SATHGURU GEETHA 

'Extracts from pravachans of our guruji'

  jay sathguru maharaj ki jay   

 GURU MAHIMA  

hymns in praise of guru

“vande 'nantaadbhutaishvaryam

  sri chaitanya mahaprabhum

  neechO 'pi yat prasaadaat syaad

  bhakti shaastra pravartakaha”

Meaning

I offer my respects to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by whose mercy even a person in the lowest form of life can find direction in transcendental devotional service to the Lord.

 The above verse is sung in praise of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by his devotee Sanatana Goswami.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu spread the maha mantra (Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare) throughout the country in the 16^th century.

 A person attains good qualities or bad qualities owing to the virtuous deeds or sins committed in previous births respectively. To get rid of the sins, one has to perform many good deeds (punya karma). This again involves taking multiple births. Thus this cycle continues. To get liberated from this cycle, a Divine Hand has to lift you up. This Divine Hand is Sathguru’s Hand.

A Sathguru’s Divine Look is enough to destroy the sins. Now how is this possible?

A Sathguru is a liberated soul. He is very dear to Lord Krishna. The Lord Himself has confirmed this in Bhagavath Geeetha. Krishna always places an eye on a Sathguru. Since a Sathguru is always watched by Krishna and the worldly people are looked upon by a Sathguru, it can be said indirectly that Krishna has an eye on the worldly people.

Where the Lord’s sanctity is present, there is no place for sins.

A Sathguru’s mercy is so powerful that even a person in the lowest form of life gets delivered.

Person in the lowest form of life is construed to be a person full of vices. Animals are considered to fall in the lowest category of species. But when humans start behaving like animals they too are said to attain the lowest form of life.

But a Sathguru’s grace is enough to bring a transformation in the person at some point or other of time.

An incident in Navadweepa, West Bengal proves this point.

This incident occured during the time Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu was in the process of spreading the Naamasankeertana movement.

There lived two Brahmin brothers named Jagaai and Madhaai. Both had the ruling powers of the region (similar to a Tehsildaar). But they never used to attend to their duties sincerely. All their time and money were spent in alcohol, women and all such sorts of vices. There was a gross misuse of power. They never stayed at a fixed place. They would move to a place, stay there temporarily and would torment the people living there. In this way they used to while away their time.

Once Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu was passing by that street. There, he halted at a devotee’s residence. That night, He along with His devotees chanted the Mahamantra. (Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare).

The two brothers were in a drunken state. The melodious mahamantra reached their ears. They could feel the joy and happiness on hearing the naamasankeertana.

There was a great devotee of Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu named Sri Nithyaananda. The next day, he was on his way to meet Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu. On the way, he met these two brothers in a drunken state. Madhaai stopped Sri Nithyaananda and asked who he was. Sri Nithyaananda was known for his mischievousness. He replied, “My name is Avadhootha and I am a disciple of Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu.” Avadhootha means a person who has no interest in material life, doesn’t care for his bodily needs, etc.

Hearing this in a fit of rage, Madhaai started hitting Sri Nithyaannada. Blood started oozing from his forehead. Seeing this Jagaai stopped Madhaai and said that it was wrong to hit him, since he had done nothing. But Madhaai didn’t stop.

Sri Nithyaanada said nothing and left the place quietly. He reached the place where Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu was chanting. Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu liked Sri Nithyaanada very much and he couldn’t bear the sight of his injured forehead. He asked the reasons for the same. Sri Nithyaanada narrated the entire incident. Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu, angered by this reached the place where the brothers were sitting. Since Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu is an incarnation of Lord Krishna, he raised His Hand and the Lord’s Sudharshana Chakra appeared. He was going to kill Madhaai when Sri Nithyaananda pleaded the Lord to forgive Madhaai. Such is the greatness and mercy of the bhakthaas. They don’t think ill even for a foe. But Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu was determined. Sri Nithyaananda repeatedly pleaded and informed that it was Jagaai who stopped Madhaai from further hitting. He also reminded the Lord that this particular incarnation was not to kill the ‘demons’ but to spread the love for the Lord to the common masses. Hearing all this first Jagaai fell at Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu, lotus feet. Then Madhaai ashamed by his act followed his brother’s footsteps and pleaded for mercy and requested the Lord to accept them as His devotees.

Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu readily did so and even gave them mantropadesam. Such a great Sathguru’s grace helped in transforming the fickle minded brothers into great devotees.

Even today there exist many Jagaais and Madhaais.

But whenever such people start harming the innocent, a Sri Krishna Chaithanya Mahaprabhu takes incarnation.

Can such a mercy and grace of a Sathguru be described? One can only feel and realize it.

  jay sathguru maharaj ki jay   

  ACHYUTHA PRIYAA

short stories to regain your faith

The doctor informed the youth that swati nakshathram would fall within the next two to three days and was very happy to see how curious the boy was to put in efforts to save his father. The youth said that this was an opportunity to realize the mercy of Bagawan Krishna. Indeed each and every difficult situation is to make us know whether Bagawan is with us or not. Bagawan is definitely with us but we have to realise it. Whenever we are trapped in a crisis our near and dear ones avoid us by giving some excuses  but can Bagawan ever leave us. No HE can never do so. Everyone perceives the incident as it is but they fail to see the opportunities hidden behind it.

Many a times the incidents which gives us happiness at present may yield sadness in the long run and vice - versa. when a teacher takes strict action against a student for his mistakes, he may feel humiliated. This incident would make the student sad. But when the student would realize his mistake the punishment would be a blessing in disguise for him. This itself reveals that when the student was punished he failed to realize the hidden message behind that punishment. Even though apparently the punishment seemed to give sadness to the student, he later on realized that it was only for his happiness and well-being in the future.

Similarly many a times students spend their time in watching movies and in having fun at the cost of their studies.  For the time being this would give them pleasure. But once the results are out the students realize their mistakes. It is at this point of time that they realize that they should have utilized their time fruitfully instead of wasting it. The students experienced a great pleasure while having fun but the same pleasure turned out to be a regret for them when their results were out. This in itself proves that each and every individual fails to see the real hidden message behind every incident. 

 No single individual has the guts to face the difficulties in his life. But Kunti -the mother of Pandavas was exception to this. She asked Bagawan Krishna that  wherever possible she should be given difficulty. This would seem some what strange because we only ask Bagawan to wipeout our tears and here Kunti is asking for more and more difficulty. Laughingly Bagwan asked Kunti,"Are you mad why are you asking for difficulty when others are asking for salvation, wealth, beauty, miraculous powers etc ." To that Kunti replied "Krishna, you don't know anything !! Firstly we realize our strength and weakness only when we are trapped in a difficult situation, secondly we become conscious of our capacity and after that we realize the true nature of the persons near us and we come to know the real spirit of life. In times of happiness we fail to understand the character of life. There is another hidden face of life which  we recognize only in times of hardship. When I pass through all this hurdle  I realize that there is no one to help me and at that time I approach YOU and YOU offer a helping hand to me and at that time I would get Your divine darshan; that is what I yearn for." Being satisfied Bagawan granted the boon Kunti asked.

If one observes,  Bhaktas had to face many difficulties in their life but  they do not consider those to be difficulty because they are aware of the fact that Bagawan is always with them and they need not fear for anything. We should not be shaken by anything in life let anything come Bagawan is there with us. Similarly the youth was also confident and was of the thinking that from my side I would do my efforts and Bagawan is there to give the results. Swati nakshathram occured. The youth got up early in the morning and prayed to Krishna that 'I am your child I am unaware of anything'. We all are totally ignorant of the fact that we all are the children of Bagawan. 

 Whether Bagawan Krishna Paid heed to the prayers of that youth or not!! Wait till our next issue.

  jay sathguru maharaj ki jay   

HRUDHAYAANJALI  

the power of divine grace

Radhe Krishna! First, I would like to offer my whole-hearted namaskarams at the Lotus Feet of my Guruji Mahan Brahma Shri Gopalavalli Dasar.

With the blessings of my Guruji I had a lot of opportunities where I could experience the divine grace of Bagawan Krishna and the limitless Krupay of my SathGuru Mahan Brahma Shri Gopalavallidasar .

While booking tickets for the international flights we have to specify our choice food whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Although, my husband was aware of this factor due to some reason he forgot to specify the type of food. While booking the tickets if the choice of food is not mentioned then we would be provided the non-vegetarian food.

The scheduled time of our flight was early morning. Therefore, we had to get up by 4.00 a.m. We boarded the flight at around 7.00 a.m. By this time, we both were feeling extremely hungry. Within some time, food was served. We both got our share of food. However, when my husband opened the pack he found that it was non-vegetarian food. It was at this point of time that my husband realized that he had forgotten to specify the type of food.

We called the flight attendant and asked him for the vegetarian food. He immediately asked us whether we had specified it while booking our tickets. We said we forgot to do so. The flight attendant became a little furious and said that he has to check out as the stock of vegetarian food was almost out of stock.

I was feeling extremely hungry. On listening to his reply, I felt that now there is no other way but to pray to Bagawan Krishna to provide us with food. I remembered the words of my Guruji. My Guruji always says that Krishna namasankeertanam is “Sarva Aaiswaryaka Mantram.”Here Aaiswaryam does not mean a lot of wealth but it means it would fulfill our requirement as it is exactly at the time we need it.

The flight attendant then enquired whether he could get two packs of vegetarian food. We both were just chanting and praying to Krishna that we are hungry and Krishna you have to somehow fulfill our hunger. Immediately the other attendant replied that exactly two packs of vegetarian food were only left over.

Our attendant collected it and served it to us, saying that these were the last two packs left over. On hearing this, our happiness knew no bounds. Really, I felt as lf, even though my husband forgot to specify the type of food first, it was only for blessing us with such a great experience. The happiness and pleasure, which we got while having this food was something different only as it was not just food but the prasadam given to us by Krishna and our Guruji.