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Issue no: 221
25th Oct 2023
The Supreme Devotee Nanda Maharaja Saved and Shankhacuda Slain
The Supreme Devotee
Srila Sukadeva Goswami
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Observing Shiva-rätri
Are The Words “Devotional service” Applicable Only To The Supreme Lord?
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srila Bhaktisiddhnata Saraswati Thakura
Issue no 221, Page — 2
Nanda Maharaja Saved and Shankhacuda Slain Srila Sukadeva Goswami
Sukadeva Gosvami said: One day the cowherd men, eager to take a trip to worship Lord Shiva, traveled by bullock carts to the Ambika forest. O King, after arriving there, they bathed in the Sarasvati and then devotedly worshiped with various paraphernalia the powerful Lord Pashupati and his consort, goddess Ambika. The cowherd men gave the brähmaëas gifts of cows, gold, clothing
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
and cooked grains mixed with honey. Then the cowherds prayed, “May the lord be pleased with us.” Nanda, Sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvati, strictly observing their vows. they fasted, taking only water. During the night a huge and extremely hungry snake appeared in that thicket. Slithering on his belly up to the sleeping Nanda Maharaja, the snake began swallowing him. In the clutches of the snake, Nanda Maharaja cried out, “Krishna, Krishna, my dear boy! this huge serpent is swallowing me! Please save me, who am surrendered
Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
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nityaà bhägavata-sevayä to You!” When the cowherd men heard the cries of Nanda, they immediately rose up and saw that he was being swallowed. Distraught, they beat the serpent with blazing torches. But even though the firebrands were burning him, the serpent would not release Nanda Maharaja. then the Supreme Lord Krishna, master of His devotees, came to the spot and touched the snake with His foot. The snake had all his sinful reactions destroyed by the touch of the Supreme Lord’s divine foot, and thus he gave up his serpent body and appeared in the form of a worshipable Vidyadhara. The Supreme Lord Hrikesha then questioned this personality, who was standing before Him with his head bowed, his brilliantly effulgent body bedecked with golden necklaces. [Lord Krishna said:] My dear sir, you appear so wonderful, glowing with such great beauty. Who are you? And who forced you to assume this terrible body of a snake? [The serpent replied:] I am the well-known Vidyadhara named Sudarsana. I was very opulent and beautiful, and I used to wander freely in all directions in my airplane. Once I saw some homely sages of the lineage of Angira Muni. Proud of my beauty, I ridiculed them, and because of my sin they made me assume this lowly form. It was actually for my benefit that those merciful sages cursed me, since now I have been touched by the foot of the supreme spiritual master of all the worlds and have thus been relieved of all inauspiciousness. My Lord, You destroy all fear for those who, fearing this material world, take shelter of You. By the touch of Your feet I am now freed from the curse of the sages. O destroyer of distress, please let me return to my planet. O master of mystic power, O great personality, O Lord of the devotees, I surrender to You. Please command me as You will, O supreme God, Lord of all lords of the universe. O infallible one, I was immediately freed from the brähmaëas’ punishment simply by seeing You. Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear his chanting, as well as himself. How much more beneficial, then, is the touch of Your lotus feet? Thus receiving the permission of Lord Krishna, the demigod Sudarshana circumambulated Him, bowed down to offer Him homage and then returned to his heavenly planet. Nanda Maharaja was thus delivered from peril. The inhabitants of www.ibmedu.org
Issue no 221, Page—3 Vraja were astonished to see the mighty power of Sri Krishna. Dear King, they then completed their worship of Lord Shiva and returned to Vraja, along the way respectfully describing Krishna’s powerful acts. Once Lord Govinda and Lord Rama, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja. Krishna and Balarama wore flower garlands and spotless garments, and Their limbs were beautifully decorated and anointed. The women sang Their glories in a charming way, bound to Them by affection. The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers. Krishna and Balarama sang, producing the entire range of musical sounds simultaneously. Their singing brought happiness to the ears and minds of all living beings. The gopis became stunned when they heard that song. Forgetting themselves, O King, they did not notice that their fine garments were becoming loose and their hair and garlands disheveled. While Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama thus played according to Their own sweet will and sang to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named Sankhacuda came upon the scene. O King, even as the two Lords looked on, Sankhacuda brazenly began driving the women off toward the north. The women, who had accepted Krishna and Balarama as their Lords, began to cry out to Them. Hearing Their devotees crying out “Krishna! Rama!” and seeing that they were just like cows being stolen by a thief, Krishna and Balarama began to run after the demon. The Lords called out in reply, “Do not fear!” Then They picked up logs of the sala tree and quickly pursued that lowest of Guhyakas, who swiftly ran away. When Sankhacuda saw the two of them coming toward him like the personified forces of time and Death, he was filled with anxiety. Confused, he abandoned the women and fled for his life. Lord Govinda chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile Lord Balarama stayed with the women to protect them. The mighty Lord overtook Sankhacuda from a great distance as if from nearby, my dear King, and then with His fist the Lord removed the wicked demon’s head, together with his crest jewel. Having thus killed the demon Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
