CC Madhya 4.146–147, 4.150 – Chandan Yatra and Sri Madhavendra Puri

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful, beautiful.

Host: Now I would like to give the introduction of Maharaja to the congregation. Giriraj Swami Maharaja was born as Glenn Phillip Teton in April 1969. While studying at Brandeis University in Boston he met his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, from whom he felt he learned more in one brief exchange than he had learned in his many years of academic education. Maharaja accepted formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada and received the spiritual name Giriraj dasa, became the leading member of Boston and was given the opportunity to help establish a mission in India. In 1972 Prabhupada appointed Giriraj dasa as president of ISKCON Bombay and Trustee of the BBT.

Since then, Maharaja has made many contributions, very significant to Srila Prabhupada and to the mission; development of Juhu temple, Bhaktivedanta ashram in Govardhana, kirtan ashram for women, Bhaktivedanta Hospice, Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrindavan, and special care for devotees around the world. In the year 1977 he accepted the renounced order of life and was appointed president of ISKCON’s Board of Trustees in India. In 1982 appointed as GBC Bombay, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Maharaja taught in VIHE and also took special classes.

Presently based in Carpinteria, California, Maharaja is concentrating on the personal instruction of Srila Prabhupada, to write books. Maharaja is the author of “Watering the Seed” “Many Moons” “Life’s Final Exam” and “I Will Build You A Temple: The Juhu Story” and also Maharaja is working on Vaishnava holy days and other books. There are so many pages here, Maharaja has contributed so much for the mission and to the devotees. We are eternally indebted to you Maharaja, please over to you, please bless us with your lotus words.

Giriraj Swami: I would like to request the devotees on Zoom, as far as possible, to put on your cameras so we can see your beautiful faces, it will be more personal. I will begin by singing the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leading a short kirtan, then we will read and speak about Sri Madhavendra Puri and Chandana-yatra.

[Prayers]

Giriraj Swami: We shall read and discuss from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā, Chapter Four, Sri Madhavendra Puri’s devotional service.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

I will read from the Chapter summary to give a context to the whole story of Sri Madhavendra Puri’s devotional service, and specifically his bringing Chandan or sandalwood to cool the body of the Deity.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives the following summary of the fourth chapter. Passing along the path of Chatrabhoga and coming to Vṛddhamantreśvara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reached the border of Orissa. On His way He enjoyed transcendental bliss by chanting and begging alms in different villages. In this way He reached the celebrated village of Remuṇā, where there is a Deity of Gopīnātha. There He narrated the story of Mādhavendra Purī, as He had heard it from His spiritual master, Īśvara Purī. The narration is as follows.

One night while in Govardhana, Mādhavendra Purī dreamed that the Gopāla Deity was within the forest. The next morning he invited his neighborhood friends to accompany him to excavate the Deity from the jungle. He then established the Deity of Śrī Gopālajī on top of Govardhana Hill with great pomp. Gopāla was worshiped, and the Annakūṭa festival was observed. This festival was known everywhere, and many people from the neighboring villages came to join. One night the Gopāla Deity again appeared to Mādhavendra Purī in a dream and asked him to go to Jagannātha Purī to collect some sandalwood pulp and smear it on the body of the Deity. Having received this order, Mādhavendra Purī immediately started for Orissa. Traveling through Bengal, he reached Remuṇā village and there received a pot of condensed milk (kṣīra) offered to the Deity of Gopīnāthajī. This pot of condensed milk was stolen by Gopīnātha and delivered to Mādhavendra Purī. Since then, the Gopīnātha Deity has been known as Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha, the Deity who stole the pot of condensed milk. After reaching Jagannātha Purī, Mādhavendra Purī received permission from the King to take out one maund of sandalwood and twenty tolas of camphor. Aided by two men, he brought these things to Remuṇā. Again he saw in a dream that Gopāla at Govardhana Hill desired that very sandalwood to be turned into pulp mixed with camphor and smeared over the body of Gopīnāthajī. Understanding that that would satisfy the Gopāla Deity at Govardhana, Mādhavendra Purī executed the order and returned to Jagannātha Purī.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu narrated this story for Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and other devotees and praised the pure devotional service of Mādhavendra Purī. When He recited some verses composed by Mādhavendra Purī, He went into an ecstatic mood. But when He saw that many people were assembled, He checked Himself and ate some sweet rice prasādam. Thus He passed that night, and the next morning He again started for Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 1

yasmai dātuṁ corayan kṣīra-bhāṇḍaṁ

gopīnāthaḥ kṣīra-corābhidho ‘bhūt

śrī-gopālaḥ prādurāsīd vaśaḥ san

yat-premṇā taṁ mādhavendraṁ nato ‘smi

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Mādhavendra Purī, who was given a pot of sweet rice stolen by Śrī Gopīnātha, celebrated thereafter as Kṣīra-corā. Being pleased by Mādhavendra Purī’s love, Śrī Gopāla, the Deity at Govardhana, appeared to the public vision.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura annotates that this Gopāla Deity was originally installed by Vajra, the great-grandson of Kṛṣṇa. Mādhavendra Purī rediscovered Gopāla and established Him on top of Govardhana Hill. This Gopāla Deity is now situated at Nāthadvāra and is under the management of descendants of Vallabhācārya. The worship of the Deity is very luxurious, and one who goes there can purchase varieties of prasādam by paying a small price.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityānanda

jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

COMMENT

Now I will come to the portion that specifically describes Madhavendra Puri’s devotional service of getting Chandan, sandalwood, to cool the body of Gopala. To save time I won’t read the Bengali in general. We come to Text 105.

