Nityananda-nistha

Abhishek Singh: Okay everyone, it’s eight o’clock. I don’t think Maharaja has joined us just yet. Manjari, you can correct me if I am wrong.

Manjari Singh: He has not joined yet.

Abhishek Singh: Okay, then we can just start kirtan for now, and whenever Maharaja arrives, then he can take over.

[Abhishek Singh leads kirtan]

Abhishek Singh: Oh, Maharaja is here. So, we welcome Maharaja back, HH Srila Giriraj Swami. Thank you for joining us, Maharaja. I was just getting the seat warm for you. So, please, go ahead.

Giriraj Swami: Alright. Well, we’ll begin by singing the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leading a short kirtan, and then we will speak about Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

[Giriraj Swami leads kirtan]

Bhakta dasa? They are saying the volume is low. Is there something we can do?

Devotees: No, Maharaja, it’s much better now, it’s good.

Giriraj Swami: Oh, it’s better? Okay, alright. So, my dear devotees who have joined Zoom, as far as possible, please turn on your video cameras, so we can see your moon-like faces. In two days, we will be observing Sri Nityananda-trayodasai, the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. And so, as requested by Nitai Gaurasundar Prabhu, I will speak about Lord Nityananda. I will read a song by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, from Prarthana, called Nityananda-nistha, which means firm faith in Lord Nityananda.

(1)
nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala
je chāyāy jagata jurāy
heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi
dṛḍha kori’ dharo nitāir pāy

The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityananda. Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krsna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krsna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

(2)
se sambandha nāhi jā’r, bṛthā janma gelo tā’r
sei paśu boro durācār
nitāi nā bolilo mukhe, majilo saḿsāra-sukhe
vidyā-kule ki koribe tār

Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is understood to have spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal. Because he never uttered the holy name of Nityananda, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless education and family tradition do to help him?

(3)
ahańkāre matta hoiyā, nitāi-pada pāsariyā
asatyere satya kori māni
nitāiyer koruṇā habe, braje rādhā-kṛṣṇa pābe
dharo nitāi-caraṇa du’khāni

Being maddened after false prestige and identification with the body, one is thinking, oh, what is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don’t care. The result is that he is accepting something false to be truth. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krsna, you must first achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krsna. Therefore, you should firmly grasp the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

(4)
nitāiyer caraṇa satya, tāhāra sevaka nitya
nitāi-pada sadā koro āśa
narottama boro dukhī, nitāi more koro sukhī
rākho rāńgā-caraṇera pāśa

The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. This Narottama dasa is very unhappy, therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy. My dear Lord, please keep me close to Your lotus feet.

COMMENT

Beautiful. And we should aspire for this mood. There is a Sanskrit word, tadātmā, which means to make oneself one with the mood of an author of a song or prayer. So, we pray to be tadātmā with Narottama dasa Thakura in his prayer to Lord Nityananda.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

This is a very nice song sung by Narottama dasa Thakura. He advises that nitai-pada, the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda (kamala means “lotus,” and pada means “feet”), are a shelter where one can get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. We can just imagine the aggregate total value of the soothing shine of millions of moons.

COMMENT

So, we are all in a feverish condition in the hard struggle for existence in the material world. And so, we need some cooling influence. And the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are most cooling and soothing, comparable to millions of moons. A koṭi is ten million. A lakh is hundred thousand, and a crore is a hundred lakhs, and a koṭi is a hundred crores. So, it is a lot. So, Narottama dasa Thakura prays nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala, it’s soothing like ten million moons.

PURPORT (continued)

In this material world (jagat), which is progressing toward hell, there is always a blazing fire, and everyone is struggling hard without finding peace; therefore, if the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, which are cooling like the shining of million moons. Juraya means “relief.” If one actually wants relief from the struggle of existence and actually wants to extinguish the blazing fire of material pangs, Narottama dasa Thakura advises, “Please take shelter of Lord Nityananda.”

COMMENT

So, the phrase ‘blazing fire’ calls to mind the wording of the Gurv-aṣṭaka, the eight prayers to the spiritual master. Saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka, this material world is like a blazing fire, and the spiritual master is the representative of Lord Nityananda, or an extension of the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Lord Nityananda, or Lord Balarama, is the original spiritual master. What is the function of the spiritual master? He gives knowledge of Krishna, and he renders service to Krishna. So, Lord Balarama is the original spiritual master, because He teaches us about Krishna, and He is the original servant of Krishna, and He serves Krishna in so many ways. And Lord Nityananda is the same Balarama. In another song, Srila Narottama dasa Thakuraa sings balarāma hoila nitāi, that Balarama has descended as Nitai, Nityananda. And so, we need the mercy of Lord Nityananda to escape the blazing fire of material existence, we need the mercy of the spiritual master, who is compared to a cloud that pours down mercy that extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence.

