Gopal Bhatta Gosvami met with Caitanya Mahaprabhu in his childhood and became related to Vraja-dhama. When we serve our body we become related to our body, and when we serve our family, we become related to our family and think about them day and night. We give up all service of Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas. Putra and mutra are both the same—both lead us downwards. Now we follow other souls, but not the Supreme Soul. We try to act like well-wishers of others, but we are not qualified. We don’t let God be the well-wisher.
Mahaprabhu taught Gopal Bhatta Gosvami, during the four months of Caturmasya, how to serve in Vraja. He told him to serve his parents because they were Vaisnavas, but then Mahaprabhu said, “After they pass on, come to me.” When Gopal Bhatta Gosvami wanted to come to Mahaprabhu in Puri, Mahaprabhu sent him distance from Him to Vrndavan. He said, “I want to see how you remain related to me at a distance. If you serve Me at a distance while remembering Me I will be happy. I want to test if you will take other things and go away from Me. Go and stay with Rupa and Sanatana in Vrndavan. Then you will achieve realization in your life.”
Gopal Bhatta Gosvami stayed with Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavan and there he served Salagrama. Once, the Vraja-devis went to Paitha-grama. Krsna had hidden and they were searching for Him. Krsna took the form of catur-bhuja Narayana. The gopis offered Him pranama and asked, “Have You seen Krsna? Do You know where He is?” Krsna did not respond, and the gopis moved on. They were not attracted to Narayana. Then Srimati Radharani came to that place, and immediately Krsna could not restrain Himself and He appeared again as beautiful two-armed Syamasundara. During Candana-yatra, Gopal Bhatta Gosvami offered candana to his Damodar-sila salagrama. Then, on the night of Rasa-purnima, Radha-Raman appeared to directly accept Guna Manjari’s service, in His original form. In the morning, Gopal Bhatta Gosvami saw his Damodar-sila had become Radha-Raman.
Now, even most devotees have no time to spare from the service of their own bodies to do any service for Krsna. They have so much time however to serve their bodies, family members, and friends. Therefore Narada Rsi cursed Nala-kuvera and Mani-griva to become trees in Vraja, so that they could learn the value of the senses and the importance of using them to serve God. Not only serving—nama-rupa-guna-kirtana. When sadhus first receive harinama and diksa, they receive a name. Gurudeva checks to see if his disciples have love for the holy names or not. How much do we remember God’s names? If we practice chanting God’s holy names, then God’s form, rupa, and svarupa, will appear to us in due course. But if we chant material names, than those mundane forms will always be in our minds and hearts.
Gopal Bhatta Gosvami served Salagrama but was always thinking of Mahaprabhu. This is called asta-kaliya-lila and asta-yama-sadhana. It is done naturally, spontaneously, with sweetness, and not by force. It is not vaidhi-marga. But to advance to this stage, one must follow vaidhi-marga during arcana. After mangala-arati, the Deities are bathed, offered Candana, and many kinds of paraphernalia, and then offered bhoga. By practicing doing this service to God, gradually it will become natural.
iste svarasiki ragah paramavistata bhavet tan-mayi ya bhaved bhaktih satra ragatmikodita
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 22.150
[When one becomes attached to the Supreme Lord according to one’s natural inclination to love Him and is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord, that state is called transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called ragatmika, or spontaneous devotional service.] At that time you will desire to serve. If you don’t wake in the early morning and do your service to Krsna, you will feel great sadness. By doing this service, it will soon become natural, svarasiki. And a mood will come. Then Nama will show you His svarupa. Gurudeva gives you nama, and by chanting nama, He will show His svarupa. Who shows this? Therefore, it is said:priya-svarupe dayita-svarupe prema-svarupe sahajabhirupe nijanurupe prabhur eka-rupe tatana rupe sva-vilasa-rupe
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 19.121
Rupa Gosvami, Rupa Manjari, shows Krsna’s svarupa. What is the beautiful form of Krsna in Vraja-dhama? How is He your beloved? We are His, and He is ours. This is all shown by Rupa Gosvami. When chanting nama, then remember the family members of God. Remember Rupa Gosvami; then he will show you Krsna’s form. Mahaprabhu therefore instructed Gopal Bhatta Gosvami to go and stay under guidance of the Gosvamis, headed by Rupa Gosvami. Mahaprabhu told him, “I want you to learn from Rupa Manjari.” He stayed and served Salagrama and chanted harinama. Then Rupa showed him the priya-svarupa of Krsna. How can you make your heart into Vrndavan, so that Krsna will come in your heart with Srimati Radhika and the Vraja-devis? By chanting and praying, then Krsna’s svarupa appeared in the heart of Gopal Bhatta Gosvami. Dhruva did severe austerities while chanting the mantra given to him by Narada Rsi and then after six months the Lord appeared in his heart. Dhruva stopped the activities of all his senses and did not accept anything from this world, even air, and he had the mood, “Prabhu, I have renounced everything of this world to attain You. Please give me darsana.” Then the Lord appeared to him. And then Dhruva said, “Oh Lord, why are You hiding in my heart like a thief? Please come out! Come on. You are God. I am not afraid of You. I am alone here in my childhood, but I am not hiding.” The Lord then appeared before Dhruva and Dhruva became surprised and thought, “The Lord will be my dear friend,” but when he saw the Lord’s dazzling form, he became speechless. Lord Narayana then blessed Dhruva with His guna—qualities. First, Dhruva saw the rupa of Narayana, by chanting His names. Then, the Lord bestowed his guna on Dhruva and Dhruva could then speak the glories of the Lord very nicely. Narayana touched the head of Dhruva with His conch, and then His gunas went inside to Dhruva. So, now, who is svarupa? Gopal Bhatta Gosvami was chanting, and then the Lord appeared in His own rupa. Who? Who did Gopal Bhatta Gosvami have relation with? Gopal Bhatta Gosvami had the greatest love for Govindadeva, Madan-Mohana, and Gopinatha. Why? He had respect for Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, and Madhu Pandit, and so therefore worshiped internally their worshipful Deities, istadevas. These three Deities appeared in one form as Sri Radha-Raman. If we don’t have relationship with Vaisnavas, then we will have no love for God, and instead we will lose our lives because of attachment to the excrement in this world. We will make relationship with materialists and collect karma and kukarma. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami had a close relationship with Rupa Gosvami and the other Gosvamis, so he was always thinking about their istadevas. The Caitanya-caritamrta states:ei tina thakura gaudiyake kariyachena atmasat e tinera carana vandon, tine mora natha
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 1.19
[These three Deities of Vrndavana (Madana-mohana, Govinda, and Gopinatha) have absorbed the heart and soul of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. I worship Their lotus feet, for They are the Lords of my heart.] These three Deities preside over sambandha-tattva, abhidheya-tattva, and prayojana-tattva. Those who have love and relation with these Deities are called Gaudiyas; otherwise they are not Gaudiyas. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami always served these Deities internally, through manasi-seva. While serving, one should be deeply absorbed, and not looking here or there or even thinking of anything other than the Lord’s service. Remember how Raghunatha dasa Gosvami served Giriraja Govardhana and how the other Gosvamis served their Thakurajis and try to follow their example. On the full moon night during Kesava-vrata, Candana-yatra, the Rasa dance was beginning. Salagrama desired to taste the rasa of the service of Gopal Bhatta Gosvami, Guna Manjari. He could not tolerate remaining in His form as Salagrama. Rasa-asvadana-hetu—to taste the rasa of Gopal Bhatta Gosvami’s service more completely, Salagram appeared as Radha-Raman.radha-bhava-madhuri-asvadana-sukha-kaja jaya sri krsna caitanya prakate vraja-raja
