20200305 Wonderful Transformations of Mahāprabhu During Kīrtana in The Courtyard of Śrīvāsa

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

So tomorrow is Āmalakī Ekādaśī. And we should worship the āmalakī tree, and if no āmalakī tree is available, then we can worship Tulasi! So, apparently on the roof here, we have an āmalakī tree. That was the first tree created by Lord Brahmā and day after tomorrow is Govinda Dvādaśī, the disappearance day of Mādhavendra Purī and that is the day we go to Śāntīpura. But we could use some sponsors for prasādam, apparently, they are still short. Usually, Kavicandra Svāmī, he raises the donations. He is very expert and without him we haven’t been able to do so well. This is a very wonderful festival. Lord Caitanya went there ten years after He took sannyāsa. And then He said that the arrangements were so wonderful, that they were out of this world! So anyone who takes prasādam on that tithi, at that place, they get love of Kṛṣṇa, they get Govinda bhakti! So, simply by eating, by distributing prasādam, He is giving out Govinda bhakti. So, we only have a short chance, two days, one day maybe, to have this opportunity to sponsor prasādam.

Then there are some difficulties. That some people from some countries which are banned, that is, if they leave India, they cannot come back in. So, all these things. So, unless they are to announce what other situation we will have, it would seem that we cannot leave India. At least, certain nationals. Anyway, Bhakti Nityānanda Svāmī, he is organizing the Śāntīpura festival. I heard there is a table outside the Pañca-Tattva temple. Apparently, he is hiding behind me! So, anything you want to say? No, I want to hear from you. I already told them. At the end of the class, he will go around to accept donations.

Bhakti Nityānanda Svāmī: You all know about the Śāntīpura festival. Generally, Guru Mahārāja was the mainly usually and in between Kavicandra Mahārāja also joined with us. But unfortunately, due to some problem he is held up somewhere. And practically I am alone this year. Mostly, the devotees are putting up a table and according to my idea they are serving. But they are not serious for collection, because Mahārāja is not here. So, I cannot shout at him. But generally, one devotee, from each Mahārāja, they come for collection. But this year their Mahārāja is not here and no collection. So this is my request. If you can help us because Guru Mahārāja was thinking. One day he was worried about what the collection was and to let him know. But Guru Mahārāja, collection this year is very low. (Guru Mahārāja said: I will give some donation.). I want to collect and will take bhikṣā, whatever you can give, collectively, individually. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: Also, today is the birthday of my cook, Prasanna Gaurāṅga dāsa, so please give your blessings! Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare!

Chapter entitled as Wonderful Transformations of Mahāprabhu During Kīrtana in The Courtyard of Śrīvāsa

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.138

śrīvāsa aṅgane śrīharivāsare ūṣaḥkāle kīrtana o nṛtyera śubhārambha—

śrī-hari-vāsare hari-kīrtana-vidhāna
nṛtya ārambhilā prabhu jagatera prāṇa

Translation: On the day of Śrī Hari-vāsara, which is observed by chanting the names of Hari, the Lord, who is the life of the entire world, began to dance.

On the fasting day of Śrī Hari-vāsara, Lord Gaurasundara began to dance and chant the names of Hari.

The phrase śrī hari-vāsara means “the day of Lord Hari;” in other words, Ekādaśī, Dvādaśī, or the appearance day of the Lord.

In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa it is said that if on the day of Śrī Hari-vāsara one fasts, remembers Lord Hari with devotion, chants the names of Hari, performs activities for the pleasure of Hari, fixes one's mind on Hari, and gives up all desires for material enjoyment, then he can without doubt attain the abode of Hari like Prahlāda. It is the duty of Lord Hari's devotees to worship Lord Hari with great faith by offering sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamps, the finest foodstuffs, various gifts, and engage in chanting japa, performing fire sacrifices, circumambulation, offering various prayers, pleasing dancing and chanting, playing musical instruments, offering obeisances, glorifying the Lord by chanting “Jaya!” and staying awake at night while chanting the glories of Lord Hari.

