Gauragopala Das ACBSP

Monday, January 24, 2022

Who care what others say, think or do when you have wonderful Krsna?

Wonderful merciful Krsna is with those who are always thinking of Him.

As Prabhupada says, the dogs will bark but the Caravan goes on undisturbed.

Krsna is always with us and in our hearts, all others around us proud in their mundane material bodies, grow old, forgetful and eventually fade away and forgotten forever.

Everything is temporary in this material creation.

Krsna will NEVER leave His genuine devotee.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Krsna is the most attractive, the most caring, the most selfless, the most beautiful. Krsna is the only one who has 64 qualities all the time.

Lord Caitanya does not appear in every Kali-yuga, He only appears in one Kali-yuga out of every thousand, just like Lord Krsna in His original form, He also only appears in one Dvāpara-yuga out of every thousand.

There are four yugas in a Maha-yuga, Satya, Tretta, Dvapara, and Kali-yuga.

There are 1000 Maha-yugas in each day of Lord Brahma, all happening between sun-rise and sun-set.

There are no Maha-yugas during Brahma's night from sun-set to sun-rise while He sleeps when a partial annihilation also happens.

Lord Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, all Visnu-tattva direct Personalities (Narayana and Visnu forms of God) expand from Him.

Krsna always has four more qualities than His Visnu/Narayana (Visnu-tattva) forms of Godhead.

Visnu-tattva expansions can partially exhibit them but have only 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities or 93.75%.

Siva-tattva (Lord Siva), who is neither Visnu-tattva or jiva-tattva (jiva-souls), has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities or 85.938%.

Marginal living entities (jiva-tattva or jiva-souls) like us have only 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities or 78.125%.

Krsna has four more which are not manifest even in the Narayana/Visnu form of Godhead, what to speak of the demigods or the marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

(1) He is the performer of wonderful varieties of pastimes (especially His childhood pastimes),

(2) He is surrounded by devotees endowed with wonderful love of Godhead,

(3) He can attract all living entities all over the universes by playing on His flute,

(4) He has a wonderful excellence of beauty which cannot be rivaled anywhere in the creation.

Srila Rupa Gosvami, after consulting various scriptures, gives us the 64 qualities of the Krsna as follows-

(1) beautiful features of the entire body,

(2) marked with all auspicious characteristics;

(3) extremely pleasing,

(4) effulgent;

(5) strong;

(6) ever-youthful;

(7) wonderful linguist;

(8) truthful;

(9) talks pleasingly;

(10) fluent;

(11) highly learned,

(12) highly intelligent;

(13) a genius;

(14) artistic;

(15) extremely clever;

(16) expert;

(17) grateful;

(18) firmly determined;

(19) an expert judge of time and circumstances;

(20) sees and speaks on the authority of Vedas, or scriptures;

(21) pure;

(22) self-controlled;

(23) steadfast;

(24) forbearing;

(25) forgiving;

(26) grave;

(27) self-satisfied;

(28) possessing equilibrium;

(29) magnanimous;

(30) religious,

(3l) heroic;

(32) compassionate,

(33) respectful,

(34) gentle;

(35) liberal;

(36) shy;

(37) the protector of surrendered souls;

(38) happy;

(39) the well-wisher of devotees;

(40) controlled by love;

(4l) all-auspicious;

(42) most powerful,

(43) all-famous,

(44) popular,

(45) partial to devotees,

(46) very attractive to all women;

(47) all-worshipable;

(48) all-opulent;

(49) all-honorable;

(50) the supreme controller.

(51) changeless;

(52) all-cognizant;

(53) ever-fresh;

(54) sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, which means eternity, knowledge, bliss, form (Krsna as an eternal blissful bodily Form);

(55) possessing all mystic perfections.

Krsna also possesses five other qualities, which are manifest only in the body of Narayana/Visnu, and they are listed as follows-

(56) He has inconceivable potency,

(57) Uncountable universes generate from His body,

(58) He is the original source of all incarnations,

(59) He is the giver of salvation to the enemies whom He kills,

(60) He is the attractor of liberated souls.

All these transcendental qualities are manifest wonderfully in the personal feature of Lord Krsna.

As said above, besides these sixty transcendental qualities, Krsna has four more, which are not manifest even in the Narayana/Visnu form of Godhead, what to speak of the demigods or living entities.

They are as follows-

(61) He is the performer of wonderful varieties of pastimes (especially His childhood pastimes),

(62) He is surrounded by devotees endowed with wonderful love of Godhead,

(63) He can attract all living entities all over the universes by playing on His flute,

(64) He has a wonderful excellence of beauty which cannot be rivaled anywhere in the creation.

Adding to the list these four exceptional qualities of Krsna, it is to be understood that the aggregate number of qualities of Krsna is sixty-four. Srila Rupa Gosvami has attempted to give evidences from various scriptures about all sixty-four qualities present in the person of the Supreme Lord.” (Nectar of Devotion, Ch 21)

As parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, the individual living entities (jiva-souls) can also possess all of these qualities in minute quantities (only 78.125%) provided they become pure devotees of the Lord.

In other words, all of the above transcendental qualities can be present in the eternal individual jiva-souls in minute quantity, whereas the qualities in their fullness are always present in the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna.

In the first canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with a conversation between the deity of the earth and the King of religion, Yamaraja.

It is said-

“Persons who are desirous of becoming great personalities must be decorated with the following 38 qualities-

1- truthfulness,

2- cleanliness,

2- mercy,

3- perseverance,

4- renunciation,

5- peacefulness,

6- simplicity,

7- control of the senses,

8- equilibrium of the mind,

9- austerity,

10- equality,

11- forbearance,

12- placidity,

13- learning,

14- knowledge,

15- detachment,

16- opulence,

17- chivalry,

18- influence,

19- strength,

20- memory,

21- independence,

22- tactfulness,

23- luster,

24- patience,

25- kindheartedness,

26- ingenuity,

27- gentility,

28- mannerliness,

29- determination,

30- perfection in all,

31- knowledge,

32- proper execution,

33- possession of all objects of enjoyment,

34- gravity,

35- steadiness,

36- faithfulness,

37- fame,

38- respectfulness and lack of false egotism.

Persons who are desiring to become great souls cannot be without any of the above qualities, so we can know for certain that these qualities are found in Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As said above, Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya come only "once" to this universe in a day of Brahma which is every 8 billion 640 million human years.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Golden Avatara for this age of Kali-yuga.

