Glorious Departure of Srila Haridas Thakur

*Glorious Departure of Srila Haridas Thakur || ISKCON Almaty, Kazakhstan || H. H. Lokanath Swami*

*Date :- 06 SEPTEMBER 2025*

So uh so lord has appeared here in the form of ‘Giriraj’ This country I don’t know much geography but I but I could see so many mountains all around big-big mountain, rocks but then there’s one other little rock here We do not worship those mountains around but we worship ‘Giriraj Govardhan’ there’s a difference I think I’m trying to get that across between rock and rock and this rock and other rocks a huge difference also. And you all have become ‘Giriraj Bhakt’s, ‘Devotees Giriraj.’ Because its Gaur Nitai is here “Gaur Nitai ke Jay” “Narsimha Dev ke Jay” He also come out of the rock. Came out of the White Pillar to protect his devote “Prahlada” And now he is here to protect all of you. As you see And probably give us Prayers for Narsimha and some places deities of Narsimha protection was needed. So for that arranged Prayers and Worship of Narsimha in his form at one point. And then there’s also ‘Varaha’ “Varaha dev ke Jay”

When entire earthly planet was in difficulty in big trouble. It feel The Whole earth fell into the ocean. ‘Garbhodaka Ocean’ So earth had to be pruthvi. It’s called ‘Pruthvi Mata’ “Pruthvi Mata ke Jay” or we say mother. Earth mother earth. I think everywhere all over the world they say so that’s the understanding earth is a mother. What does mother do? Does the feeding a lot of things but feeding? Feeding the children. So we are all not just human beings but all beings in all species of life. They’re all feed. Feeding is essential (shlok) is all the all the living entities are they subsist they survive on grains. Grains or “Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam’ of these four items ofcourse ‘Pushpam” we do not eat but ‘Patram’ Leaves vegetables, Salad ‘Phalam’ fruits everywhere. But next to the house that I’m residing right now, there’s a there’s a tree with lots of pears hanging, a ripe one’s ready to go. As if mother earth is ready to feed me also you know here fruit for you that’s how always feel like that here are the flowers for you. Here are fruits for you. Here grains for you. This for you. Sometimes the trees are loaded. So earth is certainly our mother, everybody’s mother. Let’s this is not the Topic but same mother same mother earth is also mistreated and exploited in so many ways bby her offspring or children. This is not Fair.

This is not at all fair. As a result, there’s mother earth has developed some fever and it’s rising. Temperature of mother earth is rising. You heard about that that all these climatic changes. So we are getting. What’s happening…So uh so the earth was again her earth was also being exploited by this Hiranyaksha. The demon Hiranyaksha so uh so there are many demons right now. They’re acting like they’re Hirenyaksha. So then Lord had appear as a ‘Varaha’ And he lifted the earth from the depth of the ocean. I took note that Varaha has a teeth. Your Varaha ‘Our Varaha’ is here as a teeth and ‘The Varaha Dev’ He said he was holding earth on the tip or top of his teeth tooth, tooths. So when the earth was held on the top of the the tooth, if you’re going to take a selfie or a photograph of Lord with the earth, Earth was just little spot just just here somewhere. It only covered a little. I’m just trying to point out to to you How giants giant size was Varaha. If you were to see Varaha him holding the earth probably you would not even see the Earth. It was so huge and a little more to say about Varaha So after lifting holding the earth ‘Varaha Dev’ Comes up and he sits on the bank of Jamuna at the place called “Vishram Ghat” Is it loud enough? You’re hearing in the back (guru maharaj asking devotees). Okay, you’re with us You’re getting back Okay, you’re the picture. Now lord is in Mathura sitting on one Ghat. ‘Ghat’ is a bathing place on the bank of ‘Jamuna’ and earth is still on the tooth. India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkistan, all these sons are still up there and he’s sitting in Vrindavan, Mathura. The point being Vrindavan nothing changes for Vrindavan. Vrindavan, Mathura are eternal. They never fall down. They are never destroyed. They are eternal and they stay whenever they are And finally whole world is dissolved finished Vrindavan Mathura Mayapur Jagannath Puri Dham ki jayyyy

They all stay intact wherever they are stand still and eternal .

And all the past times keep happening there

Varah Dev ki Jay

Today this disappearace day of namacharya Shri Haridas Thakur … Haridas Thakur ki Jay

On this day some 500 years ago in the presence of Chaitanya mahaprabhu Haridas Thakur was there at his bhajan kutir in Jagannath Puri

Please call siddha bakul siddha bakul

bakul is the kind of tree

They make a toothbrush for Jagannath from this bakul tree branch

And Jagannath when he gets up in the morning he hey brushes his tooth with the bakul branch

One day Chaitanya mahaprabhu he had gone for the darshan of Jagannath Jai Jagannath

And then he took one that morning toothbrush of Jagannath and that was bakul Branch

And then he used to visit Haridas Thakur every single day

As you know Haridas Thakur was born in the Muslim family and hence as was the tradition of this place holy place only Hindus are allowed.

So Haridas Thakur was not allowed go take darshan .

Maybe some of you also a muslim background or a Christian background then very similar for your sake

Chaitanya mahaprabhu has come hari bolllll

To meet you to give you Darshan

And he is going everywhere all over the planet Chaitanya mahaprabhu is going and also Giriraj Govardhan going varaha going Narasimha they are going you cannot come to lord has come to you

So Haridas Thakur not allowed to enter Jagannath Mandir and take darshan but

jei gaur sei krsna sei jaganath

Chaitanya mahaprabhu is Jagannath , krsna so Jagannath in the form of Chaitanya mahaprabhu is to go to Haridas Thakur place to give him Darshan . This is the magnanimity of gauranga

Namo om maha vadanyaay so anyway on that one morning mahaprabhu took that toothbrush bakul branch and upon arounding at

Before it was not known as sidhha bakul but that particular morning lord planted that branch in the ground and quickly they grew into a shady tree and then Haridas Thakur was getting cool shade of this bakul tree otherwise all day long chanting 300000 names of lord he would be in the middle of scorching heat

So the lord arranged some protection shade for him

So the final day had come for Haridas Thakur and finally that final day on the final date Chaitanya mahaprabhu had gone as usual to meet to give Darshan to Haridas Thakur it was arranged previously that morning was going to be last morning last day for haridas thakur occur in this world in that body of Haridas.

So all those devotees all those associates of Chaitanya mahaprabhu they were having wonderful amazing kirtan chanting and dancing and roaring kirtan .

Haridas Thakur he was lying down and mahaprabhu was next to him standing finally Yehh this final moment is coming so please listen to this don’t miss okay do not sleep

The claimax is coming claimax

So Chaitanya mahaprabhu places his Lotus foot only one not foot on the chest of Haridas Thakur

Yehh

You know what he has done what did he do ??

I want to know where are you seeing that ??

You may also like lord doing something similar when your , my last ay comes .

So Haridas Thakur immediately grabbed a Lotus feet of Chaitanya mahaprabhu with his both hands

That’s that was act number 1 okay then only few more attention

A next thing was Haridas Thakur eyes you have eyes his eyes were fixed on lotus face of Chaitanya mahaprabhu drinking the nectar of the beauty of gaurangas lotus face

And one more thing is going to happen you know what .. I will tell you just listen .

And Haridas Thakur well earlier his mouth was kind of closed or shut, then he opened his mouth .

Last word utters was sri krsna Chaitanya

Hari bol…….

So all that happened there is more but all this much happened that morning on this day 500 year ago

Who has departed

namacharya Haridas Thakur has departed .

Namacharya Haridas Thakur is also called Brahma haridas Thakur.

Why ??

Anyone???

Bramha has appeared as hariras Thakur

Brahma has Acharya Brahma is like Adi Aacharya original Acharya the first Acharya of the disciplic succession he is also called adi kavi

tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ

Lord had imparted knowledge unto the heart of Brahma and empowered him as a chariot the same and we belong to that disciplic succession bramha madhva gaudiya Vaishnav that’s all that you are you are all bramha madhav gaudiya samprday bhakton ki Jay

So bramha who is more known for a being knowledgeable because he was the one…. first one lord imparted knowledge to him he was known for knowledgeable person .

But in the age of Kali of course knowledge is always there but the process to for liberation final liberation I am getting love of God here is to chant the holy names of the lord hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna hare hare Ram hare Ram Ram hare hare

So lod Chaitanya mahaprabhu who is Krishna himself

He wanted Brahma to become Acharya of the Holy name also .

So lord is the one Chaitanya mahaprabhu gives this title of namacharya Haridas Thakur or bramha Haridas Thakur he diaparts in the very presence of the lord Chaitanya mahaprabhu they this departure is also compared to it is similar to grandfather vishma ‘s departure

Grandfather vishma was lying on the bed of arrows in kurukshetra .

And then he wanted to live he had a power that he could leave the body any day anytime that he wants to as per his choice . He had a choice. And he has such a benediction to she wanted to leave particular day

It’s called of course called makar Sankranti Day

Makar Sankranti 14th of January the sun is migrates and transmigrates from Southern hemisphere to the Northern hemisphere there is a one particular day that migration is completed or something like …

Save the news spread grandfather bhishma leave on this day this particular day .

Lord Krishna was in Hastinapur with Pandavas .

This was so on after battlefield of kurukshetra Krishna was there.

Their grandfather Bhishma was there .

In fact on that day of the battle

Grandfather Bhishma was shot with arrows

And then he was lying on the bed of arrows so after several month why lord was with the Pandavas and in Hastinapur they received the news that grandfather Bhishma is ready to leave

as Chaitanya mahaprabhu knew or it was decided that Haridas Thakur is going to be leaving next day that day Chaitanya mahaprabhu had come there similarly Krishna find out that grandfather Bhishma is leaving body in kurukshetra on particular day . He took all the Pandavas with him . And lord went to see him off byeee

So like Haridas Thakur was lying on the some kind of bed .

Grandfather Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows and Krishna comes abs stands before positions himself in the way that grandfather bhishma could take his Darshan could be in the view .

So while Grandfather Bhishma was taking darshan of the lord and remembering the lord.. he was specially remembering the lord

In kurukshetra while he was driving the chariot of Arjun.

Those were kind of immediate memories of grandfather bhishma’s memories of Krishna from kurukshetra battle and he was offering prayers lying on the bed of arrows and his offering his prayers to the lord and the prayers also are being heard by 100 and thousands the news had spread of grandfather bhishma’s departure so many RajRishi and DevRishi and mahrshi had assembled.

So earlier the kings had arrived for the battling now the sages had arrived and then knew that there is going to be pravachan .

Some katha some prayers by grandmother bhishma we want to hear all that

So grandfather Bhishma was in the 1st canto of Bhagvatam chapter number who remember???? Is it 9 ???

The chapter called grandfather Bhishma’s Stutis or the prayers in the very first Canto so there’s kunti maharani’s prayers are there that is 8th chapter or something. And then grandfather Bhishma ‘s prayers famous prayers are there .

So those prayers who uttered while he was taking darshan uttering this prayers

So while offering prayers taking darshan of the Lord possibly why not? Maybe Lord has stepped forward he was there for sometime you could have touched there is something appreciation of good devotee, good boy. So that touch has happened. The prayers are being offered and personal darshan of Lord is also available and then Last breath and it departs. So “Namacharya Haridas Thakur” departure is compared with in ‘Chaitanya Charitamrita’ briefly compared with grandfather Bhishma’s departure. Grandfather ‘Bhishma Dev ke Jay’. Who’s also one of the 12 Mahajans and Haridas Thakur is Great Acharya of the Holy Name.

So we pray on this day Haridas thakur departure day for have some mercy upon all of pray us. So that we could keep chanting. Holy names of the Lord “Name Ruchi Jive Daya” Vishnav’s Heaven. And one should this is small statement says one should have ‘Ruchi’ liking,love for the holy name. One should also seven serve the Vishnav’s. ‘Jive Daya’ be kind, compassionate.

Extend your helping hand to faithful people, new people. Wanting to come closer to Krishna on the Way to Krishna. the Help them, Help them (Hari Hari…) So all these kinds of thoughts and culture has come all the way to Kazakhsta. “Nitai Gaur Premanande Hari Bol” We should Thank “Gaurang” Thanks “Namacharya” ‘Shri Haridas Thakur ke Jay’ Thanks ‘Srila Prabhupada ke Jay’

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – The direct form of Radharani’s feeling of love

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – The direct form of Radharani’s feeling of love

Date unknown

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Krishna has appeared again in the form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Where does Krishna take his birth? He was born in Mathura Vrindavan and Krishna has many incarnations and they can appear in many different places, and that is exactly what happens.

But when Krishna appears in the material world, he appears in Vrindavan only. So Sri Krishna Chaitanya is Krishna, Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

ete camsa-kalah puṁsah

krsnas tu bhagavan svayam

indrari-vyakulam lokam

mrdayanti yuge yuge

All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.

(SB 1.3.28)

In the first canto, third chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, there is mention of this and at the end it is mentioned, ete camsa-kalah pumsah. This verifies what we have just said about incarnations of the Lord, in that they are all plenary portions of the supreme Lord, or parts of the plenary portions of the Lord. Then there are those who are parts of the parts of the planetary portions of the Lord.

But krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, who is Krishna? The original supreme personally of Godhead. He is the original personality of Godhead, the incarnations are different. Sri Krishna is the source of all incarnations and the incarnations come from him who is the supreme cause of all causes. Lord Krishna takes birth in the form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapura but he is the same original supreme personality of Godhead.

He is not an incarnation of, he is the same Krishna appearing and so Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not different from Lord Krishna, he is the very same personality of Godhead. They are not two, they are one and the same who have become two. There cannot there are any ifs and buts about this matter, and if someone asks how is this so, because if this is the case then he should be taking birth in Vrindavan, then we can say that Mayapura is the same Vrindavan.

Mayapura is the same and non different from Vrindavan. Mayapura dham ki jai. Just like there is a Gokula in Vrindavan, (Krishna jinka naam hai, gokul jinka dham hai (to him whose name is Krishna and abode is Gokula), in the same Gokula there are twelve forests where Nanda Nandan, the son of Krishna had his pastimes. These very forests are present in Navadwipa where Lord Chaitanya takes his birth, and indeed they are eternal.

In Nawadvipa where the Yogapitha is where Gauranga Mahaprabhu appeared on this day five hundred years ago, that place is not different from Gokula. And the same Krishna is appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And his parents who gave birth to him, who should they be? They should be the same Nanda Baba and Yashoda, is that true or not? Then of course there is Vasudeva and Devaki so it could be any of these two sets of parents.

This is not the only fact, let’s say today Lord Krishna has appeared in the form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and that’s why we are speaking about him again and again. But also the other thing is, Krishna alone did not manifest in Vrindavan. It was filled then with his devotees, his friends and his own entourage and the Gopi’s, and it is the same even today.

In Navadwipa Mayapura the same personalities have appeared and so just as Krishna became Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Nanda Baba came as Jagannath Misra and then Saci Mata was there. Balaram hoila Nitai, Balaram becomes as Lord Nityananda, and like this, there is a long list in the book called Shri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika. This is a book which is describing each and every devotee in Krishna Lila, and who they come as in Gauranga Lila.

Even Uncle Kamsa appears again as Chand Kazi and he who gave the Lord’s their names in Mathura Vrindavana, Gargacharya is present there. Here Krishna is there in the form if Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then he who have him his name in Krishna Lila will again do the same now in the form of Nilambara Chakrwarti. He is the same Gargacharya in Krishna Lila.

So like that it’s a long list and also I was thinking that there is a slight difference between Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and at the same time there is no difference. No difference, no no no- there is no difference! So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not only Krishna, but rather he is Radha and Krishna. So Radha and Krishna are one and for their Vrindavan pastimes they become two.

When the Lord appears in Mayapura, those who had become two to enjoy in vrindavan, they again become one in the form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the Sastras it is said Sri Krishna Caitanya radha krsna nahe anya. Radha and Krishna combined together are Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If he was only Krishna, he would only be as merciful as Sri Krishna was.

But Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so much more merciful than Lord Krishna, and what is the reason for this? It is beca he has come as Radharani along with Krishna. Karunam kuru mayi karuna bharite, she is filled with compassion. Radharani is famous for her mercy, and so Krishna is always prayed to along with Radharani, and when they are together, Krishna becomes Maha Vadanyaya, greatly merciful or the most merciful.

He becomes great hearted and so we cannot say that they are two because they are not two, they are one. In the home of Vrindavan and the home of Navadwipa it seems as if there are so many states in between these two places like Upttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharakhand and it takes 24 hours to go from Vrindavan to Mayapura by train. But this is not the fact, because actually these two places are next to each other.

But we are just thinking that they are far away from each other, which is our misconception. Where does Krishna live? Goloka namni nija dhamni, the planet Goloka, the Lord’s supreme abode. That Goloka which is one, has two parts. One part is Vrindavan where Radha and Krishna have their pastimes. The second part which is next door or applying the corner, there the same Radha Krishna of Vrindavan become one.

