Nityananda Prema Dharma's topics - tribe.net

Nityananda-Jahnava ki jaya!

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:34:52 GMT

A discussion of Nityananda Prabhu would hardly be complete without mentioning His marriage, later in life, to Jahnava Devi and her younger sister Vasudha. When Nitai returned to Bengal at Mahaprabhu's request, He decided to abandon His avadhuta status and take to the grhastha asrama. A statesman named Suryadasa Sarakhel, the brother of gopala Gauridasa Pandita, had two daughters who were great devotees; their names were Jahnava and Vasudha. As qualified girls who felt great affection for Nityananda Prabhu, they were chosen to marry Him, and He, in turn, loved them dearly. Of course, they were not ordinary devotees. According to Kavi Karnapura, the two girls were incarnations of Revati Devi and Varuni Devi respectively, who were the wives of Lord Balarama (although both girls are considered incarnations of Ananga Manjari as well).

After some time Vasudha gave birth to two children - a boy named Virabhadra (or Viracandra) and a girl named Ganga-devi. Kavi Karnapura says that Virabhadra was an incarnation of Ksirodakasayi Visnu (an expansion of Sankarsana) and that Gangadevi was the personified Ganga herself. Virabhadra, especially, became a great leader in the Vaisnava community and continued to spread the Gaudiya teachings in the mood of His distinguished father. Soon after the birth of her two divine children, Vasudha passed away, and Jahnava vowed to raise them as her own. Jahnava also adopted a boy named Ramacandra (Ramai), whom she loved more than life itself. Ramacandra's biological father was known as Caitanya Dasa, and he was extremely devoted to Jahnava Thakurani. He and his wife were unable to have children until he prayed to Ma Jahnava. His prayers bore fruit, and his wife gave birth to two sons, Ramacandra and Sacinandana. In appreciation, Caitanya Dasa gave his first-born (Ramacandra) to Jahnava to tend to her needs. This story is retold in the Nityananda-vamsavali, which quotes, as its source, the Murali-vilasa. For most of Jahnava's youth, then, she was engaged in caring for her three children.

As the years went by, Jahnava Ma developed a reputation as a superlative Vaisnavi, embodying the ideals of devotion in the Gaudiya sampradaya. She initiated her son Virabhadra as well as many other male and female members of the Vaisnava community. Major figures in Mahaprabhu's lineage took shelter at her lotus feet, and personalities like Narottama Dasa Thakura, Srinivasa Acarya, and Syamananda Prabhu accepted her as the most prominent Vaisnava in Bengal. In fact, she attended their festival in Kheturi and was given a place of honor as the most advanced personality there. On the first day of the Kheturi festival, the devotees requested Jahnava Ma to take charge of all festivities. This she did, making sure that kirtana was going on with full enthusiasm, that the deities were being worshiped with elaborate splendor, and that devotional games commemorating Krsna's pastimes were being enjoyed by the mass of participants - and there were thousands.

On the second day, with the help of the Vaisnavas, she personally cooked for the thousands of devotees in attendance, trying to serve as many as she could with her own two hands. In this way, she endeared herself to the Vaisnavas, who were sad to see her leave the festival for her pilgrimage to Vrndavana. Although Jahnava Ma journeyed to Vraja after the Kheturi festival, and this is doubtless the most famous of her extended trips, she did go to Vraja one or two times before. Her first trip was ostensibly as a student, and she spent many hours hearing the newly written works of the Gosvamis. It is said that Rupa Gosvami himself explained the literature to her at this time. Gradually, she developed a methodical plan to create solidarity between the Vaisnavas of Bengal and those of Vraja, and she accomplished this quite effectively during her few visits to the land of Krsna's pastimes. When she went there just prior to the Kheturi festival she conferred with Jiva Gosvami, and their combined plan manifested as the sankirtana party that brought Narottama, Srinivasa, and Syamananda to Bengal with the books of the Vrndavana Gosvamis.

Jahnava Ma converted Muslims to Mahaprabhu's Vaisnavism and endeared herself to the Gaudiya devotees throughout India. The Six Gosvamis treated her with the utmost respect, and Dasa Gosvami, in particular, was grateful for her association. He spent a good deal of time showing her the area of Radha-kunda, and the two of them took every opportunity to dance in ecstasy. When Jahnava Thakurani saw Rama Ghat, the area along the banks of the Yamuna where Balarama enjoyed a rasa dance of His own, her spiritual rapture knew no bounds. She had mystic visions throughout her life and received divine dictation from Nityananda Prabhu long after He left this world. Once, in a vision, she saw the Gopinatha Deity and His little Radha companion, who told her to replace the Radha Deity with one that was larger. This mission she took back with her to Bengal and finally sent the larger Deity by boat to the enthusiastic devotees waiting in Vraja. Her relationship with Gopinatha, a Deity established by her disciple, Madhu Pandita, embodies the essence of Vaisnava esoterica and cannot be described here.

At the time of Jahnava's departure from the mortal world, her beautiful manifestation as Ananga Manjari, standing in a dancing pose at Krsna's right side, was emphasized by Nityananda Prabhu's most intimate followers. This "Ananga-Kanai-Rai," the worshipable devotion of Radha's younger sister along with Radha and Krsna together, remains the focus of devotees coming in the line of Jahnava Devi. The Vamsisiksa says that Jahnava Ma left this world by merging into the form of Gopinatha in Vrndavana (although it is also said that she disappeared in Kamyavana, where the Deity, perhaps, was moved during the iconoclastic period of Muslim rule). Whatever the case, the example of her life supersedes that of her death, for in living she opened Vaisnavism up to women in a way that broke all boundaries, allowing them equal footing with men in terms of service, devotion, accomplishment and the ability to rise to the highest level of perfection.

In conclusion, it would be prudent to mention that in Ekacakra-grama, not far from Nityananda Prabhu's birthplace, there is a Krsna Deity known as Bankima Raya - a Deity that was established by Nityananda Himself. On the right side of this Deity is a Deity of Jahnava Ma and on the left is one of Sri Radha. The priests of this temple say that Nityananda Prabhu merged into the form of Bankima Raya when He was ready to leave the planet for his eternal lila in the spiritual sky. There are no other stories of Nitai's departure and so this one is generally accepted by the orthodox Vaisnava community. Be that as it may, His presence, as well as that of His personal sakti, Jahnava Thakurani, is always felt in the presence of one's own guru, for the guru is considered a living manifestation of Nityananda Prabhu's love, and His sakti is what gives a true disciple the ability to perform devotional service and to experience the bliss of devotional life.

posted in Nityananda Prema Dharma - 0 replies

Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:15:22 GMT

[January 31, 2007 (in India) is the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. The following is a class given by Srila Narayana Maharaja on this auspicious day in Teresopolis, Brazil: Feb 14, 2003:]

Nityananda Prabhu served Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, and performed His Vyasa-puja there. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Sri Krsna Himself. If one worships Krsna, Vyasa-puja is automatically done.

After Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, He wanted to go to Vrndavana. But Nityananda Prabhu kindly, by trick, changed His direction and took Him to Santipura,
the village of Sri Advaita Acarya. Nityananda Prabhu called all the people of Nadia, especially Mahaprabhu's mother Saci-maiya, to come and meet Him. There, Saci-maiya met with Him when He was in sa nnyasa dress.

