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Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play

Between Çréla Prabhupäda and Hayagréva

--

April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco

670405lc.sf

Prabhupäda: ...recording?

Hayagréva: Good.

Prabhupäda: The first scene is that people passing on with saìkértana movement as we have, as we usually do, very nice procession with mådaìga, karatälas and that bugle, all people, just in the ordinary way. We have to make a nice procession. The second scene is that Kali, the personified Kali, a person should be decorated blackish. A blackish man with royal dress and very ugly features. And his queen, another ugly featured girl or lady. So they are disturbed. They'll talk between themselves that "There is saìkértana movement now and how we shall prosecute our business of this Kali-yuga?" There will be, in that scene, in some corner somebody is drinking. Two or three persons drinking. The scene will be like that. They are sitting in the center. In one corner somebody taking part in drinking, and another part somebody is illicitly talking of lust and love with woman. In another section there is slaughtering of a cow, and another section gambling. In this way that scene should be adjusted. And in the middle, the ugly man, black man, and the ugly woman will talk that "We are now in danger. The saìkértana movement has been started. What to do?" In this way you have to finish that scene.

Hayagréva: Now Kali is depicted as a male. As male?

Prabhupäda: As male, yes.

Hayagréva: Because sometimes I know he's depicted as female.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Male, his feature black, and dressed like a king. Black means ignorance. And similarly the scene is also blackish.

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: These things should be ascertained(?). Then, it is mentioned there, exhibit illicit sex, slaughterhouse, intoxication, gambling. Then the third scene is very nice. Räsa dance.

Hayagréva: Uh... Just before this... I'm not going to make this I don't believe either eastern or western, but I think this can apply for the whole world in the sense that the names may be Indian names, but I think the exhibition of the assembly of Kali and his consort sin and the exhibition of illicit sex and slaughterhouse, this can all be, it can be from western type prototype.

Prabhupäda: That may be. No, why should you... It may be sometimes misunderstood that western people are only under the influence of Kali. Because the world is under the influence of Kali. Not that in your country only this intoxication, illicit sex. No, everywhere it is.

Hayagréva: I realize that.

Prabhupäda: More or less. More or less.

Hayagréva: Not only in that scene. My point is that I don't want to make this an Indian play.

Prabhupäda: That you may do. That you may do. I have no objection. But people may not misunderstand that here a scene is depicted simply criticizing the western way. That is my point. Yes.

Hayagréva: Yes. Now that other person, that other Lord Caitanya... Roy? Who wrote the other Lord Caitanya? That other play?

Prabhupäda: No, nobody...

Hayagréva: I showed you that other play.

Prabhupäda: Oh, that Dilip Kumar.

Hayagréva: Yes. That's what I had in mind. I thought it was strictly an Indian type of play.

Prabhupäda: Yes, that was Indian type. Yes, that was Indian type. Or if you like... I have no objection. If you present the characters in European style. But Caitanya Mahäprabhu...

Hayagréva: No, no. They wouldn't be presented in a western style, but there wouldn't be neither an eastern nor a western flavor.

Prabhupäda: That will be very nice. That will be very nice.

Hayagréva: In other words, it could be anywhere.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: The situation could be... Because it's transcendental. It's not here, it's not there.

Prabhupäda: Yes, yes. No, the Kali is not transcendental. Kali is material.

Hayagréva: Yes. The earth, the whole world is affected, so it's not just one section.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Not only earth, this earth. It is whole universe.

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: So next scene is räsa dance. Räsa dance means Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé in the center, and the gopés, they are surrounding. You have seen that surrounding scene they were dancing the other day in the park, hand to hand.

Hayagréva: Yes, yes.

Prabhupäda: So one Kåñëa and one gopé, they are dancing. That should be, scene should be... Then the räsa dance should be stopped and Kåñëa will talk with the gopés. Kåñëa will say to the gopés that "My dear friends, you have come to Me in this dead of night. It is not very good because it is the duty of every woman to please her husband. So what your husband will think that you have come in such dead of night? A woman's duty is not to give up her husband even he is not of good character or if he is unfortunate, if he is old, or if he is diseased. Still, husband is worshiped by the wife. So you have come here, it is very sinful. So you... People will decry it. Please go back. Now we have finished." So in this way the gopés will reply that, "You cannot request us to go back because with great difficulty and with great, I mean to say, ecstatic desire we have come to You, and it is not Your duty to ask us to go back." In this way you arrange some talking that Kåñëa is asking them to go back, but they are insisting, "No, let us continue our räsa dance." Then when the räsa dance is finished, the gopés will go, then Kåñëa in His halilak(?), He says that "They are My heart and soul, these gopés. They are so sincere devotees that they do not care for family encumbrances and all, any bad name. They come to Me. So how shall I repay them?" He was thinking. "How shall I repay their so ecstatic love?" So He thought that "I cannot repay them unless and until I take up their situation to understand Me. Because I Myself cannot understand Me. I have to take the position of the gopés, how they are loving Me." So with that consideration He took the form of Lord Caitanya. Therefore Kåñëa is blackish, Lord Caitanya is of the color of the gopés. The whole life of Lord Caitanya is representation of gopés' love towards Kåñëa. That should be painted in that picture. You have got to ask anything?

Hayagréva: This is His determination to incarnate as Lord Caitanya.

Prabhupäda: Lord Caitanya, yes.

Hayagréva: In order to...

Prabhupäda: In order to appreciate Kåñëa in the form of gopé. Just like I have got dealings with you. So you have got your individuality, I have got my individuality, but if I want to study how you are so much obedient and loving to me, then I have to go to your position. It is very natural psychology. Yes. You have to paint in that way.

Hayagréva: I think that's clear.

Prabhupäda: Huh? That's clear. Accha. Then fourth scene is lunar eclipse. You'll have to arrange a scene that just in the evening there is appearance of the full moon on the side of the Ganges and people are taking bath half in the water and half above the water, and they're all chanting, this same scene, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, with mådaìga and... Yes. So somebody comes, Advaita. Advaita comes in the scene to take bath in the Ganges and begins to dance. "Oh, my mission is now fulfilled! My mission is now fulfilled!" He'll talk. He was very sorry to see the condition of the people that everyone is engaged simply for material sense gratification. Nobody is engaged in love of Godhead. So he wanted to rectify their behavior, but he thought that "I am ordinary man, what can I do? If Kåñëa Himself comes, then He can do it." Therefore he worshiped Kåñëa, and he simply offered Ganges water and tulasé leaf. In this way Kåñëa has taken His incarnation as Lord Caitanya. So he has understood now at this moment Lord Caitanya is now taken His appearance. So he was dancing, "Now my mission is fulfilled. Now my mission is fulfilled."

Hayagréva: That's Advaita.

Prabhupäda: Advaita. Lunar eclipse, everyone taking bath in the Ganges and chanting.

Hayagréva: And Advaita is introduced there and he's very joyful on this occasion because he had requested that this incarnation...

Prabhupäda: Yes. He prayed. He prayed to Kåñëa that "You come."

Hayagréva: He's aware at this time that this is the occurrence of Lord Caitanya's incarnation.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Yes. So this scene should be entered like that.

Hayagréva: Now I noticed in the list of characters we have up here, Rädhäräëé. She doesn't appear at this point.

Prabhupäda: No. Rädhäräëé will be in the räsa dance?

Hayagréva: Oh. In the räsa dance.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: That's the...

Prabhupäda: Rädhäräëé and Kåñëa in the center. And Kåñëa has expanded Himself for other gopés, hand to hand.

Hayagréva: That's the third scene, the räsa dance. So Rädhäräëé appears in that?

Prabhupäda: That's the third scene, yes. There is the appearance, appearance of Rädhäräëé.

Hayagréva: The damsels of Våndävana appear also in the...

Prabhupäda: No, the dance was in Våndävana. Yes. Räsa dance was in Våndävana.

Hayagréva: The damsels of Våndävana also appear in the third scene.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Third scene. Yes. Räsa dance of Lord Kåñëa and His associates, Lord Kåñëa's determination.

Hayagréva: All right. Now we have the fourth scene. Does Advaita speak to anyone in the fourth scene or is that...?

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: Is there anyone there? Any of these characters there? I'm trying to introduce these characters.

Prabhupäda: Yes, certainly.

Hayagréva: The characters should be introduced in the first act.

Prabhupäda: Yes. There should be...

Hayagréva: A few of them. Not all of them, but a few of them should be...

Prabhupäda: Çréniväsa. Çréniväsa and Haridäsa. Haridäsa character is there?

Hayagréva: Yes, I have this.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Haridäsa should be a old man.

Hayagréva: So Advaita is old too, isn't he?

Prabhupäda: Advaita is old.

Hayagréva: And Nivas.

Prabhupäda: He is not so old. He is middle-aged man.

Hayagréva: Could you give me a brief rundown on their...? Are they devotee, they're devotees...

Prabhupäda: Just like the picture is, Advaita, say, his age is about forty years, and Haridäsa and Advaita, he was about more than fifty years old at that time when Caitanya Mahäprabhu was born. They were quite old men. His father's age.

Hayagréva: They're all devotees.

Prabhupäda: They're all devotees. When Caitanya Mahäprabhu was propagating His saìkértana movement the brähmaëas, the orthodox brähmaëas, they took objection. "This is not according to Hindu çästra. This is something new." But only these two gentlemen, they... Advaita happened to be the head of the brähmaëa community. So his support... And he was a well-to-do man, he was rich man, influential man. His support made Caitanya's movement successful in Nabadwip. He was a very influential man. And similarly, Çréniväsa, he was also, he belonged to the brähmaëa community. And Advaita gave shelter to Haridäsa. Haridäsa was a Muhammadan. So he was punished by the Muhammadan magistrate and he took shelter at the house of Advaita. He was maintaining him. You can make them appear in the scene. They were talking between Haridäsa and Çréniväsa and Advaita and all of them chanting and dancing, "Now our mission is fulfilled."

Hayagréva: Yes, I see. All right. Now the fifth scene...

Prabhupäda: Fifth scene, Lord Caitanya's mother, Çacédevé, is sitting underneath a tree, a nim tree. It is called nim tree. And the little child on her lap and the visitors, so many visitors are coming, and they are offering some presentation. Somebody is offering gold necklace, somebody offering some bangles, some cloth, some money, and his father, he...what is called...Jagannätha Miçra. Jagannätha Miçra is there? Yes. Jagannätha Miçra, His father. He was, whatever money and clothes and gold and silver, they were coming, he was also distributing to poor men, some dancers. In India there is a system... What you call the eunuchs? Those who are neither male or female. What do you call? What is their name?

Hayagréva: A combination of both, male and female? A hermaphrodite. A hermaphrodite.

Prabhupäda: Eunuch, what is that eunuch?

Hayagréva: A eunuch is...

Prabhupäda: Feminine.

Hayagréva: Impotent, an impotent... Someone who's been castrated.

Prabhupäda: Oh, that is called eunuch. By nature, neither man, neither woman.

Hayagréva: Oh, this is also called asexual, that is to say no sex.

Prabhupäda: No sex.

Hayagréva: Hermaphroditic means they have the physical features of both man and woman.

Prabhupäda: Oh. At the same time?

Hayagréva: At the same time.

Prabhupäda: I do not exactly. But such people they have their own society and their means of living is that whenever there is some good occasion, a marriage or childbirth, like that, so they go there and pray God that this child may be very long living. In this way they make some prayer and get some...

Hayagréva: These people... Now I don't understand... This takes place at..., the sixth scene...?

Prabhupäda: At Jagannätha Miçra's house.

Hayagréva: Jagannätha Miçra's house. And his wife is who?

Prabhupäda: This scene should be mentioned as Jagannätha Miçra's courtyard.

Hayagréva: And who is his wife again?

Prabhupäda: Çacédevé.

Hayagréva: Çacédevé, yes.

Prabhupäda: Çacédevé is the mother of Lord Caitanya. She is sitting with the child and everyone is visiting, visiting, presenting, or all, everyone's saying, "Oh, how nice child He is."

Hayagréva: And these asexual people...

Prabhupäda: They are dancing.

Hayagréva: They are dancing.

Prabhupäda: Yes. They are dancing, Hare Kåñëa. Yes, like that. So Hare Kåñëa dancing is going there?

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: And visitors coming and presenting. That is a very nice scene. Yes. The sixth scene is Lord Caitanya, a naughty boy. He would go to the Ganges side and it is the system of orthodox brähmaëas that they meditate in the Ganges, half. That is the system. Now He will go and swim over the water and throw water in their mouth in this way. Naughty boy. And they will be very much disgusted. "You naughty boy! You come here!Stop your meditation. What is this meditation? Chant! Chant Hare Kåñëa!" He'll say like that. So they will come and complain to His father. "Your child has become too much naughty and just see that..., teased us like this." The father will say, "Oh, the boy is going to be very naughty. I'll punish Him. Let Him come." So father, angry father was waiting. As soon as the boy will come he would punish. But when the boy returns the father sees that He's just coming from school. There is no sign that He has gone to Ganges and taken bath. How is that these gentlemen complained? He will be puzzled. In that way, we have to show.

Hayagréva: How old is He here? How old is Caitanya here? Maybe five, six?

Prabhupäda: That was, He was five or six years old. That's all.

Hayagréva: And this is... What's the location again?

Prabhupäda: This location is front of Jagannätha Miçra's house.

Hayagréva: Yes. Six years later in other words.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: All right. That's the... Does He meet any of these characters at the river? Does He meet any of the characters up there?

Prabhupäda: No. General public. General public. But they are all brähmaëas, rigid brähmaëas. They are taking bath. Yes.

Hayagréva: Now is that the end of the first act?

Prabhupäda: End of the first... I think you should first of all write this, then you take. Or you take all the notes at a time?

Hayagréva: Do you feel like going on? I don't think I'm going to write these now. I'm just going to use this tape. When I go over a scene I'll just play it back. It's too much to write.

Prabhupäda: All right. That's all right.

Hayagréva: If you feel like going on, then go ahead.

Prabhupäda: No, I can talk.

Hayagréva: Oh, good.

Prabhupäda: I can talk.

Hayagréva: Well let's do as much as possible because you're leaving Sunday.

Prabhupäda: All right. All right. Do it.

Hayagréva: This is second act now.

