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Lights on - Tattwa In Conversation with Sree Sree Maa Lord Balarama always intrigued me. form of Shankarshan - the dazzlingly Spiritual literature conceptualizes him as the transparent, fully enlightened, expressed dual first direct manifestation of universal God equivalent (sham) of the supreme attractor consciousness, Lord Krishna. He has been (karshana), as the eternal Sadguru - associated with various divine and human Paramatma’s own light - that carries one and forms including , Ananta (Great all into the divine lap of Parabrahman. As Serpents of Maha-), Lakshmana ‘Shesha’ he expresses himself in innumerable (younger brother of Lord ), Balarama or forms of the same eshana swabhav of Krishna, Baladeva (elder brother of Sri Krishna), each self-natured to seek full and complete Ramanujacharya (the leading light if the reunion. Each such atom of divine Vishistadvaita school of thought), Nityananda consciousness is an atma-jyoti (soul-light), Prabhu (the beloved resident in every being as companion of Sri the fully linked spark of ), the Sadguru constantly etc. In spiritual engaged in or ontology, Lord Balarama union with the supreme. of Golaka is indentified The conglomeration of as the original spiritual this infinite multitude of master or Adi Sadguru. infinitesimal divine During a discussion with consciousness sparks is Sree Sree Maa, I raised depicted as the million- the topic of Balarama- hooded Shesha over the tattwa and requested her head of the Virat to enlighten me. Observing my fairly confused Purusha. ‘Balarama’ is the unlimited strength understanding, Sree Sree Maa patiently (bala) of the supreme soul (Rama), or atma- elucidated:- , that remains steadfast in the divine play “The supreme personality emerges from (raman) with the dynamic life force (Roma) the great void as the seed of eternal divine evolving out of adya shakti. He is worshipped consciousness and root of all cause. The first as Shukla Yaju - the Fair Lord. rays of the primordial life force (mahaprana) Lord Shankarshan, as karshan shakti, mingle into the shadows of Parabrahman’s strikes and churns the adhara (vessel), pristine form as he rises from the uncharted attracting it towards self-realization. That is depths of the unmanifest as ‘Krishna’ - the why Balarama is depicted holding a dark-complexioned one, with an all- ploughshare in his hand, tilling the field embracing power of attraction (karshan shakti) (kshetra) of the adhara through the will power that draws everything inwards, into him, for of Krishna. Together they form the dipole of absolute union. Krishna’s ‘will to attract’ \(or self-realization and eternal fulfillment. While eshana swabhav\) is his alter ego - the ‘light- Balarama as paramatma – the still state of complexioned one’- revered in many ways unified prana – remains the overlord of the including ‘Balarama’, ‘Shesha’ and kshetra, Krishna - the eternal divine ‘Shankarshan’. consciousness manifesting as the life or jeevan The lord’s all-pervading aakarshan shakti of an embodied soul \(jiva\) – is incessantly (attractive force) personifies into the divine engaged inwards, maintaining the thread of

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supreme union, through steadfast She stopped and I interjected. “Can you tell uninterrupted natural kriya. This fully us a little more about how Lord Balarama as introspective state of prana, engrossed in Sri (originally named Lakshmana) continuous, undistracted ajapa kriya is the spread the message of Sri Krishna? We know ‘Krishna-presence’ within every jiva and is that he propounded the Vishistadvaita worshipped as Krishna Yaju. philosophy and was the third and most Through the will of Krishna-Balarama, the important acharya of the Sri Sampradaya first transformation of the primordial nature originally propounded by and (mahat-tattwa) of the unified consciousness of . Is there something more to the Supreme Being translated into the realms it?” I queried. of Golaka – eternal divine creation in its purest Sree Sree Maa calmly explained, “You must expressed form. It contains all take an integral view of things creation in its subtle, pre- to get a proper understanding of manifested, fully-realized form. God’s leela. During Dwapara Here resides in full bloom Sri Yuga, Lord Krishna’s message Krishna-Sree with their of eternal divine truth has been companions as well as Lord enshrined in two thematic forms Balarama with his consort, the - the Vrindavan