Day 6 – May 28

Location – Sri Rangam (Tamilnadu, India)

Lord Shri Rama stayed on this planet for 11,000 years and we find the whole description in Ramayana. Shri Krishna stayed on this planet for 125 years. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed Lila for 48 years.

Here Sri Ranganath is performing pastimes daily in the form of deity with the Acharyas. Tirupati, Kanchipuram. Rameshvaram they all have become dham due to the presence of the Lord’s form as archa vigraha.  Tirupati Vaikuntha, Kanchipuram Vaikuntha, Sri Rangam Vaikuntha and Rameshvaram are Ayodhya. Yad gatva na nivartante. – Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita that one who comes to my dham, except you all, he does not want to go back.

There is Vaikuntha dwar (the Vaikuntha door) and whoever enters that on Vaikuntha Ekadashi gets transferred to Vaikuntha. From Vaikuntha you may go to Goloka, but do not go to Devi dham. Become Vaikuntha vasi. Become strong and then go ahead in life. Take the mood of Vaikuntha wherever you go. Do not degrade.

Srila Prabhupada left Vrindavan to preach in the western world, but his mind was always absorbed in remembering Vrindavan and Sri Sri Radha Damodar. Out of all the dham, most dear is Vrindavan. It is very unique. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also did South India yatra and he came here to Ramesvaram, Kanchipuram, Adi Kesava, Trivandrum, Kolhapur, and Pandharpur and moved ahead. Although he was going to these dham, His main objective was to establish naam sankirtana. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Sri Krishna Himself. Sri Krishna chaitanya radha Krishna nahe anya. He is Krishna so where would he stay. Thus His mind would always run towards Vrindavan. He accepted initiation from Ishvara Puri in Gaya. That time He wanted to go to Vrindavan. But could not go. Then he took sannyaas at the age of 24.

We are entangled in Maya – I and mine. In these four syllables there is whole Maya – aham and mama. My house, my wealth, my family, if nothing then – my dog.

But our kartavya (only duty) is Hari Kirtanam. Kartavyam hari kirtanam. What should I be doing – chanting. This is one important lesson of this yatra. Once you go back- do not forget this lesson. What is the use of running around in the yatra if you did not learn kartavyam hari kirtanam? If you have duties towards family etc. then do them also with this kartavyam hari kirtanam. If you cannot do this, then

gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat

daivana tat syn na pati ca sa syan na mocayed yau samupeta-martyum

One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worship able demigod. (SB 5.5.18)

If you have become guru, mata, pitas, then you have to liberate your dependents. You have to remove them from the jaws of death of this lifetime as well as future deaths. This is actual kartvya or duty towards your near and dear ones. If you do not do this then whatever you do, even animals do. Food, clothing shelter is provided by parents in every species.  Only human species can liberate their dependents. Dharmena hina pashubhir samanam without Krishna consciousness human being is equivalent to animal.

So keep these memories of yatra fresh by hearing, remembering, reminding each other of the yatra, tell others, kathyanatas ca maam nityam tushyanti ca ramanti ca.

Saints and acharyas have worshipped the arca vigraha of the dham and they have done many other works of preaching. This is the responsibility of Acharya. They are the representatives of the lord. Thus they advertise about the lord. Here is the lord so they advertise and then they write books, their realisations, they print. So in this dham Ramanujacharya preached almost 1000 years ago. After 5 years in 2017 is Ramanujacharya’s  1000 birth anniversary.  In 1017 Ad Ramanujacharya was born. So 2017 is 1000 th Birthday.

Acharya has vani and vapu. Even if they leave the body, they still remain amongst us in the form of their instructions, their messages. So Ramanujacharya’s body is still here. No other acharya has such darshan in the world. Tukaram does not even have a Samadhi. There are samadhis of so many acharyas. But Ramanujacharya is sitting right here smeared with saffron, sandal paste, camphor, sitting in lotus position. He is a very dear acharya. Very dear to the lord. When he was in Kanchipuiram, he was very dear to Varadaraja.

At that time the Acharya of Sri Rangam was Yamunacharya. He was the spiritual master of Yamunacharya. Of course he had many gurus – Shailapurna, Mahapurna, Goshthipurna many such saints. He took shiksha from Yamunacharya. When Yaminacharya left, there was no acharya in Sri Rangam. So the devotees and the other priests were thinking who will be the acharya after Yamunacharya. Ranganath thought if Varadaraj’s acharya could come here and take up the responsibility, it will be very nice. So this was the thought of devotees as well as the Lord Himself.

So the lord wrote a letter to Varadaraj Swami, please send Ramanujacharya to Sri Rangam. The letter was taken by the devotees. Varadraja read the letter but refused to send Ramanujacharya. He is dearer to us than our life and breath. So Varadaraj replied, sorry we cannot send him. So Ranganath devised a plan to bring Him here. He sent some devotees who are good singers and they performed for Vradaraja Swami by singing beautiful compositions and glorifications and dance. So they performed dance and singing in front of Varadaraj and he became very pleased.  He said ask from me whatever benediction you want,   I will give. The performers asked, are you sure you will fulfil your promise? Vradaraj said yes, why not, sure.

