TEXT 29
“yatra yatra harer arcä
sa deçaù çreyasäà padam
yatra gaìgädayo nadyaù
puräëeñu ca viçrutäù”
SYNONYMS
yatra yatra—wherever; hareù—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa; arcä—the Deity is worshiped; saù—that; deçaù—place, country or neighborhood; çreyasäm—of all auspiciousness; padam—the place; yatra—wherever; gaìgä-ädayaù—like the Ganges, Yamunä, Narmadä and Käveré; nadyaù—sacred rivers; puräëeñu—in the puräëas (supplementary Vedic literature); ca—also; viçrutäù—are celebrated.
TRANSLATION
Auspicious indeed are the places where there is a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, in which He is duly worshiped, and also the places where there flow the celebrated sacred rivers mentioned in the Puräëas, the supplementary Vedic literatures. Anything spiritual done there is certainly very effective.
PURPORT
There are many atheists who oppose the worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the temple. In this verse, however, it is authoritatively stated that any place where the Deity is worshiped is transcendental; it does not belong to the material world. It is also said that the forest is in the mode of goodness, and therefore those who want to cultivate spiritual life are advised to go to the forest (vanaà gato yad dharim äçrayeta [SB 7.5.5]). But one should not go to the forest simply to live like a monkey. Monkeys and other ferocious animals also live in the forest, but a person who goes to the forest for spiritual culture must accept the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as shelter (vanaà gato yad dharim äçrayeta. One should not be satisfied simply to go to the forest; one must take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this age, therefore, since it is impossible to go to the forest for spiritual culture, one is recommended to live in the temple community as a devotee, regularly worship the Deity, follow the regulative principles and thus make the place like Vaikuëöha. The forest may be in goodness, the cities and villages in passion, and the brothels, hotels and restaurants in ignorance, but when one lives in the temple community he lives in Vaikuëöha. Therefore it is said here, çreyasäà padam: it is the best, most auspicious place.
In many places throughout the world we are constructing communities to give shelter to devotees and worship the Deity in the temple. The Deity cannot be worshiped except by devotees. Temple worshipers who fail to give importance to the devotees are third class. They are kaniñöha-adhikärés in the lower stage of spiritual life. As it is said in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.2.47):
“arcäyäm eva haraye
püjäà yaù çraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteñu cänyeñu
sa bhaktaù präkåtaù småtaù”
“A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general is called a präkåta-bhakta, or kaniñöha-adhikäré.” Therefore, in the temple there must be the Deity of the Lord, and the Lord should be worshiped by the devotees. This combination of the devotees and the Deity creates a first-class transcendental place.
Aside from this, if a gåhastha devotee worships the çälagräma-çilä, or the form of the Deity at home, his home also becomes a very great place. It was therefore customary for members of the three higher classes—namely the brähmaëas, kñatriyas and vaiçyas—to worship the çälagräma-çilä, or a small Deity of Rädhä-Kåñëa or Sétä-Räma in each and every home. This made everything auspicious. But now they have given up the Deity worship. Men have become modernized and are consequently indulging in all sorts of sinful activities, and therefore they are extremely unhappy.
According to Vedic civilization, therefore, the holy places of pilgrimage are considered most sacred, and still there are hundreds and thousands of holy places like Jagannätha Puré, Våndävana, Hardwar, Rämeçvara, Prayäga and Mathurä. India is the place for worshiping or for cultivating spiritual life. The Kåñëa consciousness movement invites everyone from all over the world, without discrimination as to caste or creed, to come to its centers and cultivate spiritual life perfectly.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaja.
