eyebrows are dancing. His neck is leaned. this is the beginning of the song. If we have read all these things during Srimad-Bhagavatam class that how Krsna clothes Himself, plays the flute then we will have darsana of His form, pastimes, qualities…
Krana is not only a butter thief but also a heart thief. He is a leading man in thieves. These are all His qualities. There is an astakam giving the list of different kinds of His stealing. We should remember the Lord’s form, his qualities, pastimes… When we were talking about all these things a few days ago, I thought of these points. We should remember the Lord’s form. When Sivananda Prabhu asked Srila Prabhupada if it an offense to remember the pastimes of the Lord during chanting Prabhupada said, “It is required.” We must remember ‘All of Krsna’ including His name, form, qualities and pastimes.
One Mataji has said that there are many signs on the soles of Krsna’s feet. How many are there? Eleven and Eight. 19?
So, we are getting into details. Jiva Goswami and many acaryas have enlightened us regarding the various marks on the feet and hands of Krsna, Radha, Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. We can also remember these signs. We should remember the lotus feet of Krsna and surrender unto His lotus feet. If we remember Him then we will surrender unto Him. All various signs are very active and merciful and they reciprocate with those who bow down at Krsna’s lotus feet. There is a sign of the sudarshan chakra which protects one who bows down at His lotus feet.
There is a sign of an umbrella. One who remembers this gets honour. In South India Padayatra, we saw that when they greet someone they take a kumbha, umbrella. So, this is a way to show respect. In few temples, an umbrella is held over Srila Prabhupada. It’s written that one who remembers the lotus feet of the Lord, for him every sign will nurture one’s devotion. Signs are also the Lord. This non different business is important, but difficult to understand. So, when we chant, there are many topics worthy of remembering. Our chanting should not be null and void. There should be something to remember then we can say we chanted with attention.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
