Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 15.08.2018, mela Ludasto)

Swami Tirtha: If we continue our readings from the Chaitanya Charitamrita, first we have to remember what happened, what was the conclusion in the previous sessions?

Premalata: That in our village nobody is fasting.

Ramvijay: That accepting prasadam is a universal spiritual practise.

Swami Tirtha: Or we can also add that usually we carry our previous conditionings – whether material or spiritual. And we all agreed that non-attachment and satisfaction are two key factors for success in life.

So Mаdhavendra Puri arranged everything about the worship and the service of Gopal in Vrindavan. And first he went to Bengal, then he set off towards South India.

“Going into South India, Shri Madhavendra Puri visited Remuna, where Gopinatha is situated. Upon seeing the beauty of the Deity, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed. In the corridor of the temple, from which people generally viewed the Deity, Madhavendra Puri chanted and danced. Then he sat down there and asked a brahmaṇa what kinds of foods they offer to the Deity. From the excellence of the arrangements, Madhavendra Puri understood by deduction that only the best food was offered.

Madhavendra Puri thought, “I shall inquire from the priest what foods are offered to Gopinatha so that by making arrangements in our kitchen, we can offer similar foods to Shri Gopala. When the brahmaṇa priest was questioned about this matter, he explained in detail what kinds of foods were offered to the Deity of Gopinatha. The brahmaṇa priest said, “In the evening the Deity is offered sweet rice in twelve earthen pots. Because the taste is as good as nectar [amrita], it is named amrita-keli. This sweet rice is celebrated throughout the world as gopinatha-kshira. It is not offered anywhere else in the world.” While Madhavendra Puri was talking with the brahmaṇa priest, the sweet rice was placed before the Deity as an offering. Hearing this, Madhavendra Puri thought as follows. “If, without my asking, a little sweet rice is given to me, I can then taste it and make a similar preparation to offer my Lord Gopala.” Madhavendra Puri became greatly ashamed when he desired to taste the sweet rice, and he immediately began to think of Lord Vishnu. While he was thus thinking of Lord Vishnu, the offering was completed, and the arati ceremony began. After the arati was finished, Madhavendra Puri offered his obeisances to the Deity and then left the temple. He did not say anything more to anyone.”[1]

Madhavendra was a very obedient servant of Gopal. Because he located Gopal, they had a connection: he established the temple of Gopal, he started the worship of Gopal – so, he was enchanted by Gopal. And therefore wherever he went, he was thinking of his Gopal. ‘Yes, yes, this is a very nice person – we can invite him to the service of Gopal. Yes, in the Malaya mountains there is very nice sandalwood, so I will bring that to Gopal. Here in this temple of Gopinath in Remuna there is very nice sweet rice – I can make similar rice also for my Gopal.’ Everything he connected with his beloved God.

We need to develop this feeling, this mood. Basically, we have this: ‘Oh, this is a nice car. I wish I also had a nice car! The neighbour has such a big house, wow, I wish also to have a big house!’ We have this instinct, it is there; only a little focus, a little fine tuning is necessary.

But what happened here? Immediately when he thought ‘I want to enjoy it in an unknown way. If somehow I receive it, then I can taste it and then I can cook it’ – he thought it was a mistake. He wanted to enjoy before it was fully offered to the Deity. The elevated souls pay great attention to these topics. For example, the ghee-lamp. Usually in the old times the ghee-lamp was used to give some light upon the Deities. Because there was no light in the temples, so the pujaris needed this little ghee-lamp to show the deity. When people come, the pujaris show Him: “Here is our deity. Here’s His face. Here are His lotus feet” – so that people can see. This is a practical use of offering a ghee-lamp. But the primary importance of offering a ghee-lamp is for Krishna’s sake. That light is for Him, the fire element belongs to Him. Therefore, in some temples they offer two lamps – one for Him and one for our use. It’s very nice – one is for the service of the Supreme and one for the service of the people, visitors.

(to be continued)

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 4.112-4.122