STATEMENTS RELATING TO TRIVIKRAM PRABHU
Hare Krishna
We welcome everyone to Shri Radhagopinath weekly Sunday festival. Thank you for being with us. This morning quite early, a telephone call came to the temple, informing us that our very dear devotee Trivikram Prabhu, was in extremely critical condition. A few days ago he had a massive heart attack. This morning his health was seriously declining, according to the doctors, there are very little possibilities or hope that he will physically survive. I went to the Nanavati Hospital to be with him and his family. Govind Prabhu was there telling very beautiful stories. I chanted with him for a couple hours. I humbly request to all of you to please pray to Sri Sri Radhagopinath, Nitai Gourachandra to shower their mercy and blessings upon him. One very beautiful thing that I witnessed today is Aniruda, his only child who is, I believe 20 years old. He was at the hospital with his mother, he told me how extremely grateful he was. We could imagine, he has no brothers, sisters only 20 years old, his father is facing eminent death. The son is there, helpless to help him, physically, but very much trying to help him spiritually. I being with the devotees, chanting the holy names, praying. He expressed to me his gratitude, for this family of vaishnavas that are bestowing such unconditional love. Doing everything possibly they can, to help his father, to attain the supreme destination. Actually the senior most members of our congregation, many of the senior most members of the brahmachari ashram, were there going in and out chanting for him, reading for him, praying for him. There also Anirudha, said besides my father for me and my mother, he said so much help, so much support, so much affection, he said that I really feel as if, I have so many fathers and so many mothers. The way the devotees are taking care of me, the way the devotees are extending themselves for me, he said there is no possibility of a family like this. In any other way, this is something, I have seen time and again during this traumatic crisis in devotee’s lives. That they find that their own family members, mean extended family members, how near is a concerned with helping as a family of devotees, who are not physically, biologically related, who are related on the basis of devotion to Krishna and Srimati Radharani. How deep and how committed he was, seeing the immense amount of sacrifices. That devotees who are making to help his father, to help him and his mother, deeply moved, deeply grateful. He was finding shelter and hope in the most hopeless time, due to the loving service of the vaisnavas. Trivikram Prabhu is a wonderful vaisnava. One of our counselors, very senior counselor. He helped to distribute Prabhuphada’s back to godhead books. Extensively member of our dramas, and has helped guided and inspired many, many devotees. Who he personally took care of on the path of bhakti, service to the vaisnavas, is a very intimate offering to Sri Sri Radhagopinath.
………………………………….. math vuja tadika………..
Krishna tells, whorship of my devotees, is dearer to me, than worship to me. And we see in this instance and so many others. Were, there is this selfless endeavor to serve other vaisnavas. Specially at the time of need. When they can give nothing in return. When we sacrifice so much, knowing the only thing, will get in return is the blessing. We have served the vaisanava. We see real service is without expectation, of anything material in return that is bhakti.
anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
änukülyena kåñëänu-
çélanaà bhaktir uttamä
Real devotion is that makes with any desire for anything physical, emotional, materially in return. It only gives one liberation from suffering. We simply want to serve in a favorable way that pleases Krishna. That is bhakti. It is easy to work when we are expecting something in return, prestige, position, power, money. And to serve simply because it is Lord Krishna wants me to do. Is to please my guru and the vaishnava that is bhakti. And people could feel love when there is unconditional service, and as far as spreading bhakti or preaching a message through very powerful way of preaching. Because by seeing the example of such people like Dwarkadhis and Vishakapriya who have time and again are helping the devotees, in these conditions devotees develop faith, deep faith yes. This bhakti is of real substance is true real. Sri Chaitanya Charitramita, puts great emphasis on how the supreme Lord loves his devotees. Bhagwat Gita explains that Krishna is equal to everyone; he is not partial to anyone. But in the same time Krishna gives everyone a chance, by giving us free will.
ye yathä mäà prapadyante
täàs tathaiva bhajämy aham
mama vartmänuvartante
manuñyäù pärtha sarvaçaù
As you surrender unto me, I respond and reveal myself accordingly for those who make sacrifices, for Krishna. For those who give up the things they are attached to for the higher cause of service to Krishna, Krishna is unlimitedly grateful. We were discussing last week gratitude is one of the most precious quality of a saintly person.
tat te ‘nukampäà susamékñamäëo
bhuïjäna evätma-kåtaà vipäkam
håd-väg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jéveta yo mukti-pade sa däya-bhäk
Even in the most desperate time a devotee is grateful and eager to serve. That gratitude is part and parcel of the supreme gratitude of god. So grateful.
nehäbhikrama-näço ‘sti
pratyaväyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
träyate mahato bhayät.
Any service we do for the pleasure of the Lord the Lord never forgets. Ever you may be grateful, to what somebody has done, for you. But do you remember, all the things that people do to you for you when you are little child? How many of you remember? Do you remember all the nice things that people do for you in the past life? Or the life before that? Or the life before that? We have all been here for so many lives. People may have done so many things. Performed so many sacrifices. You may had mother’s and father’s had practically died for your happiness in your past life’s. Do you remember any? So all power to be grateful is very limited.
….iswar savabhutanam…..
Krishna is in our heart he remembers everything. If you did even one small thing ten millions births in the past, Krishna remembers it. And he is just waiting for you, to continue all those credits still there. Why, because of his gratitude such a friend he never lives us, he is seated right in our heart, besides us, and never forgets. Whatever sins we have done. Whatever ways we have offended him, blasphemed him, betrayed him, and rejected him. He remembers that too.
sarva-dharmän parityajya
mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù
Just sincerely try to surrender, and he will forget it. All it is gone, forever. He may not forget it but is as good as that. As if he never did anything, even if trillions of births, you have offended the god. To surrender now it is gone. One little thing you do, to serve him, to please him, never gone. There is nothing within the entire material creation that can erase from Krishna’s memory, our credits in devotional service because it is eternal. Who is a friend like this? So those devotees, according to their sincerity, efforts to please Krishna, Krishna becomes obliged. He loves his devotees. In fact, he accepts position of being sub-ordinate and controlled by the love of his devotees. That is the nature of love, a devotee is conquered by Krishna’s love and Krishna by his own free will is conquered by the devotees love. Here is a wonderful illustration of this. There are innumerable illustrations of this in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s lilla.
