In a new book A Bond of Love published by Bookwrights Press Srila Prabhupada’s daughters remember their time with their spiritual master. “Riding in the back of a taxi with a close god sister in Mumbai one fall evening around 2008, discussing the seemingly eternal topic of friction between genders, I paused for a moment […]

The post New Book: A Bond of Love – Srila Prabhupada’s Daughters appeared first on ISKCON News.

In a new book A Bond of Love published by Bookwrights Press Srila Prabhupada’s daughters remember their time with their spiritual master.

In a new book A Bond of Love published by Bookwrights Press Srila Prabhupada’s daughters remember their time with their spiritual master.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.26 during a Zoom conference with ISKCON Malaga.

Sanaka prabhu passed peacefully from his body at 2am, with Srila Prabhupada chanting Japa at his side and Srimati Tulasi devi close to him. Over the past few weeks he has had a lot of mercy from so many caring Vaishnavas. Devotees had kirtan for him for a couple of hours after he left.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 August 2014, Nove Sady, Czech Republic, Balarama Purnima Lecture)

Simply put, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mahamantra is our main interest. In the Holy Name, there are 3 words – Hare, Krsna and Rama. In this, we can see that Hare is representing Srimati Radharani, Rama is representing Lord Balarama and Krsna is representing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna Himself. Besides Krsna, we can see that Srimati Radharani and Lord Balarama are our main focus. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur explains that for those who are liberated and in the madhurya rasa, they focus on Srimati Radharani and all others focus on Balarama, including those who are not liberated or are experiencing the other rasas. Therefore, for us, Balarama is our way to access Krsna.

Balarama is never putting himself in the foreground. He is the older brother, so he is always putting himself in the background and He lets Krsna be in the foreground. There are many pastimes where Krsna and Balarama are together, like when they go to the school of Sandipani Muni together, and in this school, there is a special story of Krsna where he gets lost in the forest with Sudama, however there are not that many stories of just Balarama in the Krsna book. Most stories are of Krsna and Balarama together. This is because Balarama’s real interest is only in serving Krsna. He is teaching us to always speak about Krsna, always remembering Krsna, always serving Krsna. So in this way, Balarama Purnima becomes a significant day to remember Krsna and His pastimes, as that is what is always on Balarama’s mind.

Balarama often takes on a strong mood as the elder brother of Krsna, where He is trying to protect Krsna. There are of course some pastimes like when Balarama put on a peacock feather similar to Krsna, and that happened to be the day that Kesi was looking for Krsna. Now Kesi did not know what Krsna looked like, but he knew that Krsna always wore a peacock feather. So Balarama got badly beaten up that day, so He decided to never wear a peacock feather again (laughter). But other than such unique pastimes, Balarama typically assumed the role of the big brother. For instance, we have the pastime of where Arjuna disguised as a sanyasi to get closer to Subhadra as the two of them were drawn to each other. Eventually, Arjuna took off his sanyasi clothing and took Subhadra with him on a chariot. However, when Balarama found this out, He was getting very serious and He wanted to fight with Arjuna. So Krsna carefully entered in the middle, without making Balarama angry, and tried to calm down the situation. And this is how it was, Balarama was very protective and authoritative as the bigger brother, and Krsna would try to pacify Balarama as His younger brother. But in the end, Their position is that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Balarama is His foremost servant.

The article " Balarama – The Big Brother " was published on KKSBlog.

Somehow or other we all depend on someone or something.
This material world is created for these who don’t love KRSNA.
Recent Srimad Bhagavatam class by HH Jayapataka Swami in Mayapur.

