Caitanya Mahaprabhu's topics - tribe.net

The Heart of Srila Rupa and Srila Sanatana

2008-07-24T20:18:59Z

kalena vrindavana keli varta
lupteti tam khypnitum visesya
krpam mrtena abhise seca
deva satraiva rupanca sanatananca

Two meanings are there:
First: Before the creation of the cosmic manifestation the Lord enlighneted the heart of Lord Brahma with the details of the creation and manifested Vedic knowledge.

In exactly the same way Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu being anxious to revive the Vrinadavana pastimes of Lord Krsna, impregnated the heart of Rupa and Sanatana with the spiritual potency. By this potency Srila Rupa and Sanatana could revive the activities of Lord Krsna in Vrindavana, activities almost lost to memory.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu briefly gave some instructions to Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami about Vrindavana´s pastimes.

Second: With the course of time the pastimes of Krsna´s Vrindavana Lila and His places were covered by Yogamaya.

No one could find where these places were. Then Sacinandana Gourahari gave mercy in the heart of Rupa and Sanatana to remanifest Krsna´s Lila Sthali, and His sweet pastimes.

prema bhakti riti yata
nija ghante subhe katha
kori ache dui mahasaya
yahara sravan hoite
paramananda hoi citte
yugala madhura rasasoy

Srila Rupa Gosvamipada and Sanatana Gosvamipada, they described all the process of prema-bhakti in their unprecedented books such as: brhat-bhagavatamrtam, ujvalla-nilamani, bhakti rasamrta sindhu, lalita-madhava, vidagdha-madhava, etc.

One who listerns to this sweet pastimes of Krsna from this books becomes absorbed in estatic moods and is imersed in Yugala-Madhur-rasa. Yugala kisora prema
yeno laksan vana hena
heno prema prakasilo jara
jaya jaya sanatana
deho mora sei dana
sei ratana mora galer hara

To those who have manifested high class, estatic divine love for Yugala Kisor Kisori, I offer my unlimited heartfelt respectfull pranams unto their lotus feet, because their divine prema for Yugala-Kisor-Kisori is as like pure molten gold which has been purified a thousand times in the fire.

All glories to Sri Sanatan Gosvami, I humbly offer my prayer unto your lotus feet, please give me that very unprecedented valueable jewell which is the necklace around my neck.

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Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

2008-07-02T10:35:45Z

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, advented Himself as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, appearing in Sridhama Mayapura in the city of Navadvipa, Bengal in the year 1407 AD. Sri Krsna Caitanya manifested his divine mercy in Kali Yuga by delivering the Hare Krsna maha mantra and thereby saving the most fallen souls.

The divine appearance of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Phalguna (February-March). This is the most auspicious day for all Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the most sacred and special festival to glorify the appearance in this world of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, who incarnates in the form of a devotee, to enjoy rasa. Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraja describes in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, that Sri Sri Radha and Krsna are one divine self, or one and the same, but they have taken two bodies. Both Radha and Krsna constantly enjoy each other, and taste the pleasures of divine love. To taste this divine mellow, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna have appeared in one body, as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared in Mayapura Dhama.

It is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1:3:28 that Lord Buddha appeared at the beginning of Kali Yuga as the 21st incarnation of the Lord. The final (22nd) incarnation described in that passage is Lord Kalki, who is predicted to appear at the end of Kali Yuga. While not described in this particular passage, elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam Lord Caitainya Mahaprabhu is predicted to appear near the beginning of the Kali Yuga. In the seventh canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Prahlada Maharaja directly hints at the hidden nature of the Supreme Lord's appearance:

"Because the Supreme Lord is also called Tri-Yuga, or one who appears in only three yugas (satya, dvapara, treta), He is sometimes said to appear in a concealed form, in the age of Kali."

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:9:38

In the Atharva-Veda Purusa-Bodini-Upanisad, it is said: "In the seventh manvantara, in the beginning of the Kali-Yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will, accompanied by His own associates, descend in a golden form to the earth. He will teach the chanting of His own names."

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

"Why did Krsna assume the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu? It is explained that Krsna desired to know the glory of Radha's love. "Why is She so much in love with Me?" Krsna asked. "What is My special qualification that attracts Her so? And what is the actual way in which She loves Me?" It seems strange that Krsna, as the Supreme, should be attracted by anyone's love. We search after the love of a woman or a man because we are imperfect and lack something. The love of a woman, that potency and pleasure, is absent in man, and therefore a man wants a woman, but this is not the case with Krsna, who is full in Himself. Thus Krsna expressed surprise: "Why am I attracted by Radharani? And when Radharani feels My love, what is She actually feeling?" In order to taste the essence of that loving affair, Krsna appeared just as the moon appears on the horizon of the sea. Just as the moon was produced by the churning of the sea, by the churning of spiritual love affairs the moon of Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Indeed, Lord Caitanya's complexion was golden, just like the moon. Although this is figurative language, it conveys the meaning behind the appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila, Introduction

eko devah sarva-rupi mahatma
gauro rakta syamala-sveta-rupah
caitanyatma sa vai caitanya-saktir
bhaktakaro bhakti-do bhakh-vedyah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of all transcendental potencies, and who may be known only by devotional service, [bhakti vedyah] appears in innumerable transcendental forms. He has appeared in red, white and black complexions, [gauro rakta syamala sveta rupah] and He will also appear in the golden form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will assume the role of a perfect devotee [bhakta akarah] and He will teach the conditioned souls the path of pure devotional service [bhakti dah]."

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-7

2008-04-25T16:05:24Z

Prabhupada: So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, after taking leave from His mother, left Bengal towards Orissa, and on the entrance of the district of Balasore there is a nice temple called Ksira-cora-gopinatha temple. And He saw the temple. Here the scene is to be arranged that there is nice temple and within the temple there is Radha-Krsna Deity, Ksira-cora-gopinatha.

The pujaris are there, arati is being taken place, and at that time Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered with His followers chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, and He saw the Deity and danced before Him. And when the arati was finished, prayer was finished, then He sat down, talked with His associates, Nityananda and Gadadhara and Murari. So Nityananda Prabhu described about the Ksira-cora-gopinatha, the story of Ksira-cora-gopinatha. It was very nice story, that formerly one acarya, Madhavendra Puri came to this temple, Gopinatha, and while that condensed milk which is called ksira was being offered to the Deity, Madhavendra Puri wanted to taste it so that he would also prepare such condensed milk and offer to his Gopala. So after that he thought, "Oh, it is being offered to Krsna and I wanted to taste it. So I am so greedy." So he left the temple, that "I am not worth to visit this temple." He went outside the temple and sat down underneath a tree and was chanting Hare Krsna.

Then at dead of night, Gopinatha, the Deity, was awakening His priest by dream, that "You please get up. I have kept one pot of condensed milk behind My..." What is called... That (pid?) vastra, kings, sometimes they have got, very long tail-like. What is that called?

Hayagriva: Robe or something?

Prabhupada: Yes. What is the name?

Hayagriva: I don't know.

Prabhupada: In Sanskrit it is called (pid?) vastra, backside robe. So under the backside robe He kept one pot of condensed milk by stealing. So the pujari woke up and opened the door and actually saw that there was a pot of condensed milk. The priests were very much astonished that "Oh, He has stolen (laughs) ksira for His devotee." So the order was that "You take this pot and give to Madhavendra Puri. He is sitting underneath a tree." So they, with the pot of the condensed milk, they began to cry, "Oh, who is that Madhavendra Puri? Oh, you are so fortunate. The Deity has stolen condensed milk for you. Take it." So he came forward and he was so pleased that Lord has stolen. "Because I desired to taste so Lord has stolen one pot." So in this way. From that day He became famous, the thief of condensed milk, Ksira-cora. Ksira means condensed milk and cora means thief. So the temple became famous as the temple of the thief of condensed milk.

Hayagriva: Caitanya, the condensed milk thief.

Prabhupada: No. Oh, you did not hear. Caitanya, after seeing the Deity, He was sitting and seeing and meantime Nityananda Prabhu narrated the story how His name became Ksira-cora-gopinatha. You did not follow me?

Hayagriva: Nityananda?

Prabhupada: Nityananda was going with Lord Caitanya.

Hayagriva: Narrated this to Lord Caitanya? Nityananda narrated this to Lord Caitanya.

Prabhupada: Yes, how the Deity was known as Ksira-cora-gopinatha. The story was narrated that formerly He stole one...

Hayagriva: Condensed milk.

Prabhupada: Yes. Pot of condensed milk for His devotee.

Hayagriva: Now what direct relationship does this have to Lord Caitanya?

Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya also visited. Anyone in those days going to Jagannatha Puri
from Bengal they had to pass that way. And on the way the Ksira-cora-gopinatha temple is there. So everyone used to visit. So formerly Madhavendra Puri, he also visited, and for him the Deity stole the condensed milk. From that time He's known as Ksira-cora-gopinatha.

That story was narrated to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So while sitting before the Deity, the story was narrated and Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished it that God is so kind that sometimes He steals for His devotee. This is the significance of this. So here the scene should be arranged that very nice temple, the Deity within, and Lord Caitanya entered while chanting Hare Krsna and saw the worship, aratrika. These things are to be shown in this scene. And a little story about Him, that's all.

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-6

2008-04-23T16:04:52Z

Hayagriva: The fifth scene is renunciation of household life.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hayagriva: This is at age...? This is considerably later then. This is about ten years later.

Prabhupada: No. Renunciation... Now this Chand Kazi, he was... This movement when He was about 20 years old. Do you follow?

Hayagriva: The sankirtana was when He was around 20. The Kazi.

Prabhupada: The sankirtana was going on.

Hayagriva: When He was 16, 15.

Prabhupada: But practically He started this sankirtana movement vigorously from the age of 15 years. But when He was 20 years old, when the movement took very nice appearance, the brahmanas complained. So this movement was about 20 years old when... Then renunciation...

Hayagriva: He's 24 now.

