Chitrakoot – Ayodhya Annual yatra 2017

Title: Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Varanasi

Venue : Varanasi

“jiv jago, jiv jago, gaurachanda ” who is calling ?? Who is gaurachanda? Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki ..jai.

jiva jago, body is already awaken in morning for food and other bodily needs, we should take advantage of human body and chant Lords holy name. “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya? Living like animal is also sleeping without dharma.

bhajibo boliya ese samsara-bhitare
bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare

You have forgotten the way of devotional service and are lost in the world of birth and death.

You had prayed when you were in mother’s womb oh! Lord I will chant your name, please remove me from here. But as you took birth you forgot the Lord and you were filled with avidya ignorance. Mummy mummy Maya surrounded you. And in school and colleges also they teach avidhya not raja vidya raja guhyam. Physics and chemistry etc is avidya. And then overseas education loans and what not.

tomare loite ami hoinu avatara
ami bina bandhu ara ke ache tomara

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world. I am your bandhu, dinabandhu; I am your best friend. I have brought medicine for all your problems. Which is that medicine? Harinam.

enechi aushadhi maya nasibaro lagi’
hari-nama maha-mantra lao tumi magi’

I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this maha-mantra—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

Please ask for some medicine.

Bhakti Vinod Thakur says’s oh! Lord please give me harinam. You should also ask for harinam. If you don’t ask how will you get harinam.

(Gurudev singing jiva jago)

In Prayag after meeting Rupa Goswami and accepting his pray. Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Varanasi also called as Kasi. Varna river is flowing here and its only here that Ganga flows in north direction.

Along its entire north-south course of 2,520 kilometers originating in the high glaciers of the Himalayas in North India and ending in the Bay of Bengal in the East, it is here in Varanasi that the Ganges takes a broad sweep, forming a dramatic crescent, flowing in the reverse northern direction for a short distance of about 7 kilometers.

Then she flows and meets Gangasagar. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Kasi. Here also kirtan took place. Kasi is headquarter of mayavadis and also Haridwar these two place.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has therefore strictly forbidden us to associate with Mayavadi philosophers.

“Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa”

If one associates with the Mayavadi a philosophy, his devotional life is doomed. So we should not hear them.

Mayavadis says, I am Lord I am Brahman, they are filled with false ego you can’t find there trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna.

Mayavadis used to say to Caitanya Mahaprabhu that he is sannyasi but he does not read vedansutra just keeps dancing and kirtan. He does not know his dharma. He keeps on dancing and moving around on streets of Varanasi.

Hearing this Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled. First when he was going to vrndavan but that time he did not pay any attention to Mayavadis but this time while returning from vrndavan. He thought now I deal with these mayavadis. Tapan Mishra was first in Bengal and he had met Caitanya Mahaprabhu in bengal and he wanted association of Caitanya Mahaprabhu . Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to him you go to Varanasi. Now as Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in Varanasi Tapan Mishra met Caitanya Mahaprabhu and had prasad at his house. And his son latter became Raghunath Bhat Goswami.

So Raghunath Bhat Goswami one of the sad goswami was born in Varanasi and was son of Tapan Mishra. After prasad this child Raghunath would massage the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu . Hearing this a desire would arise in our heart, oh! when I will get such chance to serve the Lord personally.
Mayavadis don’t desire such things because their god does not have body so forget of feet. This is destruction of bhakti. And this child would also get some mahaprasad of Caitanya Mahaprabhu .

Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went from Varanasi to Jagganath puri. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had instructed Raghunath Bhatta Goswami I am going you also come to Jagganath puri. So Raghunath Bhata Goswami stayed for 8 months in Jagganath puri and then Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent him to vrndavan. He loved bhagvatam and as Luv and Kush would sing Ramayana like that he would sing bhagvatam in three different melodies. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu liked his singing very much.

Mayavadis were reading vedantsutra and were offending Caitanya Mahaprabhu . A marathi Brahman heard it and he could not tolerate this. And he became very sad and he met Caitanya Mahaprabhu and said people are doing your offending you and this nama aparadha and vaishnava aparadha.

“mayavadi krsna aparadhi”

Prakasananda Saraswati a mayavadi sanyasi was in Varanasi and he had 60000 disciples. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was invited by him. Now in dharma sabha Prakasananda Saraswati was seating on vyasana and Caitanya Mahaprabhu came and sat at the door where people wash their feet before entering. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very humble. Prakasananda Saraswati was surprised and all of them got up. Oh! Why are you sitting here get up and sit on asan.

And half of them were defeated by Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s humility.
They asked to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, why you keep dancing and doing kirtan. And discussion started and vada vivad started. You are sanyasi you should meditate. You don’t sit; you just keep dancing.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu does kirtan and that’s meditation only. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Varanasi visit. And He stayed here for two months. And maybe He did kirtan on the streets nearby in the area where we are staying.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s in Varanasi did kirtan. And defeated Mayavada. He was digvijay sanyasai where ever He went He established harinam. And Prakasananda Sarawati became follower of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and also his 60000 disciples. He filled Varanasi with kirtan.

“jahnavi tatvane jaga jana lobha”

Arti of Caitanya Mahaprabhu takes place at bank of ganga and Brahma Shiv ; Sukdev goswami ; Naradamuni; come for arti .

And a famous dialogue between Sanatan Goswami and Caitanya Mahaprabhu it went on for two months. So based on these instruction there is a book written named as teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu .

U all should read this book it’s a advanced course. Sanatan Goswami is one of the associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu . He came with Caitanya Mahaprabhu from Golok. So what is left for him to be known.

Mahaprabhu said, “Guru mora murkha dekhi – My Guru Maharaja told me that because I am foolish and unintelligent, I am not qualified to study Vedanta. He said that instead I should always chant Hare Krsna and I should remember this verse:
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

(Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila 17.21).

Nimai pandit and he defeated many with His panditva . And one of them is Keshva Kashmiri.

Krishna had said “vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham”. You should read vedas to know the Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu . I know all about Vedas and to know me you should read Vedas.

My gurus told me just chant this mantra and its essence of all the mantras. That’s why Brahma said,

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare.
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare
iti shodashakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nashanam;
natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drishyater

Lord Brahma said,
The sixteen words-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-are especially meant for completely destroying all the contamination of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali-yuga, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of this sixteen-word mantra.

First acharya is Brahma then others acharyas in disciplic succession till Srila Prabhupada and this mantra is the only solution and there is no mantra above this mantra. Who said this? Brahma, authority in our parampara.

In Kali who can read sanskrit and even if one can read no one can understand. Now people read news paper that’s their Veda. Common men can’t read vedantsutra. So they should chant the holy name. And when 4,32000 years will finish then there will be satyuga that time you can sit and read vedantsutra.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, I got this mantra in Gaya. He had gone from Mayapur to Gaya. He met Isvarpuri in Gaya. And once He would chant Hare Krsna He wolud be filled with Krishna consciousness .

He said to his guru,
What kind of mantra you have given to me? “japite japite mantra karela pagal” I have become pagal, pagala baba, I have become pagal, madman chanting this holy names “kiba mantra dila gosai, kiba tara bala”. And then guru ji said oh! that’s great you have achieved perfection of mantra.

There are 7 moksha puris, people go and stay at these places at the end of life and wait there to die so that they can achieve moksha. But devotees don’t expect moksha they want prem. Vaishnav wants pancham purushartha which is devotional services. And by chanting you all can achieve it.

Hearing to Caitanya Mahaprabhu all the mayavadis became bhakta and started dancing and chanting the holy name.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki… jai

The Teachings of Srila Prabhupada
Date: 2 Jan 2017
All glories to the assembled devotees.

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

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

We will sing Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayite written by Rupa Goswami. In this song, Rupa Goswami has described the glories of Srimati Radharani and requested Her to shower Her mercy upon him.

radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite

O Radha! O beloved of Madhava! O You who are worshiped by all the young girls of Gokula! All glories unto You! All glories unto You!

damodara-rati-vardhana-vese hari-nishkuta-vrinda-vipinese
vrishabhanudadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe lalita-sakhi gunaa-ramita-visakhe
karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite sanaka-sanatana-varnaita-carite

You who dress Yourself in such a way as to increase Lord Damodara’s love and attachment for You! O queen of Vrndavana, which is the pleasure grove of Lord Hari! O new moon that has arisen from the ocean of King Vrsabhanu! O friend of Lalita! O You who make Visakha loyal to You due to Your wonderful qualities of friendliness, kindness, and faithfulness to Krsna! O You who are filled with compassion! O You whose divine characteristics are described by the great sages Sanaka and Sanatana! O Radha, please be merciful to me!

om namo bhagvate vasudevya

Srila Prabhupada ki…jai. I once again thank you all for coming for the katha.

vayam tu na vitrpyama uttama-sloka-vikrame
yac chrnvatam rasa-jñanam svadu svadu pade pade (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.19)

One can never be satiated even though one continuously hears the transcendental pastimes of Krsna, who is glorified by excellent prayers. Those who have entered into a transcendental relationship with Krsna relish the descriptions of the pastimes of the Lord at every step.

We are trying to sing the glories of Srila Prabhupada.

vaisnavera kriya mudra vijneha na bujhaya — however learned or intelligent a person may be, he cannot understand the activities of a vaisnava. [CC. Madhya lila 23.39]

We are the people of the world, so we can understand the people of this world. But understanding the Mahabhagavats and the Lord’s realization is also difficult.

ahah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah (CC Madhya 17.136)

No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him.

To understand nama, rupa, guna, lila of Lord is difficult and the polluted senses can never understand them. Serve the Lord with the tongue; sing the glories of the Lord then there will be ceto darpan marajanam. The mind and the senses will be purified.

samo damas tapah saucam ksantir arjavam eva ca
jñanam vijñanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam (Bhagavad Gita 18.42)

Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness-these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.

These qualities are manifest in the body of a Vaisnava. Therefore a perfect Vaisnava is also a perfect brahmana, as indicated by the words brahmanyah sila-sampannah.(SB 7.4.31-32) A Vaisnava is always determined to understand the Absolute Truth, and to understand the Absolute Truth one needs to have full control over his senses and mind. Prahlada Maharaja possessed all these qualities.

Control the senses and the mind and of course, intelligence, the driver of our life.

yantrarudhani mayaya

This body is a machine made of the material energy and in that machine a soul is sitting. The driver is intelligence. In this analogy, the chariot is the body, the horses are the five senses, the reins in the mouth of the horses is the mind, the charioteer is the intellect, and the passenger seated behind is the soul residing in the body.

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

tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te (Bhagavad Gita 10.10)

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.

When I was a child, my mother would take me to the temple and say, ‘put your hands together and ask the Lord for buddhi (intelligence)’. I repeated as she said and after some time the Lord gave me the proper intelligence. I joined ISKCON and served Sri Sri Radha Rasa Bihari established by Srila Prabhupada in Juhu.

ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah (Bhagavad Gita 4.11)

All of them-as they surrender unto Me-I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha.

Understanding Srila Prabhupada and his caritra is difficult. The thoughts of a man, not his clothes or his external appearance, tell us about his caritra. A Wise man and a fool can be distinguished once he starts talking. To know Srila Prabhupada means to understand his thoughts, his views, his vision and his teachings.

So today’s topic is: Teachings of Srila Prabhupada. About his life. We have been listening for 6 days. I tried to shed some light on his life.

In his pranam mantra we say, namo om visnupadaya. He is the servant of the lotus feet of Visnu. He spreads the holy name all over the world. The mantra only mentions the West and how he saved us from impersonalism and voidism. Buddha preached about voidism and its very dangerous. According to Buddhist philosophy, there is only a void after the completion of this material life, but Bhagavad-Gita teaches differently. Actual life begins after the completion of this material life.

mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa (CC Madhya 6.169)

Srila Vyasadeva presented the Vedanta philosophy for the deliverance of conditioned souls, but if one hears the commentary of Sankaracarya, everything is spoiled. Be careful.

Tukaram maharaja said, ‘advaitachi vani nako kani tyahuni bahira baracha me’,

vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattva yaj jñanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate (SB 1.2.11)

Those who are actually knowers of the Absolute Truth know that the Self is realized in three different phases, as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.

aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah
jnana-vairagyayos caiva sannam bhaga itingana (Visnu Purana 6.5.47)

Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is thus defined by Parasara Muni as one who is complete in the six opulences—who has full strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty, and renunciation. Lord is full of 6 opulences. Lord is jnanavan-knowledgeable . Bhagavad-Gita says, ‘Sri Bhagavan uvaca’, means jnanavan uvacha, He is beautiful – ‘sundar te dhyana’

mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah (SB 1.1.10)

In this iron age of Kali, man has but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. Our brain is dull so anybody can cheat us. Srila Prabhupada’s teachings are not his teachings, but the teachings of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada would say, ‘Like a post man; just deliver the letter’. So the acarya’s work is to spread the teaching of the Lord as it is.

So Srila Prabhupada was successful because he presented the Lord’s message as it is. Arjuna heard Gita and what was the effect?

nasto mohah smrtir labdha tvat-prasadan mayacyuta
sthito ‘smi gata-sandehah karisye vacanam tava

Arjuna said, My dear Krsna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions. “I’m ready to follow your orders”.

So one who reads Gita presented by Srila Parabhupada has the effect of karisye vacanam tava and crores and millions of souls all over the world are ready to follow the orders of the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada said, ‘We are not God. You are not God. We are the servants of God’. He has introduced us to the service of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada’s mission is for the establishment of dharma.

dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara

A devotee’s behavior establishes the true purpose of religious principles.

aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam
ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena va kalpita
srimad bhagavatam pramanam amalam prema pum-artho mahan
sri-caitanya mahaprabhor matam idam tatradarah na parah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is worshipped along with His transcendental abode Vrndavana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopis of Vrndavana. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless authority on everything. Pure love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life for all men. These statements, for which we have the highest regard, are the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Lord Caitanya recommended that the greatest achievement of human life is to achieve the grace of the Lord, love of God. He said, prema pumartho mahan: to achieve love of Godhead is the highest perfection of life.

We know there are 4 purusharthas : dharma, artha, kama, moksha. But above all of these is prema purushartha. Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this fifth prema purushartha; ahaituki bhakti, ‘O Lord give us Your bhakti’.

The goal of every soul is to go back to Godhead, through bhakti bhava. Srila Prabhupada translates bhakti as devotional service. ‘I have lot of devotion’, then show it by serving the Lord.

Dr. N.D.Desai (Srinathji Prabhu) A successful Bombay engineer is no more amongst us. He always found fault in Srila Prabhupada. But after 6 years he understood Srila Prabhupada and soon surrendered unto him. Srila Prabhupada said: “I’m in my books; if anyone wants to know me, then read my books”.

We can get the association of an acarya through vani and vapu seva. When he is present amongst us, we can serve him, that is vapu seva. So vapu is not there, but vani, his books, are always there. We can read them and understand.

we always wondered when seeing Srila Prabhupada reading his own Krsna book. Srila Prabhupada would say, “I didn’t write this book, what ever the Lord said, I wrote. Lord Krsna Himself made me write”. He gave all the credit to the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada is transparent media, through him, we know the Lord. Srila Prabhupada said these books are windows to the spiritual world. It’s also called sastra caksu, direct darsana of the spiritual world. Whatever we want to know about the Lord can be known through his books.

Our acaryas have completed all the experiments in their hearts and given us the books. There is no chance of mental speculation or experimentation.

The FOUR golden rules are :

Books are the basis.
Preaching is the essence.
Utility is the principle.
Purity is the force.

His books are the gifts he has left for us. Guru/Rishi-Rin (Obligations towards Teachers/Sages or Knowledge debt) It’s called, the debt of the rishis.

In Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada said, “Print as many as books as you can, in all languages then Krishna consciousness will spread”. His Guru Maharaja had ordered him to write books in English. So he said to his disciples, “Print as many as books you can in as many as languages as you can.” So his books are translated into 70 languages.

Printing books and distributing books is the basic service of ISKCON. All information is there in his books about the Lord’s abode.

na tad bhasayate suryo na sasanko na pavakah
yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama

That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world. It’s all fact, it’s not mythology.

pañcajanyam hrsikeso devadattam dhanañ-jayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham bhima-karma vrkodarah

Lord Krsna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra in the battle of Kuruksetra. It’s all historical fact. Gita is the song of the Lord.

It is said that the body is the ratha and the senses are the horses, like that if we mentally speculate then everything is finished.

During my last visit to China I was doing programs in different cities. The entry fee was the purchase of a Bhagavad-Gita. In this manner 1200 Gitas were distributed in China. So they are also reading patram pushpam. No more snake soup; they only drink carnamrita. No more eating mice. They are becoming strict vegetarians. In a country like China, where they eat black and white ant bread, they are now not only vegetarian but also Krsnatarian. They offer the food to the Lord and eat prasada. What to eat, how to eat; Prabhupada taught the whole world.

Food can be in mode of passion, ignorance and goodness, but prasada is beyond the three modes. Prasada is good for your mind, body and soul. Food for soul is prasada.

Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. No author has written ‘as it is’. They can’t write that because their Gita is not as it is. Only the Lord’s devotee can talk about the Lord. Everybody is not a devotee even if they dress like that. They are bhukti kami, siddhi kami, all of them are not peaceful.

There are many babas who show some magic. They may also be called dharmic, but they perform yajna. They are kami. They cannot understand the Lord.

krsna-bhakta—niskama, ata eva ‘santa’
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami, sakali ‘asanta’

Because a devotee of Lord Krsna is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jnanis desire liberation, and yogis desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.

Technology has progressed a lot in the West. They are materially strong, but spiritually blind. Srila Prabhupada said, “The West is blind and the East is lame. One is blind and one is lame. They can help each other. Technology of the West and the culture of East can work as a team.” This was Srila Prabhupada’s proposal. Utility is the principle. We are using everything in the service of the Lord: internet, aeroplane, microphones.

Srila Prabhupada was talking with scientists on a morning walk and established a scientist’s community to explain and discuss with them that “Life comes from life; life does not come from matter. Darwin’s theory of evolution says, that some chemical reactions take place and life comes from it. They have no knowledge of life. They say the Amoeba was the first living entity and then evolution took place and the Amoeba became a monkey and then man came into the picture. Srila Prabhupada heard this, he said, “No! No! Darwin may have come from a monkey but we have not. We have come from Brahma. The most evolved first entity was Brahma. He was very intelligent and that is why he had 4 heads.” Scientists say that an explosion caused creation.

aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate (Bhagavad-Gita 10.8)

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me.‘I’m the controller of the material creation’. If there is creation, then here must be some creator. HH. Swarupa Damodar Maharaja was a scientist. He spoke to the scientists discussing these topics with them. Now they call this creation, an intelligent design. A design needs some intelligent person.

Srila Prabhupada stressed the 4 regulative principles.

Dharma has four pillars; daya (compassion) is the foundation of Dharma. Meat eating destroys compassion, intoxication destroys austerity, purity is destroyed by illicit sex and truthfulness is destroyed by gambling. No meat eating will establish compassion, no gambling establishes truthfulness, no illicit sex establishes purity, and no intoxication establishes austerity. This is all explained in Srimad-Bhagvatam.

Hare Krsna Kirtana is the dharma of Kali-yuga. The main teaching is this.Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

iti shodashakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nashanam;
natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drishyate.

The sixteen words-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare – are especially meant for completely destroying all the contamination of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali-yuga. There is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of this sixteen-word mantra. It all comes from sastra not and from fertile brain of Srila Prabhupada.

ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
indrari-vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge (SB 1.3.28)

All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.”

Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada has taught this in his books. People think Krsna is one of the 33 crores demigods, pick whichever you like. Krsna is avatari; He is the source of all avatars.

sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. So we need to surrender to the Lord.

Prabhupada also gave us Deity worship and Deity worship standards

So all of you read Srila Prabhupada’s books and his lilamrita.
Thank you very much for coming to the katha.
You must be inspired by the katha.
Are you ready to follow Srila Prabhupada now?

Devotees from Bengal meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu

We are at the old Radha Kunjabihari temple. Old is gold.
Lets sing, jaya radha madhava jaya kunjabihari

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

om nano bhagvate vasudevaya

I welcome you all to Radha Kunjabihari! This morning in the auspicious atmosphere of the Radha Kunjabihari courtyard, we all have gathered for Gaur katha. I welcome all you Gaura bhakta vrndas.

I welcome all the youth present today and the older ones. The older ones will move on and the youth will remain to spread the mission. Throughout India the youth are joining ISKCON and taking up the responsibility of preaching. There is no need to fear. The next 50 years are covered.

vrdhavastha cinta magna

We, the old people keep worrying. Now ISKCON’S old people need not worry as the youth are coming forward and they are taking the responsibility under the guidance of Radheshyam Prabhu. Thanks to all the youth, now we can peacefully do our bhajan.

Forty years back this was not the picture; this is also the krpa of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

“Oh! Swamiji you are giving sannayasa to young people. Sannayasa has to be given in old age.” A reporter posed that challenging question to Prabhupada. Prabhupada replied, “Who is old in your view? One can die any time. Sooner or later, he will die. If he does not die in morning, he may die in the evening. Is there any guarantee that these young people will not die. They can also die at any time.”

In the 20th and 21st centuries people are dying younger and younger. In Africa due to AIDS youngsters are dying at the age of 20 and 30. The average life span of an African is just 32 years. Old person should take sannyasa, but the young can also die at any time, so they should also be given sannayasa. We ask – how old are you and not – how young are you. So you are old enough to take sannayasa. When I asked Prabhupada for sannyasa Prabhupada said, “You are already a sannayasi. You want undergo the formality?” Brahmacharis are nearly sannayasis. So I thank all the intelligent youngsters who are taking up Krishna consciousness.

yajanti hi sumedhasah

Become intelligent. One who does not accept Krishna consciousness is a fool. Prove that you are intelligent by taking up Krishna consciousness.

ye hi samsparsa-ja bhoga duhkha-yonaya eva te
ady-antavantah kaunteya na tesu ramate budhah

An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them. Material sense pleasures are due to the contact of the material senses, which are all temporary because the body itself is temporary. A liberated soul is not interested in anything which is temporary.

divacarthe hyaa rajan kutum bharne nava

They earn money and spend it shopping. A mall in China was advertising, ‘after you work spend time with us’. It means spend your money with us. Earn money for bhoga and bhoga is the cause of roga.

To buy happiness we spend money, but sadness and sorrows are free. You will get a complete package. Happiness gets converted into dukha in this life or the next. As you sow, so shall you reap. Sukha or happiness comes and goes. One who is Krishna conscious is always happy. You should go near the Lord. If devotees go away, then papa will come near.

A lot has changed since Prabhupada’s time. More and more people are becoming intelligent by taking up Krishna consciousness.

I was the first one amongst the Bombay students who joined in 1972. There were many colleges, but no one was joining. Now the situation is different. Thousands of youngsters are joining ISKCON and the credit goes to HG Radheshyam Prabhu. Radheshyam has revolutionised youth preaching in India. There is an explosion all over. VOICE and BACE are two of the many fancy names. It is not just limited to Pune. It is all India limited. They come here, steal some ideas and put them into practice all over .

Radheshyam is also very generous. He gives his ideas and helps everyone in youth preaching. A Youth festival had taken place in Pune. It was in the courtyard of Bharatiya Vidyapeeth and 20,000 youths had come. That was dedicated to the ISKCON’s 50th Golden Jubilee. This is a ray of hope. If youngsters are joining here, they can join in other places also. This is all the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu made Prabhupada instrumental in preaching.

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

In the pranam mantra only the delivering of the Western countries is written. When the pranam mantra was formulated at that time preaching was taking place in the West. Many people asked why only the West is mentioned in the mantra since preaching is going on all over. So to protect us Prabhupada established ISKCON.

We will now read from Caitanya Caritamrita.

