SRI NITYANANDA BALARAMA AS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

This offering contains some of my previously quoted passages of

Shastra, but i have included some additional important texts, and

have made some comments, as my offering to Lord Nityananda Balarama

for His appearance day today.

 

THE GLORIES OF SRI NITYANANDA BALARAMA AS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE

SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD

 

HARE KRISHNA ! SRI SRI GURU AND GAURANGA KI JAYA !

 

NITYANANADA TRAYODASI OFFERING...THE GAUDIYA VAISHNAVA THEOLOGY OF

SRI NITAI-BALARAMA AS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD, THE ORIGIN OF

INCARNATION, THE ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL MASTER, THE SAVIOR OF ALL

WORLDS ...AND THE SECOND PERSON OF THE CATHOLIC GODHEAD

 

1)THE THEOLOGICAL REVELATION OF LORD BALARAMA-SANKARSHANA, THE SECOND

PERSON OF THE GODHEAD

 

"Let me offer my obeisances to Lord Nityananda. the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, whose opulence is wonderful and unlimited. By

His will, even a fool can understand His identity.Sri Caitanya-

caritamrta", Adi-Lila Chapter 5, Text 1

 

The following quotations are from "SRI CAITANYA-CARITAMRTA" by

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, translated into English, with elaborate

purports given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Prabhupada. Page numbers, when given, are from the Bhaktivedanta

Books One Volume Edition. The same chapters and text numbers can be

found in the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) Multi Volume Edition of

the "SRI CAITANYA-CARITAMRTA".

 

My comments are in UPPER CASE and brackets .

 

Introduction to Adi-Lila Chapter 5, The Glories of Lord Nityananda

Balarama

 

before Text One

 

"The Personality of Godhead known as Sri Balarama in Krsnaloka is the

original Sankarsana (attracting Deity), and from this Sankarsana

expands another Sankarsana , called Maha-Sankarsana, who resides in

one of the Vaikuntha planets. By His internal potency, Maha

Sankarsana maintains the transcendental existence of all the planets

in the spiritual sky, where all the living beings are eternally

liberated souls. "

 

THE HOLY NAME OF SANKARSHANA IS A COMPOUND OF SAM ( SMA IN EGYPTIAN,

SYN OR SYM IN GREEK AND COM IN LATIN) AND KARSHANA. KARSHANA IS A

VARIANT FORM OF THE NAME KRISHNA, WHICH IS WHY SRILA PRABHUPADA CALLS

HIM THE ORIGINAL "attracting Deity". KRISHNA / KARSHANA IS THE

CHARISMA OR ALL-ATTRACTING LOVEABLE AND LOVING GOD OF ALL SPIRITUAL

AND MATERIAL WORLDS. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT

KRISHNA AND BALARAMA ARE TWO PERSONS OF THE SAME GODHEAD. SRI

BALADEVA IS SAM-KARSHANA. HE IS THE 'ALSO KRISHNA'. HE IS 'AND'

KRISHNA, 'WITH' KRISHNA AND IS KRISHNA TOO. SRI KRISHNA AND SAM-

KARSHANA ARE BOTH THE SAME GOD. THEY ARE NOT TWO GODS, BUT ARE TWO CO-

ETERNAL PERSONS OF THE SAME GODHEAD, EQUAL IN DIVINITY AND BEAUTY,

OPULENCE, OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNIPOTENCE IN EVERY WAY.

THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME EKA / ECHAD GOD, BUT ONE IS THE LORD WHO IS

SERVED AND THE OTHER IS THE SERVITOR LORD. ONE (SRI KRISHNA) IS THE

ORIGIN AND THE OTHER (SANKARSANA) IS HIS SECOND PERSON.

 

"On those planets, the second quadruple manifestation is present."

 

THE CHATUR-VYUHA HAS PARALLELS IN PURE LAND BUDDHISM, EGYPTIAN,

JEWISH AND GREEK EMATIONAL MYSTICISM.

 

"In the Causal Ocean is Maha-Visnu, the original purusa expansion

from Sankarsana. This Maha-Visnu places His glance over the material

energy, and by a reflection of His transcendental body He amalgamates

Himself within the material elements. "

 

THIS GLANCE IN SOME TRADITIONS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SADA SHIVA AS

SHAMBHU AND THE FATHER OF THE ENTIRE COSMIC MANIFESTATION. HE IS

ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPIRITUAL IMPREGNATION OF SOULS INTO MATTER, AND

IS THE LORD AND LOVER OF DURGA, THE MATERIAL NATURE AND MOTHER OF ALL

UNIVERSES.

 

"Maha-Visnu again enters the universe as the reservoir of all living

entities, Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Garbhodaksayi Visnu expands

Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the Supersoul of every living entity."

 

THESE ARE "VISNOS TU TRINI RUPANI" THE THREE FORMS OF VISHNU. ONE WHO

REALIZES THESE THREE FORMS OF VISHNU ACHEIVES MOKSHA, LIBERATION.

 

THESE THREE FORMS OF VISHNU ARE NOT ANALOGOUS TO THE PROTO CATHOLIC

TRINITY, IN WHICH BOTH MAHA VISHNU AND GARBHODAKASAYI VISHNU ARE

INCLUDED (AS IN PURE LAND BUDDHISM'S TRI KAYA) WITH THE INTERMEDIATE

FORMS OF THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD. THE ACTUAL VAISHNAVA-

CATHOLIC TRINITARIAN PARALLEL IS 1. IN THE PROTO CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

THE FIRST PERSON IS BHAGAVAN SRI KRISHNA, HARI (HEBREW ELI, EGYPTIAN

HERU). 2. THE SECOND PERSON IS BALU-YAHU (BALADEVA OR VASUDEVA) WHO

INCLUDES THE 'MAHA VISHNU' FORM OF THE LORD. HE RESTS ON THE

PRIMORDIAL MAYIM OR WATERS OF CHAOS , OR THE CAUSAL OCEAN (SPIRIT OF

GOD ON THE HEBREW 'MAYIM' WATERS OF GENESIS). IN EGYPT AND AT DELPHI,

HELIOS PHANES (BRAHMA) WAS WORSHIPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE 'AXIS

MUNDI' OMPHALOS OR NAVEL OF THE UNIVERSE. THIS CLEARLY IDENTIFIES A

CONNECTION BETWEEN DELPHIC HELIOS AND GARBHODAKASAYI VISHNU. IN

ADDITION, THE GREEK WORD DELPHA AND SANSKRIT WORD GARBHA ARE COGNATE.

THUS BOTH THE MAHA AND GARBHA FORMS OF VISHNU WERE INCLUDED IN THE

WESTERN AND BUDDHIST INTERMEDIATE OR MEDIATING SECOND PERSONS OF THE

TRINITY (FROM BALADEVA). 3. THE THIRD ALL-PERVASIVE FORM OF THE LORD

IN THE PROTO CATHOLIC TRADITION IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OR PARAMATMA. THUS

ELI-YAHU WAS WORSHIPED AS ATMAN / ATUM IN NORTH EGYPT, ATEN IN SOUTH

EGYPT AND AS ADON-YAHU AMOUNG THE SEMITIES. IN GREECE, HIS ALL-

PERVASIVE FORM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOCTRINES OF ATOMOS (THE

INDIVIDUAL , NOT AN INDIVISABLE IMPERSONAL THING), ONTOS (BEING) AND

AUTOS, THE SELF.

 

"Garbhodakasayi Visnu also has His own Vaikuntha planet in every

universe, where He lives as the Supersoul or supreme controller of

the universe."

 

AS THE PARAMATMA OR HOLY SPIRIT RESIDES IN THE HEART OF ALL FORMS /

CREATURES, GARBHODAKASAYI VISHNU IS THE LORD RESIDING WITHIN THE

HEART OF EVERY UNIVERSAL BODY / COSMIC MANIFESTATION.

 

"Garbhodakasayi Visnu reclines in the midst of the watery portion of

the universe and generates the first living creature of the universe,

Brahma."

 

IN PROTO CATHOLIC HELIOPOLITAN MONOTHEISM THIS IS THE HELIOS PHANES

OR THEOPHANY FORM OF HELIOS KOUROS (HORUS), OR OF HIS ALTER-FORM,

BALU-YAHU, DIONYSOS OR ASAR (OSIRIS). HE APPEARS WITH FOUR ARMS AND

HEADS, SEATED ON THE COSMIC LOTUS ARISING FROM NHRYN (NARAYANA OR

NILUS) AT THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE. IN MEMPHITE HELIOPOLITAN

THEOLOGY HE SPEAKS CREATION INTO EXISTANCE.

 

"The imaginary universal form is a partial manifestation of

Garbhodakasayi Visnu."

 

SRILA PRABHUPADA PREFERED TO STRESS THE IDEA THAT THE VISHVARUPA OR

VISHVARATA UNIVERSAL FORM OF PURUSHA WAS 'IMAGINARY'. THIS EMPHASIS

IN OUR LINEAGE IS RELATED TO TWO THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES. THE FIRST

IS THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THE LORD AS PURUSHA AVATARA ASSUMES

A 'MATERIAL' BODY IN 'BECOMING' THE COSMIC MANIFESTATION. THIS

PROBLEM IS AT THE CRUX (LITERALLY) OF MANY CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THE

MAYAVADI IMPERSONALISTS AND THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS OF VAISHNAVA AND

SHAIVITE THOUGHT. IN THE WEST THIS SAME ISSUE IS AT THE CORE OF THE

GNOSTIC REJECTION OF THE DOCTRINE OF REAL INCARNATION, THE WORSHIP OF

GOD THROUGH ICONS, AND IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT / EUCHARIST. MAYAVADI

HINDU, MUSLIM, GNOSTIC AND PROTESTANT ICONOCLASM AND REJECTION OF THE

DOCTRINES OF SRI MURTI AND GOD'S 'REAL PRESENCE' IN THE EUCHARIST /

PRASADAM ARE RELATED TO THIS CENTRAL QUESTION OF THE PURUSHA AVATARA.

IF THE UNIVERSE IS UNREAL / ILLUSORY OR EVIL, THEN HOW CAN THE

PURUSHA HAVE A UNIVERSAL FORM ? THE SECOND CONTROVERSY IS ABOUT HOW

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VISHVARUPA OR PURUSHA RESULTS IN THE VEDIC

SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM. BECAUSE THE RAJARSHIC AND TAMASIC INTERPRETATIONS

OF PURUSHA AVATARA RESULTED IN ANIMAL AND HUMAN SACRIFICE, THE

SATTVIC LINEAGES OF VAISHNAVISM PREFERED TO STRESS THE ESOTERIC

SPIRITUAL, SUBTLE, OR 'IMAGINARY' FORM OF THE COSMIC PURUSHA RATHER

THAN THE ACTUAL 'INCARNATION' UNDERSTANDING OF HIS MACRO-COSMIC BODY.

THUS THE MACRO-COSMIC MAN / PURUSHA FORM OF GOD WAS OFFERABLE IN

SACRIFICE (SEE PURUSHA SUKTA IN THE RIG VEDA) IN PLANT FORM RATHER

THAN IN BLOODY ANIMAL OR HUMAN SACRIFICES. SO, TO AVOID MAYAVADI AND

OTHER HERESIES, AND BECAUSE OF THE SATTVIC ASCETIC AHIMSA FORMS OF

SACRIFICE IN OUR LINEAGE, THE UNIVERSAL FORM OF THE LORD AS AN ACTUAL

INCARNATION IS DE-EMPHASIZED.

 

"In the Svetadvipas within every universe is a Sesa form of Godhead

who serves Visnu by assuming the form of His umbrella, slippers,

couch, pillows, garments, residence, sacred thread, throne and so

on."

 

LORD BALADEVA AS KRISHNA'S EFFLUGENCE, NAME, FORMS FOR PASTIMES AND

PARAPHENALIA IS A VERY IMPORTANT DOCTRINE. HIS ASANAS, VAHANAS,

ASTRAS, CROWNS AND OTHER 'SYMBOLIC' ATTRIBUTES CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN

JUDAISM, EGYPTIAN AND GREEK HELIOPOLITAN PROTO CATHOLIC MONOTHEISM.

