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His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ki Jai!

 

The more we witness the perverse goings-on in the present-day world, the more we desperately feel the need for a charismatic, compassionate and divine personality like Sri Krishna Chaitanya more than ever today. Mahaprabhu appeared at a time that must have been not too vastly different from what we see today – unempathetic rulers, restrictive caste and religious strictures; blind faith; deterioration of human values; violence and intolerance. 

Within the Hindu religion itself there was strident disagreement between Vedantists, Shaktas and Buddhists. Each claimed to be superior to the other.  Each tried to pull the other down. Success and skill in debate was considered the height of intellectual achievement.  The spiritual essence did not matter. The scriptures were interpreted according to one’s own interest and to beguile the masses.  

The Muslim rulership of the day strategically ignored the various sects while they ruled the country with an iron hand.  They took care not to intervene in the disputes of the various Hindu philosophical schools and continued to benefit from the strife.

Fraudulent and egotistic persons assumed positions of power and kept the people immersed in ignorance. In the whole of society, there was no moral or spiritual leadership at all. The other great devotees of the time like Surdas, Kabirdas, Tulsidas, Nanak, Vallabhacharya and Meera Bai, were all carrying on their respective activities in different parts of the country. None had the authoritative underpinning of scripture or theosophic principles needed to initiate a largescale spiritual revolution.

At such a dark and despondent time, came the descent of divinity in the most compassionate and munificent form yet; Vishwambhar, the All Pervading One.  Sri Chaitanya was born in Navadwipa, a major centre of dogma, ritualism, and intellectualism.

The life story of Sri Mahaprabhu is well known – his childhood pranks and miraculous deeds; his growth from a precocious and bold adolescent to a successful logician and teacher;  his grand epiphany; his renunciation of worldly life and his final transformation into a humble and gentle sanyasi crying for Krishna are all well documented.

In renouncing his small family, Mahaprabhu took on the responsibility of a much larger family – all the people whom He touched – then and now and even in the future.

Sri Chaitanya was a social reformer, a pioneer of art and culture. His influence on medieval literature and philosophy is undeniable. He was a prolific traveller and caused a spiritual renaissance wherever He went. When it came to moral principles He was utterly fearless. The powers of the day had to bow to him in the face of his fearless conviction.

His magnetic personality, his extra-ordinary deeds and words caused Him to be accepted as a divine incarnation by such stalwarts as Sri Advaita Acharya, Nityananda Prabhu, Srinivas Acharya, Pundarik Vidyanidhi; Paramananda Puri and many others, who were all senior to him in age and religious practice and were regarded as great gurus themselves with many disciples and following.

Two Divine Gifts

Mahaprabhu appeared to give us – the people of Kali Yuga – two most invaluable and divine gifts.  The Maha-mantra and Sri Vrindavan. As only God can do, He took the Maha-mantra hidden deep in the scriptures and gave it freely to all people irrespective of religion, caste and gender.

When the Vedic priests and pundits objected to this, He did not enter into a long-winded argument with them, He simply turned it around and said “Chant this mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare” ! It has everything in it.  Nothing else is needed!”

The Maha-mantra is the panacea for all the troubles and conflict of the present age. It is an invocation of Sri Radha Krishna – the Supreme Purusha and Adi Shree - and it is at the same time an expression of the devotees’ desire to serve the Divine Couple. 

The mantra connects us with the long line of great personalities beginning with Brahma, Narada, Suka Goswami and other great Vaishnavas. It is the Sadhna (penance), the Sadhan (means) as well as the Sadhya (objective) of our spiritual practice.

Mahaprabhu further de-mystified all the rules and regulations concerning chanting the mantra. No restriction whatsoever. Any time – all the time. Any place and any how.  While working, bathing, eating, sitting or sleeping; even when relieving onself, this divine mantra can be chanted in our hearts. He established that love of God is the fifth goal of human life, after dharma, arth, kaam and moksha.

Before this, no one, not even any previous incarnation of God had ever revealed such a simple yet effective path to attain blessedness let alone permitting women and lower castes to utter any mantra.

The second gift Mahaprabhu gave us is Sri Vrindavan Dham.  The sweet, nectarean and transcendental abode of Sri Radha Krishna. He personally travelled to Vrindavan and one-by-one identified and revealed the many places of Sri Krishna’s leela. Raman Reti, Vamsi Vat; Imli Tala, Seva Kunj, Radha Kunda and Shyam Kunda and indeed the whole Dham.

Had it not been for Mahaprabhu we would have been deprived of the sweet devotional mellows of the Dham.  We human beings in Kali yuga would not have had a chance to know about the divine Rasa, the rasik bhaktas, nor of Yamuna Maharani or Giriraj Govardhan. What a great benediction He conferred on the devotees by this compassionate and transcendental relevation!

Of course, Mahaprabhu also give us through His apostles the unique spiritual philosophy of Achintya Bhedabheda tatva (inconceivable oneness and difference). He revealed through the Six Goswamis a comprehensive and conclusive doctrine on the conception of Godhead, the ontology of the soul, devotional service, the relationships to be established with God; the glory of the Guru, the importance of disciplic succession, the method of service and the objective thereof.

By giving us these two transcendental and divine gifts - the Maha-mantra and Sri Vrindavan – Sriman Mahaprabhu, without a doubt, saved our souls.

Lord Chaitanya appeared to firmly re-establish the path of devotional service, Bhakti Yoga, to all the people of the modern age and to give us a practical and yet authorized formula to attain blessedness. 

The magic of Mahaprabhu is so enduring that even 550 years later, people from all walks of life, from vastly different cultures, get attracted to Him and sing joyfully “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”.

 

 

Nitai Gaur Hari Bol!

Jai Gurudeva!

Jai Jai Sri Radhey !