PURPORT (continued)

If one actually wants relief from the struggle of existence and actually wants to extinguish the blazing fire of material pangs, Narottama dasa Thakura advises, “Please take shelter of Lord Nityananda.”

What will be the result of accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda? He says, heno nitāi bine bhāi: unless one takes shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi—it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krishna. The aim of this Krishna consciousness movement is to enable us to approach Radha-Krishna and associate with the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance.

COMMENT

That means rāsa-līlā.

PURPORT (continued)

Narottama dasa Thakura advises that if one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

Then Narottama dasa Thakura says, se sambandha nāhi jā’r, bṛthā janma gelo tā’r. Sambandha means “connection” or “contact.”

COMMENT

Sometimes we say sambandha means relationship.

PURPORT (continued)

Anyone who has not contacted a relationship with Nityananda is understood to have spoiled his human birth. In another song, Narottama dasa similarly says, hari hari biphale janama gońāinu: anyone who does not approach Radha-Krishna through a relationship with Nityananda has uselessly spoiled his life.

COMMENT

Incidentally, Srila Prabhupada said that this song by Narottama dasa Thakura, hari hari biphale, was his favorite. Biphale means fruitless, phal means fruit. Biphale janama, his human life is useless if he does not establish a relationship with Nityananda Prabhu and progress in Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT (continued)

Anyone who does not establish relationship with Nityananda is simply spoiling the boon of his human form of life.

COMMENT

So, there are so many species of life, 8.400,000 species of life, and of those, only 400,000 are human, which include the human-like forms on the higher planets of the demigods. So, it’s a long evolutionary process to come to the human form of life. Evolutionary process does not mean as Darwin mistakenly theorized that the species are evolving from one into another. No, all the species are already there, created by God. He has created these 8.400,000 forms of life. But the evolution is of the consciousness of the soul, who progresses from one body to another, to another, to another. And so, after progressing through eight million species of life to come to the human form of life, which is very rare and valuable. Because in the human form of life, one can realize one’s eternal relationship with God. And so, we should not waste the human form of life by engaging in the same activities as the animals; eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.

Srila Prabhupada condemned the modern materialistic civilization, or the so-called civilization, which was just a polished form of animal life, a sophisticated version of animal life. He said the animals are running around on four legs, and the human beings are running around on four wheels. But their interests are the same, their activities are the same, in essence. So, this human form of life is very rare and very valuable, and we should not misuse it just fulfilling the animalistic propensities, but we should properly use it to realize our eternal relationship with God, or Krishna, through the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is represented by the spiritual master.

PURPORT (continued)

Anyone who does not approach Radha-Krishna through the relationship with Nityananda has uselessly spoiled his life. Bṛthā means “useless,” janma means “life,” tar means “his,” and sambandha means a “relationship.” Anyone who does not make a relationship with Nityananda is simply spoiling the boon of his human form of life. Why is he spoiling it? Sei paśu boro durācār. Sei means “that,” paśu means “animal,” and durācār means “misbehaved” or “the most misbehaved.” Without elevation to Krishna consciousness through the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda, life is simply spoiled for the animal propensities of sense gratification.

COMMENT

Āhāra, nidrā, bhaya, maithuna. Eating, sleeping, fearing or defending, and mating.

PURPORT (continued)

Narottama dasa says that ordinary animals can be tamed, but when a human being is animalistic, having only animal propensities, he is most horrible, for he cannot be tamed.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada makes the same point about krūra, which means cruel or envious. A serpent is krūra, a serpent will bite you without any cause. And an envious person also can attack you without any cause. But of the two, the envious man is more dangerous than the envious serpent, because the envious serpent can be charmed. I have seen in Jaipur some snake charmers. It can be charmed by some music, and his bite can be counteracted by some medicinal herbs, but the attack of an envious person cannot be counteracted by any material means.

