20220508 Vārāṇasī Flooded

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 08th,2022 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

Vārāṇasī Flooded

 Under the section: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.154

nirantara kīrtane ādeśa, nāmābhāse mukti :—

nirantara kara kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
helāya mukti pābe, pābe prema-dhana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Always discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and constantly chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way you will be able to attain liberation very easily, and you will be elevated to the enjoyment of love of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari bo! So, this was the instruction to the Māyāvādī sannyāsī Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. Māyāvādīs are anxious for liberation, liberation is easily obtained by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but more important is one can get love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.155

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (18/54)—

Translation: “One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.’

Purport: This is a verse from the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by practicing devotional service one naturally obtains all good qualities.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.156

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10/87/21) śloke śrīdhara-dhṛta sarvajña bhāṣyakāra vyākhyā o nṛsiṁhatāpanīte (2/5/16) —

Translation: “Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Nṛsiṁha-tāpanī Upaniṣad.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when I met the Śaṅkarācārya of Purī, He had deities of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.157

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2/1/9) —

Translation: “[Śukadeva Gosvāmī addressed Parīkṣit Mahārāja:] ‘ My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, I studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from my father.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.9).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śukadeva Gosvāmī had already realized the impersonal brahman, even though he was in that liberated position he became attracted to the pastimes of Lord Krishna. he heard those from his father.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.158

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (3/15/43) —

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-
kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ
antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ

Translation: “When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43). For an explanation see Madhya-līlā, chapter seventeen, 142.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the four Kumāras were obstructed at the gate of Viṣṇuloka, they cursed the doorkeepers and when Viṣṇu Himself arrived, they paid obeisances and then the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī entered the nostrils, then they felt ecstasy. Although they were in the impersonal realization they were immediately converted into bhaktas.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.159

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1/7/10) —

ātmārāmāś ca munayo
nirgranthā apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim
ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

Translation: “Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.”

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.10). For an explanation, see Madhya-līlā, chapter twenty-four.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya explained this ātmārāma verse twice, once to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and then He was asked to explain it again and He told 18 different explanations, if Lord Caitanya would explain it again he would explain in many more ways.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.160

mahārāṣṭrīya viprakarttṛka prabhura 61 prakāra artha vyākhyāna-kṣamatā-praśaṁsā —

hena-kāle sei mahārāṣṭrīya brāhmaṇa
sabhāte kahila sei śloka-vivaraṇa

Translation: At this time the brāhmaṇa from the province of Maharashtra mentioned Lord Caitanya’s explanation of the ātmārāma verse.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.161

ei ślokera artha prabhu ‘ekaṣaṣṭi’ prakāra
kariyāchena, yāhā śuni’ loke camatkāra

Translation: The Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa stated that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already explained that verse in sixty-one ways. Everyone was astonished to hear this.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is quite amazing that someone could explain one verse 61 different ways.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.162

sakalera āgrahe prabhu karttṛka 61 prakāra artha-vyākhyāna :—

tabe saba loka śunite āgraha karila
‘ekaṣaṣṭi’ artha prabhu vivari’ kahila

Translation: When all the people gathered there expressed the desire to hear again the sixty-one different meanings of the ātmārāma-śloka, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again explained them.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya he explained the ātmārāma verse in sixty-one different explanations again and this was very amazing to the people who were present.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.163

prabhura pāṇḍitye sakalera vismaya o tāṅhāke parameśvara śrī-kṛṣṇarūpe nirddhāraṇa :—

śuniyā lokera baḍa camatkāra haila
caitanya-gosāñi-'śrī-kṛṣṇa', nirdhārila

Translation: When everyone heard Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s explanation of the ātmārāma-śloka, everyone was astonished and struck with wonder. They concluded that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was none other than Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