Here they are one for eternity and they perform their pastimes in this way. It seems so far and then we look at where Dwaraka is and Vaikuntha and Pandharpura, then there is Ayodhya. All these dhams, vyakto ‘vyaktat sanatanah (they are) eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter.

na tad bhāsayate suryo

na shashanka na pavakaḥ

yad gatva na nivartante

tad dhama paramam mama

Translation

That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world

(BG 15.6)

Krishna is saying that whenever he descends or whenever his incarnations descend, he perform his pastimes in his different abodes accordingly, such as Saket dham in the spiritual world, which is the original replica of Ayodhya dham here. Just like there is Goloka and Vaikuntha is the spiritual world, Saket dham is there also. Jai Sri Rama!

In the spiritual world, Vrindavan and Navadwipa are next to each other and in Vrindavan there are many pastimes which are performed including the Rasa Lila, which is the most special pastime of the Lord. Rasa Lila is the topmost pastime. In Navadwipa, Mayapura the most important pastimes are Kirtan pastimes. In Vrindavan Krishna dances in the Rasa dance with Radha and many other Gopi’s, whereas in Navadwipa, Radha and Krishna become one in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Then all the Gopi’s, so many of them, become associates of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, they become male members, plenty of them. Just like Rupa Goswami, he was in Vrindavan, so the six Goswami’s are all Gopi’s and Manjari’s. So Rupa Manjari is Rupa Goswami in Vrindavan. So Rupa Manjari is obviously female, but in Vrindavan he takes a male body. The same thing is with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

sundara lala sachi dulala nachata sri hari kirtana mein. (The beautiful darling cold of mother Saci is dancing in the Kirtan of Lord Hari). He has beautiful anklets on his lotus feet and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself is dancing in Kirtan of the Lord. Here this much is said and so now Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared, he has or no? (Shouts of Haribol)! At that very time of his descent, Kirtan was going on -or we can say that the Lord made the Kirtan happen for his descent.

Slowly Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself started his Sankirtan movement and his dancing in the towns and villages.

udilo aruna puraba bhage, dwija mani gora amani jage, bhakata samuha loiya sathe, gela nagara braje

When the rising sun appeared in the East, the jewel of the twice born, Lord Gaurasundara, awakened, and, taking His devotees with Him, He went all over the countryside towns and villages

(Arunodaya Kirtana 1)

Just like when Krishna, along with Radha and the Gopi’s would have their Rasa dancing, and for your information, this Rasa dance lasts from 10.30 in the night till 3.30 am, a full five hours non-stop. The. There is Julhan Yatra, the swing pastimes and the pastimes in the water between Krishna and the Gopi’s. There is dancing and so on and so there was a time in Navadwipa when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu along with his associates, sri krsna caitanya prabhu along with nityananda sri advaita gadadhara srivas and other devotees who are uncountable; started their Kirtan.

Mahaprabhu kirtana nrtya gita

vaditra madyan- vaditra means with musical instruments. Vaditra madyan manaso rasena, this Kirtan and dancing lasted all night long, just like the Rasa dancing between Lord Krishna and the Gopi’s. Then they gradually bought this Kirtan on the streets and they Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed Kirtan in the whole of Navadwipa.

So there was singing of Kirtan and dancing, then Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took Sannyasa. It is written in Mahabharata, suvarna varna hemango, the Lord is golden in colour. The Lord will be Gauranga, of a gold complexion and he will take Sannyasa. This was all foretold in the Mahabharata, that he will be born on the banks of the Ganges to Saci, and many scriptures have foretold Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance in the same way.

So if you want proof, then the proof is that in the scriptures and there are many references to his birth. And only if the proof is foretold like this, can we accept the Lord Chaitanya as the supreme Lord, otherwise not. So Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took Sannyasa and he travelled the whole of India. What do Sannyasi’s do? They travel and preach.

Bhutani bhavyani janardanasya, Sannyasi’s show compassion to the fallen souls by preaching about to the supreme personality of Godhead. Bhuta means the living entity, not some kind of ghost. Anugrahayeha caranti, they wander everywhere to preach because they are Anugraha, compassionate. In this way, the Sannyasi’s have become as good as the supremeLord himself.

By travelling everywhere, they are purifying the whole world, well at least India. There was a very big scale of preaching. Wherever Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would go, just like the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri and he would go all over south India and he would then return back to Puri. From there he went to East India, Bangladesh and like that he would go to all the places.

He then again returned to Jagannatha Puri and as soon as he reached back, he prepared to go to Vrindavan. At that time he was going through the Jharkhand forest and he showed his supreme nature of being the supreme personality of Godhead. You understand west that means, his supremacy? You can say this is the Lord’s opulence.

jnana vairagyayos caiva sannam bhaga itingana

Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is thus defined by Parasara Muni as one who is full in six opulences-who has full strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty, and renunciation.

(Visnu Purana 6.5.47)

This supremacy includes the Vaibhava, the opulence of the absolute truth, and this was fully shown when the Lord went through the Jharakhanda forest. Another thing that should be said is that when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would go to a village with a smaller population of people living there, say around four hundred people, that place would immediately become filled with a thousand people.

There was no advertisements, no banners, no posters and no email messages, nothing. Nobody knew how those people would reach there and come together. Of course the Lord knows as he is the knower of everything, but nobody knew who was arranging this all, who was communicating and organising and sending messages that ‘tonight Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is coming to the village Punyanagari.’

The people would just come to know about this because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself is in everyone’s heart, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto. What does the Lord do in everybody’s heart? Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca, ‘from me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. I am doing this. I dont just sit in the heart,’ the Lord is saying.

The Lord is very active and he is the well wisher of the living entity in whose heart he resides. Who else is the well wisher?

Tomare loite ami hoinu avatara

ami bina bandhu ara ke ache tomara

Translation

I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world

(Jiv jago 3)

The lord is asking this question and is saying, ‘for you I have appeared and is there anybody else apart from me who is your real friend?’

dehapatya kalatradisu

atma sainyesv asatsv api

pramatto tesam nidhanaṁ

pasyann api na pasyati

Translation

Persons devoid of atma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction

(SB 2.1.4)

Sukadeva Goswami is saying that you have got your children, wife and body just like soldiers who are useless and so they are not much help. This is especially the case when Yamaraja or the Yamaduta’s come. You may have guards who are standing ready with their guns and their german dogs. ‘Beware of the dog!’ So will the Yamduta’s be scared of this and not enter the home? No!

And when you have fallen in this way, you will be surrounded by doctors amd loves ones. ‘Daddy Daddy, say Bhola.’ Daddy was dying and the house was full with friends and family and Daddy only has one or two life breaths left, and so the son says ‘please Daddy say Bhola.’ He was a devotee of Bhola, Lord Siva but what did Daddy say? ‘Coca cola.’ (Laughter).

Our Sarvabhauma Prabhu found out out when he went to Haridwara to the place on the banks of the of the Ganges where the water falls, and there there were quite a few bottles of coca cola and some people were distributing this coca cola. Sarvabhauma Prabhu asked them, ‘why are you freely distributing coca cola?’ They answered that they were fulfilling their Daddy’s last wish.

‘We were asking him to call Bhola but our Daddy answered coca cola.’ So it is possible that he went to coca cola loka in America. The sons continued, ‘we thought that he wanted to drink coca cola, and to fulfil his last wish we are distributing coca cola here.’ Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai. So the merciful Lord stays with us, and you must have wondered that when Lord Krishna danced in the Rasa dance, he was with each and every Gopi.

Another Gopi, another Krishna. Same Krishna but different Gopi’s and for as many Gopi’s who are there, Krishna expands to be with each and every Gopi. Sometimes one may think, ‘This is partiality. Krishna becomes one for each Gopi but he is not doing this for me.’ Actually this is our ignorance. So if you are a living entity, and you must be because if you were not a living entity then you would not be here listening to this cl-ass.

And if the living entity goes away, then you cannot even return home today. Those who are living are called living entities and that is the definition of those who are alive, but the body is not alive although it appears to be living. But the body is dead even now. It is not that this body is called a dead body when life comes out of it because the body is always dead. The body is made of the five material elements which are not alive.

The soul is that which is living and so the Lord is with all of us individually. Although he’s the supreme one he becomes Eko bahu shyam, eko means one and bahu means many. So he becomes many and he becomes as many as there are living entities. And although he is uncountable, at the same time he is the same one. This is the Lord’s compassion upon us that he stays with us.

We never leave a small baby alone, and the baby’s mother is with him constantly, she is around him, behind him or next to him. If the child is going to school then sometimes the parents take the child to school, and then they go back to bring them home. Like that they never leave children alone. In the same way, our souls are like small children and so you parents take care of your small children, but where did this emotion or thought of looking after your children come from?

This has been given to us by the Lord, rather he is the original father and mother. If parents such as yourselves can take such good care of your children then the Lord who is our mother and father, is taking so much care of as many living entities as there are, because they are his children. He takes so much care, a hundred times more or thousand times we cant even imagine.

So Krishna is not heartless, Hari Hari. Is there any need to emphasise trust the Lord has feelings and especially the feelings of mercy. And he cares, so therefore people say, ‘I’m putting my life in your hands.’ This very Lord leaves his Goloka and appears here to awake the living entities’ feelings of loving devotion or to awake them from their sleeping slumber. The living entities are sleeping,

Translation

jiv jago jiv jago gauracanda bole, kota nidra jau maya pisacira kole

Lord Gauranga is calling, “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya?

(Jiv jago 1)

Till when will you sleep in the lap of Maya, wake up. And who is telling them this? Lord Gauranga. Gaurangais calling, ‘wake up, wake up.’ Further the Lord is saying, ‘bhajibo boliya ese samsara bhitare, when you were in the womb of your mother, you promised, ‘oh Lord, oh Lord, this is enough.’

So much pain and anguish has to be tolerated by the living entity in the womb, if you were to remember this or to hear this, you would just stand up crying. So the living entity so cannot tolerate this pain anymore, starts to pray to the Lord saying, ‘oh Lord, this time, please release me from this pain. As soon as I am born, I will start to worship you. I will worship you my Lord.’ This was what we said, but bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare.

As soon as you are born, you immediately get covered by ignorance, ‘mummy Mummy.’ This all starts as soon as you come out of the mother’s womb and then you forget everything else, including the promise that you had made to the Lord if he released you. Lord Chaitanya further says, ‘tomare loite ami hoinu avatara, just for you and just to make you remember, I have descended to give you my Darshan and also I have many things to say to you.

I come to tell you the message of the Bhagavad Gita, and also dharma samsthapanarthaya, I come to dharma samsthapanarthaya so you can become religious and you will sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam, abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto me alone so you shall take up religion. We can also take other meanings out of this message.

tomare loite ami hoinu avatara

ami bina bandhu ara ke ache tumara

Translation

I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world.

(Jiv jago 3)

Who else is your friend? Is there anyone? A friend in need is what? Yes, a friend indeed. Can anyone else save you at the time of death? And we will need a lot of help then, ‘help help, help!’ At the time of death we will need a lot of help but no doctor, no relative or no dog at the entrance, or no guards and no bank balance, nothing will help.

Who could help? A friend in need, so this is where you are in need of help, only God can help. Doctors cannot do anything, at the end they raise their hands towards the sky and say, ‘its up to him, now you must pray.’ So he is the only one and thats why it is said in the Bhagavad gita, ‘suhrdahm sarva bhutanam, I am the beneficiary of all living entities.’

He has given this quote in the peace formula and what is that?

bhoktaraṁ 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)

‘Sarva loka suhrdam, i am the benefactor of all living entities. He is my dearest closest friend.’ What a statement! And who is saying this? The supreme Lord is saying to the conditioned living entities, ‘I am your friend.’ If anyone can understand and if this happens, is there any need to worry? God is your friend, in case you did not know God, you may know that he is your friend.

So as we are talking about Doctors and medication, one day Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came with a message.

Enechi ausadhi maya nasiabaro lagi’

hari nama maha mantra lao tumi magi

Transaction

I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this maha-mantra which you are asking

‘I have bought the medicine because you are diseased, you are Bhava Rogi.’ this is the disease of being too attached to this material world. They are also kama Rogi, they have the disease of lust. They also are Krodha Rogi is the disease of anger. Lobha, greed is also an enemy of the living entity. The six enemies of the living entity are Kama lust, krodha, anger. lobha, greed, moha, illusion mada, pride and matsarya and envy.

Being envious of others, these are all diseases and they are all enemies of the soul. ‘So I have come with the remedy.’ What is this remedy?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

And where has this medicine come from? It has come from Ramban, the ban, bow of Lord Rama. And it has never come to be that Lord Rama’s arrow would ever miss the target. That’s why this is called Ramban and also Rama’s bow is one, his vow that he has made is to have only one wife and he has given this one promise to marry only once. There is so much more we could say about this.

So all glories to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and this holy name is the medicine that has come out of bow of Lord Rama, enchanting the holy name is the Dharma, religious principle of Kali yoga.

sarva dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva papebhyo

moksayisyami ma sucah

Translation

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.

(Bg 18.66)

So Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descended, and he inaugurated the holy name. Dharmo rakshati rakshitah, Dharma protects those who protect it. If we upkeep religious principles and protect them, then those very religious principles will then protect us. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did not descend just for the Indians.

He did not only want mamas good of the Indians, why would he do so? Who do the living entities in all other countries belong to? They belong to the supreme Lord and not the don’t know the Lord by a specific name. When you do not know the Lord’s name you say ‘Bhagavan or Iswara or God.’ But those who know his names also know the he has one thousand names in which Krishna is the principal name.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu jai. The living entities all belong to him. I don’t know what others call him, God or I don’t know, this is another topic. This is why Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had come, to save everyone and indeed he wanted to save everyone. But nothing happens just by one’s desire only, there must be some practical application.

So the Lord told a prophecy in which he said, ‘Harinama ausadhi, I have bought the medicine is the holy name.’ So we have got the Ramban, the medicine of Lord Rama’s bow which is the Dharma, religious principal of chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.

‘Sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama, in every town and village throughout the world, my name will be preached.’ Here the Lord is emphasising that it is his holy name

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

How far will this holy name reach? Prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama. Do not undermine this but highlight it. In as many towns and villages that are present, sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nama. ‘So this Hare Krishna Hare Krishna are the Lord’s name, and you are Krishna himself, one may address the Lord like this.

‘No I am not only Krishna, I am also Radharani and Krishna. So my name is spread all over the world, this means that Hare Krishna will be preached everywhere.’ And who is Hare? Radha. When the Ha meet the Ra, it becomes Hara and Hare, and of course Krishna is present there in the form of his name.

Basically this is the holy name, the Maha Mantra and this has been given to us in the form of the sixteen names. And this holy name will be preached all over the world. This prophecy was told by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago and AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada made this prophecy come true! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

He formed the international Society of Krishna consciousness and he personally travelled all over the world fourteen times. He started preaching the holy names all over the world, and alongside this he made temples in every country and introduced book distribution of his own books which he wrote. He also translated Chaitanya Charitamrita in English with his purports. All the information of Lord Chaitanya is in this one book, but that book was written in Bengali language.

That is how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would reach all over, as he is and at that time, nobody knew anything about him and his form or pastimes. Srila Prabhupada first of all translated Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in English and then he told his disciples, ‘translate this book in as many languages as possible.’ Now this book is available in almost one hundred languages, Haribol!

This is also the reason why Gauranga Purnima is being celebrated today in more than one hundred countries! Haribol! Srila Prabhupada made these books get distributed and he preached far and wide. The Hare Krishna people did not just perform Kirtan indoors because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu didn’t do so much Kirtan indoors. He performed Sankirtan outdoors prominently.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the supreme Lord himself performed village to village Sankirtan and so this Hare Krishna movement is everywhere around the world. That is why we are recognised everywhere and people recognise us and say, ‘oh these are the Hare Krishna people.’ This is how we are recognised and our movement is also known as the Hare Krishna movement, and we are the Hare Krishna people. Hari Hari.

Walking In ISKCON Chamorshi Land

Walking In ISKCON Chamorshi Land

02-11–2020

What is that for? I’m just going to say something. (Break). In India we have a few farms, not more than half a dozen farms in India, Iskcon farms. And out of those few of a dozen farms, whatever farms are growing vegetables- look chilly is also grown here, and other vegetables. There’s rice also, rice paddy and tomatoes to our left here, not this one, that one there.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

(Japa continues)

Who did you bring a chair for? This part of the year there is water here coming out of the kennel. Five or six days ago it was coming in now it has stopped. This is connected with the river? This is agriculture for the irrigation. You see the bricks? All the devotees- this is Radha Shyamsundara’s brick factory. This is the first brick factory in Iskcon, well okay this is number two factory.

So devotees are trying to be self sufficient by doing different things and it’s hit and go sometimes with bricks. Do you do all this? Now be careful {speaking to kids]. Is there only one well, I didnt see one there. Yes lets go and see if there is one close by. And in regard to prabhupada memorial? This is Brinjals [aubergines} here in front of you, and to your left are the chillies.

So they were only planted some time ago, so in a few months time there will be plenty of Brinjals and some chillies. Thats nice for you. {aside}, you should have put some sign there like old kitchen. Okay so there are bore [Jujube fruit] in there? How many are there? Okay around one hundred and fifty.

So this is the main source of water for farming and this well is now twenty five feet deep and they have done the boring in the middle which is a hundred feet deep, deeper into the Earth. In the belly of mother earth there is lots of water so they can take this water out with a pump and it goes to the fields. Near the temple they also did some digging and look there’s some small fish, you see?

The water is quite clear and theres about a hundred fish- small family. Theres a Mango tree and guava, so you eat some guavas? Theres is guava here, you see this is guava, so you see the fruits? Papayas are there and there’s mangoes and coconut trees are now growing. You are not-you don’t waste huh? Thats a smart idea. What’s your name? Dehua, so Dehua this is a special tree, a fruit tree from Bangladesh brought from there to here, and these are devotees from Bangladesh in fact.

They speak Bengali here and the previous kitchen was here last time we came. Tomatoes for the soup to the left. Is the Goshala clean? You should have cleaned it better. Are these bulls from Vrindavana? These bulls are from Vrindavan and they were in Vrindavana Goshala at one point. Shall we go in, is it clean? Go Mata hi jai! Gopal Krishna Bhagavan ki jai! Gwaal Baal {cowherd boys} ki jai!

Vrindavan dham ki jai! Gokul dham ki jai! Come in and ket everyone take darshan of the cows. There are some twenty five cows and calves and you see how peaceful they are? They give more manure than the milk, they give for fertilising. In so many ways they are beneficial. Has this become bad as well? This is the main crop, right? Two to three hundred quintals, do you understand quintal?

You know the big bags you have seen, the bull like bags? So soon they will get the cows and bulls to walk all over round and round and this is separated. And then this has to be husked further as there’s rice inside. This is all rice also and this is to be unhusked, all the local people come forward. Please bring a deity from Bengal and give them service for lifetime. Giri Govardhan!

He’s struggling. It rained a few days ago and it’s not good for this paddy. Does he teach in school? And you are chanting sixteen rounds since how many years? Since 1987, you are chanting sixteen rounds! He has been imitating for some time now. His wife is also initiated and Parikrama Devi Dasi is her name. We did one Padayatra here, big Padayatra in these Bengali villages.

How many villagers? Fifty, only? But if you count all of them? There are some two hundred villagers mostly where the residents are mostly from Bangladesh, as theres a big war between Pakistan and Bangladesh. So a lot of people from Bangladesh became refugees in India and they were given shelter, accommodation and land in different parts of India. In central India, this is one area where lots of people migrated from Bangladesh to this part.

The deity of Radha Shamasundar was also in Bangladesh also one time and Parameshvar Prabhu when he came- he was born and bought up in Bangladesh. He came with the deity of Radha Shamasundar from Bangladesh. Theres a village called Krishnanagar just two kilometres from here and the deities were in the village for many, many years.

And this was all a forest for many years and the devotees cut the trees and levelled the land and dug the wells. So a lot of hard labour and sweating has gone into bringing things to this level. Only two years ago right here there was trees and rocks. You could see trees like this one here, there were trees like this all over. So now build a small temple- someone is working hard growing rice and vegetables.

We are not used to it, in Iskcon we think this is low cl-ass work and so we have been spoiled by this so called modern style and the scientific knowledge and electronic ways of doing things. They’re not into getting their hands dirty, although when it comes to eating, they can only eat rice only, and wheat. We cannot eat nuts and bolts and fry them into petrol and eat them for our breakfast.

We have to eat rice and grains and vegetables, it doesn’t matter whether you are going to the moon or New York. They eat flesh, which is another foolish idea. The cow eats fresh grass and these people eat rotten meat, so who is wiser? The cow is eating lush green fresh grass and has a good appetite and we should be drinking her milk but they prefer meat. This is the age of Kali.

(Aside), Keep a photo until the deity comes, whenever it comes. Can everyone else go? We will have a Nrismha mandir in here in the future, we dont have the deities now. Nrsimha temple, Nrsimhadeva Bhagavan ki jai! For the protection of all the devotees we will have Nrsimhadeva. Prabhupada Pushpa Samadhi, okay. Everyone here? Mukunda you are struggling! So when Prabhupada -Parameshvar Prabhu managed to get some flowers.

So he bought some of those flowers and they have been placed here. So he is also thinking that this is also the Pushpa Samadi and so this is just the beginning and in the future it will be developed further. This murti was made locally by a local devotee, Srila Prabhupada ki jai! So everything is by the grave of Guru and Gauranga and we pray to Prabhupada for his mercy and direction for further success here, and your prayers. Please pray for Parameshvar Prabhu to be successful.

Sometimes you can come, we are showing you around so you can pick and choose one of the places some other time, sooner or later. Take your own baggage and put it away and let’s freshen up and take Prashad. Okay show everyone the milk. This you do three times? Then how many- this is three times. How many children? Oh first time! How old is the child:? Only one month old? They just milked the cow.

Vatsa means calf and the cows feelings and the way she deals and cares for her calf, this is Vatsalya bhava, Vatsalta. What’s inside the Goshala? Like on Parrikrama you can just sit down and eat. So you wash your hands and feet and you come in here and take Prashad. There is also Prashad in the evening.

ISKCON Jalgaon

ISKCON Jalgaon

Class

21 March 2026

Jagannatha Swami Ki jai

Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra Maiya ki jai

Radha Rasa Bihari ki jai

Srila Prabhupada ki jai.

Wherever I go, I am seeing Lord Jagannatha. Also I was in Jagannatha Puri a few days ago which is the Dham of Lord Jagannatha.

Nilachala Nivasaya Nityaya Paramatmane

Balabhadra Subhadrabhyam Jagannathaya Te Namah

(Jagannatha Pranam Mantra)

Translation

I offer my humble, prostrated obeisances to the Supreme Soul, Lord Jagannath, who resides in the holy land of Nilachala (Puri) with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra

This is the prayer in Jagannatha Puri and it is actually a prayer at the Lord’s lotus feet. ‘Oh Lord Jagannatha who lives and stays Jagannatha Puri, and also you are not alone, as you are present there with your older brother Balarama and in between them is their sister Subhadra.

Lord Balarama was the seventh son of Vasudeva and Devaki, Krishna was the eighth son and Subhadra was the ninth and she was their daughter. They are all present in Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri dham ki jai. I was just about to say that it is so difficult to leave this place. Okay can you sing this?

Jaya jaya jagannatha sacira nandan. ‘Oh Lord, your worship is performed all over the world. Jagannatha Swami ki Jai! You are lord Jagannatha who in Puri, carry the conch shell, disc, club, and lotus flower. Oh Lord Jagannatha, when you appeared in Mayapur Dham in the form of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and then took Sannyasa, you held a Sannyasa stick and a waterpot. Nadiya nagare danda-kamanaalu kar.

And the truth is that when you appeared as Lord Rama in Ayodhya lila, you killed Ravana! Jai Sri Rama, Rama Navami is coming soon. Then in Dwapara Yuga, as Lord Krishna, you revealed the splendidly opulent pastimes of Goloka in Gokula. In Kali Yuga you have come in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Gauranga Gauranga.

What did you do when you appeared in the form of lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? Goloker vaibhava lila prakasa korila,’ and then? Hare Krishna nam gaura korila pracar.

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare.

You distributed these holy names. Hare Krishna nam gaura korila pracar. This bhajan, as you may say in your language, is a five hundred years old bhajan or geet, a song. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was on Earth, there was one associate of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu whose name was Vasudeva Ghosh.

He is being mentioned in this bhajan. Vasudeva ghosa bole kori joda hat, Sri Vasudeva is folding his hands and is pleading in humility and he wants to say something. This whole bhajan is highlighting what he is about to say in conclusion, jei gaura sei Krishna sei Jagannath. So what has he said? Jei Gaura, he who is Lord Gauranga or Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he is the same Lord Krishna and he is also the very same Jagannath.

In Treta Yuga Lord Rama appeared, jai Sri Rama! In Dwapara Yuga Lord Krishna appeared, Jai Sri Krishna! And in Kali Yuga appeared Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai! So they are all one, all three- Gauranga, Krishna and Jagannatha Swami. Jagannatha himself has appeared in these three forms. So there is Lord Jagannatha, Sri Rama and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but the Lord’s most recent incarnation who has actually just appeared a short while back, is who?

Who was the latest incarnation? Do you understand when I ask you who the latest incarnation was? It is Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai! He appeared only five hundred and forty years ago in this world.

paritranaya sadhunam

vinasaya ca duskrtam

dharma-samsthapanarthaya

sambhavami yuge yuge

(Bhagavad Gita 4.8)

Translation

To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.

Did you know this? In each age the supreme Lord appears and just recently in the beginning of this Kali Yuga, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared and he also did the same Dharma samsthapanarthaya. He established the principles of religion, and these religious principles are the same for everyone. Since all of time, the principles of religion has always been one and the same.

That religion principle is not called the Hindu religion, but rather Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana, this literally means the religious principles to follow forever, Sanatana. Sanatana means eternal and therefore it doesn’t have a beginning and nor does it have an end, that means there will never be an end to this eternal process of religious principles.

Other religious processes have been started at some time or another and so therefore it means what? They have to have an end soon. However these eternal religious principles are for all living entities, although one may believe that they are from some other- this religion or that one. You can call this the Bhagavad Dharma, and to establish the religious principles, the Lord appears in the material world, just like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has.

There are different rules and regulations in accordance to the religious principles and so in Kali Yuga the process of religion is Harinam. Harinam Sankirtan ki jai! In the scripture it is said

harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 6.242)

Translation

In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.

It is also said that the Lord’s name is greater than the Lord himself. How is the Lord’s name? It is the same as the Lord himself, and it is the principle of religion in the age of Kali, darkness.

iti sodasakam namnam

kali kalmasa-nasanam

natah parataropayah

sarva-vedesu drsyate

(Kali Santarana Upanisad)

Translation

After searching through all the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krsna

In the beginning of Kali Yuga Narada Muni is the preacher of the principles of religion because he sings ‘Narayana Narayana’ whilst travelling through the whole universe. He is a great preacher of religious principles. He often goes to visit Lord Brahma in Brahmaloka which is also called Satyaloka, and it is even higher than the heavenly planets. Once Narada Muni asked Lord Brahma about Kali Yuga, the dark age of quarrel and hypocrisy that has come upon us.

We know what this age is like, Kaler dosa-nidhe rajann, this Kali Yuga is the ocean or a treasury of faults and contamination. It is a storehouse of bad qualities and it is full of faults. Yes, or no? If you pick up the newspaper, it is always reporting of this problem and that problem. There is always war and we are also at war with an internal enemy which is lust. Our other enemies also include anger and greed.

There are also three more enemies and these six enemies all together represent our internal enemies. Kama (desire), Lobha (greed), Krodha (anger), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride), and Matsarya (jealousy). They all have their separate identities just like anger and then there is greed, of which there is no end. So these are our true enemies. Just like Pakistan is india’s enemy and so is China. America is the enemy of Iran, just like Isreal is the enemy of Palestine.

Just like this these six are also our enemies.

‘Oh Lord,’ Arjuna said. ‘Please tell me why, even though we don’t want to, we are forced to act in a way in which we don’t want to. Why are we forced to act in a sinful way? We really don’t want to this and we say to ourselves’ don’t do it, don’t do it!’ Krishna then replied ‘kama esa krodha esa rajo guna samudbhavah, It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath.’

That’s why Arjuna asked, anicchann api varsneya balad iva niyojitah, oh Lord, please tell me, why does one act unwillingly, as if engaged by force? Why do we act in a sinful way and what is it that impels us to act in a sinful way, although he may not want to do so? It’s like a great force which makes us act even against our own will in a sinful way.

We then perform sinful acts, but what is that great force which makes us act like this and how does it have such power to make us do this? Krishna replied that it is lust only that makes one act in sinful ways. When lust cannot be fulfilled, it turns into anger and then one cannot even think properly and then acts in a sinful way.

After all this, certainly the living entity feels remorse or shame at what he has done. There are three modes of material nature, goodness, passion, and ignorance. The mode of passion brings anger and lust as well as greed and these are the enemies of humankind. They are keeping the living entities, especially in human life, very busy by making them lusty, angry and greedy.

Kaler dosa nidhe rajann, these bad times will be present in the age of Kali, which is what we are seeing. So what can we do about this and how can we become free from these enemies? Sukadeva Goswami has said, kaler dosa nidhe rajann

asti hy eko mahan gunah, although Kali yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age.

What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya

mukta sangah param vrajet, Kirtan of Lord Krishna!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

What does this Kirtan do? We become free from these bad habits, free from unwanted association. We become free from bad qualities like lying and cheating and attachment to these bad habits. The chanting of the holy names can free us and in this way we will go back to Godhead. We can go back to Godhead! Krishna Kanaiya Lal ki!

So as Narada Muni reached Brahmaloka, he started to speak to Lord Brahma. He asked Lord Brahma what should be done in Kali Yuga now that it has appeared. ‘Should I preach the holy names and glories if the a Lord? In what way should i preach the glories of the supreme Lord? Please explain this all to me, oh Lord with four faces.’

Lord Brahma said,

Om, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

iti sodaasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam

natah parataropayah sarva vedesu drsyate

(Kali Santarana Upanisad)

Translation

These sixteen names [of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra] are destructive of the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas, it is seen that there is no better means [of deliverance] than this.

This whole thing beginning from Om till the last line ending with vedesu drsyate, all this was spoken by Brahma. And what is it he said? This Mahamantra which is made up of sixteen names, sodaasakam namnam, kali kalmasa nasanam, can free one from the evil effects that we have upon us in the age of Kali, by our chanting these sixteen names of the Mahamantra.

Immediately after hearing this Narada Muni started his preaching of the holy names and he also came again five hundred years ago and he was Srivas Thakur at that time.

Jaya sri krishna chaitanya

prabhu nityananda

sri adwaita gadadhara

shrivasadi gaura bhakta vrinda

The Lord himself has appeared in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Krishna has appeared in this form. Balaram hoile Nitai, Lord Balaram has become Lord Nityananda and Sadashiv (Lord Siva) and Maha Vishnu has appeared in the form of Advaita Acharya. Srimati Radharani has appeared in the form of Gadadhar Pandit. In this way Narada Muni has appeared in the form of Srivas Thakur.

In this form of Srivas Thakur who is a preacher of the Holy names, has opened his home up at Srivas Angan, and he has invited Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He told them, ‘Please start Harinam Sankirtan from this place!’ From the home of Srivas Thakur:

ajanu lambita bhujau kanakavadatau sankirtanaika pitarau kamalayataksau

(Chaitanya Bhagavad)

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu whose arms extend down to their knees, who have golden yellow complexions, and who inaugurated the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord

They who were Rama and Lakshman in Treta Yuga, have appeared as Krishna and Balarama at the end of Dwapara Yuga, and they are the same who appear as Gauranga Nityananda, Gauranga Nityananda! They are Krishna Balarama from Dwapara Yuga and Rama and Lakshman from Treta Yuga. So they are the two leaders of the Sankirtan movement that they are going to now create.

They are going to install the Sankirtan Yagna, the sacrifice of Sankirtan. Both Gauranga and Nityananda Prabhus together, have begun the Sankirtan movement from the home of Srivas Thakur. Narada Muni himself has appeared as Srivas Thakur! After this, udilo aruna puraba bhage, dwija mani gora amani jage. (When the rising sun appeared in the East, the jewel of the twice-born, Lord Gaurasundara, awakened).

Then there was the inauguration and then

udilo aruna puraba bhage, dwija mani gora amani jage, bhakata samuha loiya sathe, gela nagara braje

(Arunodaya Kirtan 1)

Translation

When the rising sun appeared in the East, the jewel of the twice-born, Lord Gaurasundara, awakened, and, taking His devotees with Him, He went all over the countryside towns and villages

Lord Gauranga and Nityananda Prabhu would take innumerable devotees of Navadwipa and would perform Nagara Sankirtan, singing Sankirtan throughout all the villages. There would be thousands of people in the party, and this is just recently, five hundred years ago. You can say it is history and in the Kirtan, the Mridanga drum would be played, which is not playing at this moment.

The Khol, Mridanga would make which sounds? Tathai Tathai, tathai tathai bajalo khol, ghana ghana tahe jhajera rol. (The mrdangas (khol) resounded “tathai, tathai,” and the jhanjha [large metal karatalas that look like small cymbals] in that kirtana played in time).

Bolena bolo re vadana bhori, All the devotees chanted the names (of the Lord). Along with the Sankirtan there would be preachers in the party, who would tell everyone, ‘all of you please chant!’ Some people have just woken up from their slumber of sleep and they are getting ready. ‘Hey chant, speak!’ ‘What should I speak?’ Chant Mukunda, Madhava and Hari.

And how should one chant? With strength, shout the Lord’s name with love and with your mouth full of the Lord’s name. Your mouth should be filled with the love of the names of the Lord. With all your life and with love, chant the names. Namasraya kori’ jatane tumi, thakaha apana kaje. ‘All of you, please take shelter of the holy name!’

They all shouted with so much strength that we can still hear that chanting from those days in Mayapur. The whole universe was filled with that chanting, and till this day this sound is echoing everywhere. The transcendental sounds which are spoken or chanted or sung, they are never finished or gone. These transcendental sounds are also in the sky and they purify the atmosphere by which we are influenced, the eternal transcendental sounds.

nama bina kichu nahiko aro, caudda bhuvana majhe, (There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds). The preachers say that there is nothing else apart from these holy names of the Lord. This is Bengali language, nama bina kichu nahi. There is absolutely nothing apart from the holy name in the whole world. There is nothing, nothing at all. In these Kirtans, the supreme Lord himself, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, preme dhala dhala sonara anga, carane nupura baje (Lord Gauranga’s shimmering golden features

danced, and His footbells jingled).

