Srila Prabhupada celebrating Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja’s appearance day
Malati, Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971: This lecture was recorded on February 15, 1971, in the morning, and it was in Gorakhpur, in U.P., India. It was on the occasion of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s Appearance Day. That day, we fasted in the morning up till noon time. Then we offered a regular noon meal, and in the evening time there was the feast of four preparations: puris, halava, vegetable, and chutney.
Prabhupada:
etavatalam agha-nirharanaya pumsam sankirtanam bhagavato guna-karma-namnam vikrusya putram aghavan yad ajamilo ’pi narayaneti mriyamana iyaya muktim
So we have concluded this verse, that Yamaraja says that the holy name of the Personality of Godhead, Bhagavata, not only His name, but also His activities and His qualities, these qualities…
Last night, somebody was discussing with me saguna and nirguna. Saguna means, according to their version, or a standard version, saguna means the material quality. They worship saguna-rupa. Saguna means forms of this material world. Sadhakanam hitarthaya brahmana-rupa-kalpanah. Kalpanah.
According to Mayavadi school, the Absolute Truth is imperson. In the Bhagavad-gita it is also said, kleso ’dhikataras tesam, adhikataras tesam avyaktasakta-cetasam [Bg. 12.5]. Say, for meditation, it is very difficult to meditate on impersonal feature. Therefore, they artificially think like that: “I am the whole. I am moving the stars, I am moving the moon.” Or some color display is taking place. Artificially. This meditation is artificial.
Therefore, they do not get any result. Simply waste time, and they remain the number one debauch, as they are. So this kind of meditation… Because they will not put any form… “The Brahman is impersonal.” So how they can think of any form? It is very difficult to adjust. Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, kleso ’dhikataras tesam [Bg. 12.5] They want to meditate upon impersonal Brahman, but it is very troublesome. Because Brahman is not impersonal, but force, they want to make Brahman impersonal.
So in order to mitigate this troublesome position, some of their acaryas, Sankaracarya, has said that “You imagine a form. There is no real form, but you imagine some form.” And he has recommended five forms. The first form is Durga, Sakti. The second form is Surya, the sun, sun worshiper.
And the third form is Ganesha, and the fourth form is Siva. And the fifth form is Vishnu. Of course, these are the different stages of spiritual development. Durga… Durga means the material power, energy. So when a person is in the lowest stage of material existence, he realizes some power. That’s a fact. The scientists also, they realize some power, there is some power in the material world.
They go on searching after what is the ultimate power, but they cannot find it out. That is not possible. But they accept that there is some power, nature’s power. So that is the stage of sakta stage, Durga worship. Then… Power… Just like modern scientists, they also have gone to the power of the sun. That power, another power. That power is sun, and that is called saura, worshiping the sun. Just like there is a Parsi community in India.
Fire worship is recommended in the Vedas. So that powerful sun, sun- god, they worship the sun. That is the stage of saura, saura stage. And then, next is the power vox populi, the power of the votes. That is the stage of Ganapati. Gana… Gana means the number of people. Just like in nationalism they are counting upon the power.
In this way, they realize some sort of power, I mean to say, moving force or the soul. That is the stage of… They say, sivo ’ham. Sivo ’ham. Aham brahmasmi. That is the stage of saiva. And when they expand that, that “This power, this spiritual power, soul, is all over, all- pervading, impersonal Brahman,” that is… They, sometimes they accept Vishnu. Vishnu means all-pervading. But their realization of Vishnu is impersonal.
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was discussing with Ramananda Raya what is the process of elevation, sadhya, sadhana, what is the ultimate objective, Ramananda Raya quoted a verse from the Vishnu Purana that,
varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman vishnur aradhyate pantha nanyat tat-tosa-karanam
The beginning of real human civilization is observance of the institute of four varnas and four asramas. That is the beginning of civilized life. Otherwise, it is not civilized life; it is crude, uncivilized life, where there is no varnasrama, where there is no division of society according to work and quality and asrama, spiritual life division.
So Ramananda Raya recommended this verse, that this is the process to satisfy the Supreme Lord Vishnu. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that eho bahya age kaha ara, “This is external. If you know something more, better than this, you say.” Why He said? There is the version, vishnur aradhyate. Does it mean that He is rejecting Vishnu worship? No, He’s not rejecting.
Because generally, they, these impersonalists, Mayavadis, they also worship sometimes Vishnu, these five demigods and God. But their idea is that ultimately impersonal. The impersonal takes the form by the help of this material world. The formation takes place simply in the material. That is their opinion. Therefore they say, call, saguna. Saguna-upasana.
Just try to understand this. Saguna-upasana means when Brahman takes a form He takes a form from this material help. Just like we take a form, we spiritual entities. We also take a form, transmigration of the soul according to karma. I create a certain type of mentality, and that continues throughout my life.
