Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja In Birmingham, England

July 8, 2003

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus, and Didis,

Dandavats Pranams!

Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah!

Pujyapada Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja, from Sri Kesavji Gaudiya Matha in Mathura, is staying here at Sri Gour Govinda Gaudiya Math in Birmingham, England for the next two months! We are all feeling that, most definitely, a great boon has been granted us by the causeless mercy of our beloved Srila Gurudeva, Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Sri Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja. Pujyupada Tirtha Maharaja is literally showering us with the sweetest nectarean Hari-katha every morning and evening at scheduled class times and nightly programs.

Then mid-day if any one has any questions he patiently and lovingly answers all satisfactorily. We thought it would be so good for every devotee if he or she were able to be here at the Math and be able to ask Maharaja any questions they might have. But many of us live in remote locations around the world and are unable to take advantage of this opportunity. So, by his great compassion Pujypada Tirtha Maharaja has most happily agreed, with his most charming smile, to answer any question you would like to present him. Just send your question here at this address and we will ask him while we are sitting on the floor together in Srila Gurudeva's room.

Also we are going to do our best to transcribe as many of his classes here as we can and send them on to you at this billboard. Maharaja has been speaking on Srimad Bhagavatam, Cantos 1, 3, and 11 (Neemi-Navayogendra Samvad from chapter 2), and from Sri Caitanya Caritamrta he has begun to speak on Sri Rupa Siksa and quite stunningly on Raya Ramananda Samvad (Cc Madhya 8). He has said that he will speak on all books as the devotees would like. If you're able to come and hear please don't miss out on this unique chance.

As an introduction Maharaja dictated this brief commentary to Srimad Bhagavad-Gita sloka 16.6.

dvau bhuta-sargau loke'smin

daiva asura eva ca

daivo vistarasah prokta

asuram partha me srnu

"O Partha, in this world there are two types of created beings: the daivic and the asuric. The daivic qualities have been described at length. Now hear from Me about the asuric nature."

Here in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita Krsna told Arjuna that there are two types of people in this world. These two types are found in both men and women alike. They have different natures. One is a devotee, living a pure life, having an open mind, and is always happy. The other type of person is only concerned with taking enjoyment - they are just the opposite of the devotees. They are always making plans for material enjoyment, spending their time building houses, maintaining their wife and children, etc. They want that everything should only be for their enjoyment. But, at last, they will lose everything. They are never really happy, but actually most unhappy, always crying for material things.

Why are they crying? They have forgotten: "Who is my Lord? Who is my best beloved? Who can give me love?" But, they can never come to know the answer. So, they are always unhappy.

The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna has stated clearly, "Who is a great person? One who is devoted to Me. One who has left all material desires, all desires for his own satisfaction and pleasure, who is surrendered exclusively to Me alone. He is the great person. He is always happy. He is always found to be serving Me, being fully surrendered to Me. And therefore, I will be found to be serving him. I am the best giver of love."

We see this in the example of the Pandavas. They were fully surrendered to Sri Krsna. They were always praying to Him, "O You are mine. I am Your servant." And, because they were so fully dedicated to Him, Krsna was always coming to them, to serve them, to save them. Krsna would do anything for them. He even drove Arjuna's chariot during this battle of Kuruksetra. And there, during the course of the battle Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, went so far as to massage the legs of the horses, which were pulling the chariot, when they were tired. He even fed them and gave them water to drink. Why? How could He do this? Krsna was thinking, "O, these are my devotees horses. I will serve them."

Once, during the famous Rajasuya sacrifice, (The emperor, in those days, upon his ascendance to the throne, would send a challenge horse all over the world to declare his supremacy, and any ruling prince or king was at liberty to accept the challenge and express his tacit willingness either to obey or to disobey the supremacy of the particular emperor. One who accepted the challenge had to fight with the emperor and establish his own supremacy by victory. The defeated challenger would have to sacrifice his life, making a place for another king or ruler. So Maharaja Yudhisthira also dispatched such challenging horses all over the world, and every ruling prince and king all over the world accepted Maharaja Yudhisthira's leadership as the Emperor of the world. After this, all rulers of the world under the regime of Maharaja Yudhisthira were invited to participate in the great sacrificial ceremony of Rajasuya. S. B. 1.9.41 from the purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja) after the battle of Kuruksetra, Krsna washed the feet of the great sages who were present. Krsna was thinking, "These sages are the chief guests of My devotees, the Pandavas, at this yajna," so He was eager to serve them.

"Whoever serves Me, I will serve them, for they are My great devotees. They are truly great persons. Whoever is opposed to Me, wanting only material sex enjoyment, having a lusty mind, he will die unhappy, going to hell. So, I want that all people should become great persons. Then they will be happy."

Tridandi Swami Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja