Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2017 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday) 

“Once Krishna and Arjuna were travelling. Krishna said: “Ah, Arjuna, I’m so thirsty! Bring water from somewhere.” While looking for water, Arjuna saw some birds coming and going in the direction of the Yamuna. Upon reaching there he saw that the Yamuna was flowing very sweetly and her waters were very pure and clear. He also saw an old lady with white hair who was in trance. Arjuna circumambulated her and offered respects. After some time when she returned into external consciousness, Arjuna asked her: “Mother, who you are and why are you meditating in this place? No one is here. What are you doing here on the bank of the Yamuna River?” The lady replied respectfully: “I have been here for hundreds and thousands of years. I want to be a gopi in Vrindavana and I want to serve Radha and Krishna to meet. Narada was pleased to give me the gopal-mantra and the kama-gayatri. I’m doing aradhanam by these mantras – my internal meditation worship.” Arjuna returned to Krishna and told Him what he had seen. Krishna then went to the old lady and gave her the benediction of His mercy.

These are some of the reasons for Krishna’s descent to this world. There are so many stories and so many reasons that it would take about ten days to explain them all.”[1]

These were the reasons for the descent of God to this world. At the end of the last yuga, Krishna left this planet, this plane of existence. But why? Only for two reasons. Never to leave this planet and also in the hope to return. So how is that – leaves in order not to leave?!? Leaves in order to return?! How to understand this?

He left. In very strange circumstances – we don’t describe that too much, but in a very miraculous way He left this planet Earth. Then how is it that He didn’t leave? He withdrew almost everything to the spiritual sky. But He left few representatives here. For example He left the Bhagavata Purana here, which is considered a direct incarnation of the Supreme. In this way did He leave? He did not leave.

Otherwise He is ever-present through and by His holy name. The wise teachers will say that there is no difference between the holy name and the person described by this name. So until there is even one person who will chant the name of Krishna, did He ever leave? He is here. Through and by His holy name He is present. Shrila Shridhara Maharaj says that in the world of sound He manifests as the holy name. And how He will show Himself in the world of forms?

Answer: In the murti?

Swami Tirtha: Correct! In the beautiful archa-vigraha forms. Did He ever leave? He is ever present. Until there is one temple where they worship Him, He is ever present. So we should have that vision – to perceive the presence of the Supreme in any possible means.

Illusion means diabolical disorientation. Proper spiritual practice means divine orientation. This is what we need – divine orientation, so that never to lose Krishna, never to lose the feeling and consciousness of His presence. This is the way to feel that this whole environment is sanctified. This is the way to deeply understand and experience that we can sanctify even the temple of our heart.

(to be continued)

[1] Readings from a book of Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj