Walking around iskcon Chamorshi land

Maharastra tour

November 22, 1997
Chamorshi, India

In India we own a few farms and out of those half a dozen farms there are only a few farms growing vegetables. And chilli is also growing here and other vegetables. Rice also, rice paddy. There are tomatoes to our left here, not this one but that one there.

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

For part of the year there’s water here in the canal. Five or six days ago there was water coming in here and now it has stopped. Is this connected with a river dam? Yes a river, so this is agriculture for the irrigation? Oh,I want to bring to your attention that this is for the brick factory, you see the bricks? This is Radha Shyamsubdara brick factory.

Shouts of Haribol! So this is the first brick factory in Iskcon.

Devotee: There is one is Vrindavan

Maharaja: Okay, number two factory and so devotees are trying to be self sufficient by doing different things. We can go sometimes..

Oh, we didn’t look there by the temple and the Prabhupada memorial. These are the brinjals here in front of you and to your left are the chilies. So they have been planted only some time ago so in a few months time there will be plenty of brinjals and tons of chilies. That’s for you.?

So this is the main source of water for farming. This well is now like 25 feet deep and they have done the boring in the middle which is very deep, about 25 feet deep. So in the belly of mother earth there is lots of water so they get water out like this and with a pump it goes to the fields. Near the temple also they did some digging and there is some water and some small fish you see?

The water is quite clear and about a 100 fish, small family. Some mango trees and some guava? Lots of guavas, you see the fruits? Papayas are there, mangoes, coconut. All these trees are now growing. They are not stopping when I’m not talking? They are very smart you see? Oh this is from Bangladesh? This is a special fruit tree from Bangladesh we brought from Bangladesh to here. These are devotees from Bangladesh, in fact.

Anyone can speak Bengali here? The previous kitchen was here last year when we came. Tomatoes for the soup on the left. Is the Goshala clean? You should have cleaned it up more. These bulls are from Vrndavan, they were in Vrndavan Goshala one time.

Go mata ki jai!
Gopal Krishna Bhagavan ki jai!
Gvalbalo ki jai!
Vrindavan dham li jai!
Gokul dham ki jai!

Let everyone take darsana of the cows. There are some twenty five calves and cows. You see how peaceful they are? They give more manure for fertilizing than they give milk. Do you have the main crop and how much milk do you get? Two to three hundred quintals. You understand quintals? One hundred kg is a quintal so three hundred quintals.

So soon they will get those cows and bulls to walk all over, round and round and then this is the separated- and then this has to be husked further, there is rice inside. So this is all rice also. This is to be husked. Local people please come forward.

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

He is teacher in high school, which school? He is initiated disciple and he chants sixteen rounds since how long?

Devotee: since 1987

Maharaja: Since ‘87 he is chanting 16 rounds and he has been initiated for some
time now. His wife was initiated and Parikrama devi dasi is her name. We did one Parikrama here. Big padayatra in these Bengali villages. There are how many villages? There are around two hundred villages where the residents are mostly from Bengal, Bangladesh. Between Pakistan and Bangladesh, a lot of people from Bangladesh, they became refugees in India. So they were given shelter, residence, accommodation and different parts of land in India so this is one area where lots of people migrated from Bangladesh to this part. This deity of Radha Shyamsundar was in Bangladesh also at one time and Parameshwar Prabhu, he was born in Bangladesh and he came with the deity from Bangladesh. There’s a village called Krishnanagar just two kilometres from here and the deities were in the village for many, many years and this was all forest.

And the devotees, they cut the trees and leveled the land and then dug the wells and then levelled the land so it’s a lot of labour, a lot of hard labour and sweating that has gone into making this. A few years ago there were trees here. Only two years ago right here there were trees and rocks. You could see trees like this, there are only two trees now but there were trees like this everywhere.

So now put a small temple. So someone is working hard and growing rice and vegetables. We are not used to it, in Iskcon we think- we have been spoilt by this so called modern style, scientific age and electronic ways of doing things. We are not into making our hands dirty although when it comes to eating we have to eat rice only..And wheat. We cannot eat nuts and bolts, we can’t fry them for our breakfast or fry them for petrol.

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

They will have a Narsimha temple in the future here, we don’t have the deities now. A Narsimha temple here for the protection of all the devotees on the farm, we will have Narsimhadeva. Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi is here.

Devotee: I hear that the deities of Radha Shyamasundara are self manifested. Maybe we could hear that story? Is now a good time?

Maharaja: So Mukunda you are struggling! Some flowers from when Prabhupada departed, Parameshwar Prabhu managed to get some of those flowers. So he brought some of those flowers and they have been placed here. So he is also thinking that this is a little Pushpa Samadhi but this is just the beginning. In the future this will all be developed further.

This Murti was made locally by a local devotee, Srila Prabhupada ki jai! So everything is by the grace of Guru and Gauranga so we pray to Srila Prabhupada for his mercy and direction for further success here, and your prayers. So you can come and stay here and we are showing you around so you can pick and choose one of the places some of the time sooner or later.

Let’s show everyone the milk taken from the cows. They give three times, how old is this cow? Just one old month old? Vatsa means calf and the cow’s feelings, the way she feels and cares for the calf, this is Vatsalya bhava.

What is inside the Goshala? Like in Parikrama you can just sit down and eat, so you wash your hands and feet and come in here and take Prasadam.

Super excellence of Gaudiya Vaisnavism

27 Nov 2020

Online class for Middle East Sanga

Few years before during ILS ISKCON Leadership Sangha I made one presentation, which was appreciated and then after that I have shared this presentation with few other groups and now it is your turn. And the topic is ‘super excellence of Gaudiya Vaisnavism’. ‘Understanding the Super excellence of Gaudiya Vaisnavism’, so we are Gaudiya vaisnavas, ISKCON devotees, followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are so many other religions and sampradayas, paraparas and dharmas. Amongst all those this is the top notch practice of God consciousness, we call that Krishna consciousness. And it is super excellent. So this is the point I want to get across to you.

So, these are some of the topics, all these topics, I am going to talking about. As you see them listed and I wish to add in some more topics in future, but for now this is what we have. ‘Acintya Bhedabheda Tattva’ we will be talking about that philosophical conclusions and how Acintya Bhedabheda tattva, Gaudiya vaisnavism is super excellent, the top most. Many sampradayas and Gaudiya sampradaya’s excellence; Raganuga sadhana bhakti, as there are so many types of bhakti and sadhana and practices and Raganuga sadhana, as Gaudiya vaisanavas’ sadhana and that is super excellent. And there are so many abodes, holy places and destinations and Goloka is the topmost.

goloka eva namni nija dhamni taleca tasya

That is the super excellent, the top most. Then Rasa-vicar, different rasas are there. You know that 12 rasas are secondary and 5 primary, and amongst those which rasa is the top most, which Caitanya Mahaprabhu has delivered, that we will be talking about. And then so many scriptures, types of scriptures, globally and amongst them Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita are super excellent. And there are so many objects of worship or religionists have understanding of this god that god, this name that name, demigod or long list. Then Krsna and Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that point we will make. Then there are many mantras and Hare Krsna mantra is Maha mantra. Others are mantras, but this is Maha mantra, the best in all the mantras. In conclusion Gaudiya Vaisnavism is Krsna consciousness. We will just conclude by making that point. So, we will start one by one.

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai!
aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa –tanayas tad dhama vrndavanam
ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu vargena ya kalpita
srimad bhagavatam pramanam amalam prema pumartho mahan
sri caitanya mahaprabhur matam idam tatradaro nah parah

This mantra is from ‘Sri Caitanya-mata-manjusa’, the foundation of what I am presenting here. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhus’s mata-midam, at the end it is said, this is the opinion of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He is the one who is saying, ‘when it comes to aradhana or worship, then worship of Vrajesa tanaya, Sri Krsna, is the top most.’ And the same time tad-dham vrndavanam and worship of Vrndavan abode is the top most amongst all the abodes or dhams. And the mode of worship ‘vraja vadhu vargena ya kalpita’, the mode of worship adopted by the Gopis, that is the topmost. ‘Srimad Bhagavatam pramanam amalam’, so amongst all the scriptures, Srimad Bagavatam is the top most and spotless Purana. And ‘prema pumarto mahan’, and pancham purusartha, everyone else is busy with the four purusarthas, dharma, artha, kama and moksa and we have one additional purusartha, called prema pumarto mahan, that is ‘Love of Godhead’. Sri-caitanya-mahaprabhor matam idam, this is the opinion of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And ‘tatra daro nah parah’, we honor that and we respect that opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sad-Goswami vrinda ki jai!
These are our acaryas. Besides the Lord, these are the associates of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Goswami’s of Vrndavan. They have also done ‘nana sastra vicaranaika’, scrutinizingly studying of all the sastras and essence of that is Krsna consciousness, Gaudiya Vaisnavism, which they have established.

Acintya Bhedabheda Tattva is the specialty of the Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Going back into the history, or we will cover half the way of history. 2500 years ago, Buddha appeared and He presented Sunyavada which is voidism we call it, sunya everything is zero. What we have to attain? Our goal is zero, void. Then appeared Sankaracarya, he appeared some 1100 or 1200 years ago. First vada was sunyavada and this one is Mayavada or Advaitavada. Before his appearance, he (Sivaji) had said this to Parvati that, I am going appear as Brahman.

kalau brahmana rupina

I am going to appear in Kerala and I would be propagating Mayavada, which is asat sastram, falsehood, I am going to talk some speculation. So, that siddhanta or philosophy he propagated is known as Nirvisesavada, impersonalism. First one was voidism and this is impersonalism, also known as Advaitvada. There are so many other vada-vivada, that had taken place in the world, but we are mainly going to deal with this Sunyavada and Nirvisesavada or Advaitavada. Also Nirvisesavada, as you could see the finger, ‘one’, there is no difference between Lord and ourselves. We are one. Ultimately we will merge into that Brahman and become one with the Lord. So that’s the kind of understanding, which is misunderstanding, which was propagated by Sankaracarya.

Then comes, first was everything is zero or we have to attain Zero, become zero, that is Sunyavada and then Advaitavada, become one with the Lord, advaitavada by Sankaracarya and then comes our whole batch, battalion of our acaryas, the four sampradaya acaryas and they talked about Dvaitvada. Especially Madhvacarya emphasized and whenever we see his portrait, he is showing two, two, not zero, not one, two. So there is a living entity, that is one and other one is Supreme Lord, that is two, they are two simultaneously and eternally they exist as two entities.

So here are the four sampradayas.
1.Brahma sampradaya
2. Rudra sampradaya
3. Kumar sampradaya
4. Sri sampradaya

Four acaryas appeared in those sampradayas. What they have presented, their philosophies are known as Dvaita siddhanta, Visista advaita siddhanta of Ramanujacarya, Suddhadvaita siddhanta of Vinsuswami and Dvaitadvaita siddhanta of Nimbarkacarya. So basically they are talking about the advaitvada with some variant degree but bottom line is adavita siddhant, the living entity and Supreme Lord are anu atma and vibhu atma, that is Paramatma, they are two and they eternally and simultaneously exist. This was a concluding philosophy or siddhanta of all the four sampradaya acaryas.

And then comes Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta, presented by Baladeva Vidyabhusana, which he is presented in Jaipur; some 300 years ago he wrote a commentary on Vedanta sutra, which is known as Govinda bhasya and that is known as Acintya Bhedabheda tattva. As you could see here, the fingers are or you could read also, simultaneously one and different. So the four sampradaya acaryas emphasized the two, we are two. Our contribution is or amendment made by Gaudiya Vaisnava acarya, Baladeva Vidyabhusana is Acintya Bhedabheda tattva, living entity and Lord are two and one simultaneously. So, quantitatively we are two or different, and qualitatively we are one, non-different. So while emphasizing, these four sampradaya acaryas, they were emphasizing dualism or this dvaitavada, as a result living entity and the Lord are separated, stay away living entity, stay away, but the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta brings that living entity closer to the Lord also and right in the lap of the Lord or sometimes climbing up on the shoulder of the Lord and like that. So Gaudiya vaisnava siddhanta of acintya bhedabheda tattva, is bringing closer to the Lord and even mixing and mingling and dealing with the Lord like that and not just maintaining the owe and reverence of God and He is great and stay away or stay at the feet only, like that.

So that is a long journey, have taken two thousand years, so Buddha to Sankara and to others also, four sampradayas and Caitantya Mahaprabhu, this is 2000 years period; so from zero to one to two to simultaneously one and two siddhanta of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His parampara.

‘namaste saraswate deve gaur vani pracarine nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya desa tarine’

We chant this pranam mantra everyday at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, and there in we say, Srila Prabhupada propagated Gaura vani, the message of Gauranga Mahaprabhu and what was the outcome or what was the result? Nirvisesa sunyavada, then sunyavada, advaitvada was defeated and the western world or the whole world was saved, we are saved from this sunyavada andnirvisesavada as Gaura vani pracar, gaur vani message was propagated by Srila Prabhupada and his Hare Krsna movement.

Gaudiya sampradaya, that is our next title, the relationship between Gaudiya Vaisnavism and four sampradayas! We already talked about this. Just one more point that we will be making here. So, even before 500 years, before Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s manifested lila, all these sampradaya acaryas, whenever they were on the planet, like Ramanujacarya was on the planet thousand years ago and Madhvacarya 800 years ago and like that, all the four acaryas appeared before Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s advent and whenever they were on the planet they were visiting Mayapur dham. And they all had encounter with Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu or darsana of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So what I am about to present, just short presentation, it is from Navadvipa dham mahatmya, parikrama khanda of Bhakti Vinod Thakur.

So, here what you see is Nityanada Prabhu is taking Jiva Goswami on parikrama of Navadvipa dham. And there is a dialogue, they are talking, basically Nityananda Prabhu is going to be mentioning, there is a statement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu wherein He says that, ‘I am going to accept two qualities from all these four sampradayas. Two of their best qualities I will accept in my sampradaya.

From Sri Sampradaya I will accept these two qualities: ananya bhakti and bhaktajana seva, serving devotees and unalloyed devotional service, these two qualities from Sri sampradaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted these qualities from Ramanuja sampradaya.

From Madhvacarya sampradaya, keval advaita nirasana, that the way he defeated Advaitvada, Madhvacarya did, there is a whole presentation. So I accept that within My sampradaya and also nitya krsna murti sevana and the way Madhavacarya served the Deities, his Krsna, Udupi Krsna, so that I will accept in My sampradaya. This is all stated in that Bengali prayer from Navadvipa dham mahatmya.It is stated there at the top.

And from Rudra sampradaya, tadiya sarvasva bhava, fully surrender unto the Lord and Raga marga, following ragamarga, these two principles from Rudra sampradaya. Okay, moving on, Kumar sampradaya, Ekanta Radhikasraya and Gopibhava. I think you could understand what is talked here of these two principles from Kumar sampradaya. So, this way Caitanya Mahaprabhu made His sampradaya, parampara wholesome and complete. We have our own philosophy and siddhanta and bhava and bhakti and all these additional dimensions were added by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Gaudiya Vaisanava parampara, making this as a super excellent Gaudia Vaisnavism.

Next Raganuga sadhana, this we will be talking about, next. As you could see, sadhana bhakti has vaidhi sadhana bhakti and raganuga sadhana bhakti. We do practice Vaidhi sadhana bhakti, but soon we evolve or rise and get on the path of Raganuga sadhana bhakti, that is Gaudiya Vaisnavism. This is Krsna. He isstill in Goloka. Krsna’s contemplation before His advent in this world as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna is thinking, contemplating, preparing His strategy, ‘now I appeared, what I am going to do’. This is from Caitanya Caritamrita

‘premarasa niryasa karite asvadana ragamarga bhakti loke karite pracarana’ (Cc Adi 4.15)

Here it is like two pronged strategy, one is to do premarasa asvadan, He would like to relish premarasa and do the pracar, propagation of that Raga marga. So relishing and propagating, sharingthat prema rasa or love of godhead.
More of the same thing,

‘aisvarya jnanete saba jagat misrita aisvarya sithila preme nahi mora prita’(Cc Adi 4.17),

The love weakened by the sense of majesty does not satisfy Me. I do not become subservient to such love. And then He says ‘If one thinks of Me as his son, his friend, his beloved, his equal or inferior, then I am satisfied with him.’ (Cc Adi 4.18)

Rupanuga is Raganuga. Rupanuga sadhana was given by Rupa Goswami. Here we could see at Radha Damodar temple and at the courtyard there is a samadhi of Rupa Goswami and bhajan kutir also, of Rupa Goswami. Srila Prabhupada is contemplating and imbibing all that raganuga bhajan sadhana bhakti and pouring that into his purports and he is relishing himself, Srila Prabhupada is propagating same all over the world as he would be founding International society for Krsna consciousness.

Goloka dham ki jai!

So the famous statement we know from Bramha Samhita,

‘Goloka namni nijadhamni tale ca tasya devi mahesaharidhamasu tesu tesu’

Goloka is at the top and underneath is Devidhama and that is middle east, where you are, we all are and there is Mahesh dham, and there is Hari dhama, Vaikuntha dham and there is Sanket dhama. I think it is all shown here also. We could see Brahma and his creation underneath, there is Devi dhama underneath Viraja river and you cross and you get into Mahesh dhama, which is Lord Siva’s dhama. Half of Siva’s dham is part of Devi dhama, material existence and upper half is part of Vaikuntha dhama. That is very special feature of Mahesa dhama. And then, Saketa, it is Rama’s abode, Ayodhya, up there in spiritual sky. And at the top there is Radha and Krsna residing and performing Their pastimes. It is Goloka dham.

Further details are there, as you could see 1/4th Brahmanda, cross section, 14 planetary systems and Brahma’s planet on the top and we could see so many other planets floating in the universes.

Sadasiva, He stays in the upper half of Mahesh dhama which is part of Vaikuntha. And Rudra and other forms of Siva, they are in lower part. They are the party that destroys the world, and there are other Rudras, 11 Rudras. And this is Vaikuntha and this is finally Goloka. Gaudiya Vaishnavas, their goal is Goloka. They do not stop not in svarga, not here and there, not in Vaikuntha. And the topmost abode is Goloka and that is super excellent and that is the destination of Gaudiya Vaisnavas. So, karmis go only upto heaven and jnanis they merge into Brahmajyoti and vaidhi bhaktiwalas they go to Vaikuntha and Raganuga bhaktas they go to Goloka, the supreme destination.

So moving on, rasa vicar. It is a very vast and deep topic, rasa vicar. Considering, contemplating and understanding the rasas, mellows. As I said earlier, there are seven rasas which are gaun or secondary rasas and this is all described in the Nectar of Devotion purports. Five principle, pradhan rasas are displayed here. So, santa rasa – Krsna nista, they are attached to Krsna and trisna tyaga, they are detached from worldly affairs. So that is their specialty or character of the Santa rasa is this, Krsna nista and trisna tyaga.

Then Dasya bhava, dasya bhakti, dasya rasa, so they have previous two characteristics and additional one is sevana, they become active and they act, they serve. The other party santa, they may just appreciate sitting around. But in dasya, they jump into the action. Going higher, sakhya rasa, you could see all those three characteristics are there and additional is visrambha. Visrambha means this is where the acintya bheda bheda, this is abheda, this comes into the picture. Bheda is there but abheda that is visrambha. We are closer to the Lord. We have similar qualities of the Lord or we are around the Lord or devotees are around the Lord, and even equal to the Lord, sakhya rasa, that is called visrambha. Sakhas will say to the Lord sometimes,

‘oh tuni ami sama tum kaun badalog’

Who do you think you are? We are equals. Let’s play! Vatsalya rasa, so all previous four and additional is palaka jnana. Palaka jnana, this is parenthood and the parents of the Lord, some devotees become parents of the Lord and they think I have to take care, I have to look after my child, my son Krsna or Rama or whatever name They have. So, this palaka jnana. They take care of Krsna, Lord.

Then Madhurya rasa, this is conjugal dealings and additional thing is nijanga dana, and here is full surrender and full evolution in Krsna consciousness and they surrender everything including nijanga dana, even their bodies at disposal by Lord. So, no reservation, no holding back, nothing; everything is for Your pleasure my dear Lord. So that bhava or that rasa, that kind of bhakti is called Nijanga dana, dana is giving, offering. That is madhurya rasa. And this is, Caitanya Mahapabhu has spoken (CC Madhya 19.215-235) or taught these things to Sanatan Goswami, this is Sanatan siksha inCaitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila chapter 19. You could read further details also.

So these are examples of santa rasa bhaktas. One time of course, they were santa rasa or brahmavadis. Later on they progressed and one time, these four Kumaras, they came into the category of santa rasa bhaktas, jnani bhaktas. And this one is dasya rasa, the whole Vaikuntha world is filled with dasas or servants. Every Vaikuntha planet have their masters, different incarnations or avatars of the Lord, They reside in different Vaikunthas. They are all great and reverence exhibited between Lord and devotes. So there servitude is all pervading, predominating in Vaikuntha lokas.

And then sakhya rasa, but now we are going to be very briefly talking or presenting sakhya rasa, vatsalya rasa and Madhurya rasa and they, all three of them are of two different kinds. Sakhya rasa- aisvarya misrita sakhya rasa, the friendship is there but it is mixed with aisvarya, God being great and that understanding is also there at the back of their mind. And then they relate with Lord as sakhas, but understanding God is great. Here this is also sakhya rasa but this is Visrambha sakhya rasa. This is abheda, abheda part is exhibited here. No difference! So, these are also sakhas, Arjuna is also sakha but these are the cowherd boys, His friends in Vrindavan. This is Visrambha sakhya rasa.

And then aisvarya misrita vatsalya rasa, this is in the prison house of Kamsa, and Lord has just taken birth. And He is showing His four handed form and this is Vasudeva and Devaki. So this relationship is that of vatsalya, but there is aisvarya misran or they are even offering prayers, you could see. Prakrutepurusam param, there is a whole prayer. They are offering prayers to their son. So this is Aisvarya misrita vatsalya rasa in Mathura.

And then, this is also vatsalya, jai Damodar! This is visrambha vatsalya rasa, which we have been experiencing throughout this month of Damodar. There is no aisvarya, not even a drop of aisvarya, or it is only visrambha vatsalya here.

And here is a madhurya rasa, in Vaikuntha, there is madhurya rasa, sringar rasa. Laxmi Narayan or Laxmi Narsimha or Laxmi Varaha like that every Lord of Vaikuntha has His consort, Laxmi with Them and that rasa They experience is aisvarya misrita madhurya or sringar rasa. And this one is Visrambha madhurya rasa, super excellent rasa and it in Goloka, and in Radha and Krsna or Gopi and Krsna. There is nothing like this and this is the top most rasa,
‘parakiya bhave jaha vrajete pracar’

This is the propagated, practiced in Braja, Goloka and Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu He appeared in fact to relish this and to propagate this.

The super excellence of Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta and the whole Gaudiya literature- you see Brahma, he is four headed and from each of his mouth one Veda has emanated, but he is not compiler or he is just repeating. The Vedas are coming from the Lord, but we are getting them from the mouth of Brahma.

