Always Serve & Please Devotees

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Serving Vaisnavas with love and humility destroys the disease of lust and envy. Giving to Vaisnavas destroys the disease of greed. Praising Vaisnavas destroys the disease of pride. And most importantly, pleasing the Vaisnavas brings the mercy, love and grace of Govinda Sri Krishna.

Although sastras proclaim that serving Vaisnavas is the essential element for success in bhakti bhajan, this most blissful limb of devotion is often overlooked or not even done. Of course, every devotee hears about, chants and serves Bhagavan Sri Krishna on a regular basis. But how many seriously try to serve and please other devotees? 

For hundreds of years, Gaudiya Vaisnava saints have said, jiva doya, vaisnava seva, nama ruci, “To experience the sweet taste of Krishna nama, you must serve Krishna’s devotees and show compassion to all.”

This article will now quote various sastra to prove the power and efficacy of Vaisnava seva.

Taittiriya Upanisad (1.10): "You should serve Krishna’s devotees in the same way you serve Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself."

 Mundaka Upanisad (3.1.10): “If you worship Krishna’s devotees, then all your desires will be fulfilled! “

Posayana Sruti: “Worship, hear from and serve Krishna’s devotees, and you will always be protected.”

Adi Purana: ye me bhakta janah partha, na me bhaktas ca te janah

mad bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas, te me bhaktatamah matah, Sri Krishna says to Arjuna, “If you say you are My devotee, you are not. But if you love and serve My devotees then you are My real devotee.” (also: Caitanya-caritamrta 2.11.28; Brs. 1.2.218); Laghu-Bhagavatamrta 2.6)

Srimad Bhagavatam (5.5.2.): mahat sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes, “Service to great devotees of Krishna, opens the door to liberation to Goloka Vrndavana.” 

Srimad Bhagavatam (11.19.21): To Uddhava, Sri Krishna said, mat bhakta puja abhy adhika, “First-class worship and seva of My devotees is more pleasing to me than My own seva. Therefore, you should serve the devotees."

Sri Jiva Goswami tika: “Knowing this fact, you should serve the devotees with special care.” (Krama Sandarbha)

Padma Puräëa (6.253.176):

aradhanam sarvesam, visnor aradhanam param, “Mahajana Siva said to Parvati, ‘Of all types of worship, Visnu worship is supreme. Tasmat parataram devi, tadiyanaà sam arcanam: “However, worship of Visnu’s devotees, is even superior to that.’”

Srimad Bhagavatam (3.17.19): yat-sevaya bhagavatah, rati-raso bhavet tivrah,

padayor vyasan ardanah, “Serving the feet of great devotees will give you intense transcendental ecstasy, attachment for Sri Krishna, and vanquish all your miseries.”

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: “By serving Krishna’s devotees, one can experience the ecstatic bliss of bhava bhakti arising from blending the five elements of rasa i.e. vibhava, anubhava, sthayi bhava, sattvika bhava and sancari bhava.

Srimad Bhagavatam (11.26.28-31): Sri Krishna said, “Just as cold, fear and darkness disappear in the presence of fire, dullness, fear and ignorance are destroyed when you serve Krishna’s devotees.”

Sri Jiva Goswamipada tika: “You get free from fear and ignorance, and the material dullness caused by karma and other things. (Bhakti San. 247.33)

Caitanya Bhagavata (1.1.8): amara bhaktera puja, ama haite bada

sei prabhu vede bhag-avate kaila dadha

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “The Vedaa and Bhagavata proclaim: ‘Worship of My devotees is superior to worship of Me.’”

Bhakti Sandarbha (247): tasmad visnu prasadaya, vaisnavan paritosayet, prasada sumukho visnu, tenaiva syan na samsayah, “If you want to attain the mercy of Krishna, you must first please the Vaisnavas. If the Vaisnavas are pleased, you will definitely attain the complete mercy of Krishna. (also: Itihasa-samuccaya; Hari Bhakti Vilasa (10.120); Raga Vartma Candrika (I.14);

The Final Teaching

A few days his departure in December 1936, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati spoke his last words on Vaisnava tattva which are very important and most relevant to all of us.  

“If the Vaisnavas do not understand that serving other Vaisnavas is the most beneficial thing, then they will not advance in devotion. One has to cultivate Krishna consciousness by sincerely serving the Vaisnavas, and by endeavouring to please them with your body, mind, and soul. If the Vaisnavas are pleased, then the all-merciful Sri Krishna will give His grace. You must always remember this.” (folio: PST Life & Precepts)

Bliss from Vaisnava seva ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

*** Important Info Disciples Only—Don’t Distribute ****

NO VINEGAR & MEAT EATING

Bhagavad-gita, and direct personal quotes from Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada.

Bhagavad-gita  (17.10)

yäta-yämaà -gata-rasaà, püti -paryuñitaà -ca –yat,

ucchiñöam -api cä-medhyaà, bhojanaà -tämasa- priyam

“Food made 3 hours (yamam) before eating; or tasteless food (gata-rasam), bad smelling (puti) [like vinegar], overripe, fermented or decomposed (paryusitam) [like vinegar], remnants of others (ucchistam) [beside Sri Krishna and Sri Guru], and not fit for eating (amedhyam) [like meat, onions, coffee, green tea, tobacco etc.] is dear food to those in ignorance, tamo-guna, (bhojanam-tamasa-priya).”

Therefore, DEVOTEES DON’T EAT VINEGAR and so many other tamasic and rajasic things! Always think, speak, act and interact, drink, and eat pure and good things—transcendental Krishna thoughts, words, actions and maha-prasadam! Jai Jai Sri Radhe! 

=NO VINEGAR:

Srila Prabhupada, “Vinegar is not good; it is tamasic, in the darkness, nasty food.” (SPLetter 69-03-24)

== READ THIS TRUTH AND THINK WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura direct quote from his own AUTO biography titled: Svalikhita Jivani (from I-net).

The phrase “svalikhita jivani” means my life story written by me.

Entry # 225-226:

In about 1864, Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote in his diary and autobiography:

“Everyone in Chapra (somewhere in Bengal) became my friends. A certain type of VINEGAR pickle was the best. At that time, I ATE A LOT OF FISH and MEAT.

“I had known that killing animals was bad for a long time, but I had a STRONG DESIRE TO ENJOY FISH and MEAT. 

I ATE A LOT OF FISH in Chapra, but I ATE MORE GOAT MEAT.”

Now that’s “food for thought” ……………

Jai Gurudeva! Jai Sri Advaita Prabhu! Jai Jai Sri Radhe! Guru krpa ki jai! 

Manjari Svarupa Meditation

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

#Manjari #ManjariForm #SiddhaDeha #RaganugaBhakti #Radha’sManjaris

The following siddha deha (spiritual form) meditation is presented for the blessed few that are spiritually hankering to become loyal maidservants of Srimati Radharani in the bowers of Vrndavana (radha-pada dasis).

Regardless of how one has attained his/her siddha deha, this is an ideal meditation on manjari svarupa i.e. siddha deha. Daily meditating like this will purify one’s material existence (bhuta-suddhi), produce a dynamic divine mentality (divya abhimana), and permanently fix one in their eternal spiritual body, which will be clearly seen in this life at the stage of bhava bhakti. Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

MANJARI SVARUPA MEDITATION

Raganuga sadhakas worshiping in the mood of Madhuri Radha’s maidservants should always think as follows:

“I am a beautiful youthful Vraja kisori (12-14) with a robust form adorned with varieties of gold and jewel ornaments. I am expert in all the 64 artistic talents. When Sri Govinda perceives the secret love I cherish for Him, He becomes overwhelmed with the bliss of Eros.

I know the art of sweet speech and pleasant conversation. My brilliant golden form, adorned in dazzling blue cloth and lovely ornaments, is full of the mellows of transcendental bliss. I delight in music and singing, and overflow with a unique form of madhura-rati called bhavollasa [special loving attachment to Sri Radhika].

Throughout the day and night my heart is filled with love for Radha-Govinda Yugala. With all my pleasant qualities and various feminine gestures, I arouse feelings of love [within Radha-Madhava].

I am formed from my Guru’s mercy, and I always follow my beloved Guru-devi. Gandharvika Radha is my group leader, and I serve within the party of Visakha-sakhi. As a follower of Srimati Radhika, I live in Yavata, and always think how to serve Radha like the other sakhis in madhura-rati.

I forever remain beside Radha-Krishna as Their graceful tender maidservant fanning Them, dressing Sri Radha, and rendering all kinds of amazing and tasteful sweet sevas for Their satisfaction.

All glories to my eternal Isvari, Swamini Sri Radha and Her infinitely gorgeous Govinda. May Radha-Govinda Yugala always astonish me with Their Vraja madhurya-lilas, and eternally engage me in Their blissful seva.” (adapted Paddhati [83-91], Sri Dhyanacandra Gosvami)

Manjari svarupa dhyana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

How to Choose Guru?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

#HowToChooseGuru #SpiritualMaster #DefinitionOfGuru  #SelectingGuru

This article will give the basic guidelines for choosing your Guru; some are external practical points and others are internal—the feelings of your heart and the full acceptance within the inner reaches of your mind.

