Tag: mahamantra

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught how to overcome our suffering?

Most of us do not know how not to suffer. So, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came and taught us how to overcome our suffering?

Who does not want freedom from suffering? Is it not true that none of us want to suffer in this world? Have you seen or met anyone who desperately want to become miserable? No sane man would even think of it. But we suffer. Whether we want it or not some unfortunate things happen in our life.

So, is there any way by which we can free ourselves from all suffering?

The answer is yes.

God does not want us to suffer. So, he gave us Vedic scriptures. This transcendental literature teaches us how to live happily in this world. But in spite of that we disregard the teachings of the scriptures. So, the Supreme Lord personally appears in this world to teach us how to lead a pure life so that we attain complete freedom from all suffering.

In this age of Kali Yuga the Supreme Lord appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and he taught us how to overcome all our suffering. Before discussing further, let us know who Lord Chaitanya is?

Knowing Lord Chaitanya

Lord Chaitanya is the Supreme Lord. He is Lord Krishna and He is Lord Jagannath. So, Vasudeva Gosh while extolling the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sings, “jei gaura sei kṛṣṇa sei jagannāth.” Lord Chaitanya appeared around 500 years ago in Mayapur.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura elaborately explains it, “Caitanya Mahāprabhu [Lord Chaitanya] was born in Māyāpur, in the town of Nadia, just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phālguna, 1407 Śakābda, answering to the 18th of February 1486, of the Christian Era.” Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Prologue by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was unhappy when he saw his unfortunate children, you and me, suffering in this world.

Why you & me suffer?

We the people of Kali Yuga are unfortunate. We are unfortunate because we have chosen to be unfortunate. Intentionally, we disregard the teachings of the Vedic scriptures given to us by the Lord. Instead, we like to live independently or rather whimsically. We explore all means to enjoy in this ephemeral material world with our temporary material body and constantly flickering senses. In our pursuit of enjoyment, we fail again and again. In fact, instead of enjoyment we mostly get suffering, but the saddest part is that sometimes we do not even realize that we are suffering.

Even the greatest material accomplishment cannot satiate our heart and is taken away from us at the time of our death. 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our creator, our father, was sorry to see the plight of his children. So, he came.

Most important reason for suffering

We have forgotten our true spiritual identity that we are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. We have forgotten that we are spiritual beings and not material beings. And because of this ignorance, we get entangled in this material world. We try our best to gratify our material body and material senses hoping that it will give us joy. We even indulge in sinful activities. Sinful activities mean those actions which are prohibited by the scriptures. Sin causes suffering.

Many times, we become so habituated to commit sinful activities that in spite of knowing that our action is bringing misery we continue committing it. It increases our suffering, we become helpless and slowly hopeless. Everything starts with ignorance, ignorance of not understanding our relationship with the Supreme Lord.

Attaining freedom from never ending suffering

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this age of downfall to deliver us, the unfortunate souls of Kaliyuga, from our never-ending suffering. He gave us the medicine of the holy names of Krishna, the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, which has the potency to give us freedom from all our suffering. He asked everyone to sincerely and attentively chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Chanting the Mahamantra not just frees us from suffering, but it also fills our heart with unlimited bliss.  

Glory of Hare Krishna Mahamantra

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu extols the glories of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra beautifully in his Siksastakam Prayers, “Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon.”

Just as sun appears darkness disappears. Similarly, as soon as the holy names of Krishna, appears in our heart by our sincere chanting, our ignorance disappears which is the root cause of our suffering. When our ignorance starts disappearing, we start understanding that we are souls eternally related to Lord Chaitanya. When this understanding dawns upon us, we start putting our best efforts to re-establish our relationship with the Lord.

With determination we try not to indulge in any sinful activities. Slowly because of the mercy of the holy name, our heart gets purified of all sinful desires and proclivities. And what about our past sins? It gets burnt to ashes. So, just by chanting the names of Krishna, our life becomes all auspicious. We attain love of Krishna and even become qualified to return back to the spiritual world, our original home. This is the greatest gift of Lord Chaitanya to us, to the entire human civilization. 

Srila Rupa Goswami, a great Vaisnava acharya, glorifies Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in these beautiful words, “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other avatāra, even Kṛṣṇa Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given — pure love of Kṛṣṇa.” Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila 14.16”

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s greatest gift

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gifted us the holy name and taught us that just by chanting these transcendental names of Krishna we can overcome all suffering and can attain Krishna.