Please send Ramanujacharya to Sri Rangam. Varadaraj had not even thought that they would ask for Ramanujacharya. You can take Sridevi, Bhudevi or my crown, etc. But they did not want anything else. So although he did not want to agree, but to keep up to His name He had to agree.

So those devotees brought Ramanujacharya to Sri Rangam. In the evening it was time for the Lord to take rest. But Sri Ranganath immediately ran towards Ramanujacharya to welcome Him. But the utsav vigraha moves out only when there is palanquin. At night there were no preparations for a procession.  But the Lord insisted and the pujari had to carry him on his shoulders and the lord came out to greet Ramanujacharya. For 20-30 years he remained as the Acharya here.

We also visited the Jagannath Mutt during harinaam sankirtana. Murali Bhatta was telling that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu carved the deity of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra, which are now present in Jagannath Mutt. Sometimes we feel that there are so many topics that with just one mouth we cannot speak all these topics. Thus there are prayers by devotees, praying for thousands of mouths. Ananta shesha has thousands of mouths and He is glorifying Krishna with all those mouths. Near every mouth of Ananta Shesha there is a crowd to hear the glorification of the Lord. Every mouth is chanting a different topic – Krishna’s name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode,  then Ram Lila, description of Ayodhya, Vaikuntha, Goloka, so on and so forth. Advaitam achyuta anadi annat rupam.

Reading from CC-ML- 9.110

One time Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was discussing Krishna katha with Venkat Bhatt

Being a Vaisnava in the Ramanuja-sampradaya, Venkata Bhatta worshiped the Deities of Lakshmi and Narayana. Seeing his pure devotion, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very satisfied. Constantly associating with each other, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Venkata Bhatta gradually developed a friendly relationship. Indeed, sometimes they laughed and joked together. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told the Bhattacarya, “Your worship able goddess of fortune, Lakñmé, always remains on the chest of Narayana, and she is certainly the chastest woman in the creation. “However, my Lord is Lord Sré Krishna, a cowherd boy who is engaged in tending cows. Why is it that Lakshmi, being such a chaste wife, wants to associate with My Lord? (CC ML 9.109-112)

Venkat Bhatt might not be aware but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu knew that there is a forest called Belvan or Srivana in Vrindavan, where Lakshmi Devi is performing austerities to get the association of Krishna. Or wants entry in the rasa dance. She felt, can I also sometime play with the lord like the Gopis do.

“Just to associate with Krishna, Lakshmi abandoned all transcendental happiness in Vaikuntha and for a long time accepted vows and regulative principles and performed unlimited austerities.”(CC ML 9.113)

Still she could not get Krishna. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told him what the wives of Kaliya said.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then said, “‘O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kaliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of your lotus feet. Even the goddess of fortune, for this end, performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and observing austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how the serpent Kaliya got such an opportunity.’”  (CC ML 9.114)

So they felt great happiness that glories to our husband on whom Krishna has stepped. But although Lakshmi is performing austerities in Srivana since so many years, she could not receive this favour. The srutis personified also attained Krishna and they became Gopis. But Lakshmi could not attain. So Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Venkat Bhatt right here in Sri Rangam, what is the reason for this.

Venkat Bhatt could not give any answer to this so Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told some reasons. She is supposed to accept the dressing of the Gopis. Her opulent dressing will not work in this case. Gopis are not so bothered about their appearance. Once they hear the sound of Krishna’s flute, they just run towards Krishna as soon as possible. But Lakshmi is always dressing up very opulently and if flute vibrates, she will say keep playing, but I am not ready yet. So there is a difference between Gopi bhava and Lakshmi bhava. With Lakshmi bhava Narayan is attained, but to attain Krishna, much higher bhava is needed. So Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was making him understand that she does not accept Gopis bhava, and not just that, she also needs to follow in the footsteps of Gopis. Ei nivedana dhara sakhir anugata kara seva adhikar diye kara nija dasi -make me the follower of Gopis and Radharani  and give me the adhikar to do service.

Lalita vishakha adi jata sakhi vrinda, ajnanya koribo seva charanarvinda—when shall I go to serve Radha and Krsihna.  Whatever instructions they will give me I will do that service. So Lakshmi is finding it difficult to accept this anugatya – following in the foot steps of Gopis. Gopis are very innocent and simple by nature. But Lakshmi is sometimes strict. We know that from many pastimes.

In Chandrapushkarni, Lakshmi goes every day to pick flowers but because they are too high, lord Narayana steps on the branch and she can pick them. With these same flowers Lord Narayan decorates Lakshmi’s hair.

Near that Chandrapushkarni King Dharma Varma also performed austerities. It is here only that when the fish of Chandrapushkarni ate the remnants of Ramanujacharya, they left the fish body and attained their original four handed form and went back to Vaikuntha.

One should pray intensely at all these places. All prayers are fulfilled here. But we do not even know what to pray for. We must see how the pure devotee of the Lord prayed.

Kulashekhar alavar wrote the prayer krsna tvadiya pada pankaja. He was a king and then he gave up everything. His prayers are found in his book called Mukunda mala stotra. Srila Prabhupada wrote his commentary on this.  It is a famous work. Whoever will read this mukunda mala, they will obtain the topmost designation i.e. the dust of the lotus feet of the lord.