TEXT 105

One day Mādhavendra Purī had a dream.

TEXT 106

In his dream, Mādhavendra Purī saw Gopāla, who said, “My bodily temperature still has not decreased. Please bring sandalwood from the Malaya province and smear the pulp over My body to cool Me.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The Deity of Gopāla had been buried within the jungle for many years, and although He was installed and was offered thousands of pots of water, He still felt very hot. He therefore asked Mādhavendra Purī to bring sandalwood from the Malaya province. Sandalwood produced in Malaya is very popular. That province is situated on the western ghāṭa, and the hill Nīlagiri is sometimes known as Malaya Hill. The word malaya-ja is used to indicate the sandalwood produced in Malaya Province. Sometimes the word Malaya refers to the modern country of Malaysia. Formerly this country also produced sandalwood, but now they have found it profitable to produce rubber trees. Although the Vedic culture was once prevalent in Malaysia, now all the inhabitants are Muslims. The Vedic culture is now lost in Malaysia, Java and Indonesia.

TEXT 107

“Bring sandalwood pulp from Jagannātha Purī. Kindly go quickly. Since no one else can do it, you must.”

TEXT 108

After having this dream, Mādhavendra Purī Gosvāmī became very glad due to ecstasy of love of Godhead, and in order to execute the command of the Lord, he started east toward Bengal.

COMMENT

Then we’ll skip a few verses, it’s very interesting and relishable, but we want to stick to the pastimes of Madhavendra Puri related to the sandalwood. There is a description of how Madhavendra Puri visited the temple of Gopinatha in Remuṇā, and how the Deity stole the sweet rice for Madhavendra Puri.

TEXT 142

After receiving the sweet rice that the Deity Gopīnātha had stolen for him, Sri Mādhavendra Purī offered his obeisances to Gopīnātha on the spot and left Remuṇā before morning.

TEXT 143

Walking and walking, Mādhavendra Purī finally reached Jagannātha Purī, which is also known as Nīlācala. There he saw Lord Jagannātha and was overwhelmed with loving ecstasy.

TEXT 144

When Mādhavendra Purī was overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, he sometimes stood up and sometimes fell to the ground. Sometimes he laughed, danced and sang. In this way he enjoyed transcendental bliss by seeing the Jagannātha Deity.

TEXT 145

When Mādhavendra Purī came to Jagannātha Purī, people were aware of his transcendental reputation. Therefore, crowds of people came and offered him all sorts of respect and devotion.

TEXT 146

Even though one may not like it, reputation, as ordained by providence, comes to him. Indeed, one’s transcendental reputation is known throughout the world.

COMMENT

We can see the difference between Madhavendra Puri’s mood and the mood of an ordinary person. Madhavendra Puri did not want to be praised, he didn’t want to be acclaimed, he didn’t want to be worshiped, he didn’t want to be distracted from his focus on the Lord and on his service to the Lord. Ordinary people, unfortunately, like to be praised and like to be acclaimed, they like to be in a place where they are appreciated. But Madhavendra Puri, to the contrary, wanted to leave Jagannatha Puri because of all the acclaim that he was receiving, but he couldn’t. Why? Because he was there on a mission, to get sandalwood for Gopala.

TEXT 146

Even though one may not like it, reputation, as ordained by providence, comes to him. Indeed, one’s transcendental reputation is known throughout the entire world.

TEXT 147

Being afraid of his reputation [pratiṣṭhā], Mādhavendra Purī fled from Remuṇā.

COMMENT

Because in Remuṇā he was acclaimed, because the deity had hidden a pot of sweet rice behind the curtain for Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri was acclaimed as being a great devotee for whom the Deity had stolen the pot of sweet rice, because Madhavendra Puri wanted to taste it, so he could see if he could make similar sweet rice for his Deity of Gopala. But Madhavendra Puri was so pure and humble, he considered that he had been lusty by wanting to taste the sweet rice, he felt very humiliated and ashamed of himself, so he left the temple and he went into the marketplace.

He found a vacant stall where he could spend the night, but during the night the Pujari of Gopinatha had a dream, and the Deity of Gopinatha told the Pujari, “I have kept one pot of sweet rice hidden behind the curtain, but you didn’t notice it when you were removing the offering, and I want you to deliver that sweet rice to Madhavendra Puri, who is resting in the marketplace.” The pujari awoke from the dream, bathed, and put on fresh cloth, and lo and behold he found the pot of sweet rice that Gopinatha had hidden behind the curtain for Madhavendra Puri. He went into the marketplace with the sweet rice and he called out “Will the sannyasi named Madhavendra Puri please identify yourself? You are the most fortunate person, Gopinatha has stolen a pot of sweet rice for you.”

