Madhyahna kalia bhajan - Mid-day worship – Worship with taste (Ruchi Bhajan)

nāma sādhakera ahaituki kṛṣṇa bhakti binā anya kāmanā nahi

A Nama sadhaka (true worshipper of Harinam) has got no other desire except causeless devotion to Sri Krishna. If there are ulterior desires within the heart then real Harinam is not possible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has stated this in the 4th Verse of Sri Sikshastaka:

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukḥ tvayi

‘O Supreme Lord, I do not desire wealth, man-power or erudition or even salvation (mukti). Birth after birth may I have causeless one-pointed exclusive and uninterrupted devotion to You. If there are other desires other than desire to serve the Lord, there will be hindrance in bhajan.

There may arise a question here. Why desire for wealth is considered not good? It is not for self that one desires wealth, it is for taking care of the family. That is why it is not good. We cannot understand this. Our Guru Maharaj used to remember to us the instance of Vrtrasura. Vrtrasura asked Indra to hit him with the Vajra (the weapon) but Indra was hesitating to do so. He was there in the middle of the fight and was supposed to kill Vrtasura with the Vajra. But earlier Vrtrasura had caught hold of the great club (maha-gadha) with which Indra hit him and had returned the weapon which hit Indra and also his Airavata (the elephant) badly and somehow they were saved. If I hit him with Vajra, he will return the blow. Whatever he is telling is to snatch the heaven from me. But Vrtrasura is speaking from the heart that my birth as a demon was the result of a curse and if you kill me it will bring auspiciousness to me and also you. I do not regard you my enemy. But still Indra thinks Vrtrasura is born of Trista Muni’s yajna and if I am to kill him I will be attached to the sin of killing a brahmana. Then Vrtrasura says why you should worry, you will attain Lord, not me.

puṁsāṁ kilaikānta-dhiyāṁ svakānāṁ
yāḥ sampado divi bhūmau rasāyām
na rāti yad dveṣa udvega ādhir
madaḥ kalir vyasanaṁ samprayāsaḥ
(SB 6.11.22)

You have to remember this very carefully. A devotee who has exclusive one-pointed devotion to Supreme Lord will remember Lord early morning and he will have no taste in any other limb of devotion other than kirtan and smaran. They do not even desire wealth. Why? A devotee who has got exclusive devotion to Supreme Lord, whose attention is on Krsna alone, nothing else, and whom Krsna thinks as His own dear person, Krsna will not give him material wealth.

Whose mind and intelligence are fixed on the Lord’s lotus feet and whom Lord considers His own dear person, to him Lord will not bestow the material opulence of the three worlds. Why, because material wealth will increase his enmity, anxiety, mental agitation, pride and belligerence. It will give rise to enmity, malice between the one who endeavored and acquired wealth and the other who in spite of great efforts could not acquire wealth feels jealous and suffers great unhappiness on his own without being inflicted upon by others and is provoked to hurt, injure, kill others. When one endeavors and acquires wealth, his worries increase thinking of its safety from thieves, dacoits, Income tax officers, etc and in mental tension has to take sleeping pills to get sleep and eating pills regularly one fine day will not rise from bed, is finished. One of our god-brothers in Delhi took so many sleeping pills that doctors had to induce him to vomit to save his life. This is the result of acquiring wealth. Distrust, misunderstandings, quarrels all result from acquisition of wealth.

We heard devotees from abroad that they have to slog day and night to earn money. The unhappiness resulting from the endeavors to acquire money is more than the happiness derived from acquiring it. Parents cannot give attention to their children, children do not care for the parents, their minds get spoiled and they eat junk food.