When Prahalda Maharaj was told to ask for a benediction, he said I am your servant and not a merchant.  If at all you want to give me something, then please take away all material desires from my heart.

Day 5 – May 27

Location – Sri Rangam (Tamilnadu, India)

(Reading from C.C. ML 9.82 –108)

A Vaishnava known as Venkata Bhatta then invited SriCaitanyaMahaprabhu to his home with great respect. Sri Venkata Bhatta took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home. After he washed the Lord’s feet, all the members of his family drank the water.  After offering lunch to the Lord, Venkata Bhatta submitted that the period of Chaturmasya had already arrived. Venkata Bhatta said, “Please be merciful to me and stay at my house during Chaturmasya. Speak about Lord Krishna’s pastimes and kindly deliver me by Your mercy.” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained at the house of Venkata Bhatta for four continuous months. The Lord passed His days in great happiness, enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Krishna’s pastimes. While there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath in the river Kaveri and visited the temple of SriRaìga. Every day the Lord also danced in ecstasy. (Cc.ml.9.82-87)

The lord would take bath in the same place where we took bath today at Kolidam. And across the bridge is the area where Ramanujacharya would take bath.  Under the bridge is the area where Yamunacharya, the spiritual master of Ramanujacharya would take bath. So Ramanujacharya chose a spot so that he would get the mahaprasad water from Yamunacharya’s bathing. We should also have taken bath much further.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would see Lord Ranganath every day. We are also doing so as long as we are her for three days. We were doing twice a day, morning and evening. Today the Lord came out in a beautiful procession accompanied by Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would chant and dance and He would not even realise that He is dancing; he would just dance so spontaneously out of prema avesa. Prema or Love would make Him dance.

The beauty of Lord Chaitanya’s body and His ecstatic love of God were witnessed by everyone. Many people used to come and see Him, and as soon as they saw Him, all their unhappiness and distress vanished. (cc.ml.9.88)

During those times in this dham two lords were residing simultaneously. One is lord Ranganatha and the other is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So people would take darshan of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Ranganath. Those who would see their beauty, their sorrow would go away.

Many hundreds of thousands of people from various countries came to see the Lord, and after seeing Him they all chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. When they would see Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu do kirtana they would also do kirtana. Indeed, they did not chant anything but the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and all of them became Lord Krishna’s devotees. Thus the general populace was astonished. (cc.ml.9.90)

Whenever they would open their mouth it was only for glorifying Krishna. Sevonmukhe hi jivhadau.

All the Vaishnava brahamanas residing in Sri Ranga-ksetra invited the Lord to their homes. Indeed, He had an invitation every day. Each day the Lord was invited by a different brahmana, but some of the brahmanas did not get the opportunity to offer Him lunch because the period of Chaturmasya came to an end. In the holy place of SriRanga-ksetra, a brahmana Vaishnava used to visit the temple daily and recite the entire text of the Bhagavad-gita. (cc.ml.9.94)

Vaishnava is superior to a brahmana.

The brahmana regularly read the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-gita in great transcendental ecstasy, but because he could not pronounce the words correctly, people used to joke about him. Due to his incorrect pronunciation, people sometimes criticized him and laughed at him, but he did not care. He was full of ecstasy due to reading the Bhagavad-gita and was personally very happy. (cc.ml.9.95)

He never cared for this. He used to be happy in his study.

While reading the book, the brahmana experienced transcendental bodily transformations. The hairs on his body stood on end, tears welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, SriCaitanyaMahaprabhu became very happy. (cc.ml.9.96)

He would sweat not out of heat but due to his ecstasy. Tear pearls from eyes and sweat pearls from the body.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the brahmana, “My dear sir, why are you in such ecstatic love? Which portion of the Bhagavad-Gita gives you such transcendental pleasure?” (cc.ml.9.97)

What do you understand that makes you so ecstatic, the Lord asked.

The brahmana replied, “I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gita correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master.” The brahmana continued, “Actually I only see Lord Krishna sitting on a chariot as Arjuna’s charioteer. Taking the reins in His hands, He appears very beautiful and blackish. (cc.ml.9.98)

The brahmana said, when I read Gita I get transferred to Kurukshetra and Kurukshetra appears in Sri Rangam and I see in front of my eyes the Lord with ropes and whip. I keep seeing Him as long as I read.

“While seeing Lord Krishna sitting in a chariot and instructing Arjuna, I am filled with ecstatic happiness. As long as I read the Bhagavad-gita, I simply see the Lord’s beautiful features. It is for this reason that I am reading the Bhagavad-gita, and my mind cannot be distracted from this.”

(cc.ml.9.101)

Therefore I do not feel like stopping the reading of Bhagvad Gita because I can see the Lord.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told the brahmana, “Indeed, you are an authority in the reading of the Bhagavad-gita. Whatever you know constitutes the real purport of the Bhagavad-gita.” (cc.ml.9.102)

You are the actual adhikari to understand Gita and this darshan that you get of the Lord is the essence of Bhagvad Gita. Bhagvad Gita study is for bhagvad darshan.

After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced the brahmana, and the brahmana, catching the lotus feet of the Lord, began to cry. (cc.ml.9.103)

He was very humble and was thinking that I am not qualified to be in His embrace. He just fell at His lotus feet and started crying. He was crying out of love.

