CC Madhya 15.103–107 – Sri Gaura-purnima

Giriraj Swami: We welcome you on the most auspicious occasion of Sri Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Chaitanya. Today, I thought to read two or three verses that are spoken by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in reply to a question from some devotees, householder devotees, asking what is their duty. 

The residents of Kulīna-grāma, who were very dear to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, would come to Jagannatha Puri every year for the Ratha-Yatra, and every year for three consecutive years they asked Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the same question. And every year Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave a similar answer. And I will begin with the first year and then I will mention briefly what the difference was the next two years. Please repeat.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

We will read from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Fifteen:

TEXT 102

tabe rāmānanda, āra satyarāja khāṅna

prabhura caraṇe kichu kaila nivedana

TRANSLATION

After this, Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān both submitted questions at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 103

gṛhastha viṣayī āmi, ki mora sādhane
śrī-mukhe ājñā kara prabhu — nivedi caraṇe

TRANSLATION

Satyarāja Khān said, “My dear Lord, being a householder and a materialistic man, I do not know the process of advancing in spiritual life. I therefore submit myself unto Your lotus feet and request You to give me orders.”

TEXT 104

prabhu kahena, — ‘kṛṣṇa-sevā’, ‘vaiṣṇava-sevana’
‘nirantara kara kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana’

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaiṣṇavas.”

TEXT 105

satyarāja bale, — vaiṣṇava ciniba kemane?
ke vaiṣṇava, kaha tāṅra sāmānya lakṣaṇe

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing this, Satyarāja said, “How can I recognize a Vaiṣṇava? Please let me know what a Vaiṣṇava is. What are his common symptoms?”

TEXT 106

prabhu kahe, — “yāṅra mukhe śuni eka-bāra
kṛṣṇa-nāma, sei pūjya, — śreṣṭha sabākāra”

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whoever chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that a person who simply chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once becomes perfect and should be regarded as a Vaiṣṇava. This is confirmed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Upadeśāmṛta (5): kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta. With such faith in the holy name one may begin a life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with such faith. One should accept the holy name of Kṛṣṇa to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. As the Padma Purāṇa states, “The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is identical with Kṛṣṇa and is like a cintāmaṇi gem, a touchstone. That name is Kṛṣṇa personified in sound and is therefore perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination.” Thus one should understand that the name “Kṛṣṇa” and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name.

When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional service — especially in Deity worship — and follows the order of a bona fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone can take advantage of hearing about Kṛṣṇa consciousness from such a devotee and thus gradually become purified. In other words, any devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaiṣṇavas.

One is known as a materialistic devotee if he simply worships the Deity of Hari with faith but does not show proper respect to the devotees and to others. This is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47):

arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate

na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ

Yet even by associating with such a neophyte devotee, one can become a devotee also. When Lord Caitanya was teaching Sanātana Gosvāmī, He said:

śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī
‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniṣṭha’ — śraddhā-anusārī
yāhāra komala-śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana
krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’
rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta-taratama

“A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, or a neophyte. The neophyte, however, can become an advanced devotee if he strictly follows the regulative principles set down by the spiritual master. Therefore it is on the basis of faith and attachment to Kṛṣṇa that one can judge who is a madhyama-adhikārī or an uttama-adhikārī.” (Cc. Madhya 22.64, 69, 71)

It is thus concluded that even a neophyte devotee is superior to the karmīs and jñānīs because he has full faith in chanting the holy name of the Lord. A karmī or a jñānī, regardless of his greatness, has no faith in Lord Viṣṇu, His holy name or His devotional service. One may be advanced religiously, but if he is not trained in devotional service, he has very little credit on the transcendental platform. Even a neophyte devotee engaged in Deity worship in accordance with the regulations set forth by the spiritual master is in a position superior to that of the fruitive worker and speculative philosopher.

COMMENT

So there is a lot in this purport, but this verse and purport go with the next verse and purport so I will read those and then comment briefly.

TEXT 107

“eka kṛṣṇa-nāme kare sarva-pāpa kṣaya
nava-vidhā bhakti pūrṇa nāma haite haya

TRANSLATION

“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once, a person is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The nine types of devotional service are mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23):

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā

kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye ‘dhītam uttamam

“The process of devotional service entails hearing, chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, making friends with Him and dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service, when directly offered to Kṛṣṇa, constitute the highest attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.”