STORY OF PASSING OF SRILA HARIDAS THAKUR
One that is very prominent is the story of passing of Srila Haridas Thakur. The day of Haridas Thakurs disappearance of this world was celebrated by us, just a few days ago. Ananta Chaturdishi. So since, many of you were not here, for the beautiful Bhagvatam class that was given that day by Gourgopal Prabhu. I will share some thoughts in this regard with your permission. Haridas Thakur, we know although he was born in an out caste family, he loved the association of devotees, and he had a very, very deep conviction in power of the holy name. He was chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra day and night three hundred thousand names every day. That’s one hundred and ninety two rounds on his beads. And after he finished that he would be dancing and singing the holy names and preaching the glories of the holy names. In those days, in India being an out caste from the Hindu prospective was a very, very emanating situation. He was condemned. He was not allowed in temples, he could have just said; well, why I should follow this religion. Why not go to another religion, be so much easier is because this marked Brahmans. They were so unfair to him that he was a man of essence he was, tasting the sweetness of holy name. As he was chanting the holy names, he was experiencing the beautiful form of Radha and Krishna. He was, tasting their qualities, their love, their mercy, and their pastimes. He was experiencing, the eternal abode of the Lord as he was chanting the holy names. In that state who can convince you to change those who are superficially attached to the external forms of their religion. Without understanding the essence of it. Have been causing trouble and making offences as long as we have human history. It is fact; sectarianism is all based on false ego. I am better than you. That is what it comes down to human beings. With ego have this tendency. Once coming into the environment of Maya or material energy. Then we want to be, as, Prabhupada said, the Lord of all we survey. We want to be controller, we want to be proprietor, and we want to be enjoyer. We want to be better than others. So we take our nationality or our race or our religion. Somehow or other, whatever we can acted to we have this lamentable need to feel our self superior to others. So for me to feel better than you. And is my religion better than yours, or even with same religion my denomination is better than yours, or even with the same denomination my guru is better than yours, or even with the same guru my temple is better than yours, or even with the same temple my classes are better than yours. My flower garlands are better than yours. Why is this? It, just the opposite of the essence of what religion is Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explains.
tåëäd api sunécena
taror iva sahiñëunä
amäninä mänadena
kértanéyaù sadä hariù”
This is a vaisnava eager to offer all respect to others and not expect any respect for one self. Haridas Thakur, was the best of the best of the best form the spiritual prospective. And yet he was condemned and prosecuted again and again. As being the worst of the worst but the amazing thing is he felt himself to be the worst of the worst. Even though he was the best of the best. We know the story of the Ramchandra Khan. He sent that prostitute to destroy Haridas Thakur. And Haridas Thakur was, so he moved as she came. She came to ruin his life. If he so much did anything, he must going to caste into prison and beaten and disgraced and may be killed. And this was a so called very learned wealthy Hindu gentle man who is doing this to him because he just could not tolerate that an out caste becoming popular. In his religion and Haridas Thakur stayed there just chanted Hare Krishna, prayed for this woman. And ultimately she became his disciple. And she saved her head, not that you have to do that ladies. But she gave away all of her belongings just put on a simple white cloth. Stayed in his Bhajan Kutir in forest worshiped the Tulsi. And he left and she chanted three hundred thousand names of Krishna every day. And people would just come and bring her food and is not that he stayed to say that look what I have done. He left never came back. Abominable and then he went whenever he went. He went to Chandrapur in Adisapta gram and there are Balaram Achraya, Raghunandan Acharya, they were great devotees of Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu. Of course this is before Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed his lila. They were great vaisnavas, and they understood what a great devotee was. Even though they were Brahman’s they asked him to give a lecture on the glories of the holy name. And the father of Raghunath Das Goswami and his uncle they were so deeply grateful to Haridas Thakur. They invited all the employees, and other respectable peoples of the area. And Haridas was simply quoting from the scriptures, the glories of the holy name with his own realization. And one person who is in the audience. Who is very highly learned respected Brahman could not tolerate this. He stood up, and began to blaspheme Haridas Thakur, right in front of everyone. Your are saying that simply chanting the holy names of Krishna one can attain prema and compared to prema, mukti is an insignificant by product. Which is automatically achieved, and then he screamed out. That if what you are saying is not true. Which it isn’t. I curse you that your nose will fall off. Haridash Thakhur, what could he do he just very humbly said, everything I am saying is true, is in the scriptures. Anyway the next state that person left his nose fell down. Haridas Thakur was feeling very much sorry, for him. Meanwhile, Govardhan and Hiranya Majumdar and Balaram Acharya and Yadunandan were going around, Haridas and saying we beg forgiveness. We invited you to hear you and were blasphemed. And Haridas said no, no, no. He just does not know what he is talking. About he was not affected and from there he went to Puliagram. And he meet Advaitya Acharya, who loved him. Advaitya Acharya was best of the Brahmans. He was living in the cave there in the bank of Ganges. He was chanting. And he will go along the bank of the river dancing and chanting in ecstasy. And people would see him and he would tell the glories of the holy name. His love was so deep and so pure that it transformed people’s heart. Just seeing him, just hearing him, they were transformed and immediately started chanting the holy name. This was intolerable for Brahmans, who complained to the ruler that he is ruining our religion. He has no right. He should be destroyed. He must be punished. You know the story he was arrested and told just practice your own religion. And don’t do this hind stop for chant the holy name any more. If you keep doing, it you will be beaten in the twenty two market places torture publicly and murdered. If you stop we will let you go right now. He said I cannot stop I had no capacity. He said I love Krishna and one who loves Krishna must show compassion to other living beings. And the greatest companion any one could extend to anyone else in this age of Kali.
