Glories of Sri Nara-Narayana Rishi - Part 1
Date: 2015-03-08 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi
Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!
In the eleventh canto, fourth chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, Sage Drumila explains the incarnations of Godhead and he describes Nara-Narayana Rishi who is perfectly peaceful and is the best of sages, born as the son of Dharma and his wife Murti, the daughter of Daksha. Nara-Narayana rishi taught the devotional service of the Lord, by which material work ceases, and He Himself perfectly practiced this knowledge. He is living even today, His lotus feet served by the greatest of saintly persons. King Indra became fearful, thinking that Nara-Narayana Rishi would become very powerful by His severe penances and seize Indra's heavenly kingdom. Thus Indra, not knowing the transcendental glories of the incarnation of the Lord, sent Cupid and his associates to the Lord's residence in Badarikashrama. As the charming breezes of spring created a most sensuous atmosphere, Cupid himself attacked the Lord with arrows in the form of the irresistible glances of beautiful women. We learn a few things from this pastime.
1. The world is a mirror of our consciousness: Here we see that King Indra, not understanding the glories of the Lord, who has got the supreme opulence of renunciation, was placing the Personality of Godhead on the same level as he himself, considering the Lord an ordinary enjoyer who would be attracted by mundane sex life. It is very nicely mentioned in the purport to SB 11.4.7, "Indra's plot to cause the fall down of Nara-Narayana rishi could not affect the Lord, but it reveals the shortsightedness of Indra himself. Because Indra is attached to his heavenly kingdom, he took it for granted that the Supreme Lord was performing austerities to acquire such flickering phantasmagoria as the kingdom of heaven." We also see that in the pastime of Shyamantaka jewel, King Satrajit who was very much attached to the jewel, is seen spreading the rumor that Krishna has stolen away the jewel. He thought that in the same way that he is attracted to the jewel for the pounds of gold it is producing, Krishna must also be attracted the same way. He did not realise that Krishna is the master of all the opulences.
So this makes us understand that we see the world through the glasses of our own consciousness. This makes us realize that if we go on seeing the faults of others and are never able to see their good, it actually means that we have all these faults in us and that is the reason we see the world that way. This shortsightedness can only be removed by intense devotional service and thorough study of the scriptures under the guidance of a bona- fide spiritual master, by which our whole vision and perspective of seeing things change.
Krishna willing, we shall see more of this beautiful pastime, in the ensuing offering.
Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glories of Sri Nara-Narayana Rishi - Part 2
Date: 2015-03-09 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi
Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Glories of Sri Narayana Rishi" wherein we were discussing the most beautiful pastime of Sri Nara-Narayana rishi from the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11, Chapter 4.
2. Freedom from false pride: The way that Nara-Narayana rishi responded to the offence committed by Indra is awe inspiring. Srimad Bhagavatam 11.4.8 says,
vijñāya śakra-kṛtam akramam ādi-devaḥ prāha prahasya gata-vismaya ejamānān mā bhair vibho madana māruta deva-vadhvo gṛhṇīta no balim aśūnyam imaṁ kurudhvam
The primeval Lord, understanding the offense committed by Indra, did not become proud. Instead He spoke laughingly as follows to Cupid and his followers, who were trembling before Him: "Do not fear, O mighty Madana, O wind-god and wives of the demigods. Rather, please accept these gifts I am offering you and kindly sanctify My ashrama by your presence.
It is mentioned in the purport that, "The word gata-vismaya or "free from false pride," is very significant. If one becomes proud by performing severe penances, such penances are considered material. One should not think, "I am a great, austere personality." The moment we start attending Krishna conscious programs, we develop the tendency to look upon others and brand them all as karmis. This attitude does not help us. Here we see that Lord who is austerity personified is so respectfully dealing with those sent by Indra. We have to understand that without the mercy of the spiritual master and the Lord, we cannot do any austerity and penance. So as Lord Brahma suggests we should become humble and should be constantly praying to the Lord to help us continue our devotional service.
3. Austerities should make us soft hearted and saintly in behaviour: Generally we find that those who are very austere, in their immature stages, become very hard hearted and tend to lose the gentleness in behaviour. We hear so many pastimes wherein many sages could not tolerate offensive behaviour towards them and they become angry and curse, thereby losing all the credit of their austerities. On the other hand here we can see the very wonderful and respectful behaviour of Sri Nara-narayana rishi, personification of all austerity, towards those who committed offences at His lotus feet. Sri Nara-Narayana could immediately understand the foolishness of Indra, and thus He was amused by the whole situation. Cupid and the heavenly women, understanding their great offense, were trembling before Nara- Narayana in fear of receiving a powerful curse. But the Lord, exhibiting most sublime saintly behavior, reassured them by saying, mā bhaiḥ. When Nara-Narayana rishi thus spoke, eradicating the fear of the demigods, they bowed their heads with shame and started glorifying the Lord for the Lord's compassion. While the demigods were thus praising the Supreme Lord, the all-powerful Lord suddenly manifested before their eyes many women, who were astonishingly gorgeous, decorated with fine clothes and ornaments, and all faithfully engaging in the Lord's service. The Supreme Lord of lords then smiled slightly and told the representatives of heavens, who were bowing down before Him, "Please choose one of these women, whomever you find suitable for you. She will become the ornament of the heavenly planets." Vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the servants of the demigods selected Urvashi, the best of the Apsaras. Placing her in front of them out of respect, they returned to the heavenly planets. Thus we are wonder-struck seeing that those who came to entice the Lord, were themselves presented with the most enticing Apsara and what better way the Lord could adopt to make them realize His position.
Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Abu Dhabi.