20210930 Question and Answers

Question: Bengali: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He was to go with lakhs and lakhs of people to Vṛndāvana, then He returned. And He expressed that it was not advisable to go with so many devotees to Vṛndāvana. Then Guru Mahārāja, should we not bring lots of devotees to Vṛndāvana or Navadvīpa? What is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu trying to tell us through this pastime, līlā?

Jayapatākā Swami: So many lakhs and lakhs of people were going along with Lord Caitanya. Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He went to Vṛndāvana He would experience intense feelings. In case if we went with so many devotees, He would not have been able to experience and meditate on the Vṛndāvana pastimes of the Lord. But we do this Navadvīpa parikramā and Vṛndāvana parikramā along with thousand or two thousand people. But as far as we are concerned, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and Śrīla Prabhupāda did this with the devotees. If we do the way they did, there is no problem. For us, to meditate on the pastimes of the Lord is easier when we do the parikramā in the association of devotees. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as far as His position was concerned, it was a different situation.

Śrīrūpa Mādhavī devī dāsī, Māyāpur: After both baby Kṛṣṇa and baby Yogamāyā got exchanged. Yogamāyā came to the prison, and flew from the hands of King Kaṁsa. When was she raised to Subhadrā Mayī?

Jayapatākā Swami: Subhadrā Devī is also a daughter of Vasudeva. And as sister of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma she grew up in Vṛndāvana. And that she is the same Yogamāyā that appeared to Kṛṣṇa is not clear.

Aravindākṣa Govinda dāsa, Bhopal: How the disciples should seek forgiveness from the guru?

Jayapatākā Swami: Sincerely one should seek forgiveness.