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"The exclusive line of Gaudiya Vaishnava devotion" Simple and Sweet Truth. Part 7. Informal Talks with Srila B. S. Govinda Maharaj. 1990s
Q: We want to know something about the worship of Nrisimhadev in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Q: Because in Gaudiya Math or in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math we didn't see so much of worship of Nrisimhadev.
Q: ISKCON we saw often...
I can't understad that, what you are telling.
Little loudly you can...
Q: About the worship of Nrisimhadev in Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Nrisimhadev worshipping, to Nrisimhadev.
It is, that is Nrisimhadev is bhakti-vighna-vinashan called.
He is... killing the obstacles of devotion. Of devotees.
If there will obeisance to Nrisimhadev.
If they are obeisance to Nrisimhadev and Nrisimhadev is happy with the devotees
then all the obstacles of devotion, of devotees, Nrisimhadev removing.
But His service is in shanta-rasa.
And actually Gaudiya-vaishnav they are praying to other lordship. Like Ram, Nrisimha, Vaman.
But they are only praying: "Make me perfect for the worshipping to Krishna".
That is the line of Gaudiya Vaishnava.
They are not exclusive worshiper of other incarnation of Lord Krishna.
They are exclusively worshipping Krishna only.
And who is worshipped by Radharani, serviced by Radharani.
Getting service from Radharani.
And who have much love for Radharani.
That Krishna Gaudiya Vaishnav worshipping.
Actually it is very difficult to say but it is true:
Guru Maharaj not give so enthusiasm to the devotees to go to Nrisimha Pali and worship Nrisimhadev, like that.
It is one kind of...
fault for exclusive devotional mood to Krishna.
But it is very hard to tell.
That is the Nrisimha will be angry with me.
But what was the mood of Guru Maharaj I can say.
When devotees wants to go to Nrisimha Pali Guru Maharaj said:
"[indistinct] going to Nrisimha Pali? You pray Nityananda Prabhu, He will give anything to you."
Like that.
But our intelligence and mentality always mixed with mundanity.
Then we are thinking: Nrisimhadev can give more help
for our devotional life.
And that way they're going.
It is true, Nrisimhadev can give that.
But Gaudiya Vaishnav not thinking that way.
They are worshipping Nrisimhadev and making dandavat to Nrisimhadev
but their all attention going under guidance of Radharani for service to Krishna.
That is Gaudiya Vaishnav line.
And Bhaktivinod Thakur's expression more miracle like that:
every day morning four o'clock some wind passes from his roof, through his roof
from... he chanting to stand in roof.
And every day he is feeling some heavy wave like that wind going to Mayapur.
Passing through his roof.
And he expess it, we heard from Guru Maharaj:
"Oh, Nrisimhadev, He is going every day to see the arati of Gauranga Mahaprabhu in Mayapur."
That is Guru Maharaj's, Bhaktivinod Thakur's expression from Guru Maharaj we heard.
Then Nrisimhadev also very eager to see the arati of Mahaprabhu.
And it is difficult to believe that theory.
Actually your father is very big rich man.
Other's father is very big rich man. Many things.
You have many wealth, somebody have another wealth, others have many wealth.
But I'm fanatic with my father.
And I shall go with my father.
Maybe my father is poor or not so big, not so famous.
That is attention, attentive mood of Gaudiya Vaishnav.
They not will realise who is very big who is very small.
They know their own Guru and own path of life.
And that way they are proceeding under guidance of Guru
in the line of Rupanuga and worshipping to Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu.
Non-different with Radha-Krishna.
Mahaprabhu non-different with Radha-Krishna.
And their life's goal shown by Rupa Goswami Prabhu.
Under guidance of Lalita Devi we will get service to Krishna.
And supremely it is guidanceship of Radharani.
This is Gaudiya Vaishnav, exclusive mood of Gaudiya Vaishnav.
Then, and we have seen in Nrisimha Pali, there are many mundane wealth searcher.
