Transcendental Inspiration - Part 1

Date: 2021-07-18 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

When Dhruva Maharaj was advised by his mother Suniti, to go to forest and worship Krishna, inorder to get his wishes fulfilled, Dhruva immediately leaves the palace. By mercy of Lord, he gets darshan of Narada Muni, who after testing his determination for devotional service, very nicely guides him as to how he should approach Krishna. Dhruva with full earnestness and sincerity follows the instructions of his Guru Narada Muni for 6 months and then by his mercy, the Supreme Lord appears before Dhruva.

As a result of his sincere devotion and seeing the transcendental form of the Supreme Lord, all material desires vanish and Dhruva Maharaj could now experience transcendental esctacy and with great love he saw the Lord and wanted to offer Him very nice prayers. Maitreya Muni while narrating to Vidura about Dhruva Maharaj, says in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.9.4

sa taṁ vivakṣantam atad-vidaṁ harir jñātvāsya sarvasya ca hṛdy avasthitaḥ kṛtāñjaliṁ brahmamayena kambunā pasparśa bālaṁ kṛpayā kapole

Although Dhruva Mahārāja was a small boy, he wanted to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in suitable language. But because he was inexperienced, he could not adjust himself immediately. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being situated in everyone’s heart, could understand Dhruva Mahārāja’s awkward position. Out of His causeless mercy He touched His conchshell to the forehead of Dhruva Mahārāja, who stood before Him with folded hands.

This is a very inspiring verse wherein we can see how Lord lovingly empowers and helps His dear devotees in every step. It is said that when we take one step towards the Lord, He takes 100 steps towards us. So when little Dhruva set off to the forest all alone, Lord Krishna ensured that he get good guidance from Narada Muni. Later when he was performing all the austerities in the forest, Lord ensured that he was able to do them peacefully without any disturbance from wild animals and other living beings in the forest. Now after giving Him darshan also, when Dhruva wanted to offer Him prayers and was not knowing how to do, Lord bestowed upon Him all knowledge by touching with His conchshell.

His Divine Grace very nicely says in the purport, "Every devotee wants to chant the transcendental qualities of the Lord. Devotees are always interested in hearing aabout the Lord’s transcendental qualities, and they are always eager to glorify these qualities, but sometimes they feel inconvenienced by humbleness.The Personality of Godhead, being situated in everyone’s heart, specifically gives a devotee intelligence to describe Him. It is therefore understood that when a devotee writes or speaks about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his words are dictated by the Lord from within. This is confirmed in Bhagavad Gita Tenth Chapter: to those who constantly engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, the Lord, from within, dictates what to do next in order to serve Him."

Krishna willing we shall try to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi Transcendental Inspiration - Part 2

Date: 2021-07-19 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

sa taṁ vivakṣantam atad-vidaṁ harir jñātvāsya sarvasya ca hṛdy avasthitaḥ kṛtāñjaliṁ brahmamayena kambunā pasparśa bālaṁ kṛpayā kapole

In the above verse let's try to meditate on some of the important words.

1. Desire to serve: Srila Prabhupada in his word to word equivalents translates the word vivakṣantam as 'wanting to offer prayers describing His qualities' and a-tat-vidam as not experienced at that and kṛpayā as 'out of causeless mercy.'

Many times it might so happen that we might not have any experience in doing a service. But if we simply have the desire to serve, then the all merciful Lord out of His causeless mercy bestows us the knowledge, strength, time and favourable circumstance to execute the service nicely. We can see practically how so many disciples of Srila Prabhupada, initially when they joined the Hare Krishna movement, they did not have any prior experience of building rathas, carving Deities, drawing and painting beautiful pictures of Lord, stitching clothes for Deities, cooking prasadam, building temples, reading Sanskrit, pronouncing it correctly, translating the scriptures from Sanskrit to English. Like this the list of service is endless. They were all a-tat-vidam in those respective service. But all of them had the sincere desire to serve their beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krishna and so Krishna made them best instruments in the respective services.

2. Transcendental Inspiration: What happens when the Lord bestows His causeless mercy on the devotees is nicely described by His Divine Grace in the purport to the above verse. Srila Prabhupada says, "When Dhruva Mahārāja felt hesitant, not knowing how to describe the Lord for want of sufficient experience, the Lord, out of His causeless mercy, touched His conchshell to Dhruva’s forehead, and he was transcendentally inspired. This transcendental inspiration is called brahma-maya because when one is thus inspired, the sound he produces exactly corresponds to the sound vibration of the Vedas. This is not the ordinary sound vibration of this material world. Therefore the sound vibration of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, although presented in the ordinary alphabet, should not be taken as mundane or material."