An Oriya Baba who stayed in Vrndavan and wrote a book about the pastimes of Mahaprabhu, in Vraja-bhasa, called Caitanya-lila-madhuri, wrote this verse. So, Govinda, Gopinatha, and Madana-Mohan came in a combined form to taste the service performed by Gopal Bhatta Gosvami. He thought, “He has love for Me; how can I hide?” One other thing happened. At that time, the Nimbarki-Vaisnavas and tattvavadis and those in other sampradayas spread propaganda that Vrndavan is not the real Vrndavan, that Kamyavan is the real Vrndavan. They said, “This is not Vrndavan; it is Fakirabad. Here, the Bengali-babas opened some places and called it Vrndavan, but it is not bona fide.” A big conflict ensued over this issue. At that time, Gopal Bhatta Gosvami was present. Other Gosvamis had disappearance. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami said, “This is where Krsna performed Rasa-lila. He always tastes the rasa of His beloveds here in Vrndavan. Here, Seva-kunja, Srngara-vata, Dhira-samira, Nidhuvana, Nidhivana—all these places are present. This is the real Vrndavan!” During the full moon night, the time of Rasa-lila, Krsna appeared as Radha-Raman, in Vrndavan, to give evidence that it was truly Vrndavan. Prahlada Maharaja told Hiranyakasipu, “Krsna is everywhere!” Hiranyakasipu responded, “He is nowhere!” Hiranyakasipu looked with his material senses and could therefore not see the Lord. Similarly, other sampradayas fought trying to say that Vrndavan was not real Vrndavan. They could not see Krsna performing His pastimes there. They could not see Seva-kunja, Nidhuvana, Nidhivana, Srngara-vata, and so forth. But Gopal Bhatta Gosvami said, “Krsna is doing Rasa-lila here.” Then on the morning after Rasa-lila, Krsna appeared as Radha-Raman, to show how He is tri-bhanga-lalita, always engaged in dallying with Srimati Radhika and the sakhis. The people in other sampradayas did not know that Rupa Gosvami is Rupa Manjari, Sanatana Gosvami is Lavanga Manjari, Jiva Gosvami is Bhanumati, Das Gosvami is Rati Manjari, and Gopal Bhatta Gosvami is Guna Manjari. But Krsna is always playing with Srimati Radhika and the sakhis and manjaris. Krsna therefore showed His svarupa. “Look at Me! I am present here! This is Vrndavan!” Radha-Raman appeared to please Srimati Radharani and the sakhis and manjaris and to accept their loving service. If we have no relationship with that Radha-Raman, how useless our life is! We make relation with dogs and kittens, birds and mice, ladies and gentlemen—how big rascals we are! We put God on one side and enjoy with baddha-jivas. But Gopal Bhatta Gosvami had received training from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Gosvamis, therefore he never swayed from God’s service. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami would apply candana to his Damodara-sila, then He appeared to accept the service of His devotee.Because of this, people come running to hear from the Guru-varga and drink this nectar. They do not give rasagulla, burfi, balashai. Srila Gurudeva would say, “How long will you cheat people with nice foodstuffs—speak hari-katha. Together prasada and hari-katha are helpful.” “I don’t know hari-katha.” “Speak. Sit and speak.” “Baba! Why are you telling this to me, there are so many big panditas and acaryas who can speak so nicely.” “No! You must speak.” “I tell many stories and cheat people.” “I don’t care. Speak hari-katha. Practice yourself. Then everything will appear in your heart.” If I ever stopped speaking hari-katha in Mathura, then Gurudeva would send instruction for me to continue my classes, from where he was traveling, preaching in the West. Sometimes I would stop speaking, and Mathuravasis complained to Gurudeva, and he would then command me to continuously speak hari-katha. He said, “When you speak hari-katha, you make relation with Hari. The impurities come out of your heart, and it makes room for Hari in your heart. The gunas of Hari enter