English
15 April 2024
Speaker: HH Vrindavan Chandra Swami Maharaj
Theme: Get benefitted by Dhāma
Hare Krsna!!
Upcoming is the occasion of Rāma Navamī. Today we are very fortunate to have with us HH Vrindavan Chandra Swami Maharaj who is also known as the Vrajavasī of ISKCON. We shall hear Śrī Rāma Kathā from him.
Theme: Purposes of incarnation of the Lord
It’s a bliss for me to get an opportunity to speak about Śrī Rāma Chandra for the upcoming Rāma Navamī festival. Śrī Rāma Chandra appeared in Ayodhya Dhāma. There are several purposes of the Lord’s appearance on this planet and each and every reason is very amazing.
soi jasagāibhagata bhava tarahīn
kripāsindhūjanahitatanudharahīn
rāmajanmakehetuaneka
param vicitra ek teekā
Translation
By singing that praise again and again, the devotees get immersed in the ocean of existence. Lord Kripasagar assumes the body for the benefit of the devotees.
There are innumerous reasons for Lord Ram’s incarnation, each of which is more strange than the other. (Text 1, Tulasi Ramayana)
Hanuman Ji says,
martyāvatāras tv ihamartya-śikṣaṇaṁ
rakṣo-vadhāyaivanakevalaṁvibhoḥ
kuto ’nyathāsyādramataḥsvaātmanaḥ
sītā-kṛtānivyasanānīśvarasya
Translation
It was ordained that Rāvaṇa, chief of the Rākṣasas, could not be killed by anyone but a man, and for this reason Lord Rāmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in the form of a human being. Lord Rāmacandra’s mission, however, was not only to kill Rāvaṇa but also to teach mortal beings that material happiness centered around sex life or centered around one’s wife is the cause of many miseries. He is the self-sufficient Supreme Personality of Godhead, and nothing is lamentable for Him. Therefore why else could He be subjected to tribulations by the kidnapping of mother Sītā? (ŚB 5.19.5)
The most well known purpose of Śrī Rāma’s appearance was the annihilation of Rāvana. The Lord didn’t need to descend specially to kill him as He had many other options. But Rāvana had a great boon from Brahma Ji that no one could defeat him, but humans and monkeys. That’s why the Lord appeared as a human. Rāvana was the devotee of Shiv Ji. And he was such a great devotee that he would offer his own head to him where the other devotees just offer some stone apples (bel patra).
The Lord not only appeared to kill Rāvana but He also appeared to teach lessons to mankind. He taught the world many lessons by His behaviour.
Theme: Ayodhya’s trueness
Lord Rāma appeared in Ayodhya. Ayodhya is a very pious city.
“tāmasatyanāmadrdhato” as mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan.Ayodhya’s name is very true. Its real situation is the same as the meaning of the name. Nowadays people keep unsuitable names, like a person's name is Padmalochan but he can not see anything.
Janameraandhanamapadmalocana- "when a man’s son was blind since birth, the father, out of staunch affection for the child, named him Padmalocana"- Srila Prabhupada (Bengali saying)
His eyes are compared to a lotus. This means the situation is not as per the meaning of the name. This is not a true name. But the name of Ayodhya is totally appropriate. Let’s understand the meaning of the name Ayodhya. Like khadyasamagri, where khadyameans worth eating; Pathya pustak, where pathyameans worth teaching, kardyameans worth doing; in the similar way yodhyain Ayodhya means worth fighting with. Ayodhya means where there is no battle, not worth fighting with. This name is true to its meaning.
Theme: Description of Ayodhya Dhāma
durgagambhīraparikhāmadurgāmanyaihdurrāsadāma
vājivāranasampūrnāma
gobhirūśtraihkharaihstathā
Translation
That Ayodhya is an impassable one for trespassers, or for other invaders, owing to her impassable and profound moats, and she is abounding with horses, camels, likewise with cows and donkeys. (1.5.13, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
Parighameans the outer circle of a city. It is described that the outer circle of Ayodhya is so profound that it is not possible to enter there. To safeguard the city, people would dig a hole and set it on fire. Like to stop monkeys in Vrindāvana, people would set electric wires on their houses.
kavātatoranavatīmsuvibhaktāntarāpanāma
sarvayantrāyudhavatīmusītāma
sarvaśilpibhih
Translation
That city is surrounded with gateways and archways; the front yards of buildings are well laid; it lodges all kinds of machinery, weaponry and craftsmen, and king Dasharatha dwells in such a city. (1.5.10, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
There are boundaries all around the city Ayodhya and the main gate is very substantial and strong to break. Ayodhya is very well ready for any kind of attack.
sutamāgaghasambadhāmaśrīmatitulaprabhāma
ucchāttaladhvajavatīm
śataghnīśatasamkulama
Translation
With matchless splendour, it abounded in eulogists and genealogists. It contained stately edifices decorated with flags and hundreds of sataghnis (missiles).(1.5.11, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
It has many powerful weapons like missiles which can kill thousands of people at once.
yodhānāmagnikalpānām
peślānāmamarshinām
sampūrnākrtvidhyānām
guhākesarināmiva
Translation
It abounded with warriors, like a cave with lions. They were almost like flaming fire, the most determined among experts and accomplished in learning (the science of arms). (1.6.21, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
The soldiers there are very well fit, trained and are not very jovial. They cannot tolerate insults from anyone. The soldiers of Ayodhya are compared to lions who live in a cave in the mountain. No one can dare to enter a cave. Similarly, their soldiers are so muscular and strong that no one can fight them.
Theme: An exile to Śrī Rāma and His condition
Ayodhya is the abode of the Lord. And the Lord respects and loves Ayodhya a lot. A situation came when Śrī Rāma had to leave Ayodhya. One morning, Dashrath ji called Śrī Rāma in Rajdarbar. Dashrath ji was lying on the ground. When asked by Śrī Rāma of his father’s situation, Kaikeyi said that he had promised to give her 2 boons. She asked him to give Śrī Rāma an exile. Śrī Rāma took His father’s words seriously and when he was leaving Ayodhya, many people accompanied him till Tamasā river. They all rested there at night. Śrī Rāma thought of leaving before sunrise. As He was going far from Ayodhya, He was forgetting love towards it. He was giving instructions to Lakshman to not think about Ayodhya’s people. But at the same time, He was unable to control Himself. As He crossed many rivers towards forest, when the border came of Ushal, He stopped His chariot and stood facing towards Ayodhya and said,
āpracchetvāmpurīshreshthe
kakutsthaparipālite
daivatāni ca yānitvām
pālayantivasanti ca
Translation
O Ayodhya, the best of cities ruled by those born in the Kakutstha race I take leave of you and of all those gods inhabiting and guarding you. (2.50.2, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
Śrī Rāma said to Ayodhya, “O Ayodhya, I am asking you for a leave. I am asking the demigods and the people of Ayodhya for a leave.”
Nivrittavanavāsastvāmanrno
jagatīpateh
punardrkshyāmimātrā ca pitrā ca
sahasangagatah
Translation
On completion of exile and my filial obligations to king Dasaratha, lord of the world, discharged, I shall, reunited with my parents, see you again. (2.50.3, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
He was promising that whenever His exile would get over, He would come as soon as possible to meet them all.
tatorudhiratāmrāksho
bhujamudyamyadakshinam
ashrupūrnamukho
dīnoabravījjānapadamjanam
Translation
He looked miserable, his copperred eyes filled with tears. He raised his right hand
and said to the villagers who had come to see him: (2.50.4, Ayodhyakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
He was looking very helpless and tears were falling down from His eyes.
“ayodhyasochishyantinasanshaya”
Theme: Ayodhya, a mother
He was concerned about Ayodhya that it would mourn without Him. He was concerned about His mother that she might get blind in sobbing. But He was confident that His brother Bharat would look after His parents after He had gone. He was concerned for the people of Ayodhya. Still he went towards the forest to get His father’s promise fulfilled.