However, Lord Caitanya does not appear in every Kali-yuga, He only appears in one Kali-yuga out of every thousand, just like Lord Krsna in His original form, also only appears in one Dvāpara-yuga out of every thousand during Brahma's day-time hours.

Lord Krsna appears in the Dvāpara-yuga just before the Kali-yuga Lord Caitanya appears in.

Srila Prabhupada – "Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya appear "once" in each day of Brahmā." (CC, Adi 3.10 Text 10 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada –"At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga of the twenty-eighth Maha-yuga (during the 7th Manu known as Vaivasvata Manu), Lord Kṛṣṇa appears on earth with the full paraphernalia of His eternal Vraja-dhāma." (CC, Adi 3.10 Text 10)

Therefore during the 28th Maha-yuga of the Vaivasvata Manu (the 7th Manu of 14), Lord Kṛṣṇa first appears at the close of the Dvāpara-yuga and then Lord Caitanya appears in the Kali-yuga of the same Maha yuga.

Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya appear in a day of Brahmā during the 7th Manu out of the fourteen, called Vaivasvata Manu.

First Lord Kṛṣṇa appears at the close of the Dvāpara-yuga of the twenty-eighth Maha-yuga in the Vaivasvata Manu (the 7th Manu), and then Lord Caitanya appears in the Kali-yuga of the same Maha yuga in Vaivasvata Manu.

Devotee - "Śrīla Prabhupāda, does Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also appear every day of Brahma?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, following Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa comes in the Dvāpara-yuga. There are four periods of each yuga: Satva, Tretā, Dvāpara, Kali. So Kṛṣṇa comes at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu comes in the Kali-yuga." (Lecture SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 Text 3, Melb, Australia May 22, 1975)

Our Kali-yuga is very rare because of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance in it.

Also Lord Krsna, as His original form, appears only in the Dvāpara-yuga just before the Kali-yuga Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears in.

Lord Krsna does not appear as His original Vrindavana form in Dvāpara-yuga in the material world Vrindavana facsimile of the spiritual world.

Krsna never leaves the spiritual world, instead a Visnu-tattva expansion plays the part of Krsna in the material world and even kills demons which He does not do in the spiritual world.

So in conclusion-

Both Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu only come "once" in every "day/night" of Lord Brahma (but only between Sun-rise and Sun-set [day-time]) when all the 1000 Maha-yugas are active.

There are no Maha-yugas during Brahma's night when Brahma sleeps (from Sun-set to Sun-rise).

In our current kalpa (day-time hours of Brahma from Sun-rise to Sun-set) there are fourteen Manus, we are in the 7th Manu known as Vaivasvata Manu.

During Brahma's night-time period from Sun-set to Sun-rise while he sleeps, there are "no Maha-yugas."

Therefore, during this inactive night-time period of Brahma (also called a Kalpa) as he sleeps, a parcel annihilation goes on until the next Sun-rise begins, starting with the first Maha-yuga out of one thousand that all happen only during Brahma's day-time hours.

Lord Brahma's 100 year life span in human years is 311 trillion and 40 billion human years.^^**.

Saturday, January 22, 2022

The Maha-Mantra explained.

Maha means “great” and Mantra means “sacred chant for deliverance.”

Of all Mantras in the Vedas, one is called the Maha-Mantra, or great Mantra-

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna

Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama

Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

The words “Hare”

(pronounced ha-ray),

“Krsna ” (pronounced krish-na),

“Rama” (rhymes with “drama”).

These are all Sanskrit words.

“Hare” is an address to God’s energy, known as Radha.

“Krsna ” is name of God meaning “He who is attractive to everyone.”

“Rama” means “one who gives pleasure and enjoys life.”

When chanted the Maha Mantra is a petition to God-

“O Krsna, O energy of Krsna, please engage me in Your service.”

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Sakti-tattva meaning. However, when referring to Krsna's direct Visnu-tattva expansions, they are called "Visnu-sakti-tattva" expansions. Srila Prabhupada explains.

Śakti-tattva is the energy of God, and has many categories of living entities in its meaning.

However, when putting Viṣṇu in front of sakti like "Visnu-sakti-tattva," it then refers to the direct expansions of Krsna whereas sakti can also refer to the jiva-souls too.

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord is one without a second, and He expands Himself into many for His transcendental pleasure.

All the expansions—the viṣṇu-tattvas, the jīva-tattvas and the śakti-tattvas (the Personalities of Godhead, the living entities and the different potential energies)—are different offshoots from the same one Supreme Lord.

The jīva-tattvas are separated expansions of the viṣṇu-tattvas, and although there are potential differences between them, they are all meant for the transcendental sense gratification of the Supreme Lord.

Some of the jīvas, however, wanted to lord it over material nature in imitation of the lordship of the Personality of Godhead.

Regarding when and why such propensities overcame the pure living entities, it can only be explained that the jīva-tattvas have infinitesimal independence and that due to misuse of this independence some of the living entities have become implicated in the conditions of cosmic creation and are therefore called nitya baddhas, or eternally conditioned souls." (SB 3.5.51, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that whenever one sees an extraordinary power, he should conclude that a specific partial representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present.

There are innumerable such personalities, but not all of them are direct viṣṇu-tattva plenary expansions of the Lord. Many living entities are classified among the śakti-tattvas.

Such incarnations, empowered for specific purposes, are known as śaktyāveśa-avatāras. King Pṛthu was such a śaktyāveśa-avatāra of the Lord. Similarly, Arci, King Pṛthu's wife, was a śaktyāveśa-avatāra of the goddess of fortune." (SB 4.15.6, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the Brahma-saṁhitā, the important demigods—Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā and even the incarnations and expansions of Lord Kṛṣṇa like Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and all the other viṣṇu-tattvas, as well as the śakti-tattvas like Durgādevī—are all worshiped by the process of worshiping Govinda with the words govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.

A Vaiṣṇava worships the demigods in relation to Govinda, not independently. Vaiṣṇavas are not so foolish that they consider the demigods independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya: (CC Adi 5.142) the supreme master is Kṛṣṇa, and all others are His servants." (SB 5.4.17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The words bṛhate namas te have been explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura: bṛhate śrī-kṛṣṇāya. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kṛṣṇa. There are many tattvas, such as viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva, but above everything is the viṣṇu-tattva, which is all-pervading.

This all-pervading feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42), wherein the Lord says:

athavā bahunaitena

kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna

viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam

ekāṁśena sthito jagat

"But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe." (SB 8.3.17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Everything is situated as part of the Supreme Lord's potency. In regard to Lord Kṛṣṇa's appearance in the womb of Devakī, Brahmā played a part also because on the bank of the milk ocean he requested the Supreme Personality of Godhead to appear. A part was also played by Baladeva, the first expansion of Godhead.

Similarly, Yogamāyā, who appeared as the daughter of mother Yaśodā, also played a part. Thus jīva-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva and śakti-tattva are all integrated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and when Kṛṣṇa appears, He appears with all His integrated parts.

As explained in previous verses, Yogamāyā was requested to attract Saṅkarṣaṇa, Baladeva, from the womb of Devakī to the womb of Rohiṇī, and this was a very heavy task for her. Yogamāyā naturally could not see how it was possible for her to attract Saṅkarṣaṇa." (SB 10.2.9, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the supreme controller, the one Personality of Godhead, has ecstatically become a devotee, yet His body is transcendental and not materially tinged.

There are different tattvas, or truths, including īśa-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva. Īśa-tattva refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu, who is the supreme living force. In the Kaṭha Upaniṣad it is said, nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme eternal and the supreme living force.

The living entities are also eternal and are also living forces, but they are very minute in quantity, whereas the Supreme Lord is the supreme living force and the supreme eternal. The supreme eternal never accepts a body of a temporary material nature, whereas the living entities, who are part and parcel of the supreme eternal, are prone to do so." (CC Adi 7.10, Translation and Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In his Anubhāṣya, Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, describing the truth about the Pañca-tattva, explains that we should understand that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the supreme predominator and that Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are His subordinates but are also predominators.

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Lord, and Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are manifestations of the Supreme Lord. All of Them are viṣṇu-tattva, the Supreme, and are therefore worshipable by the living entities.

Although the other two tattvas within the category of Pañca-tattva—namely, śakti-tattva and jīva-tattva, represented by Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa—are worshipers of the Supreme Lord, they are in the same category because they eternally engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord." (CC Adi 7.15, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The devotees headed by Gadādhara Paṇḍita are to be considered incarnations of the internal potency of the Lord. They are confidential devotees engaged in the service of the Lord. In connection with verses 16 and 17, Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains in his Anubhāṣya:

“There are specific symptoms by which the internal devotees and the unalloyed or pure devotees are to be known. All unalloyed devotees are śakti-tattvas, or potencies of the Lord.

Some of them are situated in conjugal love and others in filial affection, fraternity and servitude. Certainly all of them are devotees, but by making a comparative study it is found that the devotees or potencies who are engaged in conjugal love are better situated than the others.

Thus devotees who are in a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in conjugal love are considered to be the most confidential devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu." (CC Adi 7.17, Translation and Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments in his Anubhāṣya that among the five tattvas, two are energies (śakti-tattva) and the three others are energetic (śaktimān tattva).

Unalloyed and internal devotees are both engaged in the favorable culture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness untinged by philosophical speculation or fruitive activities.

They are all understood to be pure devotees, and those among them who simply engage in conjugal love are called mādhurya-bhaktas, or internal devotees.

The loving services in parental love, fraternity and servitude are included in conjugal love of God. In conclusion, therefore, every confidential devotee is a pure devotee of the Lord." (CC Adi 7.18-19, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Bengal there is perpetual competition between the devotees of goddess Kālī and the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Generally Bengalis, especially those who are meat-eaters and drunkards, are very much attached to worshiping the goddesses Durgā, Kālī, Śītalā and Caṇḍī.

Such devotees, who are known as śāktas, or worshipers of the śakti-tattva, are always envious of Vaiṣṇavas.

Since Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was a well-known and respected Vaiṣṇava in Navadvīpa, Gopāla Cāpāla wanted to reduce his prestige by bringing him down to the platform of the śāktas." (CC Adi 17.38, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In different Vedic scriptures, there are prescribed rules and regulative principles for worshiping different types of forms. When one is purified by these rules and regulations, he worships You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Although manifested in many forms, You are one." This verse is quoted from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (10.40.7). In the Vedas it is stated that the one becomes many (eko bahu syām). The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself in various forms—viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva". (CC Madhya 20.173, Translation and Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Gradually Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma reached the city of Dvārakā, which was surrounded by the sea. Following this, Śrī Balarāma married Revatī, daughter of King Raivata, ruler of Ānarta Province.

This is explained in the Ninth Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. After the marriage of Baladeva, Kṛṣṇa married Rukmiṇī. Rukmiṇī was the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, ruler of the province known as Vidarbha.

Just as Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, Rukmiṇī is the supreme goddess of fortune, Mahā-Lakṣmī.

According to the authority of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the expansion of Kṛṣṇa and that of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are simultaneous:

Kṛṣṇa expands Himself into various viṣṇu-tattva forms, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī expands Herself into various śakti-tattva forms, by Her internal potency, as multiforms of the goddess of fortune." (Krsna Book 52)

Viṣṇu-tattva is puruṣa-tattva, and we are śakti-tattva, śakti, energy, marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa. So energy is prakṛti. The prakṛti is not puruṣa.

Srila Prabhupada - "Prakṛti means enjoyed. Enjoyer and... Predominator and the predominated. So jīva-bhūta, we jīvas, we are all prakṛti. Puruṣa is only Kṛṣṇa. All living entities... Viṣṇu-tattva is puruṣa-tattva, and we are śakti-tattva, śakti, energy, marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa.

So energy is prakṛti. The prakṛti is not puruṣa. So Māyāvāda philosophy is wrong. They pose them as so 'ham. So 'ham "I am the same." How you can be same? In the śāstra it is said that "You living entity, you are prakṛti."

How you can become same, you puruṣa. This is mistake. How prakṛti, how a woman can become man? Artificially one can become. Here also so-called woman, they are also puruṣa.

They are thinking puruṣa. Puruṣa means enjoyer. Here woman is also thinking to enjoy, and the so-called man is also thinking to enjoy. Everyone. Nobody wants to serve. Everyone wants to be served. Puruṣa attitude." (Lecture on BG 1.13-14, London, July 14, 1973)

There are jīva-tattvas, there are śakti-tattvas, there are viṣṇu-tattvas. People do not know it.

