The following is a transcription of a discourse delivered by Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja in Oahu, Hawaii, on 26 January 2003 (Bhakta Bandhav Anthology Volume 91)

 

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: My humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of my paramārādhya guru-pāda-padma, oṁ viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja. And the same unto the lotus feet of my śikṣā-guru, oṁ viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja.

As I have said, Svāmī Mahārāja, your gurudeva, Prabhupāda, came to all the Western and Eastern countries. He even came to Honolulu, and he inspired so many devotees around the world. Why? Why? Because we feel that all living beings in the whole universe — not only humans but even animals, birds, creepers, trees — want happiness in their lives. We see that in the whole world, in the whole universe, all beings want to be happy. But are they really happy? We can ask the current President of America, Bush, “Are you happy and satisfied?” He is always fearing, always fearing, always fearing.

In this world, no one is happy. Only devotees can be happy if they are truly happy, in the true sense. So-called happiness, having feelings of false ego, will not do. For this, in order to be happy, all beings in the whole universe combine and engage in many activities to be happy. They are making so many inventions. Now it is the computer period, the computer yuga. In a moment, we can speak and hear anything from the South Pole or North Pole, or East or West — in a moment. Also, medical science has advanced significantly. It’s possible to transplant someone else’s heart or some other organ into a person. We are doing so many things to be happy, yet these doctors, scientists, presidents and prime ministers are not happy. Instead, suffering is only increasing. We have so much wealth, position, suitable homes that are well equipped with all facilities, wonderful, beautiful wives, qualified children, husbands, so many things — yet no one is happy. Why are we not happy? He will explain briefly.

(A devotee describes how if you throw a stone up in the air, the stone falls back to the earth. Fire naturally goes to the sun, not back to the earth. Water also goes to the ocean. These parts are trying to reach their whole that they are a part of. Like this, we are a part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So, until we go back to Him, we can never be happy and satisfied. By practising bhakti-yoga, we can develop love and attachment for Kṛṣṇa and derive happiness from our eternal loving relationship between Him and our soul. We must go back home, back to Godhead, in order to be really happy.)

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: I am very happy that he explained this in a good way. He has told us what our mission in the world is and what the aim and object of life should be. Those who have no aim or object in their lives are like animals. Therefore, we must set a goal for our lives. We should decide what the object of life is, and then gradually proceed towards it. As he said, we are part and parcel of the Supreme Godhead. No doubt, God is one without a second. He is very powerful, very attractive, very beautiful, sweet, and charming. He is an ocean of love and affection.

God is love; love is God. Our aim and object is to serve that Supreme Lord who is worshipable. He is very merciful. If we are engaged in His service, then we can have transcendental happiness; otherwise, we cannot be happy, never and never. Kṛṣṇa is the embodiment of love and affection. He is an endless ocean of love. That is why it has been said that Kṛṣṇa is akhila-rasāmṛta-sindhu (the ocean of transcendental nectarean mellows). Akhila means endless, bottomless, boundless.

There is no limit to His mercy, His beauty. Even in a trance, someone can realise this. He is so merciful that He feels separation from all the jīvas (living entities). Sometimes, out of love, He comes down to this universe. Though He has no father… who will be the father of that powerful Kṛṣṇa who in a moment can destroy the whole universe and again create millions of universes? He has no father. But yet, He has an eternal father, Nanda Mahārāja. His eternal mother is Mother Yaśodā. Kṛṣṇa is equally disposed to all (sama-darśī). He has no friends, no enemies, nothing. But yet, He is always controlled by His friends. He has no beloved, but still, His most beloveds are the gopīs.

The gopīs are also boundless. They perform very sweet and very high-class services to Kṛṣṇa. They can control Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord. Kṛṣṇa is bound to come to their lotus feet and pray, “Please excuse Me. I cannot repay your love and affection.” Kṛṣṇa is so merciful. If anyone wants to really love Kṛṣṇa and offer oneself to Him, one should try to learn something from the gopīs. Without the guidance of the gopīs, one cannot have that supreme class of love and affection for Kṛṣṇa. One should try to learn this from the gopīs. There is also one thing one must know. In the śāstra, it is said:

yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke
sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ
yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij
janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ

Srimad-Bhāgavatam (10.84.13)

[“One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worshipable, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth — such a person is no better than a cow or an ass.”]