The brahmana said, “Upon seeing You, my happiness is doubled. I take it that You are the same Lord Krishna.” (cc.ml.9.104)

Every day I used to experience immense bliss during Gita study, but today my bliss has multiplied. You are that same Rajjo dhar (One who holds the reins of horses) and You have come in front of me today.

The mind of the brahmana was purified by the revelation of Lord Krishna, and therefore he could understand the truth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in all details. (cc.ml.9.105)

His mind had become purified by the recitation of Bhagvad Gita and thus he could understand Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then taught the brahmana very thoroughly and requested him not to disclose the fact that He was Lord Krishna Himself. (cc.ml.9.106)

Do not disclose that you have realised me. Do not preach this in Srirangam. Please do not go to Venkat Bhatt’s house and tell them who I am. The Lord is trying to hide his greatness, His supremacy. But those who are not supreme are trying to show that they are supreme. Now days there are many Kalka incarnations. But they do not even know when to appear. They are supposed to take birth at the end of Kali yoga but they are appearing now.

That Brahman became a great devotee of Sri CaitanyaMahaprabhu, and for four continuous months he did not give up the Lord’s company. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained at the house of Venkata Bhatta and constantly talked with him about Lord Krishna. In this way He was very happy. (cc.ml.9.108)

He not only stayed and ate Prasad, but took pleasure in Krishna katha. And at that time Gopal Bhatt, the son of Venkat Bhatt, was 5- 6years old. Venkat Bhatt’s brother was Tirumal Bhatta.

Then in future he went to Vrndavan from Sri Rangam and became a great Acharya in Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. Tirumal Bhatta became Prabodhananda Sarasvati

Today we are very fortunate to have with us the 22^nd generation of Venkat Bhatt, Sriman Murli Bhatta. The name of his sons is Sri Rama Bhatt and Harish Bhatt and his wife is Ramaa Bhatt. It is a great glory that he has come amidst us and today he will be giving his association to us.

Day 5 – May 27, 2012
Location – Sri Rangam (Tamilnadu, India)

To chant attentively we must follow yam and niyama. Yam – that which will take you to Yamaraja. We are not ashtanga yogis but these things apply to us as well. Yama, Niyama, Asana – place where we sit and chant, Pranayam, Pratyahara- it is also a very important rule for those who chant. Objects of the senses are like food for the senses. Pratyahara means closing the doors of our senses. Keep a guard so that the sense objects cannot reach inside. Our intelligence will become guard. If we are intelligent then we can chant attentively. Chanting is not the task of a fool. Not that you use your intelligence only to earn money. In relation to yogi, Krishna says – nivatastha – a yogi should meditate internally. If you light a lamp in this room and all the windows are open, due to the wind the dipshikha will keep moving. Yogi has to make his inner chambers of the heart nirvata – free from all disturbances. There are nine gates in the body. Close all the door. Inside it is only you and your lord. Do not allow anyone inside and those who have entered they are also being defeated by shoes and brooms. Like our mind. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati would say every morning you must beat your useless thoughts with brooms and in the evening kick them out with the shoes. So this is pratyahara. No intake of unwanted things.

Chanting has to be done attentively. You have not been asked to do anything else in kaliyuga. Harer naameva kevalam. So this is the teaching of the Lord. These are not our own concoction rather the instructions of our parampara. Kaliyuga kevala naam adhara. There is only one prominent activity we are expected to do – and that activity we must bring to perfection – Mantra siddhi. Forget all other siddhis and miracles. Everything other than this is misleading.

Bhukti mukti siddhi kami sakale ashant Krishna Bhakta Nishkam at eva shant. So people go to siddha baba, no prema for the Lord. Mostly religion means bhukti, mukti. 1/3 karma kanda, 1/ 3 jnana kanda and they are all ashanta- disturbed. But Krishna bhakta is shanta. We have to become free from lust, means we have to establish love in the heart. Kick out mukti dharma, bhukti dharma, siddhi dharma. This is not pure bhagavat dharma, this is kaitava dharma.

In Srimad bhagvatam kaitava dharma is kicked out. No place for it. To save us from this cheating Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us harinaam sankirtana- pure love for Krishna. But is we chant faithfully but then also commit offences then we don’t get the result of chanting – attaining Krishna.

Srila Prabodhanand Sarasvati says-Vanchitosmi  vanchitosmi vanchitosmi na samsayah /vishvam gaura rase magnam sprasham api na adbhavat. Venkat Bhatt’s brother- Prabodhanand Sarasvati Thakur says before going to Vrindavan he did all prescribed rituals and duties. But without a doubt he feels cheated by them because they failed to award him any bliss. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Sri Rangam, and in his association the Gaura rasa that I received, Krishna prema pradayate, I woke up- jiva jago and plunged into the ocean of prema.

The world of Gaudiya Vaishnavas plunges in the rasa given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – madhurya rasa- samarpayitum unnata ujjaval rasa. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to give that ujjawala rasa, namamrita rasa. While the world of Gaudiya Vaishnavas was bathing in this rasa and becoming snataka snatakottara (graduating in the subject matter of Krishna Prema) that time we were in primary schools and were not moving ahead in life. I did not even get a touch of that rasa, says Prabodhanand Sarasvati.

This is movement is of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  This is the Yuga of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It started 526 years ago when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. He came to south India 511 years ago. He took sannyasa. In 2010 we celebrated 500 th anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu‘s sannyasa. He came to south after accepting sannyasa. He came to Srirangam also. Since then sankirtana movement started.

The paramapara of this dham is in the line of Ramanujacharya. One must always be connected with the sampradaya. Diksha and shiksha has to be from a bonafide sampradaya. Then Vaikuntha prapti (attainment of Vaikuntha) is possible. People outside sampradaya, at the most can reach heaven but, not beyond. Then there are seven layers of covering to the Bramhanda. So they can keep circulating up and down in the bramhanda. Those who are not connected to these paramparas and have not accepted mantras in these schools of bhakti and accepted the dos and the don’ts, for them there is no deliverance. Either they can go to heaven or at the most enter Bramhajyoti. The Karma kandis will go to heaven while jnana kandis will go to Bramhajyoti.

The Mayavadis believe-  Sarva kahlu idam brahma- all that exists is Bramha. Their knowledge is incomplete- there is Bramha, Parmatama and Bhagvan, half knowledge is very dangerous. For example, Abhimanyu knew how to enter the chakravyuh but did not know how to come out of it. Mayavadi and advaitvadi – they have half knowledge of the Absolute.

The tattva jnana of Shankaracharya is very dangerous. In our nation there are many who bend down to advaitavad including our Warkaris, and some saints like Jnaneshwar. But Ramanuja challenged advaitavad by his powerful preaching. Mayavadi Krishna aparadhi. They offend Krishna. Ramanujacharya preached vishishtha advaita.  So our 4 sampradaya acharyas have defeated Mayavad and fifth is Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya.

Sampradaya can be authorised only if you have commentary on Vedanta sutra. So Sripad Ramanujacharya wrote vishishtha advaita. And offered it to Mother Sarasvati.  She in return stamped it that this commentary will be famous as Sri Bhasya. The sum and substance of this was to prove that Vaishnava and Vishnu exist individually and eternally. Vaishnava never becomes Vishnu.

Mayavad was spread as per the Lord’s desire. Kalau brahmana rupina –Lord Shankar himself became Shankaracharya, because he wanted to defeat Buddhism which is even more dangerous- Voidism. Shankaracharya’s village is in Kerala.

Vaishnava siddhant teaches that we and Krishna exist individually and eternally. To be in Bramhajyoti means to just exist, no variety, no eating, no smelling, no talking to anyone. The way Ramanujacharya defeated Mayavad, all the Vaishnava acharyas had to fight with advaitavad.

Lord Buddha preached ultimately you have to attain zero. Shankaracharya said well not 0 but 1, we are all 1. If we are different then we are in Maya. We have to be 1.  When we will be free from Maya we will become bramha that’s all. Vaishnava’s kick out this liberation. They place their feet on the head of mukti and move ahead. With mukti, bhakti begins. Not that it is the conclusion of anything. Mayavadis oppose deity worship. Rupa or form of the Lord means Maya to them. Mayavadis do not know about Vaikuntha, Sachet, and Krishna’s abode. Goloka namni nija dhamni.

Beyond Kailas is Viraja River, beyond that is Bramhajyoti, it is nothing but the effulgence of the body of the lord. Some advaitavadi see the light and become Bramhaleena, emerged in the light.  But vaishnav go beyond heaven as well as Bramhajyoti.

So complete knowledge is in Gita and Bhagavatam, of course mayavadis also read Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam but they add their personal interpretations. Had there not been Sripad Ramanujacharya, how would have the deity worship started.

Gaudiya Vaishnava Parampara has taken lots of teachings from Sripad Ramanujacharya. There is lot of preaching of Mayavad. Nirguna. No qualities mayavadi do not know about the qualities of Srimati Radharani, Laxmi Devi. They do not know that the Lord is full of 6 opulences. Srila Rupa Goswami mentions 64 qualities of the Lord.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said mayavadi  bhasya sunile haila sarvanash. Your bhakti will be destroyed if you hear the commentaries of the Mayavadis because they oppose bhakti and want to become god themselves. This is a limitless false ego and envy, envy towards the Lord. All over there the world there is mayavad. The whole Islam is this Mayavad philosophy. Even within our Hindu dharma there are Mayavadis.  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also said karmakanda janankanda kevala visera bhanda.

Tuka mhane advaitachi vani naka majha kani–  Tukaram Maharaj says I don’t want to hear the advaita philosophy. We must understand who is who in this world.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became acharya himself and spread the Vaishnava siddhant. Then Srila Prabhupada came to spread Gauravani. He saved the western world from voidism and impersonlism. So Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu movement is spreading all over and all – Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya and Vishnuswami are very happy to see this philosophy spreading.

One time on padayatra, we met Shankaracharya who was very old and his speciality was he had never been on a vehicle. We were also padayatris and they also. He welcomed us very nicely, and although he was meeting so many people, as soon as he came to know that the Hare Krishna padaytaris have come he gave us preference. He spoke of New Vrindavan, about the goshala, the temple, etc. He asked us what you do during padayatra? We said we chant Hare Krishna maha mantra. Then he said ‘Let the holy name shine all over the world.’ Nowadays there is neither pure Mayavad nor pure Vaishnavism. In kumbha mela the Mayavadi tents show Rasa Lila dance from Vrindavana.