Problems of material attachments
By some of the grishasta followers, how one in household life can properly advanced in devotional service. He replied “asat-saìga-tyäga,—ei vaiñëava-äcära” that one must avoid the association of people who are too much materialistic minded, who are none devotees of the lord. And one must keep the association of saintly persons. In fact Lord Kapila Deva explain to his mother Devahuti that we are now attached to so many of the objects of the senses in this world. If we want to make spiritual advancement, we must transfer our attachment to saintly persons. Unless we become attached to saintly persons, it is most impossible to give up the attachments we have to the sinful materialistic ways of this world. So here Narada Muni is explaining that the most auspicious place to cultivate our spiritual life is that place where there is a temple of supreme lord who is duly worshiped. In other words duly worship means to be in the association of devotees. When we become materially inclined our heart is filled with so many attractions and attachments. And the bondage of these attachments is impossible to break. It is only by the mercy of the lord and his servants that these attachments can be placed with spiritual attachments. To try to simply give up our attachments to this world is the process that the many of the impersonal philosophers recommend. But the path of Bhakti is very simple and therefore it is most recommended in this age of Kali yuga. Because by “paraà dåñövä nivartate” experiencing higher taste. We can easily liberate our self from the things that are keeping us in bondage in this world. We are attached to looking at beautiful things. When we learn to find pleasure in looking at Krishna, we never want to look at the things of this world again. Rupa Goswami has warned us that you are attached to your mother, your father, your wife, your brothers, sisters, and your society. Do not go and look at Krishna. Because once you see the beautiful three four bending form of Krishna with his beautiful lotus eyes, playing his flute in the banks of the Yamuna. Then how will ever be able to look back at the things of this world.
The love of Gopies and the Kumaras
Similarly the Gopies, they had so many relationships which are so near and dear to young women. But when they heard the sweet flute of Sri Krishna playing from the Vrindavana forest, the sound of the flute madden their minds and attracted them to such an extent that they could not even think or consider the things of this world. They gave them all of as if they had no value, whatsoever. The four Kumaras they had attain the liberation of Brahman, which is millions times more satisfying in any of the pleasure of this world. They had achieved mukti the higher state. But when they simply smelled with their nose the sweetness of the Tulasi leaves mixed with saffron and sandal wood that was decorating the lotus feet of Lord Narayana, they became so madden with love in affection for this fragrance that they utterly forgot all the pleasure of Brahman or mukti.
Krsna the all attractive
Krishna means the all attractive one. So when we – our sensual propensities in the service of Lord Sri Krishna, then our mind and senses naturally become attract to him. Otherwise to divert our mind in attention away from the things of this world is very-very difficult. The mind is most powerful and difficult to control. Therefore the process is to always keep one’s mind and senses engaged or in association with Krishna. So when we come to the temple and see the beautiful form of the Lord our mind and our senses are naturally engaged in the beauty of experiencing Krishna. But without the association of saintly persons, whose words fill our hearts with transcendental knowledge and whose example in life is showing us the process of how to keep the mind and senses fixed in the deity of the Lord. It is very difficult. Therefore here it is explained that one should go to those holy places, where there are temples worshiped by great Sadhus and also on should go to the holy places, why? Because the holy place is the place not only transcendental by the divine presence of the Lord but it is a place where we can meet so many saintly persons whose minds and senses are engrossed in the divine lila of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who inspire and encourage us to become perfect by chanting His holy names. Through this process all of our material entanglements and all of the shackles that keep us engrossed in the miserable conditions of this world and slave us. We are free from of them. There is a beautiful story of such a person who by tasting this sweetness of the mercy of the pure Vaishnavas, lost all his attractions for the things of this world.
