Lord Nrisimhadeva's Appearance Day (with lect. by Srila Prabhupada)

[Guest guest]

---------------------------

Lord Nrisimhadeva's Appearance Day

 

Once the lived Hiranyakasipu, the king of the demons. His brother, another

demon who had been creating a disturbance, had been killed by Varaha, an

incarnation of Lord Visnu. Hiranyakasipu also was creating a disturbance by

harassing the sages and the demigods. Hiranyakasipu wanted to get revenge

upon Lord Visnu for the killing of his brother so he performed severe

austerities:

 

"Seeing Hiranyakasipu engaged in this austerity, the demigods returned to

their respective homes, but while Hiranyakasipu was thus engaged, a kind of

fire began blazing from his head, disturbing the entire universe and its

inhabitants, including the birds, beasts and demigods. When all the higher

and lower planets became too hot to live on, the demigods, being disturbed,

left their abodes in the higher planets and went to see Lord Brahma, praying

to him that he curtail this unnecessary heat. The demigods disclosed to Lord

Brahma Hiranyakasipu's ambition to become immortal, overcoming his short

duration of life, and to be the master of all the planetary systems, even

Dhruvaloka." (Bhag. 7.3.intro)

 

Finally, Lord Brahma appeared before Hiranyakasipu but could not give him

the boon of immortality for even Lord Brahma is not immortal. Therefore,

Hiranyakasipu tried to ask for benedictions that would make him almost as

good as immortal. Hiranyakasipu asked that he not meet death in any of the

following conditions:

 

(a) by any living entity created by Lord Brahma

(b) within any residence or outside any residence

© during the daytime or at night

(d) on the ground or in the sky

(e) by any weapon, human being, or any animal

(h) by anything living or nonliving

etc.

 

Once having attained the powers from Lord Brahma, Hiranyakasipu began to

harass all the living entities within the universe:

 

"All the demigods but Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came under his

control and began serving him, but despite all his material power he was

dissatisfied because he was always puffed up, proud of transgressing the

Vedic regulations. All the brahmanas were dissatisfied with him, and they

cursed him with determination. Eventually, all the living entities withinthe

universe, represented by the demigods and sages, prayed to the Supreme Lord

for relief from Hiranyakasipu's rule. Lord Visnu informed the demigods that

they and the other living entities would be saved from the fearful

conditions created by Hiranyakasipu. Since Hiranyakasipu was the oppressor

of all the demigods, the followers of the Vedas, the cows, the brahmanas and

the religious, saintly persons, and since he was envious of the Supreme

Lord, he would naturally be killed very soon. Hiranyakasipu's last exploit

would be to torment his own son Prahlada, who was a maha-bhagavata, an

exalted Vaisnava. Then his life would end." (Bhag. 7.4.intro)

 

Prahlada Maharaja, the son of Hiranyakasipu, was a great devotee and he

received initiation while within the womb of his mother:

 

"This transcendental knowledge is devotional service, and Prahlada Maharaja,

while living in the womb of his mother, received instructions indevotional

service from Narada Muni. Any person engaged in the service of the Lord

through the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master is immediately

liberated, and being free from the clutches of maya, he is relieved of all

ignorance and material desires." (Bhag. 7.7.intro)

 

This point we have stressed throughout our newsletters that surrender to the

order of the spiritual master is the only means of success in spiritual

life. Devotional service is not dependent on material results or

conditions; it can be practiced under any conditions as we can see from the

example of Prahlada Maharaja:

 

"Regardless of the material condition in which one is situated, one can

achieve this perfection. Devotional service is not dependent on the

material activities of austerity, penance, mystic yoga or piety. EVEN

WITHOUT SUCH ASSETS, one can achieve devotional service through the mercy of

a pure devotee." (Bhag. 7.7.intro)

 

Sometimes we find so-called devotees wasting their valuable time complaining

and finding faults with others instead of sticking to their own devotional

service. They should take the instruction that devotional service is not

dependent on the material conditions:

 

"Progress in spiritual life cannot be obstructed by any material condition.

This is called ahaituky apratihata." (Bhag. 7.7.1)

 

Just see how Prahlada stayed fixed in his service despite the impediments,

which were much heavier than the impediments of today:

 

"The assistants of Hiranyakasipu struck Prahlada with sharp weapons, threw

him under the feet of elephants, subjected him to hellish conditions, threw

him from the peak of a mountain and tried to kill him in thousands of other

ways, but they were unsuccessful. Hiranyakasipu therefore became

increasingly afraid of his son Prahlada Maharaja and arrested him. The sons

of Hiranyakasipu's spiritual master, Sukracarya, began teaching Prahlada in

their own way, but Prahlada Maharaja did not accept their instructions.While

the teachers were absent from the classroom, Prahlada Maharaja began to

preach Krsna consciousness in the school, and by his instructions all his

class friends, the sons of the demons, became devotees like him." (Bhag.

