19820811 Lord Caitanya’s Pastimes

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The following is a lecture on Lord Caitanya’s Pastimes (Caitanya-līlā) given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on August 11, 1982 – in New Orleans, USA.

Of course, Chaitanya Līlā can be seen today. Vrindavan Das Thakur wrote one slogan that even today one can see pastimes of Caitanya Mahprabhu those who are exceedingly fortunate. So actually Lord Caitanya’s pastimes are eternal. The preaching of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also one of the pastimes of Lord Shaitan in Mahāprabhu. How the movement is spreading all over the world. That is also the pastime of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. For those who have the eyes to see, they can see the hand of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at work. Remember in 1960, I believe they were taking Śrīla Prabhupda back from Rath Yātrā festival in San Francisco and Prabhupāda turned to the devotee who was driving the car and he said, wonderful festival. Yes, Prabhupāda. So did you see that Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nithyananda, they had come and were dancing amongst the devotees.

Did you see how beautiful they were driving? So Prabhupāda could see Lord Caitanya Nityānanda coming and participating in our festivals. One time, I think Prabhupāda was an Indian. He started laughing and then everyone said, what are you laughing at, Śrīla Prabhupāda? He said that Nārada Muni has just visited the New York temple and he is laughing so hard. Is laughing so hard. What is he laughing at? To the Prabhupāda he’s laughing how the Mlaches are taking to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. So the pastimes of Vocan are going on. We have the eyes to see. Of course, when Lord Chaitanya, he came because of the strength of the desire of his devotees to serve him and meet with him. See, Lord Caitani is completely independent. But he allows himself to be swayed by the love of his devotees.

So because the intense desire of his devotees was there to meet with Lord Caitanya. So Lord Caitanya came down and actually, if you study his whole pastimes, there are two basic activities. One is that devotees are going and meeting with Lord Caitanya and the other is Lord Caitanya is going out and meeting with his devotees. These are the two basic activities. Of course, there are so many varieties. Just like in Navadip Nithyananda, he came and met with Lord Chaitanya there. And then Lord Chaitanya, he left Jagannath Purī to Nilachol from Nilachol and went to South India. There he met Venkata Bhaṭṭa, Gopal Bhaṭṭa. He also left Jagannath Purī towards Vrindavan. Then he met, we discussed earlier today, RUP and Sanatan and Jīva Goswami and Ram Kili.

So if a devotee has an intense desire to serve and see the pastimes, serve Lord Caitanya and to see the pastimes of Lord Caitanya with his devotees, then Lord Caitanya quickly finishes up. That devotees weight. Just like Shijiva, the son of Balab. There were three brothers, Sanatan, Rūpa and Balab. Eldest is Sanatan, middle is Rūpa, youngest was Balab. And Rūpa and Sanatan were the chief ministers of the king, the Shah Hussein Shah. And they all, they both. First Balav and Rūpa went to Vrindavana. Thereafter Sanātana went and Jīva was a small boy. He was left at Ramakili in Bengal. The wonderful pastimes of Śrī Jīva Gosami. You know, we don’t know so much about his character. But actually Lord Caitanya’s devotees have wonderful characters, wonderful qualities. So one of the greatest devotees in our line is Śrī Jīva Gosvm.

Actually Śrī Jīva Gosami, he was not an ordinary child at the age of six. Of course he had the Darshan of Lord Caitanya and special blessings. But his particular pastimes when he was a child, he would not do any other kind of playing except Kṛṣṇa Leela. He would only play Kṛṣṇa Leela. In fact he had his own deities of Kṛṣṇa and Balaram. He used to personally. This was his play. He would take his deity of Kṛṣṇa and Balaram and he would prepare offerings and he would take the offering and place on a plate before Kṛṣṇan Balaram. And he would bow down and offer the offerings. And he would perform Aarti. This was his childhood play. And he would lay Kṛṣṇan Balaram to sleep in some hidden place because he was afraid that someone would take his toys, unquote.

This is how he would pass his day. The people, they were amazed when he went to school within such a short time. He mastered all the Sanskrit grammar and everything. They thought that he was some incarnation of a demigod. How someone can learn so quickly? And as soon as he learned Sanskrit, immediately he was continuously reading Simon Bhāgavata. Continually reading Simon Bhāgavatam. Close the door. So in this way Jīva Gosami would pass his time. So one time Sajiva Goswami was chanting his Japa just on the side of one. And just all of a sudden he’s chanting and tears are coming in his eyes. He just raised his arms and he said, Nitāi Gorando, please have your mercy upon this most fallen soul. You see, this is how he would pass his time.