Glories of Srila Raghunath Dasa Goswami & Srila Haridas Thakur
Yesterday we were celebrating the appearance day of Srila Raghunath Dasa Goswami. Raghunath was most exceptional in that he was a son of a very-very wealthy mercantile man in the kayasta community. His father and uncle Hiranya and Gorvadhan Majumdar were worth what is today equivalent to billions and billions of rupees. There was practically no one alive today that had riches of them and they were very charitable and they were also very sincere devotee of the lord. In fact they sponsored most all of these religious activities conducted by the Goudiya Vaishnavas the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and of course although they were most religiously inclined they still due to the association with such material opulence. They very attached, especially to their family condition of life. They had one son, his name was Raghunath. Their greatest attachment in life was to him. They were thinking that everything we are working for, everything we are developing, all of our success in life, we will turn it all over to him. It will be a good hand. The continuation of our family wealth will go on generation after generation. The good name and fame of our family will be carried on by Raghunath. When Raghunath was small child he was fortunate – to have the association of that great devotee Srila Haridasa Thakur and in all that association, the natural propensity to surrender his life to the service of Lord Sri Hari awakened. It is said,
“’sädhu-saìga’, ‘sädhu-saìga’—sarva-çästre kaya
lava-mätra sädhu-saìge sarva-siddhi haya”
Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya 22.54
That there is no opulence in this material existence, as precious as the opportunity to associate with the sadhu. Because even one moments association of the sadhu can provide one opportunity to attain the perfection of life. So Raghunath Dasa, because of his brief association was Srila Haridasa Thakur. Hearing the transcendental words vibrating from his mouth and seeing the quality of his pure devotion to the chanting of the Holy Name. Raghunatha was thinking I want what this man has. I do not want what my father and uncle have. I want what this man has. Haridasa Thakur was living in a cave. Try to understand. He was living in a cave and in that cave there was a serpent. It is described a huge poisoned snake. People used to come to Haridas Thakur for darshan but the snake was very much frightening them. Because everyday they were see the snake just come leaving by Haridas, coming in and out. They would be struck with fear. But Haridas, he did not care. He was not at all fearful.
“bhajahü re mana çré-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraëäravinda re”
SVA 4
When there is mind is fixed in Krishna, there is no fear. Haridasa Thakur could see “éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäà håd-deçe ‘rjuna tiñöhati”. That this supreme lord Sri Krishna, his divine protector friend, master was within the heart of the every living being. So therefore he must also within the heart of the snake. Krishna he is directing the wanderings of every living being. If Krishna wants this serpent to bite me and kill me. “Yare Krishna mare kay, mare Krishna yare kay” Then very well I’ll die, its Krishna’s will. I am thinking of Him, I’ll go back to godhead. Let Him take me. Let Him put me, wherever He wants me. If Krishna wants me to remain here preaching and chanting His holy name. Then the serpent, what power does he have to harm me. So because of his implicit and pure faith in Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was fearless. It is only due to ignorance and forgetful of Krishna that we can be fearful of anything. As soon as we remember Krishna, it is said in third canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that fear personified afraid of Krishna. So Haridas Thakur was fearless. He was living in a cave with serpents; he did not know where his next meal would come. Actually it is explained in regard to the serpent that one time so many people where they were thinking that may be Haridas Thakur, he is so great. He can live with serpent but for us to come and listen we are too much afraid. So Haridasa thakur could see that his visitors were very much fearful. So he said all right I’ll leave this cave. I’ll go to another place. At that time the snake never came back. Because even the serpent was the servant of Haridas Thakur. This is the glory of his devotion. Krishna arranged that even the lowest species were purified by the association of the chanting of the holy names.
Snakes and humans
It is said that the too most envious and unmanageable of all species of life, a serpent and an envious human being. Because you see it is said that these are the only two species, which harm other out of envy. The dangerous animal in the forest, they are not envious. Out of fear or out of they persuade of survive to find something to eat they may kill to protect themselves or to nourish himself. But they will not unnecessarily harm any one. But a serpent simply because they are envious they will strike you. And similarly a human being that is envious for no reason, not for survive not for defense. But simply out of hate and envy, they will cause violence and even kill. It is said that the serpent can be trained through the mantras but an envious human being is very difficult to train. Therefore there are no more dangerous creatures on earth than envious humans, two legged animals. We see it is a fact. Although the jungles are full of wild animals, although the fields are full of scorpions or serpents was that really what is causing the problems of the world today. The violence to the world today the – of human civilization as being cause by envious human beings. Because no matter why you do to try to satisfy them, they are unassociated with their greed. But Haridas Thakur by his purity, he could even change the hearts and enlighten the most envious human beings. We see the example of the prostitute they came to convert him to sinful activity, in the end she was so envious, she wanted to make this great saint to fall down to sinful activities. In the end he converted her to being a great sadhu. She took to the chanting of the holy name and gave up all sinful activities, gave up all her wealth, gave up everything in the service of Lord Hari. Similarly the smart Brahamans and the Muslim priest as well as the government magistrates, who sent him to death out of envy. By his association, by hearing his chanting, seeing the qualities of his fearless devotion to Sri Krishna and seeing his love, even for them who wanted to kill them. They were ultimately also converted to be his followers and became pure saintly persons. So this the glory of the saintly person and this is the power of their association. So Raghunath Das who was living in the most opulent and prosperous condition that our minds can imagine. When he went to visit Srila Haridas Thakur, who was living by all material standards in out of poverty. As I was saying, as far as food, he had no arrangements for his food. Whatever Krishna sent, he would eat, he would beg, in most humble position. What is the condition of a beggar? To be a beggar when he do not need to be a beggar. He is very-very crossing below to the ego because when he become a beggar, you have to accept so much abuse. Apparently needless abuse.