Many times our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj used to say after the class that he had prepared so many points before the class. But once he sat on Vyasasana and spoke, very different and new points came and Maharaj said that those points are from Krishna. Being a Mahabhagavata Maharaj need not prepare for any class. But being a such an exalted Vaishnava Maharaj always practiced what he preached. Maharaj insisted that we should sincerely prepare atleast for 2 hours before we give any class. And when we are sincere in our efforts, then all merciful Lord takes full control when we attempt to glorify Him by speech or writing.

Srila Prabhupada in his word to word equivalents mentions this brahma-mayena — just consistent with the words of the Vedic hymns; Many times devotees found Srila Prabhupada reading the books which were written by him and when they inquired, His Divine Grace said that these books were all written by Krishna and that he was just an instrument. So His Divine Grace himself relished reading it again and again.

Krishna willing we shall try to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi

Transcendental Inspiration - Part 3

Date: 2021-07-20 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Transcendental Inspiration" wherein we were meditating on verse 4.9.4 of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Lord gave transcendental inspiration to Dhruva Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, and many devotees who sincerely desire to glorify Him and attempt to serve Him either by speech, writing or through any other service.

Now we shall see few more examples from the lives of devotees as to how they were all transcendentally inspired by Krishna.

Srila Baladev Vidyabhushana is the disciple of Srila Vishwanath Cakravati Thakura. Once the devotees from other Vaishnava sampradayas told the King in Jaipur that Gaudiya Vaishnavas should not involve themselves in Deity worship and they even began to argue that Srimati Radharani should not be worshiped along with Sri Govindaji or Sri Gopinathji as there is no mention of Her name in the Vedanta sutras.

Out of respect for the devotees, the king had to temporarily remove Srimati Radharani's Deity from the temple. But king himself being a devotee in Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya, sent word to devotees in Vrindavana, so that they come and establish the truth to the other sampradayas. Since Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura was too old to travel to Jaipur, he sent his student Baladev Vidyabhushana. Though Baladev was preaching furiously, no-one was prepared to accept his statements according to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy, although sufficient evidence was there. The reason others would not accept his statements was because there was no established commentary of Brahma Sutra or Vedanta Sutra by any of the Gaudiya acaryas to support Gaudiya Vaishnavism at that time. So Baladeva promised to present them with one. They gave Baladeva eighteen days to have his commentary ready for discussion.

Feeling very aggrieved and transcendentally anxious, Sri Baladeva took shelter of the Lord and came to Sri Govindaji's Temple in Jaipur. After offering his prostrated obeisances, he informed Sri Govinda of everything that had happened. That night the Lord appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to write a commentary on the Vedanta sutra. The Lord said, "You just write, and I will dictate to you what to write, and therefore no one will be able to refuse to accept it." After that transcendental dream, Baladev became very enthused and began to write, and within a few days completed the commentary which was titled 'Sri Govinda Bhashya.' Baladev wrote

vidyā rūpaṁ bhuṣanam me pradāya kyatim nitya tena yo mamudarah sri govinda svapna nirdiṣta bhāṣo rādha bandhubandhurangah sa jiyat

May He Who so mercifully and munificently was kind towards me, and bestowed His favour by ordering me in a dream to write down His own commentary, which He would compose, and which attained such renown amongst the learned circles, that they bestowed upon me the title 'Vidyabhushana'; may that dear Friend of Srimati Radharani, who holds Him dearer than Her own life, be glorified. May that Sri Govinda be glorified.

All the Vaishnavas from other sampradayas were speechless when they heard the commentary of Srila Baladev Vidyabhushana as it was indeed brahma-maya - transcendentally inspired by Sri Govindaji. Indeed it is to this great acarya Srila Baladev Vidyabhusana, Srila Prabhupada dedicated his wonderful 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is".

Krishna willing we shall try to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi Transcendental Inspiration - Part 4

Date: 2021-07-21 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Transcendental Inspiration" wherein we were meditating on verse 4.9.4 of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Lord gave transcendental inspiration to Dhruva Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Baladev Vidyabhyshana and many devotees who sincerely desire to glorify Him and attempt to serve Him either by speech, writing or through any other service.

