Day 5: First Yaam

Harikatha, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

3:22am to 5:46am. Chanting of the Holy Name Śrī Kṛṣṇa, completely, loudly in the company of devotees and without tenfold offences, which can bestow seven attainments—viz. cleansing of the mind-mirror, extinguishing of the forest fire of birth, death and threefold afflictions, bestowing eternal soothing benefit like moonlight, life of spiritual learning i.e. awakening of the real self, increasing of the ocean of bliss, bestowing at every step sweet taste of complete transcendental ambrosia, holy immersion of body-mind-real self—be supremely glorified.

  • ata eva namābhāse sarva pāpa vināṣa āra samsara kṣaya

    (Sri Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu, Dakshin Part, 1/52)

    Therefore, the glow of the Holy Name can destroy all sins and worldly entanglements.

    taṁ nirvyājam bhaja guṇa-nidhe pāvanaṁ pāvanānāṁ
    śraddhā-rajyan-matir atitarām uttamaḥ-śloka-maulim
    prodyann antaḥ-karaṇa-kuhare hanta yan-nāma-bhānor
    ābhāso ‘pi kṣapayati mahā-pātaka-dhvānta-rāśim

    Oh guna-nidhe, you worship Sri Krishna who is the Supreme redeemer of all redeemers, who is the crown of all avataras, 'uttama-shloka-mauli' with firm faith, without hypocrisy, with simple heart, and immediately. The glow of the Holy Name entering the cave of the heart will destroy all great sins and nescience.

    The person who has got the aptitude to do Krishna-nama is richly endowed with all the good qualities. For that reason he is addressed as 'guna-nidhe'. Amongst all the holy names, Krishna-nama is the highest. All the realized souls they worship Krishna. He is the crown of all the avataras, Supreme redeemer of the redeemers. With firm faith, again the emphasis is given on worshiping without hypocrisy and immediately without delay and also repeatedly it is said about simple-heartedness—there should not be any crookedness in the mind. Because the glow of the Holy Name by entering into the cave of the heart will destroy all great sins and nescience.

    parama pāvana kṛṣṇa tānhānra charaṇa,
    niskapata śraddhā saha karaha bhajan,
    jānra nāma suryābhās antare praveśi,
    dhvaṁsa kare mahāpāp andhakārarāśi,
    ei śikṣāṣṭake kahe kṛṣṇalīlā-kram,
    ihāte bhajan krame līlāra udgam,
    prathame prathama śloka bhaja kichu din,
    dvitīya ślokete tabe hauta pravīṇ
    chāri śloke kramaśaḥ bhajana pakkva kara,
    pañcam ślokete nija siddha deha vara,
    ei śloke siddhadehe rādhāpadāśraya,
    ārambha kariyā krame unnati udaya,
    chaya śloka bhajite anartha dure gela,
    tabe jāna siddhadehe adhikāra haila,
    adhikāra nā labhiyā siddhadeha bhāve,
    viparjya buddhi janme śaktira abhāve
    sāvdhāne krama dhara yadi siddhi cāo,
    sādhura carita dekhi śuddha buddhi pāo,
    siddhadeha peye krame bhajana karile,
    aṣṭakāla sevāsukha anāyāse mile,
    śikṣāṣṭaka cinta kara smaraṇa kīrtan,
    krame aṣṭakāla-sevā habe uddīpana

    If you want to get all the inspiration of pastimes of RadhaKrishna, you have to go through Shikshashtaka minutely. Do not neglect it.

    sakala anartha jābe pābe premadhana,
    caturvarge phalguprāya habe adarśana

    ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ
    bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
    śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ
    vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
    ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ
    prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
    sarvātma-snapanaṁ
    paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

    All attainments you can get by performing Sri Krishna Sankirtan. Here, principal seven attainments are mentioned; cleansing of the mirror of the heart, extinguishing of the forest fire of birth, death and threefold afflictions, bestowing auspiciousness which is eternally soothing like moonlight, the life of spiritual learning i.e. awakening of the real self, increasing of the ocean of bliss, bestowing at every step sweet taste of complete transcendental ambrosia, the holy immersion of body-mind-real self. Let there be supreme victory for the chanting of the Holy Names of Sri Krishna.

    saṅkīrtana haite pāpa-saṁsāra-nāśana
    citta-śuddhi, sarva-bhakti-sādhana-udgama
    kṛṣṇa-premodgama, premāmṛta-āsvādana
    kṛṣṇa-prāpti, sevāmṛta-samudre majjana
    (Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 20.13-14)

    By performing congregational chanting of the Holy Names, one can destroy the sinful material existence, purify the unclean heart and awaken all varieties of devotional service. The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Krishna and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Krishna and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love.

    Thinking of Krishna-lila (pastimes of Krishna)

    niśante kirtane kuñja bhaṅga kare dhyāna
    krame krame citta lagne rasera vidhān

    At the close of the night through kirtan you have to meditate on awakening of Radha-Krishna in the grove. Then gradually your mind will have contact with the rasa, the bliss due to delightful relation.

    rātryante trastavṛnderita bahu-vira-vaibodhitau kirasārī
    padyair-hṛdhyair api sukha-śayanād-utthitau tau sakhibhiḥ
    dṛṣṭau hṛṣṭau tadātvoditarati-lalitau kakkhaṭīgīḥ saśaṅkau
    rādhā-kṛṣṇau satṛṣṇāv api nija-nija dhāmnyāpta talpau smarāmi
    (Govindalilamrita)

    Vrinda Devi apprehending day-break sends Suk-Sarika (male and female parrots) and other birds to start chirping to awaken Radha-Krishna. These birds have special qualification. They know when it is close of night, dawn, so they are engaged in this service. They will be sent near Sri Krishna's sleeping pastime place to start chirping, chattering or singing of the glories of Radha-Krishna at proper time. By their chirping, singing, priya-apriya in the sense, when they are in the competition of singing the glories of Radha-Krishna, Suk sings the glories of Krishna, and Sarika of Radharani. The personal associates of Radharani and Krishna are separate. When the personal associates of Radharani hear about the glories of Radha they become very much pleased and encouraged, and the personal associates of Krishna get discouraged, disappointed. After that Suk sings more than Sarika about the glories of Krishna. In this way there is competition in sweet sound, sweet voice, i.e. without any trouble so that Radha-Krishna can open their eyes automatically. That is the purpose. The Gopis are also doing kirtans in very sweet voice. But in spite of that, Krishna does not open His eyes. Why? Krishna's attention is on each one of His associates. There is one female monkey who desires to serve but her voice is not good, it is harsh. So no one wants to give her permission desiring that Radha-Krishna’s sleep should be broken by sweet voice. Radharani has opened Her eyes, but Krishna is still not opening His eyes. Seeing no other way, the Gopis allow the female monkey of the name of Kakkhati, “You do your duty, make a loud sound.” She becomes satisfied and starts making a harsh screaming sound. That harsh sound is very dear to Krishna. Krishna opens His eyes. And mutually Radha-Krishna are seeing each other with wistful eyes and go to their respective houses and sleep in their respective beds.

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