“putrams ca sisyams ca nrpo gurur va

mal – loka – kamo mad  anugraharthah

ittham vimnyur anusisyad ataj-janam

nayojayet – karmasu karma- mudhan

kam yojayan manujo rtham labeha

nipatayan nasta-drsam hi garte”

Venue: Los Angeles, Date – 2009 June 07, S.B 5.5.15

This morning we will read from S.B canto 5th, chapter 5th, and text no.15

TRANSLATION: If one is serious about going back home, back to Godhead, he must consider the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the summum bonum and chief aim of life. If he is a father instructing his sons, a spiritual master instructing his disciples, or a king instructing his citizens, he must instruct them as I have advised. Without being angry, he should continue giving instructions, even if his disciple, son or citizen is sometimes unable to follow his order. Ignorant people who engage in pious and impious activities should be engaged in devotional service by all means. They should always avoid fruitive activity. If one puts into the bondage of karmic activity his disciple, son or citizen who is bereft of transcendental vision, how will one profit? It is like leading a blind man to a dark well and causing him to fall in.

PURPORT: It is stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.26): “na buddhi –bhedam janayed ajnanam karma-sanginam, josayet sarva-karmani vidvan yuktah samacaran”

“Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should be encouraged not to refrain from work, but to work in the spirit of devotion.”

“Lord Rsabhadeva’s teaching to His sons” is the chapter and he has taught lot of things so for, beginning form the very 1st verse of this chapter  “nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke” (S.B 5.5.1) very 1st statement of Rsabhadev someone said this was most quoted verse by Srila Prabhupada. “janma karma cha me divyam” this is one of the most quoted verse, no this one but where the teaching of Rsabhadev begins, Rsabhadev uvaca, Srila Prabhupada quotes this verse again and again and again to his disciple. This is what Rsabhadev was expecting that spiritual masters would do such things, or whether they are spiritual masters “gurur va” not only guru but “gurur va” and someone else and guru or this why is or “narpo gurur va”. Whether nrpa the king is instructing putrans citizen are like his putras children, so nrpa is giving instructions “manyor sisyat”.

So Rsabhadev is giving a guideline here “etham” all that I have spoken thus far,  all the teaching that I have shared with you my dear sons, he is addressing his sons infact 100 of them but could Lord be limited to just 100 sons. He could have unlimited sons or we could say in fact everyone is his son in that setting or in that context as history goes he had 100 sons. But we are all his sons whether we are disciple whether we are citizen whether are we children whatever, fathers, mothers, daughters, neighbors, friends everybody, everybody is son of the Lord.

But all the sons, all those entities are not sitting there only 100 of them are sitting. But he says but these teaching are for everybody. So in future when spiritual masters would get on the mike they had to teach like this, I have just taught you my dear sons. So they should be teaching and that way let Krishna speak for himself you shut up, you don’t talk let Krishna speak let Rsabhadev speak for himself. So he had already spoken and but he was addressing 100 sons only what about his rest of the sons they should also get the message the instructions and that job is done not by spiritual master only, it is also duty of  the king, will be instructing his citizens. And the fathers would instruct their children and that way everyone in the audience everyone is covered, you know someone is suppose to be instructing them and at different level of their elevation in their age as they grow they go through phases or ashrams. There is someone “gurur na sasyat, svajano na sasyat pita mata na sasyat”you should not become guru “guru na sasyat” or that person is not a guru or that person is not svajan, Oh! These are my people svajana. You are claiming them to be yours but then you have obligations toward them. Pita Oh! I am a father Oh! That’s fine but you should be doing something as a father. Oh! I am a mother that’s good so you have to something as father, mother, Svajana and the guru. Also they have to do?  “na mocha yet sampat mrutyum’”.

Your disciple, your citizen, your child and you have to make sure he doesn’t take birth again. You be last father and mother of your child. He had so many fathers and mothers he had enough of it, so you be the last father, last mother and to do that you have to repeat these instruction of Rsabhadev to your children, to your disciples, to your neighbors, to your friends, you repeat say these teachings of Rsabhadev share with them, so that ‘na mocha yet sampat mrutyum’ mrtyum “ mrtyu you have to save them from mrtyu, you have to save them from death, birth and death if you don’t do then what kind of spiritual master are you, what kind of svajan  or what kind of mata , pita you are not that you may be clever I am it’s my role I am father, mother you are not unless you stop  the cycle that person dependent upon you cycle is not stopped. So Rsabhadev says “etham” thus for etham I have given some teachings and they should be shared, repeated, explained “pari prasnena sevaya” (B.G.4.34) could be there “tad viddhi pranipatena pari prasnena sevaya”. So “asisyat” this should be instructed, this should be shared, this teaching of mine should be shared. “vemanur”  Srila Prabhupada is translating “your disciples, your sons may take little extra time or something, don’t get angry “vemanyur” have some patience without getting angry you should share these instructions of mine with putran with  the children, if you are father or for someone like Sri Rama all the citizen were like His children. He looked after all the citizen as if they were part of his family; they were his children that are Raja and Praja. Praja is that of Raja, Praja you are born of, you are child of Raja, the King, all the citizens they are children of the king, he is the father, father figure. So he looks after, he takes care materially; spiritually of all the citizens this is how he manages his kingdom. So whether you are father, mother or whether you are ‘nrpa’ king then putran all your citizen, all your children or “gurur va” or if you are spiritual master, then you have sisyan disciples, they all should be instructed, etham the way I have done Rsabhadev says.

And “mal lok kamat mat anugrahat”, so instructions should benefit the children’s, sons or citizens or disciples in what way? They should be taught about arouse the desire of “mat loka” my loka,  goloka, my loka that’s my lok mat loka, Goloka “Goloka eva nevasate akhelat ma bhuta” you tell them about my loka and they should have desire “kama” mat loka kama. They should be making “going back to home” Back to Godhead as a goal of their lives. “mad anugrahata” and to give my anugraha, my benediction, my blessing- anugraha, anugrahitosmi – I am great to you sir, anugraha – benediction, special blessings vara, vara varadane, varadraj- Lord is known as Varadraj. In South India there is a deity called Varadraj not only vara, varada one who gives the benediction, special anugraha – varada. But that deity is called as Varadraj; like rajvidya – raja king of all the deities, those who give benediction. And I was there during Padayatra I was praying for benediction “Give me some service my dear Lord” my God brother, God sister are doing so much I am not doing enough give me benediction. I asked for little more knowing that He is Varadraj and offered prayers like that and Lord gave me so much service that I had to go back and enough (laughter). I had this realization it’s not a story telling I remember one time I was praying to the deity and then thing changed, so he proved I am Varadraj. I am varadraj, king of benedictory anugraha. “anugraharthah”

So whatever instruction the gurus are giving, the king gives or parents are giving the goal is “mat lok kama” “going back to home” we are going some devotees sing also, they don’t only say “going back to godhead” but they sing we are going back to home back to godhead …………..ting ting ting (Maharaja Singing) (laughter).

There is a big boat and Srila Prabhupada is the captain, join in inviting everyone please come (Maharaj laughs). So that is one part that “anusishyat” instructions should be given the way, I have given the instruction or teachings. And who gives instruction? And unto whom they are given? That is one part and the goal of those instructions is going back to home and my “mad  anugraharthah” and that is Rsabhadev, that is Supreme Personality of Godhead in that advent, incarnation mat-mat-mat “man-mana bhava mat bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru” (B.G.9.34) four times Lord says – remember, He does not only say remember, become devotee, worship, offer obeisance’s. He doesn’t say only that much but every time He is asking us to do 4 things but every time He says do this for me. “man – mana mat-bhakto”, you are mine give it to me, remember me, mat bhakto – become my devotee, mad –yaji you want to worship, worship me,  mam namaskuru and if you are thinking of offering obeisance’s, unto me you offer obeisance’s. not living any scope any room for any speculation or any, that could be anybody, everybody I am worshiping, I am offering obeisance’s, I am remembering, but Lord says it’s me, it’s me, it’s me four times it’s me remember me – the speaker of Bhagvat gita. And here the speaker of these teachings Rsabhadev is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So room for no interpretation is required, you do this for me. “mat loka” there were so many lokas; this world is full of lokas, swarga loka and this loka, 14 planetary systems filled with loka.

“mal – loka – kamo mad  anugraharthah” Lord is asking two things should be done, in nut shell two things and He has put himself there “my abode” and “my anugraha” mad  anugraha, artha the goal should be mad  anugraha- my benediction, it’s me, without no false ego, it’s He, it’s Him. “atat jnana mudham” that is the second part. So this party is “atat jnana” or “atat jya” and it’s the plural of that, tat means that, there are 3 words small small 3 words here, atat, jya, a means no, tat-that, jya means knowledge. Those who do not have knowledge of that who is that? That is Lord, someone brought the harmonium here that said “hare om tat sat”. So that “om tat sat” is Krishna one who has written this instead of writing “Hare Krishna” he has written “Hare om tat sat”. So that Krishna is tat. Tat-that when you say that, it’s understood that means, who is that this refers to always throughout the scriptures when it comes tat, tat is that end that is Supreme Personality of Godhead. And mayavadi would like to say oh! tattvam asi, tattvam asi, this is not I am but you are.

Instruction in the Upanisads to the disciples are like that its dialogue between Guru and disciple. So one Guru says in one of the Upanisads “tattvam asi”, tat-that, tvam-you, asi-are, you are that, you are that, you are that, tattvam asi. So that is Sankaracharya and he, it is in sastras in Upanishads and he thrives of this “tattvam asi” “aham brahmasmi”. The 4 Upanisads have 4 maha vakyas and he makes that as basis of his misleading statements for which purpose he had appeared it was empowered.

“kalu brahman rupina” I will appear oh! My Devi Parvarti in kaliyug I will appear as brahman rupina, and mayavad asat sastram, I will promote this mayavad which is asat sastram. Asat -no sat, it is sastram but asat sastram, before even his advent he is declaring what I am going to be talking is all asat sastram, mayavadam asat sastram and this will be cover up for Buddhism, this is part of the statement, cover up for Buddhism, only distance little bit from Buddhism; not go all the way.

So Buddha said zero and Sankaracharya, said not zero, one and then followed by Sankaracharya all the 4 vaishnav acharya appeared and they say specially Madhvacharya Aye! Two not zero, not one- two, then appeared Caitanya Mahaprabhu “you have given to much stress on this two-two… …no no they are two but they are one simultaneously. This two was stressed so much that relationship between the two loving dealings, affections, they were kind of minimized because they wanted to get rid of this, so much emphasize, communism, then capitalism, then the other extreme, they had to bring the other extreme then the communism, that also does not work. So again zero, our vaishnav acharya are fighting against, well  Sankaracharya already fought against zero and he published one. The vaishnav acharyas had to fight now against that one, establish two because they stressed too much on this two, two. The Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to come and do little refinement, little adjustment no, no not only two but they are also one “Achintyabhedabhed tatva” and that’s it no one else is going to come now to do any evolution or innovations or adjustments all done now this is set for next forever. So this tat is ‘attaya’ those who do not know tat that, that is Lord, “nayojayet – karmasu karma- mudhan”

So do not engage them in “na yojayat” do not engage them “karmasu” in karma, this is karma, karma jnana karmakand, jnankand. So do not engage them in ………….activities the karmas. He is karmi we say he is karmi means he is a fruitive worker, he does karma and when there is fruit of that karma, he likes to gobble it up, he likes to enjoy fruit of his own labor. “karmany evadhi karaste ma phalesu kadacana” (B.G.2.47) Krishna said in Bhagvad gita another famous verse if any verse they know it’s this one “karmanu evadhikarasta” in fact the first part not even the second part “karmany evadhikaras te” yes we have right to do our duty the whole Hinduism is based on this. Oh! What is that, Krishna says “karmany evadhikaras te” and they become jubilant and they run. Whole impetus, it gives them boast all the activities “Krishna has stamped” “karmany evadhikaras te”. But they forget “ma phalesu kadacana” hye! Hands off you do activity but when there is a fruit don’t touch it.  “ma phalesu” “karmany evadhikarste ma phalesu” you have right to do your duty so that adhikar is also part of second part of Krishnas statement “ma phalesu kadachana” “ma adikaraha phalesu kadachana”  you have no adhikar, you have no right to go for the fruit of that oh! That’s for me “ma phalesu” do not “ma phalesu kadachana” “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” there are 3 ma’s there. One, two and three don’t s in the verse. You do this, you do your duty ok first thing is the fruit, it’s not for you “ma phalesu kadachana”  “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” do not think you are the cause of the duty do not think I am the doer.

“ma karma –phala hetur bhur” and then “ma te sango stv karmani” so person may say ok I have no fruit for me ok,  I can go for it, but at least some name, fame you know, I did it could I at least get the name. No fruit but at least I should get the credit for doing it. No, No “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” but then why should I work, no fruit, not even name then I will not do the duty. Lord says do not get attached to not doing the duty. “ma sangastu akarmani” ma=do not, sangas=attachment,  akarmani. So that means Lord is making the circle complete by saying “karmany evadhi karaste” you just do you part ok, you just do your part and others 3 don’t do this, don’t do this, don’t do this, do not become oh! Why should I do, I would become renounced.

No you don’t do that keep doing “karmany evadhi karaste”” so that other parts missing links are there everything one goes for just “karmany evadhi karaste” they just hear the half truth and they run. Distribute books I was told and Prabhupada said distribute books, he also wanted to say something more How to distribute? And the devotees ran out of the door, distribute books. But you read my books also read my books; I have complain the only complain about my disciple what is the complaint? They do not read my books. So distribute books yes that part we were into it, but then read my books that is also there. So we kind of hear half truth and go for it. So have patience and hear the whole thing hear the truth and then act. So Rsabhadev is talking ‘ataj-janam’. So those who don’t have knowledge of that, that is Supreme Lord meaning all this ‘matlok kama’ all this kind of jnana – knowledge, direction, instructions. “na yojayati” please don’t engage them in karmasu, karma mudhan. They are already karma mudha, they are bewildered, they are illusioned so do not engage, do not talk of the karma kand sections of karma, fruitive activities. And third part is benefit and what is the lost? If you engage them then there would be big loss, they would be lost in fact “garte” in a hole in a well.

“kam yojayan manujo rtham labeha” The manujas  born from Manu manujas – the human beings and if they are engaged yojayat, they are engaged in that karma furtive activities then artham what is the benefit “artham labeha kam” what benefit is there? In fact there is no benefit its only loss, what is the loss? “nipatayan nasta – drsam hi garte” fall down go deeper “nasta-drsam” they will be destroyed, finished and “gate” as they will go deeper into material existence. So we have become human being very fortunate but if you get into dark regions. So the solution is already there. Srila Prabhupada is quoting yet another statement of the Lord from Bhagavad-Gita. “josayet” this verse of Bhagavatam says “yojayet” Bhagavad-Gita.    “josayet” – dovetail, engage-dovetail, “Josayet sarva – karmani vidvan yuktah samacaran” (BG 3.26)

“ataj-janam” those who are ignorant of this ultimate reality or absolute truth that Supreme Personality of Godhead those who do not know “ajnanam karma- sanginam” same parties, karmis mentioned here. So Krishna says in Bhagavat –gita “ajnanam” here He says “ataj-janam” “ajnanam karma – sanginam”  “na buddhi bhudam janayed”. The wise do not disrupt the minds of ignorant who are attached to the fruitive actions. Then what are they supposed to be doing? Or what do they do? They should encourage not to refrain from work but work in spirit of devotion and that is devotional service. And that is this mal-loka-kamo” going back to home. “ mad- anugra- harthah” the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead not just benediction of  some Demigods that is result of karma may be elevation to the higher planetary System or not just getting into merging into Brahamanda. But go forward, more forward, upward, so to be action less is not possible.

Krishna says that not even for a movement one could be free from action. “na sanam api” So active you must remain, one may be engaged now in some fruitive activities. So let them be active but somehow engage them in activity of devotional service. So that is what Srila Prabhupada has done by giving us this International society for Krishna Consciousness which is full of devotional activities, all varieties wide spectrum. So you may not be fully and quickly understand everything but just do it. If you are into just doing it, just do the devotional service (Laughs) and that’s the mantra just do it, do not even think just do it. If that is your philosophy just do it, just take Prasad doesn’t hurt just eat, the cookies, just raise your hands, oh! What for! Just raise the hand. Say Hare Krishna. What is this Hare Krishna? Doesn’t matter say Hare Krishna (laughs) Devotee laughing?

So with this karma kanda, jnana kanda goal is “vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo” (B.G.15.15) I am to be known. But then this karma kanda this is very slow taking stair case, gradually who knows when, you are going to be going higher, when reaching destination. But if you perform some devotional service you go throw the lift. So knowingly unknowingly you perform devotional service, devotional activity. That person in New York in the early days he came with a toilet paper (laughs) he couldn’t think of anything else to go to swamiji, so he bought it on the way toilet paper and swami ji accepted happily. So that was his participation in International Society for Krishna Consciousness (laughs). He contributed toilet paper.

So in any way I could be hooked, just the touch with the Holy Name or sankirtan party. Do we not hear, I saw a sankirtan party down town, I did not understand but I stood there. And as they stand and hear passing by the Holy name is touching their heart and soul and something clicks and it sits there for some time. It seems nothing happened but them one fine morning there is a push go this way, so that way and then one would join that boat; we are going back to home.

People taking part in ratha yatra, there is only a core group that has come to take part in ratha yatra but so many others, they were not there for ratha yatra. They just turn around and there is Jagganath, they turn around and there is cookie in their hand. What answer? Eat it, eat Prasad, hears the Holy name on the Venis beach he did not go to Vrindavan, Mayapur, he did not come to temple here but temple goes, Lord goes to them. When you are little sick you go to the doctor but when you are too much sick then doctor goes to the patient isn’t it? When you are little sick you personally go to the doctor but it you are more sick then doctor has to come to the patient. There is so much sickness, sick people so they don’t come they can’t come to the temple which is like a hospital and Lord and there devotees are like the doctors. Sometimes these doctors go to the patients, go to the patients go door to door knocking is anyone sick here (laughs) or they just go to those coming in contact and then ratha yatra like festival, people are exposed, devotees go, out and distribute books in the middle of the crowed they stand and they are making it available, here are the tablets, here is the dose “gita” “Bhagavatam” here is prasadam – govindas, here is music.

Devotees in Paris they have a metro yoga, our devotee program in Paris they have a metro yoga. The metro the trains that goes round and round, devotees jump on that metro and began chanting. And then they stop and they talk of this is a “relief program” for stress and strain this is relief program. How did you feel? How did you feel? I felt great then they more chant more, stop and talk, they hand out some invitations. In once a year the people are invited for the music festival, attractive music festival. So they handout thousand invitations, some 100 people, 150 people come and there is a music festival “Hare Krishna music”, they will talk and Prasad. So this yoga works, metro yoga is working, they are in business it’s going on. So devotes so many outlets or inlets are there through which they could come in and they don’t have to stop doing what they are doing but add Krishna and whole devotional service and carry on move on and on. Ok I will stop here.

