29th January 2020

The Lord lights the lamp of knowledge

Welcome all you souls to this Japa conference who are chanting the names of the super soul.

The best thing is to chant. This is called nama sankirtana. Once again I am remembering the conversation between Raya Ramananada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Earlier we have already discussed this conversation in a japa talk. The conversation kept on going with many discussions, Once assumption is that Vishakha Devi appeared as Raya Ramananada and the second assumption is that Arjuna also appeared as Raya Ramananda. His father is Bhavananda Raya who is Pandu Maharaja. Hence this conversation which took place between Arjuna and Krsna is Bhagavad-Gita. But this conversation which is taking place is not possible between Krsna and Arjuna. It should be between Krsna and Vishakha.

Srila Prabhupada used to say that Bhagavad-Gita is primary study. Srimad-Bhagavatam is graduation and Caitanya-caritamrta is post graduate study, but we should not misunderstand that Bhagavad-Gita is less important. This conversation between Raya Ramananda and Krsna is more confidential than Krsna and Arjuna’s conversation.

Raya Ramananda would ask Caitanya Mahaprabhu to wait to discuss pastimes. The Lord told him that He wants to be with him for his entire life. He also asked Raya Ramananda to join Him in Jagannatha Puri where Lord Caitanya stayed in the gambhira and also spent time with Swarupa Damodar who is Lalita and Raya Ramananda who is Vishakha.

lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda

Translation:
With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna.

Raya Ramananda stayed with Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri where such conversations took place everyday. Lord Caitanya remained in Radha Bhava and both these sakhis spent time in Gopi Bhava. The Lord appeared to experience this ecstasy and re-establish dharma.

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

Translation:
Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjun, at that time I manifest myself on earth. [BG 4.7]

The Lord went everywhere and spread the holy names without considering other’s qualification.

patra apatra naahi kari vichaar

Since He spread the holy names like this, we are able to chant. Lord Caitanya always chanted in the mood of Radharani and established nama sankirtana in the age of Kali. In this way we have received the holy name which we are chanting. He said, “My names will spread everywhere. All jivas belongs to Me and I am also theirs wherever they may be. So jivas are everywhere in heavenly planets including on the earthly planet.

teṣhām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśhayāmyātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

Translation:
Out of compassion for them, I, who dwell within their hearts, dest Raya the darkness born of ignorance, with the luminous lamp of knowledge. [B.G. 10.11]

Earlier there was only a single country known as Bharat, but now all the sudras are influenced by ignorance hence they are fighting. All the jivas are brothers and sisters and we all are children of the Lord. This fact is forgotten by all the jivas due to the influence of ignorance. When the Lord feels compassion for such jvas who have danger at every step, padam padam vipadam, at that time the Lord appears and removes darkness caused by ignorance.

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa purāṇārko ‘dhunoditaḥ

Translation:
This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.[SB 1.3.43]

Above in Srimad-Bhagvatam also it is said that we can’t see properly in age of Kali. That’s why Lord appeared in form of Bhagvatam. It is mentioned that all jivas will lose their vision that is why the Lord gave them sastras by which they can see. The Lord also says that He lights lamps in their heart.

jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā [BG 10.11]

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah [BG Mangalacharan]

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

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

Translation:
The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success. [CC Madhya Lila 22.54]

He gives us the company of Guru who put jnananjana in our eyes which becomes premanjana. Lord Caitanya established nama sankirtana, Bhagvatam, Gita. He also made sadhu sanga available. He inspired Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur who inspired Abhay Babu to preach all over the world. In 1922 he received instructions to spread Bhagavad Dharma in English among Western countries and in 1966 he established ISKCON to spread Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement. The main aim of ISKCON is to provide sadhu sanga to all without discrimination so that everyone gets the benefit in the association of the sadhus.

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Translation:
Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. [SB 2.4.18]

Srila Prabhupada prepared his entire lifetime for this. He said that those who may belong to any places of the world and who take shelter of the association of sadhus will be uplifted.

kali-kālera dharma–kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana

Translation:
The fundamental religious system in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement. [CC Antya Lila 3.7.11]

Lord Caitanya said, “My names will spread everywhere.” Hindu, Muslim, Christianity is not an eternal religion, but we have assumed it our self. In the age of Kali, nama sankirtana is the religion. Lord Caitanya spread this movement in India and left the rest of the task of spreading this movement all over world to ISKCON and whatever I said is the truth.

Keep on chanting. We will discuss this conversation between Raya Ramananda and Lord Caitanya some other day. This is the most confidential discussion between Vishakha and Krsna. Lord did not discuss such pastimes with Arjuna.

Thank you

Gaur Premanande!
Hari Haribol!