As for being freed from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa only once, one must chant the holy name without committing any offenses. Then chanting one name is sufficient to rescue a living being from all sinful reactions. Such a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is very important and worshipable. Indeed, the nine devotional processes, beginning with śravaṇa and kīrtana, can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly.

In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states in his book Bhakti-sandarbha (173): yadyapi anyā bhaktiḥ kalau kartavyā, tadā; kīrtanākhya-bhakti-saṁyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kīrtana is very important. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dāsya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kīrtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, ārati, bhoga offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

COMMENT

So, every year the residents of Kulīna-grāma would ask Chaitanya Mahaprabhu what is their duty as householders, and Lord Chaitanya would reply, “Your duty is to constantly chant the holy name.” Here the word is nirantara. Nirantara means constantly, without interruption. That one should constantly chant the holy name and whenever possible serve Krishna and the Vaishnavas. And every year, having received that instruction they would inquire, “How do we recognize a Vaishnava?” Because that is the most critical factor; if you are going to serve the Vaishnavas you have to know how to recognize a Vaishnava. And in this regard, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave a slightly different answer each year, but the answer every year indicated that a Vaishnava is someone who chants the holy name of Krishna without offense. 

This year, the first year, which we have just read, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that if one chants the holy name of the Lord even once he is considered a Vaishnava and the best of human beings, worshipable, and worthy of service. But then Srila Prabhupada clarifies that that chanting of one name should be done by faith, with faith. Even if one is a neophyte, there is a very interesting point that Srila Prabhupada makes, that even if one is a neophyte, if he has faith that the holy name of Krishna is Krishna himself he is considered a pure devotee and by his association others can become devotees. So he is considered a pure devotee based on his faith that the holy name of Krishna and Krishna are identical. He may be considered a neophyte because he is new, he may not be very knowledgeable in the scripture, which is what distinguishes a neophyte devotee from an advanced devotee, but because he has that faith and chants the holy name of Krishna without offense he is considered a pure devotee. And by chanting even one name of Krishna without offense he becomes free from all sinful reactions.

So faith is most important factor in Krishna consciousness. In fact, neophyte, intermediate, and advanced devotees are distinguished by their degrees of faith. But if one begins with some faith and chants the holy name and then acts under the directions of the spiritual master then his faith will increase. And as his faith increases, he rises up in devotional service from the neophyte category to the intermediate category and ultimately to the advanced category. So, given that these are the essential duties of a devotee, here it is mentioned especially householders but it is really true for any devotee, that one should constantly chant the holy name and serve the Vaishnavas without offense. And chanting the holy name without offense and serving the Vaishnavas without offense go together, in fact, the first offense against the holy name is sādhu-nindā, to criticize devotees. So we are meant to serve devotees even if they have only chanted the holy name once with faith and without offense, we are meant to serve them and serve the holy name simultaneously. And so we should be very careful to be very respectful of both the holy name and the Vaishnavas. And if we are, and if we chant constantly, and serve Krishna, serve the deity, serve the devotees, without offense, we will progress to the highest stage of devotional service.

Well, this is essential instruction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which we are remembering on his divine appearance day, and we pray that this instruction will remain alive in our hearts and that we will follow it with his mercy. Hare Krishna.

Are there any questions or comments? We can continue with the program.

Devotee: We like to do afterwards.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:24:37] increase in knowledge?

Giriraj Swami: Well, increase in faith. . .

Devotee: How does the [Unintelligible 00:24:54] through knowledge?

Giriraj Swami: How does faith increase? Yes, generally faith increases by hearing and by applying what one has heard properly. So by hearing we develop faith and with that faith we attempt to apply what we have heard, and if we apply what we have heard properly we will get the result that has been promised to us. And then when we get the result our faith increases and we become more eager to learn more because we want to progress more, we are getting some positive reciprocation from the higher authorities. So we are encouraged, we want to progress more so we become eager, we want to learn more, what can I do to progress more? And thus one’s faith and knowledge increase together simultaneously.