GUIDANCE

Issue #20

Lectures of His Divine Grace

Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj

published at SCSMathInternational.com during July-September 2019

CONTENT

"Try to Practise Kirtan"

Sri Ananta Vasudev's Temple

Pastime of Gundicha Marjan

What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions

Mahaprabhu Arrives In Puri

Mahaprabhu Settles In Puri

Embracing Lord's Arrangement

Purity, Simplicity, and Faith

"They Come Running to Do Parikrama"

Forget Yourself In Kirtan

Hear It With Your Heart

Admirable Service Mood

Undaunted and Undeprived

Revise Your Priorities

One-Pointed Hearts

Lying and Bribing

A Rare Quality

Exclusive Attention

Core Conception

Guidance 3: "Get This Book and Read It Always"

"I Will Always Be With You"

Parikrama Is Not Sightseeing

Parikrama Is Not Sightseeing

Abode of High Thinking

At Sri Subarna Bihar Gaudiya Math

At Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s Samadhi-mandir

At Sri Surabhi Kunja

Weak and Illusioned

Bitter Pill to Swallow

Vaishnavs' Care

Highest Perfection

Our Hope, Prayer, and Promise

"They Cannot Steal Our Heart"

Brief History

Pure Rupanuga-Dhara

At Ultadanga and Godavari

Supreme Fortune and Earnest Prayer

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan

At Sri Madhai Ghat

At Sri Yogapith

At Srivas Angan

At Chaitanya Math

"This Is Your Life"

Sri Baladev Tattva (1)

Sri Baladev Tattva (2): Appearance and Pastimes

Sri Baladev Tattva (3): Later Pastimes

Sri Baladev Prabhu: Krishna's Merciful Alter Ego

Baladev's Lila: "Can We Be Friends?"

Sri Krishna Janmastami: No Pain, No Gain

Sri Krishna Janmastami: A Private Pastime

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Eternal Pastimes

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Adhikar for Abhisekh

Krishna—Purnatama Bhagavan

Connect With the Centre

Lord's Keen Kindness

Sri Krishna Janmastami Message

Precious Human Form

"Raise the Anchor, Sir!"

Gopal's Pastimes

Lord's Stealing and Rewarding

Mercy Incarnate

Fall at the Lord's Feet

Devotional Transformation

Religions and Practices

Preaching—Heartbeat of Krishna Consciousness

Always Harmonise

Sri Radhastami and Sons of Nectar

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (1)

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (2)

Sri Radhastami: World Beyond Lust

On the Bank of the Yamuna

Pure Hearts Run Behind Krishna

Banishing Poisonous Ego

Service Consciousness

Future Vision

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (1)

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (2)

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s Early Association

Always Think, Always Hanker

"My Heart and Soul's Desire"

Inner Circle Initiation

Gift of Saptam Goswami (1)

Gift of Saptam Goswami (2)

Early Pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur

Sri Guru: Embodiment of Lord's Mercy

Sri Guru: Exclusive Benefactor

Sri Guru: More Than Only Shelter

Sri Guru: Constant Worship

Meaning of Guru Puja

Key to Guru Puja

Service Consciousness

Remembering Early Days

"Try to Practise Kirtan"

Sri Puri Dham, second evening class
21 June 2017, translated from Bengali, part 1

kiba mantra dila, gosani, kiba tara bala
apite japite mantra karila pagala

"My lord, what kind of mantra have you given Me? What kind of power does it posses? Chanting this maha-mantra made me mad!"

(Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 7.81)

kabe navadvipe, suradhuni-tate,
gaura-nityananda' bali' niskapate
achiya gaiya, bedaiba chhute,
atulera praya chhadiya vichara
abe habe bala se dina amara

"When will I wander along the banks of the Ganges in Nabadwip, sincerely calling out, 'Gaura-Nityananda!', while dancing, singing, and running about, without any thinking as though mad? Tell me, when will that day be mine?"

(Saranagati)

"When will I, chanting and chanting the Holy Name, become crazy? When will that day come to me?"—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is singing this for us.

When Mahaprabhu went to South India, He saw there one  brahman  sitting in one of the temples—he was reading  Srimad Bhagavad-gita  and crying. Many people laughed at him because his pronunciation was not good, he did not read correctly, etc. Mahaprabhu observed him for some time and then asked, "O  brahman, you are reading Gita, but what meaning are you getting from it that you are crying?" The  brahman  replied, "I do not know the meaning, but my Gurudev has ordered me to always read  Gita. For as long as I am reading  Gita, I can see Krishna driving Arjuna's chariot, but when I stop reading  Gita, I can no longer see it. I do not understand what mistakes I make, what wrong pronunciation I have, etc. but because when I read it I can see Arjuna and Krishna my heart does not want to stop reading it.”

We too much practise in this way. That is why our society's name is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Krishna-anusilana sangha ('anusilana' means practice). Practice makes perfect. We must  try  to practise  kirtan. There are sixty-four types of devotional practices, among them nine are the main, and among those nine these five are the best,

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
athura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124)

sadhu-sange krsna-nama—ei matra chai
amsara jinite ara kona vastu nai

I desire only to chant the Name of Krishna in the association of the sadhus. There is no other way to conquer samsara.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.13)

'samsara' 'samsara' kari' michhe gela kala
abha na ha-ila kichhu, ghatila janjala
isera samsara ei chhayabaji praya
hate mamata kari vrtha dina yaya
ina yaya michha kaje, nisa nidra-vase
ahi bhavi marana nikate achhe vase

"Time has passed as I have been busy in my material life, and I  have got nothing—only became burdened. What sort of world is this? It is like a trick, a show. While I affectionately take it as my own, days pass by in vain. My days are passed in useless work and nights are wasted on sleeping. It never occurs to me that there is death sitting next to me."

(Kalyan-kalpataru)

We never think that our death is so near, we do not know when we will have to leave this body and go away. We have fallen into this material world, but when will Maya Devi be merciful to us and cut this net? When will this bound by Maya jiva soul become detached from the visaya and be able to serve the Lord? When will I be able to serve my Guru and the Vaishnavs?

We must always keep these thoughts within our hearts.

You can give up everything, but it is very difficult to give up yourself. We must give ourselves to the lotus feet of the Lord. You have heard the story of Bali Maharaj—when Vamandev took the entire creation with His two steps, He asked Bali Maharaj, "Bali, you must keep your word. Give Me the third step of land!" Bali Maharaj replied, "Prabhu, I do not have anything else. You have taken everything with Your two steps. I have nothing else to give." Vamandev asked again, "Nothing? Think carefully, think well." Then Vindhyavali (Bali Maharaj's wife) came and whispered to Bali Maharaj, "Prabhu keeps asking you, but you do not understand it—you have given everything, but have you given yourself? Have you offered yourself at the lotus feet of the Lord?”

sad-anga saranagati ha-ibe yahara
ahara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara
ainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
avasya raksibe krsna'—visvasa palana
hakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
hakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara

"Sri Krishna hears the prayers of one who surrenders in this six-fold way: (1) humility, (2) self-submission, (3) embracing the Lord's guardianship, (4) maintaining the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', (5) engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, (6) rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion.

(Saranagati)

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

Humility, compassion, honouring others, and giving up prestige—become qualified with these four qualities and chant the Name.

(Sri Siksastakam Giti)

Who can engage in  kirtan  [chant the Holy Name, glorify the Lord, serve and practise properly]? Who has the right to do  kirtan? Not everybody has such a right, or qualification. Many may have a good tune, a good rhythm, many may be proud of their tune, of their voice ("I sing very beautifully"), but who can do  kirtan?

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

Humility, compassion, honouring others, and giving up prestige—become qualified with these four qualities and chant the Name.

(Sri Siksastakam Giti)

Humility, compassion, honouring others, and giving up  pratistha—those who have these four qualities can engage in  kirtan. Do you understand? It is not easy to become a Vaishnav.

kanaka-kamini, pratistha-baghini,
hhadiyachhe yare sei ta vaisnava

"Those who have given up money, women, and fame, are the true Vaishnavs."

(Vaishnav Ke? 11)

I told  yesterday  also,

dhana jana ara, kavita-sundari,
aliba na chahi deha-sukha-kari
anme janme dao, ohe gaurahari!
haituki bhakti charane tomara

"When will I declare that I do not desire wealth, followers, erudition, beautiful women, or any other bodily pleasure? O Gaurahari! Birth after birth, please give me unconditional devotion to Your feet."

(Saranagati)

kanaka-kamini, pratistha-baghini,
hhadiyachhe yare sei ta vaisnava

"Those who have given up money, women, and fame, are the true Vaishnavs."

(Vaishnav Ke? 11)

You can leave money, you can leave women, but  pratistha  is pig's stool—we run hither and thither after  pratistha, but when one becomes a real Vaishnav,  pratistha  will run behind them.

We must think about all these things.

* * *

Sri Ananta Vasudev's Temple

Sri Puri Dham, Sri Bhuvaneshwar
Translated from Sri Puri Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala
Recorded on 4 July 2016

There is a story about this ancient place.

Once, a very long time ago, Parvati Devi heard from her husband that there was a place in this world that was more charming than Kailash. Having heard about that, she became eager to take the  darshan  of that place. When Parvati Devi reached the place and saw that it was indeed more captivating than Kailash, she stayed there for fifteen years as a cowherd girl.

One day, two demons came to the forest. They were taken aback to see Parvati Devi there, "What a beautiful girl!" "What are you doing here," they asked her. When Parvati Devi saw them, she became scared and prayed to her husband. Mahadev Sivji Maharaj immediately appeared there in the form of a cowherd, and Parvati Devi told him that the two demons were harassing her. Sivji Maharaj replied, "They have got such a boon from the demigods that they cannot be killed by any weapon. By the wish of the Lord, you will have to defeat them yourself. Do not worry, I will tell you how you can do it."

Then, Parvati Devi came to the demons and said, "I will fulfil your desire, but I have one condition. He who can carry me on his shoulder will become my husband." The two demons began fighting who of them would carry Parvati Devi, so Parvati Devi put one foot on one demon's shoulder and the other foot on the other demon's shoulder and started pressing them down so much that they died.

Having defeated the demons, Parvati Devi felt very tired and lay down to rest. Suddenly, she became very thirsty. Sivji Maharaj came and made a pond for her, but Parvati Devi said, "I will drink only from an eternally established place!" So, Sivji Maharaj collected a drop of water from every holy place and kept all the collected water within that pond. This is how this  sarovar  got its name—"Bindu Sarovar." Sivji Maharaj built this pond himself.

Then, all the demigods beginning with Brahma bathed in that pond, and Sivji Maharaj prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, O Supreme Person! Please allow me to reside with Ananta Vasudev on the bank of this sarovar." Then, Lord Ananta Vasudev heard Sivji Maharaj's prayer and, to fulfil the desire of His dear devotee, He came to stay here on the bank of Bindu Sarovar as the protector of this holy place.

Sivji Maharaj also left Kasi and started living here with the Lord. From that time also all  bhoga  is first offered to Sri Ananta Vasudev and then to Sivji Maharaj. That ancient temple of Sri Ananta Vasudev stands to this day. Anyone who takes bath in Bindu Sarovar attains liberation because bathing in it equals to bathing at all holy places, and the result of getting the darshan of Sri Ananta Vasudev is unlimited.

When Mahaprabhu came to this pond that is so dear to Lord Siva, He bathed in it and then proceeded to the temple of Sri Ananta Vasudev where He danced and chanted  kirtan.

Jay Sri Ananta Vasudev ki jay

* * *

Pastime of Gundicha Marjan

(A chapter from His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's Bengali book

Sri Puri Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala)

Mahaprabhu told all devotees, "Come every year to see Gundicha." Do you think He could say Himself, "Come to see Me?" That is why He said, "Come every year to Puri to perform this pastime of cleaning Gundicha."

Where are you going to go along with the chariots? To Sundarachal. This is the glory of the chariot festival. In Puri, the Jagannath temple is Nilachal, and Gundicha is Sundarachal. When Krishna left Vrindavan and went to Mathura, Dvaraka, all the Vraja gopis came to pull Him back to Vrindavan.

Therefore, those who pull the chariots are compared to gopis. We sing in the a  kirtan, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu jive daya kari' svaparsada sviya dhama saha avatari: showing compassion to all jiva souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya came with His associates and abode." Vraja  gopis  appeared in the form of devotees (somebody appeared as Raya Ramananda, somebody as Svarup Damodar, somebody as Rupa Goswami, somebody as Sanatan Goswami, and so on) and performed the same pastimes that Krishna performed in Dvapar-yuga. So, the Lord Himself, taking the heart and halo of Sri Radha, appeared with His associates and performed this pastime of Ratha-yatra when devotees would pull the chariots and take them to Vrindavan.

The day before going to Vrindavan-Sundarachal, Mahaprabhu and all the devotees would clean the temple of Gundicha (that is non-different from Vrindavan). This is called Gundicha-marjan  lila  (pastime of Gundicha-marjan, or cleaning the temple). Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote very beautifully about this pastime:

The Secret Behind the Gundicha-Marjan Pastime

(Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur delivered this lecture in Sri Purushottam Ksetra in 1922, the same year when Sri Purushottam Gaudiya Math was established;
translated into English by Sripad B.K. Tyagi Maharaj)

Through this Pastime, Jagad-guru Sriman Mahaprabhu is teaching that if a fortunate soul desires to sit Krishna on the altar of their heart, then they should first of all clean their heart of all contamination; it is necessary to make the heart spotlessly clean, peaceful, and resplendent with devotion. If any thorny grass, weeds, dust, or coarse sand—anarthas  (unwanted elements)—remain within the field of the heart, then the Lord, the ultimate recipient of all service, cannot be seated therein. Contamination and litter within the heart means  anya-abhilasa  (other desires),  karma  (fruitive action),  jnan  (knowledge),  yoga, and so on. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu said,

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama

"The highest devotion is that which satisfies Lord Krsna, free from the coverings of any pursuits such as action, knowledge."

(Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.1.11)

Where there is any other desire except for devotion, where there are pursuits of jnana, karma, yoga, penance, or any other unfavourable to devotion mood covering the natural eternal devotional propensity of the soul, there is no pure devotion. Krishna does not appear anywhere except for the pure  suddha-sattva  devotion (devotion belonging to realm of the pure goodness).

Other desire means, "As long as I remain in this world, I shall merely gratify my senses." This sort of base desire, like thorny grass, pricks the pure soul's tender propensity for exclusive devotion. Fruitive action: "Through piety, sacrifice, charity, and austerity, I shall enjoy the pleasures of this world and the higher planes like heaven." Such selfish action is like dust. In the whirlwind of the cycle of  karma, heaps of this dust, that is, desires, cover the spotless and clear mirror of our hearts. Because these desires to perform both good and bad actions, like countless heaps of dust, have been contaminating the hearts of the souls who are averse to the Lord birth after birth, such material desires are not going away from them. Souls that are averse to the Lord think that perhaps the thorns present within action can be removed through action, but this is a misconception; those who are convinced by it simply cheat themselves. As an elephant smears its body with dirt again after you bathe it, you cannot remove the material desires by engaging in actions motivated by material desires. All adversity a soul faces can be removed only through exclusive devotion, therefore the Supreme Lord finds a befitting place for His rest only at the throne of such pure hearts. This is why Thakur Mahasay has sung, "Bhaktera hrdaye sada Govinda visrama: Govinda always rests in the hearts of His devotees."

Monistic yoga and endeavours for speculative knowledge are just like sand. Through them, what to speak of the Lord's service or satisfaction, an endeavour is made to lacerate the Lord's body with a spear. Although at the beginning of the search for nondifferentiated Brahma, seekers of liberation may accept the Lord's Name, Form, and so on, to a certain extent, such seekers does not accept the independent existence of the Lord's Name, Form, and so on, at the time of their liberation or identification with Brahma. The Lord, therefore, does not appear within the heart of such unfortunate souls, who proudly consider themselves to be liberated [when in fact they are not]. It is for this reason that Sri Gaurasundar did not keep straw, dust, sand, and other forms of litter even within the boundary of the Lord's Temple compound, but rather threw them outside using His own outer cloth—so that by some storm all such rubbish would not enter the Temple again.

Often, even when worldly action, speculative knowledge, and so on, have been removed, subtle forms of contamination remain within the heart. These can be compared to  kutinati, pratisthasa, jiva-himsa, nisiddhachar, labha, puja, and so on.  Kutinati  means duplicity.  Pratisthasa  means desire for worldly honour—"May the ignorant call me a great soul on account of my solitary worship and imposture."  Pratisthasa  means desire to be recognised as a 'devotee'or 'Avatar' by showing a perverted reflection of divine emotions, such as artifical symtpoms of ecstasy within one's hard heart, in order to fulfil one's selfish desires for worldly enjoyment.  Jiva-himsa  means hesitation to, or miserliness about, preaching pure devotion; indulging  mayavadis, materialistists, and enjoyers; and speaking so as to keep the attention of such persons.  Labha  and  puja  mean living off the Lord's Names,  mantras, Deities, or the  Bhagavat  in the name of religion, cheating the ignorant, and accumulating wealth, honour, and so on.  Nisiddhachar  means associating with the opposite sex and non-devotees of Krishna, such as materialists, speculators, and enjoyers.

Sri Gaurasundar first swept out large heaps of all such sand, straw, dust, and so on, that had accumulated over many days and then, after cleaning every area within the Temple a second time with brooms and water, began scrubbing the Temple and the Lord's altar with the dry cloth He was wearing so that no subtle blemishes would remain anywhere.

After all of the sweeping, cleaning, scrubbing, and so on, there was no trace of any dust particles or even subtle blemishes within the Temple, which was not not only spotlessly clean but also soothingly cool, that is, the practitioner's heart had become free from the bearing pain comparable to a desert scorched by the sun—free from the flames of the fire of the three miseries produced by desire to enjoy the mundane (adhyatmik-tap:  miseries caused by the body and mind;  adhibhautik-tap:  miseries caused by others; and  adhidaivik-tap:  miseries caused by the gods). In fact, when desires for enjoyment and liberation—all other desires, worldly endeavours, knowledge, yoga, and so on—are dispelled from the practitioner's heart and the soul's propensity for pure devotion manifests, such peace and soothing coolness appear naturally.

Ignorant souls do not understand that often, even when all selfish desires have been dispelled, a subtle blemish still remains within an unknown nook or corner of the heart: the desire for liberation. What to speak of the impersonalists' desire for  sayujya-mukti  (the liberation of merging into Brahma), Sriman Mahaprabhu scrubbed away with His own cloth even the subtle blemishes of desire for the four other forms of liberation [salokya:  residing in the Lord's abode,  samipya:  being in the Lord's presence,  sarupya:  having a form like the Lord's, and  sarsti:  having opulence like the Lord's].

In this way, adopting the mentality of an soul for the welfare of all souls, Sri Gaurasundar, as a Jagad-guru, personally taught how a practitioner should, with great enthusiasm, while loudly chanting Krishna's Name, clean their heart for Krishna's sake in order to make their heart a place for the pleasure Pastimes of the Autocrat Sri Krishna and be able to lovingly satisfy Krishna's senses.

yadyapyanya bhaktih kalau kartavya,
tada kirtanakhya-bhakti-samyogenaiva

"Although the other eight practices of devotion should be performed during Kali-yuga, they should be performed with kirtan."

(Krama-sandarbha-tika on Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23–24)

Sriman Mahaprabhu came over to every devotee, took hold of their hands, and taught them how to clean the Temple. He praised the devotees who were serving well, and, as the Lord adorned with the heart of She who is the personification of the fulfilment of Krishna's desires—Sri Radha—He benevolently chastised those whose service was not up to His standard, took hold of their hands, and taught them the proper way to serve Krishna. Not only that, He also instructed and inspired the pure-hearted devotees who were dedicated to the Absolute and proficient in serving according to His teachings to perform the work of an Acharya for souls averse to the Lord.

tumi bhala kariyachha, sikhaha anyere
ei-mata bhala karma seho yena kare

"To devotees whose cleaning He approved of, the Lord said: 'You have done well. Teach this to others so that they also perform well in this way.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, Madhya-lila, 12.117)

Furthermore, one will become dear to the Lord to the extent that one can remove impurities from one's heart and keep it clean, and He prescribed the peaceful practice of service to Hari-Guru-Vaisnava for those who have not yet completed the process of  anartha-nivrtti  (removing all unwanted elements).

* * *

What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions

(A chapter from His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's book

 Guidance, Volume 3)

To explain to this world what Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, what its purpose, preaching matter or distinctions are, is an extremely difficult task, but it is even more difficult to make those who are engrossed in and inspired by the commonplace ideas appreciate it even partially. Still, this Math's Founder-Acharya Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, his successor Sevaite-Acharya Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj and his appointed current President-Acharya Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, strive tirelessly to rescue the conditioned souls in India, as well as all over the world, through practising and preaching the teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in a pure way, following the path of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

The Founder-Acharya of the worldwide Sri Chaitanya Math and Gaudiya Math Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami Thakur Prabhupad preached the teachings of Mahaprabhu all over the world, and among the  dikpal  (worshippable guardian)  acharyas  who came to help him, there was Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, a true scholar of Sanskrit and a great teacher. Srila Sridhar Maharaj took shelter at the feet of His Gurudev Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur in 1926. Seeing Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's unflinching erudition and other devotional qualities, Srila Prabhupad conferred upon him the  sannyas  order in 1930.  Sri Prabhupada-padma Stavakah  (Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam) composed by Srila Sridhar Maharaj proved very dear to the devotees and is to this day chanted at all Gaudiya Maths. When Srila Prabhupad saw Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's  Srimad Bhaktivinod Viraha Dasakam, he was very happy. You all know that just before Srila Prabhupad disappeared, his heart was touched by the  kirtan Sri Rupa-manjari-pada  that he had listened to from Srila Sridhar Maharaj's mouth.

After Srila Prabhupad's disappearance, feeling extremely dejected, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj left for Vrindavan. There, he stayed at Pavan-sarovar, near Nanda-gram. At that time, he received an  akas-vani  (divine message) from Srila Prabhupad and Srimati Radharani. Srila Prabhupad told him, "I have kept you here so that you could preach Rupa-Raghunath's line and rescue the conditioned souls—why have you then come to Vrindavan to practise on your own, in solitude?" Hearing this message, Srila Sridhar Maharaj immediately left Vrindavan and came to Sri Kolerganj, Nabadwip Dham. There, he made a thatched house on the bank of the Ganges and named it Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. It was 1941. After that, many of Srila Prabhupad's disciples came to Srila Sridhar Maharaj and many among them also took initiation into the  sannyas mantra  from him.

When the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON Om Visnupad Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj was preaching in various countries, his disciples asked him, "Who will we hear Hari-katha from after you?" In reply to that, Srila Swami Maharaj said, "Srila Sridhar Maharaj is my  siksa-guru  and a bona fide Vaisnav and scholar. If you listen to Hari-katha from him, you will achieve spiritual advancement and I will also be happy." Following that, many devotees from Western countries surrendered to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj took shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Guru Maharaj in 1947. When he first took  brahmacharya  initiation, his name was Sri Gaurendu Brahmachari. During his  brahmachari  life, Srila Gurudev did a lot of service to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and helped Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in many ways. In 1985, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj conferred  sannyas  and the name Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj onto our Sri Gurupadpadma. At that time, Srila Guru Maharaj handed over all responsibility for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to him. After Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disappearance in 1988, Srila Gurudev tirelessly and assiduously preached the teachings of Sri Chaitanya in various corners of the world and opened 130 branches of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj took shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudev in 1992. When he first came to the shelter of Gurudev, the  brahmachari  name he was given was Sri Vinod Ranjan Brahmachari. Since that time, following the order of his Gurudev, he has been expanding the branches of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in various corners of India, West Bengal in particular. In 1999, Srila Gurudev conferred  sannyas  order onto him and his name became Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Inspired by Srila Sridhar Maharaj and striving to fulfil the strong desire of his Srila Gurudev, he renovated Govinda Kunda at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, and established there the temples of Sri Giriraj and Lord Siva. He also installed the Deities of Sri Gaura Nityananda at the birthplace of Sri Nityananda Prabhu in Ekachakra.

In 2009, on his holy appearance day, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj declared and appointed Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj the future President-Acharya of the Temple in front of Indian and foreign devotees.

After Srila Gurudev's disappearance in 2010, by the assiduous effort and blessings of Srila Gurudev, he has been fulfilling Srila Gurudev's desire and establishing temples in various places in India and abroad.

Below we have tried to present an overview of some of the distinctions of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math:

1)  Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is not one of the numerous organisations existent in this world, nor is it their competitor; nor does it claim that you must consider it the best in comparison to any of them because more or less the majority of the organisations in this world aim at religiosity, material prosperity, sense gratification, and liberation or claim to be preachers of some concocted religion in the name of devotion.

2)  Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math preaches and practises selfless devotion to the Lord. In this world, there is no scarcity of organisations that practise false devotion or display external rituals of devotion. It is a distinctive characteristic of this holy Math (temple) that it first studies what such show-off devotion or material pursuits behind it are (the frenzy of the desires for  dharma, artha, kama, moksa—religiosity, prosperity, sense gratification, liberation), and then creates a moat around the fort of pure devotion that protects it carefully against them.

3)  Sri  Chaitanya Saraswat Math does not consider devotion to be a faculty of body and mind. Devotion is realised as an  unrestrained, causeless, natural and eternal propensity of the soul devoid of any material designations and fixed at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. Whereas various organisations accept the word 'devotion', some even go as far as to superficially claim that devotion is the best of the four goals of life (religiosity, material prosperity, sense gratification, liberation); others consider that devotion is one of the remedies comparable to other practices such as  karma, jnana, yoga, etc.; yet others accept (superficially, lip-deep only) that devotion is the highest among such practices; but they all describe devotion as per se more or less a conscious or unconscious propensity of the mind. Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is ready to neither compromise devotion in any way nor jumble it with any mental faculty.

4)  Concocted religious bigotry (fanaticism) and the so called unifying doctrines with their bitter experience create religions featuring 'hidden religious fanaticism' or 'religious doctrine to suit your liking'—the message that Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math carries has nothing to do with the preaching of any such bigotry.

Just as people call an unrivalled, unchallengeable truth 'truth', when 'one and only' Supreme Absolute is called 'advitiya' (One without a second); when according to the  Upanisads'  maxim "na tat-samas chabhyadhikas cha drsyate" (there is no one equal to Him or greater than Him) the Absolute Truth is called 'unequalled and unsurpassed'; when a son says about his one and only father, "He is my father, the other person is not my father", when a chaste lady says, "He is my husband, the other person is not my husband"—in the same way, when we consider and call someone 'bigot' or 'arrogant' (speaking in general or about somebody in particular), we think that such people are ignorant, i.e. it is an indicative of their absence of knowledge regarding the nature of the world (sambandha-jnana). Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is not ready to sacrifice reality and integrity by thrusting it on the sacrificial pole of popularity and public opinion.

5)  Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is not a servant of public opinion, but a servant of the opinion and views of exclusive followers of the Supreme Lord. According to this holy Math's vision, material public opinion is not the compass that ascertains the truth—the only tool to ascertain the truth is the transcendental opinion of Krishna's devotees. It is this kind of integrity amidst the age when public opinion prevails that distinguishes Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math from other organisations of this world.

6)  The treasury of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math does not end at  anartha-nivrtti, i.e. striving to gain liberation from the adversities of this world.  Anartha-nivrtti  is followed by  artha-pravrtti, which is the root pursuit of this Math: to try to follow the ultimate practice that automatically removes all kinds of worldly adversities and unwanted elements. To unleash the fountainhead of love for Krishna, one must unleash himself from the clutches of illusory environment. It is the goal of this Math to allow liberated souls entrance into the inexhaustible and ever progressive kingdom of love of Krishna.

7)  Opaque Guru is a person who stands in front of a disciple and through whom the disciple cannot see Krishna, i.e. in order to cheat others, such gurus, disguised hypocrites, actually stand as an impediment on the path of seeing Krishna. To fulfil their desires people accept such gurus or recognise them as gurus  (?) as a result of their mental concoction and imagination resultant from their previously acquired disposition (samskara); they may take their guru as 'God' or reject the guru altogether considering him a redundant third party standing in the way of 'devotion' and 'God'. Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math does not interfere with any of these concocted ideas that are explicitly or inexplicitly present at the market place of religion. Unless they accept a Guru and this Guru is completely transparent, the fallen and shelterless  jiva  souls can never become surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord. It is the distinction of this Math to whole-heartedly preach this truth.

8)  When it comes to preaching, it is a prerequisite that one must practise himself and this practice should be in accordance with the precepts of the scriptures. Wherever Kali lives, Kali's associates (gambling, intoxication, attachment to one's legitimate wife or illicit association with other women, animal-slaughter, attachment to wealth for one's own enjoyment or resentment towards gold and money when one does not get riches for one's own enjoyment) are present there. Any material association you come in contact with trying to increase enjoyment is actually considered female association (and, therefore, an associate of Kali). When one indulges in female association in this way, be it secretly or openly, when one nurtures in their heart any hankering other than exclusive service to transcendental Lord Sri Krishna, considers such mundane hankering of great importance or equals such mundane aspirations to the service of Krishna—association of such persons is considered harmful and unfavourable (asat-sanga). If the number of such people in this world is great—even if almost 100% people in this world are like this—then it is better to be wise and maintain life practising properly and preaching about the service activities and practices that are meant for the pleasure of the transcendental Supreme Lord for the eternal benefit of one's self and others while staying independent and cautious on one's own rather than associate with such people. It is a distinction of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to exclusively follow such proper practice without dragging anyone into the filth of manipulated miscalculations or any compromised conceptions.

9)  Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's preaching does not try to rectify organisations that promote various meditations, austerities, vows, materially motivated activities, religiosity (limited to sin and piety), pleasing others or following other people's advice, nor does it try to bring spirituality into any social, political, etc. movements or get involved with them. This Math's preaching does not have anything to do with the exploration of any sort of opportunism included in any of these worldly vocations. The sole subject matter of this Math's preaching is to reveal the intrinsic propensity of consciousness to continually search for happiness and satisfaction of the fully independent Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

10)  Krishna is not a fiction. Krishna is not an empirical mortal subject of history. Krishna is not an allegory, not some metaphysical or theoretical sentiment or element. Krishna is not merely some mental consolation. He is not an example of a debauchee. He is not an IPC (Indian Penalty Code) defendant. Krishna is not some object of temporary worship. Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math does not preach about such concocted 'worship'(?) of Krishna. Krishna is the main hero of the entire poetry of this world. His form, from head to toe, is the highest transcendental ideal of the poetry world. If, appealing to our entire reasoning, judgment and historical accounts, we worship the radiance emanating from the transcendental toe nails of Krishna, then we shall be supremely benefited. Krishna is the embodiment of the nectar relished by the immortal souls. The beauty found in the entire creation is illuminated by the light emanating from the lotus toe nails of Krishna. All sorts of consolation and peace come in abundance as primary concomitants of devotion to Krishna.

The goal of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is to practise and preach Krishna consciousness—to do away with the notion that Krishna  lila  has anything to do with the gross debauchery of this world, to preach about the eternal Absolute Truth who is by Himself and for Himself, about Krishna who is the absolutely independent Supreme Personality of Godhead and who is the highest eternal Being amongst all eternal souls.

11)  Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is not to be wrongly perceived as a reformer, nor is it a pioneer. It should rather be considered a re-establisher of the eternal religion of the soul.  Vaisnav-dharma  is eternal and beginningless. It is not created at any particular period of time, nor can any history provide an account of its origin. When a religion is subject to time and history, then it is not  Vaisnav-dharma  but a random  mano-dharma  (mental concoction, or illusion). Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is a preacher of the ever-existent, eternal and original religion of the soul. That which is eternal and inherent to the soul must not be tampered with or reformed in any way. In the course of time, eternal religion of the soul declines or becomes extinct, but that is why  acharyas  come to preach about the eternal religion of the soul and help re-discover it. Reference about  bhagavat-dharma  can be found in  Srimad Bhagavatam.

12)  Many  sampradayas  attribute  Srimad Bhagavatam  to some historical period; some compose 'post-Vedic'  Veda-samhitas  and  Upanisads; there are also some who claim that the composer of  Brahma-sutra  Vedavyas is not the same Vyasa who composed  Bhagavatam; some publish contemporary  Srimad Bhagavatam  calling it a historical manuscript. The truth is that "puranarko 'dhunoditah" ("this brilliant  Bhagavata Purana  has just arisen") means, "Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam na vai vidur rsayo napi devah / dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam: although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rsis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of  siddhaloka. Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart." (SB, 6.3.19)

It is a fully ripened fruit of a desire tree ("nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam"), the essence of the Vendanta philosophy ("sarva-vedanta saram hi"). If we discuss these and other slokas written in glorification of  Srimad Bhagavatam, we can understand that when the morning comes and the sun appears to our vision, it seems new to us, or we think that a particular year or a particular date begins, but the truth is that the sun is eternal, permanent and self-manifest. The sun-god propels the wheel of time (kala-chakra), but the sun-god is not created at any time within it.  Srimad Bhagavatam  manifests in the heart of different Vyasas and through different writers in each age. That is why  Srimad Bhagavatam  said that  bhagavat-dharma  (teachings of devotion to the Supreme Lord) is created by the Lord Himself—it is not a creation of a  rsi  or a demigod.  Srimad Bhagavatam  is a ripened fruit of the  Vedas  and is worshipped by all pure  sadhus  (who are devoid of envy). There, liberation, meditation, deceit, etc. are kerbstones. The gist of  bhagavat-dharma  is found exclusively within the practice of chanting God's Names, and this practice is eternally worshipped and revered by the crest jewels of the  Vedas  and all the srutis (the Vedic knowledge received aurally). The Lord's Name is the fully-blown form of  pranava  (omkar). The  pranava mantra om  is the root or original seed of  gayatri, the mother of all  Vedas. The auspicious wish-fulfilling tree of the  Vedas, the very embodiment of  bhagavat-dharma, has spouted from this seed and borne a necterean fruit—aspiring to taste it, sadhus come to this world within the  srauta-parampara  (disciplic succession based on aural reception). Standing at the moat of this  parampara, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math worships the  bhagavata-dharma  that has come down from the Lord Himself to Brahma, from Brahma to Narada, from Narada to Vyasa, from Vyasa to Suka or Madhvacharya, and in this way it comes all the way to Sri Chaitanyadev and is then spread by the goswamis, the followers of Sri Chaitanyadev. Sri Chaitanyadev Himself is a divine tree of transcendental love, yet He distributed this fruit like an unsurpassed gardener. The actual and genuine meaning of preaching and 'jive daya' (mercy to the  jiva  souls) is to relish this fruit and distribute it all over the world.

bharata bhumite manusya janma haila yara
janma svarthaka kari' kara para-upakara

"One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India should take advantage of his birth and bring benefit to all other people."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, Adi-lila, 9.41)

This is the order and instruction of Sri Chaitanyadev, and having entered this  srauta-parampara, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math has vowed to preach about this.

Sri Chaitanyadev predicted, "Prthivite yata achhe nagaradi grama sarvatra prachara haibe Mora Nama: My Name will spread to every village and town on this earth." (Chaitanya-bhagavata) To fulfil this prediction, the  brahmachari, sannyasi, and  sadachari grhastha  devotees of this holy Math go house to house and preach continuously. This Math preaches all over the world about the all-auspicious Holy Name, Abode and Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is trying its best to bring eternal benefit and auspiciousness to all  jiva  souls employing various modern scientific facilities to turn the heart of every person into a temple (an abode of  kirtan), trying to practise and preach, to establish proper practice (sadachar), to organise in accordance with the supreme conclusions of the scriptures  kirtans, festivals in remembrance of the Lord and His devotees,  nagar-sankirtans, parikramas of Sri Gauda-mandala, Vraja-mandala, Ksetra-mandala and other holy abodes of the Lord.

This holy Math's programmes are harmoniously held based on two principles: first, rejecting all kinds of unfavourable association, and second, following the five best practices as instructed by Sriman Mahaprabhu—association of devotees, chanting of the Holy Name, hearing  Bhagavatam, residing in Mathura and worshipping the Deities with faith.

13)  Generally, when people hear about 'service to the  jiva  souls' (jiva-seva) and 'mercy to  jiva  souls' (jiva-daya), there arise various misconceptions. The general notion or perception of the word 'service' that many have is actually incomplete in its meaning. 'Service' means giving happiness and love to the object of the service. Service is present within the object of service and the servitor. If the service is not eternal (nitya), then there is no eternal benefit in such service offered by the servant; at the same time, if the servant is also not eternal, then he or she will not be able to serve eternally—when 'service' is not eternal, then servitor is merely temporarily and futilely cheating the object of the service.

Most of us in this world are roughly jiva souls who have been averse to the Lord since the time immemorial, and within the span of different ages there are only one-two great souls who come to this world to save the averse souls like us. Therefore, if someone tries to serve the averse  jiva  souls by satisfying their senses, they merely increase their aversion to the Lord and therefore are being actually cruel and merciless towards them. That is why there is no such notion of so called "service to the  jiva  souls" (jiva-seva) in the entire literary scope of  Srimad Bhagavatam, among the teachings of Sri Chaitanyadev or within the conception of  bhagavat-dharma, however there are mentions of "Vaisnav-seva" (service to devotees), "Hari-seva" (service to the Lord) or "jive  daya" (mercy to the souls) because Vaisnavs (devotees) are always favourably disposed towards the Lord, they are engaged in the selfless service of the Lord, therefore if one serves a Vaisnava in any way, they automatically serve the Lord. Chanting  kirtan  in front of the averse souls provides eternal mercy, kindness to the souls and is a model of supreme benefit to others.

If you give food to the hunger-stricken, clothes to the homeless or to those who have no clothes, console the distressed, teach mundane knowledge about this world to the uneducated, etc. the help or mercy you offer to them is extremely short-lived. After the conditioned souls receive such temporary help, they will again suffer from hunger or they will soon again lack clothes, etc. If you cure a disease of a patient, they will eventually get some other disease or can be attacked by some mental disturbance: even if one is healthy, there is always some trouble-maker in the society who will engage in sinful activities. Even if one becomes enriched with material knowledge, they still remain desirous, angry, cruel, hateful—they still have animal consciousness and involve themselves in low and objectionable activities. If one increases their physical strength, they fall prey to various false practices and procedures that only increase animalistic strength. In other words, whatever momentary benefit one may get, it can be destroyed at any moment by the three-fold sufferings of this world (suffering caused by one's body, other souls, and environment).

Therefore, to awaken the consciousness of each and every soul, it is first of all necessary to have proper spiritual education and maintain life by accepting basic necessities that are favourable to such spiritual cultivation—then the  jiva  souls can individually and collectively receive benefit. Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math has taken up the responsibility of providing such "mercy to the  jiva  souls". Striving to help the conscious is not of no use to those who are unconscious—that is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's message; however if we waste time trying to help only those who are unconscious (conditioned souls who are unaware of their true nature), then there will be no time left for them to enter the kingdom of consciousness.

14)  In order to cheat people and lead them away from the true religion of the soul and charm them more with the religion based on the bodily conception, there are many perverted ideas preached in this world. For example, there is a famous saying, "Body is the tangible means of practising  dharma."

As far as the preaching of the  bhagavat-dharma  is concerned, the main  mantra  of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, "Turnam yateta na pated anumrtyu yavan nihsreyasaya visayah khalu sarvatah syat: a sober human being should quickly endeavour for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. Sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Krishna consciousness is possible only for a human being."

Our first and foremost duty is to strive to revive our conscious form, or body. That is the highest religion of every  jiva  soul. It is necessary to first of all try to engage in the practices that help embodied souls revive the soul-consciousness, because every  jiva  soul will get a gross body in every birth, but it is very difficult and rare to get a human birth that affords the best opportunity to render service to the Lord—such birth is attained only by a great effort and a great fortune. Therefore, the root of service to the Lord is attainable only in a human body, and those people who do not take shelter of a guru for the benefit of their own soul are definitely committing suicide. The first and foremost duty should be to try to dedicate oneself exclusively to the service of the Lord without heeding any of the innumerable apparent and evident temporary duties.

Those who do not desire real benefit in their life, give importance to the ostensible things—their first concern is with various bodily practices, then only the spiritual practices; they first see the worldly, mundane benefit, the benefit of the country or society, and the thoughts about spiritual kingdom are stored for future—they put off the search for their real eternal home. On the other hand, those who consider that the natural function of the soul (eternal service of the Lord) is the bestower of the greatest benefit, are always firmly guided in their all-auspicious service to the Lord by the principle, "Subhasya sighram asubhasya kala-haranam: if you think something is auspicious and good for everyone, do it immediately, and when you think that something is inauspicious or not good, delay doing it."

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math has firmly resolved to take up the highest duty of serving the Lord adhering to relatively neutral views (unaffected by anything material).

15)  Many think that a great  sadhu  or spiritualist is someone who can smear ashes on their body, who can mat his hair and wear tree bark instead of clothes, someone who can leave all the material facilities that the consumer society is entrusted with and go to live in a forest, or someone who can live naked sustaining himself on some fruit or on air only. One of the noteworthy distinctions of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is that if one decides to live austere or give up all material things, it is neither proper utilisation of things nor will it bring benefit to the one who renounces material things. It is our duty to search the method by which both the one who renounces and the objects that are renounced get eternal benefit and ultimate fulfilment.

When one gives up material things, the share of material things for the society of enjoyers increases, and this automatically brings about ruination because the proper utilisation of things becomes disturbed. This holy Math utilises all objects in the service to the One whom they belong to and therefore fulfils the purpose of all things. In this way materialists can get benefit because the wealth that has been entrusted to them by the Lord, is in some way or another utilised in the service of the Lord, and as a result those who are averse to service get some  sukrti  (spiritual merit) and the path towards awakening of the service mood becomes cleared. At the same time, everything that needs to be attained is achieved in all respects because when one enjoys material things, one gets some bad result, when one gives up material things, one gets some auspicious result, and both leave the person deprived, but when one gives up both propensities to enjoy and renounce and utilises material things in the proper way then it can bring supreme auspiciousness—then positive attainment is reached. When material things are utilised for the service of the Supreme Lord, it brings supreme result. On the other hand, when one renounces material things and becomes a renunciate sitting in one place rejecting all sense organs, making no effort towards any end, they commit suicide, and as a result they may be pardoned and get an opportunity to use material things in the proper way. That is why in this day and age Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math uses all benefits of science, such as the internet, websites, facebook, telephone, electric equipment, planes, printing press, electricity—by utilising the materials that enjoyers use in their own service and for their own enjoyment incurring thus material result, in the preaching of the message of the Lord, the proper utilisation is accomplished.

Money or wealth (artha) is the root of all evils (anartha), but Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math utilises wealth (artha) for preaching about the supreme wealth (paramartha, spiritual matters). The Math maintains and preserves monasteries and buildings not for the sake of luxurious life, but in order to chant there  kirtan, speak Hari-katha, to organise various gatherings, assemblies and conferences. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj have constructed this holy Math's building and towering temple, and just by observing it externally everybody can see how the Math functions under the supervision of the  acharya. This building is the dwelling place of the Lord Himself (Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundar jiu). One may say that installing Deities and calling some place a dwelling place of the Lord is merely an excuse for collecting some materials for enjoyment, but the acharyas of this holy Math do not indulge in this—on the contrary, they constantly inspire by preaching and their example those who engage in the chanting of the glories of the Lord to always, at every moment keep Sri Hari-kirtan resounding within this holy Math. Therefore the name of the place where such gatherings are held is "sarasvata-sravana-sadan", i.e. a hall where the message and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya are heard.

Here, electric lamps help see the beauty of the lotus toe nails of Krishna, the beauty of the lotus toe nails of the sadhus. Here, electric lamps help to give lectures and discuss the teachings of the  Vedas, Bhagavatam, Gita, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, etc. Here, electric fans are used for the service of the devotees who assemble to hear Hari-katha and those who assemble to chant the glories of the Lord and speak Hari-katha. Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math uses a motor van to reach many places for preaching Hari-katha and engaging in other activities favourable to the service of the Lord in a much shorter time and spending much less energy.

Therefore, when one engages in the service of the Lord, material things utilised in their activities indirectly help them in their service. For example, the temple uses a gatekeeper to protect the people assembled to hear Hari-katha and to guard the property used for the service of the Lord. In other words, what seems to the eyes of an averse materialist to be somewhat similar to material enjoyment and even all the material paraphernalia for service that shall be created in future also, should not be renounced in vain—if this paraphernalia is used for the preaching about the Lord, for practising Krishna consciousness under the supervision of the  acharya, then the purpose of all these things is fulfilled and the entire world can get benefit. This shows the practical distinction of this holy Temple.

The two instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Rupa Goswami given below are the main motto of this Math's preaching:

prapanchikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate
anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam uchyate

"One who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Krishna is not as complete in his renunciation. When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Krishna, one is rightly situated above possessiveness."

(Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.255-256)

* * *

Mahaprabhu Arrives In Puri

Sri Puri Dham, second evening class
21 June 2017, translated from Bengali, part 2

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 of all, I am offering my full obeisance at the lotus feet of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj begging him for his causeless mercy. After that, I am offering my obeisance to all Guru-varga, all the worldwide acharyas, to all my God-brothers and sisters, to all devotees and all of you praying for your mercy to this low soul.

We have started our  parikrama  today, tomorrow also we will visit whatever is left for us to visit before Gundicha  marjan, and the day after tomorrow we will go to Alalnath by bus. Those who take the  darshan  of Alalnath at this time get much  sukriti. Not being able to get the  darshan  of Lord Jagannath at the temple, Mahaprabhu Himself went to Alalnath crying, "O Jagannath! O Jagannath!" He saw Alalnath as Jagannath. From Alalnath we will go to the temple of Saksi Gopal, after that we will take some water from Bindu Sarovar on our heads, visit the temple of Ananta Vasudev and take  prasad  there. Then, if it is not too late, we will take the  darshan  of Sivji Maharaj at the temple of Lingaraj. So, please be ready for this trip.

When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took  sannyas, He went away with Nityananda Prabhu, Mukunda and others. On the way, Nityananda Prabhu thought, "Why will Mahaprabhu carry Me?"

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is nondifferent from Lord Krishna. You know, one time Gopal Krishna made something naughty and Balaram slapped Him. Krishna began to cry and complained to Mother Yasoda, "Mother, Balai has hit Me today!" Mother Yasoda then scolded Balaram, "He is Your little brother. You can tell Him, You can explain it to Him, but why hit Him?" Balaram listened to it quietly, and when Mother Yasoda went away, He grasped Krishna by His shoulders and gave Him a good jerk saying, "I have hit You today, but it is for Your own good! Why do You complain to Mother? What do you think? Do You think Mother loves You more? How much time do You even spend with her? You roam all day anywhere and everywhere—You enter the mouth of a serpent, You kill Aghasur, Bakasur, Vatsasur and others! And now You are crying? Who will help You if You cry? Tell Me, who loves You more?" Then, Krishna began to cry, "Brother, You love Me more!"

Balaram serves Krishna not just with one body, but with ten bodies—He serves Krishna as His pillow (balis), shoes (paduka), peacock fan (mayur pakha), bed (sayana), carrier (avahana), house (grha), umbrella (chhatra),  garments  (vastra), ornaments (bhusana), sitting place (asana). Everything that exists in the temple is actually Balaram or Nitai.

So, when Nityananda Prabhu saw Mahaprabhu carry His  danda, He thought, "Why will Prabhu carry Me?" That  danda  is Nityananda Prabhu Himself. What did He do then? He broke the  danda  into three parts and threw it into the Bhargi River. When Mahaprabhu came near Atharnala, He remembered about His  danda  and asked Nityananda, "Give Me My danda." Nityananda Prabhu told, "Prabhu, You were overwhelmed in  kirtan  and had  asta-sattvik-vikar; at that time You fell on Your  danda  and it broke. I threw it into the river." Mahaprabhu did not believe it, "Nitai, are You trying to cheat Me? I have left everything in Nabadwip and brought just this one single thing, a simple stick. I had nothing else in this entire world, and You know very well what I have appeared in this world for. Yet, You have thrown it away. Go! I will not stay with you all any more! Either I go first and you come behind, or I will go behind and you go first. Think quickly and tell Me." Then, devotees thought all together and decided, "If we go first, we will never find which way Prabhu goes behind us—He has become crazy and can go in any direction... But if He goes first, then we can at least see Him from far." So, they told Mahaprabhu what they had decided, and then Mahaprabhu immediately began to run—He ran so fast from there, like a mad elephant! Nobody could catch up with Him. In no time, He reached the temple of Jagannath.

You know that there is a bar in front of the Deities in the Jagannath temple. When Mahaprabhu ran into the temple, He stumbled onto that bar and fell down—foam started coming from His mouth and He kept saying, "Ja-ja-ga-ga, Ja-ja-ga-ga." (He could not even pronounce 'Jagannath'.) His appearance changed and became quite monstrous, He did not look like a human at all. The guards wanted to beat him, but when they ran into the Kurma Mandir and saw Him, they could not raise their hand coming under His spell. Instead, the guards called Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, "Prabhu, come here, please. Take a look what kind of man has come! He keeps saying, 'Ja-ja-ga-ga,' and foam is coming from His mouth! He fell unconscious in the temple." Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya said, "Whoever He is, let it be, bring Him to my house."

* * *

Mahaprabhu Settles In Puri

Sri Puri Dham, second evening class
21 June 2017, translated from Bengali, part 3

At Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya Prabhu's house, there lived also Gopinath Acharya, his brother-in-law. When Mahaprabhu was brought to Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's house, Gopinath Acharya recognised Him and asked Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, "Can you not recognise Him? You lived in Vidya-nagar, Nabadwip, and He also stayed in Nabadwip, in Mayapur. He is the grandson of Nilambar Chakravarti and son of Jagannath Misra. He is the father of the universe (Jagad-pita)—the Lord Himself appeared in the womb of Sachi Mata! Can you not understand this? He took  sannyas  from Keshav Bharati, and His name is now Sri Krishna Chaitanya."

Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya replied, "Well, I do not think He is the Lord..."

"You do not have mercy, that is why you do not think so. I have some mercy, that is why I can recognise Him. Only those who have received at least a trace of the Lord's mercy can understand, speak or teach about the Lord."

If the Lord gives you His mercy, then you can know the Lord, and it is also not easy to know the Guru—when the Guru gives you his mercy, then only can you recognise him. If the Guru does not give his mercy, it is not possible to understand the Guru.

In the meantime, Nityananda Prabhu, Mukunda, Gadadhar and others ran to Puri and entered the temple of Lord Jagannath. They asked one of the priests if he had seen a person named Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The priest said, "I do not know His name, but one man came to the temple today—He came and suddenly fainted, only foam was coming from His mouth and He kept saying, 'Ja-ja-ga-ga.'"

"Where did He go?"

"They took Him to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya."

So, Nityananda Prabhu came with the devotees to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. Nityananda Prabhu knew what to do when Mahaprabhu was senseless, so when they came, He spoke "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" into Mahaprabhu's ear and gradually Mahaprabhu opened His eyes. "Where have You brought Me?!"—Mahaprabhu slowly sat up...

Later, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya spoke to Mahaprabhu:

"You have taken  sannyas  at such an early age. What is the matter? What have You studied? Have You read  Vedanta?"

"My Guru considered Me a fool and said I had no right to read  Vedanta. He told Me only to chant the Holy Name, so I only chant the Holy Name."

The Lord keeps Himself hidden. The Lord never says, "I am the Lord," and those who are real Vaishnavs never say, "I have become a Vaishnav."

Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya said, "You must at least read  Vedanta!"

"Prabhu, please give Me your mercy. I became crazy and, leaving the service of My mother, have taken  sannyas. Please bless Me so I may keep My  sannyas."

"Yes, You must read  Vedanta! All right, I will teach it to You."

So, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya started teaching  Vedanta  to Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu sat quietly like an obedient student. After seven days, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya said, "You have been listening to  Vedanta, but I do not know if You have understood anything or not, You are not asking any questions. How will I know You have understood anything or not if You do not say anything?"

Mahaprabhu replied, "Prabhu, when you are reading  Vedanta, I can understand it very well, but when you explain it, I cannot understand anything."

Then, Mahaprabhu spoke the "Atmaramas cha munayo"  sloka  and asked Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, "Prabhu, can you explain what fault is there in this  sloka  and what good qualities are there in it?"

Explaining this  sloka, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya gave nine different types of explanation, and after that Mahaprabhu gave eighteen more explanations, not touching the nine  mayavadi  explanations of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was astonished—His eyes bulged and became red, "Who have I been teaching  Vedanta  for seven days?! Who is He?!" But even then he did not get real faith. Then, Mahaprabhu stood up and showed him His six-armed form. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya fell down in obeisance and did not get up.

Mahaprabhu said, "Sarvabhauma, get up! Get up! It is over!"

"What is this? I have just seen Your six-armed form! And what do I see now? An ordinary man..."

"You have dreamed it up. Love for Krishna has awakened in you, that is why you are saying all this."

Mahaprabhu was hiding, but since that time, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya became Mahaprabhu's devotee and they spent much time talking. One day, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya told Mahaprabhu, "You are going to South India—there is one devotee just like You (a  rasik bhakta) on the bank of the Godavari. His name is Ramananda Ray. You should meet with Him. Also, You said You wanted to stay in Puri after that—I will arrange a place for You by the time."

We will go there tomorrow—Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya kept a room for Mahaprabhu at Kashi Misra's house. After Mahaprabhu had travelled all South India, He came back to Puri and settled in Kashi Misra's house.

When Mahaprabhu met with Ramananda Ray on the bank of the Godavari, they had many discourses and in the end Mahaprabhu told him, "You must also come to Puri." Ramananda Ray said he would leave his job and come. Then, he came to Raja Prataparudra and asked him, "Can I go and serve Mahaprabhu?" King Prataparudra replied, "What do you mean 'can you'? You must always serve Him! And no need for you to worry about the pension—as long as you are alive, you will get your full salary! Go and serve Mahaprabhu, you no longer have any duty here, go and take care of the Lord, it will be auspicious for you too."

In this way, Ramananda Ray, an incarnation of Visakha Devi, came to Puri. There was also Svarup Damodar, an incarnation of Lalita Devi. The two of them, Ramananda Ray and Svarup Damodar, always, all day stayed with Mahaprabhu. In the evening, Govinda would bring Jagannath  prasad  for Mahaprabhu, then Mahaprabhu would go to rest, and they would go to rest too. They always discussed Krishna-katha—who will one speak Krishna-katha with if not with one's dear and near ones? Who will you speak Krishna-katha with? Only those who are dear to you.

These are the pastimes of our Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

* * *

Embracing Lord's Arrangement

Sri Puri Dham, second evening class
21 June 2017, translated from Bengali, part 4

Later on, Haridas Thakur came to Puri too, and Mahaprabhu said to Kashi Misra, "I have come now. Give one more room for Me, please." In this way Mahaprabhu arranged for a place at Siddha-bakul for Haridas Thakur. We will go there tomorrow.

If we are to stay at the feet of Guru and Vaishnavs properly, we must always remember about these pastimes...

Tomorrow, on the way, we will also go to pay obeisance at the  bhajan-sthali  of Srila Jagadananda Pandit, it is a very small place, so we will pay obeisance from outside. Jagadananda Pandit was so dear to Mahaprabhu.

One year, Sanatan Goswami and Rupa Goswami came from Vrindavan at the Ratha-yatra time. When the Ratha-yatra festival finished, the chariots went back, Sanatan Goswami told Jagadananda Pandit, "It is time for us to go back. You are very fortunate that you are staying with the Lord, and we are very unfortunate, we have to stay so far away, in Vrindavan!..." Jagadananda Pandit said, "Yes, it is time for you to go. Ratha-yatra is over, so why are you still here?" Jagadananda Pandit does not mind anyone, this is a  kanistha  mood.

Then, Sanatan Goswami went to Mahaprabhu and said crying, "Prabhu, it is time for us to leave for Vrindavan, Ratha-yatra has finished, the chariots have returned also, soon  chaturmasya  will start... Jagadananda also says why we are still here, it is time for us to go..."

Mahaprabhu was annoyed, "What?! He was just a baby yesterday and today he is saying this?!" He told devotees to call Jagadananda Pandit. When Jagadananda Pandit came, Mahaprabhu chastised him, "What is this? Sanatan Goswami sometimes teaches even Me, he is a great scholar! He has given up everything, all material things and stays in Vrindavan despite so much austerity, and you tell him, 'Why are you still here?'?! What has given you the right to say this?"

Hearing Mahaprabhu chastise Jagadananda Pandit, Sanatan Goswami began to cry. He said, "Prabhu has never chastised us, He only chastises Jagadananda... O Jagadananda, there is no one as fortunate as you are! Prabhu gives you sweets and us bitter."

It is a great fortune to be chastised by the Lord—not everybody can understand this.

On another occasion, Sivananda Sen's wife said crying, "This  sadhu  here [Nityananda Prabhu] has cursed us that our two sons will die!" Sivananda Sen replied, "You do not understand, this is a blessing! If a  sadhu  says your sons will die, it means they will get supreme benefit. You do not understand, such is the mercy of great Vaishnavs!"

When Srila Raghunath Das Goswami made the  chira-dahi mahotsav, Nityananda Prabhu placed His feet on his head and said, "Now you can go—you have made Vaishnav  seva, and the material bondage you had is now all removed." He then came to Puri, and Mahaprabhu gave him the service to Svarup Damodar, but before that Mahaprabhu kept telling him, "Go back to your home, do not become crazy! Do not show off monkey renunciation just to impress others. Accept what is necessary with detachment." Mahaprabhu told him not to show false renunciation like a monkey—monkeys also live naked, and you can also see many naked, covered in ash  sadhus  in Ganga Sagar. Mahaprabhu says one can enjoy material things (you can make a house, a room, a big building, a big temple, etc.), but without attachment.

markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana

"Do not show your false renunciation to people. Serve accepting material things, but without attachment."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 16.238)

'asakti-rahita,' 'sambandha-sahita,'
visaya-samuha sakali 'madhava'

"When you are free from material attachment and establish relationship with the Lord, then you will see that everything around you is Lord Madhav Himself."

('Vaishnav ke?' verse 12)

Mahaprabhu says it is necessary to be detached. He had sent Raghunath Das Goswami back many times at first, but when his material bondage was cut, then he could come and stay with Mahaprabhu.

One of the times when Mahaprabhu sent him back, Raghunath Das Goswami asked Mahaprabhu, "Prabhu, how will I come to You then if I go back? So many guards are always with me." Mahaprabhu said,

se chhala se-kale krsna sphurabe tomare
krsna-krpa yanre, tare ke rakhite pare

"Krishna will reveal to you how you can come. Who can stop the one who has got mercy of Krishna?"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 16.241)

"When the time is right, Krishna will reveal it to you, He will arrange everything."

When Krishna appeared in Mathura, He was in prison, there were so many guards, so many things, but how did the door open? Where did the guards go? Vasudev took Krishna to Gokula—where did the water of the Yamuna go? There was so much rain that night, but Anantadev protected Vasudev from the rain like an umbrella over his head. Can you see? Kamsa arranged so many things—a big prison house, so many guards, so many soldiers and servants, but when Vasudev took Gopal Krishna out, how was everything set right? Where did the rain go? Where did the waters of the Yamuna go? The Yamuna's water stopped and moved aside to let Vasudev carry Krishna across. That is why, "If Krishna kills, He will kill. If Krishna saves, He will save. "Marabi rakhabi yo ichchha tohara : You can kill me, You can protect Me—as You wish." Everything is in His hands. He is the cause of all causes.

isvarah paramah krsnah sach-chid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes."

(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)

Nothing happens without His desire.

* * *

Purity, Simplicity, and Faith

Sri Puri Dham, second evening class
21 June 2017, translated from Bengali, part 5

The Lord has kindly given us nine doors, but so many dirty things come from each of them—tears come from the eyes, spit and vomit come from the mouth, wax comes from the ears, mucus comes from the nose, stool comes from the back door, etc. But the Lord has been so merciful—He has given us a tongue that we can chant the Holy name with, but if we instead discuss and criticise others, speak all sorts of bad things, listen and discuss village news, then what is the use?

gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe
bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe

"Do not listen to the mundane talks, do not listen to the mundane news. Do not eat fancy food, do not wear fancy clothes."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.236)

Leave the deceitful devotion. Deceitful means 'kutinati,' being crooked. "Sarala hale gorara siksa bujhiya la-ibe: if you are sincere and simple-hearted you will understand Gora's teachings." (Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.3) If you want to understand Gora's teaching, you must become sincere, simple-hearted. If you play politics, you will not understand Gora's teaching.

There is a very beautiful  kirtan, the dearest  kirtan  of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur,

sarvasva tomara, charane sapiya,
padechhi tomara ghare
tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukura,
baliya janaha more

I have offered everything at Your feet and taken shelter in Your home. You are my Master; please consider me Your dog.

