First Period of Devotional Practice (1st Yama Sadhana) - Worship at the close of the night

First we should start with Sraddha.

ata eva namābhāse sarva pāpa vināṣa āra samsara kṣaya
(Sri Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu, Dakshin Part, 1/52)
harse prabhu kahena, - 'suna svarupa-rama-raya, nama-sankirtana --kalau parama upaya'.
(CC Antya 20.8)

With great satisfaction Chaitanya Mahaprabhu holding the shoulders of Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda said, the surest and the greatest wealth of getting all attainments is only by Sankirtan, in this Kali yuga, in this black age. You will get all attainments. Even by the glow of the Holy Name you can destroy all great sins and worldly bondage.

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

Already we have heard the significance of the word 'Guna-nidhe'. One who is richly endowed with all good qualities is addressed as guna-nidhe who has got the aptitude to do Krishna nama. Krishna Nama is the Supreme Redeemer of all redeemers. Among the names of Vishnu highest name is Krishna Nama , Nandanandana Krishna, Crown of all avataras, and is worshiped by the realized souls, but with firm faith (sraddhanvita, drda vishvas), without deceit (nishkapat). Deceit means in reality he does not want his eternal welfare, he will not get auspiciousness. Hypocrites do not want eternal benefits, they are in wishful wants. When they are in hypocrisy they cannot go any further. So it is clear that sraddha means without deceitfulness. At the earliest and with a plain heart, plain saying. There should not be any crookedness. Any kind of crookedness and deceitfulness, if there be, then it is not possible. If you do this Harinam, even the glow of the Holy Name like the glow of the Sun removes darkness, like that glow of the Holy Name entering into the cave of your heart destroys all great sins, uproots the cause of all great sins and nescience.

parama pāvana kṛṣṇa tānhānra charaṇa,
niskapata śraddhā saha karaha bhajan,
jānra nāma suryābhās antare praveśi,
dhvaṁsa kare mahāpāp andhakārarāśi

By the fruits you can understand whether you have done namabhasa or not. 'phalena phalakaranam anumiyate’.By seeing a result, one can understand the cause of that result. When there is propensity to sin, then Suddha nama and even Namabhasa does not occur. Some traces of sin may be there and may show up externally. Like in Ajamila, even after Namabhasa, he remained with the prostitute for some time. But inpsite of remaining, the poison was gone. When a poisonous snake's teeth are pulled out its bite cannot kill a person. So also by Namabhasa the poisonous teeth (of the sins)is taken away and so even if some sins remain, it will remain for some time and without much attachment, there will be some sort of inertia. Like a fan which is running fast is switched off it will slow down and stop after a while, so also impressions of previous births, that inertia is there and so may take some time. But the cause of doing all these great sins is destroyed by Namabhasa. But even if you are doing Harinam and are also doing all these sins and crimes then actually it is not happening. There must be some sort of offences, some ulterior motives behind the chanting.

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

Gradual procedure how to get the ultimate goal Krishna prema, we have to do very carefully all the teachings of Sikshastaka of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with great sincerity and intensity. Then you will get the fruit. You can enter into the transcendental pastimes of Radha Krishna, otherwise not. It is very necessary, so it has been repeatedly said. Every day we are remembering this. Remembering, and also you have to think about this. Then it will be in your heart.

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

What is the proof that one has attained the realized form (siddha-deha)? This also has been mentioned in Sikshastaka. When chanting the holy name if no ecstatic feelings are felt then it is because of offences. If the eight ecstatic feelings are not manifested while chanting the Holy Name it indicates one has not yet attained realized form. And if realized form is not attained then how can one enter into the transcendental pastimes? Without eligibility if we simply make an external show that we have attained realized state saying this is my age, this is my seva, this is my name, such a conduct will point to sahajiya sampradaya and the result will not be good.

tabe jāna siddhadehe adhikāra haila,
adhikāra nā labhiyā siddhadeha bhāve,
viparjya buddhi janme śaktira abhāve

Adverse results will come. Man-woman relation is there in this material world. Krishna prema, divine love for Krishna is the supreme, highest.

sāvdhāne krama dhara yadi siddhi cāo,
sādhura carita dekhi śuddha buddhi pāo,
siddhadeha peye krame bhajana karile,
aṣṭakāla sevāsukha anāyāse mile

When you will not get realized form then at that time if you want to remember all these ecstatic feelings, prema, and show others, then it is actual deceitfulness. You have to attain the eligibility to think about RadhaKrishna pastimes. Without getting the eligibility to do it the result will be reverse. There are so many pseudo-sects that cropped up even in India. Then again Supreme Lord have to send His own persons. All the scriptures are there, everything is there but no body could understand what is the teaching. Supreme Lord has to send His own persons, Bhakti Siddhantha Saraswati Gosvami Thakur, Bhakti Vinod Thakur and explained the actual significance of the teachings.

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

It may be that one is chanting the Holy Name and still some unwanted things/desires (anarthas) remain. But when one practices sincerely without deceit, all the anarthas will leave him gradually. The words of the Scriptures are true, not false, Mahaprabhu did not speak any lie, Bhakti Vinod Thakur did not speak any lie, the fault lies in our practice, there are offences, deceitfulness in us.

1st verse of Sri Sikshastaka:

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

Sri Krishna Sankirtan extinguishes the forest fire of birth, death and threefold afflictions. But some say, Maharaj, I do lot of chanting, lot of bhajan, but am facing lot of problems, have lot of worries, and I did not get any benefit from bhajan. Sri Krishna Sankirtan extinguishes forest fire of material existence. In reality we are not performing Sankirtan. Sankirtan is Samyak kirtan which will remedy this. Sankirtan is when lot of devotees join together and perform kirtan, and not with non-devotees and professional chanters. Another meaning of Sankirtan is that kirtan which is inclusive of singing of glories of Lord’s Name, form, qualities, pastimes, associates, etc. What Mahaprabhu said and what is written here is not a lie. The fault lies in us. Do not blame others, you try to correct yourself. Do not blame the Scriptures, other sadhus and gurus, that will be another way of committing offence.

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!!

All these attainments you will get. So only for routine work if you are doing, that is not the thing. Seriously every moment is to be used for bhajan. Not routine work, somehow you finish.

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)

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

If Sankirtan is done in a proper manner it will bestow all attainments. Then the transcendental pastimes will manifest in the heart. If sankirtan is not performed well then you will not get the result. When we perform Sankirtan according to Mahaprabhu’s teachings in Sikshastaka then we get the eligibility to think, meditate on Krishna lila. Krishna lila will reveal itself in a sanctified heart, pure heart. In Name everything is there. Through revelation you can realize. Then you can think about Krishna lila, i.e. when you are well-versed in the teachings of Sikshastaka Verse. You should be very careful. For that reason you remember the third verse ‘trinadapi sunicena taror api sahishnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih’. Otherwise any moment you may commit offence. Procedure has been given how you can do Harinama without offence. If there is any vanity, rash behavior whatever way when you are speaking to others, in this way you cannot have progress. You have to control everything. And ‘humbler than the blade of grass’ only for saying to others is not enough, you have to practice it. You have to habit in your own life, then life-full example you will have, impression to others. Without life, it is lifeless bhajan.

Thinking of Krishna-lia (pastime of Krishna):

nishanta kirtane kunja bhanga kare dhyan

At the close of the night while doing kirtan without offences, then you can realize about the awakening of Krishna. You can meditate about the awakening of Krishna in the grove, transcendental grove. Then gradually you can get that transcendental bliss as per Scriptural precept. You have to remember all these things that our guruvarga have written but to cross it at every step it may take one birth, or it may take thousand births or million births. Only by believing you will get.

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

In the apprehension of dawn, Vrinda Devi is now very busy how to awake RadhaKrishna. For that reason, she sends birds before Them. The birds were not there at the time of sleep because birds may start chirping, chattering, that sort of fear is there. So birds were hushed to remain in a distant place and at the proper time go and chant. And they are not ordinary birds. They are Krishna Himself in the form of birds singing the glories, they are not outside Krishna. As Krishna is object of worship, birds are also object of worship. In transcendental realm everything is object of worship, everything is within Krishna and not outside. And when they are singing in very sweet voice, transcendental sweet voice, ordinary birds cannot do this, they are not ordinary birds, singing the glories of Radha and Krishna. And after the awakening of Radharani and now the problem is now how Krishna will be awakened. And you have heard about it because this is the important thing. Krishna does not like that any small person without any outside qualification, but eager to serve Krishna we should not ignore them. That is His teaching. He has got love for all. So ‘trinadapi sunica’ is there. If you commit something harshly to anybody that will also be considered an offence, it has been written by our Bhakti Vinod Thakur in Bhajan Rahasya. Not only committing of offence to Krishna, if you do any sort of reproach to vaishnava it is a sort of offence. But if you do any kind of harm to any living being that is also considered offence, because Supreme Lord does not like this. Hari Bhajan is not so easy. You have to be very careful. So Krishna intentionally is not opening His eyes. No, I shall not open My eyes, acting I have immense sleep. And they are forced to give orders to the female monkey. Even in this pastime His teaching is we have to be very careful in this. Do not blame anybody rashly, not good. Then Krishna, by the screaming sound harsh sound, we say harsh sound but Krishna likes it because that female monkey may have drawbacks, but in her heart she has got perturbation of heart to serve Krishna, that we have to see. Krishna is satisfied. That harsh sound is sweet to Krishna. And after mutually seeing each other RadhaKrishna with wistful eyes, all Yoga maya is doing this lila. So RadhaKrishna They also have got fear like other human beings. Actually They are Supreme, but no lila can be done if They always remain Supreme. And They run to Their respective houses and sleep on Their beds.

At the right time you have to awake Krishna, not in the night, then you will commit offence. Apprehending dawn, Vrnda-Devi, at the close of the night by giving instructions to the birds among them prominent are Suk-Sari male parrot and female parrot. They are not ordinary parrots, ordinary birds. Ordinary birds cannot serve Krishna. They are one with Krishna. Krishna is served and they are the servitors. In the form of servitors they are one with Krishna. Krishna is serving Himself in the form of birds. Outside persons cannot see. The male parrot sings the glories of Krishna. By hearing that the persons who are supporters of Krishna, they are encouraged. But Radharani's own associates, supporters, they become depressed. Then Sarika sings the glories of Radharani more than Krishna. By hearing that Radharani's own personal associates are very happy and Krishna's supporters or associates become depressed. But again Suk sings the glories of Krishna more than Radha. In this way there is competition, very sweet competition and in very sweet voice which ordinary birds cannot do. They are not chattering or chirping. They are singing the glories. Here all the devotees are singing to awaken Radha-vallabh. We are here to follow the birds. These birds are not ordinary birds, they are our object of worship. You should not feel insult, Oh we are birds. We shall get the ability to sing so that awakening Radha-vallabh when we actually perform. For that reason we have to pray the grace of Suk-Sarika and other birds and gopis. By hearing that glories first Radharani opens Her eyes. But Krishna is not opening. This we have to very carefully note, seriously, that Krishna has got attention to all. So we should be very careful to behave with all the devotees whether even if Kanishta, Madhyama and Uttama. Very careful, otherwise you will commit offence and displease Krishna. 'amanina mana dena kirtaniya sada hari', to be humbler than the blade of grass. In that Bhakti Vinod Thakur has warned to give to (respect), even enslaved jiva if you neglect, then you will be deprived of the grace of Krishna. That is also considered as an offence. (So we have to be) very careful. Krishna by this pastime is showing No, I shall not open My eyes. You have not given scope to the female monkey Kakkhati, why, by seeing that her voice is very harsh. May be, but she is a devotee and she wants to serve. I shall not open My eyes until you give order. So this sort of nature of Supreme Lord we have to think seriously, you should not take it lightly. Ultimately the gopis are forced to allow the female monkey, alright you do your duty. And she makes a loud harsh sound. It seems to be harsh, but Krishna likes it because it is with devotion she has done this. And after awakening, always giving scope to all to serve Them. All these pastimes are for that. RadhaKrishna mutually see each other with wistful eyes and they go to their respective houses. all spiritual there, nothing material, and to their respective beds. Beds can speak, they can move, not like this bed. Supreme Lord can lie on spiritual bed and not material bed.