Tag Archive for: Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

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Puranic Rules for Prasadam

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

When describing grhastha life, the Vishnu Mahapuranam (3.11.76-98) mentions a few rules about how to properly take food/Krishna prasadam. Most of these verses are also quoted by Sri Sanatana Goswami in Hari Bhakti Vilasa (# 9).

To begin with, Vishnu Purana says, “If one follows these rules, one will attain perpetual good health, strength and intelligence.” (v. 76)

iha carogya vipulam, bala buddhis tatha nrpa

Then Vishnu Mahapurana continues, “When eating one should wear clean cloth; face east or north; be happy, attentive and have a pleasant face. Don’t eat if in a bad mood. Eat fresh, tasty food and nothing stale. Before eating, chant purifying mantras and prayers, mantra bhimantritam (v. 84)

Eating Sequence:

“Start with sweet tasting liquid items,

ashniyat tan mayo bhutva purvam tu madhuram rasam. (v. 87)

Middle of meal eat salty and sour items,

madhye katu tikta adhikams tatah.

End meal/prasadam with bitter and pungent items.

One who starts the meal with fluid items; takes solid foods in the middle and concludes the meal with fluid items—will always be strong and healthy. (v. 88)

“One should eat in silence and only take five handfuls of food to maintain his/her five live airs. (v. 89)

pancha grasam maha maunam
prana adyap yayanam hi tat

“After eating, one should cleanse the mouth and hands, sit down peacefully, meditate upon Radha and Krishna and pray, ‘May this food/prasadam be fully digested and assimilated and thereby give my body strength and satisfaction.’ [ed. to serve Krishna better!] (v. 90-94) After reciting this prayer, one should rub his/her stomach with one’s hand palm.” (98)

ity uccarya sva hastena parimrjya tathodaram

Rubbing the belly after eating is a very ancient practice, common in India. As an alternative to the prayer mentioned above, we suggest the following verse from Sri Bhagavad Gita (15.14):

aham vaish vanaro bhutva
praninam deham ashritah
pran apana sama yuktah
pacham yannam chatur vidham

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “O Arjuna, I am the fire of digestion in all living entities, and I mix with the prana and apana life airs to digest the four kinds of foodstuff.”

We have personally seen that after taking Krishna prasadam, many Vrajavasis, Gaudiya Vaisnavas and Brahmins rub their bellies and chant the Gita verse above. Although prescribed for grhastas, these basic rules of eating will benefit anyone who follows them. And for this, we have offered this post.

Sri Jagannatha maha-prasadam ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Diksha Mantra Shows Krishna

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Diksha mantras are given for the purpose of worshiping, attaining, and seeing one’s desired istadevata, Radha-Krishna. The diksha mantras received from Sri Guru are so powerful that by chanting them a sadhaka can achieve a post of unlimited wealth, power and influence; travel to any planet in the universe; enjoy eternal bliss; attain Krishna prema; and see Radha and Krishna face to face, sakshad darshana!

Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana acharya Sri Sanatana Goswami proves this point in his magnum opus titled “Brhad Bhagavatamritam” by narrating the spiritual odyssey of a cowherd named Gopa-kumara who lived in Vrindavana five hundred years ago.

One day when Gopa-kumara was playing by the Yamuna, a vairagi sadhu noticed the boy and called him to his side. Being inspired by the Paramatma to give diksha, the sadhu whispered the Gopala mantra three times in Gopa-kumara’s right ear. After giving diksha, the sadhu experienced divine ecstasy, started crying and ran away.

Feeling amazed and grateful by the transforming experience, Gopa-kumara began sincerely chanting his diksha mantra while praying to Thakuraji Sri Sri Madan Gopal for His divine mercy. Just by chanting his diksha mantra (Gopala mantra), Gopa-kumara got the power to travel through India and beyond the earth. Gopa-kumara’s diksha mantra chanting carried him to Indraloka, Brahmaloka, Shivaloka, Vaikuntha, Ayodhya, Dvaraka and finally to Goloka Vrindavana.

During his travels, Gopa-kumara spoke a very important verse regarding how to properly chant diksha mantras.

Gopa-kumara said, “I eagerly chanted my diksha mantra (i.e. Gopala mantra) with the specific intention to see Bhagavan Sri Krishna.” (Brhad Bhagavatamrita 2.2.12)

tad darshane jata mano rathakulah
sankalpa purvam sva japam samacaran

Here, Gopa-kumara reveals three mental attributes necessary for perfection in chanting diksha mantras:

1) Eagerness, enthusiasm;

Gopa-kumara chanted with fervor, an intense eagerness to achieve mixed with anxiousness (akulah).

2) Desire;

Like all of us riding on the uncontrolled chariot of material desires, Gopa-kumara had desires. But Gopa-kumara had only one all-consuming enthusiastic desire driving his mind and life forward (manah ratha): To see God, Sri Sri Madan Gopalji.