So Vrtrasura says Lord will not bestow me wealth, He will give you. If you desire wealth, man-power, etc, and pray for them you yourself will be inconvenienced, troubled. So, do not pray for them, pray for a thing by which all your material desires are also met. The real wealth is Ananda, Bliss. Actually man earns money not for money’s sake, but for attaining happiness, bliss. Siddhartha Buddha wandered in all the 4 directions in search of happiness. He found a brahmachari sitting quietly under a tree with a kamandalu (water pot) near him and thought he has no worries at all and thinking this is the path to happiness he instantly gave up everything. He is the son of King Suddhodana. He gave up his family, wife and son too and handed over his possessions like his royal dress and ornaments to his charioteer. When charioteer returns all the jewels to King Suddhodana, extremely grief stricken Suddhodana threw all those jewels in a pond which his son had abandoned. This is the path of happiness. There he(Siddhatha) did not accept the Lord, but he learnt that the material possessions of this world are the cause of unhappiness, they are of no benefit.

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukḥ tvayi
(4rd Verse of Sri Shikshastaka)

Prayer here is for attaining causeless loving devotion to the Supreme Lord who is Bliss Personified. This prayer is very beneficial because all living entities goal is to attain happiness, bliss. When a man is in bliss, what difference does it make if he lives under a tree? Sanatana Govami lived under a tree and by begging alms (madhukari bhiksha) he made his living. Before, he was a Prime Minister. There a devotee of Shiva came to Kashi Dhama and worshiped Shiva. He was poor and was in dire need of money, so prayed to Shivji for wealth. He was simple-hearted and without deceit. So Shivji came in his dream and told him go to Vrndavan and meet Sanatana Gosvami. He came to Vrndavan and inquired is there person by name Sanatana Gosvami. Yes, he is there sitting under a tree. He had given up everything and was sitting there covering himself in a piece of cloth and chanting Holy Names. Seeing him the devotee thought what can I beg from him, he looks as though I have to give him something. But he had great faith in Shivji’s words and so he went to him and offered pranams. I am Shivji’s devotee and I worshiped Shiva who sent me to you telling you have money. So I have come to you. Sanatana Gosvami says, I had wealth, I gave up all that and I have nothing now. Did Shivji speak a lie? Disappointed the devotee left. Then Sanatana Gosvami thought Shivji cannot speak a lie, and thought deeply and remembered and called back the devotee and asked him to search in the heap of thrash nearby and you will find a touchstone (sparshmani) there. The devotee found it and when he touched his iron bracelet on hand it turned to gold. He felt very happy and taking it with him he left the place. He had darshan of Sanatana Gosvami and also had grace of Shivji. So when returning back he thought within himself, how can Gosvami forget such a valuable thing, throw it in a thrash, and felt he must be possessing something more valuable, most precious compared to which this touchstone is nothing. He returned and begged Sanatana Gosvami to give him the most precious thing by which he is wealthy that he threw the touch stone in the thrash. Then Sanatana Gosvami told him to throw that precious stone in the Yamuna and come to him. Then gave him Krsna Nama and told, you chant Krsna Nama.

So here Mahaprabhu is saying the same thing, may your prayers to the Lord be to attain that eternal wealth of Happiness, Bliss. My only prayer to You is to get causeless one-pointed and uninterrupted devotion to You.

gṛha dravya śiṣya paśu dhānya ādi dhana
strī putra dāsa dāsī kuṭumbādi jana

A materialistic man prays for all these things which are the cause of miseries and blames Lord that He gives miseries. In a way we ourselves are inviting miseries and sufferings by praying to Lord for son, wealth, etc. and such other non-eternal things.

kāvya alaṅkāra ādi sundarī kavitā
pārthiva-viṣaya madhye e saba vāratā
ei saba pāibāra āśā nāhi kari
śuddha-bhakti deha more kṛṣṇa kṛpā kari

Only a very fortunate soul prays for pure devotion (suddha bhakti).

premera svabhāva yāṅhā premera sambandha
sei māne kṛṣṇe mora nāhi bhakti-gandha

Indication of Midday Pastimes of Radha-Krsna

A glimpse of idea has been given here regarding the mid-day pastimes of Sri Radha Krsna.

madhyāhne ‘nyonya saṁgodita vividha-vikārādi-bhūṣāpramugdhau
vāmyotkaṇṭhātilolau smaramakha lalitā dyāli-narmāptaśātau
dolāraṇyāmbu-vaṁśī-hṛti-rati-madhupānārka-pūjādi-līlau
rādhā-kṛṣṇau satṛṣṇau parijana-ghaṭayā sevyamānau smarāmi
(Sri Govinda-lilamrta)

At mid-day when Sri Radha Krsna meet and are in each other’s company, all ecstatic feelings of the highest order are manifest. The transcendental ecstatic feelings (prema vikar) are not for one’s own pleasure but for the pleasure of Krsna. Gopis do not pay attention to their own pleasure but do everything for Radha-Krsna’s pleasure. Gopis do not have any desires of their own, they find their fulfillment in the pleasure of Sri Radha-Krsna. In this material world we find lusty desires (kama-vikar) and the materialists consider it essential, just opposite of the transcendental world. Topmost Vairagya (renunciation) is of Radharani’s. How much one has attachment to the Lord, that much is his detachment from the material world. Just the words do not be attached, do not become attached to material things will not be effective unless there is positive attachment to the Lord. One meaning of Vairgaya is vi-hina raga, i.e. anasakta. Another meaning is ‘visishta rupe Parama-purushe raga tasya bhava vairagya’ that is, special attachment to Supreme Lord. The zenith (parakashtha) of vairagya is of Radharani’s. So, Her position is the topmost and Her mood is followed by the gopis. All their attachment is to the Lord and so they do not have any material attachments.

Vedavyasa Muni showed this in his life. We hear, we speak and forget. (He says) I wrote so many literary works, expanded the Vedas into four, wrote Vedanta, eighteen puranas, Mahabharath which comprises the Bhagavad Gita, but did not attain any peace. See me, can you compose anything more than me? I did which no man can do. He is Shaktyavesh Avatar (empowered incarnation) of the Lord. I did not attain any peace, bliss. What is the reason? That time he went to Badarikashram and meditated on his Guru. Then Narada Gosvami appeared there and inquired. Are you fine? Is your atma in relation with the body and mind is fine? You know everything. I am not at peace with myself in spite of my great literary works for the welfare of the conditioned souls of this world. Material people want wealth and so I wrote for them ‘Artha Shastra’ scripture on how to attain wealth. They want to fulfill their unlimited desires and so I wrote ‘Kama Shastra’. Here and here after in heaven they want to enjoy a life of sense enjoyment and happiness, so I wrote Dharma shastra. Oh, have you helped them or have you added fuel to their desires and increased their sufferings? Have you sung the glories of the Supreme Lord? Yes, I have in Bhagavad Gita. No, the main purpose of singing the glories of Supreme Lord should be for His satisfaction only and nothing else. When Lord is satisfied you will become self-satisfied. Here the truth of the statement is practically proved in his life. We often speak about this, hear about this. Do we have belief in these words or not, i.e. do we follow them? Vedavyasa Muni is our Guru and by his own example showed us its importance. When he wrote Srimad Bhagavatam with the sole goal of giving pleasure to Krsna by singing His glories, he attained the highest objective—Eternal Bliss.

Whatever has been written here and which we hear are all for the pleasure of Krsna, not one’s own self-pleasure. Vamya—crookedness of prema, Utkantha—supreme eagerness to get contact with the object of love, the joking words(parihas) of Lalita Sakhi and other gopis are all for the pleasure of Radha-Krsna. In addition to these there are innumerable pastimes like swinging ceremony of Radha-Krsna (Dola), pleasant strolling in the forest (vana-vihar), water sports in ponds and rivers (jala-keli), stealing of flute (vamsi-haran), and other transcendental amorous pastimes(rati-krida), etc are all for the pleasure of Krsna. In that exists the topmost stage of vairagya (renunciation). The happiness and bliss the gopis get in this pastime is the highest, and transcendental blisss (brahmananda) is nothing in comparison with the transcendental loving service to Krsna (Bhagavat prema).