I will welcome others also, I just mentioned Radheshyam, but I also welcome the fans of Radheshyam. Devotees have come from other places. I appreciate that they have come all the way. All of you and each one of you, I welcome you and thank you. We are very happy to have you all here. Become Intelligent.

krsna shakti vina nahe tara pravartana

Without Krsna Shakti no one can preach the message of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. You have to bring about that revolution, transformation because you need Krsna Shakti. Become powerful and get connected to the power house. The light is glowing, but it needs a connection to power house. We are all small bulbs according to our capacity. We should serve. The squirrel also had some capacity and Hanuman also had some capacity. So stay connected

evam parampara-praptam

The power house is Krsna and the parampara. Once mental speculation comes in between there will be a short circuit or even a disconnection. The thoughts of the mind brings about obstacles. The wires of light are bad or good conductors of a current. We should be a good conductor and remain connected to the power house. We have to make our soul powerful. A strong soul is mahatma. Once mano dharma -mental speculation arrives, it is all finished. It’s also gambling dyutam. The cheating starts and then you start cheating others. There is ordinary gambling, but mental speculation is a more serious gambling. Makta (gambling) gutka (eating tobacco) fatka (fighting) zatka(shock as in receiving a punch) is all there, but mental speculation is even more serious because it causes a short circuit.

Jato mat tato path — As there are a number of beliefs, there are a number of ways. This has caused all the problems. Then they proudly say, ‘I am Indian’. We are not proud. So we don’t say that we are Indian.

The devotees from Bengal were coming to see Caitanya Mahaprabha. About two hundred devotees were coming from Bengal. All of them were greatly advanced and specifically devoted to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

All of them have already arrived on the bank of Lake Narendra and are waiting there. The King is asking, “Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, please show me, one after another, all of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotees who are coming from Bengal.” Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya requested the King, “Go up on the roof of the palace. Gopinatha Acarya knows every one of the devotees. He will identify them for you.

ami kaho nahi cini, cinite mana haya
gopinathacarya sabare kara’be paricaya (CC Madhya lila 11.72)

“Actually I do not know any of them, although I have a desire to know them. Since Gopinatha Acarya knows them all, he will give you their names.” Gopinath is from Navadvipa. The King was from Cuttack. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was from Navadvipa, but he had shifted to Puri. So Gopinath knew everyone. He was called by the king to introduce the devotees. After Sarvabhauma said this, he went up to the top of the palace with the King and Gopinatha Acarya. At this time all the Vaisnava devotees from Bengal drew closer to the palace.

damodara-svarupa, govinda, — dui jana
mala-prasada lasa yaya, yahan vaisnava-gana (CC Madhya lila11.74)

Svarupa Damodara and Govinda, taking the flower garlands and prasadam of Lord Jagannatha, proceeded to where all the Vaisnavas were standing. Svarupa Damodara and Govinda are special associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are both going toward the devotees. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first sent those two persons in advance. The King inquired, “Who are these two? Please let me know their identities.”

bhattacarya kahe, — ei svarupa-damodara
mahaprabhura haya inha dvitiya kalevara (CC Madhya lila 11.76)

Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, “Here is Svarupa Damodara, who is practically the second expansion of the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is Lalita and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Radha Krsna. “The second person is Govinda, Lord Caitanya’s personal servant. He was ordered by Isvarapuri to go and serve my disciple, your god brother Caitanya. The Lord has sent garlands and remnants of Lord Jagannatha’s food with these two persons simply to honor the devotees from Bengal.” At the beginning, Svarupa Damodara came forward and garlanded Advaita Acarya. Govinda next came and offered a second garland to Advaita Acarya.

The King inquired, “To whom did Svarupa Damodara and Govinda offer the two garlands? His bodily effulgence is so great that He must be a very great devotee. Please let me know who He is.” Gopinatha Acarya replied, “His name is Advaita Acarya. He is honored even by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He is therefore the topmost devotee.

Here are Srivasa Pandita, Vakresvara Pandita, Vidyanidhi Acarya and Gadadhara Pandita. “Here are Acaryaratna, Purandara Pandita, Gangadasa Pandita and Sankara Pandita. Here are Murari Gupta, Pandita Narayana and Haridasa Thakura, the deliverer of the whole universe.

“Here is Hari Bhatta, and there is Nrsimhananda. Here are Vasudeva Datta and Sivananda Sena. “Here also are Govinda Ghosa, Madhava Ghosa and Vasudeva Ghosa. They are three brothers, and their sankirtana, congregational chanting, pleases the Lord very much. “Here is Raghava Pandita, here is Nandana Acarya, there is Sriman Pandita, and here are Srikanta and Narayana.” Here are Mukunda Dasa, Narahari, Sri Raghunandana, Cirañjiva and Sulocana, all residents of Khanda.

Every devotee is a great person. A book can be written on each one of them.Here just the names are given. Like we have Lilamrita for Prabhupada, we can have a lilamrita on each of these devotees. Radhanatha Maharaja with all his efforts and constant reading, can talk on each associate of Caitanya Prabhupada for hours together. Remembering the associates of the Lord is like remembering the Lord. Glorifying them is like glorifying the Lord.

Are you visualising? Is it transforming from audio to video? To remember you have to hear. Without hearing there will be no remembrance. His Holiness Prahladananda Swami says to remember whatever we hear we should make a picture – like a road with 200 devotees coming. Svarupa Damodara and Govind are coming with a garland in their hands and then they come face to face. An introduction was done. Paint it – three of them on the terrace. Maharaja said if you want to remember anything, you should paint it, then it’s easy to remember.

Our heart has a screen called smritipatal, paint on it as many paintings as you like. Thereafter you can retrieve any of the paintinga at any given time. After sravanam comes mananam, then remembering becomes very easy. There are five types of sampan – smaran and anusmaran (rememberance), dharana (concentration), dhyana and samadhi(mediation). Samadhi means full of thoughts. Have you ever seen the gopis in Samadhi? No! They are always running – radhe braj devakecha lalite. They are always in samadhi of remembering Krsna. Samadhi is full of smaran- remembrance. If you want to keep remembering someone, then you have to hear about them.

Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami says, “How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is their life and soul.”

The King said, “Upon seeing all these devotees, I am very much astonished, for I have never seen such an effulgence. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gifted to us the wealth of the holy name. I have never before seen such ecstatic love, nor heard the vibration of the holy name of the Lord chanted in such a way, nor seen such dancing during sankirtana.” Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, “This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-sankirtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead.

Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so, must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence. Once we accept ourselves as devotees of the Lord then mayavad is finished. nirvisesha-sunyavadi does not accept the energy of the Lord. Each associate of the Lord is shakti (energy) of the Lord even we are the shakti (energy) of the Lord.

The glories of the Lord’s associates is very special. We should also become devotees of the Lord’s associates. The Lord says that if you are a devotee of my devotee then you are my devotee. If we hear about devotees of the Lord then the Lord accepts us.

The King said, “According to evidence given in the revealed scriptures, it is concluded that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krsna Himself. Why, then, are learned scholars sometimes indifferent to Him?”

The Bhattacarya replied, “A person who has received but a small fraction of mercy from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand that He is Lord Krsna. No one else can.”

Bhattacarya was one of them. Initially he also did not consider Caitanya Mahaprabhu as Lord. But by the causeless mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu he was transformed. Being a pandit is not a big deal, but without the krpa of the Lord nothing is possible. People were not aware of the glories of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Then the King said, “Instead of visiting the temple of Lord Jagannatha, all the devotees are running toward the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, “This is spontaneous love. All the devotees are very anxious to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. “First the devotees will meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then take Him with them to the temple to see Lord Jagannatha.” The King said, “The son of Bhavananda Raya named Vaninatha, along with five or seven other men, went there to obtain the remnants of Lord Jagannatha’s food.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, “Understanding that all the devotees have come, Lord Caitanya gave the sign, and therefore Vaninatha and the others have brought such great quantities of maha-prasadam.” The King then asked the Bhattacarya, “Why have the devotees not observed the regulations for visiting the pilgrimage place, such as fasting, shaving and so on? Why have they first eaten prasadam?”

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said the scriptural injunctions for shaving and fasting are indirect orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, when there is a direct order from the Lord to take prasada, naturally the devotees take prasada as their first duty.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us Caitanya Caritamrita, Caitnaya Bhagvat, he gave us Gaur Nitai. Padayatra is going every door to door not just village to village. Gives darshan to each house Krishna Balaram becomes Gaur Nitai. They say Lord has raised his hands you also raise your hand. Read Caitanya Caritamrita, distribute books. We can’t imagine life without Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

ISKCON Pune has done many programs as an offering to the Golden Jubilee throughout the year so as a final offering in the series of offerings of the year, the katha is a grand offering – purnahuti.

ISKCON Pune devotees has organised all this under the guidance if HG Radheshyam Prabhu. Lot of books have been distributed – 150 Bhagvatam sets has been distributed. 25,000 plates of prasada has been distributed. There is daily harinamas. There is no stock of Prabhupada Lilamrita and people have registered for many different courses.

Thank you

Date: 1 Jan 2017

All glories to the assembled devotees.

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

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Prabhupada introduced Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world; Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a chhanna or secret avatar. He does not reveal that He is Lord Krsna. This is described in the Bhagavatam. He is the Lord, but plays the role of a devotee in order to teach the whole world. He is going to teach bhakti to the whole world. Whenever Kali-yuga comes, then every time there is harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. This is the programming of Brahmanda and the arrangement of the Lord.

It was easy for Sukadeva Goswami to say, “Oh king, Parikshit Maharaja, this kali is full of faults.”

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann: asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya: mukta-sangah param vrajet

One can go to the supreme planet (param vrajet) simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. This is especially meant for the people of this age (kaler dosa-nidhe). It is the special advantage of this age that simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra one can become purified of all material contamination and return home, back to Godhead. There is no doubt about this.

We will be free from Maya by doing kirtana. Is Sukadeva Goswami any astrologer? He knows this concept that if Kali comes, Harinama is the only solution.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu did kirtana and established dharma in Kali-yuga. And that work was taken forward by Prabhupada by establishing ISKCON. Caitanya Mahaprabhu only did kirtana in Bharatvarsa, but what about preaching outside India? So Prabhupada said that Mahaprabhu has left it to the ISKCON devotees. In Caitanya Mangal, Lochan Das Thakur says mora senapati bhakta will come and preach the harinama sankirtana in the whole world. That senapti bhakta is none other than Srila Prabhupada. The whole world is experiencing the results of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON. This song which we will sing is about Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We will sing and as you hear and sing, if you hear very attentively you will understand.

This song describes the kirtana of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

sundara-bala saci-dulala
nacata sri-hari-kirtana men
bhale candana tilaka manohara
alaka sobhe kapolana men

om namo bhagvate vasudevya

I welcome you all. It is Sunday and it is also New Year. The Bible says that the Lord was creating the material world for 6 days and then on the last day He rested. So we also rest on one day and that day is Sunday. But you are making that holiday into a Holyday. Prabhupada is a holy man who gave us holy Sastra and holy prasada. Bhagavat katha is going on here as well as Srila Prabhupada kathamrita mahotsava. Every day we discuss different topics. His katha is related to the Lord, so that’s also Bhagavat. There are just two more days left.

Today we will talk about Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Prabhupada, how Caitanya Mahaprabhu guided Prabhupada. The whole world knows Ram katha, but they don’t know that Krsna came as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In 1486, 530 years back, Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Nobody knew the purpose of His appearance. Only a few people in Bengal knew. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has predicted, prithivite ache yata nagaradi gram, sarvatra prachar hoibe mora nama – in as many towns and villages as there are on the surface of the earth, My holy name will be preached. (Caitanya Bhagavata)

That means His name will reach all nagars (cities) and grams (villages) on the earth. Then the Lord disappeared. 450 years had passed, but nothing related to the prediction happened. Harinama was just continuing in a few places in Bengal.

Then Prabhupada was ordered to preach Bhagavat dharma in the West. He went in 1965. The first public program was in Tomkins Park. Slowly it spread to more than 108 countries. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction came to fruition. I am not saying that harinama has spread to every town and village, but it has spread to most of the towns and villages. Our Senapati Bhakta proved the truth in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction.

Prabhupada is a Guru from a bonafide disciplic succession – Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. We find a list of the complete disciplic succession of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, beginning with Lord Sri Krsna, up to and including the current Sampradaya Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur had also said a devotee will come who will preach the holy name all over the world without distinction of caste and creed. When Prabhupada was born in 1896 on Nandotsava, the astrologer had predicted that he will became a great sannyasi and at the age of 70 will go abroad and build more than 108 temples.

