20200229 Saṅkīrtana Begins Within the Closed Doors of Śrīvāsa's House

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Chapter entitled as Saṅkīrtana Begins Within the Closed Doors of Śrīvāsa's House

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.35

kapāṭa diyā kīrtana kare parama āveśe
pāṣaṇḍī hāsite āise, nā pāya praveśe

Translation: This ecstatic chanting was performed with the doors closed so that nonbelievers who came to make fun could not gain entrance.

Purport: Chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is open to everyone, but sometimes nonbelievers come to disturb the ceremony of chanting. It is indicated herein that under such circumstances the temple doors should be closed. Only bona fide chanters should be admitted; others should not. But when there is large-scale congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, we keep our temples open for everyone to join, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu this policy has given good results.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, there are many people who have joined the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement because the doors have been kept open for everyone. But the situation in Navadvīpa, 500 and some years ago was completely negative for chanting the names out loud. The culture was that no one should chant the holy name of God loud, that would be taking the name of the Lord in vain. So, they would criticize and disturb the chanting. Maybe it is like that in some parts of the world, but generally there is freedom of religion in other parts of the world. And so, we let everybody come, but if someone comes and offends the deity, offends what we are doing, then we ask the person to leave because everyone is open to come, but if they come, they should come in a proper respectful attitude.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 6.47

śrīvāsa-paṇḍita-mahāmatir atyudāra-
śīlaḥ svabhāva-hari-bhaktir ato’tidhīraḥ
śuddhaḥ svadharma-nirato bahu-śānta-dāntas
tat sevanena mumude’nudinaṁ mahātmā

Translation: The intelligent Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, a great soul with generous character and natural devotion to the Lord, most serious and pure, engaging in his sva-dharma, in control of his mind and senses, rejoiced in serving the Lord daily.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 6.48

evaṁ nirantaram upāsanayā ca nṛtyaiḥ
saṅkīrtanair api tathā vividhaiś ca bhāvaiḥ
śrīvāsa-paṇḍita-mahāśaya eva nityaṁ
tat-saṅgato’tivilasan mumude mahatma

Translation: The great soul Śrīvāsa took pleasure in the Lord’s association and performed pastimes constantly with him by worship, dancing, chanting and various sentiments.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa, he took advantage of the presence of Lord Caitanya. And participated in His pastimes, chanting, dancing and displaying various sentiments. So, he was doing this constantly. That was giving himself, the Lord and other associates great spiritual bliss.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.110

vaiṣṇavagaṇera ānanda evaṃ kevala pārṣadagaṇa saṅge kīrtana-vilāsārambha—

sarva-vaiṣṇavera haila śuniyā ullāsa
ārambhilā mahāprabhu kīrtana-vilāsa

Translation: On hearing this, all the Vaiṣṇavas became ecstatic. Thus Mahāprabhu began His kīrtana pastimes.

Jayapatākā Swami: When the Vaiṣṇavas heard the chanting of Lord Caitanya, they became filled with bliss and ecstasy. So, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in this way began His kīrtana pastimes.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.111

śrīvāsa-mandire prati niśāya kīrtana
kona-dina haya candraśekhara bhavana

Translation: Every night kīrtana was held at the house of Śrīvāsa, except some nights it was held at the house of Candraśekhara.

Jayapatākā Swami: In Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s garden, they had kīrtana every night, except some days the kīrtana was held at Candraśekhara’s house.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.112-116

nityānanda, gadādhara, advaita, śrīvāsa
vidyānidhi, murāri, hiraṇya, haridāsa

gaṅgādāsa, vanamālī, vijaya, nandana
jagadānanda, buddhimanta khān, nārāyaṇa

kāśīśvara, vāsudeva, rāma, garuḍāi
govinda, govindānanda, āchena tathāi

gopīnātha, jagadīśa, śrīmān, śrīdhara
sadāśiva, vakreśvara, śrīgarbha, śuklāmbara

