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Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja<\/p>\nSri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja<\/p>\n
A lecture given by Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja in Florida in 2001.<\/p>\n
Come with me to Jagannatha Puri, near \u00a0to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes are\u00a0more deep\u00a0than the ocean,\u00a0more deep\u00a0than even thousands upon thousands of oceans. No ordinary person can understand the Lord\u2019s pastimes, and even most devotees cannot realize them.<\/p>\n
One day Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, \u201cO Haridasa Thakura, in this world there are many uncultured and materialistic Mohammedans, Muslims, who want to control the world and make all people Muslims by the help of a sword or any other way. They address those who are not Muslims as \u2018Kafir,\u2019 meaning \u2018against God\u2019 (ka \u2013 fir). They tell their followers, \u201cSomehow or other, by hook or by crook, make them Muslims.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is still their policy. They don’t honor other religions. They don’t chant the name Hari, Krsna, Govinda, or any other name of God, and they don’t believe in the form of God at all. They are like\u00a0mayavadis\u00a0(impersonalists).
\nMahaprabhu inquired, \u201cIs there any process by which they can be liberated?”<\/p>\n
Haridasa Thakura replied, \u201cOnce there was a Mohammedan, a Muslim, who while passing through a forest felt the urge to pass stool. As he sat somewhere in the forest for passing, a very powerful boar saw him from a distance and ran to attack him from the backside. As boars run one-pointed with their eyes closed, so that boar ran to kill the person from the backside by tearing him to pieces with his sharp teeth. As soon as the man saw that the boar was going to attack him, he called out, \u2018Ha\u00a0rama!\u00a0Ha\u00a0rama!\u2019\u00a0Harama\u00a0means \u2018condemned\u2019 or \u2018abominable\u2019 or \u2018impure.\u2019 He condemned that boar by calling out, \u2018Ha\u00a0rama, ha\u00a0rama!\u2019
\n\u201cHearing that man call out, \u2018Ha\u00a0rama!\u2019 Krsna in the form of His incarnation Lord Rama considered, \u2018He is calling Me. I must go and help him.\u2019 Lord Rama came there at\u00a0once,\u00a0since He is non-different from His holy name. He gave that man liberation, and attainment of Vaikuntha-dhama. [*See endnote 1] This was all because the man had unknowingly chanted, \u2018O Lord Ramacandra\u2019 [ha means \u2018O\u2019, and Rama may refer to Lord Ramacandra].\u201d<\/p>\n
The holy name is very powerful. If a person does not know the glories of the holy name and yet chants with respect, or even without respect, he will certainly achieve the fruits of chanting the holy names. He will not attain prema, but he will be liberated from this world \u2013 up to this. Or, he may gain much wealth. Moreover, if someone takes proper diksa and chants with honor, with a sense of a relation to Krsna, what will become of him? If he is under the guidance of any exalted rasika tattva-jnana Vaisnava, he will gradually attain sraddha (firm faith in sadhu, guru, and Krsna), nistha (steadiness in devotional service), ruci (taste for service and bhajana), and asakti (spontaneous attachment to Krsna). After that he will become liberated [*See endnote 2], and after that he will attain the stages of prema, sneha, mana, pranaya, raga, anuraga, bhava, and mahabhava.<\/p>\n
We should try to continuously chant Krsna’s name in this process, like Haridasa Thakura. If a person cannot do this, still, he will achieve liberation. He will not die. [*See endnote 3] Krsna’s name will save him. But try to chant the name in the approved process. First associate with a highly qualified Vaisnava who will give you\u00a0diksa, at which time you will receive\u00a0divya-jnana,\u00a0or all transcendental knowledge. You will then become detached from worldly desires, and very soon you will develop a thick relationship with Krsna that will manifest according to your constitutional form. You will gradually develop\u00a0sraddha,\u00a0nistha,ruci, and\u00a0asakti, and after that\u00a0rati. This\u00a0rati\u00a0is\u00a0suddha-sattva as I explained yesterday. [*See endnote 4]<\/p>\n
This is all being explained by Srila Haridasa Thakura [in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, chapter 3].
