All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

GUIDANCE

Issue #28

A compilation of holy discourses emanating

from the holy lotus mouth of

His Divine Grace

Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj

published from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

at SCSMathInternational.com during July-September 2021

CONTENT

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (1)

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (2)

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (3)

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (4)

Lost and Wasted

Spiritual Transformation

Dacoit Dharma

Esoteric Pastimes On the Banks of the Ganges

Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Our Line Is Nothing

Mandakini Dhara

Departure of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj

Be Serious

Surrender Your Mind

Keep Your Lamp Alight

Faith, Devotion, and Love

Lord's Impartiality

Jay and Vijay Cursed

Loving Relationship with the Lord

Demons' Plight

Appearance of Prahlad Maharaj

Unperturbed Purity of Prahlad Maharaj

Placid and Undaunted Devotion

Prahlad Maharaj's Prayer

Sri Madhavendra Puripad: One of a Kind

Internal and External Struggles

Defining Disciples' Destiny

Kali-Yuga's Austerities

Wrong Idea

Check Who Is Calling Before Taking the Call

Pitfalls of Deity Worship

Srila Madhavendra Puri's Purity

Prahlad Maharaj's Ideal

Parikrama Schedule

Away with Animal Ambitions

Good Habits

Beware Bogus Life

Breaking Free from Maya's Nest

Internal Relationship with Sri Guru

Remembering Ekadasi Vrata

Remembering Holy Nabadwip Dham

Do Not Shun Service

Meaning of Chastity

Pastime at Gadigachha

Glory of Sri Madhyadwip

Association and Chastity

Service Formula

Serve with Loving Care

Accepting the Rules

Plausible Priority

Guru-Pada-Asraya

Priceless Wealth

Temporal Distortions

Where Chaste Ones Never Tread

Do Not Get Mixed Up

Remembering Guru-Varga

Sacrifice For Preaching

Loving Interactions

A Hole In Surrender

Have a Heart for the Temple

Power of Service

Origin of Bhagavatam (1)

Origin of Bhagavatam (2)

Origin of Bhagavatam (3)

Lacking or Slacking?

Feeling Hungry?

Main Target

Determination and Surrender

Sri Radhastami

Attainment of Divine Love

Where Angels Fear to Tread

Sri Radha-Tattva

Perfect Service

Lord's Avatar

Kasyap Rishi's Advice to Aditi Mata

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev

Satisfying the Lord

Early Pastimes of Srila Jiva Goswami

Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's Mercy

Great Desire for Service

This Is Not a Playground

Wrong Worries

Pure Identity

Worshipful Devotion

Meaning of Discipleship

Free Mercy, Exclusive Rights

Path of Devotion

Krishna Conscious Life

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (1)

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (2)

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (3)

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (4)

Clean Mood

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (1)

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Antardwip, 23 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

[Arriving at Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan, His Divine Grace takes a seat in the nat mandir and chants 'Parama karuna' and 'Kabe Sri Chaitanya more karibena daya'.]

As we proceed with our parikrama we do not stop and sit at all places, so why have we come here? Why are we sitting here? Is it because we are going to eat here? Not because of that. We are sitting here because this is the place where Gaura and Nityananda's first meeting took place.

You all know that Sachinandan Gaura Hari appeared in this world in Yogapith (we will go there later during our parikrama), and when Nityananda Prabhu came to Nabadwip Dham, He first stayed here.

This temple here was established by a fellow godbrother of our Param Gurudev (Gurudev of our Gurudev, or you can say our grandfather Guru) Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, his name is Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. His brahmachari name was Aprakrita Prabhu, and he appeared in this world in Patrasayer, Bankura (we have a temple there). He used to stay and serve together with our Param Guru Maharaj at Chaitanya Math at first, and when Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur left, he went back to his home feeling dejected by the situation. Our Param Gurudev then forcefully brought him back saying, "If such a great preacher as yourself stays at home, then who will preach Mahaprabhu's teaching, Prabhupad's teaching in this world?" Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj replied, "If you give me sannyas, then I can leave home again." After that, Srila Sridhar Maharaj gave him sannyas and the name Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. His samadhi mandir is here, at this temple. After him, the acharya of this temple was a disciple of Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj named Sripad Bhakti Suhrid Akinchan Maharaj, his samadhi is also here, you can see it. He was very affectionate to me. After him, Sripad Sadhu Maharaj, my very good friend, is managing this temple to this day. He must have left now for the parikrama (he takes devotees for the parikrama just as we do). There is also another historical significance related to this temple. Sripad Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj, whom our Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj gave charge of Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, was a disciple from this temple, but he took sannyas from Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He often stayed at our temple, and he spent his last years here. His samadhi mandir is also here.

You can find the full history of these great personalities in the book that we published last year called Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala. It is necessary to learn these things. You cannot learn something just by buying a book from the market—if you want to learn properly, then you need to go to school and learn from a teacher. So, listen to these things and you will understand it, or at least you will understand it later.

Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj would come to our Math every year and invite Srila Sridhar Maharaj to his birthday celebration.

[Clamour among the devotees.] What has happened? [Somebody has fallen down.] Of course they will fall down—I told you to listen attentively. You must concentrate your mind here, otherwise you become scatter-minded and start going here and there during the parikrama—did I tell you to go anywhere? Only go where I go. Do not go to any other places. [Clamour continues.] Who has fallen down? Give them a chair. [Devotees say that the person has fainted.] Fainted? Pour some water on their head. Actually, if somebody leaves their body here, it is a great fortune—they immediately go to their own holy abode... [The person came round after a while.] I myself want to leave my body like this—chanting kirtan. I pray that not a day, not a moment passes in my life without kirtan...

So, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj would invite Srila Sridhar Maharaj to his birthday every year, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj would come here every time, and every time he came, Srila Goswami Maharaj would give him whatever donation his disciples had given to him this day because Srila Sridhar Maharaj was his sannyas-guru and siksa-guru. One time, however, Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not come, and Srila Goswami Maharaj said, "My sannyas-guru could not come this time, I think I will not be alive next year..." And he really did leave his body that year.

* * *

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (2)

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Antardwip, 23 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

This place is a very famous and very auspicious place because Gaura and Nityananda Prabhu met here for the first time when Nityananda Prabhu came to Mayapur from Sri Ekachakra Dham.

One day, Mahaprabhu told all the devotees, "Srivas, Chandrasekhara! Look, one great personality has come to the dham! You must find Him and bring Him here!" They went to look for that great personality. Although there were not so many houses in Mayapur at that time, nobody could find Him. (It is said in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata that Nityananda Prabhu is a very great and hidden personality, it is not so easy to find Him!) Coming back to Mahaprabhu, they said, "Prabhu, whom did You mean? We have not found anyone." Then, Mahaprabhu said, "So, you cannot find Him? All right, I will go Myself then!" Mahaprabhu came to this house of Nandan Acharya (Nandan Acharya 'bhavan') and saw somebody sitting in front of it. They are such old and intimate friends! They are Gaura and Nitai, Krishna and Balaram, They are one, but They come in two forms. They are non-different from each other, but to perform Their pastimes They come in two forms (as Gaura and Nitai).

There is no difference between Guru and Krishna—Krishna comes in the form of a Guru to perform His pastimes and preach the glory of the Lord. Nityananda Prabhu is like that too—He is ashraya vigraha (He gives shelter), and Gauranga Mahaprabhu is visaya vigraha (the object of worship).

So, when Mahaprabhu saw Nityananda Prabhu sitting in front of the house here, They embraced each other and began to roll on the ground. Then everyone understood, "Oh, this is that great personality!" After that, Mahaprabhu performed His pastimes here together with Nityananda Prabhu.

We have come here by a great fortune—this is that very place where Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu met for the first time. Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj purchased this land and made a temple. At first he thought, "I will make a small temple," but Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "Why a small temple? So many devotees will come here, it is necessary to make a big temple. This is how this temple was made.

Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj was a disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. When Srila Prabhupad left his body, Srila Goswami Maharaj went back to his home in Patrasayer and even got married. A few days later, Srila Sridhar Maharaj came to him and requested him to come back saying, "You have to preach Mahaprabhu's conception, Prabhupad's conception. Who will preach if you sit here with your family?" Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj left everything and he came back with Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Before that, he told Srila Sridhar Maharaj, "Yes, I can come back, but you must give sannyas to me. If you do not give me sannyas, I will not come." Srila Sridhar Maharaj agreed to give him sannyas and the name Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj was a great guru, but he would invite his sannyas-guru (Srila Sridhar Maharaj) to his birthday every year and he would give all presentations that his disciples gave that day to his sannyas-guru. I have also heard from Gurudev that Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj gave full arati and puja to Srila Sridhar Maharaj in Govardhan in front of all his disciples. One year, Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not come on his birthday, and Srila Goswami Maharaj said, "Srila Sridhar Maharaj, my sannyas-guru, comes every year and gives me one more year of life. But this year he could not come, I may not be alive next year." Srila Goswami Maharaj left his body that same year.

You can see the samadhi mandir of Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj here. Also, Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj was a disciple of this temple—he used to lead our Nabadwip Dham parikrama. We have printed his photograph in Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala, it is very nice. He was very old and very great Vaishnav. I remember he would eat one kg of rice at a time...

* * *

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (3)

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Antardwip, 23 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

I remember Pujyapad Srila Goswami Maharaj's greatest disciple, Srila Bhakti Suhrid Akinchan Maharaj. Gurudev sent me to this temple in 1995 (that year was the centenary anniversary of Srila Sridhar Maharaj) to bring Srila Akinchan Maharaj from here and Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj from Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj's Math (Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj was a disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and at that time he did not have his own temple—it appeared later). I still remember Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj's Hari-katha—he would speak very happily. He lived as a brahmachari from eleven years old, and later (when he was twenty-one years old) he took sannyas.

Also, Srila Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj was a disciple of Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj but later he took sannyas from our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He often lived at our temple and Gurudev gave him the charge of Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama. I learned from him how to do this parikrama. It is impossible to do this parikrama unless you go together with devotees. When I went for the parikrama my first year, I would bring prasadam, I would learn how to do this parikrama, what Hari-katha is spoken. You cannot learn these things unless you hear attentively—it is necessary to hear what your Guru says attentively. Gurudev sent me to go on this parikrama together with Srila Giri Maharaj, "Go, do the parikrama with them. Learn how everything is arranged." At that time, Haricharan Prabhu used to manage this parikrama, I learned from him. In those days, the temple did not have a big car, so I would bring prasadam in a bullock cart. The temple would send some devotees to the temple of Jagannathdev one day ahead with a bullock cart—Haricharan Prabhu came with them and they started cooking the day before the parikrama came there. They did not cook anything much, just kitchuri. When they went to Rudradwip (this is our last stop for today, you will see this place), then they would also come one day ahead—they would take everything by boat and then bullock cart. At that time, there were not so many people at the parikrama, maybe 100-150 devotees, and they would feed them all kitchuri during the parikrama. Now, by the mercy and wish of Gurudev, we have a car and we bring prasadam from the temple...

Anyhow, I have seen how they do parikrama, how they walk from our Nabadwip temple, and many of you were there too at that time. I had the fortune to see all these great personalities, but they have left this world now leaving this fallen soul here with you all. I am trying as much as I can to arrange everything...

* * *

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (4)

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Antardwip, 23 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

[His Divine Grace chants 'Avatara sara Gaura avatara.']

Mahaprabhu and His mercy are unheard of in this world. By this inconceivable mercy of Mahaprabhu we are doing this parikrama in the association of all the devotees:

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

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

('Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

sri-krsna-chaitanya-daya karaha vichara
vichara karile chitte pabe chamatkara

"If you consider the mercy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, you will be wonder-struck to realise it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.15)

We have come here by a great fortune. This Nabadwip Dham, Antardwip, is non-different from Vrindavan Dham. This Antardwip, Mayapur, is a place of atma-nivedan. What kinds of devotion are there? Sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam—hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission. These nine aspects of devotion reside on the nine islands of Nabadwip. So, the island Antardwip of the place atma-nivedan or saranagati (self submission, surrender). We must submit ourselves to the lotus feet of the Lord. We will also go to Simantadwip today, it is the island of sravanam. It is necessary to hear. The place where we have come from in Nrisingha Palli is Godrumdwip, the abode of kirtan. Rudradwip (where we are also going today) is an abode of sakhya (one of the five spiritual relationships with the Lord).

There is one more thing I have not told you about because when we were crossing the Ganges, everybody had not come yet. I have written it here in Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala. The place where we came crossing the Ganges is called Ganganagar.

[His Divine Grace is reading from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala.]

Who brought Ganga to this world? Bhagirath Maharaj. One time, Bhagirath Maharaj performed severe austerities during many years in order to please Sri Ganga Devi. In the end, Sri Ganga Devi appeared before him saying, "Maharaj, I am pleased with the austerities you have performed. Tell me, what boon do you want from me?" Bhagirath Maharaj replied, "O Devi, if you could come down to earth together with me, then my relatives and all the residents of earth would get liberation. If you do not come, I will have no other way to fulfil this." Despite Bhagirath Maharaj's plea, Sri Ganga Devi did not agree. She said, "I will not go! If I come to this earth, all sinners will bathe in my water and I will become polluted and go to hell! What benefit is that to me?" Then, Bhagirath Maharaj assured her, "But why are you saying this, O Mother? The Lord Himself rests in the hearts of pure sadhus who are devoid of any material desires or attachments—when these sadhus bathe in your waters, the Lord will remove all the sins from you. You will always remain pure."

Many people bathe in the Ganges hoping that Ganges will remove all their sins, but sadhus do not touch the Ganges with their feet—they offer their obeisances to her from far and take Ganges water on their heads.

So, in the end merciful Sri Ganga Devi agreed to go with Bhagirath Maharaj. Bhagirath Maharaj went first blowing a conchshell, and merciful Sri Ganga Devi followed him behind. When they were passing this Sri Nabadwip Dham, Ganga Devi suddenly stopped. After a while, Bhagirath Maharaj noticed that Ganga Devi was not following him any more—getting scared, he turned back to look for her. Then, he saw that Ganga Devi did not want to move any further. Oh no! What will happen now? There was no way out—Bhagirath Maharaj sat down here in this Ganganagar (Mayapur) and started performing austerities again. Satisfied with his austerities, Ganga Devi came to him and started speaking. Bhagirath Maharaj prayed to her, "O Mother, if you do not continue the way, my ancestors will never get any relief. Please come with me." Ganga Devi replied, "Listen, child! O great hero Bhagirath! Stay here for a few days. We have come to this Sri Nabadwip Dham in the month of magh (January/February)! When the month of phalgun (February/March) finishes, I will again go with you. Try to understand—I have come to the holy abode of the One whose feet I wash, therefore I want to stay here to fulfil my deep longing. My Lord’s appearance day is on the full moon day in the month of phalgun, I want to observe this day, and after that I will go with you. Do not worry."

In this way, Bhagirath Maharaj stayed here in Ganganagar for one month. It is said in the scriptures that if you stay in Ganganagar, bathe in the Ganga, fast, and worship Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu on the full moon day in the month of phalgun, you will cross this material world and reach Sri Goloka, and thousands of generations of your ancestors will also go to Sri Goloka Dham with you. Such us the glory of this Sri Ganganagar.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay. Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay.

So, at first Ganga Devi did not want to leave this place, but after staying here for one month, she went to Ganga Sagar

Jay Sri Gaura Hari ki jay. Sachinandan Gaura Hari ki jay

[His Divine Grace chants 'Gaurangera duti pada' and then reads from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya:]

jaya jaya navadvipa-chandra sachi-suta
jaya jaya nityananda-raya avadhuta [1]

All glory to the son of Sachi, the moon of Nabadwip! All glory to the avadhut Nityananda Ray!

jaya jaya sri-advaita prabhu mahasaya
gadadhara srivasa pandita jaya jaya [2]

All glory to the worshippable Sri Advaita Prabhu! All glory to Gadadhar Pandit and Srivas Pandit!

jaya navadvipa-dhama sarva-dhama-sara
jaya navadvipa-vasi gaura-parivara [3]

All glory to Nabadwip Dham, the best of all abodes! All glory to the residents of Nabadwip, the associates of Sri Gaura!

sakala bhakata-pade kariya pranama
samksepe varniba ami navadvipa-dhama [4]

Bowing at the feet of all the devotees, I will briefly describe Nabadwip Dham.

navadvipa-mandalera mahima apara
brahma adi nahi jane varne sadhya kara [5]

The glories of Nabadwip Mandal are unlimited. Brahma and the other gods do not know them. So, who can describe them?

sahasra vadane sesa varnite aksama
ksudra-jiva ami kise ha-iba saksama [6]

Ananta Sesa is unable to describe them with thousands of mouths. So, how will I, a tiny soul, be able to?

satya vate navadvipa mahima ananta
deva-deva mahadeva nahi paya anta [7]

It is true that the glories of Nabadwip are unlimited. The god of gods, Lord Siva, cannot reach their end.

tathapi chaitanya-chandra-ichchha balavan
sei ichchha-vase bhakta ajnara vidhana [8]

Still, the will of the moon-like Sri Chaitanya is all-powerful, and under its control, the devotees give orders.

bhakta-gane ajna dila chaitanya ichhaya
nadiya-mahatmya varni bhaktera krpaya [9]

By the will of Sri Chaitanya, the devotees have ordered me, and so I describe the glories of Nadia by their mercy.

ara eka katha achhe gudha atisaya
kahite na ichchha haya na kahile naya [10]

There is another very confidential subject, which I do not want to mention, yet cannot but mention.

ye avadhi sri-chaitanya aprakata haila
dhama-lila prakasite bhakte ajna dila [11]

When Sri Chaitanya disappeared, He ordered the devotees to reveal His abode and Pastimes.

sarva-avatara haite gudha avatara
sri-chaitanya-chandra mora vidita samsara [12]

Of all Avatars, our moon-like Sri Chaitanya is the most confidential known in this world.

gudha-lila sastre gudha-rupe ukta haya
abhakta janera chitte na haya udaya [13]

His confidential Pastimes are mentioned confidentially in the scriptures. They are not revealed in the hearts of non-devotees.

se lila sambandhe yata gudha sastra chhila
maya-devi bahu-kala achchhadi' rakhila [14]

For a long time, Maya Devi hid the confidential scriptures that existed about His Pastimes.

aprakata sastra bahu rahe yatha tatha
prakata sastreo yata chaitanyera katha [15]

se sakala maya-devi pandita nayana
avariya rakhe gupta-bhave anuksana [16]

Maya Devi covered the eyes of the scholars and at all times kept secret all the descriptions of Sri Chaitanya throughout both the manifest and unmanifest scriptures.

gaurera gambhira lila haile aprakata
prabhu-ichchha jani' maya haya akapata [17]

When the deep Pastimes of Sri Gaura became unmanifest, Maya understood the will of the Lord and withdrew her deception.

uthaiya laila jala jiva-chaksu haite
prakasila gaura-tattva e jada jagate [18]

Maya lifted her veil from the eyes of the souls and revealed the truth about Sri Gaura to the material world.

gupta-sastra anayase ha-ila prakata
ghuchila jivera yata yuktira sankata [19]

The hidden scriptures then appeared clearly and dispelled the doubts of all souls.

bada-i dayalu prabhu nityananda-raya
gaura-tattva prakasila jivera hiyaya [20]

The extremely merciful Nityananda Prabhu revealed the truth about Sri Gaura in the hearts of the souls.

tanra ajna peye maya chhade avarana
subhakta pandita-gana paya sastra-dhana [21]

Receiving His order, Maya removed her veil, and the wise devotees discovered the wealth of the scriptures.

ihate sandeha yara na haya khandana
se abhaga vrtha kena dharaya jivana [22]

Those whose doubts are not dispelled by this are unfortunate. Why do such persons meaninglessly continue their lives?

ye kale isvara yei krpa vitaraya
bhagyavanta jana tahe bada sukhi haya [23]

Whenever and howsoever the Lord bestows His mercy, the fortunate souls become extremely happy.

durbhaga laksana ei jana sarva-jana
nija buddhi bada bali' kariya ganana [24]

isvarera krpa nahi karaya svikara
kutarke mayara garte pade bara-bara [25]

Everyone should know the symptoms of misfortune: to consider your own intelligence to be great and not accept the mercy of the Lord. Through false arguments, souls fall into Maya's traps again and again.

"esa he kalira jiva chhada kutinati
nirmala gauranga-prema laha paripati" [26]

"O souls of Kali-yuga, come! Give up duplicity, and accept pure divine love for Sri Gauranga in full!"

ei bali' nityananda dake bara-bara
tabu ta durbhaga jana na kare svikara [27]

Saying this, Nityananda calls out again and again. Still, unfortunate souls do not accept.

kena ye emana preme kare anadara
vichara kariya dekha ha-iya tatpara [28]

Let us consider carefully why souls disregard divine love.

sukha-lagi sarva-jiva nana yukti kare
tarka kare yoga kare samsara bhitare [29]

In various ways, all souls pursue happiness. In this world, some souls study logic, and others practise yoga.

sukha-lagi samsara chhadiya vane yaya
sukha-lagi yuddha kare rajaya rajaya [30]

For the sake of happiness, some leave home and go to the forest, and others wage wars between nations.

sukha-lagi kamini-kanaka pachhe dhaya
sukha-lagi silpa ara vijnana chalaya [31]

For the sake of happiness, some run after women and wealth, and others pursue the arts and sciences.

sukha-lagi sukha chhade klesa siksa kare
sukha-lagi arnava madhyete dubi mare [32]

For the sake of happiness, some give up on happiness and learn to be miserable, and others drown themselves in the ocean.

nityananda bale daki' duhata tuliya
"esa jiva karma-jnana-sankata chhadiya [33]

Raising His arms, Nityananda calls, "O souls! Give up the misery of exploitation and renunciation, and come with Me!

sukha-lagi chesta tava ami taha diba
tara vinimaye ami kichhu na la-iba [34]

"You are searching for happiness. I will give that to you, and I will not take anything from you in return.

kasta nai vyaya nai na pabe yatana
'sri-gauranga' bali' nacha nahika bhavana [35]

"You will not undergo any trouble, loss, or pain. Simply chant, 'Sri Gauranga' and dance without a care.

ye sukha ami ta diba tara nai sama
sarvada vimalananda nahi tara bhrama" [36]

"The happiness I will give you is unparalleled. It is pure, eternal joy, free from all illusion."

ei rupe prema yache nityananda-raya
abhaga karama-dose taha nahi chaya [37]

In this way, Nityananda Prabhu begs everyone to accept divine love, but the unfortunate, as a result of their sins, do not want it.

"gauranga nitai" yei bale eka-bara
ananta karama-dosa anta haya tara [38]

The unlimited sins of anyone who once chants, "Gauranga! Nitai!"are destroyed.

ara eka gudha katha suna sarva-jana
kali-jive yogya-vastu gaura-lila-dhana [39]

Everyone, please listen to another confidential subject. The wealth of Gaura's Pastimes is appropriate for the souls of Kali-yuga.

gaurahari radha-krsna-rupe vrndavane
nitya-kala vilasa karaye sakhi-sane [40]

Gaurahari, as Radha and Krishna, plays with the sakhis eternally in Vrindavan.

sastrete janila jiva vraja-lila-tattva
radha-krsna-nitya-lila vrajera mahattva [41]

Through the scriptures, the souls understood the nature of Pastimes in Vraja, and the greatness of Vraja and Radha-Krishna's eternal Pastimes there.

krsna-nama krsna-dhama mahatmya apara
sastrera dvaraya jane sakala samsara [42]

Through the scriptures, the whole world understood the unlimited glories of Krishna's Name and Krishna's abode.

tabu krsna-prema sadharane nahi paya
ihara karana kiba chintaha hiyaya [43]

Still, in general, souls did not attain divine love for Krishna. What is the reason for this? Consider it within your heart.

ihate achhe ta eka gudha-tattva-sara
maya-mugdha jiva taha na kare vichara [44]

In this regard, there is a highly confidential subject that souls bewildered by Maya do not consider.

bahu janma krsna bhaji' prema nahi haya
aparadha-punja tara achhaya nischaya [45]

When souls serve Krishna for many births but do not develop divine love, then certainly they have made offences.

aparadha-sunya haye laya krsna-nama
tabe jiva krsna-prema labhe avirama [46]

When souls, free from offences, chant the Name of Krishna, they quickly attain divine love for Krishna.

sri-chaitanya-avatare bada vilaksana
aparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-dhana [47]

The special characteristic of Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes is that souls attain the wealth of divine love even while they commit offences.

"nitai chaitanya" bali' yei jiva dake
suvimala krsna-prema anvesaye take [48]

Pure divine love for Krishna searches for souls who call out "Nitai-Chaitanya!"

aparadha badha tara kichhu nahi kare
niramala krsna-preme tara ankhi jhare [49]

Offences do not obstruct such souls, and their eyes cry with pure love for Krishna.

svalpa-kale aparadha apani palaya
hrdaya sodhita haya prema bade taya [50]

Within a short time, offences leave on their own. The souls' hearts become purified, and divine love develops within them.

kali-jivera aparadha asankhya durvara
gaura-nama vina tara nahika uddhara [51]

The offences of the souls in Kali-yuga are unlimited and unavoidable. There is no deliverance for them without the Name of Gaura.

ataeva gaura vina kalite upaya
na dekhi kothao ara sastra phukaraya [52]

Thus, in Kali-yuga, I do not see any way without Gaura, and the scriptures proclaim this.

navadvipe gaurachandra ha-ila udaya
navadvipa sarva-tirtha avatamsa haya [53]

Gaurachandra appeared in Nabadwip, the crown atop all the holy places.

anya tirthe aparadhi dandera bhajana
navadvipe aparadha sadai marjana [54]

In other holy places, offenders are punished, but in Nabadwip offences are always forgiven.

tara saksi jagai-madhai dui bhai
aparadha kari' paila chaitanya-nitai [55]

The brothers Jagai and Madhai are evidence of this. They committed offences but attained Nitai and Chaitanya.

anyanya tirthera katha rakha bhai dure
aparadhi daitya danda paya vraja-pure [56]

Brother! Let alone other holy places, offenders and demons are punished even in Vraja.

navadvipe sata sata aparadha kari'
anayase nitai krpaya yaya tari' [57]

In Nabadwip, souls who commit hundreds and hundreds of offences are easily delivered by the mercy of Nitai.

hena navadvipa-dhama ye gauda-mandale
dhanya dhanya sei desa rsi-gana bale [58]

The sages say that the land of Sri Nabadwip Dham in Sri Gauda Mandal is most glorious.

hena navadvipe bhai yanhara vasati
bada bhagyavana sei labhe krsna-rati [59]

Brother, souls who reside in Nabadwip are very fortunate. They attain devotion to Krishna.

navadvipe yeba kabhu karaya gamana
sarva-aparadha mukta haya sei jana [60]

Souls who once visit Nabadwip are freed from all offences.

sarva-tirtha bhramiya tairthika yaha paya
navadvipa-smarane sei labha sastre gaya [61]

The scriptures say that by remembering Nabadwip you attain that which pilgrims attain by visiting all the other holy places.

navadvipa darasana kare yei jana
janme janme labhe sei krsna-prema-dhana [62]

Souls who see Nabadwip attain the wealth of divine love for Krishna birth after birth.

karma-buddhi-yogeo ye navadvipe yaya
nara janma ara sei jana nahi paya [63]

Even souls who go to Nabadwip with a materialistic motivation do not take a human birth again.

navadvipa bhramite se pade pade paya
koti asvamedha phala sarva-sastre gaya [64]

All the scriptures say that while walking through Nabadwip, such souls attain the result of ten million horse sacrifices with each step.

navadvipe vasi' yei mantra japa kare
sri-mantra chaitanya haya, anayase tare [65]

Those who reside in Nabadwip and chant their mantra—that holy mantra comes alive and easily delivers them.

anya tirthe yogi dasa-varse labhe yaha
navadvipe tina ratre sadhi' paya taha [66]

That which yogis attain after ten years in other holy places is attained in three nights in Nabadwip.

anya tirthe brahma-jnane yei mukti haya
navadvipe bhagirathi snane ta ghataya [67]

The liberation attained through knowledge of Brahma in other holy places is attained in Nabadwip simply by bathing in the Ganga.

salokya-sarupya-sarsti-samipya-nirvana
navadvipe mumuksu labhaya vina jnana [68]

In Nabadwip, even without knowledge of Brahma, seekers of liberation can attain residence in the Lord's abode, a form like the Lord's, opulence like the Lord's, association with the Lord, and absorption into the Lord.

navadvipe suddha-bhakta charane padiya
bhukti mukti sada rahe dasi rupa haiya [69]

Enjoyment and liberation personified bow at the feet of the pure devotees in Nabadwip and always wait upon them as maidservants.

bhakta-gana lathi mari' se duye tadaya
bhakta-pada chhadi' dasi tabu na palaya [70]

Although devotees kick them and drive them away, these maidservants do not leave the feet of the devotees or run away.

sata-varsa sapta-tirthe mile yaha bhai
navadvipe eka-ratra vase taha pai [71]

Brother, by spending one night in Nabadwip, souls attain that which is gained by residing in the seven principal holy places for one hundred years.

hena navadvipa-dhama sarva-dhama-sara
kalite asraya kari' jiva haya para [72]

Thus, Nabadwip Dham is the best of all abodes. Souls who take shelter here in Kali-yuga are delivered.

taraka paraka vidya-dvaya avirata
navadvipa-vasi-gane seve riti-mata [73]

The two forms of knowledge—that which liberates and that which nourishes—constantly and perfectly serve the residents of Nabadwip.

nitai-jahnava-pada-chhaya yara asa
se bhakti-vinoda gaya paiya ullasa [74]

Bhakti Vinod, whose aspiration is the shade of Nitai and Jahnava's feet, sings the glories of Nadia and rejoices.

* * *

Lost and Wasted

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

Yesterday was adhivas (the holy eve of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama), and today was the first holy day of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. You have done this parikrama very well. Has everyone been to the parikrama today? [Devotees say 'yes'.] Have you done this parikrama on your head? You must do this parikrama with your heart, with your very being. One person has got lost today. When I was already in Nrisingha Palli, somebody called me and said they had got lost. I sent a devotee to bring them back. One-two people must get lost. We are all lost children of the Lord. The Lord has lost us, his children, and we also have lost our Father. He is looking for us, "My children have left Me. When will they come back to Me?" We are also searching for Him. Actually, not everybody really searches. Gurudev has a very small and nice book called In Search of the Original Source. Tell me, who truly searches for the real happiness, for their real self? Everybody in this world only thinks about the temporary happiness. Everyone only worries, "Where will I live? Where will I eat? Where will I sleep?"

"Saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange, abhyasa ha-ila manda. In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things." "Nija sukha lagi' pape nahi dari, daya-hina svartha-para. For our own happiness we are not afraid of engaging in sinful work. I am unkind and selfish."

visaye ye priti ebe achhaye amara
sei-mata priti hauk charane tomara

"May I have the same affection and attraction to your feet that I now have for material things."

(Gitavali, 4.5, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

durlabha manava-janama sat-sange
taraha e bhava-sindhu re

"Having attained this rare human birth, cross over the ocean of material existence by associating with sadhus."

(‘Bhajahu Re Mana' by Srila Govinda Das Kaviraj)

We were singing this in a kirtan written by Sri Govinda Das. You know, Sri Govinda Das used to worship Kali before, but his brother worshipped the Supreme Lord. Sometimes, the two brothers would fight over the flowers growing in their garden. Govinda Das had many flowers growing in his garden, and his brother wanted to offer them to the Lord, but it was impossible to convince Govinda Das that everything was meant for the service of the Lord. So, his brother would offer those flowers to the Lord in his mind. One time, when Govinda Das offered some flowers to his Ma Kali, she moved her hand away and did not accept them. After that, she came to him in a dream saying, "You have so many flowers in your garden, but you are not giving these flowers to my Lord." After that, Govinda Das gave up his worship of Ma Kali and composed this famous kirtan, "Bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana! O mind, serve the son of Sri Nanda's lotus feet which are an abode of fearlessness!"

* * *

Spiritual Transformation

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

durlabha manava-janama sat-sange
taraha e bhava-sindhu re

"Having attained this rare human birth, cross over the ocean of material existence by associating with sadhus."

(‘Bhajahu Re Mana' by Srila Govinda Das Kaviraj)

This human life is very rare. I always tell you that we have crossed through 8,400,000 species.

jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati
krmayo rudra-sankhyakah paksinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani pasavah chatur-laksani manusah

"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 nonmoving living entities, such as trees and plants. There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles, and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as quadrupeds are concerned, there are 3,000,000 varieties, and there are 400,000 human species."

(Padma Purana)

We have been born 900,000 times in the water. There are so many living entities living in the water, fish, sharks, whales, crocodiles. We have seen all these species 900,000 times. We have been born 2,000,000 times as trees, hills. You have seen that there are so many kinds of trees in forests and jungles, we do not even know their names. There are 2,000,000 kinds of species living there. We were born 1,100,000 times as insects, bugs, etc. So many bird fly in the sky—we have been born as one of them 1,000,000 times. We have been born 3,000,000 times as all kinds of animals (cows, goats, pigs, sheep, cats, etc.), and 400,000 times as humans. This time we have got this birth in Bharata-bhumi (India), but we do not practise Krishna consciousness—we do not worship the Lord. I have observed today who chants kirtan, who does not chant. You do not get energy to chant the Holy Name because you waste your energy in some other place. Talking gramya-katha, gossiping you are wasting your time.

We prohibit to drink tea, to smoke or eat meat, fish—if somebody takes all these unacceptable, inauspicious things with their mouth, the Holy Name of Lord Krishna will not come to such a mouth. It is said in the scriptures also,

'krsna-nama' kare aparadhera vichara
krsna balile aparadhira na haya vikara

"The Holy Name of Krishna always considers who is an offender. Even if an offender chants the Name of Krishna all the time, it produces no transformation within them."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8:24)

The Holy Name judges whether you are an offender or not—the Holy Name does not come to the mouth of an offender. When Mahaprabhu went to Kashi, there was one sanodiya brahman who came to Mahaprabhu and asked, "Prabhu, these people know all Vedas and Vedanta, they know so much, but why does the Holy Name not come to their mouth? What is the reason? They know so many scriptures, they have so much knowledge, but why does the Holy Name not come to their mouth?" Mahaprabhu replied, "The Holy Name does not come to the mouths of offenders. They are offenders of the Holy Name, that is why the Holy Name will never come to their mouths." "Krsna balile aparadhira na haya vikara" means that even if they pronounce the Holy Name, it produces no effect in them.

It is necessary to always chant kirtan. When I stopped chanting kirtan and got into the car, I could still hear it ringing in my ears, "Sachinandan Gaura Hari! Sachinandan Gaura Hari! Nitai Gauranga! Nitai Gauranga!" I felt that I was still singing. Even though I was sitting in the car, I felt I was chanting kirtan.

* * *

Dacoit Dharma

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

krsna yadi chhute bhakte bhukti mukti diya
kabhu prema-bhakti na dena rakhena lukaiya

"If you ask Krishna for anything except devotion, He can give you those things—bhukti, mukti, liberation, and so on—but He will hide devotion from you. You will not get devotion."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.18)

Remember this. Gurudev always told this to me. He told me one-two times, "You always run behind big buildings, etc., but watch out that Bhakti does not go away." Gurudev gave his mercy and by his mercy bhakti has never gone away. It is said in this sloka that if you ask the Lord for something in lieu of devotion (if you want money, wealth, etc.), then the Lord will hide devotion from you. I told you earlier today—what boon did Sridhar Pandit want from Mahaprabhu? "May He who has been stealing my thor, bananas, banana flowers, etc. and fighting with me, be my master birth after birth." When will we become like that too? We sing in one of the kirtans,

kabe habe bala se dina amara
aparadha ghuchi suddha name ruchi
krpa-bale ha'be hrdaye sanchara

"Please tell me, when will that day be mine? When will my offences be removed? When will the taste for the pure Name arise in my heart by the power of mercy?"

('Kabe habe bolo, se dina amar?' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

We cannot forget our own happiness, we cannot sacrifice our own life. The Lord has given us this life, has given us this life force, we have got a human form to practise Krishna consciousness (to serve the Lord), then why are you using this body for other things? Why are you using this body for your own food, money, clothes, sleep?! Relaxed, you are spending your days on all this.

sita atapa vata varisana
e dina yamini jagi re
viphale sevinu krpana durajana
chapala sukha-lava lagi' re

“Day and night I remain awake, suffering from the heat and the cold, the wind and the rain. For a moment of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.”

How much cold, so many rains come and days are passing. People sleep here in the nat mandir and spend five-seven days like this. What is the problem? They will go for the parikrama, come back, listen to the kirtan and then sleep again. They have it better than even those who are staying in the rooms—those who are staying in the rooms sleep and do not come for the arati, but when you are staying right here at the nat mandir, you always come for the arati. Many also refused to go to the new guesthouse saying it is too far, they said they would stay in the nat mandir or on the veranda. Many say, "I do not need a room." I offered them to go to the new building, but they said they would stay here. There are bathrooms and everything else here. There is no problem.

kamala-dala-jala jivana talamala
(ei achhe ei nai jivana talamala)
bhajahu hari-pada niti re

Life is shaky—it is here now, and then it is gone. Serve the Lord's feet! O mind, serve the Lord's feet.

sita atapa vata varisana
e dina yamini jagi re
viphale sevinu krpana durajana
chapala sukha-lava lagi' re

Day and night I remain awake, suffering from the heat and the cold, the wind and the rain. For a moment of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

Fickle-minded, we always serve for the sake of our own happiness, but all this service goes in vain. Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said that we call somebody our 'relatives', 'family' members, 'friends', etc. and follow the religion of serving our father (pita-dharma), the religion of serving our friends (bandhu-dharma), the religion of serving our mother (mata-dharma), but this is now how Krishna consciousness is practised. Father say, "You are my son, you must serve me, why will you go to stay at the temple?" Mothers also say the same thing, "I have given you birth, you must look after me! Why will you worry about the Lord?" This is the eternal misery. They are all svajanakya-dasyu (স্বজনাখ্য দস্যু, dacoits disguised as well-wishing family). You think they are your well-wishers, but they actually take away your benefit from you. When sadhu, guru, and Vaishnavs take something from you, they do not take it to enjoy—bona fide sadhus use everything for the service of the Lord. Those who are enjoyers always want to enjoy everything themselves—they always want to eat well, to dress well, to sleep well. But time is passing!

kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, abhimana saha
apana apana sthane tane
aichana amara mana phire yena andha jana
supatha vipatha nahi jane

"Lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride, and ego all pull me in their own directions. Thus my mind wanders like a blind man who does not know the right way from the wrong way."

We always want more, want more, want more!

sita atapa vata varisana
e dina yamini jagi re
viphale sevinu krpana durajana
chapala sukha-lava lagi' re

Day and night I remain awake, suffering from the heat and the cold, the wind and the rain. For a moment of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

This is all useless service. Service to your wife, service to your father, mother, friends—all this is useless. That is why it is said that you get a father and a mother in every birth, but it is not in every birth that you will get a bona fide guru. Taking initiation from a guru means service to the guru.

e dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana
ithe ki achhe paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala jivana talamala
(ei achhe ei nai jivana talamala)
bhajahu hari-pada niti re

What is there in having wealth, youth, sons, and family? Life is tottering like water on a lotus petal (it is here, and then it is gone). O mind, serve the Lord's feet.

Sri Govinda Das is writing this. All this wealth, youth, sons, and family will have to leave from me one day or I will have to leave them all. One day it must happen. We can leave this world at any moment—we can be speaking and die while speaking! Bhajahu hari-pada niti re! We must worship the Lord, we must practise Krishna consciousness.

sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana
govinda-dasa-abhilasare

Govinda Das desires to engage in the nine practices of devotion: hearing about, glorifying, remembering, praying to, attending to, serving, worshipping, befriending, and surrendering to the Lord.

* * *

Esoteric Pastimes On the Banks of the Ganges

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

There are nine kinds of devotional practices—sravan, kirtan, smaran, vandan, etc. We have been to three islands today and I have told you about the three kinds of devotion that reside on each of these three islands. We have been to Antardwip, Simantadwip, and lastly Rudradwip today. The temple that we visited in Rudradwip was built later—the original temple, which was the last temple built by Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur in 1936, broke and was taken by the Ganges. However, these days the Ganges does not break anything so much...

sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana
govinda-dasa-abhilasare

Govinda Das desires to engage in the nine practices of devotion: hearing about, glorifying, remembering, praying to, attending to, serving, worshipping, befriending, and surrendering to the Lord.

We must practise these nine kinds of devotion.

First comes faith (adau sraddha). The more faith you have, the more devotion you have—and the less faith you have, the less devotion you have. After faith, there must be good, saintly association (sadhu-sanga); from sadhu-sanga comes devotional practice (bhajana-kriya) and then all unwanted elements (anarathas) become remove—you will consider money, food, sleep, fear, enjoyment, etc. trifle. Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami were all great landowners, they had a very big job, but they considered it all trifle—they rejected it all like filthy stool.

We have been to Chaitanya Math today and saw the samadhi mandir of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. When Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj came to Nabadwip from Vrindavan, everybody in Nabadwip considered him crazy, but Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur could recognise him that Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj was not a crazy man—he was crazy with the transcendental love for Krishna.

Mahaprabhu would madly chant kirtan, always crying, "O Krishna! O Krishna!" Sri Sachi Mata said, "My son has become crazy! He does not do anything, only keeps saying 'Hare Krishna'!" She would bring cooling oil and dunk Nimai into it. Srila Srivas Pandit came then and said, "Didi, can I say something?" "What is it?" "This madness will not go away by your cooling oil. I too want to become crazy like him!"

kabe navadvipe, suradhuni-tate,
'gaura-nityananda' bali' niskapate
nachiya gaiya, bedaiba chhute,
batulera praya chhadiya vichara

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

"When will I become crazy? When will I run along the bank of the Ganges chanting and always thinking, 'O Krishna! O Gaura!'?"

Do you know where Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj used to sleep? He is Srila Prabhupad's Gurudev, so remember what I am saying. He never stayed at any temple. At some point, he stayed at a public toilet on the street! Everybody told him, "Babaji Maharaj, does it not stink in the toilet?" But Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj replied, "This stench of the toilet can be tolerated, but I cannot take the stench of the visayi (materialists) and bhogi (enjoyers)—I would rather stay far away from them!" Materialists always live engrossed into the material world, it is better to keep away from them. Also, now we chant the Holy Name on beads, but do you know how Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj would chant the Holy Name? In those days, people did not have furnaces and electric current to burn dead bodies, and they would burn them on an open pyre. So, Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj would pick some cloth left from a dead body, tear it into strips and tie some knots and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with that—"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" on one knot, and then "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" on the next knot, and so on. He would stay near the cremation ghat in Nabadwip (you know that there are many workers and other people sit around near the ghat, and Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj would stay like one of them, he would drink alcohol, country liquor (chullu), smoke tobacco, eat pan, etc. At some point, he made some hut with banana leaves and would go there to sleep at night. One time, some boys hear a female voice coming from that hut, and they thought, "Who does this sadhu speak to at night? He must be spending his nights with some girl!" They decided to stay near the hut and guard to see the girl when she comes out. They guarded in this way one day, two days, three days, but they never saw anyone enter the hut but still heard Babaji Maharaj speak to somebody—they could hear some girl's voice. After that, they decided to break into the hut and get to the bottom of it anyhow. When they did that, they saw that Babaji Maharaj was sitting and chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Babaji Maharaj did not care his hut had been broken—he was not conscious of it (who broke it, what broke—he did not think of anything). The boys saw there was nobody inside and they were greatly puzzled. Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj is Srimati Radharani's own, Her dear associate, so he would talk to Her. This Nabadwip Dham is non-different from Vrindavan Dham, the amorous pastimes of Krishna and Radharani take place here eternally. Fallen and low souls like us cannot see it, but some fortunate souls can see that.

* * *

Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Our Line Is Nothing

Kolkata-Worldwide, 21 June 2020, part 1

Hari bol. Hare Krishna!

Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Sarvabhauma Sri Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Vrindavan Dham, Sri Mathura Dham ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev, Subhadra, Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhaktir-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Jay Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Tandiya tirobhav tithi (his disappearance festival) ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

By the mercy of Gurudev, we are again here in front of you today, I can see that everybody is here. Usually, every year at this time, I stay with the devotees (some Indian devotees and also some foreign devotees) in Sri Puri Dham when we go for Sri Purushottam Ksetra parikrama, Sri Puri Dham parikrama. It is Ratha-yatra festival in two days, we are waiting for this day, and tomorrow is Gundicha-marjan, the temple cleaning day.

Gundicha-marjan means the pastime when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu cleaned the temple of Gundicha Devi with all the devotees—it means He was cleaning all the devotees' hearts. We have so must dust, so many bad elements in our heart, and it is the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that we must clean all this dust and bad elements, that is why He Himself showed it to us in His pastime of cleaning the temple of Gundicha Devi. When Ratha-yatra (the journey of Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra in the chariots) finishes, the chariots will stay at Gundicha Bari, which is Vrindavan Dham or Sundarachal. During the Ratha-yatra, go to Sundarachal, Vrindavan.

Today is also a very auspicious day for our Guru-parampara, Guru-varga, and our line of Bhaktivinod-dhara. Today is the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur—he left us and entered his nitya-lila on this tithi, lunar day. He is doing service in his abode now, but he is still bestowing his mercy on all devotees and on us. Without Sri Bhaktivinod Thakur our line is nothing. We cannot even think of our line without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is the main personality in our line.

Sach-chid-ananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur showed everything to us. Who was he? In this mundane world, he showed grihastha-lila, householder life, but you can see in his lifestyle and biography how much capacity and how much power he has to preach Krishna consciousness. We have heard something from our Guru-varga, our Gurudev also gave many lectures about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, and our Param Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, also wrote many slokas in glorification of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, he composed his pranam-mantra and Sri Bhaktivinod-viraha Dasakam (you can find it in our Kirtan Guide, Gaudiya Gitanjali). Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj many times spoke about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and his gift to us—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us Saranagati, Jaiva-dharma and so many other books. If you read his Saranagati, you can understand how much he has given and what sort of gift he has given to this world. You can understand something from his pranam-mantra,

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

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

(Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya, 1.8)

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us our Guru (Guru-dam) because Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur—if he had not given us Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, whom would we have surrendered to? Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur brought our all Guru-varga (Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, and many other digpal guru-varga came at this time).

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given us grantha, scriptures (grantha-dam). He gave us Gaura Dham, Sri Dham Mayapur (Gaura-dhama-dam). Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur showed all the places within it. When he actually discovered Mahaprabhu's appearance place, there was much confusion going on in the society, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur fought against it (he even went to High Court to prove where the exact place of Sriman Mahaprabhu's birthplace was). Everybody said that Mahaprabhu's birthplace is in Nabadwip Town (western bank of the Ganges), but Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur established that Mahaprabhu's birthplace is in Mayapur, Antardwip. That is why, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us Sri Gaura Dham.

Nama-dam. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur gave us the real conception of the Holy Name. Before Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur there were so many misconceptions in Vaishnav sampradaya—aul, baul, kartabhaja, nera, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, atibari, churadhari, gauranga-nagari. There were these thirteen apa-sampradayas, and now there are thirteen thousand misconceptions, these people are all over the world now. The scriptures say that we must not associate with such people. So, amidst all these misconceptions, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought the pure conception of the Holy Name, and he taught everything to his son and disciple, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. People are chanting so many Names, especially here in Bengal, they do not follow what Mahaprabhu told,

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

"Only chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name—there is no other way, no other way, no other way."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 7.76)

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

So, at the time when there were so many misconceptions going on in this world, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur established himself as a sweeper at the market of the Holy Name (Nama-hatta). He cleaned all misconceptions with his broom!

* * *

Mandakini Dhara

Kolkata-Worldwide, 21 June 2020, part 2

We know that there are six goswamis in Sri Vrindavan Dham,

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha
ei chaya gosani kari charana vandana

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das."

These are the six goswamis, and after that so many great personalities, Sishur Ghosh among them, told, "There were six goswamis, but after that we can see that there is only one person who is a goswami—the seventh goswami—and his name is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur." So, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is the seventh goswami in our line.

We also see and sometimes sing the glorification of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur where it is written,

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

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

Sri-gauranga-parisada—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is an associate of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Kali-tamah vinasite—to demolish the darkness of Kali, he brought a spotless full moon (akalanka purna indu). Who is that moon? Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj also wrote Sri Bhaktivinod-viraha Dasakam, it is a very big poem consisting of ten slokas, but I want to recite one very important sloka from it. I want to say that.

sri-gauranumatam svarupa-viditam rupagrajenadrtam
rupadyaih parivesitam raghu-ganair asvaditam sevitam
jivadyair abhiraksitam suka-siva-brahmadi-sammanitam
sri-radha-pada-sevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan

"The internal purport is known to Sri Svarupa Damodara by the sanction of Sri Gaurachandra, of that which is adored by Sri Sanatana Goswami and distributed by the preceptors realized in transcendental mellows, headed by Sri Rupa Goswami; that which is tasted and enhanced by Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami and followers and carefully protected by the votaries headed by Sri Jiva Prabhu; and that which (from a respectful distance) is venerated by great personalities such as Sri Suka, Lord Siva, the chief of the demigods, and Lord Brahma, the grandfather of all beings—wonder of wonders! the nectarine rapture of servitude unto Sri Radhika—that, too, you can give us."

It means: Sri Svarup Damodar Prabhu knows its purport with the sanction of Sri Gaurachandra, Sri Sanatan Goswami worships it, Sri Rupa and other acharyas of rasa-tattva (transcendental loving relationship with the Lord) distributed it, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami and others tasted and become enriched by it, Sri Jiva Goswami and others protected it, and Sri Sukadev, Lord Siva (Primeval Lord of Lords, Devadideva), Lord Brahma (the Father of All Creation), and others give respect to it—what is it? It is the nectar (rasamrita) of the worship of the holy lotus feet of Sri Radha. And you, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, are a perfect person, you can give that kind of things! That is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

At first, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was a school teacher. Later, he got a job of a magistrate and served at Puri. When he was in Puri, he prayed and thought, "All this misconception has to be demolished! Please, Prabhu, bring, send someone who can distribute the proper teaching!" Then, he and his wife Bhagavati Devi went to Jagannath Temple and asked Bimala Devi (Laksmi Devi Deity installed at Jagannath Temple), "O Bimala Devi! Please give us a son, a personality who could preach proper teaching in this world!" Bimala Devi was pleased with their prayer and gave them a son whose name then became Sri Bimala Prasad (later, he took sannyas and became renowned as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur).

