"The Lotus feet of Lord Nityananda ..."

June 15, 2003

Nitai- .- kamala koti-candra-susitala

"The Lotus feet of

Lord Nityananda

are as cooling

as a million moons."

*****

The Significance

of the Auspicious Signs on the Lotus Feet

of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

*****

conch (sankha):

This auspicious sign indicates that those who take shelter of the lotus

feet of Lord Nityananda are always rescued from all sorts of afflictions.

Just as during the arati ceremony the conchshell is used to hold water

that is

offered directly after the fire of the ghee-lamp, similarly Nityananda's

lotus feet hold transcendental water that soothes His devotees from the

blazing fire of material miseries. Also this symbol proclaims ultimate

victory for the devotees, since the conchshell mark on His feet contains the entire ocean of material existence that may now be easily crossed. This mark also shows that those who resort to Nitai's feet attain complete

fearlessness.

*****

Flag (dhvaja):

This sign proclaims that devotees meditating on His feet, are given

security and safe protection from all sorts of fears.

*****

Fish (matsya):

This sign indicates that just as a fish cannot live without water,

similarly the

surrendered devotee cannot live a moment without directly associating

with His feet. It also shows that all of the most cherished desires and

longings of those who resort to Nitai's feet will be truly fulfilled.

Furthermore it

refers to the mind which is very fickle, just like a fish wavering this

way and

that, which after much meditation on His feet, finally enters the heart .

It also indicates that Nitai's feet will come to dwell in one's heart

only if the heart has been liquified by soft loving emotions, for His feet

do not thrive where it is dry.

*****

Lotus (Kamala):

This sign represents the increase of greed for nectar in the minds of the

bee like devotees who meditate on Nitai's feet. The lotus also signifies

that just as a lotus grows out of water, similarly those whose eyes swell with tears upon holding the Divine lotus feet of Srila Nityananda Prabhu to their heart, receive

the highest benefit. This mark also shows that the goddess of fortune,

Sri Laksmi Devi always resides at His feet rendering humble service. It

signifies that His feet are so soft that they can only be compared to

lotus petals. Indeed, upon first glancing at His lotus feet, you feel that you are directly perceiving fresh lotus blossoms by day which contract at night.

Similarly those who remain steeped in meditation on Their feet always

feel the blossoming unfolding of brilliant sattvika ecstasies that dispel

the darkness of ignorance. It also means that the bee of the devotee's mind cannot fly beyond the bondage of dry jnana (knowledge) and vairagya

(renunciation) without the temptation rendered by the superior nectar

of Their lotus feet.

Bow (dhanu):

This mark reveals that those who take shelter of Nitai's lotus feet will

be perpetually freed from all anxieties and difficulties. It also shows

that those who are stupefied in the material world remain motionless like a target and do not come to His feet. On the other hand, those who come to

the ultimate goal of His feet remain there and never go back to the

material world. Furthermore, when the mind of the devotee meets the target

of His feet, then prema ensues swelling up and overflows as the tears

showering from their eyes.

Goad (ankusa):

This sign indicates that meditation on Nitai's feet brings the elephants of

the devotee's minds under control and keeps them on the right path. It also

shows that those who stay on the path toward Their feet become superior

among men, just as one riding on top of an elephant travels far above the

rest.

Altar (vedi):

This sign proclaims that the sins of those who meditate upon His feet

are burned up as if on the altar of sacrifice. Furthermore, it indicates

that just as the universe is nourished by the brahmanas offering

fire-sacrifices, similarly those who offer their minds in sacrifice to His

feet stimulate universal nourishment that affects all of creation.

Half Moon (ardha-candra):

This mark symbolizes how His feet truly provide the desired objectives

of the devotees. It signifies that even devatas like Lord Siva (whose

symbol is

a half moon) have decorated their own heads with the soles of His feet. It

also shows that devotees who likewise decorate their own heads with His feet

can become exalted like Lord Siva. Just as the moon showerd nectar with its cooling rays, similarly Nitai's lotus feet shower nectar upon the devotees,

extinguishing the three-fold material miseries. So that the minds of the

devotees may reside at His feet, They bear the symbol of the moon (which

is the devata or presiding deity of the mind) upon His feet. Just as the

moon is one, though it destroys the darkness seen by many people

simultaneously, similarly the Lord is one though His cleverness can

deliver many souls at the same time. The half-moon also indicates that

since His toenails appear like ten splendorously full moons, the real moon

has shriveled up in shame and appears in half form.

Pitcher (kalasa):

This symbol shows that Nitai's feet hold the golden pitcher full of

purely nectarian ambrosia to be freely consumed by the surrendered souls.

Indeed, they will never be bereft of nectar, for this pitcher always remains

full. This mark also indicates that His feet can pour out nectar that

extinguishes the blazing three-fold miseries of the separated devotees.

The full pitcher is a sign that no inauspiciousness can come near His

devotees. Rather His feet bring ripples of happiness emanating from divine

auspiciousness.

Disk (cakra):

This mark cuts down the six enemies of the devotees - lust, anger, greed

illusion, envy and bewilderment. It indicates teja-tattva, or the principle

of brilliance by which He destroys the darkness of sins from within His

devotee's heart.

Sky (ambara):

This sign indicates that His feet are all pervading throughout the

entire creation, both within and without all manifestations. It also shows that even though His feet are everywhere, they are unattached just like the sky.

*****

Umbrella (catra):

This sign proves that those who take shelter of Nitai's feet are shielded

from the incessant rainfall of material miseries. It also denotes that

those who sit in the shade of His feet become exalted just like maharajas

(great kings), who usually have umbrellas held over their heads.

*****

Cow-hoof (gospada):

This mark signifies that for those who have taken full shelter of

uninterrupted meditation on His feet, the great ocean of worldy existence

becomes very minute and insignificant like the water held in a calf's

hoof-print and is thus easily crossed over.

*****

Thunderbolt (vrajra):

This mark reveals that meditation on Nitai's feet smashes to pieces the

mountain of His devotee's karmic reactions to past sins. It also indicates

that whoever holds on to His feet becomes as exalted as Lord Indra (whose

weapon is the thunderbolt)

*****

Rose-apple (Jamby-phala):

This sign is an indicator that His feet are the only objects to be

worshiped for all those who are residents of this region of Jambudvipa

('Island of the rose-apple' according to Vedic cosmography)

*****

Club (gada):

This symbol is to demonstrate that Nitai's feet are capable of chastising

the elephant of sinful lust. It further indicates that for whoever take

shelter of His feet, all their ancestors will also receive benefit.

*****

Spear (Sakti):

This sign assures those who wish to have the miserable bonds of the

mundane sphere released. For those who take shelter of Nita, His feet

immediately appear to slash all their entanglements and difficulties. It

also indicates that He is saktimana or the natural possessor of all divine

potencies, whereas His servants are not endowed with separate, independent power but are completely dependent on Him.

*****

Flower (puspa):

This symbol refers to the divine fame of His feet which spreads everywhere

just like the fragrance of a flower. It also shows that His feet are not

hard, but as soft as flower petals. It also means that just as every fruit comes into being after the plant blooms, similarly all spiritual fruits come into being after first blossoming at the soles of His feet.

*****

creeper (valli):

This sign symbolizes how intelligent persons hold on to the lotus feet

of Lord Nityananda firmly just as a creeper firmly grasps whatever it is

ascending.

*****

Plow (hala):

H.H. Gour Govinda Swami in his book 'The Flow of Nectar' explains:

"Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. His lotus feet are as cool as the cooling

effect of scores of moons. Balarama has a plow in his hand, and Krsna a

flute.

In the beginning, cultivation - karsana is necessary. Then all the nasty

weed-like elements will be rooted out. The field should be cultivated

properly with the plow of Balarama, then the field of the heart-hrdaya-ksetra becomes

fertile and the seed of the devotional creeper - bhakti lata - may be sown. After proper cultivation by the plow of Nityananda/Balarama when the land is

fertile, then the seed should be sown. Then as one develops prema bhakti he will be attracted by Krsna's flute. The flute is - mans akarsna -

attraction, Karsana - akarsana cultivation and enchantment.

*****

Excerpts taken from the book 'Radha-Krsna Nectar',chapter 'The

Significance of the Auspicious Signs' Published by Nectar books.

Sources given: Srimad Bhagavatam, Srartha - darsini (Srila Visvanatha

Cakravarti's Bhagavatam commentary), Ananda-candrika (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's tika on Govinda-lilamrta), Visvanatha's Rupa Cintamani,

Jiva Goswami's Sri kara-.-yugala-

samahti, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana,

Garga Samhita, and numerous other quotes and compilations.

gHari · June 15, 2003

June 15, 2003

Appearance of Lord Nityananda

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded on February 2nd 1977 in Bhubaneswar, India

So today, the appearance day of Nityananda Prabhu... Nityananda Prabhu is Baladeva, Baladeva-tattva.

vrajendra-nandana yei,

saci-suta haila sei, balarama haila nitai

"Who was formerly the son of Nanda Maharaja, He has appeared as the son of Sacidevi." Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mother's name was Sacidevi. So Krsna... Krsna is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. Now...