3) Specific intention, fixed purpose, mental resolve and fixity;

Every day before (purvam) chanting his diksha mantra, Gopa-kumara would focus, concentrate and fix his mind on his desired goal (sankalpa) by enthusiastically and eagerly addressing his mind: “By chanting this Gopala Mantra I must see my most worshipable Prananatha—Sri Sri Madan Gopalaji!”

In this way, the great devotee Sri Gopa-kumaraji is instructing us how to properly chant our diksha mantras. First, you should make a sankalpa, which means to mentally see and state the purpose or goal you want to achieve by chanting this mantra. “O Krishna, I really want to see You so please help me. O Gurudeva, O Sri Gopala Mantra, please bless me with the sweet darshana of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Yugala!”

This is called sankalpa purvam and jata manah ratha, to mentally, before chanting, fix one’s attention on one’s cherished desire. Then EACH AND EVERY TIME you chant your diksha mantras, you should, like Gopa-Kumara, pray and meditate upon your sankalpa and the meaning of the mantra while fervently chanting it with an “an intense eagerness to achieve your goal mixed with anxiousness (akulah).

If one chants in this way as taught by the humble Vrajavasi cowherd, Gopa-kumara, then by the unlimited power of the Gopala Mantra and Kama Gayatri, the primary Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha mantras, a sadhaka will surely obtain darshana of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Diksha mantras ki jai! Mantra Guru gana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Blasting Aparadhas

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

One often hears the question, “How to get free nama aparadhas?

Nāma āparādha cannot be counteracted through some ritual or just by chanting some slokas. One needs to reform or change one’s faulty mentality which caused the offenses in the first place. Be it envy, disrespect or just a faultfinding mind—all this must be consumed by the fire of repentance, nama-sankirtana and Vaisnava seva.

As one can never forget the Tulasi necklace around one’s neck, Mahaprabhu told us to “always wear the necklace of this sloka” [which means constantly remember and imbibe the four saintly traits within it]:

  1. Think I’m lower than grass!
  2. Live with tolerance!
  3. Feel insignificant, undeserving—just one atomic jiva!
  4. Honor all as better, higher, worthy and deserving!

Thus Mahaprabhu commanded, tṛṇād api sunīcena, taror api sahiṣṇunā, amāninā mānadena, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (Chaitanya Caritamrita 1.17.31)

By adopting these four attitudes, one can blast off into continuous nama japa which is the best, fastest and ONLY WAY to remove all aparadhas. Smrti confirms, “For nama aparadhis, the Divine Name itself is surely the only panacea. Incessant chanting of the Name will effectively destroy that sin.” (Padma Purana.; Svarga-khanda 48, 49 & Bhakti Sandarbha 265)

nāmāparādha yuktā nām, nā mānyeva haranty agham,
aviśranta prayuktāni, tānyev ārtha karāṇi ca

Jai Haridasa Thakura ki jai! Nama Sankirtana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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64 Rounds Japa & Perfection

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

After hearing that chanting 64 rounds a day gives spiritual perfection, some very sincere and well-meaning devotees begin chanting 64 rounds a day.

However, they soon face problems in the form of maintaining the quota, being attentive and not doing robotic/mechanical chanting, committing aparadhas, lack of enthusiasm, not seeing any results, a gradual loss of taste for the practice itself, and worst of all—PRIDE—pramada, an aspect of the 10th nama-aparadha).

When trying to understand any truth in shastra, one must always consider kala, desha and patra—the time and place, situation and persons involved. It appears that many devotees have misunderstood the circumstances (kala, desha, patra) of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s ONE INSTRUCTION regarding the daily chanting of one lakh japa (100,000 names aka 64 rounds).

If one studies the life of Mahaprabhu, one sees that in every instance and in every place, Sri Chaitanyadeva was very very strict about maintaining maryada, which means following the proper conduct or behavior according to one’s social or spiritual position (varna/ashram).

So because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was as a brahmin (Sri Vishvambhara Mishra), whether it was from His different personal servants, or in homes of His devotees, anywhere in India, Mahaprabhu ONLY ATE FOOD FROM THE HAND OF A BRAHMIN, and not from anyone of any other jati or class, regardless of their personal purity or spiritual realization.

Mahaprabhu’s Instruction to Brahmins

Mahaprabhu’s one and only instruction about chanting 64 rounds was spoken only to grhastha brahmins who wanted to feed the Golden Avatara in their homes.

Chaitanya Bhagavata narrates the story, “When the brahmins invited Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for prasada, Gauranga smiled and said, ‘I take meals only in the house of a lakṣeśvara brahmin.’

Hearing this, the brāhmaṇas became worried. Praying to Prabhu, the brahmins said, ‘O Gosai, what to speak of a hundred thousand, none of us possess even a thousand rupees.’

Mahaprabhu replied, ‘Do you know who is a lakṣeśvara? He is someone who daily chants a hundred thousand holy names (aka 1 lakh or 64 rounds). I take meals in only such a brahmin’s house, not in the houses of any other brahmins.’”(Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.9.117-123)

After reading this lila and Gauranga’s shiksha herein, some nice devotees innocently think, “O, if I don’t chant 64 rounds a day, then God, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Sri Krishna, won’t eat my bhoga offerings.”