They are giving puja to Nrisimhadev, binding there one stone in the tree
and telling: "I need this, I need that, I need that".
Like that.
Somebody asking to Nrisimhadev: "Give me one child".
Somebody asking: "Give me some wealth".
Somebody asking: "Cure me or my son from this disease".
And they are putting one stone
and when they are getting result they are making out that stone and giving some puja to Nrisimhadev.
This is mundane way going their worshipping in Nrisimha Pali.
And our devotees very [frickle?], many.
They cannot understand it.
And they're thinking: something we shall do.
And it is some action we are looking
and they're doing also like that.
And when Anuradha was in our Math she is taking, hiding way
taking devotees to Nrisimha Pali.
And always telling to the Rikshna-wala:
"Don't say to Govinda Maharaj, don't say to Govinda Maharaj".
Like that.
[chuckles]
That is Govinda Maharaj will give report to Guru Maharaj.
Actually it is not my fault.
That is I'm in very difficult position.
I'm trained by Guru Maharaj for the exclusive devotion to Radha-Krishna.
And I not heard anything before.
From first time to last time I heard from Guru Maharaj that theory.
That conception.
And that is I grow with that conception, I cannot compromise with anything.
But I'm now compromising with others but very unhappily.
And I'm looking if I'm not compromising further... they will leave sampradaya of Guru Maharaj.
And Guru Maharaj's mood was very exclusive devotional.
With the service to Radharani.
And under guidance of Lalita Devi.
That was mood of Guru Maharaj.
And he cannot tolerate without this.
Without this mood.
And that is before 1980 you will not see many devotee was in Guru Maharaj's mission.
Only three-four devotee was with Guru Maharaj that time.
And three-four, they are also not so qualified.
But they're very affectionate attached with Guru Maharaj's lotus feet.
And for that they're only following order and do not know much siddhanta also.
But what order coming from Guru Maharaj and they are following that.
And they only knows the service.
And they are happy with that service.
Before I not go in the Nrisimha Pali.
Actually yearly once we are going to see the Nabadwip Dhama parikrama.
That time we are going to Nrisimha Pali.
It's happen thirty years you can say.
Then after that when western devotees tried to come and they want to see the Nabadwip Dham.
Then I'm sending some to Nrisimha Pali.
Sending some Mayapur, sending some Champahati. Like that.
Then our connection come with the Nrisimhadev service.
But it was not before. Only yearly once we are going
and giving some puja with thousand or five hundred devotee to Nrisimha Pali.
Yearly once, for parikrama.
And intention was Gaura Dham parikrama. Nabadwip Dham parikrama.
Not actually see some particular place.
It was our program to see all Nabadwip Dham.
And what it where, we want to see that.
This way we are going.
Not our intention was any particular place.
Until that Nabadwip Dhama parikrama going, but western devotees coming time to time,
all cannot come in the time of Nabadwip Dham parikrama.
And when they're coming they want to know something.
That we are sending somebody: go there, go there, go there.
And they're very interested.
When they're hearing: "Nrisimhadev will give very easily".
But it is not very easy get from Nrisimhadev also.
But very easy to get from Lord Shiva.
If you ask anything to Lord Shiva and give some leaf of marbles, marble leaves, bel pata,
then Lord Shiva is happy. With ganga-jal, Ganges water and leaves also, bilva-patra. bilva-patra you know?
Tulasi patra very dear to Krishna and bilva patra very dear to Lord Shiva.
If you offer seven piece bilva-patra or three piece bilva-patra and Ganges water to Lord Shiva
He can give everything, his mood like that.
And Nrisimhadev He also very merciful to the devotee.
And giving some help for your path of devotional life.
But the shuddha-bhakta, pure devotee, they're not asking anything for anybody.
They're anything asking, asking form Krishna.
There [awaysness?] making with Krishna. Nothing else.
If you are indebted you must be indebted to Krishna.
If you are earned, earning, you earn from Krishna.
If you gaining, you gain from Krishna.
Their all business they're making with Krishna.
That is pure devotee of Krishna. Naturally.
But now many things going.
What can I say more?
Vyasadev, he... composed ashtadash puran.
Eighteen kind, several puran composed Vyasadev.
And Mahabharat.
And vedanta-darshan.
Many things he have done for our adhikar.
Adhikar means our quality.
Q: Our benefit?
No. Adhikar means position. Standing position of devotion.
And he wants to take us in the line of Krishna-bhakti.
From everywhere he is trying to collect the jiva-souls.
And for that he have done many shastra, many scriptures.
And when we remember it we think also: it is necessary for others
to give some chance to go this side, that side.
Otherwise [indistrinct] in one point, they also cannot proceed happily.
We are making varieties of prasadam.
And what for? That is one kind of prasadam we are not satisfied with that.
And making varieties of prasadam.
Offering. It is also one kind of variety of devotion.
Give them some chance.
But it is happily not giving, no doubt.
When you will tell Gaudiya Vaishnav then you are separated from all devotional mood.
And Gaudiya Vaishnav is Gaudiya Vaishnav.
A class of Vaishnav, they only need mercy from Radharani, not anything else.
And that final shloka given us Das Goswami and Rupa Goswami.
Dasa Goswami's shlok is:
āśā-bharair amṛta-sindhu-mayaiḥ kathañcit kālo mayātigamitaḥ kila sāmprataṁ hi tvaṁ cet kṛpāṁ mayi vidhāsyasi naiva kiṁ me prāṇair vrajena ca varoru bakāriṇāpi (Raghunath Das Goswami, Vilapa-kusumanjali)
This is my only hope: you will bestow your mercy one day upon my head.
And for that I'm waiting so long.
Now I'm over eighty but I cannot tolerate more austerity.
Bestow your mercy upon me.
And I'm waiting in the bank of Radha-kunda for your mercy only.
Even your mercy, except, except your mercy, I do not want mercy of Krishna also.
Like that, his expression.
And that is line of Gaudiya Vaishnava.
They do not want mercy of Krishna who is not with Radharani's association.
That type of Krishna.
Then exclusive devotion of Gaudiya Vaishnav showing the line of Rupa Goswami.
It is to Radharani.
That is supreme goal of life: service to Radharani.
Under guidance of Her associates.
And Rupa Goswami's also shloka:
viracaya mayi daṇḍaḿ dīna-bandho dayāmī vā gatir iha na bhavattaḥ kācid anyā mamāsti nipatatu śata-koṭi-nirbharaḿ vā navāmbhaḥ tad api kila-payodaḥ stūyate cātakena
[break] ...bird.
I need mercy of you. Nothing else.
One drop of mercy.
Krishna, if you give that mercy I shall be satisfied.
And I shall be fully joy.
If not will give I shall wait for that one drop of mercy
and I shall see only the sky, only from the sky that drop will come to me, like Chatak bird.
But if not will come I have nothing to do but only I must wait for that.
That rain will come from the sky and one drop I shall take from that rain.
That is your mercy.
But sometimes it's can come the thunderbolt.
That's also I can tolerate. I must tolerate that thunderbolt.
But except the sky water I do not want. Rain water or sky water.
I do not want to drink anything.
That is the Chatak bird's life, that prayer of Rupa Goswami Prabhu.
viracaya mayi daṇḍaḿ dīna-bandho dayāmī vā gatir iha na bhavattaḥ kācid anyā mamāsti nipatatu śata-koṭi-nirbharaḿ vā navāmbhaḥ tad api kila-payodaḥ stūyate cātakena
My prayer to you [indistinct] anything.
This is the Rupa Goswami Prabhu's intention.
And Dasa Goswami:
rupa-raghunath-pade rahu mora asha prarthana koroye sada narottama-das
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
Always they are follower of Rupa-Raghunath.
They're not going anywhere.
They're reading Bhagavat everything, but where is the mood of Madhura rasa?
They likes that part of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Inside of the Srimad Bhagavatam there are also many things we can see.
