20200509 Ecstatic Activities of Balarāma Manifestion of Lord Caitanya (Part 1)

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

Ecstatic Activities of Balarāma Manifestion of Lord Caitanya

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.116

nityānanda-gosāñi prabhura āveśa jānila
gaṅgā-jala-pātra āni’ sammukhe dharil

Translation: Nityānanda Prabhu Gosāñi, understanding the ecstatic mood of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, brought a pot of Ganges water as a token and put it before Him.

Jayapatākā: Lord Caitanya was going into different moods of different avatāras. So frequently, He manifested the mood of Balarāma, and He was asking for honey. Nityānanda Prabhu understanding the ecstatic mood of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, brought a pot of water and put in in front of Him. He would actually think it was just like a pot of honey. Sometimes He was asking for honey, sometimes He was asking for Vāruṇī, but He was just in a loving mood, and acting, as if in the mood of Balarāma.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.067

nityānanda jānena prabhura samīhita
ghaṭa bhari' gaṅgā-jala dena sāvahita

Translation: Knowing the Lord's intention, Nityānanda would reverentially give Him a pot filled with Ganges water.

Realizing Śrī Gaurasundara's actual intention in calling loudly, “Bring wine!” Nityānanda Prabhu would bring a pot filled with Ganges water. Ganges water is just like nectar, and it stimulates devotional feelings.

Jayapatākā: Lord Nityānanda understanding Lord Gaurāṅga’s inner intention. And He reverentially gave Him a pot, filled with Ganges water, and placed it before Him. So, Lord Nityānanda realizing Gaurasundara Prabhu’s inner intention, calling loudly, BRING WINE! Actually, He didn’t take wine, but He was in the mood of Balarāma, asking for honey. So, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, would give Him a pot of Ganges water. Ganges water is like nectar, and it stimulates devotional feelings. So, He took this Ganges water and manifested His natural love.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.117

jala pāna kariyā nāce hañā vihvala
yamunākarṣaṇa-līlā dekhaye sakala

Translation: After drinking the water, Lord Caitanya became so ecstatic that He began to dance. Thus, everyone saw the pastime of attracting the river Yamunā.

Purport: Yamunākarṣaṇa-līlā is the pastime of attracting the Yamunā. One day, Śrī Baladeva wanted the Yamunā River to come before Him, and when the river Yamunā refused, He took His plow, wanting to dig a canal so that the Yamunā would be obliged to come there. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the original form of Baladeva, in His ecstasy He asked everyone to bring honey. In this way, all the devotees standing there saw the yamunākarṣaṇa-līlā. In this līlā, Baladeva was accompanied by His girlfriends. After drinking a honey beverage called Vāruṇī, He wanted to jump into the Yamunā and swim with the girls. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.65.25–30, 33) that Lord Baladeva asked the Yamunā to come near, and that when the river disobeyed the order of the Lord, He became angry and thus wanted to snatch her near to Him with His plow. The Yamunā, however, very much afraid of Lord Balarāma’s anger, immediately came and surrendered unto Him, praying to the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and admitting her fault. She was then excused. This is the sum and substance of the yamunākarṣaṇa-līlā. The incident is also described in the prayer of Jayadeva Gosvāmī concerning the ten incarnations:

vahasi vapuṣi viśade vasanaṁ jaladābhaṁ
halahati-bhīti-milita-yamunābham
keśava dhṛta-haladhara-rūpa jaya jagad-īśa hare

[O Keśava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari who have assumed the form of plow-wielding Balarāma! All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body, You wear garments colored like a fresh rain cloud and the river Yamunā, whom You frighten with the blows of Your plow.]

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.20

āścaryam āścaryam idaṁ caritaṁ paramātmanaḥ
hāṭakācala-gauro’yaṁ raupyācala ivābhavat

Translation: This action of the supreme Lord was most astonishing. The golden mountain of Gaurāṅga became like a silver mountain.

