Most intelligent persons would go for Gauranga

Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami
Venue: Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir
Date: 7 March 2016

So that’s the verse, Eleventh Canto, Chapter 5, Text 32. Are you familiar, if you have looked at the board? Yeah! Sounds familiar? Not new! But ever ever new also at the same time! Never be-comes old!
So here we are in land of Gauranga, Gauranga! (Devotees respond: Gauranga!) Sri Krishna Cai-tanya Mahaprabhu ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!) And also we have gathered here amongst other reasons, gathered here for Kirtan Mela ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!) Yes, you have come here for Kirtan Mela! Some of you have just come for the Kirtan Mela.. So I thought of selecting a verse that talks of Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as of course talks about the kirtana, sankirtana- yajna, that we are engaged in here. So quickly as time is running.

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

Translation and Purport by disciples of His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prab-hupada ki (Devotees respond: Jaya!)
“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”

“This same verse is quoted by Krsnadasa Kaviraja in the Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, Chapter Three, verse 52”. And I was reminded that Laghu Bhagavatamrta of Rupa Goswami, he also quotes this verse in the very beginning of Laghu Bhagavatamrta, Rupa Goswami does, its part of his mangalacarana, same verse.

“His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has given the following commentary on this verse. “This text is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32). Srila Jiva Gosvami has explained this verse in his commentary on the Bhagavatam known as the Krama-sandarbha, wherein he says that Lord Krsna also appears with a golden complexion. That golden Lord Krsna is Lord Caitanya”. Did you hear that, “That golden Lord K???a is Lord Caitanya.” Very nice the way Prabhupada is commenting based on Krama-sandarbha. “who is worshiped by intelligent men in this age. That is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam by Garga Muni, who said that although the child Krsna was blackish, He also appears in three other colours — red, white and yellow”

“ idanim krsnatam gatah”
(SB 10.8.13), Garga Muni, idanim krsnataam gatah, now He has be-come Krishna. But previously He was, suklo raktas tatha pita (SB 10.8.13). He has three other colours, sukla-white in Satya Yuga, rakta-red in Treta Yuga and now He has appeared in Dvapara Yuga as Krishna, so what is the remaining age, Kali Yuga, pita. So four colours mentioned and then he had already mentioned three ages. So fourth age is Kali and pita is remaining colour, so that is Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s colour.

“Who said that although the child Krsna was blackish, He also appears in three other colors — red, white and yellow. He exhibited His white and red complexions in the Satya and Treta ages respectively. He did not exhibit the remaining color, yellow-gold, until He appeared as Lord Cai-tanya, who is known as Gaurahari”
Hari who is Gaura. Either Gauranga whose complexion is Gaura anga, golden complexion or Hari Hari. So Gaurahari! He is Hari, but what kind of Hari He is? (Devotees respond: Gaurahari) Gaurahari! Don’t just say Hari! Hari! Say Gaurahari! “Srila Jiva Gosvami explains that k???a-var?am means Sri Krsna Caitanya”. That is he is getting back to the verse, there is krsna-varnam and that refers to Caitanya. “Krsna-varnam and Krsna Caitanya are equivalent. The name Krsna appears with both Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya Krsna.”

“namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne”
-I offer my obeisance’s unto krsnaya, krsnaya because namah is there, I offer my obeisances unto Krishna, you say that in Sanskrit as krsnaya, which kind of Krishna, krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne, Krishna whose name is Krsna Caitanya, unto that Krishna I offer my obeisances. krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne, Krishna whose name is Krsna Caitanya, I offer my obeisances unto Him.
“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He always engages in describing Krsna and thus enjoying transcendental bliss by chanting and remembering His name and form. Lord Krsna Himself”. So that is krsna-varnam, anyway I will go ahead, keep going and then get back.

“Lord Krsna Himself appears as Lord Caitanya to preach the highest gospel. Varnayati means ‘utters’ or ‘describes.’ Lord Caitanya always chants the holy name of K???a and describes it also”. He chants and He describes. And that is why He is called here as krsna-varnam, the very first word of this verse is what, krsna-varnam, krsna-varnam, varna. So Krishna, these are varna’s. Also varnan, from that comes, varhah, description. So krsna-varnam, who always chants and describes, so thats krsna-varnam. And because He is K???a Himself, whoever meets Him will automatically chant the holy name of Krsna and later describe it to others”. That’s preaching.

“He injects one with transcendental Krsna consciousness, which merges the chanter in transcendental bliss”. In all respects, therefore, He appears before everyone as Krsna, either by personality or by sound. He appears as personality or sound. Personality is there in the form of vigraha and sound is,

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

He appeared you could say. And there is no difference. The form and the description, not different. Or form and the sound no difference, form and the sound. Simply by seeing Lord Caitanya one at once remembers Lord Krsna. One may therefore accept Him as visnu-tattva. In other words, Lord Caitanya is Lord Krsna Himself.”Haribol! (Devotees: Haribol!)

So its a long purport but we don’t have long time for the class here. So I will kind of stop there and well go to the verse and make few comments. Some comments have been made and we’ve already read, we heard. But we could make few more connections.
Earlier in this same chapter question was raised by Nimi, King Nimi and Karabhajana Muni, he is talking to Karabhajana Muni. It is a dialogue between King Nimi and Karabhajana Muni. And the question raised was,

sri-rajovaca
“kasmin kale sa bhagavan kim varnah kidrso nrbhih
namna va kena vidhina pujyate tad ihocyatam” (SB 11.5.19)

Please tell me, kasmin kale, or kasmin yuge, in which age, bhagavan kim varnah, Lord appears in which kind of varnah, or complexion, colour. namna, or what name does He become known as in different ages, kena vidhina pujyate and by which process, paddhati, mode of worship He is worshipped in or worshiped by.
So he was interested to know in which age, which Lord, which incarnation, colour, please tell me colour, please tell me the name, please tell me the process He is worshipped. So after Satya, Tre-ta, and Dvapara, he has already given reply to those questions or those ages have been described. Which Lord appears and what colour does He appear and how is He worshipped and what are the names. And now is the turn of the age of Kali and then he talks of this verse.
In the age of Kali, the Lord appears, krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam, so this kind of Krishna, Lord appears in the age of Kali, krsna-varnam, krsna varna, He always chants,

Krsna Krsna Krsna Krsna Krsna Krsna Krsna he!

Like that. krsna-varnam, He always chants and always describes Krishna, that’s krsna-varnam, krsna varna tvisa akrsna, tvisa refers to the luster, complexion, ok what kind of complexion, a-krsnam, a means no, krsna means black. He does not appear as a blackish complexion. Opposite of black is what? White, more than white! He appears as golden, which is very close, white plus much more! krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam and that one also, krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah, same tvisa is, you find tvisa here and that pranama mantra of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu there is also tvisa, tvisa, grammar has done something to that tvisa. So gaura-tvise, I offer my obeisances unto the Lord who is of golden complexion, like that mantra we offer obeis-ances with.

“namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-caitanya- namne gaura-tvise namah”

Four things quickly, four things are mentioned, Krishna’s, Lord’s name is mentioned, what is His name, krsnaya krsna-caitanya, then His form is mentioned, what kind of form, gaura-tvise, form of the Lord, gaura-tvise is a form. So name, form, and quality, what is the quality of, namo maha-vadanyaya, this is the quality of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, amongst all or many, so many qualities, this is predominating quality of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He is namo maha-vadanyaya, maha, most magnanimous, matchless Lord, no one comes close to Him when we talk of the magnanimity of the Lord. So namo maha-vadanyaya, this is, this is the quality, guna of the Lord and what is remaining, nama, rupa, guna and lila, the pastimes, so what is the pastime of this Lord Gauranga, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te, krsna-prema-prada, krsna-prema-prada, da the giver of Krishna prema, prada, He gives so much, prakrsta rupena, gives so much. So its not only, like narada, just da there but prada, He gives so much, ocean of prema. So that pranama mantra itself has nama, rupa, guna, lila of Gauranga.

So tvisakrsna, tvisa, refers to complexion of the Lord which is a-krsna, not black. sangopanga-stra-parsadam, so there are four items here. The letter sa there, sa means with, equipped with, with that, sa anga, anga, upanga, sangopangastra, astra, sangopangastra-parsada, fourth is parsa-da.

sa anga, sa upanga, sa astra, sa parsada, He appears along with all these items here. So He appears with anga, limbs, they are like a part of Him. So Nityananda, Advaita is anga of the Lord. In the commentaries by acharyas, Jiva Goswami they explain this. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also quoting other commentators. Srila Prabhupada briefly does mention, we did not reach that part in the purport.

upanga, Srivasa and many many devotees are upanga’s. So anga, upanga, astra,

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

is a astra, is a weapon, to do what, “paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam” (Bg 4.8), there are so many duskritina’s, dusta’s the demons. So astra the holy name, so the astra’s are used for killing the demons. But the Lord has appeared as the most magnanimous. So this time His wea-pons are not the usual bow and arrow, the axe like a Parasurama is using, Krishna is Sudarshana. In fact when Nityananda Prabhu was attacked, Caitanya Mahaprabhu had appeared on the scene with Sudarshana! But then He was reminded, No, No, No, Nityananda Prabhu, not in this age, not this weapon.

The weapon is,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

It is also described that Lord’s beauty is also weapon. The demoniac mentality or demoniac con-sciousness is killed or defeated just by the beauty of Gauranga. He was so beautiful, just by look-ing at Him, the arrows are shot at, at the person who is looking at Mahaprabhu and he is killed in no time. His beauty is the weapon, captivating, capturing and then that person surrenders unto Gauranga.

So there are the astra’s mentioned, there are several astra’s. Prasadam is also astra. And hence comes the ISKCON bullet, ISKCON bullets are gulab jamuns. And you are finished! So Prabhu-pada just fed prasada and so many demons, American demons, demoniac nature was killed. There were hippies, there were demons, they chanted Hare Krishna, ate gulab jamuns and they were happy. The hippies became happies.

So Prabhupada was senapati bhakta, talking of senapati, sena means army, he is chief in com-mander and then he made New York his destination. Go to New York, New York the capital of the age of Kali. And upon arrival there he started showering bombs of the holy name and the time bomb his books were also weapons. They would explode but not destroy but construct beautiful heart or consciousness.

So Bhagavatam is a weapon, Bhagavatam is complete, in there is Krishna’s beauty, Krishna’s form, Krishna, Krishna. So sangopangastra-parsadam, His parsada’s are Gadhadhara is His par-sada, Govinda was His parsada, Ramananda Raya was His parsada, Rupa Sanatana were His par-sada and many others. So all those who were with Him at that time, those who appeared along with Him, they are anga’s limbs or upanga’s secondary limbs, or astra’s the weapons or parsada’s His companions, they are always around.

“yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah”

So first two lines is one part in this verse. Lord is described. It is just Lord’s description. What kind of Lord is described? Like this, krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam, am, am, you see, for some reason it is ‘am’, ‘am’. So they are one family, they are together. They all describe Lord. And here is already established now. He is Sri Krishna Caitanya, because gaura-tvise a-krsna, He is not black, He is golden.

So then the two more parts are there, yajanti hi su-medhasah, su-medhasah yajanti, su-medasah is su means nice wonderful, medhasah intelligent. The most intelligent persons yajanti, they wor-ship, most intelligent persons, what do they do, they worship. Who do they worship? In this verse, they worship krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam, su-medhasah yajanti, intelligent persons worship this Lord, Gauranga.
‘alpa medhasam’, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, alpa medhasam, those who are less intelligent devan deva-yajo yanti, they worship demigods, less intelligent Lord said. Less intelligent alpa medhasam, here is su-medhasah. Alpa means no or little, and su-medhasah, so much intelligent, highly intelligent persons, most intelligent persons would go for Gauranga! go for Gauranga! go for Gauranga! go for Gauranga! go for Gauranga!

So yajanti his su-medasah, now they worship this Lord, but how do they worship, what is the mode of worship? what is the process do they adopt? That is the third part. yajnaih sankirtana-prayair su-medhasah yajanti, they worship, how do they worship yajnaih, yajnaih means by per-formance of yajna and doesn’t stop there, not giving any room for speculation, immediately that yajna’s name is mentioned. Which yajna? sankirtana yajna. There is no yajnaih and then full stop. Period! No! yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajnaih su-medhasah yajanti, the intelligent persons wor-ship this Lord in the age of Kali by chanting

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

So you must be intelligent that you have assembled here to worship the Lord who appears in the age of Kali. Worship how, by chanting krsna-varnam, as Lord did personally in fact, krsna-varnam, Lord personally did this “apani acari jagate sikhaya” by His own example He taught others, He taught the whole world. So He chanted 500 years ago personally. All that chanting started in Mayapur, Navadvipa and He takes sannyasa, He travels all over India chanting and dancing and the way He has shaken up, shaken, shaken up the whole world, or universe and left the vibrations – Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! So that is what is shaking us up, waking us up, those vibrations are still in the air! Of course He has not stopped chanting, still He is here, Gau-ranga is here! “kona kona bhagyavan dekhi bare pare”, those who are fortunate they could even see today, Gauranga Mahaprabhu performing His pastimes and His pastimes here are kirtana lila.

And same lila Prabhupada expanded that. Mahaprabhu chanted just within the boundaries of In-dia and Prabhupada said, ‘Mahaprabhu left this job of spreading, chanting beyond the boundaries of India up to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.’ (Devotees: Haribol!) So he became the founder acharya 50 years ago, ISKCON was founded, and then same “sankirtanaih kapitarau” as sankirtana was started by Mahaprabhu here was then inauguration took place and now it has reached far and wide. And what is the indication, how do we know it has reached far and wide? Right here, we see the faces from around the world, we heard day before yesterday devotees from 70 countries are here. (Devotees: Haribol!)

And then I say, I have been saying this, from nama to dhama. Devotees receive nama wherever they are, in their country they receive nama, and that nama the holy name brings them to dhama. (Devotees: Haribol!) So nama to dhama.
So one day will come as predicted by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this yajnah, sankirtana-yajnah will be performed in every town, every village of this planet. And from every village, from every town devotees will be making plans to come to Mayapur for Kirtan Mela, amongst other festival aspects. And they will be coming from every little town, Timbaktu, there is a Timbaktu, from there also they will come. So this is just the beginning, this is just the beginning, 50 years passed and now another 9000 years to go. You could imagine. This temple which is going to hold 10,000 devotees, the TOVP temple in the front is built to accommodate how many devo-tees,10,000 but for sure as soon as temple is opened it will be filled, it will be packed. (Devotees: Haribol!) Then we have to make plans for bigger temple, or stadium.

Ok Thank you very much!




All that you have to do is Sankirtan

Venue: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
Date: March 1st, 2014
Subject: S.B. 11.5.36
In the glorification of sankirtana, Kirtan Mela, we are asked to, speakers these days, Bhagavatam speakers are asked to select a verse that glorifies the Holy name. So here is one such verse Eleventh Canto, Chapter Fifth, Text number 36.
kalim sabhajayanty arya guna jnah sara-bhaginah
yatra sankirtanenaiva sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate”
Translation:

Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this Age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.
Purport:
It is stated here that among the four ages — Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali — Kali-yuga is actually the best because in this age the Lord mercifully distributes the highest perfection of consciousness, namely Krsna consciousness, very freely. The word arya has been defined by Srila Prabhupada as “one who is advancing spiritually.” The nature of an advanced person is to search for the essence of life. For example, the essence of the material body is not the body itself but the spirit soul that is within the body; therefore an intelligent person gives more attention to the eternal spirit soul than to the temporary body. Similarly, although Kali-yuga is considered to be an ocean of contamination, there is also an ocean of good fortune in Kali-yuga, namely the sankirtana movement. Haribol……….. Good Morning news! Otherwise everything is bad, but this is good news. In other words, all of the degraded qualities of this age are completely counteracted by the process of chanting the Holy names of the Lord. Thus it is stated in the Vedic language,
(Maharaj reads just the beginning of the purport as the purport is very long)
So in this section of Bhagavatam there is a, chapter is entitled, ‘Narada’s teachings to Vasudeva’. And within that there is a dialogue between King Nimi and all the nine Yogendras are there, muni’s are there and King is asking nine different set of questions to each one of those muni’s present there. And when he turned to Karbhajana Muni, he had a set of questions.
“kasmin kale sa bhagavan kim varnah kidrso nrbhih
namna va kena vidhina pujyate tad ihocyatam” (SB 11.5.19)

Please tell me, ucyatam -please tell me, and please tell me here, ‘iha’ – right now and here, that in which age -kasmin kale, kena vidhina -by what process, nrbhih pujyate – people worship the Lord and namna -by which name He becomes known in each age, like that.
And in response to this inquiry Karbhajana Muni has, gone through, ok there comes Satya Yuga and this incarnation and then next one and next one and then Kali yuga. This is text 36 of this chapter but just few verses earlier the very famous statement by Karbhajana Muni
“krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah” (SB 11.5.32)
All the members, followers of this sankirtana movement
should know this verse, statement, learn this by heart. He is talking, Lord appears in the age of Kali, what does He do, krsna-varnam, and He is glorifying Krishna, Krishna appears and what would He do, krsna-varnam, krsna varnayati, varna means description. That Krishna will describe Krishna, that God will describe Krishna.
But He will not be Krishna in color, He will not be, but which color they would be known by in each age, these incarnations? Then Karbhajana Muni says, Krishna will appear to glorify Krishna but He will be akrsna, not blackish, so what? He will be golden, whitish, golden complexion. Sangopangastra-parsadam, He appears, not just by Himself, but sa, utsanga, upanga, parasada, this whole set, and these are his astras and sastras – these are His weapons. Otherwise He will be not carrying Sudarsana chakra or bow and arrow or an axe or at the end of Kali a sword. But this
“sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah”

And su-medhasah people with brain stuff in there, not only head looking like a head but some substance inside, brain tissues to understand the intricacies, they will worship, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti, yajanti, how will they worship Lord in each of those four ages, so yajanti they will worship, su-medhasah yajanti, the intelligent people who worship, how? yajnaih, performance of yajna. Well, what kind of yajna? Sankirtana yajnaih, not just yajna, immediately. Then you don’t have to worry which yajna is He talking about, immediately, so there is no speculation and further interpretation and something else, It stops.
sankirtana yajna, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah
So here they talked about the Lord who performed sankirtana, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”
Lord is to be worshipped. How He is to be worshipped? By performance of sankirtana yajna Lord is to be worshipped. When you have chanted, yajñanam japa-yajño ’smi (BG 10.25), is also there – of all the yajnas, Krishna said that in Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, sankirtana yajna is – that’s Myself, that yajna is Me, non different from Me, yajñanam japa-yajño ’smi.
And then in this verse Karbhajana Muni says that not only that the Lord becomes worshipable by performance of sankirtan, but that age of Kali becomes worshipable. kalim sabhajayanty, Kali, the age of Kali will be worshipped, very special time, good times are here. Worship these times, take advantage of this good times, very favorable times. The businessmen know, good times, bad times, they begin their trade when there’s a favorable time for their business. So this is for worshipping good times, favorable times.
‘guna jnah arya’ first of all – those who are civilized, Srila Prabhupada is “one who is advancing spiritually” is called arya. Not just some rubber stamping arya, in India there are, there is Arya Samaj, a society called Arya Samaj and in fact what they do all day or everyday is svaha svaha svaha, finished, karma-kanda jnana-kanda, kevala visera bhanda (Prema-bhakti-candrika). They are drinking poison although they are thinking themselves to be – we are Aryans and they don’t go beyond Vedas, veda bhagavan, they don’t even go to Gita or Bhagavatam. Oh! Vedas are apauruseya and these are, these scriptures are given by, Vedas are given by Supreme Lord, others are by other devotees or sages.
So not that kind of arya. So you don’t have to be born in India to be arya. This is the definition, one who is spiritually advanced, he is arya. We are all arya’s assembled here. (Haribol) Brahman not by birth, guna karma vibhagasah, not, janma karma vibhagasah. Guna karma vibhagasah, by qualities.
So ‘sara-bhaginah’ and those who know the essence, sara-bhaginah they will worship this age of Kali. And how will they worship or what is special about this Kali-yuga? Yatra means in that age of Kali. Why worship Kali? yatra sankirtanena eva and that is being translated as ‘merely’, eva means not ‘only’ but mere means not much, all that you have to do is sankirtan.
And what is the outcome, what is the benefit? sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate, not only some part of sva artha, sva that is us and artha something that is meaningful, useful, or desired goals. Spiritually refined persons are being talked about. Certainly their desires are also pure desires, purified desires.
akamah sarva-kamo va moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusam param” (SB 2.3.10)

Ok, ok if you have all desires, or if you have desire for liberation, fine, or you have no desires, worship, tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusam param worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So how is Lord worshipped in this age of Kali? Kirtanena eva, only or merely and by doing so sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate and everything is achieved. (Haribol!)
This Kali-yuga becomes otherwise you know, we all know, we have very good or first hand experience of this age of Kali as we are getting slapped and kicked so much. That is why when we get up the first thing that comes out of the mouth of the Hare Krishna’s is samsara dava, it describes it all, samsara-davanala-lidha-loka, (Gurv-astaka) the present day situation is described in just one line, samsara-davanala, this world is davanala, is on fire, getting burnt. What is the news? And that happens more in this age of Kali.
Yudhisthira Maharaj was asked by yaksa, in Mahabharata, some many many questions. kim ascaryam – what is the most wonderful thing, one of the questions that many of you probably know. But he also asked, what is the news, ka vartah. What is the news and he said, the news in this age of Kali or all the ages in fact, this whole universe is like a big pot and these tapa traya, tapa means also heat, tapa traya, the heat caused by adhidaivika, adhy?tmika and adhibhautika miseries. And all the living entities are in this pot, are being cooked, or deep fried (laughter) and three, tapa traya is also there and from the top the sun rays are there, and they are all being boiled and deep fried. If you are asking for what is the news, this is the news. (Laughter) This is the news. Yudhisthira Maharaj says this in Mahabharata. This is the news.
“kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah

kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet” (SB 12.3.51)
So Sukadeva Goswami in this part of Bhagavatam here does describe the symptoms of this age of Kali and he has few chapters, he is talking this defect, flaw after flaw after flaw. And then he said ok I better, just to cut the long story short, then he says kaler dosa-nidhe rajan, this age of Kali is dosa-nidhi, full of faults but, but yes what is that but, he is going to change the topic or something different, kintu prabhor yah, but. So what is that, what is that, kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-bandhah param vrajet (haribol) kirtanand eva, again eva is there, as eva is used here in this verse kirtanena eva, so there also says.
As harer namaiva, hareh nama eva, harer namaiva, only, merely, only, kaler dosa nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya, then again not just any kirtan, any name, krsnasya kirtana, not Kali kirtana, Durga kirtana, this kirtana, that kirtana, then committing offenses against the Holy name one of the, second offense. No. krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet that person will be freed from, he will be mukta from mukta-sangah, sanga means attachment to this world.<dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate” (BG 2.62)
And this world as we wander, as we contemplate on this and that, immediately first product, first outcome is sanga, sangas tesupajayate, you develop attachment and many more things to follow. So here says,
“sangas tesupajayate sangat sanjayate kamah”(BG 2.62)

No I am not going back there. kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet
One becomes mukta, free from the sanga of this world, and he get into sadhu sanga, Krishna sanga, Mayapur sanga, ISKCON leadership sanga, these are all the right positive constitutional eternal sanga’s. You cannot be free from sanga, only difference is whether this one or that one, take a pick. So sanga, attachment must be there.
So being attached to this material world, I am the body, not knowing the essence of the body, as it says sara-bhaginah, those who know the essence they worship this age of Kali. The essence of this body, the purport says there is the soul and then there is the Supreme Soul and we have to be attached to that Supreme Soul, getting attached to the Supreme Soul. And that is called yoga, bhakti-yoga and that is the perfection. (Gauranga)
So the Lord appeared. Time and tide waits for none, its moving, its already there. I wish I had so many mouths to speak in a short time. I have but one, Brahma should be cursed. Just see he has only given one mouth. During prasadam also we feel, (laughter) we wish we had so many mouths. But at least I have bigger eyes than my stomach, that’s a good thing, bigger eyes than stomach.
So Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His appearance, His presence in this age of Kali makes all the difference. Reason this age of Kali becomes worshipable, well there is one more thought, in fact I should be adding, which is not my thought, but Karbhajana muni has said that even the, krtadisu praja rajan (SB 11.5.38), even the residents of the previous ages, Satya yuga and Dvapara, they pray oh please oh please could we, kalau khalu bhavisyanti (SB 11.5.38) could we appear in the age of Kali? They stand in a queue, they offer this prayer, this is their hearts desire. We want to be born in the age of Kali, especially after Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears, and then Srila Prabhupada appears (haribol) and then there is the sankirtana movement, things are moving then. Then we want to appear. So the citizens of previous ages also have special prayer for their advent, their appearance, their birth, in the age of Kali.
“Narayana-parayanah bhavisyanti” (SB 11.5.38) I mean this is the good news part, that there is every hope and arrangement that in this age of Kali devotees who dedicate their lives to the service of Lord Narayana will be plenty of them here in this age of Kali.
Our Srila Prabhupada I was just reading one letter, and he was writing to his disciple, he said, “actually you are all born”, he addressed letter to one devotee but then he was addressing all those who were devotees during Prabhupada days and this could be applicable to all those who are assembled here or wherever they are right now.
“You are all born to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world..” (Haribol). Prabhupada took that way ‘You are born to spread this Krishna consciousness all over the world.’ And then I was talking of letters, not letter, this is a purport, in another purport Fifth Canto Prabhupada writes, “therefore this (meaning this Mayapur) is the best among all the places in the universe (Haribol). The Krishna consciousness movement has established its center in Mayapur, birth site of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to give men the opportunity to go there and perform a constant spiritual festival of sankirtana yajna.” (Haribol)
Now we have center, we have center in Mayapur now. Oh you all come, you all come, sraddhavan jana he, sraddhavan jana, same mood, same mood, sraddha, oh faithful people. This announcement, Bhaktivinoda Thakur is making this announcement, patiyache nam-hatta jivera karana. Nityananda Mahajana has opened the market place of the Holy name. Please come, please come and get the product, buy the, do the shopping. What price? What are the prices? sraddhavan jana he, that’s all it takes, sraddhavan jana he, sraddhavan jana. (Nadiya Godrume, Gitavali)
Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this age of Kali not far from here, how far away from here, next door, few hundred meters away, not even half kilometer away, Lord appeared five hundred and twenty eight years ago, on Gaura Purnima day He appeared and with His advent the age of Kali became worship able as Mahaprabhu performed sankirtana all over, everywhere.
“udilo aruna puraba-bhage dwija-mani gora amani jage,
bhakata-samuha loiya sathe, gela nagara-braje” (Arunodaya Kirtan 1, Gitavali)
He would gather His devotees and that dwija-mani the top most Brahmin Vaisnava, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is playing that role, and He would gather and perform sankirtana.
‘tathai tathai bajalo khol, ghana ghana tahe jhajera rol, (Arunodaya Kirtan 1, Gitavali)
Mridangas, hand cymbals,
“preme dhala dhala sonara anga, carane nupura baje” (Arunodaya Kirtan 1, Gitavali)<br />
And His golden form ajanu-lambita-bhujau samkirtanaika-pitarau karuna-avatarau, that Lord, vande jagat priyakarau karuna-avatarau (Invocation prayers of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita)
He is dancing with tinkling jingling bells around His ankles, nupura baje and He danced and danced and chanted and danced. He performed that sankirtana, come on, come on join, come on.
He did that in Jharkhand forest also where He would perform there was, because His mercy is causeless mercy. sthanasthana nahi vicara patrapatra nahi vicara, where to perform, where not to perform, no consideration, anywhere, everywhere, even in the forest He performed sankirtana and the animals joined. The birds were joining, some tigers were still sleeping. (laughter) The Lord said, get up! And tiger opened eyes, oh! Get up! And immediately jumped and begins singing and there is also deer next to tiger rubbing shoulders (laughter) and walking with a great pride and singing and dancing.
And Mahaprabhu noticed after some time during that sankirtana procession that tiger and deer they were embracing (Hari Haribol). That was the first scene. Next scene was tiger and deer they were kissing each other (laughter). And Mahaprabhu He was on the way to Vrindavan, half way through, Jharkhand forest. Mahaprabhus stops there – oh! Vrindavan dhama ki jaya! This is Vrindavan. I have reached Vrindavan.”
Vrindavan is the place where krsnavarnam krsna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna is talked about, Krishna is described, His glories are sung, without no envy, no hatred. Even animals forgot, the born enemies of each other, no enmity, no, just chanting and dancing and appreciating, embracing, that’s the mood, that’s the mood of the sankirtana movement and we could say oh Mahaprabhu also, we would like Mahaprabhu to say well, that was Jharkhand forest and here is already Mayapur but as we perform sankirtan and Lord is so much pleased with our spirits, no envy. Of course He has said
trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada harih (Siksastakam 3)