Prabhupäda: Second act. Then Lord Caitanya's saìkértana organization in the house of Çréniväsa. Çréniväsäcärya. The saìkértana movement was... They were all chanting together Hare Kåñëa, and Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked the devotees that "Hello, My dear friends. What do you want to eat?" So some of them said... That was out of season, and still some of them asked that "We shall be very glad if You give us some mangoes." (laughs) So Lord Caitanya said that "All right. You just bring one seed of mango." So in Bengal there is, seed of mango is available always because the people in the village, they eat mango and throw it in the ground, they say they come out as tree, creeper. So it is not very difficult. So he brought some creeper like that, and he sowed it, and at once it became a tree, and there was sufficient quantity of mango fruits. So all the devotees were distributed. And that mango tree remained there and they were taking mango every day. And in that scene, just try to... The next scene is brähmaëas' dissatisfaction. Now some of the brähmaëas...

Hayagréva: How old is Caitanya now?

Prabhupäda: He was about...

Hayagréva: Sixteen?

Prabhupäda: Fifteen, sixteen, like that. Yes. Fifteen, sixteen. Yes, you ask me questions, any about that.

Hayagréva: That's His saìkértana organization, that first scene.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: And from this first comes...

Prabhupäda: Yes, that is the beginning of...

Hayagréva: A scene of Nivas...

Prabhupäda: At Çréniväsa's house.

Hayagréva: Are the people mainly young people like Himself?

Prabhupäda: Yes, they were all young.

Hayagréva: Or are they older brähmaëas?

Prabhupäda: Older, only these...

Hayagréva: Only the three, yes.

Prabhupäda: Haridäsa, Çréniväsa, and Advaita. They were taking part. Otherwise, all, they were young friends, yes. Young boys. No girls. That is not the system in India. (laughs) Yes. Now when the second scene, mainly their movement was going on and it was becoming popular. Now Caitanya Mahäprabhu preached that simply by the saìkértana movement everything will be fulfilled. You need not do anything. So the priest class brähmaëas they became very much dissatisfied that "He is inviting Muhammadans and all others..." Because according to Hindu society, except the brähmaëas... Especially in those days, only the brähmaëas were considered the highest in the society, and even the kñatriyas, vaiçyas, they all calculated to, in the group of çüdras. So Caitanya Mahäprabhu was allowing everyone, the Muhammadans, the çüdras, the low class, the high class, the brähmaëas... He was amalgamating everyone. So these brähmaëas, they took objection. "He is making a disastrous movement! The prestige of the brähmaëas will go." So they became very much dissatisfied and they concluded that "We shall go to the magistrate and file our complaint that He is doing against Hindu religion and He's crying always 'Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa' loudly. The Lord is sleeping. He will be disturbed and there will be disaster, Lord being angry." In this way they filed complaint. Ask anything, questions.

Hayagréva: Are there any of the characters listed up here among the brähmaëas who complained?

Prabhupäda: No. They complained... Characters... Ordinary brähmaëas.

Hayagréva: Yes. All right. I can't think of anything there. That leads into the next scene, third scene.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Then the next scene is that some constables came and during the Hari-saìkértana, they broke the mådaìgas that "You have disobeyed the magistrate order that... So you cannot do it." So as the constables, they do some violence or assault, so they did that. And after the constables went away Caitanya Mahäprabhu was informed. He came. He saw that the mådaìgas are broken and everything is strewn away so Caitanya Mahäprabhu saw. He decided, "All right. Now we shall organize a civil disobedience movement. Now tomorrow we shall organize thousands and thousands of people with mådaìgas and we shall approach the magistrate house." So He... Next scene... What is that next scene?

Hayagréva: Now the constables broke up a saìkértana carried on by Caitanya's friends. Any location here particular?

Prabhupäda: Yes. It is called the Çréväsa house.

Hayagréva: On a house. At someone's home.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Because in India the village houses they have got some compound. Not that only fixed house. Every house has got a compound.

Hayagréva: All right. Very good. Now the fourth scene, this is the meeting with the magistrate.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Fourth scene. That...

Hayagréva: They march to the magistrate.

Prabhupäda: Magistrate house and in the courtyard all the people, they were very much enthusiastic.

Hayagréva: Several thousand.

Prabhupäda: Several thousand. And they were loudly chanting and meeting Lord... So when the chanting was going on the Chand Kazi appeared and there was discussion between... Chand Kazi was also very great scholar, and Lord Caitanya was also scholar. So Chand Kazi, just to pacify them, he addressed Caitanya, "My dear boy, You happen to be my nephew. You are my sister's son. Why You are so angry upon Your maternal uncle?" Caitanya Mahäprabhu got the clue that he was prepared to make compromise. So He also mildly replied, "Yes, you are My uncle, I know. So because you are My uncle, therefore I have come to your house. How is that when the nephew comes that you do not receive Him? In an angry mood you go upstairs?" So in this way, the situation was pacified. Then they sat together and there was a very learned discussion between the two. Because Hindus are always against cow killing. So he was Muhammadan. They were killing cow.

Hayagréva: Chand...

Prabhupäda: Chand Kazi.

Hayagréva: Muhammadan.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Muhammadan. Chand Kazi was a... Maulana Chand Kazi. His name is Maulana Chand Kazi. He was a great scholar in the Koran scripture. So Caitanya Mahäprabhu first of all asked the Chand Kazi, "My dear uncle, what is your religion that you are eating your mother and father?" (laughs) So he could understand that He was attacking the cow killing process. So he said, "Well, You are just trying to criticize our cow killing, but in Your Vedic literature also I have seen that cow killing is allowed in sacrifice." Then Lord Caitanya said, "Yes. That is not killing. That is rejuvenating. That is not killing." The sacrifice of cow recommended in the Vedic çästra means that the brähmaëas prove how powerful was Vedic mantra that it could give a new life to the old cows and bulls. So then Caitanya Mahäprabhu said, that "Such kind of learned brähmaëas and Vedic yajïa is not possible in this age. Therefore cow killing..." Not cow killing. "Sacrifice by offering cow, sacrifice by offering horse, and..." Açvamedhaà gavälambhaà [Cc. Ädi 17.164]. And sannyäsaà pala paitåkam. Sannyäsa means to become in the renounced order of life. And these five things. One thing is sacrifice by offering cow. Second, sacrifice by offering horse. Third, to accept renounced order of life. And fourth, offering ablutions... Or what is called? Offering some, something to the forefathers? What is called?

Hayagréva: Oblations.

Prabhupäda: Oblations. Yes. This, and to beget child by the husband's younger brother. Formerly, the society allowed that if a woman is young, she has no child, but husband died, so if the husband has younger brother, through the younger brother she could have a child. This system was current. But Caitanya Mahäprabhu says that these five things are forbidden in this age. So Chand Kazi also replied that "Cow killing is also not generally recommended in the Koran. Actually, beef-eating or flesh-eating is not in the higher stage. But those who are inclined to take flesh, for them it is recommended that instead of killing many small animals, one big animal should be killed. So actually in Mecca, Medina, they kill camel. That is also in the mosque." So the substance of his speech was that flesh-eating ultimately is not recommended. "But those who have no other means, they eat flesh and they recommend that one big animal should be killed. So India, the cow is big animal, therefore we kill. But that is not recommended for advanced spiritual students." In this way... So they were friends, and he understood, Chand Kazi understood that it is very nice movement, that "You are preaching love of Godhead. So I did not understand. So my dear boy, henceforward there will be no hindrances in Your movement and I promise that not only myself but all my descendants will never object Your movement, this saìkértana movement."