Vedic knowledge again has two branches-Sruti and Smrti. I think I will not now define this, I expect you understand smrti and what is sruti. Yeah you will understand here also, there is Sruti, Vedas have four divisions, first of all four Vedas, Rg, Yajur, Sama and Athava. And in each Veda you will find there are four divisions called samhita, Brahmana, upanisad, and Aranyaka. Just take a note that Upanisad, they are part of Vedas. They are not additional scriptures, they are part of Vedas, one division of Vedas. Other three divisions are there, Upanisad is one of those divisions of each of the four Vedas.Okay, Smrti, there are 18 puranas, itihasas, Mahabharat, Ramayana this is all itihasa, part of Smrti. And Sad darsana, as listed here, you could see sankhya, yoga, Vaisesika, Nyaya, Purva mimamsa and the top most is Vedanta. So this Sad darsana, they are popularly known as sad darsana, six different philosophical presentations and they basically, each one states what is the origin of this world, where the world originating from, what is the source of the world, or universe? One of these sad darsan will say, atom is the source and another one will say, no the combination of atom is the source, another one would say that nature is the source, another would say that consciousness is the source, another one will say mimasa it’s all governed by our activities and finally Srila Vyasdeva is going to say ‘No, janmadyasya yatah’, Lord Himself is the source of everything. So that makes the Vedant of Vyasdeva as the top most. And then take note of this, this is mentioned in Garuda puran and some other puranas also, quoted in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila (25.143-144) ‘artho yam brahma sutranam’, Srimad Bhagavatam is the commentary of Vedanta sutra or Vyasa sutra, they are different names. Srila Prabhupada always writes, the natural commentary of Vedant sutra is Srimad Bhagavatam. Amongst these sad darsana the Vedant sutra is topmost and then Srimad Bhagavatam is natural commentary of that Vedant sutra, so that makes Srimad Bhagavatam super excellent.

So these are the scriptures that we go for; Prabhupada have presented these scriptures Bhagavad gita, Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita and they are all super excellent, complementing each other or one leading the other. Bhagavad Gita is preliminary study and Bhagavatam is graduate study and Caitanya Caritamrta is post graduate study. And what is described in Caitanya Caritamrta and Caitanya Bhagavat which is post graduate course is further elaborated by our Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas and the vast literature that they have left behind and complied and presented and this is just a matchless gift. There is nothing like in the creation. So this is at the level of Caitanya Caritamrta, post-graduation and excellent scripture and pure, eternal truth in, whether it is Vrndavan mahimamrta or Caitanya Bhagavat or Brhad Bhagatamrta, or Manah siksa or Bhakti Rasamrita sindhu or hundreds and hundreds of these whole granthas and the whole treasure is available, ISKCON is making this available for the world.

This is our specialty also, Krsna and Sri Krsna Caitanya are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Godhead They have exhibited, that is of the topmost order and excellence.

‘ete camsa kala pumsahkrsnas tu bhagavan svayam’

All these are kalas and asas, amsasa, plenary portion, portion of plenary portion, but, tu kintu, there is kintu, and that is Krsna is Supreme Personality of Godhead which Srila Prabhupada presented, that Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Brahma samhita says that, paribhasa sutra in fact, Srimad Bhagavatam, this is foundational statement of Srimad Bhagavatam, I just said, ete camsa kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. So, whole Bhagavatam is based on this paribhasa sutra, krsnastu bhagavan svayam.

Then Krsna’s 64 qualities, of which 50 are found in living entities, 5 additional qualities are found in Brahma and Siva. Five additional qualities are found in different incarnations, and there are only 4 qualities or there are qualities four of them are found only in Sri Krsna. What are those four qualities? They are listed here. This is from Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu. Lila madhurya, venu madhurya, prema madhurya and rupa madhurya, this is specialty of Krsna. These are found in no one else, not even in Rama or Varaha or Narasimha or Parasurama. So that makes Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Then this is the famous statement, sri krsna caitanya radha krsna nahe anya, Radha and Krsna combine, this is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Namo mahavadanyaya.. you know that one. And then Hare Krsna Mahamantra.. so this is in Kali

santarana Upanisad, famous statement that,
iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa nasanam,
natah parataropayah sarva vedesu drsyate

When Brahma was approached by Narada muni and he inquired, ‘O! This age of Kali is here. What process they should be following now to become God conscious, Krsna conscious?’ and this is Brahma’s statement in fact, Brahma says, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, iti all these, sodasakam, these 16 names, this will destroy all the bad qualities of this age of Kali and I do not see anything that is better than this. Natah paratara upaya, other upaya, solution does not exist in entire Vedic literature.’
So you will find in Brahmanda Purana, in Laghu Bhagavatamrta statement, glorifying, ‘thousand names of Visnu is equal to one name of Rama and three names of Rama equal to one name of Krsna.’ And in Caitanya Bhagavat, we find this statement, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said this, this is rare statement, where Mahaprabhu said Mahamantra and said,
‘iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe sabar, sarva-ksana bala ithe vidhi nahi ara’ (CB Madhya lila 23.74-75)

‘By chanting of Hare Krsna Mahamantra, Lord said you will attain perfection and other than this process of chanting, there is no other vidhi, so go for this chanting of Hare Krsna’ this is Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Anantasamhita talks about Mahamantra, jivatarane, for liberating living entities, this Mahamantra of 32 syllables, dvatrinsad varnakani hi kalau yuge mahamantrah sammato jivatarane.

Nama sadhana-> mantra siddhi, as we chant Hare Krsna we end up in perfection of chanting and every mantra has mantra devata. Hare Krsna Mahamantra’s mantra devata is Radha Krsna and wherever that Devata resides, that is where the chanter of that mantra ends up or he achieves that abode. Hare Krsna chanting brings you to Goloka. Tukarama by chanting ‘Jaya jaya Rama Krsna Hari’ similar to Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, you could see him on the way to Goloka here. This is Dehu, near Pune, Dehu goan of Tukarama and as he was chanting, Lord sent plane, Garuda Vahana and he is on his way back.

Param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam, all those who chant Hare Krsna, victory is guaranteed for them and what is the victory? No more birth, no more death, that is the victory. Again and again dyeing is the defeat. Victory is you are heading back home by chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna. Victory flag, Jaya-pataka is here.
Okay there is more, but we could stop here.

Question: Maharaja, you talked about various rasas and bhava, those who have all connection of devotees with Krsna, is there any rasa or bhava between sisya and guru? Which type of rasa-bhava sisya follow for his guru?

Ans: Brahmacari gurukule vasan danto guror hitam, that is what we hear from Narada muni in Bhagavatam. Brahmacari, he resides in the asram of guru. Some sisyas may be residing at home, at their residence. So what do they do, guror hitam? They serve or they exist in fact for the benefit or service unto their spiritual master. And Narada Muni also said, nicam, they take humble position in front of guru and they serve. Also the word used is suhrdam, there could also be some friendship as we talk of the visrambha, either awe and reverence is there for guru or there may be in some cases, there is visrambha, friendship, relationship with the spiritual master. And basically spiritual master is trying to establish his disciple’s eternal relationship with the Lord. He is the transparent via media. He doesn’t become a stumbling block and just him and disciples, no! There is Krsna also; Krsna is in the center of that relationship. And not that, ‘Okay, I am swami and you are dasa’ and then one fine morning he declares that, ‘O! No, I used to be Swami, but now I am Narayana, Swami Narayana!’ Not like that, this is cheating. There could be also the different relationship, that guru bhogi, guru tyagi, guru drohi and then guru sevi. There are four kinds of relationships. So the best of all and the appropriate one is guru-sevi, the disciple serves the guru and not exploits guru or guru’s property or doesn’t try to take over, being envious of guru or abandon guru means no relationship. So there is something right thing and other wrong relationships.

Question: Maharaja you said from each sampradaya Mahaprabhu took best of each vaisnava school and formed the acintyabhedabheda tattva. So are we also the part of Madhva line or are we completely separate line from Madhva line?

Ans: Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur established the temple of his Caitanya Gaudiya matha in Mayapur. And if you go around the parikrama of the temple then you find four sampradaya acaryas, they are there. So making the connection, Srila Bhakti Siddhant Sarasvati Thakur is honoring and respecting and accepting all the four sampradaya acharyas. In our sampradaya also, we call it Brahma Narada Madhva sampradaya, and Srila Vyasadeva is on the list there, so Brahma is the one who had the darasan of Vyasadeva and he accepted Vyasadeva into that parampara. That is another reason that we connect with Brahma very closely because he is connected with Vyasa and Narada. In fact he took inspiration from Vyasadeva for his writings or Vyasadeva is dictating and he is writing. I recently read somewhere, one reason why Caitanya Mahaprabhu or gaudiya sampradaya is aligned with Madhvacarya, we are connected with Madhvacarya more closely is because of the Madhvacarya’s staunch preaching against the mayavada and Advaitavada and if anyone has emphasized the dvaita, he is the one, very distinctly and obviously dvaita has been emphasized and then the mayavada is being defeated by Madhvacarya. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu is impressed with that and He has aligned and connected His parampara with Madhvacarya.

Mayavada bhasya sunile hoila sarva nasa

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the time, ‘don’t listen this Mayavada philosophy.’ Where from it is coming? I think He has taken that from Madhvacarya. So like that Laxmipati Tirtha, one of the acaryas in Madhva line, he became the spiritual master of Madhavendra Puri and from there we are branched out. We became like a fifth sampradaya, officially four sampradayas, but Gaudiya vaisnavism became one additional, not counted in sampradayas which are mentioned in sastras, but we are there, connected with the Madhvacarya sampradaya through Laxmipati Tirtha.

Also where I am sitting, Pandharapur Dham ki Jai! When Nityananda Prabhu visited Pandharpur, He also took initiation from Laxmipati Tirtha, who was acarya in Madhva line. So there are two understandings, Nityananda Prabhu took initiation from Madhavendra Puri is the one and the other one also, He took initiation from Laxmipati Tirtha, which is mentioned in Caitanya Bhagavat. And that Laxmipati Tirtha is from Madhva line. So our connection is made like that.

Talk on world Gita day
25th December 2020
Sri Krsna Arjuna ki Jai!

So when I just heard the blowing of conch shell as part of the yajna that is happening there, that reminded me of the blowing of conch shell that took place on this day during early morning hours and that too transported me to Kuruksetra, as I was hearing the blowing of conch shell. Of course otherwise also for past several days and almost month, we are kind of making trips between wherever we are and Kuruksetra. As we are in the mood of this Gita marathon, we are studying and distributing Bhagavad Gita As It Is ki Jai! So what a day? Gita Jayanti Day! Every word I said or sentence I said, that reminds me so much and I wished to talk, but I have only one mouth and I have only few minutes. So how much could I talk?

So today, this morning in fact, this is Moksada ekadashi day, the armies had assembled at Kuruksetra dham, dharmaksetre kuruksetre, and

tatah svetair hayair yukte
mahati syandane sthitau
madhavah pandavas caiva
divyau sankhah pradadhmatuh [BG 1.14]

And there, you see, I mean this is a lila; Krsna is performing His lila in Kuruksetra today and 17 more days He would be in Kuruksetra. But today’s lila is of a prime importance. He is speaking Bhagavad Gita. So He has come. He is riding the chariot. Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharat, Bhisma Parva. So, the chariot is driven by the white horses and mahati syandane sthitau, it’s amazing, beautiful, adbhuta chariot and there are two personalities sited on that chariot, Madhava and Pandava. Madhava is Krsna and Pandava is Arjuna. And they have divyo sankho, they have blown their transcendental conch shells. And then Arjuna is fired up, he wants to battle, fight; his blood is boiling and he said please could you bring my chariot forward.
senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me ‘cyuta (BG 1.21)

Bring my chariot in between two armies, so that I could see, who is here, who wishes to fight with me? And so that is what Krsna did. He brought the chariot forward and then,

pasyaitan samavetan kurun iti (BG 1.25)

Oh you wanted to fight and you wanted to see who has assembled here to fight with you, so samavetan kurun, Kurus have assembled. So, Arjuna is seeing and also hearing, Oh, Kauravas have assembled to fight with the Kauravas. I am also Kaurava, Kuru-vamsi. And that has made all the big difference as Krsna has Yogamaya into action. And Arjuna is no more Arjuna. And he says mukham ca parisusyati (BG 1.28), my mouth is drying up; sidanti mama gatrani (BG 1.28), my body is trembling, gandivam sramsate hastat (BG 1.29), and Gandiva bow is slipping right out of my hands. Oh, how could I fight? No, I can’t fight. And he is crying and so many things are happening to him and he sat down, not willing to fight.

Well, to such Arjuna, now He is going to begin His speech in second chapter of Bhagavad Gita.
Sri bhagavan uvaca kutas tva kasmalam idam (BG 2.2)

Where has this dirt come that you are talking about and the speech continues and those are the 17 chapters of Bhagavad Gita ki Jai!

ya svayam padmanabhasya mukha-padmad vinihsrta (Gita Mahatmya 4)

ya svayam padmanabhasya, ya gita, that Gita, svayam Padmanabhasya, that Padmanabha, Parthasarathi, from His mouth emanated Bhagavad Gita on this day. So Gita took birth today from the mouth of the Lord. It has originated from the Lord. So Bhagavad Gita is non different from the Lord, it is part of the Lord. Bhagavad Gita is the Lord.
So Lord Krsna, krsnam vande jagat gurum, He has taken the position. Well, that is His eternal position. He is the guru, original instructor and guide and friend and philosopher of the entire human race for generation after generation. And wherever they are He is there. Well there are so many relations, master and friend and lover and certainly He is a guru of the whole world. So He and Arjuna are taking position on behalf of all the living entities.

sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam (BG 2.7)

Now I am soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me! So the Lord has spoken this Bhagavad Gita, well Arjuna is just nimitta matram, instrument, but we have to understand the purpose, the intension of the speaker, Sri Krsna, the speaker of Bhagavad Gita, His intention is what I am speaking now, and Prabhupada this is going to be, I am talking about dharma.

dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge (BG 4.8)

I appear to establish the principles of dharma. Srila Prabhupada says (what is dharma?) ‘laws of the Lord’ and he is going to be talking about law during Bhagavad Gita.

So what Lord is doing, by speaking Bhagavad Gita, He is establishing dharma on this planet and His word is a law, governing the whole world and living entities’ life and that is His intension that for all the time that will come, people everywhere should listen to this, read this, hear this. I know there are sufferings and why not? They must suffer, because they have come to the wrong location, duhkhalayam. I tell you in Bhagavad Gita, this is duhkhalayam, don’t try to be sukhi, happy here in this place of sufferings. But there is another place.
yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama (BG 15.6)

So Lord in fact, by talking this Bhagavad Gita, He is extending invitation to all His living entities, all His parts and parcels. They are His, we are His, not Indians only or Hindus only, He is addressing everybody. And for that benefit, please come back to Me and live eternally happy life. Otherwise you will continue here. And He is instructing Arjuna, that yogi bhava, yogi bhava. And as we know, in this world, the world leaders are propagating, what is the propagation or what is the message? ‘Bhogi bhava!’ So this is anti-Gita propaganda, anti-Krsna propaganda. And then you will suffer and that we are seeing.

Lord is saying, ‘patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayascati (BG 9.26), this is diet, you offer these items to Me and then enjoy the remnants, prasadam, but if you don’t become yogi, and will go for bhogi and matanam chickenam and etc and that is what happened right in Wuhan in China in that big meat market, all sorts of meat mixed and corona was the product of that business of selling meat, fish, egg. And as the result the whole world is suffering. So isn’t Gita the solution? Patram pushpam phalam toyam, be happy! Matanam, chickenam, and suffer! And that is what happening. Gita is the solution to all the problems of this world. World leaders should take note of this.

Krsna said, what I am speaking to you Arjuna, rajarsayo viduh (BG 4.2), the saintly kings, they do and they should listen to this and accordingly they should be governing the governments. They could have astra, weapon in one hand, but they have sastra, scriptures in other hand. Your astra should by guided by the sastra and that is Bhagavad Gita, spoken by the Lord on this occasion. And Lord has said, this should be propagated, spoken and understood, evam parampara praptam (BG 4.2), and that does not happen, the disciplic succession is not followed and anyone, any Tom Dick and Harry wants to comment and speak on Bhagavad Gita and mislead and that is what going on. We are celebrating Gita Jayanti, the day Krsna was there on the battlefield Kuruksetra.

But now for them, Kuruksetra means the body and the five Pandavas are the virtuous, good qualities and the Kauravas are the bad qualities, this is not the talking of, not that Krsna was personally there and the battle happened. Lot of people do not believe in this. Even Mahatma Gandhi had no faith in the fact that Krsna on Gita Jayanti day was in Kuruksetra and He personally spoke this Bhagavad Gita. And like that, all those talks and comments and hundred and thousands of versions in the market but as Arjuna became devotee finally after hearing Bhagavad Gita, are those listeners and readers of different editions, are they become devotees? No! But we know, since the Bhagavad Gita As It Is has been published and is being propagated and distributed widely, now we have hundreds and thousands of devotees on the planet and we are organizing this Gita yajna in Kuruksetra and celebrating World Gita Day on this day in Kuruksetra.

Well, I may not get time to say that but that has come to my mind, I think we should be celebrating this day every year in Kuruksetra dham, year after year after year. The BBT should organize this celebration in Kuruksetra ‘World Gita Day’. That is my humble suggestion and I wish we could celebrate every year, why not? And that’s where the Krsna Arjuna temple is also being built. Srila Prabhupada wanted that temple, Krsna Arjuna temple. This concept also of Krsna Arjuna temple in Kuruksetra is Prabhupada’s our founder acarya’s wish and will and if Saksi Gopal and Gopal Krsna Maharaja, if they could also complete the construction, well, it is taking time. From several years they are working and I just heard, in couple of years, but why not in two years from now? If we could also open Krsna Arjuna temple on Gita Jayanti day, that would be wonderful.

So, we have assembled here, well, not many, but on behalf of us, we have Saksi Gopal and we understand that Gopal Krsna Maharaja and others have assembled in Kuruksetra and I think we are there also to announce the book distribution scores for the pleasure, like everyday in the temple, ISKCON temple, we, the temple president or sankirtana leader announces, ‘for the pleasure of Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi and for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, today’s book distribution scores’, so like that, today we here in Kuruksetra making announcement for the pleasure of Krsna Arjuna and Srila Prabhupada that we have made this target, of course the theme is ‘live to give’ otherwise you are dead. If you are not living for giving purpose, you are not living, you are dead. So you live to give and if you keep giving, you may live longer, or you will live forever Krsna conscious life. So we are here to announce and to take further blessings and empowerment from the Lord from Kuruksetra dham.

The target is two millions Bhagavad Gitas this year and as we heard from Vaisasika Prabhu, I will like to thank Vaisasika Prabhu for his words of inspiration not just now but all the time he is a big inspiration. Of course Gopal Krsna Maharaja is a very big inspiration behind the book distribution and the governing body commissioners are inspiring the world to distribute books and Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna appeared as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He said, I order you, yare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa, amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa (Cc. Madhya 7.128)

You preach the message of Bhagavad Gita, share Bhagavad Gita, Krsna upadesa. So I am thankful for this opportunity to, well almost being there in Kuruksetra I am talking, and to say few words about Srimad Bhagavad Gita Ki Jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

The Lord is very near and dear
November 14th, 1994
New Delhi, India

na hy asyasti priyah kascin
napriyah svah paro pi va
atmatvat sarva-bhutanam
sarva-bhuta-priyo harih [SB 6.17.33]

Translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada, Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Translation: He holds no one as very dear and no one as inimical. He has no one for His own relative, and no one is alien to Him. He is actually the soul of the soul of all living entities. Thus He is the auspicious friend of all living beings and is very near and dear to all of them.
Purport: ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His second feature, is the Supersoul of all living entities. As one’s self is extremely dear, the Superself of the self is still more dear. No one can be the enemy of the friendly Superself, who is equal to everyone. Relationships of dearness or enmity between the Supreme Lord and the living beings are due to the intervention of the illusory energy. Because the three modes of material nature intervene between the Lord and the living beings, these different relationships appear. Actually, the living entity in his pure condition is always very near and dear to the Lord, and the Lord is dear to him. There is no question of partiality or enmity.’

na hy asyasti priyah kascin
napriyah svah paro pi va
atmatvat sarva-bhutanam
sarva-bhuta-priyo harih

This is the statement of Sri Rudra uvaca, Lord Siva is speaking. Yesterday we saw, because Lord Siva is humble, he said, no I don’t know the Lord. Not only me but others also, na kumara naradau na brahma putra munayah na suresah, no one knows.
na surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah, na viduh surasura-gana,
No one knows. The suras- the demigods don’t know, asuras also, no one knows. So point was made, that these exalted personalities talk in this language out of humility. They say they do not know the Lord, that is also all right; if they say they know the Lord, that is also all right. Sometimes they may say, ‘Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?’ Six Gosvamis may say as if they have not seen where is Krsna, they may say so. Some other devotees will say, He is always with me. I am always seeing Him. As we saw yesterday, Prabhupada said, I am always seeing. So some contradictory, as Lord also has described in Isopanisad, He is very near and He is very far as well. So these contradictions could be reconciled. Both things are possible and this is how He is Purnam. So devotees also take two different stands, I know and I don’t know the Lord. He is with me and He is not with me.

Lord when He is with them, like in case of Radharani, one time He was sitting next to Radharani, but she started crying thinking that He has gone away. And Madhumangal had come and he came with the stick; Madhumangal the friend of Lord Krsna. He is very humorous friend, very jolly and joking and keeps Lord Krsna in humorous mood. He came with the stick because of the bumble bee and Madhumangal thought, this bumble bee is disturbing the mood of Radha and Krsna. He came with the stick to drive away this little honey bee, Madhu. And He said, ‘Oh, I drove him away. I got rid of Madhu’. As soon as Radharani heard this, what was Her conclusion? She thought ‘This Madhumangal is fool. He got rid of, I had been waiting for ages to meet Krsna—They had just met last night and now They were meeting again this morning, but Radharani thinks, She is meeting Krsna after long-long time.– After long-long time, I had met, but this Madhumangal, what did he do? He drove away my Madhusudan.’ Thinking like this, what She did? Started crying, tears were gliding down her chicks, down Her body and to the ground and into the nearby lake.

When Krsna saw Radharani crying, He was wondering why She is crying? He also couldn’t control seeing Her crying, and He also started crying. And the tears from the eyes of this divine couple, they flow in a big stream and this made a big lake. Between Barasana and Nandagrama, there is lake called Prema sarovar and this lake is made up of tears of the divine couple. So this Radharani, the supreme devotee and She is thinking, Krsna is not with me, even if He is there. Somehow someone got rid of Him and He is not with me. So Krsna is with the devotee and He is not with the devotee. Devotee is scared of loosing Him and when He is away, he is trying to gain Him, again take Him back, get Him back, so these both moods are found in the devotees and they express their mood.

Now as we read this statement of Lord Siva, Rudra uvaca, we can only say that Lord Siva knows the Lord, knows the Supreme Lord. We always talk of knowing God. So with the help of someone like Lord Siva, vaisnavanam yatha sambhu, we could know the Lord. We could take help of other devotees. And Siva is one of those devotees, Mahajana. If anyone knows the Lord, Mahajana must know the Lord.

Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

First of all follow in the footsteps of Mahajana and svayambhu naradah sambhu these are the Mahajanas. There are more, we are mentioning these three. Naradah Kapilau Manu, Prahlad, Janaka, Bhisma, including Yamaraja, the twelve personalities. So when they speak, then that is all knowledge. Lord is what? na hy asyasti, for the Lord there is no one who is priya or apriya, someone is dear, someone is not dear. Jai Radha Parthasarthi ki jai.