And so just after calling like this Hanitai Gor and chanting Samoa, he felt a little sleepy. And Nidra Devī attracted him to sleep. And there in his sleep, he saw his worshipable deities Kṛṣṇa and Balaram. With so many devotees. With so many devotees. And actually the first dream, he saw Nithyan Goranga chanting with so many devotees. And suddenly Nithyan Gaurāṅga disappeared immediately. He was in such anxiety. He woke up and he became very upset. He was crying like anything to see Caitamyanathyananda. He was feeling intense separation. Just around that time, he said news of his father just had come, that his father had left his body at the side of the Ganges. So he was also feeling that no one in the world did he have except for Lord Chaitanya Nithyananda. Again the Nidra Devī attracted him to sleep.

This time that same Jīva Gosami who would worship Kṛṣṇa and Balaram through his whole childhood, he again saw Lord Caitanya and Ithananda. Then he saw them turn to Kṛṣṇa and Balaram, then back to Lord Caitanya Nityānanda. In this way he became very enthused. And he fell down at their feet in his vision and offered obeisances. And then Lord Caitanya Nityānanda, they placed their lotus feet on his head, blessing him. Then they picked him up and embraced him. And he was practically mad. And then they disappeared. So everyone was saying the different people were discussing seeing Jīva Goswami’s unusual activities. And the village people, they would say that this soul is especially blessed. He’s the life and soul, the actual. They say the torchlight or the para Pradipa. You say the. The crown jewel of all the scholars.

Another second one said, I think he is going to go and leave this place because he is showing complete detachment from all material activities. And the third is saying if he leaves, then everything will become vacant. Just like a soul leaving the body. This whole village will become empty without him. Everyone was so attached to Jīva Goswami. He was the darling of the whole village. So there watched him like anything to make sure he wouldn’t go away. But after seeing these dreams, he couldn’t contain himself. So on the excuse of going to Nabuddeep for studying, they gave him Some servant. And he went off to Navadip. People saw him and said, who is this prince? Just have you seen the golden Champa flower? So his complexion was just pale color. Not so golden as Lord Caitanya. It was molten gold.

But Palish, very fine complexion and very pure features. And people were just amazed to see his features as he’s walking. And from there he got to Navidep. And he got the special mercy of Nityānanda. Nityānanda took him all over the Navadi, every island, the famous Purikrama, circumambulation, all the 9dvas.śrī mantra. Deep Madam Deep Godam, Deep Ritu, Deep Jñāna, Deep Koladeep Ritu Deep Madadam, Deep ruddhadip, Antard Deep. Each island is especially known for one type of devotion. Navavida Bhakti. Nine types of Bhakti, Śravaṇa, Kīrtana, Smaranam. Just like that, hearing, chanting, remembering, worshipping, serving the lotus feet, offering prayers, servitorship, friendship and full surrender. So like that. And each of the islands has unlimited pastimes from Yugas. So Nityānanda personally took him around to each of the places.

And then after the tour was finished, he said, now you go off to Vrindavan to join your uncles Rupan Sanata. So Jīva Goswami, of course he was the. He wrote 400,000 slokas. The bhgavatam is 18,000 slokas. He personally wrote in his lifetime vaiava of literature, 400,000 slokas. You can imagine the volume Śrīla Prabhupāda said that his six Sandharvas have so scientifically, step by step expressed the Bhakti called that any philosopher. After studying these things, he must accept the conclusion that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the supreme most philosophy. Prabhupāda was contemplating translating that after the Bhāgavatam he mentioned that most important work. So in this way Lord Caitanya, he had so many associates. And each of these associates has some particular relationship and service they perform with Lord Caitanya. Mahāprabhu Nana Tam Thakur used to pray.

He prayed that sang one song that Lord Caitanya, you are possessing so many types of energies. These Shakti are your different devotees. We now generally think you know of energy. Electricity, heat, nuclear energy, Three Mile Island. But in the spiritual world, energy means people, energy, our person. So Lord Caitanya’s energy are these great devotees. So Narutan Thakur prayed that I see that there are two kind of devotees. One kind like Rūpa and Sanatam. They are writing some of your potencies, some of your Sakta. You have empowered for writing the scriptures and other energies. You have empowered to disseminate that knowledge and to distribute those literatures. Narahari Chakravarti he advised that someone who is distributing the books of Caitanya Mahprabhu he should be understood that he’s especially performing direct service for Lord Caitanya. The Great Narottam.

