Topic – How should a Vaishnav behave?

Date – 4th June 2024

HG Padmamali Pr- Hare Krishna. PAMHO. Today, On Dwadashi, we have Hg Keshav Murari prabhu from ISKCON rohini for a japa talk. He is in the important position of ICC and ISKCON Rohini. It is our good fortune that a realised soul is in between us and following Prabhupada teachings strictly and faithfully. Recently, there was an opening of ISKCOn rohini and it was inaugurated by HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. He has taken out time from his busy schedule to give us association. We are very grateful and would like him to start the Japa Talk.

HG Keshav Murari Prabhu – Hare Krsna. Dandavat Pranam. All glories to HH Lokanatha swami maharaj. It is my fortune that I got darshan of so many vaishnavas in the morning.

“Vānchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca,
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ.”

Translate:

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnavas, who are just like desire trees and can fulfil the desires of everyone, and who are full of compassion for the fallen souls.”

I am amazed to see that for so many years devotees are coming together to chant in one forum. It is very difficult to gather devotees or Hindus together in India. There is a saying ,”Uniting Hindus is like weighing frogs.” It  describes the difficulty in bringing Hindus together due to their diverse beliefs and practices. There are almost more than 2000 devotees everyday gathering.This is a big achievement. All glories to HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj.

I am supposed to speak on Vaishnava behaviour. I will try to speak according to my qualifications. It is not  possible to chant all the glories of Krsna – even Ananta shesha can not do so. But Krsna says that He can be defeated by His devotees. By looking at their surrender, humility and behaviour, Krsna’s heart also melts. Krishna says, “I am sold out by my devotees. I dance to their tunes because the Supreme Lord, to whom everyone is surrendered, is Himself sold out to His devotees. These devotees are worshipable by everyone, including the Lord Himself.”

In our sampradaya, every acharya is exceptionally great. It is not easy to run this movement. This Hare Krishna Movement is going on, nurtured and protected by these acharyas only. Sometimes we may think, “I did this” during our services. Sometimes devotees feel they should get some recognition for the devotional service that they have done.” I should get some position because of my services” we may think like that. No doubt, our acharyas purify us from time to time and relieve us from this ego. Still we are conditioned, and this is Kaliyuga. So it is natural to think like that. Sometimes when deities are brought somewhere, they go on chariots. And at every place, deities are being worshipped, bhoga is offered so horses of that chariot may think”we are being worshipped”. Similarly if a devotee feels that he is doing something for the movement, we should realise that all the empowerment to do these services is coming from the disciplic succession, our acharyas. We are very fortunate that we are connected to this bonafide authentic sampradaya and it is the Topmost. In our sampradaya, Krishna Himself came in the mood of Srimati Radharani, became an acharya. Mahaprabhu is the best example of an acharya. He has shown the right standard of a renunciant, a spiritual master and a devotee. Similarly In this lineage there are so many great acharyas – Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati thakur, Srila Prabhupada and present guru. They all carry the same mood. We are all well protected.

This ship of ISKCON may sway in the material ocean sometimes. Sometimes devotees may think, “why is this ship wavering? I hope this ship doesn’t sink.” But when the ship’s captain is Srila Prabhupada and protected by all ISKCON gurus, the favourable air.” Sometimes there may be strong winds when an acharya left just like when Prabhupada left, many people jumped from the ship thinking that it would sink. And now they are sitting in small boats and seeing that the ship is strongly protected, expanding then they regret. But they are not able to come back.

Sometimes, we also try to take short cuts and go to different sadhus (out of ISKCON). We forget that we are in a ship which is protected by Srila Prabhupada, the pre-eminent acharya. When we are not in devotion, we do not know philosophy so that time we all know what we did in the name of spirituality? We used to go to so many temples, so many gurus etc. Our philosophy was not clear. We used to eat everything and do whatever we like. We came into Krsna consciousness, we understood what bhakti is, about Lord and His incarnations, position of demigods and ISKCON and other institutions. But now after knowing the philosophy of Krsna consciousness we are safe. After knowing all this, we still go to other gurus (outside ISKCON) just by looking at their videos on Youtube. We think,”oh this guru said a very nice thing” but we should know everything is given in the books and purports of Srila Prabhupada. His disciples are saying the same things as it is. Acharya means to present Krsna consciousness as it is, the same knowledge he has received from his spiritual master- he is giving to his disciples as it is. This is the quality of an acharya. And to see whether they’re following it properly or not. Sometimes people see that there are many rules and regulations in ISKCON and they go left and right. They commit offence unto the lotus feet of Prabhupada and spiritual master. Once Srila Prabhupada’s followers in Vrindavan went to other gurus, Srila Prabhupad had tears in his eyes. He said,”I have given everything in my books.”

The problem is that when we are in the wrong association then we have shortcomings. Today this social media is a good platform to interact with one another but this can also be a reason for our fall down. That’s why, whatever Srila Prabhupada has given in his books and the way Vaishnavas lived their life,we have to see that only. There’s no better principle than this. But we have shortcomings because we don’t have to read 4 vedas, 18 puranas, 108 upanishads. We just heard Prabhupada lectures and read his golden purports, we got everything. We understood everything but we still want shortcuts. We got the biggest shortcut. What did you know before coming into Krsna consciousness? We are looking for a spiritual organisation where there are no regulative principles or maybe just 3 or 2 or 1 regulative principles. We want an organisation where the spiritual master does not interfere in our lives. Who wants a spiritual master like this? This is the age of Kali. Who wants a spiritual master who wakes us up in the morning at 5 am and asks to chant with him on zoom. Nobody wants it. He won’t allow us to be in mode of ignorance or mode of passion. He would teach us through his behaviour that i wake up and chant, you also wake up and chant with me, hear the lecture. So this way if we get influenced by any youtube video of sadhus outside ISKCON, then we may leave this ship of ISKCON.this is the greatest loss of life. We should be alert. Follow regulative principles properly, chant Hare krishna mahamantra attentively, hear the mantra properly while chanting and read Srila Prabhupada books, hear the Prabhupada disciples. If we continue to come together and chant like this everyday in the morning and hear philosophy then our spiritual path will be safe, clear, protected and surely we will advance. And one day we will attain Krsna prem in our heart.

Bhakti is a science. As you’ll move forward, you’ll see the results.Initially it takes us away from gross materialism or bad habits. This is the beginning of bhakti. Gradually, when we chant and avoid vaishnava offences or chant attentively, then we start to acquire divine qualities which Lord Krsna tells in Bhagavad Gita or mentioned in Nectar of devotion. Gradually we see that our humility, tolerance is increasing and lust, anger, greed or material desires are decreasing. Then it makes a beautiful chart of our life. We start appreciating good qualities in Vaishnavas.This way, by continuously practising, we will start respecting Vaishnavas more. We will be inspired by them and will see the good qualities in them. One begins to follow acharays. Srimad Bhagavatma tells us who is a vaishnava?

A Vaishnava is a person who remains unaffected in any situation, even if disrespected, beaten, or criticised by everyone. Despite such treatment, they do not retaliate. This level of humility is cultivated in Vaishnava. So first of all, Krishna won’t allow any situation like this in a devotee’s life but sometimes if Krsna does that, then a Vaishnava shows complete surrender to the Lord in those situations. They show “Krsna ek sharanam”- Krishna is the only shelter. They completely surrender from mind, words and body to Krsna.This way, through their behaviour, they show that everyone should follow this behaviour.

Our life seems to be like 100 years but nowadays it is approximately 70 years. Still we don’t know when death will take place. That’s why, whatever time we have, we should be serious. We see, in cities, people are getting serious diseases from the age of 35 or 40. We have seen that our ancestors died while enjoying only and now also in old age, they say that there is no peace of mind, we have unfulfilled desires. When we see this all around us that people, although engaged in sense gratification, are highly miserable then “A word to the wise is sufficient.” Sometimes there is a jam and we arr moving in the same direction on road, then we see a car coming from frog after taking a U turn and gives a sign to us that “dont go forward – there is jam, take a u turn”. If we understand that sign, then that is intelligence. Similarly, Lord Krishna is giving a sign in Bhagavad Gita,

[Bg. 13.9]

Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-

Duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam

Translation:

the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease.

All the acharyas are giving the same sign. But if we still say that i want to enjoy, want to eat, earn, drink etc. i dont want to give donation. Sometimes we become devotees but still our children are studying in the same demoniac schools. So they dont understand what parents are doing. They see parents as aliens. First duty of parents is to take their children to ISKCON temples, send them in gurukula or sunday programs so that from childhood they will get right assocaitiong and right knowledge. We areb not able to open schools like that in society. A lot of energy we spent on children to make them devotees. With this there is discrepancy between parents and children. Ultimately one gives up.

SB 5.5.18

gurur na sa syāt sva-jano na sa syāt

pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt…

na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum

Translation:

One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.

So this world runs of fellowship, what one follows , everybody follows. But they have wrong Heros in this world. Real heroes are our acharyas who have controlled their senses, mind and body. They are real acharyas. These acharyas have protected dharma, society, devotional principles. Because of them, we are able to be pure. In Bhagavatam Krsna walks in Goloka, dust (saffron particles) comes when he walks, it enters into the heart. Acharyas when speak about Krsna, sing Krsna’s glories enters into the heart of a conditioned soul. In CC

CC Ādi 1.1

vande gurūn īśa-bhaktān īśam īśāvatārakān tat-prakāśāṁś ca tac-chaktīḥ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-saṁjñakam

Translation:

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual masters, the devotees of the Lord, the Lord’s incarnations, His plenary portions, His energies and the primeval Lord Himself, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya.

Krishna comes in six forms-  Caitanya Maharpabhu, Vaishnava, guru, energies, incarnations and Himslef Acaryas are also Krsna’s represntatives, we should respect them contemplate and remember them. If we remember them then we will be purified. When they will come and if we serve thenw think of the benefits. This si our only asset taht we have earned- avishnava sang their teaching. We just have to dedicate our time in this. Whatever time we have , we should engage in devotional services, hearing acharyas instrcutions, chanting and preaching to others so that they can be inspired. Then our life will also be successful. Otherwise, if we miss this opportunity and leave the ship then we will be very unfortunate. In spiritual life, A and Z of Bhakti is onyl Vaishnavas.

chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba:

without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement.

So if we commit any offense towards Vaishnava or Krishna, krishna maynot forgive but if we glorify and serve Vaishnavas then Krsna will be pleased and if vaishnavas are pleased with us then they will request Krishna to accept you and Krishna cannot deny anyone if  His dear vaishnavas request anything. A to Z of spiritual life and everything is dependent on vaishnavas and acharays.Or else if one neglects this opportunity then one will fall in the material pool. If devotees are pleased with us , Krsna is pleased.

We start our morning by glorifying and sprayers to Vaishnavas. From morning till evening, we glorify and pray to vaishnavas this helps us to grow in our devotional life. That’s why our morning starts with samsara dava nala lidha  Loka- guru puja. Devotees should always glorify vaishnaavs and remember vaishnavas in heart.

Hg Padmamali Prabhu speaks – Thank you prabhuji. We can take some questions from today’s talk.

Q-I am in devotional life but my child is not inclined ? What to do ?

A- We have started Bhakti very late. And for children it’s a drastic change. They see the outside world and get attached. Children may be fearful that their friends may make fun of them. Second reason is, One doesn’t have a community of devotees also. Nevertheless one can stay near the temple and have different classes at least half a day, once a week. Slowly they may change. There should be programs for children where they can do numbe of activities.  When they grow older , they can be told about philosophy of Krsna consciousness. About death and mishaps. We have answers to all questions. You could do more hearing and chanting. And also educate them. Serve them Prasadam. We should do our job of putting efforts to make them Krsan cosnciosuness.  And make them understand that this  material world is temporary. It is a place of misery. No matter how hard you try, there will be disappointment in this material world.  When the children realise this they will definitely take a u turn.

Q- Some are good devotees in temple , but they leave association of temple devotees due to some misunderstandings. They practise in solitude. How to bring them back?

A- all devotees have a different mind set. Many people come into ISKCON. There 84 lakh varieties of devotees also not just species. There will be difference of opinion. One should be worried when one doesn’t get Prasadam for more than two times a day , or snatches away ones japa mala , or is nit allowed to attend Bhagavatam class. They think that my ideas are nice and whatever i say is important for the mission. Second, we should not expect. Third, you should give your opinion and ideas without any attachment that this will happen. We should not be worried till we are not geting prasadam, no clothes to wear, not able to chant, they have snatched beads, not leeting you attend Bhagavatam class, not giving opportunity to serve in temple then we should be worried in all these cases. There can be many services which are no tin temple like book distribution, sankirtan etc. if you are not able to do these things then you talk to management authority. If you are getting all this and more than this then be grateful to Lord and management and serve selflessly. If theres more problem then dance in kritan for hours and hours. Those devotees who are upset with some aspects of other devotees , they wait for other devotees to come and call me or appreciate me so we should do that. We must be called them back. If leaders are sensitive then what can be done. We should be busy in chanting, hearing Bhagavatam and serving vaishnavas.

Hg Padmamali Prabhu Question- Sometimes congregation devotees feel that there is a lot of favouritism, politics in temple. They feel our group is the best. They feel that they must chant in their homes. As going to temple  will create a lot of conflicts. There is no need of going to temple and vaishnavs. Because not going near to vaishnavas can save us from vaishnav offense. But how can one save such devotees?

A- In our Rohini temple, all are connected to temple. Some Devotees make their own groups. But they are connected to temple. Sometimes sincere soul gets hurt and they begin their own group. Now that sincere devotee is happy and others are also happy. But if you’re away from temple, not serving directly. They have their own concerns which hould be heard.Initially they also feel nice about the same. But gradually Maya Devi takes charge.And she makes the devotee realise that they are the best. You’re not getting proper respect.And then get detached from the temple. Then again Maya enters and says if no body is asking you from temple and so many followers are listening to you, then there lectures change gradually. They tell people that what all wrong happened with me and then those people went to a different group. This happened in Punjabi Bagh. main leaders had a conflict with management. All 200-300 devotees left the temple and now they are completely off the track. They are in radhakund and names liek Manajri are given to them. Now they have opened shops in vrindavan or driving autos there. They are not even chanting 2 rounds. Later people realise what mistake we have committed. There should be discussion always in meetings. So every  preacher , authority must have a leader above them to always guide. No matter how big a preacher is, but there should be someone on his head. Independent preachers mostly have s chanc to deviate if there no one to chastise or correct or guide. Because they’ll feel that they are lord. Who is your authority in this big ISKCON. There should be someone. Of someone is following noone, then they should not follow spiritual life. Becasue that perosn will be doomed.  Having a leader canl save them from a lot of trouble. This has come form ISKCON.

Q- How to regulate our life so that we can always be enthusiastic in spiritual life. Because if a husband is not devotee then it is difficult to be enthusiastic always.

Ans- If all are devotees then one should sit together and discuss how to progress spiritually, but if not all are dveotees then we have to adjustments. And sometimes for there happiness, we can go for their happiness to malls or shopping. Once a girl, devotee and her husband , both were devotees. So this girl’s sister and husband’s brother had a love affair from 7 years then they got married. But they were so nice devotees. But boy had a habit to eat meat. Girl was good devotee. She denied eating meat eating, alcohol adked to go for movies. Then they got divorced. Husband asked her to cook meat bu tnot to eat. So I asked her, to have a successful married life, you could have made adjustments. You’re not chanting 16 rounds so you could have managed. You could have gone to see a movie and then in return, once asked him to come to temple. Then you’re chanting and uplifting him also. I  asked her should i see a good devotee match for you? She said, yes but not so good devotee because then there will be problem. So she wants a little bit of spiritual life an dlittle material life also. this shows your mentality. Because you dont know what do you want. Initially we should make adjustments and try to make family also devotees. We can also make some clarifications with them that i am followifn this path and i am facing this problem. If we communicate then that can also solve problems.

HG Padmamali Pr- We are very grateful to Prabhuji for taking out time from their busy schedule. He missed darshan aarti and gru puja because eof us. We should also take benefit of such association. I would like to express sincere gratitude on behalf of all. We would request to come again. We are looking forward for your guidance in future again.

Sri harinaam prabhu ki jai.
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai.
HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj ki Jai.

 

Date: 05 June 2024

Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj

Topic: Meditation

HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj:

The Rainy Season is here! Birds are understanding and they are chirping. You are not the devotees attending the KanyaDaan, but you are attending this zoom conference. Just listen and chant.

A chanter is a soul himself. You can say, I chant with my mouth. But if there will be no soul within this body, then can you chant?  The soul makes the body to chant. The soul will be delivered by chanting. We have to make our soul a devotee. The body can be delivered by Fire sacrifice at the time of death. We have experienced this many times. But the endeavor of delivering the soul is still remaining.