There are some slokas describing that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krsna Himself.

asan varnas trayo hy asya grhnato ’nuyugam tanuh
suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah(SB 10.8.13)

When Gargacarya was naming Krsna Balaram he said to Nanda Maharaja, “Your son Krsna appears as an incarnation in every millennium. In the past, He assumed three different colors — white, red and yellow — and now He has appeared in a blackish color.”

In Kali-yuga Lord will come as pita varna (yellow form).

suvarna-varno hemango varangas-candanangadi
sannyasa-krc chamah santo nistha-santi-parayanah (CC Adi Lila 3.49)

“In His early pastimes He appears as a householder with a golden complexion. His limbs are beautiful, and His body, smeared with the pulp of sandalwood, seems like molten gold. In His later pastimes He accepts the sannyasa order, and He is equipoised and peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion, for He silences the impersonalist non devotees.”

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajñaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah (SB 11.5.32)

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

aham eva kvacid Brahman sannyasasramam asritah
hari-bhakti grahayami kalau papa-hatan naran

“O learned brahmana, sometimes I accept the renounced order of life to induce the fallen people of the Age of Kali to accept devotional service to the Lord.”

I will take away people’s papa budhi (sinful intelligence) by taking sannyasa . This has all happened.

The Aharveda Caitanya Upanishad says:

janavitire navadvipe golokahe dhami govinde

Lord Govinda from Goloka will appear at the bank of Jhanavi (Ganga).

In the Adi-Puran and in the Narada Puran, the Supreme Person says:

aham eva dvija-srestho nityam pracchanna-vigrahah
bhagavad-bhakta-rupena lokam raksami sarvada

I shall advent in the form of a Brahmana devotee [aham eva dvija-srestho] and I shall hide my factual identity [prachanna vigrahah]. I shall deliver all the worlds [lokam raksami sarvada]

In the Garuda-Purana, the Supreme Lord says:
aham purno bhavisyami yuga-sandhyau visesatah
mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami sachi sutah

I will take birth as the son of Saci [bhavisyami sachi sutah], in Navadvip-Mayapur [mayapure navadvipe]. I will come in my complete spiritual form in the first part of Kali-Yuga.

I will stay at Jagannatha Puri after sannyasa. I will become Laxmikanta, two wives Laxmipriya and Visnupriya. So He is called Laxmipati.

Nrsimha Purana says Gopal will become Gauranga in Kali-Yuga and He will like sankirtana.

Bhavisya Purana says. When He will do kirtana, He will have tears in His eyes.

Vayupuran Purana says – I will begin sankirtana and my complexion will be golden, so I will be called Gauranga. At the bank of the Ganga I will appear.

golokam ca parityajya, lokanam trana-karanat;
kalau gauranga-rupena, lila-lavanya-vigrahah.
In the Markandeya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

“In the Kali-yuga I will give up My own eternal abode Goloka Vrndavana, and I will assume the form of the most handsome and playful Lord Gauranga to rescue all the living entities in the universe.”

There is no need for any mental speculation. It is all written in black and white and explained in the Sastras.

radha krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini saktir asmad
ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau
caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam
radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam naumi krsna-svarupam (CC Adi 1.5)

Radha-Krsna is one. Radha-Krsna is Krsna and Krsna’s pleasure potency combined. When Krsna exhibits His pleasure potency, He appears to be two— Radha and Krsna. Otherwise, Radha and Krsna are one. This oneness may be perceived by advanced devotees through the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This was the case with Ramananda Raya. One may aspire to attain such a position, but one should not try to imitate the maha-bhagavata.

He gives darsana as Radha and Krsna to Ramananda Raya.

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

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

So it was Srila Prabhupada who introduced and presented such a Lord Caitanya to the whole world.

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

Prabhupada performed our eye operation and gave us darsana of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

My God brother HH Jayapataka Swami writes,

yadi prabhupada na haita tabe ki haita (e) jivana bahita kise?

nitai-gaurera apara karuna ke dita sakala dese

If Prabhupada had not been there, then what would have happened?” Who would’ve given the bhakti? Who would have distributed the unlimited mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu all over the world? And would this Katha be happening? No! We would be somewhere, but definitely not here. There are 8 slokas in the song written in glorification of Srila Prabhupada. We will sing it tomorrow.

The kirtana which Caitanya Mahaprabhu started was spread by Srila Prabhupada all over the world. Even in the African countries, the people there are doing kirtana, not only indoors but publicly with karatals and mrdangas.

They are not going out on the streets for a day. No! They are doing it every day. It is immaterial for them whether people photograph them or not. They are doing it because kirtana is their life.

sankirtana eka pitaro, the father of sankirtana Himself is Lord Caitanya. So the sankirtana mission is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. Chant and be happy. Happy New Year to all. We do not just simply wish you a happy New Year, but we tell you how you can be happy. So just chant and be happy

Prabhupada has spread the holy name all over through Padayatra and Ratha-yatra Ratha-yatra is organised all over the world. The culture and bhakti bhava related to Ratha-yatra has spread to the West.

I want to tell you more about how Srila Prabhupada gave Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world, but time is up.

We will continue tomorrow.
Thank you.
Meet you tomorrow.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu denies to meet King Prataparudra

1 January 17

The New Year has started. It is its time to wake up. Actually it is the day to wake up because last year is gone.

jiv jago, jiv jago gauracanda bole

Lord Gauranga is calling, “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls!

If there is canda then there should be surya also.

vande sri-krsna-caitanya- nityanandau sahoditau
gaudodaye puspavantau citrau sandau tamo-nudau (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 1.2)

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda [West Bengal] to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.”

kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole

How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya?

So who has to wake up? The jiva, the soul, has to wake up. The body automatically wakes up when it is hungry and what does it do after that?

ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says jiv jago, wake up! Go for mangal arati, chant the holy name, distribute books, Nityam bhagavata-sevaya then mahaprasade govinde is also there. But if I don’t do this, then that means the soul has not woken up. Body is doing its activity, but the soul is sleeping.

The soul should get up and follow its dharma, jivera’svarupa’ haya-k???era ‘nitya-dasa’.

Many people around the world have still not woken up. So this has to be meditated upon. We should know whether we have woken up or not. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is calling us jiv jago.

bhajibo boliya ese samsara-bhitare bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, O Jiva! you have forgotten the way of devotional service and are lost in the world of birth and death.

You had said, “I will do bhajan” and then you came to world, Bhaktivinoda Thakura is reminding us. Lord Kapila tells his mother Devahuti. When the jiva in womb is suffering so much, he prays “Oh Lord! Just one time remove me from these sufferings and I will worship you.”

janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi- duhkha-dosanudarsanam These are the 4 sufferings of the material world. However we do not understand what suffering there is in birth. If you listen to Lord Kapila, your hairs will stand on end. Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes . You said, “I will worship you, but you have forgotten. You took birth and went to vidyalaya, but you just collected avidya from there. You came out of the womb and got attached to your mother.”

tomare loite ami hoinu avatara
ami bina bandhu ara ke ache tomara

Lord says, I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world. You had promised, so I have come for you, for every jiva. For each one of us the Lord has appeared.

golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat

Leaving Golok the Lord appears for us. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says – “ Other than me, is there any other bandhu? Who is called a bandhu? One who helps us in need, is a bandhu. A friend in need is a friend indeed. They are your real friends. We call our friends our ‘so called friends’, because they don’t know our real need. If they don’t know our real need, how can they help us?

So our friends do not know our real needs. When we go to the doctor he does a diagnosis, prescribes the medicine and tells us some do’s and don’ts. Our friends can’t diagnose our diseases An incorrect diagnosis means an incorrect treatment. The result is that there is no cure. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has diagnosed our problem and He also gives us appropriate treatment.

enechi ausadhi maya nasibaro lagi
hari-nama maha-mantra lao tumi magi

“I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this maha-mantra- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “ Ask for the Holy name. It is all yours. It is your right.”

bhakativinoda prabhu-carane pariya
sei hari-nama-mantra loilo magiya

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says “O Lord! Please give me the holy name. I am running after the acaryas. Please give me Krsna. “

One who has accepted an acarya is called as acaryavan.

Acaryavan purusho veda

He knows the Vedas and has become knowledgeable. We should go to such persons and ask for Krsna. So the acarya gives us Krsna. Which Krsna is this? Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare,

We ask the representatives of the Lord to please give us the holy name. Now we try to sing and while singing we meditate. We sing with complete concentration and try to take it to our heart. Hridayangam – not just accumulation, but assimilation.

This is a new year, New year for us starts on Gaur Purnima but we live in this world so we have to follow. As New Year is celebrated here, I wish you all a happy new year. So New Year’s message is ‘jiva jago wake up soul’.

Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami wrote Caitanya Caritamrita on the banks of Radhakunda. He writes in detail in the Madhya Lila how Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa. He moved toward Jagannath Puri. He stayed there for 2 months and gave sadbhuja darsana to S?rvabhauma Bhattacarya. Then He went on His South India yatra. He comes back and His accommodation is arranged at Kasi Misra’s house. When He returned to Jagganatha Puri the first thing He did was to take darsana of Lord Jagannatha. Then only did He go to Kasi misra’s house. And Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya introduced Him to all the devotees.

The reciprocations between Ramananda Ray and Caitanya Mahaprabhu surprised everyone there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked him, if he had taken darsana of Kamalnayan?
Ramananda said, “My body is ratha and my heart is my sarthi and my ratha brought me here.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu was angry and said,”No, you should go for darsana.” Ramananda Ray went.

ksetre ssi’ raja sarvabhaume bolaila
sarvabhaume namaskari’ tanhare puchila(CC Madhya 11.41)

The King stayed at Cuttack and went to Jagannatha Puri for darsana. The palace of the king is still there in Cuttack. I was also called by the King to his palace. When King Prataparudra returned to Jagannatha Puri, he sent for Sarvabhauma Bha?ttacarya. When the Bhattacarya went to see the King, he offered him respects and made the following inquiries.

mora lagi’ prabhu-pade kaile nivedana?
savabhauma kahe, — kainu aneka yatana (CC Madhya 11.42)

The King asked, “Have you submitted my petition to the Lord?” Sarvabhauma replied, “Yes, with much endeavor I have tried my best.”

tathapi na kare tenha raja-darasana
ksetra chadi’ yabena punah yadi kari nivedana (CC Madhya 11.43)

“Yet despite my great endeavor, the Lord would not agree to see a king. Indeed, He warned me that if He were asked again, He would quit Jagannatha Pur? and go elsewhere.”

suniya rajara mane duhkha upajila
visada kariya kichu kahite lagila (CC Madhya 11.44)

Hearing this, the King became very unhappy and, greatly lamenting, began to speak as follows.

papi nica uddharite tanra avatara
jagai madhai tenha caria uddhara (CC Madhya 11.45)

The King said, “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended just to deliver all kinds of sinful, lowborn persons. Consequently He has delivered sinners like Jagai and Madhai.

prataparudra chadi’ karibe jagat nistara
ei pratijna kari’ kariyachena avatara? (CC Madhya 11.46)

“Alas, has Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu incarnated to deliver all kinds of sinners with the exception of a king named Maharaja Prataparudra?”

“Has Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made His advent deciding that He will deliver all others with the exception of me? He bestows His merciful glance upon many lower-class men who are usually not even to be seen.’?” Maharaja Prataparudra continued, “If Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is determined not to see me, then I am determined to give up my life if I do not see Him.

If we don’t get the krpa (mercy) of the Lord then life is useless.

sunyaitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me “O Govinda! Without You, the world is empty.

There are many people who do not worship the Lord. They say, there is no time to worship, but they find time to sleep.

eta suni’ sarvabhauma ha-ila cintita
rajara anuraga dekhi’ ha-ila vismita

Hearing King Prataparudra’s determination, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King’s determination.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was astonished because such determination is not possible for a worldly man attached to material enjoyment. The King certainly had ample opportunity for material enjoyment, but he was thinking that his kingdom and everything else was useless if he could not see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is certainly sufficient cause for astonishment.

He had so much asakti for Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was very attached to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So from this we understand his thoughts, his personality and his caritra.

Give a mike to a man when he speaks. You will soon understand what his level and real his real identity is – whether he is wise or a fool. Prabhupada would say – you shut up! Let the Lord speak . So one who talks about Krsna is intelligent.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya still has hope.

bhattacarya kahe — deva na kara visada
tomare prabhura avasya ha-ibe prasada (CC Madhya 11.51)

Finally Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, “My dear King, do not worry. Because of your firm determination, I am sure that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy will definitely be bestowed upon you.” Due to King Prataparudra’s firm determination, the Bhattacarya predicted that the King would receive Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy without fail. Maharaja Prataparudra had firm faith in the Bhattacarya, who declared Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As soon as the Bhattacarya saw the King’s firm determination, he declared, “The Supreme Lord is approached only by pure love. Your love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very, very deep; therefore without a doubt He will be merciful upon you.

If one decides this, he can make further progress by thinking of Krsna, chanting Krsna’s names and glorifying Him. There is then no doubt that such a fully surrendered devotee will receive the blessings of Lord Krsna. The Lord is controlled by love of a devotee,

aham bhakta-paradhino

This is the specialty of the Lord, the greatness of the Lord. Lord says, “I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent.”

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then suggested, “There is one means by which you can directly see Him. “On the day of the chariot festival, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will dance before the Deity in great ecstatic love.

“On that Ratha-yara festival day, after dancing before the Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will enter the Gundica garden. At that time you should go there alone, without your royal dress.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enters the Gundica garden, you should also go there and read the five chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam about Lord Krsna’s dancing with the gopis. In this way you can catch hold of the Lord’s lotus feet.

suni’ gajapatira mane sukha upajila
prabhure milite ei mantrana drdha kaila (CC Madhya 11.59)

Maharaja Prataparudra took the Bhattacarya’s advice and firmly decided to follow his instructions. Thus he felt transcendental happiness.

All glories to the assembled devotees.

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

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

dhule dhule gora chanda, hari guna gai
asiya vrndavane, nace gaura rai

The moonlike Lord Gaurachand dancingly arrives in Vrndavana, swaying to and fro, singing the glories of Lord Hari. Every footstep is a dance. Mahaprabhu’s Vrndavana kirtana had everyone dancing also. So the whole Vraja-mandala welcomed Gaura Sundar. Gaura Sundar entered Vrndavana. Not only the Brajavasis, but the animals, birds and trees of Vrndavana are also devotees. Braj is Cintamani. Every tree there is a desire tree. They all welcomed Caitanya Mahaprabhu and danced with Him. The whole of Vraj was filled with waves of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and it became brighter by Gauracandra’s light. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was doing Vraj-mandala Parikrama. Every Kartik we also walk on that very same path during Vraja-mandala Parikrama. When Yamuna sees Him, she runs towards her Lord. Lets sing this song and meditate on Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Vrndavana visit.

om namo bhagvate vasudevaya
bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah

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.

The definition of mahatma is given by the Lord. Such surrendered great souls are very rare. Prabhupada was such aa sudurlabha mahatma. He knew Vasudeva is all in all.

Sukhdeva Goswami tells us in Srimad-Bhagvatam. This is one of Prabhupada’s most quoted sloka.

kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha savannah khasadayah
ye’nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah (SB 2.4.18)

Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

If those who are sinful (papi), take shelter of the Lord, they can be purified. The list is given in the sloka. Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana are the members of the Khasa races. The above-mentioned historical names are the different nations of the world. For example, the area of East Germany and part of Russia is known as the province of the Hunas and the Greeks are known as Pulindas. The conclusion is that the Lord, being all-powerful, can, under any and every circumstance, accept anyone from any part of the world, either personally or through His bona fide manifestation as the spiritual master. Lord Caitanya accepted many devotees from different communities.

Our acaryas get inspiration from this sloka. Making them Krsna conscious is very difficult, but if Maha Visnu empowers his devotees then the impossible becomes possible. You have also seen it. It is day 5 today. How Prabhupada established ISKCON and made so many of them Krishna conscious and it is still going on.

People are becoming pure and Sanatana dharma is being established all over the world. At the Matchless Gift storefront Prabhupada asked the first batch of devotees if they were ready to follow the 4 rules and regulations. They said yes.

All types of adharmic – irreligious things are going on all over

yatra adharam catur vidha
dharmo rakshati rakshitaha

Dharma protects us only if we protect dharma. It’s said – thou shall not kill. But nobody follows it. All kinds of sinful activities are going on all over the world. In countries where irreligion is prominent, it was a big challenge to establish dharma. It’s only possible if the mahatmas, the devotees empowered by the Lord, do it.

By Prabhupada’s efforts the Bhagavat-Gita is being taught all over the world and these yavanas have become devotees. Instead of saying Bhagavan uvaca, they say Allah uvaca. There is no difference. Their rosary has 99 beads which are 99 names of Allah. Allah means ‘God which is great’. And if we want to say the Lord which is attractive what we will say? Krsna!! ya karshiti sa krsna.

Prabhupada went to the printers all alone. He carried the printing papers on his head. Many a times he would go without eating anything. He did not have money for breakfast. If 1000 books were printed, only 200 copies were given to him. Only when these were paid for, would he get the remaining copies.

Now comes the distribution of books. Swamiji would personally go and distribute books. In the hot sun, on an empty stomach, he would go on book distribution. Once he fainted. This incident occurred in 1964 and he was taken to hospital. His Guru Maharaja had ordered him on the bank of Radhakunda. ‘If you ever get money, print books’. Prabhupada never forgot this order. He made it his life’s mission. Whenever he had money, he printed and distributed books. He faced monetary problems, but still he kept going on.

When he went to New York, slowly he got some help. Later when ISKCON was established, he printed and distributed more books. He kept writing books the entire night. He wrote about 70 books which are now translated into more than 70 languages. He founded the Bhativedanta Book Trust in 1972 to publish his books.

Once when the Bhagavat-Gita was to be printed, 76 railroad truck loads (bogies) of paper was required. It was a big challenge for Prabhupada and his disciples.

Prabhupada once wanted 17 volumes of Caitanya Caritamrita printed in 2 months. The manuscript was ready. His disciples thought it was just impossible, but Prabhupda wanted it printed. And by the Lord’s mercy 17 volumes of Caitanya Caritamrita were printed in 2 months.

A total of 350 devotees from all over the world were coming to Mayapur. This was the first time in the history of Calcutta and they were very excited. In the flight, the devotees sang mahaprasade govinde. Nowadays when the air hostess sees our tilak and sikha she asks; “Swamiji, what will you have? Vegetarian or non vegetarian?” It was different then. After prasada the devotees started doing kirtana. Soon these ecstatic devotees were in a dancing mood and all of them stood to dance. The captain made an announcement for them to be seated or there would have to be an emergency landing.

All these Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana members of the Khasa races were now devotees and Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction that all such people along with the devotees will sing Jai Sacinandana Gaura Hari, had been realised.

Prabhupada wanted to establish sadachar-etiquette in the West, but it was a challenge. They would say, “Swamiji, go back”. An Indian in the West once said to Prabhupada, “Swamiji, never say these two things to these people – 1. become vegetarian and 2. change your dress. Here you will have to wear western clothes. Prabhupada said, “If they don’t listen to me, I will go away, but I will not wear clothes like you and I will surely tell them.”

patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati,

This is a big list of what the Lord eats. Lord did not say chickenam muttanam, but patram, puspam. He did not change his dress. In fact he changed their dresses. The men all started wearing dhotis and females were wearing saris. He ensured that they follow the 4 rules.

The people were suffering due to drug addiction. A survey showed that 2 out of 5 people were fit for a mental hospital. They are facing so many problems due to their vices of drinking and smoking. Another survey found that America was the number one country for diseases – adhi-mental sickness, and vyadhi- diseases of the body. Millions of dollars are being wasted on their addiction. So much is being done to stop drug addiction, but it is all in vain. Yet, once a person joins ISKCON, he easily leaves all the addictions.

param drstva nivartate

Unless one is transcendentally situated, it is not possible to cease from sense enjoyment. But one who has tasted the beauty of the Supreme Lord Krsna, in the course of his advancement in Krishna consciousness, he no longer has a taste for dead material things. When one is actually Krishna conscious, he automatically loses his taste for material things.Once they get the taste of holy name – keshava madhava tujya namat re godava, amrutahuni goda nava tuze deva – they leave the lower things automatically without any effort.

Another big challenge was that Prabhupada was alone with a small drum. There was no mrdanga. Our movement has two important musical instruments, the mrdanga and karatals. He had no extra dhotis or saris. Prabhupada started importing those from India and slowly the preaching was increasing. He had come to America with just 5 dollars and no friends. In one year he had 5000 dollars and many disciples. He established New Vrndavana in the West. This was just one. There was lots of other properties.

Once he asked a man how many children he had. The man replied that he had 8. At that time it was normal to have that many children. The modern trend is – we two, our two. Prabhupada said to him, “Give me one. I will train him and he can go and preach.” Like this he asked many grhastas, but nobody agreed or came forward. Once a man asked Prabhupada on a train, “Please bless my son.” Prabhupada did not reply and again he asked. Prabhupada responded, “Give me your son.” This was his blessing. The man left that compartment and went far away to another compartment.

The situation has changed now. Many are joining. In the West at that time the family structure was loose, so they were joining Prabhupada. They need not ask anybody. But at that time in India nobody was joining. They had to ask their family who would not agree. In the West boys and girls were joining, but there were obstacles as well.

Many times the centre and temples were attacked by atheists. Some parents would say that the Hare Krsna’s brainwashed their children. On one occasion many parents rallied together to make a case against Prabhupada for brain washing. Prabhupada said, “Yes you have made their brains dirty and I have washed them.”

The case went from the Low court to the High court. They won the case and on 17 March 1977. The New York Supreme court dismissed all the charges and Hare Krsna was announced as a bonafide religion with its roots in India. This was a victory of dharma.

jayas tu pandu-putranam yesam pakse jansrdanah.

The victory is always with the sons of Pandu because Lord Krsna is associated with them. We had Lord Krsna with us and victory had to be there. The Hare Krsna movement became victorious. Prabhupada said, “Now my mission is complete as the court has announced ISKCON as a religion.”

At that time we had lawyer devotees in ISKCON. They knew the law of land and the law of the Lord. Prabhupada had said to them to quote the law of the Lord from his books in court.

Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita describes in detail about Srila Prabhupada, the challenges he faced, his achievements. Many books are written on Prabhupada. I have also written a few. One more book about Prabhupada in Bombay is upcoming. The manuscript is ready and soon it will be published. And the name of the book will be Bombay is my office. Prabhupada in Bombay.

All glories to the assembled devotees.

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

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

The prayers Narottama Das Thakur are one of the most important prayers of Gaudiya parampara. This prayer is a prayer at the lotus feet of Panca Tattva.

sri -krsna-caitanya prabhu doua koro more
toma bina ke doyalu jagat-samsare
patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara
mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara

I welcome you all again and again to this Bhagavat Katha Mahotsava or Srila Prabhupada Katha Mahotsava. This is the 4th day today of the glorification of Srila Prabhupada. Glorification is a simple word used to describe Srila Prabhupada. He is Mahabhagvat. He is full of good qualities – his birth, his youth, how he met his Guru Maharaja and his life time of preparation and then going to New York. I always say that he was a “Devaduta on the Jaladuta”. When he reached there, he had no idea whether to turn to the right or the left.

This was the second part. How he started preaching from the store front and how the American boys and girls took vows to follow the 4 regulative principles. ISKCON was established. The preaching spread to London. How Albert Ford also became a follower of Prabhupada and was duly initiated as Ambarish Dasa. All this we heard till yesterday and then Srila Prabhupada slowly went to other continents and finally he went all over the world.

The president of India Pranab Mukherjee writes in his glorification of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary that “ISKCON is a great society. There is no society like this. I respect the enthusiasm of the devotees of ISKCON. I heard there are more than 600 temples and 110 Govindas. “ Actually there are more. I was in Mauritius and in in that small island there are 115 Govindas. “There is the midday meals where prasada is distributed to 12 lakh people. The Gita is available in more than 70 languages, including Chinese. ISKCON has spread the knowledge of Lord Krsna all over the world. I wish them all best wishes for their preaching activities. And I wish in the coming years they keep spreading the holy name all over the world.”