The same case is with Radha Parthasarathi. We are just trying to know Radha Parthasarathi. So for Radha Parthasarathi, no one is priya, apriya, this person is dear and this person is not dear; this is not applicable to the Lord Radha Parthasarathi. Then svaparo api va, someone is sva, His own party, Lord’s party, this party is parah, outsiders, others. This is also not the case with the Lord, na svaparo api va.

ayam nijah paro veti ganana laghuchetasam

ayam nijah-These people are my people and paro veti- one who thinks these people are outsiders, ganana laghu cetasam- as soon as you begin to think like this, you become person of laghu cetasam, whose cetana, consciousness is laghu, he always thinks- ayam nijah, these are my people, these are paro veti, veti means to know, veti tattvatah. So when one thinks like this, he is laghu, laghu cetasam. One who is guru, he doesn’t think like this; laghu and guru. Laghu means small minded and guru means heavy minded. Laghu also means light and small minded and guru means heavy and broad minded. So this heaviness and broad mindedness where does it come from? It has to come from Krsna. This is standard answer, very easy answer. Where anything comes from? You can close your eyes and say Krsna. You don’t even have to think. This is very easy answer. Everything comes from Krsna including this one. Lord is heavier than heaviest, but He is Purnam so He is lighter than lightest also. So the guru, spiritual master, he is very close to God, very close to Krsna. So Krsna’s quality he is exhibiting.

So Krsna is broad minded, sarva bhuta priyo harih, devotees are very dear to the Lord and Hari is sarva bhuta priya, very dear to all the living entities. The reason why all the living entities are very dear to the Lord is atmatvat sarva bhutanam, and the Lord is their soul. We already have a soul. The body has a soul. Body is there because of the soul, but the soul is because of Supersoul. So that Supersoul is the soul of all souls. This is how Prabhupada translated, soul of all souls, due to being the soul of all souls. And in purport Prabhupada is explaining, what is dear to all of us? Ourselves! Of course, lot of time we don’t know what is our self. So we think the body is our self and we try to love and serve the body; that is big mistake. But because we think we are bodies, we love, serve the bodies. But in fact love for the body, we are supposed to serve, love our soul. We love our soul and one who is loving the body, his target is the soul, love the soul itself. So if we love our soul so much then Prabhupada is making the point, what then about the soul of the soul. We would love that soul of the soul more than we love our soul. We love our soul so much that how much love the soul must have for the soul of the soul, who is Supersoul, atmatvat sarva bhutanam.

So the verse is talking of sarva bhuta priyah hari, the Lord is very-very dear, sarva bhuta priyah hari, who is dear to who? Living entity is dear to Hari or Hari is dear to the living entity? Of course both! But in purport, Prabhupada is talking, to the living entity the Lord is very-very dear’.

Question 1: Lord is very dear to the living entity, living entity is very dear to the Lord; they are so intimately connected. The living entity is part and parcel and the Supersoul is described here as the soul of all souls. Then why there are no feeling of being dear to the Lord and why so many people do not exhibit that love for the Lord.
Answer: From Lord’s side He is always loving, all the living entities, whether that devotee is demon, Lord is not seeing that. na me dvesyosti na priyah, Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita. So what comes in between this love of both parties? Why there is no reciprocation. Love is reciprocal. Love means two parties. There can not be just one party loving. You love somebody. There is always object of love, otherwise love has no meaning. So from Lord came all the living entities and don’t ask from when. And this expansion, Lord wanted the plural number around Him. What for? To enjoy, love them, the dealings, reciprocation. But we do not see that. In this world we do not see the people on the road, we do not see them loving. They are not rushing, running, the gate is wide open for darsana, but how many of them are rushing in for darsana? Instead they are rushing running to a cinema house, or Kapil comes in the town, Kapil, the captain of cricket team or the miss universe, they stay in Delhi. People are rushing, running, that shows their love, they are loving someone else. They are not loving the Lord. So the question is why is that? Lord is talking that He has love for everybody. Living entity is also supposed to be loving the Lord. Lord is soul of all the souls. But why there are such things? Where is that reciprocation of love, we don’t see that’s happening. This is the question. Very common question!

And the reply is there in the purport. Prabhupada is explaining. What is the explanation? Standard answer is Maya. In technical term, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya, gunamayi maya means trigunamayi maya. Tri-guna- sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna; gunamayi maya. Duratyaya, means very difficult, this tri-gunamayi maya makes it very difficult. So who is in between? The living entity and the Lord, they both have such intimate relationship and love for reach other, but that love has now transferred into lust. Living entity is seems to be lusty and not loving. And what is the relationship between love and lust? Perverted reflection, one is reality and other one is reflection. Like a moon and it has a reflection in the water or milk is transformed into yogurt. There is relationship, but that is a different thing. Love is divine and it is there, so as soon living entity is pure, he takes that Maya away, this three modes of material nature out and then immediately there is reciprocation of love, pure love.

So from Lord’s side, He has no problem. Not that He loves somebody and He hates somebody. Like parents, they love their children. Someone has five ten children, sometimes they have. They love all their children. It is choice of some child to disobey the parents, or to go away from the family. They do so many things, try to beat, kill parents sometimes. Like this conditioned soul is trying to blaspheme the Lord, offend the Lord. Family and children are doing same things. We are also children, of whose family? Krsna’s family! He is head of the family. He is father, He is mother, He is Bandhu, mama sarva deva devah, He is all in all and the living entities, as they are in illusion, as children when they are young, they get carried away, they get constipated, not just like drinking, but they misuse their power, and whatever. Youth makes you pramatta, half mad, crazy. Then you don’t behave properly, shistachar, etiquette you forget. And you do so many things against the parents. Same thing is happening here in the world. The parents are nothing against the children, but children take that stand somehow, the misunderstanding, why parents why not me. How long he is going to hold on to the key of the treasury. Why does not he giving the charge to me? Same thing! Why Krsna why not me? There is no God. I don’t care for the parents; I don’t care for the Lord. I don’t care for anybody. I care for myself.

So Lord’s view point is all children He loves and He is waiting and everyone, they are all children of the Lord, not only human beings but other beings are also Lord’s children. Lord was in Jharkhand forest, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was walking through the forest and then what happened? Everyone joined the Sankirtana party, there was Maha-harinam party, joined by lions, tigers, elephants, deer, snakes, birds, peacocks, in other words everybody joined kirtan. Everyone was so joyous. They were all happy. Some were walking, some were crawling on the ground, some were flying in the air just above Mahaprabhu. There is a big crowd. In the painting which we see, the painter just chose one or two lions, three elephants, ten birds, few snakes. But do you think there were so many, if you look at their painting? How many do you see? There are thirty creatures. Do you think, thirty, grand total of residents of forest joined Mahaprabhu? Everybody, all of those who were residing in that forest, they were all influenced. There was no blood shade. Not drinking of blood. They were embracing each other as brothers and sisters do, as loving members of family do that; that is how they did for this period. They have these different bodies. Elephants, tigers, they are enemies. Elephants, tigers, they are not friends. The deer and the lion, are they friends? Do they sit together to take lunch? One party is lunch of another party. But when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was there, they did not think that this is some enemy or something that I should eat this bird, this animal. They were like a pure spirit soul. They are dancing in ecstasy in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, sarva bhuta priya harih, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His love for all the living entities. He proved and please don’t think this is some fiction. This is not mythology. This is a history. Krsnadas Kaviraj is not imagining something happened in the forest. There is no exaggeration, no cheating. He is not that kind of authority, not that kind of writer. Free from all this! So this happened just 500 years ago when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was there. Lord’s love is not limited only to the human beings. But as soon as we become conditioned, we begin acting as a crazy; we love only ourselves, and in that self, we love only our body. And in fact we forget the soul, the interest of the soul and what to speak of the interest of the Supersoul. We forget all this. We begin making groups. Divide the society; divide the family. Broadmindedness is finished with this maya. Maya divides and who unites? Krsna unites. Krsna unites, maya divides. If you are a follower of Maya, mayar chela, disciple of Maya, close follower, then you will be agent to divide. You will divide, country, family, society.. Your job will be how to divide, if you are into maya. So acting on behalf of maya! But if you are Krsna conscious, you will think everybody is Krsna’s family, part of Krsna’s family and you will try to unite. So world needs unity and the party that unites the world, who is that party? Krsna conscious, then you are that person who could unite, they are qualified to unite the world.

So, not that these qualities are found only in the Lord, but these qualities of the Lord are also found in the devotees of the Lord.. Bheda abheda, simultaneously we are one and different from the Lord. Qualitatively we are one with the Lord, all qualities of the Lord are found in living entities also , but the quantity is different. Quantity of that quality is different, but all qualities of the Lord are found in the living entities.

The parents, they want their children united, right? Similarly, the Supreme father, Lord Krsna also likes to see all His children to stay together and we are dividing things. Oh these are Hindus, these are Muslims. Does Lord Krsna love only Hindus and He hates Muslims? If He would do that then He is not the Lord. Does Allah, He loves Muslims, He hates Hindus? No! He doesn’t even hate the lower species, non humans. What to speak of Lord hating Muslims. If we hate muslins, if we hate Sikhas, this hatrated is not pleasing to the Lord. Try to understand! Even in Bible it is given that, one hates the sin and not the sinner.

Yadrccha labha santusto dvandvatito vimatsarah, Lord Krsna says, My devotee is yadrccha labha santusto, whatever comes naturally, he is happy, santusta with that and dvandva ati, he is above dvandava, duality, Hindu, Muslim, eastern, western, man, woman, all these, my people, other people, my disciples, all these. Dvandvatit, free from dvandva; so this is expected or these qualities are found in the devotees, then what to speak of the Lord. Lord is dvandvatit, free form these dualities. Sva, same thing, someone is priya, someone is apriya, same thing. Someone is sva, his own, someone is parah, outsider, this is dvandva. Dvandvatito vimatsarah, no matsar, no envy is found in the devotee of the Lord and no duality is found.

Prabhupada always says that, there is so much only the talk of Lord, but who knows the Lord? Few things they say like God is great, God is love, but they can’t describe more. So here is the way to know the Lord, who Lord is, how are His qualities, His love for the Living entities.

Q 2:
Answer: So advice is asat sang tyagat eyi vaisnava acar, avoid those persons who are asat sanga. Stay away from asat sangies. First of all become Krsna conscious. This advice is for those who are in our possession. We are kanistha adhikaries, and we are madhyama adhikari. This advice is not for uttam adhikari. Uttam adhikari is paramahamsa. So he is transcendental. Sinners cannot influence him, change him. He is now nistha, his sraddha is irrevocable. So he could be anywhere, like Namacarya Haridas Thakur converted prostitute, so it works. But that is not advice for us. So, depending on your level! This advice is not for everyone. Those who are uttam adhikari, they see everybody is serving Krsna. So for our protection, ourselves we are asat, just recently, few months, few years ago, so if we will associate with them then our bad qualities will get revived, will get remembered. So better to stay at a distance and develop good qualities. And once you are fixed up in the good qualities then you could be anywhere.

Q 3: Why Lord Siva says he does not understand Lord Krsna?
Answer: Sometimes Lord Siva, sometimes he does not understand Lord, but we never understand. To make us realize, how difficult it is to know the Lord, Lord Siva exhibits this ignorance. Some of his activities looks like he is bewildered in the presence of Mohini murti, but there are some lessons for us to learn from that. By those activities of Lord Siva, no knowledge or ignorance of Siva or bewilderment of Siva, we should not think of offending Siva. We should not think that he is like us. Looks like Lord Siva has fallen down. Spread the news. Call the press conference. Lord Siva has fallen down. No! We should not offensively think like this. We could explain that Lord Krsna is using Lord Siva and Brahma, Lord is using His dear devotees to teach us. Lord Krsna put Arjuna in illusion, and immediately brought him out of the illusion. So Krsna may put His devotees in so called illusion, to create some history, some example, for whole world to learn from it. So, this happens, Siva, Brahma, Indra, there are so many big-big personalities, they seem to be doing something wrong. But their doing wrong is different from our doing wrong.
Q. —
Answer: You are mother yourself. Are you envious of your daughter? When there is talk of topmost love in this world, then the best example is mother’s love for the children. Abortion, they are killing their children. They are not even allowing them to take birth. Is this their love towards their children? It is killing, killing helpless children in the womb. In general, the point is they don’t know what the best interest of their children is, but they have the sentiments. They are the well wishers of the children. We say wishing well is not enough, we have to do something right. Like, if someone’s family member is sick, you wish that he get cured, but that wishing is not enough, what is necessary is to bring the right doctor who will diagnose and do the right prescription. So parents have the sentiments, they wish well, but these days these parents are not well trained, not guided by superior authority, guided by three modes of material nature. Na te viduh svartha gatim hi visnum, the best interest is to attain Lord Visnu, na te viduh, this is Prahlad Maharaja talking to his friends. No one knows the destination is Visnu. So what I said is not absolutely correct example, but could be understood that, at least they could wish their children to be happy. They don’t know how to make them happy. Like we say, happy new year! On the 1st January, few months from now, phones will be ringing, billions of people they call their family, friends and what do they say? I wish you happy new year, but as soon as the phone conversation is over, something unhappy, something that gives them distress happens. So it is wishing, they wish them to be happy. I wish you to have nice time. ‘Oh thank you for flying American airline. We wish you happy journey to your destination. Please enjoy weekend!’ Whole weekend, there is no sun, all cloudy. For all year people are waiting to go to the beach and during Christmas they go and there is no sun. All cold breeze, and they are waiting for the sun. They can’t enjoy the holidays. Someone may wish, ‘I wish you happy journey, happy weekend’, but at least wishing is there. But they have no control on so many things and they don’t know the real way to become happy. When people are healthy, doctors are not happy. And when they get sick, doctors are in bliss. Not devotee doctors!

Prabhupada memories with Lokanath Maharaja
Interview
August 29, 2020

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Hare Krsna everyone and welcome to another session of Prabhupada memories and we’re so fortunate that today we’ll be speaking to His Holiness Lokanath Swami, who is a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada. This is your opportunity to hear directly from the disciples of Srila Prabhupada and to get that inspiration and that connection to get directly closer to our divine Grace. So we really want to welcome Maharaja today, thank you so much His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja for joining us and how are you today Maharaja?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : (laughing) I am happy!

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : It’s so nice to have you and those who don’t know Maharaja, I think majority everyone knows Maharaja but just a little background about Maharaja. He became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada in 1972 and then he received sannyasa initiation from His Divine Grace in 1975 and then at the age of 26 years old Srila Prabhupada ordered him to preach Lord Chaitanya’s message by organizing padayatra, the walking festival worldwide and the first leg of the journey was from Vrndavan to Mayapur. In the course of his padayatra service His Holiness traveled by foot to many of these major tirthas and sacred sites of India and also in 1989 he inaugurated the service in America and then for the centennial service, which is the hundred years of Srila Prabhupada and marking that celebration, him as the minister. He also created a celebration for this amazing event and it was unprecedented success. If I am correct Maharaja you organized a hundred padayatra around the world in 1996.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Not correct, more than a hundred they were Hundred and eleven.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Wow! Hundred and eleven and on top of that I think on that centennial festival there was like record-breaking number of books that were distributed, plates of prasada were served and like you said, festivals coordinated worldwide. Also, you’re the zonal secretary for Maharashtra and Noida and the Bureau member for all of India and in addition to his preaching in Maharashtra His Holiness has traveled the globe and is well known for his inspiring lectures, kirtans and his also amazing books. We’ll be talking about his books a bit later. He is also an initiating guru in our ISKCON today and has disciples all over the world. So it’s an absolute pleasure to be speaking to you today Maharaja and thank you for agreeing to come on. I just wanted to start with Maharaja, in 1971, I believe it was your first interaction with the Hare Krsna movement and in 1972 you got your first initiation. When you first met Srila Prabhupada, what were your feelings or recollections at that time?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja: In 1971, I attended the Hare Krsna festival in Bombay. I did not meet him then, I met him in 1972 and of course Srila Prabhupada was there and there were big advertisements all over Bombay saying,

“The Americans sadhus are here! The European sadhus are in the town!.”

So this was mind-boggling or catching our imaginations. So, we all rushed, ran through thousands of people, I was in the audience. The devotees on the stage, their performance of their kirtans was out of this world, I had never experienced anything like this. With all their heart, with all their strength, they were doing kirtan. That was it. I was wondering how Americans could be, European be sadhus. But when I saw their kirtana performance I was like, they are sadhus, they must be sadhus, otherwise this kind of ecstasy and you know! And I heard Prabhupada talking everyday. So what impressed me, the one take-away would say from that festival or Prabhupada’s talk was, from my very childhood I had an inclination and thoughts of serving people, serving society, serving humanity, I had this but I did not know what to do, where to start, what are the resources.

So, Prabhupada quoted Bhagavatam one day and he gave that example, how by watering the water on the roots of the tree or by putting fertilizer on the roots of the tree and that’s it, the trunk of the tree, the branches, the flowers, the fruit, everything is nourished. So Krishna is the source of all of us and so, if we serve Krishna, everyone is served. So, that was it. I was looking for it and I got it. So I would say, that was my meeting or Prabhupada really met me and he caused a stir in my heart. I was sold out and I became his.

Like that and I bought some small books of Srila Prabhupada, I did not have much money, so I bought small books and then I started singing and chanting myself. I was studying in college and was sharing a room with my roommates so whenever they were all out, I would close the doors and windows and curtains, latch the door by myself and I would jump remembering the devotees, dancing on that stage. So the kirtana influenced me the most and then later on there was another festival in 1972 at Hare Krsna land, Juhu. I ran back, I got my life back again and then at the end of that festival I decided to join. I wrote a letter addressed to the temple president saying I liked your dazzling arati and ecstatic kirtanas and sumptuous prasadam, I did not know the meaning of what is sumptuous, that word was not in my dictionary before and dazzling arati. I had a flyer from their festivals, I copied some of the things I liked and I agreed to follow the four regulative principles, please accept me.

So I went to the Juhu temple and found out the president and he read my letter on the spot and he was so delighted because those days you know, Indians or Indian youths, coming forward to become full time devotees, this was a rare occurrence. So immediately, that was Giriraj Prabhu then, he was a brahmachari, announced to the brahmacharis, “Hey! We have a new bhakta here! We have a new bhakta here!”. Soon after a while they brought me behind the asram and I did not know where they were bringing me to and the barbar was waiting for me and I was shaved up. Same evening there was a program in a school, Garga Muni Swami Maharaja was heading up, so I accompanied him and the boys in the school did not know English, so I was handed the microphone and I became the translator of Garga Muni Maharaja’s talk of preaching. So I became a preacher the very first day.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Oh wow!

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Hari bol! And then later on, at the time of Kartik Giriraj Maharaja Prabhu wrote the letter of recommendation and I traveled along with many other devotees from Bombay. In Vrndavan, Kartik at Radha Damodar temple, I was initiated. My encounters and talks and meetings started from that time onwards.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa: Thank you so much for that information and it’s amazing to see how so quickly you transitioned to become a speaker on your first day. That’s just phenomenal. I wanna show everybody your lovely poster behind, Padayatra Worldwide! Srila Prabhupada from early 70’s was talking about starting padayatra and of course you took on this mission and there are so many little pastimes about Mercedes-Benz turning into a bullock-cart using those as going forward. But can I start with why was Srila Prabhupada so close to this idea of padayatra, what was his feeling towards that because you had correspondence with him. Would you share?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yes, Srila Prabhupada was Senapati bhakta, Chaitanya Mahparabhu’s Senapati bhakta, commander in chief of sankirtana’s army of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is representing Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, so what is he going to do? The prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu has to be made true, My holy name will reach every town, every village of the world. So this is on the mind of Srila Prabhupada. We had 100 temples or 5200 temple devotees going out and from those temples doing nagar sankirtana, spreading the holy name around. But that was not enough for Prabhupada. Prabhupada wanted to go faster and bring the holy name to even those towns and villages where there is no presence of ISKCON. So we were thinking how to spread the holy name, how to make Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction come true.

So there was one gentleman, Parmananda Punjabi, and he had written to Prabhupada proposing why don’t you start padayatra and go to Indian villages. I think that clicked Prabhupada and Prabhupada was willing to do so. But he said my followers are westerns, they don’t speak the local language, if you come up with some local Indians then I could provide some Westerners.

And then on the day of Radhastami, in 1976 as we were visiting New Delhi because we knew Srila Prabhupada was going to be there. So we were travelling with German Mercedes. I was enjoying travelling North India all over, Panchabhuta Swami that time and myself were co-leaders. As we have comeback, Prabhupada on Radhashtami day, I was with Srila Prabhupada myself and Atmatattva, he said, “bullock cart”. That was it, we did not protest, no argument, although we had good time travelling with western, German buses but Prabhupada has bullock cart, so I was surprised and delighted and I was also amazed how Prabhupada found out. My cultural background, I come from Maharashtra and we are worshippers of the Lord Panduranga Vitthal, Sri Krsna in Pandharpur and all the pilgrims coming to Pandharpur, they come walking, they do padayatra. Even my Father have been walking 100 kms for coming to Pandharpur dham for darshan and walking 100 kms back. So, Prabhupada picked the right person at the right time. From there we went to Vrndavan and started, prepared and Prabhupada did the inauguration for our Bullock cart sankirtan party. Vrndavan to Mayapur, Mayapur was our destination. We were on the road with the a mission, with Prabhupada’s instructions and empowerment.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Maharaja, there are some lovely pictures which I want to share so that everyone can see. This picture is here “Welcome to the Padayatra”.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : This is just outside of Dwarka in 1984-85. We started another padayatra, major padayatra from Dwarka to Kanyakumari to Mayapur. 8000 kms to be completed in 18 months. We arrived in Mayapur to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Chaitanya Mahparbhu’s appearance day in 1986. So this is the group we started with, this group then came bigger, bigger and bigger as we marched from one state of India to another state. This is just the beginning.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Then you could see the group getting larger here.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yes, yes we had more than 20-30 country devotees. Lots of Gujaratis, Bengalis and Indians.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Maharaja, just coming back because kirtana is very close to your heart and there is one lovely picture that I want to show everybody. We can see you are in ecstasy, chanting with Srila Prabhupada. Can you give us a little hint about this story here right now.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yes. So when we started padayatra or bullock cart sankirtana from Vrndavan and we were getting towards Mayapur. On the way to Mayapur, we arrived here at Prayag (Allahabad) on Kumbha Mela. This is the month of January, 1977 and Srila Prabhupada also has come from Mumbai on a train to Kumbha Mela. This is within our camp you could see the tent also in the background and this is in open. Prabhupada is sitting outside this tent and there is little audience sitting in front of Srila Prabhupada, this has become a little stage, we are singing there, this is in Allahabad. The Padayatra party has arrived also, so I’m with the padayatra party.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : One thing that we are aware of is, you had a lot of communication with Srila Prabhupada through letters about padayatra, instruction through that means. Could you share? I would love to hear, if possible for you. How it felt to do this service number one and number two is there any specific instructions that Srila Prabhupada mentioned in letters to you regarding Padayatra.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Besides the letters, the day we started Padayatra, I think it was 10 September, 1976 in Vrndavan in Prabhupada’s quarter. He addressed us, we sat with Prabhupada for over one hour. He gave a lot of instructions and inspiration, including what kind of cart we should have, our cart should have tire wheels. When we go to the village where we should park, next to the well, because that’s where all the villagers come to fetch the water so you will be right there. We should have 2 blankets for each one of us because it was winter time. So lots of those instructions, Prabhupada as a caring father gave and very practical. So many letters exchanged.