Before choosing your Guru, please deeply reflect upon all these points. Then sincerely cry while praying to the most merciful saviour, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, to give you clear, firm and perfect directions regarding choosing just the right diksa Guru to bring you to Goloka Vrndavana, and the eternal, sweet seva of Syama’s lotus feet.

1. Determining Identity of Guru:

It is completely impossible for any conditioned soul to judge or determine the degree of bhakti within a Guru’s heart. No one can honestly say, “O, my Guru is a bhava bhakta!” “My Guru is a premi bhakta!” Or my Guru is a rasika Vaisnava!” To say so is merely speculation, sentiment and wish projection; a completely subjective statement.

When defining the qualifies of a Guru no sastra says the Guru must be on the level of prema, bhava, asakti etc. But they do say the Guru must have ANUBHAVA or experience of Krishna. This can mean a variety of anubhavas of which the topmost one would be saksad darsana, direct eye-to eye seeing of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Indeed, this is a very, very rare occurrence attained by some special siddha purusha; possibly even one in a million! 

But again how can anyone know or judge, because the true Guru is sober and self-controlled. He or she does not go around everywhere crying and rolling on the floor while proclaiming, “I have seen Krishna! “I have seen Krishna!”

In our present 45 years of practicing Krishna bhakti bhajan, we have had the good fortune of associating with many greatly exalted and perfected Gaudiya Vaisnava Babajis, sannyasis, Gosvamis and Vamsa acaryas. But, other than an occasional and involuntary display of crying while chanting the glories of Radha and Krishna, we never once saw any of these wonderful saints publically exhibit any sattvika bhavas or external signs or symptoms of Krishna bhava and prema. 

The following scriptural references (sastra praman) clearly define the qualities and characteristics of the genuine spiritual master—the Guru. By following these guidelines one can faithfully select the proper spiritual mentor, and surrender their lives at his/her compassionate lotus feet. Jai Sri Radhe!

The following verse is the main and primary one used by all acaryas to define the qualities of the real, true Guru.

*** tasmad gurum prapadyeta, jijnasuh sreya uttamam

sabde pare ca nisnatam, brahmany upasam asrayam

“If you want to know and attain the highest state of bliss eternal, then you must take shelter at the feet of a sad-guru. The sad-guru is thoroughly competent in the Bhagavad-Gita, Bhagavata and other sastras propounding the essence of Veda i.e. Radha-Krishna prema seva. Guru has direct experience of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, and is devoid of base material attachments i.e. lust, greed etc.” (SB 11.3.21)

Comments Sri Swamicarana:

A disciple’s doubts cannot be removed if the Guru is not learned in scriptures.
And if Guru is not deeply devoted to Krishna, the Guru will not be able to infuse the disciple with a genuine taste and experience of Krishna bhakti bhajan.”

Comments Sri Sanatana Goswami:

“The phrase UPASAMA ASRAYAM in the verse above means one who is asrayam, or has exclusively taken shelter of Bhakti-yoga, and is entirely absorbed in sravana, Krishna kirtana and other forms of bhakti bhajan. Such a Vaisnava is a sad-guru to whom one can take shelter.”

Comments Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada:

“If Guru has no direct experience of the Absolute Truth Bhagavan Sri Krishna, his krpa or mercy will not bear real fruits.”

One must also consider these points when selecting a transcendental wisdom teacher:

1. Guru exhibits warmth, care and feelings of parental affection toward disciples.

2. Guru is very peaceful, content within himself, and radiates an inner joy that indicates the happiness of Krishna within the heart. (SB 11.10.5)

3. The Guru must be (sammatam satsu) which means approved by his/her own diksa Guru, and respected by other saintly persons. (Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1.34)

4. If one lacks the above-mentioned characteristics, one cannot be accepted as Guru even if they come from a pious family and possess many virtuous attributes.

Thus the fortunate and faithful person, who desires unlimited bliss in the eternal the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, should take the Gopala/Krishna mantra diksa from a great devotee endowed with these qualities, and learn the art of Krishna bhakti bhajan.

In his usual sweet and elegant style, the great rasika Gaudiya Vaisnava Pandit Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja presents the essence of this subject in the following quotation:

“When the spiritual potency that distinguishes one as a competent teacher appears within a virtuous person, one should be regarded as a sad-guru. This occurs by the mercy of one’s Guru, and one’s sadhana bhajan which cleanses impurities from the mind and heart, and infuses one with devotion adorned with kindness and generosity.

