Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Objective of Krishna Consciousness movement|Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21

• Srimad Bhagavatam lecture of Srila Prabhupada at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata
  • Verse Number: SB 3.25.21
  • Lecture date:  21^st Nov 1974
  • Lecture location: Bombay
  • Chapter Name: The Glories of Devotional Service
  • Lecture Link: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/741121sbbom/
• Date/Day:  23^rd May 2025, Friday, Apara Ekadasi

Today we were hearing Srimad Bhagavatam lecture of Srila Prabhupada at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. In the lecture Prabhupada was emphatically saying that the “objective of Krishna Consciousness movement is to create association of devotees”, so that people get an opportunity to associate with them and perfect their lives. Prabhupada was speaking on the verse SB 3.25.21. 

ŚB 3.25.21

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

Translation

“The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.”

Below article is based on the lecture of Srila Prabhupada which we were hearing today in the temple.

Association of a pure devotee

Just like if we eat unhealthy food, we get unhealthy body, similarly, if we associate with people having impure consciousness, our consciousness too gets polluted. Healthy body ensures healthy life and pure consciousness ensures happy life.

This is why scriptures again and again underline the importance of being in saintly association. In good association, our bad habits get corrected. And in bad association, just the opposite happens.

For example, we see students leading a pure life at home, but when he goes to hostel then in the company of those taking alcohol, he too becomes an alcoholic. But it is also true that if an alcoholic begins associating with those leading pure life, then he too can easily give up addiction to alcohol.  And this has happened.

The hippies in America were addicted to sinful life. They were accustomed to intoxication, eating meat and engaging in illicit sex. Their parents and the government of the day had failed to reform them. But then to their great fortune Srila Prabhupada came into their life.

And just by associating with him, they were able to give up all these impure things quite quickly. Not just that they began chanting the names of Krishna and began living a Krishna conscious life.

Even Srimad Bhagavatam, tells that the children of the demons who had no interest in spiritual life began chanting the names of the Lord when they began associating with Prahlada. So, Chaitanya Charitamrta 22.54 says, “‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya/lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya.”  “The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.”

Do not waste this great opportunity

Devotees of the Lord are great well-wishers. Seeing us suffer in this world, pains their heart. So, they wander around the world to tell us the danger of sinful life and the necessity of bringing Krishna in our life. If we fail to abide by their sagely advice, we are doomed to suffer.

This human life is Lord’s gift to us because it provides us an opportunity to free ourselves from all the sufferings. But, if we waste our life in animalistic propensity of eating, mating, sleeping and defending, then next life we will get an animal body so that we can live like animals.

Srila Prabhupada in the lecture was saying, “..if we simply waste our time like animals—eating, sleeping, sex intercourse and defense—then it is animal life. So especially in this age they cannot distinguish that what is the animal life and what is human life. They think, “The dog, animal, he is sleeping on the street, and I am sleeping on the twentieth floor of a nice apartment. Therefore I am civilized.” The śāstra says no. Either you sleep on the street or on the twenty-fourth story of apartment, you are sleeping. You are not doing any other thing.” 

Let us not try to live like animals but try to uplift our consciousness. If we are serious to save ourselves from all unhappy situations, then we should give up the company of those who are not serious in spiritual life but are just working hard to improve the standards of their material sense gratification.   Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asks all serious devotees to give association of non-devotees – Asat-saṅga-tyāga ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra. 

Prabhupada gifted us association of devotees

By the grace of Srila Prabhupada, today we have an opportunity to continually associate with serious devotees of the Lord all over the world and perfect our life.

Prabhupada says, “…..at the present moment it is very difficult to find out the association of sādhu. Therefore, our teeny effort is, this Krishna consciousness movement, to create an association of the sādhus so people may take advantage of this association, and then his life becomes liberated. And that is the aim and object of this association. It has no other object.”

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu want all of us to get liberated, and understanding the Lord’s heart Srila Prabhupada established Krishna Consciousness movement.

Cultivate friendship with devotees of Krishna|Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.29

• Srimad Bhagavatam Class: SB 11.3.29
• Chapter Name: Liberation from the Illusory Energy
• Venue: Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata
• Date: 22^nd May 2025
• Speaker: HG Nimai Anand Prabhu

In today’s Srimad Bhagavatam, class HG Nimai Anand Prabhu talked about the importance of cultivating friendship with devotees of Krishna.

Prabhuji was speaking on SB 11.3.29.

SB 11.3.29

evaṁ kṛṣṇātma-nātheṣu
manuṣyeṣu ca sauhṛdam
paricaryāṁ cobhayatra
mahatsu nṛṣu sādhuṣu

Translation

“One who desires his ultimate self-interest should cultivate friendship with those persons who have accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Lord of their life. One should further develop an attitude of service toward all living beings. One should especially try to help those in the human form of life and, among them, especially those who accept the principles of religious behavior. Among religious persons, one should especially render service to the pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Below article is based on the class given by HG Nimai Anand Prabhu.

Friendship affects our devotion to Krishna

It is said that “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.” Man is known by the company he keeps. Today’s purport is very important.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says here “the highest duty for devotees of the Supreme Lord is to establish friendship with those who have completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and who have thus achieved śaraṇāgati, shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.”

It is the highest duty to establish friendship with devotees. It is very important.

Why is man known by company he keeps? It is because of two reasons

(1) The kind of aspiration one has, one chooses such association so that they can inspire each other for same goal.

(2) Even if one does not have such aspiration but it is just a matter of time that one’s aspiration is transformed in the association.

We see that the entire social media is based on helping people get friends. So, there is option of adding friend. Since, this is the need, so social media is exploiting people.

We need friendship, so choose right kind of friendship.

In one of the classes in Iskcon Minto Park Temple one devotee said a very important thing –

“After Srila Prabhupada left this world, many disciples could not continue practicing devotion in same spirit. So, Iskcon leadership wanted to know the reason so that they can rectify it and the same mistake is not committed again. When research was conducted, it was found that since the devotees did not have a friend whom they could fully open up and reveal their heart, so they faced difficulties in continuing their spiritual life. Since they did not get devotee friends, so they began looking for friends in the outside world.”  

Krishna should be the only goal

HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu in his Srimad Bhagavatam class, gave summary of this chapter very nicely. Prabhuji explained that how Nimi Maharaj began asking questions – How jiva is caught in maya? How to come out of maya? And this becomes possible by the grace of guru. So, now we are reading how to surrender to guru and how to serve guru.