PURPORT (continued)

Narottama dasa says that ordinary animals can be tamed, but when a human being is animalistic, having only animal propensities, he is most horrible, for he cannot be tamed. Ordinary cats and dogs or even a tiger can be tamed, but when a human being goes out of his way and neglects to take to the human activity of Krishna consciousness, his higher intelligence will simply be misused for animal propensities, and it is very difficult to tame him. The enactment of state laws cannot make a thief an honest man—because his heart is polluted, he cannot be tamed. Every man sees that a person who commits criminal offenses is punished by the government, and also in the scriptural injunctions punishment in hell is mentioned. But despite hearing from scripture and seeing the action of the state laws, the demoniac cannot be tamed.

COMMENT

So, this is a real problem. In fact, Srila Prabhupada met a lieutenant, who was very high up in the police force in Chicago, to discuss with him the problem of crime. Because a devotee had shown Srila Prabhupada an article called, “Crime: why and what to do?” And Srila Prabhupada’s discussion with the lieutenant from the police force also was titled, it was published in Back to Godhead and The Science of Self-Realization, it was titled, “Crime: why and what to do?”

And crime can be stopped only when the heart is cleansed. There is a very significant discussion in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam between Maharaja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvami. Because in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śukadeva Gosvami describes the hellish punishments that await the sinful human beings. And Maharaja Parīkṣit, being a Vaishnava and naturally compassionate, was concerned how people can be freed from hellish punishments. And he raised the question of atonement.

There are various methods of atonement that can counteract sinful reactions, but as discussed between Śukadeva Gosvami and King Parīkṣit, the atonement can remove the immediate reaction to the sinful action, but it does not remove the desire to commit sin from the heart, which is the real solution. And therefore, methods of atonement have been compared to hāti snāna, the bathing of an elephant. An elephant will take bath in a river or a lake and clean himself very nicely, and then he will come out of the lake, or river, and roll around in the dust, roll around in the mud, and become dirty again.

So, Maharaja Parīkṣit compared these methods of atonement to hāti snāna, that they can remove the immediate reaction to the sinful act, but not remove the desire to commit sin from within the heart. And thus, the person commits sin all over again, and again has to suffer the reactions. Like the bathing of an elephant who cleanses himself, and then gets dirty all over again. And the method of cleansing the heart is Krishna consciousness, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ, chanting the holy names of the Lord and hearing the transcendental glories of the Lord. And that is the solution for us as individuals, and it’s also the solution in society for the problem of crime and all sorts of other anomalies.

PURPORT (continued)

The enactment of state laws cannot make a thief an honest man—because his heart is polluted, he cannot be tamed. Every man sees that a person who commits criminal offenses is punished by the government, and also in scriptural injunctions punishment in hell is mentioned. But despite hearing from scripture and seeing the action of the state laws, the demoniac cannot be tamed.

COMMENT

So, this is referring to sei paśu boro durācār, that one who does not establish a relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is like an untamed animal.

PURPORT (continued)

What are they doing? Nitāi nā bolilo mukhe. Since they do not know who Nityananda is, they never say the names of Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya. Majilo saḿsāra-sukhe. Majilo means “becomes absorbed.” They become absorbed in so-called material enjoyment saḿsāra-sukhe. And therefore they go deep down into material existence. Vidyā-kule ki koribe tār; if one has no connection with Nityananda, and if he does not come to Krishna consciousness, his vidya, or his so-called education, and kula, birth in a high family or great nation, will not protect him.

COMMENT

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam talks about the fallible soldiers of family and extensions of one’s bodily self, that we are in a hard struggle for existence, which is like a war, and in that war, we want soldiers to fight with us and protect us. And in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śukadeva Gosvami describes these family members and other such false hopes as fallible soldiers. So, yes, our so-called academic education, vidya, and birth in a high family or great nation, kula, will not protect us.

PURPORT (continued)

Regardless of whether one is born in a very big family or nation or has very advanced academic education, at the time of death nature’s law will act, his work will be finished and he will get another body according to that work.

COMMENT

But our whole goal, the whole purpose in Vedic civilization is to get out of the samsara chakra, the cycle of repeated birth and death. And that can be achieved by taking shelter of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and His representatives. We don’t want to have to come back again.

PURPORT (continued)

Why are these human animals acting in this way? Ahańkāre matta hoiyā, nitāi-pada pāsariyā. They have become maddened by a false concept of bodily life. Ahańkāre means false ego matta means mad. So they have become maddened by a false concept of bodily life and thus they have forgotten their eternal relationship with Nityananda nitāi-pada pāsariyā. Asatyere satya kori māni; such forgetful persons accept illusionary energy as factual.

