Articles by Swami B. G. Narasingha Maharaja and disciples

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

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PURE NECTAREAN SUDDHA NAMA!!

[krsna]

THE WORSHIP OF GAURA GADADHARA

By

Swami BG Narasingha

 

QUESTION: I have seen on your website that you are worshiping Gaura-Gadadhara at your

asrama. Why are you worshiping Gaura-Gadadhara rather than Gaura-Nitai?

 

 

ANSWER: We are also worshipping Gaura-Nitai at our asrama in a separate temple.

However, your question was once asked to Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami to which he

replied, "If you do not worship Gaura-Gadadhara then you cannot understand Radha and Krsna."

 

In essence, it is as straight forward as that - without approaching Radha and Krsna

through Gaura-lila we will be baffled in our attempt. There is no difference between

Radha-Krsna and Gaura-Gadadhara. Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Krsna are identical and have

decended to teach the mellow of sankirtana-rasa, madhurya-rasa. Through Caitanya-lila we

can approach the lake of the sweetest nectar.

 

krsna-lila amrta-sara, tara sata sata dhara

dasa-dike vahe yaha haite

sri caitanya-lila haya, sarovara aksaya

mano-hamsa caraha tahate

 

"The pastimes of Krsna are the quintessence of all divine nectar, and Caitanya-lila is

an inexhaustible lake of that nectar which, flowing in hundreds of streams, floods the

hearts of the devotees in all directions. Therefore, O nectar-seeking friend, please

let your mind swim in that lake like a regal swan." (C.c. Madhya-lila 25.271)

 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says,

 

bhale gora-gadadharer arati nehari

nadiya-puraba-bhave jau bolihari

 

"As I behold the wondrous arati of my Lords Gaura and Gadadhara, I enter into the mood

of Their existence previous to appearing in Nadiya (Their Vrndavana-lila as Sri Sri

Radha-Madhava). It is simply indescribable."

 

At his place of bhajana in Godrumadvipa known as Svananda Sukhada-kunja, Bhakivinoda

Thakura installed beautiful Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and composed these

beautiful prayers.

 

ha ha mora gaura-kisora

kabe doya kori' sri godruma-bane

dekha dibe mana-cora

 

"Oh, my most youthful Lord Gaura-kisora! When will You be merciful and show Yourself to

me, thus stealing my mind within the forest of Godruma?"

 

ananda-sukhada, kunjer bhitore,

gadadhare bame kori'

kancana-barana, cancara cikura,

natana suvesa dhori'

 

"Within the grove of Ananda-sukhada-kunja, You stand with Sri Gadadhara on Your left

side, radiating the effulgence of pure gold. With beautiful curling hair, You are wearing

the fine dress of a dramatic actor."

 

dekhite dekhite, sri radha-madhava,

rupete koribe ala

sakhi-gana-sange, koribe natana,

galete mohana-mala

 

"In an instant Sri Sri Radha-Madhava will appear and brilliantly illuminate the entire

scene. Accompanied by all of Their confidential friends and associates, They will dance

with Their necks decorated with various types of golden necklaces."

 

ananga-manjari, sadoy hoiya,

e dasi-korete dhori'

duhe nivedibe, dunhara maduri,

heribo nayana bhari'

 

"The merciful Ananga Manjari, catching the hands of this maidservant, will take me to

offer me in devotion unto Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, and my eyes will be brimming with

pleasure to behold the beauty and sweetness of Them both."

 

When completing the compilation of "Bhagavata Arka Marici-mala", Bhaktivinoda also

expressed his vision of Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava as follows.

 

"The garland of verses from Srimad Bhagavatam sewn by Bhaktivinoda, who is always

absorbed in ecstatic love for Sri Gaura and Gadadhara, is now complete. Those devotees who

blissfully relish this book daily will certainly obtain the mercy of Sri Radha-Madhava.

Sri Radha-Madhava have appeared in Sri Navadvipa in Gauda-mandala along with Their

abode Vraja, as Sri Gadadhara-Gauranga, and They have performed Their eternal pastimes in a

different manner."

