Sri Gaudiya Darshan Philippines (May 2014 issue)

[The Official Digital Newsletter-Magazine of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Philippines – Sri Nama Hatta Center]

May 2014 Issue

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Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi – by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

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Ekadasi – by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj The Devotees Should Not Be Derided Even If They Fall

By Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupada

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All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi Discourse given by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on 2nd May 1999, Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi day, at Sri Govinda Dham, Murwillumbah, Australia.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah vancha-kalpatarubhyas’ ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah namas te narasimhaya prahladahlada-dayine hiranyakasipor vaksahsila-tanka-nakhalaye [I offer my obeisances to Lord Nrsimha, who gives joy to Prahlad Maharaj and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.]

Jaya Nrsmhadeva ki jay. Prahlad Maharaj ki jay.

In a previous age, so long ago in Satya-yuga, this incident happened. At that time, the munis and the rishis could go everywhere. Four such rishis were known as the Chatursana, the Four Kumaras: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanata Kumara. The four of them went to see Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha-dham.

The gate-keepers of Vaikuntha were Jaya and Vijaya. Upon arriving, Jaya and Vijaya told them, "Now Lord Vishnu is resting with Laksmidevi. Take seat and later we shall arrange for you to see Him." The four rishis were very disappointed and said, "It is Vaikuntha-dham. When we come here we have a right to go and see Lord Vishnu. He is also ready to give his darshan (audience), otherwise why has He given us entrance to Vaikuntha-dham? We think there is no obstacle for us to see Him. Don't stop us like this." But Jaya and Vijaya said, "It is our duty, sir, what shall we do." Then the rishis were very angry and said, "You are behaving with us like demons, then go to martya-dham, the material world, and take birth there as demons in the plane of death." Then in the meantime, Vishnu, who knows everything, came out. When the rishis gave that curse, Vishnu said, "Tathastu." Tathastu means, "What you said, that will be." And when this divine vibration came out from Vishnu's mouth, the rishis were very surprised and Jaya and Vijaya were very disappointed.

They said, "Prabhu, You engaged us here as Your gate-keepers."Vishnu said, "Yes, it is My wish, otherwise the rishis would not curse you." "Your wish?" "Yes, I want to fight. My muscles are 'crunching', then I need to fight, to get some exercise, and with whom I shall fight? You are the perfect fighters against Me. Then you go, and I shall go for saving My devotee. It is necessary to create some situation there. You will be My devotee's father and uncle, no problem." Then they were very unhappy and said, "Prabhu, we want to come back to our duty immediately. Give that opportunity to us."

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And Bhagavan Vishnu said, "Yes, if you come immediately, then you will be My enemy there. And if you come a little later, by seven births, you will be My friend. What do you want?" They said, "By Your wish we are going, then we want to come back quickly. So maybe we will be Your enemy, no problem." Vishnu said, "That is My desire, otherwise why will you fight with Me?" And in that way Jaya and Vijaya took birth in the forms of Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu.

Both had a very demoniac mentality because they were against Lord Vishnu. Hiranyaksa wanted to destroy the whole world. He took the world into the ocean and Bhagavan in the form of Varahadeva dived into the ocean and saved the world and the whole universe. Then He killed that Hiranyaksa the brother of Hiranyakasipu.

Then Hiranyakasipu was very angry and he thought, "Vishnu is so powerful." The brothers had forgotten their previous life history. They were thinking, "We are the rulers and controllers of all the universes. No-one can oppose us."

Then Hiranyakasipu thought, "Vishnu is opposing us and my brother was very strong but Vishnu killed him. Then how much power does Vishnu have? I can guess something. Then I must be more powerful than Vishnu."

So he worshipped Brahma, who was the creator of the whole universe. Brahma was happy with his spiritual austerity, tapasya, and wanted to give him a boon. "You take a boon from me." And Hiranyakasipu said, "I want to be immortal.

Please give me that." Brahma said, "It is not in my hand actually, I cannot give it to you. So how can I say 'Yes'?"Then Hiranyakasipu said, "Then you go."

