(no subject)

[Guest guest]

" Gunavataras "

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.298-313

New York, December 20, 1966

 

listen

 

 

 

 

 

Prabhupada:

 

matsya, kurma, raghunatha, nrsimha, vamana

varahadi-lekha yanra na yaya ganana

 

Now Lord Caitanya is describing about lilavatara. So they are some of the

names of the lilavatara. There are innumerable lilavatara, but these are some

of

the names: Matsya, Kurma, Raghunatha, Nrsimha, Vamana, Varahadi. In

Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a verse in which some of the names of the lilavatara

is

mentioned:

 

matsyasva-kacchapa-nrsimha-varaha-hamsa-

rajanya-vipra-vibudhesu krtavatarah

tvam pasi nas tribhuvanam ca tathadhunesa

bharam bhuvo hara yaduttama vandanam te

 

So all these incarnations, especially this lilavatara, lila incarnation, they

come, they descend on this material world, to settle up some disturbances by

the demons. There are two classes of men in this world, the deva and the

asura. Deva means those who are devotees, those who are conscious, Krsna

conscious,

they are called deva, gods, demigods. And demigod does not mean that

something extraordinary. They are also living entities like us, but they are

completely Krsna conscious, and therefore they have got unlimited power, and

they are

entrusted with some of the management of this material world. They are called

deva. And the asuras, demons, atheists, they are not entrusted. They are simply

 

meant for creating disturbances. So when the atheist class, the number of

atheist class, increases, at that time it becomes intolerable for the devas and

 

the gods to remain here because the asuras can create much disturbances. So at

that time, indrari-vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge [sB 1.3.28]. Indrari.

Indra means the head of the demigods. When his enemies are increased and create

 

disturbance, these lilavataras, they come. As it is stated in the

Bhagavad-gita, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: [bg. 4.8] "Just to

deliver the

faithful and to annihilate the unfaithful," yuge yuge sambhavami, "I come in

every millennium."

 

lilavatarera kailun dig-darasana

gunavatarera ebe suna vivarana

 

Now Lord Caitanya says, "I have mentioned some of the lilavatara. Now,

Sanatana, you just hear from Me about gunavatara." Gunavatara means the

incarnation

of the material qualities. There are three qualities in the material world:

goodness, passion and ignorance. So each quality is controlled by the Supreme

Lord Himself by His expansion of different incarnation. Brahma, visnu, siva --

tina guna avatara. Now on these three qualities, material modes of nature, the

heads are Brahma-Brahma, the first living creature, Brahma -- and Visnu --

Visnu, God Himself -- and Siva, Lord Siva. Siva's position is between Brahma

and

Visnu. Visnu is God, and Brahma is living entity. Gradation. Living entities,

they are also parts and parcels of God. Siva is also part and parcel of God.

Visnu is also part and parcel of God. But there are degrees of power. That we

have already discussed. Krsna is cent percent, Visnu is ninety-four percent,

Siva is eighty-four percent, and we living entities, we are seventy-eight

percent. So tri-guna angikari' kare srsty-adi-vyavahara. They have nothing to

do

with these material modes of nature. Just like a person in charge of the

criminal

department or jail department, but we should not think that he is also one of

the prisoners because he is in charge of the jail department. No. Similarly,

Siva, Lord Siva, he is in charge of the modes of ignorance, but he is not

ignorant. He is the most enlightened devotee of Lord. He has got a parampara,

disciplic succession, which is called Visnu Svami-sampradaya. There are four

sampradayas of great devotees of Lord: one from Brahma, one from Siva, and one

from

Laksmi, and one from the Kumaras. So Lord Siva, although he is in charge of

the department of the modes of ignorance, but he is not ignorant. You should

not mistake that. Similarly, Brahma is also in charge of this passionate

department, creative initiation. This, whatever we are creating, the creative

incentive, that is from Brahma, passion. And ignorance, they neither create...

They

simply destroy. And Visnu, He has taken the charge of maintenance, because

without God nobody can maintain us. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman: "One

personality,

one eternal personality, He maintains all other plural eternities." We are

also eternities, but we are maintained by Visnu. Even Brahma is also maintained

 

by Visnu, and Siva is also maintained by Visnu. So these are three qualitative

incarnations: Brahma, Visnu and Siva.

 

bhakti-misra-krta-punye kona jivottama

rajo-gune vibhavita kari' tanra mana

 

Now, what is the constitution of Brahma? Brahma... Just there are so many

innumerable living entities. If some of them, they are devotee, but they want

to

enjoy this material world... They want to enjoy. So they are devotee for

taking some favor for God and want to enjoy this material world. He is called

Brahma. Brahma's constitutional position is that.