Jayapatākā: This is because Lord Caitanya taking the mood of Balarāma, He also took the color of Balarāma, Balarāma is white color, Gaurāṅga was golden, became white, just like the white capped mountain.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.21

sīrapāṇiṁ nīlavāsaḥ samalaṅkṛta-vigraham
ghūrṇāpūrṇākṣi-yugalaṁ mada-matta-viceṣṭitam

Translation: He had a plough in his hand, wore blue cloth, and was decorated with many ornaments. He rolled his eyes and acted with the intoxication of liquor.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.22

evaṁ tat tat kṣaṇe sarve dadṛśus te mudānvitāḥ
rohiṇy-aṅga-bhuvo bhāvaṁ dadhānaṁ parameśvaram

Translation: Seeing the Lord who had assumed the mood of the son of Rohiṇī for a moment, everyone became blissful.

Jayapatākā: Seeing Lord Caitanya assume the mood and power of the son of Rohiṇī, Lord Balarāma, so all the devotees became very blissful.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.23

kīrtayadbhis tataḥ sarvair janaiḥ saha mahāprabhuḥ
murāri-gupta-nilaye jagāma paramotsukhaḥ

Translation: In great joy, Mahāprabhu then went to Murāri Gupta’s house with the devotees, who performed kīrtana.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.24

madhūni dehi dehīti tatrāpi madhurākṣaram
uktāmbu-pātraṁ hastena dhṛtvāmbūni bhṛśaṁ papau

Translation: Saying the sweet words, “Give me honey” holding a water pot in his hand, he drank the water in plenty.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.25

mada-ghūrṇita-lolākṣaḥ kṣaṇadā-nātha-sundaraḥ
śuklair mahobhir gehasya śaityaṁ kurvan nanarta saḥ

Translation: With eyes rolling from intoxication, the beautiful Lord who gives happiness, making the house white with his white rays, began dancing.

Jayapatākā: So, Lord Balarāma, by taking the honey beverage, He played like an intoxicated person and in this way, He was giving lot of bliss to His devotees. Normally, no one would be intoxicated by taking honey. But Lord Gaurāṅga, by displaying this pastime, it shows that everything come originally from the Lord. So, Lord Caitanya in the mood of Balarāma, He was manifesting the white effulgence of Lord Balarāma, and ecstatically began dancing.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.5

jiṣṇuḥ svayaṁ toya-supūrṇa-bhājanaṁ
hastena dhṛtvāpibad ambu pāvanam
nanarta matto’tihasan luṭhan kṣitau
tadā’stuvaṁs te halinaṁ dvijottamāḥ

Translation: The ever-victorious Viṣṇu held aloft a brimming pot of pure water and drank from it. Then the Lord danced in an intoxicated fashion, loudly laughing and rolling about on the ground, while the exalted brāhmaṇas offered prayers to the Lord as the Plow-Warrior.

Jayapatākā: No one actually becomes intoxicated by drinking water. But the Lord in manifesting this pastime, He was imitating the pastime of Lord Balarāma. So, He danced in an intoxicated fashion. At the same time because He was enjoying His pastime, He was loudly laughing, and He started rolling on the ground. So, all the exalted brāhmaṇas, they offered prayers to the Lord as the Plough Warrior, Lord Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.9

dehera varaṇa yena bāla-dīnanātha
madhu deha deha bali’ ghana pāte hātha

Translation: He had become like the king of small boys. Holding out His hands, He said: "Give Me honey-wine. Give."

Jayapatākā: So, He became like a king of the small boys. And He assumed that body. He asked to everyone, holding out His hand, Give Me honey! Give Me honey! Give!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.10

toyapūrṇa bhājana dhariyā nija kare
madhupāna kari’ tole rasera udagāre

Translation: Holding a cup filled with water in his hands and thinking it be honey-wine, Lord Gaura raised the cup, drank it, and then hiccuped.

Jayapatākā: Holding a cup filled with water in His hands, and thinking it to be madhu, honey, He raised it up, drank it and then hiccupped. Hic! So, He was playing the part of Lord Balarāma, and in this way, by His dramatic performance, of how Balarāma would drink the honey beverage and He hiccupped. Also, Śrīla Prabhupāda would teach devotees, they should drink holding the cup high and not touching. (Guru Mahārāja gestured by holding his hand high above his mouth) holding the water high and letting it pour into the mouth and in this way, your hand doesn’t become contaminated. If you drink water touching your lips, then your hand becomes contaminated. So, He was drinking the water high up, as if He was drinking honey. Then He burped. Burp! Ha! Ha!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.11

ṭalabala kari’ nāce preme mātoẏāla
heu-heu kari’ tole rasera udagāra

Translation: Intoxicated with ecstatic love, Lord Gaura trembled and danced. Again, He drank and hiccuped.

Jayapatākā: Actually, Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu was completely intoxicated by ecstatic love. He danced, trembling, He burped again, raising the glass and drinking, without touching.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.12

kṣaṇe par̤e, kṣaṇe uṭhe, kṣaṇe kānde hāse
adhara miṭhāi’ kṣaṇe aṭa-aṭa hāse

Translation: One moment He fell down. The next moment He stood up. Then next moment He wept and laughed. The next moment He placed the sweet liquid to His lips. The next moment He loudly, loudly laughed.

Jayapatākā: One moment He fell down, one moment He got up. Another moment He was crying and weeping and laughing. Sometime He drank the sweet honey to His lips, and then one moment He laughed very loudly, loudly!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.13

dekhiyā sakala loka karaye stavana
‘haladhara’ bali’ keho dharaye caraṇa

Translation: Seeing this, all the devotees offered prayers. Calling out "Haladhara!", someone grasped Lord Gaura's feet.

Jayapatākā: Seeing this wonderful manifest of the Lord, all the devotees present, they offered prayers. They called out Haladhara! Holder of the Plough, Lord Balarāma. And someone grasped Lord Gaurāṅga’s lotus feet.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.14

tabe sei mahāprabhu līlā balarāma
kahaye amṛta-kathā ati anupāma

Translation: Then, enjoying the pastimes of Lord Balarāma, Lord Gaura Mahāprabhu spoke peerless words sweet like nectar.

Jayapatākā: Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu displaying the pastimes of Lord Balarāma, He spoke nectar words, which was most incomparable.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.6

petuḥ pṛthivyāṁ caraṇāmbuja-dvaye
mumoda cātīva muhur muhur janaḥ
evaṁ sa devo baladeva-līlayā
nanarta covāca ca sāma-nisvanaḥ

Translation: The brāhmaṇas fell on the earth at His two lotus feet. The crowd enjoyed the happiness again and again. Thus, having performed His pleasure-pastimes of Baladeva, He danced and spoke in a gentle tone:

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.26

nāhaṁ sa kṛṣṇo vacasā yo’sau śīghraṁ sukhī bhavet
tad ānayānaya bhṛśaṁ madhūny adya samarpaya

Translation: ‘I am not Kṛṣṇa who becomes happy simply with the words. Therefore, bring lot of honey and offer it to me.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.27

ity uktvaikena hastena dvijaikaṁ prākṣipat prabhuḥ
ārād eva papātāsau mallo’pi balavattaraḥ

Translation: Saying this, the Lord pushed a brāhmaṇa with one hand. That person, stronger than a wrestler, fell far away.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.7-8

nāhaṁ sa kṛṣṇo vacasā sukhī bhaved
yo me prayacchantu supeyam adbhutam
mallo’yam ity aṅgulinā dvijaikaṁ
kṣipan sudūre prāhiṇot pṛthivyām

papāta so’py āgata-sādhvaso’bhūd
evaṁ vijahre bhagavān sva-līlayā
prātaḥ samārabhya divāvasānaṁ
yāvat sa devo baladeva-līlayā

Translation: "I am not Kṛṣṇa who becomes pleased by mere words. You should give Me some of that sublime and wondrous beverage." Saying this in the mood of Balarāma, Lord Gaura touched a malla brāhmaṇa with His mere finger and sent him flying a great distance. That brāhmaṇa finally fell upon the earth greatly disturbed. Thus, as His pleasure-pastime the all-opulent Lord enjoyed Himself from dawn until dusk as He enacted the pastimes of Baladeva.

Jayapatākā: So, they are giving the details of this pastime. Balarāma is very powerful, so He pushed one very strong brāhmaṇa who is like a wrestler, but that person was pushed far away. So, Lord Caitanya was manifesting the mood of Lord Balarāma, and He was enjoying this ecstatic love of His expansion, Lord Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.15

śrīkṛṣṇa nahiye āmi-bale hera sukhī
adbhuta supeya madhu āni’ deha dekhi

Translation: "I am not Śrī Kṛṣṇa-by words who is pleased. Therefore let me see that you bring Me more of this wonderful nectar honey-wine."

Jayapatākā: I am not Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who becomes happy by mere words! Let Me see that wonderful drink, or nectar or honey, bring it!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.16

seikhāne eka dvija chila dāmḍāiyā
iha manda’ bali’ phele aṅgule ṭheliyā

Translation: A certain brāhmaṇa was standing there. Saying, “You are a dull", with a finger the Lord pushed him

Jayapatākā: There was standing one brāhmaṇa, and the Lord told him that you are a dull! And touched Him with one finger, he went flying and fell down.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.17

aṅguli-ṭhelāya vipra paḍe bahudūra
lajjā se pāila vipra phelila ṭhākura

Translation: Pushed by the Lord's finger, the brāhmaṇa fell far away. Pushed by the Lord, the brāhmaṇa felt ashamed.

Jayapatākā: So being pushed by one finger, that brāhmaṇa fell at a great distance. He felt embarrassed because he was pushed by the Lord.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.28

prātar eva balāveśa-vivaśo rajanī-mukhe
prabuddhaḥ syāt tadā snānaṁ karoti kamalekṣaṇaḥ

Translation: Having assumed Balarāma’s mood in the morning, the lotus eyed Lord recovered in the evening and took a bath.

Jayapatākā: So, He was in the ecstasy of Lord Balarāma the whole day, and He only came back to normal consciousness in the evening and then He took His Ganges bath.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.9

krīḍāṁ vidhatte’dbhuta-rūpa-veśaḥ
svayaṁ kṛta-snāna-vidhir yayau gṛham
bhuṅkte sva-vargaiḥ pariveṣṭitaḥ svayaṁ
śrī-gauracandro jagatāṁ patiḥ prabhuḥ

Translation: Dressed in stunningly attractive attire, Śrī Gaura Candra, master and protector of all people by His sweet desire, enjoyed bathing and playing water sports in the Gaṅgā and then He returned home. And surrounded by his dear associates, He ate.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.18

prabhāte āveśa bhela sāyāhna-samaya
līlā balarāma krīḍā kare mahāśaya

Translation: From morning to evening Lord Gaura enjoyed pastimes as Lord Balarāma.

Jayapatākā: From the morning the Lord came in the mood of Lord Balarāma, and that continued till the evening. The Lord enjoyed the pastimes of Lord Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.19

narahari pādapadma śirera bhūṣaṇa
anya gaurāguṇa kahe e dāsa locana

Translation: Decorating his head with the lotus flower of Narahari's feet, Locana dāsa sings this song glorifying Lord Gaura's glories.

Jayapatākā: So, the Caitanya Maṅgala was written by Locana dāsa Ṭhākura. So, he said that he sings the glories of Lord Gaurāṅga, decorating his head with the lotus flower of Narahari’s lotus feet.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.29

aparedyur dīpyamānas tejobhir atiduḥsahaiḥ
muhur mumoha bhagavān vikīrṇa-kaca-saṣcayaiḥ

Translation: On another day, shining with intolerable radiance, the Lord, with hair scattered, fainted.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.30

baladevāveśa-ramyaṁ matta-dvirada-gāminam
matta-siṁha-samollāsaṁ mada-ghūrṇita-locanam

Translation: He was pleasing in his form as Balarāma, walking like an intoxicated elephant. He was as regal as an intoxicated lion. His eyes rolled with intoxication.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.31

rajyad-gaṇḍa-sthalaṁ caṇḍa-raśmi-koṭi-sama-prabham
vaihvalya-nunna-hṛdayaṁ dṛṣṭvetthaṁ te tadā vadan

Translation: His cheeks shone and his body shone like a million suns. Seeing this form endowed with an agitated heart, the devotees spoke.

Jayapatākā: So, this is another description of the Lord assuming the pastime of Lord Balarāma. You can see that Lord Caitanya, He is in great loving ecstasy, by taking the form and pastime of Lord Balarāma. He walked like an intoxicated elephant, and He regaled like a lion. But He was acting intoxicated, imitating the pastime of Lord Balarāma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.10

athāpare’hni paritapta-deho
muhur muhur moham avāpa devaḥ
smaran vane taṁ parikīrṇa-mūrdha-jās
tadā dvijās taṁ salilair asiñcayan

Translation: On the next day, the Lord's body became very feverish. His hair became scattered and again and again He experienced transcendental delusions recalling the pastimes of Balarāma in the forest-bowers of Vṛaja. The brāhmaṇas sprinkled Him with water.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.20

tāra paradine śuna aparūpa āra
nācaye ṭhākura baladeva vyavahāra

Translation: Now please hear the wonderful pastimes of another day. Rapt in the ecstatic activities of Lord Balarāma, Lord Gaura danced.

Jayapatākā: On another day, please hear about the wonderful pastime of the Lord! He was absorbed in the pastimes of Lord Balarāma and He was dancing, Lord Gaurāṅga was dancing! Seems that He woke up on another day, also in the ecstasy of Lord Balarāma. But this time, He looked feverish, His hair was scattered and He was dancing very ecstatically in the mood of Lord Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.21

ācambite paritāpa kari’ pāila moha
balarāma-smaraṇe nayane bahe loha

Translation: Suddenly, lamenting He became bewildered in ecstasy. As He remembered Lord Balarāma, His eyes became reddened.

Jayapatākā: Remembering Lord Balarāma, His eyes became reddish and suddenly He started to lament, and He became bewildered in ecstasy. So, it appears that Lord Caitanya, He would often come in the mood of Lord Balarāma. By remembering the pastimes of Lord Balarāma, He became very ecstatic, and He started to feel separation. So, in separation, He was dancing. This time He was crying in a separation mood, and His eyes became reddish. Before He was dancing and laughing. But now He is feeling separation and lamenting. So different moods of Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.22

bhumite loṭāẏa mahāprabhu muktakeśa
mukhe jala dei saba-jana pāya kleśa

Translation: He rolled on the ground. His hair became dishevelled. Everyone gave water in His mouth and they were afflicted.

Jayapatākā: So, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, He now started rolling on the ground, His hair was untied. The devotees were in anxiety, and they were feeling bad and they gave water in the mouth of the Lord. So, in this mood, the devotees felt sad seeing the Lord lamenting in separation, remembering Lord Balarāma. The Lord was rolling on the ground in ecstasy, so the devotees gave water in His mouth, sprinkling with water, and this day it was a different pastime. The devotees with Lord Caitanya every day, they would have some different pastime. They were feeling so much concerned for the Lord, depending on His mood, they would also reciprocate. They were crying for the Lord. Sometime the Lord would be happy, and sometimes He would be lamenting, in separation. So, He was in this ecstatic mood, and the devotees, they were reciprocating with the mood of the Lord.

* * *

Any questions?

Mahā Varāha dāsa: Prema Gaurasundara Prabhu’s mother, Mrs. Sarala Divakar Muli, 93 years old, she left her body in Mumbai last night. Prema Gaurasundara Prabhu is a very senior devotee. So, let us all together chant for the soul of Mrs. Sarala to attain the spiritual world. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! Haribol!

Jayapatākā Swami: Some devotees requested a question & answer time. After every class we have a question & answer period. So, this is your chance!

Question: Kaivalya Sundarī devī dāsī: We learn that Lord Gaurāṅga is Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nityānanda is Balarāma. So where was Lord Nityānanda when Lord Caitanya was taking the mood of Balārama? Does this mean that Lord Caitanya feels everything that Balarāma or Nityānanda feels? Since He is His first expansion?

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya would sometime come in the mood of different avatāras. Sometimes He came in the mood of Narasiṁhadeva, sometimes as Varāha, so sometimes He came in the mood of Balarāma. Although Lord Nityānanda is Balārama. But it is said in this pastime, that Lord Nityānanda seeing that Lord Caitanya was in the mood of Lord Balarāma, He could understand the Lord’s intention, His mood. And so, He gave Him a pot of Ganges water and the Lord, took that as if it was madhu, the Vāruṇī beverage and He imitated Lord Balarama’s pastime. That was His ecstatic mood. So, Lord Nityānanda was present, but He was assisting the Lord who was assuming that mood of Lord Balarāma. Although Lord Nityānanda is Balarāma, He was there assisting Lord Caitanya in His pastimes. Haribol! Any other question?

Question: Please accept my respectful obeisances. Guru Mahārāja, How to develop internally or grow internally? What extra efforts are required apart from chanting?—Prītika Raichand. (Facebook question).

Jayapatākā Swami: By practicing the process of bhakti-yoga, naturally we develop or grow internally. So, part of that is hearing and chanting the holy names, part of that is devotional service, part of that is hearing the pastimes of the Lord. By all these aspects of devotional service, your internal realization increases. As you surrender to Kṛṣṇa, He will reveal more and more to you! So, by taking shelter of the spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa also reveals Himself. It is a gradual process, but it happens! Śrīla Prabhupāda said, it took him 20 years to achieve perfection. How long will it take us? Ha! Ha! Ha! So, it is a gradual process. But Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that his devotees are pure devotees. But they are like mangoes, some are green some are ripe. So, as you ripen, you grow internally. Haribol!

Question: Dear Guru Mahārāja, can we meditate on Lord Balarāma as the Rāma in the mahā-mantra? If so, how can we meditate on the Hare before Balarāma? Is it okay to still meditate on Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, or does Lord Balarāma have His own internal potency?—Your servant, Reshma.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the second Rāma of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Rāma, Srila Prabhupada said that there are three Rāmas - Rāmacandra, Raghupati Rāma; Balarāma and Parasurāma. And we see from these pastimes, Rāma is also Kṛṣṇa as Rāma. So, depending on what you are meditating, you can think that Hare Kṛṣṇa as Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, you think Rāma as Balarāma, then Revatī Rāma, if you think Rāma as Raghupati Rāma, then Sītā Rāma. Ha! If you think Rāma as Kṛṣṇa then Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. But you can mediate on all, or any of those.

Thank you very much! Thank you Reshma! Thank you Prītika! Thank you Prema Gaurasundara dāsa!

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Vrajeśvara Gaura dāsa: Guru Mahārāja made a special announcement that all sponsors’ names mentioned in the class for sponsorships will be given to His Grace Paṅkajāṅghri Prabhu for a special pūjā. Virtual table contact number for books is: +91 9434760402. The virtual table is manned by His Holiness Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami, earlier known as Veṇudhārī prabhu, who took sannyāsa on Guru Mahārāja’s Vyāsa-pūjā. (Whatsapp message can be sent).