Jayapatākā Swami: On the day of Hari-vāsara, which means the day of Ekādaśī, that is tomorrow, it is a rule that we should do Hari kīrtana and Lord Caitanya, Gaurāṅga, who is the life of the whole universe, He began to dance. So Hari-vāsara can mean Ekādaśī or the appearance day of the Lord. On that day, we do some part of fasting, but we remember Lord Hari and chant His holy names. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare! On that day we give up all types of desires for material enjoyment. And then just like Prahlāda we can attain the abode of the Lord. So, worshipping the Lord with great devotion, offering sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamps, the finest foodstuffs, gifts, and engage in chanting japa, performing sacrifices, circumambulation, offering prayers, dancing very pleasingly, playing musical instruments, offering obeisances, glorifying the Lord by said “Jaya!” And “ulu-dvāni!” One can stay awake the whole night, chanting the glories of the Lord Hariiii!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.139

puṇyavanta śrīvāsa-aṅgane śubhārambha
uṭhila kīrtana-dhvani `gopāla govinda'

Translation: The auspicious inauguration of chanting the names of Gopāla and Govinda took place in the courtyard of the most pious Śrīvāsa.

The courtyard of Śrīvāsa is the shelter of many pious activities, because the chanting of Govinda and Gopāla was inaugurated there.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the pious place of Śrīvāsa’s garden, the auspicious ārambha, or the auspicious beginning, of the kīrtana loudly rose in the air, chanting the names of Gopāla and Govinda. So the courtyard of Śrīvāsa is the shelter of many pious activities and the chanting of Gopāla, Govinda, Hare Kṛṣṇa, was inaugurated there.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.140

ūṣaḥkāla haite nṛtya kare viśvambhara
yūtha yūtha haila yata gāyana sundara

Translation: Viśvambhara began dancing from the time of sunrise, and the devotees sang sweetly in various groups.

The Lord personally began dancing before sunrise and induced various groups of devotees to chant.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, from the sunrise Lord Viśvambhara began dancing. And groups of devotees, they began to chant sweetly. So, Lord Gaurāṅga, who is also known as Viśvambhara, He started to dance at the maṅgala-ārati time before sunrise and induced various groups of devotees to chant very sweetly.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.141

śrīvāsa-paṇḍita laṣā eka sampradaya
mukunda laiya āra jana-kata gāya

Translation: One group was headed by Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, and another group was headed by the chanting of Mukunda.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, he was in charge of one group, Mukunda Datta, he was leading another group.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.142

laiyā govinda ghoṣa āra kata-jana
gauracandra-nṛtya sabe karena kīrtana

Translation: Another group was headed by Govinda Ghoṣa. All the devotees chanted during the dancing of Gauracandra.

Jayapatākā Swami: Another group was headed by Govinda Ghoṣa. All the devotees chanted and Lord Gauracandra danced.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.143

dhariyā bulena nityānanda mahābalī
alakṣite advaita layena pada-dhuli

Translation: As the powerful Nityānanda caught hold of the Lord, Advaita secretly took the dust from the Lord's feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Nityānanda who is all powerful, He caught hold of the Lord! Advaita Ācārya, secretly, took the Lord’s dust from the Lord’s lotus feet!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.144

gadādhara-ādi yata sajala nayane
ānande vihvala haila prabhura kīrtane

Translation: The eyes of the Gadādhara etc…, filled with tears as they became overwhelmed with ecstasy in the Lord's kīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: Gadādhara and the other devotees’ eyes were filled with tears of love. And they became overwhelmed with ecstasy, in the Lord’s kīrtana, congregational chanting of the holy names.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.145

kīrtane mahāprabhura bibidha atyadbhuta bhāvāveśa—

śunaha calliśa pada prabhura kīrtana
ye vikāre nāce prabhu jagata-jīvana

Translation: Now hear the next forty verses, which describe how the Lord, who is the life and soul of the entire universe, danced in ecstasy during kīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So here, in the next forty verses which described the Lord’s kīrtana, and different manifestations of the Lord as He danced in ecstasy, and the Lord who is the life and soul of the entire universe.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.146

bhāṭiyārī rāga

caudike govinda-dhvani, śacīra nandana nāce raṅge
vihvala hailā saba pāriṣada saṅge

Translation: The name of Govinda vibrated in all directions as the son of Śacī became overwhelmed while dancing in ecstasy with His associates.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, actually this verse is sung in the Bhaṭiārī-rāga. So, it is composed of the poetry – caudike govinda-dhvani, śacīra nandana nāce raṅge vihvala hailā saba pāriṣada saṅge. So, the name of Govinda vibrated in all directions as the son of Śacī danced in ecstasy! He danced with all the groups and they were all ecstatic!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.147

hari o rāma

yakhana kāndaye prabhu, prahareka kānde
loṭāya bhūmite keśa, tāhā nāhi bāndhe

Translation: Whenever the Lord cried, He cried for three hours. His hair became untied and scattered on the floor.