Prabhupada: Yes. Renunciation. So one day it so happened that instead of chanting Hare Krsna, Lord Caitanya was chanting, "Gopi, gopi, gopi, gopi, gopi," instead of chanting "Krsna Krsna." So He had a small school. The brahmanas, generally they keep a small school which is called catuspathi. (spells out) C-c-h-a-a-t-u-s-p-a-t-h-i. Catuspathi, catuspathi means a school where up to the four Vedas are taught. Grammar and religion and everything is taught there. In every village that was system. The brahmanas should keep up a school like that. Students were all almost they were also of the same age. Some of them were fifteen years old, sixteen years old. So students came and saw Lord Caitanya was chanting "Gopi gopi," so they objected. They said, "Oh, why You are chanting `gopi gopi'? Why should You not chant `Krsna'? `Hare Krsna'?" So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in His ecstasy because He was... In the beginning, His appearance is in the form of gopi, to love Krsna. So He became very much angry, and because they were students, He wanted to chastise them. He took a stick. "You nonsense! What you are speaking? Go away!" So they fled away, but after that they organized. "Oh, how is that? Caitanya, He is... How He has become so big that He wants to beat us?" In this way they practically they were talking ill of Him. So He decided that "If I remain a householder, these people will not honor Me."

Because in those days a sannyasi was honored in the society very much. If a sannyasi comes to your village or to a householder's house it was very... Still it is going on, although not so widely. But still 80% of the population in India, if they find out a sannyasi they give all honor. So He decided that "Now I shall become a sannyasi." So He happened to see Kesava Bharati, a sannyasi of the Sankara sampradaya, and He requested him that "You give Me sannyasa." So He took sannyasa from Kesava Bharati and He was assisted by Nityananda, Murari Gupta, and some other people. So this is His renunciation decision and acceptance of sannyasa.

Hayagriva: How does He, How does He accept sannyasi? I mean how does He...?

Prabhupada: Sannyasa, there is a ceremony. Just like we have got the initiation ceremony.

Hayagriva: Did He have a spiritual master?

Prabhupada: So He accepted spiritual... Not spiritual master, but a sannyasa-guru. That is also master, but he's not spiritual master. But he's also considered as sannyasa-guru, spiritual master who offers him sannyasa. Just like myself, I took initiation from my Guru Maharaja, but I took sannyasa from a Godbrother who is a sannyasi. So my original guru is that spiritual master who initiated me, but he's also a siksa guru. Like that. Teacher. Then His renunciation of householder. He became sannyasa. Now when He was, after taking sannyasa, when He was going towards Vrndavana, He became always almost mad. So Nityananda, He was with Him. When He saw that Lord Caitanya is in ecstasy, He misled Him just to... His plan was that "I shall take Lord Caitanya to the house of Advaita, and then I shall call His mother to see Him for the last time. If Caitanya goes away from this very point His mother will not be able to see Him." So out of sympathy He said, "Well, Sripada Caitanya, this is not, this side is not Vrndavana. You go..." He just misdirected Him. So... And He sent one man to Advaita to receive Him that "He has taken sannyasi, just try to make arrangement to receive Him. Then we shall meet." So when He came near the house of Advaita He saw that Advaita was waiting. So then He, I mean to say, came to His sense. "Oh, I am misled? I have come to Advaita's house? How is that Nityananda? You showed Me this way Vrndavana." Then He said, "Oh, wherever You stay, that is Vrndavana." Now Advaita says, "All right, please come to my house." So he received Him and took Him there and sent news to His mother that "Your son has now taken sannyasa. Now if you want to see Him for the last time please come and see." So in this way at Advaita's house He remained for some time. Say about a fortnight. And during that time, in the beginning, His mother came and His mother became so much sorry. That scene you have to describe very nicely. Mother seeing that her son has taken sannyasa, no more He'll come to house. So (s)he was crying. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell on his(her) feet and begged, "My dear mother, yes. This body belongs to you. This body should have been engaged for your service. Unfortunately I've done a mistake. I have already taken sannyasa. Please excuse Me." In this way. That scene described in the Dilip Kumar's house, that Caitanya is consulting mother, that is a false scene. The actual scene is that after accepting His sannyasa, His mother came to see Him at Advaita's house. That is the...

Hayagriva: Yes. Does she give Him her blessing finally?

Prabhupada: No. Of course, mother's blessings are always there. But the scene was that mother was crying and He was falling on the feet and His mother was very sorry that He had very beautiful hair. Now it is all cut off. In this way, the scene is very pathetic. So in this way, after remaining at Advaita's house, His mother was asking Him through Advaita, "Let Him remain for some time." Then He consulted "Mother, now just you think over that I have taken sannyasa. And if I remain in this way, leaving My own family, and if I leave another family, do you think this is very nice for a sannyasi? So give Me permission to go away." Then mother agreed and other friends like Advaita and Srinivasa requested His mother that "You give Him permission." Then (s)he said, "Yes, I have to give Him permission because He has already accept sannyasa. If somebody blames Him, blasphemy, that is also not good. So my last request is that He may make His headquarter at Jagannatha Puri so that... Because people generally go to Jagannatha Puri, so I shall be able at least to know about Him, how He is faring there. That is my last request." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu at once accepted. "My dear mother, I shall always stay in Jagannatha Puri, and sometimes I may come to Bengal also to take bath in the Ganges. So there will be meeting. Now let Me go." So in this way they departed and Caitanya Mahaprabhu for the last time saw His friends and mother.

Hayagriva: I don't understand Nityananda's motive. He's a friend. Nityananda, He's a young friend of... Caitanya's.

Prabhupada: Oh, Nityananda was not actually a family brother. But He was, He is the incarnation of Baladeva, the elder brother of Krsna. So He took His birth in a different family, but He joined Caitanya's movement as other friends joined. So He is considered the elder brother of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He's actually.

Hayagriva: He opposed Caitanya's sannyasa.

Prabhupada: No, no. He did not oppose. He did not oppose. He simply, after Caitanya's acceptance of sannyasa, He wanted simply that He should come to Advaita's place so that His mother may see Him for the last time. That was His plan.

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-5

2008-04-16T17:04:56Z

Prabhupada: Yes. Then the next scene is that some constables came and during the Hari-sankirtana, they broke the mrdangas that "You have disobeyed the magistrate order that... So you cannot do it." So as the constables, they do some violence or assault, so they did that. And after the constables went away Caitanya Mahaprabhu was informed. He came. He saw that the mrdangas are broken and everything is strewn away so Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw. He decided, "All right. Now we shall organize a civil disobedience movement. Now tomorrow we shall organize thousands and thousands of people with mrdangas and we shall approach the magistrate house." So He... Next scene... What is that next scene?

Hayagriva: Now the constables broke up a sankirtana carried on by Caitanya's friends. Any location here particular?

Prabhupada: Yes. It is called the Srivasa house.

Hayagriva: On a house. At someone's home.

Prabhupada: Yes. Because in India the village houses they have got some compound. Not that only fixed house. Every house has got a compound.

Hayagriva: All right. Very good. Now the fourth scene, this is the meeting with the magistrate.

Prabhupada: Yes. Fourth scene. That...

Hayagriva: They march to the magistrate.

Prabhupada: Magistrate house and in the courtyard all the people, they were very much enthusiastic.

Hayagriva: Several thousand.

Prabhupada: Several thousand. And they were loudly chanting and meeting Lord... So when the chanting was going on the Chand Kazi appeared and there was discussion between... Chand Kazi was also very great scholar, and Lord Caitanya was also scholar. So Chand Kazi, just to pacify them, he addressed Caitanya, "My dear boy, You happen to be my nephew. You are my sister's son. Why You are so angry upon Your maternal uncle?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu got the clue that he was prepared to make compromise. So He also mildly replied, "Yes, you are My uncle, I know. So because you are My uncle, therefore I have come to your house. How is that when the nephew comes that you do not receive Him? In an angry mood you go upstairs?" So in this way, the situation was pacified. Then they sat together and there was a very learned discussion between the two. Because Hindus are always against cow killing. So he was Muhammadan. They were killing cow.

Hayagriva: Chand...

Prabhupada: Chand Kazi.

Hayagriva: Muhammadan.

Prabhupada: Yes. Muhammadan. Chand Kazi was a... Maulana Chand Kazi. His name is
Maulana Chand Kazi. He was a great scholar in the Koran scripture. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu first of all asked the Chand Kazi, "My dear uncle, what is your religion that you are eating your mother and father?" (laughs) So he could understand that He was attacking the cow killing process. So he said, "Well, You are just trying to criticize our cow killing, but in Your Vedic literature also I have seen that cow killing is allowed in sacrifice." Then Lord Caitanya said, "Yes. That is not killing. That is rejuvenating. That is not killing." The sacrifice of cow recommended in the Vedic sastra means that the brahmanas prove how powerful was Vedic mantra that it could give a new life to the old cows and bulls. So then Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, that "Such kind of learned brahmanas and Vedic yajna is not possible in this age. Therefore cow killing..." Not cow killing. "Sacrifice by offering cow, sacrifice by offering horse, and..." Asvamedham gavalambham. And sannyasam pala paitrkam. Sannyasa means to become in the renounced order of life. And these five things. One thing is sacrifice by offering cow. Second, sacrifice by offering horse. Third, to accept renounced order of life. And fourth, offering ablutions... Or what is called? Offering some, something to the forefathers? What is called?

Hayagriva: Oblations.

Prabhupada: Oblations. Yes. This, and to beget child by the husband's younger brother. Formerly, the society allowed that if a woman is young, she has no child, but husband died, so if the husband has younger brother, through the younger brother she could have a child. This system was current. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that these five things are forbidden in this age. So Chand Kazi also replied that "Cow killing is also not generally recommended in the Koran. Actually, beef-eating or flesh-eating is not in the higher stage. But those who are inclined to take flesh, for them it is recommended that instead of killing many small animals, one big animal should be killed. So actually in Mecca, Medina, they kill camel. That is also in the mosque." So the substance of his speech was that flesh-eating ultimately is not recommended. "But those who have no other means, they eat flesh and they recommend that one big animal should be killed. So India, the cow is big animal, therefore we kill. But that is not recommended for advanced spiritual students." In this way... So they were friends, and he understood, Chand Kazi understood that it is very nice movement, that "You are preaching love of Godhead. So I did not understand. So my dear boy, henceforward there will be no hindrances in Your movement and I promise that not only myself but all my descendants will never object Your movement, this sankirtana movement."

Hayagriva: All right. Now I don't have any questions there. I probably wouldn't deal quite at
such length about the meat. I don't see how that... The main thing was about the sankirtana, the chanting.

Prabhupada: Chanting, and it was mitigated, and he allowed. First of all, there was objection, then there was civil disobedience, then when they compromised, the Chand Kazi allowed the movement. This is the whole idea.

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-4

2008-04-14T12:30:01Z

Hayagriva: This is second act now.

Prabhupada: Second act. Then Lord Caitanya's sankirtana organization in the house of Srinivasa. Srinivasacarya. The sankirtana movement was... They were all chanting together Hare Krsna, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the devotees that "Hello, My dear friends. What do you want to eat?" So some of them said... That was out of season, and still some of them asked that "We shall be very glad if You give us some mangoes." (laughs) So Lord Caitanya said that "All right. You just bring one seed of mango." So in Bengal there is, seed of mango is available always because the people in the village, they eat mango and throw it in the ground, they say they come out as tree, creeper. So it is not very difficult. So he brought some creeper like that, and he sowed it, and at once it became a tree, and there was sufficient quantity of mango fruits. So all the devotees were distributed. And that mango tree remained there and they were taking mango every day. And in that scene, just try to... The next scene is brahmanas' dissatisfaction. Now some of the brahmanas...

Hayagriva: How old is Caitanya now?

Prabhupada: He was about...

Hayagriva: Sixteen?

Prabhupada: Fifteen, sixteen, like that. Yes. Fifteen, sixteen. Yes, you ask me questions, any about that.

Hayagriva: That's His sankirtana organization, that first scene.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hayagriva: And from this first comes...

Prabhupada: Yes, that is the beginning of...

Hayagriva: A scene of Nivas...

Prabhupada: At Srinivasa's house.

Hayagriva: Are the people mainly young people like Himself?

Prabhupada: Yes, they were all young.

Hayagriva: Or are they older brahmanas?

Prabhupada: Older, only these...

Hayagriva: Only the three, yes.

Prabhupada: Haridasa, Srinivasa, and Advaita. They were taking part. Otherwise, all, they were young friends, yes. Young boys. No girls. That is not the system in India. (laughs) Yes. Now when the second scene, mainly their movement was going on and it was becoming popular. Now Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached that simply by the sankirtana movement everything will be fulfilled. You need not do anything. So the priest class brahmanas they became very much dissatisfied that "He is inviting Muhammadans and all others..." Because according to Hindu society, except the brahmanas... Especially in those days, only the brahmanas were considered the highest in the society, and even the ksatriyas, vaisyas, they all calculated to, in the group of sudras. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was allowing everyone, the Muhammadans, the sudras, the low class, the high class, the brahmanas... He was amalgamating everyone. So these brahmanas, they took objection. "He is making a disastrous movement! The prestige of the brahmanas will go." So they became very much dissatisfied and they concluded that "We shall go to the magistrate and file our complaint that He is doing against Hindu religion and He's crying always `Hare Krsna Hare Krsna' loudly. The Lord is sleeping. He will be disturbed and there will be disaster, Lord being angry." In this way they filed complaint. Ask anything, questions.

Hayagriva: Are there any of the characters listed up here among the brahmanas who complained?

Prabhupada: No. They complained... Characters... Ordinary brahmanas.
Hayagriva: Yes. All right. I can't think of anything there. That leads into the next scene, third scene.

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-3

2008-04-13T13:55:37Z

Hayagriva: Yes, I see. All right. Now the fifth scene...

Prabhupada: Fifth scene, Lord Caitanya's mother, Sacidevi, is sitting underneath a tree, a nim tree. It is called nim tree. And the little child on her lap and the visitors, so many visitors are coming, and they are offering some presentation. Somebody is offering gold necklace, somebody offering some bangles, some cloth, some money, and his father, he...what is called...Jagannatha Misra. Jagannatha Misra is there? Yes. Jagannatha Misra, His father. He was, whatever money and clothes and gold and silver, they were coming, he was also distributing to poor men, some dancers. In India there is a system... What you call the eunuchs? Those who are neither male or female. What do you call? What is their name?

Hayagriva: A combination of both, male and female? A hermaphrodite. A hermaphrodite.

Prabhupada: Eunuch, what is that eunuch?

Hayagriva: A eunuch is...

Prabhupada: Feminine.

Hayagriva: Impotent, an impotent... Someone who's been castrated.

Prabhupada: Oh, that is called eunuch. By nature, neither man, neither woman.

Hayagriva: Oh, this is also called asexual, that is to say no sex.

Prabhupada: No sex.

Hayagriva: Hermaphroditic means they have the physical features of both man and woman.

Prabhupada: Oh. At the same time?

Hayagriva: At the same time.

Prabhupada: I do not exactly. But such people they have their own society and their means of living is that whenever there is some good occasion, a marriage or childbirth, like that, so they go there and pray God that this child may be very long living. In this way they make some prayer and get some...

Hayagriva: These people... Now I don't understand... This takes place at..., the sixth scene...?

Prabhupada: At Jagannatha Misra's house.

Hayagriva: Jagannatha Misra's house. And his wife is who?

Prabhupada: This scene should be mentioned as Jagannatha Misra's courtyard.

Hayagriva: And who is his wife again?

Prabhupada: Sacidevi.

Hayagriva: Sacidevi, yes.

Prabhupada: Sacidevi is the mother of Lord Caitanya. She is sitting with the child and everyone is visiting, visiting, presenting, or all, everyone's saying, "Oh, how nice child He is."

Hayagriva: And these asexual people...

Prabhupada: They are dancing.

Hayagriva: They are dancing.

Prabhupada: Yes. They are dancing, Hare Krsna. Yes, like that. So Hare Krsna dancing is going there?

Hayagriva: Yes.

Prabhupada: And visitors coming and presenting. That is a very nice scene. Yes. The sixth scene is Lord Caitanya, a naughty boy. He would go to the Ganges side and it is the system of orthodox brahmanas that they meditate in the Ganges, half. That is the system. Now He will go and swim over the water and throw water in their mouth in this way.

Naughty boy. And they will be very much disgusted. "You naughty boy! You come here!" "Stop your meditation. What is this meditation? Chant! Chant Hare Krsna!" He'll say like that. So they will come and complain to His father. "Your child has become too much naughty and just see that..., teased us like this." The father will say, "Oh, the boy is going to be very naughty. I'll punish Him. Let Him come." So father, angry father was waiting. As soon as the boy will come he would punish. But when the boy returns the father sees that He's just coming from school. There is no sign that He has gone to Ganges and taken bath. How is that these gentlemen complained? He will be puzzled. In that way, we have to show.

Hayagriva: How old is He here? How old is Caitanya here? Maybe five, six?

Prabhupada: That was, He was five or six years old. That's all.

Hayagriva: And this is... What's the location again?

Prabhupada: This location is front of Jagannatha Misra's house.

Hayagriva: Yes. Six years later in other words.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hayagriva: All right. That's the... Does He meet any of these characters at the river? Does

He meet any of the characters up there?

Prabhupada: No. General public. General public. But they are all brahmanas, rigid brahmanas. They are taking bath. Yes.

Hayagriva: Now is that the end of the first act?

Prabhupada: End of the first... I think you should first of all write this, then you take. Or you
take all the notes at a time?

Hayagriva: Do you feel like going on? I don't think I'm going to write these now. I'm just going to use this tape. When I go over a scene I'll just play it back. It's too much to write.

Prabhupada: All right. That's all right.

Hayagriva: If you feel like going on, then go ahead.

Prabhupada: No, I can talk.

Hayagriva: Oh, good.

Prabhupada: I can talk.

Hayagriva: Well let's do as much as possible because you're leaving Sunday.
Prabhupada: All right. All right. Do it.

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-2

2008-04-11T14:18:17Z

Prabhupada: Huh? That's clear. Accha. Then fourth scene is lunar eclipse. You'll have to arrange a scene that just in the evening there is appearance of the full moon on the side of the Ganges and people are taking bath half in the water and half above the water, and they're all chanting, this same scene, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, with mrdanga and... Yes. So somebody comes, Advaita. Advaita comes in the scene to take bath in the Ganges and begins to dance. "Oh, my mission is now fulfilled! My mission is now fulfilled!" He'll talk. He was very sorry to see the condition of the people that everyone is engaged simply for material sense gratification. Nobody is engaged in love of Godhead. So he wanted to rectify their behavior, but he thought that "I am ordinary man, what can I do? If Krsna Himself comes, then He can do it." Therefore he worshiped Krsna, and he simply offered Ganges water and tulasi leaf. In this way Krsna has taken His incarnation as Lord Caitanya. So he has understood now at this moment Lord Caitanya is now taken His appearance. So he was dancing, "Now my mission is fulfilled. Now my mission is fulfilled."

Hayagriva: That's Advaita.

Prabhupada: Advaita. Lunar eclipse, everyone taking bath in the Ganges and chanting.
Hayagriva: And Advaita is introduced there and he's very joyful on this occasion because he had requested that this incarnation...

Prabhupada: Yes. He prayed. He prayed to Krsna that "You come."

Hayagriva: He's aware at this time that this is the occurrence of Lord Caitanya's incarnation.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. So this scene should be entered like that.

Hayagriva: Now I noticed in the list of characters we have up here, Radharani. She doesn't appear at this point.

