NOD 8; SB 9.10.51 – Initiation of Ananada Radhika Dasi

Giriraj Swami: My dear devotees, thank you for joining. For those of you on Zoom, I request you, as far as possible, to put on your cameras so we can see your moon-like faces, and it will be more personal.

We have gathered on the auspicious occasion of Sri Rama Navami for the initiation of our dear Aparna Pandya in Phoenix, Arizona. Generally, on initiation days, Srila Prabhupada would speak about the ten offenses because Aparna is being initiated into the chanting of the holy names, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and to get the benefit of the chanting, the full benefit of the chanting, we should avoid the ten offenses. So I will read a description of the ten offenses from The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter Eight, “Offenses to be Avoided.” Please listen attentively: 

NOD CHAPTER 8

In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated that even a person whose life is completely sinful will be completely protected by the Lord if he simply surrenders unto Him. So it is accepted that one who surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes free from all sinful reactions.

COMMENT

Yes, at the end of the Bhagavad-gītā Lord Krishna says sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ. If you surrender to Krishna, giving up all varieties of religiousness, He will free you from all sinful actions and reactions. Do not fear, do not worry. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

One who surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes free from all sinful reactions. And even when a person becomes an offender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, he can still be delivered simply by taking shelter of the holy names of the Lord: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In other words, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is beneficial for eradicating all sins, but if one becomes an offender to the holy names of the Lord, then he has no chance of being delivered.

COMMENT

So, we should be very careful to avoid offenses against the holy name. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Viṣṇu.

COMMENT

Then Srila Prabhupada adds in parentheses. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(Sometimes the atheistic class of men take it that any demigod is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. But one who is a devotee knows that no demigod, however great he may be, is independently as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, if someone thinks that he can chant “Kālī, Kālī!” or “Durgā, Durgā!”and it is the same as Hare Kṛṣṇa, that is the greatest offense.) (3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.

COMMENT

That is guror-avajñā.

NOD (CONTINUED)

(4) To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.

COMMENT

Now I would like to discuss this point specifically in relation to different kinds of offenses or degrees of offense. One pastime described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will illustrate the point. Once the sages gathered to discuss who was the supreme among Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. So Bhṛgu Muni went to visit all three to determine who was actually the supreme, who was fixed in pure goodness. First he went to Lord Brahma. Bhṛgu Muni was the son of Lord Brahma and according to the etiquette, he should have offered respects to him, but he didn’t, and Lord Brahma became angry. But with his great intelligence, he controlled his anger, but he became angry. Now, failing to offer respects is considered an offense within the mind. He didn’t say anything against Brahma or do anything against him, but he just failed to offer respects when he should have. That is considered an offense within the mind.

Next he went to Lord Shiva, who is his brother, and Lord Shiva, as an affectionate brother, came forward to embrace Bhṛgu Muni and Bhṛgu Muni drew back and he said “No, no! Don’t touch me! You are contaminated, you are covered with ashes and you are always associated with ghosts and hobgoblins. Stay away from me.” That was an offense committed with the words. 

Then Bhṛgu Muni went to Lord Vishnu, who was reclining with His lotus feet being massaged by His eternal consort Lakshmi. And with Lord Vishnu, Bhṛgu Muni committed an offense with his body, he kicked the chest of Lord Vishnu, which was a terrible offense. But Lord Vishnu was so sublime that He said, “Oh, Bhṛgu Muni, please forgive Me for not receiving you properly. I hope that My chest was not too hard on your lotus foot. Please forgive Me.” Thus Lord Vishnu demonstrated clearly that He was the Supreme, firmly fixed in pure goodness. 

I am telling this story to illustrate a few principles. One is that Vishnu is Supreme, and therefore, the fourth offense is to consider the names of the demigods, such as Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva to be equal to or independent of the holy name of Vishnu. And the other lesson that I want you to derive is that there are degrees of offenses; offenses committed within the mind, offenses committed with words, and offenses committed with the body. This offense to blaspheme the Vedic literatures, that would be an offense committed with words, but there is also a subtle offense committed in the mind, and that is not to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. 

