Follow the sastrasSrila Prabhupada gave a class on Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.395 at 7:30 a.m. in his room. Construction work prevented the use of the temple room.The verse appropriately got us in the mood of Janmastami, for in it Lord Caitanya explains to Sanatana Gosvami the eternal nature of Lord Krsna's pastimes. "Nitya-lila means everlasting pastimes," Prabhupada told us. "Our lila, material, that is not nitya-lila. Whatever I'm acting by this body, it is not nitya; it is temporary. I am the son of such-and-such family; I am such-and-such important person; my name is such-and-such; my position is such-and-such-these are not nitya; this is temporary. As soon as the body is finished, everything is finished. Then another lila: I am such-and-such dog; I am such-and-such, this and that. With the change of body, our lila is finished. Therefore ours is not nitya-lila. But Krsna's, Bhagavan's activities, they are nitya-lila. Krsna's Vrndavana lila is going on."To illustrate his point he used the oft-repeated example of the sun continuously traversing the sky. Just as it was now quarter to eight in Hyderabad, he said, as the sun moves, it will be quarter to eight somewhere else. Thus that time of quarter to eight is permanent. "This is a crude example," Prabhupada told us. "This example is given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu to explain what is the meaning of nitya-lila. Just like we are opening the temple. This is also nitya-lila. In some brahmanda there is this opening ceremony of temple. When tomorrow we shall open-day after tomorrow it is opened. But day after tomorrow in some other brahmanda, it is being opened. Again it is finished; in another brahmanda it is being opened. In another brahmanda it is being opened. There is no end. This is called nitya-lila. In some brahmanda Krsna is born, Janmastami. It is finished here. In other brahmanda, again Janmastami. Every moment. This is pastimes of Krsna."He then cautioned the devotees to be always conscious of the sanctity of the temple. "Wherever Krsna likes He can bring in Vrndavana and He can have His pastimes. So this temple, do not think that it is Hyderabad place. No. It is Goloka Vrndavana. You should be very careful. Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa, tanaya tad-dhamam vrndavanam. As Krsna is worshipable, similarly His place is also worshipable. Not that His place is different from Him. No. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau. As the worship of the Deity is important, similarly to keep the temple very cleansed, very attractive, that is also Deity worship. Those who are here working, they should keep this temple as clean as possible. Then Krsna will be satisfied. Krsna's body, this temple; do not think it otherwise. Temple should be worshiped in that way. Therefore I ask you not to come with shoes, even the temple is not opened. It's still Krsna's temple. It is not different from Krsna. You should always remember that. The temple management very nicely means to render service to Krsna."So we are going to open this temple. Those who are in charge, they must take care of the temple. Cleanliness: tan-mandira-marjanadau. The more we have got men, engage them. And do not think that temple cleaning and Deity worshiping are different. Do not be envious, that this person has been given the in-charge of decorating the Deity and I have been given to wash the temple where there are no Deity. No. It is the same thing, there is no difference. It is spiritual. Just like either you worship Krsna's lotus feet or you offer a garland to Krsna on His head, it is the same thing. It is no such thing that 'This is head, this is tail.' No. This is absolute conception. So Bhagavan, His lila, His form, His pastimes, His place, they're all Bhagavan."While urging us to try to understand Krsna, he cautioned that it was not an easy thing. "Bahunam janmanam ante, after many, many births if one is fortunate, he can understand Krsna. So don't lose a single moment. Try to understand Krsna, agama-purana, from sastra. Don't manufacture. Here it is said, tate lila 'nitya' kahe agama-purana, from sastra. Sruti-smrti-puranadi, without reference to the Vedic literature, the knowledge of Krsna is simply disturbance. So you should always refer to the sastras. The sastras are there by Krsna's grace. It is now available in the English language. Be always engaged in studying, in rendering service, understanding the philosophy, then life will be successful. Thank you very much."- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
Comments