*Haribol!*

Jayapatākā Swami: So, since it is very uncommon for someone to be able to explain a verse sixty-one different ways, they concluded that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Kṛṣṇa Himself. Lord Caitanya He manifested Himself and He enjoyed the scholastic līlās, so He was Nimāi Paṇḍita in Navadvīpa and now that He is travelling He is using His Paṇḍita qualities to preach for He is actually Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.164

prabhura gṛhe pratyāgamana :—

eta kahi’ uṭhiyā calilā gaurahari
namaskāra kare loka hari-dhvani kari

*Haribol!*

Translation: After giving those explanations again, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arose and took His leave. All the people there offered their obeisances unto Him and chanted the mahā-mantra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way all the people in Vārāṇasī were chanting the holy name and offering their respects to Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.165

kāśīte kīrtana-vanyā:—

saba kāśī-vāsī kare nāma-saṅkīrtana
preme hāse, kāṅde, gāya, karaye nartana

Translation: All the inhabitants of Kāśī [Vārāṇasī] began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in ecstatic love. Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they cried, sometimes they chanted, and sometimes they danced.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya gave out His mercy and the residents of Vārāṇasī experienced Love for Kṛṣṇa. So, we want all the devotees they take the mercy of Lord Caitanya and chant dance, cry, laugh in ecstasy.

*Haribol!*

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.166

prabhukarttṛka kāśī-uddhāra :—

sannyāsī paṇḍita kare bhāgavata vicāra
vārāṇasī-pura prabhu karilā nistāra

Translation: After this, all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and learned scholars at Vārāṇasī began discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered them.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, previously they won’t read the Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, they just read the Vedānta-sūtra commentary of Śaṅkarācārya but after Lord Caitanya spoke to them they started reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and in this way He flooded Vārāṇasī with Kṛṣṇa's devotion.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.167

prabhura āgamane kāśī kṛṣṇakolāhale mukharita :—

nija-loka lañā prabhu āilā vāsāghara

vārāṇasī haila dvitīya nadīyā-nagara

*Haribol!*

♫ Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then returned to His residence with His personal associates. Thus He turned the whole city of Vārāṇasī into another Navadvīpa [Nadīyā-nagara].

Purport: Both Navadvīpa and Vārāṇasī were celebrated for their highly educational activities. At the present time these cities are still inhabited by great, learned scholars, but Vārāṇasī is especially a center for Māyāvādī sannyāsīs who are learned scholars. However, unlike Navadvīpa, there are hardly any devotees in Vārāṇasī. Consequently a discussion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was very rare in Vārāṇasī. In Navadvīpa, such a discussion was quite ordinary. After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited Vārānaṣī and turned Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and his disciples into Vaiṣṇavas, Vārāṇasī became like Navadvīpa because so many devotees began discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Haribol! Even at the present moment one can hear many discussions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam taking place on the banks of the Ganges. Many scholars and sannyāsīs gather there to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and perform saṅkīrtana.

Haribol! Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had such profound effect on Vārāṇasī, Vārāṇasī was previously a Māyāvādī place and now as Lord Caitanya went, people were studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and performing Kṛṣṇa-kīrtana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 153

prabhura vadānyalīlāya bhakta-gaṇera ānanda :—

candraśekhara, tapana miśra, āra sanātana
śuni’ dekhi’ ānandita sabākāra mana

Translation: Hearing the arguments of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and seeing His victory, Candraśekhara, Tapana Miśra and Sanātana Gosvāmī were all extremely pleased.

Purport: Here is an example of how a sannyāsī should preach. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Vārāṇasī, He went there alone, not with a big party. Locally, however, He made friendships with Candraśekhara and Tapana Miśra, and Sanātana Gosvāmī also came to see Him. Therefore, although He did not have many friends there, due to His sound preaching and His victory in arguing with the local sannyāsīs on the Vedānta philosophy, He became greatly famous in that part of the country, as explained in the next verse.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one should become well-versed in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam so that He can meet other paṇḍita, they can represent Lord Caitanya. I was in this situation in Jagannātha Purī, I met a paṇḍita who in his sampradāya was chanting 'śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya, prabhu nityānanda, hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma, jaya rādhe govinda'. So, Śrīla Prabhupāda had discussed this that they are cutting off the māhā-mantra. I asked, “why are you cutting off the māhā-mantra, why don’t you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa completely” so he tried various arguments and finally he couldn’t defeat me. He said, "Well we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa māhā-mantra on the Gaura Pūrṇimā day."