The hair of the Lord loosened. While crying for three hours, He found no opportunity to tie His loosened hair.

Jayapatākā Swami: The verses are still in a poetic form. The first line is kānde and the last line is bāndhe. So, it means whenever the Lord cried, He would cry for three hours, nonstop. His hair became untied and scattered on the ground. So, since the Lord was in overwhelming ecstasy, for the three hours when He was crying, He didn’t have any chance to tie His hair.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.148

se krandana dekhi' hena kon kāṣṭha āche
nā paḍe vihvala haiyā se prabhura kāche

Translation: Is there a wood-hearted person who would not become overwhelmed and fall to the ground upon seeing the Lord's crying.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the verse ends with the word āche and kāche. So, the author is saying, who is the wood hearted person, who would not, on seeing the crying of the Lord, become overwhelmed and fall to the ground, seeing the Lord’s crying?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.149

yakhana hāsaye prabhu mahā-aṭṭahāsa
sei haya prahareka ānanda-vilāsa

Translation: When the Lord laughed loudly in ecstasy, He would continue laughing for three hours.

Jayapatākā Swami: When the Lord would laugh, He laughed very loudly for three hours, nonstop. Ha! Ha! Overwhelmed in ecstasy. So, my therapist said that if you laugh for five minutes, that equals to a thirty-minute workout. So always we can laugh thinking of Lord Caitanya’s ecstasy. HA HA HA HA! HA HA HA HA HA! HO HO HO HO! HA HA HA! HAAAAAA!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.150

dāsya-bhāve prabhu nija-mahimā nā jāne
`jiniluṅ jiniluṅ' bali' uṭhe ghane ghane

Translation: The Lord forgot His own glories as He became absorbed in the mood of a servant. He repeatedly exclaimed, “I have conquered! I have conquered!”

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord forgot His own glories. And He was absorbed in the mood of being a servitor of the Lord. But He repeatedly exclaimed, I have conquered! I HAVE CONQUERED! `jiniluṅ jiniluṅ!' The Lord is conquered by pure devotion.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.151

tathāhi—

jitaṁ jitam iti atiharṣeṇa kadācid yukto
vadati tad anukaraṇaṁ karoti jitaṁ jitaṁ iti

Translation: When Mahāprabhu chanted in great ecstasy “(I have conquered! I have conquered!)” the devotees also imitated Him by chanting, “(I have conquered! I have conquered!)”

Jayapatākā Swami: Jitaṁ jitaṁ!

So, we are getting some insight to the ecstatic kīrtana in Śrīvāsa Aṅgana.

* * *

Is there a table behind? So, those who want me to sign a book, can get a book from the table.

You can keep your questions ready.

His Grace Caitanya Candra Caraṇa dāsa of Russia was glorified by Ekanātha Gaura dāsa.

Dearest Gurudeva! Seek your blessings today my 38th marriage anniversary! (Guru Mahārāja said: Wow!). With your mercy, we pray that we lead a Kṛṣṇa conscious life as long as we are there in this body, beg you to pray for my husband Bhakta Vijaya and me, Gurudeva! Jayarāseśvarī dd

Jayapatākā Swami: So, may you and your husband be Kṛṣṇa conscious as long as you are in this body. And afterwards!

Question: Dearmost Guru Mahārāja, Please accept my respectful obeisances. (Guru Mahārāja said: Accepted). AGTSP! (Guru Mahārāja said: Jaya!) Could you kindly tell us how we will be able to work to do something to work along with other Gauḍīya lines in South America? How we also, inside ISKCON, can do so?

Jayapatākā Swami: Who asked this question? Same way that we are doing in India! This is a good opportunity with the present situation. We are always open to the different Gauḍīya groups and the splinter groups, to work cooperatively with Iskcon. That is Śrīla Prabhupāda’s desire, to unify the Sārasvat disciplic succession. So, that we want to that. And we are trying to do that in various ways.

Gaṅgā-pūjā committee requesting Guru Mahārāja to be there tomorrow.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hard to say because I have a meeting from 8 to 10 and we will see. Not supposed to go in big crowds, because I have a very low immune system.

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances! All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!! Vṛndāvana Kṛṣṇa Balarāma temple is situated in Ramaṇa Retī where Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma used to play. Is there a pastime connected to our Māyāpur temple campus? –Your servant Yugala Līlā devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: From Narasiṁhadeva to the west in Rudradvīpa, from behind Narasiṁhadeva, the Pañca-Tattva temple to the east is in Antardvip. So, in the Rudradvīpa, the kirtan party of Lord Caitanya was there. And Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that there was no difference from the kīrtana party and Radha Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs’ dancing with Kṛṣṇa! So, Antardvīpa is the island of self-surrender. Total surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, that part to the east of Lord Narasiṁhadeva is the Antardvīpa.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Śrīla Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances! If one misunderstood the spiritual master, what should he do? –Your unworthy disciple, Gopati Kṛṣṇa dāsa from Māyāpur.

Jayapatākā Swami: If you have misunderstood the spiritual master, he should correct his misunderstanding! Ha! Ha!

Meanwhile give books.

Question: If we want to feed some pilgrims some prasāda at the Śulabha kitchen on Gaura-Pūrṇimā or some other Ekādaśī day, is it ok? I ask this because Śulabha kitchen only prepares grain prasāda and is it ok to feed the pilgrims grain on Ekādaśī day?—Your insignificant servant, Prema Gaurasundara dāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Feeding kṛṣṇa-prasāda is alright! The pilgrims in the Śulabha pay for the prasāda. When we give out free prasāda on Ekādaśī, we would give non grain. But on the Gaura-Pūrṇimā day, we fast from grains. But Śrīla Prabhupāda authorized that we could give the kichurī out to the visitors.

Offering: We have a special offering to His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja, From Zen Zing Gau and Zen Zing Hum, acyuta-gotra, from China. 71 Gītās!

Another special offering: Bhaktin Zing Nana and Madhavi Priya dd and Kesava Prema das – also 71 Bhagavad-gītās.

It is my 71^st birthday, maybe that is why, said Guru Mahārāja!

Submission: Please accept my respectful obeisances. Guru Mahārāja, today is my birthday, so please give me more mercy. Please pardon me for any of my mistakes. Aruṇa-Kānti Gaurāṅga dāsa from Bangladesh.

Guru Mahārāja gave blessings!

Special offering: Bhakta Harsha Makam, mituna-kula gotra, ISKCON Bengaluru – offering 71 Bhagavad-gītās.

Offering: Guru Mahārāja from Haripriyā Devī Dāsī and her daughter Dang Weng from Ying Yang, China, they are offering in your name to TOVP E, Rs. 20,000.

Yadurāṇī Devī Dāsī, Keśava Prema dāsa, Bhaktin Gau Ying, Bhaktin Hung Fung (Online Chinese devotees.)

To Guru Mahārāja, Mādhurya Vṛndā Devī Dāsī, 6 Bhagavad-gītās.

Also, Līlāmayī Rohiṇī dd, 71 Bhagavad-gītās in the name of Guru Mahārāja.

Update: Bhakti Nityānanda Svāmī has collected right now on the roof, Rs.48,000 rupees for the Śāntīpura Festival.

Keśava Prema dās, Sucitrā, Bhaktin Gau Yu, Mādhavī Priyā dd (online Chinese devotees.)

Śyāmala dd, Navīna Viśākhā dd, Olivia, Varsānā līlā dd, Sevā Hari dāsa, Tuṅgabhadra dd (online Chinese devotees.

Some devotees took shelter from Guru Mahārāja.

Dear Guru Mahārāja, With your blessings and mercy, we ten devotees from Mathurādeśa could complete the Gaura-maṇḍala parikramā! We are grateful for that! Haribol!

Dear Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances! All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda! I am from Bengaluru, one of your Yātrā devotees, Balarāma Priya dāsa’s mother has continued bleeding in the brain. It has been decided to perform surgery and it is going to start in a few hours. We request you to pray in this critical moment. –Kāruṇikā Sītā Devī Dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone can pray Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!