He was an offenseless, gentle soul, full of devotion for Lord Krishna. A complete artist: painter, singer, musician, etc. Although highly qualified in many fields, he was humble like a straw. His kirtans and paintings are a treasure for devotees now and always. His smile was as bright and welcome as the full moon. A dedicated and genuine disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada liked by all, and a responsible husband to his chaste wife Dhrti devi dasi Continue reading "All Glories to Ramadasa Abhirama dasa Prabhu
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Activities and stories about Lord Balarama! Lots of fun things to do for children aged 2-18. Here are many stories about Balarama, along with activities about the stories. The story activities were created by the Hare Krishna School in Auckland, New Zealand, under the direction of Prana dasa. There are also dozens of Balarama-centered activities in the areas of scripture, Deity worship, devotee association, holy places, and Balarama's holy name. Have some transcendental fun! Continue reading "Activities and stories about Lord Balarama for children aged 2-18
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The post The Monk’s Podcast 41 with Garuda Prabhu – The Nectar of Writing for Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Seaton Village, Toronto

Try to Fix A Mistake

I was ambling along, beyond The Annex, through the common neighbourhood, when I received a call from my assistant, Krishna Chandra.

“You have a zoom class, Maharaj!” He said on behalf of someone hosting.

“Oh, that is my total stupidity.” I’m routinely walking at this hour but tonight was special. I was to give a Gita class based on chapter nine, verse three, about faith.  “I forgot. Is it too late?”

Thus I answered my own question. I can still try it. I’m 38 minutes late. “Send me the zoom link.” So K.C. did, and there were the listeners, about fifteen families.

I was in front of a large church on Walmer Street at that point. I took to the nearby park bench and began to speak on the queue of Dr. Jagannath Misra.

“Okay! Faith is an unflinching trust in something sublime. It is created by hearing from a virtuous source…”

Questions started rolling over the course of my talk and then phone calls also began to interject from people I have commitments with for the following day. I realized even one call came from a couple anticipating my visit to their home in Seaton Village. I guess I had a double-booking.

Anyway, we squeezed the class in, as well as the visit. It could have been a disastrous night but it all worked out in the end. I appealed to the supreme to aid any ability to remember and to apply an ounce of faith.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Cherry Beach, Toronto

Swim Like A Fish

The water was great at Cherry Beach; a rather hot spot in the summertime. It’s a big draw during these sultry, sunny days. This was my first time swimming there. Parking is free. No drinking is allowed on the beach. Positive elements for a monk. Scantily-clad ladies? Not too much of that.

It was Billy who drove me there, in his fire-engine red car—I’m not sure of the make. I never took much interest in car models. Trees always got me more excited.

Billy also enjoyed the water. It was catch-up time on devotional things. After the swim, or after touching the buoy that reads “Keep Out”, we hit the sand and, at his request for some japa chanting, we plopped ourselves on partial sand/partial weeds for the meditation by a chain barrier. My beads were left in the red car, whereas Billy brought his. He even swam with them on. No hard and fast rules! The metal links on the chain became my beads.

We also spoke about podcasting and his desire to go more in that direction, as a service to our guru and the mission. Everyone should have a mission. Not necessarily like some guys that I’d meet on my marathon walks, who were on a long drive—a marijuana mission (that was before it became legalized). Rather, I refer to a personal mission that enhances one’s spiritual capacity. Like Jiv Jago! Wake up sleeping soul! Illusion is all around us. It’s bait and I’m a fish. Don’t get fooled!

Swim in the water. Just don’t go for that worm on the hook.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Starting in July, ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) has been offering summer weekend retreats and brunches that connect visitors with a spiritual path and give them a semblance of normality during the pandemic, all within a very safe environment with COVID-19 precautions in place. Only a maximum of five to ten guests attend each retreat. Guests […]

The post New Vrindaban Provides Summer Weekend Retreats in Safe Environment appeared first on ISKCON News.

Only a maximum of five to ten guests attend each retreat. Guests stay in their own separate rooms with attached bathrooms in the Palace Lodge, which receive deep cleaning and disinfection after every stay.

Only a maximum of five to ten guests attend each retreat. Guests stay in their own separate rooms with attached bathrooms in the Palace Lodge, which receive deep cleaning and disinfection after every stay.