After that, Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Puri, and Nityananda Prabhu followed Him there. Nityananda Prabhu wanted to always serve Mahaprabhu, but because he had been initiated by Sri Laksmipati-tirtha, Mahaprabhu honored Him as a guru. Laksmipati-tirtha was the diksa-guru of Madhavendra Puri, Sri Madhavendra Puri's disciple was Sri Isvara Puri, and Isvara Puri’s disciple was Mahaprabhu. In this way Mahaprabhu is in the disciplic succession two generations after Nityananda Prabhu, and He therefore used to show him great respect.

Nityananda Prabhu served in so many ways at the Ratha-yatra Festival, and after the festival Mahaprabhu ordered him to return to Bengal and preach His mission there. He preached without care for caste or creed, and he especially preached to those who were inferior in caste and very poor.

In the course of his preaching, he once came to the village of Ramacandra Khan, who had previously sent a prost itute to Srila Haridasa Thakura and who was always against Caitanya Mahaprabhu and bhakti. Ramacandra Khan could not understand the glory of Haridasa Thakura and had wondered, "Even though I am king of the state, nobody honors me. Instead they honor Haridasa Thakura, even though he is a Muslim." He had committed grievous offenses against Haridasa Thakura, and now Nityananda Prabhu wanted to liberate him from his sinful body.

Nityananda Prabhu went to Ramacandra Khan's village at night, with hundreds of His devotees. As it was nighttime, he requested Ramacandra Khan's servant to tell him, "Today we want to take rest in your Durga Mandapa. Hearing this, Ramacandra Khan ordered his servant to tell Nityananda Prabhu there is no place for Him in the temple, but he and his disciples could go to the goshala (cowshed), and remain in that very sacred place. Again he committed an offense.

Nityananda Prabhu began to laugh very loudly, and while l aughing he told the king's servant, "Certainly your place is not pure enough for me. A cowshed is superior. You should tell the king, "Many Muslim generals and soldiers will come to your house. They will destroy you, your entire family, your cows and everything you possess; and they will
eat meat here. You have no place for me, but you will have to make a place for them." After saying this, he left the village and went to another.

The next day many Muslim soldiers came, killed the king's family, slaughtered cows and cooked them there, and then they set the entire village on fire. Those who were in favor of that king were destroyed, and thus, what Nityananda Prabhu had told was proven true.

There are many pastimes, but I am only touching some.

akrodha paramananda nityananda raya
abhimana sunya nitai nagare bedaya

["The noble Nityananda Prabhu is never angry, for he is the personification of supreme tr anscendental bliss. Devoid of all false ego, Nitai wanders about the town." (Akrodha Paramananda by Locana dasa Thakura, verse 1)]

The meaning is very important. Akrodha means 'not angry'. We should try to give up anger, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Even if there is a reason to be angry, we should not be angry. Nityananda Prabhu is telling us this, through the medium of this song. He is saying, "You should be like me." When Jagai and Madhai hit him and he was bleeding, he prayed to Mahaprabhu, "In this incarnation, You should forgive them, and give them krsna-prema." Thus, by the request of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the brothers krsna-prema.

Mahaprabhu and all our Gosvamis have told us that even if there is a cause to be angry, we should not be angry. We should control our anger. If there is need, however, if someone is criticizing one's Gurudeva, or any pure devotee, or Krsna, Mahaprabhu, or Ni tyananda Prabhu, then we can use our anger. At that time we should be like Hanuman, who burned all of Lanka into ashes.

Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura has declared: "Ati parihare jei papi nindakara tabe / lati marun tera sirera upare." Do not disobey or dishonor Nityananda Prabhu. If you do so, I will kick you on your head." Only in the highest stage of bhakti are you allowed to be angry. You should control your anger; not be controlled by it. If you are so controlled, you will be destroyed.

kama esa krodha esa
rajo-guna-samudbhavah
mahasano maha-papma
viddhy enam iha vairinam

["The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world." (Bhagavad-gita 3.37)]

Those who have worldly desires for position and so on, and who have a false ego in this regard, will lose everything. If you cannot control your mind, you may also disobey your Guru, and you may even give up your Guru. That is why Lord Sri Krsna has told us not to be angry. Keep the anger finger out of your bead bag. Do not use this (pointer) finger in chanting, because it denotes anger. It says, "I will punish you! I will shoot you!
Do you not know who I am?! I will break your legs!" Be careful.

adhama patita jivera dvare dvare giay
hari-nama maha-mantra dicchena bilaiya

["Going from door to door, to the houses of the most fallen and wretched souls, He freely distributes the gift of the harinama maha-mantra." (Akrodha Paramananda verse 2)]

Taking the flood of krsna-prema, Nityananda Prabhu went door to door, to give that love and affection.

Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu Ki Jaya!

Gaura premanande

Editorial Adviso rs: Pujyapad Madhava Maharaja and Sripad Brajanatha dasa
Transcriber: Vasanti dasi
Typists: Vasanti dasi and Anita dasi
Editor: Syamarani dasi

posted in Nityananda Prema Dharma - 0 replies

Nityananda Triyodasi

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 04:10:23 GMT

[When Srila Narayana Maharaja came to give class, he asked if any kirtana was done earlier. When the devotees replied that no kirtana/bhajanas had been sung, Maharaja told them off. Then he requested 'nitai pada kamala' be sung.]

nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala
je chayaya jagat judaya
heno nitai vine bhai, radha-krsna paite nai,
drdha kori' dharo nitaira paya

se sambandha nahi ja'ra, vrtha janma gelo ta'ra,
sei pasu bodo duracara
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara sukhe,
vidyakule ki koribe tara

ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya,
asatyere satya kori' mani
nitaiyera koruna habe, vraje radha-krsna pabe,
dharo nitaiyera carana du'khani

nitaiyera carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya,
nitai-pada sada koro asa
narottama bodo duhkhi, nitai more koro sukhi,
rakha ranga-caranera pasa

["Nitai's lotus feet are more cooling than the shining of millions of moons. Their shade gives solace to the universe. Without such a personality as Nitai, it is not possible to attain Radha and Krishna. Hold on tightly to His lotus feet!

Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu has passed his life uselessly. He is no more than a gross animal. Not putting the name of Nitai on one's lips, one becomes absorbed in so-called worldly happiness. Then what is the value of one's education and birth in a high family or great nation?

Forgetting Nitai's lotus feet, one becomes maddened by the false concept of bodily life and considers the illusory energy as real. Receiving the mercy of Nitai, he can attain Radha and Krishna in Vraja. Firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Nitai!

The feet of Nitai are real, service to him is eternal. Always hope and pray for the lotus feet of Nitai. 'Narottama is very unhappy! Nitai, please make me happy! Keep me tucked close to Your feet which are like reddish lotuses.'"(Giti-guccha)]

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Can you explain the meaning? You.

[Radhakanta Prabhu starts to read the translation.]

Radhakanta Prabhu: "Nitai's lotus feet are more cooling than the shining of millions of moons. Their shade gives solace to the universe. Without such a personality as Nitai, it is not possible to attain Radha and Krishna. Hold on tightly to His lotus feet!"

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Not to read, but to explain.

