CONTENTS:
- REMAIN IN ISKCON AND CONTINUE TO SERVE UNDER PRABHUPADA’S GUIDANCE
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. REMAIN IN ISKCON AND CONTINUE TO SERVE UNDER PRABHUPADA’S GUIDANCE
SB 3.15.34
tad väm amuñya paramasya vikuëöha-bhartuù
kartuà prakåñöam iha dhémahi manda-dhébhyäm
lokän ito vrajatam antara-bhäva-dåñöyä
päpéyasas traya ime ripavo 'sya yatra
TRANSLATION
Therefore, let us consider how these two contaminated persons should be punished. The punishment should be apt, for thus benefit can eventually be bestowed upon them. Since they find duality in the existence of Vaikhuntha life, they are contaminated and should be removed from this place to the material world, where the living entities have three kinds of enemies.
PURPORT
The reason why pure souls come into the existential circumstances of the material world, which is considered to be the criminal department of the Supreme Lord, is stated in Bhagavad-Gita, Seventh Chapter, verse 27. It is stated that as long as a living entity is pure, he is in complete harmony with the desires of the Supreme Lord, but as soon as he becomes impure, he is in disharmony with the desires of the Lord. By contamination he is forced to transfer to this material world, where the living entities have three enemies, namely desire, anger and lust. These three enemies force the living entities to continue material existence, and when one is free from them, he is eligible to enter the kingdom of God. One should not, therefore, be angry in the absence of an opportunity for sense gratification, and one should not be lusty to acquire more than necessary.
In this verse it is clearly stated that the two doormen should be sent into the material world, where criminals are allowed to reside. Since the basic principles of criminality are sense gratification, anger and unnecessary lust, persons conducted by these three enemies of the living entity are never promoted to Vaikhuntha. People should learn Bhagavad-Gita and accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, as the Lord of everything; they should practice satisfying the senses of the Supreme Lord instead of trying to satisfy their own senses. Training in Krishna consciousness will help one be promoted to Vaikhuntha.
oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù çré-Chaitanyamano-'bhéñöaà sthäpitaà yena bhü-tale svayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaà dadäti sva-padäntikam vande 'haà çréguroù çré-yuta-pada-kamalaà çré-gurün vaiñëaväàç ca çré-rüpaà sägrajätaà saha-gaëa-raghunäthänvitaà taà sa-jévam sädvaitaà sävadhütaà parijana-sahitaà Kṛṣṇa -Chaitanya-devaà çré-rädhä- Kṛṣṇa -pädän sahagaëa-lalitä-çré-viçäkhänvitäàç ca he Kṛṣṇa karuëäsindho déna-bandho jagat-pate gopeça gopikä-känta rädhä-känta namo 'stu te tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvari våñabhänu-sute devi praëamämi haripriye väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca patitänäà pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù çré- Kṛṣṇa -Chaitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare
SB 3.15.34
tad väm amuñya paramasya vikuëöha-bhartuù
kartuà prakåñöam iha dhémahi manda-dhébhyäm
lokän ito vrajatam antara-bhäva-dåñöyä
päpéyasas traya ime ripavo 'sya yatra
JAYA AND VIJAYA ARE BEING CURSED BY THE FOUR KUMARAS
Eventually we see that it was the Lords divine arrangement that they were cursed. Krishna’s pastimes are perfect and complete. So, He arranges His pastimes in such a way that it gives a very specific instruction to everyone. The original plan of Sri Narayana that He wanted to fulfil the desires of Jay and Vijay the gatekeepers and very intimate associates of the Lord. They just at the heart of their hearts desired to enable the opportunity of the mellow of chivalry. The mellow of chivalry can be experienced only through fight. It is in a fight a heroic person can display his prowess and by doing that he experiences this very specific secondary experience of chivalry. In Vaikuntha the Lord did not have the facility to experience that mellow because in Vaikuntha nobody has any animosity towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead therefore there was no room for the Lord to fight with anybody.
In Vaikuntha nobody could fight with the Lord, no one in his remotes dream would ever think of fighting with the Lord. Jay and Vijay felt that the Lord is being deprived of this mellow because Krishna is the reservoir of all mellow therefore, He is known as Rasavaysa, He is the source of all mellows, He is the mellow Himself. Different individuals according to their affinity and taste experiences different tastes that has been very beautifully described in the tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam when Krishna entered into the wrestling arena of Kamsa. How different individuals saw Krishna in different ways. The wrestlers like Chanur and Mustika saw Krishna as the thunderbolt personified. The King saw Him as the best of man and the women saw Him as cupid Himself. The parents saw Him as the perfect son, the friends saw Him as a perfect friend, the wicked people saw Him as the Supreme punishment. In this way different individuals saw Krishna in different ways.