As we have arrived in Kanpur from Vrndavan to Kanpur, before Allahabad, we had written to Srila Prabhupada, “Prabhupada send us some men and we need some money for maintenance”. So Srila Prabhupada said, “do not depend on outside havoc” and Prabhupada hadn’t closed sankirtana newsletter i.e., ISKCON book distribution course were there and he said, “Our institution is maintained by sales of our publications, so you have to distribute books in vernacular language and raise funds and maintain. So we took that seriously and gradually now we are distributing more and more books. Wherever we went and we became more than self-sufficient and the additional funds were now being donated to different projects including recently for Padayatra India, we contributed happily and rupees for TOVP.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Wow, Jai! Hari bol !!!

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : So like that our program was going on successfully within India and then he wrote another letter not to me but one Nityanand Prabhu at NewTall, America. Prabhupada wrote that, “Lokanath Swami’s Bullock cart Sankirtan party is doing well, or very successfully they are doing Padayatra”, and he said, “we could have millions of such carts all over the world”. So I don’t know whether that’s an instruction or Pabhupada’s wish, our prediction of future of padayatra and that is a big thinking of Prabhupada, millions of carts all over the world. He wasn’t thinking that the Bullock cart or padayatra program is just a service that he had given to me and is limited to me or my life time, Prabhupada was thinking beyond me and for the next 10,000 years this Padayatra should go on with millions of carts. May be in the future or when there is no more petrol, then our bullock cart could be in business and our bullock cart could pull the cars, passengers may be sitting in the cars, we would pull their cars with bullock carts.

Prabhupada one time, when we invited Prabhupada, he was so very happy with what we are doing with this subject. So whenever we met, he inquired about the welfare and how padayatras are going on and like that. When it was 1996, in our centennial time, every leader within ISKCON was thinking, what kind of offerings they would make for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. So I was also thinking, what I could do, of course I was made centennial minister, Prabhupada centennial minister. I was doing lots of planning and organizations with the help of all of the leaders together, GBCs, sannyasis. But as my personal offering I was thinking, what I could do? So we came up with this strategy of organizing padayatra in 100 countries at the 100th Birth Anniversary. So we expanded from one padayatra in India to 100 padayatras all over the world. So it is doable and it is happening, going on till this day.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : On this part of this Padayatra because this is very close to your heart and like you said, this is meant to go on for, carry on even after everybody passes. We want to carry on this, something close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart.

So those that want to know more, please go to www.lokanathswami.com/ and there you will be able to find how you will get involved with this padayatra service and also find out much more, and also find out about Lokanath Swami Maharaja. Padayatra is one area but for you is kirtan, we all know, we all love your kirtan. You came to Birmingham 24 hours kirtan a few years ago and we were so grateful you came. So how did the kirtan aspect become prominent to you Maharaja. What is that because your kirtans are heard everywhere, we love them, but for yourself, what was that connection to kirtan?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Kirtana got me when I was just a young boy in a village and a kind of culture in our family, that practice, that culture and I came from, our family did kirtana, our village did kirtan and in our Maharashtra kirtanas are very very popular because of Sant Tukaram Maharaja. Pandharpur is known for kirtanas. So when I was just a little boy and especially used to do on Ekadasi, today is Ekadasai.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Yes

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : On ekadasi, all night long they do kirtana, sleepless nights and they stay up and do kirtanas. So I was a little boy, also sitting with them, watching them, hearing them, picking up notes. So this was imbibed, the kirtan spirit from when I was little in the village. And then as I said that triggered at my very encounter with the Hare Krishna Movement was that kirtan on stage. So that stirred up and then has become my life, my second nature. I know Srila Prabhupada kind of liked me singing.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : That’s so nice. So you became the minister for the Harinam Sankirtan Ministry for ISKCON because of that. We’ll be talking about that later as well, if that’s okay. I just want to bring regards to Srila Prabhupada because of course the Padayatra has started, but is there any intimate pastime you can share with us of you and Srila Prabhupada, that is still resonating in your heart right now?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : That’s a difficult one.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : I am so sorry.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : (laughing) There are several one!

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Please, please!!! We are happy to hear.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Which one to take. When I was in the time of my sannyas initiation I think Srila Prabhupada was so personal and so considerate and a fatherly figure as I approached Prabhupada for giving me sannyas. In those days there was no sanyas ministry and you don’t have to get approved by GBC centres and waiting periods, those things came later on. Those days, our days, Prabhupada days, it was mostly the transaction that would be made between Prabhupada and the candidate. I had approached Srila Prabhupada earlier, so when I was 2 and half years devotee, I had approached Srila Prabhupada, “give me sanyas” and Prabhupada said, “wait”, and then I waited for 1 year.

One day I walked in Prabhupada’s quarters, this is in Bombay and I approached him and paid obeisance and sat across in front of him and a table in between. Then I again reminded Srila Prabhupada that I want sanyasa. Another reason why I was demanding sanyasa then was, there was Sridhar Swami, not Sridhar Swami Maharaja, my God brother from Canada. We were buddies, we were brahmacharis, we were preaching partners, we were together in Mumbai. His sanyasa was approved by Srila Prabhupada a few days earlier, so I was like me too, me too, like in a family, parents give toys or something to one son then the other one is also like mummy me too, daddy me too. So I approached Srila Prabhupada and then with a dialogue Prabhupada was trying to preach to me or taking me out of it. But then I kind of persisted, begging and bugging, so Prabhupada already said, “Oh you are already a sanyasi”. So I did not buy into that, I kept on saying no no Prabhupada. Then Prabhupada said go with Sridhar to Vrndavan, travel together. You take sanyasa in Vrndavan. So I thought it was very very personal and Prabhupada was so personal in those circumstances.

So, in 1977, Prabhupada was not well, everybody knows Prabhupada was in Hrishikesh with Bhakti Charu Maharaja and Tamal Krishna Maharaja. Anyway, I should just make the long story short, I will not start all the way from Hrishikesh. So you know Prabhupada comes to Vrndavan thinking he is going to leave the world, he wanted to go to America and stop in London. He was there for Janmastami and Vyasa Puja in London 1977. Again his health got worse and back to India and He was in Mumbai for sometime and I was there, serving intimately. Bombay is my office Prabhupada said and we were brahmacari, Bombay brahmacari, we were rightly stationed because as the office expands a lot of time is spent in office. Srila Prabhupada also used to spend a lot of time in Bombay, he travelled to USA back to Bombay, he would go to Australia back to Bombay, he would go to Moscow back to Bombay, so we were rightly situated. So I have this book called Bombay is my office and there I have shared many intimate movements with Srila Prabhupada. But then Prabhupada was not well, back to Bombay from London and then onto Vrndavan still not well. One thing is that I was traveling with a little bus, padayatra was going on, some other devotees were taking care. So then, we were travelling and we returned because we did not know Prabhupada’s health status.

So Prabhupada had kindly allowed us to have his darshan in his quarters and Prabhupada was lying on the bed. Still Prabhupada was enquiring, as we were distributing books, he asked, “Which book is selling the most?”. So you could see, Prabhupada has said that he would never die, he would be in the form of his books. So then a lot of long lengthy dialogue and a lot of things happened. Towards the end our party men were walking out of the room and I was the last one to walk out. Prabhupada signed me and said come back. I went back and I sat next to Prabhupada. We have to sit very close to Prabhupada, very close to his mouth because Prabhupada kind of whispered not even talk. Then Prabhupada said I would like to meet you, I would like to see you and he also said what time suits you? he asked a question. It was amazing, Prabhupada is asking me what time suits you? Then I said no question of my suitability, whatever time. Prabhupada said, “Is 4 o’clock okay?”. We settled for 4 o’clock. Then all day I was wondering, what is that Prabhupada wanted to say because Prabhupada was very serious and grave when he had said to me, I want to talk to you. The whole day I was wondering and not able to come to any conclusion on what Prabhupada wanted to talk about.

So at 4 o’clock I went back to Prabhupada’s quarter but then his secretaries directed me to Krishna Balarama temple at the guest house reception and there lots of Prabhupada’s servants and secretaries and busy men were sitting. As I entered they told me what Prabhupada wanted to talk to me at 4 o’clock, Prabhupada could not contain also, so he told what he wanted to talk to me about. So they told me that Prabhupada wanted to travel with the Bullock cart. So then we arranged myself, Trivikram Maharaja and Panchadravida Maharaja, three of us went to Mathura to arrange the bullock cart. So the bullock cart had come and parked in front of the Krishna Balarama temple and we were delighted in a sense. In those days when Prabhupada wanted to travel, that meant Prabhupada was not leaving us, so this used to be our conclusion. So Prabhupada wants to travel means he is staying longer, welcome.

So we were happy to travel the next day with the bullock cart, but of course then during the night some devotees, Tamal Krishna Maharaja, Bhakti Charu Mataraj, Bhavanand Prabhu approached and expressed their concern about the bunky road and this and that. So Prabhupada then dropped that program of travelling with the bullock cart.

Next day, although Prabhupada gave up the idea of travelling with bullock cart but there in mind that Prabhupada wanted to travel to all the holy tirthas all over India, as a trial run he said let us try within Vrajamandal with the Bullock cart. So this was Prabhupada’s mind traveling. He is so busy with ISKCON’s activities and preaching, so he had no time for himself or for pilgrimage. So he wanted to go to the holy tirthas.

So next day again we were in Prabhupada’s quarter, Prabhupada was lying on the bed and we all were around Prabhupada. Prabhupada said, “I want to travel with the busses, you replace the bullock cart with the buses”. So he did not give up the idea of travelling because he used to say that he wants to leave the world fighting with maya and preaching is fighting. So while fighting he wanted to leave. Now the plan was to travel with the buses and everyone was on board now. All those who were assembled around him were taking turns, appealing, asking for permission for them to travel with Prabhupada. Giriraj Prabhu said, “I am good at making life members, fundraising. So wherever we go I could make members, so could I travel with you Prabhupada”. Prabhupada said, ”Yes, you can”. Then Bhakti Swarupa Damodar said, “Wherever we go there are so many scientific minded people, I could organize some scientific preaching or some interview with you. Could I go with you”. Prabhupada said, ”Yes, you could go”. There was Bhakti Chaitanya, he was from Punjab, India, he was a sannyasi. He said, ”I am a good driver, Srila Prabhupada, Could I come”. Prabhupada said, ”Yes, you could come”. And then me too, I also in a humorous way, although I knew I had to go because a lot of discussion had taken place about the bus travelling and towards the end, could I come, could I come, this was at the end. I knew I had to go but still humorously I said, “Could I come, Srila Prabhupada”. Prabhupada said, ”You will be our leader”.

Then we got busy, we bought a big India map and we were deciding which route to take and where to get busses. Myself, Tamal Krishna Maharaja, Bhavananda and some others, we were putting our heads together and making plans. So travelling with the busses idea from the bullock cart idea, this was only 4-5 days before Prabhupada’s departure, on 14th he departed. So neither bullock card travelling nor bus travelling happened. Then, when we had to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance, the governing body commission (GBC) of ISKCON they were considering how we could celebrate. I think I was one of them to propose. Jayapataka Maharaja also proposed that let us have padayatra, bullock cart sankirtana party, let us start from Dwaraka and visit all the places of Chaitanya Maharprabhu’s pastimes in South India. And this way we will be celebrating Chaitanya Maharprabhu’s 500th anniversary as well as we will fulfill Prabhupada’s desire or you can call it the last will of Srila Prabhupada. He wanted to go on pilgrimage, so we will have Gaura Nitai in the chariot or in the cart and Srila Prabhupada also on the chariot, as if Srila Prabhupada is taking Gauranga all over India and sankirtana party in the front. So this was proposed and this was resolved, so this is what we did.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Maharaja these are the pictures. You can see yourself [display].

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yes, Yes. I think this is when we arrived in Orissa or Bengal, this may be Bengal because we passed through 8 states of India. And again this programme started on Radhastami, I was given instructions to do bullock cart preaching on Radhastami in 1976 and in 1984 Radhastami we started from Dwaraka and Jayapataka Maharaja and so many leaders were there. So this photo with Bhakti Charu Maharaja and Bhakti Raghav Maharaja, this is in Bengal.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Thank you so much for sharing. You know one session with you Maharaja will not be sufficient, will not be enough. Everybody if you want to know more about the pastimes, the conversations that Maharaja had with Srila Prabhupada then there are few books. There is a specific book which you can see in the corner, “In conversation with Srila Prabhupada.” I will put it on the top so that everyone can see it a bit clearer. You can get this in Amazon. As you were saying ‘Bombay is my office’, you can see that in the bottom corner as well and of course you have, The Mayapur Vrndavan Festivals. So there are all these festival books.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : You see this backdrop, this is the front and back cover of a book called Padayatra Worldwide, this is a book.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Very interesting. Is this book released, is it going to be released?

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yeah, this is a trailer, this is just the first volume, two more to come.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Fantastic. So if anybody wants to now get hold of the Padayatra Worldwide book or any other books, Amazon is the best way to connect for those books. What we can do is we can also send links to everybody, we will try getting them on different networks but please do check Amazon. There is Amazon India, Amazon UK, do check and type Padayatra Worldwide, you will find this book. Thank you Maharaja, also we will be talking hopefully, that we will specifically focus on our session at some points on the In Conversation with Srila Prabhupada, the book has so many memories on that and it will be a nice way to speak on that as well. Thank you Maharaja for sharing such intimate pastimes with Srila Prabhupada and going forward we know right now there is a lot of work that is happening with Padayatra. So if anybody wants to get involved please check out the website, www.lokanathswami.com/

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : We have parikramas, kartik parikrama, Vrndavan parikrama, Mayapur parikrama. Not only should they read, they should come out, walk, experience, have firsthand experience.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : So please everybody read and also action, these are the two points. Also right now we have got some other festivals going on, because of COVID we cannot get out but we are trying to do something. Our festival that is the world holy name festival, Maharaja which of course you are leading us in, so padayatra is one thing but also with the kirtana aspect and these festivals you are also leading. Can I just bring up the poster that I have got right now and I will just show it on the screen of the world holy name festival. Just wondering if you could just, please let us know the significance of this festival and how people can get involved.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : This is the 24th time we are doing this festival. We started in 1996 as a world holy name day and this is to commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America, you remember on 17th September, 1965 Prabhupada arrived in America and he arrived as ambassador of holy name. He gave the gift of the holy name to the world. So each year around 17th september as you could note this year also we are doing on 17th and goes on till 23. So from one day, holy name day then a few days and then gradually it is now a 7 days long festival. It is a global festival with lots of kirtanas. So this poster, the flyer you are seeing, everyday for 7 days from 4 to 5‘oclock we will have different presentations on the holy name. ISKCON’s sankirtana ministry’s different planning and strategies, how to spread the holy name, how to get ISKCON devotees involved and get them to propagate holy names.

So that is 4-5 and 5-6 we will have japa retreat. You know japa retreat, we would like that we reform, we do our chanting better, more attentively, so we have selected 7 best chanters and they are all leading leaders, Prabhupada disciples. So each day they will make a presentation, japa retreat interactive for 1 hour. Then 6-7, we have seven Bhagavatam classes, one day each and we have selected seven verses from Bhagavatam which glorify the holy name. So they’ll be Bhagavatam class given again by Ravindra Svarup Prabhu, Vaisesika Prabhu and you name it, all big names, big guns are going to be giving these Bhagavatam classes. Then 7-8 every day this is IST, Indian standard time you have to convert that into your time, your country’s time. 7-8 we have kirtans by Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Maharaja and there are so many Maharajas and Prabhus and even matajis are going to be singing for one hour. This will be globally broadcasted and then each day we’ll conclude in 8-9 session and we have picked up seven topics which again glorify the holy name and we have Jayapataka Maharaja and many other Maharaja like Anuttama Prabhu, Rukmani Mataji. Then there are special events, all day we’ll be doing a japathon. Devotees from around the world will be following in the footsteps of namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakur and chant, chant chant.

Then there’s one day 20th global connect, 24-hour kirtan in 24 zones, so that is scheduled. This is the day to do public chanting, go into the streets, go into the parks and there are many other events and we also have partnered with a fortunate team that is headed by Shaktavesh Avatar Prabhu. So that is also part of the campaign and we want you all to identify those prabhus or those fellow brothers, sisters, they had never ever chanted before or they did not even know what Hare Krsna maha-mantra is. Teach them and get them to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra one time and do the recording. Are you going to show something?

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Yes I’m going to show that right now.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Okay so like that, you will get to hear more about this festival.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : So i’ll bring this up now because since it’s one of the ways that people can get involved with the world holy name festival. It’s a short video only two minutes long, so I really request everyone to see it.

In Video message by Lokanath Swami Maharaja:
Dear devotees, Hare Krsna. Our ISKCON Harinam Sankirtana has partnered with ISKCON online to promote the campaign, fortunate people. I invite you to participate in this outreach campaign; the goal of this fortunate people is to bring love and peace to the whole world. Because real love is love of godhead and once you have love of godhead then you become peaceful. Mahaprabhu brought the holy name. It is simple, open the whatsapp link below, say your name and location, say this chant is dedicated for love and peace. Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare one time. Click send, all these instructions are given below. Your chanting will become part of the united offering to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Encourage the people around the world to become fortunate, start with yourself and become familiar with how it works and look around for those who do not chant. Encourage others to do this and also become fortunate. Maybe some of your family members are not chanting, maybe some colleagues in your office are not chanting, make yourself fortunate and then make others fortunate also.
Click the link and send your video today.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Wow, so this is the actual link. Thank you so much for that Maharaja that video is so enlivening. You could see right now we’ve a short version of the link www.bit.ly/chantnow ,if you put that into your browser or on your mobile device it will take you to the actual whatsapp number that is connected where you will be given instructions of what to do next. Really we request all of you to check this out, I can see we’ve had over 200 people on live, so if all of you can also spread this message that’ll be really appreciated. Become part of this world holy name festivals and let’s break some records.

So Maharaja, thank you so much, you’ve been an absolute inspiration to all of us and I know that we’ll be speaking to you more often with your blessings. Is there any final message before we unfortunately have to close, is there any final message that you would like to give to the viewers right now.

Lokanath Swami Maharaja : Yeah, the world holy name festival is just around the corner, we just mentioned that to you. So you all get ready, prepare, spread the word around and be a part of it and make the unfortunate world fortunate by you chanting and getting others to chant also.

Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa : Thank you so much Maharaja, thank you everybody for joining and finally please do click the link www.bit.ly/chantnow and please make the world fortunate as Maharaja said. So Hare Krsna and thank you Maharaja for all your time and we really appreciate you sharing these Prabhupada memoirs with us. Hare Krsna.

Krishna’s nama, rupa, guna, lila, dham
Radhadesh, Belgium
July 3, 1997

Are you all attracted to Krishna? Basically we are a soul and all the souls are Prakrti, female, women- they’re all female in relationship to the only one Purusha. You know that story of Mirabai? She wanted to meet Jiva Goswami and Jiva Goswami said ‘Oh I don’t meet any women, ladies I don’t meet.’ So Mirabai’s response was ‘Oh what is this? I thought there was only one male in Vrndavan and that is Krishna. So this Jiva Goswami is also thinking I’m a Purusha, I’m a man, I’m a male- I don’t meet any woman.’ So only Krishna is Purusha and everyone else is attracted to him.

He is all worship-able, all opulent and all honourable. He is the Supreme controller. And with this we can try to establish the supremacy of Krishna. Krishna has sixty four qualities. All the Siva-bhaktas you can also tell them. Okay fifty qualities in living entities. Living entities possess them in minute quantities- this is our achintya bheda abheda tattva.

yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana
sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah

If you are a devotee of Krishna, what kind of devotee?

yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana

Akinchana, niskinchana- Not attracted by anything or doesn’t care for possessions, his only possession is Krishna or Krishna consciousness. Those devotees in them you will find these fifty qualities in minute quantity. Or potentially all these souls have these qualities, we do not go around looking for these qualities. Do we go to buy some of these qualities? No they are in us and by chanting and the whole process of Krishna consciousness we revive these qualities, so as soon as all the dirt is off, cleansing is done then all the fifty qualities are found in living entities.

Brahma and Siva have five more and Narayana is yet higher and also in Vaikuntha even higher and Krishna has additional four qualities which are not even found in Narayana. This is again the difference between Vishnu or Narayana and Krishna, our congregational Hindus, they do not understand this, they try to equalize- well they try to put Siva also on the platform of Krishna and they have no problem of course to put Narayan and Vishnu on the same platform as Krishna but we know the difference.
This difference you know as you learn the science, this is called the science of God- This book is described as the science of bhakti yoga or the science of god so those who are not spiritual scientists they do not know the spiritual hierarchy that Narayan is superior to Siva and Brahma and Krishna is superior to Narayan. So with this chart of the gunas, if you ever had an opportunity you could use this argument or this explanation to probe Krishna’s-

Krishna says mattah parataram nanyat, this is also remaining so I just wanted to briefly highlight these four qualities found only in Krishna and they are Prema Madhurya, these terms are used, these are sanskrit terms from Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu -this we have an English translation here, but there Rupa Goswami, when he wrote four qualities he said Krishna has,

1.Prema madhurya as the additional quality.
2. Lila madhurya
3. Venu madhurya
4. Rupa madhurya.

No-one comes near Krishna, anywhere near Krishna when you talk of Prema, love if God. No god loves you as much as Krishna does, He has love and affection for His devotees and that Krishna when He appears as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu He even becomes more lovely and sweet. And lila madhurya, of all Krishna’s pastimes, it is said here especially childhood pastimes are very sweet. God becoming this little baby, this is not ordinary and of course all His pastimes are so enchanting. Madhurya lila that is also considered to all Gaudiya vaishnavas sugarcane juice that you boil down then it becomes from molasses to sugar to sugar candy and then you add some camphor to that and it becomes extraordinarily sweet.

So these are Madhurya lila pastimes which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to experience as he was trying to experience Radharani’s mood. These pastimes are excellent but there’s no parallel, there’s so many incarnations but no-one could perform pastimes as Krishna does. Also Krishna’s pastimes in Mathura are not as sweet as His Vrndavan pastimes and as soon as Krishna goes to Dwaraka He becomes already less attractive, less appealing and even Krishna is very anxious to back to Vrndavan in fact.

He’s not happy in Mathura, He’s not happy in Dwaraka, one time as He was studying with Sandipani Muni in central India, this is where He learnt the sixty four arts, He was with Balaram and Sudama also was there. You know Krishna was remembering Vrndavan all the time and He was remembering all those pastimes He had with His parents, the cowherd boys and especially with the gopis! And every night he used to go out rasa dancing and when that time would come and it was not possible (for him to go) it used to become very difficult for Him to go to sleep.

He was in Brahamacari ashram staying with other Brahmacaris, Sudama Brahmacari, Balaram Brahmacari like that and when He used to have a hard time sleeping He used to wake up Balaram and tell Balaram and Balaram used to take notice ‘look He’s not sleeping’ and Krishna used to … ‘How could I sleep? I’m thinking of gopis.’

What do you think Balaram’s response used to be? ‘No, no, no – you are Brahmacari! Thinking of young girls of Vrndavan, how could you do such a thing? You are Brahmacari, you are in ashram now, Brahmacari ashram!’ So while He was awake He was attracted to His Vrindavan. Even he’s attracted- there’s also statement in nectar of devotion that the Lord is attracted to His own form, the rupa that we’re talking about, it is so appealing, so beautiful- well that was yesterday’s topic but Lord is attracted to His own form.