Eventually the pujari found Madhavendra Puri and he delivered the sweet rice to him, which Madhavendra Puri relished and kept some with him. So, because of that incident, Madhavendra Puri became highly reputed as being a great devotee for whom the Deity had kept the sweet rice. And Madhavendra Puri didn’t want to be acclaimed, he didn’t want reputation, so he left Remuṇā. But in Jagannatha Puri the same thing happened, he was acclaimed as being a great devotee, which he didn’t like.

TEXT 147

Being afraid of his reputation [pratiṣṭhā], Mādhavendra Purī fled from Remuṇā. But the reputation brought by love of Godhead is so sublime that it goes along with the devotee, as if following him.

TEXT 148

Mādhavendra Purī wanted to leave Jagannātha Purī because the people were honoring him as a great devotee; however, this threatened to hinder his collecting sandalwood for the Gopāla Deity.

TEXT 149

Śrī Mādhavendra Purī told all the servants of Lord Jagannātha and all the great devotees there the story of the appearance of Śrī Gopāla at Govardhan.

TEXT 150

When all the devotees at Jagannātha Purī heard that the Gopāla Deity wanted sandalwood, in great pleasure they all endeavored to collect it.

COMMENT

And this is also another lesson, although Sri Madhavendra Puri was so humble he never wanted to ask anyone for service, but in this case, he was in Jagannatha Puri for the service of the Lord, and people came forward naturally to help him in every respect. Krishna in their heart enlightened them about Sri Madhavendra Puri’s position and inspired them to help him in every way.

TEXT 150

When all the devotees at Jagannātha Purī heard that the Gopāla Deity wanted sandalwood, in great pleasure they all endeavored to collect it.

COMMENT

This is also another lesson, although Srila Madhavendra Puri was so humble, he never wanted to ask anyone for service. But in this case, he was in Jagannatha Puri for the service of the Lord and people came forward naturally to help him in every respect. Kirshna in their heart enlightened them about Srila Madhavendra Puri’s position and inspired them to help him in every way.

TEXT 151

Those who were acquainted with the government officers met with them and begged for camphor and sandalwood, which they collected.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

It appears that malayaja-candana (sandalwood) and camphor were used for the Jagannātha Deity. The camphor was used in His ārātrika, and the sandalwood was used to smear His body. Both these items were under government control; therefore the devotees had to meet with the government officials. Informing them of all the details, they attained permission to take the sandalwood and camphor outside Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 152

One brāhmaṇa and one servant were given to Mādhavendra Purī just to carry the sandalwood. He was also given the necessary traveling expenses.

TEXT 153

To get past the toll collectors along the way, Mādhavendra Purī was supplied with the necessary release papers from government officers. The papers were placed in his hand.

TEXT 154

In this way Mādhavendra Purī started for Vṛndāvana with the burden of sandalwood, and after some days he again reached the village of Remuṇā and the Gopīnātha temple there.

TEXT 155

When Madhavendra Puri reached the temple of Gopinatha, he offered his respectful obeisances many times at the lotus feet of the Lord. In the ecstasy of love he began to dance to dance and sing without cessation.

TEXT 156

When the priest of Gopīnātha saw Mādhavendra Purī again, he offered all respect to him and, giving him the sweet rice prasādam, made him eat.

COMMENT

Madhavendra Puri would not make any endeavor to get food. Whatever food came to him of its own accord, he would accept, otherwise he made no endeavor whatsoever to get food. He was so renounced and detached and he had so much faith in Krishna.

TEXT 157

Mādhavendra Purī took rest that night at the temple, but toward the end of the night he had another dream.

TEXT 158

Mādhavendra Purī dreamed that Gopāla came before him and said, “O Mādhavendra Purī, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor.

TEXT 159

“Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopīnātha daily, until it is finished.

COMMENT

Very significant.

TEXT 160

“There is no difference between My body and Gopīnātha’s body. They are one and the same. Therefore, if you smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopīnātha, you will naturally also smear it on My body. Thus, the temperature of My body will be reduced.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Gopāla was situated in Vṛndāvana, which was far from Remuṇā. In those days, one had to pass through provinces governed by the Muslims, who sometimes hindered travelers. Considering the trouble of His devotee, Lord Gopāla, the greatest well-wisher of His devotees, ordered Mādhavendra Purī to smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopīnātha, which was nondifferent from the body of Gopāla. In this way the Lord relieved Mādhavendra Purī from trouble and inconvenience.

TEXT 161

“You should not hesitate to act according to My order. Believing in Me, just do what is needed.”

COMMENT

That’s what Gopala told Madhavendra Puri in his dream.

TEXT 162

After giving these instructions, Gopāla disappeared, and Srila Mādhavendra Purī awoke. He immediately called for the servants of Gopīnātha, and they came before him.