Saranagati, 19.1

bandhiya nikate amare palibe
rahiba tomara dvara
pratipa-janere asite na diba
rakhiba gadera pare

"Tie me up nearby and maintain me. I will remain at Your doorstep. I will not allow anyone who is against You to enter, I will keep them outside."

Saranagati, 19.2

tava nija-jana, prasada seviya,
uchchhista rakhibe yaha
amara bhojana, parama-anande,
prati-dina habe taha

"Whatever remnants Your devotees leave behind after honouring Your prasad I will eat every day with great joy."

(Saranagati, 19.3)

How beautiful this is! Great  sannyasis  would come to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and give him respect, they had faith in him and paid full obeisance to him.

Sometimes people say, "We live in the temple (we are  Math-vasis) and the outside people are all householders," but:

grhi ha-uka tyagi ha-uka bhakte bheda nai
bheda kaile kumbhipaka narakete yai

"There is no difference between devotees—be they householders or renunciants. If someone makes distinctions between them, they go to the hell of boiling oil.

Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 17.22

Guru Maharaj also said that one can stay in the house but be a  sannyasi—those who have no attachment, no attachment or relation with the wife are as good as a  sannyasi. If one discriminates based on whether one is a householder or a renunciate, they will go to hell. We must try to always serve Hari, Guru, Vaishnavs—everything comes by their mercy.

yogyata vichare kichu nahi pai
tomara karuna-sara
karuna na ha-ile kandiya kandiya
prana na rakhiba ara

O master! I am devoid of ability and intelligence, and greatly distressed. Please accept me. When I examine myself for qualifications, I find none. Your mercy is everything. If you are not merciful to me, then, crying, I will no longer maintain my life.

Even if there is any qualification in me, I will not get anything through it—if Gurupadpadma gives me his mercy, then only can I get some supreme benefit. That is why the scriptures say that you must give up deceitful devotion—then you will understand everything. If there is dirt in your heart, Bhakti Devi (Goddess of Devotion) will not come there. We must first clean the dirt from our hearts. If we do not remove the dirt from our hearts, we will not be able to understand anything, but if we can make ourselves fit, if we can engage ourselves in the service of the Lord, then we will get supreme benefit.

matha mandira dalana badira na kara prayasa
artha thake kara bhai yemana abhilasa

"Do not endeavour to make monasteries, temples, or big houses, but if you have wealth, brother, then you can make them, as you desire."

Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 9.29

If it is necessary, you can make a building—when devotees come, it is necessary to give them a room, then they can stay there. Big buildings are made for devotees. If you do not have such money, then do Vaishnav by giving  prasad  to devotees, and if you cannot provide that too, then serve devotees with sweet words. This is told in the scriptures and we must always think about it.

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

"Sraddha is firm, determined faith that by service to Krishna all actions are accomplished."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.62)

If you have the strongest faith in what the scriptures say, then you know that by serving the Lord and the Guru no debt remains—no debt to your mother, father, sages, demigods or anyone else. Suppose you were worshipping some demigod, now you do not, so you think that it is an offence, but you must not keep any of such thinking in your mind. Many times people say also that if the husband does not follow  ekadasi, then the wife should not follow it either, but this is wrong—even if the husband does not follow it, you must follow it.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Sarvasva tomar charane sampiya' and 'Hari haraye Nama Krsna' concluding thus the class.]

* * *

"They Come Running to Do Parikrama"

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga Guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Sri Sri Nabadwip Dham parikramar adhivas maha-mahotsav ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sada Siva Gangadhar Giriraj Govardhan jiu ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Gaura premanande Hari bol.

Tomorrow is the  adhivas  (eve) of our Sri Nabadwip Dham  parikrama, and the day after tomorrow we will start the  parikrama. Many devotees have come from abroad—from America, Mexico, Venezuela, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Russia, some devotees came from Australia, Japan, and some are coming soon from China also. In some places you cannot openly wear  tilak, cannot wear neck beads openly, cannot chant  kirtan  openly, loudly, but people, being attracted by Mahaprabhu, are coming even from such places to hear about Him—they are coming to do the Nabadwip Dham  parikrama  with you all. Just think about it—how much trouble they are taking. Even when a  sannyasi  goes to their country, they cannot wear the  sannyasi  clothes—if they do, they will be arrested at once. So, when  sannyasis  go there, they have to wear some shirt on top of their  sannyasi  clothes. Our Yudhamanyu Prabhu was there before, and now Hasyapriya Prabhu goes there, and this time Srila Janardan Maharaj is coming from China with the devotees. They live in a communist country where you cannot chant  kirtan  loudly, you cannot build a temple, but they gather in a small flat and secretly speak Hari-katha, chant  kirtan, they discourse about the Lord. People from even such countries run today to your country, to this India, West Bengal, and do the  parikrama  of Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Mayapur Dham. Taking so much trouble, they come from thousands of kilometres away, and they come running to do the  parikrama  of Sri Nabadwip Dham.

You too are not getting a proper place... You can see that many sleep even during the  arati—if any of you have come to sleep, I will take you tomorrow to a rented room outside. We have rented many guesthouses and rooms outside, you can go and sleep there, do not worry. Those who have come to sleep, they can sleep—"ara kota kal ghumaibe maya-pisachira kole, how much longer are you going to sleep on the lap of this witch Maya?" We have got this human body having crossed so many births and having traversed the entire universe—compared to that these one hundred years of life that we have got is nothing. During these hundred years of human birth you have come for Sri Nabadwip Dham  parikrama  but, feeling tired after one day's journey, you only lie down and sleep. I travel from morning until late at night every single day of the year, not even one day goes without me going somewhere. Today too, I have been out most of the day, arranging everything for the  parikrama. The place here is small, and we are now running short of rooms. Some cannot sleep on the ground, that is why I have rented some rooms outside in the vicinity of the temple. I do not mind it, if you want to go there, get ready and we will take you there by our bus or by our car. You can stay there and come here for  prasadam. However, those of you who want to stay with us and rough it here with us, you can stay—those of you who have come to hear the class, to chant  kirtan, to do the  parikrama  and hear the glories of the  parikrama, to wake up for the morning  arati, etc. There is also a pandal arranged outside the temple, you may go there if you want. Gurudev always said that our  parikrama  is such that people will always be coming up to the last day—on the last day more and more people will come. Many work and are not able to participate in the whole  parikrama, they are coming on the day of Gaura Purnima itself, and it is necessary to make some arrangement for them also, it is necessary to save a room for them. Anyhow, those who take austerity and travel here are all fortunate souls. Some even come and do this  parikrama  bare feet...

We have come to the holy abode of Mahaprabhu, and we should pray to Mahaprabhu that devotees may not get austerity. Please help each other, participate in service. Service is our main  mantra. Why do we chant the Holy Name? To get service. And how will we get the right to serve Krishna? Krishna is the property of Srimati Radharani, and Srila Gurudev is non-different from Srimati Radharani, so if we surrender to Gurudev properly, Gurudev can direct us to serve Krishna or Krishna's devotees (Krsna and  karsna). 'Karsna' means a Krishna-bhakta, this is mentioned in the new book (Guidance, Volume 3). Many may not understand it, that is why I am telling that 'karshna' means a devotee, this is Srila Prabhupad's expression.

Today also another book has come (Sri Puri Dham Mahatmya-Mukta-Mala)—when I went for preaching recently I was proof-reading it. During the preaching, there were programmes during the whole day, in the morning, afternoon and evening. Sripad Sadhu Maharaj sitting here went with me also. We all came back from the programmes at midnight, at 11-11:30 p.m.—everybody went to sleep and I was sitting up till late correcting the book because they made the book very nice, they wrote it very nicely, but you know that when foreign devotees speak Bengali, they speak perfect Bengali but Bengali people sometimes cannot understand perfect Bengali. There is  sadhu bhasa  (literary, high dialect) and  chalita bhasa  (colloquial dialect).  Sadhu bhasa  is the language of classic literature, but we do not speak that kind of language every day, we speak  chalita bhasa, its simplified form. That is what I was correcting.

* * *

Forget Yourself In Kirtan

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 2

Many devotees are coming tomorrow. Please get ready tomorrow for Sri Nabadwip Dham  parikrama. It is some austerity, but I will give you a very good medicine how to do this  parikrama. If you take this medicine, you will see that everyone can do it. The medicine is this: without any hesitation, without any second thoughts, reservations and doubts at the back of your mind, leaving all thoughts about your life and family that you have left behind at home, only chant the Holy Name. Only chant Hare Krishna and you will see the Lord Himself will take you on this  parikrama. This is the real medicine.

If you go for a walk in the morning, you will feel your legs are paining, but if you go chanting  kirtan, then you will see that even if you walk twenty-four hours, nothing will happen to you. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami walked to Puri during twelve days—Puri is about 600km away from Kolkata, it means he walked fifty kilometres a day, and during those twelve days he ate only three times. Somebody called me the other day saying, "You are starting  parikrama  on 17 March, it is an  ekadasi  day, how will you walk without eating?" I explained to them that we were going to do a short  parikrama  on that day—we are going to Godrumdwip, it is nearby, we will walk in the morning and take  anukalpa prasadam  in the afternoon here at the temple.

Do not worry about  prasadam—walk and chant, and  prasad  will come, there is no need to worry about it. Chant the Holy Name of the Lord and you will see that you will get the supreme benefit. Chanting the Holy Name of the Lord also means we must serve the devotees of the Lord. There is no other path for us except service to the devotees. Service to devotees is our highest end, we must always remember this. That is why we always want devotees' association,  sadhus'  association.

Look at the devotees from Singapore—they have come with their two small children, Jay Krishna and Jay Gauranga, the youngest being only four months old. Yet, here in India devotees have two-four-year old children and they cannot come, they are waiting for the child to grow up—they say, "When the child grows up, I will be able to come." But look at them—they have brought a four-month-old child from Singapore!

[Srila Bhakti Kusum Asram Maharaj comes in.]

Srila Ashram Maharaj has come! He has been preaching all year abroad and now has come for the parikrama. Sripad Tyagi Maharaj has also been preaching all over the world (Russia, London, America, Mexica, Colombia, Turkey, etc.) and he is returning here for the parikrama. Sripad Mahayogi Maharaj also helps me with the parikrama—he is physically not well and cannot help in service physically, but he sometimes preaches and helps me in other ways. Sripad Parivrajak Maharaj is also here. Sripad Sadhu Maharaj has also come from Venezuela.

I am now giving the microphone to Srila Ashram Maharaj, he will speak...

* * *

Hear It With Your Heart

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 3

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

When Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur stayed in Godrumdwip, he would sing one song. Listen carefully with your heart and try to remember it. Did I not say it yesterday? Until and unless we have the desire to serve the Lord or Lord's devotees, this kind of Hari-katha or Krishna-katha will not enter our ears.

There are nine kinds of devotion existing within the nine islands (Nabadwip):  sravanam  (Simantadwip),  kirtanam  (Godrumdwip),  smaranam  (Madhyadwip),  pada-sevanam  (Koladwip),  archanam  (Rtudwip),  vandanam  (Jahnudwip),  dasyam  (Modadrumdwip),  sakhyam  (Rudradwip),  atma-nivedanam  (Antardwip).

We are now here in Godrumdwip and the practice here is  kirtanam—it is necessary to practise  kirtan. In Koladwip, where our Math is, the practice is  pada-sevanam, and in Antardwip it is  atma-nivedanam. Remember it.

[His Divine Grace sings the evening kirtans beginning with  'Gurudev bada krpa kari']

gurudeva!
ada krpa kari', gauda-vana-majhe
odrume diyacha sthana
jna dila more, ei vraje vasi',
arinama kara gana

Gurudev! Bestowing a great mercy on me, you have given me a place in Sri Godrumdwip amidst the forests of Gauda. You ordered me: "Reside in this abode which is non-different from Vraja and chant the Lord's Name."

kintu kabe prabho, yogyata arpibe,
 dasere daya kari'
hitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
kante bhajiba hari [2]

But when, O master, will you mercifully grant this servant the qualification to do this? Then my heart will become steadfast, I will tolerate everything, and I will serve the Lord sincerely.

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
bhyasa ha-ila manda
ija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
hajanera pratibandha [3]

In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things. Because of my own sins, this body has become an impediment to spiritual practice.

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
emane bhajiba bala'
andiya kandiya, tomara charane
adiyachhi suvihvala [4]

Now aged, I am afflicted by five-fold diseases. Tell me, how shall I serve? Crying incessantly, I have fallen at your feet, utterly bewildered.

* * *

Admirable Service Mood

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 4

[Priya Krishna Prabhu comes in to make the evening offering. His Divine Grace looks at the clock and, pleased, says:]

Look, this is our Priya Krishna Prabhu from Mauritius. I have tried to engage so many devotees in the service here at Sri Nrisingha Palli, but nobody could do it, and he is seventy years old but worships the Deities every day in the two temples here. This is an example for us. You must think about it, and it should make you feel shy. He has been serving here as the  pujari  of Gaura Nitai and Lord Nrisinghadev for almost one year already, and he always keeps perfect timing—he does  mangal arati  always at the exact, perfect time, noon  arati  at a perfect time, etc. He also looks after the temple. I come here only once a month on the way to Krishna Nagar or Nabadwip because I am mostly busy with preaching and do not get to spend much time here—whenever I get time I come to see how he is doing and how the temple is running here. His service is continuous.

Sripad Adhoksaja Prabhu also has just come from Mauritius with his wife—they preach for the temple in their country, and Sripad Tyagi Maharaj went there also a while ago.

You are all householder devotees living here in Bengal, and Priya Krishna Prabhu is also a householder—he has a son, but you can see his son is now  brahmachari  and drives the Math's car, helping me. Recently, Priya Krishna Prabhu's wife came also to India. She came to see me, to speak to me, but she did not even come here once to see her husband thinking, "He is serving the Lord, why will I go there to disturb him?" They are such great devotees. They do not want to see any harm done to the temple. This is such a high conception, their thinking is so high. She understood that if a wife comes here to the  pujari, I would not be happy, and she did not come. I was so happy to know about that. They have such a big heart. How much they sacrifice for the Lord! Recently, she also wrote a letter to me saying, "You have engaged my son in your service and now my husband too. Please forgive my offence, Maharaj, that I have not been able to leave the material world as well." How much humility! She sent me the letter through the devotees who have come from Mauritius—and she wrote to me, not to her husband. Seeing their service mood must make us think. In the meantime, we here cannot give up the attachment to the material life:

visaya chhadiya kabe suddha habe mana,
kabe hama heraba sri-vrindavan

"When will my mind, leaving the material world, become clean? When will I see Sri Vrindavan?"

When will we leave the material world and our mind become clean?...

Priya Krishna Prabhu used to work and now gets pension, and he uses his pension now to buy some flowers for the temple, some sweets for the offering, sometimes some garlands for the Deities, etc. I have asked him recently, "Prabhu, do you need money?" He said, "No, I have, I am managing." The more we can give to the Lord, the more the Lord will love us. How much can we give to the Lord?

Here is also a girl who has come from Nepal. She has been here since Nityananda  trayodasi. She lives with her family, but they have not come to this line and none of them likes that she is here. She stays in Nepal, preaching there. When I went there for a week, she would come and cook every day. She would come to wherever we were staying that day, sometimes walking for two hours from her home. She had asked the servitor who cooks for me what I eat and what I like, and she would come and cook every day. She would go to the programmes with us and cook there too. Now she is here and she sells the books at the bookstore. Her name is Nanda Priya Devi Dasi.

We must learn from them and always have such mood. This is their glory. They give their heart to service. They are householder devotees, they work, have a husband, have wealth, etc. but how much they serve! Some also cannot come for the festival, for example I have got a letter from a Muslim country—they cannot come, but they have sent donation. There are so many things to be arranged, purchased, hired, etc. for the  parikrama, and it is not an austerity for me, it is a source of joy for me to always run here and there arranging everything.

You should learn from these devotees. You all also live in houses, but you should live in your house without attachment:

ara kabe nitaichand karuna karibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuchha ha'be

"When will Nitaichand give mercy to me? When will all my material desires become insignificant?"

('Prarthana' by Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

We run after material happiness and become very tired...

* * *

Undaunted and Undeprived

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 5

This year I gave an advertisement in the newspaper. In many places, when you go to a temple or some place, you must give some money, and they give the rate for different accommodation types and the duration of the stay, but I wrote an invitation for the  parikrama  from Nrisingha Palli and wrote it was free of charge. It is not necessary to give any money—if you want, you can give, if you not, then do not give. I do not care. Anyone who wants can come, we can always rent some rooms, etc. The Lord provides and makes sure we have no lack. Gurudev also gave his blessing and told me many times that even if you are robbed and everything is taken, you will not be poor by that. I am always only holding onto Krishna and only praying that you may be able to do this  parikrama.

Devotees:  Nitai Gaura Hari bol!

I do not think about earning money, I only always think about the Lord, about service to Gurudev and devotees. I always think how to serve the devotees. I do not mind if everyone comes. We have collected a lot of  bhoga, a lot of rice, etc. I was told that in some areas there had been too many rains and all the potato had been spoilt, but in the areas where I go collecting, nobody's potato had got spoilt. You can see how the Lord's will works. People cry and complain that all their potato had been spoilt, but in the places where we go collecting, near Tarakeshwar, there is no loss at all, everything is OK. When one serves the Lord, the Lord provides for them. Of course, there can be some temporary hardships and austerity also—having forgotten the Lord we are burning now with the three-fold miseries and again and again keep coming to this material world to enjoy...

[On the order of His Divine Grace, Western devotees are served  prasadam  earlier. Suddenly, His Divine Grace is distracted by talks in the background:]

It is not good!  Prasadam  time always pray to and glorify  prasadam:

mahaprasade govinde nama-brahmani vaisnave
svalpa-punya-vatam rajan visvaso naiva yayate

"O king, one whose fortune is meagre never develops faith in mahaprasad, Govinda, the Holy Name, or the Vaisnavas."

bhai re!
sarira avidya-jala jadendriya tahe kala
jive phele visaya-sagare
ta'ra madhye jihva ati lobhamaya sudurmati
ta'ke jeta kathina samsare

"The body is a net of illusion, and the material senses are the enemies; they throw the soul into the ocean of mundanity. Among the senses, the tongue is the most greedy and wicked. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world."

krsna bada dayamaya karibare jihva jaya
sva-prasad-anna dila bhai
sei annamrta pao radha-krsna-guna gao
preme daka chaitanya-nitai

"O brothers! Krsna is very merciful: to conquer the tongue He has given us His remnants! Accept this nectarean food, sing the glories of Radha-Krsna, and with love call out, 'Chaitanya! Nitai!'"

You must only talk Krishna-katha, only chant Hare Krishna. Always think about Krishna, think that you are taking Krishna-prasad! Do not forget the Lord. We pray to you.

If any of you have not brought  tilak  from home, you can buy it for five-ten rupees. Even when you go to your home also, you should always do  tilak-seva. Also, many of you wear gold chains, etc.—be careful with it, it can tear and get lost on  parikrama. Do not bring much money or gold with you, you will always worry about it. Also be careful with your mobile phones.

Always wear neck beads (kanthi-mala), you can buy it at our bookstore outside the temple (these neck beads are real Tulasi, we have got it from the person who makes the chanting beads). Keep a spare  mala  also because it can sometimes break when you are cleaning or take bath. Those who do not wear Tulasi-mala are very unfortunate. In this Kali-yuga people do not wear Tulasi beads, many think that if they eat meat and fish, what is the use wearing Tulasi neck beads? It will be a sin. Wearing Tulasi beads is never a sin. In another way also, if someone wears Tulasi beads and knows that it is not good to eat meat, to lie, etc. and wear Tulasi beads, then they will become somewhat scared to eat meat or tell a lie and gradually start lying less and eating fish, meat less. Whichever way, it is never a sin to wear Tulasi beads. Wear Tulasi neck bead and  tilak. Here we are now selling the original  tilak  we brought from Dvaraka—in Dvaraka, there are some places where the soil is like  tilak, and we brought it from there. Such is the land in Dvaraka, where Krishna stayed.

* * *

Revise Your Priorities

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 6

It is those who are fortunate that come. Only a fortunate  jiva  soul can do this  parikrama, can serve the Lord. We have forgotten about this, we have forgotten the Lord... Even if you do not get time to chant the Holy Name, but when you go to the bathroom, you sit there for twelve-fifteen minutes. The body does its job, but you can chant the Holy Name at that time. When you go to the toilet, when you take bath, chant the Holy Name. I also do that.

When we went to Nepal in January this year, it was winter time. When you breathe, vapour comes out, you can see snow on the Himalayas from there, and the water there was ice cold. When I went to the bathroom, I took the Holy Name and poured water on myself, and when I came back to the room they would forcefully put so many clothes on me to keep me warm that I would feel hot. We will go there again with devotees. You do not need a visa to go to Nepal, you can easily go there with the Indian passport. There are temples of Muktinath and Pashupatinath. Lord Krishna gave Lord Siva the weapon called pasupat there. Krishna also fought against Sivji Maharaj...

[A devotee asks something.]

Who says this? This is not written in any scriptures. Actually, we cannot see anything, we only do  parikrama. You can see Srila Prabhupad's words written at the back of the new book,  Sri Puri Dham Mahatmya-Mukta-Mala:

"Sri Jagannath is not an object to be seen; Jagannath is the Seer. When the soul gives up the ego of the seer and becomes fully established in the ego of an object of Jagannath’s vision or the pure original form of being an object of enjoyment, it then acquires service temper and can attain the darshan of Lord Jagannath through the eyes of divine love and service temper.

"For as long as we think that we will see Jagannath, we will not be able to see Him, but rather we will only always see wood, stone, an enjoyable idol maimed by the impersonal or historical accounts; and when we can know with all our heart and soul that He will see me, that we are materials for His enjoyment, and there is no covering of our own pleasure when it comes to His enjoyment, that He is absolutely independent and acts as He pleases, then only will Jagannath reveal Himself to us."

We go to the holy  dham, but not to see it—we go to  serve  the  dham. We do not go to a holy place to enjoy or for sightseeing, we must think, "Krishna is the enjoyer, Krishna is the master. Jagannath will see me." Do we have the eyes to see Jagannath? If I think, "I will see Jagannath," then instead of Jagannath I will only see a wooden or stone idol. These are Srila Prabhupad's words. Always remember this.

Wake up for  mangal arati  and get Tulasi neck beads from the shop, wear it. I am telling it for  your  benefit. Do you understand it? I am constantly only thinking about your benefit—day and night, sometimes foregoing eating and sleeping, I go everywhere and make so much effort just so that you, who are born in this Bharata-bhumi (India), may know the Lord, may know and understand Mahaprabhu. I am thinking about  your  benefit—I want  you  to get some benefit, some love and attachment to the Lord, to the Lord's service, I want you to serve the Lord in some way. This is what I take all the great pains for.

Otherwise, we always worry what we will eat, what we will wear, what we will know or think—we always worry about this body, but we do not realise our true purpose. Our true purpose, or identity, is that we are  atma, a  jiva  soul. We must think about the benefit of the soul, but we worry about the body all the time—what the body will eat, what the body will wear, where the body will sleep. How much time do we spend thinking about the Lord? We only think about this body, and we are not able to think about ourselves, but it  is  possible. When the soul leaves this fleshy body, it will be kept for one or two days and then it will start to rot.

We worry about this body thinking where we will eat, what we will wear, where we will get nice food, some even go quickly first and hide some  rotis  for themselves... Will you die if you do not eat  roti  for one day? I do not always eat  rotis  in the evening too, and when I went for preaching I ate rice three times a day—I did not tell anything to anyone. I am diabetic, and the doctor told me to eat rice only once a day, but they gave me rice in the morning, at noon and in the evening, and I did not tell anything to anyone. When I stay in Kolkata, I take some  roti  from a shop to balance my blood sugar, I do not tell them to make any vegetables for me or anything. I take some  roti, sometimes some sugar if my blood sugar is low, then I take medicine and go to bed...

* * *

One-Pointed Hearts

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
15 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 7

We always follow the desires of our tongues, we run to please and serve our senses—we always think about our eyes, nose, ears, tongues, skin, mind, intelligence, and ego. How unfortunate we are! Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur also wrote, "Emana durmati samsara bhitare padiya achhinu ami: O Lord! I am very wicked-minded and have fallen into this material world." We have fallen into this material world and, bound by Maya, we are now floundering here.

There is no scarcity of  visaya-vistha  (stool of material world)—you can enjoy whatever stool you give up now later when you are born as a dog or a pig. Out of mercy to us,  sadhus, Gurus and Vaishnavs come to give us an opportunity to do this Nabadwip Dham  parikrama, to hear Hari-katha, they come to take us to this line, but we, overcome by petty things, by the greed of our tongues, think, "I want to eat meat, I want to eat fish, I want to eat this, I want to eat that, I want to eat nice food." We do not want to take initiation because we cannot give up meat, fish, masoor dal (lentil), etc. How many days will you be alive? You will eat for one hundred days, but what will happen to you after that? You will take birth as a hog and you will be eating all the stool that you discharge now. This is what the scriptures say.

Some are thinking now, "When will we go from here? I am hungry!" Pigs also say this, "When will I go? I am hungry!" There is better food than stool, but if you give sugar syrup to a pig, it will not even try it, but if you bring it a bucket of stool, it will at once put its entire face inside and start enjoying. We are like that too... Some worry, "How can I take initiation? They do not allow to eat meat, fish!" Some worry, "What about my daughter? What about my son-in-law? What will I eat when I go to my relatives' house?" Some think, "Others eat nice egg omelettes, but how am I to tolerate it? I only get boiled potato..." I hear people say these things.

Srimad Bhagavad-gita  (18.66) says,

sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma suchah

"Give up all kinds of religion and surrender to Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins, do not despair."

Lord Krishna says, "Leave all religions and surrender to Me!" When you surrender to Krishna, why will you kill Krishna's  jiva  souls? Everybody belongs to Krishna, and everything that exists in this world must be used for Krishna's service. If you eat all those other things, do you think you will get the taste for the Lord? If you eat outside food, listen to outside  kirtans, this is hodge-podge devotion (panchmisali bhakti, পাঁচমিশালি ভক্তি)! We have become hodge-podge devotees! Our hearts must be one-pointed, but instead we are splayed among so many other directions. We do not want to behave like prostitutes—we do not go this side, that side, that side; our conception is one direction, our heart must be one-pointed otherwise we can never get the Lord.

[A devotee says what people say in support of their meat-eating conception.]

If they say this, then what will you do? They are unfortunate. Those who do not have  sukriti  will not hear these things. I have told you all before—as long as we do not have the desire to serve the Lord, these words will never enter our ears no matter how much we are told about it. Get this book (Sri Upadesh 3, Guidance 3), you will get all answers there. There are 108 questions and answers in this book.

Anyhow, you have heard a lot today. If anyone has questions, you can tell me. Get ready for the  parikrama, do not forget to wear the caps with our Math's contact details—if you get lost somewhere on the way, you can always find us then. Wear Tulasi beads on your necks, put the  tilaks. Then the Lord will see too, "Oh, My devotees have come to circumambulate My abode." You know, once someone came to Mahaprabhu without a  tilak  on his forehead (it had got erased), and Mahaprabhu chastised him saying, "Your forehead looks like a crematorium!" After that, that devotee always came with the  tilak  on. That is why we put  tilaks—so that our forehead does not look like a crematorium. If you do not have the  tilak  clay, you can buy it at the bookstore, it is open every day, all day.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Hari Haraye Nama Krishna' and finishes the evening class.]

* * *

Lying and Bribing

Sri Nrisingha Palli, morning class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 1

[Following the morning  kirtans:]

You must always realise these  kirtans  in your heart. I see that some of you cannot sing them, it means you are not practising—many do not know these  kirtans. You can buy a small  kirtan  guide and chant these  kirtans  at home; you will see, you will like it. How beautiful this is—"Nijera posana kabhu na bhaviba: I will never think about myself."

"Janani-jathare, chhilama yakhana, visama bhandana-pase : when I was in my mother's womb, choking by the bondage, surrounded by stool and urine, one day the Lord allowed me to see Him." How much we suffer in the wombs of our mothers—we suffer a hellish agony there. We are shaken all the time, we always cry, our legs are upwards, head downwards. Now we all want to stay in a big room, when we sit we must spread and stretch our legs, we have so much freedom, but when we were in the womb, we suffered so much being confined in that tiny space—how terrible this is. Seeing our plight, the Lord revealed Himself to us, He allowed us to see Him. The Lord appeared in front of us and asked, "What do you want? Why have you called Me?" We cry, "Prabhu, I cannot take this any more! Please rescue me from this place!" The Lord then asked, "I have given you eyes to have the  darshan  of My Deity form, I have give you legs so you can circumambulate My holy abode, I have given you hands so you can serve Me. Will you do this?"

The Lord has given us all senses so that we can serve Him, but we have forgotten everything. We sang in the morning during the temple  parikrama, "Bhajibo boliya ese samsara-bhitare bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare: you came into this world saying, 'O Lord, I will serve You', but, having forgotten this promise, you have remained in ignorance." We have made a promise, but we have not been able to keep our promise. We have promised to the Lord, "I will serve You, I will see Your form with these eyes, I will serve You with these hands, I will do  parikrama  of Your holy  dham  with these legs, I will chant Your glories, speak about You with this mouth," but, "Dinera madhye abala-tabala kata pachala parite para, tara madhye ki eka-bara govinda bolate nara!—How many idle talks we have during the day, how much we talk during the day! We talk all sorts of nonsense and cannot even one time take the Name of Govinda!" How much we talk! We only talk about money, food and clothes, about the material life! Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami,

gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe
bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe
amani manada hana krsna-nama sada la'be
vraje radha-krsna seva manase karibe

"Do not listen to the mundane talks, do not listen to the mundane news. Do not eat fancy food, do not wear fancy clothes. Do not expect honour to yourself, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the Holy Name of Krsna, and in your mind serve Radha-Krsna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.236-237)

You can read this in  Sri Sri Prema-vivarta  or  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita.

We have fallen into this material world and we spend this life only thinking about this body, about our material life, and before we know it, "Vardhakye ekhana upaya-vihina ta'te dina akinchana: now aged, devoid of any means of deliverance, I am poor and worthless." "Vrddha-kala aola, saba sukha bhagala, pida-vase ha-inu katara: now old age has come and all happiness has fled—distressed by diseases, I have become miserable." Afflicted by so many diseases, we always become sick—somebody's eyes pain, somebody's nose pains, somebody's stomach pains, somebody's liver pains, somebody gets operated on, etc. So many diseases come and create a problem for the body! With all these diseases, we become old and in our old age we give up all happiness, we are not able to do anything any more.

It is our earnest, heartfelt prayer to you all—do not forget all this,  serve  the Lord,  worship  the Lord. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur writes, "Nijera posana, kabhu na bhaviba, rahiba bhavera bhare": I will never think about my own maintenance; I will always remain within the shelter of loving attachment for You." "I will stay with You as a dog. You tie me nearby as Your dog." A dog takes care of his master, and we too will become the gatekeepers of the Lord—we will come to Gurudev, to the Lord and, guarding his gate, make sure no adversity comes through. We will not make the Lord our order-carrier. I have written about this in  Guidance 3, you can read about it there—instead of serving the Lord we make the Lord our order-carrier. We go to serve the Lord or Gurudev, but instead of serving them we make them our servants. How? We always think, "Gurudev, give me this, give me this"—we only give problem, this problem, that problem, etc. We make our Guru and the Lord our servants.

I see that when people worship Deities (Durga, Kali, Ganesh, Laksmi, even Krishna), they offer obeisance to the Deity and ask for something in exchange for their worship. I also see—I notice everything!—that when the  arati  lamp (the  pancha-pradip) comes from the altar, those who have some pain in their chest they touch the fire and touch their chest, those who have pain in their heart or other place, they touch the fire and then touch the place that pains. For example, if somebody is blind, cannot see well, they always touch the fire and then touch their eyes. People always pray to the Lord, "I want this! I want that!" Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur says that when we give something to the Lord and ask for something in return, we make the Lord a  ghuskhor, a bribe-taker. We give some money to the Lord, we give some money, some rice to Durga, Kali, Laksmi, Ganesh, and pray, "O Lord, help my son get a job!", "O Lord, give a good husband to my daughter!" You turn your deity into a bribe-taker. Is it true or not? For example, if somebody wants to get a government job, they can give ten lakh and get some primary master's job, and those who take the bribe are called a  ghuskhor  (a bribe-taker). In the same way, we turn demigods into such bribe-takers when we say, "O Lord, help me get a job!" We do not understand anything! We want something from the Lord, we expect the Lord to serve us, but we do not want to serve the Lord. We make Him our  servant—"Give me this," "Give me that." Our duty is serve the Lord, to serve our Guru, to serve the Lord's devotees. The Guru or the Lord will accept that service or not, this is his matter, but our duty is to serve Him. Always remember this.  He may or may not accept our service but our duty is to serve Him.  Never forget that our duty is to serve Him. Always think about this.

* * *

A Rare Quality

Sri Nrisingha Palli, morning class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 2

It is said in the scriptures that there is one wise man among ten million selfish workers, there is one liberated soul among ten million wise men, and among ten million of such liberated souls there is one devotee of Krishna. Mahaprabhu rejected everything—even what we say:

sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma suchah

"Give up all kinds of religion and surrender to Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins, do not despair."

Mahaprabhu rejected this as much as He did  karma-misra bhakti—He said, "This is external, go further." This is the last  sloka  of  Srimad Bhagavad-gita, but Mahaprabhu said, "Reject it!" This is what Mahaprabhu said when He was talking with Ramananda Ray on the bank of the Godavari River. You have been there with me this year, you have seen that place. I was there for the first time also. This is the place where Mahaprabhu showed Ramananda Ray His Rasa-raj Maha-bhav form.

When we go to South India with the  parikrama, we will first go to Kurmaksetra (you all know Kurmadev, the tortoise incarnation), and after that there are many other places we shall visit. There is Nava Nrisingha, Pana Nrisingha and many other temples. Pana Nrisingha temple is a very beautiful place—when you offer some water to Lord Nrisinghadev there, the Lord drinks half of it and sends the other half for His devotees—the other half of the water comes out. Mahaprabhu visited that temple and many other temples of Lord Nrisinghadev in South India, He also visited the temple of Kurmadev. When Mahaprabhu was at Kurmaksetra, He met there the famous  brahman  who would read  Srimad Bhagavad-gita  and cry. We will go there later this year to take the darshan of all these places after the Ratha-yatra in Puri. We will visit the places that Mahaprabhu visited:

gaura amara ye-saba sthane
karala bhramana range
se-saba sthana heriba ami
pranayi-bhakata-sange

"In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar roamed during His ecstatic Pastimes."

Also, in this song, "Sarvasva tomara charane sampiya," we sing,

taba nija-jana prasada seviya
uchchhistha rakhibe yaha
amara bhojana parama-anande
pratidina habe taha

"Whatever remnants your devotees leave behind after honouring Your  prasad, I will eat that every day in great ecstasy."

You all know the story of a  brahman  named Kalidas. Many devotees tried to touch Mahaprabhu's feet when they paid an obeisance to Him, but Mahaprabhu did not allow them to. This is Mahaprabhu's teaching and this is the rule we follow also—we consider ourselves very low and poor. Why will you touch the feet of such a fallen person as myself with the hand you serve the Lord with? Such was Mahaprabhu's humility. Indian devotees think that if you pay obeisance and not touch the feet, then it is not an obeisance, such is our  samskar  here (social culture, upbringing), but we do not consider this right—unless we leave these acquired habits and change, we will never be able to get anywhere. And we pray to you so you may try to change.

So, as I was saying, Mahaprabhu did not allow anyone to touch His feet, but there was one person whom He did allow it—He gave that right to Kalidas. When Kalidas touched Mahaprabhu's feet, everybody rushed to stop him, "Do not touch the Lord's feet!" but Mahaprabhu told them, "Leave him, do not stop him." Do you see? Kalidas was a poor  brahman, not dressed well, etc., but what was his quality? He had extreme humility. His quality was such that he would never take  prasadam  together with Vaishnavs. He would always come to Vaishnav  seva, but he would never sit in the line with all the Vaishnavs; instead, he would go to the place where they threw their banana leaf plates after taking  prasadam  and he would lick those plates. That is why Mahaprabhu said, "He has taken remnants of all Vaishnavs and he has became a great Vaishnav himself. You are not to stop him, he can touch My feet."

We must have Vaishnav qualities, but when it comes to  prasadam  time we run to sit first. I have seen many times devotees who serve  prasadam  keep some paneer rasa away for themselves because they think they will take  prasadam  last and there will not be any left for them.

It is necessary to have Vaishnav qualities...

* * *

Exclusive Attention

Sri Nrisingha Palli, morning class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 3

"Taba nija-jana prasada seviya uchchhistha rakhibe yaha—whatever remnants Vaishnavs leave, I shall take that every day." One time, a  brahmachari  got married and told about it to Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj told him, "Yes, you did good, I have no objection. However, your duty will be such that when your wife cooks  bhoga, offers it, and the  prasadam  comes from the Deities' room, she must take that  prasadam  first, and after she takes it, you must take your wife's remnants." Do you know why he said that? So that the man would not think, "I have got married, so now I shall enjoy my wife. She is an object of my enjoyment." Rather, he must think, "My wife is a servitor of the Lord. She serves the Lord, and I am her servant. I have come to this world to serve the Lord. My wife is not for my enjoyment. Krishna is the only enjoyer—only He can enjoy, and I am only her servant." Such service mood must come.

This should be our main quality, we must understand this. "My wife is the servant of the Lord, and I shall be her servant"—such conception must come. "I will be her servant." We must always remember this. "My wife is my servant, I am the master of the house, I am the man, I earn money"—such mood must not come, this is wrong. You may be working, but you do not earn the money—the Lord provides the money, He arranges for it, and you are merely keeping the Lord's money. All householder devotees, or any other devotees, should understand that you may have some money, but that money is not yours, that is the Lord's money, Krishna's money.  Sadhus  do you a favour—they take your money and use it for the service of the Lord. Actually, whatever money you may have does not belong to you—Krishna merely keeps that money in your hand. We must always think in this way.

We forget what our duty is, what for we have come to this world, what for we have got this kind of body, but we must use everything, including this body, for the service of the Lord.

I remember Gurudev told me one time that once an ISKCON devotee came to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj to take  sannyas. Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj told him, "You are a devotee of Krishna, so you must wait before you take  sannyas. First you must become Radharani's devotee, Gauranga's devotee, then I can give you  sannyas." What does it mean to be a devotee of Gauranga Mahaprabhu? Mahaprabhu was always in separation mood—He always hankered, "Where did Krishna go? Where can I find Him?" He was relishing this mood of the Vraja  gopis. And what do we know? We do not even have the basic  sambandha-jnana  (knowledge of what is what, the relationship with the Lord), but we say that we have already become great Vaishnavs. We put on tilaks, wear Tulasi beads, and we think we have become great Vaishnavs. One does not become a Vaishnav just by putting  tilaks  and wearing Tulasi beads.

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

What did Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad also say? One time, when Gaura Purnima was over, everybody came to Srila Prabhupad to give some  pranami  and say they were leaving, but all of a sudden they could not find Srila Prabhupad anywhere. They searched everywhere and in the end they found him hiding in his room and crying. Srila Prabhupad was crying! Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was there and stayed a little far, but he heard Prabhupad say, "Do not cheat me!" He was surprised to hear it, but then Prabhupad explained, "Do not forget me! You have done  parikrama  with us for seven days, you have entered into some relationship with us—do not forget us now! Do not cheat me!" What was Prabhupad telling? He also said, "You say you are going home? Why are you going there? Even if your house is burning, let it be, you do not have to go there!" But we do not want to hear all this—we do not want to hear, we do not want to understand what the Guru is telling us... Always remember this...

When you listen to what the Guru is saying, you must listen with one-pointed determination, attention, you must listen with your heart—this is our only duty. There are sixty-four devotional practices, but if you practice even one of them, then all sixty-four practices are accomplished. Have you heard about this? Do you understand the meaning of these words? Among those sixty-four practices, there are also these five best practices:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith."

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124

I have written both these five and the sixty-four devotional practices in the Bengali calendar, you can read it there. What is  sadhu-sanga? It is only Krishna-katha—you must listen to only Krishna-katha. If you sit at a class and do your  mala, how can you concentrate on either of them? You cannot listen to the class and do  mala  at the same time—it will be Nama-aparadh. I have seen many times that when Bhagavat-katha is going on, some sit and do  mala, but the result is they are not doing either of the practices properly—if you are doing  mala, you cannot listen to Hari-katha. When Hari-katha is going on, your mind must be all attentive. Suppose you are cooking or cutting vegetables—do not talk nonsense, do not talk about this and that; only think about Krishna. If you are cooking, cutting vegetables, you cannot be chanting on your beads at that time, but when you cook for Krishna, your cooking will be Krishna-Nam. Cooking too can be chanting. Remember this.

sadhu-sange krsna-nama—ei matra chai
samsara jinite ara kona vastu nai

I desire only to chant the Name of Krishna in the association of the sadhus. There is no other way to conquer samsara.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.13)

If you practise even one of the devotional practices, then all sixty-four practices are accomplished. This is also written in the book about the glories of the Holy Name that you all got at the time of initiation. When you hear  Bhagavatam  or when you for example chant the  kirtan, "Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara e dase karuna kari'"—can you be chanting this and chanting Hare Krishna at the same time? You can say yourself that it does not work that way. That is why when you practise one of the practices, you must give full attention to that practice:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith."

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124

In the same way, when there is Nama-sankirtan, you cannot be chanting on your beads at that time. When you practise  sravan-kirtan, then the chanting of the Holy Name is automatically done. One time, somebody asked Prabhupad, "How can we practise all sixty-four practices at the same time?" Prabhupad said, "If you practise even one of those practices, then all the sixty-four practices are accomplished." Try to understand what I am saying.

Devotee:  What about chanting on mala during parikrama?

It is not necessary! Only go and chant with the  kirtan  otherwise you will be doing much Nama-aparadh (offence) instead of the Holy Name.

* * *

Core Conception

Sri Nrisingha Palli, morning class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 4

What do the scriptures say? How should you chant the Holy Name? If you chant quietly, the result is one, if you chant loudly, you get another result, and if you chant while walking and dancing, the result is also different and much greater. You can chant on your beads when you are walking on your own, but if you chant along when there is  kirtan  going on through the loud speaker, then it will be  kirtan, then it will be the Holy Name.

You can say then, "What are the beads for?" This is a kind of bondage. That was Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad's thinking: when you go back to your home you will not chant at all, not even one time, that is why he reasoned if he gave you chanting beads at the time of initiation along with the  bhakti-lata-bij, then you will take care of it as a gardener. Our Gurudev also said that every day you must chant four rounds minimum because if he had not said it, you would not chant at all. However, those who always, constantly chant  kirtan  can chant even for ten hours. Why cannot we do that too? If the Lord keeps me alive, I will wake up tomorrow and will be chanting  kirtan  all day long till night—and if I take my beads and go chanting on my beads, will that be  kirtan?

Another line from "Sarvasva tomar charane sampiya" is "Basiya suiya, tomara charana chintiba satata ami: whether sitting or lying down, I will always think about your feet." I will not lie down and think that, "What if I die? What will become of my son? What will become of my wealth? How much do I have in the bank? How much should I deposit?"

One time, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad's disciples Srila Madhav Maharaj, Srila Goswami Maharaj and perhaps Srila Madhusudan Maharaj had an argument over a newspaper. One of these  sannyasis  asked another  sannyasi  to pass him the newspaper, but because that  sannyasi  was chanting on his beads at that time, he gave the newspaper to him with his left hand. Srila Madhav Maharaj saw it and said, "The order of the Vaishnav  is  Harinam!" Remember this.

Do you know what Gurudev also said? If you give class on  Bhagavatam  without the order of your Guru—if you read  Bhagavatam,  Chaitanya-charitamrita, etc. without his permission—it will be no better than reading a newspaper. What did Srila Prabhupad say? If you are thirsty, you need only one glass of water, it is sufficient. Just as you do not need a whole sea to satisfy your thirst, you do not need to read an ocean of books, volumes of books, this, this, this. It is not necessary to know so much, to think about a whole ocean—only one glass of water is sufficient for you. "Bahu grantha na paribe, bahu kalabhyasa na karibe: do not read so many books, and do not practise so many things."

It is not necessary to know so many things. Our main teaching, our main goal is that our life is only for the service of the Lord and we must serve the Lord with sincerity, determination, following proper behaviour and practice. Our life is only to serve our Guru, the Vaishnavs and the Lord. If we cannot do that, then we will never achieve anything. Wherever you live, whatever your situation is, if you only read the holy book of our  kirtans, you will get everything from there. I also always quote from there. If you read it attentively and try to realise what is written there, you can understand everything easily.

* * *

Guidance 3: "Get This Book and Read It Always"

Sri Nrisingha Palli, morning class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 5

One of the chapters in the book 'Sri Upadesh,' Tritiya Khanda (Third Volume) (translated into English as 'Guidance,' volume 3) is called 'Samsara and Bhakti.' I have explained there what is  bhakti  (devotion) and what is  samsara  (material life). Another chapter is 'Home-interest vs. Math-interest': explaining these two notions, I wrote there about our late Sripad Santosh Prabhu, my godbrother whom Guru Maharaj had given to me. Read about it.

Another chapter there is about hell, I explained there what is called hell. There are so many types of hell—Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurav, Maharaurav, Kumbhipak, Kalasutra, Asi-patravan, Sukaramukha, Andhakupa, Krimibhojana, Sandamsa, Taptasurmi, Vajrakastaka-salmali, Vaitarani, Puyoda, Pranarodha, Visasana, Lalabhaksa, Sarameyadan, Avichi, Ayahpana. Besides these twenty-one kinds of hell, there are also seven more hellish planets called Ksarakardama, Raksogana-bhojana, Sulaprota, Dandasuka, Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana and Suchimukha. In total, there are these twenty-eight hellish planets—places of various sufferings. In this chapter, I wrote what Kapiladev had told his mother Devahuti about hell. It is recorded in the third canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam.  Srimad Bhagavatam  is a very big book, there are more than ten volumes, and not everybody can get it, but I searched about hell in  Srimad Bhagavatam  and wrote about it here in  Sri Upades 3: I wrote there how the conditioned souls suffer in hell, how and in what condition they leave the body, etc. Read it carefully and remember what is written there. If you read it, it will make your hair stand on end.

Another chapter in this book is 'Provincialism and Service to the Lord.' Do you know why I wrote this? When you read it, you will understand. Some think, "I am from Mednipore, so I will stick to the Mednipore folk, and when I serve  prasadam, I will serve the Mednipore folk very nicely." Others think, "I am from Howrah, so when I see my folk at  prasadam, I will give them nice  prasadam." This is what is called provincialism. Some also think, "If Gurudev builds a temple in our area, it would be nice because it is near us and we can go there, otherwise if the temple is in another area we cannot go so far." Originally, Srila Prabhupad wrote about this—I searched in the books, found it, and wrote about it.

I also wrote in this book about  sahajiya. Many say, "It is better to be a  grihastha." But: "Thinking that there is no fear of falling down in the  grihastha  life, and letting the fire of married life sacrifice go ablaze is not an example of spiritual life." Many say, "I live in the house and my family is Krishna's family, so I produce servants and maidservants of Krishna." But: "If one lives in his house and on the pretence of being a member of Krishna's family creates(?) servants and maidservants for Krishna—such  prakrita-sahajiya  hypocrisy will never lead to spiritual benefit." This is hypocrisy, and it can never bring any benefit to the soul. Always read about this.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur also gave advice: many householders and renunciates fight among themselves, "You are householders, and we live in the temple—we are  brahmacharis, renunciates!" I wrote about this too, read it. If you read this book, you will get everything. Many say, "Oh, he is a  grihastha, he has no right to chant  kirtans! We live in the temple, so we will chant the  kirtans!" Or, "I wear saffron, and you wear white, so you are a bad person!" Many fight like this, and I wrote about it here: "Those who do not possess single-minded dedication to the service of the Lord always waste time debating who should be called a 'householder' (grihi) and who a 'renunciate' (tyagi). 'Who is greater, a householder or a renunciate?'—this designation argument possesses the hearts of people who have strayed from the service of the Lord."

I also wrote about the householders here, not only about the renunciates. Householders say, "You are  sadhus  living in the temple, but you cannot live without us—you always come to beg at our house, we give you rice, money, etc. and you sustain yourself on that, so we are the great ones!" The renunciates say, "You live in your house and enjoy and we have given everything up and live in the temple, so we are the great ones!" Read these things! I went to great pains to write it, it took me two-three months of working day and night to write all this for you.

There is also another chapter here—some people say that this world is destroyed by religion, many say that Mahaprabhu and His people brought about the downfall of the nation. Read about it. There is a chapter about  astakaliya-lila  also: there is  nisanta-lila  (pre-dawn pastimes),  pratah-kal lila  (early morning pastimes),  purvahna-lila  (pre-noon pastimes),  madhyahna-lila  (noon pastimes),  aparahna-lila  (afternoon pastimes),  sayam-lila  (dusk pastimes),  prados-lila  (evening pastimes),  ratri-lila  (night pastimes).

Another chapter is about proper renunciation (yatharha-vada) based on the  sloka  of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad,

kanaka-kamini, pratistha-baghini,
chhadiyachhe yare sei ta vaisnava

"Those who have given up money, women, and fame, are the true Vaishnavs."

(Vaishnav Ke? 11)

[Addressing English-speaking devotees:] This book is coming in English in three-four days. You can read it, it is a very nice book.

Another chapter here is about 'The Unrenounceable.' What is that you cannot renounce after having renounced everything?  Pratistha. "I will become a  guru," "I will become the manager of the temple"—this is  pratistha. I wrote about it here too.  Pratistha  is what is not renounced...

I also wrote here about Janmastami. If you celebrate Janmastami at home, you can read it or read it during the class. "If Lord Sri Krishna had not appeared, the life of the  jiva  souls would be useless." This chapter is called 'Without Lord Krishna Life Is Meaningless' and there is also a chapter about Radhastami. Listen to these things, read these things during the class. It will not do if only I go everywhere and preach:

karitechchha upakara yate para upakara
labhe jiva sri-krsna-sevaya

"You [Srila Prabhupad] are giving great benefit by helping other souls get service of Lord Krishna."

Read this book, buy this book and take it home! I have told you—you do not have to give me any money; it will be better if buy this book and take it with you. Read this book—what this book contains is not my words; these are Gurudev's words, Prabhupad's words,  Bhagavatam's words, I wrote many examples from  Bhagavatam,  Chaitanya-charitamrita, I give the examples of what Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj says, what Srila Prabhupad and Srila Gurudev say, what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says. I wrote all this based on their examples and words. These are all not my words. I am only taking the remnants of what Gurudev has chewed and giving it to you, writing about it for you.

Devotee:  What is the name of the book?

Sri Upadesh, third volume. This is the third book, there are also the first and second volumes. This book is also coming in English soon. Read it.

While you are here, always, all day listen to Hari-katha. Sripad Tyagi Maharaj will speak now shortly in English and Bengali, listen to everything attentively, otherwise your mind will start roaming around. If you start going to this shop, that shop, to this house, that house, you will be doing eye-exercise. This is Srila Sridhar Maharaj's expression—eye-exercise. Always stay here at the temple, do not go roaming anywhere. We will be walking much tomorrow and you will see much then. You must walk and do the  parikrama—please, everybody must get ready. Tomorrow is the  parikrama  of Godrumdwip and Madhyadwip.

[His Divine Grace requests Sripad Tyagi Maharaj to speak about the glories of Naimisa forest in Madhyadwip and gives the summary of it in English and Bengali:]

A long time ago, before Mahaprabhu appeared here, when  rishis  were reading  Srimad Bhagavatam  (they were doing  parayan, a complete reading of the treatise, from beginning to end), the Lord Himself appeared before them at the place called Naimisavan in Madhyadwip. The Lord said to them, "I have come before you now, but I will come here again in Kali-yuga in the form of Mahaprabhu."  Jay Naimisavan ki jay.  Also,  suddha-bhaktir vighna vinaskari  Lord Nrisinghadev (the destroyer of all obstacles on the path of unalloyed devotion) is here nearby—you all know the glories of Lord Nrisinghadev, and if you do not, I will tell it next time. OK?

[His Divine Grace chants 'Hari Haraye Nama Krishna' and finishes thus the morning class.]

* * *

"I Will Always Be With You"

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Jay samagata sannyasi-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sada Siva Gangadhar Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Sri Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay
All the sannyasi-vrinda ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Harinam sankirtan ki jay. Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol.

By the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, by the mercy of Gurudev, we have all assembled here at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli. By the mercy of Srila Gurudev, we have got some small temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math within Nabadwip Dham, here in Nrisingha Palli. We did  parikrama  from here last year and we see that this year many more people have come from various countries and corners of the world, tolerating all the austerities and difficulties. Despite the difficulty of making the  parikrama  from here, still our  parikrama  continues every year without stop—so many devotees tolerate it and sleep on the ground, on the veranda, in the pandal, etc. because the place here is small.

You may have heard it from Gurudev also, and I also saw it when I first came, that in early days when devotees did  parikrama  from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, there were not so many big and grand buildings in our Math. Behind the temple, there used to be a bamboo forest; where the five-storey building is, there used to be a flour-making machine that was used to husk wheat and make  atta  (wholewheat flour) for  chapatis. At that time there were no big buildings, and during festivals devotees (including foreign devotees) would make a tent in the garden and stay there. I have seen it.

We are staying here, tolerating some austerity, and the Lord no doubt sees it, and He will judge—the Lord can see, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can see how much you are suffering staying on the veranda, etc. At your homes, you sleep in a big building, you stay in a very happy place, in a separate room, etc., but here you are roughing it in one room with five-six other people or someone maybe even with thirty-forty other people. I see it and when I see how much energy you get despite everything, and I feel very happy—it is on the strength of your energy, on the strength of your love and affection that we are going to start our Nabadwip Dham  parikrama  from tomorrow.

Today is the  adhivas  day. So many devotees have come from so many countries and all over Bengal. There are devotees from Howrah, Uluberia, Hooghly, Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Midnapore, Siluguri. Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj here has come from Mexico with many devotees, Jay Balai Prabhu also came with Maharaj. Sripad Tyagi Maharaj here preaches as my representative all over the world. You all know that for various reasons I have not been able to go abroad, and for many years now Sripad Tyagi Maharaj has been doing this service for me. Sankar Prabhu, Ravin Krishna Prabhu, Rajeshwari Didi who used to cook for Guru Maharaj, along with their daughters and son-in-law Yuga Vardhan Prabhu have come from Singapore. Shyamali Didi has come from South Africa, she is a very dear devotee of Guru Maharaj. Most of the devotees who always stay with me and take care of me are from Venezuela. Visakha Didi and Vraja Mohini Didi have come from America, Visakha Didi mostly stays in London. Amalendu Prabhu has come from Russia, he loves me very much and always helps me. Adhoksaja Prabhu has come with his wife from Mauritius, he looks after the devotees and temple in Mauritius. You can also see the devotee named Priya Krishna Prabhu who does the  puja  and  arati  here in the temple and looks after the temple here; his son Purna Prajna Prabhu also stays with me and drives the car. Anjali Didi has come from London—despite her age, she has so much energy! You can see her dancing and understand it. Many more devotees have come from Mexico, some have come from Colombia and Brazil also. Ramananda Prabhu has come with his wife from America. Several devotees have come from Nepal, including Nanda Priya Didi. Sanjeev Prabhu has come from Delhi. Madhumangal and several other devotees have come from Bokaro—it is the place that Sripad Niriha Maharaj comes from. I have come to preach in their village this year. You can see they come to every  parikrama—they always distribute  prasadam  to you, they help you; every year they leave everything and work so hard during the festivals. There are also some devotees from Nadia, those who stay nearby. Sripad Mahayogi Maharaj has also come from London. Sripad Parivrajak Maharaj from Malaysia stays here, he has recently taken  sannyas. Sripad Sadhu Maharaj is from Venezuela, he has also taken  sannyas  recently; he is the manager of our temple in Venezuela—he listened to what I had told him and, having left everything, he is now preaching. Nimai Chandra Prabhu is also here, his brother Purujit Prabhu was also here. Gauranga Prabhu is also here from Brazil, he went for preaching with me. There is a new boy also from Brazil, I gave him the name Mathuranath Prabhu. They always serve with so much enthusiasm—they go to the market with me and carry big bags. Also, I must mention devotees from Hooghly who have been helping much, also Tarok Prabhu is here, he has brought much  bhog, rice, dal, etc. Sripad Niriha Maharaj went for collection with me to Bardhaman recently. Ashok Prabhu's health is not very good, so he could not come, a few days ago also his brother's wife died, but he had gone to many places around Bardhaman to preach and collect for Gaura Purnima. All the ladies from Hooghly district also had been going house to house collecting  bhog, rice, money, oil, etc. They help a lot. There is also one more girl from America, Devaki Didi, a daughter of Srutasrava Prabhu. I saw her first when she was perhaps three years old, she was the same age as the elder son of Yuga Vardhan Prabhu. She has now grown up and is running the book store here with Radharani Didi. Also, Krishna Kumar Prabhu is here—he has a big well-paid job in his country and was supposed to return to long ago, but to stay for Gaura Purnima, he got a certificate from a doctor that he had got into an accident and sent it to his boss. There are many more devotees here with us today, I do not know some of them personally.

So, many devotees have come from various places around the world to do this Nabadwip Dham  parikrama. May the Lord give them all auspiciousness and look after them. Actually, the Lord makes sure we have no lack—everybody is entrusted with some property of the Lord and the Lord sends everything that is necessary for us through the devotees from various places so that there would be no austerity for the devotees.

I will not speak much longer now, we are still going to do the  kirtans  and hear more Hari-katha. Listen about the pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when Maharajs speak, I will also speak every day. Try to tolerate it and sit in the  nat mandir, today is the  adhivas  and it is necessary to give everyone a chance to speak. There are many foreign devotees sitting here—some do not know Bengali language, some do not know English language also, they speak Spanish, some speak only Russian language. There are different languages here besides English and we must try to serve all devotees, this is our main goal. I am requesting Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj to speak now. You all know that he stayed with Gurudev for a long time and during Gurudev's last time he was always there with him and did much personal service. Srila Ashram Maharaj preaches in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and other places.

Also, I forgot to say that Srila Janardan Maharaj is also coming soon from China with Chinese devotees. He could not come earlier because of his poor health. Also, some devotees will come from Australia and there is also one new girl from Japan sent by Ajitasha Didi.

I am very happy to see you all. You can see that I actually have no desire for anything—my only desire is that you engage me in your service. Do not hesitate, if you want anything, you can tell me about it and I will try to help. All these austerities are a test for us. Gurudev has made so many buildings through my hand, but today the situation is such that if there were not such grand buildings, if there was only one broken building, there would not have been so much fighting and quarrel. Yet, our temple is so opulent now—after Gurudev's disappearance also, many things have been improved and built—his  samadhi-mandir  was fully marbled, Govinda Kunda also was fully marbled, there is a good  prasadam  hall, an elevation for the  goshala, etc. So many things have been done there after Gurudev left, and so many new temples and branches have opened also—Nrisinhga Palli, Tarakeshwar, Ganga Sagar, Kalna, Bakura, Burdwan, Ekachakra, Siliguri, etc. By the way, some devotees have come from Siliguri also, they are tolerating and sleeping here on the veranda, but they have come for the  parikrama. Many have come from Birbhum district also.

Many devotees are helping us, and I am very pleased, I am very happy with you all. I have no duplicity or anything like that—I speak openly, I do not hide anything, I tell you everything. My heart is open for you all, my door is open for everybody. I am very happy with those who always serve my Guru—some serve me, but I think that if you serve my Guru, it will be much better and I will be much happier. I can say to those of you who are helping and supporting my Guru, who are serving Gurudev's temples, that I will always be with you, and I am always with all of you too—wherever I go, wherever I am, I will take you all with me. Even if I die, I will take you all with me.  [His Divine Grace laughs.]  I do not know how long I will be alive in this world, neither do you know how long you will stay in this world, but I will always be with you, I will always look after you. There is no big building, no grandeur, nothing now, but you are spending your days lying on the veranda, on the ground. I am very happy, I am very pleased with you—may Gurudev's mercy, Gurudev's blessings be with you. Actually, we did not take initiation from a building or from a temple—we have taken initiation from our Guru, so wherever Gurudev is, wherever Gurudev stays, we will go there. That is our vision.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay!

* * *

Parikrama Is Not Sightseeing

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 2

[His Divine Grace reiterates and elaborates on Sripad Tyagi Maharaj's Bengali speech:]

Did you understand what Maharaj has just said? The holy  dham  cannot be seen with these illusory eyes—you can only see with these illusory (mayik) eyes a great building, some water, some soil. When Maya Devi removes the material covering from our eyes, then we will be able to see pure things, we will be able to see the transcendental abode—then it will be Nabadwip Dham  parikrama. "We will go and see the  dham," "We will go and see Chaitanya Math," "We will go and see Yogapith, Mahaprabhu's birthplace"—if you think like this, then you will never get the  darshan  of Chaitanya Math, Jagannath  mandir, etc. If you feel the urge deep in your heart, "I am going to serve Jagannath!" then you can have the  darshan  of the  dham. We have come here to serve the Lord—we have not come to see the Lord or the Lord's things, we go on this  parikrama  to  serve  the Lord—when such mentality comes to you, then it will be the  parikrama  of the holy abode, then it will be the  darshan  of the holy abode.

tirtha-yatra parisrama kevala manera bhrama
sarva-siddhi govinda-charana

"The trouble of visiting holy places is simply a mental delusion—all possible perfection is the feet of Govinda."

(Srila Narottam Das Thakur, "Anya-abhilasa chhadi...")

tirtha-phala sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sange antaranga,
sri-krsna-bhajana manohara
yatha sadhu, tatha tirtha, sthira kari' nija-chitta,
sadhu-sanga kara nirantara

The result of visiting a place of pilgrimage is sadhu-sanga (pure devotees' association) and being drawn to the exclusive service of Sri Krishna. A place of pilgrimage is where a sadhu (pure devotee) is. Always keep the association of pure devotees and firmly fix your mind by such association.

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Kalyan-kalpataru)

A holy place is wherever Vaishnavs are.

Moreover, service of the Lord also cannot be seen with these mundane eyes. Today itself I went to buy something for the devotees, and a car mechanic told Kamalendu, "In Mahaprabhu's time, Mahaprabhu would always go everywhere on foot, then why do you use a car?" Kamalendu replied, "You do not understand—you look at it with material eyes. All things are ingredients for the Lord's service, everything is for the Lord's service, so we use this car for the Lord's service. If Maharaj is invited to go abroad, should he also go there on foot? Planes too must be used in the service of the Lord." Also, the day after tomorrow we are going to Mayapur—are you going to swim across the Ganges or will you take the boat?  [His Divine Grace laughs.]  Outside people cannot understand these things, they do not understand that everything is meant for the service to the Lord... These things cannot be seen with fleshy eyes.

If you have a strong faith that through the medium of the  sadhu  we can attain devotion to the Lord, we can attain the qualification to serve the Lord, and we can be able to do the  parikrama  of the  dham, then only can we circumambulate the holy abode of the Lord.

[Following the class of Srila Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Tyagi Maharaj, and Sripad Mahayogi Maharaj:]

Do you understand what Maharajs have told? You must have service mood to do this  dham parikrama  otherwise only walking is not the  parikrama—as much as merely looking at things and buildings with your fleshy eyes is also not the  parikrama.

So, everybody should get ready—everybody should wear our Math's caps,  tilaks, and Tulasi neck beads tomorrow. Every time we go with the  parikrama, I see that sometimes our  parikrama  is far ahead and some devotees stay behind and go to shops to buy some things for their grandchildren. They worry, "Oh, what shall I get for them? What shall I bring for them? What shall I get for my grandson? What shall I get for my granddaughter?" This is not  dham parikrama! If you go worrying about your family, this is not  dham parikrama! You must give up all this attachment. You have heard about Sri Vrindavan  dham  that the dust there is not ordinary dust—it is  gopi-pada-renu  (the dust from the holy feet of the  gopis), so the very dust of this  dham parikrama  is  Vaishnav-pada-renu  (the dust from the holy feet of Vaishnavs)—we must take this dust from the holy feet of Vaishnavs on our heads! Also, how will you do this  parikrama? Not with your legs. You must do the  dham parikrama  with your head! Here, you must walk on your  head. It means that you must always think about the dust of this  dham.

Always remember all these things, and you will be able to do this  parikrama.

* * *

Parikrama Is Not Sightseeing

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 2

[His Divine Grace reiterates and elaborates on Sripad Tyagi Maharaj's Bengali speech:]

Did you understand what Maharaj has just said? The holy  dham  cannot be seen with these illusory eyes—you can only see with these illusory (mayik) eyes a great building, some water, some soil. When Maya Devi removes the material covering from our eyes, then we will be able to see pure things, we will be able to see the transcendental abode—then it will be Nabadwip Dham  parikrama. "We will go and see the  dham," "We will go and see Chaitanya Math," "We will go and see Yogapith, Mahaprabhu's birthplace"—if you think like this, then you will never get the  darshan  of Chaitanya Math, Jagannath  mandir, etc. If you feel the urge deep in your heart, "I am going to serve Jagannath!" then you can have the  darshan  of the  dham. We have come here to serve the Lord—we have not come to see the Lord or the Lord's things, we go on this  parikrama  to  serve  the Lord—when such mentality comes to you, then it will be the  parikrama  of the holy abode, then it will be the  darshan  of the holy abode.

tirtha-yatra parisrama kevala manera bhrama
sarva-siddhi govinda-charana

"The trouble of visiting holy places is simply a mental delusion—all possible perfection is the feet of Govinda."

(Srila Narottam Das Thakur, "Anya-abhilasa chhadi...")

tirtha-phala sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sange antaranga,
sri-krsna-bhajana manohara
yatha sadhu, tatha tirtha, sthira kari' nija-chitta,
sadhu-sanga kara nirantara

The result of visiting a place of pilgrimage is sadhu-sanga (pure devotees' association) and being drawn to the exclusive service of Sri Krishna. A place of pilgrimage is where a sadhu (pure devotee) is. Always keep the association of pure devotees and firmly fix your mind by such association.

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Kalyan-kalpataru)

A holy place is wherever Vaishnavs are.

Moreover, service of the Lord also cannot be seen with these mundane eyes. Today itself I went to buy something for the devotees, and a car mechanic told Kamalendu, "In Mahaprabhu's time, Mahaprabhu would always go everywhere on foot, then why do you use a car?" Kamalendu replied, "You do not understand—you look at it with material eyes. All things are ingredients for the Lord's service, everything is for the Lord's service, so we use this car for the Lord's service. If Maharaj is invited to go abroad, should he also go there on foot? Planes too must be used in the service of the Lord." Also, the day after tomorrow we are going to Mayapur—are you going to swim across the Ganges or will you take the boat?  [His Divine Grace laughs.]  Outside people cannot understand these things, they do not understand that everything is meant for the service to the Lord... These things cannot be seen with fleshy eyes.

If you have a strong faith that through the medium of the  sadhu  we can attain devotion to the Lord, we can attain the qualification to serve the Lord, and we can be able to do the  parikrama  of the  dham, then only can we circumambulate the holy abode of the Lord.

[Following the class of Srila Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Tyagi Maharaj, and Sripad Mahayogi Maharaj:]

Do you understand what Maharajs have told? You must have service mood to do this  dham parikrama  otherwise only walking is not the  parikrama—as much as merely looking at things and buildings with your fleshy eyes is also not the  parikrama.

So, everybody should get ready—everybody should wear our Math's caps,  tilaks, and Tulasi neck beads tomorrow. Every time we go with the  parikrama, I see that sometimes our  parikrama  is far ahead and some devotees stay behind and go to shops to buy some things for their grandchildren. They worry, "Oh, what shall I get for them? What shall I bring for them? What shall I get for my grandson? What shall I get for my granddaughter?" This is not  dham parikrama! If you go worrying about your family, this is not  dham parikrama! You must give up all this attachment. You have heard about Sri Vrindavan  dham  that the dust there is not ordinary dust—it is  gopi-pada-renu  (the dust from the holy feet of the  gopis), so the very dust of this  dham parikrama  is  Vaishnav-pada-renu  (the dust from the holy feet of Vaishnavs)—we must take this dust from the holy feet of Vaishnavs on our heads! Also, how will you do this  parikrama? Not with your legs. You must do the  dham parikrama  with your head! Here, you must walk on your  head. It means that you must always think about the dust of this  dham.

Always remember all these things, and you will be able to do this  parikrama.

* * *

Abode of High Thinking

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
16 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 4

Do not worry about anything—the Lord has given you a place, and He will look after you. There will be no problem. We must always think like this. Besides, what problem is there, tell me? When Sri Nabadwip Dham  parikrama  first started, there was no Govinda Kunda building, there was no Centenary building.

I remember when we made the Centenary Seva-Kunja building in 1995, Gurudev told me to stay there. One year, so many Siliguri devotees came for the  parikrama, and they all slept in the hallway in that building. I had to wake up early and make the loudspeaker announcement, but I could not come out of my room—the whole hallway was taken and was covered with mosquito nets. Somehow I had to make my way to the office downstairs though the mosquito nets, crossing the people, etc. Even in those days there were not enough rooms, but I have never thought of backing off, "I will stay in my room," "I will do this," "I will do that."

Anyhow, much has been said today, we still need to do the  kirtans. There is no need to feel pain—the Lord sees how much you have to put up with. Some feel uncomfortable sleeping in the nat mandir, on the ground, or in the hallway upstairs, but wherever devotees are, we will stay there happily, this is not an austerity for us.

I saw the other day some dogs fighting. You know, after we take  prasadam, we throw the plates at the side of the temple. I saw some dogs came there and started fighting—one of the dogs was chasing another dog, "This is my area! What are you doing here?!" We are also like this—we are born as humans, we wear  tilaks, neck beads, etc., but we also quarrel, "This is my place! This is his place! That is his room! That is his house!" I wrote about all this in  Guidance 3  very nicely. The problem is that we do not take initiation from Gurudev—we only say we have taken initiation and pretend to be initiated. This is how we become averse to the Lord, and this is how we become  karmi, jnani, yogi, etc. Instead of doing service, we consider the temple made by Gurudev an object of our enjoyment. We think that this very temple that Gurudev himself made is a place for my sense enjoyment—we use it to gratify our senses, for our own happiness. "I will eat nicely," "I will wear nice clothes," "I will make a nice building," "I will kick Acharya Maharaj out and have it for myself!"—this is not initiation.

Remember one thing. We have got this place by the mercy of Nrisinghadev, and we take it as our  paona  (পাওনা, debt), so even if we sleep here on the bare ground, it is still our fortune. This is what we have come for. Gurudev has given us this place, always remember this, always think about this.

It is necessary to have service mood,  seva-pravritti. Always engage yourself in service. When you come from the  parikrama, you can sit and help clean and cut the vegetables. Look around and see if anything needs to be done, this is  your  place.

The Deities are installed now, the outbuilding kitchen is made now too, there is now a small bookstore at the front. We are trying to slowly arrange everything. When Gurudev wishes, when he decides that we need to return to Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip, then by his mercy we will go there. As long as Gurudev and the Lord do not want it, no matter how much we try we will not be able to do anything. We must have faith in this. Some think of fighting, but when the Lord wishes, He will certainly arrange everything. Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj also left Chaitanya Math empty-handed, only wearing his clothes, and went to Vrindavan. Later, Gurudev came and made everything—and he ordered me also and then all the big buildings happened. Gurudev did everything there. You know, when we were doing the Centenary building in 1994, I had to take a loan of eight lakhs to finish the building in time. When Gurudev came back from abroad and got to know about it, he asked me, "How are you going to pay this loan? Go sell your kidney!" I told Gurudev, "Yes, Gurudev, no problem." Gurudev was testing me—he helped to pay that loan eventually. Also, what did Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad say? "You can take a loan for preaching of Mahaprabhu's conception, it is not a problem. When you take a loan, you will have to pay it, so you will have to go to people for preaching Krishna consciousness." He also said, "I will not keep even a single rupee for you! I know that if I keep even one rupee, you will fight for that one rupee—you will become lazy and not go for preaching, you will only sit and eat and not go village to village to preach Mahaprabhu's teaching." I wrote about these instructions of Srila Prabhupad in  Guidance 3. These are very strong words, and you must always remember it.

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu first took Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu for the  parikrama  of Sri Nabadwip Dham, and later, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur wrote  Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya,  Sri Nabadwip Dham Bhava-taranga. We have these books here in English and Bengali in one book. Read it.

There is one  kirtan  written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, I told you about it yesterday, and we will sing it today too...

[His Divine Grace then goes on to chant "Gurudev! Bada krpa kari''" and the evening kirtans.]

* * *

At Sri Subarna Bihar Gaudiya Math

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
17 March 2019, translated from Bengali

Listen attentively. This is Subarna Bihar Gaudiya Math, established by Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Gurudev of our Param Gurudev. He is the establisher of all Gaudiya Maths. We are now here in Godrumdwip. Our temple in Nrisingha Palli is also in Godrumdwip.

You have heard the name of Acharya Srinivas—Ishan Thakur, a servant of Mahaprabhu's family in Mayapur, showed Acharya Srinivas this place and told him, "This is Subarna Bihar."

In Satya-yuga, the king of Gaura Mandal was King Subarna Sen. This king Subarna Sen had some  sukriti  from his previous lives. Usually, kings are always engrossed with material things and always think about material things and money, however if one has some devotion, if one had done anything good in their previous lives, then they get to meet with Vaishnavs. So, beause king Subarna Sen had some previous  sukriti, he got to meet with Narad Muni. One day, Narad Muni, playing his  vina  and chanting  kirtan, came to Subarna Sen's palace. King Subarna Sen had some Vaishnav qualities, so when he saw Narad Muni, he welcomed him with much respect and worshipped him. During his visit, Narad Muni instructed the king in the true position of all things and spoke Hari-katha, as a result of which renunciation arose in the heart of the king. This is the result of  sadhu-sanga—although Subarna Sen was a materialistic king, he at once became detached from all material things. He also got to know from Narad Muni that in Kali-yuga, Lord Sri Krishna would appear here in Mayapur, Nabadwip (near Subarna Bihar, the place where the king lived), in His combined form of Radha-Krishna as Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

This place here is also Nabadwip—Nabadwip is not only the Paramatala area. Nabadwip mean nine (nava) islands (dwip), and we have come today to Godrumdwip. Narad Muni told king Subarna Sen that Gaura Hari would appear and perform many pastimes in this place in Kali-yuga. Hearing the glories of the Lord from Narad Muni, the king became overcome with divine love and kept saying, "When will I get such fortune? When will this Lord Gaura Hari appear with His associates?"

The seed of material attachment within Subarna Sen was gradually destroyed after Narad Muni's visit and hearing about the glory of Mahaprabhu. The king kept dancing overwhelmed with divine love and chanting, "Gauranga! Gauranga!" Then, one day he had the fortune to see a dream: Gaura-Gadadhar with Their associates were dancing, chanting Hare Krishna and embracing each other in the courtyard of Subarna Sen's house. The King could see that the Lord had the golden colour. Then suddenly his dream broke off. When the king woke up, he became afflicted with severe separation—repeating, "Gaura! Gaura!" he began to cry.

Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol!

We sing a  kirtan  about Gaura Hari's appearance in Kali-yuga:

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu jive daya kari'
svaparsada sviya dhama saha avatari

"Being merciful to the souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descends with His associates and abode."

Those who performed pastimes with Krishna in other ages have now come again with Gauranga Mahaprabhu—they are all Radharani's and Krishna's very own devotees.

When Gaura Hari appeared in Gauda Mandal in Kali-yuga, King Subarna Sen also came as Buddhimanta Khan. He lived in Bardhaman and installed a Deity there. I have been there when was preaching in that area. Buddhimanta Khan worshipped and served Mahaprabhu in various ways and instructed others in the Lord's service.

This Subarna Bihar here is the place of that king Subarna Sen. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur established this temple here.

* * *

At Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s Samadhi-mandir

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
17 March 2019

By the mercy of Gurudev, by the mercy of all the devotees of Chaitanya Saraswat Math, we have come with our Chaitanya Saraswat Math  parikrama  here, at the  samadhi-mandir  and  bhajan-kutir  of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. This is a very important place.

This is the house where Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur stayed. At that time, there was no Mayapur, no temples, no great buildings that you can see now, even Mahaprabhu's very birthplace was hidden at that time. Who discovered the grand temple of Mahaprabhu's birthplace that you can see from here? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

You know that our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj composed  Bhaktivinod-viraha-dasakam  where he wrote:

srigauranumatam svarupaviditam rupagrajenadrtam
rupadyaih parivesitam raghuganairasvaditam sevitam
jivadyair abhiraksitam sukasivabrahmadi sammanitam
sriradhapadasevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan

"What was sanctioned by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by His descent was intimately known only to Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami. It was adored by Sanatan Goswami and served by Rupa Goswami and his followers. Raghunatha Das Goswami tasted that wonderful thing fully and enhanced it with his own realization. And Jiva Goswami supported and protected it by quoting the scriptures from different places. The taste of that divine truth is aspired for by Brahma, Siva, and Uddhava, who respect it as the supreme goal of life. What is this wonderful truth? Sri radhapadasevana: that the highest nectar of our life is the service of Srimati Radharani. This is most wonderful. O Bhakti Vinoda Thakur, you are our master. It is within your power to allow them to bestow their grace upon us. You are in a position to bestow the highest gift ever known to the world upon us all. It is at your disposal. O Bhaktivinod Thakur, please be kind to us and grant us your mercy."

There is also another  sloka  written by Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj that explains the gift of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur to this world:

guru-dam grantha-dam gaura-dhama-dam nama-dam muda
bhakti-dam bhuri-dam vande bhakti-vinodakam sada

"I perpetually offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. Guru-dam: he is the bestower of Sri Guru (Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Grantha-dam: he is the author of numerous commentaries, treatises, articles, novels and songbooks. Gaura-dhama-dam: he is the revealer of the abode of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Nama-dam: he is the giver of the Name. Bhakti-dam: he is the granter of pure devotion. Bhuri-dam: he is the bestower of an abundance of divine fortune."

(Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya, 1.8)

Who gave all you can see here today—this grand  parikrama, temples, everything? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us all this. He composed many beautiful  kirtans, books, scriptures. He wrote  Jaiva-Dharma, Bhajan-Rahasya, Kalyan-kalpataru, Nabadwip-bhava-taranga, and so many other books. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us scriptures (grantha-dam).

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us the holy dham (gaura-dham-dam). There was no Mayapur before—some Muslims used to live in this area and called it Miyapur. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur thought, "Everybody says that Nabadwip Dham, Mahaprabhu's birthplace, submerged into the Ganges. The Ganges may take it, but she will return it." Then, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur would go to bed very early in the evening, wake up at midnight and start chanting the Holy Name all through the night. One day, when he was chanting the Holy Name here on the roof of this house, he saw some transcendental light in distance. When the morning came, he took some people with him and went to the place the light had appeared. When he came there, he saw there was a big Tulasi garden. He asked some local people whose land it was, and they said nobody in particular owned it. Then he asked if they were cultivating anything on that land, and the locals explained that they had tried to cultivate jute, rice, etc. but whatever they had planted, nothing would grow there except for Tulasi trees. Then Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur understood, "This must be a special place." At that time, Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj was staying in Nabadwip. He was very old, around 135 years old, at that time. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur called him to come and see that place and Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj was brought there in a basket. When his servant put the basket down, Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj suddenly jumped out of the basket and began dancing, "Hari bol! Hari bol!  This  is Mahaprabhu's birthplace!"

Despite that, some  apa-sampradaya  (aul, baul, karttabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani, sakhibheki, jata-goswami) filed a case against Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur opposing his discovery. They claimed, "No, Mahaprabhu's birthplace is not on this island!" The court ruled that Mahaprabhu's birthplace was indeed in Mayapur, stating, "We would have never thought that Mahaprabhu's birthplace was still there in Nabadwip!" Some  sahajiyas  (aul, baul, etc.) of the time did think that Mayapur was in the area of the present day Nabadwip, but Gaudiya Vaishnavs had never thought that it could still be there. In this way, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us the holy  dham.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us our Guru (guru-dam). Seeing so many  apa-sampradaya  in this world, he and his pious wife Bhagavati Devi went to Bimala Devi in the Jagannath temple where Srila Bhaktivinor Thakur prayed, "O Bimala Devi, please send me one person who will preach Mahaprabhu's true conception all over the world!" Then, our Param Param Gurudev appeared from the womb of Bhagavati Devi. His name was Bimala Prasad and later Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

If it was not for Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, how would we have got him? And if Srila Prabhupad had not come, how would we have got Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj? And if Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj had not established Chaitanya Saraswat Math, how would we have got our Gurudev then, tell me? Therefore, we must always remember Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains all this in his  sloka.

Also, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is known as the seventh  goswami, while he himself would say, "I am a sweeper of the market of the Holy Name!" Indeed, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur took a broom and swept all misconception  sampradays  far out.

At the end of our stay here, you can all go upstairs and see Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's place. Now, we are going to chant one  kirtan  written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. After that, Sripad Tyagi Maharaj and Srila Ashram Maharaj will speak about the glories of Sri Nabadwip and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

[His Divine Grace then chants the kirtan:]

gurudeva!
ada krpa kari', gauda-vana-majhe
odrume diyacha sthana
jna dila more, ei vraje vasi',
arinama kara gana

Gurudev! Bestowing a great mercy on me, you have given me a place in Sri Godrumdwip amidst the forests of Gauda. You ordered me: "Reside in this abode which is non-different from Vraja and chant the Lord's Name."

kintu kabe prabho, yogyata arpibe,
 dasere daya kari'
hitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
kante bhajiba hari [2]

But when, O master, will you mercifully grant this servant the qualification to do this? Then my heart will become steadfast, I will tolerate everything, and I will serve the Lord sincerely.

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
bhyasa ha-ila manda
ija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
hajanera pratibandha [3]

In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things. Because of my own sins, this body has become an impediment to spiritual practice.

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
emane bhajiba bala'
andiya kandiya, tomara charane
adiyachhi suvihvala [4]

Now aged, I am afflicted by five-fold diseases. Tell me, how shall I serve? Crying incessantly, I have fallen at your feet, utterly bewildered.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also writes that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is the main person who preached about Nabadwip—he is the main general; and he is not an ordinary person—he was sent to this world by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself to preach about His conception and about Sri Nabadwip Dham. Therefore, we are paying obeisance to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and our Guru-varga and continue our  parikrama  on to Surabhi Kunja.  Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

At Sri Surabhi Kunja

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
and Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj
Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
17 March 2019

Today, as every year, we have come to Surabhi Kunja. We used to come here first, but this year we have taken another road.

Surabhi Kunja is located in Godrumdwip. Godrum Dham is a place of  kirtan, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur started  sankirtan  movement and preaching about Sri Nabadwip Dham from this place. By the mercy of our Gurupadpadma, we have come here today. There is a river just behind the temple, this river's name is Saraswati. When you cross the Ganges you can see that the water looks different at opposite banks, that is because one side is Ganga and the other side (here) is Saraswati. So, this Godrumdwip lies on the bank of the Saraswati River, and within it are Gadigachha, Balichar, Maheshganj, Tiyorakali, Amghat, Shyamnagar, Virija, Harishpur, Suvarna Bihar, and Devapalli where our Nrisingha Palli temple is. Local people call Godrumdwip 'Gadigachha', but in Vaishnav language it is Godrumdwip.

At this place, by the mercy of Surabhi cow, Markandeya Muni attained the service of Gaura and took shelter of pure devotion. Markandeya Muni was Lord Indra in Krishna-lila (Indra who flooded Vrindavan once). 'Go' means 'a cow' and 'drum'  [pronounced as 'droom']  means 'a tree'—because cow Surabhi lived here under an asvattha tree, this place is called 'Go-drum.' Try to remember this. Which practice out of the nine devotional practices is predominant here?  Kirtan.

There are nine islands and nine practices—sravanam  (Simantadwip),  kirtanam  (Godrumdwip),  smaranam  (Madhyadwip),  pada-sevanam  (Koladwip),  archanam  (Rtudwip),  vandanam  (Jahnudwip),  dasyam  (Modadrumdwip),  sakhyam  (Rudradwip),  atma-nivedanam  (Antardwip). Godrumdwip is an abode of  kirtan, therefore it is necessary to chant  kirtan  here out loud.

Thakur Bhaktivinod lived in this Surabhi Kunja, and our Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj serves here single-handed—he maintains this place by begging and collection. When our Gurudev disappeared, there was nothing here, but Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj has since then arranged this grand place for you all. It is our great fortune to be here. He is also my very dear friend. I am asking Srila Avadhut Maharaj to please sing the Surabhu Kunja  kirtan  "Bara sukha khabara."

[Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj addresses the assembled Vaishnavs:]

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

"I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge."

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees."

sri krishna chaitanya prabhu nityananda
sri advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura bhakta-vrinda

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

We are extremely happy today to have got the company of Pujyapad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Although he comes here only once a year, I have not had such fortune to serve this place as much as Maharaj has done. I do not know when that day will come, but if he gives his mercy, then it can happen. I pay obeisances again and again to my Gurudev and pray that we may remain engaged in service. We are very happy to see him here today.

vaisnava sangete mana anandita anuksana
sada haya krsna para-sanga

"In the association of Vaishnavs, my mind is always joyful—in their association I always get the association of Krishna."

('Thakura Vaishnava pada' by Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

Pujyapad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's contribution is incomparable. I have heard that he has established a temple at the birthplace of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu in Ekachakra-gram, he is also making a beautiful temple near the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapur Dham, and he has also made a beautiful temple near the Lord Nrisinghadev in Nrisingha Palli, at the place of "suddha-bhaktir vighna vinaskari  Bhagavan Nrisinghadev who grants protection to all devotees. He is also very affectionate to us and he is our dearest friend. Many may become scared to hear this, but when the Lord blesses someone, and his Gurudev has kept so much blessing with him, despite all the perils he emerges unharmed. Prahlad Maharaj was harassed by his father because of his devotion, and you can see that just like Prahlad Maharaj, despite all trials, Pujyapad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj withstands everything and the Guru and Vaishnavs always protect him. "My devotee is never vanquished." Krishna also says it in the  Gita.

Anyhow, you have all come to this pure place. Sriman Nityananda Prabhu started the marketplace of the Holy Name here, and His associate Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur started preaching  kirtan  from here. We shall now sing a  kirtan  about that.

[Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj sings with all the devotees:]

bara sukhera khabara gai
urabhi-kunjete namera hatta khule'chhe / khoda nitai

I am singing about the greatest news! A marketplace of the Holy Name has opened at Surabhi Kunja, and its proprietor is Nitai!

bara mojara katha taya
raddha-mulye suddha-nama sei hattete bikaya

This is such great news! You can buy the pure Name at this market place at the cost of faith.

yata bhakta-vrnda basi'
dhikari dekhe' nama vechchhe dara kasi'

Whoever comes, He looks at the qualification of the devotee and then sells the Name at a bargain price.

yadi nama kinbe, bhai
mara sange chala, mahajanera kachhe yai

Brother, if you want to buy this Name, come with me—I am going to this great soul now.

tumi kinbe krsna-nama
asturi laiba ami, purna ha'be kama

You will buy the Holy Name and I will get a discount and my desire will be fulfilled.

bara dayal nityananda
raddha-matra la'ye dena parama-ananda

Nityananda is very merciful—at the cost of mere faith He bestows greatest joy.

ek-bara dekhle chakse jala
gaura' bole' nitai dena sakala sambala

If Nitai sees just once someone says, 'Gaura,' with tears in their eyes, He gives them all His wealth.

dena suddha krsna-siksa
ati, dhana, vidya, bala na kare apeksa

He gives pure teachings of Lord Krishna without expecting a high caste, wealth, knowledge or physical strength from anyone.

amani chhade maya-jala
rhe thaka, vane thaka, na thake janjal

Now hurry and give up the net of illusion, then wherever you are—whether you live in a house or in a forest—there will be no more refuse left.

ara naika kalira bhaya
chandale dena nama nitai dayamaya

There is no fear of Kali any more—merciful Nitai gives the Name even to the lowest among men.

bhaktivinoda daki' kaya
itai-charana vina ara nahi asraya

Bhaktivinod calls out, "There is no other shelter except for the feet of Nitai!"

[Srila Bhakti Vedanta Avadhut Maharaj continues his speech:]

You are doing this  parikrama  of Nabadwip and have come here. This is Godrumdwip. 'Go' means 'surabhi' (cow) and 'drum' means 'an asvattha tree'.

In Dvapar-yuga, not being able to recognise Lord Krishna, Indradev committed an offence at the feet of Lord Krishna. What offence was it?

Every year, Vraja-basis made an offering to Lord Indra to get regular rains—if the rain is regular, then the grass grows well, the cows eat well, the crops are good, etc. One year, however, Lord Krishna said, "We must worship Govardhan now! We must not worship Indra! If we worship Govardhan, we will get everything!" Then, all Vraja-basis, including Nanda Maharaj, started worshipping Govardhan. Seeing his offerings diverted to Govardhan, Indradev became hurt and sent torrential rains on Vrindavan that lasted during seven days. All the Vraja-basis became scared and prayed to Krishna, "Please save us!" But Krishna said, "Do not fear! Giriraj Govardhan will protect us." Then, Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill and during all the seven days sheltered all the Vraja-basis underneath it. By Krishna's illusory potency, everybody forgot that Krishna was the Lord and thought He was a great hero.

Then, seven days later the rain stopped. Indradev thought that all the Vraja-basis had got scared and would resume his worship, but when the rain had stopped and the water had dried up, all the Vraja-basis came home and saw that all their houses, all their property was intact, there was no damage at all. All the Vraja-basis were very happy and said, "Now we will worship Govardhan every year, we will not worship Indradev anymore!"

Indradev saw that the Vraja-basis were not scared, that all their houses were intact, that nothing had happened at all, and he came to Surabhi. Indra asked Surabhi, "Mother, what is this? Who is this Krishna? He is an ordinary cowherd human boy, but He told them to worship Govardhan instead of me—I tried to stop them but they are only happy now!" Then Surabhi said, "Krishna is the Lord Himself, and He has saved everyone. You have made a mistake and could not recognise Him taking Him for an ordinary human. Go and apologise to Him." Indra said, "I am afraid to go to Him now! Come with me."

Then, Indradev and Surabhi came to Krishna at Govardhan Hill. Indra praised Krishna and offered Him  abhisekh, pleasing thus the Lord. Pleased, Lord Krishna forgave Indra's offence, and after that Indradev returned to heaven.

Some time later, Indra again came to Surabhi and said, "O Mother, I again feel fearful because of my offence." Surabhi instructed him, "Listen to what I have to say. I have heard that Lord Chaitanya will appear in Nabadwip Dham in Kali-yuga, and He will liberate everyone through the Holy Name bestowing Krishna-bhakti, Krishna-prema to everyone." Indradev replied, "But I cannot recognise Krishna—if I cannot recognise Gaura-lila, I will again make an offence! You please take me to Nabadwip Dham, I will worship Gaura there and get His  darshan."

In this way, Indradev came here with Surabhi in Dvapar-yuga. The place where the Deities stand now is the place where there used to be an asvattha tree. Sitting under that tree, Indradev and Surabhi started worshiping Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Some time later, Lord Chaitanyadev appeared before them. Indradev was very happy and returned to heaven, but Surabhi stayed here. This is how this place got its name "Surabhi Kunja." As I have said earlier, Godrum means 'go' ('a cow') and 'drum' ('a tree').

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says that this Godrumdwip is non-different from Nanda-gram. Godrumdwip stretches from here up to Nrisingha Palli, and the asvattha tree that was here before spread over one  yojan, or eight kilometres.

So, as I was saying, Indradev returned to heaven, and Surabhi stayed here. There was once a  rishi  named Markandeya who had got a boon from Lord Siva that he would live for seven  kalpas  (cycles of creation and destruction of the universe). So, during the time of  pralaya  (universal destruction) Markandeya did not die—he was carried away by the water flooding the universe, and he floated here to Nabadwip Dham. Here, he met Surabhi and prayed to her, "O Mother Surabhi, I have been starving for so long, please let me drink your milk to regain my health." Surabhi gave her milk to Markandeya, and Markandeya felt better. Then, he told Surabhi his story and said, "I do not know why I have got this boon of a seven-kalpa  lifetime, what am I to do now?" Surabhi told him, "Stay here and worship Gaura! If you worship Gaura and get His  darshan, you will get Krishna-bhakti. If you get that  divya-sakti, you will not have to suffer anymore." So, Markandeya started worshipping Gaura here.

Then, Mahaprabhu appeared here. When He took  sannyas, He sent Nityananda Prabhu to preach in Bengal. Nityananda Prabhu stayed here for three months and inaugurated the marketplace of the Holy Name here. After Nityananda Prabhu left, the preaching gradually became extinct, and then Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came and again started preaching about the Nama-hatta. He wrote about Godrumdwip, "Gaura has given me a place in Surabhi Kunja, on the outskirts of Godrumdwip, and, taking shelter of the  rasika  devotees of Vraja, this Bhaktivinod hankers for the service to the lotus feet of the Divine Couple." Staying here, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur wrote many books—Jaiva-dharma, Amrita-pravaha-bhasya  commentary to  Chaitanya-charitamrita  and many others. He started preaching from this very place—Surabhi Kunja. By the mercy of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur we now can go on this  parikrama  of Sri Nabadwip Dham.

gaura amara ye-saba sthane
karala bhramana range
se-saba sthana heriba ami
pranayi-bhakata-sange

"In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar roamed during His ecstatic Pastimes."

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is a pure, genuine Vaishnav. There is no parallel to his service. He also secretly serves this place here—he has helped to build this very temple here, and we have kept his name engraved in one of the marble plates. He has done so much for the service of his Guru and for the service to the holy  dham.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees."

Glory be to Pujyapad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

* * *

Weak and Illusioned

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
17 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay sa-parikara Gaura Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga Guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi Tulasi Devi Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda Radha Kunda Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham Sri Nabadwip Dham Sri Vrindavan Mathura ki jay
Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Sri Chaitanya Math ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tadiya sakha-math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak-vrinda bhakta-vrinda ananta-koti Vaishnav-vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya-vrinda tridanti-pada-gan ki jay
Sa-parsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Jay Sri Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay
Parikrama-kari-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Jay Sri Godrumdwip Madhyamdwip parikrama ki jay
Jay Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Harinam sankirtan ki jay. Gaura premanande Hari bol

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams cha
ri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana raghunath-anvitam tam sa-jivam
advaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-chaitanya-devam
ri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita sri-visakhanvitams cha

I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of my Guru, the predecessor Gurus, the Lord's devotees, Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatan, Sri Raghunath, Sri Jiva, Sri Rupa's followers, Sri Krishna Chaitanyadev, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Chaitanyadev's associates, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Lalita Devi, Sri Visakha Devi, and all of Their associates.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
haksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge.

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
hintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
ovindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
ande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev's associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.

devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
andrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
ri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
ande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha
rpa-sindhubhya eva cha
atitanam pavanebhyo
aisnavebhyo namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees.

vrndayai tulasi-devyai priyayai kesavasya cha
rsna-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto Vrnda Devi, who is known as Tulasi Devi and Satyavati, who is most dear to Krishna, and who bestows devotion to Krishna upon us.

atha natva mantra-gurun gurun bhagavatarthadan
yasan jagad-gurun natva tato jayam udirayet

Having offered obeisance to one's initiating Guru, to the Gurus who have taught one the meaning of the Bhagavat, and to all the authors of Vedic literature, who are the Gurus of the entire world, proclaim "Jay!"

jayah sa-parikara sri-sri-guru-gauranga-gandharva-govindasundar-padapadmanam jayastu!

All glory to the lotus feet of Sri Guru, Sri Gaurasundar, Sri Sri Gandharva-Govindasundar, and all of Their associates!

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda
ri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura-bhakta-vrnda

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
are rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

[Having chanted "Sri Guru-charana-padma' and 'Kabe sri chaitanya more karibena daya':]

How beautiful this is,

kabe sri chaitanya more karibena daya
kabe ami paiba vaisnava-pada-chhaya [1]

When will Sri Chaitanya be merciful to me? When will I reach the shade of the Vaishnavs' feet?

We must clasp the feet of Vaishnavs and cry, "When will Lord Gaura Hari give His mercy to us? When will I attain the feet of Vaishnavs? When will I be able to serve Vaishnavs?" 'Attaining feet' means we must take shelter at the feet of Vaishnavs and 'service' means following what the Vaishnavs tell us, following their instruction.

kabe ami chhadiba e visayabhimana
kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana [2]

When will I give up this mundane ego? When will I honour the Lord's devotees?

"I have money", "I have a car", "I have a house", "I have a wife", "I have a son", "I have a daughter"—when will I be able to leave all this material ego? When will I be able to give honour to the Lord's devotees giving up all this material ego? Everything is the property of the Lord. Overcome by ego, we try to enjoy everything that there is in this world; that is our problem. "My house", "My room", "My land", "My son", "My wife"—actually, because of such ego we use everything for our own pleasure, i.e. for the pleasure of Maya.

If you put a piece of iron into fire, the iron will become red, which means that the iron gets some power from the fire; if you then touch this red-hot iron to some plastic or cloth, the iron will burn it. Maya Devi's play is also like that. This world is run by the play of Maya—everyone in this world is attracted by Maya. Maya gets her power from the Lord and turns us all into her servants and maidservants. How much wrong, how many atrocities are done in this world because of that.

Our ears want to hear nonsense things, our eyes want to see nonsense things, our mouth, that is meant for service and Krishna-katha, wants to say nonsense things and gossip. Maya Devi deceives us and makes us forget everything. Making us her servants and maidservants, she keeps us far away from the service to the Lord. However, if some fortunate soul becomes attracted to the service of the Lord and makes a step towards service, then Maya Devi gradually leaves their side, but she will always try to find a hole through which she can enter.

When you are weak, you are attacked by various diseases—in the same way, if you are weak in your practice of Krishna consciousness, if you have a weak foundation in devotion, Maya Devi will always attack you. It is first necessary to make a strong foundation. When you build a house, you must first make a strong foundation before building the walls, etc. The foundation in devotion is also like that. The problem is that we do not have faith. We are always controlled by the desire to eat good food, to get good money, to get good rest, etc. We are always controlled by  rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa  (the senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, touch). We are controlled by the desire to get good things, we want to taste good things, we want to hear pleasant things, etc. All living entities of this world are like that. Even dogs fight for the food they find in some refuse—if you throw something away, they will fight for those discarded things. If a pig passes stool, it will then fight over that stool with other pigs. This is the situation in this world.

But you understand these things. You struggle and circumambulate this holy abode—the sadhus take so much trouble to take you on this  parikrama  so that you may see so many places. Many of you walked during all  parikrama  today, and I was thinking how we will go from here to Mayapur tomorrow (it is far). I have sent many boys today to find buses for us, but there were no buses available in Mayapur. I sent somebody by a motorcycle, and they drove around Mayapur in rain. (There was hardly any rain here, but it rained in Mayapur.) In this way, devotees work so hard, they do so much, but we do not feel any desire for service—we are not attracted, not attached to service. We worry how we (i.e. our body) will manage, but everything comes from the Lord. This body may have been given to us by our parents, but 'we' are not created by them. Maya Devi always tries to remove us from the service to the Lord, that is why we always only run behind trifle things, but Gurudev said, "If you do not give up trifle things, you will not get great things."

* * *

Bitter Pill to Swallow

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
17 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 2

Many of you are doing this  parikrama, and many others also do this  parikrama, but how many people actually, truly serve the Lord? Gurudev once asked me, "Maharaj, you have gone village to village, preached in so many various places and brought so many people to me for initiation, but tell me honestly, how many percent people really practise Krishna consciousness?" Prabhupad also said, "How many percent people can I actually call my disciple? How many disciples do I actually have?" Who is called a disciple? Prabhupad always thought, "I do not see you as my disciple, rather I see you as the Lord Himself. I am trying to give you a relation with the Lord so that you could engage yourself in His service, that is why I am serving you." Taking disciples does not mean making servants and maidservants for oneself. So, what I am saying is this—how many people have 100% chastity? How many have actually left the material world (visaya)?

Bhaktivinod Thakur says,

nidralasya hata sukarya
virata akarya udyogi ami

"I am ruined by laziness and sleep, averse to performing good deeds, and eager to perform sinful deeds."

We are ruined by laziness and sleep... We spend our days on sleeping, etc. but do we have time on all this? Do we have time for the material life? How much longer will you live? You cannot even say if you will live for one year longer. There are millions of life forms in this universe, and you have already passed millions of lifetimes—compared to that, one year or seven years of life is nothing, it is so small. Although we have got this human birth by a great fortune, but we are wasting this previous time.

If you give chanting beads to a pig, dog, or goat, what will they do with it? If you give a garland to a goat, it will eat it, and there is no use trying to explain anything to it. There are different types of consciousness—achchhadita-chetan  (fully covered consciousness),  sankuchita-chetan  (closed, subdued consciousness),  mukulita-chetan  (budding consciousness),  vikachita-chetan  (blooming consciousness), and  purna-vikachita-chetan  (fully blossomed consciousness). Having got this human birth, we have learnt higher truths, but in the meantime our days pass in endless hurrying and running around, how much time we waste...

Only taking beads from the Guru is not what is called initiation. When you hear what Gurudev says and follow it, practise it, when you engage yourself in his service, when you surrender yourself fully and have faith, then you can call it initiation. If we can serve our Guru and Vaishnavs, then we can get the supreme benefit. What shall I say? I keep telling you the same thing over and over again, but you cannot hear me. You prefer talking village talks and listening to village news. We only pretend to be practising, but we do not understand what it actually means to practise Krishna consciousness. We do not know what is called practising Krishna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupad said, "If you serve  jiva  souls, it gives benefit to your soul as well." The general idea of the service to the  jiva  souls found in this world is not service because almost all souls in this world are averse. You can give somebody some clothes, you give somebody some food or money, but this is external—you can give somebody some medicine and they will get relief, but their soul will not get any benefit. You must think of your own benefit also—eating well, doing some materially good deeds does not give you benefit. You only think about this body, but you do not think about your own self. Sadhus, Gurus, and Vaishnavs tell you again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, but we give preference to  gramya-katha  and amusing talks. You know, when we were going on the  parikrama  today, I kept watching how many people chant  kirtan  and how many people do other things or just walk silently. I saw that some were actually walking and telling stories to each other. I stand high on the cart during the  parikrama  and from time to time I look behind and observe what everyone is doing, and I have seen that people cannot chant the Holy Name—they are busy telling stories to each other. I chant for ten hours a day and feel happy. We must be like this. We only worry about the happiness of this body, but when will we give up our material ego?

gala-vastra krtanjali vaisnava-nikate
dante trna kari' dandaiba niskapate

With a cloth around my neck, joined palms, and straw between my teeth, I will sincerely submit myself at the Vaishnav's feet.

We must not pretend saying this, we must not cheat—we do not grasp the feet of Vaishnavs just to impress people:

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

loka dekhana gora bhaja tilaka matra dhari'
gopanete atyachara gora dhare churi

You show the world you serve Gora simply by wearing tilak but secretly you misbehave. Gora will catch you, you thief!

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6-7)

Gora knows it! People shed floods of tears, but who of them actually knows what is the real practice of Krishna consciousness? Krishna consciousness means chaste adherence to Vaishnavs (anugatya), serving Vaishnavs. We pray that we may not become proud—that we do not think that we have become a Vaishnav, we have become an  acharya:

"ami ta' vaisnava," e-buddhi ha-ile,
amani na ha'ba ami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)."

(Kalyan-kalpataru, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

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

Humility, mercy, consideration of others, and giving up position are the four qualities needed to perform kirtan.

Humility, compassion are the true qualities, but we are so much attached to material things. We have so many material attachments.

'asakti-rahita,' 'sambandha-sahita,'
visaya-samuha sakali 'madhava'

"When you are free from material attachment and establish relationship with the Lord, then you will see that everything around you is Lord Madhav Himself."

('Vaishnav ke?' verse 12)

You have heard about this. There must be no attachment and there must be relation with the Lord.  Chaitanya-charitamrita  explains what  sambandha, abhidheya  and  prayojana  are—if you read it, you will understand what is relation with the Guru, how to build and keep it. It is necessary to know these things. We think that the Guru is an ordinary mortal man and we do not heed the order of the Guru. Instead, we are eager to use our wife and children for our own service as our menial servants—we do not even make an attempt to engage them in the service to the Lord...

* * *

Vaishnavs' Care

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
17 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 3

Sadhus  and Vaishnavs think about you, "How can you be engaged in the service of Govinda, the Lord?" Their thinking is so high. They come to you to tell you about the Lord—and they leave everything with a smile on their faces. Do you know any mother or father who wants their son to become a  sannyasi  and leave the family? It is very rare. A very rare mother, a very rare father will want their son or daughter to serve the Lord. But,

gurur na sa syat svajano na sa syat
pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat
daivam na tat syan na patis cha sa syan
na mochayed yah samupeta-mrtyum

"It is not your guru, it is not your family, it is not your father, it is not your mother, it is not your gods, it is not your husband if that person cannot save you from the world of birth and death."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 5.5.18)

The Guru who cannot rescue us from the jaws of death and birth is not a guru. That father who cannot engage his child in the service of the Lord is not a father, it is not worth calling them your father. That wife who does not help her husband to serve the Lord is not a wife, you should not even take a glass of water from her, you should not even touch such a woman. These are  Srimad Bhagavatam's words, not mine.

Many think, "I will practise Krishna consciousness later, when I get old," but how long will you live? How much time do you have?

dina yaya michha kaje nisa nidra-base
nahi bhavi marana nikate achhe base

"My days are passed in useless work and nights are wasted on sleeping. It never occurs to me that there is death sitting next to me."

(Durlabha manava janma labhiya' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

Our days always pass in work and sleep, we never think that we can leave tomorrow. I remember Sripad Tyagi Maharaj told today at Hari Hara Ksetra that Parvati Devi says those who die [at Hari Hara Ksetra] are fortunate because Sivji Maharaj comes and whispers the Harinam  maha-mantra  into their ears. Our life is going! One day it will be over—whether we are healthy or not, whether it is through one disease or another, one day we will have to leave this body. If, having got this body, I have not been able to use it for the service of Govinda, what will become of it? What did I get it for then? If I have not been able to serve Govinda, if I have not been able to hear about the Lord, what is the use having a beautiful body then? Then there is no use having legs, no use having arms, etc. We must always think about this—these thoughts must always come to us. When you circumambulate this holy abode, it is said that "bhramite habe na ara ei tribhuvana: you do not have to wander any longer in these three worlds."

"Samsara-anala haite magiba visrama: I will pray for shelter from the fire of material existence." This material world is blazing fire. We sing every morning,

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, the ocean of goodness who assumes the form of a cloud of mercy to deliver the souls burning in the blazing fire of material existence."

Srila Visvanath Chakravarti writes this in his  Gurvastakam.  Samsara-davanala: because of the poisonous desires we keep on getting into trouble. Great souls also say that just as we feel so much pain when we want to pass stool and feel so happy when we have passed it—if we can give up the material things (not as false renunciates, but with proper renunciation, i.e. if we put an end to all material attachments and can use all material things in the service of Govinda), then how much happiness we will feel! We must use everything that is created in this material world for the service of the Lord.

[His Divine Grace gets a phone call.]

We have got the buses for tomorrow. We will start tomorrow in the morning. I suppose some of you will wake up and go straight to the bus to secure a seat for yourself—and all the young ladies and children will have to sit on the floor on the bus or stand all the way. Leave giving honour to Vaishnavs, we cannot even learn to give honour to others in an ordinary way. Young men and women sit on the seats while all the old ladies and men stand. Why do we have to be like this? This is very, very sad.

Anyhow, speaking of sadness,

suniya amara duhkha vaisnava thakura
ama' lagi' krsne avedibena prachura

Hearing of my sorrow, the worshippable Vaishnav will thoroughly pray to Krishna on my behalf.

You know that you will not get any letter from the Lord, but if you approach a Vaishnav and the Guru (your guardian of devotion) and give them your letter, they will send it to the Lord, they will convey your message to the Lord. Whatever prayer or submissive offering you have, you should submit it to Vaishnavs...

* * *

Highest Perfection

Sri Nrisingha Palli, evening class
17 March 2019, translated from Bengali, part 4

We must preach about the Lord and practise Krishna consciousness. I tell you something, you hear it, but when you hear about Krishna consciousness, you should then preach about these things to others properly. I see so many people have come for the  parikrama, and what did I tell you? If one person comes, then preaches to one other person about Krishna consciousness and brings them to the Math, to the lotus feet of the Guru and Vaishnavs, then the number will double. Is it not so? But we are not able to do this because we cannot convert our own selves, we cannot practise properly ourselves—we cannot follow ourselves what we preach. Therefore, always be surrendered, always take shelter of the Guru and Vaishnavs. Be surrendered.

dainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
'avasya raksibe krsna'—visvasa palana
bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara

"(1) Humility, (2) self-submission, (3) embracing the Lord's guardianship, (4) maintaining the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', (5) engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, (6) rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion."

Humility, self-submission, Krishna maintains and Krishna protects, and accepting what is favourable to devotion and rejecting what is unfavourable—this is surrender. You cannot do what is favourable without rejecting what is unfavourable. You think you will drink milk and along with that you will smoke, but then all the good property of the milk will be gone. Suppose you are sitting and doing a fire sacrifice—if you put one spoon ghee and then one spoon water into the fire, will the fire burn? It will not. Gurudev tells you something, and you think, "I will listen to these three things, and I will not listen to those two other things." This is wrong. You must listen to all five out of five things. You must listen and try to do whatever your Guru tells you.

Remember it very well.

Some do service for one day and then say, "Oh, I cannot do it!" and they laugh at others, "What are  you  doing? Why don't you do it?" We must give this up—do not look at who is doing what. Why do you try to become a manager? There is only one manager, and the manager will manage, you must not push in—you must only try to serve with your heart and soul, think about the Lord with every fibre of your soul. How will you think about the Lord? The Lord will take care of that—we must have such faith.

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

"Sraddha is firm, determined faith that by service to Krishna all actions are accomplished."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.62)

Strongest faith is necessary. "Drdha kari' dhara nitaira paya  (দৃঢ় করি ধর নিতাই পায়)—firmly grasp Nitai's feet." We must hold onto the feet of Vaishnavs strongly—and not just holding onto them and at the same time looking some other side.

Today is also  ekadasi tithi, you know it.

[His Divine Grace sings Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu:]

suddha-bhakata-charana-renu
bhajana-anukula
bhakata-seva parama-siddhi
prema-latikara mula [1]

The dust of pure devotees' feet is favourable to devotion. Serving the devotees is the supreme fulfilment and the root of the creeper of divine love.

Service to devotees is the highest perfection. Do you know how one serves devotees? Doing what pleases your mind is not service to devotees—it is service to  maya. You know, there was one devotee who used to cook for Guru Maharaj (Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) and later took  sannyas  from me. One day, Guru Maharaj told him, "Cook some  neem begun  [bitter eggplant dish] today." That devotee went to the market, got some begun and other things. When he came back, he made so many dishes for Gurudev, but he did not make the  neem begun. When he served  prasadam  to Gurudev, Gurudev asked him, "Where is the  neem begun?" He said, "Gurudev, how can I give you only  neem begun? I have made so many other things for you instead!"

You know also Madhavendra Puri had a disciple named Ramachandra Puri. Madhavendra Puri would often recite the "Ayi dina-dayardra natha he"  sloka  and cry, "O Mathuranath! Be merciful to me! How will I ever get the Lord?" So, one day Ramachandra Puri came to him and asked, "Why are you crying? Everything is  brahman, what is there to cry about?" Madhavendra Puri got angry, "Get out, you sinner! I am dying with pain and you come to give me even more pain!" He is suffering from the agony of separation from Krishna, and Ramachandra Puri comes and asks, "Why are you crying?" Then you know what happened to that Ramachandra Puri in the end...

So, service is what Gurudev wants—service is doing what Vaishnavs want. If you do what  you  think is right (if you follow the whims of your mind), this is not service, it is  karma—if you do  karma, you will become bound by it and the result of karma's bondage is submerging into  visaya  and enduring hellish suffering time and time again. Always remember it.

madhava-tithi bhakti-janani
atane palana kari
rsna-vasati vasati bali'
arama adare vari [2]

I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava. They are the mother of devotion. With great adoration, I embrace the abode of Krishna as my own.

gaura amara ye-saba sthane
arala bhramana range
e-saba sthana heriba ami
ranayi-bhakata-sange [3]

In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar visited during His Pastimes.

"Se-saba sthana heriba ami  (I behold all the places)": what does 'heriba' [lit. 'see, behold'] mean?

Devotee:  To see.

'To see'? No. It means to have a  darshan. We must see these places with the eyes of our heart. If you stay in the association of Vaishnavs and if Vaishnavs give you their mercy, then you can have the  darshan  of those pastimes and places; otherwise not. You can behold the water, peacocks, feel pleasant wind, etc. All plants, trees, etc. here are Vaishnavs. Even the very dust is devotees. The Lord Himself came to this abode, roamed it, and played here. We only come here to circumambulate it with  kirtan.

As for "pranayi-bhakata-sange" (in the company of loving devotees): we must enter into relationship with devotees and pray at their feet that we may be able to do this  parikrama...

mrdanga-vadya sunite mana
vasara sada yache
aura-vihita kirtana suni'
nande hrdaya nache [4]

My heart always begs for the opportunity to hear the sound of the mrdanga. Hearing the kirtan prescribed by Sri Gaurasundar, my heart dances with joy.

yugala-murti dekhiya mora
arama-ananda haya
rasada-seva karite haya
akala prapancha jaya [5]

Beholding the Deity forms of the Divine Couple, I feel the greatest joy. By honouring prasad, I overcome the entire material illusion.

Prapancha  means there are five (panch) diseases (roga)—avidya  (ignorance),  asmita  (false identification),  raga  (misdirected love),  dvesa  (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and  abhinivesa  (being unable to give up unfavourable habits).

This is written in the  [Bengali] calendar. Take it with you home. You will find there what is favourable to devotion, what is unfavourable, what is enthusiasm, what the obstacles to devotion are, what the six urges are, what the six faults are, etc. Always read it and try to correct yourself. We see others' faults, but we do not see our own faults, but Vaishnavs are  adosa-darasi, they never see others' fault, they always see their own faults. We must remember this.

"Gaura-vihita kirtana suni'": what  kirtan  should we listen to? Not  gramya-kirtan  (village  kirtans), not  gramya-varta  (village news), not  panchmisali gramya-katha  (hodge-podge village talks). If you listen to all these things even for millions of lifetimes, you will never get the Lord through that.

You know, before Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came, people used to use and sell Mahaprabhu. What does it mean? People used to use Mahaprabhu to earn money for themselves. There are temples even here in Nabadwip where you have to pay 5-10 rupees' entrance fee—they say that if you buy a ten-rupee ticket, you can see the Lord. They sell Gaura, they sell  kirtan...

ye-dina grhe bhajana dekhi
rhete goloka bhaya
harana-sidhu dekhiya ganga
ukha na sima paya [6]

On days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there. Seeing the Ganges, the nectar from the Lord's feet, my happiness has no limit.

tulasi dekhi' judaya prana
adhava-tosani jani'
aura-priya saka-sevane
ivana sarthaka mani [7]

Seeing Tulasi Devi soothes my soul, for I know she pleases Madhava. Honouring sak, Sri Gaurasundar's favourite, I consider my life successful.

Mahaprabhu's favourite things are  panch-tarkari  (mixed vegetables),  thor, mocha  (banana stem and banana flower),  chhana rasa  (paneer rasa),  pulao, etc. We should have taste for and attachment to the things that the Lord likes; in this way, our life can become successful. We should honour (i.e. serve) the  sak  that is dear to Gaura. There is no need for big things.

bhakativinoda krsna-bhajane
nukula paya yaha
rati-divase parama-sukhe
vikara karaye taha [8]

Whatever Bhakti Vinod obtains that is favourable to Krsna's service, he accepts every day with the greatest joy.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna', 'Hari Haraye Name Krishna', the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and the jaya dhvani, finishing thus the evening class on the first day of Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama.]

* * *

Our Hope, Prayer, and Promise

In honour of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance Festival
19/20 July 2012, speaking online to devotees in Caracas

Today is an auspicious day for us—today is our Founder Acharya Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's disappearance festival. He disappeared from this world on this day, on 12 August 1988.

COMING TO PRABHUPAD

When Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj first came to the temple of Gaudiya Math at Ulta Danga, Kolkata, he was a student of law. He would come there every day and listen to the Hari-katha, Krishna-katha from Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. At that time, India was under the control of the British (British government ruled India), so one of the  brahmacharis, the manager of the temple, thought that since Srila Sridhar Maharaj only came and sat at the lectures never asking any questions, he could be from the CID detective branch, some bad person, or maybe a British spy. So, one day, that  brahmachari  told Srila Sridhar Maharaj not to come to the temple again. At that time, the Gaudiya Math at Ulta Danga where Srila Prabhupad started preaching from was quite small, it was a house like the Caracas temple, and not so many people were there. So, when that  brahmachari  told Srila Sridhar Maharaj not to come and he did not come, Prabhupad noticed it. Not initiated yet at that time (his name was Ramendra Bhattacharya, he was from a  brahman  family), Srila Sridhar Maharaj thought, "What do I go there for? I do not go there for my own interest, some enjoyment, food or anything like that. Even if they tell me not to come, I must still go there!" So, after much deliberation, he finally did come to Gaudiya Math the next day. When Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur noticed that he had not come that day, he asked one of the devotees, "There was a boy sitting behind and listening to Hari-katha without asking any questions—why did he not come today?" The devotees told the truth that the manager had told him not to come and explained why. So, when Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came there the next day, Prabhupad asked him, "Why did you not come yesterday?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not tell anybody's name—instead, he replied, "Prabhupad, I had some problem, that is why I could not come." Then Prabhupad told him, "You must come every day," and he also told all the devotees, "Do not disturb him. He must come every day, do not prevent him." A short while after that, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj took initiation and joined the Gaudiya Math temple permanently.

CONQUERING PRABHUPAD'S HEART

From the beginning, Srila Sridhar Maharaj always practised properly and always helped Prabhupad very much. As a  brahmachari  (his name was Ramendra Sundar Brahmachari), he preached in Kashmir, at Godavari (the place where the discourse between Ramananda Ray and Mahaprabhu took place; Prabhupad made a temple there and Srila Sridhar Maharaj helped there a lot), he helped Prabhupad open a temple in Madras (Chennai). Srila Sridhar Maharaj helped Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur in his service and preaching movement very much. Actually, after he joined he very quickly established himself as a big scholar, a big philosopher, and a big pandit—he could defeat anyone. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's special qualities were his strong common sense and disinterested nature, and Prabhupad loved him very much. Also, he was a pandit of Sanskrit language—as you know, he composed many  slokas, including the famous  Bhaktivinod-viraha Dasakam  about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. When Srila Prabhupad saw the 'Sri-gauranumatam svarupa-viditam...'  sloka  from it, he commented, "Happy style." Srila Sridhar Maharaj immediately conquered, possessed Srila Prabhupad's heart. Following that, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur decided to give  sannyas  to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Maharaj did so much service during his life.

Actually, Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur did not clearly give any declaration, he did not appoint anybody the next  acharya  in writing, but he left his qualified manager, secretary and disciple in charge and also declared Srila Sridhar Maharaj to be the spiritual leader. You know that when Srila Prabhupad showed his disappearance pastime (when he was leaving his body), he said in front of all his  sannyasis,  brahmacharis, and other disciples, "I want to hear this song, "'Sri-rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada, sei mora bhajana-pujana' from Srila Sridhar Maharaj's mouth."

'ON MY BEHALF'

Our Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, would always sing this song ('Sri-rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada') at Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disappearance festival. Actually, he never wanted to be at the Nabadwip temple on this day—he said, "This is the worst day in my life, and I do not want to remember it. It is very difficult for me." He also told me fifteen-twenty years ago, "I do not want to be in Nabadwip on that day. You are in Nabadwip, so you can make that festival, and you must sing that song, 'Sri-rupa-manjari-pada' on my behalf." We celebrated this festival at all our temples in India yesterday, and I was present at the Vrindavan temple on this day. I gave a class and also sang that song... Many devotees came...

Actually, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj could see the future—whatever he thought, whatever he said, whatever came from his mouth, invariably came true. If he said something, it had to happen. So, when our Gurudev joined the mission in 1947, Srila Sridhar Maharaj thought that young boy, Gaurendu Brahmachari (Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) would become the next  acharya  of the temple—he had decided this within seven days after Gurudev had joined. Gurudev told me also, "My Guru Maharaj had been waiting for thirty years to give me this chair, then I cannot leave this chair until my death—I have to serve my Guru until my death."

GODBROTHERS' BOND

When Gurudev bought the land in Hapaniya, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrother Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj would often walk for twenty-five kilometres from Nabadwip to Hapaniya and sing,

krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-nama-kirtanam
rama-rama-gana-ramya-divya chhanda-nartanam
yatra-tatra-krsna-nama-dana-loka-nistaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

Later, the Supreme Lord travelled to the holy places of pilgrimage in South India with the clever intention of delivering the fallen souls. Appearing as a beautiful young renunciate, He distributed the sweet Names of the Lord, singing: "Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna he," as He strolled down the different pathways, entered temples, and visited homesteads during the sacred pilgrimage. Infused with an inconceivable type of divine inspiration, the Lord freely chanted "Rama Rama" and joyfully danced with the most charming gestures. Irrespective of time or personal qualification, the assembled bystanders were delivered by the Lord, who inspired them to chant Krishna's Holy Names. I offer my obeisances to that beautiful Golden Lord, Gauranga Sundar, the divine form of Krishna prema.

(Prema-dhama-deva Stotram, 22)

He would sing the entire  Prema-dhama Stotram  on his way from Nabadwip to Hapaniya. When in Hapaniya, Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj would search for the places related to Srila Sridhar Maharaj's childhood: the playground where he played football, the pond where he bathed, the school where he studied, and so on. Srila Sridhar Maharaj asked him, "O Babaji Maharaj, you are my godbrother—I do not mind you going to my birthplace, but why do you search that pond, school, playground, etc. What for?" And Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj explained, "When I see your Sanskrit  slokas, I think Srila Rupa Goswami himself wrote it. That is why, thinking you are non-different from Srila Rupa Goswami, I go to your birthplaces remembering Srila Rupa Goswami's pastimes."

Many of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrothers would come to visit him—Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusundan Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad also.

Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhu went to preach all over the world, and when he was abroad, in his lifetime, he told his disciples, "My  siksa-guru, Srila Sridhar Maharaj, is there in Nabadwip—he is the biggest personality. After me, if you want to learn something, if you want to hear something, or if you want to get something, you can surrender to Srila Sridhar Maharaj." Although Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad was the first worldwide preacher in the Western countries, he showed that he recognised Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj as the biggest guru and the Rupanuga-acharya of the mission.

Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj would every year invite Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj to his appearance day, and every year Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj would go to Mayapur, Nandan-acharya-bhavan (Gaura Nityananda  mandir), on that day. Whatever offerings Srila Goswami Maharaj had got on that day of his birth day, he would offer everything to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. One year, it happened so that Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not attend his birth day, and Srila Goswami Maharaj said, "Every year my  siksa-guru, my  sannyas guru,  Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, comes here on my birth day and gives me thus one more year of life, but he could not come this year, then I will not be alive next year." And you know that year he indeed passed away...

SAMADHI MANDIR

Before Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj disappeared, he told Gurudev, "Govinda Maharaj, when I die, you must burn my body at the ghat and throw the ashes into the Ganges. You do not need to make any  samadhi—I am a fallen soul, and this body will be useless for service, so you can burn it." Gurudev joked at that time, "When you die, then you will see what I do with your body." Then, one day, Gurudev took Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's hand and showed him some place at the temple in Nabadwip saying, "Maharaj, I have chosen this place. Do you like it?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "You can do as you like..." Gurudev explained to him, "Many foreign devotees, many foreign  sannyasis  will not allow me to burn your body and throw it into the Ganges—they will kill me. That is why I was thinking this could be a good place." (Srila Gurudev was showing Srila Sridhar Maharaj the same place where Srila Sridhar Maharaj's  samadhi  is at present.) Then, Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "You can choose and do as you like. I do not mind it." There was a mango tree at that place before, and that mango tree died the same very day as Srila Sridhar Maharaj expired—the tree's leaves dried up and the mango tree left its body giving thus place to make Srila Sridhar Maharaj's  samadhi.

STARTING NABADWIP TEMPLE

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was attached to Krishna consciousness and Harinam from his childhood. His whole life was like that—he was fully surrendered. When Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur disappeared, there was much fighting in Chaitanya Math, Mayapur, there were many problems with his godbrothers, so in the end, thinking, "I do not want any politics, I did not come here for any politics" and desiring to do  bhajan, he left for Vrindavan and stayed there in one place. After some time, he got an  akash-dhvani  (a message from the sky) from Prabhupad saying, "I have made you the Rupanuga-acharya—why are you sitting in Vrindavan?!" Then he came to Koladwip, Kolerganj, where the temple is now, and made a small thatched house—his pillow was a brick and the mattress some straw. Such was his lifestyle at that time. His godbrother Sakhi Charan Bhakti Vijay bought the land of Chaitanya Saraswat Math and gave it to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Moreover, he would also give ten rupees per month for the monthly expenditure of the temple. At the beginning, Srila Sridhar Maharaj maintained the temple with those ten rupees per month. Many of his godbrothers would come to see him there, but there was not even a toilet—the toilet was under a tree, without any fence or a plastic sheet for privacy. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrothers complained, "Maharaj, we come to you to hear some Hari-katha, but how are we to stay with you here when you do not even have a toilet?" At that time a sheet of plastic cost, perhaps, half a rupee (fifty paise), and Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not even get half a rupee. Such was his position at the temple at the beginning.

OUR HOPE, PRAYER, AND PROMISE

In this way, Srila Sridhar Maharaj made Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Srila Sridhar Maharaj handed it over to Gurudev, and Gurudev then made so many temples that we see now—he preached all over the world and brought so many followers. Guru Maharaj is always powerful—he empowers Gurudev and preaches through him all over the world.

We must pray to him wherever he is staying now. Today is a  viraha-tithi, disappearance festival, but actually Guru-varga is always  nitya-lila—they always perform their pastimes, wherever they stay, they do their service, they give us their mercy and engage us in service. That is our hope. Then, today is a good day because Gurudev is non-different from Krishna—when Krishna sends him, he comes to tell us Krishna-katha and we can also tell our Guru our deepest and honest enquiry (sad-jijnasa—pranipatena, pariprasnena, sevaya), he will direct it to our perfect place.

We must promise on this day that we must stay in Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Mission, Chaitanya Saraswat Math and all of its branches, we must keep connection with his Mission and we must engage ourselves in the service to his Mission. We must also promise one more thing on this day: "Please, Guru Maharaj, forgive our offence. We are fallen souls, we have no quality or qualification, but we want to serve you. Please, tolerate me and engage me in your service. I have no qualification, but you have so much power, you can engage me and you can make me perfect. I am not perfect, but your power, your quality is such that you can make me good."

I would like to finish here.

devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter.

This is Srila Sridhar Maharaj's  pranam-mantra, composed by Srila Gurudev. You can now sing the  arati  song 'Jaya Guru Maharaj jyoti rajeswara', make an  arati, offer  pushpanjali, then finish the programme and take  prasadam.

You know that Srila Sridhar Maharaj wrote about his Prabhupad,

jayare jayare jaya gaura-sarasvati
bhakativinodanvaya karunamurati

"All glory to the voice of Sri Gauranga, the embodiment of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's mercy, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur!"

prakasile gaura-sevabhuvana mangala
bhakati-siddhanta suddha prajnana ujjvala

"He manifested Sri Gauranga's service for the upliftment of the world. His teaching of devotion is pure, brilliant, and enlightening."

He always glorified his Gurudev, Prabhupad, and we must always glorify our Guru Maharaj, our Gurudev.

jaya 'guru-maharaja' yati-rajesvara
sri-bhakti-raksaka deva-gosvami sridhara

"All glory to Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami, the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis!"

patita-pavana-lila vistari' bhuvane
nistarila dina-hina apamara jane

"You revealed your Pastimes in this world as the saviour of the fallen and delivered the sinful and unfortunate souls."

Sing this  arati  song, pay obeisance and give some  puspanjali  and then take  prasadam.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
His disappearance festival ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra Prabhu ki jay
All the Caracas devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

"They Cannot Steal Our Heart"

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance festival, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
1 August 2019, part 1

By the mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj, by the mercy of Gurudev, we have gathered here today at the Sevak Bhavan in Sri Chaitanya Krishnanushilana Sangha, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata.

You have all heard that since a few days ago when we were doing  dham parikrama  in South India, some critical situation has been going on now here. A  sadhu's  nature will be such that we must see happiness or sadness, good times or bad times as the same, as equal. No matter what, we must celebrate, we must chant, we must pray and do everything every day. These are our main things.

When some problem comes to our life, it means Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Gurudev are testing us to see how much we can tolerate. Mahaprabhu's conception is to be humble, tolerant and give honour to others, then it is a test for us all to see how much we can tolerate in this kind of situation.

When we went to the fort of Hiranyakasipu, a demon, an asura, we saw also the place where Nrisinghadev appeared from. Actually, we do not have the eyes to see that place, but we went there to pay our obeisances. In the meantime, some demons came here (Sevak Bhavan, Kolkata) and took some of our material things. They can steal our material things—clothes, shoes, etc.—but they cannot steal our spiritual things, they cannot steal our heart, they cannot steal our preaching focus and that which is main for us. Material things are not important for us. Some people in this world want some money, want some things, want this and that, and they always search for material things, but we are not like that. They want to enjoy Krishna's things, devotees' things, but devotees do not enjoy such things—devotees always enjoy their practice. That is the main thing.

As you all have heard, when I left Nabadwip, I left as I was and did not bring anything with me. Since then, I have been staying here at Sevak Bhavan and by the mercy of Gurudev many temples have appeared in many places (Nabadwip, Mayapur, etc.). We go preaching to many places all the time, but now we are facing these problems and the time has come when we must recover the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Many devotees all over the world are helping me, and I am thanking them. Actually, as Gurudev said, to say thanks is very simple, but I am giving my cordial affection—from the bottom of my heart I am giving my humble obeisance at the lotus feet of those who are helping us at this critical moment. I am very glad that such help is coming to me by the mercy of Srila Gurudev and mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj. I am facing this kind of situation, but so many devotees are there with us at this time. There are also some devotees here who are staying with me. They too are tested to see how much we can tolerate.

Actually, they have been pushing and pushing me and I am now pushed against the wall, so I have come to last stage and now we have to do something. We are preparing now and trying to do something, but we still have to tolerate it a few days more. They think that me tolerating everything is a sign of my weakness, and now they have directly attacked the Sevak Bhavan here although we never disturb them—we do not take anything from them and do not know or even think what they do there. All those demons who disturbed our Mission in Srila Guru Maharaj's time and Srila Gurudev's time have now come together and disturb us, but I am very happy to be getting so much support from all of my well-wishers and friends all over the world.

Actually, I decided yesterday and told the devotees here that even if we have nothing we can take one flower and a Tulasi leaf and offer that to our Srila Gurudev and Srila Guru Maharaj, that is sufficient for us. I have told all the temples also (Ekachakra, Nrisingha Palli, Tarakeshwar, Vrindavan, Puri, Govardhan, etc.) that they should make a festival everywhere, and they are doing as much as they can, and so am I here in Sevak Bhavan. I could not make a programme in the media hall downstairs today, but I am making the programme in my room. When they broke in, they stole everything, even my shoes and bathroom soap  [His Divine Grace chuckles]. I have to see a doctor every four months, and they have stolen my medical records too. You can see how much I am tolerating. In Nabadwip time, they also stole my  danda, and I say, "No problem."

Anyhow, the main thing today is Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's glorification, and we should do that.

* * *

Brief History

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance festival, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
1 August 2019, part 2

Soon after Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance in 1937, Srila Sridhar Maharaj also left Chaitanya Math in Mayapur, empty-handed, wearing only his clothes. Feeling very sad, he went to Vrindavan and stayed in Pavan Sarovar, near Nanda-gram at one  bhajan kutir  (we come to pay our obeisance there every time we go on Vrindavan  parikrama; Srila Sanatan Goswami's  bhajan kutir  is also at the same place). One day, while Srila Sridhar Maharaj was staying there, doing  bhajan  and chanting on his beads, he got a message from the sky from Srimati Radharani and his Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, saying, "What are you staying here for? I have not given you  sannyas  for your own self so that you could stay here—I have given you  sannyas  so that you preach and rescue all fallen souls. This is what I have kept you here for. You must spread the message of Srila Rupa-Raghunath Goswami all over the world. That is my wish." When Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj heard that message, he immediately left Vrindavan and came here in Sri Nabadwip Dham.

At first, all his godbrothers approached him and convinced him to start a temple. That temple was where Devananda Gaudiya Math is now. It was 1940. Srila Sridhar Maharaj had taken  sannyas  from Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Later, Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Goswami Maharaj (formerly, Vinod Bihari Brahmachari) took  sannyas  from Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad (formerly, Abhay Charan, or Abhay Babu) took  sannyas  from that Keshav Maharaj. You all know what happened. So, when all godbrothers came and Srila Sridhar Maharaj started his temple, there appeared some serious contradiction in the following year. The problem was that they had made Srila Sridhar Maharaj the president of that temple, but Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Goswami Maharaj had not been able to follow Srila Sridhar Maharaj's instruction. (I do not want to explain this publicly, I know this because Srila Gurudev had told me about it.) So, in the end, Srila Sridhar Maharaj left that temple and came to Kolerganj where, with the help of Sakhi Charan Ray Bhakti Vijay (a householder disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur), he started a new temple—our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Sripad Nayananda Babaji Maharaj, another disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, lived in a house behind the area where the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math temple is now, and he possessed much of the land here at that time. At first, Nayananda Babaji Maharaj did not give any land for permanent use, but, having got some money from Sakhi Charan Babu, he allowed Srila Sridhar Maharaj to make a house there. In this way, Srila Sridhar Maharaj made a thatched house there in 1941 and declared that it was the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Many godbrothers continued coming to Srila Sridhar Maharaj—Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, Srila Prabhupad's private servitor Srila Bhakti Aloka Paramahamsa Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj, and many others. Almost all of them also took  sannyas  from Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and would stay with Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Such was the situation.

Several years later, in 1947, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj sent a preaching party to a nearby area, and that preaching party came to Nadanghat. Our Gurudev was staying there at that time, working as a doctor's assistant. The preaching party would go on collection during the whole day, and in the evening they would make a programme at the house of the local zamindar ('Singha Rao  bari'). Gurudev also came to that house to hear the  kirtan. (He knew how to sing  kirtan  and play the  mridanga  because his father Nitaipada Adhikari was an expert  kirtaniya.) When he heard the  brahmachari  play the  mridanga, he thought, "This  brahmachari  does not play so well. If I could take the  mridanga, I would show him how to play it." But Gurudev was very shy and also afraid to say it to him. He hesitated, but having thought about it again and again, he suddenly asked that  brahmachari, "Can you give the  mridanga  to me?" When Gurudev started playing the  mridanga, everybody was surprised, "Oh, this boy can play the  mridanga  very well!" Later, the devotees of the preaching party (it was Bhutavit[?]  Prabhu, Narasimha Prabhu, and two other  brahmacharis) asked Gurudev if he wanted to come to the temple with them, and Gurudev agreed. This is how, on the Nrisingha-chaturdasi day that year, Gurudev left Nandaghat and, crossing the Khari River, came to the temple and joined the Mission.

From the day Gurudev came, Srila Sridhar Maharaj had been watching him and seven days later he decided, "This boy's brain is very good, and he also wants to learn, so he will be my next successor!" This was the express desire of Srila Sridhar Maharaj from 1947 (when Gurudev had just come) until 1988 (the day when Srila Sridhar Maharaj left his body). Srila Sridhar Maharaj made a will in 1985 stating that Gurudev was the next  acharya  from that day, and on 12 August 1988, on the  amavasya tithi  (a dark moon day, as today), Srila Sridhar Maharaj passed away.

After that, Gurudev started preaching abroad from 1992. Before that, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj had left many disciples with our Mission—he had told the foreign devotees, "If you want to learn something, I have a  siksa-guru, his name is Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is my senior godbrother and my  siksa-guru. If you want to go to India and learn something, you can come to him." So, starting from 1979, many foreign devotees began coming to Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj would give very good lectures for them. Many foreign devotees also joined at that time. Before Srila Sridhar Maharaj passed away, he had declared to all those foreign devotees that the person who could take care of them, who could look after them was only Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Prior to that, Gurudev had been helping Srila Sridhar Maharaj the secretary of the temple from Kolkata where he had been staying, and from time to time he would also come to Nabadwip, but from 1985 he stayed at the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip permanently as a  sannyasi  and as the guru.

Following the order of his Guru, our Gurudev had been looking after all foreign and Indian devotees. After I took shelter of Gurudev in 1992, Gurudev had told me many times, "I always travel abroad and cannot give time to the Indian devotees. Please, give some time to the Indian devotees." Since that time (almost from the very beginning when I joined the temple), I have been taking care of so many Indian devotees. Over this time, thousands and thousands of devotees have been joining many of our programmes—Gurudev's appearance, Srila Sridhar Maharaj appearance, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disappearance, even Gaura Purnima also. And Gurudev was very happy with that. That is why, as you all know, Gurudev declared me as his next successor in 2009...

* * *

Pure Rupanuga-Dhara

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance festival, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
1 August 2019, part 3

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is very learned. Born in Hapaniya, Bardhaman district, he comes from a Sanskrit-speaking family. Srila Gurudev was also born in Bardhaman district, in Bamunpara (you know this place, you have been there many times). How much Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj pleased his Guru Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur! How happy he made him!

Everybody sings today, and we sang it today also,

sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam
yuga-dharma-dhurandhara-patra-varam
varadabhaya-dayaka-pujya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam

"My master, Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, established the religion of the age, Krishna-sankirtan, and is the chief minister of the universal assembly of leading Vaishnavs. His lotus feet are worshipped by millions of virtuous souls and fulfil the desires of those who dispel souls' fears. Eternally I offer my obeisance to my master's worshippable feet."

Who composed this song? Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Every temple sings it. I do not know if every temple sings it every day or not, but we sing it every day in our temples. Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj said to the effect that nobody could ever copy (imitate, or compete with) two things—Srila Sridhar Maharaj's temple domes and his  Prema-dhama Stotram.

krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-nama-kirtanam
rama-rama-gana-ramya-divya chhanda-nartanam
yatra-tatra-krsna-nama-dana-loka-nistaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

Later, the Supreme Lord travelled to the holy places of pilgrimage in South India with the clever intention of delivering the fallen souls. Appearing as a beautiful young renunciate, He distributed the sweet Names of the Lord, singing: "Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna he," as He strolled down the different pathways, entered temples, and visited homesteads during the sacred pilgrimage. Infused with an inconceivable type of divine inspiration, the Lord freely chanted "Rama Rama" and joyfully danced with the most charming gestures. Irrespective of time or personal qualification, the assembled bystanders were delivered by the Lord, who inspired them to chant Krishna's Holy Names. I offer my obeisances to that beautiful Golden Lord, Gauranga Sundar, the divine form of Krishna prema.

(Prema-dhama-deva Stotram, 22)

Srila Sridhar Maharaj composed seventy-two  slokas  about Sriman Mahaprabhu. This is the  Prema-dhama Stotram.

You have heard also when Prabhupad, Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, was going to leave his body at the age of sixty-four, he was in Bagh Bazar Gaudiya Math, surrounded by all of his twenty-two  sannyasis  and all of his  brahmacharis. The  sannyasis  divided their service to Srila Prabhupad and it was decided that each  sannyasi  would stay with Srila Prabhupad for a two-hour shift. At that time, no one wanted to take the shift from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. because it was the hardest time when everybody wanted to sleep (everybody also went to  mangal arati  at 4 a.m.), but Srila Sridhar Maharaj accepted that service. One night, when Srila Sridhar Maharaj finished his shift at 4 a.m. and another  sannyasi  came to serve Srila Prabhupad, Srila Sridhar Maharaj went to his bathroom to take shower and then go directly to the  mangal arati. At that time, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who had not spoken for a few days, suddenly spoke—he said, "I want to hear  Sri Rupa-manjari-pada  song from Sridhar Maharaj." (We sang this song today also.) Somebody went to call Srila Sridhar Maharaj, but he was in the bathroom, so the manager of the temple told Srila Prabhupad, "Srila Sridhar Maharaj is not coming out from his room," and told another devotee, who was a good singer and even sang on the radio, to start singing. When that devotee started singing, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur immediately stopped him, "Stop it! I do not want to hear the tune, I want to hear the song  Sri Rupa-manjari-pada—from Srila Sridhar Maharaj." Everybody was astounded and there was pin-drop silence in the room. Then, Srila Sridhar Maharaj came—he was not a good singer, but, crying, he sang that song. When he finished the song, Srila Prabhupad left his body.

That was a sign, a signal for the whole world. Srila Prabhupad did not make any will, he did not name any particular successor. Actually, anyone can manage a temple, but who did Srila Prabhupad make his  acharya  (successor) from within his heart? Who could preach the pure conception? Who was the pure Rupanuga-dhara? That is Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

* * *

At Ultadanga and Godavari

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance festival, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
1 August 2019, part 4

When Srila Sridhar Maharaj joined in 1926, Srila Prabhupad was staying at Ultadanga. There was no temple at that time—no Bagh Bazar Gaudiya Math, no Chaitanya Math, there was only some place, not even a temple, in Kolkata. Everybody who came asked Srila Prabhupad, "Prabhupad, but why? There is so much pollution and dirt in Kolkata, and there are so many naughty bad people here—why do you come to preach in Kolkata?" Srila Prabhupad would reply, "Yes, I have started preaching in Kolkata first because I want to rescue these kind of bad people—I want to convert them to the movement of Lord Sri Krishna!"

(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj also joined at that time—he was a businessman running a shop in Kolkata, and he also joined when Srila Prabhupad was staying at Ultadanga.)

Anyhow, Srila Sridhar Maharaj had passed his Bachelor degree and got admitted to a law college, when one day he suddenly got some message that one great  sadhu  was giving lectures at Ultadanga every day. This was the British period in Indian history—India was not liberated at that time; and Srila Sridhar Maharaj was something like an Indian soldier, he was a member of the  gandhiwadi andolan  (the non-cooperation party of Gandhi), trying to help the revolution. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's name was Ramendra Bhattacharya at that time. So, he came to hear that lecture one day, and he saw Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was giving the lecture. He sat at the back and listened. He came there again the next day and after that—he would only sit at the lecture and listen without asking any questions, he did not take  prasadam  there or anything. After a while, everybody started doubting, "Maybe that man is a British spy!" So, one day the temple president told him that he could not come there any more. Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not go there the next day, and he was sad, thinking, "What do I go there for? I only go to hear the lecture, I do not disturb anyone, I do not take any food (prasadam) there, I am not staying there and taking a room. I only come to hear the lecture from that personality because I never heard that kind of lecture before." Then, he decided the next day, "Even if they beat me, even if they throw me out, I will still go there!" The day when Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not come to the lecture, Srila Prabhupad asked devotees, "Why did that boy who came yesterday not come today?" Somebody explained why, and Srila Prabhupad replied, "Oh, I understand, but if he comes tomorrow, do not stop him again." The next day, Ramendra Bhattacharya (Srila Sridhar Maharaj) came again. Srila Prabhupad asked him, "Why could you not come yesterday?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj said he had some personal problem—he did not complain about anyone. Srila Prabhupad said, "OK, I understand, but come every day." Srila Sridhar Maharaj was very happy, "Yes, I can come every day! Srila Prabhupad gave me an order to come every day." Then, he came for seven next days, but he still did not ask any questions. In the end, Srila Prabhupad asked him, "Do you have any questions? Can you understand what I am telling?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj replied, "I have no questions." He only kept coming and listening to every lecture.

This is what happened. Then, in 1930 Srila Sridhar Maharaj was sent to Godavari. We have been there this year with all the devotees. This is the place where Sriman Mahaprabhu showed to Raya Ramananda His Rasa-raj Maha-bhav Chaitanya-svarupa. When Srila Sridhar Maharaj went there, there was no temple in Godavari. There, Srila Sridhar Maharaj gave such a good lecture that Sripad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj, a senior devotee, told Prabhupad, "You should not wait to give him  sannyas." That kind of excellent lecture he had given explaining the Rasa-raja Maha-bhav pastime from  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. That year, Srila Sridhar Maharaj took  sannyas  from Srila Prabhupad and got the name Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

You all know  the story of Vallabha Acharya. There is one Sridhar Swami who wrote 'Sridhar tika,' a famous commentary on  Srimad Bhagavatam, but Vallabha Acharya did not follow it, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very unhappy about it—He actually called Vallabha Acharya a prostitute. Why? Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Those who do not follow their husbands are prostitutes!" 'Swami' means 'a husband' and 'swami' can also mean Sridhar Swami, so, indirectly, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was saying, "Those who do not follow Sridhar Swami are prostitutes!" Vallabha Acharya got very sad and shy to hear this, and in the end he took shelter of Mahaprabhu. You have all heard that story, I have told it many times.

* * *

Supreme Fortune and Earnest Prayer

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's
Disappearance festival, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
1 August 2019, part 5

After Srila Sridhar Maharaj got  sannyas  in 1930, he went to many temples. He helped to make the Madras Chaitanya Math temple and was in charge of the temple there, he managed other temples also. Moreover, he composed many  slokas—one of his works is  Bhaktivinod-viraha-dasakam. It is a very nice poem, I cannot recite all of the  slokas  from it, but there is one  sloka  in it that is very important,

srigauranumatam svarupaviditam rupagrajenadrtam
rupadyaih parivesitam raghuganairasvaditam sevitam
jivadyair abhiraksitam sukasivabrahmadi sammanitam
sriradhapadasevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan

"What was sanctioned by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by His descent was intimately known only to Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami. It was adored by Sanatan Goswami and served by Rupa Goswami and his followers. Raghunatha Das Goswami tasted that wonderful thing fully and enhanced it with his own realization. And Jiva Goswami supported and protected it by quoting the scriptures from different places. The taste of that divine truth is aspired for by Brahma, Siva, and Uddhava, who respect it as the supreme goal of life. What is this wonderful truth? Sri radhapadasevana: that the highest nectar of our life is the service of Srimati Radharani. This is most wonderful. O Bhakti Vinoda Thakur, you are our master. It is within your power to allow them to bestow their grace upon us. You are in a position to bestow the highest gift ever known to the world upon us all. It is at your disposal. O Bhakti Vinoda Thakur, please be kind to us and grant us your mercy."

The meaning is this—what is coming from the heart of Sri Svarup Damodar, what Srila Sanatan Goswami gives love and affection to and looks after, what Srila Rupa Goswami is distributing, what Srila Raghunath Das Goswami relishes and Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu protects, what Suka, Sivji Maharaj, Brahma give honour to—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, you are donating that to all the devotees. Such types of things Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj writes.

He also wrote the  pranam-mantra  of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur—

sri-siddhanta-sarasvatiti vidito gaudiya-gurv-anvaye
bhato bhanuriva prabhata-gagane yo gaura-sankirtanaih
mayavada-timingilodara-gatan uddhrtya jivaniman
krsna-prema-sudhabdhi-gahana-sukham pradat prabhum tam bhaje

I serve my lord, who is known as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Within the Gaudiya sampradaya's lineage of Gurus, he shines like the sun in the morning sky. Through the sankirtan of Sriman Mahaprabhu he rescues the souls engulfed within the belly of the timingila of illusionism and bestows upon them the ecstasy of swimming in the nectarean ocean of divine love for Krishna.

He wrote  Sri Gaura Saraswat Arati—

jayare jayare jaya gaura-saraswati
bhakativinoda nvaya karuna murati

"All glory to the voice of Sri Gauranga, the embodiment of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's mercy, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur!"

prakasile gaura-seva bhuvana mangala
bhakatisiddhanta suddha prajnana ujjvala

"He manifested Sri Gauranga's service for the upliftment of the world. His teaching of devotion is pure, brilliant, and enlightening."

"Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur spread Mahaprabhu's service (Gaura-seva) all over the world in order to inspire and rescue all fallen souls (bhuvana-mangala)." This  arati  was composed by Srila Sridhar Maharaj and is sung in each of our temples.

He also wrote Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's  pranam-mantra—

guru-dam grantha-dam gaura-dhama-dam nama-dam muda
bhakti-dam bhuri-dam vande bhakti-vinodakam sada

"He is the giver of Sri Guru; he is the giver of scriptures; he is giver of the holy dham of Gaura; he is the giver of the Name; he is the giver of pure devotion; he is the greatest donor. I always offer my obeisance to this Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur."

(Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya, 1.8)

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us the Guru, he gave us all the scriptures, he gave us Mahaprabhu's birthplace—he gave us Nabadwip Dham, Mayapur Dham, which had been concealed by the Ganges. Who could recognise all this? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He gave us the pure Name—there are so many names chanted in this world (all the sahajiya babajis chant Names—aul, baul, karttabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani, sakhibheki, jata-goswami), but he gave us the pure Name that Mahaprabhu had brought. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.' Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur considered himself a sweeper of the Nama-hatta, the market of the Holy Name. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given us all this. Who writes this? Who composed this  sloka  in Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's glorification? Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. We are also very fortunate because Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj has also given us such Guru as Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj—he presented us with such kind of guru! This is our fortune.

He also composed "Bhayabhanjana jayasamsana"—

bhayabhanjana jayasamsana-karunayatanayanam
kanakotpala janakojjvala-rasasagara-chayanam
mukharikrta-dharanitala-harikirtana-rasanam
ksitipavana-bhavatarana-pihitaruna-vasanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam

He (of divine form) came forth from the birthplace of the golden lotus—the ocean of the mellow of divine consorthood. His large, merciful eyes dispel (the suffering souls') fear and proclaim (the surrendered souls') victory. His tongue (constantly) vibrates the whole Earth planet with Sri Krishna-sankirtana, his beauty resplendent in the robes of the sun's radiance (saffron) that purifies the universe and dispels the suffering of material existence. On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

saranagata-bhajanavrata-chirapalana-charanam
sukrtalaya-saralasaya-sujanakhila-varanam
harisadhana-krtabadhana janasasana-kalanam
sacharachara-karunakara-nikhilasiva-dalanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam

The devotees surrendered in pure devotion are eternally protected at his lotus feet. He is worshippable by the pure souls endowed with sincerity and good fortune, and he accepts (even) those who obstruct the service of Sri Hari, just to rectify them. As the very fountainhead of mercy upon all mobile and immobile beings, he crushes the inauspiciousness of the whole universe. On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

That is what Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj writes about Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. It is very beautiful. Srila Sridhar Maharaj has given everything to us, and that is why we are very fortunate.

Today is Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's disappearance festival, and we are praying to him—"Wherever you are, you can see all the situation. Maharaj, you have made this Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math temple and you can see what is going on now in this temple, what kind of service is going on there. They think you are in the  samadhi—that you are in a piece of stone there—but you can see everything, you can see what is going in your temple." I am praying to Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Gurudev, "You can give solution to this. You can think of something. What is  your  desire? Your desire is not that they occupy the building like this, your desire is to preach Sri Rupa-Raghunath  katha  all over the world, but how will you fulfil your desire? Only you can solve it." Therefore, I am praying to Srila Guru Maharaj on this day, and this is my only earnest request to him, "Please, solve this problem."

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay

* * *

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Vishva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay!
Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-kula-churamani Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay!
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Suhrd Akinchan Goswami Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay!
Gaura Nityananda mandir samasta bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Gaura Nityananda mandir samasta sevak-vrinda ki jay
Jay parikrama-kari-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Chaitanya Saraswat Math International ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Kamal Tyagi Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Hriday Mahayogi Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Amrita Paramathik Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Vaibhav  Parikvrajik Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
All the sannyasi, all the brahmachari, all the Eastern and Western devotees ki jay
Samagata matri-mandala srotri-mandali bhakta-mandali ki jay  [Glory to all the mother-like lady devotees, to all the listeners, and all the devotees]
Harinam sankirtan ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol!

Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj:  Jay Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol.

You all know what place we have come to. This is Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan, it is a very important place. What happened at this place?

As you know, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur, and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu appeared in Sri Ekachakra Dham (its present name is Virachandrapur). Nityananda Prabhu is Balaram. As we sing in a  kirtan, "Balaram haila Nitai:  Balaram has become Nitai." So, Nitai is Balaram, Mul-Sankarsan, and who is Mahaprabhu? A combined form of Radha-Krishna. Both Krishna and Balaram, Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu are two limbs of one form.

When Nityananda Prabhu left Ekachakra Dham and came here to the house of a devotee named Nadan Acharya, Mahaprabhu immediately understood that some great personality had come here. He told Chandrasekhara Acharya, Srivas Acharya and other devotees, "A great personality has come here, go and find Him!" They went to look for Him, but nobody could find Him. Nityananda Prabhu is very hidden—nobody can know His glories. Do you think everybody can have His  darshan? Do you think everybody can get His mercy? So, when the devotees came back and said they could not find anyone, Mahaprabhu said, "I will go Myself!" and He came straight here. Nityananda Prabhu was sitting outside the house—They saw each other, embraced each other and then became overwhelmed with the  asta-sattvik-vikar  (divine ecstasy).

Those who have Vaishnav-anugatya (devotion and adherence to Vaishnavs) can see everything otherwise one cannot see anything—no matter how much you travel around, how much you hear, you will not get any result.

Who revealed this temple here? A godbrother of our Param Gurudev Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj—Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. His previous name is Saranga Prabhu, and he took  sannyas  from Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Sripad Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj, who used to lead our parikrama before, also took  sannyas  from Srila Sridhar Maharaj and used to live here at this temple, he was the main disciple of Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. I will speak more a little later, now we must sing a  kirtan  here.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Parama Karuna pahu dui jana' with the devotees.]

So, as I have told you before, we have come here to Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda Mandir. This is the place where Gaura and Nityananda met each other, and this is also Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj's Math.

Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj is a disciple of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur. When Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur left for his eternal pastimes, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj was a  brahmachari, and he was a very powerful, very strong preacher. We know that he preached in Delhi and many other places, and he established many temples. After Srila Prabhupad disappeared, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, in his  brahmachari  time, left the temple and, dejected and pained, went back to his house. (His family house is in Patrasayer, near Betur in Bankura District; we now have a temple there.) However, Srila Sridhar Maharaj could understand that he was a great teacher, so he came to his house and asked him, "Prabhu, you are a great teacher, but you have left the temple and come to your house accepting householder life. Will you not consider coming back?" Then Saranga Prabhu said, "Maharaj, if you give me  sannyas, I will leave everything and come back again." Then, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj gave him  sannyas  and Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj came back to the temple life—he first stayed at other temples and from there helped Srila Sridhar Maharaj to make Sri Gaura Purnima festival and other programmes, and then he made this temple, Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda mandir, here. He also made other temples—in Kolkata, Jaipalguri, Delhi, Imlitala (Vrindavan) also and other places.

Try to remember this relation (sambandha-jnana)—only when you get  sambandha-jnana  can you have  abhidheya-jnana  (understand how to practise).

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj's senior godbrother and  sannyas-guru, but how much respect Srila Goswami Maharaj had for him as his  sannyas-guru! We must understand this. Every year, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj's disciples made a big opulent festival in honour of his appearance day, and Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj would always personally come and invite Srila Sridhar Maharaj to attend it. Not only that, whatever  pranami, whatever presentation his disciples would give to him on that day, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj gave everything to Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, his  siksa-guru  and  sannyas-guru. One year, however, Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not attend his appearance day due to poor health, and Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj said that year, "Every year Srila Sridhar Maharaj, my  siksa-guru  and  sannyas-guru, comes and I get one more year of life, but this year he could not come, so this must be my last birthday, I will not be alive next year." Srila Goswami Maharaj left that very year.

After Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Suhrd Akinchan Maharaj became the  acharya  of this temple. He loved our Gurudev very much. I remember in 1995, when we were celebrating the Centenary Festival, Gurudev told me, "Bhakti Suhrd Akinchan Maharaj and Bhakti Kumud Shanta Goswami Maharaj wanted to come. Go and bring them here." I took the temple's car (it is still in Nabadwip, it stands in the museum) and came here with a driver to bring Srila Bhakti Shanta Goswami Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Suhrd Akinchan Maharaj to that centenary festival...

* * *

At Sri Madhai Ghat

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, Sri Madhai Ghat

Continuing our  parikrama, we have now come to Madhai  ghat. We have never come to this place before, but because we crossed the Ganges earlier today we are able to come here. This is Madhai  ghat  here, and the place nearby is Barokona  ghat. You have all heard that once a scholar named Keshav Kashmiri came here to defeat Mahaprabhu. He had got a boon from Saraswati, but in the end he himself surrendered to Mahaprabhu—Mahaprabhu gave him His mercy. It happened near this place here, at the Barokona  ghat. Before, the Ganga used to flow here. As you know, Jagannath Misra and Sachi Mata's house was near the Ganges—if you go a little further, there will be Barokona  ghat  and then Yogapith. Our new temple land in Mayapur is also near.

So, we have now come to Madhai ghat, and we must chant one kirtan here.  [His Divine Grace starts the  kirtan  with the devotees:]

hari bolo hari bolo hari bolo bhai re
ari-nama aniyachhe gauranga-nitai re [1]
modera duhkha dekhe re)

O Brothers! Chant "Hari"! Chant "Hari"! Chant "Hari"! Gauranga and Nitai have brought the Lord's Name. (Oh! They see our suffering.)

We are suffering from so many diseases, and, seeing our sadness, Gauranga and Nitai have brought the Holy Name from Goloka Vrindavan.

hari-nama bina jivera anya dhana nai re
ari-name suddha ha'la jagai-madhai re [2]
bada papi chhila re)

The soul has no wealth other than the Lord's Name. Oh! Jagai and Madhai were purified by the Lord's Name (Oh! They were great sinners).

Jagai and Madhai were great sinners, but through the Holy Name they were rescued and became pure devotees. It is necessary to chant the Holy Name for this—and it is necessary to chant Hare Krishna, not Pare Keshta. We mostly chant Pare Keshta, not Hare Krishna. How so? Unless you chant without offences, you will be chanting Pare Keshta. One time, a lady took initiation from a guru and the guru told her to chant Hare Krishna  maha-mantra. That lady's husband was Hare Krishna Pal, so when she came home, the husband and the wife began fighting—the husband said, "Hey, you cannot be chanting my name! I am your husband!" The wife said, "What am I to do now? Gurudev told me to chant it." The husband said, "Go write to your Guru and ask him." (Before, there were no phones, so you had to write letters if you wanted to invite anyone for a festival or ask anything.) The wife replied, "When will the letter come? Gurudev told me to chant the name now." Then the husband told her, "What is the difference? Pare Keshta sounds the same as Hare Krishna, then chant Pare Keshta Pare Keshta Keshta Keshta Pare Pare!"

"Niraparadhe Nama laile paya prema-dhana  (নিরপরাধে নাম লৈলে পায় প্রেমধন): if you chant the Holy Name without offences, you will get the wealth of divine love of Krishna." (Cc, 3.4.71)

aparadha sunye haye laha krsna-nama
achirat tumi pabe krsna-prema-dhana

"Chant the Holy Name of Krishna without offence and you will quickly get the treasure of divine love to Krishna."

It is necessary to chant without offences.

hari-name suddha ha'la jagai-madhai re [2]
bada papi chhila re)

Oh! Jagai and Madhai were purified by the Lord's Name (Oh! They were great sinners).

michhe maya-baddha ha'ye jivana katai re
ami amara bale re)
sa-vase ghure' ghure' ara kotha yai re [3]
asara sesa nai re)

Bound by Maya (claiming 'I' and 'mine'), I pass my life in vain. Oh! Controlled by mundane desires, wandering and wandering, where shall I go next? (Oh! Mundane desires never end).

People say, "Oh, I have two daughters, but I need a son!" Then they get four-five children (all girls) and when a fifth comes they get tired and say, "Oh, no! No more!" What becomes of such people after this life? They become pigs next life and then they can have as many kids as they want. Such is the life that is controlled by endless mundane desires (asa-vasa, asara sesa nai). We roam throughout many species (pigs, dogs, etc.) following our desires...

hari bale deo bhai asara mukhe chhai re
nirasa ta' sukha re)
hoga-moksa-vanchha chhadi' hari-nama gai re [4]
suddha-sattva ha'ye re)

O brothers! Chant "Hari!" and throw ashes in the face of material desire. (Oh! Being desireless is happiness). Abandoning desire for mundane enjoyment and liberation, I chant the Lord's Name (being spiritually pure).

na cheye-o namera gune o saba phala pai re
tuchchha phaler prayasa chhede re)
inoda bale yai la'ye namera balai re [5]
namera balai chhede re)

Even without desiring them, I obtain all ends (dharma, artha, kama, and moksa) by the Name's power. (Oh! Abandon all endeavours for insignificant ends). Bhakti Vinod says, "I proceed, removing the obstacles to the Lord's Name. (Oh! Avoid the obstacles to the Lord's Name.)"

If you have some material desire, throw ash at it! Leave all desires for enjoyment and liberation and chant the Holy Name. We do not want any liberation (sayujya, merging with Brahman;  sarupya, having the same body as the Lord;  salokya, residing at the same planet as the Lord;  samipya, being an associate of the Lord;  sarsti, having the same opulences as the Lord)—we put our foot over liberation and cross over her. "Na cheye-o namer guna...."—all these things actually come without any effort as a result of chanting the Holy Name.  Sadhus  do not do business—we see devotees build enormous temples worth of millions of rupees, how is it possible? They do not do business, they do not earn money, but those who chant the Holy Name automatically get all facilities. Yet, look at us—we always want temporary things, we want this and that, we come to the Lord for the sake of money, a house, etc., we bribe Laksmi, Kali, Durga... "Tuchchha phaler prayasa chhede re"—give up striving for trifle things.

You must think what result the chanting of the Holy Name brings, at the same time, you must not think, "Oh, I will chant the Holy Name and get everything I want!" This is wrong. You must not chant the Holy Name hoping for something in return. What you get or not get, the Lord will see to it.

So, we have come today here to Madhai  ghat, the place where Madhai got the mercy of Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. Madhai was a terrible drunkard, he did so much wrong, but he had one good quality—he could steal, he could kill, but he never made a Vaishnav  aparadh  (he never committed any offence to a Vaishnav). You will say, "But he beat Nityananda Prabhu! How could he not have committed an offence?" If Madhai had not hit Nityananda Prabhu, how would he have been rescued and how would Nityananda Prabhu's glories have been revealed then? If Madhai had not beaten Nityananda Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu's glories would be unknown to this world. Such are the pastimes of the Lord.

When somebody chastises you, that is for your own benefit, it is no loss for you. Those who trouble you are the ones at loss—they can swear you, they can chastise you. What did Prabhupad say also? If somebody says to you anything bad about you, you must tolerate it, but if somebody says to you anything bad about your Guru, then you cannot tolerate it—you do not have to beat anyone for this, but you must explain it to them and try to bring them to the right path. Anyhow, we must all remember that although Madhai did so much wrong, he never made any offence to a Vaishnav...

* * *

At Sri Yogapith

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, Sri Yogapith (Mayapur)

By the mercy of Srila Gurudev, we have come here to Sri Yogapith. This is the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—He appeared under the neem tree that still stands just outside in the courtyard. The Lord Himself bestowed His mercy upon Sri Sachi Devi and Sri Jagannath Misra and appeared as their son. His Name, given to Him at birth, is Vishvambhar; He is also known as Nimai because He appeared under a neem tree; and later, when He took  sannyas, His name became Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

This place is in Antardwip. The whole of Nabadwip is an eight petal lotus flower—there are eight islands situated on outside as petals and Antardwip is in the middle of the lotus as its core. As we told before when speaking about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, when Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur found this place, he brought Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj here. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur traced the former current of the Ganges, that it was flowing where Madhai  ghat  is. In the course of time, the Ganga flooded this whole area, but she eventually dried this land and the birthplace of the Lord, this Yogapith, emerged again.

Our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj also used to stay nearby, at Sri Chaitanya Math. From here, we will go next to Srivas Angan (the house of Srila Srivas Pandit), the house of Srila Gadadhar Pandit, Sri Chaitanya Math, after that to the samadhi of Chand Kazi, and then to Jagannath temple.

Actually, Sri Nityananda Prabhu first circumambulated this Sri Nabadwip Dham with Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur describes it in his  Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya  (Chapter 5, 'Sri Mayapur and Antardwip'):

jaya jaya sri-chaitanya sachira nandana
aya jaya nityananda jahnavi-jivana [1]

All glory to the son of Sachi, Sri Chaitanya! All glory to the life of Jahnava, Sri Nityananda!

jaya jaya navadvipa-dhama sarva-dhama-sara
atha kali-yuge haila gaura avatara [2]

All glory to Nabadwip Dham, the best of all abodes, where Gaura descended during the Age of Kali!

nityananda prabhu bale, "sunaha vachana
ola-krosa navadvipa yatha vrndavana [3]

Nityananda Prabhu said, "Listen to My words! The thirty-two miles of Nabadwip are nondifferent from Vrindavan.

ei sola-krosa madhye dvipa haya naya
sta-dala padma yena jalete bhasaya [4]

"Within these thirty-two miles, there are nine islands, which form an eight-petalled lotus that floats on water.

asta-dala asta-dvipa madhye antardvipa
ara majhe mayapura madhya-bindu-tipa [5]

"In the middle of the eight petals—the eight islands—is Antardwip. At its centre is Mayapur.

mayapura yoga-pitha sada golakara
atha nitya chaitanyera vividha bihara [6]

"The circular Yogapith in Mayapur is eternal. There, Sri Chaitanya performs various eternal Pastimes.

trisahasra-dhanu tara paridhi pramana
ahasreka-dhanu tara vyasera vidhana [7]

"Its circumference is six miles, and its diameter two miles.

ei yoga-pitha-majhe vaise pancha-tattva
nya-sthana haite yoga-pithera mahattva [8]

"The Pancha Tattva reside at the Yogapith, whose greatness exceeds that of all other places.

ati sighra gupta habe prabhura ichchhaya
hagirathi-jale habe sangopita praya [9]

"Very soon it will be hidden by the will of the Lord. The waters of the Ganga will almost entirely conceal it.

At first, everything, all crop fields of this area, went under water but then again re-emerged.

kabhu punah prabhu-ichchha habe balavan
rakasa ha-ibe dhama habe diptiman [10]

"Someday, when the desire of the Lord becomes strong, the Yogapith will be revealed and the Dham will shine again.

nitya-dhama kabhu kale lopa nahi haya
upta haye punar-bara haya ta udaya [11]

"The eternal Dham is never lost at any time—it only becomes hidden and then emerges again.

bhagirathi purva-tire haya mayapura
ayapure nitya achhena amara thakura [12]

"My Lord is eternally present in Mayapur on the eastern bank of the Ganga.

It says here at Mayapur stands on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi (Ganga), but there are some  sahajiyas  that claim that Mayapur is in Koladwip, on the opposite bank—they have even made a temple called 'prachin mayapur' there—but Mahaprabhu's birthplace is here in Yogapith, in this very house. Always remember this.

loka-drstye sannyasi ha-iya visvambhara
hhadi' navadvipa phire desa-desantara [13]

"In the vision of common people, Visvambhar became a sannyasi, left Nabadwip, and toured other places.

vastutah gauranga mora navadvipa-dhama
hhadiya na yaya kabhu mayapura-grama [14]

"In truth, however, My Gauranga never leaves Nabadwip Dham or the village of Mayapur.

Many think that Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip and travelled to many places, went to Puri, etc.; many also say that Krishna left everything and went to Mathura—is it not? Krishna may have gone to Mathura leaving Vrindavan, but Vrindavan Krishna never leaves Vrindavan. There is Dwarakesh Krishna, there is Mathuresh Krishna, and there is also Vraja Krishna—Vraja Krishna never leaves Vrindavan.

adyapiha sei lila kare gora raya
kona kona bhagyavane jiva dekhibare paya

"Gora Ray continues performing His Pastimes, and those who are fortunate can see it."

Gauranga Mahaprabhu performs His pastimes even now, and those who have the eyes, who have the fortune can see everything, but those who do not say all these wrong things—they say Mahaprabhu left everything, that Mahaprabhu disappeared in this place, in that place, etc. The Lord's pastimes are still going on here, and it is by our great fortune that we have come here to take the  darshan  of Yogapith. We shall pay our obeisance here and then proceed to Sri Chaitanya Math...

* * *

At Srivas Angan

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, At Srivas Angan (Mayapur)

We are now at Srivas Angan. This is the house of Srivas Pandit. Remembering that Chand Kazi broke the  mridangas  at this place. We must chant loudly and dance here!

[His Divine Grace chants 'Sri Krishna Chaitanya daya kari' and then proceeds to the house of Sri Advaita Acharya and the house of Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami, a few meters away.]

We have just come from the house where Srivas Pandit lived with his wife Malini. Narayani, Srivas Pandit's niece, also lived at this house at first—later she was married and went to live in her house in Mamgachi (we will go there tomorrow). Her son Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur who wrote  Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata  also lived there in Mamgachi. Now we are at the house of Sri Advaita Acharya Prabhu, and next to it is the house where Gadadhar Pandit lived. Advaita Prabhu later moved to Santipur and stayed there. Mahaprabhu performs His eternal pastimes and always chants  kirtan  at Srivas Angan,

adyapiha sei lila kare gora raya
kona kona bhagyavane jiva dekhibare paya

"Gora Ray continues performing His Pastimes, and those who are fortunate can see it."

We are now going to continue our  parikrama  and go to Chaitanya Math. After that, we will go to the  samadhi  of Chand Kazi, who in the end became a great devotee of Mahaprabhu. Not far from there is also the house of Kalovecha Sridhar. Mahaprabhu once came to his house and drank a glass of water. Sridhar was so poor that he did not even have a proper glass to offer water in, he only had an old copper glass with a hole in it, but Mahaprabhu drank water from it and said, "I have become purified! My heart has become pure!" That Kalovecha Sridhar sold bananas for a living, and Mahaprabhu would often come to his house and forcefully steal bananas from him.

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi khay

"The Lord eats anything and everything when a devotee offers it, but He does not take anything from a non-devotee."

Non-devotees try to sell the Lord—they give something to the Lord and want something from Him in return, they do service(?) but have material desires inside.

So, we are now going to Sri Chaitanya Math. Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj used to stay there. He came to Kolkata from Hapaniya and later came to stay here. Srila Prabhupad established this temple. Chaitanya Math is the main math, 'akar math raj.' It was the first temple established—before that, there was no temples at all; all temples appeared after that. Srila Prabhupad's  samadhi mandir  is also there, we will go there and take Srila Prabhupad's  darshan. Actually, we do not have the eyes to take any  darshan, then how will we get the  darshan? Also, some of you are thinking, "Oh, all temples are now closed because we have come late," but this is not so—when we come, we come to pay our obeisance, and the Lord can understand, the Lord can see that we have come to pay obeisance at His feet...

* * *

At Chaitanya Math

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, at Sri Chaitanya Math (Mayapur)

[Chanting 'Jaya Prabhupad! Srila Prabhupad!' His Divine Grace enters Sri Chaitanya Math, and, having paid obeisance at the samadhi mandir of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, takes the devotees to the courtyard of Sri Chaitanya Math where he then sings 'Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam' and speaks about the glories of Srila Prabhupad:]

We have now come to Sri Chaitanya Math. Our Param Gurudev's Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhagavan Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad, stayed here, as well as in Kolkata sometimes. Srila Prabhupad preached from here, this is the headquarters of all Gaudiya Maths—from here, Srila Prabhupad established sixty-four temples all over India.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur prayed to the Lord, "Please send someone who can preach Your pure  katha  in this world," and after that Srila Prabhupad was born in Sri Puri Dham. He later stayed with Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur in Godrumdwip, and then came here to Mayapur, having established Yogapith and this Chaitanya Math. Through his devotees, Srila Prabhupad preached Hari-katha,  sri-bhakti-siddhanta-vani, all over the world. Therefore, we are extremely indebted to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. Our Param Guru Maharaj wrote,

jayare jayare jaya gaura-saraswati
bhakativinoda nvaya karuna murati

"All glory to the voice of Sri Gauranga, the embodiment of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's mercy, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur!"

prakasile gaura-seva bhuvana mangala
bhakatisiddhanta suddha prajnana ujjvala

"He manifested Sri Gauranga's service for the upliftment of the world. His teaching of devotion is pure, brilliant, and enlightening."

We sing this Saraswat Arati every day.

sri-gauranga-parisada thakura bhakti-vinoda
dina-hina patitera bandhu
kali-tamah vinasite anilena avanite
toma' akalanka purna indu

"Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur is an associate of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and a friend of all low and fallen souls—to dispel all darkness of this dark age, he brought to this earth you [Srila Saraswati Thakur], a spotless full moon."

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought this spotless moon, Srila Prabhupad, to this world, and this Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur gave the Holy Name to this world—to this day, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples are preaching about the Lord all over the world, they go begging door to door to rescue fallen souls like us.

sthane sthane kata matha sthapiyachha niskapata
prema-seva sikhaite jive
mathera vaisnava-gana kare sada vitarana
hari-guna-kathamrta bhave

"Sincerely, you established so many temples to teach the souls loving service to the Lord. The Vaisnava residents of these temples incessantly spread the nectar of the glories of the Lord."

karitechchha upakara yate para upakara
labhe jiva sri-krsna-sevaya

"You are giving great benefit by helping other souls get service of Lord Krishna."

He engages everyone in the service of the Lord...

uthare uthare bhai ara ta samaya nai
'krsna bhaja' bale uchchaihsvare

Wake up, wake up, brother, there is no time! Worship Krishna!

He also spread Mahaprabhu's teaching,

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

"One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.239)

kuliyate pasandira atyachara kaila ya'ra
ta sabara dosa ksama kari'
jagate kaile ghosana 'taroriva sahisnuna'
hana 'kirtaniyah sada harih'

"You forgave all the atheists of Kuliya village, despite their bad behaviour. Loudly you proclaimed to one and all: one who is more tolerant than a tree can always chant the glories of Lord Hari."

There were (and still are) many  babajis,  goswamis  in Nabadwip town (Kuliya) who actually beat, attacked and tortured Prabhupad, but Prabhupad did not say anything—instead, he forgave them and declared that one must be humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree. Always remember this.

* * *

"This Is Your Life"

17 August 2013, Sri Nabadwip Dham

When we do some service, when we practise properly, Maya always disturbs us. What should we do? You must understand that we are soldiers in a battlefield and we have come to fight, so we must fight against Maya. How will you fight against Maya? Some training and weapons are necessary. What kind of weapons do you need? Not a sword or anything like—you only need some  sadhu-sanga  (good association),  Nama-sankirtan  (chanting the Holy Name),  Bhagavat-sravan  (hearing the holy scriptures),  Mathura-vasa  (residing in Mathura),  sraddhaya sri-murtir seva  (serving the Deity with faith). These are our weapons. Service (seva) is our weapon.

If you have attachment with your service, then Maya will automatically run away. This is the main way. Sometimes, you are doing some service and you feel that Maya is coming to attack you—sravan  and  kirtan  are necessary even when you are doing service. Suppose you are doing some service with your hands, but your mind disturbs you with something during that time—you are thinking about some little problem, etc.. Even when you are doing your service, you must listen to or remember your Guru's  katha, Hari-katha, Krishna-katha. It is necessary. This is how you can conquer Maya—if you follow this, Maya will be defeated by you.

You must engage yourself in Krishna-katha, Hari-katha every day. Make the programme, join the programme, join the class every day. This is your life. Rest is also necessary, but not laziness—laziness is not good.  Prasad  is necessary, but eating is not necessary. Do not follow your tongue, do not follow your senses (indriya). This is the main thing. Always keep connection with the centre.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would chant and dance in the Jagannath Vallabha garden all day and night, without food, without anything, and He would not feel tired. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did non-stop kirtan, and taught all the devotees too. One day, when Mahaprabhu finished bathing in the morning, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and Gopinath Acharya brought some opulent Jagannath  prasad  for Him (they had taken some at the temple and brought some home also). That day was  ekadasi, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught them, showed them the example how to observe it.

kirtana-prabhave, smarana haibe,
ta kale bhajana nirjana sambhava

Chanting of the Holy Name (kirtan) arouses remembrance (smarana), and at that time it becomes possible to practise nirjan-bhajan.

(Vaishnav Ke? 19)

When you can remember Krishna through  kirtan, then you understand everything, then you can easily practise.

sri-gauranga-parisada thakura bhakti-vinoda
dina-hina patitera bandhu
kali-tamah vinasite anilena avanite
toma' akalanka purna indu

"Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur is an associate of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and a friend of all low and fallen souls—to dispel all darkness of this dark age, he brought to this earth you [Srila Saraswati Thakur], a spotless full moon."

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, distributed the pure Holy Name through Harinam  sankritan  all over the world. They brought a full moon (purna indu) in this dark age of Kali. 'Dark' means Maya (illusion). A full moon gives light, but it does not give heat. This is the line (dhara) of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu wrote:

tunde tandavaniratim vitanute tundavali-labdhaye
karna-kroda kadambinighatayate karnarbudebhyah sprham
cetah prangana-sanginivijayate sarvendriyanamkrtim
no jane janita kiyadbhir amrtaih krsneti varna-dvayi

When the holy name of Krishna descends and captures the tongue and lips, it controls them so strongly that it engages them in chanting the holy name as if the lips and tongue have gone mad. In this way, the power of the name descends in them, and one feels that only one tongue and one mouth are not enough; thousands of mouths are necessary to taste the name. Then the holy name of Krishna enters the ear with such a great force and current that the ears are captured, and one thinks that only two ears are insufficient; he wants millions of ears to attend to the sweet current entering the ears. Two ears are nothing to him; he wants millions of ears. The nectar of the holy name is coming like a flood through his ears, pushing its way within the heart. It is so sweet that as it goes to capture the heart, the center of all senses, everything is paralyzed. Wherever that sweet aggressor touches, the whole thing is captured with such intensity that everything else is ignored. Rupa Goswami writes, "I don't know, I can't say, I fail to express how much nectar there is in the holy name of Krishna. These two syllables contain so much sweetness, and such a high quality of sweetness. And this sweetness is so aggressive that it captures everything."

(Vidagdha-Madhava, the translation is quoted from 'The Search for Sri Krishna')

Only one mouth is not sufficient! Only two eyes are not sufficient! Only two ears are not sufficient! Srila Rupa Goswami is writing this about Krishna's beauty and the glories of the Holy Name (Nama-mahatmya). When Srila Haridas Thakur heard this  sloka, he said, "I have heard so many glories of the Holy Name, but I have never heard this kind of glorification before!" Srila Haridas Thakur(!) said that. Srila Rupa Goswami says, "I want millions of millions of ears—my two ears are not sufficient, my only one mouth is not sufficient!"

Srila Haridas Thakur chanted, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya" when he was going to die. He took the Lord's Name three times and left his body—Krishna fulfilled his desire. Srila Haridas Thakur told Mahaprabhu, "I want to chant Your Name three times. I want to see Your face in front of me, and I want to keep Your feet on my chest. Will You fulfil my desire?" Mahaprabhu replied, "Everything depends on the will of the Lord. You are a devotee of the Lord, so when you wish for something, Krishna must fulfil your desire." Mahaprabhu came again the next day and asked, "What is the news?" Srila Haridas Thakur replied, "As You wish." What a nice answer! Then, Mahaprabhu told all the devotees to start  sankirtan. While the  sankirtan  was going on, Mahaprabhu sat down in front of Srila Haridas Thakur's bed, and Srila Haridas Thakur pulled His leg, placed it on his chest, and chanting, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya," he left his body...

You must understand something. Brahma himself was born in the lowest family. Krishna is the origin of all—He creates Brahma from a lotus coming from His navel and orders him to create everything. But that Brahma himself also wants to come in this age of Kali so that he can chant the Holy Name and also go back to his real home. In this way, Brahma comes to this world as Srila Haridas Thakur, and he comes as a member of the lowest family, lowest caste (yavan)...

...Everybody can wear Tulasi neck beads. "Tulasi dekhi' judaya prana madhava-tosani jani': seeing Tulasi Devi soothes my soul, for I know she pleases Madhava." We always wear something on our body—we wear something on our hand, on our neck, etc., but these things are not connected with Krishna, but these beads are the only ornament that connects us with Krishna. We can leave our body at any time, that is why we must always keep Tulasi beads on our neck. This is your ornament.

I remember when I went to the Apollo hospital for some check-up, they told me, "You must take the neck beads off." I replied, "You can keep the money, it is not necessary to check anything." They explained, "No, if you do not take it off, then it will be a problem because it will be in the picture." I told them, "What is the problem? If it comes in the picture, it is good. If you cannot do the test, it is not a problem, I am not creating any disturbance for you." The same thing happened when I went for the operation—they wanted to open my neck beads, but I did not allow it. I told them, "You are going to cut my belly and take out some stone, what is the problem if I have the neck beads on? The operation is on the stomach, not on my neck!" They said, "No, these are the rules..." I said, "What rules?! This is  my  rule, and I say you cannot take it off my neck." Very strong words...  [His Divine Grace laughs.]

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Sri Baladev Tattva (1)

Sri Nrisingha Palli, West Bengal
Lord Baladev's appearance day
Reading from a Sri Gaudiya Math publication
26 August 2018, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Sri Prahlad Maharaj Sri Laksmi Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Nrisinghadev tala ki jay
Jay Sri Baladev Prabhu ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

By the mercy of Srila Gurudev, we have come here today and assemble in front of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, as well as Sri Prahlad Maharaj, Sri Laksmi-Nrisinghadev.