Leela in the adya-shakti natured Revati. Srimad Bhagwatam and the Both Krishna and Balarama are Kurukshetra Leela in the engaged in their own rapturous Bhagwat Gita. These divine divine Raas Leelas - constant works of the supreme Lord blissful union of infinite emotive pronounced in his Krishna forms. This is the germinating avatar did not end there and has place of all that is manifested in been continued in a variety of the rest of creation. Every form, Sri Ramanujacharya ways during Yuga. An tattwa, force, emotion, feeling, relationship – observant follower of great philosophical eternal or temporal is caused, seeded and movements will see how the apparently sustained from here. different philosophies were in essence Sri Krishna’s work is never complete elaborations and living elucidations of the without the presence of Lord Baladeva. That enunciations of the Gita and the Bhagwat. For is why his personified presence is requested example, you are aware of the profound by the Bhagwan Sri Krishna for many earthly Vedantic and Vaishanava theories propounded leelas. Other than being ever-present (with Sri by great personalities like Shankaracharya, Rama) as his younger sibling Lakshmana in Ramanujacharya, , Treta-Yuga and his elder brother (Balarama) , Vallabhacharya, etc. While Sri in Dwapara Yuga, Lord Baladeva appeared in Ramanuja is considered a direct embodiment Kali Yuga as Prabhu Nityananda (with of Sri Baladeva, all the acharyas, being Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) and Sri Charandas anointed Sadgurus, are in a sense Balarama- Babaji (with Prabhu Jagatbandhu). Another natured. Several commentaries have been special incarnation when Lord Shankarshan written on their similarities and differences, but came alone as a world teacher to spread the you should try to see deeper to understand how divine message of Lord Krishna was as Sri they represent the evolving stages of the same Ramanuja (meaning the younger brother or truth from the point of view of both ascent in anuja of Rama, that is Lakshmana). All sadhana and supremental descent of the divine Sadguru’s are effectively avatars of Balarama.” consciousness. Kali Yuga has been the

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cauldron of a detailed demonstration of what Adi Shankaracharya presented to the world was seeded by the Krishna avatar in Dwapara. the first fundamental level that a sadhaka has Look deeper into the steps of what was to attain – realization of the supreme divine as essentially presented by each world teacher I the ultimate reality. It is important to mentioned earlier. Look at Sri Yukteswar Giri’s understand his Advaitic pronounciation of chart for the time period of Kali Yuga and link ‘ satya jagat mithya’ as the foundation them up. Tell me what you can decipher. I shall for moving towards ‘freedom through union’. be with you in your thoughts.” Sri Ramakrishna used to remind every aspirant Sree Sree Maa stopped. From the way she in his inimitable style of expressing profound ended, I realized that there was something to spiritual truths in simple language by saying, be unearthed in what she had said, which while ‘First reach the goal-post of God without obvious to her, would be a revelation for me. considering anything else worthwhile. Then My research began as I scanned the Yuga- look at his creation clutching onto God. You cycle time chart presented by Sri Yukteswar will see that all creation is also God.’ It is in his book Kaivalya Darshan or the Holy therefore quite apt that a -avatar in the Science, which he was asked to write by form of Adi Shankaracharya descended to Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj. I then quickly point out to the fundamental truth – the self is skimmed through the life histories and Brahman and only Brahman exists everywhere philosophical principles of the great acharyas - realization of which is the first stable station that Sree Sree Maa mentioned. I tried to link in the spiritual journey, namely ascent to these with the principles of sadhana and divine Shiva-hood by transcending the kutastha worship as enunciated in the Gita and other chaitanya or individual consciousness. From texts. A couple of weeks later I returned to the point of view of supramental descent, it Sree Sree Maa saying, “Will you hear what I talks about the first stage where only Krishna- seem to have assimilated?” “Go ahead”, said consciousness exists. she, “I am waiting to hear from you.” I started. Sri Ramanuja followed and through the “In the descending cycle, when Dwapara Vishistadvaita philosophy presented the Yuga gave way to Kali Yuga, the great avatar, logical next step in self-realization – Gautama Buddha, appeared. The timing assimilating one’s self with the universal matches with what Sri Yukteswar indicates in consciousness (Brahman chaitanya) to realize his chart. The great Sakyamuni re-established what Sri Bishnupada Siddhanta Thakur, while the foundations of self-enquiry and self- elaborating on Sri Ramakrishna’s words in this realization, enunciated the fundamental context, referred to as – ‘Brahman satya jagat reasons for sorrow and demonstrated by his Bhagwan’. In a sense Sri Ramanuja explained life and teachings the path to be traversed from how creation began to evolve from the absolute bondage to salvation and perfection. He re- singularity into the Krishna-Balarama dual. established the Sankhya and Yogic traditions Now I can appreciate why Sri Ramanuja of ancient thought of earlier Yugas - the firm descended to expound this great truth because, foundations on which the road to freedom from what you said earlier, being an avatar of begins. Others walked on that stage one by Balarama, he holds the sceptre of this one to elaborate the steps of sadhana with their realization of the first manifestation of realized philosophical expositions, Parampurush Sri Krishna. demonstrated it their lives and created a Sri Nimbarkacharya came to expound the generation of earnest seekers, many of whom subsequent stage in universal realization — the attained truth. confluence of duality and non-duality through his Dwaitadvaita philosophy, which was a

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theistic view of the Bhedabheda philosophy original state in God’s own domain of of Bhaskaracharya and Yadavprakasha.. It is Golaka. through this that one transcends Param This completes the cycle of sadhana with Shivahood and the gateways to the divine leela the ascent of the individual and descent of the of Golaka open for the yoga of to be supreme divine as expounded in the Bhagwat performed on the foundations of supreme Gita and Srimad Bhagwat. It is therefore natural union. The evolution of creation into the that, at this appropriate juncture, the supreme Radha-Krishna-Balarama-Revati-Gopi-Gopini personality himself took human form again – world of Golaka where duality exists in aptly in the peak of Kali Yuga’s darkest phase harmony with unity is what Sri - as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, to Nimbarkacharya elucidated upon. demonstrate the finality of God’s leela The eternal divine trio of Radha-Krishna- madhurya principles enshrined as the Balarama while retaining their original states ‘achintya-vedaved bhava’ \(inconceivable multiplied into innumerable sparks of divine harmony of unity and diversity) encapsulated individual consciousness. It is in philosophy presented by the great scholars of this context that the next level of sadhana, the Gaudiya school. Some of the stages that I especially for the individual, through bhakti mentioned above are explained in a unique yoga, was presented by Sri Madhvacharya way during the wonderful dialogue between through his concept of ‘Tattwa-vada’ or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Raya Philosophy of Reality popularly known as the as presented in the classic treatise Chaitanya Dwaita school of thought. Standing on the firm Charitamrita.” shoulders of earlier Vedantic realizations he I stopped and concluded by saying, “Now presented the foundations of bhakti though I can see why you indicated that the compact worship of the eternal divine form of the Dwapara Yuga pronunciations of Sri Krishna supreme personality as the fulfillment of were expanded in details though leela-lives of individual life of every unit of consciousness. divine ‘Krishna-Balarama-natured’ This set the basis for divine supramental personalities in Kali Yuga and a series of descent of the supreme personality into the schools of philosophical thought evolved hearts and minds of the transformed liberated culminating in the next Krishna avatar. It is so individual. interesting.” In the subsequently following stage, the Sree Sree Maa smiled and remarked, “The duality of the bhakta becomes purified to an principal architect of Krishna leela in Dwapara unalloyed non-dual existence fully immersed was Sri Krishna Dwaipayan . It was a in the supreme personality, through either presentation of his realization. He continued sajujya or sarupya depending on the nature this in Kali Yuga too, again with the help of of the created individual. This form of pure the rishi mandala and divine personalities, Vedantic bhakti was subsequently expounded requesting them descend for demonstrating of by Sri Vallabhacharya through the the spiritual tenants -Bhagwat-Vidya. (purified advaita) school of You may have observed in your research thought. The only way for such realization is studies that many of the acharyas you divine grace or kripa for these are pathless mentioned met with Vyasa during their lives. realms. That is why Sri Vallabhacharyya’s Most of them produced commentaries on his school of thought is aptly called Pushti-marg works, namely the Brahma Sutra and Gita. through brahmasambandh or path of grace If you carefully study the links to Chaitanya that will bring an individual back to their Mahaprabhu, you will find a saint by the name

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of Sri Madhavendra to be at the root of Shankacharya was a Rudra avatar but does not the Gaudiya movement. He initiated the three identify the original personalities. Can you principal figures that played critical roles in please confirm?” Chaitanya-dev’s manifestation, namely Ishwar “Again curiosity!!” retorted Sree Sree Maa Puri (one who initiated him), Keshav Bharati continuing, “What will you do with all this (one who gave him sannyas) and Advaita information without inner realization? It is Acharya (who beseeched his descent and more important to convert these glimpses of publicly recognized him as Krishna). vague thought waves that have hit you into was an embodiment of crystal clear realization through sadhana. It is Vyasa. In a sense, it is he who orchestrated not as easy as you spoke. The linkages are the divine descent of Mahaprabhu - to very intricate and the drama of God and his demonstrate the ultimate finality of all kinsmen is difficult to gauge by hearing or fulfillment. Like Madhavendra Puri, Sri studying books. So many great saints who Vallabhacharya was also another embodiment came at various points in time to set platforms of Vyas-. Mahaprabhu himself went to for spiritual upliftment. Almost all are linked. meet Vallabhacharya after which the life of There have been similar movements in Islam the erstwhile scholarly acharya was completely which have gone hand-in hand, not only in transformed into a God-like saint. You may India but also in the Arab world. Much remains also explore the interesting linkage of historically undocumented and lost to general Madhavendra Puri and Vallabacharya through mankind. Only those who have lived those Lord Srinath-ji. times and retain memories of those experiences Again when Kali Yuga moved into can provide details”. Looking at my morose Dwapara and the ascending cycle of time face, she relented a bit and said, “Our Sri Sri began, we see the emergence of great Baba had said that Adi Shankara was Sage personalities like Sri Ramakrishna, Shaktri, the powerful and realized son of Sage Shyamacharan Lahiri, Prabhu Jagatbandhu Vashistha and Sri Madhvacharya was an and so many others. Behind the scenes, we embodiment of Vasanta (spring season) in see great leela-directors like Trailanga Swami, Golaka, both eminently suited for their roles, Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj and Bhagwan one as Shiva-avatar and the other as a divine Kishori Mohan. Many great sages of devotee. Now go and do some Kriya. These brahmarshi and maharshi levels have come at days you have become lazy.” I knew that this this juncture. The new order for the new age particular discussion session had reached its has been initiated. The evil forces perpetuating logical end. I would have to wait for another bondage through the darkness of ignorance opportunity. have also become very powerful. Many great -Sri Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, battles have been and are being fought about Her Blessed Child which very few know.” I could not hide my personal curiosity and Forthcoming Events asked, “Maa, I know from you that Sage Sanat Kumara, our Babaji Maharaj was Buddha, Lord Dol Purnima: 8th March, Thursday Baladeva was Ramanuja and Vyas-deva was evening Vallabhacharya. The internet says that Ram Navami: 1st April, Sunday evening Nimbarka was an embodiment of the divine Bengali New Year: 14th April, Saturday Sri Sudarshana , Madhvacharya a evening manifestation of Lord and Adi

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