Hayagréva: All right. Now I don't have any questions there. I probably wouldn't deal quite at such length about the meat. I don't see how that... The main thing was about the saìkértana, the chanting.

Prabhupäda: Chanting, and it was mitigated, and he allowed. First of all, there was objection, then there was civil disobedience, then when they compromised, the Chand Kazi allowed the movement. This is the whole idea.

Hayagréva: The fifth scene is renunciation of household life.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: This is at age...? This is considerably later then. This is about ten years later.

Prabhupäda: No. Renunciation... Now this Chand Kazi, he was... This movement when He was about 20 years old. Do you follow?

Hayagréva: The saìkértana was when He was around 20. The Kazi.

Prabhupäda: The saìkértana was going on.

Hayagréva: When He was 16, 15.

Prabhupäda: But practically He started this saìkértana movement vigorously from the age of 15 years. But when He was 20 years old, when the movement took very nice appearance, the brähmaëas complained. So this movement was about 20 years old when... Then renunciation...

Hayagréva: He's 24 now.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Renunciation. So one day it so happened that instead of chanting Hare Kåñëa, Lord Caitanya was chanting, "Gopé, gopé, gopé, gopé, gopé," instead of chanting "Kåñëa Kåñëa." So He had a small school. The brähmaëas, generally they keep a small school which is called catuñpaöhé. (spells out) C-c-h-a-a-t-u-s-p-a-t-h-i. Catuñpaöhé, catuñpaöhé means a school where up to the four Vedas are taught. Grammar and religion and everything is taught there. In every village that was system. The brähmaëas should keep up a school like that. Students were all almost they were also of the same age. Some of them were fifteen years old, sixteen years old. So students came and saw Lord Caitanya was chanting "Gopé gopé," so they objected. They said, "Oh, why You are chanting 'gopé gopé'? Why should You not chant 'Kåñëa'? 'Hare Kåñëa'?" So Caitanya Mahäprabhu was in His ecstasy because He was... In the beginning, His appearance is in the form of gopé, to love Kåñëa. So He became very much angry, and because they were students, He wanted to chastise them. He took a stick. "You nonsense! What you are speaking? Go away!" So they fled away, but after that they organized. "Oh, how is that? Caitanya, He is... How He has become so big that He wants to beat us?" In this way they practically they were talking ill of Him. So He decided that "If I remain a householder, these people will not honor Me." Because in those days a sannyäsé was honored in the society very much. If a sannyäsé comes to your village or to a householder's house it was very... Still it is going on, although not so widely. But still 80% of the population in India, if they find out a sannyäsé they give all honor. So He decided that "Now I shall become a sannyäsé." So He happened to see Keçava Bhäraté, a sannyäsé of the Çaìkara sampradäya, and He requested him that "You give Me sannyäsa." So He took sannyäsa from Keçava Bhäraté and He was assisted by Nityänanda, Muräri Gupta, and some other people. So this is His renunciation decision and acceptance of sannyäsa.

Hayagréva: How does He, How does He accept sannyäsé? I mean how does He...?

Prabhupäda: Sannyäsa, there is a ceremony. Just like we have got the initiation ceremony.

Hayagréva: Did He have a spiritual master?

Prabhupäda: So He accepted spiritual... Not spiritual master, but a sannyäsa-guru. That is also master, but he's not spiritual master. But he's also considered as sannyäsa-guru, spiritual master who offers him sannyäsa. Just like myself, I took initiation from my Guru Maharaja, but I took sannyäsa from a Godbrother who is a sannyäsé. So my original guru is that spiritual master who initiated me, but he's also a çikñä guru. Like that. Teacher. Then His renunciation of householder. He became sannyäsa. Now when He was, after taking sannyäsa, when He was going towards Våndävana, He became always almost mad. So Nityänanda, He was with Him. When He saw that Lord Caitanya is in ecstasy, He misled Him just to... His plan was that "I shall take Lord Caitanya to the house of Advaita, and then I shall call His mother to see Him for the last time. If Caitanya goes away from this very point His mother will not be able to see Him." So out of sympathy He said, "Well, Çrépäda Caitanya, this is not, this side is not Våndävana. You go..." He just misdirected Him. So... And He sent one man to Advaita to receive Him that "He has taken sannyäsé, just try to make arrangement to receive Him. Then we shall meet." So when He came near the house of Advaita He saw that Advaita was waiting. So then He, I mean to say, came to His sense. "Oh, I am misled? I have come to Advaita's house? How is that Nityänanda? You showed Me this way Våndävana." Then He said, "Oh, wherever You stay, that is Våndävana." Now Advaita says, "All right, please come to my house." So he received Him and took Him there and sent news to His mother that "Your son has now taken sannyäsa. Now if you want to see Him for the last time please come and see." So in this way at Advaita's house He remained for some time. Say about a fortnight. And during that time, in the beginning, His mother came and His mother became so much sorry. That scene you have to describe very nicely. Mother seeing that her son has taken sannyäsa, no more He'll come to house. So (s)he was crying. And Caitanya Mahäprabhu fell on his(her) feet and begged, "My dear mother, yes. This body belongs to you. This body should have been engaged for your service. Unfortunately I've done a mistake. I have already taken sannyäsa. Please excuse Me." In this way. That scene described in the Dilip Kumar's house, that Caitanya is consulting mother, that is a false scene. The actual scene is that after accepting His sannyäsa, His mother came to see Him at Advaita's house. That is the...

Hayagréva: Yes. Does she give Him her blessing finally?

Prabhupäda: No. Of course, mother's blessings are always there. But the scene was that mother was crying and He was falling on the feet and His mother was very sorry that He had very beautiful hair. Now it is all cut off. In this way, the scene is very pathetic. So in this way, after remaining at Advaita's house, His mother was asking Him through Advaita, "Let Him remain for some time." Then He consulted "Mother, now just you think over that I have taken sannyäsa. And if I remain in this way, leaving My own family, and if I leave another family, do you think this is very nice for a sannyäsé? So give Me permission to go away." Then mother agreed and other friends like Advaita and Çréniväsa requested His mother that "You give Him permission." Then (s)he said, "Yes, I have to give Him permission because He has already accept sannyäsa. If somebody blames Him, blasphemy, that is also not good. So my last request is that He may make His headquarter at Jagannätha Puré so that... Because people generally go to Jagannätha Puré, so I shall be able at least to know about Him, how He is faring there. That is my last request." So Caitanya Mahäprabhu at once accepted. "My dear mother, I shall always stay in Jagannätha Puré, and sometimes I may come to Bengal also to take bath in the Ganges. So there will be meeting. Now let Me go." So in this way they departed and Caitanya Mahäprabhu for the last time saw His friends and mother.

Hayagréva: I don't understand Nityänanda's motive. He's a friend. Nityänanda, He's a young friend of... Caitanya's.

Prabhupäda: Oh, Nityänanda was not actually a family brother. But He was, He is the incarnation of Baladeva, the elder brother of Kåñëa. So He took His birth in a different family, but He joined Caitanya's movement as other friends joined. So He is considered the elder brother of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He's actually.

Hayagréva: He opposed Caitanya's sannyäsa.

Prabhupäda: No, no. He did not oppose. He did not oppose. He simply, after Caitanya's acceptance of sannyäsa, He wanted simply that He should come to Advaita's place so that His mother may see Him for the last time. That was His plan.