When the Lord was returning from Sri Lanka on a plane, He was on His way to Ayodhya. As soon as the City came to sight, He offered obeisances to Ayodhya and also asked Sita Ji to offer obeisances.
eshasādraśyatesīte
rājadhānīpiturmama
ayodhyāmkuruvaidehipranāmampunarāgatā
Translation
Sita! My father's capital Ayodhya is seen. We have come here. Offer your salutations." (6.126.55, Yuddhakanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
He gave so much importance to Ayodhya as His mother. It is seen that the devotees accept Dhāma as their mother. It is said in Vrindavan Mahimamrta,
grihāndhakūpepatitahkadā
māmuddhratyamūdamkrpyāsvayaiva
kāmādikālāhiganairnigīrnam
mātevavrindātavineśyaseangakam
Translation
I have fallen into a blind well like Grihasta, tied with a black snake like lust desires, O Vrindatavi, when will you liberate me and put me on your lap like a mother. (88, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta)
He is saying to Ayodhya, “O mother, I have fallen in a blind well (without water) where pythons have taken shelter. I have no knowledge. Desire like python have swallowed Me. It has become a very dangerous situation. One needs support to come out of that well.” He is comparing that well to Grihasth ashram that He has fallen in a grihasth ashram and he is not able to take wise decisions. That lusty desires has tied Him. He is asking when she will take Him out of this situation and put Him on her lap. When someone is dependent on someone, their relationship becomes stronger. Like when a child is totally dependent on his mother, his mother takes full care of him. Similarly, one who takes shelter of Dhāma, Dhāma takes care of such a person.
Uddhav ji is describing the situation of Kaliyuga Jiva.
daṣṭaṁjanaṁsampatitaṁ bile ’smin
kālāhinākṣudra-sukhoru-tarṣam
samuddharainaṁkṛpayāpavargyair
vacobhirāsiñcamahānubhāva
Translation
O almighty Lord, please be merciful and uplift this hopeless living entity who has fallen into the dark hole of material existence, where the snake of time has bitten him. In spite of such abominable conditions, this poor living entity has tremendous desire to relish the most insignificant material happiness. Please save me, my Lord, by pouring down the nectar of Your instructions, which awaken one to spiritual freedom. (ŚB 11.19.10)
This well is the material world and black snake is the time. When a snake bites someone, he feels very hot and becomes very thirsty. Similarly, when this snake of time bites us, we become more thirsty for material enjoyment. Uddhav ji is praying to the Lord to deliver the fallen souls. Tongue plays a very important role and thus it should always be engaged in Harināma. By doing so we can control other urges for engaging into sinful activities.
“jaramayasarthyathaausadham sat”
Like proper medication can cure a person suffering from high fever. Or water can satisfy a person’s thirst. So devotees believe and respect Dhāma a lot. Lord Rāma had been an exemplary character that how one should behave towards Dhāma. He treats Ayodhya as His mother and so the Vrindāvanavasīs. They feel safe around the arms of Dhāma like a child feels safe in his mothers lap.
Question: How can one develop niśthā(firm faith) towards the Lord and His holname while fighting with our six enemies of the mind?
Ans: We should take shelter of a Dhāma. Dhāma will take away our six enemies of mind from us. Now everyone will ask if they should leave the city and get situated in Dhāma. This is best but if it’s not possible then ŚrīlaRūpaGoswāmī explains nine ways to take shelter of Dhāma. One can perform any of the nine ways to get benefitted.
sruta- smrta –kirtita -ca
vanchita- preksita -gata
sprsta- sritasevita -ca
mathur -abhista -da -nrnam
Translation
“[Due to the unlimited power of Vrndavana], anyone can fulfil their cherished desires [for Krishna’s eternal service] simply by:
1) Hearing about Vrndavana (sruta)
2) Remembering Vrndavana (smrta)
3) Glorifying Vrndavana (kirtita)
4) Desiring Vrndavana (vanchita)
5) Seeing Vrndavana (preksita)
6) Visiting Vrndavana (gata)
7) Touching Vrndavana (sprsta)
8) Living in Vrndavana (asrita)
9) Serving Vrndavana (sevita).”
Hare Krishna!
.