We have just sung  Sri Dasa-Avatara-Stotram. There are ten  avatars  of the Lord—Matsya  avatar, Kurma  avatar, Varaha  avatar, Nrisingha  avatar, Vaman  avatar, Parasuram  avatar, Ramachandra  avatar, Baladev  avatar, Buddha  avatar  and Kalki  avatar. Baladev, or Balaram, is one of these ten  avatars  of the Lord. We also sing in one of the  kirtans, "Balaram haila Nitai: Balaram has become Nitai." Baladev-tattva, or Nityananda-tattva, is Guru-tattva—Baladev is non-different from the Guru.

Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur writes in his commentary to  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita  that there are twenty-five  lila-avatars  of the Lord, and one of them is Pralambhari Balaram (the slayer of the demon Pralamba).

siddhantatas tv abhede 'pi
risa-krsna-svarupayoh
asenotkrsyate krsna-
upam esa rasa-sthitih

"According to transcendental realization, there is no difference between the forms of Narayan and Krishna. Yet in Krishna there is a special transcendental attraction due to the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Narayan. This is the conclusion of transcendental mellows."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya, 9.117)

Sri Vedavyasa Muni also writes:

ekonavimse vimsatime
rsnisu prapyajanmani
ama-krsnav iti bhuvo
hagavan aharad bharam

"In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented Himself as Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna in the family of Vrsni [the Yadu dynasty], and by so doing He removed the burden of the world."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.3.23)

yanra bhagavattd haite anyera bhagavatta
svayam-bhagavan'-sabdera tahatei satta

"Only the Personality of Godhead, the source of all other Divinities, is eligible to be designated svayam bhagavan, or the primeval Lord."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, Adi, 2.88)

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami expressed the difference between  anuvada  (subject) and  vidheya  (predicate). That which is known is called  anuvada  and that which is unknown is called  vidheya:

taichhe inha avatara saba haila jnata
ara avatara?—ei vastu avijnata

"In the same way, all these incarnations were known, but whose incarnations they are was unknown."

'ete'-sabde avatarera age anuvada
purusera amsa' pachhe vidheya-samvada

"First the word 'ete' ['these'] establishes the subject [the incarnations]. Then 'plenary portions of the purusa-avataras' follows as the predicate."

taichhe krsna avatara-bhitare haila jnata
anhara visena-jnana sei avijnata

"In the same way, when Krishna was first counted among the incarnations, specific knowledge about Him was still unknown."

ataeva 'krsna'-sabda age anuvada
svayam-bhagavatta' pichhe vidheya-samvada

"Therefore first the word 'krsna' appears as the subject, followed by the predicate, describing Him as the original Personality of Godhead."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi, 2.79-82)

Bhagavan Krishna Himself is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Baladev is His expansion. In Vrindavan, He plays a cowherd boy, and in Dvaraka, He plays in the form of a  ksatriya.

The Supreme Lord (the Prime Cause of all causes) Sri Krishna's first expansion, Sri Baladev—the original Sankarsan (Mul-Sankarsan)—has the form of a cowherd boy in Vraja and that of a  ksatriya  in Dvaraka. Sankarsan of the first  chatur-vyuha  (quadruple expansion) in Dvaraka is an  amsa-avatar  of Mul-Sankarsan (cowherd Baladev). Sankarsan, who is in the second  chatur-vyuha  of Narayan in Vaikuntha, is Maha-Sankarsan—an  amsa-avatar  of Mul-Sankarsan in the form of a  ksatriya  belonging to the first  chatur-vyuha  in Dvaraka. Karanodakasayi Maha-Vishnu, the first  purusa-avatar, is the  amsa-avatar  of Maha-Sankarsan and the Supersoul of Maya-Prakriti. Karanodakasayi Maha-Vishnu's expansion as Garbhodakasayi Vishnu—the second  purusa-avatar  (Pradyumna), enters into all the universes.

Garbhodakasayi Vishnu's expanded form is the third  purusa-avatar—Sri Ksirodakasayi Vishnu in the form of Aniruddha who is the indwelling Supersoul of the individual universes, as well as the individual living beings. It is Sri Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, who, upon being prayed to by the demigods, appears millennium after millennium to annihilate the miscreants, to deliver the pious and to re-establish the principles of religion. Sri Ksirodakasayi Vishnu's expanded form (amsa-avatar) is Sesa Anantadev. In his explanation of Nityananda-tattva, Sri Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami has explained Sri Baladeva-tattva as being non-different from Nityananda-tattva.

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi
arbhoda-sayi cha payobdhi-sayi
esas cha yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-
andakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

"May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsan, Sesa Naga and the Vishnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi, 5.7)

Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami spoke this verse above.

Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also writes that Baladev is a  vaibhav  (expansion) of Krishna, and, while Govinda manifests  madhurya-lila, Baladev sometimes manifests  aisvarya-lila.

isvarah paramah krsnah sach-chid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes."

(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)

(Govinda menas "Gah vindati iti govindah"—the word 'go' can mean knowledge, senses, earth, cow, etc.) Baladev is also non-different from Narayan, who always stays in Vaikuntha.

Sri Baladev is non-different from the original Narayan and is the  vaibhava-prakas  of Govinda. He is the original cause of all emanations. He is the propagating prime cause of Personality of Godhead and he is all-pervading function-holder. His colour is white, different from Krishna. Krishna plays the flute, and Baladev plays his horn and the sound that comes from His horn is louder than that of the flute. Therefore He is known as Sirigadhrk (horn-holder). Sri Baladev possesses qualities like Krishna, He is the fountainhead or prime source of the all-embracing, all-pervading and all-extending energy.

The actual meaning of these definitions cannot be understood completely by using limited mundane terminology. Vibhu and Prabhu are interdependent. The one who is manifested as  vaibhava-prakas  is Vibhu (the opulent manifested form), and the Divinity from whom He is manifested is Prabhu. There exists inconceivable non-distinction and distinction between Vibhu and Prabhu. Prabhu is Vasudev and Vibhu is Sankarsan. Vibhu and Prabhu's oneness aspect—the third manifestation, is Pradyumna. Similarly, Their fourth manifestation is in the form of Aniruddha. These four constitute the original  chatur-vyuha  in Dvaraka and are the origin of all other  chatur-vyuhas. Their second manifestation is the second  chatur-vyuha  in the paravyoma or Vaikuntha. They are also pure and  turiya  (transcendental) like the original  chatur-vyuha. Baladeva, who is Sri Krishna's  vilas  form, is the Original Sankarsan. In the  paravyoma  or spiritual sky, Maha-Sankarsana is the  svarupa-amsa—Balarama's own  amsa-avatara. He is the source of the first  purusa-avatar, Karanarnavasayi Maha-Vishnu. He (Baladeva or His manifestation, Karanarnavasayi Maha-Vishnu) is the cause of Rama, Nrisingha and other  avataras, as well as Goloka and Vaikuntha, and is also the cause of the cosmos. All of the above-mentioned five forms of Vishnu are of the same nature. Any number of lamps can be lit from the original lamp, and they will all be capable of burning all things. Similarly, the original lamp is  svayam-rupa  Sri Krishna and there is no difference in  tattva  (essence) ontologically between the second, third, fourth and fifth Visnu Deity or between one form and another of Visnu. There is only difference in the characteristics of Their pastimes.

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami writes in  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Sri Krishna's three different forms are:  svayam-rupa  (the original form),  tadekatma-rupa  (the same form, non-different from,  svayam-rupa  but with different bodily features and specific activities), and  avesa-rupa  (an empowered form).  Svayam-rupa  is of two types—svayam-rupa  and  svayam-prakas.

'svayam rupe—eka krsna vraje gopamurti'

"In His original form as svayam-rupa, Krishna is observed as a cowherd boy in Vrndavan."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya, 20.166)

sarva-avatari krsna svayam bhagavan
anhara dvitiya deha sri-balarama

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body."

eka-i svarupa donhe, bhinna-matra kaya
dya kaya-vyuha, krsna-lilara sahaya

sei krsna—navadvipe sri-chaitanya-candra
ei balarama—sange sri-nityananda

"These two are one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental pastimes."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi, 5.4-6)

sri-balarama gosani mula-sankarsana
ancha-rupa dhari' karena krsnera sevana

"That original Lord Krishna appeared in Nabadwip as Lord Chaitanya, and Balaram appeared with Him as Lord Nityananda."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi, 5.8)

Balaram always serves Krishna with ten bodies manifesting five kinds of forms:

apane karena krsna-lilara sahaya
rsti-lila-karya kare dhari' chari kaya

"He Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms.

srsty-adika seva,—tanra ajnara palana
sesa'-rupe kare krsnera vividha sevana

"He executes the orders of Lord Krishna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Krishna in various ways.

sarva-rupe asvadaye krsna-sevananda
ei balarama—gaura-sange nityananda

"In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. That same Balarama is Lord Nityananda, the companion of Lord Gaurasundara."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi, 5.9-11)

Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur describes in his commentary:

The Sesa who is the supporter-potency (adhara-sakti) of the bedstead of Vishnu (wielder of the Sarnga bow), is in the category of God (Vishnu-tattva). The Sesa who is the bearer of the planets, is of the category of  saktyavista jiva-tattva. The Sankarsan of the second  chatur-vyuha  appears as Rama, taking with Him Sesa who bears the global spheres. There are two features of Sesa—one is He who supports the planetary systems on His hoods, and the other is He who is the bedstead servitor. Sri Krishna Himseff performs His own service in His form of Baladev. Therefore Sri Baladev is the original spiritual master. By the mercy of Baladeva, one obtains the service of Sri Krishna.

If we get the service of Baladev, then we can get the service of the Lord—without the mercy of Baladev you cannot get service of Krishna; and Gurudev is non-different from Baladev, or Nityananda Prabhu.

Gurudev is non-different from Baladev and Nityananda. The only difference between Gurudev and Baladev is that Gurudev is  sakti-tattva  while Sri Baladev is omnipotent Vishnu-tattva, the possessor of all opufences, powers. Tulasi can be offered to the fotus feet of Sri Baladev, but since Gurudev is  sakti-tattva, Tulasi cannot be offered to his fotus feet.

We can offer Tulasi at the feet of Baladev, but we cannot place Tulasi at the lotus feet of Gurudev. When Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was giving lecture on Baladev-tattva, he also wrote:

'Nayamatma balahinena labhyah' —'Without the grace of Baladeva, no one can get God'. There can be no auspiciousness or eternal bliss without taking shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva.

You cannot prosper in your spiritual life without taking shelter of Baladev. If you take shelter of Gurudev, then you will get everything.

* * *

Sri Baladev Tattva (2): Appearance and Pastimes

Sri Nrisingha Palli, West Bengal
Lord Baladev's appearance day
Reading from a Sri Gaudiya Math publication
26 August 2018, part 2

Sri Baladev serves Krishna with His body, mind and words. We can be benefited only by His mercy.

Baladev always, with heart and soul, gives everything to Krishna. One time, Balaram beat Krishna—Krishna came to Mother Yasoda and complained, "Mother, brother has beaten Me!" Mother Yasoda chastised Baladev, "Have You beaten Your younger brother?!" Balaram gave no answer. When Mother Yasoda went away, Balaram grabbed Krishna by His shoulders and started shaking Him, "I have beaten and You have complained to mother? Who do You think loves You more, Your mother or I? Who protects You?! When You go outside, so many problems come, and who faces these problems?" Then Krishna began to cry, and Baladev cried too.

When we argue with our Gurudev, when we try to rectify or correct Gurudev with our mundane knowledge or try to imitate him artificially without actually following him, then we are following the path of  asrauta  (not listening to or hearing the authentic scriptures descending through the bona fide preceptorial channel) or  tarka  (argument) instead of the path of  srauta  (the following of or listening to scriptures). Only when we give up all such evil-minded tendencies and surrender unto his lotus feet, will following the path of hearing bring auspiciousness to us.

We always debate with our Guru—if Gurudev tells us something and we only pretend to be following it but we actually do not follow what Gurudev tells us to do, then we will gradually lose our intelligence. If your Gurudev tells you something and you only pretend to follow it, you cannot do that. How can we get auspiciousness? Only when we can embrace our Guru's guidance, can we proceed in our spiritual life—we must leave such  durbuddhi  (bad tendency of our minds) and surrender to Gurudev, then we can get auspiciousness.

The tenth canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam  describes the appearance pastime of Sri Baladev:

Suffering from the burden of the demons, Mother Earth took shelter of the creator Brahma. Brahma and the demigods then went to the shore of the Ocean of Milk and prayed to Vishnu. In a state of self-absorbed meditation, Brahma heard a divine voice from the sky which said that Vishnu would soon appear to reduce the burden of the earth.

When there were too many asuras, demons, creating problems on this planet, Prithivi Devi (earth) surrendered to Brahma—she came to Brahma with all the demigods, and Brahma took all the demigods to the  ksir samudra  (Ocean of Milk) where he began worshipping Vishnu. Then, Brahma heard a message from Lord Vishnu from the sky and understood that Krishna would come to this world soon.

Brahma then informed the demigods of the oracle and ordered them to take birth along with their wives in the dynasty of the Yadus and the family of the Pandavas for the service of the Supreme Lord.

When Vasudev married Devaki, Kamsa, out of affection for his sister, was driving their chariot. At that time, a heavenly voice rang out saying that Devaki's eighth child would kill Kamsa. Upon hearing that heavenly voice, Kamsa jumped up immediately and prepared to kill Devaki. Even after trying to convince him in many ways, Vasudev was unable to stop Kamsa from carrying out this heinous act. Vasudev then took an oath before Kamsa that whenever he and his wife would have a child, he would surrender it to Kamsa. Kamsa thought that the saintly Vasudev would surely keep his word, and therefore with firm confidence, Kamsa desisted from the killing of his sister.

In due course of time, upon the birth of the first child of Devakl, Vasudev took his son and went to Kamsa. He handed over his first child to Kamsa as he had promised. At that time Kamsa returned Vasudev's first son to him, but later heard from Narada about the true forms of the residents of Vraja and the Yadavas, about his own previous birth and whether the eighth pregnancy would be counted from the beginning or the end. When Kamsa heard such a suspicious statement, he became thoughtful. He then shackled Vasudev and Devaki in prison and killed the six children of Devaki one after the other. He also imprisoned his father, Ugrasena, and began to oppose the Yadavas. After being harassed by Jarasandha, Aghasura, Bakasura and other demons, the Yadavas fled to different states.

When Sri Baladev appeared as the seventh pregnancy of Devaki, Yogamaya, as per the Supreme Lord's instruction, attracted the seventh pregnancy of Devaki without anyone's knowledge and placed Him in the womb of Rohini, Vasudev's second wife in Gokula. Since He was attracted from the womb of Devaki by Yogamaya and placed in the womb of Rohini, He is therefore known by the names of Rohini-nandan and Sankarsan. Because of giving pleasure to the residents of Gokula He became famous as Rama, and also became known as Balabhadra due to possessing extraordinary strength.

The citizens of Mathura lamented, thinking that Devaki's pregnancy had been destroyed. Lord Krishna appeared on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra (conjoined with the Rohini-naksatra) after the appearance of the Presiding Deity of the sandhim potency, Baladev Prabhu. Baladev's appearance day is the full moon day of the month of Bhadra. He appeared as the elder brother for the compre hensive service of Sri Krishna. In the pastimes of Rama, He appeared as the younger brother Laksman, and was therefore unable to perform the thorough service of Sri Ramachandra. In the pastimes of Krishna, this is why He appeared as the elder brother.

In Rama-lila, Laksman is younger than Ramachandra, so could not serve Ramachandra properly because a younger brother is always afraid of the elder brother. Therefore, in the pastimes of Krishna, Baladev became an elder son—as an elder son, He could serve and chastise Krishna properly (an elder brother can chastise his younger brother). When Krishna performed His pastimes, Balaram was always with Him:

Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Devi also entrusted only Balaram with the responsibility of looking after the child, Gopal. While Krishna wandered in the forest along with His friends, Balaram was always engaged in His service. After killing Aghasura, Krishna was taking lunch with the cowherd boys on the banks of a lake. At that time, Brahma, wanting to test Sri Krishna, took away His calves and cowherd boys and hid them in a cave within Sumeru Mountain.

Sri Krishna immediately assumed the forms of the calves and cowherd boys and returned home. Due to returning in this way, neither the cowherds nor the cows were able to understand that their children had been kidnapped, but the cowherds became ecstatic with transcendental love when they touched their children. Upon touching their calves, the cows began shedding tears due to intense love. Although the residents of Vraja were unable to understand the reason for this, Baladev Prabhu understood that because Krishna had expanded Himself as the cowherd boys and calves, the residents of Vraja were exhibiting symptoms of divine love of Godhead.

One day, when Krishna was playing with His friends and cows, Brahma decided to test Krishna because he did not believe that this boy was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, Brahma hid all Krishna's friends and cows, but Krishna understood it, "Oh, Brahma is trying to test Me. No problem!" Then, Krishna created so many cows, so many friends and all the boys returned to their parents' houses and all the cows returned to their own homes. When the housekeepers touched their cows, they immediately were overwhelmed with Krishna-prema. When parents saw their son coming and hugged their boy they were also overwhelmed with Krishna-prema and they could not understand what was happening. However, Baladev Prabhu understood what was happening.

During the Kaliya-damana pastime, the residents of Vraja, being greatly distressed in separation from Krishna, wanted to enter into the water polluted by the poison of Kaliya. But Baladev Prabhu, who knows the glories of Sri Krishna, stopped them from this endeavor and saved them from drowning in Kaliya's lake.

In Kaliya-nag lila, when Krishna punished snake Kaliya, all the gopas and gopis wanted to jump into the Yamuna where Kaliya-nag was, but Baladev Prabhu stopped them. He told them, "You do not know what is happening. It is not necessary to go there, do not jump there!" He stopped them from jumping into the deadly water of the Yamuna.

Sri Baladev Prabhu performed the pastimes of killing Dhenukasur in Talavan and Pralambasur in Bhandiravan. When Balaram and Sri Krishna reached the age of pauganda (ages 5-10), Nanda Maharaj and other cowherds appointed Them to take care of the cows along with the calves. One day, Balaram and Sri Krishna, along with Their friends, arrived in Talavan while wandering through different forests. The powerful Dhenukasur, in the form of an ass, along with his powerful friends, lived there to guard the palmyra trees so that no living beings could eat the palmyra fruits. Many of the palmyra trees were full of fruits. Due to the scent of the fully ripened palmyra fruits, Talavan and other places nearby emanated a beautiful aroma. Consequently, the cowherd boys requested Krishna and Balaram to get those fruits for them.

In order to fulfil their desire, Krishna and Balaram took all Their friends and happily entered into Talavan. Out of affec tion for Sri Krishna, Baladev first entered into the forest, and like an intoxicated elephant, shook the palmyra trees. Because of this shaking, palmyra fruits began falling down making a loud sound. Angered by the sound of the falling palmyra fruits, the ass demon Dhenukasur immediately came there and struck the chest of Balaram with his hind legs and began jumping around making fearsome sounds. When Dhenukasur returned to kick Balaram, Baladev caught hold of his two legs and wheeled him around with such speed that the demon left his body while he was still being spun. Baladev then threw the demon to the top of a palmyra tree. The demon's body was so big that the palmyra tree began to break, and crashing against the other palmyra trees, they all began to fall to the ground. When Dhenukasur's cohorts arrived there in anger, they also received the same fate. The pastime of killing Dhenukasur took place in Talavan after the pastime of subduing Kaliya.

In his purport of the pastime of the killing of Dhenukasur, Srlla Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written as follows: "All the demons killed by Sri Baladev are all the  anarthas  (unwanted things) that will be removed by the devotional practitioner with the help of Sri Baladev. This is the secret of Vraja-bhajan. Dhenukasur is the carrying of the burden of superstition. Ignorance and nescience about one's own real self, the real form of the holy name, and the real form of the object of worship, is indicated by Dhenukasur."

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur explains the meaning of Baladev killing this demon—Baladev killed this demon, but we must kill our demons: we have so many enemies living inside us, and we must kill all these elements...

* * *

Sri Baladev Tattva (3): Later Pastimes

Sri Nrisingha Palli, West Bengal
Lord Baladev's appearance day
Reading from a Sri Gaudiya Math publication
26 August 2018, part 3

In the 18th Chapter of the 10th Canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam, the pastime of the killing of Pralambasur is described as follows:

Sri Krishna and Balaram's wandering place of Vraja-dhama was decorated with all the pleasing qualities of spring even during the summer season. One day, Krishna and Balaram, along with Their friends, were engaged in playing, dancing and singing when Pralambasur entered their midst disguised as a cowherd boy. The cowherd friends were unable to understand this, but omniscient Lord Krishna understood that the newcomer cowherd was a demon in disguise. In order to kill him, He received him as a friend. All the cowherd boys then divided into two parties for a game. Krishna became the leader of one group and Balaram became the leader of the other. The condition of the game was that the party that was defeated would carry the victor on his shoulder. When they played, Sridam and Vrisabha of Balaram's party became victorious. Consequently, Krishna carried Sridam and Bhadrasena carried Vrsabha. On the other side, Balaram defeated Pralambasur. Avoiding Krishna, Pralambasur ran away carrying Balaram stealthily on his shoulders.

Balaram, understanding the ill motives of the demon, became so heavy on the shoulders of Pralambasur that he was unable to bear His weight. The demon then assumed his real form. Upon seeing the terrible form of the demon, Haladhara Baladev at first expressed symptoms of doubt. But just as Indra hurled his lightning bolt, shattering mountains to slay the demons, Baladev struck the demon a ferocious blow on the head with His fist. This blow shattered Pralambasur's head and he began to vomit blood. He left his body in this state of repeatedly vomiting blood. The cowherd boys and demigods then began to glorify Lord Baladev profusely due to the excellence of His deed.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur describes the purport of the killing of Pralambasur as follows: "Pralambasur is a symbol of illicit sexual connection (stri-lampatya), aspiration for gain, adoration (labha-puja) and name and fame (pratistha)."

Although Sri Baladev is Vishnu-tattva, He Himself serves the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna as His foremost servant. He also engages others in the service of Krishna and exhibits the pastime of acting as the original spiritual master. In spite of all this, during His manifest pastimes in this material world, He Himself performed the pastime of accepting a guru in order to teach the importance of taking shelter of a guru. This is described in the 45th Chapter of the 10th Canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam:  "Concealing Their innately (self-effulgent) perfect knowledge by Their humanlike activities, the two omniscient Lords of the universe, Krishna and Balaram, Themselves the origin of all branches of knowledge, desired to reside at the school of a spiritual master and therefore approached Sandipani Muni, a native of Kasi living in the city of Avanti."

Sandipani Muni, being satisfied with the service of Krishna and Balaram, taught Them the entire  Vedas, political science and the sixty-four varieties of fine arts in sixty-four days.

When Krishna and Balaram expressed the desire to offer  guru-daksina  (a fee or gift given to a priest) to Their spiritual master, the muni asked for the return of his son who had died in the ocean at Prabhas Tirtha. To fulfil the desire of Their spiritual master, Sri Krishna and Balaram went to Prabhas-tirtha and were informed about the abduction of the child by the powerful demon Panchajan. Upon hearing this, Lord Krishna entered the water and killed the demon but could not find the boy within the demon's belly. Lord Krishna took the conchshell that had grown around the demon's body. That conch became famous as Panchajanya. Sri Krishna and Balaram then reached Yamaloka and loudly blew the conchshell, Panchajanya. Upon hearing the sound of the conchshell, Yamaraja arrived there and elaborately worshipped Them. Thereafter, Sri Krishna and Balaram brought the son of Their spiritual master from Yamaraja and gave the child to him as  guru-daksina. Sandipani Muni expressed great joy to have disciples like Sri Krishna and Balaram, and gave Them permission to return home.

sri gurur-uvacha
amyak sampadito vatsa
havadbhyam guru-niskrayah
o nu yusmad-vidha-guroh
amanam avasisyate

The spiritual master said: "My dear boys, You two have completely fulfilled the disciple's obligation to reward his spiritual master. Indeed, with disciples like You, what further desires could a guru have?"

(Srimad Bhagavatam 10.45.47)

Sri Balaram was the teacher of Bhima and Duryodhana in the art of fighting with clubs. Sri Krishna, who is the performer of wonderful tasks, took away Rukmini, the daughter of the Vidharbha king, Bhismaka, in order to fulfil her desire. Jarasandha and two other warriors fought with Krishna but were defeated. Rukmini's brother, Rukmi, who was jealous of Krishna, was unable to tolerate this. He again attacked Sri Krishna. Due to Rukmini's prayers, when Krishna was about to kill Rukmi by destroying all his weapons, He let him go, but only after defacing him. At that time, Baladev came there and pacified Rukmini not to lament unnecessarily out of ignorance.

Although Rukmi was filled with animosity toward Sri Krishna and considered marriage relations with the enemy to be against dharma, he married his granddaughter Rochana to Aniruddha, the grandson of Rukmini, desiring to please his sister out of extreme affection for her.

Rukmini, Baladev, Sri Krishna, Samba, Pradyumna and other Yadavas were present at Aniruddha's wedding in the city of Bhojakata. After the wedding, on the advice of the arrogant kings headed by the King of Kalinga, Rukmi began a gambling match with Baladev. In the first match, Rukmi defeated Baladev, whereupon the King of Kalinga laughed at the Lord, displaying all his teeth. Later, upon the repeated victory of Baladev, Rukmi began to say that He was winning by cheating and lying. Apart from this, Rukmi repeatedly ridiculed Baladev by saying that He was only expert at tending cows. For some time, Baladev remained silent, but upon being insulted repeatedly, Lord Baladev struck Rukmi with His  parigha  (a kind of iron cudgel used in war in ancient times) to destroy his pride. Rukmi died then and there, and the other offensive kings fled to save their lives.

All living entities are created from the fleeting glance of Karanodakasayi Maha-Visnu who is an  amsa-avatara  of Sri Baladev Prabhu. In this way, Baladev has a direct relationship with all living entities. Because of His natural compassion for the living beings, He is affectionate toward them and also controls them for their benefit. Therefore He carries the plough, pestle and other weapons. In the 65th Chapter of the 10th Canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a description of Sri Balaram's visit to Gokula, His consolation of the  gopis  by imparting news of the well being of Krishna, His sport with the  gopis  in the groves by the bank of the Yamuna and His pastime of attracting Yamuna. Sages who became enchanted upon seeing His beauty witnessed this. In this enchanted state, they recited Balaram's glories and while singing, played kettledrums in the heavens and showered down flower petals. One day during that time, Lord Balaram drank some intoxicating divine varum juice that had been sent by the demigod Varuna and in an intoxicated state, He began wandering about the forest. While wandering in the forest, He summoned the Yamuna River so that He could play in her waters but she refused to come, thinking that He was intoxicated. Because of her disobedience, Balaram, in order to punish Yamuna, began to pull her with the end of His plough to split her into hundreds of streams. Frightened and trembling, the goddess Yamuna then fell down at Lord Balaram's lotus feet, chanting and repeatedly praying for forgiveness. Thereupon, Lord Balaram forgave her. Later, for the pleasure of the  gopis, the Lord bathed and sported with them for a long time in the waters of the Yamuna. Finishing the water-sports, Baladev came out of the Yamuna and Goddess Kanti, a special form of Goddess Laksmi, presented Him with a set of blue garments, precious ornaments, and a beautiful necklace. Lord Balaram dressed in the blue garments and wearing the golden necklace, appeared resplendent:

kamam vihrtya salilad
ttirnayasitambare
husanani maharhani
adau kantih subham srajam

"The Lord played in the water to His full satisfaction, and when He came out Goddess Kanti presented Him with blue garments, precious ornaments and a brilliant necklace."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.65.31)

Bearing the mark of the strike of the piough, the Yamuna still exhibits the prowess of Baladev.

Srila Jayadeva Gosvami in his composition,  Dasavatara-stotra, prays to the Lord of the universe in His form as Haladhara (wielder of the plough) in this way:

vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham
ala-hati-bhiti-milita jamunabham
esava dhrta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare [8]

"O Hari! O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! You have assumed the form of Balaram! All glory to You! On Your white body You wear garments the colour of clouds and the River Yamuna when she is frightened by the striking of Your plough."

(Sri Jayadeva, Dasavatara-stotra, 8)

The Hastinapur pastime of Baladev has been described in the 68th Chapter of the 10th Canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam. Samba, the son of Krishna's queen Jambavati, had taken away Duryodhana's daughter Laksman from her  svayamvara  assembly.

The Kauravas were enraged by this improper act and began to fight with Samba in order to arrest him. While they were fighting, the Kauravas observed and appreciated the wonderful heroic form of the boy. However, four warriors of the Kaurava party collectively surrounded Samba and defeated him by unjust means. They then arrested him along with Laksman, and took them both to Hastinapura. When Sri Krishna and the Yadavas heard from Devarsi Narad of this injustice by the Kauravas, they became angry. Taking permission from King Ugrasen, Sri Krishna prepared for war, along with the Yadavas.

Duryodhana was Sri Baladev's disciple in the art of mace fighting. Baladev being aware of the power of Krishna, thought, “If Krishna goes to battle, then Duryodhana may lose his life.” Thus, out of compassion for His disciple, He pacified Sri Krishna and the Yadavas, and set off for Hastinapur with several  brahmanas  and Yadava elders. During the journey, Baladev was thinking that upon His persuasion, His disciple Duryodhan would accept His words and free Samba along with Laksman. Camping on the outskirts of Hastinapur, He first sent Uddhav to ascertain King Dhrtarastra's intentions. When Duryodhan and other Kauravas heard from Uddhav about Baladev's arrival, they joyfully took auspicious items to Him and worshipped Him. After inquiring about each other's welfare, Lord Balaram said, "You have captured Samba in an unjust fight. In order that there not be any hostilities between you and the Yadavas, I am telling you by the order of King Ugrasen that you should hand Samba over to us."

Upon hearing these words of Lord Baladev, the Kauravas felt insulted and replied with fury, "Amazing! The Yadavas are trying to give orders to the Kauravas? Look at the crookedness of time and how the times have changed! Today, the leather shoe is eager to climb atop one's crowned head. The Yadavas are related to us because of the marital ties of Kunti Devi, and for this reason only they have the opportunity of sharing our beds, seats and meals. Indeed, it is only by our mercy that they have been given royal thrones, and now they are thinking that they have become equal to us? It is certainly true that they are enjoying the royal crown, royal bed and other paraphernalia today by our mercy only. Just see, they have lost all shame and dare to command us like masters! These Yadavas will surely have to step down from their royal position."

nunam nana-madonnaddhah
antim necchanty asadhavah
esam hi prasamo dandah
asunam lagudo yatha

[Lord Balarama said:] "Clearly the many passions of these scoundrels have made them so proud that they do not want peace. Then let them be pacified by physical punishment, as animals are with a stick."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.68.31)

Upon seeing the misbehaviour of the Kauravas and hearing their abusive words, Balaram became filled with rage and laughingly spoke as follows, "Those scoundrels who are intoxicated with the pride of wealth and power never want peace. Just as beasts do not show understanding without being beaten by a cudgel, scoundrels cannot come to their senses without physical punishment. I came here desiring the welfare of the Kauravas after pacifying the Yadavas, but they are so proud that they have disrespected Me. So, is King Ugrasen unfit to command the Kauravas when Indra and other planetary rulers are bound to obey his orders? That Lord whose servant is Laksmi Devi; the dust of whose lotus feet is carried on the heads of Indra and other rulers of the universe; of whose spiritual identity Brahma, Shiva and Myself are simply  amsa-avataras  or even  amsamsa-avataras—is that very Krishna not fit to sit on a royal throne? Are the Yadavas indeed like shoes whereas the Kauravas are like the head? I shall surely punish all these impudent Kauravas immediately."

Thus, Sri Baladev, intending to rid the earth of all the Kurus and cast Hastinapur into the Ganga, dug His plough weapon into the southern side of the city and began using it to drag Hastinapur. By the extra-mundane miraculous power of Baladev, Samba was excluded from the submersion of Hastinapur. Upon seeing that Hastinapur was falling into the Ganga due to being pulled by the tip of Balaram's plough, the Kauravas became terrified and in great distress cried out, "Trahi Baladeva!" ("O Baladev, please save us! Please save us!"). Putting Samba and Laksman in front of them, they approached Lord Baladev and surrendered before Him while praying: “O Lord, in Your form of Ananta, You carry the earth on one of Your heads. At the time of annihilation, You destroy the entire universe and lie down to rest on Sesa. Please rescue the Kauravas as we are ignorant and misguided.” The protector of the surrendered, Baladev, forgave them immediately with the words, "Ma bhaih." ("Do not fear.") Baladev also killed Narakasura's friend, the powerful ape, Dvivida, with His pestle and plough.

yadavendro 'pi tam dorbhyam
yaktva musala-langale
atrav abhyardayat kruddhah
o 'patad rudhiram vaman

"The furious Lord of the Yadavas then threw aside His club and plow and with His bare hands hammered a blow upon Dvivida's collarbone. The ape collapsed, vomiting blood."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.67.25)

namaste tu halagrama namaste tu musalayudha
amaste revatikanta namaste bhakta-vatsala
amaste balinam srestha namaste dharanidhara
ralambare namaste tu trahi mam krsna purvaja

"Obeisances unto You, O holder of the plough; obeisances unto You, O wielder of the pestle; obeisances unto You, O beloved husband of Revati; obeisances unto You, O affectionate benefactor of Your devotees; obeisances unto You, O upholder of the earth; obeisances unto You, O best of the mighty; obeisances unto You, O killer of the Pralamba demon. Please save me, O elder brother (Baladev) of Krishna."

To teach the people in general, Sri Baladev killed Romaharsana Suta who was unqualified to recite  Srimad Bhagavatam. Later, He accepted the arrangement of the sages to atone for the sin of killing a  brahman. This incident is described in the 78th Chapter of the 10th Canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam  as follows:

In order to remain neutral, Lord Baladev left Dvaraka on the pretext of going on a pilgrimage after hearing of the possibility of war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Lord bathed in sacred places such as Prabhasa and eventually came to the holy Naimisaranya Forest where great sages were performing an extended fire sacrifice. The sages rose from their sitting places and worshipped Baladev. Baladev accepted a seat, and after sitting down, the Lord noticed that Romaharsana Suta, who was a disciple of Vyasadev and a member of the  pratiloma suta  caste, was sitting on a higher seat than the other sages. He was also bereft of the etiquette of standing up to welcome the Lord. Lord Balaram thought, "He is not qualified to recite the  Bhagavatam. He is only performing a recitation of the  Bhagavatam  for his livelihood. He is vainly proud of falsely assuming himself to be a scholar. He is a greater sinner than the people who engage in sin." Baladev Prabhu, the protector of religion, then killed Romaharsana with a blade of  kusa  grass, which was in His hand. The sages, distressed by the death of Romaharsana Suta, prayed to Baladev, "We gave Romaharsana Suta the seat of the spiritual master and granted him a long life so that he could remain alive until the end of our  yajna, but You were not able to understand our motive. Therefore, to set a perfect example for the people in general, it would be good for you to undergo the prescribed atonement for slaying a  brahman." When Baladev asked the sages about the atonement for killing a  brahman, the sages requested Baladev as follows: "Romaharsana, who was killed by You, had also been awarded a long life by us. Please preserve the truth of both of these incidents." Sri Baladev, following the Vedic maxim that 'one's son takes birth as one's own self,' granted Romaharsana's son, Ugrasrava, the position of speaker of the  Puranas, and awarded him a long life with unfailing sensory capacity.

Baladev performed His pastime of disappearance after the destruction of the Yadu dynasty.

Jay Sri Baladev Prabhu ki jay

* * *

Sri Baladev Prabhu: Krishna's Merciful Alter Ego

Sri Baladev Purnima, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
15 August 2019, part 1

I am first offering a full obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev, Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, as well as all the godbrothers, godsisters, all the  sannyasi-  and  brahmachari-vrinda, and all the assembled devotees all over the world. I am paying my full obeisance at their lotus feet.

Today is a very auspicious day. It is a very good in our life—the appearance day of Sri Baladev Prabhu. Baladev, or Balaram, is non-different from Gurudev and Nityananda Prabhu, and on this day we are making some festival, making some arrangement to remember the glories of Baladev Prabhu—it is good for us, and good for everybody also. It is necessary to do it because this is the essence of our spiritual life.

You all know that Baladev is the son of Rohini. We know that Krishna appeared in the prison of Kamsa in Mathura and after that He came to the house of Yasoda Mayi and as Bala-Gopal Krishna became the son of Nanda-Yasoda. Here also, it happened so that Baladev appeared as the son of Rohini. He is non-different from Nityananda Prabhu and actually Krishna as well because the scriptures say that Krishna has one body but this body has two forms, Krishna and Balaram.

Baladev, or Balaram, is also known as Mul-Sankarsan. Because Nityananda Prabhu and Balaram are non-different and because they are  asraya-vigraha  (givers of shelter), we can also easily understand that They are also non-different from Gurudev.

Balaram serves Krsihna with ten bodies—we use chamar, peacock fan, and many other paraphernalia in worship, even the temple itself and everything in it is Balaram. Balaram always serves Krishna. I have also told you many times how once Balaram gave a slap to Krishna. Krishna complained to His mother, "Mother, brother (dauji) has beaten Me!" ('Dauji' means 'an elder brother.') Mother Yasoda then chastised Balaram a little, "He is Your younger brother, why did You beat Him?" Balaram did not say anything, but when Mother Yasoda left He grabbed Krishna by His shoulders and began shaking Him, "Do You think Your mother loves You more than I do? Tell Me, who loves You more, Your mother or I? When You do all the nonsense roaming around all Vrindavan, all Gokul, all Mahavan, who comes to protect You at that time? Does Your mother come? Does  she  protect You?  I  always protect You!" Then, Gopal Krishna began to cry, "Yes,  dauji  (brother), You love Me more than My mother!"

As I have said, Baladev is actually Mul-Sankarsan, which means that He performs the pastimes of attracting (sankarsan, or  akarsan). Rama Ghat is the place of Baladev's  akarsan-lila. One day, Baladev Prabhu wanted to perform  rasa-lila  with Yamuna Devi. He called Yamuna, but she did not come, so Baladev got angry and pulled her towards Him with His plough. That is why, although Yamuna always flows straight, at Rama Ghat she flows a little bit crooked.

When we go to Vrindavan, I also always speak about pastimes at Chir Ghat (it is near our temple in Vrindavan), the place where Krishna stole all  gopis'  clothes. This pastime is all about surrendered mood. They gave absolute everything to the Lord, even their clothes! At Rama Ghat too, Baladev attracted Yamuna, but Yamuna was shy, so He pulled her towards Him.

What is the glory of this pastime? It shows that Balaram (Sankarsan) ploughs and cultivates (karsan) and at the same time also attracts, pulls towards Him (akarsan). In other words, Baladev, or Gurudev, removes all bad elements from the hearts of practitioners. Gurudev's Hari-katha, Gurudev's association removes all difficulties, all obstacles from our spiritual life (lust, anger, greed, etc.,  kanak, attachment to money,  kamini, attachment to companions,  pratishta, name and fame). This is the lesson of this pastime of Baladev.

The hearts of those who do not have any relation with Gurudev are always filled with so many thoughts, worries, so many bad things. However, when the hearts of practitioners become clean through the association of their Gurudev, through hearing their Gurudev's Hari-katha, they become fit for Krishna-prema. In other words, when  kanak, kamini, pratistha,  and all other bad elements and material desires go away, then we can get Krishna-prema. This is the main thing.

* * *

Baladev's Lila: "Can We Be Friends?"

Sri Baladev Purnima, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata
15 August 2019, part 2

I want to tell a little bit about Baladev's  lila  based on what is written in  Srimad Bhagavatam.

You have all heard that Kamsa sent so many demons to kill Krishna and Krishna killed them all, but the eighteenth chapter of the tenth canto of  Srimad Bhagavatam  describes how Baladev killed Pralambasur.

In His pastimes, Krishna kills many demons—Balaram is always there with Him, so nothing happens to Krishna; but there was one time (the first time, actually) when Baladev did not come with Krishna, and that day the Kaliya-daman-lila happened. When Kaliya-nag (snake Kaliya) came to live in the Yamuna, the water became very poisonous, so when children, Krishna's friends, entered it, they died. However, when Krishna jumped into the Yamuna and started playing in the water, the water became pure and all the children suddenly became alive again. Krishna continued playing in the water and then danced on the head of Kaliya-nag. Everybody was very happy.

And here is Balaram's pastime—killing of Pralambasur. There are many forests near the Yamuna river, one of which is Vrindavan. 'Vrindavan' (Vrinda-van) means Vrinda Devi's forest, or  vana  (Vrinda Devi is Tulasi Devi, a dearmost of Krishna). It happened in summer—in those days the summer season was not so hot as now, and Sri Krishna and Balaram always played in the fields, with Their cows and friends.

One day, when Krishna and Balaram were singing and dancing, suddenly a demon (asura) named Pralamba came there disguised as a cowherd boy. He came to Sri Krishna and asked Him, "Can You make me Your friend?"

(There are many saffron-clad  sadhus  in our society, but there are also many disguised demons among us. Some time ago, somebody came to me with folded palms asking, "Please, let me mix with you, I will be your friend!" What kind of friend are they? Before I knew it, that friend robbed me stealing everything from me—my shoes, books, even my towels!  [His Divine Grace laughs.])

So, Pralamba also came at that time and asked Krishna if they could be friends. And Krishna knows everything—He is all-knowing, so He knows who it was, He knew that Pralamba was a demon coming to Him in disguise. At first, Krishna thought, "I will kill him!" but then He decided, "No, better I first make him My friend, otherwise how can I kill him?" So, having thought about it, Krishna answered, "Yes, from now on you are My friend! No problem!"

Then, Krishna divided all the boys into two groups. There were boys of different age (some of His friends were ten years old, some eight, twelve, six, nine, and so on), so Krishna divided them into two groups based on their age and made a younger group and an elder group. Krishna told Balaram, "You will be the leader of the elder side, and I will be the leader of the younger side! We are going to fight each other, and those who lose will carry the winner on their shoulders—this will be the punishment!" Pralamba was a small boy, so he joined Krishna's side, and Krishna ordered him, "Pralamba, you will fight with Balaram!" Then, Balaram won the fight, and Pralamba had to carry Balaram on his shoulders. Suddenly, Balaram became so very heavy that he could not carry Him. Pressed under the weight of Balaram, Pralamba showed his demon form, and then Balaram gave him a big punch and killed him.

So, Balaram is most important for our spiritual life. He gives shelter. He serves the Lord. He is Gurudev.

Jay Sri Balaram Prabhu ki jay
Sri Baladev Prabhu's appearance day ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Sri Krishna Janmastami: No Pain, No Gain

Sri Krishna Janmastami, morning class
3 September 2018, part 1

In one of His pastimes, Krishna demolished two Yamalarjuna trees, but those two trees were not ordinary trees—those two trees were actually Nalakuvar and Manigriv, cursed by Narad Manu.

Nalakuvar and Manigriv possessed immense wealth, and they were so proud of it that they did not care for anyone. One day, they were naked, doing dirty things with girls in the water of a river. Narad Muni was passing by, and when the girls saw him, they got shy and tried to cover themselves with some cloth, but the two men were so intoxicated with their wealth that they remained stark naked. Seeing this, Narad Muni cursed them, "You are so shameless, you are so intoxicated with your wealth! I curse you to be born as trees! Naked, you will stand as Yamalarjuna trees!" Nalakuvar and Manigriv asked Narad Muni, "How will we be rescued?!" Narad Muni replied, "When Krishna appears in Dvapar-yuga, you will be rescued then."

Then, one day, when Krishna was tied to a wooden grinding mortar, He crawled between the trees and the mortar got stuck between the two trees. He could not even walk at that time, but such is His impossible strength—He just pulled the mortar and the trees fell down, and Gopal was sitting between them, unharmed. At that time, there was not a cloud in the sky, no thunder, no storm, so when everybody heard the loud thud outside, everybody ran outside and was surprised to see the trees lying on the ground. Nanda Maharaj ran up to Gopal, picked Him up in his arms and said, "By great fortune nothing has happened to my Gopal, He is alive!" In the meantime, two men came out of the trees and offered prayers to the Lord.

We sing about this pastime in the  Damodarastakam kirtan  ("Namamisvaram sach-chid-ananda rupam lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam...")

kuveratmajau baddha-murttyaiva yadvat
tvaya mochitau bhakti-bhajau krtau cha
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayachchha
na mokse graho me 'sti damodareha

O Lord Damodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera (Manigriva and Nalakuvara) were delivered from the curse of Narada and made into great devotees by You in Your form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the same way, please give to me Your own prema-bhakti. I only long for this and have no desire for any kind of liberation.

(Sri Damodarastakam, 7)

This is how Krishna saved Nalakuvar and Manigriv who were born as trees.

On another day, Krishna went to Brahmanda Ghat and started eating mud. Gopal's friends came to Mother Yasoda and gave her the news, "Do you know? Do you know? Gopal is eating mud!" Mother Yasoda got scared and ran to Gopal, "Are You eating mud? Are You putting dirt into Your mouth?!" Gopal said, "I am not! Mother, look into My mouth yourself." Then, Gopal opened His mouth and Yasoda saw the entire three universes, all the 330 million demigods within it. She was astonished thinking, "Who is He?!" Although she saw all those things, she still felt that He was her son, so the  vatsalya-rasa  took over.

Mother Yasoda also tried to bind Krishna, but you know that no matter how much rope she had gathered (even when she took the rope from all the 900,000 cows), it was every time two fingers too short. Those two fingers are mercy and desire. If you pray to the Lord, if you keep trying, then you can get His mercy. If you do not try, you will never get the Lord's mercy.

Therefore, if we want to get the Lord, we must make an effort—we must practise  bhajan, kirtan, worship, proper behaviour,  Vaishnav seva, etc. We must try our best—we must worship, arrange programmes, practise  sravan  and  kirtan, serve, offer  bhoga, practise daily well.

* * *

Sri Krishna Janmastami: A Private Pastime

Sri Krishna Janmastami, morning class
3 September 2018, part 2

Gopal performed many pastimes. You all know that it is going to be Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radhika, in fifteen days. There is a story about how She appeared.

Actually, She is unborn. Her father's name is Raja Vrisabhanu, and Her mother's name is Kirtida Sundari. One day, Raja Vrisabhanu went to bathe in the Yamuna. When he dipped himself into the water and offered obeisance to the sun, he suddenly saw a large lotus flower floating towards him. When the lotus flower floated up to him, he saw there was a beautiful little girl inside it. He took the girl out and brought Her to his house.

When Kirtida Mayi saw the girl, she felt as if she had just given birth from her own womb (she felt what one feels when gives birth to a child). The baby was very beautiful, but She was blind. Raja Vrisabhanu and Kirtida Mayi named the girl Radha (from 'aradhya', 'one who worships much'). Who in this world serves Krishna the most? Srimati Radharani.  'Ra-dha,' 'aradhya,'  or  'aradhana'  means 'one who worships much, who prays to the Lord most, who serves the Lord most'—i.e. Srimati Radharani, that is why Her name is Radha.

On the sixth day after the birth of their daughter (the sasthi day), Raja Vrisabhanu and Kirtida Mayi invited everyone, including their friends Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Mayi, to their house to celebrate the birth of their daughter. They did not invite Krishna because He was only a baby (how will they invite Him?), and we must always remember this, this is our conception. If you invite Krishna, Krishna will not come to you, but if you invite Mother Yasoda, she will bring Him in her arms. Mother Yasoda serves Krishna, and if you invite her, she will bring Krishna—therefore, if you invite devotees, you will get the Lord. This pastime is the proof of it. We must always remember this. If we pay obeisance to the devotees, if we invite the devotees, we will get the Lord.

So, when Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yasoda came, Mother Yasoda was talking to Mother Kartida. She said, "Gosh, the Lord has given you such a beautiful girl, but He has not given Her eyes..." Radharani was at that time in the inner room of the house—there was no swinging crib yet, and Her parents kept Her lying on down. As Kirtida Mayi and Mother Yasoda were busy talking, Krishna crept away to that room searching, "Where is Srimati Radhika?" When Krishna saw Her, She opened Her eyes!

In the meantime, Mother Yasoda started searching for Krishna, "Where has Gopal gone?" Nobody could find Him, and when they finally came into the inner room where Srimati Radharani was kept, they were surprised, "He has actually gone to the inner room!" Both Srimati Radhika and Sri Krishna looked at them and smiled. Mother Kirtida and others were astonished, "What is this? Radharani's eyes were closed, and now they are open!" Everybody said, "Oh, Gopal Krishna has given Her eyes!"

In this way, Krishna has performed so many other pastimes also...

* * *

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Eternal Pastimes

Sri Krishna Janmastami, morning class
3 September 2018, part 3

When Kamsa vented outrage against Krishna, everybody knew that he could not do anything to Krishna, but still they felt Krishna was their child, so, overcome by the  vatsalya-rasa, Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj always worried about Gopal. In the end, they decided, "It is not safe for us to stay here in Gokula, we must leave." Raja Vrisabhanu decided to leave too. Where did Raja Vrisabhanu go to? To Varsana. And Nanda Maharaj came to the area that is now known as Nanda-gram, or Nanda-gaon. (When we go to the Vrindavan parikrama, we visit both those places.)

Krishna performed so many pastimes in Nanda-gram, but Kamsa would not stop. Kamsa kept trying to kill Krishna—he had sent many demons (Aghasur, enormous Bakasur, Vatsasur, etc.), but all of them were defeated by Krishna. Entering the belly of Aghasur, Krishna expanded Himself until Aghasur's belly had not burst and all the boys who the serpent had swallowed came out. Knowing Krishna's love for cows and calves, once Vatsasur demon came in disguise of a calf, but when he came closer, Krishna killed him. Krishna also performed Kaliya-daman-lila. Kaliya-nag was a huge snake, but Krishna defeated him too. He did not kill Kaliya, but left His footprint on his head and banished him from Vrindavan. Kaliya still lives near Fiji, there is also a great temple built there. When Krishna banished him, Kaliya said, "How will I go there? Garuda will eat me!" Krishna told him, "Do not worry. When I hit you, I left My footprint on your head. When Garuda sees it, he will not touch you." Krishna performed this pastime to save the Vraja-basis from the poison of Kaliya.

We sing in the kirtan,

jaya radhe, jaya krsna, jaya vrndavana
sri-govinda, gopinatha, madana-mohana

"All glory to Radha, Krishna, and Vrindavan! All glory to Sri Govinda, Gopinath, and Madan Mohan!"

syama-kunda, radha-kunda, giri-govardhana
kalindi yamuna jaya,jaya mahavana

"All glory to Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Govardhan Hill, the River Yamuna, and Mahavan!"

kesi-ghata, vamsi-vata, dvadasa-kanana
yanha saba lila kaila sri-nanda-nandana

"All glory to Kesi Ghat, Vamsi Vat, and Vraja's twelve forests! Nanda's son performed His Pastimes in all of these places."

Krishna performed  rasa-lila  in Vamsivat, He performed  rasa-lila  in Seva Kunja, Nidhuvan. He also bestowed mercy on Lord Siva (Gopeshwar Mahadev) and let him enter the  rasa-lila. These pastimes are all  nitya-rasa,  nitya-lila, they are still going on in all those places of Vrindavan. When Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, came to Vrindavan, He revealed some of those places—Radha Kunda, Shyama Kunda and others. There is also Adi Keshav temple in Mathura. When we go to Vrindavan with devotees, we take the  darshan  of all those places.

krsnera yateka khela, sarvvottama nara-lila,
nara-vapu tahara svarupa

"The highest form of Godhead is Krsna, who plays in His eternal divine pastimes like a human being."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 21.101)

There is also Chir Ghat where Krishna performed the pastime of stealing clothes when He went to bathe in the Yamuna. This is a very high conception. How much one must love the Lord! Vraja  gopis  left everything—shame, respect, fear—and ran behind Krishna. They did not think of honour, dishonour, shame, etc.

Out of 125 years, Krishna stayed in Dwaraka and Mathura for more than one hundred years and only eleven years in Vraja. In Mathura, He drank milk at the house of Vidura, and Vidura's wife gave Him banana skin instead of bananas—she could never even think that Krishna could come to their house, so being overwhelmed when He came, she went to peel some banana, but instead of bananas she gave Him banana skins. When Vidura saw it, he chastised Her, and then she realised what she had done, "Oh no! I have made a mistake!" Out of joy, she forgot what she was doing, thinking only what she would give Krishna to eat. Sudama Vipra also came to Dvaraka and Krishna ate some chipped rice from his hand.

This Krishna became Gaura in this age, and we are now sitting here in His Sri Nabadwip Dham. It is an offence not to worship Gauranga. Krishna-lila is  madhurya  (tasting sweetness), and Gaura-lila is  audarya-lila  (distributing that sweetness). Gauranga magnanimously distributed Krishna-prema.

Krishna also performed Govardhan pastimes and saved all the Vraja-basis from the hands of Indra. Everybody used to worship Indra, but Krishna said, "Leave it all and worship Govardhan! You do not need to worship Indra." Indra got angry with Him and sent so much rain and storm to Vraja. Ananta-nag made himself so big that he sheltered everyone from rain—no rain could enter Vraja. Also, when there was too much rain, Krishna lifted Govardhan with His little finger! That is why His Name is Govardhan-dhari Gopal. There is one beautiful  kirtan  [His Divine Grace chants]:

mayura-mukuta pitambara-dhari
murali-dhara govardhana-dhari

"He wears a peacock feather crown and yellow garments. He holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

sri-radha-vara kunja-vihari
murali-dhara govardhana-dhari

"He is the beloved of Sri Radha and enjoys in the forest groves. He holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

jaya yasoda-nandana krsna murari
murali-dhara govardhana-dhari

"All glory to the son of Yasoda, Krishna, Murari. Glory to He who holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

jaya gopijana-vallabha vamsi-vihari
murali-dhara govardhana-dhari

"All glory to the beloved of the gopis, to He who enjoys playing His vamsi flute. Glory to He who holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

[His Divine Grace chants 'Mayura-mukuta pitambara-dhari', 'Jaya Radhe jaya Krsna jaya Vrndavan', and 'He deva bhavantam vande' (Krishna Vandana).]

* * *

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Adhikar for Abhisekh

Sri Krishna Janmastami, morning class
3 September 2018, part 4

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-kula-churamani Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Nityananda Sri Sri Prahlad Maharaj Laksmi Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Sri Janmastami bara maha-mahotsav ki jay
Samasta bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Janmastami palan-kari bhakta-vrinda ki jay

When people do Durga  puja  or some other  pujas, they usually fast, so here too—if you are to do the  abhisekh  (bathing) of Lord Sri Krishna in the evening, if you want to get this opportunity, you must fast the whole day; otherwise you cannot bathe the holy body of Gopal. Those who are going to eat somewhere rice, etc. today, they do not get this right.

Devotee:  Can we drink some water?

Yes, you can drink water, juice, you can take some fruit, etc. whatever is taken on Ekadasi is acceptable  [for those who cannot fast the whole day], but if anyone eats grains, they will not get this opportunity to do the  abhisekh  of Gopal.

So, take a bath, wear clean clothes in the evening—there will be  abhisekh  of Gopal, and you will all (except for those who do not fast) get the opportunity to do it. You can take fruits, milk, curd, I have no objection, but not grains.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay

[His Divine Grace instructs the cook:]

Prabhu, you must start cooking now to prepare the noon offering. Cook just for the offering, including rice, some laddu, sweets, etc. And in the evening, it is necessary to make many items—you can cook with whatever vegetables and ingredients are there in the kitchen.

In this way, we will observe this day. Now we must also do  parayan  [continuous reading of a scripture]. Those who are going to read should first recite  Vandana  (everybody knows it by heart) and then start reading  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. Each devotee will read for one hour.

[His Divine Grace then recites Vandana and finished the morning class.]

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Krishna—Purnatama Bhagavan

Sri Krishna Janmastami, morning class
28 August 2013, part 1, translated from Bengali

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams cha
ri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana raghunath-anvitam tam sa-jivam
advaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-chaitanya-devam
ri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita sri-visakhanvitams cha

I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of my Guru, the predecessor Gurus, the Lord's devotees, Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatan, Sri Raghunath, Sri Jiva, Sri Rupa's followers, Sri Krishna Chaitanyadev, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Chaitanyadev's associates, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Lalita Devi, Sri Visakha Devi, and all of Their associates.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
haksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge.

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
hintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
ovindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
ande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev's associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.

devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
andrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
ri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
ande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha
rpa-sindhubhya eva cha
atitanam pavanebhyo
aisnavebhyo namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees.

vrndayai tulasi-devyai priyayai kesavasya cha
rsna-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto Vrnda Devi, who is known as Tulasi Devi and Satyavati, who is most dear to Krishna, and who bestows devotion to Krishna upon us.

atha natva mantra-gurun gurun bhagavatarthadan
yasan jagad-gurun natva tato jayam udirayet

Having offered obeisance to one's initiating Guru, to the Gurus who have taught one the meaning of the Bhagavat, and to all the authors of Vedic literature, who are the Gurus of the entire world, proclaim "Jay!"

jayah sa-parikara sri-sri-guru-gauranga-gandharvagovindasundar-padapadmanam jayastu!

All glory to the lotus feet of Sri Guru, Sri Gaurasundar, Sri Sri Gandharva-Govindasundar, and all of Their associates!

vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami.

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda
ri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura-bhakta-vrnda

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
are rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Today is a very good day—today is the festival of Lord Sri Krishna's appearance. Lord Himself appeared on this day.

You know that actually Krishna was the son of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj, but some of you have probably read in the scriptures or have heard that Krishna appeared from the womb of Devaki and His father is Vasudev. This is true, but if somebody, thinking with their mundane mind, says that Krishna is an adopted son of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj, this is a wrong conception. Krishna is not Vasudev and Devaki's son—He is the son of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj. No scripture mentions that Krishna is 'Devaki-atmaja', He is 'Yasoda-atmaja' (a child of Yasoda).

I told you this  sloka  from  Srimad Bhagavad-gita  (4.7) yesterday during the class:

yada yada hi dharmasya, glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya, tadatmanam srjamy aham

"O Bharata, whenever there is a decline of religion and an uprising of irreligion, I personally make My advent."

To protect religion and destroy non-religion, the Lord comes to this world again and again in different ages. He appeared in Satya-yuga, in Treta-yuga, in Dvapar-yuga, and in Kali-yuga too. A mention of Mahaprabhu's appearance can be found in the scriptures recorded long ago before Mahaprabhu appeared:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

"Those of sharp intellect will worship Krishna who appears with a non-black bodily hue, who is armed and surrounded by His associates and servants, and who always chants the Holy Names."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

Hiding His colour, Krishna appears in Kali-yuga. His appearance is described in  Srimad Bhagavatam, thousands of years before Mahaprabhu appeared. So, today is the appearance day of this Lord Krishna. On this day, taking a human form, Krishna appears to bestow auspiciousness onto the world. He comes to this world again and again to rescue the fallen souls. You all know about it.

There are different categories, or gradation, of the Supreme Lord (Bhagavan)—there is  purna  Bhagavan (the complete Lord),  purnatara  Bhagavan (the more complete Lord), and  purnatama  Bhagavan (the absolutely complete, or the most complete, Lord).

The Lord also comes as Rama-avatar (Lord Ramachandra), but that incarnation is  purnatara, not  purnatama. How can this be possible? Krishna is  purnatama, He is the Lord of all Lords (Sarvesvaresvar), and Rama-avatar, Kurma-avatar, Varaha-avatar, Nrisingha-avatar, Matsya-avatar, etc. (there are many avatars) are all  purna  or  purnatara Bhagavans. You have heard that in Satya-yuga there were two demon brothers named Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa—one of them, Hiranyaksa, was killed by the Lord assuming a boar's form, and the other, Hiranyakasipu, by the Lord assuming the form of Nrisinghadev. In Rama-avatar, the Lord slew Ravan. In every His incarnation (avatar), the Lord appears to fulfil some mission, however Krishna is the fountainhead of all incarnations—therefore, there is  avatari  Krishna (the original Supreme Lord, the source of all incarnations) and there is  avatar  Krishna (an incarnation of the Lord as Krishna).

aisvaryasya samagrasya, viryasya yasasah sriyah
jnana-vairagyayos chaiva, sannam bhaga itingana

"He who is full with all the six opulences of wealth, power, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation is known as Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord."

Nrisinghadev is also the Lord, Rama is also the Lord, but they are not  purnatama  Bhagavans, only Sri Krishna is  purnatama  Bhagavan.

You can ask then, "What is the difference between Lord Rama and Lord Krishna?" There is a very beautiful explanation. You can easily understand it if you hear it.

ye yatha mam prapadyante, tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
mama vartmanuvartante, manusyah partha sarvasah

"Howsoever people surrender to Me, I accordingly reward them. Being the ultimate goal of all paths, I am the objective to be attained by all. O Partha, all men follow My various paths."

Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.11

The Lord says, "Howsoever people worship Me, I accordingly reciprocate with them." There is  santa-, dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya-, and  madhura-rasa. Think about it yourself—how many  rasas  are there in Rama-lila? We all celebrate Sri Rama-navami, but we never observe it in the same way that we observe Sri Krishna Janmastami. We fast till noon and make a small celebration on Rama-navami, but Janmastami is always observed opulently. Lord Ramachandra is also the Lord, but He is  purnatara  Bhagavan.

Within Lord Ramachandra's pastimes, there is  dasya-rasa  (Hanuman). There is also some  sakhya-rasa, but we do not hear about Lord Rama's friends (there is mostly only Laksman), but in Krishna-lila, there is Sridam, Sudam, Subal, and Krishna plays, talks and performs so many pastimes with them all. There is also some  vatsalya-rasa  in Rama-avatar, but what kind of  vatsalya-rasa  is it? Lord Krishna's Mother Yasoda tied the Lord, beat Him, cleaned His stool, breast-fed Him, she brought Him up in every way, she did everything for Him; but in Rama-avatar, Lord Rama leaves Dasarath to keep his (Dasarath's) promise. Look at Nanda Maharaj, Yasoda and look at Dasarath. When Nanda Maharaj got to know that Mother Yasoda had tied Krishna, he did not speak to her for three months and he chastised her also, "Are you out of your mind? What if something had happened to the child? You tied Him to the mortar and look now—two trees fell down! What if anything had happened to Him! Are you a fool to do this?! He is a child and childishly gave some curd to monkeys, what is the big deal?" And Krishna too—He went everywhere saying, "My mother has beaten Me!" Moreover, when Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura, Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yasoda cried so much that their tears created a drain coming from their house... Such was their love. Yet, you can see that in Rama-lila, Dasarath actually sent his son away into the forest—he did love Rama and felt pain when he did it, but we do not see that full parental relationship in Lord Rama's  avatar  that we find in Krishna's pastimes; this  rasa  is not full there. There is one more  rasa—madhura-rasa  (conjugal relationship). Conjugal relationship with the Lord can be seen only in the pastimes of Krishna and Vraja-gopis. Do you see such relationship anywhere else? Nowhere. What do you see in Rama-avatar? There is Sita Devi, but Lord Rama threw her into fire to test her. Do you find this in the pastimes of Krishna? No. The pastimes of Krishna are full of sweetness, love, devotion,  gopis'  love. Therefore, because all relationships are found within Krishna's pastimes, Krishna is  purnatama  Bhagavan.

isvarah paramah krsnah sach-chid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes."

(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)

Brahma says that Krishna has no origin (He exists before everything and everyone else), and He is the cause of all causes. He is the Lord of Lords. Krishna Himself says (as Gauranga Mahaprabhu):

krsnera yateka khela, sarvvottama nara-lila,
nara-vapu tahara svarupa

"The highest form of Godhead is Krsna, who plays in His eternal divine pastimes like a human being."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 21.101)

You can see that the Lord appears, for example, to protect Prahlad Maharaj, but after that He goes away. Yet, Krishna plays, eats, roams the forests, etc. and performs pastimes during a long time. You can understand the difference yourself.

Devotees of Narayan also sometimes criticise devotees of Krishna saying that Krishna roams around, rolls in dust, plays with cows and goes out with girls, and Narayan sits silently and they serve Him with four arms—devotees of Krishna retort, "OK, Krishna is bad and Narayan is the teacher of the whole world, but tell us—how come Laksmi Devi then roams forests running behind Krishna?" Laksmi Devi also aspires for the  darshan  of Lord Krishna.

Krishna's pastimes are innumerable, yet Laksmi Devi does not attain a part in them because she does not accept Vraja gopis'  anugatya  (earnest adherence to the  gopis  of Vrindavan). That is why her position is like this.  Bhaktera adhin Bhagavan: the Supreme Lord is controlled by His devotees. The Lord Himself once showed, "My Name is greater than I am, and even greater still is My devotee." There was once an argument about it, and they put Krishna on one side of the scales and one Tulasi leaf with Krishna's Name written on it on the other side—that single Tulasi leaf with Krishna's Name on it weighed much more than Krishna Himself. Such is the power of the Holy Name.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Samagata Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay

We have already recited the  Vandana, and we must now chant the  kirtans. We must practise, and our practice is  sravan  and  kirtan.

* * *

Connect With the Centre

Sri Krishna Janmastami, speaking to devotees in Mauritius
28 August 2013, part 1

Today is a very nice day, and I am very happy because Sripad Tyagi Maharaj is now there in Mauritius, giving nourishment to the devotees through Krishna-katha. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur sings in of his songs:

hrdaya pirita ja'ra krsna chikitsaka ta'ra
bhava roga nasite chatura

"Krishna is a doctor for those whose hearts are diseased, He is very expert at destroying the heart disease of material existence."

Those who are very sick need a doctor. We have some material desires and this is called  bhava-rog  (heart disease). Who can remove this disease? Who can be our doctor? Krishna can, but where will you get Krishna? You will get Krishna through His devotees, through His servitors, through His closest associates. Because we have so many material desires and suffer so much from them, Krishna comes to us as a  chikitsak  (doctor)—through the  parampara, Krishna transfers all His power to His devotee and He can treat us.

I have sent Sripad Tyagi Maharaj abroad because he can preach Krishna consciousness properly to the devotees in various countries, as well as all other  jiva  souls, fallen souls. This is good for everybody because he has some knowledge about Krishna consciousness and if he does not give it to others, it will be not good for him. So, if he gives something to you, it will give benefit both to you and to him also. Param Guru Maharaj Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj told that.

Suppose you plant a coconut tree. After some time, the tree will bear coconuts, but the tree does not take that coconut itself—the person who planted the coconut tree will take it. This is what materialists do, but ours is high thinking—I can plant a coconut tree, but without the mercy of the Lord, without the will of the Lord, the coconut tree can neither be alive, not can it give any coconuts; so, this tree, along with its fruit, is not my property, it is Krishna's property, and that is why we must offer the coconut to Him first.

We live in this world, and just to stay alive we kill so many millions of millions of jiva souls. We take rice, we take chapati for ourselves, but rice cannot grow without soil, without sun, water, air, etc.—these are all demigods, but we eat rice and use things for our own purpose. However, if you change your mood to surrender and connect with the centre, then your eating rice or using something will not be offence (aparadh), it will not be sinful. If you establish connection with the centre, it will be good for you.

So, what we can do? We are lost servants searching for our father.  Krishna mata, Krishna pita—Krishna is your mother, Krishna is your father. You are searching for your father, you are crying for your father, crying for your mother, and those who are your well-wishers, who want good for you can connect you to your original father, to your real father—they can send you to your real home. They can show you the path, "If you walk this way, you can get to your real home!" That is why it is necessary to take initiation. What does initiation mean? Only taking a  mantra  and hearing something with your ears? No. These are only formalities. Initiation means you must give yourself to the service of your Guru, to the service of the Lord. You should think how many per cent you can surrender yourself. It depends on you. The kind of mercy you get depends on the degree of your surrender.

* * *

Lord's Keen Kindness

Sri Krishna Janmastami Adhivas, Tarakeswar
22 August 2019, part 1, translated from Bengali

...When you worship the Lord, you must dress the Lordships well, you must offer good food to the Lord, etc. This is service. We must engage ourselves in the service of the Lord, and the Lord, whose appearance day we have come to observe tomorrow, is very merciful.

Recently, on the appearance day of Lord Baladev, I spoke about Lord Baladev. Baladev means Gurudev. There is a long story about Vasudev. In short, he has two wives, Devaki and Rohini—Krishna appeared from the womb of Devaki, and Balaram from the womb of Rohini. They are one body but manifest in two forms. Nanda Maharaj also had a son, but there was a miscarriage, so that soul left and, instead, Krishna appeared from Devaki's womb at 12 a.m. in the prison of Kamsa. There was so much rain, so much storm that night, there was water everywhere, and Anantadev came to protect Vasudev from the rain with his hood. Another time, when Krishna lifted Govardhan, Anantadev also expanded himself as a huge umbrella making sure that no harm is done to all those living at Govardhan—everything was flooded at that time, but not the Govardhan area of Vrindavan.

Once, Pulastya Muni wanted to take Govardhan to Kasi (Benares), and as he was carrying Govardhan there, he was passing Vrindavan on the way. Govardhan thought, "Krishna will come here, then why will I leave a beautiful place like this?" Initially, when Govardhan climbed onto Pulastya Muni's hand, Govardhan told Pulastya Muni, "If you put Me down anywhere on the way, I will not go further." So, when they came to Vrindavan and Govardhan decided He wanted to stay there, Govardhan gave so much pressure to Pulastya Muni's hand that he could not but put Him down. Pulastya Muni put Govardhan down and went to take bath, but when he returned and wanted to pick Govardhan up again to continue their way, Govardhan did not budge. That is why Pulastya Muni cursed Govardhan that every day He would become smaller by the size of one sesame seed. So, Govardhan is even now becoming smaller by the size of one sesame every day. Govardhan will be there for as long as  sadhus  stay at the Yamuna...

...One day, Krishna, Balaram and Their friends went out to herd the cows. After a while, the cowherd boys got very hungry and asked Krishna to get something to eat. Krishna sent Balaram and another cowherd boy to some  brahmans  who were doing a fire sacrifice at that time. Vraja-basis do not know who Krishna is, they take Krishna as one of them, a child of their village. So, when the Lord Himself (Balaram is the Lord, He is non-different from Krishna) approached them for some food asking, "Give us some chapati, please! Krishna is very hungry, and we are hungry too! You are doing the  yajna, give us something!" But the  brahmans  only got angry, scolded them and told them to go away. He who owns everything in this world comes to beg! This shows how eager the Lord is to give an opportunity to His devotees to do some service. He accepts everything from His devotees—

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi khay

"The Lord eats anything and everything when a devotee offers it, but He does not take anything from a non-devotee."

The Lord does not want anything from non-devotees, and non-devotees actually cannot give anything to the Lord...

* * *

Sri Krishna Janmastami Message

Sri Krishna Janmastami, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019

Good things are coming to us in the future, in the coming time. All devotees should stay together—we are all devotees of Gurudev, Gurudev's mission. We must all together celebrate this Janmastami  vrata maha-mahotsav, serving Krishna's devotees with tolerance, humility and giving honour to others.

Devotees are celebrating Janmastami everywhere all over the world, in all 140 centres, and I am always with you in your heart. I may be physically in Tarakeswar, but I am not only in Tarakeswar—I am everywhere, in everybody's heart. I am in London, in America, in Russia, in Mauritius, in Singapore, in Nabadwip, Nrisingha Palli, Ekachakra—I am in all devotees' heart and I am celebrating this festival all over the world with everybody. I pray to the devotees that they may always be tolerant.

As it is said in  Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Krishna appears from time to time,

yada yada hi dharmasya, glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya, tadatmanam srjamy aham

"O Bharata, whenever there is a decline of religion and an uprising of irreligion, I personally make My advent."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

When demons come and disturb all the devas—all the gods and goddesses—then Krishna Himself appears in this world to demolish all demons. This is the meaning of Krishna's appearance day.

Through service to Krishna's devotees we can overcome and adjust with any situation. I pray to devotees and I also pray to Gurudev that we overcome this kind of situation and that all this bad situation is removed from our devotional path. I also pray for those who are disturbing devotees—I pray to Baladev that He may remove all bad elements from their hearts; I pray to Krishna that He may remove all disturbing, bad mood from their hearts.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Precious Human Form

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 1, translated from Bengali

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 onto the lotus feet of my Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj begging him for his causeless mercy, then I am offering obeisance to all Guru-varga, to all godbrothers and sisters and the devotees and all those present here asking you all for your mercy to this low soul.

Today is a very auspicious day, the appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sivji Maharaj said, "Aradhananam sarvesam visnor aradhanam param—of all types of worship, the worship of Lord Vishnu is the best." This Lord Krishna Himself says, "I have many pastimes in this world (there is Nrisingha  avatar, Kalki  avatar, Buddha  avatar, etc.), and of all these pastimes, My pastimes in the human form is the best."

Therefore, it is a greatest fortune for a jiva soul to get a human body. We too have got this human body by a great fortune. One does not get this kind of body all the time. You can see yourself—there are cremation places everywhere in front of you, and every day so many people are burnt there, so many people die and are buried, burnt, etc. every day! People leave this world all the time—not just 'people', but the  jiva  souls. What is a  jiva  soul? This who we all are—I am a  jiva  soul, you are all  jiva  souls too, even all mosquitos are  jiva  souls too. Those in a mosquito's body get a mosquito body, those in a cow's body get a cow's body, goats get a goat's body, and so on. Every single soul gets its own body. After many births, as a result of a great fortune, you have now got this human body.

This human birth is not attained all the time, but we have got it now and we must understand what the purpose this human body is. If you get this human body but live just like a cow, goat, sheep, or dog—only eating, sleeping, fearing, and enjoying, it is a waste of life. All animals live like this, then what is the different in human birth? Mosquitoes drink blood, snakes eat frogs, cows eat grass, humans eat rice and dal, and in many countries people eat cats, dogs, sheep, etc. Here in India you eat vegetables, but some people love eating pigs and dogs! But you are born in Bharata-bhumi:

bharata-bhumite haila manusya janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara

"One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India should take advantage of his birth and bring benefit to all other people."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 9.41)

We have got a human birth in this land of India, and not only in India, we were born in West Bengal—what is so special about it? Gaura Hari appeared in Nabadwip Dham (Mayapur) in this West Bengal! Mayapur is in Antardwip. Nabadwip means "nine islands," and Antardwip is one of them. Our main temple is in Koladwip. So, there is Antardwip, Koladwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Simantadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnadwip, and Modadrumdwip. These nine islands represent nine types of devotion (nava-vidha bhakti).

You may have heard that people do 'nauka-vilas' pastime (sahajiyas  get into a boat and do  kirtan  while playing or swirling in the boat). I saw it when I was small—at that time I did not understand that what they were doing is  sahajiya  (gross imitation), but I understand it now. What is its real meaning? Krishna was waiting once in a boat and all the Vraja  gopis  were carrying butter, yoghurt, etc.—Krishna stopped them and they had to keep everything in His boat. What did Krishna say to them? You know how the song goes, "সব সখিরে পার করিতে নেব আনা আনা তোমার বেলায় নেব সখি তোমার কানের সোনা: Everybody must bring on their tax to cross the river, but from you, My friend, this time I will only take your golden earring as the tax!"  [His Divine Grace laughs.]

* * *

"Raise the Anchor, Sir!"

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 2, translated from Bengali

In the devotional line, this body is compared to a boat, and the helmsman of the boat is the Guru. The Guru sails this boat and takes us in it across the Viraja River. If we can stay aboard the boat that Gurudev is sailing, then we can cross over the Viraja River and come to stay with Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan.

Devotees:  Nitai Gaura Hari bol!

The nine kinds of devotion constitute the boat. If you follow these nine kinds of devotion, then you will know how to make the boat—how to build the mast, how to make the sail, etc. Krishna Himself describes how to make this boat. There is also one very nice story told by Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

You know, in the place where I was born, there were not many streets—we used to always go everywhere by boat. I remember going to the market, buying all the vegetables, etc. and loading it all onto a boat and going home. That was, perhaps, forty years ago. Sometimes I would go with my father, sometimes with some worker.

The story goes like this. One late evening, a groom's party got on a barge-like boat and told the boatman to take them to the place where the wedding was to take place. The boatman told the groom to rest and get some sleep and he would row and make sure they arrived by the time the wedding had been fixed for. They agreed, and the boatman started rowing.

I remember also how, many years ago, I went to Ganga Sagar by boat. Now they have engine boats, but at that time there were boats that had to be oared manually. When we were returning from Ganga Sagar, it suddenly got busted and we were stuck in the boat in the middle of the Ganges. We stood there with water in the boat for three-four hours, and all the foreign devotees started fighting. Gradually, the water was taken out, the boat was fixed and the boat was afloat again. That was many years ago. I was thinking to make a Ganga Sagar programme after Gaura Purnima some time. Many cannot come to the festival we usually make in winter, it is a little austere in winter, and it is the time of Ganga Sagar mela, so many cannot even take a bus to get to the temple, there are too many people. So, I was thinking we could hire a big ferry from Howrah—we can go to Ganga Sagar in it, with  kirtan, loudspeakers, picnic, etc. We could take  darshan  of Ganga Sagar and then come back again by ferry. We can cook on the ferry itself and also we will get  prasadam  at Ganga Sagar. One day we will do it, I have already thought about it.

We sing in the  kirtan,

amara gauranger ghate ujanakheya vaya
kadipati nahi lage amani para haya

"At my Lord Gauranga's ghat the upstream ferry runs without requesting any fare. Everyone crosses freely."

"The current is going one way, but the Lord's boat is going up the stream without any fare..."

Anyhow, the boatman had rowed the whole night, but when the sun rose and the groom woke up, he looked around and shouted at the boatman, "Oh no! The night is over, the sun has risen, it is the wedding time now! Why has the boat not moved?! Did you not see it?! What is this?!!" The boatman said, "What am I to do? I have been rowing so hard all night, what can I do if the boat has not moved?" While the groom swore the boatman, an old man was passing by and saw what had happened. He told the groom, "Can you not see? Your boat is anchored! Lift the anchor, then your boat will go."

So, you can chant  kirtan  all night, you can do so many things, but it is useless if you never think, "When will Gopal come? When will Gopal's appearance come? When will I get the  darshan  of Gopal? When will I get the  darshan  of this form of the Lord?" Such thoughts must come to us. "When will I be able to do some service to Govinda?" Yet, some are thinking instead, "Oh, we have come to this house today, and there is nobody at home now. What if somebody burgles the house?" And they will leave the programme, you will see... This is how we create our anchors...

As I was saying there are nine kinds of devotional practices. First comes faith (sraddha), then good association (sadhu-sanga), then practice (bhajana-kriya), then offences are removed (anartha-nivrtti), then faith becomes strong (nistha), then comes taste (ruchi), then comes attachment (asakti), then love (prema, or bhava), and pure spontaneous love (maha-bhava).

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

"In the beginning there is faith, then good association, then practising life. After that, the offences gradually go away, faith becomes stronger, taste comes, then attachment, then there arises affection and love. This is how love to God comes to those who practise Krsna consciousness."

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

sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam
archchanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam

(1) Hearing, (2) practising (chanting), (3) remembering the Lord, (4) serving the lotus feet of the Lord, (5) serving the Deity, (6) offering obeisances, (7) considering oneself a servant, (8) thinking of the Lord as of a friend, and (9) full surrender.

Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23)

You must build your boat with these nine devotional practices. When you sing  kirtan, you must understand its meaning—common people do not understand it, they listen to  kirtan  bands, enjoy the tune, etc., but this is not the way to practise  kirtan. When you chant  kirtan, you must understand the meaning of what you are singing, some devotional feeling must come to your heart.

koti janma yadi kare sravana kirtana
tabu na paya vrajendranandan

"If you practise hearing and chanting for millions of lives, you may still not get the Son of Nanda who dwells in Vraja."

hena krnsa-nama yadi laya bahu-bara
tabu yadi prema nahe, nahe asrudhara
tabe jani, aparadha tahate prachura
krsna-nama-bija tahe na kare ankura

"If you chant this Name of Krishna so many times but still there is no love, there are no tears streaming from your eyes, then as I understand there are too many offences and the seed of Krishna's Name does not sprout."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.29-30)

Only when you give up offences can you actually chant the Holy Name.

* * *

Gopal's Pastimes

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 3, translated from Bengali

You have all heard how Gopal Krishna appeared in the prison of Kamsa. When Vasudev was taking Devaki in a chariot together with Kamsa, Kamsa heard a message from the sky. What did he hear? "You will be destroyed by the hand of your sister's eighth son!" Getting this news, he decided not to wait for the eighth son—he killed all Devaki's children. He was so cruel. At first, he wanted to kill Devaki, but Vasudev fell at his feet and begged him not to kill her, "You are a king, it does not befit you. Your duty is to respect and protect women, and she is your sister. Why do you want to kill her? Better you lock us up in prison and we will give you every child we get." Cruel Kamsa did that—he locked them in prison.

If you go to Mathura, you can get the  darshan  of that prison. When we go to Vrindavan, we stop in Mathura and go there. Mahaprabhu also went there. Krishna's great-grandson Vajranabh also established the temple of Adi-Keshav, we go there to pay our obeisance too. The prison cell where Kamsa kept Devaki and Vasudev is such a small place, but by the will of the Lord everything can be possible. Where were the guards? Where were the locked doors? Where were the locks, the gates, etc.? Everything was open—and nothing impeded Vasudev when he carried Lord Krishna out.

When Kamsa got the news of the child's birth, he was astonished that it was a girl, Maya. When he killed her, she rose in the air and said, "He who will kill you already lives in Gokula." After that, Kamsa began his atrocities. Who did he send first? Putana. Gopal was just three days old at that time. Krishna gave her His mercy—because she came to Krishna as a mother and gave Him motherly affection, Krishna drank her poisoned breast milk. However, Krishna did not die—instead, when Krishna began drinking Putana's milk, her true demoniac form was exposed and when she died her soul came to the Lord. Nothing happened to her—only her demoniac form fell off, but her soul left for Goloka Vrindavan.

After that, many other demons came there—Aghasur, Bakasur, Vatsasur., etc. Kamsa tried so hard to kill Krishna.

During Vrindavan  parikrama, we also go to Brahmanda ghat. What pastime did Krishna show there? One day, boys came to Mother Yasoda and complained, "Ma, do you know what Gopal did today? He has been eating soil!" Gopal thought, "This body is made of soil (the body is made of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether), so why cannot I eat soil?" Having got the news, Mother Yasoda anxiously ran to Gopal—she put her finger into His mouth to take the soil out, but when Gopal opened His mouth wide, she saw the entire universe and all the thirty-three million demigods in it! She was startled for a moment, "Who is He?" but then, because of the  vatsalya-rasa, she could not see Krishna as anyone other than her son. She could beat Him, she could scold Him, she tied Him, what she did not do out of her motherly love! She raised Him, she cleaned His stool, she nurtured Him, etc.

Sometimes, when a mother takes a child on her lap and feeds him, the child passes stool on his mother—does mother hate the child for that? Does she stop feeding the child because of that? She does not. She finishes feeding the child, cleans the child and again takes him on her lap. Is it not so, tell me? Mothers do not reject their children because they pass stool on them. Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj too cleaned Krishna's mess.

Some time later, Gopal learnt to crawl. You know, when babies learn to crawl, they can crawl far, so Mother Yasoda always worried what Gopal was doing and if he had not crawl away somewhere. Also, I do not know if you have ever seen it, but in old days when they made butter, they would use a big mortar and churn it inside a pot of milk. So, one day, Mother Yasoda put some milk to boil on the stove and began to churn butter in the meantime. At that time, Krishna came to her and asked her for milk. Mother Yasoda told Him, "Wait a little, I have milk boiling on the stove." Krishna wanted milk right away and kept insisting, so Mother Yasoda pushed Him aside. Gopal got angry and decided, "I will spoil all your butter, curd, etc.!" Then, Gopal called Balai and other friends. The butter was kept high above the ground, near the ceiling, so to reach it (they were all little children), each boy climbed on top of another boy's shoulders and, reaching the pots with butter, Krishna started feeding the butter to monkeys. Whatever butter, curd, etc. was in the room, Krishna fed everything to monkeys! Then, Yasoda suddenly remembered about Gopal, "Where has Gopal gone? He went away crying, where is He?" When she came to the storeroom, she was shocked, "Oh no, everything is spoilt! Gopal has become so naughty!"

We sing in the  kirtan  during the Damodar month,

namamisvaram sach-chid-ananda rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya [1]

"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who [due to the offence of breaking the pot of yogurt that his mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing] is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kanthasthita-
graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham [2]

"[Seeing the whipping stick in His mother's hand,] He is crying and rubbing His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and the necklace of pearls around His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conchshell, is shaking because of His quick breathing due to crying. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with His mother's pure love, I offer my humble obeisances."

Mother Yasoda became very angry, and Gopal got scared and started crying—tears came from His eyes, "Mother is going to beat Me!" Mother Yasoda called all the servants and maidservants who were at the house and asked them to bring all rope they could find. She decided to tie Gopal, but no matter how much rope she used, she could not bind Him—the rope was always too short! All the rope had been used, but still it was too short. Mother Yasoda was surprised, "What is this? There is a mountain of rope here, but still I cannot bind Gopal!"

Can you bind Him who possesses the whole world, who is the owner of all the fourteen worlds? Can you bind Him even with 900,000 cows' rope? Unless He Himself lets you bind Him, can you ever bind the Lord? Never. Every time Mother Yasoda tried to bind Him, the rope was always two fingers too short. What do these two fingers mean? One finger is effort, desire. Mother Yasoda thought, "This is  my  Gopal, and I will bind Him! He is My Gopal, and I will serve Him!" We must have such desire—"I must serve the Vaishnavs! I must serve my Guru! I will serve the Lord, Gopal, Krishna! Whatever problem may come, whatever my family may say, whatever illusion comes, I will serve the Lord!" This is called desire. If you have such desire, you will have the mercy. The second finger is mercy. The Lord Himself will let you bind Him. Always remember this. Those two fingers are desire and mercy. If you make one step towards Krishna, Krishna will make ten steps towards you, and if you do not make any step forward, then keep listening about the Lord and the dirt will be removed from your heart, then the Lord, Bhakti Devi will come to stay in it. Always remember this.

In olden days, peopled used to use mortars. Sometimes, women would husk and grind rice with it also. We do not get such rice now anymore—now we get rice from rice mills. Before, women would make  patisapta, rasapuri, sarpuri, so many other cakes. They made so many nice things at home. The taste was also different. Even rice taste is different. You can see  muri  also—the home-made  muri  does not taste the same as  muri  from a rice mill. There is such a big difference! That taste is now rare to get.

So, seeing that Mother Yasoda had become so tired trying to bind Him, Gopal let her tie Him to the mortar, but then He began to cry and tell everyone that Mother had beaten and bound Him. Mother Yasoda, however, tied Him to the mortar, and, confident that He could not go anywhere now as the mortar was heavy, went away. But when Krishna wants something, anything is possible. So, Krishna, crying that His mother had bound Him to the mortar, crawled outside. He crossed the street and came to two big trees standing nearby.

Those were two Yamalarjuna trees. Many years before that, in Satya-yuga, there were two brothers, Nalakuvar and Manigriv, two sinful sons of Kuver. Kuver is the treasurer of heaven, so being very proud of and intoxicated by their wealth, the two sons were always unconscious and great sinners. There are such people even among us also—those who have much wealth, money, etc. become very proud thinking, "This is my money, my house, my car, etc." The Lord does everything, but we say, "I do everything," "I know everything," etc.

So, one day, when those two brothers, Nalakuvar and Manigriv, were in a river, playing and doing nonsense with girls, suddenly they saw Narad Muni passing by. The brothers were naked, and so were the girls, but when the girls Narad Muni, they got shy and tried to cover themselves with some clothes, but the brothers did not bother. Seeing their pride, Narad Muni cursed them, "You are so intoxicated with your pride! I curse you to be born as trees next life!" This is how they became those two Yamalarjuna trees. There are so many trees in this world, and who can say who they are—who knows what sins they have committed to become like this! None of us can say it, none of us knows it...

So, when Gopal was outside, He crawled to those two trees and wanted to go between them, but because He was tied to a mortar, the mortar got stuck between the trees. Gopal pulled harder and the two enormous trees fell down. There was no rain, no thunder in the sky, so everybody became astonished, "What has happened?! Two trees have just fallen down!" Everybody came running to the place and saw that Gopal was sitting there, unharmed, and two brothers came out from the Yamalarjuna trees. When Narad Muni cursed them to be born as trees, the brothers started arguing and tried to convince Narad Muni not to curse them. Narad Muni said he had already cursed them and could not take it back, but he told them, "When Krishna appears in Dvapar-yuga and comes here, you will be liberated. Only He will be able to liberate you."

* * *

Lord's Stealing and Rewarding

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 4, translated from Bengali

[His Divine Grace instructs Sripad Paramarthik Maharaj to prepare everything for the abhisekh of Gopal at night and remembers the pastimes of Srila Madhavendra Puripad:]

When Madhavendra Puri got Govardhan-dhari Gopal, Gopal gave him a dream saying, "Go to Odisha and bring some sandalwood and camphor. I have fever in My body, and only bathing will not help it." Then, Madhavendra Puri tried so hard to arrange for sandalwood and camphor, and he was going to carry it on his head despite his old age all the way from Odisha—you know that Odisha is very far from Vrindavan. But then Gopal again gave Him a dream saying, "You do not have to carry the sandalwood all the way from Odisha. Offer it to Gopinath in Remuna, My body is non-different from Gopinath's body, so if you apply the sandalwood to His body, My fever will go down." It was the same Gopinath who stole  ksir  for Madhavendra Puri... We have been there a few times before. When we go to Puri by train, the train stops in Remuna, and also you can get there from Puri by bus.

Anyhow, one time, a fruit seller came to the house of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj. Krishna came to her and said, "Give me some fruit!" Then Madhumangal and other boys also came—they ended up finishing all the fruit that the seller had in her basket! The seller was so upset, "Oh no, all my fruit is gone now!" Very sad, she went back home with her empty basket thinking, "The boys have eaten all my fruit, what am I going to do now?" However, when she woke up in the morning, she saw her basket was filled with a heap of gold. In exchange for fruit, the Lord gave her gold. The Lord is the owner of everything...

There are many other pastimes that Lord Sri Krishna performed. There was also a funny pastime at Chir Ghat. This pastime has a deep meaning. One day, Vraja  gopis  kept their clothes on a tree and went bathing in the Yamuna. While they were bathing, Krishna came and took all their clothes away. Many think this is funny, but actually it is not—this pastime is all about self-surrender (atma-samarpan, saranagati). Vraja  gopis  place everything at the feet of the Lord.

There is also another pastime showing the importance of complete surrender. When demons tried to disrobe Draupadi, were they able to do it? At first, she tried to appeal to her husbands, Yudhisthir, Bhima, Arjun, Sahadev, and Nakul, "There are so many of you, you are all my husbands—can you not see that they are insulting me so much?" The Pandavas put their heads down. The Lord gives all power and the Lord also takes it away. That day, the great Pancha Pandavas had lost all their power and became beggars. Then Bhima said, "If I ever get my power back, I will drink Duhsasan's blood!" Hearing this, Duhsasan became very angry and ordered his men to disrobe Draupadi. His men came to Draupadi and started taking her clothes off. Helpless, Draupadi started calling out to the Lord with one hand while holding onto her cloth with her other hand trying to resist. Then, she felt she could no longer help it—her cloth had been almost all taken off, then she left her cloth and started calling to the Lord with both arms upraised, "O Lord! I have no one except You!" Then, Lord Krishna Himself appeared as her cloth and no matter how much the demons pulled Draupadi's cloth, there was no end of it—soon the entire royal hall was full of cloth, there was no place to keep it. They had to give up on it and admit that they could not disrobe her.

It shows that one must not fight against the Lord.

* * *

Mercy Incarnate

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 5, translated from Bengali

As a part of His pastimes, the Lord also tests the demigods. When demigods get their heavenly happiness, they forget the Lord, and this happens to us too—when we get much money, wealth, a good house, a good car, etc., we stop thinking about the Lord, but when something happens, when we are admitted to hospital, for example, then we call out to the Lord. We always worry about accumulating money, but when somebody steals that money from you and you forget about money, then you realise, "It is good that it has been stolen!" Those who go against the Lord and His devotees may at first feel some peace, but after that they end up nowhere. That is why the demigods too enjoy their wealth, houses, etc. but they forget the Lord and from time to time the Lord punishes them by creating demons, and sometimes the Lord also appears to defeat the demons and return heaven to the demigods. Such are the Lord's pastimes.

The Lord performs various pastimes for His own pleasure—He assumes the form of a boar, fish, lion, etc. Krishna performs all these pastimes, He kills Aghasur, Batsasur, He performs the Kaliya-daman lila bestowing mercy on the wives of wicked Kaliya-nag who prayed to Him, "If You kill him, we are going to become widows! Please spare him!" Kaliya-nag symbolises ego. When Krishna ousts Kaliya-nag, He ousts ego. You can read about all these pastimes in  Srimad Bhagavatam, and later today I will read to you about the birth of Lord Krishna. Try to always remember about the service to the Lord.

As you know, the Lord appears in this Kali-yuga too—He appears as the most magnanimous Lord, mercy incarnate—

kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara
nama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistara

"In the Kali-yuga, Krishna appears in the form of the Name. The entire world is delivered through that Name."

(Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 17.22)

People used to meditate in Satya-yuga and worship Deities in Dvapar-yuga, when their lifespan was 1,000 years. However, people's lifespan is only 120 years in Kali-yuga, so the Lord Himself comes in this age to rescue the fallen souls.

Near our temple in Vrindavan there is a place called Imlitala. 'Imli' means 'a tamarind tree'—there is a tamarind tree growing there. Now only the bark of that tree is left there and a new tree sprouted near it—the original tree has left its body. If you go to Radha Kunda, you can also see the Pancha Pandavas (Yudhisthir, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul, and Sahadev)—they became trees and live to this day at Radha Kunda(!). They are Krishna's friends, and, aspiring to hear about Radha-Krishna, they came to live on the bank of Radha Kunda. So, one day, Krishna was sitting at Imlitala, under the tamarind tree, on the bank of the Yamuna. He meditated, "Why does Radharani cry so much chanting My Name? What sort of peace does She feel when She serves Me? I must get that taste too!" That is why the Lord appears in this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Radha-Krishna.

jiva jago, jiva jago, gorachanda bale
kata nidra yao maya-pisachira kole

Sri Gorachand calls, “O souls, awake! O souls, awake! How long will you sleep in the clutches of the witch Maya?

pisachi paile yena mati-chchhanna haya
maya-grasta jivera haya se bhava udaya

"When someone is possessed by a ghost, they become bewildered. This condition overtakes souls bound by Maya."

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.3)

We too are souls caught by Maya—we are possessed by a witch, or a ghost... Always remember this, always think about this—Krishna, the Lord Himself appears in this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Radha-Krishna, and He goes door to door calling out to everyone, "Wake up,  jiva  soul! Stop sleeping! You have lost your home!  Krsna bolo, sange cholo, ei matra bhiksa chai: I am begging you for one thing only—come with Me and chant the Holy Name of Krishna!"

tava kathamrtam tapta-jivanam
kavibhir iditam kalmasapaham
sravana-mangalam srimad-atatam
bhuvi grnanti te bhurida janah

"My Dear, bestowing the greatest fortune that is attained after so many births, exalted souls come to this world and live here by singing and spreading Your nectarean glories that are life and soul for those suffering in this material world being devoid of Your divine love; that are the gist of all poets' songs; that are the destroyer of all sins; that benefit anyone who hears them; and that possess universal attraction."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 14.13)

Those who give some lakhs of rupees are not great donors! The greatest donors are those who preach about the Holy Name, about the Lord, about Krishna consciousness in this world—those who rescue the souls who have turned away from the Lord and are in Maya's clutches and engage them in the service of the Lord, and after engaging them in the service of the Lord, they send them to the service to the lotus feet of Radha-Krishna, Govinda.  They  are the greatest donors!

By a great mercy, by a great fortune, we have got the  darshan  of sadhus, Guru and Vaishnavs in this lifetime. Having got their  darshan, we have got everything!

gangara-parasa ha-ile paschate pavana
darsane pavitra kara—ei tomara guna

If the Ganges touches someone, he is later purified, but you purify souls simply by seeing them—such is your power.

You must first touch the Ganges to become clean, but you can become clean just by merely  seeing  a Vaishnav, by getting their  darshan. Hearing Hari-katha from such Vaishnavs, hearing about such Vaishnavs, about their qualities purifies the heart:

vaisnavera guna-gana karile jivera trana
suniyachhi sadhu-guru-mukhe

"Singing the glories of the Vaishnavs rescues and protects the jiva soul. I heard this from the mouth of sadhus and my Guru."

('Jayare jayare jaya paramahamsa mahasaya')

We must always chant the glories of Vaishnavs. Always think about this.

* * *

Fall at the Lord's Feet

Sri Krishna Janmastami, evening, Tarakeswar
23 August 2019, part 6, translated from Bengali

It is my prayer to you all—please, always chant the glories (engage in  kirtan) of the Vaishnavs, Gurudev, and the Lord. Here at our Math, we have small  kirtan  books—buy it and take it home, you can chant  kirtans  at home. There are so many beautiful  kirtans.

"Jaya Radha Madhava kunja bihari.  Glory to Radha-Madhava, the beloved of Srimati Radharani! Glory to Kunja-bihari, the Enjoyer of pastimes in the groves of Vraja." It is such a beautiful  kirtan. "Nitai-pada-kamala koti-chandra-susitala ye chhayaya jagata judaya. Hena Nitai vine bhai Radha-Krsna paite nai drdha kari' dhara Nitaira paya.  Cooling like ten million moons, Nitai's lotus feet soothe the world with their shade. O brother! Without Nitai, you cannot reach Radha-Krsna. Firmly grasp Nitai's feet." "Parama karuna pahu dui jana Nitai Gaurachandra.  Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords." We also sang during the evening  parikrama:

kabe sri chaitanya more karibena daya
abe ami paiba vaisnava-pada-chhaya

"When will Sri Chaitanya be merciful to me? When will I reach the shade of the Vaishnavs' feet?"

kabe ami chhadiba e visayabhimana
abe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana

"When will I give up this mundane ego? When will I honour the Lord's devotees?"

"My money!", "My car!", "My temple!" "Everything is mine!"—when will this  visaya-abhiman  (possessiveness) leave us?

gala-vastra krtanjali vaisnava-nikate
ante trna kari' dandaiba niskapate

"With a cloth around my neck, joined palms, and straw between my teeth, I will sincerely submit myself at the Vaishnav's feet."

kandiya kandiya janaiba duhkha-grama
amsara-anala haite magiba visrama

"Weeping, I will convey my sorrows to the Vaishnav and pray for shelter from the fire of material existence."

suniya amara duhkha vaisnava thakura
ma' lagi' krsne avedibena prachura

"Hearing of my sorrow, the worshippable Vaishnav will thoroughly pray to Krishna on my behalf."

vaisnavera avedane krsna dayamaya
 hena pamara prati habena sadaya

"Satisfied by the Vaishnav's prayer, Krishna will be merciful to this sinner."

This is how we must pray to Vaishnavs. We will pray to Vaishnav Thakur, and Vaishnav Thakur will pass it on to the Lord, "This devotee is having it so hard, he is praying to You, O Lord. Please, bestow Your mercy on him." And the Lord will become merciful to me, a low fallen soul, an insect in stool.

When will this happen? When will I be able to chant the Holy Name of Krishna with this mouth? When will I leave possessiveness and ego? When will I be able to give proper honour to Vaishnavs?

You must try to sing this  kirtan, this prayer to Vaishnavs, properly, beautifully. The meaning of this  kirtan  is very sweet.

We also sang earlier,

kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, abhimana saha
apana apana sthane tane
aichana amara mana phire yena andha jana
supatha vipatha nahi jane

"Lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride, and ego all pull me in their own directions. Thus my mind wanders like a blind man who does not know the right way from the wrong way."

Lust goes one way, anger goes another way, greed goes another way, illusion, pride, ego—they all pull different ways. Moreover, just as a blind man cannot cross the street without the help of a person who can see, we are also blind and do not know where we must go to find the Lord! Where must we go to find Govinda?(!) Therefore, we pray to Gurudev,

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

"I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge."

Gurudev gave us eyes (knowledge), and it is with those eyes that we can get the  darshan  of the Lord. You cannot see the Lord with these illusory eyes.

aprakrta vastu nahe prakrta-gochara
veda-puranete ei kahe nirantara

"Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Puranas."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 9.195)

We have eyes in our heart, and we can get the  darshan  of the Lord through those divine eyes within our hearts. We must pray to Gurudev that those eyes open in our hearts. Guru can remove my darkness, my ignorance, and he can distribute beautiful knowledge to me—through that knowledge, through those eyes we can get the  darshan  of the Lord.

You can get the Lord only through devotion. You cannot get the Lord by any other means—not through any activities (karma), not through any knowledge (jnana), not through any esoteric practices (yoga). You can get the Lord only through devotion. And how will devotion come?  Bhaktis tu bhagavad-bhakta-sangena parijayate—you can get devotion through the association of devotees."  (Brhan-naradiya Purana)  If you associate with devotees, devotion will come. "Asat-sanga sada tyaga chhada anya gita-raga—give up bad association, do not listen to the material songs and music."  (Sri Prema-bhakti-chandrika, 15)

We sing also in one of the  kirtans:

anya abhilasa chhadi, jnana karma parihari
kaya-mane kariba bhajana
sadhu-sange krsna-seva, na pujiba devi-deva
ei bhakti parama karana

"The topmost process of devotional service is to worship the Lord with body and mind, giving up desires for fruitive activities and mental speculation. One should serve Lord Krsna in the  association of devotees without worshipping any demigods."

(Sri Sri Prema-bhakti-chandrika, 13, Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

If you worship only Krishna, then the worship of all thirty-three million demigods is automatically accomplished. When we worship Durga, we cannot worship Kali at the same time; when we worship Kali, we cannot worship Laksmi; when we worship Ganesh, we cannot worship Kartik; when we worship Lord Siva, we cannot worship Parvati. We can never worship all demigods at the same time. You worship Chandra, the god of moon, but then you are not worshipping Surya, the god of sun; and when you worship the sun-god, you cannot worship the moon-god at the same time.

ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya
yare yaiche nachaya, se taichhe kare nrtya

"Lord Krishna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 5.142)

However, if you worship, if you serve Krishna, then all demigod worship is accomplished. That is why everybody must worship Krishna. And today is this Lord Krishna's appearance day. You are all accepting so much austerity on this day—you are all so tired, you have come from remote places, and you are fasting, not eating anything... When you fall at the feet of the Lord like this, the Lord must no doubt bestow His mercy upon you.

Devotees:  Nitai Gaura hari bol!

The Lord will keep you well, He will bestow His mercy upon you. We pray to the Lord, we pray to Govinda that you may all always engage in service, in Hari-katha, in the  kirtan  of the Lord, and that not a single day may pass in your life without it, we pray so that you may always remember the Lord...

* * *

Devotional Transformation

Speaking to devotees in Caracas, Venezuela
31 August 2019, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra Prabhu ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
All the Venezuelan devotees ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay.

When the Pancha-Pandavas—Yudhisthir Maharaj, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev—were suffering having lost their kingdom, they became like beggars going from place to place, taking shelter at many places in India. They had no house, no food, nothing, but even at that time they were happy. This is the mood of Krishna consciousness, this is the mood of spiritual life, and this is the mood of devotion.

By the mercy of Gurudev, you are still there, you are practising Krishna consciousness, you are chanting the Holy Name and your mood is becoming holy. I know that there is so much difficulty going on all over the world, the financial and economical situation is now down, and especially you are suffering so much because of the economical condition. You cannot maintain the temple properly, but whatever you are collecting, Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra are happy to see your mood, to see your austerity. They both can see it, and Gurudev is also there—he can see your condition and your problem.

We are surrendered souls—we must depend upon Krishna. Krishna will provide what is necessary for us. Krishna looks after us, Krishna takes care of us. Actually, we cannot save ourselves—neither our parents, nor anybody else can save us, and we do not know what is good for us. We do not know anything—we have no quality, no qualification. We pray to the Lord, "Yogyata vichare kichhu nahi pai—tomara koruna-sara  (যোগ্যতা বিচারে কিছু নাহি পাই তোমার করুণা সার). We have no quality or qualification, we only need Your mercy."  That  is our quality. Wherever we are, whatever situation comes in our spiritual life, whether we are sad or happy, we must have chastity to our Gurudev. This is the main thing.

Whatever situation comes, whatever problem comes, we will not leave Krishna consciousness—we will practise, we will serve our Deities. We do not want to be selfish thinking, "Oh, I have taken initiation from Gurudev, I can stay alone!" and go to Govardhan and stay at Govinda Kunda: get an old house and live there eating some  chapati  and chanting. No. We need service. What did Gurudev say? We must not follow our mind. Do not go to stay alone in some place because if you stay in the temple, there are some rules and regulations, there is  magal arati, there is class, etc. and you will be under control of Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra, you will be under control of Gurudev. When you follow your mind, you will be controlled by your mind—you will lose your spiritual life, you will lose your devotion if you cannot control your mind. If you cannot control your anger, if you cannot control your lust, greed, attachment to material things, then day by day you will become angrier, more envious, more jealous and you will end up in a hellish position, very bad things will wait for you then.

Anyhow, you are still there in Venezuela. I know your situation and I am very happy with you all—you are going through so many suffering financially, but I am very happy to see your mood, to see you all—so many devotees and so many young boys—sitting in front of the Deities Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra.

We must think that we are  jiva  souls. You were born and death must come one day, you will not be alive forever. However, your service can make you live forever—your service will give you the certificate. It is necessary to realise and remember this.

* * *

Religions and Practices

Speaking to devotees in Caracas, Venezuela
31 August 2019, part 2

Do you have any questions? You can ask. I like you all, and you are all in my heart. Whatever condition you are in, whatever problem you have, I am always with you all. This is my promise.

Question:  I was brought up in Christian religion and now that I am following Vaishnavism, do I have to follow only Vaishnavism or both Christianity and Vaishnavism?

No, no. We are not followers of Christianity, Vaishnavism, or anything other ism. We are  jiva  souls and we follow that which is the duty of the  jiva  soul. We preach only this. You chant the Holy Name because you are a  jiva  soul, and all  jiva  souls want to chant the Holy Name, but they have no power—trees, dogs, cats, they cannot chant, they can only stand silent or shout. People all over the world also shout or talk so much nonsense, but what is the duty of those who are fortunate? Their duty is to chant the Holy Name, and that is not Vaishnavism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, or any other ism.

Devotee:  I wanted to ask if you could give your blessings to me.

May Krishna always bless you. Actually, if you get service, that is mercy. Gurudev said those who have no service, have no mercy, and those who no mercy have no service...

Any other questions?

Question:  I would like to come to India.

Good, everybody is always welcome. We need people here, but I know your family financial condition is very bad, that is why I am very afraid to tell you or Purujit Prabhu also to send people here. I know the plane fare costs too much money and it is also very difficult to get out of the country also, but if anybody is able to come, you are always welcome.

Question:  I went to the temple in Colombia recently and I want now to leave the country and live there.

Do you live alone? What are you going to do there?

Devotee:  Yes, I live alone. I want to work there, help the devotees and send something to Parama Karuna.

OK, but you must always keep connection with the Caracas temple. Anywhere you stay, you must always remember Gurudev, Guru Maharaj and Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra. Always keep connection with the temple, do not forget this connection, that is the main thing. If you go to some place for service and stay there, it is not a problem, but if you stay somewhere alone for your own enjoyment, your own interest, that is not good.

Question:  I have heard that there is no difference between sannyasis, brahmacharis, grihasthas, but some devotees explain that there is difference.

It is generally thought that  grihasthas  serve 50% and the  brahmacharis  who serve without any selfish interest serve 100%. If you read my book (Guidance 3), you can see there a chapter called 'Householders and Renuciates', then you can understand it. I am going to read only one-two words from it. I wrote there also about hell, renunciation, etc.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur wrote in the seventh chapter of his  Jaiva-dharma:

1) In Kali-yuga, one should be a  grihastha  Vaishnav. One must not be afraid to fall down—it is possible to have a complete and flourishing devotion. There are many transcendental gurus among the  grihastha  Vaishnavs.

2) Some of the  grihastha  devotees are qualified to become  griha-tyagi  Vaishnavs (devotees who give up their home). Their number in this world is very little and it is very difficult to get their association.

3) Vrajanath asks old Babaji Mahasay in the seventeenth chapter of  Jaiva-dharma, "If we call one a Vaishnav, does it mean that it is a 'griha-tyagi' (renounced) Vaishnav?" Babaji Mahasay replied, "A Vaishnav is a pure devotee of Krishna, be it a  grihastha  or a  griha-tyagi, a  brahman  or a  chandal  (meat-eater), a rich man or a poor man. The extent to which one has devotion to Krishna is the extent to which they are a devotee of Krishna."

4) Old Babaji Mahasay said again in the twenty-second chapter of  Jaiva-dharma  that as long as one does not get the qualification or right to renounce their home (to become a  griha-tyagi), one must serve Krishna as a  grihastha. The pastimes Mahaprabhu performed during His first twenty-four years are an example for the  grihastha  Vaishnavs, and the pastimes He performed during His last twenty-four years are an example for the  griha-tyagi  Vaishnavs. So we do not think that one cannot attain the highest love for Krishna while being a  grihastha: most of the recepients of Mahaprabhu's mercy are  grihasthas, and the  griha-tyagi  Vaishnavs pray for the feet dust of such  grihasthas.

Hearing all these instructions of Om Visnupad Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, many materialist householders were ready to get signed up as eternal slaves in the religion's ledger. If one can achieve the acme of perfection while carrying on enjoying, what intelligent person will want then to give up this kind of practice where you can have your bread buttered on both sides?

Followers of concocted religions resulting from the national sentimentalism as well as covetous materialists mix together enjoyment, renunciation and spiritual practise; this doctrine of  prakrita-sahajiyas  presented under disguise of spiritual search has been going on in this world since time immemorial. In fact, such views are distorted reflections of the teachings of the great souls in the mirror of sense gratification. To save us from this danger, our spiritual masters explain the distinction between two terms, 'griha-vrata' and 'grihastha'. Real  grihasthas  (housholders) are not devoted to their homes—they are devoted to Krishna. Real  sannyasis  are those who do not renounce Krishna and  kasna  (servant of Krishna)—they live as members of Krishna's family, or they are attached to the house of the Lord and His devotees. There is no difference between the essence of Vaishnava  grihasthas  and Vaishnava  sannyasis.

Those who are attached to their homes are already fallen souls and at every moment face the slippery waterfall of spiritual failure, so there is no fear of falling down.

You can read this book later, it is coming out in Spanish language soon—the printing has already finished and now they are doing the binding. Get this book and read it every day.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

I am always with you. Always remember Gurudev and Guru Maharaj, they will protect you all. I am thanking you all,  muchos gracias.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru  Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra Prabhu ki jay
All the Caracas devotees ki jay
All the South American devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Jay Sripad Purujit Prabhu ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Samagata sannyasi-vrinda, brahmachari-vrinda ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Preaching—Heartbeat of Krishna Consciousness

29 August 2019, part 1, Kolkata

I have been going to many places for service lately. I was in Nabadwip yesterday and in Ekachakra, Nrisingha Palli and another temple the day before yesterday, etc. There are festivals happening all the time, in every branch, that is why I must go there. Also, it is necessary to preach, I cannot sit in one place. Gurudev also told me, "If you have a nose, then you can wear a nose ring, but if you have no nose, how will you wear a nose ring?" So, temples are also necessary. Gurudev said if you preach outside, you need a temple because then people can come to take shelter there. Sometimes people say that it is not necessary to make a temple, but if you go to preach outside in this age of Kali, some people will want to join the mission and stay in the mission, serving with full surrender, with full renunciation—where will they go and stay if there is no temple? That is why it is necessary to have a temple.

Anyhow, we have just celebrated Janmastami. I was in Tarakeshwar on that day, some devotees made a festival in Nrinsigha Palli, you also made something here in Kolkata, etc. This festival was celebrated all over the world. Also, you know that Janmastami is followed by Radhastami. In Gurudev's time, I always went to Hapaniya on Radhastami and made a festival there. To this day, we always make a festival there on this day, this year also.

We want to know who is Radharani and who is our Guru... There are five devotional moods—santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, and  madhura rasa—and the Lord reciprocates each of these moods:

ye yatha mam prapadyante, tams tathaiva bhajamy aham
mama vartmanuvartante, manusyah partha sarvasah

"Howsoever people surrender to Me, I accordingly reward them. Being the ultimate goal of all paths, I am the objective to be attained by all. O Partha, all men follow My various paths."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

In  dasya rasa, devotees feel they are servants of the Lord; in  sakhya rasa, they feel they are friends of the Lord; in  vatsalya rasa, they feel, "Krishna is our son." This mood can be seen in Mother Yasoda, Nanda Maharaj, Jagannath Misra, Sachi Mata. Although it is the Lord Himself who is born in Kali-yuga in their family, Sachi Mata and Jagannath Misra did not think He was the Lord, they thought, "I do not know who is the Lord, I only know that He is my son." Mother Yasoda also thinks, "He is my son!"

There arises some contradiction because Krishna appeared from the womb of Devaki. Vasudev had two wives, Devaki and Rohini. Balaram came from Rohini and Krishna came from Devaki, but then both of Them became the sons of Yasoda. Yet, everyone thinks, "How can They be Yasoda's own two sons?" Srimad Bhagavatam always says that Krishna is "Yasoda-atmaja" (son of Yasoda), then He is actually the son of Yasoda.

And on 6 September, we are also going to celebrate Radhastami, the divine appearance of Sri Radhika...

* * *

Always Harmonise

Sri Lalita saptami, speaking to devotees in Turkey
22 September 2012

Dandavat.  Very nice, I am very happy to see you all and I am very happy with all the presentations you have sent  [with Sripad Tyagi Maharaj]. I have received all kinds of presentation, donation, etc. from you all, and I am very happy with your service. Ramray Prabhu also wrote me a few words, I saw it, and I am very happy. I always appreciate you all, and I am very happy because Krishna always gives His mercy to you, Gurudev is also always with you. Whenever I see Ramray Prabhu, I can see Gurudev—I am remembering how much affection Gurudev gave to him. Gurudev was always especially affectionate to Ramray Prabhu and Turkey because he works for the service of Gurudev. To this day, he still follows Gurudev's instruction. Actually, he does not want anything for himself, he only wants everything for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, and it makes me very happy.

Devotee:  By your grace, we would like to come to India next month.

Very good! I am very happy to hear that. Come for a longer time. You can go with me to Vrindavan, Govardhan, Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc. I am going to many places this time, so take a long holiday.

It is very nice to hear from you all. Our line is Krishna consciousness and practising more and more. I know it is a little difficult for Turkey because you cannot install Deities and follow the  puja  properly there.

Devotee:  Maharaj, would you like us to bring something for you from Turkey?

Only your mercy, love and affection.

Today is Lalita-saptami, it is a very nice day, and tomorrow is Radhastami. You know that Lalita Devi is the one who captures Radharani, who controls Radharani, Radha-Krishna's  prema, etc. You know who got the mercy of Lalita Devi, who can actually serve Lalita Devi. Lalita Devi is non-different from Guru.

Once, Srila Sridhar Maharaj asked our Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, "What is your favourite place?" Gurudev replied, "My favourite place is Uchagaon." Uchagaon is the birthplace of Lalita Devi, it is near Govardhan and Varsana where Radharani stayed.

Gurudev told: wherever you live, wherever you stay, you must maintain your spiritual life. You can live anywhere—in a jungle, in a rich house, poor house, in the street—but you must maintain your spiritual life, you must practise your spiritual life properly. This is my message for you all. Gurudev also told: everybody must be humble, tolerant, give honour to others, and harmonise any kind of situation. Some problems will come, something will always come up, but you must manage everything with harmony, with patience. We must be always ready to manage, to harmonise any situation. Something will always come up in Krishna consciousness, but we must be ready to solve it.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Lalita saptami ki jay
Uchagaon ki jay
Jay Turkish devotees ki jay
Sripad Ramray Prabhu ki jay
Ramananda Prabhu ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Sri Radhastami and Sons of Nectar

29 August 2019, part 2, Kolkata

This coming week, on 6 September this year, there is going to be the festival of Sri Radhastami. I wrote something about it in  Guidance 3.

Sri Radhastami

Tomorrow, our holy Math observes the festival of Sri Sri Radhastami. Sri Radha is the only worshippable Deity of Gaudiya Vaisnavs—we say 'the only' because if it was not for Gaudiya line, no one would be able to get the qualification to serve Sri Radha, nor would anyone have any appreciation for it. The Lord of the Gaudiyas (Gaudiyanath) has revealed to the world the deepest secret of this service and worship:

prema namadbhutarthah sravana-patha-gatah kasya namnam mahimnah
o vetta kasya vrndavana-vipina-maha madhurisu pravesah
o va janati radham parama-rasa-chamatkara-madhurya-simlam
kas chaitanya-chandrah parama-karunaya sarvam avischakara

(Sri Chaitanya-chandramrta, 10.130)

"Would anyone have heard that 'prema' (divine love of God) is the highest destination? Would anyone have known the glory of the Holy Name? Would anyone have had access to the  kadamba  forests of Vrndavan, filled with unfathomable sweetness? Would anyone have known Sri Varsabhanavi (Sri Radha, the highest worshippable Deity), who is the resplendent embodiment of superb excellence of sweet ecstatic love (madhurya-mahabhav)? Sri Chaitanya-chandra has revealed all this manifesting His supreme magnanimous pastimes."

যদি গৌর না হ'ত তবে কি হইত
কেমনে ধরিতাম দে ।
রাধার মহিমা প্রেমরস-সীমা
জগতে জানাত কে ? ॥

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

If Gauranga had not come, who would have distributed Krishna, Radharani's highest love? Who else could distribute that? Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. "Why is Radharani crying chanting His Name? Why is Radharani chanting His Holy Name?" She always chants, "Krishna, Krishna." "What taste does Radharani get serving Me?" Krishna wanted to taste that sweetness, for that He came in this age of Kali as a combined form of Radha Krishna, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Revealing is not the same as creating. Those who are covered by the shadow external potency of the Lord (worldly writers, archaeologists, material academic scholars, et al.) consider that Sri Chaitanyadev, Sri Radhika or Their predecessors are a creation of song-writers or  Puranas! Actually, if they broaden their narrow fossil conception only a little bit, they will never think that the transcendental may take some other form being subject to birth and death.

There are authors who write statements like this about Sri Radhika saying that many people exaggerate Her greatness. One author wrote, "Sri Radhika-sundari is created by devotion and love. She is neither anyone's daughter, nor born from a pond. There is no such image of a woman in the entire scope of poetry on this planet that could convey a particle of Her separation or could accommodate even one single wave of Her happiness." Some other author takes liberty to write, "At first Srimati Radha appeared in  Brahma-vaivarta  and several other Sanskrit books, and then She entered the assembly of gods on an auspicious day in the age of Aryans (Dvapar-yuga). The eternally worshippable gods and goddesses were shadowed by Her stark beauty. Poets and devotees were overjoyed to see this Goddess who is like an untouched  malati  flower fallen from the tree—they took the flowers they had collected for Durga Devi and Kali Devi, their permanent worshippable Deities, and let it swing on the neck of Sri Radhika."

If we were to decry all these modern age defaming produced by the writers in the veil of ancient wisdom, it would require explaining many things. As this most secret great ocean is not revealed at the market of common people attached to lust and anger but is kept carefully amidst the hidden treasure, these writers, scholars, wisers or commonplace devotional movements with their gross intellect do not get the qualification to see Srimati Radharani (to have Her  darsan) within  Srimad Bhagavatam. How can this most profound fact be explained at a large scale to those who are engrossed in the material world? Because Sir Isaac Newton observed the law of gravity in a garden in a town called Woolsthorpe, it is considered that this is the 'birth' of this law—before that, nobody had known about the existence of this law, neither had the spoken law actually existed before that. This is when the domain of guesswork terminates. Perhaps, America was known to people long before 1492 when Columbus discovered it, but the ancient evidence is now probably buried within some archaeological site. Before the ancient archaeological site at Mohenjo-daro was discovered, nobody could even think about the existence of this civilisation. Therefore, when the scope of human knowledge is insufficient to know about the material creation, when we try to judge about the transcendental world using imperfect modern tools, our imperfect senses and our brain covered by lust, anger, etc.—it is not only hazardous, but we may consciously or unconsciously take a strong vindictive stance towards the truth.

Once, a modern traditional guru-cum-writer Ray Gunakar Bharata Chandra, being unable to understand the true nature of Sri Radhika, wrote about Her as being under the influence of the Lord's external shadow potency! Although he actually lived at Satasana Math, Sri Puri Dham (the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami lived and served immersed into the service of Sri Radha), and pretended to practise with disinterested nature, he had to eventually give it up—he created a fictional character of Hira Malini, a beautiful mundane enchanting courtesan, which is an imitation based on the resemblance with the transcendental and couched this similarity in the a fine poetic form—as a result, he actually brought about a flood of lust that filled the moat of Bengali language and literature of the time. We do not blame Ray Gunakar, for he is an extension of illusory environment,  maya, who is capable of producing even that which is impossible!  Maya  (illusory potency of the Lord) has cast a cataract on the eyes of nearly the entire world—all the ancient or modern writers, archaeologists, et al.; and to this day Maya, who is the origin of Durga Devi, the mistress of the entire creation, and the personal potency of the Lord, guards and protects the unparalleled, highly confidential wealth of Sri Radhika.

Srila Prabhupad laid a special stress on this and expressed it in very appropriate Gaudiya terms and conclusions. Unless we serve the transcendental Govardhan, we will not be able to realise the supremacy of Sri Radha Kunda that lies beside Govardhan and is inundated with the nectar of divine love. 'Go' means senses or knowledge. If you serve the external, physical Govardhan, i.e. cultivate knowledge merely to increase or indulge your selfish material senses, then you are actually dunking yourself into the waters of Niraya Kunda (Hell Pond) that is created by the  mahamaya, the external shadow potency of Sri Radha; those who foster transcendental senses and cultivate transcendental knowledge consider that service to Govardhan is to give pleasure to Krishna's senses. When the demon Aristasur attacks Govardhan with his horns trying to expand his own enjoyment (when mundane rationalism attacks theism and is about to destroy the truth of five spiritual relationships with the Lord, namely neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood and consorthood), then Krishna kills this demon and establishes the truth. When the bull-demon Aristasur was slain, an elderly  gopi  named Madanika handed Sri Radhika-sundari over to Krishna as a reward for that.

Aristasur assumes the form of a bull. 'Go' (a cow) is considered among religious-minded people to be a symbol of  dharma, religion, and it is also known as the carrier of Lord Rudra, who is in charge of universal annihilation. So, when the bull-demon of rationalism comes to charge the banner of religion, Krishna destroys this promoter of rationalism.

Lord Rudra (Siva) rides a bull and carries Ganga—the water that washes the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, a personal expansion of Lord Krishna Himself—on his head. This Lord Rudra, when he was defeated by Cupid, wanted to understand the transcendental pleasure Madan Mohan (Krishna, the Enchanter of Cupid) experiences during His  rasa-lila  and prayed for the mercy of the  gopis. This Lord Krishna, surrounded by dancing  sadharani  and  samanjasa gopis  (gopis  with general and appropriate attraction) during the  rasa-lila, left that place of the  rasa-lila. Being attracted only by the love of His dearmost Ananda-vidhayini Sri Radhika, He left the place of  rasa-lila  and followed behind Her. Those common  gopis  then spoke about Her, the main heroine of  Srimad Bhagavatam, in this way:

anayaradhito nyunam bhagavan harir-isvarah
an no vihaya govindah prito yam anayad rahah

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.30.24)

"My friend! Krishna has abandoned us and took Her to a secluded place. She must have worshipped the Supreme Lord very much." The hidden meaning of these words is that because She is the crest jewel among all the beloved of Krishna, Her name is Radhika.

We hear also that after Aristasur (bull-demon) was killed, two  kundas  were created—Sri Syama Kunda and Sri Radha Kunda. At this Radha Kunda Sri Krishna always enjoys the  rasa-lila  with Sri Radhika and Her group at midnight. These nocturnal pastimes are far more captivating than the midday pastimes, and the general  gopis  have no entrance there. Those who are attracted by the flute of Sri Krishna but, not waiting for the guidance of Sri Radhika, come to play with 'Dhira Samira' Krishna, have no right to enter the  rasa-lila  performed at Radha Kunda—Chandravali has no right to enter there.

The dancing and loving pastimes of Rasaraj Sri Krishna (the King of Love) have nothing to do with the frenzied dance of Nataraj Rudra or any of the imitative various modern and traditional indigenous dances. In fact, Gopisvar Sadasiva learned to dance at the  rasa-mandali, and based on that, his plenary expansion Rudra manifests his Nataraj form (Lord Siva dancing at the time of universal annihilation). We can see in  Sri Brhad-bhagvatamrta  that Rudra is a servant of Sankarsan and, being always absorbed in the chanting of the name of Rama, he creates his frantic dance that drives the world mad. Imitating the ever increasing enjoyment of this dancing of Rudra the world is heading towards the tryst with annihilation.

Pure devotees who are devoid of  anarthas, have revealed the service pastimes of Sri Radhika in the scriptures dealing with the transcendental mellows of divine love, such  Karnamrta, Sri Gita Govinda, books written by Chandidas, Vidyapati, etc., but the associate followers of Sri Gaurasundar, the Supreme Lord adorned by the heart and halo of Sri Radhika, can reveal far greater super excellence of Her service than what is described in these scriptures. That is why so many transcendental literatures on the transcendental mellows of divine love were composed—Sri Ray Ramananda composed his  Sri Jagannath-vallabha Nataka Giti, Sri Rupa Goswami composed  Vidagdha Madhava,  Dana-keli-kaumudi, Stavamala, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, the greatest follower of Sri Rupa Goswami, composed  Mukta-charita, Stava-vali, and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami Prabhu, a follower of Srila Raghunath, composed  Sri Govinda-lilamrta, etc. Gaudiya Vaisnavs' reading of  Gita Govinda, Karnamrta, Vidyapati, Chandidas and the reading of non-Gaudiya Vaisnavs are worlds apart. It is impossible to understand it through mundane examples or analogies—even if you compare a lecture on Shakespeare and Kalidas by a hardly literate person and a lecture on their works by an expert professor, this analogy would be still insufficient.

To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Kritika lived there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, and worshipped the Lord. On the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the  naksatra  called Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel daughter appeared in the house of Raja Vrisabhanu illuminating the house, the town and all the ten directions. Overwhelmed with joy, Goparaj Vrisabhanu, Ratnabhanu and Subhanu, three brothers who stayed in Vrisabhanupur, began to dance. Greatly fortunate Kritika was beside herself with joy when she saw her budding moon-like daughter. A wave of joy engulfed Surapur and Vrajapur. This transcendental jewel of a daughter became renowned as Vrisabhanu-nandini Sri Radhika.

"tata arabhya nandasya vrajah sarva-samrddhiman
arer nivasatma-gunai ramakridam abhun nrpa"

"O Maharaj Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaj is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Krishna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.5.18)

For as long as the son of Nanda Maharaj enjoyed His pastimes confidentially in the abode of Lord Hari in Nanda-Gokula, all the  gopis  of Vraja, headed by Sri Radha, enjoyed with Him confidentially. However, when Sri Nanda Kumar enjoyed His pastimes openly, the crest jewel of the Vraja-gopis  Sri Radhika expanded Herself into many  gopis  and enjoyed Sri Krishna's pastimes openly.

If one thinks "the flowers collected for Durga and Kali garlanded the neck of Sri Radhika" or that "appearing in  Brahma-vaivarta, Sri Radhika entered the assembly of gods on an auspicious day in the age of Aryans (Dvapar-yuga)," then it will not only terminate their archaeological escapades, but will also leave them cheated in their attempts to research the scriptures.

Durga is described in  Brahma-samhita  as an internal potency of Govinda—she enchants, creates, maintains and annihilates the entire world. She is also described as a shadow potency of Sri Radha, who enchants the mind of Govinda, the enchanter of the world. Unless one becomes fully initiated into the service of the transcendental eternal Deity who is the origin of this internal potency, no one can understand this matter easily with one's intellect or intelligence. They are not infertile though—if the intelligence of such writers becomes cleansed, they can understand the reality. The fact is that if the imperfect  jiva  souls cannot recognise Vrisabhanu Nandini considering Her a mere fiction, an idol of literary works, then they bring about their own destruction submerging themselves in the filth of amusing literatures. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu, a master of transcendental literature and a follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, sang,

tasya apara-rasa-sara-vilasa-murter
nanda-kanda-paramadbhuta-saumya-laksmyah
rahmadi-durlabha-gater vrsabhanu-jayah
ainkaryam eva mama janmani janmani syat

"May I attain the service of Vrisabhanu-nandini birth after birth. She is the personification of the essence of the transcendental mellows of divine love. With a form of the most wonderful transcendental bliss, She is the supreme goddess of fortune. Her lotus feet are difficult to attain even for the demigods headed by Lord Brahma."

ha devi kaku-bharagada-gadayadya vacha
ache nipatya bhuvi dandavadudbhatartih
sya prasada-mavudhasya janasya krtva
andharvike tava gane gananam vidhehi

"O Devi! In great distress I fall to the ground offering You obeisances and prayers with a voice choked with emotion. O Gandharvika! Please bestow Your mercy upon this pauper and count me amongst Your own associates."

From these last two  slokas  we can see what Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami write about Srimati Radharani's glorification. In this article, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad explains the glorification and the highest position of Srimati Radharani.

radha-bhajane yadi mati nahi bhela
krsna-bhajana tava akarane gela

"If you do not worship Srimati Radharani, your worship of Krishna is nothing."

As I have just read, some lecturers, big personalities, or big professors, say things with their intellect, but they actually cannot understand these kinds of things. It is very difficult to understand it.

varaja-yuvati bhavera bhakati
sakati ha-ita kara?

Who would have the great expertise needed to enter into the sweetness of sweet Vrindavan? Who would have any qualification for the Vraja-gopis' ecstatic devotion?

Who can understand Vraja  yuvati  and  sakti  (beauty and power of Vrindavan)? Radharani is the highest servitor of Lord Sri Krishna, She is the highest gopi. Not everybody can enter the  rasa-lila  of Radha-Krishna—only those who have quality and qualification can understand this kind of transcendental land.

We are in the mundane world and we always are facing so many problems. We live in a hellish position, we are suffering so much. If we want to see a beautiful life, a beautiful mood, beautiful character, and a happy life, then we should serve our Guru properly. It is necessary to have chastity. Without chastity, how can we assert that we are servitors of Gurudev and Guru Maharaj?

Gurudev gave us this position and Gurudev gave this teaching, then we cannot deny Gurudev's mercy, but the problem is that we sometimes follow our mind and pass our life following our own way...

Read the small book  Original Source—Gurudev writes there about it very nicely.

You are Sons of Nectar

A discourse given to a large devotional gathering
in the prestigious Multicentre, Morelia, Mexico.

You are all my spiritual relatives, assembled here today for hearing something from me about Krishna consciousness. I humbly pay my respects to you all because you have given me this opportunity to speak about my Lord Sri Krishna and His associates. I want to do good for you, good for myself, and good for the world. I have some experience. I am an old man, and I stayed many years with my Guru Maharaj, who was vastly learned in Vedic knowledge and ultimately a siddha-mahapurus—a perfect, liberated soul. His affection, mercy, well wishes, and desire have given me something. I feel it, and I cannot deny it. I may be a very low-class person, but how can I deny the gift of my Gurudev? I am a very tiny and insignificant  jiva-soul, nothing else; this is my identity. But if I give all of you the gift of my Lord Krishna and my Guru Maharaj—the little ecstasy that I have got—if I give to your holy ear the sound vibration that is coming down from the transcendental world, you must be benefitted, and I shall also be benefitted. Krishna will bless me, and my Guru Maharaj will be satisfied that I shall have done something in this world.

Actually we are all spiritual entities, and because we are part and parcel of our Lord, our home is eternally existing in the transcendental abode of the Lord. You have heard of the  Upanisads, Vedas, Vedanta, and the other scriptures which were revealed in India in written form five thousand years ago. Previously, this knowledge existed as  sruti-mantram, spoken words, and it was transmitted by rsis and munis to their disciples through  sruti-mantram. At that time there were no books. Vedavyas has very mercifully given us the written form of  sruti-mantram: the  Veda. He divided the Veda (sruti) into four parts:  Rg, Sama, Yajur, and  Atharva. He also composed the corollary literatures (smrti) like the Mahabharata, which is called the fifth  Veda. The gist of the  Vedas  can also be found in the hundreds of  Upanisads  he wrote. The great rsis, Vedic research scholars, have also presented the Vedic knowledge in the  Puranas. Thus, through the great rsis, this transcendental knowledge is being revealed in this mundane world, and when necessary, from time to time, an incarnation of the Lord manifests by whose divine mercy we get a connection with that transcendental knowledge.

These Vedic literatures mainly try to give us transcendental knowledge, and for our benefit they have proclaimed, "Srnvantu visve amrtasya putra: you are all the sons of nectar, transcendental nectar; you are from the nectarean ocean. Dive deep into that nectar!" We are all parts and parcels of the Lord, therefore we are spiritual relatives.

We are one spiritual family, we need everybody. We are like one body—in a body, I need a hand, I need some fingers, I need a head, I need two legs. In a spiritual family also we need everybody.

Here in the mundane world we are seeing many differences. Some of us are born in India, some in Russia, some in Mexico, Latin America, and so on. In this world there are so many countries and so many completely different languages. But the spirit that is living within everybody, without which the body is useless, is coming from the same place. We call this place the spiritual world or the transcendental world.

We want eternity, we want love, we want affection, we want mercy and ecstasy. These are our hankerings, but this mundane world cannot successfully give any of these things to us. But in the transcendental world everything is existing eternally in a very beautiful and sweet way.

Everyone will pass away from this world one day, whether he is poor or rich, rogue or scholar, animal or tree. When we have been born, it is sure we will die. Death will not give any notice to us, "Today is your dying day", or "Today is your birth day". Birth and death are actually beyond our control. Maybe we can extend some time or reduce some time, but when we have been born, we must die. This wave of birth and death is surrounding this world. It is surrounding not only our present planet but the whole universe. Beyond the orbit of this universe many universes also exist, and this wave of birth and death is rolling through all of them. This knowledge has been given to us by the Vedic research scholars, and now the scientists in this age are also saying the same thing.

This world is always completely filled with quarrel. The wave of death and birth is always flowing through this world, and there are so many problems. You hear many things on the radio, the television, and in the newspapers, therefore you know how much violence is going on all over. Everywhere this bad situation will come to be, as it is written in the scriptures. It is the Age of Kali. Kali means quarrel. We cannot avoid it. I may be a very good man, but without cause I may be attacked by violence. Many things happen, and many good men have been killed. So death and birth is beyond our control. I may be protected by so many bodyguards, like John Kennedy, like Martin Luther King Jr, like Indira Gandhi, like so many who were protected by many bodyguards but could not avoid death.

We are also not secure or satisfied in this world. What do we want here? We want love, affection, charm, beauty, and ecstasy. Ultimately, we want eternity, but in this world it is not possible in any way to get it. Here, what is the form of love, what is the form of beauty, of affection? All are only a shadow or reflection of the transcendental world. As such, here we are playing only within the shadow. All that we are getting is in the form of shadow, and the substance is missing.

We are eating rice powder mixed with water and thinking we are drinking milk. Actually, when we will get a proper taste of transcendental ecstasy and feel its transcendental form, we will feel that transcendental knowledge is within us, and that our Lord is within us. Then we will understand everything very clearly and easily. That connection is necessary for us.

In which way may we get it? Our sincere searching tendency can give us that connection. We must want to search. If it is possible, why will we not proceed in that line? The research scholars of religion have made many contributions and made that knowledge available. If you come forward sincerely, you will get it. It is so easy to get if you have faith, chastity, and a little good fortune. Without good fortune it is very difficult to get it.

* * *

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (1)

Appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Hapaniya
17 September 2018, part 1

Today is a very auspicious day in our spiritual life, and every year on this day we make a festival for Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinathjiu in Hapaniya. This place is very auspicious—it is the appearance place (birthplace) of our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Remembering this place, almost all of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrothers—Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj, Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj, Satish Prabhu (he later became Sri Nayananda Babaji) and others—would come to visit this holy place of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

This place is very auspicious. Srila Jajavar Goswami Maharaj regarded this place as Varshana because it is the highest place in this area. During the floods, the water at our Nabadwip temple can be ten-feet high—the first floor will be already full of water, and it would be almost coming to the second floor—but at that time there is no water at the temple here. Varshana (the place where Radharani lived) is also the highest place, that is why Srila Jajavar Maharaj said that this place here in Hapaniya is nondifferent from Varshana.

Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj would walk here all the way from Nabadwip. We came here by car and we feel tired, but Srila Babaji Maharaj would come walking to the birthplace of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. On his way, he would chant the whole of  Sri Sri Prema-Dhama-Devam Stotra,

krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-krsna-nama-kirtanam
rama-rama-gana-ramya-divya chhanda-nartanam
yatra-tatra-krsna-nama-dana-loka-nistaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

Later, the Supreme Lord travelled to the holy places of pilgrimage in South India with the clever intention of delivering the fallen souls. Appearing as a beautiful young renunciate, He distributed the sweet Names of the Lord, singing: "Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna he," as He strolled down the different pathways, entered temples, and visited homesteads during the sacred pilgrimage. Infused with an inconceivable type of divine inspiration, the Lord freely chanted "Rama Rama" and joyfully danced with the most charming gestures. Irrespective of time or personal qualification, the assembled bystanders were delivered by the Lord, who inspired them to chant Krishna's Holy Names. I offer my obeisances to that beautiful Golden Lord, Gauranga Sundar, the divine form of Krishna prema.

(Prema-dhama-deva Stotram, 22)

This  Prema-Dhama-Devam Stotra  is composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and its seventy-two  slokas  contain all pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj remembered all of the  slokas  by heart, he did not have to see the book to recite it. Also, his tune was very nice, he was a very good  kirtaniya.

Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj would come here from Nabadwip singing Prema-Dhama-Devam Stotra and, when he was here, he would go to see the school where Srila Sridhar Maharaj studied (it is three-four kilometres from here, Okorsa High School), he would go to the primary school nearby in Hapaniya where Srila Sridhar Maharaj studied, he would search at which playground Srila Sridhar Maharaj played football, in which pond Srila Sridhar Maharaj bathed, and so on. He visited all these places. One day, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj asked him, "Maharaj, you are my godbrother, I do not mind you going to my birthplace, but why do you go to the school where I studied, the playground where I played, etc.?" And Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj replied, "Seeing the kind of  slokas  you have composed makes me think of Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami. Remembering them and thinking that you are nondifferent from Srila Rupa Goswami, I remember those  slokas  and come here."

In his childhood, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj would walk three-four kilometres from here to the Ganges—he would bathe in it, take a lotus flower and give it to Lord Siva here. You can see a small temple of Lord Siva outside our temple, near the big gate. It was built later—that place used to be open, without any house, but later, on the order of Gurudev, we made a house for Lord Siva there.

* * *

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (2)

Appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Hapaniya
17 September 2018, part 2

In his childhood, Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not spend time on playing football and gossiping—he always spoke Sanskrit with his family and village boys. They were all from brahman families, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj would chant the Holy Name here, at the small temple near this temple's gate. At that time, there was only a house here, and the Deities of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinath are installed at the exact place where Srila Sridhar Maharaj was born.

One day, Gurudev brought Srila Sridhar Maharaj here and said, "I want to make something here in remembrance of you, so please show me where exactly your birthplace is." Srila Sridhar Maharaj showed it to Gurudev and told him, "This is my actual birthplace." After that, Gurudev built this temple here. It was many years ago, perhaps fifty-forty years ago. This temple here was made by Gurudev, and the Deities were installed by Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj. Many of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrothers came at that time for the inauguration, and Gurudev also brought Srila Sridhar Maharaj. At first, Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not want to come to his birthplace, but Gurudev managed to persuade him. When Srila Sridhar Maharaj came here, he wanted to come and go the same day, but the village people did not allow him to leave on the same day. They said, "You have come here so many years after leaving this village, and you have become a big guru, you must stay here at least for a few days!" In this way, Srila Sridhar Maharaj stayed here for three days. This is the history, or pastimes, of Hapaniya Dham.

'Hapaniya' means 'ha-paniya'—'paniya' is 'water' and 'ha-paniya' is 'sweet water'. Sometimes, we get coconut water here, and if you taste it, you can feel that it has a special taste, different from other coconut water. Coconut water is sweet here.

Every year, we make a festival here to celebrate Sri Radhastami and after Gaura Purnima (on  pancham-dol) on the installation day of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinath. We make big festivals here on these two days. In this way, remembering the appearance place of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, we come here every year.

You have heard about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu going to Halisahar. We have a branch near that place—another name of that place is Chaitanya Doba ('doba' means 'a pond'). How did that pond appear? Mahaprabhu went there and told devotees, "This is My Gurudev's birthplace." Hearing that it was Ishvar Puri's birthplace, every devotee took a small piece of soil from that place, and, because there were so many devotees with Mahaprabhu at that time, there appeared a big pond. That big pond is not called Chaitanya Doba. Mahaprabhu taught in this way that from time to time one can go to the birthplace of a holy, divine personality. That is why we come here to Hapaniya, we go to Bamunpara, Gurudev's birthplace, we always come to see the birthplace of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur near Bamupara, the birthplace of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami in Jhamatpur Baharan, the birthplace of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and many other holy personalities.

We will chant some  kirtans  now and then again speak about the appearance of Srimati Radharani. In this way, we shall observe this day.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Sri Radhastami: World Beyond Lust

Sri Radhastami, morning class, Siliguri
Reading from Guidance 3 (English),
the commentary is translated from Bengali
6 September 2019

I will now say a few words in English. The lectures are recorded and going to be sent all over the world that is why it is necessary to say something in English. I have compiled this book (Guidance 3) myself, and there is a lot about Srimati Radharani written in this book.

Sri Radhastami

Tomorrow, our holy Math observes the festival of Sri Sri Radhastami. Sri Radha is the only worshippable Deity of Gaudiya Vaisnavs—we say 'the only' because if it was not for Gaudiya line, no one would be able to get the qualification to serve Sri Radha, nor would anyone have any appreciation for it. The Lord of the Gaudiyas (Gaudiyanath) has revealed to the world the deepest secret of this service and worship:

prema namadbhutarthah sravana-patha-gatah kasya namnam mahimnah
o vetta kasya vrndavana-vipina-maha madhurisu pravesah
o va janati radham parama-rasa-chamatkara-madhurya-simlam
kas chaitanya-chandrah parama-karunaya sarvam avischakara

(Sri Chaitanya-chandramrta, 10.130)

"Would anyone have heard that 'prema' (divine love of God) is the highest destination? Would anyone have known the glory of the Holy Name? Would anyone have had access to the  kadamba  forests of Vrndavan, filled with unfathomable sweetness? Would anyone have known Sri Varsabhanavi (Sri Radha, the highest worshippable Deity), who is the resplendent embodiment of superb excellence of sweet ecstatic love (madhurya-mahabhav)? Sri Chaitanya-chandra has revealed all this manifesting His supreme magnanimous pastimes.”

Would anyone have heard what  prema  is? The so called love found in this world is not love—it is all  kama, lust. There is no love in this world.  Prema  is divine love, it is love for God, the feeling of being drawn to God. It is the realisation that we are all children of the Lord and we have lost our father. We must search for Him life after life... We have lost Him so many births ago, but our Guru-varga has given us an opportunity in this life to find Him.

Revealing is not the same as creating. Those who are covered by the shadow external potency of the Lord (worldly writers, archaeologists, material academic scholars, et al.) consider that Sri Chaitanyadev, Sri Radhika or Their predecessors are a creation of song-writers or  Puranas! Actually, if they broaden their narrow fossil conception only a little bit, they will never think that the transcendental may take some other form being subject to birth and death.

There are authors who write statements like this about Sri Radhika saying that many people exaggerate Her greatness. One author wrote, "Sri Radhika-sundari is created by devotion and love. She is neither anyone's daughter, nor born from a pond. There is no such image of a woman in the entire scope of poetry on this planet that could convey a particle of Her separation or could accommodate even one single wave of Her happiness." Some other author takes liberty to write, "At first Srimati Radha appeared in  Brahma-vaivarta  and several other Sanskrit books, and then She entered the assembly of gods on an auspicious day in the age of Aryans (Dvapar-yuga). The eternally worshippable gods and goddesses were shadowed by Her stark beauty. Poets and devotees were overjoyed to see this Goddess who is like an untouched  malati  flower fallen from the tree—they took the flowers they had collected for Durga Devi and Kali Devi, their permanent worshippable Deities, and let it swing on the neck of Sri Radhika."

Very nicely written!

If we were to decry all these modern age defaming produced by the writers in the veil of ancient wisdom, it would require explaining many things. As this most secret great ocean is not revealed at the market of common people attached to lust and anger but is kept carefully amidst the hidden treasure, these writers, scholars, wisers or commonplace devotional movements with their gross intellect do not get the qualification to see Srimati Radharani (to have Her  darsan) within  Srimad Bhagavatam. How can this most profound fact be explained at a large scale to those who are engrossed in the material world? Because Sir Isaac Newton observed the law of gravity in a garden in a town called Woolsthorpe, it is considered that this is the 'birth' of this law—before that, nobody had known about the existence of this law, neither had the spoken law actually existed before that. This is when the domain of guesswork terminates. Perhaps, America was known to people long before 1492 when Columbus discovered it, but the ancient evidence is now probably buried within some archaeological site. Before the ancient archaeological site at Mohenjo-daro was discovered, nobody could even think about the existence of this civilisation. Therefore, when the scope of human knowledge is insufficient to know about the material creation, when we try to judge about the transcendental world using imperfect modern tools, our imperfect senses and our brain covered by lust, anger, etc.—it is not only hazardous, but we may consciously or unconsciously take a strong vindictive stance towards the truth.

Once, a modern traditional guru-cum-writer Ray Gunakar Bharata Chandra, being unable to understand the true nature of Sri Radhika, wrote about Her as being under the influence of the Lord's external shadow potency! Although he actually lived at Satasana Math, Sri Puri Dham (the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami lived and served immersed into the service of Sri Radha), and pretended to practise with disinterested nature, he had to eventually give it up—he created a fictional character of Hira Malini, a beautiful mundane enchanting courtesan, which is an imitation based on the resemblance with the transcendental and couched this similarity in the a fine poetic form—as a result, he actually brought about a flood of lust that filled the moat of Bengali language and literature of the time. We do not blame Ray Gunakar, for he is an extension of illusory environment,  maya, who is capable of producing even that which is impossible!  Maya  (illusory potency of the Lord) has cast a cataract on the eyes of nearly the entire world—all the ancient or modern writers, archaeologists, et al.; and to this day Maya, who is the origin of Durga Devi, the mistress of the entire creation, and the personal potency of the Lord, guards and protects the unparalleled, highly confidential wealth of Sri Radhika.

Srila Prabhupad laid a special stress on this and expressed it in very appropriate Gaudiya terms and conclusions. Unless we serve the transcendental Govardhan, we will not be able to realise the supremacy of Sri Radha Kunda that lies beside Govardhan and is inundated with the nectar of divine love. 'Go' means senses or knowledge. If you serve the external, physical Govardhan, i.e. cultivate knowledge merely to increase or indulge your selfish material senses, then you are actually dunking yourself into the waters of Niraya Kunda (Hell Pond) that is created by the  mahamaya, the external shadow potency of Sri Radha; those who foster transcendental senses and cultivate transcendental knowledge consider that service to Govardhan is to give pleasure to Krishna's senses. When the demon Aristasur attacks Govardhan with his horns trying to expand his own enjoyment (when mundane rationalism attacks theism and is about to destroy the truth of five spiritual relationships with the Lord, namely neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood and consorthood), then Krishna kills this demon and establishes the truth. When the bull-demon Aristasur was slain, an elderly  gopi  named Madanika handed Sri Radhika-sundari over to Krishna as a reward for that.

Aristasur assumes the form of a bull. 'Go' (a cow) is considered among religious-minded people to be a symbol of  dharma, religion, and it is also known as the carrier of Lord Rudra, who is in charge of universal annihilation. So, when the bull-demon of rationalism comes to charge the banner of religion, Krishna destroys this promoter of rationalism.

Lord Rudra (Siva) rides a bull and carries Ganga—the water that washes the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, a personal expansion of Lord Krishna Himself—on his head. This Lord Rudra, when he was defeated by Cupid, wanted to understand the transcendental pleasure Madan Mohan (Krishna, the Enchanter of Cupid) experiences during His  rasa-lila  and prayed for the mercy of the  gopis. This Lord Krishna, surrounded by dancing  sadharani  and  samanjasa gopis  (gopis  with general and appropriate attraction) during the  rasa-lila, left that place of the  rasa-lila. Being attracted only by the love of His dearmost Ananda-vidhayini Sri Radhika, He left the place of  rasa-lila  and followed behind Her. Those common  gopis  then spoke about Her, the main heroine of  Srimad Bhagavatam, in this way:

anayaradhito nyunam bhagavan harir-isvarah
an no vihaya govindah prito yam anayad rahah

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.30.24)

"My friend! Krishna has abandoned us and took Her to a secluded place. She must have worshipped the Supreme Lord very much." The hidden meaning of these words is that because She is the crest jewel among all the beloved of Krishna, Her name is Radhika.

We hear also that after Aristasur (bull-demon) was killed, two  kundas  were created—Sri Syama Kunda and Sri Radha Kunda. At this Radha Kunda Sri Krishna always enjoys the  rasa-lila  with Sri Radhika and Her group at midnight. These nocturnal pastimes are far more captivating than the midday pastimes, and the general  gopis  have no entrance there. Those who are attracted by the flute of Sri Krishna but, not waiting for the guidance of Sri Radhika, come to play with 'Dhira Samira' Krishna, have no right to enter the  rasa-lila  performed at Radha Kunda—Chandravali has no right to enter there.

The dancing and loving pastimes of Rasaraj Sri Krishna (the King of Love) have nothing to do with the frenzied dance of Nataraj Rudra or any of the imitative various modern and traditional indigenous dances. In fact, Gopisvar Sadasiva learned to dance at the  rasa-mandali, and based on that, his plenary expansion Rudra manifests his Nataraj form (Lord Siva dancing at the time of universal annihilation). We can see in  Sri Brhad-bhagvatamrta  that Rudra is a servant of Sankarsan and, being always absorbed in the chanting of the name of Rama, he creates his frantic dance that drives the world mad. Imitating the ever increasing enjoyment of this dancing of Rudra the world is heading towards the tryst with annihilation.

Laksmi Devi does not have entrance to  rasa-lila  of Radha-Krishna. You can see in Vrindavan—when we go to Belvan crossing the Yamuna, there is a Deity of Lakmi Devi: she sits there with folded palms. She cannot cross the Yamuna because she has no devotional adherence. But Sivji Maharaj told Parvati Devi one day,

"I will go to  rasa-lila!"

Parvati Devi replied, "How can you? You are a man! Except Krishna no man can enter there! If you are to go there, you must become a  gopi, you must adopt devotional adherence to  gopis!"

"OK, dress me as a gopi then."

Parvati Devi dressed Gopishwar Lord Siva, and now he looked like a beautiful  gopi. Then, Lord Siva said,

"OK, I am going then."

"Have you dressed yourself as a  gopi  or have you become a  gopi?"

Guru Maharaj said also—have you dressed yourself as a  sadhu  or have you become a  sadhu, have you become a devotee or have you dressed yourself as a devotee? If you only dress as a devotee, this is wrong.

gaura amara ye saba sthane
karala bhramana range
se saba sthana heribo ami
pranayi-bhakata-sange

"In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar roamed during His ecstatic Pastimes."

('Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

loka dekhana gora bhaja tilaka matra dhari'
gopanete atyachara gora dhare churi

You show the world you serve Gora simply by wearing tilak but secretly you misbehave. Gora will catch you, you thief!

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6-7)

You cannot worship Gora just by wearing  tilak, neckbeads, etc. That is why the question is whether you have become a  sadhu  or you merely dress as a  sadhu, and that is why Parvati Devi asked Lord Siva, "Have you become a  gopi  or have you merely dressed yourself as a  gopi?" Then she said, "If you can accept chaste devotion (anugatya) to  gopis, then you can enter there. Pray to the  gopis."

Following Parvati Devi's instruction, praying and praying to  gopis, Lord Siva entered the place of  rasa-lila. At first, the  gopis  could not recognise him, but then they noticed that, seeing that a new  gopi  had come, Krishna started talking and joking with her, and some of the sharper  gopis—Lalita, Visakha, Radhika and others—wondered, "What is going on? Who is this new  gopi? We have never seen her before! Who has come here at Vamsivat?"

This pastime happened at Vamsivat (vat  means 'a banyan tree')—Krishna would play His flute sitting on the banyan tree there and all the  gopis, hearing the flute's call, would come there in the dead of night leaving behind their husbands, children, everything. They would leave everything to fulfil Krishna's desire, and this is not  kama, lust—this is  prema, divine love. This is what I am telling in this chapter also—people write so much about  gopis  and Radharani and they enjoy with that, but what they write about Radharani and who Radharani is, is worlds apart.

So, what happened then? When the  gopis  realised that Sivji Maharaj had come there, they pulled out his clothes, beat and dragged him out of the  rasa-lila  place! Then, Krishna came to him and said, "As you have entered Vrindavan and the  rasa-mancha, then let it be so—do not enter the  rasa-mancha, but stay near it."

Every year, when we go to Vamsivat, we first offer our obeisance to Gopishwar. Gopishwar actually means 'the master of  gopis.' Hearing that Krishna called him Gopishwar, Radharani got angry and left the  rasa-mancha. She said, "Why is he Gopishwar (master of  gopis)? I am the mistress of the  gopis! A new  gopi  comes and You call her Gopishwar?!" Angry, She left and went to a pond five miles away—the pond at the bank of which She sat is called Man [Maan] Sarovar.

Pure devotees who are devoid of  anarthas, have revealed the service pastimes of Sri Radhika in the scriptures dealing with the transcendental mellows of divine love, such  Karnamrta, Sri Gita Govinda, books written by Chandidas, Vidyapati, etc., but the associate followers of Sri Gaurasundar, the Supreme Lord adorned by the heart and halo of Sri Radhika, can reveal far greater super excellence of Her service than what is described in these scriptures. That is why so many transcendental literatures on the transcendental mellows of divine love were composed—Sri Ray Ramananda composed his  Sri Jagannath-vallabha Nataka Giti, Sri Rupa Goswami composed  Vidagdha Madhava,  Dana-keli-kaumudi, Stavamala, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, the greatest follower of Sri Rupa Goswami, composed  Mukta-charita, Stava-vali, and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami Prabhu, a follower of Srila Raghunath, composed  Sri Govinda-lilamrta, etc. Gaudiya Vaisnavs' reading of  Gita Govinda, Karnamrta, Vidyapati, Chandidas and the reading of non-Gaudiya Vaisnavs are worlds apart. It is impossible to understand it through mundane examples or analogies—even if you compare a lecture on Shakespeare and Kalidas by a hardly literate person and a lecture on their works by an expert professor, this analogy would be still insufficient.

To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Kritika lived there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, and worshipped the Lord. On the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the  naksatra  called Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel daughter appeared in the house of Raja Vrisabhanu illuminating the house, the town and all the ten directions. Overwhelmed with joy, Goparaj Vrisabhanu, Ratnabhanu and Subhanu, three brothers who stayed in Vrisabhanupur, began to dance. Greatly fortunate Kritika was beside herself with joy when she saw her budding moon-like daughter. A wave of joy engulfed Surapur and Vrajapur. This transcendental jewel of a daughter became renowned as Vrisabhanu-nandini Sri Radhika.

"tata arabhya nandasya vrajah sarva-samrddhiman
arer nivasatma-gunai ramakridam abhun nrpa"

"O Maharaj Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaj is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Krishna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.5.18)

For as long as the son of Nanda Maharaj enjoyed His pastimes confidentially in the abode of Lord Hari in Nanda-Gokula, all the  gopis  of Vraja, headed by Sri Radha, enjoyed with Him confidentially. However, when Sri Nanda Kumar enjoyed His pastimes openly, the crest jewel of the Vraja-gopis  Sri Radhika expanded Herself into many  gopis  and enjoyed Sri Krishna's pastimes openly.

If one thinks "the flowers collected for Durga and Kali garlanded the neck of Sri Radhika" or that "appearing in  Brahma-vaivarta, Sri Radhika entered the assembly of gods on an auspicious day in the age of Aryans (Dvapar-yuga)," then it will not only terminate their archaeological escapades, but will also leave them cheated in their attempts to research the scriptures.

Durga is described in  Brahma-samhita  as an internal potency of Govinda—she enchants, creates, maintains and annihilates the entire world. She is also described as a shadow potency of Sri Radha, who enchants the mind of Govinda, the enchanter of the world. Unless one becomes fully initiated into the service of the transcendental eternal Deity who is the origin of this internal potency, no one can understand this matter easily with one's intellect or intelligence. They are not infertile though—if the intelligence of such writers becomes cleansed, they can understand the reality. The fact is that if the imperfect  jiva  souls cannot recognise Vrisabhanu Nandini considering Her a mere fiction, an idol of literary works, then they bring about their own destruction submerging themselves in the filth of amusing literatures. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu, a master of transcendental literature and a follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, sang,

tasya apara-rasa-sara-vilasa-murter
nanda-kanda-paramadbhuta-saumya-laksmyah
rahmadi-durlabha-gater vrsabhanu-jayah
ainkaryam eva mama janmani janmani syat

"May I attain the service of Vrisabhanu-nandini birth after birth. She is the personification of the essence of the transcendental mellows of divine love. With a form of the most wonderful transcendental bliss, She is the supreme goddess of fortune. Her lotus feet are difficult to attain even for the demigods headed by Lord Brahma."

ha devi kaku-bharagada-gadayadya vacha
ache nipatya bhuvi dandavadudbhatartih
sya prasada-mavudhasya janasya krtva
andharvike tava gane gananam vidhehi

"O Devi! In great distress I fall to the ground offering You obeisances and prayers with a voice choked with emotion. O Gandharvika! Please bestow Your mercy upon this pauper and count me amongst Your own associates.”

It is written very nicely.

Jay Srimati Radharani ki jay
Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay

* * *

On the Bank of the Yamuna

Sri Radhastami, noon class, Siliguri
Translated from Bengali
6 September 2019

[His Divine Grace is singing 'Radha-bhajane yadi mati nahi bhela' kirtan" and makes the following comment:]

kevala madhava pujaye so ajnani
radha anadara kara-i abhimani

"One who worships Krishna alone is ignorant. Who does not adore Sri Radha is an egotist."

One must be ignorant to worship only Madhav. Some only worship Gopal—they only chant, "Gopal, Gopal," but do not worship Srimati Radharani. If anyone does not have affection for Radharani, they become overwhelmed by ego. When one says, "My Gopal, I love You so much!" and disregards Radharani, then it only gets their ego to swell.

kabahi nahi karabi tankara sanga
chitte ichchhasi yadi braja-rasa-ranga

"Never keep company with those who envy Radha if within your heart you at all wish for the loving pastimes of Vraja."

If you worship only Krishna, Gopal, it will only bolster your ego, "Oh, I am worshipping Krishna! Who is Radharani? I am better than Radharani!" Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is writing this. Very nice. Many worship Krishna and do not respect Radharani, i.e. they worship Krishna and do not respect the Guru. One gets the Lord through the Guru! Never take association of such people who do not have any regard for the Guru. We must always aspire for the devotional mood of the Vraja-basis.

[His Divine Grace then sings 'Varaja-vipine Yamuna kule' kirtan and makes the following comment:]

sata-koti gopi madhava mana
rakhite narila kari' yatana

"No matter how much they try, millions of gopis cannot hold the mind of Madhava."

A hundred million of  gopis  could not keep Krishna's mind—Krishna was performing  rasa-lila  with them, but His mind was elsewhere because Srimati Radhika was not there. When Radhika ran away, Krishna ran behind Her.

I have told you before—there is Vraja Krishna, Mathuresh Krishna, and Dvarakesh Krishna. Krishna performed His pastimes in these three places, but the pastimes He revealed in Vraja are not found anywhere else—not in Dvaraka, not in Mathura. Here, Krishna says, "Radha, appear before Me, save My life!" And when Radha came, He gets back His life.

This song is not in the English song-books because it is a very heavy song and it is necessary to have some  adhikar, right, to sing it. What is written in this  kirtan  is a very high conception, that is why for it was not included in the English song-books. Only those who have the appropriate right (madhura-lila-adhikari) can sing this  kirtan. In Kali-yuga, Gauranga Mahaprabhu manifests  audarya-lila  (pastimes of magnanimity), and Radha-Krishna's  lila  (Vraja-lila) is  madhurya-lila  (pastimes of relishing). That is why some  kirtans  are not sung everywhere, it is necessary to have  adhikar, right, to hear or sing them. We do not sing these  kirtans  at any other time, but today is Srimati Radharani's appearance day, then we sing it.

bale, 'tunhu vina kahara rasa?
tunhu lagi' mora varaja-vasa'

"Krishna says, 'What rasa is there without You? I live in Vraja only because of You!'"

Krishna says to Radharani, "Without You, I feel no taste. I only live in Vraja because of You!" And in the end, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says, "O Radharani, You have Your devotees, Your friends, please keep me with them. Make me a maidservant of Your friends and servants."

These are very high things...

* * *

Pure Hearts Run Behind Krishna

Sri Radhastami, noon class, Siliguri
Translated from Bengali
6 September 2019

jaya dvija-patni, jaya naga-kanya-gana
bhaktite yanhara paila govinda-charana

"All glory to the brahman's wives and Kaliya's wives! Through their devotion, they attained Govinda's feet."

Dvija-patni-gan, the wives of  brahmans, got Krishna. How did they get Him? When Balaram, Sridam, Sudam, Vasudam, Madhumangal, and other boys came to the  brahmans  first, the  brahmans  chased them away taking them for mere cowherd boys. Who will you tell that a simple cowherd boy roaming the banks of the Yamuna herding the cows and behind whom all the  gopis  run is the Supreme Personality of Godhead! Who will you tell about this? Srila Guru Maharaj spoke and explained that  sloka:

kam prati kathayitum ise samprati ko va pratitim ayatu
go-pati-tanaya-kunje gopa-vadhude-vidam brahma

"To whom can I speak? Who will believe me when I say that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is hunting the gopis in the bushes by the banks of the river Yamuna? In this way the Lord demonstrates His pastimes."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.98)

When Iskcon had purchased their land in Mayapur and the temple was being inaugurated, Srila Sridhar Maharaj told our Gurudev to give a lecture at the inauguration programme, and, hearing him recite that  sloka, Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad's disciple, the compiler of our kirtan guide) exclaimed, "Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!"

So, while the  brahmans  chased the boys away, the wives of the  brahmans  got Krishna through their devotion. As soon as they heard the boy's request, they said, "Oh, Krishna, our Lord, is there! He has sent His friends—they have no food and they are hungry!" They took whatever they had at home and ran to Krishna. Such was their devotion. One gets the Lord through devotion. Their husbands turned Krishna away, so they could not get the Lord...

The wives of Kaliya-nag also got the Lord. You know this pastime of Kaliya-daman that took place in Vrindavan. What does Kaliya-nag mean? It symbolises ego (ahankar). If you have ego, you will never get any result. You must cleanse your heart of every particle of dust. When Mahaprabhu performed the Gundicha-marjan pastime (cleaning of the Gundicha temple before Sri Radha-yatra), He personally swept and cleaned the temple. You must not just show you are doing service, but it is necessary to do actual service—it is not enough to just do some sweeping showing that you are cleaning, no, you must clean properly. Mahaprabhu taught that you must collect every single particle of dust—He would sweep, wipe the temple carefully, and then wash it again with clean water and His own  uttariya  cloth. We must drive away all dirt from our hearts. Do you know what dirt there is in the heart? It is like dust on the street—kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya  (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy),  rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa  (desire for eye-pleasure, tongue-please, nose-pleasure, ear-pleasure, touch-pleasure). We must sweep and wipe and clean these things out of our hearts, and this does not happen externally—this dirt is removed by hearing Hari-katha.

You cannot see the Guru with your material illusory eyes (maya-chaksu), you must see your Guru through the aural path—you must take the  darshan  of your Guru through your ears. Remember this, these are Srila Prabhupad and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's words. How will you see with your ears? You must hear Hari-katha, and you can see for yourself—when someone speaks, does Hari-katha or some bad talks come out of their mouth? If someone poses as a Vaishnav but talks  gramya-katha, then they can never be a Vaishnav or a Guru. Genuine Vaishnavs always speak Krishna-katha and they have no wish to hear anything else, they get annoyed to hear any talks other than Hari-katha.

* * *

Banishing Poisonous Ego

Sri Radhastami, noon class, Siliguri
Translated from Bengali
6 September 2019

Kaliya-nag had ego, "This is my place, nobody can enter it!" So, because of his poison, all birds, beasts, etc. of Vrindavan died when they came close to that place in the Yamuna—even the cows did not go there to drink water for the fear of Kaliya-nag. This is when Krishna showed His pastime to all the Vraja  gopis.

Generally, Krishna performed all His pastimes with Balaram and His other friends, and the boys would come to their mothers and tell them, "You know, mom, Gopal has done this today!", "Kanai has done that today!", "He has slain a demon today!", "He went into the stomach of Aghasur!" Their mothers would say, "What are you saying? Today He did this, yesterday that, the day before yesterday something else happened, but we do not see anything!" Then, one day Krishna's friends came to Him and said, "Mothers do not believe us when we tell them about You, so You must show them some pastime!" And Krishna showed them His pastime of Kaliya-daman.

When all the young boys jumped into the Yamuna and died, Krishna pulled them out to the bank and leapt into the water to smash the ego of Kaliya. When Krishna started splashing in the water, Kaliya sensed it and got angry, "Who is disturbing me?!" He saw that a little boy was disturbing the water, but it was not an ordinary boy—He is the Master of the whole universe! Angry, Kaliya-nag slapped Krishna fiercely with his tail and Krishna became senseless, as if dead.

All the Vraja  gopis  came there and saw Krishna floating in the water dead. The sun stopped shining and the sky became overcast, plunging Vrindavan in darkness—the sky, the demigods, everybody was all in turmoil seeing the scene. There began a storm. Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj and all the  gopis  came to the Yamuna to see this pastime. Anxious, "What has happened to my Gopal?" they were ready to jump into the water, but Balaram stopped them, "Stop, stop! Wait! Krishna will wake up just now!" Then, Balaram told Krishna, "There is no time left! Do not delay, wake up now!" Next, Gopal lifted Himself and jumped onto Kaliya-nag's head to smash his ego. Krishna hit Kaliya-nag with His foot and blood starting flowing from his head. Then, the wives of Kaliya came out and prayed to Krishna, "Prabhu, You have done well! You have smashed his ego, You have done good! We are very pleased with the punishment You gave to our husband."

They did not blame Krishna—they had devotion. When somebody's husband dies, they feel pain and say, "I will not worship God any more! I have called out to God so much, but still my husband has died!" This is not real love for God... Krishna is the master of the universe, He can do anything He pleases. "Sukhe duhkhe bhule nako vadane Harinam koro re: in happiness or sadness always chant the Holy Name." When birth, death, old age, and disease come, who will you blame? When you are born, you have to die, will you blame the Lord for this? The Lord takes care of us, He does everything, so whatever fate one has in store, so be it. If you are destined to live a certain number of years, no one will be able to save you—neither doctors, nor friends, nor anyone else. I have heard the other day that a lady had spent 50-60 lakhs (five-six million rupees) to save her husband's life—did that save him? It did not... We do not have time, we will all leave one day.

uthare uthare bhai ara ta samaya nai
'krsna bhaja' bale uchchaihsvare

Wake up, wake up, brother, there is no time! Worship Krishna!

So,

jaya dvija-patni, jaya naga-kanya-gana
bhaktite yanhara paila govinda-charana

"All glory to the brahman's wives and Kaliya's wives! Through their devotion, they attained Govinda's feet."

The wives of Kaliya-nag had devotion, that is why they approached Krishna submitting their prayer, "Please, do not kill our husband altogether. Do not make us widows." When one has devotion, the Lord listens to their prayer. So, Krishna replied, "All right, I will not hit him any more," and He banished Kaliya-nag to Ramanak-dwip. This island (Fiji) is in the Pacific Ocean, not far from Hawaii—Kaliya-nag lives there to this day, there is also a temple of Kaliya-nag there...

* * *

Service Consciousness

Sri Radhastami, noon class, Siliguri
Translated from Bengali
6 September 2019

Mahaprabhu told that you must serve  prasadam  to others with affection, and if you do not have  prasadam, then serve others sweet words with affection. It is written in  Sri Sri Prema-vivarta  and I have been telling it to you again and again. Krishna Himself served His guests. Do you know how He served them? Tell me. [Silence.] When devotees came, Krishna would clean all His guests' shoes and keep them nicely to the side.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who established many temples all over India to preach the conception of pure devotion within the Vaishnav  sampradaya, said, "We have not come here to become brick-layers and carpenters—we are only messengers (vani-pion, বাণী-পিওন, lit. postman delivering messages)." Whose letter do they deliver? The Lord's letters. Vaishnavs, like postmen, go door to door spreading the message of the Lord.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur also says that you may be abused and humiliated hundreds of times (sata lanchana, sata ganjana; (শত লাঞ্চনা, শত গঞ্জনা), but you must not leave Krishna consciousness (Hari-kirtan). These are Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's words. As soon as we leave Hari-kirtan, Maya will immediately attack us.  Remember this when some bad situation comes to you.  You may be abused hundreds of times, you may be humiliated hundreds of times, but you must not leave Hari-kirtan. These are not my words, these are Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's words,  listen to what he says! As soon as we leave Hari-kirtan, we will be attacked by some environment, or circumstance. How? For example, you can become sick or something else will come up—people always live worrying about the body... I never think about myself—by the will of the providence, even my medical documents have been stolen recently, and I said, "Let it be. I have no time for this."

The ultimate advice given by great souls is to chant the glories of Sri Rupa-Raghunath's teaching while strictly adhering to the  mul-asraya-vigraha  (the main embodiment of shelter, i.e. Gurudev). That is why I tell you all the time—when you go back to your home, chant  kirtans  (five  kirtans  in the morning, and five  kirtans  in the evening). Among the nine devotional practices, Mahaprabhu said Nama-sankirtan was the highest:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith and veneration."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124)

tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana
niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

"Of the practising processes, the best is Nama-sankirtan. If you chant the Holy Name without offence, you will get the wealth of divine love."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.71)

You must remember this. I can remember these things this at sixty, but now you get people who are thirty-fifty years old, but they cannot remember anything—they still chant  kirtans  with the books. If you chant  kirtans  every day, why do you need the book then? If you cannot remember five  kirtans  by heart, then your life is useless.

Proclaiming  kirtan  to be the highest practice, our Guru-varga has also givens us Deities to be served and nurtured with faith. "How can I dress the Lord nicely? How can I take care of the Lord? What will I feed the Lord?" For example, now is  chaturmasya  time when there are many restrictions about not eating certain foods, but when you go collecting, you will get eggplant, you will get tomato, etc. and you must feed the Lord—if you do not want to eat it, then do not, you can give that  prasadam  to others. You cannot have the Lord starve if you do not eat yourself. You must offer nice things to the Lord. If you cannot take it because your health is not right, then do not take it, give it to somebody else, but you must offer nice things to the Lord. It is necessary to serve the Deity with faith.

You know, Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) had a servitor who would cook for him, and one day Srila Guru Maharaj said, "He is cooking for me, but  he  is becoming fat!" That servitor would cook using a lot of oil, spices, etc., but Gurudev did not like so much oil in his food, so although he was cooking and offering food to Gurudev, it was he who was getting fat. We are like this too—we cook for the Deity, but our own stomaches are growing. If somebody hears my words, they will get upset. You will see today—those who distribute  prasadam  will distribute only potato and hide the paneer for themselves!...

I always tell devotees that it is necessary to keep your body fit—it is necessary to eat less and to exercise. If you grow fat, how will you dance and chant  kirtan? If you dance with a fat body, you will feel weak very quickly. One time, talking about some person, Guru Maharaj said, "Oh, that person looks like a waterpot (kalsi, কলশি)!" So, do not become like waterpots...

* * *

Future Vision

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
18 March 2019, Bengali evening class, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Jay Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nrisingha Palli ki jay
All the assembled, all the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Gaura Bhakta Vrinda ki jay!
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Harinam sankirtan ki jay. Gaura premanande Hari bol

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
at 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)

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
haksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

"I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge."

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
hintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
ovindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
ande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
atitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees.”

You have now done the  parikrama  for two days. Actually, I have been thinking about something for a long time already... Because we rented the buses, it made it somewhat easier for you all, but if we were to walk all this distance, what state would the devotees be in? That is why we rented the buses to get to the ghat, and we walked from there; on the way back we also took the buses to the temple. So, I have been thinking since last year that I shall extend the  parikrama  to five days, then there will not be any problem. I am trying now to finish the Mayapur temple quickly—if it is finished, we can arrange for the devotees to stay there. There are a lot of places near it that are within a walking distance. Here in Nrisingha Palli too, I have already made the arrangement to start building one more floor with rooms, then devotees will not have to stay outside. Gurudev has given me the responsibility to look after and take care about those who stay with me, and I must remember Gurudev's order. Forgetting my own happiness, I always think what I can do to make others happy.

kabe jive daya haibe udaya,
nija-sukha bhuli' sudina-hrdaya

"When will compassion to all souls arise in my heart and I forget my own happiness?"

('Kabe habe bolo, se dina amar?')

I always think about your benefit, and that is why I always chastise you. I read Prabhupad's books and then tell you what he says, urging you all to listen to it. Sometimes I say harsh things, but I do it to bring you to the true path without any hodge-podge practices (panchmisali bhajan, পাঁচমিশালি ভজন). I go preaching to many places, and perhaps two-five thousand people have accepted Krishna consciousness, but if I was to go and say, "Do what you want, eat what you want. Take initiation from me!" then I would have millions of disciples, but they would get no benefit—they would have to go to hell, and I would have to go to hell as well.

You have seen today that when we came to the temple of Jagannath, many went straight to the bus. The temple was closed at that time, so I first arranged for everybody to take  prasadam—if we had waited for the temple to open first, then the  prasadam  would have gone off, and everybody was also hungry by the time we had got there. You must understand that we go there to get the darshan of Jagannath  mandir...

That is why, if we can extend the  parikrama  for one more day—if we could stay in Mayapur for two days and then take a bus and come back here, then there would not be any problem. I am thinking about you, and I will try to finish the construction there quickly.

* * *

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (1)

Disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur
12 September 2019, Kolkata, part 1

Today is a very auspicious day—Srila Haridas Thakur's  niryan  (নির্য্যাণ, withdrawal) and  tirobav-tithi-bara maha-mahotsav, grand festival in honour of Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance day. Actually, we all know about Srila Haridas Thakur, I have told about him many times also. Every time we go to Sri Jagannath Dham, we always go to Haridas Thakur's  samadhi  and  siddha-bakul  where we talk about Srila Haridas Thakur.

How great his glory is! His name is 'Namacharya' Haridas Thakur. 'Namacharya' means he is an  acharya  of the Holy Name. In Kali-yuga, Krishna Himself appears in the form of the Holy Name, and Mahaprabhu preaches about that Holy Name, the Hare Krishna  maha-mantra. Haridas Thakur was Mahaprabhu's companion in the preaching of the Hare Krishna  maha-mantra. When we go to his  niryan  place (His disappearance place), we speak about it.

Yesterday was Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's appearance day and we did not finish his glorification. Actually, it is impossible for us to finish it, but I told you something about his glories yesterday and I still want to say more today, but first I want to speak about Haridas Thakur's  niryan tithi.

When Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu finally took  sannyas, He came to Sri Advaita Prabhu's house. Mahaprabhu said to His mother, Sachi Mata, "Now that I have taken  sannyas, I cannot stay with My relatives any more, so I have to stay in some faraway place—perhaps, Vrindavan or Puri." Sachi Mata thought, "Vrindavan is quite far from Nabadwip and everybody does not go to Vrindavan all the time. However, some people always go to Puri and they can give us all the news about Mahaprabhu. So, if He stays in Puri, at least we will get some news every year." That is why Sachi Mata said to Mahaprabhu, "You can stay in Puri, that is my desire," and Mahaprabhu accepted it.

After that, Mahaprabhu first went to Puri and then spent six years travelling to South India, Vrindavan and many other places. You know that He visited all the places around India. When He first came to Puri, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya told Him he would arrange a place in Kashi Misra's house where Mahaprabhu could stay when He returned, and at that time Mahaprabhu also asked Kashi Misra to keep one more room for Him—He did not mention at that time who He wanted to keep it for. Actually, before taking  sannyas, Mahaprabhu told Haridas Thakur, "When I stay in Puri after  sannyas, you can stay with Me." That is why Mahaprabhu kept some place for Haridas Thakur—that place is  siddha-bakul. We all know that place, we have been there; it is the place of Srila Haridas Thakur's  bhajan kutir—he stayed there when he was in Puri Dham. One day, Mahaprabhu brought a  dantankathi  (দাঁতনকাঠি, a twig offered to Lord Jagannath for brushing His teeth) and stuck it into the ground and that twig grew into a big  bakul  tree—Srila Haridas Thakur would sit and worship the Lord under that tree.

Finally, during the six years of His last pastimes (antya-lila), Mahaprabhu felt deep separation (vipralambha-lila). During His last days, He would become unconscious and His mood, and behaviour also, were astonishing. I think about it a lot. Mahaprabhu was not conscious of Himself—sometimes He would hit His head against the floor, sometimes He would rub His face against the wall or some pillar and so much blood would come from His face. There was too much fire of separation (viraha) burning in His heart.

Sri Advaita Acharya also sent Mahaprabhu a message one day saying,

"baulake kahiha,—loka ha-ila baula
baulake kahiha,—hane na vikaya chaula
baulake kahiha,—kaye nahika aula
baulake kahiha,—iha kahiyachhe baula"

"Tell our Prabhu, who acts as madmen do, that everyone has lost their sanity, and rice once high in price has no value. In love of God, half-crazed humanity neglects this world and all they once held dear; tell Him a madman brings this to His ear."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 19.20-21)

Indirectly, Sri Advaita Prabhu told, "We called You when it was necessary, but now there is no more need." It is  avahan  (calling) and then  visaryan  (rejecting). Like here in Kali-yuga, sometimes, when, for example, Durga-puja comes and people worship Durga Devi, they first call Durga Devi saying, "O Devi, please come," but after the puja is finished (after all the 'dhanam dehi, vidyam dehi, rupam dehi', etc. finish), they throw that deity of Durga into the Ganges. So, in the same way, Sriman Advaita Prabhu called Mahaprabhu, "It is a very serious time, please come!" and Krishna Himself had to come as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Radha-Krishna, but then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did what He had to do and His  lila  had to finish. So, indirectly, Advaita Prabhu told in that message, "Now You can go." This is what is mentioned in  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita  in that message of Advaita Prabhu.

Srila Haridas Thakur was much older than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, so he has seen all of His pastimes—His baby pastimes, childhood pastimes, youth pastimes, His marriage and householder pastimes, His  sannyas  and all of His Puri Dham pastimes. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami describes them in his  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita  and Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur wrote about them in his  Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata. Srila Haridas Thakur has seen it all. Lastly, when Srila Haridas Thakur saw the symptoms in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and understood that He would not stay much longer, he thought, "Prabhu has shown me so many of His pastimes, but I see that He will not stay longer now, He will leave soon, and I cannot tolerate to see this kind of pastime. I do not want to see His last pastime and see Him leave us. I cannot tolerate it. I should go before Mahaprabhu."

* * *

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (2)

Disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur
12 September 2019, Kolkata, part 2

Actually, this was every day routine: when  prasadam  came from Jagannath temple, Govinda would serve it to Mahaprabhu, and every evening, when Mahaprabhu entered His room (Gambhira) and went to bed and Svarup Damodar, Ray Ramananda returned to their own places, Govinda would take that  prasadam  to  siddha-bakul  for Srila Haridas Thakur. That was the routine every day. By that time, Haridas Thakur would have finished his chanting three lakhs of Harinam.

One day, however—it was the day before yesterday—Govinda brought the remnants of Mahaprabhu's  prasadam  and told Haridas Thakur, "Prabhu, please take the  prasad!" but at that time Haridas Thakur was lying down in bed. It had never happened before—he would be always seen walking and chanting loudly, "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!" He would chant loudly mainly for preaching to others because then others who cannot talk, like birds, trees, etc., can hear some Krishna Nam. But that day Haridas Thakur was lying down in bed and chanting very slowly, slowly, only his lips were moving. When Govinda told him, "Prabhu, please take  prasadam; the  prasadam  is here," Haridas Thakur replied, "Aji karimu langhan  (আজি করিমু লঙ্ঘন). Today I will break the rule. Every day, I finish my chanting of the three lakhs (300,000) Holy Names, and then take  prasadam, but today I could not finish it. Still, you have brought prasadam, Mahaprabhu has sent it, so how can I reject it? I cannot finish Harinam, neither can I reject this  prasadam." So, Haridas Thakur took one  ranchi  (a little, a drop) and Govinda left. When Govinda came back, he told the news to Mahaprabhu, "Prabhu, Haridas's health is not good."

When Mahaprabhu got that message, He immediately (the next morning) came to Haridas Thakur. Mahaprabhu asked him, "What has happened? What is your disease?" Haridas Thakur replied, "My disease is that I could not finish my rounds of Harinam." Mahaprabhu told him, "You have become old now, and your body is transcendental (siddha)—why is it necessary for you to practise so much? You are not only very old now, but you are Namacharya—why is it necessary for you to chant three lakhs every day? You can chant less rounds now."

Before that, when Mahaprabhu first asked, "What is the problem?" Haridas Thakur said, "Asustha naya mora sarira, asustha haya mora mana. My body is not sick, it is my mind that is sick." It is necessary to understand this.

We have recently got a message that some devotee felt sick, so he said, "I will go to live in another temple!" Let alone scriptures, there is a saying among common people even that goes,” [a Bengali proverb, synonymous to English 'the grass is always greener on the other side']. Say, you are standing on the bank of a river and you cannot even see the other side because the river is very wide and the bank is very far, but you think, "I guess that other side is better, I must go there!" You do not see what is going on on that other side, so you do not know that the other side is even worse than the side where you are standing! We are also like this. Our mind sometimes tells us, "Maybe this life is not good, maybe this other life is good—maybe the householder life is good!" And then we take a wife, after a while we realise this wife is not good, we get another wife, and some time later we get a third wife, and so on. We think another wife will be better, but it instead only gets worse and worse! This happened in my previous family also.

My uncle (my father's elder brother) was married four times, and it is very rare for a Hindu person to marry four times. When he got married for the first time, his wife has a diarrhoea and died. She left him three small children—who will take care of them? If he got married, another woman could kill those children. So, he got married to the sister of his dead wife (at least she was a relative, so she would take care of the children), and she also gave birth to three children. That was wife number two. She died when another baby was coming, when she was pregnant. Then comes wife number three. My father and everybody else had told him not to get married again, two were sufficient, but he again for married to some woman from the neighbourhood. Then there was another problem. I was about thirteen-fourteen years old at that time. She committed suicide—she hung herself from a tamarind tree. When people saw her hanging from the tree with her tongue sticking out (like Mother Kali, but only she was a pretty girl), everybody became afraid and ran away, but I was strong and did not get scared (perhaps, I thought that she could be still alive)—I climbed on the tree and cut the rope with some scissor used for cutting rice. She was dead. Actually, I had seen that my uncle beat his wife many times... Then he got married fourth time, and this time that woman was very dangerous—this time she used to beat her husband (my uncle)! She was a very strong and young girl and my uncle was old at that time, so she could beat him. That woman is still alive, she has only one son.

Anyhow, Srila Haridas Thakur told to Mahaprabhu, "My body is not sick, my mind is sick.  Asustha haya mora mana, asustha naya mora sarira." Then he said,

"Prabhu, I have one request..."

Mahaprabhu asked, "What is it? Tell me."

"Prabhu, I am thinking You have shown me all Your pastimes—I have seen Your marriage, Your householder life, Your childhood life, I have seen Your preaching during later years. You have shown me everything, but I do not want to see You leave us before me. I cannot bear to see that. That is why, I want to go before You. Please, allow this."

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Yes, Krishna always fulfils His devotees' desire... But..."

As soon as Mahaprabhu said, "But..." Haridas Thakur clasped His feet and prayed, "Prabhu, please, no 'but.'"

Mahaprabhu said, "I have always made all My pastimes with you, but now that you want to go before Me, how shall I stay alone?"

Haridas Thakur replied, "I am only an ant. If one ant dies, what is the problem for You? You have so many followers."

"I know, but you are the main person... OK... You take a good rest, I will come tomorrow."

When Mahaprabhu was about to leave for Gambhira, Haridas Thakur told him, "I have three wishes, actually."

"What is it?"

"When I am leaving my body, I want to see Your lotus face with my eyes; I want to keep Your lotus feet on my chest. And third—I have been chanting Hare Krishna all the time all my life, but when I am leaving my body, I want to chant, 'Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya.'"

Mahaprabhu came back the next day and asked, "Haridas, what is the news?" Haridas Thakur said, "Prabhu, as You wish." Then, telling everybody to start  parikrama, Mahaprabhu started circumambulating Haridas Thakur's bed and chanting Hare Krishna. Haridas Thakur caught Mahaprabhu's hand and sat Him down beside him. As he had told before, he took Mahaprabhu's feet on his chest and, looking at Mahaprabhu's face, he chanted, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya" and left...

Mahaprabhu took Haridas Thakur's body to the ocean (samudra) in Puri and with the help of all the devotees He began digging a  samadhi. They had bathed Haridas Thakur's body with ghee and in the ocean, put  tilaks  on his holy body, and then Mahaprabhu said, "This ocean (samudra) has become a  maha-tirtha, the highest holy place!" Everybody took a drop of water from the ocean and put it in their mouths. Then, the  samadhi  was finished...

After that, Mahaprabhu went to Ananda Bazaar near Jagannath Temple—it is a market that sold  prasadam. There, He went shop to shop and begged for  prasadam  saying, "I am making a festival for Haridas Thakur, please give something." Every shopkeeper gave so much  prasadam  to Him, and Mahaprabhu Himself distributed it and served the Vaishnavs. He made a great festival of Haridas Thakur...

Jay Srila Haridas Thakur ki jay
Haridas Thakur's niryan ki jay

That is Haridas Thakur's  niryan  (departure).  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita  describes it very nicely, but I have told you everything that is necessary to tell.

namami haridasam tam
chaitanyam tam cha tat-prabhum
samsthitam api yan-murtim
svanke krtva nanarta yah

"Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridas Thakur and his master, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who danced with the body of Haridas Thakur on His lap."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 11.2)

"I am paying obeisance to Haridas Thakur. His master Sri Chaitanyadev took his spiritual body and danced with it." You see how strong Mahaprabhu is—He took Haridas Thakur's body and danced with it!

sankhya-kirtana pure nahi, ke-mate khaiba?
maha-prasada aniyachha, ke-mate upeksiba?

"I have not finished chanting my regular number of rounds. How, then, can I eat? But you have brought maha-prasadam, and how can I neglect it?"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 11.19)

eta bali' maha-prasada karila vandana
eka rancha lana tara karila bhaksana

"Saying this, he offered prayers to the maha-prasadam, took a little portion, and ate it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 11.20)

ara dina mahaprabhu tanra thani aila
sustha hao, haridasa—bali' tanre puchhila

The next day, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to Haridas's place and inquired from him, "Haridas, are you well?"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 11.21)

prabhu kahe,—'kon vyadhi, kaha ta' nirnaya?'
tenho kahe,—'sankhya-kirtana na puraya'

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further inquired from Haridas, "Can you ascertain what your disease is?" Haridas Thakur replied, "My disease is that I cannot complete my rounds."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 11.23)

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay

* * *

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s Early Association

Disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur
12 September 2019, Kolkata, part 3

I told something about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur yesterday and I forgot to tell a few more things. There are so many pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, so many stories.

At first, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur would go to Brahmo Samaj (another sampradaya), but he left it when he read  Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. Then, he visited Dinajpur, he went to see Sri Kantajiu and Atreya River. When Bhaktivinod Thakur was in Puri, he would listen to  Srimad Bhagavatam  in the association of Sri Gopinath Pandit, Haridas Mahapatra, Markendaya Mahapatra, he would read the commentary of Sridhar Pandit, as well as  Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Sat-sandarbha, Govinda-bhasya.

Once, he met a  siddha  Raghunath Das Babaji Maharaj Thakur. Raghunath Das Babaji did not like to mix with Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and also told others not to mix with him, however later, when he understood who Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was, he came to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and apologised, "Please forgive my offence. I have told everybody not to mix with you because I did not see your  tilak  and  mala  (neck beads). I thought you were not a Vaishnav. Please forgive my offence." Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur replied, "Babaji Mahasay, what is my fault? One wears  tilaks  and  mala  when takes initiation, but Mahaprabhu has not yet arranged any  diksa guru  for me. I chant the Holy Name on chanting beads, but I do not wear  tilaks  and  mala." Sri Raghunath Das Babaji Mahasay understood everything and after that he started to like him and glorify him.

There was also one big Vaishnav named Mahatma Svarup Das Babaji. Thakur Mahasay (Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur) would often go to take his  darshan  and would hear his advice.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur liked a special  dal  called  arhar dal  (toor dal, or pigeon peas) very much. There are so many things that can be told about him. I have told you before that later, when he visited Tarakeshwar on his way to Vrindavan, he got a message from Sivji Maharaj, "It is not necessary for you to go to Vrindavan. My master is in Nabadwip, so you must go and serve there." Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur cancelled his journey to Vrindavan and came to stay in Nabadwip.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Haridas Thakur ki jay
Haridas Thakur niryan tirobav-tithi-bara maha-mahotsav ki jay
Nitai Gaura premananda Hari bol

* * *

Always Think, Always Hanker

Speaking online to devotees in Spain
16 September 2019, Kolkata, part 1

How are you, everybody? Is everybody OK? I am OK, everything is fine. No problem. By the mercy of Gurudev, this year a big Radhastami festival was held properly in Siliguri. Then I went to Nabadwip, Mayapur, and Nrisingha Palli—I had some service there. Yesterday I came back to Kolkata.

I heard there was a good festival in London, I was very happy to hear that. There have been many festivals during the past week—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur appearance day, Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance  niryan-tithi, and others. All festivals were observed properly. Actually, when we make a festival, all devotees come together and there is some  ista-gosthi  (open-hearted talks), if anyone has any questions or any doubts, etc. they can express it. That is why we make festivals from time to time. Our conception is like that. We must open our door, open our heart, and everybody can get a place in it—we can help those who follow Krishna consciousness, who are eager to properly come to Krishna consciousness.

Actually, every  jiva  soul is covered by illusory environment—we are controlled by Maya. If we are always controlled by Maya, we cannot prosper, we cannot progress in our spiritual life properly. That is why we must all engage ourselves in proper  sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam, pada-sevanam  (hearing, chanting, remembering, offering obeisance, engaging in service as a servitor, as a friend, self-submission, serving the lotus feet of the Lord),  sadhu-sanga, Nama-sankirtana, Bhagavat-sravan, Mathura-vas, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana  (associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith). This is the main thing. We must engage ourselves in studying spiritual books, listening to  kirtans, singing  kirtans, listening to the class, attending the programmes.

We must always continue our spiritual life. We must use time for the service to the Lord. Time is very short, and time is very valuable. We must remain within the service to Gurudev, the service to the devotees at every moment—we must use ourselves for the service of the Lord at every moment. That is our duty. We must think in this way, and we must continue in this way ourselves—for the service of the Lord.

Always think about it, always hanker. There is a song written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

kabe ha'be bala se dina amara
(amara) aparadha ghuchi', suddha name ruchi,
krpa-bale ha'be hrdaye sanchara
kabe ha'be bala se dina amara

"Please tell me, when will that day be mine when my offences will be dispelled and taste for the pure Name will be infused within my heart by the power of mercy? Please tell me, when will that day be mine?"

dina yaya michha kaje nisa nidra-base
nahi bhavi marana nikate achhe base

My days are passed in useless work and nights are wasted on sleeping. It never occurs to me that there is death sitting next to me.

('Durlabha manava janma labhiya' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

The main thing for us is that we must use ourselves for the service of the Lord.

* * *

"My Heart and Soul's Desire"

Speaking online to devotees in Spain
16 September 2019, Kolkata, part 2

All  sannyasis  should go for preaching from time to time, and actually not only  sannyasis—brahmacharis, householders, everybody must engage themselves in service and go for preaching, go for  sankirtan, go door to door.

You must not think that people are not giving even one rupee—it is not necessary to collect rupees. Even if you (a  sannyasi  or somebody else) go to some householder house and the householder kicks you out of their house, you must not be disheartened, you must not be discouraged because thanks to them your power of tolerance will improve. Sometimes when you go to collect for the temple, for the service of the Guru, some people will not give you anything, they will tell to get out, but that is not a problem—if they do it, then your power of tolerance will improve. These are the main things. Everybody should go for preaching, should go for  sankirtan. If a  sannyasi  only sits and everybody serves him, that is not a  sannyasi—a  sannyasi  must preach, must go out and do  sankirtan. This is  necessary.

Sannyasis  must understand that they are the captains in our society. I often see that  sannyasis  always use their time sitting in tweeter, facebook, etc. They limit their activities to only facebook, tweeter, etc., but they do not go outside to preach, they do not go village to village, door to door. That is the main problem. Everybody is now busy with their computers, with their iphones, android phones, they only sit in tweeter, facebook, and youtube. These things are necessary, but it is also necessary to go preaching outside, village to village, door to door, house to house, college to college, university to university. This is how our preaching programme will increase. If it is not possible to go preaching outside every day, then you must go at least two-three days a week.

There was a rule, or a habit, in Gurudev's time that whenever somebody took second initiation, even if they came from a big rich family, or from the family of a big landlord, they had to go begging door to door. When we took  brahman diksa  (second initiation), we received this teaching from our Guru.

It is necessary to preach. If a  sannysi  only sits in the temple, does some management and  puja, this is not right—it is also necessary to preach. Sometimes I see that  brahmacharis  and  sannyasis  are now becoming very independent—they want to stay alone because if you stay in a temple, the temple life has some rules and regulations (you have to wake up early in the morning, go for the mangal  arati, chant  kirtans, give the class, then do service, then again attend the programme at noon and in the late afternoon, then again go to  arati  in the evening, give the class, then rest). However, if you do this programme every day, if you live like this, then they will not get time to gossip—you will not have time to talk so much on the phone and you will not have time to be busy with your iphone. In Mahaprabhu's time, there was no iphone, in Mahaprabhu's time, there was not anything, and Gurudev also went preaching himself all over the world. I have some problem at present and I cannot come out of India in this position, but I am trying to get it solved very soon, and I think it will be resolved quickly. It is a very lengthy court process, and it is very difficult for me, otherwise I am not a man who likes to sit in one place—I always go to all our temples all over India, in Bengal and everywhere else; I go for preaching, I give Hari-katha, give classes, etc. Even being unable to travel abroad, I still do everything here.

I was busy today too, but Sripad Tyagi Maharaj requested me to give initiation to some devotees, otherwise I have some job outside and have to leave soon. I came back yesterday in the evening. It was Sunday. I left on Friday and visited many temples, many branches, then I was busy with some legal matters on Saturday, I had another meeting on Sunday, I was also busy. Everything is going on smoothly.

Srila Gurudev has now showed us how much tolerance we have, and Srila Gurudev wants me in the Nabadwip temple now. It is going to happen soon. I am waiting for that, and the time will come very soon. At this moment, I want the blessing from the devotees all over the world because I  need  to go to the Nabadwip temple. This is my heart and soul's desire, and that is my intention, that is my determination. One way or another, I have to go to the Nabadwip temple—even if they kill me, I will die there, it is not a problem.

* * *

Inner Circle Initiation

Speaking online to devotees in Spain
16 September 2019, Kolkata, part 3

Actually, in this age of Kali, the only way to get to our real home, to get our real benefit is chanting of the Holy Name properly. Chanting the Holy Name (the Hare Krishna  maha-mantra) without offence is our main practice, but for some more intimate service, like cooking and puja (worship of Deities), it is necessary to have the second initiation. Also, you can chant the Holy Name everywhere and loudly, but there are some rules and regulations concerning the Gayatri  mantra.

To recite this  mantra, you must take bath and wear clean clothes. It is recited in the morning, at noon and in the evening—if you work outside and cannot recite it three times a day, then you must recite it minimum two times a day (in the morning and in the evening). You should not say this Gayatri  mantra  loudly, it is only recited silently. You also need a clean  asan  (a seat mat, or rug). Take a mat/rug and sprinkle some Ganges water onto it to purify it. If you do not have Ganges water, you can take some water in a glass, or some other clean vessel, and turn it into Ganges water with this  mantra:

gange cha yamune chaiva godavari sarasvati
narmade sindho kaveri jale 'smin sannidhim kuru

So, you need a clean  asan  and clean clothes. When reciting Gayatri, you should not wear the clothes which, for example, you took  prasadam  in. Then, you should recite the Gayatri  mantra  facing east side in the morning and north side in the evening. If you have a problem facing (or determining) east and north sides, then you have Deities' photograph in your house, you can recite the Gayatri  mantra  in front of the Deities.

To recite Gayatri  mantra, you should put your right hand a little above your navel, and as you recite the  mantra  you should keep count on the fingers of your right hand (they will show you how). Men first recite the  Brahma-gayatri, but ladies start from the  guru-mantra, they do not recite the  Brahma-gayatri... Each of the  mantras  is recited ten times counting on your fingers as I have shown you.

Maharaj will give you a papper where all the  mantras  are written, and if you recite these  mantras  every day, you can get connection with Srimati Radharani's zone.

My  dandavat  to everybody.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Gift of Saptam Goswami (1)

Appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
11 September 2019, Kolkata, part 1

Today is a very auspicious day in our Gaudiya line—the appearance day of the main personality who has started the  sankirtan yajna, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is the guardian of our Rupanuga line, the giver of the proper conception. It is his appearance day today. Tomorrow is also an auspicious day—Srila Haridas Thakur's  niryan  (withdrawal). Every year, we observe this festival gorgeously in all temples all over the world, and all Gaudiya Vaishnavs are also making a proper festival on this day. Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, there would be no Gaudiya line, that is why we must understand who Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is recognised as the  samptam goswami  (seventh  goswami). We all know that there are  sad goswamis  (six  goswamis):

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das!"

These are the six  goswamis  who lived in Vrindavan, and there is another  goswami  who has been recognised as the seventh  goswami  (saptam goswami)—that is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

We are very fortunate that we have got this line, that we have got such guardian as Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur who has given us our Guru. The guru of our beloved Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the founder  acharya  of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, is Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Who brought Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur to this world? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. We can see the last lines in one of the songs in the  Gaudiya Gitanjali  ("Jayare jayare jaya paramahamsa mahasaya"):

sri-gauranga-parisada thakura bhakti-vinoda
dina-hina patitera bandhu
kali-tamah vinasite anilena avanite
toma' akalanka purna indu

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur is an associate of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and a friend of all low and fallen souls—to dispel all darkness of this dark age, he brought to this earth you, a spotless full moon.

(Sri Acharya-vandana)

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur is compared here to a spotless full moon. A full moon is also very bright (when the moon is not full, when it is half, it is not as bright), and also the moon has some spots, but Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur has no spot—he is a spotless full moon. Who gave this Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur to us? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

Our Param Gurudev wrote in Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's  pranam-mantra,

guru-dam grantha-dam gaura-dhama-dam nama-dam muda
bhakti-dam bhuri-dam vande bhakti-vinodakam sada

"I perpetually offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. Guru-dam: he is the bestower of Sri Guru (Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Grantha-dam: he is the author of numerous commentaries, treatises, articles, novels and songbooks. Gaura-dhama-dam: he is the revealer of the abode of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Nama-dam: he is the giver of the Name. Bhakti-dam: he is the granter of pure devotion. Bhuri-dam: he is the bestower of an abundance of divine fortune."

(Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya, 1.8)

Guru-dam.  Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given us Guru.  Grantha-dam.  He has given us scriptures—many of the songs we sing are written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, and there is  Jaiva-dharma  and many other scriptures and books composed by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.  Gaura-dam. He has given us Gauranga. If it was not for Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, who would have known about Sriman Gauranga Mahaprabhu? Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur preached about Gauranga Mahaprabhu so much.

You know that after Srila Narottam Das Thakur, Srila Srinivas Acharya, Sri Jiva Goswami, Sri Syamananda Prabhu, Gauranga Mahaprabhu's preaching had turned a very bad way. There appeared many bad  samradayas—aul, baul, kartabhaja, neda, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, ativadi, churadhari, gauranga-nagari. These are the thirteen misconception  sampradayas, misconception groups, that had become popular, and now there are even more, there are thirteen thousand  apa-sampradayas. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur fought against all those  sampradayas.

At first, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was a school teacher, and then he sat for a service commission exam and became a district magistrate. He worked in Krishna Nagar, Ranaghat, and also Dinajpur (present Bangladesh). When he was a magistrate in Dinajpur, he collected many books about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but everything that was written in those books was a misconception. That is why Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur thought that somebody had to come to this world to preach the correct, pure conception.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur had many sons, he had eleven children in total. However, when he was in Puri, he and his wife Bhagavati Devi went to the Jagannath temple and prayed to Bimala Devi (Laksmi Devi), "Please, give us a son who will be able to preach, who will be able to give the pure conception of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu." Then, Bimala Devi gave him a son, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and Bhagavati Devi named him Bimala Prasad. That Bimala Prasad later became Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad.

Although he was Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's son, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur did not think that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was only his father—he considered him his spiritual master and an associate, or a companion, of Srimati Radharani. He famously wrote to his brother once, "Baba badha Radha  (বাবা বাধা রাধা)." His brother Lalita Prasad thought, "Bimala Prasad is a son of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, and I am also a son of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. Why are so many followers going to Bimala Prasad? I also have my father's property!" And Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote to him, "Baba badha Radha. Brother, you only see your father in Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, but I do not think that he is only my father—I see him as my spiritual master, as a  parsad  (associate) of Srimati Radharani. You only say, 'Baba, baba, baba,' ('baba' means 'father'), that is why you will not become an associate of Radharani ('badha' means 'bondage'). You say, 'Baba' ('father'), but I say, 'Prabhu' ('my master'). Which is more important?  Prabhu  is important.  Baba  is a material identification, but a spiritual master is more than a father."

That is the main thing. There is so much history related to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur...

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Gift of Saptam Goswami (2)

Appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
11 September 2019, Kolkata, part 2

Dhama-dam.  Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given us the Holy Dham. Everybody told that Mahaprabhu's place had been submerged by the Ganges. You know that sometimes the water of the Ganges can take some land, and sometimes the Ganges can give that land back also. The Ganges did actually take the land of Mahaprabhu's birthplace at first, but then Ganga Devi gave it back for the devotees of Gauranga. You know that Columbus discovered America, but discovering America means the land was there before too, but somebody went there first and discovered it. So, the land of Mahaprabhu's birthplace was there too but Ganga Devi first hid it and then gave this land back. Who recognised and discovered that land? It happened by the mercy of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was staying at that time in Godrumdwip, Svananda-sukhada Kunja, the place where he started chanting the Holy Name. He would work the whole day as a magistrate in court, mixing with different people and devotees the whole day, and, when he came home in the early evening, he would go to bed early and wake up at midnight. His nature like this. At midnight, he would start his duty—he would go to the roof of his house and chant the Holy Name, the Hare Krishna  maha-mantra  on his chanting beads all night, from midnight to morning.

One day, when he was chanting the Hare Krishna  maha-mantra  on the roof, he suddenly saw some light in the distance. He wondered, "What is this light there? I should go there and see." When the morning came, he took some man with him and went there. When he came to the place where he saw the light was coming from, he saw a forest land with many Tulasi plants growing there. Some local Muslim person was passing by, perhaps some guard or an office worker, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur (at that time his name was Kedarnath Dutta) asked that man, "Who is the proprietor of this land?" The man replied, "We do not know who the proprietor is. This land suddenly came from the Ganges." Then Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur asked, "Why are you not cultivating anything in this area?" The man replied, "We have tried to cultivate this land—we planted rice, jute seeds, etc. but nothing grew, only Tulasi grows." Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur thought, "They keep cultivating this land, but they cannot kill the Tulasi plants—what is this?" Then he went to Nabadwip and spoke to Vaishnav Sarvabhauma Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj. He was a very old man by that time, about 137 years old. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur asked him, "Prabhu, I have been searching and found one land where only Tulasi grows. Can you come and see it?" Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj replied, "Yes, I too want to go and see it." Then, Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj's servant Bihari Das placed Babaji Maharaj into a basket and carried him to that land. When Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj arrived, he jumped out of his basked and started dancing, "O Hari bol! Hari bol! I have got it! I have got it!  This  is Prabhu's place!  This  is Mahaprabhu's birthplace!"

Following that, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur established the Yogapith temple as the birthplace of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. At that time, some contradiction also came—all the  babaji sampradayas  united and filed a court case trying to overrule that Yogapith was the birthplace of Mahaprabhu, but they lost the case, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur won it. There are so many pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur...

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj wrote one sloka in  Bhaktivinod-vraha Dasakam,

srigauranumatam svarupaviditam rupagrajenadrtam
rupadyaih parivesitam raghuganairasvaditam sevitam
jivadyair abhiraksitam sukasivabrahmadi sammanitam
sriradhapadasevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan

"What was sanctioned by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by His descent was intimately known only to Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami. It was adored by Sanatan Goswami and served by Rupa Goswami and his followers. Raghunatha Das Goswami tasted that wonderful thing fully and enhanced it with his own realization. And Jiva Goswami supported and protected it by quoting the scriptures from different places. The taste of that divine truth is aspired for by Brahma, Siva, and Uddhava, who respect it as the supreme goal of life. What is this wonderful truth? Sri radhapadasevana: that the highest nectar of our life is the service of Srimati Radharani. This is most wonderful. O Bhakti Vinoda Thakur, you are our master. It is within your power to allow them to bestow their grace upon us. You are in a position to bestow the highest gift ever known to the world upon us all. It is at your disposal. O Bhakti Vinoda Thakur, please be kind to us and grant us your mercy."

It is a very beautiful poem, you can read it in the  Kirtan Guide. When Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur saw it he said that it had not been written by Srila Sridhar Maharaj—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur had himself come and written it. He said, "Happy style." Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very happy, very pleased with what Srila Sridhar Maharaj wrote about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

We cannot tell what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given us in one day or one night, neither can we finish hearing his glorification. It is impossible to tell everything. We are only trying to tell something that we have heard from our Guru-varga, from our Gurudev.

Today we will sing Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's songs.  [His Divine Grace starts chanting kirtans: • Gurudev bada krpa kari' • Nadiya-godrume nityananda mahajana • Emana durmati samsara bhitare • Amara jivana sada pape rata • Gaya gora madhur svare • Hare Krishna maha-mantra.]

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Early Pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur

Appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
11 September 2019, Kolkata, part 3

vande bhaktivinodam sri-gaura-sakti-svarupakam
bhakti-sastrajna-samrajam radha-rasa-sudha-nidhim

I offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, the embodiment of Sri Gaurasundar's potency. He is the king of all knowers of the scriptures of pure devotion and an ocean of the nectar of devotion to Srimati Radharani.

guru-dam grantha-dam gaura-dhama-dam nama-dam muda
bhakti-dam bhuri-dam vande bhakti-vinodakam sada

"I perpetually offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. Guru-dam: he is the bestower of Sri Guru (Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Grantha-dam: he is the author of numerous commentaries, treatises, articles, novels and songbooks. Gaura-dhama-dam: he is the revealer of the abode of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Nama-dam: he is the giver of the Name. Bhakti-dam: he is the granter of pure devotion. Bhuri-dam: he is the bestower of an abundance of divine fortune."

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."

First, I am giving my obeisance to my beloved Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, to all his associates, all his godbrothers and godsisters.

Today is a very auspicious day—I am paying my full obeisance at the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur whose appearance day is today. Wherever he is now, I pray to him, "We are a fallen soul. Please, grant us an opportunity to serve your associates, to serve your  guru-parampara, all your godbrothers, godsisters, all the  guru-varga." We need such qualification and we can get it through him—by his mercy. We only pray for his mercy so that he may grant us some  seva  (service) opportunity.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was born in Puri, Odisha, but Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was born in Bengal, in Nadia district (the same district as Nabadwip). Sometimes, when we drive down the highway towards Ranaghat, we pass Badkulla, Taherpur, etc. and we also pass the place where Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was born—it is near Govindapur, in a village called Ula (present Birnagar). Actually, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's birthplace is not occupied by Gaudiya Vaishnavs, it is occupied by some  sahajiya  group, that is why we do not go there so much. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also did not take care of that place properly because he was thinking not about that. If  sahajiyas  want to serve that place, let them serve it. He did not pay attention to that—he gave all his attention to Yogapith and preaching, going to temples, etc. In his life, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur established sixty-four temples of Gaudiya Math, but he did not give so much attention to Ula. Anyhow, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur appeared in the village of Ula, or present day Birnagar. The question is how Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was born.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's family actually came from Odisha. His father's name is Ananda-chandra Dutta. He was a very pious, religious man, and he got married here in Nadia district to a daughter of a big landlord named Sri Ishwar-chandra Mastauphi—his daughter's name was Srimati Jagan Mohini (Gurudev also gave one devotee the name Jaga Mohini, or Jagan Mohini—Jagan Mohini is actually the name of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's mother and it is also Radharani's name). When a man and a woman get married, the wife usually goes to live in her in-laws' house, and in Indian culture, especially here in Bengal, the tradition is such that when the girl becomes pregnant, they bring her to her parents' house. This culture is still going on.

So, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was actually born in his material uncle's house (his  mama's  house—'mama' means 'mother's brother' in Bengali). It happened today, on this date—the 18th day of Bhadra month in 1245. The current Bengali year is 1425, so it means it happened 180 years ago. When the baby was born, an astrologer told his parents that this baby would be a great scholar and a big personality. The father gave him the name Kedarnath Dutta.

When Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was eleven years old, he lost his father and after that was brought up in his maternal uncle's house. At that time his grandfather (his mother's father—in Bengali there is 'pitamoha', paternal grandfather, and 'matamoha', maternal grandfather, but in English it is the same) lived in a big building and was an important  zamindar  (landlord); many people would always come to see that building. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur had two elder brothers, but they also died. When Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was five years old, he started to study, and he studied very well. When he was nine years old, he started to study astrological  sastras, and by the time he was eleven-twelve years old, he knew all  Ramayana  and  Mahabharata. When he was twelve years old, he was married—his wife's age was five years old at that time.

In his childhood, everybody would often scare him with ghosts. There was a mango garden house near the place where he lived, but he could not even go there to pick the ripe mango because everybody told him there was a ghost there. One day, he asked a lady, "Why cannot I climb the mango trees? I want to pick some mangoes, but they say there are many ghosts there." The lady advised him to take the name of Lord Rama. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur went to the mango grove chanting, "Ram, Ram" and he was not afraid. From that time he started chanting and worshipping Lord Rama's Name. As a boy, he also once asked a  pujari, "Why does the Deity not talk?" The  pujari  said, "It is Kali-yuga, Deities do not speak in Kali-yuga." Sometimes, he would also go to the temple of Lord Siva—he would put his head on Lord Siva's head (on top of a Siva  linga) and quickly run away. Sometimes, he would also shout something and when the echo reverberated, he would say, "Oh, the Deity is talking!" He was very attached to Deities and spiritual life from his childhood. Later, he moved to Kolkata. He stayed with one of his relatives named Kashi Prasad Ghosh and studied at a college. At that time, Ishwar-chandra Vidyasagar, a very prominent educated person of the time, treated him with very much affection.

In 1858 Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur went to Odisha, after that he got a job of a head teacher in Midnapore disctrict. His monthly salary was 45 rupees at that time. He also lived in Bhadrak, a city that we also pass on the way to Puri. There, he wrote an English book called 'Maths of Odisha.' He visited Saksi Gopal, Bhuvaneshwar, and all the places in Odisha. When he and his family were in Midnapore, his first wife got very ill and died leaving him a ten-month-old son. His mother, who was quite old at that time, was with him too, so Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur thought, "Who will take care of this child and of my mother? I have to get married again." He got married again—his second wife's name is Sri Bhagavati Devi, she was the mother of Sri Bimal Parasad who appeared in 1874 (he was the sixth son)...

So many pastimes happened in Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's life, it is a very long history. We can speak about it more later. He also composed so many songs, so many books...

Jay Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Jay Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's avirbhav-tithi-bara maha-mahotsav ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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Sri Guru: Embodiment of Lord's Mercy

20 September 2019, Kolkata, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi Tulasi Devi Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda Radha Kunda Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham Sri Nabadwip Dham Sri Vrindavan Mathura ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Gaura Bhakta vrinda ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Devotee:  Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajaka-acharya-varya Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams cha
ri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana raghunath-anvitam tam sa-jivam
advaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-chaitanya-devam
ri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita sri-visakhanvitams cha

I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of my Guru, the predecessor Gurus, the Lord's devotees, Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatan, Sri Raghunath, Sri Jiva, Sri Rupa's followers, Sri Krishna Chaitanyadev, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Chaitanyadev's associates, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Lalita Devi, Sri Visakha Devi, and all of Their associates.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
haksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I offer my obeisance unto Sri Gurudev, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the salve of divine knowledge.

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
hintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
ovindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
ande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev's associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.

devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
andrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
ri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
ande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
atitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees.

vrndayai tulasi-devyai priyayai kesavasya cha
rsna-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namah

Again and again I offer my obeisance unto Vrnda Devi, who is known as Tulasi Devi and Satyavati, who is most dear to Krishna, and who bestows devotion to Krishna upon us.

atha natva mantra-gurun gurun bhagavatarthadan
yasan jagad-gurun natva tato jayam udirayet

Having offered obeisance to one's initiating Guru, to the Gurus who have taught one the meaning of the Bhagavat, and to all the authors of Vedic literature, who are the Gurus of the entire world, proclaim "Jay!"

jayah sa-parikara sri-sri-guru-gauranga-gandharvagovindasundar-padapadmanam jayastu!

All glory to the lotus feet of Sri Guru, Sri Gaurasundar, Sri Sri Gandharva-Govindasundar, and all of Their associates!

vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami.

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda
ri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura-bhakta-vrnda

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
are rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur sang one very nice  Sri Guru-mahima kirtan. We always sing  Sri Guru-charana-padma  and  Gurudev krpa bindu diya, but Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur also sang a very nice song that is found in his  Saranagati. The small  Saranagati  book was printed in Gurudev's time, it has finished now and I have given it for reprint.  Saranagati  is a very nice book. I have told you before, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur stayed in Godrumdwip (we are now also staying in Nrisingha Palli, Godrumdwip), that is why he wrote this  kirtan.

gurudeva!
ada krpa kari', gauda-vana-majhe
odrume diyacha sthana
jna dila more, ei vraje vasi',
arinama kara gana

Gurudev! Bestowing a great mercy on me, you have given me a place in Sri Godrumdwip amidst the forests of Gauda. You ordered me: "Reside in this abode which is non-different from Vraja and chant the Lord's Name."

kintu kabe prabho, yogyata arpibe,
 dasere daya kari'
hitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
kante bhajiba hari [2]

But when, O master, will you mercifully grant this servant the qualification to do this? Then my heart will become steadfast, I will tolerate everything, and I will serve the Lord sincerely.

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
bhyasa ha-ila manda
ija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
hajanera pratibandha [3]

In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things. Because of my own sins, this body has become an impediment to spiritual practice.

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
emane bhajiba bala'
andiya kandiya, tomara charane
adiyachhi suvihvala [4]

Now aged, I am afflicted by five-fold diseases. Tell me, how shall I serve? Crying incessantly, I have fallen at your feet, utterly bewildered.

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, who is said by all the scriptures to be the Lord Himself, and considered to be so by the sadhus, yet is also the Lord's beloved devotee."

(Sri Sri Gurvastakam, 7)

Gurudev, the mercy of Gurudev is the Lord Himself—he is non-different from Krishna. At the same time, it is said also 'kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya'—at the same time, Gurudev is also a dearmost of Lord Krishna, a dearmost of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, i.e. he is Srimati Radharani.

We only need the mercy of Gurudev—without Gurudev's mercy we cannot understand the Guru. We cannot observe the Guru, we cannot realise the Guru with these mundane eyes. If you want to understand the Guru, then you need the mercy of the Guru. We think of Gurudev as of our father, our mother, but those who have any connection with their Guru, they know that those who are attached to the mundane world cannot understand Gurudev.

We can make some friendship with our sister, with our daughter, with our mother, with our parents, it is also a relationship, but it is not the same as the relationship that exists between the Guru and the disciple—between the Divine Master and the disciple—this relationship is a different thing. You can understand it from the following example. We can realise some material happiness with our mind, with our body, with our  pancha-bhautik deha  (the material body composed of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, ether), but the relationship that exists between me (i.e. us, the  jiva  souls) and the Lord is different—it is a transcendental relationship. There is some relationship between our body and the mind, but it is not the same relationship as between the  jiva  soul and the Lord. That relationship is different, it is a transcendental relationship, it is not a material relationship. Our relationship with our mind, with our body is not eternal (anitya), but the relationship between the soul and the Lord is eternal.

Who can come to tell us about this eternal relationship? Gurudev can. Sri Gurupadpadma, the worshippable embodiment of the Lord's mercy (Bhagavaner karuna-murti) will come to tell us all these things. We are fallen souls, we have forgotten Krishna.

'krsna-nitya-dasa'—jiva taha bhuli' gela
ei dose maya tara galaya bandhila

"When the jiva soul makes the mistake of forgetting that it is an eternal servant of Krishna, Maya captures the soul by its neck."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.24)

The  jiva  soul is a servant of the Lord, but we forget it and that is why we are suffering so much in the illusory environment. The Lord is our only Master—we are all His servants, and our duty is to serve Him. Who gives this knowledge, this realisation? Gurudev does.  Krsna-bahirmukha jivera nahi Krsna smrti-jnana—those who have forgotten the Lord cannot understand these things.

* * *

Sri Guru: Exclusive Benefactor

20 September 2019, Kolkata, part 2

What does Gurudev do?

tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam, jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"You will be able to attain knowledge by satisfying the divine master with submission, relevant inquiry, and sincere service. The enlightened souls who are learned in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will impart divine knowledge to you."

Krishna told Arjun, and Prahlad Maharaj also taught this to his school friends in  Bhagavatam—"First you should surrender to the Guru, enquire honestly from him, and have service mood—then Gurudev can show you what is your duty." Surrender is first.

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

Humility, compassion, honouring others, and giving up prestige—become qualified with these four qualities and chant the Name.

(Sri Siksastakam Giti)

dainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
'avasya raksibe krsna'—visvasa palana
bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara

"Humility, self-submission, taking the Lord as your guardian, keeping the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion."

We are fallen souls, we are  pancha-rogi hata  (ruined by five diseases)—avidya  (ignorance),  asmita  (false identification),  raga  (misdirected love),  dvesa  (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and  abhinivesa  (being unable to give up unfavourable habits). However, you can cure these five diseases. When you have some material disease, you go to a doctor, the doctor gives you some medicine and if you take that medicine you get cured. If you do not take the medicine, how will you be cured? You must take proper medicine as ordered by your Guru, then you will be cured—those five diseases will be removed from your heart.

Gurudev is always in the presence of the Lord—he always serves the Lord, always thinks about the Lord, about his Guru and the service to his Guru, and he always engages others in the service to the Lord. Guru always serves himself and engages others also in the service of the Lord.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur told that there are two types of Gurus in this society—one type is  gosthanandi guru  and the other type is  vivetyanandi guru. Those gurus who always stay alone and only chant on their beads, they do not give advice to others, do not do service, and do not engage others in service, are called  bhajananandi  (Gurudev told 'bhajananandi', and Srila Prabhupad told 'vivetyanandi'). Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad, Srila Gurudev, Guru Maharaj always did service and engaged others in service also.

One time, some big personlity came to see Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. At that time, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was wearing a  gumcha  and making some boundary wall for the temple (in those days, they did not have manpower or money to make a concrete wall, so they would make some fence with branches). When that man came to the gate of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, he asked, "Who is Sridhar Maharaj? I want to meet him." Srila Sridhar Maharaj replied, "Wait here please. You can meet with him, it is not a problem." Then, Srila Sridhar Maharaj went upstairs to his room, took off his  gumcha  and wore a proper  dhoti  and  kurta. He sat in his chair and sent his servitor to call the man who had come to see him. When the man came upstairs, he was surprised, "I have just seen this man at the gate wearing a  gumcha, cutting some branches and making a fence! This is Sridhar Maharaj?!"

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad, Srila Gurudev, Guru Maharaj always taught how one can get proper benefit in their spiritual life. They are all  uttam adhikari, but for the benefit of  jiva  souls—for  our  benefit—they came down to madhyam adhikari level and took disciples, taught disciples, chastised disciples, did service and engaged others in service, etc. They bestowed their mercy. At the same time, when somebody criticised them, they would ignore it.

When one has taken shelter of a Guru and worships their Guru (like we do), what does Gurudev do? He sends whatever worship the disciple offers to him to the Lord. If one is a proper spiritual master, he does not take anything for his own benefit—whatever worship comes to him, he never uses it for his own purpose.

jagate prakata bhai, taha vina gati nai
yadi chao apana kusala

"Brother, it is obvious that there is no other path in this world other than this if you want your own benefit."

* * *

Sri Guru: More Than Only Shelter

20 September 2019, Kolkata, part 3

Krishna manifests Himself in this world in the form of the Guru to bestow eternal benefit onto the  jiva  souls. Being non-different from Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Gurupadpadma does not distinguish who is qualified and who is not qualified. It is said about Sri Nityananda Prabhu,

uttama, adhama, kichhu na kare vichara
ye age padaye, tare kraye nistara

"Nityananda Prabhu does not consider who is good and who is bad, He saves anyone who falls before Him."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 5.208-209)

Whether one is  uttam  (high and exalted) or  adham  (low and fallen)—Nityananda Prabhu, or the Guru, does not discriminate who is better, who is worse, who is best. Nityananda Prabhu, or the Guru, bestows his mercy to whoever surrenders properly.

It is necessary to surrender to the Guru properly, after that the Guru will teach the surrendered  jiva  soul about the Lord and, removing all unwanted elements, all other desires, all insincerity from their hearts, he will engage them in the service of Krishna and  kasna  (a servant of Krishna).

I have just told you,

tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam, jnaninas tattva-darsinah

You will be able to attain knowledge by satisfying the divine master with submission, relevant inquiry, and sincere service. The enlightened souls who are learned in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will impart divine knowledge to you.

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

This is what awaits those who are fully surrendered. Prahlad Maharaj also told this when he was teaching demons' children about the service of the Lord. He told that there are sixty-four types of services to the Lord, and among all those types of service, he gave special importance to Guru-seva (service to the Guru).

guru-susrusaya bhaktya sarva-labdharpanena cha
sangena sadhu-bhaktanam isvararadhanena cha
sraddhaya tat-kathayam cha kirtanair guna-karmanam
tat-padamburuha-dhyanat tal-lingeksarhanadibhih

"One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with great devotion and faith. Whatever one has in one's possession should be offered to the spiritual master, and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should worship the Lord, hear the glories of the Lord with faith, glorify the transcendental qualities and activities of the Lord, always meditate on the Lord's lotus feet, and worship the Deity of the Lord strictly according to the injunctions of the sastra and guru."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.7.30-31)

Through the service to the Guru, all material attachment—all  bhukti  (propensity to enjoyment),  mukti  (propensity to liberation),  siddhi  (propensity to various perfections), all unwanted elements, all unwanted desires—are removed from the  jiva  soul. After that, when the souls revives its consciousness of its own pure spiritual identity, it gets taste for and attachment to the service of a servitor of the Lord.

If you want to get the  darshan  of the Lord, the highest and only way is service to the Guru. Service to the Guru, satisfaction of the Guru removes all material attachment from your heart—all that is necessary for us is to serve our Guru properly.

Sri Gurupadpadma not only gives shelter to a soul that surrenders to him—he gives them the Name, the  mantra, and the teachings. Gurudev teaches about the nature of the world and, engaging the surrendered soul in service life, he takes care of the progress in their spiritual life. What is the Holy Name? What is the  mantra? What is the  jiva  soul?—Gurudev tries to explain these things and by hearing this teaching from his holy mouth all material bondage, all ignorance, and offences of the disciple are removed.

If you want to see the Lord directly, you must receive aural knowledge (srauta-jnana) from Sri Gurupadpadma. Have I not told you that? I told you that you cannot see the Guru with your eyes. Do not see your Guru with your eyes, you must see your Guru, you must see the Lord with your ears. Even those who pursue fruitive activities (karmis), even those who pursue knowledge (jnanis), even those who pursue mystic powers (yogis), they also always worship their Guru.

* * *

Sri Guru: Constant Worship

20 September 2019, Kolkata, part 4

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also told that if you practise  jnana,  yoga, etc., as a result of all the desires for  bhukti  (enjoyment),  mukti  (liberation),  siddhi  (perfections) you end up rejecting your Guru. However, proper pure devotees worship their Guru constantly. We also studied at university, and when we see our school teacher, we say, "Pranam" and go away. For example, when I was at university, I once saw my primary school teacher—I folded my hands and said, "Pranam," but I do not worship him as my guru. However, pure devotees always worship their Divine Master (Guru).

The subject of knowledge (jnana) came up in the conversation between Sri Ramananda Ray and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Ramananda Ray said, "Jnana-misra bhakti  is the highest." What is said in  Srimad Bhagavad-gita  (18.54)?

brahma-bhutah prasannatma, na sochati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu, mad-bhaktim labhate param

"The joyful-hearted, enlightened soul who has attained his divine nature neither sorrows nor desires. Seeing all beings equally, he comes to attain transcendental loving devotion for Me."

Conditioned souls practise  jnana-misra bhakti  (devotion mixed with pursuit of knowledge)—they are bound by Maya and pray for knowledge for themselves or their family, however Mahaprabhu said, "This is external, go further." Then Ramananda Ray spoke about  jnana-sunya bhakti  (devotion devoid of pursuit of knowledge), and Mahaprabhu accepted it. It is said in  Srimad Bhagavatam  (10.14.3),

jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva
jivanti sanmukharitam bhavadiya vartam
sthane sthitah srutigatam tanuvanmanobhir
ye prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi tais trilokyam

"Lord Brahma said, 'My dear Lord, those devotees who have thrown away the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth and have therefore abandoned discussing empiric philosophical truths should hear from the self-realised devotees about Your Holy Name, form, pastimes and qualities. They should follow all principles of devotional service and surrender themselves fully with their body, words and mind. Thus such persons can conquer You who is known as unconquerable.'"

When Mahaprabhu said, "This is superficial, go further," Ramananda Ray explained this, and Mahaprabhu accepted this as worthy.

Those who attain divine love by their devotional practice always remain in strict adherence to their Guru (Guru-anugatya)—even if a disciple becomes a  siddha-maha-purush  (a great liberated soul), he always remembers his Guru, he always serves under the guidance of his Guru and never disconnects from his Guru. Such is the result of devotion, and it is attained neither through fruitive activities (karma), nor through knowledge (jnana) or mystic practices (yoga).

Srila Jiva Goswamipad also explained about the perfection of devotion and divine love. Those who become fixed in the aural knowledge of scriptures received from the holy mouth of Sri Guru, experience the Supreme Lord and become expert in Vedic scriptures (sabda-brahma)—as a result of Sri Gurudev's association and mercy, practitioners of devotion attain faith in the scriptures. Gurudev always serves Krishna with all his senses, and he has no other job except for service of Krishna. He is always anxious to make Sri Sri Radha-Govinda happy—he is always ready for the service of his Guru, service of his Lord. A real, bona fide Guru always gives his real, bona fide disciple the right, or a chance, to serve Srimati Radharani and Radha-Govinda. Therefore, it is impossible to get the service of Vrajendra-nandan Sri Krishna without the mercy of Sri Guru.

The worship of the Guru is not same as the ordinary worship done by common people. Gurudev is an embodiment of the Lord's mercy (Bhagavaner kripa-murti). The Lord never comes Himself to bestow His direct mercy onto others, but the Lord's mercy comes through a  guru-parampara, through the medium of the Lord's closest associate, Sri Gurupadpadma.

All scriptures stipulate the rules regarding the worship of the Guru. If you worship Gurudev for one day when his appearance day comes, this is wrong. The scriptures say that Gurudev must be served at all times, wherever one may be. The worship of Gurudev is not some one-day worship—Guru must be worshipped constantly.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Meaning of Guru Puja

Adhivas of Sri Vyasa Puja of His Divine Grace
9 October 2018, Kolkata, part 1

You have all come here for tomorrow's festival—you have come to give your mercy to this low soul...

We must understand the meaning of 'guru-puja.' If you only offer some  arati  to Gurudev, this is not  guru-puja  (worship of Gurudev).  Guru-puja  means it is necessary to do  guru-seva.  Guru-seva  consists of many parts—somebody cooks for Gurudev, somebody washes Gurudev's dishes, etc. this is also  guru-seva, but what other services are there that are very dear to the Guru? How can one please Gurudev? How can one make Gurudev happy? When you understand this and serve accordingly, this is called service, or  guru-seva. We must always think, "How can I please my Guru? What does Gurudev want? What does he like?" We must understand this and do what pleases the heart of Gurudev—this is what service is.  Guru-seva  means fulfilling Gurudev's most cherished desires.

When I first came to the Math, I did not take the responsibility for arranging the  guru-puja. Srila Gurudev's appearance day was observed for the first time in Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's time. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj himself made an appearance festival of our beloved Gurudev Om Vishnupad Jagad-guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. The Guru was observing the appearance day of his disciple! He himself taught how one must do  guru-puja.

Guru-puja  means  guru-seva, and  guru-seva  means you must live following the instruction of your Guru. The first time when I took part in  guru-puja  was in 1993, and next year, in 1994, I took over the service of arranging  guru-puja. What did I do? Now is the age of computers, but in those days we had to write invitation letters by hand. Aranya Maharaj would write the letter himself by hand, then it would be printed, copied, and sent to some big devotees at the post office. My first responsibility was to print those letters. We always got some invitation letters from other temples, and they would write 'Guru Puja (or Vyasa Puja) Mahotsav', but I saw that we wrote in our letter 'Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah. Sri Sri Acharya Abhinandan Maha-Mahotsav.' So, the year when I was printing the letter, I showed it first to Gurudev. Gurudev asked me, "Who printed this letter?" I said I did. Then Gurudev said, "You are my disciple. When my godbrothers printed the letter, I did not say anything, but when a disciple prints an invitation letter to his Gurudev's festival, it has to be printed properly. My godbrothers can call me 'Govinda', but if one wants to become a disciple, they must give some minimal honour." This is what Gurudev explained to me at that time. I asked Gurudev what was wrong with the letter, and Gurudev told me, "You did not write 'Om Vishnupad'." I was new at that time and was mostly doing land cultivation for the temple, looking after the cows, workers, etc. so I did not know these things, neither had I ever printed such letters before, but after that I understood how it must be done.

* * *

Key to Guru Puja

Adhivas of Sri Vyasa Puja of His Divine Grace
9 October 2018, Kolkata, part 2

Before the festival (in 1993), I decorated Gurudev's building with lights (at that time, there were no buildings at Govinda Kunda, there was only a banana grove there). I also made a banner for his Vyasa Puja festival, but somebody tore it. After that, Gurudev called me to this room. It was adhivas, and many people had come for the festival, we did not have enough rooms for everybody. Gurudev called me after the evening arati. There were some foreign devotees sitting at his veranda and one Bengali godbrother. Gurudev told me, "Why did you have to spend so much money, get all these lights, etc.? Why was it necessary to decorate my house with lights? My house is ordinary, why did you not just paint it with black paint?" When Gurudev said this, his face became grave and he fell silent. One of the devotees asked what had happened, and this is how I got to know that one of Gurudev's godbrothers had come to Gurudev and complained, "Why is it necessary to make such a big festival? Why did he need to put the lights, etc.?" That is why Gurudev told me that. You know, there is a saying in Bengali "Jhike mere bauke sakhano  (ঝিকে মেরে বউকে শেখানো)—punish an innocent man to teach others a lesson (lit. 'beat a maid to teach the wife')." So, Gurudev had chastised me to teach the person who had complained a lesson.

Anyhow, after that, the festival's scope increased and became even grander. In 1996, Gurudev was in Australia for his Vyasa Puja, but we made a big festival in Nabadwip—a thousand people came to take  prasadam. Later, Bamunpara temple was built, and we did the festival there. People would come for the festival three days ahead. Gurudev had explained and taught me that when you make a festival not much is necessary—a festival means Vaishnav  seva,  bhakta-seva. Gurudev taught me, "You fast on Janmastami, I have no objection, but you must give  prasadam—if you do not give  prasadam  to people the next day on Nandotsav, if you do not serve devotees, if you do not make nice Nandotsav festival, then there is no Janmastami." So, it is necessary to serve devotees, to serve Vaishnavs.

People come for  guru-puja, give some flower, give some fifty or hundred rupees and go away, but this is not  guru-puja.  Guru-puja  means devotees are coming, staying here for a few days, it is necessary to serve them—to give them a room, to give them  prasadam, etc. Everybody should help because everybody here is a servitor. We are neither  acharyas, nor  gurus—we are all servants. Why have we come to this line? None of us has come here to be a Vaishnav. Remember what I am saying. Why have we come here? We have come to become Vaishnav-dasanudas (a servant of a servant of Vaishnavs). If somebody says, "Oh, you have come to this line to become a Vaishnav," I say, "I have not come here to become a Vaishnav, neither am I a Vaishnav. I have come here to serve servants of the servants of Vaishnavs." If you get on Gurudev's boat and can stay in it, then whatever destination it may be sailing to, you will be able to reach it, i.e. you will be able to reach the Lord's abode—the highest abode and destination, and you will be able to take part in the service of Radha-Govinda in Goloka Vrindavan. That is called  guru-puja.

Guru-seva  is not engaging your Guru in service—it means serving your Guru, serving his devotees. "Radhara dasira krsna sarva-vede bole—Krishna is the property of the maid servants of Srimati Radharani. All  Vedas  say this." Whose property is Krishna? Krishna Himself says "If somebody says he is My devotee, he is not My devotee." Being a servant of Krishna means being a servant of His devotees. None of us here is  brahmachari, sannyasi, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahman, etc.—leaving whatever ego and pride we may have, we must become servants of servants and engage in the service of Govinda and Govinda's devotees.

yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta—hina, chhara
krsna-bhajane nahi jati-kuladi-vichara

"Only a nondevotee can be considered as worthless and abominable: anyone who takes to devotional service is great—there is no consideration of class, caste or any other status for those who have taken up service to Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.67)

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya

"Whether one is a brahman, a sannyasi, or a sudra, regardless of what one is, one can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 8.128)

If you are proud of you  brahman  caste and creed, it will not get you anywhere. Even a  brahman  must become a Vaishnav.

* * *

Service Consciousness

Adhivas of Sri Vyasa Puja of His Divine Grace
9 October 2018, Kolkata, part 3

What does it mean to be a devotee of Gurudev? How can we understand whether one has devotion or not? Those who understand what devotion is, they say, "I have no devotion. I do not have anything!" When somebody says this, then you can understand that they have something... How can I blame others? Even Brahma says that he cannot recognise who is a Vaishnav, what to speak of conditioned souls like us—we have no capacity to know who is good and who is bad.

We always speak about the devotion of  gopis, but what do the  gopis  say? There is no parallel to their devotion, nobody in the entire creation has the devotion like theirs. Their devotion is the highest, and why do we say it is the highest?  Gopis  themselves say, "We do not have the kind of devotion that Prahlad Maharaj has!" They never say, "We have become big devotees, we do so much service," rather they say, "We have nothing, we have not been able to do anything." And those who say, "I have devotion, I have become a devotee," then:

dusta mana ! tumi kisera vaisnava ?

"O naughty mind! What kind of a Vaishnav are you?"

"ami ta' vaisnava," e-buddhi ha-ile,
amani na ha'ba ami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)."

(Kalyan-kalpataru, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

You say you have become a Vaishnav, but sir, becoming a Vaishnav means becoming a servant of servants of Vaishnavs! You do not need to become a Vaishnav—it is sufficient to become a servant and to have the mood of a servant!

jagai madhai haite muni se papistha
purisera kita haite muni se laghistha

"I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and lower than the worms in the stool."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 5.205)

What did Mahaprabhu say?

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

It is necessary to practise properly. If we always practise and if we always serve Vaishnavs, then we can become worthy of a particle of dust from the lotus feet of Vaishnavs—that is sufficient for us. We must always think about this and we must always practise this.

How many of us have we been able to do service to Gurudev? Service is not doing something that pleases you. How many of us can actually serve Gurudev? How many of us can preach what Gurudev is saying? That is why I always tell you—it is necessary to always remember  guru-seva.

Many people will come to take  prasadam  tomorrow. I request ladies to help cut the vegetables tomorrow because many devotees are coming, and everybody must get  prasadam... Many of you come, take  prasadam  and leave—you can stay here for some time, you are always welcome, this is your house. Many think, "Oh, tomorrow is Gurudev's puja, I will go, give one flower to Gurudev and take  prasadam. That is Guru-puja." But it is necessary to do  guru-seva. If you want to observe Gurudev's Vyasa Puja, you must come and take part in the service of Gurudev and devotees. I have told everybody also that it is not necessary to fast on my birthday, I do not want you to struggle. Many say that if they do not fast, then it will not be Guru-puja, but I do not mind if you eat. If you fast and offer some flower to your Guru but do not take part in service—it means you think about yourself, not about others (you cannot serve others). Many will come like this tomorrow—they fast, offer some flower, then take  prasadam  and go. But if you can help with services, if you can distribute  prasadam, if you can help with cooking, then you will be able to participate in the service of Gurudev...

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Remembering Early Days

Bengali/English lecture on Sri Vyasa Puja Day
29 September 2019, Tarakeswar, part 1

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)

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.

Today's day is accepted as the day of my birthday. Actually I did not remember when was my birthday, what day I came to this world...  [In another instance, His Divine Grace revealed that this day was selected by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj himself.]

I remember when I was twelve years old, I would always read  Srimad Bhagavad-gita. "Krsna mata, krsna pita, krsna prana dhana. Krishna is my mother, Krishna is my father, Krishna is my very life and wealth." Krishna is my mother, Krishna is my father—I knew that, I had such  sukriti. Since my childhood I have always been inspired to read  Srimad Bhagavad-gita. My father did not like it, but I would read it secretly. I would bathe, put on a dhoti and go to the Deities' room before going to school. There, I would close the door and read  Bhagavad-gita. People mostly did some  puja  in the mornings and evenings, and nobody would go to the Deities' room at other times, so nobody even knew when I went there. When I saw that nobody would see me, I would sneak to the Deities' room and stay there reading  Srimad Bhagavad-gita. In the middle school also, from the sixth grade, we had a subject called Religion (Dharma). I heard many stories like those of Ekalavya, Dhruva Maharaj, Prahlad Maharaj, and others at those lessons, and I liked it a lot. I remember I also got the highest mark on this subject (84-95%).

Anyhow, I do not know by what pull I have come here.

ki jani ki bale tomare dhamete
ha-inu saranagata

"I do not know by what force I have taken shelter within Your abode..."

I do not know what has brought me here, who has brought me here, and I will never know it. Gurudev always told me that when Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj gave him  sannyas  in 1985, he also gave him all responsibility for this Mission. Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj stayed until 12 August 1988. After that time, foreign devotees wanted Gurudev to go preaching abroad, and this was also the desire of Srila Sridhar Maharaj; but Gurudev thought at that time, "I have one servitor with me who cooks and helps me, he can go abroad with me, but I do not have anybody who would look after the Math if I go abroad..." That was the source of Gurudev's anxiety. Even in those days, there were some godbrothers who used to disturb Gurudev a lot, and those who are unfortunate are taking their association now. That is why Gurudev worried at the time, "Who will I leave in charge of the Math when I go abroad?"

When I joined Gurudev's Mission in 1992, Gurudev spoke to me one evening. He asked me, "What service do you like?" I said, "Whatever service you give, that is the service I like." Gurudev knew that I was educated, that I had got some mundane education, I told him about it myself—he asked me and I could not lie to him, but I did not show it in front of other devotees, so they used to think I was a simple cowherd who was good at looking after cows. I used to serve at the goshala and in the crops fields of the Math in those days—my main duty was to look after the cultivation of the crops fields. I would pay obeisance to the Deities and then go to the goshala. That was my habit. Guru Maharaj also said that he was habituated with serving cows. He would say, "If you serve the cows of the Mission, then your Deity will be happy, your servitors will be good, and the temple will run well, but if the service to cows and Deities is obstructed, it creates quarrel and dissension, so much problem comes then." So, when Gurudev asked me, "What service do you like?" I told him, "Whatever service you give me, that is the service I like." Then he told me that somebody had recently poisoned his dogs. You know that Gurudev had favourite Alsatian dogs that used to guard the Math. Whenever somebody did some wrong at night, the dogs would be after them. So, one godbrother of Gurudev had a paid goshala worker give poison to the dogs at night and before mangal arati they were dead. You know, some workers will even kill for fifty rupees. I caught that man and chastised him. I just remembered his name was Ghupi. He gave poison to the dogs for fifty rupees, and those were huge Alsatian dogs, if they stand on their rare legs they were each perhaps six feet tall. So, Gurudev told me, "Those dogs are dead now. If you can guard the temple at night, I will be happy." I agreed and started guarding the Math at night. I still have that habit of light sleep even now—I often wake up at 1-2 o'clock at night. I go to bed at 10, but I do not want to sleep, so I read some books and then go to sleep—I lie down reading, fall asleep and then wake up looking around for the book. It still happens quite often. I used to study a lot at night also, then I worked till late, etc. This is how the habit came. Anyhow, this is what happened in Gurudev's time and this was the beginning of my service...

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