Hayagréva: I see. [break]

Hayagréva: All right, this is third act, first scene.

Prabhupäda: So Caitanya Mahäprabhu, after taking leave from His mother, left Bengal towards Orissa, and on the entrance of the district of Balasore there is a nice temple called Kñéra-corä-gopénätha temple. And He saw the temple. Here the scene is to be arranged that there is nice temple and within the temple there is Rädhä-Kåñëa Deity, Kñéra-corä-gopénätha. The püjärés are there, ärati is being taken place, and at that time Caitanya Mahäprabhu entered with His followers chanting Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa, and He saw the Deity and danced before Him. And when the ärati was finished, prayer was finished, then He sat down, talked with His associates, Nityänanda and Gadädhara and Muräri. So Nityänanda Prabhu described about the Kñéra-corä-gopénätha, the story of Kñéra-corä-gopénätha. It was very nice story, that formerly one äcärya, Madhavendra Puré came to this temple, Gopénatha, and while that condensed milk which is called kñéra was being offered to the Deity, Madhavendra Puré wanted to taste it so that he would also prepare such condensed milk and offer to his Gopäla. So after that he thought, "Oh, it is being offered to Kåñëa and I wanted to taste it. So I am so greedy." So he left the temple, that "I am not worth to visit this temple." He went outside the temple and sat down underneath a tree and was chanting Hare Kåñëa. Then at dead of night, Gopénatha, the Deity, was awakening His priest by dream, that "You please get up. I have kept one pot of condensed milk behind My..." What is called... That (pid?) vastra, kings, sometimes they have got, very long tail-like. What is that called?

Hayagréva: Robe or something?

Prabhupäda: Yes. What is the name?

Hayagréva: I don't know.

Prabhupäda: In Sanskrit it is called (pid?) vastra, backside robe. So under the backside robe He kept one pot of condensed milk by stealing. So the püjäré woke up and opened the door and actually saw that there was a pot of condensed milk. The priests were very much astonished that "Oh, He has stolen (laughs) kñéra for His devotee." So the order was that "You take this pot and give to Madhavendra Puré. He is sitting underneath a tree." So they, with the pot of the condensed milk, they began to cry, "Oh, who is that Madhavendra Puré? Oh, you are so fortunate. The Deity has stolen condensed milk for you. Take it." So he came forward and he was so pleased that Lord has stolen. "Because I desired to taste so Lord has stolen one pot." So in this way. From that day He became famous, the thief of condensed milk, Kñéra-corä. Kñéra means condensed milk and corä means thief. So the temple became famous as the temple of the thief of condensed milk.

Hayagréva: Caitanya, the condensed milk thief.

Prabhupäda: No. Oh, you did not hear. Caitanya, after seeing the Deity, He was sitting and seeing and meantime Nityänanda Prabhu narrated the story how His name became Kñéra-corä-gopénätha. You did not follow me?

Hayagréva: Nityänanda?

Prabhupäda: Nityänanda was going with Lord Caitanya.

Hayagréva: Narrated this to Lord Caitanya? Nityänanda narrated this to Lord Caitanya.

Prabhupäda: Yes, how the Deity was known as Kñéra-corä-gopénätha. The story was narrated that formerly He stole one...

Hayagréva: Condensed milk.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Pot of condensed milk for His devotee.

Hayagréva: Now what direct relationship does this have to Lord Caitanya?

Prabhupäda: Lord Caitanya also visited. Anyone in those days going to Jagannätha Puré from Bengal they had to pass that way. And on the way the Kñéra-corä-gopénätha temple is there. So everyone used to visit. So formerly Madhavendra Puré, he also visited, and for him the Deity stole the condensed milk. From that time He's known as Kñéra-corä-gopénätha. That story was narrated to Caitanya Mahäprabhu. So while sitting before the Deity, the story was narrated and Caitanya Mahäprabhu relished it that God is so kind that sometimes He steals for His devotee. This is the significance of this. So here the scene should be arranged that very nice temple, the Deity within, and Lord Caitanya entered while chanting Hare Kåñëa and saw the worship, ärätrika. These things are to be shown in this scene. And a little story about Him, that's all.

Hayagréva: About the temple.

Prabhupäda: About the temple. This will finish the first scene.

Hayagréva: There should be more to the scene I think than that.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Arrangement of the scene, yes. A very nice temple.

Hayagréva: We might be able to... Now what is this second scene? This is another temple.

Prabhupäda: This is another temple, yes. Here also, this temple, Säkñi-gopäla.

Hayagréva: I might be able to combine these if they...

Prabhupäda: No. They are different temples. So Lord Caitanya is visiting different temples, that you have to show. And each temple, the significance of the temple has to be described. Especially the Deity. When the importance is to the Deity, the Deity should be shown nicely decorated. (end of first tape)

Hayagréva: Well I don't know if I have enough information for that first scene. But I'll think of something ... I don't know if I have enough information for the first scene. It can be very short.

Prabhupäda: First scene, why you have to... The ärätrika is going on and kértana is going on, you can continue for five minutes, ten minutes the kértana, and short description of the Deity. That's all. That will finish.

Hayagréva: Now the other is the Säkñi-gopäla.

Prabhupäda: Säkñi-gopäla. Säkñi means witness. Gopäla. That picture, we have brought that big picture, that is Gopäla mürti. Alone standing Kåñëa and playing... You have seen that big picture?

Hayagréva: The big picture, yes.

Prabhupäda: A Deity like that should be situated in that temple. And His name is Säkñi-gopäla. Similarly Lord Caitanya entered with His party and saw the ärätrika in Gopäla temple. Then the story of the Gopäla, Säkñi, why He was known as Säkñi-gopäla.

Hayagréva: Saw what? Darate. Saw what? He saw...

Prabhupäda: Ärati.

Hayagréva: Entered and saw in the Säkñi temple and saw...? What did you say?

Prabhupäda: Säkñi-gopäla means witness Gopäla. So how He became witness, that story was also narrated by Nityänanda to Caitanya Mahäprabhu. That story is that in that village, two brähmaëas... That's a very long story.

Hayagréva: What does this have to do with this temple? What does this story have to do with the temple? Lord Caitanya has entered this temple.

Prabhupäda: That's all. But how this temple was established, how Gopäla was established, that history is in that story. The Säkñi-gopäla means witness. This Gopäla was situated in Våndävana, but to give witness for His devotee He came to Orissa, that place. That is the significance of this Gopäla. Do you follow?

Hayagréva: No. (laughs) No.

Prabhupäda: This Gopäla was situated at Våndävana. Våndävana means about more than one thousand miles away from where the temple is situated now. But He came one thousand miles to give witness for His devotee. Since then, Gopäla is situated there. So that story is narrated. That story should be narrated or what? How to do it? That is the significance of the temple. There was some family quarrel and Gopäla came to give witness to decide judgement on that quarrel. So it is possible to describe?

Hayagréva: I think from a dramatic point of view, that in your third act, you can't have too many narrations. It becomes very tedious. If you have a narration. Someone telling the history of various temples. Like in the first scene, now there's a story being told Lord Caitanya by Nityänanda. Now in the second scene He visits another temple. And is there going to be another narration about how the temple was founded? I don't think that's... I don't know. (laughs) Do you think that will be all right?

Prabhupäda: No. That will be all right in this way, that the narration should be shortly described in poetry and that will be chanted with kértana. In that way, you see.

Hayagréva: Yes. You see the first two acts there was a lot of action. Now we're in the third act and we have two scenes of description. Now they can be two short scenes of description. That will be all right, I think.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: So what is the story? A short little story?

Prabhupäda: The short story is that there was two brähmaëas. Two brähmaëas. One young brähmaëa, one old brähmaëa. They went to Våndävana to see Gopäla, and the old brähmaëa was so obliged to the young brähmaëa, he promised to hand over his youngest daughter to the young brähmaëa. But when he came back home his eldest son objected. So he kept mum. Then when the young brähmaëa, I mean to say, reminded him that "You promised before Gopäla to hand over your daughter. Now you are silent. What is this?" So his eldest son said, "Well, if Gopäla comes to give witness that my father promised before Him then my sister can be married with you." So he went back to Våndävana and requested Gopäla to come and give witness. So He came and the marriage ceremony was performed. This is the sum and substance of the story. And since then Gopäla did not... Gopäla means statue. So in those days there was no transport service. And when Gopäla was present everyone became struck with wonder that "Oh, such a devotee that Gopäla has come from Våndävana to Orissa, more than 1,500 miles." So the king of that place constructed a very nice temple and since then that temple is known as witness Gopäla. Säkñi-gopäla means witness. So this story can be shortly described and chanted with music and the scene of the temple will be seen, Caitanya Mahäprabhu dancing. Our real purpose will be the dancing and singing and little description.

Hayagréva: Yes. Now, is that all of this?

Prabhupäda: Yes. Then He visited Jagannätha temple. And the Jagannätha temple you have to arrange, it is very crowded temple. So many people were visiting Jagannätha temple, at the same time Lord Caitanya also entered, and He entered alone.

Hayagréva: How old is He at this point?

Prabhupäda: Caitanya Mahäprabhu?

Hayagréva: His age at this time?

Prabhupäda: Twenty-four years. It is just after His sannyäsa. He took sannyäsa at the age of twenty-four. So He's visiting. After sannyäsa He's going to Jagannätha Puré. On the way He visited this Kñéra-corä-gopénätha, Säkñi-gopäla, and ultimately He came to Jagannätha temple. And in the Jagannätha temple was very crowded temple because it is always at least 500, 1,000 devotees are always seeing. It is significance of Jagannätha temple. So He entered and as soon as He saw Jagannätha He became overwhelmed with ecstasy and fell down unconscious. So all the people gathered, "He's a young sannyäsé. He has fallen down." So there was Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya, the learned scholar of Puré. He saw, "Oh, this young sannyäsé, He's not ordinary." So he asked his men to carry Him to his place and that will be the scene. Then after His departure His followers will come, and they will search in the temple that Caitanya Mahäprabhu is not there. Then one Gopénätha Äcärya, I think the character is there? Gopénätha Äcärya?

Hayagréva: Now is this the...

Prabhupäda: Yes, Gopénätha Äcärya.

Hayagréva: Is this the learned brähmaëa?

Prabhupäda: Gopénätha Äcärya and Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya. They were brother-in-law.

Hayagréva: Saba...Be...

Prabhupäda: Bhauma.

Hayagréva: Oh, his name is here. Yes, you didn't mention...

Prabhupäda: And Gopénätha Äcärya is also there.

Hayagréva: Yes, all right. Sarvabhooma.

Prabhupäda: So just note down. First of all, Caitanya Mahäprabhu enters the temple. As soon as He sees Jagannätha He becomes fainted and fell down unconscious. So all the visitors, they became astonished that here is a young sannyäsé and how is that He has fallen down? But Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya noted that He is a high-grade sannyäsé. So he asked his men that "You carry this body, unconscious body to my place." So his men took away Caitanya Mahäprabhu's body unconscious, and Särvabhauma also and exit. Then after their departure His party entered the temple. Nityänanda, Gadädhara, and Muräri, all these men entered. So Gopénätha Äcärya was present there. He was known to Gadädhara and Gadädhara inquired that is there any sannyäsé who came here? Then Gopénätha Äcärya said, "Yes, we have seen one sannyäsé. He fell down in ecstasy and Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya has taken Him to his home." So he invited, "All right, you come with me. I am taking you there." So all the parties were taken to Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya's place.

Hayagréva: The friends of Caitanya. What are their names again?

Prabhupäda: Their name is Nityänanda, Gadädhara...

Hayagréva: What's that name?

Prabhupäda: Gadädhara.

Hayagréva: Oh I see, yes. And Muräri.

Prabhupäda: And Muräri and Mukunda. And Haridäsa also. Yes.

Hayagréva: And Haridäsa. What about Advaita?

Prabhupäda: No, Advaita and Çréniväsa, they were left in...

Hayagréva: All right. They're not there.

Prabhupäda: The next scene comes to the Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya's place.

Hayagréva: Fourth scene.

Prabhupäda: Fourth scene. Yes. Lord Caitanya meets Särvabhauma. Now from Jagannätha temple the next scene is Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya's house. Do you follow?

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: In that house, Caitanya, Lord Caitanya was lying unconscious in ecstasy, the same unconsciousness which He got from the temple. So Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya was trying to treat Him with some water so that He may come to consciousness. Now when His other friends, Nityänanda, Gadädhara and others arrived there, they told, "Oh, Lord Caitanya, He becomes unconscious while chanting. So He cannot be revived to His consciousness by any other means. We have to chant." So in the Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya's house that chanting and dancing began with all the members, and gradually Caitanya Mahäprabhu came to consciousness. Then there was introduction of Caitanya Mahäprabhu through Gopénätha Äcärya and Gadädhara. And Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya told that "You become my guest, you, all of you." And he gave them places. Then... Caitanya Mahäprabhu was only twenty-four years old, and Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya, he was old man, about sixty years old. So by acquaintance it was disclosed that Särvabhauma's father and Caitanya Mahäprabhu's grandfather were class friends. So Jagannätha Miçra in that sense... Jagannätha Miçra means Caitanya's father, was a relative, brother-in-law of Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya. So he took Him affectionately and told Him, "My dear boy, You have taken sannyäsa at a very early age. So You should be very careful to study Vedänta-sütra from me. Otherwise it will be very much difficult for You, young man." So He agreed, "Yes, you are just like My father. So you will kindly give Me instruction on Vedänta-sütra." So there was discussion of the Vedänta-sütra between Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya and Caitanya Mahäprabhu. That discussion is shortly mentioned in the introduction of my Srimad-Bhägavatam. You will see.

Hayagréva: The discussion between Sarvabhooma?

Prabhupäda: And Caitanya.

Hayagréva: And Caitanya, regarding...

Prabhupäda: Regarding Vedänta-sütra.

Hayagréva: That's in the introduction to Srimad-Bhägavatam. Yes, I remember that. All right. There's no sense in going over that. All right. What is the outcome of this now? Final outcome?

Prabhupäda: The outcome is that Särvabhauma was impersonalist and Caitanya Mahäprabhu was Vaisnava. Then by argument, logic, and everything, that is shortly described here, Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya became a disciple of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and he became a great devotee. That is the outcome. And it was a great victory on the part of Caitanya Mahäprabhu because Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya was known as the most stubborn scholar of logic of that time and he became a devotee. By Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya's becoming a devotee of Lord Caitanya, practically He became victorious in His missionary activities because Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya was the learned scholar in the assembly of the King of Orissa. So the King of Orissa also became a devotee. And many other scholars and big men.