Radhakanta Prabhu: You cannot directly attain the divine service of Radha and Krishna without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Narottama Thakura is telling that those who are not taking the shelter of Nitai are all animals.

Aranya Maharaja: In this kirtana Narottama dasa Thakura is saying the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu are more cooling than millions of moons. Why? Samsara-davanala nidhi loka, all jivas burning in endless cycle of birth and death. Can Camphor or candana cool them? No. Not even the moon's rays can cool them.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: So many problems, always quarreling, moon cannot touch.

Aranya Maharaja: Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu one cannot attain the service of Radha and Krishna. Aparadhas cannot be uprooted from heart so hard for one to do bhajana. Those with no relation to akhanda guru tattva, will just be like animals, wandering in cycle birth and death, mating, defending, like animals.

Those whose mouth not utter "Nitai! Nitai!", all will be bewildered and immerse themselves in the dirty swamp of material happiness. He's saying vidyakule ki koribe tara, they may be born in a very high family, they may have a very great wealth and power and position in this world, and they may have a very good education from the material standard. But what is the use of their birth? What is the use of their knowledge? What is the use of their education? Even if they study all sastra, still being learned in all the Vedas and memorizing all sastra, this will not help them. Anyway without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu they must by the force of the material energy be immersed in the mud of material sense gratification. So then he's saying ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya, asatyere satya kori' mani. If anyone will forget the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu, what will be the result? They will be covered by false ego, they will have ahankara, they will think 'I am the doer'. And in this way, asatyere satya kori' mani, having a false ego and identification with a material identity, not knowing their spiritual identity, they will accept that which is asat or temporary, to be sat. And in this way asatyere satya kori' mani, ahankare matta hoiya, they become, they act like a mad person

So then he's saying nitaiyera koruna habe, vraje radha-krsna pabe, but if one can receive a drop of the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, then very easily he can attain the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna in Braja. Therefore dharo nitaiyera carana du'khani, I am taking shelter of the two lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu.

Nitaiyera carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya, nitai-pada sada koro asa. I always desire the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu, His lotus feet are not material, nitaiyera carana satya they are eternal and transcendental and the abode of all existence and transcendental realization. So those who serve the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu, they are His servants, they are also transcendental personalities, so I always desire the shelter of their lotus feet.

Finally Narottama dasa Thakura is saying that: O Nityananda Prabhu, I am suffering so much in this world. Narottama bodo duhkhi, I am filled with so much fear. Narottama dasa Thakura is expressing the pain of separation he feels from Nityananda Prabhu. So nitai more koro sukhi. O Nityananda Prabhu, please make me happy? How. By giving me one small corner of Your lotus feet where I can take shelter and serve You. This is the essence of this song written by Narottama dasa Thakura.

Srila Narayana Maharaja:

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi
garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi
sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-
nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

["Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana, Garbha, and Ksira Oceans, are the plenary portions and portions of the plenary portions of Sri Nityananda Rama. May He give me shelter." (Giti-guccha)]

Krishna is sat-cit-ananda vigraha. 'Sat' means predominating deity of satta. 'Sat' has come from sandhini. Krishna is sat-cit-ananda. First Baladeva Prabhu who's sat, He's the predominating deity of satta, sandhini. Without Him there is nothing. Krishna stands, sits on that. Then cit, Krishna is cit. And then ananda, hladini, Herself Radhika. So where Nityananda Prabhu that is Baladeva Prabhu, Radhika and then Krishna. So three are always there. If no sandhini then no Vrindavana. The form of Krishna, Baladeva Prabhu and anyone, so rupa of all these things is sandhini. Upon sandhini, cit, ananda and everything can be.

So Baladeva Prabhu Himself is Nityananda Prabhu. First Krishna, and then Baladeva Prabhu. Baladeva is two, like Krishna is two-aisvarya and madhurya. Those who took birth from the womb of Devaki is Vasudeva putra, Vasudeva, like Narayana. They never go to Vrindavana. Always in Mathura sometimes, or in Dvaraka. But He who came from the womb of Devaki, the 7th son in the womb of Devaki, and by Yogamaya He was taken to the womb of Rohini mother in Gokula and He mixed in full or fullest [form of] Baladeva Prabhu. Baladeva Prabhu was from before there, already there in Rohini's womb, and He [Baladeva from Devaki] mixed in that. Understand? As Krishna coming from the womb of Devaki, mixed in the two-armed form of Krishna, the son of Nanda and Yasoda, He mixed, He merged in that [form of Krishna], similarly Baladeva who came from womb of Devaki, He was amsi, manifestation and the root Baladeva Prabhu was in Rohini's womb, and He went there and He was merged in that Baladeva.

The Baladeva Prabhu in Gokula is non different to Krishna. Only there is some differences of black complexion and golden complexion, and some flute [with black complexioned form] and srnga (buffalo horn) [with golden complexioned form], and other things, but both are of Vrindavana.

Then from Him, this Baladeva Prabhu comes Mula Sankarsana in Dvaraka and Mathura. Especially in Dvaraka is Mula Sankarsana. And from Him comes all, like Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha. They are of Mula Sankarsana [Baladeva]. From Mula Sankarsana comes Maha Sankarsana in Vaikuntha. He serves in so many ways Narayana in Vaikuntha. As Baladeva in Vrindavana, similarly Mula Sankarsana in Dvaraka, and from there Maha Sankarsana in Vaikuntha and so many, and one of His manifestations comes to this world, like Karanodakasayi Visnu. He's mixed in some worldly causes, not pure tattva. Himself is pure, but His actions are not pure. Though He is like a lotus in water, ocean, but yet if world is demolished, then no need for Him. Where He goes? He, Karanodakasayi Visnu, goes to Maha Sankarsana. From Karanodakasayi Visnu so many universes are coming, thousands and thousands and crores and corers of universes are coming. And one part of the, amsa of the Karanodakasayi Visnu comes in that, in each universe, that is Garbhodakasayi. Then Garbhodakasaya becomes Hiranyagarbha Brahma and from him Viraja Brahma and thus creation is going on. From Garbhodakasayi, in each part is Ksirodakasayi. A part of Ksirodakasayi is everywhere, He is called Paramatma, Visnu, like this. So we are meditating on them. And last is Sesa. What is Sesa? Sesa means 'remaining, what is remaining'. The last part of, fraction of Baladeva Prabhu is Sesa. He is serving Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi in so many ways - asana, vasana, bhusana and so many things. As Baladeva Prabhu to Krishna, Mula Sankarsana to Vasudeva Krishna in Dvaraka, Maha Sankarsana to Vaikunthapati, in this way. But Sesa is the last fraction. So Nityananda Prabhu is Himself Baladeva Prabhu, non different to Baladeva Prabhu. So we should try to know Baladeva-tattva.

So without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu we cannot do anything. He's akhanda guru tattva. That is why He killed Dhenakasura. What is Dhenakasura? He was ignorance, like an ass is. So Nityananda Prabhu is that [destroyer of ignorance]. He also cut the head of Romaharsana. Why He cut out? Because Romaharsana was not giving proper respect to vaisnavas and guru, Baladeva Prabhu, at once He cut out. He at once inspired a little boy of that who is son of Romaharsana Suta. He's Ugrasrava. Why Ugrasrava? Baladeva Prabhu gave him power, that what he will hear he will remember forever, and he will never forget anything. That without reading Vedas, Upanisads, sastra, Vedanta, everything, all the Puranas and all, everything should come out in his heart. Quickly it came by the mercy of Baladeva Prabhu. So by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu everything can come. So those who are not taking shelter of this Baladeva Prabhu or Nityananda Prabhu, really they are animals. So we should glorify Nityananda Prabhu.

Also we see from the pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu that He took birth not as a brother here in Navadvipa. Mahaprabhu took birth in Navadvipa from the womb of Sacidevi. Prior to this, so many years before, Nityananda Prabhu took birth in Ekacakra. His mother Padmavati and father Hadai Pandit. When He was a small boy of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, He used to play only the parts of Baladeva Prabhu in Krishna pastimes, sometimes Laksmana in Rama pastimes. They were in a group of so many children, so many boys and they used to play sometimes Krishna's pastimes, sometimes Rama's, sometimes Varaha's, sometimes Nrsimha's and all. Especially when Baladeva was needed He used to take that part.

We will glorify more in evening or at ten this morning.

So He became once what? Laksmana, and He was on the side of Rama. Ravana was on the other side. And thus [before playing] He had told everything to His companions that, "I will fight with [the boy playing] Meghanatha, and he will shot Me with an arrow and then I may be senseless. You should go to Himalayas and bring some herbs and give in My nose and then I will quickly revive." Then they began to fight each other [in the mock battle between Rama and Ravana]. Laksmana was fighting Meghanatha, and Meghanatha shot Him. When he shot Laksmana, Nityananda Prabhu became senseless. All began to weep, they never remembered that what Nityananda Prabhu has told to bring, herbs from Himalayas. They all began to weep and they went to village and they told this that, "Oh, Nityananda Prabhu is about to die." His father, mother, and all villagers came and became very upset. He was about to die, not breathing, nothing. Then anyone told, an old man told that, "Oh, you were playing this. What did Nityananda Prabhu tell in the last? That if He was to be senseless what to do?"

They remembered. "Oh, He told, but we became so upset." Then one being like a monkey, Hanuman, he jumped up and he went to Himalayas. Not real Himalayas but anywhere [they pretended to be Himalayas]. He took some pieces of stone, like Himalayas, Gandhamadana and Parvata, and from that herb was brought and given to the nose of Nityananda Prabhu. And then He was saved.

How He used to be so absorbed in that. We should try to be absorbed totally in bhajana. How you can? How you can do it? If you have a relation to Nityananda Prabhu, and He's giving all these things. What things? A very strong relation with Krishna. Then everything will be inspired, He will inspire you. So then you can do. Without Nityananda Prabhu's mercy you cannot do. So the guru inspired by, given power by Nityananda Prabhu, he can help the devotees. Otherwise a bogus guru cannot. For a bogus guru Nityananda Prabhu will not inspire anything. So if the guru is sincere and he's maha-bhagavata, bhagavata at least, then His [Nitai's] mercy will come. At least he should be sincere. If he's madhyama adhikara, but madhyama-adhikari in what stage? At least madhyama-uttama he should be, otherwise he cannot do anything.

So if by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, if you are so much fortunate to have the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, then you can be absorbed like Him or others. Even like Murari Gupta, upon seeing the peacock feathers, he remembered Krishna's pastimes and he was senseless state.

[A couple of corrections where later on added: Gurudeva mentioned how Murari Gupta fainted at the sight of a peacock feather. In a couple of lectures Srila Svami Prabhupada also told the story of how Murari Gupta fainted at the sight of a peacock feather. However in Caitanya-caritamrta it is mentioned that it was Mukunda who fainted at the sight of a peacock feather. When we asked Srila Maharaja, he replied that both Murari Gupta and Mukunda were physicians, and so a slip of the tongue was there. That he meant Mukunda instead of Murari Gupta.]

So this Nityananda Prabhu, doing all these things. In the meantime when He came about 12 years, a renounced order sannyasi came. He told His father, "Oh, this boy is very good, very intelligent, and very religious. I want that I should travel throughout whole India, pilgrimage to holy places. Please give me this boy for this, He will help me. Otherwise now I am old I cannot do anything."

Then he began to weep but at once anyhow he remembered the pastimes of Ramacandra and Laksmana. He remembered that Dasaratha never wanted to do like this, that he should give his Rama and Laksmana to Visvamitra. But Vasistha told that, "Oh, this is a very good thing. This is the mercy of Visvamitra that he has come. At once give up your sons, otherwise he may curse you and you will be all ruined with your whole dynasty and everything." And anyhow he [Hadai Pandit] gave Nityananda Prabhu, and then with Nityananda Prabhu that sannyasi traveled throughout the whole of India on pilgrimage, South India, West India, North India, East India, everywhere. Not only one time but so many times, especially in South India so much.

Now He has become some grown up more, and He went in His last trip. Where? Pandarpura. And there luckily Laksmipati Tirtha, the guru of Madhavendra Puri met Him. Both met, and Laksmipati Tirtha was so much attracted to Nityananda Prabhu, even though He was like a young boy. He wanted to initiate Him, Nityananda Prabhu. Then Nityananda Prabhu trickily gave that mantra to him [Laksmipati Tirtha], "Oh, do you want to give this mantra to Me?"

"Yes, I want."

He [Nitai] told this mantra [to Laksmipati] and He made him disciple, and then he [Laksmipati] initiated Him [Nitai]. After initiation Madhavendra Puripada met Him. Madhavendra Puri was always weeping, always absorbed, crying, 'ayi dina dayardra natha he', 'he deva he dayita he bhuvaika bandhu'. All these, always weeping. And he was so much bigger in age also.

Aranya Maharaja: So much senior, elder.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Senior, so much senior. So He always, Nityananda Prabhu respected him like His siksa-guru.

After that Nityananda Prabhu came to Vrindavana and He was searching everywhere. "O Krishna where? O Kanhaiya! O Kanhaiya, My brother, where You are? Where You are?" He used to embrace deer even, cows also. "Where's My Kanhaiya? Where's My Kanhaiya?" Everywhere searching. The cowherd boys, they began to fear that He's a ghost or what, that He's embracing us.

Anyhow when He was in Vrindavana in a temple, He heard a voice, "O Kanhaiya is not here. He has taken birth in Mayapura, Navadvipa dharma, and His name is also changed. Now His name is Sacinandana, Gaurahari, Nimai. So if You want to meet Him, You can go there and You can meet Him. He is waiting for You."

So Nityananda Prabhu quickly went to Navadvipa dharma. He crossed the Ganges. There was a beautiful asrama. Asrama?

Madhava Maharaja: Nandana Acarya's garden.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Nandana Acarya's garden.

Aranya Maharaja: Isodhyana.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Isodhyana. In Isodhyana was Nandana Acarya's asrama, kutir, hut.

Aranya Maharaja: Cottage.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Cottage, and He used to do kirtana always. It was some far away from Navadvipa, Mayapura. Have you gone? Navadvipa? So on the bank of Ganges, near bank of Ganges, nearer to Svarupa Ganja and Godruma and Navadvipa. There was not any way [due to thick forest] when I went first with my gurudeva, about 50, or more than 50 years before. So you can think like at that time.

