English
Date: 01May 2024
Speaker: HG Ananta Sesa Prabhu Ji
Topic: Param Vijayte Sri Krishna Sankirtanam
HG Ananta Sesa Prabhu Ji:
From last few days, we we’re discussing the teachings of lord Caitanya. In the Sikshastakam Prayers; whereverse 1-8 wasexplained as the steps from faith to love. The 1st verse has both do’s and don'ts. It also has ‘Param Vijayate’.
CC,Antya Lila, 20.12:
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁvidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁprati-padaṁpūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁparaṁvijayateśrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
Translation:
‘Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.’
The steps of
cetodarpanmarjanam and
bhavmahadavagninirpanam are of
Anartha Nivriti.
From śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ to
sarvātma-snapanaṁis
Artha Pravriti. Both provided by
Hari Naam Samkirtana.
We will continue on the commentaries of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakurand Bhakti Vinod Thakur.
Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur explains the word ‘Sri Krishna Samkirtanam’ that how one forgets Krishna and is disoriented from Krishna. One forgets his own real identity. Then he becomes miserable. And when he takes shelter of a spiritual master and hear the pastimes of Krishna from them, He can call out Krishna intensely.
Haridas Thakur explains in the book Harinaam Chintamani.
Harinam Chintamani, Chapter 1, Verse 34:
cid-vaibhavapürëa-tattva mäyächäyätära |
cid-aëu-svarüpajévavaibhavaprakära ||
Translation:
Chidvaibhav is the complete element and Maya is only its shadow. The independent soul is a microscopic molecule of your spiritual power.
Harinam Chintamani, Chapter 1, Verse 35:
cid-dharma-vaçataùjévasvatantragaöhana |
saìkhyäyaanantasukhatäraprayojana ||
Translation:
Being spiritual, living beings are independent, they are infinite in number and eternal happiness is their only purpose.
The one who Chooses Krishna and take shelter of Krishna, always thinking about the pleasure of Krishna, Will become associate of Krishna.
Harinam Chintamani, Chapter 1, Verse 36:
sei sukhahetuyäräkåñëerebarila |
kåñëa-päriñadamukta-rüpeterahila ||
Translation:
Those who have accepted the shelter of Krishna for that eternal happiness or eternal bliss, they are free and living eternally with Krishna as his advisors.
The one who thinks about his own pleasure; will be caught in the trap of Maya.
Harinam Chintamani, Chapter 1, Verse 37:
yäräpunaùnija-sukhakariyäbhävanä |
pärçva-sthitämäyäpratikarilakämanä ||
Translation:
On the other hand, the living beings who desire their own happiness get attracted towards Maya, which is always nearby.
Then he will surely change one body after another body.
Harinam Chintamani, Chapter 1, Verse 38:
sei sabanitya-kåñëa-bahirmukhahaila |
devé-dhämemäyä-kåtaçarérapäila ||
Translation:
Only those living beings, turning outward from Krishna daily, attain the body created by Maya in the Devi Dham.
Krishna Das Kaviraj also tells in,
Srila Prabhupada also quotes this verse often.
Prema-vivarta 6.2:
kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare,
pāśate māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā...
Translation:
As soon as a soul desire to be enjoyer, then he is immediately captured by māyā
The living beings are the servants of Bhagavan and are for His enjoyment. When you try to acquire and enjoy those objects, you commit great sin. The wealth of the soul is manifested from Bhagavan’s potency and is meant for His service. We are suffering in this material existence because we have lost our service nature and forgotten that we are Krsna’s eternal servants.
Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.117-118:
krsna bhuli’ sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha
ataeva maya tare deya samsara-duhkha
kabhu svarge uthaya kabhu narake dubaya
dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya
Translation:
“Because he has forgotten Sri Krsna, the jiva has been absorbed in his attempts to enjoy the material energy since time immemorial. Therefore, Krsna’s maya-akti awards the jiva the various sufferings of samsara. Sometimes he is elevated to the heavenly planets, and at other times he is thrown in the hellish planets. This is just like a man who is punished by the king by being tied to a wooden plank and dunked in a river. Sometimes he is immersed till he nearly drowns, and sometimes he is released for a few moments of apparent happiness.”