We will also hear Prabhupada’s disciples speaking about Srila Prabhupada.

Lots of books are written on Prabhupada. I have written a book “My Prabhupada”. You can read it. So today we will discuss My Prabhupada.

Prabhupada captures us. We are sold out to his mission without any other interest in life. We, his disciples, don’t have any other mission. Prabhupada’s mission is only our goal of life.

guru mukha padma vakya

Prabhupada was not well. He was in Bombay. One devotee would sit near him on the floor and do kirtana. I was also in the kirtana schedule. Prabhupada felt kirtana is the only medicine. He never wanted to be taken to the hospital.

Towards the end of the kirtana on one particular day, I asked, “Srila Prabhupada is there anything we haven’t done yet which could do to cure you. Please tell us.” Prabhupada said: “Just chanting of Hare Krsna.” He paused for a few minutes and then said – are na koriho mane asa.

It can be translated as – don’t desire anything else. The words that are uttered from the lotus mouth of Srila Prabhupada are embedded in our hearts and we do not desire anything other than what he says.

caksu-dana dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei: the guru gives spiritual insight to the disciple.

We are cent percent yours, Prabhupada and he is also cent percent ours. The relationship he has with his disciples is very intimate that every disciple feels he is My Prabhupada.

So everybody can say, HH. Radhanatha Swami Maharaja can say he is My Prabhupada. HH. Jayapataka Swami Maharaja can say he is My Prabhupada, Mukunda Dutta Prabhu can say he is My Prabhupada, but first of all he is My Prabhupada. He was always very busy with so many disciples, but he was concerned about me. He dealt perfectly with the soul.

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

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

So the Lord sends that fortunate Jiva to Guru and then Guru in turn sends him to the Lord. I was studying in Sangli and then I thought, “ Why not go to Bombay for graduation. It was 1971. After successfully preaching in the West Prabhupada was coming back to India. He came with many of his foreign devotees. There was a pandal program on Azad Maidan grounds. I saw the advertisement which said: ‘American sadhus are in town.” That was a surprise for everyone. We have heard about American scientists, but never had we heard of American Sadhus.

So I met Prabhupada there. Then I understood that coming to Bombay was not my decision to study there, but it was the Lord’s arrangement so that I could meet Prabhupada in Bombay.

So I got Guru Krsna Prasada at that Hare Krsna program. Since childhood my desire was to serve. At that time I wanted to serve society and humanity. When I was hearing Prabhupada’s lecture, Prabhupada said one very special thing which I thought was especially for me.

yatha taror mula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah
pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam tathaiva sarvarhanam acyutejya (SB 4.31.14)

By giving water to the root of a tree one satisfies its branches, twigs and leaves, and by supplying food to the stomach one satisfies all the senses of the body. Similarly, by engaging in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord one automatically satisfies all the demigods and all other living entities.” Therefore, after reading Bhagavad-Gita one should promptly come to the conclusion of Bhagavad-Gita: one should give up all other engagements and adopt the service of the Supreme Lord, Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. If one is convinced of this philosophy of life, that is faith.

If you serve the Lord, then you serve everyone. When I heard this, I got a clue, as I wanted to serve. He was explaining to everyone, but I was convinced. And I decided that I would serve as Prabhupada wants me to serve. And soon I got converted and became Prabhupada’s.

Then again I went to one of the pandal programs in 1972. I joined ISKCON after this program. Then I went to Vrndavana for initiation. There were 15 of us as we went to his room in Radha Damodar temple. That room was full. Have you seen that room?

Then, as we were sitting around, Prabhupada was talking to us and looking at all of us. When he looked at me, he would stop. He was moving his vision like a radar . As he looked at me, he would stop. I was thinking: “Why I am getting his attention.” Then he said: “Stop it!” And I stopped it forever. Full stop. I had a bad habit of shaking my right thigh while concentrating. Now I only do it to demonstrate while I tell this incident in class. Prabhupada named me Lokanath. I thought I will get a name like Radha Raman starting with R, but Prabhupada just removed Raghu and replaced it with Lok and kept the nath part as it is.

Prabhupada came to Bombay many times as he said, “Bombay is my office”. I was a brahmachari at Juhu temple. I was at the right place at right time. And there I got a lot of Prabhupada’s association and service to Radha Rasa Bihari as pujari.

Prabhupada had promised Radha Rasa Bihari: ‘I will build palace for You’ and a promise is a promise. He really liked Radha Rasa Bihari a lot and always carried Their picture with him. I learnt a little Deity worship and did lots of service. His Deity worship standards were very high. Thinking that Lord is there, we are actually worshipping the Lord.

Morning walks meant we could ask questions. One morning I asked: “Should we chant in the mind?” Prabhupada said: “No! The tongue should vibrate. In Kaliyuga it’s not possible to chant in the mind. It is restless. So to attract the mind, we should chant loudly and hear the mantra.”

bharat bhumi te hoila manushya janma jar janam saarthak kari kara para upkaar

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that those who are born in India should do the welfare work for the whole world. One who has taken birth in India should preach. Prabhupada used to say that to me.

If we can call someone Bharatratna, then it can only be Prabhupada. He is “Bharat Ratna”. He understood the real India and he spread the culture of India all over the world. When people go to the West, they beg for something like a job or money. India was not known as a good country. In 1978 when I went to the West, people would ask where I have come from? And when I replied that I had come from India, the reaction would be “Oh! That poor country of beggars.” But Prabhupada went to give them the ultimate wealth – the holy name and sastras. Once Prabhupada was asked by a reporter why he had come to their country? This could be one answer, “Oh! You had also come to my country.” I don’t know whether Prabhupada answered like this. But he did say, “Your viceroys came to our country and they took all that was the wealth of India like the Kohinoor. It is in the London museum, but they forgot the important wealth. I have come here to do a hand delivery.” What’s that wealth? It’s the culture of India. So the real wealth is that which makes us happy. Harinama can only make our soul happy. The Lord is our wealth. Lord is Laxmipati and has hundreds and thousands of Laxmis serving Him. If we get Krsna then nothing is left to achieve. So Prabhupada distributed this wealth of harinam ke hire moti (the diamonds and pearls of Harinama) all over the world.

In Delhi at the Ram Lila pandal program, I was given the opportunity to introduce Prabhupada. I said that Prabhupada exported Bhagavad-Gita and harinama and imported American and African sadhus. Prabhupada appreciated and liked this introduction.

In the courtyard of the Krishna-Balarama Mandir Prabhupada would sit near the Tamal tree. We sat around him. Prabhupada encouraged each one of us to say something. Locals called the Vrndavana temple angreji mandir and Mayapur temple sahiber mandir. It’s one and the same thing. So I said, “You call it angrej ka mandir. But there is no Deity of an angrezi there in the temple. There is the Deity of Krsna Balaram.” I told them that they see only foreigners here, but if more Indians joined then maybe that name will not be used.

Then once our German travelling bus party’s visa expired. In 1976, at Radha Parthasarthi Mandir Prabhupada ordered me to preach using a bullock cart. I was preaching in the German buses with all the comforts and Prabhupada ordered me : “You preach in bullock cart.”

Initially it was known as the Bullock Cart Sankirtana Party and later it was called the “All India Padayatra”. That name still stands today. Prabhupada knew that I came from a village. So once the Bullock Cart Sankirtana Party reached Aravade – my village.

My family had a dream that I will come back to the village with a fatfati (bullet bike). I returned with a bullock cart and it broke their dream. This was Prabhupada’s krpa (mercy).

Now the padayatris have travelled 250,000 kms and this year is the 40th anniversary of “All India Padayatra”.

‘We can introduce millions of such carts all over the world’. On the 6 March 1977, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to Nityanada Dasa, the head of the New Talavan farm community in the US. While talking about self-sufficiency, he brought up the topic of oxen and Padayatra, “And oxen can be used for driving carts and preaching village to village.”

In 1977, Prabhupada was not well. This was just 7 days before Prabhupada left this planet. We had come to Vrndavana from Badrinatha to see Srila Prabhupada. He had asked which book is being distributed the most? He liked book distribution. “Till my books are being distributed, I will never die. As I had come from Badrinatha I said to Prabhupada ‘I showed your Gita to Vyasadev’. We had gone to Vyaasdev’s cave. We could not see Vyasadev but Vyasdev must certainly have seen us and Prabhupada’s books. So Prabhupada was very happy to hear this and he laughed.

Prabhupada also wanted to go for Govardhan Parikrama from the temple in the bullock cart. I was sent to prepare for this Parikrama. The bullock cart was ready and it was parked in front of the Krishna-Balaram temple. It’s a very long story. I am just showering few drops.

Now you will hear from different Srila Prabhupada Disciples sharing their experiences with their own “My Prabhupada.”

Mahaprabhu returns to Jagannatha Puri

Tukaram Maharaja was also a follower of Mahaprabhu. As Gaudiya Vaisnava’s we also say that he received diksa from Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Let’s sing his abhanga

avade he rupa, gojire saguna
pahata lochana sukhavale
ata drustipude ayasachi tu rahe
jo me tuza pahe vedo veda
lacavale mana lagali se godi
tejivan sodi ayase zale
tuka mane aamhi kalije ladiwali
puravavi aali mai bape

jaya sri-krishna-Caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-adwaita gadadhara shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

I welcome you all Gaurbhakta vrindas. You are also devotees of Srila Prabhupada. We are always devotees of Prabhupada and Gauranga. There is no shifting. In the morning we are bhaktas of Gauranga and in the evening, Prabhupada. We are dasanudas.

Now on the way to Jagannatha Puri Mahaprabhu had gone to Remuna and He also took darsana of “Sakshi Gopal”. Then He reached Jagannatha Puri. His first darsana of Jagannatha Swami was wonderful. It is in such a state of mind that the Gopis take darsana of Krsna. They drink the beauty of Krsna, take that darsana to their heart and close the window. Then there is only Krsna and the Gopi. There they can meet him constantly with no fear of anybody.

Like that premanjana-churita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hridayeshu vilokayanti: [Bs. 5.38]

The devotees whose eyes are anointed with the love of God, ointment see God, Krsna, within their hearts twenty-four hours a day.

Gopis are sadhavis. This was also the condition of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When He took darsana of Jagannatha Swami, He wanted to embrace the Lord. But He could not as He would fall unconscious. Hence His associates prevented Him from going near the Lord. They let Him stand near the Garuda stambha, so that He had its support while taking darsana of the Lord.

Last month I had gone to Jagannatha Puri. My state of mind can never be like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but a panda there took me near the Garuda stambha.

pashu-pakhi jhure, pashana vidore
shuni yar guna gantha

By Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s touch the stambha melted. His bhava was mahabhava. The Panda showed me Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s finger prints. He made me touch the finger prints. For sometime I had a little romancha, thinking how Caitanya Mahaprabhu took darsana.

<p style="text-align: justify;">Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also in Pandharpur once. It is a special dhama for Gaudiya Vaisnavas because some incidents took place there which connects Pandharpur to Gaudiya Vaisnavasim.

Visvarupa had come here. Nityananda Prabhu had also visited Pandharpur. Visvarupa was the 9th son of Saci mata and Caitanya Mahaprabhu the 10th. Visvarupa was Balaram in ansarupa. He was not fully Balaram. Like Radha Rani is fully Radha and Gadadhar Pandit was Radha in ansarupa.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to go on a South Indian yatra, but His associates wanted to know why. He said: “I want to search for my brother, Visvarupa.” That was just an excuse because He knew that his brother had gone back to Godhead. How did He know this? He is sarvagya. He knows everything. His goal was dharma-samsthapanarthaya. He had also appeared to establish dharma. He will go for yatra doing sankirtana and establish sankirtana dharma.

kali kaler dharma nama sankirtana

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on the South India yatra for 6 years. He met Srirangapuri, a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. This is also one more Gaudiya Vaisnava connection. Srirangapuri must have stayed in Pandharpur. What was the connection between them? Srirangapuri was God uncle of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, God brother of His guru, Isvarpuri. They both gave Krsna Katha for 7 days. At the end of the katha Srirangapuri said : “I had gone to Navadvipa with Madhavendra Puri. When we were there, we received an invitation from Jagannath Misra. He offered us prasada. His wife Saci mata made a dish called mocha-khanda. We got the news that their elder son Visvarupa had gone on a yatra and reached Pandharpur. From there He went back to Godhead. This was not news for Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but He displayed a look of ignorance. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this from Srirangapuri, He realised that they had gone to his house.

