Sri Gadadhar Pandita at Tota Gopinath
Sripad BV Madhava Maharaj: In Jagannatha Puri Gadadhar Pandit lived in the Tota Gopinath temple. One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went there to have darshan and then entered the body of Tota Gopinath. They looked for him everywhere, but could not find him anywhere. And then Gadadhar Pandit began to lament and cry: “What should I do, where should I go? I lost Mahaprabhu in Gopinatha’s room. The Lord went to have His darshan and entered His body. Shame on me, shame on me.”
I will tell you an interesting incident about Tota Gopinath during the time of Srila Gurudeva.
We have a Matha in Jagannatha Puri. One day I, Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaj), my Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaj), and my siksa guru (Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Goswami Maharaj) came to install the Deity, and the temple was completely covered with sand. We cleaned it and after that we discussed the date for installing the Deities. Early one morning, Srila Gurudev and my Guru Maharaj had the same dream. Tota Gopinath came to them in a dream and said, “Have you come to install the Deities here? Look at the wonderful clothes you have brought for your Vinod Bihari, Radhika and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But look at Me. I have lived here for a long time, and look how old my clothes are. And My Radhika’s clothes are also very old.” Waking up, Srila Gurudev told Guru Maharaj what dream he had seen, and Guru Maharaj responded in surprise: “Oh, I saw the same dream!”
And then my Guru-Maharaj and Srila Gurudeva, along with other sannyasis and brahmacaris, went to the Tota-Gopinatha temple. And entering the temple, they said to the pujari : “We have brought these clothes for Radhika, Tota-Gopinatha and for Lalita-devi. Put them on and we’ll wait. When the Deities changed clothes, They seemed to smile. And for the installation of the Deities on this day, they bought new outfits.
I remembered another story when Gurudev translated and commented on books. In India we sometimes went to Jagannatha Puri because it was near the ocean and the ocean was very good for Srila Gurudev’s health. And one day, when we were in Jagannatha Puri,
Gurudev said, “Navin (at that time my name was Navin Krishna Brahmachari), let us go to the Tota-Gopinatha temple to ask for blessings before we begin.” We went there and, entering the temple, offered obeisances. At that time, Srila Gurudev wrote three books: Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindu, Ujjvala-nilamani kiran and Brihad-bhagavatamrtam kana. And also he had a desire to write Madhurya Kadambini. We offered obeisances to the Deity, and Srila Gurudeva asked me to pray for him so that he could complete all three books without any problems, since he was then under the care of a cardiologist.
We offered our obeisances and saw Gopinath smiling. And then he said to me in my heart: “The three books will be completed. And Madhurya Kadambini will not be completed. You will need to return because unexpected news will come from Mathura.”
When we left the temple, Srila Gurudev asked me, “What did you tell Gopinath?” “I asked Him to let you finish the three books without difficulty,” I replied. “And while I was praying, Gopinath smiled and told me that three books would be completed, but Madhurya Kadambini would not be completed because there would be urgent news from Mathura and we would have to go back.” “Okay,” replied Srila Gurudev. “Since Gopinath told you this, then you should choose the titles for the comments.”
I then proposed that the commentary on Bhakti-rasamrtita-sindhu-bindu should be called “Bindu-vikashini-vritti”, which means “a commentary that reveals the meaning of Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindu.” For the commentary on Ujjvala-nilamani kiran, I have proposed the title “Kirana-kinjalka-vritti”. ” Kinjalka ” means “flower pollen”. That is, this comment is like the pollen of this flower, this book. And I don’t remember the title for the third book. “Okay, so be it,” replied Srila Gurudeva.
And he ended up finishing three books and starting a fourth. But then a message came from Mathura that we needed to go back. And Gurudev was very satisfied because everything happened as Tota-Gopinath said.