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.168

māyāvādagrasta kṛṣṇa-nāma-prema-vimukha; bhakta-gaṇera āgrahe yatsāmānya śraddhābale prabhura brahmārao durllabha akṣaya nāma-prema- bhāṇḍāra kāśīvāsīke adhikāra-nirviśeṣe vitaraṇa :—

nija-gaṇa lañā prabhu kahe hāsya kari’
kāśīte āmi āilāṅa vecite bhāvakāli

Translation: Among His own associates, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu laughingly said, “I came here to sell My emotional ecstatic love.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.169

kāśīte grāhaka nāhi, vastu nā vikāya
punarapi deśe vahi’ laoyā nāhi yāya

Translation: “Although I came to Vārāṇasī to sell My goods,there were no customers, and it appeared necessary for Me to carry them back to My own country.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is giving the example of a trader who wants to sell his goods and He thought He had to return without selling any goods now He will see His realisation.

*Haribol!*

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.170

āmi bojhā vahimu, tomā-sabāra duḥkha haila
tomā-sabāra icchāya vinā-mūlye bilāila

Translation: “All of you were feeling unhappy that no one was purchasing My goods and that I would have to carry them away. Therefore, by your will only, I have distributed them without charging.”

Purport: When we began distributing the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the Western countries, a similar thing happened. In the beginning we were very much disappointed for at least one year because no one came forth to help this movement, but by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, some young boys joined this movement in 1966. Of course we distributed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s message of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra without bargaining or selling. As a result, this movement has spread all over the world, with the assistance of European and American boys and girls. We therefore pray for all the blessings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu upon all the devotees in the Western world who are spreading this movement.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīla Prabhupāda is explaining how when he went to the west, it was like Lord Caitanya going to Vārāṇasī. He was not getting any response and then some boys came to his mission and the movement started to spread. I joined in 1968, here Śrīla Prabhupāda is saying that in 1966 he got help, when I came there was already three temples, New York, San Francisco and Montreal and I visited all the temples in the world, all the three, now it is not possible, visiting 800 temples in the world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.171

kāśīte prema-vanyāplāvanakārī prabhura stuti :—

sabe kahe,—loka tārite tomāra avatāra
‘pūrva’ ‘dakṣiṇa’ ‘paścima’ karilā nistāra

Translation: All the Lord’s devotees then said, “You have incarnated to deliver fallen souls. You have delivered them in the east and in the south, and now you are delivering them in the west.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya he descended from Goloka Vṛndāvana to deliver all the people of the world, so we need your help, all the devotees who are present to distribute love of godhead that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has brought into this world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.172

‘eka’ vārāṇasī chila tomāte vimukha
tāhā nistāriyā kailā āmā-sabāra sukha

Translation: “Only Vārāṇasī was left because the people there were against Your missionary activities. Now You have delivered them, and we are all very happy.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Māyāvādīs and residents of Vārāṇasī could not understand Lord Caitanya’s chanting in saṅkīrtana, Lord Caitanya was able to explain the importance of chanting and thus He flooded the entire Vārāṇasī with the saṅkīrtana flood.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.173

pratyaha asaṁkhya lokasamāgama :—

vārāṇasī-grāme yadi kolāhala haila
śuni’ grāmī deśī loka āsite lāgila

Translation: After the news of these events was broadcast, everyone from the surrounding neighborhoods began to pour in to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we have seen recently we inaugurated the temple in Patna, Bihar and after the deity were installed so many people rushed into the temple to have darśan, and the Governor and the Chief Minister also came and other VIP’s, so this is Lord Caitanya’s system is still working around the world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.174

lakṣa koṭi loka āise, nāhika gaṇana
saṅkīrṇa-sthāne prabhura nā pāya daraśana

Translation: Hundreds of thousands of people came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There was no counting the number. Because the Lord’s residence was very small, not everyone could see Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is the great quality in India that people want to see spiritual personalities.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 154

prabhuke dekhite āise sakala sannyāsī
prabhura praśaṁsā kare saba vārāṇasī

Translation: Many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs of Vārāṇasī came to see the Lord after this incident, and the entire city praised Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had changed the mentality of all the people in Vārāṇasī, first He was very humble, He went in like a needle exceeded like a plough.