Devotees put all their efforts and talent in Krishna’s service. They do everything which pleases Krishna and spiritual master.

Here in this verse, it is said that “we should have association of those whose only goal is Krishna.” And what to do in that association will come in next verse.

Catuh Shloki Bhagavad Gita

In the catuh sloki Bhagavad Gita Krishna first says, “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” Bhagavad Gita 10.8

It means “One who understands Krishna that he is the supreme Lord does bhajan.”

In the next verse, Krishna says,  

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” Bhagavad Gita 10.9

It talks about that how devotees come together and discuss Krishna katha. And while doing so they are satisfied, and they relish Krishna katha.  

But there is qualification required for this which is mentioned in the first line of the verse – mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā. mad citta i.e one whose mind and life is devoted to Krishna. Second line of the verse says, such devotees only goal is Krishna and life is Krishna.

We should have exclusive devotion to Krishna. There should not be any secondary goal. Spiritual master’s goal is Krishna and only Krishna, no other goal.

One question may come?  To develop friendship with exalted devotees is difficult because we may not easily get their association.

Who is a pure devotee?

In one of the lectures, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja was talking about who is exalted devotee. While making this point Maharaja said that whatever I am going to say please hear carefully. Then Maharaja said, there are two types of pure devotees.

1. One who is completely free from all material desires and have developed love for Krishna

2. And the second type are those whose only goal is to become a pure devotee; he has no second aspiration. He is clear about his goal. Although he may have conditioning but still, he is trying to become a pure devotee.

There may be devotee around us having conditioning but if their goal is Krishna then we should associate with them.

Bhakti lata bija

We should now discuss about the impurities which should be given up while practicing exclusive devotion – ananya bhakti – to Krishna.

Even one who has received bhakti lata bija can get distracted. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu discusses this with Srila Rupa Goswami at Dasamedh ghat.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu first talks about rarity of devotion to Krishna.

He says “There are 8.4 million species in this world, and among them the human form of life is very rare. And those who get human life do not accept scriptures. Those who accept scriptures are mostly practitioners of karma kanda, they do not understand the real purpose of scriptures. Those who understand the real purpose are jnanis but they are only interested in liberation. And amongst crores of such jnanis, to find a real devotee of Krishna is very difficult.”

Then Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says,

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” CC Madhya 19.151

Some rare soul may achieve such bhakti lata bija.

By Srila Prabhupada’s mercy we have achieved bhakti lata bija. The process which we are following is bhakti lata bija. We have to just water it by sravanam and kirtanam.

Obstacles on the path of bhakti

But as one grows bhakti lata bija, one has to take care of offenses which are compared to mad elephant. Offenses uproot bhakti lata bija. Offenses occur when we become familiar with the devotee. Material familiarity breeds contempt. Remedy is to see devotees’ connection with Krishna. We should never find faults with devotees. Offenses are the first obstacle.

Second Obstacle on the path of bhakti lata bija is explained by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Rupa Goswami. It is in CC Madhya 19.158, 19.159, 19.160.

CC Madhya 19.158

“Sometimes unwanted creepers, such as the creepers of desires for material enjoyment and liberation from the material world, grow along with the creeper of devotional service. The varieties of such unwanted creepers are unlimited.”

By becoming frustrated with material life one’s goal becomes to get free from miseries. But that is not pure devotion. Goal of pure devotion is to only please Krishna, nothing else matters.

CC Madhya 19.159

“Some unnecessary creepers growing with the bhakti creeper are the creepers of behavior unacceptable for those trying to attain perfection, diplomatic behavior, animal-killing, mundane profiteering, mundane adoration and mundane importance. All these are unwanted creepers.”

CC Madhya 19.160

“If one does not distinguish between the bhakti creeper and the other creepers, the sprinkling of water is misused because the other creepers are nourished while the bhakti creeper is curtailed.”

Friendship with devotees will sustain our devotion

Offensive chanting is the water for the unwanted creeper. And sincere chanting is the water to the bhakti lata bija.

Distractions take us away from pure devotional service.

Srila Bhati Vinod Thakura says that “selfishness is the root cause of deviation from pure devotional service.” We should give up this mentality and serve Krishna.  Devotees work hard with this mentality because they know that this will pleases Krishna.

Also, devotees are not motivated by material things but by only spiritual thing. So, in order to motivate devotee, we say Srila Prabhupada wanted this and then devotee gets motivated to do things.

Devotees only want to see Krishna happy and does not care for his own happiness. Even if Krishna gives distress, devotees are not bothered.

We should cultivate friendship with such devotees. If we see devotees are serious, sincere then we should seek their association. Such friendship will sustain our devotion.

Krishna is conquered by the love of his devotees|Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.27-28

• Srimad Bhagavad Class Verse: SB 11.3.27-28
• Venue: Iskcon Newtown,Kolkata
• Speaker: HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu
• Date: 21st May 2025

In today’s Srimad Bhagavatam class, HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu was saying that “Lord gets conquered by the love of his devotees.”  Prabhuji was speaking on SB 11.3.27-28.

                        ŚB 11.3.27-28                             

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ dhyānaṁ
harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ
janma-karma-guṇānāṁ ca
tad-arthe ’khila-ceṣṭitam

iṣṭaṁ dattaṁ tapo japtaṁ
vṛttaṁ yac cātmanaḥ priyam
dārān sutān gṛhān prāṇān
yat parasmai nivedanam

Translation

“One should hear, glorify and meditate upon the wonderful transcendental activities of the Lord. One should specifically become absorbed in the appearance, activities, qualities and holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus inspired, one should perform all of one’s daily activities as an offering to the Lord. One should perform sacrifice, charity and penance exclusively for the Lord’s satisfaction. Similarly, one should chant only those mantras which glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And all one’s religious activities should be performed as an offering to the Lord. Whatever one finds pleasing or enjoyable he should immediately offer to the Supreme Lord, and even his wife, children, home and very life air he should offer at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Below article is based on the class given by HG His Grace Vrindavan Chari Prabhu.

Process of Bhagavad Dharma

We should daily chant minimum 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. This is the most important thing to do. One of the other important vows which we take in our spiritual life is to observe ekadasi vrata and we should always follow it.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if one does not take to the process of Bhagavad Dharma then one cannot understand the Supreme Lord. To try to understand the Lord with our imperfect senses is impossible.

One should take to this process of Bhagavad Dharma whether one is a sanyasi, brahmachari, vanaprastha or grihasta.