Hare Krishna!

Question 1 : – When we are coming to the temple we take are shop forward but there is always danger of two step backward if you are associating with karmis. So I wanted if you could give some encouragement devotee are working the outside world how to avoid the two steps backward?

Answer: – But they could also step forward and be right there, others may be little slower. So whenever they thinking of going forward they will not take one, then two steps small small steps they will jump right in also. And some those who go away, not active sometime then they come back and when do they begin, here they  had left off, in few days they are on the microphone giving Bhagavatam class (laughs) they are talking Bhagvad geeta and you know it’s all there. We should certainly not like to see setbacks, we used to be worried about this Prabhupada was still with us and those day we talk of gloop, we don’t use that word so much now may be there is less glooping (laughs) or there are less to gloop, we don’t use that word so much now may be there is less glooping (laughs) or there are less to gloop, there were so many there, so there was morning glooping, some were glooping in the afternoon (laughs) during the night (laughs) numbers were bigger  so the frequency of glooping was may be. So approach in Prabhupada and his point encouraging point was “they will come back” then he would add “in this life or the next” “they will come back”.

So that was kind of relief to hear from Srila Prabhupada that they are lost forever but they would be ours very soon one of these days one of these months or as they get older they will have second thoughts and they will reveal situation and this one going that one leaving departing this makes also one think of one’s situation. So again as it is advised here in this verse and that particular Bhagavad –gita verse quoting from 3rd chapter. Not to disturb somehow engage them encourage them in devotional activities, keep them linked, this program I think its reaching setbacks can’t come to the temple. Ok so you could use your internet open your computer and take darshan of Rukmini Dwarkadhish or see the greetings, great the Lord and meet the speakers of Bhagavatam at your home. But then one should not get attached. Oh! God is everywhere or at home also I am taking darshan and that like. But it’s some kind of means provided to you to make easier that is not the standard practice, its meant for you to step forward go forward, go to the Lord come take darshan and chant and dance in association of devotees, physical association, personal association, face to face. There is some kind of impersonal could they ask questions? We should have program to reach out those prabhus, just now again there is a talk going on reuniting Prabhupada family, reaching out Prabhupads disciples where ever they may be and encourage them; remind them, so like that.

Question 2:- Arjuna is a military man and we know military man means that he kills, Prabhupada gives example of a soldier on battle field, but when you come back and kill you go to jail. I am just kind of wondering if you could say something about in reference to how Arjuna could think like this that I am killing for Krishna, I seems to be a pretty happy kind of thing to do. And other thing is what is our duty as a devotee in Krishna consciousness, what are we our be Brahmans, vaisyas or kshtriyas or sudras in order to understand how to give everything to Krishna you need to be satisfied, properly, satisfied in your life and if you know that then it seems you could give that fruit to Krishna. But if there is some confusion what you are? You don’t know how to properly act so these are confusing kind of things for a conditional soul?

Answer: – I am not Arjuna (laugh) only Arjuna could do even Arjuna was not ready; Arjuna had thoughts like you have in the beginning. He was concerned about so many things what about this drama? What about? Arjuna has come up with a small list in the 1st chapter of Bhagavad-gita, all his concerns to which Krishna address in the 18th chapter  “sarva darman parityajya” (S.B 18.66) Arjuna asking what about this dharma?  and Krishna says don’t worry “mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayis yami ma sucah” I will take care of the rest.

So all those were very extra ordinary circumstance where these instructions are given to Arjuna and he is instructed to get up fight.  And well if they are killed grandfather has to say from his experience in the Bhagavatam that all those who were killed went back home they were all liberated. Because the killing took place in the presence of the Lord, in fact Arjuna was only seeing the back of the Lord while others were seeing the face of the Lord; they were even more fortunate position then Arjuna. So as they were face to face with the Lord. Lord killed this is the time. When Sri Rama hides behind the tree and killed Bali. So that Sugriva could join, Sugriva and  Sri Rama together. Sugriva was also in trouble his wife also was in cuscody of Bali. Lord Ram and Sugriva were in similar situation. Ones wife with Ravana and ones wife with Bali . So when Rama killed get rid of this Bali. So Bali first of all thought this is not fair you are hiding you wanted to kill me or fight, you could have come face to face, what is this act? Then Lord proposed oh! I could save you, you could take your arrow, and then Bali was thinking no! no! don’t do this don’t do this opportunity like this to be killed by you, as I see you face to face, I may not get this opportunity again. Do not take that arrow out let be in there, let me die in your presence.

So some may or may not know benefits of being killed by the Lord or being killed in the presence of the Lord. So it was very extra ordinary situation in which context Arjuna was asked to do killing. The society is like a body, when the body is sick doctors comes and he does the operation for which he is not punished, there is no penalty in fact we say thank you doctor, for tearing in body apart and stiching again we thank him.

So Lord had to do that kind of operation, “paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrutam” (BG4.8) He has made his vision very clear by this statement “I come to kill the miscreants or anyone who takes part or becomes party to the miscreants I kill them”.  But at the same time He does something “aho bakiyam” Lord is known for that, Uddhav was amazed that magnanimity of the Lord oh! That baki putra had come with intension “jigansaya api” she had intension of killing the Lord but see Lord elevated her and gave her the position of mother in this own abode. So something’s are kind of inconceivable. But we couldn’t do it you know, the army officer order shot, kill then it is done and you get award, reward for doing that but privately if you pick your gun and begin then you will be hanged or you will be punished. This is one part and the other part is who are we? And we should be situated properly before we could do something or perform devotional service. Which Varna, which ashram do we belong to; things are not very clear in this age of Kali (laughs).

It’s not a normal time again because we said that was extra ordinary time, that battle field was very extra ordinary situation,  same time this age of kali is also pretty extra ordinary it’s not a normal time. And Prabhupada says each age like a one season, four ages – four seasons. So this season is age of Kali is pretty dark and gloomy. We can’t even see who is who, it’s dark. And this darkness is because of mode of ignorance “aham ajana jam tamaha” tama the darkness is because ajnana – ignorance, mode of ignorance. So who is who? Who are you? Who am I? It’s very difficult. “Kalau nasta drasham esham” Bhagvatam in the very beginning says, people have lost the eye sight they are not able to see. Ok then I will shade some light; I will provide the light of Bhagavatam. “adhuna purana arka uditaha” Lord says “I will as Bhagavatam”, so that people could again see things as they are.

So it’s kind of we don’t know, there is whole mix up, you know. It’s kind of more distinct in the past this person is governed by ignorance, ok put him in this box called sudra box. This person is predominant in mode of goodness, ok he is Brahman. And between these two there is Ksatriya, he still has goodness but passion also. Then you go to sudra very little goodness, lots of passion but ignorance also.

So Lord says in Bhagavad-Gita there is rivalry these 3 modes of material nature kind of battling and fighting and one who comes victorious defeating the other two. Then after sometimes other two are there every dog has its day (laughs). So other modes of material nature they come at the top and sometimes you are in goodness, lot of time you are in passion and lot of time you are in ignorance.

So it’s very difficult to say if goodness then you have to be always in goodness. But that’s not the case ignorance is dominating in this age of kali.

So Bhagvatam says “kalau sattvam haram pumsam” sattavam – goodness is stolen by this age of kali. So goodness is gone and what is left is little bit of passion and lot of ignorance. And so we come from that stock, we walk out of that dark regions and then we try to find out who am I? So we are just told “jiver swarupa hoya Krishner nitya das” you are servant of Krishna.  We kind of start there and the goal is to become vaishnav. Whether we are Brahmans or sudras this that there is not much time life is short and there is “miles to go before you sleep” “miles to go before you sleep woods are lovely, dark and sleep” you heard that before.

So so many things are attracting,  distracting. So this not the time exactly to go step by step, this varna that ashram. “Hye! You disciples are in early twenties and you have given them sannyasa order of life”. One press reported questioned how come at the age of 75 onwards, he had studied somewhere at the age of 75 you take sannyasa. He was objecting young people, young disciples you have already made them into sannayasi so they are young reporter is saying not old. So who dies? Those who are old they die. They are young, old people die so Srila was questioning oh! They are young and I am old, but if there any guaranty of them not dying before I do. You say that they are young, old people die, but they could also die, there is no guaranty this is not Ramraja. In kingdom of Ram there was no such a thing that the parents, father performing the funeral ceremony of his sons. If this happened they would run to ring the bell and the king has to answer. Hey! What is my son had to die. Could any one complaint like this these days? People teenage and in twenties and thirties they are dying.

So anyways so Prabhupada was trying to impress upon, there is no time for going systematically from this to that to that Varna, ashram. So we just make the best use of the bad bargain. Get out of here, come out clean vaishnavas. So as much as possible try to follow Varna, ashram Prabhupada did talk of forming economy based on land and the cow administration. Ya! You are all ksatriya but you are also Brahmin and you are also Vaisya so like that as vaishnavas we play different roles. And sometime we act in this capacity or that capacity. But do it again ‘the goal is to work for the pleasure of the Lord. And so this is done as aradhana unto the Lord; for the pleasure of the Lord this varnashram it’s linked with the Lord.

So that aim in mind we Ksatriya or Brahamin or Vaisya or Sudra for the pleasure of Lord we act.

Haribol…………!

His Holiness Loknath Maharaj Ki Jai…………………!

Date: 6^th July 2011, Venue: Pune (On  occasion of 25^thanniversary of 24 hours sankirtan in Krishna Balarama temple His Holiness Lokanath Maharaj ji talking to the 24 hours sankirtan team in Krishna Balarama and glorifying Aindra Prabhu on phone)

Aindra prabhu ki……………jai, we miss him on this day such a wonderful association, so much inspiration especially in the kirtan, sankirtan movement. I also like little bit kirtan, so we were colleagues and I remember from the kirtan we did together during Kartik in front of Krishna and Balarama or in Mayapur in front of Pancha tattva, he is sitting next to me. The sad part
is he is not with us; the good part is he is gone back to Krishna and joined our Shyamsundar in Vrindavan.

I think this is 25^th year, 25^th anniversary of the kirtan that he inaugurated, it started in 86 we arrived in Mayapur for the 500^th anniversary Caitanya Mahaprabhu appearances, so hard work. So I wish he was with us this year also in celebration of completion of 25^th year of “akhanda” –Non stop kirtan in Krishna Balarama Temple.  World famous Krishna Balarama temple is known for its “Non Stop” kirtan probably it’s the only temple. Srila Prabhupada wanted this and Aindra Prabhu he fulfilled
Prabhupada,s desire of having “Non Stop” kirtan in Krishna Balarama temple, all glories to him.

Besides the Holy Name he was attached to the Radha Shyamasundar he would do kirtan in front of them and then he would also go on the altar, so many days, every week and dress Radha Shyamasundar we remember him as pujari of Radha Shyamasundar . And I also remember when ever gave class he just stand in front of Radha Shyamasundar,s  altar and listen to class from there and sometimes he would also ask questions or make some comments. He had very deep
philosophical insight for the realm of Radha, Krishna and Manjaries and Gopis, he was into that bhava.

And then his personal Deities number of Silas that he had collected, biggest collection on the planet. He has Guara Nitai and Vrindadevi. Last month I was there and I was given tour of his quarter we spend quiet sometime with the Deities and all the devotees who were team members of his 24 hours Sankirtan party and then I was also pointed out at a clock at the wall it had no hands it was stand still and one devotee said purposely Aindra Prabhu put that clock which did not move – meant in Vrindavan there is no influence of time transcendental. I kind of became emotional and speechless on the occasion like this. So we miss him, we take inspiration and we have responsibility of pushing
on the 24 hour kirtan at the Krishna Balarama temple. I understand some more devotees have joined and there is quite a steady team and kirtans are going on and on and on………that way keep Aindra Prabhu alive. And last time I was with the kirtan team in Aindra Prabhu,s quarters I asked devotees would you like to see Aindra Prabhu dead or alive? And the y said of course we want to see him alive, we want to see him alive. Then I proposed them to do kirtan and Aindra Prabhu
would be there, wherever there is kirtan Aindra Parbhu must be there where else he would go.

Almost conditioned by the kirtan he can’t be away from kirtan or without kirtan. Keep performing kirtan, chanting 24 hours push on his service, his project and that would be the best attribute on occasion like this to Aindra Prabhu. (Maharaj asking the 24 hours kirtan team devotees in the
Krishna Balarama temple) is Krishna Balaram temple full? Reply- yes ok now I would let you carry on. Aindra Prabhu was offered Raj Bhoga –remnants of Krishna Balarama, Radha Shyamsundar, Guara Nitai, I was trying to watch on Iskcon Vrindavan.com I missed and I was kind of wondering where then I found out you all were not in the temple but in the Balarama Hall. Ok so my obeisance
at the lotus feet of Aindra Prabhu and my obeisance to all assembled vaishnavas
there.

Srila Prabhupada ki ……….jai

Aindra Prabhu ki…………………jai

“vancha kalpatarubhyas ca krpa- sindhubhya eva ca pattitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah”

Harinaam Sankirtan ki………jai

24 hours kirtan in front of Krishna Balarama ki………….jai.

Guara premanande ……………………..Hari Hari bol

Date: 2008, Venue: Vrindavan (Braj mandal Parikrama) Haribol, so when a devotee was walking with umbrella he was trying to hold it over me, immediately I was remembered of a pastime,
when first time Krishna had to leave for cow herding.  Then mother Yashoda approached Krishna,
please take umbrella and also take pair of shoes. Krishna refused “no. no….i can’t wear shoes, cows don’t have shoes but if you insist I wil wear the shoes then bring the shoes for all
the cows first”.

So Nanda Maharaj had 900,000 cows and each cow has 4 legs, so how many shoes are
required? 36 lakhs so which bata-tata company would provide so many shoes (laughter
maharaj also laughing).

So mother Yashoda gave up the idea of insisting Krishna to wear the shoes. Oh! But at
least take the umbrella it’s hot out there, again Krishna’s condition was first
get umbrella for the cows, so how many umbrella required? 9lakhs then Krishna
said cows have feet but they don’t have hands so we would require somebody to
carry the umbrella, so we need 9 lakh people walking next to the cows holding
umbrella. Mother Yashoda also gave up that idea (laughs) she could not manage 9
lakh people. So during all the cow herding pastime of Sri Krishna in Vrindavan
, He always walks bear feet behind the cows. So don’t think you are the only
ones going on Braj mandal parikrama without shoes, Krishna also goes around without
shoes in Vrindavan.

So He has gone around without shoes, without umbrella, then He did little preaching to mother Yashoda.  He said “dharmo rakshati rakshaka” if we protect dharma then dharma will in turn protect us. So Krishna says “serving cows taking care of cows this is our dharma” this is our dharma then our own protection is guaranteed if we take care of cows protect the cows, serve the cow.  Lord Krishna not only has delivered talk – discourse on this topic but He has practically demonstrated throughout His Lilas the importance of cows and importance of serving the cows.

So cow is the center of our culture and religion. Krishna, s one of the principal pastime
is  “gocaran-lila” cow herding –calf herding pastime. What does the God do? This morning also a question came up what does the God do every day? That minister or that priest he was not able to give suitable answer to that question. But we know the answer is very simple, I know
that you also know the answer now I have given you some clue. So what does
Krishna do every day? He is a cow herd boy He is herding cows. Supreme
Personality of God head, master and controller of all the universes all that He
does in Vrindavan during the day is herding cows and calves “namo brahmanya devaya go brahmanya hitayacha jagad hitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namhaa”.

So in this way Krishna has established the importance of Cows and the Brahmanas in Krishna
consciousness. So we are doing the puja of the cows today as it was instructed
by Krishna to Nanda Maharaj. Krishna says worship cows, brahmanas and Giriraj,
so we have done some puja of the cows, Gomata ki ……..jai, we should worship and serve the brahmanas “vancha-kalpataru bhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca patitanam pavanebhyo
vaisnavebhyo namo namah”. And then soon we would also be worshiping Giriraj
and in this way till this day Krishna’s instructions get followed Giriraj Govardhan
ki ….jai. So the cows and Govardhan they are very closely connected, closely related if you hear the
name Govardhan there is a cow connection right there in the name of Govardhan .
So cows become healthy they become hell and hearty because of the grass that is
available at Govardhan, the water, the shades of the trees, that is all
available at Govardhan. The cows enjoy being around this Govardhan, the cowherd boys are also very very happy being around cows and Govardhan. So let us contemplate, meditate upon Govardhan and Krishna, cowherd boys and cows around Govardha. So that one day we would be
promoted we will also get assignment as a cowherd boy, but you may say O! I am engineer,
come on! I am doctor, I can’t  be a cow herd boy .but Krishna is a cow herd boy, if you just want to be doctor, engineer just continue in this world. But if you want to come back home then be
prepared to be the cow herd boy herding cows, taking care of the cows. Anyone
interested in going back home going to Krishna, going to Vrindavan? Haribol.
Then pray to this cow, pray to this dhama, pray to Giriraj so that you will
become eligible we will have that adhikar of entering the pastime of Krishna
being a cow herd boy. Gomataki…….jai, so before you leave pay your obeisance’s
to the cows deep in your heart, pray to the cow, touch the feet of the cow.

S.B
2.5.34

“varsa-puga-sahasrante
tad andam udake sayam kala-karma- svabhava –stho jivo jivam ajivayat”

Translation
and purport by Srila Prabhupada, Srila
Prabhupada ki ……………jai

TRANSLATION-
Thus all the universes remained thousands of eons within the water [the Causal
Ocean], and the Lord of living beings, entering in each of them, caused them to
be fully animated.

PURPORT- The Lord is described
here as the jiva because He is the
leader of all other jivas (living entities). In the Vedas He is described as
the nitya, the leader of all other nityas. The Lord’s relation with the
living entities is like that of the father with the sons. The sons and the
father are qualitatively equal, but the father is never the son, nor is the son
ever the father who begets. So, as described above, the Lord as Garbhodakasayi Vis?n?u or
Hiran?yagarbha Supersoul enters into each and every universe and causes it to
be animated by begetting the living entities within the womb of the material
nature, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (14.3). After each annihilation of
the material creation, all the living entities are merged within the body of
the Lord, and after creation they are again impregnated within the material energy.
In material existence, therefore, the material energy is seemingly the mother
of the living entities, and the Lord is the father. When, however, the
animation takes place, the living entities revive their own natural activities
under the spell of time and energy, and thus the varieties of living beings are
manifested. The Lord, therefore, is ultimately the cause of all animation in
the material world.

“varsa-puga-sahasrante
tad andam udake sayam kala-karma- svabhava –stho jivo jivam ajivayat”

The
animations are very popular these days and that’s considered to be very
advanced or very intelligent thing to do. Animation in television they get
different dolls to fight with each other, they seem to be talking or running
after each other. The Disney world you know in America the most famous
animation are by Disney world in North America. So we are parts and parcels of
the Lord and like father – like son, the ability of the Lord is also in us in
minute quantity and this is little minute animation that we become the cause of
or off course we create little children, Lord has created all of us and we
create few children.

Lords
begets living entities within this womb of material nature “mama yonir mahad brahma” (B.G 14.3)
Lord makes “mahat tattva” that is
the womb and Lord glances, He glances upon that total Material energy mahat
tattva in front of  Him, He doesn’t even
have to touch it, just by looking at it He does the impregnation and how many
countless living entities they get animated as per kala-karma-svabhava, their karmas which they had committed during
previous creation and that bhava, their inclinations, their tendencies.

So
we create few living entities or we not create living entities they always
exist we gave bodies become cause of giving bodies to few children. But look at
the Lord how much He could create “tasmin
garbham dadhamyaham sambhavah sarva bhutanam tato bhavati bharata” (B.G
14.3). He becomes the cause of sarva
bhutanam of all the living entities and giving them bodies also first of
all they are His parts and parcel. So when it’s difficult to trace the history
when the living entities were created “mama
amsa” from purna- some amsa, some parts and parcel were created we don’t
difficult to find out. So that creation of living entities then later on giving
them bodies also to sarva bhutanam- all the living entities.

I
(maharaja saying) never heard this creation as lila- srusti lila, Devananda
prabhu was explaining different incarnations have different lilas  or even there is lila, I never for first time
I was thinking this is also lila of the Lord, creation is also lila – srusuti
lila and the 3 purusa avataras put together are performing this lila. So what
we do little bit it’s not described as lila we also have little creations few
children ok, big house ok or housing colony that’s kind of creation, big bridge
we built, little space Apollo 8 or Apollo 11. there are unlimited oceans, night
time we see so many planets floating like dust particles float in the air, they
we send little sputnik floating. So these are tiny creations of tiny living
entities, so they are not described as lilas. but when Lord performs herculean
tasks –big big tasks, creation of the universes not just one but unlimited
universes and then within each universe so many planets and so much variety and
you just, Jai Sri Sri Guar Nitai
ki…………………….jai.

For
a tiny living entity as we are from where we are sitting or where ever we are
existing from there you take a look at the universe that so many universes and
beyond that is another kingdom – the spiritual kingdom. And how much living
entities tiny and the tiny living entities brain is further tiny brain Prabhupada used to call tini brain, he
would describe so that tiny brain how much that could understand. What we know
is very very little there is a planet – there is a space- so many planets in
that space – the ocean- whole world out there or in there in the ocean. So many
varieties of entities in there of the total creation of the Lord all that exist
how much does living entities know? How much does living entities know? Just a
fraction who was that? It was Einstein – he said the knowledge meaning- you
admit how much ignorant you are, if you could admit that I am so much ignorant
means you are kind of knowledgeable. But one who thinks oh! I know everything
that is how the ignorance is described I who thinks I know everything that
means you are ignorant, but if you admit yes yes I am ignorant infact I don’t
know so many things, O! He is knowledgeable at least he knows that he doesn’t know.
So this scientist Ensitein he was admitting “you go to the beach and take one
sand particle from that beach Juhu beach, Prabhupada used to walk and then you
admit that my knowledge is this one particle that now I am holding within my
pinch just one particle may be that much or even less than that I know compared
to the number of the sand particles are there on this beach or there are so
many beaches also.

So
how much could living entity know? Not much so when Lord He performs His lila
of srusti lila the creation then it is just mind boggling, it’s just “acintya” just beyond the grasp the
capability of living entity to know it. But in order to make living entity knowledgable
or at least know as much as living entity could to the extend they could know here
in this section of Srimad Bhagvatam the creation has been described not just
the theory of creation the facts of creation have been described. I was
thinking how Narada Muni he has gone to the authority in the creation next to
the Lord or Lords right hand man, Lord is cause of all causes that’s the
chapter here we are dealing Lord is
cause of all causes sarva karana karnam.

So
the popular fact is that Brahma is the creator but even Brahma had to be first
created by the Lord before He creates more things. So Lord is cause of all
causes, cause of Brahma, who is kind of secondary cause of the creation. Lord
is first sarga then visarga, we were hearing and understanding yesterdays
lecture also. So Brahma is certainly has a big role if anyone has role to play
besides the Lord that is Brahma, he has a big big role to play in creation of
the Lord or creation of Brahmanda. So what Narada Muni is doing he is going all
the way to the top person, the top authority in this creation who is
responsible for creation, he goes there ok Brahmaji give us some – it’s like a
interview, we heard of those 10 questions yesterday which are at the beginning
of this chapter “yad rupam yad
adhisthanam” and total number of 10 questions were raised.

So
Narada Muni who also has inferior position he is going to the superior
authority he is going to his father, Narada Muni is son, Brahma is the father.
O! Father, father daddy daddy could you please tell me explain to me be kind
upon me. So these things human being should know or they should know these
things even as Lila of the Lord, creation is Lila of the Lord and O! my dear
father Brahma ji and he is asking all these questions all possible questions
that human being could possibly would want to know about the creation. Those
questions have been raised by Narada Muni probably he sat in Badrikasrama some
point and he I was making a list or these questions probably people from Delhi
would ask, these questions from New York, people from here there would ask and
he made a list and Badrikasrama because that is his headquarter, Narada Muni,s
head quarter is Badrikasrama, Badri-Narayana he worships in Bharatavarsa. “Narayana Narayana Narayana” when you
see Narada Muni you remember Narayana or he reminds everybody of Narayana, he
gives out Narayana, so Badrikasrama is his place.

So
he made a list and he is approaching Brahma “could you please tell us about
this creation? This, this ………different
10 questions”. And what we are hearing these days in the Bhagvatam class
including today’s verse is a reply, is a response to Narada Muni,s questions.
The person who is asking questions who has made the list of questions is a top
notch authority himself, pure and he is the representative of all the people.
Or he has to go around and O! What if somebody ask me about the creation, you
know I go everywhere I better know I better equip myself with answer to these
questions otherwise it could be very embarrassing position as those yamadutas
were embarrassed. Prabhupada writes if you are representing someone before you
out to represent you better be knowledgeable about the representation.

So
Narada Muni he is a world preacher and he is going to the top most authority
and wants to know all the things about creation. And the answers given are
nothing but the truth if anybody knows about the creation of course Lord knows
and there is and there is another person who knows and that is Brahma because
he is directly involved with the creation. So that person had been interviewed
by Narada Muni and these are facts “facts are facts” it is the truth for all
the time to come. Brahma and Narada Muni they wanted to go on record and that
record is here this Srimad Bhagvatam several chapters many many chapters
dealing with creation “sarga, visarga” very in-depth mystical also and so many
great details and very interesting details about the creation of the Lord.

So
this is it if anyone, anywhere, at any time is interested in knowing about the
creation of the Lord, creation which is out there, this is the place, this is
the source you go into Bhagvatam and vedic text, Upanisadas, Puranas, essence
of all that is here in Amala-Purana –
Srimad Bhagvatam Purana and you hear this you read this and you become
knowledgeable about the creation of the Lord. The creator mentioned here is
jiva “jivo jivam ajivayat” flows very nicely sounds very nice “jivo jivam
ajivayat” one jiva, jiva also means life, o! This is nirjiva they say- this
does not have jiva – this does not have life. So the first person Prabhupada
describing that person as leader of the all the living entities, but  he is also jiva because  he is full of life in fact life comes from
life which Prabhupada made that bold statement “life come from life” so that is
right here jivo. In the beginning there was jiva the supreme living entity and
he is cause of all causes from that jiva that life rest of the life has come in
to existence.

“hiranyagarhba antaryami” that jiva has
been described as “hiranyagarhba, “hiranyagarhba” that is Garbhadakshai Vishnu
that jiva has been also described as antaryami, antaryami Krishna the Lord in
the heart or supersoul “samsara
vyatirikta parmeswara”. Jiva is samsara vyatirikta – means someone whose is
beyond this samsara – this material existence this jiva doesn’t come from, it’s
not product of this samsara “samsara vyatirikta” and He is a Parmeswara, living
entity is also samsara vyatirikta beyond this material existence but He is not
only “samsara vyatirikta but he is “samsara vyatirikta parmeswara” He is
Supreme Personality of Godhead and He is creator. He creates brahmanda anda –
egg shape – brahmanda “mama yonir mahad brahma”.

So
brahmanda is the universe and He is also creator of panda another word has been
used for the living entity. Brahamanda is universe and the anda, one is anda
one is panda, anda – brahmanda its the material universe and pinda – each one
of us is pinda like we say “pinde pinde
matir bhinna” or “munde munde matir
bhinna” matti means intelligence, Devakinandan prabhu was also throwing
light on how each one is different, our thoughts are different everything is
different you could see he gave a class and I am also giving a class he said if
one of us could give class we would be talking but differently this is also
amazing creation of the Lord, no two persons look alike there are 100 of you
are sitting and each different looking except who? Jananivas and Pankajangri
even after 30 yrs I can’t figure it out, I have to take few minutes to understand
whom I am talking to (laughter) whom I am talking to is this Pankajangri or is
this Jananivas I think one has bigger sikha and one has smaller sikha, there is
some difference, difference is there but very subtle.

So
isn’t that amazing and sometimes we also hear its true from the beginning of
creation till now all the bodies created by the Lord, not two bodies are alike
not that the present batch each one different but previous batch and the
previous batch each batch no 2 bodies were created just alike there is at least
some slight difference, little scar something different and this is something
amazing that we could just sit and appreciate and become Krishna conscious.
If  we could just sit and be amazed instead
of going to Agra to see the wonder 8th wonder of the world, you could just sit
in Vrndavan and hear about the creation of the Lord and be amazed such a
wonderful Lord He is no that Krishna is wonderful Krishna, His pastimes are
wonderful, this chapter Prabhupada has given title as wonderful Krishna but he
is wonderful Maha Vishnu, wonderful Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, wonderful
Ksirodakasay  Vishnu, we don’t have to
only appreciate rasa dance and talk about the rasa dance, how amazing! And
appreciate but here this this srusti lila is such a amazing thing, you could
relish if you could go deeper and understand step by step the creation of the
Lord and the subtleties and the details and the flavor it’s just amazing thing
what Lord does, amazing, wonderful creation of the Lord.

The
Brahmanda that anda and this panda and all that is in anda is all in this
panda, all that is out there also in this body in minute quantity different
elements which are out there pruthavi, teja , vayu, akash “bhumir aponala vayuh kham” (B.G 7.4) out there in here also of the whole,
you want to sample just sample your body and analyze your body and by knowing
panda you could know lot about the anda whole brahmanda. So what attracted my
attention was also Prabhupada writes in the purport of the 2nd verse of the
same chapter and this is Srila
Prabhupada ki…….jai “contrary to
such mental speculative theories of creation however Narada Muni wanted to know
all the facts of creation in truth not by theories”.

So
many theories must be floating at the time Narada Muni also and big bang theory
and many other theories are there and Narada Muni just wanted to just smash
those or expose those or establish the fact not just go by theories but he
wanted to establish the truth about the creation. So Srila Prabhupada being a
representative of all the previous acharaya Brahma and Narada Muni, he is
really trying to attract the attention of the whole world. Are you interested
in knowing how the world was created? If
you say yes here Bhagvatam is the way. You may be studying theories which
is full of mental speculation but the facts are these, this was spoken by the
person who was involved with the creation right there and then. Millions of
years ago when the creation took place this person Brahma he was right there
not just witnessing but he was involved making his hands dirty. I have not
studied Bible in detail but what we hear from our devotees who are from
Christian background is the description of the creation of this world of course
the great thing is which we appreciate that they admit that this world was
created by the Lord that’s good thing first of all, this world was created by
the Lord not much detail and He took some 6 days to create and by that time He
was exhausted and then on the 7th day He took rest and that was Sunday and
following in the footsteps of God we took rest on the 7th day we are also of
course we are fighting for more rest. So besides Sunday now we have Saturday or
half day we want to work less and get more pay.

Or
in the beginning there was ad “sabda”
this is the part of the creation described, form sabda there was a sparsa,
rupa, rasa, gandha like that each of these 5 elements earth, water, fire , air
, ether, ether- has only sound, ether is more subtle creation or element and it
has only sound and the next only has sound and touch and like that you go to
the next one there are 3 things, 3 sense objects, 4th one has like that
………  So whatever is written in Bible is
also true giving credit to God His creation of course it’s His creation He
existed before the creation He was there at the time off creation, He created
it. But the only trouble is how much could you relish what is written in bible
that is also lila but described in such a summarized way that you could not
really relish and for the fact can’t
appreciate also unless you get into the details of the creation you
can’t appreciate it. So what is in the bible although truth but not much that
you could relish because so many missing links are there and some holes are
there and it doesn’t make sense sometime. So this is how a devotee is
explained. So this is what the Christians have to say or bible has to say. Then
very recently I came across statement from Quran about the creation. They kind
of agree with the description of creation which is described in the Bible the
Muslims agree with what is written in the bible only disagreement that they
have with the Christians or with the bible is they say O! come on you are
making God Alha kind of ordinary person, you are saying that He worked for 6
days to create then he was exhausted, he was tired com on God can’t be tired he
is never tired.

So
and then He created for 6 days, the 7th day he took rest they don’t agree with
this taking rest Lord taking rest doesn’t go together. And that’s the only
difference between what Christians and the Muslims have to say about the
creation of course both the parties fully agree that Lord has created this
world. But because what has been presented in bible and Quran is not a complete
and perfect and in great detail some place it doesn’t make sense and that has
given rise to the speculations of the scientist. The scientist or intelligent
being, intellectuals they always want to keep brain busy and active and so
exercise as other do exercise of the muscle or intelligent people the
intellectuals their power is in the brain muscle and they want to keep them fit
and active. So they were referring to this bible, Quran theories and that was
not convincing and then some intelligent theory had to be presented to the
world so they came with what is popularly known as big bang what is the theory?
Big bang What was big? The bang was big, the sound that explosion made they
kind of talk of some kind of mahat tattva or the mass of the matter was sitting
there, the matter was there and then nothing or suddenly or no prior cause or
notice or any person involved because there was no person according to them
before the creation just a big bang, big explosion took place and the whole
water scattered everywhere and came into a beautiful round shaped balls started
floating (laughs) but that’s not the experience when there is explosion, when
the terrorist came they also went to the twin tower – trade towers they exploded
those twin towers, some beautiful thing came out that you could take
photographs? O! What a beautiful creation or Americans got their karma.

In
Japan the most powerful bomb was exploded did some housing society, some
plants, some beautiful things came out of that explosion? So the experience
that we have of the explosion is that nothing beautiful, nothing wonderful,
nothing that could use comes into existence as a result of smaller big bang or
some explosion. So with this we reject, so behind every explosion there is a
person he is right there lighting the bomb may crude was y of lighting the bomb
with a candle may be that was being done some 50 yrs ago but now remote control
but still there is a remote, machine is there and person to push the button is
there. So no explosion is automatic unless some person is involved. So this is
how the big bang theory is down the drain. I also was thinking how because what
was available to the western world, the information or views or news of
creation from bible and Quran they did not satisfy the scientist or the
intellectuals and then they had to speculate and speculate and speculate to
their hearts content there was no one to stop them.

Generation
after generation they went on speculating and supporting this imaginary
theories big bang and some other theorizes and did this because the facts were
not available to them, the Bhagvatam theory was not made popular. Of course all
this big bang theory this is all in last 500 yrs or few thousand yrs there was
a time when this was the theory this was common knowledge. O! How was the world
created? Everyone knew you could stop any one on the street and ask them how
the world was created? And they would refer to conversation between Narada Muni
and Brahma or Maitre Muni and Vidura they knew because every student his
schooling began with the guru’s ashrama they all went to Gurus ashrama “brahmachari gurukule vasandanto gurur hitam”.
The perfect Narottamas, purified, through purified and honest persons as they
were they were only speaking truth and spreading the truth travelling
extensively where ever there was some black spot, some ignorance some were they
would go rush there with a torch light of knowledge and dispel the darkness by
discussing these topics of creation from Bhagvatam and some other Vedic
sources.

So
one time few thousand yrs ago in Sat-yuga, treta-yuga every single human being,
practically everyone knew how the world was created. So present theories are
just few hundred yrs old, concoctions and mental speculations which world is
buying because nothing substantial is being presented. But now the task has
begin with Srila Prabhupada entering the field of the whole world with the
original facts from Narada Muni and Brahma which are right there in the
Bhagavatam, which are being distributed far and wide. So this big bang theory
doesn’t have much future, not much longer into the future this big bang theory
would be accepted as something intelligent, like so many other theories are
being challenged, not only by Hare Krishnas but other intelligent being are
challenging theories one of such theory very popular theory is Darwin theory of
evolution being challenged all the time.

I
had read such report in the news paper before the challenges and the rejection
of the Darwins,s  theory of evolution but
something very recently a week ago, Darwin under attack by  U.S school board, American school boards are
attacking Darwin,s theory appeared in the front page in Sunday express on 2nd
if January and of course the whole news is from America printed as it is
(laughs) and God or Darwin report says God or Darwin choice is yours and this
U.S school board  they want to go for God
they want to reject this Darwin or at the most report says ok ok may be we
could accept this as a theory but not a fact may report also says, “I
definitely would prefer to believe that God created me” and I am not the or the
descendent of the apes, ape- the monkey, the Darwin is presenting that – the
most evolved being was apes-monkeys. Some 6 or 7 thousand yrs ago, the human
being from the monkey instead of using 4 feet he kind of stood up started
standing up gradually an d then his fore
limbs became his hands and his tail went inside from back and suddenly
he had hands, feet and tail, stood erect.

So
this all happened some 6 or 7 thousand yrs ago and then human beings first
edition, first version of the human beings were such uncivilized, uneducated
they were just  living in the caves -cave
men theory, the cave kings. And you know they used to fight a lot amongst each
other, men of one cave with men of another cave. They had no instrument they
just used rocks, throwing rocks at each other. The time of your battle field of
Kuruksetra where you describe amazing kind of weapons were used, the Mahabharat
war around that time, actually human beings had just now came into existence
and just even using rocks may be some sticks to beat each other and there were
no towns and cities and from that time the human being has further evolved and
he is becoming more and more intelligent and intelligent and more civilized
human being is the present version of human beings. So in brief in the
beginning was amoeba when the world was created in the beginning was amoeba not
Brahma (laughs) but amoeba.

So
that theory and there is little more into that and that’s theory of Darwin, Darwin’s
theory of evolution which was being taught in all the schools and colleges all
over the planet including in India unfortunately. I am sure even Mathura
university- vidyapitha is teaching the evolutionary theory of Darwin. Vaishnavs
never taught such theory Prabhpada would not even spit at such theories why
even spit and waste his spit at such garbage (laughter). He would just use his
boot to kick, he did not want to kick the face with is foot but with the boot
only. So one by one let us maintain staunch faith and some more patience and we
would relies that all those things which are presented as some kind of the
truth all over the world will be exposed and they would be proven wrong when
they know what is right and gradually there is a major change. I was talking
with Bhakti Swaropadamodhar Maharaj on phone just few days ago he conducted his
world conference- scientific conference in Rome in Italy just few days ago to
celebrate Prabhupada,s 108 birthday anniversary and he said there were so many
scientists but 32 of them he has a list of 32 scientist talking in favor of God
or Gods existence. There was a time, scientist means prove it, can you show me
God? If yes then I accept but now the same scientists are coming to the senses
gradually, gradually there is a global revolution in consciousness and

certainly the chanting of “Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare”
and study of scriptures the air is getting filled with the truth which is
defeating the myth and with that that
truth is inspiring so many individuals all over the planet now.

There
is a study first time, I was amazed to know, you would also be amazed first
time the research in consciousness being done.
Some scientists are doing research into consciousness you go beyond it’s
not just a matter something living, some consciousness they want to study the
consciousness though they may have different ideas what the consciousness is.
but at least they are coming to the conclusion that is world is not just dead
matter as darwin was also trying to prove- This is a bunch of chemical and
interaction of these chemicals life comes into existence. No, this verse is
talking that original jiva that samsara vyatirikta parmeshwara the Supreme
Personality of Godhead who was full of life He put life into everything else
around into living entities and got them into going, working as per their karma
and svabhava and ajivayat He becomes the cause of giving life to others, life
comes from life.

So life is being studied as consciousness for
the first time, this is happening of course you know Prbahupada in easy journey
to other planets  Prabhupada writes the
scientist are coming to the conclusion if there is a matter O! Possibly there
must be antimatter also, there is material there must be something ant material
also. What is antimaterial? There is a sprit, matter is matter then anti matter
is sprit. So some scientist are waking up to the reality it is good fortune and
good fortune of so many others because in this day and age the scientist have
become the Gurus of the masses, the Gurus or acharyas position has been taken
by the scientist. The scientist says something everyone Prabhupada says double
standard, sadhus is talking the acaryas is talking  you are challenging show me prove it but when
scientist say something lot of things which are not proven people don’t ask
those questions any more O! Could you prove it, their speculations they are
just blindly accepting it. And Prabhupada says double standard you are asking
us to show me, you are not asking the similar question to the scientist to
prove it.

So
it is very important for this spread of Hare Krishna movement over the planet
the scientist are a big stumbling block because they are taken as authority.
They have presented so many bogus
theories they dnt know to begin with thathey are souls or anybody is a
soul and to become scientist you dnt have to be man of any kind of
character….no, you could be women hunter, you could be meat eater, you could be
speculator and what else? What did I miss? Drunkard you could have a wine
bottle in one hand and you are punching the keys you are typing on the screen
its fine, its fine they can be Murderers, they may be terrorist could be
anything, no questions raised only their theories are accepted because with
those theories you get to exploit this material world and that is when you
could be ‘ishwaro-aham”, That you could declare but practically be that Ishwar-
the controlees, the enjoyer. So it’s a good team scientist are making the job
easy, facilatiinng this demonic nature and giving them how to be the enjoyer,
the ishwaro – aham. So from ishwaro-aham status that human being want to
achieve they want kingdom of God without God. Srila Prabhupada ki…jai wonderful
Prabhupada has made he was the first one to speak this kind of language, most
relevant statement Prabhupada has made. So from that position that human beings
are taking ishwaro-aham we have to bring them down to “daso- aham” “dasosmi”
not “boss-asmi”. So theories and scientist they are exploiting and people are
getting distracted and as a result infact there are suffering. They want to
enjoy but there are sufferings. So last lecture series Prabhupada gave on the
planet in Mumbai was the present day modern civilization is a total failure
only alternative is Krishna Consciousness this was his topic from Mayapur he
went straight to Mumbai and everyday he was roaring like a lion although we had
to lift him literally we had to lift him and put him on Vyas ashan but once he
was on the microphone he was getting the audience trembling. He was very bold
and out spoken and this civilization is total failure, only solution is Krishna
Consciousness. So, so many myths are being spread but Prabhupada books are
everywhere do you know that, I am sure another
places also this holds true that Delhi distributed 86 thousand Bhagvad –
Gitas in Marathon (round of applause). Devotees   of Delhi, Punjabi Bagh – 86, 000 Bhagvad-
gita and so like that it’s  just one city
score and wait till you hear about what Bombay did and other temples did to
distribute books and spread this knowledge. So this is Prabhupada,s program so
that the truth is established, the dharma “dharma sansthapanar thaya” and then
“sarve sukhina bhavantu” people would be happy and in real sense be prosperous
and that’s life that’s real life. So let us push on Prabhupads program,
Prabhupadas movement spreading the holy name and Bhagvatam knowledge based on
Bhagvatam this will spread the truth and whole world would be benefitted and
this is the topmost welfare work Prabhupada used to say.

Thank
you very much

Dated: 16^th Jan 2006

Venue: ISKCON Chow patty, Mumbai.

Hare Krishna, so  thank you for this opportunity being with all of you this morning,  we  get to hear so much about all  of you and being on the same planet, we don’t get to see each other so much.  You are ‘durlabh ‘su durlabh’ but we are here today this morning. So we have here this Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto 5, chapter 18 and text 23, please repeat

“Sa tva mampya acyuta sirsni vanditam

karambhujam yat tvad adhayi satvatam

bi bharsi mam laksma varenya mayaya

ka isvarasyehitam uhitam vibhur iti” (SB 5.18.23)

Translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada ki …………….jay!

O infallible one, Your lotus palm is the source of all benediction. Therefore Your pure devotees worship it, and You very mercifully place Your hand on their heads. I wish that You may also place Your hand on My head, for although You already bear my insignia of golden streaks on Your chest, I regard this honor as merely a kind of false prestige for me. You show Your real mercy to Your devotees, not to me. Of course, You are the Supreme absolute controller, and no one can understand Your motives.

Translation once again (repeat)

In many places the sastras describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been more inclined towards His devotees than towards His wife who always remains on His chest.  In Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.15 it is stated –

“na tatha me priyatama atma-yonir na sankarah

na ca sankarsano na srir naivatma ca yatha bhavan”

Here Krishna plainly says that His devotees are more dear to Him than Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Lord Shankarshan – the original cause of creation, the Goddess of fortune or even His ownself.

Elsewhere in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.20 Sukhdev Goswami says, “nenam virinco na bhavo na sriri apy anga-sansraya prasadam lebhire gopi yat tat prapa vimuktidat” The Supreme Lord who can award liberation to any one showed more mercy towards the gopis than to Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva or even goddess of fortune who is His own wife and is associated with His body.

Similarly, Srimad  Bhagavatam 10.47.60  also  states,

“nayam sriyo nga u nitanta-rateh prasadah

svar-yositam nalina-gandha-rucam kuto nyah

rasotsave sya bhuja-danda grhita-kantha”

labdhasisam ya vdagad vraja-vallabhnam”

The Gopis received benediction from the Lord that neither Laxmi devi nor the most beautiful dancers in the heavenly planets could attain.  In the rasa dance Lord showed His favour to the most fortunate gopis by placing His arms on their shoulders and dancing with each of them individually. No one can compare with the gopis who received the causeless mercy of the Lord.

In the Chaitanya Caritamritam it is said that, “no one can receive the real favour of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without following the footsteps of the gopis”. Even the goddess of fortune could not receive the same favour as the gopis, although she underwent with severe austerities and penances for many years.

Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu discuss this point with Vyankatt Bhatt in Chaitanya Caritamrita madhya lila – 911 to 131 and there’s a many paragraphs here almost one page has been quoted as it is from that dialogue which took place where you know you were just there, Srirangam. This brings you back to Srirangam, back to Srirangam .  You have to be there and listen to the dialogue. The Lord enquired from Vyankat Bhatt, “your worship able goddess of fortune Laxmi always remain on the chest of Narayan and she is certainly the most chaste women in the creation”. However, my Lord is Lord Sri Krishna a cowherd boy engaged in tending the cows. Why is it that Laxmi being such a chaste wife wants associate with my Lord?  Just associate with Krishna, Laxmi abundant all transcendental happiness in Vaikuntha and for a long time accepted vows and the regulative principles and performed unlimited austerities.

Vyankatt  Bhatt replied, “Lord Krishna and Lord Narayan are one and the same. But the past times of Krishna are more relish able due to their sportive nature. They are very pleasing to Krishna’s shakties since Krishna and Narayan are both the same personalities Laxmi’s association with Krishna did not break any vows of chastity rather it was in great fun that goddess of fortune wanted association of Lord Krishna. The goddess of fortune consider that her vows of chastity would not be damaged by her relationship with Krishna rather by associating with Krishna She could enjoy the benefit of rasa dance. If she wanted to enjoy herself with Krishna, what is the fault there? Why are you joking so about this?

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “I know there is no fault in goddess of fortune, but she could not enter into rasa dance”. We hear this from revealed scriptures, the authorities of the Vedic knowledge met Lord Ramchandra in Dandakaranya. And by their penances or austerities they were allowed to enter into rasa dance.  But can you tell me why the goddess of fortune Laxmi could not get that opportunity?  To this Vyankatt Bhatt replied, “I cannot enter into the mystery of this incident  I am an ordinary living entity, living being. My intelligence is limited and I am always disturbed. How can I understand the past time of Supreme Lord. They are deeper than millions of oceans”.

Lord Chaitanya replied, Lord Krishna has the specific characteristics. He attracts everyone’s heart by mellows of his personal conjugal love by following the footsteps of the inhabitants of the planets known as Brajlok or Golok Vrindavan.  One can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of Krishna. However, the inhabitants of that planet do not know that Lord Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead, unaware that the Krishna is Supreme Lord. The residence of Vrindavan like Nandamaharaj, Yashoda devi and the gopis treat Krishna as their beloved son or lover. Mother Yashoda accepts Him as her son and sometimes binds him to a grinding mortar. Krishna’s cowherd boyfriends think He is an ordinary boy and get up on the shoulders. In Golok Vrindavan no one has any other desire other than to love Krishna. The conclusion is that one cannot associate with Krishna unless he has fully received the favour of the inhabitants of Brajbhumi. Therefore, if one wants to be delivered by Krishna directly he must take to the service of residence of Vrindavan who are unalloyed devotee of the Lord.

‘Satvamam mama  ‘so quite a verse, mysteries guihyam, guihayatar no it is guihyatam, very very confidential subject matter meant of course to help us understand or to know Krishna, this is the kind of Krishna He is. And of course knowing Krishna is complete only then, only when we understand these devotees and their devotion for their Lord.  I may have said Supreme Lord. But some devotees even do not know even they do not care to know whether their Lord is Supreme or not Supreme and not even knowing that He is Supreme. He is just my Lord that’s all that I care to know. Now these kinds of devotees, no devotees, not devotees of demigods what to speak or why should we speak of devotees of politician of this world. They also have devotees, they also have camcas. Everyone is somebody’s devotee. And if there is no one else you always have your dog that it could become a devotee of your dog. So devotees of dog, devotees of politician, devotees of Demigod and then you have devotees of Narayan in Vaikuntha and then finally you are devotee of Shri Krishna in Golok Vrindavan.

In Vrindavan, Vrindavan… “O! I have come Bilvamangal says O! I have come, Vrindavan”. Vrindavan is special, Krishna in Vrindavan is special devotees in Vrindavan are special. This verse is helping us to know Krishna in Vrindavan and devotees of Krishna in Vrindavan and their love for each other.

Laxmi is seating ok she is seating on the chest of the Lord but gopis are seating in the heart of the Lord. Being on the chest, that is no small position. But to be inside right in the heart ‘sadhavo hridayam maihyam’ devotees are in my heart, they are in my heart and I am in their heart. So Laxmi could get as close as just on the surface and the heart is inside and just the cover of the heart, on the top of the heart. She is just floating on the top there not able to get in, enter the heart of the Lord, this is the difference.

“ramyakaachida upasana vrajvadhu vargenaya kalpitah mahaprabhu sri caitanya mahaprabhu matamidam”. This is the opinion of the Lord even who follow in the footsteps of a devotee. Yes, yes then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu follows in the footsteps of Brajvadhu vargenaya kalpitha ‘vrajvadhuvarga’vrajavadhu  the gopis of  Vindavan, the damsels of Vrindavan, the cowherd girls of Vrindavan they are the ideal devotees, the topmost devotees, most dear devotees of the Lord and if you want to follow in the footsteps ‘mahajanohin gatah sapantah’ the gopis are Mahajanas and Radharani is their leader.

The devotional practice by these gopis, Radharani,  Lord was wondering, “O! What so much love so much affection for me what for? And what is it? I want to understand all of this. Lord became very very curious, anxious to know gopis anxious to know Radharani what is in her heart? What is on her mind?  What kind of vision she has? I want to know this. I want to know my devotees and leader of all devotees is Radharani”. As He wanted it to know and be a devotee and relish the life of being a devotee, Lord appeared assuming the mood of Radharani, the complexion of Radharani.

Know me ‘Krishnam swarupam’ unto that swarupa that Krishna is offered my obeisance’s who assumed the mood of Radharani and complexion of Radharani to understand Radharani the topmost devotee. So that is the kind of very confidential. Even the Lord had hard time to understand this subject matter, the devotion of His devotee pure unalloyed.

‘na dhanam na janam na sundari kavitamva jagdish kamaye’ this is nothing to give up. ‘dhanam janam sundarim kavitam’ many more things are to be given up. And these gopis are even sometimes ready to give up their life. As a flute was being played by Sri Krishna, the gopis were rushing, running most of them succeeded and escaped. But some of them were caught around, “hey you can’t go”. They tried but the bandus and everyone pitas and patti so they couldn’t move so they decided to give up, Give up my existence, my body you have it, you have it, I go and they rush. They gave up their body. They died for Krishna and they ran. It is described such gopis those who gave up their bodies they were the first one to be with Krishna while others were still walking and running down the road. Those gopis were the first one to be there. So they are even ready to give up anything. Bodies were stumbling work. I get rid of it anything, everything.

Most difficult thing is to give up the pride that is also the difficulty in this past time which has been described here. The pastime of Laxmi in Shreevan in Vrindavan performing austerities  (tapasya) and these Nagpatnis during chastisement of kaliya. Nagpatnis as they were offering prayers they remembered, “O how come our husband kasyanubhavo sya na. (SB 10.16.36) What is the result of that tapa? “renu-sparsadhikarah” the dust of your lotus feet right on the hoods, head of our husband. O! We are amazed while that ‘lalana’ “srir lalanacarat  tapo” she performs austerities from long time ‘vihay kamana’ she gave up all comforts as it is mentioned in this purport also.

She gave up comforts of Vaikuntha she gave up and she has come to the forest and no servant and no one is around by herself and performing austerities. These Nagpatnis says, “how come she did not get the dust, she did not get to enter the rasa dance but our husband is getting lots of dust of your lotus feet” giving up pride at one point. Kaliya decided to surrender then what happened.  As Krishna was dancing on hundred hoods of kaliya, he was dancing the music was on in the sky. The dancing was being done by as the Lord has desired to dance immediately the music started. The drums, a big grand show there in the middle of the lake the audience were all around on the banks of that lake. And of course they were not interested in any performance and they were kind of half dead or collapsed or unconscious and so many things were happening but there was some they were there and more up in the sky full. Sky was filled with Demigods and Lord wanted to dance and He started dancing and whichever hood was showing still some life of sign of life around and kicking, alive and kicking, Lord would just place his at foot right on his hood there. While He is dancing He is looking side long and which hood is now next and there He would jump there. Like that He was crushing one hood after other and other.

The Nagpatnis were at some time pointing, “yes, yes this is right, he is not surrendering, he is not a devotee, he must be killed, he must be dead. Yes this is right thing to do, kill him”. But there was a point in the life in that episode as he was getting kick after kick some satsang he had done in his past reminded him”. One should be surrendering until the Supreme Lord and he was realizing this type of kicking power must be of the Supreme Lord only. I should  better take shelter of this person and he was ready to  bow down, mister this mister was ready to bow down and that time, point only he was vomiting blood he was helpless almost life less but within he was surrendered soul also. Surrendered soul from non surrendered mood. He went to the mood of surrender while he was not surrendering, the patnis were thinking, the wife was thinking, “kill him but  as soon as he was a kind of surrendered soul immediately started offering prayers to the Lord,” thank you for saving. You have given the dust of your lotus feet to our husband. You are very kind. You did not give this to Laxmi. Our husband has received such benediction”. So why not to Laxmi and not surrendered and a kind of surrender that Lord expects or not only surrendering unto the Lord or surrendering but also surrender unto his devotee, devotee of devotee of devotee or das ‘dasadasanudasanudas’ as one becomes then Lord, that person attracts the attention of the Lord and he becomes the fit candidate to receive the benediction of the lord.

“ramyakaachida upasana vrajvadhu vargenaya kalpitah Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says,  you have to follow the footsteps of gopis brajvadhu.  So Laxmi is not ready to do so and to enter rasa dance of course you need not only mood of gopis or being subordinate to the gopi, you have to be subordinate to another devotee, to another gopi. Then you fit into that big team of gopi’s rasa dance and serving Krishna that way. ‘ei nivedan dharo sakhir anugat karo seva adhikar diye koro nija dasi’ this is a prayer. Every day we are offering this prayer, “O tulsi Krishna preyasi namo namah”. You are so very dear to Shri Krishna that he puts you around your neck ‘tulsi har gada kase pitambar aavade nirantar hechi dhyana’. You are right around His neck. Someone very dear you hold that person around your neck. He is hanging from your neck embracing and hanging. Very dear, very dear you put that person close to your heart. Heart is now, “einivedan dharo” O ! tulsi devi I humbly pray, O!  tulsi devi. Vrinda devi has a big role one of the leading gopi. She almost has status of Radharani.

She is very significant person. ‘ei nivedana dharo sakhir anugat ..’ anugat I want to go. ‘Anu’, anu means follow behind somebody. ‘anugat koro’ please make me a follower of a damsel of braj ‘seva adhikar diye koro nijadasi’ and give me adhikar – eligibility. When would I become eligible to serve the Lord? When would I get seva adhikar? As one becomes the follower of a gopi and of course for us we cannot, but tulsi is there in front of us, we pray to her but still we don’t have that direct connection we go to temple commander, we go to temple commander and say, “do you have some service for me prabhu”, we go to temple president, we go to Governing Body Commissioner of ISKCON. He is the ultimate manager, coordinator of services and like that. That is one parampara, managerial parampara and the spiritual. Both are spiritual and they are connected through Prabhupada.