COMMENT

So, asat means temporary, illusionary, and sat means eternal or factual. So, asatyere satya kori māni, they think within their minds that what is illusionary and temporary is actually factual.

PURPORT (continued)

Asatyere refers to that which is not a fact, or, in other words, maya. Maya means that which has no existence but is a temporary illusion only. Persons who have no contact with Nityananda accept this illusionary body as factual.

Narottama dasa Thakura then says, nitāiyer koruṇā habe, braje rādhā-kṛṣṇa pābe; “If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first.

COMMENT

And that’s our goal, Radha-Krishna, as we discussed earlier, to join the dancing party of Radha-Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

“If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krishna.” Dharo nitāi-caraṇa du’khāni. Narottama dasa advises that one firmly catches the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

Then again he says, nitāiyer caraṇa satya. One should not misunderstand and think that as he has caught hold of maya, similarly the lotus feet of Nityananda may also be something like that maya, or illusion. Therefore Narottama dasa confirms, nitāiyer caraṇa satya; the lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are fact satya. Tāhāra sevaka nitya; and one who engages in transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental.

COMMENT

So, these two words, satya and nitya, are juxtaposed, yeah, that the lotus feet of Nityananda are nitya, and one who engages in loving service of Nityananda is nitya tāhāra sevaka nitya, Nityananda Prabhu’s servants become eternal. Of course, the soul is eternal by nature, but in conditioned life, we don’t realize our eternal identities. But when we catch unto the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, our eternal identities become manifest.

PURPORT (continued)

If one engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda in Krishna consciousness, he immediately achieves his transcendental position on the spiritual platform, which is eternal and blissful. Therefore he advises, nitāi-pada sadā koro āśa; always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

Narottama boro dukhī. Narottama dasa Thakura, the acharya, is taking the position that he is very unhappy. Actually, he is representing ourselves. He says, “My dear Lord, I am very unhappy.” Nitāi more koro sukhī; “Therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy.” Rākho rāńgā-caraṇera pāśa; “Keep me in a corner of Your lotus feet.”

COMMENT

So, the very name Nityananda means eternal bliss. Narottama dasa Thakura, representing ourselves, representing every conditioned soul, is presenting himself as unhappy, and he is asking Lord Nityananda to make him happy, nitāi more koro sukhī. And how? Well, he says, rākho rāńgā-caraṇera pāśa, “Keep me in the corner of Your lotus feet,” which means to engage us in the loving service of the Lord, ultimately, of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. That will make us happy. So, his prayer to become happy is really a prayer to be engaged in pure devotional service, which will make us happy. And we all want to be happy. And this is the way to become happy.

Alright, well, thank you very much for listening. And if there is time, I mean, we’ve taken about an hour, but if there is time, we can take questions and comments. Abhishek is nodding his head in affirmation that, yes, we can.

Radha Krishna Prabhu: May I make a comment, Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, Radha Krishna Prabhu.

Radha Krishna Prabhu: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Daṇḍavat-praṇāmās. We just joined your readings of Caitanya-caritāmṛta as part of our class, our daily Bhagavad-gītā class, we have some devotees who are here, and there are two new devotees. One is my aunty, and my mum’s best friend.

Giriraj Swami: Oh, nice.

Radha Krishna Prabhu: It has been the first time, I’m guessing ever, that they have heard of Lord Nityananda. So, this verse that you read talked that whoever does not chant Lord Nityananda’s name is so doomed, right? So, what to speak of people who have never heard of Lord Nityananda. So, basically, my question is, do these verses talk about us, or these people who are all over the world who have never heard of Lord Nityananda? And if it is about us, how should we apply it to ourselves? Are we applying it? Or what does it mean to us? Who is Lord Nityananda that they’re talking about, that you are doomed and gloomed without Him? So, please.

Giriraj Swami: So, Radha Krishna dasa is a devotee from Iran, Persia. And we have many devotees in Iran, very sweet devotees, very nice devotees. I do have a soft corner in my heart for them.

So, this is an unfortunate situation, that most people, I mean, many in India and more so outside of India, they have no idea of Lord Nityananda. And the doom and gloom of which you spoke will be there for them. Because without establishing a relationship with Nityananda Prabhu, which means spiritual master, coming in paramparā from Nityananda Prabhu, they will not get a clue as to what is the purpose of the human form of life, and how to make one’s human form of life successful by becoming Krishna conscious. Of course, when we say Krishna, we refer to God.