“Seeing the jivas suffering in maya, the Guru’s heart melts with compassion. Thus the Guru teaches the art of Krishna bhakti bhajan to remove the disciple’s misery, and bless them with the sweet taste of bhakti-rasa. The ability to serve as Guru comes from Bhagavan Sri Krishna within the hearts of those great souls blessed with the grace of bhakti. If a seeker of love divine is fortunate, one will attain the shelter of such a competent Guru.” (Guru Tattva Vijnana)

To conclude, we recommend that one searching for a spiritual master should find a guru who has the transcendental wisdom, purity of behavior, magnetic devotion and experience of Krishna. Such a guru should inspire one’s intellect and fill one’s heart with unbreakable conviction that speaks loud and clear:

“Yes I really love this teacher! I have full faith, no doubts and a strong, completely positive feeling in the core of my heart. I have no doubts whatsoever. And I am fully convinced that I can completely surrender, give my full heart, and serve this Guru life after life!” Jai Gurudeva!

However, if any of these qualifties are lacking then one needs to keep searching, crying and praying to Krishna to bestow just the right guru.

Guru diksa ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

A Life Dedicated to Srimad Bhagavatam

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

#GaudiyaVaisnavaSaints #GaudiyaBiography #SrimadBhagavatam #Harinama

When Sri Sri 108 Pandit Sri Krishna Das Babaji Maharaja, Bhakti-tirtha

was about 15 years old, three desires (sankalpas) mysteriously arose in his mind: “I will worship Radha-Krishna in the mood of gopi-bhava,” “I will study Srimad Bhagavatam!” “And I will chant Harinama and do Sankirtana!”

As a tender teen, Babaji Maharaja had no idea what is gopi-bhava. Nor did he know that the rest of long life of 101 years would be spent realizing these three desires. From where did these three beautiful, transcendental sankalpas come from? Bhagavan Sri Krishna answers in Sri Gita (6.44): purva abhyasena tenaiva, hriyate hy avaso pi sah, “Because of performing bhakti yoga sadhana in a prior life, one is automatically attracted to the same practices in this life.”

In 1918 (Magha Sukla Trayodashi), Babaji Maharaja appeared in Dakshina Khanda, West Bengal near the village of Gaura-Govinda nitya-parisada Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura. Babaji Maharaja appeared in wealthy Brahmin family of Krishna bhaktas hailing from the Kasyapa and Shandilya gotras. At the age of five, Babaji Maharaja lost his mother and was raised by his grandparents.

In 1940, Babaji Maharaja graduated with honors from high school, and then stayed home managing the family estate. Most of the day, he chanted Sri Sri Radha-Krishna Nama (aka Hare Krishna maha-mantra).

Babaji Maharaja recalls those days saying, “I felt so much bliss in my mind while chanting Hare Krishna that I lost all interest in material life. I decided that I will leave home, become a sadhu and live in a Himalayan cave doing bhajan like Dhruva and Prahlada Maharaja. Detecting my mood of detachment, my uncle gave me a Gita to read, hoping that I would learn about duty, stay home, get married and so on. However, the Gita had the opposite effect and after reading it, especially 9.33; 18.65-66), I became even more determined to leave home and become a sadhu.

“Then one night Radha-Krishna appeared in my dream. They looked very beautiful dancing together in a most exquisite and attractive way. I moved towards them, but then They vanished, leaving me with an intense thirst to see them again.”

 

A short time later, Babaji Maharaja’s uncle’s baby of two years old was visiting his home. He gazed at Baba and suddenly surprisingly said in a most distinct way, “Dada! I give you a blessing: Become a sadhu!” At first, Babaji Maharaja couldn’t believe his ears, but then he thought that Bhagavan Sri Krishna must be speaking through that baby’s mouth.

“Being a young Indian boy, however, I was afraid to leave home and I worried about getting food and shelter. Then Krishna appeared in a dream holding a club and said, ‘Don’t worry or fear. Just leave home and become a sadhu. If anyone tries to harm you, I will destroy them with this club!’”

Babaji Maharaja left home and went to Gaya for Visnu darsana, Ganga snana, then on to Haridvar where he arrived after a month of walking. Babaji Maharaja lived on the bank of Ganga under a tree, and in a garden house offered by a sympathetic devotee. Babaji Maharaja passed a few years in Haridvar staying in different places, chanting Hare Krishna and studying Bhagavad-gita.

Babaji Maharaja then came to Vrndavana Dhama in 1940 and did Vraja parikrama subsisting on madhukari before settling in Cakalesvara, Govardhana. There Babaji Maharaja met a niskincana sadhu who lived  doing bhajan and madhukari. Feeling the utmost respect and attraction to him, Babaji Maharaja took diksa from that Gaudiya Vaisnava saint named Sri Sri 108 Sanatana Das Babaji Maharaja, who was the favorite vesh disciple of the famous Govinda Kunda Siddha Baba 108 Sri Sri Manohara Das Babaji.

In 1941, Babaji Maharaja took sannyasa (babaji vesh) before Sri Raghnuatha Dasa Goswami’s Samadhi. Babaji Maharaja spent time with his guru in Radha Kunda and Govardhana studying sastra in the association of Sri Kunjabihari Das Babaji, Gaura-Gopala Dasji, Sri Dina Sarana Maharaja, Priyacharana Dasji Maharaja, Parameshvara Dasji Maharaja, and Sri Advaita Das Babaji Maharaja.

Babaji Maharaja studied Sanskrit for a few years in Vrndavana and received degrees in Sanskrit vyakarana, Vaisnava darsana tirtha and became a Bhagavata acarya. Returning to Govardhana Govinda Kunda, Babaji Maharaja did bhajan, and served his Guru and the other great Govardhana nivasi bhajananadi sadhus staying at Govinda Kunda.

Not only was Babaji Maharaja an amazing Pandita, a strict vairagi and a perfect gentle man, he was expert in cooking, book keeping and managing entire temples and ashrams. Appreciating Babaji Maharaja’s superb scholarship, honesty and impeccable behavior several Vrndavana temple trusts requested his service as mahanta. For 35 years, Babaji Maharaja selflessly served as the Mahant of the Gwalior Mandir, Kusuma Sarovara; Mahant of Siddha Manohara Das’s temple in Govinda Kunda, and the Radha-Syamasundara Mandir in Prema Sarovara.

Of his 101 years as a sadhu sannyasi, Babaji Maharaja did Radha-Krishna bhajan in Vraja Mandala for 80 years. All his belongings fit into one shoulder bag. Babaji Maharaja never had a bank account, personal kutira or any land. He wandered here and there living a complete vairagi life—sometimes staying in Govinda Kunda, Radha Kunda, Kusuma Sarovara, Prema Sarovara and Varsana. He initiated many devotees, wrote several books on Gaudiya Vaisnava tattva, sadhana and sadhya, and often went to Bengal, Assam and other places to discourse on the Srimad Bhagavatam, and preach suddha Radha-Krishna bhakti bhajan, and the prema dharma introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 

During his long life Babaji Maharaja freely taught Sanskrit and the secrets of the Srimad Bhagavatam to scores of eager brahmacaris and Babajis. As a service whenever Babaji Maharaja was requested by other Gurus like Sri Sri 108 Pandit Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja, he would give sannyasa vesh (bheka) to their disciples.  

Babaji Maharaja was a gentle, humble, unassuming sadhu with a fantastic memory of slokas from the Bhagavatam, Gita and other sastra. He deeply knew all the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhantas, and he would compassionately share his vast wisdom with anyone seeking his shelter. Babaji Maharaja constantly stressed the need to take complete shelter in Harinama; always be completely humble; never offend any Vaisnava; and always remember the nitya-lilas of Radha Govinda Yugala. Govinda-lilamrta and Sri Raghnuatha Dasa Goswami’s Stavavali were his constant companions.

Babaji Maharaja satisfied the thirst of all seekers who came for his darsana. He emanated friendly warmth, care, and oceans of wisdom. Babaji Maharaja treated everyone like his own, making sure each and every devotee was satisfied and comfortable. And most importantly before leaving his sublime association, everyone just had to take Krishna prasadam, which he often personally served with the utmost love.

 On January 11, 2019, at 7.10 A.M. Srimati Radharani came to Babaji Maharaja’s kutira in Varsana, and said, “Hey Baba! Now come with Me. We have to go to Nandagrama to cook breakfast for Sri Nandanandana.” And thus Babaji Maharaja’s incredibly long life of Harinama, Gopi-Bhava and Bhagavata came to a beautiful close. He fulfilled his three sankalpas, perfected his bhakti sadhana bhajan, and went to Goloka Vrndavana to blissfully serve His beloved Radha Govinda Yugala for time eternal!

108 Sri Sri Pandit Sri Krishna Das Babaji Maharaja, Bhakti-tirtha ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe! Jai Gurudeva! Jai Gurudeva! Jai Gurudeva!