SB 2.3.23 – Sri Radhastami

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Thank you Tulsi for chanting very nicely. So, dear devotees, thank you for joining tonight’s program. My name is Jai Sacinandana dasa. On behalf of ISKCON Portland, I wish you all a very happy, lovely Radhastami observance. It’s my great fortune at this point to introduce our esteemed guest, His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja. All the devotees know about Maharaja and know his tremendous association and service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. So, I would, just for my own purification, Maharaja, if you allow me, I’ll just speak for one minute.

Giriraj Swami: All right.

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Thank you so much. So, Maharaja, is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace Srila. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Maharaja was very sweetly describing to me how he met Srila Prabhupada when we were speaking last week. Maharaja was actually raised in Chicago land and then joined a very prestigious college in Boston. In 1969, He had the great fortune to hear Srila Prabhupada. As you can tell by Maharaja’s subsequent fifty-one years of service, this shows us the example of sincere rapt hearing hearing, [which he then] immediately applied in his life. Maharaja graduated from college, with the highest honors, and subsequently continued to serve Srila Prabhupada. We all know the great pastimes in ISKCON, opportunities in Bombay, and the GBC. [Maharaja] has served throughout his lifetime so nicely. I looked at Maharaja’s book a while back, and there is a very nice commentary on a book, particularly the one called Many Moons, where Her Grace Vishaka Mataji says, “Srila Prabhupada was extraordinary, so too is the person who follows his teachings and example, and our own fledgling attempts at devotional service can benefit by understanding others’ endeavors.”

So, Maharaja embodies this example of very personal care, attention, and dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s divine instructions. So, Maharaja, sorry for taking up your time. I know devotees are eagerly awaiting to hear from you. We will display verse as you desire. So, just let us know how to proceed.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you. I’ll begin by singing the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leading a short kirtan, then I will speak a little about the appearance of Srimati Radharani, and then I will read tonight’s verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I would request that, as far as possible, the participants put on their videos, so I can see them all, and it’s more personal. Videos and mute.

[Prayers]

Jai Sacinandana dasa: His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

Devotees: Jaya!

Giriraj Swami:

tāpta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī vṛṣabhānu-sutē dēvī praṇamāmi hari-priyē

Vrsabhanu Maharaja and Mother Kirtida strongly desired to have a child. For whatever reasons, they were not able to conceive a child, for a very long time. And to invoke auspiciousness, and make special prayers, they moved to a place called Raval, which at the time was situated just next to Yamuna. So, early every morning, Vrsabhanu Maharaja would go and take bath in the Yamuna and offer special prayers. one morning, after he offered his prayers and took his bath, he saw a very large, beautiful, and effulgent lotus flower. It was multi-petaled, it was said to have been a thousand petal lotus flower, and it was very effulgent, just like molten gold. As he looked at the lotus flower, he saw that on the top of it was lying a small infant, and as he looked closer, he saw that it was a female.

So, he quickly picked up the child and he thought that this was the answer to his prayers. He quickly took the child back to his wife Kirtida, and they were besides themselves with joy that they had a child. But at the same time, as they studied the child, they saw that she was not opening her eyes. They thought maybe she was blind. So, they were concerned, but they were just overwhelmed with love for the child, and they didn’t mind so much about her eyes being closed.

So, gradually, the child grew, and the fame of the child spread widely. Eventually, Nanda Maharaja and mother Yasoda came to know about the child, and so, they wanted to come and visit and see the child. So, one day they came, not only Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda, but also baby Krishna. When they came, in the presence of Radharani, there are different accounts, but one account is that Mother Yasoda was holding baby Krishna and, at that time, she sat him down at the house of Vrsabhanu Maharaja, and picked up Radharani. When she did that Krishna started to cry, feeling that He was being neglected, “Why has My mother put Me down and picked up this other baby?” So, when she reached down and picked up Krishna and had both Krishna and Radharani on her lap, as children often do, Krishna reached out and, by chance, He touched the lotus eyes of Srimati Radharani. As soon as He did that, Her eyes fluttered open, and the first thing She saw was none other than Krishna.