jév jägo, jév jägo, gauracända bole
kota nidrä jäo mäyä-piçäcéra kole
Wake up, wake up sleeping souls, this is the greatest act of compassion to wake the sleeping souls, no matter who you are, what you are, you have to grow old get disease and die and that death can come at any movement. I have heard about people who just take their physical and are in excellent health, and a few days later they have a heart attack and died. Even top doctors we have heard it happens in the probe of the youth.
padaà padaà yad vipadäà na teñäm
That danger is at every step but the soul is eternal.
na jäyate mriyate vä kadäcin
näyaà bhütvä bhavitä vä na bhüyaù
ajo nityaù çäçvato ‘yaà puräëo
na hanyate hanyamäne çarére
Nothing can impede form the life of the eternal soul to awaken the eternal reality ones identity to awaken. Ones potential through love Krishna. That is the greatest welfare, para upakar the greatest compassion, and in this age of Kali the means of attaining that is the chanting of the holy name. Haridas Thakur told the Kaji, and the king he said showing compassion to others by spreading the glories of the holy name. It is my nature because I love Krishna. Even if you chop my body into thousands of pieces every one of those pieces would be broadcasting the glories of the holy names. They dragged him to the streets; they beat him severely through all twenty two market places. They were so exhausted that they could not beat him anymore. They hated him hated him so much their entire energy every last drop of their energy they had a lot of energy was dedicated exclusively to inflict pain on him and to kill him. When they were utterly exhausted end of the day Haridas Thakur just look at them with great compassion. They said we don’t understand who you are, we are beating you. We are shouting the worst horrible obscenities against you right in public. We are dragging you through the streets like an animal and you are looking at us with such love. The whole time in fact, you are looking at us like you feel sorry for us. We cannot kill you because we cannot kill you. We are going to be killed for not killing you. Haridas Thakur said oh I am causing inconvenience to you. Just see what I will do. Then he just chanted and gave up his life. He went into a Samadhi state. His heart beat, his pulse, his breath everything stopped. If we have one of those things in the hospital, we just call straight line he was dead, what to do with him. They threw him in the river like a piece of thrash. That what they said, just through him in the river like a piece of thrash. They said to the Hindus would you like to burn him. They said no he is not a Hindu he does not deserve to be liberated in the fire. They asked the muslims, would you like to bury him they said no he is chanting Krishna’s name he does served to attain paradise by being buried. So what should we do with him, just through him in the river like a piece of thrash? That what they did? He floated for a while and he came out of his Samadhi. Now if you are him you have probably go to the forest to hide. Yes, he went right directly back to the town to meet the king and the executioner. Just to say Hari Bol. Just to, show compassion to them. Can you imagine right directly back to the town. And when the king saw he bowed down, and said you are a great saint. Please forgive me, Haridas. Haridas forgave him, forgave everybody such love. Another time, someone a Brahman, very learned, was with so many others. And they challenged Haridas. Why you are chanting loudly according to our understanding, according to our knowledge of Vedas, these mantras should be silent not loud. If you chant loudly, it destroys their potency. Limits their potency. And Haridas Thakur started, quoting from the scriptures, one after another, after another. Proving that loud chanting is much more purifying than soft chanting, because not only do you can purify, but everybody who hears the vibration gets purified. And because he defeated them, and stood up just saying yes you are correct sir. They got even more, angry, they said, just see, what’s scripture say is correct, it is confirmed today. That no class yabana, melschaa, is speaking from the Vedas, and corrupting, polluting its real purpose. Then they walked away. All of them have to blaspheme him and condemning him. Misleading the whole society. When one melchsaa speak from the Vedas. The scriptures only tell us a few instances. It was probably a daily affair for Haridas Thakur. He was always being judge, and then condemned, and ridiculed and misused. But he was always in polite, he would be in ecstasy chanting and dancing. Advaita Acharya, he was really a Brahman who understood the essence. He became the best friend of Haridash Thakur in Shantipur. Finally Advaita Prabhu, was thinking finally a true vaishnava has come. And they shared their love for Krishna so deeply. That when one came through the very prestigious sradha ceremony of Sri Advaita prabhu, the most learned exalted of all the Brahmans gathered there. And in front of everyone Advaita Acharya, gave the honors’ of the first offerings of the sradha to Haridas Thakur. Advaita Acharya, was really putting his reputation on a line that he did not care because he understood the whole purpose of the varna ashram system.
. ……….athapunje dija sersta varna………
Whatever one’s particular place in the varna or ashram system, the purpose is simply,
ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä
varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù
svanuñöhitasya dharmasya
saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam
to give pleasure to Lord hari. Haridas Thakur is givining the highest pleasure to Krishna. Therefore he is perfective varna ashram. He is above and beyond varna ashram is a vaishnav. Advita Acharya was saragrahi. He was seeing the essence, and he did not care what anyone thought. Haridas Thakur was really embarrassed, as he is thinking himself the lowest of the lowest, but Advatya Acharya Prabhu forced him to accept it in front of everybody. During the mahaprakash Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabu offered Haridas Thakur any benediction he wanted at the house of Srivas. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was giving the most intimate blessing; to his entire devotee according to their particular mood of devotion. He was fulfilling all their desires. Kolevecha Sridhar, he had the bhava of a gopaa, cowherd boy. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu reveled to him his form of Krishna and Balaram. And the whole forest of vrindavan and all the cows. And offered him any benediction you like, poor poverty stricken that banana leaves seller, he would not take anything. When Lord Chaitanya pushed and pushed and pushed ultimately, the only thing that Kolevacha Sridhar would ask, for because you are forcing me, to take something, just give me this one. I don’t want wealth , I don’t want mystic powers, I don’t want liberation , I don’t want elevation to the spiritual world. Just let that little boy Nimai, come and steal my bananas, every day, let that vision forever be, within my heart. That was his. And Haridas Thakur, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was praising him all of those beatings in Puliagram. He said I took them upon myself and Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu showed Haridas and all the devotees. His back was bruise severely, just to save Haridas life. Haridas did not want anything, but finally he was forced to ask for benediction. He said just allow me in every birth; I take to the get the remnants of the foods. That is from the plates of your devotee, that’s all I want. He said let me take birth as a dog or an insect, near the house of a devotee. So that after they eat, when they throughout the plates, I can get some of their remnants’. Now if you are asking for any benediction form the supreme personality of godhead, would you ask for that? Raise your hands please? That is his humility. That is why he could cant the holy names of the Lord three hundred thousand times a day, because he has such love for the devotees. He has such appreciation for the devotees. You cannot appreciate the devotee, you cannot appreciate the Lord. And the Lord blesses and empowers the one who appreciate his devotee. And then Haridas Thakur says to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, I am so shameless, I am so low, I am so fallen and undeserving. And yet I am asking you for such an exalted benediction this. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, Haridas, not only do I give you love of god, prema bhakti, but anyone who sees you, hears about you, is going to get it. When Haridas Thakur came to Puri, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he was personally greeting all the vaisnavas. Each and every devotee, he was personally giving them a garland. Lord Chaitanya would personally decorate their body, with sandalwood pulp. And embrace them with such love, and then he brought them all to his home. And he arranged just the kind of residential quarters, of each and everyone would be the most comfortable, arrange just the Prasad they like, it was so meticulous in the way he served the devotees. The each devotee, who came in to his room, he was embracing them, and praising their glories. As if he has, so many mouths. And he asked somebody were is Haridas Thakur. Where is Haridas, they saw down the dusty dirt path Haridas was laying there. Offering his full dandabat pranams, chanting the holy names. Just is the way Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to one devotee, go, go pick up Haridas and bring him here. He went to Haridas and he was laying there. He said, Lord Gouranga, wants you to come to the Gambhira. He is calling to you to his own room he said, no, no, no I am too fallen and I am too lonely if go there. I would condemn that place, I will remain here. Lord Chaitanya honored him this is the way he was felling; you see when you say something to god. When you say something, to Sri Chaitanya Mabaprabhu. He hears the intention of your heart in your prayers. He does not just hear the words he hears the intention. In your services, he doesn’t just see what is offered, he sees the intention in which is offered. Sincerity means to be genuine; Haridas really felt that way that he was so condemned. So Lord Chaitanya honored that and he gave everybody their loving exchange gave everyone gifts. Gave everyone Prasad, gave everyone residences. And everyone was gone. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally went right to that dirt dusty road. Were Haridas was picked up and embraced him. And Haridas said don’t touch me I am contaminated and Lord Chaitany Mahaprabhu said, I embraced you to purify myself. And it’s not that the Lord is saying that. That’s his bhava, that’s his feeling. For yagyayas, we offer prayers.
apavitraù pavitro vä
sarvävasthäà gato ‘pi vä
yaù smaret puëòarékäkñaà
sa bähyäbhyantaraù çuciù
Whether we are purified or unpurified or having passing through so many situations of life. When we remember the supreme personality of godhead, who is pavitra, completely pure. We are purified both within and without. The Lord is supremely pure, the scriptures describe like the sun. The sun is never gets contaminated by any situation, but can purify everything. The sun purifies stool and urine, but doesn’t get contaminated by touching it. Krishna is all pure; his holy name is supremely pure. Even the greatest,
déna-héna jata chilo, hari-näme uddhärilo,
tära çäkñé jagäi mädhäi
gagai and madhai, sins were so great, that even Yamaraj, and his secretary Chitragupta, were having very difficult time just calculating them.Every day many of us have a code of chanting at least sixteen rounds. Gagai and Madhai, they have their code, is to how many women they would rape every day. How many people, how many Brahmans they would murder. How many cows they would eat. How many bottles of liquor they would drink. How many houses they would burn down. How many old ladies they would beat up. Hare Krishna, this is not an eradiation some time in dramas we see of devotees Jagai and Madhai roar, and every one laughs, like this, is like a comedy. But please understand, if you saw the real Gagai and Madhai you would not laugh. You would be scared to death the biggest terrorist and criminal and gangsters of this would. Today are like little ants with broken legs, compared to Gagai and Madhai. Gagai and Madhai, Hiranayakasipu and Hiranyaakshya, Ravana and Kumbhakarana, in their past lives, with all those power they were bad. Yet just by chanting Krishna’s name all their sins were completely removed for ever. And they attained prema bhakti. What is the purifying power of Krishna and his name? And here is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Namah mahabadanaya Krishna prema pradayatee krishnaya krishnaChaitanaya namee goura trivishee namoh
The most merciful of all incarnations, supremely pure Krishna. Is tasting, the absolute supreme pure of Sri Radharani love. And distributing that love to the world. And yet here is the absolute pure supreme truth embracing. A person who is considered to be a malesccha and a yabana, and an out caste. And he is embracing him. And Lord Chaitanya with tears in his eyes, saying, I am embracing you, to become purified and he is feeling. He is feeling in that way. The Lord feels purified by his devotee. This is love; this cannot be understood through intellectual logical research. This can only be understood by realizing what love is. What is god’s love and what is a devotee’s love. Then Sri Chatanya Mahaprabhu personally arranged just the perfect place for Haridas Thakur. And Haridas was not allowed to go into the Jaganaths temple. And he would not dare even try, can you imagine, he was living about a ten minutes, a five minutes’ walk from Jaganaths temple. And he never got to see Jaganath. He had to wait till Rath Yatra. And even then only on the street. He was not allowed in Gundicca temple, whatever he tried. But Srila Prabhupada explains very fondly, how Lord Jaganath himself, would come out of the temple, every day and in the form of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprbhu. To meet with Haridas Thakur for two to three hours every day. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would bring him Mahaprasada, of all different varieties, and sit and have Hari Katha with him. For three hours to four hours every day. And how the Lord would enjoy the association of his devotee. Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, of all places in Puri , they specifically choose to live with Haridas Thakur. Now begin the class. One day Lord Chaitanyas personal servant, Govinda came to Sidhabakula. Haridas Thakurs Kutir. He found Haridas was lying down on his back, chanting the holy names hare Krishna. Then Govinda said please getup Haridas. Is there something wrong? I have brought, I have brought on the instruction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Jaganaths Mahaprasad. Please get up and eat Prasad. And Haridas said, I cannot. I have not finished my vow of chanting three hundred thousand names today. So how could I eat Prasad.
PAST TIMES OF LORD CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND SRILA HARIDAS THAKUR
But at the same time Mahaprasad is Krishna himself. How can I not honor the Prasad so this was his dilemma? He did not want to eat it, but he could not eat it. Haridas Thakur showed his example, he offered his sincere heartfelt obeisance’s to the Prasad. He offered prayers of love respect and worship to the Prasad and then he took a tiny little particle of it and eats it. That’s how he honored the Prasad. And the next day Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came he had heard the report from Govinda. And he said Haridas are you well and Haridas said, my body is quite well but my mind is not. Lord Chaitanya said what the problem is. He said I am not able to finish my regulation of chanting the holy names of the Lord. Therefore I am in the diseased condition. Herein, Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport that we all have a regulation for chanting the holy names. Srila Prabhupada prescribes sixteen rounds for those are very serious minimum said, if cannot, if we don’t complete our chanting according to this regulation. We should understand that spiritually we are in a diseased condition. But Prabhupada said not only just chanting but chanting in such a way that we hear it and focus our mind on it. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Haridas Thakur. He said you are so old now it is not possible for you to finish chanting three lakhs every day. Reduce the number of rounds you are chanting. You have incarnated in this world for the purpose of spreading the glories of the Harinam Sankirtan movement. And you have fulfilled the purpose of your incarnation you have done it. You have shown the highest example, but now you are old and there is no need. Please reduce the number of rounds. Should I continue? haribol. Thank you. Thank you. Haridas Thakur replied, my dear Lord kindly hear my plea. I was born in an inferior family, my body is abominable, and my acts are very low. Therefore, I am the lowest and most condemned of all men. I am useable, I am untouchable, yet you have accepted me as your servant. And in doing so you elevated me to the platform of Vaikuntha. My dear Lord, you are the supreme independent personality of godhead, by your will you can make the entire universe dance as you like it to dance. And even me you have made me dance. According to your wishes an example in the house of Advaitya Acharya. You awarded me the highest most prestigious position of giving the first remnants of his Shardha. Even though I was born in a family of malecchas. And I am a maleccha my Lord for a very long time. I have had a desire please fulfill my desire. I know that you are dependent, and you are supreme and if you like can try to fulfill my desire. It is the one desire that I have been longing for long time. I feel that very soon you will perform the final chapter of your past time within this material world. I do not want to see this closing chapter of your material world pastimes. Haridas Thakur is telling, I will not be able to bear seeing you leave this world, and I feel that is coming very soon. Therefore before that past time is performed. I beg of you my Lord allow my body to fall down at your lotus feet. Allow me to grasp that lotus feet and press them firmly on my heart. Allow my eyes to see yours beautiful like lotus face and with my tongue chanting your holy name Sri Krishna Chaitanya. Let my body fall down before you. He is praying to die. Lord Chaitanya heard this and became very emotional. He said Haridas certainly, because you are such a great devotee, whatever you wish Krishna must fulfill. But why are you asking for this. What about me all of my pleasure in this world is coming due to your association. Why do you want to leave me behind? Haridas replied, my Lord why are your creating this illusion. What is my value; he said there are so many important and good devotees. You have millions of devotees, who are so far superior to me. That they fit to sit on top of my head. They are actually very important they are doing significant things for your movement. I am doing nothing. If an insect dies, what is the loss, if an insect, insignificant ant passes away what is the loss to this material world? My Lord I am insignificant. Begging you please fulfill this one desire. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became very grave and he left the next day. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu brought his most intimate devotees, with him, to the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Haridas Thakur. There was Ramananda Ray, Sarbabumba Bhattacharya, Swarup Damodar Goswami, Bakreswar Pandit , Gagaddananda Pandit , Sankara Pandit , Kasiswar Pandit. These of the devotees that are named so many great souls. When they came in, Haridas Thakur offered his obeisance’s dandabats to every single devotee. And Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lifted him and said Haridas what is the news? Then Haridas’s reply whatever mercy you bestow upon me. HareKrishna. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu knew his heart he told Dwaroop Damodar Goswami to began kirtan all around. Haridas Thakur the devotee is very loudly chanting the holy names, Hare Krishna. Then Sri Gouranga began to extol the stories of Thakur Haridas as if he had five mouths deriving great happiness bliss. Describing the glories of his devotee. How beautiful,
……muchchita muchbudhi…….
Bhagwat Gita tells how my devotees love together. Together and they derive the greatest happiness discussing my glories. Hari katha discussing the glories of the Lord is the greatest happiness for the devotees, speaking the glories, hearing the glories, chanting the glories. But that person who gives us the highest bliss by chanting his glories or Sri Radharani her glories
……..Mahaprabhu sri krishnachaitanya nahi anya………….
Krishna is there as Mahaprabhu. What gives him the greatest pleasure chanting the glories of his devotees? Haridas Thakur surrendered his life at all risk to chant the glories of the Lord twenty four hours a day. And was the reciprocation that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabu found the greatest happiness, chanting the glories of Haridas Thakur. And all the devotees were struck with wander to hear Lord Chaitanya so blissfully describing Haridas Thakur. Then Srila Haridas Thakur took the dust of the feet of every single devotee, there and applied that dust to his head not as a ritual. When you take the dust of the feet of a devotee on your head Krishna sees your intent, you doing it as a ritual you get little purification. But the real spirit is the highest part of my body my head I am putting it under the dust of the lowest part of your body your feet that means you are great I am insignificant. I am your servant from my heart of heart. I want to serve you because you are Prabhu. You are master. and I am servant das das das das anudas anu anu das. Insignificant servant that was the mood of srila Haridas Thakur. When he was putting the dust of the devotees feet on his head. That was his heart that is what the Lord is seeing and feeling. For a vaishnava the dust of the feet of another vaishnava is the most sacred treasured valuable attainment in this entire creation of Lord Brahma. Pure gold necklaces’, pure gold ornaments beautiful marble palaces , roll race, Mercedes bench, ten thousand acres of land in south Bombay what’s a worth you cannot take any of it with you. After you die you cannot awaken the treasure of love of god in your heart. What really is its value spiritually? It has no value. And if use in Krishna’s service it then has value. But the dust of the feet of the devotee can liberate you from suffering. For every the dust of the feet of devotee can awaken prema bhakti ecstatic love. It gives us entrance into the lila of vrindavan dham. What a treasure how much do we appreciate it. How much do we long for it. And you see when you take the dust of the feet of the devotee on your head you get benefit. But according to how much you value it, appreciate, recognize it value. You are going to get much more benefit. This is a very some couple thousand people here today inside and outside and everywhere else. Lot of dust in the monsoon it mixes with water comes both caranamirt and dust together this places really full of riches. So Haridas Thakur took the dust of every devotee and put it on his head in such a spirit of servitude. Then he pressed Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus beautiful golden lotus feet upon his heart then all the devotees including Lord Chaitanya chanted harinam sankirtan.
……..hare krishna…………..
As this chanting filled the entire atmosphere. Thakur Haridas looked upon the face of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Beautiful moon like face, his eyes were like two bumble bees gazing upon him, tears were flowing from his eyes incessantly. As Haridas repeatedly chanted, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, this was the name he was chanting again and again. And all the devotees were loudly chanting harinam. And in that state Haridas Thakur gave up his life. They were astonished immediately. They all remembered the passing of Bhima or Bhisma on the battle field of Kursketra. Bhisma simply waited in a bed of arrows for many weeks in the cold of winter for Krishna to return he knew that Krishna will return. Because Krishna how he satisfies the inner most desire of his devotees and in the presence of Lord Krishna. Bhisma gave up his life. When Haridas Thakur gave up his life Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was so inundated with feeling of ecstatic jubilation and separation he lifted Haridas Thakur’s body and put it on his lap then began to dance. Bakreswar pandit was dancing, Swarup Damodar Goswami and all the others were chanting and Ramananda Ray , Sarbabhuma Bhattachrya they were all dancing and chanting, dancing and chanting as Sri Chaitanya Mahapabhu was dancing throughout the court yard holding the body of Srila Haridas Thakur. Mahaprabhu’s eyes were flooding with tears of love for his devotee as everyone was loudly celebrating the passing of Haridas by the chanting of the holy names Hare Krishna. Mahaprabhu could not give up this body the same body that was condemned by most of the Hindu society. The supreme absolute truth the Lord of all Lords the ultimate goal of all religion could not give up holding the dead corps of that person. Isn’t that amazing because corps are considered to be contaminated, yes. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu could not give up corps, he was so attached to Haridas Thakur. Now sanyasis are not supposed to be attached, then he is the crest jewel of all sanyasi. But the ultimate detachment is to completely be attached to Krishna, to Krishna’s devotees, to Krishna Katha, to Krishna naam, to Krishna seva, that is detachment. In the highest sense. Swaroop Damodar Goswami somehow or other stopped. They said we have to perform the last rights, so they quickly made a careered for Haridas Thakur. That looked like a space ship according to Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami. Special and they were carrying him through the lane’s of Puri and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself was leading the nagar sankirtan procession dancing with ecstasy. They came to the sea they bathed the body of Haridas Thakur with the sea water. And as they were bathing Lord Chaitnaya proclaimed for all time to come that because Haridas Thakur’s body is today being bathed in this sea this sea is now so pure it will forever be a place of holy pilgrimage. And as they were pouring water over the feet of Haridas Thakur. Every one of the devotee was catching the water and drinking it for their purification and they were in ecstasy. This is very, very amazing either sanyasis. Sarbahuma Bhatacharya is very very highly placed Brahman practically the guru of the king all these devotees. Corps is supposed to be contaminated and salt water does not taste very good. But they are drinking salt water thus washing the feet of a corps drinking it and sprinkling it on their head. Considering this as the great treasure to get purified to honor and worship this devotee. Love is beyond ritualistic regulations and the body of a pure devotee is absolutely pure. After bathing his body they have dug a hole in the sand. They placed the body in it and they began to offer all sorts of Mahaprasad of Jaganath sandalwood. And different type of clothes and food and everything the garlands, flowers. And Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with great feeling, deep feeling. He started the process with his own loving hands of covering the body of Haridas Thakur with sand. Such an offering of love, then all the devotees, went around that pit and began to offer sand in bhakti. Its beyond material consideration. It’s the intent how many of you would like sand thrown in your face. Is sand much of an offering? Offering gulabjamuns, kacoohdis you like. If somebody offers you sand. But Lord Chaitanaya is offering the sand and with love and devotion. And all the devotees are offering sand with love and devotion. They are offering as an expression of deepest most profound love gratitude to Haridas Thakur, sand. And in this way Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu buried the body and they put a something rare to mark the place they fenced around. So that other people cannot step over it. And Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabu and his devotees, they circumambulated several times and they danced and chanted in ecstasy. And then they went to the ocean to bathe and they were splashing each other. According to Kaviraj Goswami in jubilation then Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu leads the devotees form the beach all the way to Jaganath’s temple. Were he starts going to each and every shopkeeper personally and he is saying I am a beggar today. I have come to beg Mahaprasad from each of you. To glorify honor and worship Srila Haridas Thakur, amazing here is a person who all his life except for a few devotees was ridiculed, blasphemed and rejected. Here is a man who is never in his life allowed into Jaganaths temple and was too humble to even try to go in. And yet the supreme personality of godhead Jaganath himself is begging publicly in front of everyone to honor and worship him. The shopkeepers were just coming out and giving basket after basket after basket filled over filled with fruits, Prasad. Swaroop Damodar Goswami went to the shopkeeper and said please, please just give four hands full of each preparation. That will be enough and he asked Lord Chaitanaya, we would do this begging, please. There was so much Prasad being brought people were so enthusiastic that the whole town of Puri wanted to glorify Haridas Thakur. Just see the impact he made in peoples life and then Kaasi Mishra and so many others were sending large quantity of Prasad. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had everybody windup all the devotees. The people of Puri, there were all windup to honor the Prasad. Lord Chaitayna himself began to serve but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was not inclined to eating small portions of Prasad. And he had such a deep enthusiasm to give so much of his heart to the devotees. That every plate instantly, every plate that he served he put more than five men could possibly eat. On it that was how enthusiastic he was to serve the vaisnavas. And Swaroop Damodar Goswami said this very difficult. He said nobody is going to eat until you eat my Lord. So let us serve and you sit. With Bhramananda Bharati, Bhramananda Puri ,Pramananda Puri you take with the very senior sanyasis and let us serve. And Swaroop Damodar Goswami, Jagada nanda Pandit , Sankar Pandit and Kasiswar Pandit they were the leaders of the serving team. This extraordinary in itself this is a class in itself. But I know that you are hungry. So I am not going to tell, serving is an exalted position. Serving Prasad is a very exalting position the top most of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhus devotees were serving the Prasad to the vaisnavas and to the common people. Can you imagine Swaroop Damador Goswami is lalita shakhi the foremost of the intimate maid servant friend of Srimati Radaha rani in the spiritual world. The very intimate personal associate and secretary this is the highest position. There was he was the personal secretary of Lord Chaitanyana and his is serving the Prasad in such a humble and attentive way to make everyone happy. Jagaddananda Pandit he is one of the associates of Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu. Who is in conjugal rasa, madhuria rasa he is a gopi from vrindavan. Who is descended into this world? He is so powerful that Lord Chaitanya was afraid of him, yes. We know many stories. We all know he was eager to serve Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu. That he would bring sandalwood oil he told Govinda please massage Lord Chaitanya with this oil, Lord Chaitnaya. When Govinda was about to massage then he said wh
at is this, I am a sanyasi who is going this wasn’t just sandalwood oil. This very specially prepared with other fragrance sent too. Mahaprabhu said, I am a sanyasi what would others think when they smell me. He said give this sandalwood to Lord Jaganath in the temple. When Jagadananda Pandit heard this he came to see Lord Chaitanya and Lord Chaitanya said, I am going to give this sandalwood to Lord Jaganath. Then Jagadananda said what sandalwood, I never gave you any sandalwood and he picked up the pot and threw it on the floor and all went into the earth. Then he went to his room locked the door and fasted. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu could not bear his devotee fasting. So he said to Jagadananda today at noon I am coming to lunching your house. So have it ready Jagadananda Pandit was in ecstasy. He was in ecstasy he took his bath and began to cook, cook, cook and he cooked a lot. Gouranga Mahprabhu came at noon and Jagadananda Pandit was serving him more and more and more, and chaitanaya charitra mita describes that Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu kept eating more than that he usually ever ate the reason out of fear of Jagadananda Pandit. He was fearful that if he stop eating Jagadananda Pandit would fast, again. So he kept eating and eating. Finally he said, I had already eaten so much more than I ever eat. And Jagadananda Pandit said, just little more.Finally the Lord finished and he washed himself. And then Lord Chaitayna said you are fasting for so many days, now you eat, I want to see you eat. Jagadananda Padit said you go and take rest and let me serve the other servers. So then after that I will eat. I promise, so Lord Chaitanyana obeyed it, he went back to his room and he laid down to rest but he could not rest. Though he is worried that Jagadananda fasting he told Govinda to go back to Jagadanandas house, and then come back, and tell me after he is eaten. So Govinda goes back to Jagadananda Pandit’s house, and Jagananda Pandit says now Govinda you eat you eat. So Govinda eats he probably had to over eat too and then finally after everybody else eats. Then Jagadanand pandit eat. Then Govinda went back ran back told Lord Chaitanaya, Jagadananda Pandit eat Prasad. Lord Chaitanya said alright very good, and he took rest this is Jagadananda Pandit power. What a intimate associate of the Lord Lord Chaitanya chastised him because of these things. When Sanatan Goswami had those itches sours over his body and for several months. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is embracing him and the blood and puss was getting in and Mahaprabhus beautiful golden form. Sanatan Goswami was so pained by that but he could not stop Lord Chaitanya embracing him. So one day he discussed with Jagadananda, what to do I am really this is really disturbing me. Jagadananda Pandit said the Lord has already told you that he wants you to go to virndavan with your brother Rupa Goswami. So just go just go to virndavana is that the answer. The next time the Lord Chaitanaya came to embrace him. Sanatana Goswami said, I am going to vrindavan. Why you are going to virndavan well I talked to Jagadananda Pandit. But Jagga this impendent neophyte he has to instruct you. Who is fit to be my spiritual master? Sanatan Goswami became very humble. We would probably be completely proud if the Lord said you are fit to be my spiritual master. Sanatana Goswami said now I can understand my unfortunate condition that you chastised an intimate associate but you praised an outsider. He said now I can understand that Jagadananda Pandit is such an intimate loving associate with yours that he is tasting the sweetness of your chastisement. But I can understand I am just an outsider and I have to taste the bitter, bitter fruit of your praise. Lord Chaitanya said no it is not like that. I am honestly. So Sanatan Goswami, Jagadananda Pandit they were best of friends they lived in virndavan together even for some time. So this is Jagdananda Pandit and he is serving Prasad and what is the power of Sankar Pandit . Should I continue, haribol, he is Damodar Pandits brother that’s a whole another story. When Lord Chaitanaya was living in Gambhira in his last years. He would be in so much ecstasy and Sri Radha bhava maha bhava. That sometimes he would grind his face against the walls in love in separation. And his body would be bruised and the devotees did not know what to do. But they knew the exalted position of Sankar Pandit, and they knew how much the Lord loved him. So they had Sankar Pandits sled Govindam beauru and stay all the night long. In that little room of Gambira with Lord Chaitanaya. Can you imagine such a exalted position it’s just you and Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu all night every night just the two of you as he is going into ecstasy you are supposed to protect him. Lord Chaitnaya would sleep on his lap. Therefore one of the very famous name of Sankar Pandit is Lord Chaitanya personal pillow. And Lord Chaitanya, he would sleep on the lap of Shankar Pandit many times and he would not dare to hurt himself out of fear of Sankar Pandit. What is fear mean, why should Lord Chaitanaya be afraid of a devotee he was afraid of displeasing him. It’s not that Shankar Pandit was completely beat him he was afraid of displeasing him. He was afraid of displeasing Jagadananda Pandit and Kasewar Pandit he was a disciple of Iswara Puri he was Sri Chaitanya Mahaprubhu’s personal god brother. These are the people that were serving the Prasad. But Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu even thought he was not allowed to serve the Prasad was not allowed. This is how he wants to please his devotees, so personal, but from where he is sitting he was directing the servers because Lord Chaitanya who is the super soul in every ones heart knows exactly what everyone wants to eat at every movement. Simultaneously, he was directing the servant give that person more rasgolla, give that person more saga, give this devotee more halva and he kept. And Mahaprabhu kept saying eat more, eat more everyone was eating more just to please him. As he was directing the servers and as said every one eat so much Prasad to the pleasure of Lord Chaitanya that they were filled up to their necks. And after every one took Prasad beyond their full satisfaction. Sri Chaitanaya Mahprabhu he took the Prasad himself. He washed and he placed beautiful fragrant flower garlands and sandalwood pulp on every devotee and embraced. Then they were all gathered together. Mahaprabhu spoke he said anyone who has participated in this festival in honor of Sri Haridas Thakur is most fortunate. Whoever has taken this feast of Prasad and has honored whoever placed sand on his body, whoever partaken in kirtan, whoever in any way participated in this glorious festival of srila Haridas Thakur will very soon became determined in the path of bhakti and will very soon attain Krishna’s favour. Then he said by Krishna’s mercy he gave me the association of Srila Haridas Thakur. By his own inconceivable will Krishna has now taken that association away from me. Haridas Thakur was the crest jewel of the entire creation but now he is gone. And Lord Lord Chaitanya requested every one please chant Srila Haridas Thakur ki jaya, jai Srila Haridas Thakur ki jai Srila Haridas Thakur ki jai. Then Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu as everyone was saying Srila Haridas Thakur ki jai Haridas Thakur ki jai. Mahaprabhu went into ecstasy he began to dance then he returned to his home with mix feelings of both ecstatic joy and deep profound pain in of separation. Ecstatic pain of separation. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami tells that this beautiful narration exhibits the nature of the supreme Lords love for his devotees. The affection that the Lord has for their devotees is unlimited and therefore by serving the devotees, we gain the greatest favor from the Lord. And give the ultimate pleasure to the Lord. This is vaisnava seva the Lord himself longs to serve the vaisnavas. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami tells that this story shows not only the affection of the Lord for the devotees but the affection of the devotees for the Lord. And it also shows the affection of the devotee’s for each other. This i
s vaisnava culture our love for Krishna. Krishna’s love for the vaisnavas and all the devotees love for each other and the devotees compassion for every living being. This is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus culture again to unconditionally love Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
….na danam na janam na sundarim……………….
Lord Chaitanaya himself taught us this culture. I do not want the wealth or the opposite sex pleasures or fame. I don’t want even liberation I just want to serve you my Lord unconditionally. Unconditional service to the supreme personality of godhead unconditional service to the vaisnavas, to the devotees and deep genuine compassion for all living beings. And when the Lord sees we are interacting with each other in that spirit the Lord becomes conquered by that love and the Lord’s intimate affection is forever ours. Kaviraj Goaswami says anyone who hears this narration of the Lords love for Haridas Thakur, Haridas Thakurs love for the Lord will attain great determination for the priciples of pure devotional service. In this spirit let us chant the holy names, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rame Rama Rama Hare Hare, and we will dedicate this latest news of Tribikram Prabhu. It says that he is little better than last night. Haribol. His heart is not yet stabilized and underline big gladder. It is written please continue prayers. This is the wonderful way to serve the vaisnava so let us dedicate this kirtan to Tribikram Prabhu.