MANY OF THESE HAVE CONTINUED INTO CATHOLICISM. I HAVE STUDIED THESE

IN DEPTH, FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND GAVE AN INTRODUCTORY SERIES OF

LECTURES ON THIS SUBJECT IN 2000.

 

TEXT 4

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the fountainhead of

all incarnations. Lord Baladeva is His second body"

 

Purport

 

"Lord Sri Krsna, the absolute Personality of Godhead, is the primeval

Lord, the original form of Godhead, and His first expansion is Sri

Balarama."

 

THIS IS THE CATHOLIC CREED DOCTRINE OF THE MONO GENOUS (ONLY, SOLE,

ALONE GENERATED 'ONLY BEGOTTEN') AND HOMO OUSIOS (SAME ONE-IN-BEING)

SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD.

 

TEXT 5

 

"They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form.

He is the first bodily expansion of Krsna, and He assists in Lord

Krsna's transcendental pastimes."

 

IN EGYPT THE DIFFERENT 'BODIES' OR FORMS OF THE LORD HERI (HERU) OR

ASAR (OSIRIS, HEBREW YAHU) WERE CALLED KAS. IN PURE LAND BUDDHISM

THESE ARE CALLED KAYAS. THE P. L. BUDDHIST TRINITY IS CALLED THE TRI

KAYA, OR THREE BODIES OF THE BUDDHA. THIS IS THE NORTHERN BUDDHIST

USE OF THE SANSKRIT TERM KAYA.

 

Purport

 

"Balarama is a svamsa expansion of the Lord, and therefore there is

no difference in potency between Krsna and Balarama."

 

IN THE CATHOLIC CREED THE SECOND PERSON (PURUSHA) IS GOD FROM GOD,

ONLY BEGOTTEN, ONE IN BEING WITH THE FIRST, AND THROUGH HIM ALL

THINGS BOTH SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL ARE MADE.

 

TEXT 10 Purport

 

"Sri Balarama is the servitor Godhead who serves Lord Krsna in all

affairs of existence and knowledge."

 

CHRIST IS THE SERVITOR LORD. THE FIRST PERSON / FATHER IS GOD WHO IS

WORSHIPED BY THE SECOND AND THIRD PERSONS.

 

TEXT 18 Purport [ Regarding the original and highest Paradise of

Gokula, the Catholic BUCOLIC Paradise, BOKOLION OF HELIOS and GOKURA

of HARIH AMITHA BUDDHA THE ADI PURUSHA in Pure Land Buddhism are

related to the Vaishnava revelations of the transcendental and

Earthly GOKULA and GOLOKA.]

 

(Page I48)

 

"That transcendental abode exists by the energy of Sri Baladeva, who

is the original whole of Sesa, or Ananta. The tantras also confirm

this description by stating that the abode of Sri Anantadeva, the

plenary portion of Baladeva, is called the kingdom of God."

 

TEXT 41 PURPORT [For more important discussion of Lord Balarama as

jiva, see especially numbered points 1 and 2 page 170 regarding

refutation of Adi Sankaracarya's teaching that Sri Baladeva as jiva

is the ordinary living entity.]

 

(Page 165)

 

"Sankarsana, the second expansion, is Vasudeva's personal expansion

for pastimes, and since He is the reservoir of all living entities,

He is sometimes called jiva."

 

 

THE THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY REGARDING SRI BALADEVA AS JIVA TATTVA IS

NOT ONLY BETWEEN THE SHANKARITES, SHAIVITES AND VAISHNAVAS, BUT IS

ALSO FOUND BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS OR LINEAGES OF VAISHNAVISM AS

WELL.

 

TEXT 41 PURPORT

(Pages 174-5)

 

" In the spiritual sky there is a spiritual creative energy

technically called suddha-sattva, which is a pure spiritual energy

that sustains all the Vaikuntha planets with the full opulences of

knowledge, wealth, prowess etc. All these actions of suddha-sattva

display the potencies of Maha-Sankarshana, who is the ultimate

reservoir of all individual living entities who are suffering in the

material world. When the cosmic creation is annihilated, the living

entities, who are indestructible by nature, rest in the body of Maha

Sankarsana. Sankarsana is sometimes therefore called the total jiva."

 

TEXT 42

(below on Page 175)

 

" There the personal feature of Balarama called Maha-Sankarshana is

the shelter of the spiritual energy. He is the primary cause, the

cause of all causes."

 

TEXT 45

 

" There is one marginal potency, known as the jiva. Maha-Sankarsana

is the shelter of all jivas."

 

TEXT 46

 

" Sankarsana is the original shelter of the purusha, from whom this

world is created and in whom it is dissolved."

 

TEXT 73

(Below Page 183)

 

" A part of a part of a whole is called a 'kala'. Sri Balarama is the

counter-form of Lord Govinda."

 

TEXT 74

 

" Balarama's own expansion is called Maha-Sankarsana, and His

fragment, the purusa, is counted as a kala, or a part of a plenary

portion."

 

(Below Page 184)

 

TEXT 75

 

" I say that this kala is Maha-Vishnu. He is the Maha-purusa, who is

the source of the other purusas and who is all pervading."

 

TEXT 81

(Below Page 185)

 

" That fragment of the Maha-purusha who appears for the purpose of

creation, maintenance and annihilation is called an incarnation."

 

TEXT 82

 

" That Maha-purusa is identical with the Personality of Godhead. He

is the original incarnation, the seed of all others, and the shelter

of everything."

 

TEXT 83

 

" The purusa is the primary incarnation of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead."...

 

Purport

 

" The two categories of avataras are empowered devotees and tad-

ekatma-rupa (the Lord Himself). An example of tad-ekatma-rupa is

Sesa, ..."

 

THE WORSHIP OF BAAL YAHU AS SHESHA THE SERAPHIC EGYPTIAN COBRA AS THE

SYMBOL OR HIEROGLYPHIC 'DETERMINATIVE', COVERING, THRONE, COUCH,

MOUNT, VEHICLE OR 'PROTECTOR' OF ELI / HERU IS VERY IMPORTANT IN

RELATED HELIOPOLITAN EGYPTIAN AND JEWISH MYSTICISM AND ICONOGRAPHY.

 

TEXT 204 Purport

 

"In another verse Narottama dasa Thakura has stated that without the

causeless mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, one cannot enter into the

affairs of Radha and Krishna."

 

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE MERCY OF SRI CHAITANYA WITHOUT FIRST

GETTING THE MERCY OF SRI NITYANANDA RAMA. THE THEOLOGY OF THIS IS

IDENTICAL TO THE TRINITARIAN PROTO CATHOLIC AND CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

THAT ONE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE MYSTERIES OF KOUROS AND KORE WITHOUT

BEING INITIATED INTO THEM BY THEIR HIEROPHANT DIONYSOS. JESUS CHRIST

AS THE ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL MASTER AND 'HIGH PRIEST' IS THE SOLE MASTER

AND INITIATOR INTO THE BRIDAL MYSTICISM OF ELI-YAHU AND SHEKINAH !

 

TEXTS 100 & 101 [Regarding Sri Garbhodakasayi Visnu]

 

"He lay there with Ananta as His bed. Lord Ananta is a divine serpant

having thousands of heads, thousands of faces, thousands of eyes and

thousands of hands and feet. He is the seed of all incarnations and

is the cause of the material world.

 

[purport quotes the Vedas on Purusha]

 

"The Visnu form called Ananta-sayana has thousands of hands and legs

and thousands of eyes, and He is the active generator of all

incarnations within the material world."

 

THIS DESCRIPTION IS RELATED TO THAT OF THE SERAPHIC NACHASH FORM OF

THE LORD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND HAS NUMEROUS CONNECTIONS TO THE

EGYPTIAN HELIOPOLITAN ICONOGRAPHY OF HERI-ASAR AS THE WINGED COBRA,

THE PLANET HOLDING SESHA (OCEANOS) AND SERPENT (SERAPH / SARPA) OF

INFINITY (ANANTA). THE

HEBREW AND EGYPTIAN SESHA, NACHASH AND SERAPH ARE ANANTA-BALARAM'S

NAMES AND FORMS AS SESHA, NAGA AND SARPA IN SANSKRIT. THEOLOGICALLY

JESUS IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE PROTO-CHRIST SERAPHIC NACHASH SERPENT

AND SERPENT STAFF OF EXODUS. THE HEALING AND SAVING SERPENT STAFF OF

THE PROTO CHRIST IS THE NAGAKAL OF BALARAMA AS CHARAKA IN THE EAST,

AND THE SERPENT STAFF OR CADUCEUS OF ASCLEPIUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IN

THE PROTO CATHOLIC TRADITION.

 

TEXT 102

 

" From His Navel grew a lotus flower, which became the birthplace of

Lord Brahma."

 

TEXT 103

 

"Within the stem of that lotus were the fourteen worlds. thus the

Supreme Lord, as Brahma, created the entire creation."

 

BRAHMA MANIFESTS FROM NARAYANA. IN EGYPT NARAYANA IS NHRYN OR MZRYM,

THE DEITY OFTHE DESCENDING HEAVENLY RIVER NILE (NHAR IN HEBREW). IN

JUDEA AND MESOPOTAMIA YAH / EA'S SACRED-WATERS FORM WAS NAHARAIM AND

AT ROME HE WAS MARIMUS AND 'FATHER TIBER'. PHANES WAS HIS OWN LOTUS-

BORN FORM. THE 'JEWEL IN THE LOTUS' OR 'SUN IN LOTUS' ICON SOMETIMES

INVOKED HIS FORM AS KOUROS ON RHODES, AND SOMETIMES HIS FORM AS

PHANES ON THE PRIMORDIAL LOTUS BEFORE CREATION.

 

TEXT 104

 

"And as Lord Visnu, He maintains the entire world. Lord Visnu, being

beyond all material attributes, has no touch with the material

qualities."

 

ALTHOUGH NOT EFFECTED BY THE MATERIAL MODE OF GOODNESS / SATTVA,

VISHNU NEVER THE LESS PRESIDES OVER IT AND IS WORSHIPED BY THOSE IN

THE MODE OF GOODNESS.

 

TEXT 104 Purport

 

"In the Vamana Purana it is said that the same Visnu expands Himself

as Brahma and Siva to direct the different qualities."

 

THIS IS REFERENCE TO THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRI GUNA FORMS OF BRAHMA,

VISHNU AND SHIVA. IN DEVOLVED 'HINDUISM' BRAHMA AND SHIVA HAVE BEEN

VARIOUSLY DEMOTED TO MERE COSMIC GODS LIKE VISHNU HAS, OR EXALTED IN

COMPETITION TO VISHNU, AS SEPARATE AND EQUAL OR IN THE CASE OF SHIVA,

EVEN A RIVAL OR SUPERIOR 'SUPREME' GOD. ORIGINALLY IN THE ANCIENT

MEDITERRANEAN PROTO CATHOLIC COMPLEX, BRAHMA AND SIVA WERE CONSIDERED

FORMS OF HERI-ASU / ELI-YAHU, AND BRAHMAISM AND SHAIVISM WERE NOT

SEPARATED RELIGIONS. SHAIVISM, AS SEPARATED YAHU-BAAL / DIONYSOS

WORSHIP, SPLIT FROM THE SATTVIC TRADITION OF ELI-YAHU / HELIOS / HERI-

ASU AND DEVELOPED ON A SEPARATED TRACK AFTER THE GREAT EGYPTIAN

REGIONAL TRAUMA OF THE HYKSOS PERIOD. DURING THAT TIME TAMASIC BAAL-

YAHU WORSHIPERS CORRUPTLY IDENTIFIED SETU-RAAH (KETU-RAHU, SATAN) THE

ARCH FIEND AND ENEMY OF HARI AND THE DEVAS WITH BAAL-DIONYSOS. THIS

HISTORICAL RISE OF THE CULT OF THE ANTI-BAAL OR ANTI-CHRIST LED

ULTIMATELY TO THE NAME BAAL BEING DROPPED FROM COMMON USE AS A NAME

OF YAHU, AND TO DEVELOPEMENT OF THE SEPARATED LEFT-HAND TANTRIC

TAMASIC TRADITIONS OF SIVA, KALI (SEKMET IN EGYPT) AND MARUGAN

WORSHIP. SOME OF THE WRATHFUL FORMS OF THE LORD AND SHAKTI, WITH

THEIR CORRUPTIONS AND THE TAMASIC FORMS OF THEIR WORSHIP, WERE

ISOLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TRADITION AS A SEPARATE RELIGION. THUS

SOME MODERN SHAIVITE AND MARUGAN SCHOLARS OF THE TAMASIC TRADITIONS

HAVE WRITTEN OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BAAL OR DIONYSOS AND SHIVA OR

MARUGAN.

 

TEXT 105

 

"Assuming the form of Rudra, He destroys the creation. Thus creation,

maintainence and dissolution are created by His will."

 

AGAIN NOTE THAT LIKE BRAHMA, RUDRA OR SIVA IS A FORM ASSUMED BY GOD.

THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL PROTO CATHOLIC TEACHING. HIS FORM AS TIME /

KALAH WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LION-HEADED FORM OF VISHNU AS NARA

HARI. THIS IS THE WRATHFUL FORM OF GOD IN THE BIBLE BOOK OF EXODUS,

YAHU TSABAOTH. TO THE ZERVANITES, ZOROASTRIANS AND MITHRAICS, HE WAS

ZERVAN. THE THE JEWS HE WAS YAHU TSBAOTH THE LION OF JUDAH. TO THE

EGYPTIANS HE WAS AMEN-RA IN THE NORTH, AMUN-RA IN THE SOUTH AND

APADEMAK IN KUSH AND ETHIOPIA. AMONG THE GREEKS HE WAS ZEUS-AMEN-

KRONUS AND AMONG THE ROMANS HE WAS JUPITER-AMEN-SATURNUS.

 

AMONG THE NAMES OF NARA HARI ARE NAMES OF SHIVA, INCLUDING SHIVA,

RAUDRA, KALAH AND BAIRAV. AMONG THE NAMES OF SHIVA ARE NAMES OF

VISHNU. BOTH VAISHNAVA AND SHAIVITE TRADITIONS IDENTIFY SHIVA AND

ANANTADEVA WITH BALADEVA ! ACCORDING TO PURE LAND BUDDHIST TRADITION,

MAHADEVA SHIVA IS A FORM OF LOKESVARA (VISHNU). BALADEVA AS

SANKARSHANA IS THE SOURCE OF SHIVA. VISHNU ASSUMES THE FORM OF SHIVA

TO DRINK THE HALA HALA SINS OF THE WORLD (BUDDHIST NILAKANTHA

LOKESVARA), TO CATCH THE GANGA IN HIS ASCETIC'S HAIRLOCKS AND TO STEP

INTO THE GANGA AND TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. LORD BALADEVA

APPEARS AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY MATERIAL UNIVERSE AS THE MACRO-

COSMIC PURUSHA YUPA DHVAJA, WHO IS SELF-SACRIFICED (ON THE YUPA

CROSS !) FOR THE CREATION, MAINTAINENCE AND REDEMPTION OF THE ENTIRE

UNIVERSE.

 

THUS WITHIN THE ORIGINAL TRADITION, BOTH VAISHNAVISM AND SHAIVISM

WERE UNITED AND THIS TRUTH HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN THE TRADITION OF

BALARAMA IN PROTO CATHOLIC AND CATHOLIC AND IN PURE LAND BUDDHIST

TRADITIONS. JESUS CHRIST AS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY STEPPED

INTO TIME AS PURUSHA YUPA DHVAJA AND TOOK THE WATER OF LIFE OF THE

HEAVENLY 'DESCENDER' ON HIS ASCETIC'S LOCKS. HE STEPPED INTO THE

JORDAN TAKING THE SINS OF ALL THE BAPTISED. ON THE CROSS / YUPA HE

DRANK THE SINS OF THE WORLD ON A SPRIG OF TULASI LEAVES, AND AS THE

ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL MASTER, WAS SACRIFICED AS THE COSMIC PURUSHA (YUPA

DHVAJA) FOR THE SINS OF THE ENTIRE COSMIC MANIFESTATION. HIS BACK WAS

TORN LIKE KURMA AVATARA'S, AND HIS CHEST WAS PIERCED BY THE VEL OF

SKANDA. HE WAS CALLED THE KING OF KINGS "BASILEOS OF THE BASILEOS",

VASUDEVA OF THE VASUDEVAS ! LIKE KRISHNA HIS FOOT WAS PIERCED BY A

NAIL FORGED FROM THE CURSE OF HIS PEOPLE THE YADUS / THE YAHDEOS.

ABOVE HIM WAS THE SIGN 'ISOUS NAZARENUS REX IOUDEORUM', JESUS

NAZAREAN REGENT OF THE YA-DEOS, WHICH IS YASHAS NARAYANA RAJA [OF

THE] YADAVAS. HE WAS SAID TO BE RETURNING AT THE END OF THE AGE AS

BASILEOS ON HIS WHITE HORSE (KALKI AVATARA). HOW MUCH MORE OBVIOUS

DOES GOD HAVE TO MAKE IT FOR US ? AS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN ASCLEPIUS-

CHARAKA HE WAS THE SERAPHIC SAVIOR IN THE WILDERNESS OF EXODUS

(ANANTA SESHA NAGA) . AS BAAL THE ALTER-FORM OF ELI HE WAS BALARAMA

THE ALTER-FORM OF HARI. THE ALL-PERVASIVE FORM OF THE LORD IN EVERY

HEART WAS HE OWN 'HOLY SPIRIT' ! VAISHNAVISM, CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY,

PURE LAND BUDDHISM AND SATTVIC THEISTIC SHAIVISM ARE NOT FOUR

DIFFERENT SALVIFIC DEVOTIONAL TRADITIONS WITH FOUR DIFFERENT

COMPETING SAVIOR-GODS INVENTED BY DIFFERENT RACES OR CULTURES. THEY

ARE FOUR DIFFERENT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SAME TRADITION WITH

ONE TRINITARIAN GODHEAD, AND ONE SAVIOR, LORD BALADEVA WORSHIPED IN A

VARIETY OF VISHNU ( BAAL-YAHU, LOKESVARA) AND SHIVA FORMS. THEY ARE

FOUR FORMS OF WORSHIP OF THE FIRST PERSON OF THE GODHEAD, THROUGH,

WITH, IN, AND BY THE SAME SECOND PERSON. THEY ARE FOUR TRADITIONS

WHICH ARE ALL INSPIRED BY THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT.

 

SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF SRI SRI GAURA-NITAIS NON SECTARIAN

SANKIRTAN MOVEMENT ? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE MERCY OF SRI SRI

RADHA-KRISHNA WITHOUT FIRST GETTING THE MERCY OF LORD BALARAMA. ONLY

THROUGH HIS MERCY CAN SINFUL BEINGS FROM THE 'FALLEN WORLD' TRANSCEND

IT, AND ENTER INTO THE MYSTERIES OF SRI SRI RADHA-KRISHNA'S DIVINE

LOVE. LORD BALADEVA IS THE ARCHA / VERITAS ICON FORM OF THE LORD. HE

IS KRISHNA'S PRASADAM, AND YES, HE IS SRI KRISHNA'S NAME ! SRI

KRISHNA'S NAME IS AS INFINITE AS HE HIMSELF. HE IS THE ORIGINAL

PERSON (PURUSHA) WHOSE PERSONALITY IS INFINITE. JUST AS HIS UNLIMITED

FORM MAY APPEAR AS MANY FORMS, HIS UNLIMITED NAME MAY APPEAR AS MANY

NAMES, AND THERE ARE 'NO HARD AND FAST RULES' FOR INVOKING THEM ! BUT

WE CANNOT INVOKE OUR GOD THROUGH ANY OF HIS NAMES WITHOUT CALLING ON

OUR ONE SAVIOR, BECAUSE HE HIMSELF IS THE ONE LOGOS, THE SINGULAR,

INFINITE VERY NAME OF GOD. THUS WE INVOKE OUR ONE SAVIOR WHENEVER WE

CALL ON GOD THROUGH HIS HOLY NAME. HE IS NOT CONFUSED, HE KNOWS WHO

WE ARE CALLING. FOR WHICHEVER FORM OF HIS NAME WE UTTER, THINK OR

EVEN INTEND IN THE VERY MOST DEPTH OF OUR BEING, THE LORD IMMANENT,

MEDIATING AND TRANSCENDENT HEARS AND KNOWS OUR DESIRE FOR HIM

PERFECTLY. SO SRILA PRABHUPADA HAS SAID THAT WE CAN CALL ON CHRIST OR

KRISHNA, BALARAMA OR RAMACANDRA. GOD WILL NOT BE CONFUSED ! SHIVA,

RAUDRA, KALAH, AND THE 1000 NAMES OF VISHNU, AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE

NAMES OF THE SUPREME LORD.

PRAY ! PRAY ! PRAY ! IT IS THE ONLY WAY !

 

THERE IS BUT ONE SERVITOR LORD AND SAVIOR-REVELATOR OF GODHEAD, AND

THE MISSIONARIES ARE RIGHT WHEN THEY SAY THAT 'NONE COME TO THE

FATHER BUT BY HIM' ! HOWEVER, REGRETTABLY THEY DO NOT THEMSELVES KNOW

HISTORICALLY OR THEOLOGICALLY WHO HE IS AND THUS THEY OFFER HIM AS AN

ALTERNATIVE SAVIOR TO HIMSELF ! NOT RECOGNIZING THEIR OWN LORD AS

PRESENTED BY THE CHRISTIANS, THE 'HINDUS' REJECT HIM DUE TO THE

CHRISTIANS' OFFENCES. IN THIS WAY HINDU EXCLUSIVISTS AND CHRISTIAN

EXCLUSIVISTS MUTUALLY JUDGE EACHOTHER OUT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD,

WHILE TRYING TO SAVE EACHOTHERS' SOULS !

HOW TRAGIC.

 

WE MUST NOT CREATE IMPEDIMENTS WHEN LORD BALADEVA HAS BROKEN OPEN THE

STOREHOUSE OF LOVE OF RADHA-KRISHNA AND IS DISTRIBUTING ITS CONTENTS

FREELY ! WE MUST BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS OF SECTARIAN PRIDE AND

PREJUDICE TO DISCOVER OUR SOLE, ALONE, ONLY SAVIOR. HIS SELF-

REVELATION CANNOT BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD AS LONG AS WE ARE REJECTING

SOME OF HIS SAINTS, SOME OF HIS SCRIPTURES, SOME OF HIS NAMES, AND

SOME OF HIS MERCY. WE MUST ACCEPT THE WHOLE OF HIS REVELATION, AND

STOP FIGHTING OVER SOME OF HIS DETAILS.

 

TEXT 132 Purport

 

"If someone calls Lord Ramacandra by the vibration Hare Rama, or if

he understands Ramacandra, he is quite right. Similarly, if one says

that Hare Rama means Sri Balarama, he is also right. Those who are

aware of the Visnu-tattva do not fight over such details."

 

MAY LORD BALARAMA SANKARSANA BLESS US TO REALIZE HIS SAVING GRACE

TODAY !

 

2) THE REVELATION OF BALARAMA AS NITYANANDA-RAMA IN CHAITANYA LILA

 

ASPIRING TO SERVE THE MERCIFUL SERVANTS OF LORD BALA-YASHAS-

NITYANANDA RAMA, BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI HAS COMPILED THESE FEW VERSES

IN GLORIFICATION OF LORD BALARAMA, WHO IS REVEALED IN THE PERSON OF

SRI NITYANANDA RAMA IN CHAITANYA LILA ...

 

To Balu-Yahu San-Karshana / Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Zaos (Jiva) the reservoir of all living beings,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, shelter of the spiritual energy, and Lord of

Shekinah (Shakti),

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Bal-Dionysos, counter-form of Helios Kouros,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, upon the cosmic mayim waters,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Whose Name is too, and, also and non-different

from KRISHNA,

 

To Sam-KARSHANA Christ , Whose Name reveals the 'Father's',

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, source of all Incarnation,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Whose Atman / Atum Spirit is all-pervading,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Whose Incarnations appear for the purpose of

creation, maintenance and annihilation,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, Who is identical with the Personality of

Godhead,

 

To Balu-Yahu Christ, the seed of incarnation and the shelter of

everything,

 

To that Balu-Yahu Christ, Who is the primary Incarnation of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, The Second co-eternal Person of the

Trinity, and Who as Polieus (Purusa Yupa Dhvaja) is the Seraphic

Shesha Nachash (Sarpa Sesa Naga) Creator, Sustainer and Savior of all

worlds ...

 

To that Balu-Yahu Christ, Who is Vishnu Yashas or Yasho Narayana,

Whose Yupa-Cross bore the sign...

 

"IOUSOS NAZARENUS REX IOUDEORUM"

"JESUS NAZAREAN REGENT OF THE YADEOS "

"YASHAS NARAYANA RAJA OF THE YADAVAS"

 

TO THAT SAVIOR LORD WHO WILL COME AGAIN AT THE END OF THE AGE / YUGA,

i, His servant's servant's insignificant aspiring servant offer this

little glorification on the Appearance Day of SRI NITYANANDA

BALARAMA .

 

SOME OF THE GLORIES OF SRI NITYANANDA BALARAMA EXCERPTED FROM "SRI

CHAITANYA BHAGAVAT" BY SRILA VRNDAVANA DASA

 

Adi Lila Chapter One

 

I worship their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda

Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, whose beautiful

complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold and whose elongated

eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of the brahmanas, the

guardians of religious principles for this age, the munificent

benefactors of all living entities, and the most compassionate

incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting

of the names of Lord Krsna.

 

*********

 

I worship the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri

Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of magnanimity. By Their

inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, eternal supreme

controllers of all. Now They have descended to the material world.

 

*********

 

In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the feet of the

loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya. I then offer my

obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna

Caitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is known as Visvambhara.

 

That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has declared in the Vedas

and Bhagavat, "Worship of My devotees is superior to worship of Me."

Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, "O Uddhava, serving My devotees is many

times better than worshiping Me." (SB 11:19:21). Therefore, I offer

my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the Lord before I begin to

write this book. By this act may my present endeavor be successful.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable Lord and spiritual

master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the transcendental

pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously manifest. With a

thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the Supreme Lord

Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa constantly

glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are kept in secure

custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge about Krsna's

pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. Therefore the

tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will automatically be

qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of Sri Caitanya.

 

The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods like snakes. He

is a gigantic figure and the source of all inspiration. As Nityananda

He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, intoxicated by the

nectar of Sri Caitanya. Whoever sings or hears about Nityananda's

supramundane character is offered the supreme shelter of Lord

Caitanya.

 

Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing

the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the

midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva,

and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns to Lord

Sankarsana.

 

All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Balarama is worshiped by the entire Vaisnava world with songs of

praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, and their rasa

dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas describe that

Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two months of spring,

Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses narrating this

subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit.

 

Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of Vaisaka and Caitra

with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode of Vrndavana. The

place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The lotus and kadamba

flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the moon's rays, and a

soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on the bank of the

Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing their conjugal

mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite gem decorated by

the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable pastimes. He behaved

like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of many she-

elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance and offered their

prayers.

 

The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the demigods

joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the Gandharvas and sages

worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses praising His

activities. The sages unequivocally denounce association with women,

yet they sung hymns in praise of Balarama's rasa dance with His

cowherd damsels. The demigods attended Balarama's rasa dance to

shower flower petals. They knew that there was no difference between

Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, Haladhara. The transcendental qualities

of Balarama are obscure in the four Vedas, but the Puranas describe

them boldly.

 

What power do I have to describe them? Out of ignorance, some people

disregard the Puranas and reject Balarama's rasa dance as

inauthentic.

 

The two brothers, Lord Krsna and Balarama, performed the rasa dance

with the gopis in the same place in Vrndavana. On the radiant full

moon night of holi, at the end of sivaratri vrata, Lord Krsna and

Lord Balarama, accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends, enjoyed

Themselves in the midst of the beautiful maidens of Vrndavana. They

were both pleasingly decorated with the finest jewelry, sandalwood

pulp, wildflower garlands and exquisite clothes. The fortunate gopis

sang sweetly, their hearts enraptured by love for Krishna and

Balarama.

 

Evening had not set in; the moon and the stars appeared. The

fragrance of Arabian jasmine intoxicated the bumblebees, and a light

breeze carried the aromas of white lilies and lotus flowers.

Considering that very moment to be appropriate, Krsna and Balarama

began Their pleasurable dalliances. They sang together for the

pleasure of all living entities, Their voices rising and falling

melodiously.

 

If a person, after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, is not affectionately

inclined towards Lord Balarama, then he is rejected by the Supreme

Lord Vishnu and His devotees. In the words of Srimad Bhagavatam, a

non-believer is a yavana (a barbarian). He is destined to suffer in

hell, birth after birth.

 

There are others who, like eunuchs, make emotional gesticulations,

challenging, "Which scripture describes the rasa dance of Balarama?"

Who is so sinful that even after reading the scriptures, he can not

accept the truth, but misinterprets the real meaning and gives his

own distorted understanding?

 

Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Caitanya's deep affection. Offense

at Balarama's lotus feet destroys all possibilities for salvation. In

His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra,

Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in His

manifestation as the Supreme Lord, Balarama serves Himself in every

respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, putting Him to

sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding Himself as

His house, umbrella, attire, jewelry and seat. "O Lord ! Your direct,

partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all the various

ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of

Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famous because He is manifest as Your

residence, bed, throne, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc. When shall I

see you with Laksmidevi seated on the throne of Ananta Sesa?

 

Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose

satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every

pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras,

Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His

glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by

anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the

Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas.

 

Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by

Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in

the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He

is worshiped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the full

nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays

on his vina, and with well-composed verses he sings the wonderful

glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the supramundane

nature of Anantadeva?

