(1/7) Worship Gauranga

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
3 November 2020, part 1
Translated from Bengali

মূকং করোতি বাচালং পঙ্গুং লঙ্ঘয়তে গিরিম্ ।
যৎকৃপা তমহং বন্দে শ্রীগুরুং দীনতারণম্ ॥

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam

"The dumb can speak, the lame can climb a hill—all it takes is mercy from Gurudev."

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First, I am offering my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my Divine Master Om Vishnupad Jagad-guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, begging him for his causeless mercy and aspiring to serve him; after that, I am offering my full obeisance to all the assembled guru-varga, all my godbrothers, to all the listeners, to all the motherly lady devotees and all the devotees. I am offering my obeisance at your holy feet and praying for your mercy to this lowly soul.

It is Kartik Month now. The highest worship of Sri Gauranga is through sankirtan-yajna (the sacrifice of congregational chanting). It is necessary to engage yourself in sankirtan. This is Damodar Month, Kartik Month, niyom-seva month – it is necessary to fast and engage in sankirtan (Hari-kirtan, Hari-bhajan) at this time. That is service. For a surrendered soul, it is first necessary to have faith in kirtan:

'শ্রদ্ধা' শব্দে—বিস্বাস কহে সুদৃঢ় নিশ্চয় ।
কৃষ্ণে ভক্তি কৈলে সর্ব্বকর্ম্ম কৃত হয় ॥

'sraddha'-sabde—visvasa kahe sudrdha nischaya
krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya

'Sraddha is a firm, determined faith that by serving Krishna all actions are accomplished.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.22.62)

Faith is the main thing.

আদৌশ্রদ্ধা ততঃ সাধুসঙ্গোঽথ ভজনক্রিয়া ।
ততোঽনর্থনিবৃত্তিঃ স্যাৎ ততো নিষ্ঠা রুচিস্ততঃ ॥
অথাসক্তিস্ততো ভাবস্ততঃ প্রেমাভ্যুদঞ্চতি ।
সাধকানাময়ং প্রেম্ণঃ প্রাদুর্ভাবে ভবেৎ ক্রমঃ ॥

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango 'tha bhajana-kriya
tato 'nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha ruchis tatah
athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudanchati
sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah

'First, there is faith; then, saintly association and practising life. After that, unwanted habits gradually go away, spiritual life becomes stable, and spiritual taste comes. Then comes attachment, feeling and finally transcendental love. This is how love for the Lord comes to those who practise Krishna consciousness.'

(Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.4.15-16)

It is necessary to practise and gradually progress in this way. But first comes faith. This is how you must chant kirtans also. Chanting kirtans is not about tune.

শ্রীকৃষ্ণকীর্ত্তনে যদি মানস তোহার ।
পরম যতনে তঁহি লভ অধিকার ॥

sri-krsna-kirtane yadi manasa tohara
parama yatane tanhi labha adhikara

'If you are intent on chanting the Name of Krishna, then, with great care, become qualified to do so.'

তৃণাধিক হীন দীন অকিঞ্চন ছার ।
আপনে মানবি সদা ছাড়ি অহঙ্কার ॥

trnadhika hina, dina, akinchana chhara
apane manabi sada chhadi ahankara

'Give up ego and consider yourself lower than a blade of grass, poor, destitute and vile.'

বৃক্ষসম ক্ষমাগুণ করবি সাধন ।
প্রতিহিংসা ত্যজি অন্যে করবি পালন ॥

vrksa-sama ksama-guna karabi sadhana
pratihimsa tyaji anye karabi palana

'Practise tolerance like that of a tree, stop ill-treating others and nurture everyone.'

জীবন-নির্ব্বাহে আনে উদ্বেগ না দিবে ।
পর-উপকারে নিজ-সুখ পাসরিবে ॥

jivana-nirvahe ane udvega na dibe
para-upakare nija-sukha pasaribe

'Live without causing anxiety to others; do good unto others forsaking your own happiness.'

(Gitavali, Sri Siksastakam Giti, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

It is necessary to throw away your own happiness for the sake of others' happiness. We must always think how to please the Lord. We must be selfless (niskama) and sincere (niskapata). This is how we must always do our service. If you hum to yourself when you are alone, this is also kirtan. Chanting in your mind is also kirtan. And when you sit together with others and chant together, with the mridanga and karatals, that is sankirtan. Worshipping Gauranga with sankirtan is always the highest. Always chant kirtans every morning and evening. Always recite Gaura Hari's vandana (prayers), always chant Gaura Hari's kirtans.

You are seated in Sri Nabadwip Dham. The beautiful kirtans we were chanting today in purport to the Siksastakam were all composed by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

Who has the right and the qualification to chant the Holy Name?

দৈন্য, দয়া, অন্যে মান, প্রতিষ্ঠা বর্জ্জন ।
চারিগুণে গুণী হই করহ কীর্ত্তন ॥

dainya, daya, anye mana, pratistha-varjana
chari gune guni hai karaha kirtana

'Humility, compassion, giving honour to others and giving up your own prestige — become qualified with these four qualities and chant the Holy Name.'

(Gitavali, Sri Siksastakam Giti, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

We must be humble. We must be compassionate to others. We must give honour to others. We must leave all name and fame in relation to ourselves. This is how we must chant kirtan. Always remember this: give honour to others and be humble.

When Srivas Pandit's son died, he did not even tell about it to Mahaprabhu, fearing to disrupt His kirtan. But Mahaprabhu noticed that He was not getting so much pleasure from the kirtan, so He understood that something must have happened at the house. But Srivas Pandit himself did not tell Mahaprabhu that his son was lying dead in the next room, because he did not want to disturb Mahaprabhu's kirtan.

One time, when Mahaprabhu was talking to Srivas Pandit about Nityananda Prabhu, He decided to test Srivas Pandit.

'Srivas, He has no caste, no family. You do not know who He is, where He comes from. Nobody has even heard of Him before. Who have you given shelter at your house?' Mahaprabhu asked him.

'You are testing me!' Srivas Pandit replied.

Hearing Srivas Pandit speaking about Nityananda Prabhu with much sincere devotion and faith, He was very pleased. At the same time, whenever anyone tried to speak ill of Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu refused to listen to it – He could not tolerate it. Mahaprabhu always chanted Nityananda Prabhu's glory. And Nityananda Prabhu, in turn, always chanted Mahaprabhu's glory.

ভজ গৌরাঙ্গ, কহ গৌরাঙ্গ, লহ গৌরাঙ্গের নাম রে
যে জন গৌরাঙ্গ ভজে, সেই আমার প্রাণ রে

bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera nama re
ye jana gauranga bhaje, sei amara prana re

'Worship Gauranga! Say Gauranga! Take Gauranga's Name! Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul!'

Nityananda Prabhu says, 'Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul.'

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Length: 55 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Worship Gauranga
2) Keep Your Fire Ablaze
3) Happiness Is Service
4) Make Kirtan Your All-In-All
5) Qualification for Kirtan
6) Sadhus' Surrender
7) You Must Want To Learn