Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

So, we were describing the Krishna mandala. But what about Gauranga? Mahaprabhu also has His mandala. And in His mandala, His associates occupy the specified spaces.
Who is in the center of the Chaitanya mandala? The center of the Chaitanya mandala is Himself – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His direct associates. Because in the Krishna mandala, Radha-Govinda was standing in the center, and in the Chaitanya mandala, Mahaprabhu represents Radha and Govinda united, plus He’s got His primary expansions like the pancha-tattva.
Who are in the inner circle? In the inner circle of the Krishna mandala there were the younger gopis, the manjari. So, in Mahaprabhu’s mandala, the goswami occupies this place. On the external circle, the external petals of the Gauranga mandala, there are the intimate servants. From this we can understand that even those who belong to the external petals of this whorl, they are very intimate servants. And finally, those who belong to the middle section, they are the most intimate servants. So, intimate, most intimate and goswamis.
But, one verse is very important concerning the identity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:
radha krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini shaktir asmad
ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau
chaitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam chaikyam aptam
radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam naumi krishna-svarupam[1]
Meaning “I worship Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is non-different from Krishna, encircled in the splendor and emotions of Radharani. As the predominant and predominated halves, Radha and Krishna, in Their individual identity, are always united. And now, in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, again They are united. And this inconceivable transformation of the Divine Couple originates from the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna.”
This is a quotation from the personal secretary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara. And this quotation is very important for us, because it describes Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy – this inconceivable unity and diversity. Divinity, in our understanding, has these two sides of the coin – Govinda and Radha, Radha and Govinda, always together. And They belong to each other so strongly that when They perceive Their separate identities – like Krishna alone and Radha alone – They need each other so much that They are attracted to each other, They search for each other. And when this search is intense enough, then They embrace so deeply, so profoundly, that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu comes. Then the dark hue of Krishna is hidden under the silver splendor of Radhika.
So, please remember this verse, because it guides us in our spiritual endeavors. And according to this, we can easily understand the parallels between Krishna lila and Gauranga lila. All those who have the eye, they can identify the participants and the associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and identify their position in Krishna lila.

(to be continued)

1.  Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi Lila, 1.5