Tag Archive for: Mahanidhi Swami

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Tribute: 108 Pandita Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja, November 11, 2018

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Above the tall, wide entrance gate, the Hindi sign reads “Moksa Dhama Radha Kunda”. Following the divine form of Pandita Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja, our raga-marga mentor and friend for 31 years, we and thousands of grateful ones entered the cremation ground to observe the last rites of this great Vraja rasika saint.

The divine body of Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja was removed from the palanquin, placed on the cintamani bhumi of Vrindavana, and covered by a huge mound of gobhir and dried tulasi wood offered by the loving hands of hundreds. As the sun lazily set in the west, the cremation fire was ignited. Thousands of devotees circumambulated Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja’s divine form with hearts heaving in Harinama.

Sri Kajjala Dasji Maharaja sang the maha-mantra in a vilapa raga accented with his tears of anguish. While watching the cremation fire our heart melted into tears. Sweet memories of Babaji Maharaja merged in feelings of intense gratitude. Eternal indebtedness and a strong sense of commitment swelled within our being.

Our heart cried as our mind spoke:
“O Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja! I owe you so much! For the last 30 years, you gave me unbounded mercy, hope and wisdom to illuminate the sacred path of divine greed, and the attainment of the most coveted and cherished seva of Srimati Radharani in the kunjas of Vrindavana. You taught me all I know about ragamayi bhakti. It is you alone who opened my heart to the beautiful inner world of eternal seva to the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani as Her tender loyal maidservant—manjari, kinkari.

“O Babaji Maharaja! Whatever we have written or spoken on raganuga bhakti is just a trickling stream drawn from the vast and powerful Ganga River of your sweeter-than-sweet Radha-Krishna katha that is enriched with your tasty bhavas, and voluminous quotations from sastra to make everything clear and authoritative.
Gratitude toward one’s mentor is measured by how much one remembers him with love and appreciation, serves his desires, and tries one’s best to represent him with all of one’s feelings, words and behavior.

“O Babaji Maharaja! You are a lover of Radha-Madhava, a renunciate, a teacher, a poet, a sad-guru, a wonderful writer, and a uniquely empowered speaker delivering the sweetest of words on the deepest subjects hankered by all true seekers of love divine.

“O Babaji Maharaja! Your sacred speech satisfied the intellect and saturated the heart with that special “Radha madhuri” which you were always relishing within your rasa-filled, most loving and compassionate heart. Standing here before your divine body burning in separation from your dearest Srimati is an empty shell sadly watching the one who significantly changed the course of our devotional life.

“O Babaji Maharaja! Like you, somehow or other Sri Krishna has blessed us with a little talent for writing. As we stand before you watching the rising flames through the screen of our falling tears, we want to make a commitment to you. O Babaji Maharaja! With your mercy and Sri Guru’s grace we will try our best to carry on the tradition of transcendental writing which you did so perfectly for the benefit of bhaktas the world over. And we will try our best to somehow or other live our life fully engaged in the humble service of Srimati Radharani.

“May we never forget those precious moments when we would meet you on the Radha Kunda parikrama marga or Chattikara Road during your late afternoon walks. With your pleasant, warm and friendly smile you would look at us, raise your beautiful, radiant golden hand and say, ‘Is everything all right? Are you fine? Just stay in Radha Kunda and do bhajan!’

“Or those times when your servants would so kindly allow us to immediately meet you to present our latest book. Upon receiving it you would say, ‘O very nice, many devotees will benefit from this.’ Then you would start reading our book, turning several pages as you read with attention and genuine interest. ‘Yes, this book looks good, I will go through it’, you would say encouragingly.

“At another time in a small room upstairs, we met you sitting and writing on a small desk facing Radha Kunda and Radha Gopinatha. We presented you a book and asked for a blessing, “O Babaji Maharaja! We see that you are always writing about the glories of Radha and Krishna and bhakti bhajan. Can you please bless us that we can do the same?” Putting down your pen, you smiled broadly and said positively, ‘Yes, may Srimati Radharani bless you to do like this.’ This happened in about 1995 or so.”

In 1996, to celebrate Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s centennial avirbhava, we donated full sets of his Hindi Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita books to libraries in Vraja Mandala. Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja gladly accepted the books, and wrote a wonderful appreciation of Srila Prabhupada’s books in our records file which was unfortunately lost. Because the Caitanya Caritamrita sets were out of print we could not give them for some time. Whenever we met Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja, he would say in a most understanding and friendly tone, “Mahanidhi baba, what about my Hindi Caitanya Caritamrta set?”

“O Babaji Maharaja! Our last meeting was by far one of the most important events of our devotional life. It was Sunday November 4, 2018 just one week before your divine disappearance. You were doing Radha Kunda parikrama and suddenly you stopped just near the Sita Rama Mandira. Then you sent a sisya with a message to us at Lalita Kunda where we were doing Harinama Sankirtana. The message: “Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja wants to meet you, COME QUICKLY!”

“We ran up to you, fell at your feet and then stood humbly before you. O Babaji Maharaja! You then placed your divine hand firmly on our shoulder like a father, looked deep into our eyes with the most gentle, loving and humble glance that we have ever seen, and spoke with a tender voice choked with tears, ‘May Srimati Radharani enter deep into your heart.’

“Then you lifted your hand, placed it back on our shoulder and said affirmatively, ‘And always stay there!’ Overwhelmed by your nectarean words, we spontaneously cried and fell at your lotus feet.”

Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja then continued his parikarama, and we returned to the Harinama Sankirtana with this most incredible blessing locked in our heart forever!
All glories to Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja!
All glories to Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja!
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Siddha Pranali in ISKCON

Mahanidhi Swami

In 1973, Srila Prabhupada and his learned disciple Sri Hrsikesananda dasji worked together to produce an English edition of Sri Rupa Gosvami’s Upadeshamrita (Nectar of Instruction). Before meeting Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur, Hrsikesananda dasji had spent some time living in a Gaudiya Math temple.

At that time, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Hrsikesananda dasji had a most IMPORTANT AND TODAY MOST RELEVANT DISCUSSION. Srila Prabhupada revealed some extremely important truths for everyone to understand. All our readers are humbly asked to read, reread and deeply think about this most important and monumental conversation between Srila Prabhupada and his dear disciple.

In summary, Srila Prabhupada said, “The Guru gives the siddha deha to his disciple; raganuga-bhakti and manasi seva are completely bonafide and correct; and the relationship between Sri Guru and his/her disciple is eternal!”

Now here is the entire conversation downloaded from I-net.

A MONUMENTAL CONVERSATION

SRILA PRABHUPADA: So what you have learned in Vrindavana?