Sripad Ramanujacharya lived for 120 years. Out of those 80 years he stayed in Srirangam. Rest of the time in Kanchipuram, sometime in Tirupti and sometime in Melkote. He was not preaching alone. He had 700 sannyasi disciples. In our Hare Krishna movement we have 100 sannyasis all over the world. He had 12000 bramhacaries. He had many grihastha disciples also. We saw the pastime if Dhanurdasa in the drama performed the other day. He had many kings and aristocratic people as his disciples.

One time he was going to Tirupati and he sent message to one of his rich disciples about his arrival. As soon as he got the message he started preparations – stage loudspeaker, etc. But the one who had brought the message of Ramanujacharya, he did not even talk to him much. When this messenger returned Ramanujacharya asked were you welcomed nicely. The disciple replied that I was not even given a seat to sit nor was I offered water and food. Upon hearing this Sripad Ramanujacharya said I will not go there he cancelled that visit. Servant of the servants – this is the higher position. Our bhakti should reach Krishna’s servant.

Ramanujacharya, when he reached Sheshadri, he did not keep his foot on him. This is not Ordinary Mountain, this is Anantashesha himself. So he was not ready to climb the hill. So the devotees said if you will not come no one will come to Tirupati and we will have to close the worship and come down. Then who will serve the lord. Ramanujacharya went walking not by feet but crawling. Supported by his elbows and knees he climbed. Not just respecting balaji but respecting the mountain as well. All the process of worship in Tirupati, Kanchi, Srirangam and the 74 mathas is from Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. All this was established by Sripad Ramanujacharya. He was head priest for 20 years, settling the standards and process of deity worship.

One time a disciple in Tirupati said I have so many questions and we do not stay close to you, so who will answer my questions. Sripad Ramanujacharya made a deity of him, embraced it and gave it to him and said this deity will answer the questions. This deity is still in Tirupati.

One time there was a devotees named Shailapurna under whom Sripad Ramanujacharya studied Ramayan, he accepted him also as his spiritual master. He had many shikha gurus. One time Shailpurna, sent some prasadam for Ramanujacharya. Ramanujacharya became very humble, why you are bringing, you could have sent through someone junior. Yes I thought of doing so but, I did not find a person lower than me, so I thought let me deliver it myself.  Please accept this. Our consciousness is opposite. Being a devotee of the devotee. Vaishnava seva.

There was one Kanchipurna Acharya, who was such an exalted devotee that Varadaraj would talk to him. If someone would ask him for some advice or guidance, he would go to Varadaraj Swami and get the reply from Him. One devotee asked Kanchipurna Acharya please ask Varadaraj Swami, when will I attain the Lords’s lots feet. Kanchipurna said, I will ask and let you know. When he asked to Varadaraja Swami he asked who he is. He replied, he is my assistant. Varadaraja Swami said, and then he will attain me at the end of this life itself. Then he thought when I will get Vaikuntha prapti. Then kanchipurna asked about his own future so lord began to think and he side – not sure. So Kanchipurna thought to the devotee of devotee  he is ready to give place in Vaikuntha. But to me he is not sure.

We cannot have direct connection with the lord. Kanchipurna thought that I will have to serve a servant of Varadaraj. He relaxed his service  of Vardaraj and  went to Mahapurna  disguided as an ordinary person and asked if he can get some service in goshala. He started serving in the goshala and he could also get association of Mahapurna. One time it rained heavily and all his clothes got wet so he had to wear his sannyasa dress and he was caught.

So this mood of servant of the servant – trnad api sunicena give respect to the others. We may not get respect but give all respect to others. The contribution of Sripad Ramanujacharya we cannot even understand. We are not even aware of his activities, pastimes and mood.

Day 4 – May 26, 2012
Location – Sri Rangam(Tamilnadu, India)

(Maharaja began the lecture by the recitation of Madhurashtakam by Vallabhacharya.)
The lords’ gait is very sweet. During the procession of Lord Ranganath sometimes he walks like a swan, sometimes like an elephant, sometimes like a lion and eighteen such forms. It looks like Lord Ranganath Himself is making his palanquin carriers walk in His desired sweet way. It is said that Lord Rama also learnt to walk from Ranganath when Ranganath was in Ayodhya.  Onetime I saw a Rama Lila in Delhi organised by Sri Rama Kala Kendra they were walking just like Rama used to walk. 10 years ago I saw this Ram Lila and I can still remember because I never saw any human being walk in this way.

Lord’s sleeping is also sweet. Therefore, we have all come from far and wide to see the lord who is lying down on the bed of Ananta Shesh  as Sri Ranganath. His form is sweet and His heart is sweet as well.

Vallabhacharya is giving a unique realisation of his experience of Krishna. His flute is sweet as well as the dust of His lotus feet is sweet. His hands that are holding Venu (flute) are also sweet. The beautiful feet of the lord are also beautiful. Everything is sweet about the Emperor of sweetness.

