CC Madhya 19.132 – The Brhad-mrdanga, Sant Nagar

Giriraj Swami: So, I am very happy to be here amongst all of you in this magnificent temple during the Prabhupada book distribution marathon. Today we will read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Yesterday, His Holiness Gopal Krishna Gosvami Maharaja said that I can speak on any verse of my choice. So, I thought of speaking on this verse that is appropriate to the time, place, and circumstances. We will read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Nineteen, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.”

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

TEXT 132

ei-kathā śuni’ mahāntera mahā-sukha haya
caitanyera kṛpā yāṅhe, tāṅhe ki vismaya?

TRANSLATION

When the personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would hear of the activities of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs, they would say, “What is wonderful for a person who has been granted the Lord’s mercy?”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī had no fixed residence. They stayed beneath a tree for one day only and wrote huge volumes of transcendental literature. They not only wrote books but chanted, danced, discussed Kṛṣṇa and remembered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. Thus they executed devotional service.

COMMENT

So, the first paragraph of the purport summarizes some of the wonderful activities of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, that they have no fixed residence and they would sleep every night under different trees in Vrindavan. And it is said that when they were staying in different places, because of their advanced devotional service and the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, different pastimes of Krishna will be revealed practically under every tree in Vrindavan that Krishna wandered and enjoyed pastimes. When I read this, or heard this, I should say, because at that stage Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta was not yet published, but when I heard of this, I could see that I thought I also should not be attached to a fixed place. So, at that time, I was living in the Calcutta temple, which is still there. And we all brahmacharis lay on the floor on mats. But instead of trees, we have ceiling fans. So, I used to joke that every night I would sleep under a different fan to cultivate that mood of vairāgya.

PURPORT (continued)

In Vṛndāvana there are prākṛta-sahajiyās who say that writing books or even touching books is taboo. For them, devotional service means being relieved from these activities. Whenever they are asked to hear a recitation of Vedic literature, they refuse, saying, “What business do we have reading or hearing transcendental literatures? They are meant for neophytes.” They pose themselves as too elevated to exert energy for reading, writing and hearing. 

COMMENT

So, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura took his parikramā party to Radha-kunda, he spoke for many days and these babajis of Radha-kunda, many of whom are sahajiyās thought that he is such a great mahā-bhāgavata, he will speak some intimate līlās of Radha and Krishna. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura proved that they are not at that platform. So instead, he spoke on Sri Īśopaniṣad. And they thought, What do we have to do with the Upanishad? This is like jnanis or something else, they were not interested. But it was a very important principle in devotional service, to know what service is appropriate. And Srila Rupa Gosvami recited a very nice verse from Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu that, Śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā, that devotional service which is not according to the revealed scriptures, aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate, simply causes a disturbance. Therefore, he compiled many books, especially Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, which Srila Prabhupada has given as summary study as The Nectar of Devotion, to guide us how to practice devotional service, not by our own mental concoction, but according to authoritative scriptures. Nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau sad-dharma-saṁsthāpakau, the six Gosvamis were very expert in scrutinizing in the revealed scripture in the aim of establishing eternal religious principles. And Srila Prabhupada said that Krishna consciousness movement is being conducted under the supervision of Rupa Gosvami, following his directions given in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu.

There is another great predecessor acharya who lived in Vrindavan, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji. And he was known for his deep absorption in aṣṭa-kālīya-smaraṇam, that is thinking of Krishna’s pastimes in various parts of the day. So, some devotees came to him thinking that he would instruct them in these very high esoteric practices. But instead, he told them that they should come work in the garden, cultivate fruits and flowers and vegetables to offer to the Lord. So, these disciples didn’t like that, and they had come for some esoteric instructions. So, they complaint to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that, “We came to know aṣṭa-kālīya-smaraṇam and he told us to grow potatoes and tomatoes.” And Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura replied that, “He is giving you the right instruction. You should obey his instructions. Anyone who think that he can engage in these higher practices, you just fall asleep and you daydream about things.”

So, there are authorized scriptures and they give instructions, also there is the question, which instruction is appropriate for us. Fortunately, Srila Prabhupada has adjusted, not exactly adjusted, but in scripted the instructions of the previous acharyas and the scriptures, and created a program in ISKCON that everyone can follow and make advancement. Certainly, reading his books and discussing his books are a very important part. So, yes, should just repeat.

PURPORT (continued)

“Whenever they are asked to hear a recitation of Vedic literature, they refuse, saying, “What business do we have reading or hearing transcendental literatures? They are meant for neophytes.” They pose themselves as too elevated to exert energy for reading, writing and hearing. However, pure devotees under the guidance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī reject this sahajiyā philosophy. It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’s opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books.

COMMENT

So, this is paramparā. Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami and all of the six Gosvamis, they wrote books for the enlightenment of the general populous, which is us. And that instruction and that practice has come down through paramparā to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura who wrote many books. And he instructed his disciples to write books. And Srila Prabhupada, obediently followed the instructions of his guru Maharaja, and he wrote so many books. In fact, it is inconceivable that someone could write so many books in such a short time. Srila Prabhupada, he came to America in 1965, and other than Easy Journey to Other Planets and the First Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which were very important books. That it was only when he had the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that he felt ready to come to America. It was also his guru Maharaja’s instruction to preach the philosophy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in English language. But he didn’t feel to come alone. He wanted to have some books. And then having translated and published Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam First Canto, he felt ready. And from the very beginning in New York City, he was selling his books. He would go to the bookstores. Some years later, when some devotees were doing research about Srila Prabhupada’s life, and interviewing people, they went to some bookstores where Srila Prabhupada had distributed his books. They remembered, “Yes, one very nice Indian gentleman came, and he would always give us, they didn’t know the name, but Samosas; he used to give Samosa when he went to sell them his books.”

And he said, from the very beginning, the basis of his movement was both publication and distribution of books. He said that there are temples in India who tried to get money by showing the deity. But he said that is not proper. According to spiritual science, there are two paths. One is called a pāñcarātrika-vidhi, that is deity worship and other is bhāgavata-mārga which means chanting and hearing about Krishna, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So, he said that pāñcarātrika-vidhi is important for purification. But the real propaganda is from the distribution of books, the message of Krishna. That should be the economic basis of a temple or a preaching mission. So, from the very beginning, he did that. And he was not eager to build temples. When money came from book distribution, he thought to utilize that money to build temple. So one follows the other.

PURPORT (continued)

He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. Temple construction is meant for the general populace and neophyte devotees, but the business of advanced and empowered devotees is to write books, publish them and distribute them widely.

COMMENT

So, Srila Prabhupada wrote books and he want his followers also to write books. And publish the books and distribute them which all of you are doing. And this is the business of an advanced empowered devotee. So, we must all be advanced empowered devotees or else you are in that line of humble service, serving the servants of the servants of the advanced empowered devotees. [Unintelligible 00:26:30]

PURPORT (continued)

According to Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mṛdaṅga. 

COMMENT

He would call the printing press as bṛhad-mṛdaṅga, the great mridanga because an ordinary mridanga used in hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, which is also important. It is not that we should not give importance but that beating of mridanga in hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana could be heard for a few blocks, but the bṛhad-mṛdaṅga, printing press, publication of books that can be heard all over the world. Many devotees have had their experience. I have experience. I was the first devotee from ISKCON to go to West Africa, Nigeria. His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja mentioned about the struggle to get land in Juhu and to build temple. So, we needed funds to build temples and I had a friend in Bombay, a very nice man Damodara Chandrai, who had a very big business in Lagos, Nigeria. And he suggested that if we come there we could raise some needed funds for the Juhu temple. So, I thought I will try. So I wrote the GBC, Brahmananda Prabhu who was in East Africa at the time in Nairobi. He said, “Okay, I will join you in Lagos and we will collect together and I will keep half and you can keep half for Juhu.” So, I mention this to Srila Prabhupada, he said, “What do you need Brahmananda for? You go and collect and you bring all the money.” His priority was the Juhu project. So, I went and we did do some hari-nāma, and the people really gather around me – the really like music and drums. But there were some people who approached me, the African people, they were impressed and they started speaking about Bhagavad-gītā and keep talking about the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. And I said, “How do you know all these things? Did you ever meet devotees?” They said, “No.” “Then how do you get this knowledge?” So, they said, “We had a friend who went to London, and he met some devotees on the street, and he bought some books from them and then he brought those books to Lagos, to Nigeria. And he was sharing with his friends.” So, even before the devotees had gone there, Srila Prabhupada books had reached there and people were learning about Krishna consciousness.

Sometimes the whole [Unintelligible 00:31:30]. That was the case with Venezuela, a country in South America. One devotee, not a western devotee. A tourist from Venezuela visited Israel and in Israel he met some devotees and got some books from them. He himself was not a devotee but he brought them back and he shared them with his friends. And they started reading the Krishna consciousness philosophy and started to chant. And they started practice Krishna consciousness without meeting any devotees except the one devotee who gave them the books. And eventually, they have whole community of devotees. It is all because of Srila Prabhupada’s books. That is bṛhad-mṛdaṅga, that can be heard all over the world. Same in Russia, you might know the history. In 1977, there is an international book fair in Moscow and the BBT went, Srila Gopal Krishna Gosvami Maharaja. Of course, Srila Prabhupada went and initiated a disciple, Anant Shanti dasa – that was the beginning. It really increased when the books entered. In Srila Prabhupada’s last days in Vrindavan, they were discussing this all day that they take the books, they want more books, and it was Gopal Krishna Gosvami’s contribution. And now I don’t know if those sort of titles that [Unintelligible 00:34:35]. And his title was bhāgavata-pada. I thought that was very appropriate because Bhagavat, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and also mahā-bhāgavata Srila Prabhupada. So, bhāgavata-pada, he is serving the feet of Srila Prabhupada, mahā-bhāgavata and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. That is how we feel the potency here, the Delhi temple area feel the whole potency here because of that strong connection to paramparā and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gopal Krishna Gosvami Maharaja. 

So now, Srila Prabhupada concluded this purport.