So after Mahaprabhu left this world, Svarupa Damodara Prabhu and Ramananda Raya also left him. Raghunatha Dasa Goswami used to always be with Svarupa Damodara Prabhu. And Svarupa Damodara Prabhu always stayed with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at night and then returned. Whatever He did and said, Svarupa Damodara told Das Goswami, and Das Goswami wrote it down. And then Raghunatha Das Goswami gave his notes to Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami, and thus Sri Caitanya-charitamrita came into being.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gadadhar Pandit, Svarupa Damodar Prabhu and Ramananda Raya left, Das Goswami began to lament: “What should I do? I’d rather commit suicide! I’ll go to Vraja and drown myself in the Yamuna or jump off Govardhan.” But Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami consoled him. Sanatana Goswami, the elder brother and guru of Rupa Goswami, told him: “Oh, Raghunatha, if everyone received Krishna prema by committing suicide , then I would commit suicide a hundred times a day. But committing suicide is a great insult. When I was returning to Puri, I drank water at various places and by that time I had developed severe scabies and was covered in oozing blisters. And Sriman Mahaprabhu wanted to hug me all the time. I ran away from Him, but He caught up with me and did it by force. And I thought: “Now the chariot festival begins, and then I will commit suicide by throwing myself under the chariot.” But Sriman Mahaprabhu is omniscient, and realizing this, He said: “Sanatana, this is not your body – it is Mine. And I will do with him whatever I need. How can you kill him without My permission? This is impossible”.
“If someone could get Krishna Prema by committing suicide, I would kill myself a hundred times a day,” Sanatana Goswami said to Raghunatha Das Goswami.
Das Goswami received a lot of love and affection from Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami and spent his time in Vraja in this way. And then Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami left this world. Raghunatha Dasa Goswami lamented:
sunyayate maha-gostham
girindro ‘jagarayate
vyaghra-tundayate kundam
jivatu-rahitasya me1
Sunyayate maha-gostham. This goshtha is Vraja-mandala. The place where cows and shepherds live is called goshtha .
“The entire Vraja-mandala seems empty to me,” says Raghunatha Das Goswami. “Govardhan Hill seems to me like a huge python, opening its mouth to swallow me. And Radha-kunda, where Rupa and Sanatana gave me shelter, seems to me like the gaping mouth of a fierce tigress.” But one way or another, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami maintained his life. Every day he took one cup of buttermilk and nothing else.
One day a Vrajavasi brought him a large cup of buttermilk. And seeing her, Das Goswami asked, “Where did you get this big cup of buttermilk?” “From the place of Sakhi-sthali,” he replied. Sakhisthali is the place of Chandravali. And as soon as he heard the name of this place, he immediately took a stick to beat this man with it. “You came to Radha-kunda from Sakhi-sthali – the place of Radhika’s rival?!” And seeing his anger, the Vrajavasi quickly hurried away from there in fear.
One day, Das Goswami fell ill. At that time there were no Ayurvedic doctors in Radha Kunda; they were all in Mathura. A Mathura doctor was brought to him, and after feeling his pulse, he said, “ Baba has taken too much rice and cannot digest it.” “What? – the Vrajavasis were surprised . – Did Baba take the rice? How can you say that? He takes only one cup of buttermilk a day. And you say that he ate too much rice?!” “Yes,” the doctor answered calmly. “If you don’t believe it, you can ask him if he took rice.” “Yes, the doctor is telling the truth,” replied Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. “How is this possible? – the Vrajavasis were surprised . -Who gave you the rice? After all, you haven’t taken anything but buttermilk for a long time.” “Yesterday I cooked sweet rice in my mind,” said Raghunata Das Goswami. – I put saffron, raisins, cashews and many other additives in it. And then I offered it to Radha and Krishna.”
He was immersed in the mood of Rati Manjari.
“Then Krishna accepted this rice,” continued Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, “and asked Radhika, “Oh Radhika, who cooked this?” “My maidservant Rati Manjari,” replied Radhika. And then Krishna turned to her: “Hey, Rati Manjari, try it yourself, it’s very tasty!” “You are My manjari ! Why are you accepting it from this black deceiver?! Accept it from me,” said Radhika. “No, you offered it to Me! So, accept it from Me!” – said Krishna. And so They took turns feeding me until I was so full that I couldn’t even digest it.”