Here I want to say that Visvarupa could have selected any place to leave the planet. There are so many places, but He selected Pandharpur. There is a description of this in the Madhya Lila. He would have bathed in the Chandrabhaga River and taken darsana of Lord Panduranga. Normally He would just stay at one place for a day or even half a day and walk away in the middle of the night to avoid the crowd of people intent on following Him in morning. In Srirangam He stayed for four months in Caturmasa.

So now Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in Jagannatha Puri.

Balaram did yatra of the whole Bharatvarsa, He did not want to fight in the battle of Kuruksetra.

brajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei, balarama hoilo nitai

The very same Balaram appeared as Nityananda Prabhu. He went on a yatra that lasted 20 years. He started His yatra when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was 12 years old and came back when Mahaprabhu was 32. Once Nityananda Prabhu met Madhavendra Puri who went from Vrndavana to Shantipur. He gave diksha to Advaita Acarya and then he went to Remuna. He stayed there and served Ksira chor Gopinatha. His samadhi is also there.

Nityananda Prabhu had gone to setubandha with Madhavendra Puri. It is said that Nityananda Prabhu took diksha from Madhavendra Puri, but in Caitanya Bhagavat Vrindavan Das Thakur says Nityananda Prabhu took diksha from Laxmipati Tirtha. Laxmipati Tirtha had come to Pandarpur and at time and he took dikaha from him.

So Nityananda Prabhu’s diksha stali was Pandarpur dhama. This is also another Gaudiya Vaisava connection.

Way back in1986 we were searching for the samadhi of Visvarupa. We saw many samadhis on the bank of the Chandrabhaga. We searched for a long time, but we did not find Visvarupa’s samadhi. Then we came to the realisation that there is no samadhi of Lord Ram or Balaram? So the Lord does not have a Samadhi. We established foot prints of Nityananda Prabhu and Visvarupa in Pandharpur.

ISKCON Aravade is also going to establish foot prints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The inauguration will be on 26 January 2017 inauguration. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to my village Aravade. I don’t know whether He stayed there. He had visited Aravade, and the proof is village named Gaurgaon near Aravade.

Pandharpur has strong connections with Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Lord did shravan kirtan lila, snana lila there in Pandharpur.

purve yabe mahaprabhu calila daksine
prataparudra raja tabe bolaila sarvabhaume ( CC Madhya Lila 10.3)

When Mahaprabhu departed for South India, King Prataparudra called Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to his palace and asked about Mahaprabhu.

sunilana tomara ghare eka mahasaya
gauda ha-ite aila, te?ho maha-krpamaya (CC Madhya Lila 10.5)

The King said to the Bhattacarya, “I have heard that a great personality has come from Bengal and is staying at your home. I have also heard that He is very, very merciful.

tomare bahu krpa kaila, kahe sarva-jana
krpa kari’ karaha more tanhara darsana (CC Madhya Lila 10.6)

“I have also heard that this great personality has shown you great favor. At any rate, this is what I hear from many different people. Now, being merciful upon me, you should do me the favor of arranging an interview.”

bhatta kahe, — ye sunila saba satya haya
tanra darsana tomara ghatana na haya (CC Madhya Lila 10.7)

The Bhattacarya replied, “All that you have heard is true, but as far as an interview is concerned, it is very difficult to arrange.

virakta sannyasi tenho rahena nirjane
svapneha na karena tenho raja-darasane (CC Madhya Lila 10.8)

“Sri Mahaprabhu is in the renounced order and is very much detached from worldly affairs. He stays in solitary places, and even in dreams He does not grant interviews to a king.

tathapi prakare toma karaitama darasana
samprati karila tenho daksina gamana (CC Madhya Lila 10.9)

“Still, I would have tried to arrange your interview, but He has recently left to tour South India.”

raja kahe, — jagannatha chaadi’ kene gela
bhatta kahe, — mahantera ei eka lila (CC Madhya Lila 10.10)

The King asked, “Why has He left Jagannatha Puri?”

tirtha pavitra karite kare tirtha-bhramana
sei chale nistaraye samsarika jana (CC Madhya Lila 10.11)

“Great saints go to holy places of pilgrimage in order to purify them. For that reason Mahaprabhu is visiting many tirthas and delivering many, many conditioned souls.

bhavad-vidha bhagavatas
tirthi-bhutah svayam vibho
tirthi-kurvanti tirthani
svanta?-sthena gada-bhrta (CC Madhya Lila 10.12)

“Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.’

tirthi-kurvanti tirthani ( SB 1.13.10)

Devotees are holy places personified. Because they carry the Personality of Godhead within their heart, they turn all the places into places of pilgrimages. And Mahaprabhu is Lord Himself. This was the realization of King Prataprudra.

raja kahe, — tanre tumi yaite kene dile
paya padi’ yatna kari’ kene na rakhile (CC Madhya Lila 10.14)

Upon hearing this, the King replied, “Why did you allow Him to leave? Why didn’t you fall at His lotus feet and keep Him here?”

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, “Sri Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and is completely independent. Being Lord Krsna Himself, He is not dependent on anyone. “Still, I endeavored very hard to keep Him here, but because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and completely independent, I was not successful.” The King said, “Bhattacarya, you are the most learned and experienced person I know. Therefore when you address Sri Mahaprabhu as Lord Krsna, I accept this as the truth.

When Sri Mahaprabhu returns, I wish to see Him just once in order to make my eyes perfect.”

bha??acarya kahe, — tenho asibe alpa-kale
rahite tanre eka sthana cahiye virale (CC Madhya Lila 10.19)

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya a replied, “His Holiness Lord Sri Mahaprabhu will return very soon. I wish to have a nice place ready for Him, a place solitary and peaceful. “Lord’s residence should be very secluded and also near the temple of Jagannatha. Please consider this proposal and give me a nice place for Him.” The King replied, “Kasi Misra’s house is exactly what you require. It is near the temple and is very secluded, calm and quiet.”

When Kasi Misra heard the proposal, he said, “I am very fortunate that Sri Mahaprabhu, the Lord of all prabhus, will stay at my home.”

All the residents of Jagannatha Puri were early waiting for Mahaprabhu and when the eagerness reached its height Mahaprabhu came to Puri

ara dina mahaprabhu bhattacaryera sange
jagannatha darasana kaila maha-range (CC Madhya Lila 10.29)

The next day Sri Mahaprabhu arrived and went with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya with great enthusiasm, to see the temple of Lord Jagannatha. After seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Mahaprabhu left the temple. The Bhattacarya then took Him to the house of Kasi Misra. When Sri Mahaprabhu arrived at his house, Kasi Misra immediately fell down at His lotus feet and surrendered himself and all his possessions. This is how Kasi Misra was fully surrendered to the Lord.

manasa, deho, geho, jo kichu mor
arpilu tuwa pade, nanda-kisor!

Bhaktivinod Thakur says Mind, body, and family, whatever may be mine, I have surrendered at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!

Sri Mahaprabhu then showed Kasi Misra His four-armed form. Then, accepting him for His service, the Lord embraced him.

Mahaprabhu was very pleased to see the house of Kasi Misra. Do you know that place? Have you seen it? Yes, the Gambhira. It’s a very serious place. Here Mahaprabhu will stay here now and meet many devotees which we will hear about tomorrow.

Thank You.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu glorifies Madhavendra Puri.

anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirna kale
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam
hari purata-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipita
sada hrdaya-kandare sphuratu va saci-nandanah (CC Adi Lila, 3.4)

May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of ?r?mat? ?ac?-dev? be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.

vande sri krsna Caitanya gaudo citro sando tamonudo
ajanu-lambita-bhujau kanakavadhatau
sankirtanaika-pitarau kamalayataksau
visvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma palau
vande jagat-priyakaro karunavatarau (Nityananda Caritamrita Mangalacharana )

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Shri Nityananda Prabhu, whose long arms extend to Their knees. They have splendid golden complexions, and They inaugurated the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Their eyes resemble the petals of lotus flowers. They are the maintainers of all the worlds, the best of the brahmanas, the protectors of the religious principles for this age. They bring happiness to the people of the world and are the most merciful of all incarnations.

yasmai datum corayan ksira-bhandam
gopinathah ksira-corabhidho ’bhut
sri-gopalah pradurasid vassal san
yat-premna tam madhavendram nato ’smi (CC Madhya Lila 4.1)

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Madhavendra Puri, who was given a pot of sweet rice stolen by Sri Gopinatha, celebrated thereafter as Ksira-cora. Being pleased by Madhavendra Puri’s love, Sri Gopala, the Deity at Govardhana, appeared to the public vision.

Remembering the Lord becomes easier when the Lord performs His wonderful Lila. Then comes the Lord’s rupa. Is there any Lila in Brahmajyoti? So if Lord does Lila then that means that He has rupa. He also has His associates. He reciprocates with them. Then it becomes easier to remember Him. If there is Lila then there must be Lilastali. We get a place to remember Him by. Remembering the Lord becomes easy as He is full of all mellows. He is rasakhan and remembering Him is our life.

ramya kacid-upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says if you want to worship the Lord you should worship Him like the vrajavadhus, the gopis. The process of worshiping that the gopis follow is the highest and most pleasing type of worship of Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says you should follow them. The gopis did not know much. They just knew how to remember Krsna.

smartavyah satatam visnur vismartavyo na jatucit

O! Visnu, here Visnu means Krsna. Just yesterday we heard of Vaikuntha that meant Goloka. Remembering the Lord was their only work. We should never forget Krsna, which means always remember the Lord, His name and His lila.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu went with some of His associates to Jagannatha Puri. Now he would stay in Jagannatha Puri and going to become Nilachala nivasi. All the devotees agreed to this proposal, except Haridas Thakur. He thought that he was from a low family and would not be allowed to take darsana there. Thinking like this, he was sad. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu told him not to worry, “I will take you to Puri. You may not be allowed to go to take darsana of Jagannatha, but Jagannatha will come to give you darsana.” What Caitanya Mahaprabhu actually meant was that He would go for darsana of Jagannatha and then give that darsana to Haridas Thakur.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His group were singing kirtana and dancing, making their way to Puri. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never walks. He only dances and sings. In this way He reached the celebrated village of Remuna, where there is a Deity of Gopinatha. Then the group went to the Radha Gopinath temple and stayed there. There He narrated the story of Madhavendra Puri, as He had heard it from His spiritual master, Isvara Puri.

yat-premna tam madhavendram nato ’smi

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Madhavendra Puri for whom Sri Gopinatha, stole pot of ksira and since then Gopinath is known as Ksira-cora Gopinath. He is Vrndavana’s Makhanchor and here He became Ksira-cora. Pleased or influenced by the love of Madhavendra Puri, Gopal gave him darsana

atha kena prayukto ‘yam papam carati purusah
anicchann api varsneya balad iva niyojitah (BG 3.36)

Arjuna says, what’s that power that engages us in sinful activities? Does it happen like this? Arjuna is saying on our behalf that means it must be happening. And Krsna answers Arjuna’s question.

kama esa krodha esa rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahasano maha-papma viddhy enam iha vairinam (BG 3.37)

It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world. So this is becoming vasibhuta (influenced). There are 6 anarthas (ripu) which trap or influence us.