Kirtana, constant kirtana is possible, constant kirtana means you have become eligible to return to Krishna’s abode because what goes on there is nothing different kirtanayah sada harih is all that they do in the spiritual sky, in the spiritual world. So here we practice, practice, practice, sadhana and then some bhava, prema. We are liking to chant and dance and so we become eligible.
And this is worshipping the Holy name and this kirtaniyah sada harih, amanina mana-dena part is there. So not only, Lord likes His devotees to be loved and served and worshipped by us. I only love the Lord? The Lord says you are third class. No, no my Lord I will love and serve the devotee of Your devotee! Oh! Then you are My devotee. This is Lords.
bhaja gauranga kaha gauranga laha gaurangera nama re
jei jan gauranga bhaje, sei hoy amara prana re
This is also the mood of the sankirtana movement. Bhaja gauranga, worship gauranga, kaha gaurangera nama, and all that, chant the names of Gauranga Gauranga, which is not different from
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Jei jan gauranga bhaje, jei jan, those devotees, people, Jei jan bhaja gauranga bhaje, sei hoy amara prana, they are my life and soul, they are my goal, they are my masters, I serve them also, I worship them. So both the Lord and the Lord’s devotees are to be worshipped, to be served, this way. No offenses committed, this is positive of saying no offense, committing offenses against, offending Vaisnavas is an offense so, number one, we get lots of opportunity to commit offenses but serve and love.
Srila Prabhupada gave us this Mayapur festival and he gave us every, he gave us Gauranga, he gave us dhama, revealed this dhama unto us, and invited the whole world starting from 1972 and year after year after year. Only bhajana kutir in 1972, and then 1973 Lotus building, then 1975-76 Long building called chakra right, longest building in Bengal at one time. Then some more buildings and this temple and then more buildings and now TOVP ki jaya!
Temples are getting packed. The thought was this is not a crowd, this is assembly of devotees, too much crowd. This should not be the mood, crowd, it is not a crowd. This is, devotees have congregated, assembled for further festival. Crowd is, you will find in Bengali market or Chandni Chowk has a crowd, means undesirable people, crowd, too much crowded here. But this is assembly of, association of devotees, more the merrier, more devotees happy devotees. There’s this one of the slogans of GBC’s, more devotees happy devotees.
So TOVP is also here, so this is not big enough. You are seeing ocean of devotees here but not big enough temple. So every temple was not big enough, that kutir was not big enough, and then Lotus building was not big enough. I think where Srila Prabhuapda is this is where Radha Madhava facing that way, that was part of the temple small, where this exhibit that was the temple hall, the Caitanya exhibit inside and expanded four times bigger then it became full. And when we hear that temple is going to it accommodate 10,000 devotees, (haribol) but for how long? (Laughter)
Bhakti Purushottama Maharaj was saying this year we have 10,000 devotees already and he was saying Maharaj from now every year there will be 10,000 devotees (haribol) and more. Temple is getting bigger, movement is spreading, more and more devotees are coming, this is our Mecca right Mayapur. All Muslims they must go to Mayapur, no Mecca! They will come one day. So all followers of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu must come to Mayapur.
So they are coming, Russians are coming, everyone is coming. And so you are all welcomed and I also like to greet each one of you present here, otherwise no opportunity, I have microphones so I can greet. Welcome all of you and well, have a good time. Are you having a good time with the Kirtan Mela? (Haribol)
How many of you have come for the Kirtan Mela? (Haribol) that’s everybody. How many of you have come for the 10th anniversary of the Panca Tattva installation? (Haribol) same party How many of you have come for the silver jubilee, 25th anniversary of the Parikrama? (Haribol) few less.
So you are welcome and enjoy this festival.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Sri Pancatattva ki jaya!
Radha Madhava ki jaya!
Nrsimhadeva Bhagavan ki jaya!
Gaur premanande!




Arjuna’s lamentation

Venue: Mayapur, March 1st, 2011 Reading from Bhagavad-Gita As it is, Chapter 2, text no.9, Bhagavad-Gita was spoken in morning and we are hearing in the evening (Maharaj addressing a devotee in Bengali “Bosun, Bosun”). So we have seen the Lord. Yes! You have seen the Lord? Yes! Where is He? Where is He? Where is He? Did you see Him today? Are you seeing Him now? (A devotee answers Lord is everywhere, maharaj say “bhagvan samne ashen ki na ashen” (laughter). So we all like see Him, we all like see Him. It is also very important that we hear Him. People like to see Him but not hear Him. We should come to the temple to see the Lord and hear the Lord.

So we have seen Him, He is standing right before our eyes. Please you takes darshan, please look ‘Ghanshyam’, please look ……look… Jay Radha Madhav Astasakhivrund ki……………………….. …….Jay!!! In fact we will see Him more by hearing; the way to see the Lord is Krishna not with the eyes but in fact with the ear we see more than with our eyes.

We have visitors sitting; we have some guest also with us, so we welcome them all the devotees and guests. We said Krishna spoke Bhagavad-Gita in the morning, not this morning some five hundreds ago in Kurukshetra, He spoke ‘Bhagavad-Gita’ during early morning hours. You all agree? He spoke in the morning not during lunch or after His diner He spoke in the morning, sunrise sun was rising in the east. Army had already arrived and there were camps, two camps Pandav camp, Kaurav camps and as in the rule for Dharmaudh at sunrise they commence the battle. It goes all day long and then at sunset full stop.  So that particular morning it was also ‘Ekadashi’ the name is also there of that Ekadashi Mokshada Ekadashi.

So we know who spoke? Where He spoke? What time He spoke? What did He spoke? Everything is very clear.  So here in the temple every day we read one verse, one shlok, one statement from the Lord. In fact Krishna begins His speech, His dialogue, His conversation with Arjuns in the 2nd chapter of Bhagavad-Gita. 1st chapter of Bhagavad-Gita is also Bhagavad-Gita but it is not technically song of Krishna or statements of Krishna, Arjuna and another’s have spoken more in the 1st chapter. And then Sanjaya also speaks makes his comment, Sanjaya is also. There were 3 parties who were listening to Bhagavata-gita simultaneously. Arjuna was of course It was meant for Arjuna it’s also meant for you. And as Krishna – Arjuna dialogues was happening in Kuruksetra, sanjay also able to hear in Hastinapur in same time, durdarshan, durvani, television. There are two parties and 3rd one there was a tree not for from where Krishna – Arjuna dialogues was on seated in the chariot very next to very close to the chariot there was a tree akshya vat tree is still there. You could go see that tree even today the tree is standing even tree has become immortal by hearing Bhagavat-gita, what to speak of us. Sanjay is  also one of the speakers of Bhagavat- gita or communicator.

So todays verse is spoken by Sanjaya, Sanjaya uvach: “Evam uktva hrsikesah gudakesah parantapah, na yotsya iti govindam uktva tusnim babhuva ha” (B.G 2.9)

Sanjay uvach- Sanjay said, Evam – thus, uktva-speaking, hrishikesham – unto Krishna, master of senses, Gudakesh- Arjuna master of curbing ignorance, parantapaha – of chastiser of enemies, na yotsye – I shall  not fight,  iti- thus, evam, govindam- unto Krishna, the giver of pleasure to the senses uktva-saying, tusnim-silent, babhuva- became, ha-certainly.

So Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna chastiser of the enemies, told Krishna “Govinda, I shall not fight,” and fell silent.

Purport: Dhrtarastra must have with very glad understand that Arjuna was not  going to fight and was instead leaving the battle field for the begging profession  but Sanjaya disappointed him again relating that Arjuna was competent to kill his enemies (parantapaha). Although the Arjuna was, for the time being overwhelmed with false grief due to family affection, he surrendered unto Krishna, the Supreme spiritual master as a disciple. This indicated that he would free from false lamentation resulting from family affection and would be enlightened with perfect knowledge of self realization or Krishna consciousness and would then surely fight. Thus Dhrtarastra’s joy would be frustrated, since the Arjuna would be enlightened by Krishna and would fight at the end.

