Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Something very important is mentioned here, “The eternal whorl of Gokula is Krishna’s six-angled residence”[1]. The six-angled star – usually people consider it the Star of David – the symbol of another major tradition. But actually, this is not the Star of David, this is the star of Gokula. Actually, it just very recently became associated with the Jewish tradition. And in the Orient, in many different sub-traditions you can find this very important symbol. In general we can say that if two triangles meet, then you can produce the six-angle. One represents the male principle and the other represents the female principle. Therefore, we understand that in the whorl of this lotus flower, the predominated and the predominant aspect of the Supreme is hidden.
But it sounds very dry, very theoretical and it is very difficult to understand. What are you talking about? Predominated? It’s too complicated for us! But if I say: in this beautiful lotus flower Radha and Govinda dance in the center – then you very easily understand. Right? Forget about this dry philosophy. Try to join the dance, the eternal dance of Radha-Govinda united.
But according to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur’s explanations, this predominating and predominated aspect of the Supreme is there. The dominating aspect is Krishna, Govinda and the dominated aspect is Radhika. All right, at first glance. Because this is just like a dance. Somebody needs to lead the dance. The leader is the predominant aspect and the person who joins the dance is the predominated aspect. And then the choreography is beautiful. Yet without the other partner, the dance will never happen. Then it is a solo, which is a little bit boring.
So, in this hexagon the predominated and the predominant aspect meet, the two triangles meet. Therefore, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur once exclaimed: Forget about this monotheism. We are dualists. We like the predominating and the predominated aspects of this one unit, because how can you separate Radha and Govinda? You cannot separate them. So, one and yet different, different and one at the same time – a very high concept.
Then the next verse says: “In this eternal realm of Gokula there is a whorl and this is the six-angle residence of Krishna. This transcendental lotus flower has petals and these petals are the residences of the cowherd boys, who are parts and parcels of Krishna. They have an exclusive affectionate attachment to Krishna. And considering their original nature, they are non-separate from Him. These petals raise like walls and beautifully emanate light. The external petals are the transcendental dham or forest shelters for the gopis led by Shrimati Radharani.”[2]
So, this is how we can see, we can understand this picture of Krishna’s environment and entourage. In the center of the creation as a lotus flower, Radha-Govinda dance. Around Them there are Their beautiful partners, the gopas and the gopis. A very similar description you find in the Bible, but it’s a little more majestic, right? God has a throne and some angels tremble at His lotus feet. Here we have no trembling; only beauty, connection and joyful association with the Supreme. And what is the nature of these partners? Their nature is also sat-chit-ananda-vigraha. But what is their purpose? Their purpose is to share the affection coming from Krishna and also to multiply it. This is very important, because originally we also share these qualities, sat-chit-ananda-vigraha, right? So, the next question is what is the purpose of my life? Well, to reflect this original affectionate invitation and to multiply the loving service. Isn’t that beautiful? We have a purpose of life – to reflect the divine light. We are not born from darkness. We are not born to die. No, we are born to shine. To let your original spiritual splendor reveal. What a perspective!

(to be continued)

1. Brahma Samhita, 5.3
2. Brahma Samhita, 5.4