CC Madhya 17 – How to Enter and Serve Vrindavan

Giriraj Swami: We read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā Chapter Seventeen, “The Lord Travels to Vrindāvana.”

SUMMARY

The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. After attending the Ratha-yātrā ceremony of Śrī Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to start for Vṛndāvana. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī selected a brāhmaṇa named Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to personally assist Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord started for the town of Kaṭaka (Cuttack). North of Kaṭaka, He penetrated a dense forest and came upon many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Whenever the Lord had a chance to visit a village, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya would beg alms and acquire some rice and vegetables. If there were no village, Balabhadra would cook whatever rice remained and collect some spinach from the forest for the Lord to eat. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased with the behavior of Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of Jhārikhaṇḍa (Jharkhand) and finally reached Vārāṇasī. After taking His bath at the Maṇikarṇikā-ghāṭa at Vārāṇasī, He met Tapana Miśra, who took the Lord to his place and respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Vārāṇasī, Vaidya Candraśekhara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s old friend, also rendered service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, a Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa informed Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, the leader of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs. Prakāśānanda made various accusations against the Lord. The Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa was very sorry about this, and he brought the news to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, inquiring from Him why the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs did not utter the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. In reply, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that they were offenders and that one should not associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His blessings upon the brāhmaṇa.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next passed through Prayāga and Mathurā and then took His lunch at the home of a Sānoḍiyā brāhmaṇa, a disciple of Mādhavendra Purī. He bestowed His blessings upon the brāhmaṇa by accepting lunch at his place. Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He toured the Vṛndāvana forests, He heard the chirping of parrots and other birds.

COMMENT

Now we will come to:

TEXT 146

eta bali’ sei vipre ātmasātha kari’
prāte uṭhi mathurā calilā gaurahari

TRANSLATION

After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted that brāhmaṇa as His devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for Mathurā.

TEXT 147

sei tina saṅge cale, prabhu niṣedhila
dūra haite tina-jane ghare pāṭhāila

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started for Mathurā, all three devotees started to go with Him. But the Lord forbade them to accompany Him, and from a distance He asked them to return home.

TEXT 148

prabhura virahe tine ekatra miliyā
prabhu-guṇa gāna kare preme matta hañā

TRANSLATION

Feeling separation from the Lord, the three used to meet and glorify the holy qualities of the Lord. Thus they were absorbed in ecstatic love.

TEXT 154

pathe yāhāṅ yāhāṅ haya yamunā-darśana
tāhāṅ jhāṅpa diyā paḍe preme acetana

TRANSLATION

While the Lord was going to Mathurā, He came across the river Yamunā several times, and as soon as He saw the river Yamunā, He would immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 155

mathurā-nikaṭe āilā — mathurā dekhiyā
daṇḍavat hañā paḍe premāviṣṭa hañā

TRANSLATION

When He approached Mathurā and saw the city, He immediately fell to the ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.

COMMENT

The reason that we are reading about the visit of Lord Chaitanya is so we can learn how to enter Vrindavan and serve in Vrindavan.

TEXT 156

mathurā āsiyā kailā ‘viśrānti-tīrthe’ snāna
‘janma-sthāne’ ‘keśava’ dekhi’ karilā praṇāma

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the city of Mathurā, He took His bath at Viśrāma-ghāṭa. He then visited the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa and saw the Deity named Keśavajī. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.

COMMENT

How many have visited Lord Krishna’s birthplace in Mathura?

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

At the present moment, the temple of Keśavajī is very much improved. At one time, Keśavajī-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Keśavajī was insignificant in comparison. But with the help of many rich Marwaris, the temple has been improved, and a very large temple is now being constructed so that the mosque is now appearing diminished in comparison. Many archeological discoveries have been made there, and many people from foreign countries are beginning to appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is attracting many foreigners to the Keśavajī temple, and now they will also be attracted by the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndāvana.

TEXT 157

premānande nāce, gāya, saghana huṅkāra
prabhura premāveśa dekhi’ loke camatkāra

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted, danced, and made loud vibrations, all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.

TEXT 158

eka-vipra paḍe prabhura caraṇa dhariyā
prabhu-saṅge nṛtya kare premāviṣṭa hañā

TRANSLATION

One brāhmaṇa fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.