Evam uktva hrsikesah gudakesah parantapah, na yotsya iti govindam uktva tusnim babhuva ha” (translation repeated)

So Srila Prabhupada is pointing out in this purport when Dhrtarastra heared or he is hearing now. Sanjaya is speaking Dhrtarastra is right there hearing him and Arjuna is declaring, the declaration, the decision of Arjuna is beginning communicated to Dhrtarastra by Sanjaya. “na yotsya” I shall  not fight and he is addressing Govinda, Oh! Govinda I shall not fight. He said this much and tusnim babhuva became silent. It’s good news for Dhrtarastra (laughs) that Arjuna is not going to fight. Oh! That’s wonderful and that what we were looking forward to Arjuna is going to fight my children would be spared or they would be become victorious if Arjuna did not fight.

But in this verse, Sanjaya is he is talking to Dhrtarastra, he is describing Arjuna as “parantapah”. He is a chastiser of enemy and Srila Prabhupada in this purport he is pointing out yes! Temporarily he has been overwhelmed by affection, family affection, family ties “moha”, illusion but as he would be listening to Krishna, becoming his disciple and then coming out and then he would, chastising ultimately chastising, fighting, killing enemies and becoming victories.

Arjuna has come on the scene with the determination to fight, seated in a very special chariot. Shlok “tatah svetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitua” (B.G. 1.14) The 1st chapter says – white horses were pulling the “mahati syandane” very special expensive, nicely carved chariot “madhavah pandavas caiva” and in that chariot 2 personalities are sitting Madhava and Pandava and this Pandava is Arjuna “divyau sankhau pradadhmatuh” and soon both of them they sounded, they blew their transcendental conch shell. Krishna blew his conch shell called “Panchyajanya”. The name of Arjuna’s conch shell? “Devadatta dhanajaya”. Devadatta was the name of conch shell and there are names of other Pandavas conch shells are also mentioned. So Arjuna was very much eager to fight. So before beginning to fight he was desirous to see his enemies. Please show me who they are? Who do they think they are? They would fight with me, please bring my chariot forward.

“senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me cyuta” (B.G. 1.21)  Arjuna says senayor ubhayor madhye in between two enemies “ratham sthapaya” please get my chariot situated in between two armies. Immediately Parthsarathi, Lord Krishna has become the chariot driver of his devotee. In his left hand, He has the ropes of the horses. Lord is having big “cabuk” and He started taking the chariot forward. So soon the chariot was in between the two armies, closer to enemies’ camp. And Arjuna is seeing who has come who has assembled? That time as Arjuna in observing the armies, enemies camps, enemies. Krishna says pasyaitan just see “pasyaitan samvetan kurun iti” (B.G. 1.25) all those who have assembled here are none but the Kurus. Lord is giving some hint to Arjuna oh! You wanted to see, just see who has come to fight with you. Or you have to fight with Kurus they are Kurus, you are also Kuru same family wake up Arjuna take note of this Arjuna. Not only Arjuna seeing but Lord is also showing, getting his attention just see, just see. Kurus have come to fight with, you, same family.

So by seeing and by hearing the whole chemistry inside, within had changed very fast. His blood was boiling; take my chariot he was getting ready, sharpening his arrow. But now as he has seen and also heard from Krishna just 5 words “pasyaitan samavetan kurun iti” (B.G.1.25) this 4, 5 words these are the only words Krishna speaks in 1st chapter of Bhagavad-Gita nothing more, nothing less. Then Arjuna begins trembling, his body is shaking. “sidanti mama gatrani” (B.G.1.28) my body is trembling, mukhama parisusyati my mouth is drying up. “ gandivam” –dhanushya (B.G.1.29) the bow is slipping right out of my hands. Can you fight with you shaking hands? Can’t fight? You have to be very steady focused, motionless. So, so many things are happing to his mind, whole body transformations are there and then Arjuna he is also thinking, he is expressing himself now.

“na ca sreyo nupasyami hatva sva-janam ahave”(B.G.1.31) I don’t see any benefit, no sreyo, no long term benefit really by killing “hatva sva-janam ahave” in this horrible battle, killing our own family members. I don’t see any benefit and I am not interested.

“na kankse vijayam krsna na ca rajyam sukhani ca”(B.G.1.31) Arjuna is making very clear, I don’t want kingdom, no happiness. I am not interested in this and then Arjuna keeps on talking more and more and more. So many concerns what about this dharma and what about jati dharma? What about kula dharma? What about this and that? So many dharmas, so many concerned, so many issues. So with each additional idea that he presents, he is deviating more and more deviation, this is the way to go, but with each idea he is turning away from Lord’s idea and soon he would be 180* and this is  what is the verse “tusnim babhuva” I am not going to fight. The fighting this was Lord’s idea and Lord’s desire, Lord’s plan. “paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrutam dharmasamsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge” (B.G.4.8) I appear, this is the purpose for which I appear, this is Dharma yudha and this meant to establish Dharma, and to protect the devotee like you Pandavas and to kill the miscreants this is the vision of the Lord, the purpose of this advent. But now Arjuna is not showing any interest in his plan or vision or desire of the Lord.  Vasudev ki jai……………..

So again also at the end of the 1st chapter Arjuna he sits down, making it clear that I am not going to fight. Sometimes the bulls or buffalo, he buffalo, not she buffalo. Pulling the cart and big load and its summer season and its hard for him to pull further. Sometimes the farmer he is beating the buffalo, he is trying to push or pull more him forward, when the he buffalo doesn’t wants to move and wants to make it clear what does buffalo do? He sits down (laughs) he makes very clear statement ok this is it now you know my dear farmer I am not going to move. The last statement of the 1st chapter was very similar also and also.

Spoken by Sanjaya “evem uktvarjunah sankhye rathopastha upastha upavisat, visrjya sa-saram capam soka-samvigna-manasah” (B.G.1.46) sanjaya said

Radha madhva ki jai………………………….

Arjuna having thus spoken on the battlefield cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot his mind overwhelmed with grief. So as Arjuna was talking to Lord what about this? What about this dharma? He was thinking he would convince him. Arjuna was expecting yes….yes…yes fine what you said is exactly right Arjuna I agree with you forget this battle lets have breakfast. (Laughs).

As Arjuna was talking and talking and talking the 1st chapter is like Arjuna –gita not Bhagavad-Gita. So Arjuna- gita,  song of Arjuna. So he was thinking that oh! This did not work now, I will say something more this statement will convince the Lord. If not this, that one probably the Lord would say or that’s fine forget this battle lets go have breakfast.

So Arjuna is sitting in the chariot making it very clear that he is not going to fight. Infact Arjuna begins “ashrupurna kulekshanam” he is in tears Arjuna in tears. Could you imagine, Arjuna is full of compassion and depressing mind, eyes full of tears. Now the 2nd chapter, 2nd verse this is where Krishna begins talking. 1st thing that Krishna had to say was, Arjuna was expecting Lord is going to praise my statement, appreciate what I have said. Congratulation well done, well spoken Arjuna. But that was not the case instead Lord said “kutas tva kasmalam idam” kutas tva =where from kasmalam idam all that you have spoken, that-idam. Kasmalam=all this rubbish. Ok where in the dustbin where is dustbin (laugher) it should be dumped in the dustbin. This is Lord’s comment observing on all that Arjuna had to see Arjuna was thinking I am speaking something very intelligent social concern this issue, that issue, family, tradition.

Infact when people read 1st chapter they hear Arjuna speak or they read what Arjuna has to say they kind of agree with Arjuna. Forget all other people when you read it for 1st time, I used to when I was reading chapter Arjuna statement this makes sense its right carry on Arjuna yes yes go on  speaking I was kind on Arjuna ki jai…..but Lord doesn’t say Arjuna ki jai (laugh). So then there are more statements then Arjuna again speaks and then they become quite and that is today’s verse. And then toward the end of Bhagavad-Gita. Lord is talking and concluding, saying “sarvadharma paritajya………… (B.G.18.66) what? Give up these varieties of religion. Why is He talking of this? “sarva dharman” what is the connection? Why Krishna says Arjuna “sarvadharman parityaja” you give up all varieties of religion, why? Is this in Bhagavad-Gita context or there is some other connection. Right here in the 1st chapter all the dharmas, some of the dharmas, Arjuna has mentioned what about this? What about that? And Krishna says “give it up” these thoughts. Lord accept my dharma not your dharma. I think, according to me, it’s my opinion; “give this up” this is all gambling, it all mental speculation and gambling but this a bigger gambling – mental speculation, I think according to me. Arjuna is talking in 1st chapter. My opinion and Krishna says give it up.

So the 1st word in Bhagavad-Gita is.  What is the 1st word in Bhagavad-Gita? “Dharma” the first word is dharma and last word? “matir mama” last word is “mama”. 1st word – dharma last word – mama, put it together “mama-dharma” whole Bhagavad-Gita is what? My Dharma, my law, my Lords law, law of the Lord that’s dharma, religion, whole Bhagavad-Gita is dharma.

Give up other ideas and accept Krishna ideas, the original ideas, beneficial for everybody, living entities, and the family and the society and humanity. So we will stop here.

Srimad Bhagavad gita ki jai…………….!

Sri Krishna Arjuna ki jai………………….!

Sri Radha Madhava Ki Jai………………!

H. H. Lokanath Swami Ki Jai……………!




“Cheto darpa-na: the Mirror of Consciousness”

Venue: Mayapur, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.59 at

na yasya cittam bahir-artha-vibhramam

tamo-guhayam ca vishuddham avishat

yad-bhakti-yoga anugrihitam anjasa

munir vichaste nanu tatra te gatim

TRANSLATION

The devotee whose heart has been completely cleansed by the process of devotional service and who is favored by Bhaktidevi does not become bewildered by the external energy, which is just like a dark well. Being completely cleansed of all material contamination in this way, a devotee is able to understand very happily Your name, fame, form, activities, etc.

Maharaja: This chapter is called the chanting the song sung by Lord Shiva or Rudra-geeta

Maharaja reads purport by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada:

As stated in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.25):

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrit-karna-rasayanam katham

taj-joshanad ashv apavarga-vartmani

shraddha ratir bhaktir anukramishyati

Simply by the association of pure devotees one can understand the transcendental name, fame, quality and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has repeatedly said:

‘sadhu-sanga’, ‘sadhu-sanga’—sarva-shastre kaya

lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya (CC Madhya 22.54)

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Krishna consciousness. Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and by acting for Krishna.

SADHU SANGA CAN BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE:

Maharaja comments: Sadhu sanga doesn’t end. Being in the close proximity of sadhu or physically with the sadhu is only the beginning as it sounds here. Association continues beyond getting together. That association continues even if they depart and go away. While in physical association, the sadhu says, “chant Hare Krishna”.  So even though the sadhu departs, one who continues to chant “Hare Krishna” according to the sadhu’s instruction continues the association. The sadhu’s association is extended beyond the physical presence in such a case.

Krishna proudly declares says in Bhagavad Gita (10.11) – “Mat chittah mad-gata pranah, bodhayantam parasparam”. What do My devotees do, when they get together? They remind each other about Me, their conversation or ‘samvad’ is about Me. Thus when they get together, they converse about Me and when they depart, their association continues if they keep chanting the name and follow the instructions about the dos and don’ts. Beyond the class, or the get together or the ‘ista gostis’ or physical association, the devotees’ association continues if they continue to reflect and contemplate upon the discussions.

Maharaja continues to the purport by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, “Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: [Cc. Antya 20.12] by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external.”

SANSKRIT WORD FOR MIRROR IS “DARPA-NA”

Maharaja continues to speak: Have you heard the words, “dambha” and “darpa”?  They indicate false ego. Darpana means mirror. As you look into the mirror, what does it do? It increases your false ego. Darpana is meant for extending, enhancing, solidifying your darpa or false ego. Darpa-‘na’ is the word for mirror in Sanskrit. Darpana in Sanskrit means one that increase your false ego, solidifies your bodily concept.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Siksastakam says, ‘Cheto darpana marjanam’.  This ‘darpana’ that He is talking about in Siksastakam is kind of different from the word ‘mirror’.  He speaks of Chetana’s darpana.  By “Cheto darpana”, He refers to mirror of the consciousness.

Of course, devotees stop looking at the other mirror. Their mirror is so tiny, they do not want to look at their bodies, but look at only the tilak. So they move their mirror up and down over the tilak. If they use the mirror to look at their own bodies, there will soon be competition. While comparing with others’ beauty, they will assure themselves – I am not less beautiful! And of course, as conditioned souls, they will become envious of the Lord, and also envious of the beauty of the Lord.

Lord has blooming lotus eyes, reaching up to ears “karna paryantam”. Gauranga’s eyes reach His ears. Krishna’s eyes, Radha’s eyes are blooming, wide open, because Krishna wants to look at Radha rani and Radha rani at Krishna. So just a little opening is not enough. So He keeps opening His eyes, so He can drink the beauty of Radha rani. They compete with each other in wide opening of Their eyes. Thus Their eyes get opened up to the ears. When we look in the mirrors, especially ladies look at the mirror; they want to extend their eyes also to reach their ears by using the brush and makeup etc.

Thus, “Yasyatma buddhih,  kunape tri-dhatuke” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.84.13). One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air is strengthening his concept of “I am the body”. So a devotee in fact stops looking into the other (regular) mirror or stops looking at his own image in the other (regular) mirror. When that mirror is out, then the remainder of the  mirror is that of the chetana or the  mirror of consciousness –then  he is able  to look at his real ‘self’, the Supreme Self, and his relationship with the Supreme Lord – everything can be seen into that mirror of consciousness.

But that has to be planned so that one is able to throw the regular mirror, or stop looking into the mirror, and appreciate one’s own beauty – then only it is possible to look into the mirror of consciousness from deep within. Cleansing of the mirror of consciousness takes place, as one minimizes his bodily concept of false ego. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has specifically recommended this “cheto darpana marjanam”.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: [Cc. Antya 20.12] by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external.

REALLY CLEANSED MIRROR OF CONSICOUSNESS- SRILA RUPA GOSWAMI:

Maharaja continues to speak: in this way, he becomes free from false ego. In Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.31 Prahlada maharaja said, “Bahir artha manina (considering external objects as valuable)”. Bahir means external. Artha means something meaningful. For example economic development is meaningful. So bahir artha manina – everything that is external is meaningful to the people. This is Prahalad maharaja talking to his father. They just only think that everything else (external or bahir artha) – all that is out there is so very important, meaningful and useful.