So, if we should sincerely take up this process of mantra meditation. Anyone can chant this great mantra – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, men, women, young, old, Indians, non- Indians. For chanting no qualification is required, we just need to have sincere desire to chant in our heart. We can chant at anytime and at any place.

Although best is to chant early in the morning and at a place where there is no distraction. But if we are not able to chant in the morning then we can chant at any time of the day which is suitable for us. And even if we do not find any quiet place still we can chant at public place quietly without disturbing others.

Whenever and wherever we are chanting we should sincerely try to absorb ourselves in holy name. This will make our life auspicious and as promised by the Supreme Lord, will grant us freedom from all suffering.

In Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī writes,”In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”

Why don’t we Surrender to Krishna?

If you and I surrender to Krishna, then all our miseries will immediately end. This is confirmed by Krishna himself in Bhagavad Gita 18.66, “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”

In spite of Krishna’s assurance, we refuse to completely surrender to Krishna. Why is it so? Either we do not have complete faith in Krishna’s words, or we are so foolish that we fail to understand the message of Krishna.

Words of Krishna, the Supreme Lord, should be taken seriously.

Krishna is not an ordinary person like you and me. He is the Supreme Lord. He is the creator and maintainer of the entire world. Scriptures confirm this. Brahma Samhita 5.1 says, “Kṛṣṇa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.”

If Krishna is saying something, then it should be taken seriously. So, if Krishna is asking us to surrender then we should not just believe in his words but should also act on it.

But there is some force which does not allow us to surrender to Krishna. And that is our ignorance and impure consciousness.

Our consciousness is covered with material impurities

In this world we have lived for many lifetimes. And because of this our consciousness is covered by material impurities like lust, greed, pride, anger, envy and illusion.

Due to material contamination, we live in ignorance. In fact, we have forgotten our real identity. Our real identity is that we are spirit souls, parts and parcel of Krishna. But unfortunately, we fail to realize this fact. Instead, we identify ourselves with our material body, mind, and senses.

Since our consciousness is material, our senses crave for material pleasures. But these pleasures ultimately become the cause of suffering. “An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kuntī, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.” Bhagavad Gita 5.22

As long as we seek worldly pleasures, we will suffer. As long as we surrender to the demands of our body, mind and senses we will suffer.

But as soon as we understand that we are eternally related to Krishna and decide to surrender to Krishna, our miseries will slowly disappear.  

Our suffering began when we decided to leave our spiritual homes

Srila Prabhupada explains that we once belonged to the spiritual world where we enjoyed our life with Krishna. But sadly, we decided to come to this material world because we wanted to enjoy an independent life. Away from Krishna, we are undergoing many sufferings. We have forgotten our spiritual homes, our spiritual families and most importantly the love of Krishna.

Our condition is like a child who decides to abandon his father and mother and runs away from the house. The adamant child thinks that an independent life will give him great joy. He does not realize that he is voluntarily inviting unlimited miseries.

Away from his sweet home, he struggles for each morsel of food. For want of shelter he wanders here and there. Sometimes the biting cold makes him shiver. Sometimes the heat waves give him unbearable pain. Feeling pity on him, sometimes people offer him torn clothes, he accepts it and quickly wears it. Someone gives him some food; he immediately grabs and gorges on it. Someone offers him shelter and he feels so grateful. He thinks this is what life is all about. He slowly forgets the love and warmth he got at his home. Whatever he gets in the outside world, he mistakes it as real love.

Just like an orphan child we are struggling in this material world which is not our real home. We have forgotten the love and warmth of our spiritual homes.

Although a child may abandon his parents, but the mother and father always want him to return home. They are always ready to forgive and forget all the mistakes of their child.

Krishna wants us to return back to our spiritual homes

Similarly, Krishna, the Supreme Father, is also eager to get re-united with us. He wants us to come back to Him.

He makes many arrangements to facilitate our return to the spiritual world. Many times, he comes personally and tell us to come back to him. He also sends his devotees who tries to reawaken our dormant love for him so that we become eager to go back to our spiritual homes.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explains, “Vaisnavas or devotees are usually very compassionate upon conditioned souls. Without even being invited, a devotee will go from door to door to enlighten people and to bring them out of the darkness of nescience by injecting knowledge of the living entity’s constitutional position as a servant of Lord Krsna. Such devotees are empowered by the Lord to distribute devotional consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, to the people in general.”

The Lord and his devotees put in their best effort to rekindle our love for Krishna. But we have to also play our part. Lord cannot force us to love him. Devotees too cannot compel us to love Krishna. We have to voluntarily decide to love Krishna.

What happens when we surrender to Krishna?

We all will agree that we are suffering. Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is saying that he can free us from suffering. So, will it not be better for us to take shelter of Krishna. If we put aside our stubbornness and surrender to Krishna, then we will save ourselves from many unwanted calamities.

“Surrender to Krishna” means following the instructions of Krishna as given in the scriptures.

The best way to surrender to Krishna is by chanting the holy names of Krishna i.e. the Hare Krishna Mahamantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Chanting helps us to rekindle our love for Krishna.

Also, by associating with the devotees of Krishna and by hearing the pastimes of Krishna, we develop love for Krishna.

Chanting and hearing also cleanses our hearts of all material impurities which is the cause of our ignorance and which is keeping us away from Krishna.

Once our hearts start getting cleansed of material impurities, we start understanding that we are suffering because we have forgotten Krishna. And as we start moving closer to him our miseries start decreasing.

We start tasting the happiness which we have always been looking for. And once we get free from all material impurities, our miseries cease to exist.

When You and I surrender to Krishna, we become qualified to go back home ‘Back to Godhead’, our spiritual home. We get reunited with Krishna, with our spiritual families and enjoy an eternal blissful life. We attain complete perfection.

So, without wasting a moment, let us surrender to Krishna.

Can a Sudra become a Brahmana? Definitely Yes.

Vedic literatures clearly say that our birth does not decide our caste or varna, but our activities decide it. A Sudra can become a Brahmana and a Brahmana can become a Shudra. But unfortunately, some people born in a Brahmin family did not have Brahminical qualities misinterpreted the sacred Vedas. They propagated that birth decides our varna or caste.

Many great spiritual leaders have argued that caste or varna by birth is against the spirit of the Vedas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura one of the foremost scholars on Vedas and founder of Gaudiya Math strongly opposed this understanding.  And because of this he faced strong opposition from caste Brahmanas.  

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura faced opposition from caste Brahmanas

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and his scores of disciples found the doors of seven main temples closed when they arrived in Vrindavan. Even the shopkeepers had closed their shops and some people threw stones at the parikrama party. The local pandits and the orthodox brahmana were upset because Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had awarded brahmana thread and even sannyas to many who were not just non brahmanas but also belonged to so called lower castes. 

When the local pandits had come to meet Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati for a discussion regarding this then he had strongly argued and defeated them by emphasizing that caste by birth is not Vedic injunctions, but it is its distortion. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura gave reference of various scriptures and proved that one should be considered a brahmana not by birth but by qualities. 

He quoted verses from Srimad Bhagavatam wherein sage Narada tells Yudhisthira that even if one is born in the family of a sudra but acts like a brahmana he should be accepted as a brahmana and if one is born in the family of a brahmana but acts like a sudra then he should be considered a sudra. 

“If one shows the symptoms of being a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.35.

Vedas say that anyone can become a Brahmana

In India it is very common to see that sometimes a person born in a brahmana family declare that they are the only ones who have complete understanding of the Vedic knowledge. They claim to have direct access to the mercy of the Supreme Lord possessing the ability to deliver the mankind.  Many a times the gullible masses without verifying the character and qualities of such people surrender their life unto them and ruin their spiritual life. 

The holy Vedas, the holy sages and Krishna in Gita never said that birth determines a person’s caste or varna. Krishna in Gita clearly state that the four divisions of human society have been created according to the three different modes acquired by the living entities and the type of work they perform. Bhagavad Gita 4.13. This division is scientific, logical and makes lots of sense if implemented in letter and spirit.

Just think, can anyone be a born as an engineer or a judge or a pilot or a musician or a painter? A kid may show some characteristics and symptoms which can give an idea of his future profession. Some may show taste for music, some may like art, some may enjoy dance, some may be found of books and some may have liking for money. But everyone has to be trained to become successful in their fields.

One does not become a doctor just by taking birth in the family where parents are doctors. To become a doctor one has to first get admitted to an authorized medical college, there he has to study under the guidance of learned medical scholars, clear various exams and then only he is awarded the degree of a doctor.

Who is a Brahmana according to Vedas?

Mahabharat, Vana – parva, Chapter 180 tells about the conversation which Maharaj Yudhisthira had with Nahusha, the serpent, in the forest.  

Nahusha inquired, “O King please tell me who is a brahmana?”

Maharaj Yudhisthira said, “A person who possesses truthfulness, charity, forgiveness, sobriety, gentleness, austerity, and lack of hatred is called a brahmana.”

The serpent again said, “Sudras also possess truthfulness, charity, freedom from anger, nonviolence, nonenviousness, and lack of hatred.”

Yudhisthira then replied, “If such symptoms are found in a sudra he should never be called a sudra, just as a brahmana is not a brahmana if he does not possess these qualities.”

Chandogya Upanisad tells the story of Satyakama Jabala

Chandogya Upanisad tells the story of Satyakama who was accepted as a brahmana not because of his birth but because of characteristics. Satyakama had a desire to live as a brahmachari, a celibate monk.

He expressed his feeling to his mother, Jabala, and asked, “My dear mother please tell me which dynasty I belong to.”

Jabala replied, “My dear son, it is difficult for me to say which dynasty you belong to because in my youth I worked as a maidservant at various places and had relationships with many men.” 

Satyakama Jabala approached Haridrumata Gautam’s hermitage and said, “I wish to live in your ashrama as a brahmachari.”

The sage inquired, “Dear son, please tell me which dynasty you belong to.”

Satyakama Jabala without losing his composure replied, “When I inquired from my mother about my lineage then she said during her youth she worked as a maidservant at many places and had multiple relationships. So, I cannot with certainty tell who my father is.” 

Gautam Rishi smiled and said, “It does not matter who your father is, but it is for sure that you are a brahamana because you do not shy away from speaking truth which is the foremost quality of a brahmana. So, I accept you.”

Vedic literature refutes caste by birth theory

There are many references in Vedas which goes on to establish that caste or varna of a person is determined only by one’s quality and not by birth.

• “There are no real differences among varnas. When brahma first created the universe, it was inhabited only by brahmanas. Later on, as a result of their activities , people attained the designation of different varnas.” Mahabharata (Santi – parva, Moksa – dharma, Chapter 188)

• “O brahmana, if a person is born in the family of a sudra and possesses good qualities, he becomes a vaisya or a kshatriya. And if he possesses the quality of simplicity, he is a brahmana.”  Mahabharat , Vana Parva, Chapter 211.

• Mahabharata (Anusasana – parva 163.5,8,26,46,48,51,59) describes the conversation which Lord Shiva had with Parvati. Parvati inquired from Shiva, “How can the three castes – kshatriya, vaisyas, sudra – will attain through their own nature the platform of brahmanas.”  Lord Shiva explained, “If kshatriyas or vaisyas become situated in the behavior of brahmanas and spend their life in the occupations of brahmanas, then such persons can attain the position of brahmanas…..by the same process a sudra can become a brahmana and a vaisya can become a kshatriya.”  

• Varaha purana goes a step further and says that taking advantage of Kaliyuga many demons take birth in the family of brahmana – Rakṣasaḥ kalim asritya jayante brahma-yoniṣu (Varaha Puraṇa).

Krishna sees our heart not our caste

Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and sudra are all material designations which we should transcend.  The ultimate purpose of human life is to cleanse our hearts of all material contaminations. Chanting the holy names of Krishna is the ambrosia for all material miseries. Lord Chaitanya, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, confirms this. He asked all to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Subuddhi Raya was ostracized by orthodox Hindu community because a Muslim named Hussain Khan sprinkled water on him. The caste Brahmanas said, “You have lost your religion.” Subuddhi Raya was shattered.

He approached many brahmanas to know how he can again become a Hindu. One of the brahmanas suggested him to drink hot ghee. Although it will result in his death but according to the brahmana pure ghee will ensure him birth in a brahmana family in next life. But when Subuddhi Raya approached Lord Chaitanya then he gave him a simple process. “Take shelter of Krishna. Do not get misled by others. And do not worry about these superficial things.” The Lord just asked him to  chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra sincerely and serve the devotees selflessly in Vrindavan, this would give him the highest perfection.

Krishna does not care about our externals – like our caste, whether we are Hindus or non-Hindus, Indians or non-Indians, males or females, sannyasis or grihastas. He just looks into our heart to see if it longs for Him or not. He only looks for our love and nothing else.  

References: Brahmana and Vaisnava by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta

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