And at the time of death, because I have got a certain type of mentality, man- mentality or God-mentality or dog-mentality or fly-mentality, any kind of… There are so many. So I have to take a certain type of body. So that body I have to take not by my whim. Daivena. Daiva-netrena: by the decision of higher authorities. Daiva, generally, it means the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His agents. He has got many.
Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. So the material agent is Durga. So I create a mentality by my association with this material world. There are three kinds of qualities: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So one of them or mixed, I will have to accept. Because I am associating. Just like… It is not difficult. If you associate with the hippies, you will become hippie. If you associate with the hippies, you will become hippie. If you associate with the Vaisnava, you become Vaisnava. That is practical.
So similarly, if you associate with tamo-guna… One of the features of tamo-guna is laziness and sleepy. I am against so much sleeping because it is tamo-guna. And the features of rajo-guna is very active, but for sense gratification. Just like ordinary persons, they are very active.
They rise also early in the morning, they work very hard, but the whole plan is for sense gratification. That’s all. That is rajo-guna. And sattva-guna means they are silent, they are sober, they know what is what, and they try for spiritual advancement. That is sattva-guna.
So you can understand whether a man is in sattva-guna or a man is in rajo-guna or a man is in tamo-guna by the symptoms of his behavior. So as we associate with different types of gunas we develop a certain type of mentality that continues, and if it continues up to the point of death, then certainly we’ll have to accept a body influenced by these gunas.
Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Yasmat, these gunaih. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih. According to the association of guna, or quality, prakrti gives you a certain type of body. The body is given by prakrti, by nature. Therefore, nature is called mother, Durga.
Just like we develop this body exactly from the mother’s womb. The father gives the seed, but the bodily ingredients, that is… Just like mother is developing the body, similarly, she is developing the child’s body also, by eating, by the secretion, by development of the secretion, air. Air is solidifying the secretion.
It is becoming gradually muscles, skin, bone, as it is becoming harder and harder. A very nice factory is going on. That is also by nature. And nature is working by the order of Krishna. Therefore, ultimate cause is Krishna.
So this bodily development given by the nature is also adduced to the body of Krishna. That is Mayavadi philosophy. Mayavadi philosophy means they accept Krishna as God, but He has assumed a body which is given by this material nature, as it is given to us. That is their policy. They count Krishna an ordinary man, on the same level. But that is not a fact.
Therefore Krishna condemns this philosophy, avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. “Because I appear as a human being, therefore these rascals consider that I am ordinary man.” The rascals, mudhah. Mudhah means rascals, gadhah, asses. Their designation is given by Krishna as asses, rascals. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said, mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Because these commentaries, comments by the Mayavadi school, is simply rascaldom.
And if one hears such commentary by the Mayavadis, the result will be he’ll be doomed. Doomed means forever… Forever, no. For very, very long time he’ll not be able to understand actual his relationship with Krishna. Therefore he’s doomed. And because he is not able to understand his relationship with Krishna, he is called raksasa or asura. Asuram bhavam asritah.
That is also condemned in Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.15] You’ll find amongst them very, very learned men, very, very good scholar. They can quote… Intelligent men. Because their Mayavadi commentary, they can utilize, and Krishna gives them intelligence also, that “You misuse this verse in this way because you want…” Tan aham dvisatah kruran.
Krishna is sitting within the heart of everyone. So Mayavadi philosopher wants to kill God, or Krishna. Or nirvisesa-sunyavadi, they want to make Krishna as zero or Krishna as nirakara. So Krishna also gives them intelligence, “Yes, you just put forward this logic, that logic, that logic, and you prove.”
That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart.” Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca [Bg. 15.15]. Mattah, “Through Me, from Me, all remembrance or memorization takes place.”
So Mayavadi wants to prove that the ultimate truth is nirakara, or impersonal. So Krishna gives you intelligence: “Yes, you put this forward. Put forward this logic, this logic, that logic.” Similarly, Krishna gives… There is a Bengali proverb that how God works, that one man, a householder is praying to God, “My dear Lord, there may not be any theft case, burglary, in my home this night. Please save me.”
So one man is praying prayer, praying like that. Another man is praying, the thief, “My dear Lord, this night I shall commit burglary in that house. Please help me to get something.” Now, what is Krishna’s position? (laughter) Krishna is everyone’s heart. So Krishna has to satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the householder, so many prayers.
So Krishna’s adjustment… But He’s still… That is Krishna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives everyone freedom. And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in botheration. Therefore Krishna advises to his devotees that “Don’t plan anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble. (laughter)
Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am also unhappy. (laughter) So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have to fulfill.” But He’s merciful. If a… Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams…
So except the devotee of Krishna, everyone is simply giving Krishna trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called duskrtina. Duskrtina, most miscreant, the miscreants. Don’t make any plan. Accept Krishna’s plan.
That will be simply giving trouble to Krishna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance. That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krishna even for his bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting; still, he’ll not ask Krishna, “Krishna, I am very hungry.
Give me some food.” Of course, Krishna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s principle is not to place any plan to Krishna. Let Krishna do. Simply we have to do according to the plan of Krishna.
So what is our plan? Our plan is, Krishna’s says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66]. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. So our plan is the same thing. We are simply canvassing for Krishna, that “You become Krishna conscious.”
We have to show our example, how we are becoming Krishna conscious, how we are worshiping Krishna, how we are going on the street for vibrating Krishna’s name, transcendental name. Now we are distributing Krishna’s prasadam. As far as possible, our business is to induce persons how he becomes Krishna conscious. That’s all.
For that reason, you can make your plan, because that is Krishna’s plan. But that should also be sanctioned by Krishna. Don’t make your own manufactured, concocted plan. Therefore, to guide you, a Krishna’s representative required. That is spiritual master.
So there is a huge plan and huge scheme. Therefore we have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas. As it is stated here, that dvadasaite vijanimo dharmam bhagavatam bhatah. He said that “We, the selected mahajanas, representatives of Krishna, we know what is bhagavata-dharma, what is Krishna dharma.” Dvadasa. Dvadasa.
The dvadasa means twelve names, already mentioned: svayambhur naradah sambhuh… [SB 6.3.20]. I have explained. So Yamaraja said, “Only we, these twelve men, representatives of Krishna, we know what is bhagavata-dharma.” Dvadasaite vijanimah. Vijanimah means “we know.” Dharmam bhagavatam bhatah, guhyam visuddham durbodham yam jnatvamrtam asnute. “We know.”
Therefore it is advised, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. These mahajanas, as they have prescribed, that is the real way for understanding Krishna, or spiritual salvation service.
So we are following the Brahma-sampradaya, the first, Svayambhu. Brahma. Brahma, then Narada, from Narada, Vyasadeva. In this way, Madhvacarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in this way. So today, because we are following the footsteps of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, so this is, today is his appearance day.
So we should honor this tithi very respectfully and pray to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami that “We are engaged in your service. So give us strength, give us intelligence. And we are being guided by your servant.” So in this way we have to pray. And I think in the evening we shall distribute prasadam. Not at noon. In the evening there will be some, so many audience come.
So they can be distributed prasadam, and some of the members who can come from Bhatikara, they can be also invited. So arrange for this. And at twelve o’clock, we offer puspanjali. That puspanjali mantra, it should be beginning… It should begin from the beginning. Not… You were singing, sri-varsabhanavi-devi. There are two other lines. Why do you forget that?
Hamsaduta: Sri-varsabhanavi-devi…
Prabhupada: No. Before that, there are two other lines. What is that?
Pradyumna: Namo om vishnu-padaya Krishna-presthaya bhutale srimate bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvatiti namine.
Prabhupada: Why do you forget them? Yes. So you can chant this mantra and offer puspanjali flower. And we shall together offer flowers. Actually, the worship is…, that is my duty. But sagosthi. Now I’ll have to offer my respect with my spiritual family members, sagosthi. That is called sagosthi. Just like Vyasadeva says, dhimahi. He’s offering prayer sagosthi, with all his followers and disciples.
That is the process. So this flower offering will be done at twelve, and I think feasting will be in the evening. And after offering this puspanjali, we can take our usual food. But the feasting may be done in the evening. Make like that. Because some audience, some members, visitors come, they should be given. And you can ask that Baka… Baka, his name is Baka?
Yamuna: Poddarji.
Prabhupada: No, no. Poddarji…
Gurudasa: Bunka. Radhe-Shyam Bunka.
Prabhupada: Yes, Radhe-Shyam. And some others. And we can. You can invite… Dr. Rao is not… His brothers and his wife, and anyone we have made friends in the meantime, some of them.
Hamsaduta: Prabhupada, where should we place the picture?
Prabhupada: Oh, there.
Hamsaduta: This big picture. On the altar? Or next to the altar?
Prabhupada: Just so there is space.
Tamala Krishna: Prabhupada? Where shall we serve the people?
Prabhupada: Oh, there are so many places.
Tamala Krishna: Not in these rooms.
Prabhupada: Why not this room?
Tamala Krishna: Yes?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krishna: And when shall it be served? After the arati?
Prabhupada: After arati and little talk, that’s all.
Tamala Krishna: Then we serve prasadam. And how many men would you say we should prepare for? One hundred?
Prabhupada: That you make arrangement. You know how many people are coming. Why you are asking me?
Tamala Krishna: So ordinary prasadam at noontime and feasting prasadam…
Prabhupada: Feasting means puri and halava and a vegetable and a chutney. That’s all. Four things. Make simple.
Tamala Krishna: And Prabhupada? Do you want us to offer feast to your Guru Maharaja at noontime? A special plate of feast?
Prabhupada: Not a special plate. The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Krishna. We don’t directly offer Radha-Krishna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why there are?
Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krishna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krishna or other subordinates to Krishna. That is not possible.
Tamala Krishna: So may we offer you a special feasting?
Prabhupada: As you do, that is all right. The process is this. Not you or you. That is the process. Then, all right. (end)
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