Beloved ISKCON artist Ram Das Abhiram Das passed away on July 31st, coinciding with  the auspicious date of  the Disappearances of Srila Rupa Goswami and Gauridas Pandit.   On August 22nd, 2019, while visiting Italy with his wife, Dhriti Dasi, Ram Das Abhiram has suffered a serious cerebral hemorrhage, the impact of which he did […]

The post Beloved ISKCON Artist Ram Das Abhiram Das Passes Away appeared first on ISKCON News.

"Srila Prabhupada blessed him and empowered him to present the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita through gorgeous transcendental paintings that captured the mind and heart and left one with feelings of spiritual awe and amazement and love." 

"Srila Prabhupada blessed him and empowered him to present the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita through gorgeous transcendental paintings that captured the mind and heart and left one with feelings of spiritual awe and amazement and love." 

A king’s duty is to his people. He should take care of them with no thoughts of pleasing himself. He should subordinate his own wishes and desires to those of the people

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 November 2018, Talavana, India, Kartik Parikrama Lecture)

Lord Balarama carries a plough, used to prepare the ground for planting. Balarama is actually the one who prepares the heart. Krsna is the instructor, the speaker of the Bhagavad-gita, and He plants transcendental knowledge within the heart. “Bala” means strength and Balarama is the giver of spiritual strength. He has that strength because He is serving Krsna in unlimited ways: as His personal paraphernalia, His bed, His shoes and even the instruments we use in kirtana. Even the kartalas should never be put on the ground because it is Balarama. He also becomes the purusa avatars: Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Balarama assumes all these roles and is actually the origin of Them. Srimati Radharani is the hladini sakti, which is the pleasure potency of Krsna. But Balarama is the basic energy of the spiritual world or the sandhini sakti – the existence potency. So in this way, everything is resting on Balarama.

We are trying to find spiritual strength. We are trying to get more resolve. We pray to Balarama knowing that we need His support. We need strength, and we get it from mercy, because we do not have strength on our own. We simply lack that deeper strength. But Balarama can give it to us! So the question is, how do we get it from Him? What can we do to get that spiritual strength? Well, that is simple. Balarama is the one who is fully absorbed in serving Krsna. Naturally, if we want something from someone and we ask them for it, that someone may or may not give it to us. It is better to first help that someone in what they are doing, and then after a while they feel so indebted that we can ask, “Could you please give me something?” Now, how can that someone say no? This principle applies with Balarama. If we assist Balarama by helping with what is dear to Him – devotional service to Krsna – then we can pray to Him for mercy, and He will give us that strength.

Srila Prabhupada gave us Sri Sri Krsna Balarama in Vrndavana, partially because the area where our temple was built is Ramana-reti, the place where Krsna and Balarama would come with Their cows and rest. But Prabhupada also gave us Krsna and Balarama because we need spiritual strength so very much. So, we pray to Lord Balarama as He prepares the heart and gives spiritual strength, which ultimately means happiness in spiritual life.

The article " Everything is resting on Balarama " was published on KKSBlog.

At the 1977 Mayapur GBC meeting, It was reported to Srila Prabhupada, that one million and half of BG AS IT IS copies [abridged] in English would be printed and distributed for that year by the BBT. How Many Cargo Train Cars would be Required to Transport the Paper to the Printer? The answer is below………

Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s Janmashtami message for ISKCON

HG Ramesvara Das: Srila Prabhupada’s desire to show Shri Krshna to the entire world pours out of every part of this amazing empowered eternal spiritual couple. We can never repay our debt to you both for what you have revealed to the world - by Srila Prabhupada’s grace that he bestowed upon you!