So, this was the reason why Her eyes had remained tightly closed. They were meant to open only to have darshan of Her beloved Krishna. So, this is how she appeared, and this was her first pastime. So, now I will read from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto Two, Chapter Three: “Pure Devotional Service,” Text Twenty-Three.

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

TEXT 23

jīvañ chavo bhāgavatāṅghri-reṇuṁ

na jātu martyo ‘bhilabheta yas tu

śrī-viṣṇu-padyā manujas tulasyāḥ

śvasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham

TRANSLATION

The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord’s pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the tulasī leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the breathing dead body is a ghost. When a man dies, he is called dead, but when he again appears in a subtle form not visible to our present vision and yet acts, such a dead body is called a ghost.

COMMENT

As explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, the soul is covered by a gross body, made of earth, water, air, fire, and ether; and a subtle body made of mind, intelligence, and ego. Ordinarily, at the time of death, when the soul leaves the body, it leaves behind the gross body, and the subtle body carries it into its next gross body according to its karma and the person’s thoughts at the time of death.

So, what is a ghost? A ghost is a living entity who has only a subtle body, but no gross body. How does one get the body of a ghost? of course, I’m not recommending it, I’m just explaining. A common way that one gets the body of a ghost is to commit suicide. Because when one commits suicide in effect, he is saying he doesn’t want a gross body anymore. So, all right, the Lord is very kind, you don’t have to have a gross body, you just have a subtle body, which is the body of a ghost. But people who commit suicide, generally have strong material desires, and because their desires have been frustrated, they feel so disappointed. They commit suicide. So, they are in a predicament, because they have gross material desires, but they have no gross body through which to fulfill it. Therefore, ghosts try to possess the bodies of someone else so they can try to fulfill their gross desires to the senses of the person whose body they possess.

Another situation that can cause a person to take birth as a ghost is if he is very attached to his home. There are many castles in Europe that are haunted by ghosts because the resident of that castle was so attached to the castle that, at the time of death, it thought of

the castle. One cannot take birth as a castle, [as] that’s not one of the eight million four hundred thousand species of life, but one can take birth as a ghost in that castle; therefore, there are many castles and palaces that are haunted by their previous residents. But we can dispel ghosts by chanting the holy names, and Srila Prabhupada said that we could buy haunted palaces to use as temples, and we can chant the holy names, and the ghosts will go away. Actually, by hearing the holy names, the ghosts can be freed from their ghostly existence. So, it’s beneficial for them and for us also.

PURPORT (continued)

When a man dies, he is called dead, but when he again appears in a subtle form not visible to our present vision and yet acts, such a dead body is called a ghost. Ghosts are always very bad elements, always creating a fearful situation for others. Similarly, the ghostlike nondevotees who have no respect for the pure devotees, nor for the Viṣṇu Deity in the temples, create a fearful situation for the devotees at all times. The Lord never accepts any offering by such impure ghosts.

COMMENT

Srila Rupa Gosvami has composed a very nice verse in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, in which he says, “that devotees who desire bhukti and mukti. . .” Bhukti means material enjoyment, and mukti means impersonal liberation. “Persons who desire bhukti and mukti are like people haunted by ghosts because, when one is haunted by a ghost, one desires things that one ordinarily wouldn’t desire.” Srila Prabhupada had one disciple named Bhavananda Prabhu, and he was massaging Srila Prabhupada, and he said, “Srila Prabhupada, sometimes I get horrible thoughts in my mind, and they are not me. Is it possible that some ghost is influencing my mind?” Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, it is possible.” Srila Rupa Gosvami composed this beautiful verse: bhukti-mukti-spṛhā yāvat (NOD 1.2.22). That one who desires bhukti or mukti is like someone haunted by a ghost because, as spirit souls jīvera svarūpa haya kṛṣṇera nitya-dāsa (CC Madhya 20.108), we are eternal servants of Krishna. That’s our natural position and our happy situation. So, if we desire anything other than the service of Krishna, such as bhukti or mukti, we are like a person haunted by a ghost. We are experiencing desires that aren’t really us, they are actually foreign to us. Just like someone wanted by a ghost may have thoughts or desires that are foreign to him. It is the influence of the ghost.

PURPORT (continued)

The Lord never accepts any offering by such impure ghosts.

COMMENT

In other words, non-devotees. Now, Srila Prabhupada goes on to the next point.

PURPORT (continued)

There is a common saying that one should first love the dog of the beloved before one shows any loving sentiments for the beloved. The stage of pure devotion is attained by sincerely serving a pure devotee of the Lord.

COMMENT

So, in this analogy, the dog is the devotee, and the object of our love is Krishna. We cannot go to Krishna directly. First, we must approach His devotee.

PURPORT (continued)

There is a common saying that one should first love the dog of the beloved before one shows any loving sentiments for the beloved. The stage of pure devotion is attained by sincerely serving a pure devotee of the Lord. The first condition of devotional service to the Lord is therefore to be a servant of a pure devotee, and this condition is fulfilled by the statement “reception of the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who has also served another pure devotee.” That is the way of pure disciplic succession, or devotional paramparā.

COMMENT

So, the Sanskrit is “bhāgavatāṅghri-reṇuṁ,” the dust of the feet of a pure devotee.

PURPORT (continued)

Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa inquired from the great saint Jaḍa Bharata as to how he had attained such a liberated stage of a paramahaṁsa, and in answer the great saint replied as follows (Bhāg. 5.12.12):

rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti

na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā

na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair

vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam

“O King Rahūgaṇa, the perfectional stage of devotional service, or the paramahaṁsa stage of life, cannot be attained unless one is blessed by the dust of the feet of great devotees.

COMMENT

That phrase “the dust of the feet of great devotees” is in italics for emphasis by Srila Prabhupada.

PURPORT (continued)

It is never attained by tapasya [austerity], the Vedic worshiping process, acceptance of the renounced order of life, the discharge of the duties of household life, the chanting of the Vedic hymns, or the performance of penances in the hot sun, within cold water or before the blazing fire.”

COMMENT

So, the exact words in this verse are mahat. Mahat means great devotee, mahatma. Pāda-rajo: pāda means foot and rajo means dust. And abhiṣekam, in other words abhiseka means a bathing ceremony. So, Jada Bharata is saying that one can achieve the perfectional stage of life only if he bathes himself in the dust of the feet of the pure devotee. There are many other verses like that. When Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahlada how he had become Krishna conscious, Prahlada replied that “one cannot become Krishna conscious by one’s own efforts, by the efforts of others, or by the combined efforts of oneself and others.” So, it seems like all logical possibilities have been eliminated, but then Prahlada says (Bhag. 7.5.32):

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

“One can come to Krishna consciousness only by bathing oneself in the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee.” Indirectly he was telling his father you don’t need to worry about becoming Krishna conscious, because you are too proud. You’ll never bow down to the lotus feet of a pure devotee, so you don’t have to worry about becoming Krishna conscious.

So, this is the process vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam, niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat. What does that mean? Of course, it could be taken literally, but generally, to take shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee means to follow the devotee’s instructions, and by following the pure devotee’s instructions, one can gain access to pure devotional service.

PURPORT (continued)

In other words, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the property of His pure, unconditional devotees, and as such only the devotees can deliver Kṛṣṇa to another devotee; Kṛṣṇa is never obtainable directly. Lord Caitanya therefore designated Himself as gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ, or “the most obedient servant of the servants of the Lord, who maintains the gopī damsels at Vṛndāvana.”

COMMENT

In the Ādi Purāṇa Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, “Those who claim to be My devotees are not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My devotees, they are actually My devotees.”

PURPORT (continued)

A pure devotee therefore never approaches the Lord directly, but tries to please the servant of the Lord’s servants, and thus the Lord becomes pleased, and only then can the devotee relish the taste of the tulasī leaves stuck to His lotus feet. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said that the Lord is never to be found by becoming a great scholar of the Vedic literatures, but He is very easily approachable through His pure devotee. In Vṛndāvana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the pleasure potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature.