Glories of Srila Ramanujacarya and Dasarathi
There is a story in the life of Ramanujacarya. That he had one disciple of the name Dasarathi. And Dasarathi he was very much leaned in the scriptures. He was very famous pundit. He would be recite the sahitya sashtras and explained the philosophical conclusions of the sashtras in such a way the anyone who hear him would be struck with wonder. So one day he approached Srila Ramanujacarya, who as his guru and said, can you please explain to me the real essential meaning of the most important verse of Bhagavad-Gita,
“sarva-dharmän parityajya
mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù”
Bhagavad-Gita 18.66
Ramanuja saw this man, although he was quite sincere. Because he was such a great speaker, a great learned scholar. That was pride within his heart. As long as pride, there is no question of understanding, what it means to surrender. So he said, what you should do, you should go through this sadhu who is living in another village and you should learn from him, because after all he is a great scholar, I not qualified to teach you. So he went to the other great scholar and this great scholar that he approached. His name was Gostipurna. Every time he would asked him to instruct him in this verse. He would said, you comeback on another time I’ll instruct you. For six months he remained in that village as a servant of Gostipurna and every time he would comeback, he would tell him that I am not ready to instruct you yet. Finally when Dasarathi so much humble and saying please instruct me, please instruct me. He says if you want to understand this verse, you have to become the humble servant of Srila Ramanujacarya, go back to him. So he went back to Srila Ramanijacarya. Just when he appeared, he explained to Ramanujacarya that I am willing to be your humble servant, please instruct me, what is the meaning of the verse of Bhagavad-Gita. What is the real mean to surrender to Krishna. Just at that time the wife of one of Ramanuja’s relatives came to Ramanuja’s house with tears with her eyes to reveal her mind. He said you know everyday my mother in law she is very very strict mother in law, she forces me to go long distance to carry water and when I go, sometimes it is dark and it is very fearful going to the forest in the darkness and I am all alone, then I have to cook and I have to do so much house work. She is always dissatisfied with me, she is always chastising me and I am in so much anxiety. What should I do? See people come to the sadhus with all kinds of complains. He said, oh, what you need as a brahmana cook at your house. He said, I have one idea. He said Dasarathi, you go to that house in that village, you carry the water for them and you cook for them. Here he is the biggest most learned scholar all over the lands. He said al right I will go and then he began to carry the water and just cook for the family. This went on for months and months. He was just the humbly cook, he does not allow to say anything. Just to carry the water and do the menial service. At that time once there was apparent devotee, who came to recite the glories of Lord Narayana and many people from that village attained His lecture as Dasarathi and all the lecture is going on Dasarathi heard this pundit began to mix devotion to Krishna with impersonal philosophy. He could not tolerate it. Although he was just the humble cook, he stood up and he began to explain that this is not correct. The lord is not impersonal. The lord ultimately has form and personality. This pundit became very angry, he became so angry, outrage, he said, who are you to question me? I am a great pundit, I am a lecturer, I am a guru, you are simply the cook, the servant, the sudra. What right do you have, to challenge my interpretation of the Vedas. If you are the better interpretation, you explain. Then he explained the quote of sashtra in so many references to prove that Krishna is ultimately a person and only through devotion you can approach him. That the pundit himself felt at Dasarathi’s feet and surrender to him and whole town began to think my god, who is this cook. Then they found out who he really was. He was the great Dasarathi. Everyone even heart about him. They say what are you doing, is the cook. Carrying the water for this family. You are famous throughout this land for great lectures in the knowledge of scriptures. He said because I have proud, I am puffed-up. My guru maharaja, he has send me to do like this. So then the whole village practically they all came together and went to Kanchipuram and approach Ramanuja and said please this is such a great devotee, why you have him in this position. Let him come back. So Rmanuja, when he heard, how humble and devoted he had become, how pride less. He was willing to accept the most menial service and Ramanuja himself went to that village. And then began to embrace and then Ramanuja explain to him the essence of that verse, “sarva-dharmän parityajya”. He said now you can understand. And there was another devotee of the Khures. And he also asked Ramanuja please explain to me the essence of the verse of the Bhagavad-Gita