So Nityananda Prabhu was hiding Himself, "If My Kanhaiya is here in Navadvipa, He must come to Me, and then I will know that 'Oh, He's my Kanhaiya'. Otherwise I will return." So He was waiting there.

Mahaprabhu was in Srivasa-angam with other devotes, Gadadhara Pandit, Srivasa Pandit, his four brothers and all, He told that, "Oh, search for any mahapurusa has come, maha-bhagavata. So you should at once go and search Him and bring Him here."

So Srivasa Pandit and all others went to search. They searched everywhere in all the temples, in the houses of all the devotees until evening, but then could not find that mahapurusa.

Then Mahaprabhu took with Him Gadadhara Pandit, Srivasa and all others, and He quickly went to the house of Nandana Acarya. He saw that a very tall, very beautiful, very healthy saint is there, mahapurusa. He was standing and Nityananda Prabhu also standing, each other talking with eyes. Then Mahaprabhu quickly ran towards Nityananda, and Nityananda Prabhu ran towards Mahaprabhu and They embraced each other and became senseless. Then what became? Then Gadadhara Pandit from behind the curtain [recited]:

barhapidam nata-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikaram
bibhrad vasah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantim ca malam
randhran venor adhara-sudhayapurayan gopa-vrndair
vrndaranyam sva-pada-ramanam pravisad gita-kirtih
(SB 10.21.5)

["Accompanied by His cowherd boyfriends, Syamasundara entered the forest of Vrndadevi. His head was decorated with a peacock feather. He wore yellow karnikara flowers over His ears, a dazzling golden yellow garment on His body, and around His neck, extending down to His knees, hung a fragrant vaijayanti garland made of five kinds of flowers. Splendidly attired as a beautiful natavara, a most expert dancer, He appeared just like a very fine actor on stage. He poured the nectar of His lips through the holes of His flute, and the cowherd boys followed behind Him, singing His glories. In this way, the land of Vrindavana was even more charming than Vaikuntha, due to being beautified by Sri Krishna's lotus feet marked with the conch, disk, and other symbols." (Venu-gita)]

Oh, Nityananda Prabhu, and They began to do [Hindi word].

Aranya Maharaja: Roaring.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Roaring both, and They became more and more excited. Excited?

Brajanatha Prabhu: Ecstatic.

Madhava Maharaja: Excited.

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Then Mahaprabhu took Him, Nityananda Prabhu. Took Him to where? To Srivasa-angam. The wife of Srivasa was Malini. Malini saw that He is like her son, and she took Him in her lap, and thus Nityananda Prabhu was always there with His mother Malini-devi. After then, everything, so many pastimes of Nityananda.

One day Malini-devi was weeping. Nityananda Prabhu told, "Mother, why you are weeping?"

"Oh, a crow came and took my golden or silver pot full of ghee."

"Oh, you weeping for this. 'O crow, come on, come on, come on.'

Madhava Maharaja: 'Bring back the pot.'"

Srila Narayana Maharaja: And crow came, and he brought that container there. She became very happy.

Sometimes in the mood of a very small child He used to run to Sacimaiya's without any clothes. "O mother! Mother! Where is Kanhaiya? Where is Kanhaiya?" Then Mahaprabhu, Nimai saw Him, and He gave His utariya [upper garment] and tightened it round His waist.

Thus Nityananda Prabhu was always absorbed, not remembering that 'I am any male or anything'. So there are so many pastimes. We will try to tell all these things in evening class. It will be better if you can come here just before 5. I may come at 5. You should come before and you should do all the kirtana of Nityananda Prabhu. You must come, and all should come and you should glorify Him by kirtana, and also by meaning. What is the meaning of that kirtana, and go on doing. At about 10.30 or 11 I may come and you should bring all paraphernalia of abisekha. Also some very good dobs. Bring coconut, two or three. And Nityananda Prabhu and Gaura Prabhu, They should come out here. Decorate Them. We will do abisekha and some glorification. Then in evening again kirtana and being glorified. Gaura-premanande!

Devotees: Haribol!

See http://tribes.tribe.net/gurudeva/

posted in Nityananda Prema Dharma - 0 replies

Catching the Jivas in a Net of Prema!

jiva — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 18:35:15 GMT

MAHAPRABHU CATCHING ALL JIVAS

21 July 2002, 8 p.m.
Tel Aviv, Israel

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, Brajendra-nandana Syamasundara, the son of Nanda Maharaja, who plays upon a flute, wears a peacock feather and performs sweet pastimes in Vrndavana. That same person, coming with a very important purpose, has appeared in Navadvipa Dhama as the son of Saci Mata. This same Krsna, who is the Supreme Lord, the ause of all causes and the Absolute Truth, explains in Bhagavad-Gita why He appears in this material world and performs pastimes. What is the reason?

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
(BG 4.7-8)

He is saying, “Whenever religion (Vedic culture) is going down and down, and especially the culture of devotion, pure bhakti, is going down and irreligion is going up and up, at that time I Myself descend to this world and establish the real religion of pure bhakti.” We know that this is the reason for Krsna’s appearance. But this is not the main reason. In fact, to establish dharma (religious principles) is not the business of Krsna. We should know who Krsna is. As the Supreme Absolute Truth, what is the actual essence of His existence?

akhila-rasamrta-murtih
prasrmara-ruci-ruddha-taraka-palih

He is an endless ocean of rasa, love and devotion; and His only business is to taste that bhakti-rasa and to cause others to taste it. This is Krsna’s svarupa, or constitutional position—only to relish and to distribute love. He has no business in destroying irreligious principles and in establishing dharma. The duty of maintaining religious principles in the universe is the duty of Visnu. Brahma creates, Siva destroys and Visnu maintains. It is Visnu’s business to destroy demons and to protect religion. Krsna comes in this world, but He is not avatara; He is avatari. He is not an expansion; rather, He is the source of all expansions. Therefore, when He comes, all the other forms of Bhagavan are included in Him. Krsna comes here to perform His sweet pastimes, but at the same time, He kills so many demons, like Trnavarta, Sakatasura, Aghasura, Bakasura, and later, Kamsa, Jarasandha, Sisupala, Dhantavakra and others. It seems that Krsna is killing these demons, but this is a misconception. Krsna never kills any demons. Krsna is only playing loving pastimes with His devotees. When you see that Krsna killed a demon, it was not Krsna—it was Visnu inside Krsna who killed the demon.

Similarly, when Krsna comes in this world as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He does not come here to establish yuga-dharma as His primary purpose. In the age of Kali, the yuga-dharma is nama-sankirtana. Visnu can establish nama-sankirtana. There is no need of the Supreme Lord Himself, Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja from Vrndavana, to appear in this world as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to establish yuga-dharma. Visnu can do this. Incidentally (anusangika), Mahaprabhu does establish yuga-dharma, bit this is a side effect of His coming, not the purpose.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes in this world for another reason. What it that?

prema-rasa-niryasa karite asvadana
raga-marga bhakti loke karite pracarana
(CC Adi 4.15)

He comes to this world because He Himself wants to taste prema-rasa, the essence of love, Krsna-prema. When He and Srimati Radhika meet together in the kunjas of Vrndavana, Their prema comes to a very high stage. Radharani’s love rises to maha-bhava. In that condition:

na so ramana, na hama ramani
dunhu-mana manobhava pesala jani’
(CC Madhya 8.194)

Radharani cannot understand who She is. Becoming bewildered, She wonders, “Am I Radharani or am I Krsna?” This is called prema-vilasa-vivarta. This is also known as prema-rasa-niryasa. When Radhika comes into the stage of madanakhya maha-bhava, Krsna has no idea how She feels. Because Krsna wanted to know this prema-rasa-niryasa, He appeared from the womb of Saci Mata as Nimai Pandita, Gauranga Mahaprabhu, in Nadiya, Navadvipa. To taste and to realize these things, Krsna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but He had another purpose also, which is relevant to us.

Raga-marga bhakti loke karite pracarana. He wanted to preach in the world one type of bhakti that had never been preached before. This is called raga-marga bhakti, spontaneous devotional service. Though before the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu some rare personalities, like Jayadeva Gosvami, Candidasa, Vidyapati, Bilvamangala Thakura, were in raga marga, yet still, within that raganuga bhakti, there was one kind of bhakti that was never given before—that is called rupanuga bhakti. What is that? First of all, the reason that He wanted to give raganuga bhakti is because raganuga means raga. That refers to the love of ragatmika, the love of those who are already there in Vrndavana. Anuga means following. So the method of bhakti which follows the moods of those who are already there in Vrndavana, the associates of Krsna, is called raganuga bhakti. The word raga means prema-mayi trsna, a thirst to love—just as we are very very thirsty if we have not taken any water for two days. So when the heart is thirsty to love and serve Krsna, this is called raga. And the speciality of this love for Krsna is that in this, there is no consideration of rules and regulations or any idea that Krsna is God. The residents of Vrndavana only see Krsna as an ordinary person. The cowherd boys think that “Krsna is my bosom friend. He is not greater than me—my father has more cows than His father.” And those who are in parental mood think that Krsna is a child—He gets hungry, He gets thirsty, He is hot, He is cold, He gets upset. “I have to take care of Him. Sometimes I have to chastize Him. If I don’t, He may become a wild character when He grows up. And the younger girls of Vrndavana, the gopis, think that “Krsna is my sweetheart. He is my most beloved. OK, I am married to someone else, but anyway, from the beginning of my life, I love only Krsna.”

All these types of love are natural and intimate. Everyone can freely and intimately meet with Krsna, except for those in madhurya mood, the gopis, because by Yogamaya, Krsna’s lila-sakti, they have the impression that they are married to someone else. Therefore, for them to go and meet with Krsna is very difficult. Their situation is very pathetic. If we will hear of their plight, it will break our hearts. Their love and attachment to Krsna is the highest, but in Vrndavana, it is forbidden. Having to hide their love in their hearts, it gets hotter and hotter. Just like in cooking, if you keep the lid on the pot, inside it becomes very hot. Because they have to hide their love for Krsna, this love gets hotter and hotter and hotter.

Among those who have a love like this for Krsna, some of the gopis are a little younger. They are not attracted to meet directly with Krsna. Rather, they want to arrange Radharani to meet with Krsna. They have such one-pointed devotion for Radharani that even in their dreams they will not meet directly with Krsna. This is called palya dasi bhava, or manjari bhava, or rupanuga bhakti. And it had never been given before. Those who follow this mood are rupanuga.

This love which had never been given before—not since the last time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, eight billion years before. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself, came to give this love, but who is qualified to understand and to practice a very high level of sadhana and high level of transcendental emotion? However, Krsna has one one quality—daksya. Daksya means He is completely expert at doing everything. He is a complete genius. Therefore, when He came, He performed pastimes in such a way as to make us qualified.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura said:

gaurangera duti-pada, jara dhana sampada,
se jane bhakati rasa sara

If someone will accept the two lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as their only dhana, their only wealth, that person can know bhakti-rasa-sara, the essence of love and devotion.

gaurangera madhura lila, ja'ra karne pravesila,
hrdoya nirmala bhelo ta'ra

“Hey, all you jivas of Kali-yuga! Your hearts are black, full of lust and anger and nonsense. Anyway, here is the medicine. If you will hear the sweet pastimes of Gauranga, your heart will become immaculate, neat and clean, completely fresh and uncontaminated.

gauranga gunete jhure, nitya-lila ta'ra sphure,
se jana bhakati adhikari

If you will appreciate the qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krsna will manifest in your heart and you will be qualified for this highest type of prema.

sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara
vicara karile citte pabe camatkara
(Cc. Adi 8.15)

You know that Kaviraja Gosvami told us, “My dear friend, if you are interested in logic and argument, then apply it to the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you will try to understand the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then you will be struck with wonder. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. Like a teacher, He takes the hand of the student and makes him write: A B C. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very lovingly and patiently wants to show us how to do ABC of bhakti. But in Kali-yuga we are not even qualified for ABC of bhakti. So He is performing a very special pastime only to attract everyone and fix their minds on Him. Only by chanting His name and remembering His lila, a very low-class person will become transformed. In this world, there are so many young students who like to go to college and carefully study all kinds of useless material theories. In order to attract them, Mahaprabhu became a student and studied grammar, logic, astrology and all these uselss material subjects. In this age, everyone likes to argue, so He would go everywhere arguing with everyone. “Oh, He is arguing with everyone! He is my hero. I also like arguing.” In this way, He attracts these people also.

In Kali-yuga people are very destructive and take pleasure in bad behavior, without any cause whatsoever. If a musician wants to be famous, he just takes his guitar and smashes it to pieces, for nothing. And in Kali-yuga, everyone is so stupid that they think, “Oh, very good. Very good. How wonderful!” When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a small boy, he went into His mother’s kitchen and smashed everything to pieces, for no reason. Then Saci Mata said, “Oh, You have broken everything to pieces. Now we have nothing in our house.” The small boy Nimai smiled and gave His mother a piece of gold, saying, “I found this gold. Take it.” “From where did You get this gold?” In this way, He performed so many charming pastimes which cause our attention to go to Him.

All the brahmanas would go to the Ganges every day. They would take bath, put on their tilaka, chant their Gayatri and do their puja. On His way back from school, the small Nimai Pandita would come to the Ganges with His friends, looking for fun. He would come to the spot where the brahmanas were doing their activities. They had taken bath and put on clean cloth and tilaka. Nimai would fill His mouth with water and spit on them. The girls would also come to take bath in the river, and would leave their hair down. Nimai would take small seeds covered with spikes and throw them in the girls’ hair. These seeds do not come out easily. Sometimes the young girls would come to the bank of the river to worship and make offerings to Lord Siva. The naughty Nimai would come and grab and eat their offerings. If they would protest against Him, He would say, “I am a brahmana. I will give you a benediction [curse] that you will have a very old and ugly husband and at least five other co-wives.”

When the brahmanas were standing up to their waists in the water, chanting their mantra, Nimai would swim underneath like a crocodile, grab their legs and pull them out from under them. They were all standing there, and one by one, they disappear underneath the water. The brahmanas would then go to Nimai’s house to complain to His parents about Him, but the girls who were being harassed by Nimai Pandita would quickly go ahead to warn Nimai, “They are going to your father’s house now to complain against you.” In this way, it was understood that although they were complaining against Him when He was stealing their offerings, actually they loved Him, but their love is coming out in a crooked way. Now, when He was in trouble, they changed their mood and they went to help Him.