BG 7.19:

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

Translation:

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

Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2; Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.7.28:

mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ
kāraṇaṁ bandha-mokṣayoḥ
bandhāya viṣayāsaṅgo
muktyai nirviṣayaṁ manaḥ

Translation:

“For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation.” (Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2)(Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.7.28)

The mind is the only cause of our good and bad deeds. Mind plays an important role in our life. Mind is the cause of attachments as well as detachments.

 

When we chant attentively, then we will become devotees and be delivered. We have to chant thinking that these names are the lord himself. Who? Krishna!

This meditation will make us liberated and a devotee also.

CC Madhya 17.133:

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ

Translation:

‘The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure.

Kṛṣṇa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.’

The chanters are called Japa yogis. This chanting is also a type of yoga, like bhakti yoga, Dhyan yoga. Another name for the eightfold yogas especially when it is done with love and devotion, the crane bird stands still, like he is meditating and sometimes on one leg for a long time. Externally we may think this is meditation or Dhyan yoga but he is pretending that he is not interested in any of the bugs and little fishes. But really he is thinking only about them. So, he is not undergoing meditation So, all of us are also thinking but about material objects; ; like touch, smell, sight, etc

BG 2.62:

dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate
sangat sanjayate kamah
kamat krodho ‘bhijayate

Translation:

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

We get trapped in the thoughts of seeing television, newspapers or any saree or refrigerator.Our minds get attached to the contemplated objects very fastly and then lust arises. We all are lusty. We are all thinking always, but, about material things in every step, in every life. When the desire is not fulfilled, then one is frustrated and anger arises.

BG 2.63:

krodhad bhavati sammohah
sammohat smrti-vibhramah
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso
buddhi-nasat pranasyati

Translation:

From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool.

What is the end result?

Krishna says that this will end up with hell. The doors of hell will open. These doors are anger, lust, illusion etc.

BG 14.18:

 ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ

Translation:

“Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.”

The sinful activities will then lead us to hell and we will get entangled. So, this is the way the mind binds us and takes us to hell.

So, become a Japa Yogi. Yoga means link. Link like a bullock is yoked to the cart. The root in Sanskrit is yuj. By yoga, we establish our relation with the Lord. Spiritual life begins from relation with lord. Sambandha, then abhideya and then prayojana. These are philosophies. We should learn when we chant we should reach our worshipable lord, Ishta deva. Harinam is our Ishta deva. For the japa yogis, harinam is our foremost worshipable lord. How?

By understanding that hari and harinam is the same everyone has their Ishta deva-worship able lord. We should make the Lord our worshipable God. Lord Sri Caitanya says:

Caitanya-manjusa:

ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa tanayas tad dhāma śrī vrṇdāvanam
ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū vargeṇa vā kalpitā
śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalaṁ purāṇaṁ
śrī-caitanya mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatrādarāḥ na paraḥ

Translation:

The Personality of Godhead Śrī Krishna, Who is known as the son of the King of Vrajadhāma i.e. Śrī Nanda Mahārajā, is the ultimate worshipful Lord of all Lords. Similarly His residential abode namely the holy place of Vṛndāvana is as much worshipful as the Lord is Himself. The ways of His worship maybe various but the one which was conceived by the circle of the damsels of Vrajadhāma is unsurpassable by any other devotee. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Purāṇam is the unalloyed guidance for this purpose of approaching the worshipful Lord and that is the sum total opinion or cultural philosophy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

We have to meditate on the holy name and reach to our worshipable lord. He can be in Pandharpur or in Mayapur, and anywhere? Can it be demigods?

BG 4.12:

kāṅkṣhantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ
yajanta iha devatāḥ
kṣhipraṁ hi mānuṣhe loke
siddhir bhavati karmajā

Translation:

In this world, those desiring success in material activities worship the celestial gods, since material rewards manifest quickly.

Kamis or the people, who have desires, make demigods their Ishta deva, just to fulfill their desires.

BG 7.20:

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

Translation:

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

So, how can we understand who is really worshipable? By reaching a guru.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

Translation:

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

This is the arrangement of the lord.

BG 4.34:

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

Translation:
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

What do we do there?

Many times our eyes are open but we still can see. As we are blinded by lust, anger, envy etc
and our entire life is spent without seeing the lord. So, we can reach our worship-able lord wherever they are.

But, the reality is we don’t know where our lord is. Lord says himself that I reside in your heart, go here and there and remember the lord there. It is good so we think this is far that is near, forget the distance when we meditate we will not be here. But we will be with whoever we are thinking about or he will be here. So, in reality there is no distance, like Srila Prabhupada would say even though i’m in New York, i feel like i’m in Vrindavan. The Supreme Personality of Godhead says:

Padam Puran:

nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe
yogināṁ hṛdayeṣu vā
tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada
yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ

Translation:

“I am not in Vaikuṇṭha nor in the hearts of the yogīs. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities.”

It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees. The gopis were thinking where are you oh lord! but when they came together and started singing the Gopi Geet, Krishna appeared there. As his song is non different from him, he appeared so.

Upon whom we meditate, we worship by meditating he is with us. Lord’s name is Aradhya-worshipable. This is not speculation. This is truth or tattva.

Cc. Ādi 17.21:

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

Translation:

‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.’

As sadhu, guru and sastra says this. then we wont take birth again and go back home to godhead.

BG 4.9:

janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

Translation:

One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.

So, there are various tattvas or truths. So, we should learn from tattva darshis- knowers of the truth coming in the Parampara. My Godbrother HH Sacinandana Swami says your lord is with you in your heart. So reach your heart. There is a beautiful courtyard. Take your mind along and there is the lord. Pay obeisance to the lord. This is all meditation. Wake up the lord in the morning with prayers as he is a small boy who has to be lovingly woken up. Open the door and sing and request in sweet words and worship them.

Uthi Uthi Gopala

Wake them up sweetly and worship them.

Uthishtothishta Govinda
uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha
thrilokyam mangalam kuru (Twice)

Translation:

Sri Govinda! all the three worlds are under your rule; they have to prosper.  Wake Up!

So, while you are chanting you are worshiping him in your heart. We shouldn’t worship deities without mantras. Jiva goswami says harinam and pancharatrika Vidhi should go together. So, while we are chanting we are waking up the lord and bathing him with water from all the holy rivers in golden pots putting sandalwood paste.

Gangge Ca Yamune Cai[a-E]va Godaavari Sarasvati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri Jale-[A]smin Sannidhim Kuru ||

Translation:
O Holy Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and also Godavari and Saraswati, O Holy Rivers Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri; Please be Present in this Water (and make it Holy).

We chanters can chant and service the deities simultaneously. Then you dress the lord, and feed the lord.

So, this becomes the topic of meditation. We have to understand that the Holyname is the lord’s form, qualities, abode, pastimes.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare – Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama rama Hare Hare

So, chanting attentively means chanting equipped with these meditations of his form, his qualities, his abode, his pastimes, his devotees like Haridas Thakura. Is this mundane to remember Haridas Thakur?

Your mind should be in the mantra and mantra should be in your mind. Mantra means man-mind, tra-trayate- mann(Mind) also means manan or what we have heard to meditate on it and contemplate on it. By doing so, the mantra delivers the mind and thus this becomes the path of our deliverance.

There is no hard and fast rule. We can make some rules and sankalpas in our hearts.

We can meditate in this way, go to your heart’s courtyard and worship the lord, and sing for them. So chant and meditate. All mantras are there in the Hare Krishna mahamantra. We can’t meditate on zero. Some meditate on a flame that will burn your life. The impersonalist, what can they meditate on? Just by seeing the rays of the sun. Can we know the sun in its entirety? Sun is a planet. Sun is a Demigod too.

Sb 1.2.11:

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Translation:

Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.

We should understand and learn according to the parampara.

BG 4.2:

evam parampara-praptam
imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kaleneha mahata
yogo nastah parantapa

Translation:

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

 

JapaTalk :7 June, 2024
Speaker: H. G. Parthsarathi Das
Theme: Importance of Morning Program
Sub Theme: Introduction
Hare Krsna!!

Due to the causeless mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga we get an opportunity to get up daily in the morning, perform Japa (remembering the Supreme Lord), kirtan (bhajan),aarti and getting the association of transcendental devotees. Why should we perform all these activities? What is the importance? We will try to understand this with the help of a slide show.

Morning program is very essential for our devotional service. It is known as prime time or Brahma-muhurta. It is a very important part of the day. How do we spend this time day, is very essential for us to understand? Srila Prabhupada has given a lot of stress on morning programs. We will try to understand some of the quotes of Srila Prabhupada.

I will share it right now. Why is – the morning time so essential for us?

Sub Theme: Importance of morning program.
As you are aware, that we have Mangal Aarti every morning in all our ISKCON temples. (Mostly at 4.30am and some temples depending on the surroundings at 5am). 4.30am is our prime time.

The second aarti in the temple takes place at 7.30am.

A day consists of 24 hours which has 8 prahars (sub divisions in a day). Each prahar is made up of 3 hours. You can see that from 4.30am to 7.30am is one prahar consisting of 3 hours. SrilaP rabhupada has given us all this after a lot of thought process, based on proper understanding of the disciplic succession and whatever is right for us. We donot have to search for it more here and there in other sampradaya. Whatever Srila Prabhupada has given us it is sufficient for us to go back to Godhead. This is essential for us – to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This morning program is held in every temple. You can visit any of the ISKCON temples. You will hear the sound of the conch shell. Some people wake up and glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We begin by glorifying the spiritual master by singing vandegurohsri-charanaravindam (Sri Gurvashtakam). The spiritual master has opened our eyes by giving us this transcendental knowledge. (Various gurus in the form of diksha guru, shiksha guru, chaitya guru and path pradarshak guru). We have a feeling of humbleness towards them. We offer our respectful obeisance’s at the lotus feet of the spiritual master.

Then we sing prayers the NarsimhaArti (we have received the mercy of the spiritual master). We pray to Sri Narsimha deva to remove the obstacles from the path of our Bhakti and save us from the attacks of maya.

namastenarasimhaya
prahladahlada-dayine
hiranyakasiporvakshahsila-
tanka-nakhalaye

Translation:
I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chiselson the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.[Verse No 1- NarsimhaArti]

All glories to VignavinashakNarsimha Deva Bhagwan!!

After praying for the removal of obstacles from the path of our devotional service – then we pray for the enhancement of our Bhakti.

We pray to Srimati Tulsi Maharani.

(om) vrindayaitulasi-devyaipriyayaikeshavasya ca
vishnu-bhakti-pradedevisatyavatyainamonamah

Translation:
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrinda, Srimati Tulasi-devi, who is very dear to Lord Keshava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Krishna and you possess the highest truth. [Tulsi Pranam Mantra]

Then after offering obeisances to Tulsi Maharani, we begin with our Japa.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁvidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁprati-padaṁpūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁparaṁvijayateśrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

Translation:
Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step. [CC Antya 20.12]

After cleansing the mirror of our heart we recite the 10 offences to the holy names and then start.

Hare Krsna Hare KrsnaKrsnaKrsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare

Srimad Bhagavatam is Shravan Bhakti – as told to us by our acharyas. What is Bhagawad Gita? It is also Shravan Bhakti.

Shravanam is very important.

Sub Theme: Just hear (Knowing Krsna by hearing about Him)
Lord Himself has told.

śrī-bhagavānuvāca
mayyāsakta-manāḥpārtha
yogaṁyuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
asaṁśayaṁsamagraṁmāṁ
yathājñāsyasi tac chṛṇu

Translation:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Pṛthā, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.[BG 7.1]

Lord tells if –you want to be attached to Me and take My shelter. You have to hear Bhagavad Gita and SrimadBhagavatam.Hence, in our morning programs we hear and sing various aartis and perform Japa. What is its significance?
It is a big seminar. I will try to cover it in brief.

The benefits of morning program and the challenges we face while attending the morning program and its solutions. We have to understand its various aspects. We have to understand – what will we gain if we donot attend the morning programs. Then we will understand the significance of morning programs.

Our intention is to develop attachment and love for morning programs.
Some of you might be having doubts, why is it necessary to get up early in the morning. We can take rest or sleep right now and do our japa later when we wake up.

What will be consequences (harmful results)? What will we lose? We will discuss this today. We have to keep this in mind always that – to wake up early, cleaning, performing puja in the temple – has to be done in the morning. To continue doing these activities we have to take certain precautions. The most important is to chant – 16 rounds of Japa daily alongwithaarti and kirtan – with complete dedication. As we have promised – our Gurumaharaj, before the sacrificial fire in a dham in the presences of Vaishnavas. What was that promise? We will chant 16 rounds and follow the 4 regulative principles.

Sub Theme: Letters by Srila Prabhupada
SrilaPrabhupada – on 10th January, 1972 – had written a letter to Premananda Kulusekhara prabhuji in Bombay. Chanting 16 rounds is very essential and we should always maintain this highest level of Krishna Conscious standard. This will help us to advance in Krishna Consciousness. Which things? routine work—such as rising early, cleansing, chanting, temple worship, reading, sankirtana, etc. We should chant 16 rounds regularly. Srila Prabhupada had laid down these standards and the same has been followed by our Gurudeva in parampara and is followed by other devotees too in continuation.

Please think – why do we take part in the morning program? What are its benefits? Why should we take part in it?
Guest come or do not turn up – we should follow our morning program. Is your temple a part of ISKCON? Who is your spiritual master? – In this way, Srila Prabhupada once scolded a disciple. Disciple – replied “I am your disciple”. This has been wriiten by H. G. BhurijanaDasa. Then – Srila Prabhupada asked – “Why don’t you follow the morning program?” Srila Prabhupada – showed me my faults or limitations. Sometimes we have sevas or guests or utsavs but why don’t we have the morning programs. Morning programs are very essential. Srila Prabhupada has stressed a lot on its implementation. In the book titled “My Glorious Spiritual Master” H. G. Bhurijana Dasa has written his experiences. Srila Prabhupada – has often stressed that all the ISKCON temples to have morning programs.

Srila Prabhupada tells that all the devotees should take part in Mangala Aarti else no prasadam. Now-a-days many temples in ISKCON have laid down the rules that if you donot attend – morning program then no prasadam. I have heard in some – temples if you are late for Mangal Aarti then no chapatti, and still more late then no rice and dal and complete fasting. This has been written by SrilaPrabhupada – if you are ill and you miss – MangalAarti then you have to skip prasadam. Do not sleep during ManglaAarti time, we fall ill during the morning program. We are not ill during prasadam. Where does the disease go at that time? Sickness is in the mind. We have a false ego – I will not go for the morning program. Practise mind control, else we cannot attend morning programs. If we are seriously ill consult a doctor. Normally, the mind tells – I donot want to wake up I donot want to go. If we endeavour to wake up – Lord will bestow his causeless mercy upon us. Srila Prabhupada tells that if one – doesnot attend morning programs then he should be punished. It is necessary, as this time is very important.

Srila Prabhupada in Prabhupada Lilamrita – Chapter 49 mentions that Srila Prabhupada – was cautious about the attendance of the devotees in the morning programs daily. Srila Prabhupada called a temple President and asked him why certain devotees were – absent during Mangal Aarti daily? Srila Prabhupada told morning programs are very essential. He would enquire about devotees. A spiritual – master takes us back to Godhead. We should follow his instructions. Srila Prabhupada would observe some devotees are not coming for Mangal Aarti. Like Gurumaharaj also often tells us that we should be ready at 5am. This zoom temple is going on since the last 5 to 6 years. In spite of Gurudeva’s extensive travelling by train or bus or car, Gurudeva joins the zoom temple. We too should participate on time.

2 things are important in Bhakti – regularity and cleanliness. A slight neglect in following these processes – will lead to making all other devotional processes a failure.

The name of the chapter is Backbone of our Spiritual life. Morning program is our backbone of our spiritual life. If we donot wake up in the morning – it will become a mourning program. We will keep on crying this is not done that is not done throughout the day. (Blaming, wailing and mourning. It is known as BMW). We will shout and blame others or will be sad or will run after solutions.

We are neglectful due to our carelessness. Then mayadevi will attack us. Many times during driving – if is said that if we are not alert then there are chances for accidents or losses. Someone could lose his life. A sanyasi tells that one sense is sufficient – for a devotees fall down. We have to be alert at every moment. Eg there is a bridge or flyover, a small crack in it if neglected – can lead to its collapse. It began with a small crack. Similarly, we need to be alert in the practise of our bhakti. As we sing during our Guru Puja,

sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bandomuisavadhana mate
jaharaprasadebhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krsna-prapti hoy jahaha’te

Translation:
The lotus feet of the spiritual master are the abode of pure devotional service. I bow down to those lotus feet with great care and attention. My dear brother (my dear mind)! It is through the grace of the spiritual master that we cross over this material existence and obtain Krsna.[Verse No. 1 Sri Guru Vandana]

Our mind should be careful. Why? Our mind will be purified only if we are careful else there would be some catastrophe. Srila Prabhupada says that even the small things should be given utmost importance. Why? If we neglect them then we will have to face severe consequences in the future. Eg.: a gold chain – due to some structural issues – might break and fall down. We have to focus on the weak link in a gold chain. It’s breakage will lead to a financial loss for us. Attention to details is a sign of love. If we love somebody – we need to focus on the minute details. Like – an ocean is created by many droplets of water. But if there is a leakage and water droplets are slowly coming out of the ocean. It can end the ocean or sea. Hence, Srila Prabhupada tells us that if we donot – take part in morning programs we will fail in all other devotional services. It we donot do chanting during brahma muhrat we will be illusioned by various thoughts or worries and we will be entangled.

In Srimad Bhagavatam it is mentioned that – association is very meaningful. Hence ISKCON wants to make all its devotees complete or perfect. The association of devotees should always remember that this is – not a place for free Prasadamseva. We need to – carefully follow our spiritual duties – so that by seeing us the neophyte devotees also imitate the same and they alsocan attain the Paramdham.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

If we want to attain the Supreme Lord’s abode in this lifetime, then Srila Prabhupada has stressed on the importance of association. Why do we stress on joining this zoom temple? Some devotees stay at different places in India and abroad, they cannot visit the temple (as it is far off or due to rainy season). Our house turns to a temple through the medium of our mobile phones. Association is very important as we get strength. Things become easy. Srila Prabhupada tells if we want to make ISKCON a perfect institution, like a big building – each brick is very important. Each foundation is very important. What is this foundation? Our foundation is the morning program. It helps us to connect. ISKCON is not just a free eatery. Devotees have to carefully, cautiously follow their spiritual – duties. Any neglect could lead to disruption or creation or evolution of problems. We get guidance in the association of devotees. It leads to our fencing of our compound. Our foundation is devotees or the Supreme Lord. They support us. We can easily attain the Supreme abode in their association.

Waking up at 4am – Following the regulative principles a devotee is connected to the Supreme Lord’s abode. To connect with the Supreme Lordwe have to get up early. 2500 devotees are associating daily. Contact, care and connection. When we connect then there is care. If we are not careful, maya will fool us. We have to be careful and alert. Maya will give us reasons “I am tired or we have the whole day”.

There is a proverb which tells do your tomorrow’s activities day, todays activities now. When will you do the activities if there is pralaya right now.

In Kaliyuga – the motivational speakers teach us– do your today’s activities tomorrow and tomorrow’s activities day after tomorrow. There is no hurry as you have a long life. When such a person is in emergency situation he is baffled and confused and cannot find the way. We procrastinate our japa. Then we are engaged in some work or somebody comes to meet us. Then finally we end up doing our Japa at 12 mid-night. SrilaPrabhupada mentions that 99% of our advancement in spiritual life depends on our chanting. 1% is our remaining activities (our seva, our relationship, sadachar) depends on our chanting. When we wake up early and connect with the Supreme Lord, Lord is happy as his devotee is performing austerities for Him. In the initial days of our spiritual life a devotee wakes up early due to his spiritual master’s instructions and performs bhakti. Later he develops attachment for the process and wake up on our own. We should not take it cheaply. Be careful always – do not think if I donot get up for 3 or 4 days in the morning what will happen. We have to practise.

Teachings of Queen Kunti – In America, sometimes it can be very cold. Please hear attentively these are – instructions of Srila Prabhupada for our overseas devotees. It will be difficult to take a bath in the morning. A faithful devotee – in spite of cold weather should –take bath daily. Should faithfully perform his duty even though he might have to face difficulties. This is known as tapasya. Tapasya means one has to face danger or challenging – situations with the only – motive of spreading Krishna Consciousness.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
Hurdles will come – but we should not stop or be tired. We have to continue our journey. There are many senior devotees here – they are attending morning programs and also performing various sevas. Obstacles will come we have to overcome it. We should not be frightened of it. One who is frightened has lost the battle. Fight it.

During winters and then during rainy season, we have to be – ready with our morning program. We have to fight. Srila Prabhupada mentions that we should not stop taking bath in the winters. Cleanliness is essential. Our duty is to wake up early, take a bath, offer obeisance’s to the Supreme Lord. Appytilak on our forhead and be present before the Supreme Lord. When we take the Lord’s darshan. Lord gazes on us.

Eg : if a boy – comes before his parents with scattered hair. Will the parents be happy. No. If a child is neatly cleansed and decorated, the parents take the daughter or son in their lap. Similarly, if we come before the Lord well decorated in sarees or dhotis with proper tilak Supreme is Lord is very happy, He will think this wandering jiva wants to come back to me I should give him My mercy. This is our duty and it is a form of tapasya. In one of the purports Srila Prabhupada mentions that-a woman does not hesitate to cook in the kitchen in the months of May and June, the hottest part of the summer season. Delhi is currently 52 degrees the matajis prepare bhoga for the Supreme Lord either in the temple or at home. It is her duty she has to graciously tolerate the fire. She is not telling it is very hot today I will not cook prasadam. Let us – all perform Ekadashi today. This is not true. The mataji prepares – food as a part of her grahastha responsibility.

Prepares bhoga for the Lord – gives tiffin to her husband and kids. We too should think it is our duty or our tapasya – and perform duty as per time, place and situation. Tapasya is essential for our bhakti. The devotees staying in the ISKCON temple and outside follow this daily. They wake up early for Mangalarti. You might have seen many devotees running to attend Mangalaarti and perform kirtan and japa together and hear the classes held on Srimad Bhagavatamand honour prasadam with the devotees. Chanting, feasting and dancing. Morning programs gives us strength and hence we can preach the non-devotees. The devotees give them the Lord’s mercy in the form of spiritual books, prasadam. This means the strength which we get is distributed through this medium of book distribution, peaching, harinaam etc. The morning program makes us strong hence we cannot do our seva. This is essential.

Srila Prabhupada mentions on the basis of Yuga dharma and Narada Muni sutra that he founded ISKCON for Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada is often –known as Jet age Narad Muni (Narad Muni of Kali Yuga). He has preached the entire world. ISKCON is now – all over the world. He has preached – much beyond our reach. We cannot physically see or visit all the ISCKCON temples. SrilaPrabhupada has done it alone. Why?

kali-kālera dharma — kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śaktivinānahetārapravartana

Translation:
The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement.[CC Antya 7.11]

All the disciples of Srila Prabhupada chant 16 rounds daily and in the morning/evening engage in preaching, kirtan and follow the 4 regulative principles. The 4 regulative principles are meant for our spiritual trainning, we gradually restrain ourselves from performing sinful activities. Narada Muni has promised that one who glorifies the Lord – will get the Supreme Lord’s mercy irrespective of his social position.

narada muni, bajayvina
‘radhika-ramana’-name
namaamani, uditahaya,
bhakata-gita-same

Translation:
When the great soul Narada Muni plays his stringed vina, the holy name of Radhika-ramanadescendsand immediately appears amidst the kirtana of the Lord’s devotees. [Verse No 1 – Narada Muni BajayVina].

It is mentioned in the Narada Bhakti Sutra that one who glorifies the Lord either in the morning or evening he will get the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord. SrilaPrabhupada with his own example shows us that he was 70 years – and he had faced 3 major heart attacks. He had no acquaintances abroad. The circumstances were unfavourable for him. He faced severe cold. Inspite of these adversities – SrilaPrabhupada got the divine blessings of the Supreme Lord. He was on his mission to fulfil the orders of his spiritual master. Lord Himself provided him strength, hence he was successful. The task Srila Prabhupada accompanished is much beyond our understanding. Why did he establish ISKCON/ so many devotees who are chanting/book distributing? Lord has assured that one who preaches the Supreme Lord’s message and chants the holy names, gets the Supreme Lord’s mercy.

In the Chaitanya Charitamrita it is mentioned that to –attain the holy name one should discuss about one’s purification, morning duties, remembering the Lord, cleanliness and washing the face and other organs of the body. The qualifications for a devotee to get a mantra is – devotees purification. Washing one’s face in the morning. It is mentioned by – Srila Prabhupada in Chaitanya Charitamrita – that it is essential to wash one’s face and other bodily parts. Cleanliness and regularity is very essential in bhakti. Cleanliness means to clean the body and the mind slowly. Which gradually leads to our purification. Then we will be able to chant properly and we will be influenced by it.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in a letter that– I have received your congratulation message. Please accept my thank you. Please – follow the 4 regulative principles and chant 16 rounds attentively and continue your Krishna Conscious practises. We have to follow this daily. This is the foundation which will make us strong against maya. Hence, we can fight against maya. Else you will have to face the consequences. Lord is always ready to help us. Lord is more anxious than us to get us back. Hence, the Supreme Lord sends his causeless mercy to us in the form of Sri Guru, Hari and Vaishnavas. This situation in which we are currently is also the Supreme Lord’s mercy.

We cannot go to the temples, please get connected through the zoom temple. Cannot go to the temple for Bhakti Shastri, you can now attend it online. Lord is much more anxious to get us back. We take one step towards the Supreme Lord he takes 1000 steps towards us. We have to take the help of the Supreme Lord’s hands. Then we will be able to get rid of all our anxieties. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher. Srila Prabhupada.

sarva-dharmānparityajya
māmekaṁśaraṇaṁvraja
ahaṁtvāṁsarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmimāśucaḥ

Translation:
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.[BG 18.66].
Lord is ready to help us, when we use our morning time/prime time/brahma murhat – in remembering and chanting Lord’s names. This time is not wasted but it is invested. This time will help us in attaining the Supreme Lord’s mercy and help in our progressive spiritual advancement. We get the association of devotees and senior vaishnavas who have done a lot of austerities and seva, this is not an easy thing. It is not attainable by the general public easily. Only a few selected rare devotees like 2000 or 3000 of them get this mercy. The world population is 800 crores, so here in this zoom japa temple 2000 devotees have joined. We are fortunate, so grab this opportunity of associating with the devotees. Morning programs are necessary for us. When we give our morning time to the Supreme Lord He too gives his entire day to us.
(Param Sunder Keshave Pr.) Q. Morning program is okay. How to take care of health along with morning program, we need to do exercises- like walking in the morning?

Answer :- Health is very important. Bhakti Siddhant Thakura tells us that focus on your health, sadhana and seva (HSS). When health is good then we will be able to chant. Keeping good health is essential.We need to focus on health not for our sense gratification but it is essential for our bhakti. Morning 4am to 9am is 5 hours. For doing exercises 20 minutes are sufficient for good health. Our goal is not to become body builders, our goal is to maintain good health. H. H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj and H. H. Lokanath Swami Maharaj and also Srila Prabhupada would go for morning walk with their beads. We have to connect with the Supreme Lord – also with the medium of exercises. Maharaji and other sanyasis go for morning walks with their beads. Health is important, one should have a healthy mind and body else we will be always bein anxiety like loans, not feeling like chanting, I had a fight with so and so devotee. Mind will trick us by saying invest money in so and so bank. How will I get money? We have to eat to live and not vice versa. Some people eat so much that they fall sick. Some devotees join body building courses. For maintaining our health -30 minutes of exercises is enough. Good health leads to good sadhana. Good sadhana leads to good seva. (Balance HSS-this is essential). If you want to have good body then Supreme Lord might make you an elephant in your next birth. Our focus should be on Krishna Consciousness.

(Nar Kesahari Pr.) Q- We desire to get up early in the morning daily. But we have a hard working and tiring job, how to get up early?
Ans :- In this world everyone has to perform austerities. If you feel you are working hard, the brahmacharis also attends – congregational programs at odd times. Just see Maharaji, he is an aged sanyasi plus he manages to travel so much. He preaches so much then too he is daily in front of us. Why? He has a responsibility. When we know its importance then we can wake up prabhuji. We are earning for our family. Lord is also our family. We must know its importance. I understand we all get tired. We must take care of our health and endeavour as much as we can. If our health is excellent, when we perform hard work we will get strength. If our health is not good, then we will be tired. Finally, we might fall ill and then waking up in the morning would be difficult. To get up early we must practise to go to bed early. Those having night duty can rest during the day or can rest after their chanting. Bhakti VinodaThakura had so many sevas. (Like various cases and family). He woke up early performed japa and rested for 30 minutes at 10am. We must try to balance our time in such a way, so that we can get association of devotees and can take some rest in the afternoon. Sleeping for 6 hours in a day is sufficient as per Vastu Shastra. For one who does hard work it is 7 hours and one who sleeps more than that is a sick person.

(Pihu Mataji from Chandigarh) Q – I do not have a problem in waking up early. I get up at 3am daily so that I can have my morning program. I attend Mangalaarti in the temple daily. I have a choice to complete 16 rounds before going to office as I have to leave by 8am daily for office. Or do deity worship. What should I prioritise prbji. As it is 7.30am and I have to leave at 8am. Always 3 or 4 rounds are left. I am in confusion do I do my deity worship which takes 20 minutes or complete my remaining 4 rounds of chanting. If I donot complete my 4 rounds now else it will be completed by 10pm today?

Ans:-Thank you mataji, you get up early and complete all your duties. If we have a choice or options in front of us, please remember what promise have you made to your spiritual master. We have promised for 16 rounds of japa and 4 regulative principles. We have to stress on it. Not for building new temples, devotees or brahmacharis. Chanting is our priority. We have not vowed for deity worship or fund collection. It is also important. It is not that we should ignore it. Prioritise your japa. It is foremost essential. We can do chanting in the afternoon or while travelling. 16 rounds of Japa is the most important. Time management. Chanting in the morning is the best. We can do deity worship later or do it in the mind or ask our kids to do it. We cannot tell others to do japa for us. We cannot tell others to eat prasadam for us. This chanting is our spiritual food or nourishment. We have to do it ourselves. We have taken a vow in front of our spiritual master. Deity worship we can delegate it to our kids, husbands or neighbours. Lord is kind and forgiving. He understands our intensions.

Chinmaya Devi Mataji Q- I am speaking from Bihar. Very few devotees chant here. People tell you have money so you stay at home and chant. What is the meaning of all this? When we tell them to chant they – tell we do not have time?

Ans:-People tell brahmacharis also that you donot have families hence you can visit dhams. Brahmacharis have a lot of sevas. You have a family of 4 members. Sanyasis and brahmacharis have a family of entire material world under them. Vasudeva Kutumbakam. You have holidays on Saturday and Sunday but the temple devotees are more busy on Saturday’s and Sunday’s, people feel they donot have any work. We must make them understand –that they are connecting us with the Supreme Lord. If the Prime Minister of India comes to our house, we need to give him time. We are giving time to the Supreme Lord that is a big thing, there is a lot of ignorance about it as it is unseen. Gradually, there will be awareness. We have to – ignore things spoken by them as they are seeing the Macro picture. Eg when an elephant goes for shopping thousands of dogs will bark. Elephant will ignore things and just move ahead. We have to progressively move ahead in Bhakti. Donot focus on the negatives. Continue to chant and move ahead. It is their duty to speak about the good and bad deeds. Our duty is to accept the favourable and reject the unfavourable.

Yashwant Mahajan Prabhuji Q) What happens when we worry and what happens when we contemplate? When the devotees meet they discuss their family matters (loan outstanding/children’s marriage/this is not happening). Please clear?

Ans:- Contemplation is on the Supreme Lord and worry about material or worldly things. We have to postpone the worries or anxieties for 2 hours while we are doing japa. Keep the things aside. I had asked Gurumaharaji once – while doing japa many thoughts are coming to my mind. What should I do? Maharaji – told we should not contemplate or meditate or do japa of material things. Always contemplate and focus your mind on Japa. We should focus on Supreme Lord’s i.e. chintan and not focus on our anxieties or worries. If we do not focus for 1 hour things will not change. Work while you work and chant while you chant. Focus on one thing at a time. Donot focus on 2 things. When we contemplate on the Supreme Lord it reduces our anxieties and when we focus only on our anxieties it increases. We have to tell our mind – like a small child we will give it a thought later. If a child tells – Mummy I want to go to school. His mummy will tell – Please wait we will go to the school tomorrow.

Hare Krishna
Hari Naam Prabhu ki Jai
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai
Ananta Koti Vaishnav vrinda ki Jai
Gaur Premanande Hari HariBol!!

