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By Gauranga Darshan Das <\/em>(Gaura Purnima Special)<\/p>\n Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a says in the Bhagavad-g\u012bta that He descends in every yuga as an incarnation for three purposes: to protect the righteous, to punish the mischievous, and to establishes dharma. Lord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a descended in the current age of Kali as Lord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu or \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101nga. In this incarnation, the Lord appears in the form of a devotee to teach how to perform loving devotional service (bhakti) unto Him.<\/p>\n Assuming the emotions of a devotee, Lord Gaur\u0101nga constantly chants K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s holy names and thus spreads the yuga-dharma or the process of salvation for this age, which is k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-n\u0101ma-sa\u1e45k\u012brtana or congregational chanting of the holy names of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/p>\n dhyeya\u1e41 sad\u0101 paribhava-ghnam abh\u012b\u1e63\u1e6da-doha\u1e41<\/p>\n t\u012brth\u0101spada\u1e41 \u015biva-viri\u00f1ci-nuta\u1e41 \u015bara\u1e47yam<\/p>\n bh\u1e5bty\u0101rti-ha\u1e41 pra\u1e47ata-p\u0101la bhav\u0101bdhi-pota\u1e41<\/p>\n vande mah\u0101-puru\u1e63a te cara\u1e47\u0101ravindam<\/p>\n The above verse of \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam (11.5.33) describes how the lotus feet (cara\u1e47\u0101ravindam) of the great personality (mah\u0101-puru\u1e63a) \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101nga Mah\u0101prabhu are glorious in nine ways \u2013<\/p>\n Dhyeyam refers to \u201can object that is to be meditated upon.\u201d Sad\u0101 means \u201calways.\u201d The worthiest object of everyone\u2019s meditation is the Supreme Lord and His divine form, name, pastimes, and qualities. And that meditation is to be done constantly (sad\u0101). There are no hard and fast rules about time and place for such devotional mediation.<\/p>\n Meditation on the Lord begins from His lotus feet. It is repeatedly recommended by the scriptures that a devotee should always meditate upon the Lord\u2019s lotus feet to purify one\u2019s consciousness. Dhruva Mah\u0101r\u0101ja says that happiness can be attained only in two ways (SB 4.9.10), namely \u2013 meditation of the Lord\u2019s lotus feet (tava p\u0101da padma dhy\u0101n\u0101t), and hearing about Him in the association of His devotees (bhavat-jana kath\u0101 \u015brava\u1e47a). The moon-like effulgence emanating from the toenails of the Lord\u2019s lotus feet destroys the thick gloom of darkness of ignorance in our hearts (SB 3.28.21). In Kali-yuga the authorized process of meditation is to chant the holy names of the Lord, especially the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a mantra which Lord Gaur\u0101nga had propagated far and wide in His pastimes.<\/p>\n Paribhava means \u201cinsults in material existence.\u201d Ghnam refers to \u201cdestruction.\u201d The very fact that the blissful spirit soul is entrapped in the material world undergoing unnecessary suffering itself is an insult (par\u0101bhava) for the soul! The merciful lotus feet of Lord Gaur\u0101nga destroys this humiliation.<\/p>\n In this Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel, people cannot tolerate others\u2019 prosperity and status, and thus there are fights even among family members, what to speak of states or nations. The real cause of all problems is the identification of the soul with the material body and mind. Such false identification makes one believe that a temporary sense of enjoyment gives happiness, although it ultimately gives pain, and pursuing it causes insult. And people are further tormented by excessive heat, cold, famine, drought, and so on in this world.<\/p>\n All these harassments and embarrassments caused by envious people (\u0101dhibhautika kle\u015bas), by one\u2019s own body and mind (\u0101dhy\u0101tmika kle\u015bas), or by natural calamities (\u0101dhidaivika kle\u015bas) can be relieved by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Gaur\u0101nga Mah\u0101prabhu. One who takes shelter of His lotus feet loosens the hard knot that psychologically binds one to bodily identification and resultant attachment. Then, one need not face any more insults in this world and be spiritually blissful.<\/p>\n Abh\u012b\u1e63\u1e6da means \u201cdesire.\u201d Doha\u1e41 means \u201cto give.