Echo question; Did Krishna become many? – HH Giriraj Swami

Hare Krishna Giriraj Swami

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda

Yesterday I mentioned my doubt about the eko bahu syam verse.  My understanding is that this verse is in relation to the material world. In the following purport to CC Adi 6.14-15 it seems to hint at that, although the verse is not directly quoted. 

"He desired to expand Himself into many living entities, and with such a desire He first created a vast expanse of water within the universal space and then impregnated that water with living entities.”

In addition to that there are the extensive commentaries on the first verse of the catur ślokī, aham evasam evagre. 'It was I in the past, and only I in the future, and I in the present.'

In the commentaries the acharyas present that I in the past means with associates and abode. Then sastra is quoted that the abode and associates exist prior to this creation and are transcendental to it. 

However the way that this verse is sometimes quoted seems to indicate some sort of creation or existential aspect of Krishna existing alone at some point. Which doesn't seem correct to me. Perhaps it is an acintya subject and therefore cannot be understood by plain philosophy.  I do not know if there is any commentary on that verse to give a clear indication as to what it is regards to.

The way that I see it is that the Lord and his abode is a confidential subject and those subjects are not always directly spoken about in the Vedas and are rather more intimately revealed in books like Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.  So in this verse it is speaking just in regards to the material realm, Maha Visnu impregnating the pradhana.  Please let me know how you understand it. Thank you. 

Your humble servant,
Nityānanda Chandra Dās

My dear Nityananda Chandra Prabhu,
Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

When you first approached me with your question, I thought to share with you the following passage, and having read your letter now, I still think the passage is relevant. It is an excerpt from a talk that Srila Prabhupada gave in NYC in 1967, which was later edited and rendered as the Introduction to CC.

"Radha and Krsna are one, and when Krsna desires to enjoy pleasure, He manifests Himself as Radharani. The spiritual exchange of love between Radha and Krsna is the actual display of Krsna's internal pleasure potency. Although we speak of 'when' Krsna desires, just when He did desire we cannot say. We only speak in this way because in conditioned life we take it that everything has a beginning; however, in spiritual life everything is absolute, and so there is neither beginning nor end. Yet in order to understand that Radha and Krsna are one and that They also become divided, the question 'When?' automatically comes to mind. When Krsna desired to enjoy His pleasure potency, He manifested Himself in the separate form of Radharani, and when He wanted to understand Himself through the agency of Radha, He united with Radharani, and that unification is called Lord Caitanya. This is all explained by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja in the fifth verse of the Caitanya-caritamrta."

What I have understood is that Lord Krishna and His energies exist eternally, simultaneoulsy, but because Krishna is primary and His energies are subordinate, we say that they come from Him. For example, we say that the sunshine comes from the sun, because the sunshine is secondary to the sun, but as long as the sun has existed, the sunshine has also existed.

In his introduction to the Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada states, "Isvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakrti (nature), kala (eternal time), and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature, and time are eternal. . . . This material nature is the separated energy of the Supreme Lord, and similarly the living entities are also the energy of the Supreme Lord, although they are not separated but eternally related. So the Lord, the living entity, material nature, and time are all interrelated and are all eternal. However, the other item, karma, is not eternal."

The same thing seen from different angles will appear different and be described differently, thus to properly understand the Vedic knowledge one must see it from different angles, and then apparent contradictions are reconciled. And, as you mentioned, the subject is acintya - acintya-bhedabheda-tattva.

Anyway, I hope these few thoughts help.

And incidentally, I thought your presentation of the question and your discussion of it were very thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

May this meet you in good health and enthusiastic spirits.

Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada,
Giriraj Swami

Videos from the Sadhu Sanga Festival

HH Indradyumna Swami Kirtan at the Sadhu Sanga Festival and dancing by HH Giriraj Swami

Initiation of Sadhu Sanga Das by HH Indradyumna Swami and talk by HH Giriraj Swami (someone kept calling so the video was cut at some intervals)

Wimberly Texas, the site of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat. The bridge to the hotel was a waterfall. Many beautiful scenes in Wimberly.

Halloween Block Party Maha Harinam Kirtan 2009

(led by Caitanya Chandra Das, and HH Giriraja Swami)

(led by Nityananda Chandra Das)

About 100,000 people every year attend this event in Oak Lawn, the gay & lesbian district of Dallas Texas.   Each year thousands upon thousands of Martians, animals, zombies, presidents, popes, cartoon characters, seasons, babies, and so on joined in singing and dancing in the kirtan.  


His Holiness Giriraj Swami, who drove in from Houston to attend this event, remarked in the Sunday feast class that everyone is getting Krishna mercy through the Holy Names.  That the souls of the ancient Romans, and Vikings and so many other types of beings are out there now in so many new bodies.   They are now appreciating the holy name. 

His Grace Mishra Bhagavan said,  "I heard in a class that Srila Prabhupada gave in New York 1976 that once someone dances in the harinam sankirtan Krishna takes note of it and makes sure that person soon goes back home, back to Godhead."


I had to leave at midnight but the rest of the devotees stayed to 2:30 am.  Haridas took the kirtan to another level after we had left.  He gave out several dance orders of "throw your hands in the air"  "squat of the ground," "Now jump up high" and several others that the crowd obediently followed. At this time the crowd dancing with the devotees was in the hundreds.  The police at that time asked the devotees to stop, telling them that the festival is supposed to end at 2am and that if the devotees did not stop their kirtan no one would leave.  


One of the dancers, Frankie Hart, took the following photos.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

Originally uploaded by frankie hart

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

, originally uploaded by frankie hart.

Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das

Here is a video that an onlooker caught on camera last year.

Katha at Kalachandji's 1: Giriraja Swami on Ratha Yatra

Here is a new series of blogs called, Katha at Kalachandji's, talks about Krishna at our temple. In this series I will try to summarize some of the points of the lectures that happen here at the temple.

Sunday feast after Ratha Yatra, Sunday April 26th, 2009,

It is a very beautiful day and we are blessed to have the association of His Holiness Giriraja Swami. Here are some the points of his lecture.

Snana Yatra is a very special day after which there is no darshan of the deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra. I will read some verses which explain how Lord Caitanya experienced Snana Yatra and Lord Jagannatha's vipralambha, love in separation.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 1.122

When Jagannātha was absent from the temple, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who could not see Him, felt separation and left Jagannātha Purī to go to a place known as Ālālanātha.
PURPORT

Ālālanātha is also known as Brahmagiri. This place is about fourteen miles from Jagannātha Purī and is also on the beach. There is a temple of Jagannātha there. At the present moment a police station and post office are situated there because so many people come to see the temple.

The word anavasara is used when Śrī Jagannāthajī cannot be seen in the temple. After the bathing ceremony (snāna-yātrā), Lord Jagannātha
apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private
apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period
renovations are made on the body of the Jagannātha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors.

CC Madhya 1.123: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for some days at Ālālanātha. In the meantime, He received news that all the devotees from Bengal were coming to Jagannātha Purī.

CC Madhya 1.124: When the devotees from Bengal arrived at Jagannātha Purī, both Nityānanda Prabhu and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya greatly endeavored to take Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu back to Jagannātha Purī.

CC Madhya 1.125: When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally left Ālālanātha to return to Jagannātha Purī, He was overwhelmed both day and night due to separation from Jagannātha. His lamentation knew no bounds. During this time, all the devotees from different parts of Bengal, and especially from Navadvīpa, arrived in Jagannātha Purī.

CC Madhya 1.126: After due consideration, all the devotees began chanting the holy name congregationally. Lord Caitanya's mind was thus pacified by the ecstasy of the chanting.

PURPORT

Being absolute in all circumstances, Lord Jagannātha's person, form, picture and kīrtana are all identical. Therefore when Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, He was pacified. Previously, He had been feeling very morose due to separation from Jagannātha. The conclusion is that whenever a kīrtana of pure devotees takes place, the Lord is immediately present. By chanting the holy names of the Lord, we associate with the Lord personally.