7.5.intro)

 

The teachers of Prahlada, Sanda and Amarka, became afraid that the students

would become more and more devoted to the Lord so they informed

Hiranyakasipu about Prahlada's preaching. So Hiranyakasipu decided to kill

his son himself. Prahlada tried to instruct him:

 

"Prahlada Maharaja continued: My dear father, please give up your demoniac

mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends;

make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and

misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone

on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshipping

the Lord perfectly." (Bhag. 7.8.9)

 

Controlling the mind is essential in spiritual life and is easily

accomplished by becoming fixed in one's devotional service:

 

"The only bona fide process for controlling the mind is to fix the mind by

service to the Lord." (Bhag. 7.8.9)

 

Although Prahlada tried to instruct Hiranyakasipu, he was not about take the

bona fide instructions because he was not interested in devotional service:

 

"Hiranyakasipu replied: You rascal, you are trying to minimize my value, as

if you were better than me at controlling the senses. This is

over-intelligent. I can therefore understand that you desire to die at my

hands, for this kind of nonsensical talk is indulged in by those about to

die." (Bhag. 7.8.11)

 

Hiranyakasipu: "WHERE IS YOUR GOD?"

Prahlada replied that He is everywhere.

Hiranyakasipu: "IS HE IN THIS PILLAR, PRAHLADA???"

Prahlada: "Yes, he's everywhere."

Hiranyakasipu struck the pillar with his fists not believing Prahlada's

statement; however Lord Nrsimhadeva, half-man and half-lion incarnation of

the Supreme Lord, appeared with A ROAR!

A great fight ensued and Lord Nrsimhadeva killed Hiranyakasipu with his

nails.

 

Lord Nrsimhadeva killed Hiranyakasipu without violating any of the boons

Hiranyakasipu had received from Lord Brahma:

 

(a) Hiranyakasipu was killed by Lord Nrsimhadeva who is not a living entity

created by Lord Brahma nor anyone else for He is eternal and unborn.

(b) Hiranyakasipu was killed in the doorway which is neither within any

residence nor outside any residence.

© Hiranyakasipu was killed in the evening which is neither daytime nor

night.

(d) Hiranyakasipu was killed on the lap of Lord Nrsimhadeva which is neither

on the ground nor in the sky.

(e) Hiranyakasipu was killed by a half-man and half-lion which is neither a

human nor an animal.

(h) Hiranyakasipu was killed by the nails which are neither living nor dead

nor count as weapons. etc.

 

 

---------

Lord Nrisimhadeva's Appearance Day

 

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34. Los

Angeles, May 27, 1972, 720527SB.LA

 

Prabhupada: So today, appearance day of Lord Nrisimhadeva. Lord Nrisimhadeva

appeared on this N?simha Caturdasi on account of His devotee, Prahlada. As

it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati

bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya [bg. 4.7]. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca

duskrtam, sambhavami yuge yuge [bg. 4.8]. The Lord appears with two

purposes. Paritranaya sadhunam: just to give protection and rescue the

devotees, and to kill the demons, vinasaya ca duakrtam. So Prahlada

Maharaja, five-years-old boy, his only fault was that he was K??sa

conscious. He was devotee of Krishna. That was his only fault. And the

father was so unkind to a child, even five years old. He could not excuse,

"Oh, let this boy do whatever, chanting Hare Krishna." No. The demons are so

much against God consciousness that even at his home he would not allow his

own child to become God conscious. This is demoniac civili... So you'll find

many critics, many enemies, because you are making progress in Krishna

consciousness. So the demons are always against this Krishna consciousness

movement. That is the whole history. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he was

crucified. What was his fault? He was preaching God consciousness, that's

all. This society is so cruel. So Prahlada Maharaja was tortured in so many

ways. The torturing methods, I think you will find as you will see in

today's picture, how Prahlada Maharaja was tortured.

So one day, Hiranyakasipu... After all, he was his son. Affection was there.

So one day, Hiranyakasipu asked the boy,

 

prahradanucyatam tata

svadhitam kincid uttamam

kalenaitavatayusman

yad asiksad guror bhavan

[sB 7.5.22]

 

So he asked his son, "My dear son, what you have learned? The best thing,

what you have learned from your teachers, so you kindly let me know." So

Prahlada Maharaja informed that "I have learned like this." What is that?