And when Srila Prabhupada was in Iran, his disciple, Atreya Rsi, who was preaching there, sort of waxed eloquent about the day when the Muslims in Iran would be chanting Hare Krishna. And Srila Prabhupada responded by saying, “Why do you want them to chant only Hare Krishna? They can also chant Allah Allah. We are not sectarian.” So, that’s true. And Srila Prabhupada was also practical, because he might have envisioned that if Atreya Rsi went around trying to get Muslims to chant Hare Krishna, there could have been repercussions. So, that was also a practical approach, “They can chant Allah Allah.”

Radha Krishna Prabhu: These devotees know about that, but this relationship between Lord Nityananda and guru-tattva that you just mentioned, we just talked about guru. In the past sessions, it comes up pretty often. But they don’t know the relationship between Nityananda and guru-tattva.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. So, those who are on the Zoom call, they might have some idea now, and the others, you can enlighten them. Or those who have that knowledge can enlighten others. Because Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy is absolutely essential, as we have been reading, and it’s a fact. They must get Lord Nityananda’s mercy, somehow or other. And of course, I don’t know to what extent you can distribute books in Iran, but certainly, the knowledge in Srila Prabhupada’s books will set them free.

Radha Krishna Prabhu: So, Maharaja, I have a comment, if I may. You invited everybody to give a video feed. So, that invitation, does it also include participation? So, I am wondering why nobody is participating even though you are inviting them. That’s the whole point of Zoom, right?

Giriraj Swami: Do you mean right now?

Radha Krishna Prabhu: Yes, you just mentioned that, right?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, but you were the first one, so after you finish, I expect that others will also give feedback. Is that what you are saying?

Radha Krishna Prabhu: Yes, so you were waiting for somebody else to give feedback, right?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, I’m sure that when you finish, the others will have feedback.

Radha Krishna Prabhu: I’m wondering why no one else is speaking up.

Giriraj Swami: Because you are still speaking. [laughter]

Radha Krishna Prabhu: No, Maharaja, I was waiting just like you were waiting.

Devotee: Haribol, can I be the next one to speak up? [laughter]

Giriraj Swami: Okay, good, good for you.

Devotee: [laughter] Haribol, Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. I just had a quick question about the association with Lord Nityananda. I have heard this many times before, and in this particular reading, it is mentioned over and over and over, you cannot miss that point. Does that also include śikṣā-guru, not just dīkṣā-guru? That’s the mercy of Lord Nityananda also, right? When you run across a devotee who is sharing Krishna consciousness and sharing the holy name with you, it’s not just dīkṣā, it’s also śikṣā, is that correct?

Giriraj Swami: Correct, absolutely right. Śikṣā-guru is also included in guru-tattva and counts as a representative of Nityananda Prabhu, servant of Nityananda Prabhu.

Devotee: Perfect, thank you.

Giriraj Swami: Good question, thank you. Any other questions or comments? Oh, Malati dasi has her hand raised.

Malati dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Divine Grace. Thank you so much for picking up this topic about Nityananda Prabhu, it was a pleasure to hear it.

I have a question about enviousness. You mentioned that human beings are envious, and envious people attack without cause and cannot be counteracted. But then, Maharaja, if devotees are envious, what is the position of that devotee who is so envious of other devotees? I want to know the position, because they are chanting, but it takes time to cleanse the heart. But while they are envious, they commit so many offenses. How long does it take? Because the seventh offense, you go on committing offenses while chanting Hare Krishna, you know that it’s bad to be envious. So, if they are doing it in spite of understanding everything, what is the position of that envious devotee? What happens? How long does it take for that devotee to reach the destination?

Giriraj Swami: How does the envy manifest itself?

Malati dasi: I don’t understand.

Giriraj Swami: How do you know they are envious? What do they do?

Malati dasi: Actually, it’s a general question, it’s not that I know someone who is envious, I just wanted to know what is the position of that devotee. Because there are anarthas to eradicate, but if this anartha is there in one devotee, then what happens? How should we deal and what is the position?

Giriraj Swami: In principle, a devotee cannot be envious. The Bhāgavatam begins nirmatsarāṇāṁ, the Bhāgavatam is meant for people who are free from envy. The reason I asked how it manifests itself is that if a devotee does not recognize or admit the good qualities or the good service of another devotee, we can say that that is a manifestation of envy. But if they don’t blaspheme the devotee or try to drag the devotee down, then it’s not really that much of an offense, and by continuing the process of devotional service, they will become purified.