Again he tried to satisfy Brahma with his spiritual austerity. In this way, three times he tried to satisfy Brahma. After three times he understood that Brahma could not give immortality, for sure. Then he thought, "I shall take some diplomacy to be immortal." Then he said, "Okay, but this boon you can give: I shall not die by any animal you created within this universe – by any other man, human, animal or anything. They cannot kill me." Brahma said, "Yes it is, I agree." "And in the night, and in the day, I shall not die." Brahma said, "Yes, I agree." Then he said, "I shall not be killed by any weapon." Then Brahma said, "Yes, I agree."

In this way, Hiranyakasipu, took boons to avoid the different types of causes of death. Then he was thinking, "Now I am immortal," and he came back to his kingdom. When he came back he gave the order, "Whoever is a devotee of Vishnu, kill all of them, beat all of them, oust all of them from my capital! No-one can do Visnu-puja, etc." He ruled to the whole universe: "No-one can do that, no-one can keep connection with Vishnu!"

But when he went to the jungle for his spiritual austerity, his wife Kayadhu was pregnant. In the womb of Kayadhu, there was one son and Indra thought that this demon's son must be another demon and that the demon would get more power. Hiranyakasipu had already taken the demigods' power and they were under his control. Indra thought, "If he will get a good son as a good demon then that will make it more difficult for us." Then Indra wanted to kill that son. He did not want to kill Kayadhu, the mother, but he wanted to kill the son. So while Hiranyakasipu was in the jungle, Indra took Kayadhu away. As Indra travelled with Kayadhu, Narada appeared on their path.

Narada said, "Oh Indra, where you are going with this lady? You are doing much wrong, I think."Indra said, "I shall not do wrong with this lady but in her womb there is one demon, Hiranyakasipu's son. When he comes out, I shall kill him."And Narada said, "No, no, no. Inside is living a devotee, and he is a devotee of Vishnu. Then it is not necessary to kill him. For him, Lord Vishnu will appear in this mundane world." Then after hearing from Narada, Indra left Kayadhu and Narada Goswami took her into his ashram. He wanted to keep Kayadhu in his ashram until delivery but Kayadhu asked, "I do not want to give birth to this child before my husband comes back. Please give me this boon."

Narada said, "Yes. When Hiranyakasipu comes back, at that time, you will get the son." "And my son will be happy if he will hear Hari-katha about Vishnu and His glories, that is, what you are chanting and singing in front of me. My son can hear it all and he will follow that. As you are Guru, please give him initiation in my womb." And Narada gave that initiation. Kayadhu was also initiated and when the boy came out from the womb he was given the name Prahlad.Narada gave Kayadhu back to her husband and when Hiranyakasipu heard it, he was more angry. He tried to oust Indra from heaven. Indra ran away and he conquered heaven also. Hiranyakasipu fought with all the demigods and defeated every one of them. Then the demigods were very sad and they prayed to Brahma, "When will our Lord appear?" Brahma said, "Time is very short, He will come, but in the meantime, all of you pray to Lord Vishnu. He will come."

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When Prahlad reached the age for learning, around four, Hiranyakasipu gave him to his Guru's ashram. As he was the king's son, he was to be trained as a king. The Guru was Sukracharya. In his house he had two sons, one was called Sanda and the other Amarka. Sanda and Amarka were taking care of Prahlad, as he lived in the Guru's house.

Prahlad was so qualified in the Krsna conception that when he was there he was always thinking of Krsna and preaching to his friends, the other boys, on the Krsna conception. After one year, Hiranyakasipu was thinking that his son had learnt something, maybe ABCD, etc. He then called Sanda and Amarka to bring his son into the assembly, "I want to see my son." They brought Prahlad, and Hiranyakasipu took Prahlad on his lap and gave him much affection. He then asked Prahlad, "Please tell me what you have learned in your Gurudeva's school. Maybe it is ABCD or anything." But Prahlad was thinking that his Guru was Narada Goswami and he told Hiranyakasipu the lesson that he learned from Narada: tat sadhu manye ’sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.5) Prahlad said, "I learned from my Guru that it is very good for everyone to leave mundane attachment, go to the jungle and worship Lord Krsna. That is very good, I think."Hiranyakasipu heard this and exclaimed, "What are you saying? You are telling us to worship Vishnu." Prahlad said, "Yes, father, this is the best. Be detached with this material world, and go to the jungle and worship Lord Vishnu." Hiranyakasipu was very angry with Prahlad's teachers and chastised them very much.

