20210125 Kṛṣṇa Tattva (Part 1)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 25th, 2021 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today chapter entitled is:

Kṛṣṇa Tattva

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.118

etāvat prabhura kṛṣṇa-bhajana-krama śravaṇa :— 
ebe se jāniluṅ sādhya-sādhana-nirṇaya
āge āra āche kichu, śunite mana haya

Translation: “Now I have come to understand the sublime goal of life and the process of achieving it. Nevertheless, I think that there is something more ahead, and My mind is desiring to have it.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.119

prabhura (1) kṛṣṇa, (2) rādhā, (3) rasa o (4) premera svarūpa-tattva varṇanārtha rāyake anurodha :— 
‘kṛṣṇera svarūpa’ kaha ‘rādhāra svarūpa’
‘rasa’ kon tattva, ‘prema’—kon tattva-rūpa

Translation: “Kindly explain the transcendental features of Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Also explain the truth of transcendental mellows and the transcendental form of love of Godhead.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.120

kṛpā kari’ ei tattva kaha ta’ āmāre
tomā-vinā keha ihā nirūpite nāre

Translation: “Kindly explain all these truths to Me. But for yourself, no one can ascertain them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these are not topics that can be explained by anyone, Rāmānanda Rāya is an expert so he can explain these things. Lord Caitanya wants to taste the nectar from Rāmānanda Rāya

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.121

rāyera āpanāke yantra o prabhuke ‘yantri’-jñāna :— 
rāya kahe,—ihā āmi kichui nā jāni
tumi yei kahāo, sei kahi āmi vāṇī

Translation: Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “I do not know anything about this. I simply vibrate the sound You make me speak.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rāmānanda Rāya is saying that he is speaking whatever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is having him speak.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.122

tomāra śikṣāya paḍi yena śuka-pāṭha
sākṣāt īśvara tumi, ke bujhe tomāra nāṭa

Translation: “I simply repeat like a parrot whatever instruction You have given me. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Who can understand Your dramatic performances?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.123

hṛdaye preraṇa kara, jihvāya kahāo vāṇī
ki kahiye bhāla-manda, kichui nā jāni

Translation: “You inspire me within the heart and make me speak with the tongue. I do not know whether I am speaking well or badly.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.124

āpanāke ‘kṛṣṇa-vimukha’ o ‘dīna’ jānāiyā prabhura rāyake chalanā-ceṣṭā :— 
prabhu kahe,—māyāvādī āmi ta’ sannyāsī
bhakti-tattva nāhi jāni, māyāvāde bhāsi

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I am a Māyāvādī in the renounced order of life, and I do not even know what transcendental loving service to the Lord is. I simply float in the ocean of Māyāvāda philosophy.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, is taking a very humble position, since He took initiation from Keśava Bhāratī, He is saying that He is a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. But we know that actually He is the personification of Bhakti.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.125

prabhukarttṛka sārvabhauma o rāmānandera vaiśiṣṭya o tāratamya kathana; sārvabhauma brāhmaṇa o muktidātā ; rāmānanda—kṛṣṇa-tattvajña o kīrtanakārī ācārya vā vaiṣṇava :— 
sārvabhauma-saṅge mora mana nirmala ha-ila
’kṛṣṇa-bhakti-tattva kaha,’ tāṅhāre puchila

Translation: “Due to the association of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, My mind became enlightened. Therefore I asked him about the truths of transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Before this Lord Caitanya had converted Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya from being a Māyāvādī to a Kṛṣṇa bhakta.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.126

teṅho kahe—āmi nāhi jāni kṛṣṇa-kathā
sabe rāmānanda jāne, teṅho nāhi ethā

Translation: “Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya told me, ‘I do not actually know about the topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They are all known only to Rāmānanda Rāya, but he is not present here.’”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.127

‘vañcaka’-līlābhinayakārī vaiṣṇava :— 
tomāra ṭhāñi āilāṅa tomāra mahimā śuniyā
tumi more stuti kara ’sannyāsī’ jāniyā

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “After hearing about your glories, I have come to your place. But you are offering Me words of praise out of respect for a sannyāsī, one in the renounced order of life.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that a mundane person, being enriched by mundane opulences, must always know that the transcendental opulences of the advanced devotees are far more important than the materialistic opulences of a person like himself. A materialistic person with material opulences should not be very proud or puffed up before a transcendental devotee If one approaches a transcendental devotee on the strength of one’s material heritage, opulence, education and beauty and does not offer respect to the advanced devotee of the Lord, the Vaiṣṇava devotee may offer formal respects to such a materially puffed-up person, but he may not deliver transcendental knowledge to him. Indeed, the devotee sees him as a non-brāhmaṇa or śūdra. Such a puffed-up person cannot understand the science of Kṛṣṇa. A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions. By His personal example, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explains how one should be submissive and humble before a Vaiṣṇava, even though one may be situated on a high platform. Such is the teaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the ācārya of the world, the supreme spiritual master and teacher.

Jayapatākā Swami: So one may consider Himself being very advanced by caste or by material qualification, or by gender, or something, but actually one becomes very humble to be an advanced devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.128

ye-kona avasthāya thākuna, kṛṣṇa-tattvavettāi divyajñānadātā :— 
kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ’guru’ haya

Translation: “Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra — regardless of what he is — he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa.”

Purport By Srila Prabhupada: This verse is very important to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that one should not think that because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born a brāhmaṇa and was situated in the topmost spiritual order as a sannyāsī, it was improper for Him to receive instructions from Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya, who belonged to the śūdra caste. To clarify this matter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Rāmānanda Rāya that knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is more important than caste. In the system of varṇāśrama-dharma there are various duties for the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras Actually, the brāhmaṇa is supposed to be the spiritual master of all other varṇas, or classes, but as far as Kṛṣṇa consciousness is concerned, everyone is capable of becoming a spiritual master because knowledge in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is on the platform of the spirit soul. To spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one need only be cognizant of the science of the spirit soul. It does not matter whether one is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, sannyāsī, gṛhastha or whatever. If one simply understands this science, he can become a spiritual master.

It is stated in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa that one should not accept initiation from a person who is not in the brahminical order if there is a fit person in the brahminical order present. This instruction is meant for those who are overly dependent on the mundane social order and is suitable for those who want to remain in mundane life. If one understands the truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and seriously desires to attain transcendental knowledge for the perfection of life, he can accept a spiritual master from any social status, provided the spiritual master is fully conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura also states that although one is situated as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacārī, vānaprastha, gṛhastha or sannyāsī, if he is conversant in the science of Kṛṣṇa he can become a spiritual master as vartma-pradarśaka-guru, dīkṣā-guru or śikṣā-guru. The spiritual master who first gives information about spiritual life is called the vartma-pradarśaka-guru, the spiritual master who initiates according to the regulations of the śāstras is called the dīkṣā-guru, and the spiritual master who gives instructions for elevation is called the śikṣā-guru Factually the qualifications of a spiritual master depend on his knowledge of the science of Kṛṣṇa. It does not matter whether he is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, sannyāsī or śūdra. This injunction given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not at all against the injunctions of the śāstras. In the Padma Purāṇa it is said:

na śūdrā bhagavad-bhaktās
te ’pi bhāgavatottamāḥ
sarva-varṇeṣu te śūdrā
ye na bhaktā janārdane

One who is actually advanced in spiritual knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is never a śūdra, even though he may have been born in a śūdra family. However, even if a vipra, or brāhmaṇa, is very expert in the six brahminical activities (paṭhana, pāṭhana, yajana, yājana, dāna, pratigraha) and is also well versed in the Vedic hymns, he cannot become a spiritual master unless he is a Vaiṣṇava. But if one is born in the family of caṇḍālas yet is well versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can become a guru. These are the śāstric injunctions, and strictly following these injunctions, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as a gṛhastha named Śrī Viśvambhara, was initiated by a sannyāsī-guru named Īśvara Purī. Similarly, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, a sannyāsī. According to others, however, He was initiated by Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha. Advaita Ācārya, although a gṛhastha, was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, and Śrī Rasikānanda, although born in a brāhmaṇa family, was initiated by Śrī Śyāmānanda Prabhu, who was not born in a caste brāhmaṇa family. There are many instances in which a born brāhmaṇa took initiation from a person who was not born in a brāhmaṇa family. The brahminical symptoms are explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.35), wherein it is stated:

yasya yal-lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam
yad anyatrāpi dṛśyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiśet

If a person is born in a śūdra family but has all the qualities of a spiritual master, he should be accepted not only as a brāhmaṇa but as a qualified spiritual master also. This is also the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura therefore introduced the sacred thread ceremony for all Vaiṣṇavas according to the rules and regulations.

Sometimes a Vaiṣṇava who is a bhajanānandī does not take the sāvitra-saṁskāra (sacred thread initiation), but this does not mean that this system should be used for preaching work. There are two kinds of Vaiṣṇavas — bhajanānandī and goṣṭhy-ānandī. A bhajanānandī is not interested in preaching work, but a goṣṭhy-ānandī is interested in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness to benefit the people and increase the number of Vaiṣṇavas. A Vaiṣṇava is understood to be above the position of a brāhmaṇa. As a preacher, he should be recognized as a brāhmaṇa; otherwise there may be a misunderstanding of his position as a Vaiṣṇava. However, a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa is not selected on the basis of his birth but according to his qualities. Unfortunately, those who are unintelligent do not know the difference between a brāhmaṇa and a Vaiṣṇava. They are under the impression that unless one is a brāhmaṇa he cannot be a spiritual master. For this reason only, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu makes the statement in this verse:

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ‘guru’ haya

If one becomes a guru, he is automatically a brāhmaṇa. Sometimes a caste guru says that ye kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei guru haya means that one who is not a brāhmaṇa may become a śikṣā-guru or a vartma-pradarśaka-guru but not an initiator guru. According to such caste gurus, birth and family ties are considered foremost. However, the hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaiṣṇavas. The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarśaka-guru, śikṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru. Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement cannot spread all over the world. According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s intentions, pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult must be preached all over the world. This does not mean that people should take to His teachings and remain śūdras or caṇḍālas. As soon as one is trained as a pure Vaiṣṇava, he must be accepted as a bona fide brāhmaṇa. This is the essence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions in this verse.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ‘guru’ haya, the one who has the knowledge of the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and in this way, they can be spiritual masters. It is not that brāhmaṇa should take initiation from gṛhastha-brāhmaṇa but Advaita Gosāñi took initiation from a sannyāsī Madhavendra Purī and Lord Caitanya who was a gṛhastha-brāhmaṇa took initiation from a sannyāsī, Īśvara Purī Mahārāja. So the real standard is that one should know the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness then naturally that person is a spiritual master. Now Śrīla Prabhupāda said that we should make an organization to empower people to become kṛṣṇa-tattva-vetta, the ācāryas or spiritual masters. Rāmānanda Rāya was such a spiritual master, and Lord Caitanya was referring that a person born as a śūdra can be a spiritual master. So Rāmānanda Rāya was a śūdra by birth but by qualification He was a pure Vaiṣṇava, he was Kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā therefore Lord Caitanya accepted him as a spiritual master.

So we continue tomorrow.