Yesterday as our vehicle stopped in Sri Rangam, the first thing that we saw was a sign board that read ‘the footprints of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Sri Rangam for four days. This most pure dham – Sri Rangam is very rarely achieved. To reach here is not an ordinary achievement. We cannot reach here simply by buying a bus or train ticket. It’s not that cheap. This is a special favour of the Lord on all of us. This deity is here since the beginning of creation. Varadaraj also is the first deity in the creation, of course he is in sitting posture and Sri Ranganath is lying. This Dham is in the centre of river Kaveri that envelops the Dham from all sides.

So we are in Vaikuntha. Yad gatva na nivartante. One, who reaches my abode, does not return back to the material world. So please cancel all your bookings and your return tickets and you can manage to survive for a few days with that refund money. The lord has descended here from his Dham and this river is compared to Viraja River. Actually Viraja River flows between Vaikuntha and the covering of this material universe. One who reaches here, gets freed from reactions of sinful as well as pious activities. But Vaikuntha is beyond heavenly planets and earthly planet. This heaven and hell are duality. Vaikuntha is beyond duality. Some sample experience of heaven and hell is present on earth also. If someone goes to America he thinks he has reached heaven, thus there is always a long queue in front of American embassy. There are people with this mood – mor ei abhilasa America dese diyo vaas.

Most of the rituals of Hindu religion are processes to uplift ourselves to heavenly abodes. Devan deva yajo yanti. But we have come to that abode where the Lord resides. We have come to Vaikuntha. It is beyond earth and heaven. Here the lord reached in Treta Yuga. Before coming here He was in Ayodhya. He was brought to Sri Rangam from Ayodhya while Sri Rama was present in Ayodhya. This was some 10 lakh years ago. Since that time this town is here and the deity is here as well. Such exalted towns are present in this country.

One time I was in LA and they were celebrating the anniversary of LA. It was a very huge celebration. So I asked some assembled guests, how old LA is? They said it is very old city – 200 years old. Like a frog in a well. Can you compare a well and sea. Thus there can never be comparison between LA and Sri Rangam. Since thousands of years daily pilgrims are coming here and are getting benefitted by this Vaikuntha Dham and the glory and importance of this Dham.

Lord Brahma who is also our guru and Acharya wanted that lord may appear in his abode Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Such lord if He comes to my abode it will be so nice. Lord agreed to his prayers and resided as a deity in Satyaloka and worship began. He is not only chief engineer of this creation but also a great Acharya. We belong to the parampara which begins with bramha- bramha madhva gaudiya sampradaya.

We are going to south Indian temples and we are seeing such huge temples, these are remnants of Dvapara Yuga. Such temples were also in north India but they were all destroyed by the Muslims. The Muslims were stopped from coming to south India, thus there is more culture, rituals, elaborate worship that have been protected. Those who have protected this culture, we are very grateful to them.

Ramanujacharya made 74 such places to establish dharma. Religion is established by Krishna as well as Acharyas like Ramanujacharya. One time Ramanujacharya was begging to the Lord you are the sarnagat vatsal, please accept me. The Lord said, alright I accept you. The Ramanujacharya said, can you also please accept all the living beings.  Earlier the Lord had immediately replied, but later he thoughtfully spoke thus – whoever Oh Ramanujacharya will be grateful for all the work you have done to establish religion, if they will understand your work and admire it, to such people I will accept. Not directly.

So lord came to Bramhaloka from Kshirsagar in the form of Sri Ranganath. Lord Brahma worshipped Him. Also Suryadeva – Vivaswan did the worship of Sri Ranganath in Satyaloka. King Ikshvaku while ruling Ayodhya also wanted to worship Sri Ranganath in his kingdom of Ayodhya. He did austerities, so severe that Indra thought that he might take away my position and kingdom of heaven. Indra became worried and sent bramhastra. But Ikshvaku was meditating on Sri Ranganath, so Lord’s Sudarshan Chakra came and defeated the bramhastra. The lord became please with King Ikshvaku and agreed to descend to Ayodhya. After Ikshvaku many great kings appeared in his dynasty. King Dashratha was one of them. He did many Yajna’s including putreshthi Yajna. At the conclusion of the Yajna king Dasharath gave darshan of Sri Ranganath to all the assembled dignitaries.

King Dharma Varma, who was also present at the yajna, saw the opulent worship of Sri Ranganath by Dasharath. He also became inspired to serve the Lord and thought, ‘could the lord also come to my kingdom and accept my worship’. So the lord noted this desire of the king. The deity form is not just stone. He is lying down but he eats, sleeps, and accepts worships. Every day there is some festival going on and the lord participates in these festivals.  This archa vigraha is incarnation of Krishna, He is Krishna Himself. So the Lord has noted that you have come to see him.

When we do dhyana – the senses are accepting food in the form of sense objects. Eyes drink the various forms of this world; ears keep drinking the words of this world. We keep feeding sabda, rupa, sparsha, rasa, gandha (sound, form, touch, smell, taste) to our senses.

Aashtanga yoga’s one limb is pratyahara – means not to see the form, hear the sound, touch the objects, take the smell and taste of this samsara. After pratyahara starts dhyana, and then dharana – retention of that dhyana of naam, rupa, guna, Lila of Krishna.  Then Samadhi when this mediation becomes solidified. If we have done pratyahara, the yatra is best time to do it. Of course a sadhaka who has made attaining God his goal, without praytahara you cannot move ahead in life.  Naam kirtana, rupa kirtana, Lila Kirtana, guna kirtana is possible only when we do pratyahara.