Of course, he quoted that Śrīnivasacharya and others as the preachers. Of course, Narottam himself was a great preacher. He toured Orissa with Shamananda Pandit. And he had toured Bengal, with Jamaica and many others singularly alone. His disciples are the devotees who have delivered Manipur. Manipur is known as a great Vaishnava of State. Only the disciples of Narottam Thakur went there and preached. They converted that king to become a Gorebhakta. So the preachers of Lord Caitanya, they went everywhere preaching, of course, Seela Prabhupāda. He showed both writing and distributing everything. But one has to be empowered, my Lord Caitanya. These services are not something which is simply ordinary or materialistic. These activities are directly empowered by Lord Caitanya Mahav. To preach Lord Caitanya’s message, one has to be empowered. Kalikalid Kṛṣṇa Kripa Bine Nahita Pravarthana.

Without the mercy of Lord Caitanya, no one can spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It’s very special mercy of the Lord. So Lord Caitanya’s pastimes, we cannot actually express these. They’re not possible to give the actual explanation in words. Someone has fallen and unworthy as myself cannot begin even touch the glories of Lord Caitanya’s devotees and his devotees. Devotees. But just for purification we try to say something. But actually it’s not possible to do justice to their qualities. Who can imagine the fortune of these devotees to personally associate with Lord Chaitanya and with his followers. Imagine how Lord Caitanya, when he was traveling. Just think. Remember how he was traveling in South India. And when he came to Ranganath temple. There he met Venkata Battle. And Venkata Bhaṭṭa begged him, Please stay for Chatur Maas here daily he’s chanting in kīrtana before the deity.

He’s sitting with them, joking with them, instructing them. They’re offering him Prasadam. And Venkata Bhaṭṭa was there with his two brothers Trott and Prabhodanam Nasarasati Prabhodanam na Saraswati wrote so many literatures on the Bhakti cult. He’s a different. There’s two Prabhodananda Saraswati. One is the Prakashananda sometimes known as Prabhod. That’s another. This is Prabhollananda. So then Venkat Bhaṭṭa gave his son to personally worship and take care of Lord Chaitanya hand and foot. Do you know who his son was? His son is Gopal. Gopal Batta. So Gopal Bhaṭṭa, he was feeling very sad to see Lord Chaitanya Sannyas. Because he knew that Caitanya Mahāprabhu were this time he could understand that he’s actually Kṛṣṇa. And he was feeling that why he is taking this austere role as a Sannyāsī. And how unfortunate I am that I am born in South India.

I could not see his pastimes in Navadip where with long flowing hair he would dance in Sankirtan with so many devotees of Nithyananda Advaita. He said, I was born in this far distant place of South India. And I am only saying.

(Side B of the Cassette)

He said, I was born in this far distant place of South India. And I am only seeing Lord Caitanya Sannyas. I cannot see those flowing locks of hair. In this way. He was lamenting to himself. Of course, from our point of view, he is very fortunate. We cannot begin to express his fortune. But from his point of view, he was feeling unfortunate. So then again Ninda Devī attracted him also to sleep. And then he saw Lord Caitanya in his Nabuddhi Viva. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare, Hare Ram, Hare Ram Ram Hare Hare. Dancing with Nityānanda, with Advaita, with Marathi Gupta Basu, Dev Ghosh. All the Narahari, all the devotees are dancing in kīrtana all over Navadip. Huge devotees going. He saw so many pastimes. Very light sleep. Not exactly even sleep. And this way, by so called dream.

Lord Chaitanya showed them all these pastimes. Gopal Bhatti became so excited. When he woke up. All he could think of was. I must immediately go to Lord Caitanya. And he just ran to where Lord Caitanya was. And he ran there. He saw Lord Chaitanya. He was running up there. Lord Caitanya suddenly took his twofold bending form with flute and Shyama Sandara. And he saw. He was completely stunned. He couldn’t move. Gopal Bhatt. Then Lord Caitanya he became again Caitanya Nabadibdhila. With his yellow robes and his flower garland. And then Gopal to dive for his feet. Just grabbed onto those sweet lotus feet. And then Lord Chaitanya again became Sannyāsī. So these devotees. Who can imagine their good fortune. But they had such an intense desire to serve Lord Caitanya. So Lord Caitanya fulfilled every desire in his service.