\nOnce, by the wish of Sri Krsna, Srila Haridasa Thakura came to see Srila Raghunatha\u00a0dasa\u00a0Gosvami, who was at that time at the premises of his father. Many learned persons and brahmanas had assembled there, and they were discussing the glories of the holy name. Some were telling that the holy name can give liberation, and others told that it can never give liberation; both parties were quarrelling.<\/p>\n
Upon the arrival of Haridasa Thakura, everyone honored him, and they asked him the same question with which they were struggling: \u201cCan one achieve liberation by the holy name, or not?\u201d Haridasa Thakura very humbly replied, \u201cThere is no need of the pure name for achieving liberation, for even by the semblance of the holy name anyone can very easily be liberated.\u201d [*See endnote 5]<\/p>\n
[Haridasa Thakura said, \u201cAs the sun begins to rise, even before it is visible it dissipates the darkness of night. With the first glimpse of sunlight, fear of thieves, ghosts, and demons immediately disappears, and when the sun is actually visible, everything is manifest and everyone begins performing his religious activities and regulative duties. Similarly, the first hint that offenseless chanting of the Lord\u2019s holy name has awakened dissipates the reactions of sinful life immediately. And when one chants the holy name offenselessly, one awakens to service in ecstatic love at the lotus feet of Krsna. Liberation is the insignificant result derived from a glimpse of the awakening of offenseless chanting of the holy name. While dying, Ajamila chanted the holy name of the Lord, intending to call his son Narayana. Nevertheless, he attained the spiritual world. [*See endnote 6] What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with faith and reverence?\u201d (Antya 3.183-187)]<\/p>\n
Hearing the words of Haridasa Thakura, a brahmana named Gopal Cakravarti became very angry and began to challenge him. All others warned Gopal not to challenge Haridasa Thakura, because of the Thakura’s elevated position in bhakti, but still he challenged, \u201cEven the name itself cannot give liberation, and you are telling us that namabhasa (the semblance of harinama) can give liberation?! If I am speaking the truth, then your nose will fall off due to leprosy, and if I am wrong and you are right, then my nose will fall off!”<\/p>\n
Everyone present became angry at that person, and the father of Raghunatha\u00a0dasa\u00a0Gosvami told him, \u201cGet out from our assembly. I have no sympathy for you.\u201d He had been paying that person many thousands of rupees monthly for being his tax-collector, but now he said, \u201cI have stopped all connection with you. Get out of my kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a couple of days, that brahmana’s entire body was attacked by leprosy and his nose melted away. After many days, being extremely upset, he left for Aparadha-bhanjana-pata (the place where\u00a0offences\u00a0are destroyed) in Navadvipa. There he prayed to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, \u201cI have done wrong. I have committed offenses to the feet of a high-class Vaisnava. Please excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caitanya Mahaprabhu forgave this\u00a0nama-aparadhi\u00a0brahmana and instructed him to continuously chant the holy name. Gopala Cakravarti did so, and his leprosy soon disappeared, leaving him beautiful as before.<\/p>\n
And now, he was a devotee.<\/p>\n
So, Haridasa Thakura was a very exalted devotee.<\/p>\n
If you chant the holy name, a special kind of power comes to you; whatever you speak will become true. Your words will bear fruit. I have personally tested and examined this. Once I was chanting the holy name, thinking, \u201cIf I am chanting this name purely, then this must be done,\u201d and at once it was done. I have examined this so many times. If you are chanting the holy name purely and you tell someone, \u201cOh, you should die,\u201d then that person will die.<\/p>\n
Narada Rsi cursed the sons of Nalakuvera and Manigriva, \u201cAt once become trees,\u201d and by the power of his chanting of the holy name, they immediately began turning into trees.\u00a0 Once, Narada told someone, “Oh!\u00a0You are\u00a0now dead? Oh, Come on, Come on, Come on.\u201d That person immediately came alive and began to speak. This is the power of the holy name.<\/p>\n
Once, the ocean swallowed up a mother bird\u2019s eggs, which she had laid by the ocean\u2019s shore. Garuda came and told the ocean, \u201cYou should return the eggs to this bird.\u201d When he did not hear a reply, he breathed in, and by the power of the holy name he drank all of the ocean’s water and the ocean became dry.<\/p>\n
You can also examine whether or not this is true. Chant for some years like Srila Haridasa Thakura, or like any pure devotee, and you will see so much power come to you. Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja was so powerful that in a couple of years he successfully preached everywhere. Why? He was always chanting the holy name. By the power of the holy name and his own bhakti, so many souls came under his shelter. And what I am doing? I am only chanting. I am also successful in my preaching by the power of the name.<\/p>\n
So, don’t disbelieve in the holy name. You can very easily receive anything by this name \u2013 money, liberation, and all other things, and Haridasa Thakura is an example of this. He never wished ill to the person who challenged him, but that person became attacked by leprosy.<\/p>\n
We have seen so many scriptural references about Haridasa Thakura. Last night we explained about a prostitute who was about 16 to 20 years old. Although she tried to seduce Haridasa Thakura, by his grace she became a very prominent devotee. We should try to chant the holy name like him.<\/p>\n