♫ Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 155

prabhura padārpaṇe kāśī dhanyā :—

vārāṇasī-purī āilā śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
purī-saha sarva-loka haila mahā-dhanya

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the city of Vārāṇasī, and all of its people were very thankful.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we are so fortunate that Lord Caitanya came here to Navadvīpa and we are able to associate with His devotees.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.175

viśveśvara-darśana-yātrā-kāle asaṁkhya tṛṣṇārtta lokera prabhu-darśana-prāpti :—

prabhu yabe snāne yāna viśveśvara-daraśane
dui-dike loka kare prabhu-vilokane

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to take His bath in the Ganges and to see the temple of Viśveśvara, people would line up on both sides to see the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya He bathed in the Ganges took darśana of Lord Śiva Viśvanātha and all the people would be watching Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 156

asaṁkhya lokera prabhu-darśana :—

lakṣa lakṣa loka āise prabhuke dekhite
mahā-bhiḍa haila dvāre, nāre praveśite

Translation: The crowd at the door of His residence was so great that it numbered hundreds of thousands.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya could not enter His residence because there were so many people there so Lord Caitanya had such an effect, think how fortunate these people were, they could see Lord Caitanya.

How many of you would like to see Lord Caitanya ??

*Hari Bol!*

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 157

prabhu yabe yā’na viśveśvara-daraśane
lakṣa lakṣa loka āsi’ mile sei sthāne

Translation: When the Lord went to visit the temple of Viśveśvara, hundreds of thousands of people assembled to see Him.

Purport: The important point in this verse is that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu regularly visited the temple of Viśveśvara (Lord Śiva) at Vārāṇasī. Vaiṣṇavas generally do not visit a demigod’s temple, but here we see that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu regularly visited the temple of Viśveśvara, who was the predominating deity of Vārāṇasī. Generally Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and worshipers of Lord Śiva live in Vārāṇasī, but how is it that Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who took the part of a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī, also visited the Viśveśvara temple? The answer is that a Vaiṣṇava does not behave impudently toward the demigods. A Vaiṣṇava gives proper respect to all, although he never accepts a demigod to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the Brahma-saṁhitā there are mantras offering obeisances to Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā, the sun-god and Lord Gaṇeśa, as well as Lord Viṣṇu, all of whom are worshiped by the impersonalists as pañcopāsanā. In their temples impersonalists install deities of Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva, the sun-god, goddess Durgā and sometimes Lord Brahmā also, and this system is continuing at present in India under the guise of the Hindu religion. Vaiṣṇavas can also worship all these demigods, but only on the principles of the Brahma-saṁhitā, which is recommended by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

We may note in this connection the mantras for worshiping Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā, goddess Durgā, the sun-god and Gaṇeśa, as described in the Brahma-saṁhitā.

sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā
chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā
icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“The external potency, māyā, who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit [spiritual] potency, is worshiped by all people as Durgā, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, in accordance with whose will Durgā conducts herself.” (Bs. 5.44)

kṣīraṁ yathā dadhi vikāra-viśeṣa-yogāt
sañjāyate na hi tataḥ pṛthag asti hetoḥ
yaḥ śambhutām api tathā samupaiti kāryād
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“Milk is transformed into curd by the actions of acids, yet the effect, curd, is neither the same as nor different from its cause, viz., milk. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, of whom the state of Śambhu is a similar transformation for the performance of the work of destruction.” (Bs. 5.45)