Prabhupada: No. Radharani will be in the rasa dance?

Hayagriva: Oh. In the rasa dance.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hayagriva: That's the...

Prabhupada: Radharani and Krsna in the center. And Krsna has expanded Himself for other gopis, hand to hand.

Hayagriva: That's the third scene, the rasa dance. So Radharani appears in that?
Prabhupada: That's the third scene, yes. There is the appearance, appearance of Radharani.

Hayagriva: The damsels of Vrndavana appear also in the...

Prabhupada: No, the dance was in Vrndavana. Yes. Rasa dance was in Vrndavana.

Hayagriva: The damsels of Vrndavana also appear in the third scene.

Prabhupada: Yes. Third scene. Yes. Rasa dance of Lord Krsna and His associates, Lord
Krsna's determination.

Hayagriva: All right. Now we have the fourth scene. Does Advaita speak to anyone in the fourth scene or is that...?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hayagriva: Is there anyone there? Any of these characters there? I'm trying to introduce these characters.

Prabhupada: Yes, certainly.

Hayagriva: The characters should be introduced in the first act.

Prabhupada: Yes. There should be...

Hayagriva: A few of them. Not all of them, but a few of them should be...

Prabhupada: Srinivasa. Srinivasa and Haridasa. Haridasa character is there?

Hayagriva: Yes, I have this.

Prabhupada: Yes. Haridasa should be a old man.

Hayagriva: So Advaita is old too, isn't he?

Prabhupada: Advaita is old.

Hayagriva: And Nivas.

Prabhupada: He is not so old. He is middle-aged man.

Hayagriva: Could you give me a brief rundown on their...? Are they devotee, they're devotees...

Prabhupada: Just like the picture is, Advaita, say, his age is about forty years, and Haridasa and Advaita, he was about more than fifty years old at that time when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born. They were quite old men. His father's age.

Hayagriva: They're all devotees.

Prabhupada: They're all devotees. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was propagating His sankirtana movement the brahmanas, the orthodox brahmanas, they took objection. "This is not according to Hindu sastra. This is something new." But only these two gentlemen, they... Advaita happened to be the head of the brahmana community. So his support... And he was a well-to-do man, he was rich man, influential man. His support made Caitanya's movement successful in Nabadwip. He was a very influential man. And similarly, Srinivasa, he was also, he belonged to the brahmana community. And Advaita gave shelter to Haridasa. Haridasa was a Muhammadan. So he was punished by the Muhammadan magistrate and he took shelter at the house of Advaita. He was maintaining him. You can make them appear in the scene. They were talking between Haridasa and Srinivasa and Advaita and all of them chanting and dancing, "Now our mission is fulfilled."

Hayagriva: Yes, I see. All right. Now the fifth scene...

...to be continued...

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Drama of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu -1

2008-04-10T14:09:10Z

San Francisco, April 5-6, 1967

Prabhupada: The first scene is that people passing on with sankirtana movement as we have, as we usually do, very nice procession with mrdanga, karatalas and that bugle, all people, just in the ordinary way. We have to make a nice procession. The second scene is that Kali, the personified Kali, a person should be decorated blackish. A blackish man with royal dress and very ugly features. And his queen, another ugly featured girl or lady. So they are disturbed. They'll talk between themselves that "There is sankirtana movement now and how we shall prosecute our business of this Kali-yuga?" There will be, in that scene, in some corner somebody is drinking. Two or three persons drinking. The scene will be like that. They are sitting in the center. In one corner somebody taking part in drinking, and another part somebody is illicitly talking of lust and love with woman. In another section there is slaughtering of a cow, and another section gambling. In this way that scene should be adjusted. And in the middle, the ugly man, black man, and the ugly woman will talk that "We are now in danger. The sankirtana movement has been started. What to do?" In this way you have to finish that scene.

Hayagriva: Now Kali is depicted as a male. As male?

Prabhupada: As male, yes.

Hayagriva: Because sometimes I know he's depicted as female.

Prabhupada: Yes. Male, his feature black, and dressed like a king. Black means ignorance. And similarly the scene is also blackish.

Hayagriva: Yes.

Prabhupada: These things should be ascertained(?). Then, it is mentioned there, exhibit illicit sex, slaughterhouse, intoxication, gambling. Then the third scene is very nice. Rasa dance.

Hayagriva: Uh... Just before this... I'm not going to make this I don't believe either eastern or western, but I think this can apply for the whole world in the sense that the names may be Indian names, but I think the exhibition of the assembly of Kali and his consort sin and the exhibition of illicit sex and slaughterhouse, this can all be, it can be from western type prototype.

Prabhupada: That may be. No, why should you... It may be sometimes misunderstood that western people are only under the influence of Kali. Because the world is under the influence of Kali. Not that in your country only this intoxication, illicit sex. No, everywhere it is.

Hayagriva: I realize that.

Prabhupada: More or less. More or less.

Hayagriva: Not only in that scene. My point is that I don't want to make this an Indian play.
Prabhupada: That you may do. That you may do. I have no objection. But people may not misunderstand that here a scene is depicted simply criticizing the western way. That is my point. Yes.

Hayagriva: Yes. Now that other person, that other Lord Caitanya... Roy? Who wrote the other Lord Caitanya? That other play?

Prabhupada: No, nobody...

Hayagriva: I showed you that other play.

Prabhupada: Oh, that Dilip Kumar.

Hayagriva: Yes. That's what I had in mind. I thought it was strictly an Indian type of play.

Prabhupada: Yes, that was Indian type. Yes, that was Indian type. Or if you like... I have no objection. If you present the characters in European style. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu...

Hayagriva: No, no. They wouldn't be presented in a western style, but there wouldn't be neither an eastern nor a western flavor.

Prabhupada: That will be very nice. That will be very nice.

Hayagriva: In other words, it could be anywhere.

Prabhupada: Yes.
Hayagriva: The situation could be... Because it's transcendental. It's not here, it's not there.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. No, the Kali is not transcendental. Kali is material.

Hayagriva: Yes. The earth, the whole world is affected, so it's not just one section.

Prabhupada: Yes. Not only earth, this earth. It is whole universe.

Hayagriva: Yes.

Prabhupada: So next scene is rasa dance. Rasa dance means Krsna and Radharani in the center, and the gopis, they are surrounding. You have seen that surrounding scene they were dancing the other day in the park, hand to hand.

Hayagriva: Yes, yes.

Prabhupada: So one Krsna and one gopi, they are dancing. That should be, scene should be... Then the rasa dance should be stopped and Krsna will talk with the gopis. Krsna will say to the gopis that "My dear friends, you have come to Me in this dead of night. It is not very good because it is the duty of every woman to please her husband. So what your husband will think that you have come in such dead of night? A woman's duty is not to give up her husband even he is not of good character or if he is unfortunate, if he is old, or if he is diseased. Still, husband is worshiped by the wife. So you have come here, it is very sinful. So you... People will decry it. Please go back. Now we have finished." So in this way the gopis will reply that, "You cannot request us to go back because with great difficulty and with great, I mean to say, ecstatic desire we have come to You, and it is not Your duty to ask us to go back." In this way you arrange some talking that Krsna is asking them to go back, but they are insisting, "No, let us continue our rasa dance." Then when the rasa dance is finished, the gopis will go, then Krsna in His halilak(?), He says that "They are My heart and soul, these gopis. They are so sincere devotees that they do not care for family encumbrances and all, any bad name. They come to Me. So how shall I repay them?" He was thinking. "How shall I repay their so ecstatic love?" So He thought that "I cannot repay them unless and until I take up their situation to understand Me. Because I Myself cannot understand Me. I have to take the position of the gopis, how they are loving Me." So with that consideration He took the form of Lord Caitanya. Therefore Krsna is blackish, Lord Caitanya is of the color of the gopis. The whole life of Lord Caitanya is representation of gopis' love towards Krsna. That should be painted in that picture. You have got to ask anything?

Hayagriva: This is His determination to incarnate as Lord Caitanya.

Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya, yes.

Hayagriva: In order to...

Prabhupada: In order to appreciate Krsna in the form of gopi. Just like I have got dealings
with you. So you have got your individuality, I have got my individuality, but if I want to study how you are so much obedient and loving to me, then I have to go to your position. It is very natural psychology. Yes. You have to paint in that way.

Hayagriva: I think that's clear.

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INTRO to Caitanya Mahaprabhu

2008-04-08T21:01:14Z

Caitanya was born in India approximately 500 years ago. He was an incarnation of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Love. Even in his youth he acquired many followers. In his lifetime, he initiated the sankirtana movement, the dancing and singing of the holy names of the Lord. As he travelled throughout India, dancing ecstatically and calling the holy names of Krsna, he was followed by masses of people of all creeds. Sometimes scholars and even law enforcement officials would try to defeat him, but after debating with him for some time, all would inevitably become his followers. Even the forest animals he would come upon would begin to dance and chant, "Hare Krsna!" This was the very beginning of the sankirtana movement, which is now the fastest growing religion in the world.

Why did Caitanya Mahaprabhu do this? There were two main reasons:
1) to attract the living entities back home, back to the Godhead
2) to taste the ecstatic devotional mood of his beloved Sri Radha, who is always in a devotional mood toward her Sri Krsna

posted in Caitanya Mahaprabhu - 7 replies

Transcendental reality will sprout

2008-04-07T20:30:02Z

"When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came out of the gambhira He was seeing everywhere as Vrndavana. If He would see any banyan tree, then it would appear to Him to be the same banyan tree at Vamsi vata from where Krsna called all the gopis to come for rasa dance. When He would see the ocean He would think it was the Yamuna, and those who were bathing in it to be cowherd boys and girls. This is sraddha. We have two kinds of hearts, senses, mind and intelligence, one material and one spiritual. But at the moment our transcendental nature only exists in its seed form. But if suddha sattva will come from our guru's heart then that transcendental nature will start to sprout.