Srila Prabhupada - "Of course, Kṛṣṇa is viṣṇu-tattva. Kṛṣṇa is not in the category of jīva-tattva. There are jīva-tattvas, there are śakti-tattvas, there are viṣṇu-tattvas.

People do not know it. Therefore in the next line it is said, paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. They do not know what is viṣṇu-tattva, what is jīva-tattva, what is śakti-tattva, how things are working. Paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ (BG 9.11). Mama bhūta-maheśvaram: "I am the Supreme Person." (Lecture on BG 9.11, Calcutta, June 30, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "So there are expansions, svāṁśa, personal expansion, and separated expansion. The personal expansions are called viṣṇu-tattva. Baladeva... Just like Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His personal expansion is Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu.

And Śrīvāsādi they are separated expansion. Although they are associates, but Śrīvāsa, jīva-tattva; and Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu, viṣṇu-tattva. And Gadādhara is śakti-tattva.

So in this way, God is person and His personal expansions are innumerable, unlimited. Viṣṇu-tattva. They are worshipable. And other tattva, śakti-tattva and jīva-tattva, they are meant for service. But all together taken, that is one. That is Absolute Truth." (Lecture on SB 1.3.27, Los Angeles, Oct 2, 1972)

Śakti-tattva is the energy of God.

Srila Prabhupada - "So God is one, but there are different kinds of demigods. That is also a fact. They are accepted as different parts and parcels of God, as we are also. The demigods are also living entities.

They are not viṣṇu-tattva. There are viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva is the Supreme Absolute Truth, jīva-tattva is part and parcel, and śakti-tattva is the energy of God. So the demigods... You can become a demigod.

You can become. If you follow the process how to become, then you become one day the demigod in the sun planet. It is not difficult. You can become one day even Lord Brahmā." (Lecture on SB 1.5.15, New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969)

Viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva. There are different tattvas.

Srila Prabhupada - "Anything about Nārāyaṇa, that is not of this material world. That is of the spiritual world. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa question and Kṛṣṇa answer, they are not material things.

Therefore, if we always engage ourself in Kṛṣṇa question and Kṛṣṇa answer... śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ (SB 7.5.23). Therefore it is called Viṣṇu. Not that any other śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam.

Only Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu means viṣṇu-tattva.

Rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan. Viṣṇu-tattva means rāmādi-mūrti. Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, Kṛṣṇa... There are so many. They are described. They are viṣṇu-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva.

There are different tattvas. So śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. If you engage yourself in śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, that should be for Viṣṇu, not for any other, anyone else. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam. Smaraṇam, meditation. That is also Viṣṇu." (Lecture on SB 2.1.3, Delhi, Nov 6, 1973)

Tattva is manifested in different ways: Viṣṇu-tattva, Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva, jīva-tattva, like that.

Also when sakti-tattva refers to Krsna's direct Visnu expansions, then it is often called a Visnu-sakti-tattva expansions.

Srila Prabhupada - "If one thinks that the holy name of Hari is as good as the name of other demigods, then it is nāmāparadha. That is not śuddha-nāma. So people are being misguided in that way. But the śāstra does not say that.

The śāstra says, harer nāma, harer nāma (CC Adi 17.21), the holy name of Hari, Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu, Viṣṇu-tattva. Hari means Viṣṇu-tattva. There are...

Tattva is manifested in different ways: Viṣṇu-tattva, Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva, jīva-tattva, like that. So śāstra says that harer nāma, Viṣṇu-tattva. Viṣṇu... Of course, Lord Viṣṇu has several thousands of names according to His different activities: Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa, Hari, Govinda, Mādhava, many names." (Lecture on SB 6.2.7, Vrndavana, Sept 10, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "We do not know who is the actual architect behind all this nice material creation. That is Mahā-Viṣṇu, and His incarnation is Advaita Prabhu.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is directly Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa's incarnation. Nityānanda Prabhu is directly incarnation of Baladeva, and similarly, Śrī Advaita Prabhu is incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

So all of Them are on the equal footing. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita. They are on the same equal level. And then śakti-tattva, Śrī-Gadādhara and Śrīvāsādi gaura bhakta-vṛnda.

Gadādhara is the internal energy, and Śrīvāsādi gaura bhakta-vṛnda, they are marginal energy.

So Īśvara-tattva and śakti-tattva. So within this group, there is no this material energy because in the spiritual world there is no action of material energy, only spiritual energy.

In the material world there is action of material energy. In the spiritual world there is no material energy. Therefore, in this Pañca-tattva, there is no mention of material energy because in the spiritual world there is no material energy." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.12, Mayapur, April 5, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam: (SB 1.3.28) "All of them are Bhagavān, but the original Bhagavān, real Bhagavān, is Kṛṣṇa." Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam. So everyone is under Kṛṣṇa.

Therefore Caitanya caritāmṛta Kar says, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa āra saba bhṛtya (CC Adi 5.142). Āra saba bhṛtya, servant. Even īśvara-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, they are also working as servant of Kṛṣṇa.

Advaita Ācāryas, just like He's Īśvara, but He's serving as servant of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore ekale īśvara... Na kṛṣṇāt caitanyāt para-tattvam param iha. They're... Above Kṛṣṇa, above Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there is no more para-tattva. Param iha. It is the Supreme.

So in this way we have to study īśvara-tattva, then śakti-tattva, jīva-tattva. That is knowledge; that is education.

Not whimsically suggesting something and talking foolishly and... Athāpi te deva padāmbuja dvaya prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvam (SB 10.14.29). If you want to know the truth, then you have to follow these principles, how to know īśvara-tattva.

And how to know? Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). Then you have to go, approach the bona fide guru. He will let you know." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.12, Mayapur, April 5, 1975)

Advaita Ācārya is īśvara-tattva. He's not śakti-tattva. He's īśvara-tattva. And we are all śakti-tattva; therefore there is difference.

Srila Prabhupada - "As Caitanya-caritāmṛta Kar is explainiìng, we have to follow this principle. Then if you are really inquisitive to learn the Absolute Truth, they will explain, as here it is explained that here Advaita Ācārya is īśvara, He's incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

Sometimes Advaita Ācārya is called Sadāśiva avatāra. The Sadāśiva is also expansion of Mahā-Viṣṇu. So either way you say, incarnation of Sadāśiva or Mahā-Viṣṇu, it doesn't matter. But Advaita Ācārya is īśvara-tattva. He's not śakti-tattva. He's īśvara-tattva. And we are all śakti-tattva; therefore there is difference. Śakti-śaktimān.