We should throw away all speculative knowledge and try to practice devotion to the Lord in any situations and circumstances. There is a song compiled by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakura where he says,

grihe thako, vane thako, sada ‘hari’ bole’ dako,
sukhe duhkhe bhulo na’ko, vadane hari-nam koro re

“Whether you are a householder or a sannyasi, constantly chant “Hari! Hari!” Do not forget this chanting, whether you are in a happy condition or a distressful one. Just fill your lips with the hari-nama.”

Whatever be your position, you should constantly chant the name of Hari.

The process of hearing the glories of Lord is immensely powerful. Anybody can develop love of God by this process. And everybody is qualified to hear the glories of Lord. It does not depend upon one’s social position. In Iskcon no one asks which caste we belong to.

This is why we see in our temple Srimad Bhagavad Class is given by everyone – sanyasi also gives, brahmachari also gives, vanaprastha also gives and grihasta also gives.

Offer your activities to the Lord

We should perform our daily activities as an offering to the Lord. This is the process given to us. Every morning, we do mangala arati, hear Srimad Bhagavatam and chant 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. And this every devotee should do whether one is staying in temple or at home.

nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā – hearing daily Srimad Bhagavatam is very important and should be followed by all.

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

“By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18

This is the process of Bhagavad Dharma.

Conquer the Lord by your love

One should become absorbed in chanting the names of the Lord and in hearing the glories of the Lord. We should do service as per our position and all services should be an offering to the Lord.

The devotees are able to conquer the Lord by their love. Non-devotees cannot conquer the Lord because they do not have love for the Lord.

Sanatana Goswami explains how devotees conquer the Lord. Devotees of the Lord, through their words, body and mind conquer the Lord and thus they become perfect in Krishna Consciousness. Such devotees can touch the lotus feet of Krishna with their hands, call him with their words and attain direct guidance in their mind simply by thinking about him.

It is said that it becomes possible to remember the Lord through the mind, speak his glories and render service to him with our body when we become servant of the servant of the devotees of the Lord i.e. when we become “dasanudas”. So, we should always aspire to become a surrendered servant of the Lord.

When one is able to offer all respects to all then one can remember the Lord and serve the Lord constantly.

Lord wants to be conquered by the love of his devotees. And non devotees can never conquer the Lord because they are not engaged in the loving service of the Lord.  

Necessity of taking shelter of Krishna| Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.26

The importance of taking “shelter of Krishna.” This was the focus of today’s (20^th May 2025) Srimad Bhagavatam class which was given by HG Prem Swarup Prabhu at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. Prabhuji was speaking on SB 11.3.26.

SB 11.3.26

śraddhāṁ bhāgavate śāstre
’nindām anyatra cāpi hi
mano-vāk-karma-daṇḍaṁ ca
satyaṁ śama-damāv api

Translation

“One should have firm faith that he will achieve all success in life by following those scriptures that describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures. One should rigidly control his mind, speech and bodily activities, always speak the truth, and bring the mind and senses under full control.”

Below article is based on the class given by HG Prem Swarup Prabhu.

Understanding Paramhamsas

This chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam is entitled “Liberation from the illusory energy.”  This is possible when we take shelter of a Paramhamsa who is absorbed in Krishna. So, what is the definition of Paramhamsa? Hamsa i.e. swan, if it is given a mixture of milk with water and other substances then hamsa can separate everything from milk and will drink milk only.

Similarly, Paramhamsa can be in this world, where he sees Krishna everywhere. A paramhamsa is not an ordinary hamsa. He can find Krishna in this world at every place. Even living in this material world, he can bring Krishna in focus.

All of us get affected by the modes of material nature, but when we associate with the devotees of the Lord, we become Krishna Conscious. Devotees teach us how to see Krishna and how to engage in Krishna Consciousness while living in any situation.

Srila Prabhupada’s faith in holy name & Srimad Bhagavatam

For example, Srila Prabhupada went to Bowry, Manhattan, USA where no one wanted to go. Even police did not go there. There people used to be drunk, would take LSD and carried a gun. And in drunken state they would shoot from the gun. So, who would go to that crazy land! But Srila Prabhupada went to such a place.

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya

“Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.” CC Madhya 22.107

Srila Prabhupada had full confidence in the holy name of Krishna and in Srimad Bhagavatam.

“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11

Srila Prabhupada says that the literature which describes the glories of the Lord can immediately create revolution. And the testimony is Srila Prabhupada transforming the hippies. Srila Prabhupada chanted for hours together, invited people to chant, gave them prasadam, gave them Srimad Bhagavatam and convinced them to take shelter of Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada had full confidence that this is asausadhi (medicine). He did not have any material possessions but only had spiritual possessions. He gave Srimad Bhagavatam and Hare Krishna Maha mantra unfiltered. Although, he had Bengali accent, but all were convinced that this Swamiji has something which is very valuable. And if we start following him then we too can get that precious thing.

Most important principle in Iskcon

When Mahaprabhu asks Ramananda Ray about the object and process of worship then Ramananda Ray first speaks about the system of varnasrama. But Mahaprabhu says, “This is bāhya i.e. external.”

Ramananda Ray then speaks about many things, but Mahaprabhu is not satisfied.

But when he starts talking about chanting then Mahaprabhu says this will work. Mahaprabhu says that other things will make you feel spiritual but those are façade. But when a person develops taste in chanting and hearing in the association of devotees, then that is substantial.

So, foundation of spiritual life is sravanam and kirtanam in the association of devotees. Srila Prabhupada started Iskcon, with this principle and this is how it is being sustained.

Srila Prabhupada says that the literature like Srimad Bhagavatam which glories the Lord is so important for us for sravanam and kirtanam.

When material energy stops harassing us

In this chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, we are hearing about material energy and its capacity to absorb us 24 by 7, in fact every moment of life, life after life. It is impossible for anyone to come out of this. If you are in the material world there is always disturbance. Srila Prabhupada says when one is drowning in ocean, then can one be peaceful? But someone says that I know swimming.

But in bhavasāgara how long can you swim? However great swimmer you may be, you will lose breadth at some moment.  So, there is so much fear. In this material life, if we deny Krishna then it will give us constant disturbance. Peace comes when we accept Krishna as the enjoyer and proprietor as stated in Bhagavad Gita 5.29. The moment we try to take position of Krishna, police catch us. For example, if someone barge into your house and try to enjoy there then you will call police and get him arrested.

Similarly, when we try to enjoy without connection to Krishna in this world which belongs to Krishna then police catch us. Police of this world is Durga Devi. And she has ten hands and ten weapons. She constantly harasses jivas (living entities) with these weapons who try to enjoy independently from Krishna.

Yesterday I was giving class, and, in the audience, there were elderly people, middle aged and also children. When I asked what you want in life then elderly people said peace, middle aged said peace and one little child also said peace. So, we see everyone is baffled in this world and are looking for peace. I told them if you do not surrender to Krishna then there won’t be peace, but life will be in pieces. So, it is necesary to always remain under the shelter of Krishna.

Be focussed on a specific goal

Whatever we do, maya will baffle us confuse us. I may think, I did hard work, but why this is happening? Material energy has power to create duality. In this world, if you give choice to people, then people will be confused that in which direction to go.

So, in army, they give only one instruction. The moment you give two instructions whole army will split. One group will go this way and the other another way. So, in Bhagavad Gita 2.41, Krishna says,

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca
buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām

“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.”

Suppose that there are mango trees having 100 mangoes. You take 100 stones and try to hit different mango with each stone. You will keep on targeting different mangoes, but nothing will happen. In this way you will waste 40, 50, 60,80 stones without getting any mango.

But suppose that you decide to hit just one mango with 100 stones. Then once you begin hitting then after hitting it with few stones you will come to know that what is the best way to hit the stone to get the mango. And eventually you will get the mango.

Only goal should be to take shelter of Krishna through spiritual master

Srimad Bhagavatam is compared to a ripened fruit.

So, only way to counteract duality is to surrender to Krishna as given in the scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam. Surrendering to Krishna means surrendering to the spiritual master. We should surrender to someone who creates obligation. Srila Prabhupada says spiritual master is a transparent via media. We may have blurred vision.

But through sastra caksu which the spiritual master gives us we can see the Lord. Spiritual master helps us to surrender to Krishna.

Right now, we are busy making people surrender to us and not to Krishna. But our only goal should be to take shelter of Krishna. We should try to cultivate surrender to Krishna carefully as Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita.

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Bhagavad Gita 18.66

Make effort for offenseless chanting the names of Krishna|Srimad Bhagavatam 11.03.25

Today (19^th May 2025) in the Srimad Bhagavatam class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata, HG Maharas Prabhu spoke about the importance of offenseless chanting. Prabhuji was speaking on the verse SB 11.03.25.

Translation of the Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.03.25

“One should practice meditation by constantly seeing oneself to be an eternal cognizant spirit soul and seeing the Lord to be the absolute controller of everything. To increase one’s meditation, one should live in a secluded place and give up false attachment to one’s home and household paraphernalia. Giving up the decorations of the temporary material body, one should dress himself with scraps of cloth found in rejected places, or with the bark of trees. In this way one should learn to be satisfied in any material situation.”

Below is what prabhuji said in the class.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu saves Sanatana Goswami

One of the senior Iskcon sanyasi said that we dress neat and clean because we have to meet people so that we can preach to them and inspire them. Srila Prabhupada allowed HH Bhakti Swaroop Damodar Swami Maharaja to wear coat and pant because he had to meet scientists and preach them.

Sanatana Goswami was very detached. He was so absorbed in chanting the names of Krishna, that he did not care for touchstone. He was living in Vrindavan, was trained by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Prayag for 2 months. But once something strange happens. He starts feeling that something is missing.

So, he travels to Jagannath Puri to meet Lord Chaitanya. On the way, he drinks contaminated water and because of which he gets disease. His body gets filled with blood and pus. He thinks that since my body has become impure there is no use of this body. So, let be commit suicide and get a fresh body to serve Lord Chaitanya.

In Puri, he meets Lord Chaitanya. The Lord lovingly chastises him. He says to Haridas Thakura, “O Haridas, Sanatana Goswami thinks that his body belongs to him, so he is thinking of committing suicide. He has forgotten that his body now belongs to me.” Mahaprabhu further says, “If one would attain Krishna prem by committing suicide then I would have committed suicide many times. Only way to attain Krishna prem is by chanting the names of Krishna without any offenses.”  Mahaprabhu then sits with Sanatana Goswami and says the same old things which he had already spoken to him earlier in Prayag.

In this age of Kaliyuga, chanting is the only way to attain Krishna. And chanting should be done without offenses.

Three steps to follow to chant the names of Krishna without any offenses

1. Regularly hear from vaisnavas i.e. devotees of Krishna

We see Sanatana Goswami heard from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for 2 months in Prayag. Even though we may know the subject matter, might have heard it many times, may know the slokas, might have read about the same topic in Srila Prabhupada’s books but still we should hear regularly.

2. Blessings of Guru and Vaisnavas

Bhakti without blessing is like phone without sim. The phone without sim is of no use. Similarly without the blessings of devotees especially pure devotees it is not possible to chant without offenses.

Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport of SB 1.8.19, “…Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam asserts that one who chants the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee can at once get free from the disadvantages due to a lower-caste birth. A pure devotee of the Lord does not commit any offense while chanting the holy name of the Lord. There are ten different offenses in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. To chant the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee is offenseless chanting. Offenseless chanting of the holy name of the Lord is transcendental, and therefore such chanting can at once purify one from the effects of all kinds of previous sins. This offenseless chanting indicates that one has fully understood the transcendental nature of the holy name and has thus surrendered unto the Lord.”

The Holy name of the Lord is more powerful than the Lord. We see that when Lord appears then he kills the demons, but the holy name of the Lord purifies the heart of the demons. We should try to endeavor for higher values and try to serve the vaisnvas.

My experience in Iskcon Ujjain

In Iskcon Ujjain temple, I saw how devotees are caring for the vaisnavas. If you need some support and ask, then that is called help. Like asking for a glass of water and getting it. But if you need something and you get it without asking then it is called care. We become experts in getting blessings when we start caring others.

Even though I was going to Iskcon Ujjain for the first time and no one knew me, and I did not know them but still they were continuously asking me what I want. During the next day of my visit during Mangala arati, pujari asked me to come his room at 7:30 am. When I went to his room, he began feeding me mahaprasad a lot. During Tulasi arati, I was sweating. Immediately HH Bhakti Prem Swami Maharaja came to me and asked me to go and stand under the fan. This was care. These people actual know bhakti yoga. I cannot bless them but I was helplessly giving my good wishes to them. They were teaching us how to get blessings of vaisnavas.