TEXT 163

Mādhavendra Purī said, “Smear the body of Gopīnātha with this camphor and sandalwood I have brought for Gopāla in Vṛndāvana. Do this regularly every day.

TEXT 164

“If the sandalwood pulp is smeared over the body of Gopīnātha, then Gopāla will be cooled. After all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely independent; His order is all-powerful.”

TEXT 165

The servants of Gopīnātha became very pleased to hear that in the summer all the sandalwood pulp would be used to anoint the body of Gopīnātha.

TEXT 166

Mādhavendra Purī said, “These two assistants will regularly grind the sandalwood, and you should also get two other people to help. I shall pay their salaries.”

TEXT 167

In this way Gopīnāthajī was supplied ground sandalwood pulp daily. The servants of Gopīnātha were very pleased with this.

TEXT 168

In this way the sandalwood pulp was smeared over the body of Gopīnātha until the whole stock was finished. Mādhavendra Purī stayed there until that time.

COMMENT

In other words, Madhavendra Puri didn’t just hand over the sandalwood and camphor and leave it to the pujaris and sevaites to do the service to Gopinatha, but out of love, he remained there the whole time to relish the Deity service.

TEXT 169

At the end of summer Mādhavendra Purī returned to Jagannātha Purī, where he remained with great pleasure during the whole period of Cāturmāsya.

TEXT 170

Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally praised the nectarean characteristics of Mādhavendra Purī, and while He related all this to the devotees, He personally relished it.

COMMENT

Remember, this is the story that Lord Chaitanya heard from His spiritual master Isvara Puri, who was a disciple of Srila Madhavendra Puri. And now he was relating that story to the devotees when they came to Remuṇā.

TEXT 171

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Nityānanda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within this world as fortunate as Mādhavendra Purī.

TEXT 172

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Mādhavendra Purī was so fortunate that Kṛṣṇa personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk.

COMMENT

That was the first time, when Madhavendra Puri was at Govardhana. As I mentioned, he would not make any effort to get food, so he was hungry. And Krishna in the guise of an ordinary cowherd boy came to Madhavendra Puri and said that the ladies of the village have seen that you are fasting and they sent me with milk for you. Krishna said, “No one in my village goes hungry.”

TEXT 172

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Mādhavendra Purī was so fortunate that Kṛṣṇa personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Mādhavendra Purī in dreams.

TEXT 173

“Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Mādhavendra Purī, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as the Gopāla Deity, and, accepting Madhavendra Puri’s service, Gopal delivered the whole world.

TEXT 174

“On account of Mādhavendra Purī, Lord Gopīnātha stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus, He became famous as Kṣīra-corā [the thief who stole the sweet rice].

TEXT 175

“Mādhavendra Purī smeared the sandalwood pulp over the body of Gopīnātha, and in this way he was overpowered with love of Godhead.

TEXT 176

“In the provinces of India governed by the Muslims, there was much inconvenience in traveling with sandalwood and camphor. Because of this, Mādhavendra Purī might have gotten into trouble. This became known to the Gopāla Deity.

TEXT 177

“The Lord is very merciful and attached to His devotees, so when Gopīnātha was covered with sandalwood pulp, Mādhavendra Purī’s labor became successful.”

TEXT 178

Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed the standard of Mādhavendra Purī’s intense love before Nityānanda Prabhu for judgment. “All his loving activities are uncommon,” Caitanya Mahāprabhu said. “Indeed, one is struck with wonder to hear of his activities.”

COMMENT

Now, we can see how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is relishing or glorifying His devotee, and this is a quality for which we should all aspire, we should relish glorifying the devotees, we should take pleasure in glorifying the devotees, and not feel envious.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

When the living entity feels spiritual separation from Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa-viraha), he has achieved the prime success of life. When one becomes disinterested in material things, he is simply experiencing the other side of attraction for material things. However, feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa and engaging in the service of the Lord to fulfill His mission constitute the best example of love of Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENT

And we can see how this description perfectly fits Srila Prabhupada, who was full of love for Krishna. I’ll read it again.

PURPORT (continued)

However, feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa and engaging in the service of the Lord to fulfill His mission constitute the best example of love of Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to point out this intense love of Kṛṣṇa exhibited by Mādhavendra Purī. All Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees later followed in the footsteps of Mādhavendra Purī, serving the Lord without personal considerations.

COMMENT

That’s our mission, that’s our way, that’s our process.

TEXT 179

Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Śrī Mādhavendra Purī used to remain alone. He was completely renounced and always very silent. He was uninterested in everything material, and for fear of talking about mundane things, he always lived without a companion.

TEXT 180

“After receiving the transcendental orders of Gopāla, this great personality travelled thousands of miles just to collect sandalwood by begging.

TEXT 181

“Although Mādhavendra Purī was hungry, he would not beg food to eat. This renounced person carried a load of sandalwood for the sake of Śrī Gopāla.

