20211115 Three Principal Forms of Bhagavān -2.tad-ekātma-rūpa - b.svāṁsa (Personal Expansions) – 2.līlāvatāra, 3.guṇāvatāra

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation

By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 15^th November 2021 in

Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, 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

Introduction: Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Three Principal Forms of Bhagavān -2.tad-ekātma-rūpa - b.svāṁsa (Personal Expansions) – 2.līlāvatāra, 3.guṇāvatāra

Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.296

(b) līlāvatāra varṇana –

puruṣāvatārera ei kailuṅ nirūpaṇa
līlāvatāra ebe śuna, sanātana

Translation: “O Sanātana, I have definitively described the three puruṣa-avatāras of Viṣṇu. Now please hear from Me about the pastime incarnations.

Jayapatākā Swami: Another category of incarnations are pastimes incarnations. Lord Caitanya will describe those to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.297

asaṁkhya līlāvatārera madhye 25 mūrti mukhya –

līlāvatāra kṛṣṇera nā yāya gaṇana
pradhāna kariyā kahi dig-daraśana

Translation: “No one can count the innumerable pastime incarnations of Lord Kṛṣṇa, but I shall describe the principal ones.

Jayapatākā Swami: There are countless pastimes avatāras of the Lord. It is not possible to describe all of them. So, Lord Caitanya is going to describe the principal ones.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.298

matsya, kūrma, raghunātha, nṛsiṁha, vāmana
varāhādi—lekhā yāṅra nā yāya gaṇana

Translation: “Some of the pastime incarnations are the fish incarnation, the tortoise incarnation, Lord Rāmacandra, Lord Nṛsiṁha, Lord Vāmana and Lord Varāha. There is no end to them.

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the prominent incarnations which appeared in our universe are mentioned here.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.299

śāstra-pramāṇa –
Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.2.40)

matsyāśva-kacchapa-nṛsiṁha-varāha-haṁsa-
rājanya-vipra-vibudheṣu kṛtāvatāraḥ
tvaṁ pāsi nas tri-bhuvanaṁ ca tathādhuneśa
bhāraṁ bhuvo hara yadūttama vandanaṁ te

Translation: “‘O Lord of the universe, best of the Yadu dynasty, we are offering our prayers unto You mainly to diminish the heavy burden of the universe. Indeed, You diminished this burden formerly by incarnating in the form of a fish, a horse [Hayagrīva], a tortoise, a lion [Lord Nṛsiṁha], a boar [Lord Varāha] and a swan. You also incarnated as Lord Rāmacandra, Paraśurāma and Vāmana, the dwarf. You have always protected us demigods and the universe in this way. Now please continue.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.40).

Jayapatākā Swami: Here the demigods are mentioned how different līlā-avatāras, or pastime incarnations help the demigods overcome the insurmountable obstacles.

Caitana Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.300

(c) guṇāvatāratrya- varṇana –

līlāvatārera kailuṅ dig-daraśana
guṇāvatārera ebe śuna vivaraṇa

Translation: “I have given a few examples of pastime incarnations. Now I will describe the guṇa-avatāras, the incarnations of the material qualities. Please listen.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is describing some of the different categories of avatāras.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.301

tinajana—tinaṭī kāryera karttā –

brahmā, viṣṇu, śiva,—tina guṇa avatāra
tri-guṇa aṅgīkari’ kare sṛṣṭy-ādi-vyavahāra

Translation: “There are three functions within this material world. Everything here is created, everything is maintained for some time, and everything is finally dissolved. The Lord therefore incarnates Himself as the controllers of the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa [goodness, passion and ignorance]. Thus the transactions of the material world take place.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here the guna-avatāra the different incarnations who are in-charge of different modes of nature are mentioned by Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.302

(1) rajoguṇe brahmā,— kakhanao mahattama jīvera vairājabrahmatva, kakhanao tadabhāve garbhodaśāyīrai hiraṇyagarbha-brahmatva –

bhakti-miśra-kṛta-puṇye kona jīvottama
rajo-guṇe vibhāvita kari’ tāṅra mana

Translation: “Because of his past pious activities mixed with devotional service, the first-class living entity is influenced by the mode of passion within his mind.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.303

garbhodakaśāyi-dvārā śakti sañcāri’
vyaṣṭi sṛṣṭi kare kṛṣṇa brahmā-rūpa dhari’

Translation: “Such a devotee is empowered by Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. In this way, an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa in the form of Brahmā engineers the total creation of the universe.