So that’s Krishna in Vrndavan, especially His love for His devotees, His lilas and His flute playing, we talked about this yesterday. The cows and then there are trees called Kadamba trees in Vamsi vata, there’s some trees in Vrndavan and Krishna has to climb up these trees to play his flute then all the cows are coming and they all come and sit, listening to Krishna’s flute playing and chewing the grass. They only gobble up in the beginning then they listen to some music, Krishna’s playing music and they are chewing the grass.

So this flute playing is enjoyed even by the cows of Vrndavana and also Jamuna gets bewildered as she listens to the flute playing of Krishna. She stops flowing sometimes just to listen to – when she is in rapt attention she’s not moving and the otherwise moving Jamuna stops or she goes in ecstasy and whirls round and round. Sometimes she goes reverse and flows in the other direction, all by the flute playing of Krishna.

Finally Rupa madhurya, we talked about that yesterday, it was the whole topic, Krishna’s beauty is not skin deep. Our beauty is- how deep is our beauty, what is the depth of our beauty? As deep as the skin. You just scratch this, take the skin off the most beautiful person that you know. You could imagine- you don’t have to do real thing, you only have to take the skin off and you’ll only be scared to be in presence of that person.

So all this skin disease, attachment to the skin which is a bag containing other nasty things, but Krishna’s beauty is not like that- superficial. So that is Rupa madhurya. So by these qualities Vishnu or Narayan become Krishna and then He’s Narayan, like that. So this International society for Krishna Consciousness as we say, that means our stress is on this especially. Prema pumartho mahan, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s followers. Not just Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha but Prema- love of godhead. So this quality again kind of stands out, prema, love of God, love for the Lord, love of godhead.

Already lamentation is there like in Vrajamandal when you feel ‘oh I wish there was another months parikrama’ and only one more day to go and you don’t feel very good like when finishing rounds and when you’re finishing you wished they never finished. Hare Krishna.

Next day
sri krishna chaitanya?prabhu nityananda?sri advaita, gadadhara?srivasadi gaura bhakta vrinda

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

So welcome to fourth day of our seminar on the topic of Krishna’s lila, pastimes of Krishna. We are making some progress from naam to rupa to guna to lila. These are getting more complex now as we get to lila Because we will not be dealing with Krishna alone and it cannot be lila if Krishna is just by himself so different personalities will be interacting with Krishna in different varieties of relationships and Krishna will be also- as he grows in age he is interacting with more and more persons and making his lila even more pleasing for himself to begin with and then those who he is dealing with, they also find immense pleasure.

Not only those but those who hear about this like ourselves also would be finding pleasure just by hearing about these pastimes. For all these pastimes a place is required so dham also comes into the picture. This is tomorrow’s topic so we can’t separate dham from the lila, we cannot separate other persons from the lila or from lila of the Lord and our connection is that we are able to read and hear about these pastimes.

And of course the result is that we become qualified to enter these pastimes one day, one of these days. I’m just making introduction to a little exhibition here and we will talk of the asta kaliya lila of the Lord. The kaliya here has nothing to do with kaliya snake, what this has to do is with kaal. Kaal means time, period and asta means eight. You could see one period here and two, three, four and five, six, seven, eight. So eight periods, the day has been divided into eight, not equal size.

Some parts of the day and the night are larger than the rest so we will talk of asta kaliya lila of the Lord. In other words scheduling of Lord Krishna’s day if you want to find him or where you would find him in the different times or in the nights and those times. Knowing God also means that you can also tell what is your God doing right now or if you want to contact him where would you find him? If it is dusk time where would you find him? Or if it is midday where to go find him? That’s knowing god, Prabhupada said that we can give complete address including telephone number of god and also whereabouts of god at all different times, so this is getting to know God more.

Knowing his name is something but you need to know his form – how he looks like and this is knowing him more and to know his qualities, that is getting to know him more and his activities, his friends and parents and the diet, this is getting to know a lot of things but many more things. As we said for the performance of the pastimes you need a dham, we have a Vrajamandal here. Giri Govardhan ki jai! Radha kunda ki jai! This is now.. This is European time (laughter). In Vrindavan it’s another time.

And then we have Krishna with the cows and then we have santa rasa. We have Sakhya rasa here and Vatsalya rasa. Santa, Vatsalya, order is- I’m not saying in right order. Sakhya and Madhurya and there’s some Dasya, not much in Vraja. In Mathura you will find some servants and lots of servants in Dwaraka. In Vrindavana he is one amongst many, he doesn’t become anything distinguished. Everyone is running after him to..

So they all serve him but not as his servants, they serve him as his parents or they serve him as his friends or something like that. So this is a big topic, lila is a big topic and we have forty five minutes more to talk about and let’s see after I am finished with the talk you may also feel inspired to talk about Krishna as you did yesterday. Little bit you talked about Krishna’s form, name and qualities. So not that much but if we could do a few minutes join in groups of two- not twenty, and say something to your next door neighbour about Krishna.

We couldn’t have a thousand discussions like that going like Sahasra vadan Ananta Sesa, we could have twenty groups- very pleasing, we could take charge of this room with Krishnas pastimes and drive all illusion out of at least this room then we could go out and get rid of illusion out from wherever we go, become capable of doing. All right so, I can stand right? Not for dancing. Can you see this? Before we talk of the pastimes let’s make ourselves familiar with- these are the twelve forests of Vrindavan.

Of course he was born with his clothes on, no tailor from Loi Bazaar stitched some
clothes. So there are some differences, when he appeared in Mathura he appeared with four hands and by seeing this Vasudeva and Devaki were really scared. ‘If Kamsa see’s him with four arms he’s going to be convinced that god has appeared!’ So they requested ‘please drop these two hands, there are too many hands.’ So Lord obliged and he manifested two hands. So that baby was taken across and so he is in Gokul and that baby was gradually- and of course when he was six days old, who comes first? Putana comes and he was three months old and Shaktasura comes and he was one year old and Trinavarta demon comes.

And like that there’s a whole queue all demons and they’re all waiting to be killed. But he’s spending time predominantly with his parents, so Gokul lila is Vatsalya lila. This is time for Yashoda and Nanda Maharaj to get a lot of association of Krishna. Then as he is crawling and first time he struggled to stand with the help
of some chair or some furniture and the first steps, he’s falling and then ‘okay get my shoes’ then Krishna is helping, he’s carrying the shoes.

I mean carrying the shoes is a big thing, there’s a big load on his head and he’s hardly managing carrying the shoes of his father and then he’s managing so he’s smiling and enjoying. So now he’s a little bigger and he not only walks but can run also. So now he goes door to door and now he meets some friends. Towards the end of the gokul lila from Vatsalya he’s entering into the friendship but now he’s leaving most of the pastimes in Gokula. They’re basically in Nanda Bhavan indoor, in Nanda’s palace.

And he has a huge courtyard and this whole set up is in the bank of Jamuna and eating dirt ‘open your mouth’ and there’s Gokuka right there and Raman Ghat here and then he’s going in Gokul and playing with his friends in the courtyard and stealing butter with the friends, this is one of the favourite pastimes of Krishna. So this goes on and then finally this is damodara lila. You know the whole damodara lila where Yashoda is running after him and then he’s tied to a mortar, Krishna and mortar, both are getting punished we metioned. Because the mortar had helped Krishna to reach the butter which was hanging from the ceiling. So it is the fault also of the mortar so both parties are being punished and that is why both are being tied and then Krishna pulls that mortar outside through the back door and into the courtyard.

The trees are standing and Krishna passes not through but this is too big, this mortar and Krishna is doing this, pulling and pushing trying to get this mortar also to his side but in this process the trees collapse and then a big bang and dust storm and everyone’s scared and then they reach the spot and then the conclusion was ‘we cant stay any longer here, we must get out of here.’

So Upananda who is the Brother of Nanda Maharaj he proposed as all this time he had been going all over Vrindavana because he was in anxiety and he was trying to identify a safer location and from his homework or inspections of the different regions of the different Vrindavan forests his proposal that ‘now we have to get out of here and cross Jamuna’ so that is what they do. Anyway, long -so many detailed pastimes are there, so they cross, everybody -they leave everything behind and they cross Jamuna.

Do you see Chatikara, right here this black spot, this is Chatikara. this is Vrindavan, Krishna Balaram temple and this is Chatikara and in fact they had loaded their belongings into the carts and they had travelled like that and spent the night on the same bank and then they crossed. They had parked their carts – and this is Govardhan. Govardhan and Jamuna, this whole area was filled with the carts so this is Shaktavartha. The other name is Shaktavartha. shakat means cart and in fact the carts were acting as a fence- Shakta means the circle of carts, and all the residents they stayed there for several years.

You see this Basanti, even Radharani’s family they stayed here in Basanti, according to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati’s Vraja Mandal Parikrama diary. Okay so what happens here as Krishna comes- now he has come to Vrindavan, this is Vrindavan- Vrindavan forest and this whole thing is Vrindavan we call. Of the twelve forests one forest is Vrindavan forest so he is anxious to go on some outdoor activities, he doesn’t want to just stay in the house all the time and with the mother only all the time.

So this is where Krishna’s pastime of herding the calves- you know, little cows, calves, and Krishna becomes Vatsapal. Because he is small size only four years old so he cannot handle big cows so he is given calves to handle. And he is told ‘dont go far with the calves, go some nearby forests and also come back early- dont stay out there till late in the evening.’

Like this instructions and Nanda Maharaj and Yashoda they even walk with Krishna and Balaram and their friends through the village and they are trying how to train how to tend to the calves and they are carrying the ropes and little stick also. So they go on taking care of the calves, this happens for several years and in meantime there’s some trouble.

You see the cows are not happy, the little calves are happy but the cows are not happy because they are not getting association of Krishna and Krishna has also grown up so then in Kartik every year there’s a festival called ‘gopastami’ on that day Krishna is promoted, he is no more Vatsapal but he is promoted as Gopal. He is now taking care of the cows, he is now cowherd boy full fledged. So during all this time he is still with, well in the morning he is still with his parents, his friends, boyfriends but as he is growing he is going to be coming across another party and that is the cowherd girls.

Okay so from Gokul they had gone to this region and Krishna was going first with the little calves some distance and with the cows he was going all over herding the cows so Krishna is here three years four months and then they shift to Nandagram and this is where Krishna and the whole family shift, this was just a temporary situation and once this part was located they all shift there and Varsana, this is where Vrishabhanu and Radharani reside here.

You see the place called Sanket? Can you see? So this is a meeting place, this is one of the first meeting places of Radha and Krishna. krishna is in Vrindavana and Radharani is staying here in Varsana and they meet here and gradually they keep meeting and then they keep meeting in different forests of Vrindavan and whole Madhurya lila is into place. So like this as Krishna goes from Bala and then Pauganda then Kishore. He’s going through first Vatsalya then Sakhya, the cows are there, Santa rasa is on going and then this is the whole Madhurya lila so this is one presentation.

So talking in the context of the Asta Kaliya little more detailed and systematic description of how when Krishna is – now he is in Nandagram. We are talking about how he is Nandagram, Radharani is in Varsana and he is – according to Vishvanath Chakravarti, Krishna was ten years when he comes back to Mathura with Akrura. From Nandagram Akrura brings Krishna and Balaram back to Mathura. So that means three years four months in Gokul, three years four
months in this Shaktavartha and three years four months in Nandagram.

So when Krishna is here this is when we could talk of Asta kaliya lila because now Krishna he has Santa, Dasya, Vatsalya, Sakhya, Madhurya – all lilas. He is in full bloom, he’s not just a kid on the lap of mother or he’s not just playing with some cowherd boys. He’s matured now and he’s got some girlfriends and he’s full, complete person and that’s when we could talk of his Asta Kaliya. Because while here at midnight, Krishna is doing his rasa dance so this is not there while Krishna is a minor, just a little boy a baby, he’s not rasa dancing and like that so..

As Madhurya lila is in place then all his twenty four hours are full. Okay so let us see where to start this – Pastimes at the end of the night. Well part of this is the day and some part of the night is also there but most of this is the day. This part is not night, it’s leading to the night, preparing for night here, so what Is happening, how are they preparing let’s go briefly. Somewhere Krishna is getting ready to return. He is with the cowherd boys all day and they re looking at their watches or seeing the movement of the sun and it is going down so they are having pastime in the forest, gathering all the cows.

Krishna is playing on his flute and also gathering different cows, Krishna knows each cow has a name, not impersonal. ‘Oh you all cows’ no- he knows the name and characteristics of each cow, the likes and dislikes of each cow, he knows their moods. So cows also- so Krishna is associating here with the cowherd boys and the cows. The cows are not only enjoying the grazing of the grass but they are enjoying Krishna’s association. This is what they enjoy more than anything else.

So they are all coming back now, they are all returning to Nandagram okay? So Nanda and Yashoda receive them and they are all anxious ‘oh when are Krishna and Balaram going to come?’ They just see – there’s a cloud of dust and when they see the cloud of dust what does that mean? Dust because of what? The cows- as the cows walk you know the Braja Raj, the dust in Vrindavana is very very
fine particle, as soon as you put foot there’s a whole thing that rises and covers your body and face and makes you look more beautiful.

So here Krishna is returning with how many cowherd boys and how many cows? Unlimited. And they’re all walking and as they walk there’s a whole- from the hooves of the cows and as the boys walk there’s a white dust that is forming a cloud and from a distance, long distance that could be seen. So this is how Nanda and Yashoda know, ‘yes, yes, yes he’s here! He’s getting very close.’ And as mother Yashoda is measuring ‘oh now he only must be four miles and now only two miles!’

And she begins giving orders to – ‘is hot water ready? What about the clothes, are they pressed?’ She’s kind of like the temple commander, making sure that when he comes there’s a garland and the whole thing has to be- there’s a whole grand reception as Krishna is returning. Nanda and Yashoda and they all drop all their assignments and in mean time while gopis had also spent some time with Krishna, they also return and they are also standing on the rooftops and the balconies.

They know which way Krishna is going to be returning, just to have a glance, a little glance at him. And if you could also have little side glances going – Nayanera kone.’ There’s Nayan and there’s kone, so they could see. They are very anxious to get some glances. So here he comes and you see the dust and so you could read the timings, six to eight twenty four- this is Sandhya Kaal, dusk. As Krishna returns, whole bathing, shower, change of clothes, all this takes place including taking the dinner all that happens during this period and then late in the evening when things are more relaxed, this is entertainment time.

There’s a whole auditorium and every night there are different performances -some musical performances, dancing, some jokes and whatever would be pleasing to Krishna according to his mood, Nanda Maharaj brings him holding his little finger, ‘yes come come.’ He’s made to sit and everyone else also has come, more to see Krishna than to see the performance and so Nanda Maharaj brings him back and mother Yashoda takes charge of Krishna and now’s the time to sleep.

So his bed is ready and before he sleeps, is put to rest, what does he have to do? Drink some hot milk and then mother Yashoda has to spend a lot of time in fact, he doesn’t just drink, he takes a little and then he’s refusing, ‘no no I am full, I don’t want’ and mother Yashoda is concerned and is trying to persuade him, ‘okay I can tell you a story.’

‘Okay then I can drink.’ And then she begins telling a story. ‘Once upon a time there was a king called Rama! And he had a consort called Sita and one time what happened? One demon came as they were residing in the forest and he stole Sita.’ And as Krishna heard this he jumped out of his bed as he was lying on his bed trying to drink the milk and he was furious screaming ‘yes! Where is Ravana?!’ And he wants to find him and wants to kill him.

As he hears his pastimes while he was Rama, he’s into the mood of Rama and he’s- ‘wheres that Ravana?!’ Okay finally she manages- glass of milk is finished, he’s finally asleep, he’s put to rest and then she- lights are off and she goes also to go take rest. So as everyone else is now fast asleep then making sure that everyone is sleeping, only few dogs are barking somewhere and he closes door from behind or he’s out from window or somewhere.

And then he’s playing his flute and in one of these forests whenever he wishes to have his pastimes that night there are very famous spots, very famous rasa dance pastimes places of Krishna all over Vraja so he chooses to be in Bhandirvan here or even Manasarovar, this is one of the very large rasa dance area. Also here is Varsana, between Varsana and Kamavana- even in Kamavana there are many rasa dance places. Famous one is here also, Unchagaon, the other side of Unchagaon, so Krishna goes here and he plays his flute.

They are hearing his playing flute all over, wherever the gopis are, they are hearing his flute. He is playing flute here and then they all rush, everyone is rushing to that spot. So then they are there with Krishna for a long period of time you could see this is the longest period, almost twice as long. So this is where Radha Madhava kunja bihari, gopi jana vallabha girivara dhari (maharaj sings). So kunja bihari, all these kunjas, these are kunjas all the forested gardens and radha madhava, various pastimes, just taking a stroll, taking a walk around and enjoying the beauty of the forests.

The forests which have been maintained by Vrinda devi herself, this is the service of Vrinda devi, she has a big chunk of service. Preparing for Krishna’s pastimes and preparing scenes and sets and platforms and including making sure that all these nice trees are planted and making sure different kinds of birds are there at different times singing different kinds of songs. cuckoo is there, peacock is there. She also has her messenger birds, they bring messages and some spying also goes on. The highlight of these midnight pastimes is of course, what? Rasa dance! There’s nothing as divine, as exalted as rasa dance pastimes and when they dance, gopis dance, they also make Krishna dance.

One gopi one Krishna going in one circle, that happens or sometimes all the gopis just make a circle and say ‘Krishna you now, it’s your turn.’ Like in our kirtans, okay now you Sacinandan Maharaj and he’s going round and round – who’s doing like that? Prahladananda Maharaj and Trivrikram Maharaj, so we do the swami step. So we – gopis do these simple steps and gopis dance and when Krishna dances he is a Natavara. And when the dancing goes on it is all accompanied by the music which is best, excellent music.

All the gopis, many gopis on the side there playing vinas and mrdangas and kartals and all sorts of instruments and all different tunes and all different songs and glories of Krishna they’re singing and while all this is happening in the middle of the night there’s a moon. Although there is a – it is said that every night is a full moon night because even when he’s a half moon he becomes a full moon just by seeing the ecstatic things happening he just begins smiling and he becomes regular moon.

Okay so this happens and they just begin dancing, they’re tired and they enter Jamuna and this gives relief because the dancing is causing fatigue and dust all over their bodies so middle of the night they enter the river and are bathing and then they come back. By this time the gopis prepare some fruits for the divine couple to eat and then it’s time for a nap. This is towards the end of the midnight pastimes so around here say they are going to take a nap and the bed is prepared, a flower bed and there some tree will grow.

The divine couple is lying there but they have to get up before this time is up, after midnight is what? Okay end of the night so this is night there so before this period is over- okay this is wake up so where should Krishna be? He shouldn’t be lying in the bed, he should be in Nandagram and Radharani should be where? In Varsana. So some rest and some naps, they don’t sleep for ten hours there.

So Vrinda devi, Vrinda devi is making arrangements so Krishna and Radha they wake up, there’s no alarm clock they use or they dont throw a bucket of water. What arrangements she makes is she gets birds to come and then they’re all on the trees and the branches and they begin singing and chirping and so when Radha and Krishna they hear the sweet songs, the sounds of singing birds they get up (Maharaj clicks fingers).

And then they realise ‘hey we are still here’ (laughter). And then one monkey also comes, old monkey and that monkey also has some role, some message and then quickly they get out of their beds and they are here and this is all waking up and all that – it takes place here, bathing, new dresses are prepared and then sunrise is there and by that time the cowherd boys are very, very anxious.

They have been missing Krishna and when they returned in the afternoon they were with Krishna after that time- maybe some had association, a little bit. They might have even also come for the evening program. But most of them – well they also come from different villages so all of them were not with Krishna all this time. All this time- a lot of time so during this period they’re all arriving and they are knocking on the door and through the holes of the door they are seeing ‘what is he doing? Hey look through the door.’ They are showing all the boys also.

So they spend some time here milking of the cows also, Krishna does some milking of the cows and they all sit down and take breakfast and then its time to go. They go into the forest herding cows and playing, they play so many games and demons come and few demons are killed and then Krishna realises ‘oh no, no, no this is – Radharani must be waiting for me.’ While he’s playing with the boys he remembers so somehow he’s so expert so he disappears from the scene, expertly sneaks out.

So midday, especially he spends his time at Radha kunda, midday pastimes you’ll find Krishna meetings at Kusum Sarovar which is near Radha kunda and this is where gopis are also picking up flowers and garland making, all these preparations are going on. We are talking of Krishna whole amount but Radharani movements are also there – she’s at different places at different times and sometimes she is with Krishna, here also with Krishna, midnight also with Krishna and midday also with Krishna. And she also comes early morning hours to prepare a breakfast for Krishna and she also comes late afternoon, towards evening here to Nandagram to prepare dinner for Krishna.

She doesn’t stay very far from m Nandagram, Nandagram is here- are you seeing these points, the ones I point out, yes? This is Yavat, so she was married to Abhimanya and Jatila and Kutila the mother-in-law and sister-in-law, so very close and especially Yashoda makes sure that Radharani does come and cook for Krishna. Because Radharani had a special benediction that anyone who eats her cooking, he will never get sick, and of course such delicious cooking.

So Yashoda would always insist that Radharani comes and cook for Krishna so Radharani’s also here cooking so cooking going on here and then all these midday pastimes, different kunjas are there of all the asta- sakhis and they could have the experience of all the six seasons, every two months there’s different season. Different gardens are with different seasons, as Krishna walks from one grove of one sakhi, as he goes from Lalita’s to Vishakha’s garden, there’s summer there. From Vishakha he goes to Champakalata’s place there’s rainy season and then he goes to Indulekha’s place and there is autumn there.

So Krishna within this period he could enjoy periods but the seasons are again different environments for different pastimes. In rainy season you could a have one kind of pastime in summer you could have another one and like that. So it is not all stereotyped, everyday doing the same thing, it is ever changing, everyday becomes a different pastime, a different set up. And then Radharani she returns, she also goes on the surya puja- Radharani is doing surya puja, this is just giving them opportunity to meet and for Puja you need a priest and then there comes a priest and who is that priest? Krishna.

And then Jatila and Kutila they come looking for – ‘let’s see, where is our daughter-in-law today?’ And so like this briefly this asta kaliya lila explains and you could see what Braja vasi’s are going through and they are going through basically two types of emotions. There’s a union and separation, separation and union all the time. Mother Yashoda, when Krishna is ready to go into the forest with the cowherd boys, she is anxious to let Krishna go, she is always finding some excuse or another to keep Krishna a little longer, ‘hey hey lunch packet just now coming, few minutes only.’ And ‘come here, come here, this is not fixed, oh your hair. Come here, come here.’ He’s ready and he’s trying to go out and ‘come here come here.’

She’s trying to keep him as long as he could stay at home, she would rather not let him go into the forest at all but the cowherd boys – ‘hey come on! Let’s go, we are here for so many hours, you are in maya, you’re attached to your mother, let’s go!’ And they’re trying to drag him out so the cowherd boys are trying to drag him out and mother Yashoda is trying to keep him at home and the same thing again. The cowherd boys want him to stay with them longer but he’s thinking of other pastimes and then they want to keep him.

As Krishna is with the gopis and Radharani they want to keep him there and they wish that midday would never end, ‘why is this midday pastime coming to an end? Why should there be afternoon, why not just midday all the time?’ And they are suffering.