After that, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was transferred to many places in Bengal and Bangladesh area also, and during this time he collected many holy books. Having read those books, he thought, "Everything that is going on in this area is a misconception!" Later, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur discovered Mayapur and, having established everything within Sri Nabadwip Dham, he gave full charge to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

I am telling you only a little bit from his biography. The biography of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is very long. If you see and read his Bhajan-rahasya, you will get a very sweet taste. He wrote so many wonderful books—Jaiva-dharma, Saranagati songs. "Emana durmati samsara bhitare padiya achhinu ami", "Amara jivana sada pape rata nahika punyera lesa", "Sarvasva tomara, charane sapiya, padechhi tomara ghare, tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukura, baliya janaha more", etc. This is very nice! Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur composed and gave us very sweet songs. What he has given us has never been given by anybody in this world.

Today is the disappearance day of this Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. In his final years, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur settled in Godrumdwip. When you go for Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, you can see Gaura Gadadhar, his worshippable Deities. He also often visited Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, who was at that time an ancient and very powerful Vaishnav in Nabadwip. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur chose to stay in Gaura Mandal. Staying in Godrumdwip, he would sing,

gurudeva!
bada krpa kari', gauda-vana-majhe
godrume diyacha sthana
ajna dila more, ei vraje vasi',
harinama kara gana

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

kintu kabe prabho, yogyata arpibe,
e dasere daya kari'
chitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
ekante bhajiba hari

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

"My mind is always fickle. When will my mind become very concentrated on Krishna consciousness? And when will I be able to tolerate everything and always think about and worship the Lord?"

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa ha-ila manda
nija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
bhajanera pratibandha

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

"My life in my childhood and my youth was such that my habit became very bad and I cannot worship the Lord now, I cannot change my habits! I always live amidst bad habits! This body has become an obstacle to worshipping the Lord, and this is all my fault, it is not anyone else's fault!"

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
kemane bhajiba bala'
kandiya kandiya, tomara charane
padiyachhi suvihvala

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

I am suffering from five disease (pancha-roga)—avidya (ignorance), asmita (false identification), raga (misdirected love), dvesa (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and abhinivesa (being unable to give up unfavourable habits). Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur cries, "Prabhu, I am very sad! I cannot worship You! My habit is very bad and I cannot worship You properly!" He has so much humility, so much tolerance...

There are so many things that can be said in glorification of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur! There are so many pastimes in his life, he also showed so many miracles in his life, especially when he was in Puri. The main thing, however, is that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought to us the pure current of Mandakini, proper consciousness, and this current is still flowing in this world allowing us to get some taste of the nectar that was distributed by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur (the nectar of service to the holy feet of Sri Radha—Radha-pada-sevamrita). If we can get this kind of taste, then we will understand what for our life is—what for we have got this human body and what for we have come to this world. It is necessary to surrender properly. We always say saranagati, saranagati, saranagati, but it is necessary to know what surrender is and to surrender properly.

dainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
'avasya raksibe krsna'—visvasa palana
bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara
sad-anga saranagati ha-ibe yanhara
tanhara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara

"Humility, self-submission, embracing the Lord's guardianship, maintaining the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion. These are the six types of saranagati, and if you can surrender in all the six ways, Krishna will hear you."

This song was also written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur...

* * *

Departure of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

We have visited today the samadhi-mandir of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. When Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj left his holy body, all the babajis of Nabadwip started to fight for his body as he was a great sadhu. At first, Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj was not so much known, but when Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur took initiation from him, then everybody could understand that he was not crazy. People used to throw pieces of stone at him, but what did he say? He would say, "Gopal, I will complain to Mother Yasoda! Do not mess with me!" He saw it that it was Krishna Himself doing this. Later, when Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj left his body, he showed a very beautiful pastime.

When all the babajis began to fight over his dead body, one said, "He is my Gurudev!", another one said, "He is my Gurudev!", somebody else said, "He is my Gurudev!" and so on. When he was alive, nobody thought he was anyone's Gurudev, nobody served their Gurudev. Then, Srila Prabhupad got to hear the news from Kunja Babu (at that time he was the secretary of Chaitanya Math, later he took sannyas and his name became Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj). Kunja Babu asked Srila Prabhupad to come quickly to the place where Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj's body was kept. Srila Prabhupad is so powerful! Do you know what he said?

"Go away from here, all of you! You are all lying! 'My Gurudev', 'My Gurudev'—he is not a Gurudev of any of you! He is only my Gurudev."

The police came there and asked Srila Prabhupad, "How will we know that you are his disciple and they are not?"

"How will you understand? Wait, I will show you." Then, Srila Prabhupad turned to all the babajis and said, "So many babajis have come, but can you tell me who of you have not had any female association for the past six months? Raise your hand."

Nobody raised their hand.

"Who of you has not had any female association within the past three months? Is there anyone here?"

Nobody said anything, and gradually the crowd began to disperse.

The police asked, "What if they lie and say they have not had any female association?"

Srila Prabhupad replied, "I am a life-long strict brahmachari, nobody can lie front of me."

In this way, Srila Prabhupad kept asking them and came down to, "Who has not had any female association for the past day?" Everybody left. Then, Srila Prabhupad took Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj's body and made his samadhi. We have visited his samadhi-mandir today.

Such is the pure nature of Vaishnavs. Tomorrow we will go to the bhajan-kutir and samadhi-mandir of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, we will take his darshan last tomorrow. It is by his mercy and by the mercy of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, that we have Yogapith, Mahaprabhu's birthplace, today...

* * *

Be Serious

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

I always keep telling you the same thing. How many times have you come? How many times have you done this parikrama? We do not practise Krishna consciousness seriously. Think seriously.

Every time when Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur finished this parikrama, everybody would come to see him before going back to their homes (everybody does it, you do it too). Everybody worries about their homes because they have been away for five-six days. Do you know what Srila Prabhupad would say? "Is your house on fire? Even then you do not have to go there. Let it burn. But we always think how much we have lost, we always worry about our rented house and in this way our life passes and finishes. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says, "Jivana ha-ila sesa, na bhajile hrsikesa. Your life is finished, you did not serve Hrisikesh!" This life has finished, and it is doubtful whether you will get a human birth again or not.

If you have any faith, you must keep good association—take shelter at the lotus feet of sadhus and practise Krishna consciousness. This is the only path for this life. Yet, we cannot sacrifice trifle things, cannot sacrifice our tongues' hankering—if I was to tell today that you can eat fish, meat, etc., everybody would become my disciples. For example, there is a matua community mainly in Bangladesh—they eat everything and say, "Hari bol"! There are such people in India also. How many people really want to serve and worship the Lord?

Practise strictly, regularly, offer bhog to the Lord, take prasad. "Ye dina grhe bhajana dekhi grhete goloka bhaya. On the days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there." How many people think, "I will wake up in the morning every day and do mangal-arati, serve the Lord, practise Krishna consciousness"?

"Ye dina grhe bhajana dekhi grhete goloka bhaya. On the days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there." Practise every day. You can turn your house into a temple! You do not have to make domes for that—you do not have to put stone or marble in the house for that. You can do Tulasi parikrama at home. If you do Tulasi parikrama, you get the result of doing Vrindavan parikrama. Many people keep Tulasi at home, they offer incense, water, blow the conch, but they do not make space for Tulasi parikrama. You must do parikrama of Tulasi Devi—circumambulate Tulasi four times in the morning and four times in the evening. When you go outside, you must obeisance to Tulasi, and when you return pay obeisance to Tulasi again. If you serve Tulasi, you will get devotion.

* * *

Surrender Your Mind

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 7
Translated from Bengali

You must think how you will get devotion. There are sixty-four limbs of devotion—if you practise them, this is how devotion comes. We go for the dham-parikrama, fast on ekadasi, offer arati at the temple, circumambulate the temple, chant kirtans, etc.—these are all limbs of devotion. You can get the (Bengali) Calendars, you will see all this written in them, you can see also where and which festivals are held at the temple. When I wake up in the morning, I always look in the Calendar to see whose appearance or disappearance it is today. If you cannot make a festival on some day, at least give 'jay' to the Vaishnav and remember them. There is an appearance day of Srila Jiva Goswami, there is a disappearance day of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Even when I do not see these days, I still remember them—I leaf through the Calendar and see what is in it...

We must practise Krishna consciousness in this way.

We will go by bus tomorrow in the same way as we did today. We will get off the buses at the bridge and start the parikrama of Koladwip. First, we will go to the temple of Vriddha (or Buro) Siva. It is a very old Deity of Lord Siva. Mahaprabhu came there. All the places where we go were visited by Mahaprabhu Himself.

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

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

We will do this parikrama together with the devotees. We will visit all the places where Gaura served and worshipped the Lord.

After Vriddha Siva's temple we will go to Prauddha Maya, and from there we will go to offer obeisance at the house of Vishnupriya Devi where she stayed and worshipped Mahaprabhu's Deity. After that, we will go to the samadhi-mandir of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj. There is a field nearby, and we will arrange for prasadam there. After taking prasadam, the buses will be waiting there—we will come back here, to the temple, by buses again. Everybody must try to go for the parikrama. First surrender, then go. If you think, "Oh, I cannot walk," "Oh, I cannot go," "I cannot do this", "I cannot do that," etc. then you will not be able to do anything. This is in your mind. The cure is in the mind. When Mahaprabhu asked Srila Haridas Thakur, "What is your disease?" Srila Haridas Thakur replied, "My body is not sick, it is my mind that is sick." If you are lying and thinking, "Oh, I am so tired, I will not go tomorrow," then that will happen. You must think, "No, I must go! Whatever danger, whatever obstacle comes I will go for the parikrama of the holy dham." We must always remember this.

When we were on the parikrama today, we did not have time to sit at some places and say everything we could. For example, we have been today to the house of Srila Srivas Pandit, but we did not have time to say everything there. Do you know what happened there one time? Because some naughty people harassed Srivas Pandit, he would close his door and do kirtan inside with the doors closed so that people did not disturb him. What did the outside people do? When Srivas Pandit closed his door and was chanting kirtan, naughty people would eat meat, fish, drink liquor and throw the bones and bottles in front of Srivas Pandit's house so that people would see it in the morning and say, "Look at this sadhu, he is chanting the Holy Name and eats meat, fish, etc.!" Srivas Pandit tolerated everything, he did not say anything to anyone. Rather, he would tell others, "Look at me, look how bad I am! How vile I am! I chant kirtan and drink liquor at night! I am so bad, I do such bad things." Others were upset thinking, "Who could have done this?" Who did that? Actually, he who did it got the result for it within three days—his name is Chapal Gopal. He got leprosy in three days after that—insects (bugs and worms) started living in his body. One day, when Mahaprabhu was going to bathe in the Ganges, Chapal Gopal saw Him and said, "Prabhu, You rescue everyone—will You not rescue me? Will You keep me suffering?" Mahaprabhu was very angry, He said, "You have made an offence at the lotus feet of Srivas! You will suffer hellish misery for millions of births. You will be an offender for ten million births!" Saying this, Mahaprabhu left. When Mahaprabhu took sannyas and came back to Kuliya, Chapal Gopal again came to Mahaprabhu's lotus feet. Mahaprabhu said, "I cannot forgive your offence. You have made an offence at the lotus feet of Srivas, so you must go to him and ask him for forgiveness."

So, when we make an offence to any Vaishnav, if we do not ask that Vaishnav for forgiveness, our offence will never be forgiven. So, if you make an offence to any Vaishnav, you must go to that Vaishnav and ask them for forgiveness. We sing in one of the kirtans also,

hari-sthane aparadhe tare harinama
toma-sthane aparadhe nahiko edana

"If somebody offends the Lord, the Lord's Name delivers them, but if somebody offends you, they have no way to be saved."

* * *

Keep Your Lamp Alight

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

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

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

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami.

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

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

By the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, by the mercy of Vaishnavs, we have completed the second day of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama without any difficulties. Tomorrow we will stay at the temple, it is going to be ekadasi. The programme will start here from 10 a.m. Tomorrow is a grand festival in honour of Sri Madhavendra Puripad's disappearance. It is a mahadvadasi day, but we will be fasting on this day as on ekadasi because the tithis are touching. On this day from 10 a.m. until bhoga-arati of the Lordships, we will be listening to Hari-katha and about the glories of Sri Madhavendra Puripad.

Every year, Gurudev would speak about Sri Madhavendra Puri on this day, and when he could not come downstairs, he would tell me to speak about Sri Madhavendra Puri. I would go on the parikrama on this day and would return and speak about Srila Madhavendra Puri in the evening. So, we have got this opportunity to observe this day tomorrow. I know you are all tired; you can take some rest tomorrow, but do not sit in your room talking gramya-katha (gossiping or having idle talks). I know that not everybody is used to waking up early in the morning, so not many come for the mangal-arati, but those who cannot come for the mangal-arati, should at least come at 10 a.m.

"Saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange, abhyasa ha-ila manda. In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things." This is how people cannot wake up early in the morning. From our childhood and youth we have developed bad habits; many who stay at the temple also become lazy. Householders have to go to work every morning so they wake up for the mangal-arati, but those who stay at the temple do not worry about it, they sleep till eight o'clock. This is not good. We teach others, but first we must practise it ourselves, then we can teach others,

nije achari dharma jivke sikhaya
achara prachara namera lainu karya

“Practise yourself and teach the right path to the souls. Your chanting of the Holy Name will be effective when you practise yourself and preach.”

If you do not practise yourself but teach others, nobody will listen to you. It is necessary to first follow these things yourself.

I will tell you today about Prahlad Maharaj. If we can accept in our lives the practice of Prahlad Maharaj, that is what is called devotion. I wish this kind of devotion for you. I know that at least I do not have the kind of devotion that Prahlad Maharaj has. He has shown what devotion is in his own life. He has so much tolerance! We must follow and practise the devotion that Prahlad Maharaj showed in his life. That is why, we must always first give 'jay' to Prahlad Maharaj, then only to Sri Nrisinghadev. You can never worship the Lord without His devotees. Remember this. I heard today somebody was giving 'jay'—they gave 'jay' to Nrisinghadev, but not to Prahlad Maharaj. Never make this mistake. First you must give 'jay' to Prahlad Maharaj, after that to Nrisinghadev. Always remember this. You can never get the Lord without His devotees.

I have been studying Bhagavatam today the whole day (after returning from the parikrama). I was reading about different kinds of liberation (sayujya, merging with Brahman; sarupya, having the same body as the Lord; salokya, residing at the same planet as the Lord; samipya, being an associate of the Lord; sarsti, having the same opulences as the Lord) and what is the position of those who attain it. I am used to reading and studying from my childhood when I would study for eighteen-twenty hours a day, and I cannot leave this habit to this day—I still study and read books. A new book has come today, Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata—we have reprinted it.

Gurudev has given so much responsibility on my shoulder... When Gurudev told me about it, I could not understand it. Gurudev would tell me, "I was seated on this throne with a garland on my neck, but I do not like to wear this garland—ants always bite me." At that time, I did not understand what Gurudev meant. I thought maybe there were some ants in the garland he had been given, but this is not what Gurudev meant. It is such an agony to be an acharya...

Every morning when we wake up we sing,

udita tapana ha-ile asta
dina gela bali' ha-ibe vyasta
tabe kena ebe alasa ha-i'
na bhaja hrdaya-raje

"When the shining sun sets, you become busy, considering that the day has passed. So why are you being lazy now? Why will you not serve the Lord of your heart?

('Udila aruna' by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Why must we become lazy? We must always remember this. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur expresses his own feeling also,

nidralasya hata sukarya
virata akarya udyogi ami
pratistha lagiya sathya-acharana
lobha-hata sada kami

"I am ruined by laziness and sleep. I do not like to do what is good, I like to do what is bad. I always do bad things for my own name and fame. I am ruined by greed and I am always full of desires."

Somebody came to me and said, "I want to speak about the glories of Sri Guru!" I told him, "You have no right, no qualification to speak about the glories of Sri Guru. When the Guru gives you this right, when the Guru gives you this service to speak about the glories of Sri Guru, then you can do it. But you have no such right." You can speak about the glories of Sri Guru only when the Guru gives you his mercy; you can glorify Vaishnavs only when they give you their mercy to do so. When somebody has no mercy of their Guru, glorification of Sri Guru can never come to their mouth. We must always remember and think about this.

nidralasya hata sukarya
virata akarya udyogi ami
pratistha lagiya sathya-acharana
lobha-hata sada kami

"I am ruined by laziness and sleep. I do not like to do what is good, I like to do what is bad. I always do bad things for my own name and fame. I am ruined by greed and I am always full of desires."

You know, Gurudev went abroad so many times, but I never ever said to him that I wanted to go abroad. Never. One day, Gurudev's secretary came to me and said that I had to give him some documents to make my passport. I asked him, "A passport? What for?" and he said, "This is an order from the 'Head Office'." When I joined the temple and came to Gurudev, I did not even know it was my initiation day (I was given the second initiation and saffron clothes on the same day). That day, I came from the field with my feet covered in mud, and they told me, "Come quickly, Gurudev is waiting for you! He is calling you." Gurudev asked me, "Have you brought a notepad?" I asked, "My legs are full of mud, what should I do?" and Gurudev said, "It is your initiation day today!" Then, Gurudev told me to wash the mud off and come sit in front of him. Then, Gurudev put his hand on my shoulder and gave the mantras. When Gurudev touched my shoulder, I felt a surge of feeling. Gurudev said, "If you recite this gayatri-mantra twice a day (if you do not have time to recite it in the afternoon, you can do it in the morning and in the evening), then you will get connection (relationship) with Radharani." Then, Gurudev gave me saffron clothes and took my hand telling me to change and go sit at the yajna. He did not tell me anything—when I took sannyas, it was like that too.

One time, I ran away for twenty-four hours, and when I came back, I saw Gurudev sitting at his veranda, and I came and sat there too. I did not say anything—just sat there quietly. Gurudev started reading a newspaper. Somebody else was sitting there too, reading some scripture. I saw Gurudev was not saying anything, and I sat there like a chatak bird, waiting, "What service will Gurudev give me?" I already had service, but I would sit at his lotus feet like a chatak bird waiting for more service. Such was my habit.

It is necessary to have good habits. To this day I have to look after everything—it is ekadasi tomorrow, and I still have to give them the list of what should be purchased. I have to tell everyone what to do. There is nobody to do this, and I do not like it. I still have to go to the storage room to see what is there, how many vegetables are there, how much oil is there, how much wood is there, etc. In the evening I will again have to call the cooks, ask what they need and arrange everything. There is a lack of people who would learn from looking.

For example, before you offer the big lamp to the Deities, you must light a small one and keep it there so that the room does not become dark. I remember this. Because Gurudev has lit this lamp and kept it there, the room does not become dark, and I want to see that you keep the lamp alight so that when I leave the room does not become dark.

You must understand what I have told you. So many devotees have come, but you cannot recognise them, but I know everyone, I know everyone's face and where each of them comes from, I can tell it about every single person here. I can tell where they live, who they are, etc. because there is love, there is a heart to heart connection. This is not a one day relationship—this is a birth after birth relationship...

In Gurudev's time, I would go to Mednipur and Bardhaman, take so many people by hand to the temple and throw them at the lotus feet of Gurudev. I would go village to village and bring so many people here for Gaura Purnima. They came, listened to some Hari-katha and if they had some sukriti, they took shelter at the lotus feet of Gurudev. When I just came to the temple, I would go for the parikrama with a hundred people, but later you saw how many thousands of people went for the parikrama from our old temple in Nabadwip. The place here is small, but still there are so many people here that there is no place in the nat mandir. Anyhow, now we have expanded the territory, so everything is coming gradually, do not worry.

We must practise Krishna consciousness. I will not chant many kirtans today, I will rather speak today—you chanted much kirtan today during the parikrama. We are here now, and we must speak about Prahlad Maharaj. We will be going to many places the day after tomorrow, and when we come here, there will be no time to speak about Prahlad Maharaj, therefore I will speak about him today and tomorrow. I will tell you what is written in Bhagavatam—this is bhajan-siddhanta (the conclusions of devotional life). Prahlad Maharaj taught how to practise Krishna consciousness in Satya-yuga. This is not something invented in this age. When we went to Ahobilam (South India), we saw the place where Lord Nrisinghadev's pastime took place—after defeating Hiranyakasipu in order to protect Prahlad Maharaj, Lord Nrisinghadev came here to take rest. All the great munis, rishis and all the demigods reside here; they are here even now. This is such a pure land. We can only see great buildings, wood, stone, etc. with these material illusory eyes, but this is not what this place really is. Why did the Lord come here after killing Hiranyakasipu in Ahobilam? Because He knew that Gauranga Mahaprabhu would come here in Kali-yuga. This was a hint. Satya-yuga was so many million years ago! Every yuga lasts so many thousands of years—there is Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga, and then only Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga's duration is 432,000 years, and only a little over five thousand years have passed, so much is still left.

Anyhow, I will not take more time now. We will chant Gurudev's kirtan and then Dasavatara Stotram. [His Divine Grace chants kirtans.]

* * *

Faith, Devotion, and Love

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day One
Evening class, 23 March 2021, part 8
Translated from Bengali

When you used to have a thatched house or a mud house, you practised Krishna consciousness, and now that you have got a good house, all your devotion is hidden and gone. [Devotees object, "We have made it so that you could come."] What is the use if you bring me there?

krsna yadi chhute bhakte bhukti mukti diya
kabhu prema-bhakti na dena rakhena lukaiya

"If you ask Krishna for anything except devotion, He can give you those things—bhukti, mukti, liberation, and so on—but He will hide devotion from you. You will not get devotion."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.18)

You say you will take me there, but when I come, say, to a mud house, do I come to see the house? Must you make a five-storey building to bring me there? You can ask everyone what places I go to—somebody has a five-story house, somebody has marble floors, somebody has A/C in the rooms—do I go to all these places? I do not. You tell me—I have had programmes in so many houses, what houses do I go to? You can see this devotee sitting in front of me. When their father made a festival programme, he went collecting door to door. He collected all the ingredients and called me (he had called me so many times that I could not but come). He made the programme, fed everyone, and on top of that put all the remainder of the bhoga into my car as a donation. He told me, "I have collected all this, what will I do with it? It is not for my enjoyment. You please take it." So, you are saying you are making a posh house for me, but tell me—did I not come to your house when it was just a mud house?

My position is just like Sudama Vipra's. When Sudama Vipra came to Dvaraka to see Krishna, he was astonished to see all the grand buildings. "Where have I come?" he thought. "Krishna has called me to see Him, but where have I come? I do not understand all these great buildings—when my friend rolled in the dust as a ordinary cowherd, He was my true friend at that time. I do not like to see this atmosphere here." Sudama Vipra left Dvaraka as soon as he could—he did not want to stay there a second longer. He struggled so much to come there, but seeing all the opulence he left quickly.

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi khay

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

There are five-, ten-, fifteen- or more storey buildings in Kolkata—do I go to those homes? Will you see me in any of such places? Even if they call me, I will not go there. You know that Mahaprabhu never met with King Prataparudra. So, all this external opulence is a problem. You must call out to the Lord with your heart and soul. You must love the Lord with your whole being—what kind of love is it when you show your money, wealth, etc.? You must love with your whole being, with your heart and soul.

I went to some extremely poor houses, but they give me a twenty-five kg sack of potato! They are all sun-burnt people—they work in the field, get burnt in the sun, but when they give this hard-earned yield for the service of the Lord, they get real sukriti for that. No money, no wealth can give such sukriti. You can see also that Krishna did not accept Durdhyona's raj-bhog (opulent food)—but He went to Vidura's house and ate banana skin there. We went to Sridhar's house today, what did he have? Mahaprabhu told him, "You do not even have a proper house! There are holes in your roof! You have no fence around the house, you have no proper roof!" Moreover, when Mahaprabhu wanted some water, Sridhar became shy—the only glass he had at home had a hole in it and all the water fell through it. But Mahaprabhu came to him all the time, and Nityananda Prabhu spent a night there.

I do not like all these big grand buildings, multi-storey houses, etc. I am a simple man ('matir manush') and I like to live simply (near the ground or land, mati). Faith (sraddha), devotion (bhakti), and love (bhalobhasa)—this is sufficient...

Mahaprabhu performed so many pastimes. One time, Mahaprabhu was sitting at the house of Srivas Pandit and giving His blessings to everyone, "May you get auspiciousness," "May you be successful," etc. There was a devotee named Mukunda among the devotees who was a very good singer, but Mahaprabhu did not call out his name. Mukunda felt pain, "Prabhu has called out everyone's names, but He has not mentioned my name..." When asked, Mahaprabhu said about Mukunda, "Yes, he will get mercy after ten million births." Mukunda began to dance, "Yes! I will get Prabhu's mercy!" Such was the strength of his faith.

There were so many other pastimes in Nabadwip. When Mahaprabhu was young, He would play with young girls at the bank of the Ganges. There were a little older girls and some small girls—they would come to the Ganges bringing atop chal (choice rice), bananas, flowers, etc. and use all these ingredients to worship the Ganges. When they sat to arrange the worship of the Ganges, Mahaprabhu would disturb their offering and sit in front of them saying, "Worship Me!" All the girls told Him, "Hey, what are You doing? What You are doing is not good!" Mahaprabhu would not listen, so all the girls would pick up their fruit, flowers, etc. and go away saying, "We will complain to Your mother!" Mahaprabhu then said, "It will not do you any good! I will curse you then!" "What curse do You want to give?" "If you do not give all your offerings to Me, then you will get a very old husband with seven other wives!" Mahaprabhu taught the world through this, "If you worship Me, then all worship is automatically accomplished!"

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

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

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

If you worship the Lord, you do not need to worship any other gods or goddesses. Anyway, is it even possible to worship all 330 million demigods? If you worship Lord Siva today, then Parvati will be unsatisfied; if you worship Kali, Durga will be unsatisfied; if you worship Laksmi Devi, Ganesh will be unsatisfied; if you worship Ganesh, Kartik will be unsatisfied. So, if you worship Lord Krishna, all the worship of all the demigods is automatically accomplished. Moreover, all your debts—debts to your father, mother, sages, demigods, etc.—become cleared and no debt remains. Always remember this.

There was one more wonderful pastime at the house of Srivas Pandit. Although Srivas Pandit was a grihastha (his wife's name is Malini), he was actually more than a sannyasi. Just see what happened there! One time, Nimai's elder brother Vishvarup, who was about thirteen-fourteen years old at that time, came to Srivas Pandit and asked him, "Prabhu, I need one scripture. I was hoping that I could get it from you." At that time, Muslim people used to burn all the Hindu scriptures, so Srivas Pandit replied to Vishvarup, "I have sent the book you need to Tripura otherwise if I had kept it, the Muslim would have burnt it." Then, Malini Devi came into the room and Srivas Pandit told him, "Oh, Vishvarup came here, he needed some help, but I could not help him." Malini Devi then said suddenly, "How will you help him? You are always busy with kirtan and you only know to go to Advaita Acharya's lectures—what to speak of helping others, you cannot even take care of your own house! You are not even a householder!" Because Srivas Pandit and Malini Devi quarrelled in front of Vishvarup, Srivas Pandit became shy and said to Vishvarup, "Have you seen it, Vishvarup? What have I done that she is saying such things about me? Do you see now what family life is like? Do you understand now what a problem it is when you get married? Can you see how my own wife chastises me? Never get married!" At about that time, there was some news about Vishvarup's marriage—his parents had already selected a girl for him and were about to have him married. So, hearing all this, Vishvarup ran away. He left home.

There are so many things that can be said, I have written everythin in this book, Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala. Buy this book and read it carefully. Read the holy books, it will do you good. All right, I will not keep you any longer for today. I will let you go now because you must all wake up early in the morning tomorrow. Before you go to sleep, please make sure all water taps are closed otherwise you will not be able to bathe in the morning, it will be a problem.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Hari Haraye Nama Krishna' and 'jaya dhvani' concluding thus the evening class at the end of the first day of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama.]

* * *

Lord's Impartiality

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

So, we have been to the parikrama of Koladwip today and this place here where we are staying is called Godrumdwip. There are nine island in Nabadwip, and the island where we are now is called Godrumdwip, this is an abode of kirtan. I will tell you about all the other places as we go there, but today I would like to speak about the place where we are staying, namely Deva Palli, or Nrisingha Palli. When Lord Nrisinghadev came to this world to protect Prahlad Maharaj and defeated Hiranyakasipu in Ahobilam (South India), He came here to take some rest. Why did He sit in this place? Because He knew that Gauranga Mahaprabhu would appear later in this Nabadwip Dham. So, today we will speak and hear about Prahlad Maharaj, Hiranyakasipu, and Lord Nrisinghadev.

Offering my full obeisance at the holy lotus feet of Bhakta-Raj Prahlad Maharaj and praying for the mercy of Lord Nrisinghadev, Nitai Gaura, and Sri Gurupadpadma, I will try to say something. You can find this narrative in Srimad Bhagavatam, and I will tell it to you now in a little shorter way based on what I have heard from the holy lotus mouth of my Gurudev and holy Vaishnavs.

There are two gatekeepers in Vaikuntha named Jay and Vijay. They were the gatekeepers of the Lord. One day, the four sons of Lord Brahma came to the gate stark naked. Because Jay and Vijay could not recognise them, they made a mistake. Ultimately, everything happens by the will of the Lord—no pastime can be possible without the wish of the Lord.

I have heard once at a class on Srimad Bhagavatam and was thinking about this—somebody asks, "It is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita that the Lord protects only His devotees and keeps the non-devotees far away from Himself, which means that the Lord is partial. Then how is it that the Lord is considered impartial? Where is His impartiality?" The Lord is equal to everyone, but when the Lord's devotees try to worship and serve the Lord, the Lord cannot ignore or dismiss them, whereas demons become destroyed. The main thing is that devotees worship the Lord. So, yes, the Lord is impartial, He makes everyone suffer or enjoy according to their karma. But we can see the example of Prahlad Maharaj (how many obstacles, how many dangerous situations he encountered!)—when you come to practise Krishna consciousness, you will face so many dangerous situations, so many obstacles and difficulties, but if you tolerate all these difficulties and austerities and can continue practising Krishna consciousness properly, then you will be successful, you will get the supreme benefit. This is the main thing.

* * *

Jay and Vijay Cursed

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

Jay and Vijay were two gatekeepers in Vaikuntha. One time, Brahma's four sons, four young boys, came to the gate stark naked. It is said in the Bhagavatam that although they looked like five-year old small boys, but this is not who they actually are—they are actually great sages, first-born sons of Adi Brahma, therefore they were the oldest of all living creatures. By the will of the Lord, these great sages lived disguised as four small boys. Their names are Sanak, Sanatan, Sanandan, Sanat-kumar. They had been roaming the three worlds and came to Vishnu Loka where Lord Narayan lives. When Jay and Vijay saw the four small naked boy trying to enter the gate of Vaikuntha, they prohibited them to go inside.

There is a sloka of Madhvacharya that says that the associates of the Lord that reside in Vaikuntha are eternally liberated souls, and whenever they receive any blessing or curse, they always remain liberated. Those who enter Vaikuntha do not have a material body, and if someone becomes cursed and has to take a material body in this world, they still remain liberated.

When the four kumars were denied entrance to Vaikuntha, they cursed Jay and Vijay. As a result of that curse, Jay and Vijay had to get material body. Somebody can ask—they are liberated souls residing in Vaikuntha, how can they be cursed? They may have been cursed, but when they were cursed, they accepted the form of demons and when they were defeated by the Lord, they again came to Vaikuntha. That curse did not last long—as soon as that material body was finished, they again came to the liberated position. Although they had to fall down to the material world, the extremely merciful Supreme Lord told them, "O gatekeepers! You will again return to Vaikuntha after three births. Your sin will be removed." So, in other words, they had to stay in the material world for three days, and after that they would come back to Vaikuntha.

In this way, Jay and Vijay were born in this world as two brothers, Hiranyakasipu an Hiranyaksa...

* * *

Loving Relationship with the Lord

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

We were talking today about Varahadev who is the master of Koladwip, and, as we were chanting the Dasa Avatara Stotram kirtan, it is mentioned there Sukara-rupa of the Lord, 'sukara' means a boar. There is also the incarnation of the Lord in the form of a dwarf (Vamanadev) and also a half-man and half-lion form (Nrisinghadev).

So, when Jay and Vijay appeared in this world, they came as Hiranyakasipu (the elder brother) and Hiranyaksa (the younger brother). The two brothers were so powerful and fearsome that all demons worshipped them. How much austerity they have given to others, and how much Prahlad Maharaj had to go through! It should teach us what a devotee must be like—when Lord Nrisinghadev killed Hiranyakasipu in His fury, all the demigods were shivering with fear and nobody wanted to come close to Lord Nrisinghadev, but Prahlad Maharaj came to Him, and as soon as Lord Nrisinghadev saw him, He immediately became cool. When a cow sees its calf or a lion sees its cub, it immediately becomes loving towards its baby. The Lord in the form of a lion was also so angry and ferocious, but when His own son came to Him, He immediately became calm and loving. Lord Nrisinghadev took Prahlad Maharaj on His lap and began to lick him!

After that, there followed a long conversation at the end of which Lord Nrisighadev asked Prahlad Maharaj, "What boon do you want? What can I give you?" In reply, Prahlad Maharaj spoke earnestly what was in his heart, "Prabhu, Lord Brahma is Your close associate, Your very own, Lord Siva is Your own close associate, Lord Indra is Your own—Indra has taken the responsibility for heaven, Brahma is responsible for creating this world. Have You even taken Lord Brahma on Your lap and asked him that? Have You ever shown this kind of affection to Your sakti (energy, or power) Laksmi Devi? You take her on your lap, but do You ever show her this kind of affection? Lord Indra is the king of heaven, but have You ever taken him on your lap and petted him? Never. Then what kind of boon will I want from You when You have already given so much love and affection to me?" The Lord's devotees are so near and dear to the Lord! How beautiful these words are!

Then, Prahlad Maharaj said, "If You must give me some boon, then I can ask for one thing. My father has done so many things. He killed brahmans, he burnt Vaishnavs, he killed cows and calves and ate their meat. He even dared raise his hand to You. Prabhu, I am praying to You—please rescue my father." Do you see? How merciful the Lord's devotees are! Prahlad Maharaj was beaten and tortured in so many ways, but he prayed to the Lord for him.

* * *

Demons' Plight

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

I have read to you today [during the parikrama] about Bali Maharaj, how Vamanadev came, and how Hiranyaksa was defeated by Varahadev. The Lord was so angry! The Lord can never tolerate when His devotee is abused or given austerity. He becomes so furious and hard—it will freeze your blood to hear it!

There are many people even among devotees who do not understand this and think, "How come the Lord becomes so angry and kills so cruelly when He is said to be extremely merciful?" People think in this way and leave the path of devotion going in a wrong direction. Hiranyakasipu himself tried to win everyone's support by saying, "Look, look! He has killed my younger brother! If God was so merciful, then what was the need to kill him?" This is a wrong conception.

When Jay and Vijay were cursed, they became Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa, then in Treta-yuga they became Ravan and Kumbhakarna, and in Dvapar-yuga they were born as Dandavakra and Sisupal (I was reading how they were slain today too). These are the three births that Jay and Vijay got as demons.

So, when Hiranyaksa was slain by Varahadev, Hiranyakasipu lost his mind. He became so hot-headed that he left for the forest to practice austerities with a view to get a boon from Brahma. He practised austerities for many thousands of years praying to Lord Brahma. What kind of austerities did he practise? His austerities were so severe that there was no flesh left on his body—only bones. He ate only air. Eventually, Brahma came to him and asked, "What boon do you want?" Hiranyakasipu said, "Make so that nobody in this world can kill me. I want to match Vishnu because He has killed my brother!" What a fool! He wanted to kill the Lord! He thought, "The Lord came as Varahadev (as a boar) and killed my brother! I will revenge!" Brahma listened to him and said, "You cannot get this from me. It is beyond my power to give this kind of boon to you. Yes, I create everything in this world by the will of the Lord, and Lord Vishnu maintains everything, so I cannot make anyone immortal. Only the Supreme Lord is immortal in this world—He created this world, He exists and will exist after the destruction of this world when everything within this world is going to be destroyed. Even I myself will not stay in this world forever. I have a very long lifespan, but even I also have to die one day—somebody else will come and replace me in this post after me. And I too hope to practise Krishna consciousness—then, when I leave this body, I can go to the domain of the Lord. So, I cannot give you what you want." Then, Hiranyakasipu said, "All right, then I want this boon. Make so that I will not die indoors." Brahma said, "So be it." Hiranyakasipu continued, "I will not die outdoors." "So be it." "I will not die during the day, I will not die during the night." "All right, so be it." "I will not be killed by any weapon created by the Lord." Brahma agreed and gave the boon Hiranyakasipu asked for.

We see that demons always keep on trying to defeat the Lord and they always think about the Lord—they always think, "How will I kill Him? How will I kill Him?" Thinking and thinking in this way, they get liberation! This is sayujya-mukti—although they are antagonistic towards the Lord, they get liberation and later become destroyed (they do not get devotion, they get liberation instead, i.e. merge with the impersonal form of the Lord). Maybe they think bad about the Lord (they want to kill the Lord!), but they think about the Lord, and as a result of that they get liberation. For example, Dantavakra always thought how to kill Krishna and fought against Krishna, but even he got liberation!

Anyhow, Hiranyakasipu got this kind of boon from Lord Brahma, and this also happens by the will of the Lord. The boon that Brahma gave to Hiranyakasipu was given by the will of the Lord. Even demons get boons. You can see that so many things in this world are destroyed by the influence of demoniac energy. So, when Hiranyakasipu got that boon from Brahma, he started to create so many atrocities in the world. He tried to become even more powerful...

* * *

Appearance of Prahlad Maharaj

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

So, by the time Hiranyakasipu was getting his boon, there was another event that took place in the meantime. When Hiranyakasipu left his house to meditate on Lord Brahma, his wife Kayadhu stayed at home (Hiranyakasipu's palace), but at that time all the demigods, encouraged by their guru Brihaspati, came to the palace and destroyed the whole place breaking everything into pieces. They were angry thinking, "This demon has tortured us so much! It is very good he has left!" So, they crushed the palace and took Hiranyakasipu's wife Kayadhu with them to kill her later. They knew that Kayadhu was pregnant at that time, so, fearing that her child would be a demon too and would disturb them even more, they decided to kill her. Even the demigods can have such crazy ideas.

You have seen the image of 'Mother' Kali—she wears a garland of heads, her husband lies under her foot (he is lying down and she is keeping her leg on him), and she stands naked. Many worship this kind of 'raksasi' deities. It is said in the scriptures also that demons worship such demigods. If you meet such worshippers on the street, they will kill you. All this Kali-puja, Durga-puja is the worship of demons.

So, as the demigods were taking Kayadhu away while Hiranyakasipu was meditating in the forest, by the will of the Lord, Narad Goswami suddenly appeared in front of the demigods and said,

"What is going on? Where are you taking her?"

The demigods replied, "Do you not recognise who she is?"

"Yes, she is Hiranyakasipu's wife Kayadhu. Where are you taking her?"

"Prabhu, she has a child in her womb. We will kill her, then the child will die too."

"You are thinking wrong. Give up this nonsense. This son of Hiranyakasipu will protect you in the future—he will give you all relief in the future. So, do not harm her, better you let Kayadhu go with me. I will take care of her."

In this way, Kayadhu went to the ashram of Narad Muni. She would wash the dishes and make garlands there. She would also listen to Hari-katha, and Prahlad Maharaj would hear it too from the womb of his mother (everything that he learnt from his mother's womb can now be found here in Srimad Bhagavatam). Narad was very pleased with her, so one day he asked her, "Kayadhu, I am very happy with your service, you are doing so much although you have a child in your womb. Tell me, what boon would you like to get from me?" Kayadhu said, "Prabhu, my husband is a demon (although he is a demon, but he is my husband), he has left, but I want him to come back, so please give me a boon that my son would not be born until he returns." Narad Muni agreed and gave her this boon.

Then, Hiranyakasipu returned full of power and vanity thinking, "Nobody can kill me! I am the most powerful in the world! There is nobody as powerful as I am in this world! I can destroy anyone!" He did so many atrocious things!

By and by, his son was born, and as he grew up a little, he was sent to the school of Hiranyakasipu's teacher named Sukracharya. Sukracharya had two sons named Sanda and Amarka, and Hiranyakasipu sent Prahlad Maharaj to study together with them. What was he taught there? All the demoniac subjects—sama, dana, danda, bheda (how to pacify, give money in charity, punish, and divide). Prahlad Maharaj was told about all the demoniac qualities there—how to fight, how to win, etc...

* * *

Unperturbed Purity of Prahlad Maharaj

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 7
Translated from Bengali

Hiranyakasipu sent Prahlad Maharaj to study at school, but what would they teach him there? He had already learnt everything about the Lord from the womb of his mother. Anyhow, a year passed in this way, and one day Hiranyakasipu told Sanda and Amarka to bring Prahlad Maharaj to him.

When Prahlad Maharaj came home, his mother gave him new clothes, etc. and took him to his father. Hiranyakasipu asked, "Boy, what good things have you learnt from your teacher? Tell me something." And just see what a five year old boy answered!

It is written here that Narad Goswami said, "Those who have good intelligence worship the Lord (practise Krishna consciousness), and those who have little intelligence are busy with demigod worship. Such demigod worshippers must think, 'When the demigods I worship get into trouble and are kicked out from heaven, when they are tortured, they run to take shelter of the Lord to get some relief.' So, even the demigods get into trouble when they turn away from the Lord. Then, what do you hope to get from the demigods? Foolish people worship demigods desiring to attain liberation, however those who are liberated from any desire for material enjoyment or who want to become liberated from such desires strive to become free from the bondage of the material world; gradually, they begin to worship the Lord—leaving the desire for material prosperity, knowledge, mystic powers, wisdom, and even if they still have some material desires, when they surrender and pray to the Lord, it is not necessary for them to surrender to any demigods to fulfil their aspirations. It is not necessary for anyone to go to a demigod to fulfil their desires." This is the gist of Srimad Bhagavatam. It says there that Prahlad Maharaj was always absorbed in the thoughts about Krishna, and he was always very happy because of that—he could not even take into his head what he was being taught (all the politics, economics, etc.). He never thought about his food, clothes, etc. When small children are sitting on their mother's lap, they do not worry how they will be fed, how they will rest, how they must pass stool or urine—they are simply satisfied to be on the lap of their mother. Just like a baby, Prahlad Maharaj was protected by Govinda—just as parents always look after their baby, Govinda always protected and took care of Prahlad Maharaj. He was full of God consciousness.

So, when Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlad Maharaj what he had learnt at school, Prahlad Maharaj said (SB, 7.5.5)

tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam
sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat
hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam
vanam gato yad dharim achrayeta

"Prahlada Maharaj replied: O best of the asuras, King of the demons, as far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest [vana]. More clearly, one should go to Vrindavan, where only Krishna consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Prahlad Maharaj did not call Hiranyakasipu "father"—he said "O best of the asuras, King of the demons!" He gave him respect in this way. Then he spoke this verse and advised his father about the science of God consciousness. Yet, when Prahlad Maharaj spoke about devotion to the Lord, hearing him speak Hiranyakasipu began to laugh, "You are a small boy, what do you know with your small intelligence? It seems that some enemy must have got into the school and put all this into your brain." He thought some enemy had come and taught him all those 'bad' things. Hiranyakasipu himself was the Lord's enemy because he knew that he could worship the Lord, but then it would take him seven births to go back to Vaikuntha; alternatively, he could become the Lord's enemy for three births and then get rescued and come back to the Lord quickly. So, Hiranyakasipu knew very well who the Lord was. So, what was he to do with his son now?

[His Divine Grace is distracted by someone.] Can you not stay quiet for one hour? Your mind, your heart is unsettled. There are many people who cannot sit still in one place for one hour, but when they show a TV serial, people sit quiet and watch it, and if they cannot watch it tomorrow for some reason, they became crazy. When they watch a serial, they learn it by heart and can retell everything the next day in detail, but when I tell you something time and time again, you cannot remember it. You do what should not be done, and you do not do what should be done—"we always avoid good activities and always go to do bad activities" (sukarye virata akarya udyogi ami). People sit and watch TV, but instead they could chant the Holy Name, they could read Bhagavatam and holy scriptures. When you watch TV, you sit quiet, and if somebody starts speaking or a child comes and says, "Mom, I'm hungry," they get scolded, "Hey, keep quiet! Let me watch!" Is it not so?

...So, hearing Prahlad Maharaj's words, Hiranyakasipu called Sanda and Amarka and chastised them heavily, "I am paying you money, and what are you teaching him?! How are you bringing him up?!" Sanda and Amarka mumbled, "Sir, we have not done anything, we do not know where he has learnt it from—none of us has taught this to him!" Hiranyakasipu was very angry, "You do not know?! You two must have fallen asleep and some Vaishnav came and brain-washed him! Which Vaishnav, which sadhu has taught this to him?!"

Prahlad Maharaj said, "Everyone is equal in front of the Lord, but when humans draw distinction, they start to differentiate and call one person a 'friend' and another person an 'enemy'—when somebody says such things, then it can be understood that they are situated within illusory bondage." On the other hand, mayavadis say that everything is the Lord, that jiva souls and the Lord are all one. This is also a wrong conception. Mayavadis say that we must serve 'poor' Narayan (there is a popular belief in India according to which poor people are seen as manifestation of the Lord, so helping the poor is the same as serving the Lord). This is wrong—Narayan never can be poor, neither can a poor man be Narayan!

Then, Hiranyakasipu sent Prahlad Maharaj back to school and ordered Sanda and Amarka to teach him well. We have been to that school, it is located in a cave in South India. After a while, Hiranyakasipu again called Prahlad Maharaj and asked him what he had learnt at school; this time Prahlad Maharaj said,

sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam
archchanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam

Hearing, practising (chanting), remembering the Lord, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, serving the Deity, offering obeisances, considering oneself a servant, thinking of the Lord as of a friend, and full surrender.

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23)

Hiranyakasipu again got angry, "He is my enemy!" and threw his son off his lap. After that, he ordered his people to kill him. He ordered them to kill his own son!

* * *

Placid and Undaunted Devotion

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 8
Translated from Bengali

Under the influence of his demoniac nature, Hiranyakasipu did not even see his own son as his son—he decided to kill him. Yet, "Marabi rakhabi, yo ichchha tohara: If He wants to kill you, He will kill you, and if He wants to keep you alive, He will keep you alive." When the Lord protects somebody, who can kill them? Hiranyakasipu tried in so many ways—he tied Prahlad Maharaj to an elephant's leg, he tied him to a stone and threw him into water, he threw him from a mountain. Hiranyakasipu tried in every possible way to kill him because he was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakasipu's sworn enemy. Hiranyakasipu was furious, "An enemy took birth in my house!" Prahlad Maharaj had to suffer so much because of that. You must all learn from this. How much Prahlad Maharaj had to suffer—he was even thrown into fire!

When Hiranyakasipu saw that every attempt of his men to kill Prahlad Maharaj proved futile, Hiranyakasipu decided to kill Prahlad Maharaj himself. He ordered his men, "Bring him to me! I will finish him today!" Prahlad Maharaj came, and Hiranyakasipu asked him, "Listen, boy! Where did you get so much power?!"

Prahlad Maharaj replied, "O the best of the demons! I am powerful through the same power that has made you powerful. You think you are very great, but you have got your strength through Brahma by the will of Krishna, Lord Hari—the Lord has given you some temporary power, but you do not understand who the Lord is."

"Come on, I do not want to listen to your talks. Shut up!"

Offenders of Guru, Vaishnavs, the Lord, and of the Lord's devotees cannot stand hearing others talk sweetly to them. You know the story of Devananda Pandit—he made a small offence to Srivas Pandit (a great devotee of the Lord), but he had to suffer because of that offence. Anything related to the Lord does not enter the ears of such offenders, it does not get any place in their hearts. Magnet generally attracts iron, but when a piece of iron becomes rusty, it cannot be attracted by a magnet—and it can never be drawn to a magnet until and unless the rust is removed. So, as long as there remains some offence in the heart (Nama-aparadh, seva-aparadh, dham-aparadh, Vaishnav-aparadh), Krishna will not attract us just as a magnet does not attract a piece of rusty iron.

So, Prahlad Maharaj tried to speak to his father and reason him, and in the end he said, "Hari is present everywhere."

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

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

(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)

He is the cause of the whole creation. He is the root cause of all creation and destruction, everything happens by His will. By His will fire has the power to burn. Hiranyakasipu said, "I had you thrown into fire, but you started playing in the flames! What is this? Why did nothing happen to you?"

"Hari is the cause of everything that happens in this world. Everything and everyone in this world eternally serves Hari. Be it sun, wind, fire, or moon—they are all Hari's servants. Do you not understand it? When the Lord orders fire, 'I am taking your power away from you!' Hari gives power to everyone, be it Brahma, Siva, Durga, Kali, Laksmi, Ganesh, humans or anyone else, and when He takes it back, everything becomes lifeless and powerless. All power comes from the Lord, and The Lord can take all power away.

So, what did the Lord do next? How did the Lord appear to protect Prahlad Maharaj? Prahlad Maharaj had argued with his father for a long time. Prahlad Maharaj tried to explain that Hiranyakasipu was his father and he was his son only for a short time, but Hiranyakasipu did not want to listen to anything. You know, there is a saying "Good counsel to a rogue bears no fruit." We are also like that—we are fallen conditioned souls living within illusory environment; we live listening to all sorts of bad talks, and we do not like to hear good things. We have so many things kept in our hearts, and we cannot keep these good things there. We say with our mouth, "I will keep You in my heart," but we only say it. So, in the end, Hiranyakasipu said,

"Where is your Hari?"

Prahlad Maharaj replied, "O best of demons, tell me where He is not? He is everywhere!"

"Everywhere?! Is He here in my palace?!"

"Yes, He is here too."

"Is He in this pillar as well?"

"Yes, He is."