bhāsvān yathāśma-śakaleṣu nijeṣu tejaḥ
svīyaṁ kiyat prakaṭayaty api tadvad atra
brahmā ya eṣa jagad-aṇḍa-vidhāna-kartā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, from whom the separated subjective portion Brahmā receives his power for the regulation of the mundane world, just as the sun manifests a portion of his own light in all the effulgent gems that bear such names as sūrya-kānta.” (Bs. 5.49)

yat-pāda-pallava-yugaṁ vinidhāya kumbha-
dvandve praṇāma-samaye sa gaṇādhirājaḥ
vighnān vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda. Gaṇeśa always holds His lotus feet upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all obstacles on the path of progress in the three worlds.” (Bs. 5.50)

yac cakṣur eṣa savitā sakala-grahāṇāṁ
rājā samasta-sura-mūrtir aśeṣa-tejāḥ
yasyājñayā bhramati sambhṛta-kāla-cakro
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“The sun, full of infinite effulgence, who is the king of all the planets and the image of the good soul, is like the eye of this world. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, in pursuance of whose order the sun performs his journey, mounting the wheel of time.” (Bs. 5.52)

All the demigods are servants of Kṛṣṇa; they are not equal with Kṛṣṇa. Therefore even if one goes to a temple of the pañcopāsanā, as mentioned above, one should not accept the deities as they are accepted by the impersonalists. All of them are to be accepted as personal demigods, but they all serve the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śaṅkarācārya, for example, is understood to be an incarnation of Lord Śiva, as described in the Padma Purāṇa. He propagated the Māyāvāda philosophy under the order of the Supreme Lord. We have already discussed this point in Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.114 of this chapter: tāṅra doṣa nāhi, teṅho ājñā-kārī dāsa. “Śaṅkarācārya is not at fault, for he has thus covered the real purport of the Vedas under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Although Lord Śiva, in the form of a brāhmaṇa (Śaṅkarācārya), preached the false philosophy of Māyāvāda, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu nevertheless said that since he did it on the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there was no fault on his part (tāṅra doṣa nāhi).

We must offer proper respects to all the demigods. If one can offer respects even to an ant, why not to the demigods? One must always know, however, that no demigod is equal to or above the Supreme Lord. Ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya: “Only Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all others, including the demigods such as Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā, goddess Durgā and Ganeśa, are His servants.” Everyone serves the purpose of the Supreme Godhead, and what to speak of such small and insignificant living entities as ourselves? We are surely eternal servants of the Lord. The Māyāvāda philosophy maintains that the demigods, the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are all equal. It is therefore a most foolish misrepresentation of Vedic knowledge.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we respect the demigods, devas as the servitor of Kṛṣṇa. There are not equal to Kṛṣṇa, but they are His dear servitors, we should not disrespect them and we understand that they are carrying out the orders of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 158

snāna karite yabe yā’na gaṅgā-tīre
tāhāñi sakala loka haya mahā-bhiḍe

Translation: Whenever Lord Caitanya went to the banks of the Ganges to take His bath, big crowds of many hundreds of thousands of people assembled there.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, everybody wanted to see Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7. 159

hari-kīrtana karāiyā prabhura lokoddhāra :—

bāhu tuli’ prabhu bale,—bala hari hari
hari-dhvani kare loka svarga-martya bhari’

Translation: Whenever the crowds were too great, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up, raised His hands and chanted, “Hari! Hari!” to which all the people responded, filling both the land and sky with the vibration.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Hari! So, Lord Caitanya got everyone to chant Hari Hari!

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.176

sakalera haribola-dhavani :—

bāhu tuli’ prabhu kahe-bala ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’
daṇḍavat kare loke hari-dhvani kari’

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed by the people, He would raise His arms and say, “Please chant Kṛṣṇa! Please chant Hari!” All the people received Him by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and they offered their respects to Him by this chanting.

Jayapatākā Swami: Earlier it said that they also bow down and paid their prostrate obeisances.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Vārāṇasī Flooded

Under the section: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

Are you all ready to help Lord Caitanya?

*Haribol!*