Glory of Sri Nabadwip Dham – Quotes
“I offer one prayer at the feet of all Vaisnavas.
O Vaisnavas, let my connection with Sri Chaitanya become firm.
By your mercy, allow me to become a resident of Nabadwip-dham.
This is my only request.”
“I am an evil worm in the hole of materialism, devoid of devotion, filled with lust, and insane with anger.
If you are not kind upon me, how can an evil servant of maya like me have any connection with Sri Chaitanya?”
Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita: Adi-lila, 5.181-197
by Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami
Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi Lila Krishnadas Kabiraj bengali 1915
naihati-nikate ‘jhamatapura’ name grama
tanha svapne dekha dila nityananda-rama
Near the town of Naihati, in the village of Jhamatapur, Lord Nityananda Rama appeared to me in a dream.
dandavat haiya ami padinu payete
nija-pada-padma prabhu dila mora mathe
I fell at His feet, offering my obeisances, and He then placed His own lotus feet upon my head.
‘utha’, ‘utha’ bali’ more bale bara bara
uthi’ tanra rupa dekhi’ hainu chamatkara
“Arise! Arise!” He told me again and again. Upon rising, I was astonished to see the beauty of His divine form.
The Shastra says, of all things the human body is the dearest to God; the human body is the giver of the ‘Paramartha’ ‘highest good’ and is very difficult to obtain; and therefore, while this body lasts, without being immersed in any other thing, not being deceived by supposing that any other method except sorrow-stupor-fear-killing ‘Bhakti’ is productive of good, it is our duty unceasingly to practice devotion.
Other form of devotion to God is weak, the devotion denoted by kirtan is strong. Once the protection of the strong ‘Bhakti’ is secured it gives to jivas the highest good with little effort on their part. Therefore, by preaching kirtan at all times to induce, by right of the highest kinship, the whole of the jiva to turn Homeward is true universal love, true help of others, true kindness and the true duty of life.
The Gaudiya Math embracing all without exception the inhabitants of the universe, in sadness calling upon all to turn their face towards God to be preachers of this Bhakti denoted by kirtan, says,—
he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat /
chaitanya-chandra-charane kurutanuragam //
–Chaitanya-candramritam, 90
“Yes, the righteous, bidding good-bye to everything from a distance, offer the devotion of your hearts to the feet of Chaitanyachandra.”
Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur Advices
Srila Bhaktivionda Thakur
kali-kukkura-mudgara-bhava-dharam
hari-nama-mahaushadha-dana-param
patitarta-dayardra-su-murti-dharam
bhaja godruma kanana kunja vidhum.
The mood of Lord Gaura Hari is that of wielding a stick for chasing away the mad dog of Kali-yuga. He is absorbed in distributing the holy name of Hari, the great remedy for material existence. His heart is melted with compassion for the fallen souls who are suffering, and His transcendental form is very beautiful. Just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.12.16
tasmān naro ‘sańga-susańga-jāta-
jñānāsinehaiva vivṛkṇa-mohaḥ
hariḿ tad-īhā-kathana-śrutābhyāḿ
labdha-smṛtir yāty atipāram
adhvanaḥ
TRANSLATION
Simply by associating with exalted
devotees, anyone can attain perfection of
knowledge and with the sword of
knowledge can cut to pieces the illusory
associations within this material world.
Through the association of devotees, one
can engage in the service of the Lord by
hearing and chanting [śravaṇaḿ
kīrtanam]. Thus one can revive his
dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness and,
sticking to the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa
consciousness, return home, back to
Godhead, even in this life.
Lord Varaha Dev
Lord Varaha Dev
dvitiyam tu bhavayasya
rasatala-gatam mahim
uddharisyann upadatta
yajnesah saukaram vapuh
(S.B. 1.3.7)
“For the creation and for the welfare of the earth which had gone to the nether regions of the universe, the supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted His second incarnation as a boar.”
Here, Lord Varaha is described as the second incarnation:
yatrodyatah ksiti-taloddharanaya bibhrat
kraudim tanum sakala-yajna-mayim anantah
antar-maharnava upagatam adi-daityam
tam damstrayadrim iva vajra-dharo dadara
(S.B. 2.7.1)
“The unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar for the rescue of the earth and pierced the first demon Hiranyaksa with His tusks.”
The ‘Vrndavana Express’ and the ‘Navadvipa Special’
Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj
Devotee:
In Brhat-Bhagavatamrta, Sanatana Gosvami shows the travels of Gopa Kumara as he is going through different stages of realization. But is that necessary for everyone?
Srila Sridhara Maharaja:
Not everyone. Of course, you will have to pass through those stages unconsciously – Viraja, Brahmaloka, Sivaloka, Vaikuntha – but there is no stopping at any station. You will quickly go towards the destination. You may go anywhere unconsciously, passing through various stages to reach there. Very quickly you can pass unknowingly and unconsciously. If there is any special attraction to any stage, one may have to stop. But if our guide is strong enough he will tell us, “No, no! No stopping here! Come! No charm is here. What you see here is already known and that is only a distraction – no bhakti. Come!”
Questions about INATTENTIVE CHANTING and answers by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura from his books:
Q. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
A. If one gives up all the offenses in chanting but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
Q. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. (Harinama-cintamani)
Q. What is the symptom of a restless chanter?
“Please come here. Please come here, Your Holiness. Why do You sit
in that unclean place? What has caused Your lamentation?”
The Lord replied:
“I belong to a lower order of sannyāsīs. Therefore I
do not deserve to sit with you. “
Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, however, caught Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
personally by the hand and seated Him with great respect in the midst of the assembly. Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī then said, “I understand that Your name is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. You are a disciple of Śrī Keśava Bhāratī, and therefore You are glorious.