Two important points in the verse and purport. Both the Deity and the Nama are the Lord Himself. Padma Purana. Says that if one thinks that the deity is just a statue made of stone or wood. Or if thinks that a Vaishnava is part of a caste or community or if he thinks that the pure devotee an ordinary man then he resides in the lowest regions. Lord Caitanya was so eager to see the Lord that he rushed to enter the temple. He began to run toward the deity that He saw as Syamasundar and the fell unconscious. From the material point of view Lord Jagannatha is just wood and paint not even artistically done. The atheist may see it as primitive folk art and Lord Caitanya saw that the Krishna deity is Krishna. Lord Caitanya is Krishna in the mood of Radha thus He felt so much separation that he could not stay in Puri. So he went to Alalanatha. He did not want to come back until the Ratha Yatra festival but so many disciples requested him so He came back. But in Puri he was so unhappy, His unhappiness know no bounds. But that separation is only apparent when it is ecstasy. So the devotees were thinking what to do. So much separation Lord Caitanya was experiencing.
So they decided to do Kirtan when Lord Caitanya heard the kirtan He became pacified. Because the holy name is Krishna. No difference. If you are hungry and chant mango it will not satisfy your hunger. But if you chant Krishna, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Krishna is actually present dancing on your tongue. and when pure devotee chant they feel Krishna . Naham Tishtami vaikunthe. "I am not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the yogis, I am where my devotees perpetually chant my holy names" So when we chant the holy name of Krishna and feel the presence of Krishna and we feel ecstacy and that will satisfy the soul, nothing else will satisfy the soul.

Like a bird in a cage. Decorated with jewels but if you do not feed the bird it will be dissatisified. So the bird is like the soul and cage is the body. If we do not feed the soul, the soul will not be happy. The food for the soul is the association of the Lord though chanting the Holy Names, the hearing Kirshna katha, serving the deity, this is the food for the soul.

No matter what we do for the cage, without feeding the bird, the bird will be fustrated. Bhakti man abhijananti. So how many of us have that consciousness . That is the question how many of us have the hellish mentality we think that the deity is just a statue. Of course some people who do not know the are hedging their bets. "Maybe there is some god, so let me invest" Some pranam and money in the box but the mentality is not of services just personal gain. You want to get someone to do something for you. You might invite them to dinner speak nice words. Similarly often we see that one worships the Deity of Krishna but they wants something from the deity. Not to serve Krishna but rather to love the body. Selfish. Actually. But it is still is good because they are approaching Krishna. Thinking, "Maybe deity is Krishna" but such dharma will not satisfy the soul. Even if they get what they were praying for . Often sooner loose everything. Superficial cannot keep it. Because in the material world all material things are temporary.

So why not invest our time and energy is something that lasts. We might think "I will live a long life." But still the illusion of maya is such that we think that we wont die and we make so many plans. But how do you know. So why not invest in something that will satisfy the soul. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Krishna is manifest through the Holy Name, the deity, and the Srimad Bhagavatam, but the advantage of the Holy name is that one can chant anywhere anytime. One think we have the ability to speak or hear. All this is by the grace of the Lord, there is no guarantee that we will always be able to chant and hear. It can be taken away. By accident or one can grow old. But now we can speak hear. So we should do that. So many things what we take for granted. Generally when we sleep we assume that the next day will be the same. But one day something will happened something that we don't want,
One morning I woke up and I had a pain in my right wrist. I did not take it seriously at first but as I chanted it got worse and worse. Inflammation of the joint. Arthritic pain. The doctor told me that I would have to have complete rest for my wrist and use a slint . No moving. But I was attached to chanting my rounds. I asked "But what if I keep the splint but chant just with fingers tips. But what if I do move." "Well then your condition will get worse." It was very difficult not have use of it. I had my tongue mind ears. So strange. I had to chant with my left hand. and Now I DO NOT TAKE MY RIGHT HAND FOR GRANTED. Inflammation of the joint. Just one example. It is a gift, this experience. While we have these opportunities we should use them. King Kulashekar said '"Pada pankaja.. now let the swan of my mind be entangled in the lotus of Krishna. Swans like to sport in the water in the stems of Lotus flowers. At the time of death the three doshas . Kapha, pitta, and vayu will be disturbed and my voice will be choked." This is from the Ayurveda. When the doshas are disturbed then Disease. "Let me dies young while everything works good." Death is what is sure. Cataclysmic event. Practice now. We have too. The final exam. A child may say I do not want to study I want to play, party then suffer later. So spiritually we are like naughty children. Work to make money that is also playing. Who has the most toys wins. That should not be our focus.
Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das

Saint Patrick's Day Parade 100,000 People

100,000 cheer on the Hare Krishna devotees as we Parade down Greenville Ave. Our 3 year participation in Dallas’ annual St. Patrick’s day parade was fantastic. The amount of devotees participating had multiplied each year. This year by the grace of the Lord and many of his dear devotees, such as Chaitanya Chandra Prabhu every one was graced with a beautiful float of Lord Jagannatha.