your heart and will be helpful for everyone. And then all other desires will be washed away.” People who say that Radha-Raman appeared from Salagram, because Gopal Bhatta Gosvami was sad that he could not worship and dress the Lord in His full form are incorrect. It is not true that Salagram appeared as Radha-Raman so that He could don cloth. The Lord possesses limitless cloth. He manifested so much cloth when Draupadi called for His help. So don’t think He appeared as Radha-Raman because He needed something to wear or limbs to wear it with. To preach this is an insult to Radha-Raman and the Gosvamis. In Nikunjavan, while Rasa-lila is going on, the Vraja-devis decorate Krsna with flowers and dress Him. At every moment the gopis are serving Krsna. All of Krsna’s limbs are transcendental. So don’t disrespect the Guru-varga and Gosvamis with this mentality. Always follow the proper siddhanta, the tattva-vicara, then everything will appear in your heart. Lila-rasa-sikharini will shower in your heart, and you will also become engaged in the seva of dressing and decorating Krsna with peacock feather, turban, and other paraphernalia. During Candana-yatra, Krsna hides in a secret form as a forest-god and the gopis come and smear sandal all over His body. Sometimes they pinch Him and He says, “Ooh! Aah!” He becomes very happy being touched by the gopis and experiencing their love and affection. In this world, people give up their life for the sense of touch. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, we hear how the elephant loses his freedom because of desire to touch the she-elephant. Fish lose their life because of attachment to the sense of taste. And moths give up their lives because of visual attraction to the glow of fire. However, the majority of humans cannot control any of their senses and thus waste their lives. This is the negative reality. Contrarily, Krsna, the Supreme Personality, is served by His transcendental beloveds, the gopis. The gopis’ offer their hearts in the form of candana. How can Krsna then hide? How can He keep His limbs retracted as Salagram? He then appeared as Radha-Raman. In the Radha-Raman temple, Srila Gurudeva gave class. The Radha-Raman Gosais often invited him. They had so much respect for Srila Gurudeva. Padmanabha Gosai, Purusottama Gosai, and his two sons, Srivatsa and Srilancana, all greatly respected Gurudeva. We would go to Radha-Raman with Srila Gurudeva and there he explained the glories of Radha-Raman. Hearing this, these Gosais would be astonished. They would then dance in joy with Gurudeva. It was like Radha-Raman appeared from Gurudeva’s heart through the medium of hari-katha. Then love and respect for Radha-Raman appeared in everyone’s hearts. So many Westerners would hear from Gurudeva about Radha-Raman and go there with him. They would then offer their hearts to Radha-Raman. How many people really have love for Radha-Raman and desire to always serve Him? Without hari-rasa how can you serve Radha-Raman? It is not possible by money or your own strength, without love. Love comes via hari-rasa, which comes via hari-katha. Who can give hari-rasa? Guru-pada-padma and maha-bhagavat Vaisnavas. They bathe everyone with this love and then everyone dances in bliss. If that Guru-pada-padma kindly gives us hari-rasa, then we can engage our love in the service of Radha-Raman. This love manifests as candana. This love is candana. Unless the heart melts, how can candana come? So Radha-Raman appeared because of the love of His devotee, and accepted his service. Yesterday the question came why Srinivas Acarya strongly condemned marriage to Ramacandra Kaviraja, who was passing in a marriage procession. He said, “A wife is a black snake that you wear around your neck and who sucks all your life away.” Srinivas Acarya himself was married. Then what is the difficulty? Wife is a knife that cuts your life. Why did he speak like this? Why did Srinivas Acarya only forbid Ramacandra Kaviraja? If anyone is one’s own dear person, one’s very own person, than how can one tolerate that person going to another? Acarya Srinivas told Ramacandra Kaviraja because he is his near and dear manjari confidante. He appeared in this world, so why is he going to waste his life in family affairs?When Gurudeva gives nama, if you chant and serve with steadfastness, then if you are doing so properly, without aparadha, God will show you His svarupa. He will then bestow His gunas. You will then be able to distribute hari-katha, the sweet nectar of Krsna’s glories and it will cool the hearts of anyone you meet.
asat-sanga-tyaga, ei vaisnava-acara 'stri-sangi' eka asadhu, ‘krsnabhakta' ara
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 22.88–90
[A Vaisnava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaisnavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Krsna.]sangam na kuryat pramadasu jatu yogasya param param aruruksuh mat-sevaya pratilabdhatma-labho vadanti ya niraya-dvaram asya
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31.39
[One who aspires to reach the culmination of yoga and has realized his self by rendering service unto Me should never associate with an attractive woman, for such a woman is declared in the scripture to be the gateway to hell for the advancing devotee.] “Why are you dividing your mind from the service of God? Sangam tyaktva dhananjaya! Don’t look; don’t meet; don’t touch. Why? Vijatiya. I have love. I know this. Then I tell this. But if I don’t know this, if I have no knowledge, then I will say, “Go and do karma. Go and get a job. Get married and raise a family.” I will not say, “This is wrong, come for God’s service.” Why? Because I have no love for God. Acarya Srinivas knew the spiritual form of Ramacandra Kaviraja, so he said, “This is not good for you. They are vijatiya asat-sanga. You will have no time for hari-katha or hari-kirtana. All day and night the black snake of your wife will bite you. All your time will be spent in endeavoring to develop your family.” Before you were satisfied with two legs, but now you need wheels, a chariot, a car. And first you have two arms, and then you become four-armed when married, and six-armed with your first child, and eight-armed Durga when with two children. Then you become completely bound on all four sides by your house—you are a husband, or house-bound. On the other side, by the effect of sat-sanga, you will be in Radha-kunda. If you go to the side of maya, then you will become completely stuck in the mire of material life. There is a Bengali saying:yakhon chilo dui pao, yata iccha tatah jao yakhon hole char pao, bhag ka pat diya jao yakhon hole choy pao, “papa, tumi kothay jao?”
[When you had two feet, you could move as you wished freely; then when you had four feet (a wife), you were divided and shared and lost your freedom. When you got six feet (a wife and child) then if you ever try to go anywhere, your child cries out, ‘Papa! Where are you going? Stay at home!’ ] One’s child says, “Daddy, now you are dead! Mummy, now you are inside the pyramid! I killed you and now will bury you.” Acarya Srinivas knew this situation, so why would he allow Ramacandra Kaviraja to go to hell? Why would he allow him to be arrested and constantly fed poison from the black snake of asat-sanga! Instead, he shouted at him, “Come to sat-sanga! Nonsense! Come back! Turn around!” Because of his guru-sakti and bhakti, Srinivas Acarya with a few strong words awakened the vairagya in the heart of Ramacandra Kaviraja and he left his bride during the marriage procession and took complete shelter of Srinivas Acarya. However, being devotees, even after hearing from Guru and Vaisnavas about these topics time and again, still we go and jump into the fire of materialistic family life. We understand we are the soul, not the body, and that physical enjoyment with the senses is demeaning and gross, still, we cannot resist the temptation of sense gratification and we fall into the dark, dry well of family life, becoming grha-medhis. Grha-medhi andha-kupam. But Ramacandra Kaviraja changed in one second by the influence of Srinivas Acarya’s words. Why? They were both transcendental associates of Krsna and came to this world to serve Him. So this pastime is there to instruct us. “You have come to serve Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas, why are you spending your time idly?” Srinivas Acarya said. During the time of Srila Gurudeva and my Guru Maharaja, many people would come and complain to them, “Give me back my son. Give me back my brother. Give me back my husband.” Our Guru-varga would say, “They are here of their own accord. I am not holding them here by force. And why would I advise them to enter the stronghold of maya? Why would I push them into the toilet of material life? I will not tell them this! They have taken shelter of God, so I will never assist them leaving. Do as you wish, but I will send him away. You want to tie and bind him and then you will invite many people with knives and they will come together and cut him into pieces. But you won’t kill him all at once. You will cut some of his flesh off and eat him, and he will be suffering so much. Then you will wait for him to heal before taking off another piece of his flesh and eating it. He will suffer so much and be covered in pus and sores. As long as he has even a piece of bone left, you will not give him any peace! This is human life in family affairs. In the family, one is tied to grha-medhi. Prahlada Maharaja therefore told Hiranyakasipu, “You are grha-medhi