CONTENTS:
- WHO IS LORD JAGANNATHA? (PART - 1)
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. WHO IS LORD JAGANNATHA? (PART - 1)
We will discuss about Lord Jagannatha. Actually, nobody knows who wrote this Jagannathastakam, there are many controversies but the main point is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He sang Jagannathastakam. He used to sing it therefore some people think that He Himself composed it but then again there is the understanding that Mahaprabhu composed the Siksastakam only of eight verses glorifying the holy name or revealing the tattva of the holy name. If Jagannathastakam was Mahaprabhu’s own composition that would have been noted. Some also say that Jagannathastakam was composed by Sankaracharya. Anyway, whatever it is the reality is that Jagannathastakam glorifies Lord Jagannatha through these eight verses and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself sang it, that is why Jagannathastakam is very important to us. It is a very beautiful composition and through that we can understand who is Lord Jagannatha.
Who is Lord Jagannatha? Lord Jagannatha is Lord Krishna. Jagannatha is Krishna but Krishna’s pastimes have three different aspects: Krishna’s pastimes in Dwarika, Krishna’s pastimes in Mathura and Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan. In Dwarika, Krishna is considered to be the complete Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Mathura, Krishna is more complete and in Vrindavan, Krishna is most complete. Why? It will take another class to explain that. In simple words we can say that Krishna’s pastimes are most complete in Vrindavan because all the mellows are manifested through those pastimes. There are five principle mellows: santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. In Vaikunta we find santa and dasya rasa there is no sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya rasas. In Vaikuntha no one is Narayana’s friend, Narayana is the worshipable Supreme Personality of Godhead and everyone is worshiping Narayana there. In Vaikunta Narayana doesn’t have a friend, no mother and father and no conjugal relationships. Although Laksmidevi is there that relationship, the mellow is in dasya rasa, servitorship. Laksmidevi is serving Narayana as a beloved wife and wife is in a relationship of servitorship.
In Dwarika some of the mellows are partially manifest, Krishna has some friendly relationships like Uddhava but that friendship is not complete. In Dwarika also Krishna has mother and father like Vasudeva and Devaki but they know that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and they don’t treat Krishna as their son. Also, in Dwarika there are queens but the relationship between the queens and Krishna is husband and wife relationship therefore that relationship is not quite conjugal, also in the mood of servitorship.
In Mathura we find parental relationship is somewhat present, Krishna is just born and Mother Devaki’s heart is filled with parental affection, vatsalya rasa, such a beautiful son is born and Kamsa will come and same was the feeling with Vasudeva. Parental relationship is somewhat there in Mathura but that did not last because as soon as Devaki became afraid of Kamsa Krishna assumed His four-armed form and their vatsalya relationship disappeared and they started to worship Him with folded hands.
The wonderful thing in Vrindavan is that Vrindavan all the mellows are perfectly manifest, this three mellows: friendship, parental and conjugal relationships are perfectly manifest. There the friends of Krishna treat Krishn as a friend and not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sometimes the thought comes maybe this person is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then the feeling is you maybe the Supreme Personality of Godhead but our main relationship with you is you are our friend and same with the parents. Even though the awareness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is there but due to their intense intimacy and love that awareness becomes subdued or forgotten. There friends treat Krishna just like a friend. Their parents treat Krishna just like a child. Mother Yashoda uses a stick and chastises Krishna to discipline Him. Nanda Maharaja tells Krishna, “Krishna can you please bring my shoes?” And Krishna takes his shoes. The friends climb on His back. The friends have such friendly relationships sometimes they chastise Krishna, sometimes they complain about Krishna to Mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja, Krishna did this, Krishna did that, there is no awareness that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead that awareness is completely given up. These three mellows are perfectly manifest in these Vrindavan pastimes.
The entire Vrindavan pastimes are revolving around the conjugal mellow. The main focus in Vrindavan is Krishna’s loving relationship with Srimati Radharani and the Gopis, all the mellows are revolving around that. So that’s why Vrindavan is the highest and Krishna in Vrindavan is the most complete Personality of Godhead. Jagannatha is Krishna of Dwarika as well as Krishna of Vrindavan. Jagannatha is Krishna in Dwarika if you look at it from one angle but the uniqueness of Jagannatha is Dwarikesh Krishna who is hankering to go to Vrindavan.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
By Srila Prabhupada’s arrangement it is giving protection to the devotees. And by Srila Prabhupada’s arrangement devotees are getting the opportunity to make advancement in spiritual life. Srila Prabhupada has created everything for us and we simply have to take advantage of that.
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Do not deceive yourself, thinking that I am gone. I instructed you not to trust your senses. So do not trust your senses, and think that I am gone. If you love me, then find out where I am.
(The content of this E-magazine was based on a Lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami in November 2007 in Ujjain)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)