In the beginning days of establishing his movement, Srila Prabhupada was assisted by a handful of dedicated disciples. Though unfamiliar with Vedic culture they were qualified through love and submission to their spiritual master. The good fortune of these devotees is unquestionable, and there is no doubt each and every one of them was worthy of their unique benediction. Whenever recounting the events Srila Prabhupada's disciples directly experienced with him in the course of their service, it is considered sacred and appreciated by all the assembled devotees. Continue reading "Ballad of a Sankirtana Devotee
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Once Utkaca went to the hermitage of a sage named Lomaśa, who had studied a hundred lessons in morality from Lord Brahma. For no reason, Utkaca started breaking trees there, being puffed up of his strong body. Seeing him creating an unnecessary disturbance, sage Lomaśa cursed him, “O evil-hearted one, become bodyless!” Utkaca’s body at once fell away like a snake’s old skin falls away. He became a ghostly being without a body (some say that he got an invisible body made of air). Such is the result of material pride and offense to saintly persons. Continue reading "When a Ghost Attacks God…
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We have received the sad and joyous news that Ram Das Abhiram Prabhu, the pre-eminent artist has left this material world. He painted, together with his wife Dhriti, some of the most compelling paintings of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. Many of his paintings grace the picture sections of his beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Kriyashakti Dasi: On this most auspicious day of the disappearance of Rupa Goswami and Gauridas Pandita, our dear Godbrother Ram Das Abhiram Das has left this world as he lived it…with beauty and joy, hearing Srila Prabhupada chanting Hare Krsna with the shenai playing softly and with loving family present.

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The post The Monk’s Podcast 40 with Vedasara Prabhu – Sharing spirituality in American colleges appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From July 1^st to 12^th, ISKCON Toronto, Canada held a 12-day series of online events. More recently, on Saturday July 18^th, ISKCON of Berlin, London, Radhadesh (Belgium) and Zurich jointly hosted a unique first-time European virtual collaboration festival, “Spirit of Ratha Yatra.”

From July 1^st to 12^th, ISKCON Toronto, Canada held a 12-day series of online events. More recently, on Saturday July 18^th, ISKCON of Berlin, London, Radhadesh (Belgium) and Zurich jointly hosted a unique first-time European virtual collaboration festival, “Spirit of Ratha Yatra.”

Shrila Rupa Goswami, the foremost of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was an incarnation of Rupa Manjari, the most important of the eight confidential maidservants of Shrimati Radharani in the eternal spiritual Vrindavan.

Shrila Rupa Goswami’s lineage can be traced back to Karnataka, South India where his Saraswata brahmana descendants held influential positions. Shrila Rupa Goswami’s nephew, Jiva Goswami has explained in his Laghu Toshani that Rupa’s descendants were of the Bharadvaja gotra and were learned in the Yajur Veda.

Rupa and his brothers made their residence at the state capital of Ramakeli and it was here, in 1514, that they met Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the first time. At that time all three brothers were employed as important ministers in the Mohammedan government of Bengal under Hussain Shah.

Approaching the Lord humbly they prayed to Him to somehow rescue them for their bonded state. Lord Chaitanya assured them that now they had surrendered to Krishna, they would soon be delivered and would be able to join His sankirtana movement. 

Rupa Goswami was specifically commanded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to carry out two tasks: (1) to find and establish the lost ancient and original Deities of Lord Krishna as well as to re-discover and restore the holy places associated with His leela in Vrindavan, and (2) to write and preach Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.

It was Rupa Goswami who more than anyone else, firmly established the sankirtana movement of Lord Chaitanya. He wrote a large number of important books on the science of bhakti-yoga and after the disappearance of Lord Chaitanya in 1534, Rupa became the undisputed leader of all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas in the world.

Even today all Gaudiya Vaishnavas are known as Rupanugas, or followers of Shrila Rupa Goswami.

Some authorities claim that in 1564 Shri Rupa Goswami entered Radha-Govindaji’s nitya-lila, just twenty-seven days after the disappearance of Shri Sanatana Goswami. Shri Rupa Goswami’s samadhi and bhajana kutir are in Seva Kunja within the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara Temple. 