 

sravanam kirtanam visnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam

sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau

bhaktis cen nava-laksana

kriyeta bhagavaty addha

tan manye dhitam uttamam

[sB 7.5.23-24]

 

Tan manye dhitam uttamam: one who is engaged in the matter of hearing about

Visnu, sravanam kirtanamvisnoh. We are engaged in hearing and talking and

chanting about so many things non-Visnu. Just like you'll find thousands of,

millions of different types of magazines sold in your country, in all

countries. Some of the magazines are sex literature, some cinema literature,

some this literature, that... So many different types. There is one paper I

have seen, "Diabetes Literature." There are many patients of diabetes, so

they have formed a society, "Diabetic Society." I have seen it. (laughter)

And there are many diabetic patients, they are being hoaxed, that "You pay

two dollars per year, and you get all information how to protect yourself

from diabetes disease." So in America two dollars is nothing, but it is

collecting millions and millions of dollars, Diabetic Society. Diabetic

magazine. So that sort of hearing and chanting is not needed. We are not

interested in all these magazines, because we are followers of Prahlada

Maharaja. He's our acarya. He's guru. Prahlada Maharaja's guru is Narada,

and N?rada is also our guru. Narada is guru of Vyasadeva. So we are a

branch, but the original guru is Narada, Brahma-samprad?ya. So Prahlada

Maharaja is also a disciple of Narada Muni.

So he teaches that sravanam kirtanam visnoh [sB 7.5.23]. We have to hear and

talk and chant about Visnu. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smarana pada-sevanam.

To remember Him always, to worship His lotus feet, pada-sevanam. Arcanam,

temple worship, to keep the Deity nicely worshiped, offer foodstuff, arati,

this is called arcanaà. Vandanam, offering prayers. Just like we offer

prayer, govindam adi-purusà tam aham bhajami **. These are prayers. There

are so many prayers. Kesava-dhrta buddha-sarira, kesava-dhrta narahari-rupa.

These are all prayers. This is also part of devotional service.

 

sravanam kirtanam visnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyaà

sakhyam...

[sB 7.5.23]

 

Arcanam vandanam dasyam. To be always in service of the Lord, dasyam;

sakhyam, to make friendship with Him, to consider Krishna as your friend. He

says... Even if I do not say that He's my friend, He says, "I am friend of

everyone." Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam [bg. 5.29]. He's friend of everyone. We

don't want His friendship, but He wants our friendship. He wants us to go

back to home, Godhead; we don't want. So He is more anxious to take us,

exactly like the father is more affectionate than the son. That's a fact. So

He's the supreme father. So He wants that we may be happy, and therefore He

comes to show us. He sends His representative, son. He leaves behind Him

books so that we may go back to home, back to Godhead. So, sakhyam. He's

always sitting with me, within my heart. I am in the heart, and Paramatma is

also within the heart as friend to give me advice that "Why you are

bothering in this material world? Please come back to home, back to Me."

This is going on. Sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Atma-nivedanam means fully

surrendered. So there are examples of devotees who, sarvatma-nivedanam. Just

like Bali Maharaja. He gave everything to Krishna, even his body,

everything, whatever, his kingdom, money, everything.

So Prahlada Maharaja says, iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-lak?ana.

All these items means hearing. Hearing about Visnu, chanting about Krishna,

giving everything to Visnu, offering prayers to Visnu, offering arcana,

temple worship, Visnu. In this way Prahlada Maharaja summarizes that "Anyone

who is doing like this, everything about Visnu..." iti pumsarpita visnau

bhaktis cen nava-laksana, "this nine kinds of different devotional

services," kriyeta bhagavatay addha, "directly to the Supreme Personality of

Godhead," tan manye dhitam uttamam, "I think he is the best learned man in

the world. He is the most learned." Tan manye dhitam. "He has studied

everything very nicely." Actually, that is the fact. Jnana, knowledge

Knowledge means to know Krishna, God, and the Vedic injunction is, yasmin

vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavanti. If you understand the Supreme Lord,

then you understand everything. You haven't got to study differently

different subject matters. Just like we sometimes talk of science, of

astronomy, economics, politics. We talk sometimes. But we are not going to,

or we didn't study all the subject matter separately. But in course of our

studying Krishna consciousness, we know something of everything. So Prahlada

Maharaja says, tan manye adhitam uttamam: "One who is engaged in these nine

kinds of devotional services directly..." So Prahlada Maharaja recommends,

 

kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye dhitam uttamam.

nisamyaitat suta-vaco

Hiranyakasipus tada

guru-putram cedam rusa

prasphuritadharah

 

As soon as he heard, "Oh, what this nonsense boy is speaking?" he became so

angry that sphuritadharah. When one becomes angry, his lips vi..., I mean to

say, jumps. What is called? Quiver, yes. So he became so angry that it is

said, sphuritadharah. (He) immediately called his teacher. He's king...

Because he thought, "The rascal teachers, they have taught him like this. I

have entrusted the boy to the teachers, to brahmanas, and they have taught

this Krishna consciousness. So call him. Otherwise, how is that this small

boy, five years old only, he's talking just like a great saint? So call his

teacher!"