“sarva-dharmän parityajya
mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù”
Bhagavad-Gita 18.66
I want to know what really means to surrendered to Krishna. Ramanujacarya said you should give up all prestige, and you should make the order of your guru, your life and soul and humble serve him without any other ambition and never say no to anything he says for one year. Then I’ll be able to explain it for you. He said one year is a long time. I may die in one year. Please tell me now. He said, all right. He said for the next month, you should not know, where your next meal is coming from. You should go door to door and beg and completely depend on Krishna and accept all abuses and accept yourself is nothing but the beggar coming to the common man’s house, lower than the low. That will take care of destroying all your pride. After month of doing that then he instructed him and enlighten him.
So you see Haridasa Thakur, he was very humble soul, he was like this. He has no arrangements for his bodily maintenance. He wore simply the simple cloth that he found on the road side. He would beg for his food. He would live not any place of building rooms. But he would live in caves and thatched hurts in forest. Raghunath das was living in the most – luxurious circumstances. Then he saw the life of Haridas Thakur and heard the pure words that are emanating from his lotus mouth. He was explaining the principles of tapasay real renunciation to give up everything to the pleasure of Krishna, to find no other opulence and no other valuable jewel in life except the holy name. When Raghunath these words form Haridasa penetrated his heart and he was very very much anxious, I want what this sadhu has. I do not want what with my father and uncle and what all my rich community has. I want what Haridasa Thakur has. I want the wealth of the holy name. I want devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And therefore from those very early age of his childhood, he had absolutely no attachment any of his surroundings. He was simply dreaming of the day. He could escape and become a sadhu. Just like children, you know how they dream. When I grow up? I want to be like this. He was always dreaming of getting away from everything. Of course their parent saw that he was little disinterested. So they married him to the most beautiful and faithful lovely woman, young and most exception on all here virtues qualities and they gave him the highest positions in the business, positions of control, positions of great, great, power and comfort. Somehow or other he tolerated these things. But his mind was always running to the forest to meet with sadhus. So when he got olden up. He made so many arrangements to run away from home. And his family, his parents, were very much afraid with all their wealth, they began to protect him from this craziness. They hired many guards and protectors to make sure that he was always doing his duty and he could not running away. And every time he would running into the forest to meet with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He wanted to go to Jagannath Puri to surrender to him to live with him, to become a sadhu. They would forcefully captured him and dragged him back to home.
So one time he approached lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu with his parent’s permission, when Lord Caitanya was visiting Santipur. He told lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu I want to become free from the shackles of material bondage. I only want to become your eternal servant. I want live with you and be your devotee in the renounced order of life. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu told him that at this time you should portend to be very-very attached to all of the activities that you are given as your responsibilities of life. But in your heart you should always be thinking of Krishna. Just like a wife, who has a paramour other than her husband, she will serve her husband and please her husband with more care than he ever did before. Because she does not want him to suspect that she is thinking of another man. Because I was cause great chaos in her life. But while she was serving her husband with such care and devotion, her mind was always thinking of the person she really loves. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said you should become like that woman. You serve your husband with great care and devotion and especially you have to be careful to serve him so nicely he never suspect you are constantly thinking of Krishna. You must do your job so well that non of your family member, none of your workers, nobody can even suspect that your mind is constantly engrossed in the thought of Lord Sri Krishna. But keep your mind always on Krishna, never deviate. Then he said, if you do like this, Krishna’s mercy will soon deliver you from this condition of life. So Raghunath continued and he continued to do his duty so nicely that everyone was thinking that he has got over this crazy madness of becoming a sadhu. Now he is very nicely captured by our orally life. They would be very happy like this.
