20221217 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.2.33

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on December 17th, 2022 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur,India. The class begins with a reading from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.2.33.

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

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Jayapatākā Swami: I think this is a special mercy that I get this verse today! It says how direct devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is the best way. Auspicious means deliverance. So, of course, we come to Māyāpur Dhāma, this is the audārya-dhāma. This is the especially merciful abode of the Lord. Whatever devotional service is performed here multiplies a 1000-times. Of course, being close to the Ganges there is some śloka that says, those who are some distance like one krośa, 2 miles, from the Ganges, they get a hundred thousand times the benefit. Multiplied 1000 by 100,000. Then when we have Dāmodara month, then you have 100 times more! Who is expert in Mathematics here? What is a 100 times 100,000 times 100. Anyway, this is going to be a big number. 1000 crores. But I was listening to a lecture of Śrīla Prabhupāda. He said, what is if you have all these 100 crores if you multiply by zero what do you get? Zero! That we have come to Māyāpur is to especially perform devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. And after coming here, and does not do anything then what is the benefit? So we are here to get as much credits as possible. There are nine processes of devotional service. Śravaṇam, kīrtanam – hearing and chanting are the first two elements of the nine practices of devotional service. So all of our ceremonies, āratis, everything has śravaṇam kīrtanam with it. And we are supposed to all the time be occupied in hearing and chanting. Here we have our MI (Māyāpur Institute) there we study, the literatures, that is also one kind of hearing. One brahmacārī, he has been here for two years, he asked my blessings to start Bhakti-vedānta degree. So, if someone wants they can very quickly get all these degrees. I think our Keśavī dāsī here has Bhakti-vedānta? So, we should study Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and that is our hearing. And we distribute books, that is our kīrtana. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura called that ‘bṛhad-mṛdaṅga’. Greater mṛdaṅga. Here we can do kīrtana, those who come, they can hear. But if we distribute books here then that will go far and wide. His Holiness Bhakti Nityānanda Swami, who left his body in Māyāpur dhāma, he or someone in his family, purchased a book. And as a result, that book was lying in their house and many people read it. His Holiness Bhakti Nityānanda Swami and Mukunda dāsa, the temple president in Telangana, one book, which five devotees at least were made. Now in this marathon month we are grateful to all the devotees for distributing books. And those devotees who are buying books online or sponsoring, we are very grateful. We are very grateful to all the different departments who are participating in this Book Marathon. This way, I hear that Kamalāpati Prabhu every day distributes thousands of books. I am very grateful to Jīvanātha Prabhu for his announcements. How in each prasāda hall also packets of books, are being kept and distributed. Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that Yoga-pīṭha is the janma-sthāna and this is karma-sthāna. In the Bhagavad-gītā there is a śloka, janma karma ca me divyam (Bg. 4.9) – Śrīla Prabhupāda was quoting that to say that that is the janma-sthāna, this is the karma-sthāna. We should do the karma then. Kṛṣṇa-sevā, if we do this then there is all auspiciousness. I hear that in Vraja dhāma there is a parikramā path. I know Bengali, what you say I know. I was hearing, how in the Navadvīpa Māhātmyā it says that Lord Nityānanda every Ekādaśī would do pañca-krośa-parikramā. We are asking Mādhava Hari dāsa and other devotees to show us where we can do our pañca-krośa-parikramā.

This way, we want to keep Māyāpur dhāma ‘zero tolerance aparādhā’ and perform as much as possible do devotional service. And in the last lecture I mentioned how we should be ‘abuse free’. Because Lord Caitanya, He does not take serious, all the offences except especially Vaiṣṇava-aparādhā. And abuse of children, of ladies, of anyone is a Vaiṣṇava-aparādhā that is something that we want to make completely out of Māyāpur. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta there is a description – bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī—sakali ‘aśānta’, kṛṣṇa-bhakta—niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’. So actually, the process of karma, jñāna, yoga, they are all creating anxieties. We are personalists. We worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different avatāras. The Deity is also called arcā-avatāra. Here we have various programs to do Deity worship. So many come to Māyāpur but they seldom attend or contribute to these programs. When I was overseeing the construction, I was on double shifts from 6 am to midnight. Two shifts. Workers used to work one shift but in two groups. Śrīla Prabhupāda said that I should at least attend Śrīla Prabhupāda’s guru-pūjā, that would be sufficient. I see Hṛdaya Caitanya, Vraja Vilāsa every day attend maṅgala-ārati. I hope that all the devotees there will be so much crowd that we won’t have place left. We will have to move to the TOVP quick!

Yesterday, I was met by five or six devotees from Pānihāṭi. It was interesting that at this time we are reading the Pānihāṭi pastime in our Caitanya-līlā class. And in the class yesterday, the title of the chapter was “Lord Caitanya Eternally Resides in Pānihāṭi”. And they obtained 40 kāṭhās of land. They want to purchase another 24 kāṭhās. They said for the 24 kāṭhās the charge was 2.5 crores. They had collected 1 crore. They need 1.5 crores. Actually, land there is cheaper than in Māyāpur! Half price! So I am just mentioning it because if anybody has any money they can donate. I remember that when Lord Nityānanda was sent back to Bengal, by Lord Caitanya, He went first to Pānihāṭi. Hearing that Lord Nityānanda had come, Rāghava Paṇḍita asked how many people you are? Lord Nityānanda said, 40 or 50. He said go take bath in the Ganges and I will prepare and offer prasāda for all of you. Rāghava Paṇḍita and his sister Damayantī were very expert cooks. So, he made prasāda for 50 people in one hour! And then they took prasāda, rested and then they have kīrtana. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu asked everyone to dance. Everyone danced. Then, Lord Nityānanda danced! His dancing is the most sweet, it cannot be compared in the three world! Lord Caitanya said, “Whenever He dances, I will be there! I won’t miss it! I won’t miss it!” The Caitanya-caritāmṛta has this śloka Antya-līlā 6.105: – nṛtyera mādhurī kebā varṇibāre pare mahāprabhu āise yei nṛtya dekhibāre – “No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityānanda’s dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally comes to see it.” So when Lord Nityānanda dances, then He would tell the devotees that Lord Caitanya is amongst you. You cannot see Him, but He is here! He is wearing a garland from South India. You can smell that garland. And people started smelling! Then there was like love gas! Everyone fainted in ecstasy! As the smell spread!