Once, the very beautiful Maya-devi\u00a0herself came to Haridasa Thakura on a full-moon night. He was staying in a solitary place on the side of the Ganges, where she went to him and prayed: \u201cI see that you are the most beautiful man in the entire world, and you can see that I am also beautiful. Look at me for just a moment.\u201d But Haridasa Thakura was absorbed in chanting: \u201cHare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.\u201d She spent the entire night with him, speaking so many words to allure him. In fact, she came there three nights in a row, but each night Haridasa Thakura told her, \u201cPlease wait. I have taken a vow to chant 300,000 names a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, at the end of the night of the third day she said to him with folded palms, \u201cI am personally Maya-devi, the illusory energy of the Lord. I have cheated Sankara, Brahma the creator, Narada, Gautama, and so many others. I can cheat all others, but I am defeated by you. I am the same Maya, and now I am begging your mercy. Be pleased with me. I have received Rama-nama\u00a0[from Lord Siva], but now I want to be initiated into the Krsna mantra. Please initiate me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cMukti-hetuka\u00a0taraka\u00a0haya\u00a0rama-nama,\u00a0krsna-nama\u00a0paraka\u00a0haya\u00a0kare\u00a0prema-dana \u2013 The holy name of Lord Rama certainly gives liberation (taraka), [*See endnote 7] but the holy name of Krsna transports one to the other side of the ocean of nescience (paraka) and at last gives one ecstatic love of Krsna (Vraja-prema).\u201d Being very merciful, Haridasa Thakura initiated her into Krsna-nama.<\/p>\n
Although both Ramacandra and Krsna are the same by tattva (philosophical truth), there is some\u00a0speciality\u00a0in Rama. What speciality? First, those who take shelter of Rama cannot achieve the position of Sita. And second, Rama sometimes gives up Sita for no reason.<\/p>\n
Believing the words of a very bogus washer-man, Rama gave up Sita for His entire life. [*See endnote 8] What was the fault, or offence, of Sita-devi\u00a0that Ramacandra gave Her up? She had no fault. But Rama believed in the words of a washer-man, who had indirectly convinced Him to leave her. So, if you are chaste in your service to Rama, He may reject you also. We fear this may happen.<\/p>\n
With Krsna, on the other hand, even the hunchback prostitute Kubja can come to Him and say, \u201cOh, I have taken your shelter; please accept me,\u201d and He will accept her.<\/p>\n
Do you know Narakasura? He conquered all the kings of India and then collected all the beautiful princesses for his personal enjoyment. Krsna knew about this from Narada Rsi. He went and killed that demon, and He told the sixteen-thousand princesses, \u201cNow you are independent. You can easily go to your fathers, mothers, and others. I will arrange for your return home.\u201d But what did they say? \u201cWe don’t want to return. No one will accept us\u00a0now,because we have been in the house of Narakasura. So, we have taken Your shelter. Please give us the chance to serve Your queens. We will sweep and cook for them, and we will massage them. Somehow, please give us shelter.\u201d Krsna then took them all on His bird-carrier, Garuda, who expanded to a very large size and carried them all to Dvaraka. Krsna also expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms, married them all, and lived with them in separate palaces as His queens.<\/p>\n
Rama cannot do this. Can He marry with anyone except Sita? And He can also reject Sita. In fact, in the end, He also left His brother, Laksmana, forever. These scenes are all full of extreme pathos.<\/p>\n
So, we will go to Krsna.<\/p>\n
ye yatha mam prapadyante
\ntams tathaiva bhajamy aham
\nmama vartmanuvartante
\nmanusyah partha sarvasah<\/p>\n
[\u201cAll of them, as they surrender unto Me, I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha.\u201d (Bhagavad-gita 4.11)]<\/p>\n
Krsna has promised to reciprocate with our surrender to Him, so we can believe in Him. Sometimes Krsna becomes cruel in His form of Ramacandra in Rama-lila, but Krsna Himself is very humble and sweet to all. In her prayer to Haridasa Thakura, Maya-devi\u00a0herself glorified Krsna as being more merciful than Rama.
\nIn her ecstatic love in separation for Krsna, glorifying Him indirectly in the form of rebuke, Srimati Radhika uttered these words:<\/p>\n
mrgayur iva kapindram vivyadhe lubdha-dharma
\nstriyam akrta-virupam stri-jitah kama-yanam
\nbalim api balim attvavestayad dhvanksavad yas tad
\nalam asita-sakhyair dustyajas tat-katharthah<\/p>\n
[\u201cLike a hunter, He cruelly shot the king of the monkeys with arrows. Because He was conquered by a woman, He disfigured another woman who came to Him with lusty desires. And even after consuming the gifts of Bali Maharaja, He bound him up with ropes as if he were a crow. So let us give up all friendship with this dark-complexioned boy, even if we can\u2019t give up talking about Him.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.47.17)]<\/p>\n
The gopis told Uddhava, \u201cGo and tell Krsna, \u2018We have nothing more to do with Him. We don\u2019t want to have any further relation with Him. If He can give us up, we can also give Him up. But what can we do? Our hearts can never give Him up. This is the problem. How cruel He is. All black people are cruel, not only this fellow. All black fellows are cruel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was another black person in Treta-yuga (Lord Ramacandra). A very beautiful lady came to Him and said, \u2018I love you. I want to marry you.\u2019 That black person replied, \u2018Oh, I will have only one wife. I cannot marry a second. It will be better for you to go to My younger brother, Laksmana. He has no wife.