08 June 2024
ISKCON Dindi Padayatra

Speaker: HG Keshav prabhu

Hare Krsna. We have been organizing ISKCON Dindi padayatra successfully from the last 27 years by the mercy of Srila Gurudev. It walks through different parts of Maharashtra beginning from Pune. One main aspect of this padayatra is that devotees from all across Maharashtra travel to Sri Pandharpur Dham. Even Chaitanya Mahaprabhu executed padayatra. This padayatra is a wonderful service.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (CC Madhya 19.170)

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.

sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor
vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane
karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu
śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liṅgālaya-darśane dṛśau
tad-bhṛtya-gātra-sparśe ’ṅga-saṅgamam
ghrāṇaṁ ca tat-pāda-saroja-saurabhe
śrīmat-tulasyā rasanāṁ tad-arpite
pādau hareḥ kṣetra-padānusarpaṇe
śiro hṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane
kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāma-kāmyayā
yathottamaśloka-janāśrayā ratiḥ (ŚB 9.4.18-20)

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

Our Lord Vitthal is very beautiful. And while walking towards, Lord Vitthal’s devotees meditate on the beautiful form of the Lord, continuously for 18 days.

Tukaram Gatha Abhanga 14 – Sundar te dhyan
Sundar te dhyan ubhe vitewari |
Kar katawari thevuniya ||
Tulasi har gala kanse pitambar |
Aawde nirantar techi roop ||
Makar kundale talapati shrwani |
Kanthi koustubhmani virajit ||
Tuka mhane maze he chi sarva sukha |
Pahin shreemukh aawadine ||

Translation: This abhanga is a beautiful description of the Lord! The beautiful, great pleasure to behold, i.e. the Lord Vithoba, is standing on the brick with his hands resting on the waist. There is a Basil leaves’ necklace in His neck and He is wearing a yellow golden silk garment around the waist. I am in perpetual love with this face of the Lord. Fish shaped ear rings are shining in His ears and the well known ‘Koustubh’ precious stone is glistening in His neck. Tukaram says, I will keep looking ceaselessly at the holy face of the God with love; this is my complete happiness.

This Dindi padayatra is very close to Guru Maharaj’s heart. His family members have been executing this service from several generations. They used to come on every Ekadashi. And they would take back Ladoo Mahaprasadam which Guru Maharaj would relish a lot.
Guru Maharaj’s Grandfather, Sri Savla Patil used to walk 100 kms to Pandharpur every ekadashi. We have a beautiful cart, carried by Nandi Bull. Srila Gurudev had given him this name.

While walking in padayatra everybody gets an opportunity to lead kirtans. Even our horse used to dance on this kirtan. Devotees also walk carrying Mother Tulsi on their heads.

namo namah tulasi krishna-preyasi namo namah
radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abilashi (Sri Tulsi Aarti 1)

Translation: O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

This scene is very beautiful to see. Also we can’t walk like this at our home. We walk through our feet to reach the Lotus feet of Lord Vitthal. Everyday we are walking towards the Lord, with curiosity to meet the Lord like Akrura. This is Padasevanam.

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam (SB 7.5.23)

Translation: Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words).

Archanam, everyday we perform Aarti for the Lord, Mangla Aarti and morning program. We offer bhoga to the Lord. Vandanam, we offer our obeisances to the Lord and thus start our day like this. We develop friendship with the fellow devotees, while walking, dancing and performing kirtan like this.

Mothers do cook for us. This develops close friendship among the devotees. This is Sakhyam. We support the devotees in all the ways possible. Devotees massage the feet of each other. This relieves the fatigue. They make adjustments with personal comforts.
This year we have planned for hearing Shrimad Bhagavatam katha for 3 hours daily. Previously we used to hear from HG Uddhav prabhu and this year HG Parthsarthi prabhu will join him. The devotees do not honour anything without offering it to the Lord. You can chant as many rounds as possible.

There is a devotee who joins us regularly and he chants 64 rounds everyday. Those who want to lead sankirtan, they also get ample opportunity to lead for hours. All the acharyas have performed padayatra.

Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya, Vallabhacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and even Sri Nityananda prabhu had performed this service. Saint Tukaram Maharaj had started this Dindi padayatra 300 years back from Dehu and Guru Maharaj has taken the same padayatra to 800 countries.

Tukaram Maharaj was troubled because of his wife. Guru Maharaj didn’t enter into that troublesome situation, instead he chose to remain Sanyasi. Once HH Navayogendra Swami Maharaj, asked Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada an astrologer said, I don’t have the pleasure of having a good wife in my life.

Srila Prabhupada made a correction, said he is wrong, you don’t have pains of having a wife.
Tukaram Maharaj used to go to Sri Pandharpur Dham every year. But one year he was very sick. So he wrote a letter to Lord Vitthal. My dear Lord every year I used to come, but this year I can’t manage. For me it’s a very difficult task but for you it’s very easy. You also have your vehicle Garuda. Please come to meet me.

Sri Rukmini Maiya suggested the Lord, sending Garuda to bring Tukaram Maharaj here. But Tukaram Maharaj refused, he mentioned how can I sit on my Lord’s vehicle. Later once Warkari’s went back, the Lord Himself came to meet Tukaram Maharaj.

sthāvara-jaṅgama dekhe, nā dekhe tāra mūrti
sarvatra haya nija iṣṭa-deva-sphūrti (CC Madhya 8.274)

Translation: The mahā-bhāgavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.

As Kunti Maharani praises the Lord.

namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya
namaḥ paṅkaja-māline
namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya
namas te paṅkajāṅghraye (SB 1.8.22)

Translation: My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.

Every part of his transcendental body is compared to the beautiful soft lotus. We have 3 Dindi yatra’s heading towards Pandharpur Dham. Following the different routes and on the way, distributing Harinam, Srila Prabhupada’s books and prasadam. The very first yatra was performed by Lord Shiva and since then it’s been going on. There are 8 verses composed by Shankaracharya known as Pandurangastakam.

Pandurangastakam
Mahaa-Yoga-Piitthe Tatte Bhiimarathyaam
Varam Punnddariikaaya Daatum Muni-[I]indraih |
Samaagatya Tisstthantam-Aananda-Kandam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||1||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) In the Seat of Great Yoga (Maha Yoga Peetha) (i.e. at Pandharpur) by the bank of river Bheemarathi (has come Panduranga), He has come to give Boons to Pundarika; (He has come) along with the great Munis, Having arrived He is standing like a Source of Great Bliss (of Parabrahman), I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Taddid-Vaasasam Niila-Meghaava-Bhaasam
Ramaa-Mandiram Sundaram Cit-Prakaasham |
Varam Tv[u]-Issttikaayaam Sama-Nyasta-Paadam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||2||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Garments are shining like lightning streaks against His Blue Cloud-like shining Form, Whose Form is the Temple of Devi Ramaa (Devi Lakshmi), Beautiful, and a visible manifestation of Consciousness, Who is the most Excellent and an embodiment of Boon-giving (for the Devotees), but (is now) standing on a Brick placing both His Feet on it, worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Pramaannam Bhava-Abdher-Idam Maamakaanaam
Nitambah Karaabhyaam Dhrto Yena Tasmaat |
Vidhaatur-Vasatyai Dhrto Naabhi-Koshah
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||3||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) The measure of the Ocean of Worldly Existence is (up to) this (much only) for My (Devotees), By holding His Waist with His Hands, He seems to say that, Who is holding the (Lotus) Flower Cup for the Vidhata (Brahma) Himself to Dwell, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Sphurat-Kaustubha-Alangkrtam Kannttha-Deshe
Shriyaa Jusstta-Keyuurakam Shrii-Nivaasam |
Shivam Shaantam-Iiddyam Varam Lokapaalam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||4||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Neck is adorned with a Sparkling Kaustubha Gem, (And) Whose Armlets are loved by Sri (i.e. filled with the splendour of Sri); Who Himself is an abode of Sri, Who is praised for His Auspicious Tranquility (on one hand) and as a Great Protector (on the other hand), I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Sharac-Candra-Bimba-[A]ananam Caaru-Haasam
Lasat-Kunnddala-[A]akraanta-Ganndda-Sthala-Anggam |
Japaa-Raaga-Bimba-Adharam Kan.ja-Netram
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||5||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Face reflects the Splendour of the Autumn Moon and has a Captivating Smile (playing over it), and whose Cheeks are possessed by the Beauty of the Shining Ear-Rings dancing over it, Whose Lips have the colour of Hibiscus and appearance of Bimba Fruits; (And) Whose Eyes are as Beautiful as the Lotus, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Kiriitto[a-U]jjvalat-Sarva-Dik-Praanta-Bhaagam
Surair-Arcitam Divya-Ratnair-Anarghaih |
Tribhangga-[A]akrtim Barha-Maalya-Avatamsam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||6||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) The Radiance of whose Crown illuminates all the Directions, Who is worshipped by the Suras (Devas) with the most precious Divine Gems, Who stands in the Beautiful Tri-bhanga posture (Bent at three places) adorned with Peacock Feathers and Garlands, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Vibhum Vennu-Naadam Carantam Durantam
Svayam Liilayaa Gopa-Vessam Dadhaanam |
Gavaam Vrndaka-[A]anandadam Caaru-Haasam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||7||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Who has manifested (taking a Form by His own Free-Will) but in essence Who Pervades everywhere; Similarly the melodious Sound of Whose Flute (manifests itself and) wanders about Pervading everywhere, Who by His Own Leela (Divine Sport) put on the Dress of a Gopa (Cowherd Boy), and gave great Joy to the Herd of Cows (and Cowherd Boys in Vrindavana with the melodious Sound of His Flute) and His Beautiful Smile, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā
bhūtānām īśvaro ’pi san
prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya
sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā (BG 4.6)

Translation: Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all living entities, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.

Ajam Rukminnii-Praanna-San.jiivanam Tam
Param Dhaama Kaivalyam-Ekam Turiiyam |
Prasannam Prapanna-[A]artihan Deva-Devam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||8||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Who is without Birth and Who enlivens the Life of Devi Rukmini (by His Love), Who is the one Supreme Abode of Kaivalya in the (fourth) state of Turiya, Who is Gracious to His Devotees, and removes the Distress of those who seek His Refuge; Who is the Deva of the Devas [God of the Gods]. I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.

Stavam Paanndduranggasya Vai Punnya-Dam Ye
Patthanty[i]-Eka-Cittena Bhaktyaa Ca Nityam |
Bhava-Ambhonidhim Te-[A]pi Tiirtva-Anta-Kaale
Harer-Aalayam Shaashvatam Praapnuvanti ||9||

Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) This Stava (Eulogy) of Sri Panduranga which confers Punya (Auspiciousness, Merit), those who recite with one-pointed Devotion, everyday, will indeed cross the Ocean of Samsara in the end, and attain the Eternal Abode of Hari.

This is the result one gets by reciting this Astaka everyday. Lord Sri Pandhuranga is very dear to Guru Maharaj and Lord Shiva who has appeared as Sri Shankaracharya has composed this Pandurangastakam. They have made it so easy, we just need to read this Astakam everyday.
And we will go back home back to Godhead. Even Srila Prabhupada used to repeat it very often. Go back home, back to Godhead. So we should walk with our feet towards the Lord’s Lotus feet. There are people who are so sick that they can’t walk.

If you are getting this opportunity then you shouldn’t miss it. There are people who got cured of their diabetes just by walking in this Dindi padayatra. Walking, especially walking for the Lord can do miracles. It’s our desire to walk with 750 devotees as an offering for our Guru Maharaj on his 75th Vyas puja.

Once there was a Sadhu who wasn’t going to honour prasadam at any one’s home. Somebody asked why he is not going to honour prasadam? This Sadhu replied, I can only go to a person’s house who has performed 100 Asvamedha Yagna. Draupadi herself came to receive him and she asked why he was not coming.

The Sadhu narrated his condition and then Draupadi replied, each step we walk in this dham is equal to 100 Asvamedha Yagna. I have walked towards you, so I have acquired the result of so many Asvamedha Yagnas, do not worry please come and honour prasadam. The Sadhu was pleased, he honoured prasadam and his plate was picked up by none other than the Lord Dwarkadhish himself.

HG Parthsarthi prabhu speaks, there are some technical issues. We are unable to play the video but we can show PPT. Such good fortune is not even available for the residents of Swarga. They can’t touch the holy land but we can. HG Keshav prabhu has been struggling to keep it running for so many years and later other devotees joined.

Dindi means an instrument which can stop our cycles of birth and death. This is an engagement activity. We need to be dynamic not stable to execute this service. Dindi is a moving temple. You can share this news with other devotees. And also you can support us with your body, mind and assets. Let’s thank all the devotees by chanting Hare Krsna Mahamantra.

Date- 10th June 2024

Speaker- Buddhimanta Prabhu

Subject- Importance of studying Srila Prabhupada’s books 

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I am very fortunate to have received the association of Vaishnavas from all over the world in the most famous Japa Session. Today we will talk about, how our chanting is related to Prabhupada’s books and how these two complement each other. 

Sub-theme: Why should we do good chanting?

For good chanting we do so many courses, Japa clubs, Sanga, retreats, etc. And so many things are available. When we listen that we should chant nicely, and we experience chanting with good devotees, but till we get the answer for, why should we chant, till then; we see many devotees come to devotion, stay for some time, and then go away. For some time, they do good chanting and then they leave. Because they have not yet got the answer of ‘why’. Why should I want to chant attentively? Everyone tells that I should chant attentively, but if the answer to why will be found, then automatically the soul will do good chanting. He will fall in love, he will get the reason. But that answer will be found in the books of Prabhupada, in the purports of Prabhupada. We will get the answer to the importance of chanting, but why should we do it, that answer also we will get. 

So, if we have to succeed in any direction or in any department in life, then it is very necessary to get the answer of ‘why’, and to accept it from the heart is very important. Till we get the answer to that ‘why’, sometimes we compulsively do that work in the words of someone, as per asked by someone, according to the order, but a successful person is successful because he has got the answer to the goal of his life, to that ‘why’, and then he remains completely devoted to his heart. This is the difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person. The successful person knows why he does that work and the unsuccessful person has not yet got the answer. And that’s why Prabhupada’s books and his purports, and to study them deeply under the direction of a guru and under the direction of a teacher becomes even more important. 

Sub-theme: Spiritual Scuba Diving

The answer to ‘why’ is given by Prabhupada repeatedly in all his books, in many places, in different purports. When we study the purports of Prabhupada under the direction of a teacher, in the same way as if you ever went to the sea and sometimes got an opportunity to do water sports, then there is Scuba Diving. Just few weeks before, the Prime Minister of our country also did this. Many people do scuba diving. Do you know about it? Shake your head a little, or raise your hand if you have seen scuba diving. 

By holding the hand of the coach under the sea, the coach is a guru who knows the secret of depth, he takes to the see bed, under the sea, to the bottom of the sea. And we know those who swim on the sea, what do they get? Some plastic bottles, some fishes, but in fact, the treasure, diamonds, pearls, corals, which are precious gems of the sea, they are not found on its shore, but on the bottom. So, the scuba diving coach holding hands and holding the cylinders and masks for both, he takes us down. And in the depths of the sea, there is the beauty, the priceless treasure; then you understand such a beautiful world is there below the sea. So, it is called scuba diving, but for that a coach is needed. Because we are not adept to go under the sea. The coach holds our hand and we also hold his hands tightly, so that the hand does not get slipped from our hand. Similarly, when we study Prabhupada’s books under the expert teacher, a guru, then it is like a spiritual scuba diving. There is depth in the purports of Prabhupada, which is really a treasure. 

Sub-theme: relation between chanting and studying Prabhupada’s books

When we ourselves read the books of Prabhupada, we have read it many times; as we do not want to go deep, as we do not have a coach, so we keep floating on the top surface. It feels little good, but we could not do that for long time. But the devotees who hold the teacher’s hand and go deep into these books, then they get conviction and assurance that we are on the right path. They get the answer of that ‘why’. Why we should chant? Prabhupada repeats this thousands of times in each of his book, in many of his purports, so that it enters in our minds that we should chant, should do it with concentration, without offense and why should we chant. What will be the benefit? So, we get more assurance. The books of Prabhupada and chanting, when these two, hand in hand, when both works together, then it becomes very beautiful. Chanting helps to understand the purports of Prabhupada in depth. And on the other hand, by understanding the purports of Prabhupada in depth, we get even more comfort in chanting. Because the answers have been received that why we should do good chanting.

Sub-theme: Real meaning of education

Padmamali Prabhu was talking about education, very right for today’s topic. So, education means to know the Lord. This is the correct definition. And any education which does not point to Lord, cannot be education. So, education means to know Krishna, to Know God. And higher education means spiritual knowledge. That education cannot be of a higher level in which spirituality has not been curtailed. And Prabhupada writes very beautifully, in his famous purport of Bhagavad Gita 9.2, I will read few lines by your permission, quickly. It is very beautiful. Prabhupada writes in the second paragraph of the purport, people generally do not get the education of this secret knowledge. As far as general education is concerned, it includes politics, sociology, physics, chemistry, maths. There are many departments of knowledge all over the world and there are many big universities, but unfortunately there is no university or educational institution where self-knowledge is taught. 

The soul is the most important part of the body. Without the soul, the body is insignificant. Yet people do not worry about the soul and give more importance to the material needs. How beautiful purport Prabhupada is writing. There are many branded, good universities in the world, where all the children have a dream, they have a desire to get a seat in that university. Their parents are also ready to take the biggest loan. They are ready to work hard so that their children get admission in these famous universities, then their lives will improve. But they do not know that even in that branded, most famous or expensive universities, self-science is not talked about. Our Acharyas repeatedly explain that there is no university in the world which claims that you come to our university to get a degree and when you get this degree, we guarantee that it will be written on the degree that ‘you will never take birth again’. So, there is no such college, such a university, such a degree, in any country, which can assure human beings that you come to us and we assure that you will not be born again in the material world. So, Prabhupada was very concerned about the education system and sometimes wrote a very strong purports that this is not really the education system, where knowledge of self is not given. So Prabhupada’s vision was that all the temples of our ISKCON should be institutes, educational institutes, universities, and there, knowledge and science of self should be given. 

Sub-theme: Bhakti Vedanta Academy

So, Prabhupada repeatedly wrote that many subjects are being taught in the university, but in our temples science of self-realization will be taught. And in our temples and in the institutes and colleges, there should be no difference. Therefore, the temples of ISKCON are different from other temples. There is always talks of science of soul. Just by bowing down or putting something in the donation box, the work is not completed. This was the dream of Prabhupada and that dream was also carried forward by his dear disciple, our beloved Guru Maharaj Lokanath Swami Maharaj. I still remember that when there was no land in Noida, the temple used to run in a small rented house, 25 years ago. Even that time HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj wanted that there will be a grand temple in Noida, but its name will be ‘Sri Sri Radha Govind Dev and Bhakti Vedanta Academy’. His vision was very clear, there shouldn’t be only temple, as there are already many temples. If one more temple will be built, then what a big deal. But he had vision that there should be Sri Sri Radha Govind temple and along with that Bhakti Vedant Academy. Only under his guidance, with his blessings, with his support, this Bhakti Vedant Academy was formed and it is running successfully with the blessings of all of you. Other courses are given here, Long Term Courses, Short Term Courses, Full Time Degree Courses, Part Time Courses, Different Courses for All. 

Sub-theme: personalized training for weak students

So, it gives us a lot of pleasure to tell that this time admission for Bhakti Vedant Academy courses are open for the 5th Bhakti Sastri batch.  It is full time regular study for the fifth Bhakti Shastri batch in Hindi. It is open now. And it is taught systemically by very skilled teachers. We pay more attention to personalized training like by holding your hand like a scuba diving coach. And in the last four years also, students from more than eight countries around the world have done Bhakti Shastri here and we are very proud that the personal touch we give, that I did not experience personally anywhere else. I teach in many other academies and institutes. But such a standard of education is very less, where those who are weak students are given more attention. They are given personal training, which are initially feared that how will I do Bhakti Shastri, we are afraid of exams, we have left studies in schools and colleges from many years. So we again try to give them the same college environment. Classes are held online on zoom but they are live classes. They are not recorded classes and every effort is made to give them live experience like they are sitting in the classroom of the academy. 

So, in this way time keeping is taken care of. The syllabus, time table of the whole year is given to them. We know they are all busy, they have their families, jobs, some business, services in the temple. They are given calendars in advance. Their class calendar, their homework submission deadlines, their exam date and when they will get holidays to prepare for the exam, etc. So, they can make a good plan, how will they imbibe this knowledge in their life. 

Sub-theme: Declaration of result within 24 hours

And we have become very famous, as in this one matter all our staff and teachers are crazy. They feel good in extracting the result of any exam within 24 hours. And after giving the exam, the next day the students do not even wake up from sleep, their result is found in the message, because our academy never sleeps. No teacher sleeps on that night. We check the exam all night. The reason is, if they will get the result the next day, then where did they get less marks, in this question, they got five out of 10, where they got nine out of 10, they will get to know. Then they can improve in the next module which is about to start. And whichever student gets low marks, they get a personalized call, next day. Next day, they get a personalized call and their paper is fully discussed. It takes one hour. In that call, the teacher answers to each question. Your this question was for six marks, but you got three, because half of your answer was correct, you forgot to write example given by Prabhupada. They are also told that you got this much marks and why this question of yours got this much marks, that is also told. So that in the next module, in the next exam, they can improve. Generally, a lot of Bhakti Sashtri courses are going on, but we know that the teacher takes time out to teach, but the teacher is very busy, he has a lot of services and no one likes to check the exam. 

Once I was also sitting in the meeting of the Board of Examinations. When the director teachers of our academy from all over the world had come and everyone had asked that no one likes to check the exam, they are not able to take out time. They are so busy people. But when we used to do Bhakti Sashtri, we also used to get results after many months. So since then we used to think that when we will run Bhakti Sashtri, Bhakti Vedanta Academy, the next day, before the students get up, we will declare their results. Not only will we tell their results, but we will also tell them how and why they got this many marks out of 100. Where is the room of improvement? They are not able to remember the verse, not able to write the analogy of Prabhupada carefully or comparatively. They do not understand the answer to any question or how many items have been asked in the question. They are given personalized training for everything and our teachers like to help them. They do this as Vaishnava seva. We tell proudly that this is the only institute in the world which runs on zero expense. If any of our staff, faculty, administrative wing or academic wing devotees, do not take any salary. They serve with devotion and this is why it is even better. It feels very good to serve everyone selflessly, to give personalised training, especially to those students who are afraid of Bhakti Sashtri, or they fear of exams, or have they left studying from many years. They have left studies 20 years ago and 25 years ago. 

Sub-theme: Students from 14 to 80 years

So, the last batch of last year has completed their course and they will get a degree in a few days, in the convocation program. Those students which we have are from 14 years to 80 years. 80 years old woman, a mother also did the course and she used to get 80% marks. 80 years of age and consistently used to get 80% marks. She gave a very good example. And this is the first candidate in the whole universe, which we saw, who has successfully done Bhakti Sashtri course and again she took admission in this year’s batch. We asked her, why did you take admission again? She said, last year I enjoyed it. So many marks I used to get. But that year I was studying to get marks. This year I want to study to study. I want to study only for myself. I will not have any pressure of exams or marks. This time I want to do that scuba diving. I want to go deep and understand the purports again. So, you can understand that those who are sincere devotees, students, they really enjoy these studies. They want to do it again, as this time with a relaxed mind they will again do Bhakti Sashtri. They want to do it for preaching. 

Sub-theme: ‘not only create good Bhakti Shastris, but we produce good teachers’

And yes, not only we create good students, but Bhakti Vedant Academy also considers it an important duty in making good teachers. Our slogan is ‘not only create good Bhakti Shastris, but we produce good teachers’. We feel our job is complete when those who are graduate students from our batch, as we call them ‘pass out students’, when they become teachers. We not only give them teacher training courses, to those who are interested in teaching or preaching, but they also have courses of our personalized academy. Of course, Teacher Training Course is mandatory to teach Bhakti Shastri, but apart from that, we also have personalized courses for them, which I call ‘triple pp’, how to prepare a lecture, how to present a lecture, how to penetrate the hearts of listeners. We give such courses to good students after Bhakti Shastri, that wherever they go, whichever temple they visit, in whichever country, in whichever city, that temple should be glorified, the name of our HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj should be glorified, that they are students of his Bhakti Vedant Academy. The name of Prabhupada should be glorified; their Guru’s name should be glorified. This is our inclination, who are the good students who can become teachers and preacher in the future. We have that kind of focus on them and the focus on those who are weak students is that how to become a good strong student from a weak student. Every living being is at a different level, by going to that level, our expert teachers, our academy staff help them personally. 

Sub-theme: ‘On Time Is Late’

And the most lovely thing is that we keep convocation program after year. This degree course is completed in 11 months. You get a degree in a year. There is never a delay, even one day or an hour. Our slogan is ‘on time it late’. If the class starts at 7 o’clock in the evening and you attend at 7:00, then we consider it late. All the students have to come one or two minutes earlier. Because on time is late. Not only the students, but the teachers also, our staff also follows this statement that ‘on time is late’. After graduating from here, all the students keep sending messages of thanks to us, ‘the On Time Is Late philosophy that you have given is very helpful in our life. We are successful in the job too, we are also successful at home as well. We also do a lot of service of the temple. In one day we can do lots of work, because we have come to know how good the principle of On Time Is Late is.’ Not only in the field of devotion but also in other areas of life, if we value time, Krishna says, ‘time I am’. If we misuse time, disrespect time, then we are actually insulting Krishna. When students understand this, they become very fix in life. They become very successful in whatever they do. 

Sub-theme: Convocation program

So, I was telling you that the convocation program is a very lovely program, in which they are made to feel that they are actually taking a degree from a good university. In fact they have become students. They get a degree in a good university, like you have experienced in the university, they have to wear black gowns, black hats and in a big grand program, they are greeted with clapping and they go to the stage and receive degrees from the senior officials. That experience, that feeling, the sacrifices of one year that they make, the Bhakti Shastri Yajna is a very big sacrifice, this is sacrifice. One whole year we have to dedicate to Prabhupada’s books. Then throughout the whole life, they get the benefit of it individually and collectively to ISKCON movement also. Movement gets a good future preacher and teacher and the living entity gets understanding. His faith changes in his loyalty. He falls in love with Prabhupada. By knowing the purports of Prabhupada in depth, when he receives the diamonds and pearls, then the answer to ‘why’ is found. Why do I have to attend a Japa session in the morning daily at 5am? Why do I have to chant with Maharaj every morning? All those reasons are answered. He does not do any work out of burden. He does not do it only with duty, but he does it out of love, because that work is like a diamond and pearl which is found in the depths of purports. In Bhakti Shastri the teachers take him deep into the purports. 

So the program of convocation where they get a degree, we also invite their families. We thank the family members in the convocation program that without your support, this devotee of your family could never do Bhakti Shastri. Because the support of the whole family is needed. Daily you need two hours to study or attend class. If you take out just two hours daily, then your Bhakti Shastri is completed successfully in a year. And we take guarantee that you don’t leave our hand, we don’t leave your hand for the whole year. We give you a degree of Bhakti Shastri, where you wear black gown and black hat and it is a very unique experience. This is an online class, but we inspire everyone for convocation, request that they come to Noida with their family after that year, for a day. There are as many international students, as it is our experience that they came from the US, Canada too, came from Pakistan, from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, from Bangladesh, Mauritius. All of them come to Bhakti Vedant Academy in Noida to get their degrees. Because they work hard for a year to live this moment, that moment when with their batch mates, they will toss the hat. After convocation, they will toss their hats up in the air. For that moment they wait and work hard and get attracted and devoted to the purports of Prabhupada.

Sub-theme: Join our new batch of Bhakti Sastri

So all of you are requested if you have any interest in becoming a preacher in the future, then the admission of this Bhakti Shastri Hindi batch is open. Only a few days are left. This phone number is in front of you on the screen. And after that I will also request Padamamali Prabhu if he can please circulate this poster in your group, so that even later you can easily get the phone number 9319 681504. Later you will get this poster. You can also pay its fees in instalments, so that none will have financial burden. In Bhakti Shastri, for the good students, who gets above 80%, 90%, for them, all the merit students get scholarships. The better the marks they get, the less fees they have to pay. This scholarship scheme motivates them to work hard and pass successfully and they can also save their fees if they are hardworking, honest. You are requested to participate. This is a very world class devotional academy of HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj. Maharaj is its founder. We speak this proudly and loudly everywhere, HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj is the founder. Whatever we are trying to serve in this Bhakti Vedant Academy, we are able to do it only by the grace of Maharaj, by his vision. Otherwise we will not be able to do anything. We want this academy to remain. 

Sub-theme: Very high standards of our education

Initially some devotees said that our rules are very strict, time keeping and all, to submit on time, but in a month the students come to know that it is a matter of their interest or the rule is for their benefit. If they do not follow this, then Bhakti Sashtri will be very difficult.  So the first month they feel that it is very rigorous, they have to come on time, they have to keep the camera on, they have to do homework daily, they have to submit, but after a month they feel that by doing all this it becomes very easy for them to take the exam, because if they do homework and submit every week, then the chances of failing in the exam are very less. When they study in this way, they later fall in love. 

So, once we were discussing with Maharaj that some devotees say that we are having very high standards of our education, but later they praise us. Then Maharaj instructed me, personally. Maharaj said that you do not reduce your standard. Do not lower your standard of education. Do not lose it, let it be IIT of spiritual world. If you run it like IIT, then remain IIT. Then this is the spiritual IIT of this world, if we want to keep the standard of IIM. 

So, yes, we encourage you, if you have not done Bhakti Shastri and you want to duly study the scriptures of Prabhupada and want to find the answer, why should I chant well, then do Bhakti Sastri. If you want to be a good preacher or good teacher, then definitely do Bhakti Sastri. With this I will not take much time. Time is up now. Thank You very much. You listened to me very patiently. I am very grateful. And especially grateful to HG Padamamali Prabhu; he is a wonderful person, a wonderful devotee. I asked him for 10 minutes and he said, no prabhuji, you give today’s japa talk. And by telling about Prabhupada’s education system and boooks, you yourself tell about Bhakti Sashtri. I was requesting Prabhu ji that Prabhu ji you just tell something for 10 minutes. But he is so kind. We are fortunate to have such a kind devotee. So, keep on coming daily morning for japa. Thank you. Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Questions and answers-

1. by Atul Madhava Prabhu- Hare Krishna Prabhu. When Bhakti Sashtri course is starting in English? 

A.- Our classes are in Hindi, but 50% of our students do it in English. We have both types of teachers. You can write answers in English. You can submit money in English. You can also give exams in English. We have professional teachers of both English and Hindi. 50% students write in English, but classes are in Hindi. So, we call it Hindi batch. In today’s era, you know that especially in North India, Hindi is gradually getting weaker. So, 50% students are already in English, so it does not matter, if you are in English too, then you can join. 

Q.- Prabhu, right now mridangam classes are going on. They are very good, but I request that, as outside online classes are going on, they need working board or some software should be required, so that Sanskrit slokas gets a little help to execute. 

A.- It is a part of Bhakti Sastri. Sanskrit course is part of Bhakti Sastri. In that you are taught how to remember the slokas, how to pronounce, in which meter to chant it, all that is taught. It is part of Bhakti Shastri.

1. by Mataji- Hare Krishna Prabhuji Danadavat pranam. Prabhu same question I had. You already answered it. Thank you Prabhuji. 

A.- Thank you. You can join and we have 50% students in English. Don’t mind that. We love to teach.

1. by Mataji- And Prabhu, when are you starting Bhakti Vaibhava?

A.- Oh, you have to pray for us. Soon! 

2022. by Natarani Radhika Mata Ji- Hare Krishna Prabhuji, Dandavat Pranam Prabhuji. I did Bhakti Sastri from your institute in 2022. Prabhu ji if there is any service for me then please tell me. I can do some service by the mercy of Prabhupada ji and Guru Maharaj.

A.-Yes, all our senior students, graduates, they definitely get service in the academy. We want this. So, I have noted your name and someone from our team will contact you and you can serve. Thank you for offering your service Mataji.

1. ISKCON Pune centre- Hare Krishna Prabhuji, What is the eligibility for Bhakti Sashtri?

A.- Prabhu, only 16 rounds chanting, that’s it. Four rules and regulations and 16 rounds chanting. 

Q.- Is it compulsory to be initiated?

A.- No! It is not mandatory for you to be initiated. Only chanting 16 rounds and following the four rules. This pre-requisite, mandatory for admission. Thank you Prabhu.

Q.-Prabhu what is the timing? 

A.- Prabhu, timing, all those are working people. So, it has been designed by considering this. Classes are Saturday Sunday and in two working days there is from 7 to 9 in the evening. So that everyone can do it comfortably. 

1. by Prahlad Maharaj Das from Himachal Pradesh- Hare Krishna Prabhuji, Dandavat pranam. I want to know, even before doing Bhakti Shastri, are there some pre-requisite courses which we will have to do? 

A.- We get them done. There is a pre-requisite course for bhakti shastri, we get it done. It is part of Bhakti Shastri, like Prabhupada Lilamrita, Vaishnav Sadachar, Deity worship level one, we get this all done before Bhakti Shashtri. They are weekend courses, short courses. It is known as Pre-Bhakti Shastri.