"What?! Hari is here in this pillar?! My enemy is here in this pillar?! Let us see!" Hiranyakasipu did not believe it, so he hit the pillar so hard that the pillar broke. The pillar fell down and it was so big—like, from Nabadwip to Krishnanagar! Then, a great roar of millions of lions could be heard—all three worlds (heaven, earth, and hell) began to shake. Prahlad Maharaj, a small boy, who said that Hari was in the pillar, was not afraid because it is also those who do wrong that become afraid. You know, thieves are always afraid because they can be caught by the police or the owner, but those who have done no wrong have nothing to be afraid of. So, hearing that great roar, everybody backed off and waited...

* * *

Prahlad Maharaj's Prayer

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Two
Evening class, 24 March 2021, part 9
Translated from Bengali

...When Nrisinghadev appeared, He sat on the throne of Hiranyakasipu, and He roared so fiercely that all the demigods trembled out of fear! Even Laksmi Devi shivered to hear the Lord's cry. Demigods came to Laksmi Devi and asked her to go to the Lord and pacify Him, but Laksmi Devi said, "Do you think I am mad? I serve Narayan when He is always peaceful. I have never seen Him in this state!"

When there was a great fight between Nrisinghadev and Hiranyakasipu, at some point Lord Nrisinghadev let Hiranyakasipu go, and, seeing this, all the demigods gasped, "What if the Lord loses? What if Hiranyakasipu wins?!" Even the demigods shivered with fear seeing their battle. Then, the Lord decided not to waste any more time—when Hiranyakasipu hit Lord Nrisinghadev, the Lord pulled Hiranyakasipu up (the Lord carries the whole universe—all the fourteen worlds—so to lift this demon was nothing for Him!), and, placing him on His lap, He tore the demon's chest and stomach with His nails and put his intestines on His neck! Seeing this pastime, everyone shivered with fear and did not want to come close, so finally Prahlad Maharaj came to the Lord. Seeing His devotee, the Lord became peaceful.

Prahlad Maharaj offered a prostrate obeisance to the Lord, and the Lord then took Prahlad Maharaj and seated him on His lap. After that, there was the conversation I have told you about earlier (when the Lord offered a boon to Prahlad Maharaj).

[Clamour in the audience.] It is said in the scriptures that if jiva souls cannot control their senses (five karmendriya—feet, hands, rectum, genitals, mouth; five jnanendriya—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin), they are striving so hard, but all their effort will merely take them to hell. Yet, those who are wise and prudent (who have some intelligence) can attain the mercy of the Lord without any effort. It is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita also,

patram puspam phalam toyam, yo me bhaktya prayachchhati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam, asnami prayatatmanah

"If one offers Me with devotion a leaf, flower, fruit or water, I affectionately accept that offering of the clean hearted devotee."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

"If a devotee worships Me with a leaf, a flower, some water or fruit with selfless devotion, I lovingly accept all these items offered to Me with devotion."

So, when the Lord defeated Hiranyakasipu and threw his body away, He took Prahlad Maharaj on His lap and petted him affectionately. Then, the Lord asked His devotee, "Prahlad, what boon would you like to receive?" Prahlad Maharaj replied, "What can I want, Prabhu? You have treated me in a way that You have never treated even Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, or Lord Indra, what more can I possible want? If You must give me something, then please liberate my father who has done so much wrong in his life." The Lord said, "This has already happened long ago! I automatically grant liberation to those who chant My glories (kirtan), who take the darshan of My Deity, and so on, and your father has actually touched Me when he hit Me, so he already attained the Lord a long time ago—he left this body and his soul has got the supreme benefit." I have told you before that if some inimical person always thinks about the Lord—even if these thoughts are about how to kill the Lord, how to harm the Lord—even they get liberation (sayujya-mukti, merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, Brahman).

There is a sloka in Srimad Bhagavatam that says that we always worry about the happiness of this body and everything that is related to it (wife, house, wealth, children, relatives, friends, etc.), but this body will be reduced to stool one day—yet, we always worry about nice food, nice place to sleep in, nice clothes to wear, and so on. As long as we are situated in this body, we will think that our wife, friends, family, etc. are very dear to us, but as soon as this body is destroyed, there will no longer be any relation to all this paraphernalia of the body (friends, family, and other attachments). Once you die, everything comes to an end. Prahlad Maharaj spoke about all these things. Srimad Bhagavad-gita says,

tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam, jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"You will be able to attain knowledge by satisfying the divine master with submission, relevant inquiry, and sincere service. The enlightened souls who are learned in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will impart divine knowledge to you."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

Do you know what Prahlad Maharaj taught his schoolmates? He told them, "Dear friends, sons of demons, just as you love yourself, just as you always take care of yourself, you must serve and try to please Him who is present within all jiva souls." However, the more Prahlad Maharaj spoke about the glories of the Lord, the angrier the demons became. Hiranyakasipu became so angry that he even decided to kill his own son.

So, Prahlad Maharaj's request to grant liberation to his father was not accepted, so he finally took one boon from Lord Nrisinghadev. He asked the Lord, "Prabhu, if You must give me some boon, then please give me this boon—make it so that I may never want anything from You. I do not wish to have any asking mentality." In this world, we always want something—we even come to our guru because we want something in return. Somebody comes and says, "Gurudev, give me a temple. I will become the king (president) of the temple." Somebody writes letters saying, "Gurudev, if you leave, what will become of us? You have not made a temple in our area!" Disciples come up with all these desires—somebody wants money, somebody wants a house, somebody wants a car, etc. But what did Prahlad Maharaj ask the Lord for? "Make so that I may not ask You for anything—so that I may have no asking mentality. Please remove this mentality from me." We must learn this. Therefore, I am begging you for your blessing that I may never want anything from Guru and Vaishnavs...

This is what Prahlad Maharaj asked the Lord for. And how did he pacify the Lord? Not only just by coming in front of Him. He said (SB, 7.9.27), "My Lord, unlike an ordinary living entity, You do not discriminate between friends and enemies, the favourable and the unfavourable, because for You there is no conception of higher and lower. Nonetheless, You offer Your benedictions according to the level of one's service, exactly as a desire tree delivers fruits according to one's desires and makes no distinction between the lower and the higher." One gets a blessing according to their service. Always remember this. Prahlad Maharaj said, "You never give more or less to anyone, but You always reward one with Your blessing according to their service. Everyone does not get the same kind of blessing or benediction from the Lord. I know that." He also says (SB, 7.9.26), "O my Lord, O Supreme, I am a resident of hell because I was born in a family full of the hellish material qualities of passion and ignorance. What is my position? Who am I? And what is to be said of Your causeless mercy, which was never offered even to Lord Brahma, Lord Siva or the goddess of fortune, Laksmi? You never put Your lotus hand upon their heads, but You have put it upon mine!"

Therefore, it is necessary to become a devotee. How does one become a devotee? "Bhaktis tu bhagavad-bhakta-sangena parijayate (Brhan-naradiya Purana)—you can get devotion through the association of devotees." If you serve devotees, if you associate with devotees, then their qualities will come to you. Therefore, you must always associate with devotees, then you will develop devotional qualities. That is why, we always want devotees' association—we always hanker for the footdust of devotees. There is no other way except for the footdust of the Lord's devotees. "I am your dog!"—we must think in this way.

[His Divine Grace chants "Sarvasva tomara" followed by 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna' and concludes the evening class.]

sarvasva tomara, charane sapiya,
padechhi tomara ghare
tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukkura,
baliya janaha more [1]

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

We chant in the kirtan, "I am placing everything at your feet," but meanwhile we keep the key with ourselves. We must think what we chant and follow it...

sarvasva tomara, charane sapiya,
padechhi tomara ghare
tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukkura,
baliya janaha more [1]

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

bandhiya nikate, amare palibe,
rahiba tomara dvare
pratipa-janere, asite na diba,
rakhiba gadera pare [2]

You will tie me up nearby and maintain me. I will remain at Your doorstep. I will not allow any inimical persons to enter; I will keep them on the far side of Your moat.

I have just remembered something. One time, I was doing collection for Gaura Purnima (Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama) with a few devotees. That day some devotee let us stay in his house and suddenly he took up a piece of chopped wood and wanted to strike me saying, "I am not 'Prabhu'! I am a dog! You must call me 'dog'!" I did not say anything (I thought it was no use saying anything) and he did not hit me. I tolerated it. When you tolerate in this way, then the Lord arranges everything...

We chant in the kirtan, "You are my Lord, and I am your dog." If you call somebody a dog, what is the problem? If you walk on the street and somebody swears you, what is the problem? It does no harm to me. When somebody does this to you, it means they have some problem, that is why they do this. Hiranyakasipu's brother was killed, so he decided to kill the Lord and he even tried to kill his own son.

Anyhow, some days later that man came to the devotees and fell at their feet with tears in his eyes. I phoned the devotees later and asked them what had happened. They said he had come to them to ask for forgiveness and they told him that they had no power to give forgiveness to anyone, but Gurudev will forgive him. I told them that they did well...

tava nija-jana, prasada seviya,
uchchhista rakhibe yaha
amara bhojana, parama-anande,
prati-dina habe taha[3]

Whatever remnants Your devotees leave behind after hon-ouring Your prasad I will eat every day with great joy.

basiya suiya, tomara charana,
chintiba satata ami
nachite nachite, nikate yaiba,
yakhana dakibe tumi [4]

While sitting up or lying down, I will always think of Your feet. I will come to You whenever You call me, dancing all the way.

I will come when you call me—when the call comes, then no material bondage can hold you back. Those who have demoniac nature, they become slaves of illusory environment, and if you try to pull them out of this illusion, they only become angry, antagonistic, full of ego, etc.

nijera posana, kabhu na bhaviba,
rahiba bhavera bhare
bhakati-vinoda, tomare palaka,
baliya varana kare [5]

I will never think about my own maintenance; I will always remain within the shelter of loving attachment for You. Bhakti Vinod embraces You as his maintainer.

* * *

Sri Madhavendra Puripad: One of a Kind

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

Today is a very auspicious day for us—it is a holy day dedicated to the worship of a Vaishnav. It is also mahadvadasi today, we are observing ekadasi-tithi on this day, and today is the disappearance day of Srila Madhavendra Puripad. You know about it. Gurudev always told me to make date-juice (from date molasses; 'khejurer ras') and shukto (a bitter vegetable curry) on this day.

Today is the festival in honour of Srila Madhavendra Puri's disappearance. Yesterday we spoke about the glories of Bhakta-raj Prahlad Maharaj, how Lord Nrisinghadev defeated Hiranyakasipu and protected Prahlad Maharaj. Hiranyakasipu got the boon that he would not be killed by any creature of this world—there is a lion in this world, there is a human in this world, but there is no form that combines both. So, the Lord assumed this form of half-lion, half-man.

Anyhow, I will speak today about Srila Madhavendra Puri. He is the root of the divine wish-fulfilling tree of our line. Today is his disappearance festival. I will speak about it today.

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

We have got this opportunity today to hear about the disappearance of Sri Madhavendra Puri.

jaya sri madhavapuri krsna-prema-pura
bhakti-kalpatarura tenho prathama ankura

Glory to Madhav Puri, the abode of love of Krishna, from whom the divine tree of devotion initially sprouts.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.9.10)

Bhagavan Sri Gaura Hari spoke about Sri Madhavendra Puri and we can read about it in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita

prabhu kahe,—nityananda, karaha vichara
puri-sama bhagyavan jagate nahi ara

"Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within the world as fortunate as Madhavendra Puri."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.171)

There is no one in this world who is as fortunate as Madhavendra Puri.

dugdha-dana-chhale krsna yanre dekha dila
tina-bare svapne asi' yanre ajna kaila

"Madhavendra Puri was so fortunate that Krishna personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Madhavendra Puri in dreams."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.172)

The Lord came to Madhavendra Puri three times when he was asleep and gave him service.

yanra preme vasa hana prakaaa haila
seva angikara kari' jagata tarila

"Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Krishna Himself appeared as the Gopal Deity, and, accepting his service, He liberated the whole world."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.173)

Govardhan-dhari Gopal became manifest in this world through the hand of Madhavendra Puri.

yanra lagi' gopinatha ksira kaila churi
ataeva nama haila 'ksira-chora' kari'

"On account of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Gopinath stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus He became famous as Ksir-chora ('the thief who stole the sweet rice')

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.174)

* * *

Internal and External Struggles

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

bahu-dina tomara patha kari niriksana
kabe asi' madhava ama karibe sevana
tomara prema-vase kari' seva angikara
darsana diya nistariba sakala samsara

"For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, 'When will Madhavendra Puri come here to serve Me?' I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.39-40)

The Lord says, "Madhavendra, I have been waiting for you for so long!" You know, Srila Guru Maharaj has a book called 'Loving Search for the Lost Servant'—just as we are looking for the Lord, the Lord is also looking for us, His lost servants, everywhere. We were just singing in the kirtan, "Vaisnavi pratistha tate kara nistha. Firmly establish yourself as a servant of the Lord." If you do not do that, you will have to fall into a terrible hell...

I have just remembered something now. When we went to Mayapur on the first day of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, you were all in the bus and I was behind, in a car. The window in the car was open because I was looking and making sure everyone got on the bus, and I heard some woman say, "Sadhus must go on foot, why do they go in cars?" People are jealous and cannot tolerate it that sadhus go in a car. Such people are heading to hell. We have to return by car, otherwise you will not come back until very late at night. It would take you the whole day to return here, to Godrumdwip. We go by car for service. It is not necessary for anyone to say anything about that, it is an offence to do that.

It is written here that Srila Madhavendra Puri did not give any respect to pratistha, but pratistha ran behind him. He never wanted any name or fame, he actually ran away from Puri for fear of pratistha. Somebody wants to practise Krishna consciousness in seclusion thinking, "If I stay at the temple, I have to listen to others and do what they say, but I have some money—I can rent a room and chant the Holy Name on my own." This is called self-deception or simply cheating. It is mentioned in the kirtan 'Vaishnav ke' also. Many do not understand its meaning, and if we were to explain the entire poem, it would take a long time. I will only explain some of it briefly.

rada-dasye rahi chhada bhoga-ahi
pratisthasa nahe kirtana-gaurava
radha-nitya-jana taha chhadi mana
kena va nirjana-bhajana-kaitava

"If you stay with Radharani's servants, giving up the snake of enjoyment, for your own name and fame, it is not the real glorious kirtan. O mind, you leave the eternal associates of Radha, what is the use cheating with your solitary practice?"

hari-pada chhadi' nirjanata bari
labhiya ki phala, phalgu se vaibhava

"You leave the lotus feet of the Lord and stay alone at home, but what will you get by that? The result will be false."

People leave service to the Lord and decide to live alone, practising service through remembrance. When you live in a temple, you offer bhog to the Deities, and the Deities take it, and if you do not do it properly or timely, the Deities will have to fast and others will be telling you, "Hey, you are not serving the Deities properly! Hey, you have not offered the bhog! Hey, you have not woken up for the mangal arati!" So, many want to stay alone. If you stay at the temple, you must wake up early to do the mangal arati, you must cook and offer the bhog, you must do this service, that service, etc. and if you live alone, nobody will tell you what to do, so you think it is a better life, but this is not Krishna consciousness—this is 'Maya consciousness.'

vaisnavera dasa tava bhakti asa
kena va dakichha nirjana ahava

"O mind, if you are a servant of Vaishnavs and aspire for devotion, why are you then crying and fighting for solitude?"

ye phalgu-vairagi kahe nije tyagi
se na pare kabhu haite vaisnava

"Those who engage in false renunciation and call themselves taygi, can never become a Vaishnav."

If you give up everything—your parents, home, etc.—and live alone practising Krishna(?) consciousness, this is called false renunciation. Such false renunciates can never become Vaishnavs.

madhavendra-puri bhava-ghare churi
na karila kabhu sadai janaba

"Always remember that Madhavendra Puri never put on a show (lit. never stole from the house of transcendental feelings)."

Sahajiyas do that—they put on a show to impress others, "I have much renunciation!", "I have love and affection!", "I have Vaishnav qualities!" It is not necessary to give up pratistha to become a guru—if you can become a disciple, that is sufficient. If you think you must become a guru to practise Krishna consciousness, it is not so. What is your capacity? When you make a disciple, you take all their sins and carry this burden on your shoulders—are you capable of doing that? If you can hold this burden, then you can become a guru.

kirtana chhadiba pratistha magiba
ki kaja dhundiya tadrsa gaurava

"You give up kirtan and seek prestige and position, but what is the use of seeking such glory?"

Many chant kirtan to get name and fame. It is written here very beautifully,

matsarata-vase tumi jada-rase
ma'jechha chhadiya kirtana-sausthava

"You sink to endless jealousy and enjoyment of the material world, giving up the greatness of kirtan."

You are controlled by envy, enamoured by the opposite sex, and you are sitting showing you are mesmerised by kirtan...

kirtane yahara pratistha-sambhara
tahara sampati kevala kaitava

"If somebody does kirtan (chants the Holy Name, preaches, etc.) for their own name and fame, then the result is nothing but cheating."

When you chant kirtan, you get much name and fame, but such chanting has no value, there is no wealth in it. It is only self-deception. I told you the other day that people read Bhagavatam and charge money for it—they call it "bhagavat saptah" (professional seven-day-long reading of Bhagavatam as a way to earn money). Guru Maharaj and my Gurudev were absolutely against it. Such readers' wealth is only pratistha—they can never become Vaishnavs. Their 'wealth' is nothing but self-deception. It is necessary to practise proper renunciation. This is what we do. We left our houses, but we did not go to the jungle—if I had gone to the jungle and stayed alone, if Srila Sridhar Maharaj had gone to the jungle and stayed alone, then where would all these devotees be? Where would they come? To rescue all them, Srila Sridhar Maharaj made a small house and gradually established a temple there.

kanaka-kamini pratistha-baghini
chhadiyachhe yare, sei ta vaisnava
sei anasakta sei suddha bhakta
samsara tatha paya parabhava

"Those who give up money, women, and fame the tigress, are the true Vaishnavs—they are detached, they are pure devotees, and they can defeat the whole material world."

We must have no attachment.

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

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

There must be no attachment; but there must be knowledge of the relationship that everything in this world belongs to Madhava—everything is His property, His wealth.

Those who are possessed by envy and jealousy practise this kind of false life, but we pray to the Lord that we can tolerate all unhappiness, all austerities, all suffering.

tomara sevaya, duhkha haya yata,
seo ta' parama sukha

"All the distress I encounter in Your service is also my greatest happiness."

(Saranagati 16.4)

You must not just say this with our mouth. When you want to do some service, there will be a lot of obstacles—it is necessary to tolerate all difficulty. This is the highest happiness. If Gurudev gives you service, you must do that service, and when you do this service, you must work very hard, you must struggle, you must tolerate so much suffering. You cannot run away leaving this service. One day, Gurudev caught my hand and asked me, "So many difficulties will come, will you not run away?" I gave my word to Gurudev that I would not run away. I did not specifically promise it, but I told Gurudev, "I will not run away, I will stay here," and I keep my word.

I have come here now and they gave me such a hard time—before Gaura Purnima, they tried so hard to make so that I would not be able to make this festival and parikrama. But I did not accept it. They fight so much for money, they think I have so much money, but I do not have even fifty rupees! I spend everything for the devotees. They see the new buildings and think that I must have much money, but you will not get even ten rupees in my room—maybe only a mobile phone, and there is some petrol money for the car... There is nothing besides that, but so much austerity, so much danger and so many problems come...

At such times I remember the Lord and Prahlad Maharaj, "Prahlad Maharaj, when you tolerated so much austerity, why cannot I tolerate this little austerity? They threw you into fire, they threw you from a hill, they threw you into water. What worse austerity can there be? O Lord, if You give me more austerity, it is even better. The more austerity you give me, the more I will remember You. The more I suffer, the more I can think about You."

* * *

Defining Disciples' Destiny

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

You can see the example of Sri Madhavendra Puri—he wanted to stay alone and practise Krishna consciousness on his own without so many people around him. Yet, we know that Madhavendra Puri has some disciples, among them was Sri Ishwar Puri and Sri Ramachandra Puri. Both were his disciples, both took the mantra from him, but what has become of Ramachandra Puri and what has become of Ishwar Puri? You can judge just now.

Both Ramachandra Puri and Ishwar Puri took the mantra from Sri Madhavendra Puri, but Ramachandra Puri became very proud on account of that. Therefore, it is said that there are three kinds of devotees—guru-tyagi (those who renounce their guru), guru-bhogi (those who use and enjoy with their guru), and guru-sevi (those who serve their guru). When you make offences, this is what can happen to you. Ramachandra Puri made an offence to the holy lotus feet of his Guru, Sri Madhavendra Puri, after that his offence spread to Vaishnavs, and finally to the Lord; he ended up being ousted from Sri Jagannath Puri Dham and nobody ever heard about him after that—he lost his existence.

When Sri Madhavendra Puri was perturbed by the separation from Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani, Ramachandra Puri started teaching his guru. There is a popular mantra that says, "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Maheswar. Guru is the creator, Guru is the maintainer, Guru is the destroyer." So, Ramachandra Puri was saying, "You are Brahma himself, why are you crying?!" He started teaching all this mayavad and nirvises-brahma conception to his guru. Sri Madhavendra Puri was enraged and cried, "Get out of here, you sinner! I am suffering as it is, and he comes to add some more suffering!" Because Ramachandra Puri dared teach his guru, he became a guru-tyagi—he left his guru and he ended up in hell. He went to Mahaprabhu but he started finding faults with Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was taking prasad, he started criticising Him. Because of him, Mahaprabhu gave up eating. He said, "Yes, he is right, I am satisfying My senses." Hearing this, all the devotees prayed to Lord Jagannath, "O Jagannathdev, please remove this person from Jagannath Puri." And Lord Jagannath did that.

On the other hand, Sri Ishwar Puri, another disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri, became a great devotee. You all know the pastime related to his birthplace called Chaitanya-doba (it is situated near Halisahar). Mahaprabhu went there with all the devotees and took dust from that place thinking, "I am taking dust from the holy birthplace of my Lord." After Mahaprabhu and all the devotees took some dust from that place, there appeared a pond. This pond is still there, it is called Chaitanya-doba.

Today is the disappearance of this Madhavendra Puri. There is no different between the appearance and disappearance of a Vaishnav. In this external world, we have birth and death, but Vaishnavs are neither born, nor do they die. On account of their devotion and devotional practice, they can exceed the lifetime allotted to them by the Lord. They worship the Lord so much that through their devotion, by the blessing and mercy of the Lord they can exceed their allotted lifetime.

I was reading today in the Bhagavatam that every jiva soul's life duration is allotted by the Lord, but when a jiva soul truly worships the Lord, the Lord extends their lifetime—their service is still needed, and the Lord keeps them alive for longer...

* * *

 Kali-Yuga's Austerities

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

I was reading today about the conversation between the Lord and Prahlad Maharaj. The Lord said, "Prahlad, you are a greatest sadhu, a greatest Vaishnav. On account of your devotional position, you do not have to make any sraddha ceremony for your dead father." Devotees of the Lord are situated beyond all common material rules and regulations. Many ask me, "My father has died, what must I do?" It is written in Srimad Bhagavatam that the Lord Himself said, "Devotees are situated beyond all common rules and regulations, however I am telling to you in particular that you should make a Vaishnav-hom (sraddha) for your father because you will be the next king and, to teach your subjects, you must follow the rules and regulations properly." This is why Prahlad Maharaj did his father's Vaishnav-hom (sraddha ceremony)—he called big brahmans and had them to do a fire sacrifice for his father. And I was reading today what happened with the body of Hiranyakasipu after his death. I was very eager to know it. Hiranyakasipu had touched—had hit—the holy body of the Lord, and when they were burning Hiranyakasipu's body, no bad smell came from it; rather, when it was being burnt, everybody could feel the fragrance of aguru (auspicious herbal fragrance). He was a demon, but because he had got the mercy of the Lord, he had got to touch the Lord's body, he attained the abode of the Lord.

So, coming back to Sri Madhavendra Puri, you probably know that at some point in his life Sri Madhavendra Puri went to Vrindavan and stayed there alone. When we go on the parikrama of Sri Vrindavan Dham, we go to one place called Sri Govinda Kunda. Sri Madhavendra Puri sat on the bank of this Sri Govinda Kunda and chanted the Holy Name in solitude thinking about the Lord. I told you yesterday what kind of austerity and severe yoga Hiranyakasipu practised—he stood on his toes for thousands of years to get a boon from Lord Brahma! He had to suffer so much to make himself more powerful. Moreover, so much fire and heat came from his dreadlocks that even the demigods could not stay near him (they all went to the Lord and prayed to the Lord to help them). Even the demigods had to leave heaven due to Hiranyakasipu's austerity. So, it is very difficult to practise yoga—in Satya-yuga they practised such austerities to get the Lord, they practised meditation, and you can understand from this example how hard it was to do that. However, now in this Kali-yuga, we are given such a simple method—we can get the Lord simply by chanting His Holy Name. The only difficulty is that nobody wants to chant this Holy Name without offences. It is not like nobody can do it—nobody wants to do it.

The other day one lady who had recently taken initiation from me called me early in the morning and said, "You have told me to chant four rounds, but I cannot do that. I cannot manage to chant more than two rounds." I asked her, "Anything else?" She said, "Yes, there is one more thing. We are very poor people, and you told us to eat vegetarian food, but where will we get milk and curd?" I asked her, "Is there no other vegetarian food besides milk and curd? There is so much potato, there are so many vegetables—is that all not vegetarian?" Then, she said, "I have just gone for an operation, my health is not good..." Then I told her, "Oh, you are worrying about your health? So, you are thinking about the Lord so that He can keep you healthy? If you do that, He will keep you healthy, but then you will incur even more sins and suffering, and He will arrange for you to be sent to hell under the weight of all these sins. There is always free place in hell; they always need more people there. You need money to buy fish, but you can use that money to buy vegetables." She said, "No, we have fish here in the pond." [Devotees laugh.] What am I to say? Who sent her to take initiation? When I told her that she had to follow the rules and regulations, I saw that she kept on looking at her husband at that time, and I did not understand it at that time. When I told her strictly that she had to follow the rules and regulations, apply tilaks, etc. she was all dressed up and ready to take initiation, I could not tell her to go away, but when I was telling her that, I saw she kept on looking at her husband. If she had known about it all before, she would have run away. Such initiations are not good. Gurudev said, "You can eat luchi, no problem, but do not take luchi fried in kerosine, you will have a problem with your stomach." I brought somebody to the temple, but Gurudev could understand whether the person would stay or not, so one day Gurudev told me, "I see you like luchi fried in kerosine, do you not?" I learnt all these things from Gurudev. Whatever I am telling you, I have learnt it from Gurudev...

* * *

Wrong Idea

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

Srila Madhavendra Puri went to Vrindavan and lived there alone, chanting the Holy Name. Just think about it—how merciful the Lord is. He is also trying to find you. You see the Deity here and you may think that the Deity is made of stone, wood, or clay and you can do whatever you fancy. It cannot be like that. Gurudev always told that nobody should keep Deities at home emotionally. When we went to Nabadwip for the parikrama, I saw devotees buying a Deity of Gopal, but when you buy this Deity, you have to offer bhog—whatever you all eat at home, you must offer first the Deity. You cannot keep Deities and feed the Deities with air or a glass of water—will that fill anyone's stomach? Gopal eats fifty-six items, He eats a thousands times, His mother cooks and feeds Him so much, and you give Him once a day some air and a glass of water. You will be eating a plate full of rice and Gopal will have a glass of water! Is this how you serve Gopal?

You all like to burn candles at the temple in the morning, but you are spoiling the temple in this way. This is not some candle-burning society here. Everyone likes to make the temple dirty, but nobody likes to clean it. Nobody thinks, "Let me clean the Lord's temple, the Lord's altar." Everyone burns candles and thinks the Lord is going to give them something. People come to see this temple with so many material desires—they burn candles, tie knots and stones to the trees praying, "I want a son," "I want a grandson," "I have a granddaughter, but it would be nice to have a grandson otherwise who will take care of the family?" "I cannot find a good girl, please help me get my son married!" and girls pray, "I cannot find a husband, please send a good husband to me," and so on. People make all these wishes and tie a stone. What was Prahlad Maharaj's example? He prayed, "Please take all my material desires away, make so that I do not want, do not wish for anything," and we are doing just the opposite, are we not? Mahaprabhu taught,

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

"I do not want wealth, I do not want knowledge, I do not want beauty, I do not want to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet. Give me that kind of devotion to Your lotus feet so that I could do Your service life after life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 20.29)

We sing,

nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana
nahi magi svarga ara moksa nahi magi
na kari prarthana kona vibhutira lagi

"I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers."

(Sri Siksastakam, 4.1-2, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

We pray, "I do not want fame, I do not want position, I do not want to become a king or a prime minister." Some politician called me yesterday and invited me to come to them—I told them I was unwell and could not come. I have to lie otherwise there is no way out, they would force me to come, and when I come there, they will suck my blood and torture me there. I am with the devotees here, I am speaking Hari-katha, and if I go there, I have to mix with all these mayavadis—my heart does not go there, and I do not have time to go there. That is why I do not go to all places. Gurudev also said, "There is a hand from which I eat, and I do not eat from anyone else's hand." Sahajiyas think that Krishna does not eat from anyone else's hand because Radharani is very beautiful, but this is not so.

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi khay

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

Because devotees serve the Lord very well, the Lord takes food from their hands. The Lord does not eat from everyone's hands...

* * *

Check Who Is Calling Before Taking the Call

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

Many do not practise Krishna consciousness properly—they try to practise so much, but it is all Maya consciousness, not Krishna consciousness. If you try to practise Krishna consciousness without strictly following your Guru's order and instruction, then your worship is just worship of Maya.

Even if you are to live only ten years more, but if you can do double service during this time—if you come to the temple, chant the Holy Name, do service, worship the Deities, etc., follow what Gurudev tells you—then at the end sadhus will take your body to the Ganges and you will get supreme benefit. What is your relationship with the previous family? You leave everything but after one-two months they start calling you—yes, Maya Devi will phone you all the time. When I came to stay at the temple, I did not want to be disturbed, so I did not keep any connection with my family for thirteen years. They did not even know that I was at a temple, they actually thought I was dead and performed my sraddha ceremony (a ceremony performed when somebody dies). I had to be very hard. My mother kept crying and came to the temple all the way from a very far away place, but when I saw her coming from the roof (I was doing the construction at that time), I came to the guard and said that a lady (I did not say 'my mother,' I said 'a lady') was coming and she would ask about this person (I told him the name I had in my previous ashram), and I asked him to say to her that there was nobody by that name living at the temple.

I did it for her happiness. I was doing service to the Lord, and when she died she was very happy. She may not have come to this path, but she attained happiness after death. It is written in the scriptures also, I was reading about it just today—the Lord said to Prahlad Maharaj (SB, 7.10.18), "My dear Prahlad, O most pure, O great saintly person, your father has been purified, along with twenty-one forefathers in your family. Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified." One must become a devotee for that to happen. If a true Vaishnav appears in any family, then twenty-one generations become purified. We must all try to become devotees like Prahlad Maharaj. You cannot just say that you are a devotee. There are degrees of devotion—there is Vaishnav, Vaishnata-tara, Vaishnav-tama (kanistha-adhikari, madhyam-adhikari, and uttam-adhikari). The greatest Vaishnavs (uttam-adhikari) do not even see anything in this world; Sukadev Goswami was such a Vaishnav. He was a young boy of about seventeen, but he did not see anyone—he came to speak Bhagavatam stark naked. He was not even aware whether he had any cloth on or not. What Sri Sukadev Goswami spoke had not been written anywhere on paper. Vyasadev composed Srimad Bhagavatam based on what emanated from the holy lotus mouth of Sri Sukadev Goswami (the Lord spoke Srimad Bhagavatam through him). Gurudev wrote about the history of Srimad Bhagavatam in his book, you can read it there.

So, if you leave your family, what is your fault? Are you still thinking of your father and mother at this age? How old are you now? Seventy! How long are you going to live? People say, "Oh, I am dying without you!" So, you are still 'dying' because of your wife?! What am I to say to you then, tell me? You think it is better to practise alone, but what is the problem? Live here, follow what the Lord and your Gurudev say—there is no lack of food, no lack of clothes, there is no lack of anything. We tolerate certain things and live at the temple happily. "Tomara sevaya yata haya duhkha, seo ta' parama sukha—All the distress I encounter in Your service is also my greatest happiness." We do service and whatever comes, it is our happiness. But you leave your service and go away... This is material, illusory bondage! Maya Devi cast her net and you think you will go to your home and practise Krishna consciousness there...

* * *

Pitfalls of Deity Worship

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 7
Translated from Bengali

When Srila Madhavendra Puri was staying in Vrindavan, one day Lord Krishna Himself, disguised as a small cowherd boy, came and said to him, "Puri, you are sitting here without eating anything. I have brought you some milk, drink it." Although Srila Madhavendra Puri was a very great devotee, but when Krishna Himself brought him milk, even he could not recognise that the Lord had come in front of him. Srila Madhavendra Puri asked Him, "Where are You from? Where is Your house? What do You do?" Krishna said, "You have many questions. I will answer them one by one. I am from this village. My home is here. I graze cows. Please drink this milk, I cannot talk now. I will come later to take the pot and I will answer all your questions." Srila Madhavendra Puri sat there waiting for the boy to return and chanting the Holy Name. In the end, Srila Madhavendra Puri fell asleep and the Lord came to him in a dream.

It is said that the Deity can speak, the Deity can give witness, the Deity can steal. The Lord Himself ordered all the wives of the brahmans—we sing in the kirtan,

jaya dvija-patni, jaya naga-kanya-gana
bhaktite yanhara paila govinda-charana

All glory to the brahman's wives and Kaliya's wives! Through their devotion, they attained Govinda's feet.

When the wives of the brahmans fed and pleased Krishna, Krishna told them, "You do not have to stay near Me to serve Me. Make My Deity in your home and serve the Deity.

So, when the Lord came to Srila Madhavendra Puri in a dream, He took him by the hand to the place where He was and said, "Look what an austere place I live in. I am scorched by the sun, and rain falls right on Me. Vajranabha, Krishna's great-grandson, established My Deity in a temple, but when the Muslims broke the temple, My pujari took Me to the jungle and hid Me here." You know that if the pujari is a real pujari, they will always worry about the Deity, so when somebody comes to break the temple, they will always want to save the Deity.

We had some fake pujari in the temple once. When there was a big flood in 2000, I saw him taking rice and dal and thought he was taking it for the bhog of the Deities. When the flood subsided, I went to the temple and saw that the Deities had been standing under water all these days and the pujari would climb on the roof and cook dal and rice for himself. When I saw this, I told him, "Go away! We do not need such service from you. The Deities are probably made of wood and you could not take them up to the roof?! How could you keep them under water all this time?" He made Gaura Nitai suffer so much...

However, seeing that the Muslims would destroy the Deity, Gopal's pujari took the Deity on his shoulder and carried Him to the jungle—he left the Deity there and went away. Having told all this to Madhavendra Puri, Gopal said, "Since then I have been here, in the rain and in the scorching sun..." Then Madhavendra Puri suddenly woke up. He thought, "O God! My Lord has come to me, but I could not recognise Him! I am so unfortunate!" He beat his head against the floor! Composing himself, he started thinking, "Where will I find the Lord? Wait, but He has shown me the way through the jungle! I must find Him!" Next morning, he woke up, gathered some villagers, and told them, "Your Deity is here! Come with me!" They all together went to the jungle, and, cutting their way through the thick forest with axes, they found the place where Gopal was hidden. Then, Madhavendra Puri had Gopal placed on a big stone and told all the ladies to bring water in pots to give Gopal a nice bath. After bathing the Lord, Madhavendra Puri arranged for very nice bhoga and puja, and at night he again saw the Lord in a dream—the Lord said, "My body is still burning with heat, you must bring some camphor and sandalwood from Odisha."

So, Madhavendra Puri went to Odisha and got a piece of sandal wood that weight almost 40 kg(!), but when he was going to carry it back to Govardhan, the Lord again appeared to him in a dream saying, "You do not need to carry this wood all the way to Govardhan. You can apply this sandalwood onto the body of Gopinath—His body is non-different from Mine." Many worry that if they have Gopal at home, how can they come here and leave Gopal? That is why Gurudev said that you should keep a photo of the Deities at home (not Deities), then even if you come here for five-ten days for a festival, the Deities' worship is done here, so if you do not offer any worship at home during this time, it is not a problem. There are many Deities installed at our temples, you can take a photo of any of these Deities and worship the photograph. Gurudev often said, "Do not keep a Deity and make Them a burden. Neither must you keep Deities and harass Them [by not serving Them properly.] Vigraha rekhe galagraha korben na, vigraha rekhe nigraha-o korben na." When you keep Deities, you serve Them nicely at first, but what happens after that? I have seen so many families (if I tell their names, it will give them pain, so I do not want to mention their names) where devotees take Deities, but then their children grow up and do not come to this path, so what happens to their Deities after them? Who will serve their Deities? There is nobody. So, before you make a temple, you must first find servitors. Gurudev said, "Before you make a temple, first make a room for the servitor." Here too, I first make living quarters for servitors, and later, after Gaura Purnima, the Deities were installed on Nrisingha-chaturdasi day...

Anyway, Gopal gave this service responsibility to Madhavendra Puri, and Madhavendra Puri made annakut mahostav of Gopal. In this way Gopal personally interacted with Madhavendra Puri. He told him, "Madhav, I have been waiting for you for so long! I kept thinking when you would come and take Me from this jungle and take the charge of My service and worship." The Lord took his service. So, it is necessary to earn the qualification for doing service. Gurudev said that these days 'devals' do the puja of the Lord—'devals' are professional (hired) brahmans. Like, I heard they worship Shitala in Uluberia. I do not even know who Sitla is. [Devotees explain who she is and that she rides a donkey.] So, when you worship her you end up becoming a donkey? [His Divine Grace laughs.]

sadhu-sange krsna-seva, na pujiba devi-deva
ei bhakti parama karana

"One should serve Lord Krsna in the association of devotees without worshipping any demigods because this is the ultimate devotion."

(Sri Sri Prema-bhakti-chandrika, 13, Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

* * *

Srila Madhavendra Puri's Purity

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 8
Translated from Bengali

When Srila Madhavendra Puri offered the sandalwood to Gopinath, Gopal again came to him in a dream and said,

gopala asiya kahe,—suna he madhava
karpura-chandana ami pailama saba
karpura-sahita ghasi' e-saba chandana
gopinathera ange nitya karaha lepana

Madhavendra Puri dreamed that Gopala came before him and said, "O Madhavendra Puri, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor. Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopinatha daily until it is finished."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.4.158-159)

So, when it comes to Chandan-yatra, we always apply sandalwood on the body of the Deities. This is the rule—it gets very hot by noon, so you must grind some sandalwood in the morning, then take the Deities' clothes out, and apply the hand-ground sandalwood paste on the body of the Deities; in the evening, you must again take Their clothes off and give Them a nice bath. It is a lot of work. Many do not even like to put clothes on the Deities, but it is necessary to do it.

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu travelled through many holy places together with Srila Madhavendara Puri.

jaya jaya sri madhava puri
gopinatha yanra lagi ksira kaila churi

"Glory, glory to Sri Madhava Puri for whom Gopinath stole sweet rice."

madhava-purire dekhilena nityananda
tata-ksane preme murchha haila nispanda
nityanande dekhi' matra sri-madhava-puri
padila murchhita hai' apana' pasari'

"When Nityananda saw Madhavendra Puri, He was immediately stunned in ecstatic love and fell to the ground unconscious. Seeing Nityananda, Madhavendra Puri forgot himself and fell unconscious too."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 1.9.159)

madhavendra-prati nityananda mahasaya
guru-buddhi vyatirikta ara na karaya

"Nityananda considered Madhavendra His guru and nothing less."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 1.9.188)

janilu krsnera krpa achhe mora prati
nityananda-hena bandhu painu samhati
ye-se sthane yadi nityananda-sanga haya
sei sthana sarva-tirtha-vaikunthadi-maya

"Srila Madhavendra Puripad said, 'I know Krishna has bestowed His mercy on me because He has given me the association of Nityananda. Wherever Nityananda's association is found, that place is most sacred and completely transcendental.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 1.9.183-184)

When Madhavendra Puri expressed his lamentation, he recited a sloka that we find recorded in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita,

ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathura-natha kadavalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram
dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham

"O gentle-hearted Lord, ever-gracious upon the destitute, O Lord of Mathura, when shall I see You again? In Your absence my broken heart trembles. Beloved! what shall I do now?"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 4.197)

When he cried in this way, Ramachandra Puri came to him saying, "Why are you crying? You are Brahman (guru-brahman)!" Madhavendra Puri was very upset, he said, "Get out of here, sinner!"

The sloka that Srila Madhavendra Puri recited ("ayi dina-dayadra natha he") was composed in his last days, just before his disappearance... Gaudiya Vaishnavs consider this sloka the gist of vipralambha-rasa (the transcendental mellow of divine separation from the Lord).

So, today is the disappearance day of Srila Madhavendra Puri. We have been listening to his glorification for a long time now. Yesterday, there was still something left to tell about Sri Nrisinghadev and a great devotee Prahlad Maharaj, so I will tell it now...

* * *

Prahlad Maharaj's Ideal

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Noon class, 25 March 2021, part 9
Translated from Bengali

The Lord appeared in this world owing to Sri Prahlad Maharaj's deep meditation and exceptional strength of intelligence. When we read in the scriptures about Sri Prahlad Maharaj, we read about sakam-bhakta and niskam-bhakta. There are devotees who want something from the Lord, such devotion is called karma-misra-bhakti (devotion mixed with material pursuits) and such devotees are called sakam-bhaktas; and the niskam-bhaktas are those who pray,

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

"I do not want wealth, I do not want knowledge, I do not want beauty, I do not want to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet. Give me that kind of devotion to Your lotus feet so that I could do Your service life after life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 20.29)

So, Prahlad Maharaj prayed, "Prabhu, I am Your niskam-sevak, and You are my eternal Master. I do not want anything except to be Your servant." Our Master is one, and we do not want anything except to be His servants—if we can become His menial servants, that is sufficient for us, there is nothing else we need in our life. So, Prahlad Maharaj said, "I do not aspire for anything besides that. The servants who wish to get something in return for their service to the Lord—who want some worldly gain—are neither proper servants, nor pure devotees."

asasano na vai bhrtyah
svaminy asisa atmanah
na svami bhrtyatah svamyam
ichchhan yo rati chasisah

"A servant who desires material profits from his master is certainly not a qualified servant or pure devotee. Similarly, a master who bestows benedictions upon his servant because of a desire to maintain a prestigious position as master is also not a pure master."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.10.5)

Prahlad Maharaj, who is a pure devotee, describes here the difference between a pure Master and a bogus master.

ma mam pralobhayotpattya
saktamkamesu tair varaih
tat-sanga-bhito nirvitto
mumuksus tvam upasritah

"My dear Lord, because I was born in an atheistic family I am naturally attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, kindly do not tempt me with these illusions. I am very much afraid of material conditions, and I desire to be liberated from materialistic life. It is for this reason that I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.10.2)

Prahlad Maharaj spoke with much humility saying, "I am already very greedy, so please do not entice me with anything. I want to be released from this conditioned state I am in, that is why I have taken shelter at your holy lotus feet." These are very beautiful words.

Narad Muni also said, "Prahlad Maharaj is the highest person among demons. Demons always have many material desires, they always want to enjoy. By the mercy of the Lord, material desires for enjoyment, etc. can be removed, but as a result of becoming a pure devotee, Prahlad Maharaj refused to accept anything for the enjoyment of his senses, he said, "Prabhu, You have taken me on Your lap, You have shown so much love and affection to me—You did not show this kind of affection to even Brahma, Siva or even Your dear energy Laksmi Devi; and You are telling me not to take some boon. My greatest fortune is that You have shown me so much affection, there is no boon greater than that." Mahaprabhu said, "He Jagadiswara (Lord of the Universe), I do not want wealth, I do not want knowledge, I do not want beauty, I do not want to be a poet. My only desire is to have causeless devotion to You birth after birth."

Lord Nrisinghadev told Prahlad Maharaj, "Nobody can know Me without pleasing Me. If one cannot please Me, if one cannot make Me happy, they can never attain any happiness or peace in this world. Those who have pleased Me and satisfied Me with their service, can never be affected by happiness or grief in this world." But we are unfortunate—we have not been able to do that, we only think about our own happiness. If we think about the happiness of the Lord, then the Lord will take care of me. I tell you this time and time again.

Narad Muni said also that Prahlad Maharaj saw the boon that Lord Nrisinghadev was offering as something unfavourable, or obstructive, to devotion. There are things that are favourable and and there are things that are unfavourable to devotion, if you do what is favourable and also what is unfavourable, then all the good result of favourable actions will go through the holes. We keep saying, "I want devotion," when we see or call Gurudev, we keep asking him, "Gurudev, please bestow your mercy," but if Gurudev gives us some service, we do not do it. "Gurudev, please bestow your mercy" means "Gurudev, please engage me in some service," but we do not want to do anything. I have told you about the nine kinds of devotion (sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam: hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission), but we do all these and at the same time we also sometimes do what is unfavourable to devotion. If you pour milk into a pot with holes, all the milk will go out—no matter how much milk you pour, it will all go out if there are holes. We sing every morning,

bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara

"[Surrender means] engaging only in the activities that are favourable to devotion and rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion."

We must give up what is unfavourable to devotion.

Prahlad Maharaj said (SB, 7.10.9), "O my Lord, when a human being is able to give up all the material desires in his mind, he becomes eligible to possess wealth and opulence like Yours." Have you ever heard the pranam-mantra that Prahlad Maharaj offered to Lord Nrisinghadev?

om namo bhagavate tubhyam
purusaya mahatmane
haraye 'dbhuta-simhaya
brahmane paramatmane

"O my Lord, full of six opulences, O Supreme Person! O Supreme Soul, killer of all miseries! O Supreme Person in the form of a wonderful lion and man, let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.10.10)

In reply to that, the Lord said (SB, 7.10.11-12), "My dear Prahlad, a devotee like you never desires any kind of material opulences, either in this life or in the next. Nonetheless, I order you to enjoy the opulences of the demons in this material world, acting as their king until the end of the duration of time occupied by Manu. It does not matter that you are in the material world. You should always, continuously, hear the instructions and messages given by Me and always be absorbed in thought of Me, for I am the Supersoul existing in the core of everyone's heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship Me. One who always remembers your activities and My activities also, and who chants the prayers you have offered, becomes free, in due course of time, from the reactions of material activities."

Prahlad Maharaj is so merciful—he does not see anyone's faults (adosa-darasi). Although he had got so much austerity and suffering from his father, he did not even think it was suffering. When you call out to the Lord, you do not feel any pain. When we suffer, we must think that we are in illusion, that we have not been able yet to get free from illusion because otherwise when we suffer or experience some pain, we would not even think it is suffering or pain. When you go through some hardship but feel there is no suffering, then you can understand that you have got something. Devotees of the Lord never feel any suffering—even when they undergo some hardships they do not feel any pain; for them, all unhappiness and hardships are a source of joy.

Prahlad Maharaj then said, "I know my father, the best of demons, has killed many brahmans, cows and has done many atrocities in this life, he has been harassing the demigods and other living beings, he has even hit Your holy body! Please rescue him from this position." Hearing these words, the Lord replied, "Those who chant My glories automatically attain the divine abode, and your father has actually touched My body, so he has already gone to the spiritual world. So, he is no longer in that position." Then, Prahlad Maharaj told Lord Nrisinghadev, "If You want to give me some boon, then please may there never be any desires within me—so that I may never ever want anything from You."

We too pray to Prahlad Maharaj that the teaching Prahlad Maharaj taught would come to our hearts, especially within my own heart. This is what I pray for to you all, to Prahlad Maharaj, and to the Lord. We pray to learn and remember this teaching, and we are sitting and discussing this here at Sri Nrisingha Palli.

Jay bhakta-raj Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Jay Sri Madhavendra Puripad ki jay
His disappearance day ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

[His Divine Grace then concludes the class chanting "Manasa deho geho" and Hare Krishna maha-mantra.]

* * *

Parikrama Schedule

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

Today is Mahadvadasi, and everyone has been observing ekadasi-vrata today. Many think that the day of ekadasi is the fasting day, and it is not necessary to fast on mahadvadasi, but it is not true. It is written in Hari-bhakti-vilas that if ekadasi is followed by mahadvadasi, then the fasting must be observed on mahadvadasi (it is not necessary to fast on ekadasi). "Upavas" (fasting) means "nikate vas" (staying close by)—it means staying closely engaged in service to the Lord. I have seen that many of you have been doing various services today, and if somebody did not, then chanting the Holy Name is also service, listening to Hari-katha is also service. Everybody does some service according to their capacity.

Tomorrow we are going out for the parikrama. Everybody must come for the mangal-arati, we will leave after the arati. We will go down the road leading to the new four-storey building. First, we will go to a place called Visramvat (also known as 'Pancha-rati-van'), we will offer our obeisance there, at the tree where Mahaprabhu took rest. From there, we will go to Subarna Vihar, the house of kind Raja Suvarna Sen who later became Buddhimanta Khan in this Kali-yuga and took part in Mahaprabhu's pastimes. From there, we will go to Surabhi Kunja. We will have prasadam distributed there. Next, we will go to Svananda Sukhada Kunja, it is nearby; and from there we will walk to Hari Hara Ksetra, we will sit and listen to Hari-katha there, and after that the road is straight, we will return here. Tomorrow the road is mostly brick road, so buses will not go there, that is why we will not be renting buses tomorrow. We will walk tomorrow. We have always done the parikrama of Godrumdwip on foot. We are fasting today, so tomorrow we will try to reach Surabhi Kunja quickly not to delay prasadam, so do not worry about anything.

The day after tomorrow we will go again by bus—we will arrive at Champahatti, the temple of Gaura Gadadhar, we will go to the place of Samudra Sen. From Champahatti we will go on foot. We will go to Ritudwip, Vidyanagar, then Jhanudwip, and Mamgachhi, where we will take noon prasadam. This day we will return here by bus too otherwise it is a very long way to return from Mamgachhi, it will be very difficult for everyone. So, we will go by bus and we will return by bus too.