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Excerpt from Caitanya Mangala...

2008-03-21T00:26:09Z

Brief Outline of Subjects in Caitanya Mangala

First, I'll describe the wonderful pastime of how Advaita Acarya, the best of the brahmanas, worshiped Sacimata's womb. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord of the three worlds, appeared on the earth along with His eternal associates.

I'll narrate His childhood pastimes, His name-giving and grain-eating ceremonies. Although He didn't wear ankle-bells, Saci heard them when Nimai crawled about. Against His mother's will, Nimai would touch dirty objects. Then He would preach high philosophy to justify His action. To test His strength, the local ladies would ask Nimai to fetch a coconut. Surprisingly, within seconds He would manifest one. I will describe how the Lord played with a puppy, bringing joy to the neighbors. Murari Gupta watched Nimai playing in the street with His friends. The people of Nadia greatly relished the Lord's dancing and chanting of Harinama along with His boyfriends.

His father taught Nimai how to write with chalk on a stone slab. Whoever hears this pastime obtains relief from all suffering.
Now listen carefully as I tell about Visvambhara's playing with His elder brother, Visvarupa. These two brothers were just like Indra and Upendra who were born of the same mother. I will describe Visvarupa's sannyasa, and how Visvambhara consoled His mother and father.

Visvambhara loved to play all day on the sandy banks of the Ganges with His friends. Seeing this, His father, Jagannatha Misra, became angry and disappointed. He dragged Visvambhara into the house and rebuked Him for wasting His time in frivolous sports.

Please listen attentively as I describe how Nimai bestowed mercy to His father in a dream. Next, I will tell of the Lord's ear-piercing, sacred thread, and other ceremonies. After completing His boyhood pastimes He started His pastimes of youth. During this period, He gradually manifested love of Godhead.

Visvambhara, along with His classmates, began studying at the feet of His teacher. The Lord would laugh at the Bengali dialect spoken by some of the students. Later, I will describe how Nimai Pandita asked Sacimata to observe Ekadasi. When Jagannatha Misra left this world Nimai cried over the loss of His father.

I will tell you the beautiful story of Lord Gaura's marriage ceremony, which gives unlimited happiness to everyone. I'll describe a confidential incident that occurred on the Lord's way to the Ganges. Gauranga's trip to East Bengal [Bangladesh] and how Laksmipriya Devi, His wife, left this world will be told. Upon returning, the Lord re-married, taught His students, and traveled to Gaya. You'll receive immense pleasure by attentively hearing these narrations.

When the Lord returned from Gaya He constantly displayed symptoms of ecstatic love of God. O brother! You'll derive profuse pleasure from hearing the pastimes in Madhya-khanda. Your hair will stand on end as you relish these transcendental subjects, which are just like solidified nectar. I feel great ecstasy within my heart even before I describe how, by discussing Krishna katha in the association of devotees, one will manifest ecstatic love of God.

Madhya-khanda tells about Gauranga's Navadvipa pastimes of preaching and distributing love of Godhead. These topics flow like streams of nectar. Lord Caitanya manifested matchless pastimes, never seen in any previous yuga. I'll tell how the devotees met the Lord in Navadvipa.

You will hear how Sacimata received the gift of prema, and how one night Gaura heard the sound of Sri Krishna's flute. Hearing that flute, the Lord became overwhelmed with ecstatic love, when suddenly, a divine message vibrated in the sky.

Lord Caitanya revealed His Varaha rupa to give mercy to Murari Gupta. Lord Brahma and the demigods became blissful upon seeing this. I'll narrate how Suklambhara Brahmacari attained love of Godhead. Receiving Gauranga's mercy, Gadadhara Pandita cried all day and night in ecstatic love. Immediately after sowing a mango seed, Lord Gaurasundara satisfied the devotees by distributing mango prasada. Anyone who hears this will become free from all doubts.

Covering His spiritual identity, Sri Caitanya manifested ecstatic love of God. Although the depth of the Lord's love is unfathomable, still He revealed it to everyone. I'll tell the wonderful pastime of Sri Gauranga's meeting Sri Nityananda Prabhu and also Haridasa Thakura. The meeting of Advaita Acarya with Lord Nityananda is especially sweet.

The deliverance of Jagai and Madhai will be narrated. I will explain how Gauranga bestowed mercy upon a brahmana and his son. The followers of Lord Siva received Gaura's mercy. Lord Caitanya once jumped into the Jahnavi [Ganges] immediately after seeing a brahmana's misconduct. Hearing this pastime will astonish the heart of anyone in the three worlds.
Listen to Gauranga's unparalleled pastime of cleaning the Gundica temple. Hear the miracle of how He cured a leper. You'll taste unlimited bliss hearing about Gauranga's assuming the mood of Lord Balarama.
Once while enacting a drama in Candrasekhara's house, Gauranga manifested such prema that its influence spread throughout the land and sky.

I'll explain the confidential topic of Gauranga's adopting an incredible mood of renunciation. Upon seeing Sri Kesava Bharati in Navadvipa, the Lord felt delighted in His heart. At that moment, He decided to take sannyasa from him. Hearing about Gauranga's sannyasa, Sacimata and Vishnupriya became drowned in an ocean of distress. The Lord left Navadvipa and took the renounced order of life from Kesava Bharati in Katwa.

In Advaita Acarya's house, the Lord met the devotees, consoled everyone, and began His travels. On the way to Purusottama Ksetra [Jagannatha Puri], He stopped in Remuna and shared an intimate pastime. Everyone will feel joyful as they hear me tell each of Lord Caitanya's transcendental pastimes.

On the way to Jajipura, Gauranga exhibited a wonderful pastime in Ekam nagar. I'll tell the ecstasy Gauranga felt upon seeing Lord Jagannatha, and how Lord Caitanya showed His divine form to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
The topics of Madhya-khanda are the essence of all nectar; but you must also hear the pastimes in the Sesha-khanda. Madhya-khanda ends with Gauranga's manifesting pure love of Krishna. Joyfully, Locana Dasa explains these subjects.
All glories to Sri Krishna Caitanya who descends on earth as an incarnation. Ah! How fortunate are the residents of earth. Mother Bhumi was blessed to be ornamented with His divine lotus feet.

To give mercy, the light of the universe appeared in Navadvipa. The anxious devotees, who had been waiting for a long time, now ran to Sriman Mahaprabhu to receive His gift of love. The devotees were like eager bees flying swiftly toward a lotus full of honey, or like cakora birds drinking the rays of the full moon. The devotees were maddened cataki birds that sing joyfully upon seeing rain clouds.

Immersed in bliss, Gauranga dances madly and sometimes roars like a lion, while giving out love of God. The devotees, feeling just like men who have recovered their long-lost wealth, began worshiping the Lord with their tears of happiness. As elephants jump into a lake to get relief from a forest fire, the devotees forgot their miseries by drowning in the nectar ocean of Krishna-prema.

In ecstasy someone cried out the name, 'Thakura!' In a joking mood, someone else hiked up his dhoti tightly between his legs, and slapped his arms like a wrestler preparing to attack. Everyone forgot themselves in the bliss of love of God. That same love which Laksmi Devi hankers after with folded hands, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was now freely distributing without discrimination.

What more can I describe than this? Lord Ananta Sesa, who holds the universes on his head, appeared as Nitai to taste the sweet rasa of Krishna-prema. Sri Nityananda Prabhu, being totally enraptured in prema-rasa, couldn't recognize friend or foe. He therefore gave love to everyone. Walking with the gait of a maddened elephant, Nitai caused the earth to lose its balance.

Listen to the matchless character of Mahesa [Lord Siva] who appeared as Sri Advaita Acarya. His glories are unlimited. Advaita Acarya forgot his knowledge ofjnana by constantly discussing topics ofprema rasa with Lord Caitanya.

Without restriction, Advaita relished transcendental pastimes with other rasika-Vaisnavas. After tasting the loving mellows of Krishnao prema, Advaita Acarya and his associates joyfully distributed them to everyone without opposition. Without these two Lords, Sri Nityananda and Sri Advaita Prabhu, no one would have received such mercy.

Gauranga appeared on earth for this purpose. All glories to the auspicious moment when the whole world, desiring pure love of Krishna, will chant the holy name of Hari. Even Brahma finds difficulty in attaining Krishna-prema. Locana Dasa happily describes these trancendental topics.

posted in Caitanya Mahaprabhu - 2 replies

Nitai-Gaura haribol

2008-03-17T18:20:44Z

TEXT 87
sri-krsna-caitanya ara prabhu nityananda
yanhara prakase sarva jagat ananda

TRANSLATION
The appearance of Sri Krsna Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda has
surcharged the world with happiness.

TEXT 88-89
surya-candra hare yaiche saba andhakara
vastu prakasiya kare dharmera pracara
ei mata dui bhai jivera ajnanatamo-
nasa kari' kaila tattva-vastu-dana

TRANSLATION
As the sun and moon drive away darkness by their appearance and
reveal the nature of everything, these two brothers dissipate the
darkness of the living beings' ignorance and enlighten them with
knowledge of the Absolute Truth

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Festival for the Eyes 2008

2008-03-11T06:19:32Z

Would you like to participate in creating a beautiful experience? This Gaura Purnima ISKCON News is putting together a 'Festival for the Eyes' that you're invited to help us put together.

On Gaura Purnima Day 2008 we're going to unveil a multimedia presentation featuring Gaura-Nitai deities worshiped in devotees' homes around the world.

We've set a goal to compile 108 photos so if you'd like to give our current readership of more than 3,500 weekly visitors a glimpse of the Gaura-Nitai deities who live in your home then dress them gorgeously, get the lighting just right and snap us a digital photo. (Try to avoid using a flash please.)

When you submit your entry you'll need to include the following details:

- What's your name? (Please make sure you spell this exactly how you'd like it to be presented.)

- Where do you live? (Include the name of the city and country.)