We read from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter 19:

TEXT 1

vrndavaniyam rasa-keli-vartam
kalena luptam nija-saktim utkah
sancarya rupe vyatanot punah sa
prabhur vidhau prag iva loka-srstim

TRANSLATION

Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened the heart of Lord Brahma with the details of the creation and manifested the Vedic knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the Vrndavana pastimes of Lord Krsna, impregnated the heart of Rupa Gosvami with spiritual potency. By this potency, Srila Rupa Gosvami could revive the activities of Krsna in Vrndavana, activities almost lost to memory. In this way, He spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

TEXT 114

loka-bhida-bhaye prabhu ‘dasasvamedhe’ yana
rupa-gosanire siksa kara’na sakti sancariya

TRANSLATION

Due to the great crowds in Prayaga, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to a place called Dasasvamedha-ghata. It was there that the Lord instructed Sri Rupa Gosvami and empowered him in the philosophy of devotional service.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which the Lord bestows on His fortunate devotees. The Lord has a special potency by which He spreads the Krsna consciousness movement. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11): kali-kalera dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana/ krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana. “One cannot spread the holy name of Krsna without being specifically empowered by Lord Krsna.” A devotee who receives this power from the Lord must be considered very fortunate. The Krsna consciousness movement is spreading to enlighten people about their real position, their original relationship with Krsna. One requires Krsna’s special power in order to be able to do this. People forget their relationship with Krsna and work under the spell of maya life after life, transmigrating from one body to another. This is the process of material existence. The Supreme Lord Sri Krsna personally descends to teach people that their position in the material world is a mistaken one. The Lord again comes as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to induce people to take to Krsna consciousness. The Lord also empowers a special devotee to teach people their constitutional position.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

Lord Chaitanya met Srila Rupa Gosvami at Prayaga. Because of the great crowds that surrounded Lord Chaitanya, He took Rupa Gosvami to a secluded place called Dasasvamedha-ghata. In 1971, when Srila Prabhupada traveled to Allahabad for the Ardha-kumbha-mela, he also visited Dasasvamedha-ghata with his disciples. Lord Chaitanya empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami with his potency to revive Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan and thus spread Krishna consciousness. Only one who is empowered with the potency of the Lord, by the mercy of the Lord, can actually spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. Although Rupa Gosvami lived simply in Vrindavan, wearing a loincloth and sleeping one night under one tree and the next night under another, he wrote books that for generations have served to enlighten devotees all over the world. Even now we are reading The Nectar of Devotion, which is a summary study of his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, and The Nectar of Instruction, which is his Upadesamrta. And we are benefiting both from the example Srila Rupa Gosvami set when he lived in Vrindavan and from the books he wrote.

TEXT 115

krsnatattva-bhaktitattva-rasatattva-pranta
saba sikhaila prabhu bhagavata-siddhanta

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught Srila Rupa Gosvami the ultimate limit of the truth about Lord Krsna, the truth about devotional service, and the truth about transcendental mellows, culminating in conjugal love between Radha and Krsna. Finally He told Rupa Gosvami about the ultimate conclusions of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

COMMENT

In His talks with Rupa Gosvami, Lord Chaitanya began with the most basic knowledge and proceeded gradually to the highest. Rupa Gosvami begins Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu a little after Lord Chaitanya began, with pure devotional service, and he ends with the highest perfection of pure devotional service, madhurya-rasa. Although he mentions madhurya-rasa as one of the five principal mellows in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, he describes it elaborately in another book, Ujjvala-nilamani.

TEXT 116

ramananda-pase yata siddhanta sunila
rupe krpa kari’ taha saba sancarila

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught Rupa Gosvami all the conclusions He had heard from Ramananda Raya and duly empowered him so that he could understand them.