When we forget our true nature, then, the witch of maya attacks us with countless kinds of affliction. By great fortune, the living beings come in contact with Vaisnavas, and they then come to realize their dreadful condition in material existence, and pray to Krsna for mercy. As described in Sri Prema-vivarta (6.1-13)—
pisaci paile jena mati-cchana haya
maya-grasta jivera haya se bhava udaya
Translation:
“The dharma of the jiva who has turned away from Krsna becomes covered, just as a person’s intelligence becomes covered when he is haunted by a witch.”
ami siddha krsna-dasa, ei katha bhule
mayara naphara hana cira-dina bule
Translation:
“He forgets Bhagavan’s identity, and his own identity as a servant of Hari. Becoming a slave of maya, he wanders here and there for a long time in this bewildering material existence.”
kabhu raja, kabhu praja, kabhu vipra, sudra
kabhu duhkhi, kabhu sukhi, kabhu kita ksudra
Translation:
“Sometimes he is a king and sometimes a subject, sometimes a brahmana and sometimes a sudra. Sometimes he is happy and sometimes distressed, and sometimes he is a tiny insect.”
kabhu svarge, kabhu martye, narake va kabhu
kabhu deva, kabhu daitya, kabhu dasa, prabhu
Translation:
“Sometimes he is in heaven, sometimes on earth, and sometimes in hell. Sometimes he is a deva and sometimes a demon. Sometimes he is a servant and sometimes a master.”
ei-rupe samsara bhramite kona jana
sadhu-sange nija-tattva avagata hana
Translation:
“As he is wandering like this throughout material existence, if by some great fortune he happens to obtain the association of pure bhaktas, he comes to know of his own identity, and his life thus becomes meaningful.”
nija-tattva jani ara samsara na caya
kena va bhajinu maya kare haya haya
Translation:
“By his association with those bhaktas, he understands his true identity and becomes indifferent to material enjoyment. Grieving bitterly for his predicament, he laments, ‘Alas! Alas! Why did I serve maya for so long?’”
With this feeling, he cry with his heart.
kande bole, ohe krsna! ami tava dasa
tomara carana chadi’ haila sarva-nasa
Translation:
“He cries profusely, and prays at the lotus feet of Bhagavan. ‘O Krsna! I am Your eternal servant, but I have been ruined because I disregarded the service of Your feet. Who knows how long I have been wandering aimlessly as the slave of maya?’”
Then he takes the process to conquer maya; Maya daman prakriya. He learn about jeevatatva and develop devotion. Srila Prabhupada often says that one should cryfor krishna loike a small child. If once a pure name of Krishna comes from one’s mouth, then he will get the mercy of Krishna and he can conquer maya.
kakuti kariya krsne dake eka-bara
krpa kari krsna tare chadana samsara
Translation:
“’O Patita-pavana! O Dina-natha! Please protect this destitute soul. Deliver me from Your maya and engage me in Your service.’ Sri Krsna is an ocean of mercy, and when He hears the jiva cry out in such desperation even once, He quickly transports him across this insurmountable material energy.”
mayake pichane rakhi’ krsna-pane caya
bhajite bhajite krsna-pada-padma paya
krsna tare dena nija-cic-chaktira bala
maya akarsana chade haiya durbala
Translation:
“Krsna empowers the jiva with His spiritual potency, so that maya’s power to attract the soul gradually wanes. The jiva then turns his back on maya and desires to attain Krsna. He worships Krsna again and again, and finally becomes competent to attain His lotus feet.”