So Lord Caitanya’s pastimes are like an ocean. Because each one of his devotees are so intimately connected with him. Each one of their pastimes is so filled with devotion. And with Kṛṣṇa conscious qualities is the ocean of nectar. Maybe there’s some specific points or questions people like that after you. These pastimes.

How can we always remember them and always maintain the same mood if you’re just hearing them throughout the day?

And always remember like that. Because it seems sometimes very difficult. What would you rather discuss the pastimes with? What? Chaitanya or the Washington Post for the Iskam nude. See, that’s. That’s what silence is. Austerity. Austerity of the tongue is to only eat prasadam. Austerity of the Eyes is to only see. To only desire to see or to see the form of Kṛṣṇa. Austerity of the ears is to only hear about Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya. And only the austerity of the tongue also is to only speak about Caitanya’s pastimes and about, you know, just service related activities. This is the austerity. Austerity of the mind is to only think about Lord Caitanya. So this is Bhayaga Vidya nj Bhakti Yogam. We are practicing Bhairaga Vidya. That means austerity with transcendental knowledge. So it’s a gradual process.

But whenever anyone tries to change the subject into some unnecessary discussion, then without just very cleverly, anyone who notices should dovetail and head off the discussion and somehow tied in with Kṛṣṇa again. And this way one can maintain his devotional mood much better. And of course always stay fully engaged. Idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Stay engaged in Kṛṣṇa Service. Śrīnivasacharya. He made a prayer to the mind to beware of the plunders of the jewel of pure devotion. He described the gossipers, those who simply discussed idol gossip to professional prostitute thieves who come and entice one, you see, for enjoyment and then steal away all the wealth. The gossipers are like prostitutes who entice one and then take away the jewel of Bhakti. We have the jewel, we get the seed from the guru and we water that and we protect it.

That is compared to like a jewel Bhakti Ratna. So that Bhakti Ratnakar that has to be protected. Different type of material desires. They’re like dacoits, like jungle animals. There’s so many like snakes there other kind. Envious thoughts, envious desires. They’re like snakes coming to steal away the jewel, put it on the head like the Naga king. And this way there are so many enemies. So one has to protect his devotional jewel. We should take it like that I have got a jewel. And every instance Māyā wants to steal away this precious jewel. And if we’re careless, just like associating with non devotees, neglect of our following the orders of our spiritual men. These are like different enemies who are coming with different ploys to steal away our jewels. So we have to be very careful to protect this treasure.

Somehow or another we receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya, spiritual master. We have got this jewel. If we’re careless, someone will plunder it and we will be bankrupt. Then we will be lamenting that where my jewel has gone. Then we have to do so much more watering to again cause that sprout. So much weed pulling to get the jewel back. I cannot remember exactly the context that example is used in several they sometimes compare Kṛṣṇa to. Isn’t it Kṛṣṇa Sugar candy and Rādhā Rani is camphor. You mix them together and you get Lord Chaitanya. Isn’t that the example? If you want that particular, you have to show me exactly the point. I remember the other. But of course the thing is that Lord Caitanya’s pastimes are all focused on Kṛṣṇa is the avatar of devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So he’s in the mood of the greatest devotee.

So obviously his devotional pastimes bring out the depth of Kṛṣṇa’s wonderful qualities. You see, art can. If you put art. Art also requires the art critic. If there’s no one who can appreciate the art, even it may be the most beautiful piece of art. But it’s sitting in the jungle, you see, dog comes up and thinks it’s suitable for nature call. There has to be someone who can appreciate it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When Kṛṣṇa went into the arena of Kangsa, then the two wrestlers, they saw him all. He’s that ferocious wrestler. The yogis saw Kṛṣṇa to be the Paramātmā. The elderly ladies of Mathurā saw Kṛṣṇa to be a tender young child. And they felt great maternal affection to him. All the unmarried, all the married, all the young women, they looked at Kṛṣṇa as Cupid personified.