3. Applying effort in chanting the names of Krishna

We see in Damodara Lila, rope was two fingers short. One finger indicates effort, and the other finger indicates mercy of Krishna. We have to apply effort to chant the names of Krishna.  

In one of the lectures HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja says, “If one chants attentively then when maya strikes he will not be disturbed. And even if he gets disturbed then it will not remain for long time because holy name will protect him.” But if he has chanted inattentively like while chanting scrolling mobile, reading newspapers etc then he will be disturbed.

Once Bhakti Vinod Thakura was warned to not stay in lodge which was connected to temple. People said that place is haunted by a ghost. But Bhakti Vinod Thakura stayed there. Next morning when people asked him, “Did ghost haunt you?” He said, “Yes, but since I chanted the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, the ghost got delivered.”

He further said that the ghost was a pujari of the temple but because he chanted offensively so he became a ghost. As soon as we apply effort in chanting then it comes to namabhasa stage. Sadhakas i.e the practicing devotees should apply effort to at least come to the stage of namabhasa.

Few practical steps for offenseless chanting:

• Sleep early
• Eat less at night.
• Make sure that the place where we are chanting is neither too comfortable nor too uncomfortable.
• Best to chant in place where everyone is chanting.
• Dealing properly with others: During 2 hours of our chanting, we are offering our consciousness to the Lord. For preparing bhoga, it takes lots of time but offering to the Lord takes just 10 minutes. For example, if the wheat flour has sand particles, then bhoga will have the same. So, the whole day what we have done affects our chanting. Lord Chaitanya says that if one has not criticized any vaisnavas and have chanted then I will take him Back to Godhead. 22 hours of conduct is reflected in 2 hours of our chanting. So, how we are dealing with others is very important.
• Srila Prabhupada says the best place to chant is in dham.
• We should chant at a place where there is illumination and proper ventilation.
• Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura says, “I regularly read the glories of holy name.” He chanted daily 64 rounds or 108 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. And after that he preached also.

Offenseless chanting is the goal of sadhana bhakti.

Three stages of chanting

The three stages of chanting and the destination one achieves in each stage of chanting.

1. Nama-aparadha – At this stage of chanting our material desires gets fulfilled. But one may become a ghost too.
2. Namabhasa  – It is the stage where we start putting our efforts in chanting. One can attain anything from namabhasa stage in this world. One’s material desires gets fulfilled, one can go to heaven and can even go to vaikuntha. Except krishna prem one can get everything.
3. suddha-nama – At the stage of suddha-nama, one gets Krishna prem

At least Namabhasa is in our control and so we can apply effort for that.

Purpose of life is to cultivate Krishna Consciousness| Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prabhavishnu Prabhu| Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.38

In his Srimad Bhagavatam Class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata, HG Prabhavishnu Prabhu said, “The purpose of life is to cultivate Krishna Consciousness.” Prabhuji who is a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and has served as Governing Body Commission (GBC) visited Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 28^th March 2025.

He has been preaching Krishna Consciousness in different parts of the world for last several decades.

He gave class on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.38.

avidyamāno ’py avabhāti hi dvayo
dhyātur dhiyā svapna-manorathau yathā
tat karma-saṅkalpa-vikalpakaṁ mano
budho nirundhyād abhayaṁ tataḥ syāt

“Although the duality of the material world does not ultimately exist, the conditioned soul experiences it as real under the influence of his own conditioned intelligence. This imaginary experience of a world separate from Kṛṣṇa can be compared to the acts of dreaming and desiring. When the conditioned soul dreams at night of something desirable or horrible, or when he daydreams of what he would like to have or avoid, he creates a reality that has no existence beyond his own imagination. The tendency of the mind is to accept and reject various activities based on sense gratification. Therefore an intelligent person should control the mind, restricting it from the illusion of seeing things separate from Kṛṣṇa, and when the mind is thus controlled he will experience actual fearlessness.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.38

During his class prabhuji shared many pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and also how he came to Krishna Consciousness.

Below is what prabhuji said during the Srimad Bhagavatam Class  

Focus should be on Krishna

In this verse, Kavi Mahara is responding to the question of Nimi Maharaj.

This is the essential topic of Srimad Bhagavatam. Devotional service is eternal bhakti. Somehow or other we have fallen in the ocean of birth and death.

And because of forgetting Krishna, we are prone to sinful life and we turn our attention to dangerous material objects.

We see that so much energy is spent in making arrangement for comfortable living in this world. We accumulate assets, money, property, furniture and many other paraphernalia. In this way our attachment becomes strong to our house and things of this world.  

Then we have offsprings and offsprings of offsprings and we get attached to them. But in Krishna Consciousness focus is on Krishna – in chanting his names like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and hearing his glories. Our purpose of life is to cultivate and develop bhakti.

Using opulence in the service of Krishna

One can use wealth in the service of Krisna. Even a poor person can be Krishna Conscious and if he is Krishna Conscious then even if he is poor, he is not troubled.

When we were in Kheturi Dham, the birthplace of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura, we saw people living a simple life. They were walking around barefoot. They were simple farmers leading a simple life. We are not able to do so. We travel in airplanes, motorcars, live in airconditioned rooms and so on.

Srila Prabhupada when he got opulence he used it in the service of Krishna. When he was living in Radha Damodar temple in Vrindavan, he lived a very simple life. Srila Prabhupada would say that I had only Rs 40 but now Krishna has given by Rs 40 crores.

When Srila Prabhupada first came to Bhaktivedanta Manor (an Iskcon Temple) in United Kingdom then he came by helicopter which was arranged by Shyamsundar Prabhu. Referring to his disciples, he would say that I have so many sons and daughters around the world. Prabhupada’s disciples would take care of him very nicely.

Prabhuji shared how Beatles helped in spreading Krishna Consciousness

Beatles made album on Hare Krishna Mahamantra which became a hit. They also made album on the vaisnav song bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana/
abhaya-caraṇāravinda rehe re man and govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami. govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami song sung by Yamuna Mataji is daily played in the morning in all the Iskcon temples around the world.

Because of these albums devotees got famous and they were invited for kirtan and different programs.  They were invited on TV shows. In one of the TV shows in United Kingdom, devotees were invited to perform kirtan. But as per the format of the TV show when the songs were to be performed some young ladies dressed in mini skirt would come and dance.

But when devotees came to know about this they refused to perform. When the organizers learnt about this, they immediately brought some clothes, and these ladies wrapped it around their body like saris. And then the devotees performed the song.