So Balarama... In the Vedic literature it is said, nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah; na bahuna srutena. So bala means strength. Sometimes some rascal philosophers, they take it that bala means bodily strength. They propagate this philosophy that "Unless you are bodily stout and strong, you cannot achieve spiritual salvation. You must be very strong and stout and eat meat and fight, and then you'll get next spiritual birth" No. This bala, this strength, is different. This is spiritual strength.

The difficulty of the present situation is that actually we are moving on account of spiritual strength, but they have no information of the spiritual strength. They are thinking of material strength. That is expressed here, that

ahankare matta hoiya,

nitai-. pasariya,

asatyere satya kori mani

This is due to ahankara. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [bg. 3.27 ]. Those who are vimudha, especially rascal... Mudha, rascals, and vi means visesa, visesanam, particularly. Ahankara- vimudhatma. The same thing which is spoken in the Bhagavad- gita, Narottama dasa Thakura says the same thing in a plain Bengali language. Ahankare matta haiya, nitai-.... By the spell of maya -- ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate [bg. 3.27] -- they are thinking that "We are independent. We can do whatever we like." This is called ahankara-vimudhatma. Under false pretext, false prestige, everyone is thinking that "We are independent. We can find out the solution of the problems of life by material adjustment," so on, so on. So that is our material disease. Ahankara-vimudhatma. Bewildered, they do not understand that the real strength is spiritual strength.

We see daily, see daily that a very strong man, very powerful man, very good brain, very good scientist... So where is the strength? The strength is atma. As soon as the atma, or the soul, goes out of this body, so intelligent, so strong, and so many things, that is nothing. That is the difference between dead man and the living man. A living man is very powerful, very good position, everything. As soon as he lies down, he is lying down on the floor, and if you kick him on his face, he'll not protest. So where is that strength? The strength is gone. That is spiritual strength. On the spiritual strength, the body moves. Suppose you have got a very good car, Mercedes car or Rolls Royce car. But when there is no petrol, how the car will move? It is not possible. There is spirit, petrol spirit. Similarly, real strength is spiritual strength. That spiritual strength is Balarama. Bala means strength. Therefore we have to take shelter of the lotus feet of Balarama, guru-tattva.

Balarama means guru-tattva. Balarama represents guru. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. If we want to understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu, if we want to understand Krsna, then we must take shelter of Balarama. Nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah. This bala- hinena labhyah, this Vedic injunction, means "Without the mercy of Balarama you cannot understand, you cannot realize your spiritual identification.

So that Balarama comes as Nityananda Prabhu. Balarama haila nitai. Therefore we must take shelter of Balarama. That is... This song has been sung by Narottama dasa Thakura. Nitai-.-kamala, koti-candra-susitala. If we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then we get peace. Koti-candra-susitala. Just like in daytime, especially in the summer season, we become very much exasperated. But at night, in the evening, as soon as there is moonshine, we become very much satisfied. All day's labor and fatigue is immediately moved. So nitai-.-kamala, the shade of Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet, is koti-candra-susitala, as pleasing as one crore of moonshine. One moonshine gives us so much pleasure. So if we want actually peace of mind, if we actually want to be free from this material fatiguement, then we must take the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu.

Nityananda Prabhu is the strength, spiritual strength. And without spiritual strength you cannot approach Krsna. Nayam atma pravaca... Simply by talking nonsense... Nayam atma pravacanena labhyah. If you are a good speaker, that does not mean you'll understand, yourself. Na medhaya: "Neither by good brain." Because you have got very good brain you'll understand Krsna? No! Nayam atma pravacanena labhyo na medhaya na bahuna srutena. If you think that you are a very good scholar, university degree-holder, then you'll understand -- no. This is not possible.

So we must have spiritual strength. That source of spiritual strength is Balarama, Krsna's next manifestation, prakasa- vigraha. Krsna is manifesting Himself through Balarama. So we have to take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu.