Issue no 221, Page — 4
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
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Sankhacuda and taken away his shining jewel, Lord Krishna gave it to His elder brother with great satisfaction as the gopis watched. — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum Bonum » Chapter 34 » Verses 1–32 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Observing Shiva-rätri
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Sometimes the Vaishnavas also observe this ceremony because they accept Lord Shiva as the foremost Vaishnava. But the function of Shiva-rätri is not observed very regularly by the bhaktas, or devotees of Krishna. Under the circumstances, Çrémad-Bhägavatam states that Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men "once upon a time desired." This means that they were not regularly observing the Shiva-rätri function but that once upon a time they wanted to go to Ambikavana out of curiosity. Ambikavana is somewhere in Gujarat Province, and it is said to be situated on the river Sarasvati. Yet we do not find any Sarasvati River in Gujarat Province, although there
is a river named Sabarmati. In India, all the big places of pilgrimage are situated on nice rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Narmada, Godavari and Kaveri. Ambikavana was situated on the bank of the Sarasvati, and Nanda Maharaja and all the other cowherd men went there. They very devotedly began to worship the deity of Lord Shiva and Ambika. It is the general practice that wherever there is a temple of Lord Shiva, there must be another temple, of Ambika (or Durga), because Ambika is the wife of Lord Shiva and is the most exalted of chaste women. She doesn’t live outside the association of her husband. After reaching Ambikavana, the cowherd men of Vrindavan first bathed themselves in the river Sarasvati. If one goes to any place of pilgrimage, his first duty is to take a bath and sometimes to shave his head. That is the first business. After taking a bath, they worshiped the deities and then distributed charity in the holy places. — Excerpt from the book Kåñëa, The Supreme Personality of Godhead by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
The Supreme Devotee
His Divine Grace www.ibmedu.org
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Without taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, one cannot attain relief from the clutches of maya, the repetition of birth, old age, disease and death. Just like the Pracetas received the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the grace of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is the supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù: the most exalted Vaishnava is Lord Shiva, and those who are actually devotees of Lord Shiva follow Lord Shiva's advice and take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. The so-called devotees of Lord Shiva, who are simply after material prosperity, are in a way deceived by Lord Shiva. He does not actually deceive them, because Lord Shiva has no business deceiving people, but because the socalled devotees of Lord Shiva want to be deceived, Lord Shiva, who is very easily pleased, allows them all kinds of material benedictions. These benedictions might ironically result in the destruction of the so-called devotees. For instance, Ravaëa took all material benediction from Lord Shiva, but the result was that he was ultimately destroyed with his family, kingdom and everything else because he misused Lord Shiva's benediction. Because of his material power, he became very proud and puffed up so that he dared kidnap the wife of Lord Ramacandra. In this way he was ruined. To get material benedictions from Lord Shiva is not difficult, but actually these are not benedictions. The Pracetäs received benediction from Lord Shiva, and as a result they attained the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. This is real benediction. The gopis also worshiped Lord Shiva in Vrindavan, and the lord is still staying there as Gopishvara. The gopis, however, prayed that Lord Shiva bless them by giving them Lord Krishna as their husband. There is no harm in worshiping the demigods, provided that one's aim is to return home, back to Godhead. Generally people go to the demigods for material benefit, as indicated in Bhagavad-gétä (7.20): kämais tais tair håta-jïänäù prapadyante 'nya-devatäù taà taà niyamam ästhäya prakåtyä niyatäù svayä www.ibmedu.org
Issue no 221, Page—5 "Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures." One enamored with material benefits is called håta jïäna ("one who has lost his intelligence"). In this connection it is to be noted that sometimes in revealed scriptures Lord Shiva is described as being nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The point is that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are so intimately connected that there is no difference in opinion. The actual fact is, ekale éçvara kåñëa, ära saba bhåtya: "The only supreme master is Krishna, and all others are His devotees or servants." [Cc. Ädi 5.142] This is the real fact, and there is no difference of opinion between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in this connection. Nowhere in revealed scripture does Lord Shiva claim to be equal to Lord Vishnu. This is simply the creation of the so-called devotees of Lord Shiva, who claim that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are one. This is strictly forbidden in the Vaisnava-tantra: yas tu näräyaëaà devam [Cc. Madhya 18.116]. Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma are intimately connected as master and servants. Çiva-viriïci-nutam [SB 11.5.33]. Vishnu is honored and offered obeisances by Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. To consider that they are all equal is a great offense. They are all equal in the sense that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and all others are His eternal servants. — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 4: The creation of the fourth order » Chapter 30 » Verses 38 » His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Are The Words “Devotional service” Applicable Only To The Supreme Lord? Srila Bhaktisiddhnata Saraswati Thakura
Lord Vishnu is no one’s order supplier but is the master of all order suppliers. Since Lord Vishnu is worshipable for everyone, the words “devotional service” can apply only to Him. The words “devotional service” cannot apply to the demigods, even though the demigod worshipers falsely attribute those words to their practices. When we worship the demigods, we want religiosity, economic development, sense Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
Issue no 221, Page — 6
gratification, or liberation, but when we worship Vishnu we attend only to what Vishnu wants. The Supreme Lord, bhakti, and the devotee are sewn with the same thread. Devotional service is the via media between the Lord and His devotees, the Lord is the object of the devotees’ worship, and the devotees are the Lord’s servants. The demigods are not god but jivas. The Caitanya-caritämåta states: ekale éçvara kåñëa, ära saba bhåtya, yäre yaiche näcäya, se taiche kare nåtya: “Lord Krishna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so.” [Cc. Ädi 5.142 The Padma Puräëa states: harir eva sadärädhyaù sarva deveçvareçvaraù itare brahma rudrädyä nävajneyäù kadäcana yas tu näräyaëaà devaà brahma-rudrädi-daivataiù samatvenaiva vékñeta sa päñaëòé bhaved dhruvam "Lord Hari alone is the supreme worshipable object. He is the controller of all controllers. Demigods like Brahma and Shiva are subordinate to Him. Yet they should never be disrespected. A person who considers demigods like Brahma and Shiva to be on an equal level
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
with Narayaëa is to be considered an offender." The scriptures declare that service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari is devotion, but at present the word bhakti is being misinterpreted and misused. People have come to think that it means devotion to the father, king, or schoolteacher. If we do not know what devotional service is and through which medium it is to be performed, we will find ourselves in trouble. Serving Lord Hari, the master of all the senses, with our senses is called devotional service. The Närada-païcarätra states, sarvopädhi-vinirmuktaà tat-paratvena nirmalam/ håñékeëa håñékeça sevanaà bhaktir ucyate: "Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freedom from all material designations, and the other is that one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord." Lord Gauranga states in Caitanya-caritämåta:
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nityaà bhägavata-sevayä “anya-väïchä, anya-püjä chäòi’ ’jïäna’, ’karma’, änukülye sarvendriye kåñëänuçélana/ ei ’çuddha-bhakti’—ihä haite ’premä haya païcarätre, bhägavate ei lakñaëa kaya”: "A pure devotee must not cherish any desire other than to serve Krishna. He should not offer worship to the demigods or to mundane personalities. He should not cultivate artificial knowledge, which is devoid of Krishna consciousness, and he should not engage himself in anything other than Krishna conscious activities. One must engage all one’s purified senses in the service of the Lord. This is the favorable execution of Krishna conscious activities. These activities are called çuddha-bhakti, pure devotional service. If one renders such pure devotional service, he develops his original love for Krishna in due course of time. These symptoms are described in Vedic literatures like the Païcarätras and Çrémad-Bhägavatam." [Cc. Madhya 19.168-69] Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.29.11-12 states: mad-guëa-çruti-mätreëa mayi sarva-guhäçaye mano-gatir avicchinnä yathä gaìgämbhaso ’mbudhau lakñaëaà bhakti-yogasya nirguëasya hy udähåtam ahaituky avyavahitä yä bhakti puruñottame "The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one’s mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone’s heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down towards the ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by any material condition, flows towards the Supreme Lord." Although demigod worship is unauthorized, doesn’t it amount to worship of Kåishna in the end? Worship with true understanding and by following the proper rules and regulations bears fruit. Unauthorized worship is useless. Lord Krishna is the undisputed emperor of the entire universe and of Vaikuntha, which is beyond the material universe. Therefore no one can challenge Him or place obstacles on the path of His enjoyment. In fact, everyone worships Him. Some worship with understanding and some worship without www.ibmedu.org
Issue no 221, Page—7 understanding. Those who worship without understanding accomplish nothing. Those who worship Ganesha, Surya, or Durga, worship Krishna’s shadow potency, because no one has an existence of Krishna. But since they are worshiping Krishnas shadow potency, they do not attain self-realization or knowledge of their relationship with the Lord. When they attain self-realization, they will understand that Krishna alone is their supreme master and that all living entities are His eternal servants. They will know that service to Krishna is their eternal occupational duty. Worship of Krishna, the Lord of all, is the living entity’s eternal duty. All the demigods are Lord Vishnu’s servants. Therefore it is their duty to follow the Lord’s order. Those who instead of recognizing the demigods as Lord Vishnu’s servants imagine them to be as good as or superior to Lord Vishnu never become liberated. — Amåta Väëé: Nectar of Instructions of Immoratality » His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda » Compiled by Çrépäda Bhakti Mayukha Bhägavat Mahäraja » Adapted and Published by Éçvara däsa » Translated from Bengali by Bhumipati däsa
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