Srila Prabhupada always encouraged devotees to do something big. If you do not succeed, then no problem but if you succeed then it will be great.

Prabhuji shared few pastimes of Srila Prabhupada

Once Srila Prabhupada was walking in a park in UK. He asked one of his disciples to pluck a twig from a tree. Prabhupada would use twig to clean his teeth. When the devotee went to pluck the twig, one British came and said you cannot take the twig from the tree. Prabhupada commented that these British has taken so much from India but are not allowing us to even take a twig.

Once while on a morning walk devotees were chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. One person sleeping on the footpath got up and shouted at the devotees. Prabhupada looked at him calmy and greeted him. The person who was very angry immediately calmed down and greeted Prabhupada and the devotees. Srila Prabhupada had peaceful and pleasing personality.

In UK, Prabhupada would be speaking to many influential people like political leaders, scientists, historians, sportsperson but with whoever he spoke he was always preaching Krishna Consciousness and injecting Krishna Consciousness in them.

Cause of Fear & Attaining freedom from fear|Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaja at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata|S.B. 11.2.37

On 27^th March 2025, HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj visited Iskcon Newtown Kolkata and spoke ealborately on “root cause of fear” and how to free ourselves from all fear. Maharaj was speaking on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37 verse.  Let us see what Maharaj said about the “cause of fear” and the solution he talked about.

Below article is based on HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj’s class.

bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād
īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ
bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā

“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.37

This verse is quoted quite often by Srila Prabhupada especially the first line. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, spoke on the first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam daily for 30 days and explained it in different ways. His talk was generally 2 hours long.

Fear at every step

The subject of today’s verse revolves around fear, the cause of fear, and attaining freedom from fear.

We learn from this verse that fear is intrinsic characteristic of material living. Suffering is intrinsic to material existence – duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam, Bhagavad Gita 8.15. Everything in this world is miserable and temporary.

There is a good example, I used to give. While living in England, I would see some birds, black birds. They would be sitting on the grass looking inside the hole for little worms. And at the same time, they would be moving their head here and there thinking some living beings like cat can come and catch them.

Fear is typical characteristic of material condition.

“Abhay” means without fear. Its possible to be without fear.

“bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re”

It is by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Nanda Nandana. Krishna is fearless. In this world there is fear at every step – padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām.

At every step in this world there is danger. We may not feel but you may slip and fall down suddenly, bomb could drop at any moment, or you could be attacked while you are walking down on the streets.

Its common in America to be attacked. In America they prefer daytime to attack and in United Kingdom they attack in the night. I had this experience in youth when some people jumped up and started beating me. The world is full of fear.

Why there is fear? Because in this world everyone is turning away from Krishna.

Desire frustrates us

In this material world everyone is born with a desire to enjoy separately from Krishna. And this itself is envy, nastiness. We are envious of Krishna, so we are envious of everyone.

In the course of fulfilling our desire, we become competitive and when our desires are not fulfilled, we become frustrated. We cannot enjoy independent from Krishna. In liberated stage one is friendly. But in the conditioned state it is opposite.

Here, we have opposite way of thinking. Instead of thinking good of others, we think bad. Instead of having good will towards others, we have bad feelings towards others.

But in the liberated state we desire benefit of others.

Taking pleasure in giving pain

Krishna is the dominator, Krishna is the Supreme Controller, all others are servants. Krishna is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ, Bhagavad Gita 5.29. He is the best well-wisher of all. Srila Prabhupada once explained su-hridya means heart and soul friend. Krishna is friend of all living beings. In material world we have the nature of dominating others. Then we have person like Hiranyakasipu who takes pleasure in giving pain to others. Although for social intercourse, we greet others – we say “Hello” or “Hi” – but everyone is envious. That was seen in nazi Germany.

In western Europe and also in Russia nazi factor looms large. Normal German people would round up Jews and torture them and kill them. There were many such instances. We may think we are not doing anything like this but by the power of bad association, we may become like that.

How one becomes so cruel? An experiment in a school

In 1970, there was one experiment done in a school in USA. The teacher was teaching how cruel nazis were. How they were taking pleasure in torturing Jews and killing them. They were doing all sorts of biological experiments upon Jews. At the end of the class students asked how can ordinary people become like that and get involved in such crimes?  So, the teacher started a psychological experiment.

Next day when he came to the class, he said that in the class we should have discipline. You should follow me what I say to follow. And in 5 days he made them his fanatical follower.  Then the teacher said that this is not just confined to the classroom but it’s a nationwide movement. I will show you a video to prove this. He also gave the option that those who want to leave the class, they can leave but they have to suffer in the exam, they may fail too. Some students left the class, but many remained. And then the teacher showed the video of Hitler.

And Hitler was speaking emphatically. In fact, Hitler was a great motivational speaker. And after watching the video of Hitler the students understood that they are also going into that mood i.e. the mood of Hitler.

In fact, it is difficult to become good but easy to become bad especially in Kaliyuga.

Another cause for fear

We inflict harm on others. Be careful of nice people! They are nice but they are eating meat. They do not think that animals were slaughtered for them to have protein boost. One gets huge karmic reaction for killing animals. In India today lakhs of chickens are killed daily because most people like to eat flesh.

There is another reason why there is fear because at the back of the mind we know we will get reaction for bad things we are doing, and we cannot escape.

Srila Prabhupada says that people in India are generally afraid of meat eating and illicit sex.

People do not know laws of God, so they invent their own laws.

Solution for all our problems is in..

One of the purposes of Krishna Consciousness movement is to make people fearful of doing wrong things. By doing wrong they cause suffering to others and invite themselves tremendous suffering. Such people are fools and rascals.

Foolish because one does not know laws of God and rascal because they think they can get away with it.

India has best culture. But Indians are most foolish because they are following degraded western culture.

We should promote reading of books like Srimad Bhagavatam and ask people to follow it. Preach what is there in the book and not anything else.

In Bangladesh, one person, asked a teacher, “Should we follow you or whatever is there in the book.?” It’s so bad. Those who have understood the essence of sastra will act accordingly and will teach according to the sastra.

People like nice gurus because they say what we like to hear. Such gurus are popular. But sadhus should tell you that you are in a dangerous situation. Now you have got this human body, so you have an opportunity to go back to godhead.

People are committing so many sins daily that they will have to suffer for many lifetimes. People do not know this so Vyasadeva compiled Srimad Bhagavatam. By devotional service to God, we can become free from all the anarthas. People do not know, so Vyasdeva gave Srimad Bhagavatam. Speak on this, let people know the truth.