TEXT 159

duṅhe preme nṛtya kari’ kare kolākuli
hari kṛṣṇa kaha duṅhe bale bāhu tuli’

TRANSLATION

The two of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced each other. Raising their arms, they said, “Chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa!”

TEXT 160

loka ‘hari’ ‘hari’ bale, kolāhala haila
‘keśava’-sevaka prabhuke mālā parāila

TRANSLATION

All the people then began to chant, “Hari! Hari!” and there was a great uproar. The priest in Lord Keśava’s service offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu a garland.

TEXT 161

loke kahe prabhu dekhi’ hañā vismaya
aiche hena prema ‘laukika’ kabhu naya

TRANSLATION

When the people saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dancing and chanting, they were struck with wonder, and they all said, “Such transcendental love is never an ordinary thing.”

TEXT 162

yāṅhāra darśane loke preme matta hañā
hāse, kānde, nāce, gāya, kṛṣṇa-nāma lañā

TRANSLATION

The people said, “Simply by seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone is maddened with love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying, dancing, chanting, and taking the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 163

sarvathā-niścita — iṅho kṛṣṇa-avatāra
mathurā āilā lokera karite nistāra

TRANSLATION

“Certainly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Now He has come to Mathurā to deliver everyone.”

TEXT 164

tabe mahāprabhu sei brāhmaṇe lañā
tāṅhāre puchilā kichu nibhṛte vasiyā

TRANSLATION

After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took the brāhmaṇa aside. Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.

TEXT 165

‘ārya, sarala, tumi — vṛddha brāhmaṇa
kāhāṅ haite pāile tumi ei prema-dhana?’

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are an elderly brāhmaṇa, you are sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa?”

TEXT 166

vipra kahe, — ‘śrīpāda śrī-mādhavendra-purī
bhramite bhramite āilā mathurā-nagarī

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇa replied, “His Holiness Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī came to the city of Mathurā while he was on tour.

TEXT 167

kṛpā kari’ teṅho mora nilaye āilā
more śiṣya kari’ mora hāte ‘bhikṣā’ kailā

TRANSLATION

“While at Mathurā, Śrīpāda Mādhavendra Purī visited my house and accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.

TEXT 168

gopāla prakaṭa kari’ sevā kaila ‘mahāśaya’
adyāpiha tāṅhāra sevā ‘govardhane’ haya

TRANSLATION

“After installing the Deity of Gopāla, Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī rendered Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill.”

TEXT 169

śuni’ prabhu kaila tāṅra caraṇa vandana
bhaya pāñā prabhu-pāya paḍilā brāhmaṇa

TRANSLATION

As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard about Mādhavendra Purī’s relationship with the brāhmaṇa, He immediately offered obeisances at his feet. Becoming fearful, the brāhmaṇa also immediately fell at the Lord’s feet.

COMMENT

Why did Lord Caitanya offer obeisances to the brāhmaṇa? Vishakha?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:10:18]

Giriraj Swami: Yea, He was a disciple of Mādhavendra Purī who was the spiritual master of Īśvara Purī. So, he was on the same level as his spiritual master. The brahman was on the same level.

TEXT 170

prabhu kahe, — “tumi ‘guru’, āmi ‘śiṣya’-prāya
‘guru’ hañā ‘śiṣye’ namaskāra nā yuyaya

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are on the platform of My spiritual master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is not befitting that you offer Me obeisances.”

COMMENT

And why did the brahman offer obeisances to Lord Chaitanya?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:10:59]

Giriraj Swami:

TEXT 171

śuniyā vismita vipra kahe bhaya pāñā
aiche bāt kaha kene sannyāsī hañā

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became afraid. He then said, “Why do You speak like this? You are a sannyāsī.

TEXT 172

kintu tomāra prema dekhi’ mane anumāni
mādhavendra-purīra ‘sambandha’ dhara — jāni

TRANSLATION

“Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. This is my understanding.

COMMENT

Why did the brahman say so? That, seeing the ecstatic love in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he thought there must be some connection with Madhavendra Puri. So why did the brahman say so? Sunderananda?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:12:11]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, Madhavendra Puri was experiencing ecstatic love of Godhead. But why him in particular? Why does the brahman think of him in particular?

