This is Caitanya Caritamrta class, the story of Chota Haridasa, which is a very complicated story and it has some very heavy instructions, which we will hear the conclusion of the story today from Caitanya Caritamrta.
So yesterday we heard that one year had passed, and there was no news of Haridasa and then the news was… Svarupa Damodara corrected everyone’s mentality and then someone came from Prayaga and said they saw the whole thing and how he gave up his body.
And then it explains a year later that… so now everyone understood what had happened to him, that he gave up his body, Chota Haridasa, Junior Haridasa gave up his body in Prayaga, at the Triveni, a holy place, Prayaga tirtha.
Text 162
varsantare sivananda saba bhakta lana
prabhure milila asi’ anandita hana
SP: At the end of the year, Sivananda Sena came to Jagannatha Puri as usual, accompanied by the other devotees, and thus in great happiness met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
MS: At the end of the year, Sivananda Sena came to Jagannatha Puri as usual, accompanied by the other devotees from Sri-khanda, Navadvipa, Mayapura, Santipura, Bengal, etc. because he was the organizer of the yatra, yatra-in-charge, Sivananda Sen, he was fabulously wealthy.
So Sivananda Sen was organizing the party of about 300 devotees who would come every year; lots of taxes, all these provinces and kings they had to pass through to Puri from Bengal and Sivananda Sen would pay all the taxes – pilgrim’s tax and he would pay all the boat fees and all the food and everything. So when you say Sivananda Sen, that includes about 400 devotees in great happiness met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannath Puri.
Text 163
‘haridasa kanha?’ yadi srivasa puchila
“sva-karma-phala-bhuk puman”——prabhu uttara dila
SP: When Srivasa Thakura inquired from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “Where is Junior Haridasa?” the Lord replied, “A person is sure to achieve the results of his fruitive activities.”
MS: When Srivasa Thakura came from Mayapur, he didn’t see Chota Haridasa who was a very famous kirtana leader. He was one of the ‘in’ crowd, one of the well-known personalities in Lord Caitanya’s sangha.
So he saw, there is so and so, there is Ramananda, there is Balabhadra Bhattacarya, there is Govinda, there is Kasisvara, there are all the other devotees there, as per usual in Puri. But then they didn’t see Chota Haridasa. So Srivasa said, “Last year he was here, I don’t see him, where is Haridasa?” and Lord Caitanya replied,
“sva-karma-phala-bhuk puman”——prabhu uttara dila
Mahaprabhu said to Srivasa, “A person is sure to achieve the results of his fruitive activities.” sva-karma-phala, Lord Caitanya is speaking in very cryptic language.
Text 164
tabe srivasa tara vrttanta kahila
yaiche sankalpa, yaiche triveni pravesila
SP: Then Srivasa Thakura related the details of Haridasa’s decision and his entering the waters at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna.
MS: Then Srivasa Thakura related the details of Haridasa’s decision and his entering the waters at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna.
You know this is very interesting because Srivasa, in the first verse we heard, he enquired from Mahaprabhu, where is Junior Haridasa? And the Lord simply said he is executing his karma or something.
So although it is a rhetorical question, although Srivasa Thakura is asking the question – where is he? – He knew the answer already. It is interesting conversation.
He is asking, “Lord Caitanya, where is Haridasa?”
“Oh I don’t know, he is reaping the fruit of his karma.”
Then in the next verse which we read, Srivasa is telling Lord Caitanya where he is. So it is called rhetorical question, you know the answer of the question you are asking.
So he heard all the details, Mahaprabhu smiled –
Text 165
suni’ prabhu hasi’ kahe suprasanna citta
‘prakrti darsana kaile ei prayascitta’
SP: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard these details, He smiled in a pleased mood and said, “If with sensual intentions one looks at women, this is the only process of atonement.”
MS: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard all the details of Haridasa’s demise, He smiled in a pleased mood, suprasanna citta then He said,
‘prakrti darsana kaile ei prayascitta’
prakrti darsana …It is very interesting, prakrti.
“If with sensual intentions one looks at women, this is the only process of atonement.”
So it is very interesting how there is so much similarity in the preaching of the great acaryas of religious doctrine. If you look at the preaching of Mohammed, who is of course the main propagator of Muslim religion. You look at the preaching and teaching of Lord Jesus, Jesus of the Christ, his preaching in the Bible, you look at the teaching of, what the materialistic people say, the medieval saint, Sri Caitanya of West Bengal, as the professors say, the medieval saint and social reformer – Sri Caitanya – this is how He is described.
‘The social reformer’, because He said, “Religion is for everyone, not only the Brahmins, let everyone take part in the yagya, sankirtana yagya.”
kiba vipra kiba nyasi sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva vetta sei guru haya
(Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya lila, 8.128)
Anyone can be guru, not only a born Brahmin or a born brajavasi Brahmin, that some people are proud to be. That Brahmins are the gurus of society and sannyasis are the gurus of the Brahmins and brajavasi Brahmins are the gurus of everyone. There are books written in English to propagate such interesting siddhanta, very unique siddhanta. Brajavasi Brahmins are the gurus of everyone.
So this point that Lord Caitanya is saying prakrti darsana, prakrti means the female aspect, female energy, then darsana, and then it says here, He says, that If one… Srila Prabhupada says, prakrti darsana, that “If someone sees a woman with sensual propensity,” it is very interesting…
You can understand how much advancement in devotion one must have to translate transcendental literature. Is there anywhere in this Bengali that the word ‘stri’ or ‘sensual’? It says
‘prakrti darsana kaile ei prayascitta’
Now, prayascitta, is in other words, the atonement, that we know, but the phrase, now we have suprasanna citta, su very much, excessive, prasanna citta, is in a happy mood, His consciousness, His heart, His mind, was very happy, extremely happy, suni, hearing this, suni prabhu hasi, hasi means hasita, smiling, happy, prabhu, Mahaprabhu, He heard from Srivasa, “Oh yes, he committed suicide at Triveni” and Lord Caitanya is smiling, He is happy.
First He is smiling, ah, and His mind was suprasanna, that’s the first sentence. And now the next is, ‘prakrti darsana kaile ei prayascitta’.
Prakrti, the material energy, and taking prakrti darsana and coming up with “If someone sees women with a sensual propensity.” So Srila Prabhupada is able to translate or present this idea because it is in context with the flow of the whole story.
So when you translate, not only do you have to know the language very perfectly, but you have to know the rasa, you have to be situated in rasa or bhava yourself, you have to know the rasa and bhava of the exchanges going between the bhaktas and the Lord. Then you have to very much know the story because every verse is connected to the story.
So in relation to this lila, Chota Haridasa, what is prakrti… so this word ‘prakrti’ refers back 40 verses ago to Madhavi Mahiti. When Srila Prabhupada saw the word prakrti, he sees Madhavi Mahiti, and then oh, darsana, prakrti darsana, oh, prakrti means woman, it means female, purusa and prakrti, what prakrti? Well that prakrti.
Who is that prakrti? That prakrti is that one 40 verses ago in this lila that was introduced in the beginning when Chota Haridasa went to Madhavi Mahiti to beg rice for Bhagavan Acarya to cook for Lord Caitanya!
That darsana, he saw her, so this is how he has tied it together and then made a philosophical point out of it.
So this exact same point is spoken by Mohammed and also by Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus says in the Bible, he says, at least the way it is translated, he didn’t speak English obviously but he spoke Hebrew, what they speak over there. He said, “If one glances at a woman with sensual intentions, it is the same as if he laid down to bed with that woman.” You know, like enjoying.
So now, Jesus didn’t dig any further than that but Lord Caitanya is taking it further by saying, “Yes, and if one does that,” He doesn’t even say just as, one, of course it will be developed, especially if that one is a sannyasi or a babaji or whatever. That point will be brought out later.
But here it is saying, and Lord Jesus is saying, ‘Anyone,’ any man, grhasta, of course they didn’t have these terms, married man or a single man, looks at a woman, then he has committed the sin of adultery. Basically it means that if he looks at a woman with an enjoying propensity then he has committed a sin of adultery or laid down with her.
So Lord Jesus left it at that. But Lord Caitanya said, “Yes, and the only means of atonement for one who does this is to commit suicide in Triveni”
Text 166
svarūpādi mili’ tabe vicāra karilā
triveṇī-prabhāve haridāsa prabhu-pada pāilā
SP: Then all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, concluded that because Haridāsa had committed suicide at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamunā, he must have ultimately attained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
MS: Then all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, concluded that because Haridāsa had committed suicide at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamunā, he must have ultimately attained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Purport:
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura remarks that after one adopts the renounced order of life and accepts the dress of either a sannyāsī or a bābājī, if he entertains the idea of sense gratification, especially in relationship with a woman, the only atonement is to commit suicide in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā. Only by such atonement can his sinful life be purified.
If such a person is thus punished, it is possible for him to attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Without such punishment, however, the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very difficult to regain.
So this is the purport of the verse in the Caitanya Caritamrta by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura but Srila Prabhupada, of course has written in the 8th canto, ‘Gajendra moksa story’, he has extended further the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu by saying, he didn’t advice that.
Srila Prabhupada didn’t want his followers to do that. In fact, there are cases of sannyasis that were preaching in different continents which we mentioned before, they completely fell down, even breaking 3 of the principles, or I don’t know, maybe all the principles, breaking 2-3 or all of the principles, and Srila Prabhupada reinstated them in their asrama, sannyasa asrama and gave them blessings and said, “Continue to preach, I will take care of everything, I will resolve everything.”
So this is the krpambuddhi, the oceanic mercy of a Vaisnava – that he can do more than the Lord can do. So that is why we are very much needing the mercy of Sri guru because the power of the Lord is in the hands of the devotee. All the power of the Lord is in the hands of the devotee. Right?
Krpa-sakti-murti. Krpa-sakti, krpa is a sakti, so that means power potency. So all the potency and power of the Lord is in the hands of the devotee.
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto pi
So that’s why they say if the holy name is offended, the holy name can forgive you, but if devotee is offended, then only the devotee can forgive you.
So if the guru forgives his disciple of any transgression, then even the most serious transgression on the basis of traditional varnasrama consideration or the vidhi-nisedha of sastra, sastra vidhi, or the rules and regulations of sastra… one may engage in the most heinous transgressions of vedic law but if the empowering representative, saksat hari, Krsna-presta, Mukunda-presta, Sri guru, if he forgives that disciple, then Krsna definitely, 100% forgives that disciple and there is no further atonement required.
So this is the unlimited causeless mercy of the divine representative of the Lord, Sri guru.
Text 167
ei-mata līlā kare śacīra nandana
yāhā śuni’ bhakta-gaṇera yudāya karna-mana
SP: In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, performs His pastimes, which greatly satisfy the ears and minds of pure devotees who hear about them.
MS: In this way, Mahāprabhu, Śacīnandana, performs His pastimes, which greatly satisfy the ears and minds of pure devotees who hear about them.
Text 168
āpana kārunya, loke vairāgya-śiksana
sva-bhaktera gādha-anurāga-prakatī-karana
SP: This incident manifests the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His teaching that a sannyāsī should remain in the renounced order, and the deep attachment to Him felt by His faithful devotees.
MS: The incident of Chota Haridasa manifests the mercy of Mahāprabhu, His teaching that a sannyāsī should remain in the renounced order, and the deep attachment to Him felt by His faithful devotees.
Text 169
tīrthera mahimā, nija bhakte ātmasāt
eka līlāya karena prabhu kārya pāṅca-sāta
SP: It also demonstrates the glories of holy places and shows how the Lord accepts His faithful devotee. Thus the Lord fulfilled five or seven purposes by performing one pastime.
MS: It also demonstrates the glories of holy places and shows how the Lord accepts His faithful devotee. Thus the Lord fulfilled five or seven purposes by performing one pastime – Sri Caitanya chastising Chota Haridasa.
Text 170
madhura caitanya-līlā–samudra-gambhīra
loke nāhi bujhe, bujhe yei ‘bhakta’ ‘dhīra’
SP: The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like nectar, and they are deep like the ocean. People in general cannot understand them, but a sober devotee can.
MS: The pastimes of Mahāprabhu are like nectar, and they are deep like the ocean, samudra-gambhīra. People in general cannot understand them, but a sober devotee can, ‘bhakta’ ‘dhīra’.
Text 171
viśvāsa kariyā śuna caitanya-carita
tarka nā kariha, tarke habe viparīta
SP: Please hear the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and confidence. Do not argue, for arguments will produce a contrary result.