This is the schedule of our parikrama, everybody must try to follow it and join the parikrama. If somebody cannot walk, there will be many 'totos' (electric/auto rickshaws) on the street, it is not a problem. So, everybody must come tomorrow to the mangal-arati at 4:45 a.m., and we will start out by 5:30. Try not to be late.

You know, I am always afraid that there may not be water, so I always keep two buckets in my room. Other things do not matter so much, but I must keep water—one bucket for toilet and one bucket for taking bath. I am used to this from the time I lived in Nabadwip—I have always kept two buckets of water in my room. Sometimes we would go for the parikrama and when we get back there is no water, then I would use the water from the buckets. It is my habit. There are many people here and sometimes we also run out of electricity—we have a single phase line, but I see that we have to run three generators, so we need a three-phase line. When I lived in Nabadwip, I also made three-phase lines everywhere—one at Govinda Kunda, one at the four-storey guesthouse, and one for the temple and brahmachari buildings. Here too we need to make two more lines. Otherwise every year the number of people is growing and it is becoming difficult...

Anyhow, this is our schedule for the next two days. Take care and do not forget to close the taps. Be careful when you leave your room—check that the tap is closed. If you leave the tap in your room running the whole day, then it will be a problem for everyone. The cooks at the kitchen also need much water, and if there is no water, it is a big problem. So, always be careful.

Now we will chant some kirtans and after that I will speak about the glories of ekadasi and the glories of Godrumdwip.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay

[His Divine Grace then chants kirtans: 'Gurudev bada krpa kari', 'Kabe Sri Krsna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kare more', 'Parama Karuna', 'Radha bhajane yadi mati', 'Yasoda Nandana Krsna', Hare Krishna maha-mantra.]

* * *

Away with Animal Ambitions

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First of all, I am offering my full obeisance at the holy lotus feet of Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, begging him for his causeless mercy...

[Clamour in the audience.] Hare Krishna! Have you not heard just now? We were singing, "Visaya-katha parihari mukhe bolo 'Gaura Hari'. Give up material nonsense talks and only say, 'Gaura Hari!' Everyone is fighting and quarrelling, is there any Holy Name amidst that? How long is this road? How long are we going to see each other? We fight with everyone, but we are born one day, and one day we will have to go away from here. I am here for some days, and the main question is what I must do during this time. This is what we must know. We have got this human birth—are we going to spend it on fighting over food and clothes? When a dog or a cow dies on the street, birds, jackals, etc. come and start fighting over the body. When you see them fighting like that, it makes you think that people are just like that too. You go to a clothes shop, there is a line; you go to the market, there is a line; you go to a bank, there is a line; you go to a post office, there is a line—people stand in a line and start fighting, somebody cuts the line and there begins a big fight. People in this world fight one another for some apparent happiness...

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur wrote,

nija sukha lagi' pape nahi dari
daya-hina svartha-para
para-sukhe duhkhi sada mithya-bhasi
para-duhkha sukha-kara

I am never afraid to engage in sinful activities for the sake of my own happiness. I am unkind and selfish. I always tell lies. I am unhappy when others are happy, and happy when others are unhappy.

"I feel pain when others are happy, and I get happy when I see others unhappy." Such is our character. This world is a place where everyone competes for their own interest, but nobody competes to get service to the Lord...

We took shelter at the temple a long time ago and if we end up slacking in our Krishna consciousness life, then it is our fault, it is our disease. When we joined, we had so much enthusiasm to chant the Holy Name, to do the parikrama, to join festivals at the Math, but we are losing this enthusiasm. This is our bad fortune. That longing for service that we had before is diminishing day by day. The longing to chant kirtans (kirtan-sprha), the qualification to do service (seva-adhikar) are going away day by day. Service is going away from us. When you lose your service, you must think that there is some deficiency from your side, "The Lord is not taking my service. I am such a great sinner that the Lord is not taking my service! The Holy Name is not coming to my mouth..." You must always think about service. We must always think how we can serve the Lord. We have not come to this world only to realise our own interests.

We only think about money, food, clothes, friends, and family—there are many religions in this world (the religion of serving one's father, the religion of serving one's mother, the religion of serving one's friends), but the Lord has designated four ashrams (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa) and instructed to live accordingly. When you turn fifty, you are supposed to resolve your obstacles, give all charge to your sons and daughters, and go to live in the forest. However, Srila Prabhupad did not tell us to do that. Instead, he made an arrangement for us—by the mercy of Srila Prabhupad, by the mercy of our Sri Gurupadpadma, by the mercy of Mahaprabhu, Vaishnavs open temples and arrange everything for men and women so that they could practise Krishna consciousness and serve the Lord. However, I see that many do not want to come unless they are suffering at home or get jolted in some way. Nobody wants to come unless they are pushed to; it also takes sukriti and, as a result of sukriti, sadhu-sanga.

We must understand this. "What is there in having wealth, youth, sons, and family? E dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana ithe ki achhe paratiti re." People run after wealth and youth, but ladies know, "When I was young, many boys hit on me, and now I have become an old lady and nobody even looks at me."

e dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana
ithe ki achhe paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala jivana talamala
bhajahu hari-pada niti re

"What is there in having wealth, youth, sons, and family? Life is tottering like water on a lotus petal (it is here, and then it is gone). O mind, serve the Lord's feet."

So, age is not a question here. Mahaprabhu was present in this world for only forty-eight years, Prabhupad was here for sixty-four years. You cannot judge how long one will stay in this world by the age of the person (you cannot think that if somebody is young, they have a long life ahead of them), but for as many days you are here, you must use your time wisely. I keep on telling you in the lectures—even if you live for ten years, it can be sufficient, it not necessary to live a hundred years. If you live for a hundred years and do not practise Krishna consciousness, then you have wasted your life; yet, if you live only ten years but you practise Krishna consciousness during this time, then this is the greatest fulfilment in your life.

* * *

Good Habits

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

The root of Krishna consciousness is taking shelter at the holy lotus feet of Sri Guru (guru-pada-asraya). So, first it is necessary to take shelter of Guru, then initiation can be arranged...

[His Divine Grace is distracted by a temple devotee who was sitting very far.]

If you do not sit at the front, how will you learn? When we chant the kirtans at the end, I will see what kirtans you have learnt. Are you scared of me? [His Divine Grace laughs.] You know, those who study bad always sit at the back of the class. When I was a student at university, we were not like that. You know, we used to actually fight who would sit at the front of the class. Those of us who stayed at the hostel, would wake up very early, quickly brush our teeth, then take the books and copybooks—we went to the classroom, kept the books on a desk at the front of the classroom to occupy the place, and then go away. We actually fought who would sit at the front. The bad students always sat at the back.

From the seventh grade I studied at a cadet college (English Medium). Many said that they could not manage living without their parents, but I came to study at the college leaving my parents at eleven years old. After that, I never stayed with them for more than one month. I never even stayed one month with them. I left them at eleven years old. When I started living at the hostel, I had to cook for myself, I had to wash the dishes and do everything. There were about one hundred students living at the hostel, and everybody would always put me in charge of everything. I would manage to take care of everything and even save some money, so everybody loved me, they knew, "This boy can manage everything." So, I got habituated to manage everything from the beginning...

Everybody has some habits. If I was not used to waking up early in the morning, I would also not be able to wake up. That is why when some brahmachari first comes to the temple, he must learn to do puja—when you do puja you have to wake up early for the mangal-arati, you cannot sleep; when you want to sleep in the afternoon, you will not be able to because you know you have to offer the bhog in the afternoon. In this way, they get certain sleeping habits—they will not be used to sleeping in the daytime...

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa ha-ila manda
nija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
bhajanera pratibandha

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

vrddha-kala aola, saba sukha bhagala,
pida-vase ha-inu katara

"Then old age came, and all happiness fled. Subjugated by disease, I became distressed."

(Saranagati, 6.3)

People do not practise Krishna consciousness earlier thinking they will practise it when they are seventy. When you are seventy, you cannot even stand straight, you cannot do the parikrama. I have been doing this parikrama for twenty-thirty years. I stand most of the time, sometimes I have to sit down now, but I still do it. So, if we do not get into habit of doing certain things, then we will never learn to do it. It is necessary to have a habit.

When we go for the parikrama, sometimes I see boys and girls doing some exercise in a field. I think to myself, "Why are they doing it? If they just pay dandavat a hundred times (lie down on the ground and get up) when they see Vaishnavs, then all the exercise will be done." Have you seen Muslim people doing namaz five times a day? Here is all your exercise. When you are habituated to this, you do not need any additional exercise. When you do exercise, then your health will be good also. You must walk, then you will be used to it and can walk during the parikrama. We must practise and develop such habits.

It is necessary to practise Krishna consciousness, to train yourself in Krishna consciousness. You receive the Holy Name, you take shelter at your Guru's feet, but this is only getting admitted into a school. You cannot get a habit after one day. It is necessary to practise every day. It is necessary to practise chanting kirtans. I tell everyone—every morning and every evening chant at least five kirtans (ten in total). Chant Gurudev's kirtan, Vaishnav's kirtan, Nitai's kirtan, Mahaprabhu's kirtan, Krishna's kirtan, Radharani's kirtan—whatever you like. If you do that, then you will remember the kirtans by heart.

There are many devotees who have taken both first and second initiations, and when I look at their faces I see that they do not chant the Holy Name properly. I always look at everyone's faces and see whether they chant the kirtan or their mouth is closed. Many do not know the kirtans by heart, they do not know the words, they cannot chant after me, they are not habituated to it. And another point is that if you chant your mala properly every day (for example, I chant four rounds, that is 432 Holy Names), you will be used to chanting, but if, when we chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra, your mouth is closed, it means you are not used to chanting the Holy Name.

I notice these things. I see that people do not chant even the Hare Krishna maha-mantra (not to mention chanting the kirtans). They may chant today and a few more days, but four days later, when the parikrama and the festival finish, everybody runs home and when they get on the bus or train, they forget everything. They lose everything on the way. It is necessary to practise and be habituated to these things. If you always do bad things, you will have a bad habit, and if you always do good things, you will have a good habit.

I always tell you that you must always do what is favourable to devotion (bhakti-anukul). Always remember the nine kinds of devotion (nava-vidha bhakti—sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, etc.). Take calendars with you, they are sold at our book store, then you can always know which day there is a festival. You can always call me (my phone number is there in the calendars) and ask where the main festival will be and come. You must always maintain your enthusiasm throughout the year—always look forward to the parikrama, to the festivals.

Practise makes perfect. How many days will we be alive?

durlabha manava janma labhiya samsare
krsna na bhajinu duhkha kahiba kahare?

"I have got a very rare human life in this world, but I have not worshipped Lord Krishna. Whom can I tell of my misery?"

We must feel sad, "I have not been practising Krishna consciousness!"

'samsara' 'samsara' kari' michhe gela kala
labha na ha-ila kichhu, ghatila janjala

"Time has passed as I have been busy in my material life, and I have got nothing—only became burdened."

kisera samsara ei chhayabaji praya
ihate mamata kari vrtha dina yaya

"What sort of world is this? It is like a trick, a show. While I affectionately take it as my own, days pass by in vain."

Days are passing. I came to the Math in 1992, but I was just thinking recently, "I feel like I have come to the Math just the other day, how have all these thirty years passed?" How are the days passing so quickly? We do not even notice how day by day, moment by moment we are losing the time of this life. We must think about this. I always tell you—practise Krishna consciousness. You have come to do the parikrama of the holy dham—please do it, it will be very good, but many of you have still not been able to come to this path, have not been able to take shelter of a bona fide Guru. Those who have not come to this path yet, must try to come. You think how you will eat good things, wear good clothes, earn well, etc. but you cannot get the Lord though all this.

* * *

Beware Bogus Life

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

You will get such 'gurus' and 'sadhus' in this world who will tell you that you can eat meat, you can eat fish, you can do whatever you want—"I have given you initiation, give me a ten-rupee or fifty-rupee donation, and that is it." There are many of such obeisance-taking and donation-taking gurus in this world. They open their shops, dress up as 'sadhus' and sit there waiting for 'customers.' However, you will not find many true, bona fide sadhus in this world who would be practising Krishna consciousness—who practise what they teach... I was telling you just yesterday about Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's poem 'Vaishnav Ke?'—it is said there, "Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara: as long as you have life in this body, you must preach."

You can see the example of Srila Haridas Thakur. He may not go out for preaching himself--he only went with Sri Nityananda Prabhu a few times, and then Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip and Srila Haridas Thakur left for Puri. Yet, when he came to Puri, he followed Mahaprabhu's order and stayed at Siddha Bakul chanting the Holy Name loudly—whenever anyone came to him, they saw him chanting. And this is not a matter of just four rounds—he chanted 300,000 Holy Names every day, which is 10 million Holy Names in a month.

Practise Krishna consciousness. This is your only duty—there is no other duty in this world. Some of you already have a family, and some do not have one thinking they still have time, but I wish I had left my family and come to practise Krishna consciousness earlier. It is necessary to practise Krishna consciousness from youth. Some say, "We will chant the Holy Name when we get old. Why will we do it now when we are still young?" Look at the example of Prahlad Maharaj, look at the example of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami. How did they practise Krishna consciousness? Srila Raghunath Das Goswami lived amidst so much opulence like that of the king of heaven, but he left all his money, all his wealth like stool and urine and went to practise Krishna consciousness. We also came like this. We came leaving behind all money, wealth, cars, houses, family inheritance, etc. People will never stop fighting because of all this. All this family are dacoits disguised as your well-wishers—no matter how much you give them, the more you give, the more they will want; their desires will never be satisfied. They will take everything from you and suck your blood to the last drop.

That is why, I am telling to you all—take shelter of a bona fide guru, and those who have already taken this shelter must practise well.

We all understand the relationship we have with our parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, girlfriends, etc., we know them very well and understand them, but we do not know our Gurudev so well. So many devotees stayed at home during lockdown, but how many of them called their Guru to get some news? How many of them called their Gurudev to see how he is? Maybe twenty-fifty people called, but there are so many disciples—they did not call to ask if their Guru was even alive or dead. This is not what a relationship with your Guru is. Gurudev is your own—he has shown you this path, he has bestowed knowledge and made your ignorant eyes see. What is there to be afraid of? That he will scold you? If you call and your Guru tells you, "Quiet! I will talk to you later!" What is the problem? If you get scolded, it is good—this is your fortune. Who is a disciple? A disciples is the one who can tolerate chastisement. Did you not hear yesterday how much honour a disciple has? Prahlad Maharaj told Lord Nrisinghadev, "You want to give me a boon, but You do not show as much affection to Brahma, Siva, Indra, or even Laksmi Devi as You are showing towards me! You have actually taken me on Your lap, but even Laksmi Devi does not get this kind of honour! You do not place Your lotus feet on Brahma, Siva, Indra, Laksmi Devi's head, but You have placed Your lotus feet on my head." How many people have this kind of fortune? So, if you get chastised, it is your fortune. You must think, "If Gurudev chastises me, it is his blessing." Chastising is a blessing, not a curse.

[Referring to one of the devotees who survived a car accident.] ...Why did the Lord keep you alive? To sit in your family house and offer arati to your wife? He saved you to serve the Lord, not to worship your wife. You are wearing saffron clothes and sitting at home, what are you doing there? What keeps you there? What is there that you need so much? What nectar do you find there? What kind of nectar is pulling you to stay there? You think, "I know better, what does Gurudev understand?" "Marabi rakhabi, yo ichchha tohara (মারবি রাখবি—যো ইচ্ছা তোহার): If He wants to kill you, He will kill you, and if He wants to keep you alive, He will keep you alive." My Gurudev never let me go back to my home. When they were selling my father's property, I could get two million rupees for it (now the worth of that money is similar to five million rupees). When I told Gurudev about it, he asked me how many days it would take me to settle it, I said seven days, and Gurudev said, "All right, I can give you this money right now. You do not need to go there." Then I understood that Gurudev did not agree that I would go to my previous home—what if they stopped me there and Maya did not let me go? Gurudev always wants to keep us engaged in the service of the Lord.

There is another person also—they say, "Oh, I have given you everything," but in the meantime they keep the key with them. They asked forgiveness for their offence now. I said, "What offence? I told you one thing and you did the opposite. You are not practising Krishna consciousness. You are practising Maya consciousness because you are not doing what your Guru tells you." When I die, then you will remember what I told you. When I die, then you will understand it.

There was also another man—he convinced Gurudev that he wanted to stay at the temple, that he would take all responsibility, but then he became a vantasi (a 'vomit-eater')—he left his saffron clothes and went into family life. His daughter is now twenty-one already. He behaved bad at the temple too, and Gurudev told him, "If you cannot stop your nonsense, better go back to your house and get married!" This is what he did. He has left everything; he does not even chant the Holy Name now...

Time is going, days are passing... Gurudev told me, "Vinod, if you want to get great things, you must give up small things." I always remember this, and I always tell it to others. If you want to get great things, you must give up small things.

Your parents force you to get married and you live a pig's life with all your children. Is that a life, tell me? This is not life. There are very few people who live in family and practise Krishna consciousness. I am telling such devotees—practise properly. There is no difference between sannyasis and grihasthas. I have no objection if you want to live in a family, but practise Krishna consciousness in purity.

prabhu kahena,—'krsna-seva', 'vaisnava-sevana'
'nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana'

"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, 'Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaishnavs."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 15.104)

grhastha vairagi duhe bale gora-raya
"dekha bhai nama vina yena dina nahi yaya"

Gora Ray says to both householders and renunciants, "Brothers, see to it that a day does not pass without chanting the Name."

Make sure that not a single day passes without Vaishnav-seva and chanting the Holy Name. This is the advice Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave to all householders. Do not live in a family only serving Maya.

* * *

Breaking Free from Maya's Nest

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

Having listened to Hari-katha, King Suvarna Sen eventually gave up worshipping Maya and started worshipping Gauranga. You too must practise Krishna consciousness. Even if you live at home, you must maintain your practising life. Practising means following bhaktyanga.

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

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

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

Serve at home—associate with sadhus and engage in Nama-sankirtan. These five practises (above) are the main practices among all sixty-four types of devotion, and Nama-sankirtan (congregational chanting of the Holy Name) is the main among those five.

tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana
niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

"Of the practising processes, the best is Nama-sankirtan. If you chant the Holy Name without offence, you will get the wealth of divine love."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.71)

There was one devotee. He said, "My mother died, and now I am as if without legs and arms!" He used to live at the temple and do service, but then his mother passed away, he was very sad, and I told him to go and settle everything (do all the last rites for his mother). He went home saying he would come back, but he cheated his guru and did not come back. He said that after the festival in Ekachakra, he would come to the temple in Mahadia and stay there, but he ran away from Ekachakra. Do you think I do not understand why he ran away? I have got power from Gurudev, do you think I will not understand it when somebody cheats and runs away? He thought I would forget about it, but I remember that he said he had nothing to stay for at his home after doing the last rites for his mother—his children would take care of everything; but now he is living at home and serving his daughter-in-law. This is Maya. It is said in the scriptures also that if you make one step towards Maya, she will grasp and bind you even more—she will keep pulling you back and not letting you go. You think that you will have your son married and come to stay at the temple, but then grandchildren come and, just like witchy ghosts, they will hold you back—you will think you must take your daughter-in-law to the hospital, do this, do that, then the child is born and you will start looking after the child, etc. Then, the grandchildren will not let you go and you will have to go everywhere with the small child. This is the state of family life. As you live amidst all that, your time will be gone—you will end up in 'Gita's samsar' (one man went to Haridwar to read Gita, but ended up having a very big family).

vrddha-kala aola, saba sukha bhagala,
pida-vase ha-inu katara

"Then old age came, and all happiness fled. Subjugated by disease, I became distressed."

(Saranagati, 6.3)

We become miserable and sick as days pass. Many worry, "I cannot leave home, who will take care of my cows?" Gurudev told me, "If you serve devotees, Krishna will personally serve you." And I see that despite so many difficulties, I have nothing to worry about. Where will I eat? What will I wear? I do not think about all these things. There are foreign devotees who always take care of it. One devotee phoned me from Spain today asking what service they could do. I told what service they could do. I know them and I know they have some capacity to help with money, that is why I can tell it to them; whereas, although I cannot tell you to give much money, I can give you other service.

You know, I am going for the parikrama tomorrow, I have to take insulin, and if I go without eating anything, my blood sugar can fall very low, that is why they will wake up at two o'clock at night tomorrow and cook something for me. Will your wife cook for you at two at night? Some go to work without eating anything in the morning because there is nobody at home to cook. We have a security guard—he comes early in the morning; he says that nobody at his home wakes up so early to cook anything, so he comes without eating anything. What kind of wife is that? They cannot even cook at eight in the morning. They wake up when all the cooking is done by other family members—they come out of the room rubbing their eyes and go outside with a toothbrush. It is very rare to get a good wife. There is a man in Kolkata who was telling me how hard his life was, and he was asking me for help. I said, "What will I do? You did not listen to me. Your son was 48 years old and you brought him a twenty-two-year-old girl to marry. Do you think a young girl will stay with a 48-year-old man? She will find another husband and run away! You have made a mistake. Why did you have to get him married? I told you not to do it. You are getting pension, your son is working, I told you it was not necessary to get him married. Did you listen to me? Now your son is saying his wife has left him. Of course she will leave him. Do I have to teach you all these things?"

So, practise Krishna consciousness while you are still young, while you still can.

e deha patana ha'le ki rabe amara?
keha sukha nahi dibe putra paribara

“When this body drops dead, what will remain ‘mine'? Upon death neither my sons nor my family will give me any satisfaction.”

They will take your body to the Ganges and leave it there...

There is another person also. He does service for the temple, but he cannot take initiation. He says, "There are so many obstacles!" What obstacles? He will say that he will have to become vegetarian and his wife will not cook for him separately twice a day. I know it. I know why he is not taking initiation—because his wife will not come to this line. She is worshipping Kali, Durga—they have all these Deities in their house, they make a museum of Gods in their house. I told somebody else, "Take the Holy Name," and he said, "I have small children, they will want to eat meat, nobody will cook for me separately." What obstacle is that? How does it stop you from taking the Holy Name? Go to the market, buy vegetables and tell your wife, "Eat what you want, and I will eat vegetarian food." But then they say that the wife will say she cannot cook two types of meals. What is this? We have a devotee who stays upstairs in his house and his wife downstairs, and he cooks his own food. He does not talk to his wife, does not interfere with her life, does not even see her face. He treats her as a guest in the house. His sons came to this line too. They bring water from downstairs, cook something, offer bhog and take prasadam. I told him he could come and stay at the temple not to struggle so much, but he says he cannot leave his business. Such is the strength of material desires.

So, when people try to come to this path, it is either a wife who does not let them, or a husband, or a parent. This is Maya's samsar (family of illusion). That is why there is so much trouble and unhappiness in families. Many think, "But I live very happily in my family," but then I say to them, "Ask yourself—how many of you really have a happy family life?"

* * *

Internal Relationship with Sri Guru

Speaking online to devotees in Singapore and Malaysia
1 January 2020

Actually, Gurudev's property is not his temple, buildings, car, etc. All this is not Gurudev's property. Gurudev's property is his heart, his love and affection. Gurudev has given me some of that property and I must distribute it to you all. This is very important.

Guru is the core of the disciple's heart. The relation between Gurudev and his disciple is very close, it is like paramour love. Such relationship must come. We always do what Gurudev wants. I always—every day, every minute—get some instruction or inspiration from my Gurudev, and I am trying to distribute that to you all.

I am very happy to see that some new devotees are also present here today. I am very happy to their mood and their smiling faces, it give me remembrance of Gurudev. I know that the Singaporean and Malaysian devotees do a lot of service, they also run a temple in Malaysia, they make all festivals. This is very important because it gives enthusiasm, utsaha. Utsaha is very important in our life. Sometimes, we feel we took initiation many years ago, but we are not getting any result. We should not think about the result. For example, when we offer bhog to the Deities (we offer a flower, some fruits, or rice, dal, some subji—it can be anything), we do not know if the Deity takes it or not, but we still keep offering bhog every day with love and affection. Actually, we do not know the Lord, but we know His representative (our Guru), and we can give our Gurudev what he likes; it can be anything—some fruit, rice, dal, subji, anything. Moreover, we can also at any moment supply whatever help he may need. It can be any service. For example, Gurudev sometimes reads a newspaper, and if somebody supplies that newspaper, it is also service, and at that moment Gurudev becomes very happy, "Oh that devotee has brought a newspaper for me!" It is a very simple service, it is virtually nothing, but even small service can make Gurudev happy. It is important to understand this.

There are many ways how you can give happiness to your Gurudev. We know how to make Gurudev happy—we can feed him, we can serve him, etc. and when Gurudev takes our service, that is our happiness. Gurudev is the representative of the Lord. We will not get any letter from the Lord, but we can tell everything to our Gurudev, and Gurudev will send our message to the Lord and convey to Him what we need. If some disciple does something wrong but then, realising his or her mistake, surrenders again and asks for forgiveness of his offence, Gurudev will never reject or hate them. Gurudev will again give them an opportunity to serve the Lord. This is the nature of a proper Guru. Not everybody is pure, we have so many faults and we make so many mistakes, but if we tell Gurudev about it openly, Gurudev will never reject us—he will give everything to us. This is the most important thing for us in our life.

* * *

Remembering Ekadasi Vrata

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Mahadvadasi
Evening class, 25 March 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

Today is a shukla paksha (waxing moon) day, and it is a mahadvadasi. When you fast on ekadasi, it makes the Lord happy, so it is very good to observe this day. Ekadasi days are very dear to the Lord. "Madhava-tithi bhakti-janani yatane palana kari. I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava. They are the mother of devotion." Today's mahadvadasi is called "tri-sparsa," or "tri-sprisa" dvadasi—it means that according to the lunar calculations, three days are touching one day. In general, there are eight mahadvadasis—Unmilani Dvadasi, Vanjuli Dvadasi, Trisprisha Dvadasi, Pakshavardhini Dvadasi, Jaya Dvadasi, Vijaya Dvadasi, Jayanti Dvadasi, and Papanashini Dvadasi. It is said in Brahma-vivarta Purana that observing mahadvadasis (fasting on such days) destroys sins.

Also, during the month of Adi-mas (an extra month of Purushottam) there is a very special ekadasi called Padmini Ekadasi, and there is a pastime related to this day described in Gopal Champu that was composed by Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu. Srila Jiva Goswami was, on the one hand, a disciple of Srila Rupa Goswami and, on the other hand, his nephew; he served Srila Rupa Goswami at the temple of Sri Sri Radha Damodar. There is a story about writing the play Gopal Champu. One day, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu got angry and told Srila Jiva Goswami to leave the temple; he told him, "Go away, you are still not free from material desires, so you have not earned the right to stay in Vrindavan! You offend the holy lotus feet of Vaishnavs." Later, Srila Sanatan Goswami brought him back. When Srila Jiva Goswami left the temple, he decided to fast (he lived without eating or drink anything) and write the play Gopal Champu as he had been ordered earlier by his Gurudev. Why was Srila Jiva Goswami told to leave the temple? Because Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami misunderstood something that Srila Rupa Goswami had written and said that it was wrong. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's sloka was correct, but he agreed with Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami that it was wrong. However, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, who was a very young boy of perhaps fourteen years old at that time, later went to fetch some water from the Yamuna and, when he saw Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami, he told him, "I did not see you that day, but since I met you now, I want to say that you told that day my Gurudev was wrong, but you made a mistake. What my Gurudev wrote is correct." He explained why he thought so, and Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami admitted his mistake. When Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu got to know about this, he was angry, "Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami is my Guru, why did you have to go and tell him he was wrong?!"

That is why, you never know when you make an offence to a Vaishnav. Sometimes, you see somebody stealing and eating some prasadam—those who do it are wrong, but if you go and tell anyone about it, you will be making an even bigger offence. You can speak to the person and try to explain to them that what they are doing is wrong, but if you do not tell the person but instead tell others about it, then this fault (stealing) will come to you. It is necessary to follow this at the temple.

So, there is a pastime describing the glory of Sri Govinda in Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's play Gopal Champu. In the play, Madhukanta and Snigdhakanta, two Vraja-basis, were speaking about the day when Sri Nanda Maharaj was observing ekadasi-vrata with much determination the whole day. That day, Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yasoda offered many items to Lord Narayan—they performed a great worship, made a fire sacrifice, and offered sweet rice, condensed milk, incense, rice, vegetables, herbs, fries, cakes, etc.

Sometimes, there are only two people staying at the temple, and they think, "Today is ekadasi, I will not offer rice bhog to the Deities—if I offer grains, there is nobody to eat it, and it will be spoilt." No. You must offer rice to the Deities even on ekadasi. They think who will eat it if they offer it, but you can eat it the next day or feed it to cows or some small children. Mahaprabhu Himself once went to the house of Hiranya and Jagadish (in Chakdah, a little to the south of Nabadwip) on an ekadasi day and took there full prasadam. So, you must follow ekadasi, but there is no ekadasi for the Lord.

Anyway, it is written here in Gopal Champu that all the Vraja-basis had been fasting on that ekadasi day and listening to Hari-katha, Hari-sankirtan, lila-katha, etc.—they had been remembering the pastimes of the Lord. The next day, Nanda Maharaj went to bathe in the Yamuna along with all the Vraja gopas. Before entering the river, he started meditating. In the meantime, some spies of Varunadev came to the bank of the Yamuna and, when they saw Nanda Maharaj meditating, they quickly took him away from there.

Madhukanta asked, "Why did they take Nanda Baba?!"

Snigdhakanta replied, "O brother! Nanda Maharaj thought that the time had come to bathe, but Varunadev told his men that the time was wrong, so he ordered them to catch Nanda Maharaj."

Madhukanta asked, "What happened after that?!"

Snigdhakanta said, "Listen carefully."

Then, the news that Nanda Maharaj had drowned in the Yamuna spread immediately in all four directions. Having heard about it, everybody started crying, "What has happened to Nanda Maharaj?" Nanda Maharaj's four brothers Upananda, Abhinanda, Sunanda, and Nandan also came there and started searching for Nanda Maharaj in the Yamuna, "Where is our brother? Where did he go?" They searched and searched but could not find him. When Mother Yasoda heard about this, she became senseless. Regaining consciousness, she started praying to Krishna and the Lord, "He Ram!" Hearing her shout and cry, Krishna and Balaram, who were sleeping at that time, immediately woke up. Mother Yasoda told them, "Have You heard that Your father has drowned in the Yamuna? He went to bathe in the Yamuna and drowned!" Then, the two brothers ran to the bank of the Yamuna. Krishna told Balaram, "Take care of mom and all the gopis, and I will search for dad." Krishna jumped into the Yamuna...

It is very difficult to understand the inconceivable energy and pastimes of the Lord. When Krishna jumped into the Yamuna, He at once came to the gate of Varundev's palace. When Varundev understood that it is Lord Sri Krishna Himself had come, he paid a full obeisance to Lord Krishna and said, "My men are ignorant, not knowing anything they brought Your father to me. I am begging You for forgiveness." After that, Sri Krishna beheld the numerous treasures in Varundev's astonishing city and then, amidst all that, He saw Nanda Maharaj sitting and meditating. Sri Krishna pulled His father's uttariya and said, "Father, father! Come with Me quickly!" Nanda Maharaj opened his eyes and asked Krishna, "O son, where am I?" Krishna replied quickly, "Wherever you are, it is not necessary to ask anything, come with Me quickly!" (Krishna did not let Nanda Maharaj see Varundev's opulence.)

When Nanda Maharaj came back and all the Vraja gopas and Vraja gopis saw him, they became very happy. In this way, inconceivably powerful Sri Krishna manifested His pastime, and after that He immersed all His loving devotees in an ocean of joy.

Such is the glory of Padmini Ekadasi and Lord Govinda. This is what Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu described in his Gopal-champu.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Suddha-bhakata,' 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna,' and 'Hari Haraye' concluding the class.]

* * *

Remembering Holy Nabadwip Dham

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Three
Evening class, 26 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

Today you have very nicely completed the third day of Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama. Among many places, we went today across Madhyadwip, where Hamsavahan and other places are. Tomorrow is the adhivas of the holy appearance day of Sriman Mahaprabhu, and as each year, we will be finishing our parikrama on this day. The buses will come tomorrow and we will go up to Champahatti by bus, and after the parikrama, the buses will pick us up and bring us back here from Mamgachhi. We will be doing the parikrama of the remaining part of Koladwip, starting from Samudra Sen's place—we will sit there and speak about King Samudra Sen. Then, we will go to Champahatti. Mahaprabhu's associate Dvijavaninath installed the Deities of Gaura Gadadhar there. In the time of Mahaprabhu, there were three places where His Deity was installed—in Kalna (Gauri Das Pandit's place), in Champahatti (the place of Dvijavaninath, as well as Jayadev Goswami who lived there with his spouse Padmavati Devi and composed Sri Gita Govinda), and the third Deity was installed by Sri Vishnupriya Devi at her father's home.

So, we will pay obeisance at Champahatti and then enter Ritudwip. We will be passing Shyama Kunda and Radha Kunda and speak about those places. After that, we will arrange for prasadam for everyone. Then, we will continue to Vidyanagar, the place of residence of all knowledge (vidya) in this world (though Mahaprabhu called all this knowledge 'a-vidya,' or 'ignorance'). There is also Sri Sarvabhauma Gaudiya Math near there. Then, we will go to Jahnunagar where we will speak about Sri Jahnudwip. After that, we will go to Modadrumdwip (Mamgachhi).

We went to two islands today, and there are three more left for tomorrow. So, we will go there tomorrow and speak about the glories of those places. The place where we are now and where we return every day is called Godrumdwip, it is a place of kirtan. Nearby here is Madhyadwip, a place of smaranam (remembrance). Tomorrow, we will go to Jahnudwip, a place of vandanam (paying obeisance, praying); Modadrumdwip, a place of dasyam (servitude), non-different from Ayodhya. I told you the other day that all holy places are present here within Sri Nabadwip. Shyama Kunda and Radha Kunda of Vrindavan are also here. Ritudwip is a place of archanam (Deity worship).

You know that there are the nine kinds of devotion—sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam—hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission. Each of these nine kinds of devotion reside on a corresponding island here in Nabadwip.

There are some things left which I have not told today, and I would like to speak about it now. You can find it all written here in this book (Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala)—buy this book and take it home; you can read it every day. You should study every day otherwise one year later you will forget everything and fall into illusory bondage of Maya. The holy scripture manifests itself in two forms—grantha-bhagavata (a book form), and Vaishnav-bhagavata (a holy devotee form); there is no difference between these two forms. If you go back to your homes and do not chant kirtans the whole year being busy with your family affairs, then you will come next year and see that you cannot chant kirtans any more. You must practise at home. Practice makes perfect. You must practise every day.

* * *

Do Not Shun Service

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Three
Evening class, 26 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

There are nine kinds of devotion, among which sadhu-sanga, Nama-sankirtan, etc. are the main practices.

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

"In the beginning there is faith, then good association, then practising life. After that, the offences gradually go away, faith becomes stronger, taste comes, then attachment, then there arises affection and love. This is how love to God comes to those who practise Krishna consciousness."

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

Among these steps of progress on the path of devotion, there is asakti—attachment. We must always have attachment to spiritual life. Our attachment is always kept in some other place, whereas we have no attachment to the service of Krishna, to the practice of Krishna consciousness. We sing in one of the kirtans written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur,

aparadha-sunya haye laya krsna-nama
tabe jiva krsna-prema labhe avirama

"When souls, free from offences, chant the Name of Krishna, they quickly attain divine love for Krishna."

kabe habe bala se dina amara
aparadha ghuchi suddha name ruchi
krpa-bale ha'be hrdaye sanchara

"Please tell me, when will that day be mine? When will my offences be removed? When will the taste for the pure Name arise in my heart by the power of mercy?"

"When will my offences be destroyed and my heart chant the Holy Name?..."

Those of you who are going home after the festival must practise properly at home. I am not telling any of you to go, but I see that some have left already... [A devotee tries to give an explanation for devotees' leaving—they had heard that trains would stop running, so they left earlier to avoid being stuck.] Who is telling these lies? It is lies. I am telling you somebody is spreading rumours. I heard yesterday some men talking at the ghat. One of them was saying, "There are rumours that a huge cyclone is coming." But the newspapers say that no cyclone is expected. People are telling lies.

You know, at the time of Gaura Purnima it is necessary to work so hard—it is necessary to do so many things, to give rooms to the devotees who come, to take care of everything, to make sure everything runs smoothly, to go to the market, etc. And I do everything alone. Now I have given some responsibility partially to Sripad Niriha Maharaj and Sripad Vishnu Maharaj. Anyhow, before the festival, one-two men from Nabadwip (I do not want to tell their names) came to me and said, "Oh, there will be no buses or trains running at Gaura Purnima time!" I asked them, "Where did you get this news?" He said, "Oh, such-and-such Prabhu said it." I asked that Prabhu, and he said, "Oh, a ricksha driver told me!" Do you see? Only those who have little service mood can do or say such things.

When ** Prabhu told me that trains would not run, I did not believe it. I do not believe things just like that. I asked him, "Where did you hear that trains would not run?" He said, "I know one man who works at the train station, he told me that." I did not believe it. People make up all kinds of excuses to leave. What do you think will happen? What obstacle are you afraid of? The whole matter is that they have started election in West Bengal and to get all the farmers to vote they prohibited all religious gatherings. Everybody is expected to show up at the election commission, so government does not want anyone to go to any religious gatherings. So, all these rumours about cyclones, trains stopping, etc. are just excuses. Those who do not want to serve the Lord, will listen to this and leave. This is all gossips. "Gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe." Do not listen to village talks, do not listen to village news. Mahaprabhu told this to Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. If you want to follow Mahaprabhu's teaching, then you must not hear village talks (gossips) and you must not speak about village news (gossips).

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

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

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

You have not come to this world to eat well and dress well. I always tell everyone—cook only some potato and rice for me. Because I am going on parikrama and have to exert myself (I walk, I sweat a lot, etc.), my blood sugar can fall down, that is why I am eating rice three times a day now. If I eat rotis, I will get sick. I like aloo-siddho [potato mashed with chilli, salt, and mustard oil] very much and tok dal [dal with pieces of green mango]. It is not necessary to make anything else. This is what I ate today in the morning, for example. So, I do not need anything special—I did not come from a zamindar's house, neither was I born in a zamindar's house. Somebody's parents may have been zamindars, but that is another matter—as for me, I was not born in a zamindars' family, I worked hard myself to grow up, to get education, etc. and to achieve everything. I have worked hard from my childhood. Wherever I went, I worked very hard to earn my position. When I came to the temple I started from the ground, from the drain level—I worked very hard and cleaned stool at the goshala. People did not believe it. I used to teach at a college, but, when I came to the temple, I worked in the goshala. I did not care what people said—I liked working in the goshala, and I still sometimes go to the goshala in Ekachakra, Tarakeshwar or here and feed the cows. I like goshalas, and Gurudev also told me, "If you serve cows, the Lord will be very happy." Krishna Himself served cows. Not only that, Krishna Himself served Vaishnavs—He would invite Vaishnavs, and when Vaishnav guests came, He would take their shoes, clean them, and keep them nicely to the side! Krishna Himself took up this service. Yet, here, when somebody takes sannyas, they often think, "Oh, I have become a sannyasi, everybody must serve me!" This is a wrong conception. Sannyasis are captains—when fighting against Maya, captains must go first and handle Maya. Sannyasis must not only go forward first, but they must serve more. Mahaprabhu distributed Jagannath prasadam and fed all the devotees who came to Puri with His own hand. Everybody sat with their plates full, but nobody started to eat—they said to Mahaprabhu, "Prabhu, nobody will start eating until You sit down and eat Yourself." Then, Mahaprabhu had to sit down and eat. This is how Mahaprabhu Himself served everyone.

* * *

Meaning of Chastity

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Three
Evening class, 26 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

Those who take sannyas must do more service. If one becomes a sannyasi and worries too much about their health and asks for a nice comfortable chair, etc.—this is not right. Sannyasis are captains and they are given more right for service. Tridandi (thriple staff) sannyas means 'kaya-mana-vakya'—it means you must serve with your body, mind, and speech. Gurudev gave one more explanation—he said that tridandi sannyas means "being humble, tolerant, and giving honour to others."

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

"One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives due honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.239)

Those who have these qualities will serve others.

This is what Mahaprabhu taught. It is necessary to distribute prasadam with your own hand, to do everything with your own hands. The problem is that we all want to be masters (prabhu), but none of us are actually masters. I have told you many times—

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

One time, some disciple phoned Gurudev saying, "Maharaj, this is such-and-such Prabhu speaking." Gurudev replied, "Oh, and this is your servant Gobe Das speaking." ['Gobe' is an extremely informal 'village' variation of the name 'Govinda'; Srila Gurudev sometimes used this name in the intimate relationship with his Srila Guru Maharaj, saying to Srila Guru Maharaj, 'I am your Gobe.'] I heard this from Gurudev. Many introduce themselves to their Guru saying, "I am such-and-such Prabhu speaking," but you are not a master (prabhu), you are a servant (das). Why do you call yourself prabhu? You are a servant (das)! We say, "This is your low servant (adham-das) speaking," and this is sufficient. You must tell the name your Guru gave you [such-and-such 'das'—not 'prabhu'; such-and-such 'dasi'—not 'didi' or 'devi dasi']. We must learn these things.

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

You have heard this kirtan. We do not sing kirtans just for the sake of tune. When we were on the parikrama today, I heard somebody was singing lila-kirtan behind our parikrama party. They sing fancy tunes to please the minds of the people—nobody listens to the meaning of the words in such kirtans. We never do this in our Math. Never do this. If Srila Sridhar Maharaj saw or heard anyone do this, he would tell them to get out of the temple. However, Gurudev did not kick anyone out, and I am also tolerating. One time, Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) kicked even Srila Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj out of the temple because he had gone to hear melodious lila-kirtans. Some days later, he understood his mistake and came back, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj had kicked him out (although they were good friends).

I heard somebody was singing at the arati here today and yesterday also. I did not say anything yesterday, but I will say it today. They sang, "Gadadharer gatha mala." Never sing this. Have you ever heard me sing it? Guru Maharaj prohibited to sing this. This is sung by sahajiyas. You can ask me, "In some temples we hear that they sing 'Sri Advaita-Sita Bhagavad-gita' in the song 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna.' Why do we not sing it in our Math? Everybody sings it, but why do we not sing it?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj's conception is not like everyone's conception. Because you will sing this and think that Sri Advaita Prabhu's spouse Sri Sita Devi is the same as your wife, you will mix it all together, that is why Srila Guru Maharaj prohibited to sing this and instead he told to sing, "Sri Advaita-chandra." Otherwise people will start thinking that all sadhus can keep a wife. Another thing is that Mahaprabhu shows the mood of Srimati Radharani, and He comes to this world to manifest His magnanimous pastimes (audarya-lila), but the divine love He manifests is niskama-prema (pure divine love devoid of any material desires). This is not the same love that your children show among themselves. Sahajiyas mix these things together—they say, "Oh, Krishna kissed so many ladies," and they start kissing many ladies. This is what sahajiyas (imitators) do. If you try to do this, people will beat you. So, no "Gadadharer gatha mala." It is "Bhakta-ganer ghata mala." We always chant, "Jaya Sachinandana Jaya Gaura Hari!" and what do sahajiyas chant? "Vishnupriya-prana-dhana Nadiya bihari." Do we ever sing this? We do not. We sing, "Bhakta-gana-prana-dhana Nadiya bihari." One time, when we came to Yogapith with the parikrama, we heard somebody started singing "Vishnupriya-prana-dhana Nadiya bihari," and Srila Yati Maharaj (President Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Math at that time) came and forcefully kicked them out.

It is necessary to understand that our conception and line is different from others and we do not mix with everyone—we do not go everywhere, we do not mix with everyone. Just recently some person came to me and said that he would not go anywhere now. I asked him, "Why do you mix with the opposition?" Wherever there is some party or programme, he goes there to speak, and gets pratistha from everybody. Gurudev is doing kirtan here, his parikrama is here, his Hari-katha is here, but he goes to whichever other party where there is some programme. I asked him, "Why do you go there?" He said, "Oh, I go there for guru-seva (for the service to my Gurudev)." "Guru-seva? Then why do those people never come here? You are wasting your time!" We are separate from other groups! That is why it is necessary to know what chastity is. We do not mix with everyone. We always stay separately from other groups.

When I saw that Gurudev's and Srila Guru Maharaj's conception had all become perverted, I left that place [Koladwip Temple]. They have destroyed all conception of Srila Sridhar Maharaj and Srila Gurudev, the entire conception and line of Sri Rupanuga Dhara. They have diverted that current! I left that place with so much pain in my heart. We are the current of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Sri Rupanuga-dhara, Sri Rupa-Saraswati Dhara, Brahma-Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. You cannot only say 'Gaudiya,' 'Gaudiya' with your mouth—everybody says it, everybody chants kirtans, but why do we keep away from sahajiyas and other parties? Why must we allow to mix these things in? We will never allow all these things to be mixed with our conception and line. We do not care about the tune. Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur wanted to hear 'Sri Rupa-manjari-pada' kirtan from the holy mouth of Srila Sridhar Maharaj—there were other Vaishnavs present who could sing very well, but did he listen to this kirtan from their mouths? Why did he not listen to it from them? Because Srila Sridhar Maharaj was different from them. If you want to come to the current of pure conception (suddha-siddhanta-dhara), you must come to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. All these other things that are spread by sahajiyas and other parties will not live long.

You know, in my previous ashram, they held one-month-long kirtans. They hire people to chant kirtan for one month (240 prahar). There were women singing also from two o'clock at night—at that time, there would be a huge crowd, and when all the women left, the place would be empty. This is the kind of kirtan they did. People are paid well for such kirtans, they are fed well, they are given nice clothes, etc. I told them that until and unless they stop these kirtans, I will not go there. This is my final word. They told me, "We have made a temple for you here, please come at least once." I said I would not go there because they still had not stopped those kirtans. I left all that and came here, and I do not want to go there and mix with that. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's line is the current of pure conception (suddha-siddhanta-dhara). There is no place for sahajiyas in it, there is no place for mayavadis in it—there is no place for any other aul, baul, kartabhaja, neda, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, ativadi, churadhari, gauranga-nagari groups.

One devotee forced and forced me to allow him to stage a drama at our temple. I told him I did not like all that. He still made it once in Ekachakra, but I do not like it at all. If my Gurudev does not like something, I can never go against him. I cannot do anything against my Gurudev's desire.

Our line is separate. We do not mix with others. So many people come to hear those lila-kirtans, but how many people have they managed to bring to the pure line? How many of those people come to practise pure Krishna consciousness? How many of them become proper, real sadhus? That is why it is said that there is a matter of quality and there is a matter of quantity. If you go to buy eggplant at the market and somebody sells 1 maund (37.3 kg) eggplants for 10 rupees, you buy it very happily, but when you bring it home, you see that it is all rotten. Yet, if you pay 10 rupees for 1 kg of eggplant, then you will get good quality. You must eat good things [your conception must be pure]. You can eat luchi, but Gurudev said, "You can eat luchi, but do not eat luchi fried in kerosine otherwise you will have a problem with your stomach and start vomiting." Gurudev always told me this, "Do not eat luchi fried in kerosine."

* * *

Pastime at Gadigachha

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Three
Evening class, 26 March 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

We will listen today mainly about the glory of Sri Madhyadwip. Each of you should take a copy of this book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala. Those who already have it do not need to buy it, but those who have not got it yet must get a copy. If you buy a holy book, you can read it the whole year and more, but when you buy material books, you will read it once-twice and that is it. You know, today I have got the biggest gift from Pujyapad Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaj (he is Gurudev of ISKCON now) [His Divine Grace refers to some scriptures that had been presented to him by Srila Jayapataka Maharaj that day]. I have known him since 1996 when I was a brahmachari, and he has always loved me from those days. Some time ago he also sent me a full set of Srimad Bhagavatam. Just as Birhambir once stole all the holy books, all my books have also been stolen by some dacoits. Gradually, devotees are giving me some scriptures and I am very happy with that.

Anyhow, there is a village called Gadigachha within Sri Godrumdwip. I want to tell you about a pastime that happened at this place. There is a forest called Kamyavan that is situated within the churasi crore, eighty-four crores, of Vrindavan parikrama. This forest is now geographically situated in Rajasthan. When they do the eighty-four crore parikrama of Vrindavan, they go there. I have told you before, "Kirtana prabhave smarana haibe: chanting (kirtan) arouses remembrance (smaran)."

One day, Durvasa Muni was resting in this forest when a small demigod boy (dev-sisu) came there and cut his sikha (jata) playfully. Durvasa Muni became very angry and cursed the boy, "You shall live as a child crocodile in a canal for four ages—Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali!" Then, the boy began to cry and begged Durvasa Muni, "Please forgive my offence." Durvasa Muni replied, "All right, but I have already cursed you and cannot revoke it. In the age of Kali, Supreme Lord Sri Krishna will come as Gauranga Mahaprabhu distributing His own Holy Name. When you hear His Holy Name, you will get liberation and return to your previous birth."

From that time on, the boy lived as a crocodile. Then, one day Mahaprabhu was walking with the devotees in the area of Gadigachha and told everyone, "Come, let us go to the house of my nephew." There was a devotee named Bhim Ghosh—he always called Mahaprabhu 'uncle' and Mahaprabhu called Bhim's mother 'Didi' (elder sister). Bhim Ghosh met Mahaprabhu and invited Him in, "Come inside, mother has kept a lot of food for you all—condensed milk, curd, paneer, butter, etc." Mahaprabhu came inside the house and sat down surrounded by the devotees, and Bhim Ghosh and his mother fed everyone all kinds of milk products. After that, Bhim Ghosh's mother asked Nimai, "How is mother (Sachi Mata)?" Nimai said she was well.

Then, Mahaprabhu called everyone to go to the lake nearby. Hearing this, Bhim said, "Do not go there, uncle. There is a crocodile in that lake. Out of fear for that crocodile, even our cows do not go there to drink water." But Mahaprabhu knows everything, and He knew why He was going there. So, He said, "Nothing will happen. Come with Me." Mahaprabhu went to the lake chanting kirtan with all the devotees. Then, suddenly a small boy came out of the water and fell at Mahaprabhu's feet. Nimai asked him, "Who are you? Where have you come from?" The boy explained, "I was a demigod's child. I have been living here for four yugas, but Durvasa Muni said that Krishna would come in Kali-yuga as Gauranga, and I would hear His Name and become rescued. I can understand that You are the Supreme Lord, You are Krishna, a hidden incarnation of the Lord in this age of Kali. Please give me Your blessing so that I can return to my mother."

