Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 14.08.2018, Ludasto)

I’m sure you all remember the story where we stopped. “In My village nobody is fasting.”

Madhavendra Puri, as a wandering mendicant, finally visited Vrindavan, the home of Krishna. In this village he met a young boy. And also when he fell asleep, he met the same divine guide, telling him: “I was waiting for you to come. Please, remove Me from these bushes and establish Me nicely in a worshipable way.”

So, “Madhavendra Puri cried for some time, but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopala. Thus he became tranquil. After taking his morning bath, Madhavendra Puri entered the village and assembled all the people. Then he spoke as follows: “The proprietor of this village, Govardhana-dhari, is lying in the bushes. Let us go there and rescue Him from that place. The bushes are very dense, and we will not be able to enter the jungle. Therefore take choppers and spades to clear the way.” After hearing this, all the people accompanied Madhavendra Puri with great pleasure. According to his directions, they cut down bushes, cleared a path and entered the jungle. When they saw the Deity covered with dirt and grass, they were all struck with wonder and pleasure. After they had cleansed the body of the Deity, some of them said, “The Deity is very heavy. No single person can move Him. Since the Deity was very heavy, some of the stronger men assembled to carry Him to the top of the hill. Madhavendra Puri also went there. A big stone was made into a throne, and the Deity was installed upon it. Another big stone was placed behind the Deity for support.”[1]

You see, this is the difference between Vrindavana, Govardhana and the hidden Vrindavana, Gupta Vrindavana – Ludasto. There they have stones, here we have only pieces of wood. But there are two pieces and here – also two pieces.

“All the brahmana priests of the village gathered together with nine waterpots, and water from Govinda-kunda lake was brought there and filtered. When the Deity was being installed, nine hundred pots of water were brought from Govinda-kunda. There were musical sounds of bugles and drums and the singing of women. During the festival at the installation ceremony, some people sang and some danced. All the milk, yogurt and clarified butter in the village were brought to the festival. Various foods and sweetmeats, as well as other kinds of presentations, were brought there. I am unable to describe all these. The villagers brought a large quantity of tulasi leaves, flowers and various kinds of garments. Then Shri Madhavendra Puri personally began the abhisheka [bathing ceremony].”[2]

So, this is a celebration – you bring what you have, you collect what you have in order to offer it. Abhisheka is the bathing ceremony and now we shall receive a description of that.

(to be continued)

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.46-54

[2] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.55-59