A Brief History of the Sākṣi-gopāla Deity

A lwAys E mbr A c E d by K åñë A

As an Uprooted Tree Falls on the Ground

Whenever Çréla Prabhupäda called Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, he would immediately stop what he was doing, make his way quickly to Prabhupäda’s room and offer his obeisances, falling flat on the ground like a stick. “Yes Prabhupäda”, he would say. “You called me?” Some devotees thought Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was going to hurt himself because he hit the ground with his whole body and it made a slapping sound. Of course, when the disciple comes before his spiritual master, the disciple should always prostrate himself on the floor in front of him.*

Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Mahäprabhu said;

tåëäd api sunécena taror iva sahiñëunä amäninä mänadena kértanéyaù sadä hariù

Be as tolerant as a tree, otherwise you cannot serve Mahäprabhu. You cannot serve and please Guru and Gauräìga unless you tolerate and cooperate. Mahäprabhu’s teaching is most important; otherwise, you cannot do haribhajana. No pride, and with great humility, much humbler

* yatra yatra guruà paçyet tatra tatra kåtäïjaliù praëamed daëòavad bhümau chinna-müla iva drumaù

“Anywhere that one sees his spiritual master, he should, with folded hands and in a humble mood, pay his obeisances to him just as an uprooted tree falls on the ground.” (Çré Hari-bhakti-viläsa 1.90, quoted from Devé-ägama and spoken by Çré Närada Muni.)

C hapter 8 p rabhupäda in b hubaneswar - p art 1

than a blade of grass lying in the street. Unless you become like that, unless you become as tolerant as a tree, unless you pay respect to one and all and do not demand respect for yourself, you cannot do hari-bhajana, you cannot serve Guru and Gauräìga. That is Mahäprabhu’s teaching; you see, a most important instruction. “I am teaching you.” Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Goswami has said, “Make a garland of this verse,* put it around your neck and do hari-bhajana,” If you do so, you will become a real Vaiñëava; otherwise you cannot. That is a fact. By our own effort we cannot do anything, but by the mercy of Guru and Gauräìga,** who are so powerful, we can develop this mood, otherwise there is no possibility. Always be begging mercy at gurudeva’s lotus feet.

“This is the only prayer to offer, “I am a speck of dust at your lotus feet. Please accept me. I have no qualification; I am a worthless fellow. I am completely dependent on your mercy, O my beloved revered spiritual master.” Yes! What he says, what comes from his lips, just accept it as it is. Do not add any deliberation to it, and do not twist it. That will be your asset and if you take it seriously and execute it at any cost, then you will get the mercy. It is super powerful.

* ürdhva-bähu kari’ kahoì, çuna, sarva-loka näma-sütre gäìthi’ para kaëöhe ei çloka

“Raising my hands, I declare, “Everyone please hear me! String this verse on the thread of the holy name and wear it on your neck for continuous remembrance.” (Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 17.31) ** “...From Çré Gaurasundara’s statements we have come to know about the duty of our human life. He did not give a single prescription for our material advancement. Rather, He instructed us to give up all hope of lording it over material nature and for mundane fame. He taught us to respect even those who are not respectable, and to become as tolerant as a tree when others attack us. He said to become lower than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree – and then to chant the holy name constantly...” (Excerpt from: Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda. “Vaktrtävalé: Garland of Divine Discourses.” Touchstone Media, 2014)