Malati Dasai: Thank you so much. I have one more question about devotional service. Devotional service is very important in your life, I am talking about myself.

Giriraj Swami: Wait a minute, wait a minute, what you said is wrong. You said devotional service is very important in your life. Your life should be devotional service. But I am sure that’s what you meant.

Malati dasi: In my life, I am on and off. I do not have a continuous service in the temple like serving the Deities or serving a Vaishnava, it is not a continuous process. And it has to be continuous because it gets slackened in between when you are not serving, it is difficult for you to catch up with the mercy. I just want to know how can I get that service? I am praying to the Lord to give me continuous service in the temple, but until that time, what should I do? What instructions can I get from you, Guru Maharaja, that I can do it at home and get the same result?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. I mean, being married and living at home with a husband and children, one has other responsibilities. Not like when you were younger or lived in the temple exclusively. But what you do at home can also be done in the mood of devotion. In principle, everything we do should be to please Krishna. And to whatever extent possible, you can influence your family members in the direction of Krishna consciousness. Even if your husband is not a devotee. The usual advice I give to people who have family members who are not devotees, there are two things. One, always be happy, and two, deal very nicely and kindly with them. When they see you are happy and treating them well, then they will be favorable to Krishna consciousness, and eventually will adopt Krishna consciousness.

Malati dasi: We hear everyday, and we chant and we are reading, and these activities are devotional service. So, is it okay that we are doing that at home?

Giriraj Swami: Of course, yes.

Malati dasi: Okay, thank you so much.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, Hare Krishna. So, I saw that Karunamayi had her hand up, and now Sita Thakurani has her hand up.

Karunamayi dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. Please accept my obeisances. I am sorry, I cannot put my camera on right now.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Karunamayi dasi: My question is, where is Lord Nityananda Prabhu now? I’m just trying to understand. Is He only a manifestation of Lord Balarama into this material world, or does He exist in His own spiritual realm as well?

Giriraj Swami: Oh yes. In the spiritual world, there are different sections. And one section is for kṛṣṇa-līlā, and another section is for caitanya-līlā. And so, Lord Nityananda is eternally with Lord Chaitanya in that section of Goloka in which Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda are manifesting Their eternal pastimes. I believe you can see that on the cover of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which depicts the whole situation, and it includes Lord Chaitanya in Goloka Vrindavan in His section.

Karunamayi dasi: In the First Canto.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. I mean, I don’t know how clearly you can see it, but you see at the left, there is Lord Chaitanya. See? It’s right there.

[Giriraj Swami shows the cover of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to the screen revealing Lord Chaitanya on the cover.]

Karunamayi dasi: Jaya! Thank you, Guru Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. And Sita Thakurani?

Sita Thakurani dasi: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Sita Thakurani dasi: When we are hearing and chanting, does it include having a relationship with Lord Nityananda automatically, or do we have to do something other than chanting to develop a relationship with Lord Nityananda?

Giriraj Swami: Well, we develop a relationship with the spiritual master by following his instructions. And the prime instruction is to chant and hear about Krishna. So, when you do that, you are following the spiritual master’s instruction, which is also Lord Nityananda’s instruction. So, chanting and hearing about Krishna is a part of developing your relationship with Lord Nityananda.

Sita Thakurani dasi: Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Maharaja, my perpetual question again, we have to wait for two more weeks for the book.

Giriraj Swami: [laughter] Yes, I knew you would ask. [Giriraj Swami holds up his book I’ll Build You a Temple.] It’s on its way. I believe the ship has left Mumbai with the books, and so, they will be coming to LA, and you will be at the top of the list to receive a copy.

Devotee: Thank you, Maharaja. Thank you for your mercy, Maharaja. We are so grateful that you have been taking time every month for us.

Giriraj Swami: It’s a pleasure.

Devotee: Any other questions or comments for Maharaja? It is getting late for Maharaja. We could do the Vaishnava praṇāma.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, that sounds good. I just want to clarify something about one of the participants whose name is Shamita Singha who is the daughter of my disciple Haripriya. Is this really Shamita? Now I can recognize it’s Haripriya.

Haripriya: Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your divine grace and Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaja, I used Shamita’s Zoom account.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. I recognize your voice now.

Haripriya: So, I forgot to rename, and because I’m using her account, it’s showing like that.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, no problem.

Haripriya: Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. So, now, as it seems that we have exhausted all the questions and comments, we will offer Vaishnava praṇāma and conclude this evening’s meeting.