This is the pastime that happened at Gadigachha in Sri Godrumdwip.

* * *

Glory of Sri Madhyadwip

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Three
Evening class, 26 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

I would like to tell you about Sri Madhyadwip. It is an island of smaranam (remembrance of the Lord). Entering Sri Madhyadwip, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu told Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, "This is a village called Majhdia," and then He told him about the glory of this place:

Some time in Satya-yuga, there were seven sages who prayed here to Lord Brahma to attain the divine love of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Then, one day Lord Brahma became very pleased with the prayers of the sages, so he came to them and said, "You must all go to Nabadwip. If you chant the glories of Gaura there, you will easily get Gaura-prema." Attaining the mercy of a holy place, one attains saintly association; after that, practising Krishna consciousness in the saintly association, one attains the supreme benefit. This is the greatest happiness and fulfilment in life. Those who become attracted and attached to Sri Nabadwip Dham get the right to reside in Vraja. Without the mercy of Sri Nabadwip Dham, it is impossible to live in Vrindavan. (Many may stay in Vrindavan, but instead of actually living in Vrindavan they only pretend that they live there.) Hearing Lord Brahma's advice, the sages went to Nabadwip Dham and began to dance and worship and glorify Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

The sages engaged themselves in severe austerities and earnestly prayed for the darshan of Sri Gaura Hari. Giving up all food and sleep, they only chanted the Holy Name of Gaura. One day, Gaura gave them His darshan to bestow mercy on these sages. He came to them in a dream (it all happened in Satya-yuga), and when the sages saw Him, they were astonished. They said, "O Lord, we surrender at Your holy lotus feet! Please bestow upon us devotion to Yourself." Hearing their prayer, merciful Gaura Hari spoke, "Listen, dear sages, give up all other desires, all knowledge, karma, etc. and always speak Krishna-katha. Do not tell anyone for now what I have just shown you. I will come to this Nabadwip Dham very soon, then My pastimes will become manifest, and you too will be able to see those pastimes. For now, go to Sri Kumar Hatta and practise Krishna consciousness at a ghat there." Saying this, Gaura Hari disappeared. The sages then followed Mahaprabhu's order and started to practise Krishna consciousness at Sri Kumar Hatta.

Here, in Madhyadwip you can see seven hills. This is the place of residence of those seven sages. This is where they sat and attained Gaura Hari. Having told about this pastime, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu showed Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu a few other places...

It is said that a supremely pure river called Gomati flows here, and also Naimisaranya forest is present on this island. In old times, Saunaka and many other sages heard about the glories of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu from the holy lotus mouth of Sri Suta Goswami. One day, leaving his carrier bull Nandi, Sivji Maharaj took Brahma's swan and came here to hear about the glories of Sriman Mahaprabhu. All the devotees surrounded Sivji Maharaj and, as they danced and chanted kirtan, they showered a rain of flowers upon him. That is why that place became known as Hamsavahan ('riding a swan').

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu also told Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu about one more place here at Sri Madhyadwip. There is a holy place situated within Sri Brahmapura on this island, it is called Puskara Tirtha, and a very secret pastime took place here.

In Satya-yuga, there was a brahman named Divdas. He left his home and set out to visit all the holy places. One day, he came to a holy place called Puskara Tirtha and felt very attracted to it. Later, as he continued travelling around the holy places, he came here to Sri Nabadwip Dham. Here, he heard a divine message saying, "O brahman, you have come to this eternal holy abode. You should stay here." Following the order of the Lord, Divdas made a small hut and settled at that place. However, eventually his mind became disturbed because he always kept remembering Puskara Tirtha. Being unable to travel, he felt very sad. He cried and thought, "Will I never be able to see my dear Puskara Tirtha?" Lord Puskaranath took pity on Devdas and appeared before him disguised as a brahman. The Lord said to Devdas, "Devdas, do not cry, do you see this pond here, in front of you? Take bath in it and you will see Puskara Tirtha in its water." Hearing the words of the brahman, Devdas quickly went to bathe in the lake. He got transcendental eyes and could see Puskara Tirtha in front of him.

Seeing his dear Puskara Tirtha, Devdas said to the Deity of Puskaranath, "O Lord, You have taken so much trouble for me! You had to come here from so far!" Lord Puskaranath replied, "Devdas, you are so fortunate! I have not come from far. Actually, I eternally reside here at Sri Nabadwip Dham. This Sri Nabadwip Dham is where all holy places are present, and I live here eternally too. Fools and unintelligent people want to leave Nabadwip Dham and stay elsewhere, they glorify other places, but there is no other place that can compare to this beautiful Nabadwip Dham. You can see Kuruksetra, Brahmavarta, Saraswati River, Drishdvati River here. I will tell you one secret. Very soon there will be a great joy in this Nabadwip Dham because Gaurasundar will appear here and distribute transcendental love in all four directions. The Lord will roam this Nabadwip Dham and perform sankirtan with His devotees. The whole would will be then flooded with transcendental love, but those who are interested in debates and logic will not be able to get this love. Even if they practise Krishna consciousness for millions and millions of years, unfortunate souls will not get any attachment or attraction to the Holy Name; but all unwanted elements leave those who practise Gauranga consciousness—such souls very quickly attain residence in Sri Vrindavan Dham. Devdas, stay here, you must definitely get the darshan of Gauranga Mahaprabhu's associates."

Saying this, Puskarnath disappeared, and after a while Devdas heard a divine message saying, "O brahman! This Kali-yuga is such a special time! You will be born here in Kali-yuga and, swimming in the divine love, you will chant the glories of Sri Gaura!"

Walking and speaking about all this, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu also showed Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu Uchchahatta (Kuruksetra) saying, "All demigods came here. Whatever holy places there are within Kuruksetra and Brahmavarta, they are all present here in Nabadwip. All holy places are serving Nabadwip Dham. If you spend only one night here, it is the same as spending one hundred years in Kuruksetra. When all the demigods came to live here, they established a marketplace where they would come to speak about Gauranga Mahaprabhu."

Jay Sri Madhyadwip ki jay!

All this is also written in poetry form (in Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur), but if we read it, far not everyone will understand it, that is why I have printed it in prose. If you read it, it will be good. Everybody must read this book (Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala).

I see that there are fewer people today—are they all sleeping? The Lord has now mercifully given us all a place to stay, so what is the problem? We can stay here and hear and speak about the glories of Lord Nrisinghadev every day. So many devotees come here every day. All the temples never came to our old temple in Nabadwip, but everybody comes here because all temples' parikrama parties come here. This place is crowded every day.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Sarvasva tomara charane sampiya' and 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna,' and, reciting the final 'Jaya Dhvani,' concludes the evening class.]

* * *

Association and Chastity

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-kula-churamani Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Sarvabhauma Sri Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighnar-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nrisingha Palli ki jay
Sri Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama samapta o adhivas maha-mahotsav ki jay
Jay Sri Gaura Purnima, avirbhav maha-mahotsav ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Samagata sannyasi-vrinda, brahmachari-vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Samagata matri-mandali ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

Is everyone OK?

Devotees: Yes!

I had prayed to the Lord so that you would be able to complete this parikrama nicely. By the Lord's mercy there were no obstacles, no rain, no problems. The parikrama went very well and smoothly. Everybody did the parikrama very well without any incidents.

[A devotees says that somebody had strayed and went to another party today during the parikrama, etc.]

Those are vantasi (vomit-eaters)—they always go to different places. What did Gurudev tell? Who must you associate with? You must associate with those who are more senior than you are, you must observe and learn from those who have brought you to this line. Do you think you can become a sadhu just by dressing as one? You can buy these clothes on the street. If I buy the clothes of a policeman and hang a gun on my belt, will that make me a policeman? If I dress as a judge, does that make me a judge? I do not like all those aul, baul, kartabhaja, neda, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, ativadi, churadhari, gauranga-nagari. Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "You cannot attach one tree's bark to another tree." Where have you brought all this idea from? I know where they went, do you think I do not know? I can tell you where they went. They were with us until Champahatti, after that there was another party, and they got mixed among them. "Asat-sanga sada tyaga chhada anya gita-raga—give up bad association, do not listen to the material songs and music." (Sri Prema-bhakti-chandrika, 15)

Once, a greatest devotee of Srila Sanatan Goswami tied a red-colour turban on his head and came to Srila Jagadananda Pandit. When Srila Jagadananda Pandit came to Vrindavan, he was staying at the same place as Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami. So, when Srila Jagadananda Pandit saw the red-colour turban on the head of Srila Sanatan Goswami, it stirred his heart as he remembered Mahaprabhu. He asked Sanatan Goswami, "Prabhu, when did Mahaprabhu give you this cloth?" Sanatan Goswami replied, "No, He did not give it to me. I got it from another sadhu named Mukunda Saraswati." At that time, Srila Jagadananda Pandit was cooking some rice and as soon as he heard those words, and, although he was junior and Srila Sanatan Goswami was much older, Srila Jagadananda Pandit dashed at Srila Sanatan Goswami, about to hit him with the pot of boiling rice! He said, "You love the Lord so much, and the Lord loved you so much—how could you take somebody else's cloth and tie it on your head?!" [In reply, Srila Sanatan Goswami explained, "Now I see how much you love Mahaprabhu! I wore this turban only to test you and to see your love for the Lord."]

Saffron is taken only from one's Guru. You can see this boy here wearing saffron, he took it from me, and I also received saffron from my Guru. You cannot just go to the market and buy it. Never do this.

...I saw that person entering the room, and I prohibited him to go there. He is my own, then I can say that. I can only prohibit something to those whom I take as my very heart and soul. What did the Lord say in Srimad Bhagavad-gita? "I do not know anyone except for My devotees, and My devotees also do not know anyone except Me." One must become a devotee. When you take initiation, you take it to serve your Guru, not to disturb your Guru. Always remember this.

* * *

Service Formula

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

In Mahaprabhu's time, nobody came to disturb Mahaprabhu. Many devotees would cook, gather some fruit and bring it for Mahaprabhu. And there was once a peculiar pastime. Mahaprabhu had a servitor named Govinda. Govinda was actually Mahaprabhu's godbrother (he was also Ishwar Puri's disciple), but he served Mahaprabhu.

Those who are sitting here near me always call me 'Gurudev' but none of them are my disciples. They are all my Gurudev's disciples. Many of you can see that when they give garlands, they first give garlands to my disciples—some do not understand that they are all my godbrothers. I have given sannyas to some of them, but they are my godbrothers. Kamalendu Prabhu, Balaram Prabhu, Sripad Sadhu Maharaj, and many others are all my godbrothers. For you, they are your god-uncles. You must give them respect in this way. "Sakale samman karite sakati deha natha yatha-yatha: Please give me the ability to give honour to everybody properly." You must understand it and give honour to all godbrothers. When I was sick and could not even put my clothes on, they did everything for me—they even helped me to bathe when I could not move my hand. This is how they have served...

This is what we all must do—we come to serve our Gurudev, not to disturb him. In Mahaprabhu's time everyone brought many things for Him... Sometimes, they also come to my door and start disturbing—they know I am resting but they are crowding outside my door. I come here, I sit here, you can give pranami, etc. here. It is not necessary to come to my room. I know and remember you all. I know some of you are sad, "I have come but could not meet with Gurudev. It would be nice to speak to him when I am leaving," but there are a thousand people here—how can they all come to me one by one? If I cannot even come out of my room to take prasadam because there is a crowd of people in front of my room, what is my position then? I saw yesterday that there are a hundred people who wanted to take initiation, and I will have to chant on all beads. Sometimes, I want to go to the bathroom, to have my head shaved, etc. but my door is blocked. When the Deities are resting, do you block Their door? The same is here—you cannot block Gurudev's door.

Service to Gurudev means you must think how to keep your Guru happy. Suppose Gurudev is thirsty—if you give him a glass of water, that is service; you cannot give him a rasagulla instead. You can see also that before we start chanting kirtans, they go to bring some hot water. They supply whatever is necessary. They know I cannot eat certain things, and they cook certain things for me (some potato and rice, for example). What is called service? There is one sloka in Srimad Bhagavatam, when Gurudev was explaining its meaning he said, "If I say, 'I am hungry!' you must give me food at once. That is called service."

I started telling about Govinda at the beginning. Govinda took charge of Mahaprabhu's service. When Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip and came to Puri, Govinda became Mahaprabhu's personal servitor. All the devotees would come and bring all kinds of preparations and foods for Mahaprabhu, and later they all asked Govinda, "Did the Lord eat what I have brought? Did He like it?" Govinda lied, "Yes, He ate, He liked it a lot." One day, Govinda came to Mahaprabhu and said, "Prabhu, how many more people do I have to lie to? I keep all the things in Your room, the whole room is full, but You are not taking anything, and I have to tell everyone lies that You have taken it and liked it." Mahaprabhu replied, "Oh, you have to lie to them.... All right, then I will sit and take everything!" He sat on an asan and started eating one thing after another until the room had became empty. Mahaprabhu ate whatever everyone brought, and there were thousands of devotees who came. Mahaprabhu ate everything, and asked for more, "Hey, why are you not bringing more? Why are you dawdling? Govinda, you told Me that there were so many things and I do not eat anything, where are those things? Bring them!" Govinda said, "Prabhu, everything has finished. There are only Raghav's bags left." Mahaprabhu always ate the preparations from Raghav's bags during the whole year—He would eat little by little and remember Radhav Pandit.

So, if you think that you must come directly to Gurudev and give something directly to his hand, it is not so. The main thing is that Gurudev gives you service. Whether you give a hundred rupees, fifty rupees or one rupee, you can always give it to any of my servitors—when you give it to them, your money is already used for the Lord's service. My servitors get annoyed because they worry about me, they tell me, "They disturb you, you cannot take rest." I was lying down, resting and reading, suddenly the electricity went out. I had to send someone to fix it. Then, there was no diesel in the generator, I had to send someone to get it.

Listen to what I am telling you. It is not necessary to know too many things or to say too many things. What I am telling you is enough. I do not want to hear who did what, who said what, what somebody heard, etc. and you do not need to know it either. Listen to what Gurudev says. If you really practise Krishna consciousness, where do you get time to hear all these other things? We have no time to hear all these things.

There are only twenty-four hours in a day. Where do we find time for other things? Those who practise Krishna consciousness chant the Holy Name, arrange for the things for the Deities—cooking, offering, worshipping, etc. They have so many things to do. Where is there time for prajalpa (idle talks and gossiping)?

When you bring something, I want you to bring people—go preaching and bring new people. "Bend the bamboo while it is green—if you try to bend it when it matures, it will crack (equivalent to English 'strike the iron while it is hot"). Always think about your own spiritual life—think how you are practising Krishna consciousness. If you talk too much, you will waste too much time.

* * *

Serve with Loving Care

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

You have all completed Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama very well. By the mercy of the Lord, there were no problems. If we get the mercy of our Guru and Vaishnavs, then we must get supreme benefit.

We must always have three qualities—we must be sincere, we must be seekers, and we must have chastity. Sincerity means nistha—constancy, or firm determination. First and foremost we must always think, "Do I have constancy, or firm determination in chanting the Holy Name? Do I have constancy, or firm determination in the worship of the Deities?"

I went to the house of a devotee the other day and I told them, "You have a mistake in your service mood." He is worshipping the Deities with much zest and has brought them here now, but this is not real worship because before you become a devotee of Lord Krishna you must first become a devotee of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

It is said in the scriptures that if you chant the Holy Name of Lord Sri Krishna, you will be making offences, but what Name can you chant without offence? The Names of Nitai and Gaura. We sing in one of the kirtans, "Nitai-Gaurer Namer aparadher vichar ta nai re. There is no judgement of offences when one chants the Names of Nitai and Gaura." When you chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, you must chant giving up the ten offences; on the one hand, as you chant more and more, your offences become removed (that is why it is necessary to chant more and more), and, on the other hand, if you do not worship Gaura, you cannot get Krishna. We must worship Gauranga. If you disturb Gauranga with your 'service', then whom are you serving? You must think about it. You must be very careful that Deities do not become a burden and that you do not harass the Deities. "Do not keep a Deity and make Them a burden. Neither must you keep Deities and harass Them [by not serving Them properly.] Vigraha rekhe galagraha korben na, vigraha rekhe nigraha-o korben na."

Gurudev always told householder devotees not to keep Deities because if you do, then the burden of offences will fall on your shoulders. In many houses, the wife and the husband worship the Deities, but their children do not come to this line. What will happen then to those Deities when the husband and the wife die? If their children come to this line and practise Krishna consciousness, it is well and good, otherwise it is a great danger in their life.

You can see what happens when you keep Deities. You cannot come to do the parikrama of Nabadwip Dham, you cannot come to any festival—you will be always staying at home with your Deities. However, if you keep a photograph of any of our Deities, then even if you go away for some time, the worship of those Deities is anyway going on in one place or another, so it is not going to be an offence for you to leave—when you are at home, then you must eternally, daily without fail, worship the Deities. You can see here—how many Gopals devotees have brought! But you cannot bring three Deities (Sri Gauranga, Sri Radha and Sri Krishna) here. We have some space to keep Gopals, but there is no place to keep too many of them or to keep big Deities. That is why I tell everyone—you can take home a photograph and worship Deities in Their photographs form.

Always be careful.

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

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

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

You must serve Deities with faith. Do you understand? With faith. Serve the Lord dedicating all your mind, heart, soul, everything to the service.

* * *

Accepting the Rules

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

It is said, "Avasya raksibe Krsna visvasa palana: surrender means believing that Krishna will certainly protect me." Krishna is the protector, Krishna is the maintainer.

Have you ever seen in the news that when an earthquake or a whirlpool happens, sometimes big buildings can get broken—everybody may die but some two-year-old child survives. If the Lord keeps you alive, nobody can kill you, and if the Lord kills you, then nobody can save you. Therefore, it is necessary to keep faith in the Lord. It is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita, in Srimad Bhagavatam and other scriptures that it is necessary to have faith.

I heard yesterday that there are a hundred people who want to take initiation. If you only want to take initiation and then go back home and live as before, it will not do. You take initiation, then go back home and do not keep any connection with your Guru—there is no news about you for one-two years. I do not want your money, wealth, cars, houses, etc.—you must give your heart, your soul. So many people have come, but I have never told anyone, "You are coming for five days, you must give me money for that." If you give something, it is OK; if you do not give anything, it is OK too. You can see also that we have rented buses for three days, I never take any bus fare from anyone.

You are taking initiation. It is like you are getting enrolled into a school and then never come to study. You take initiation, give some pranami and take the beads, but after that you do not care whether you chant or not chant, you do not keep any connection, you do not build any relation with your Gurudev, you do not practise anything. If you enrol into a school and study like this, then you will never pass the exams. You are coming here to practise Krishna consciousness, to serve Guru; this is why people take initiation. You must always remember this. Also, I do not tell these things every day and I do not know if anybody has told you about it or not, but all those who are taking initiation must at least follow the four regulative principles, if you are not prepared to follow them, then you should not take initiation here. I do not need a large quantity of devotees. If I get only one good disciple, he can rescue the whole universe. I do not need a thousand people. My Gurudev has kept just me alone here and you all come running after me. If you needed a big building, then you would not come here—you would stay at the old temple in Nabadwip (jal-mandir). When I came here, to this jungle, you all came with me. Now there are many buildings here, and more people want to come. Do you think I do not understand this? Now that we have made the fourth floor and a new guesthouse, now people want to come, but before they used to worry if there is place to stay or not, if there are any arrangements or not, and they criticised and gossiped about us. I have told you before,

vaisnava-charitra sarvada pavitra
yei ninde himsa kari'
bhaktivinoda na sambhase tan're
thake sada mauna dhari'

"The character of Vaishnavs is always pure. Bhaktivinod keeps quiet and does not associate with those who are envious of Vaishnavs and who criticise Vaishnavs."

(Sri Kalyan-kalpataru)

I never chase anyone away. Others may do what they do, but I do not need to do what others do. Always remember this and try to be like that.

The four regulative principles means not engaging in gambling, taking intoxicants, illegal sex, and meat-eating. Gambling means playing dice, cards, buying lottery tickets. Intoxication means drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking, drinking tea. You must give all this up. Many have a habit to suck chocolate instead of drinking tea—this is how they give up their habit to drink tea. Illegal sex means you must not associate with any women except your own wife, and you must also not be too attached to your wife. You can only enter into a relationship with your wife to have children, you must not have too much attachment. Meat-eating means you must not kill any jiva souls—you must not eat any meat, fish, onion, garlic, masoori dal (lentil). Never eat this. Remember this. Never eat fish, meat, onion, garlic, masoori dal (lentil). Also, you must follow ekadasi. You can also try to keep a photograph of the Deities and offer bhog to the Deities—it is not necessary to cook anything extraordinary; you can cook some potato and offer potato; many people have wild spinach growing in their garden—this spinach is Mahaprabhu's favourite, you can cook it and offer it (Mahaprabhu will be even happier). You can place the offering in front of the photograph of the Deities with a Tulasi leaf, chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and say, "Prabhu, I do not know anything, please eat this. I do not understand anything, but I am giving this offering to You." After that, put the prasad on another plate and you can take it. Keep some plates separately for the Lord. If you eat muri, you can offer muri, if you eat rice or roti, you can offer it to the Lord. Offer whatever you can get. "Prasada-seva karite haya, sakala prapancha-jaya—by honouring the Lord's prasad I conquer all worldly illusions."

The second thing is for those who are taking second initiation—wherever you may stay, you must remember that you are getting brahman initiation tomorrow. You must become a brahman. You will wear the brahman thread and you must shave your head tomorrow. [To one of the devotees] Why do you keep long hair? You do puja at different houses, why do you need to keep such long hair?...

* * *

Plausible Priority

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

[Regarding one of the present devotees.] The boy is good, simple-hearted. He buys books and reads them, but I want to give him very good service—I want him to leave his job at the hospital and take up a job here (serving to the Deities). When will that happen?... I want to give him a very good job. How long will he work for other people? You must become a bhava-rogi doctor (a doctor for those who suffer from heart disease)

hrdaya pirita ja'ra krsna chikitsaka ta'ra
bhava roga nasite chatura

"Krishna is a doctor for those whose hearts are diseased, He is very expert at destroying the heart disease of material existence."

I have many patients—how many can I treat personally? You too must treat them. It will not do if you only chant the Holy Name on your own.

kiniba lutiba, hari-nama-rasa,
nama-rase mati' ha-iba vivasa

"When will I buy and festively scatter the rasa of the Lord's Name? When will I become intoxicated and overwhelmed with that rasa?"

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

I will 'buy' it from Gurudev and then distribute it to others—I will preach Hari-katha all over the world. If I can manage to bring people to this path, I will do it, otherwise if I cannot (if the disease is very hard), then I will bring them to Gurudev and throw them at his lotus feet. This is how I brought people to Gurudev.

I do not want anything from devotees. I have no desire to pursue religiosity, to gain wealth, material things, or to achieve liberation. I do not need anything. However, if somebody wants to practise Krishna consciousness or somebody actually practises Krishna consciousness, then I am encouraging them to go forward—I help them go forward and try to bring them to this path. "Ara kota kal ghumaibe maya-pisachira kole. How much longer are you going to sleep on the lap of this witch Maya?"

This is how we must practise Krishna consciousness, and we must take Krishna consciousness seriously. Otherwise, you come to Gurudev, take the beads and go away thinking you have become a sadhu—this is wrong.

You chant with your mouth (I heard ** Prabhu singing in the kitchen today), "Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya—make the words from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart." But does anyone understand and follow the meaning of these words? Tell me. Does anyone realise what these words mean? If I tell anyone, "Stay here," they will run away saying, "No, I have things to do at another place." How many will understand, "I will do what my Gurudev tells me to do"? It is necessary to give priority to what your Guru says, and it is necessary to understand where the priority lies.

One time, a foreign devotee came to India, and Gurudev told him, "Stay here and sit with me." The devotee sat there quietly—Gurudev spoke to others, etc. and he kept sitting without saying anything. Then, another devotee asked him, "What are you doing there sitting with Gurudev?" The devotee said, "Nothing. Gurudev told me to sit, and I sat." "Oh, nothing? Then come with me!" He went with that other devotee to clean the kitchen. He ended up getting busy and had not come to see Gurudev for three days. When he finally came, Gurudev had noticed that he had not seen that devotee all those days, so he said,

"Oh, what has happened? Have you not come all this time because you do not want to see my ugly face?"

Gurudev asked him just like that. The devotee got shy and tried to explain it, and Gurudev asked him, "Where have you been all this time?"

"Another devotee gave me some service," said the devotee.

"Oh, so sitting here is not service? I told you to sit here quietly—that is service. I told you to do nothing and sit here—that is service."

Such was Gurudev's vision. Anyhow, much has been said already. Tomorrow is a very nice day. You must all chant the Holy Name, join the class and kirtans. I will be busy in the morning (giving initiations).

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

[His Divine Grace then sings 'Gurudev bada krpa kari', 'Krpa kara Vaisnav Thakura', 'Gaya Gaura madhura svare.']

* * *

Guru-Pada-Asraya

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 7
Translated from Bengali

[After chanting kirtans:]

Do you understand the meaning of the kirtan? "Grhe thako, vane thako—sada Hari bole dako. Whether you are in a house or in a forest, always call out to the Lord." "Sukhe duhkhe bhule nako vadane Harinam koro re: in happiness or sadness, never forget it, always chant the Holy Name." When happiness comes, we forget the Lord, and when unhappiness comes, we remember the Lord. This will not do. You must chant the Holy Name and remember the Lord always, eternally, both in happiness and unhappiness. It is said in the scriptures,

asraya la-iya bhaje, tare krsna nahi tyaje
ara saba mare akarana

"Krishna never leaves those who take shelter in Him and serve Him—all others die in vain."

The root, the basis of devotion to the Lord is guru-pada-asraya (taking shelter at the holy lotus feet of bona fide Sri Guru). It is necessary to take shelter at the holy lotus feet of bona fide Sri Guru. You must find a Guru who exists within the current of the guru-parampara, who holds Sri Rupanuga line (Sri Rupanuga-dhara), who holds the authentic conclusions of devotional teaching (bhakti-siddhanta-dhara)—find this kind of Guru and take shelter at his holy lotus feet. One cannot become a Guru on their own—a Guru must be selected. It is necessary to follow Guru-parampara. So, guru-pada-asraya means accepting a guru who is situated within the authentic guru-parampara. What sort of Guru must one take initiation from? For example, although Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur had not left anyone as the next acharya, he ordered Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, through the kirtan 'Sri Rupa-manjari-pada,' to continue preaching the teaching of Sri Sri Rupa Raghunath. Moreover, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was reading Sri Bhaktivinod-viraha Dasakam composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and came to the line 'Srigauranumatam svarupaviditam...' he said, "Happy style. Now I can die peacefully. I do not have to stay longer here, I can leave peacefully knowing that there is somebody left in this world who can preach what I have told." This selected personality is Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Later, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj had initiated many brahmacharis, many sannyasis, but among all his disciples he selected our Gurudev (Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) and, having seated him on his throne in 1985, he left on 12 August 1988. And as for me, you know my story, I do not want to tell it. Those who were there at that time heard what Gurudev said, and whether somebody follows it or not, I am not saying anything about that. I do not want to dredge up the past—if I start digging in a drain, then only dirt will come out. I do not want to smell that dirt. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to say those things.

So, as I was saying, it is necessary to take initiation from a Guru who is situated within an authentic guru-parampara. When Gurudev selects one of his servitors and says, "Follow him, listen to him and obey him," then it is necessary to follow this. You can look at the foreign devotees—they take initiation and practise Krishna consciousness properly, they always keep connection and do service. Those who do not practise Krishna consciousness properly take initiation like the Bengalis—many of them take initiation and then go away. You do not become a disciple just by taking a mantra from a Guru. If you are to be a disciple, you must change and mould yourself according to your Gurudev's disciplining.

We must always follow Gurudev's word. You cannot follow partially. Gurudev often said, "There are 10% devotees, there are 20% devotees, 50% devotees, 100% devotees." Gurudev would see the percentage of devotion. There are very few 100% devotees, maybe only one, but mostly devotees are 10%, 20%, 50%, etc. It is necessary to be sincere, to be a seeker, and to have chastity. To be sincere means to have nistha—to be fixed and dead on in one's practice and service, to be firmly fixed in following Gurudev's words. To be a seeker means to search for good things—it means you get something good in some place and you do not go wandering everywhere looking for something else. You cannot take initiation from your Guru and then go everywhere looking for other things. It is necessary to be a sincere seeker.

You know, many people from this country go abroad looking for more money—they go abroad in search of dollars; and what did Guru Maharaj, and all our guru-varga (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and others) say? They say, "You are coming here abroad looking for dollars, and I have come here to give you the wealth of India."

* * *

Priceless Wealth

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 8
Translated from Bengali

*** was a boy from a 'big house' [wealthy], but now he says that he wants to practise bhajan (secluded practice of Krishna consciousness). He came here the other day and said that he wanted to continue with his own bhajan. I said, "OK, practise. Later you will understand and come back. No problem."

When Param Guru Maharaj's (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) Gurudev left this world, went away to Vrindavan at first, but later he returned... You know, we also had much pride and ego at first—we were first in class, studied very well; but when we came to the lotus feet of Gurudev, seeing his vast knowledge we said, "In front of him, I am just a baby." Gurudev did not go to school, but I saw Gurudev's handwriting on some bank cheques—his handwriting was so beautiful. Even having studied for a Master's Degree, I could not write like that. I still keep some cheques with his handwriting. I also have some letters that Gurudev sometimes wrote to me. There used to be no mobile phones before, and Gurudev would wrote letters to me, and some others also. Those letters are my priceless wealth—Gurudev himself wrote them. I always take them with me wherever I go. There is always a danger of dacoits attacking me, so I always keep those letters with me.

"Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya ara na kariha mane asa—make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart." It gives pain. I am revealing my heart to you—many come to take initiation, but what do they practise? The other day one man said to me (we were in Subarna Bihar at that time), "Oh, I have done dry fast, I will take paran now." How much ego the person has—he has to come and tell everyone he had done dry fast. If he fasted, it is OK, but why tell it to everyone? You think you dry fast and will go to Vaikuntha. OK, just do nirjal ekadasi, nothing else is required, and you will go to Vaikuntha, and we all sit and take anukalpa, so we will go to hell...

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Temporal Distortions

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 9
Translated from Bengali

Tell me now, does anyone have any questions? I have been talking for so many days, does anyone have any questions in the meantime?

[Somebody says they have a questions. Knowing the person's mood, His Divine Grace says:] I will not take your question.

tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam, jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"You will be able to attain knowledge by satisfying the divine master with submission, relevant inquiry, and sincere service. The enlightened souls who are learned in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will impart divine knowledge to you."

(Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

First become surrendered, then you can ask questions. One does not become surrendered just by paying a sastanga-dandavat.

[An indistinct question related to family matters and offering bhog to the Deity of Gopal four times a day.] Do it then at the time when you can, what else can you do? [The devotees asks something further related to family matters.] What can you do? Hiranyakasipu was a demon, but his son is Prahlad Maharaj, he was a devotee. Prahlad Maharaj's son Virochan was a dacoit. What can one do? Prahlad was a great sadhu, a great Vaishnav, there is no other such Vaishnav like him in this world, the Lord Himself took him on His lap and petted him, and the son of this Prahlad Maharaj was a demon. Yet, the son of Virochan was Bali Maharaj and he was good—he associated with Prahlad Maharaj and came to this line. So, what is the use thinking about all this? What can I do about it? You can try to bring your child here...

[Another indistinct question about worshipping Gopal Deity.] What will you do then if you keep Gopal Deity? Keep Him there without feeding Him? My first question to those who ask this is "Do you eat meat and fish at home?" [The devotee says they are vegetarians.] If you cook vegetarian food, then you can offer bhog to the Lord. You have children at home, do you not feed them? You feed your children, you eat yourself also. When you keep the Lordships in the house, you must give up eating unoffered food. You know that women get a period every month—when women get their period, this is a bodily disease and according to the rules they become contaminated, but does it mean that the Lord will be kept starving for those four-five days? The offence will be even more then. They must take a bath, wear clean clothes, and they can offer the bhog to the Lord, what is the problem? Otherwise, if there is anyone else who can offer the bhog, they can do it; if not, then they must offer. What is the problem? [The devotee says that people criticise.] What others say is not the point. I have told you—do not gossip and do not listen to gossips. First, it is necessary to be surrendered. First become surrendered yourself, then others will listen to you, otherwise who will listen to you?

Are there any questions?

[An indistinct question about Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's lineage and birthplace.] Yes, at first the line flowed properly, but later it turned into sahajiya, aul, baul, etc. You will see the same also happen in the line of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. I have told you before that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur had eleven sons, and one of the brothers of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was Lalita Prasad (who did not follow Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's line). Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's birthplace is in Ulagram, Birnagar, and Lalita Prasad became the head of the sampradaya at that place. Many of the places of Mahaprabhu's pastimes (Katwa, Gambhira, Raghav Pandit's house, etc.) turned into places of aul, baul, karttabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani, sakhibheki, jata-goswami. So, similarly, Virachanda Prabhu kept the line flowing properly, and after him it slowly became distorted. My Gurudev's father also sang lila-kirtans at different houses and earned money in this way. He also initiated people—anyone could come to him and he would give them initiation without any reservation; people could eat meat, fish, etc. Bamunpara's Deities are over four hundred years old, and Bamunpara itself was also a part of Nityananda Prabhu's line, but it gradually became distorted and sahajiya line appeared there.

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Where Chaste Ones Never Tread

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 10
Translated from Bengali

[An indistinct question related to reading Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita and Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata.]

First of all, it is important to understand the siddhanta. Not everybody understands the purport of Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami wrote about very high things. Moreover, even Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami himself always showed much respect for Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur—he always took his name with much respect ("chaitanya-lilara vyasa—vrndavana-dasa; Vrindavan Das is the Vyasa of Chaitanya-lila"). Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, composed by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, contains all pastimes of Mahaprabhu's childhood, youth, grihastha, he described everything in simple language, and if somebody cannot understand Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, then it is going to be very difficult for them to understand Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. I have heard many people, even some big pandits from Bangladesh, say that they could not understand anything in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. So, first read Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, then Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. Gurudev also said the same thing. I remember when I just came to the temple, Gurudev told me to read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita in the evenings during the class, but I would also listen to Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata early every morning when another devotee read it.

Are there any other questions?

[A question about some popular mantra—why it is not chanted or recognised.]

People use this imaginary name, that is why Mahaprabhu did not tell to chant it. It is an offence of the Holy Name to chant it. It is not the Name proper. It is not necessary to even pronounce it. You can compare it to mixing with your brother-in-law. If you are to mix with anyone, it is your husband, not your brother-in-law. (For a wife, to mix with her brother-in-law is abominable.)

When Mahaprabhu left this world, then so many misconception people became prominent. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says, "There are thirteen apa-sampradaya (lines that teach misonception) in this world—aul, baul, kartabhaja, nera, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, atibari, churadhari, gauranga-nagari. One must never mix or associate with them." When Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur lived in this very holy abode, Sri Nabadwip Dham, he said, "I am a sweeper! So many rascals disguised as brothers-in-law are sitting at this market, so many fake mind-following shopkeepers have opened their shops at the market, but I will chase them all out with a broom!" Sri Nityananda Prabhu has opened Nama-hatta (the market of the Holy Name), but so many misconception people infested it, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came and declared, "I will start this market from scratch! I myself will become a sweeper, and I will chase all these auls, bauls, etc. out of here."

[The same devotee is asking if they can go and give some prasad to those people belonging to some apa-sampradayas.]

Why do you need to go there? My Gurudev never went there. If Gurudev went there, I would go too. Gurudev did not tell you to go there, did not give you permission to go there. You know, if anyone invites Sripad Niriha Maharaj to any programme (even if it is somebody from Mayapur), he says, "Tell Gurudev—if he tells me to come, I will come." One time, they called me from Mayapur and asked, "Maharaj, there will be a Vaishnav-seva, can you or somebody from Nrisingha Palli come?" I asked, "Have you not told Niriha Maharaj?" The devotee replied, "I have, but he says I must tell you, and if you tell him to go, he will come." Then, I sent him to go there. If it is necessary, I will send you to go to that place, and if not, then I will not send you there. I do not send everyone to all places. We do not go to all temples of Mayapur also. Why will I enter the places of those who have beaten my Gurudev on his head? Never. You know, we have a big temple behind the old Nabadwip temple, but I never entered inside it—when there was a bamboo grove there, I used to go there to pass stool. After that, I never went there because they are offenders of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. When they were going to buy that land, I told Gurudev, "What if I buy that land first [to prevent them from settling there]?" Gurudev said, "Are you going to buy the whole world? If they make a temple nearby, what is the problem? You have good food in your pond, then all the fish from other ponds will come to your pond." We have Srila Guru Maharaj's books, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Hari-katha, Gurudev's books, then everybody will come to us. One day people will understand their mistake and they will come to the real path. It is a matter of time only. You can see it now too—how many people come to our temple for the parikrama, and how many people they have (I saw when we were passing them on the street that they only have a handful of people). Anyway, we do not want to talk about all this. The main point is that we do not go to all places. Go along the straight road and do not change the line to any other place. I do not even want to hear the name you are mentioning—I want to put fingers in my ears. What to speak of going there, we should not even hear their name.

There is some temple where they never have any kirtans, preaching, arati, class, etc.—they only offer bhog at random times and take prasad at random times. Yet, the very heart of a temple is kirtan. It is necessary to listen to Hari-katha and to chant Hari-kirtan. You cannot live following your mind. First, I must learn from my Gurudev what Gurudev says, what is Gurudev's line, then only can I try to say anything to others. It is not so easy.

You can see here sannyasis who are big preachers, but they never told me, "Can I speak please?" My disciples never say this either. When you are with your Guru, you must not even speak at all—sit quietly. If Gurudev says something, then you can speak. On his last Vyasa-puja Gurudev told me to speak for ten minutes, and I spoke for five minutes at the end of his speech, and that too was only five minutes. This is the only time I spoke together with Gurudev. It was Gurudev's last birthday, 4 December 2009. One must always keep quiet in front of their Gurudev, it is necessary to listen to what Gurudev says. If you have some questions, I have told just now that you can ask (I have given an order to ask), then you can ask.

* * *

Do Not Get Mixed Up

Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, Day Four
Evening class, 27 March 2021, part 11
Translated from Bengali

[An indistinct question about somebody chanting some kirtans and speaking some Hari-katha.]

We have Gaudiya Gitanjali (Kirtan Guide) at our Temple, these are the kirtans you should sing. Take Gurudev's books—you can read them during the class. I have also Guidance (Volume 1, 2, 3, 4)—you can read them during the class and this is Hari-katha. I wrote Hari-katha in those books. When I went for the parikrama today, I saw a new book and I wanted to buy it. I am habituated to reading. For example, we have Srimad Bhagavad-gita published by our temple, but I wanted to see what is the difference between Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's explanation. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Srimad Bhagavad-gita is a very thick book, and I will read it when I get time.

Actually, not everybody can digest everything. For example, as I told you before, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur mixed with bauls, but he did not become a baul himself—he brought them to this path. So, we can listen to what other sampradayas say but we must watch out that we do not become polluted by that. You can see an example in front of you—there is a devotee who listened to wrong people and ended up rejecting both Srila Prabhupad and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is a big pandit, big scholar, but he has rejected Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's teaching. This is an offence at Sri Gurudev's lotus feet. That is why Srila Prabhupad himself told, "Bahu grantha na paribe, bahu kalabhyasa na karibe: do not read so many books, and do not practise so many things." It is not necessary to know too many scriptures, it is not necessary to do too many things in general...

Are there any other questions?

[A devotee invited His Divine Grace to their place for a programme and what is required for a programme.]

All right, I will come. I do not need any money, and I do not come to your houses to waste your rice. I will come only to speak Hari-katha. You must arrange for some prasadam for the people who will come, and I will come and do kirtan, speak Hari-katha. I will come wherever you call me. I have gone to Muslim countries, and I had no fear of death or anything.

Question: What happens if we hear the Holy Name from the mouth of those who do not respect Gurudev.

You should not listen to the Holy Name from their mouth. They are against Gurudev, why will you listen to the Holy Name from them?

[A devotee is asking about somebody collecting money and then misusing this money.]

They will get a reaction. If you produce an action, you will get a reaction. If you give them money and they misuse it, you will also get a reaction. If I take money from devotees and use it for myself, then I will get a reaction for that. So, we must not go to such people. It is said in one of the kirtans composed by Srila Lochan Das Thakur, "I will not go to the place where there is no Nitai. I will not see the face of those who are against Nitai." Nitai means Gurudev. We must not even see the face of those who are against Gurudev. Did you understand? Lochan Das Thakur is saying this.

It is necessary to have chastity. Women can understand what chastity is. If a lady mixes or makes love with somebody else besides her husband, then it is an insult to her husband. Here also, there is a Guru—Gurudev told who the Guru is, he seated him in this place, and if you do not listen to what that Guru says, and if you go somewhere because you want to satisfy your own desires, then it will not give you anything—it will destroy your spiritual life.

Devotee: But a devotee can be collecting for the temple...?

Who does the collection? Somebody who does not live at the temple?

Devotee: No, people at other temples say that when they come to collect for the temple it is an offence to do that.

What offence is there in doing collection? If you go to do the collection, I will give you a bill book, and you will bring it back after that for the Lord's service, what offence is there? Others can say whatever they like. Why will we listen to what they say? They are against our Gurudev. They left Gurudev. They are guru-tyagi. There are three types of people—guru-tyagi (those who renounce, or reject, their Guru), guru-bhogi (those who use their Guru), and guru-sevi (some few persons who are servitors of the Guru). Those who you are talking about are guru-tyagi, then what is the need to even talk about them? When Gurudev was there, they made Gurudev very angry. Whatever. Leave it, it is not necessary to talk about all this. [Devotee mentions a name, about to say something about them.] It is not necessary to tell or pronounce anyone's name. It is not necessary to complain about anyone. Do not look for holes in others. Do not look for faults in others. I have told you that many times. Who does what, who says or not says what—it is not necessary to know all this. Do not look for holes in others. We must always think, "I am at fault." "Vaishnav habe adosa-darasi—a Vaishnav will not see others' faults, he will see his own faults." First we must see our own faults.

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Remembering Guru-Varga

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 1

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

Today is a grand annual festival in honour of establishing the temple and inauguration anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Radha-Raman.

Many of you know that our Guru-varga Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj stayed at the house of Sripad Ramanath Prabhu (he works as a school teacher). Srila Giri Maharaj was a surrendered disciple of Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, but he took sannyas from our temple, from our Guru Maharaj Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He was a very senior preacher. He was a very strong-built and he cultivated the land himself. When he was young he would eat three kilograms of rice every day—one kilogram in the morning, one kilogram at noon, and one kilogram in the evening. He was very strong. I heard from him that even bulls and cows would be scared of him—when the cows grazed or roamed around, they would always keep close to him, and nobody could understand that.

Later, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj got a land in Mayapur, and Srila Giri Maharaj stayed there. After Srila Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Suhrid Akinchan Maharaj became the acharya of the temple. Srila Giri Maharaj came from there and took sannyas from Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He had a family before that, but he left everything.

Patrasayer (Bankura) is also the birthplace of Srila Giri Maharaj's guru, Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. After Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur left this world, he came back to this area. His name was Sri Aprakrita Prabhu at that time. Later, when he took sannyas, his name became Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur gave him shelter, but when Srila Prabhupad left, he was devastated and came back to his home seeing all the fighting and problems at the temple. Soon after that, Srila Sridhar Maharaj came to his house. [Opening Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala, His Divine Grace remarks, "Srila Giri Maharaj's photograph is included in our book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala, there is a short article in his memory there."] When Srila Sridhar Maharaj came here in Patrasayer, he told Srila Goswami Maharaj, "Prabhu, you are a senior preacher. You must preach Prabhupad's teaching, but what will happen if you stay in your family? Will you be following Mahaprabhu's teaching? We all came in Prabhupad's time, and we must continue Prabhupad's line."

You know, in his youth, Srila Prabhupad vowed to chant 'sata-koti nama-yajna'—he made a promise to chant a billion Holy Names (a hundred koti, or crores; one crore is ten million). During this time, Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar came to him and told him to preach Mahaprabhu's teaching. Srila Prabhupad said, "I am alone, how will I preach?" The Lordships replied, "You do not need to worry about that. I will send My own associates." This is how so many big, great acharyas came to this world, including the Founder Acharya of ISKCON (Srila A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad), our Param Guru Maharaj Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj (Kunja Babu), Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prakash Aranya Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Sambal Bhagavat Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Gaurav Vaikhanas Maharaj, later Srila Bhakti Srirup Puri Maharaj also came...

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Sacrifice For Preaching

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 2

After Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur left, many sannyasis gathered at Devananda Gaudiya Math, founded by Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj (previously, Vinod Bihari Brahmachari), and preached from there. Srila Prabhupad's last sannyasi disciple was Srila Jajavar Maharaj. Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj took sannyas later. Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj also took sannyas later—from Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj; Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj also took sannyas from Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj took sannyas from Srila Keshav Maharaj.

When Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj had bought the land and was going to open the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, he invited all Gaudiya Maths but nobody came. Only Srila Sridhar Maharaj came—the others thought that Srila Swami Maharaj had gone abroad and was polluted by the foreigners. They criticised and fussed about these small matters. Srila Swami Maharaj went abroad and did everything for preaching, he even took their prasad for preaching. For example, people invite us for some programmes, and sometimes we do not like to take prasadam from the hands of certain people, but if we refuse to take it, the host will be dissatisfied, so we have to taste a little. Sometimes it is necessary to do this.

One time, somebody offered Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur to open a temple and a hostel in London. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, "Yes, and if necessary, you can supply non-vegetarian food also." One sannyasi objected saying, "What is the use if we supply meat, eggs, etc.?" In reply, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, "I have thought about it a thousand lives ago!" So, you can see that when Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj went for preaching to America, he would cook something in the morning before going out for the whole day because he did not know if he would be able to have anything to eat during the day, and in the evening there can be some preaching programme or some people can come to meet him. Srila Swami Maharaj cooked in the morning and kept some prasadam for the evening in the same fridge where the man at whose house he stayed kept beef(!). He tolerated it for the sake of preaching.

In his brahmachari days, Srila Sridhar Maharaj went to Kashmir for preaching (his name was Ramendra Sundar Prabhu at that time). One day, the devotees who went there with him got very hungry. They kept looking for a place where they could eat, and finally they managed to find a Hindu hotel. They ordered some rice, dal, and some fried potato. When the food came, they saw there was onion in the dal. One of the devotees said, "What is this smell? Can you not feel it?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "Mahaprasadam has come!" and started reciting the prayers before taking prasadam. His vision was such.

* * *

Loving Interactions

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 3

Every year, Pujyapad Sripad Giri Maharaj joined and managed the Nabadwip Dham parikrama party of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Later, when he grew old, he could not walk so much, so he would go by rickshaw and still give lectures at all the places.

Sripad Giri Maharaj's diksa Guru, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, had very much affection for Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. One time, Srila Sridhar Maharaj went for Vrindavan parikrama together with Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj and his disciples. The parikrama was during the niyom-seva month, and one of the days during the parikrama it was Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Vyasa Puja (appearance day). Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj personally offered a full arati to Srila Sridhar Maharaj during the celebration. Although they were godbrothers, he personally offered worship to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Srila Goswami Maharaj's disciples understood how much respect Srila Goswami Maharaj had for Srila Sridhar Maharaj and they were astonished to see it.

Apart from that, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj always invited Srila Sridhar Maharaj to every festival of his own appearance day, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj attended it every time in Mayapur (Nandan Acharya Bhavan). Srila Goswami Maharaj always gave all presentations, all donations to Srila Sridhar Maharaj on this day. However, one year Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not come, and Srila Goswami Maharaj said that time, "Srila Sridhar Maharaj has been coming every year, and every year I would get one more year of life, but this year my sannyas-guru could not come, so I think that next year I will not be alive." And this happened in fact—that year he left his body.

Anyhow, we have assembled to celebrate the anniversary of the Deity installation and temple inauguration today. As some of you may have heard before, in Gurudev's time, there was a Deity of Mahaprabhu installed at our temple in Kolkata, and after some time Sri Sri Guru Gandharva Radha-Raman were installed. Because at present that service is not running properly, I have brought the Deities here—I have installed here these Deities and gave Them the name. I have 'taken' Dum Dum Park Deities to Tarakeshwar (Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-mohan), and Kaikhali Deities to this temple here in Bankura (Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Radha-Raman). 'Gandharva' means Radharani, and Radha-Raman means Krishna. I have heard many say, "Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Raman," but this is not correct. The correct name is Sri Sri Guru Gandharva Radha-Raman. 'Radha-Raman' means He who attracts Radha—it is a name of Krishna. These are very high things. Radharani is an expert dancer, that is why Her name is Gandharva, or Gandharvika. In Chaitanya Math, for example, the name of the installed Deity of Srimati Radharani is Gandharvika.

* * *

A Hole In Surrender

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 4

You can see how nicely Sevak Bhavan has turned out here, there is a goshala here also. You have everything arranged here, by the will of the Lord everything is good, but there is one shortage. There is a lack of service with firm determination (nistha).

We are doing so much service, but instead of devotion our efforts come to karma-misra-bhakti. Everybody has devotion, but our devotion is karma-misra-bhakti (devotion mixed with material desires). It means we serve the Lord, but inside we expect to get something in return. For example, many like to speak about the glory of ekadasi—they hear what result one can get by following each particular ekadasis, and they follow it to get something. This is also a material desire. But according to our line, we follow ekadasi because Mahaprabhu, Gurudev, and Guru Maharaj told to follow it. If you follow ekadasi hoping to get something, it is not what ekadasi is for. Ekadasi is not for your pleasure.