TEXT 117

sri-rupa-hrdaye prabhu sakti sancarila
sarva-tattva-nirupane ‘pravina’ karila

TRANSLATION

By entering the heart of Rupa Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered him to ascertain properly the conclusions of all truths. He made him an experienced devotee whose decisions correctly agreed with the verdicts of the disciplic succession. Thus Sri Rupa Gosvami was personally empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

PURPORT

The principles of devotional service are only apparently under the jurisdiction of material activity. To be rightly guided, one must be personally guided by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This was the case with Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and other acaryas.

COMMENT

At the beginning of the chapter Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami compares Lord Chaitanya’s empowering Rupa Gosvami to Lord Krishna’s empowering Lord Brahma with the Vedic knowledge. Because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He could start the disciplic succession, and He chose Lord Brahma, the first living entity in the universe, to be His first disciple. Similarly, Lord Chaitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He has the authority to begin a disciplic succession, and He chose various disciples, such as Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, to receive knowledge directly from Him. He entered their hearts and empowered them to understand His words and thoughts and to communicate them to others. Even Lord Krishna, to establish the principle of disciplic succession, accepted a spiritual master, Sandipani Muni, and Lord Chaitanya also accepted a spiritual master in the Madhva-sampradaya, Isvara Puri. But Lord Chaitanya’s teaching, acintya-bheda-bheda tattva, “inconceivable simultaneous oneness and difference,” is unique. His philosophy goes beyond the other disciplic successions and, as our acharyas explain, includes significant elements from all four disciplic successions.

TEXT 118

sivananda-senera putra ‘kavi-karnapura’
‘rupera milana’ sva-granthe likhiyachena pracura

TRANSLATION

In his book Caitanya-candrodaya, Kavi-karnapura, the son of Sivananda Sena, has elaborately described the meeting between Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 119

kalena vrndavana-keli-varta
lupteti tam khyapayitum visisya
krpamrtenabhisiseca devas
tatraiva rupam ca sanatanam ca

TRANSLATION

“In the course of time, the transcendental news of Krsna’s pastimes in Vrndavana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vrndavana.”

PURPORT

This verse and the following two verses are from Act Nine (38, 29, 30) of the Caitanya-candrodaya, by Sri Kavi-karnapura.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada says that the transcendental “news” of Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan was almost lost. Once, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura decided to publish a daily newspaper in Bengal, and the printer questioned whether he had enough news to publish every day. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura replied that he had enough news from the spiritual world to publish a newspaper every second but that unfortunately there were no customers.

TEXT 120

yah prag eva priya-guna-ganair gadha-baddho ’pi mukto
gehadhyasad rasa iva paro murta evapy amurtah
premalapair drdhatara-parisvanga-rangaih prayage
tam sri-rupam samam anupamenanujagraha devah

TRANSLATION

“From the very beginning, Srila Rupa Gosvami was deeply attracted by the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus he was permanently relieved from family life. Srila Rupa Gosvami and his younger brother, Vallabha, were blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Although the Lord was transcendentally situated in His transcendental eternal form, at Prayaga He told Rupa Gosvami about transcendental ecstatic love of Krsna. The Lord then embraced him very fondly and bestowed all His mercy upon him.”

TEXT 121

priya-svarupe dayita-svarupe
prema-svarupe sahajabhirupe
nijanurupe prabhur eka-rupe
tatana rupe sva-vilasa-rupe

TRANSLATION

“Indeed, Srila Rupa Gosvami, whose dear friend was Svarupa Damodara, was the exact replica of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he was very, very dear to the Lord. Being the embodiment of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s ecstatic love, Rupa Gosvami was naturally very beautiful. He very carefully followed the principles enunciated by the Lord, and he was a competent person to explain properly the pastimes of Lord Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu expanded His mercy to Srila Rupa Gosvami just so he could render service by writing transcendental literatures.”

TEXT 122–131

The characteristics of Srila Rupa Gosvami have thus been described in various places by the poet Kavi-karnapura. An account has also been given of how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami.

Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were the objects of love and honor for all the great stalwart devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

If someone returned to his country after seeing Vrndavana, the associates of the Lord would ask him questions.

They would ask those returning from Vrndavana, “How are Rupa and Sanatana doing in Vrndavana? What are their activities in the renounced order? How do they manage to eat?” These were the questions asked.

The Lord’s associates would also ask, “How is it that Rupa and Sanatana are engaging in devotional service twenty-four hours daily?” At that time the person who had returned from Vrndavana would praise Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis.

“The brothers actually have no fixed residence. They reside beneath trees—one night under one tree and the next night under another.

“Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami beg a little food from the houses of brahmanas. Giving up all kinds of material enjoyment, they take only some dry bread and fried chickpeas.

“They carry only waterpots, and they wear torn quilts. They always chant the holy names of Krsna and discuss His pastimes. In great jubilation, they also dance.

“They engage almost twenty-four hours daily in rendering service to the Lord. They usually sleep only an hour and a half, and some days, when they continuously chant the Lord’s holy name, they do not sleep at all.

“Sometimes they write transcendental literatures about devotional service, and sometimes they hear about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and spend their time thinking about the Lord.”

TEXT 132

ei-katha suni’ mahantera maha-sukha haya
caitanyera krpa yanhe, tanhe ki vismaya?

TRANSLATION

When the personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would hear of the activities of Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, they would say, “What is wonderful for a person who has been granted the Lord’s mercy?”

PURPORT

Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami had no fixed residence. They stayed beneath a tree for one day only and wrote huge volumes of transcendental literature. They not only wrote books but chanted, danced, discussed Krsna, and remembered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes. Thus they executed devotional service.

In Vrndavana there are prakrta-sahajiyas who say that writing books or even touching books is taboo. For them, devotional service means being relieved from these activities. Whenever they are asked to hear a recitation of Vedic literature, they refuse, saying, “What business do we have reading or hearing transcendental literatures? They are meant for neophytes.”

COMMENT

When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura went to Radha-kunda, the babajis were expecting that he would speak on rasa-tattva. Instead, he spoke on the Upanishads, because he knew that so many were prematurely imitating advanced devotees or pretending to be advanced devotees. And Srila Prabhupada said that in order of advancement, Sri Isopanisad comes first, then Bhagavad-gita, then The Nectar of Devotion, then Srimad-Bhagavatam, and then Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.

PURPORT (continued)

They pose themselves as too elevated to exert energy for reading, writing, and hearing. However, pure devotees under the guidance of Srila Rupa Gosvami reject this sahajiya philosophy. It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books. He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. Temple construction is meant for the general populace and neophyte devotees, but the business of advanced and empowered devotees is to write books, publish them, and distribute them widely. According to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mrdanga. Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee.

COMMENT

It is the goal of devotees in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami to be rupanuga devotees, followers of Rupa Gosvami. In his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Rupa Gosvami has described all categories of devotional service: sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti, and prema-bhakti. And within each category, there are two divisions: vaidhi and raganuga. Srila Rupa Gosvami has composed three very important verses about the practice of raganuga-bhakti, which are also quoted in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. One reads,

seva sadhaka-rupena
siddha-rupena catra hi
tad-bhava-lipsuna karya
vraja-lokanusaratah

“The advanced devotee who is inclined to spontaneous loving service should follow the activities of a particular associate of Krsna’s in Vrndavana. He should execute service externally as a regulative devotee as well as internally from his self-realized position. Thus he should perform devotional service both externally and internally.” (Brs 1.2.295, quoted as Cc Madhya 22.258)

Externally one engages in devotional service as a sadhaka, a practicing devotee, and internally one engages in service in his perfected spiritual body. Followers of Rupa Gosvami, such as Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, have explained that externally we follow Rupa Gosvami and our spiritual master as they were, and internally we follow Sri Rupa in his eternal spiritual form as Rupa-manjari.

