20190112 The Lord Encourages Śrīvāsa and Makes Him Fearless by Revealing His True Identity (Part 2)

mūkhaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī gurum dina tarinam
paramānanda mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya īśvaram
hari oṁ tat sat

Introduction: So here in Tamil Nadu they observe Poṅgal on Makara Saṅkrānti with great festivities. Poṅgal is almost like a new year for them. So last day of the last year is called Bhogī, and they burn old grass mats, and things to indicate starting the new year afresh and get rid of the old year. In Karnataka every year one day they observe new year, called Ugādī and they give a special Ugādī sweet, laḍḍu, it is very sweet, but it has neem leaves also. They say this is life, some sweet things and some bitter things. You have to take it all as it comes. So we observe Jagannātha Ratha-yātrā in Chennai on the last day of the year. So, then it is customary to have Poṅgal on the Poṅgal day. There is a salty Poṅgal and a sweet Poṅgal.

So today I had my physical therapy in the morning. I got up pretty much by my own legs! I was just guided by the physio therapist and he was very happy. He shook my hand again and again! So today we did not have any voice therapy. So, I went around riding my tricycle. 700 pedals! And Gīteśvarī Viṣṇupriyā along with Ekarāṇī devi dāsī and Cāruhāṣinī, and mother of Cāruhāṣinī and Ajita Gopinātha, they accompanied me in the cycling. So, between 8 and 9 we start the class, but it has been little late the past few days, today we are starting more or less on time.

Lord Viśvambhara was having saṅkīrtana in His house and loud chanting and roaring of Haribol, the atheists would woke up from their sweet slumber, what is this when are we supposed to sleep? and they started saying so many critical things. One person said I heard that two boats of the king’s soldiers are coming here. So, the other said, that oh, that means they will arrest all the vaiṣṇavas for their loud chanting in this Muslim country. Someone else said, oh they are ruining our country with the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. They said we will tie Śrīvāsa and when they come we will hand over Śrīvāsa to whoever comes to take him. That morning Viśvambara was walking around Navadvīpa like a prince with no worries. He was looking around, seeing the cows, seeing the Ganges, and they were saying, He is not afraid of the king’s soldiers? Someone else said, don’t be fooled by this, it is simply a trick! He will slip away and we will be the ones caught by the king’s soldiers. He is ruining our country by chanting the holy names. So Śrīvāsa was a very simple hearted, honest, brāhmaṇa, vaiṣṇava. He couldn’t imagine that anyone would lie and tell a false news.

So, he was in his house worshipping Narasiṁhadeva, to protect all the vaiṣṇavas. Then Lord Viśvambhara, He kicked the door, and said, Śrīvāsa, open up what are you doing? Śrīvāsa opened the door and the Lord showed His four handed form. Then we are starting out from here.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.264

tora ucca saṅkīrtana, nāḍāra huṅkāre
chāḍiyā vaikuṇṭha, āinu sarva parivāre

Jayapatākā Swami: By Your loud chanting of saṅkīrtana and by the yelling of Advaita Gosāñi, I left Vaikuṇṭha, came here along with all My associates. So here Advaita was addressed as Nāḍa. There are a number of meanings of this word Nāḍa. So vaiṣṇavas said that Nāḍa refers to Māha-Viṣṇu. Because He is the source of all the human beings. So instead of calling human beings called as Nāḍas, in the place of Nityānanda they pronounce Ra and Ḍha therefore they say Nāḍa. So, meaning of Nāḍa, the Lord is also addressed as Nārāyaṇa. So there are many meanings to the word Nāḍa.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.265

niścinte āchaha tumi more nā jāniyā
śāntipure gela nāḍā āmāre eḍiyā

Jayapatākā Swami: You are living without cares, but you do not know who I am. You have not recognized Me, and Nāḍa Advaita Gosāñi, He has gone to Śāntipur, avoiding Me.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.266

sādhu uddhārimu, duṣṭa vināśimu saba
tora kichu cintā nāi, paḍa’ mora stava”

Jayapatākā Swami: I will deliver the saintly persons; I will destroy all the miscreants. You don’t have anything to worry about. Offer prayers unto Me.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.266

prabhure dekhiyā preme kāṅde śrīnivāsa
ghucila antara-bhaya, pāiyā āśvāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: When Śrīvāsa saw the Lord’s form and he started to weep out of love. He dispelled all the fear in his heart by getting the Lord’s assurance.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.268

hariṣe pūrṇita haila sarva kalevara
dāṇḍāiyā stuti kare guḍi’ dui kara

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa’s entire body became filled with bliss and he stood up offering prayers with folded hands to the Lord.

Thus, ends the 55^th chapter in the matter of “The Lord encourages Śrīvāsa and makes him fearless by revealing His true identity”.

Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, he sings,

parama karuṇa, pahuṅ dui jana,
nitāi-gauracandra saba avatāra-,
sāra-śiromaṇi, kevala ānanda-kāṇḍa.

The Lord has come in the most merciful form as Nitāi and Gauracandra! Amongst all of the incarnations of the Lord, He is the crown jewel. Because He gave a process which is simply, joyfully performed. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, dancing, feasting on prasāda and hearing beautiful Bhāgavatam and pastimes of the Lord. So, he says, please worship the Lord, my dear brothers, with strong, unflinching faith, worship Caitanya Nitāi! Give up the false enjoyment of the material world and absorb yourself in the bliss of devotional service, and with your mouth always chant the holy names. Hari! Hari! My dear brothers, there is no one in the three worlds as merciful as Nitāi Gaura. Even they made the animals and the birds cry! He melted the stones, listen to His glories! He said that I am submerged in the ocean of material existence and I am hopelessly fallen there. I have no hope to get the lotus feet of Nitāi Gaura. I am suffering and enjoying according to my karma. I am getting karmic reactions as I deserve, so, says Locana dāsa Ṭhākura.

So, Lord Caitanya came down to give us the priceless love of Godhead! Husband and wife do not have to give up their householder life, they should simply add serving Kṛṣṇa! It is said, gṛhe thāko, vane thāko, sadā 'hari' bole' ḍāko! Whether you are in household life or wherever you are, stay where are you just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Haribol!

Are there any questions?

If you have any words you have difficulty in understanding, please send them to Gīteśvarī Viṣṇupriyā or Kairava Candrikā devī dāsī. (These two sisters, the mātājīs, note it down and show to Guru Mahārāja and that is shown to the voice therapist). He had me repeat these words again and again until I got them right.! So please help me in this way.

(Repeater read the names of devotees attending online).

Thank you for participating.