Today we shall meditate on the glorious life of Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami - the author of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami had been living with his family in Katwa, a small town in the district of Burdwan, in Bengal. He worshiped Radha-Krishna with his family, and once when there was some misunderstanding among his family members about devotional service, he was advised by Nityananda Prabhu in a dream to leave home and go to Vrindavana. Although he was very old, he started out that very night and went to live in Vrindavana. In Vrindavana, he met Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami one of the principal disciples of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sri Raghunatha dasa Goswami was earlier staying in Puri and had the good association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his eternal associate Svarup Damodar Goswami and had heard from him about the pastimes of Lord Caitanya in Puri. On the request of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, Raghunath das Goswami shared these pastimes with them and Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami was also fortunate to hear the same from him. Later devotees requested him to write these pastimes.

It is very important for us to understand the time, place and circumstances under which Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami wrote this great sublime literature, Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. In this great book, Antya lila Chapter 20 verses 92-98 he says,

"I infer that “I have written” is a false understanding, for my body is like a wooden doll. I am old and troubled by invalidity. I am almost blind and deaf, my hands tremble, and my mind and intelligence are unsteady. I am infected with so many diseases that I can neither properly walk nor properly sit. Indeed, I am always exhausted by five kinds of diseases. I may die at any time of the day or night. I have previously given an account of my inabilities. Please hear the reason why I nevertheless still write. I am writing this book by the mercy of the lotus feet of Śrī Govindadeva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda, Advaita Ācārya, other devotees and the readers of this book, as well as Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, who is my spiritual master, and Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī. I have also been specifically favored by another Supreme Personality."

For conditioned souls like us, a small fever, pain in hands or legs or any other silly anxieties in life is very good reason to take a break from devotional service, sadhana etc. But here we find Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami in such failing health conditions, when it is not possible for him to sit or walk, even when his hands were trembling wrote this great voluminous nectarean literature. All the acaryas say that this is a great miracle. And how this miracle was possible is also further revealed by Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami in the next couple of verses (Antya lila 20.99-100) śrī-madana-gopāla more lekhāya ājñā kari’ kahite nā yuyāya, tabu rahite nā pāri nā kahile haya mora kṛta-ghnatā-doṣa dambha kari bali’ śrotā, nā kariha roṣa

Śrī Madana-mohana Deity of Vṛndāvana has given the order that is making me write. Although this should not be disclosed, I disclose it because I am unable to remain silent. If I did not disclose this fact, I would be guilty of ingratitude to the Lord.

So herein again we see how Lord transcendentally inspires and makes it possible for His dear devotees to write His glories in all conditions of life.

All glories to the all merciful Lord. Krishna willing we shall meditate further on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi Transcendental Inspiration - Part 5

Date: 2021-07-22 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Transcendental Inspiration" wherein we were meditating on verse 4.9.4 of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Lord gave transcendental inspiration to Dhruva Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Baladev Vidyabhyshana, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami and many devotees who sincerely desire to glorify Him and attempt to serve Him either by speech, writing or through any other service.

There were two great devotees of Lord Guruvayurappa (Krishna) in Guruvayur - Narayana Bhattathri and Poonthanam. Today we shall see how the Lord inspired and guided these devotees when they composed hymns glorifying the Lord.

Narayana Bhattathri was well-versed in Sanskrit and he composed the 1034 verse Narayaneeyam, a summary of the Bhagavata Purana in 1586 AD. It is very interesting to know how the Lord inspired him to compose Narayaneeyam. Bhattathri was a disciple of Achyuta Pisharody. Once when Achyuta Pisharody became ill, out of devotion to his Guru, Bhattathiri took the disease upon himself as part of Guru Dakshina. The disease was incurable, and so he proceeded towards Guruvayoorappan temple. There he met Ezhuthachan who was a great devotee of Lord Guruvayoorappan. When Bhattathri inquired him the cure for his disease, Ezhuthachan responed, "You please start with fish." Bhattathri could interpret the inner meaning and began to glorify the Lord starting from the fish incarnation.

Since he was also Sanskrit scholar, everyday he sang 10 slokas (one dasaka) on Sri Guruvayoorappan. He started composing one dasaka a day, under direct instructions from Lord Guruvayurappan himself in sanctum sanctorum of Guruvayurappan temple in Guruvayur. In fact, after every chapter the Lord Himself has nodded His head in acceptance which is clearly coming out in the slokas of Narayaneeyam. Once it so happened that another devotee Poonthanam who was composing "Jnaana Panna" - hymns glorifying the Lord in Malayalam language, approached Bhattathri and requested him to review his work. Considering Sanskrit composition to be more greater than Malayalam - Bhattathri refused and said, "Better learn Sanskrit and offer hymns in Sanskrit." Poonthanam went home and wept bitterly before the Lord.