But it is easy to misunderstand and misrepresent the instructions of Srila Rupa Gosvami, and in Vrindavan there are many sahajiyas who do that, though they claim to be Sri Rupa’s followers. They try to follow Rupa-manjari and other associates of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna with their physical bodies. They do not follow the external behavior of Rupa Gosvami and the Gaudiya Vaishnava acharyas, but they imitate Rupa-manjari and other internal associates of Radha and Krishna. For example, in krsna-lila the residents of Vrindavan do not observe Ekadasi. But Rupa Gosvami, with reference to authoritative scriptures, has instructed in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu that we must observe Ekadasi, and Lord Chaitanya Himself personally observed Ekadasi. But sahajiyas consider themselves to be vraja-vasis like Krishna’s associates in krsna-lila—or they want to imitate the vraja-vasi associates of Krishna—so they do not observe Ekadasi. But, following the verses of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Prabhupada explains very clearly in The Nectar of Devotion that externally one continues to follow the regulative principles just like a neophyte devotee—or any devotee who adheres to the standard Srila Prabhupada gave for ISKCON.

When we were in Allahabad for the Kumbha-mela in 1977, His Holiness Lokanath Swami came to meet Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada lived in a tent, like all of us, and although his tent was a little bigger and had a heater, still it was cold and difficult, and he became sick. Sometimes in the afternoon there was sun, and he used to come outside into a courtyard constructed with colorful shamiana cloth, and I would often sit there with him.

Srila Prabhupada had been encouraging Lokanath Swami to travel by bullock cart throughout India and preach. But Gopal Krishna Maharaja had instructed Lokanath Swami to stay in Bombay to take care of the new bhaktas. Lokanath Swami repeated Gopal Krishna’s arguments to Srila Prabhupada, including Gopal’s description of Lokanath Swami as a “key devotee.” “What is this ‘key devotee’?” Lokanath wondered. Prabhupada replied, “No, you should travel with bullock cart and preach.” Then Lokanath Swami asked, “What about the program for the new devotees?” Srila Prabhupada answered, “Our regular program is for new devotees. Our program is the same for all devotees; we don’t have any different program for new devotees.” Then Lokanath Swami explained that some of the devotees had joined because he had preached to them and they were attached to him personally and might not be able to continue without him. Srila Prabhupada replied, “Those who are very much attached to you personally may accompany you in the bullock cart, and you can have the same program in the bullock cart as you travel.”

So, when we quote Srila Prabhupada’s Nectar of Devotion that externally one continues to act as a neophyte, we mean that one continues to follow the regular program Srila Prabhupada gave for all devotees, beginning with the new ones. And as one adheres to the morning program and other principles, one can feel the results—favorable results. But at the same time, if a devotee is fortunate enough to have some specific taste for some specific service, he is also encouraged to serve according to his taste, while continuing to observe the regulative principles.

Srila Prabhupada concludes the purport by saying that if a devotee writes and publishes and distributes books, he is actually following Rupa Gosvami, and thus one can become a rupanuga devotee. So Srila Prabhupada’s blessing is upon us if we write, publish, and distribute transcendental literature.

TEXT 133

caitanyera krpa rupa likhiyachena apane
rasamrta-sindhu-granthera mangalacarane

TRANSLATION

Srila Rupa Gosvami has personally spoken about the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in his auspicious introduction to his book Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu [1.1.2].

TEXT 134

hrdi yasya preranaya
pravartito ’ham varaka-rupo ’pi
tasya hareh pada-kamalam
vande caitanya-devasya

TRANSLATION

“Although I am the lowest of men and have no knowledge, the inspiration to write transcendental literatures about devotional service has been mercifully bestowed upon me. Therefore I am offering my obeisances at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has given me the chance to write these books.”

Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhu ki jaya!
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Rupa Gosvami’s disappearance day, August 23, 1999, Carpinteria, California]