 

brahma-bandho kim etat

te vipaksam srayatasata

asaram grahito balo

mam anadrtya durmate

 

Hiranyakasipu became bitterest enemy of Visnu because his brother

Hiranyaksa, he was killed by Visnu taking the shape of Varaha. You know the

story. Since then, Hiranyakasipu was bitterest enemy. "Oh, He has, Visnu has

killed my brother. So He is my greatest enemy." So he won't hear anything

about Visnu. Any Visnu devotee, he will punish him, even his own son. That

was his policy. So he immediately called him, the teachers, and addressed

him,

 

brahma-bandho kim etat te

vipaksam srayatasata

asaram grahito balo

mam anadrtya durmate

 

So here... Teachers are generally brahmanas. Not generally. To become

teacher is the business of the brahmanas. Brahmana means they have got six

kinds of... Everyone must have livelihood. This material world is that you

must work; otherwise you cannot get your livelihood. That is the law,

whatever you may be. So the brahmanas' means of livelihood, six things:

pa?hana pa?hana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Pa?hana means he must be a

very learned scholar, study the Vedic literature, and must teach others

also. That is brahmana's business. And in that way, whatever the disciples

bring, that is his income. No salary, no contract, that "If you pay me

hundred dollars or five hundred dollars weekly, then I can teach you." No.

There is no such contract. Teaching is free. It is the business of a

brahmana to give free education to everyone. Now, it is the... Just like in

our institution, I am your teacher, but there is no such contract that you

have to pay me. But you pay me more than anything. So pa?hana pa?hana, that

is the means of livelihood of brahmana. And ksatriya, they are kings. They

can levy tax of the citizens because they are giving protection from being

hurt by others. Ksatriya means one who gives protection (to) a man being

hurt by others. That is the real root meaning. Ksatriya. And vaisya means

they should, krsi-goraksya-vanijyam, they should engage themselves in

producing foodstuff, foodgrains, krsi, protect cows. Especially goraksya. As

the king is meant for giving protection to the man, similarly, a vaisya is

supposed to give protection to the cows, or they keep cows and produce milk

products. They are vaisya. And sudra, simply service. So these are the

different types of employment of different kinds of social order. And a

king, the king has to see that everyone is employed. Not that hundreds of

people are unemployed, and government has to give welfare, subsidy. Not like

that. The king's duty is that everyone is independently earning his

livelihood. That is king's duty.

So here the teachers are addressed here brahma-bandho. Brahma-bandho means a

person who is born by a brahmana father but is not acting as a brahmana.

He's called brahma-bandho, dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu, one who is born of a,

actually born of a brahmana father, but he's not acting as a brahmana. So

Hiranyakasipu addressed the teachers brahma-bandho, not brahmana. "Because

you are untrustworthy. I gave you, I entrusted you with my son to be taught,

and you have taught him this Krishna consciousness. So against my will..."

He says practically, brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksam srayatasata: "I

entrusted my child for being educated by you, and you have instigated him to

speak in favor of my enemy, Visnu? Visnu is my enemy. How is that?" Asaram

grahito balo mam anadrtya durmate. "This rascal boy, he does not care for

me, and he has learned this Krishna consciousness, and you have taught him.

How is that?"

 

santi hy asadhavo loke

durmaitras chadma-vesinah

tesam udety agham kale

rogah patakinam iva

 

"So I think these demigods who are followers of Visnu, they are coming in

disguise and poisoning my son by teaching Krishna consciousness, and you did

not take care of him. So what is this?"

Then the teachers replied,

 

na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam

suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro

naisargikiyam matir asya rajan

niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma nah

 

They said, "My dear King, don't think we have taught him like this. It is

not... I know, it is not our duty to teach him against your will. But his

Krishna consciousness is not due to our teaching; neither somebody is coming

in disguise and teaching him." Na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam. "He is

neither taught by us, nor by anyone else." Suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro.

Indra-satro. The enemy... The Hiranyakasipu is the enemy of the demigods;

therefore he is addressed as Indra-satro. As he addressed the brahmana,

brahma-bandho, so they retaliated also, that "You are enemy of the

demigods." Naisargikiyam, "By nature he is doing that. We try to forbid him.

We try to stop him chanting Hare Krishna, but still he's doing." Matir asya

rajan niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma. "You don't be angry upon us. We never

did it." So... "He is, by his own nature he chants, he preaches, he's doing

all this."

 

gurunaivam pratiprokto

bhuya ahasurah sutam

na ced guru-mukhiyam te

kuto bhadrasati matih

 

Then he again asked his son, "Now I understand that your teacher has not

taught you all these things. You rascal, where you have learned all this

Krishna consciousness?" (laughter) Abhadra. Kuto abhadrasati matih:

"Wherefrom you got this rascal wisdom? Tell me." So this is the position,

you see. Even father becomes enemy.

Now, Prahlada Maharaja is replying. Prahlada Maharaja is replying,

 

matir na krsne paratah svato va

mitho bhipadyeta grha-vratanam

adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram

punah punas carvita-carvananam

[sB 7.5.30]

 

"My dear father, don't be afraid. It is not a thing to be taught." Matir na

krsne. "Nobody can become Krishna conscious," matir na krsne parato, "being

taught by others," matir na krsne paratah svato va, "or by mental

speculation or thinking oneself," mitho bhipadyeta, "or by making conference

meeting, religious meeting, conference." No. Three things. One thing is to

learn Krishna consciousness by speculative method, self-realization. Just

like so many people are very much interested that "Why shall I go to a guru?

I can realize myself. I shall meditate." So that is called svatah. And

paratah means by others' instruction. And mitho, mitho means by assembly. So

who? Now, grha-vratanam. If one is grha-vrata... There are two things:

grhastha and grha-vrata, or grhamedhi. "So those who are grha-vrata..."

because he is pointing out his father's position, that he's grha-vrata. He

has no other business. He simply wants to get money, hiranya. Hiranya means

gold, and kasipu, a nice apartment. That's all. So he says that

grha-vratanam, "If one makes it his point to remain in a comfortable home

life, for him, either by speculation or by teaching or by meeting, he'll

never develop Krishna consciousness." Grha-vratanam. Then what is their

position? Now, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: "They are unable to control

their senses, and as such, they are entering into the darkest region of

material existence." Punah punas carvita-carvananam: [sB 7.5.30] "Their only

business is chewing the chewed." They have no other ways. Grha-vratanam,

those who want to be happy materially, actually they are chewing the chewed.

Material happiness means sex life, ultimate, utmost, topmost happiness. So

people are simply trying to, how to utilize this sex life in so many ways,

in pictures and in... I do not wish to discuss. In dancing, in club, in so

many ways. Because they cannot control the senses. The same thing, same

thing, the same sex life in different way. Sometimes a naked dance,

sometimes in this way, sometimes in that way. Therefore it is called punah

punas carvita-carvananam [sB 7.5.30]. I have heard that some people go to

Florida and they spend fifty thousand dollars per week for organizing naked

dance. So naked woman he has seen so many times, but still he spends more

money to see it in a different way. That is called punah punas

carvita-carvananam [sB 7.5.30], "chewing the chewed."

So persons who are too much attached to sense gratification, and they have

made it their conclusion that "We shall be happy within our family life or

this social life..." Vidyapati sings, tatala saikate vari-bindu sama

suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). Our society means... Society, friendship, and

love. There must be woman, must be children, suto-mita-ramani-samaje. So

there is some pleasure, undoubtedly. Otherwise, why people are working so

hard to stick to this position? Vidyapati sings that tatala saikate

vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). There is undoubtedly some

pleasure, but that pleasure is so insignificant that it can be compared: a

drop of water on the desert. Desert, if you want to utilize desert to make

it a garden or productive field, you have to pour water. The whole ocean

water you have to pour there. Now, if somebody says, "All right, you want

water. Now take this one drop water," then what it will do? Similarly, our

heart is hankering after so many things. We are hankering... Actually we are

hankering after Krishna, but we do not know. We are trying to satisfy our

hankering in so many ways in material life. Actually we are hankering after

Krishna. Just like a small child, it is crying. It cannot express, but it is

wanting the mother's breast feeding. So you cannot stop him crying unless it

is transferred to the mother. Similarly, actually we love Krishna. That is a

fact. Because we love Krishna... Therefore you, who did not hear even the

name of Krishna, say, four or five years ago, why you after so much Krishna?

This is the proof, that actually we are after Krishna. This Krishna

consciousness movement is being accepted in Western countries by the younger

generation. Why? Because every one of us, we love Krishna. But it is now

covered by maya. We have to simply take out the covering, maya; then we are

Krishna conscious.

That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta,

 

nitya-siddha Krishna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya

sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

 

That Krishna consciousness is not an artificial thing, that we are making

some propaganda on Krishna consciousness, publishing some books, magazines,

and our preachers are going place to place. No, there are so many propaganda

is going on. But they are not so effective. And our, what means we have got

to make propaganda? We simply make this propaganda, "Please chant Hare

Krishna." That's all. Of course, we do sincerely. So if we propagate

sincerely and seriously, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered, yare dekha,

tare kaha Krishna upadesa... [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. We must be sincere. Then,

if we canvass, "Please chant Hare Krishna," it will be effective. It will be

effective. The business is not very serious or very difficult. Caitanya

Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha, tare kaha 'Krishna'... "Anyone you meet, you

simply request him about hearing about Krishna." So... But if one is so much

covered by materialistic enjoyment, it takes little time. It takes little

time. Otherwise, automatically there is love for Krishna, and

sravanadi-suddha-citte...

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, sravanam. If we hear about Krishna

constantly, through realized souls, not professional-if we hear, satam

prasangan mama virya-samvido [sB 3.25.25]-then automatically, our dormant

Krishna consciousness come out. So Prahlada Maharaja says, therefore, that

"Those who are determined to become happy within this material world, they

cannot be raised to Krishna consciousness either by personal teaching or by

making conference or by mental speculation." That is not possible, because

he is determined. So our duty is that we should know that in the

materialistic way of life we shall never be happy. This is called knowledge.

And vairagya. So this vairagya and knowledge is not so easy. Prahlada

Maharaja says, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: it is not possible. That

means he assures his father, "Don't be worried. You will never be Krishna

conscious. (laughter) Because your only aim is to stick to home and money

and women. Therefore rest assured, you'll not be ... It is not that a person

like you will be raised to Krishna consciousness." Then? How you have done?

The next question should be: Why they are sticking to this materialistic way

of life?

That is answered by Prahlada, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [sB

7.5.31]. "These persons, those who are so much materially attached, they do

not know the ultimate goal of life is Visnu, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, Visnu." That is actually the ultimate goal of life. We are here in

this material world, forgetting Krishna, to enjoy, to lord it over the

material nature. Everyone is trying to become the lord, master of

material... That is struggle. Nobody can become lord or master of this

material world. But that struggle to become master, they are taking it

happiness. They are taking it happiness. That is the nature of persons who

are influenced by the modes of passion. They'll work hard, and that will,

they will take it is very good, pleasing. Because they do not know that

the... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah

[sB 7.5.31]. They are hoping against hope to become happy within this

material world. That is the whole history. Take the history, any history,

modern history. There are so many empires: the Roman Empire, the

Carthaginian Empire, the Greek Empire, the British Empire recently, Hitler's

Nazism, and so many. For some time they become very powerful. Just like

Hiranyakasipu, he's now very powerful. He's thinking, "Nobody can..." Now

today he'll be killed. Kesava-dhrta narahari rupa is coming. So this demonic

civilization will never be successful. That's a fact. But they are so fool,

they do not see even historical evidences. So many empires failed. The Roman

Empire failed, the British Empire failed. Still, somebody is trying to

create another empire, another, different empire. Just like your President

Nixon, he's trying to influence all other nations under his control. Why? Of

course, I should not speak all these things. There may be criticism. But

that is the way, going on. That is the way. We can understand. We can

understand politics, economics, everything, but we do not bother about. But

our aim is that this way of life, to increase materially happiness, it will

never be successful. That is our conclusion. We are not fools that we have

given up everything for advance in Krishna consciousness. Because we know

that this, this way we shall never be happy. It is not possible.

That is explained by Prahlada Maharaja. These rascal people who are so much

materially attached... Krishna also says in the Bhagavad-gita,

 

bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam

tayapahrta-cetasam

vyavasayatmika buddhih

samadhau na nigacchati

[bg. 2.44]

 

Those who are too much attached, bhoga, material enjoyment, aisvarya,

material opulence ... Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrta-cetasam. Persons

whose heart has been misled by this kind of civilization, they cannot take

to Krishna consciousness. Therefore to become too much materially opulent is

a disqualification for attaining Krishna consciousness. It is a

disqualification. Because they don't care. Just like in our temple, not very

rich men, they are coming, because they (say,) "What is this nonsense,

Krishna consciousness? We have got everything. These boys, they haven't got

to eat anything; therefore they are chanting Hare Krishna on the street.

That's all." They think like that. "They're needy. All right, they are

needy. Give them some money." That's all. They don't like to take anything

from us because the same business, matir na krsne paratah svato va. They'll

never understand, because their aim is grha-vratanam. They want to be

happy... Although they are seeing there is no happiness, they never can be

happy, still... This is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [sB 7.5.30],

chewing the chewed. One, the sugarcane, is chewed by somebody. It is thrown

away. And if somebody else comes and chew it again, what juice he will have

it? So punah punas carvita... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [sB

7.5.31]. Durasaya ye durasaya visaya vasi (reads Sanskrit commentary)

tantraya karanam te hi visnum na viduh. Tatra hetu svasminn eva arthe

purusartha yesam tesam gatim gramyam. Na tu te 'pi guru pati syat visnu

jnasyasi tatra bhak bahir visaye bahavo yesam te bahir arthas tann eva guru

tena mantra silam yesam te.

So one who is fixed up in this conclusion, that "We shall become happy with

this materialistic way of life," they cannot take to Krishna consciousness.

And they do not know also that our ultimate goal of life is Krishna, Visnu.

Then why it is so? Now, andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te pisa-tantryam

uru-damni baddhah. They have become blind. They are blind themselves, and

they are also led by blind leaders. The leaders, at the present moment,

leaders, they say that "Why you are going to church? Why you are going to

temple? If you want your bread..." Just like in Christian religion you go to

church, "O God, give us our daily bread." But the atheist class, they are

propagating, "For bread, why you are going to church? You make industry, you

make business, and you get bread." But actually... We were just talking that

there are so many unemployment. Our Karandhara prabhu was... No. Who was

talking? Syamasundara. Syamasundara said that the computer... What is

called, computer? It can do thousands of men's business. So they have

discovered this machine. That means thousands of men will be unemployed.

That is actually happening in your country due to so many machines. Now,

take for example, formerly... You have seen the picture, Krishna, Vrndavana

picture, Krishna's father transferring Krishna. They were going on bullock

carts, no motorcar. You have seen the picture. So formerly, transport was

bullock carts. The cows and the bulls, the bulls were employed for

agricultural purpose, for drawing the carts. So there was no necessity of

motorcar. Now you have got motor, motor-tractor. You don't want the

bullocks. Therefore kill them. How you can utilize them? Therefore you must

have slaughterhouse to kill them. And as soon as you kill them, then you

have to eat them. So this is the, I mean to say, entanglement. If you kill,

then you become responsible for being killed. The subtle laws...

Therefore, without knowing our ultimate goal of life is Visnu, na te viduh

svartha-gatim hi visnum... [sB 7.5.31]. That is our interest. The human form

of life is offered by nature after so much evolutionary process. Just to

understand Visnu, God, this is the only business. But instead of attending

our real business, we are trying to be happy in other ways. Then you can say

that "If we are engaged in real business, then how the economic question

will be solved? We have to work." That's all right, you work. But work

simple. Why you have invented so much botheration? Work is there. If you

have cows and if you have got land, then you till the land, get grains, and

there is milk, there is fruit, there is flower. Anywhere, you can live

peacefully. Whole economic question is solved. And because we have

forgotten, we have missed the real point, that our life is meant for

God-realization. We are simply increasing botheration. Punah punas carvita.

Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. The leaders

are blind; we are also blind. So they are advising that "If you want to

solve your economic problem, why you are going to church? Why you are going

to temple? Come here, increase business, industry. Take loan and start

business." That's all. This is going on. But actually, the more we are

trying to mislead this people... Because they are thinking it is all right.

They are... That the social condition is becoming more and more grave.

That's a fact. We are trying to solve one problem, but many other problems

are coming because we do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Because

we are missing the real point.

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum

durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [sB 7.5.31]. These rascals, they are

thinking that by so-called economic development, by exploiting material

resources, we shall be happy. That is not possible. The best example your

country has given. You have exploited the material resources, and other

countries are also following, but where is the happiness? Instead of

happiness, there is "hippyness." (laughter) So still, they have no eyes to

see that "Where we are going?" Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas

carvita-carvananam [sB 7.5.30]. Because we cannot control our senses, we are

driving, we are being pushed towards the darkest region of material

existence, very hard to leave. Darkest region means that we are going to

become animals next life. Because this is animalistic civilization. Nature

gave us the opportunity to realize God, but God-realization is meant for

human being. The human being, if he does not realize God, he's simply

engaged in animalistic way of life-eating, sleeping, mating-then nature will

call, "All right, sir, again become animal." Punar musiko bhava: "Again

become a mouse." You know this story? Punar musiko bhava. There is a story.

There is a very nice story. One rat, mouse, he came to a saintly person.

Everyone comes to saintly person for some blessing, you see. Real blessing

they don't want. Some material blessing. Real blessing, Krishna, they don't

want. If you give him some blessing that "You become very rich man and..."

These are all very well, this. So this mouse also came and begged the

saintly person, "Sir, I am in difficulty. If you give me some blessing?"

"What is that?"

"The cat chases after me always. I'm very unhappy."

"So what do you want?"

"Now, if you make me a cat, then I can get relief from this thing."

"All right, you become cat." So he became cat.

So after few days, again he comes. "Sir, again I am in trouble."

"What is that?"

"The dog is chasing me." (laughter) Don't laugh, hear seriously. "Dog is

chasing me."

"All right, then, what do you want?"

"Now, make me a tiger."

"All right, you become a tiger."

So when he became a tiger he was staring on the saintly person like this.

So he asked, "Why you are staring upon me? You want to eat me?"

"Yes."

So he again curses, punar musiko bhava: "Again you become mouse. Again you

become mouse."

So that is our position. We are advanced in civilization. Now we want to

kill God. So we are again going to be uncivilized, to remain in the forest

and to remain naked. Actually, they are practicing that: nature's way. So

again they are going to be aborigines. And that is being practiced. They are

going to the forest, they remain naked. So actually, punar musiko bhava:

"Again become mouse." Civilized human being means God conscious, happy life,

no trouble, no enviousness, everything happy, no hard labor. Why hard labor?

Everything is there. You just employ your little intelligence, you get

sufficient food by grains, by fruits, by flowers, milk. There is no

difficulty if we remain in our own way. So that is the difficulty, that we

do not know that our ultimate goal of life is God-realization. Then God has

got all arrangement. You cannot produce fruits and grains in factory. They

are given by God. Why? That "You eat them and be Krishna conscious, chant

Hare Krishna." But we don't want that. We want slaughterhouse,

unnecessarily. Actually, if you go to the store... There are so many stores.

How many stores are selling only meat? It is not possible. Ninety-nine

percent fruits, vegetables, grains you are taking, and maybe a little

percentage of meat. So why you cannot give up this little percentage? If you

think that meat is very palatable, why don't you live on meat? Russia is

also trying like that. That has become the fashion. In Moscow, it was very

difficult to find out nice grains. With great difficulty Syamasundara used

to spend two hours daily to secure these things.

So this is the problem. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durassaya ye

bahir-artha maninah [sB 7.5.31]. They are trying to be happy by the

arrangement of these material activities. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te

pisa-tantryam. They do not know that the material nature is so strong that

you cannot get out of it unless you are prepared to suffer more and more. If

you take to natural life and live peacefully and take to Krishna

consciousness, that is your real life. And if you simply increase

botheration and problems, then you'll have to suffer. That is the position

of modern civilization. Actually, superficially we see that material

advancement of material science, people have got so many machines, so many

facilities. But actually, they are in trouble. Just like I gave you one

example: the computer machine. It can work for thousands of men. So

thousands of men means the thousands of men must be unemployed. And

especially in your country, they are taking advantage of this machine

because the salary is If you want to pay to the worker, a big, big salary.

So they want to save. They are taking machine, and they think they will save

money, so many workers. But the workers are becoming unemployed. The

government has to give them welfare. The government will tax. That's all.

(laughter.) Government will not give money, welfare, from government's

pocket. The government will increase your taxation. So you are..., you stop

payment by importing some machine, now you have to pay that money to the

government. This is called entanglement. This is a crude example. I don't

say that you stop all this business, but the material world is like that.

You want to solve something; instead of solving, you'll create so many

problems. This is material life. Because our life is not meant for solving

problems and creating problems. Our life is meant for understanding God.

Then everything is all right. But that you have given up.

 

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum

durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah

andha yathandhair upaniyamanas

te pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah

[sB 7.5.31]

 

They do not know that you cannot go an inch beyond the stringent laws of

material nature. That is not possible.

Then the next question is that how... People are not interested in Krishna

consciousness, and then, they are misled by blind leaders. So how, what is

the solution? That is Prahlada Maharaja saying,

 

naisam matis tavad urukrama?ghrim

sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah

mahiyasam pada-rajo-bhisekam

niskincananam na vrnita yavat

 

Therefore one has to take shelter of a pure devotee. That is the only

solution. He says, naisam matis tavad urukrama?grhim. The beginning was that

"They are not interested in Krishna consciousness." Then how to become

Krishna conscious if that is the solution? Then Prahlada Maharaja says,

naisam matis tavad: "So long one does not approach a pure devotee,"

mahiyasam niskincananam, "great personalities, who has no more any material

interest," niskincana, "and takes the dust of his lotus feet on the head..."

Naisam matis tavad urukrama?ghrim: "So long one does not approach such

personality, there is no possibility of becoming Krishna conscious." Naisam

matis tavad urukrama?ghrim. As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and

takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately,

anartha apagamah, he'll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he'll

forget this idea that "Materially we can advance." This is the process. So

we have to approach a niskincana, who has nothing to do with this material

world. His only ambition is to serve more Krishna. And if somebody

approaches him and takes the dust of his lotus feet, then he can understand.

Mahiyasam pada-rajo-bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat. (aside:) Our

time is over? All right.

So in this way Prahlada Maharaja talked with his father, and the father

became more angry. Instead of taking the lesson ... Murkhaya upadesa hi

prakopaya na santaye. If you teach lesson to a foolish person, he'll be

simply angry. He'll not take your lesson. How it is so? Payah-panam

bhuja?ganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. If you keep a snake and if you want to

make friendly behavior with him, that, "My dear snake, don't bite any more.

I'll give you milk and banana. You eat here and stay here nicely," he'll

not... His poison will increase, and one day he will... There is a story in

the Hitopadesa: one day, one... The same thing. So payah-panam bhuja?ganam

kevalam visa-vardhanam. So these are lessons, stories. So his father,

Hiranyakasipu, became more and more angry. So one day... Because after all,

son and father... The son was simple boy. So one day he said, "Prahlada, I

shall now kill you. I shall see how your Krishna saves you." So immediately,

Prahlada was seeing to the pillars of the hall. He was king. So

Hiranyakasipu asked him, "Is your God, Krishna, in the pillar?" He said,

"Yes, sir. Yes, my father, He is there." So immediately, with anger he broke

the pillar and Nrisimhadeva came out.

Now we can honor Him. (end)

(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34. Los

Angeles, May 27, 1972. )

----------

---------------------------

Srila Rupa Goswami mentions some of the benefits of worshipping a Nrsimha

shalagram sila in his book, Padyavali:

"A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha shalagram sila

destroys the sin of murder. Water that has washed the lotus feet of the

Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff offered to the

Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere

surrender to the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of adultery with

the wife of the spiritual master. Association with the devotees of the

Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of offenses to the devotees. This is

the extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha shalagram sila."

[ Srila Rupa Goswami: Padyavali, Verse 116]