COMMENT

So, in the Nectar of Devotion, Rupa Gosvami enumerates qualities of Krishna. One of his qualities is “compassionate.” Srila Prabhupada explains that because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is difficult to approach Him directly. But devotees take advantage of His compassionate nature, who is represented by Srimati Radharani, and they approach Srimati Radharani, and by Her grace they can approach Sri Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

In Vṛndāvana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the pleasure potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Rādhārāṇī is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association.

COMMENT

So, now I would like to read a little quotation from Srila Prabhupada about Srimati Radharani. So, Srila Prabhupada explains:

READING from a lecture transcript

We pray to Rādhārāṇī because She is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa means “all-attractive.” But Rādhārāṇī is so great that She attracts Kṛṣṇa. So today Radhastami we should try to understand the position of Rādhārāṇī and offer our obeisances to Her.

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi

rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari

vṛṣabhānu-sute devi

praṇamāmi hari-priye

I offer my respects to Rādhārāṇī, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vṛndāvana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, and You are very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Rādhārāṇī is hari-priyā, very dear to Kṛṣṇa. So if we approach Kṛṣṇa through Rādhārāṇī, through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, then it becomes very easy. If Rādhārāṇī recommends that “This devotee is very nice,” then Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepts. Therefore in Vṛndāvana you’ll find all the devotees, they’re chanting more Rādhārāṇī’s name than Kṛṣṇa’s. Wherever you’ll go, you’ll find the devotees are addressing, “Jaya Rādhe.” You’ll find still in Vṛndāvana. They are glorifying Rādhārāṇī. They’re more interested, worshiping Rādhārāṇī. Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Rādhārāṇī, then it is very easy for me to understand Kṛṣṇa.

If you go by the speculative process to understand Kṛṣṇa, it will take many, many lives. But if you take devotional service, just try to please Rādhārāṇī, and Kṛṣṇa will be gotten very easily. Because Rādhārāṇī can deliver Kṛṣṇa. She is so great devotee, the emblem of mahā-bhāgavata.”

COMMENT

That was taken from Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Radhastami, on August 29, 1971, in London. There is also a nice verse glorifying Srimati Radharani by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami:

bhajāmi rādhām aravinda-netram

smārami rādhām madhura-smitāsyam

vadāmi rādhām karuṇā-bhārārdram

tato māmanyasti gatir na kapi

“I worship Sri Radharani, who has eyes like lotus flowers. I remember Sri Radha, who smiles so sweetly. I glorify Sri Radha, who is full of mercy. I have no destination but Her.” [Stava-vali, Sri Visakhanandadabhidha-stotram 131, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami]

[ŚB 2.3.23 Purport]
“Therefore, the mercy of Rādhārāṇī is available very readily to the sincere devotee, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one’s doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived.”

COMMENT

Of course, as I mentioned quoting Lord Chaitanya, jīvera svarūpa haya kṛṣṇera nitya-dāsa. “The constitutional position of the living entity is he is the eternal servant of Krishna.” As stated by Lord Chaitanya in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya, that “love for Krishna is eternally situated within the heart.” nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya. “It is not something to be gained from another source,” but śuddha-citte, when one’s consciousness is purified by associating with good devotees, that original love udaya it awakens.

So, this is the beautiful process of Krishna consciousness that Srila Prabhupada has given us. Of course, it’s coming from Lord Krishna and from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through disciplic succession to us by Srila Prabhupada. It’s a very beautiful process. As the Bhagavad-gītā says it’s joyfully performed. it’s easy, and it’s joyfully performed. Raja-vidya, the king of knowledge. We should realize how fortunate we are, and we should share our good fortune with others. That very much pleases Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srimati Radharani and Lord Krishna. When we bring others to Them. That is the mood of Srimati Radharani, to bring others to Krishna. She is not eager to arrange Her own meetings with Krishna, but She is very eager to arrange for other gopīs to meet with Krishna. So, we should also be in that mood of bringing people to Krishna, and that will please Krishna, Srimati Radharani, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, and the whole paramparā. Hare Krishna.