So the disease is there, but the remedy is also there. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. We are misunderstanding. The human society, they are trying to adjust things by the United Nations, but it is not possible. United Nations cannot do. In Melbourne I was speaking, so I accused the United Nations, "They're assembly of barking dogs." Because you cannot be united on this material platform. If you keep yourself that "I am dog,I am tiger,I am American,I am Indian,I am brahmana,I am sudra," then there is no question of United Nations. United Nations is possible when sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. You have to become purified on Krsna consciousness, not "I am American," not "I am Indian." No. This will not help.

nitai-.-kamala,

koti-candra-susitala,

je chayay jagata juray

The whole world is suffering, but if you want peace, then you take the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu.

heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krsna paite nai dhrdha kori' dharo nitair pay

Our real aim of life -- how to go back home back to Godhead and associate with Radha Krsna. In another song the same author says,

manusya-janama paiya,

radha-krsna na bhajiya, janiya suniya bisa khainu

Unless you come to Radha-Krsna, you cannot get real pleasure. If you want to dance and get pleasure, don't dance independently. Dance with Krsna. Then you'll be happy. The dancing is there, but dancing without association of Krsna... Just like here, in our temple, we are also eating, but we are eating the remnants of foodstuff left by Krsna. That is real pleasure. It is not that we are stopping eating. We are not stopping eating. We are not dry philosophers. Krsna baro doyamoy, koribare jihwa jay, swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai. All over the world we are eating Krsna prasadam, and we have got good experience. At least ten thousand men and women, they are taking Krsna prasadam, but we have no anxiety. We have no anxiety. A family consists of a few members. They are full of anxiety how to maintain the family. And we are maintaining a family of ten thousand men. We have no anxiety. Just see practically. We have no anxiety. We require thousands and thousands of rupees for maintaining Europe, America... a costly affair. But because we are under the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, Balarama, we have no anxiety. That means material life means anxiety. You cannot avoid anxiety if you lead a material life. Then you will be anxious.

That is Prahlada Maharaja's instruction. He was asked by his father, "My dear son, what you have learned, the best thing from your teachers?" So he replied, "My dear father..." He never said, "My dear father"; He said, "My dear best of the asuras." Asura- varya. Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam. Tat sadhu manye 'sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. The whole human society is suffering, at least suffering from one disease -- anxiety. Ask anybody. Take one small ant and take the big elephant; take the President of United States or take one street beggar. Ask him, "Whether you are free from anxiety?" Nobody will say no. "I am full of anxiety." That's a fact. So why they are anxiety, in, full of anxiety? That Prahlada Maharaja had replied, sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. Because we have taken asad- vastu, that will not exist... Everything, whatever you have got... Our, this body will not exist. And this is the main platform of our existence. In the material world, so long the body is there, you exist. So Prahlada Maharaja said that "Real solution of problems of life is to get out of this material condition. That is best thing in my opinion." Sada samadvigna-dhiyam asad... That is Vedic injunction also. Asato ma sad gamaya: "Don't live in this asat, in this material condition." Sad gamaya: "Go to real existence." That real existence means spiritual life. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [bg. 2.20]. So if we actually want life, blissful life, then we must get out of this material existence. That is Prahlada Maharaja's instruction. Samudvigna-dhiyam. And if you remain in the material existence, you must suffer some anxiety. There is no excuse.

So Prahlada Maharaja advises that hitvatma-ghatam grham andha-kupam vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta [sB 7.5.5]. If you... Real problem is anxiety. And this anxiety will continue so long you are material existent. Therefore the real life is to get out of this material... Hitvatma-ghatam. Atma-ghatam. Atma-ghatam means killing the soul. This material civilization is killing the soul. That... They have no information of the soul. They do not know how to become peaceful, how to become blissful. They are trying to be peaceful, bahir-artha-maninah, by external material energy. They are thinking by constructing big, big buildings, just like in Bhubaneswar they are doing, and having good, very big, big roads and motorcars, that is advancement of civilization. No. That is not advancement of civili... That is increasing their anxiety. There is no solution of the anxiety.

There is... formerly that... I was speaking. There was no university. The university was in the cottage -- Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva was writing Srimad-Bhagavatam and all the Puranas in a cottage. The university was there. Who can produce such literature as Vyasadeva has given? From any angle of vision, from literary point of view, from philosophical point of view -- everything, so perfect, every literature, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Vedanta. Veda-vyasa, he has given. So there was no need of university. It required clear brain. That was to be done by the brahminical qualifications, samo damo titiksa arjava, jnanam-vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava... Where is that education? This education, technical education, how you can very nicely hammer, this will not solve the problem. So if we want real solution of the problems, then our duty is first of all to take the shelter of nitai-.-kamala. Then we'll be happy, and we'll get moonshine, and our all fatigueness will be subsided.

