Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 17.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday) 

“Madhavendra Puri took rest that night in the temple, but toward the end of the night he had another dream. He dreamed that Gopala came before him and said, “O Madhavendra, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor. Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopinatha daily until it is finished. There is no difference between My body and Gopinatha’s body. They are one and the same. Therefore if you smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopinatha, you will naturally also smear it on My body. Thus the temperature of My body will be reduced. You should not hesitate to act according to My order. Believing in Me, just do what is needed.”[1]

Here we see a certain level of intensity. You might think that this is philosophy. Because God Krishna is one and He manifests in different deity forms. And in this way one service reaches practically all aspects. But what happens on the practitioner’s level? When there is this ultimate harmony, ultimate divine spiritual unity between people, like when the lady is the better half of the man, for example – does it happen that when I eat, you will be satisfied; when I achieve something, it’s your achievement; when I am happy, you are blissful; when I think of you, you also remember me? This I call intensity. And it is not impossible. But we agreed that we should strive for the impossible. So we’d better not strive for this, because it’s possible – hm?

My dear ones, I just want to draw your attention to the fact that if you think you have accomplished something in your spiritual endeavours, don’t think that this is the end of your journey. Take the next steps in this spiritual intensity. My success is your success. It also means that my failure is your failure. This is the unity principle – whatever we have, we share.

“After giving these instructions, Gopala disappeared, and Madhavendra Puri awoke. He immediately called for all the servants of Gopinatha, and they came before him. Madhavendra Puri said, “Smear the body of Gopinatha with this camphor and sandalwood I have brought for Gopala in Vrindavana. Do this regularly every day. If the sandalwood pulp is smeared over the body of Gopinatha, then Gopala will be cooled. After all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely independent; His order is all-powerful.” The servants of Gopinatha became very pleased to hear that in the summer all the sandalwood pulp would be used to anoint the body of Gopinatha. Madhavendra Puri said, “These two assistants will regularly grind the sandalwood, and you should also get two other people to help. I shall pay their salaries.” In this way Gopinathaji was supplied ground sandalwood pulp daily. The servants of Gopinatha were very pleased with this. In this way the sandalwood pulp was smeared over the body of Gopinatha until the whole stock was finished. Madhavendra Puri stayed there until that time. At the end of summer Madhavendra Puri returned to Jagannatha Puri, where he remained with great pleasure during the whole period of Chaturmasya.[2]

Have you ever prepared this sandal paste? Oh, this is such a nice service. It is used also in the deity service. You have a little platform made of stone, a little rough stone. You take one small log of sandalwood, put a little water and start to rub, to smear. Then slowly, slowly it starts to form a paste. It takes some time from the wood to achieve this paste. And usually this is what the hosts put by a flower on the foreheads of distinctive guests – they take a flower, dip it into the paste and then apply it on the foreheads. That is so, so nice!

(to be continued)

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.157-161

[2] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.162-169