So we pray to Prabhupada and like that ultimately to those who are ‘nikunjayuno ratikeli sidhaye yayali bhiryuktarapekshaniya’ in that forest ‘Nikunja’ where two of them are divine couple where wandering Kunjabihari…………, someone makes arrangement, this arrangement, that arrangement.  Some expert devotees, rupa manjari or that manjari or  this gopi, that gopi. These are kind of aacharyas we have. They are part of that team and then they come down and give us all kind of guidance and benedictions so we connect ourselves through this Parampara. Then our prayer ultimately is heard and so this is following in the footsteps of devotee’ anugat koro’.

‘lalita vishakha aadi jat sakhi vrinda’ and ‘aagyay koriboseva carnarvinda’ Narottamdas Thakur  says, “when I go to Radha and Krishna ‘Radha Krishna pranamora yugal kishor’ and how I will  go? Where I will go? Once I ‘go, what I will do? But how will I do?  Begin doing all these things. He says, “O! There I will see. There are ‘lalita vishakha aadi’ so many sakhis there and what I will do? I will take permission, their approval then only I will enter that sevice, not that I just come dashing in and then tell everyone get out here. No, in different mood even talking like that doesn’t sound right. Right, no one cannot think like this. Very humbly prabhu, prabhu almost become nonexistent like Jagannath as he couldn’t           bear. No, no it’s too much O! no they are feeling so much separation from me. O! this is just because of me. I am the cause of this suffering and the residence of Vrindavan. No I can’t hear this, “go inside!” and as he is hearing his eyes are becoming amazing. O! Really what his eyes are becoming bigger and bigger. Oh no! no it was something like that. So devotee has to become very humble. No material existence in other words no material existence, no ego.

Two persons were going one after the other, I’ve just heard this. Two persons walking one behind the other. Good people they were infact devotee, practitioners of Krishna consciousness. One behind was beating that person ahead of him. This person was just walking and this person would beat him from time to time and this person was not feeling and not taking that as insult or anything playing transcendental and bleeding is going on. So this person with the stick was testing.  “Let me see now I will test his tolerance. Is he still there? His ego is still there, false pride is still there, the bodily concept is still there”. He is beating and checking whether. ‘Hey you hit me’, Prabhupada’s example: someone hits from the back of car. “You rascal you hit me. I’ll hit you.” Because that person not only identified himself with the body but now he is identifying with the car. As if the car is he. “I am the car, you hit me. Rascal you hit me.” So this person was kind of passing the test was getting in. But at one point, at one point he turned around and he said, “you know what you are looking for is not in there. The false ego, the pride. Those things are not in there”. I got it but you said it is not in there. That thought is there subtle things here. He said it’s not that what are you looking for is not in there but this person said, but you are aware, it’s not there, that is there. I got you, I caught you.

So not only you become free from ego but you don’t even. That is what happens. We become proud because we are pure devotee. But such a thing is it possible. “I’m proud of what, being a pure devotee. “ No, no pride! Free from pride doesn’t even remember, doesn’t even thinks. Of course you think of being very humble. Someone said to Prabhupada, “Prabhupada, Prabhupada I am the most fallen”.  Then Prabhupada said, “you are most of nothing and you are not most fallen if that person wants to take position.” If someone says, “I’m fallen but someone is most fallen than me I cannot stand it. No he is more fallen, I want to be, my position has to be most fallen.” He said, “I am most fallen Prabhupada” You are not most of anything. You are somewhere so again most fallen.

In conclusion Prabhupada says, “One cannot associate with Krishna unless he has fully received the favour of inhabitants of brajbhumi” Therefore if one wants to be delivered by Krishna directly he must take to the service of the residents of Vrindavan who are unalloyed devotees of the Lord.

We also bring Krishna, our temples, our Vrindavan, Radha Gopinath is here, Radha Rasbihari there, Radha Giridhari there.  These places are Vrindavan non-different, extensions of Golok Vrindavan and in some ways being in Vrindavan just have, try to fit into this spirit of Vrindavan following in the footsteps. You had only Radha Gopinath before and then you added Lalita and Vishakha. So how many more could you add. They were there not only Radha Gopinath was there, Lalita and Vishakha they were also there. They just manifested few years ago. They just manifested and lot many more devotees and from Braj around Krishna. He is never alone. So those devotees and new batch is trying to get in there become part of the team. So following the footsteps was part of the team are our acharyas. ‘mahajana yenagatah’ they have gone all these there. They are part of the team and we are following their footsteps. These acharyas, these devotees so they are following gopi, we are following them. Then following and following, we enter that spirit, the Golok spirit which is higher than the Vaikuntha spirit.

Raganuga bhakti is what is being talked here. By practicing what si the other kind? Raganuga and the Vaidhi bhakti, by practicing  vaidhi bhakti that leads you to Vaikuntha  planet. ‘Raganuga’ raga means attachment to the realm of Braj and become anug. ‘Anu’ means again follow and ‘ga’ means to go. Following in the footsteps of those devotees of Vrindavan, Raganugabhakti. So followers of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu they end up in Vrindavan because they are following in the footsteps of residence of Vrindavan. Of course we always chant the names of Radha Krishna

‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,  Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’

And there’s  Radha Krishna, there’s a Radha Krishna Radhe Krishna Krishna Krishna Radhe Radhe. So by chanting Radha Krishna’s names, cultivating all the humility,  Krishna is testing us all the time, He is watching us all the time and He just want to see pure unalloyed devotion that His devotee, His aspiring devotee is for Him, for Krishna then that person is allowed the entrance into his association unto his abode. So what is what has been presented to us by Srila Prabhupada is the topmostthing.

Of course where did Srila Prabhupad get all this from, from Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ‘anarpita chiram charit karunaya avatirnaha kalao’ in this kaliyuga Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, very kindly appeared. ‘samarpitam’ in order to deliver what? ‘Unnat ujwal rasa’ ‘unnat’ the topmost rasa and ‘ujwal’ the brilliant rasa also and that is the madhurya rasa. ‘sri radhika madhav yora parmadhurya leela gunarupanama vande guruh sri caranarvindam’.

Our acharyas are known for what? They get together. What did Caitanya Mahaprabhu do with all those Ramanandaraya and Swarupa damodar?  Always heard about Krishna Radha, Krishna.of course Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants to have Krishna, Radharani wants to hear about Krishna, Radha Krishna Radha Madhava “pratiksana asvadana lolupasya”. So from that down in the parampara and all the way upto Srila Prabhupada and his books and his whole realm another dimension is being added, which started of course with Madhvendrapuri. He was specialized in this madhurya lila, the specialized. And that is where we branched off from the line of Madhavacharya, Madhavacharya line exists, we also exist. Where do we get connected, Madhurya, pure and like that. So added dimensions is this ‘madhurya lila gunarupanamnam’ which is of topmost kind. There is nothing higher, nothing superior. So this has been offered to us. While Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the parampara and Srila Prabhupada and his books, the prem ‘krishna prema pradayate’ and what we have in our possession in this world is ‘kama’ and just the counter aspect, counter substance.

The spiritual sky is prema, the shadow of that is kama in this material existence. So more we get prema, more we get free from kama, free from lust. So kind of, kind of prema this madhurya lila. Hearing this madhurya lila pastime as per prescription of the acharyas who acts like a doctor and he gives the medicine. And as one takes this medicine, ‘kama rog, bhava rog’ then by taking this dose of hearing Krishna books and scriptures from authorized person in recommended amount of doses. What works for you? What works for me, for someone else?

Then they take right kind of doses. It will cure one completely from the kama. And this kind of provision, this kind of medicine is only available in this ISKCON shop, Iskcon center, Iskcon place which is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s place. This kind of  complete dose of prema and different prema, this prema, dasya prema, and other prema, sakhya prema, vatsalya prema, madhurya prema.

Ramanandaraya and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dialogue there are gradations one higher than the other and when Ramanandaraya mentioned the Radha Krishna’s prema, radha Krishna madhurya lila that prema. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu satisfied Yes, yes I’m satisfied. This is it! Otherwise you say, “hey this is external. Say more, say more, say more.” And as Ramanandaraya said  “Radha Krishna prem, Radha Krishna madhurya lila and oh! This is the topmost.” So topmost thing has been handed down all the way to us and so like that.

Laxmi, She was performing austerities and given lots of gratification comforts. But one thing she was not giving up was this pride and as a result she was not able to enter. So we also have the opportunity to enter that realm and things which did not worked out for Laxmi. We should learn from others mistake. Laxmi is kindly placing herself in that position. This is Lord’s pastime taking example here look at Laxmi. Look look from long time, she did this didn’t work. So something else or find out what went wrong, rectify and improve and do it differently. And that  is the mood of surrender, false pride. Of course the supreme thing in this regard. Chaitanya mahaprabhu has said, “trinadapi sunichena tarorapi sahishnuna amanina mandena kirtaniya sada harih” always doing kirtan and kirtan doesn’t always mean only you pick up the kartal and chant, dance. That is also of course kirtan. Kirtan meaning  glorification of the Lord.

Radha Rasbihari temple was being built and Prabhupada was staying right there and someone proposed Srila Prabhupada,”we should get another location down town or some distance away. There is lot of noise, sound, thak-thak, this this, that that.” And Prabhupada says I’m not disturbed. For him he said  this is like music to my ears. All those sound, this is music. This is nice. Prabhupada considered even those sounds thak-thak and whatever as some kind of kirtan was going on. yuktavairagya’ How much you could extend the kirtan even that could be a kirtan.. so this is not limited.

This printing press is ‘Bhaktisiddhanta’s. He would have printing press right in front of deity. In Calcutta he had his printing press so that deity could see the printing press. He placed the printing machine so that the deity could see and all the sounds were there. And the sounds were described as ‘brihad mridanga’. You could hear few blocks down the road but this one you could hear far and wide everywhere. So kirtan in ISKCON is popular.

I am going sankirtana. Where is your mridanga? Where is your kartal? No, no. I have books in bag and I’m going to distribute books. This is sankirtana of course. Some devotees started distributing candles and that also became some kind of candle distribution. No scandal but candle. Sankirtana glorification of the Lord is kirtan, ‘kirtaniya sadaharih’ which includes lots of devotional service that we perform that is glorifying Krishna this way or that way or different ways. And this will go on ‘kirtaniyasada harih’.

Conditions are those, conditions ‘trinadapi sunichena’ ok this trinadapi should be taken care of. What about ‘amanina’ and ‘mandena’ also when this is done. Then the result equals to what? This results in kirtaniya sada harih. All the time kirtan is possible. And with this kirtan as we perform, then there’s a ‘mama janmani janmanishvare’ I do not even care of course for another birth or births. Every birth I just care for ahaituki, that’s the point ahaituki devotional services. No motivation ‘sastrabhakti bhagavati akinchana’ a few verses before you have gone through this, akincana – Prabhupada is translating that as unmotivated. It is easy to deliver discourse and say this. But really to come to the point of making our devotional service. So that Lord is pleased and He could grab us. Be with him.

I thought this could be very easily done. When I was a new bhakta at Juhu temple and my service was to go beg rice from door to door, that was one of my seva  – bhikshamdehi, tandulamdehi – ‘give me some rice for food for life’. Prabhupada was sending us; rice was not available in the free market, so we have to beg it. So sometimes, some people would ask me question like, “have you seen? O! You are always talking or you are always talking to us about Krishna. But have you seen Krishna?” then I used to or may be not say every time to everybody. But I used to Iin my mind command on, “give a break, give a break”. You know I have just joined. Give me at least six months you know, I have just joined. Give me at least six months. You know give me at least few years. Then you ask me, “have you seen?” then I’m going to say, “yes, yes I have seen him”.

Hence I have the right to speak to you. So I was thinking. This was just two years home work, and I would be seeing him, seeing the Lord. Then I could speak. So more than few months and few years were passed still wonder,” “where is Krishna? Where is Krishna”? ‘He Radhe vraja devikecha lalite’. Of course Krishna was there with those six go swamis running here there running. Are you on the top of Govardhan right now? Are you on the bank of Jamuna? Where are you? For them, wherever they were Krishna was with them. For us we wonder where Krishna is. Where is he? Where are you? Why are you taking so much time? So I was thinking it was an easy task. But it’s quite a task. You give up this. Give up that. Follow the 4 regulative principles. Even more things to give up. To give up pride,  pooja, pratistha and labha. These are even you have more subtle things. There are some rocks in the water, little pebbles. You could just pick them up, take out. You could get rid of some rocks, little pebbles. But what if the water is sugar solution? Water is homogeneous material. Cannot separate those things from water. Then it’s harder to get in. You pick up with a prong, pieces of rocks, pieces of fine grains of sugar mixed in the water. So get rid of some things is easy. Some more things we need to get rid of. So this is of course Prabhupada gave us one lifetime….

Radha Gopinath ki jay!

Nitai Gaur Premanande hari haribol!

Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

Iskcon Chowpatty ki jai!

He is Vasudev, we have both Vaasudevas. Krishna is Vaasudev, Balarama is also Vaasudev. By that definition, son of Vasudev is Vaasudev. And om namo bhagavate, that’s important part, Bhagavate. And they are both Bhagavan. There are some other Vaasudevas but not necessarily Bhagavan. Here Krishna and Balarama, they are both om namo bhagavate vasudevay. Krishna Balarama ki jay!

Are you all expecting their arrival? (Haribol!!………….. Claps). They are coming, they are coming, they are coming! They are here, they are here, they are here! Better late than never expecting. This community was expecting Krishna Balarama for quite some time, 15 years? They were also wondering whether Krishna Balarama coming or someone else is coming. There were also some debates or some different desires and finally who is coming? Krishna Balarama is coming haribol……… Is that ok? Krishna Balarama is coming? (Yes!!) So no one told me what the topic was. So I (laughs), so I thought, Krishna Balarama, carry on.

As this is a childhood pastimes of Krishna and Balarama

“vanam vrndavanam nama pasavyam nava-kananam

gopa-gopi-gavam sevyam punyadri-trna-virudham” (S.B 10.11.28)

From Sukadev Goswami, “vanam vrrndavanam nama” This is Upananda speaking. There are in Gokul they have istagosti, community istagosti. Just now Yamal-arjuna trees, they have been uprooted, they felled and they crashed. They were wondering, trying to figure it out. Old review is on and in that big assembly Upananda, brother of Nanda Maharaj, he has a proposal, where as Vrindavan is “pasavyam nava-kananam”. He had been going around. He was very much concerned; the security was a big concern. For security reasons he had been travelling all over Vrindavan, all over Braja. He was thinking of relocation “We have to leave this place”. He had been thinking ahead of the rest of the members of the community.

Not only he was concerned but he wanted to do something about it. Being concerned is one thing but he was one step ahead forward. So he had travelled and travelled all over Braja. There are 12 forests of Vrindavan and he is thinking of one of those forests called Vrndavan, all forests are not called Vrindavan, each one of them have their own name. He says “vanam vrrndavanam nama”. There is a forest called Vrndavan. Nava-kananam. It is new to us. “pasavyam” What is so special about this Vrindavan. It is good for our cows, pasus pasavyam. Good for the animals first concerned, major concerned. If we go there what about our animals? Is that good place for our animals also? Yes yes, before even query is there.

“gopa-gopi-gavam sevyam” and also sevaniya, the Gopa and Gopis, Gopa-Gopi, translation is not required. You understand Gopa, you understand Gopis. Cowherd men, cowherd ladies, girls. sevyam. It is wonderful place to reside and worship. And another very special feature, pun?yadri-There is punya adri. There is a very auspicious mountain, punya adri. Adri is mountain. trna-virudham and he is full of green grasses. Everywhere there are grass, waters, lakes, shades, caves.

“punyadri-trna-virudham, tat tatradyaiva yasyamah’

And his proposal is, “today only we leave for that place. How do we go?” sakattaan yunkta ma ciram. (S.B 10.11.29) “Get all the oxcarts ready”. ma ciram. “Do not, no delays”. Ma ciram, do not, no delays. Rush, get your carts ready, “godhanany agrato yantu” cows will be in the front and the carts behind, “bhavatamm yadi rocate” This is my proposal. If you so desire we could do this. This is only proposal. And in response of this proposal

“tac chrutvaika-dhiyo gopah sadhu sadhv iti vadinah” (S.B 10.11.30)

aika dhiya means unanimous, eka means one, dhiya- intelligence, everyone’s intelligence is on the same wave length. You say this in America (laughs). So aika dhiya, everybody’s dhiya, the intelligence is fixed on this idea. They are all unanimous. And how did you find that they all are unanimous? They all said,” Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! ……………Very nice! Very nice! Wonderful! We are for this proposal. Let’s go

“vrajan svan svan samayujya yayu rudha-paricchadah” (S.B 10.11.30)

And they immediately got up, they returned to their respective homes and their axe together, got their oxcarts together, loaded all the paraphernalia rudha-paricchadah, loaded T.V. sets (laughter) not required it’s the last of thing. Doordarsan, (laughter) T.V. in India is called Doordarsan, something that is at the great distance bring that closer and watch it. But for them Krishna Balarama was that darshan.

“vr?ddhan balan striyo rajan sarvopakaranani ca anahsv aropya gopala” (S.B 10.11.31)

So, who get to sit in the cart? The old folks in the cart, “balan” children they go into the cart, Striyah- ladies in the cart. Everyone else is walking. Culture, we get to know the culture also. We get to know the mode of transportation also. If you want to shift look for a cart (laughs), bullock cart, “yatta atta-sarasanah” (S.B 10.11.31)

But they also have some weapons, bows and arrows because they have to travel through the forest. And the cows, godhanani puraskr?tya. Take note of this, They are carrying wealth with them. What is that wealth? godhanani. Dhan is wealth. What is dhan? The cows. They are carrying their wealth in the form of the cows. Economic development begins with plants and the cows. Godhanani puraskr?tya they are in the forefront. Srngan?y apurya sarvatah, many bugles. Bugles are, “get ready! Get ready!”. Inspired to signal. “Time to go, time to go. Get everyone ready, turya-ghosena mahata, out loud they are playing their bugles. Yayuh saha-purohitah (S.B 10.11.32)

And they are also taking their purohita, the priests, chanting mantras, all auspiciousness. In this connection it is to be noted, Srila Prabhupada writes short purport, “Although inhabitants of Gokul were mostly cowherd men and cultivators, they knew how to defend themselves from danger and how to give protection to women, the old men, the cows and the children, as well as to the brahmanical purohitas.

“gopyo rud?ha-ratha nutna- kuca-kunkuma-kantayah” (S.B 10.11.33)

Sukadev Goswami is describing ladies, the beauty of the ladies, goswami. Their breasts and youthful bodies and kumkum on the breasts. Well decorated in every possible way here, Banarasi sarees (laughs). ya thats popular one, Silk sarees. Lots of opulence of that sort. Lots of ornaments, earrings and bangles. They are loaded with all that.

“krna-lila jaguh pritya niska-kanthyah suvasasah” (S.B 10.11.33)

Although they are well dressed there is no bodily concept. They are not looking in mirror and busy with, ‘how I look! Where did you purchase that one? (laughter) That’s not the topic. Wonderful ladies wonderfully dressed! suvasasah, suvasa, vasa, suvasa, vasa means dress, suvasa? Wonderfully dressed. niska-kanthyah, their lockets hanging from their necks, very valuable gems. And in the midst of that krsna-lila jaguh pritya, krsna-lila jaguh, they are singing lilas of, Krsna-lila, Ram, Balaram-lila prityah, the great pleasure. They were chanting glories of the Krishna and Balarama

“tatha yasoda-rohinyav ekam sakat?am asthite rejatuh krsna-ramabhyam tat-katha-sravanotsuke” (S.B 10.11.34)

So there is one cart. In that one cart, there are hundreds and thousands of carts. Each family has one cart. Old folks, ladies, children are sitting in the cart. And in one cart there is Yasoda, Rohini, Krishna, Balarama. They are sitting in one cart. sakat?am, sakat means cart. Yes, “sakatam asthite rejatuh krs?na-ramabhyam tat-katha-sravanotsuke” (S.B 10.11.34)

They are very very eager, utsuka, they are very eager, very anxious to talk about katha, “krsna-ramabhyam katha,  “vrndavanam sampravisya sarva-kala-sukhavaham” (S.B 10.11.35)

So as the carts are going, Krsna, Balarama, Rohini, Yasida in one cart and so many other carts behind. And cows in the front and cowherd men are in the front around with their speres and bows and arrows an d bugles. And the priests also going chanting the mantras. And whole procession, grand procession is on the eastern bank of Jamuna going in a northerly direction, Delhi side. They are going and going and going. Their goal is to Vrndavan is trans Jamuna. Other side of Jamuna is Vrndavan. They have to cross. But as they were travelling soon there was sunset and was difficult. So they camped, camping on the bank of the river and next morning as they got up, waking up Krishna, uthi uthi Gopala……. Oh! Gopala please get up, oh! Gopala please, oh! Balarama please get up! They are singing songs, “oh! Getting up!” Vrndavan forests, birds are chirping-kuhoo, kuhoo, kuhoo, kukoo koo koohoo, some cocks are there. They are mentioned in Dwaraka pastimes. No alarm clock. The cock is the clock (laughs). You just feed few grains and it does its job (Laughs). No repairs and no maintenance just few grains and wakes you up. Beautiful to look at, the Vrindavan side, the peacocks and the parrots, some another cuckoos, birds, they have woken up. They are chirping and they are waking up. As they singing songs they are waking up people. So everyone is up and now they have to cross Jamuna. The big span, big, wide river bed. So what they do, this is described in Gargasamhita more detail. They are not mentioned here by Sukadev Goswami. But Gargacarya fills in the blanks.

So they built a bridge using the carts, using the ox-carts. They placed one cart, they placed next cart in front of that cart. Next one in front and next one infront and next one infront. Soon there, were few hundred carts one in front of the other and they started walking over that bridge. And there are many bridges. Like many carts, one after the other, one in front of the other. They all are crossing Jamuna, Jamuna maiya ki…………… jay!! Jamuna maiya ki……… jay!! Jamuna maiya ki…………. jay!!

The cows are swimming across, the cowherd men, they are carrying some calf. They are carrying calves on their shoulders. And, they are swimming the cowherd men are swimming with the calf on their shoulders. And the cow of that calf is right behind. He doesn’t have to do anything her calf is going, so that is magnetic pole. She is being pulled by the affection for the calf. So, so many cowherd men are going across swimming, holding the calves on their shoulders and cows are following. So they are crossing and elderly and children, old folks are going through the oxcart bridge way and they have crossed. So, “vrndavanam sampravisya” Sukadev Goswami said, now they have crossed Jamuna and samapravisyate , nicely entered, meaning they have not entered and just they are on the banks the river, no! Nicely entered means gone deeper into the forest, Vrindavan forest. “tatra cakrur vrajavasam”, and there, they park the carts, sakatair ardha-candravat. Candra? What is candra? Moon, ardha? Half.  ardha-candravat, just like in a semicircle. They parked all their sakatas and circle is made by this sakat, the cart. So that is becoming the fence and they are residing in, inside. This is where, so where they have landed, where they have going to be residing now, next 3 years and 4 months, according to Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur, Krishna was 3 years and 4 months when they left Gokul for Vrndavan. They shifted; relocation took place, Krishna was 3 years and 4 months. And Balarama? 4 years and 4 months. Devaki was giving birth to one child every year, so by that calculation.

So where the sakatas? Catikara, Catikara! You know Catikara? Old folk’s devotees  know Catikara Road. There has to be Catikara Road, we go from Delhi on highway and if you are not interested in Taj Mahal (laughs), you make a left turn to go to Krishna- Balarama temple, where that? You call T junction, T junction highway coming and then you go to Vrindavan. T junction, so that at that junction there is a village called Catikara refers to this Catikara, sakat. That’s where the centre of that township, and they relocated was there. And that road became known as Catikara Road was first and then became known as Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg ki……………jay! When you take that road you end up with lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama. Otherwise you end up in Tajmahal (laughs). You have to wake up and take right turn, left turn in fact it is. We take left turn there that is right, left is right.

“vrndavanam govardhanam Yamuna-pulinani ca” (S.B 10.11.36)

So, where they are residing is, is, where is this Vrndavan. This is in between Govardhan Hill, all the way to Jamuna. That whole forest is Vrndavan forest.

“vr?ndavanam govardhanam yamuna-pulinani

ca viks?yasid uttama priti rama-madhavayor nr?pa” (S.B 10.11.36)

“Nrpa! Oh, King! King Pariksit, are you listening King Pariksit?” Why he had to say Nrpa? He is trying to get his attention “O, King, are you hearing, are you with me?. O, Nrpa! O, King Pariksit! That I was just there where Sukadev Goswami spoke Bhagavatam. I was just there 10 days ago. Wonderful place! On the banks of Ganga, Sukadev Goswami is speaking; he is sitting there, talking all Vrindavan pastimes to King Pariksit. The big banyan tree and the murthi of Sukadev Goswmi, where he sat and spoke. What we are reading now was spoken by him right there, and we are sitting not far from there, reciting Bhagavatam. One short class we did, same spot where Sukadev Goswami spoke these pastimes. To our audience we said, look, look Sukadev Goswami”. We took darshan of Sukadev Goswmi’s murthi Sukadev Goswami ki……….. jay!! And next to Sukadev Goswami’s murthi there was pujari. So when we showed everyone Sukadev Goswami, the pujari, he was reading newspaper (laughs). Where Sukadev Goswami recited Bhagavatam and care taker of that place absorbed in reading newspaper. This is the age of Kali. “viks?yasid uttama priti” by seeing that Vrindavan which is situated between Govardhan and Jamuna. Ram Madhav, Ram is Balaram, Madhav is Krishna. Uttama priti, they were enjoying lots of pleasure, uttam priti, the best, they have good time. As they had arrived there,

“evam vrajaukasam pritim yacchantau bala-cestitaih

kala-vakyaih sva-kalena vatsa-palau babhuvatuh” (S.B 10.11.37)

Vrajaukasam, the residents of Vrndavan, they were also enjoying, bala-cestitaih, the  bala-cesta, the pastime, the childhood pastime, sweet nectarian pastimes of Ram Madhav, Ram and Madhava’s pastimes, they were enjoying kala-vakyaih. They were little boys. They were not even able to say few sentences, broken language, half sentence they were able to say. They don’t know the verbs, the noun, they were just saying something something, kala-vakyaih. But even those vakyas, those sentences, the broken language spoken by Krishna and Balarama was relished by Vrajaukasam, the residents of Vrndavan. Sva-kalena vatsa-palau babhuvatuh, and as they were now growing, they were about 4 years old. Balarama 5 years old. Vatsa-palau, they became vatsapalas. Vatsa, what is vatsa? Calf and pala – protector. They became calf herd boys, vatsa-palau babhuvatuhh. Krishna and Balarama very much wanted to you know go out. Outing, they were eager for another, some more variety, the spice of life, variety. Mostly they were enjoying the vatsalya-rasa, they were eager for another rasa, another mellow, sakhya-rasa. So, they would go out into the fields, into the forests. Then the calf herding as well as playing with the friends, two in one. So they were very very eager. When they propose this, Yasoda was not into this, “no, no, no, what! You and going into the forest? You are drinking breast milk every now and then, you are so tender, look at your lotus feet pinkish and soft and out there thorns, they heat and rocks, no, no, no”. She couldn’t imagine Krishna and Balarama going out and there herding cows.

But they were insisting and the good news was Nanda Maharaj was in favour (laughs). “Let them go they want to go”. So along with father, Nanda, Krishna and Balarama, only Yasoda against. So three against one, so they won and they got to go as calf herd boys. They were boys so little cows they could manage. They couldn’t manage big cows. Little cows choti choti gaiya, chote chote gwal. They sing in Vrndavan, gaiya, the cows are choti choti, small small calves, cows. The boys were also choto choto, small small boys. And they are going. So first day small group of cows are gathered by Nanda, Yasoda. Krishna and Balarama were given ropes, hold these ropes. And as they were leaving town, Nanda and Yasoda were accompanying and some crash course was given, how to, different instructions, how to turn them around and how to get them to sit down and how to, and as they were leaving, Yasoda, “come back soon, don’t go deep into the forest, and Balarama you have to take care of your brother.”, “yes, mummy” (laughs), “yes maiya, yes Yasoda maiya.

And their other friends also. They also had their cows and they go into the forest. Vatsa-palau babhuvatuh. And then Yasoda, “Ok, you could go but not every day.” Just see so sometimes Krishna, he was kept behind. “No, no, not today, no you don’t go today.” “Ok, maiya, I will stay behind.” And mother is relieved thinking he stay behind. And Balarama goes, some other neighboring friends are going, the cows are going. And she makes sure looking through windows, he is not there, Krishna is not there. And she gets busy with her churning butter and other household duties. From time to time she looks through the window to make sure he has not joined. Few times she looks only Balarama and other friends are there. ‘Nice boy, he is obedient child, he is following my command’. Next time she looks through the window. She saw Krishna running and she starts running behind him. And Krishna is trying to run faster,  “Balarama, Balarama, help, help” and Yasoda is running behind,” aye! Krishna, come here, come here. Where are you going? Stop, stop.”  So finally she has caught up with Krishna but here Krishna also has caught up with Balarama and Balarama is holding one side and Yasoda is holding, tug up war. “No, no, I will take care; let him go, let him go.” “No, no, you can’t go.” That also would go on.

“avidure vraja-bhuvah saha gopala-darakaih

carayam asatur vatsan nana-krida-paricchada” (S.B 10.11.38)

So, they are allowed only to go avidure, dur means distance, avi means not long distance. There is a condition, you could go but you cannot go deep into the forest, just near the village, near Gokul, near Nandagram he could go carayam asatur and they are taking care of the cows. Cows are grazing and they are playing, nana-krida, krida the lila. How many kridas? Nana-krid?a, many many kridas, many many lilas they are performing. Nanavatara makaraud bhuvanesu kintu, nanavatara, nana, so some sample kridas mentioned it is.

One word, one lila, half sentence one lila. Kvacid kvacid vadayato venum (S.B 10.11.39), this is one lila. Both Krishna and Balarama, what do they do? Vadayato venum, they are playing their venus. Ksepan?aih ks?ipatah kvacit, sometimes they are throwing rocks, not, they get some fruits from the trees. It’s mango season. They are taking rock and ksepan?aih ksipatah kvacit. Kvacit padaih kinkin?ibhih, and they have little jingling, tinkling bells around their ankles and they are jumping. And as they hear, they like sounds of their own bells and they are enjoying jumping. Kvacit padaih kinkin?ibhih, no other sounds, there is no noise pollution there. Every little detail could be heard. Tinkling, jingling of the bell, pin drop silence. What kind of silence? We drop a pin and big sound, amplified sound. Now there is a bomb, what? A bomb. No one hears there is so much sound (laughs). Pin drop, bomb drop. Kvacit krtrima-go-vrs?aih. And sometimes they are playing, imitating go-vrsaih, the cows. They are on their knees and not standing. But they are playing, “I am a cow, you are a calf, you are this, you are that”. They are playing different,

“vrayamanau nardantau yuyudhate parasparam” (S.B 10.11.40)

And next thing is that they are fighting with each other, they are beating each other.  “Aye! Come! Wrestling!”  “anukrtya rutair jantums ceratuh prakr?tau yatha” (S.B 10.11.40)

Sukadev Goswami says,” They are playing as if they are prakrit, as  children play like this. Children everywhere play like this. What do the children do? Balavastha kridasakta. Children all over the world. All children what do they do? They play. The  predominant pastime of children is to play. Balavastha kridasakta. They are attached to the play. Did you play? American children play? I used to think that they must not be playing. When I was a child I used to think that they must not be playing. When I was a child I used to think that American children must be very serious, Scientific and looking through their microscopes and telescopes (laughs). They must not be playing. I had a misconception like that (laughs). But for first time I came, landed in New York Airport and going to the temple, the school and playground children were playing. And I was convinced, the children play wherever. So Krishna and Balarama prakritah yatha. As if children play, they were also played just simple things, small games no big deals. But when Krishna does anything it,s a big deal and becomes a talk of the town.

“kadacid yamuna-tire  vatsams carayatoh svakaih” (S.B 10.11.41)

Once upon a time, now little serious business here. Normally playing, normally, But one day, jamunatire, on the banks of, you feel nice when says jamunatire. You could say that in English also. But when you say jamunatire, something special about jamunatire, vatsam carayatoh svakaih, they were playing; they were playing and taking care of their cows.

“vayasyaih krsna-balayor jighamsur daitya agamat” (S.B 10.11.41)

Ah! One demon arrived. And what was the purpose? He started krsna-balayor jighamsur. He wanted to kill Krishna and Balarama. That was his intention. He arrived on the scene

“tam vatsa-rupinam viksya vatsa-yutha-gatam harih” (S.B 10.11.42)

Immediately Krishna, haribol! Krishna has taken note, viksya. This demon has arrived in the form of vatsa-rupinam. His rupa is, form is like that of vatsa. He has come as a calf so that he could hide in the midst of other cows. Someone said, if a terrorist was to come to ISKCON temple he would come in what form? Probably he would come chanting japa (laughs). No one would doubt, some sadhu has come, please come, sadhu! (Laughs). And if he is more smart he would come as sanyasi (laughs) watch out! So tam vatsa-rupin?am viks?ya. That Krishna detected vatsarup, vatsa-yutha-gatam harih darsayan baladevaya. And he started showing Balarama,” Aye! Aye! Come come come,” “yes I am here” look, look at that calf, that one, not that one, that one”.

“darsayan baladevaya sanair mugdha ivasada” (S.B 10.11.42)

As if bewildered Sukadev Goswami says, as if Krishna does not know why he has come, what is the purpose of this demon, why is he here? Therefore mugdha, mugdhaiva. Externally He is showing that He doesn’t  know. “Look, some demon, why is he here for?” He showed Balarama. The next thing is “grhitvapara-padabhyam saha-langulam acyutah” (S.B 10.11.43)

Krishna took lead and He moves forward and as Krishna is moving forward that calf demon is also moving forward. He is looking behind. And Krishna is right behind, coming right behind. He is trying to avoid. So many cows, hundreds, thousands, demon is trying to hide. But Krishna is following, Krishna is following, Krishna is not leaving him alone. And as Krishna finally grhitva, he caught hold of the hind legs along with the tail, langula, saha-langulam. Langula is tail, hind legs and the tail. bhramayitva, bhramayitva, twirling and whirling also . He is doing two things, twirling and twirling twirling, whirling whirling also (laughs), twirling and whirling.                    “Kapitthagre prahin?od gata-jivitam” (S.B 10.11.43)

He threw on the top of tree called kapittha. It is not translated which called kapittha, kapittha tree. And as he is thrown by the time he landed on the top kapitthagre, on the top of the tree has lost his life. Sa kapitthair maha-kayah. And he was small one. He was small calf size and he was amongst the cows. But as he is slipped over or Krishna threw him away to land on the top of the tree, between the time he slipped from the hand and landed on the top of the tree, maha-kayah, he showed big form. Like Putana, she was regular sized lady. But once Krishna started drinking blood and the milk poison and the milk and she grew in size.

So maha-kayah patyamanaih papata ha. And he is so maha-kayah. So heavy body that the tree failed down.

“tam viksya vismita balah sasamsuh sadhu sadhv iti” (S.B 10.11.44)

When all the children all the friends noticed what Krishna, just Krishna did, how he picked up that calf demon and whirl, twirl threw him, lost his life. Balan the children, his friends, they started praising Krishna. How did they praise? ‘Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu, sadhu!!! Jay ho, jay ho, jay ho!!! . Thus they were glorifying. As cowherd, calf herd friends were glorifying Krishna, devas ca parisantusta. And devas , the demigods also, there immediately demigods arrived and they seen in the sky, parisantust?a, they are pleased, satisfied, relieved also to see big, the demon has been killed, babhuvuh puspa-vars?nah. And immediately started showers of flowers, heavenly flowers of their own abode they had come with flowers, they are showering flowers and playing different instruments. And apsaras were dancing, gandharvas were singing, whole show going on up there in the sky, glorifying the Lord.

“tau vatsa-palakau bhutva sarva-lokaika-palakau

sapratar-asau go-vatsams carayantau viceratuh” (S.B 10.11.45)

And Sukadev Goswami is kind of concluding this thought  before he moves on to another demons arrival and pastimes, more pastimes. tau vatsa-palakau bhutva, tau, tau, those two, palakau bhutva, vatsa-palakau bhutva, by becoming vatsapalakas, sarva-lokaika-palakau, they are lokapalas. They are protectors and maintainers of the entire creation, whole Universe. But here they appear to be taking care of only cows as if they have nothing to do with the maintenance of the universe; they have nothing to do with the lokapalas and not lokanathas, not those, not those. They were just concerned with the taking all that they do is take care of the cows and they are playing. And the world who knows how it is running, who is operating. He didn’t say maya ahaksen prakriti. He told Arjuna,” Aye! I am adhyaksa, you know.”