All the youth headed by GopiKrishna’s crew baked up together about 4000 cookies to be distributed along with Gaura Purnima Flyers.
She also purchased 7000 Krishna.com St. Patrick’s Day magnets for distribution.

Here we see Gopal Prabhu with Mathuranatha carrying one the buckets of prasadam candy to be packaged and passed out.
As you can see Mathuranatha Prabhu is a real “Texas Krishna”


Meanwhile Dharma Prabhu fuels up for afternoon's event,

Dharma Prabhu every year organizes the devotees participation in this annual city parade.
Bhaktine Angela, Radha Kunda, and GopiKrishna along with many other ladies prepare their baskets of prasadam to be passed out.

and Sakshi Gopal warms up on his mridanga
Our party consists of 2 cars, our brand new rental truck which was decorated with an elephant by Bhaktine Heather Simpson.


which is to pull Caitanya Candra cart Followed by another truck and trailer, Ragava Caitanya Prabhu's, full of prasadam candy, Krishna.com magnets, and Gaura Purnima flyers.

But as per the theme of the morning class, Jagannatha is in control and if he likes, he sometimes makes it so that the cart will not budge.

Our new rental truck that has practically no milage on it would not start. This major problem for the parade was already on the move and we may not be even able to participate. Help comes as some other paraders drive over to give us a jump start, but no success. Caitanya Chandra Prabhu immediately organizes the removal of the truck and brings his van, attaches the float, and all are ready to go. Everyone saw that this turn of events only took place at the arrival of our two sanyassi guests, His Holiness Gunagrahi Das Goswami, and His Holiness Giriraja Swami.

Krishna would not allow the float to move without their arrival. We then quickly zoomed across the Sam's parking lot in our float. The crowd is great and early into the parade our elephante headed truck returns on the scene after getting TWO battery changes. We a very impressive party with 3 cars. Rupa with all the gurukulis of Dallas along with the gurukulis of Houston share a wonderful kirtan sung by His Grace Urjasvat and Edhani Prabhus, Then new and upcoming famous bhajaneer from Houston, Anish, lead some amazing bhajans (who by the way just came out a new CD with all the Dallas and Houston Kulis) followed by the standard ecstasy given His Holiness Gunagrahi Das Goswami.




As seen the video, the crowd chanted Hare Krishna along with the devotees, many whom were already familiar with the timeless mantra and while other who chanted "Jesus Christ" were enthusiastically surprised to be accompanied in their chanting with the devotees chanting "Jesus Christ" as well. His Holiness Giriraja Swami walked and danced most the way. At the end of the parade the kirtan did not stop for quite some time. Devotees were immersed in the ecstasy holy name and further enthused by the thousands of flyers, magnets, and cookies that were distributed

ISKCON Dallas Gaura Purnima Celebration 2008

Come join the Dallas devotees in celebrating the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu on Friday, March 21st, 2008. Highlights of the program will include: new outfit for Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji, classes and kirtans by H.H. Giriraj Swami and H.H. Indradyumna Swami, downtown noontime Maha Harinama, evening neighborhood parade with Gaura Nitai, and a free feast.

For full schedule, or more information, www.radhakalachandji.com, info@radhakalachandji.com, or 214-827-6330 x 216.

Home Program with HH Giriraja Swami

We had wonderful program Sunday mid day with His Holiness Giriraja Swami. He gave very nice lecture about chanting without offenses. The following is a great quote that Maharaja gave during the class about devotee relations. Haribol

[Child making some noise] Once Srila Prabhupada was giving a lecture and one of the children started to make noise. And Prabhupada said, "Please keep the child quite." So mother started to chastise the child. And then Prabhupada said, "You know in Vedic culture one cannot, one does not punish a child, young child." So then the husband of the mother started to chastise the mother [laughter] for chastising the child. And Prabhupada said, "You know we don't punish women," [laughter] So then the temple commander [laughter] started to chastise the husband and then Prabhupada said, "We don't punish brahmanas,"[laughter] and then he said, "Our whole society is nothing but women, children, and brahmanas so we cannot punish anyone." [Laughter] So we just gently correct them, offer obeisances and beg forgiveness and carry on.

Maharaja lectures from Dallas can be downloaded here. RadhaKalachandji.com
Your humble servant
Nityananda Chandra Das