At one time Raghunath kept running away. The wife said my dear husband, what’s take you, chains, ropes, and keep in home by binding him and husband said what can ropes and chains do? He has a wife more beautiful than goddess of fortune. She is like apsara. She is the wealth of Indra the king of heaven. If these things, beautiful wife, wealth, fame, and power these things do not bind him to this world. What you think of ropes and chains are going to do. This is the fact that he has become a devotee of Lord Gaurachandra and therefore he has become mad for Krishna. One who is become madden by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu there is nothing in this world that can keep him here. But still they tried. But upon the instructions of Lord Gaurasundara he satisfied them by pretending to be very much attached to wordily affairs. And he was so expert wordily affairs. It is described that his father and uncle like every business man they do some cheating every now and then. They were tax collectors and they were supposed to be giving a certain amount one point five lakhs to the government. They were giving only one point two lacs. So in this way one Muslim employee of their told the superior that they were cheating and in this way they would to be arrested. Raghunath was the only one in home. Father and uncle were out of town. So they arrested Raghunath and Raghunath das was very expert and very clever. He told this Muslim, who arrested them. He said actually in our community, you are an equal level with my father and uncle. Therefore you are my uncle. I am actually like your son. Among the brothers this is always disagreements and fighting, but very soon it is forgotten. But I am like your son and I am completely helpless under your care. When the man heard this affection words of Raghunath, melted his heart. He said, yes, yes, you are just like my son, I love you like my son. Therefore you can go out of jail and you can take all the money and just tell your father and uncle that they should be more fear next time. In this way Raghunath das very very expertly executed all his wordily activities. Then the guards they thought there is no need for such high security to protect that child. – to the world very nice.
Ragunath goes to Puri
It is explained that one evening the priest Yadunandanacarya who was the great disciple of Sri Advaitva acarya, he came to Raghunath’s said Raghunath das at very late at night he said the pujari for the temple has left and you are very expert to convincing anyone of anything, please come and convince him and to resume him to worship the deities. Otherwise will cause greatest disturbance to our temple affairs. So Raghunath said, all right I’ll come just now. So in the middle of the night, Yadunandanacarya and Raghunath Dasa they are going for the temple to find the priest. Guruji, you go home you take nice rest. I’ll take care of convincing this pujari to do his duties. So Yadunandanacarya said all right and he went home. After he was out of sight, Raghunath instead of going to the temple, he ran into the forest. Not directly of puri. Because he understood that they knew he was always interested to go to Jagannath Puri to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So he took a very indirect root which will take long time through the jungles, very dangerous that the only root. In then next morning, when all his family members were woke up, where is Raghunath? Where is Raghunath? They were looking every where. Yadunandancarya said oh, I told him to go to preach to the pujari. They said, oh, he has gone. They started searching the forest; they send messengers, guards, and policemen along the main road. In fact at that time the residence of Navadvipa headed by Sivananda Sen they were in root to Jagannath puri for the chaturmasya. They would every year to observe the Ratha Yatra with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They send messengers to Sivananda Sen and his party of vaishnavas. They were thinking Raghunath must be with them. Then Sivananda told the messengers we have not seen him. He is not here. Raghunath as he was traveling through the forest, he hardly slept, he hardly ate of the twelve days she wandered by his bare feet through the forest. It is described for three or four days he had little something to nourish body. Sometimes he would go to the house of the milkman and have a little milk or get some fried grains from begging. Unless he reached Jagannath puri, the holy dham of Purusottam Ksethra and there he fell to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw him, He was very much enlighten with great joy. He saw that Raghunath. His clothes were torn. He was very dirty. He was very slim and thin from fasting. He was very treacherous on long journey for him. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu after lifting Raghunath to His feet and embracing him with tears in his eyes. He heard from Raghunath, what he had done and how he would attains his ultimate goal of life. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared that it is very difficult, in fact it is impossible to give up this shackles and entanglement from family life. It is only by the special causeless mercy of Krishna, that it can be done. And Raghunath das has attained the causeless mercy of Krishna. He said family life is like a fate that people go to pass stool and to get free from that fate can only be possible by the cause less mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please excuse me for joking in this way. But your father and uncle are very dear to me. They were friends of my grandfather Nilambar Chakrabati Thakur. Therefore we have an affectionate relationship, so I can speak my heart in a joking way. He said your father and uncle are like worms in the stool. Because the affairs of family life are like stool and any one who is attached to that stool is like a worm. Even if try to liberate such a worm from this stool, he will go right back into his stool. But Raghunath Das by Krishna’s infinity kindness, He has delivered you from abominable condition of life and He has brought you to His lotus feet. And of course Raghunath Dasa with great humility, he said my dear lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; I do not know who Krishna is. I do not know what Krishna’s mercy is. I only know it is by your kindness and your mercy that I have been save from that abominable condition of life. Of course the story goes on. The beautiful story narration by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami of how Raghunathdas Goswami became the very crest jewel of all renounce, of all sannyasies in renounced order of life. It is described that he would live in such a simple and such a austere condition of life that any one who would see him, tears would come to their eyes, tears of love. At one time when, all the devotees returned from Jagannath Puri, Raghunathdas’s mother, father and uncle they send messenger saying, when you are in Puri did you see our son Raghunath? Sivananda saying told the messenger yes of course I saw him. What is his condition? What is he eating? How is he living? He said, Raghunath das he is the very embodiment of the highest principle’s vairagya. He is so dear to all the devotees; everyone loves him with such affection. Because he is so devoted to the service of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said that as far as eating his body is very lean and thin. Because he hardly eat anything. He was simple eat the refuse that no body else wants. Even that he does by begging and only wear is the torn cloths, that nobody else would like or would want to wear. He wears one cloth surround his waist and that torn cloth. He sleeps on the hard ground. He has no fixed place of the residence. In this way his eyes were always filled with tears of love and he is constantly chanting the holy names of Krishna and constantly absorbed in serving the devotees. Now when the devotees hear such a story of such a great person their hearts are elated with joy, when Raghunath’s parent heard this news they began to cry, thinking o’ my god! What is this? So this is the power of association with great souls. And as Narada Muni as explaining here there is nothing more auspicious for our spiritual advancement than going to the holy places, where the beautiful form of the Lord in the temple is being worship by such great devotees of the Lord. Of course no one can imitate Raghunath Das Goswami. That is not possible. But we can follow on his foot steps. We can accept the principles that directed his life and by such transcendental association with great souls, we can very affectively be blessed with the supreme opulence of life, which is to be attract to Krishna. Bhakati Vinoda Thakur has also prayed that guru maharaja you have Krishna, please teach. How can I also be attracted to Krishna? So by gaining the blessings of the great souls, we should not asked sadhus give me good wife, give me good husband, give me son, give me daughter, give me money, give me health. We should ask the great souls, give me attraction to Krishna. Relieve me from the burning of affliction or attraction to the things of this world and allow me or help me with your blessings with your grace and with your good instructions. Teach me how can transfer all my attractions to my attractions to the lotus feet of Lord Hari. That is the real gift that the sadhus are powered by god to give another attraction to Krishna. And when we learned, how to taste the sweetness of attachment to the lotus feet of the service of Krishna and His devotees. Then only we will be fully satisfied. Because it is the souls great longing for this loving devotion to the service of the lord. So in the association of great souls, when we chant the holy names “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare” we should understand that is the most auspicious place and that is the most auspicious opportunity in our life to become Krishna Conscious. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.
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