HD: About Nitya-lila, Siddha-pranali, and asta-kaliya-lila-smaran. Right, Gurudeva?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: YES, but who is siddha?

HD: One out of millions of seekers, but isn’t nitya lila our goal?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: Yes, we are the followers of Rupa-Raghunatha. This is the highest understanding, to be dasanudas in Radha-Krishna’s lila.

HD: But what about siddha-pranali? How to qualify? Who will give?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: GURU WILL GIVE. You just chant Hare Krishna.

HD: How to receive this eternal information about siddha pranali, Gurudeva?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: GURU WILL GIVE. There is no material consideration about Guru is here or there. When you reach that level, Guru will give.

HD: Gurudeva, what about manasi-seva, like the Brahmin who burnt his finger in meditation [while mentally offering kheer to his Thakuraji]? Isn’t that bhajan?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: Krishna makes no distinction. But if you serve Krishna by mind [manasi seva], Krishna will accept. THAT IS SURE!

HD: Gurudeva, whenever I mention anything about raganuga bhakti, many of my God brothers get angry and say it is all a bunch of Gaudiya Math nonsense, and you never taught that!

SRILA PRABHUPADA: Everything is coming, they will also know it.

HD: Gurudeva, what about raganuga bhakti? What is the eternal relationship between us (disciples) and you?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: [Quoting the last pada of the famous prayer to Sri Guru, nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai, ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya]

Srila Prabhupada said, “tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam, The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis. So the Guru is serving under his master and you all [my disciples] can do likewise. In Nitya-lila every disciple thinks like that, ‘my master is the most dear to Radha-Krishna.’”

HD: So that means that my relationship with you is eternal, that it will continue in Nitya-lila in the sweetness of Gokula Vrindavana?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: YES!

Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Siddha Pranali ki jai! Sri Guru ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Srimad Bhagavatam & Seven Siddha Dehas

Mahanidhi Swami

Did you know that not less than 7 siddha dehas are clearly described in the SrimadBhagavatam? Yes, it’s absolutely true—confirmed by the highest authority: the Bhagavata, which is the topmost, perfect shastra pramanam, amala Purana and the Pāramahaṁsa-saṁhitā.

Whether one is a Sri Krishna krpa-patra or a spiritually perfected bhakta sadhaka, he/she WILL ATTAIN a beautiful and divine siddha svarupa or SIDDHA DEHA. By the mercy of Sri Guru and Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the following personalities attained siddha dehas and went eternally to the spiritual sky:

  1. BALAK NARADA MUNI

evaṁ kṛṣṇa mater brahman, nāsaktas yāma lātmanaḥ
kālaḥ prā durabhūt kale, taḍit saudāmanī yathā

“O Brahmin Vyasa! Giving up all material attachments, I focused my pure mind completely on Sri Krishna and gave up my material body. Instantly, without any time interval at all, I received my spiritual body (siddha deha), like lightning flashing simultaneously with lightning.

prayujyamāne mayitāṁ, śuddhāṁ bhāgavatīṁ tanum
ārabdha karma nirvāṇo, nyapatat pāñca-bhautikaḥ

“Having been awarded a transcendental body befitting an associate of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu, my material body made of five material elements and my karmas fell away.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.6.27-28)

Sridhar Swami tika:

The verse word prayujyamāne means that the siddha deha was personally brought by Bhagavan Sri Vishnu [from Vaikuntha] and given or awarded to Narada Muni at death.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravartitika:

Previously, after once giving His sakshad darshana to the boy sadhaka, Narada Muni, Bhagavan Sri Vishnu disappeared and spoke invisibly from the sky (akashvani), saying, “O Narada, when you give up this body of low birth, you will become My associate.” (SB 1.6.23) Here in verse 28, Sri Vishnu fulfills His promise as Narada Muni simultaneously gives up his material body and receives the spiritual body, siddha deha.

  1. YUDDHISTHIRA & PANDAVAS

“Hearing the arrangements of Sri Krishna and the proper situation of the Yadu family, without others knowing, Yudhiṣṭhira fixed his mind on attaining Krishna’s abode.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.32)

SrilaVisvanathaCakravartitika:

The word svah in this verse (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.32) usually refers to the celestial heavens, but here it means the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, as proven four chapters later (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.20), which says, “sad yojahur bhagavat pārśva kāmāḥ, “The Pandavas attained Krishna’s abode in the spiritual sky.”

  1. PUTANA RAKSHASI

Just see the inconceivable and most astonishing compassion of Bhagavan Sri Krishna! A baby-killing, blood-sucking witch came to kill Him, yet Sri Krishna mercifully gave Putana a spiritual body as a nursemaid [dhatri] assistant to Yashodamaya in GolokaVrindavana.

aho bakī yaṁ stana kāla kūṭaṁ,
jighāṁs ayāpāya yadap yasādhvī
lebhe gatiṁ dhātry ucitāṁ ta tonyaṁ,
kaṁvā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema

Sri Uddhavji said, “O! The most evil Pūtanā, intent on killing Krishna, offered her poisonous breast to Krishna, yet she attained the position of a nurse in the spiritual world. Who else can be as merciful as Bhagavan Sri Krishna? Thus I surrender to Krishna!” (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.2.23]

  1. THE PERFECTED SADHAKA

Here Bhagavata describes the Vishnu/Krishna premi-sadhaka (anuragi Vaisnava) who experiences ecstatic symptoms of divine love just before leaving the material body to attain Vaikuntha and a spiritual form, siddha deha.

yac ca vrajantya-nimiṣām-ṛṣabh-ānuvṛttyā,
dūre-yamāh-yuparinaḥ-spṛhaṇī-yaśīlāḥ
bhartur-mithaḥ-suyaś-asaḥ-kathan-ānurāga,
vaiklav-yabāṣpa-kala-yāpulakī-kṛtāṅgāḥ

Sri Brahmaji said, “The dedicated followers of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu have transcended the rules and regulations (durayama) of yoga meditation and other austerities and even surpassed us. Possessing the most excellent qualities, they cry incessantly due to their intense attraction for Hari-katha and then enter Vaikuntha [which means attaining a siddha deha].” (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.25)

  1. BALAK DHRUVA MAHARAJA

Immediately on the spot, by the inconceivable shakti of Sri Vishnu, Balak Dhruva’s human body underwent transfiguration and became a spiritual body in this most amazing chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam.

parīt-yābhyarcya-dhiṣ-ṇyāgryaṁ, pārṣad-āva-bhivandya ca
iyeṣa tad adhiṣṭhātuṁ, bibhrad-rūpaṁ-hiraṇmayam

“Before boarding the transcendental Vaikuntha airplane, Balak Dhruva circumambulated and worshiped it; offered respects to the Vishnu parshads (associates); and assumed a golden form. Then that plane delivered him to Dhruvaloka, an outpost of Vaikuṇṭha within the material atmosphere.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.29)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravart itika:

Balak Dhruva worshipped the Vaikuntha airplane by offering flowers dipped in chandan while saying “Bhagavad vimānāya-namaḥ.”

  1. AJAMILA THE SINNER

After 80 years of grossly sinful life, the Brahmin Ajamila was saved from hell by Bhagavan Sri Vishnu. Then he went to Haridvartirtha to perform intense Vishnu bhakti bhajana. At death, he got a siddha svarupa [siddha deha] and liberation to Vaikuntha.

hitvā-kalevaraṁ-tīrthe, gaṅgā-yāṁ-darśan-ādanu
sadyaḥ-svarūpaṁ-jagṛhe, bhagavat-pārśva-vartinām

“After seeing the Vishnuduttas [messengers of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu], Ajamila gave up his body at Haridvara by Ma Ganga, and immediately attained a spiritual body as an associate of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu.”

Śrīnātha Cakravartī (Mahaprabhuparshad and Sri Advaita Prabhu shishya) said, the verse word SADYA means a seamless transfer; it occurred immediately without any break.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das:

The Sanskrit word meanings in this verse are crystal clear.

Sadya; immediately Ajamila got it i.e. siddha deha.

Sva-rūpam; means his own individual spiritual form i.e. the siddha deha or “the siddha svarupa” as Sri RupaGosvami describes it in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu.

Jagṛhe; means Ajamila adopted or assumed it.

Bhagavat-pārśva-vartinām; means Ajamila attained a spiritual body as an associate of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu i.e. samipya-mukti.

  1. GAJENDRA THE ELEPHANT

A couple of boys, a fiendish witch and a fallen papi Brahmin all got the mercy of Sri Krishna and attained spiritual bodies, siddha dehas, in the spiritual realm. Now just observe how the line of divine krpa extends even to beasts, as Sri Vishnu liberates a suffering jungle elephant.

yaṁ dharma-kāmārtha-vimukti-kāmā,
bhajan-taiṣṭāṁ-gatim-āpnuvanti
kiṁ-cā-śiṣorāt-yapi-deham-avyayaṁ,
karotu me ‘dabhra-dayo-vimokṣaṇam

Hati Gajendra prayed, “Persons desiring dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa worship Bhagavan Sri Vishnu/Krishna, attain assorted material benedictions, the treasure of prema and a spiritual body too. May that unlimitedly merciful Bhagavan Sri Vishnu/Krishna also liberate me from samsara and give me an imperishable spiritual body [dehamavyayaṁ], siddha deha.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.3.19)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti tika:

Devotees having material desires also serve Sri Krishna. They desire dharma, kāma, artha and liberation which they get by worshipping Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Besides that, they also receive the most cherished goal of Krishna prema.

The Bhagavata says, “Bhagavan Sri Vishnu certainly gives the objects desired by His devotees. However, He gives them in such a way that the devotee, after enjoying them, will not ask for them again. Even though they don’t desire them, Sri Krishna lovingly gives His lotus feet to such motivated worshipers. (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.19.27)

Bhagavan Sri Vishnu gives the desired material objects, and also gives them a spiritual body as He did with Dhruva and others. Thus Sri Vishnu is unlimitedly merciful.

mmgd: The siddha deha that Gajendra prayed for here was attained in the next chapter of SrimadBhagavatam. This is a very very important point for sadhakas of bhakti. Following Gajendra’s example of intentionally praying to Sri Krishna for a siddha deha, we too should pray to Sri Krishna to kindly and mercifully reveal our personal siddha dehas.

However, unlike Gajendra, who seeing his life about to end in the jaws of the crocodile of death, prayed once at death to attain a siddha deha, sincere sadhakas SHOULD PRAY EVERDAY to Sri Krishna to please reveal their individual and beautiful siddha dehas right here and right now.

gajendro-bhagavat-sparśād, vimukto ‘jñāna-bandhanāt
prāpto-bhagavato-rūpaṁ, pīta-vāsāś-catur-bhujaḥ

“Because Bhagavan Sri Vishnu directly touched HatiGajendra, the elephant was totally freed from ignorance and samsara. Gajendra attained the Vaikuntha liberation of svarupya-mukti, i.e. the same transcendental bodily features as Sri Vishnu with four hands and a brilliant yellow dress.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.6.)

Conclusion:

Can anyone imagine the tremendous power, beauty and sweetness of bhakti in any form, be it karma/jnanamishra bhakti, shuddha-bhakti or even deceitful devotion masking murderous intents? Disregarding all mixed motives, Bhagavan Sri Vishnu/Krishna kindly purifies His worshipers, humbly fulfills their material desires, and gives them eternal spiritual forms in Vaikuntha even if they aren’t desiring them.

Children, sinful Brahmins, sincere sadhakas, prakrta-bhaktas, murderous witches and even beasts like elephants—all get the mercy and attain the spiritual sky by the infinite, divine compassion of Sri Vishnu/Krishna.

“O Sri Krishna, remembering all these success stories of Srimad Bhagavatam, I too hope one day to receive a drop of Your mercy, the embrace of Your love, and a spiritual form too. Please, O Sri Krishna, please, O please, don’t neglect this one piteously crying in Your divya dhama!” (verses from madan-gopal blogspot)

Sri Krishna krpa ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Sri Radha in Bhagavata First Verse

Mahanidhi Swami

Eyes dipped in Krishna prema and mind suffused with rasa tattva and siddhanta gives Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti the power and vision to see Srimati Radharani EVERYWHERE, even in the first verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam Canto One Verse One.

janmādy asya yato ‘nvayad itaraś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ
tene bhrama hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ
tejo vāri-mṛdaṁ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ‘mṛśā
dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1)

Translation:

“O Bhagavan Sri Krishna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personal God, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Bhagavan Sri Krishna because Krishna is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of creation, sustenance, and destruction of the manifested universes. Although Sri Krishna is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, Krishna is independent because there is no other cause beyond Krishna.

“It is Krishna only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. Sri Krishna bewilders even the great munis and devatas, just as one sees water in fire or land on water. Because of Krishna alone the material universes appear factual although they are just temporary manifestations caused by the three modes of nature. I therefore meditate upon Bhagavan Sri Krishna who eternally exists in His transcendental abode, which is forever free from all material illusions. And I meditate upon Sri Krishna because Krishna is the Absolute Truth.”

This is the most popular translation of the Bhagavata verse one. But now just marvel at the following masterpiece of enlightened comments on this verse by our great rasika Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana acarya, Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti:

“This verse means may we meditate (dhimahi) upon Sri Krishna from whom appears the highest adi rasa of śṛṅgāra-rasa (janma ādyasya). By meeting (anvayāt) with and separation (itarataḥ) from Radharani and the Vraja-gopis this adi rasa (adyasya) i.e. srngara-madhurya rasa is accomplished. In fact, the Bhagavatam itself is the scriptural form of madhura-rasa (pibata bhāgavatam rasam Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.3)

“Aspiring for the highest goal, we meditate on Radha and Krishna from whom arises the height of madhura-rasa. Giving up all other gopī lovers (itarataḥ), Krishna followed Radha alone and became subservient (anvayāt) to Radha.

“Among all the gopīs, Sri Krishna experiences the summit of sweetness in the company the principal gopi, Srimati Vrndavanesvari. Because Krishna is a dhīra-lalita hero, Radhika alone remains with Her lover (svarāṭ) as a svādhīna-kāntā, a lover who controls Her beloved Sri Krishna.

“Abhijnah svarat means that Sri Krishna is a completely transcendental, independent gallant lover skilled in all nuances of rasa. The word abhijnah (omniscient) means Sri Krishna has complete knowledge and skill in everything suitable for rasa such as the sixty four arts. The word svarat means that unlike material heroes, who are affected by time and karma, Sri Krishna, the sole enjoyer of transcendental rasa, madhurya-rasa, is absolutely independent and transcendental.

“The phrase tene bhrama hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye means that Sri Krishna alone transferred the truth (brahma) about ādi-rasa (madhura rasa) into the mind and heart (hṛdā) of Bharata Muni (ādi-kavaye), the original exponent of material rasa. The Sanskrit dictionary says the word brahma can mean truth, Vedas etc.

“Or this phrase means that Krishna imparted this madhura rasa tattva into the heart of Suka Muni. Thus whenever advanced devotees (yat surayah) read the Srimad Bhagavatam, which is packed with rasa, they faint (muhyanti) in ecstasy from tasting it and undergo transformations (sattvik vikaras), just as fire, water and earth reverse their properties (tejo vāri-mṛdaṁ yathā vinimayo).

“For instance the moon gave up its quality of moving and became stunned like earth upon seeing the rāsa-līlā of Radha and Krishna at Candra Sarovara in Govardhana. Water turns solid like earth upon hearing Krishna’s flute and solid stones melt into water.

The phrase tri-sargo ‘mṛśā dhāmnā svena sadā means the creation of Krishna’s three classes of lovers: the Vraja gopis, Dvaraka queens and the Vaikuntha Laksmis.

“Satyam param dhimahi means we meditate upon Radha and Krishna, the topmost truth (satyam) with transcendental forms (param). Thus the worship Radha-Krishna Yugala is shown as the topic of verse one of the Srimad Bhagavatam.”

Radha-Krishna ki jai! Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Vraja Seva & Bhajan Gives 1,000 x 1,000 Benefits

Mahanidhi Swami

Although it is a popular notion that one will suffer 1000 X reactions for any offenses committed in Vrindavana (aparadhas to Thakuraji, Guru, Vaisnavas, Nama, Vrajavasis, Yatris, and the dhama itself, this fact is not stated anywhere in the Srimad Bhagavatam, or any of the Gaudiya Vaisnava Goswami granthas.

In this regard, Srila Prabhupada said, “It is the verdict of Vedic culture that one must follow the authorities. Krishna also said this in the Bhagavad-gita (16.24), tasmad shastras pramanam te: ‘Whatever you do, you must follow the shastras.’ Otherwise it is not bona fide. So we cannot avoid shastras.” (751103CC.BOM)

The Srimad Bhagavatam ( 7.14.30-33) which is the shastra pramana, amala Purana for the entire Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya says: “The extremely, sacred transcendental pilgrimage sites (tirthas, dhamas) of MATHURA/VRINDAVAN, Pushkara, Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prayaga, Dvaraka, Varanasi, Badarikashrama, Citrakuta…etc., and places where Radha-Krishna murtis are worshiped are the purest places on earth (punya tamah deshah). If one wants to advance in spiritual life, one should visit these transcendental holy places again and again.

shreyas kamo hy abhikshnashah, dharmo hy atrehitah pumsam, sahasradhi phalodayah sahasra adhi  

“All good activities like dana (giving charity), tapa (observing fasts and austerities) puja, punya karmas, Thakuraji puja, and Radha-Krishna bhakti bhajan performed in these sacred place give MORE THAN a thousand times the result of the same activities performed in other places.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.33)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti tika: Acts performed in these places give a thousand times more result than at other places.

Vraja vasa, Harinama japa, kirtan and Krishna lila smaran ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Radha Kunda Appears! March 31, 2018

Mahanidhi Swami

Since every pastime of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is eternal, in some other universe Radha-kunda will appear at midnight on Chaitra Purnima (March 26, 2018) before the amazed eyes of Radhika-Shyama, and all their dearest sakhi/manjaris.

Sri Jiva Goswamipada proves that Chaitra Purnima (March 31, 2018), is the real and actual appearance day of Sri Radha-kunda in his tika (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.45.3): “Bhagavan Sri Krishna killed Arishta on the full moon day of Caitra month (caitra-paurnamasyam arishta-vadhah) when Krishna was eleven [and then Radha-Krishna manifested Shyama-kunda and Radha-kunda].” That wonderful appearance lila, described in the Vishnu Purana, will conclude this article.

In other words, the actual appearance day of Sri Radha-kunda is Chaitra Purnima at midnight. I know a few bhavuka bhaktas that celebrate this wonderful lila every year on Caitra Purnima with puja and a midnight bath in Sri Kunda. So why don’t you too please attend!

So what about the Radha Kunda Bahulastami midnight snana in Kattika month? Is this a required niyama for Gaudiya Vaisnavas? The answer is ABSOLUTELY NO!!!

Why? Because No Gaudiya Vaisnava granthas or Acharya mahajanas mention midnight bathing in Karttika. Nevertheless, Gaudiya Vaisnavas must and DO take bath on the DAY of Kattika Bahulastami to honor Karttiki-devi Srimati Radharani, Radha Kunda, Sri Rupa Goswamipada, and the Padma Purana. The proof or praman for the necessary daytime snana is this:

In his Mathura Mahatyam, Sri Rupa Gosvami quotes the Padma Purana Karttika Mahatmya (v. 420):

govardhane girau ramye,   radha kundam priyam hareh
karttike bahulashtamyam,   tatra snatva hareh priyah

“Near the delightful Mount Govardhana is Sri Hari”s beloved Radha-kunda. One who bathes in Radha-kunda on the DAY OF Bahulastami (Karttika krsna paksa) will become dear to Sri Hari.”

Certainly Gaudiya Vaisnavas want to become dear to Sri Hari, and especially dear to His most beloved Haripriya Swamini Sri Radhe, so they will all bathe in Radha Kunda on this auspicious, transcendental day.

Summary:

Karunamayi Prema pradata Srimati Radharani is compassionately bestowing “DOUBLE MERCY TO GAUDIYAS” because we get to worship Sri Radha as Sri Radha Kunda by taking at least TWO YEARLY BATHS: 1. Chaitra Purnima MIDNIGHT Snana on Radha Kunda Appearance Day and; 2. Karttika Bahulastami DAYTIME snana.

So why do lacs of people take Radha-kunda bath on Bahulastami midnight? Barren North Indian married couples worship a local fertility devata named Ahouri in hopes of getting a child. The puja rites prescribe many things culminating with a midnight bath in Radha-kunda.

For Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Bahulastami is also significant. In 1515, Sri Chaitanya came to Vraja Mandala. Mahaprabhu visited all the tirthas in Mathura, the 12 forests of Vrindavana, Nandgrama, Pavana Sarovar, and did Govardhana Parikrama just at the beginning of Karttika month. On Karttika “Bahulastami”, Sriman Mahaprabhu DISCOVERED RADHA KUNDA.

This fact has been established by hundreds of years of sadhu/mahajana vani, and the histories told by the Vrajavasis (loka grantheshu vividheshu/”radha-krsna ganoddesh dipika” v. 4, Sri Rupa Goswamipada)

It seems that over time, the Gaudiya’s daytime Bahulastami snana merged with the grhasta’s midnight in Radha-kunda, resulting in Gaudiyas thinking that they are bathing at midnight to celebrate the appearance of Radha-kunda.

This idea is absolutely incorrect. Because of personal concerns, seasonal conveniences, and most importantly the time factor, the truth concerning various events, especially religious celebrations becomes covered and lost.

Surely, during the time of Sri Jiva Goswamipada (15-16th century) and up to the 17th century with Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti, all Gaudiya Vaisnavas observed the real and true Radha Kunda Appearance Day by bathing in Radha Kunda at midnight on Chaitra Purnima.

But as was say the time factor, the mixing of different local religious rituals, and Karttika Yatri concerns have distorted the truth and caused confusion among most Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Now is the time for the sunlight of our Gaudiya shastra siddhanta to shine through the dense cloud covering of time, distortion and misconception.

So anyone who can walk, drive or fly, we humbly beg you to come ti Govardhana Maharaja for a holy Midnight dip in Sri Radha-kunda Dhama under the Vasanta rasa-filled full moon night of Caitra TO REJOICE OVER THE ACTUAL APPEARANCE DAY OF SRI RADHA KUNDA!

Radha Kunda Appearance Lila: SRI VISHNU PURANA

In his Sarartha Darshini tikas (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.36.16) Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti quotes the Radha-kunda appearance pastime from Vishnu Purana, which describes a joking conversation between Radha-Madhava after Krishna killed the Arishta demon bull on Chaitra Purnima during ardha pradosh kala i.e. about 9:30 p.m.

Vishnu Purana: “The innocent young gopis say, “Ah, Krishna, don”t touch us now, O killer of a bull! Alas, even though Arishta was a terrible demon, still he was posing as a bull, who represents dharma, so You will have to undergo atonement, just as Lord Indra did after killing Vrtrasura. But how can You purify Yourself without going to the trouble of visiting every single holy place in the three worlds?”

Krishna: “Why should I have to wander throughout the entire universe? I will immediately summon all the countless pilgrimage places here and take My bath in them. Just watch!” With this, Sri Mukunda strikes His left heel on the ground.

Then Krishna says, “Just see sakhis! The Patala Ganga has come!” Then all the holy places magically manifest before Mukunda.

Proudly, Priyatama says, “O gopis, just see all the holy places are now here!”

Gopis: “No, we don”t see any holy places. What are You talking about anyway.”

Then each holy tirtha joins their palms and proclaims: “I am the salt ocean.” “I am the ocean of milk.” “I am the Amara-dirghika.” I am the river Shona. “I am the Sindhu. “I am the Tamraparni. “I am the holy place Pushkara.” “I am the river Sarasvati.”“ And we are the Godavari, Yamuna and Reva rivers and the triveni of Prayaga. Just see our waters!” ”

Sri Krishna then takes a “purifying bath” in all those tirtha waters while arrogantly taunting the gopis: “Bho, bho sakhis! I have produced a pond containing all the holy places, whereas you gopis have never done any pious acts to please Brahmaji”

Sri Radha boldly replies, “Just watch Shyamasundara! I will create an even more beautiful pond than Yours. Turning to Her confidantes, Radhika says, “Hey Sakhis! Get to work!”

In a ditch created by the hooves of the huge asura, the gopis start digging a kunda with their golden kankana, bangles. Within an hour, the expert damsels of Vraja manifest a most majestic and beautiful divine kunda.

Completely astonished at their feat, Sri Krishna says, “O Priyaji! You and Your sakhis can fill Your lake with the holy waters of mine.”

“NO! NO! NO! Impossible”, replies Radharani, “We will not even touch, what to speak about taking Your water which is completely contaminated with Your terrible sin of killing a cow. I have unlimited sakhis who can easily bring billions of pots of pure water from Manasi Ganga. And thus the fame of My kunda i.e. Radha Kunda will be unequalled!”

Bhagavan Sri Krishna then gestures to a celestial representative of all the holy places gathered there. Arising from Shyama kunda, that devata bows to Vrshabhanunandini, and then prays to Swamini Radha with folded palms and tear-filled eyes:

“O Devi! Brahmaji, Shivaji and Lakshmi can never understand the fathomless depth of Your glories. Only Sri Krishna knows, and thus with His own hand He humbly wipes off the perspiration from Your face when You are tired. And Krishna always thrills in delight whenever He gets the chance to wash Your beautiful lotus feet and fasten Your ankle bells. In fact, Shyama feels supremely fortunate simply by touching the tips of Your toes.

“It is on Krishna’s command that we are now living in this lake created by one stroke of Krishna’s heel. Alas! The tree of our cherished desire will only bear fruit if You are pleased and grant us Your merciful glance!”

Sri Radha: “Well, then what do you want?”

In unison, all the sacred places plead, “Our lives will be successful if we can come and fill the wonderful lake You have manifested. This is the only benediction we desire.”

Casting a side-long glance toward Shyama, Srimati Radharani replies to the sacred celestials: “Oh, certainly, please come!”

Then all the holy rivers and lakes collected in Sri Shyama-kunda forcibly break the boundary separating the two kunds so they can swiftly fill Sri Radha-kunda with their sanctifying waters.”

Sri Hari: “O Priyatama! On earth and throughout the universe, Your Radha-kunda will become supremely more famous than Mine! And I will personally come here daily to bathe and enjoy water pastimes with You and all My preyasis. Indeed, Your beautiful Sri Kunda is as dear to Me as You!”

Srimati Radharani: “O Prana Priyatama! I don”t even care if You vanquish hundreds of Arishtas here, Still I will come here every day and bathe in Your Krishna Kunda i.e. Shyama Kunda.

“Furthermore, I proclaim forevermore that anyone who has intense devotion for My Sri Kunda, and then bathes or resides here, he or she will surely become very dear to Me.”

Then that very night [Caitra Purnima], Sri Krishna and the Vraja-gopis happily bathe, laugh, splash and play in Shyama-Radha Kundas. Afterwards, They all dance and spin, thrill and rejoice in Their Vasanta Purnima maha rasotsavam on the banks of Radha-kunda.

At that astonishing and most auspicious time, the lightning strike of Srimati hits the Krishna cloud to create a torrential downpour of blissful prema to flood the three worlds with Their playfully divine lila-rasa:

krishna ambudah maha rasa harsha varsha, sri radhika pravara vidyud,
trai lokya madhya vitati krta divya kirti! (Thus concludes Vishnu Purana)

Caitra Purnima Appearance Night of Radha-kunda ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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How to Serve Radha Kunda?

Mahanidhi Swami

The Puranas, the Gaudiya Vaisnava sastras and acaryas like Sri Rupa Goswamipada, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswamipada, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti and Srila Prabhupada all mention the magnificent, beneficial and sweet glories of ati ati pavitram and mangalam transcendental dhama called Sri Radha Kunda.

In Mathura Mahatmya (v. 421-22), Sri Rupa Goswamipada quotes the Padma Purana: “Among unlimited number of Vraja-gopis, there is one i.e. Srimati Radharani who is the dearest beloved of Sri Krishna. Just as Radha is Krishna’s dearest, similarly, Radha-kunda is also most dear to Bhagavan Sri Krishna.”

sarva-gopisu saivaika, visnor atyanta-vallabha
atha radha priya visnos, tasyah kundam priyam tatha

Since Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda are saksad, directly and personally Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, the obvious first answer to the question, “how to serve Radha Kunda”, is to directly serve Shyama and Radha Kundas by speaking and writing about Their glories, offering arati and chanting astakams and prayers exalting the kundas, parikrama, sweeping, taking snana, bringing friends for darsana, seva and snana etc. More ideas listed below.

In Mathura Mahatyam (v. 420), Sri Rupa Goswamipada quotes the Padma Purana, Karttika-mahatmya: “If you BATHE IN RADHA KUNDA on Bahulastami, you will become very dear to Bhagavan Sri Hari, karttike bahulastamyam, tatra snatva hareh priyah.” Please note that the verse does not specifically say anything about bathing at midnight.

Sri Rupa Goswamipada says (Upadesamrta 11), “If you just take ONE BATH in Radha-kunda, then that Krishna prema [like Sri Radha and the gopis have] will manifest in your heart, tat premedam sakrd api sarah snatur aviskaroti!

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami says, “If anyone, qualified or not (jana kascit), serves Radha-kunda, he/she will obtain the transcendental creeper of Krishna prema, bearing the flowers of radha-dasya i.e. service to my Isvari Sri Radha.” (Stavavali, Radha-kunda astakam v.5)

api jana iha kascid yasya seva-prasadaih
pranaya-sura-lata syat tasya gosthendra-sunoh
sapadi kila mad-isa dasya puspa prasasya

Srila Prabhupada said, “By serving Radha-kunda, you will get an opportunity to become an assistant of Srimati Radharani under the eternal guidance of the gopis [means dasi manjari]” (Nectar of Instruction 11 pur.)

Another way to “serve Radha-kunda” is to serve the Kundavasis or full time residents of Sri Radha-kunda Dhama. Many types of Radha-Krishna bhaktas, local and foreign born, are staying here, including Brahmins and Pandas, Vrajavasis, Babajis, Sannyasis, Widows, Grhastas and single persons. Serving Radha-kunda certainly includes serving Srimati Radharani’s dear kunda nivasis by donating money, cloth, blankets, books, utensils, umbrellas, shoes, sweets, grains, dal, ghee, oil, sugar, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Radha Kundavasi service is mentioned in the ancient Padma Purana, Karttika-mahatmya quoted by Sri Rupa Goswamipada in his Mathura Mahatmya (v. 421):

“You should please and satisfy the HUMANS, DEVOTEES and BRAHMINS staying at Radha-kunda.”

naro bhakto bhaved vipras, tat-sthitasya pratosanam

So serving Radha-kunda means serving the place which is Srimati Radharani Herself, and the people staying here—the Radha-kunda nivasis.

19 Ways to Serve Radha-kunda and Vrndavana

Sri Krishna, His associates and His holy abode of Vraja are all beautiful and blissful, sweet, charming, purifying and worshipable. However, it is very very difficult and practically impossible to directly see and intimately serve Radha and Krishna. It is the rare fortune of the premi bhaktas.

However, many bhaktas get the fortune to visit, see and live in Sridhama Vrindavana. So whenever you visit Radha-kunda or Vrndavana, please take advantage of the opportunity to directly see, worship and serve Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in Their dhama-svarupa by performing the following wonderful sevas.

By serving Sri Radha-kunda and Sri Krishna’s Holy Dhama, you will become free from janam grama and indriya grama, attachment to your birthplace and material body made of senses (indriya). You can do the following dhama-sevas alone or with kindred spirits. The saying goes, “Cleaning Krishna’s dhama removes krodha and kama.”

  1. Sweep, wash and clean the footpaths, steps of kundas and sarovaras, parikrama paths, lila sthalis and old temples.
  2. Donate money to repair and maintain old temples, especially at specific lila sthalis.
  3. Visit each holy place with great respect, eagerness and enthusiasm to hear its glories and also give donations to the temple pujaris and pandas (brahmana guides).
  4. Show the utmost respect to Vrajavasis, temple pujaris and pandas (brahmana guides) at each holy place.
  5. Give donations of food (sweets, fruits, juices, grains etc), cloth and money to children and needy Vrajavasis.
  6. Wherever possible plant fragrant flowering trees, creepers and plants to beautify lila sthalis, temples and other open areas of the holy dhama.
  7. Don’t pollute Vrajadhama with plastic bags, bottles, containers and other non-biodegradable articles.
  8. Regularly and respectfully bathe in sacred waters and worship them. And also worship all the Deities with at least a ghee lamp and some incense.
  9. Help the Vrajavasis who are performing Nama and Dhama seva.
  10. Offer dandavats and roll in the dust of all lila sthalis.
  11. Glorify the presiding Deities at each temple and lila sthali with sweet kirtana, katha and bhajanas.
  12. Hear or read about Krishna’s lilas at every holy place you visit.
  13. Also ask the pujari or panda to tell you some transcendental pastimes of Krishna.
  14. Never visit Vraja without hearing Hari-katha from devotional Vrajavasis.
  15. Inspire and help others to visit or live in Vraja dhama.
  16. Speak, write, make videos and print books about the glories of Vraja dhama.
  17. Every day in Vraja rise early and chant, sing, hear and read the glories of Radha-Govinda with a fixed vow.
  18. Never ever think, hear or speak, criticism or gossip about any Vrajavasis.
  19. When not in Vraja dhama, try to remember the Vraja deities, lila sthalis, pastimes, Hari-katha and devotees you experienced there.

The most important seva, which is the main part of all the preceding nineteen sevas, is to always chant the ambrosial name of Srimati Radharani.

Vrajavasis say, “Radhe Radhe Bol, Vrindavana Mein Dol”, which means, If you want to live and wander in Vrindavana, then always chant “Radhe! Radhe!”

Shyama Kunda Radha Kunda ki jai! Sri Dhama Vrindavana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Real Radha Kunda Appearance Day March 31, 2018

Mahanidhi Swami

There is an amazing story behind this. The day before Caitra Purnima 2017, I met with 108 Pandit Sri Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaja and had the following conversation:

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das: “Gurudeva, since Sri Sanatana Goswami says in (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.45.3) Vaisnava Toshani tika that today, Caitra Purnima midnight is the ACTUAL AND REAL APPEARANCE DAY OF RADHA KUNDA, should we bathe tonight to honor that wonderful, most merciful lila of Radha and Krishna?”

Gurudeva: (replied affirmatively while looking straight into my eyes from about one foot away), “Yes, you should!”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das: “Should I tell all your disciples about this?

Gurudeva: “Yes, get a microphone, go around Radha-kunda and tell everyone.”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das: “Really, Gurudeva, are you serious that I should do that?”

Gurudeva: “Yes, because the Karttika Bahulastami snana is NOT THE APPEARANCE DAY OF Radha-kunda. In Mathura Mahatmyam, Sri Rupa Gosvamipada says that devotees should BATHE ON THE KARTTIKA DAY OF BAHULASTAMI just to please Bhagavan Sri Hari. It says nothing about appearance day.

“According to our Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana and supreme praman, Srimad Bhagavatam, today at midnight Caitra Purnima IS THE REAL APPEARANCE DAY OF SRI RADHA KUNDA!”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das: (Since Gurudeva is 99 years old, I never expected him to say yes), but nevertheless, I curiously asked him the next question): “Gurudeva, would you like to join us and take Radha-kunda midnight snana tonight?”

Gurudeva: (Much to my surprise), Pandit Baba looked at me innocently like a child and said enthusiastically, “YES, I’LL WILL ALSO TAKE MIDNIGHT SNANA!”

And that’s how our first annual Caitra Purnima Radha-kunda Appearance Festival started. On behalf of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Gurudeva and all the faithful followers of the six Goswamis, we invite all the devotees to come bathe at midnight on every Caitra Purnima to celebrate the actual, real APPEARANCE DAY OF RADHA KUNDA.

Radha-kunda Annual Avirbhava Mahotsava ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Mother Cow and Sun Planet

Mahanidhi Swami

Because we are all worshipers and aspiring pure loving devotees of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Gopala, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, this news will deepen, refresh and inspire our loving mood and service toward Gaumata, the eternally pure and sacred Mother Cow.

Although we cannot vouch for the authenticity of the following information, we have often heard this “cow katha” from Gaumata sevakas in Vraja Mandala. Read it, be amazed, and immediately bow down to the next cow you see. And if Gaumata mercifully allows you, then affectionately rub her all-auspicious and purifying divine back.

If you try to always see, remember, touch, respect, serve and love Gaumata, then Sri Sri Govinda Gopala will respect you and love you in return. Always remembers Sri Krishna’s immortal words: “Love Me—Love My Cows!”

Post from I-Net:

Gaumata and Surydeva

(rewritten by Mahanidhi Madan Gopal das)

“Unique among all the different types of animals, the body of our sacred Gaumata has the power to absorb and utilize the auspicious health giving rays of the Sun planet and all the naksatras, celestial stars. Wherever Gaumata stays, one will find the power and influence of all the 27 naksatras or stars like Aswini, Hasta, Svati Anuradha, Citra, Rohini, Dhanistha, etc.

This means that all the benevolent blessings of these divine beings i.e. devis or naksatras, “stars” and their husband Sri Candradeva (the Moon planet) are within the sacred cow, our beloved Gaumata.

The power to absorb these rays is due to the presence of a “Sun Vein” within the sacred body of Gaumata. Sri Krishna’s sacred cows are the ONLY LIVING BEING WITH A SUN VEIN. Gaumata has a Surya Ketu Nadi, a vein within her divine body that is directly connected to Suryadeva, the Sun planet.

This Surya Nadi passes through Gaumata’s backbone and acts to absorb the healing, golden rays of the Sun planet. The interaction of the sunshine and the Surya Nadi produces gold salts in Gaumata’s blood and other bodily fluids which miraculously cure many diseases.

These gold salts end up in Gaumata’s milk to give it that rich, healthy golden glow of the Sun. So this is the mystery behind why Gaumata’s wonderful milk, butter and ghee are all naturally yellow.

No other animal produces golden colored milk. Ancient scriptures state that the “Suryaketu Nadi” nerve on Gaumata’s back also absorbs harmful radiations from the atmosphere and cleanses it.

Thus the mere presence of Gaumata is all-auspicious, beneficial, health giving, and purifying for you, me and the entire environment.” Sri Gaumata ki jai! Gauseva ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Harinama Is Not Diksha

Mahanidhi Swami

Receiving the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra from a teacher is not called diksha; it is an expression of acceptance, care and compassion.

According to the Veda shruti, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswamipada and all Gaudiya Vaisnava acharyas diksha means to receive the Krishna mantra (aka Gopala Mantra) from the spiritual master. Only this is diksha. Although it’s commonly thought that receiving harinama is diksha, it is not according to shastras, tradition and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

To teach the example for everyone, Bhagavan Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Panca Tattva and all Gaudiya Vaisnavas have taken diksha which means atma samarpana or surrender to Sri Guru, and hearing three times in the right ear the Gopala/Krishna mantra from Sri Guru.

The confusion arises because the terms nama and mantra are often mixed up and translated incorrectly. Mantra is called nama and nama is called mantra. But Nama DOES NOT MEAN MANTRA. Nama means names of Krishna i.e. the maha-mantra. Although called a mantra, it is actually a chant of divine names which is why it’s in the EIGHTH or vocative CASE, the vocative form of calling out to Bhagavan—“O Hare, O Radha, divine energy of Sri Krishna. O Krishna, please save me!”

The word mantra, however, refers to a collection of transcendental sounds in the FOURTH or dative CASE which by definition must contain a bija mantra (om, klim, srim, aim); and a verb (svaha, namah, vidmahe, dhimahi, prachodayat). In the following verse, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu clearly explains that the DIKSHA MANTRA is different than Krishna’s Divine Name, nama.

krishna mantra haite habe, samsara mocana
krishna nama haite pabe, krishnera carana

Sri Chaitanyadeva said, “Krishna mantra means the diksha mantra i.e. Gopala Mantra which acts to free the disciple from all anarthas, karmas and samsara. The name of Krishna i.e. Hare Krishna Hare Rama will give Krishna’s lotus feet.” (Caitanya Caritamrita. 1.7.73)

Practically all the Sanskrit and Bengali verses glorifying Sri Krishna’s Divine Name always use the word, NAMA and not mantra. For example, nama cintamani krsnas, hari nama harer nama harer nama, iti ñoòaçakaà nämnäà, nämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-sarva-çaktis, and there are hundreds of examples in Sri Chaitanya Caritamrita i.e. kali yuga yuga dharma namera pracara, etc.

Srila Haridasa Thakura is known as “Nama Acharya” not the mantra Acharya. Thus mantra means specifically our diksha mantras Gopal mantra and Kama Gayatri, and nama means the many, beautiful and amazingly attractive sweet Divine Names of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Nama Sankirtana ki jai!

Real, proper and traditional diksha means a process of spiritual initiation through which the guru imparts the Vaisnava diksha mantra i.e. Krsna/Gopal Mantra and Kama Gayatri for Gaudiyas. By chanting the diksha mantras a disciple will obtain all transcendental knowledge and attain the association of Radha-Krishna. Unlike mantra, nama requires no diksha, tapa, vairagya or purascharana. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself said, “Harinama is not diksha and does not require diksha. It stands alone and has its own purpose and function.

Mahaprabhu said:

dīkṣā-puraścaryā-vidhi apekṣā nā kare
jihvā-sparśe ā-caṇḍāla sabāre uddhāre

“Chanting Krishna nama IS NOT DIKSHA. One need not perform purascharya -vrata, or observe any rules and regulations. Just a touch of Krishna nama with the tongue is sufficient to deliver everyone one, even a dog eater.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.15.108)

Srila Prabhupada tika: Quoting Hari Bhakti Vilasa (2.6), Srila Prabhupada says, “If one has no diksha then ALL HIS ACTIONS ARE USELESS (sarvam nir arthakam), and one attains birth as an animal (pashu yonim avapnoti diksha virahito jana).” And further (2.10), “It is the duty of every human to take Vaisnava mantra diksha i.e. Gopala/Krishna mantra from Sri Guru.”

As far as the maha-mantra, Srila Prabhupada said, “The chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.15.108)

Diksha mantras act invisibly but powerfully within the disciple to clear and remove all previous bad tendencies and commitments to illusion. One begins a new life awakened in divine knowledge. By giving diksha, Sri Guru mercifully slackens the bondage of maya, infuses transcendental energy into the disciple’s heart via the mantra, and awakens an awareness of one’s eternal relationship with Sri Hari.

Contained within the diksha mantra i.e. the Gopala mantra alone is divya-jnana, transcendental knowledge which acts to purify one’s consciousness and reveal the form and identity of Bhagavan Sri Krishna (bhagavat-svarupa) along with knowledge of the sadhaka’s particular relationship with Bhagavan Sri Krishna (sambandha-jnana) and one’s eternal spiritual form i.e. siddha deha.

What special power and wisdom does the most wonderful Gopala/Krishna mantra contain? Sri Jiva Goswamipada answers:

divyam jnanam srimati mantre,
bhagavat svarupa jnanam, bhagavata sambandha vishesha jnanam

“Two types of divine wisdom are received from the beautiful diksha mantra i.e. Gopala Mantra—knowledge of Sri Krishna’s form and identity (bhagavat svarupa jnana), and knowledge of one’s special and specific relationship with Sri Krishna [i.e. sthayi rati and siddha deha].” (Bhakti-sandarbha 283)

In summary, this is the power, beauty and extraordinary effect of Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha which DOES NOT mean receiving harinama from a preceptor. Through the medium of the Gopala-mantra (Krishna-mantra), Sri Guru dispels the jiva’s aversion toward Krishna, and inspires and directs the disciple to serve Sri Krishna with love. Gradually, the surrendered disciple attains divine wisdom about Sri Krishna, the jiva and the material energy. This powerful wisdom in turn then completely destroys the disciple’s sins and ignorance.

Believe it or not, we have met many mature devotees who only have harimana and NO DIKSHA, even after ten years of sincere service to Sri Guru. This is most regrettable and unfortunate. It is seen everywhere that most Gaudiya Vaisnava Gurus GIVE DIKSHA within 1-4 years of knowing the candidate.

Disciple means surrender and Guru means diksha. This is the transcendental exchange between sad shisya and sad Guru. Simple logic: no surrender—no disciple; no diksha—no Guru. Giving diksha is the duty of Guru and receiving it is the right of the disciple.

So we deeply pray to our most beloved, sweet and dear Srimati Radhika and Giridhari-Shyam to bless all my friends known and unknown with the great treasure of Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha which means receiving the beautiful Gopala mantra, and sometimes getting the most enchanting and esoteric Kama Gayatri.

Sri Guru diksha ki jai! Sad Shishya ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe! Jai Jai Sri Vrindavana Dhama!