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VRINDAVAN AND VAIKUNTHA
In Vrindavan all the mellows are perfectly present. Five principle mellows and seven secondary mellows. The five principle mellows are neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental and conjugal. Seven secondary mellows are laughter, surprise, chivalry, wonder, ghastly, fearsome and ethos. When we analyze all the mellows are not present in Vaikuntha the predominating mellow is servitorship. In Vaikuntha there is only çänta and däsya neutrality and servitorship everyone is related to the Lord in these two ways. In Vaikuntha there is no friendship no one is Krishna’s friend. How can a subordinate consider his master as his friend? In Vaikuntha everybody sees Him as the Supreme Lord and Master. Narayana does not really experience friendship there. In Vaikuntha there is no parental because there is no father or mother of Krishna. In Vaikuntha there is no conjugal one may say what about Laksmidevi? Laksmidevi is the perfect wife and is serving Narayan as a maidservant; She is also serving in the mood of servitorship.
Jiva Goswami has pointed out that looking for other mellows we come to Ayodhya. In Vaikuntha there is no friendship but in Ayodhya there is a tinge of friendship. Hanuman is blessed by the Lord. At the epitome of mercy, the Lord is asking Hanuman, “What do you want from Me ask for anything?” Hanuman said, “My Lord, if You so desire give me Your embrace. “So there a servitorship of Hanuman is turning into friendship the Lord is giving him the embrace. Then looking for parental we come to Mathura, Krishna is just born the son of Devaki and Vasudeva and their heart became filled with parental love but immediately after seeing Krishna’s identity as Narayana that parental love disappeared. With awe and reverence, they started to offer prayers, “Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, please deliver us from our miserable condition” In this way the slight presence of these mellows are perceived in different regions. Although in Dwarika Krishna has His queens but they don’t have a real conjugal relationship with Krishna that is also like Laksmidevi a relationship of awe and reverence.
For conjugal we come to Vrindavan and there we see yes, the love affair between Krishna and the Gopis is perfect and not only that relationship is existing in Vrindavan in the perfect form but all the other relationships mainly parental and friendship are perfectly manifested in Vrindavan. All these relationships which is the foundation of mellows revolving around conjugal relationship in Vrindavan revolving around Radha and Krishna. In this way it has been pointed out also that Vrindavan is the highest region of the spiritual sky. To establish that Vrindavan is the highest region of the spiritual sky Jiva Goswami has accepted this consideration that a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the mellow is perfectly manifest in Vrindavan and as I have mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam it has been pointed out that Krishna is the reservoir of all mellows.
DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WILL SEE KRISHNA IN A DIFFERENT WAY
Jaya and Vijaya wished that they could fulfil the desire of the Lord to experience the mellow of chivalry and Narayana knowing their hearts wanted to fulfil their desire. These are all the secondary arrangements that were made the four Kumaras came to Vaikuntha and Jay and Vijay acted in a certain way and they cursed them and as a result of that they fell down and became demons. That is another very beautiful consideration that they had an option to fall down to the material nature and be separated from the Lord but there were two conditions whether they wanted to have a favourable relationship with the Lord and stay longer or have an unfavourable attitude to the Lord and come back to the Lord quicker. They opted to take the unfavourable relationship with the Lord just in order to come back quickly to Vaikuntha.
They accepted the mood of animosity they became enemies of Narayana and we know what happened. They were cursed to come for three times and take three births and finally come back to the spiritual sky. In Satyayuga they came as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu; in Tretayuga as Ravana and Kumbha-karna and in Dwaparyuga they appeared as Shishupala and Dantavakra. They came again the fourth time because the Lord’s identity in the age of Kali is hidden that appearance was not broadcasted. In three birth they took the inimical relationship towards the Lord but the fourth time they came they came as Jagai and Madhai and in these pastimes the Lord delivered them.
Now here we have a very wonderful consideration that Jaya and Vijaya were gatekeepers of Vaikuntha almost at the boundary of Vaikuntha, gatekeepers and they did not have the opportunity to come very close to the Lord but through this apparent fall down of Jaya and Vijaya they were ultimately promoted to Goloka Navadwip they received the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and became eternal associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by becoming eternal associates they were promoted to spiritual Navaadwip and whoever is in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes also have access to Vrindavan. In this way Jaya and Vijaya from Vaikuntha were promoted to Vrindavan pastimes of the Lord. Even being cursed by a devotee it eventually bestows good fortune. We do not want to develop a relationship with the Lord in a negative way.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
There are two types of attitudes to the Lord favourable anakula and unfavourable pratikula. We give up the adverse relationship with the Lord. Here we can see even though someone is related to the Lord in a negative way still he achieves the ultimate spiritual benefit. Whichever way we think about the Lord brings good fortune bestows highest spiritual benefit s that is how powerful the remembrance of the Lord is. Kamsa was thinking of Krishna in an inimical way He was thinking of killing Krishna but he got elevated, he was delivered. Putana came to kill Krishna smearing her breasts with most deadly poison when Krishna was just a seven-day old baby but because Krishna accepted her breast Krishna elevated her to the spiritual sky where she got a motherly position. This is how deriving the benefit of being related to Krishna so we can see if one derives such benefit through negative attitude to Krishna what to speak of when one develops the positive attitude to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada through this International Society for Krishna Consciousness is enabling us to develop the most positive attitude towards the Lord. Krishna Himself said those who chant His glory and distribute His mercy they are the dear most devotees. Whether we recognize it or not this good fortune is being generated while we preach and spread Krishna Consciousness movement.
