Blog

Glory to Gaura Candra and glory to Nityananda.

Glory to Advaita Candra and glory to the devotees of Gaura.

Glory to Shri Jahnava and glory to Viracandra because their lotus feet were my only resort.

 Now, O listeners, listen to what I am going to narrate. Shrinivasa began to roll on the ground crying like a madman under the tree. He began to accuse his own ill fate for deceiving him in all respects. All the orders which Prabhu had given him had been proved false as he could not meet Mahaprabhu in Purusottama, he could not study the Bhagavata from Pandita, Sarkar Thakura had ordered him to go to Vrndavana amd meet Rupa Sanatana. Shri Isvari also had ordered the same. Shri Jahnava also ordered this. But to whom could he express his misery. He repented that his life had become fruitless as he could not visit Vrndavana. He wished to take refuge at the feet of Gopala Bhatta but without Shri Rupa how could he remain alive? Now what was the use of living? No one would ever bother if he died. Lamenting in this way Shrinivasa used to lie down under the tree like a dead man. Suddenly Rupa and Sanatana appeared before him and told Shrinivasa, "Get up my boy Shrinivasa, you are the embodiment of Prabhu's love and our life. So long we have been waiting for you now; why have you decided to go back instead of going to Vrndavana? We wish you all success. Go to Vrndavana and take shelter at the feet of Gopala Bhatta. You will get the favor of me through Bhatta. I had told you of Shri Jiva. Take your lessons from Jiva and stay with him." Shrinivasa was not able to sleep and got up. He bowed at their feet and began to observe their beauty. They were of a golden complexion and had thin tufts of hair on their heads. Their foreheads were painted with sectarian marks and tulasi kanthis were on their necks. Radha Krishna nama was painted on their bodies. They were wearing Kaupina and outer garments (Vahirvasa). They were counting harinama on their fingers and uttering harinama all the time, sometimes chanting Radha Krishna instead of Harinama. What a sweet smell came from their bodies. How beautiful were their teeth with sweet smiling lips. Shrinivasa could forget all his agonies. Being ecstatic, he fell on the ground. Rupa and Sanatana put their feet on his head and disappeared. Shrinivasa now decided to go back to Vrndavana. So he started for Vrndavana. Here in Vrndavana, Rupa and Sanatana informed Shri Jiva of the coming of Shrinivasa. They also informed him that Shrinivasa would reach here in the evening at the time of the ceremony of the waving lights before Shri Govinda Deva and being ecstatic in love he would fall on the left side of the temple door. Shri Jiva should fetch him on the left side of the southern door of the temple. Jiva was instructed to keep Shrinivasa with him that night and the next day he should take him to Shri Gopala Bhatta. He was instructed to teach Shrinivasa all the devotional books because Shrinivasa needed the teaching for Gauda. Shrinivasa had reached Mathura today. Tomorrow he would come to Vrndavana and take shelter of Shri Jiva. Shri Jiva should favor him and help him to carry the books to Gauda. Saying so Shri Rupa disappeared. Shrinivasa in ecstatic love covered all the way to Vrndavana dancing. Observing the beauty of golden Vrndavana, he cherished the hope of observing the idols of Shri Govinda and Gopinatha. He visited the temple of Govinda in Cakraverha. In the evening he reached the temple of Govinda Deva to observe the waving of the lights ceremony. He stood behind the other visitors and became overwhelmed by the sound of the flute, Pakhoyaja and Kansara. All the visitors paid their respects and entered the temple. Shrinivasa slowly advanced forward and stood on the terrace of the middle portion of the temple (Jagamohana). As had been said by Rupa, Shrinivasa fell on the left side of the temple door being ecstatic in love. While people had been whispering about this newcomer, Shri Jiva came to the place and bowed before the deity. Many companions with lamps in their hands had come with Shri Jiva. Jiva then searched the left side of the temple and found Shrinivasa lying there. Jiva sat beside him and caressed the body of Shrinivasa. He realised that Shrinivasa was in deep trance. So he carried him to his house. In the second half of the night came sound came out of the mouth of Shrinivasa. Shri Jiva realised that Srnivasa was coming back to his senses. He put his hand on the body of Shrinivasa. After sometime Shrinivasa came back to his senses chanting the name of Govinda. Shri Jiva then asked his name. Shrinivasa said his name. Shri Jiva at once embraced him by addressing him as his friend. Shri Jiva then began to thank Rupa and Sanatana for for giving him such a jewel-like friend. Next day Shri Jiva told Shrinivasa to go to Gopala Bhatta and seek his feet. Shrinivasa gladly obeyed him and both of them started for the place of Gopala Bhatta. From a distance Shrinivasa bowed to Bhatta and have his name and explained his desire to be his servant. Bhatta at once welcomed him by saying, "Come here my son, Shrinivasa. I am glad to have you in my old age." Shrinivasa touched his feet. Bhatta Gosvami put his hand on his back and his feet on the head of Shrinivasa. Bhatta told Shrinivasa, "I am in deep sorrow at the disappearance of the Gosvamis. Look I am a skeleton now. I have no one to whom I can go to to get some consolationp; why have you come so late? They also had the desire of meeting you." Shrinivasa said, "O my master, forgive me. I was so eager to study the Bhagavata. I am now repenting for my faults. I went to Pandita Gosvami for this purpose but the pages of his Bhagavatam had become hazy. He ordered me to get a new book from Sarkar Thakura. I was on the way to Purusottama with the new book from Khandagrama when I heard the news of the disappearance of Pandita Gosvami. Being totally disappointed I went to see Shri Isvari in Navadvipa and she ordered me to meet Abhirama Gosvami. They all advised me to come to Vrndavana." Hearing everything, Bhatta Gosvami began to cry helplessly and told Shrinivasa, "You are more fortunate than me. For this reason I have to face so much miseries. I could neither see the feet of Nityananda nor Shri Advaita Candra. I failed to worship the feet of Shri Isvari. Sarkar Thakura also turned his face from me. I cannot forget this misery. Now Rupa and Sanatana have also left me." Shri Jiva was sitting beside him. He said in despair, "I was also deprieved of their company. What is the use of this worthless life?" Shrinivasa began to cry while holding the feet of both of them. After sometime Shri Jiva and Shrinivasa returned to their place and began to spend their days and nights in discussing about Shri Krishna. An auspicious date was fixed for the initiation of Shrinivasa. Shrinivasa went to Gopala Bhatta with Gosvami with a tulasi seed garland and sandal paste. Shrinivasa bowed at the feet of Shri Gopala. Bhatta asked Shrinivasa what was the essence of Vaishnava religion. Shrinivasa said, "Mahaprabhu is the only guru and the norms have been written by Shri Rupa who is the director of all devotees in life after life. The devotee should always be obedient to his guru." Shri Jiva advised Shrinivasa to follow all these which he had said. Gosvami was very happy and got up and Shrinivasa followed him. Both of them went to the temple of Shri Radha Ramana. They washed their feet and entered into the temple to pay their respects. Gosvami told Shrinivasa to sit on his left side while facing Eastwards. While holding the feet of Gosvami, Shrinivasa dedicated himself to the feet of his guru. Gosvami accepted Shrinivasa and ordered him, "Wash your hands again and start the meditation for Shri Vrajendra Kumara thinking about Shri Radhika on his left side and surrounded by Lalita and the other Manjaris." He helped Shrinivasa to worship all of them individually with Tulasi garlands and sandal paste. He made Shrinivasa one of the companions of the Manjaris. He ordered Shrinivasa, "Worship Shri Radha Ramana again because he will fulfill all your desires." Shrinivasa applied sandal paste on the breast of the deity and tulasi seed at the feet of the deity. By putting his right hand on his head, he chanted Harinama and after that he got the five names of Radha Krishna. He chanted Radha Krishna nama while counting it on his fingers. Shri Bhatta Gosvami gave him the Kamabija and told him, "Follow and remember these hymns while you meditate on Radha Krishna. You are Mani Manjari in the group of manjaris under Shri Guna manjari. Now listen to me, you should practise worship following the particular method which is called Ragatmika Vajana. An accomplished worshipper always wants to do service to Radha Krishna. You should know what is known as the 64 methods of worship. If you commit any fault in the worship of Radha Krishna, everything will be lost regarding your worship. The austeric accomplishment is the part of Krishna devotion. If you think otherwise it will hamper your austerity. If you can fully absorb yourself in Krishna, you can attain Krishna.

Now listen to the faults, Shrinivasa which I am now explaining to you. He who apart from following devotional austerities by himself tries to criticise others, he cannot attain any accomplishments. A banian tree is huge in its structure but its fruits are very small and numerous. So also sins are doubled and redoubled day by day. He who can keep aside from material life can attain devotional qualities to a great extent. When you study the scriptures, you will understand everything but now try to understand what I am telling you. If you are a traveller in this path, be very careful in your travels."

Being faithful to the feet of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, Nityananda dasa narrates Prem Vilasa.