Thinking like this is ok, but it’s not really proven in this lila. One can see two points illustrated in this lila:

Point One: Since He was a Brahmin, Mahaprabhu would not display adharmic behavior by eating grains from non-brahmins, and He never did as is evident from all His biographies.

Point 2: Although it is not required, if a devotee can, then certainly it would be very good to chant a lakh (64 rounds) of nama before making a bhoga offering to his/her Thakurajis of Gaura-Nitai, Girirajaji, or Radha-Krishna.

Now let’s hear Mahaprabhu’s instructions on nama japa and attaining spiritual perfection for all the masses of us, non-brahmins and non nitya-siddha associates. Sri Chaitanya’s following teachings on siddhi in nama bhajana are the perfect instructions for every human being at all times and in every place. So everyone please understand them clearly and practice bhakti bhajana accordingly.

Mahaprabhu’s Teachings for All

Once in Navadvipa, in a general assembly of all His followers, which included brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, sudras, mlecchas, yavanas, and assorted other outcastes, the all-merciful Mahaprabhu personally instructed everyone saying, “Now please, everyone happily hear the Krishna nama maha-mantra from Me……..

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

āpane sabāre prabhu kare upadeśe
Krishna-nāma mahā-mantra śunaha hariṣe

“I have told you the mahā-mantra. Now all of you chant this mantra as a daily practice (abhyasa).”[mmgd: which some take to mean 4, 20, 24, 64, 128 rounds per day]

prabhu bale kahilāṅa ei mahā-mantra
ihā japa giyā sabe kariyā nirbandha

Mahaprabhu continued, “Everyone will attain all perfection by it [i.e. Hare Krishna maha-mantra]. At every moment chant it, there is no other rule (vidhi nāhi āra).” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.23.75-78)

ihā haite sarva siddhi haibe sabāra
sarva-kṣaṇa bala ithe vidhi nāhi āra

Thus Mahaprabhu establishes that the Hare Krishna maha-mantra so transcendentally amazing and wonderful that it will give PERFECTION TO ANYONE who chants it daily. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly quoted this verse in his lectures.

Srila Prabhupada said:

  1. “That is the version of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said, ihā haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomāra [Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya 23.78]. He also stresses that ‘Simply by chanting, you will get all perfection.’” (folio 710217L2GOR)
  2. “That’s a fact. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, ihā haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomāra. Caitanya Mahāprabhu blesses, “You will get all perfections simply by chanting this Hare Krishna mantra.”(folio 720714SB.LON)
  3. “If you chant or if you associate with the chanting of holy name of Krishna, then you will get the highest perfectional stage of life. (folio 680613BG.MON)
  4. “Thus Lord Caitanya has blessed us. Simply by chanting Hare Krishna, we will achieve the perfection of self-realization.” (folio POP cp. 5)

The main point Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu establishes here is that daily Hare Krishna Maha Mantra japa is compulsory. Other than Mahaprabhu’s instructing the brahmins of Navadvipa to chant 64 rounds a day, I have not seen this instruction in any of the universally accepted Gaudiya Vaisnava shastras.

However, there is some mention about chanting 64 rounds in a not so authoritative book titled Prema-vilasa (chapter 17):

“Mahaprabhu was also in the habit of chanting three lakhs, and giving one lakh to His followers.”

prabhura āchāye saṅkhya, tina lakṣa nāma
eka lakṣa bhakta gaṇe, kaila kṛpā dāna

“In His own words, Gaurāṅga told Sri Rupa and the Vaiṣṇavas that the counting of one hundred thousand names is certainly to be done.”

gaurāṅga śrī-mukhe rūpe, kahila vaiṣṇave
lakṣa nāma saṅkhya kari, avaśya karibe

From the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Haridasa Thakura and Srila Prabhupada, it is clear that chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra is the fastest, most powerful and best means to attain spiritual perfection in Krishna prema.

Not only Mahaprabhu but numerous shastras confirm the unlimited power of Sri Krishna’s Divine Name. The Name is directly Krishna Himself, and thus Sri Nama Prabhu can easily give one all perfection (sarva siddhi).

Since Mahaprabhu’s time, many Gaudiya Vaisnavas have adopted the practice of daily chanting 64 rounds of nama-japa on tulasi beads. Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, the other Goswamis, and acharyas down to the present day have also chanted 64, and instructed their disciples to do likewise.

In the beginning of ISKCON in 1966, Srila Prabhupada ordered his disciples to daily chant 64 rounds. Seeing their inability to do so, however, Srila Prabhupada reduced the number to 32 and then finally to 16.

Other than Mahaprabhu’s one time demanding His brahmin hosts to daily chant 64 rounds, the Gaudiya Vaisnava purvacharyas and contemporary Gurus all stress the need to daily chant a fixed number of nama japa with the right feeling, mentality and attitude—be it 4, 16, 24, 64, or 192 DAILY ROUNDS.

In addition, all sadhakas should happily and peacefully keep engaged mentally and physically (where possible) in Krishna consciousness, so they can remember Krishna at the time of death. Of course, if one can, under the order of and with the blessings of his Sri Guru, steadily chant 64 rounds EVERYDAY WITHOUT FAIL that is very good.