Kartika Mahatmya
Online class for ISKCON New York
29th November 2020

Welcome, all the assembled devotees from different conferences. I thank ISKCON New York, Radha Govinda Deva ki, jai! This is their arrangement. They have ordered me to say a few words on the occasion of the last day of kartika. For you, New Yorkers, and devotees in the west, in America, it is last day. But for us, tomorrow is the last day.

Kartika is a very special month. ISKCON devotees, vaishnavas, they love this month. It is called as Kartika mass. It is also known as Damodara vrata, Urjja vrata. We follow this vrata. Radharani is worshipped during this month.

Rupa Goswami has strongly recommended that we observe this Kartika vrata, preferably go to Vrndavana and do Vrndavana vasa or Vraja vasa during this month of Kartika. And I know Srila Prabhupada did that in 1972 during Kartika. Srila Prabhupada was in the middle of his world tour but he dropped that and rushed to Vrndavana to be there during month of Kartika.

Fortunately, I also was there with Srila Prabhupada in 1972 during the month of Kartika and we stayed because Srila Prabhupada stayed. Of course, we did not stay at Radha Damodara, Srila Prabhupada stayed at Radha Damodara temple during month of Damodara. We had lots of associations, tones of associations with Srila Prabhupada during that month of Kartika.

Prabhupada did lots of sravanam, kirtanam. While he was doing kirtana, we were doing sravana. He was talking from Bhagavatam in the morning and Nectar of Devotion was the topic in the evening and kirtan during the day. We were celebrating festivals throughout this month of Kartika. Later on, I started Vraja Mandal Parikrama and I had been having the opportunity to be in Vrndavana during the entire month of Kartika – 33 times, 33 years.

I thought we would just remember different festivals in this month of Kartika, revisit them, talking a little bit about them or reminding ourselves of those festivals; reviving our memories or review and revise; contemplate; do manana or cintana of those festivals so that they remain fresh in our memories; we do not forget or we stay high forever by remembering different festivals in month of Kartika. This month is famous for these festivals or festivities.

We do not have much time, so, we start. The month begins with Sharada Purnima.

Sri -badarayanir uvaca
bhagavan api ta ratrih
saradotphulla-mallikah
viksya rantum manas cakre
yoga-mayam upasritah [SB 10.29.1]

This is how Sukadeva Goswami begins describing this Sharada purnima, Rasa purnima and he has described this rasa of that Sharad Purnima night in 5 chapters of tenth canto. Describing Rasa dance which, finally, began. Many things happened prior to that, so we cannot go through all that.

Rasa dance means full of rasa. This festival is full of madhurya rasa or dominated by madhurya rasa. Some festivals are full of sakhya rasa, some are full of vatsalya rasa in the month of Damodara. The pastimes of Damodara or why He became known as Damodara. He was bound by Yasoda to the mortar, that is vatsalya rasa. During this month, some festivals are madhurya rasa mahotsava and sakhya rasa mahotsava and vatsalya rasa mahotsava.

Gopastami, we will be talking a little later on towards the end, that is sakhya rasa, friendship. This whole month is full of rasa, nectarian month. We could hear the pastimes of Sri Krsna in this and that rasas. So, it begins with madhurya rasa in Sharad Purnima. We read this and Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Book also because there is the 10 canto, these 5 chapters. That day we try to read and remember and recite.

Sharad purnima night festival and Lord with millions of gopis “vadhu varga,” the damsels of Vraja.

laksmi sahastra sata sambhrama seva manyam

“sahastra sata,” hundreds and thousands of them dancing in the Rasa dance. Rasa dance was about to begin but then Krsna disappeared along with Radharani and then gopis were looking for Krsna everywhere. This is described in the five chapters. Finally, they only ended up finding Radharani. Then Radharani and the gopis go back to the banks Yamuna.

“Oh, we lost Krsna! But we did not lose Him in the forest. Let us try to find Him. We lost Him in the banks of Yamuna.” So, they go back on the banks of Yamuna and that is where they sing a song called Gopi Geet. As they are chanting, remembering the Lord of their hearts, He appears in the middle of them. Gradually, the rasa dance begins, full of rasa. They are all enjoying rasa dance and that night became longest night, Bramha night and they went on and on with the rasa dance night.

So, Kartika festival begins with Sri Krsna Rasa yatra which is a Purnima. Kartika begins with a Purnima, full moon night, and Kartika ends with another Purnima with rasa dance. In fact, in Vrndavana, there is a talk of rasa dance, every night there is rasa dance night.

Moving on, because we have very limited time. Then we have a very major festival in month of Damodar. There is Bahulasthami, the appearance day or we would like to call the appearance night of Radha Kunda. Radha Kunda appeared in the middle of the night on the Bahulastami day. Astami, that is eighth day or night, beginning from Purnima. That night also rasa dance was about to begin and gopis have started assembling, of course, Krsna had already playing His flute. Message had gone to gopis,

“Yes, tonight rasa dance here, in Vrndavana, on the banks of Radha kunda.” They all had started arriving but then Aristasura, the bull demon, arrived in the scene creating havoc, total disturbance. Everyone was scared and running hither and thither. So, Lord had to take care of this demon. He killed Aristasura. Haribol! Demigods, of course, had come and showered flowers upon the Lord and chanted His glories and Apsaras had danced and Gandharvas had done their beautiful singing and drums beatings. All that happen whenever Lord kills demons. Aristasura was killed and demigods had celebration.

Rasa dance were expected to begin and then the gopis and Radharani refused to.

“Well, stay away, stay away! You are a sinner! You have killed the bull!”

This whole dialogue we cannot get into the details of all this.

“Now, You have to take bath in all the holy places, rivers, kundas. Then we will consider being with You and dancing with you.”

So, Lord did not have to go anywhere. All the rivers and holy kundas had appeared and Shyama Kunda ki, jai! So, Lord took a holy dip.

“Okay, I am ready.” But then Lord said, “no. You are. You are sinners! You accused me so now You have to take bath in holy rivers and places.”

The gopis were endeavoring, they did create a kunda but no water. Finally, at middle of the night on Bahulasthami, Krsna proposed and the gopis and Radharani did not oppose.

“Okay, sacred waters are here in Shyama Kunda. Let them enter into Radha Kunda.”

So, that is what happened right in the middle of the night, at sharp midnight, waters of Shyama Kunda entered Radha Kunda. This way that midnight became the appearance night of Radha Kunda.

Radha Kunda – Shyama Kunda ki, jai!

Lord had declared,

“Your kunda will become more popular, known, famous and Your kunda is also dear to Me as You are dear to Me ”

That was Bahulasthami and appearance of Radha Kunda. Now, we could only talk of some of the festivals, not all the festivals. Some main festivals or some highlights of those festivals.

Then the middle of the month is Amavasya, no moon day or new moon day, which is celebrated as Deepavali. Jai Sri Rama! Rama had appeared or returned to Ayodhya in Treta Yuga. It was also month of Kartika in Treta Yuga. And Ayodhya was all lit besides so many other things, decorations, festivals too. Grand reception of Sri Rama and Lakshmana and Sita was taking place and they had literally lit Ayodhya with so many lamps. The darkness was over. Rama was here and He brought the light and delight to Ayodhya and Ayodhya vasis on Deepavali day, during month of Kartika.

On the same day, in Vrndavana, 5000 years ago, or we should say in Gokula Vrndavana, when Krsna was 3 years and 8 months old, He did stealing of butter at home. That day, Yasoda was trying to churn butter herself.

ekada grha-dasisu
yasoda nanda-gehini
karmantara-niyuktasu
nirmamantha svayam dadhi [SB 10.9.1]

“ekada,” once upon a time, Sukadeva Goswami says. So, that was day of Dipavali. Yasoda was “svayam,” herself started churning the butter and Krsna had every reason to break that pot. We are not saying everything.

Yasoda was thinking, “Maybe, maybe, butter churned and fed to Krsna at home, Nanda Bhavana, is not of good quality. Probably, that is why he goes door to door finding better quality of butter. So, let me churn the butter myself.” Yasoda had done it but Krsna had spoiled the whole thing. He was hungry. As early morning as soon as children get up,

Although, He is supposed to be “atmarama,” self satisfied, but Sukadeva Goswami says that morning Lord had the desire of drinking the breasts milk of Yasoda. He had just started drinking but then Yasoda had dumped Him and gone into the kitchen to save the milk which was over flowing.Such a sweet pastime! I am trying to run through or jump through but difficulty go forward.

So, that day Krsna was caught red handed by Yasoda stealing butter from home. I say He was caught white handed with the butter. He was considered a thief, He was a thief and a thief had to be punished.

Krsna was scared and He was full of tears. She managed to catch hold and she had to tie. Finally, she managed to tie Him up. On that Dipavali day, Amavasya day, in the middle of Kartika, Bala Krsna became known as Damodara be because the “udar”, the belly of Krsna was tied with the “dama,” rope to the motar .

“Dama” – rope, “udara” – belly. He became known as Makhana chora Damodara ki, jai!. This lila, in fact, dominates the scene and our consciousness throughout this month of Damodara. Everyday, we have been offering lamps to Damodara and remembering that sweet pastimes, as sweet as butter or sweeter than butter pastimes of Sri Krsna in Damodara lila.

Then comes Govardhana Puja. What a festival! I should say that Amavasya, no moon day or night is over. Next day is a shukla paksha, is a bright fortnight. The first day of the bright fortnight is called Pratipada and that is the day the Vraja vasis have been doing Indra Puja, year after year. But now, when Krsna was some 7 years old, He convinced Nanda Maharaja and the residents of Vrndavana,

“Worship Govardhana instead! And you do not have to do any additional shopping. All the ingredients you have already collected so you use them for worship of Govardhana.”
First ever Govardhana Puja festival took place in the presence of Krsna and Balarama. Lord also had asked, “Not only you are doing Govardhana Puja but also today is the day of Go Puja and Brahmana Puja. Feed prasadam, even candalas should get prasadam from this Annakuta festival.”

So, that is what they did. Also the first ever Govardhana parikrama was performed by Vraja vasis that afternoon. First they did Govardhana puja then, they did Govardhana parikrama.

The next day, as per the tradition, I think it is an ancient, old tradition; brothers and sister all go to Vrishrama Ghata which is in Mathura and take a holy dip there. All brothers and sisters were busy taking a holy dip in Yamuna at Vrishrama Ghata, mean time the news of,

“Oh, they did not worship you, today!” This news reached Indra and he had sent Samvartaka clouds. Inundation takes place, water and flood everywhere. All the residents had approached Sri Krsna.

“Help! Help! If You could, help!”

Then, Krsna had then lifted Govardhana hill on Tritiya. This is third day. First day was puja, next day was taking holy dip at Vrishrama Ghata and third day on Tritiya Krsna lifts Govardhana hill. He became known as Giridhari. And there is no other pastimes as sweet like lifting Govardhana hill. The speciality of that pastime is all the residents of Vrndavana had assembled and taken shelter of that Govardhana hill and these were great times for Vraja vasis. Never ever they had the company of Krsna 12 hours a day, 12 hours a night, seven days, seven nights. Simultaneously, the vatsalya rasa, sakhya rasa, madhurya rasa, all the rasas were on display as a reciprocation and they were all drowning in this rasa.

itdrk sva lilabhir ananda kunde
sva ghosam nimanjantam akhyapayantam

When Damodara-like lila the Lords performs and He fills kundas and lakes with “ananda,” bliss, by performing these pastimes, as He has lifted Govardhana hill. Indra is trying to flood Vraja with the rain water and Krsna has flooded Vrndavana with rasa – madhurya rasa, sakhya rasa, vatsalya rasa – and they were all drowning and swimming. They had great time.

Then, on the Navmi, on the ninth day of this Shukla Paksha, bright fortnight, by that time Indra was defeated and rain stopped. Krsna placed Govardhana hill back to its original place. But then we understand from Bhagavatam that the Lord of talk of town, one particular topic was being discussed they were wondering,

“Who is this Krsna? Or Nanda Maharaja is hiding His ID, identity from us. We have children also but no child have lifted Govardhana hill. He lifted the hill without much effort!”

They had to approach Nanda Maharaja and he had disclosed the fact which Garga aarya had shared with Nanda Maharaja. That chapter in Krsna Book is Wonderful Krsna. That was Navmi and Govardhana was put back into its place.

Then Dasami and Ekadasi. Nanda Maharaja observed Ekadasi. Then, on Dvadasi he had gone to take holy dip in Yamuna and the agents or servants of Varuna had kidnapped or arrested and brought him to Varuna Loka. Krsna and Balarama had jumped into the Yamuna river and through water body they had reached and rescued Nanda Maharaja and brought him back. This has also happened during month of Kartika, that particular Kartika. There is a series after Govardhana.

Srila Prabhupada ki, jai! Then is Srila Prabhupada disappearance day festival. Oh, what to say? What to speak? We say disappearance but Srila Prabhupada kind of appears. To me, I feel Srila Prabhupada appears more on his disappearance day. We are reminded of events leading to that 14th November 1977. So many disciples of Srila Prabhupada, we were there, I was there. Srila Prabhupada wanted to go to Govardhana to attend Govardhana Puja, to participate in the Govardhana festival, riding on a bullock cart. He had asked me to arrange the bullock carts and travels too. We are reminded and our emotions are stirred up as we remember Srila, again, during month of Kartika in 1997. We were there on disappearance day Every year we celebrate that festival of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance festival.

Gopasthami maha mahotsava ki, jai.

One asthami was Bahulasthami – Radha Kunda appearance night and then next asthami of the bright fortnight is Gopasthami. On this day Krsna became gopa. A mantra from Kartika Mahatmya says He was vatsapa. He had been taking care of the cows’ calves. On chapter of the 10th canto of Bhagavatam says there was an ishta goshti was held by Nanda Maharaja and there was a lot of discussion and consideration. They ended up promoting Krsna. He was a calf herd boy. On Gopasthami day, He was made cowherd boy.

That day was a great day in Krsna’s life and a there was a great celebration n Nanda Grama. All the cows were decorated and chanting of the mantras the cowherd boys were all excited and delighted to become cowherd boys, Krsna and Balarama now the cowherd boys. Yasoda proposing,

“Take the shoe or take the umbrella.”

“No, no. We should just take care of the cows. That is our dharma.”

dharma raksati raksitah

“If we take care of the cows then that dharma would protects us. Why are you worried, maiya?”

So, Krsna goes into the forest, no shoes, no umbrella. Lots more could be said about this Gopasthami day, another year. Subhala was sent by Krsna to bring Radharani over and that is another sweet pastime how he had gone to Javat with the excuse,

“Oh, I am looking for a calf. We have lost a calf!”

Jatila said, “why are you hanging around. There is residence here. Go to goshala, you may find your cow there.”

So, he has gone and Radharani had managed to come to goshala.

Subhala said, ” let’s go.”

Radharani says, “where?”

“To Krsna.”

“How? Jatila is keeping an eye on Me.”

Subhala was very smart He had managed, arranged for Radharani to wear cowherd boy clothes, gopa vesha. She was a gopi. So Subhala said,

“Okay, You catch hold of a calf right on Your chest and walk, passing by Jatila or Your home.”

So, that is what Radharani did and Subhala comes on the meeting point and then they both reached where Krsna was.

Okay, our time is up. Today is, for you, the last day of Kartika. It is also marriage day of Tulasi Saligrama vivah. Vrnda Devi has become Tulasi and Lord has become Saligram sila and Their vivah, Their marriage has also taken place on this last day of Kartika. It is also last day of Caturmasya, last day of Bhisma Panchak.

We should keep remembering this month and different festivities of this month. Like that we can maintain our connection with Vrndavana and that Vrndavana Krsna.

Okay, Gaura Premanande, hari hari bol! Thank you everybody for being with us. See you another time, another location, another festival.

Radha Govinda Deva, ki jai!
ISKCON New York ki, jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki, jai!

Devotee: “Maharaja there is one question, we want to take that.”

Please elaborate on Tulasi Saligrama vivah?

“I curse you, you become a tree!”
“I curse You, You become the rock!”

So, this is another manifestation.

tulasi krsna preyasi nama namah

Tulasi is “preyasi,” beloved of Krsna eternally. They tied in the knot. There is also pastimes of the marriage. Some manifestation she had become wife of some demon, Jalandhara. Jalandhara was powerful and he was defeating the demigods. Only if Jalandhara’s wife, who was Tulasi, her chastity is broken then he will lose the power. Jalandhara was getting his power as his wife was chaste.

Then Krsna had disguised Himself and had approached Tulasi. Then demigods had become victorious. But then Tulasi had, eventually, found out who this person was not her husband but someone else. She then cursed and Krsna cursed to become stone. Otherwise, Vrnda Devi is a big role in Vrndavana. She is the event manager. Before lila is performed, or performance takes place, Vrnda Devi makes all the arrangements, whole setups for lila. So Vrnda Devi, Tulasi Devi, her status is almost like Radharani.

Okay.

Commentary on Damodara Ashtakam
Iskcon Ujjain
26th November 2020

Iskcon Ujjain ki jai!

The project that was started by Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja. Now your Samadhi preparations are in? I just heard, of course Pushpa Samadhi is one Samadhi that is already there in Mayapur so Hari Hari. I am very happy to be with the devotees of Iskcon Ujjain. They are very dear to me as they were dear to Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja.

Of course his disciples from wherever they are joining us today on this conference and I think everyone else is also welcomed and so I am happy to be with you all this evening and happy month of Kartik, the month of Damodar.
Damodar Masa ki jai!

Of course we are almost towards the end of Damodara Masa here and today is Utthana Ekadasi. He has even gotten up today and it is a big celebration.

The Lord is up after His long rest of four months and so the devotees are very jolly, happy to have darsana of their Lord again and only five more days to go before completion of Damodar month. So it’s not good news, we wish that is would go on and on and on and we would go on singing Damodarastaka and offer lamps to Yashoda Damodar. So it was two years ago that Bhakti Charu Maharaja and myself were together in the month of Kartik and that was in Noida.

Maharaja had been singing in the evening Damodarastak and I remember sitting next to him and listening to Bhakti Charu Maharaja sing Damodarastak and during this month also I heard Maharaja’s Damodarastak prayers several times so I thought ‘I’m not singing today as I already sang.’ And then Maharaja used to before singing or after singing songs, he used to explain those songs. He used to share the deeper meaning of those songs and Maharaja has done this with so many, many songs.

This is Bhakti Charu Maharaja style of presenting songs and astakas and so he would speak about and then he would sing also. Of course Srila Prabhupada also did that and Srila Prabhupada has written or spoken purports of many, many songs. So I thought why not remember Damodarastak which we have been singing everyday? So this is what we’ll do.

namamisvaram sac cid ananda rupam
lasat kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya

So this is how damodarastaka begins with namami. I offer my obeisances unto that Isvara, that Parameshwar who is sat cit ananda. His form is sat cit ananda and He is wearing kundala.

lasat kundalam gokule bhrajamanam

Of course He is in Gokula. This pastime of Krishna which has now become known as Damodar pastime, took place in Gokula during early morning hours and ekada. Sukadeva Gosvami has said ‘ekada..’

ekadaa grha dasishu yashoda nanda gehini
karmantara niyuktasu nirmamantha svayam dadhi (S.B 10.9.1)

This is how Sukadeva Goswami Maharaja begins recitation of this pastime and so Yashoda- mostly there and these two characters, Krishna and Yashoda. It is the dealing between the two of them which went on and on for quite some time that day. It lasted till late in the afternoon, the pastime was going on. So unto that Lord I offer my obeisances.

yasoda bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam

Satyavrata Muni has described this pastime just in two verses and Sukadeva Goswami has described this pastime in a couple of chapters. So the couple of chapters have been condensed in two verses. So Krishna is afraid of Yashoda, isn’t that amazing? That is also what Kunti Maharani also said in her prayers, that ‘this is bewildering to see how Krishna who everyone else is afraid of is afraid of mother Yashoda.’

indro varshati yat bhayam

‘Indra manages or he makes sure that it rains because he is scared of the Lord. The wind is blowing because the wind god is afraid of him. Like that everyone is afraid of him but here in this pastime the Lord is afraid of Yashoda. Isnt that bewildering?’ Kunti Maharani says. It is difficult to understand this Krishna.

Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead claims

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa caracaram (B.G 9.10)

I am the superintendent of this prakriti, I govern the wonderings of this cara and acara, and that Lord is afraid of Yashoda in this pastime and this is not a drama. Genuinely he is afraid, he is scared. He is playing the perfect role of being a child and children are scared when they do some mischief. Then the parents, especially the mother would come and catch hold and beat or slap. Children are scared, I think each one of us have that experience.

I remember I used to be scared and afraid of my mother when she would try and catch hold of me and ‘she’s going to beat me!’ So Krishna has become child like that and He is displaying His fear, He’s scared. He is afraid of mother Yashoda and He is running here and there and Yasoda has finally managed to catch hold of Him and considering Him to be the offender, thief the robber of butter, she wants to punish Him and tie Him up to the mortar.

So Satyavrata Muni, these are his realizations and he is saying how

rudantam muhur netra yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja yugmena satanka netram

So the Lord literally begins crying. He is crying- rudamtam muhur which means again and again. He is sobbing.

yugmam mrjantam karambhoja yugmena satanka netram

Then with both of His fists He is wiping His tears. Satanka netram. Satanka, He is afraid of Yashoda and satanka netram. You could see the fear in His eyes.

muhuh svasa kampa trirekhanka kantha

He is sobbing and crying and tears, you could see the three lines on His neck, that’s part of the beauty of the Lord’s neck or His features.

sthita graivam damodaram bhakti baddham

There’s a locket hanging from the neck of little Krishna, and it is moving. This Satyavrata Muni he is minutely observing and giving those details which even Sukadeva Goswami has not got any of the details like this and he’s zooming in on Krishna’s form, or the features of Krishna’s form and His body language as He is being tied up.

sthita graivam damodaram

So yes, it is mentioned ‘Damodaram.’ So the punishment is that Yashoda is going to tie his Uddara, the belly with Dam, with a rope and that is of course what she ended up doing with a rope. That wasn’t an easy task and it had taken a lot of time because every time, the rope she had was too short- two fingers short and she was making the rope longer by tying more ropes. She had to go to the Go-Shala and untie the cows and get the ropes which were tying the cows in the Go- Shala.

All the nine hundred thousand cows are wondering freely because all those ropes that were used for making the rope longer and longer and longer was still two fingers short. This was something amazing so finally, Sva bandhane. Krishna allowed ‘okay okay. I can see your endeavour, your determination. I know you are not going to give up.’ So the Lord is pleased with her endeavour. So her endeavour and Krishna’s Kripa and then she succeeded.

So from that day onwards He became Damodar! Jai Damodar! Hari Hari. So what happened was the stealing of butter at home took place one day. One child or Yashoda’s child rather, stole and ate butter and distributed that butter to the monkeys and then Yasoda tied Him to the mortar, considering the mortar also a culprit.

‘He helped Krishna steal the butter so he also has to be punished.’ So now you can see that five thousand years later and today what happened in Gokula one day, not a big deal- what’s the big deal?! A child stole and ate some butter and then his mother tied him up. But this has become a world-known story, pastime and it has become immortal and eternal.