Send just one photo as an attachment to: editor AT iskconnews.com

Please try to keep the size of the file under 1 Megabyte. The best image resolution for our purposes is 800px by 600px.

Alternatively you could upload to a photo hosting site such as www.flickr.com and send us a link.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday the 18th of March 2008.

Only the first 108 photos will be presented so send them in today!

For more details please visit here: http://news.iskcon.com/node/931

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Experience An India Yoga Odyssey

2008-01-11T02:15:21Z

Experience a Transforming India YOGA Odyssey
(February 21 to March 6, 2008)

Just imagine your airplane touching down at the India airport of your choice – Mumbai or Ahmadabad – on Thursday, February 21, 2008. Awaiting you at the airport is your guide, who will escort you by rail or taxi to your hotel accommodations in Surat City, Gujarat State. You will have arrived just in time to take in the World Yoga Championships, either as a participant or as a spectator. If anyone wishes to participate in the Championships the necessary registration forms can be downloaded at www.lifemission.org. The Championships run from February 22 though February 24. (The Championships were primarily founded as a means for encouraging youth worldwide to engage themselves in the ageless science of yoga for the betterment of body, mind and spiritual development in similar fashion that society worldwide encourages youth to participate in common sporting events.)

Following the Championships, you will be escorted to Malav Ashram for a five night stay, which includes three days of “hands on” yogic training under the expert guidance of Acharya Yogendradev, who has taught in North America, Taiwan, and India

And now – the Tours – you will tour the historic spiritual pilgrimage site of Kayavarohan and visit the Brahmeshwar Temple of Lord Lakulish (the 28th incarnation of Lord Shiva). You will spend 5 nights at a beautiful oceanside resort near the city of Div, overlooking the Indian Ocean with its miles of sandy beaches, and visit surrounding points of interest including the renowned Somnath Temple; a lion wildlife reserve, an ayurvedic clinic of a renowned ayurvedic physician where you will be able to observe the natural preparation of ayurvedic medicines and receive a free medical check-up. You will also have the opportunity to visit the temple complex at Rajrajeshwardham, where Lord Lakulish materialized in his divine body on January 29, 2007. Then – another great grace awaits you – you will have the rare opportunity of having darshan with the highly advanced yogi, Swami Rajarshi Muni.*

Now your yoga trip is reaching its end – on March 6, you will be escorted by your guide to your departure airport for your trip home – to reflect on and absorb your many yoga experiences of the past 2 weeks; the multitudes of wondrous Indian sites you've seen; the unmatched hospitality of its people and the many lasting new friendships you've made.

The cost per participant is $ 695.00 USD. This price does not include your transportation costs to and from India, which is entirely your responsibility, as are any required passports, visas etc. This price does include designated tour accommodations and meals in India, and all ground transportation to the Championships and touring sites in India, as well as ground transportation to and from airports at Mumbai or Ahmedabad. Any profits after all costs have been met will be directed to projects for the poor, including schools and hospitals. For further information, go to www.lifemission.org, or email: Acharya Yogendradev, ggvaghela@yahoo.com; or Dennis Konchak, lifema@telus.net; or Hans Splinter, Hsplinter@cogeco.ca.

* Swami Rajarshi Muni is the author of a vast library of nearly 100 titles in four different languages, including ten books in English. Some of the English titles are: Classical Hatha Yoga, Divine Body Through Yoga; Tenets for the Spiritual Life; Infinite Grace (The Story of My Spiritual Lineage), Awakening the Life Force, and Light from Guru to Disciple. For more information, check the Life Mission website www.lifemission.org and www.amazon.com under Rajarshi Muni

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Lakulish Yogasan Championships 2008: Feb. 22; 23; & 24th, - City of Surat, Gujarat State, India

2007-12-10T11:51:34Z

For details and application forms, please refer to: http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" go to item #4 and click on "World Open Yogasan Championships".

Please note, to optimize your India trip and your experience of Lakulish Yoga you could attend or participate in the Yogasan Championships and also take in the 3 week Certificate Yoga Training Course being offered at Swami Rajarshi Muni's Malav Ashram from January 30 -February 20th. For details on the training go to http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" click on item # 5 " "Overseas Students Annual Yoga Certificate Training Program"

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Antardvipa - Part 1

2007-11-30T23:53:33Z

Sri Mayapur and Antardvipa
From - Navadwip Dham Mahatmya (Srila BVT)

All glories to Sri Caitanya, the son of Saci! All glories to Nityananda, the life of Jahnava! All glories to Navadvipa, the topmost dhama where Gauranga advented in Kali-yuga.

Nityananda Prabhu began speaking, "Listen to My words. Navadvipa extends over sixteen krosas. Within the sixteen krosas of Navadvipa, which are non-different from Vrndavana, there are nine islands, which form an eight-petaled lotus floating on the water. In the middle of the eight islands, or petals, lies Antardvipa. And within Antardvipa, lies the very central point, Mayapur. The eternal pastimes of Lord Caitanya take place within Yogapitha and the circle of Mayapur, the circumference of which measures three and a half miles and the diameter measures just over one mile. Because the Panca-tattva are seated at the Yogapitha, it is the most glorious of all places.

"Very soon, by the desire of the Lord, this will be nearly hidden under the waters of the Ganges. Then later, by the powerful desire of the Lord, the dhama will again be revealed and shine effulgently. The eternal dhama is never really lost but is temporarily covered, and then again it appears to our eyes.

"My worshipable Lord eternally resides at Mayapur, situated on the east bank of the Ganges. Although in the eyes of common people, Visvambhara took sannyasa and left Navadvipa to go elsewhere, actually My Gauranga never gives up Mayapur or Navadvipa. The devotees can perceive His daily lila. You, Jiva, will also see Gauranga dancing.

"Around Mayapur is beautiful Antardvipa, where Brahma received the darsana of Gauranga. O Jiva, if you want to see all this, please go on parikrama. It will be very beneficial for you."

Hearing the Lord's words, Jiva, with tears in his eyes, fell flat like a stick at Nityananda's feet and requested, "You will show real mercy on this unworthy wretch if You Yourself take me on parikrama."

Hearing Jiva's request, Nityananda Raya simply said, "So be it." By that, He revealed His mind. Nityananda said, "Jiva, today take Darsana of Mayapur. Tomorrow we will tour more extensively."

Saying this, Nityananda Prabhu got up, and Jiva followed Him with a happy heart. Nityananda moved forward slowly, for His body was extremely agitated with ecstatic love for Gauranga. Nityananda Prabhu was engrossed in ecstasy, and His enchanting form was decorated with gold ornaments which glittered and shone. The very feet that Brahma and Siva cannot attain by meditation were served out to Sri Jiva simply by the mercy of Sri Nityananda. Thus Jiva followed the Lord taking the dust of the Lord's feet and smearing it over his body. Off he went in great happiness.

They entered Jagannatha Misra's house and Nityananda introduced Jiva at the feet of mother Saci. "O mother, this is the magnanimous Sri Jiva, a fortunate and dear servant of Sri Caitanya."

When the Lord said this, Jiva fell over like a tree uprooted by a storm. Falling at Saci's feet, he rolled on the ground out of' control as he exhibited various symptoms of ecstasy. Mother Saci mercifully blessed him, and on that very day, in that very house, they took prasada.

Receiving the order from mother Saci, Visnupriya-devi cooked various dishes of rice, vegetables, chutney and sweets. Vamsivadana Dasa offered the bhoga attentively to Gauranga. Isana Thakura felt delighted within as he arranged a sitting place and served Nityananda the prasada. In motherly affection, Saci said, "My child Nityananda, eat at Your mother's house! Unseen by You, I have made Gauranga eat this. So when You eat, my mind becomes very happy."

Hearing His mother's words, Nityananda Raya ate in great bliss. Afterwards, as Jiva took the remnants, he exclaimed, "I am greatly blessed to take prasada in the house of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapur."

Having eaten, Nityananda took leave of Sacidevi's lotus feet. At this time they took Vamsivadana Dasa into their group. After Jiva offered his respects at Vamsi's feet, Nityananda introduced him to Jiva, "The devotees know that this Vamsivadana is none other than Krsna's dear flute, by whose mercy the living entities become attracted to Krsna. They then develop great thirst to attain the rasa dance.

"Look, Jiva, Sri Caitanya would bring us in this house, and we enjoyed many pastimes here. See, here is Jagannatha Misra's temple, where he would daily worship Lord Visnu. And in this house, he used to serve his guests. See this tulasi bower. While Gauracandra was still here, He performed all the duties that His father observed. Relying on the authoritative words of Vamsivadana, Isana now performs those duties every day. Here. there was a nimba tree, which disappeared by Sri Caitanya's touch."

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Antardvipa - Part 2

2007-11-30T23:49:05Z

Lord Nityananda wept as He described this, and Jiva and Vamsivadana also cried in response. Meanwhile. Srivasa Pandita came there to see what was happening. The four of them then left Jagannatha Misra's house and proceeded to Srivasa's courtyard, two hundred meters to the north. With a joyful mind, Nityananda Prabhu showed this to Jiva.

Jiva was agitated with love as he remembered the Lord's pastimes, and he rolled on the ground in Srivasa's courtyard. Then, just as Jiva was getting up, he saw Gauranga dancing wonderfully amidst His intimate associates in sankirtana. Advaita, Nityananda, Gadadhara, and Haridasa were dancing and singing. And they were joined by Suklambara and hundreds of others. Seeing this, Jiva became unconscious with ecstatic love.

Regaining his consciousness, he could no longer see that pastime. Jiva Gosvami began to cry and lament, "Why couldn't I have taken birth a little earlier? I have not been fortunate enough to enjoy the bliss of such kirtana! Nityananda's mercy is unlimited, however, for by His grace I have been fortunate for a moment's time. My wish is to stay here forever so that the troubles of material existence will go far away. But the Lord's order is stronger than the servant's wish! My heart is beating wildly at the thought of leaving Mayapur!"

Nityananda next took Jiva to Advaita's house, twenty meters to the north. "Jiva, see the house of Sitanatha, Advaita Acarya, where the Vaisnavas would meet to discuss Krsna. Sri Advaita worshiped Krsna here and, calling loudly, brought this treasure, My Lord Gauranga."

After rolling on the ground there, the four men went to the house of Gadadhara, just ten meters to the east. From that place, Nityananda showed Jiva the various houses of Lord Caitanya's associates. After seeing the houses of the brahmana community, they proceeded to the bank of the Ganges in a happy mood. There, at the border of Mayapur, Jiva saw the Vrddha Siva temple.

Nityananda Prabhu said, "He is the guardian of Mayapur. This is where the praudhha maya energy, yoga-maya, in charge of spiritual perception is eternally situated. When our Lord disappears, by His desire, the Ganges will swell. The Ganges water will almost cover Mayapur for a hundred years, and then the water will again recede. For some time only the place will remain, devoid of houses. Then again, by the Lord's desire, this place will become prominent, and people will live in Mayapur as before. All these ghatas on the bank of the Ganges will again be manifest, and the devotees will build temples of the Lord. One exceedingly wonderful temple will appear from which Gauranga's eternal service will be preached everywhere. Praudha Maya and Vrddha Siva will again come and perform their duties of revealing the spiritual dhama according to the Lord's desire."

Hearing this, Jiva folded his hands and then, taking hold of Nityananda's lotus feet, he said, "O Lord, You are the cause of Sesa. You expand Yourself as the dhama and the holy name, and You are the shelter of the various forms of the Lord. Even though You act according to the Lord's desire, still You are the guru of all living entities and all energies rest upon You. Of course, whoever distinguishes between You and Gauranga is considered by the wise to be a rascal. O omniscient Supreme Lord, You have descended to display Your pastimes. One doubt has come into my heart. Please tell me where Siva and his consort will go when the Ganges hides Mayapur.

Nityananda said, "Listen to My words, Jiva. Please look at that land on the west side of the Ganges. That high sandy shoal is called Paradanga. A community of brahmanas live there. North of that, is the bank of the Ganges, which the wise know as Chinadanga. At that place, a village will be established wherein Siva and his energy will stay for some time. Who can properly describe the glories of that riverbank, called Pulina? There, where the Ganges flows, is the location of the rasa dance. Only a sandy place of land is visible to the naked eye, but that place is a jewel-like eternal dhama where transcendental pastimes take place. Mayapur is considered Gokula Mahavana, and Paradanga is Sattikara [presently Chatikara]. And that place, Pulina, is Vrndavana with Sri Rasa-mandala. Later, the sound of tumultuous kirtana will be heard there.

"There is Mayapur and Sri Pulina and in the middle flows the Ganges. O magnanimous one, you should understand that all of this is the abode of Gauranga. One who walks these five Krosas of the dhama will see Mayapur and Sri Pulina. And whoever walks these five Krosas with the devotees on the Phalguna Purnima day receives the eternal treasure of love of God.

"O Jiva, hear a confidential topic. There is a very beautiful Deity of Gauranga belonging to Visnupriya, which in the future will be brought to Sattikara by brahmanas descending from the family of Jagannatha Misra. Four hundred years after Lord Gauranga's appearance in this world, the worship of the Deity will be restored to the highest standard. But do not reveal any of this. Just do parikrama, feeling internal joy.

"Six meters from Vrddha Siva-ghata, see Gauranga's own ghata. There Gaurahari in His childhood played in the water and pulled many pranks. Seeing the Yamuna's good fortune of taking part in Krsna's pastimes, the Ganges performed penance for the same purpose. Krsna bestowed His mercy by appearing before Ganga devi and saying, "ln the form of Gauranga I will perform pastimes in your waters." Those pastimes were performed by the Supreme Lord of the three worlds, Gauranga, at this ghata. Fortunate people who see this place attain great happiness."

"Thirty meters north is Madhai's ghata, which is known to all. Ten meters north of this lies one ghata that attracts the minds of the townspeople. This exceedingly beautiful ghata is called Barakona-ghata. It was constructed on Krsna's order by Visvakarma. At this ghata you will see five Siva temples with five lingas. These four ghatas make Mayapur very beautiful. Morover. whoever takes bath here is relieved of all miseries.

"East of Mayapur, the land is known as Antardvipa. By the Lord's desire this place will remain uninhabited for a long time. Then later, people will again live there, and it will be famous as one of the glories of Nadia. Jiva, today stay in Mayapur and tomorrow we will go to Simantadvipa."

Hearing this, Jiva then said, "One question has arisen. Please listen. When Ganga devi again uncovers Mayapur, by what signs will the devotees be able to rediscover the concealed sites?"

Hearing this, Nityananda Prabhu answered with nectar-like words, "Listen, Jiva, when the Ganges covers this place, one corner of Mayapur will remain intact. Many yavanas will take up residence there, yet the name will remain Mayapur. About one thousand meters southwest of the remaining place, one will see a slightly raised area covered with vegetation. That will indicate Jagannatha Misra's house. Ten meters from there is the Vrddha Siva temple. From such measurement one will be able to discern everything. A pond called Siva-doba will be seen, indicating the previous bank of the Ganges. In this way, by the Lord's wish, the devotees will reveal the lost places. Know this for certain. At the end of four hundred years, the task of recovering the lost tirthas will begin."

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Antardvipa - Part 3

2007-11-30T23:44:15Z

Nityananda Prabhu answered, "At the end of Dvapara-yuga, Brahma undertook austerities here with a desire to achieve Gauranga's mercy. Brahma had tried to deceive Govinda by stealing the cowherd boys and calves but when he saw he was defeated by his own tricks, he became miserable and regretted his offense. He entreated Krsna with many prayers, and Krsna forgave him. But Later Brahma considered, 'Thinking that I am the creator of the universe is useless. Simply because of this fault I have been deprived of Krishna-prema and enjoyment of the rasas of Vrndavana. If I could have taken birth as a cowherd boy, I could have easily served the master of the gopis. Although I was not able to achieve the nectar of those pastimes. now, when Gauranga appears, I will not fall prey to my wicked mind!'

Thinking like this, Brahma began meditating and performing austerities in Antardvipa. After many days, Gauracandra mercifully came and said, 'O Brahma, I am satisfied with your austerities. I have come to fulfill your desire.'

"When Brahma opened his eyes, he saw Gauranga and fell to the earth unconscious. The Lord put His foot on Brahma's head, and Brahma was enlightened with transcendental knowledge and began to pray. 'I am a low and worthless wretch, controlled by pride. Forgetting Your lotus feet, I have turned to material sense gratification. I myself, Lord Siva, and the demigods headed by Indra are Your subjugated servants. This is written in scripture. But we are not so fortunate as Your pure servants, and thus maya covers us with the net of illusion. The first one hundred trillion years of my life have passed and I have been forced to realize this at last. How will I spend the second one hundred trillion years of my life? If I remain in illusion, I will simply suffer. My only prayer is that I may become Your associate when You manifest Your pastimes. Having given up the illusion that I am the creator, I want to take birth in Your association and sing Your glories.'

"Hearing Brahma's prayers, Lord Gauranga benedicted him saying, 'So be it. When My pastimes become visible on earth, you will take birth in a yavana's house. Your name will be Haridasa Thakura, and you will be famous for your humility and completely free from all pride. You will chant three hundred thousand names a day, and when you pass from this world you will be seeing Me. And at the end of the second one hundred trillion years of your life, you will attain Navadvipa-dhama and be absorbed in eternal rasa.'

'Brahma, hear these secret (antara) words, but do not reveal this openly in the scriptures. Taking the role of a devotee, I will taste the nectar of bhakti-rasa and propagate the most rare process of sankirtana. I will make the devotees of all the previous avataras drunk with the nectar of Vrndavana. The love that Sri Radhika possesses is beyond My experience, so I will appear with Her sentiments and complexion. Taking the position of Radha, I will taste that happiness that only Radha obtains in serving Me. From today, act as My disciple and, in the form of Haridasa, always serve Me.

"Saying this, Gauranga became invisible, and Brahma fell to the ground unconscious.

'O Gauranga! Friend of the poor, dear to the devotees. when will I attain Your lotus feet?' he cried. In this way he wept for many days and then returned to his duties in Brahmaloka."

Desiring only to attain the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, this low, worthless, and useless Bhaktivinoda sings this glorification of Nadia.