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, although Laksmana\u2019s wife was not with Him in the forest, He was married; so Rama had said this only as a trick. That lady then went to Laksmana, who told her, \u2018Do you want to be a queen, or do you want to be a maidservant? If you marry Me, you will have to be a servant of Rama\u2019s wife, because She is My queen. I am a servant, so you will be a servant. If you want to be a queen, then marry Rama. Rama can have so many wives.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cShe again came to Rama, but again Rama said, \u2018Oh, I cannot do this; better that you go to my younger brother.\u2019 Rejected by Rama, she again went to Laksmana, and was again sent to Rama; and thus she became upset. She wanted to kill Sita, and Rama cut off her ears and nose to stop her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did He do so? He was lusty. Just to please his wife, He wanted to cut off that other lady\u2019s nose. He could have humbly told her, \u2018I cannot do this.\u2019 But He was joking with her and making fun of her. That is why she became furious. He could have humbly told her, \u2018Oh, I cannot do this. You should go to your husband, or anyone else.\u2019 But why did he do what He did? Because He was cruel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0third\u00a0is Vamanadeva. What did He do? He took all the possessions of Bali Maharaja and bound him in a snake-rope. Bali Maharaja was weeping. Somehow Prahlada Maharaja and Brahma arrived, and Brahma challenged, \u201cWhat are You doing?\u201d And then He left.<\/p>\n
There are so many deep meanings in these pastimes, but we have no time now to describe all those deep truths. Let us return to our subject.<\/p>\n
Regarding Rama-nama: ‘Rama’ refers to Ramacandra, and ‘Rama’ also refers to Krsna Himself. In the maha-mantra, which embodies \u2018Hare Krsna\u2019 and \u2018Hare Rama,\u2019 Hare indicates Radhika and Rama\u00a0indicates\u00a0Radha-Ramana Krsna. Krsna is also called Rama, so Hare Rama indicates Radha-Krsna.<\/p>\n
It is stated in scriptures like Visnu Purana that three Rama names equal one name of Krsna. Rama\u2019s name is equal to Krsna\u2019s name when Rama refers not to Ramacandra but to Radha-Ramana Krsna \u2013 and in that connection it is sometimes superior to Krsna. There are so many things to understand here.<\/p>\n
Haridasa Thakura has four qualities:<\/p>\n
trnad\u00a0api\u00a0su-nicena
\ntaror\u00a0via\u00a0sahisnuna
\namanina\u00a0mana-dena
\nkirtaniyah\u00a0sada\u00a0harih<\/p>\n
[One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the\u00a0holy name of the Lord. (Siksastakam, verse 3)]<\/p>\n
How is Haridasa Thakura\u00a0su-nicena? He used to think, \u201cI am Muslim. I am not qualified to go to Jagannatha\u2019s temple.\u201d He never used to walk on the many streets of Jagannatha Puri, because he was\u00a0trnad\u00a0api\u00a0su-nicena.<\/p>\n
When he was staying with Advaita Acarya in Santipura, Advaita Acarya insisted on honoring him. All Advaita Acarya\u2019s relatives were assembled at His home, along with many brahmanas, as it was the day of their forefathers\u2019 sraddha ceremony. During this ceremony, the plate of prasadam offered to the forefathers is then offered to the best of the brahmanas in the assembly. Instead of offering the first plate to any other brahmana present, Advaita Acarya offered it to Haridasa Thakura, considering him greater than any of the foremost brahmanas. Haridasa began to weep, saying, \u201cI am not qualified. I am a Muslim.\u201d But what did Advaita Acarya reply? \u201cIf I give you this offering, this will be the best thing in the universe. All of my forefathers will be liberated if you take this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seeing this, all the brahmanas present became angry at Advaita Acarya and said, \u201cBy bringing a Muslim in here, you have contaminated this place and insulted us! We will not eat here! We don\u2019t like your behavior. Your actions are opposed to the principles of caste consideration.\u201d And, taking their water pots, they all stood up to leave. Advaita Acarya replied, \u201cI don’t care if you go. You can go. I want only bhakti. You are foolish persons.\u201d [*See endnote 9]<\/p>\n
Soon afterward, those brahmanas returned and fell flat on the lotus feet of Advaita Acarya, and also to the lotus feet of Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura is\u00a0surely\u00a0\u2018out of caste,\u2019 as they challenged, in the sense that he is superior to a\u00a0paramahamsa. He is a combination of Prahlada Maharaja and Brahma.<\/p>\n
So, we should try to follow Haridasa Thakura, always chanting the holy name and being,\u00a0trnad\u00a0api\u00a0su-nicena\u00a0taror\u00a0ivasahisnuna. [To Prema-prayojana\u00a0dasa] Can you prove that he is\u00a0su-nicena?<\/p>\n
Prema-prayojana\u00a0dasa:\u00a0Srila Haridasa Thakura was very popular. The Muslim king was thinking, \u201cThis Haridasa Thakura is giving a bad reputation to Islam. He is born in a Muslim family, so why is he chanting the name of a Hindu God?\u201d He called him to his council and said, \u201cYou should not chant the name of Krsna anymore. You should be a very good Muslim and chant the name of Allah. If you don’t do this, there will be a severe punishment for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haridasa Thakura replied: \u201cMy dear sir, you can cut my body into thousands of pieces, and I may give up my life, but my tongue cannot give up the chanting of this name: Hare Krsna Hare\u00a0Krsna Krsna\u00a0Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.\u201d\u00a0 The King then ordered that Haridasa Thakura be beaten in twenty-two marketplaces.<\/p>\n
Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja:\u00a0You should hear this. [Speaking to someone in the audience] Oh, my dear friend, what are you counting? You should hear this. You should give your ears to this hari-katha. What are you counting? Hear this attentively, and don’t allow your mind to wander.<\/p>\n