What is the meaning? If someone believes too much, “If I make this body perfect, then I will be happy.” This is wrong. This body is made of rotten things like blood, urine, and all these things. A lady may be so beautiful, very beautiful, charming, but if a white spot appears anywhere, no one will like her. This body seems very beautiful, but if you take this skin off, how beautiful will it look? It will not be so beautiful.

So, we should not be absorbed in this body. We should not only worship God or deities and neglect to worship the footprints of the Vaiṣṇavas, those who are very near and dear to God, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. We do not give them special attention or serve them. That worship in the temple is bogus if you have no concern for the devotees who are very near and dear to Kṛṣṇa. They can teach us so many things. We should give importance to them.

Brahmā and Śaṅkara are not equal to Kṛṣṇa. They are the vibhūti (manifestations of the opulence) of Kṛṣṇa. We can give them respect, but to think, “They are equal to Kṛṣṇa,” this is an offence. This will not do. Also, try to honour all, from top to bottom, even trees, creepers, and animals — and be kind to them. The Supreme Lord has not created animals so that we can kill them and eat them. He has not created cows and all other animals to be killed and eaten by us. Do you know the meaning of ‘meat’?

M-e-a-t, meat. Me-eat — meaning those whom I eat will eat me. Don’t take meat, eggs, or wine. Don’t be attached to worldly things or any beauty of this world. Pray to Kṛṣṇa and chant His name, because Kṛṣṇa has invested all His power in His sixteen names, “Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare.” This is the essence of all Vedic literature, the essence of the Gītā, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Bible, the Koran, and everything.

It is imperative for you to understand that the Supreme Lord has a transcendental form. He is so beautiful, and He manifests that transcendental form in this world to help the devotees, to help others to be happy. We should try to chant His name, “Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare.” Gaura-premānande! We are leaving from here early in the morning at four, so I want to finish our classes here. If anyone wants to ask a question, anything, they can easily ask, and I will try to answer. Does anyone have questions?

Devotee: I was wondering what the meaning of the kaṇṭhī-mālā is?

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: Tulasī is very near and dear to Kṛṣṇa. That is why the forest of Vṛndāvana is named Vṛndāvana (the forest of Vṛndā). She is very near and dear. If you offer anything without tulasī, Kṛṣṇa will not accept it. Tulasī is near and dear to Kṛṣṇa. There are so many offences, so many unwanted things in our hearts. We want these things to be purified first. Tulasī is very powerful and can do this. Very soon, tulasī, Vṛndā, in the form of this kaṇṭhī-mālā, will take away all our problems. Our blood pressure will be okay. We will not have any more suffering.

Your speech will be pure; your heart will be pure. It will control all your lusty things, worldly desires, and it will give kṛṣṇa-prema. By the influence of the tulasī kaṇṭhī-mālā, we will always remember Vṛndāvana and, in Vṛndāvana, the sweet pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. You know that if tulasī is placed on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, He becomes very happy. Advaita Ācārya called Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa came to this world only because Advaita Ācārya was offering tulasī mañjarīs and gaṅgā-jala (Gaṅgā water), nothing else.

So, she is very powerful. We should always wear this tulasī kaṇṭhī-mālā. If you are wearing tulasī, then Yamarāja will not come; your death and the messengers of death will not come to you. Only the messengers of Viṣṇu will come, and they will take you to the spiritual world. But if this tulasī necklace is not there, you will be shot down like a dog without an owner. If dogs have no owner, they may be shot down. Similarly, Yamarāja is looking for those who have no necklace of tulasī; he will put them to death. He will take them to the abode of Yamarāja, and they will suffer.

That is why we must always wear these three strands of tulasī neck beads. One strand is for the guru, one is for Kṛṣṇa, and one is for Rādhikā. Or, also, one is for the mind, one is for speech, and one is for the body. Thus, we can chant and remember very easily, and a special mercy of Kṛṣṇa will be manifested there. Anyone else?

Devotee: I just want to increase my relationship with you. I have many times during the day when I can chant silently, and I am wondering whether I should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra or the guru-mantra to establish a closer relationship with you.

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: You know that Kṛṣṇa and Rādhikā, with Their combined mercy, They have appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu is a bhakta-avatāra, like a devotee, like a guru. What has He told us? We should try to follow. He told us, “Do praṇāma to gurudeva and all the Vaiṣṇavas.”

om ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

[“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru, my spiritual master, opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”]

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

Śrī Gurvāṣṭakam (8)

[“Solely by the mercy of śrī guru one can receive the mercy of Bhagavān; without it one cannot make any advancement. Meditate on and sing śrī guru’s glories at the three sacred junctions of the day. I adore the lotus feet of that śrī gurudeva.”]