TEXT 182

“Without considering his personal comforts, Mādhavendra Purī carried one mound [about eighty-two pounds] of sandalwood and twenty tolās [about eight ounces] of camphor to smear over the body of Gopāla. This transcendental pleasure was sufficient for him.

COMMENT

It is so purifying just to read about Sri Madhavendra Puri.

TEXT 183

“Since there were restrictions against taking the sandalwood out of the Orissa province, the toll official confiscated the stock, but Mādhavendra Purī showed him the release papers given by the government and consequently escaped difficulties.

TEXT 184

“Mādhavendra Purī was not at all anxious during the long journey to Vṛndāvana through the provinces governed by the Muslims and filled with unlimited numbers of watchmen.

TEXT 185

“Although Mādhavendra Purī did not have a farthing with him, he was not afraid to pass by the toll officers. His only enjoyment was in carrying the load of sandalwood to Vṛndāvana for Gopāla.

TEXT 186

“This is the natural result of intense love of Godhead. The devotee does not consider personal inconveniences or impediments. In all circumstances he wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

COMMENT

This statement reminds me of an exchange that Srila Prabhupada had with Bhakti Swarupa Damodara Swami. Of course, Bhakti Swarupa Maharaja took sannyasa after Srila Prabhupada left, so at that time he was known as Swarupa Damodara dasa. Swarupa Damodara said to Srila Prabhupada, “I have only one department, the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the BI, and I have to deal with so many problems. I can’t even imagine how many problems you have to deal with, because you are responsible for the whole worldwide movement of ISKCON.” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Problems? I don’t see any problems. I see only service to my Guru Maharaja.”  It’s the same idea.

TEXT 186

“This is the natural result of intense love of Godhead. The devotee does not consider personal inconveniences or impediments. In all circumstances he wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 187

“Śrī Gopāla wanted to show how intensely Mādhavendra Purī loved Kṛṣṇa; therefore, He asked him to go to Nīlācala to fetch sandalwood and camphor.

TEXT 188

“With great trouble and after much labor, Mādhavendra Purī brought the load of sandalwood to Remuṇā. However, he was still very pleased; He discounted all the difficulties.

COMMENT

So, Yeah, he took pleasure. And this reminds me of Govardhana Hill, hari-dāsa-varya, He is glorified by the gopīs, or it is said, Srimati Radharani in particular, as hari-dāsa-varya, the best servant of Lord Hari, because Pramoda, He was pleased to render His service. Let me just read that verse, it’s so beautiful. I hope it’s here. I’ll get it from the Bhāgavatam. Yes, here is the verse that describes our Govardhana Hill, which reminds me of the mood of Srila Madhavendra Puri, who discounted all difficulties and took pleasure in the service of the Lord. This is Canto Ten, Chapter Twenty-One, The Gopīs Glorify the Song of Kṛṣṇa’s Flute, Venu Gītā, Text Eighteen.

TEXT 18

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo

yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ

mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat

pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ

TRANSLATION

Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd boy-friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.

COMMENT

That’s the idea, if Govardhana Hill feels jubilant in rendering his service, and Srila Madhavendra Puri did too.

TEXT 188

“With great trouble and after much labor, Mādhavendra Purī brought the load of sandalwood to Remuṇā. However, he was still very pleased; he discounted all the difficulties.

TEXT 189

“To test the intense love of Mādhavendra Purī, Gopāla, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ordered him to bring sandalwood from Nīlācala, [Jagannatha Puri] and when Mādhavendra Purī passed this examination, the Lord became very merciful to him.

TEXT 190

“Such behavior exhibited in loving service between the devotee and the devotee’s lovable object, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is transcendental. It is not possible for a common man to understand. Common men do not even have the capacity.”

TEXT 191

After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu read the famous verse of Mādhavendra Purī. That verse is just like the moon. It has spread illumination all over the world.

COMMENT

And that is another wonderful feature of Sri Madhavendra Puri’s devotional service, how he composed this verse which was actually spoken by Srila Madhavendra Puri. It is said that only three people could understand the meaning of the verse; Srila Madhavendra Puri, Srimati Radharani, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But we have come to the conclusion of the discussion of Srila Madhavendra Puri and his Chandan-yatra, his journey to bring Chandan for Gopala, which endeavor was fulfilled when the Chandan and camphor were rubbed on the body of Gopinatha in Remuṇā.

