20231126 Chapter 7 Firm Devotion to the Worshipable Object (Part 1)

The following is a Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛtam class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja, on November 17th, 2023 in Śrī Dhāma 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!

Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛtam Chapter 6.56

amandodayadayā gaurahari vyatīta anyatra asambhava

The mercy awakening the good fortune other than Gaurahari is impossible elsewhere

kva sā niraṅkuśa-kṛpā
kva tad-vaibhavam adbhutam
kva sā vatsalatā
śaure gaure yādṛk tavātmani

He śūravaṃśapradīpa kṛṣṇa, tomāra gaurakalevare yādṛśī ahaitukīkṛpā, serūpa anyatra āra kothāya? Yerūpa sarvalokavismaya vaibhava, serūpai vā anyatra kothāya? Yerūpa bhakta-vatsalatā, serūpai vā āra kothāya?

O Kṛṣṇa! The light of Śūra dynasty! Where else is the type of causeless mercy in your form of Gaura? Where else is that type of opulence which amazes everyone? Where else is that affectionate mood?

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, He is being appreciated for His causeless mercy. Where else can such opulence be obtained? Where else will we find someone with such an affectionate mood? Lord Caitanya, He is very affectionate, very kind and he was wondering where will he get anyone like that, and it is kind of a hypothetical question, because he couldn’t think of anyone who has such a merciful affectionate, countenance. Every Personality of Godhead has a particular mood, and Lord Caitanya’s mood is mercy, affection. So, the author was convinced that he cannot find anyone so merciful, so kind as Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Chapter Seven

The chapter is entitled as:

Upāsya-niṣṭhā – Firm devotion to the worshipable object

Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛtam Chapter 7.57

anyopāsya parityāga-pūrvaka śruti-gūḍha gauraharii sakalera āśrayaṇīya—

Giving up all worship, everyone’s shelter is Gaurahari who is secretly described in the Śrutis

sva-tejasā kṛṣṇa-padāravinda-
mahā-rasāveśita-viśvam īśam
kam apy aśeṣa-śruti-gūḍha-veśaṁ
gaurāṅgam aṅgī-kuru mūḍha-cetaḥ

Gauranga! He mūḍhamate,—yini nijaprabhāve sva-svarūpa śrī-kṛṣṇa-pāda-padmera parama premarase viśvasaṁsārake anurakta kariyāchena, yini aśeṣa-śrutigaṇera madhye channabhāve praviṣṭa rahiyāchena arthāt yini vedaguhya, tumi sei anirvacanīya parameśvara śrī-gaurasundarerai pādapadma āśraya kara.

O foolish mind! Take shelter of the lotus feet of Gaurāṅga who made the world attached to the loving mellow of the lotus feet of His form of Kṛṣṇa, who has entered in a covered way among the unlimited Śrutis i.e., who is confidential to the Vedas and who is the undescribable Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, So Lord Caitanya, He is described in secret, so that people won’t understand and he is telling the mind to take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Gaurāṅga to make the world convinced by Lord Caitanya. So, Lord Caitanya, He gave that special taste which is incomparable. So, Lord Gaurāṅga wants to see everybody get the mercy and He, Lord Caitanya entered the śrutis.

Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛtam Chapter 7.58

vaidhabhāvottha kṛṣṇa-prema apekṣā gaurapradatta rasarahasyera adhika camatkāritā

The secret mellow given by Gaura is more amazing than the love of Kṛṣṇa created by the mood of vaidhī-bhakti

śravaṇa-manana-saṅkīrty-ādi-bhaktyā murārer
yadi parama-pumarthaṁ sādhayet ko’pi bhadram
mama tu param apāra-prema-pīyūṣa-sindhoḥ
kim api rasa-rahasyaṁ gaura-dhāmno namasyam

Yadi keha śravaṇa-kīrtanādi bhakti-yoge murārira ārādhanā kariyā parama-puruṣārtha sādhana karena, tāhā tini karuna. Āmāra kintu, sei apāra-prema-pīyuṣa-sindhu gaurakānti śrī-harira bhaktirase ye kichu nigūḍha prema-vastu nihita āche, tāhāi ekamātra bhajanīya.

If by performing the nine process of devotional service such as śravaṇa and saṅkīrtana, one achieves the supreme goal of life (love for Kṛṣṇa), well! Let them do that. But, my only worshipable object is whatever secret (love) is in the devotional mellow of Śrī Hari who is endowed with golden effulgence, who is the shoreless nectarean ocean of love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the author, he is admitting that simply by keeping the form of Gaura in front of him, he is hoping to get all the love of Kṛṣṇa. So, he is saying that you may get love of Kṛṣṇa by practicing the nine processes of devotional service, but he is simply going to take shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By that get the unlimited ocean of nectar of Lord Caitanya’s nectar. Lord Caitanya, He gives incomparable love of Kṛṣṇa. Others may try to get it some other way but he is convinced that the best way is to take - he is saying that Gaura is coming in a golden color and He is giving love which even the Vedas don’t understand. Hare Kṛṣṇa! Lord Caitanya had a special secret love and he, the author wants to get that love, that is what he is interested in. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Tomorrow is the last day of Bhīṣma Pañcaka you have to break your fast as soon as the sun sets and the moon rises. And you can take fruits and roots in the morning, but they won’t serve lunch, they will just give break-fast at 5 pm. Of course, tomorrow is the first day of the elephant procession and the last day of offering lamps and a sumptuous feast!