 

Why should we give so much consideration to the words of Bhaktivinoda? Because we are

in the parampara of Bhaktivinoda. We are 'Bhaktivinoda-parivara' (members of the

transcendental family of Bhaktivinoda, Kamala-manjari). Therefore, we take his words as

supreme guidance. Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in this world to reveal the place of Sri

Caitanya's appearance and to teach us the most effective mood of worship in Gaura-lila.

 

Some people claim to be raganugas (followers of the path of spontaneous love) and

others claim to be rupanugas (followers of Srila Rupa Gosvami) but in this day and age that

is not enough. If you are not a follower of Bhaktivinoda, if you have not placed your

head at his divine lotus feet and begged to be admitted as a member of his clan, then

you are nowhere!

 

The position of Bhaktivinoda Thakura is so exulted that at the end of his commentary on

Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wrote that he saw Bhaktivinoda as Gadadhara

Pandita. It may be inconceivable to our tiny brains how such transcendental arrangments

are possible, but the deep thinking devotees know that such divine wonders are possible

by the grace of the Lord.

 

Srila BR Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja spoke of this as follows in "Follow the

Angels."

 

"In another place he (Bhaktisiddhanta) wrote that the eternal pastimes are always going

on in Navadvipa-dhama. Sometimes they are underground, invisible to us, and sometimes

on the surface. Nitya-lila always is invisible to us. Now, suddenly, these two

personalities have come to the surface, Gadadhara Pandita and Svarupa Damodara. Both have come.

Svarupa Damodara came as Gaura-kisora and Gadadhara Pandita came as Bhaktivinoda

Thakura. This is not to be given expression in any and every place. This is concealed truth,

not to be expressed everywhere and anywhere. This is the fact: they are always here,

continuing their own function, their participation in the lila of Gauranga. Sometimes it

is underground, sometimes over-ground, but it is always difficult to recognize them.

 

"Prabhupada wrote, 'I suddenly found Svarupa Damodara as Gaura-kisora, and Gadadhara

Pandita as Bhaktivinoda Thakura - they most graciously gave me that sort of vision. I

could see them as two parsadas, the eternal companions of Gauranga. I found that.'" It is

mentioned in the conclusion to his Caitanya-caritamrta Anubhasya, 'Here, in

Navadvipa-dhama, the eternal pastimes are going on continuously; only those who have got that deep

vision can perceive it.'

 

gadadhara mitra-vara, sri svarupa damodara,

sada kala gaura-krsna yaje

jagatera dekhi' klesa, dhariya bhiksuka-vesa,

aharaham krsna-nama bhaje

sri gaura icchaya dui, mahima ki kava mui,

aprakrta parisada-katha

prakata haiya seve, krsna-gaurabhinna-deve,

aprakasya katha yatha tatha

 

"Prabhupada says, 'It is very difficult to perceive the sweet will of Sri Gauranga, but

if we can lift ourselves to that level, we see that Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Sri

Gadadhara Pandita are always engaged in their service here in Navadvipa. Sometimes it is

suppressed and sometimes it is appearing on the surface. In that plane all is going on

by the sweet will of Sri Gauranga, without any restriction. But now I find that those

two have appeared on the surface as Srila Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji and Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura. I have seen it with my own eye of divine service. But this is not to be

advertised, not to be given publicity anywhere and everywhere; people will laugh at it. But

this is my heartfelt conclusion."' (Follow the Angels)

 

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decends He does so with His associates, the Pancha-tattva

and others. Together they teach the fallen souls how to perform pure devotional service

to the divine couple in five transcendental mellows culminating in madhurya-rasa.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself concealed with the luster and mood of Srimati

Radharani - mahaprabhu sri caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya. With the luster and mood of

the supreme lover of Krsna, Vrndavana-candra has appeared to taste the transcendental

mellows of His own sweet devotional service.

 

Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, He should not be confused as

Navadvipa-nagara, a paramour or an enjoyer. Those who are malajusted and make the mistake of

considering Mahaprabhu as an enjoyer are mixing incompatible mellows and are thus

comitting a great offence. Their devotional service is thus ruined.