Sambandha nahi jar, brtha janma gelo tar. So if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu... Nityananda means always. Nitya means always, ananda means pleasure. This is another meaning you can draw. So therefore, if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu... Se tar: "He's simply wasting time." Brtha means useless. Uselessly, he's wasting time. Se pasu boro duracar.

And Narottama dasa Thakura has used very strong word. "Anyone who has no connection with Nityananda Prabhu, he's a pasu." Sei pasu. He's a pasu, means animal. So animal, how one animal can get happiness? That is not possible. The dog, from the childhood he's searching after food, searching after food. And cannot get food. Unless a dog has got a master, he's street dog and he's always unhappy. So better to become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu. Then we shall be happy. Instead of becoming dog of so many other people... Everyone is dog. Everyone is searching after to serve a master. But none of them are satisfied because that is false master. You take real master, Nityananda Prabhu. You'll be happy. Se pasu boro duracar. He does not know where is happiness. Where I shall become a dog? That...our Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he has sung therefore:

vaisnava thakur, tomara kukkur,

boliya janaha more

"My dear Vaisnava Thakura, kindly accept me as your dog, as your dog. I am dog already, but I am Maya's dog. I'm not Vaisnava's dog. So kindly accept me." If you become a Vaisnava's dog... Chadiya vaisnava seva, nistar paiche keba. If you do not become a dog of Vaisnava and Nityananda Prabhu... Nityananda is guru. So if you do not become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu, Vaisnava, or guru, there is no question of happiness.

Se sambandha nahi yar, brtha janma gelo... se pasu boro duracar. Nitai na bolilo mukhe, majila samsara-sukhe. He who has no connection with Nityananda Prabhu, and he does not say, "Jaya Nitai! Jaya Gaura!" And majilo samsara-sukhe, he thinks that this society, family, and... "Society, friendship and love, divinely bestowed upon man." These materialist persons, they say like that. That is called majilo samsara sukhe. In samsara there cannot be any sukha, but he's attracted by that. Majilo samsara sukhe. Vidya-kule ki koribe tar. What we'll do with university education or born in big family or... This will not help. This is not possible. Vidya-kule ki karibe tar. Why they're accepting this false? Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-. pasariya, asatyere satya kori mani. On account of being misled by false prestige and false egotism, asatyere satya kori mani, we are accepting this body which is asat, which will not exist. That we have taken as reality. Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai . pasariya. But if we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then you get the enlightenment. Asatyere satya kori mani. Nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krsna pabe, dharo nitai-carana du'khani.

Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura advises that... Today is Nityananda Prabhu's avirbhava - appearance day. Let us at least remember today nitai-.-kamala. That is wanted. Nitai carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya. The reality is nitai-carana, and anyone who is servant of Nitai...So nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya. One who has become the dog of Nityananda Prabhu, he gets his eternal life. We are eternal, but under misconception of material identification, we are under the subjugation of maya. Bhutva bhutva praliyate. Tatha dehantara... It is very botheration, but they do not know. I am going from one body to another transmigration. And that is not guaranteed, what body. They have no science, no knowledge about understanding tatha dehantara, the very first instruction of Bhagavad-gita. They are so rascals, and they are proud of their education, their universities. This is going on.

Nitai carana satya, tahara sevaka..., nitai-. sada koro asa. Therefore we should always expect to be under the shelter of nitai-.-kamala. Narottama boro duhkhi. Narottama dasa Thakura, he's acarya. He is presenting himself... That is acarya. Means he is not duhkhi, but he's presenting himself as duhkhi. That is acarya. Acaryas, they are never duhkhi. But taking the common man's position, he says, narottama boro duhkhi. Or, in other words, Narottama... Narottama means the best of the human being. So here in this material world one may be the best of the human being, very exalted position, but everyone is duhki, unhappy. Narottama boro duhki, nitai more koro sukhi - "Only Nityananda can make me happy. Otherwise not possible." Rakho ranga-caranera pasa. So today is Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day. We shall always pray Nityananda Prabhu, "Kindly keep me under your shelter so that... I am very duhki; I am very unhappy. Under the shelter of Your lotus feet I shall be happy." And that is real happiness.

Thank you very much.