Knowing that the brahmanas were on their way to His father to speak against Him, Nimai could make a plan how to escape being beaten by Jagannatha Misra. He took some ink and put ink-spots all over His body and then walked home with His books. In an angry mood, His father was waiting to give Him a good lesson for His bad behavior. But Nimai Pandita was so clever. He said, “Someone has made a complaint against Me! But I never went to the river. I have not taken bath yet. See? I have just come back from school.” And when His father saw the ink on His body, he thought, “Oh, He has not taken bath. He must be telling the truth.” Then, when His father went away, He burst out laughing. And His friends said, “Hey Nimai, today You narrowly escaped having a good beating!”

The next day, the brahmanas were again chanting their Gayatri in the Ganga. Before, when they were chanting their Gayatri, they were meditating on nirvisesa brahma, impersonal oneness. But now, as they were chanting their Gayatri, they were looking all around in fear and wondering, “What if that boy will come and grab my feet again?” But who is that boy? He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the endless ocean of rasa. So somehow or other, by one trick or another, Krnsa as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu makes all kinds of fallen and useless people remember the Supreme Absolute Truth, who is the ocean of love and affection.

After some time, His elder brother Visvarupa took sannyasa and left home. Now try to understand the situation. Saci Mata had only two sons, no other children. The older boy took sannyasa, so how much her attachment to Nimai doubled and doubled and tripled! If someone has two children and loses one, then that one who is left becomes even more dear—the attachment thickens and deepens. But after some time, Jagannatha Misra, the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, left this world. Now Saci Mata had only Nimai. When Visvarupa took sannyasa, Saci Mata was crying and crying. Young Nimai came in His mother’s lap and, drying her tears, told her, “O Mother, don’t cry! Don’t cry. You should not worry. I will never leave you.” Nimai Pandita’s marriage was arranged. Saci Mata was very pleased when Nimai’s marriage was arranged with Laksmi-Priya. Try to meditate on and remember the moods of Navadvipa. This is all part of Mahaprabhu’s astonishing lila to catch all the jivas in the world. Saci Mata’s main worry in her life was that her son would take sannyasa and leave. So if He would be married, then He would stay with her. In this way her life would have meaning, because the only purpose in His mother’s life was how to serve her child Nimai.

Saci Mata thought she was safe, but what happened? Very suddenly Laksmi Priya passed away. Then what thought came in the mind of Saci Mata? “He has to marry again; otherwise He may take sannyasa. He may leave home and be sadhu. This is His nature. He likes doing sankirtana, and He loves Krsna. Those who love Krsna naturally do not like to stay in their homes.” So on one side, there was Saci Mata’s one-pointed love completely and exclusively at the lotus feet of Nimai. And on the other hand, she was always in the state of anxiety. Somehow or other, He should not leave Navadvipa. So again Nimai Pandita was married to a very young, beautiful and qualified girl, Visnu Priya devi. Now again Saci Mata could breathe easily and relax a little. But every day, Nimai Pandita would wander all over Nadiya, doing harinama sankirtana with all His associates—Nityananda Prabhu, Srivasa Thakura, Haridasa Thakura, Mukunda, Murari and others. When they returned, all covered in dust and perspiration, they were very very happy. Saci Mata was very pleased to see Her son returning with His associates. Crying tears of joy and with milk flowing from her breast, she would take her son in her lap and clean the dust from His body.

In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, through the chanting of harinama, was tasting the love of Radharani for Krsna, but not to His satisfaction, not completely. During this period He is doing pastimes like a grhasta. Why? Because in Kali-yuga, almost everyone will be grhasta. So to attract the minds of all householders, and also to give them a perfect example, He performed His grhasta lila. But He was always thinking, “I came in this world to taste the love of Radharani, but I am not experiencing this. So I will have to leave home, take sannyasa, and give My whole heart and everything to realize the love of Radharani.” Saci Mata was very old and completely attached to and dependent upon Him. His wife Visnu Priya was only about sixteen years old and also completely dependent and completely attached to Him. Even so, for the sake of Krsna-prema, He left them both.

Rupa Gosvamipada said: dadati pratigrhnati, sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati. If you want to become successful in bhakti, you have to give something and you have to receive something. Giving means you have to give up that thing which is your nearest and dearest and most favorite treasured object. This is the meaning of dadati. Visnu Priya devi was so near and dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He set an example for the whole world that He gave up what was so very dear to Him for the sake of attaining Krsna-prema. We can easily give some things that we don’t like, but we are slow to give up that which is most dear, to which we are most attached—this is what Krsna is waiting for us to give. And Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, though He was loved by all the residents of Navadvipa, and they were more dear to Him than His very self, still He left everyone and took sannyasa.

He took sannyasa in the line of Sankaracarya. Why? Because there were many many sannyasis and impersonalists, He apparently took sannyasa in the line of Sankaracarya to attract them. Krsna is very expert. He knows how to perform His pastimes in such a way that He will have maximum impact in catching and attracting all the jivas and bringing them into the line of pure bhakti. Now He has taken sannyasa and has gone to stay in Jagannatha Puri. By His pastimes in Jagannatha Puri, He has shown the perfect exemplary behavior of a Vaisnava in the renounced order.

apane na kaile dharma sikhana na yaya
ei ta’ siddhanta gita-bhagavate gaya
(CC Adi 3.21)

Krsna remembered, “If you want to teach dharma or anything else, but especially if you want to teach prema-bhakti, unless you yourself practice, you cannot teach others. You will have to practice what you are preaching; otherwise, your preaching will have no effect.”

When Krsna descended to this world, He gave many instructions in Bhagavad-Gita, one of which is, “You should come in the line of pure bhakti.” But He Himself never set the example. Now Krsna realized this fact—without setting the example yourself, you cannot teach others. “So I will come and I will show everyone how to practice bhakti by My own example.” How was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passing His time in Jagannatha Puri? He was completely absorbed in chanting harinama and hearing hari katha. Without dedicating your life to the chanting of Hare Krsna and hearing hari katha in the association of pure sadhus, you cannot attain the goal of life. Many people think, “I will take diksa from my Guru and then I will go away. I will chant and in this way I will become a pure devotee.” But what did Krsna Himself demonstrate in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? He would spend day and night in the last twelve years of His life in Gambhira with Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramanada, hearing very sweet hari katha from them, chanting Hare Krsna and crying. Everyday He would go and hear Srimad Bhagavatam from Gadadhara Pandita. And in the evening He would relish the moods of Radharani, being inspired by the association of Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramanada. He followed this program not for just one or two days, but for twelve years.

