20211205 Sādhana-Bhakti – 1. Vaidhī-Bhakti, Sixty-Four Important Items of Devotional Service

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 5th December 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Sādhana-Bhakti – 1. Vaidhī-Bhakti, Sixty-Four Important Items of Devotional Service
Under the section: The Process of Devotional Service

Lord Caitanya continues His instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.104

(1) sādhana-bhaktira lakṣaṇa-varṇana—

ebe sādhana-bhakti-lakṣaṇa śuna, sanātana
yāhā haite pāi kṛṣṇa-prema-mahā-dhana

Translation: My dear Sanātana, please now hear about the regulative principles for the execution of devotional service. By this process, one can attain the highest perfection of love of Godhead, which is the most desirable treasure.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one starts devotional service by performing regulative principles, by executing this process one can achieve the highest perfection of life, pure love of Godhead.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.105

sādhanera saṁjñā: Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.2)

kṛti-sādhyā bhavet sādhya-bhāvā sā sādhanābhidhā
nitya-siddhasya bhāvasya prākaṭyaṁ hṛdi sādhyatā

Translation:  ‘When transcendental devotional service, by which love for Kṛṣṇa is attained, is executed by the senses, it is called sādhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the potentiality of devotional service in practice.’

Purport: This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.2). Because living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanted by a pure Vaiṣṇava. One who hears the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one’s mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam). When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Jayapatākā Swami: Just as a child has a dormant capacity to speak, he hears his parents and gradually he also speaks, similarly devotional service for Kṛṣṇa is dormant in every conditioned soul. By hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa māha-mantra and by associating with devotees, one's dormant devotional service is awakened which leads one to love of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.106

sādhana-bhaktira svarūpa o taṭastha-lakṣaṇa:—

śravaṇādi-kriyā—tāra ‘svarūpa’-lakṣaṇa
'taṭastha’-lakṣaṇe upajāya prema-dhana

Translation: The spiritual activities of hearing, chanting, remembering and so forth are the natural characteristics of devotional service. The marginal characteristic is that it awakens pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the nine practices of devotional service gradually awaken one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.107

nitya-siddha nirapekṣa śuddha (ananya kevala vā anukūla) abhidheya-dvārāi nitya-siddha svaprakāśa śuddha-prayojana-lābha—

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya

Translation: Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is a very important teaching, that all have that natural love of Kṛṣṇa lying dormant in their hearts. Simply by hearing and chanting and other processes of devotional service it gets awakened.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.108

sādhana-bhaktira bheda—(1) vaidhī o (2) rāgānugā—

ei ta sādhana-bhakti—dui ta’ prakāra
eka ‘vaidhī bhakti’, ‘rāgānugā-bhakti’ āra

Translation: There are two processes of practical devotional service. One is regulative devotional service, and the other is spontaneous devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: One first of all executes the regulative devotional service and if one takes it up spontaneously and tres to improve his devotional service, then that’s called rāgānugā-bhakti.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.109

(a) vaidhī-bhaktira varṇana o saṁjñā-nirdeśa—

rāga-hīna jana bhaje śāstrera ājñāya
‘vaidhī bhakti’ bali’ tāre sarva-śāstre gāya

Translation: Those who have not attained the platform of spontaneous attachment in devotional service render devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master according to the regulative principles mentioned in the revealed scriptures. According to the revealed scriptures, this kind of devotional service is called vaidhī-bhakti.