Later when Bhattathri was trying to offer his verses, a boy appeared there and started pointing out errors in the verses he was composing. After the tenth verse, Bhattathri realised that the boy was the Lord himself, and understood that Poonthanam’s bhakti was more pleasing to the Lord than his own superior knowledge of Vibhakti (Sanskrit grammar) and learning. He rushed to Poonthanam and sought his forgiveness. When he read the Jnana panna, he found that it was flawless. Then at the end of 100 days he also completed composition of Narayaneeyam and his disease was also cured.

So herein we find that how language does not matter. Krishna is bhāva grāhi janārdana and not bhāsha grāhi janārdana . He not only accepts whatever offerings the devotees do with love and devotion, but also inspires them and guides them when they have simple desire to glorify Him.

Krishna willing we shall meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi Transcendental Inspiration - Part 6

Date: 2021-07-23 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in conclusion of the previous offering titled, "Transcendental Inspiration" wherein we were meditating on verse 4.9.4 of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Lord gave transcendental inspiration to Dhruva Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Baladev Vidyabhyshana, Sri Narayana Bhattathri, Poonthanam and many devotees who sincerely desire to glorify Him and attempt to serve Him either by speech, writing or through any other service.

Today we shall see the examples of few more devotees who were transcendentally inspired by the Lord.

HG Anadhinidhanam Prabhuji: We would like to recollect the glorious service done by our dear Godbrother HG Anadinidhanam Prabhuji from Trivandrum - who was transcendentally inspired by our beloved Guru Maharaj, HH Mahavishnu Goswami and Lord Sri Krishna to do the translations for the first Canto of Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam in Malayalam language few years ago.

Herein again we need to understand the circumstance in which Prabhuji did this service. Though he was only in twenties, he was bed-ridden after a fatal train accident. The accident devastated all hopes of his life - He had just begun his career and was hoping to support his family, but he had to be supported by his aged parents after the accident. He was so frustrated that he felt that death would have been better than to be bed-ridden.

By mercy of Srila Prabhupada, devotees met him, gave him Srila Prabhupada's books and also connected him with Maharaj over phone. When he expressed his frustrations, Maharaj so lovingly encouraged him to see this accident as a blessing - an opportunity to use the time to translate Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavatam into Malayalam. Inspired by Maharaj's words, Prabhuji completed the translation of first Cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam - wherein he has so meticulously translated the word-to-word equivalents also very nicely - inspite of being in bed-ridden. By Krishna's will, Prabhuji left his body, his life is very glorious as he used his time nicely in Krishna's service.

Srila Prabhupada very nicely mentions in his translation of verse 3.22.35, the reason why Svayambhuva Manu's life was ever-fresh, even during the fag end of his life. "Consequently, although his duration of life gradually came to an end, his long life, consisting of a Manvantara era, was not spent in vain, since he ever engaged in hearing, contemplating, writing down and chanting the pastimes of the Lord."

His Divine Grace very nicely mentions in the purport to verse 1.13.10 of Srimad Bhagavatam, "The pure devotees hear from the authorities and chant, sing and write of the glories of the Lord. Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva heard from Nārada, and then he chanted in writing." Writing the glories of the Lord is also like chanting - kirtanam. Indeed because of Srila Prabhupada's writings, millions of souls have been saved now from the blazing fire of material existence. Vyasadev compiled Bhagavatam, inspired by his spiritual master Sri Narada Muni. The six Goswamis of Vrindavana wrote commentaries on the scriptures - inspired by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All our acaryas like Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura, Srila Bhakti Siddhanata Saraswati, Srila Prabhupada - hardly slept for 2-3 hours and spent time writing and glorifying Krishna. Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj also always insisted and encouraged devotees to make it a point to write down the notes - whenever we hear in a class or when we are doing individual study. Right from the initial nine years study of Prabhupada's books in Soho street temple - till his winding up pastime, Maharaj never stopped writing. He always meticulously noted the points in his diaries. mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ - So may we always remember the golden instructions of the all these acaryas and follow in their foot-steps. We may be completely hopeless, useless, or having so many ailments or deficiences in us. Still when we simply desire and make an attempt to glorify the Lord - the all merciful Lord transcendentally inspires us to write or speak and makes them all brahma-maya.

Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi