Srila Prabhupada explains Ganga Sagara Mela
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 3: “The Status Quo” : SB 3.33: Activities of Kapila : SB 3.33.34 : PURPORT :
It is understood that Kapila Muni first went towards the Himalayas and traced the course of the River Ganges, and He again came to the delta of the Ganges at the sea now known as the Bay of Bengal. The ocean gave Him residence at a place still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, where the River Ganges meets the sea. That place is called Gaṅgā-sāgara-tīrtha, and even today people gather there to offer respects to Kapiladeva, the original author of the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy. Unfortunately, this Sāṅkhya system has been misrepresented by an imposter who is also named Kapila, but that other system of philosophy does not tally with anything described in the Sāṅkhya of Kapila in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.29: Talks Between Narada and King Pracinabarhi : SB 4.29.81 : PURPORT :
Śrīdhara Svāmī informs us that Kapilāśrama is located at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal, a place known now as Gaṅgā-sāgara. This place is still famous as a place of pilgrimage, and many millions of people gather there every year on the day of Makara-saṅkrānti and take bath. It is called Kapilāśrama because of Lord Kapila’s living there to perform His austerities and penances. Lord Kapila propounded the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy.
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus” : SB 5.17: The Descent of the River Ganges : SB 5.17.9 : PURPORT :
The place where the Ganges flows into the salt water of the Bay of Bengal is still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, or the meeting place of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. On Makara-saṅkrānti, in the month of January–February, thousands of people still go there to bathe, hoping to be liberated. That they can actually be liberated in this way is confirmed herein. For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great sacrifices like the Aśvamedha and Rājasūya yajñas are not at all difficult to achieve. Most people in India are still inclined to bathe in the Ganges, and there are many places where they can do so. At Prayāga (Allahabad), many thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā. Afterward, many of them go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to take bath there. Thus it is a special facility for all the people of India that they can bathe in the water of the Ganges at so many places of pilgrimage
Srila Prabhupada Quote
Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna for millions of years,
or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.
or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.
– Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, adi 3.79, purport
ACTUAL MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT
Śrīla Prabhupāda Says – [Regarding the actual meaning of ‘material advancement’]
[Letter to Rūpānuga: Hawaii 14 March 1969]
Your seventh question, “How is it that there is so much material “advancement” in the USA even though there is no formal demigod worship? Is a man after economic development automatically worshiping Lord Śiva whether he is making Yajña or not?” Actually there is no material advancement in the USA.
Material advancement means there is amply opportunity for eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Superficially, it appears that in the USA there is sufficient provision of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, but actually nobody is safe even in his good apartment. I have got practical experience in New York. Several times my typewriter and tape recorders were stolen and the police could not take any action. There are many persons in the Bowery street, they have no shelter to live. So if a certain fraction of the people are supposed to be very materially happy at the cost of others, that is not material advancement.
Had it been so, then why there are so many persons confused and frustrated? So actually there is no material advancement here. Here, I am seeing practically that Gaurasundara, such a nice intelligent and qualified boy, he has to work hard 12 hours simply for his subsistence. I think there are many instances like that, so this is not material advancement. You can call it capitalist advancement, and the reaction for such advancement is communism. Such movement is simply suppressed in your country, but actually the reaction is this.
So the Western type of civilization, industrialism and capitalism, is no material advancement. It is material exploitation. When one gets the bare necessities of life, namely peaceful home, sumptuous eating, necessary sex life, and feeling of security, then it is called material advancement.
In the absence of such four preliminary necessities of life, it is not at all material advancement—just try to understand. According to Vedic civilization, a man is supposed to be rich when he has got sufficient grains and cows. Here we have neither sufficient grains or cows, but you have got sufficient quantity of papers only—falsely thinking that it is money. When there is some catastrophe, this bunch of papers will neither supply milk or grain. They will be seen only and the man will starve.
Philippines Prabhupadanuga Sanga
The mercy of Gaura and Nitai and Their murtis
compiled by Padmapani dasa
The Prabhupada Connection
(Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Ottawa, Canada)
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.”
(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 1.2)
“Without the protection of Gaura-Nitāi — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma — one cannot get out of the dark well of ignorance in material existence. This is indicated here by the word nocet, which means that one will always remain in the dark well of material existence. The living entity must get strength from Nitāi-Gaura, or Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma. Without the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura, there is no way to come out of this dark well of ignorance. As stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (CC Adi 1.2):
vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nityānandau sahoditau
gauḍodaye puṣpavantau
citrau śandau tamo-nudau
‘I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.’ This material world is a dark well of ignorance. The fallen soul in this dark well must take shelter of the lotus feet of Gaura-Nitāi, for thus he can easily emerge from material existence. Without Their strength, simply attempting to get out of the clutches of matter by speculative knowledge will be insufficient.”
Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhupada tirobhava tithi [disapperance day] – Sri `Jagadisa Pandita Tirobhava Tithi
Sunday, January 41 2014 (Mayapura, West Bengal,India time)
Srila Jiva Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance]
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhupada
Compiled by Damaghosa dasa-and Yasoda nandana dasa
So far as my taking botheration in coming to your country, I must take this so-called botheration for Krishna. But what botheration I have taken? You know that the Goswamis were ministers in the government’s service and they left their posts for going to Vrindaban and living there just like paupers. They produced such great literature like Sandarbhas, by Jiva Goswami, and Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, by Rupa Goswami. Apparently they took so much botheration but they preferred to accept it because they were compassionate for the suffering humanity. Similarly, Lord Caitanya is Narayana Himself, and His wife, Visnupriya, is the Goddess of Fortune. Lord Caitanya was a very learned scholar, a very beautiful young brahmana, and He had a very affectionate mother, but Lord Caitanya Himself accepted the botheration voluntarily for the good of the human society and all living entities. We should always follow these footprints—not try to imitate, but to follow the same spirit of compassion for the conditioned soul and try to help them advance to Krishna Consciousness. Actually, in the service of Krishna there is no botheration. Rather we feel more transcendental pleasure. I hope you will more and more appreciate this status as you work combinedly with your very good husband, Gaurasundara.Letters : 1969 Correspondence : January : Letter to: Govinda — Los Angeles 26 January,1969
Rasa Lila
RASA LILA
Compiled by Damaghosa dasa
Has anybody seen this happen lately? I mean, Krsna ,when He dances with His thousands of gopi friends? No, I don’t think so and if anybody tells you different you should know you are most likely looking at a madman and a fool.
The highest form of religion or dharma is to engage in or even witness the Rasa lila of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Bhagavan Sri Krsna. Today it has become common place to want to hear about Rasa Lila,and that is why we have so many sahajiyas doing Bhagavat Saptaha-reciting Srimad Bhagavatam in 7 days, and usually they just skip right to the parts everybody wants to hear about-the apparent sex affairs of the Lord.
This business of so called “gopi lila” is very dangerous for the materialistic kanistha devotee. Why is it dangerous? It is dangerous because Maya devi makes one think he or she is engaging in the highest rasa or mellow possible with God-the conjugal affairs. Or even worse, that he is in fact God himself and that he can take any woman and call it rasa lila. Not only is it dangerous to think like that, but its even more dangerous to even want to hear about it-as long as one is a conditioned soul.
Srila Prabhupada put some of these pastimes in his Krsna book just to show the ultimate of dhama, which is Krsna Rasa Lila. But he also warned us to be careful. Better to put this one on the back burner and wait for the time that Supersoul and Srila Prabhupada grants us some mercy in this arena of Dharma.
Below we have three different passages where our Srila Prabhupada explains that this Gopi lila business was never discussed by Lord Caitanya in public- even with His own Panca Tattva !! Only three devotees, out of thousands were privy to this very confidential discussion.
Please read below to find out more on this matter.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
Nov 16 1968 LA
meeting. It is most confidential. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu never discussed. He discussed Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, līlāwith gopīs, with His confidential, very confidential circle. Or those who are… Lord Caitanya had many thousands of followers, and… He was not discussing even within these five persons, śrī–kṛṣṇa–caitanya prabhu–nityānanda śrī–advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi, Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa, and Himself, these five persons. So when He was at Navadvīpa, He was not discussing even with them, what to speak of others. He set up this example so that in future people may be very cautious. Because unless one understands what is Kṛṣṇa, how he can understand Kṛṣṇa’s pastime? So this discussion of rasa–līlā is the summit of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is not ordinary thing. They’re purely spiritual. There is nothing material. But because we are not completely free from material concept of life, we may think that Kṛṣṇa’s līlā is something like this material. So that is offense. But that is the ultimate goal, to understand Kṛṣṇa’s rasa–līlā. But you have to wait for relishing that Kṛṣṇa’s rasa–līlā, to become more perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Anarthāpagamam. Anartha means when one is freed from all anarthas. But it is so nice, even those who are with anartha, misgivings, if they are devotee, if they have got full surrender unto Kṛṣṇa, so they also will derive benefit. Kṛṣṇa’s rasa–līlā means that Kṛṣṇa was adopted or foster child. Is that foster child? Yes. So, of Nanda Mahārāja. His father exchanged. His father Vasudeva wanted to save Kṛṣṇa, and he brought from Mathurā to Vṛndāvana, Gokula. And Nanda Mahārāja had a daughter. So he placed Kṛṣṇa on the lap of Yaśodā and took away the daughter, and this daughter was given to Kaṁsa for killing. Just see, there is selfishness. He wanted to save his own son and wanted to kill Yaśodā’s daughter. (chuckling) You see? So this is not selfishness; therefore we shall misunderstand. That daughter was not ordinary child, she was the material energy herself, Durgā. So when Kaṁsa took that child by the leg and wanted to, what is called? Slash? Smash, yes. Smash on the stone, the daughter slipped from his hand and appeared as Durgā, that “You fool, you want to kill me. The boy, the child who will kill you, is already born. Don’t try for killing me. He’s already born.”