Purport: In the beginning, one has to hear from a bona fide spiritual master. This is favorable for advancing in devotional service. According to this process, one hears, chants, remembers and engages in Deity worship, acting under the directions of the spiritual master. These are the essential primary activities of devotional service. Devotional service must not be executed for some material purpose. One should not even have a desire to merge into the Absolute Truth. One has to render such service out of love only. Ahaitukī, apratihatā. Devotional service must be without ulterior motives; then material conditions cannot check it. Gradually one can rise to the platform of spontaneous loving service. A child is sent to school by force to receive an education, but when he gets a little taste of education at an advanced age, he automatically participates and becomes a learned scholar. One cannot force a person to become a scholar, but sometimes force is used in the beginning. A child is forced to go to school and read and write according to the instructions of his teachers. Such is the difference between vaidhī-bhakti and spontaneous bhakti. Dormant love for Kṛṣṇa exists in everyone’s heart, and it simply has to be awakened by the regulative process of devotional service. One has to learn to use a typewriter by following the regulative principles of the typing book. One has to place his fingers on the keys in such a way and practice, but when one becomes adept, he can type swiftly and correctly without even looking at the keys. Similarly, one has to follow the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are set down by the spiritual master; then one can come to the point of spontaneous loving service. This love is already there within the heart of everyone (nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema).

Spontaneous service is not artificial. One simply has to come to that platform by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles. Thus one has to practice hearing and chanting and follow the other regulative principles by washing the temple, cleansing oneself, rising early in the morning, attending maṅgala-ārati and so on. If one does not come to the platform of spontaneous service in the beginning, he must adopt regulative service according to the instructions of the spiritual master. This regulative service is called vaidhī-bhakti.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by performing of vaidhī-bhakti one can gradually achieve spontaneous bhakti.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.110

śrī-harirai śravaṇa, kīrtana o smaraṇa karivāra vidhi— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.1.5)—

tasmād bhārata sarvātmā bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca smartavyaś cecchatābhayam

Translation: O descendant of Bharata! O Mahārāja Parīkṣit! The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, who is the supreme controller, and who always removes the miseries of the living entities, must always be heard about from reliable sources, and He must be glorified and remembered by one who wishes to become fearless.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.5). It is one’s duty to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the hearing process. This is called śrotavyaḥ. If one has heard properly about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his duty is to glorify the Lord and preach His glories. This is called kīrtitavyaḥ. When one hears about the Lord and glorifies Him, it is natural to think of Him. This is called smartavyaḥ. All this must be carried out if one actually wants to be immune from fear.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the material world one is fearful because there is danger at every step and one can die at any time, but the one who is under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he became fearless, because living or dying he is connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.111

vaidhī-bhaktira prathame paramahaṁsāvasthā-lābhera pūrve daiva-varṇāśrama dharma-pālana; tāhāra utpatti — Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.5.2-3)—

mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha
catvāro jajñire varṇā guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

Translation: From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

Purport: This verse and the next are quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.112

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād ātma-prabhavam īśvaram
na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

Translation: If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the whole purpose of varṇāśrama system is to develop one’s love and devotion, for Lord Visnu. if one just maintains his position in varṇāśrama system but he doesn’t develop his devotional service to Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, then he falls down.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.113

viṣṇu-smṛtyuddīpaka pratyeka kriyāi ‘vidhi’, viṣṇu-smṛti-vināśaka pratyeka kriyāi ‘niṣedha’:— Padma Purāṇa vākya (72.100)—

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit
sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ

Translation: Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.’

Purport: This verse is a quotation from the Padma Purāṇa. There are many regulative principles in the śāstras and directions given by the spiritual master. These regulative principles should act as servants of the basic principle — that is, one should always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra twenty-four hours daily. One may have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must first abide by the spiritual master’s order to chant a certain number of rounds. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we have recommended that the neophyte chant at least sixteen rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one wants to remember Kṛṣṇa and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master’s order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential.

One may sell books or enlist life members or render some other service, but these duties are not ordinary duties. These duties serve as an impetus for remembering Kṛṣṇa. When one goes with a saṅkīrtana party or sells books, he naturally remembers that he is going to sell Kṛṣṇa’s books. In this way, he is remembering Kṛṣṇa. When one goes to enlist a life member, he talks about Kṛṣṇa and thereby remembers Him. Smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit. The conclusion is that one must act in such a way that he will always remember Kṛṣṇa, and one must refrain from doing things that make him forget Kṛṣṇa. These two principles form the basic background of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, always remembering Kṛṣṇa and never forgetting Him are the most important aspects of devotional service. Some people they don’t chant sixteen rounds, but they should know that by chanting it helps one ti remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.114

asaṁkhya vaidhī-bhaktira madhye 64ṭī bhaktyaṅga-varṇana—

vividhāṅga sādhana-bhaktira bahuta vistāra
 saṅkṣepe kahiye kichu sādhanāṅga-sāra

Translation: I shall say something about the various practices of devotional service, which is expanded in so many ways. I wish to speak briefly of the essential practices.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is teaching Sanātana Gosvāmī the essential practices of devotional services.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.115

guru-pādāśraya, dīkṣā, gurura sevana
sad-dharma-śikṣā-pṛcchā, sādhu-mārgānugamana

Translation: On the path of regulative devotional service, one must observe the following items: (1) One must accept a bona fide spiritual master. (2) One must accept initiation from him. (3) One must serve him. (4) One must receive instructions from the spiritual master and make inquiries in order to learn devotional service. (5) One must follow in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these five aspects are given first, that means they are the most important.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.116

kṛṣṇa-prītye bhoga-tyāga, kṛṣṇa-tīrthe vāsa
yāvan-nirvāha-pratigraha, ekādaśy-upavāsa

Translation: The next steps are as follows: (6) One should be prepared to give up everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction, and one should also accept everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction. (7) One must live in a place where Kṛṣṇa is present — a city like Vṛndāvana or Mathurā or a Kṛṣṇa temple. (8) One should acquire a livelihood that is just sufficient to keep body and soul together. (9) One must fast on the Ekādaśī day.

Jayapatākā Swami: If one cannot live in the holy dhāma or temple, they should make their house into a temple and one should observe the Ekādaśī fast.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.117

dhātry-aśvattha-go-vipra-vaiṣṇava-pūjana
sevā-nāmāparādhādi dūre visarjana

Translation: (10) One should worship dhātrī trees, banyan trees, cows, brāhmaṇas and devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. (11) One should avoid offenses against devotional service and the holy name.

There are ten items in the beginning of devotional service, up to the point of worshiping the dhātrī trees, banyan trees, cows, brāhmaṇas and devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. The eleventh item is to avoid offenses when rendering devotional service and chanting the holy names.

Jayapatākā Swami: The ten offenses to the chanting of the holy name one should avoid these and worship dhātrī trees also known amalakī trees

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.118

avaiṣṇava-saṅga-tyāga, bahu-śiṣya nā kariba
bahu-grantha-kalābhyāsa-vyākhyāna varjiba

Translation: The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations.

Purport: Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples is very risky for one who is not a preacher. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, a preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is risky because when a spiritual master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple’s sinful activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he cannot assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples and has to suffer the consequences. Therefore one is generally forbidden to accept many disciples.

One should not partially study a book just to pose oneself as a great scholar by being able to refer to scriptures. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we have therefore limited our study of the Vedic literatures to the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. These four works are sufficient for preaching purposes. They are adequate for the understanding of the philosophy and the spreading of missionary activities all over the world. If one studies a particular book, he must do so thoroughly. That is the principle. By thoroughly studying a limited number of books, one can understand the philosophy.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda had prescribed these four books and he says that people should study the books thoroughly and get degrees, Bhakti-Śāstrī, Bhakti-Vaibhava, Bhakti-Vedānta and Bhakti-Sārvabhauma which are basically studying these four books.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.119

hāni-lābhe sama, śokādira vaśa nā ha-iba
 anya-deva, anya-śāstra nindā nā kariba

Translation: (15) The devotee should treat loss and gain equally. (16) The devotee should not be overwhelmed by lamentation. (17) The devotee should not worship demigods, nor should he disrespect them. Similarly, the devotee should not study or criticize other scriptures.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here various do’s and don’ts are given. Demigods are devotees and they should not be worshipped as independent gods and at the same time, because they are devotees they should not be criticized.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.120

viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-nindā, grāmya-vārtā nā śuniba
 prāṇi-mātre mano-vākye udvega nā diba

Translation: (18) The devotee should not hear Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees blasphemed. (19) The devotee should avoid reading or hearing newspapers or mundane books that contain stories of love affairs between men and women or subjects palatable to the senses. (20) Neither by mind nor words should the devotee cause anxiety to any living entity, regardless how insignificant he may be.

Purport: The first ten items are do’s, and the second ten items are don’ts. Thus, the first ten items give direct action, and the second ten items give indirect action.

Jayapatākā Swami: One should avoid the activities mentioned in 11 to 20.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.121

śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, pūjana, vandana
paricaryā, dāsya, sakhya, ātma-nivedana

Translation: After one is established in devotional service, the positive actions are (1) hearing, (2) chanting, (3) remembering, (4) worshiping, (5) praying, (6) serving, (7) accepting servitorship, (8) becoming a friend and (9) surrendering fully.

Jayapatākā Swami: These are the nine practices of devotional service and the nine islands of Navadvīpa are connected with these nine practices.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.122

agre nṛtya, gīta, vijñapti, daṇḍavan-nati
abhyutthāna, anuvrajyā, tīrtha-gṛhe gati

Translation: One should also (10) dance before the Deity, (11) sing before the Deity, (12) open one’s mind to the Deity, (13) offer obeisances to the Deity, (14) stand up before the Deity and the spiritual master just to show them respect, (15) follow the Deity or the spiritual master and (16) visit different places of pilgrimage or go see the Deity in the temple.

Jayapatākā Swami: All these activities are special do's in relation to the deities.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.123

parikramā, stava-pāṭha, japa, saṅkīrtana
dhūpa-mālya-gandha-mahāprasāda-bhojana

Translation: One should (17) circumambulate the temple, (18) recite various prayers, (19) chant softly, (20) chant congregationally, (21) smell the incense and flower garlands offered to the Deity, and (22) eat the remnants of food offered to the Deity.

Jayapatākā Swami: Again these are the activities that are recommended to do mainly in relation to the deities of the temple

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.124

ārātrika-mahotsava-śrīmūrti-darśana
nija-priya-dāna, dhyāna, tadīya-sevana

Translation: One should (23) attend ārati and festivals, (24) see the Deity, (25) present what is very dear to oneself to the Deity, (26) meditate on the Deity, and (27-30) serve those related to the Lord.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.125

‘tadīya’—tulasī, vaiṣṇava, mathurā, bhagavata
ei cārira sevā haya kṛṣṇera abhimata

Translation: Tadīya means the tulasī leaves, the devotees of Kṛṣṇa, the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa (Mathurā), and the Vedic literature Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Kṛṣṇa is very eager to see His devotee serve tulasī, Vaiṣṇavas, Mathurā and Bhāgavatam.

Purport: After item twenty-six (meditation), the twenty-seventh is to serve tulasī, the twenty-eighth is to serve the Vaiṣṇavas, the twenty-ninth is to live in Mathurā, the birthplace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and the thirtieth is to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly.

Jayapatākā Swami: Navadvīpa dhāma is non-different from Mathurā Vṛndāvana and Śrīla Prabhupāda has prescribed these activities as part of our daily sādhana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.126

kṛṣṇārthe akhila-ceṣṭā, tat-kṛpāvalokana
janma-dinādi-mahotsava lañā bhakta-gaṇa

Translation: (31) One should perform all endeavors for Kṛṣṇa. (32) One should look forward to His mercy. (33) One should partake of various ceremonies with devotees — ceremonies like Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birthday or Rāmacandra’s birthday.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these are the things which are recommended to be done.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.127

sarvathā śaraṇāpatti, kārtikādi-vrata
‘catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi aṅga’ ei parama-mahattva

Translation: (34) One should surrender to Kṛṣṇa in all respects. (35) One should observe particular vows like kārttika-vrata. These are some of the sixty-four important items of devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: By executing these different activities, one is able to gradually awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, so these activities are recommended.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Sādhana-Bhakti – 1. Vaidhī-Bhakti, Sixty-Four Important Items of Devotional Service
Under the section: The Process of Devotional Service