Although there is no difference abhinna, but still, śakti-tattva is superior, er, śaktimān tattva is superior than śakti-tattva. So in this way try to understand Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and Gadādhara and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. And... But they are so kind because they have come to deliver the fallen souls." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.12, Mayapur, April 5, 1975)

Jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, prakāśa-tattva, and avatāra-tattva, and He Himself. This Pañca-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada - "So Nityānanda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared here at Māyāpur, this very place where you are now sitting, with all these five features:

Nityānanda Prabhu,

Śrī Advaita Prabhu,

Gadādhara Prabhu,

Śrīnivāsa Prabhu.

So He Himself, Kṛṣṇa, and Nityānanda Prabhu is immediate expansion of His personal self;

Advaita Prabhu is incarnation of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, Mahāviṣṇu, three,

Gadādhara Prabhu is the expansion of spiritual energy,

Śrīnivāsa Prabhu is the expansion of His marginal potency, marginal energy, jīva-tattya. Jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, prakāśa-tattva, and avatāra-tattva, and He Himself. This Pañca-tattva.

This Pañca-tattva will be explained in this chapter. That is the proposal of the author. Guru-tattva kahiyāchi ebe pāñcera vicāra. Consideration of the five. So although the Absolute Truth is one, He expands in His various features. That has been divided in Caitanya Mahāprabhu's practical exposition of tattva-vicāra, in six: five personal, and the guru is also representative." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.3, Mayapur, March 3, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Bhagavān means His paraphernalia. Just like when we speak, "Now the king is coming," it is not that king is alone coming. The king is coming with his minister, with his commander, with his secretaries, with his so many officers.

So when we speak of Bhagavān, don't think He is alone only. No. Pañca..., that Pañca-tattva. When Bhagavān incarnates, He comes with all the associates, His śakti-tattva, avatāra-tattva, prakāśa-tattva.

Many paraphernalia He comes. So here Caitanya Mahāprabhu, avatīrṇa. Here it is said, pañca-tattva avatīrṇa caitanyera saṅge (CC Adi 7.4). Caitanyera-saṅge... Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. So He must have His associates. Associates. That is Bhagavān." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.4, Mayapur, March 4, 1974)

The Absolute Truth is one, but there are categories: "This is śakti-tattva; this is prakāśa-tattva; this is incarnation tattva; this is marginal potency; this is external potency."

Srila Prabhupada - "So here it is said, eka-vastu. So far the substance is concerned, that is eka-vastu. Just like in logical categories the substance is there, and there are many categories. Take for example that the Absolute Truth is one, but there are categories:

"This is śakti-tattva; this is prakāśa-tattva; this is incarnation tattva; this is marginal potency; this is external potency." Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport).

Srila Prabhupada - "There are many multipotencies. Because the original is Absolute Truth, in one sense everyone is in the same absolute platform. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a verse, idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ:

"This viśva, the whole cosmic manifestation, is Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Just like Kṛṣṇa manifested His universal form. So every part and parcel is Bhagavān, but still, it is different. This is the philosophy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's acintya-bhedābheda: simultaneously one and different, inconceivable. We cannot conceive at the present moment how one thing can be the same, at the same time different; therefore it is called acintya, inconceivable. But bhedābheda... Just like we are—everything—you study. It is acintya-bhedābheda, one and different." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)

The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa.

Srila Prabhupada - "We are living in air, but if I think that air and the water is the same, I jump over the ocean, that is not very good idea. But actually, air is also Kṛṣṇa, water is also Kṛṣṇa, earth is also Kṛṣṇa, fire is also Kṛṣṇa, because they are all Kṛṣṇa's energy.

So in this way, if we try to understand that Pañca-tattva, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda... This is Pañca-tattva: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, and Śrīvāsādi. Śrīvāsādi means jīva-tattva.

The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. We are worshiping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Now, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that "Jīva-tattva, the living entities, they are never the energetic; they are energy." Energetic and energy. So how it is so? The evidence is from Bhāgavata, Viṣṇu Purāṇa and Bhagavad-gītā. Because one has to give evidence. How do you say that jīva-tattva, the living entities, they are not the Supreme?

Caitanya Mahāprabhu sa..., they are not su... Not to say, I mean to say, speak of Supreme, they are not even of the same category. Because there are different categories.

Viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva—there are so many categories. So He says that "Jīva, the living entities, they are in the categories of energy.

They are not energetic." Energetic and energy, you should try to understand. Just like the fire, fire and its heat. Heat is the energy, and the fire is the energetic.

Similarly, the Supreme Lord, He is the energetic, Supreme Person, and we, the living entities, we are energy." (Lecture on CC Adi- 7.113-17, San Francisco, Feb 22, 1967)

The Viṣṇu-tattvas are known as puruṣa-tattva, whereas the jīva-tattva is known as śakti-tattva.

Srila Prabhupada - "The viṣṇu-tattva is called svāṁśa. There is no difference between one viṣṇu-tattva to another. Just like (indistinct) Rāmacandra, He is viṣṇu-tattva. Nārāyaṇa, viṣṇu-tattva. Balarāma, viṣṇu-tattva.

So there is no difference in power. They are called svāṁśa, svāṁśa-vistṛra. And there are other vistṛra. That is called vibhinnāṁśa vistṛra, separated part and parcel.

We are, we the jīvas, we are also expansion of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu. But we are a small, separated part and parcel, whereas viṣṇu-tattva expansion, They are full in power.

The viṣṇu-tattvas are known as puruṣa-tattva, whereas the jīva-tattva is known as śakti-tattva.

Jīva-tattva, as the Māyāvādī philosophers, they think that jīva-tattva can be God or jīva can become God. That is a false theory. It has no value according to Vedic scripture." (Speech at Gaudiya Math Center, Visakhapatnam, Feb 19, 1972)

So we are śakti-tattva. We are not śaktimān-tattva. It is not corroborated. One who thinks that "I am God," śaktimān-tattva, that is false. We are śakti-tattva. Śaktimān means the powerful, one who possesses the power, and śakti means the power or energy.

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇa says that there are many manifestations of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu. Just like candles, there are many candles, each candle has got the illuminating power. Similarly, eko bahu syām.

Viṣṇu expands Himself in many, many millions of forms. Those forms are called svāṁśa and vibhinnāṁśa. Svāṁśa, personal expansions, and separated expansions.