“In this verse it says, the only way a human being can be happy is by devotional service. Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī and all other ācāryas, like Jīva Gosvāmī, agree that bhakti-yoga is not only easy, simple, natural and free from trouble, but is the only source of happiness for the human being.”

Last night we were describing how Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda were together although Lord Caitanya was invisible. But Rāghava Paṇḍita, he could see Lord Caitanya. And he gave prasāda to both of them. And it is described there how what was cooked there, rice cakes and so many relishable items. I was thinking if they had described any general person, Dipak Bose or someone sat and had prasāda, we will not feel any happiness. But reading and hearing Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya were having prasāda, and Rāghava Paṇḍita was serving Them, I felt so much happiness! I don’t know, the other persons were also feeling happiness, I think they were. Everything that the Lord does is spiritual, therefore observing the Lord’s pastimes, His qualities is all spiritual. I see in the news they show how one team wins in the World Cup. Their fans jump up and cheering Ahhhhh! But what is the use of winning a football game? If they were chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and jumping, so much benefit! So every day, our devotees dance in front of Rādhā Mādhava and Pañca-tattva during ārati and they get so advanced spiritually. So, when we are roaming in the universe, we are very fortunate when we get the opportunity to render service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja (Cc. Madhya 19.151)

So this devotional service is something very special. All these jñānīs and yogīs, after many many births they come to the conclusion that Vāsudeva is everything and surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa. So we have the opportunity to be in the holy dhāma we should do as much devotional service as we can. In bhakti-yoga, being married means it is considered celibacy but not illicit sex between husband and wife. But that is not devotional service. If they are doing garbhādāna-saṁskāra and they are praying to the Deities for having Kṛṣṇa conscious children, then it is devotional service. So many people, I heard Śrīla Prabhupāda say that those people who are not conscious of Kṛṣṇa, they are like animals. In this Sat-kriyā-sāra-dīpikā by Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī the garbhādāna-saṁskāra is mentioned. Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that he wants his gṛhastha devotees to also be paramahaṁsas. And, this way, we have to try that husband, wife, all the family, do service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Any kind of connection outside of marriage is considered illicit sex. So just to be a gṛhastha or a brahmacārī here is not enough, you need to do as much sevā as you can. If we do devotional service, then you will really be happy! Haribol! Any questions or comments?

Question: My question is that while performing service there are three types of offences we can perform through mind, body and through actions. How can we avoid these offences so we can be engaged in devotional service of the Lord?

Jayapatākā Swami: Someone asked me yesterday what do I do, how do I control my anger when my servants do not do what I want? I could not remember a time when I lost my temper like that! So, but there must have been a time long ago! But I said that we commit so many offences to Kṛṣṇa, knowingly or unknowingly, we want Kṛṣṇa to forgive us. So, like that if we don’t forgive others, then how can we expect Kṛṣṇa to forgive us? Your question, what is the root reason for your question? If one hates another person that is an offence. If such kind of hatred or violence is not there, then why should it be considered an offence? This way, if we see the good qualities in others, if we praise them, then how will be commit offence? If we are intolerant of the different qualities of people, then there is possibility of offences. If you see an offence to Vaiṣṇavas or guru then you need to get angry. Just like Kṛṣṇa, if you offend Him, He usually forgives you. But if you offend His devotee, He is very angry.

Atula Kṛṣṇa dāsa: Guru Mahārāja, today you explained how by residing in the holy dhāma one gets billions of times the benefit, my question is please explain when mahā-bhāgavatas like you go for preaching outside the dhāma how is it?

Jayapatākā Swami: I used to travel 5 or 6 times around the world every year. I have lifetime-gold-membership in United Airways. British Airways I have Emerald membership, it is like Gold. I don’t have to fly, I get every year automatically. But this was initially Śrīla Prabhupāda said as a sannyāsī, I should travel. But now I spend more time in Māyāpur. Śrīla Prabhupāda told me also remain in Māyāpur and do your activities through your assistants. So, at different times, he told me different things. So, I think I did my travelling enough. Now I spend more time in Māyāpur, India. I only travel once or twice around the year every year! But that way, I think I used to travel to all the countries, South Africa, Poland, Nigeria, Ghana, etc. Bhakti Tīrtha Swami had asked me to go to West Africa sometimes. I went two or three times. So like that. During the pandemic I stayed all the time in Māyāpur. That is the thing, I am trying to carry out Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions.

Question: Thank you for the great arrangement for us to do devotional service in Māyāpur. You said as Śrīla Prabhupāda said that gṛhasthas should be like paramahaṁsas what does that mean? How do we understand what paramahaṁsa means?

Jayapatākā Swami: You see Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura he was a gṛhastha. And his son was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. So, Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that like this the gṛhasthas they could have a child like Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and we need many such souls to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But if we cannot have children, I would understand and that by outreach would enthuse many people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We need devotees to use their brain to think how they can spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

So we are a little bit overtime! Haribol!