1. by Antaratma Mataji- Hare Krishna Prabhuji, I have done Bhakti Shastri from Bhakti Vedanta Rajavidyalaya, Pune. I request that we do youth preaching, so are there courses for youth preachers? 

A.- We will shortly bring course for youth preachers. ISKCON Youth Forum keep doing many such courses, but of course Bhakti Vedant Academy has not yet done such course, but we will definitely get it done very soon. We have noted down your good suggestion Mataji. Hare Krishna.

1. from ISKCON Candigadh- Hare Krishna Prabhuji, My Question is, the books are included in the course fee?

A.- No! Books are not included in Course Fee. Only four books will be studied. They are generally available in the homes of devotees. Bhagavad Gita is with everyone, Nectar Of Instruction, Nectar of Devotion, and Ishopanishad, these are the four books and the good thing is that none of these books are very expensive books. Sri Ishopanishad is the first book, second is Nectar Of Instruction, and third book is Bhagavad Gita As It Is, and the fourth book of Prabhupada is Bhakti Rasamrta Sindu, i.e. Nectar of Devotion. These four books are analysed in comprehensive systemic depth, not only is there a post-mortem of each chapter, but of every page of every line, every word has to be understood in depth. It is called study of four books. And Prabhupada has written many times, these four books are enough for you to understand. Nothing above it is required. Prabhupada said, these four books are enough to go back to Godhead. If someone will read these four books, he will get the gist of all my books and this is sufficient for his own personal progress and also to go back to Godhead. 

Thank you very much everyone!

Topic: Importance of Sravana

Date:  11th June 2024

Speaker: HG Vedant Chaitanya Prabhuji

Hare Krishna!

I offer my obeisances at the divine lotus feet of Srila Gurudev. Dandvat Pranam to all the devotees. 

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

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

(jaya) sri-krishna-caitanya 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

You all know about Sravana. We all hear everyday. But I will share some important points on Sravana. We should be aware of these points. I am taking my points from HH Sivarama Swami Maharaj’s book  Suddha Bhakti Chintamani. HH Sivarama Swami Maharaj has provided the essence of this book in the name of the book itself. A Sadhak should listen as per his/her level of understanding in Bhakti. He has written this book to make us understand that what should we hear according to our level in Bhakti. He has instructed what points should we read to improve our hearing. It is a 1000-page book which is scientifically presented and follows Guru, Shastras and Pramanas. So staying in ISKCON we are just taught about basic things and only Kanishta Adhikari devotees are taught. HG Gopipran prabhuji, who is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and is a Sanskrit scholar, he wrote a foreword for this book. He who was a book editor who helped in transcribing Srila Prabhupada’s books including Srimad Bhagavatam, so he also raises the same question that people says that there is no Rasa.

When we are LKG, we are taught basic things, in 1-2 class we are taught addition and subtraction in maths and then it gets difficult with the passing age. So we are taught as per our level of  understanding. In material world also we are not taught difficult things like differentiation etc. at an early age. So we are taught little by little. It will be a waste at both the ends if we teach the child about difficult concepts of maths at a young age and the child can also be scared as well. So we teach them according to their age. They will not be encouraged to learn Maths then. Similarly we should hear as per our advancement, if we read and listen to lectures which are at a very advance level, then we cannot understand that. So we should hear and read as per our understanding. So, I if we don’t do that then it will have a negative impact on our bhakti. 

Shraddha bhakti anukramashah we should proceed systematically from one level to another. We should do that in an order and if we do not do it without seeing our level, then our advancement will not be there. So in the first two three chapters of the book, we are taught how do we understand that what is our level according to the shastras. If we read and hear about higher knowledge without seeing our level, then we might have a negative effect on our bhakti. We can become a sahajiya and will not understand the philosophy and become emotional. Slowly we will not also realise that we have become a sahajiya. They show that they are very emotional but actually they are not. Bhaav and Bhavukta are two different things.  So these people don’t understand the philosophy truly. We should be taught as per our understanding and knowledge. Srila Prabhupada also taught us as per our level of understanding.  The speaker should speak as per the quality and level of listeners because then they can lose their interest and they will have a negative impact on their bhakti.

It can be considered as an offence for the speaker if he speaks above the qualification of people. Srila Prabhupada taught us the same, he has given us everything. In Shuddha Bhakta Chintamani, he has mentioned that how Srila Prabhupada has given us the knowledge starting from a beginner to an advanced devotee in his books. He has talked about everything in his books from basic to the knowledge required to take us back to Godhead. He is not left anything unfinished.  We need to have that kind of understanding, knowledge and guidance to understand his books. We should read the books properly because he has represented everything systematically within the Parampara. He has also given rasa in his books, which a person can understand as per his level in bhakti. He has presented everything scientifically. Our knowledge is limited that’s why we don’t understand the philosophy. Some people will perceive that we must worship the demigods which as per their little understanding. To make us understand about the knowledge about the soul is very important. 

Bg. 4.11

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

Translation

As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.

Para bhakti is achieved only when one reaches the Brahma-bhootha state. One who is realised only he can perform para bhakti and if he doesn’t then it will be very difficult for him. It will just like studying PHD in LKG. So we should listen and read as per our standard. Then we say that we are not getting the rasa in reading Srimad Bhagavatam.

Bg. 18.54

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

Translation

One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.

It will just like studying PHD in LKG. So we should listen and read as per our standard. Then we say that we are not getting the rasa in reading Srimad Bhagavatam. In starting of Srimad Bhagavata, it is said:

ŚB 1.1.3

nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ
śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam
pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam
muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ

Translation

O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.

Srimad Bhagavatam is not read but rather we drink it. It is filled with Rasa. We sleep after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, that’s why we are not getting the taste of the rasa in Srimad Bhagavatam. We don’t have that level that’s why we don’t get any rasa in Srimad Bhagavatam. Similar is the case of Chaitanya Charitamrita, 

CC Madhya 17.133

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ

Translation

‘The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.’

Lord’s name is the personification of Rasa. All rasas are there in the holynames.  We will experience that rasa while chanting. But people like us yawn, sleep during japa. We don’t have the qualification of even chanting. We think that there is no rasa in this but it is there but it is there in Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, lectures all the things. So we don’t have the ability to get that rasa from the shastras because our level is not that much. He should not think like this that if I am not getting Rasa in this, I should change the book. We should rather increase our level.

But rather if we shift our attention to other things like Rasa dance etc, then we will start comparing it with Bollywood movies. We will think just the story has changed and it is the same as any other love story. There are three types of bhakti: sadhana, bhaav and prem bhakti. Vaidhi bhakti can lead to Ragunaga bhakti. This will be Sahajiya bhakti if we think that we will directly reach Ragunaga bhakti.  We cannot imitate Ragunaga bhakti and if we do that, then that is Sahajiya bhakti who is always in emotional state. So we should listen to Srila Prabhupada. He is given us the full package. We should do reading and hearing to get strong in Sambandh bhakti. So in Prabhupada’s lecture we can increase our sambandh knowledge about- the living entity, material nature and the Lord and the relations between them. We should understand that only Krishna is the supreme Lord. How the body works, we can understand. This is what Srila Prabhupada  explains everything to improve our Sambandh knowledge in his lectures. We should hear again and again as our brain is made of concrete. So it is just like hammering the concrete which should be done regularly. Unless we hammer it continuously, we cannot progress. So, the first thing which is taught in Bhagavad Gita is about the soul. If we will not hear these things regularly, then we will not be fully able to understand this knowledge. If we think we are not souls, we can enjoy our lives, then we won’t live a moral life, there is no point in that. When we understand ourselves as souls then we understand ourselves truly. So Bhagavad Gita’s knowledge talks about Samandha knowledge first. This is very important. Srila Prabhupada has made us understand this scientifically. He has put everything scientifically in shastra. Now-a-days we are not hearing Srila Prabhupada’s lectures. So we should hear about Srila Prabhupada’s lectures properly. We should hear 50% from Srila Prabhupada. We feel that a speaker who cracks jokes is good is nice and we should not listen it for our fun. We should read and hear properly. So we should increase our faith in Srila Prabhupada’s lecture that is how Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have written their books. All the basis of knowledge is ISKCON is based on Srila Prabhupada’s knowledge. So focus should be on Srila Prabhupada.

Any questions:

Q1: Hare Krishna Dandvat Pranam. Lecture was very nice prabhuji. Please tell us how can we measure our level of advancement?

Ans1. We have to understand that through the qualities given as per the shastras and then we can analyse our level. In Rupagauna Vidyapeeth we will launch courses on this topic.

Q2. One is from Meerut. Even if I know that I am at a very low level but still we should hear Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita. 

Ans 2. It is not that hear but what to hear is important. As long we are reading under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada then we are playing safe. So Srila Prabhupada’s writes that we should hear systematically. It is said that after reading Chaitanaya Charitamrita we can understand Srimad Bhagavatam and visa versa. So it is never ending.

Q3. Hare Krishna Dandvat Pranam. What is the difference between bhavokta and bhav?

Ans 3. Bhavokta is imitation but not reality. Bhaav is knowledge.

We will take your leave.

Hare Krishna.

 

Date: July 1st, 2024

Speaker: Srila Gurudeva

Place: ISKCON Ujjain

Main Tehem “Memorial Service for HH Rupa Raghunath Swami Maharaja – Guru glorifies his Disciple”

When Srila Prabhupada used to give sannyasa initiation to a married householder, he would give such a person the title “Goswami” and not “Swami”. However, Rupa Raghunath Swami Maharaj was never a householder. Hence, we offered him the title “Swami”, even though both the terms indicate the same meaning. 

When they were glorifying Maharaja, it was music to my ears. When a father has to unfortunately participate in the final rites of the son, it indicates that the Kali Yuga is prevalent. With the passing of Maharaja, similar is my misfortune. It would not be wrong if we consider or announce that Rupa Raghunath Swami Maharaj has entered the eternal pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Who would disagree with this? (applause of Hari Bol); you all are agreeing to this thought. 

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasya aprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya [yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ]
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. (Sri Gurvastakam, verse 8)

By his various activities and attributes, Maharaja has given me immense pleasure. (applause of Hari Bol). There is not a single situation when he displeased me or saddened me; except in one situation (chuckles) when he did not listen to me and disobeyed me. You were listening to the story yesterday from Ishadeva prabhu. During the Corona pandemic, the whole world was strictly observing the rules and regulations. Even when I was down with Corona infection, I was strictly following all the regiment – medicine, the dos and don’ts, the abstinence etc. but he was not following any medical instructions. I kept reminding him, “follow the medical instructions;  get healthy and revive your health”. But he stayed put and totally ignored my instruction. He was steadfast in his own theory, “No Medicine!”. But surprisingly, without medicine he got cured from Corona. (applause Hari Bol). And I was very pleased with him upon this. 

Srila Prabhupada instructed me to take up the significant service of Padayatra. Rupa Raghunath Maharaja, born in Argentina, a country in South America, was a brahmachari at that time. He read and heard all the details about our Padayatra service and the Padayatris. He took great inspiration from that and organized a bullock cart Padayatra in his country. Argentina is a vast country. Maharaja did Padayatra covering 2000 kms in Argentina before moving to India. (applause Hari bol). The place we met for the first time was also All India Padayatra. 

There is a common saying, “simple living and high thinking”. Rupa Raghunath Maharaj is a vivid example of this saying. Is he not? (applause Hari Bol). Such an exemplary personality lived with us, lived amongst us. Though a foreigner from South America, he moved to India and began serving Padayatra. He was quite a linguist. He had a command over many languages – Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Hindi, and some amount of Marathi and Gujarati too. He fluently spoke Hindi and gave wonderful classes in Hindi. When he moved to India, he took formal initiation. Many institutions pleaded with him to take initiation from their sampradaya. But he chose to get initiated in Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. Krishna saved him from wandering to various other places. 

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

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

In this very lifetime, Maharaj became a great soul by realizing that Lord Vasudev is all in all and he also realized that Lord Gauranga is all in all. (applause Sri Krishna Chaitanya Maharpabhu ki jay) In Kali Yuga, the Supreme Lord appears as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. 

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other’ means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.  (Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa, as quoted in Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 17.21) 

Just as the realization of a great soul, Maharaja too being a great soul, became enlightened in this Vedic conclusion of Harer Nama eva kevalam. Based on this realized knowledge, Maharaja embraced this Gaudiya Parampara. 

When Maharaja was living in Aravade, there was a financial crunch and shortage of grocery and vegetables. He began visiting a town 10 kilometers from Aravade, taking along with him a group of devotees. In the vegetable market, Maharaja began doing Harinam Sankirtan along with the devotees. Upon receiving Harinam, the grocers began to donate vegetables to the kirtan party. Thus, the shortage of vegetables in the brahmachari ashrama of Aravade was mitigated by Krishna’s intervention.  

ananyāś cintayanto māṁ
ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ
yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form – to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have. (Bhagavad Gita 9.22).

This is how Maharaja did the arrangements to come out of the difficulty. Once, he went to ISKCON temple in Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh. He found that in the temple kitchen the grocery closet was empty.  He wanted to go grocery shopping for the temple and the temple commander gave me a long shopping list. He went market and paid for all the groceries by himself.  Maharaja was very charitable but tactful as well. Whenever he met me, even though being a sannyasi, he would give me an envelope. Nothing big, but it was his expression of gratitude. We do have big support from sannyasis and brahmacharis. He was a big support for me as well. With his departure I am feeling vacant, and I am going to miss him a lot. 

I am very grateful to you all at ISKCON Ujjain for taking responsibility of this program. Similarly, Manish Bhai prabhu along with other temple devotees too did a lot of hard work to support in spite of some difficulties due to his foreign body. Thus I am very thankful to Rasananda Prabhu, and temple devotees and congregation of ISKCON Ujjain for having us here for Maharaja’s final rites. All glories to ISKCON Ujjain.  Is Raghav Pandit Prabhu here? No, he is not here. He comes forward only when there is service. 

Even Bhakti Prem Swami Maharaja rushed here to Ujjain. All glories to him. We chose this place, ISKCON Ujjain for Rupa Raghunath Swami’s final rites. Ujjain is a holy place and well-known as a place of liberation. Its sacredness is marked by Kumbha Mela and the holy river Kshipra. Ujjain is the place for eternal pastimes of Krishna Balaram as well. Maharaja had recently said he would go to Ujjain without announcing. And thus, he came here without prior announcement. First his soul reached here and subsequently, we got his body as well. ISKCON Ujjain welcomed us, encouraged us and provided us with all the facilities for this task. 

As it is, ISKCON Ujjain is famous for the hospitality, Vaishnava seva and such good deeds. When I was welcoming all the visiting devotees in the morning Mangal Arati, I remembered an incident with Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja. Once he received many bureau members and leaders in Ujjain; and he spent like 45 minutes in just welcoming everyone. He Individually welcomed each guest by announcing their name, position, post, activity, quality etc.!! So much honor and hospitality is always given by Ujjain ISKCON. Even now, we are heartily welcomed. Not just by lip service but actually we all, especially visiting devotees experienced this hearty welcome. Isn’t it? (applause Hari Bol). Bhakti Charu Maharaja was well known for that kind of welcoming culture.  Once he also acted as a cultural minister of ISKCON for a few years. 

When we went to the cremation ground at Chakratirtha, there was no GPS to direct us. Once the temple president of Bhakti Vedanta Manor was visiting a cremation ground and the GSP declared, “you have reached your final destination” (laughter). He had heard the same from GSP many other times but this time it struck him. Similarly, we too felt that we reached the final destination. But I was thinking about the whole atmosphere there. It felt like I was in Vaikuntha and not in a funeral home. There was the chanting of 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama 

Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Did you all feel the same? (applause Hari Bol). Even if Yamadutas came, there was no place for them and they would leave right away.

Rupa Raghunath Maharaja was connected to Italy too. His grandparents were from Italy. Once Maharaja was present in Italy’s Villa Vrindavan while one Vaishnavi devotee was leaving her body. Later as Maharaja was reporting to me, he said that at her last moments, many devotees had gathered around the body, loudly chanting and doing kirtan. He said there was no empty space for Yamadutas.  The whole atmosphere was charged with devotion and Harinam. “Jivo Va Maro Va” is a Vedic blessing, meaning you either die or live. For Vaishnavas this is a true blessing because for Vaishnavas there is no difference between life and death. “Chiranjiva” is another blessing given – “live forever”. This Chiranjiva blessing is given to four types of people including a prince etc. It is also given to sadhus, bhaktas, and to sadhvis and bhaktins too, because the soul never dies. 

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. (Bhagavad Gita 2.20) 

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will attain without fail. (Bhagavad Gita 8.6) 

Whatever we remember, we will get it in the future. The way Maharaja left his body, he remembered Kṛṣṇ for sure. The morning he departed, he chanted, he did mangala arati and he preached in the morning Bhagavatam class. He said in the class, “stop the cycle of millions of births. Get purified and go to Vaikuntha.” He just said it that morning, as if he was saying, “ I am going myself. I am purified enough to go now. I will go Vaikuntha”. He had darshan of Pancha Tattva picture on the table. And he had Ekanta – solitude.

It is strongly recommended that one be alone when dying. If Vaishnavas are around, that is like an icing on the cake. But especially relatives should not be around. The dying person tries to close the eyes and the relatives poke him to open eyes and anxiously ask, “open your eyes, do you remember me?” How can we remember God in this kind of situation? At that time, it is best if it is just you and Kṛṣṇ, or may be devotees. For Maharaja, quite an ideal situation was there when leaving his body. I heard that he had desired to leave in that way and the Lord fulfilled his desire. We should learn from his example how to die. (applause Hari Bol). He is an exemplary the whole ISKCON world by his life, not just by words. Let us all get inspired from his example. It is said, “all is well that ends well.” Maharaja demonstrated this saying to us as to how to end well in this world. May he inspire you all and may he, as a Vaishnava, always mercifully glance upon you all. While contemplating in this way, let us pray together, 

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone. They are oceans of mercy and are the purifiers of the fallen souls. (Sri Vaishnava Pranama)

 

 

 

Topic: 

Date:  2th July 2024

Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj

Jay Jagannath.

jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

He is not giving darshans as of now. These are the unfortunate times. We have no seva at this time. This is not good time. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also didn’t get darshans. He went from Puri to South India. After two years he came back to Puri. King Prataprudra and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya made their stay in Kashimishra Bhavan which we know by the name of  Gambhira. He had just returned from sankirtan.

Bg. 4.8

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation

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

Snan yatra ended and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu enthusiastically participated in it and took a lot of pleasure of Snan yatra first time but this is Jagannath’s Nityalila. Doctor recommends no visitors for Lord since he is suffering from fever. When he doesn’t give darshans in Puri then he gives his darshans in Alarnath. It is also a dham and if one has to have darshans then they can have it. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not able to live without him because he is unable to live without him.

 Śikṣāṣṭaka (Text 7)

yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa
cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
govinda-viraheṇa me 

Translation

O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.

He is having a feeling of separation from the Lord. He says- Where are you? Where are you?

Text 39

hā nātha ramaṇa preṣṭha
kvāsi kvāsi mahā-bhuja
dāsyās te kṛpaṇāyā me
sakhe darśaya sannidhim

Translation

She cried out: O master! My lover! O dearmost, where are You? Where are You? Please, O mighty-armed one, O friend, show Yourself to Me, Your poor servant!

 I want to see you. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was enthusiastic for his darshan. This is the quality of Lord. So he goes to Alarnath to have the darshans of the deities of Alaranath, who becomes Jagannath. In Jagannath Puri, there is Jagannath. In South India, the Andalas used to preach Lord. So he used to worship this deities so that’s why this deity was called Alarnath. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the darshan mandap paid his obesiances on the stone outside the darshan mandap and he saw the deities as Jagannath and because of his touch the stone melted.

Parama Karuna Pahu Dui Jana- by  Locana Dasa Thakura

dekho ore bhāi, tri-bhuvane nāi,
emona doyāla dātā
paśu pākhī jhure, pāṣāṇa vidare,
śuni’ jāńra guṇa-gāthā

Translation

My dear brother, just try and examine this. Within the three worlds there is no one like Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda. Their merciful qualities are so great that upon hearing Them even birds and beasts cry and stones melt.

Birds and animals bow down and stone melts by hearing about the Supreme Lord so here the Lord himself touched that stone. After paying obeisances but though he stood up but his bodily sign on the stone remained. That stone is still there and it is place to have darshans. I have went many times and Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu’s darshans can be found in that stone. His life size deity was found and this stone was a proof that he visited there and his form was imprinted on the stone. This was a proof and it is shown by that bodily sign. This was due to Bhaav Bhakti of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and he spent his time in Alarnath and when we stayed there, he got this news that a lot of devotees from Bengal came to Puri.

 He sent an invite for Rathyatra. From the time he took sannayasa, they had proceeded from Shantipur to Puri. From last two years Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s darshan was pending. In huge numbers visitors came to Puri. Sivananad sen use to take care of this. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to know this he invited everyone and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu thought that  I will also have all the devotees darshans. Then he went back to Puri. 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked his personal servant Govind and collected the prasad mala. He asked him to welcome the devotees. It was a grand reception. So many people came and they were welcomed with Kirtan as they entered puri. This is there first time and they did kirtan. When Pratap rudra came to know this, so he went to the roof of his palace and with him Gopinath acharya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was also there. They were aware of it.

 So for Pratap Rudra these devotees are new to him. The blue dress one is Nityanand prabhu and that white beard one is Advaita Acharya and behind him is Srinivas Acharya. So they were giving him darshans. And he felt that his life is successful after having their darshans. He said that I have heard and  have seen kirtans at many places, and I have heard many instruments. I have heard this many times but the kirtan which they are doing is different and it is attracting me. I am feeling ecstatic. Something is different in this kirtan, so in his response, Sarvanhauma Bhattacharya says that this is kirtan is called Prem kirtan. 

CC Madhya 19.53

namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Translation

“O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kṛṣṇa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”

So all these devotees are pure and they are the associated of Lord and they take the names of the Lord and they do kirtan all the time and there is no difference between their kirtan and Krishna. This this kirtan is different because this is suddha nam kirtan or this is prem kirtan. This kirtan Chaitanya Mahāprabhu presented 500 years before. 

Nadiya Godrume Nityananda Mahajana  by  Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Verse 3)

aparadha-sunya ho’ye loho krsna-nam

krsna mata, krsna pita, krsna dhana-pran

Translation

Being careful to remain free of offenses, just take the holy name of Lord Krsna. Krsna is your mother, Krsna is your father, and Krsna is the treasure of your life.

CC Madhya 6.254

vairāgya-vidyā-nija-bhakti-yoga-
śikṣārtham ekaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-śarīra-dhārī
kṛpāmbudhir yas tam ahaṁ prapadye

Translation

“Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet.

Chaitanya Mahāprabhu wanted all of us to learn and encourage others and he appeared in the form Adipurush. Chaitanya Mahāprabhu is sharira dhari and he took up a form and

CC Ādi 3.20

āpani karimu bhakta-bhāva aṅgīkāre
āpani ācari’ bhakti śikhāimu sabāre

Translation

“I shall accept the role of a devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself.

ŚB 11.5.32

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

Translation

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

So CM came with his associates 

sri-krishna-chaitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara
shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

TRANSLATION

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

He made them his associates and this is Gaur Bhakt Vrinda and he established the yuga dharma with this team. And then he presented sankirtan and said:

CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.12

pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra hoibe mora nāma

Translation

Pṛthivīte means “on the surface of the world.” Pṛthivīte. Āche, “there are,” yata, “as many.” Pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi, “towns,” grāma, “villages.” Pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma: “As many towns and villages there are on the surface of the globe,” sarvatra pracāra hoibe mora nāma, Lord Caitanya says, “everywhere people will know My name.” This is the prediction of Lord Caitanya. Now, after five hundred years have passed, that, I mean to say, opportunity has come.

My holyname is preached by me and Srila Prabhupada will preach  in future I will make him my  senapati bhakt and I will instruct him through Bhaktisiddhant Thakur to preach in the whole world and distribute this knowledge. Because of this only we are hearing japa talk, before we did japa and this is kirtan sada hari day today on Ekadashi  and all this is happening because of the plans of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He becomes a devotee himself.

CC Ādi 1.14

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ
namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

Translation

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

Krishna becomes Panchtattva and he takes the form of a devotee and whatever Krsna asked Arjuna in Bhagavat Gita he is exactly like performing his duties like this.

Bg. 18.65

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

Translation

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.

He said to remember him and he becomes a devotee gauranga and he remembers Lord. Become my devotee, Lord becomes a devotee himself Sai gaur Sai krsna Sai Jagannath. 

Jaya Jaya Jagganath
By Vasudeva Ghosh

(1)
jaya jaya jagannatha sacira nandana
tri-bhubana kare yagra caran a bandana

(2)
nilacale sankha-cakra-gada-padma-dhara
nadiya-nagare danda-kamandalu-kara

(3)
keha bale purabe rabana badhila
golokera bibhaba lila prakasa karila

(4)
sri-radhara bhaba ebe gora abatara
hare krsna nama gaura karila pracara

(5)
Vasudeva ghosa kahe karo joda hata
ye-i gaura se-i krsna se-i jagannatha

Translation:

1) Glory, glory to Saci’s son, who is Lord Jagannatha Himself! The three worlds bow down before His feet.

2) In Nilacala He is Jagannatha holding a conch, cakra, club, and lotus. In Nadiya’s towns He holds a danda and kamandalu.

3) Some wise souls say that in ancient times He killed Ravana. Some say in Gokola He enjoys glorious pastimes.

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

5) Vasudeva Ghosa says: Folding my hands, I declare: Gauranga is Krsna and He is Jagannatha.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu is Krsna himself. Jagannath ki jai. He is Saci mata’s son and he is Gauranga himself. He takes four armed form in Puri and in Nilachal he has shankh and chakra but in Navadwip he becomes a devotee and has danda and kamandalu. He becomes a Sannayasi. As Krsna he had 16108 wives and as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he married Lakshmi Priya and Visnu Priya and he becomes a devotee. And he goes to Tirth yatra and he goes to Puri , Vrindavan etc.

Caitanya-manjusa

Ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛndāvanam ramya kācid upāsana vraja-vadhū-vargeṇā va kalpitā

This he said and he did also. He becomes a devotee and he is Krsna himself. We cannot do what Krishna can do- he lifts goverdhan and he plays rasa lila with lakhs of gopis and he married 16108 times- you cannot imitate him. But this Krsna when he becomes Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that we can imitate and he inspires us to do that. We could relate with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and he took the form of Narsimha form as well. So it was  long time since his appearance but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 500 years before:

TEXT 8

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

TRANSLATION

In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.

He becomes a devotee and shows us the devotional path. He says that do bhakti like the gopis and

Shloka. He took the form and body of Radharani. 

CC Ādi 4.55

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād
ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ
rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

Translation

“The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.”

ŚB 12.13.18

śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ

Translation

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.

And said to read this Srimad Bhagavatam and hear this. He did a lot of sravana kirtan and this is Krishna karnamrita and he used to listen to these day and night. To develop faith we have to read Srimad Bhagavatam. So from Gadadhar pandit he hears those pastimes.

ŚB 1.2.18

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

Translation

By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

 

We have to become determined. He hears Srimad Bhagavatam himself

He asks us to offer fruits and then 

Bg. 9.26

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

Translation

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.

Bg. 3.13

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo
mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ
bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā
ye pacanty ātma-kāraṇāt

Translation

The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

Eat the remnants of yajna and have that. All your sins will be gone. Your paap vasna will be gone and he used to have prasadam with devotees. This is said in Gita.

CC Madhya 1.232

ei mata cali’ cali’ āilā śāntipure
dina pāṅca-sāta rahilā ācāryera ghare

Translation

Walking and walking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at Śāntipura and remained at the house of Advaita Ācārya for five to seven days.

One day he took prasad at Sri Advaita acharya’s home and said how tasty is this prasad because when he was honoring it, then Lord’s saliva was mixed in the prasadam and it has become more tasty. He did a lot for devotees and he followed and he taught the whole world through his acharan.

apne achra kari jagate sikhaye
Bole taisa chale tyachi vandavi paule (in Marathi)

Those who speak and walk in such a way those people should be followed. His bhakti Adarsha is established everywhere. This is his vairagya darshans

CC Madhya 22.54

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

Translation

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.

Chaitanya Mahāprabhu sings the glories of Sadhu sanga and he always stayed in Sadhu sanga. He used to give importance to this.

Bg. 10.9

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation

The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.

So, he called bengal devotees and had their sanga. This is some food for thought and it is the daily dose for your brain. We are his puppets:

Prabhupada Poem

āniyācho jadi prabhu āmāre nācāte
nācāo nācāo prabhu nacāo se-mate
kāṣṭhera puttali jathā nācāo se-mate

Srila Prabhupada said we should be dancing like him and this is the perfection of life. So be dedicated in the lotus feet of the Lord more and more so that we are free from this false ego. We should follow the path of devotion. 

Bg. 3.27

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

Translation

The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are carried out by the three modes of material nature.

We are fallen and we want to take credit for everything, consider ourselfs as doers and when Krishna handles us we have to think like that. We are not  having the darshans of Jagannath. Take care of the deities and is Lord recovering? Are you giving him special diet and feed him your love. He likes that and these loving dealings he likes. Go and make him healthy as soon as possible so that on 7th July, Rathayatra can happen and on Saturday Natra utsav on 6th July will take place and Gundicha marjan will happen. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to clean very nicely specially the throne, he used to clean that. So this will a feast to your eyes and then he gives such nice darshans. All this will happen in the coming days. So today is Ekadashi and next Ekadashi is Sayana Ekadashi, this is another pastime of Lord. Chatur maas will begin and two weeks from today it will be celebrated and on that day you all will celebrate my Vyasapuja. It is my nivedan like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as he called all the devotees so I cordially invite you to Vyasapuja. Did the invite reach you or not? Looks like 100 percent devotees got this invite and I wish to see you and meet you in Krishna Balrama mandir in Raman Reti in the ISKCON Goshala. Ekadashi Mahotsava ki Jai and Vrindavan dham ki jai! 

Jagannath Baldev Subhdadra ki jai! Netra utsav ki jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

Date: 3 July 2024 

Speaker:  HG Krishna Bhakta Prabhu Ji

Topic: The Bhava of taking Holy Name

HG Krishna Bhakta Prabhu Ji:

Welcome all the devotees for this Japa Talk. Some days ago, a devotee has sent a post saying ‘we can’t meet Guru Maharaj often is a myth. He daily waits for you in Japa Session.’  We are meeting with Guru Maharaj everyday from past 5 years. Today we are watching Guru Maharaj was asking from the devotes of Suraj, Pakistan and some other places about them individually and He was also awakening those who are sleeping in the japa session. Guru Maharaj gives blessings from the bottom of his heart in this Morning session.

Today we will discuss on the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 8.3.1 along with the pastime of Gajendra Moksha. Srila Prabhupada tells about the process of Taking Mahamantra and Japa in this purport.

SB 8.3.1:

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
evaṁ vyavasito buddhyā
samādhāya mano hṛdi
jajāpa paramaṁ jāpyaṁ
prāg-janmany anuśikṣitam

Translation:

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the King of the elephants, Gajendra, fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence and chanted a mantra which he had learned in his previous birth as Indradyumna and which he remembered by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.

In these verses it is assured that even if a person engaged in devotional service falls down, he is not degraded, but is placed in a position in which he will in due course of time remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As explained later, Gajendra was formerly King Indradyumna, and somehow or other in his next life he became King of the elephants. Now Gajendra was in danger, and although he was in a body other than that of a human being, he remembered the stotra he had chanted in his previous life. Yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṁsiddhau kuru-nandana. To enable one to achieve perfection, Kṛṣṇa gives one the chance to remember Him again. This is proved here, for although the King of the elephants, Gajendra, was put in danger, this was a chance for him to remember his previous devotional activities so that he could immediately be rescued by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

It is imperative, therefore, that all devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness practice chanting some mantra. Certainly, one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, which is the mahā-mantra, or great mantra, and also one should practice chanting cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu or the Nṛsiṁha strotra (ito nṛsiṁhaḥ parato nṛsiṁho yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiṁhaḥ). Every devotee should practice in order to chant some mantra perfectly so that even though he may be imperfect in spiritual consciousness in this life, in his next life he will not forget Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he becomes an animal. Of course, a devotee should try to perfect his Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life, for simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa and His instructions, after giving up this body one can return home, back to Godhead. Even if there is some falldown, practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness never goes in vain. For example, Ajāmila, in his boyhood, practiced chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa under the direction of his father, but later, in his youth, he fell down and became a drunkard, woman-hunter, rogue and thief. Nonetheless, because of chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa for the purpose of calling his son, whom he had named Nārāyaṇa, he became advanced, even though he was involved in sinful activities. Therefore, we should not forget the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra under any circumstances. It will help us in the greatest danger, as we find in the life of Gajendra.

Here Srila Prabhupada teaches us to always remember Krishna by giving the example of Gajendra.

Whatever service we are rendering weather it is chanting, following the four regulative principles, the process of servant of servants of servant, deity worship, Reading, residence in Dham, the main purpose of all the services is to always remember Krishna. We should always try to remember Krishna always and not to forget Krishna in any condition. 

CC Madhya 22.113:

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit

sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ

Translation:

‘Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.’

By hearing this statement, some people say it is ok we will take Name of Krishna at the time of death, but why we take His name every time, it is not necessary. But the real thing is we don’t know when death will come and if death will come it is not assured that we will remember the Holy name. So, it is good to take name every time.  It is not necessary that we will die in the old age only. We can die any time. Whenever the counts of the breath will complete, we have to leave this body. 

Guru Maharaj often asks how old are you? The meaning of this is what is your age. Another meaning is how much you are getting older. People come up with the answers that we are 21 years old, we are 16 years old.  It is certain that who have taken birth will die one day. But if we remember Krishna then Krishna will save us even if we will degrade. We can see by the example of Gajendra. Gajendra was given a body of an elephant because of the offence committed by him towards a Vaishnava in his past life. But Krishna gave him the knowledge in his heart, by which he was being able to offer his prayers at the time of difficulty. 

There is a twist in the pastime also. The prayers and offering were done by the Gajendra only and Lord decent for Gajendra. But the crocodile is the one, who delivered first. How is this happened? 

Gajendra has called lord only, but Crocodile has taken the shelter of the feet of a Vaishnava. That’s why Lord delivers him first and Gajendra got the body to become a devotee.

Padma Purāṇa:

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarcanam

Translation:

This is the instruction of Lord Śiva to Pārvatī. Pārvatī’s question was, “Which ārādhanam is the best?” So he replied, ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param. He said… [break] …but the knowledge is there. They have not lost the knowledge, but we have neglected. If we take advantage of this knowledge, then the whole world will become happy.

It is described in 5th chapter of 7th canto, when Jada Bharat was given the service of lifting the palanquin of King Rahugana. Jada Bharat was jumping all the time. That’s why the king sitting in the palanquin feels very uncomfortable. He scolded Jada Bharat that your body seems so strong. But you have no knowledge how to lift the palanquin. How fool you are! Then Jada Bharat said to King Rahugana that until you drink the washed feet water of a Vaishnava, you can never get the devotion and self-realisation.

ŚB 7.5.32:

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Translation:

Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.  

There are so many examples in the scriptures to come to know that we can do devotion smoothly only by taking shelter of a Vaishnava.  Sometime we say that we are chanting, we are taking the holy name. But no! there are so many pure devotees who are praying for us and by their prayers we are trying to take the pure holy name. 

Some time ago, Guru Maharaj was saying during Govardhan Parikrama that Kali is so bad and stubborn. Now he has entered in all the ashramas. But This Govardhan is preventing Kali to spread. Govardhan is saving our devotion. We are going in Dham and taking the holy name just because of the mercy of Giri Govardhan. Govardhan is standing like a shield in front of kali. Pure devotees of Lord purify the places they visit. By their mercy we can chant the holy name.  

ŚB 1.13.10:

bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās
tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaṁ vibho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā

Translation:

My lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.

Sometimes we attend the kirtan done by some pure devotee. We realise that the tears flowing from our eyes, that is not the eight satvik disorders, but we can not find out the reason. This is because the holy name coming from the pure devotees, and by hearing that holy name, we realise some reflection of pure holy name. This is not our eligibility of taking pure holy name. But the Pure holy name coming from pure devotees enters in our heart and will do his work. Srila Prabhupada saying that even when we are degraded but we should not leave chanting the holy name. One must attain perfection in any of the mantra weather it is cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu or the Nṛsiṁha strotra (ito nṛsiṁhaḥ parato nṛsiṁho yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiṁhaḥ). 

Bs. 5.29:

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-
lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam

lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation:

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of lakṣmīs or gopīs.

 There is only one this preferred to us to chant.

Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad it is stated:

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa

  kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare

hare rāma hare rāma

  rāma rāma hare hare

iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ

  kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanam

nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ

  sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate

Translation:

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

There is a very important place called Varadraj, in Kanchipuram in the Sri Cult. He is always ready to give blessings as his name suggests who gives blessings. His devotee Dushtipurn talk with the deities. Once Yamuna Acharya said to him that he should ask Lord that it is stated in Bhagavad Gita that:

BG 8.5:

anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ

Translation:

And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.

Lord answered: If a devotee failed to chant the name of the lord due to some accident or some disorder, but he has chanted my name throughout his life, then it is my responsibility to take his to my abode. 

Once srila Prabhupada was asked that what is the future of the flowers offered on the feet of Krishna and Spiritual Master?

Prabhupada answered the tree from which these flowers are plucked will surely get the human body in next birth and will do devotion and go back to Godhead. Flowers can also go back to the abode of Krishna, if they are used in the service of Krishna.

15 January, 1977, in Pragaraj, when Narad Muni Sankirtan Party reaches there with the deities of Gaur Nitai, Srila Prabhupada said these oxen are doing the service of Lord, they will surely go back, back to Godhead. Oxen and Flowers can go back to the adobe of Krishna. 

In Chaitanya Charitamrita, Shivanand Sen has a dog. Once he has given the service of advance party in which he has to arrange everything before the samkirtan party reaches there. Everyone was going through boat, The boatman said, ‘Dogs are not allowed in the boat.’ Shivanand sen gets disappoint. Further, in Jagannath Puri, he saw Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself feeding the dog the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath.  The dog will surely go back to the adobe of Krishna. Because Krishna himself feeding him. Then what could be his destination. 

A pastime can be seen in the forests of Jharkhanda, where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu engages all the animals in the loving service of Lord. The deer and the lion were kissing each other out of love. Both are the enemies. Deer is the food for lion. This is the effect and power of Devotion. 

Srila Prabhupada is telling us the Same thing. Every devotee should practice in order to chant some mantra perfectly so that even though he may be imperfect in spiritual consciousness in this life, in his next life he will not forget Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he becomes an animal. Of course, a devotee should try to perfect his Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life, for simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa and His instructions, after giving up this body one can return home, back to Godhead.

If we have some money in our bank account, we remember in our next birth that in so and so account I have put the amount of 1 or 2 crore, are we be able to take that amount? Security will push us out and can be shoot us if we will not understand. But Krishna is s merciful. He gives us chance to complete our devotion in the next birth from where we had left in the previous birth. 

We can see in the movement of Srila Prabhupada, little kids are doing devotion from the early age, they can lovingly recite Narsimha Aarti and verses, because they have started the devotion from where they have left in the previous life.  

Sometime, we said that this is the new devotee or the younger devotee but I am the senior devotee. This is completely wrong. Devotion has no relation with any ashrama or age. These are all designations of body. These designations are given us in this material world. Brahmachari, Vanaprastha, sanyasi, Grihastha, all these designations are related to the body only. The designation of soul is given by God himself, that’s why it is eternal. 

 If we see devotee by their age or time duration, he entered in devotion, then it leads us to commit the 1st offence towards holy name: to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. By committing the offence, one loose the interest towards holy name. 

Srila Prabhupada gave an example of Ajamila. Ajamila learn the Vaidik knowledge with his father in his younger age. Later, he put in the bad association. But he kept his son’s name as Narayana. At the time of death, Ajamila was calling hios son’s name. But that was not only his son’s name, but the name of the supreme personality of Godhead. This name has so much potential, that the Yamadutas went back from his door to see the Vishnudutas.  

We can see that Ajamila just saw the Postitute with another man just for a moment and his entire life changed. He took the time of 80 years to get back in devotion. What to say of those who watch abominable programmes on tv. So, one must chant thinking that it’s mercy of Krishna and Spiritual master that we are able to do so. We must render our services submissively. That’s why before entering the altar, one must pray: Hey Guru Dev! We are stuck here since time immemorial. We are like a dust particle; you have picked me up and allowed me to perform deity worship. So many prayers are recited.

CC, Madhya Lila, 13.80:
nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ

Translation:
“ ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

We should recite these prayers while entering in the deity room.

sri-guro paramananda premananda phala-prada
vrajananda-pradananda-sevayam ma niyojaya

Translation:

My dear spiritual master, who give the fruit of the highest bliss—the bliss of love of Godhead—please engage me in the blissful service of Sri Krishna, who bestows bliss upon the land of Vraja.

And this bliss of Vraja can be awarded only by the mercy of the spiritual master. Nothing comes free. Krishna also would get His meals after killing a few demons! And we say that we must get full mercy without putting any efforts. So, devotion is devotional service as instructed by Srila Prabhupada. When one performs devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. Then it brings real success. Devotion without reverence for the spiritual master brings about lust and thus senior devotees also may fall. Nevertheless, by the mercy of Spiritual Master and Krishna one comes back to devotion.

SB 12.3.52:

kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ
tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ
dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ
kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt

Translation:
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

In Satya Yuga, Dhruva Maharaj meditated on ‘Om Namoh Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’ Also, while doing yajnya, holy names were chanted. In deity worship also one chants basic mantra in Dwapar Yuga. So, in these three yugas holy names were chanted.

CC Madhya 6.242:

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

Translation:
“ ‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’ ”

So, meditation is not the forte of Kali Yuga. Yagya also is not recommended. As there are no pure ingredients available. Elaborate Deity worship is also not possible. So based on 5 limbs of Bhakti:

1. 
   Association of Devotees
   2. Chanting
   3. live in Holy places
   4. Hearing Bhagavatam
   5. Deity worship

Then one can go back home, back to Godhead!  

Hare Krishna!

05 July 2024 

Speaker: HH Radhe Shyamananda Swami Maharaj
Theme: Appearance and Disappearance Day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita and Disappearance of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Sub-Theme: Disappearance Day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita.

Welcome, dear devotees, to this Japa talk. Today is the appearance and disappearance day of Srila Gadadhara Pandit, the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and the appearance day of Srila Gurudev. This day is glorious. All days are important, but when a great personality takes birth on earth, the spiritual potency of that day increases a thousandfold.

Srila Gadadhar Pandit is the fourth of the Pancha Tattva (Jay Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhar). He is non-different from Radha Rani, who appears as Gadadhar Pandit in Chaitanya Lila. His parents, Madhava Mishra and Ratnavali, were neighbors of Sachi Mata and Jagannath Mishra. Sachi Devi and Ratnavali would meet each other very frequently. Gadadhar was younger than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but they played together and remained close throughout their lives. Gadadhar Pandit disappeared after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared.

Gadadhar Pandit was very calm by nature and did not like to go to crowded places. As he grew up, his friend Mukunda always accompanied him everywhere.

Once, Pundarik Vidyanidhi arrived in Navadvipa Dham from Saptagram. Mukunda told Gadadhar Pandit to meet this great personality, just like Prabhupada’s friend took him to meet Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. A true friend is one who makes you visit saints, not one who takes you to pubs and mundane places. Pundarik Vidyanidhi is Vrishbhanu (the father of Radha Rani) in Krishna Lila. He was seated on a throne, dressed opulently, and servants were serving him. Someone would fan him; someone would give him betel leaf to chew. He had long hair and eyes, and the entire room was filled with the scent he had applied to his clothes. Gadadhar Pandit wondered how this seemingly materialistic person could narrate any Katha, and they returned from that place. The next day, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu again asked Gadadhar to meet Pundarik Vidyanidhi, and Mukunda took Gadadhar Pandit to the same place. Mukunda was a very good singer and would sing verses very sweetly. To show the actual form of Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Mukunda sang:

अहो बकी यं स्तनकालकूटं
जिघांसयापाययदप्यसाध्वी ।
लेभे गतिं धात्र्युचितां ततोऽन्यं
कं वा दयालुं शरणं व्रजेम ॥ २३ ॥

aho bakī yaṁ stana-kāla-kūṭaṁ
jighāṁsayāpāyayad apy asādhvī
lebhe gatiṁ dhātry-ucitāṁ tato ’nyaṁ
kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema

Translation:
Alas, how shall I take shelter of one more merciful than He who granted the position of mother to a she-demon [Pūtanā], although she was unfaithful and she prepared deadly poison to be sucked from her breast?
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.2.23)

Pundarik Vidyanidhi started loudly chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and rolled down from his throne. All his opulent clothes were crushed, and he began shouting, “Krishna Krishna Krishna.” Seeing this ecstatic state of Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Gadadhar Pandit felt extreme compassion for him. Gadadhar thought that he had insulted Pundarik Vidyanidhi, so he decided to repent by serving him and making him his guru. He reported the entire incident to Mahaprabhu and expressed his willingness to take diksha from Pundarik Vidyanidhi.

Throughout his life, Gadadhara Pandita served as a close companion and disciple of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, an elevated Vaishnava. Their relationship was that of an ideal spiritual master and disciple, both deeply beloved by Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

Before Mahaprabhu went to Jagannath Puri after taking sannyasa, he performed lilas in Navadvipa for 24 years and the remaining 24 years in Jagannath Puri. During the last 24 years, he continuously traveled for 12 years, preached along with his disciples for 6 years, and lived in Krishna’s separation for the remaining 6 years. Gadadhar Pandit also went with Mahaprabhu to Jagannath Puri.

Before going to Gaya, Gadadhar was not happy with Mahaprabhu’s behavior. Mahaprabhu would just discuss grammar, alankar, and Sanskrit. Gadadhar would pray to God to make Mahaprabhu a devotee. But when Mahaprabhu went to Gaya and took diksha from Ishwara Puri, he changed completely. He started feeling separation from Krishna.

When Gadadhar Pandit saw Mahaprabhu roll in ecstasy, he would become very restless. He decided to always stay with Mahaprabhu. Once, he offered pan and betel nuts to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu asked him where Shyam Sunder resides. Gadadhar Pandit replied, “He resides in your heart.” Immediately, Mahaprabhu started tearing His chest with His nails. Sachi Mata, upon seeing this, got terrified. Gadadhar Pandit tackled the situation intelligently and stopped Mahaprabhu from tearing his chest. Thereafter, Sachi Mata instructed Gadadhar Pandit to never leave Mahaprabhu.

While serving Tota Gopinath, Gadadhar Pandit became old. He was instructed to leave his service due to his old age, but he refused to leave this service. For us, if given a choice, we might avoid devotional service. Many devotees, after being initiated, disappear and never serve in the temple. We should at least serve for an hour in a temple. Goddess Lakshmi also is not allowed in Vaikuntha because she did not want to leave her opulence. Serving in the temple is very important.

Gadadhar Pandit, now old, could not reach the top of the Tota Gopinath deity. The deity bent down to be served by Gadadhar Pandit. To this day, the deity is seen bent down. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also entered the Tota Gopinath deity and disappeared. Gadadhar Pandit then started serving Tota Gopinath more intensely. Today is Vaishakha Amavasya, the disappearance of Gadadhar Pandit. Amavasya is a dark, no-moon day, and black reminds Radha Rani of Krishna.

Sub-Theme: Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Today is also the day of the disappearance of Bhaktivinoda Thakur. He is Kamala Manjari in Krishna Lila. Krishna sends His close associates to preach. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur presented the Vedas systematically to the world and discovered lost granthas. He was born on 2nd September, Sunday, Trayodashi, at Birnagar. His father was Ananda Chandra Dutta, and his mother, Jag Mohini Devi, hailed from Kayastha families. His father called many astrologers to check his hand, and they predicted that this child would be very intelligent and unmatched in knowledge. At the age of 2, he wrote a poem that surprised everyone. By the age of 6, he had mastered the Ramayana and Mahabharata. At 9 years old, he mastered astrology. At 10, he would ask questions about God. He was married at 11 years old when his wife was just 5 years old.

His friend Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar wrote a book on God being formless. Bhaktivinoda Thakur went to Calcutta to meet him and questioned why he wrote about God when he didn’t know anything about Him. He argued that Krishna, being all-powerful and the maintainer of the universe, could not be formless.

When his grandfather was about to leave his body, he blessed him to be a great Vaishnava. He wrote many scriptures, such as Jaiva Dharma.

Later, he was appointed as deputy magistrate and the chief of the Jagannath temple. Once, a tantric, an occult practitioner, announced himself as Maha Vishnu and claimed that Jagannath is nothing but a piece of wood. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur arrested him and announced a case against him. He faced many problems; his family fell sick, but Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur did not give up. For 1.5 years, the tantric was imprisoned, and then the doctors shaved off his hair. He lost all his powers and committed suicide.

He also discovered Navadvipa. It was a Tulasi farm owned by a Muslim. He acquired it, and Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, an old saint, helped him discover the birthplace of Mahaprabhu. He prayed to Jagannath for a son who would be empowered to preach. Once, the Ratha Yatra chariot did not move for 3 days outside the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakur. As soon as his few months old son, Bimala Prasada, was taken by his mother to the deities, a garland fell on his head, and the Ratha moved forward. He was the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada, who spread Krishna consciousness far and wide.