So, I think at this stage we can see if any of the attendees have any questions or comments. Thank you for joining from all over the world. I guess if you have a question or comment you can raise your hand. Krishna-Lila dasi raised her hand.

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Ananta-Vilas Prabhu, please unmute Krishna-Lila Mataji.

Krishna-Lila dasi: Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Krishna-Lila dasi: Hare Krishna. All glories to you, Maharaja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for the nice class. I was just reflecting on the early part of the purport that you were mentioning about ghosts and the unfortunate situation that a soul can take when it gets a subtle body. I was wondering in this situation. If devotees are affected by such kind of things, by other subtle living entities, actually, and they are in their practice of devotional service, and they are not wanting to perhaps address these issues. How can we help such persons in this situation?

Giriraj Swami: You mean if a devotee is possessed by a ghost?

Krishna-Lila dasi: Or is attached to subtle entities that may be plaguing. They think it may be a fortunate situation.

Giriraj Swami: As I mentioned, ghosts are dispelled by chanting. There is a history involving Bhaktivinoda Thakura in which a ghost was inhabiting a tree, but it was causing problems for people. In that case, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam under the tree, and then the tree cracked open, and the ghost went away. As far as a devotee thinking that a subtle living entity is benign, when it may actually be malevolent. I would suggest they just read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant attentively. That should rectify everything.

Sometimes the books can say things that we can’t say. There is one case, I don’t really need to explain the details of the context, but someone was speaking like a fool and a rascal, but I knew that if I said as much, whether in those words or otherwise, it wouldn’t have had a good effect. So, I thought, well let me give the person Srila Prabhupada’s book, and Srila Prabhupada will call them a fool and a rascal. The books are very potent. Sometimes people aren’t always receptive to good advice, but if you give them a book, they could get the best advice from Srila Prabhupada and the paramparā, and that can help them and correct them. Yes, Parama-Karuna. Pahu dui jana.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Parama Karuna dasa: Thank you for your auspicious association on this wonderful and auspicious day.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you. Can you speak a little louder? I mean, I can hear you, but it’s faint.

Parma Karuna dasa: Okay, I’ll speak louder. Is this okay?

Giriraj Swami: Better.

Parama Karuna dasa: Okay, Maharaja, my question was also related to the aspect of the ghosts that you mentioned.

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Parama Karuna dasa: Since they don’t have a gross material body and they don’t have gross material senses, in that sense, it’s the transcendental nature of the sound vibrations of the chanting or hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that impacts them and makes them pacified or go away. Is that the right understanding, Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, it is. What really hears is the soul, and the soul uses the body as an instrument, but it’s actually the soul. Just like my eyeglasses, they don’t see, I see, but I’m using the eyeglasses. So, the transcendental sound goes to the soul even if the ghost by definition doesn’t have gross senses, and that living entity who’s become a ghost gets a great benefit from the transcendental vibration.

Parama Karuna dasa: Thank you very much, Maharaja. Thank you.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Parama Karuna dasa: Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Any other questions or comments?

Ananta Vilasa dasa: Maharaja, we have Rohini Kishor Prabhu, who has a question. He has his hand raised.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Rohini Kishor dasa: Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you so much for the wonderful narration that you did. This is not a question, it’s just an appreciation. We wanted to say a very happy Vyasa-puja celebration, Maharaja. We know recently there was a celebration held online. We were very amazed to hear so many wonderful qualities possessed by Vaishnavas, especially Srila Prabhupada’s disciples like you. And we feel ourselves very fortunate to be part of the mission when we are hearing from you, so thank you so much. And please, whenever possible, do come back to Portland when the situation neutralizes, so that you can get your darshan as well in person. Thank you, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, thank you. Thank you very much.

Ananta Vilasa dasa: Hare Krishna, Maharaja, we have Krsangi Mataji, whose hand is raised.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Krsangi dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Thank you for the wonderful class. You mentioned about the desire for bhukti and mukti are like two riches. What kind of mukti does that refer to? Because there are different kinds of muktis, and how do we get free? It can be very subtle desires and sometimes even seeing the situation in the material world devotees might want to get the desire to be liberated. So, I’d like if you can please elaborate on that.