Vraja-gopis' service is niskama (selfless). There is niskam-bhakti and sakam-bhakti. Niskam means you have no desire for anything, and sakam means you want to get something. We worship the demigods, but instead of worshipping them we turn them into bribe-takers. Suppose you work somewhere, if you take a bribe, then both the bribe-giver and you, the bribe-taker, are criminals. If you come to the Lord and giving Him some rice or money think, "I am giving one kg rice, and in lieu of that I will get two kg." Somebody has a coconut tree at home and when they offer coconut to the Lord, they think, "If I offer the coconut to the Lord, I will get more coconut!" The same about jackfruit, etc. "If I give a jackfruit to the Lord, then there will grow more jackfruits on the tree!" Such desires mean that you turn the Lord into a bribe-taker and make Him your menial servant. People pray, "Lord, give my son a good job," "Lord, please let my daughter marry well," "Lord, please keep me in good health." This all is karma-misra-bhakti.

People pray, "O Lord, please keep me in good health," but it is the Lord's duty, the Lord's matter to keep your body well because this body is His. You can see Srila Sanatan Goswami's example. He is a great pandit, an extremely educated person, but even he said, "I will commit suicide. I have come to this world to serve the Lord, but my health is very bad—I have this bad skin disease and cannot serve the Lord with this body, so better I throw myself under the wheels of Lord Jagannath's chariot during the Ratha-yatra procession." He came all the way from Vrindavan to Puri with this idea in his mind. What did Mahaprabhu say? "Are you not ashamed of yourself?! How can you spoil others' property?! Do you think this body is yours?"

diksa-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts them as His very own."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.192)

"When you surrender to the Lord, do you think this body is yours?" These are such beautiful words! "How can you destroy this body? You want to destroy this body by committing suicide, but you have given this body to Me. When you took initiation, you gave your body to Me! You told me, 'Use this body as you please, Prabhu. I am your sacrificial goat—you can cut my neck, you can cut my leg, you can cut my head, do as You please.'" This is what surrender (saranagati) is. "You have given this body to the Lord, then how can you want to commit suicide?" This is what Mahaprabhu told Srila Sanatan Goswami...

* * *

Have a Heart for the Temple

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 5

...You can stay here.

visaye ye priti ebe achhaye amara
sei-mata priti hauk charane tomara

"May I have the same affection and attraction to your feet that I now have for material things."

(Gitavali, 4.5, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

You must feel and say that this place is your home. You can still work in the field, earn some money, and if anything is required to be repaired or purchased for the temple, you can use the money to pay a worker to repair it. It is important to have a heart for the temple. You are staying in a room, and you must think this is your own room, you must take care of it as your own room. This is how love comes. Many blame others—they say, "I have told him to do it, but he has not done it." You must never look for faults in others. Always look for faults in your own self. I have told you before—you can be doing so much service, but if there are holes (shortcomings), then all result will come out through those holes. If you keep water in a pot with holes, all water will fall out. Gurudev also told me, "You are making so many temples, but you should also prepare somebody." I am trying to do that—I am looking for such a person, and I am training some, but I have not got this person yet. It is impossible to keep water in a pot with holes... I will give charge for all this work to the person who can hold and take care of everything.

A father also thinks, "I have many sons, but I will give charge for the land to those who can protect and take care of it. When I see any of my sons fit for this, I will give all charge for taking care of the family to him." Sometimes while the father is still alive, he gives all charge to one of his sons. It does not matter who is elder—sometimes the younger brother or the middle brother works well, then he can get all the responsibility. It is necessary to give charge to those who are qualified for it.

The problem is that many do not practise. I wrote books in clear Bengali, and if somebody cannot understand it even now, then what can I say? It is necessary to read. One person can read, and others can hear. Do not keep water in a pot with holes [you must close the holes—remove anarthas and practise properly].

One time, some paint had come off at some place in front of the nat mandir, and Gurudev said, "So many people stay at the temple, has no one noticed it before that it has to be painted? It came off a long time ago, and Vinod [His Divine Grace's brahmachari name] has brought workers to get it painted—how come he noticed it and nobody else did? Everybody can see it in front of them, how come only Vinod noticed it?" Everybody can see that there is some leakage near the door—am I the only one responsible for fixing everything? You can take care of everything yourself. It is necessary to understand this.

* * *

Power of Service

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 6

The name of Lord Krishna's Deity here (at the Bankura temple) is Radha-Raman. Those of you who have been to Vrindavan know that there are a lot of Deities in Vrindavan, but not all Deities there are original Deities. When Muslims and mlechhas were breaking Hindu temples, devotees took all big Deities to Jaipur or Karauli. You can see now that all old temples' tops are broken in Vrindavan—they would come from Agra and break the domes of all high temples. So, among all the Deities in Vrindavan, Radha-Raman is the only original Deity that stayed there.

When we go for the parikrama we often go wearing socks not to get hurt by some stones, etc. on the street, but when you come to the temple of Radha-Raman, it is a rule that everyone must take off not only their shoes, but also their socks; you cannot sit cross-legged on a chair there—they start scolding you a lot. They do not allow to take photographs also. The temple is very strict. This Radha-Raman Deity manifested Himself through the service of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami, who is one of the six Goswamis:

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das!"

(These are the six Goswamis, and the seventh Goswami is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.)

Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami worshipped twelve salagram-silas in a very strict and determined way. He followed all the rules of Sri Hari-bhakti-vilas that nobody can follow. For example, when we observe niyom-seva month (Kartik), we say that we should not eat certain things (eggplant, patol, etc.), but Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami said that one must eat 'go-gras' way during this time. It means you must eat directly from the ground, like a cow ('go')—without using your hands. Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami was very strict and followed all rules. He also said that it is necessary to observe a complete fast on ekadasi (without taking any food or water).

So, one day as Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami was offering arati to his twelve silas, some man came to the temple. The man paid his obeisance and gave a parcel with some Deity ornaments and clothes to Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami saying, "Please take these, you can put them on Your Deities." Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami said, "OK, I will do that." Later, finishing the arati, he opened the parcel with the Deities' clothes and saw that it was a Deity outfit (the same as offered to all Deities of human-like form). Seeing the outfit, he thought, "The man has given me this outfit, but how will I put it on my Deity? I do not have a human-form Deity—I worship salagram-silas. How will I put it on a sila? I have taken it from the man, but I cannot use it for service! What will happen now, O Lord? I have made an offence!" Then, he took prasadam and went to rest.

The next day, he woke up, took a bath, applied tilaks, etc. and came to the mangal-arati. Coming to the temple room, he saw that there was a human-form Deity among the salagram-silas. It was Radha-Raman. There were originally twelve salagram-silas, but when he counted the salagram-silas that morning he saw there were only eleven. Where did the twelfth one go? Then he saw that there was a mark in the shape of a magnet on the back of Radha-Raman's Deity—the twelfth salagram-sila had turned into a Deity.

Do you see? Nothing is impossible in this world through the service of the Lord...

* * *

Origin of Bhagavatam (1)

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 7

What I have been telling you are the words of Srimad Bhagavatam, and I have printed a small book about the history of Srimad Bhagavatam's appearance in this world. My Gurudev (Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) spoke this lecture in Australia, and I translated it into Bengali. Sripad Sajjan Maharaj takes these small books and distributes one hundred copies a day. He does puja, offers bhoga, takes prasadam, and goes to Diamond Plaza and market every day to distribute books. Many take prasadam at noon and go to sleep, but he goes out and returns only in the evening. Every day one hundred books are distributed. He gives people a book and take some money—somebody gives one rupee, somebody gives ten rupees, somebody gives fifty rupees (people give as much as they want to). So, this book contains the history of how Srimad Bhagavatam was written.

Many people say, "Bhagavatam says this," but who wrote this book? When we print books we write the author's name, but there is no author of Bhagavatam. One day at Naimisaranya, sixty thousand rishis heard this Bhagavatam from Suta Goswami, and this is how Bhagavatam got to be written down. But where did this Bhagavatam come from? Who did Suta Goswami hear it from? He heard it from Sukadev Goswami when he spoke Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaj. Please listen carefully what I am going to tell you.

How did Srimad Bhagavatam appear? Who wrote Srimad Bhagavad-gita?

Devotee: It existed before, nobody wrote it. The Lord says in Gita, "This yoga existed before, I am telling it to you now."

Yes, it is so. Yet, how did the book come about?

Devotee: Vyasadev wrote it down.

Yes, correct. Vyasadev wrote all Vedas, Agni Purana, Garuda Purana, Srimad Bhagavad-gita. The author of all principal scriptures is Vyasadev. We sing in one of the kirtans,

krsna haite chatur-mukha, hana krsna-sevonmukha,
brahma haite naradera mati
narada haite vyasa, madhva kahe vyasa-dasa,
purnaprajna padmanabha gati

"By Krishna's association, Brahma became devoted to Krishna's service. By Brahma's association, Narad Muni became devoted. After Narad came Krishna Dvaipayan Vedavyas. Purnaprajna Madhva Acharya declared he was Vyasa's servant. He was Padmanabha Tirtha's Guru."

Vyasadev's guru is Narad Goswami. Having written all the scriptures, Vyasadev felt disturbed in his mind—he felt no happiness. He had written so many scriptures, Vedas, Puranas, but he felt no happiness. Then, Narad Muni came to his ashram in Badarikasram. Vyasadev told him about his situation, and Narad Muni said, "How can you feel happiness? You have composed so many scriptures, but you have turned it into hotchpotch!" When you serve people rice, dal, subji, chutney, sweet rice, we always mash and take everything separately, we do not eat mixing everything together. If you mix everything and eat, you will get some taste, but you will not feel what each preparation tastes like. So, Narad Goswami continued, "You have composed so many things, you even wrote Bhagavad-gita, but when you wrote it all you mixed devotion with other things (karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, sankhya-yoga, etc.)! You have made a hotchpotch! Write a scripture where only devotion will be presented." Then, Vyasadev remembered about Sukadev Goswami...

* * *

Origin of Bhagavatam (2)

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 8

...Vyasadev remembered his son Sukadev Goswami, who was at that time in the womb of his mother (Vyasadev's wife). At that time, Parasaramuni (Vyasadev's father, who was a great scholar, expert in all the scriptures) and many other rishis from various sampradayas came to Vyasadev and asked him to speak to Sukadev. They said, "Please talk to him. He has been sitting in his mother's womb for twelve years already!" Sukadev Goswami could speak from his mother's womb. Can you imagine this?

Many people say that Krishna is a human, they ask, "What is the proof that Krishna and Mahaprabhu are the Supreme Personality of Godhead?" When you have a child, is the child born wearing clothes? Yet, Krishna appeared fully dressed, with tilaks, kanthi-mala, peacock feather, bracelets, etc. Mahaprabhu also appeared in this way. Other children are never born like this. This is the proof.

So, when all the rishis came to Vyasadev and asked him to call Sukadev, Vyasadev spoke to Sukadev, "Come out, come out!" Sukadev replied, "I will not come out of my mother's womb. If I come outside, I will be attacked by Maya and I will forget everything." And this is what happens—once the soul emerges from the womb, it forgets everything,

krsna bhuli' sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha
ataeva maya tare deya samsaradi-duhkha

Having forgotten Krishna, the soul wanders throughout the universe. Being thus covered by illusion, the soul goes through all kinds of material suffering.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 20.117)

Then, all the rishis offered Vyasadev, "Listen, you have the power to stop Maya. Maya is created by the Lord, but you can stop her action for five minutes." Vyasadev asked Sukadev, "If I stop Maya's action for five minutes, will you be able to come out then?" Sukadev agreed. Then, Vyasadev stopped Maya's action in this world for five minutes and during this time Sukadev came out of his mother's womb.

What did he do after he appeared? He started to run! Think about it—our children cannot even walk until two years old, but Sukadev ran out of his mother's womb (he was a twelve-year-old boy at that time). On the other hand, when a cow delivers a calf, the calf can stand just after two hours. The Lord can create anything. So, if a calf can learn to stand and walk just after two hours of being born, then why cannot the Lord make so that Sukadev could run?

* * *

Origin of Bhagavatam (3)

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 9

When Sukadev came out of his mother's womb, he started running amok, and Vyasadev ran behind calling out to him, "Sukadev, listen! Listen!" Sukadev did not notice anything. He could only see the Lord. Devotees of this high level do not see anything in this world—trees, plants, great houses, big rooms—they only see the Lord. They kept walking and walking and in the end came to the Himalayas. There were some girls bathing in the river naked, but when they saw Sukadev, they had no sense that a young man was walking by and that they were naked—they knew that Sukadev had no eyes. Even when Sukadev Goswami came to the meeting of Pariksit Maharaj, he did not see anyone in front of him. So, the girls did not bother when they saw Sukadev coming, but when they saw Vyasadev coming, they quickly threw some clothes on to cover their bodies.

In the meantime, a brahman cursed a king named Pariksit Maharaj saying, "You will die within seven days." Following this, gurus from all kinds of sapradayas came to Pariksit Maharaj and started giving him advice. Each of them advised him according to their conception. At this time, Sukadev Goswami came to that assembly. When he came, he did not even pay obeisance to anyone. He did not see anyone. His father Vyasadev was there, but he did not see even him. His grandfather, Parasaramuni, was also there, but Sukadev did not see him.

[His Divine Grace gets distracted:] Are you sleeping? Why are you sleeping? If you sleep during Hari-katha, it means you have other desires. It means you have no place to keep the Lord inside you—you have other desires taking your heart. If you feel sleepy, say "Hare Krishna," then sleep will go away.

So, when Sukadev Goswami came to the assembly of Pariksit Maharaj, all the great scholars and experts of all scriptures said, "O King, you are very fortunate because Sukadev Goswami himself has come to your assembly today. We all agree with whatever spiritual insight he gives. We have nothing to say beyond what he has to say." Then, Pariksit Maharaj gave a nice asan for Sukadev Goswami to sit down on. Having seated himself on the asan, Sukadev Goswami asked Pariksit Maharaj, "What is your question? What do you want to know?" Pariksit Maharaj said, "What is good for me? How can I get real benefit?" Sukadev Goswami said, "Yes, you have asked the right question. Those who ask many questions in this world belong to the illusory world, that is why they have many questions, but those who are true seekers have only one question. What is my true benefit? There is only one question, and there is only one answer. The answer is that you must surrender at the holy lotus feet of the Lord, then you will get the supreme benefit." Following that, Sukadev Goswami explained and described how one surrenders to the Lord, how to come to the Lord. This is what then became Srimad Bhagavatam.

Suta Goswami was present at that assembly and he heard what Sukadev Goswami had said. Suta Goswami is srutadhar, or srutasrava—he could remember something having heard it just once. Just as when Krishna spoke Srimad Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, Suta Goswami was also present there, and he could hear everything.

This is how Srimad Bhagavatam appeared, and it is a very big book, all volumes must be about forty kilograms. Sukadev Goswami spoke Srimad Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaj during seven days. That is why it is said that there is only one question and only one answer.

* * *

Lacking or Slacking?

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 10

Anyhow, much has been already said today—I have told you about Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami and how Sri Radha-Raman appeared in this world through his service. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu and many other Vaishnavs came and arranged a Vaishnav festival.

ananyas chintayanto mam, ye janah paryupasate
tesam nityabhiyuktanam, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham

"I bear the responsibility of acquiring and protecting the necessities of My fully dependent devotees who are always absorbed in thought of Me, and who worship Me in every way."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 9.22)

The Lord says, "When someone has no other thoughts but surrenders to Me alone, I take care of all their necessities—even of their food." The Lord is the master of everything, but we have forgotten Him, as a result of which we are suffering in this world from the three-fold miseries.

When Mahaprabhu went to Gaya and saw His guru for the first time, He said,

"samsara-samudra haite uddharaha more
ei ami deha samarpilana tomare"

"Please rescue Me from this ocean of material existence! I am surrendering Myself to you."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Adi-khanda, 17.54)

"Please rescue Me from this ocean of material existence! I have surrendered My mind, heart, soul, everything to you." We also sing in one of the kirtans,

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

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

kabe ami chhadiba e visayabhimana
kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana

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

We think that we need so many things, we lack so many things, that is why we leave the temple and go to stay at home. Rich people become proud, "I do not need anything, I am rich! I have so many things! There is no lack in my life." What is this? Do you think you can take anything with you? You will have to leave everything in this world...

Rich people earn millions, and they give one rupee to the Lord. I have told you before—Gurudev knows everything, he knows who does what and who does not do what. He can understand everything. It is not like Gurudev will always accept your faulty service. Somebody goes to the market and steals some money. You think you are in Govardhan, so nobody will know that you did not go to the market—you want to do something else, but you do not want to go to the market. You may not go, but how many days do you think Gurudev will tolerate your faulty service? Why does service go away? When you ask, "Why did I lose my service?" The answer is only one—you must think, "It is my own fault. I have made offence to service, that is why the Lord has taken this service from me." Take the calendars and read it—there are thirty-two kinds of seva-aparadh (offences of service) and ten kinds of offences of the Holy Name.

* * *

Feeling Hungry?

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 11

There are four kinds of sadhu-ninda (offences to the saints). For example, we may judge somebody based on their caste—we may say, "He comes from a low caste." Sometimes, somebody does something wrong, and we go around telling everyone about it. The person who makes the mistake commits an offence, but those who speak about it are committing an even greater offence. The person made a mistake once, but if you go and tell ten people about it, then your offence is ten times bigger.

Another offence is to judge the person's previous bad habits. Suppose somebody used to take alcohol, smoke, or drink tea (many people have the habit to drink tea at home), but when they take initiation, they give up these habits. If you say, "Oh look at him, he used to smoke/drink tea/etc. and now he has become a sadhu!" Many of us used to eat pork, beef, but now we are chanting the Holy Name. It is an offence to bring this past up and criticise the person about that. When somebody has become a surrendered soul, it is an offence to look at their past.

[His Divine Grace notices that there are not so many people, and asks one of the temple devotees:] Where are people? Have you not invited anyone? When are they coming? Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote an article about poor people—do people come begging for food (bhojan) or for Krishna consciousness (bhajan)?

One time, there was an annual festival at Gaudiya Math, and many preachers of exclusive true religion, exemplary sannyasis and brahmacharis came to the temple from all over India. Many respectable gentlemen and ladies also came to the festival, aspiring to hear about the nectarian devotion to the Lord. Everyone who was present was enriched with sankirtan. There was Hari-katha heard everywhere, and everyone's heart was jubilant to hear it. Even some common people walking down the street came also to the temple. Many somehow lost their way and found themselves at the temple. At that time, one person asked, "Listen, mate, when are they giving food for the beggars here?" Srila Prabhupad says:

I was completely at a loss hearing this question. I looked around, I looked within my heart, and tried to reason with it. O mind, tell the truth, what kind of beggar are you? What do you lack? Do you need money? Do you need cars? Do you need wealth? Do you need women? Do you need followers and friends? Do you need beauty? Do you need any merits? You are mistaken. Our mind may feel it lacks all this—those who do not possess beauty think, "If I were beautiful, it would be good," those who do not have money think, "If I had money, it would be good," those who do not have a wife think, "If I had a wife, it would be good." O mind, have you come to this world just to satisfy your senses? Do you have hunger only for these vile, trivial things? Do you feel you only lack enjoyment and pleasure? Do you feel you need money, cars, houses, etc.? You have attached yourself to these things, and now you consider yourself a beggar. Is that not so? 'When will they be distributing food for beggars?' We offer many various things during the worship, but in the meantime our tongues are greedy and we think, "When will I eat well? If I go to this festival, I can eat well." Is that what you are thinking? When will this averse taste go away and you become healthy again? If you keep eating sour things, your teeth will start aching. You are looking for a sweet amla (Indian gooseberry, very sour), but you only get a sour taste. Your attempts to do away with your poverty are all in vain. Tell your mind—you do not need all this! You have enjoyed so much, you have experienced all sorts of happiness, you have done so many bad things, but you do not need all this! What have you come to the temple for? If you were hungry for food, why come to the temple—you could get food on the street! Even dogs, cows, goats, cats have something to eat. Have you come to the temple just for food? When you must give medicine to a child, the child will not eat it so easily because it is bitter, so you need to sugarcoat it or put that medicine inside a sweetball, and when you do that, do you think the sweetball is the main thing here? No, the real substance is hidden within. You have come here, to a great place of pilgrimage where nectar from the holy lotus mouth of Sriman Mahaprabhu is being distributed. Become a beggar for this kind of nectar! Come, mind! I am telling to you, come. Do not come as a beggar for food (bhojan), come as a beggar for Krishna consciousness (bhajan). Come and stealthily place the holy dust from the lotus feet of great devotees on your head.

bhakta-pada-dhuli ara bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-sesa—ei tina sadhanera bala

"The dust of the devotees' feet, the water that has washed the devotees' feet, and the devotees' food remnants—honouring these gives one strength to engage in spiritual practice of Krishna consciousness."

Srila Prabhupad wrote such beautiful words! Who will understand it?

* * *

Main Target

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 12

Therefore, our main goal, main target is pure devotion. There is devotion mixed with material desires (karma-misra bhakti), devotion mixed with knowledge (jnana-misra bhakti), and pure devotion free from devotion (jnana-sunya suddha bhakti). When Mahaprabhu spoke to Ramananda Ray and Srila Sanatan Goswami, He discussed this with them. Mahaprabhu told Srila Sanatan Goswami, "The Lord has given you this body, then how can you want to spoil a body that does not belong to you?!" Srila Sanatan Goswami said, "I came to do some good, but it turned out just the opposite." After Mahaprabhu left, Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami went to Vrindavan. Mahaprabhu told them, "I will do much work through your body, I will serve Vaishnavs, devotees through your body, I will recover so many holy places and compose so many books through you." Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami composed many beautiful holy books; we must always remember their teaching.

You can read Sri Rupa-Siksa and Sri Sanatan-Siksa. Srila Sanatan Goswami asked Mahaprabhu five questions, "(1) Who am I? (2) Why do I suffer? (3) How can I get benefit? (4) What is the highest goal? (5) How can I attain the highest goal?" "Bhagavata pada Vaisnavera sthane, ekanta asraya kara Chaitanya-charane! Read Bhagavatam under the guidance of bona fide Vaishnavs and take shelter at Mahaprabhu's lotus feet! That is your benefit." We must read Bhagavatam at the holy lotus feet of Vaishnavs; otherwise, we will not be able to understand its meaning—we will understand it in a wrong way. Therefore, it is necessary to hear Bhagavatam from a Vaishnav and to take shelter at the holy lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Mahaprabhu Himself came in this Kali-yuga.

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

"Those of sharp intellect will worship Krishna who appears with a non-black bodily hue, who is armed and surrounded by His associates and servants, and who always chants the Holy Names."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

Krishna stole Srimati Radharani's heart and halo. It is said in the scriptures that Gadadhar Pandit is Srimati Radharani's incarnation in this Kali-yuga, but then somebody can ask, "If Gadadhar Pandit is Srimati Radharani's incarnation, then how can Gauranga Mahaprabhu be Radha-Krishna's combined form?" Krishna has taken Radharani's heart and halo—if you take someone's heart and halo, something will still remain from that person, and that remainder is Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami. This is the answer. That is why Gadadhar Pandit always stayed near Mahaprabhu, and they were very intimate. Gadadhar Pandit would read Bhagavatam, and Mahaprabhu would come and listen to him reading. One time, Gadadhar Pandit was going to make some spinach. He knew that Mahaprabhu liked wild spinach very much, and he decided to test Mahaprabhu, "If I cook spinach but do not invite Mahaprabhu, will He come Himself?" When Gadadhar Pandit finished cooking, he saw that Mahaprabhu came—He came to him even without an invitation.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, comes to this world, on the one hand, to relish the divine separation mood of Srimati Radharani and Vraja gopis, and, on the other hand, to establish and propagate the religion of this age—Sri Harinam-sankirtan. He went house to house begging everyone, "Say 'Krishna', follow Krishna's teaching!" Mahaprabhu taught everyone that it is necessary to accept and follow the teaching of Lord Sri Krishna.

First, it is necessary to become a devotee of Gauranga, Nityananda, a servant of Gurudev. Sri Vasu Ghosh wrote very beautifully,

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

If Gauranga Mahaprabhu had not come to this world, who would have been able to tell about the glory of Srimati Radharani. Nobody except Him can do it. Therefore, if you are to know the glory of Srimati Radharani, you must first worship Gauranga; if you do not worship Gauranga, you cannot worship Radha-Krishna. Worship Gauranga, worship Nityananda....

* * *

Determination and Surrender

Bankura Anniversary Festival,
26 January 2021, part 13

[Noticing a young boy in the audience, His Divine Grace remarks:] It is necessary to practise Krishna consciousness from this young age. Everyone must eat vegetarian food, fast on ekadasi. You must try to practise. Try to explain to your parents also. You are chanting the Holy Name, do your parents say anything to you? Do they not prohibit you? Parents usually get scared that their child will become a sannyasi and go away. My parents were also angry. Do you know what my father did? When I was little, I would wake up in the morning, take bath and, putting on my father's dhoti, go to a small temple we had near our house to read Srimad Bhagavad-gita for one hour. My father was not at home at that time, so he did not see me. Actually, he did not live at home most of the time—he would go to work in another place and he would come home from time to time. One day, he came home and noticed that somebody had been using his dhoti. He asked my mother about the dhoti, and she said that I was reading Gita every day. Then, my father said, "Disaster!" and wanted to tear the book. My mother hid the book because she understood it is an offence to tear Gita. My parents obstructed me in many ways. Later, I ran away from home without telling anyone, and they did not know for thirteen years that I had come to the temple. They only learnt about it after I took sannyas. They even did my sraddha at home thinking I was dead. Well and good. If I felt sorry for them, I would not be able to come.

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

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

('Vaishnav ke?' verse 12)

Those who criticised me and mocked me, "Oh, he has become a sadhu!" suffered very much in their life. Somebody became a school master, somebody became a college professor, somebody became a doctor, but they do not look after their parents. Their parents lived with one son, the daughter-in-law abused them, they went to another son's house, the same story, then the third son and again suffering. All my aunts died suffering, but my mother died peacefully. The Lord says, "If you think about Me, I will think about you." Lord Krishna says in Gita, "I do not know anyone apart from My devotees, and My devotees also do not know anyone apart from Me."

sad-anga saranagati ha-ibe yahara
tahara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara

Sri Krishna hears the prayers of those who surrender in this six-fold way.

Full surrender must come. Unless you become fully surrendered, the Lord will not hear your prayer. People pray to the Lord because they have some desire, but we do not think, "What makes the Lord happy?" We think, "I like paneer, so I should cook paneer," while the truth is that we must cook for the Lord, for the devotees—not for my own mouth. We sing in one of the kirtans,

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

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

(Saranagati, 19.1)

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

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

(Saranagati, 19.3)

These are very beautiful words. We must eat the remnants of Vaishnavs' food every day with great joy. We must not eat for our own happiness.

atmendriya-priti-vancha—tare bali 'kama'
krsnendriya-priti-ichchha dhare 'prema' nama

"The desire to gratify one's own senses is kama (lust), but the desire to please the senses of Lord Krishna is prema (love)."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 4.165)

If you do something for the pleasure of your own senses, it is kama (lust, material desire for enjoyment). We must do everything for Krishna's happiness. We must spend every single moment for Krishna's satisfaction and happiness. I will labour, I will go to work, I will run a business, etc. for the Lord. We must do everything for the Lord. When somebody calls me, I tell them to do some service, but I never tell anyone to do anything for my own self. For my own self, I never worry for anything—I never even think I need a toothbrush, phone airtime, socks, or anything else. Some devotees give me some money, but I never think that I will buy a toothbrush or a pair of shoes with that money. I never think about all these things.

[Noticing the chants coming from a nearby mosque, His Divine Grace remarks:] It is said in the Koran that you can kill a jiva soul provided you can give life to a jiva soul. Does anyone can give life? Then, you cannot kill any jiva souls. Muslim and Hindu people sacrifice goats and observe what is called "asura nidhan" (slaying of demons). The true meaning of this ritual is to kill the demon within you—if you kill a goat, does that make you a better person? Vedas say that you must sacrifice all the demoniac propensities within your heart. You cannot sacrifice a goat instead to please your own senses. Gurudev also told a funny story. There was a man who used to make a goat sacrifice every year at his house, and one year he did not make this sacrifice. When Gurudev heard it, he said, "Oh, I know why. The master of the house where they held that sacrifice does not have any teeth now!" No scripture, no Veda says that we can kill other jiva souls. We say we follow the Vedas, but at the same time we do what is prohibited by the Vedas.

[The time has come to offer the noon bhoga and finish the programme.] All right, I will chant the kirtan now.

* * *

Sri Radhastami

Sri Radhastami Festival, Kolkata-Worldwide, 26 August 2020, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhaktir-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Jay Sri Sri Radhastami ki jay
The appearance day of Srimati Radharani ki jay
Sri Kirtika Mayi ki jay
Sri Vrisabhanu Raja ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the sannyasi vrinda ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

It is a very auspicious, very worshippable day today. Today is the appearance day of Srimati Radharani.

Srimati Radharani appeared in this world in Dvapar-yuga on this tithi of Sukla-astami (eighth day of the bright moon), Visakha-naksatra, in the month of Bhadra. Every year, our temples here in India and all of our temples all over the world celebrate this festival on this day. This is a very auspicious festival, it is usually celebrated at noon.

I want to first start with one-two songs. We must remember that Gurudev is non-different from Srimati Radharani. Actually, Gurudev is a dearmost devotee of Lord Krishna, and at the same time Gurudev is also a dearmost servitor of Srimati Radharani. That is why, we are praying to Gurudev and Srimati Radharani on this day remembering Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's prayer.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Radha bhajane yadi mati nahi bhela' and 'Radhe jaya jaya Madhava Dayite.']

Nitai Gaura premanande Hari Hari bol.

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First, I am giving my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Then, I am offering my humble obeisance at the lotus feet of all guru-varga and everyone else--all my Godbrothers, godsisters, all my friends, well-wishers, as well as the devotees all over the world.

As I have said before, it is a very auspicious day today. Today is Radhastami. Devotees in every corner of the world always worship Srimati Radharani, especially on this day.

[His Divine Grace then proceeds to read from Guidance, Volume 3 (chapter Sri Radhastami).]

Sri Radhastami

Tomorrow, our holy Math observes the festival of Sri Sri Radhastami. Sri Radha is the only worshippable Deity of Gaudiya Vaisnavs—we say 'the only' because if it was not for Gaudiya line, no one would have been able to get the qualification to serve Sri Radha, nor would anyone have had any appreciation for it. The Lord of the Gaudiyas (Gaudiyanath) has revealed to the world the deepest secret of this service and worship:

prema namadbhutarthah sravana-patha-gatah kasya namnam mahimnah
ko vetta kasya vrndavana-vipina-maha madhurisu pravesah
ko va janati radham parama-rasa-chamatkara-madhurya-simlam
ekas chaitanya-chandrah parama-karunaya sarvam avischakara

(Sri Chaitanya-chandramrta, 10.130)

"Would anyone have heard that 'prema' (divine love of God) is the highest destination? Would anyone have known the glory of the Holy Name? Would anyone have had access to the kadamba forests of Vrindavan, filled with unfathomable sweetness? Would anyone have known Sri Varsabhanavi (Sri Radha, the highest worshippable Deity), who is the resplendent embodiment of superb excellence of sweet ecstatic love (madhurya-mahabhav)? Sri Chaitanya-chandra has revealed all this manifesting His supreme magnanimous pastimes."

Once, a modern traditional guru-cum-writer Ray Gunakar Bharata Chandra, being unable to understand the true nature of Sri Radhika, wrote about Her as being under the influence of the Lord's external shadow potency! Although he actually lived at Satasana Math, Sri Puri Dham (the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami lived and served immersed into the service of Sri Radha), and pretended to practise with disinterested nature, he had to eventually give it up—he created a fictional character of Hira Malini, a beautiful mundane enchanting courtesan, which is an imitation based on the resemblance with the transcendental and couched this similarity in the a fine poetic form—as a result, he actually brought about a flood of lust that filled the moat of Bengali language and literature of the time. We do not blame Ray Gunakar, for he is an extension of illusory environment, maya, who is capable of producing even that which is impossible! Maya (illusory potency of the Lord) has cast a cataract on the eyes of nearly the entire world—all the ancient or modern writers, archaeologists, et al.; and to this day Maya, who is the origin of Durga Devi, the mistress of the entire creation, and the personal potency of the Lord, guards and protects the unparalleled, highly confidential wealth of Sri Radhika.

Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad laid a special stress on this and expressed it in very appropriate Gaudiya terms and conclusions. Unless we serve the transcendental Govardhan, we will not be able to realise the supremacy of Sri Radha Kunda that lies beside Govardhan and is inundated with the nectar of divine love. 'Go' means senses or knowledge. If you serve the external, physical Govardhan, i.e. cultivate knowledge merely to increase or indulge your selfish material senses, then you are actually dunking yourself into the waters of Niraya Kunda (Hell Pond) that is created by the mahamaya, the external shadow potency of Sri Radha; those who foster transcendental senses and cultivate transcendental knowledge consider that service to Govardhan is to give pleasure to Krishna's senses. When the demon Aristasur attacks Govardhan with his horns trying to expand his own enjoyment (when mundane rationalism attacks theism and is about to destroy the truth of five spiritual relationships with the Lord, namely neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood, and consorthood), then Krishna kills this demon and establishes the truth. When the bull-demon Aristasur was slain, an elderly gopi named Madanika handed Sri Radhika-sundari over to Krishna as a reward for that.

Aristasur assumes the form of a bull. 'Go' (a cow) is considered among religious-minded people to be a symbol of dharma, religion, and it is also known as the carrier of Lord Rudra (Siva), who is in charge of universal annihilation. So, when the bull-demon of rationalism comes to charge the banner of religion, Krishna destroys this promoter of rationalism.

Lord Rudra (Siva) rides a bull and carries Ganga—the water that washes the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, a personal expansion of Lord Krishna Himself—on his head. This Lord Rudra, when he was defeated by Cupid, wanted to understand the transcendental pleasure Madan Mohan (Krishna, the Enchanter of Cupid) experiences during His rasa-lila and prayed for the mercy of the gopis. This Lord Krishna, surrounded by dancing sadharani and samanjasa gopis (gopis with general and appropriate attraction) during the rasa-lila, left that place of the rasa-lila. Being attracted only by the love of His dearmost Ananda-vidhayini Sri Radhika, He left the place of rasa-lila and followed behind Her. Those common gopis then spoke about Her, the main heroine of Srimad Bhagavatam, in this way:

anayaradhito nyunam bhagavan harir-isvarah
yan no vihaya govindah prito yam anayad rahah

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.30.24)

"My friend! Krishna has abandoned us and took Her to a secluded place. She must have worshipped the Supreme Lord very much." The hidden meaning of these words is that because She is the crest jewel among all the beloved of Krishna, Her name is Radhika.

We hear also that after Aristasur (bull-demon) was killed, two kundas were created—Sri Syama Kunda and Sri Radha Kunda. At this Radha Kunda Sri Krishna always enjoys the rasa-lila with Sri Radhika and Her group at midnight. These nocturnal pastimes are far more captivating than the midday pastimes, and the general gopis have no entrance there. Those who are attracted by the flute of Sri Krishna but, not waiting for the guidance of Sri Radhika, come to play with 'Dhira Samira' Krishna, have no right to enter the rasa-lila performed at Radha Kunda—Chandravali has no right to enter there.

The dancing and loving pastimes of Rasaraj Sri Krishna (the King of Love) have nothing to do with the frenzied dance of Nataraj Rudra or any of the imitative various modern and traditional indigenous dances. In fact, Gopisvar Sadasiva learned to dance at the rasa-mandali, and based on that, his plenary expansion Rudra manifests his Nataraj form (Lord Siva dancing at the time of universal annihilation). We can see in Sri Brhad-bhagvatamrta that Rudra is a servant of Sankarsan and, being always absorbed in the chanting of the name of Rama, he creates his frantic dance that drives the world mad. Imitating the ever increasing enjoyment of this dancing of Rudra the world is heading towards the tryst with annihilation.

Pure devotees who are devoid of anarthas, have revealed the service pastimes of Sri Radhika in the scriptures dealing with the transcendental mellows of divine love, such as Karnamrta, Sri Gita Govinda, books written by Chandidas, Vidyapati, etc., but the associate followers of Sri Gaurasundar, the Supreme Lord adorned by the heart and halo of Sri Radhika, can reveal a far greater super excellence of Her service than what is described in these scriptures. That is why so many transcendental literatures on the transcendental mellows of divine love were composed—Sri Ray Ramananda composed his Sri Jagannath-vallabha Nataka Giti, Sri Rupa Goswami composed Vidagdha Madhava, Dana-keli-kaumudi, Stavamala, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, the greatest follower of Sri Rupa Goswami, composed Mukta-charita, Stava-vali, and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami Prabhu, a follower of Srila Raghunath, composed Sri Govinda-lilamrta, etc. Gaudiya Vaisnavs' reading of Gita Govinda, Karnamrta, Vidyapati, Chandidas and the reading of non-Gaudiya Vaisnavs are worlds apart. It is impossible to understand it through mundane examples or analogies—even if you compare a lecture on Shakespeare and Kalidas by a hardly literate person and a lecture on their works by an expert professor, this analogy would be still insufficient.

To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Kritika lived there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, and worshipped the Lord. On the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the naksatra called Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel daughter appeared in the house of Raja Vrisabhanu illuminating the house, the town and all the ten directions. Overwhelmed with joy, Goparaj Vrisabhanu, Ratnabhanu and Subhanu, three brothers who stayed in Vrisabhanupur, began to dance. Greatly fortunate Kritika was beside herself with joy when she saw her budding moon-like daughter. A wave of joy engulfed Surapur and Vrajapur. This transcendental jewel of a daughter became renowned as Vrisabhanu-nandini Sri Radhika.

"tata arabhya nandasya vrajah sarva-samrddhiman
harer nivasatma-gunai ramakridam abhun nrpa"

"O Maharaj Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaj is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Krishna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.5.18)

For as long as the son of Nanda Maharaj enjoyed His pastimes confidentially in the abode of Lord Hari in Nanda-Gokula, all the gopis of Vraja, headed by Sri Radha, enjoyed with Him confidentially. However, when Sri Nanda Kumar enjoyed His pastimes openly, the crest jewel of the Vraja-gopis Sri Radhika expanded Herself into many gopis and enjoyed Sri Krishna's pastimes openly.

If one thinks "the flowers collected for Durga and Kali garlanded the neck of Sri Radhika" or that "appearing in Brahma-vaivarta, Sri Radhika entered the assembly of gods on an auspicious day in the age of Aryans (Dvapar-yuga)," then it will not only terminate their archaeological escapades, but will also leave them cheated in their attempts to research the scriptures.

Durga is described in Brahma-samhita as an internal potency of Govinda—she enchants, creates, maintains, and annihilates the entire world. She is also described as a shadow potency of Sri Radha, who enchants the mind of Govinda, the enchanter of the world. Unless one becomes fully initiated into the service of the transcendental eternal Deity who is the origin of this internal potency, no one can understand this matter easily with one's intellect or intelligence. They are not infertile though—if the intelligence of such writers becomes cleansed, they can understand the reality. The fact is that if the imperfect jiva souls cannot recognise Vrisabhanu Nandini considering Her a mere fiction, an idol of literary works, then they bring about their own destruction submerging themselves in the filth of amusing literatures. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu, a master of transcendental literature and a follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, sang,

tasya apara-rasa-sara-vilasa-murter
ananda-kanda-paramadbhuta-saumya-laksmyah
brahmadi-durlabha-gater vrsabhanu-jayah
kainkaryam eva mama janmani janmani syat

"May I attain the service of Vrisabhanu-nandini birth after birth. She is the personification of the essence of the transcendental mellows of divine love. With a form of the most wonderful transcendental bliss, She is the supreme goddess of fortune. Her lotus feet are difficult to attain even for the demigods headed by Lord Brahma."

ha devi kaku-bharagada-gadayadya vacha
yache nipatya bhuvi dandavadudbhatartih
asya prasada-mavudhasya janasya krtva
gandharvike tava gane gananam vidhehi

"O Devi! In great distress I fall to the ground offering You obeisances and prayers with a voice choked with emotion. O Gandharvika! Please bestow Your mercy upon this pauper and count me amongst Your own associates."

Jay Srimati Radharani ki jay!

* * *

Attainment of Divine Love

Sri Radhastami Festival, Kolkata-Worldwide, 26 August 2020, part 2

Now, how you will get this kind of divine love, divine love of God(!) without the mercy of Srimati Radharani, without the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma?

[His Divine Grace then proceeds to read from Guidance, Volume 4 (chapter "Association and mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma give divine love").]

Performing his pastimes, Sri Gurupadpadma comes to this material world from the transcendental world to give surrendered souls the joy of association with the worshippable Lord. This guru current has been coming since time immemorial. Just as creation is going on eternally, so do the pastimes of the Lord's and His devotees' appearance are taking place eternally. The Lord performs His appearance pastimes in the form of a guru within the material world to bestow His pure mercy upon the jiva souls. As a result of the mercy and association of Sri Gurupadpadma, tatastha-sakti (marginal potency) is transformed into a spiritual soul, i.e. a jiva soul has no other way except for service to the Lord if it wants to get eternal benefit or real happiness.

Generally, it is possible to see only material elements or practise only things related to the five material elements in this material world—it is not possible to practise transcendental practices. However, this material body and material existence comes from the transcendental plane. This cannot be denied. The Lord is present within the entire universe and all created material bodies as Paramatma (the Supersoul). He is transcendental. Jiva, or atma, is His atomic particle. It is not possible for material vision or for the entities of flesh and blood to serve or behold the transcendental Supreme Lord or Supersoul. The jiva soul with its fleshy eyes has been ignorant of its own identity, the source of its identity (the Supersoul), and the Supreme Lord since time immemorial, and because of it, the jiva soul has been covered by unwanted elements and ignorance, identifying itself with the body. Sri Gurupadpadma, the knower of the Vedas, imparts divine knowledge about the self and the world unto the souls who have forgotten Krishna and, liberating them from ignorance, guides them on the path to eternal spiritual benefit. Sri Gurudev is the eternal object of the soul's love, he bestows the knowledge of the soul's relationship with the Lord (that the Lord is the master of the world, and the jiva soul is His servant—he establishes the soul within this eternal identity). When the jiva soul becomes fixed in this knowledge of the relationship, it becomes possible for it to practise transcendental processes. The highest contribution of Gaudiya guru-varga is that they impart the spiritual knowledge about Krishna onto the jiva souls and inspire them to serve Krishna and Kasna (Krishna and His devotees).

Krishna and Kasna (the Lord and His devotee) are both transcendental, and the nature of the relationship between them is called devotion or divine love (prema). The devotees who take shelter of divine love always serve and love the object of their love—the Supreme Lord; the Lord also always relishes loving relationship with His exclusive devotees. Divine love is a transformation of Hladini, the personal energy of the Lord. This divine love is present between a devotee and the Lord—both experience this love and both relish it. A life without divine love ends without any result. Although Brahma (impersonal form of the Lord) and the Supersoul are considered to be parts of the Lord, divine love can be seen only within the Supreme Personality of Godhead (personal aspect of the Lord). The worshippers of impersonal Brahman and the yogis who worship Paramatma are happy with the realisation of their own form, but they cannot relish the play and pastimes of the Lord's internal potency. Jnanis and yogis receive liberation of merging into Brahman and the Supersoul, respectively, and become also liberated from happiness, unhappiness, suffering, etc. Devotees, however, establish a loving relation with the Lord, and always strive to serve and please the Lord with all their senses, exclusively and continuously following their Sri Gurupadpadma, their main shelter. If you live your life guided by the rules set by Gurudev himself, then the desire and eagerness to please the Lord will come within your heart. It is necessary to live following the restrictions and guidance given by Sri Gurudev—by hearing and practising the instructions emanating from his lotus mouth, you can get love and devotion for the Lord. Devotion, of divine love, are eternally present in the land of Vaikuntha and Goloka. Divine love is the highest necessity or attainment of the jiva soul. It is impossible for a jiva soul to love the Lord or to have devotion for the Lord without the shelter and mercy of Gurudev.

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

"Having travelled throughout the universe and got the mercy of Guru, Krishna, a fortunate soul receives a seed of the devotional creeper."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.151)

If you stay in the association and company of Sri Gurupadpadma who both experiences and relishes divine love for the Lord, then exclusive happiness of Lord Krishna becomes more important—when practitioners hear about the Lord with a service mood and honest enquiry, their hearts become clean and they establish themselves in servitude to the Lord. In this case, the Holy Name of the Lord that is the object of meditation of the liberated souls, easily and naturally reveals itself.

The super-excellence of the mercy of Gaudiya guru-varga is that they nurture and nourish us guiding us on the path of pure devotion, initiating us into this line and continuously teaching us about the transcendental Lord. If fortunate souls get even a drop of their caring compassion, they can always, at every moment, dip and immerse themselves into the narrations about the Lord and services to the Lord that are like an ocean of the nectarean divine love. The genuine affection of their inexhaustible mercy and association cannot even compare to parental love.

Now, I will read to you about Sri Gaura Hari, who is a combined form of Sri Radha and Krishna—Krishna took the heart and halo of Srimati Radharani and became Gaura Hari. I want to say something now about Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and how Gaura Hari bestows His mercy.

[His Divine Grace then proceeds to read from Guidance, Volume 4 (chapter "Merciful Sri Gaura Hari").]

Magnanimous Sri Sri Gaurasundar is an incarnation of mercy. Sri Gaura Hari appeared in Nadiya almost five hundred years ago to give the jiva souls of this age of Kali the divine love of Sri Krishna—the mysterious love of Goloka, that had never before been given in this world by any incarnation of the Lord, the love that even the Vedas are searching for. He taught the jiva souls the gist of the Vedas, Upanisadas, as well as the pure conception of Srimad Bhagavatam. Who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Who is the jiva soul? What is this world and what is the relationship between the Lord and the jiva soul? He established the jiva souls who have forgotten the Lord, in this knowledge of the relationship and bestowed upon all jiva souls greatest gifts: He showed in His own life that the highest method of attaining the goal, or the highest practising life, is pure devotion, and that the attainment reached as the result of practising devotion is divine love for the Lord.

The Lord's forms are unlimited. The form that Sri Gaura Hari spoke about is Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaj. The Lord has unlimited pastimes, He embodies all divine mellows of devotion (rasa). Sri Sri Gaurasundar showed the beauty and excellence of worship of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna is full of sweet pastimes, He is the acme of all types of divine relationships (rasa) and divine love (prema). Sri Gaurasundar Himself appeared in six forms to teach the souls about this divine love—Sri Nityananda (His non-different form), Sri Advaita Acharya (incarnation of a devotee), Sri Gadadhar (the Lord's internal potency), Srivas Pandit (bhakta-tattva), and Sri Guru. Sri Krishna performs many sweet pastimes, He is the source of all incarnations, and He is the only object of worship—this is the opinion of Sri Gaura Hari.

If we consider the position of Sri Krishnachandra among all the incarnations, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. The qualities of all incarnations manifest from Him. It is impossible to reach such embodiment of sweet divine love that is found within Sri Krishna through any practice, but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave His darsan to all jiva souls and noted to Srila Sanatan Goswami:

veda-sastre kahe sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana
krsna, krsna-bhakti, prema—tina maha-dhana

"In the Vedic scriptures, Krishna is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Krishna is our life's ultimate goal. Therefore Krishna, Krishna's service and love of Krishna are the three great riches of life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, 2.20.143)

Although Vedas extol dharma, etc. and advise methods how to attain religion, prosperity, material desires, liberation, etc., the highest main teaching is the realisation of the transcendental sambandha (the relationship), abhidheya (the goal), and prayojana (the means). In terms of divine love, Sri Krishna is the only related personality for the jiva soul. This whole conscious and unconscious world is simultaneously one and different manifestation of the Lord, a transformation of His potency. There are many forms in the transcendental world, and each of the forms has many pastimes. The acme of such manifestations is sweet Sri Krishna, the son of the king of Vraja. The Lord is not only a creator or a giver of liberation—this is not such a great gift. He gives devotees the gift of His own divine love—devotees make Him powerless. When He sees that devotees serve Him with love, He becomes subjugated by them and bestows the gift of divine love onto them. Such is His greatest contribution. Although He is the object of love, He is also an embodiment of shelter of divine love—He gives joy to His devotees and through that becomes happy Himself. He is always happily engaged in loving dealing with His devotees. Although He treats various kinds of devotees with love, the highest loving pastimes that He performs with His sweet associates in Vraja, are the most astonishing of all His loving pastimes; and among all the residents of Vraja, Sri Krishna becomes controlled by Sri Radharani more than by anyone else. Such pure unblemished love is the highest attainment for a jiva soul, and Sri Gaurasundar taught it to the jiva souls of this material world by His own example.

Those who get this kind of divine love, have no need for any religiosity, knowledge, renunciation, etc. Through religious, educational, renounced, and other practices a jiva soul may attain religiosity, material prosperity, sense-gratification, and liberation, but these are not the real eternal necessities of the soul. If a jiva soul wants to attain the highest and ultimate divine love for Krishna, it must practise pure devotion. The object of love is the Lord, and the shelter of divine love is a devotee. Divine love eternally resides within devotees and the Lord. Sweet Lord Krishna appeared in this Kali-yuga in Sri Nabadwip Dham in the form of Sri Gaura Hari to teach pure devotion to the jiva souls and to teach how to practise such pure divine love. Thus, Gaura Dham is an incarnation of Sri Vraja Dham. Just as sweetness, nectar is scattered around Sri Vraja Dham, in the same way, Sri Gaura Dham (the prema-ksetra) is full of magnanimity. Sri Gaura Hari appears as an embodiment of condensed form of mercy of playful Sri Krishna. Krishna appears as magnanimous Sri Gaura Hari. The jiva souls who take shelter of Sri Gaura Hari (a form of sweet Krishna), can practise loving devotion very easily. If practitioners want to practise loving devotion but they have desires for material happiness, or even the happiness of liberation, they will not get any result. The object of divine love is the Lord, and this divine love is attained by the mercy and association of shelter-giving devotees. An embodiment of magnanimity, Sri Gaurasundar, appears in this material world together with His magnanimous associates, and advises the jiva souls to learn the meaning of the association of devotees.