anda-kupam. You are bound to the pillar of family life.” One meaning of medhi is a pillar. What pillar are you bound to? Your husband or wife. Then so many relatives will come like spiders to eat your heart and brain. Spiders give birth to a hundred eggs and when these hatch, they are very hungry. First they eat the casing of their eggs, and then they catch on to their mother and eat out her heart. Similarly, in family life, your spouse and children and your brothers, sisters, in-laws, cousins, parents, and so forth bind you. Then what will you have remaining? How will you serve God? Will you have any time? Impossible! You will always be poked and injected with poison. Then how can you perform bhajana? Therefore, Acarya Srinivas said, “Ramacandra! You are a garlanded goat being led to the slaughterhouse! Wake up to your dire position!” Now, when the devotees go to the Ganga, they can see Bengalis leading large, healthy goats to the Ganga, where they bathe them, offer them garlands and flowers, and then, accompanied by music and dancing, cut their necks. They make a pool with the blood of all the dead goats and bathe there. Then they make a festival and eat the flesh of the goats. Before, the goat was also dancing along with everyone, thinking, “Today everyone is worshiping me!” A little later, the Bengalis cut the goat into many pieces, cook it with many chilies and so much oil, and then eat and pass the goat out as stool. This is the condition of grha-medhis. Srinivas Acarya therefore shouted to Ramacandra Kaviraja, “A hunter is preparing to kill you! Beware! They will cut you into pieces and share you amongst themselves.” Understanding this guru-vani to be pure truth, Ramacandra Kaviraja came and took shelter of Srinivas Acarya. But Srinivas Acarya did not keep him with himself. He sent Ramacandra Kaviraja to Narottama Das Thakura, to Vilasa Manjari. And from him, he learnt all transcendental truths and methods of service. This is sat-sanga. Srinivas Acarya did not send him to the wife who is a knife to cut your life, he sent him to sadhu-sanga. This is the lifestyle and teachings of sadhus. The glory of sadhu-sanga was later shown to everyone when Srinivas Acarya was in antar-dasa, internal consciousness, and his followers thought that he had entered Samadhi, leaving his physical body behind. They then called Ramacandra Kaviraja to come see his Guru Maharaja. Ramacandra Kaviraja understood where his Guru Maharaja was present and himself sat down and entered antar-dasa Samadhi, and went to Radha-kunda, where Srinivas Acarya was present in his manjari form, searching for the ring of Srimati Radharani that She had lost. This is the result of sadhu-sanga. Therefore, daily practice harinama. Seriously chant. Then in time rupa will manifest to you. Then you will always chant, while remembering Krsna’s rupa, guna, and lila.People come to sadhu-sanga and chant harinama and hear hari-katha, but afterwards, they fight together like barking dogs. What is the matter? You have come for bhakti and bhajana, why are you wasting time? If you understand rupa and svarupa, then you will never act like this. Pray to Srila Gurudeva, who desires to engage us eternally in Radha-Krsna’s intimate service. Why do you have time to waste arguing and fighting? Srila Gurudeva did not teach us this nonsense. Don’t worry what others are saying. Just do your bhajan. Don’t be disturbed. Always chant. Lock your door and chant. And when you come outside, engage in hari-kirtana and hearing hari-katha. When problems come, start hari-kirtana and more hari-katha. Then everything will go away. First pray to Srila Gurudeva and then he will kindly be present. Srila Gurudeva is eternal. Have faith in this. According to one’s karma the souls in this world move here and there, but Srila Gurudeva does not do this. He is always present in his transcendental form and knows everything. Request and pray to him and serve him. If you don’t understand Gurudeva’s inspiration or instructions, then ask me or other Vaisnavas. If you don’t understand, then again pray to Srila Gurudeva. Then everything will be well. Candana-yatra is very special. Rasa-yatra and Candana-yatra are very special. The manjaris and gopis smear Krsna’s body with candana, with their heartfelt love. This love is candana. Hari-katha spoken by Sripada Premananda Prabhu; rendition by Rasik Mohan Das This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.Pray to Srila Gurudeva. If you don’t understand Gurudeva’s manjari svarupa and how he serves Radha-Krsna, then your discipleship has not yet borne fruit. Don’t read bogus books or hear bogus philosophy. Pray to Srila Gurudeva. Then by his mercy, realization will come to you. Then you will understand the significance of candana-yatra and all Vaisnava festivals. Srila Gurudeva has kindly given us shelter at his lotus feet; therefore we do not have relation with any other. We do not want to make relation with anyone. We do not want to share our heart.