Hayagréva: Of Caitanya's. They all became devo...the King of Orissa?

Prabhupäda: Yes, he became a great devotee.

Hayagréva: That might even be mentioned in this scene. I don't know if you can mention it here.

Prabhupäda: It is not mentioned, but...

Hayagréva: Well, that's an outcome of this meeting anyway.

Prabhupäda: When Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya was meeting the King, the King inquired that "I have heard that there is a big sannyäsé has come here. What is the details of the sannyäsé? I've heard that you have also become a disciple." So Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya explained, "Yes, He's not ordinary sannyäsé. He's Kåñëa Himself so far I've studied." So Bhaööäcärya, he was authority, a great learned man. And the King, when he heard that He is Kåñëa, he also became a devotee. So all expenditure, all everything was supplied by the King and his officers to Caitanya Mahäprabhu. So many people... Always four hundred, five hundred men were visiting Him. So whoever would come he would supply food and place. And Caitanya Mahäprabhu, He began His chanting of Hare Kåñëa in the Jagannätha temple. The same scene is being performed here before the Jagannätha temple, Lord Caitanya is dancing. When we perform the class I remembered that scene. Yes. That Caitanya Mahäprabhu is dancing before Jagannätha. Every evening four parties. In each party four mådaìga and eight karatälas. So one party this side, one party this side, one party back side, one party front side, and Caitanya Mahäprabhu in the middle would dance and the four parties will chant Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa... That was going on every evening so long He stayed at Jagannätha Puré.

Hayagréva: That only happened as long as He stayed there. Is that right?

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: This no longer...they no longer do this.

Prabhupäda: No, not in that way, but kértana goes on in the temple still.

Hayagréva: Not to such an extent.

Prabhupäda: Sometimes to such an extent. But He was different personality. In His presence, that was a different thing. But Caitanya Mahäprabhu's, I mean to say, Deity, is within the temple. That Deity is worshiped and kértana takes place, Bhägavata...(?)

Hayagréva: In Jagannätha.

Prabhupäda: In Jagannätha Puré, yes.

Hayagréva: All right. Now is that all of the fourth scene? Anything else in the fourth scene?

Prabhupäda: No, nothing.

Hayagréva: All right. Then that's the end of the third act.

Prabhupäda: It is the end of third act. [break]

Hayagréva: This is the fourth act, first scene.

Prabhupäda: Yes, fourth act, first scene.

Hayagréva: Meets Rämänanda Räya.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Shall I speak?

Hayagréva: Oh yes.

Prabhupäda: So after converting Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya, Caitanya Mahäprabhu started for His South Indian tour. In South Indian tour, before meeting Rämänanda Räya, He visited a very nice temple which is called Vijaya Nåsiàha. Shall I...? Shall you give that scene? That is very nice temple. Huh?

Hayagréva: Yes. Go ahead.

Prabhupäda: Then the first scene will be the visit of Vijaya Nåsiàha Garh temple.

Hayagréva: Vijaya...

Prabhupäda: Vijaya Nåsiàha Garh.

Hayagréva: I'll get the spellings of these from you later.

Prabhupäda: I'm spelling. V-i-j-a-y N-r-i-s-i-n-g-a G-a-r-h. Vijaya Nåsiàha Garh temple. This is near modern Visakhapatnam shipyard. There is a very great Indian shipyard, Visakhapatnam. Formerly it was not Visakhapatnam. So near that, five miles away from that station there is that nice temple on the hill. So I think that the temple scenery may be there and Caitanya Mahäprabhu's visiting that temple. And after that temple He came to the bank of river Godavari. Just like the river Ganges is very sacred river, similarly there are others, four other rivers. Yamuna, Godavari, Kåñëa, Narmada, Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, and Kåñëa. These five rivers are considered very sacred. So He came to the bank of Godavari and He took His bath and was sitting in a nice place underneath a tree and chanting Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa. In the meantime He saw that a great procession was coming, and that should be the scenario of this... In that procession... Formerly the kings and governors, they used to take bath in the Ganges with their paraphernalia, band party and many brähmaëas and all kinds of charitable things. In this way they used to come to take bath. So Lord Caitanya saw that somebody is coming in that great procession, and He was told about Rämänanda Räya, the governor of Madras province. Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya requested Him that "You are going to South India. You must meet Rämänanda Räya. He's a great devotee." So when He was sitting on the bank of the Kaveri and Rämänanda Räya was coming in procession, He understood that he is Rämänanda Räya. But because He was sannyäsé, He did not address him. But Rämänanda Räya, he was a great devotee, and saw a nice sannyäsé, young sannyäsé was sitting and chanting Hare Kåñëa. Generally, the sannyäsés they do not chant Hare Kåñëa. They, "Oà, oà..." Simply sound oà. Not Hare Kåñëa.

Hayagréva: What do you mean He wouldn't address him because He was a sannyäsé?

Prabhupäda: Sannyäsén, the restriction is the sannyäsé should not beg from pound-shilling man or see them. That is a restriction. Women and men of pounds-shillings-pence.

Hayagréva: But I thought Rämänanda Räya was a devotee.

Prabhupäda: But he was devotee, but undoubtedly, but outwardly he was a governor. Outwardly. So Caitanya Mahäprabhu did not go him, but he understood that "Here is a nice sannyäsé." He came down and offered his respect and sat down before Him. And there was acquaintances, and Lord Caitanya said that "Bhaööäcärya has already informed Me about you. You are a great devotee. So I have come to see you." And then he replied, "Well, what devotee? I am a pound-shilling man, politician. But Bhaööäcärya is very kind to me that he has asked Your Holiness to see me. So if You have come, so kindly, kindly deliver me from this material mäyä." So there was appointment of time with Rämänanda Räya and both of them met again in the evening and there was discussion about, I mean to say, spiritual advancement of life. Lord Caitanya inquired from him and Rämänanda Räya replied. Of course, that's a long story, how He questioned and how he replied.

Hayagréva: Rämänanda Räya.

Prabhupäda: Yes.

Hayagréva: Well, is that important? That's the scene about the meeting.

Prabhupäda: Meeting, meeting, that discussion would you like to give?

Hayagréva: Well, if it has to be rendered in the scene it's important. You want me to render the discussion?

Prabhupäda: Important is the scene that He met Rämänanda Räya, he came in procession, that was a nice scenery. These things are already complete. Now so far the talks are concerned, the summary of the talk was...

Hayagréva: Just give me the brief summary.