Prema Prayojana dasa:\u00a0The soldiers took Haridasa Thakura to the marketplace, where they had very strong and powerful whips and were beating him. Usually in one marketplace one will\u00a0die,\u00a0because the beating is so severe. First the skin breaks, and then it is cut, and then the skin begins to come off. They were beating him in every market place until there was no skin, no flesh, and even his bones were broken. Like a miracle, he was still chanting the holy name. They couldn’t believe it.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, while they were beating him, Haridasa Thakura would look towards them and smile very compassionately. He could see they were sweating from the hard labor of thrashing him. He would say, \u201cI hope your arms are not feeling pain from all of this beating.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was very humble. After some time, they became afraid, thinking, \u201cIf he doesn’t die, the king will kill us.\u201d They revealed to him, \u201cThe king will kill us if you don’t die.\u201d Haridasa Thakura thought, \u201cI don’t want to give any trouble or inconvenience to others.\u201d At once he went into samadhi and it seemed he passed away. They took his body and threw it into the Ganges. The next moment he came out of the Ganges and his body was strong and healthy again. This is the power of\u00a0harinama. Haridasa Thakura is Lord Brahma and Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada was beaten and tortured by his father, but he never complained or was disturbed.<\/p>\n
Lord Brahma has said:<\/p>\n
tat te \u2019nukampam su-samiksamano
\nbhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam
\nhrd-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
\njiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak
\n(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8)<\/p>\n
[\u201cMy dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.]<\/p>\n
It is only a matter of time until a person attains the shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. What kind of person? That person who in the midst all kinds of difficulties, problems, and adverse conditions says to himself, \u201cIt is not your fault; you are not beating me. My own karma is beating me. I have done this to myself. It is my fault.\u201d One who patiently tolerates and considers himself to be the cause of all his problems, and at the same time takes shelter with body, mind, and words in Krsna, that person will easily come to Krsna’s eternal service and be happy forever.<\/p>\n
Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Mahaprabhu performed His pastimes with devotees like Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya, Sikhi Mahiti, Madhavi-devi, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Vakresvara Pandita, Sri Gopinatha Acarya, Kasisvara, Vaninatha Raya, Govinda, Gopala Guru; and all the Gaudiya bhaktas like Sivananda Sena, Raghava Pandita, and Kavi Karnapura as a baby and small boy. And especially, He performed pastimes with Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, and Haridasa Thakura.<\/p>\n
Maya-devi personally told Haridasa:<\/p>\n
caitanyavatare vahe premamrta-vanya
\nsaba jiva preme bhase, prthivi haila dhanya<\/p>\n
[\u201cThere is now a flood of the eternal nectar of love of Godhead due to the incarnation of Lord Caitanya. All living entities are floating in that flood. The entire world is now thankful to the Lord.\u201d (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 3.254)]<\/p>\n
The flood of full prema, vraja-prema, was present everywhere during Mahaprabhu\u2019s pastimes. Everywhere there were waves of that flood.<\/p>\n
e-vanyaya ye na bhase, sei jiva chara
\nkoti-kalpe kabhu tara nahika nistara<\/p>\n
[\u201cAnyone who does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of kalpas.\u201d (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 3.255)]<\/p>\n
Those waves are still going on today, and those who are fortunate can take\u00a0bath\u00a0in the flood. Those who are not taking this bath are very unfortunate. Chara means \u2018wretched\u2019 and \u2018fallen.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 Koti-kalpe kabhu tara nahika nistara \u2013\u00a0 if you are not taking\u00a0bath\u00a0in that flood of love and affection of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then millions of your births will go in vain; you\u2019ll gain nothing.\u00a0 In this human form, at this present time, you are very near to that flood, as only four or five hundred years have passed since Mahaprabhu\u2019s time. Still, so many waves are coming.\u00a0Try to take\u00a0bath\u00a0in this, and thus become fortunate enough to very easily attain krsna-prema. We are helping you.<\/p>\n
Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja came to help you.\u00a0 He preached, \u201cGive up all these bogus things that you are thinking can give you happiness. Such things can never give you happiness.\u00a0 Wealth cannot give you any happiness, and your relatives cannot give you anything. Your home is opulent with so many facilities. You can turn on a switch and your restroom will come, by another switch your kitchen room will come, or your dish will come, or your office will come.\u00a0 But give up all these facilities. They cannot help you at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Please chant the holy name like Haridasa Thakura:<\/p>\n
trnad\u00a0api\u00a0su-nicena
\ntaror\u00a0iva\u00a0sahi?nuna
\namanina\u00a0mana-dena
\nkirtaniyah\u00a0sada\u00a0harih<\/p>\n
Never wish for reputation. Don’t try to hear your own glories. Rather, give proper honor to all Vaisnavas. This is the teaching of Haridasa Thakura. Let us try to obey him from today; not today, just now. Chant always, without any interruption, \u201cHare Krsna, Hare Krsna,Krsna, Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.\u201d<\/p>\n
One thing more: In the last days of Haridasa Thakura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu\u00a0 used to go to him daily to give His darsana, along with all His associates, just after the morning arati of Jagannathadeva, He also used to send so much maha-prasadam\u00a0for Haridasa Thakura through the hands of Govinda, His own servant. What was Govinda? Mahaprabhu\u2019s servant, or disciple, or what? [*See endnote 10]<\/p>\n
One day, when Govinda brought some\u00a0prasada, Haridasa Thakura told him, \u201cToday I shall fast, because I have not completed my regular number of rounds.\u201d So how can I eat? But you have brought maha-prasada, so how can I neglect it?\u201d Haridasa then offered pranama to the\u00a0prasadam\u00a0and took a small morsel. Worried, Govinda returned to Caitanya Mahaprabhu and said, \u201cI went with prasadam\u00a0to serve him, but he said, \u2018I am feeling some sickness.\u2019\u00a0 I think that he is not in good health.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next day Mahaprabhu went to see Haridasa, with all His associates \u2013 Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya, and others \u2013 and said, \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d Haridasa Thakura answered, \u201cOh, I am feeling sick.\u201d Mahaprabhu asked, \u201cWhat is your sickness?\u201d Haridasa Thakura replied, \u201cMy body is okay, but my sickness is that I have not completed my chanting of three lakhs holy names (300,000 names or 192 rounds).\u00a0 I cannot chant.\u00a0 My fingers do not move.\u00a0 Oh!\u00a0 This is my sickness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can you try to be like this? We should try to be like this. This is our only disease \u2013 that we have no taste in chanting the holy name, and that we are not chanting.<\/p>\n
Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Haridasa, \u201cNow you are perfect.\u00a0 There is no need to chant so much.\u00a0 As much as you can chant, that will be sufficient.\u201d But Haridasa said, \u201cI don’t want to live in this world for long.\u00a0 I know that very soon You will disappear from here, and I don’t want to see that very pathetic scene. I want to leave my body with my head in Your lap. In that way, I will see Your golden face and chant Your holy name: Saci-nandana\u00a0Gaura Hari! Gaura Hari! I want to give up this body in this way.\u201d Mahaprabhu told him, \u201cI perform My pastimes with you. If I don’t have My associates like you, then there are no pastimes.\u00a0 Let Me not be alone in this world. I don’t want you to go.\u201d But Haridasa Thakura again and again requested, \u201cI don’t want to see this pathetic scene. Please be merciful to me.”<\/p>\n
On the next morning, Caitanya Mahaprabhu assembled all the devotees with Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya, and He returned to perform parikrama of Haridasa Thakura with kirtana and so many mrdangas and karatalas:<\/p>\n
(hari) haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah
\nyadavaya madhavaya kesavaya namah
\ngopala govinda rama sri madhusudana
\ngiridhari gopinatha madana-mohana
\n[Nama-Sankirtana Srila Narottama dasa Thakura (1-2)]<\/p>\n
Hare Krsna Hare\u00a0Krsna Krsna\u00a0Krsna Hare Hare,
\nHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.<\/p>\n
Requesting His devotees to continue kirtana, He sat down near Haridasa Thakura. He took the head of Haridasa upon His lap. Haridasa was only seeing towards His lotus face and calling out, \u201cSaci-nandana Gaurahari! Gaurahari! Gaurahari,\u201d and he left his body at once.<\/p>\n
Mahaprabhu began to weep, and all the devotees began to weep in an intense separation mood. Then, Caitanya Mahaprabhu took Haridasa\u2019s body in His arms and placed him from His arms onto a chariot. What kind of chariot? As we see in Indian Vedic custom. The devotees made a chariot like this, and with nagara-sankirtana\u00a0they proceeded toward the shore of the ocean. During the devotees\u2019\u00a0kirtana\u00a0and parikrama, Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed Haridasa\u2019s divine body in the sea with His own\u00a0hands,\u00a0and declared that spot to have become a great pilgrimage site. He and His devotees anointed Haridasa\u2019s body with Lord Jagannatha\u2019s sandalwood. He placed Haridasa in Samadhi and personally covered his body with sand, after which all the devotees did so. A temporary samadhi mandir was established, and later on a permanent\u00a0mandira\u00a0was built.<\/p>\n
Caitanya Mahaprabhu announced, \u201cThose who were singing here, those who have done parikrama of Haridasa Thakura, those who gave even one palmful of sand, and those who are in this viraha\u00a0maha-mahotsava\u00a0festival will very soon achieve Krsna\u2019s favor. He also announced that He wanted to collect\u00a0prasadam\u00a0from all the shopkeepers. All the shopkeepers began to give all their stocks, but Svarupa Damodara told them, \u201cWe don’t want everything from you. Please give only a small amount.\u201d In this way, each shopkeeper gave\u00a0a small amount of\u00a0his various preparations. Someone gave dahl, someone vegetables, rice, and so on, and the combined quantity became sufficient. Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat all the devotees down and personally began to distribute the\u00a0prasadam\u00a0along with a few others, but Svarupa Damodara and everyone else requested Him, \u201cIf You are not sitting and taking, then no one else will take.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then, Mahaprabhu sat down and uttered the prayer to maha-prasada:<\/p>\n
maha-prasade govinde nama-brahmani vaisnave
\nsvalpa-punyavatam rajan visvaso naiva jayate
\n(Prasada-Seva \u2013from the Skanda Purana)<\/p>\n
Maha-prasadam ki jaya!
\nHarinama\u00a0sankirtana\u00a0ki\u00a0jaya!
\nSrila Haridasa Thakura ki\u00a0jaya!
\nSamagata\u00a0bhakta-vrnda\u00a0ki\u00a0jaya!
