20240320 Śrī Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta 1.2. The teaching method of Śrī Caitanya

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

Śrī Caitanya-Śikṣāmṛta
The Nectar of the teachings of Śrī Caitanya

Today’s chapter is: Second Stream — the teaching method of Śrī Caitanya –Abhidheya (activities to revive one’s relationship) —

Various sounds are arranged to become a composition. The potency by which the natural meaning of a sound is known is called the ‘abhidhā-śakti’ of the sound. For instance, if ‘ten elephants’ are told, then ‘elephants numbering ten’ is easily felt. This natural meaning is called ‘abhidheya’. There is another potency of sound ‘lakṣaṇā’, for instance in ‘the cowherd village in the Ganges’ (gaṅgāya ghoṣapallī). As ‘cowherd village’ does not exist in water, ‘cowherd village on the bank of the Ganges’ is understood by the potency of ‘lakṣaṇā’. ‘Abhidhā-śakti’ does not work where there is a need for ‘lakṣaṇā’. ‘Abhidhāʼ alone works in a place where there is easily the natural meaning.

Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the only abhidheya; this is the eighth prameya —

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is presenting the message very systematically. He is giving the concept . . . of Kṛṣṇa in a very systematic way. [audio break]

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The meaning obtained by ‘abhidhā’ in the Vedic scriptures is to be accepted. The actual meaning of Vedic scriptures is ‘abhidheya’ of Vedic scriptures. That is what we need to know. By studying all the Vedas, it is seen that devotional service to the Lord is the ‘abhidheya’ of the Vedic scriptures. Karma, jñāna, yoga etc. are irrelevant relationship to abhidheya, not the primary relationship. Therefore, the primary means or process of attaining Kṛṣṇa, which is specified in the scriptures, is sādhana-bhakti. This is one of the prameyas (that which is to be known or proved).

Jayapatākā Swami: [audio break] People may talk about yoga, dhyana and other things but they are not very helpful in attaining our relationship with Kṛṣṇa. But Prahlāda Mahārāja he was always chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and that was his abhideya. We should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa by keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center.

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Prayojana (ultimate goal of life) — 3. Love of Kṛṣṇa is prayojana, the ninth pameya —

Prayojana (ultimate goal of life) is that purpose for which the means or process are to be adopted. Prayojana, in the form of jīvā’s perfection of love is one of the prameyas. Altogether nine prameyas are present. Therefore, in the instruction to Sanātana Gosvāmī:—

eita kahiluṅ sambandha-tattvera vicāra
veda-śāstre upadeśe, kṛṣṇa — eka sāra

ebe kahi, śuna, abhidheya-lakṣaṇa
yāhā haite pāi — kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I have described one’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities. Now I shall speak about the characteristics of devotional service, by which one can attain the shelter of Kṛṣṇa and His loving transcendental service.” (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 22.3-4).

Mahāprabhu instructed the eternal occupational duty of the living entities, in this method.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the sambhanda was 7. And that starts your relationship with Kṛṣṇa. And abhideya is the 8^th to put the other 7 into action. And by doing that eventually you awaken your dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, that is the 9^th, prayojana. The 8^th is abhideya, 9^th is prayojana. The whole purpose is to awaken our love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: You see Advaita Gosāñī, He was by the side of the Ganges and He was worshiping His śālagrāma-śilā. And Mādhavendra Purī was proceeding next to the Ganges. And seeing a sannyāsī with a vaiṣṇava-tilaka, immediately Advaita Gosāñī offered His prostrate obeisances. And since Mādhavendra Purī did not see any Vaiṣṇava on the way, he was happy to see Advaita Gosāñī. So they began to talk about Kṛṣṇa. And it was very joyful that both were talking about Kṛṣṇa. People talk, so many things. But here spontaneously they were talking about Kṛṣṇa and Madhavendra Purī stayed there for a day or two. Mādhavendra Purī was such a devotee who experienced extreme loving devotion. It is said that only Rādhārāṇī, Madhavendra Purī and Lord Caitanya would have the mahā-bhāva. So, if someone has love of Godhead then he is somehow connected to Mādhavendra Purī. Advaita Gosāñī requested Mādhavendra Purī for initiation. Mādhavendra Purī was the dīkṣā-guru of Advaita Gosāñī. Obviously, Advaita Gosāñī had upanayanam as a child, the brāhmaṇa thread. Also, Lord Caitanya, He had the upanayanam, the brāhmaṇa thread as a child. It was a custom that the brāhmaṇas would get upanayanam when they reached six or seven years of age. But the actual dīkṣā system   as per the pāñcarātrika system if they meet someone who could deliver them, then they would ask for the pāñcarātrika mantras. Just like Lord Caitanya when He went to Gayā and He asked Īśvara Purī Mahārāja. And also Īśvara Purī Mahārāja is a disciple of Mādhavendra Purī. So this is the custom. I don’t know why they don’t want to continue this part, according to the SAC paper. But devotees born in a devotee family, they can take upanayanam. So since Mādhavendra Purī was the dīkṣā-guru of Advaita Gosāñī, he had arranged on his disappearance day a big feast. Big, big! And there are several pages in the Caitanya-bhāgavata. Things were gathered together by Advaita Gosāñī. There were strong cottages for storage. Two or three cottages filled with dadhi. And ten cottages filled with milk sweets. I cannot remember there was a huge quantity of dal, sabjis. We were  asked, by the previous sevaite, he showed us Lord Caitanya said what human being can do such a thing! Advaita was Lord Śiva and Advaita is a combined form of Sadāśiva and Mahā-Viṣṇu. This is not an ordinary feast! We try to do something. But there is kichuḍi, chutney and things like that. But He made a feast! 10 or 12, maybe more preparations. Lord Caitanya said, anyone who takes prasāda in this tithi, at this place, they will get love for Kṛṣṇa! Previously some sādhus were doing this festival but now no one is doing. Would you do it?  Where else will you get pure love of Kṛṣṇa just by eating prasāda!

We go to Śāntipur and distribute prasāda, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. We celebrate the disappearance day of Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī. Some of the Khasadeśa, Japanese and a few devotees have donated. If anyone would like to donate, Ekanātha Gaura dāsa is coming with a bhikṣā-vastra!