‘sadhu-sange krsna-nama’–ei-matra cai
samsara jinite ara kona vastu nai
Translation:
“Therefore, the only infallible method to cross this insurmountable material existence is to chant krsna-nama in the association of bhaktas.”
Vaishnava Song, Thakur Vaishnava Pada By Srila Narrottama Dasa Thakur:
thakurabaisnaba-pada abanirasu-sampada
suna bhai hana eka mana
asrayalaiyabhajeta'rekrsnanahityaje
arasaba mare akarana
Translation:
O brother, please hear my words with rapt attantion. The lotus feet of the Vaisnavas the most valuable treasure of this world. These vaisnavas continuously take shelter of Lord Krsna and worship Him, They never abandon their Lord. They are liberated. They are free from the cycle of birth and death.
Yesterday, I have ended with some hard words.
- Madhya Lila, 23.14-15:
ādauśraddhātataḥsādhu-
saṅgo ’thabhajana-kriyā
tato ’nartha-nivṛttiḥsyāt
tatoniṣṭhārucistataḥ
athāsaktistatobhāvas
tataḥpremābhyudañcati
sādhakānāmayaṁpremṇaḥ
prādurbhāvebhavetkramaḥ
Translation:
‘In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.’
When we take Holy Name under the shelter of Guru and Srila Prabhupada, then our chanting will be fruitive. This verse, I am quoting from shastras.
Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23:
yasyadeveparābhaktir
yathādevetathāgurau
tasyaitekathitāhyarthāḥ
prakāśantemahātmanaḥ
Translation:
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”
Here daiva meanskrsna.
We must follow our spiritual master and follow the instructions. As all the associates of lord Chaitanya followed the instructions of the lord to preach everywhere.Caitanya Mahaprabhu instruct Raghunath Das Goswami to follow the Samyas Ashrama strictly. No Goswami went to Vrindavan by their own will. In pancharatrik Vidhi, Spiritual master provide the service of the lord; Ijya; to their disciples. Even coming to Vrindavan was his order, not their desire.He orderd them to write books, worship deities, open temples and preach. When Goswamis found the deities of Radha Madanmohan, Radha Govind Dev Ji and Radha Gopinath, they firstly tell Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When he allowed them to worship the deities. So, to even worship deities, we need the permission of spiritual master.This is wrong that we buy deity and start worship on our own. To follow the instruction of spiritual master without break is important.
Srila Prabhupada used to say that If we don't follow the instruction, then it acts as a mad elephant and destroys the creep of bhakti.The beginning uprooting is done, when one stops following spiritual master or commits offense against Him, then this act of ours will be the steps of a mad elephant.Accepting the bona fide spiritual master as one’s life and soul, the submissive disciple should learn from him the process of pure devotional service, which satisfies the Supreme Lord. By thus following the path of devotional service, the disciple gradually develops all good qualities.
Srila Prabhupada hardly associate four or five times with his spiritual master. He had no recorded lecture to listen. He took the essence of their words. We might not get association but instructions of the Spiritual master is enough.
As, Mrigari took the instruction of Narada Muni and starts chanting ‘Mara Mara’, then he automatically comes to chant ‘Rama Rama’. We just have to follow the instruction.
As Guru Maharaj used to say, ‘
name will bring us to dham’. But name only arises when we strictly follow the instructions of spiritual master.
One should not be eager to go back, backto Godhead. But one should be eager to follow the instructions given by his Spiritual Master. One should always think about, How to fulfil the desires of my Spiritual master.
There are two things: one is to follow the instruction and another is to contemplate the instructions.
Srila Prabbhupada: In conclusion, if a disciple is very serious to execute the mission of the spiritual master, he immediately associates with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by vāṇī or vapuḥ. This is the only secret of success in seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead of being eager to see the Lord in some bush of Vṛndāvana while at the same time engaging in sense gratification, if one instead sticks to the principle of following the words of the spiritual master, he will see the Supreme Lord without difficulty.