Here in this verse, it says Bahir artha vibramam – consciousness is disturbed by this bahir artha resulting into bewilderment. The purport says that by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu met with Rupa Goswami and Anupama in Prayag, He saw in them zero ego, absolutely no ego. These two personalities were holding straw in their teeth – dante trina dhari. They were literally holding the straw in their teeth which is a symbol of extreme humility.  At that time, Mahaprabhu was surrounded by large crowds of people at the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Even though it was not time for flooding of the rivers, Mahaprabhu was flooding that region with the love of Godhead and all the people were drowning in that flood of love of Godhead. So these two personalities, Rupa Goswami and Anupana were standing away from Mahaprabhu at a distance. Finally when they found Caitanya Mahaprabhu by Himself, they went near and offered the praise to the Lord, “Namo maha vadanyaya Krishna prema pradayate, Krishnaya Krishna Caitanya namne Gaura tvishe namah”. (C.C. Madhya 19.53) – “O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisance’s unto You.” They stood up with folded hands with their bodies trembling, tears gliding the cheeks and then they fell down into the dust of His feet and again stand up with trembling bodies and tears and repeatedly fall down. This went on for many times. Vallabhacharya had come to meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu to invite Him to his home.  So Mahaprabhu introduced Rupa and Anupana to him, saying that these two Rupa and Anupama – they all always chanting the names of Krishna. The holy name is always dancing on their tongues. Immediately they again started offering obeisance’s. Hearing this Vallabhacharya got up and wanted to go near where Rupa and Anupana were sitting. But these two got up and started running away saying, no don’t touch us, we are not worthy, untouchable etc.

I was amazed when I was reading this part and laughed to myself while comparing my humility with Rupa goswami and Anupana.  Their consciousness is purified – cheto darpana marjanam! In fact, we are lowly, untouchable – asprishya. Association of such devotees is useful for purifying our consciousness.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: When one is influenced by the external energy of the Lord, his heart is impure. When one’s heart is not pure, he cannot see how things are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. “Idam hi vishvam Bhagavan ivetaro” (SB 1.5.20). He whose heart is purified can see that the whole cosmic manifestation is but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently. Therefore by sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure in heart.

IN ‘SAT’ SANGA, THE SAINTLY PERSON GIVES ASSOCIATION OF KRISHNA:

Maharaja continues to speak: In one of the lectures of Srila Prabhupada, a devotee was reading a part from Lord Kapila’s instructions and Prabhupada said, why people complain that they have not seen God? Do they not see the sun shining? If they see the sunshine, do they not see God. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, Prabha asmi shashi suryayo.. (BG 7.8 – I am the light of the sun and the moon);  raso aham apsu Kaunteya – I am the taste in water. Once in Juhu temple when Prabhupada was giving a lecture, he picked up his glass of water, took a little sip and said aha! That taste in water should remind you about Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness. Just drinking water can remind you about God. So a devotee makes a connection in everything.

There are only three things in the world – chit, achit and jiva – the Lord, His external energy and the living entity. Chit includes all spiritual kingdom, the Lord, His forms, pastimes, names. Achit is His external energy called material external manifestation. The third entity is the living entity. Only three things in this world exist – not many.

So this bahir artha vibramam chittam (as said in the current verse) means the external energy, the achit has entered his consciousness, heart, mind and intelligence. The idea is to get rid of this achit which causes bewilderment (vibramam) and just be with the chit – internal potency and the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada concludes in his purport – Therefore by sat sanga or association of devotees one becomes perfectly pure in the heart. He mentions in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.25 – “satam prasangat mama virya samvidau” (In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.) Lord Kapila in this verse says, that among the special association of devotees, ‘I’ become the topic of their discussion. They discuss about My power, My beauty and thus the nectar from that discussion purifies their hearts.

So when we associate with a saintly person, in fact the saintly person gives us the association of Krishna. He just presents Krishna, talks about Krishna saying here is Krishna. This is called “sat sanga” or association with “Sat”. Krishna is called “Sat-chit-ananda or Om Tat Sat. Krishna is that “sat” or satyam. Satyam Param Dhimahi (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1 – I meditate upon the absolute truth, who is Krishna).

When Lord Krishna was in the womb of Devaki, the demigods started offering prayers to the Lord called garbha stuti. (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.26)

satya-vratam satya-param tri-satyam

satyasya yonim nihitam ca satye

satyasya satyam rita-satya-netram

satyatmakam tvam sharanam prapannam

(The demigods prayed: O Lord, You never deviate from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever You decide is perfectly correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. Being present in the three phases of cosmic manifestation-creation, maintenance and annihilation—You are the Supreme Truth. Indeed, unless one is completely truthful, one cannot achieve Your favor, which therefore cannot be achieved by hypocrites. You are the active principle, the real truth, in all the ingredients of creation, and therefore you are known as antaryami, the inner force. You are equal to everyone, and Your instructions apply for everyone, for all time. You are the beginning of all truth. Therefore, offering our obeisance’s, we surrender unto You. Kindly give us protection.)

So many times in this verse, they used the ‘satyam’ indicating the Lord.  Hence in the ‘sat-sanga’, the association of devotees, the truth or the Lord is presented or the Lord is made available.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: One who is pure in heart is never attracted by the external energy which urges the individual soul to try to dominate material nature. The pure heart of a devotee is never disturbed when he executes devotional service in the form of hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. In all, there are nine processes one can follow in the execution of devotional service. In any case, a pure-hearted devotee is never disturbed. The bhakti-yoga process must be carried out by avoiding the ten offenses one can commit while chanting the mahä-mantra and the sixty-four offenses one can commit while worshiping the Deity.

CHANTING HARE KRISHNA IS COMPLETE  WITH  VIDHI AND NISHEDHA OF SCRIPTURES:

Maharaja continues to speak: one part of the instructions is to chant Hare Krishna. The other part is avoiding offences. Chanting Hare Krishna is not enough; with that goes a supplement of avoiding offences. Rather the second part is equally or even more important than chanting Hare Krishna. Instruction is to chant Hare Krishna, but how do chant Hare Krishna? So vidhi and nisheda (dos and don’ts) of the scriptures make the instructions complete. Instruction is not complete unless you hear what not to do as well. Bhakti Vinod Thakur in his song says, “Aparadha shunya hoiya loha Krishna nam” – Being careful to remain free of offenses, just take the holy name of Krishna.  Thus chanting is not complete unless the other instruction of avoiding 10 offences is strictly followed.

Maharaja continues to read the purport: When a devotee strictly follows the rules and regulations, Bhaktidevi becomes very much satisfied with him, and at that time he is never disturbed by anything external. A devotee is also called a muni. The word muni means “thoughtful.” A devotee is as thoughtful as a nondevotee is speculative. The nondevotee’s speculation is impure, but a devotee’s thoughts are pure. Lord Kapila and Shukadeva Gosvami are also called muni, and Vyasadeva is addressed as Mahämuni. A devotee is addressed as muni, or thoughtful, when he purely understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The conclusion is that when one’s heart is purified by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses committed when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name, form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord.

AMAZING ARRANGEMENT FOR APPEARANCE OF SITA DEVI & RADHA RANI:  Today is Sita navami. There is Ram navami and there is Sita navami. Similarly there is Krishna Janmastami and Radha ashtami. What a coincidence – or what an arrangement!  What a connection!

Radharani’s and Sitadevi’s appearances are also amazing. Radha rani was found in a blooming lotus floating in Yamuna river. Vrishabhanu was attracted to the lotus and went near and found a child within the lotus. That was Radha rani. Something similar happened with Sitadevi’s appearance. King Janak was ploughing a field, his plough got stuck. He stopped and digged a little and found a container. Within that was Sita devi.

Hari bol.