MS: Please hear the pastimes of Mahāprabhu with faith and confidence. Do not argue, for arguments will produce a contrary result.
Text 172
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmrta kahe kṛsnadāsa
SP: Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmrta, following in their footsteps.
MS: Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmrta, following in their footsteps.
So this is a summary of this chapter by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. In this discussion, the story of Chota Haridasa, one should derive the following lessons, 7 lessons; there are 7 lessons to derive in this story.
Lesson 1:
Although Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is an incarnation of mercy, karuna avatara, He nevertheless gave up the company of one of His personal associates, Junior Haridāsa, for if He had not done so, pseudo-devotees would have taken advantage of Junior Haridāsa’s fault by using it as an excuse to live as devotees and at the same time have illicit sexual connections. Such activities would have demoralized the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and as a result, devotees would surely have gone to a hellish life in the name of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Lesson 2:
By chastising Junior Haridāsa, the Lord set the standard for ācāryas, or the heads of institutions propagating the Caitanya cult, and for all actual devotees. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to maintain the highest standard.
Lesson 3:
Mahāprabhu instructed that a pure devotee should be simple and free from sinful activities, for thus one can be Lord Caitanya’s bona fide servant. Mahāprabhu taught His followers how to observe the renounced order strictly.
Lesson 4:
Mahāprabhu wanted to prove that His devotees are exalted and that their character is ideal. He kindly accepts His faithful devotees and teaches them how much tribulation and disturbance can be produced by even a slight deviation from the strict principles of devotional life.
Lesson 5:
By chastising Junior Haridāsa, Mahāprabhu exhibited His mercy toward him, so it was a mercy expression, thus showing how elevated was Junior Haridāsa’s love for Mahaprabhu. Because of this transcendental relationship, the Lord corrected even a slight offense committed by His pure devotee. Therefore one who wants to be a pure devotee of Mahāprabhu should give up all material sense gratification; otherwise, the lotus feet of Mahāprabhu are very difficult to attain.
Unless one gives up all sense gratification, vairagya, vidya, nija-bhakti-yoga, unless one gives up all sense gratification, it will be very difficult to attain the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which means it will be impossible, absolutely impossible to attain the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna, Who are given to us by Mahaprabhu.
Lesson 6:
If one dies in such a celebrated holy place as Prayāga, Mathurā or Vrndāvana, one can be relieved of the reactions to sinful life and then attain the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
That’s why so many old people come to Vrndavana, Braja-dhama is cintamani dhama, and it is a very special place, with very special powers.
Lesson 7:
Although a pure or faithful devotee may fall down, he nevertheless ultimately gets the chance to go back home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord.
So lesson 5 was showing this mercy expression, it was showing how… because Lord Caitanya intensely loved Chota Haridasa, He was willing to chastise him. So Srila Prabhupada often said that, and there are so many stories about Advaita Acarya, he would act in such a way so that he got chastised by Lord Caitanya, so many pastimes.
Srila Prabhupada says that if the guru loves his disciple then he chastises him.
So then Tamala Krsna used to say, “Prabhupada, you must really love me!” (everyone laughs) “because you really correct me to bits” because Srila Prabhupada really would chastise Tamala just to increase his devotion.
So if anyone feels they are getting heavily rebuked by their spiritual preceptor, they should consider that these are love bites, every chastisement is a love bite given by the benevolent, well-wishing guru, we pray for such rebukes and criticisms.
Crack me, smack me, poke me, punch me! Whatever it takes to purify my ego. sri guru saranam mama
So this is the story of Chota Haridasa, very serious story with so many lessons. It is glorifying the holy dhama, Prayaga dhama, and Vrndavana dhama of course, the glories are even greater than Prayaga. Prayaga is the king of the tirthas, he is called tirtha-raja.
But when he comes to Vrndavan he simply rolls in the dust. He comes to Vrndavan every year and rolls in the dust. He holds the dust of Vrndavan in his head. The king of all tirthas becomes the servant of the dust of Braja.
So you can imagine what is the position of Braja-dhama, Braja-bhoomi. Because you go to Prayaga and you get free from sins, if you come to Vrndavana you attain prema-bhakti, it’s quite different.
Sri Vrndavana dhama ki jai!