“mayadhyaksen prakriti suyate-sa-caracaram”. I am, cara, acara, everything moving, non moving, I am the superintendent, vedaham samasthitani. Visnu says, Oh! Arjuna, veda aham, I know, I know, what do you know? Samasthitani, everybody’s past I know, vartamanani ca arjuna. I know the present of everybody, bhavisyanica bhutani, and I know bhavisya also, without looking at their palm. It’s called palm reading? Yah! He doesn’t have to read palm. He knows. But the trouble is Krishna says mam tu veda na kaschana I know everybody’s past , present, future, but no one knows me, no one knows about me. When they are looking at these pastimes they are taking care of the cows and playing. Sukadev Goswami says, He is not only vatsapalak, He is, sarva-lokaika-palakau, , sarva-lokaika-palakau, palakau, two vatsa palakau, , sarva-lokaika-palakau, these  two they are

“sapratar-asau go-vatsams carayantau”. So early morning hours they take their breakfast. I should have not mentioned (laughs). Now you get the idea (laughs), go-vatsams carayantau viceratuh. And then they would get their lunch packets ready and go out to take care of the cows, calves. You just killed the demon but his form was vatsarupinam. His form was like a calf, the cow, the calf, you are sinner, you are sinner, you have to take bath to become free from sin. Go to Ganga, go to the holy places, sacred rivers, take a holy depth and come back. So after this pastime, He was accused, Radha also had accused. Kanhaiya killed, which demon was that? Aristasur. He was also bull. Now for killing calf, He was also accused.

So Krishna, He created Ganga from His mind. We were also on the banks of Ganga just few days ago, then I travelled from banks of Ganga to Florida here, we had nice time on banks of Ganga! Haridwar, Uttarkasi,  Himalayan Mountains, so there also we remember this pastime of Krishna kills. One day we went early morning hours to take holy depth. Instead of taking bath in bathroom we all went to Ganga, took bath there, many devotees and we have Prabhupada murti, life size murti with us and some devotees went with Prabhupada murti in the middle of the stream and they were trying to give full bath to Prabhupada. It was not easy to pull him under the water, put him down the water. O! pushing him and Prabhupada just come out (laughs). We were trying to push him down and Prabhupada would jump and someone says “ just see, he is not sinking”. Prabhupada doesn’t sink. Someone says Prabhupada doesn’t sink. That’s right, yes, that’s right, Prabhupada doesn’t sink.

So Prabhupada ki jay! Sri Krishna Balarama ki jay! Radha-Shyamsunder ki jay! (claps) Haribol!!

Venue: ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai.

Dated: 1^st June, 2012

Occasion: Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi

Hare krishna…..(devotees) Hare Krishna, thank you very much Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi ki ………………..jai (On the occasion of Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi 16 hours kirtan was organized in ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai) when I heard this event is being organized the kirtan is being organized initially I was bit surprised normally we do 64 rounds, 108 rounds this is the first time we are having such event the kirtan on Nirjala Ekadasi. But I am happy I found some quotes from Caitanya Caritamrita in favour of this loud chanting of kirtan.

“japile sri Krishna naam apne se tare uccha sankirtan parupakar kare” this is in Bengali from Caitanya Caritamrita  “japile sri Krishna naam apne se tare” if we chant japa “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare” of course we don’t chant louder like that. So what that does is apne se tare the chanter is benefited, the chanter is liberated by the japa, however tare uccha sankirtan parupakar kare but if you chant uccha sankirtan loud chanting which we do when we chant and dance, play instrument then that delivers others also parupakar kare not just selfish your own liberation but liberation of others as one chants loudly.

“ata eva uccha kari kirtan karile sata guna fala haya sarva sastra bale” again uccha hari kirtan those who chant out loud “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, (Maharaj saying devotees to be louder) Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare” sata guna fala haya you get the benefit is 100 times sata guna fala haya sarva sastra bale and all sastras are declaring this boldly that chanting louder the benefit is 100 times Haribol…………….Haribol……………………

“dante trn dhari guara daki se tumar kripa kari eso amar hridaye mandire” and this is a prayer that I chant dante trn dhari holding literally we don’t have straw here holding the straw in between our teeth we are calling out loudly O! Guaranga or O! Holy nama O! Naam Prabhu kripa kari please be kind to us and eso please come here and reside where hridaya mandire – in temple of our hearts. Srila Prabhupada quoted from Mahabharata. When I was away from Dropadi this Krishna is quoting while I was away from Dropadi she cried with words hye! Govinda (devotee follows) hye! Govinda, this call from me has put me in debt and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in my heart this is Krishna speaking these are Krishna’s thoughts and feelings as she chanted Hye! Govinda I am indebted and that is gradually increasing in my heart Srila Prabhupada continues to comment the Mahamantra is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy we can imagine how much Supreme Lord is obliged. It’s impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotees jai Hari naam prabhu ki …………………..jai.

So being Nirjala Ekadasi not even jala today one devotee was carrying water bottle I was wondering (laughter) I was sitting next to him (laughter) at one point he even opened and I thought next he is going to do gobble up, instead of feeding himself he feed water his mridanga (laughter). I was mistaken I thought I will catch him now. So body gets only air today, no food, no water and the soul only gets the nectar “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare”. So as we fast this fasting is called upavasa, upavasa menas fasting but just by fasting you dnt really do the whole sum upasava. We had to understand the deeper meaning of upavasa, upa– means near and vasa– meaning residence today is the day or upavasa is the day to reside heard Lord, in close proximity of the lord you reside and then that could me called upavasa, near, residing staying near to the Lord.

So that can’t accomplished just by fasting, devoid of no grains, no fruits, not even water, that may some means or facilitation so that we could reside near the Lord, but residence near the Lord is only possible by communication, union with the Lord or bringing the Lord closer to you, then you reside there, he has come near, then what is the fear (laughter). So best way to do this upavasa to stay near the Lord is by calling out the Lord and then Lord makes its appearance “yatra mad bhakta gayanti tatra tistami” Lord resides there. But today Lords addressing this one whatever this address this Lord is going to reside for 16 hours Haribol………….Haribol…………….and beyond that as we keep chanting and remembering him remembering him return to our respective temple and homes later tonight.

From Bhagvatam 7th Canto that says “dhanur hitasya pravanam pathanti sarantu jivam param eva laksham”. As we chant the Holy nama of the Lord this is compared to shooting arrows of course there is arrow then there must be bow otherwise the arrow is not going to work and there is bow and arrow then there has to target also. So this Bhagvatam verse says “the mantra is the goal” the living entity jivam is the arrow. So now you have bow and we ourself the soul is the arrow then what is the target “param eva” that Supreme destination “param brahma param dhama paramam bhavan” (B.G 10.12) that Lord, Lords lotus feet, the Lords form is the target and this arrow is not going to hurt the Lord, this arrow is very soft and gentle. So this is like making offering like a flower being offered, ourselves being offered to Lord, living entity being offered “svaha…………………”

Sankirtan yajna is like offering unto the Lord, soul is being offered to the Lord and the mantra which is and of course the body, the mind, the mantra this is part of that bow when everything is properly aliened, those who take bow and arrow they are very careful very attentive and there eye sight and the tip of the arrow and the destination is all in one straight line, of course not spaced out, their hands are not trembling like Arjuna said “I can’t even hold my bow” “govindam sramsate hastat” (B.G 1.29) my mouth is drying up, body is trembling. So everything together and focused we push the soul gets the boost from the body, mind and the mantra is the Lord himself, mantra is the Lord, the means is the Lord and the destination is also the Lord in the form of the Holy Nama.

So we are very happy as this event has been organized by ISKCON Chowpatty, so we have all gathered here I noticed as I was looking around most of you are young folks. So 40s and 50s just handful you are all young devotees. Normally youngsters used to say O! When we become old we will take to this process, we will see then. Now things have changed the Hare Krishna movement is changing, Caitanaya Mahaprabhu is changing everyone is welcomed, the youngsters are the first one to come older folks should be joining us as we keep going with the chanting. So everyone is welcomed specially  young devotees have come and not just Svarop damodhar Prabhu’s kirtan was dedicated to the loving memories of all those lovers of the Holy Nama, lovers of the Lord, those who used to make the dresses of the Lord, I was told. So they are certainly close very dear to the Lord, they were tailors of the Lord, made clothes for the Lord. So that atrocity took place and then they were taken away from amongst us so we pray so that they continue to serve their Lordships where ever Lord brings Lords keeps them engaged in the service so we pray.

They Say Sri-gopya ucuh “maivam vibho rhati bhavan gaditum nr-samsam” (10.29.31) don’t be cruel like this to us “santyajya sarva-visayamstava pada-mulam” we have given up everything, everything do you know what we had to go through to come to you? You were not there but we know what we have gone to reach your lotus feet, we have renounced everything just to reach pada-mulam, coming to your Lotus Feet. So our request is prasida be kind to us “vrjinardana-te nghri mulam” (10.29.38) O! Lord you are known as someone who vanquishes the distress and our goal is only upasanaasah to worship you. We have given up everything our home, our family, our only goal is to glorify you, to worship you, to serve you, to be with you.

“tvat-sundara smita-niriksana-tivra kama” (10.29.38) when we see your lotus face our desire to be with you even intensifies, O! Purasa-bhusana jewel among all men our only request is dehi dasyam we are only begging for the servitor ship your service. Sri Suka uvaca “iti viklavitam tasam srutva yogesvares varah” (10.29.42) after hearing these statement of Gopis they are many more, I have not shared with you. These expressions of despondency as Yogeshwar heard this finally there was prahasya sa-dayam little smile on His face and He was dayam sa-dayam prahasya sa-dayam, His smile was mixed with some kindness, they could read some kindness on His face.

“tabhih sametabhir udara-cestitah” (10.29.43) they could see now He has become more magnanimous, kind and magnanimous-open.  So Gopis who were standing at some distance as they were arriving, they had to hear this Krishna’s welcome address and which they thought that was not a very warm welcome here. So they were standing and as they were coming arriving, they were standing at a distance but as He melted smiling and some kindness immediately they all surrounded Him, gathered around Him and their faces immediately lit up like when sun rises sunflower open up right? There are hundreds and thousands same sunflowers open up and they all are looking at the sun. So like that when Krishna opened up showed some kindness immediately their faces were lit up.

“udara-hasa-dvija-kunda” (10.29.43) and as Lord also was smiling His lips were opening and His teeth were visible, the teeth also has been mentioned here as dvija, dvija means twice born. What happens with the teeth? They take birth two times so they are called dvija, the Brahmin is also dvija, so teeth is Sanskrit is like that instead of  saying teeth they say twice born whose going to understand which one is twice born is? So in this context, so as He is smiling they are even able to see His teeth and they are like jasmine buds and the Gopis are enjoying, Krishna’s  face is as it is beautiful and then He smile even teeth are visible, His beauty is further enhanced.

And then Sukadev Goswami describes  as Gopis were close and around Him so Krishna was like a moon and all the Gopis were like stars, stars twinkling  stars all around Him “upagiyamana udgayan vanita-sat-yuthapah malam bibhrad vaijayantim vyacaran mandayan vanam” (10.29.44). Now they are getting along well, and their vihar, they are walking and wondering kunja vihar, jamuna tira vanchari that begins. “nadyah pulinam avisya” (10.29.45) Jamuna they are not far from they are right on the bank of Jamuna valkham, there is nice fine sand and Lord is along with all those Gopis enjoying there are nice waves in the Jamuna and different flowers are blooming vayuna the air is blowing carrying that aroma and making whole area very fragrant hence very conducive for the pastimes.  So this, so some introductory relationship talking and singing and walking around this was happening everything was not in full blown action, long way to go before rasa dance and all that just opening a bud.

Then all ready Lord noticed “evam bhagavatah krsnal labdha- mana mahatmanah atmanam menire strinam maninyo hy adhikam bhuvi” (10.29.47) So Lord noticed that some of these Gopis are kind of developing pride, we are the only one, we are very special ladies we get to be with Krishna and I am closer and they are such great distance away from Him. So He was noticing that some pride was developing, thus gopis were again more mercy and lots of mercy and they couldn’t digest it, it was going to their head and pride was developing and with that becomes the end of that show Krishna disappears.“tatrai rantar’dhiyata” (10.29.48) Lord and it would be reveled unto us little later but we could mention that He has gone with Radharani, He has taken Radharani with Him, leaving all the Gopis behind.

And now the next chapter dealing with The Gopis looking for Krishna, trying to find their Krishna, so they begin, so they are wondering throughout the forest from one forest to another forest, to another to another and on that way they are making inquires, they are asking anyone and everyone, they have gone mad, they are even asking the trees, isn’t that sign of madness?. They are making inquiries from the trees, bushes, the birds, animals anyone, everyone, have you seen, ahe……….please ahe……….could someone tell us where our Govinda has gone? Where is our Shyamsundar? Ashoka tree and this tree and that tree, champaka tree and they are asking all different kind of trees. First these are smaller size of trees, first they asking smaller size trees first and then they ask the taller trees also, they think these trees are not tall enough but those who are tall they must for sure right now they must be seeing  where ever Krishna is?

So they asking the tall one tall trees another address is there and in between they asking Tulsi trees “kaccit tulsi kalyani govinda-carana –priye” (10.30.7) Oh! Tulsi have you seen our Krishna? Who always when He has His garland so many bees also fresh garland, fragrant flowers where ever He goes the garland is surrounded by the bees that kind of Govinda have you seen? What about O malike, O malati, O jati, O yuthika, the different kind of varieties of trees, bushes which are only found more in Vrindavan “pritim vo janam yatah kara-sparsena madhavah” (10.30.8) You look little jubilant is that because while Madhav was going this way, He touched you kara sparsena because of  madhav sparsha– touch is that the reason you look very very happy?.

So no response from any trees, then they are  are asking the earth, earthly planets, bhoomi mother bhoomi seems to be very ecstatic, Gopis are thinking all these trees and bushes are like a hair standing on the body of mother earth, mother earth has these trees are bushes are standing erect that means ecstasy. This is symptom of her ecstatic feelings so they say so your ecstasy, oh! Mother earth is that because Krishna has just now gone this way and He has touched you with His lotus feet is that the reasons of your ecstasy? Or is it because once upon time that Vamandev put His feet on you and then another one Trivrama He had become from that time to this day you are still maintaining  this ecstasy or “varaha-vapusah parirambhanena” (10.30.10) that Lord Varaha had  also  lifted you embraced you or you are feeling ecstatic because of that embrace of that Varaha dev. What is? Which is? It is now or is it from the past, that this ecstasy that is manifesting in you.

So bhoomi also has kept quiet, no response, so they are walking, moving forward making further inquires, they see she deer along with her family was there and they felt look this she deer is with the he deer but us we are not with our Lord.  Just by seeing them together, couple together, they are feeling just see when would that time come for us that we also could be together like this couple look he and she they are together but we are alone, we are left alone. So they are inquiring also from the deer, O! deer come near, come here, O! deer, O! my deer, but you know the deers are usually scared of people. Deers starts going away, he and she deer but what was happing was that as deers they were going but they are looking from time to time behind and then going, looking behind and going. So gopis were thinking this is what acharyas,  previous acharyas give a little commentary and they say that gopis were thinking that O, this deer they know where our Krishna is, so whenever they are looking they are saying ahe……come over they are running yes come come. So they are kind of yes you just follow us we will take you to your Krishna so they are following right behind. But then after while they couldn’t see he and she deer they both hid somewhere and then gopis think look…. look… look ….there must be Krishna near here, that’s why know this deer they did not want Krishna to know that they were helping us to take us to Him so they served us helped us but now they have gone away, Krishna must be around here.  So this kind of thoughts are being so much Krishna conscious everything leads them to the Krishna, thinking of Krishna like this.

So their search continues and but that gets them no were “ity unmatta-vaco gopyaha”(10.30.14) they are just intoxicated more they search for Him,  more they make inquiries they become more more the separation feelings, they get intensified and they get more mad and “krsnanvesana-katarah” distort they are in total intense separation and the distress that comes with that, that is what they are going through.  So for a while they kind of decide not to search and they are just remembering different pastimes of Krishna but now they are not only seating and talking but they start enacting different pastimes of Krishna.

“kasyacit putanayantyah krsnayanty apibat stanam”(10.30.15) one Gopi became Putna another one in her lap sucking the breast so this Putna, killing Putna and then Krishna sucking the life and the milk. “tokayitva rudaty anya” one gopi became lying down another one becomes  some kind of cart Sakatasura and Krishna crying and kicks that’s Sakatasura  pastime.  So like that two gopis become Krishna and Balarama, one becomes Vastasura and Krishna goes and catches hold of demon and through in to the “ma bhaista vata-varsabhyam” (10.30.15) Don’t fear don’t be afraid, Krishna says one gopis saying this playing role of Govardhan- Giriraj ok,I have lifted Govardhan, please come ,please come and then all the gopis are coming under the shelter of Govardhan.

So all these pastimes which they had been hearing and they were witnessing they are enacting and they  are trying to get near that way to Krishna and again they continue some more search “vrndavan-lats tarun” (10.30.24) so as they go forward searching they saw there was ray of hope there aha………..,look look ahe……..come come everybody come one gopi must have seen, she had seen footprints  as she sat down closely noticed, O there is a flag and the lotus also, oh!  all the signs are there eleven in one feet and eight in another one grand total nineteen  these are  Krishna’s lotus feet, Krishna must have walked  on this from here. So all gopis they came there and confirmed these are lotus  foot prints of Krishna so now let’s just follow, the path so they all now going walking next to the footprints of Krishna, He has gone this way on this way gone that way and “vadhvah padaih su-prktyani vilokyartah samabhrvan” (10.30.26) but they noticed that there are footprints of not one person but two persons are  walking next to each other not at ten feet distance hardly any distance as if two are walking just to next each other and then one gopi “kasyah padani caitani” (10.30.27) whose feets are these? these are Krishna that we understand but these other feet oh, you foolish sakhi, don’t you  understand and now you say this next verse Sukdev Goswami as he is first one to narrate this pastime is mentioning name of Radharani. This is chapter 30^th text number 28 “anayaradhito nunam” finish this is only mention of Radharani don’t you understand these are lotus feet of that Gopi who always worships “aradhito bhagvan harir isvarah” who is always worshiping the Lord that gopis lotus feet these are don’t you understand “yan no vihaya govindah prito yam anayad”(10.30.28) so He left us behind, He took that gopi, who does lots of aaradhna of govinda, these are Her feet and the gopis are for moment by seeing that they all have seen lotus feet So He left us behind took “dhanya aho ami alyo govindanghry-abja-renavah” (10.30.29) oh! how these lotus feet of the Lord are so special, they say that even the dust dust of these lotus feet personalities like Brhama “Brahmesau ramadevi” Bhrama, Shiva, Rama that’s Laxmi “dadhur murdhny agha-nuttaye” (10.30.29) they keep that on their smear that dust on their head on their body so that they would become free from agha any sin that they have committed to become free sinless, they take dust from these Govinda’s lotus feet and like that the search is continuing.

And then they go forward and then notice some more things look look here, this is the place another thing that they notice is ahe…. look here there is no feet of that gopi, only Krishna’s feet but here his feet have gone deeper into the dust sunken into the soft dust more than the what we had seen before what could be the reason?  And then don’t you understand this is where that Kami (Maharaja laughs) that lusty Lord must have picked  up gopi on His shoulders and because of heavy weight of the two persons His feet have made deeper impression in the Braj raj here so they go some distances and then they notice.

