English
Topic - Ramananda Ray Disappearance day
Date - 28th may 2024
HH Lokanath Swami - I am in Nagpur right now. You all know. I have to depart sometime. Today I was not supposed to give Japa Talk. We saw cows. When we see cows, naturally affection overflows. Although I was not supposed to speak, I have a heart to speak today. I will just short japa talk. I don't know what to say. All glories to Ramananda Rai disappearance day.
He was a grihastha. But he was not less, in devotion, knowledge and renunciation, than sannyasis. Even Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya advised to Caitanya Mahaprabhu was about to leave for south India tour and Sarvabhauma Bhattachary said,”In your way, in Andhra Pradesh, Rama make sure you meet him.” he was the most important personality that is why sarvabhauma bhattacharya suggested. Sarvbhauma Bhattacharya was a renowned spiritual teacher.
One day Mahaprabhu left Jagannath Puri. And one day, without any endeavor, he met Ramanand Rai. Rai Ramananda saw Mahaprabhu at a distance. When he saw Mahaprabhu’s personality, His bodily effulgence at a distance, he started to run. He was naturally drawn towards Mahaprabhu just like a magnet is automatically attracted to iron pieces. Magnet does not put any effort but it is naturally attracted to iron. It has no option. Similarly, Ramananda Rai was attracted to mahaprabhu. All glories to Sri Caitanya mahaprabhu. Meeting has not happened yet. From a distance only, they saw and embraced each other. They don't shake hands. Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Ramanand Rai. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is playing the role of devotee. They both are embracing each other with tears overflowing from their eyes. Their eyes were flooded with tears like torrents of rain. They are doing abhishek of each other with tears of love. Many things take place afterwards. It was a meeting of great personalities. We all have a right to have such a type of meeting with the Lord. you all have this right. But if embraces of this world is going on simultaneously with the desire to embrace the Lord - then it is not possible. Only one embrace is possible - either wordly people or worldly folks, man embracing woman or woman embracing man - then forget it. You are a soul and the Lord can embrace you. The bliss of embracing the Lord if we hear that, then we are in extreme bliss and all eight expressions of Love are visible in them. If we hear this only then our embrace to this world will be loosened. Then embracing this world will come to an end. Only if you want the Lord to embrace you.
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu met Ramanand Rai. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come to meet all of us actually. He has come in so many forms.
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Shikshashtakam vese 6
nayanam galad-aśru-dhārayā
vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā
tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati
Translation:
My eyes are flowing with tears, My voice falters, choked with emotion, My body thrills with ecstatic shivers— When will that day be mine, When I chant Your holy name?
The result of that meeting of Ramanand Rai with Mahaprabhu, symptoms of devotion were easily visible there.
In Shikshashtakam, mahaprabhu says when that day will come when I will have the attraction to chant Holy names. Holy names are non different from Krsna. So when I will embrace the Holy names or Lord. This is the link. This is Bhakti yoga. Yoga means link. “Yuj” means link. Bulls are connected to each other with wood while plowing fields. That wood in “yuj”. When Holy names will embrace us. When we will meet Holy names so that one day all these symptoms are visible in us also just like mentioned in verse 6 of Shikshashtakam.
Similarly, if we do bhakti like this.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) 1.2.7
vāsudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ
janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ
jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam
Translation:
"By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world."
The Bhagavatam states that when we perform devotional service to the Lord, the result is the acquisition of both knowledge and detachment. These two outcomes should naturally manifest as a consequence of sincere devotion.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramanand Rai had a conversation later after meeting. Conversation was going on for 1 week. One request of Ramanand Rai , Mahaprabhu stayed there for 1 week. Mahaprabhu has come as a devotee or sadhu.
“Caitanya-caritāmṛta," Madhya-līlā 22.54
sādhu-saṅga’, sādhu-saṅga’—sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
Translation:
"The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that even a moment’s association with a pure devotee brings all success in life"
SUpreme Lord has become teacher, devotee and giving his association to Ramanand Rai. In the end, he said, take early retirement. Rai Ramanand said,”My dear Lord, I am not satisfied with a few days' association. It would have been better if I could get your association for many more days.” Mahaprabhu said,”That's fine. When I return from the South India tour then you come to Jagannath Puri. Stay with me forever in Puri.” Why only 2-3 days or a few months. Stay with me forever or whole life. That's what happened later. When Mahaprabhu returned from the South India tour , again he came to the banks of Godavari. There is a place called Kohur where Rai Ramanand used to stay. Rai Ramanand is Vishakha devi also.
Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote song “Radha Krsna Prana mora verse 5”
lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda
Translation:
With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna.
Vishakha has appeared in the form of Rai Ramanand. She was playing the role of regular governor. She was a governor of Madras(Tamil Nadu). She took early retirement. Mahaprabhu when returned from a south India tour, He said to Rai Ramanand, “let’s go to Jagannath Puri.” Rai Ramanand said, “You go. I will come after you.” Sometimes people say that but never come. Even though they say that they’re just coming now. But in this case, Rai Ramanand came. He was with Mahaprabhu for the rest of his life. Today, he departed. Today is his disappearance day. He entered into the eternal pastimes of Mahaprabhu.
So like this, including myself, we should follow in the footsteps of Ramanand Rai. Especially, taking early retirement. We should think about it. Retirement for forever. Everyday you can take some retirement, like for a few hours and not just minutes. Increase your hours of devotional service. Come fast and rush to Gauranga and be with Radha Gopinath. Chant Hare Krsna in the association of devotees. Hear, remember, preach, deity worship in the association of devotees. Like that you can increase the number of hours like 2 hours then 4 hours. But the Lord is not pleased with this much. Krishna is not pleased with just what you give. He is pleased with what you’re giving from your purse, but He is looking at what you’re holding back in your purse. He wants, “Hey, whatever is there, give.” So, Lord will be satisfied completely, when there is “Atmanivedanam” - complete surrender.
Song “Manas deho geho” written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur:
manasa, deho, geho, jo kichu mor
arpilu tuwa pade, nanda-kisor!
Translation:
Mind, body, and family, whatever may be mine, I have surrendered at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!
Bhaktivinoda Thakur said this and he lived this also. The live example of this is Ramanand Rai. He was a grihastha (householder), king, governor. He had a big post and position. We can also see the effect of association of devotees. It develops renunciation in heart and attachment to the Lord increases. This should happen. And we have to devote more and more time to the Lord, more and more time to the Lord, over which the Lord has a right. This is our religion and duty. Another name of religion is duty. Now HG Anant Shesh Prabhu will speak.
HG Padmamali Pr - Today we heard about the divine personality Ramanand Rai, His divine character and mood from our dear Guru Maharaj. We can hear in detail about Ramanand Rai from HG Anant Shesh Prabhu tomorrow. Today, time is over. We will stop our session today. This is a very nectarine topic. Few years back, Guru Maharaj gave a session on this topic - “Ramanand Rai “ in Pune.This is a very important topic also. Tomorrow, we will hear from HG Anant Shesh Prabhu. We should invite others to join Japa Session also.
Harinaam Prabhu ki Jai!
Hare Krsna Mahamantra ki Jai!
Ramanand Rai ki Jai!
Sri Ramanand Rai disappearance day ki Jai!
Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu ki Jai!
Srila Gurudev ki Jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
Anant koti Vaishnava vrind ki Jai!