\nGaura premanande! Hari hari bol!<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 1: Liberation in this connection means that in the man\u2019s next life he entered into the proper process to begin his bhakti, and ultimately he attained Vaikuntha-dhama. (Sripada Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 2: Liberation in this connection meaning that he will attain bhava-bhakti and have his first realization of his relationship with Krsna and services to Him. He sees within himself his own spiritual form and the forms of Krsna and His associates. (Sripada Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 3: In this connection, \u2018He will not die\u2019 means that he will not be thrown by the constables of Yamaraja, the god of death, into hellish planets and lower species of life as a result of his past sins. He will get an opportunity for devotional service in his next life. \u201cMaterial activities and their results end with the body. But work in Krsna consciousness carries a person again to Krsna consciousness, even after the loss of the body\u201d (Bhagavad-gita 2.40 purport by Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja).]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 4: When our object is to attain rati (transcendental mood), and for this, with these material senses, tongue and mind, we will perform sadhana, then it will be sadhana, otherwise not. First there should be an object that, \u201cI want to attain rati.\u201d But, what is rati? What is that desired mood, which should be the object of our devotional activities. Then:<\/p>\n
suddha-sattva-visesatma
\nprema-suryamsu-samya-bhak
\nrucibhis citta-masrnya-
\nkrd asau bhava ucyate<\/p>\n
[\u201cWhen devotional service is executed on the transcendental platform of pure goodness, it is like a sun-ray of love for Krsna. At such a time, devotional service causes the heart to be softened by various tastes, and one is then situated in bhava [emotion].\u201d (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila, 23.5)]<\/p>\n
What is\u00a0bhava? You should know. If you don’t know what isbhava, or\u00a0rati, then how can it be your object of attainment? If you don’t know this, how can you perform sadhana (devotional practices performed with the purpose of attaining\u00a0bhava)? You may be performing sadhana-abhasa\u00a0(a shadow of sadhana) or lower than that; not actually bhakti. We are all in this category.
\nWe must know the meaning of sattva and\u00a0suddha-sattva. Sattva means existence, and it is of two kinds;\u00a0suddha-sattva andmisra-sattva. All souls who are now captured in material things aremisra-sattva, and those who give up these material conceptions and adopt the transcendental conception of thinking themselves as infinitesimal parts of the Supreme Lord are called\u00a0suddha-sattva.<\/p>\n
Then,\u00a0suddha-sattva\u00a0visesatma: Baladeva Prabhu is the origin of all\u00a0suddha-sattva\u00a0jivas, as well as everything existing in this world. Baladeva Prabhu is the personification or predominating Deity of Krsna\u2019s\u00a0sandhini-sakti, His existence potency; everything coming from\u00a0sandhini-sakti\u00a0is\u00a0suddha-sattva.<\/p>\n
Visesatma denotes Hladini-sakti (Radhika being the predominating Deity) and samvit-sakti (Krsna being the predominating Deity) of the svarupa-sakti of Krsna (Radhika being the predominating Deity of svarupa-sakti). Samvit means knowledge, and from knowledge this mood will come: all kinds of bhavas to serve Krsna that are in Radhika may come partly. Such moods are full of love and affection, with ananda (unlimited bliss). This is visesa \u2013 the essence of hladini-sakti and samvit-sakti, coming on the platform of sandini. Devotees receiving such mercy will have suddha-sattva visesatma descend in their hearts.]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 5: The meaning of this statement is explained in Bhagavad-gita 2.40: \u201cIn this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.\u201d It is further explained in the purport by Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja: \u201cActivity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any stage. Any work begun on the material plane has to be completed, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a failure. But any work begun in Krsna consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Krsna consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Krsna consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit. Ajamila performed his duty in some percentage of Krsna consciousness, but the result he enjoyed at the end was a hundred percent, by the grace of the Lord\u201d]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 6: When Ajamila chanted the four syllables of the name Narayana, the four Visnudutas appeared to save him from the ropes of the Yamadutas, the constables of the god of death. By seeing them and hearing their words, Ajamila was inspired to leave home and perform severe austerities and engage in devotional service to the Lord. When his service became perfect he again saw those Visnudutas, and this time they took him on a celestial airplane to Vaikuntha – ed.]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 7\u00a0 (Lord Rama easily offers the two types of Vaikuntha liberation as described here in Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja\u2019s lecture of July, 2002, in France) The bhakti-creeper then goes to paravyoma (the spiritual sky), which is beyond even Siva-loka. Paravyoma, where there is no mixing in brahma, is divided into two sections. The lower of the two is like Vaikuntha, but is not actually Vaikuntha, and the jiva can also go there.\u00a0 It is the Vaikuntha planet within the material world, and it is called Rama-priya Vaikuntha. In that realm there is seva-sukha-uttara. There, the devotee wants to serve Lord Narayana, but he also wants the happiness accrued from the attainment of the four spiritual opulences. That desire for happiness is not like ours, for the devotees there do not have material bodies; still, that desire is not pure. In the higher section there is prema-seva-uttara; the devotee only wants to serve Narayana with love.<\/p>\n
There is great aisvarya (opulence) in the Vaikuntha planets: one can have the same bodily features as Narayana (sarupya), he can live on the same planet with Him (salokya), he can have equal opulence (sarsti), and he can have association with the Lord. But a Vaisnava never wants these four types of liberation; he solely wants to serve.]