Srila Prabhupada stayed up practically all night translating his books for us, so that we would read them. We may not be so gross as to blaspheme them, but we do commit a subtle offense, an offense within the mind, if we don’t read them, if we don’t attend the classes in the books. Because it means in a subtle way we are disrespecting the books.

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(4) To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version. (5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa to be imagination.

COMMENT

My dear godbrother, His Holiness Sacinananda Swami, was concerned about this offense, to consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna to be imaginations. We consider it to be an imagination or an exaggeration when we don’t have realization of the glories of the holy name, and therefore, His Holiness Sacinananda Swami undertook these japa retreats. I had the good fortune of facilitating some japa retreats with him. Otherwise, as he said in his inimitable German accent, the devotees have a type of schizophrenia. They have a split personality; their motto is chant and be happy, but some don’t even chant or they do chant but they are not happy, and that is because they are not chanting properly. So he took up this project that he is pursued very gloriously of facilitating japa retreats and workshops, so that devotees can actually experience the glories of the holy name. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa to be imagination. (6) To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord. (7) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name of the Lord. (It should not be taken that because by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can be freed from all kinds of sinful reaction, one may continue to act sinfully and after that chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to neutralize his sins. Such a dangerous mentality is very offensive and should be avoided.)

COMMENT

This is very important, not to commit sins on the strength of chanting. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained what to speak of with chanting, even with ritualistic activities meant for atonement. If one performs those activities and then deliberately engages in sinful activities, in the expectation that he can become free from the sinful reactions by his ritualistic atonement, it doesn’t work. Then on top of it, one is implicated in the offense. We should never ever be so cunning and calculating that, “Oh, okay, I am going to engage in some sinful activities and then I will become free from the reactions by chanting.” It will not work, and furthermore, you get the reactions to the offense on top of the reactions to the sins. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(8) To consider the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kāṇḍa).

COMMENT

Just to illustrate this one, there was a conference held at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Bombay organized by Srimati Līlāvati Munshi, who was the head of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. And before the conference began in the evening, she held a meeting of the special invitees in her library to speak with them and so they could also get to exchange with each other. There was one sadhu, so-called sadhu, I don’t remember his name, but he had long white hair and a long white beard. He told Srila Prabhupada that he was having large gatherings of people and telling them to chant the holy names, and that if they chanted the holy names, they could be cured of their physical diseases. He said to Srila Prabhupada, “I am gathering people and you are gathering people. I am getting them to chant the holy names and you are getting them to chant the holy names. We should cooperate.”

Srila Prabhupada said, “No. What you are doing is completely against our principles. The holy name of Krishna is Krishna Himself, and we are not meant to engage Krishna in our service, in the service of our physical bodies. But we are meant to engage in Krishna’s service.” That would be the eighth offense that man was committing, to consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities. For material benefit, in other words. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name. (Anyone can take part in chanting the holy name of the Lord, but in the beginning one should not be instructed about the transcendental potency of the Lord. Those who are too sinful cannot appreciate the transcendental glories of the Lord, and therefore it is better not to instruct them in this matter.)

COMMENT

Once Srila Prabhupada was discussing with a professor in Sweden, and during the conversation one of Prabhupada’s disciples started to speak about the glories of the holy name, and Srila Prabhupada stopped him and said “This is an offense” because the professor at that stage did not have faith in our authorities. He did not have faith in the scripture. And Srila Prabhupada explained that first we have to bring him to the point of having faith in the scriptures, sadhu, shastra, and guru, and then we can preach about the glories of the holy name on the basis of scripture. But not before that. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name. (10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter.

COMMENT

Well, these two go together, that if you have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names, you won’t hold on to material attachments because you will know that all of your desires can be fulfilled and more by the holy name. Now, we do come to Krishna consciousness with material attachments; it is not an offense to have material attachments, it is an anartha, but it is not an offense. But by chanting we are meant to cleanse our hearts and become free from attachments, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam. So if we chant and at the same time hold on to our material attachments, it is contradictory and it is an offense against the holy name. 

NOD CHAPTER 8 (continued)

(10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter.

COMMENT

As instructed by Srila Prabhupada, devotees read the list of ten offenses in the morning after maṅgala-ārati before they begin japa, as a way of reminding us of the offenses to avoid while chanting, and also purifying us. Often after reading this list from The Nectar of Devotion, devotees add “And it is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.”