PURPORT (continued)

Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, one can become a rūpānuga devotee.

COMMENT

So, here Srila Prabhupada brings the purport back to the first point, that there are sahajiyās. Sahajiyās are those who take things very cheaply. [unintelligible 00:37:14] called rūpānugas. Rupa means Rupa Gosvami and anuga means follows. Here rūpānuga means just wearing the loincloth, staying under the trees in the nights and don’t eat much. But that is there, that is sort of the external manifestation of their internal Krishna consciousness. But the result of their internal Krishna consciousness is that they wrote many books. They simply live under the trees and they wrote treasures of transcendental knowledge in the form of books.

So here, Srila Prabhupada very expertly, skillfully, and beautifully is coming back to the original point that being a rūpānuga doesn’t mean dress in loincloth and sitting under trees but the real essence is Srila Rupa Gosvami describes śrī-caitanya-mano-’bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale, he understood the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and he was empowered to establish the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on earth. That is done primarily, not exclusively but primarily through writing and publishing and distributing books. And this is the paramparā and this has been seen here and experience it. Srila Prabhupada said it is like a train, that “My guru Maharaja pushed me like a train,” one cart push the other, other cart push the other. He said, “My guru Maharaja is pushing me and I am pushing all of you.” And now it is continuing the pushing through paramparā and that is seen and experienced very vividly and the whole temple is surcharged with that mood and it’s very enlivening.

So, I am very indebted to my dear friend and senior godbrother, Srila Gopal Krishna Gosvami Maharaja for his amazing service, not only in Delhi but it is very tangible in Delhi. And you are also very important to be connected to that advanced and empowered devotee, and by continuing in the same line, you will also become advanced and carry on the tradition. Hare Krishna.

Do you have any questions or comments?

Gopal Krishna Gosvami: [Unintelligible 00:42:00] I often tell devotees that we have so many facilities. I tell that Srila Prabhupada resided in Radha Damodar mandir in Vrindavana, regularly travelled to Delhi to distribute books, and then he would go and sell to coffee houses in Delhi his Back to Godhead magazines. He would go to the library and he would explain. Prabhupada spent so much time and stayed in the temple in Chippiwada. [unintelligible 00:43:10]

Devotee: [unintelligible 00:43:38] Now Prabhupada’s disciples are also writing and publishing books. So, there is confusion like if we should read Prabhupada’s books or read his disciples’ books?

Giriraj Swami: That is the good question. Definitely we should read Srila Prabhupada books. He is really empowered by Krishna, kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nāhe tāra pravartana. [Unintelligible 00:45:10] are the main books that we should distribute and study.

So, Srila Prabhupada also instructed his disciples to write. He established the Back to Godhead magazine in America so that his disciples would have a place where their writings could be published. He introduced Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class. Not just reading, but there is a potency in discussing. In fact, one of the last purports that Srila Prabhupada dictated on his bed in Vrindavan. He said, “Discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily as much as possible. Each and every word is transcendental. The more we discuss, more the subject becomes clarified.” So, that is our process, satāṁ prasaṅgāt mama virya saṁvido, to discuss in association of devotees. Yes, it is Prabhupada’s instruction that his disciples should write. He personally instructed me and [Unintelligible 00:46:46]. But the mood is never and obviously to compete with Srila Prabhupada or to surpass Srila Prabhupada but the mood is to serve Srila Prabhupada and perhaps inspire people to take his books and read his books. [Unintelligible 00:47:40] as he says his goal is that by reading his books, people will read Srila Prabhupada’s books.

You know the story of Lord Chaitanya, that as Nimai Pandit, some of His students rebelled against Him, [Unintelligible 00:48:10]. So after due consideration that phrases there in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, that after due consideration, He accepted sannyasa because in India people respect sannyasis, especially in that culture. So, Prabhu was thinking, people in the West don’t hear us so much, so what is the equivalent of taking sannyasa in the West? The equivalent is getting a PhD. He has a PhD so people will respect him. And then because they respect him, they buy his books, take his classes, and then when they are ready they can take Srila Prabhupada’s books. And the example is of the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Prabhupada said to scientifically preach the same philosophy as the Bhagavad-gītā but present it in scientific terminology so those scientists will appreciate. And he instructed Srila  Bhakti Svarupa Damodar Swami Maharaja. Even in Prabhupada’s lifetime he wrote a little book, The Scientific Basis of Krishna Consciousness. So, it is the same philosophy. It is all Prabhupada, really. [Unintelligible 00:50:22]. When Prabhupada came to Boston in 1970, he had a meeting with the staff of Back to Godhead. At that time the press was in Boston. And so they were asking him, what should he be the order of the articles in Back to Godhead. So, he said, “If there is anything by my guru Maharaja, his should be first, and then mine, and then all of yours. And then he said, “Actually, all the articles are written by me, but they are just being submitted in different names.” So, if we are transparent as we are supposed to be, they should all identify Srila Prabhupada but just in different names. Hare Krishna

So, I think we will end now. So, thank you for your association and encouragement and I do hope to come back again.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Gaura-Bhakta-Vrnda ki jaya!