Oh! look here we see only the front portion of the feet and also gone deeper O, this is were He must have jumped up and down to pick up flowers for that gopi and look look…. here is some seat that both of them sit down here.  Of course after picking up the flowers He must have made Her  sit down done some hair decoration and but then again no feet of any feet of now only one person. So Radharani we are mentioning Sukdev Goswami doesn’t say that She become proud and “kesavam abravit” (10.30.37) and then she say to Keshav Krishna Govinda “na paraye ham calitum”(10.30.37) O! I cannot you know I cannot walk anymore, if you wish you could carry me on your shoulders again and then Krishna sitting sits down and He says ok jump climb up and as She about to climb up, Shoo………. He disappeared. Seeing how proud this women Radharani was becoming. So soon the gopis they go forward and they go forward they only found  Radharani there only crying and praying and begging for Lord’s association.

“ha natha ramana prestha kvasi kvasi maha- bhuja dasyas te krpanayame sakhe darsaya sannidhim” (10.30.39) O! sakhe O! Friend please sannidhim were ever you are please bring me there or please come here where I am now stations. O! Nath my master O! My dear kvaci kvaci where are you? Where are you? O! maha -bhuja O! strong arm one dasyas-te I am just yours dasi poor  krpanayame I am just poor and give me darshan give me your darshan, give me your association.  So this is Radharani crying and praying, so Gopis found her Radharani in that state and after upon meeting Radharani told everything the great time that She had with the Krishna. “mana-praptim ca madhavat” (10.30.41) I was honored He honored me so much enjoyed His company so much but dauratmyad because of my misbehavior She was confessing now avamanam I was dishonored, I was rejected, I am just dumped here, He disappeared it is not His fault it’s just me you know I misbehave with Him.  I should not have become proud so now there were Gopis and now Gopis and Radharani they searched and they don’t find, it is said that they went as far as they could. “candra jyotsna yavad vibhavyate” (10.30.42) the moon was shining and with the help of the moon shine they were searching but then came to that thick or thickest part of forest they were not able to see the moon shining was not effective enough it was peach dark, they couldn’t enter they couldn’t move forward so they simply returned and came to the banks of “punah pulinam agatya kalinday samaveta jaguh krsnam tad-agamana-kanksitah” (10.30.44) so they returned to the bank of Jamuna this is where they had originally started their journey from their search from ,so they all get together they begin talking about Krishna, singing Krishna’s glories  and hoping that He would return Krishna would return there very soon and that ends that chapter and the next chapter is  called Gopi Geet chapter 31,which we  will hear the Gopi geet.

Venue: Guayana, Guayana katha, 2006, June 29. Parikshit Maharaja Ki Jai!! Hastinapur ki Jai!

So as now king Parikshit was ruling of kingdom, one day as he was on a tour, going around checking out, how is everything working? Then he noticed, hey! What’s going on here, at a distance he saw, someone Oh! He looks like a king, look he has a dress and crown, he has sword also, but what is he doing with the sword? There is a cow near him, he is trying to hurt the cow, he is the trying to kill the cow, No! King Parikshit was very furious; he rushed to the spot towards that place. He jumped down on him own chariot, he took his own sword and King Parikshit was ready to slaughter that so called king.

He was not a real one but fake king he only looked like a king, he was only dressed like a king that was the Age of Kali, the kali had appeared disguised as a King only to kill the religion, symbol of religion that’s cow. But then this kali disguised as a king, he begged for pardon, begged for forgiveness. Please! Please! Spare my Lord, spare my life oh! Lord. No king Parikshit was still very angry ready to kill, but he kept appealing “forgiving is considered superior to killing, the act of forgiving somebody”. So King Parikshit decided to forgive ok you may go. But where could I go? wherever  I go, it’s your rule, you are going to follow me, you are  going to be chasing after me, please give me some place,  some corner in your kingdom where I could stay as  I am, the bad character as I am, the age of kali as I am.

Ok you could stay in four places, King Parikshit gave 4 places for this age of Kali to reside in. oh!  What are those 4 places? King Parikshit said “dyutam-panam striyah-suna yatradharmas catur-vidhaha” (S.B 1.17.38)

The 4 places of irreligion, where irreligion is practiced, such 4 places you could reside- what are those places? “dyutam”  Where there is a gambling, places of gambling is one place for you. “panam” please ! Tell me what is the other place? Yes, places where there drinking and smoking and chewing tobacco all the intoxication goes on that is also designated place for you. But you said 4 places, what is the third place? Third place is place where there is illicit sex. Sex outside marriage or even exercise sex in the marriage that is also the place. Places of prostitution, cinemas and these television which is all sex and violence business, you could stay in Hollywood you could stay Bollywood. Ya! these are your places. Ok that’s third and  fourth one is place of meat eating, where  there is slaughter, animal killing, meat eating, fish eating, egg eating that is also location for you to reside. So kali had these 4 places “dyutam” because in this list in Bhagavat “Dyutam” – gambling is mentioned 1st, usually we say the other way round and then finally he was given one more place also, oh! Any other place you could think of? Yes! Yes! I could think of one more place. And King Parikshit said whether is gold, the black marketing unnecessary   accumulation at the cost of others that is also your location.

So these places where given by King Parikshit to the age of Kali 5000 years ago and Kali had kind of hard time finding such places in those days. But gradually, gradually kali has worked very very hard and  has expanded his networking day and night, you  learn lesson from kali, he is very hard working determined to expand his empire and after 5000 years, he had hard time finding places of Meat eating, Gambling, Intoxication , illicit sex and now what has happened? Where are those places , where there is no meat eating? Where is that place- no illicit sex! Where is that place? Where is that country? Where there is no intoxication where is that place where there is no gambling? It’s all over everywhere this way the irreligion has been propagated spread all over the world.

As one eats meat he become merciless, this 4 sinful activities correspond to 4 pillars, 4 supports of the religion, 4 principal and positive principals of religion, correspond with the four sinful activities. The Meat eating has connection with the “Daya” “Daya dharma ka mula hai”. “Ahinsa parmo dharma” the nonviolence is supreme religion, Buddha appeared and he declared this.  So with meat eating all mercy is finished, no more compassion. With intoxication no more tapasya, no more austerities. Daya is the 1st principal, mercy is the 1^st, then tapasya – an austerity is number 2.

With illicit sex no more “suci” no more purity which is 3rd principal of religion and gambling smashes all the truth, no more truth (satya) ‘daya, tapasya, suci-pavitrata and satya’. These are 4 pillars of dharma. These are 4 pillars of dharma, they are being weakened and destroyed by this 4 sinful activities of these age of kali.

And to conclude we could only say what is the solution “harer nama harer nama harer nameva  kevaluam! Kalu nasteva nasteva nasteva  gatir anytha” . Chanting of the holy name, chanting of the holy name, chanting of the holy name, chanting and hearing of the holy katha.  “Sarvanam kirtanam” chanting the glories, spreading the  glories of the Lord all over is the only solution “the only way you could defeat the age of kali, only way you could drive away  this kali from your home, from your life , from your country is  to chant out loud “Hare Krishna Hare krishna, krishna krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare” and hold Bhagavat katha preferably  “nityam bhagavat sevaya” and  eat Krsna Prasad and  be in company of devotee of Shri Krsna  and in this  way there will be “param vijayate sri Krsna sankirtanam” there will be victory.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sankirtanam army could be victories. So with this aim in mind aim of defeating this age of kali, kali’s forces are to be defeated. This is the purpose of the foundation of International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Hari Haribol………..Haribol and right behind is Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  And you could see the success that Hare Krsna movement is having all over the planet. Srila Prabhupada introduced these 4 principals, how many of you are ready to follow?  Prabhupada asked in New York, after he was only few months in New York in 1965 and he had some followers, they were coming to 26 Second Avenue in Manhatan, Prabhupada had his store front preaching centre.  How many of you are ready to follow 4 regulative principles?  Please raise your hands and so many were ready. American boys and girls were ready to take vows yes from this day no more meat, fish, eggs. From this day onwards no more intoxication, from today no more illicit sex and no more gambling. Americans were taking these vows and following them strictly.  And then Prabhupada moved to another country into another, into another and he came to Venezuela also traveling, travelling 14 times around the world and this elderly saintly gentleman, sadhu jetage parivrajachari he travelled 14 times around the world and during his travel he came close to this country and that was Venezuela . Where ever he went wonderful response he met persons who were willing to follow four regular principles. And it is possible to follow 4 regulative principles with the help of chanting of Hare Krsna those who chant “Hare Krishna Hare krishna, krishna krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare” and recite Bhagavat gita and Bhagavatam, maintain the company of devotees of Shri Krsna and take Krsna prasad becomes easy to follow these principles. So for past 40 years now this endeavour is on, there are all ready over 500 ISKCON temples, farms and communities and 100s & 1000s of followers of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu following these 4 regular principles chanting Hare Krishna and they are happy. So we invite everybody to join this effort for the welfare of humanity at large. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way.

Nitai Guar Premanande ……………Hari Haribol.

In remote corners of Vrndavana, Pilgrims find little known places of Krsna’s  pastimes and get a clearer view Into their own hearts.

THE VRAJA Mandala Parikrama* is a walking pilgrimage throughout the land of Vraja, or Mathura, the district in North India where Lord Krsna appeared five thousand years ago. Devotees walk the entire parikrama path, stopping at the places where Krsna performed His pastimes. Vraja Mandala Parikrama can be considered pada-sevanam (serving Sri Krsna’s lotus feet), one of the nine forms of devotional service.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Within Mathura, the Yamuna River and the twelve forests of Vrndavana form the stage for the divine play of Radha and Krsna’s transcendental pastimes. Lord Krsna presides over the seven forests on the Yamuna’s western bank: Madhuvan, Talavan, Kumudavan, Bahulavan, Vrndavana, Kamyavan, Khadiravan. And Lord Balarama rules the five forests decorating the eastern bank: Bhadravan, Bhandiravan, Bilvavan, Lohavan, and Mahavan. These twelve beautiful forests are the most important places of pilgrimage.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, set an example by touring Vrndavana’s twelve forests. While Lord Caitanya was performing the parikrama, the residents said:

Who says He is a sannyasi? He is Krsna Himself appearing in this dress and form. Just see the proof. Different birds are all coming for His darsana [audience]. The cuckoos and parrots are happily addressing Him as Krsna, and the peacocks are dancing in jubilation. See the wonderful blooming of the trees! O brother, just see the creepers showering flowers on this person, who is disguised as a sannyasi. The deer are coming near Him and staring undivertedly towards His face. All the cows are coming running from all sides with raised tails, and they also look at His face. By the tears of ecstasy falling from the eyes of these creatures, we can understand that they are meeting Him after a long period of time.

From the book Mathura Mandala Parikrama, based on Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakura’s Bhakti Ratnakara

The six Gosvamis and other associates of Lord Caitanya, as well as thousands of faithful in His line (Gaudiya Vaisnavas) throughout the centuries, have enthusiastically executed Vraja Mandala Parikrama, a blissful form of devotional service. In October 1932, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, led a group of more than a thousand disciples and other pilgrims on a month-long parikrama of the sacred places of Vrndavana. It was one of the largest parikramas ever seen in Vrndavana. Srila Prabhupada, then a married man living in Allahabad, traveled to Vrndavana intent on seeing Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and hoping to join the parikrama party.

“I was not initiated at the time of the parikrama,” Srila Prabhupada recalled, “but I had very good admiration for these Gaudiya Math people. They were very kind to me, so I thought, ‘What are these people doing in this parikrama? Let me go.’ So I met them at Kosi.”

Today dozens of groups of devotees from different parts of India still perform the padayatra (walking festival) of Vraja Mandala to see and hear about the places of Krsna’s pastimes. Every year during the month of Kartika (Oct.-Nov.), Krsna devotees taste the ecstasy of circumambulating Sri Vrndavana Dhama. Besides being a wonderful way to see and serve Sri Krsna’s transcendental land, Vraja Mandala Parikrama purifies one’s consciousness.

Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Vraja: “I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always giving me transcendental realization of beauty and bliss.” Even non-devotees can feel the bliss described by Rupa Gosvami. The places in the eighty-four-square-mile district of Mathura and Vrndavana are so beautifully situated on the banks of the river Yamuna that anyone who goes there will never want to return to this material world.

Simple, Sacred Life

We rise before the sun and walk through hills and valleys, traveling deep into Vrndavana. Little remote villages dot our path. Village life is simple and austere, but the villagers are warm and generous. Whenever we stop they offer us fresh water, buttermilk, and steaming hot whole-wheat rotis (chapatis, or flatbreads).

As we cross cultivated fields, a team of oxen and a straw-laden donkey amble past rice paddies ornate with exotic birds. The sounds of the cuckoo bird, the mourning dove, and the Hare Krsna maha-mantra mingle together. Some devotees keep to the back of the kirtana party, silently chanting japa on their beads. The morning is calm, and the soft sandy path is gentle on our feet.

As we enter Madhuban, children bounce beside us, their eyes twinkling with glee. The kirtana reverberates off the mud walls and through the narrow lanes. The village brahmana greets us, a wise old man with happy eyes and stubbly beard. He sprinkles holy water on us. The cow-dung homes smell fresh and clean. In a spotless courtyard, children carrying bows and arrows imitate Sita, Rama, Laksmana, and Hanuman. Villagers invite us into their homes for something to eat or drink.

While some devotees rest or read, others venture farther into the village to get a closer look at the life of the local residents (Vrajabasis). Some devotees take a refreshing bath in a pond, while others wash their laundry. Clustered around the village water pump, we watch the children dexterously fill their waterpots. It is a crowded scene. Suddenly, a teenage boy and his mother approach the well. The boy pushes his way through the crowd and takes hold of the pump handle. We think he’s angry that we’re using “his” pump. But with an infectious smile, he begins to pump water for everyone.

Time to Think

Most devotees who visit Vrndavana never experience Vraja like this. One devotee comments, “If you don’t walk, you miss ninety per cent of Vraja.” Normally in Vrndavana we tend to feel like transcendental tourists, catching buses to the holy places. But to see Vraja on foot allows one more time to think and to find one’s real identity.

We visit Talavan forest, where Lord Balarama killed Dhenukasura. In the village of Etarsi, we visit the temple where breathtakingly beautiful deities of Balarama and His eternal consort, Revati, reside. A tala tree stands just inside the temple compound.

It is traditional to perform parikrama barefoot, and we try our best to follow the example of the saintly persons who have walked before us. Sometimes small thorns prick our feet, and we try to remember the austerities of Dhruva Maharaja, compared to which ours are insignificant. Vraja Mandala Parikrama strips one of all pretensions. We may have a big position in this world, but the thorns don’t discriminate.

Before it gets too hot, we climb to the summit of Kedarnath Mountain. A stone staircase etched into the mountainside leads us up 270 steps to a temple of Lord Siva. The temple is a natural cave, its overhang resembling the hoods of a multi-hooded snake. From atop the hill, we view the unique panoramic scene of the Vraja plains, stretched for about twenty kilometers all around us. As our gaze wanders out over the expanse of sacred land, we meditate on and hear about Krsna’s Vrndavana pastimes.

Krsna’s Footprints

In the early afternoon we take to tarred road on a seemingly endless walk to Caran Pahari. Here, Krsna would play His flute and melt the rocks with a touching melody. The rocks captured Krsna’s footprints. We eagerly rush to see them and smear on our heads the dust from these fivethousand-year-old footprints. We pray that our stone like hearts may also melt in response to Krsna’s call.

Where Krsna played His water sports and submerge ourselves in the Yamuna River, where He performed unlimited pastimes. We feel like we are following Him around Vraja. If we stay on His trail, we’ll turn the last corner of material attachment and catch up with Him. On parikrama we get a glimpse of the mood of separation from Krsna as we wander through the forests of Vrndavana. Parikrama instills appreciation for devotional sentiments even within the heart of a neophyte devotee.

Finally we see the city of Mathura rise from the plains of Vraja like an ancient medieval kingdom. We’ve made it! One hundred sixty-eight miles in thirty days. A tremendous feeling of accomplishment and exhilaration rises in our hearts. Our Vraja Mandala Parikrama is almost over, and our walk on the path back to Godhead has shortened.

A tall bridge leads us across the Yamuna back to Mathura. The kirtana resounds through the crowded back streets of the city. We take our final bath at Vishram Ghat. Vraja Mandala Parikrama is a perfect test for one’s spiritual health. In the pure atmosphere of the Lord’s land, our impurities stand out clearly, like black spots on a white sheet. Out here we see how far we have come in spiritual life and how far we have to go. Yet, this is encouraging; it increases our desire for purification, so that one day we may become qualified to reside eternally in Vrndavana. Lokanath Swami is the director of ISKCON Padayatras (“walking pilgrimages”) worldwide and the author of the recently published book Kumbha: The Festival of Immortality. He has been coordinating Vraja Mandala Parikrama since 1987.

Replica of the Spiritual World

IN THE SPIRITUAL world of Vrndavana the buildings are made of touchstone, the cows are known as surabhi cows, givers of abundant milk, and the trees are known as wish-fulfilling trees, for they yield whatever one desires. In Vrndavana Krsna herds the surabhi cows, and He is worshipped by hundreds and thousands of gopis, cowherd girls, who are all goddesses of fortune. When Krsna descends to the material world, this same Vrndavana descends just as an entourage accompanies an important personage. Because when Krsna comes His land also comes, Vrnda-vana is not considered to exist in the material world. Therefore devotees take shelter of the Vrndavana in India, for it is considered to be a replica of the original Vrndavana. Introduction to Teachings of Lord Caitanya, by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Instructions from Sage Narada

Narada Says to Dhruva: “My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamuna, where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there, one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives there.” Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.42

Acquiring Spiritual Flavors In Vrndavana

SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA Sarasvati Thakura states that the business of the tongue is to gratify itself with the varieties of flavor, but by wandering in the twelve holy forests of Vraja-mandala (Vrndavana), one can be freed from the twelve flavors of material sense gratification. The five principal divisions of material relationships are neutral admiration, servitude, friendship, parental affection, and conjugal love; the seven subordinate features of material relationships are material humor, astonishment, chivalry, compassion, anger, dread, and ghastliness. Originally, these twelve rasas, or flavors of relationships, are exchanged between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity in the spiritual world; and by wandering in the twelve forests of Vrndavana one can respiritualize the twelve flavors of personal existence. Thus one will become a liberated soul, free from all material desires. If one artificially tries to give up sense gratification, especially that of the tongue, the attempt will fail, and in fact one’s desire for sense gratification will increase as a result of artificial deprivation. Only by experiencing real, spiritual pleasure in relationship with Krsna can one give up material desires.