 

In the Panca-tattva, to the right of Mahaprabhu is Nityananda, who is non-different

from Baladeva. Sri Baladeva is the origin of the guru-tattva for the rasas of santa-rasa,

dasya-rasa, sakya-rasa, and vatsalya-rasa. Thus in Gaura-lila, Nityananda Prabhu heads

the guru-varga of those devotees absorbed in santa, dasya, sakya, and vatsalya-rasas.

 

To the left of Mahaprabhu is Gadadhara Pandita who is non-different from Radharani.

Srimati Radharani is the origin of the guru-tattva in madhurya-rasa. Thus in Gaura-lila,

Gadadhara Pandita heads the guru-varga of those devotees absorbed in the mellow

sweetness of madhurya-rasa.

 

If you are chanting the Panca-tattva mantra or worshipping the Deities of Panca-tattva

then you are also worshipping Gaura-Gadadhara, but you are most probably doing that

without any specific focus or attention. In other words you are doing so indirectly or in

general.

 

Gadadhar Pandita has the greatest love for Mahaprabhu. His love for Mahaprabhu is

catagorically greater than even that of Nityananda or Advaita Acarya. And how could it be

otherwise? He is non-different from Radharani, the greatest lover of Krsna. Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in this regard as follows:

 

"Sri Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami was the foremost amongst Mahaprabhu's intimate devotees.

As he is the origin of the sakti-tattva, he was present in the Lord's pastimes at both

Navadvipa and Nilacala. He lived first in Navadvipa, and later he lived as a

ksetra-sannyasi in a subforest near the ocean at Nilacala. The pure devotees who worship the

sweet feature of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda take shelter of Gadadhara and thus become known as

intimate devotees of Sri Gaura. Those who are not enthusiastic to worship the sweet

feature of the Lord perform devotional service under the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu."

(Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi 2.2, Purport)

 

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is worshipped on the path of arcana-marga He is worshipped

along with Visnu-priya but when he is worshipped on the path of bhajan-marga He is

worshipped along with Gadadhara Pandita. Gaura-Visnu-priya means Sri Caitanya as Gaura

Narayana and Visnu-priya as Bhu-devi (consort of Narayana). In the spontaneous stage of

bhajana Lord Gauranga and Gadadhara Pandita are worshiped in raga-marga - Gauranga as

Madhava and Gadadhara as Radharani. This is also confirmed in Jaiva Dharma, chapter 14.

 

Arcana or Deity worship is in and of itself not considered by our acaryas as bhajana.

This is no doubt a subtle topic but we must endeavor nonetheless to have some proper

understanding of it.

 

Arcana or the process of Deity worship is considered a practice of vaidhi-bhakti

wherein one's devotional service is regulated by rules and regulations while one's mood is in

awe and reverence. At this stage the worshipper still has attraction for aisvarya

(opulence) and rituals such as performing mudras and yajnas (fire sacrifices), etc.

 

Bhajana however is a stage of bhakti or devotional service that transcends worship. It

is difficult to find a single English word equlivent to bhajana. Simply to substitute

the word worship for bhajana will not surfice.

 

Bhajana is considered to be raganuga-bhakti or the process of expressing one's natural

spontaneous love for the supreme object of love, Sri Krsna. In such a stage of pure

devotional love, one transcends rules and regulations in favor of spontaneous affection to

which opulences and rituals fall by the wayside. In such a stage awe and reverence also

vanish and one knows the object of love as one's dearmost.

 

When the higher devotee installs a Deity and performs Deity worship then that is also

bhajana, but generally speaking bhajana means chanting the Holy Name. When advanced

sentiments of love of God manifest in a devotee who always chants the name of Krsna with

love, such a devotee is said to be performiing bhajana.

 

In other words bhajana is not just anyone's chanting of the Holy Name. Bhajana is a

stage of affection for Krsna that is achieved through pure chanting.

 

The solace for the neophyte devotees is that we should always think that, "my guru is

worshipping the Deity and I am simply assisting." If we think in this way then our

progress is guaranteed.