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Happiness in a Fools Paradise

2007-09-22T11:40:45Z

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all the teachers in His line want
us to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy, but generally
we can only find a very little happiness and affection in this
world, and even then it is mixed with sorrows and suffering.
Why is it that we are unhappy, even though we have so
many possessions? We should consider this. Napoleon was
not a street beggar, and neither was President Kennedy.
Princess Diana was also not a street beggar; she was not at all
ugly, foolish, or ignorant. On the contrary, she had name,
fame, beauty and everything one could desire, and she was
married to Charles, but she was still not happy.
Why is it that even people who seem to have everything
are unhappy, in spite of their wealth and opulence? We
should think about this very seriously. If we don’t, we are no
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better than animals. You have heard of Mussolini. His
political power made him quite a giant, and Hitler was more
than a giant, but they were not happy.
We should reflect on the way that we are living at present,
and look into the future, asking ourselves, “Will I be happy in
the future, if I continue doing what I am doing now, and
following the process that I am following now?” When we
ask ourselves this question, we will see that we are going in
the same direction as those people have gone. They were all
unhappy, and if we go in that direction, we will also be
unhappy.
There are many very rich people — for example
presidents and prime ministers — who are unhappy, even
though they have plenty of opulence, and facility for
enjoyment. One day, they, too, will become old and die, and
they will lose everything that they have in this world.
Nowadays we have become very advanced in material
life, from the kitchen department to medical science. We have
produced many wonderful inventions, especially in the areas
of communication, transportation and medicine. If a limb or
an organ is damaged, we can change it for another. A dead
man’s eyes can be removed and given to a blind person, so
that he can see. Surgeons can even replace a defective heart
with a new one. Nonetheless, we still have to become old,
and we still have to die.
As far as the advancement of material science is
concerned, America is at the forefront, but are Americans
happy? If they are, why are they all quarrelling with each
other? Why do so many of them commit suicide? We should
see that material advancement cannot make us happy.
OLD AGE WILL MARRY US BY FORCE
We don’t want to be old, and we don’t want our hair to
become white. We don’t want our eyesight to become
worse; and we certainly don’t want to become blind. We
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want to remain young and very beautiful forever, but after
some time we will be forced to become old.
Generally, men do not want to marry women who are
old and no longer beautiful. Old age is ugly, and who wants
to marry someone who is ugly?
No one wants to marry Old Age, but she will force us to
marry her, whether we want to or not. Old Age will take
away your teeth, and you’ll have to use false teeth instead. We
can make some artificial arrangement to make our white hair
black, and our teeth beautiful. In the end, though, we’ll have
so many wrinkles, like all other old people.
You’ll have to marry Old Age and become old. Perhaps
you won’t be able to walk. Finally, many people will come
and help you go to the last resting place of the body: to the
cemetery or the crematorium. In India, thousands of people
take the dead body to the crematorium, and there they burn
it to ashes. Other people bury dead bodies; in that case,
worms and insects eat some of the body, and the rest rots. If
your body is not burned or buried, many wild dogs, jackals
and hogs may come and quarrel over it: “Oh, that’s my piece.
Why did you take it?” Then the body will become stool.
Ultimately, the body is bound to rot, or to become ashes
or stool. This is the truth about the body, to which we are so
attached. The body will die and disappear forever, but we
don’t want to think that we will die and disappear forever.
WE ARE REFUGEES HERE
We should consider whether in fact we are this body, or the
soul within the body. It is a fundamental truth that there is all
the difference in the world between our real self, which is the
soul, and this body. Knowing this, we have to be detached
from this body, and from worldly, lusty desires. We should
also inquire where the soul has come from.
We are parts and parcel of God, of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. This material world is not our
homeland; it is a place for refugees. We have come to this
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world as refugees, and one day we’ll have to give it up at a
moment’s notice. Then where will we go?
WE NEED PURE LOVE AND AFFECTION
Modern scientists have discovered nuclear weapons, and they
are continuing with their research. They want to discover
weapons of destruction that are so powerful that the whole
world can be finished in a moment. But this is not progress
and advancement. Where is the love and affection between
husband and wife? Where is the love and affection between
father and children? Where is the love between one country
and another? Why do we have to have such complicated and
difficult systems with passports and visas? Why? I often come
and go between India and different countries in the world.
My only business is to teach people about Krishna
consciousness, but the officials make it so difficult. Why?
Inventions and the advancement of material science are
bringing the different parts of the world much closer to each
other. Unfortunately, they are also creating many problems.
The main problem is that love and affection is disappearing
from everyone’s heart. That is why everyone is unhappy. That
is why they quarrel amongst themselves, and want to control
each other.
People are obviously not happy in their married life, or in
their life outside the home. If their standard of happiness has
advanced so much, why do they change wives three, four,
twelve, or even twenty times, like dogs changing their mates?
Why?
Everyone wants peace and happiness in their lives, but I
don’t think that the advancement of material science has
actually made any one happy. Happiness really depends on
love. We cannot find happiness without prema, or love and
affection. This is our real necessity: happiness and love. We
want pure happiness, and pure love and affection, but we
can’t find them here.
Nevertheless, they do exist.
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We are trying to find happiness by developing impure
love and affection for imperfect personalities. The Vedic
literatures tell us that we can only be happy by developing
pure love and affection for the supremely pure personality,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Throughout the Vedas and Upanisads we read that we are
parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Krishna. Our constitutional nature is to serve the Supreme
Personality of Godhead with love and affection.
Unfortunately we have forgotten this, and that is why we are
bound by maya in this material world. Maya has imprisoned
us, and she is giving us the sorrows and sufferings of life:
birth, death, old age, disease, and so on. This is just so that
we will understand that we cannot be happy in this world.
We cannot become happy by making material arrangements,
or by trying to fulfill material desires, or by collecting material
possessions. We can only be happy in this world and the next
by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. We
should chant and remember His holy names and glories.
GENERATOR, OPERATOR AND DESTROYER
We have to develop affection for the Supreme Personality of
Godhead who has created this world. He has created it and
brought it into being; He is supporting it; and when this
world becomes old, it goes back to Him.
What is the significance of the word God?
G stands for Generator, the one who creates this world.
O stands for Operator, the one who is maintaining and
supporting this whole world. Without this support, the whole
world would have no basis, and would cease to exist.
D stands for Destroyer.
ETERNAL, AUSPICIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL
God is satyam sivam sundaram. Satyam means that He does not
die or take birth. He is eternal. God is one, not many. All the
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scriptures in our ancient Vedic tradition say that Krishna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He also has many
other names.
God is sundaram, very beautiful. There is no one as
beautiful as Krishna. His form is eternally
youthful, like that of a very beautiful young boy.
His body curves elegantly in three places — His ankles,
His waist and His neck. He smiles and
plays on His flute, and His transcendental body has
a most alluring fragrance. He attracts everyone in the
spiritual world — including His beloved cows —and He
attracts everyone in this world as well.
Everyone likes beautiful things, but we cannot love a
beautiful man if he has some poison in him. God must
therefore be sivam, auspicious.
Krishna has all auspicious qualities in full. That means that
He has infinite power, and besides being almighty, he is also
supremely merciful.
LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH KRISHNA
Krishna is satyam, eternal; sivam, very merciful; and sundaram,
very beautiful. Everything is in Krishna, and that is why He
can fulfill all kinds of desires. You may know of
Nrsimhadeva. Nrsimha Bhagavan is another form of
Krishna, and He is also God; He has a head like a lion, and
He is very powerful and dangerous, but He is not as beautiful
as Krishna. Rama, Lord Ramacandra, is very beautiful, but
He cannot fulfill all desires.
Jesus Christ is powerful, and he will protect us like a
father or mother, but we cannot play with him like a sakha,
an intimate friend, and we cannot relate to him as we would
to a husband. Nrsimha Bhagavan protects everyone, but He
cannot be like a friend, because He is so dangerous.
Krishna is the only Personality in whom we can find
everything. His beauty and His mercy are unparalleled; He is
omnipotent and omniscient; and He has all the good qualities.
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He will relate to us according to our own inner heart’s desire.
We can be like His servant or His intimate friend. We can
care for Him in a parental mood, and we can even have the
mood of His beloved.
If you have a little affection for Krishna, He can fulfil
whatever wishes or desires you may have.
He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of
all other forms of Godhead, and He can give what even
Rama cannot. If we have just a little love and affection for
Krishna, we can be so happy, for all time. We can be happy
in this world, and we can be happy in our next birth as well,
and birth after birth. Even if we have liberation, affection for
Krishna will make us happy.
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S MISSION
We should develop an affectionate relationship with Krishna,
who is the embodiment of love and affection. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu came to this world to teach us this [and to tell
us that the best way to love Krishna is to follow the gopis of
Vraja]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself, and He
came because He is causelessly merciful. He loves everyone in
this world, because we are all parts and parcels of Krishna.
He came to give love and affection for Krishna.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world to bring us
closer to Krishna, and to wean us away from worldly affairs,
worldly enjoyment, worldly false ego and from the false
happiness of this world. He gives us eternal bliss, and eternal
love and affection, so that we can be happy and peaceful.
And it is not possible unless we have what He has come to
give.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world and gave a new
message by which everyone could be happy. We can know
all this by reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. He gave the
advanced philosophy of prema to very elevated devotees. He
preached in a simple way for people who were not so
advanced, and while He was traveling through the forest
8
towards Vrindavana, He even gave divine love to tigers,
bears, elephants and other animals.
HAPPINESS BY CHANTING THE HOLY NAME
If you want to be happy, and to have love and affection for
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you should chant Hare
Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare
Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then you will be
eternally happy. There is no other means. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu taught us this verse from the ancient scriptures:
harer nama harer nama, harer nama eva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, one
should simply chant the holy name, chant the holy name,
chant the holy name. There is no other, no other way, no
other way.”
We have come to the Western countries only to give the
same message that Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give. We
are giving it in brief, and in a very simple way, because the
message of love and affection is so deep.
To understand this profound philosophy and to put it
into practice, people must first chant Hare Krishna, Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare. At first they can understand this
message in a simple way. Then they will gradually understand
it more deeply and broadly as they develop through the
steady practice of Krishna consciousness, and especially by
chanting the holy names. There is a systematic process of
development from faith, to firm devotion, taste for
devotional practice, transcendental attachment to Sri Krishna
and His associates, ecstatic moods and then full
transcendental love and affection for Krishna (prema). This is
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s method of developing love of

Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja

posted in Caitanya Mahaprabhu - 1 reply

'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts.'

2007-07-25T10:58:24Z

Check out this great website:

http://www.salagram.net/parishad43.htm#life%20and%20precepts%20BVT

posted in Caitanya Mahaprabhu - 0 replies

Your Association in New Jersey

2007-07-23T13:48:25Z

Haribol Dear Devotees

I am visiting US this weekend and will be in the parispanny, . i will spend one month for a project.. however I desire some krishna consicous association in that area. I am also willing to room share or take up paying guest acco if available. My place of work will be avis budget, 6 sylvan way, parsipanny., new jersey

if anyone can give me details of temples,programs or any kirtans in that area, I would like to participate and see if I can get your wonderful association. Kindly respond to srirambm@hotmail.com, if you can help me... my apologies for using this forum for this purpose..

your servant desiring devotee association

Sriram Balaraman

posted in Caitanya Mahaprabhu - 0 replies