Ananda Sambada

Our Guru Maharaja speaks on the Tattvas - Origin of the Jiva; Hearing from Recordings; Don't Disturb the Mood of Gaura (no Peacock Feather)

As we are all aware Srila Gour Govinda Swami was most expert at presenting our perfect Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta in such a way that would inspire any simple-hearted devotee to immediately accept it. He often says how he is only the pipe and Krishna the reservoir; Krishna is the source, "these are not my words" Maharaja explains. 

The Origin of the Jiva                                       

(We have presented here for your pleasure and information Maharaja’s letter in response to an Iskcon sannyasi's questions about the origin of the jiva. In his letter the sannyasi has presented the GBC's conclusion, and then asked what is our Maharaja's own understanding. (Only the part of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s letter relating to the ‘origin of the jiva’ issue has been presented here.)

The resolution that you have quoted has been passed by our GBC, and as such it is meant for all of the members of our society to follow. You ask what is my own, personal conclusion on this matter, so for your own information, I reply as follows.

Srila Prabhupada has on many occasions made different statements about this subject matter. He has also himself drawn the conclusion. When the conclusion is given, it is to be understood that whatever might have been said before, if it may appear to be different from that conclusion, for what ever reason, is now cancelled. The conclusion is what stands.          ;

For example, Srila Prabhupada gives the following conclusions regarding the origin of the jiva.

‘The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha, for it is the eternal abode.’ (SB 3.16.26 purport)

‘The conclusion is that the origin of all life is the bodily effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ (SB 4.30.5 purport)

What is Srila Prabhupada's conclusion, that is what I accept. I accept Srila Prabhupada's own conclusion, that is all.

Hearing From a Tape 

(Darshan Held at Heathrow Airport near London, on 15th August 1995)

Disciple - Guru Maharaja, in Bhubaneswar you said that hearing from the tape, it is not the same sound coming out.

Maharaja - You see, Srila Prabhupada came to the western world, he went to America. He went to  Tompkins Square Park. He chanted Hare Krsna with karatalas. So many hippies were rolling there intoxicated with very strong drugs, half naked boys and girls. As soon as they heard this transcendental sound, they immediately woke up. Alright, now you should go there to Tompkins Square Park with a tape recorder playing Prabhupada’s voice. We’ll see if they will wake up and come. Then I will understand, ’Yes, it is giving sabdha. This is the test. Alright, do it now... alright, logician?

       A snake, cobra, when a snake charmer sings (imitates musical instrument) the cobra comes out from the hole and plays, hears, krisa guna (Maharaja makes his arm sway like a dancing cobra). When he stops, then powww. This is attraction, how Krishna is so attractive. You are like serpents, cobras. If real transcendental sound vibration comes, then you’ll be attracted, yes. Now you play it (tape recorder)… will cobra come up? Alright? You are such great logicians, such questions (Maharaja chuckles).

  [Editor; This is a point of siddhanta often misunderstood by devotees. Devotees should understand that Srila Prabhupada himself clearly explains this, see below.] 

“Just like I am speaking and it is being recorded in the tape recorder. When the tape recorder is replayed again, you'll find that I am speaking again. But that speaking and my present speaking is different. Therefore that speaking is separated energy. Now I am speaking directly. That is not separated, but when it is transferred to another matter that is separated energy.”            

Bombay 30th March 1971

…Then what is required? Namanta eva. Just become submissive. Don’t think yourself as very great philosopher, theologist, scientist. Just be humble. “My dear sir, just be humble.” Namanta eva. “Then what will be my business? All right, I shall become humble. Then how I shall make progress?” Now, “Just hear the message of God.” “From whom?” San-mukharitam: “through the mouth of the devotees.” Not professional, not gramophone-through the mouth of, through the lips of real devotee. Yadi... If somebody follows this process without mental speculation and if he has got intelligence, by hearing from the realized soul, he will realize everything."            

Chicago 1975 lecture on SB 6.1.24

Do Not Disturb the Mood of Gaura

Can you put a flute on Gaura? Although he is Krishna, you cannot put a flute on Gaura. Similarly, how can you put a peacock feather on he who is crying for Krishna like Radharani? His mood will be disturbed. Although he is Krishna, Gaura’s mood is different. Therefore Prabhupada has said, “Don’t disturb the mood of Gauranga.” It is very painful to Gaura. Our service is meant to give him pleasure, not pain. We are servants and we must render service to please him, not for our own pleasure. He is to be pleased. If we say, “Oh Gaura, a peacock feather is on your head. You are Krishna,” Krishna incarnated himself in Nabadwip, assuming the mood and complexion of Radharani — tāṅra kānti aṅgera bhūṣana (Srila Narottam Das Thakur’s Premabhakti - candrikā 9.13). That is Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

His mood is mostly that of Radharani, not Krishna. If you are a pūjarī worshiping deities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda, don’t dress Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Krishna. Don’t put a peacock feather on his head. No. That is not pleasing to him. He thinks of himself as Radharani. A pūjāri should know all these things. Mahaprabhu thinks of himself as Radha. He says, “This is rādhā-aṅga, the body of Radharani. Only Krishna, gopendra-suta, can touch this body. No one else can touch this body.” Rādhā-bhāva is the predominating mood in Gaura, not the bhāva of Krishna. No. Gauranga Mahaprabhu has expressed his mood:

kva nanda-kula-candramāḥ kva śikhi-candrakālaṅkṛtiḥ

kva mandra-muralī-ravaḥ kva nu surendra-nīla-dyutiḥ

kva rāsa-rasa-tāṇḍavī kva sakhi jīva-rakṣauṣadhir

nidhir mama suhṛt-tamaḥ kva bata hanta hā dhig vidhim 

Where is Krishna? Where is that moon rising from the ocean of Maharaja Nanda’s dynasty? Where is he whose head is decorated with a peacock feather? Where is Krishna, whose flute produces such a deep sound? Where is Krishna, who is so expert in dancing in the rāsa dance? Where is that Krishna, who is the medicine that can save my life? 

In this way, Mahaprabhu was crying. As Radharani was crying, similarly Mahaprabhu was crying. So rādhā-bhāva is predominating in him. Not the bhāva  of Krishna. So don’t dress Gauranga Mahaprabhu as Krishna. No. He’ll never be pleased. Though he is non-different from Krishna, still he is in Radharani’s mood. This is pleasing to Gauranga Mahaprabhu.              

Lecture, Bhubaneswar, 27 April 1989