The Puranjan, yesterday told Prabhu Puranjan history.
And many history like that. But they're not so much interested.
They first actually many things.
And now they're reading in class of master reading.
Then they have no time to learn the language.
They passed that stage.
It is like learning language.
The history of Purandara, many things like that.
Puranjana. Puranjana.
Then Gaudiya Vaishnav is very exclusive devotional mood to Radharani.
And you will get the whole conception of Gaudiya Vaishnav in one chapter.
That is Madhya lila eight.
Conversation with Ramananda Ray.
Also conversation with Raghupati Upadhyaya.
And book specific Brahma Samhita and Krishna Karnamrita.
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
Only direction going to Krishna.
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
Here given explaination the word of Govinda.
gam-vindati iti govinda
Who is giving happiness to the cows, He is Govinda.
gam vindeti iti govindah
When somebody asked to Mahaprabhu in Puri:
you are preaching Krishna nam and I make many explanation, many way of Krishna nam.
Please you hear it.
And Mahaprabhu said: no, I do not want to hear many explanation.
prabhu kahe, — "kṛṣṇa-nāmera bahu artha nā māni 'śyāma-sundara' 'yaśodā-nandana,' — ei-mātra jāni (CC Antya 7.85)
We do not like to hear that.
I cannot tolerate many explanations of the name of Krishna.
Only He is Shyamasundar. Radha-Shyamasundar.
And He born at Yashoda-nandan. He's son of Nanda Maharaj.
That is two is sufficient for me.
Nothing he wants to hear from anybody.
That is expression of Mahaprabhu.
prabhu kahe, — "kṛṣṇa-nāmera bahu artha nā māni 'śyāma-sundara' 'yaśodā-nandana,' — ei-mātra jāni (CC Antya 7.85)
We wants to know He is Shyamasundar and He's Yashodanandan.
This is His parichay, identification.
Also He asked to Raghupati Upadhyaya: what is the beautiful form of Krishna?
And Upadhyaya said: 'śyāmam eva paraḿ rūpaḿ' (CC Madhya 19.101)
Shyamasundar is the supreme form.
And what is the supreme land?
He said: 'purī madhu-purī varā' (CC Madhya 19.102)
Supreme transcendental land that is Mathura.
And inside of the Mathura there is Vrindavan.
In wide way he told.
'purī madhu-purī varā'
And what is the best age of the Lord?
And he said: 'vayaḥ kaiśorakaḿ dhyeyaḿ' (CC Madhya 19.103)
That kaishor vayah, that is from thirteen to fifteen, that age, kaishora.
What is the supreme rasa? For satisfaction of Lord?
And he said: 'ādya eva paro rasaḥ' (CC Madhya 19.104)
That is the Madhura rasa. Adya-rasa means Madhura rasa.
Conjugal love, paramour conjugal love.
And that is the extreme.
Then Mahaprabhu happily told: Oh, I learned now from you now one shloka, that:
śyāmam eva paraḿ rūpaḿ purī madhu-purī varā vayaḥ kaiśorakaḿ dhyeyam ādya eva paro rasaḥ (CC Madhya 19.106)
Very nice.
Mahaprabhu's conception is very simple.
But we are making it many way, you can say it is dirtiness on sometimes, we are feeling that.
Mahaprbahu given one shloka, that cheto darpana marjanam. About Harinam sankirtana.
And I think it is sufficient for us.
What need more than that?
cheto darpana marjanam, that is full... clean position of jiva-soul mind.
We are getting.
And only cleanness it is not sufficient.
When you are cleaning something and where you'll keep the dirty things?
Dirty things is the mundane wealth and mundanity. Mundane world and everything like that.
Where you'll keep it?
bhava-maha davagni nirvapanam
You make fire there and it will burn.
And it will go out as a form of ash, little.
Maybe that will go out.
And when clean up and around your house everything is clean up.
And that dirty things you burned it.
Then need there some good things to establish there
and you will get, what you will get?
shreyah kairava chandrika vitaranam vidya-vadhu jivanam.