I thank Rasamrita Prabhu for inviting me on this most auspicious occasion, it is also Akshaya Tritiya. Now we can take questions and comments from the devotees. Uttama Krishna dasa has his hand raised.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Jaya Srila Prabhupada, Jaya gurudeva. Maharaja, although physically I haven’t got your association or I haven’t met with you, but last—I’m a very insignificant soul in [01:14:18 inaudible], but last twenty-five years or more I had a strong desire, I might be emotional because today one of the things has come true. That is, I had a long-time desire that I was dreaming to three sannyasi along with my Guru Maharaja to visit Balarama Dash, so one of them was Shrimad Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja, Shrimad Radhanath Swami Maharaja, and Shrimad Giriraj Swami Maharaja. Today through the net first time we got the blessing from you, and as I said, last twenty-five years Maharaja, I was carrying this dream, and when you wrote first time and you give the—it was a journal that “I want to remain dog of Srila Prabhupada” and whenever I read that—I read so many times on that and every time I think I can say you [01:15:15 inaudible], that even Watering The Seed, Many Moons. Watering The Seed, I have read many times, so Maharaja I’m really excited to have your darshan today. You’ve never been or you didn’t give us a blessing physically present in Balarama Desh, but as I said, twenty-five years later the dream has come true [01:15:37 inaudible] visited Balarama Desh, today I am happy. Maharaja, along with that, since you have spoken about Madhavendra Puripada, I wanted to share through you to everyone Madhavendra Puripada as you know which is recently Bangladesh, that is called Sillet area, where Madhavendra Puripada appeared.

Recently, very recently, a week before [01:16:06 inaudible] they have made the first contract to get the property where Madhavendra Puri appeared. Other people were living there, ISKCON is slowly taking over that place and it will be a pilgrimage for all of us. Just a week before the first initial deal was signed, so I thought of it on this very auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and your presence, and you have given a class on Sri Madhavendra Puri. Please forgive me if I have to control my line or be on the line but I thought to share it, I’m so excited because long time ago I was talking with Shrimad Bhaktivedanta about this birthplace of Madhavendra Puri, so for us, ISKCON is a great achievement. A great Vaishnava of our legacy, his place, has come under ISKCON’s control, very soon it will be fully placed. Maharaja, again I pay my humble obeisances at your feet, I have no question, but as I said, twenty-five years later the dream comes true. I think you can understand how excited and emotionally we are. daṇḍavat-praṇāmās once again at your divine lotus feet Maharaja. Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you for that beautiful expression and also for the wonderful news that Madhavendra Puri’s birthplace is coming to ISKCON, that’s so auspicious, thank you.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I was very fortunate to have your darshan in the Middle East again and I want to really thank you for giving such wonderful mercy on such an auspicious day to all of us here. Some of us of course are not seeing you, but I’m going to take your recordings today and give it to them. I just had a small one clarification Maharaja to check with you about Madhavendra Puri Swami Maharaja, where exactly did he left—?

Giriraj Swami: You have to unmute, you became muted.

Devotee: Hello? Hare Krishna, can you hear me?

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Devotee: Maharaja, I want to ask you about where did Madhavendra Puri Maharaja leave his body? And did he come back to Vrindavan after the Chandana līlā to celebrate again in Vrindavan?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, he did return to Vrindavan, but I don’t know—what was your question about his disappearance?

Devotee: Where exactly did he disappear? I mean, where is his samadhi?

Giriraj Swami: Oh, well, his disappearance pastimes are vividly described in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. You might have read the story, many of the devotees might have read the description, that he was feeling separation from Krishna in the mood of Radharani. Srila Isvara Puri was serving him perfectly as a disciple. Physically he would clean up his stool, everything, and spiritually he would remind him of Krishna. He was the ideal servant, and Madhavendra Puri blessed him that he would become a great lover of Krishna, and he was so blessed by his spiritual master Srila Madhavendra Puri, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Chaitanya accepted Srila Isvara Puri as His spiritual master.

But there was another disciple named Ramachandra Puri who misunderstood his spiritual master’s feelings of separation and thought they were a mundane lamentation, and he started speaking brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātm na śocati na kāṅkṣati, “You shouldn’t hanker or lament.” He couldn’t understand that his spiritual master’s lamentation was transcendental in the mood of separation, like Srimati Radharani. So Madhavendra Puri, you could say, cursed him, and he said, “Get out of here. I’m already suffering because I could not attain Krishna, and now this rascal has come to tell me about Brahman, so I’m doubly unhappy. Go away from here.” I’m not sure exactly where that pastime took place, it never occurred to me to inquire, but I’m sure we can find out, but I don’t think we need to do that right now. Yeah, we can find out. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to remember Srila Madhavendra Puri’s disappearance pastimes.

Devotee: And as the other devotee was just sharing how blissful he was. Even I am very blissful Maharaja. And just for the information of some of the devotees here, we are with a great personality who took a lot of pain to lay the foundation of Juhu ISKCON, which actually took off the ISKCON Movement in India, which became a real center point for everybody to look up, and I was very fortunate to hear the Hare Krishna mantra first time from the lotus mouth of His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja when I was just eleven years old. He is my first śikṣā-guru and today is my great fortune that I am able to pay my obeisances through on the Zoom. I would love to massage those lotus feet whenever I can get a chance.

There are a lot of stories, of course, but I know there is no time to relate it. No glories can actually stop his glorification, he has done so much for His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and the movement. Thank you so much Maharaja, I’m very much obliged to have your darshan.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you. Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja, please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet and thank you Maharaja for your blessing and your kindness in coming here, inspiring and giving your inspirational warning to all of us. Hearing from you the pastimes of Madhavendra Puri has become more sweeter Maharaja than when we heard this last time. Also, we would like to express our thanks to all your disciples and well-wishers who have also connected here with Zoom to us, we would like to offer our respect to all of them.