We don’t need to search Krishna. As Srila Bhakti Siddhant Sarasvati Thakur says, ‘Don’t try to see lord, do service in a way, Lord wants to see you.’
Some people try to imitate devotion. If one is in the KG class, then how he can get the degree of graduation?
Srila Bhakti Vinod has warned us in Bhajan Rahasya:
adhikara na labhiya siddhadeha bhave
viparyaya buddhi janme saktira abhave
Translation:
"The intelligence of one who thinks of his siddha-deha without first acheiving elegibiltiy becomes bewildered."
If one tries to jump on the 20th step of the ladder from the 1st step, then he will surely get a fracture. So, we should follow carefully.
Srila Prabhupada left Vrindavan Dham to preach in the West countries.
Vaishnav song; Mana, Tumi TirtheSada RataBy Bhakti Vinod Thakur:
(1) mana, tumitirthesada rata
ayodhya, mathura, maya, kasi, kanci, abantiya,
dvarabati, ar ache jata
(2) tumicahobhramibare, e sakala bare bare,
mukti-labhakoribara tare
se sakalatababhrama, nirarthakaparisrama,
cittasthiratirthenahi kore
(3) tirtha-phal sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sangeantaranga,
sri-krsna-bhajanamanohar
jatha sadhu, tatha tirtha, sthirakori' nijacitta,
sadhu-sanga koro nirantar
(4) je tirthebaisnabanai, se tirthenahi jai,
ki labhahantiya dura-desa
jathaybaisnaba-gana, sei stanabrndabana,
sei sthaneanandaasesa
(5) krsna-bhakti jeisthane, muktidasiseikhane,
salilatathaymandakini
giritathagovardhana, bhumitathabrndabana,
abirbhutaapanihladini
(6) binodakohiche bhai, bhramiya ki phal pai,
baisnaba-sebana mor brata
Translation:
1) My dear mind, you are always attached to all the different places of pilgrimage such as Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kasi (Varanasi), Kancipura, Avantiya, Dvaravati, and so on.
2) You want to travel to all these holy places of pilgrimage again and again simply to the sake of obtaining liberation from the material miseries. But we actually see that your heart is not becoming resolutely fixed up by going to all these places; therefore all of you wanderings are simply useless labor for nothing tangible.
3) The ripened fruit and real benefit of any place of pilgrimage is the company of the pure-hearted devotees of the Lord. Establishing intimate and friendly relations with such devotees, let your mind be captivated by performing the charming worship of Lord Krsna in their association. Actually, any place in the entire world becomes a worshipable place of pilgrimage if devotees are living there. Thus, you should immediately seek out such a place, wherever you happen to be, and you should become fixed up in Krsna consciousness by constantly remaining in the company of such devotees.
4) Personally, I never bother to visit any so-called place of pilgrimage which is devoid of the presence of unalloyed devotees, for what other worthwhile benefit could possibly be gained by taking the trouble of walking to such faraway places? Only that place which is graced by the presence of the devotees is actually Vrndavana, and only at that place can you come into contact with unlimited spiritual pleasure.
5) Liberation personified is herself the humble maidservant of that place which is surcharged with devotion to Krsna. All the water at that place is the celestial Ganges, every hill there is Giri-govardhana, and the very earth is indeed Vrndavana. Only such a place can manifest the appearance of the eternal spiritual joy which is revealed by the Lord's pleasure-potency.
6) I ask you now, dear brother, what benefit would I get by circumambulating all of the holy places of pilgrimage? Personally, my vow is to serve the Vaisnavas with firm resolution and untiring endeavor.
my vow is to serve the Vaisnavas with firm resolution and untiring endeavor.
Sri Prema-vivarta: 7.1:
asadhu-sange bhai krsna-namanahihaya
namaksarabahiraya bate tabu namakabhunaya
Translation:
“Brother, the Name of Krishna never appears in bad association: the letters of the Name may appear, but the Name never does.”
Pure Holy Name comes only in association of devotees and Spiritual Master.
Chanting in separation. From the Hari Bhakti Vilas:
ācāraevanṛpapuṅgavasevyamānodharmārthakāmaphaladobhavitehapuṃsām |
tasmātsadaivaviduṣāvahitenarājanśāstroditohyanudinaṃparipālanīyaḥ || 19 ||
Translation:
O best of kings, conduct alone, if served, will bestow the fruits of righteousness, wealth and desire on men
Therefore, O King, the scriptures should always be observed with the attention of the learned.
brāhmemuhūrtautthāyakṛṣṇakṛṣṇetikīrtayan |
prakṣālyapāṇipādau ca dantadhāvanamācaret || 20 ||
Transaltion:
Get up in the moment of Brahma and chant Krishna, Krishna
He washed his hands and feet and brushed his teeth.
ācamyavasanaṃrātrestyaktvānyatparidhāya ca |
punarācamanekuryāllekhyenavidhināgrataḥ || 21 ||
Translation:
Leaving the unwanted lust at night and putting on something else
Again, in the ablution, he shall do it in writing according to the prescribed method.
athecchanparamāṃśuddhiṃmūrdhnidhyātvāguroḥpadau |
stutvā ca kīrtayankṛṣṇaṃsmaraṃścaitadudīrayet || 22 ||-
Transaltion:
Supreme purity on the head, meditating on the teacher's feet
Praising and chanting Krishna and remembering this, one should rise up.
We will read a realisation of a devotee:
Itis not hard to chant when we're in association. But it is much more difficult when we are in the West.How can we have such a strong sadhana, when we are without association?Then Gurudev took the Japa mala and showed us his tulsi beads. He put his hand in the bag and said, " We should chant together right here." There were four or five devotees and he was looking at all of us.
We all took the japa beads. We were looking at Gurudev, and he was looking at us. Then, very slowly, he began to chant the maha-mantra on the japa:
Hare Krsna Hare KrsnaKrsnaKrsna Hare Hare - Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare
And we began to sing along with him, at the same time, very slowly. We did everything together and it was amazing.
Gurudev led the chanting at a slow pace, and we chanted together in one circle. We sat opposite Gurudev and looked at him, and he sat and looked into our faces and chanted the maha-mantra. It was really powerful.
At the end, Gurudev stopped. Then he looked at the person, who asked the question and asked: "And did your mind wander somewhere?" Gurudev then smiled and said, " No, where will your mind go if we are sitting alone like this?"
Indeed, if you are sitting opposite Gurudev and he is looking at you, while you are chanting, your mind will not go anywhere, will it? Can you imagine that? It's really beautiful.
Gurudev said that when we chant in the West, we should not take japa mala with an absent mind and chant Holy Name.
"First of all, you must come here as you did now. You should sit across from me and see that I have taken my japa beads and I am slowly chanting Holy Name.
I look at you, eye to eye, and you sit and look at me. Then you start chanting with me. You should meditate in this way when you chant the maha-mantra."
Meditating on Gurudeva in this way is the first step in meditating on Guru Puja, through the mantras that I have explained earlier. Gurudeva very gradually introduced me to this process of meditation while chanting Holy Name.
He emphasized that this is not a one-sided meditation. We should not sit and meditate on Gurudeva, who has completely forgotten us. We should meditate on the fact that he is sitting and chanting with us and looking at us. This is an internal action. This is a two-way meditation.
Then Gurudev said: "If you chant in this way and your meditation becomes deep, like,' I am sitting next to Gurudev, I am sitting in front of Guru Maharaj. '
When we remember someone while chanting, a small part of their sadhna added in our account. The existence of a pure devotee can purify one.
We discussed on
‘param vijayate sri krsna sankirtan’.
How to win over mayaand how win over Kaliyuga. We don't even have to meditate on Sri Guru.
Hare Krishna!