The separated expansions are we, we living entities. As it is stated in the Bhagavad gītā, mamaivāṁso jīva bhūta (BG 15.7).

So we are also expansions of Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, but we are separated. Means we are not personal expansions.

The personal expansions is called Viṣṇu-tattva, and the separated expansion is called jīva-tattva.

Viṣṇu is śaktimān, and we are śakti. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gītā:

apareyam itas tu viddhi
me prakṛti parām
jīva-bhutāṁ mahā-baho
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
(BG 7.5)

So we are śakti-tattva. We are NOT śaktimān-tattva. It is not corroborated. One who thinks that "I am God," śaktimān-tattva, that is false. We are śakti-tattva. Śaktimān means the powerful, one who possesses the power. And śakti means the power or energy." (Lecture, Bombay, March 19, 1972)

This is our position: jīva is śakti-tattva and bhagavān is śaktimān-tattva. But śakti, śaktimān abheda, there is no difference.

Srila Prabhupada - "If you feel heat, it does not mean that you're touching the fire or that you are being burned. So simultaneously one and different. This philosophy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, acintya-bhedābheda-tattva-

simultaneously, inconceivable one and different.

That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's philosophy, Vaiṣṇava philosophy. We are neither different nor one, simultaneously, and therefore it is called inconceivable, acintya.

In our material conception we cannot think that one thing may be simultaneously one with another and different from another. So this is our position: jīva is śakti-tattva and bhagavān is śaktimān-tattva.

But śakti, śaktimān abheda, there is no difference. There are many other examples. Just like the sun and sunlight. Sunlight is not different from the sun, and still the sunlight is not the sun." (Lecture, Bombay, March 19, 1972)

The more you discuss the thesis—not thesis; the factual presentation of Viṣṇu-tattva, māyā, and jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva—then it will be clear what is Kṛṣṇa.

Srila Prabhupada - "So Viṣṇu-tattva, worshipable, or Kṛṣṇa-tattva, worshipable. And to pin our staunch faith in Viṣṇu, we should discuss about Viṣṇu-tattva and who is not Viṣṇu-tattva. That is called siddhānta. Siddhānta boliyā citte nā kara alasa-

"Don't be lazy to discuss about siddhānta." Ihā haite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa-

"The more you discuss the thesis—not thesis; the factual presentation of Viṣṇu-tattva, māyā, and jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva—then it will be clear what is Kṛṣṇa."

Kṛṣṇa is the origin of everything. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG 10.8). We should try to understand this fact, that Kṛṣṇa is the origin of everything, and if we take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness... Kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya.

If you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then your all other duties automatically... The same example, as we have given: If you pour water on the root of the tree, then all other duties are automatically done." (Morning Lecture, Allahabad, Jan 15, 1977)

So devatās, they are śakti-tattva, śakti category, the same category as you are.

Srila Prabhupada - "So Rāma... Bhagavān has different forms: rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan (Bs. 5.39). Bhagavān (Hindi)."

Guest - "That's good. So that explains..."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Viṣṇu-tattva. That is called Viṣṇu-tattva."

Guest - "In that expansion can't we take Durgā and Siva, even for..."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes. That is śakti-tattva. We have to take expansion according to the tattva. Substance and categories; in which category. The substance is Viṣṇu, and all other tattvas are categories. So devatās, they are śakti-tattva, śakti category, the same category as you are. The same example.

Just like here a government officer, he is also Indian gentleman, you are also Indian gentleman, but he has got his power on account of his high qualities. Similarly you can become also Durgā. You can become Indra, Candra, Sūrya. So qualitatively the ant, you are a learned brāhmaṇa, they are all the same category." (Room Conversation, Nov 11, 1971, New Delhi)

Devī is śakti-tattva. Jīva is also śakti-tattva. In one sense jīva-tattva is higher than this material śakti-tattva.

Srila Prabhupāda - "A paṇḍita knows that they are on the same jīva-tattva categories. Viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, there are many tattvas. Brahman-tattva, paramātmā-tattva, and Bhagavat-tattva, they are the substance, and all other tattvas, they are jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, like that. So Bhagavān is not jīva-tattva, but others, they are jīva-tattva. Demigods, they are jīva-tattva. Brahma is also jīva-tattva. Devī is śakti-tattva. Jīva is also śakti-tattva. In one sense jīva-tattva is higher than this material śakti-tattva." (Room Conversation, Nov 11, 1971, New Delhi)

The same śakti. Cit-śakti. Bhagavān ke pleasure potency. Śakti, śakti-tattva, So Śaktimān. Bhagavān is Śaktimān, and that śakti is Rādhārāṇī or Sītā or Lakṣmī. Durgā is also śakti, another feature of Rādhārāṇī.

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes. Rāma is another... There is no difference between Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. If you like..."

Guest - "The form comes different in the..."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, but they are the same. Rāmādi mūrti..

Guest - "For purpose of practice I am asking, when you chant Rāma, should you have the form of Rāma before you?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "That depends on your affection. Bhagavān has got many forms. If you want, if you love Rāma, that's all right. If you love Kṛṣṇa, that is all right. If you love Nārāyaṇa, that is also all right. But Bhagavān mūrti, rāmādi-mūrtiṣu."

Guest - "Along with Rādhe? (Hindi) (laughter)"

Srila Prabhupāda - "That is incongruency. Rāma with Sītā."

Guest - "Along with..."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Huh?"

Guest - "Kṛṣṇa along with Rādhikā."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa with Rādhārāṇī."

Guest - "Then what is Rādhā category?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "The same śakti. Cit-śakti. Bhagavān ke pleasure potency. Śakti, śakti-tattva. So Śaktimān. Bhagavān is Śaktimān, and that śakti is Rādhārāṇī or Sītā or Lakṣmī. Durgā is also śakti, another feature of Rādhārāṇī."

Guest - "Śakti in original is Rādhā?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, Parāsya śaktih..., parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate." (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport).

Srila Prabhupada - "Originally cit-śakti. That cit-śakti is expanding. Just like we are..., rāmādi mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan (Bs. 5.39). Kalā means part and parcel.

So we are also part and parcel, but we are very small part and parcel. But rāmādi mūrti, they are bigger part and parcel. Just like if you throw one brick on the floor, so there will be so many small particles, big particles, this particle, that.