How can this body’s activities carry on? We do need wealth, also man-power. Alone what can I do. When there is dependence on other things Krsna will not come. You have to take absolute shelter, unconditional surrender. Very difficult! You say from the core of the heart. If you submit to any Emperor, Autocrat, outside externally and ask him to give you one thousand rupees, one thousand rupees, repeatedly, then if he gives, you will be the loser. I want to serve you. I do not want anything and if he accepts you then you will be the proprietor of everything. This is the case in this world. And Supreme Lord is the Proprietor of whole Infinite Brahmandas, Infinite Vaikuntas, everything and without wanting Him we are wanting something, very insignificant thing, of no value. And you are part and parcel of Him, eternally connected with Him, you have got relation with Him. As you have become averse to Him you have got this desire for all these non-eternal things. So God had to create this universe and so many species for you to enjoy. You do not want Him, you want all these things. And what will be the consequence? Birth, death and threefold afflictions, what benefit you will get? Whether you are a rich person or a very poor person, all are in great miseries and sufferings and afflictions because they have given up Absolute Bliss. Supreme Lord is All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss. Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is original Bhagavan is teaching us, you should not blame Me blame the Lord. You do not want Me, you want something else. You say from the core of the heart I want You. If you are very wise and intelligent then you will do this. Suddha Bhaktas are very intelligent. They do not want all these things, only His service. I do not want money, I do not want man-power, I do not want any erudition, of this worldly name and fame, that I am a great scholar, I do not want this. I do not want even emancipation, salvation. My only prayer is I want causeless exclusive devotion to You and nothing else. Clearly say, then I shall come. I am equal to all. But you do not want Me, you want something else. You say inwardly one-self. According to the thinking I shall give the fruit, not according to your words what you say.

gṛha dravya śiṣya paśu dhānya ādi dhana

In detail (it is said here). I want good building, I want this, I want that, I want to have disciples to serve me, if all these things I want for my own benefit then everything is ‘vishaya’ (material objects of sense-gratification) and everything is the cause of bondage. You can see all these things. Suddha Bhaktas see Supreme Lord is the master of all these things and Enjoyer and see I have no hold even over my body, my body belongs to Sri Krsna. This body is the outcome of the apara potency, material energy of Sri Krsna, earth water, fire, air and sky. Subtle body is also outcome of apara potency. And the real self also belongs to Supreme Lord, para prakrti, Superior energy. He is the possessor of all energy. You have got no hold over your own body, subtle body and your own self. And if you want to enjoy you are doing something wrong, very wrong. He is the only Enjoyer, the Only Master and Enjoyer and no body else. In this transcendental realm we are hearing about this every day, about the transcendental pastimes of the eight periods. There all are for Krsna. And the only Master and the Enjoyer is Krsna and all are to be enjoyed. No body is the master. That is the transcendental realm. That we speak but again we quarrel I am the proprietor of this building, I am the proprietor of this land. This sort of ignorance is there.

Ambarish Maharaj, outside he was an autocrat of the whole world. But he had the knowledge that everything belongs to Krsna. Remaining in the household life he has got no attachment to anything of this world. Can you imagine? Durvasa could not understand, he is a great ascetic. And Narayana said, you see, how can I give up, abandon this Emperor. You think he is a vishayi, great emperor and enjoyer of the world. No, he has given up everything for Me, all property, everything. He has got no attachment. You have committed offence to him. Forgiveness is the quality of the heart. My heart has been conquered by Ambarish Maharaj. My heart is not with Me. It is with him, you have to go there. He will rescue you from Sudarshan Cakra. You cannot deceive Supreme Lord. You have to remember this.

ei saba pāibāra āśā nāhi kari
śuddha-bhakti deha more kṛṣṇa kṛpā kar
premera svabhāva yāṅhā premera sambandha
sei māne kṛṣṇe mora nāhi bhakti-gandha

Where there is actual prema humbleness is there, pure humbleness. I have got not even a scent of devotion for Supreme Lord.