 

bhakti-misra-krta-punye kona jivottama

rajo-gune vibhavita kari' tanra mana

garbhodakasayi-dvara sakti sancari'

vyasti srsti kare krsna brahma-rupa dhari'

 

Sometimes such pious living entities are not available, so sometimes Krsna

Himself becomes Brahma and for maintenance, for creation...

 

bhasvan yathasma-sakalesu nijesu tejah

sviyam kiyat prakatayaty api tadvad atra

brahma ya esa jagad-anda-vidhana-karta

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

Now, Brahma's description is given here, that bhasvan yathasma-sakalesu

nijesu tejah. Just like valuable stone... The example is very nice, valuable

stone,

just like diamond. Diamond has got power to illuminate. And what is this

diamond? The diamond is made by the interaction of sunshine. All these valuable

 

stones, they are products of sunshine. So as the diamond has got power of

shining power, it is derived from the sun, or diamond, the moon also, it

derives

power from the sun, similarly, Brahma, although he is very powerful, he is

known

as creator of this universe, but he is just like diamond. He inherits power

from the Supreme Lord, so he becomes powerful. Bhasvan yathasma-sakalesu nijesu

 

tejah. That is simply a bit of power. Just like a diamond, diamond also

illuminating, but it is not original luminous. Original luminous is sun, and

the

illumination expanded by diamond is not so valuable as the sunshine. Similarly,

 

Brahma, although we see him so powerful, he has little power derived from the

Supreme Lord. That is the example given here.

 

kona kalpe yadi yogya jiva nahi paya

apane isvara tabe amse 'brahma' haya

 

Kona kalpe. Kalpa means the duration of one creation. This material creation,

bhutva bhutva praliyate [bg. 8.19], it is created at a certain interval, and

it stays for some time. Again it is annihilated. So again, at the time of

creation, if somebody is not available, then the Supreme Lord Krsna, He becomes

 

Brahma Himself.

 

yasyanghri-pankaja-rajo 'khila-loka-palair

mauly-uttamair dhrtam upasita-tirtha-tirtham

brahma bhavo 'ham api yasya kalah kalayah

sris codavahema ciram asya nrpasanam kva

 

So,

 

nijamsa-kalaya krsna tamo-guna angikari'

samhararthe maya-sange rudra-rupa dhari

 

Similarly, sometimes, when Siva is not available... Siva is available.

Nijamsa-kalaya krsna tamo-guna angikari'. Now Krsna, the Lord Himself, when He

accepts the management of these modes of ignorance, He is called Siva. So Siva,

 

Siva is God, but because he is in the department of ignorance, therefore his

name

is Siva. He makes siva. Siva, another meaning of siva is "auspicious." These

inauspicious persons who are in ignorance, for them, Siva worship, worship of

Lord Siva, is recommended so that gradually they come to the modes of passion

and goodness, and then they are liberated. So nijamsa-kalaya krsna tamo-guna

angikari', samhararthe. But his business is destruction. When there is some

destruction in this material world, you should know that is the action of Siva.

 

Perhaps you have seen one statue that is very popular, sold in antique

shops-Nataraja, dancing and fire, all round there is fire. When Siva begins to

dance,

his dance is very serious. As you dance, krsna-kirtana, so similarly Siva also

dances for annihilation. There is fire. By his dancing, there will be fire.

Samhararthe maya-sange rudra-rupa dhari. Maya-sange. He has got connection with

 

this material energy, and he is meant for destruction. Material energy is

under the, I mean to say, control of this Siva-rupa of Krsna. Therefore he is

called father. He is called father, and the material energy is called mother.

Father and mother, Durga.

 

maya-sanga-vikari rudra-bhinnabhinna rupa

jiva-tattva haya, nahe krsnera 'svarupa'

 

And because he has connection with this illusory energy, therefore he is not

exactly God. God has nothing to do with this material energy, illusory energy.

He is never illusioned. But Siva, Lord Siva, he has connection with Durga,

the material energy. Therefore his position is between the living entity and

Krsna.

 

Now Lord Caitanya is quoting one verse from Brahma-samhita about the real

position of Siva:

 

dugdha yena amla-yoge dadhi-rupa dhare

dugdhantara vastu nahe, dugdha haite nare

 

A very nice example. Just like if you mix up with milk something sour and it

turns into yogurt or curd, similarly, the difference between Siva and Lord

Krsna is like that. He is Krsna, but because he is mixed up with this material

energy, therefore he is something like that yogurt. So yogurt, the

constitutional position of yogurt is nothing but milk, but it cannot become

milk again.

Once turned into yogurt, there is no possibility of turning into milk. Neither

you can derive the benefit of milk from yogurt. Yogurt is used for some

purpose;

milk is used for some other purpose. Similarly, those who are worshipers of

Siva, they cannot derive the same benefit as persons who are in Krsna

consciousness. Just like you cannot derive the same benefit by drinking, by

taking

yogurt. If you require milk, if I supply you yogurt, it will give another, I

mean

to say, disturbance. Similarly, the distinction is given here, and He is

quoting from Brahma-samhita, most authoritative literature in this connection.

 

ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat

sanjayate na tu tatah prthag asti hetoh

[bs. 5.45]

 

Siva is not different from Krsna, but it is added with this material energy.

Therefore Siva has turned into yogurt.

 

yah sambhutam api tatha samupaiti karyad

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

But somebody is required for destruction, so that destruction part is taken

by Siva, and he is charge of this tamo-guna.

 

'siva'-maya-sakti-sangi, tamo-gunavesa

mayatita, gunatita 'visnu'-paramesa

 

Therefore Visnu and Siva, the difference is that Visnu is never in touch of

this illusory energy, or material energy, but Siva is in intimate touch with

the material energy. That is the difference between Siva and Visnu.

 

sivah sakti-yuktah sasvat

trilingo guna-samvrtah

vaikarikas taijasas ca

 

tamasas cety aham tridha

harir hi nirgunah saksat

purusah prakrteh parah

 

Now, Hari, Visnu is beyond this material world. That is accepted by

Sankaracarya. Narayanah parah avyaktat. Narayana, Hari... Although Sankaracarya

is

impersonalist, but he has accepted Narayana, Hari, the Supreme Lord, as beyond

this material infection. Narayanah parah avyaktat. And he has also agreed to

accept Krsna. Sa bhagavan svayam krsnah. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is

 

Krsna. It is accepted by Sankaracarya. Those who are reading the commentary by

Sankaracarya on the Bhagavad-gita, he will find in the beginning of that

narayanah parah. So it is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam that harir hi

nirgunah

saksat: "Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is beyond the touch of

this material qualities." Therefore His body is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [bs.

5.1]. His body is not made of this tri-guna. Our, this material body is made of

 

these three gunas: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Those who have got this

body from the modes of goodness, they are called brahmanas, or the most

intelligent persons. And those who have got their body from the modes of

passion,

they are called ksatriyas. They have got creative initiation. And those who are

 

mixed, they are called vaisyas, or the mercantile community. And those who

have got purely body from modes of ignorance, they are called sudras. So harir

hi... But Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond this. He is

transcendental. Harir hi nirgunah saksat purusah prakrteh parah.

 

Prakrteh parah means... Prakrti means nature. This material nature, He is

beyond this material nature. Prakrteh parah.

 

sa sarva-guna upadrasta

tam bhajan nirguno bhavet

 

The advantage is that if you want to get release from the infection of these

three gunas, three qualities, then you have to render devotional service to

the Lord. That is Krsna consciousness. Nirguno bhavet. Nirguna, when there is

mention of nirguna, nirguna does not mean quality-less. Nirguna means without

these contaminous three qualities of material nature. There are transcendental

qualities. Those transcendental qualities... You have got the list, twenty-six

qualities of the devotee. Those are transcendental qualities. Those

transcendental qualities are in God as well as in the living entity. But when

the living

entity comes in contact with material nature, those transcendental qualities

are covered by the material qualities. So they are not manifested. But as soon

as one becomes Krsna conscious, those transcendental qualities automatically

develop. Because they are already there.

 

It is stated that... What is that? The idea is that these qualities are

already there. Nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya. These qualities are

not

acquired. The transcendental qualities are not acquired. Rather, these

material qualities are acquired. But transcendental qualities are there in

minute

particles. As the transcendental qualities are there in God, similarly,

transcendental qualities are in living entities also. But when they are covered

by

these material qualities, the material qualities which we exhibit in the

material

world, that is acquired. But transcendental qualities are not acquired. So

nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya. They are not acquired.

Sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya. Those transcendental qualities again

revive themself

by this process: sravanadi-suddha-citte. As you purify your heart by this

process of hearing transcendental messages from Godhead, as your heart becomes

purified, those transcendental qualities automatically develop. And when fully

developed, it is called nirguna, nirguna, without any material quality. That

nirguna stage can be obtained, can be achieved, in touch with the nirguna,

Krsna.

Therefore it is stated, sa sarva-drg upadrasta tam bhajan. Bhajan. Bhajan

means by rendering devotional service to Him, that Supreme Lord, you get

revived

your transcendental qualities. And when you revive your transcendental

qualities, that means you are liberated, you are happy, you are transferred to

the

spiritual world.

 

Thank you very much. Any question? (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.298 -- New York,

December 20, 1966

 

 

 

HOME

 

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.