My question is that now almost five decades have passed, long fifty years have passed, but I have many times heard from you about pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, and many of senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada, that when you narrate the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and speak about your Guru Maharaja, it actually looks that it is happening right now, or it has just happened yesterday. The memory is so fresh, so vivid, with so much detail, so much love. Very detailed descriptions that Maharaja and all the disciples of Srila Prabhupada give.

Maharaja I just want to seek your blessing and also ask this question; How can we also get this kind of dedication towards Srila Prabhupada and towards our own Guru Maharaja, that we can really love them so much, that we can always remember them, worship them, and have them in our heart Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: The basic process is to abide by the orders of the spiritual master, and by doing so your relationship with the spiritual master becomes very strong, and you get mercy from the spiritual master. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that when one receives mercy from the spiritual master, one develops a worshipful mood towards the spiritual master, so that’s the main thing, to follow the instructions. And of course, the basis of following the instructions is faith, ādau śraddhā, first is faith. If you don’t have faith in the spiritual master and you are not humble, then you’ll have difficulty following the instructions.

It’s interesting because one disciple asked Srila Prabhupada that Lord Chaitanya gave us the Śikṣāṣṭakam, and spiritual master is such an important part of Krishna consciousness, but there doesn’t seem to be any mention of the spiritual master in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Śikṣāṣṭakam. Srila Prabhupada replied, “It’s there in the third verse, trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna, that if you are humble then you’ll realize that you need a spiritual master.” It’s implicit in the third verse, so yes, for us to develop that mood of service to the spiritual master and obedience to the spiritual master, which will ultimately bring us to that stage of attachment to the spiritual master, we have to humbly execute his orders. He will reciprocate, definitely, he’ll reciprocate, whether he is physically present or not, is immaterial, but yeah, he will reciprocate.

Srila Prabhupada said he always felt that his spiritual master was beside him, looking over his shoulder, so we should also feel that our spiritual master is always with us. Of course, he is there to help us, but “He is always with us” means we should be very conscious of what we are doing, whether it’s pleasing to the spiritual master, because he will know what we are doing or not doing.

Devotee: Thank you, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you very much for the question.

Host: Hare Krishna Maharaja, there is another question which has been sent on the chat box, they are asking “Maharaja, can you share some experience of your initial days in the temple, especially with regards to the faith. How did you get that and how did you keep going in those austere and difficult conditions?”

Giriraj Swami: Can you repeat that? Is that person on Zoom?

Host: Yeah, he is on Zoom, he has personally sent me a personal chat directly.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Host: Yeah, so he wanted to know especially about the faith that kept you going in the austere situation in Juhu temple, the experiences in the initial days, how did you actually [01:30:20 inaudible].

Giriraj Swami: Well, when I first joined, I tried to do everything that we were told to do, follow the whole process, and it was a long list of things to do and not do, so I would do what I was supposed to do and not do what I was supposed to not do. There was no clear focus, but then in 1971, in the Calcutta temple, late one night I happened to meet Tamal Krishna Goswami on the balcony when all the other devotees were asleep. We had quite a long talk and he shared with me his realization, that the secret of success in spiritual life is to please the spiritual master, to follow the orders of the spiritual master and please him. Then, everything I was doing—I was still doing the same things, but the focus became a little different, that I was now doing them all specifically to please Srila Prabhupada.

That was my mood in Juhu, I knew he wanted me there, I myself—I mean, I liked India but I thought, “Why Bombay? Why not a holy place like Mayapur or Vrindavan? Why Bombay?” And for a while I thought it might be temporary, but later I understood that it was not temporary. Prabhupada wanted me there. In fact, there was a little incident when two devotees who were junior to me took sannyasa, and Gopala Krishna Maharaja was the GBC, I was the temple president. Gopala Krishna Maharaja went to Srila Prabhupada and told him that I wanted to take sannyasa, which wasn’t the case, I mean, I didn’t say that. Anyway, Prabhupada called for me and he said—Gopala Krishna, he was a householder then—“Gopala Krishna says that you want to take sannyasa.” I didn’t want to contradict him so I said yes, and then Prabhupada said, “Why do you want to take sannyasa?” So, I said what we always hear, that it would be a good facility for preaching.

Prabhupada said, “You cannot preach as a brahmachari?” I said, “Yes, I can” and he said “Are there any other reasons why you want to take sannyasa?” and there were other reasons, but I didn’t think they were worthy of saying. One reason was that devotees would offer me obeisances. You can see how far I am from—or at least then, how far I was from Madhavendra Puri. I thought, “Yeah, well, devotees will offer obeisances and I’ll get more mahā-prasāda,” but I didn’t think I could say that to Srila Prabhupada. So, when he said “Are there any other—?” [01:35:08–01:35:44 phone call interruption].

