English
Japa Talk By H.H Lokanath Swami Maharaj
Date: 11-03-2025
Main Theme: Pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ( From Chaitanya Bhagavat)
Hare Krishna
It was a Saturday, the 18th of February 1486. The day of Full moon of the Lunar month of Phalgun. This year it is the 539th Appearance Day of Mahaprabhu
dekho ore bhai, tri-bhuvane nai,
emona doyala data
pasu pakhi jhure, pashana vidare,
suni’ janra guna-gatha
Translation
My dear brother, just try and examine this. Within the three worlds there is no one like Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda. Their merciful qualities are so great that upon hearing them even birds and beasts cry and stones melt. [The Mercy of Sri Gaura and Nityananda (from Dhamali) by Locana Dasa Thakura Text 3]
parama koruna, pahu dui jana
nitai gauracandra
saba avatara-sara siromani
kevala ananda-kanda
Translation
The two Lords, Nitai-Gauracandra, are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that They introduced a process of chanting and dancing that is simply joyful. [The Mercy of Sri Gaura and Nityananda (from Dhamali) by Locana Dasa Thakura Text 1]
Caitanya or Lord Nityananda. Their merciful qualities are so great that upon hearing them even birds and beasts cry and stones melt. Listen everyone Nitai-Gauracandra, are very merciful.
anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ
Translation
May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. [CC Adi 1.4]
Srila Kaviraj Goswami says,
Mahaprabhu descends once in a Kalpa not every Yuga. The devotees of Krishna are called kārṣṇa, What is kalpa, it is one day of Bharhma. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord itself, after long time He descends. After descend He offered causeless mercy.
He Distributes Parikya Bhava in Vraja, i.e Radha Bhava or Gopi Bhava. Sri Chaitanya maha prabhu relished and shared this bliss or nectar to all.
Srila Bhakti Siddhant was known for his siddhants – principles “ Apa Siddhanta Dhari neya” . He introduced some philosophy i.e The devotees of Krshna are called karnas, Devotees of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas, while devotees of Srimati Radharani are called Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Such glorious is Vaishnavism. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Gopi Bhava or Radha Bhava to the whole world.
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam
Translation
O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. [BG 9.13]
The great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed devotional service as a devotee. One who worships is aradhak and one who is being worshipped is aaradhya.
ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛṇdāvanaṁ
ramya kaścid upāsanā vraja-vadhu-varga-vīrya kalpita
śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalaṁ purāṇaṁ premā pum-artho mahān
śrī-caitanya mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatradaraḥ na paraḥ
Translation
“‘The object of worship is Bhagavān, the Son of Vraja’s king. His abode is Vṛndāvana. The lovely worship [that is to be performed] is that which is performed by the ladies of Vraja. The flawless pramāṇa [i.e., means of knowing these conclusions] is the śāstra [Śrīmad] Bhāgavatam, and the [rightful ultimate] aim of a human being is prema.’ This is the view of Gaura Mahāprabhu, and thus we have the highest regard for it.” [Caitanya-matta-manjusa 1.1 commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam by Srinath Chakravarti.)
The way we worship is aradhana. So aradhak(we) do aradhana( process) to please aradhya( His deity or Istadev). Aradhana includes mood and feelings, our devotion as shown by Srimati Radharani and this is the mood of Sri Chaitanya. Gaudiya Vaishnavas is glorious
I have Chaitanya Bhagavatam in my hand. I am sitting in ISKCON Ulta Danga. This is the very place where Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Prabhupada met Abhay babu preach to the western world in English.
Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Prabhupada has written a commentary on Caitanya Bhagwat. Hence whole world came to know about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Earlier there were very few people who knew about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In few days from now Gaur Purnima will be celebrated in about 150 countries. Now millions of people who have become Gaudiya Vaishnav will celebrate this festival.
Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Prabhupada has written a commentary on Caitanya Bhagwat. His commentary is called Gaudiya Bhashya. We should read this.
Caitanya Bhagwat is written by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur ( Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) He is none other than Srila Vyasadev himself. Srila yasadev is not some ordinary person, he is the Shaktyavesa incarnation. So the Actual Author of Srimad Bhagwatam is Lord Krsna himaelf
kṛṣṇa-līlā bhāgavate kahe
veda-vyāsa caitanya-līlāra vyāsa
Translation
As Vyāsadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. [ CC Ādi 8.34]
And the author of Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat is Sriman Mahaprabhu himself. It is Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu only who is speaking here
manuṣye racite nāre aiche grantha dhanya
vṛndāvana-dāsa-mukhe vaktā śrī-caitanya
Translation
The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.[ CC Ādi 8.39]
kon hetu krishnacandra kare avatara ka'ra
shakti ache tattva janite tahara-
Translation
Who has the ability to know why krishnachandra incarnates [CB Adi Khanda 2.15]
tathapi shri bhagavate, gitaya ye kaya
taha likhi, ye-nimitte 'avatara hai
Translation
Still, I am giving whatever reasons are described in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā. [CB Adi-Khanda 2.16]
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
Translation
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself. [CB Adi-Khanda 2.17]
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
Translation
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium. [CB Adi-Khanda 2.18]
śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vānayaivā-
svādyo yenādbhuta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥ
saukhyaṁ cāsyā mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśaṁ veti lobhāt
tad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ
Translation
Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī, as the moon appeared from the ocean. [ CC Ādi 1.6]
krsna varnam tvisa krsna sango vangastra parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti sumedhasah
Translation
In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.[SB 11.5.32]
Bhagavata rupe janma haila sabara
Krsna se janena yanra amse janma yara
Translation
Only Gaura-Kṛṣṇa knew which associate took birth as which devotee [CB Adi-khanda 2.30]
Karo janma navadvipe karo catigrame keha
radhe odhra dese srihatte pascime
Translation
Some took birth in Navadvīpa, some in Caṭṭagrāma, some in Rāḍhadeśa, some in Orissa, some in Śrīhaṭṭa, and some in the West. [CB Adi-khanda 2 .31]
sarva vaisnavera janma navadvipa dhame
sona maha priya dasera janma anya sthane
Translation
Most of the Vaiṣṇavas took birth in Navadvīpa, and some beloved associates appeared elsewhere. [ CB Adi-khanda 2.33]
Lord Krsna says in the Bhagwad Gita
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamyaham
Translation
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself. [Bg. 4.7]
golokam ca parityajya
lokanam trana-karanat
kalau gauranga-rupena
lila-lavanya-vigrahah
Translation
In the Kali-Yuga, I will leave Goloka and, to save the people of the world, I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga. (Markandeya-Purana)
But the purpose of The descendence of Mahaprabhu is different. Lord Krsna is thinking that Srimati Radharani always wins in love. And a desire rose in his heart to experience what Srimati Radharani feels for Lord Krsna.
How sweet the sugar is.? Sugar cannot answer this question
But the ants can. So this is a very special purpose and no other incarnation has appeared with such purpose. Mahaprabhu established the Harinam Sankirtan Dharma
He accepted Sannyasa, he travelled Across the country. He preached Harinam Sankirtan movement.
kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra
nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra
Translation
“In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. [CC Ādi 17.22]
But in the last 12 years, he resided in Jagannath Puri majorly in seclusion. So many of his eternal associates appeared during the same era to participate in pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Kavi Karnapura writes about them in his book. Gaura-Ganoddesh Despika. The name literally means the Purpose of the appearance of the associates of Mahaprabhu. Who were they in Krsna lila.
Sri Krsna becomes Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Balaram becomes Nityananda prabhu, Yasoda Maiya becomes mother Saci, Nanda Maharaj becomes Jagannath Misra, Kansa becomes Chand Kazi. Many of his associates appeared before him and set the scene. Everyone is appearing in nearby places of Navadwip.
How Nilambar Cakravarti relocated to Navadwip and Jagannath Misra also shifted to this place. Nimai appeared then. Advaita Acarya moved to Santipur. He had appeared 50 years before Mahaprabhu. Haridas Thakur, Advaita Acarya, Nilambar Cakravarti and others are older generations. Advaita Acarya invoked the Lord to appear by worshipping his Saligram shila.
“tulasi-manjari-sahita ganga-jale niravadhi seve krishne maha-kutuhale ... ye dhvani brahmanda bhedi' vaikunöhete baje”
Mahaprabhu appears to deliver everyone from the material engagements and entanglements. As a reciprocation to the call of Advaita Acarya. The Lord descends, Advaita Acarya's voice reaches Goloka and Lord makes his mind. Mother Saci had delivered 9 girls who had died immediately after birth. The 10th child was Visvaroopa
Then Mahaprabhu appered. First he appeared in the mind of Sri Jagannath Misra. Then he moved to the heart of mother Saci. Then he was situated in the ocean like womb of mother Saci from where Nimai appeared like a full moon. The Normal Jiva is born out of sperm. And gradually develops a body in the womb of a mother
na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na
bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate
Translation
For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. [BG 2.20]
Just like the demigods offered Prayers to the Lord in the womb of Mother Devaki, They also came to offer prayers to Nimai in the womb of Saci devi. Then Mahaprabhu appears and so beautiful he is. All the women have come to bless him. Mother Saci named the child as Nimai as he was born under a neem tree.
I shall now go for Darshan
Today is Ekadashi