brahmānanda, puruṣottama, sañjayādi yata
ananta caitanya-bhṛtya nāma jāni kata

Nityānanda, Gadādhara, Advaita, Śrīvāsa, Vidyānidhi, Murāri, Hiraṇya, Haridāsa, Gaṅgādāsa, Vanamālī, Vijaya, Nandana, Jagadānanda, Buddhimanta Khān, Nārāyaṇa, Kāśīśvara, Vāsudeva, Rāma, Garuḍa, Govinda, Govindānanda, Gopīnātha, Jagadīśa, Śrīmān, Śrīdhara, Sadāśiva, Vakreśvara, Śrīgarbha, Śuklāmbara, Brahmānanda, Puruṣottama, Saṣjaya, and innumerable other servants of Lord Caitanya were present in those kīrtanas. I know only a few names out of many.

Jayapatākā Swami: So many devotees participated in the nocturnal kīrtanas of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Some of the names have been mentioned here, but there were many more which could not be explained by Vṛndāvandās Ṭhākura.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.117

sabei prabhura nṛtye thākena saṁhati
pāriṣada bai āra keha nāhi tathi

Translation: They all participated in the Lord's dancing. Other than the Lord's associates, no one was present there.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all these devotees participated in the dancing of Lord Caitanya. Other than these associates, no one else was allowed to be present there.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.118

prabhura huṅkāra, āra niśā-hari-dhvani
brahmāṇḍa bhedaye yena hena-mata śuni

Translation: The loud roaring of the Lord and the tumultuous chanting of Hari's name in the night, appeared to shatter the ব্রহ্মাণ্ড.

The people of the world are engaged in sense gratification during the day and sleep at night. But the devotees who are under the shelter of the Lord engage in chanting the names of Hari at night, rather than sleeping, just as they do in the course of their activities during the day.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord’s loud roaring and chanting of Hari in the night, was so tumultuous that it seemed to shatter the entire universe! So it seemed as anyone who was listening. So the devotees used this time to gather together and to chant the holy names of the Lord. So, when the Viceroy of India, who was a Britisher he came to Māyāpur to find out which is real Māyāpur. And at that time, they had applied for the post office to be called Śrī Māyāpur. So, there was a challenge from Navadvīpa, that we are the real Māyāpur. We are the prāchīna, old Māyāpur, they are upstarts! So then, you see, at that time there were no loudspeakers. So the chanting of Lord Caitanya at the house of Śrīvāsa would disturb the sleep of the Chand Kazi. And he was in Vāmanapukura, his residence is still visible. So, that is possible to listen. The place that they call prāchīna Māyāpur is on the other side of the Ganges. And that is like another 3-4 kilometers away. You couldn’t hear, that would be too far! So, the Viceroy of India, who was a Britisher, the Lord, HE CITED THAT THIS IS THE REAL MĀYĀPUR! THIS IS ŚRī MĀYĀPUR! HARIBOL! That was a big victory! So, that time he wanted his tea. But Śrīla Bhaktisiddānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said give him whatever he wants! Ha! So, they gave him his tea! Ha! So, they went to a tea stall to get some tea for him, because in the Maṭha they did not have tea!

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.36

kīrtana śuni’ bāhire tārā jvali’ puḍi’ mare
śrīvāsere duḥkha dite nānā yukti kare

Translation: Thus, the nonbelievers almost burned to ashes and died out of envy. To retaliate, they planned various ways to give trouble to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they would listen outside the house and hear the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa inside. Some would walk by and listen and say, “see, you hear them? They are drinking alcohol and enjoying, dancing or partying with ladies.” “I think they are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa,” said the passerby. “Huh! Are you one of them?” Ha! Ha! Envious people they were so angry that they couldn’t come in! So, they were spinning out various offensive things.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.119

prabhura huṅkāra o haridhvani śravaṇe pāṣaṇḍigaṇera mātsarya—

śuniyā pāṣaṇḍī-saba maraye balgiya
niśāya e-gulā khāya madirā āniyā

Translation: Hearing that sound, the atheists jumped about in anger and said, “These fellows drink wine at night.

Purport: Atheism is prominent in those who are averse to the devotional service of the Lord. Such people would say that the devotees are uselessly shouting at night due to drinking wine. The word balgiya means “jumping with rage.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, hearing this that sound of the kīrtana, they atheists jumped around in anger and said, “these fellows drink wine at night.” So, atheism is very prominent among those who are envious of the devotional service of the Lord. They would say that devotees are uselessly shouting at night due to drinking wine. Or they would use the word balgiya which means jumping with anger.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.120

e-gulā sakale madhumatī-siddhi jāne
rātri kari' mantra japi' pañca kanyā āne

Translation: “These people know the mystic perfection of madhumatī. They chant mantras at night to call five virgins.

Purport: “The devotees achieve the perfection known as madhumatī, and by the influence of mantras, they call five kinds of unmarried girls and have illicit affairs with them.”

The medieval age was polluted by various abominable activities like paṣca-makāra [Paṣca-makāra refers to māṁsa, madya, matsya, mahila, and maithuna—meat, wine, fish, women, and sex.] and vīrācāra [A tantric practice based on sex.], practiced by tantrics in the mode of ignorance. People who were envious of devotional service did not hesitate to attribute such abominable activities on the devotees who were engaged in unmotivated kīrtana.

Madhumatī-siddhi is achieved by invoking a particular heavenly damsel named Madhumatī. It is described in the Kṛkalāsa-dīpikā as follows: “Madhumatī is a particular heavenly damsel. A sādhaka can control her through mantras. By achieving perfection in this art, hundreds of heavenly girls come under one's control. Whenever the sādhaka wants to go to either heaven, Pātāla, or anywhere on earth, those girls immediately take him there. There is no doubt about this.”

Jayapatākā Swami: These fellows, they know the mystic power of Madhumatī, they are chanting the mantras at night, to call five virgins! So, in the previous times people used different types of black magic to enjoy different kinds of illicit activities and illicit sex. So, people knew that such things existed had in the past, so the envious people were falsely accusing the devotees of practicing black magic. And also, even today, they misunderstand what the devotees are doing and think that somehow they are engaged in some form of intoxication. Although the devotees were engaged in unmotivated, transcendental, chanting of the holy names in kīrtana. So in a book called the Kṛkalāsa-dīpikā, one learns how to control the heavenly damsel called Madhumatī and in this way get control of hundreds of heavenly damsels. And then you can go to heaven, to hell, to any place in the world. So, such an art exists. So, they were accusing the devotees, of practicing this black magic. Although they were chanting in ecstasy.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.121

cāri prahara niśānidrā yāite nā pāi
`bola bola' huṅkāra, śuniye sadāi

Translation: “Twelve hours have passed and we could not sleep. All we hear is the loud sound of `Bol! Bol!'”

Jayapatākā Swami: Four praharas, eight praharas, so 12 hours went by, we couldn’t sleep all night. These people all we hear is them chanting loudly, “bolo, bolo, bolo!” Haribol!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.122

balgiyā maraye yata pāṣaṇḍīra gaṇa
ānande kīrtana kare śrī-śacīnandana

Translation: In this way the atheists spoke in anger, as Śrī Śacīnandana blissfully engaged in kīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way, the atheist people were speaking so many offensive things in anger, as Śrī Śacīnandana was blissfully engaging in kīrtana.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.002

śunile kīrtana-mātra prabhura śarīre
bāhya nāhi thāke, paḍe pṛthivī-upare

Translation: In this way Lord Viśvambhara constantly performed saṅkīrtana with the devotees in Navadvīpa.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way, in Navadvīpa-dhāma, Viśvambhara Rāya, Lord Viśvambhara, along with His devotees, engaged in saṅkīrtana constantly.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.003

hena se āchāḍa prabhu paḍe nirantara
pṛthvī haya khaṇḍa khaṇḍa, sabe pāya ḍara

Translation: As they performed kīrtana at night, the Lord closed the door from inside so that outsiders could not enter.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as they performed kīrtana at night, the Lord closed the door from the inside. So that the outsiders could not enter.

Thus ends the chapter “Saṅkīrtana Begins Within the Closed Doors of Śrīvāsa's House”

* * *

Hari-dhvani! Ulu-dhvani!

So, there is a book table tonight. Anyone wants to get their book signed. Now I will answer questions for 10-12 minutes.

Question: Dear Jayapatākā Swami: PAMRO. (Jayapatākā Swami: YES!) I am here in Māyāpur, doing navadvīpa-parikramā in the Tamil group. I wish to take shelter Guru Mahārāja. –Your daughter, Garīṣma, Co-pilot.

Jayapatākā Swami: Where is she?

(We will do shelter after questions and answers)

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda! What is the actual meaning of carrying the lotus feet of the spiritual master in one’s heart? What does a disciple do to achieve this position and what are the symptoms of such a disciple? –Your insignificant fallen servant, Prema Gaurasundara dāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, it means that one carries the instructions of the guru in one’s heart and one tries to seriously carry out his instructions. So, the symptoms of such a person are transcendental. Ha!

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja, PAMHO, AGTSP! Does this mean that Lord Caitanya began the night club culture with the transcendental motivation? (Jayapatākā Swami: Ha! Ha!) He is also known to have started the first disobedience movement. –Your servant, Sujitendriya dāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: He started civil disobedience for the right cause! Similarly, He started staying up at night and having festivities for the right cause! Ha! Ha!

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja. When will you be coming to ISKCON Kuching, Malaysia? Eagerly waiting for you. –Puruṣottama (8 years old)

Jayapatākā Swami: Kuching. Well, when I go to Malaysia I may go to Kuching. Kuching leaders should invite me! Kuching is in Borneo in east Malaysia. So, I would like to go there. I went there several times. The tribals in east Malaysia, they were dancing one time. They have the culture that the Supreme Personality of Godhead dances with a feather on His head! And He has the female counterpart. So, this is very much like Radha and Kṛṣṇa. So, if possible, I would like to go to Kuching.

Submission:  Dear Guru Mahārāja, tomorrow one Chinese couple sponsored the International Parikramā Party’s breakfast in your name to pray for your health! (Jayapatākā Swami: Wow!)

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja, Please accept my respectful obeisances. I am always inspired by the disciples of Rāmānujācārya. I also want to be dedicated in a similar way to you. But being a gṛhastha and a woman, sometimes I find it difficult to balance both material and spiritual. In which aspect can I please you? Please guide me. Your servant.

Jayapatākā Swami: Now, personal servant of Rāmānuja was a gṛhastha. And people criticized him. So, then Rāmānuja sent out two people and they came into the house where the wife of the personal servant was resting. And she had on her, gold ear rings and gold bracelets. So, then she recognized, she saw that these are the students of Rāmānujācārya, my guru. So, then she turned over on one side so that they could easily steal her gold ornaments. But then she thought the other side is hidden, so I will turn over. And then they got frightened, maybe she woke up! So, they pulled themselves out of the house, they had entered through the roof and so exited through the roof. So, then they hid outside in the forest when they say that the servant of Rāmānuja came and he saw his wife had ornaments on only one half. He said, what happened to you? Why are you wearing ornaments only on one side? She told what happened. And then he said, this is your problem. You THINK THAT YOU OWN THE ORNAMENTS! EVERYTHING BELONGS TO THE GURU! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE HIM! EVERYTHING ALREADY BELONGS TO HIM! And then the servants of Rāmānuja who were hiding in the forest, heard all this. Then they went and Rāmānujācārya sent them to the house of brahmacārīs and sannyāsīs. They just took their kaupīnas and mixed them up! Their loin cloths, if you don’t know what kaupīna is! In the morning they woke up and said, hey, you took my kaupīna! And they had a real fight over their loin cloths! Ha! Ha! While the gṛhastha, he lost his gold but he was chastising the wife saying she lost the property of the guru. She thought she was giving. But anyway, everything belongs to the guru. But the sannyāsīs were late to come to the guru’s class, fighting over who took whose kaupīna!! So, then Rāmānuja asked the servants what happened. And they explained what happened. And all the sannyāsīs felt embarrassed that they fought over their kaupīnas. And the gṛhasthas were unattached even to gold! So, what does the kaupīna value? So, it doesn’t matter whether one is man or woman, gṛhasthas or sannyāsī, it is where your consciousness is. Haribol!