So, then we had this exchange, then I went to the city to preach, and when I came back in the evening, I went back up to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters, and his servants said, “Boy, Srila Prabhupada really didn’t like your idea of taking sannyasa” and they—oh, yeah, so on the point of preaching, Srila Prabhupada said, “What does Giriraj think, that by taking sannyasa he’ll sprout four arms for preaching?” And then he came to the point that this is leading up to, he came to the point, “Giriraj can never leave Bombay” because he apprehended that if I took sannyasa, I might leave. Prabhupada did say “Sannyasa means that if you don’t like a place you can leave” and it’s not that I didn’t like Bombay, but he didn’t want me to give up my responsibilities for Juhu. Knowing that Prabhupada wanted me there, sustained me through all the difficulties, trials, and tribulations. Does that answer the question?

Host: Yes Maharaja, thank you. Malati Mataji, you can go next, you raised your hands.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Actually, I have a question which is not related to the class today, so can I ask that question?

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Devotee: If I meet a spiritual master and I have a desire to stay with him twenty-four hours and serve him, why can’t I get the opportunity to serve him like the other brahmacharis can?

Giriraj Swami: What is the question exactly?

Devotee: If I have a desire to stay with my Guru Maharaja and serve him twenty-four hours, then why can’t I stay with him? Because I’m sad that it is not allowed and it’s written in the scriptures that we are not allowed to stay with sannyasis, the ladies are not allowed to stay.

Giriraj Swami: How old are you?

Devotee: I’m sixteen right now.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, well, this might sound like a little different kind of answer but, if you become a very good cook your spiritual master might want to have you around, so that could be one approach.

Devotee: Okay, thank you Maharaja.

Host: Hare Krishna. Devotees have no further questions. Then I would actually request His Grace Sanathan Prabhu from Altaridesh to offer the vote of thanks on behalf of both Balramdesh and Altaridesh.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja, thank you once again for blessing both the yatras. We have Balramdesh days and Altaridesh here congregated, and on behalf of the leaders of both the yatras, Altaridesh and Balramdesh, we would like to sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude to you having come here and giving your darshan, your inspirational vāṇī and your valuable time Maharaja. This is the first time that we are having you and we are also excited to have you Maharaja as [01:40:21 inaudible].

Maharaja, I will not take much time but just tell one or two points which have really touched my heart from your explanation. You told one very nice point, that this is the difference between the mood of Madhavendra Puri and the mood of an ordinary person, that he didn’t want to get distracted from his service to the Lord, and therefore, the ordinary person goes after the desire to get appreciated, however, Madhavendra Puri was running away from it. But as the verse says, it is ordained by the will of providence and wherever Madhavendra Puri went, the appreciation reached before he was there. This was a very nice point Maharaja.

You also told that Madhavendra Puri did not want to take any service from anybody, he was of [01:41:13 inaudible], but for the sake of the Lord he was engaging everybody in the service of the Lord. And you very nicely told what relates to Srila Prabhupada is that feeling of separation from Krishna, and engaging in the service of the Lord to fulfill His mission constitutes the best example of love for Krishna, which is Srila Prabhupada. Thank you Maharaja for the service without personal consideration, and as Prabhupada said, “Problems? I don’t see any problems, I only see service to my Guru Maharaja.” It was a very heart touching sentence Maharaja.

And how Govardhana feels so jubilant in providing his services, Madhavendra Puri was also feeling jubilant. We should also feel jubilant while we execute our devotional service, that was also a very nice point Maharaja. Thank you for telling us the journey of Madhavendra Puri bringing Chandan, and on this auspicious day of Chandana-yatra and Akshaya Tritiya, we are so fortunate Maharaja to have you with us. Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for blessing us. Thank you very much Maharaja, Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Thank you, that was very nice. I just thought of something that Srila Prabhupada said, “Anyone who preaches in the Muslim countries, I take the dust of his feet on my head.” I preached in Pakistan, sometimes I would think of that. If we are going to end now, I suggest we conclude with Vaishnava praṇām.

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 

Devotee: Maharaja, we also have Sita Gauranga Prabhu, who is the yatra leader of Altaridesh here.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, please accept my humble obeisances. Thank you so much for giving us your virtual association today on this most auspicious Akshaya Tritiya and Chandana-yatra. Thank you very much for nicely narrating the pastimes of Madhavendra Puri in Chandana-yatra, we are blessed Maharaja. Please bless us so we can continue our spiritual lives steadily. Thank you so much Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: I wish you all success and thank you for your service there.

Devotee: Thank you, thank you very much. Hare Krishna.

Host: Thank you Maharaja, we will now end this meeting. Thank you once again Maharaja for your valuable time and association. Thank you all for joining in today, and actually having this association, thank you very much. Sanathan Prabhu, you can end the meeting.

Devotee: Just one second Prabhuji. I would like to thank the participants, and at the same time, I would like to thank those who have sent the Chandana to the temple, for applying to the Lord, and also His Grace Arti Prabhu and team. There were a lot of devotees, they all applied the Chandana and gave nice darshan to us today, so I thank everyone. Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.