In this regard, Mahaprabhu said, “Of all forms of bhakti practices, nama sankirtana is the best, for if one takes the name without offenses, one will attain the treasure of Krishna prema. (Chaitanya Caritamrita 3.4.71)

tāra madhye sarva-śreṣṭha nāma-saṅkīrtana
niraparādhe nāma laile pāya prema-dhana

It must be noted that only a very rare sadhaka can continue to chant 64 rounds of HONEST nama japa every day without fail throughout his/her life with the proper consciousness, humility, attention, absorption, and most of all without aparadhas.

For those who cannot chant 64, however, still with the blessings of Sri Krishna and Sri Guru, just by practicing any limb of bhakti bhajana, one will definitely attain spiritual perfection and Radha Govinda prema.

SUMMARY:

64 is not a magic number in that—“Bingo! I hit 64 a day and now perfection is in my pocket!” Although quantity japa certainly helps, it does not guarantee perfection. Success depends on QUALITY NOT QUANTITY.

Our sadhana practices—be they chanting, hearing, worshiping or whatever—must bring about purification of the mind, reformation of the character, transformation of consciousness, melting of the heart, and a direct experience of Radha and Krishna within and without.

But don’t worry if you just can’t chant 64 a day. You can still attain spiritual perfection. In other yoga disciplines, personal performance brings perfection. But in bhakti only love brings perfection.

Perfection or siddhi in bhakti depends on you and Krishna—your loving endeavors offered to Krishna and Krishna’s sweet mercy returning from His heart.

In addition, the following factors will surely help bring about perfection in sri harinama japa:

  1. The mercy and sweet will of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
  2. The blessings and satisfaction of Sri Guru.
  3. Chanting a daily fixed number of japa per Guru’s order.
  4. Quality japa which means nama japa that is free from all types of aparadhas, misconceptions, and selfish ambitions.
  5. Proper moral behavior, which means following the four principles of purity.

In closing, we hope this post will encourage all the surrendered devotees struggling every day to chant “their rounds” with the desire to attain spiritual perfection and the eternal loving service of Radha-Govinda Yugala in the groves of Vraja Dhama.

(Special thanks to Sri Advaita Dasji)

Sri Harinama Japa ki jai! Jai Haridasa Thakura ki jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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The Concise Path of Manjari-bhava Sadhana

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

In Prema Bhakti Candrika, Narottama dasa Thakura presents five essential practices of raga-bhakti and manjari-bhava sadhana to attain erotic love (Vraja srnghara-prema) in the mood of the Vraja damsels (gopi-bhava). His program incorporates four of the nine limbs of bhakti-sadhana, namely;

1) Sravanam,

2) Kirtanam;

3) Smaranam; and

4) Vandanam.

5) ** He adds a special fifth practice he calls Darshana. This concise sadhana package describes five limbs of bhakti which include a total of nine individual daily practices. If one regularly pursues these nine practices he will quickly obtain the treasure of Radha-Krishna’s eternal prema seva in Sri Dhama Vrndavana in this life.

Now let’s examine Narottama dasa Thakura’s manjari-bhava sadhana program.

I. HEARING (sravanam)

  1. Be attached to hearing the acharya’s descriptions of Radha-Krishna’s loving pastimes (rati prema maya parabandhe v 60).
  2. Constantly hear devotees chanting Radha-Krishna’s names and qualities (dunhu nama shuni shuni, bhakta-mukhe punee punee v 76).

II. CHANTING (kirtanam)

3. Chant the rasa-filled names of Radha-Krishna (krishna nama radha nama, upasana rasa-dhama v 60).
4. Always sing about the rasa-filled lilas of Yugala Kishora (lila-rasa-sadaa gaana, jugala-kishora v 100) in a loving way                 (prema bhaave lila katha v 106); which means full of eagerness and yearning.

III. REMEMBERING (smaranam)

  1. Seva smaranam—Fix your mind only the seva of Radha-Krishna (radha krishna sevana ekaanta koriyaa mana v 76; both externally in sadhaka-rupa, and mentally serving in your siddha-svarupa, ashta-kaliya-lila smaranam.
  2. Kirtana smarana— Singing Radha-Krishna’s Holy Names is the topmost meditation (radha-krishna nama gaana parama dhyaana v 73).
  3. Lila smarana—Remember the sweet daily vraja-lilas of Radha Govinda, the essence of all practices and goals (yugala vilasa smarana sadhya sadhana saara v 61).

IV. PRAYERS (vandanam)

8. Always pray that you can hear, read or speak Radha-Krishna prema-katha with a pure heart free from personal motives            (praarthanaa kariba sadaa, shuddha-bhaave prema-katha v 75)

V. SEEING (darshanam)

9. Rupa-darshana— Always cry with intense desire to see the splendid golden body of Rai (Radharani) and the enchanting           raincloud blue form of Ghanashyama (hema-gaura-tanu rai, ankhee darashana chai, rodana karaye abhilaashe,                         jaladhara dhaara dhaara, anga atee manohara v 77).

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Glories of Vilapa Kusumanjali

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Without any shade of a doubt Vilapa Kusumanjali, “A Flower Bouquet of Lamentations”, is the most important and essential book for any serious sadhaka practicing raganuga-bhakti in manjari-bhava, craving to attain the nitya-seva of Srimati Radhika in the Vraja nikunjas.

Every word, every line and every verse is sheer nectar—full of hope, intimate sevas, tears of lamentation and practical guidance on how to meditate on Bhanunandini’s loving service while being “absorbed in chanting” the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, or while rapt in single-minded contemplation.

I beg those hankering for love divine in Swamini’s seva to daily read and remember, and to think and drink the sweet nectar within all the verses of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada’s chintamani grantha, Sri Vilapa Kusumanjali.

By this daily practice, flowers of beautiful intimate sevas at Srimati’s sweet lotus feet will blossom on the tree of your hearts! This is the SRI guarantee!!!

Srimati Tulasi Manjari ki jai! Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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See Your Self as Radha’s Manjari

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

After becoming established in one’s siddha svarupa by the mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Krishna, a sadhaka will contemplate his/her personal form, qualities and seva while mentally remembering and serving within Radha-Madhava’s asta-kaliya-lila.

The young girls (12-13 yrs) who personally and very intimately serve Srimati Radharani are called Radha’s dasis, kinkaris, manjaris or simply maidservants. The following description is generic and refers to “You” or anyone among the unlimited handmaidens of Srimati Radhika.

The following passages, taken from Prabodhananda Sarasvatipada’s Vrindavana Mahimamrita, which describe a manjari’s form, feelings, movements and services are very helpful in deepening and culturing the persona of a maidservant of Srimati Radharani.

By reading these, one will see how dynamic, beautiful and exciting it will be when one attains prema, and enters Radha-Krishna pastimes to lovingly serve Them eternally in one’s siddha svarupa as Radhika’s kinkari.

To attain success in manjari meditation, one must completely forget once and for all one’s external body and all false material attachments. By the mercy of Sri Hari and Sri Guru, I have received a spiritual form, siddha svarupa/deha so that I may affectionately and intimately serve Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Yugala in the eternally blissful realm of Sri Vraja Dhama.

Thus to permanently fix my eternal and REAL spiritual identity, I will deeply concentrate, meditate upon and internally visualize my true self as follows. Hear/read the passages very attentively while thinking: “This is the REAL ME—the ETERNAL ME—the EVER BLISSFUL ME!” Try to think of your eternal, individual, transcendental, sac-cid-ananda siddha svarupa as being like this…

“I am a lovely kinkari maidservant of Ishvari Radha, and I have a glistening, pleasing golden complexion and I abound in honey sweetness. I am a fresh maiden adorned with jeweled necklaces and a multicolored blouse.

My arms are beautifully shaped like lotus stems and glorified with bracelets and jeweled armlets. Like a dangling vine, my hair shiny black braid hangs down to My captivating buttocks, and its swinging movements enhance My beauty.

As Radhika’s kinkari (manjari), I have an enchantingly thin waist. A divine silk garment with artistic folds hangs down to My ankles. A fine cloth embroidered with flowers and leaves covers My hair and the sides of My face.

A sweet shy smile plays upon My reddish lips. My glances are light and playful, and My movements are extremely attractive. The amorous affairs of Radha-Madhava Yugala always excite My pure tender heart.

Among my unlimited good qualities, humility and sweet behavior are foremost. Having been personally taught by Radharani, I am now expert in all arts.

I appear especially attractive due to wearing the Playful Pair’s prasadi malas, clothes and ornaments. I regularly relish Radha and Krishna’s astonishingly tasty prasadi pan and betel nut. Being an expert manjari, I immediately know what Radha wants just by a hint or a glance. Radha and Krishna are always very affectionate to me.

I carry whatever is needed for seva i.e. scents, water, garlands, kunkum, pan, cosmetics etc. for Radhe-Shyama’s nightly meetings. As a Radhika kinkari, I constantly taste the sweet madhura rasa arising from Sri Radha’s beautiful form, qualities and pastimes. I remain forever thrilled by remembering Radhika’s intimate affairs with Shyama.

Because I have intense loving affection for Radharani, I am always submerged in an ocean of happiness. In all times, whether I am awake, dreaming or deeply asleep, I desire nothing but Radha’s seva. I know absolutely nothing but Sri Radha sweet lotus feet.

As rivers rush to the sea, I immediately run toward anything even remotely connected with Radha. And I practically die if even a moment passes without Radha. As a shadow follows an object, I am always beside Sri Radha throughout the day and night. My deep attachment to Radha immerses me in the boundless ocean of ecstatic love for Radha.

Sometimes when Kunjeshvari enjoys with Priyatama in a keli-kunja, Radha pulls me onto the flower bed and under the sheets with Her. Ah ha! Just see the intimacy that Srimati showers upon me, Her most fortunate maidservant!