Lord knows our thoughts as well. He just doesn’t note that we have come and visited him with folded hands. He also notices the thoughts of your mind.

So Dharma Varma king‘s desire was noted by the Lord and the lord said so be it. The Lord made up His mind; I will come to your kingdom. After Yajna, king Dasharath gave sweet rice to his wives and eventually four sons were born. When Rama grew and was about to be coroneted as the King of Ayodhya, by Kaikeyi’s request he was sent to 14 years of exile.  After returning from exile, Rama reached Ayodhya. Before that He also went to Rameshvaram, Lanka, when he returned in Pushpaka Viman with Sita, Laxman, Hanuma, and Vibhishan. His coronation ceremony was performed. Then Lord Rama asked Vibhishana to return to Lanka to rule over and take care for the kingdom as it was now his responsibility.

But Vibhishan said, I do not want anything else, but you alone. Rama thought, I have to stay here in Ayodhya, I cannot go. But he wants me, so let me give him Ranganath. You take Sri Ranganath. There is no difference between me and Sri Ranganath. You may carry Him to Lanka. The only thing you must bear in mind is that the annual festival for Sri Ranganath will occur at the time while you will be taking Him along. So you must stop on the way when the appropriate time for that festival arrives and organize it with great enthusiasm.Vibhishan agreed and left for Lanka. While he was passing by Sri Rangam, it was time for the festival.

King Dharma Varma was ruling Sri Rangam at that time and he came to know that Lord Ranganath has arrived. He was very happy to receive and to help in organising the festival. So there was a huge celebration for 7 to 9 days. After the festival was over, King Visbhishan thought I should proceed towards Lanka. When Vibhishan tried to lift the Lord, he did not even move an inch. After lots of endeavours, he realised that the lord wants to stay here. King Dharma Varma became overjoyed at this.  Sri Ranganath told Vibhishan, I will not come ahead of this place but from here I will keep looking South, towards Lanka. Usually the deity should face east; but here Sri Ranganath is lying with his face towards south. From here he kept giving blessings and mercy to Vibhishan.

This temple of Sri Ranganath is spread over 156 acres. This is a thousand year old construction and there are thousands of pillars all over, which are monolithic structures.

Ramanujacharya –

Ramanujacharya is not ordinary human being. He is Ram Anuja or Laxman. Laxman appeared, or we can say, Balaram appeared. Balaram represents guru tattva. In sastra it is said- sesa, laxman, balaram will appear. Someone will appear in some form kaschit- that kaschit is Ramanuja. He appeared again asVaravarm muni. His speciality was that when he would recite the Katha of the lord, people would forget the samsara completely as if it does not exist. The soul would hear his katha in dhayna avashta (deep meditation).  One time he was doing katha which went on for a year. Sri Ranganath himself would come to hear his katha. Katha is Sri Ranganath himself.  So for 1 year the archana stopped and all would just hear katha. Everyone was experiencing the presence of Sri Ranganath in the Katha so no one was missing the darshan.

On Tula sankranti, once a year all the holy rivers appear in Sri Rangam. If you take bath in Kaveri that day, there is no need for taking bath anywhere else. Yamuna also came and one time there was a conversation between Yamuna and kaveri. Kaveri questioned Yamuna that in your waters the Lord played the wonderful pastime of dancing on the hoods of Kaliya, but he never performed any such pastime in my waters.

So Sri Ranganath thought I will also do the Lila in Viraja or Kaveri. So lord danced on Anantashesha. The river water rose very high and entire town was flooded with water and sand. After the flood, people forgot that here was ever a pilgrim place here. After many years, a king came hunting in this area. He was tired and was sitting under a tree. All of a sudden he heard a parrot- named Killi. This parrot told the king, right in this place Sri Ranganath is residing underneath.  Then they unearthed the deity and began the worship.

One time one Muslim king became attracted by Sri Ranganath. He took Him to Delhi  and installed Him in Lal Quila. The daughter of king started worshipping the Lord very nicely. So here in the memory of that Muslim king and his daughter, Lord Ranganath is worshipped in the morning in Muslim style. He also stayed in Tirupati for 40 years in Sri Ranga Mandapa.

One time one king came to attack the temple. All the Vaishnavas stood up to protect the deity, but that Muslim king beheaded thousands of devotes. Then a well-dressed woman said I can tell you where Sri Ranganath is please come behind me.  Captured by the beauty and words of the woman he climbed the white Gopurama following the lady and she showed him the golden Vimana (golden tower made of 25 tonne gold). That tower contains 4 kalash (water pots). They are the 4 Veda. There is a lotus made of 18 petals which represent the puranas. There are 108 circular symbols which represent the Upanishads. If someone circumambulates the vimana twice, he gets the result of 1000 horse sacrifices.

So the lady brought the Muslim king on the top of a Gopuram and pushed him from the top and the king died. The woman started thinking I have done a great offence so I must also commit suicide. But as she jumped, Ranganath caught her and protected her. There are many such incidences in the history of this Dham.