Purport: The Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu puruṣa-avatāra expansion of Lord Viṣṇu accepts the material modes — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa — and thus incarnates as Lord Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva. These are incarnations of the material qualities. Among the many superior living entities qualified with pious activities and devotional service, one, called Lord Brahmā, is infused with the quality of passion by the supreme will of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Thus Lord Brahmā becomes the incarnation of the creative energy of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Brahmā is normally an individual living entity but he is empowered by the Lord, so he takes up the mode of passion so he can do the secondary creation of the entire universe, which is known as visarga.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.304

Brahma-saṁhitāya (5.49)—

bhāsvān yathāśma-sakaleṣu nijeṣu tejaḥ
svīyaṁ kiyat prakaṭayaty api tadvad atra
brahmā ya eṣa jagad-aṇḍa-vidhāna-kartā
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation: “‘The sun manifests his brilliance in a gem, although it is stone. Similarly, the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, manifests His special power in a pious living entity. Thus the living entity becomes Brahmā and manages the affairs of the universe. Let me worship Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.49).

Jayapatākā Swami: We see how a living entity is being empowered by the Lord and he is able to do the function of Lord Brahmā, to create the universe and manage its affairs.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.305

kona kalpe yadi yogya jīva nāhi pāya
āpane īśvara tabe aṁśe ‘brahmā’ haya

Translation: “If in a kalpa a suitable living entity is not available to take charge of Brahmā’s post, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself personally expands and becomes Lord Brahmā.

Purport: One day of Brahmā consists of the four yugas multiplied a thousand times — or, according to solar calculations, 4,320,000,000 years — and such also is the duration of his night. One year of Brahmā’s life consists of 360 such days and nights, and Brahmā lives for one hundred such years. Such is the life of a Brahmā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, normally Brahmā is very pious and Kṛṣṇa conscious living entity, who is empowered by Kṛṣṇa through the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, However, if no one is found who has enough piety to become Brahmā then Kṛṣṇa expands Himself to be the Brahmā in that universe.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.306

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.68.37)—

yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajo ’khila-loka-pālair
mauly-uttamair dhṛtam upāsita-tīrtha-tīrtham
brahmā bhavo ’ham api yasya kalāḥ kalāyāḥ
śrīś codvahema ciram asya nṛpāsanaṁ kva

Translation: “‘What is the value of a throne to Lord Kṛṣṇa? The masters of the various planetary systems accept the dust of His lotus feet on their crowned heads. That dust makes the holy places sacred, and even Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lakṣmī and I Myself, who are all portions of His plenary portion, eternally carry that dust on our heads.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.68.37). When the Kauravas flattered Baladeva so that He would become their ally and spoke ill of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord Baladeva became angry and spoke this verse.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this verse explains how Kṛṣṇa is worshippable and even He, Lord Balarāma worships Kṛṣṇa and all the great personalities take the dust from Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet on their heads.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.307

(2) tamoguṇe rudra; māyāsaṅgirūpe garbhodaśāyīrai rudratva –

nijāṁśa-kalāya kṛṣṇa tamo-guṇa aṅgīkari’
saṁhārārthe māyā-saṅge rudra-rūpa dhari

Translation: “Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expands a portion of His plenary portion and, accepting the association of the material mode of ignorance, assumes the form of Rudra to dissolve the cosmic manifestation.

Purport: This is a description of the Rudra form, which is another expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Only viṣṇu-mūrtis are expansions of Kṛṣṇa’s personal and plenary portions. Mahā-Viṣṇu, who lies on the Causal Ocean, is an expansion of Saṅkarṣaṇa. When Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu accepts the material modes of nature for the purpose of dissolving the cosmic manifestation, His form is called Rudra. As already explained, Lord Viṣṇu is the controller of māyā. How, then, can He associate with māyā? The conclusion is that the incarnation of Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā indicates the absence of the supreme power of Viṣṇu. When the supreme power is not there, it is possible to associate with māyā, the external energy. Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are to be considered creations of māyā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this explains the difference between His forms as Lord Rudra and Lord Brahmā. While Lord Rudra is considered like yoghurt and Viṣṇu is like milk. So, yoghurt is nothing but milk, but it is not milk it is changed. Rudra is empowered by Kṛṣṇa but he is missing some of the powers of Viṣṇu, is therefore Rudra and Brahmā are never to be considered on the same platform as Lord Viṣṇu.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.308

kṛṣṇera svāṁśarūpe vastutaḥ abhinnāṁśa īśvara-koṭi haiyāo rudra—

māyāsaṅgavikāre jagatsaṁhārakarūpe vibhinnāṁśa jīva –

māyā-saṅga-vikārī rudra—bhinnābhinna rūpa
jīva-tattva nahe, nahe kṛṣṇera ‘svarūpa’

Translation: “Rudra, Lord Śiva, has various forms, which are transformations brought about by association with māyā. Although Rudra is not on a level with the jīva-tattvas, he still cannot be considered a personal expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Purport: Rudra is simultaneously one with and different from the viṣṇu-tattva. Due to his association with māyā, he is different from the viṣṇu-tattva, but at the same time he is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s personal form. This situation is called bhedābheda-tattva or acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, simultaneously one and different.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Brahmā has fifty qualities and Lord Śiva, he has five more He has fifty-five and Viṣṇu has sixty, and Viṣṇu is the direct expansion of Krsna who has sixty-four qualities. So, according to Parāśara Muni, Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His expansions as Viṣṇu are almost same as Him. But Lord Śiva who is greater all living entity, he still has five qualities less than Viṣṇu. SO, therefore He is not considered on the same level as Lord Viṣṇu. But He is more powerful than Lord Brahmā, who has fifty qualities but all sixty-four are in Kṛṣṇa. But the other living entities have the fifty qualities in lesser degree.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.309

rudrera bhedābheda-prakāśatvera upamā—dugdha o dadhira dṛṣṭānta —

dugdha yena amla-yoge dadhi-rūpa dhare
dugdhāntara vastu nahe, dugdha haite nāre

Translation: “Milk is transformed into yogurt when it associates with a yogurt culture. Thus yogurt is nothing but milk, but still it is not milk.

Purport: Of the three deities supervising the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe, Lord Viṣṇu is never separate from the original Viṣṇu. However, Lord Śiva and Brahmā, due to their association with māyā, are different from Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu cannot be transformed into any form of material energy. Whenever there is association with māyā, the personality involved must be different from Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are called guṇa-avatāras, for they associate with the material qualities. The conclusion is that Rudra is not exactly Lord Viṣṇu but rather a transformation of Viṣṇu. Therefore, he does not come within the category of the viṣṇu-tattvas. Thus he is inconceivably one with Viṣṇu and different from Him. The example given in this verse is very clear. Milk is compared to Viṣṇu. As soon as milk touches a sour substance, it becomes yogurt, or Lord Śiva. Although yogurt is constitutionally milk, it cannot be used in place of milk.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the transcendental Lord is known as Viṣṇu-tattva and the living entity is known as jīva-tattva , in between the Viṣṇu tattva and Jīva-tattva there is Rudra-tattva.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.310

Brahma-saṁhitāya (5.45)—

kṣīraṁ yathā dadhi vikāra-viśeṣa-yogāt
 sañjāyate na tu tataḥ pṛthag asti hetoḥ
yaḥ śambhutām api tathā samupaiti kāryād
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation: “‘Milk changes into yogurt when mixed with a yogurt culture, but actually it is constitutionally nothing but milk. Similarly, Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the form of Lord Śiva [Śambhu] for the special purpose of material transactions. I offer my obeisances at His lotus feet.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.45).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.311

rudra o viṣṇura pārthakya –

‘śiva’—māyā-śakti-saṅgī, tamo-guṇāveśa
māyātīta, guṇātīta ‘viṣṇu’—parameśa

Translation: “Lord Śiva is an associate of the external energy; therefore he is absorbed in the material quality of darkness. Lord Viṣṇu is transcendental to māyā and the qualities of māyā. Therefore He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport: Viṣṇu is beyond the range of the material manifestation, and He is not within the control of the material energy. He is the supreme independent Personality of Godhead. This is admitted even by Śaṅkarācārya: nārāyaṇaḥ paro ’vyaktāt (Gītā-bhāṣya). In his constitutional form, Śiva is a mahā-bhāgavata, a supreme devotee of the Lord, but because he accepts māyā’s association — especially the quality of ignorance — he is not free from māyā’s influence. Such an intimate association is completely absent in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Lord Śiva accepts māyā, but in the presence of Lord Viṣṇu, māyā does not exist. Consequently Lord Śiva has to be considered a product of māyā. When Lord Śiva is free from māyā’s influence, he is in the position of a mahā-bhāgavata, a supreme devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu is always above the material nature, although since Śiva is associated with māyā he is slightly changed, by losing some of the supreme powers of Lord Viṣṇu, although he is more than the living entitites.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.312

vyavahārataḥ rudra sarvadā guṇamāyā-milita –

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.88.3, 5)—

śivaḥ śakti-yuktaḥ śaśvat
tri-liṅgo guṇa-saṁvṛtaḥ
vaikārikas taijasaś ca
tāmasaś cety ahaṁ tridhā

Translation: “‘The truth about Lord Śiva is that he is always covered with three material coverings — vaikārika, taijasa and tāmasa. Because of these three modes of material nature, he always associates with the external energy and egotism itself.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.3).

Jayapatākā Swami: The potency of false ego is manifested through Lord Śiva. At the same time he is considered the greatest devotee of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.313

harir hi nirguṇaḥ sākṣāt
puruṣaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ
sa sarva-dṛg upadraṣṭā
taṁ bhajan nirguṇo bhavet

Translation: “‘Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated beyond the range of material nature; therefore He is the supreme transcendental person. He can see everything inside and outside; therefore He is the supreme overseer of all living entities. If someone takes shelter at His lotus feet and worships Him, he also attains a transcendental position.’

Purport: This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.5).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one can become transcendentally situated by taking shelter of Lord Hari.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.314

(3) sattvaguṇe viṣṇu garbhodaśāyīrai vilāsa, kṛṣṇera kalā —

pālanārtha svāṁśa viṣṇu-rūpe avatāra
sattva-guṇa draṣṭā, tāte guṇa-māyā-pāra

Translation: “For the maintenance of the universe, Lord Kṛṣṇa descends as His personal plenary expansion in the form of Viṣṇu. He is the director of the mode of goodness; therefore He is transcendental to the material energy.

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa through His expansion of Viṣṇu maintains the material universe and He is always above the material energy. He exist before the universe and He exists after it.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.315

svarūpa—aiśvarya-pūrṇa, kṛṣṇa-sama prāya
kṛṣṇa aṁśī, teṅho aṁśa, vede hena gāya

Translation: “Lord Viṣṇu is in the category of svāṁśa because He has opulences almost equal to Kṛṣṇa’s. Kṛṣṇa is the original person, and Lord Viṣṇu is His personal expansion. This is the verdict of all Vedic literatures.

Purport: Although an incarnation of the material energy, Lord Brahmā is nonetheless the director of the material mode of passion. Similarly, Lord Śiva, although simultaneously one with and different from Lord Kṛṣṇa, is still the incarnation of the mode of darkness. However, Lord Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa’s personal expansion; therefore He is the director of the mode of goodness and is always transcendentally situated, beyond the jurisdiction of the modes of material nature. Lord Viṣṇu is the original personal expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is the original source of all incarnations. As far as power is concerned, Lord Viṣṇu is as powerful as Lord Kṛṣṇa because He possesses all the opulences.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa through His personal expansions, he is maintaining all the universes and spiritual sky has various expansions which are non-different from Him Kṛṣṇa. But they have almost all the same power as Kṛṣṇa, just Kṛṣṇa has four additional features.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.316

dīpera dṛṣṭānta —

Brahma-saṁhitāya (5.46)

dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya
dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā
yas tādṛg eva hi ca viṣṇutayā vibhāti
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation: “‘When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in a different position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful as the original candle’s. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, expands Himself in different forms as Viṣṇu, who is equally luminous, powerful and opulent. Let me worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.46).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way we can see that Kṛṣṇa by expanding Himself, he doesn’t diminish in power rather one candle can light many candles. Kṛṣṇa can have many expansions and all these expansions have equal powers.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.317

brahmā o śiva—vaśya-tattva o kṛṣṇa haite bhinnākṛti; viṣṇu—īśa-tattva o kṛṣṇera samākṛti—

brahmā, śiva—ājñā-kārī bhakta-avatāra
pālanārthe viṣṇu—kṛṣṇera svarūpa-ākāra

Translation: “The conclusion is that Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are simply devotee incarnations who carry out orders. However, Lord Viṣṇu, the maintainer, is the personal feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā have to take the orders from Lord Viṣṇu, and Viṣṇu is always in a transcendental position.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.318

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.6.32)—

sṛjāmi tan-niyukto ’haṁ
haro harati tad-vaśaḥ
viśvaṁ puruṣa-rūpeṇa
paripāti tri-śakti-dhṛk

Translation: “[Lord Brahmā said:] ‘I am engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to create. Following His orders, Lord Śiva dissolves everything. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Viṣṇu.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.6.32). Lord Brahmā gave this information to Devaṛṣi Nārada when he was receiving instructions from Lord Brahmā to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramātmā. After describing the universal form of the Lord, Lord Brahmā explained that his position and Lord Śiva’s position are controlled by Lord Viṣṇu.

Jayapatākā Swami: This gives us the basic understanding why both Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are different from Lord Viṣṇu. It is described here that Viṣṇu is always transcendental and He gives them the order. 

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Three Principal Forms of Bhagavān -2.tad-ekātma-rūpa - b.svāṁsa (Personal Expansions) – 2.līlāvatāra, 3.guṇāvatāra

Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth

So, these details are very complicated, but this is how the Absolute Truth manifests, so Lord Caitanya is instructing this to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who in turn writes in various books.

Transcribed and Verified by JPS Archives 18^th November 2021