Tasting the bliss of serving Kishori Jeu, I thrill and tremble in ecstasy. My brilliant bodily luster and loveliness enchant everyone as I run from place to place in My anxiety to nicely serve Priya Sundari.

My soothing bodily effulgence beautifies and enriches all ten directions. When I sometimes hear Priya-Priyatama’s secret love talks, I experience inconceivable joy, the utmost happiness and FULL satisfaction. The soothing, nectar-sweet words flowing from the lovely lotus mouth of Srimati Radhika continually dance in waves of joy in My heart. (Vrindavana Mahimamrta 8.17-42)

Sri Radha’s manjari ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe! Manjari Bhava Upasana ki jai! Manjari Sadhana ki jai! Sri Guru ki jai!

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Gems of Cakravartipada  001

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

From the sweet ocean of Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada’s tikas on Srimad Bhagavatam, we have collected some of the most rare and incredibly amazing jewels—each one glittering with a uniquely soothing and enlightening effulgence. So now please bask in their beneficial rays and rejuvenate your soul! For easier understanding and reference, the gems are presented by category.

Bhagavat Preachers:

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti said, “For establishing attachment to Sukadeva, (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.2) says that Sukadeva entered into the minds of all living entities (sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim) by his yogic power.

‘’ ‘So let Sukadeva also enter my heart and speak the Bhagavatam through my mouth, as he once entered into dull trees and replied as an echo to pacify his father calling him back from the forest. May that Sukadeva also enter my heart and thereby please the intellects of all hearers of the Bhagavatam.’

“Before speaking, all Bhagavat katha vacakas should also meditate [and pray] in the same way.”

Srimad Bhagavatam prema amrita ki jai! Sastra Pramanam Amalam ki jai! Radha Govinda Yugala ki jai!

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Your Spiritual Body: Siddha Deha

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The sadhaka jiva’s eternal spiritual identity, the siddha svarupa or spiritual body is not an imagination because it exists eternally in the spiritual realm, Vaikuntha/Vrndavana. As the material sky is unlimited and has unlimited residents, the spiritual sky is also unlimited with unlimited spiritual bodies.

There are unlimited siddha-dehas suitable to the unlimited types of moods of would-be sadhana siddha devotees. And that spiritual body i.e. siddha dehais revealed to a qualified sadhaka by a qualified guru. Or the siddha dehais given by Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself as the Bhagavata describes regarding Narada Muni, Dhruva Maharaja, Ajamila, Gajendra and Putanarasasi.

Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.14) says:

vasanti yatra purusah, sarve vaikuntha murtayah,
ye’ nimitta nimittena, dharmen aradhayan harim

“The great liberated persons [sarupya muktas] are residing there eternally [in the spiritual sky]. They all have transcendental Vaikuntha forms [like Visnu], and they worship Hari causelessly.”

In the Krama Sandarbha tika on Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.14, Sri Jiva Goswamipada says:

vaikunthas yeva nitya ananda rupa murtir yesam, te yatra vasanti,

“The liberated souls living in the spiritual world all have eternal, blissful forms like that of Bhagavan Sri Visnu/Krishna in Vaikuntha.”

In the Priti Sandarbha (10) tika on Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.14, Sri Jiva Goswamipada says, “Illuminating the spiritual world, Bhagavan Visnu/Krishna has unlimited spiritual forms that ARE ALL ETERNALLY EXISTING THERE (murtir yas tatra vartante) as expansions of Himself. From these unlimited murtis or transcendental forms, Bhagavan gives or awards one murti i.e. siddha svarupa to each liberated soul. This murti or transcendental form resembles that of Bhagavan Visnu/Krishna.

The siddha deha is not within one’s heart or lying dormant inside of one waiting to rise or wake up. In his tika on Vedanta Sutra (4.4.1),Baladeva Vidyabhusana says that by Bhagavan’s mercy the jiva attains its own, eternally existing svarupa (spiritual body) which is not inherent in it.

Unlike the material body inhabited by the atma, that spiritual body i.e. siddha svarupa is not created at some point in time, nor is it external or different from the atma.

Basically, what happens is that at the devotional stage of bhava or prema, one’s eternally existing spiritual body i.e. siddha deha becomes one with the atma or self. For the liberated soul, sadhana-siddha, there is no longer any duality between the self (atma) and the body. In other words, the atma, self, is the siddha deha and the siddha deha is the atma.

But you may ask, ‘Exactly how is the siddha deha non-different from the jivatma, since the jiva is tatastha-shakti, and spiritual bodies are made of svarupa-shakti i.e. antaranga-sakti i.e. Sri Krishna’s eternal internal energy?’

This is a fine point that exceeds the limits of ordinary material logic. The liberated jiva as tatastha-sakti does not change into svarupa-sakti. The siddha deha is not like the physical body of our experience; it’s a body made of bhava, prema—gopi bhava. Similarly, the divine, transcendental form of Srimati Radharani is made of maha-bhava.

The sadhana siddha or liberated tatastha-saktijiva does not become svarupa-sakti. But it is something like an iron rod made red hot by contact of the fire of svarupa-sakti in the form of prema or gopi-bhava that now constitutes one’s siddha deha or bhava deha.