They looked at Kṛṣṇa, their saris became loose, they were so attracted. And Kangsa, he saw Kṛṣṇa as personified death. That my death has come. Jasoda is simply saying Kṛṣṇa, there’s my son Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa reveals himself according to the mentality of the viewer. The ordinary people that they said, oh Lord Kṛṣṇa. He’s some extraordinary ordinary person. He’s not human, but some extraordinary. The fools thought Kṛṣṇa, who is he? So according to their mental frame, they were seeing Kṛṣṇa in that way. There were some fool, he said, who is this Kṛṣṇa? That’s why they’re fool. So because Lord Kṛṣṇa himself has become his own devotee. Naturally, his appreciation of himself is in the mood of Rana. From his mood of Rādhā. Rana is something very special. To actually appreciate Kṛṣṇa, you cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa alone. You appreciate Kṛṣṇa with his devotees.

We are not so eager that we should see Kṛṣṇa. If from a distance we can see Kṛṣṇa with his devotees, we will think that our life is fully fortunate. We’re not thinking that immediately I should go and personally serve Kṛṣṇa. We’re not so proud. But if we can just see. If we just conserve his devotee, that is enough for us. But if even we see sometime Kṛṣṇa with his devotee, of course we would think that it is the most fortunate thing that could ever happen. But right now we are just focusing that we want to serve his devotees. Devotee, devotee. And to see Kṛṣṇa through the service.

Immediately go there, apologize. Somebody asks, well, what if he’s not? What if he’s away somewhere? I forgot to say, you should write him a letter. So I am saying, but what if that devotee is completely. Or those devotees, they committed offenses to you, They have gone somewhere else, you know, concerned again, you know, and you committed some offense or you just have to suffer the reaction for that. What is the reaction?

Depends how heavy the offense was. Lord Caitanya Prabhu gave a nice instruction. Sat Mata had somehow neglected to treat Aditya Gosai properly. And Lord Caitanya scolded that this is very bad for your spiritual life. You offended Abai and somehow Adha came and he bowed down to Lord Caitanya. Taking that opportunity, he ordered his mother immediately touch his feet. Because Adrita would never let Satchimata touch his feet. When he was bowed down, she went and touched his feet. She told a woman, Advaita that had Brahmin of the whole community, you see. But Adwaita respected her as mother. So he wouldn’t let her touch his feet. Although he was such an exalted Brahmin, he took a very humble position. So anyway, by hook or by trick vocal, got his mother touch his feet.

So Sat Mata has to watch out for Vaishnavara or to speak of us. So to pay obeisances or if one can touch the feet or we get even writing if a person says, you know, I don’t take any offense. One has to in his heart, of course, actually repent any kind offense committed. And that itself is helpful. But then somehow or another, if he can get forgiveness touching the feet somehow that relinquishes one from offenses. Then he gets freed from those offenses. You see that committing offense against Vaiava halts our advancement in spiritual life and takes away the shelter of Kṛṣṇa and the holy name and makes us more susceptible to attraction by Māyā. Actually the devotee is protected by Subhadrā Devī, by Yogamaya. And we pray to Nithyananda that Lord Chai Nithyananda, please have your mercy upon me. You are Premana Nasuki.

You are always filled with the ecstasy of love of God. But I am the most miserable person. I am completely miserable. Therefore, I request that immediately you have your mercy upon me. We need to get this mercy of Premananda. Because by tasting the nectar at Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nithyananda’s lotus feet, Lord Nityānanda gives his mercy very easily. Then one if you’re flooded with ecstasy and Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then material, you see, attraction looks like a desert. So you want to always keep our heart flooded with ecstasy. This cannot be artificially brought. This comes by the mercy of Caitanya, Nityānanda, by the mercy of spiritual master and the Vaishnavas. So what happens when we commit offenses? This mercy that’s coming from above, that transparent link gets opaqued, gets blotted. And we lose the ecstasy, we lose the shelter.

And we find our mind becoming attracted by material things. That is a symptom that we are losing the shelter of Lord Caitanya. It’s very dangerous. Because once we get attracted by Māyā then we’re in very precarious position. So then one has to cry out very loud for the mercy of Nithai. Gora Prabhupāda said, one has to disclose cling to their lotus feet. Just cling and don’t let go. But usually someone who commits offenses and he also with that he gets some false pride. And that false pride makes him oblivious to the fact that he’s being attracted by Māyā. Next thing you know, he’s completely in tank. Therefore, Lord Caitanya said, the only way one can chant continuously Hare Kṛṣṇam is one has to be more humble than a straw in the street.

Otherwise he won’t see that what is to be done, what’s not to be done. He has to be more tolerant in a true shape.