So Krsna is showing by His own example what we will have to go through, what is our life and practice if we want to attain this gift that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give. That is called rupanuga bhajana, following in the moods of the servants of Srimati Radharani. The process is rupanuga bhakti and the goal is service of Radharani’s lotus feet. To achieve this goal, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed us how to chant harinama and how to relish the mellows of Vrndavana-lila. In the daytime, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would feel separation from Krsna, just as Radharani would feel separation from Him. But when it would begin to get dark in the evening, His separation would increase more and more.

radhikara bhava yaiche uddhava-darsane
sei bhave matta prabhu rahe ratri-dine
(CC Adi 4.108)

Kaviraja Gosvamipada explained: Just as Radharani was in a state of madness of love in separation when Uddhava came to Vrndavana, similarly Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s heart was an exact mirror of Radharani’s emotions at that time. We should recognize those whose mood of separation is the highest. Whoever has more love will nourish a higher separation mood. In Vrndavana everyone loves Krsna. They have loved Krsna for their whole lives, and they always remain absorbed in thoughts of Him. They are endowed with raga—their hearts are thirsty to serve Him more and more and ensure that He is happy. Krsna is their prana, their life and soul. So when Krsna left Vrndavana and went to Mathura, all the Brijabasis were devastated by separation from Him. What to speak of the human beings, even the cuckoos were not singing anymore, the peacocks were no longer dancing, even the bumblebees stopped going to the flowers—they were only rolling on the ground and crying. Mother Yasoda was crying so much—it was as if she had become blind. In the evening time sometimes she would take an aratika tray and, like a madwoman, go out into the road, waiting for Krsna to come back from cow-grazing as He did every day during His childhood. Mother Yasoda was waiting and waiting until it became dark and thinking, “Why has Krsna not come back?” Then she would go door to door, calling to the houses of Krsna’s friends, “O Mother of Subala. Hey Mother of Sridama. Where are you? Have your boys returned from cow-grazing yet? Did your boys come home?” And she would fall to the ground. If Mother Yasoda’s mood is like this, then what is the mood of the gopis? Their love is even higher.

During this time Krsna, in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was staying in the Gambhira in the evening time with Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramanada. He would be completely absorbed in the mood of Radharani at the time when Krsna had gone to Mathura. Now Krsna Himself is showing us by His own example how to do bhajana. He had no idea that He was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Only He was absorbed, “I am Radhika.” But none of us should think that we are Radhika. Only take the example of His eagerness and absorption in remembering Krsna’s pastimes, following in the footsteps of a Brijabasi. He was following in Radhika’s footsteps. We will have to follow in the footsteps of Rupa Manjari and Rati Manjari.

This is a very pathetic situation. Krsna is the Supreme Enjoyer—His body is very soft and He was used to having all kinds of facilities and enjoyment. But now what happened? He shaved His head, He was wearing simple cloth and sleeping on the floor with no blanket. Why was He unnecessarily subjecting Himself to all these difficulties? He was staying in Puri, and far away in Bengal His mother, His wife, all family members and all the people He loved and grew up with were very far away and crying. He was very far away in Puri and He was also crying. When the devotees would bring so many prasadam preparations from Jagannatha deva, He would say, “Just give Me the boiled vegetable.” Why? Why was He doing this to Himself? Because He was very very greedy and very very determined to realize Krsna-prema to the highest degree. In the Gambhira, Svarupa Damodara would recite many verses from Bilvamangala Thakura’s Krsna-Karnamrta and Jayadeva Gosvami’s Gita-Govinda. As Radharani’s moods would come in Mahaprabhu’s heart, sometimes He Himself would recite verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam and other sastra.

madhu-madhura-smita-lobhita tanu-bhrtam anupama-bhava-vilasam
nidhuvana nagari mohita-manasa-vikathita-gadgada-bhasam

One Vaisnava kavi, Radha-Mohana, is saying that Mahaprabhu’s face is so sweet. If you see His face, greed will awaken in your heart, especially if you see His face when He is absorbed in the mood of nidhuvana-nagari Radhika. At that time He is vikathita-gadgada-bhasam, calling the name of Krsna in a voice choked with emotion.

gao punah punah, gaurangera guna
sarala hoiya mana
e bhava-sagare, emona doyala
na dekhi ye eka-jana

(yadi) gauranga nahito, tabe ki hoito
kemone dharito de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janato ke

Narahari Thakura is writing: If Gauranga Mahaprabhu had not come into this world, then who would know about the love of Srimati Radhika, which is an endless ocean of rasa? No one would have understood anything. Gao punah punah, gaurangera guna—go on singing, go on singing! Go on broadcasting all of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s qualities. And make your mind very simple. Give up all selfishness. Don’t have any duplicity. Just go on hearing and chanting about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. E bhava-sagare, emona doyala na dekhi ye eka-jana—in this whole material existence, no one has seen anyone so merciful as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Why? Because simply hearing about Him awakens greed in the heart of all the jivas.

posted in Nityananda Prema Dharma - 0 replies

Nitai

jiva — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 01:17:06 GMT

su–bibhräëaà bhrätuù kara–sarasi–jaà komalataraà
nicely holding of His brother hand lotus very soft and beautiful,
mitho vakträlokocchalita–paramänanda–hådayam
each other’s face by gazing arisen highest bliss in whose heart,
bhramantaà mädhuryair ahaha! madayantaà pura–janän
wandering with sweetness

Oh! delighting of the towns the people
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana–taru–kandaà niravadhi
I worship Sri Nityänanda Prabhu of bhajana of the tree the root perpetually.
(8) · I eternally worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, ·
who held the supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Çré Gauräìga Mahäprabhu, ·
whose heart became filled with the highest bliss when the two brothers gazed into each
other’s faces, · and who wandered here and there delighting the townspeople with His
sweetness.
rasänäm ädhäraà rasika–vara–sad–vaiñëava–dhanaà
of the rasa reservoir, of rasika of the most exalted vaiñëavas greatest treasure,
rasägäraà säraà patita–tati–täraà smaraëataù
of the rasa the storehouse the essence, of many the liberation from remembering,
fallen souls
paraà nityänandäñöakam idam apürvaà paöhati yas
transcendental glorifying Çré Nityänanda añöaka this unprecendented recites who
tad–aìghri–dvandväbjaà sphuratu nitaräà tasya hådaye
His feet two lotus may be manifested constantly his in the heart.
May Çré Nityänanda Prabhu place His lotus feet in the heart of one who lovingly recites
this unprecedented and supremely potent Nityänandäñöakam, which is the reservoir of
rasa, the greatest treasure of the most exalted of rasika Vaiñëavas, and the storehouse of
the essence of bhakti-rasa. It bestows liberation to a fallen soul who simply remembers
Nityänanda’s sublime qualities.
Sri Caitanyäñöakam
Srila Rüpa Gosvämé
sadopäsyaù çrémän dhåta–manuja–käyaiù praëayitäà
always worshipable beautiful who accepted the bodies of men love
vahadbhir gérväëair giriça–parameñöhi–prabhåtibhiù
who were bearing by the demigods Lord Çiva and Lord Brahmä headed by
sva–bhaktebhyaù çuddhäà nija–bhajana–mudräm upadiçan
unto His own devotees pure of His own worship the mark instructing
sa caitanyaù kià me punar api dåçor yäsyati padam
that Sri Caitanya whether? my again of the eyes will go in the path

(1) SRi Caitanya Mahäprabhu is perpetually worshipable for demigods such as Çiva and
Brahmä who have assumed human form (as Advaita Äcärya and Haridäsa thäkura) and
who nurture great love for Him; He is supremely radiant; and He instructs His devotees
on the practice of pure bhajana. When will that Sri Caitanya-deva again become visible
to me?
20

posted in Nityananda Prema Dharma - 0 replies