Sikshastaka Song 4:

prabhu tava pada-yuge mora nivedan
nāhi māgi deha-sukha, vidyā, dhana, jan……

Indication of Midday Patimes of Radha-Krsna

madhyāhne ‘nyonya saṁgodita vividha-vikārādi-bhūṣāpramugdhau
vāmyotkaṇṭhātilolau smaramakha lalitā dyāli-narmāptaśātau
dolāraṇyāmbu-vaṁśī-hṛti-rati-madhupānārka-pūjādi-līlau
rādhā-kṛṣṇau satṛṣṇau parijana-ghaṭayā sevyamānau smarāmi
(Govinda-lilamritam)

At mid-day the ecstatic feelings that manifest by the union of Sri Radha Krishna are the highest and cannot be found at any other time. All the ecstatic feelings of highest order including Astasattvik-vikar – eight principal ecstatic feelings, thirty three kinds of other subordinate ecstatic feelings – sancari, all kinds of highest sweet inciting transcendental ecstatic feelings are manifested in Radha-kunda. It is written here, but who will experience it we do not know. In the morning every day we are remembering this. Without realised state we cannot understand this pastime.

Sikshastakam 6th Verse ‘nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati’. How whether anyone has attained the realised state or not is ascertained by this verse, that these ecstatic feeling will be there externally. There tears will roll down from the eyes like river. Not even a drop of tear is coming from my eyes. And voice would be choked. You will not be able to utter the full name. There will be other external symptoms like horripilation, etc. Nothing is manifesting, nothing is felt, then you have not got the realised form. So how you can understand? But for showing others if you show some sort of ecstatic feelings, it is deceitful, that is not good.

Once it so happened (whether our Tamal Krsna Prabhu will be able to translate I do not know), now it is in Bangla Desh, earlier it was East Bengal and within India, there in kirtans in the villages where ecstatic feelings are manifested there people attend. If there are no feelings manifested, then not many people will attend. So a villager brought from a far off place a kirtaniya who could express great feelings by giving some money. That time money had much value and in one paise one could buy 2 Kgs of brinjal. He was given 4 anas (25 paise) and also sufficient instructions how he should perform. So he came and kirtan started and after sometime he started showing ecstatic symptoms and finally fell on the ground. The floor of Satsang Bhavan of Mahaprabhu there was ordinary ground. Many people had arrived hearing the news of the kirtan event. All arrangements were made for the Kirtaniya to be attended if he would fall unconscious. He fell down and all people were witnessing it. But how long will he lie down there? There were many red ants on the ground where he fell and they started biting him and he suddenly rose up. What happened, what happened? everyone was anxious. Then he retorted, for 4 anas (25 paise) should I give my life? Then all ran away from there. Showing 4 anas feelings is simply deceit, it will not work. Only in the association of Suddha bhaktas such ecstatic feeling may arise. In fact such ecstatic feelings are very rare even in Suddha bhaktas, it can be found only in gopis. Even to devotees like Narada etc. it is very very rare. So we all hear and Bhakti Vinod Thakur who is the associate of the Lord is giving us some indication, hint in this regard so that some greed (lalasa), such real hankering for the Lord may arise in us. So if we follow the rules and regulations and establish ourselves in Sikshastaka, then we may experience them. Our Param Gurudev gave great emphasis on Sikshastaka which is recited/studied and contemplated upon during Kartik.

Lila kirtan 4:

rādhā-kuṇḍe sumilana vikārādi vibhūṣaṇa vāmyotkaṇṭhā mugdha bhāva līlā