When conditioned souls associate with the material world created by Maya, they experience material happiness and unhappiness. The souls averse to the Lord are engrossed with material things and fall in love with material entities. You cannot get unalloyed happiness or uninterrupted peace by indulging in such love. When a father gets the association of his son, or a husband gets the association of his wife, or a mother gets the association of her daughter, this gives only temporary and transient happiness. However, the Lord is the master, and jiva souls are His servants; there is no possibility for them to attain eternal peace or happiness for as long as they are situated in the material world. Those who desire liberation leave illusory material association and try so hard to get free from the material world and get some happiness of the soul, but even liberation is not an eternal or highest necessity for the soul. Sri Gaura Hari, an incarnation of divine love, has shown the inferiority and insignificance of the happiness of enjoyment, the happiness of liberation, and the happiness of mystic powers, and established the super-excellence of the attainment of divine love for the Lord. Love for the Lord is the only highest and ultimate necessity of a jiva soul. The embodiment of mercy, Sri Gaurasundar has discovered the easiest method for the souls who are greedy for material enjoyment and covered by bad elements, to attain this love—this method is chanting of the Holy Name in the association of loving devotees (premik-bhaktas). If jiva souls can chant the Holy Name that was revealed by Gaura, without offences and in the association of devotees of Gaura, then they will attain the best result—they will get divine love for Lord Sri Krishna. Chanting the Holy Name of the Lord, hearing the Holy Name of the Lord and remembering the Holy Name of the Lord, and worshipping the Holy Name of the Lord in the association of pure devotees, completely (with the root) destroys all kinds of unwanted elements, ignorance and secondary pursuits and interests, etc.

krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya 'sadhu-sanga'
krsna-prema janme, tiho punah mukhya anga

"Sadhu-sanga, good association, is what the devotion to Krishna is ultimately born from; even when the highest love for Krishna is born, good association remains a principle part of the devotee's life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, 2.22.80)

When jiva souls get the association and proximity of the devotees of the Lord, especially the association and mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, all kinds of bad desires and other expectations are removed from them—worshipping the Lord's Name, qualities, glories, and pastimes (through hearing, chanting, and service) progressively increases one's taste for it. Sri Gaura Hari bestows honest (without deceit) mercy upon the jiva souls suffering from three types of miseries, who have forgotten Lord Krishna, and inspires them to embark on the spiritual path by teaching them the importance of devotees' association—He similarly spoke about the highest mercy of Sri Nabadwip Dham, the very place of His divine appearance.

'Sri Gauda-mandala bhumi yeba jane chintamani—devotees consider Sri Gauda Mandal to be a transcendental conscious touchstone.' Sri Nabadwip Dham is a magnanimous abode of divine love of the sweetest play. Every atom and molecule of this holy abode assists jiva souls in coming in touch with Sri Gaura Hari, an embodiment of condensed mercy. The very dust of this holy place is endowed with consciousness—it is not only conscious, but it is super conscious, i.e. it is actually transcendental touchstones. If jiva souls roll in the super conscious dust of this holy abode, all their sins, suffering, unhappiness, pain, anxiety become subsequently relieved, and they progress on the path towards eternal benefit, or real peace. The sweetness of the mercy of Sri Gaura Hari, the magnanimous crest jewel, arises through the aural paths in the hearts of loving devotees when they circumambulate the nine islands of Nabadwip Mandal. Just as Vraja Mandal is an abode of sweet pastimes, in the same way, Gaura Dham is the abode where Gaura Hari, mercy incarnate, performs His magnanimous pastimes. This abode's water, wind, particles of dust, trees, everything is tainted with the divine love of Sri Gaura. "Vrindavana-abhede Nabadwipa dhame vadhira kutira khani. I will build my small cottage in Nabadwip Dham seeing this land as being non-different from Vrindavan Dham." The holy abode of Lord Krishna, Vrindavan Dham, is the shelter of liberated souls, but Gaura Dham grants shelter to everyone—the sinful, suffering, low, poor, fallen, and wicked. "Ye yata patita haya, taba daya-lata taya. The more fallen one is, the taller their creeper of mercy is."

Gaura is the only friend of the fallen souls. The holy abode of Gaura manifests to bestow pure mercy upon the lowest jiva souls who are devoured by Kali and embody a playground for lust and anger. Siddha-baba Srila Jagannath Das Babaji, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji, Srila Prabhupad, and other guru-varga took shelter of this holy abode and were fulfilled. There is no difference between Gaura Dham and Vraja Dham. Worshipping Krishna in Gaura Dham and worshipping Gaura in Krishna Dham is one and the same. "Gauda-vraja-jane bheda na heriba haiba baraja-basi. I will see no difference between the residents of Gauda and the residents of Vraja, and I will become a resident of Vraja." (Saranagati, Siddhi-lalasa, 4)

If you circumambulate this transcendental abode in pure devotee association and follow Sri Gurupadpadma, it makes Gaurasundar happy. Sri Nabadwip Mandal and the banks of the Ganges, sanctified by the lotus footprints of Sri Gaurasundar, arouse remembrance of the Lord's magnanimous pastimes. One can get the mercy of Gaura by circumambulating the holy abode without deceit, chanting in the kirtan inaugurated by Gaura Hari, following the footsteps of loving devotees. Except for the practise of sankirtan in the association of devotees as instructed by Gaura, there is no other way or practice to attain His mercy. The true practice aimed at attaining divine love means giving up all other desires and practising devotional processes striving to please the Supreme Lord.

Devotees' distinctive feature is that they see the entire material world in relation to the Lord, i.e. see all things as ingredients for the service of the Lord, not to try to satisfy their own senses through that but to use everything in the service of the Lord. Devotees become fixed in exclusive adherence to Gurudev and the perception of Gurudev as both an object of service and as a super servant, and very soon attain the result of following Krishna consciousness (practices favourable to devotion)—they attain divine love, the true necessity of the jiva soul. Among the nine devotional practices, Sri Gaura Hari gave special priority to Sri Nama-sankirtan (vachak, that which denotes the Lord). If you chant the Holy Name inaugurated by Gaura without offences, it will help you progress on the path towards divine love. If you nurture desires for fame, adoration, selfish gain, etc. within your heart, even if you chant the Holy Name, you will be forever deceived and will not attain divine love. Great souls said,

yadi karibe krsna-nama sadhu-sanga kara
bhukti-mukti siddhi vanchha dure parihara

"If you want to chant the Name of Krishna, then associate with sadhus and leave behind the desires for enjoyment, liberation, and mystic power."

(Sri Prema-vivarta, 7.3)

Except for satisfaction of the Lord, there are no other desires in the hearts of the highest devotees who dedicate their lives to sankirtan in strict adherence to a great guru. Gaura Hari actually appears in the kirtan of pure devotees. He is the father of sankirtan. He incarnates within pure kirtan. He has vested His entire power in Nama-sankirtan. If you strictly follow the main embodiment of shelter (asraya-vigraha, Sri Guru) and intently strive to satisfy the Lord, it makes Lord Gaurasundar very happy. Gaurasundar's appearance means the appearance of pure Nama-sankirtan. If you do not chant the Holy Name following the method prescribed by Gaura, then instead of attaining the result (divine love), you will only create material garbage—and you will be cheated out of Gaura's mercy. Gaurasundar appears through kirtan in the hearts of those who sincerely take shelter of a bona fide guru and are eager to serve—He showers such surrendered souls with His mercy.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Sri Gaurasundar, Sachinandan Gaura Hari ki jay
Jay Srimati Radharani ki jay

* * *

Where Angels Fear to Tread

Sri Radhastami Festival, Kolkata-Worldwide,
26 August 2020, part 3

[Completing reading extensive chapters about the glory and position of Srimati Radharani, His Divine Grace says:] Today I have spoken much. I have read a little from the books about Srimati Radharani and about Her relation with Gaura Hari. These are the highest things; ordinary people cannot get interested in such things. We are fallen souls, that is why it is necessary for us to concentrate only on Gaura Hari.

Even Uddhav Maharaj says, "I cannot dare pray for the lotus feet of Vraja-gopis, I can only pray their foot dust." This is such a high way of thinking! Uddhav Maharaj says, "I have no quality, no qualification to ask for the mercy of Vraja-gopis' lotus feet, but I only pray for and pay obeisance at the holy foot dust of Vraja-gopis."

You have also heard what Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, who is one of the main authorities in the devotional world, said about Srimati Radharani. There are so many lecturers, professors, writers, scientists, sculptors, poets, etc. in this world, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is a great poet, but what did he say about Srimati Radharani? How did he pray to Srimati Radharani? It is very important to understand this.

Are there any questions today?

Question: When we start to learn about Vaishnavism in the West, should we or should we not read about the transcendental loving activities of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna?

These are the highest things. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad wrote,

matala hari-jana kirtana-range
pujala raga-patha gaurava-bhange

"From afar we shall worship the raga-patha, the path of spontaneous affectionate service, while we ourselves shall live within the Vedic guideline."

It means that we must worship the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda secretly, internally, and externally, we will do sankirtan. I have told you just now that in our life, there is too much much lust, too much anger, too much enjoyment, too much involvement with the material life—how do you think you will get that transcendental ecstatic taste (rasa), how do you think you will understand those paramour loving dealings? These are very high things. When you become an expert, when you can understand everything, then you can read about such pastimes, otherwise not. For primary devotees, it is better not to read about those pastimes. It is Radhastami day today, and I read to you about the situation in the material world and Bengal in particular. For example, when you go to Vrindavan, you can hear everyone say, "Radhe! Radhe!" They think that Radharani is a samosa from a shop—they thing it is something so cheap. However, Srimati Radharani's Name is not even written anywhere in Srimad Bhagavatam because this is the highest topic and Vyasadev, Sukadev and others were very afraid to write about Radharani, they were afraid to touch such highest topics as Srimati Radharani's paramour love. Moreover, even Chandravali cannot enter the lila that takes place at Radha Kunda at midnight. I have just read to you about it. Did you understand what I was reading? I cannot see that you follow it...

* * *

Sri Radha-Tattva

Sri Radhastami Festival, Kolkata-Worldwide,
26 August 2020, part 4

Question: Considering that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the only incarnation of Krishna who came together with Radharani, as Radharani's heart and halo, who brought the maha-mantra to us then? Did Krishna bring it or was it Radharani who brought it, since it was Her heart and halo, Her mercy that Krishna came to embody?

No, Gaura Hari brought the Holy Name. It is Krishna Himself, but Gaura Hari was the one who told about the Holy Name.

Devotee: But was it the mercy of Radharani?

Yes, it is the mercy of Radharani, but it is Gaura Hari who told about chanting the Holy Name. Gaura Hari Himself says, "You can see how much mercy Krishna has bestowed all over the world, in the entire universe!" Another thing is that Gaura Hari and Krishna are non-different. If you can see any difference between them, it is offensive.

I wrote about it in Guidance, Vol. 4 (chapter 'Merciful Sri Gaura Hari'):

"Magnanimous Sri Sri Gaurasundar is an incarnation of mercy The Lord's forms are unlimited. The form that Sri Gaura Hari spoke about is Sri Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaj. The Lord has unlimited pastimes (Gaura Hari Himself told that), He embodies all divine mellows of devotion (rasa). Sri Sri Gaurasundar showed the beauty and excellence of worship of Sri Krsna. Sri Krsna is full of sweet pastimes, He is the acme of all types of divine relationships (rasa) and divine love (prema). Sri Gaurasundar Himself appeared in six forms to teach the souls about this divine love—Sri Nityananda (His non-different form), Sri Advaita Acharya (incarnation of a devotee), Sri Gadadhar (the Lord's internal potency), Srivas Pandit (bhakta-tattva), and Sri Guru. Sri Krsna performs many sweet pastimes, but He is the source of all incarnations, and He is the only object of worship—this is the opinion of Sri Gaura Hari."

It is written clearly here, and it is easy to understand.

It is said in the scriptures that Gaura and Krishna are non-different from each other, and if anyone draws any distinction, they will go to a terrible hell of boiling oil.

...I have told you today about Srimati Radharani and also about Sri Gaura Hari because Gaura Hari comes as a combined form of Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. What does He come for?

sri-radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayaivasvadyo
yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrso va madiyah
saukhyam chasya mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhat
tad-bhavadhyah samajani sachigarbha-sindhau harinduh

"'What is that great glory of Sri Radha's love? What is My extraordinary loving sweetness and charm that Sri Radha enjoys? And what is the joy Sri Radha feels by experiencing My sweetness and charm?' Yearning to taste these three sentiments, the moon—Krishna-chandra—was born from the ocean of the womb of mother Sachi."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1.6)

Krishna thought, "Why is Radharani crying for Me? Why is Radharani crying so much taking My Name? What sort of happiness does She get chanting My Name? I want to know this, that is why I must become a devotee in this age of Kali. I want to taste what sort of taste Radharani is getting." That is why, Krishna came as a combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, taking the heart and halo of Srimati Radharani. We can read about these things, and we can also read the chapter "Association and mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma give divine love." This is the heading I gave to this chapter. How can one get Divine Love? By the mercy of Gurudev, which means by the mercy of Radharani. You can get Krishna-prema by the mercy of Srimati Radharani.

At the same time, I also wrote about a poet named Gunakar. He wrote many things about Radharani, but he could not understand who She really is. He stayed in Puri, but he could not understand what is Radharani's mood, what is Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's mood. He pretended to know some things, but later he ended up leaving Puri. Bengali people think that Radharani is an ordinary girl, that Her relationship with Lord Sri Krishna is some ordinary things. Everyone wants to go to Vrindavan and live at Radha Kunda. People go there and open their shop. What do they know about the meaning of Radha Kunda? I have told you what happened when a demon Aristasur, disguised as a bull, attacked Govardhan Hill with its horns and what is the meaning of this incident. People do not know what is Radha Kunda and what is Shyama Kunda. Materialists and those who are always engrossed in material enjoyment cannot understand Radha-tattva. Radha-tattva is an extremely highest topic.

* * *

Perfect Service

Sri Radhastami Festival, Kolkata-Worldwide, 26 August 2020, part 5

Question: You were reading that Radharani expands into many gopis. Does it mean that all the gopis are not individual personalities?

I was reading:

If you serve the external, physical Govardhan, i.e. cultivate knowledge merely to increase or indulge your selfish material senses, then you are actually dunking yourself into the waters of Niraya Kunda (Hell Pond) that is created by the mahamaya, the external shadow potency of Sri Radha; those who foster transcendental senses and cultivate transcendental knowledge consider that service to Govardhan is to give pleasure to Krishna's senses. When the demon Aristasur attacks Govardhan with his horns trying to expand his own enjoyment (when mundane rationalism attacks theism and is about to destroy the truth of five spiritual relationships with the Lord, namely neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood and consorthood), then Krishna kills this demon and establishes the truth. When the bull-demon Aristasur was slain, an elderly gopi named Madanika handed Sri Radhika-sundari over to Krishna as a reward for that.

Aristasur assumes the form of a bull. 'Go' (a cow) is considered among religious-minded people to be a symbol of dharma, religion, and it is also known as the carrier of Lord Rudra, who is in charge of universal annihilation. So, when the bull-demon of rationalism comes to charge the banner of religion, Krishna destroys this promoter of rationalism.

Lord Rudra (Siva) rides a bull and carries Ganga—the water that washes the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, a personal expansion of Lord Krishna Himself—on his head. This Lord Rudra, when he was defeated by Cupid, wanted to understand the transcendental pleasure Madan Mohan (Krishna, the Enchanter of Cupid) experiences during His rasa-lila and prayed for the mercy of the gopis. This Lord Krishna, surrounded by dancing sadharani and samanjasa gopis (gopis with general and appropriate attraction) during the rasa-lila, left that place of the rasa-lila. Being attracted only by the love of His dearmost Ananda-vidhayini Sri Radhika, He left the place of rasa-lila and followed behind Her. Those common gopis then spoke about Her, the main heroine of Srimad Bhagavatam, in this way:

anayaradhito nyunam bhagavan harir-isvarah
yan no vihaya govindah prito yam anayad rahah

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.30.24)

"My friend! Krishna has abandoned us and took Her to a secluded place. She must have worshipped the Supreme Lord very much." The hidden meaning of these words is that because She is the crest jewel among all the beloved of Krishna, Her name is Radhika.

We hear also that after Aristasur (bull-demon) was killed, two kundas were created—Sri Syama Kunda and Sri Radha Kunda. At this Radha Kunda Sri Krishna always enjoys the rasa-lila with Sri Radhika and Her group at midnight. These nocturnal pastimes are far more captivating than the midday pastimes, and the general gopis have no entrance there. Those who are attracted by the flute of Sri Krishna but, not waiting for the guidance of Sri Radhika, come to play with 'Dhira Samira' Krishna, have no right to enter the rasa-lila performed at Radha Kunda—Chandravali has no right to enter there.

The dancing and loving pastimes of Rasaraj Sri Krishna (the King of Love) have nothing to do with the frenzied dance of Nataraj Rudra or any of the imitative various modern and traditional indigenous dances. In fact, Gopisvar Sadasiva learned to dance at the rasa-mandali, and based on that, his plenary expansion Rudra manifests his Nataraj form (Lord Siva dancing at the time of universal annihilation). We can see in Sri Brhad-bhagvatamrta that Rudra is a servant of Sankarsan and, being always absorbed in the chanting of the name of Rama, he creates his frantic dance that drives the world mad. Imitating the ever increasing enjoyment of this dancing of Rudra the world is heading towards the tryst with annihilation....

For as long as the son of Nanda Maharaj enjoyed His pastimes confidentially in the abode of Lord Hari in Nanda-Gokula, all the gopis of Vraja, headed by Sri Radha, enjoyed with Him confidentially. However, when Sri Nanda Kumar enjoyed His pastimes openly, the crest jewel of the Vraja-gopis Sri Radhika expanded Herself into many gopis and enjoyed Sri Krishna's pastimes openly.

Your question is whether Radharani creates the many gopis, is it? Yes, it is correct. She creates many gopis.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna' and recites 'Jaya Dhvani' before finishing the class.]

I am offering my humble obeisance to you all, please forgive my offence. There are two very important day this coming week—Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's appearance day and Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance also.

I was busy today. I gave a class for all the Australian devotees, and after that I also spoke to some Bengali and South Indian devotees. I am trying to preach in this way, I am trying to engage everybody in the service of the Lord, in the service of Srimati Radharani. Everybody does some service.

[His Divine Grace chants joyfully:]

Radharani ki jay Maharani ki jay
Vrisabhanu-nandini jay jay jay
Radharani ki jay Maharani ki jay
Vrisabhanu-nandini jay jay jay

It was Lalita-samptami yesterday. I am offering so much respect to Uchhagaon remembering that it is Gurudev's favourite place...

We must always remember Vrindavan in our hearts, that is good for us. We must always meditate on the astakaliya-lila, which means we must always, at every moment keep space in our hearts so that Radha-Krishna could play there. Keep some place for Srimati Radharani, Krishna, and Gurudev in your heart, that will be a perfect service. I also try to give some space in my heart forr Radharani, Krishna, and Gurudev.

Jay Sri Gaura Hari ki jay
Srimati Radharani ki jay

* * *

Lord's Avatar

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math, Mayapur, Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhaktir vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Jay Bhagavan Sri Sri Vamandev ki jay
Tandiya avirbhav tithi-bara maha-mahotsav ki jay
Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu ki jay
Tandiya avirbhav tithi-bara maha-mahotsav ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
Jay Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari hari bol

I am very happy to see you all because it is Sunday today and it is also an auspicious day—today is the appearance day of Bhagavan Sri Vamandev and the appearance day of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu.

First, I am giving my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Then, I am offering my full obeisance to all guru-varga. I am asking you all and all the devotees to please accept my humble obeisance. Please forgive my offence.

Today is a very auspicious day because it is the appearance day (avirbhav) of Sri Vamandev and Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and tomorrow is the appearance day of Sach-chid-ananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. I would like to sing only one song now. We sing it every year on this festival. This song, Sri Dasavatara Stotram, was composed by Srila Jayadev Goswami. Everybody knows this song, and I will try to sing it now.

[His Divine Grace chants Sri Dasavatara Stotram, concluding with,]

vedan udharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chhalayate ksatra-ksayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlechchhan murchchhayate dasakrti-krte krsnaya tubhyam namah

I offer my obeisance unto Sri Krsna, who assumes ten forms and rescues the Vedas, upholds Mandara Mountain, uplifts the earth, rips apart demons, deceives Bali Maharaj, kills the ksatriyas, conquers Ravan, carries a plough, shows compassion, and annihilates the wicked.

(Srila Jayadev Goswami)

Jay Dasa-avatara ki jay!

As I have already said, it is a very auspicious day today because it is Vamandev's avirbhav. Every year on this dvadasi, we first perform archan for Vamandev, then offer some sweet rice, and with that sweet rice prasadam we do the paran (break our fast) on the dvadasi day. We did in the morning today.

We were singing just now a song glorifying the ten avatars of the Lord. These ten avatars are Matsya avatar, Kurma avatar, Varaha avatar, Parasuram avatar, Buddha avatar, Rama avatar, Nrisingha avatar, Vaman avatar, Baladev avatar, and Kalki avatar. The incarnation of Vamandev is the fifth. There are also many more lila-avatars of the Lord—among twenty-five lila-avatars, Sri Vamanadev is the eighteenth avatar. There is a chaturbhuja (four-formed) manifestation of Lord Sri Krishna in Dvaraka, namely Vasudev, Sankarshan, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. They are extensions of Krishna's prabhav-vilasa (divine forms in which the Lord expands Himself to enjoy His variegated pastimes). Besides that, there are also Deities of the four forms of Narayan—Pradyumna, Trivikram, Vamana, Sridhar. Vaman is also the presiding god of Ashadha (June/July) month. When Vaishnavs put the twelve tilaks on their bodies to mark the symbols of the Lord's Temple (Hari-mandira), they place a tilak mark on their left side and pray to Vamana-avatar, "Om Vamanaya namah. (I offer obeisance to Lord Vamana.)"

It is said in Srimad Bhagavatam that Lord Vamandev holds a conch, a disk, a club, and a lotus flower. Lord Vamanadev is present in this universe as Keshava in Mathura, Jagannath in Nilachal, Madhav in Prayag, Madhusudan in Mandar, Vasudev in Anandaranya, Padmanabha, and Janardan, Vishnu in Vishnukanchi, and Hari in Mayapur. There are fourteen manvantaras in one day (kalpa) of Lord Brahma, and one manvantra (lifespan of Manu) equals to 71 chatur-yugas (one chatur-yuga is 4,320,000 years). The fourteen Manus appearing with a day of Lord Brahma represent fourteen manvantara-avatars, or Manus, manifesting as empowered incarnations of the Lord.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyas Muni describes the appearance of Lord Vamandev and how Lord Vamandev Himself gave Sutalpuri (Sutal planet) to Bali Maharaj. We would like to read a little from Srimad Bhagavatam, but we do not want to go into elaborate detail.

* * *

Kasyap Rishi's Advice to Aditi Mata

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 2

Kasyap Rishi and his wife Aditi were very sad because demons had ousted all demigods' sons from heaven. Mother Aditi cried to Kasyap Rishi, "All my sons have been ousted from the heaven by demons. I am praying to you—please, make so that my sons get back their place in heaven! I will cry and feel miserable until my sons have got the heaven back." When Kasyap Rishi heard her words, he told her, "If you say, 'The demigods are my friends, and the demons are my enemies, this is a mentality of a common human.' It is wrong to think like that."

There lies some deviation. Krishna has created everything—Krishna created Hiranyakasipu, and Krishna also created Prahlad Maharaj. Both exist in this world. It is necessary to understand this. Krishna has created everything for His pastimes. There is somebody who glorifies you, and there is somebody who criticises you—both are necessary, both should exist in this world. Do you understand what I am saying? If I say, "Oh, he criticises me, so I will kick him out of the temple," then who will be there to criticise me? It is necessary to have at least one person who will criticise me. Such people are also necessary.

That is why, Kasyap Rishi said, "Only common humans say, 'Demigods are my friends, and demons are my enemies.'" Only those who forgot Krishna have this kind of intelligence, this kind of sense that they will think, "He is bad, he is good." If we think about the Lord, if we have any relation with the Lord, then we will have no enemies. Your enemies are inside you. There are so many enemies inside us—kanak, kamini, pratistha (desire for money, women, and fame); kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy); rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa (desire for enjoyment through eyes, tongue, nose, ears, and skin)...

So, then, Kasyap Rishi advised his wife Aditi, "Reject that which is imaginary, which is lies, and worship the Lord." What did Aditi Mata think? Hearing so much advice from her husband, she still thought, "How will my sons get their kingdom back? Unless they come back, no amount of advice will give any peace to my heart."

We see that those who are covered by the illusory environment have much affection for their children—this is what material people are like, and this is the mood that Aditi showed. Yet, this mood is wrong.

Seeing that his wife was inconsolable, Kasyap Rishi gave her some inspiration, "If you want your sons to get the kingdom back, then you must observe strict austerity (payo-vrata) for twelve days. Fast (you can only drink a little bit water; otherwise, nothing else) and worship the Lord. Only Keshav can fulfil your desire." Mother Aditi did what Kasyap Rishi had told her—she had fasted for twelve days observing very severe renunciation, and after twelve days, when the payo-vrata was over, the Lord Himself came in front of her and showered His mercy on Kasyap Rishi and Aditi Mata (Mother Aditi). The Lord Himself told, "I will come at a proper time as your son."

* * *

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 3

...After that, the proper time came and the Lord appeared first in the heart of Kasyap Rishi and then came to the womb of Aditi Mata. When the Lord Himself entered her womb, Brahma and all demigods began to pray to the Lord showing a very exalted mood. Everything around became very auspicious. All the demigods headed by Brahma prayed for the Lord's appearance.

Then, on this tithi today, on dvadasi day, on the Abhijit naksatra, Lord Vamanadev appeared in this material world in His Narayan form, holding a conch, a disk, a club, and a lotus flower. Kasyap Rishi and Aditi Mata saw the Lord Himself came as a 'botu-baman' (a dwarf brahman). He was very short in height.

When Vamandev got his upanayana (brahman initiation when a brahman thread is given), it was a very auspicious day. On the day of His initiation, Suryadev, Brihaspati, Kasyap Rishi, Mother Earth, Vanaspati, Danda, Mata Aditi Devi, and so many other rishis, munis, et al. came. You know that when we receive the second initiation, we always go begging after the fire sacrifice; similarly, when Vamandev went begging after His initiation, then all the gods—Sun, Moon, Brahma, et al.—came and gave much donation to the Lord.

In the meantime, Prahlad Maharaj felt sad because his son named Virochan was a demon; although he was a demon, he did give respect to brahmans. So, one day Bali Maharaj, who is the son of Virochan, decided to make a fire sacrifice (yajna) on the bank of the Narmada River. He was very generous and invited all brahmans to this fire sacrifice. Vamandev, the Lord Himself, also decided to come there.

Vamanadev took a big umbrella and started off for the fire sacrifice. Because He was very short, when He walked carrying the umbrella and all the brahmans noticed him, they said, "Look, an umbrella is walking!" They tried to catch up with him, but Vamanadev walked so fast that they could not—even when they tried to run, they still could not catch up with Him.

When Vamanadev finally came to the place where the fire sacrifice was held, there was so much exalted light coming from His body that even the sacrificial fire that Bali Maharaj arranged with great pomp (placing much ghee, wood, etc.) dwindle and looked dull compared to Vamanadev's exalted lustre.

Bali Maharaj thought, "This must be a great personality who has come!" So, he stood up and showed respect to Vamanadev—he paid obeisance to Vamanadev, washed His feet, and placed the water that had washed His feet on his head. Then, Bali Maharaj said to Vamanadev, "I have invited all brahmans to this fire sacrifice, and I am sure You too have come to get something. What do you want? I am the triloka-adipati—I am the proprietor of the three worlds (heaven, earth, and hell). I can give You anything You want. If You want to get married, I can give You a good girl with all sorts of good qualities. Tell me, what do You want?..."

* * *

Satisfying the Lord

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 4

Bali Maharaj asked Vamanadev, "O brahman, what do you want? Tell me, and I can give You anything you wish."

Vamanadev replied, "I am a very small brahman, so I do not want so much. I know you have everything and can give Me so many things, even heaven. You took birth in the family of Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa, so your grandfather (Prahlad Maharaj) is a great personality, a maha-bhagavata; even your father, Virochan, has never disrespected brahmans although he is a demon. So, I know you are a great personality, but the truth is that I do not want anything big. I am a small brahman, and I want only something small."

"All right, what is it that You want?"

"I want tri-pad bhumi (three footsteps of land)."

"You are a batu-vaman (a dwarf brahman), so You are asking for such small things. I have so much and I can give You so many things, but you are asking only for a three-footstep land. I have promised to give donation to all brahmans today, so if I give you three footsteps of land today and it does not fulfil Your desire, then You will later go to another place and it will spoil my reputation (some disrespect will come to me). I can give You so much more, why do you want tri-pad bhumi? Your feet are so small, so You will not be able to even build a house on that land. What will you do with that three footsteps of land?"

"It does not matter, this is what I want. I do not want anything else."

Bali Maharaj tried to persuade Vamanadev to change His mind and ask for something more, but Vamanadev did not give in. In the end, Bali Maharaj promised Vamanadev, "All right, I will give You what You are asking for—I will give You three footsteps of land."

When Bali Maharaj said this, Sukracharya (Bali Maharaj's guru and the guru of all demons) was not there. He came just after Bali Maharaj had made the promise. When Sukracharya got to know what had happened, he said to Bali Maharaj,

"Bali, you do not know anything! You are a baby! You do not know who this is! Coming as a brahman in front of you, He is Vamanadev, the Lord Himself! You do not know what you have done, take your promise back."

"No," said Bali Maharaj, "I have made a promise to a brahman, and I will keep it. I will give Him three steps of land. What is the problem? What loss is it to me? I have so much land, I have so much opulence, if I give Him three steps of land, how will that affect me?"

"Bali, you do not understand who this is. He will take everything from you with His three steps! After that, you will not be able to give any donation to anyone else ever again! He is the Lord Himself."

"All right, if He is the Lord and the Lord comes to take everything from me with His three steps, what is the problem?"

Bali Maharaj did not listen to his guru and prepared to give the donation to Vamanadev. Now, Sukracharya possessed some mystic powers through which he managed to enter the kumandala (a pot used for auspicious ceremonies) and block the water from flowing outside. When Bali Maharaj was about to officially make the donation by pouring some water from the kumandala, he saw that the water was stuck inside, so he took a stick, or some straw, and poked it inside the kumandala. When he did that, Sukracharya became blind—he lost one of his eyes.

(You can understand that this is the result that comes if somebody tries to obstruct your service to the Lord, if somebody creates problems for your service to the Lord. Such people meet an accident; for example, they can lose eyes, a hand, a leg, etc.)

Bali Maharaj did not listen to his guru and kept his promise to Lord Vamanadev. When the water flowed from the kumandala, he said, "Om Vishnu, Om Vishnu," and officially declared that Vamanadev could take three steps of any of the land. After that, Vamanadev started to grow and grow until, to the astonishment of all the brahmans, His body became absolutely enormous. Assuming such form, He took all mortal planets (martya) with His first step, the heaven with His second step, and then, having nowhere to place His third step, He spoke to Bali Maharaj,

"Maharaj, you still have not kept your promise. You have given me only two steps of land, and I want the third step of land now! Where shall I place My foot now?"

Bali Maharaj replied, "Prabhu, I have nothing now. You have taken everything with Your two steps. I have nothing left..."

"Are you sure you have nothing? Think, think. Do you really have nothing?"

Bali Maharaj said again and again, "No, Prabhu, I am sure I have nothing else. What can I give You now? How will I give You the third step of land? You have taken everything with Your two steps..."

Then, Bali Maharaj's clever wife, Vindhyavali, said into her husband's ear, "You do not understand. The Lord has come to give you His mercy! Do you not understand it? You say you have given everything to Him, but have you given yourself to Him?"

Then Bali Maharaj understood it, "Oh yes! I forgot! I have not given myself!" Then, he said to Lord Vamanadev, "Prabhu, I am now giving myself to You." When Bali Maharaj paid a full dandavat at Lord Vamanadev's lotus feet, a third leg appeared from Lord Vamanadev's navel and the Lord put His third leg on Bali Maharaj's head. Then, Lord Vamanadev said, "Yes, now you have given Me everything! Now you have fulfilled your promise, and I am very happy with you. Now we will do the opposite."

"What do You mean 'the opposite'?"

"Up until now, you have been giving to Me and I have been taking, but now I will give something to you, and you will take it."

Bali Maharaj said, "No, no, Prabhu. You have already given Your mercy to me. I do not want anything. I do not want anything. You have appeared in front of me in this form, and this is sufficient for me, I do not want anything else."

"No, no. I have come and taken something from you, but now I will give something to you and you must take it."

Bali Maharaj kept refusing, and in the end Lord Vamanadev said, "All right, stay in Sutalpuri (a planet in Vaikuntha) with your grandfather, Prahlad Maharaj, then."

Jay Sri Vamanadev ki jay!

This is the pastimes of Lord Vamanadev's appearance day, which is today; and it is also Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's appearance day today...

* * *

Early Pastimes of Srila Jiva Goswami

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 5

Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu is our Guru, you know that.

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das!"

These are the famous six goswamis.

Do you know where Srila Jiva Goswami lived when he was in Vrindavan? His place is near our temple in Vrindavan, just beside it. It is the Radha Damodar Temple. In the end, Srila Rupa Goswami gave all charge to Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and he worshipped Sri Sri Radha-Damodar Deity there after Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu.

There were three brothers—Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Sri Anupam. Their father's house is actually near Ramakeli, Malda. Rupa and Sanatan did not have any children, but their brother Anupam had a son whose name was Jiva Goswami. As you know, when Sri Gaurasundar came to Ramakeli to meet with Rupa and Sanatan, Jiva Goswami was a small child, a baby, but he received that kind of great fortune to see Mahaprabhu's face. Although Jiva Goswami was a very small baby, when he saw Mahaprabhu's beauty, he keep it in his heart and always thought about it—ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane (whether he slept, ate, or was awake) he all the time was thinking about the beauty of Mahaprabhu.

After some time, his father, Anupam, expired, and when Jiva Goswami heard about it, he was very sad. He started going to Vrindavan to meet with Rupa and Sanatan, who were his uncles and also, most importantly, his gurus (Jiva Goswami Prabhu took initiation from Srila Rupa Goswami). Before he arrived in Vrindavan, there were also some pastimes that took place here in Nabadwip.

In his youth, when Jiva was studying, he always thought about Gaura Nitai's form, Gaura Nitai's beauty and pastimes. One time, he saw a dream—Gaura Nityananda came to him and gave Their foot dust to him. After that dream, He came to meet with Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and they together went to all the places of Sri Nabadwip Mandal where Mahaprabhu's pastimes are going on.

First, he arrived at the bank of the Ganges. He heard that Nityananda Prabhu lived at Srivas Pandit's house. When Jiva Goswami Prabhu came there and saw Nityananda Prabhu, he fell in a full obeisance before Nityananda Prabhu. When Jiva Goswami got up, Nityananda Prabhu asked him, "Who are you? Are you the nephew of Rupa and Sanatan?" Hearing this, Jiva Goswami again paid his full obeisance to Nityananda Prabhu. Then, Nityananda Prabhu asked him, "How is everything? How is your family? How is everyone keeping?" The next day, Sri Nityananda Prabhu took Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu to Sachi Mata's house, the birthplace of Mahaprabhu. They saw very old Sachi Mata sitting there. She said, "Nityananda, I have just been cooking. Take prasadam here today, and Jiva Goswami has come also today..." Then, Ishan, the servant at Sri Jagannath Misra's house, washed Nityananda Prabhu's legs and led them in to take prasadam.

khao vachha nityananda jananira sthale
ei ami gaurachandre bhunjanu gopane

Sachi Devi said, "Eat, my child. Nityananda, You are in the home of Your mother. Privately, I fed this to Gaurachandra."

This is written in Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya. After that, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu spent a few days circumambulating Sri Nabadwip Dham, taking darshan of all the memorable places. Then, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ordered Sri Jiva Goswami Prabhu, "Now go first to Kashi and then to Vrindavan where you can meet with Rupa and Sanatan..."

* * *

Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's Mercy

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 6

When Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu went to Kashi, he studied the Vedas and Vedanta under the guidance of Sri Madhusudan Vachaspati, a disciple of Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya taught everything that Mahaprabhu had taught him, to his disciple named Sri Vidya Vachaspati. Later, this Sri Vidya Vachaspati also taught that teaching to Srila Jiva Goswami.

When Srila Jiva Goswami came to Vrindavan, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu kept him near him—he taught him Srimad Bhagavatam and engaged in the service of Sri Sri Radha Damodar. Very soon, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu became a transcendental expert in the knowledge of Srimad Bhagavatam. You know how learned he was.

I have also heard from Gurudev about a pastime with Sri Vallabha Acharya (some say it was Gopal Bhatta Goswami, but actually Gurudev said it was Vallabha Acharya). Sri Vallabha Acharya always came to Sri Sri Radha Damodar temple and met with Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu. One day, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu showed him a sloka that he had composed, and Sri Vallabha Acharya said there was some small mistake and corrected Srila Rupa Goswami. Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu heard it, and some doubt came to his mind, "What did he correct? It may not be so." He thought and thought, and finally felt sure, "Yes, what Sri Vallabha Acharya said is not correct." Later, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu met Sri Vallabha Acharya on the bank of the Yamuna, and said to him, "Prabhu, you have corrected Srila Rupa Goswami's sloka, but it is wrong, what my Guru said is correct," and he explained why that sloka was correct and should not have been changed. The next day, Sri Vallabha Acharya came to Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu again and said, "Who is that thirteen-year-old boy I met yesterday?" Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu said, "Actually, he is my nephew, and also a disciple. He is learning Srimad Bhagavatam here, he does the puja of Radha-Damodar. What happened? Why are you asking?" Sri Vallabha Acharya explained, "Oh, I corrected that sloka of yours yesterday, but it was actually correct—you were right. That boy explained it to me." Hearing this, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu felt a little disturbed. He called Jiva Goswami and chastised him, "This is not the mood! All right, you know that it was right, but why is it necessary to go and teach him? He is like a guru to you, and he is also like a guru to me. He is our guru-varga, but you corrected him! Even if he was wrong, why did you have to go and tell him about it? You have no quality or qualification to stay in Vrindavan. Go back to your home." Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu left and stayed on the bank of the Yamuna, fasting and writing Sri Gopal-champtu Natak. He was lying down on the ground without any food or water. A few days later, Srila Sanatan Goswami saw him and brought him back to the temple, giving him nourishment, etc.

Srila Jiva Goswami composed many books. He wrote Harinama-amrita-vyakaran, he edited Sri Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Sri Gopal-virudavali, Sri Madhava-mahotsav, Sri Gopal-champu. He also wrote the Sat-sandarbhas—Tattva-Sandarbha, Bhagavat-sandarbha, Paramatma-sandarbha, Krishna-sandarbha, Bhakti-sandarbha, Priti-sandarbha. He wrote Sri Gopala-tapani and so many other books...

Today, on this bhadra sukla dvadasi day, he appeared in this world. Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's samadhi is at the Radha-Damodar temple, and when we go for Vrindavan parikrama, we always give our full obeisances to him. We are giving our full obeisance to him from here also. We pray to him, to his lotus feet, "We are fallen souls, Prabhu, we have no quality, no qualification. Wherever you are staying now, Prabhu, please make us your foot dust and keep us under your feet." This is our prayer to him.

Jay Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu ki jay!

* * *

Great Desire for Service

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
Kolkata-Worldwide, 30 August 2020, part 8

[Concluding a long lecture about Lord Vamanadev, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:]

Are there any questions? I have been talking too much today.

[Devotees tell the news of a devotee passing away.]

When devotees pass away, it is very sad news.

'duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?'
'krsna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para'

Mahaprabhu asked, "Of all kinds of distress, which is the most painful?" Sri Ramananda Ray replied, "I cannot see what can be more painful than separation from a devotee of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 8.247)

It is very difficult to tolerate separation from devotees of the Lord. Anyhow, may Lord Krishna bless the wife of the departed devotee and give her much power to establish herself and tolerate these kinds of things. My condolences to her.

Are there any other questions?

Question: I would like to ask if we can sing "Radharani ki jay, Maharani ki jay," etc. on the Radhastami Day.

You can sing Radharani's songs on the Radhastami day—only on the Radhastami day, not all the time. Our Gaudiya Gitanjali also has these songs, it is written there, "Radhe Radhe Radhe Govinda, Radhe Govinda" or "Radhe Govinda, Radhe Govinda." Such songs is there in Gaudiya Gitanjali, and we can sing them only on that one day (Sri Radhastami). Also, on this day you can speak in general about the pastimes of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, but all the very high things can be told only during Vrindavan parikrama. We tell and explain about Radha-Krishna's pastimes only during the Vrindavan parikrama time. These are the highest things, so they must not be told everywhere and every day.

Are there any other questions?

Questions: How can we aspire for the service of Lord Nityananda Prabhu?

Follow what your Guru tells. You must follow your Guru, remember your Guru and the Lord, sing kirtans, and practise properly every day—join the programmes, classes, kirtans, etc.—then you will get that aspiration for the service of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

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

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

kabe ami chhadiba e visaya-abhimana
kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana

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

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

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

If you have a great desire for service, if you have a proper desire for the service to Nityananda Prabhu, then you will get service—you will get a chance to serve Him.

All right, it was very nice to see everybody today. We will meet with you all next Sunday. Please accept my humble obeisance to you all, and please forgive my offence.

Dandavat, Srila Gurudev.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Jay Sri Vamanadev ki jay
Appearance day of Sri Vamanadev ki jay
Jay Sri Jiva Goswami Prabhu ki jay
His appearance day ki jay
Jay Sach-chid-ananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's appearance day adhivas ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Bandhav Puri Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Niskam Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Vijnan Muni Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Viabhav Parivrajak Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Ujjval Sajjan Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

I am going to Nrisingha Palli and Mayapur the day after tomorrow because I need to distribute and supply some rice, potato, dal, and oil to all the Mayapur temples and some temples in Nabadwip. Due to this pandemic situation, the situation at all temples is not so good, so I want to give something to them. I can give a little to each temple. I have rice and potato because we did collection earlier this year thinking that if we made festivals, there would be so much expenditure and all the sadhus would come, but this year we could not make festivals, so instead we will give something to every temple. It will make everybody happy, and it will be Vaishnav-seva, too.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay. Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol. Dandavat.

* * *

This Is Not a Playground

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

[Chanting 'Krpa kara Vaisnava Thakura', His Divine Grace pauses and remarks:]

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

"I am a Vaishnav"—if you think like this... [Noise in the audience.] What are the children doing upstairs? Is this a playground? It is not a place for sitting and gossiping or getting up to some mischief. This place here is Bhakti Siddhanta Sravan Sadan ("a formal place where one comes to hear the teaching of devotion"). There can only be talks about Nitai, Vaishnav Thakur, the Lord here. You cannot talk about material things here, you cannot talk about any outside (material) things here. Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami,

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

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

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

Do not talk any gramya-katha here! Do not have any outside talks here! You must leave all this at home. Do not come here with all that. You must come here surrendering your all—all your heart, soul, mind, everything—at the lotus feet of the Lord.

We always blame the Lord, "Why is the Lord giving me so much sadness and suffering?" but we do not blame ourselves for not being able to surrender to the Lord. You blame the Lord, but have you become surrendered to the Lord? You must ask yourself this question. How much can you give to the Lord? We cannot give anything to the Lord. Yet, we must place everything—our mind, heart, soul, body, ego, etc.—at the holy lotus feet of the Lord...

We have brothers, sisters, wives, children, relatives, but they are with us just for two days; they will all come and go from this world. Yet, if you are to get Nityananda, you must give everything, your heart, your mind to the holy lotus feet of Nityananda, and you must not only say that. These are not just some words. How many times have I told you that?

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

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

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

If you just keep saying, "Nitai, Nitai," it will not do—you must practise what Gora and Nitai preach. Trying to impress others is not what worshipping Gora is. You think, "I will eat well, I will dress well, I will get a nice room," but this is not what Krishna consciousness is about.

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

Have you heard what we were singing? I told you about it yesterday also. It is necessary to first know the sambandha. We know very well our father, mother, brother, sister, wife, son, daughter, friends, husband, etc. Everybody knows this relationship, but we do not know who Guru and Vaishnavs are. How many of us know and understand our Guru, Vaishnavs, and the Lord? We do not understand the meaning of Guru, Vaishnavs, and the Lord, we only know our own interest. Everybody understands who their wife, son, friends, relatives, etc. are, but we do not know our Guru, Vaishnavs, or the Lord. What does the Lord say in Srimad Bhagavad-gita? "I do not recognise or know anyone except for My devotees, and My devotees also do not know anyone except Me." This is what chastity is. Women can understand what is called to be chaste. It is necessary to have chastity. You must surrender everything to your Guru; you will not get anywhere if you do not keep chastity to your Guru. If you think, "I have got initiation, so I have already got everything," and go calmly home, then you are wrong. Taking initiation is a matter of fortune,

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

"Having travelled throughout the universe and got the mercy of Guru, Krishna, a fortunate soul receives a seed of the devotional creeper."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.151)

In his last days, Gurudev called me and said, "You go to all those villages and remote areas bringing everyone for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama. You have got so many people to take initiation, but can you say how many of them have actually become disciples?" This is what Gurudev told me. "How many of your people have become disciples?" We say, "Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya ara na kariha mane asa—make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart." We say we keep the teaching of our Guru in our heart, but tell me how many people listen to what their Guru says? They pay full dandavat, but as soon as you tell them to do anything, they say, "I do not have time." Such people are not fit to be called disciples. The duty of a disciple is to tolerate Gurudev's chastisement and mould their life in the way that their Gurudev wants them to.

* * *

Wrong Worries

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 2
Translated from Bengali

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami had come to Mahaprabhu many times, but he could not get Mahaprabhu's mercy. He left everything, all his wealth—his father was a rich landowner in Adisaptagram and earned twenty thousand rupees, which was an enormous sum of money, but Srila Raghunath Das Goswami left everything as if it were stool and urine. When we go to the toilet, we reject stool and urine as something filthy and do not even want to look at it. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami left everything he had in the world in the same way and went to Mahaprabhu, but he could not get Mahaprabhu's mercy. Why could he not get it? Because he had not got Nityananda Prabhu's mercy ("Nitaiyer karuna habe Vraje Radha Krsna pabe: when you get Nitai's mercy, you will get Radha-Krsna in Vraja."). That is why, Mahaprabhu sent him back again and again...

[Distracted by somebody's phone ringing:] Switch off your phone. Nothing will happen to you—if you listen to Hari-katha for one-two hours, you will not lose anything. You do not need to call home and answer all the questions ("How are you?", "What are you doing?", etc.)—everything is always all right at the holy dham of Nitai. Nothing will happen to you. Keep faith in that. If you do not have faith, then you will suffer. The less faith you have, the more your devotion will be decreasing. I told you yesterday also,

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

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

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

You have a lack of faith. You have no faith, that is why you have no devotion.

Devotion (Bhakti Devi) does not stay where there is no faith—she runs away from such places. Bhakti Devi always wants a clean place. If there is kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy), rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa (desire for enjoyment through eyes, tongue, nose, ears, and skin), kanak, kamini, pratistha (desire for money, women, and fame), Bhakti Devi will not stay there to suffer. Suppose you host a programme at your house and call a Vaishnav to come; if you do not give any place for the Vaishnav to sit but instead stuff the room with sacks of potato, dal, rice, etc., then where will you seat your Thakur (Lord)? The Lord comes to sit in one's heart, that is why you must first have space in your heart so that the Lord can sit there. Do you know what Prabhupad Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said? Mahaprabhu said, "Prthivite yata achhe nagaradi grama sarvatra prachara haibe Mora Nama. My Name will be spread in every town and village of the world." And Srila Prabhupad said, "No, not in every town and village—this Holy Name must dance in the heart of every man. It is necessary to make a temple in every man's heart." So, the main point is not to make a temple in every village, but we must make a temple in every single person's heart; otherwise, it will not do.

The problem is that every heart is "pancha-roge hata"—ruined by five diseases. These five diseases are avidya (ignorance), asmita (false identification), raga (misdirected love), dvesa (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and abhinivesa (being unable to give up unfavourable habits). Raga is not when somebody gets angry, raga means not being attracted to the Lord. We are afflicted by these five diseases. When our body and heart are full of kanak, kamini, pratistha (desire for money, women, and fame), kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy), rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa (desire for enjoyment through eyes, tongue, nose, ears, and skin), how will you get the Lord then?

If you want to make a temple in every person's heart, it is necessary to make space for the Lord in their hearts. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur writes in one of the kirtans,

kabe nityananda more kari' daya
chhadaibe mora visayera maya

"When will Nityananda be compassionate to me and relieve me from the mundane illusion?"

("Kabe habe bolo se dina amar" by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

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

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

('Prarthana' by Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

We always worry, "How will I live? How will I maintain my family?" One day you will go away—you will have to leave all this behind...

* * *

Pure Identity

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 3
Translated from Bengali

...So, we were singing,

sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

It is necessary to give up ego. We must watch out that we do not get the ego that "I have become a big Vaishnav!"

pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"My heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

When desire for pratistha (name and fame) comes into my heart, it will clear the road to hell for me. That is why, Vaishnavs never say, "I have become a Vaishnav." Mahaprabhu never said, "I am the Lord!" In this world, everybody says that this world is created by Brahman—such people are jnanis (knowledge-seekers). However, you will not get the Lord through karma (fruitive actions), jnana (knowledge), or yoga (mystic practices). You can get the Lord only through bhakti (devotion).

There are three kinds of devotion (I told you about it yesterday)—karma-misra bhakti (devotion mixed with material desires), jnana-misra bhakti (devotion mixed with desire to know something), jnana-sunya suddha-bhakti (pure devotion devoid of any pursuit of knowledge). We must have jnana-sunya bhakti (devotion without desire to know anything)—"I do not know anything, I do not understand anything. O Lord, I am a low and fallen soul."

So, we must not have the ego that we are a brahmachari or a sannyasi. When describing His own identity, Mahaprabhu said,

naham vipro na cha nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na cha grha-patir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

"I am not a brahman, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmachari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 13.80)

"I am not a brahman, I am not a ksatriya (fighter), I am not a vaisya (businessman), I am not a sudra (menial worker). I am not a sannyasi (monk), I am not a brahmachari (celibate), I am not a grihastha (householder). What am I? I am a servant of the servant of the holy lotus feet of the gopis." Do you know what the gopis say? They say, "We do not have the kind of devotion that Prahlad Maharaj has!" Prahlad Maharaj is a santa-bhakta (his devotional mood is the mood of neutrality, or peacefulness). Just see how much humility the gopis have. Krishna says that the gopis are His greatest devotees, their devotion is the highest. You know that there is santa-, dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya-, madhura-rasa (neutral devotion, servitude, friendship, parenthood, and consorthood), and among these moods of devotion, madhura-rasa is the highest. So, Krishna says that the gopis are the highest devotees, there is no worship that is higher than the worship of the gopis. And these gopis says, "We still do not have the kind of devotion that Prahlad Maharaj has." How humble they are! They think so low of themselves.

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

"Humility, self-submission, taking the Lord as your guardian, keeping the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion."

(Saranagati, 1, by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Sri Nanda Kumar (Lord Sri Krishna) hears the prayers of those who have got these six limbs of surrender. We sing this every morning. Those who chant kirtans are habituated to do that. I have told everyone—take Gaudiya Gitanjali with you (if you cannot buy the big book, you can take the small one). Chant kirtans every day, learn them by heart, this is how you will get the habit to chant.

I have written how to practise properly in the books, and I know that I myself cannot practise properly too, but why do I tell you about it then? Because if I keep telling you about it, then I will become clean. I have written so many things in the books, read them. I know I have not become perfect myself, but I believe that if I keep speaking about it, then one day I will perhaps become pure. I am telling you all these things not for your benefit, but for my own benefit.

Then, it is written in the kirtan,

pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"My heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

If I start thinking that I am a Vaishnav, then I will end up in hell. As I wrote in the fourth volume of Guidance, one does not become a disciple just by taking initiation. You take initiation, and after that you do not keep connection with your guru, do not practise anything, never think about the temple or anything—you think that you have taken initiation and got everything. Do you think you can pass the graduation exams just by getting admitted to a school? You can understand it yourself. Moreover, when you start going to school, do you stop at passing the fourth grade exams or do you continue to study at high school, college, university, etc.? You do not pass the exams just by getting enrolled. It is necessary to study. There is a saying in English, "Practise makes perfect." You may be able to play the mridanga well or sing kirtans well, but if you do not practise it for four-six months, you will forget how to do it. If you are a good cook but do not cook for several months, you will forget how to cook. It is necessary to practise.

* * *

Worshipful Devotion

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 4
Translated from Bengali

tomara kinkara apane janiba
'guru'-abhimana tyaji'
tomara uchchhista pada-jala-renu
sada niskapate bhaji

"I will consider myself Your servant and give up the ego of a guru. I will always earnestly worship Your remnants, Your foot dust, the water that has washed Your feet."

"I am your servant (kinkar), slave (das)." Srila Prabhupad also told, "Daso' smi. I am your servant." So, "I will consider myself your slave, and I will leave all ego of guru." When people think, "I am a guru, I am an acharya [i.e. I can teach others]," this ego is very bad. It is necessary to give up the ego that you are a guru. You must not think, "I have become a guru," or "I will become a guru." You think, "I can give a nice class," "I can sing kirtans well"—if you have such an ego, it will not take you anywhere.

"Tomara uchchhista pada-jala-renu sada niskapate bhaji" means that when Vaishnavs take prasadam, I will take the remnants of their prasadam. "Pada-jala-renu" means the water that has been used to wash Vaishnavs' feet and the feet dust of Vaishnavs. You can notice that when people pay obeisance, they always want to touch your feet, but do you know why Vaishnavs do not let others touch their feet? Because they consider themselves very low and vile. Do you know the reason why I do not let you all touch my feet? Guru must always think towards others, "I am your servant." I do not allow you to touch my feet because you use your pure hands to make garlands for the Lord, cook for the Lord, serve the Lord, why will you touch the feet of this low and fallen soul with your pure hand? This is why I always prohibit everyone to touch my feet.

At the same time, "Ye jana Krsna bhaje sei bada chatur: those who worship Krishna are very clever." At the time of Gundicha-marjan, Mahaprabhu Himself cleaned the temple of Gundicha Devi, where Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra would come. There was one Gaudiya Vaishnav who was very clever and managed to drink some water that had been used to wash Mahaprabhu's feet. You know that during Gundicha-marjan, everyone brings pots with water to the temple, and that Vaishnav took a pot and dropped some water on Mahaprabhu's feet. When the water started flowing down from Mahaprabhu's feet, the Vaishnav put his hand under the water and drank it. Mahaprabhu was pleased internally, but externally He showed that He was angry. He said, "Hey Svarup Damodar! Just look at your Gaudiya ['your Gaudiya' means he was also from Bangladesh, as Svarup Damodar]! He is throwing water at My feet in the temple and drinks that water to impress others!" Mahaprabhu told him to go away, although internally He was pleased with that Vaishnav. In this way Mahaprabhu showed that we must not allow others to touch our feet, and that is why in particular, we also never allow others to wash our feet.

Another time, Mahaprabhu went inside Jagannath temple. You know that there is a faucet at the entrance where you can wash your feet before entering the temple. Many people come to the temple bare feet, they come with dirty feet, and not to enter the temple like that, they wash their feet at the entrance. So, one time, when Mahaprabhu was washing His feet there, one devotee named Kalidas came there and tried to touch Mahaprabhu's feet. All the devotees rushed to stop him, "Do not touch! Do not touch!" but Mahaprabhu said, "Do not stop him. He ate the food remnants of Vaishnavs in Bengal and became 'jhanu vaishnav' ['a seasoned, or expert, Vaishnav']!" Kalidas was such a Vaishnav that he never sat together with Vaishnavs to take prasadam. Sometimes, everyone would be invited to some place for prasadam; and he would come and sit afar quietly in some forest or stand somewhere afar—he observed where everyone threw their plates (in those days, everybody ate from banana leaves, there were no plastic plates), and after everyone finished taking prasadam, he would go there and take the remnants from those plates. Such was his quality. He also brought once a mango to the house of Jhadu Thakur—when Jhadu Thakur ate the mango and his wife sucked the stone and threw it away in some bush, Kalidas went there and started sucking the stone, dancing for joy! Such was Kalidas's character. How beautiful this is. Such are Nityananda Prabhu's associates.

* * *

Meaning of Discipleship

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 5
Translated from Bengali

nije srestha jani' uchchhistadi dane
habe abhimana-bhara
tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada
na laiba puja ka'ra

"If I, loving myself more than anyone else, bestow my remnants, etc. on others, then I will become filled with ego. Therefore, I will always remain Your disciple, I will not take worship from anyone."

There are many gurus in this world. There are gramya-gurus, sahajiya-gurus, they are also called "kula-gurus" (ancestral gurus) What do they do? They put a lot of food on their plate and then, not being able to eat it all, they tell everyone to eat it up after them. This is how ego comes. If you think you are great and give everyone your remnants, you will be loaded with the burden of ego. "I am the greatest, and everyone is lower." This breeds ego. That is why, our sampradaya does not teach to behave like that. You must take as much as you can eat—be satisfied with whatever is placed on your plate; do not take more than that. If you take more than you can eat, it means you will leave your remnants for others—this is how your ego will grow. Do not do this. We never behave like this in our line; this is what others do. You have probably heard that Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj even ate his banana leaf plate once. He had already eaten full stomach, but after that the host still forced him to take more and put more and more on his plate thinking that Babaji Maharaj would leave something on the plate and they would get his prasadam, but Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj understood it and ate everything, along with the banana leaf plate! And he was so old at that time (over 130 years old).

You know, it is ekadasi today, and yesterday I drank some milk. I never drink milk, doctors prohibited it, but yesterday I felt very hungry and took some milk with biscuits. After I that, I could not sleep the whole day; today also I could not sleep, and I am feeling unwell now, but I still had to come downstairs for the class. I made my healthy body sick. I thought it was ekadasi today and I would be fasting, so I decided to take some milk with biscuits. As a result, I had so much acid and gas in the stomach that I could not sleep, I could not even take any medicine. I used to eat everything, but after the operation (I had a stone in my gall bladder) sixteen years ago I started to control what I eat. Now I do not eat anything—I can take just aloo-siddho and rice (and some tok dal, perhaps); that is enough for me. I do not need anything else. I do not need any vegetables, spicy subjis, etc.

So, it says here, "Tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada. I will always remain your disciple." Guru Maharaj also said that if you want to become a guru, you must first become a disciple. If you have not become a disciple, how will you then become a guru? Tell me. First you must become a disciple, then only can you become a guru. What is the meaning of being a disciple? A disciple is a person who always follows the disciplining of their Guru (who can tolerate their Guru's chastisement and can change their life according to their Guru's disciplining). You must have heard how Nityananda Prabhu kicked Sivananda Sen. These days, if you speak to somebody harshly, they will say, "I do not need a guru like you! There are many other gurus like you in this world!" And Nityananda Prabhu kicked Sivananda Sen! How did that happen? Nityananda was very hungry and He was kept waiting, and when Sivananda Sen finally came, he paid obeisance to Nityananda Prabhu and said, "Prabhu, it is all my fault! Please forgive me." How did Nityananda Prabhu forgive him? He kicked his head! That was His forgiveness. When this happened, Sivananda Sen got up and started dancing! He thought, "I have been serving the Lord, and today I have got the result of that service!" And these days if you beat anyone, they will beat you back. Such are the disciples these days. It is impossible to say anything to the disciples. If you get angry and by mistake say something, they start chastising you. They cannot tolerate it. There are only one-two people who can tolerate. My Gurudev also chastised me, also beat me. Srila Sridhar Maharaj also beat Gurudev—when Gurudev did something wrong and Srila Sridhar Maharaj beat him, Gurudev did not run away; instead, he only came closer to Srila Guru Maharaj. Srila Guru Maharaj asked him, "What is this? I am beating you, but you are not running away?" Gurudev answered, "You do not know how to beat, that is why I am coming closer so that you can beat better." Such was the relationship between them. Gurudev chastised me too, and I did not mind it—I did wrong and I got chastised justly. When I was making the four-storey building in the Nabadwip temple, I borrowed half a lakh rupees, that is why Gurudev chastised me. I was chastised rightly—I had borrowed money, that is why Gurudev was unhappy and told me to get out. Half an hour later, Gurudev again called me to his room and gave that money to pay off the debt. I never ran away—Gurudev told me to go away, but I always came again. When Gurudev asked me why, I said, "You told me to go away, but you did not say that I could not come again." Gurudev said, "Oh, I see you have learnt well!" Gurudev told me to go away, and I went away, but he did not prohibit me to come again, so I came again. Such was my relationship with Gurudev. And now, if you tell one word to the disciple, they get angry. They live as they please. Srila Prabhupad said, "Satisfying the whims of your mind is not Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is following the Guru, the Vaishnavs, serving the Guru, the Vaishnavs, and satisfying them." We think that we sing a song and this is it, we have practised Krishna consciousness. No. Krishna consciousness means following what your Gurudev says and serving your Guru and Vaishnavs; it means to please them.

"Tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada na laiba puja ka'ra. I will always remain Your disciple, I will not take worship from anyone." There are many gurus who will tell you, "Do an arati for me every day! You must offer flowers at my feet every day!" You cannot do this with me. I do not need any arati, I do not need any worship from you. I am your servant, why will you worship me? Such should be our mood.

* * *

Free Mercy, Exclusive Rights

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 6
Translated from Bengali

[His Divine Grace continues chanting 'Gurudev, bada krpa kara']

amani manada haile kirtane
adhikara dibe tumi
tomara charane niskapate ami
kandiya lutiba bhumi

"When I become free from the desire for honour and be able to give honour to others, you will give me the right to chant Your kirtan. I will earnestly roll on the ground and cry at Your holy feet."

When will you give me the right to chant kirtan? When I become free from desire for any honour and when I give honour to others. I told you yesterday—who has the right to chant kirtan?

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

"Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean."

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

"Practise tolerance like a tree. Stop ill-treating others, instead nurture them."

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

"Do not trouble others for your own upkeep, and forget your own happiness in the course of helping others."

Those who have these qualities have the right to chant kirtan. These verses are written in the Siksastaka songs as a purport to Mahaprabhu's sloka,

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

"One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.239)

Read the Siksastaka kirtans, you will like what is written there.

So, it is said here, "Tomara charane niskapate ami kandiya lutiba bhumi. I will earnestly roll on the ground and cry at Your holy feet"—"Prabhu, O Vaishnav Thakur! I will always stay at your holy feet." We do not do or say this to impress others, it is necessary to say this from your heart. "I am your footdust." What does it mean to become footdust? It means to take the dust from the holy feet of Vaishnavs on our heads. This is so beautfiul.

Doyal Vaishnav Thakur! Doyal Vaishnav Thakur!
Doyal Vaishnav Thakur! Doyal Vaishnav Thakur!

[His Divine Grace then chants "Akrodha paramananda Nityananda Raya," "Yadi Gaura na haite."]

Have you heard what Sri Vasu Ghosh is saying in this kirtan?

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

This glory of Srimati Radharani is not found anywhere in Srimad Bhagavatam. Do you know why? Vyasadev and Sukadev thought, "The glory of Sri Radha is so high that somebody like me has no capacity to speak about it with this mouth." That is why there is not even a single mention of Srimati Radharani in Srimad Bhagavatam. This is such a high topic, but our devotees go to Vrindavan, put tilaks, hang a cloth on their necks and go about saying, "Jay Radhe!"

Mahaprabhu said, "Mukhe bole ra-ra-ra, dui nayane bahe dhara"—those who behold Srimati Radharani cannot even pronounce Her Name, they keep saying "Ra-Ra-Ra." Mahaprabhu could not even pronounce Her Name! He only cried and said, "Ra-Ra-Ra..." He is Radha-Krishna's combined form, but even He could not utter Her Name. Krishna took Srimati Radharani's heart and halo, and what remained of Her was taken by Gadadhar Pandit (that is why he is called Sri Radha's incarnation).

Later, when Krishna left for Mathura, or Dvaraka, the gopis one day came to meet with Krishna at Kuruksetra (many of you have visited Kuruksetra and know where it is). During solar eclipses, people come in throngs to bathe in a pond there. So, the gopis also came there from Vrindavan on the pretext of bathing—actually, they came to see Krishna. Yet, when they saw Krishna, their mind was not satisfied. They said, "Our Krishna and this Krishna is not the same! Where is that Krishna who wore a peacock feather, played the flute, etc.?" Krishna had come there as a king, surrounded by His soldiers and seated on a royal throne. So, when the gopis met with Krishna, they started pulling Him back to Vrindavan, saying, "Come with us! We are taking You with us!" When we come for the Ratha-yatra and chant kirtan as the chariots move, what do we say? "Hari bolo, Hari bolo, Vrindavane niye cholo! Come with us to Vrindavan!" There is Nilachal and Sundarachal—Nilachal is Puri, and Sundarachal is Gundicha temple. This is how the gopis took Krishna from Kuruksetra to Vrindavan.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu came to show Sri Radha's mood of union in separation. There is always more pleasure and happiness in separation than in union. Always remember this.

madhura vrnda- vipina madhuri
pravesa chaturi sara
varaja-yuvati bhavera bhakati
sakati ha-ita kara?

Who would have the great expertise needed to enter into the sweetness of sweet Vrindavan? Who would have any qualification for the Vraja-gopis' ecstatic devotion?

These are very beautiful words.

gao punah punah gaurangera guna
sarala kariya mana
e bhava-sagare emana dayala
na dekhiye eka-jana

Sing Gauranga's glories again and again, keeping your heart simple. In the ocean of this material world, no one has ever seen anyone so merciful.

There is no one as merciful as He!

sri-krsna-chaitanya-daya karaha vichara
vichara karile chitte pabe chamatkara

"If you consider the mercy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, you will be wonder-struck to realise it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.15)

Nobody in this world has ever given as much mercy as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did. To rescue such low and fallen souls as ourselves, He came to this world performing human pastimes. He went door to door calling out to everyone,

jiva jago, jiva jago, gorachanda bale
kata nidra yao maya-pisachira kole

Sri Gorachand calls, “O souls, awake! O souls, awake! How long will you sleep on the lap of the witch Maya?

"Do not sleep, O jiva soul! Wake up!"

pisachi paile yena mati-chchhanna haya
maya-grasta jivera haya se bhava udaya

"When someone is possessed by a ghost, they become bewildered. This condition overtakes souls bound by Maya."

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.3)

When a ghost possesses someone, they talk gibberish, "My house, my room, my son, my family," but we do not understand that we only keep floundering in this ocean of material existence...

* * *

Path of Devotion

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 7
Translated from Bengali

jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati
krmayo rudra-sankhyakah paksinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani pasavah chatur-laksani manusah

"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 nonmoving living entities, such as trees and plants. There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles, and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as quadrupeds are concerned, there are 3,000,000 varieties, and there are 400,000 human species."

(Padma Purana)

Having travelled through these 8,400,000 species we have finally got this human birth, and we have gone through 400,000 human species—we took birth in many various places, yet this time,

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

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

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

What does it mean to bring benefit to others? It means bringing the souls who are averse to Lord Sri Krishna to this path. You can see so many people here—I have been going house to house, roaming and preaching in various places. Many think I come for potato, dal, money. This is not so. There is no problem with getting rice, potato, or dal—I can buy everything, but if I had not come to your house, you would not have come here today, you would not have got a chance to hear these holy talks, you would not have been able to get the mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. That is why I roam the land, going house to house. "Krsna bolo, sange chala, ei matra bhiksa chai. I am begging you only for one thing: come with us and chant 'Krishna'!" This is all that I tell everyone: practise Krishna consciousness. Nityananda Prabhu says, "Amara kiniya bhaja Gaura Hari! You can buy Me—worship Gauranga and I will be sold to you!" He says, "You cannot buy me with money; if you worship Gauranga, then you will be able to buy Me." How can we make Nityananda Prabhu happy? By worshipping Gaura Hari. "Gaura pahu na bhajiya mainu, prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu. I never bothered to worship Lord Gauranga, and, due to my negligence, I lost a valuable jewel of transcendental love."

We will chant now the ekadasi kirtan written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. [His Divine Grace chants 'Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu'.]

You have all come here today taking so much trouble. You have come from very far despite the problems with the trains, and today is also ekadasi tithi. "Madhava-tithi bhakti-janani yatane palana kari. I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava—they are the mother of devotion." Mahaprabhu started the tradition of observing ekadasi from His mother. He begged this tithi from His mother. One day, He asked His mother,

"Mother, I want to beg something from you, will you give it to Me?"

"I will," said Sachi Devi.

"No, saying it once will not do. Say it three times."

"All right, I will give, I will give, I will give."

"You must not eat rice on ekadasi."

Mahaprabhu told this to His mother—you cannot teach others if you have not taught your own mother first (charity begins at home). This is how Mahaprabhu started preaching the necessity of observing ekadasi from His own mother.

Many fast without taking any food or water on this day (observe nirjala ekadasi), but Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur relaxed the rules. Our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, wrote Srila Prabhupad's pranam mantra saying,

nikhila-bhuvana-maya-chhinnavichchhinna-kartri
vibudhabahula-mrgya-mukti-mohanta-datri
sithilita-vidhi-raga-radhya-radhesa-dhani
vilasatu hrdi nityam bhakti-siddhanta-vani

"With his first step, he vigorously cut asunder the whole plane of exploitation, and with his second, he put a stop to all the calculations of the different scholars with their different conceptions of liberation. With his third step, he eased the hard rules and regulations by a touch of the Divine Love: he gave us the worship of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda. The real existence of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad is in his divine teachings. May those teachings dance eternally within the core of your heart."

Srila Prabhupad declared a totalitarian war against maya and relaxed the strict rules and regulations. Many fast on full moon (purnima), new moon (amavasya), etc., but Srila Prabhupad said that it was not necessary to do all that—we must only fast on the ekadasi days until twelve o'clock (midday). If you cannot fast till midday for some reason (for example, many go out to work in the morning), then you can take some potato, fruit, etc. in the morning.

You know the rules; you know there are five things that are prohibited—rice, wheat, barley, pulses, mustard/sesame oil. On ekadasi day, sin stays in these kinds of food; therefore, if you eat these things on ekadasi, you will be committing a sin. This is why these five groups of food are prohibited. On ekadasi, we use peanut oil or sunflower oil to make subji. We boil or fry nuts, take sago, potato, fruit, milk, curd. You cannot take sweets from a shop on this day (because you can never be sure what is added to them); if you make sweets yourself, you can take them. These are the rules of ekadasi. On the one hand, Mahaprabhu Himself told to follow ekadasi, and, on the other hand, He Himself also one day went to the house of Hiranya and Jagadish in Chakdah and ate a full offering, including grains, etc. [showing that there is no ekadasi for the Lord; therefore, the Lord, or the Deity, is offered full bhoga on this day, but devotees take only anukalpa.]

Today is Sri Bhaimi Ekadasi. You know that there are many different ekadasis and people like to explain what each ekadasi means and what benefit fasting on a particular ekadasi brings, but it is not necessary to follow ekadasi because you hope to get something. Mahaprabhu told to observe ekadasi, Gurudev told to observe it, all our guru-varga told to observe it, and they all observed ekadasi themselves—they taught others by their example—this is why we observe ekadasi. It is no use thinking what benefit you get by fasting on this ekadasi or that ekadasi. "I will only do service, and I will not think about the result or wish to have any share of the result." You have read Srimad Bhagavad-gita, it is said there that we must be active (perform actions, i.e., service), but we must not enjoy the result. The difference between karma and seva is this: if you do whatever pleases your mind (follow the whims of your mind), that is karma; and if you do what your Guru orders you to do, that is service. Other than this, karma and seva externally look the same.

Therefore, "Madhava-tithi bhakti-janani yatane palana kari. I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava—they are the mother of devotion." Ekadasi is Madhava-tithi, the Lord's day, and we must try to observe this day. There are sixty-four types of devotional activities. These five are are the main:

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

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

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

And fasting on ekadasi is also one of those sixty-four practices. Fasting on ekadasi, doing arati, parikrama, chanting kirtans, etc. are all limbs of devotion.

* * *

Krishna Conscious Life

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 8
Translated from Bengali

Read what the sixty-four types of devotion are. The main practices are,

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

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

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

There is also nava-vidha bhakti, nine aspects of devotion: sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, archanam, pada-sevanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam (hearing, chanting, remembering, worshipping, serving lotus feet, offering prayers, engaging in service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission).

First, sukriti must come. You cannot come to this line without sukriti accumulated from the previous births. Sukriti means using His things for His service (tad vastu tadiya sevaya)—using the Lord's things for the Lord's service. If you plant a flower tree, you must pick the flowers and offer them at the lotus feet of Govinda, or make garlands from the flowers and offer it onto Govinda's neck. This is how the flower tree can get some benefit. This is how it works—His things for His service. Everything that is created in this world exists for the Lord's enjoyment, but we become proud and try to use things in our own service.

We are alive in this world at the expense of killing so many jiva souls. Each day we live, we live by killing other jiva souls—we eat rice, dal, vegetables, etc. Even in water, there are living entities. The only way out of this kind of life is to turn your whole life into Krishna conscious life. You must make your life Krishna conscious life. "Krsnera samsara kara chhadi' anachara. Abandon sinful behaviour and dedicate your family life to Krishna." It means that you will cook, you will work in the field, you will run business, you will go to work, you will do everything, but you will do it for the Lord.

If you eat something without offering it to the Lord, it is stealing and you will be committing a sin. Do you understand it? That is why, it is said, "Prasada-seva karite haya, sakala prapancha-jaya—"by honouring the Lord's prasad I conquer all worldly illusions." (Saranagati, 31.5) You must honour (serve) prasadam, then all diseases will go away. There are five material diseases—avidya (ignorance), asmita (false identification), raga (misdirected love), dvesa (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and abhinivesa (being unable to give up unfavourable habits); if you honour prasadam properly, all these diseases will go away. Do not eat paneer rasa [tasty food]. Take prasadam. Do you understand what it means? Eating paneer rasa is not taking prasadam [if you eat something and think it is paneer rasa, this is not prasad-seva; prasad-seva means realising that whatever you have been given is the mercy of the Lord in the form of remnants of the Lord's food; this is what you must honour, or take].

Anyhow, you have heard all these things from me for many years. Today, I will speak about the glories of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu...

* * *

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (1)

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 9
Translated from Bengali

A low and fallen soul such as myself is not capable of glorifying Sri Nityananda Prabhu; however, if Gurudev and Nityananda Prabhu give their mercy and say something through my mouth, then only can it be possible.

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

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

(Bhavartha Dipika)

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

I have told something something about the glory of Nityananda Prabhu at the beginning of the class, I told you how He bestowed His mercy on Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Sivananda Sen.

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das!"

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is one of the famous six goswamis. He spent his last years at Radha Kunda, his bhajan kutir and samadhi are there. Many of you have been there and have got a chance to take the darshan of that place. Radha Kunda is situated at Govardhan. He lives on the bank of Radha Kunda. Long before that, he lived here in Bengal.

There were two brothers, Hiranya and Govardhan. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami was Govardhan's son, and he was the only son in the family. When Mahaprabhu took sannyas and stayed at the house of Sri Advaita Acharya for ten-twelve days, He bestowed His mercy on Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu, who was just five years old at that time. Since that time, Sri Das Goswami Prabhu became indifferent towards this material world, he had no attachment to the material world. Leaving everything, he went to Mahaprabhu, but Mahaprabhu sent him back again and again, and his parents also would come to bring him back. In the end, his parents kept eleven bodyguards to make sure that he would not run away. Somebody always stayed with Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Mahaprabhu Himself also told him, "Do not become crazy, go back to your home! Do not show monkey renunciation to impress others. Live comfortably, but without attachment."

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

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

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

Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, "Practise Krishna consciousness and be detached." That is why, genuine sadhus have no attachment. You see all these great temples, buildings, guesthouses—so many things have been made—but I have no attachment. I have made it, and I will go. I do not even go to the buildings. We have built another floor above the nat mandir—once the construction finished, I checked it and after that I never go there. I am not attached to these things, I do not even think about all this. I told devotees to clean it and maintain it. It is good to clean. You must keep yourself in cleanness. Mahaprabhu Himself cleaned Gundicha Temple and took out all the dust. He swept and wiped the temple with His own hand. Why did Mahaprabhu bestow His mercy on the King Prataparudra in Puri Dham? King Prataparudra did the smallest service—he swept the street knowing that Vaishnavs and Mahaprabhu would go down that street....

* * *

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (2)

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 10
Translated from Bengali

You know, Srila Narottam Das Thakur was a B.A. according to the standards of his time. He was determined to take initiation from Srila Lokanath Das Goswami, but Srila Lokanath Das Goswami said he would not give initiation to anyone. Still, Srila Narottam Das Thakur promised to himself, "I will not give up until I have got initiation from him. He will be my guru!" How did he get initiation?

Srila Lokanath Das Goswami was sitting in some place chanting the Holy Name, and he would go to some place in a forest (garden) every day to pass stool. Srila Narottam Das Thakur would go there and clean the place with a spade—he would come and put some fresh soil on top. He kept that part of the forest clean in this way. Eventually, Srila Lokanath Das Goswami noticed, "I have been passing stool here for many days, where does it all go? Who buries my stool?" Later, when he got to know that Srila Narottam Das Thakur had been doing it, he was touched and felt he was bound to give him initiation.

His name was "Narottam"—you must not just keep a name, you must become what that name embodies. Narottam means the highest (uttama) among men (nara).

This is how Srila Narottam Das Thakur received initiation from Srila Lokanath Das Goswami. Many do not know about it, that is why I am telling about it. His guru accepted a very small service from him—he cleaned his guru's stool. It is the lowest service, but everybody knows him now—his name is known to everyone. Moreover, if Srila Narottam Das Thakur had not preached, who would have known about Srila Lokanath Das Goswami? Because Srila Narottam Das Thakur took initiation from him, everyone now know about Srila Lokanath Das Goswami. We must understand these things.

So, I began speaking about how Sriman Nityananda Prabhu bestowed His mercy on Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami was married to a beautiful as an angel wife, but he was indifferent to her.

Mahaprabhu told him, "Go back to your home, do not become crazy. Do not show monkey renunciation to impress others. Live comfortably, but without attachment."

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

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

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

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami asked, "Prabhu, then how will I ever come to You?" Mahaprabhu replied, "If Krishna wants to give His mercy to you, then who can stop you?"

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

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

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

Nobody can stop you. Even if you have a beautiful as an angel wife, He can still keep you as a brahmachari!

One day, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami came to his father and asked, "Father, I hear Sri Nityananda Prabhu has come to Panihati, I want to go there." His father gave him permission, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami took a horse and rode away to Panihati. In the meantime, Sri Nityananda Prabhu was resting under a tree. Seeing the Lord from afar, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami got off his horse and walked to the Lord. When he came closer, Nityananda Prabhu said, "Come, thief. Come to Me!"

Why did Nityananda Prabhu call him a thief? Because he was trying to foolishly bypass the right channel (goda dingiye ghas kayoya; lit. jump over the goda [raised platform for cows to stand while eating grass] to eat grass). Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, "You went to get the mercy of Mahaprabhu bypassing Me! That is why you could not come to Him." It is impossible to get mercy without Nityananda Prabhu. That is why, Nityananda prabhu called Raghunath Das Goswami a thief—he had crossed Nityananda Prabhu. This is the same as worshipping Gauranga bypassing the Guru. "Guru bade Gauranga bhaje, sei papi raurave pade majhe (the sinner who worships Gauranga without the Guru will fall into a terrible hell)." Many worship Gauranga bypassing the Guru, but Nityananda Prabhu said that this was thievery. He, "Come here, thief! I will punish you today!" What punishment was it? He said, "Feed all the Vaishnavs who are here with flat rice and yoghurt!" It happened in May-June, which is a season of mangoes and jackfruits, so different fruit was also supplied for the festival. This festival arranged by Srila Raghunath Das Goswami became famous as a flat-rice festival, and in our language it is a 'danda-mahotsav'—Sri Nityananda Prabhu gave 'punishment' (danda) to Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu gave him this service to arrange a 'punishment' festival.

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu arranged the festival, and so many people came that day to take prasadam that some had to actually stand in the Ganges and take prasadam standing up to their neck in the water. There were so many people that day, and to this day this festival is attended by a large crowd of people, some people still take prasadam standing in the water. We go there every year, only last year we could not—I went there on that day, there was nobody there, only the police were guarding the place. I came there by car with one-two devotees because I had been coming there every year, but last year I could not come, so I only went there to offer my obeisance.

When the festival finished, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami paid a full obeisance to Sri Nityananda Prabhu asking the Lord for His mercy, and Sri Nityananda Prabhu put His feet on his head and said, "Now you can go! You have got your mercy." A few months later, it came to Durga Puja time, and there was a big festival at his house. I have just told you—if Krishna gives His mercy to somebody, nobody can bind them. So, when it came to Durga Puja time, the Lord created an illusion and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami got a chance to leave together with a family's friend.

Running away from home, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu went to Puri and met with Mahaprabhu. You will be astonished to hear how he lived and practised spiritual life when in Puri. A landowner's son sleeping on a nice bed, but he walked for twelve days on foot to Puri. During these twelve days, he ate rice only three times. Where did he sleep? He slept in cowsheds. Leaving everything as stool and urine, he came to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu welcomed him and said, "From today, you will serve Svarup Damodar, and your name will be Svarup's Raghu."

Some time later, Mahaprabhu disappeared, Svarup Damodar disappeared, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami promised himself, "I will jump from Govardhan and commit suicide!" He went to Vrindavan to do it, but when he met Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami explained to him, "I also thought of committing suicide once, but Prabhu told me, 'Are you not ashamed of yourself? How can you destroy My body—your body is Mine!

diksa-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts them as His very own."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.192)

"'When you took initiation, you surrendered to Me, you gave everything—your heart, your mind, etc.—to your Guru! So, this body is not yours, it is My body! I will use it, and it My matter how I will use it.'"

Have we got there yet? Do we have such surrender? We think, "This is my body," but this body is Gurudev's. Gurudev gave me initiation, so this body is now his—I will do whatever Gurudev wants me to do. But we are not like that. We have not got there yet; we do what our minds wants. Always remember this.

So, Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami explained this to Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami changed his mind. After that, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami stayed in Vrindavan and composed many books, etc. He was a recipient of Nityananda Prabhu's mercy...

* * *

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (3)

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 11
Translated from Bengali

Apart from Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, there were other great personalities who received Sri Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. Two of them are Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami and Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur.

You know that Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur was the son of Narayani, Srivas Pandit Prabhu's niece. He was born in Mamgachhi, Nabadwip (Modadrumdwip, or currently Bardhaman District). Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur stayed with Sri Nityananda Prabhu as His servitor since he was thirteen years old. He knew what Nityananda Prabhu liked to eat, etc. Once, Sri Nityananda Prabhu was taking all the devotees to Puri. They had taken prasadam in Nabadwip and started walking in the morning. In East Bardhaman, there is a village called Denur. Now, Sri Nityananda Prabhu had a habit to eat hartaki. (I heard from Gurudev that a mother can be nasty to her son, but hartaki can never be bad to your stomach—it always works; if you take green hartaki, it always helps digestion.) So, when some devotees in Nabadwip had given hartaki to Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur, he thought, "Prabhu will take prasadam on the way, and He will ask for hartaki again. Let me keep a few with me." When they set off from Nabadwip and reached Denur by midday, Sri Nityananda Prabhu sat in a mango grove and met with Sri Ramahari Chakravarti, a local brahman. Sri Ramahari Chakravarti had always thought, "When will Prabhu come? When will I get Nityananda Prabhu's mercy?" One day, he saw a dream in which he was told that he would get Nityananda Prabhu's mercy very soon. The next day, he saw that there were many sadhus in the mango grove near his house. He went to the grove and saw that his Prabhu Himself was there! Ramahari Chakravarti fell in a full obeisance to Lord Nityananda Prabhu saying, "Prabhu, please come with me to my house. Please take prasadam at my house." Nityananda Prabhu replied, "Do you have place for so many people?! Do Me a favour. Bring some rice, dal, etc.—we can cook here and take prasadam here." Ramahari Chakravarti arranged everything, and Lord Nityananda Prabhu took prasadam. After that, He told Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur, "Vrindavan, where is My thing? Give Me." He did not say in front of everyone what He wanted, but Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur understood and took a hartaki out of his pocket. Then, Akrodha-Paramananda Nityananda Ray (who has no anger and is always full of extraordinary joy) showed anger. To teach others, He said, "You are a brahmachari, but you are not keeping your brahmacharya properly! Your hoarding mentality has not gone away yet! You still think what you will eat tomorrow! You must not go with Me to Puri! Stay here, get married, and do what you like." This is how Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur stayed in Denur. Do you know what he did in Denur? He wrote Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata! He named his book Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, but in fact he mostly wrote about the glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu in this book. When devotees read it, they laughed, "You should have called it Sri Nityananda-bhagavata!"

[His Divine Grace notices somebody is sleeping.] Hey, give him a pillow! Do you have a pillow in your room? Bring it, give it to him. You are falling asleep. Why do you suddenly feel so sleepy? Because Maya Devi is getting to you. There are three sisters—Ghum-parani (fast asleep and snoring), Jhim-parani (fast asleep and drooping) and Dol-dolani (fast asleep and rocking or jerking). You must have heard these three names. When you listen to Hari-katha, you feel drowsy, but when you watch TV series, you do not feel sleepy. In every house I go to I see that people sit in front of their TV sets and watch series. They have no time to listen to Hari-katha. They have no time to chant kirtans for half an hour in the evening (if you did, they would have already learned all kirtans by heart, but no, they have no time) They can easily tell what time which series are on, but they cannot remember kirtans, they have no time for kirtans. That is why sleep comes.

So, as I was saying Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur stayed in Denur and composed Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata there. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami himself called him "Vyasadev of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes" ("Chaitanya-lilara vyasa—Vrndavana-dasa", Cc., 1.8). If you go to Denur now, you can still see his handwritten manuscript there.

This is how Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur received Sri Nityananda Prabhu's mercy and was able to write Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata in a very beautiful way.

* * *

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (4)

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 12
Translated from Bengali

...Another person who received Sri Nityananda Prabhu's mercy was Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami said that there were only three persons in this world who know Mahaprabhu, but Gurudev said that there was one more, the fourth, person. Who is it? Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami himself.

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami stayed here, in Bengal, in a placed called Jhamatpur Baharan. This is the place of his previous ashram, or family (purva-ashram). Later, he went to Vrindavan and wrote Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. He wrote,

ei grantha lekhaya more 'madana-mohana'
amara likhana yena sukera pathana

"Actually Sri Madana Mohan is writing this scripture through me. My writing is like the repetition of a parrot."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.8.78)

And in every single chapter Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami wrote,

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
chaitanya-charitamrta kahe krsna-dasa

"Always desiring the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Raghunath, Krishna Das is narrating this Chaitanya-charitamrita."

This Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami received the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

At his house in Jhamatpur Baharan, there used to be held asta-prahar kirtans, and everyone mostly worshipped only Gauranga Mahaprabhu. One time, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami's brother brought one pujari brahman named Gunarnava Misra to the house. He was offering worship to Mahaprabhu, but when Nityananda Prabhu's great servitor, Sri Ramadas Minaketan, came there, Gunarnava Misra did not even give him a place to sit, he showed no affection to him. Ramadas Minaketan later spoke to Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami, saying, "My hair is standing on end, he is making such a big offence. He respects Gaura but has no respect for Nitai, this is a half-hen logic!" Do you understand what half-hen logic is? At first, I did not understand it and I asked Gurudev what it meant. You all know what a hen looks like. A hen eats with its upper portions, and eggs come out from its bottom portion. So, if you think, "I will keep the portion where eggs come from, and I will throw away the rest!" Does it work like that? This is what half-hen logic is. You think, "I will worship Gaura, I will not worship Nitai!" It can never work like this. There is no Gaura without Nitai, and there is no Nitai without Gaura. We must worship both Gaura and Nitai. If you worship Gaura, you must worship Nitai; if you worship Nitai, you must worship Gaura. After this conversation with Sri Ramadas Minaketan, Nityananda Prabhu appeared to Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami in a dream that night and said, "Listen, listen, Krishna Das! Stay no longer in Jhamatpur, come to Vrindavan!" The next morning, he woke up and went away leaving everything.

He was very old when he came to Vrindavan, his hands trembled and he could not write. How was he to write about Mahaprabhu's pastimes? Then, Madan Mohan's garland fell from His neck and landed on Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami's neck when he was paying his obeisance. That is why he said,

ei grantha lekhaya more 'madana-mohana'
amara likhana yena sukera pathana

"Actually Sri Madana Mohan is writing this scripture through me. My writing is like the repetition of a parrot."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.8.78)

The Deity told him, "You will only hold the pen!" In those days, there were no pens, there were quills. I also wrote with a quill when I was small, I remember it used to always break. I was given pencils, they too used to break. I even broke three tables, and sometimes studied right on the ground. This is how much I studied...

This is how Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami received Sri Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. And we have time to tell about one more pastime. What pastime is that? The pastime about Sri Madhai. You all know about Madhai. When we go for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, we go to Madhai Ghat and talk about it, and it is written about this pastime in our book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-Mukta-Mala.

Nityananda Prabhu bestowed His mercy and gave a very beautiful service to Madhai. He said, "Many people come to take bath in the Ganges and pass stool nearby. Make a ghat here and clean all that stool." This ghat became known as Madhai Ghat. Madhai and Jagai kept that ghat clean. They were brahmans, but they behaved like low persons; in the end, they became great Vaishnavs and cleaned all devotees' stool.

Mahaprabhu rejected Madhai. He said, "I will not give him My mercy! I will give mercy to Jagai because he saved My dearmost friend and brother Nitai." Hearing this, Nitai begged Mahaprabhu, "Prabhu, I have never asked You for anything in My life, but today I want to ask You for something. Give me Madhai as alms. You are here in this world to rescue all fallen souls, but is there anyone in this world more fallen than him?" Then Mahaprabhu and Nitai bestowed Their mercy on Madhai.

[His Divine Grace joyfully sings the kirtan below, followed by 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna' and 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna',]

'dayal nitai chaitanya' ba'le nach re amar mana
nach re amar mana, nach re amar mana [1]

O my mind, dance! O my mind, dance! O my mind, dance, chanting, "Dayal Nitai Chaitanya!"

(eman dayal ta' nai he mar kheye prema dey)

Oh! No one is so merciful! Nitai endures being beaten yet gives His aggressors divine love.

(ore) aparadha dure yabe, pabe prema-dhan
(aparadhera vichara to nai he)
(takhan) krsna-name ruchi habe, ghuchibe bandhana [2]
(anurag to habe he)

Then my offences will go away and I will attain the wealth of divine love. (In the Names of Nitai and Chaitanya, there is no consideration of offences.) Then I will develop taste for Krishna's Name and my bondage will be destroyed. (Then I will have loving attachment.)

(takhan) anayase saphal habe jivera jivana
(naile jivan to michhe he)
(krsna-rati vina jiver jivan to michhe he)
(sese) vrndavane radha-syamer pabe darasana [3]
(gaura-krpa hale he)

Then easily the life of the soul will be successful. (Without attachment to Krishna, a soul's life is simply false.) Then, at the end of life, a soul will see Sri Sri Radha-Syam in Vrrindavan (if Sri Gaura bestows His mercy).

* * *

Clean Mood

Sri Ekachakra Dham, 23 February 2021, part 13
Translated from Bengali

You know that it is Bhaimi Ekadasi today, and tomorrow is Lord Varahadev's appearance. I have told before, you must take sweet rice tomorrow.

Lord Varahadev removes all opposing elements from our lives. You must do archan in the morning, after that offer special sweet-rice bhoga to Varahadev; then everyone can make paran (break the fast) with the prasadam. This must be completed before 9:57 a.m. Paran is between 6:09 and 9:57 a.m. tomorrow, but cooking must be finished before 8 a.m.—after that do the archan and offer the bhog. Where is the pujari?

[Devotee calls out: Bhaja Da!]

Do not call him 'Bhaja Da', you must say 'Prabhu'.

[Devotee: Dada Prabhu!]

No 'dada' [elder brother], no 'ma' [mummy]. [Devotees laugh.]

[Devotee: Bhajahari Prabhu!]

You must talk respectfully to others. Do not behave like aul, baul, karttabhaja, neda, daravesa, sani, sakhibheki, jata-goswami. "Sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite abhimana hau dura: if we practise Krishna consciousness with proper decorum (understanding the relationship), then our ego will be removed." You must call [male] devotees 'Prabhu'. Even a father must call his son 'Prabhu'. Have you seen Sripad Niriha Maharaj's father? His son is a sannyasi, but he pays full obeisance to his son and addresses him respectfully. You must learn from him. Do not see his faults, you must look at his good qualities. They complain that he did not give prasadam to some outside people, but it is ekadasi today—if outside people come and take prasadam, then our devotees arriving from a long train journey will have to stay hungry. He did right. Do not look at others' faults; always see good qualities in others. [A devotee tries to explain something.] I know everything, I have heard it. Everything comes to my ears. You think I am staying upstairs and do not see anything. I see everything, I hear everything—who does what, who does not do what, etc.

The day after tomorrow is Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day. You must fast on this day in the morning. Nityananda Prabhu is Baladev's incarnation, if you fast on this day, it will bring you spiritual benefit—fast in the morning and take prasadam at midday.

Another thing I want to tell you is that this year we are starting Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama from dasami. Everyone must come. This year, the parikrama will be during five days. I have cancelled the trip to Ganga Sagar this year because foreign devotees cannot come and I need to finish the construction of the rooms in Nabadwip—devotees will come and they need accommodation. I made the third floor here, and so many people can stay here now; otherwise, where would you all stay? It would have been necessary to make pandals, etc. It is so much austerity for you. We need to take care of the accommodation in Nrisingha Palli as well. We left the main Nabadwip temple, so we must make rooms in Nrisingha Palli. The floors are already marbled, and the bathrooms are also complete...

So, everyone must take paran timely, after the worship of Lord Varahadev, tomorrow. You know that Varahadev is one of the ten incarnations of the Lord. I will tell about His pastimes tomorrow. The Lord assumed the form of a boar. The Lord assumed the form of Nrisinghadev (half-man, half-lion) to slay Hiranyakasipu, and Lord Varahadev killed Hiranyakasipu's elder brother, Hiranyaksa. I have heard there are many people who want to take initiation. They can come after the paran. You can give prasadam at 8:30 a.m. Offer the bhog at 8 a.m., and give prasadam at 8:30 a.m. You have been all fasting today, it is ekadasi, so everybody will be hungry. This is why Srila Prabhupad made the rule that we must fast on ekadasi only one day—Bengali people love rice so much that they cannot live without it. So, to decrease the austerity, Srila Prabhupad made it only one day. It is good for health to fast on ekadasi. Every day we eat all kinds of food, it is good to take a break every now and then for a day and take potato, fruit, etc. without rice, chilli, etc.

I will not take much of your time today. I am finishing.

Devotee: Can those who are taking initiation tomorrow take prasadam?

Yes, they can, it is not a problem. Initiations will start from 9 a.m. If they come hungry, I will tell them about the Holy Name, but they will only think about food. Instead of the Holy Name, they will only think, "When will I eat?" [Devotees laugh.] Better if they eat and then come to me. I am telling it straight, it is the truth. Those who are surrendered souls have no offence. If someone is genuinely surrendered, there is no offence for them.

ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane
aharnisa chinta krsna, balaha vadane

Whether you are sleeping, eating, or resting, always chant the Name of Krishna.

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Madhya-khanda, 28.28)

Always chant the Holy Name—when you are eating, when you are sleeping. Always keep your heart and mood clean.

However, those who are taking the second initiation must fast because they must sit at the fire sacrifice. I will not be able to make a yajna tomorrow, so ladies can take the second initiation tomorrow, and male devotees can come to Nabadwip to receive their brahman threads.

ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane
aharnisa chinta krsna, balaha vadane

Whether you are sleeping, eating, or resting, always chant the Name of Krishna.

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Madhya-khanda, 28.28)

There are no rules and regulations (viddhi).

prabhu kahe—kahilan ei maha-mantra
iha japa' giya sabe kariya nirbandha

"Always chant the Holy Name—there is no obstruction, no binding, you can chant this Holy Name at any time."

iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe sabara
sarva-ksana bala ithe vidhi nahi ara

"By doing this, you will attain success in all respects. There is no other rule but to chant it at every moment."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, 23.77-78)

These are Mahaprabhu's words. There are no rules and regulations regarding the chanting of the Holy Name. There no question of "you cannot take the Holy Name if you have eaten." However, Srila Haridas Thakur followed many rules and regulations. He chanted 300,000 Names daily. One day, when Mahaprabhu's prasadam came, he said, "Today I have to break the rule." He ate without having completed 300,000 Names that day. When Srila Haridas Thakur rescued Laksmihira, he told her, "I have vowed to chant ten million Holy Names this month." He chanted the Holy Name the whole day, and chanted loudly.

If you chant silently, in your mind, many thoughts will come to your mind—you will be moving the beads and thinking about other things (the same happens when people go out for a walk with their beads in hand). Gurudev called this 'finger exercise'. People walk and talk to each other and do their mala—can you be saying Hare Krishna and other things at the same time? This is how you get 'Pare Besto Pare Besto' instead of 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna'... Do not chant to impress others—always do it privately. "Apana bhajana-katha na kahibe yatha tatha: Do not tell anyone and everyone about your own bhajan, service and practice." We must not tell anyone about our spiritual practice. It is not necessary to tell anything to impress others. I have seen people also hanging their chanting beads around their necks... It is said in the scriptures, "There is only one Krishna-bhakta among a thousand of Vaishnavs." Some say they are Krishna-bhaktas. We are not Krishna-bhaktas. We are devotees of Gauranga. First, you must become a devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, then a devotee of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, then only can you become a devotee of Lord Krishna. There are missions that say that you must first become a devotee of Krishna. This is not how spiritual life is practised.

The other day, one temple installed Pancha-tattva Deities. You can see here also that there are asta-sakhis installed together with Nitai and Gauranga. I have never been there, but I have heard about it. There is vatsalya-, sakhya-rasa between Nitai and Gauranga, how does madhura-rasa come here? And in Vrindavan, the place of madhura-rasa, they have Baladev's Temple. When somebody asked Srila Sridhar Maharaj about it, he answered that it depends on one's qualification—somebody is a shanta-rasa bhakta, somebody is a dasya-rasa bhakta, somebody is a sakhya-rasa bhakta, somebody is a vatsalya-rasa bhakta, and somebody is a madhura-rasa bhakta. Madhura-rasa is extremely high. Our Param Guru Maharaj installed Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda-sundar, and Srila Prabhupad installed Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Giridhari. There are three Deities that have 'hijacked' Gaudiya Vaishnavs—Govinda, Gopinath, and Madan-Mohan. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu served Govinda, Srila Sanatan Goswami served Madan-Mohan, and Sri Madhu Pandit served Gopinath.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Sarvabhauma Sri Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay
Sri Ekachakra Dham ki jay
Sri Hadai Pandit, Sri Padmavati Mayi ki jay
Jay Sri Ganga, Yamuna ki jay

Do you know that there is Yamuna Devi here? There is also Jahnu Kunda, or Hantugada. There is also Kadamkhandi. Sivji Maharaj is also here, his name is Chakleshwar here. There is also Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra here, we will go to pay obeisance to Them the day after tomorrow during the parikrama. Everybody must come, we will hear about the glories of each place.

There will be a class tomorrow in the morning. Tomorrow is Lord Varahadev's appearance, and everybody must wake up early in the morning and come to the class. You are used to sleeping till late, I have told you before,

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa ha-ila manda
nija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
bhajanera pratibandha

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

Our habits are bad, we cannot wake up early in the morning. People watch TV the whole night and wake up late. This is how we end up,

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
kemane bhajiba bala'
kandiya kandiya, tomara charane
padiyachhi suvihvala

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

Now you think, "How can I practise?" We did not develop good habits from childhood. You must get into good habits.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Sri Hadai Pandit, Sri Padmavati Mayi ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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