So, we should do like this and always chant, “Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare,” and preach this mission.

Devotee: Some devotees are still eating carrots. Some devotees say that in many maṭhas in India, they eat carrots. Can you elaborate a little on why not to eat carrots?

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: What has been told in all our epics, and what our guru-paramparā has followed, we should try to observe all these things. We don’t eat carrots, but there are two kinds of carrots: very reddish carrots and yellow carrots. As a concession for Western devotees… like your gurudeva gave so many concessions, we have also given some concessions. Those who very much like carrots, who without carrots cannot live (devotees laugh), can eat carrots. But only from time to time, not always.

And gradually they should give up eating carrots. Why? Because these carrots have the qualities of meat and eggs. If you eat them more and more, then you will be lusty. You will not be able to control your senses, and thus it will be a very, very big obstacle in your Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, it is better not to take carrots. Kṛṣṇa has arranged so many things, like mangoes and so many other things. He has arranged so many vegetables, leafy greens, and other things. We can be without carrots. We are living here without carrots.

Devotee: What is ‘muñjāvana?’ What does it mean?

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: Near Bhāṇḍīravana, where a Gandharva marriage was arranged with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and so many things, nearby there is a forest of muñjā. In Sanskrit, the Indian language, it is called muñjāvana: very, very tall, tall grass. That grass is so tall that even an elephant can disappear in it, and we will no longer see where the elephant is. Kaṁsa sent one of his demons there, saying, “When Kṛṣṇa comes there with His cows and associates, at once you should set a fire there. Very soon, the dry leaves of that muñjā plant will catch on fire, and certainly they will be thoroughly put to death.”

This demon did like so, but Kṛṣṇa came there and at once swallowed the entire fire, and it became like snow. That fire became very cool for Kṛṣṇa. Then, at once, everyone saw that they were under the shade of a beautiful banyan tree, and all the cows were there. So, we should think that if you forget Kṛṣṇa, then you are burning in fire. But if you remember Kṛṣṇa, then you will see that you will be very cool.

There are twelve prominent forests of Vṛndāvana (Mahāvana, Kāmyavana, Madhuvana, Tālavana, Kumudavana, Bhāṇḍīravana, Vṛndāvana, Khadīravana, Lohavana, Bhadravana, Bahulāvana, and Baelvana), twelve upavanas (Brahmavana, Apsarāvana, Vihvalavana, Kadambavana, Svarṇavana, Surabhivana, Premavana, Mayūravana, Māneṅgitavana, Śeṣaśāyīvana, Nāradavana, and Paramānandavana), twelve prativanas (Raṅkavana, Vārttāvana, Karahāvana, Kāmavana, Añjanavana, Karṇavana, Kṛṣṇākṣipanavana, Nandaprekṣaṇa Kṛṣṇavana, Indravana, Śikṣāvana, Candrāvalīvana, and Lohavana), and twelve adhivanas (Mathurā, Rādhā-kuṇḍa, Nandagaon, Gaḍha, Lalitā-grāma, Vṛṣabhānupura, Gokula, Balabhadravana, Govardhana, Jāvaṭa, Vṛndāvana, and Saṅketvana).

So, in total, there are forty-eight kinds of forests in Vṛndāvana. They are all related to Kṛṣṇa and Rādhāramaṇa. Kṛṣṇa can go everywhere and play so many sweet pastimes in all these forests. In Vṛndāvana, where there is Vṛndā, where there is Rādhikā and all the gopīs, gopas, cowherds and calves, Rādhāramaṇa must be there, always playing with Rādhikā and the gopīs. So, Rādhāramaṇa is in all the forests of Vṛndāvana. Thank you.

Source(s): Purebhakti.com, Serve Love – Bhakta Bandhav (Bhakta Bandhav Anthology transcribed and edited by the Bhakta Bandhav Team)

Image(s) made possible by Pixabay.com, Krishnapath.org.in, Keystone Press / Alamy Stock Photo and / or Bhaktiart.net

Unless indicated otherwise, all verse translations and quotes are from the books by Śrīla Prabhupāda (Vedabase.com)