"You taught this to my son! Take him back and give him perfect lessons with perfect teachings. I shall call again after one year and if I see anything wrong, then I shall punish you!" Prahlad went back and Sanda and Amarka asked him, "Oh Prahlad, what have you told your father? We did not teach that to you. We taught you general knowledge, politics, many things, but we did not teach you this. Where did you learn it?" Prahlad replied, "If I try to learn, I cannot learn without the mercy of Lord Vishnu. By His mercy and His devotees' mercy; that is the only cause for getting that consciousness." naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.32) "After leaving all mundane attachment, he who is always engaging his energy for the service to Lord Krsna, is the real saddhu. Until one takes the feet dust of that saddhu on their head, they will not get this conception, this consciousness about Krsna. So in some way I have got the mercy of a devotee and through that I have got this conception." Sanda and Amarka had not seen anyone and they did not know that in the womb of his mother he had heard this teaching, so how could Sanda and Amarka understand it?

Anyhow, they then tried their best to teach Prahlad but in the classes the other boys did not like to hear the teachings of Sanda and Amarka. When Sanda and Amarka left the classroom, Prahlad Maharaj would teach the boys. kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1) "Oh boys, you do not know, but you have got this birth and it is not for spending time for mundane happiness. Actually it is necessary to worship Lord Vishnu for His satisfaction. It is necessary to hear the glories of Vishnu, to speak the glories of Vishnu, to do archan, vandana, etc."

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Prahlad Maharaj told the boys, sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam "Give yourself to the lotus feet of Vishnu and worship Lord Vishnu. Then you will get the super-benefit of your life."

They heard it from Prahlad and they were very happy. Then they were chanting the Holy Name of Lord Vishnu in the school and sometimes from afar, Sanda and Amarka heard it. They were very angry but Prahlad was the king's son so they could not beat him. They came and they told him in several ways, "Do not do this, it is very dangerous, you do not know.

This whole school will be destroyed by Hiranyakasipu." Prahlad would not hear from them and the other boys would also not hear from them. Sanda and Amarka were very fearful. Then after two sittings of the assembly and their failure to teach Prahlad, they told Hiranyakasipu, "We are unable to teach him. His mind is completely crazy and he is only giving advice to everyone. He has taken the chair of teacher and is giving his teachings to the other demons' children. We cannot control him, sir. Please excuse our offences."

Hiranyakasipu was very angry to hear that. In the meantime he tried to give some teachings but it was not appropriate for Prahlad. Finally he wanted to kill Prahlad. He told his servants, "Take him and throw him from the mountain." They threw Prahlad from the mountain but Vishnu saved him. "Throw him in the ocean." They threw him in the ocean and again Vishnu saved him. They tried to kill him in many different ways. They threw him in a well, but he was saved. They put him in front of a mad elephant, thinking that the mad elephant would smash him. But the elephant took Prahlad to his head and the elephant began to dance. In this way Hiranyakasipu was very disturbed as no-one could kill his son. He was so angry and he said to Sanda and Amarka, "Bring him in front of me and I shall kill him." Then Prahlad came with folded hands in front of his father. His father said, "Oh, you are so crazy. Indra, Chandra, Vayu, Varuna, all the demigods are so fearful of me. Even that Yamaraja, he is cutting the grass for my horse, and you have no fear of me! Where have you got that power?" Prahlad said, na kevalam me bhavatas ca rajan sa vai balam balinam caparesam pare ’vare ’mi sthira-jangama ye brahmadayo yena vasam pranitah (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.8.7) "It is not only my power, it is your power also. What you are saying – you are doing those things by His power. By His power everything has happened. Why are you asking me this? Without His mercy, without His power, the jiva-soul cannot do anything. I have got power from Vishnu." In this way Hiranyakasipu and Prahlad discussed several topics in their conversation. When Hiranyakasipu could no longer tolerate, his body was shaking. From that place I am reading something from Srimad-Bhagavatam and explaining it....