Imagine if you wear a dress made of flame, would you feel different or one with the flame? Similarly, the liberated tatastha-saktijiva experiences a sense of oneness with Sri Krishna’s svarupa-sakti because of it’s possessing a transcendental body, siddha deha, made of gopi-bhava (hladini-sakti).

WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL BODIES DOING NOW?

What are all those spiritual bodies doing right now in the spiritual sky, Vaikuntha/Vrndavana? Unfortunately, other than the evidence given above, there is NO CLEAR objective answer to this question given either in sastra nor by our Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya acaryas like the six Goswamis, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana or Visvanatha Cakravartipada.

In the absence of adequate sastrapramana, therefore one must resort to yukti i.e. logic, reason and “common sense” to draw one’s own conclusion.

Or one may select what one considers to be the most reasonable answer to this question from among the various subjective views propounded by different spiritual teachers.

Subjective Answers from Transcendental Teachers:

  1. “The spiritual body i.e. siddha deha is in an ‘in inactive state’, because when talking about transcendental things like this, we are severely limited by our language and our experience to clearly convey the situation there.”
  2. “The spiritual body i.e. siddha deha of the liberated soul exists in Vaikunthalike a 3D picture. And it’s activated when it is awarded to a sadhana siddha devotee.”
  3. “Presently, the siddha dehas of the sadhana siddhas are lying dormant in Vaikuntha like statues, clothes hanging on hangers in a closet, or shiny new cars waiting in showroom for the buyer to purchase, put in the key and drive away.”
  4. “Pramana or spiritual truth, siddhanta is based on sastra and also yukti, common sense. The idea of the siddha deha in Vaikuntha being inactive, dormant, frozen in time and “waiting for the right time to be activated” does not make sense to me.

“The Srimad Bhagavatam statement, na ca kala vikramah (2.9.10), and the acaryas’ tikas establish the fact that unlike here in the material world of our experience, there is no linear time in spiritual world.”

“In his tika to Brahma Samhita (56), Sri Jiva Goswamipada says “Very great time periods of billions of years, or even split seconds of time do not exist in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha or Vrndavana.”

“In the Krama Sandarbha tika on Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.14, quoted above, Sri Jiva Goswamipada uses the word NITYA which means the spiritual body exists eternally in the past, present and future. If the spiritual body is ‘activated’ at some point of time, that would mean it has beginning and thus is not nitya.”

“The idea of the dormant, inactive or still siddha deha is nowhere in sastra, and nor does it make sense (yukti). Presently and eternally in Vaikuntha/Vrndavana the siddha dehas or spiritual bodies of the liberated souls are active. It’s a seamless transfer from death as a perfected premi sadhaka to one’s eternal siddha deha in the spiritual sky, Vaikuntha/Vrndavana.”

“What happens is this: Right here right now on earth, the perfected premi sadhaka is meditating upon and serving in his/her siddha deha, eternal spiritual body. Then at death, that premi bhakta is immediately transferred to Vaikuntha or Vrndavana, and continues serving in that same spiritual body, siddha deha, there in the spiritual realm.”

“Just imagine right here in Radha Kunda, a premi bhakti enters a deep state of meditative samadhi fanning Srimati Radharani in his/her manjari svarupa. Suddenly death comes, then in a flash that premi bhakta, now a sadhana-siddha, continues fanning Srimati Radhika in the spiritual realm in his/her nityasvarupa or eternal siddha deha. Jai Radhe!”

“The Srimad Bhagavatam (1.6.28-29) story of Narada Muni’s death, the immediate attainment of his siddha deha, and his transfer to Vaikuntha gives the proof or praman for this fact. The eternality of the soul’s Vaikuntha/Vrndavana spiritual deha is proven in the vasantiyatrapurusasloka of Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.14.”

“To repeat, no sastras describe closets in Vaikuntha with dormant siddha dehas hanging on hangers; or still not yet inhabited siddha dehas. Sastra clearly say that the sadhakajiva’s siddha deha is eternal, already in the spiritual realm and actively serving Bhagavan Sri Krishna/Visnu.”

“It’s common sense that a fully Krishna conscious, blissful spiritual entity in a spiritual body, i.e. siddha deha, would be lovingly serving Bhagavan. He or she would not just besitting alone in cave of Govardhana Hill—still, inactive, dormant—and hanging around doing nothing.”

“The spiritual world and everyone in it is fully active, dynamic, and eternally blissful. The idea of a “dormant, inactive, not-yet-inhabited eternal body” or siddha deha in Vaikuntha/Vrndavana does not make any sense at all. The only non-inhabited body is a dead material body!”

We have presented the available sastra praman on the topic of “Your Spiritual Body”, and the subjective views of various spiritual wisdom teachers. Now each reader can choose the answer that seems most reasonable and satisfying to his/her intellect. Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

(concept adapted: Sri Satyanarayana Das Babaji, Sri Advaita Dasji, Sri Krishna Dasji)

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Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s Transcendental Day

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

1) Early Morning Pastimes (03:36-06:00)

In the forest of Vrndavana, Vrnda-devi engages peacocks, parrots, cuckoos, and doves to sing, and finally the old monkey “Kakkhati” to speak to awaken Radha and Krsna. The Divine Couple leave Their flower cottage and hastily and secretly return to Their homes in Javat and Nandagrama.

2) Morning Pastimes (06:00-08:24)

Radharani in Javat and Krsna in Nandagrama are awakened by Their superiors who are completely unaware of the preceding night’s events. Krsna greets His cowherd friends and goes to the cowshed to milk the cows. Meanwhile, Radha, splendidly bathed and dressed, proceeds with Her gopi friends to Nandagrama to cook Krsna’s breakfast. After milking the cows and joking with His friend, Krsna bathes, dresses and enjoys breakfast while surrounded by Sri Baladeva and His boyfriends, Madhumangala, Subala and Sridama.

3) Forenoon Pastimes (08:24-10:48)

Sri Govinda and His boyfriends take the cows out to eat the soft, sweet grass at the bottom of Govardhana Hill. The boys frolic in the forests, bathe happily in Manasi Ganga and enjoy eating tasty snacks of fruits and sweets. Missing Sri Radha, Krsna tricks the boys and slips away to nearby Kusuma Sarovara. Here, Krsna meets with Subala, Madhumangala, Dhanistha-sakhi, Vrnda-devi and Tulasi to arrange for His impending rendezvous with His beloved Radhika.

4) Midday Pastimes (10:48-15:36)

Radha and Krsna meet and enjoy unlimited nectarean pastimes in Radha-kunda, and in the surrounding forest grove’s belonging to Radha’s dearest friends. Radha and Krsna dispute over flower picking, They ride on a lotus swing, stroll through the six seasonal forests, engage in color squirting wars, water splashing contests, flute stealing, decorating one another with flowers, drinking honey nectars and eating forests fruits, playing board games, resting on flower petal beds, hearing parrots sing Their glories and Surya-puja.

5) Afternoon Pastimes (15:36-18:00)

Sri Radha returns home to Javat, bathes, dresses gorgeously, and begins cooking delicious sweets to send for Krsna’s evening repast. Playing His flute, Sri Krsna calls the cows by name and leads them home to Nandagrama. Yasoda and Rohini organize the kitchen to produce many sumptuous offerings for Krsna’s pleasure.

6) Dusk Pastimes (18:00-20:24)

Krsna and Balarama bathe, dress and relish the sweet snacks sent by Srimati Sundari (Radha). Krsna then milks the cows, or alternately goes to the Yamuna to sport with Radha. After Nanda Maha¬raja’s sandhya-arati Krsna and all His boyfriends eat supper in a joking, festive mood. Yasoda sends Krsna’s remnants to Radha who eagerly honors them.

7) Evening Pastimes (20:24-22:48)

In Nanda Maharaja’s palace auditorium, Krsna is entertained with dramas, dancing, recitations, instrumental music, Vedic mantra chanting, and a magic show.

Afterwards, Mother Yasoda feeds warm milk to Krsna and sends Him to bed. Meanwhile in Javat, Radharani is dressed in beautiful clothes with colors coordinated to the moon’s phases—wearing white garments during the light moon and blue cloth during the dark moon. Accompanied by Her intimate gopi friends, Sri Radha travels to the assigned kunja (forest grove) on the bank of the Yamuna for Her rendezvous with Syamasundara. Krsna feigns sleep, assigns a couple of boyfriends to guard, locks His door from inside, and secretly slips away to meet Radha.

8) Midnight Pastimes (22:48-03:36)

Singing responsive songs, Srimati Radhika, Sri Krsna and the gopis wander throughout the Vrndavana forest along the Yamuna River. The amazing rasa dance begins with thousands of gopis beside thousands of Krsnas, all whirling and spinning gracefully in indescribably wonderful circular patterns.

Vrnda-devi distributes musical instruments, and hundreds of gopis begin playing complex rhythms on vinas, mrdangas, flutes, finger cymbals, stringed and wind instruments. All the musical instruments blend sweetly together. The tempo gets faster and faster. The tunes become more and more complex. And the dancing becomes more and more frantic, as the gopis sing thousands of varieties of songs. Krsna admires the melodious compositions of all the talented gopis.

Srimati Radharani brings the topmost happiness to Sri Krsna by enacting a special dance that no one else could possibly imitate. After the exhilarating rasa dance Radha, Krsna and the gopis refresh Themselves with inebriating fruit and honey nectar drinks. Then They relax upon luxurious natural beds made from flower petals and lotus stems.

To further mitigate Their transcendental fatigue and to enjoy more pastimes, Radha, Krsna and the gopis dip in the Yamuna for a sportive water fight. Vrnda-devi provides fresh cloth and decorations for Sri Radha and Sri Krsna. She then brings the Divine Couple to Their resting temple, where The enjoy some fresh forest fruits before retiring for pleasure pastimes.

(An excerpt from Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama by Mahanidhi Swami)