They are all part and parcel of the brick, but one part very small atomic part, and one big part, this part, this part, then this part, then this part. So all, Kṛṣṇa is the origin, and everyone is part and parcel. Some of them are bigger and some of them are smaller. So Viṣṇu-tattva is almost like Kṛṣṇa." (Room Conversation, Nov 11, 1971, New Delhi)

Some of them are Viṣṇu-tattva,
some of them are Jīva-tattva, some of them are Śakti-tattva and some of them para-tattva.

Guest - "Śakti in original is Rādhā?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, Parāsya śaktih..., parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport). Originally cit-śakti. That cit-śakti is expanding. Just like we are..., rāmādi mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan (Bs. 5.39). Kalā means part and parcel. So we are also part and parcel, but we are very small part and parcel.

But rāmādi mūrti, they are bigger part and parcel. Just like if you throw one brick on the floor, so there will be so many small particles, big particles, this particle, that.

Guest - "Like Kṛṣṇa."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Others, they are very small. So according to the size, or according to the power..."

Guest - "Power."

Srila Prabhupāda - "The part and parcel exercises his position. Some of them are Viṣṇu-tattva, some of them are Jīva-tattva, some of them are Śakti-tattva and some of them para-tattva. Like that."

Guest - "Para-tattva?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Para tattva."

Guest - "Means?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Para-tattva is Bhagavān. Para-tattva means Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu.

These are para tattva-

Bhagavān avatāra,
rāmā,
nṛsiṁha,
varāha,
kūrma,
vāmana,
daśāvatāra,
all avatāra.

Or śakti-tattva, material energy, aparā-tattva, matter. Similarly cit-tattva, spiritual world.

The living entities, although they are in the material world, they belong to the spiritual world. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, apareyam. This material energy is inferior. Itas viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām. Beyond this there is another, superior energy, jīva-bhūta, that is jīva." (Room Conversation -- Nov 11, 1971, New Delhi)

And only śakti-tattva, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa. And other three, they are śaktimān-tattva.

Srila Prabhupāda - "Śakti also can be taken as tattva."

Indian man (2) - "As tattva, yes. And these tattvas, Pañca-tattvas, have been described as śaktis. These Pañca-tattvas also have been described as śakti."

Srila Prabhupāda - "But Caitanya Mahaprabhu as śaktimān, and others..."

Indian man (2) - "As śakti."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Not all śakti; two Pañca-tattva. Īśāvatāra, tat-prakāśa(?) avatāra, they army ń my e not śakti. They are all the śaktimān."

Indian man (2) - "Yes, yes."

Srila Prabhupāda - "And only śakti-tattva, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa. And other three, they are śaktimān-tattva."

Indian man (2) - "They are śaktimān-tattva."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta...(Room Conversation with Gaurachand Gosvami At the Radha-Damodara Temple." (Mostly Bengali), March 11, 1972, Vrndavana)

Srila Prabhupāda - "So He is existing with all the incarnations, rāmādi-mūrtiṣu. So Rāma is not less than Kṛṣṇa, but He is incarnation. This is the conclusion."

Indian man - "Because I was trying to refer to Govindāṣṭakam, Where it says, (sings) śrī kṛṣṇa rādhā āra gokuleśa gopāla govardhana-nātha viṣṇu, jīveti amṛtamedhadevo govindaṁ dāmodaram ada vetti(?)

He's saying, śrī kṛṣṇa rādhā āra gokuleśa gopāla govardhana-nātha viṣṇu. That is what I was trying to see that is really... I know that say Kṛṣṇa's expansion is Mahā-Viṣṇu, but still, why do they say govardhana-nātha viṣṇu? That I was trying to understand. Please don't misunderstand me."

Srila Prabhupāda - "No, no, Govardhana... Every one is viṣṇu-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, like that. So all of them on the Viṣṇu category. That's all.

Viṣṇu-tayā vibhāti. Viṣṇu-tayā vibhāti. Dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya dīpāyate viṣṇu-tayā vibhāti (Bs. 5.46).

These things are there. So Godhead is viṣṇu-tattva. So sometimes Viṣṇu, sometimes Nārāyaṇa, sometimes Govinda, sometimes Kṛṣṇa, like that." (Room Conversation - July 17, 1976, New York)

The sakti tattva, or jiva tattva is always enjoyed. Our position is always predominated. If we remain in that position and properly use our small independence, then we remain happily eternally.

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your question, "What does Rama mean in Hare Rama? Is this Balarama or Lord Ramacandra?", you can take it both ways, because there is no difference between Ramacandra and Balarama. Generally it means Krsna, because Rama means enjoyer.

So either Ramacandra, Balarama or Krsna are all Visnu Tattvas and are always enjoying. The sakti tattva, or jiva tattva is always enjoyed. Our position is always predominated.

If we remain in that position and properly use our small independence, then we remain happily eternally. But artificially, if we want to be independent and imitate the Supreme Enjoyer, then it is delusion. Material life means trying to imitate the Enjoyer, and spiritual life means to remain in one's eternal position as enjoyed.

This Hare Krsna Mantra is addressed to the energy of the Lord and the Lord Himself to keep the chanter in his eternal position of being enjoyed.

The prayer is "My Lord, Oh the Spiritual Energy of the Lord, kindly keep me engaged in Your service." Regarding your other question, Krsna in His four-handed Visnu Form is within our hearts, but He is not different from two-handed Krsna." (Letter to Arundhati, Hamburg 9 Sept 1969)*+×*

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Who is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON)?

Srila Prabhupāda first arrived in America from India on the ship Jaladuta in the Boston harbour Massachusetts USA on Friday September 17, 1965 and first registered ISKCON on July 13th 1966 in New York City, USA.

Srila Prabhupada came to the United States carrying within his heart the orders of his spiritual master to spread the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu beyond the borders of India throughout the entire world.

As he looked across Boston’s bleak polluted skyline, he could understand the difficulty of this mission and felt great compassion for those godless people, thus, with perfect humility, he composed this historic prayer in Bengali (translated to English), praying for the deliverance of the fallen souls.

1: My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.

2: But I guess You have some business here. Otherwise, why would You bring me to such a terrible place?

3: Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.

4: But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible, because You are the most expert mystic.

5: How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.

6: All living entities have come under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. I wish that You may deliver them.

7: I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.

8: The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives them with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.

9: It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17-21): ‘Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.

By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

At the time loving service is established in the heart, the modes of passion [rajas] and ignorance [tamas], and lust and desire [kama] disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness and he becomes happy.