You cannot forget this, what happened that day. This is well alive, this is kept alive in something worth remembering, worth relishing in this pastime. And you know Krishna wants, if some thief is arrested and tied up, he never likes that a photograph of him be published or circulated. The world would come to know that he is a thief, he is a robber and he would try to make sure that if the police is dragging them to the court or prison house they put a mask on or put some cloth on their face. They want to hide as they want to make sure that no-one knows them as a thief. But here this butter thief wants to make sure that ‘Let the world know me as a butter thief!’ He is immortalizing His pastime of stealing butter. In fact what He is immortalizing, what He wants to advertise is, well it’s coming up.

tadiyesita jnesu bhaktair jitatvam.

This is what He wants to advertise. This is what the Lord wants the world to know that He can be captured by His bhaktas. Devotees could control Lord or govern Him.

aham bhakta paradhino’ (S.B 9.4.57)

He has declared elsewhere that He is dependent upon His devotees.
This is the essence of this pastime, bhaktair jitatvam. ‘My Bhaktas,’ here Yashoda, has conquered Krishna, controlled Krishna. And He loves to see this happening, He enjoys this pastime or this kind of dealing. So whether this is bhaktair jitatvam or this as vatsalya rasa, the Lord is enjoying. vatsalya, vatsa means calf. Just like a cow loves the calf, so the calf is subordinate and dependent upon the mother cow. The cow even licks the calf. Feeling of reciprocation, rasa, bhava, bhakti, the feeling that is taking place between Yashoda and Krishna is called vatsalya.

And so the Lord wants to display this and He is doing that. This is one glaring example of this bhaktair jitatvam or aham bhakta paradhino. This is very rare example, glaring example of this bhaktair jitatvam.

itidrk sva lilabhir ananda kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam

So the astaka continues itidrk sva lilabhir ananda kunde. He has summarized this Damodar pastime just in two verses and then immediately he says ‘itidrk, like this. Lilabhir, Lilas like this, Damodar lila and other lilas. Ananda Kunde. This produces so much ananda. So much happiness. How much happiness? Ananda kunde. You could fill up this ananda in a kunda, in a lake or in a ocean.

And then anandam buddhi vardhanam is also there. It is expanding, shoreless ocean. What kind of ocean? A shoreless ocean.

sva ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam

So a pastime like this then becomes the talk of the town and everyone is doing bodhayantah parasparam. The news spreads and the breaking news happens. ‘You know what, you know what?!’ Everyone is talking of this pastime and as they talk and hear they’re blessed. They are swimming in ananda kunde.

bala caritani ca

Sukadeva Goswami describes that as Yasoda was churning butter that morning, that was diwali day. For your information if you did not know, this Damodar pastime took place in Gokula on the day of Diwali. It was on Diwali day that Krishna became known as Damodar. He was tied up on that day.

So while Yashoda was singing bal caritra, the pastimes of the Lord, she was singing, all the ladies are singing, others are singing and now we are singing! Srila Prabhupada has spread these pastimes through his books all over the world and so hasn’t ananda expanded? It was limited to India limited or Vrndavana, Mayapur, Jagannath Puri and few some tirthas limited, but what has happened.

anandam budhi vardhanam pratipadam purnamrita asvadanam

So it is spread all over the world now and everywhere there is the talk of Damodar and his pastime. Everywhere devotees are offering lamps to Damodar and singing Damodastaka, so many seminars and talks and presentations happening so the Suka, the happiness as they recite and remember this.

punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

Unto such Damodar, I offer my obeisances, satavrtti, hundreds and hundreds of times.

krishna jinaka nam hai
gokule jinaka dham hai
aise shri bhagavan ko
aise shri bhagavan ko – kitne baar (how many times)?
baramvaar pranam hai (again and again I offer my obeisances unto Him).

So this astaka that Satyavrata Muni is composing he says ‘unto such Damodar, satavrtti vande. I offer my prayers, my obeisances unto such Damodar again and again.’ And he is starting with ‘namamisvaram. I offer my obeisances’ but then he is offering his obeisances every now and then in this astaka. Then again he is going to say at the end.

namas te ‘stu damne sphurad dipti dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai
namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

How many times namah namah namah. He is singing like that. namas te ‘stu damne. He also says ‘I offer my obeisances unto that rope, not only namamisvaram. Not only my obeisances unto Ishwar but I offer my obeisances unto that rope also, that transcendental, brilliant, effulgent rope. Unto that rope I also offer my obeisances. Please oh rope accept my respectful obeisances.’

tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne

My obeisances also unto the belly of Damodar. Obeisances unto the rope and unto the belly, the Uddara of Damodar. Because your Uddara, your belly is the abode of the whole Vishwa (universe) which is within you. And this is where we understand ‘oh why was that rope always two fingers too short?’ Although it was hundreds and thousands miles long, Krishna’s belly circumference is just twelve inches.

So why was Yashoda not able to tie that long, long rope? And this is revealed here in this astaka – tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne because within the belly, within Krishna is the whole vishwa, the whole Brahmanda. So how big is Brahmanda and how long rope do you need? The rope has to be how long to go around the Brahmanda as Bal Krishna also has shown to Yashoda herself.

‘Oh you ate dirt!’

‘No, no I did not eat dirt!’

‘Yes even Balaram says you have eaten dirt!’

‘No, no Maiya. I didn’t eat, I didn’t eat.’
So she opens His mouth and as Krishna opened His mouth, the whole dirt- the whole universe is made up of dirt, right? The earth. Brahmand is within Him so a long rope is required. So your Uddara your belly is not the way is looks! Krishna is Adhoksaja, Achintya also. So obeisances again and again are coming up and then

varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apiha

So these prayers are also there as part of this astaka. varam deva moksam na moksa. varam deva, varesas apiha. ‘I know, I know you are varesa.’ Var means benediction and Isa means master. ‘You are the giver of benediction. You are Varadraj and you could give every and any benediction but to me oh Lord, moksha no, no, no! Please don’t give me moksha, I don’t want moksha.’

na canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apiha

na ca anyan, no Moksha, there’s no this or that.

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

I don’t want none of these things for my enjoyment, for my bhoga. I don’t want to be bhukti kami. And then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also has said in that Siksastaka ‘mama janmani janmanisvare’ also I don’t want liberation. So similar sentiments are explained here. na canyam moksham.

I don’t want liberation, moksha and no other this kind of benediction. ‘So what do you want?’ He says

idam te vapur natha gopala balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih.’

He says just this Gopala Bal. Idam te vapur natha gopala balam. This vapur, the form of Gopal Bal, Gwal Bal or Bal Gopal, Krishna Kanaiya Lal.

manasy avirastam. Let him enter my mind and let me only think of him and him alone. Kim anyaih, I dont care for anything else. Only Krishna, only Gopal. Idam te vapur natha gopala balam. My interest
Is this Gopala Balam, I wish to remember and think and do other things like serve him and offer my obeisances unto him and feed him and play with him. Yes I want to render all kind of service unto him.

All I want to do is,

sravanam kirtanamm visnoh smaranam pada sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma nivedanam

This nava vidha bhakti, this Bhagavan, Gopal, Damodar. But (I dont want to do) none of this other stuff. This moksham and dhanam Janam. No, out! And then

namo deva damodarananta visno
prasida prabho duhkha jalabdhi magnam

Then he begins addressing the Lord, Sambodhan (addressing). Namo deva, again obeisances are there. I offer my obeisances unto who? Deva, this Damodar Deva, Krishna Deva, Adi Deva, Deva. In this Damodarastak he is offering his obeisances and why he is addressing him as Deva and Damodara, Ananta, Vishnu? Vishnu becomes Vishnau, like that. In address, in Sambodhan this happens by commentical arrangement.

Prasidah prabho. So Prabhu has become Prabho. ‘Oh Prabho.’ This is more correct to say, not ‘Prabhu.’ We are addressing someone so here also the Lord is Prabho, he is addressed so when you address him he becomes Prabho. So Deva, Damodara, Ananta, Vishnu, Prabhu. He is addressing the Lord and each one means so much. When you say ‘Damodar’ so many things you are reminded of. When you say ‘Prabhu’ or when you say ‘Ananta,’ when you say ‘Deva.’

Each of these addresses have so much meaning associated with it. Hari Hari, yes the Lord has thousands of names. Vishnu Sahastra Nama is also there and there are so many more names. Dukha jalabdhi magnam, ‘oh Lord look at me. I am observed in dukha jaal, janjaal. I am entangled very badly and am drowning in the ocean of misery here. Oh Lord have mercy, oh Lord.’

Like ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram?patitam mam visame bhvambudhau
(Siksastaka 5)

‘My Lord I am yours, ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram- I am your servant oh Nanda tanuja. You are Nanda Tanuja and I am your Kinkara. See what happened? I have fallen in this ocean of material existence. So Kripaya, please pick me up.’ As Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said in His own astak so similarly here we find krpa drsti vrstyati dinam batanu. Please shower your merciful glance upon me. And we skipped two and one in the middle there.

idam te mukhambhojam atyanta nilair

Again focusing on the Lord and his form. mukhambhoja, your face is -lotus faced Lord. The seven different parts of Lord’s form are lotus – like. One of them is the face and his eyes are lotus like, His hands are lotus like. His feet are lotus like, His navel is a lotus. So like that there are seven different parts.

idam te mukhambhojam atyanta nilair

Your complexion is nilair. The deep bluish- Ganaevasham, He is described like a fresh monsoon cloud. Prabhupada translates and compares Krishna’s complexion as a fresh monsoon cloud. So atyanta nilair vrtam kuntalaih, That face and hair, vrtam means hidden or covered partially.

snigdha raktais’ ca gopya
muhus chumbitam bimba raktadharam me

You have reddish lips and muhus chumbitam. Muhus means again and again and Cumbitam. As Yashoda kisses your face, your cheeks, then what happens? Bimba raktadharam me. Immediately that part of the face becomes reddish because it is so very tender and soft and Yashoda kisses. You can see the- you have here this experience Mataji’s. That is also prayer, ‘I wish to manasy avirastam. Let that image of you be settled in my mind.’

vrtam kuntalaih snigdha raktais’ ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba raktadharam me

So these are whole minute details of the face of the Lord. Also during this pastime of Damodar and at other times she is kissing that face of you, Damodar. ‘He Ananta, He Vishnu, He Prabhu, He Deva.’ So I wish to just have that on my mind all the time. He says ‘Alam, enough! This is enough and nothing else I look forward to. Alam laksa labhai. Labha means benefit and how much benefit? Hundreds and thousands of other benefits I am not interested! Full stop. Yes I want to just remember that Damodar.

vrtam kuntalaih snigdha raktais’ ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba raktadharam me

Alam, this is enough. Alam laksa labhaih, I don’t care for any other kind of benediction, benefit. And the this Damodar pastime doesn’t end with Yashoda tying up Krishna to the mortar. It is also known as Ukhal Bandhan lila. Once he was tied up to the Ukhal, to the mortar, and then Yashoda was thinking ‘now he cannot do any further mischief.

I have tied Him up.’ Of course she was also thinking that he should be tied up otherwise she is scared that he may go away from home and it would be difficult to find him. ‘If I leave him alone in this state when now he is kind of afraid and scared because he has stolen butter. He is an offender and so I was trying to chase him and I had a stick to beat him.’

And of course one time Yashoda had thrown that stick away or else he would have become more scared and that’s why he was running faster and was trying to..It was difficult to catch hold of him so she threw away the stick. So she wants to tie him up and it is explained by the Acharyas that Yashoda is thinking ‘if I don’t tie him up he may go away and hide somewhere so he has to be tied.’ So he was tied up and then Yashoda was busy with her home affairs. Housewives, a lot of things to do.

But then Krishna had- He wanted to do further mischief. Mischief after mischief after mischief. He had broken the pot in which Yashoda was churning butter that morning and he had stolen butter and he was distributing that butter to the monkeys. This is another mischief and like that and now he is tied up. But Krishna is thinking, ‘no. I will do something more. I am unstoppable.’ And then he enters the courtyard with the big mortar tied to his belly and that is-

kuveratmajau baddha murtyaiva yadvat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca

So this is the other part of that pastime. This kind of interval here, he is tied up to the mortar but this is only half the story and then there were two trees, the sons of Kuvera. Manigriva and the other one Nalakuvera, they were cursed to become trees. ‘Okay I also bless you. You become trees in Gokula in the courtyard of Nanda Maharaja and you two trees, you will be able to witness Krishna’s pastimes and one day he will free you from this bondage and conditioning of being in bodies of trees.’

So that is what has happened so tvaya mocitau. So those Kuveratmajau, the sons of Kuvera, baddha- they were bound up. tvaya mocitau. He Damodar, you freed them. And not only you liberated them, freed them but bhakti bhajau krtau ca. You bestowed the mood of devotion unto them and in Srimad Bhagavatam there’s a whole dialogue between these Kuveratmajau’s the sons of Kuvera and Sri Krishna.

Sri Krishna has spoken and the sons of Kuvera also have offered their prayers begging for mercy, begging for devotional service and then they have circumambulated Damodar. And he is still tied to the mortar and two of these sons they are going round and round in Parikrama. They offer their obeisances and having been blessed by Sri Krishna with Bhakti they departed.

So that’s the other part of the pastime and the prayer is here in this astaka that.. The seventh verse starts with,
kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat

And then ‘you freed them, you gave them Bhakti and so Tatha like that, me too me too. Please give me lots of Bhakti, lots of devotional service, a life of devotion.’

na dhanam na janam na sundarim?kavitam va jagad isa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare?bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also has prayed ‘I want Bhakti.’ So everyday as we were reciting this Damodarastaka and offering our lamps to Damodar and we were also begging- that’s if you were singing with understanding of what you were singing. So this is important and so Bhakti Charu Maharaja used to make us understand the meaning of the song before he would sing and he would get others to sing. So it’s important, it’s very important. You are singing and you don’t know what you’re singing, what is going on.

So we have been singing, begging and praying that

tatha prema bhaktim svakam me prayaccha

Give me- tatha, bhakti like you gave to the sons of Kuvera.
Na moksha- he is again reminding, ‘no moksha not for me, no no no!’

na mokse graho me ‘sti damodareha

Don’t give me moksha but give only Bhakti to me.’ And then in concluding, again more obeisances. namas te ‘stu damne, we said this, my obeisances unto the rope. Sphurad dipti dhamne. And you also have to pay attention to what you are reading and what you are saying, the pronunciation is also important, right?

namas te ‘stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne, one is damne and one is dhamne. So we should pay attention to these details and pronounce it right, then understand it. Then accordingly one is dam which means rope and other one is dham. Because there is talk of namah, obeisances then the dam becomes damne and dham becomes dhamne. My obeisances unto dham, that is dham namah dhamne. namah astu dhamne. You make two sentences like that so sphurad dipti dhamne.

That rope is an abode of that effulgence, that effulgent rope and that’s why it is called dhamne, spurad dipti dhamne. Dipti is the effulgence, the light, the Dipti of that rope and that is Dhamne.

tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne

The rope is the abode of the light or effulgence and your belly is the abode of the universe. So both dhamne, sphurad dipti dhamne and sisvasya dhamne. Hence my obeisances unto the rope and my obeisances unto your belly, oh Damodar.

Then obeisances unto Radhika also, Radha is also remembered here and why Radha is remembered? Namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai. You are Priya, she is your Priya and she is Krishna Priya, Radha is Krishna Priya and Radha is very dear to Krishna and she is tvadiya, she is simply yours. tvadiya priya, radha. So radha tvadiya priyayai, this is again chaturti, grammer. Vrindayai not Vrindaya, Vrindayai, this is something else.

namo ananta lilaya devaya tubhyam

Again, ananta lila oh deva, again my obeisances now unto your Ananta lilas- the unlimited pastimes which you perform. My obeisances unto all those lilas and especially my obeisances unto Damodar lila. So Damodarastak begins with obeisances, namah- namamisvaram and it ends with namah anata lilaya devaya tubhyam. So again this is amazing Damodarastaka and because Damodar is amazing his pastimes are amazing.

Everything about him is amazing and sweet adharam madhuram, everything is madhur madhur, sweet about the Lord. Madhuradi pater akhilam madhuram. Madhuradi Pati, He is the master of sweetness and Akhilam madhuram. Everything is sweet about this Lord, about Damodar, so Jai Damodar.

Yashoda Maiya ki jai and Damodar Astak ki jai.
Damodar Masa ki jai. Gokul Dham ki jai. Damodar lila ki jai.
Srila Prabhupada ki jai.

Srila Bhakti Charu Maharaja ki jai. Gaura prema anande hari haribol.

Bhakti Sastri Seminar

ISKCON Pandharpur
4th October, 2020

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate

Translation :
Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.

When we serve hrsikesa, hrsikena hrsikesa. hrsikena means by the senses.
We should read a little Sanskrit also. There are veda and upaveda also. Also vedanga, veda vedanga. Under vedanga comes shiksha, shiksha means pronunciation, and also grammar. So grammar is also veda, vedanga and you should read that also. By the help of vedanga we can read Veda. So let’s read Veda, Srimad Bhagvatam, 1.2.18.

Study of Srimad Bhagvatam is graduation study. If you do Bhakti Vaibhav then there you will study Srimad Bhagvatam. Nowadays people keep studying, half of their life they study. First education, then higher education and then overseas education in Australia, America. Bhakti Shastri course is also higher education. VIHE, Vrindavan Institute of Higher Education, higher education in ISKCON started like this, VIHE was established some 20-30 years ago. In Krishna consciousness all education is higher and outside krishna consciousness all education is lower.

Education about the spirit is higher. There are two things: spirit and matter, there are only two things in the world, one is spirit and another is matter. Most of the education of this world is about the matter, about mud, geography, astro. They are all zero until ke ami, Sanatana Goswami asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, people call me pandit and learned but I even don’t know who I am, ke ami.

So this higher education, spiritual education should be compulsory and if we have not taken this education then we have not even become human, then we remain animals, dvipad pashu.

nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki [SB 1.2.18]

Translation :
By regularly hearing the Bhagavata and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

Here is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within the heart which are considered to be obstacles in the path of self-realization. Whatever inauspicious things are there they can be removed from our heart, first from heart, then mind, then thoughts or behavior, so how to remove those things is explained here by Srila Prabhupada. Also they are obstacles in the path of self-realization, so they should be removed, nasta. So how to do this, the remedy is mentioned here by Srila Prabhupada. The remedy is nityam bhagavata-sevaya, hearing and reading.

The remedy is the association of the Bhagavatas. There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. If someone hears nityam bhagavata-sevaya then what will he understand? He may understand it as the book Bhagavata but Srila Prabhupada is explaining the meaning here. Suta Gowswami said in Naimisharanya which is near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh that there are two types of Bhagavata one is the book Bhagvata and the devotee Bhagavat. So we have to serve both the book and devotee Bhagavata then we will do nityam bhagavata-sevaya.

If we don’t serve devotee Bhagavata then we will become kanistha adhikari. One is uttam and another is kanistha, one who only serves the Lord but disrespects the devotees or offends the devotee, then he does not do the complete seva of Bhagavata or doesn’t understand Bhagavata. The word is Bhagavat or Bhagawan, from Bhagavat becomes Bhagavata just like Vasudev becomes Vasudev. Bhagavat means Bhagavan, related to the Lord. So the book which is related to the Lord is called book Bhagvata and devotees are also called Bhagvata because they have a relationship with the Lord. Therefore both books and devotees are called Bhagavata therefore we should serve both of them.

Srila Prabhupada was the heart, the essence of Bhagavata. One who has understood Bhagavata, knows Bhagavata can be called Bhagavata. Then he will serve both the book as well as the devotee Bhagavata. But if he is not serving the devotee then his seva remains incomplete and he doesn’t understand Bhagavata.

matrvat para-daresu
para-dravyesu lostravat
atmavat sarva-bhutesu
yah pasyati sa panditah [Canakya-sloka 10]

Translation:
One who considers another’s wife as his mother, another’s possessions as a lump of dirt and treats all other living beings as he would himself, is considered to be learned.

Pandit means he is learned, he is qualified, he knows the sastras. yah pasyati sa panditah, who sees or who understands another’s wife as his mother, another’s possessions as a lump of dirt, lostravat and treats all other living beings as he would himself is a pandita. Tukaram was bathing at some other ghat, people asked him why are you bathing here today. He told him that someone has put some abominable things there. He said so because what he saw was looking yellow in colour, it was golden jewellery. Shivaji Maharaja wanted to gift him some golden and silver jewellery but Tukaram Maharaja denied. Being sad they put the jewellery at the ghat where Tukaram maharaj used to take bath. But Tukaram Maharaja saw it as dirt and went to take a bath at some other place. So Tukaram Maharaj was such a pandita. Tukaram Maharaja ki jai!!

We love ourselves the most, so who is really a pandita he treats everyone as himself. All the living entities belong to my Lord and are very dear to Him then they are dear to me also. The Lord said to Arjuna, you are very dear to me. Not only Arjuna was dear to Krishna, all the jivas are dear to Krishna. All living entities are dear to Krishna and if they are not dear to me then I am not intelligent or all the knowledge with me is useless. If all living entities are dear to Krishna then they must be very dear to me. So we have to love them all and we have to serve them, then there will be,

dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati prcchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad-vidham priti-laksanam [NOI 4]

Translation:
Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering pras?da are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.

These are symptoms of love. You say I love you devotees or prabhus, it should not be just lip service, show me your love.

If you want to know the Lord then you need to read sastras and you must also know devotees. We should know at least two people, the Lord and his devotees. There are three things in the world: one is the Lord, second are his devotees and third is maya. This is also knowledge to know there is no other fourth thing. Or we can say there are only two things, the Lord and his energies. There are two types of energy: marginal energy which are the jivas and external energy or maya. So to have such knowledge we have to study shastra. The Lord is never alone, he is always with his devotees. We cannot separate the devotees of the Lord from Lord, they are part and parcel just like fire can’t be separated from its heat and light. You can’t say you just want fire and don’t want its light or it’s heat. There is no existence of fire without heat and light, fire means heat and light. Similarly when we say Bhagavan then it means part and parcel of the Lord are already included.

mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah [Bg 15.7]

Translation:
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts.

The Lord is complete and living entities are parts. So by studying Sastras, Gita, Bhagavatam, Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad and Nectar of devotion we will get all this knowledge. Especially we should know who jiva or a living entity is, how small he is. He is so small that no one pays attention to it and also to know how small he is we need knowledge. Keshagra, part of hair, shata, divide the tip of that hair into 100 parts and then take one part and again divide it into 100 parts, now pick up one from that, this is your size.

This is the size of the soul, so small, so tiny. No one pays attention to it as no one can see it, but if you put spectacles of sastras then you can see it. But even after reading you didn’t understand then you need jnana. Atma is very small, very subtle, even the microscope or electron microscope can’t see it. When a doctor does surgery he sees different parts of the body using a microscope. Everybody has used a microscope to see the body but haven’t seen the soul through it. The power of your microscope to see is also imperfect, it can’t see everything.

nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam [Katha Upanishad 2.2.13]

Translation :
The Supreme Lord is eternal and the living beings are eternal. The Supreme Lord
is cognizant and the living beings are cognizant.

This is very very subtle. There are two types of body; one is the gross body made of earth, water, fire, air and ether and another is the subtle body made up of mind, intelligence and ego. Can you see the mind? But does it exist or not, can you say that mind doesn’t exist just because you haven’t seen it. You can understand the mind by its symptoms, cancalam hi manah [Bg 6.34], we are sitting here but in the meantime our mind can go and visit Solapur. So does mind exist? Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean that we can conclude that the mind doesn’t exist. So mind, intelligence and ego make the subtle body. Earth, water, fire, ether, these are all things we can see, but air we can’t see but it is there and if it blows strongly it distorts everything. We can’t see the sky, we can’t take selfies with the sky. So air and sky we can’t see them but they still exist similarly mind, intelligence and ego can’t be seen but they exist. They are more subtle than air and sky also and more subtle than the subtle body is the soul. You can’t even see the subtle body, so how can you see the soul which is even more subtle?