Yes, up until Madhavendra Puri, no one else had delivered such ecstatic love for Krishna.

So, seeing such ecstatic love in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he thought there must be some connection with Madhavendra Puri.

TEXT 173

kṛṣṇa-premā tāṅhā, yāṅhā tāṅhāra ‘sambandha’
tāhāṅ vinā ei premāra kāhāṅ nāhi Gandha

TRANSLATION

“This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible.”

TEXT 174

tabe bhaṭṭācārya tāre ‘sambandha’ kahila
śuni’ ānandita vipra nācite lāgila

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya then explained the relationship between Mādhavendra Purī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became very pleased and began to dance.

TEXT 175

tabe vipra prabhure lañā āilā nija-ghare
āpana-icchāya prabhura nānā sevā kare

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇa then took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and, out of his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.

TEXT 176

bhikṣā lāgi’ bhaṭṭācārye karāilā randhana
tabe mahāprabhu hāsi’ balilā vacana

TRANSLATION

He asked Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to cook Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lunch. At that time the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.

COMMENT

Why did the brahman ask Lord Chaitanya’s assistant to cook? Why didn’t the brahman prepare to cook himself? Mother Janaki?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:13:98]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the brahman was of a lower caste and therefore he felt that he was not fit to cook for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 177

“purī-gosāñi tomāra ghare karyāchena bhikṣā
more tumi bhikṣā deha, — ei mora ‘śikṣā’ ”

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Mādhavendra Purī has already taken lunch at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My instruction.”

TEXT 178

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

TRANSLATION

“Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (3.21).

COMMENT

So why did Lord Chaitanya quote the verse yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:15:06]

Giriraj Swami: He is saying that Madhavendra Puri was the acharya and he set the example. Therefore, by accepting prasāda at the house of the brahman, he was just following the example set by Madhavendra Puri.

TEXT 179

yadyapi ‘sanoḍiyā’ haya seita brāhmaṇa
sanoḍiyā-ghare sannyāsī nā kare bhojana

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa community, and a sannyāsī does not accept food from such a brāhmaṇa.

PURPORT

In northwestern India, vaiśyas are divided into various subdivisions. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura points out that they are divided as Āgarwālā, Kālawāra, and Sānwāḍa. Out of them, the Āgarwālās are said to be first-class vaiśyas, and the Kālawāras and Sānwāḍas are considered lower due to their occupational degradation. The Kālawāras generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although they are vaiśyas, they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who guide the Kālawāras and the Sānwāḍas are called Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇas. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that the word sānoyāḍa in Bengal indicates suvarṇa-vaṇik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarṇa-vaṇik community, which is also considered a low class. There is little difference between the Sānwāḍas and the suvarṇa-vaṇiks. Generally the suvarṇa-vaṇiks are bankers dealing in gold and silver. In western India, the Āgarwālās also belong to the banking profession. This is the original business of the suvarṇa-vaṇik or Āgarwālā community. Historically, the Āgarwālās came from the up-country named Ayodha, and the suvarṇa-vaṇik community also came from Ayodha. It therefore appears that the suvarṇa-vaṇiks and the Āgarwālās belong to the same community.

COMMENT

So, because the Sanoḍiyā brahmans, they are brahmans but because they guide lower-class peoples who engage in sinful activities, they are considered lower class. That is why in Jagannatha Puri, the Pandas deny entrance into the temple to non-Hindus. But not only non-Hindus and non-Indians, but even to Hindus and Indians who are members of the Hare Krishna movement. Why?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:17:38]

Giriraj Swami: Kunti devi?

Because ISKCON has low-class people. So even the Indians or the Hindus who join ISKCON are considered by them to have become contaminated and fallen by association.

So that is why the Sanoḍiyā brahmans, even though they are brahmans, are still considered to be lower class because of association with sinful people. This is the idea of caste brahmans or Samarta brahmans. It is not the idea of Madhavendra Puri or Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

PURPORT (continued)

The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇas were the guides of the Kālawāras and Sānwāḍas. They are therefore considered to be lower-class brāhmaṇas, and a sannyāsī is not allowed to take alms or food from them.

COMMENT

Why not? Why a sannyasi is not allowed to take food from them?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:20:06]

Giriraj Swami: You know you must know.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:20:14]

Giriraj Swami: Such brahmans are considered contaminated by sinful associations, so if sannyasis take food from such brahmans then food will also be contaminated and sannyasi may be affected. Therefore, they are not allowed to take such food. 

PURPORT (continued)

However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa simply because he belonged to Mādhavendra Purī’s community. Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī was the spiritual master of Īśvara Purī, who was the spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus a spiritual relationship is established on the spiritual platform, without consideration of material inferiority or superiority.

COMMENT

In other words, because the brahman was a Vaishnava, so he was transcendental to material superiority or inferiority. In other words, if someone feels superior or inferior because of his birth or his family, he is in the bodily conception of life. Lord Chaitanya was not in the bodily conception of life, so he distinguished on the basis of spiritual advancement, not on the basis of family or caste.

TEXT 180

tathāpi purī dekhi’ tāṅra ‘vaiṣṇava’-ācāra
‘śiṣya’ kari’ tāṅra bhikṣā kaila aṅgīkāra

TRANSLATION

Although the brāhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoḍiyā community, Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī had seen that he behaved like a Vaiṣṇava and had therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he had cooked had also been accepted by Mādhavendra Purī.

TEXT 181

mahāprabhu tāṅre yadi ‘bhikṣā’ māgila
dainya kari’ sei vipra kahite lāgila

TRANSLATION

Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu willingly requested food from the brāhmaṇa, and the brāhmaṇa, feeling natural humility, began to speak as follows.

TEXT 182

tomāre ‘bhikṣā’ diba — baḍa bhāgya se āmāra
tumi — īśvara, nāhi tomāra vidhi-vyavahāra

TRANSLATION

“It is a great fortune for me to offer You food. You are the Supreme Lord, and being in the transcendental position, You are not restricted in any way.

TEXT 183

‘mūrkha’-loka karibeka tomāra nindana
sahite nā pārimu sei ‘duṣṭe’ra vacana

TRANSLATION

“Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words of such mischievous people.”

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that although the brāhmaṇa did not belong to a superior community, he fearlessly chastised so-called caste brāhmaṇas because he was situated on the platform of pure devotional service. There are people who are opposed to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s accepting a Vaiṣṇava belonging to a lower caste. Such people do not consider mahā-prasādam transcendental, and therefore they are described here as mūrkha (foolish) and duṣṭa (mischievous). A pure devotee has the power to challenge such high-caste people, and his brave statements are not to be considered proud or puffed up. On the contrary, he is to be considered straightforward. Such a person does not like to flatter high-class brāhmaṇas who belong to the non-Vaiṣṇava community.

COMMENT

In other words, he knew that people would criticize Lord Chaitanya for taking prasāda at his house, but he was prepared to follow the order of Lord Chaitanya and defy the people who would criticize him.

So, we will continue next week.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:23:36]

Giriraj Swami: No, they don’t appreciate mahā-prasāda; mahā-prasāda is offered to the deity. They don’t accept the deity. They don’t accept the form of the Lord. They don’t accept that the Lord has senses. They don’t accept that He eats, so they don’t appreciate mahā-prasāda. They will take food cooked by a high-class brahman because they think that he is pure, but mahā-prasāda is always pure. Mahā-prasāda means food cooked by a Vaishnava and offered to Krishna. So, because the Sanoḍiyā brahman was a Vaishnava, he could cook the food and offer it to Krishna. The food would become mahā-prasāda, which is transcendental. But the impersonalists could not appreciate the mahā-prasāda; they could only see the fact that he is a Sanoḍiyā brahman and he is of a lower caste. They couldn’t appreciate that he is a Vaishnava and that the food cooked by him is mahā-prasāda.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:25:58]

Giriraj Swami: Lord Krishna accomplishes many things with one action. Krishna may have many purposes to fulfill in one action. Certainly, by leaving Srimati Radharani, He created the situation where all of the gopīs became united, and therefore after He came back to the gopīs, they were all just happy to have the association of Krishna again. They were reunited.