You can start there new life.
And it will see the ray of... elixir, elixir ray... full nectarian ray.
Bestowing upon your head. Nectarean ray of Krishna nam bestowing upon your head
and giving you the service to Krishna as madhura rasa playing with him.
Like that. My English not very clear.
You understand? But you understand what I mean to say.
Then one shloka is sufficient.
I sometimes feel and I sometimes think it.
Sri Chaitanya, Advaita and Nityananda.
Sri Chaitanya-dev when He's appearing in our heart all the achaitanya going out from the heart.
And there feelings coming "so 'ham".
That means Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and I'm the part of that sun.
And Nityananda after that we are getting the all the ***, nectar, everything from the chanting non-different form of Krishna, Harinam.
shreyah kairava chandrika vitaranam vidya vadhu jivanam
anandambudhi vardhanam prati-padam purnamrita svadhanam
Always play going, Pastimes of Krishna in heart.
purnamrita svadhanam
sarvatma snapanam param vijayate sri krishna sankirtanam
Shikshashtaka there gist of all the shlokas.
There is one shloka, first shloka of shikshashtakam.
And we can see there everything living.
Who have eyes he can see everything.
And necessary to make our eyes open.
ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana shalakaya chakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
This is main thing. And we need to do that.
And that will come two way.
One -- mind, attentive, attention and love, hankering.
And other way mercy of Krishna.
That's also will come to me.
In two way we can get that... service plane to Krishna.
It is a heart to leave the plane of exploitation.
And plane of renunciation. Not so fair actually without mercy of Krishna.
But plane of dedication it's can clean everything.
And can give me the higher attentive position in the transcendental world.
That is plane of dedication.
[break] from Prabhupad about Nrisimhadev also.
Brahma-samhita [speaks in bengali].
Where is Brahma Samhita?
[indistinct] before once I read it.
Is it there, Brahma Samhita?
[break] Shloka. You know, everyone knows Brahma Samhita, western devotees.
I not read it before. Once I read it.
This shloka:
yat-pāda-pallava-yugaḿ vinidhāya kumbha- dvandve praṇāma-samaye sa gaṇādhirājaḥ vighnān vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya govindam ādi-puruṣaḿ tam ahaḿ bhajāmi (Brahma Samhita 5.50)
[break] Nrisimhadev gave His lotus feet upon the head of Ganesh.
And through that Ganesh have got all siddhi.
And Ganesh distributing all siddhi in this material world.
And what he'll say that will be.
Final in this mundane world.
Gana isha. Ganesha.
That when you see he's the first person of demigods who is getting first offering,
then other demigods getting offering.
First offering we're giving to Ganesh.
In this mundane world.
This is the rules.
ganeshadi pancha-devaka it's called
Five demigods and he's the first person.
But where he have got that power?
When he's obeisance to Govinda.
At that time Govinda gave His lotus feet to his head.
Here is expression that.
But I heard it: it is Nrisimhadev from Guru Maharaj.
But somewhere it must be.
I do not know where is.
But here is [normal?] expression.
yat-pāda-pallava-yugaḿ vinidhāya kumbha- dvandve praṇāma-samaye sa gaṇādhirājaḥ vighnān vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya govindam ādi-puruṣaḿ tam ahaḿ bhajāmi (Brahma Samhita 5.50)
This shloka.
[break] ... to the west from many devotees.
They are disciples of Srila Swami Maharaj mostly.
I heard this Brahma Samhita, they all memorized Brahma Samhita.
All Brahma Samhita they memorized.
And when they are driving car they are chanting that Brahma Samhita in front of me.
That is my idea is that all Swami Maharaj's disciples know Brahma Samhita.
May not be true, but mostly Swami Maharaj's discples they read Brahma Samhita, know Brahma Samhita.
You tell only that girl. Sita!
Sita: Uma?
I have got her letter, Sita's read it, and I'm very happy with her. This is done.
It is only my news for Nabadwip.