PRABHUPADA HAS VERY WONDERFULLY DESIGNED THIS ARRANGEMENT
Prabhupada has very wonderfully designed this arrangement whether we do it consciously or unconsciously inconceivable good fortune is being created for the devotees. What is important is that we remain in ISKCON and continue to serve under Prabhupada’s guidance. Prabhupada is undoubtedly the personality who has been sent by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to fulfil His prediction. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that in every town and village this Krishna Conscious movement would spread all over the world. It is actually an impossible prediction apparently; if we consider what to speak of 500 years ago, 50 years ago how many people were interested in Indian philosophy, culture and religion. Even today India is looked down upon not only a third world country it is seen as a fourth, fifth, sixth world country, it doesn’t have any prestige in the world scenario. Who would accept the religion or teachings of India but then Srila Prabhupada comes 37 years ago and in 10 years time what he did was unbelievable and inconceivable. How could it happen? It happened because that was Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s plan. He made a prediction so He will make it a point so that His prediction will come true and He sent Srila Prabhupada to fulfil that prediction.
REMAIN IN ISKCON AND CONTINUE TO SERVE UNDER PRABHUPADA’S GUIDANCE
Those who receive the mercy of Srila Prabhupada are undoubtedly receiving the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But those who cut themselves off from the mercy of Srila Prabhupada I don’t know what’s going to happen from them. Those who have not come across Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and Krishna Consciousness their case is different. In spite of coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada and receiving his mercy and in spite of being engaged in practicing the process of Krishna Consciousness when one gives up the shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s feet which is actually ISKCON it’s very difficult to say what would happen to them and if they would receive Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy eventually. Anyway, the point that I am trying to make is those who have received Srila Prabhupada’s mercy it is very important that they continue to receive this mercy and the way to receive this mercy of Srila Prabhupada is to remain in ISKCON.
It reminds me in 1977, Srila Prabhupada was in Vrindavan, Satsvarupa Maharaja brought Madhuvisa prabhu to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada was so affectionate towards Madhuvisa prabhu. Madhuvisa prabhu distanced himself from ISKCON at that time and so Prabhupada told him no matter what happens don’t leave ISKCON. Madhuvisa prabhu was a sanyasi and he got married. I remember that Abirama prabhu and Gaurasundar prabhu was there and Prabhupada pointed out that they are householders and they are in ISKCON so even as a householder one can stay in ISKCON, it’s so wonderful how Madhuvisa prabhu took that instruction of Prabhupada to his heart and is so dedicated and we can’t even imagine what kind of mercy he received from Srila Prabhupada, all along he rendered so many wonderful service and received so much mercy from Srila Prabhupada and now that he is displaying that loyalty to Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada will bless these devotees in an inconceivable way. How does one recognize how one is being blessed? By the way one leaves his body. At that time Prabhupada makes that arrangement to take that devotee back to Godhead. Srila Prabhupada has created such a wonderful good fortune for us and now it’s up to us to take advantage of this mercy and good fortune. Thank you very much. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Srila Prabhupada through this International Society for Krishna Consciousness is enabling us to develop the most positive attitude towards the Lord. Prabhupada has very wonderfully designed this arrangement whether we do it consciously or unconsciously inconceivable good fortune is being created for the devotees. Prabhupada is undoubtedly the personality who has been sent by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to fulfil His prediction. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that in every town and village this Krishna Conscious movement would spread all over the world. The shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s feet which is actually ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada has created such a wonderful good fortune for us.
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
- We do not want to develop a relationship with the Lord in a negative way. Our goal is to have a positive relationship with the Lord;
- Remain in ISKCON and continue to serve under Prabhupada’s guidance;
- Those who have received Srila Prabhupada’s mercy it is very important that they continue to receive this mercy and the way to receive this mercy of Srila Prabhupada is to remain in ISKCON; and
- Srila Prabhupada has created such a wonderful good fortune for us and now it’s up to us to take advantage of this mercy and good fortune.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by HH Bhakti Charu Swami on 17th December 2002)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)