Look: he prepared the rice in his mind, offered it in his mind, and the effect was reflected in his sadhaka sarira . And I saw many similar manifestations in Srila Gurudeva – when he served in the form of a manjari , and this image of him manifested in the body of a sadhaka .
There is another story. When an Ayurvedic doctor was brought for Govinda Das, the doctor said that he would leave his body very soon. And then his brother told him: “Oh, brother, the doctor said that you are already going to die. But you can still take harinama and diksha . How long will you be in this world? Take the name of Krishna. Look: until now your Devi could not cure you. Listen to me, if your outcome is good, then everything will be fine.” “Well, okay,” Govinda Das replied. – You are my elder brother, you are like a guru to me . I will follow you.” And then he gave him harinama and diksha , the Krishna mantra . And after chanting, within a few days Govinda Dasa was completely cured. His faith increased and he wrote the kirtan “Bhajahu remana”.
After writing this kirtan , he gave it to his brother. The brother sent this to Srila Jiva Goswamipad in Vrindavan and he was very happy. At that time, Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami had already left this world. Jiva Goswami was left alone. And he was very pleased with this beautiful kirtana “Bhajahu remana”.
Now Pujyapad Shanta Maharaj will tell the hari-katha . We are leaving on the 24th, but on different planes. On October 7 there will be a separate festival of Srila Bharati Maharaj – Viraha Mahotsav. I was invited there and I will go.
During Srila Gurudev’s time and after, we went to listen to his hari-katha many times . There was a time when it was impossible to come to him because they were very busy. But now we need to go. Srila Bharati Maharaj loved me like his own son from the very beginning. He knows why – we are from the same territory, from Midnapore. And I will tell hari-katha about him there . Now let Shanta Maharaj speak.
Sripad BV Shanta Maharaj: First of all, I offer my obeisances to the lotus feet of my paramaradhya gurupad-padma, om visnupad paramahamsa swami ashtottara-shata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Srila Vamana Goswami Maharaj, and also nitya-lila pravishta om visnupad ashtotara-shata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaja. I offer my humble obeisances to the lotus feet of Param-Gurudeva, nitya-lila pravishta Bhaktipragyana Kesava Goswami Maharaj, nitya-lila pravishta Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada and the entire guru-varga . I offer my dandavat pranams to Pujyapad Bhaktivedanta Madhava Goswami Maharaja, all the sannyasis , Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis assembled here. Hare Krishna!
Yesterday at a devotee’s house I was discussing Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 7th chapter, 16th sloka . Now I want to discuss the 15th sloka from Chapter 7.
na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
maya-yapahrita-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
Shloka 16 discusses:
catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukritino ‘rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarshabha
Arto means one who is in distress, jijnasur means curious, artharthi means one who craves pleasure, wealth, health, money. And fourth, jnani , means those who strive for knowledge. Four types of devotees who follow Krishna consciousness.
And four types of ignorance, four types of nondevotees who do not follow. Who is this? Mudha, naradhama , maya-yapahrita-jnana and asura bhavam asritah . They do not perform bhajana and sadhana .
Mudhas are those who follow only their own interest, they reject, they do not listen to the nectar of hari-katha , they only listen about material things. For example, an animal eats stool and rejects sweet rice – this is called mudha , foolish.
The next is naradhama. Who are the Naradhams ? Naradhamas are those who sometimes follow devotion and sometimes follow sense gratification. Sometimes they perform devotional service, and sometimes they enjoy in the material world. This is called naradhama. Naradhamas follow devotional service, but with their own desires.
The third is maya-yapahrita-jnana – those whose knowledge has been stolen by maya . They think that Krsna and people are non-different. Bhagavan Krishna says, “Ignorant people think that I am an ordinary person.” But Krsna is not an ordinary person, Krsna is the Supreme Lord. He is in a spiritual transcendental body. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, when Bhishma attacked Krishna and Arjuna, he did not cause any harm to Krishna’s body. For what reason? Because Krsna’s body is spiritual, transcendental. But they can’t understand it. They do not understand this because of maya (illusion).
The fourth is asura bhavam asritah . Asuras are demons. The demons think that Krsna and they are nondifferent from each other. For example, Jarasandha attacked Krishna and for this reason Krishna left Mathura for Dwarka Puri.
Everyone is a person, every living being, jiva . We are souls. Soul means jivatma . Where is it coming from? From Tatastha Shakti .
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta states:
jivera ‘svarupa’ haya – krsnera ‘nitya-dasa’
krsnera ‘tatastha shakti’ ‘bhedabheda prakasa’2
Translation: “The soul is by nature an eternal servant of Krsna. The soul is the tatastha-shakti (marginal energy) of Krishna, a manifestation of the Lord, which is identical with Him and at the same time different from Him.”
Many very important things are described in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. If we want to become good devotees, we should follow Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, read two or three sentences every day and try to understand “who am I?” Then we can enter into spiritual life.
Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami ask Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “ Ke ami – who am I?” This is called athatu brahmaji jyasa. If I ask Atul Krishna prabhu “who are you?”, and he answers: “I am Atul Krishna, I am a father and a husband,” then this will be a material identification, unrelated to the guru and Vaisnavas , with devotional service.
Pujyapad Maharaj also explained this by talking about Sanatan Goswami when he was suffering from scabies. This scabies was like leprosy. He couldn’t stand it, he wanted to jump off the hill from this itch. Anyway, Krishna Mahaprabhu is omniscient, and He grabbed his hand and said, “Oh Sanatana, what are you doing?”
When we are initiated by sad gurus and Vaisnavas , our body no longer belongs to us. We have completely surrendered to the guru and Vaisnavas . We no longer have rights to ourselves. I have no desires except to follow our parampara , guru-vani .
Mahaprabhu tells Sanatana Goswami, “Your body belongs to Me.” Because when you are initiated by a guru , you give everything to him.
Thus: “ Ke ami – who am I?” And why do I suffer in this world? And how can one be protected from Maya ?” And Mahaprabhu answers. It is very important. Mahaprabhu does not tell Jivna Goswami, Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami that they are His servants – He says, “ Jivera svarupa haya .” This means that all jivas are servants of Krishna.
” Krsnera tatastha shakti bhedabheda prakasa.” Jiva is the marginal energy of Krishna – tataskha-shakti . Not jara-shakti , not chit-shakti . Borderline energy is neither material nor spiritual.
When we forget guru and Krishna, then maya covers us. How to free yourself from maya ? We cannot defeat maya , but how can we free ourselves from its influence? Thanks to sadhu-sanga , thanks to the causeless mercy of the guru and Vaisnavas, we can free ourselves from maya , remove its covering.
Because we have turned away from Krishna, we fall into samsara . We don’t think to ourselves, “Why am I suffering in this world? Why am I dying? What is the reason?” Everyone must think for themselves, and then we can solve this problem. And if we don’t think about it, then the problem will not be solved. This is very important, Vaisnava philosophy is a very important philosophy. So by following our guru-parampara , gurudeva , by gradually progressing in our life, by practicing, one day we will become good devotees, without a doubt. Hare Krishna!
Devotee: Maharaj, you said that one should read Caitanya-caritamrta every day. Can I read it if I have not yet finished Bhagavad Gita?
Sripad BV Shanta Maharaj: Yes, no problem. But if we do not understand Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, then first we should read the Caitanya-bhagavata. The Gita is the initial stage. First one should read the Gita, the Caitanya-bhagavata, and then the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Everyone should listen to bona fide Vaisnavas, gurus .