Prabhupäda: Brief summary... In this scene Caitanya Mahäprabhu became the student. Not exactly student. He inquired and Rämänanda Räya answered. So the importance of the scene is that Caitanya Mahäprabhu does not follow the formality, only the sannyäsés should be the spiritual master. Anyone who knows the science of Kåñëa, he can be spiritual master. And to show this example practically, although He was sannyäsé and brähmaëa and Rämänanda Räya was a çüdra and a gåhastha, householder, still He became like a student and inquired Rämänanda Räya. Rämänanda Räya felt some, I mean to say, hesitation that "How can I take the position of a teacher to a sannyäsé?" Then Caitanya Mahäprabhu replied, "No, no. Don't hesitate." He stated that either one may be a sannyäsé or he may be householder or one may be a brähmaëa or çüdra, it doesn't matter. Anyone who knows the science of Kåñëa, he can take the place of teacher. So that was His, I mean to say, gift. Because in Indian society it is simply taken that the brähmaëas and the sannyäsé can be spiritual master. But Caitanya Mahäprabhu said, "No. Anyone can become spiritual master provided he's conversant with the science." And the summary of the discussion was how to elevate oneself in the highest perfection of love of Godhead. And that love of Godhead was described, existed, I mean to say, superexcellently in Rädhäräëé. So in the bhäva, in the feature of Rädhäräëé. And Rämänanda Räya, in the feature of Rädhäräëé's associates Lalitä-sakhé, both of them embraced and began to dance in ecstasy. That will be the end of the scene. Both of them began to dance in ecstasy.

Hayagréva: Rämänanda Räya...

Prabhupäda: And Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

Hayagréva: All right. Now the second scene. Is that the end of the first?

Prabhupäda: Second scene, fourth act, Caitanya Mahäprabhu after finishing His South Indian tour, He came back to Jagannätha Puré, His headquarter, and after some days He started for Våndävana. While He was in Våndävana He was embracing the tree as old friend, and the birds were sitting on His hand, as if receiving an old friend. Because He was Kåñëa. So after many years they have seen. And that scene, if you can describe how He's traveling in the Våndävana forest. Then He took bath in the several vänas and ghäöas. Ghäöas means bathing place of Kåñëa's pastimes. And everywhere He felt the ecstasy of Rädhäräëé, separation. In this way He returned from Våndävana, and when He came down to Prayag, modern Allahabad, at that time He met Rüpa Gosvämé. Rüpa Gosvämé.

Hayagréva: Now you say the trees were old friends because He could remember that He was Kåñëa. Kåñëa used to play in these forests. He used to play in the forest. Yes. Now He met Rüpa Gosvämé.

Prabhupäda: At Prayag.

Hayagréva: At Prayag. Yes.

Prabhupäda: Allahabad. And...

Hayagréva: What is His age? I just want to keep checking on this, His age now. Is He twenty, in His twenties still?

Prabhupäda: No, no. He took sannyäsa at twenty-four. Say twenty-five, twenty-six years.

Hayagréva: Couple years later. All right. Because time is an important factor. You have to keep track of the time in the play.

Prabhupäda: Yes. He toured, after His sannyäsa, He toured all over India for six years only. That means up to 30th year He toured all over India. And from 30th year to 48th year, 18 years, He constantly remained at Jagannätha Puré. He used to chant in the temple and meet His visitors. Especially during car festival ceremony of Jagannätha, from Bengal about 400, 500 devotees would go and meet Him, and they would remain there for four months continually. July, August, September, October. Four months. And then they would come back. In this way, for 18 years He passed in Jagannätha Puré. So Rüpa Gosvämé, He met Rüpa Gosvämé and He taught him about the science of devotion for ten days. That devotional service He instructed that the living entities they're roaming in the 8,400,000 species of life. Fortunately, if by the mercy of Kåñëa and if he gets one good spiritual master, then he learns about devotional service. So He taught him about the science of devotional service. That is the importance of meeting Rüpa Gosvämé. So here the scenery must be mentioned. It is on the bank of Ganges. There is a nice ghäöa, just like... You have been to Benares? No. You have been to Hardwar?

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: You have seen many ghäöas, bathing places.

Hayagréva: Oh yes, yes.

Prabhupäda: Similarly, there are ghäöas in Benares, Prayag, and all, I mean to say, Våndävana. That is the specific significance of Indian places of pilgrimage.

Hayagréva: Yes. They bathe there every day I noticed.

Prabhupäda: Yes. So similarly, there is a ghäöa which is called Daçäçvamedha Ghäöa at Prayag. He instructed about the science of devotional service to Rüpa Gosvämé.

Hayagréva: Now how old is Rüpa Goswami? Is he an old man?

Prabhupäda: Oh, he was old enough. He was not less than fifty years at that time.

Hayagréva: I see. All right. Anything else in the second scene, fourth act?

Prabhupäda: That is it... And then He came back to Benares.

Hayagréva: Who?

Prabhupäda: Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

Hayagréva: I thought He stayed in Jagannätha... He's not now... He left...

Prabhupäda: No, from Jagannätha Puré He went to Våndävana. From Våndävana while coming down again He first of all came to Prayag. There He taught Rüpa Gosvämé. Then when He still came down He came to Benares. At Benares He remained for two months. More than two months. And for two months continually He instructed Sanätana Gosvämé about devotional service. That instruction you'll find in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I've written that Teachings of Lord Caitanya?

Hayagréva: Yes.

Prabhupäda: Yes. In that you'll find.

Hayagréva: Now this third scene, meets Sanätana Gosvämé, that's in Benares. And Sanätana is how old?

Prabhupäda: Sanätana was older than Rüpa Gosvämé. He was the eldest. He was not less than about 65 or 70 years old. He was old man. Sufficiently old man.

Hayagréva: Yes. And of the instructions to Sanätana Gosvämé are in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. All right. Now...

Prabhupäda: Yes. Similarly, the fourth scene, the teachings with Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, that is also in there.

Hayagréva: Who is this?

Prabhupäda: Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté was at Benares. He was a Mäyävädé sannyäsé, Çaìkara sampradäya. So he used to... This scene should be given that at Benares He was also walking all over the streets and roads, "Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa" and thousands and thousands men were following Him. This news arrived to Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté who was the chief sannyäsé there and some of the devotees told, "Oh, a very nice sannyäsé has come to Benares. He's chanting Hare Kåñëa." So Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté deprecated, "Oh! This is a nonsense! Why a sannyäsé should chant and dance? He should concentrate his mind in studying Vedänta. He is a fool." In this way Caitanya Mahäprabhu was criticized. So one Maharastrian brähmaëa, he was devotee of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He said that "This incident gave us much pain, sir. If You kindly meet this sannyäsé and talk with him about Vedänta-sütra, that would be a nice thing." In the meantime one brähmaëa came and invited Lord Caitanya that "I have invited all the sannyäséns of Benares, but I know You do not meet these Mäyävädé sannyäsés, but still I have come to invite You. You kindly accept my invitation." So Caitanya Mahäprabhu saw this opportunity of meeting Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté. He accepted his invitation, and there was a meeting, and there was discussion of Vedänta-sütra with Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, and He converted him to be a Vaisnava. That is another incident.

Hayagréva: How old is this man?

Prabhupäda: Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté? He was also old man. Not less than sixty years old. Yes.

Hayagréva: And what was his role again in the town? What was he... He was a Vedantist?

Prabhupäda: Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté. He was a Mäyävädé sannyäsé. He accepted Caitanya Mahäprabhu's principle and he offered his respect. He touched His feet. And he also joined. But there is no mention that he became officially a Vaisnava, but he accepted the philosophy of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. But Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya officially, he became a Vaisnava. Then Lord Haridäsa meets...

Hayagréva: Fifth scene.

Prabhupäda: Fifth scene.

Hayagréva: This is Haridäsa Öhäkura?

Prabhupäda: Haridäsa Öhäkura.

Hayagréva: At who's death? At Haridäsa's death?

Prabhupäda: Yes. Haridäsa was ve

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