It is also true that Krishna wanted to increase the ecstasy of the gopīs in separation, and by being away from them, they would increase their ecstasy or increase their feelings of love in separation. It is also true that he wanted to show the world how exalted the love of the gopīs is, which is demonstrated more in separation. It is also true that Srimati Radharani enjoys her pastimes with Krishna more with her associates. But I don’t know if Krishna had the idea that I am not sure about the conclusion that she derived, but certainly Radharani is more happy to be with Krishna in the association of other associates of hers, other friends. And of course, Radharani was proud. She was in the mood of pride, but we should not think of it as material pride. It is transcendental. So, the idea that Krishna left her because she was proud and He didn’t want her to be proud and He doesn’t want any of His devotees to be proud is a lesson that can be derived from the pastime. But the lesson is really meant for people on our level. The lesson is not really meant for people on the level of gopīs. So, I wouldn’t say that there are different interpretations. There may be different interpretations, but I would say that Krishna achieves many purposes with one act. And therefore, one devotee can perceive many reasons why Krishna performs one act, or various devotees can perceive various reasons why Krishna performs the same act, and they all may be correct because Krishna fulfills many purposes through one action.

All of the activities of Krishna and the residents of Vrindavan are on the transcendental platform, and whatever the devotees do is to increase the pleasure of Krishna. Whatever Krishna does is to increase the pleasure of the devotees. So, if Krishna left Srimati Radharani and the other gopīs, the ultimate purpose was to create more pleasure in the future. If Radharani becomes proud with Krishna, the purpose is to create more pleasure in the future. Sometimes Krishna spoke to Srimati Radharani that, because Radharani’s chief rival is Chandravali, so sometimes Krishna spoke to Srimati Radharani that you are my only beloved, I cannot live without you. Nobody else matters to me except you, Chandravali. And he said that to Radharani. So, when Radharani heard this, she became very upset and then she expressed her jealous anger and would not have anything to do with Krishna. She told Krishna, “Oh, you love Chandra? Then go at once to Chandra. Don’t come to me. I have no connection with You. Don’t come to me at all.” Now, Krishna deliberately said the name of Chandra to arouse Radharani’s jealous anger so that in the future, He would have to come to her, beg her to forgive Him, and serve her and try to please her in so many ways. So, in other words, He wanted the opportunity to serve her. By making her angry, He created a situation so that in the future where He could serve her more. Everything in the pastimes of Krishna is to increase the pleasure of Krishna and the devotees. She also got angry because she knew that her anger would lead to more pleasure for Krishna.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:34:11]

Giriraj Swami: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has Twelve Cantos, and the pastimes of Krishna come in the Tenth. So, we should read the first Nine Cantos before we read the Tenth Canto; then we should read the Tenth so that we have a proper understanding of Krishna, His associates and pastimes. Generally, Caitanya-caritāmṛta is considered. . . However, we cannot distinguish like this. However, definitely the first Nine Cantos come before Caitanya-caritāmṛta. When we come to the Tenth Canto, there isn’t much difference between the Tenth Canto and Caitanya-caritāmṛta because they are on the same platform. But the first Nine Cantos would come before Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Srila Prabhupada gave the Kṛṣṇa book very early and the Kṛṣṇa book is Tenth Canto. Some disciple asked Srila Prabhupada that, “We are supposed to read the Tenth Canto after the first Nine, but you gave the Kṛṣṇa book is given in the beginning before the other Cantos, why? Srila Prabhupada said that sometimes, to get the child to eat the rest of the meal, the parent will give the sweet first. So, we are attracted by Krishna’s pastimes and inspired in Krishna consciousness, it is good. That will also encourage us to follow the whole process, read the books, and accept the austerities that are required in Krishna consciousness. The moment of association is important.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:38:10]

Giriraj Swami: Well, the answer comes in tomorrow’s class on the eligibility of the candidates, which we will discuss tomorrow and the next day. But the basic qualifications are that he should be fortunate; fortunate means he should have rendered some service to pure devotees before. And he should not be too attached to material things or too detached. This means not being too attached to material enjoyment and he should not be too attached to artificial renunciation. And he should have faith in the sadhu. If he has faith in the sadhu and he is not too attached and not too detached in the artificial way, then he can get bhakti even by a moment’s association. Haridasa Thakura, Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, they didn’t enter the temple because the people would have been disturbed. Lord Chaitanya, who is Jagannatha himself, used to visit daily, Haridasa Thakura. When they were there Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, so he did not approve of the restrictions, but he did not agitate the situation. They were not allowed to come and see Jagannatha but Jagannatha himself Lord Chaitanya used to go and see them.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:41:32]

Giriraj Swami: Prabhupada didn’t enter because of sympathy for his disciples, he did not want his disciples to feel bad that he was going but they were not going. [audio cut] Maybe some disciples have gone with him then the others who couldn’t felt bad. But he did not anyone to feel bad so he didn’t go. One story is that he merged into the deity?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:42:56]

Giriraj Swami: Where does the story about the ocean comes from?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:43:10]

Giriraj Swami: The script of the video was done according to some scripture? We have to see what is the authority. And what is the authority of the statement that he went into the deity?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:43:55]

Giriraj Swami: So, you told her that Lord Chaitanya merged into the deity of Tota Gopinatha. So, what is your authority?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:44:16]

Giriraj Swami: When we hear some statement that we do not know whether to accept it or not, we should find out the authority for the statement. Because even different members of ISKCON might make different statements. We should find out what is the authority of the statement then we can know whether some statement is authorized or not. Sometimes the Indian movies do not tell the story exactly according to the scripture or the previous acharya. Even ISKCON television sometimes takes Indian movies, makes English subtitles, or maybe edits them to some extent. Still, there may be things in the movie that are not in the scriptures. We cannot take the movies as authoritative unless we know they are done according to the scripture and acharya.

We know he went to the temple of Tota Gopinatha and never came out. But we can’t necessarily believe the pujaris because they have even with deities there may be several temples claim that they have the original deities; several temples claim that they have original deities of Krishnadasa Kaviraja, and they also have different stories. And we can’t necessarily accept the statements of the priests also. We really have to go by the scriptures and by the acharyas. It may be that Lord Chaitanya entered the deity and one can see the spot he entered, but we cannot accept it just because the pujari said it. We have to get some authoritative information. And then If what the local people say is not contrary to the standards, facts, then we could accept it as evidence, provided that what they say is correct according to siddhanta or philosophical conclusions and according to rasas. If what they say is correct according to siddhanta and rasa, even if we do not have information about the pastime from the scriptures, it can still be accepted.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:49:13]

Giriraj Swami: In what order should we read Srila Prabhupada’s books?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:49:25]

Giriraj Swami: Generally, Īśopaniṣad is considered the most introductory, then Bhagavad-gītā, then The Nectar of Devotion, then Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, then Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:50:20]

Giriraj Swami: Keep on reading what? Yes, we should continue to read the books again

and again.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:50:35]

Giriraj Swami: Well, it is enough until you feel the need for more.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:51:06]

Giriraj Swami: Well, what is the meaning of recreation in Krishna consciousness? In Bhagavad-gītā, which should have been the second book that you read, Srila Prabhupada says that there is no question of recreation for a devotee. Recreation is the contrasting term for work. But a devotee has no work, so he has no recreation; he only has bhakti.

[audio cut]

What is the problem for you?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:52:42]

Giriraj Swami: You want to stay neophyte? Well, we want to remain neophyte means we want to hold on to our attachments. We want to become uttama-adhikārī means we are prepared to give up our attachments. So we should be prepared. God is not cheap. How can we remain attached to so many material things and expect to get Krishna? You get a lump in your throat because you have to give up something that you don’t want to give up. Either you have to give up the idea of going back to Godhead, or you have to give up the things that you are attached to here. You have got a lump in your throat because you don’t want to give anything up, but at some stage, you have to choose and give up one or the other. So, you should think whether it is worth holding on to some material attachment at the expense of going back to Godhead. But it is a gradual process, and then you return it. When the body dies, you don’t die. So next life, next life, next life, next life, until you decide to give up your attachment, then you can go back to Godhead. God is not cheap.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:55:07]

