Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 12.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

 “While he was sitting beneath a tree, an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk, placed it before Madhavendra Puri and, smiling, addressed him as follows. “O Madhavendra Puri, please drink the milk I have brought. Why don’t you beg some food to eat? What kind of meditation are you undergoing.” When he saw the beauty of that boy, Madhavendra Puri became very satisfied. Hearing His sweet words, he forgot all hunger and thirst. Madhavendra Puri said, “Who are You? Where do You reside? And how did You know that I was fasting?”[1]

So, if you visit Vrindavan and if you meet an unknown blackish cowherd boy, you must guess who this person might be. You can guess, just like Madhavendra Puri. “Who are you? Where do you live? How do you know that I am keeping my fast?”

“The boy replied, “Sir, I am a cowherd boy, and I reside in this village. In My village, no one fasts.”[2]

This is Krishna’s village. This is Krishna’s mission. “In My village, nobody is fasting. In My mission, nobody is fasting. In My family, I take care of everyone.” This is something very important. If you belong to this village, you will be supplied, but you also have to serve others. Why? Because in this village nobody fasts. Therefore in Vrindavan there is no Ekadashi fast. “In my village nobody fasts.” So this is my, not humble request, but this is my direct expectation: if you want to belong here, serve others. Because in this village nobody should be fasting. This is your duty.

“In this village a person can beg food from others and thus eat. Some people drink only milk, but if a person does not ask anyone for food, I supply him all his eatables. The women who come here to take water saw you, and they supplied Me with this milk and sent Me to you.” The boy continued, “I must go very soon to milk the cows, but I shall return and take back this milk pot from you.” Saying this, the boy left the place. Indeed, He suddenly could be seen no more, and Madhavendra Puri’s heart was filled with wonder.” After drinking the milk, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and put it aside. He looked toward the path, but the boy never returned. Madhavendra Puri could not sleep. He sat and chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and at the end of the night he dozed a little, and his external activities stopped. In a dream Madhavendra Puri saw the very same boy. The boy came before him and, holding his hand, took him to a bush in the jungle. The boy showed Madhavendra Puri the bush and said, “I reside in this bush, and because of this I suffer very much from severe cold, rain showers, winds and scorching heat. Please bring the people of the village and get them to take Me out of this bush. Then have them situate Me nicely on top of the hill. Please construct a temple on top of that hill,” the boy continued, “and install Me in that temple. After this, wash Me with large quantities of cold water so that My body may be cleansed. For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, ‘When will Madhavendra Puri come here to serve Me?’ I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered. My name is Gopala. I am the lifter of Govardhana Hill. I was installed by Vajra, and here I am the authority. When the Muslims attacked, the priest who was serving Me hid Me in this bush in the jungle. Then he ran away out of fear of the attack. Since the priest went away, I have been staying in this bush. It is very good that you have come here. Now just remove Me with care.” After saying this, the boy disappeared. Then Madhavendra Puri woke up and began to consider his dream. Madhavendra Puri began to lament, “I saw Lord Krishna directly, but I could not recognize Him!” Thus he fell down on the ground in ecstatic love. Madhavendra Puri cried for some time, but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopala. Thus he became tranquil.[3]

We cannot go on with the nectarian drops because we shall faint in ecstasy.

(to be continued)

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.24-27

[2] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.28

[3] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.29-46