Giriraj Swami: That’s a very good question. Well, mukti in that context would refer primarily to impersonal liberation. But a pure devotee does not desire any kind of liberation. The Third Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam discusses devotional service influenced by different modes, and Srila Prabhupada has beautifully paraphrased that section of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

He says that a devotee influenced by the mode of ignorance thinks “I’m the only devotee around here. Everyone else is nonsense. I’m the only real devotee.” A devotee influenced by the mode of passion thinks “I want to be known as being the best devotee.” A devotee influenced by the mode of goodness thinks “I want to go back home, back to Godhead.” A devotee who’s transcendentally situated thinks “I just want to serve Krishna and please Krishna.” He doesn’t desire even liberation, like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi. “I just want to serve you birth after birth.” Once I asked, this was after Srila Prabhupada left, but I asked a senior devotee, “How does one overcome the desire to merge and become one with God?” He said, “When you realize it’s impossible, then you can give up the desire.” Hare Krishna.

Krsangi dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Any other questions or comments?

Ananta Vilasa dasa: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. We have a devotee who would like to ask this anonymously. Can I ask her question? Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: You could, but why anonymous?

Ananta Vilasa dasa: I’m not sure, she said she is feeling shy.

Giriraj Swami: Okay

Ananta Vilasa dasa: So, with the permission, she was asking, “What things throughout your day or devotees’ day reminds you of Srimati Radharani? Like Krishna says, ‘I am this, I am that.’ What day-to-day things remind you of Radharani?” That’s it.

Giriraj Swami: Well, this isn’t every day, but Srila Prabhupada said that when it rains, we should think that the gopīs are crying tears in separation from Krishna. As I just read, that a verse by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. bhajāmi rādhām. He is saying the lotus flower can remind us of Radharani, and the moon can remind us of Srimati Radharani. She is an ocean of mercy, so the ocean can remind us of Srimati Radharani. She has green eyes, so the color green can remind us of Srimati Radharani. She has a complexion of molten gold, so gold can remind us of Srimati Radharani. So, there are ample opportunities to be reminded of Srimati Radharani in our daily life. If you have gold bangles, I don’t know if this is coming from a woman or not, but you got gold bangles, [you can say,] “Oh, that Radharani’s complexion is like molten gold.”

Ananta Vilasa dasa: Thank you, Maharaja. Thank you, Maharaja, for that wonderful answer.

Ananta Vilasa dasa: Maharaja, another Mataji raised her hand. Varshabhanavi Mataji.

Varshabhanavi dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. What should our mood of prayer be today on Radhastami?

Giriraj Swami: Well, I think that’s a very individual question. I mean, we want to pray for Radharani’s mercy, of course. One prayer would be for Her to accept us as Her servant or engage us in Her service. In fact, Srila Prabhupada explains that the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is a prayer. “Oh Radha, Oh Krishna, please engage me in Your service.” Besides that, you can ask Her to free you from anarthas. Whatever you want. I’m making this up, I’m not suggesting it applies to you. Pray to be able to get up earlier in the morning, pray to. . . The ultimate prayer is to love Krishna. Pray to develop love for Krishna and for Her to help you in whatever way is necessary for you to achieve that goal of love for Krishna.

Varshabhanavi dasi: Thank you.

Prema Rupa Madhavi dasi: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. My name is Prema Rupa Madhavi devi dasi. Thank you so much for your lecture. It’s the first time I’m getting to hear from you personally. We were at LA when you had come for Snana-yatra last year. He got initiated, but then during a class we had to go catch the flight, so we missed that. But we know wonderful disciples of yours like Kalpataru Mataji personally and also Sri Murti Mataji, who had just come along with you after serving your Deities. We’ve heard so much about you. So, it’s so nice, so, well we feel personally associating with you, so, thank you so much.

Giriraj Swami: Nice, thank you. Good.

Prema Rupa Madhavi dasi: And I’m super eager for your book, I’ll Build You a Temple. Just can’t wait.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, it should be coming soon. I mean, we sent it to the printer.

Prema Rupa Madhavi dasi: Yeah.