 

The worship of Gaura-Nitai has for many devotees become synonymous with sankirtana-lila

and this is rightly so. But sankirtana may be performed in either vaidhi-bhakti or in

raganuga-bhakti depending on the stage of one's advancement. In fact one may worship

Gaura-Nitai and perform sankirtana simply as a matter of yuga-dharma (duty) or one may

perform sankirtana in the mood of prema-dharma (the religion based on divine love).

Gaura-Gadadhara however are only worshipped in the mood of prema-dharma.

 

Sometimes a neophyte devotee rejects or even ridicules the worship of Gaura-Nitai

thinking that he should only be engaged in the highest type of service, the worship of

Gaura- Gadadhara. Such a mentality falls short of the proper siddhanta and is certainly

hellish. In reality both Gaura-Nitai and Gaura-Gadadhara are worshipped by the pure

devotees.

 

gadadhara-devera sankalpa ei-rupa

nityananda-nindakera na dekhena mukha

 

This is the vow of Gadadhara: he would never see the face of one who offends

Nityananda.

 

nityananda-svarupere priti yara nani

dekha o na dena tare pandita-gosai

 

Gadadhara Pandita would avoid being seen by anyone who has no love for Nityananda

Svarupa. (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 124-125)

 

gadadhara subha-drsti karena yahare

se janite pare nityananda-svarupere

 

Whoever receives the merciful glance of Gadadhara can know Nityananda Svarupa.

 

nityananda-svarupo yahare prita mane

laoyayena gadadhara jane se-i jane

 

And whoever Nityananda is pleased with can know Sri Gadadhara. (Caitanya-bhagavata,

Antya 7, 161-162)

 

The first Deities of Gaura-Gadadhara to be installed in a temple can be found at

Campahati in West Bengal not far from Sridhama Mayapura. This temple of Gaura-Gadadhara was

established by Vaninatha Vipra a devotee of Sri Caitanya. In the beginning of the 20th

century Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had this temple renovated and revived

the service of the Deity.

 

Other Deities of Gaura-Gadadhara can be seen at Bhaktivinoda's birth place in

Viranagar, at Bhaktivinoda's place of bhajana (Svananda-sukada-kunja) in Godrumadvipa, at the

Adbhuta Mandira at Yogapitha in Mayapura, at the Gadai-Gauranga Gaudiya Matha in Dacca,

at Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha in Mayapura and at many other Gaudiya Mathas.

 

Put simply, we are worshipping Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara because we have been directed to

do so by the example of our previous acharyas. The worship of Gaura-Gadadhara is a

fundamental aspect of Gaudiya Vaisnavaism and is not to be neglected or forgotten. One

cannot even think of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura or Srila Sarasvati Thakura without

accepting the worship of Gaura-Gadadhara, it is inseperable from their very life of Krsna

consciousness.

 

nilambhodi tate sada sva viraha ksepanvitam bandhavam

srimad bhagavati katha madiraya sañjivayan bhati yah

srimad bhagavatam sada sva nayanasru payanaih pujayan

gosvami pravaro gadadhara vibhur bhuyat mad eka gatih

 

"On the sands of the blue ocean in Puri, feeling deep separation from Himself (Krsna),

Mahaprabhu is consoled by His friend Gadadhara (Radharani). As one nears death,

suffering the loss of a beloved, Gadadhara tries to resuscitate Mahaprabhu by supplying the

intoxicating wine of krsna-katha to drown the agony of separation plaguing His heart. As

Gadadhara sings the songs of the Bhagavata, tears cascade from his eyes, like a shower

of flower offerings, washing the words from its pages. My only goal is to enter that

current of devotion flowing from the divine heart of that best of Gosvamis - Gadadhara."

(verse by Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja)

 

 

smara gaura-gadadhara-keli-kalam

bhava gaura-gadadhara-paksa-caram

sunu gaura-gadadhara-caru-katham

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

"Just remember the artistically playful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara. Just become a

loyal follower of Gaura and Gadadhara's camp. Just listen to the captivating stories of

Gaura and Gadadhara and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers."

(Godruma Bhajanopadesa by Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

 

 

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