So what we can’t see sastras show us. Sadhu shows us with the help of sastra, sadhus just like a teacher explains what is written in the sastras or book.
So sadhu, sastra, acarya and then,

chakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnan hride prokashito

Translation :
He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord, birth after birth.

We sing this, at least Narottam das thakur sang this. He understood that my guru has opened my darkened eyes and that is why I will serve him life after life. This can be any guru, diksha guru or shiksha guru or vartma pradakshika guru. We can take knowledge from every devotee, so temple devotees or congregational devotees may be your guru or you may be their guru that is why Lord says in Bhagavad Gita, bodhayantah parasparam [10.9].

Some devotees became students and some devotees became teachers in bhakti shastri course. One day on teacher’s day, I became a teacher. To look like teacher we needed clothes so we used to borrow clothes from the teachers and they would not fit us so we used to stich them. So this is how student became teacher and for this one day all students acted as teachers. But this one is real, in ashram, in bhakti shastri course your guru brother taught you, he became your teacher and you heard humbly. If you have to learn something from anyone then you must become humble without that it’s not possible.

Because of corona everywhere there was lockdown but we had Bhakti shastri course and you all achieved karuna of Lord and Srila Prabhupada and now you all are shastrajna. That’s the problem we have forgotten that Madhavacarya was shastrajna, Ramanujacarya was shastrajna, Tukaram Maharaj was shastrajna, Srila prabhupada is also shastrajna, Rupa Gowswami was shastrajna. One who knows shastra is called shastrajna, who has knowledge of sastras. In Gita, Lord says, chastram pramanam te [Bg 16.24], which shastra is evidence? This bhakti shastra. Gita, Bhagavatam, these are all sastras, this is a science, in thi there is scientific knowledge, scientific basis of Krishna consciousness. Prabhupada told Bhakti Svarup Damodar Maharaj to write a book with the title scientific basis of Krishna consciousness. He was a shastrajna, he has done Phd in Chemistry, did his higher studies in California. He was from Manipur. When he became a disciple of Srila Prabhupada then Prabhupada told him to write books and they were titled as scientific basis of Krishna consciousness, life comes from life. Life comes from life and not matter, origin of life is life and not the dead matter. To oppose the misconception that by some chemical combinations and solutions we can create life Prabhuapada told him to write book titled life comes from life and not from matter.

So these Gita, Bhagavatam are sastras, we have forgotten.Gita, bhagavatam, veda, puran are the original shastra and rest all is secondary. So there is para vidya and apara vidya which a few moments before I said as higher and lower education. So you have read sastras and became shastrajna. If there is any database of shastrajna your names should be added to that list. Is the certificate ready?
Congratulations to all those who have become satrajna.

In the spiritual world everyone loves to talk about Krsna

1996
Vrndavana, India
Initiation Lecture

First of all, I would like to welcome you all and also thank some of you for being present here. Especially, few of my godbrothers are here. Vrndavana Prabhu is in the back. Who else? Any other Prabhupada's disciples here? Also, thank to Mukunda Datta Prabhu for accepting the chief priest of this ceremony which he described as auspicious ceremony. Which he said, also, the ceremony is taking place in a very auspicious place. 

It is a necessary for reminding you all this is a very auspicious place. Do you need reminder? First of all, this is Vrndavana. Do you remember you are in Vrndavana? That does not matter where in Vrndavana. Just being in Vrndavana is the top most situations. Any part of Vrndavana is very special part.

This area is called Seva Kunja. Seva Kunja is a place where Krsna not only used to but still is performing His madhurya lila, rasa dance pastimes. In Seva Kunja is temple of Radha Damadara, established by none other than Jiva Goswami, who is a topmost scholar of this world. The world has not seen scholars like Jiva Goswami, very rare. 

So, we are in the courtyard, backyard of Jiva Goswami's Radha Damodara. In that backyard there is the Samadhi of Rupa Goswami and we are all Rupanugas, sitting at the feet of Rupa Goswami and bhajan kutir of Rupa Goswami. This Tamala trees here, there are the shades of Tamala tress. You could have used some shade. In the presence of monkeys, our lives are quite exciting here. It will be fun for next 3 hours. 

Not only that. That is the window there. Prabhupada used to see through that window, meditating on Rupa Goswami's samadhi and thinking of the future plans. He was thinking of us, although, we were not even born those days but Prabhupada was thinking of our future. Because of Prabhupada's intense meditation and prayers
in the little room there which is the kitchen part of course, he also was meditating in other rooms – and contemplating and visioning the whole future of Krsna

consciousness movement. That Prabhupada's residence before he went to the West and, again, he stayed here in early 70.

Not only that. There is one more thing to add. Right here, between bhajan kutir and samadhi, Prabhupada used to sit here under those trees in 1972, Kartika month and gave his nectar of devotion classes. Here in this portion, there were some kind of structures – the bushes were here, broken walls, chirping birds, like you hear. So, Prabhupada used to sit here and gave his nectar of devotion classes.

During the Kartika of 1972, also something happened. Prabhupada was sitting here to give initiation to the initiates. I was initiated right here! At that time, I did not even think, I was not thinking. Those days we were not thinking. Prabhupada was there. We thought this will go – Prabhupada and us and Prabhupada's presence. We
thought that will go on and on and on. We never thought that there will be one day Prabhupada not with us and then there will be us who would be taking some of the business of giving initiations. We did not think like that. 

So, this place is certainly extraordinary and extra special place. There could be no better location than this. Especially, as I was thinking of giving initiation in Vrndavana, I thought I would like to go back into the history. Year 1972, that is quite some time. I was only 23 years old. It is quite different. I did not have grey
hair and sikha.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Initiation ceremony as it is, is very auspicious ceremony as some conditioned souls or conditioned for a long time are getting an opportunity for getting out of this material existence. It is almost like getting released from the prison house. When someone is coming out of the prison house, they welcome you as a joyous occasion. So, I was also thinking of all the senior devotees are kind of already there, initiated and brahmin initiated and Prabhupada's disciples, as some initiates are getting initiation today, which is like getting out of this world. So, at the
entrance all prabhus and matajis are there to receive you, welcome you, encourage you.

Today, we have several devotees taking first initiation and two will be taking first and second initiation and one taking second. This is to give you a picture of what is happening here. Those taking first initiation which is harinama diksha, you are accepting this mantra,

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare.

We will be handing mantra, delivering mantra, giving you hare krsna mantra and you will be chanting that mantra which is non different from Krsna Himself.  500 years ago, Lord Gauranga appeared. He brought the gift of holy name.

“golokera prema dhana harinama sankirtana”

Under the disciplic succession that were of the holy name of the hare krsna maha mantra is delivered from the spiritual master to the disciples and on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, we delivering that mantra up to you.

I was reading Bhagavatam, today. There was an example of how you cannot catch hold the tail of a dog who is right across this ocean. How far could a dog go in the ocean? What hope is there for you to cross the ocean if you are attempting to cross by holding the tail of a dog? Not much hope. So, Prabhupada explains there that nothing else will work out. If you want to cross this material existence and go beyond which is we called going back to Godhead, then one time Prabhupada said,
 
“When you catch, you catch hold of my dhoti.” 

Like little children always catch hold of dhoti of their father or saree of their mother and they are dragged along. They go where the father goes or mother goes. 

“mahajano yean gatah sa panthah”

That pantha, that path is the proper path which is shown to us by the mahajanas. So Prabhupada said,  "You just follow me, you catch hold of my dhoti and you will get there and you will end with Krsna." So, we are holding Prabhupada and Prabhupada is holding on to his spiritual master, like that, and you hold us. This is
the disciplic succession.

evam parampara-praptam
imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kaleneha mahata
yoga nastah parantapa [BG 4.2]

This Lord Krsna has spoken in the Bhagavad Gita. So, this ceremony is auspicious, it is very serious ceremony because there is a commitment. You will be committing yourselves. It is a big step forward and there is a big commitment of taking care of this holy name, not offending this holy name is quite a task and not sinning any more on and stay very active in Krsna consciousness. It is lifetime, if not, forever in the future. 

As we were talking the other day in class, we are eternal servants not in just one lifetime servants. In material world people could talk only in terms of one lifetime. But we are talking of being servants eternally being servants of Krsna, of the spiritual master, vaisnavas. This is our eternal connection. 

As you are taking initiatives, (I am just trying to make the meaning out of initiation), you are taking initiatives or coming forward to practice Krsna consciousness. This is, of course, most welcome. We will encourage you.

Sometimes it is observed that devotees are quite enthusiastic up till the time of initiation. Some cases I am saying. And after initiation, some of them then take it easy, take it for granted. They look forward to initiation time and once initiation is there, name is given, "Now, it is all done. I am part of the family." They take it too easy.  This we are talking also from own experience. One person I initiated and last time I saw he was sitting and he went to his home town and then never ever have I see him again. That is one case. Varieties of things happen. I thought to let you know that these things happen so you could make sure this does not happen to you. Today, you will be taking vows to follow certain principles. We have seen some devotees not able to do that. They follow 4 regulative principles for one year, 2 years, we keep them waiting long period, 3 years, because they know unless they follow these principles there are no initiation, there is no social acceptance. So, they want to be initiated, otherwise, they are called or addressed bhakta. They are embarrassed with bhakta this or bhakta that. 

Although bhakta is quite a good title. Bhakta means Krsna bhakta. It is the top most position, in fact, to be bhakta. To be bhakta is no ordinary thing. Sometimes, as it is understood, bhakta or bhaktin is someone new. For these reasons they want to be initiated and they struggle to follow principles. But then things fade and devotees back into intoxication, get back into illicit connections. Gambling we do not hear much or meat eating. Intoxication and illicit sex are the killers, the primary principle enemies of Krsna consciousness movement.

Up until initiation time and around the initiation time, everything look so good and normal, rosy. Then something happens. Time is there working on us. As soon as we take it a little easy and relaxed, immediately, the illusion returns. The gap is widened and wide opened and have Maya takes hold. Some devotees make a big change of ashrams. Devotees who were initiated, lots of them were brahmacaris. After some years, although they had think that they would be brahmacaris for the rest of their lives; especially, our days, early 70's. 

We thought that that most of us were brahmacaris and brahmacarinis. The spirit of renunciation was so high in presence of Prabhupada. It was easy as he kept us very very high in his presence. So we thought, at least, I was thinking that most of us will be sannyasis or brahmacari. But that was not the case. 

There is nothing wrong. At least now we say, "Those days we almost preached against this grihastha business. As soon as one of our godbrothers was thinking of getting married, we immediately would surround him by ten of us and make him sit down and make him understand Prabhupada said this and that, Bhagavatam says. We speak to him until he is convinced. But that fanatically in our early days – immaturity or immature. The reality is something different. This we have seen. Wanting is one thing. But it does not work like that, although, the scriptures will
encourage and we will be encouraging, sadhus or shastra will encourage.

Prabhupada says all brahmacaris should stay brahmacaris and all matajis should get married. How is it gonna work? And it does not work like that, but encouragement is there. The difference is just that brahmacari should stay
brahmacari.

So, things are changing. There are different mentions. Other mention is some grihasta devotees get so much concerned about their family and maintenance of their family and related business. Many of you will become, eventually, grihastas or brahmacaris. So keep this ongoing. We have repeated that in ancient days:

bramhacari, grihasta, vanaprastha, sannyasa. 

You are 25 years old brahmacari, you go to your home, you get married and have children but you never forget Guru or his mission, your promise or support. You are supportive of your Guru's mission. The 13 questions that you are asked to answer, in one of them said you staying in or supporting ISKCON. What does it ask about staying in ISKCON? "Why one should remain in ISKCON?" There was one question. So, it implies that one SHOULD remain in ISKCON and there are many good reasons. 

In our movement what is the inside and outside of ISKCON? You could stay outside and you are still in ISKCON but your consciousness, your service attitude, you are wanting to support, that always has to be there. So, we have seen that lots of time our whole grihastha asrama's situation has to be settled within ISKCON and because it is not settled, our movement is little bit unsettled and shaky. Because most of the devotees in our movement are grihasthas and less than 100 sannyasis and brahmacaris are maybe 20 – 30 percent. So, 70 – 80 percent of our populations are grihasthas. So how they are doing, how they are well connected with ISKCON, what is their situation, how they are supporting or not supporting, becomes the deciding factor, socially speaking, social
development.

So, you should all be concerned for International Society for Krsna Consciousness. What we are addressing is some social concerns and it is time to get concerned. And devotees who are getting initiated should have this concern. Your concern should be how you would like to see Prabhupada's International Society for Krsna Consciousness more developed as a society; to see how you could assist.  We have seen also some disciples after some time they keep looking for nectar. They think there is not enough in ISKCON, there is not enough in Prabhupada's
books, so they go looking, searching other books, other sampradayas, they minimize the process or the importance of chanting and they get into worshipping deities of some certain sampradayas. So this also we have seen happening. But this is already an experience and I'm sure this is a common experience of most spiritual masters in Krsna consciousness movement. That means each one of us has something additional, unique experience, some common experience also. 

The examples I am giving are some common examples of what happens to those who get initiated in rather 2 years, 3 years, 10 years. This is what happens to our disciples. That relationship, which is supposed to be an eternal relationship does not even exist. You do not even feel that any relationship exists. Then different offences are committed. Some of them becomes guru, bhogis. Guru bhogi, guru tyagi, guru drohi. 

Guru bhogi means they try to enjoy the property or institution of the guru sadhu or the position in guru's institution. They try to exploit, take advantage. Instead of contributing, they try to take away, take advantage for their own gratification. Guru tyagi means means just renouncing, giving up that connection, just turning the
back towards the guru institution. And guru drohi is betrayal, trying to assert the position of guru. Trying to become as good as guru. Or think, "I have become as good as guru. Now I do not need him anymore," as if you are using guru as some kind of stepping stone to go beyond him.

That also we have seen in Prabhupada's  institution. Some of them trying to take Prabhupada's position of becoming founder acarya or this and that. This guru bhogi, guru tyagi, guru drohi business dilute the consciousness and then weakens the relationships between spiritual master and disciple. When this relationship is weak then everything else remains spiritually weak as everything will depends on or starts off this sambhanda or this relationship. So this is not proper, this is not regular.

So, I thought I would just share these experiences. You will be taking vow so that you would not do such things, yes? As in Mayapur we had the social development conference. The society is weak or the Hare Krsna movement is weak or different difficulties are there and the cause was identified as the unqualified disciples.

Initiation that conducted too soon and all thing become cheap, fast in and out with very less commitment in the part of the initiates to push on the sankirtan movement. Prabhupada repeated, appealed to, he always said, very affectionately, "American boys and girls." And sometimes he would say, "European boys and girls." He never said Indian boys and girls, he had more faith in the Americans. 

About pushing on this movement. The movement is required so that we could do something effective, organised, it could influenced the thinking or revolutionize the thinking and consciousness. So, this commitment has to be lifetime, many lifetime or forever in the future. Commitment or accepting a spiritual master is not a fashion, Prabhupada said. My neighbor has car so I also buy car. My neighbor has dog, I also liked to have a dog. My neighbor went to Haridwar last week now he has goals and I'll also have  also goal. So, this is not a fashion.

Like in the west people like to "try it out." When there is something they say to try it out. Maybe some devotee from the west want to "try it out" this Krsna consciousness but he can try it out for six months but finally, if he is convinced, then only he should go for accepting initiation. So, we need you to practice and
propagate Krsna consciousness movement. The world is false alarm and need some positive alternatives and you have received, you know what the other alternatives are. What are they?

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare 

Do you think it is that simple? So, any big problem and you say the alternative is just chant hare krsna , how would that work? The problems are huge, big turmoil and you say chant hare krsna? Is there alternative? Can you convince us? Name is bigger than the problems. Jai! The name is Krsna and the name is unlimited. That is a smart reply. It is no small thing. Maha mantra is no small thing. When we say maha mantra, it is Lord Himself. We convince like that and learn the association of Prabhupada. 

So, you just keep these few things in mind and see how these things are not repeated. You have some kind of reliable devotee power. Once a devotee, always a devotee. This is not something you do for 2, 3 or 5 years and we will never see your face again. When you stay out, whenever you make your mind after 5 or 20 years, you come back and get initiated. Stay a member of congregation, namahatta, folk members. We do not force you but you are taking this step of wanting initiation then you have to commit yourself for full lifetime, whole heartedly. 
What else is there to do? If you think you have something important to do other
than Krsna's service, Krsna consciousness, then you are in maya.

So, those who are taking hare krsna, maha mantra initiation, harinama diksha, we say to you please, take shelter. Normally, I do not speak like that but I thought I was keeping you waiting and one reason I was saying that is I did not have good experiences. Some of these prabhus are turning against, getting into maya, going back to the drugs, going to some sampradayas. Batch after batch we initiate and after 2 or 5 years, the scene is completely different and there is frustration. 

We take seriously; I took seriously. When you came and take initiation I thought you are going to be with us for the rest of your life and serve Prabhupada's mission, you would have chant for the rest of your life, you will follow principles for the rest your life. Do not do that. 

There are ten offences. We say them every morning. That is part of the program you have to say them again. The first offence is not to offend vaisnavas, they are worshipable, they are very dear to Krsna and those who want to worship Krsna and not His devotees they are called third class devotees. Simple definition of kanistha adhikari. They are very expert in worshipping the Lord but vaisnavas, they are ready to kick, punch in the face. Aarti to the Lord and punch in vaisnavas' face. This is third class. Krsna does not like that. "Love my dog. If you want to love me, love my dog," in the west they say. They love dogs so much. In India they would say "Love my cow." So, we are dogs of Krsna, devotees of Krsna and we have to love them.

Second offence is to consider names of demigods, there are so many of them. How many? 33 crores, 330 0000 demigods. To consider their names to be equal to or independent of Lord Visnu, of Lord  Krsna is an offence. The devotees from the west have no problem with this offence because they are not into any worship including demigods worship. But in India we have problems, Bangladesh, of some very popular God.

Third offence is to disobey orders of the spiritual master. So, do not disobey the orders. A lot of people in India do not accept guru because they know, "If I accept guru then I am stuck, I have to follow his orders." So they are smart. What do they do? They do not accept the spiritual master then they think they are not committing
this offence. You see how they are thinking. They also do not go to the discourse because they know the sadhus are going to say do not do this and that. You are just eating, sleeping, mating. They already know what sadhus will say so they stay away from sadhus and do not accept guru.

But of course sastras say,

tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh shreya uttamam

Sastras are insisting that if you want to be qualified human being you must accept spiritual master and once you have accept do not disobey. The holy name also is not to be offended.
 
Fourth offence is to blaspheme the Vedic literature. Common offences are sashtras are misinterpreted and read such sastras is an offence. So better in ISKCON, we stick to Prabhupada's books, read them and distribute books. Distributing means serving the scriptures. If you have committed an offence against the shastras you carry books and distribute them. Sastras will forgive you. Sastras will be pleased.  Fifth offence is to consider the glories of chanting to be an imagination. It is not imagination, no exaggeration. The holy name is powerful, none different from the Lord. Jagai and Madhai have attained perfection of their life just by chanting hare krsna. Sastra says harer namaiva kevalam. The glories of the holy name are true, no imagination, no exaggeration.

Sixth offence is interpretation of the holy name. So many interpretations are there. They say, "Why hare krsna mantra? Any mantra." Some asramas give you lists of all possible mantras you could chant. They say, "Chant the mantra of your choice. Why maha mantra has to chanted? Or any mantra is okay. Why a mantra? You
could just say any word and you would achieve the same result." This is also interpretation.

Seventh offence is committing sins on the strength of the holy name. This is commonly done in all the religions, in the Indian religions. That is why we go on the banks of Ganga. We sin all year long and then go at the time of Kumbh Mela, take a dip and think we have freed from sins and ready to sin more. Like that, thus is a dangerous path and should be avoided.

Eighth is to consider chanting of hare krsna same as some ritualistic activity mentioned in karma kanda section. Especially, to consider social welfare activities on same level as chanting. Chanting is bhakti yoga and social welfare work may be some good activity. So, there is a big difference between shudha sattva and sattva guna.

Ninth offence is to preach to a faithless person.
jare tako tare tako krsna upadesha

In general, we encourage everyone to chant, to read, everyone to take prasad and we talk of some general basic process. But to talk some confidential, deep subject matters to some new comers or wordly people, this has to be avoided. According to the person that we are preaching to, his elevation in Krsna consciousness corresponding topics should be preached. 

Tenth offence is not to have complete faith in chanting and maintain material attachments after hearing so many instructions on the subject matter. So this you understand. The final offence, which is not part of the tenth offence, is to be inattentive while chanting the holy name. So, be very attentive when you are chanting the names of the Lord. You are calling the Lord and once the Lord is there, you are not receiving Him, you are not paying attention to Him. This is like giving someone appointment or asking someone to come over to the party. He comes and you are not there. You have given appointment to someone and you are busy in something else or you just take off or you go out of station. How does that sound? Not proper, right? Certainly offending that guest. 

So, when you are chanting the names of the Lord, you are calling, "My Lord, please come. Please, engage me as your eternal servant." So, that the Lord is taking seriously and coming but once He comes, you are busy in something else, you are not there. You are there and not there at the same time. Physically there, mentally
elsewhere. At some time in our life, although everyday we recite the ten offences as a ritual. So we have to follow these ten offences so that we can quickly achieve the desired goal of life which is Krsna prema.

Those who are taking second initiation they become brahmins. We have European brahmins, American brahmins. Yesterday, I was talking to someone and I was reminded how Bhaktisiddhanta's disciples went to the west, went to England and one time they had an appointment with the members of the royal family and they have heard of this title brahmin and they were wondering, 

“Oh, could you make us also brahmin?” 
And Bhaktisiddhanta's follower said,  “Oh yeah, no problem. Yes, we could make
you brahmin.”

“So, what do we going to have to do to become brahmin?”

“No meat eating, no intoxication, no illicit sex, no gambling and few other things he were going to say and before he was going to make the list complete, their response was” 

“Impossible! We cannot do this, and can not to do! Then what do I do? There is
nothing else left to do.”

But now, by the grace of Prabhupada, we have some American, European, Australian and African are brahmins. Some them are becoming qualified, learned. So that is the thing. The brahmin have become learned and read and can teach.
They worship and they teach others. Brahmin is basically learned teacher, he is teaching by example, knowledgeable person.

vidya-vinaye-sampane 
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca
panditah sama-darsinah [B.G. 5.18]

He has lots of vidya, knowledge, and he is also humble. And there are many other qualities of brahmin mentioned in the scriptures, the 18th chapter of Bhagavad Gita, text 42, Krsna talks about brahma karma svabhava ja, qualities of a brahma. When you come here you are promising to follow all the principles in all presence of spiritual master and Prabhupada is here and the priests, Vrndavana is here, the fire and paramatma. Keeping in mind that there are so many persons witnessing. You will be promising to follow rules, to chant 16 rounds and you will stay in ISKCON, serve ISKCON for the rest of your life.  Bhakti Caru Maharaj always say when he gives initiation, "And you will serve ISKCON for the rest of your life.”

Initiation ceremony starts.