Transcribed by Sadhupriya Prabhu, Australia.

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Ekadasi

By His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Deva Goswami Maharaj Founder- Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Ekadasi is considered to be the favourite day of Krsna, when devotees refrain from material activities. Ekadasi is aprakrta. Aprakrta means which is like prakrta but is supramundane. We are warned that Ekadasi is not mundane, though it seems to be. Because it is influenced by the moon Ekadasi seems to be mundane. The heat of the world, and the watery portion in the body increases due to the influence of the moon just as the high tide and low tide of the ocean are also effected by the moon. As we approach the full moon and the new moon, the watery portion of our bodies is enhanced by the movement of the earth, the moon and the sun, and thereby the enjoying spirit is also developed.

So, fasting is necessary to meet with that external movement of nature. Fasting can save us from that peculiar reaction. Fasting has been recommended, and especially, if one can't fast at all, then one may take some process of diet that will give less cause for excitement, therefore one may take anukalpa (non-grains). We fast to check the senses, because the senses by the natural flow become more intense at that time. The result is, that one will be excited and want to enjoy to encroach on the environment. So this unfair encroachment of one's own self is to be controlled, therefore this fasting has been recommended - this is one way.

We take some types of food, and not others, because they are considered to be less injurious, and less exciting to the body. Also it is mentioned in Hari-bhakti-vilasa, that some particular sins are fond of taking shelter in those foods that we reject. Papa means a type of sin that is very fond of taking shelter in grains and those places which we surely want to avoid. First-class fasting means without even taking water (nirjal). Those who cannot do without food, may take fruit, roots, and milk.

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Also, from the spiritual perspective, Krsna Himself also feels more necessity for enjoyment, and when Krsna feels more necessity, the devotees have a greater chance to offer service. The time is more valuable for them, because Krsna wants to enjoy, and at that time, devotees should be busy to supply the things for His enjoyment - so much so that they won't have any time for their own necessities. So, the first reason is to please Krsna and the secondary reason is, that by fasting, we can make our body dry and so our enjoying spirit will be lessened. This is the general explanation. There are so many other things also. Everything is conscious, everything is personal, and Ekadasi has her own personal character, and she devotes herself with all her company in the service of Krsna.

She does not take any food or anything else, and also does not allow others in her group to take food or waste time, but is always engaged in the service of Krsna. We are told that Ekadasi and Dvadasi are favoured by Hari - the underlying cause is already explained. Hari will be pleased with any small service performed on these days. So, Dvadasi and Ekadasi are both considered the favourite days of Krsna. Ekadasi observance is compulsory - though Dvadasi is also honoured as the favourite of Hari, still Ekadasi has preference. Dvadasi has preference over Ekadasi only in eight cases, determined by the combination of naksatra, tithi, etc. - when we observe Maha-Dvadasi and not Ekadasi.

On Ekadasi and Dvadasi, even a little service gives some greater remuneration.

Remuneration means that our serving attitude and our earnestness will be enhanced at that particular time. In deeper sense, this means that Hari at that time want to accept more service. That is the fortune of the servitors, that Hari demands more of the servitors, so the importance for the servitors increases at that time during Ekadasi and Dvadasi. Also on Dvadasi, we do not pick the leaves of tulasi because it is considered that Tulasi-devi has observed fasting on Ekadasi.

It is also noted that service is the first consideration. If I fast and do not take any water, then I may have to lie down and not be able to do any service to the Lord. That is not desirable. So, to take anukalpa and do service to the Lord is better.

Service is better than sitting idly. So, if prasada-seva is taken as service, this is best.

But at the same time, the individual position of a devotee should be considered. The Sahajiyas do not observe Ekadasi fasting at all. They say, "Oh, we are in Vrndavan - no fasting here!" But Srila Prabhupad did not like this - the Sahajiya, in the name of krsna-

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bhakti, goes on feeding the senses. But when necessary for the service of Krsna, to keep up the body, we take prasadam - we don't like that by fasting the loss of energy may occur. In this way we honour Ekadasi. If fasting does not hamper our service, we may go on fasting.

Once on Janmastami day, Hayagriva Brahmachari (the later Madhava Maharaj) had to arrange for Prabhupad to go to Mathura, in order to observe the Purusottam-masa.

Hayagriva was sent one day earlier to hire a suitable house and that day happened to be Janmastami. Prabhupad asked his own cook to feed Hayagriva rice on Janmastami day.

"He will have to take a tedious journey and his energy will be wasted - he has an important duty to arrange that house there." That was his order. But Hayagriva hesitated and the cook also hesitated. Anyhow, he did not take rice on Janmastami - instead he took sabhu (tapioca), plantain and curd.

However, if Professor Sanyal had been in such a position, he would have certainly taken rice - he was so much adherent and extremely submissive to Prabhupad's order. He would have said, "Oh Prabhupad has asked me to take rice - I must take rice!" That was his line of thought. But Hayagriva hesitated, "No, no, it is not necessary, I am strong enough. I can do my duty." Also, when Prabhupad wanted to eat something on fasting days, he would take anukalpa.

My Guru Maharaj felt that you will get the maximum energy if you take good food and you do good service. That was his maxim. Krsna is not a liquidated party. Take full prasadam and do full service. Whatever is necessary, take it for the cause of Krsna - not for your own cause. You are Krsna's, so if you grow weak and your service is hampered, then you will be the loser. "Better that my soldiers are well fed and working well." That was my Guru Mahara's principle.

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TEXT 30 api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk ādhur e a a manta ya amya ya a to h a api—in spite of; cet—although; sudur c ra —one committing the most abominable actions; bhajate—engaged in devotional service; m m—unto Me; ananya-bh k—without deviation; s dhu —saint; eva—certainly; sa — he; mantavya —to be considered; samyak—completely; vyavasita —situated; hi—certainly; sa —he.

TRANSLATION Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.

Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad The word sudur c ro used in this verse is very significant, and we should understand it properly. When a living entity is conditioned, he has two kinds of activities: one is conditional, and the other is constitutional. As for protecting the body or abiding by the rules of society and state, certainly there are different activities, even for the devotees, in connection with the conditional life, and such activities are called conditional. Besides these, the living entity who is fully conscious of his spiritual nature and is en the devotional service of the Lord, has activities which are called transcendental. Such activities are performed in his constitutional position, and they are technically called devotional service. Now, in the conditioned state, sometimes devotional service and the conditional service in relation to the body will parallel one another. But then again, sometimes these activities become opposed to one another. As far as possible, a devotee is very cautious so that he does no ct which may be taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. In the Śrīmad-Bh gavatam it is stated that if a person falls down, but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, beautifies him and excuses him from that abomination. The material contamination is so strong that even a yogī usness is so strong that such an occasional falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is always a success. No one should deride a devotee for some accidental falldown from the ideal path, for, as is explained in the next ve

of chanting should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words s dhur eva, “ ” because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has fallen down accidentally. And the word mantavya is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord.

The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.

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The mark of a spot which may be seen on the moon does not become an impediment to the moonlight.

Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of a saintly character does not make him abominable. On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Kolerganj, P.O. Nabadwip, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal, India 741302

The Philippine Sri Gaudiya Darshan is a free semimonthly Digital Newsletter-Magazine of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Philippines – Sri Nama Hatta Center. Our society is duly registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines since February of 1992 and affiliated with the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nabadwip, India since 1984.

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His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj Sevaite-President and Present Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

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