Sanskrit is such a language that it can be divided in different ways, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his analysis of the ten offenses counts the Sanskrit word “pramādaha” as the ninth offense, which means to be inattentive. And Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that if one is inattentive while chanting, then all the other offenses will flourish, and if one is attentive while chanting, then all the other offenses will be eradicated. When we chant, we should be attentive, we shouldn’t do other things while we are chanting. 

His Grace Mahatma Prabhu, who also facilitates japa retreats and workshops, I have done some with him, he jokes that devotees have become very expert at using their left hands because while their right hand is in the bead bag, with their left hand they are checking their emails, they are cleaning the table top or whatever. He was saying devotees have become very expert at using their left hand. We should not do that. When we chant, we should chant only and not do other things.

This is the list of the ten offenses. All of us should avoid these offenses, and especially we are requesting our dear Aparna to be conscious of these offenses because now you are being initiated into the chanting of the holy name so you should be very careful to avoid these offenses.

Now because it is Rama-navami I will read one verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about Lord Ramachandra, which is also related to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. 

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

We read from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto Nine, Chapter Ten, the pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has a summary of the Rāmāyaṇa in the Ninth Canto, Chapters Nine and Ten. So we are reading now Chapter Ten, “The Pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra”

TEXT 51

tretāyāṁ vartamānāyāṁ

kālaḥ kṛta-samo ‘bhavat

rāme rājani dharma-jñe

sarva-bhūta-sukhāvahe

TRANSLATION

Lord Rāmacandra became King during Tretā-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Everyone was religious and completely happy.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Among the four yugas — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — the Kali-yuga is the worst, but if the process of varṇāśrama-dharma is introduced, even in this Age of Kali, the situation of Satya-yuga can be invoked. The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose.

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann

asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ

kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya

mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet

“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (Bhāg. 12.3.51)

If people take to this saṅkīrtana movement of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma, they will certainly be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga, and the people of this age will be happy, as people were in Satya-yuga, the golden age. Anyone, anywhere, can easily take to this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement; one need only chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, observe the rules and regulations, and stay free from the contamination of sinful life. Even if one is sinful and cannot give up sinful life immediately, if he chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra with devotion and faith he will certainly be freed from all sinful activities, and his life will be successful. Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. This is the blessing of Lord Rāmacandra, who has appeared in this Age of Kali as Lord Gaurasundara.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

COMMENT

So now we will come to the part of the program during which Aparna takes her vows and receives her beads and her new name. Aparna, Hare Krishna. What are the four rules and regulations that you promise to follow every day for the rest of your life?

Devotee: Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. No meat eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication and no gambling. And I will chant a minimum of sixteen rounds every day, read Srila Prabhupada’s books and follow your instructions for the rest of my life. 

Giriraj Swami: Perfect, wonderful. And, of course, you will stay in ISKCON. Is there anything else you would like to say on this auspicious occasion?

Devotee: Thank you so much Guru Maharaja for accepting me as your disciple. When I was a kid my father used to take us to Juhu temple so maybe he knew that I had that connection with you and I wish he was alive, he would be so happy to see me getting initiation from you, who built the Juhu temple. Thank you so much Guru Maharaja. And I know you have a busy schedule, you always take the time to check on me and my family as a loving father. Thank you so much Guru Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Well, the same Radha-Rasabihari is still here. 

Devotee: I would like to add one more thing Maharaja. I would like to say thank you to Vishnu Priya Mataji and Chakri Prabhu, who introduced us to Krishna consciousness. And then Premadatri Mataji and Shama-Mohini Mataji, they took over and they helped us. This is a great help, I am so happy to be part of ISKCON Phoenix. 

Giriraj Swami: Jaya! Wonderful. I am glad you remembered Chakri and Vishnu Priya. They are also present at this Zoom meeting. I do remember they introduced us. And yes, certainly, Premadatri Mataji and Shama-Mohini Mataji have done a splendid job supporting you and encouraging you in your Krishna consciousness. 

Devotee: [00: 47:30 Inaudible]. And my sister is also here, she is attending in Zoom. I am very thankful to have [00:47:42 Inaudible] reminds us to keep Krishna in the center. 

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful. Jaya! So on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and the guru-paramparā, I am pleased to accept you as my duly initiated disciple and henceforth you shall be known as Ananda Radhika dasi. 

Devotee 2: Haribol! Ananda Radhika dasi ki jaya! Beautiful name.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, Ananda Radhika means blissful Radhika. You are blissful and you will be blissful by serving blissful Radhika. But I would also like to have a few words with Gia. Gia, I understand that you are quite an enthusiastic young devotee. How are you doing? 

Devotee 3: I am good, how are you? 

Giriraj Swami: I am very good, more so seeing you and your family on this auspicious occasion. Do you chant any rounds? 

Devotee 3: I chant two rounds every day. 

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful, so you are starting at a young age. Are you eleven now? How old are you? 

Devotee 3: Eleven. 

Giriraj Swami: Eleven, very good. Okay, well, you are on the right path, and you have good association from your parents and from the other devotees in the community. I look forward to you developing more and more into a beautiful and wonderful devotee, a servant of Srila Prabhupada and the other devotees. Hare Krishna.

Devotee 3: Hare Krishna. I have one question.

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Devotee 3: Can I take shelter from you? [00:50:20 Inaudible].

Giriraj Swami: Excuse me, could you repeat that? 

Devotee 3: Can I take shelter from you? 

Giriraj Swami: Yes! [Laughter]. Jaya! Yes, on this auspicious occasion, and in fact it reminds me of a promise that Lord Ramachandra gave. I am paraphrasing it, but it is in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. But basically Lord Ramachandra says that “Anyone who once takes shelter of Me, I will always protect and he will always remain fearless.” Well, I am touched that you asked me this on this auspicious occasion, which is auspicious because it is Rama-navami, it is also auspicious because it is your mother’s initiation. So yes, I will do my best for you. Hare Krishna.

Devotee 2: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Ananda Radhika dasi’s sister would like to say something. 

Giriraj Swami: Okay. 

Devotee 2: Please go ahead Mataji. Unmute yourself. 

Giriraj Swami: Where is she? 

Devotee 2: Mataji, can you hear me? Hare Krishna Mataji.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Devotee 4: Maharaja, I am Aparna’s sister, and I am truly blessed that I am witnessing her initiation today on the auspicious day of Rama Navami. We are very proud of her. After we lost our father — excuse me — our life completely changed. Sorry. But only Sri Krishna’s name survived us, and thankfully to Srila Prabhupadji that he made a really easy path and meaningful path for us. Maharaja, my sister Aparna sees you as a father. Thank you so much for your guidance. Hare Krishna. 

Giriraj Swami: Thank you. That was very touching and moving. 

Devotee 4: Thank you for your blessings.

Giriraj Swami: Where are you geographically? 

Devotee 4: I am from Alabama. 

Giriraj Swami: You are in Alabama? 

Devotee 4: Yes Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Oh! Ananda Radhika is going to Alabama [Laughter]. Now I am connecting the dots! Nice, nice. 

Devotee 4: Thank you. Hare Krishna. 

Devotee 2: Somebody else who wants to say something to you. 

Girl: Hare Krishna Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Girl: Thank you for giving a name to my mom. 

Giriraj Swami: [Laughter]. Jaya, thank you for thanking me, for expressing your [00:54:26 Inaudible]. Nice. 

Devotee 2: Do you like it?

Girl: It is a very pretty name. 

Giriraj Swami: [Laughter] Yes, it is. All right, well, if we are coming to the end of the program, I would like to sing the Nṛsiṁha prayers for everyone’s protection. 

[Prayers]

Thank you again to all of you, my dear devotees, for joining and making this auspicious occasion even more auspicious. I suppose we will move on to other service now. We have been fasting, but that is not really the point [Laughter]. But we will move on to other service now, and we will end with Vaishnava praṇāma. 

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 are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca

patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

Ananta-koti Vaishnava Vrinda ki jaya! Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Ananda Radhika devi dasi ki jaya!

Devotees: HH Giriraj Swami ki jaya!  Hare Krishna Maharaja! Happy Rama-Navami Maharaja!