Something about Sri Nathji (fwd)

[Guest guest]

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Letter COM:3544940 (78 lines)

Internet: M. Tandy <mpt@u.washington.edu>

14-Sep-00 19:17 -0700

Mahamantra (das) ACBSP (Vrindavan - IN) [8501]

Something about Sri Nathji (fwd)

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Dandavats, Mahamantra Prabhu. Jaya Prabhupada!

 

Since you're a staunch bhakta of Shri Govardhana-dhari and His Dauji,

I thought you might like this too. I'dosted it on the Deity list in

answer to someone's query for more information about Shrinathaji. I'll

write you later. Meanwhile, I hope you're well. Hare Krishna.

 

Your faithful servant,

 

Mukunda Datta dasa

 

 

 

 

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The Deity now known as Shri Govardhana-nathaji, or Shrinathaji,

who now stays in Nathadvara, is the same Deity once worshipped by Srila

Madhavendra Puri, the parama-guru of Lord Caitanya.

Probably the wealthiest Deity in North India, Shrinathaji has

always been enthusiastically pampered with elaborate and aesthetically

refined seva, offered with great affection by many devotees. Especially

notable are His diverse shringara (dressing and decoration) and bhoga

offerings. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura suggests that we can all learn the

art of Deity worship from those who worship Shrinathaji. His lotus feet

are seen by those who chant Hare Krsna without offense. He is in the pose

of holding Govardhana hill aloft with His left hand (cf. Cc., Madhya-lila,

18.38). Like may ancient Deities, there is a pITha (rectangular

frame) around His transcendental form, and it is decorated with various

auspicious figures and symbols. The Lord's complexion is blackish, like

monsoon clouds ready to burst, and he often holds lotus flowers. He

appears as a charming, seven year old boy. His eyes are also like lotus

petals, or, according to Srila Raghunathadasa Gosvami (Gopala-raja-stora,

3), like the bow of Kamadeva; still others explain His downward gaze as

His merciful glance, looking down upon us all (kRpAvalokana).

As described in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Shrinathaji was

previously known as Gopala (cf. Cc., Madhya-lila, 4.1). His worship was

taken over by devotees in the Vallabha sampradaya shortly after Srila

Madhavendra Puri's disappearance. However, this transfer is somewhat

controversial, as Vallabhite literature reports that it was a forced

takeover: the pujaris' homes were set on fire, and while they went to put

out the fires, new pujaris took over the temple. But an edition of the

Bhaktiratnakara says the Deity service was given to Vitthalanatha Gosvami

(Vallabhacarya's son), by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Whatever happened,

Raghunatha dasa Gosvami clearly recognized the love Vitthalanatha and his

followers had for the Gopala Deity (Gopalaraja-stotra, 13-14), as did

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura a couple centuries later (in his

Gopaladevastaka, 7). It seems that many of our acaryas previously had

closer association with the Pusti-marga acaryas, and several of them also

saw Shrinathaji when He stayed at the home of Vallabha's son near Mathura

(cf. Cc., Madhya-lila, 18.47).

Srinathaji, or Gopala, was evidently quite popular with other

medieval devotees as well, a there were Gaudiya preachers who founded

Shrinathaji temples in present-day Pakistan (Dera Ghazi Khan). Srinathaji

was even worshipped as far away as Russia (in the lower Volga region) and

other places on the Central Asian trade routes. About three hundred

years ago, the Deity moved from Govardhana to Rajasthana, like many other

Deities of Vraja. He has been opulently worshipped there (in the town

that has built up around Him) ever since. Tradition holds that He will

one day return to Govardhana, though only He really knows when.

 

From Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (Gopaladevastaka, 8):

 

prati-dinam adhunApi prekSyate sarvadApi

praNaya-su-rasa-caryA yasya varyA saparyA |

gaNayati kati bhogAn kaH kRtI tat-prayogAn

sphuratu hRdi sa eva zrIla gopAla-devaH ||

 

Every single day, even now, transcendental varieties of nectarean,

loving service are offered (to Gopala); in this regard, who is

the pious person who could count all the offerings? May that

very same Lord, Sri Gopala, manifest within your heart!

 

 

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(Text COM:3544940) --------

[Guest guest]

Dandavats. Jaya Prabhupada!

 

On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, Mahamantra (das) ACBSP (Vrindavan - IN) wrote:

(MDd wrote:)

> Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura suggests that we can all learn the

> art of Deity worship from those who worship Shrinathaji.

This isn't actually correct. In the Navadvipa-mahatmya*, Lord

Caitanya says he accepted raga-bhakti and exclusive dependence on

Krishna from the Visnusvami sampradaya; Deity worship was from

Madhvacarya. Sorry for my mistake.

 

Your servant,

 

MDd

 

 

*(ISKCON VRndAvana: Vrajraj Books, 1994. Bhanu Svami & Bhumipati Prabhu,

eds.; pg. 73)