Thus established in the mode of goodness, the man rejuvenated by loving service to the Lord gains liberation from material association [mukti] and comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead.

Thus the knot in the heart and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions [karma] is terminated when one sees the self as master.”

10: He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear.

11: How will I make them understand the message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.

12: Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like.

13: O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.

14: Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.

15: O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like.

16: I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now if You like You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.

Signed, the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. dated Saturday 18th of September, 1965

Born-

Abhay Charan De

1 September 1896

Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.

Left this world-

14 November 1977 (aged 81) Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India

Resting place-

Bhaktivedānta Swami's Samadhi, Krsna Balarama Mandir Vrindavan

Religion-

Sanātan Dharma,

Vaishnavism,

Street Sankirtan - the chanting of Hare Krsna all over the World - The Yuga Dharma for this degraded Kali-yuga.

Lineage-

Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Sect-

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Notable work-

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Nectar of Devotion.

School-

Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta (B.A.)

Monastic name-

Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhakti-vedānta Svāmī

Temple-

Gaudiya Math, ISKCON

Philosophy-

Achintya Bheda Abheda (Simultaneously one and different philosophy of Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu)

Teacher (Spiritual Master or Guru)-

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur

Predecessor-

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur

Initiation-

Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Diksa

1933 by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur.

Ordination (Sannyas initiation)-

Taking Gaudiya Sannyas in 1959 from Bhaktiprajnāna Keśava Gosvāmī.

Srila Prabhupada's basic enlighting teachings-

Devotee - "It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that if one thinks of Krsna at the time of death, he (she) goes to Krsna. What if one thinks of his spiritual master?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "He (she) will go to Krsna because spiritual master is also going to Krsna." (BG Class 7.2, Oct 28, 1975 Nairobi)

The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are TWO involved, not one Prabhupada has told us. The individual jiva-souĺs have THEIR choices too, EVEN if that choice means rejecting Krsna! Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" affair.

In other words, loving reciprocation is ONLY possible on a "two-way" street between two, with each contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows.

This also means the individual jiva-souls CAN reject Krsna if they choose, which in a sense proves that "free will" DOES truly exist.

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will." (Philosophy Discussions on Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence, that is force.” (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Having "free will" is the eternal constitutional make up of EVERY "marginal living entity," and is the foundation for ALL jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna.

The jiva-souls on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavan ALWAYS have their independent "free will" that is part and parcel of their unique individuality included in their marginal identity (As jiva-soul)

This "freedom" of having individual self expression," allows the jiva-souls to each make their own unique personal offerings and voluntary contributions to Visnu or Krsna, where each jiva-soul can offer or serve Krsna in their own unique personal way.

This is REAL freedom.

In this way each individual jiva-soul has their own special unique (personal) association and relationship with Krsna that no other jiva-soul has like theirs.

These loving exchanges are based on a "two-way" relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls.

However, in the temporary material creation, it is different because those who have entered the material creation have previously chosen to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan by rejecting Visnu in Vaikuntha or Krsna in Goloka Vrindavana.

So why then does Krsna allow the jiva-souls to have their independent freedom to even leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan if they choose?

Devotee – "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?” Why doesn’t He save me from thinking like that?”

Srila Prabhupada - “That means you lose your independence, that is force. In Bengali it is said, ‘if you catch one girl or boy and demand, ‘you love me, you love me, you love me,’ is that love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver. ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!’ That is not love; that is threatening. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?” (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C)

First of all we read from above by Prabhupada, Krsna gives the jiva-souls "free will" in the Spiritual Worlds that allows them to make their own choices there.

Having free will also makes the jiva-souls fully responsible for all their choices and actions.

Rejecting Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan and therefore having to enter the material creation, (but only less than 10% make such a choice) was a mistake by those jiva-souls because the material creation is NOT the real home of the individual jiva-souls.

It is unnatural for the individual jiva-souls to be covered by a temporary material bodily vessel or container that they are given when they enter the material creation.

It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each jiva-soul MUST have their "free will" to make their own choices, even if it means leaving Krsna if they choose, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or service.

This quality or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcels expansion of the Krsna.

Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can NEVER exist.

Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We CAN misuse that." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

Having "free will" is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is ALWAYS part and parcel of their eternal character and personality in the Spiritual Worlds.

This means the jiva-souls can even choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they choose to do so, otherwise free will has no meaning.

In other words, free will clearly means the jiva-souls can choose to even reject Krsna's promise that they they will never fall down again into the material world.

Many great Gurus and Swamis have misunderstood the full implications of free will.

Free will always allows this and if it didn't then there is no question of loving exchanges.

This is why it is foolish that big, big sannyasis and gurus in some other sangas (religious cults) claim once entering the spiritual world, the jiva-souls can never leave or down again.

No, they CAN fall down again and again if they choose to do so!

And as said above, such choices or fall downs have nothing to do with Maya (material energy) because Maya does not exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. It is simply the misuse of free will that is the cause of fall down.

The choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows a "two-way" relationship, this means one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose to do so.

Hayagriva - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."

Srila Prabhupada -"Yes", but that is free will. He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Talk on philosophy of Rene Descartes)

Syamasundara - "But can we predict returning back home back to Godhead will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, however some do come back?''

Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no permanent effect because we have got little independence. There is nothing permanent because you can misuse your independence at any time."

Syamasundara - "And some come back?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes. Otherwise there is no meaning of independence. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. "All right. Whatever you like."

Devotee - "Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?"

Srila Prabhupada - "He has got independence, therefore there is always the possibility he can misuse his independence, he CAN fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is NOT to come back, but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again." (Talk on the philosophy of Henri Bergson)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

The Sun-disc and the sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities CANNOT exist without Krsna.

Each "jiva-soul" (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different from other personalities including Kṛṣṇas.

No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can EVER become God (Krsna or Visnu).

Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of reciprocation between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotional service to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the "free will" of each jiva-soul.

On the other hand, actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that does not allow personal voluntary contributions from the individual jiva-souls in a "two-way" exchange of feelings, is dangerous impersonalism.

Personalism means a "two-way" relationship that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will!" (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Srila Prabhupada - ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed by only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

Devotee – “Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?”

Srila Prabhupada – “Yes, human form. God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri – “How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?”

Srila Prabhupada – “[describing material form first]: Yes. They are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

Hari-sauri - “They are covered in the spiritual world?”

Srila Prabhupada - “Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he ñcan change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 Text 1-4, Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)..^^..

HERE HERE.