Solution to all problems (including fear) is in Srimad Bhagavatam.

At the end of the class, Maharaj said, “Your Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga is very beautiful.”

Why Nityananda Prabhu comes to Bengal (Gaud Desa)?

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to shower his mercy upon Bengal. On receiving this order left Puri and came to Bengal to spread Krishna Consciousness. And it is because of the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu that devotion for Krishna spread in Bengal and today we see lakhs of devotees of Krishna in Bengal.  

HG Atul Krishna Prabhu was in Iskcon Newtown Kolkata and he beautifully described how Nityananda Prabhu received the instruction from Mahaprabhu. And how he immediately left Puri for Bengal to inundate it with love of Krishna.

The article is based on the class given by HG Atul Krishna Prabhu on the occasion of Nityananda Trayodasi on Feb 10, 2025.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asks Nityananda Prabhu to go to Bengal (Gaud Desa)

Every year the devotees were coming from Bengal to Jagannath Puri. That’s why Mahaprabhu was living in Jagannath Puri because of his accessibility to Gauda Desa.

Nityananda Prabhu accompanied Gaursundar on his journey to Jagannath Puri. He also wanted to accompany him on his South India tour.  He (Nityananda Prabhu) was making his case to Mahaprabhu, “Overwhelmed with love of God you will fall down on the path, then who will look after you? Who will look after your kamandalu, mala and your set of clothes. I will accompany you. I know all the paths of South India.”  But Mahaprabhu did not accept that proposition because he was upset with Nityananda Prabhu.

Because at the first opportunity Nityananda Prabhu got to touch the (sannyas) danda  of Mahaprabhu, he broke it into three pieces.  Mahaprabhu was not very satisfied and for that reason he entered Jagannath Puri alone.

Now he wanted to tour the holy places of South India alone, so that he could properly perform the regulations of sannyas.

When Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannath Puri from South India tour, the devotees from Bengal came. The devotees remained for four months performing ratra yatra with Gaur Sundar in Puri. Nityananda Prabhu also remained in Jagannath Puri.  And then Mahaprabhu said to Nityananda Prabhu, “Go to Gaud Desa.”

Mahaprabhu was concerned about Bengal

You all are very fortunate because you have taken birth in Gaud Desa.  Prabhupada says this is the most important place in the universe. You are doing seva in Prabhupada’s janma sthan, you are so fortunate.  

Mahaprabhu has special affinity for Gaud Desa. He said to the Kurma Brahman, “yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa/āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.128

“You deliver everyone you see. You tell them about Krishna. You deliver everyone in this way.” Mahaprabhu said this wherever he went. He gave this order to all the residents, all the household brahmans and not just to Kurma Brahman. So, in this way Mahaprabhu ordered everybody that wherever you are, you preach.

And in addition to that, he was still concerned with Bengal. So, he sent his most intimate, most dear, his first expansion, Nityananda Prabhu to Bengal.

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ
namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

“Let me offer my obeisances unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has manifested Himself in five as a devotee, expansion of a devotee, incarnation of a devotee, pure devotee and devotional energy.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.6

Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy at Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata

Nityananda Prabhu received order from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to travel and preach and deliver Bengal.  So, I like to come here (Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata) because how happy he is seeing the development of preaching in Gaud Desa.

Practically speaking we neglected Kolkata for first few decades. Prabhupada came and established first temple Sri Sri Radha Govinda in Minto Park in Kolkata. And then we were busy in Mayapur development.

Actually, Mayapur means world delivery.  But delivering Bengal that actually has to be strategically organized from this mandir (Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata). That’s why Nityananda has appeared here. That’s why I’m attracted to come.

Let us establish Prabhupada in Kolkata and we deliver Kolkata, then all Bengal will follow. No doubt. Both Paschim Bengal and Purva Bengal will be delivered. It is so important to preach in Kolkata.

Prabhupada is blessing you! Every time I come; I see development, I see construction, bricks here and there, earth movers, everything going on. It’s so exciting.

This is happening because you have Doyal Nitai. It’s all his mercy. He wants this. It is his desire. He is so much in the mood of preaching.

Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu we cannot attain Radha Krishna

His mood is that he is kind to the most fallen.  So, we all have a chance. He’s particularly kind to the fallen, the idiots, the fools, so we have a chance.

“Nitaiyer karuna hobe, Braje Radha Krishna pabe.”  “When you receive Nitai’s karuna, only then you would get Radha-Krishna in Vraj.”

Without the mercy of Lord Nityananda, it is not possible to attain Radha Krishna.   So how important is this day which we are observing today and so many devotees have come.

Nityananda Prabhu gathered his 12 associates, there were many associates, the 12 were pradhan, all were accompanying Nityananda Prabhu and were going to Gaud Desa.

Nityananda Prabhu first came to Panihati

Nityananda Prabhu first travelled to Panihati and he remained in Panihati for three months and Vrindavan Das Thakura explains that the pastimes that Nitai Gosai performed in half an hour in Panihati cannot be described in 100 years.  He was so active in his dissemination of Krishna Consciousness because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had ordered.

Wonderful relationship between Nityananda Prabhu and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

We were discussing the relationship between Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. They have a relationship; it should be understood. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu considers Nityananda Prabhu, his elder brother.

And Nityananda Prabhu says Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is my master. This is the mood of Nityananda Prabhu. He is totally absorbed in the service of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and is always fulfilling his order.

In Kirtan, in Srivas Angan, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was swooning in love of God, Nityananda Prabhu would be there to hold Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They’re constantly together. We are worshiping them together as they are distributing love of godhead together. And they are dancing together ecstatically and continuously as nitya kirtan is going on.

Was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu angry with Mukunda Dutta during Mahaprakash Lila?

During Mahaprakash lila, it looked as if Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is angry with Mukunda Dutta. But was the Lord really angry with Mukunda Dutta? Or was he trying to show something else to the world?

Let us try to find out.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mahaprakash lila went on for 21 hours – whole day and night. And during the course of time, Lord Chaitanya called all devotees and explained to them about the association he had with them in previous life and also in this life.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu does not invite Mukunda Dutta

During Mahaprakash Lila, Lord Chaitanya had called everyone, but he had not call one devotee. Srivasa Thakura approaches Lord Chaitanya and says that you have forgotten one person, Mukunda Dutta. So, could you please call Mukunda?

But Lord Chaitanya said, “I am not going to call Mukunda. In fact, I never want to see Mukunda ever.”  Srivasa was shocked because Mukunda was well known among the devotees, he was very popular.