The Lord would dance after putting ankle bells upon his lotus feet. Preme dhala dhala sonara anga, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was golden, sonara in colour. Krishna was Shyamasundar, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was also Sundar, beautiful, but which Sundar? He was gaurasundar. There is Shyamasundar and Gaurasundar.

Ajanu lambita bhujau kanakavadatau, he has long arms and sankirtanaika pitarau kamalayataksau, his eyes are like lotus petals. Dvija varau yuga dharma palau vande jagat priya karau karunavatarau. There are both the incarnation of mercy personified, and both Gauranga and Nityananda Prabhu together performed Kirtan and danced everywhere. In this way they inaugurated the Harinam Sankirtan all over.

As they went on preaching, in the midst of that preaching, they met with two greatly sinful persons, in fact so sinful were these two, that they are named as the two most greatest sinful people, as sinner number one and sinner number two. Their names were Jagai and Madhai. Lord Nityananda went forward to request them to chant the Lord’s name, and he was begging to them, ‘pray chant the holy name, just chant!’

But they were not ones to listen as they do sinful and were both holding bottles of liquor, and they threw that bottle of liquor on the head of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda’s head was bleeding and as soon as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu found out that these sinful persons had offended the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ran towards the place in anger that this sinful action had taken place.

As he ran towards that spot, he called for his Sudarshan Chakra, and immediately Sudarshan appeared on the scene. Lord Nityananda held Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and appealed to him, ‘if you keep calling Sudarshan Chakra, nobody will survive in this age of quarrel. We are not supposed to kill them or harm them in any way, but instead we must kill the demoniac habits and thoughts within them.

The anger, lust and greed inside of them, and the illusion, attachment and pride are the demoniac influences upon them. The demoniac desires must be killed along with these other terrible vices. So how’s will these be destroyed?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

‘If they can take up the chanting of the holy names then they can be saved. Otherwise your lives are about to be taken.’ They both took shelter of the Lord and they made a vow, ‘from today we will stop all sinful activities!’ Are you all ready to do the same? Otherwise you have to die. You must stop all this. Otherwise you are in lust, and when there is an invitation from the Hare Krishna temple, you are too busy working hard for lust.

We are lusty, angry and greedy, and these bad qualities are keeping us so busy that we have no time to go to the temple. Hari Hari. A man was driving his car at such speed ..

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s victory Defeating the Buddhists at Ahobilam

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s victory Defeating the Buddhists at Ahobilam

27 April 2026

Jaya jaya sri caitanya jaya nityananda

jayadvaita candra jaya gaura-bhakta vrnda

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jaya!

Sri radhar bhave ebe gora avatar hare krishna nam gaura korila pracar  (Vasudev Ghosh’s bhajan(Jaya Jagannatha Sacira-nandana 4)

Translation

To taste the ecstasy that Radha feels in Her love for Him, He has now incarnated here in the form of Lord Gaura. As Lord Gaura He preaches the chanting of the holy names of the Hare Krsna mantra

Karila Pracar, so Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taken Sannyasa and the pastimes of Nimai’s Sannyasa have just begun which means the Lord’s Madhya lila (pastimes during middle period) have started. Sri Krishna Mahaprabhu will now travel everywhere to preach.

In the bhagavatam it is said, bhutani bhavyani janardanasya. The devotee’s of the Lord travel to preach Krishna consciousness having mercy on the conditioned souls. Of course this is Sri Krishna himself but other devotees also do the same including Sannyasi’s and Brahamacari’s. There are also other preachers who bhutani bhavyani janardanasya (travel to preach).

They are bhagya (greatly fortunate) divya jana, (celestial beings), mahajana (great souls), parivrjakacharya (travelling preachers) Anugrahya caranti nunam SB 3.5.3). Grahastha’s (married devotees) also always travel everywhere to preach the glories of the Lord, caranti nunam. In the same way, to follow these great souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached all over South India.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu got ready to go on this Yatra which he started from Jagannath Puri and as he was travelling he reached Ahobilam. Nrsimha Bhagavan ki Jaya! This is where Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared from inside a pillar and now Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has reached this place.

sarvatra sthapaya prabhu vaisnava-siddhante

prabhura siddhanta keha

na pare khandite

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.44)

Translation

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu established the devotional cult everywhere. No one could defeat Him

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is preaching the devotional cult everywhere and is installing this principle in everyone everywhere. Another truth is Vasudevah sarvam iti, Vasudeva is everything, Vasudeva is all in all. Lord Chaitanya is so eager to spread this philosophy, prabhura siddhanta keha na pare khandite (nobody could defeat Lord Chaitanya in establishing the cult of devotion to the supreme lord).

Of course nobody would have been able to because he is the supreme Lord, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. And the lord appears for the main reason of dharma samsthapanarthaya. The supreme Lord himself establishes the principles of religion and as he is appearing on the Earth at the same time.

sei yai’ ara grame kare upadesa

ei mata ‘vaisnava’ haila saba daksina desa

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 7.104)

Translation

In this way, as those men went from one village to another, all the people of South India became devotees

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is establishing the devotional principles by defeating all other devious philosophical conclusions in South India, and by doing this, he is making all the residents of South India into Vaishnavas. Haribol!

pasandi aila yata panditya suniya

garva kari’ āila sange sisya gana lana

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.46)

Translation

When the nonbelievers heard of the erudition of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu they came to Him with great pride, bringing their disciples with them

We are reading this from the Chaitanya Charitamrita in the Madhya Lila, and so the Lord met the Pasandi’s, the atheists and the pretenders on his way. They were behaving in an irreligious manner and showed hypocrisy and deceit in their dealings. One Bauddhacharya has reached with many of his disciples and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wants to speak to them and discuss Sastra, the vedic texts.

bauddhacarya maha pandita nija nava mate

prabhura age udgraha kari’ lagila balite

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.47)

Translation

One of them was a leader of the Buddhist cult and was a very learned scholar. To establish the nine philosophical conclusions of Buddhism, he came before the Lord and began to speak

This philosophy of Bauddhacharya is also atheistic and they have nine philosophies and Srila Prabhupada I spoke spoken about these in his translation to these verses. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spoke to him about their conclusions

yadyapi asambhasya bauddha ayukta dekhite

tathapi balika prabhu garva khandaite

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.48)

Translation

Although the Buddhists are unfit for discussion and should not be seen by Vaishnava’s, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spoke to them just to decrease their false pride.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu purified them all, the Bauddhacharya and his disciples, and liberated them from the false conclusions they held. In this way, the Lord also diminished their false pride. He smashed their philosophy to pieces and you can say he turned everything into a powder, by taking everything apart and smashing it. In this way, he smashed the atheistic philosophy as well as their pride.

tarka pradhana bauddha sastra ‘nava mate’

tarkei khandila prabhu, na pare sthapite

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.49)

Translation

The scriptures of the Buddhist cult are chiefly based on argument and logic, and they contain nine chief principles. Because Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu defeated them in their argument, they could not establish their cult.

In presence of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, they were not able to establish their cult. They could not defeat the Lord through the Sastras.

darsanika pandita Sabai paila parajaya

loke hasya kare, bauddha paila lajja bhaya

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.51)

Translation

All mental speculators and learned scholars were defeated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and when the people began to laugh, the Buddhist philosophers felt both shame and fear.

They all became fearful and shameful, and they started to fight amongst themselves. Just like when dogs fight, and then when they lose, what do they do? When they were fighting, their tails were high up in the air, but when the dog loses, what does it do? It keeps its tail between his legs.

prabhuke vaishnava jani’ bauddha ghare gela

sakala bauddha mili’ tabe kumantrana Karla

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.52)

Translation

The Buddhists could understand that Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava and they returned home very unhappy. Later, however, they began to plot against the Lord.

Those poor Buddhists went back to their homes and then after a while they got together and had a discussion. Sakala bauddha mili’ tabe kumantrana kaila. All the Buddhists got together and they began to plot against the Lord. Kumantra, they plotted to do something.

apavitra anna eka thalite bhariya

prabhu age nila ‘maha-prasada’ baliya

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.53)

Translation

Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and called it Maha Prasada.

The plot they made was putting untouchable food on a big plate. This means they put meat and fish on that plate also, and who knows what else was put on that plate? All of them bought that plate and they put it in front of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and they said, ‘we have bought Maha Prasad for you.’ They claimed that they had offered it to the deity, and therefore they were calling it Maha Prashad.

hena kale maha kaya eka paksi aila

thonte kari’ anna saha thali lana gela

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.54)

Translation

When the contaminated food was offered to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a very large bird appeared on the spot, picked up the plate in its beak and flew away.

At that time a great bird came- (aside) please look here, there is nothing to see there. That great bird picked that big plate up with its beak and picked up that plate. As the bird was flying away with the plate, all the untouchable food that had been kept on that plate, was thrown down into the air and it landed on the heads of those who had prepared it.

There was a big Abhishek, a bathing ceremony for Bauddhacharya and company and there was a shower of all this inauspicious food. All this had taken place due to that great bird, and then the bird dropped the big plate on which all these untouchable foods had been placed. That plate fell straight onto the head of Bauddhacharya and he started to bleed.

As he was feeling dizzy, he said and they fell onto the ground losing consciousness. His students were all trying to bring him back to consciousness but they failed to do so. Then they all started to run towards Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and began to speak.

hahakara kari’ kande saba sisya gana

sabe asi’ prabhu pade la-ila sarana

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.57)

Translation

When the teacher fell unconscious, his Buddhist disciples cried aloud and ran to the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for shelter.

They all ran towards the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and they began to speak.

tumi ta’ isvara saksat, ksama aparadha

jiyao amara guru, karaha prasada

tumi ta’ isvara saksat, ksama aparadha

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.58)

Translation

They all prayed to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, addressing Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and saying, ‘Sir, please excuse our offense. Please have mercy upon us and bring our spiritual master back to life.’

This group of students now came on the right path and what are they bow understanding? They understand the Lord Chaitanya MahaPrabhu is the supreme Lord himself. By making all these things happen with the huge bird, the Lord had already showed them his greatness and supreme position. So the group of students must have realised that the sudden appearance of the giant bird on the scene was arranged by the Lord.

The bird not only came upon the scene so suddenly, but it carried the plate and the all the untouchable food on them. So they realised who was behind all this and they spoke to the Lord, ‘It is you only, oh Lord, who has made these things happen.

Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa caracaram, the Lord says that ‘this material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, and it is producing all moving and nonmoving beings.’ The Lord is saying that not one leaf moves without his permission. The Lord is the witness and the giver of sanction, this is what is said in the Bhagavad Gita. He is the witness and permitter, Haribol! Don’t sleep.

Maybe it’s the Lord who is making you sleep, because even a leaf cannot move without his sanction, and so he is the one who moves our eyes and eyelids to close and to sleep. We could blame the Lord, ‘oh you are the one who is putting me to sleep! You are the supreme controller. Iswara means controller.

So all these students are there and Bauddhacharya os not even in knowledge of what is happening, as he is lying down unconscious. But the rest of the party, the Buddhist disciples are seeing everything and they are beginning to understand that this is all the plan of the Lord. The bird has not just come there but rather it has been called there. There was no such bird when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu reached there initially but then..

Having seen all these occurrences, they are all understanding who the Lord is. ‘Tumi ta’ isvara saksat. Krishnadas Goswami had written that the Lord has performed this pastime for all of us as well to understand that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the supreme Lord. By listening to and by reading these pastimes we should come to the conclusion of who this is. And who is this? Saksat, directly, tumi ta’ isvara saksat, you are directly the supreme personality of God head.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jaya! He is Chaitanya what? Mahaprabhu. Prabhu means a Lord or a master, a boss. We sometimes think, ‘oh I am also a Lord or master.’ We are small masters and Lords and then there is Nityananda Prabhu and Adwaita Acharya Prabhu, they are known as Prabhu.

They are also the supreme Lord but in the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, only he is called Mahaprabhu, the Prabhu, or Lord of all Lords. Everyone else was known as Prabhu and Lord Chaitanya was Mahaprabhu. Others are the Iswara, the controllers, but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was Parameshwar, the supreme controller.

So the Lord is forgiving them for their offences, ksama aparadha.

Jiyao amara guru, karaha prasada, ‘we were feeding you untouchable things disguised as Maha Prashad, and we told you it was Maha Prashad for you. But now please give us Prashad.’ Prashad is also known as mercy so they are asking for the Lord’s mercy. Tvat prasadan mayachyuta (BG 18.73). (Arjuna said) by Your grace my illusion has been dispelled.

So at least Arjuna has called the lords instructions mercy. What is Bhagavad Gita? Prashad, mercy. Nashto mohah smritir labdha tvat prasadan mayachyuta. Achyuta, means that the Lord never falls down from his position. ‘You appear in this material world, but when you appear, you do not fall down from your position.’ You are infallible, Achyuta.

Chyuta means to fall down, but this is nevet the case for the Supreme Lord and therefore he never falls down. The influence of Maya, the material energy can never cover lord Krishna, this is not possible. And therefore one of the Lords names is Achyuta, infallible. Arjuna was thinking, I fell down. Karpanya dosopahata svabhavah. What happened to my thinking? Karpanya, I became a miser and low minded.

That was why at the beginning I was not ready to fight the war, i had become miserly.’ Arjuna is admitting that he had become weak and miserly. Karpanya dosopahata svabhavah. Then, dharma sammudha cetah, Arjuna became bewildered by irreligion. That is why, ‘sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam, I am becoming your disciple.’ Bruhi tan me, this knowledge is for my benefit, Arjuna is saying to the Lord.

Then the Lord said many things to Arjuna and at the end, Arjuna is saying to the Lord, ‘thank you, thank you. Whatever you have given me is your mercy.’ The Lord is giving his mercy to everyone but they don’t want it, they are not taking advantage. Then the party of Buddhist disciples said, ‘karaha prasada.’

They were asking for his mercy. ‘Who do we ask for your mercy for? For our spiritual master. Please make him conscious again because he is not dead. He is in this situation because of his offence to your lotus feet, but please save our spiritual master, help! Help!’ So we know that the Lord is all merciful, is that correct? If you hear with attention you will know this, and you must open your ears and your eyes also should be open.

If we listen with open ears, then our eyes will also open. Eye opener, do you understand this term? ‘Oh wow! That was an eye opener! That really opened my eyes, you know!’ When Krishna heard about the feelings of the residents of Vrindavan’s pain in separation of him, it was an eye opener for Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. ‘Result, really? Wow!’ So the wow factor was also there and as they continued to listen, the Lord heard of the pain of the residents of Vrindavan due to separation from him.

The Lord’s eyes were opening and opening wide and they opened so much that now Jagannatha’s eyes never close. The Lord doesn’t ever experience blinking of the eyes and so that was a real eye opener for Krishna. Hari Hari. The Lord is now willing to bestow his mercy upon these students.

prabhu kahe, sabe kaha ‘krsna’ ‘krsna’ ‘hari’

guru karne kaha krsna nama ucca kari’

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.59)

Translation

The Lord then replied to the Buddhist disciples, “You should all chant the names of Krsna and Hari very loudly near the ear of your spiritual master.

The Lord told the Buddhist disciples, ‘if you want that I give you mercy in the form of Prashad that i may feed your spiritual master, then what must you do? You all chant ‘Krsna Krsna Hari.’ Go to your spiritual master and chant this mantra in his ear. And how must it be chanted? Krsna nama ucca kari, the Lord’s names must be chanted loudly.

toma sabara ‘guru’ tabe paibe cetana

saba bauddha mili’ kare krsna sankirtana

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.60)

Translation

By this method your spiritual master will regain his consciousness.” Following Sri Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s advice, all the Buddhist disciples began to chant the holy name of Krsna congregationally

So they chanted the Lords names loudly, and they had no other alternative, so they did as they were told to do. The party of the Buddhist disciples then loudly chanted in their spiritual master’s ears

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Maybe they had chanted Krishna Krishna Hari Hari, or maybe they had chanted the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

gurukarne kahe sabe ‘krsna’ ‘rama’ ‘hari’

cetana pana acarya bale ‘hari’ ‘hari’

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.61)

Translation

When all the disciples chanted the holy names Krsna, Rana and Hari, Buddhist teacher regained consciousness and immediately began to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.

Krishna, Rama, Hari. The Buddhist disciples began to chant, Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari, Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari (Maharaja sings this). In Maharashtra, the devotees of Lord Vitthal, but not only his devotees but others also, s ing this Kirtan mostly. Anyway on the day of Ekadasi it is an Ekadasi Uttsava, a celebration of Ekadasi. All Ekadasi’s are celebrated as a festival in this way in Pandharpura and all over Maharashtra.

Ekadasi is celebrated as the greatest festival and there are four Eladasi’s which are very important, Ashadhi, Kartika, Magha and Chaitra Ekadasi’s, are the four Ekadasi’s in these four months. And out of these four Ekadashi’s, two are most important, Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartika Ekadashi. And of these two Ekadashi’s, Ashadhi Ekadashi is most important, and it is also known as Shayani Ekadashi.

Kartika Ekadashi is also known as Utthana Ekadashi and so on Shayana Ekadashi the Lord starts sleeping for a long period of time and he sleeps for four months. You are thinking, hey it’s is good news! The lord sleeps for four months but unfortunately Maharaja is not letting us sleep for one moment. So there was chanting there of Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari.

Thats another thing, but Tukaram Maharaja was initiated in his dream, and Tukaram Maharaja is writing in verses of his writings of poetry and song to the Lord. In these verses, there is some understanding of his own character in form of a biographical sketch. Tukaram Maharaja took rest in a Thursday night and so he writes about his dream.

A person appeared there and he gave his introduction and said do you know who i am? My name is Ragahava Chaitanya, or Keshava Chaitanya. Tukaram Maharaja further writes that ‘this personality gave me initiation in my dream and also he gave me a Mantra. What was this Mantra? Rama Krishna Hari.’ Therefore this is the main mantra in Maharashtra because Tukaram preached this Mantra everywhere.

Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari, Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari. So it seems that this Mantra was again authorised by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada ki Jai! So it seems that this may be the Mantra that the Buddhist disciples chanted in the ears of their spiritual master. Cetana pana, their spiritual master gained consciousness as he had been unconscious for some time.

cetana pana acarya bale, what did the Acharya say? ‘Hari’ ‘Hari!’ He had been lying there as if he was dead like a tree and as soon as he heard this Mantra, he jumped up and what did he say? ‘Hari’ ‘Hari!’ He also did Kirtan of the Mantra Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari or otherwise he chanted

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Krsna bali’ acarya prabhure karena vinaya

dekhiya sakala loka haila vismaya

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.62)

Translation

When the spiritual master of the Buddhists began to chant the holy name of Krsna and submitted to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, all the people who were gathered there were astonished

By this time, many people had gathered there and they all became witnesses as the Acharya chanted the Lord’s holy name. They have all become astonished to see all this which has taken place. They must have seen as a large bird appeared and threw all the untouchable food upon the Buddhist disciples and party, and also what happened after that with the Acharia becoming unconscious.

They were shouting ‘help, help!’ And what is the help one offer? Chant Rama Krishna Hari, and they did this. The Acharya also heard this chanting, and he jumped up chanting in the same way. He saw that everybody was dancing and partaking in the Kirtan. Dekhiya sakala loka haila vismaya, so in this way everyone was astonished.

ei rupe kautuka kari’ sacira nandana

antardhana kaila, keha na paya darsana

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.63)

Translation

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Sacidevi, then suddenly and humorously disappeared from everyone’s sight, and it was impossible for anyone to find Him

Ei rupe kautuka kari’ sacira nandana, seeing all this happening, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu suddenly left the scene, although there were many people who had gathered there. So we should do something for these people who have curiosity Krishna consciousness. So you app do please do something for them by preaching, because maybe you don’t have the admiration that they did, as they all had stood there to see what was happening.

Antardhana kaila, keha na paya darsana. Suddenly Chaitanya Mahaprabhu suddenly left. The Lord did not usually do this by leaving suddenly, but here he did so and the people took his Darshan of suddenly disappearing . He was in the midst of all the people when this was pastime was happening, and then in front of vision, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared.

After disappearing like this, although the Lord has nothing to prove to anyone, we can come to a conclusion as who he is, and who is Caitanya Mahaprabhu? He is the supreme Lord, and only the supreme Lord can disappear from everyone’s vision in this way. By his own will he can appear and by that very same will he can disappear. This it is only possible by the supreme Lord. In this way the Lord has given Darshan in this way by disappearing and you can take Darshan of this particular pastime of the Lord.

This is also the Lord’s Darshan, to see how he has disappeared from everyone’s vision, what is this? This is also Darshan.

Mahaprabhu cali’ aila tripati trimalle

catur bhuja murti dekhi’ vyenkatadrye cale

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 9.64)

Translation

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu next arrived at Tirupati and Tirumala, where He saw a four-handed Deity. Then He next proceeded toward Veṅkaṭa Hill.

The lord reached Tirupati! This is easy for the supreme Lord, there was no rail Yatra (travelling by rail), no Padayatra (walking for long), or air Yatra (travel by plane). He was in Ahobilam a few moments ago, and next he is – well he can become Lord Vamana, Trivrikram. If Lord Vanana can step over the whole universe in step, then that same Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can do the same.

So one of the Lord’s legs is in Ahobilam and the other org is in Tirupati, and in this way the Lord reached! Govinda! Govinda! So we have our Govinda here and we are not sure if he wants to see us or not, but we certainly want to see him. So we end the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya here and we will get ready for Darshan now. Notai Gaura Prem Ananda Haribol!

Great dynasty of Lord Ramacandra 12th April 2024

Date- 12^thApril 2024
Speaker – Ananga Mohan Prabhu
Theme- Great dynasty of Lord Ramacandra

DakshineLakshmano, YasyeVame Cha Janakathmaja, PurathoMaruthirYasya Tham Vande Raghunandanam.

Translation:

I salute that Rama who is surrounded by Laxmana on the right, Sita on the left and Hanuman in the front.

First of all, I want to thank Guru Maharaj and his dear disciples. Please accept my humble obeisances. From few days Prabhu is asking me to come here and take blessings from all of you. So, Rama Navami is on 17th April. Lord Rama will appear. So, to prepare for that and to get ready to welcome the Lord in our hearts, we are going to discuss today. So, first of all when we talk about the Lord, we know that Lord Krishna is the source of all incarnations.

etecāṁśa-kalāḥpuṁsaḥ
kṛṣṇastubhagavānsvayam
indrāri-vyākulaṁlokaṁ
mṛḍayantiyugeyuge

Translation:

All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord ŚrīKṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists. [SB.1.3.28]

And Lord says in Bhagavad Gita

paritrāṇāyasādhūnāṁvināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāyasambhavāmiyugeyuge

Translation:

To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium. [BG 4.8]

According to Jayadeva Goswami’s song and according to Sastras there are many incarnations of the Lord, like purusavatar, gunavatar, lilavatar, saktyavesa avatar, manvantar avatar, and yugavatar. So, in the song of Jayadeva Goswami in the list of incarnations like Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Krsna, Buddha and Kalki and in this list comes Lord Rama.Krishna is Lila Avatar and Lord Rama is Maryada Purushottam Avatar and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is AudharyaPurushottamAvatar.

Sub-theme: Brief information of Ramayana

In Valmiki Ramayan, there is special mention about Lord Sri Rama. The meaning of Ramayana is Rama Ayana, means Rama’s path, the path on which Sri Rama walked is known as Ramayana, just as Uttrayana and Daksinayana are of Sun god. So,Rama yuktaayana is Ramayana. Ramayana is compiled by Valmiki Muni. In other sasras also like Vayu Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, and Visnu Purana in this sasaras also there is description of Lord Rama and about His pastimes and His dynasty. In the Valmiki Ramayan there are 24,000 verses. It is written in Karun rasa and it is having 500 chapters. And it is sapta-gandha Ramayana; it is written in seven parts. Therefore, whenever we hear about Sri Rama, we feel that Lord Rama should come in our home and in our heart, and we should respect Lord Sri Rama. So, if we want to know about Lord Rama, about His appearance, there is clear mention in Valmiki Ramayan that Rama will appear in Surya dynasty. We know that when Lord Rama appeared in Surya, sun dynasty, Sun God was present above Ayodhya for many months. There was no night, because in his dynasty the Lord appeared.

ShantakaramBhujagashayanamPadmanabham Suresham
VishvadharamGaganasadrishamMeghavarnamShubhangam।
Lakshmikantam KamalanayanamYogibhirdhyanagamyam
Vande VishnumBhavabhayaharamSarvalokaikanatham॥

Translation:

I bow to Lord Vishnu the preserver and the protector of the universe, who is peaceful, who reclines on the great serpent bed, from whose navel springs the Lotus of the creative power, who is the Supreme Being, who supports the entire universe, who is all-pervading as the sky, who is dark like the clouds and has a beautiful form. The Lord of Lakshmi, the lotus-eyed One, whom the Yogis are able to perceive through meditation, salutations to Lord Vishnu who removes the fear of worldly existence and who is the Lord of all worlds. [Vishnu Shantakaram Mantra]

When Lord appeared in Sun dynasty, it is said that Sun God was so happy, that for three months he was present above Ayodhya.

So today we are going to discuss about the ancestors of Lord Rama which is mentioned in Ramayana. Sometimes we feel that we love Lord Ramchandra and Sita, and He should reside in our hearts. So, if we want Lord Rama to reside in our heart then our heart should be that much pure. When our heart, our mind and especially our consciousness will be fully surrendered-

savaimanaḥkṛṣṇa-padāravindayor
vacāṁsivaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane
karauharer mandira-mārjanādiṣu
śrutiṁcakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liṅgālaya-darśanedṛśau
tad-bhṛtya-gātra-sparśe ’ṅga-saṅgamam
ghrāṇaṁ ca tat-pāda-saroja-saurabhe
śrīmat-tulasyārasanāṁ tad-arpite
pādauhareḥkṣetra-padānusarpaṇe
śirohṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane
kāmaṁ ca dāsyenatukāma-kāmyayā
yathottamaśloka-janāśrayāratiḥ

Translation:

MahārājaAmbarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord’s temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṇa or about Kṛṣṇa. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s temples and Kṛṣṇa’s places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord’s devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord’s prasāda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, MahārājaAmbarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires. [ŚB 9.4.18-20]

When we will completely surrender at the lotus feet of Sri Ramchandra, will hear about the Lord, will use our tongue only to speak Rama Katha, then only the Lord will reside in our hearts. Bhakti Vinod Thakur also sings –

mama mana mandirerahaniśi-din
kṛṣṇamurāriśrīkṛṣṇamurāri

Translation:

Please abide in the temple of my heart both day and night, O Krsna Murari, O Sri Krsna Murari! [Verse 1 from Song ‘Mama Man Mandire’ by BhaktivinodaThakura]

If we want to bring Sri Rama in the temple of our heart, if we want to welcome Lord Rama in our heart then we must please Him.

Sub-theme: Satyavadi, truthful King Harishchandra

Therefore, today I thought to speak about two special personalities who came in the dynasty of Lord Sri Rama. This dynasty is very special. In this dynasty acaryas, special kings and Rsis appeared. Lord had to come in this dynasty because Lord loves this dynasty. Many kings appeared in this dynasty. They were preparing that Lord Himself should appear in their dynasty. So, one of these special kings was King Harishchandra. Srila Prabhupada also tells about King Harishchandra during his commentaries and room conversations. Those who are from India and those who are vaishnavas know about King Harishchandra, satyavadi Harishchandra. If anyone of you have ever went to Varanasi then you must have visited Harivashchandra Ghat.Out of 80 ghats there is one Harishchandra Ghat.

So, all of us like to hear about acharyas or special personalities. Are you all ready to hear about Harishchandra? Even if some of you are not ready to hear, then also I will speak. So, I will tell in brief.This story is very big and beautiful. You know that Ramachandra had taken vow of Eka patnivrata, to have only one wife. King Harishchandra also had taken same vow. He got married with Taramati, a great vaishnavi. And from her he had one son whose name was Rohit. So, one day Harishchandra went to forest. There he saw that some mad elephants are attacking women. Those ladies became very bewildered and Harishchandra saved them. Those ladies were manasaputri, daughters of Vishvamitra, who appeared from the mind of Vishvamitra. Once Visvamitra came to visit King Harishchandra and said that ‘my daughters have accepted you as their husband. You are a king.You should accept them.’ Harishchandra said,‘I have taken vow of having only one wife. I cannot do this. Please give me any other service. I will definitely do it.’

So Vishvamitra Muni became very angry. We know that he becomes angry very quickly. Once Vishvamitra Muni went to heaven. Everyone was in the assembly. King Harishchandra had never spoken lie, no matter what is the situation. And that was his power. You know that in Kaliyuga, bull who is the personification of Dharma is standing only on one leg. And that leg is ‘truth’. One must speak only truth. So, in that assembly everyone was talking about King Harishchandra. Vishvamitra Muni had anger for King Harishchandra, he was not happy with Harishchandra as something had taken place earlier, so Vishvamitra Muni said,‘I will test him, how much truth he speaks? How much strength is there in his words?’

So, one day he came to Ayodhya. Harishchandra was the king of Ayodhya at that time. Vishvamitra Muni came in the assembly of King Harishchandra and he said,‘I will accept your welcoming.’ So, as he was Rsi, a brahman, Harishchandra welcomed him very nicely. He said ‘you ask anything, we want to serve you.’ raghukularitisadachaliaaye,pranjaaye paravachannajaaye, in the dynasty of King Raghu, the sun dynasty, all kings were very fixed on their words. For that they used to be ready even to give their life.

So, to test him,Vishvamitra said, ‘will you give promise that whatever I will ask you will give?’ King Harishchandra said, ‘yes definitely, we will give you whatever you ask for. This is the rule of our dynasty that whatever promise we have given, we will definitely fulfillthat. For that even if we have to give our life, we do that.’ Vishvamitra Muni said,‘whatever opulence you have, your wealth, your cattle, your kingdom, everything, you give it to me.’ King Harishchandra said, ‘okay, I am giving everything to you in charity.’ So Vishwamitra said, ‘Okay, then everything is mine now.’ ‘Yes, everything is yours.’ Now Vishwamitra said, ‘I am a brahmin, and I have accepted your charity. Now give me daksina.’ King said, ‘now I don’t have anything. How can I give you dakshina?’ Charity is not complete until you give daksina. This is the rule mentioned in scriptures. So, how much was this dakshina that is mentioned differently in different puranas. Therefore, I am taking the essence of that. He said, ‘you give me thousand golden coins. And you go away from this area, because now it is not yours. It is mine. I will rule over it.’ So Rsi started to rule over it and King Harishchandra left with his wife Taramati and Rohit, who was only 7 years old. And Vishvamitra Muni said, ‘within three months you have to give these thousand gold coins to me.’

King Harishchandra had nothing but only his wife and child with him and he left. This is very big pastime, but to make it short, then they came to Varanasi. Time was passing by. Vishwamitra Muni sent his servant to collect those gold coins from Harishchandra. In between this, Vishvamitra Muni took many exams of Harishchandra and by the blessings of the Lord, Harishchandra passed all those exams. He was surrendered at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and he was pure hearted. So, when the servant arrived, only two days were remaining from the three months’ time period. Taramati knew everything that her husband has tolerated all pains to fulfill his promise. So, she said that, ‘you sell me’. Now if we will talk about this in Kaliyuga, then we may think this cannot happen. King Harishchandra said, ‘how can I sell you?’ So Taramati said, ‘no, you must keep your words.’

So, there was fun fair. Some says, it was market. So Harishchandra went on the stage with his wife and child. It was very painful situation. By going on the stage he announced,‘is there anyone who want to purchase my wife? She can become your servant.’ People became angry on him and started to blaspheme him, ‘what kind of person is this? He is selling his wife?’ That time one brahman came there. ‘I want to purchase your wife. What is the rate?’ So,Harishchandra asked, ‘how much you can give?’ He said, ‘I will give 250 gold coins.’ Harishchandra said, ‘No. I want 500 gold coins. Because I had promised somewhere and need to give that money there.’ Then brahman said, ‘no, this is not possible.’ Yet Harishchandra had to sell his wife. So he sold her and requested, ‘please don’t ask her to clean used pots and used clothes as she is a queen. She can help in all other works.’

When Taramati was leaving, Rohit, who was a small child, also started to go with mother. Everyone knows that small kids need mother. So, the brahman said, ‘okay, I will take this child also and I will give you 500 gold coins.’ Then after this Harishchandra himself stood and asked, ‘is there anyone who wants to purchase me?’ So, one Chandala, who burns dead bodies, came. This was Varanasi, Kasi. His clothes were torn, but he had money. So, he purchased Harishchandra with 500 gold coins. So Harishchandra sent 1000 gold coins to Visvamitra through his servant. Many things happened in between this.

Then one day, a snake bites Rohit. So,while carrying his dead body Taramati comes in crematorium. So, there Harishchandra was working. His beard was grown. His clothes were torn. While holding on stick, he used to collect cloth, one gold coin, rice and fruit from those who would come to burn dead body. Without this he was not letting them to do last rites. So, Taramati came with her son. Harishchandra said, ‘my master has told that if anyone will not give this, then I cannot burn the body ‘ So like this he faced very tragic situations, but never gave up.

So Taramati went to collect cloth, gold coin, rice and fruit. At that time, in Varanasi, many children were dying. So, everyone thought that this lady is pisachini and she is killing all children. So King’s soldiers caught her. At late night, where is she going. She must be the one who is killing the children. So, they took her to Harishchandra and said she is having death sentence. And who will give this punishment, the helper is chandal will do this.

So as per the order of his master, Harishchandra was going to cut Taramati’s head with sword, but at that moment the brahman who had purchased Taramati, came there with his wife. Chandal also came with his wife. Chandal and his wife were Shankar and Parvati. And brahman and his wife were Narayana and Lakshmi. All demigods and Sapta-Rsis and even Visvamitra Muni came there and they were raising their hands and saying, ‘satyavati Raja Harishchandra ki Jay.’ So all of them are very pleased. Chanakya Pandit says

Chalam vittamchalam chittam chalejIvitayauvane |
ChalachalamidamsarvamkIrtiyasyasajIvati ||

Translation:

The mind, the wealth, youth and life of people, all these are extremely perishable, but surely only the fame and glory achieved by a person is steady and unchangeable. [Quote by Chanakya pandit]

If fame, glory is still there, then one can survive in any condition. Just as Prabhupada, his spiritual master Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur, our spiritual master, they are glorious. So, Satyavadi, truth-speaker like Harishchandra.

Sub-theme: Kings from Sun dynasty brought Ganga on earth

We know that later also in the dynasty of Ramachandra, everyone was very firm in keeping their words. So Harishchandra and all the kings who came in the dynasty of Ramachandra gave their life for the welfare of humanity. One more such personality was king Sagar. Sagar had 60 thousand sons. One day King Sagar was doing ashwamedha yajna. 99 ashwamedha yajna were done and this was the hundredth yagya. Indra stole the horse of this ashwamedh yajna and kept it in the asrama of Kapil Muni. When all the sons of king Sagar went to search the horse, they came to the ashram of Kapil Muni and they thought that this Muni has kidnapped the horse. They attacked on Kapil Muni. But just by the sight of Kapil Muni all of them turned into ashes.

Then Anshuman, the grandson of King Sagar came to Kapil Muni and asked, ‘how they will be liberated?’ Kapil Muni said,‘from Vaikuntha Alaknanda, Ganga flows. By the pure water of Ganga these ashes will be washed out and they will be liberated.’ Anshuman gave his life to bring Ganga on earth for the liberation of his father and uncles and for the whole humanity. His son Janamejay and his grandson Dilip all of them gave their life. Then Bhagirath, the son of Dilip did very severe austerities and brought Ganga on earth. So, this whole dynasty of the Lord gave up everything for the service of the Lord and for humanity. So, if we also want the Lord to appear in our heart and if we want to please the Lord; we should also understand that we cannot be like them, the Mahajanas

tarko ’pratiṣṭhaḥśrutayovibhinnā
nāsāvṛṣiryasyamataṁnabhinnam
dharmasyatattvaṁnihitaṁguhāyāṁ
mahājanoyenagataḥsapanthāḥ

Translation:

‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.’ [CC Madhya 25.57]

We can follow their footsteps, but we cannot imitate them. If we will keep ourselves pure by chanting the Lord’s names and specifically only that Sri Ramachandra appears in the form of Gaura Chandra.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India in the area of Kishkindha. In Treta Yuga Lord Ramachandra shoot arrow at seven Tala trees. So, in Gauranga Avatar He hugged those trees. And as soon as Mahaprabhu hugged these Tala trees, these trees went back to Godhead.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s follower, Murari Gupta, who himself was Hanuman. If you will go to Mayapur Navadweep, then in between Chaitanya matha and our Mayapur temple, there is very beautiful residence of Murari Gupta. There we can see Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman in the alter. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu Themselves are Shri Rama and Lakshman. Mahaprabhutells about five best things to perform in Bhakti. There are total 64 things to do, if anyone will do only these five things, then he will immediately receive love of Godhead.

sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, bhāgavata-śravaṇa
mathurā-vāsa, śrī-mūrtiraśraddhāyasevana

Translation

“One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, reside at Mathurā and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.

[CC Madhya 22.128]

sakala-sādhana-śreṣṭhaeipañcaaṅga
kṛṣṇa-premajanmāyaeipāṅceraalpasaṅga

Translation

“These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Kṛṣṇa. [CC Madhya 22.129]

If we will do these five things daily or even one of these five things, very seriously, then immediately we will achieve Krishna Prema. Therefore, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, who Themselves are Rama and Laxmana, how They will enter in our heart if our heart is not pure?

Sub-theme: Understand the mercythat we are receiving daily

We have lots of mercy of the Lord and that’s why daily in the morning so many devotees gather together on zoom. Lord says-

bahūnāṁjanmanām ante
jñānavānmāṁprapadyate
vāsudevaḥsarvamiti
samahātmāsu-durlabhaḥ

Translation:

After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare. [BG 7.19]

All of us will find the Lord in our life. Or if we are taking shelter of Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Charitamrita, Caitanya Mangala; and all of you are so fortunate that your spiritual master who is the representative of the Lord

jīveranistāralāgi’ sūtrakailavyāsa
māyāvādi-bhāṣyaśunilehayasarva-nāśa

Translation

“ŚrīlaVyāsadeva presented the Vedānta philosophy for the deliverance of conditioned souls, but if one hears the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, everything is spoiled. [CC Madhya 6.169]

So, as per Caitanya Charitamrita, spiritual master is mercy personification of the Lord Krishna. He himself comes to bless us. And I am stunned to see the love of Lokanath Swami Maharaj for all of you, for us, that daily morning he chants with us. In any condition he encourages us, how we can achieve Krishna? Like, Ravana used to think always, what he is not having. It is mentioned in Ramayana that if one is having gratitude and service mood, that person will be very happy in any situation. Sometimes we do not understand the mercy we are getting. In Bengali it is said, ‘When we have teeth then we do not take care is them. And when we do not have teeth then we fix false teeth and then we have to take care of those false teeth.’ So, we are getting so much mercy and blessings. In Ramayana Lord Rama tellskritagyata, gratitude; He tells this through Laxman gratitude. What do we have? We have received spiritual master, sadguru, we have received Krishna. We have received Srila Prabhupad. We have received fortune of honoring Prasad and having Darshan. What else is there? The darshan of Lords beautiful form Dham Yatra, morning program, Katha Kirtan, so many festivals, kirtan, bhajan, what else do we need? If it is given in the scriptures that by achieving Krishna we will get everything, –

tvamevamata cha pita tvameva
tvamevabandhushchasakhatvameva.
Tvameva vidya dravinamtvameva
tvamevasarvam mama-dev-deva.

Translation

You are our mother. You alone are our father. You are our kinsman. You alone are our friend. You alone are īśvara. You are conversant with the Vedas. You are always meditated upon by persons of great magnanimity.

If Krishna is everything and we are achieving Krishna, then why we need to run anywhere else? Sometimes we do not understand this. When by the mercy of the Lord and spiritual master we understand,‘how much blessings we are getting’, then we should do self-analysis. It is also given in the Ramayana that when Dasharath Maharaj thought that I should make Ramchandra the king, he announced this in Ayodhya. So loudly everyone chanted ‘Jaya, Jaya’; Dashrath Maharaj became happy from inside, but outwardly he said ‘looks like I don’t have served you nicely. So loudly you are saying Jaya-dhvani and Raja Rama ki Jay.’ This comes in Ayodhya kanda in Adi khanda. So,he wanted to listen whether people are understanding my son or not. So, it is mentioned in Ramayana that each one of the Praja started to glorify the qualities of Lord Rama. When they started to glorify Lord Rama, they said many things like, He is dhira, santa, narasardula;narasardula means He is lion among the men. He walks like an elephant. Sastragya, sushila, ksamashila, dhairyashila everything is there in Lord Rama. One of those qualities is Lord do atma-samiksa, self-analysis. If anyone did a little service to Him, He becomes very grateful for him. As Lord says in Bhagavad Gita

nehābhikrama-nāśo ’stipratyavāyonavidyate
sv-alpamapyasyadharmasyatrāyatemahatobhayāt

Translation

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear. [BG 2.40]

‘Even if someone does a little thing, I become indebted to him.’ Similarly, if we want that Lord should reside in our heart, then we should also become like Sagar, Bharat, Dilip, Anshuman, Bhagirath and Harishchandra. Don’t know maybe some of you are like them, but that will be very special. We can follow the footsteps of the great kings. We can follow the rules given by Srila Prabhupad and our Guru Maharaj. We can keep ekadashi fasting, can chant minimum sixteen rounds daily, can take shelter of Shrimad Bhagavatam. We should maintain love for our god brothers and God sisters and all vaisnavas. We should maintain love for all living beings. And if we will do self-analysis once in a day, then we can understand how much mercy we are receiving. Yudhishthir Maharaj asks Lord Krishna, ‘who is most unfortunate person?’ Lord Krishna says, mam aradhyaduhkhartatkutumbaasaktahmanasahsatsangorahitomrtyur ..seva paricyuta,thse four kinds of people are very unhappy. Mamaradhyaduhkhartat, one who does not worship me, kutumbaasaktah, one who is attached to the bi-products of his body, satsangorahito, one who does not go for satsang, ..seva paricyuta, one who is not having spiritual master or mentor; but those who are vaishnavas, and vaishnavas are their family, who have taken shelter a spiritual master, he is very fortunate. Krishna is in our life. Devotees are in our life. We are having mentor and we do go in satsanga. True or not?Say loudly Hari Bol. So, if we have received all this, then we are very fortunate. Therefore, we do not need to see here and there.We just need to satisfy Lord Krishna in any situation. Prabhupada has given opportunities for this through ISKCON. We must say that, our spiritual master and all his god brothers and god sisters, they always want us to achieve Krishna.

jogyatā-vicāre, kichunāhipāi,
tomārakaruṇā-sāra
karuṇānāhoile, kāndiyākāndiyā,
prāṇanārākhiboāra

Translation

If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life. [Verse 4 from Song ‘Gurudeva Krpa Bindu Diya’ by BhaktivinodaThakura]

We do not have any qualification. We have mercy of Hari, Guru and Vaisnava. Through them we have reached at the lotus feet of the Lord and have received the fortune to love the Supreme Lord. We have to progress further so that we can love the Lord. One who will be successful in this attempt can help many people because Krishna is residing in his heart.

brahmāṇḍatāriteśaktidhare jane jane
e vedapurāṇeguṇagāyajevāśune

Translation

I have heard their glorification in the Vedas and Puranas, which proclaim that each one of His devotees has the sakti to deliver an entire universe. [Verse 7 from Song ‘Vrndavana Vasi Jata Vaisnavera Gana’ by Devakinandana Dasa Thakura]

Every person can liberate the whole brahmanda. Therefore, I offer my most humble obeisances at the lotus feet of Loknath Swami Maharaj. I pray to Guru Maharaj that as he keeps smiling in every situation and keeps blessing us, he should always keep loving us. By his blessings one day we will understand how much mercy we are receiving from Lord Ramachandra, Lord Krishna and Lord Gauranga. Wishing all of you happy Rama Navami;I request all of you to please keep me also in your prayers on this Rama Navami occasion. Offer my humble obeisances to all vaishnavas.

vancha-kalpatarubhyash ca kripa-sindhubhyaeva ca patitanampavanebhyovaishnavebhyonamonamah!

Sri Siyavara Ramachandra ki Jay! Gaura premanande Hari Haribol!

Srila Ramanujacharya Appearance Day 13th April 2024

13 April 2024
Srila Ramanujacharya Appearance Day
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah (Sri Guru Pranama)

Translation: I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine (Srila Prabhupada Pranati)

Translation: I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

Translation: Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

panca-tattvatmakam krishnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam namami bhakta-saktikam (Sri Panca-tattva Pranama)

Translation: I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kirishna, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy.

All Glories to the appearance day of Srila Ramanujacharya! Around 1007 years back, Srila Ramanujacharya appeared at Pedembedur in Chennai (Madras). He was a very glorious spiritual master. Very few spiritual masters have the same calibre as him.

There are four main Acharyas belonging to four different bonafide Vaishnava Sampradayas. He was the first one to appear, followed was Nimbarkacharya. Why was his appearance glorious?

The younger brother of Lord Sri Rama is Rama-anuja. He was partial incarnation of Lord Lakshmana himself. Lakshmana is Balarama or Nityananda prabhu. Lakshmana represents the spiritual master.

He played a very significant role as an acharya or the spiritual master. Even Lord Buddha had appeared. I don’t have much details to research on this but I can share the details which we have.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge (BG 4.8)

Translation: To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to reestablish the principles of dharma I appear on this earth, age after age.

Lakshmana had to appear in this world to establish the religious principles.

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham (BG 4.7)

Translation: Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.”

This task falls under the responsibility of the Lord and his devotees also.

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ (BG 18.66)

Translation: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

1000 years back we were facing the same decline in the religious principles. People were busy following the Karma Kanda and they were brutally performing animal sacrifices. Then the Lord had to appear as Buddha Dev and he preached the principles of Ahimsa, Non violence.

ahimsā paramo dharmah sarvaprāmabhrth smrtah
tasmāt prānabhrtah sarvān na himsyād brāhmanah
kva cit (Mahabharata Adi Parva)

Translation: Verily the highest virtue of man is sparing the life of others. Therefore a Brahmana should never take the life of any creature.

He said, forget the scriptures if they are inspiring you to kill these animals and the people followed. But leading life without Vedas is not vain. A person who is not following the Vedas is an atheist. Thus Buddhists and Jainism all fall in the same category. They preached the philosophy of voidism. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Shankaracharya and he preached impersonalism.

Ahaṁ Brahmāsmi

(Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)

Translation: “I am Brahman”, or “I am Divine”.

The Lord is omnipresent and formless. Also the goal of our life is to merge into this formless divine form. Aham Brahma Asmi! That Brahma has no form, quality or pastimes. When there is no form then what will he do in the places like Vrindavan, Ayodhya or any other Holy Dham. And to consider this body as ourselves is an illusion and we will get freed from this illusion, when we will get out of this body.

namaste saraswati deve
gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi
pashchatya-desha-tarine (Srila Prabhupada Pranati)

Translation: Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

The Lord has no special quality such as voidism and impersonalism. Before the appearance of Ramanujacharya, these two philosophies were dominating the society.

There were twelve Alwars. There is a place called Alarnath, near Jagannath Puri where these Alwars used to worship Lord Krsna. It’s then that Srila Ramanujacharya appeared. A person is accepted as an Acharya only when they could write a commentary on Vedanta Sutra.

Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vishnu Swami and Ramanujacharya all of them had written a commentary on Vedanta Sutra. And then fifth Sampradaya arose – the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya and Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan wrote the commentary on Vedanta Sutra from our Sampradaya.

The commentary which was written by Srila Ramanujacharya, that was named as Sri Bhasya.

Because the main worshipable deity of their Sampradaya is Goddess Lakshmi. The Lord and everyone else is one. The Lord is Lord and I can make you the Lord. But Srila Prabhupada said, The Lord is Lord and you can never become Lord.

ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya
yāre yaiche nācāya, se taiche kare nṛtya (CC Ādi 5.142)

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so.

Ramanujacharya was the first Acharya to declare that we are two separate units, the Supreme Lord and the soul – the eternal servant.

Buddha said, zero. Shankaracharya said one and then Ramanujacharya said two. Madhvacharya placed special emphasis on these three – The Supreme Lord, Jiva and third is the devotional service. So the proper process of devotional service was given by Srila Ramanujacharya first.

At the age of 12, Srila Ramanujacharya got married. And after the death of his parents he shifted to Kanchipuran. He had five main spiritual masters. He was accepting teachings from a person named Yadav Prakash but as soon as he got to know that he was preaching impersonalism then he gave up on him. Yadav Prakash was very displeased with him and he wanted to kill Ramanujacharya but the Lord saved him.

And at the later stage, he himself accepted Ramanujacharya as his spiritual master. Ramanujacharya accepted Yamunacharya as his initiating spiritual master.

One day he received this news that his spiritual master has left this world. Thus he went to Sri Rangam and had the last darshans of his spiritual master. He was very morose, experiencing the pain of separation from his spiritual master

pāṣāṇe kuṭibo māthā anale paśibo
gaurāńga guṇera nidhi kothā gele pābo (Je Anilo Prem Dhana 4)

Translation: I will smash my head against the rock and enter into the fire. Where will I find Lord Gauranga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?

je anilo prema-dhana koruna pracur
heno prabhu kotha gela acarya-thakur (Je Anilo Prem Dhana 1)

Translation: He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy—where has such a personality as Srinivasa Acarya gone?

He observed that his spiritual master’s three fingers were in an folded position. He understood that these three fingers represented his spiritual masters three unfulfilled desires. He knew what those desires were and he spoke them out as his own responsibilities. He said,

I will refute the Mayavada Philosophy.
I’ll write a commentary on Vedanta Sutra
I’ll name one of my disciples as Parasara Muni

And thus with each announcement, Yamunacharya’s each finger continued to unfold. And he could understand the heart of his spiritual master.

cakṣu-dān dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,
divya jñān hṛde prokāśito
prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte,
vede gāy jāhāra carito (Sri Guru Carana Padma 3)

Translation: He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.

When he was given the secret mantra at the time of his initiation, he heard the glories of that secret mantra. That secret mantra has the potency to deliver the fallen souls from the clutches of this material world. But if this Mantra is shared with any unqualified person then, the person who shares it would go to hell.

As soon as Srila Ramanujacharya heard this, he went onto the roof of the temple and made an announcement. He told all the villagers to chant this mantra. It’s the same mood as that of Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura Prabhupada who spoke about establishing a market place of the holy name and calling out to all the faithful people.

nadiya-godrume nityananda mahajana
patiyache nama-hatta jibera karana (Nadiya Godrume 1)

Translation: In Nadiya’s Godruma the great soul Lord Nityananda has opened a marketplace to sell the holy name to the conditioned souls.

And thus he shared the mantra with all the people around, without bothering least about himself. Then he continued to stay in Sri Rangam worshiping Lakshmi Narayana. Also he travelled to different places of pilgrimage.

About 200 years prior to the appearance of Ramanujacharya, Shankaracharya appeared. Ramanujacharya had 700 Sanyasi Disciples and 12000 Brahmacharis. And thousands of Grashtha disciples and all of them were helping him to preach the glories of the Lord throughout.

Prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama (CB Antya-khanda 4.126)

Translation: In every town and village throughout the world,” said Lord Caitanya, – the chanting of My holy name will be heard.

He was the leading spiritual master, 1000 years back.

evam parampara-praptam
imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kaleneha mahata
yogo nastah parantapa (BG 4.2)

Translation: This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

So one should receive the spiritual knowledge from a bonafide Sampradaya only.

sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah
atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah
sri-brahma-rudra-sanakah vaisnavah ksiti-pavanah
catvaras te kalau bhavya hy utkale purusottamat (Padma Puran)

Translation: Any mantra that does not come in disciplic succession is considered to be fruitless. Therefore, four divine individuals will appear in the age of Kali to found disciplic schools. The founders of these four Vaisnava sampradayas are Laksmi or Sri, Brahma, Rudra and Sanaka Rishi, and the acaryas of the Kali Age who follow their lines will appear in the holy city of Purusottama in Orissa.

Otherwise the acquired knowledge wont be fruitful. Prior to the appearance of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, all these different acharyas from the four bonafide Sampradaya appeared.

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ (BG 7.19)

Translation: After many births of spiritual practice, one who is endowed with knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be all that is. Such a great soul is indeed very rare.

A spiritual master means a Vaishnava, worshiper of Lord Vishnu only. We need to go back to Goloka Vrindavan Dham. But these impersonalists have only the aim of merging into the existence of the Lord. And the worshippers of demigods and even the worshippers of ghosts will go back to their worshipable deities.

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino ‘pi mam (BG 9.25)

Translation: Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me.

The person who is not worshiping Lord Vishnu, he can’t be the spiritual master. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepts two qualities from each bonafide Sampradaya. From Sri Sampradaya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the principle of unalloyed devotional service.

advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca
vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi (BS 5.33)

Translation: I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal puruṣa; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth.

Unalloyed devotional service of the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu/Vasudev/Krsna.

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā (Bg. 7.20)

Translation: Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.

No offences unto the Vaishnavas and serving them nicely (Vaishnava Seva). We were welcomed very nicely on our visits to Sri Rangam. Sri Rangam is the only place where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed for four months on his visit to South India. Thus even he could experience that hospitality when he stayed at the place of Sri Ventak Bhatta, everyday he would go to have Darshans of Lord Ranganath, then he would perform Sankirtan and make the people dance.

Venkat Bhatta’s younger brother became the follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and after initiation he got the name as Prabhodananda Thakura. And also Venkat Bhatta’s son, became Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s disciple and both of them shifted to Vrindavan in later part of their lives. The son became Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Srila Prabhodananda Thakura writes, I was cheated, I was cheated. I was given no clue of this ocean of nectar.

vancito smi vancito smi
vancito smi na samsayah
visvam gaura-rase magnam
sparso’pi mama nabhavat (Caitanya-candramrta 46)

Translation: I have been deprived, I have been deprived, surely I have been deprived! The whole world became immersed in love for Sri Gaura, but alas! my destiny is such that not a drop of that love has touched me.

And he gave the conclusion that, this nectar of Radha Krsna’s divine love and conjugal pastimes is the topmost. We can understand the significance of Sri Ramanujacharya’s appearance in establishing and preaching of Vaishnavas Dharma. He was in Sri Rangam in his last days.

Though he left the planet, but his body (Vapu) is still present in Sri Rangam in the sitting position. He was not given a samadhi under the ground. Many times I have taken his darshans, there is a separate temple built for him.

All Glories to the appearance day of Srila Ramanujacharya!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Get benefitted by Dhāma 15th April 2024

15 April 2024
Speaker: HH Vrindavan Chandra Swami Maharaj
Theme: Get benefitted by Dhāma
Hare Krsna!!

Upcoming is the occasion of Rāma Navamī. Today we are very fortunate to have with us HH Vrindavan Chandra Swami Maharaj who is also known as the Vrajavasī of ISKCON. We shall hear Śrī Rāma Kathā from him.

Theme: Purposes of incarnation of the Lord

It’s a bliss for me to get an opportunity to speak about Śrī Rāma Chandra for the upcoming Rāma Navamī festival. Śrī Rāma Chandra appeared in Ayodhya Dhāma. There are several purposes of the Lord’s appearance on this planet and each and every reason is very amazing.

soi jasagāibhagata bhava tarahīn
kripāsindhūjanahitatanudharahīn
rāmajanmakehetuaneka
param vicitra ek teekā

Translation

By singing that praise again and again, the devotees get immersed in the ocean of existence. Lord Kripasagar assumes the body for the benefit of the devotees.

There are innumerous reasons for Lord Ram’s incarnation, each of which is more strange than the other. (Text 1, Tulasi Ramayana)

Hanuman Ji says,

martyāvatāras tv ihamartya-śikṣaṇaṁ
rakṣo-vadhāyaivanakevalaṁvibhoḥ
kuto ’nyathāsyādramataḥsvaātmanaḥ
sītā-kṛtānivyasanānīśvarasya

Translation

It was ordained that Rāvaṇa, chief of the Rākṣasas, could not be killed by anyone but a man, and for this reason Lord Rāmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in the form of a human being. Lord Rāmacandra’s mission, however, was not only to kill Rāvaṇa but also to teach mortal beings that material happiness centered around sex life or centered around one’s wife is the cause of many miseries. He is the self-sufficient Supreme Personality of Godhead, and nothing is lamentable for Him. Therefore why else could He be subjected to tribulations by the kidnapping of mother Sītā? (ŚB 5.19.5)

The most well known purpose of Śrī Rāma’s appearance was the annihilation of Rāvana. The Lord didn’t need to descend specially to kill him as He had many other options. But Rāvana had a great boon from Brahma Ji that no one could defeat him, but humans and monkeys. That’s why the Lord appeared as a human. Rāvana was the devotee of Shiv Ji. And he was such a great devotee that he would offer his own head to him where the other devotees just offer some stone apples (bel patra).

The Lord not only appeared to kill Rāvana but He also appeared to teach lessons to mankind. He taught the world many lessons by His behaviour.

Theme: Ayodhya’s trueness

Lord Rāma appeared in Ayodhya. Ayodhya is a very pious city.

“tāmasatyanāmadrdhato” as mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan.Ayodhya’s name is very true. Its real situation is the same as the meaning of the name. Nowadays people keep unsuitable names, like a person’s name is Padmalochan but he can not see anything.

Janameraandhanamapadmalocana- “when a man’s son was blind since birth, the father, out of staunch affection for the child, named him Padmalocana”- Srila Prabhupada (Bengali saying)

His eyes are compared to a lotus. This means the situation is not as per the meaning of the name. This is not a true name. But the name of Ayodhya is totally appropriate. Let’s understand the meaning of the name Ayodhya. Like khadyasamagri, where khadyameans worth eating; Pathya pustak, where pathyameans worth teaching, kardyameans worth doing; in the similar way yodhyain Ayodhya means worth fighting with. Ayodhya means where there is no battle, not worth fighting with. This name is true to its meaning.

Theme: Description of Ayodhya Dhāma

durgagambhīraparikhāmadurgāmanyaihdurrāsadāma
vājivāranasampūrnāma
gobhirūśtraihkharaihstathā

Translation

That Ayodhya is an impassable one for trespassers, or for other invaders, owing to her impassable and profound moats, and she is abounding with horses, camels, likewise with cows and donkeys. (1.5.13, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

Parighameans the outer circle of a city. It is described that the outer circle of Ayodhya is so profound that it is not possible to enter there. To safeguard the city, people would dig a hole and set it on fire. Like to stop monkeys in Vrindāvana, people would set electric wires on their houses.

kavātatoranavatīmsuvibhaktāntarāpanāma
sarvayantrāyudhavatīmusītāma
sarvaśilpibhih

Translation

That city is surrounded with gateways and archways; the front yards of buildings are well laid; it lodges all kinds of machinery, weaponry and craftsmen, and king Dasharatha dwells in such a city. (1.5.10, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

There are boundaries all around the city Ayodhya and the main gate is very substantial and strong to break. Ayodhya is very well ready for any kind of attack.

sutamāgaghasambadhāmaśrīmatitulaprabhāma
ucchāttaladhvajavatīm
śataghnīśatasamkulama

Translation

With matchless splendour, it abounded in eulogists and genealogists. It contained stately edifices decorated with flags and hundreds of sataghnis (missiles).(1.5.11, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

It has many powerful weapons like missiles which can kill thousands of people at once.

yodhānāmagnikalpānām
peślānāmamarshinām
sampūrnākrtvidhyānām
guhākesarināmiva

Translation

It abounded with warriors, like a cave with lions. They were almost like flaming fire, the most determined among experts and accomplished in learning (the science of arms). (1.6.21, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

The soldiers there are very well fit, trained and are not very jovial. They cannot tolerate insults from anyone. The soldiers of Ayodhya are compared to lions who live in a cave in the mountain. No one can dare to enter a cave. Similarly, their soldiers are so muscular and strong that no one can fight them.

Theme: An exile to Śrī Rāma and His condition

Ayodhya is the abode of the Lord. And the Lord respects and loves Ayodhya a lot. A situation came when Śrī Rāma had to leave Ayodhya. One morning, Dashrath ji called Śrī Rāma in Rajdarbar. Dashrath ji was lying on the ground. When asked by Śrī Rāma of his father’s situation, Kaikeyi said that he had promised to give her 2 boons. She asked him to give Śrī Rāma an exile. Śrī Rāma took His father’s words seriously and when he was leaving Ayodhya, many people accompanied him till Tamasā river. They all rested there at night. Śrī Rāma thought of leaving before sunrise. As He was going far from Ayodhya, He was forgetting love towards it. He was giving instructions to Lakshman to not think about Ayodhya’s people. But at the same time, He was unable to control Himself. As He crossed many rivers towards forest, when the border came of Ushal, He stopped His chariot and stood facing towards Ayodhya and said,

āpracchetvāmpurīshreshthe
kakutsthaparipālite
daivatāni ca yānitvām
pālayantivasanti ca

Translation

O Ayodhya, the best of cities ruled by those born in the Kakutstha race I take leave of you and of all those gods inhabiting and guarding you. (2.50.2, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

Śrī Rāma said to Ayodhya, “O Ayodhya, I am asking you for a leave. I am asking the demigods and the people of Ayodhya for a leave.”

Nivrittavanavāsastvāmanrno
jagatīpateh
punardrkshyāmimātrā ca pitrā ca
sahasangagatah

Translation

On completion of exile and my filial obligations to king Dasaratha, lord of the world, discharged, I shall, reunited with my parents, see you again. (2.50.3, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

He was promising that whenever His exile would get over, He would come as soon as possible to meet them all.

tatorudhiratāmrāksho
bhujamudyamyadakshinam
ashrupūrnamukho
dīnoabravījjānapadamjanam

Translation

He looked miserable, his copperred eyes filled with tears. He raised his right hand

and said to the villagers who had come to see him: (2.50.4, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

He was looking very helpless and tears were falling down from His eyes.

“ayodhyasochishyantinasanshaya”

Theme: Ayodhya, a mother

He was concerned about Ayodhya that it would mourn without Him. He was concerned about His mother that she might get blind in sobbing. But He was confident that His brother Bharat would look after His parents after He had gone. He was concerned for the people of Ayodhya. Still he went towards the forest to get His father’s promise fulfilled.

When the Lord was returning from Sri Lanka on a plane, He was on His way to Ayodhya. As soon as the City came to sight, He offered obeisances to Ayodhya and also asked Sita Ji to offer obeisances.

eshasādraśyatesīte
rājadhānīpiturmama
ayodhyāmkuruvaidehipranāmampunarāgatā

Translation

Sita! My father’s capital Ayodhya is seen. We have come here. Offer your salutations.” (6.126.55, Yuddhakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

He gave so much importance to Ayodhya as His mother. It is seen that the devotees accept Dhāma as their mother. It is said in Vrindavan Mahimamrta,

grihāndhakūpepatitahkadā
māmuddhratyamūdamkrpyāsvayaiva
kāmādikālāhiganairnigīrnam
mātevavrindātavineśyaseangakam

Translation

I have fallen into a blind well like Grihasta, tied with a black snake like lust desires, O Vrindatavi, when will you liberate me and put me on your lap like a mother. (88, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta)

He is saying to Ayodhya, “O mother, I have fallen in a blind well (without water) where pythons have taken shelter. I have no knowledge. Desire like python have swallowed Me. It has become a very dangerous situation. One needs support to come out of that well.” He is comparing that well to Grihasth ashram that He has fallen in a grihasth ashram and he is not able to take wise decisions. That lusty desires has tied Him. He is asking when she will take Him out of this situation and put Him on her lap. When someone is dependent on someone, their relationship becomes stronger. Like when a child is totally dependent on his mother, his mother takes full care of him. Similarly, one who takes shelter of Dhāma, Dhāma takes care of such a person.

Uddhav ji is describing the situation of Kaliyuga Jiva.

daṣṭaṁjanaṁsampatitaṁ bile ’smin
kālāhinākṣudra-sukhoru-tarṣam
samuddharainaṁkṛpayāpavargyair
vacobhirāsiñcamahānubhāva

Translation

O almighty Lord, please be merciful and uplift this hopeless living entity who has fallen into the dark hole of material existence, where the snake of time has bitten him. In spite of such abominable conditions, this poor living entity has tremendous desire to relish the most insignificant material happiness. Please save me, my Lord, by pouring down the nectar of Your instructions, which awaken one to spiritual freedom. (ŚB 11.19.10)

This well is the material world and black snake is the time. When a snake bites someone, he feels very hot and becomes very thirsty. Similarly, when this snake of time bites us, we become more thirsty for material enjoyment. Uddhav ji is praying to the Lord to deliver the fallen souls. Tongue plays a very important role and thus it should always be engaged in Harināma. By doing so we can control other urges for engaging into sinful activities.

“jaramayasarthyathaausadham sat”

Like proper medication can cure a person suffering from high fever. Or water can satisfy a person’s thirst. So devotees believe and respect Dhāma a lot. Lord Rāma had been an exemplary character that how one should behave towards Dhāma. He treats Ayodhya as His mother and so the Vrindāvanavasīs. They feel safe around the arms of Dhāma like a child feels safe in his mothers lap.

Question: How can one develop niśthā(firm faith) towards the Lord and His holname while fighting with our six enemies of the mind?

Ans: We should take shelter of a Dhāma. Dhāma will take away our six enemies of mind from us. Now everyone will ask if they should leave the city and get situated in Dhāma. This is best but if it’s not possible then ŚrīlaRūpaGoswāmī explains nine ways to take shelter of Dhāma. One can perform any of the nine ways to get benefitted.

sruta- smrta –kirtita -ca
vanchita- preksita -gata
sprsta- sritasevita -ca
mathur -abhista -da -nrnam

Translation

“[Due to the unlimited power of Vrndavana], anyone can fulfil their cherished desires [for Krishna’s eternal service] simply by:

1) Hearing about Vrndavana (sruta)

2) Remembering Vrndavana (smrta)

3) Glorifying Vrndavana (kirtita)

4) Desiring Vrndavana (vanchita)

5) Seeing Vrndavana (preksita)

6) Visiting Vrndavana (gata)

7) Touching Vrndavana (sprsta)

8) Living in Vrndavana (asrita)

9) Serving Vrndavana (sevita).”

Hare Krishna!

Ram Katha Day 2 16th April 2024

Topic: Ram Katha Day 2
Date:16^th April 2024
Speaker: HH Anant Krishna Maharaj
HG Padmamali Prabhu:

We have HH Ananta Krishna Goswami Maharaj with us to deliver today’s Japa Talk. He is a great devotee of Lord. We welcome you all to this second session in this series of lectures on Sri Rama Navami. Maharaj is a very senior disciple of HH Radha Govind Goswami Maharaj. And he is very famous for his Rama Katha in ISKCON. Maharaj is connected to ISKCON Juhu. We have around 2-2.5 K devotees hearing this session today.

HH Anant Krishna Maharaj:

nama om vishnu-padayakrishna-preshthayabhutale
srimatebhaktivedanta-swaminitinamine
namastesaraswatedevegaura-vani-pracharine
nirvisheshashunyavadipashchatyadeshatarine

jayasri-krishna-chaitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri-adwaitagadadhara
shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

First of all, I want to pay my obesiancesunto Maharaj’s lotus feet and take his blessings. He gave a nice feedback for my Sannyasa initiation and he always gives me enthusiasm.HH Gaur Krishna Maharaj asked me to take blessings of Maharaj before taking Sannayasa. In Mira Road temple, I met Maharaj and asked for his mercy and he gave his personal association to me. In Juhu temple, he introduced me to HH Prahaladanand Swami Maharaj and furthertold Maharaj that I am aSannyasa candidate. I feel ashamed to speak in front of Maharaj but since this is a service to him, I will try to say something about Rama ji. It is just like showing a lamp in front of the sun. I will speak in my broken language.

Lord Rama appeared with his brothers in Ghatawangdynasty.Ghatawang’s son was Drigavayu, Drigvayu son’s was Raghu, Raghu’s son was Ajah, Ajah’s son was Dashrath Maharaj and Dashrath’s son was Sri Rama appeared with his four brothers who are part and parcels of Lord Vishnu which is calledas ChaturVyuh. He has presented his ideals in all his relations- as son and father, husbandand wife etc. He teaches the world through his actions.

ŚB 6.16.18-19

oṁnamastubhyaṁbhagavate
vāsudevāyadhīmahi
pradyumnāyāniruddhāya
namaḥsaṅkarṣaṇāya ca

namovijñāna-mātrāya
paramānanda-mūrtaye
ātmārāmāyaśāntāya
nivṛtta-dvaita-dṛṣṭaye

Translation

[Nārada gave Citraketu the following mantra.] O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who are addressed by the oṁkāra [praṇava], I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord Vāsudeva, I meditate upon You. O Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, I offer You my respectful obeisances. O reservoir of spiritual potency, O supreme bliss, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are self-sufficient and most peaceful. O ultimate truth, one without a second, You are realized as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān and are therefore the reservoir of all knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

He has presented his ideals in all his relations- as son and father, husband and wife, teacher and student, King and peopleetc. He teaches the world through his actions.

What is Ekashloki Ramayana? – Whole of Ramayana is said in just one shloka.

Answer: Whole of Ramayana is being explained in just one (Eka) shloka as given below:

adau Rama tapovananigamanam, Hathwamrugamkanchanam |
Vaidehi haranam, jatayumaranam, Sugreeva sambhashanam ||
vaalinigrahanam, samudrataranam, Lankapureedahanam |
Paschat Ravana Kumbhakarna hananam, EthatithiRamayanam ||

Translation

Sri Rama went to forest. He chased the deer. Sita was kidnapped, Jatayu was killed. There were discussions with Sugriva. Bali was killed. The ocean was crossed. Lanka was burnt and later Ravana and Kumbha karna were also killed. This is the story of Ramayanam.

When Lord was going to Chitrakoot via Prayagraj,and asked Khevat to take him to Chitrakoot. Khevat was a nice devotee of Lord. Khevat says that your lotus feet’s dust is very rare and my boat will be collapsed and my business will be collapsed. He should let him wash his feet. Because dust of his Lotus feet is so powerful.That even a stone turned into a very beautiful lady

What if something happened to my boat this is the only means of existence for me

Thus let me wash your feet first

Shloka

You can kill me but I want to wash your feet. How is this devotee. Rama said all three of you argued and now he is also doing that. So what can I do.

Shloka

Kausalya was not happy when Sita wanted to go to forest. She asked how will she survive in the jungle

Shloka

How will she face all the animals, monkeys. She never kept her feet on ground till now. Sita said tha where Sri Rama will stay there I will stay. So even Laxman didn’t listen. So he is also making this hatha. If you don’t want to wash you feet then you can go to a ghat where you can cross Ganga where you can cross my going across the river. So Rama ji said show me. So Kevat said that this is daytime if I show that path then who will travel from boat. Then Rama ji said what can I do? So kevat said I will show you that path in the evening and if you go in the daylight then customers will go away. But Rama said it is very difficult and sita is with me. He said I will show that path in evening only. So sita is very soft how will she cross? So he said if you are so admandant to go then why don’t you let me wash your feet.

Shloka

From whose feet ganga originates, whose feet have all the dhams and worlds. He agrees and says plz wash my feet. Then Kevat enthusiastically fills water from ganga in wooden vessel- khat ka vessel he brought. So this will examine that the lotus dust is actually very magically. Si Kevat kisses his lotus feet. So demigods are seeing at the bhagya pf this kevat. While washing his lotus feet and then he puts it on the ground and it get dirty again and then he again washes. He says that keep one feet in the wooden pot and one in my lap. Then Rama said I will fall. Kevat said Lord plz keep your hand on my head. Then he does the same. Watching this demigods recite the glories of his fortune. Then he takes the charanmrita. Nishad also use to serve Lord and saw that they used to sleep on ground and said wring words to Kaikeyi. He said that are you a kasiyi and the Laxman consoles him and says that whatever Lord wants this what destiny is we hv to accept it. Gaur Krishna Mahraj says that you have put mercy onme and when you embraced me I am glorified. Earlier people used to take bath whenever they saw my shadow also. So this is fortune. So he goes with them in Kevat. He says Kevat that it has a lot of holes to see where can we take this boat. So I am seeing the path how can we cross the path. Lord Rama says plz go faster I have to go far and then finally he makes him reach the destination and Rama ji stands on sand with sita ji and laxman ji. And Rama said that we have to give something to him. I don’t have anything to him. I f someone gives Tulasi to Lord, he gives everything to him. Sita mata understood him.

Sholoka

So just like rupagoswami understood CM. So similarly she gave her ring to Lord and he is very merciful, he wanted to give something.

Shloka

No one is as merciful as Rama. Kevat did a lot for Lord Rama. Rama said that I am giving you my most valuable thing, I and you hv same class. You don’t give anything when I go at your ghat, plz let me across. Rama ji smiled and asked him to keep this. Kevat says that when you come back you will again give me a chance to serve again. Even the hotels say the same thing. He says that you have increased my fortune. Whatever you give me I will then accept your gift. Now don’t give me anything. He is very intelligent and Ram ji understands that. Everything works under his guidance. Under your guidance only I could row this boat.

Shloka

Everything is provided by you. Everything is yours. Ramji insisted to take that ting said you also have a family, so you should accept. He doesn’t accept. We perform our duties in material world just to attain Perfection by having connection with the Supreme personality of Godhead He sits in samadhi after Lord went for 14 years. He left everything and sat in samadhi. And gives everything in the service of Lord. When he returned back, he could a opportunity to serve again. And when this Kevat had attained that position then he felt no need to execute his duties any further.

I repeatedly thank HH Lokanatha swami Maharaj and HH Gaur Kishore das maharaj for this opportunity to serve

Let’s thank maharaj by chanting

We shall stop here and meet tmrw.

Teachings of Ramayana Day 1 17th April 2024

Date: 17 April 2024
Speaker: HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaj
Topic: Teachings of Ramayana

HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaj

Hare Krishna!

Jai Sri Ram!

Congratulations to all of you on the occasion of Ram Navami.

I was asked to give a talk on the lesson from Ramayana. Ramayana is full of lessons. Lord Rama Himself is an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal disciple, an ideal leader, an ideal king and an ideal father.

In the Baal Kand, it is referred that how lord Rama is dedicated for Dashratha and other Ayodhyavasis. This is also a lesson for us.

Further, He accepted all the suffering for his Guru when he was a student of Guru Vishvamitra. He shows how to serve spiritual master.

Further, He shows the quality of ideal husband and an ideal father.

When King Dashratha announced the coronation of Lord Rama. He accepted that not for the designation, but to serve the demos.At the same night, mother Kaikayi take a boon to send Rama for exile. Lord Rama accepted the word of His father and at oncewent for exile. From this we can take a lesson that we should not serve to get a designation, we must work to serve others.

Lord Rama accepted all the rules of exile; like, walk barefooted, eat the fruits of the trees, sleep on the floor etc. He never made any adjustments in the rules.

When Bharat went to meet Lord Rama. There is a lot of lesson we can take from the behaviour of Bharat. This shows a true relationship of love and forgiveness. He killed many demons in the forest. These demons are the anarthas in our lives. These are the obstacles in the path of devotion. To kill these anarthas, we must austerity.

Then Mother Sita was abducted. This incidence tells us how one can get trapped in Maya. There is no golden deer in reality. Marichi had disguised as a deer. Mother Sita wants to give us a lesson. If we will indulge in Maya, we will trap like that.

Ravan kidnapped Mother Sita by disguise his personality. If one will deceit in devotion, then he must will be duped. One can not get the spiritual power by deceit.

Lord Rama meets hanuman, when he was in search of Mother Sita. We should go to the Lord with open heart. We should not wear makeup I our heart.

And then, Lord Rama met with Sugriva, who is a dear friend of Lord Rama. He kills Bali.

Then comes Shabari, who depicts enthusiasm, determination and patience in serving lord Rama.

Nectar of Instruction, Verse 3:

utsāhānniścayāddhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgātsatovṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhirbhaktiḥprasidhyati

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 śravaṇaṁkīrtanaṁviṣṇoḥsmaraṇam – hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.

She waited every day and night to take darshan of Lord Rama. She cleans her house, decorate it with flowers and make garlands for Lord Rama. So, like this there are many teachings of Ramayana.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came as His own devotee to teach us devotion. He teaches us surrender.

Vaishnava Song, Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu jive dayakari’, By Bhakti Vinod Thakur:

atyantadurlabhapremakoribāre dāna
śikhāyaśaraṇāgatibhakateraprāna

Translatrion:

Out of compassion for the fallen souls, Sri Krisna Caitanya came to this world with His personal associates and divine abode to teach saranagati (the goal of surrender), surrender to the almighty Godhead, and to freely distribute ecstatic love of God, which is ordinarily very difficult to obtain. This saranagati is the very life of the true devotee.

We must surrender to revive our devotion. Vibhishan always thought about the good of all.He thought that if one must go somewhere that should be the lotus feet of Lord Rama. He taught us how to take shelter. When Lord Rama reaches near sea with his army to bring back Mother Sita. Vibhishan advised Ravana to take shelter of Lord Rama, as Vibhishan is one of the consultants in the assembly.

Once Indrajeet insulted Vibhishana. Vibhishana scolded Indrajeet that you don’t know about lord Rama. Ravana become angry on Vibhishana and kicked him out. Vibhishana leave everything and taught us that we should that is favourable to our devotion. He was sure that he will go and take shelter of lord Rama.

In some scriptures it states that he once approached Shiva, he at once advised him to take shelter of Lord Rama. As lord Rama is merciful enough to give shelter to Ravana also!He went in his airplane and took darshan of lord Rama with his devoted allies Sugriva and hanuman. Sugriva at once came to know that the demons had come to meet Rama.Vihishana directly says that I am the brother of Ravana and wants to take shelter of lord Rama.Sugriva informed lord Rama. Lord Rama asked Sugriva to take advice of other Vanaras. All main vanaras came and met and they told lord Rama that they should not be allowed to meet Rama as they are from the enemy side. They should be killed as once. Jaambavant, Angad and others also shared their opinions. So, there is a learning that whenever we stucked in such a difficult situation, we must take advise of our friends.So, all were against them meeting lord Rama. Hanuman ji was also supportive of them. Jaambavant was most experienced vanara. He knew that Vibhishana was a righteous person. Although he was from the demon’s side, but he was not a demon himself. He was the minister of Ravana. Nevertheless, he was righteous. He had not come as a spy. He had come to lord Rama’s door and was introducing himself. In this way all allies gave their opinion on Vibhishana meeting lord Rama. Everyone gives their advice on the basis of their experience. So,Hanuman was the only one who spoke positive about Vibhishan and no one else, not even Laxmana. Dharma shastra says that even an enemy comes to take shelter with folded hands, then he should be accepted. For example, once a female pigeon was caught by a hunter. Male pigeon asked the hunter to leave the female pigeon and, in the return, he can eat his half of the body.That pigeon then completely surrendered and was saved. Now lord Rama has heard everyone’s opinions.He says that he is agreed that Vibhishana is Ravana’s brother, but he was nevertheless from the enemy side. Sugriva repeatedly denied lord Rama form meeting Vibhishana. He became quite as he felt bad that in spite of his advising lord Rama, he was adamant on meeting Vibhishana. He was thinking that Why lord Rama is doing that? Why he is giving shelter to an enemy? He can kill lord Rama!

Lord Rama knew what was going on in Sugriva’s mind.Lord Rama said that do you think this demon can harm me in any way?

Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.22:

suduShTovaaapiaduShTovaakimeSharajaniicaraH
suukShmamapiahitamkartum mama ashaktaHkatha.ncana

Translation:

What does it matter whether that demon is very bad or not bad? He is incapable of doing even a little harm to me.

Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.23:

pishaacaandaanavaanyakShaanpR^ithivyaamcaivaraakShasaan
anguliagreNataanhanyaamicchanharigaNaiishvara

Translation:

“O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger”

This is the first time when lord Rama showed His magnanimity. He told Sugriva that just by the tip of His finger, He could annihilate all the demons and ghosts of the earth!Just by pressing the delete button!So then why so much planning with vanaras-Sugriva thought.

So, Lord Rama was reading the mind of Sugriva. So, Lord Rama does this to deliver everyone. If one serves Lord Rama, he will deliver them. So, do not delay and serve Lord Rama. Vibhishana was still in the sky. When he approached Lord Rama, and He welcomed Vibhishana.

Be it Vibhishana or Ravana himself, Lord Rama will always protect him. Sugriva understood Lord Rama’s teachings. So, Sugriva went to fetch Vibhishana to bring him to Lord Rama and lord Rama was very eager to meet Vibhishana.

Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.33:

sakṛdevaprapannāyatavaasmiiti ca yācate ||
abhayamsarvabhūtebhyodadāmietadvratam mama |

Translation:

“He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that �I am yours’, I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge”

Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.34:

ānayaenamhariśreṣṭhadattamasyaabhayammayā ||
vibhīṣaṇovāsugrīvayadivārāvaṇaḥsvayam |

Translation:

“O, Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys! Let him either be Vibhishana or even Ravana himself; I have given an assurance of safety to him. Bring him here.”

Lord Rama said all brothers are not like Bharata, son should be like Me and an ideal friend should be like Sugriva.

Lord Rama could give his decision at once. But he never did so till Sugriva agreed.

He could have gone Himself but he delegated this duty to the senior most ally. Vibhishan soon lands on the ground and paid obeisances to lord Rama.

Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.5:

parityaktāmayālaṃkāmitrāṇi ca dhanāni ca ||
bhavadgatam hi me rājyam ca jīvitam ca sukhāni ca |

Translation:

“Abandoning Lanka, friends and possessions, I place my kingdom, life and happiness at your disposal.”

He introduced himself as Ravana’s brother. He was insulted by Ravan. So, he had come with his wealth and friends to surrender to Lord Rama.

Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.6-7:

tasyatadvacanamśrutvārāmovacanamabravīt ||
vacasāsāntvayitvainamlocanābhyāmpibanniva |
ākhyāhi mama tatvenarākṣasānāmbalābalam ||

Translation:

Hearing those words of Vibhishana, Rama in a soothing tone and with a refreshing look in his eyes, spoke these words: “Tell me really the strengths and weaknesses of the demons.”

Hearing this Lord Rama was so overwhelmed with love for Vibhishana. Vibhishan now tells lord Rama about all his friends and allies and defeats of Ravana. Lord Rama assures Vibhishana that He will soon kill Ravana and make him the king of lanka. Unless He kills Ravana, Rama will be return to Ayodhya. Ravana could not be saved from me.

Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.21:

ahatvārāvaṇamsamkhyesaputrajanabāndhavam |
ayodhyāmnapravekṣyāmitribhistairbhratṛbhiḥśapeḥ ||

Translation:

“I will not enter Ayodhya without killing Ravana together with his sons, companions and relatives in battle. I take oath on my three brothers.”

Hearing this Vibhishan again paid obeisances to lord Rama. He assures Rama that he will be with lord Rama until the end of the war. So,Ramayan depicts the mood of surrender of a devotee towards the Lord.

When Hanuman went in search of Mother Sita, after returning he told that in Lanka, there was a mother Tulasi, diety of Lord Rama in the palace of Vibhishana and Mangala aarti. Hanuman was surprised to see all this happening in a demon’s kingdom. So,this was Vibhishana’s palace. He also saw lord Rama names on the walls. Then, he saw Vibhishana praying to lord Rama.

Once Ravan saw this written on his walls. He drew his sword to kill Vibhishan. But Vibhishana cleverly said that RAMA was an abbreviation of Ra- Ravan and ma –Mandodari. This way Vibhishan was saved due to his presence of mind.

We sometimes hide ourselves anarthas. Our enemy is lust. So, one must identify this enemy. We must not hide them. Treat them like our enemy openly.

BG 3.39:

āvṛtaṁjñānametena
jñāninonitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇakaunteya
duṣpūreṇānalena ca

Translation:

Thus, the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

Vibhishana now took complete shelter of lord Rama and was ready to serve lord Rama. In this way, one’s enemy lust can be killed.

BG 7.14:

daivīhyeṣāguṇa-mayī
mama māyāduratyayā
māmeva ye prapadyante
māyāmetāṁtarantite

Translation:

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

Rama is more anxious to meet us. Even before Vibhishana’s landing, lord Rama was ready to welcome him.

Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.33:

sakṛdevaprapannāyatavaasmiiti ca yācate ||
abhayamsarvabhūtebhyodadāmietadvratam mama |

Translation:

“He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that �I am yours’, I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge”

There will not be any fear then. Some can say that Ravan is still the king of Lanka, the seat is not vacant yet. Nevertheless, lord Rama promised Vibhishana to become the king. This is the peer uttering the holy name of Rama even once. This is the mercy of lord Rama. He always keeps Him words. A devotee has to just surrender Him.

Jai Sri Ram!