But here in Caitanya Caritamrita it is all premavas. Pleased by the love of Madhavendra Puri, Gopal gave him darsana. He came to his dream and told him where He was and gave Him darsana. Lord is smarniya. He must always be remembered.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu started singing the glories of Madhavendra Puri. We are trying to sing the glories of Srila Prabhupada in the evening. Lord describes the glories of His devotees. He spoke about all the Lilas that happened at that temple – how Gopal came into Madhavendra Puri’s dream, how He demanded chandan. So when Madhavendra Puri reached Gopinath temple, ksira bhoga was offered to Gopinath. The aroma spread all over and a thought arose in Madavendra Puri’s mind, “I will also make such ksira for my Gopal.” Ksira is made of milk. So after the bhoga was offered, he thought, “ I should get that prasada. Then I will make for my Gopal.” But he did not get any prasada. Chanting the holy name, Madhavendra Puri left the temple. The Lord had kept a pot of ksira for Madhavendra Puri. Nobody knew Madhavendra Puri’s thoughts, but the Lord is in the heart and He knows everything.

vedaham samatitani vartamanani carjuna bhavisyani ca bhutani (BG 7.26)

O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come.

Lord is sarvagya, so the Lord knew what was going in Madhavendra Puri’s heart. Lord said to the pujari, “Go and give this pot of ksira to Madhavendra Puri.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu is narrating this pastime to His associates. Madhavendra Puri was found and the pot of ksira was given to him. He was overwhelmed with love for the Lord. Madhavendra Puri is adiguru in our parampara. He was the disciple of Srila Laxmipati.

thakura more ksira dila — loka saba suni
dine loka-bhida habe mora pratistha jani (CC Madhya Lila 4.141)

Then after honouring the ksira prasada, he broke the pot and bound the pieces in his cloth, Madhavendra Puri began to think, “The Lord has given me a pot of sweet rice, and tomorrow morning when the people hear of this, there will be great crowds and the news of the chori of ksira will spread. I should avoid it.” He left that temple because he was amanina manadena. Devotees do not accept any respect. Such was Madhavendra Puri’s mood.

cali’ cali’ aila puri sri-nilacala
jagannatha dekhi’ haila premete vihvala (CC Madhya Lila 4.143)

Walking and walking, Madhavendra Puri finally reached Jagannatha Pura, which is also known as Nilacala. There he saw Lord Jagannatha and was overwhelmed with loving ecstasy.

There was the danda bhanga Lila. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very angry. There is Atharanala. In ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went from A?haranala to Jagannatha temple He entered from simha dwara. After seeing Lord Jagannatha, He became very restless due to love of Godhead.

jagannatha alingite calila dhana
mandire padila preme avista hana (CC Madhya Lila 6.4)

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu swiftly went to embrace Lord Jagannatha, but when He entered the temple, He was so overwhelmed with love of Godhead that He fainted. Here Krsna has become a devotee and goes for darsana of Jagannatha. In so doing He becomes the best devotee.

Caitanaya Mahaprabhu has reached Jagannatha Puri. He would stay at Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s house for two months and gave him sadbhuja darsana. After 2 months Caitanya Mahaprabhu went on his South India yatra.

Who inspired Caitanya Mahaprabhu to stay in Jagannatha Puri?

Day 1 of Gaur katha at NVCC

Gaur bhakta vrinda ki Jai and you are all amongst them. You have all reached here, where the Lord is and His katha and devotees are That is why all glories to you.

Jai Jagganath, ‘jei gaura sei krsna sei jagannatha. There will be a Ratha-yatra a few days after the katha. Let’s hear from Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami on Gauranga’s katha in Jagannatha Puri.

nilachala nivasaya nityaya paramatmane balabadra subhadrabyam jagannathaya te namah

Lord as Jagannatha was already staying in Jagannatha Puri, but now Gauranga Mahaprabhu will also stay in Jagannatha Puri.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has just taken sannayas and He was given the name Sri Krsna Caitanya. Sannyasis don’t stay in one place. It is said that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Like that He took sannyasa in Katva and had a long desire to go to Vrndavana. The desire to go to Vrndavana was already there when He received harinam diksha, but He was stopped. After sannyasa He also wanted to go to Vrndavana , but this time Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Acaraya tricked Him.

prabhate acaryaratna dolaya cadana
bhakta-gana-sange lila sacimata lana (CC Madhya lila 3.137)

In the morning Candrasekhara seated Saci mata in a palanquin and brought her from her house with many devotees.

nadiya-nagarera loka — str-balaka-vrddha
saba loka aila, haila sanghatta samrddha (CC Madhya lila 3.138)

In this way, all the people of the town of Nadia — including all women, boys and old men — came there. Thus the crowd increased.

pratah-krtya kari’ kare nama-sankirtana
sacimata lana aila advaita-bhavana (CC Madhya lila 3.139)

In the morning, after regular duties were completed and the Lord was chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the people accompanied sacimata to the house of Advaita acarya.

saci-age padila prabhu dandavat hana
kandite lagila saci kole uthaina (CC Madhya lila 3.140)

As soon as mother saci appeared on the scene, Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell before her like a stick. Mother saci began to cry, taking the Lord on her lap. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is 24 years old, but for her He is her son Nimai.

donhara darsane dunhe ha-ila vihvala
kesa na dekhiya saci ha-ila vikala (CC Madhya lila 3.141)

Upon seeing each other, they both became overwhelmed. Seeing the Lord’s head without hair, mother saci became greatly agitated.

anga muche, mukha cumbe, kare niriksana
dekhite na paya, — asru bharila nayana (CC Madhya lila 3.142)

Out of love she began to caress the body of the Lord. Sometimes she kissed His face and tried to observe Him carefully, but because her eyes were filled with tears, she could not see.

Tukaram Maharaja also says, anandale mana preme pazara lochana. The language amy be different but the words of the saints are the same. When your heart is filled with love, then it comes out from the eyes as tears.

kandiya kahena saci, bachare nimani
visvarupa-sama na kariha nithurai (CC Madhya lila 3.143)

Understanding that Lord Caitanya had accepted the renounced order of life, sacimata, crying, said to the Lord, “My darling Nimai, do not be cruel like Visvarupa, Your elder brother.”

sannyasi ha-iya punah na dila darasana
tumi taiche kaile mora ha-ibe marana (CC Madhya lila 3.144)

Mother saci continued, “After accepting the renounced order, Visvarupa never again gave me audience. If You do like Him, that will certainly be the death of me.”

kandiya balena prabhu — suna, mora ai
tomara sarira ei, mora kichu nai

The Lord replied, “My dear mother, please hear. This body belongs to you. I do not possess anything.

tomara palita deha, janma toma haite
koti janme tomara rna na pari sodhite

“This body was raised by you, and it comes from you. I cannot repay this debt even in millions of births.”

jani’ va na jani’ kaila yadyapi sannyasa
tathapi tomare kabhu nahiba udasa

“Knowingly or unknowingly I have accepted this renounced order. Still, I shall never be indifferent to you.

tumi yahan kaha, ami tahani rahiba
tumi yei ajna kara, sei ta kariba (CC Madhya lila 3.148)

“My dear mother, wherever you ask Me to stay I shall stay, and whatever you order I shall execute.”

This is the eternal relationship between them. Whenever the Lord takes birth she comes as His mother. Caitanya Mahaptabhu has taken sanayasa but He will never be indifferent to Saci mata.

Sannyasis cannot stay with family after taking sannyasa. That is what Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “I have taken sannyasa now. I cannot come home. In Navadvipa the people will laugh at me, but I can’t leave you also.” Hearing this Saci mata came up with a solution. “If you stay in Navadvipa I will be happy, but if people mock you, then I will be very sad. So I have an idea. Why don’t you stay in Jagannatha Puri. Both the issues will be resolved – it is near Navadvipa and devotees can come to meet you. You can also you come bathe in the Ganga. Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the devotees were happy to hear this offer of Saci mata.

eta bali punah punah kare namaskara
tusta hana ai kole kare bara bara (CC Madhya lila 3.149)

Saying this, the Lord offered obeisances to His mother again and again, and mother saci, being pleased, took Him again and again on her lap.

Then Advaita Acarya took mother Saci within the house. The Lord was immediately ready to meet all the devotees. (CC Madhya lila 3.150)

The Lord met all the devotees one after the other, and looking at everyone’s face individually, He embraced them tightly. (CC Madhya lila 3.151)

Although the devotees were unhappy at not seeing the Lord’s hair, they nonetheless derived great happiness from seeing His beauty. (CC Madhya lila 3.152)

srivasa, ramai, vidyanidhi, gadadhara
gangadasa, vakresvara, murari, suklambara
buddhimanta khan, nandana, sridhara, vijaya
vasudeva, damodara, mukunda, sanjaya
kata nama la-iba yata navadvipa-vasi
sabare milila prabhu krpa-drstye hasi’ (CC Madhya lila 3.153- 55)

Srivasa, Ramai, Vidyanidhi, Gadadhara, Gangadasa, Vakresvara, Murari, suklambara, Buddhimanta Khan, Nandana, sridhara, Vijaya, Vasudeva, Damodara, Mukunda, Sanjaya and all the others, however many I can mention — indeed, all the inhabitants of Navadvipa — arrived there, and the Lord met them with smiles and glances of mercy.

Krsnadas Kaviraj says that so many devotees have come here fro darsana that he cannot keep count. They are all saying the Lord’s name – Hari Hari. What’s Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s name? Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They were all taking darsana of the Lord. Upon hearing this a desire grows within us for this darsana – darsana dila dena. This bhava of meeting and receiving darsana of the Lord is gunatita bhava which is beyond the three modes of material nature. One who has really woken up, will have these thoughts. It is said jiva jago sleeping souls. Wake up and break that bubble of illusion.

Once upon a time when devotees would go to Pandarpur for darsana of Lord Vitthala. This darsana was realised in embracing Lord Vitthala. In Kaliyuga somebody did some mischief and now we can just touch His lotus feet.

gaurangera madhur lila jare karna praveshila hridaya nirmala hobe tar

One who hears the Lord’s lila, his heart becomes pure. In the Upanisads the example is given of two birds sitting on a tree. One bird – the jiva, or living entity – is enjoying the fruits of that tree, and the other bird – Paramatma – is simply witnessing. So we are sitting in the heart and the katha goes to the heart. There is saying in Marathi ekadun tikade jae vara nadi funkali sonare. While making jewellery, a jeweller blows his pipe. The air goes from this end of the pipe to that end. It does not stay in the pipe. It should not be like that. The katha should land in the heart and stay there.

mana eva manusyanam karanam bandha-moksayoh
bandhaya visayasango muktyai nirvisayam manah

For man, the mind is the cause of bondage and liberation. The mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from sense objects is the cause of liberation. Therefore, the mind which is always engaged in Krishna consciousness is the cause of supreme liberation. The mind and senses is one team, the causes of binding and liberation. atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. Thinking, feeling and willing are the works of the mind.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the combined form of Radha and Krsna with the golden complexion of Srimati Radhika (antar krsna bahir gaura)

radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad
ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau
caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam
radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam naumi krsna-svarupam

The love of Radha-Krsna is the divine manifestation of the hladini-sakti. Though originally one, They have become separated eternally. They have again become one as Sri Caitanya. I offer my respects unto that Lord, who is Krsna Himself, with the sentiment and complexion of Radharani. (CC. Adi Lila 1.5)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “Long time back I was one. Then I became two – one Radha and one Krsna, one soul but we are two. Now I am named Caitanya Mahaprabhu and my name – Radha Krsna – will be preached all over.”

yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya- One who is fully conversant with the science of Krsna, he is eligible to become a guru. (Cc. Madhya Lila. 8.128)

Bhaktivinod Thakur says, je-dina grihe, bhajana dekhi, grihete goloka bhaya

One day while performing devotional practices, I saw my house transformed into Goloka Vrndavana. When I take the caranamrita of the Deity, I see the holy Ganges waters that come from the feet of Lord Visnu, and my bliss knows no bounds. (Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also called Vaikunthanayak. Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes that the acaryas house has become Vaikunthapuri, Golok. Do not think it became Vaikuntha. The Lord is instructing the devotees go to your respective houses. brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam (SB 7. 12. 1) Brahmacharis don’t go home, your house is the brahmachari asrama.

When devotees dance, their souls dance, but when the people outside dance, their bodies dance. So many devotees have come for darsana of Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is addressing everybody. You all are my param bandhavas. We are all also param bandhava brothers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is sambandhan jnana. Then comes prayojana followed by abhideya jnana. Tukaram Maharaja also said,

ami jato amchya gava amcha rama ram ghyava.

“You all do kirtana and as I got the dhama, you will also get the dhama”