 

Just by His glance, He sets in motion the three modes of material

nature which are the cause of this world's creation, maintenance, and

annihilation. Although He is one, He supports the entire variegated

material cosmic manifestation Himself (within the pores of His

person). He is beginningless and eternal.

 

Other then Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons devoid

of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the material

world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes,

has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the most powerful;

in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant. He performs pure

transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His dear devotees,

and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His transcendental

form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes purified by

hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva, either

respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is purified when

he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta.

 

Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord

carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with

all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe

appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires

a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent

Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with

unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary

system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with

ease born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance,

and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are

activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual,

transcendental, eternal and unborn existence?

 

Out of mercy toward the living entities the Lord manifests His

supramundane spiritual form while He performs His variegated

pastimes. All living entities reside within that transcendental form.

The mighty Lord Nrsimhadeva represents but a wave in the ocean of the

Lord's unlimited pastimes which satisfy the hearts of His devotees.

Anantadeva's unlimited names, when heard or chanted by anyone in any

manner, immediately sever the noose of innumerable births and deaths.

Thus the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord always appreciated those who

glorify Him. Ananta Sesa is the supreme destination of the entire

universe; His holy name is the only means for the living entities's

redemption. The Lord holds on His head the unlimited material nature -

along with its mountains and oceans - simply for its protection and

maintenance. The entire universe is a speck on one of His thousand

hoods, and because of His unlimited strength, He does not feel the

burden.

 

Lord Anantadeva, the original Supreme Personality and maintainer of

the entire cosmic manifestation, incessantly sings in glorification

of Lord Krsna. He continuously describes every aspect of the Lord's

divine attributes. Lord Krsna is eternal and His attributes are

unending, therefore He can never be fully described or glorified. But

Ananta is also eternal and His ability to glorify the Lord is

unending. In Their divine relationship, neither is ever victorious.

Even today Ananta Sesa's thousand mouths continuously sing the

glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna Caitanya. How wonderfully Lord

Krsna and Lord Balarama compete with each other! Brahma, Siva, other

demigods and the perfected sages look on, feeling great exhilaration.

The eulogies of Anantadeva pursue the ever-expanding, elusive shores

of Lord Krsna's ocean of qualities.

 

O Narada, I Brahma, and your elders, Sanaka and other sages cannot

even fathom the extent of this material nature, what to speak of

knowing the Supreme Lord's spiritual potencies. Anantadeva, the

origin of all demigods, is unable to exhaustively glorify the Supreme

Lord's transcendental opulence and potencies with His thousand

mouths. Therefore how is it possible for ordinary mortals to

understand these divine potencies? Anantadeva is Himself the master

of unlimited attributes, and He resides in rasatala simply to support

the vast material creation.

 

In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays His vina and sings about

these very same transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. Brahma

and others are stunned in ecstasy upon hearing about the supramundane

qualities of the Supreme Lord, and Narada Muni is worshiped by all

because he sings about those qualities. I have also been moved to

write a few phrases in praise of the unlimited potencies of Lord

Nityananda, Anantadeva, so I humbly request all of you to develop a

loving devotional mood toward the Lord. Those who desire to cross

over the dangerous ocean of material existence, yet drown in the

ocean of devotional ecstasy, may take shelter of Lord Nityananda.

 

I pray to the merciful Vaisnava devotees of the Lord to fulfill my

hearts yearning, that I may serve my Lord Balarama birth after birth.

Just as dvija, vipra, and brahma are different names for the same

person, similarly Nityananda, Ananta and Balarama are different names

for the same Supreme Personality. My Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared

within my heart and instructed me to narrate the transcendental

qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this book.

 

The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are revealed by Nityananda's

mercy only, because His personal expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the

storehouse of information about Lord Caitanya and Lord Krsna's

pastimes. Although Sri Ananta Sesa is the embodiment of Krsna

kirtana, I have been able to offer only a humble prayer in His honor.

 

*********

 

Thereafter comes the description of Lord Caitanya's manifestation as

Balarama when Nityananda gave Him His plough and club. The wonderful

redemption of the two reprobates Jagai and Madhai - who were later to

become quite famous - is told in detail.

 

Mother Saci's vision of Sri Caitanya in a blackish complexion and Sri

Nityananda in a whitish complexion is also discussed.

 

*********

Oh Lord Caitanya, please bless me so that I may receive the

transcendental service of Nityananda's lotus feet. He is the Lord of

the entire universe. I have narrated in brief the contents of this

book at the very outset. All of you please hear with undivided

attention the pastimes of Sri Krsna Caitanya.

 

Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda are my life and soul.

 

I, Vrndavana dasa, offer my humble song at Their lotus feet.

 

MAY SRI NITYANANDA RAMA, WHO REVEALS LORD BALADEVA AS THE SAVIOR OF

ALL WORLDS, MAY HE BE OUR CONSTANT MEDITATION. MAY LORD NITYANANDA

BALARAM WHO IS THE PROTECTOR OF ALL DEVOTEES, PROTECT US, AND MAY

LORD NITAI-BALARAMA AS ANANTA SESA WHO CARRIES ALL THE WORLDS AND

UNIVERSES, CARRY ALL THAT WE CANNOT BEAR. HE ALONE, THE ORIGINAL

SPIRITUAL MASTER HAS TAKEN AWAY THE SINS OF ALL WORLDS. HE ALONE

GRANTS SALVATION FROM THE SAHA WORLDS OF BIRTH, DEATH, DISEASE AND

OLD AGE. HE ALONE GRANTS ENTRANCE INTO THE VAIKUNTHAS AND GOLOKA

VRINDAVAN. HE ALONE CAN ADMIT US INTO THE MYSTERIES OF SRI SRI RADHA

AND GOVINDA. MAY HE, LORD SANKARSHANA, THE ORIGINAL ATTRACTING DEITY,

MAY HE DRAW US ALL THROUGH HIS INFINITE MERCY AND LOVE, BACK TO HOME,

BACK TO GODHEAD !

 

AMEN AUM AND HARE KRISHNA ! SRI SRI GURU AND GAURANGA KI JAYA ! LORD

NITYANANDA-RAMA KI JAYA !