Praise to Sri-krsna-sankirtana!

by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja

A short English class delivered in Varsana during Kartika, 1996

 Srila Narayana Maharaja and Srila Trivikrama Maharaja

What was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s special gift to us? This is stated in the first of His Siksastaka slokas, wherein He has explained:

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

Siksastakam (1)

[Let there be supreme victory for the chanting of the holy name of Sri Krsna, which cleanses the mirror of the heart and completely extinguishes the blazing forest fire of material existence. Sri-krsna-sankirtanam diffuses the soothing moon rays of bhavawhich cause the while lotus of good fortune for the jivas to bloom. The holy name is the life and soul of transcendental knowledge, since Vidya (Divya Sarasvati-devi, who awards divine knowlege) is Sri Nama Prabhu’s consort. It continuously increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, enabling one to taste complete nectar at every step. The holy name thoroughly bathes and cools the body, mind and soul.]

Why did Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu praise this krsna-sankirtanam? Sri-krsna-sankirtanam is the best teaching He delivered. There is no parallel to this sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Let it be most successful. In the state of viraha (separation) there is no consolation other than sri-krsna-sankirtanam. It is the only thing.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appreciated this and instructed the human beings that this is the best of all good things, of all devotions – sri-krsna-sankirtanam param vijayate. And He remarked, “It is suitable for all classes of devotees. From the worst to the best, it is suitable. The best position can be had by thissri-krsna-sankirtanam only. It is complete sadhana, it is easily performed and it bestows the highest perfection. It will give one the best position in the spiritual world. This sri-krsna-sankirtanam will also give the best position in this world.

By this chanting, by this kirtana of the name and glories of Sri Krsna, we can possess the highest position. For the lowest devotees, whose minds are always thinking of worldly pleasures, what is stated? It is stated that the desire for worldly pleasures should first be removed. For this reason, Mahaprabhu said, “ceto-darpana-marjanam –the mirror of the heart is to be cleansed.” This is to be done first. Citta-darpana, the mirror of the heart should be scrubbed clean.

By which process will it be cleaned? By this kirtana. Kirtana is enough; it is more than enough to clean the citta-darpana, the mirror of my citta. Manah(mind), buddhih (intelligence), ahankara (false-ego) and citta (the heart) are the four sections of the subtle body. The citta should be cleaned first. Without cleaning our heart, we cannot accept the highest prema, we cannot understand it and we cannot be in the position to attain it. It is not at all possible.

We are always thinking of the pleasure of our senses. How can the pleasure of our divine masters and the pleasure of Lord Krsna and His consorts – the gopisand Srimati Radharani – be secured in such a citta? No, it cannot be. First of all it should be cleaned by the process of sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has very carefully explained this process from beginning to end:

aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

Siksastakam (8)

[Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant who is attached to the service of His lotus feet, and thus make Me His very own. Or let Him break My heart by not being present before Me. He is a debauchee and can do whatever He likes. Even if He cavorts with other lovers directly in front of Me. His is still My prananatha. I have no one other than Him.]

This is the conclusion. Who can attain this stage without cleaning his citta? First of all it is necessary to clean this citta, but only this sankirtanam will do that. It is the best and only suitable process to clean the heart, to get rid of this worldly thinking, this worldly enjoyment – the material enjoyment of our senses.

When will prema-bhakti be attainable? Will it be possible to attain it when the mind is engaged in material happiness, in material pleasures? In that mind can we understand anything of prema? So while we are in this class we should not try to understand prema. It is useless as long as we are in that position. Moreover, we think imitating the situation and behaviour of the premi-bhaktaswill make our citta clean, but it is not prescribed. It is not mentioned in these teachings. Our hearts will become clean by krsna-sankirtanam only.

Second it is said, “bhava maha davagni… (the blazing fire of material existence).” Do we feel material existence to be a fire? Unless and until we feel it to be a fire, we will think, “Why should I try to get out of it?” We are burning in this fire and dying in this world. Are we really aware of this? Do we have such realization? We think that we are in a good situation here. We have money, a home and nice things to eat, so who will endeavour for Bhagavan, forprema-bhakti to Him? First of all let us understand and realize that we are burning in the birth and death system. We are suffering perpetually. But as long as we think this world to be very fine and full of happiness, why should we try to leave it? Why should we give up that habit?

“Bhava maha davagni nirvapanam.” Who is realizing that we are suffering in this davagni, this blazing fire? It is so dangerous for us to take birth in this world. Bhava maha davagni – when we will realize that we are burning in this world, then only will we try to get out of that fire. But by what means can we relieve ourselves? Sri-krsna-sankirtanam can rescue us from this davagni, from this fire. We can then understand that relief will come by this sri-krsna sankirtanam only.

When we are free from this bondage of maya, free from davagni, and rescued from it by this chanting, this chanting will reveal His joyful, all-pleasing feature to us. This sankirtana will appear like the very sweet and soothing rays of the moon – sreyah kairava-candrika-vitaranam. Those rays belong to parama-mangala, our highest good. Our highest good is compared with the moon. The moon of krsna-sankirtana is so smooth and pleasing that our supreme auspiciousness will be realized then.

“Vidya-vadhu-jivanam.” Wisdom is vidya (transcendental knowledge), and that is the true result of krsna-sankirtana. That krsna-sankirtana is the life of transcendental knowledge, who is His consort – vidya-vadhu-jivanam. By that knowledge we can understand that sri-krsna sankirtanam is the best. If by some knowledge we do not understand that sri-krsna sankirtanam is the best result, then that knowledge is not knowledge. It is not admirable knowledge.

“Sarvatma-snapanam.” One’s self will become thoroughly immersed in thatkrsna-sankirtanam, or in the ocean of joy. One will sink in that ocean by thissankirtanam. “Anandambudhi-vardhanam – the ocean of pleasure, or joy, is increased by this sankirtanam.” Anandambudhi – the ocean of bliss swells. Whose bliss? My gurudeva once said, “it is Krsna’s bliss that swells.”Anandambudhi-vardhanam. “Prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam – in every stage one can realize purna-amrta (complete divine nectar).” The sweetness ofsankirtana is tasted at every step.

Let this sri-krsna sankirtanam be praised in the highest way.

vanca kalpatarubhyas ca krpa sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

[I pray to the Vaisnavas: you are like wish-fulfilling trees, you are oceans of mercy and you are the salvation for the most fallen; please accept this surrendered soul.]