First Period of Devotional Practice

Nishanta Bhajan: Worship at the close of the night
Sraddha: Firm Faith by serving Krishna we serve all.

ata eva namābhāse sarva pāpa vināṣa āra samsara kṣaya
(Sri Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu, Dakshin Part, 1/52)

The root cause of our anartha is, anartha means ulterior desires, in the service of Krishna, is misconception of self, mis-identification of the self. Due to this we have got this sort of misconception of the self that I am this body, bodily interest is my interest. So with the misconception of the self we have evil desires, 'swarupa brahm' (illusion about spiritual identity), and from 'swarupa brahma' arises 'asat-trishna' (thirst for that which is unreal i.e. material enjoyment) and also 'hraday-daurbalya' (weakness of heart). Atma has no destruction, so where is the cause for fear? Body is destructible, and there are so many faults, so fear comes. And due to lack of knowledge of relationship (with the Lord) offenses occur by considering I am body (self as body).

All sorts of ulterior desires will come when we have this mis-identification of self and also along with it weakness of heart thinking I am this body, the body will be finished, there are so many drawbacks and due to this misconception of self we commit offenses. We will not know our relation with devotees and God and other senior vaishnavas and commit offense. The root cause is mis-identification of self. That if we leave aside real self will be manifested, we can understand I am of Krishna by even the glow of the Holy Name.

For that reason it is said it can destroy all sins. But Namabhasa is not so easy. If there are tenfold offences then you cannot do Namabhasa. With your ulterior desires you cannot do Namabhasa. When there is no actual relation with Sri Krishna and no tenfold offenses, and you utter the Holy Name, it may be the glow of the Holy Name. By that you will get everything.

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

Evidence has been given from Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu.

Just Namabhasa has so much glories. The most ordinary kind of Namabhasa which is Sanketya namabhasa has so much glories. Example for this is Ajamila.

That person who is richly endowed with all good qualities is addressed as guna-nidhe who has got the aptitude to do Krishna nama. Among the Names highest Name is Krishna Nama, Supreme Redeemer of all redeemers, Supreme Rescuer of all rescuers, Crown of all avataras, Avatari, worshiped by emancipated souls, He is Sri Krishna. But that should be with firm faith, that is to say, without deceitfulness, and at the earliest. Any moment we may lose this chance. And with frankness of heart, with plain saying you have to worship. There should not be any crookedness. Why? Because as the glow of the Sun removes all darkness and all difficulties created by darkness, like that the glow of the holy name entering into the cave of the heart can destroy nescience by which we commit great sins, nescience and great sins.

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

Sikshastaka is essential. If you do not go through Sikshastaka then you cannot enter into transcendental pastimes. You have to very carefully practice Sikshastaka and gradually you will get the ultimate goal Krishna prema and all the pastimes will be manifested in your heart.

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

If you sincerely practice, gradually, then you will get your realized form, siddha-deha. Without siddha-deha you cannot enter into it.

ei śloke siddhadehe rādhāpadāśraya,
ārambha kariyā krame unnati udaya,
chaya śloka bhajite anartha dure gela,
tabe jāna siddhadehe adhikāra haila

Bhajite bhajite (by serving the Holy Name continuously) when you will be established in the sixth verse, then all these eight ecstatic symptoms will be manifested. By that you can understand you have got the realized state. These are the symptoms. But that should be from the core of the heart, without deceitfulness. To show others to get some name and fame that I am a good devotee, that is deceitfulness

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

Bonafide sadhu, you have to see, how they are worshiping. You have to follow the teachings of the sadhus, their holy life and their teachings. Then you will get wisdom, you will become wise, sanctified within.

siddhadeha peye krame bhajana karile,
aṣṭakāla sevāsukha anāyāse mile,
śikṣāṣṭaka cinta kara smaraṇa kīrtan,
krame aṣṭakāla-sevā habe uddīpana,
sakala anartha jābe pābe premadhana

Only by going through Sikshastaka all kinds of ulterior desires will be removed and you will get the highest transcendental wealth, prema.

caturvarga phalguprāya habe adarśana

Dharma artha kama moksha (mundane virtue, wealth, sensuous enjoyment and desire for salvation) everything will vanish.

1st Verse of Sri Sikshastak

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

Cleansing of the mirror of the heart, extinguishing 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, and thoroughly cleanses and cools one’s body, mind and real self. All glories to Sri Krishna Sankirtan!!

Seven principal attainments, you will get all attainments by doing Harinam.

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 Hare Krishna mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of 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)

When you will be well-established in the practice of Sikshastaka then you will be eligible to think about Krishna’s pastimes. Rightly you should do Sikshastaka then you will have the eligibility to think about the eight-period pastimes.

niśānte kīrtane kuñja-bhaṅga kare dhyāna,
krame krame citta lagne rasera vidhān

At the close of the night you have to meditate about the awakening of RadhaKrishna in the grove. Then gradually you will have the capacity or the eligibility to get the bliss. This is the devotional scriptural precept.

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

At the close of the night, at dawn, Vrinda Devi to awake RadhaKrishna, regularly at proper time, sends all the birds, amongst them principal birds male parrot and female parrot and they can sing very well about the glories of RadhaKrishna. And amongst them there is competition and they sing in a sweet voice, sweet tone and along with it gopis also sing in sweet voice. By hearing their sweet tone RadhaKrishna will automatically open their eyes, for there should not be any force, for that reason they are engaged. And so beautifully they are doing, very charmingly and first Radharani opens Her eyes hearing this sweet song.

Radharani is Absolute counter-part of Krishna. So said ‘Radha bhajana yadi mati nahi bhela Krishna bhajana tava akarana gela, atapa rahita suraja nahi jani, radha virahita madhava nahi mani’. If one worships Krishna alone, he will not benefit at all.

After that Krishna is not opening His eyes. By that Radharani is worried and the gopis are worried at first. And when Radharani awakes, then there is no responsibility of the gopis, their responsibility is finished. Now the responsibility is on Radharani. Radharani is thinking what to do, what to do, it is getting late. Why late? Krishna is not opening His eyes intentionally why they are not allowing that female monkey to do her service. Now they are thinking harsh sound we do not want, that will not be liked by Krishna. But Krishna wants that she should be given this privilege to do the service. Ultimately they are compelled to give service. It is getting late and they allow ‘Alright you do.’ And she made a very loud screaming harsh sound and Krishna likes that harsh sound. Why is that, because it is out of devotion, like this everything is sweet, not harsh.

RadhaKrishna mutually seeing each other with wistful eyes go to Their houses and go to Their respective beds.