Giriraj Swami: The question is whether to follow the instruction of the spiritual master or not, in terms of bathing in Radha-kunda, whether we bathe in Radha-kunda even if the spiritual master doesn’t give us permission?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:56:36]

Giriraj Swami: I still don’t understand the question. By the spiritual master—do you mean Srila Prabhupada?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:57:09]

Giriraj Swami: Well, you can take a bath on that day. It is a special day.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:58:32]

Giriraj Swami: I haven’t read it, but I have heard that there are some differences between the book and somebody showed me something which they thought was not correct, some statement that Prabhupada supposedly made, which the devotee didn’t really think that could have been made. I don’t know. I haven’t read it. I don’t know if the review board has reviewed it also.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:00:51]

Giriraj Swami: Vrindavan Days by Hayagriva dasa. Do you know anything about Hayagriva dasa?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:01:10]

Giriraj Swami: Do you know anything else besides what you read in Prabhupada’s letter? Well, he left ISKCON and he was with Kirtanananda Swami in New Vrindavan, and he stayed there until the end. And at least for some time, he had difficulty with the four principles. But even otherwise, he didn’t stay in ISKCON.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:02:38]

Giriraj Swami: Well, the review board said that something that is not approved by the review board can’t be sold. The review board may give some guidance for people who are interested in what the review board has determined. We don’t really have any system whereby books not approved by the review board are not sold in ISKCON centers. Many books have not been reviewed by the review board. So, what to do? How do we know if it is nectar or poison or a mixture of both?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:05:12]

Giriraj Swami: Well, the main thing is devotion, and the rules and regulations are meant to help us to develop devotion. But if we just follow the rules and regulations fanatically without really understanding the purpose behind them, we might miss the point. One year, Srila Prabhupada was instructing some disciples to prepare a book about deity worship, and he told the disciples to keep it simple because in Kali-yuga, the main process is hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, and we should always remember that. The rules and regulations are for the purification of the pujari. They are not really for the pleasure of the deity. So, it doesn’t mean that because you do more rituals that you are offering a higher standard of worship to the deity, because many of the rituals are meant to help the pujari to be in better consciousness. Someone might be in better consciousness without doing so many performances.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:07:43]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, there should be some basic standard of deity worship which everyone should follow. If some pujari wants to do more little things, then he can, but he can’t say that that is the standard for all pujaris.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:08:25]

Giriraj Swami: Who can answer? He says we committed many offenses against devotees in the past which we have forgotten, so how can we become free from the reaction?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:09:04]

Giriraj Swami: Any other advice?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:09:56]

Giriraj Swami: Well, I hope they were accurate in printing what Srila Prabhupada said.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:11:37]

Giriraj Swami: Even after you go back to Godhead, you can fall down again?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:11:45]

Giriraj Swami: Because in Bhagavad-gītā, Krishna says that the one who returns to His abode never comes back here. And Srila Prabhupada commented that someone might fall down, but then having experience of the material world and going back to Godhead, then he will never make the same mistake again.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:12:34]

Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada had one son who wanted to put his finger in the fan and Srila Prabhupada kept saying no, and the boy kept insisting. Then one friend of Srila Prabhupada suggested that he put the fan on low speed and let the boy do it. Then after the boy did it, naturally he got a little cut by the fan, and he never wanted to do it again. So, if someone has experience of the material world and then goes to the spiritual world, you don’t think that you should make the same mistake and come here again.

[audio cut]

He teaches him?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:14:15]

Giriraj Swami: Somebody knows something that the other person doesn’t know, or you can do something better than the other person, so he explains how to do it and shows how to do it.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:14:44]

Giriraj Swami: Well, if she knows more than he does, it is all right. I don’t have any prejudices that she shouldn’t know more than him.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:15:32]

Giriraj Swami: So, you can serve the dhāma by preaching and bringing others to the dhāma. Bringing others to the dhāma means bringing them to Krishna consciousness, and then when they come to Krishna consciousness, eventually they will approach the dhāma. So, whatever you have learned and realized about Krishna consciousness, you should share with others, and that would be the best way to serve the dhāma. Otherwise, you can do service to the deities, give donations to serve the deities, serve these Vaishnavas, or clean the temples. There are so many services. Serve the devotees, prasādam and so many services. Put on a drama to entertain them.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:17:17]

Giriraj Swami: Well, the idea was never taken up by the temple authorities or by the GBC even, so you can ask the person who had the idea and publish the book if they have done anything about it. We never had anything to do with it until now.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:18:20]

Giriraj Swami: Well, like you said, whatever one thinks at the time of death, one will attain.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:19:23]

Giriraj Swami: Well, if he got some mercy from the dhāma to think of Krishna at the time of death, it would help. But being in the dhāma means something more than just the body being there. So, if he is in the Ganges and at the time of death he is thinking of his family in South Africa or whatever, then I think he is more in South Africa than he is in Mayapur dhāma. He will get some benefits, but we can’t say that if he dies thinking of something mundane, that he is going to the spiritual world because he died in Mayapur.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:20:36]

Giriraj Swami: What is the question?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:20:57]

Giriraj Swami: What do you think the animals think of at the time of death?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:21:20]

Giriraj Swami: You can serve the cows. You can give service to cows.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:22:35]

Giriraj Swami: Well, Lord Chaitanya instructed one devotee who was to go to Vrindavan that he should be respectful of the vrajavāsīs and that he should not mix intimately with them, because their ways are different.

Devotee: If they ask, should we give them money?

Giriraj Swami: The vrajavāsīs ask the money?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:23:12]

Giriraj Swami: But they should not charge more. We should also not give them more. Otherwise they will try to cheat others. It will be harder for other devotees when they come here.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that dhāma is covered by a thin veneer of maya. When we say the local people are smoking or drinking or engaging in material activities for sense gratification, we shouldn’t think that they are actually in the dhāma. They are not actually in the dhāma. There is a thin covering of maya that separates them from the dhāma, or that separates dhāma from them. Otherwise, why can’t Prabhupada write that one can go to Vrindavan by purchasing a ticket? But It is not so easy that just being here physically we can think or claim that we are actually in Vrindavan. Sometimes in Mayapur, you take the boat and see that the local people on the boat, they are smoking. They throw their cigarettes in the Ganges. Is that what it means to stay in Mayapur? The problem is, we want something easy and fast and cheap. Just come to the dhāma and die and go back to Godhead without any qualifications. God is not so easy or cheap. And how fast we reach him depends on us and the intensity of our practices and our surrender.

[audio cut]

Well, if we have material attachments, we want to fool around with some sense gratification and material relationships. Why should we even go back to Godhead? We do not have those things there.

[audio cut]

Serve Krishna and please Krishna, you can do right here. You don’t have to go anywhere else. [audio cut] other desires, that is the main problem, have to give up the other desires. If we have material desires, why should we go to the Spiritual world? Because we won’t be able to fulfill them there. We should stay in the material world Until we are free from material desires. In other words, until your spiritual desires are strong enough that they replace your material desires. If we actually want to serve Krishna, and please Krishna, we can do it here. But if we have other desires, then we will have other desires then we will the other engagements. And then if we want to go back to Godhead, what is the meaning? We want to go back to Godhead for our own happiness. That means we desire liberation. Of course, desiring liberation is not bad, but it is not pure devotional service. But still, either the desire for material enjoyment or the desire for liberation, both are selfish desires and are not pure devotional service. Pure devotional service can be executed as much here as anywhere else; as much here as in the spiritual world. If we want pure devotional service, there is no material impediment. But if we think there is so much botheration here, so many headaches, so many toothaches, so many stomachaches. So, I just want to go to the spiritual world, so that I don’t have to suffer. Well, it is good to not want to suffer. But wanting to go to the spiritual world to get relief from the material miseries is desire for liberation. Pure devotees do not desire liberation, they only desire is to please Krishna which you can do here. [audio cut] In the spiritual world, we don’t have to deal with the people we don’t like here. But then what if they also go? You will meet the same people that you despise here. Then, what will you do? So we have to become free from such things, hatred, pride, envy. [audio cut] You want to go back to Godhead because otherwise the spiritual master will have to come back? You should go. Be qualified, how can you go without being qualified? We have to make ourselves qualified. Of course, we can pray for mercy. We don’t pray to go back to Godhead. We pray for devotional service.