So, he asks Lord Chaitanya what is the problem?  And Lord Chaitanya says, “He is a hypocrite. He seems like being a nice devotee. He is very friendly with all the devotees and is a nice kirtan singer. But he is still a hypocrite. Whoever he associates with, he agrees with them. He associates Mayavadis and when Mayavadis say everything is one, he agrees with them and says, “Yes, everything is one.” And he then associates with Shaivites and when Shaivites say, “Shiva tu bhagavan swayam,” Mukunda says, “Yes, Har Har Mahadev.”  And he then associates with worshipper of Durga Devi and when they say, “Durga tu bhagavan swayam,” Mukunda says, “Jai Jai mataji.” So, he is a hypocrite. He is not fixed in consciousness. So, I do not want to see him ever.”

Lord Chaitanya further says Mukunda is like a person who approaches you with a nice flower and says take it and in other hand he has a club which he keeps behind.  You take the flower from him and think it’s nice but suddenly he takes out the club and hits your hand. So, I do not want to see him.

Mukunda Dutta explains why he behaves in this way

Srivasa Thakura went outside and told everything to Mukunda what Lord Chaitanya had said.

Lord Chaitanya was inside the house and Mukunda was in courtyard.  When Mukunda Dutta heard, he was broken hearted. He said to Srivasa Thakura about his situation.

I live in extended family, there are all types of people in my family – Durga worshippers, Shiva worshippers, Murugan worshippers and so on. I will end up non-stop fighting with them if I argue. So, when someone says everyone is one, I say, “yes”, and then I say Lord Chaitanya is also God. What to do? If I do not do this then it’s impossible to live with these people. Please explain this to Lord.

Srivasa went in and he told Lord Chaitanya that Mukunda has said few things, so he wants to share those points. The Lord said if you mention his name, you will not see me again. It looked as if Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was angry with Mukunda Dutta. But Srivasa Thakura said, “Please hear at least once.”

Mukunda can see Lord after one million lifetimes

So, he explained what Mukunda said to Lord Chaitanya. Mahaprabhu said, “Alright. You can go and tell Mukunda that he can see me after one million lifetimes.”

Srivasa Thakura went and told this to Mukunda. And when Mukunda Dutta heard that he can see Lord Chaitanya after one million lifetimes, he became ecstatic saying, “I will see him.” 

He began singing and dancing and rolling on ground in joy. Lord Chaitanya who was sitting inside the house heard all the commotion. He asked Srivasa what is going on?  Srivasa Thakura said, “Its Mukunda. He is extremely happy knowing that he can see you after one million lifetimes. He has gone wild in ecstasy.”

Lord Chaitanya then said bring him now. So, Srivasa Thakura brought Mukunda in. And Lord Chaitanya spoke to him nicely like father speaking to son. Mukunda offered prayers to Lord Chaitanya.

Blessings one gets by hearing Mukunda’s prayer

There are two blessings one gets by hearing the prayer offered by Mukunda Dutta to Lord Chaitanya.

1. Anyone who hears prayer of Mukunda will sing with him.

2. Anyone who feels happiness hearing this narration will certainly meet Lord Chaitanya face to face.

Lord Chaitanya said that actually I was playing little game with you. I did not really mean what I said. So, he then told Mukunda wherever I will appear you will appear with me. And you will sing for me wherever I am.

So, the first blessing that “anyone hears Mukunda’s prayer will sing with Mukunda” means he will sing with Lord Chaitanya.

Important lesson for us

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was not angry with Mukunda Dutta. Through this pastime Lord wanted to teach us few lessons.

1. Do not become a Shaivite. Just stay vaisnvav because although Shiva is nice, but he is not Krishna.
2. Practice devotion to Krishna with determination but also have patience like Mukunda Dutta.

What happens to the washerman who offends Krishna in Mathura?

During Mahaprakash lila, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told the story of the washerman who offends Krishna in Mathura. This pastime of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was beautifully explained by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaj during his Chaitanya Charitamrita class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata.

Below article is based on the class given by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaj at Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata on 27^th Feb 2025.

During Mahaprakash Lila, Lord Chaitanya was appreciating that Mukunda has some devotion. In order to make point about the importance of devotion in the life of a devotee, Lord Chaitanya referred to the pastimes of Krishna when he entered Mathura, his pastime with the washerman.  

Washerman offends Krishna when Krishna asks for clothes

Lord Chaitanya said that when Krishna entered Mathura, he met washerman and washerman was carrying basket full of laundry belonging to Kamsa. And Lord Krishna said look at these nice clothes, would you not like to give some to us which is suitable for us.

Washerman became arrogant and said, “These are the king’s clothes and who are you. You are just little boys of forest. So, if you want some clothes, go into forest, take some leaves and tree barks and put some clothes.” This was a deliberate insult.

Krishna did not like this and did not say anything more. He just slapped the man on the face. And the man’s head fell down. That was the end of washerman for the time being. Actually, we do not even know what happened to him from that point on. So, Lord Chaitanya describes this in course of Mahaprakash lila.

This is described in Chaitanya Bhagavata that Lord Chaitanya tells devotees that the washerman had performed austerities for millions of lifetimes to see God. But then he got to see God, there in Mathura, he saw Krishna. But then when he saw Krishna, because he had no bhakti he offended Krishna.

And then Lord Chaitanya did not say more about washerman.

Lesson for us – we should not commit offenses.

You do not know with whom you are associating ! 

One time Srila Prabhupada was giving class in Bhaktivedanta Manor (United Kingdom). I was there at that time and Srila Prabhupada was talking how you must be careful how you deal with people and devotees. And Srila Prabhupada said that you do not know who the person sitting next to me.

You may be sitting next to Narada Muni.

Better to be more respectful than less respectful. We do not know whether washerman got another chance and fell down completely. This is an important lesson for us to consider as aspiring devotees.

We have to be tolerant, patient and never ever try to say anything which is disrespectful to anyone.

Conclusion

Many people say that they will believe in God only when they will see God. The washerman saw Krishna, Kamsa saw Krishna, Duryodhana saw Krishna but still they did not understand who Krishna is. Simply by seeing God does not mean that we will know God.

To know God, it is important that our heart is purified of all the impurities. Once our heart becomes pure then automatically love for Krishna will manifest in it and then whether we see God or not see God we will always remain absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, the Supreme God.

In this age of Kaliyuga, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given the way by which we can connect to God and that is by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.