\u201d The living being in this material world may have unlimited material desires. But in the purest state of the soul, the soul only desires and hankers to love and serve K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-prema or love of God is the deepest desire of every living being. Just as sugar is meant to be sweet, the soul is meant to love and serve K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Any other attitude or engagement of the soul is only a temporary and unnecessary cloud on the soul\u2019s pure K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness. The mercy of Lord Caitanya\u2019s lotus feet enables one to revive one\u2019s dormant k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-prema. Lord Caitanya is so merciful that He gives the rarest k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-prema to the most fallen soul also without any reservations. Therefore He is called k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-prema prad\u0101yate. <\/p>\n cir\u0101d adatta\u1e41 nija-gupta-vitta\u1e41<\/p>\n sva-prema-n\u0101m\u0101m\u1e5btam aty-ud\u0101ra\u1e25<\/p>\n \u0101-p\u0101mara\u1e41 yo vitat\u0101ra gaura\u1e25<\/p>\n k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47o janebhyas tam aha\u1e41 prapadye<\/p>\n \u201cThe most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Gaurak\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, distributed to everyone\u2014even the lowest of men\u2014His confidential treasury in the form of the nectar of love of Himself and the holy name. This was never given to the people at any time before. I, therefore, offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.\u201d (CC Madhya 23.1) <\/p>\n T\u012brtha means \u201ca holy place or a saintly person,\u201d and \u0101spadam means \u201cabode or shelter.\u201d Lord Caitanya\u2019s lotus feet are the shelter of all holy places and saintly devotees. The holy river Ganges emanated from the Supreme Lord\u2019s lotus feet. So, the Lord is also called t\u012brtha-p\u0101da. People go to a holy place or a holy river to free themselves from sinful reactions. But when pure devotees who took shelter of the Lord\u2019s lotus feet visit those holy places, those places are purified of all the accumulated sinful contamination of people. <\/p>\n People living in various parts of the world may not be able to visit the holy places like V\u1e5bnd\u0101vana, M\u0101y\u0101pura and so on. But by worshiping Lord Caitanya\u2019s lotus feet, one gets the results of visiting and bathing in all sacred places. Therefore, one need not worry about the impurity caused by objects, places, and actions in Kali-yuga, but just take shelter of Lord Caitanya\u2019s lotus feet.<\/p>\n Viri\u00f1ci means \u201cLord Brahm\u0101.\u201d Nutam means \u201cto bow down.\u201d Even the great devat\u0101s and most powerful personalities in this universe like \u015aiva and Brahm\u0101 bow down to Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu\u2019s lotus feet, and meticulously worship Him. In the Kali-yuga, Lord \u015aiva appeared as Advaita \u0100c\u0101rya and Lord Brahm\u0101 appeared as Harid\u0101sa \u1e6ch\u0101kura. They both appealed to Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a to descend as \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu and liberate the fallen people of Kali-yuga. Responding to their request, Lord Caitanya descended. So He is called \u015biva-viri\u00f1ci-nuta\u1e41. The following a Bh\u0101gavatam prayer that establishes the Lord as most worshipable by great devat\u0101s.<\/p>\n nat\u0101\u1e25 sma te n\u0101tha sad\u0101\u1e45ghri-pa\u1e45kaja\u1e41<\/p>\n viri\u00f1ca-vairi\u00f1cya-surendra-vanditam<\/p>\n par\u0101ya\u1e47a\u1e41 k\u1e63emam ihecchat\u0101\u1e41 para\u1e41<\/p>\n na yatra k\u0101la\u1e25 prabhavet para\u1e25 prabhu\u1e25<\/p>\n \u201cO Lord, You are worshiped by all demigods like Brahm\u0101, the four Sanas, and even the King of heaven. You are the ultimate rest for those who are aspiring to achieve the highest benefit of life. You are the supreme transcendental Lord, and inevitable time cannot exert its influence upon You.\u201d (SB 1.11.6)<\/p>\n \u015aara\u1e47yam means \u201cmost worthy to take shelter of.\u201d Lord Caitanya is the most munificent of all the incarnations of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. He is easily served, and He is the worthiest object of surrender. Even Lord \u015aiva and Lord Brahm\u0101 are not safe without the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. He is \u015bara\u1e47yam (the person unto whom it is just worthy to surrender) because He is karu\u1e47\u0101r\u1e47avam (an ocean of compassion).<\/p>\n Bh\u1e5btya means \u201ca servant.\u201d \u0100rti means \u201cdistress.\u201d Ha\u1e41 means \u201cto relieve.\u201d Lord Caitanya\u2019s lotus feet can relieve all His servants from all kinds of distresses. Because the Lord is very affectionate to His devotees, He relieves them of suffering. Lord Caitanya once relieved a leper br\u0101hma\u1e47a named V\u0101sudeva from his leprosy and gave him a beautiful body. S\u0101rvabhauma Bha\u1e6d\u1e6d\u0101c\u0101rya, a scholarly devotee of Lord Caitanya praised Lord Caitanya\u2019s mercy as follows in his \u015aac\u012bsut\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dakam:<\/p>\n satata\u1e41 janat\u0101-bhava-t\u0101pa-hara\u1e41<\/p>\n param\u0101rtha-par\u0101ya\u1e47a-loka-gatim<\/p>\n nava-leha-kara\u1e41 jagat-t\u0101pa-hara\u1e41<\/p>\n pra\u1e47am\u0101mi \u015bac\u012b-suta-gaura-varam<\/p>\n \u201cHe is always removing the suffering of material existence for mankind. He is the goal of life for persons who are dedicated to their supreme interest. He inspires men to become like honeybees (eager for the honey of k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-prema). He removes the burning fever of the material world. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful Son of Mother \u015aac\u012b.\u201d<\/p>\n Pra\u1e47ata means \u201cto surrender or to bow down.\u201d P\u0101la means \u201cto maintain or to protect.\u201d Lord Caitanya is so merciful that He protects not only His surrendered devotees but even those devotees who simply offer obeisances unto His lotus feet without duplicity. He protects anyone who simply bows down with the thought of doing service, although they have not done the service. Even the neophytes will get all protection from the Lord\u2019s lotus feet if they are sincere in seeking shelter.<\/p>\n Bhava means the material existence characterized by repeated birth and death. Abdhi means an ocean. Pota\u1e41 refers to a boat. Thus bhav\u0101bdhi-potam refers to Lord Gauranga\u2019s lotus feet that act as a suitable boat for crossing the ocean of material existence. The following prayer by the devat\u0101s further describes how His lotus feet act like a boat.<\/p>\n tvayy ambuj\u0101k\u1e63\u0101khila-sattva-dh\u0101mni<\/p>\n sam\u0101dhin\u0101ve\u015bita-cetasaike<\/p>\n tvat-p\u0101da-potena mahat-k\u1e5btena<\/p>\n kurvanti govatsa-pada\u1e41 bhav\u0101bdhim<\/p>\n \u201cO lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one\u2019s meditation on your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of nescience, one follows in the footsteps of great devotees. By this simple process, one can cross the ocean of nescience as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a calf.\u201d (SB 10.2.30)<\/p>\n \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b says that a follower of Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu is j\u012bvan-mukta, or a liberated soul. The devotee is always confident (ni\u015bcaya) that the Lord will quickly take him across the ocean of material existence. A devotee is firmly convinced about the potency of the process of devotional service. The devotee is not even aware when he has crossed the ocean of material life.<\/p>\n Lord \u015ar\u012b Gaurak\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is addressed by the word mah\u0101puru\u1e63a in this verse, and the whole intention of this verse is to offer obeisances at His lotus feet. Those divine lotus feet are the actual eternal object of meditation for all of us because they cut off the bondage of material life and fulfill the spiritual desires of the devotees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a says in the Bhagavad-g\u012bta that He descends in every yuga as an incarnation for three purposes: to protect the righteous, to punish the mischievous, and to establishes dharma. Lord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a descended in the current age of Kali as Lord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu or \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101nga. In this incarnation, the Lord appears in the form of a devotee to teach how to perform loving devotional service (bhakti) unto Him. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93608"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93611,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93608\/revisions\/93611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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By Gauranga Darshan Das <\/strong><\/p>\n