\nNarayana-loka, Nrsimha-loka, Rama-loka (Ayodhya), and many other such lokas are within the Paravyoma, and the bhakti-creeper passes beyond all of them. It crosses beyond Narayana-bhakti, Nrsimha-bhakti, and Ramacandra-bhakti.\u00a0 The devotee will say, “I don’t want that,” and that creeper then goes to Goloka.<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 8 \u2013 Rama and Sita devi stayed together for many years, and everyone was very happy within their kingdom. Some people, however, criticized Rama for accepting Sita back after she had been staying in the palace of Ravana.<\/p>\n
According to Vedic principles, it is unacceptable to accept one’s wife after her being away for one night, what to speak of one year. One evening, the wife of a washer-man came home late.\u00a0 Her husband immediately told her that she could not enter the house.\u00a0 He threw her out saying, \u201cI am not like Rama, who accepted His wife after she’d been with another man.\u201d<\/p>\n
This news spread and the story got back to Rama.\u00a0 He was most disturbed, and realized that He had to do something to rectify the situation.\u00a0 How could He rule a kingdom where some of the people did not have faith in Him? He called a meeting, asking all of His brothers to come, but none of them could give Him any advice. He Himself then realized what to do. He remembered that Sita wanted to visit all the sages in the forest and shower them with gifts. He asked Laksmana to take Her to the\u00a0asramas\u00a0of all the sages, deliver His sorrowful message to Her, and then leave Her in the forest. Laksmana was devastated that He was called upon to do this, but He could not say anything as he was Rama’s younger brother. He therefore had to accept that responsibility.\u00a0 (Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja\u2019s lecture of April 13, 2000)]<\/p>\n
[*Endnote 9 – Haridasa Thakura was born in a Muslim family. At the sraddha ceremony for Advaita Acarya\u2019s father, the highest seat and prasada were to be offered first to the most elevated person. Advaita Acarya was performing the ceremony when the moon was in the appropriate place in the month of Ashwina. All the high-class brahmanas were there \u2013 Bhattacarya, Trivedi, Caturvedi, Upadhyaya \u2013 and all of them were great scholars. After washing their feet, Advaita Acarya showed them to their respective seats. In front was an elevated seat, and Advaita Prabhu was standing and thinking, \u201cWho will I seat here?\u201d<\/p>\n
All of the scholars were thinking, \u201cI know so many scriptures; certainly I will be offered that seat.\u201d Silently they were all aspiring for it. Advaita Acarya then went outside the house and saw Haridasa Thakura, wearing a\u00a0langoti\u00a0and sitting at the door. Haridasa was thinking, \u201cThe brahmanas will take their meal here, so Advaita Acarya will certainly give us a little of their\u00a0prasada.\u201d He had so much humility that he was thinking that if he were to go inside, the house would be contaminated.<\/p>\n
At once Advaita Acarya embraced him, and Haridasa Thakura said, \u201cOh, you are a brahmana and I am a Muslim! Having touched me, you must now go and bathe.\u201d But grabbing him and taking him inside, Advaita Acarya sat him on the elevated seat, at which time there was a great outcry in all directions. The brahmanas said, \u201cBy bringing a Muslim in here, you have contaminated this place and insulted us! We will not eat here!\u201d Taking their water pots, they all stood up and left. They were abusing Advaita Acarya, saying, \u201cYou are opposed to the principles of dharma!\u201d<\/p>\n
But Advaita Acarya said, \u201cToday my birth has become successful, and today my father has attained Vaikuntha. By giving respect to one Vaisnava, today, millions of my ancestors have crossed over\u00a0maya. If Haridasa Thakura will eat here, that is greater than feeding millions of brahmanas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haridasa Thakura was crying, thinking, \u201cBecause of me, all these brahmanas have been insulted and are not eating.\u201d But Advaita Acarya said, \u201cHaridasa, today you will certainly take prasada here. That will be our great good fortune.\u201d Then he said to the brahmanas, \u201cHe will stay, and none of you will get prasada. Actually, you should all leave here quickly, because just seeing your faces is a great sin. Haridasa has great regard for maha-prasada,\u00a0and therefore\u00a0he is included within the Vaisnava class. Anyone who doesn\u2019t accept this is an atheist, and one who judges a Vaisnava by his birth is an atheist. You can all go away from here, and then your\u00a0offences\u00a0will leave with you. You are offending Haridasa, and offending me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the scholars left the house, but outside, as they were going, they began speaking amongst themselves. \u201cAdvaita Acarya is no ordinary personality. He is a great scholar, he knows all of the scriptures, and he is an exalted preacher of bhakti.\u201d They continued deliberating, and after fully reconsidering, they returned, fell at Advaita Prabhu\u2019s\u00a0feet,\u00a0and begged forgiveness. (From Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja’s Sri Prabhandavali, Chapter 7)]
\n[*Endnote 10: Both Kasisvara and Govinda were god-brothers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus the Lord duly honored them as soon as they arrived. But because Isvara Puri had ordered them to give Caitanya Mahaprabhu personal service, the Lord accepted their service. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila\u00a010.140)]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"