july 31 1973 london
These rascals, they do not know what is Kṛṣṇa. They think Kṛṣṇa is ordinary man. “Why He is engaging Arjuna in the fighting? Why He is dancing with others’ daughter and girls? These are immoral things.” Therefore, this rasa dance should not be discussed among the fools and rascals. They’ll misunderstand. Although the professional reciters, they take part, whenever they speak of Bhāgavata, they immediately jump over the rasa dance. That is not to be done. CaitanyaMahāprabhu never indulged in such thing. For mass of people He engaged Himself in saṅkīrtana. And when Kṛṣṇa’s dealing with the gopīs were discussed, He was discussing amongst three selected devotees: Rāmānanda Rāya, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śikhi Māhati. He had thousands and thousands of devotees, but He never discussed Kṛṣṇa’s rasa-līlā in the mass of people, never did it. Therefore it is restricted. Because they will misunderstand. These rascals, they do not know what is Kṛṣṇa, and they will misunderstand. They will be polluted. Of course, not polluted. Because after all, they will hear about Kṛṣṇa. But they may misunderstand. That is against their making progress to the spiritual life.
Room Conversation — August 16, 1976, Bombay : 760816rc.bom
Similarly, these rascals are giving evidence of Rūpa Gosvāmī’s advice, that “Here is Rādhā-kuṇḍa…” But whether you have followed other things.
Guest: Vāco vegaṁ manasaḥ…
Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Vāco vegaṁ manasaḥ krodha-vegaṁ, pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt. Etān vegān yo viṣa… You are manipulated by the udara-vegam, upastha-vegam. First there is test: etān vegān yo viṣaheta dhīraḥ [NoI 1]. Then for him Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Dhīras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. He has got three dozen sevā-dāsī, and living in Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
My Guru Mahārāja wanted to publish Govinda-līlāmṛta. He asked permission of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. So first of all Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, “I’ll tell you some day.” And when he reminded, he said, “Yes you can print one copy. If you are so much anxious to print it, print one copy. You’ll read and you will see that you have printed. Not for distribution.” So we are printing all these books for understanding properly. Not that “Here is Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Let us go.” Jump over like monkey. “Here is rāsa-līlā. Immediately…”
Acyutānanda: Even in Kṛṣṇa book rāsa-līlā should not be told in public.
Srila Prabhupāda: No, why? Kṛṣṇa book must be there, in the book must be there.
Acyutānanda: But in public…
Srila Prabhupāda: But you should go gradually. You should go gradually. You first of all understand Kṛṣṇa, then kṛṣṇa-līlā. If you have not understood Kṛṣṇa, then you’ll think Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā is just like we mix with young women. And that becomes as polluted. Because they do not understand Kṛṣṇa. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānām [Bg. 7.3]. Kṛṣṇa understanding so easy? If you do not understand Kṛṣṇa how can you go to the Kṛṣṇa’s confidential activities?
Acyutānanda: Some of the devotees, they said that it is for liberated souls. So they said, “Well, we are all liberated.”
Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Liberated for going to hell.1976 Conversations : August, 1976 : Room Conversation — August 16, 1976, Bombay : 760816rc.bom
Sri Jagadisa Pandita Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day of Sri Jagadisa Pandita]
Srila Prabhupada explains the unique position of Jagadisa Pandita
Sunday, January 1, 2017, [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
jagadīśa paṇḍita, āra hiraṇya mahāśaya
yāre kṛpā kaila bālye prabhu dayāmaya
SYNONYMS
jagadīśa paṇḍita—of the name Jagadīśa Paṇḍita; āra—and; hiraṇya—of the name Hiraṇya; mahāśaya—great personality; yāre—unto whom; kṛpā—mercy; kaila—showed; bālye—in childhood; prabhu—the Lord; dayāmaya—merciful.
TRANSLATION
The thirty-first branch was Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, and the thirty-second was Hiraṇya Mahāśaya, unto whom Lord Caitanya in His childhood showed His causeless mercy.
PURPORT
Jagadīśa Paṇḍita was formerly a great dancer in kṛṣṇa–līla and was known as Candrahāsa. Regarding Hiraṇya Paṇḍita, it is said that once when Lord Nityānanda, decorated with valuable jewels, was staying at his home, a great thief attempted all night long to plunder these jewels but was unsuccessful. Later he came to Nityānanda Prabhu and surrendered unto Him/ Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Sub-branches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.70 :
Sri Uddharana dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Monday, December 26, 2016
Mayapura, West Bengal, India time
Sri Uddharana dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Sri Mahesha Pandita tirobhava tithi
compiled by Damaghosa dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa
mahā-bhāgavata-śreṣṭha datta uddhāraṇa
sarva-bhāve seve nityānandera caraṇa
Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda in all respects
Purport
The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 129, states that Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura was formerly the cowherd boy of Vṛndāvana named Subāhu. Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura, previously known as Śrī Uddhāraṇa Datta, was a resident of Saptagrāma, which is situated on the bank of the Sarasvatī River near the Triśabighā railway station in the district of Hugalī. At the time of Uddhāraṇa Ṭhākura, Saptagrāma was a very big town, encompassing many other places such as Vāsudeva–pura, Bāṅśabeḍiyā, Kṛṣṇapura, Nityānanda–pura, Śivapura, Śaṅkhanagara and Saptagrāma.
Calcutta was developed under British rule by the influential mercantile community, and especially by the suvarṇa–vaṇik community who came down from Saptagrāma to establish their businesses and homes all over Calcutta. They were known as the Saptagrāmī mercantile community of Calcutta, and most of them belonged to the Mullik and Sil families. More than half of Calcutta belonged to this community, as did Śrīla Uddhāraṇa Ṭhākura. Our paternal family also came from this district and belonged to the same community. The Mulliks of Calcutta are divided into two families, namely, the Sil family and De family. All the Mulliks of the De family originally belong to the same family and gotra. We also formerly belonged to the branch of the De family whose members, intimately connected with the Muslim rulers, received the title Mullik.
In the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Antya–khaṇḍa, Chapter Five, it is said that Uddhāraṇa Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaiṣṇava. He was born with the right to worship Nityānanda Prabhu. It is also stated that Nityānanda Prabhu, after staying for some time in Khaḍadaha, came to Saptagrāma and stayed in the house of Uddhāraṇa Datta. The suvarṇa–vaṇik community to which Uddhāraṇa Datta belonged was actually a Vaiṣṇava community. Its members were bankers and gold merchants (suvarṇa means “gold,” and vaṇik means “merchant”). Long ago there was a misunderstanding between Balla Sena and the suvarṇa–vaṇik community because of the great banker Gaurī Sena. Balla Sena was taking loans from Gaurī Sena and spending money extravagantly, and therefore Gaurī Sena stopped supplying money. Balla Sena took revenge by instigating a social conspiracy to make the suvarṇa-vaṇiks outcastes, and since then they have been ostracized from the higher castes, namely, the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. But by the grace of Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, the suvarṇa–vaṇik community was again elevated. It is said in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, yateka vaṇik–kula uddhāraṇa haite pavitra ha–ila dvidhā nāhika ihāte: there is no doubt that all the community members of the suvarṇa–vaṇik society were again purified by Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
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In the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Antya–khaṇḍa, Chapter Five, it is said that Uddhāraṇa Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaiṣṇava. He was born with the right to worship Nityānanda Prabhu. It is also stated that Nityānanda Prabhu, after staying for some time in Khaḍadaha, came to Saptagrāma and stayed in the house of Uddhāraṇa Datta. The suvarṇa–vaṇik community to which Uddhāraṇa Datta belonged was actually a Vaiṣṇava community. Its members were bankers and gold merchants (suvarṇa means “gold,” and vaṇik means “merchant”). Long ago there was a misunderstanding between Balla Sena and the suvarṇa–vaṇik community because of the great banker Gaurī Sena. Balla Sena was taking loans from Gaurī Sena and spending money extravagantly, and therefore Gaurī Sena stopped supplying money. Balla Sena took revenge by instigating a social conspiracy to make the suvarṇa-vaṇiks outcastes, and since then they have been ostracized from the higher castes, namely, the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. But by the grace of Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, the suvarṇa–vaṇik community was again elevated. It is said in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, yateka vaṇik–kula uddhāraṇa haite pavitra ha–ila dvidhā nāhika ihāte: there is no doubt that all the community members of the suvarṇa–vaṇik society were again purified by Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
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