Giriraj Swami: It’s being printed by the BBT in Bombay. His Holiness Devamrita Swami said it will take about two months to print, and then it will be shipped from Mumbai to Los Angeles.

Prema Rupa Madhavi dasi: Jaya. It’s full circle that it’s being printed in Mumbai itself.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, perfect. The story of Mumbai is being shipped from Mumbai.

Prema Rupa Madhavi dasi: Thank you so much, Maharaja. Please accept our koṭi koṭi praṇāmas. Happy Radhastami.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you, same to you.

Ananta Vilasa dasa: I don’t see any hands raised, Maharaja. So, any devotees would like to ask any question, please do ask now. Jai Sacinandana Prabhu?

Giriraj Swami: Well, if there are no more questions or comments, we can end with Vaishnava praṇāma or Srila Prabhupada used to sing this on Radhastami, Rupa Gosvami’s beautiful song Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayite. So, why don’t we sing that?

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Thank you Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: I know it by heart, but I’d like to look at the synonyms so the meaning goes more deep. This is called Sri Radhika-stava from Stava-Mala.

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Maharaja, should we display?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah! Yes.

[Chanting]

All right, well, that was nice.

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for extending yourself [to] all congregation. We are very happy to see all the wonderful devotees around the world, who are also appreciating your instructions and your presence. I know it’s been a very long day for you with outreach to many different devotees throughout the world. I was asking my aunt Kalpataru Mataji about you, and she said something I’ve seen very much here in the instructions through your books as well as your lectures and in your personal mannerism. She said, “Maharaja very much imbibes the mood of the servant of the servant of the servant. He is always ready to extend himself to anyone and everyone.” I’ve seen that personally when I was in San Diego, the first time I met you in 2009.

You were at San Diego for Sri Rama-navami. You spent hours and hours, just very genuinely and very compassionately with the devotees, just getting to know them. So, it’s so personal, that’s really wonderful. Your example of extending yourself in a very personal manner for the unique situation for each devotee. It’s very, very wonderful. It reminds us of how Srila Prabhupada, although he did so much management from what I understand from senior devotees, Prabhupada spent vast majority of his time compassionately taking care of devotees, devotees like yourself. So, thank you very much, Maharaja. I don’t want to keep you waiting a whole lot longer given the time.

So, also, I want to thank all the devotees from around the world. I hope you all had a wonderful Radhastami celebration. One last request, Maharaja, if I may, if you could extend yourself, we have a very nice devotee whose birthday is today as well. It’s none other than Narottama Vilasa Prabhu, who’s been hosting the website for us. It’s his 30th birthday. If you can please speak something that will enthuse him, and give him more determination. He already has a lot of

that, but I’m sure he’d be very happy to receive your merciful glance and your blessings. Thank you.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. Well, I think of another verse from this same section of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that the rising and setting the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone except those who utilize the time for discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead. So, as Srila Prabhupada used to say “being thirty years old means you’ve died thirty years out of your duration of life” but if you utilize the time to discuss topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead, then you’ll never die. You’ll just attain your eternal life. Hare Krishna. Happy Birthday.

Jai Sacinandana dasa: Thank you very much, Maharaja. Thank you, Maharaja, for extending all this time. We very much appreciate it. If you ever feel like you have availability to speak to us again, I know devotees here would love to hear from you. One of the incredible realizations, instructions from Srila Prabhupada. Whenever there is festival, I always read a lecture by you because I know it will be filled with sweet instructions from Srila Prabhupada. I read your lecture from Lord Nityananda appearance day, where you said, “To receive the mercy for Lord Krishna, you have to go through Srimati Radharani. If you want to go through Srimati Radharani, you have to go through Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If you want to go through Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, you have to go through Lord Nityananda. If you want to receive mercy of Lord Nityananda, you have to go to Jagai Madhai.” Just incredible sweet realizations that come from deep interaction of Srila Prabhupada. I could go on and on, but I think devotees would rather hear you. Thank you very much.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, well, we can conclude by offering Vaishnava praṇāma. I think that would be appropriate. “Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord, who are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and who are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.”

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