Sharanagati

“The last twelve years were simply devoted to relishing the pastimes of Krishna in separation within the heart of the Lord. In the attitude of separation, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared mad both day and night. Sometimes He laughed, and sometimes He cried; sometimes He danced, and sometimes He chanted in great sorrow. At those times, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would visit Lord Jagannātha. Then His feelings exactly corresponded to those of the gopīs when they saw Krishna  at Kurukshetra after long separation. Krishna had come to Kurukshetra with His brother and sister to visit. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to dance before the car during the festival, He always sang the following two lines. “I have gotten that Lord of My life, for whom I was burning in the fire of lusty desires.” Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to sing this song [seita parāna-nātha] especially during the latter part of the day, and He would think, “Let Me take Krishna  and go back to Vrindāvana.” This ecstasy was always filling His heart. In that ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited a verse when dancing in front of Lord Jagannātha. Almost no one could understand the meaning of that verse. “That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire.”[1]

This verse contains the ecstasy of separation and meeting. Just imagine, everything is the same as when you had the best moments of your life. You are the same person, you have the same setting, still you are not satisfied. It’s a very strange feeling that most probably we cannot repeat the best moments, best years of our life. Is that true? Do you agree?

Paramananda: I don’t agree!

Tirtha Maharaj: Fine! We should not agree that the moments of ecstasy are lost. No, we should work for them to come back.

Yashoda: I think that we cannot repeat them; they can only be more intensive.

Manjari: I think like Yashoda as well.

Tirtha Maharaj: All right, I can see that you are a progressive company of vaishnavas. You are not satisfied simply by repeating the ecstatic moments but you want to enhance it.

But actually we should have purified feelings for that. Whenever we connect to Krishnaby chanting His names that magic should happen. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This is the best melody of meeting the hearts and souls.

(to be continued)