Tirtha in Prison Eight Essays on Sri Sri Gurv-astaka

Prayer One

Sri Sri Gurv-astaka, the eight prayers of glorification to the Spiritual Master by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, are the first in a series of standard prayers sung daily by all devotees (especially those within the ISKCON society of Vaisnavas) during the morning Mangala-arati ceremony. The author of these prayers has himself proclaimed that, "One who, with great care and attention, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the brahma-muhurta obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrindaban, at the time of his death."

I regret that I am not even slightly qualified to comment on these or any other verses compiled or explained by the present or previous acaryas. Indeed, I am neither a spiritual master, a transcendental scholar, nor an authority on any aspect of spirituality or matters related to spiritual life. Therefore it would be highly bombastic of me to assume I could shed any light where the sun already brilliantly shines. Still, because I feel some stirring within my heart to glorify the spiritual master, I therefore hope to present my few small realizations and repeat exactly as I have heard from Sri Guru. Whatever comments I make are merely my humble attempt to describe how these prayers have come to hold special meaning in my life. I sincerely pray that no one will take offense at my attempt to reveal my inner heart.

From one transcript entitled, "Lives of the Saints," and His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami's priceless, "Reflections on Sacred Teachings, Volume Two," we find that Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was an exalted devotee of uncommon character. His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami writes, "...When there is an increase in sin, there is also a need for the presence of divinity. There is a need for more spiritual absorption and for spiritual personalities to counteract the negativity. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's life fulfills this purpose. Rupa, Jiva Goswami and Lord Caitanya had been gone for some time, and externally Vaisnava culture was in bad shape. Sahajiyaism was increasing and people were looking down on this so-called Vaisnava lifestyle and culture. Furthermore, Vrindaban had become a sad place due to the demonic ruler named Samrat Aurangzeb. His regime was slaughtering Vaisnavas, breaking down the temples, destroying the Deities and raping the women. They even blocked passages and streets to monitor who entered and left. This was a very hellish period...When Srila Visvanatha arrived in there he saw that a devastating regime had seized Vrindaban. Many of the primary Deities even been snuck out and taken to places such as Jaipur so that the regime could not destroy Them...Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was encouraged by Mukunda dasa, a very great associate of Lord Caitanya to try to help restore the sanctity of Vaisnavaism."

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was born in the year 1586 Saka era within the Nadia district of West Bengal in a place called Prasiddha Deva Gram. He went on to live in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, in Saiyadabad, where he received mantra initiation from Sri Krsna Carana Cakravarti. He lived for a long time in the house of his guru where he wrote many books. Because he lived there for so long he became known as a resident of Saiyadabad.

"When Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti lived in Nadia he closely studied the scriptures, beginning with Sanskrit grammar, poetry and rhetoric. Even as a boy in school he proved to be an unbeatable scholar who could overcome anyone in argument and debate. From an early age he was indifferent towards family life. He remained a married man only for a short time. He soon renounced his wife and went to live in Vrindaban. There, he took up residence in the bajana-kutir of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami on the banks of the Radha-kunda, where he met Mukunda dasa. There, Visvanatha Cakravarti made a careful study of the Goswami's literatures. In that holy place he later wrote many commentaries on the books of the Goswami's. "One night while writing in a cave on Govardhana Hill, he was reflecting on how to carry out these difficult tasks. Then, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself appeared and requested Him to write commentaries on the goswami's works." (B.T. Swami)

Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura established worship of the Deity Sri Gokulananda. Visvanatha Cakravarti was also sometimes known as Harivallabha dasa. His title, Cakravarti, was awarded to him by the devotees. This title designates one who maintains a circle of influence. 'He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Visvanatha, the Lord of the Universe, and thus expands the circle of bhakti is a Cakravarti.'

The diksa-guru-parampara of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti is: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lokanatha Goswami, Narottama Thakura, Ganganarayan Cakravarti, Krsnacaran Cakravarti, Radharaman Cakravarti, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura... Sri Krsnacaran Cakravarti and Radharaman Cakravarti both lived in Saiyadabad. Visvanatha Cakravarti studied extensively under them before going to Vrindaban.

The siksa-guru parampara, considered more important because it follows the path of revealed truth, is as follows: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami (plus the other of the six Goswamis), Sri Jiva Goswami, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, Narottama dasa Thakura (along with Syamananda Prabhu and Srinivasa Acarya) Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam. We are singing these prayers each morning in glorification of Sri Guru. Paying homage to the ever merciful, loving character and person of our spiritual master, a great general among many exalted Vaisnava preachers. Carrying the order of the spiritual master within our hearts we pray to better know and understand his unlimited glories.

As we continue to further develop our understanding of Krsna consciousness we may realize how even within the "basic" prayers that we all chant and meditate upon each day there exist oceans of transcendental knowledge, each filled with unlimited stocks of spiritual truths for us to deeply contemplate and reflect on for the remainder of our lives. Even without being a great scholar or learned person we can investigate in depth what has already been given rather than trying to increase our array of knowledge in quantity. Our purpose for gaining transcendental knowledge would perhaps be more efficiently served simply by concentrating more intently and delving deeper into the realizations already contained within these basic, but all important prayers. In some instances, even though we recite such powerful prayers daily, we may, over time, lose sight of their true purport and take them for granted. In truth, the depth of meaning contained within these prayers is without limit. In the case of Sri Sri Siksastaka, Lord Caitanya's eight divine instructions, hundreds of books have been written by the Six Goswamis and others, all in an attempt to more fully explain these sacred verses. Even as they submit to explanation, they continue to expand unlimitedly. Thus, even while seeming to maintain a narrow focus within the Krsna conscious philosophy, unlimited knowledge and realizations await us. When we think deeply on the inner meaning of verses we are accustomed to regularly chant we gain valuable insights into the mood of the spiritual master and other Vaisnavas in our midst. Hoping to more completely connect ourselves with guru, sadhu and sastra, we might begin by asking ourselves, 'what does receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy mean to me? Where is this ocean of mercy? Who controls such an ocean? How can I hop e to gain unlimited access to it?

As our service begins to solidify, becoming steady and mature, we ultimately come to realize our dharma as servant preachers, ever nurturing an inner desire to preach and spread the glories of the samkirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Indeed, if we are ever to understand the merciful mood of Sri Guru we must somehow attach our free will and desire firmly to the transcendental vision of the spiritual master. In this way we may revive our innate feelings of compassionate love for all living entities by developing our true loving feelings for Guru and Gauranga.

For those caught within Maya's trap, their outlook is grim. Forced to remain within the wheel of samsara, what hope is there for the conditioned soul of ever breaking free or finding true, lasting happiness? As unwitting prisoners, our material conditioning is deep and far-reaching. Impossible to measure its length and breadth. At some point we have each felt the unmistakable, torturous burning within our hearts, born of uncontrolled senses. The fire of lust pushing and pushing, taking the foolish conditioned soul here and there. The effects of one's karma bringing untold misery and anxiety. Like living in hell, there is no solace or escape for the soul trapped within a material body, compounded by the agitated, uncontrolled senses. Somehow, through all of our coverings and illusion the spiritual master is able to extinguish the blazing fire of material existence. How is it that the spiritual master is able to perform such wondrous deeds? How can he reach into the hearts of sinful men and change their lives so completely?

Srila Prabhupada states (CC Madhya-20.6), "...To release a conditioned soul from material bondage is very difficult because the spell of Maya is so strong. Even when the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself descends to deliver conditioned souls, asking them to surrender unto Him, the conditioned souls do not agree to the Lord's proposal. Therefore Sri Sanatana Goswami said, 'Somehow or other, if one helps another gain release from the bondage of Maya, he is certainly recognized immediately by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.1... The greatest service one can render to the Lord is to try to infuse devotional service into the heart of the conditioned soul so that the conditioned soul may be released from conditioned life." Bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam: extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. The senses are on fire and the entire material world is burning because of innumerable types of suffering. For one who is ensnared within the material energy of the Lord, there is no possibility of breaking free independently. We are powerless to defeat the perfect trap of the powerful material energy. Only that fortunate person who somehow receives the Lord's special mercy is given a chance to be released from the strong grasp of the material energy. We find in the purport of SB 10.14.29, "Krsna is very eager to bestow His mercy upon the conditioned living beings, who are uselessly struggling with the Lord's illusory energy, Maya.

The conditioned soul struggles for happiness through sense gratification and for knowledge through mental speculation. Both processes bring him to a morose and helpless condition. If the conditioned soul surrenders to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna and thus acquires even a trace of His causeless mercy, the whole situation is changed, and the living entity can begin his real life of bliss and knowledge in Krsna consciousness." The conditioned soul, therefore, is given a reprieve from his seeming endless material suffering.

In his Reflections on Sacred Teachings, Volume Two, His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja further explains this concept, "Imagine a large, wild elephant in the middle of an intense fire that sometimes burns his body. He is in a crazed state, struggling for life, when all of a sudden tremendous torrents of rain fall and extinguish the fire. Similarly, our body is on fire due to excessive sense gratification, fear, lust, anger, enviousness and intoxication. All of these disturbances result from our own mind. We constantly suffer from the threefold miseries which are adhyatmika, adhidaivika, and adhibhautika or disturbances from our own mind, disturbances from the devas or the environment, and disturbances from other living entities. We have been subjected to all of these sufferings while undergoing samsara, but all of a sudden, it just becomes part of the past. It is as if we simply walk through a door from one room into another and these miseries no longer disturb or haunt us."

This is the nature of causeless mercy. Like a mystery unto itself, it comes to us seeming without any cause or expectation. As devotees we have all, to some degree, experienced it. As soon as we take up chanting Krsna's holy names under the guidance of the spiritual master we become blessed. Upon taking formal initiation from Sri Guru, more causeless mercy is bestowed. Indeed, so long as we remain aligned with the order of Guru and Krsna, Their mercy never ceases to shower down upon us. It is freely given.

If we look to our own lives we can understand something of the gift we were given by Sri Guru. The dramatic change we realized is evidence of the power of the spiritual master's mercy. Without being shown some favor by guru and Krsna we remain forever entangled within the material networks.

The spiritual master is anxious to freely dispense such causeless mercy and is regarded as the very embodiment of such divine mercy. He is intimately connected to the source of such mercy, receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy while freely distributing it. Yet it is also seen that not everyone becomes a recipient Of Krsna's special, causeless mercy. Just as the sunshine is available to all without discrimination, those who choose to remain in the shadows do not benefit. So too, Krsna has many ways to avail us of His causeless mercy and also has many tactics to deny certain living entities who are not rightly situated or ready for the pinnacle of existence that is Krsna consciousness. Although it is certainly meant for everyone, one must first have a certain balance of ajnata-sukrti in his spiritual account. "By good fortune one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one's term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one's attraction to Krsna is awakened." (CC Madhya-22.45) In his purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada states, "Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains this point. Is this fortune the result of an accident or something else?... pious activities that awaken one's dormant Krsna consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhi sukrti... Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Krsna conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-unmukhi is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one's dormant Krsna consciousness is awakened."

Therefore it is seen that the spiritual master goes even further than Krsna in bestowing causeless mercy. He is constantly thinking of ways to deliver the fallen, conditioned souls. For example, he may give someone prasadam and offer some kind words, all to soften the person's heart, to stimulate and increase their dormant interest in Krsna, thereby promoting such a person to become a suitable candidate for the Lord's special mercy. Without a pure devotee's mercy one cannot attain devotional service and escape the bondage of material existence. If not for the mercy of the spiritual master we would perpetually remain in darkness. Therefore, it is impossible to calculate the inestimable value of meeting a bona fide spiritual master.

In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Mad.16.65), it is stated, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, 'You can perform a task that even I cannot do. But for You, I cannot find anyone in Gauda-desa who can fulfill My mission there." Srila Prabhupada comments in part, "... It was Srila Nityananda Prabhu, however, who delivered persons like Jagai and Madhai. Therefore, Lord Caitanya says, 'amara duskara karma, toma haite haye. Jagai and Madhai were delivered solely by Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. When they injured Nityananda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya became angry and decided to kill them with His Sudarsana cakra, but Nityananda Prabhu saved them from the Lord's wrath and delivered them... Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that He not only saved them from death but elevated them to the transcendental position. Thus what was not possible for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was carried out by Nityananda Prabhu. Similarly, if one is true to Gaura-Nitai's service in the disciplic succession, he can even excel Nityananda Prabhu's service. This is the process of disciplic succession. Nityananda Prabhu delivered Jagai and Madhai, but a servant of Nityananda Prabhu, by His grace, can deliver many thousands of Jagais and Madhais. This is the special benediction of the disciplic succession. One who is situated in the disciplic succession can be understood by the results of his activities. This is always true as far the activities of the Lord and His devotees are concerned."

As we revive and nurture our dormant love for Krsna our natural love and affection for others also becomes more prominent. A true expression of such love and concern for others is our compassion for their fallen circumstance. As our love for Krsna increases, so too, our compassion grows. The pure devotee genuinely feels both the happiness and distress of others. Such spiritual compassion is included in pure, selfless love. As our love increases so does our natural compassion.

We find in the case of Srila Vasudeva Datta (CC Madhya-Ch.15, v. 162-163), that he was prepared to accept the sinful reactions of all living entities trapped within the material world. "My Lord, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all the conditioned souls; therefore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives upon my head. My dear Lord. Let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living entities. Please finish their diseased material life." Srila Prabhupada further comments, "...He was the most exalted personality to ever show mercy to the conditioned souls. This is not an exaggeration of his transcendental qualities. It is perfectly true. Actually, there cannot be any comparison to Vasudeva Datta. As the perfect Vaisnava, he was para-duhkah-duhkhi, very much aggrieved to see others suffer. The entire world is purified simply by the appearance of such a great devotee. Indeed, by his transcendental presence the whole world is glorified and all conditioned souls are also glorified. ...Vasudeva Datta is the ideal devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." Then at (CC Adi. Ch.10 v. 41, purport), "...Vasudeva Datta was such a powerful devotee that Krsna was purchased by him. Vasudeva Datta stayed at Srivasa Pandita's house, and in the Caitanya-bhagavata it is described that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so pleased with Vasudeva Datta and so affectionate toward him that He used to say, 'I am only Vasudeva Datta's man. My body is only meant to please Vasudeva Datta and he can sell Me anywhere.' Thrice He vowed that this was a fact and that no one should disbelieve these statements."

We give further thanks to Sri Guru who has so kindly opened our eyes with the torchlight of knowledge, om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah. Conditioned life means existing in the darkness of ignorance. Only upon being given a small sliver of light is it possible to begin to perceive and comprehend the actual depth of darkness and ignorance that we as conditioned souls have succumbed to. Srila Prabhupada told one story describing how many insects never see the light of day. Their entire lives are spent during one night, all in darkness. But if by chance one were to see the light of day, it would be, from the insect's perspective, a new realm, a new experience. However, in truth it is not anything new. Nothing has changed. The daylight is always there just as the darkness is there. But only from one's perspective does it seem like something new.

In a similar way, when we are shown the light of Krsna consciousness we can begin to understand how much in darkness we truly were. The further we progress in our practice and understanding of Krsna consciousness the more light is increasingly shed on our situation. Thus, we simultaneously understand the extent to which we were covered while praying never to fall again, asking only for some service in a genuine, selfless mood of pure love of God. In this way, as our dormant love of God is reawakened we likewise manifest a mood of selfless surrender and compassionate love for all living entities through our development of love of God. The benediction of loving mercy the spiritual master receives from the ocean of mercy is the true currency of the spiritual realm. Thereby receiving such mercy marks the beginning of change within our lives.

Yet another shower of the spiritual master's mercy is realized as he arranges for us to be reconnected with our eternal service. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-Ch.15 v.179), we find the following, "...Generally the conditioned souls forget Krsna when they are enticed by the material, external energy. Consequently they are called krsna-bahirmukha, bereft of their relationship with Krsna." However, by the desire of the pure devotee, one becomes freed from all karma and is eligible for liberation.

How any of us comes to become so deeply covered and conditioned is difficult if not impossible to fully unravel. What is inconceivable is that even while we are conditioned, covered and in ignorance, the spiritual master is ever looking for ways to approach suitable candidates to receive his mercy. In all humility we should deeply ponder this point. For so long as we remain prisoners within the material world, we dare not speak of our high qualifications. What qualification can any prisoner hold? Yet without considering our high or low qualities from a mundane perspective the spiritual master bestows his blessings upon us. Srila Prabhupada comments (SB.11.2.45 Purport), "A maha-bhagavata, being empowered by the Supreme Lord, Yogesvara, is endowed with the supernatural power to inspire and give success to the madhyama-adhikari who follows in his footsteps and to elevate a kanistha-adhikari gradually to the intermediate platform. Such devotional power springs automatically from the ocean of mercy found within the heart of a pure devotee. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura points out that a maha-bhagavata has no desire to inflict punishment on the enemies of the Lord. Rather, he engages the madhyama-adhikaris and kanistha-adhikaris in preaching work, to purify the polluted mentality of the inimical souls, who are falsely imagining the material world to be separate from Krsna."

The spiritual master is able to extinguish the blazing fire of material existence. He delivers benediction from the ocean of mercy. We hear these words and phrases every morning. What do they really mean to us? In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-17. 48-52), it is stated, "When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third person, everyone in all countries became a Vaisnava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Krsna and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled... In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally toured Bengal, East Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of people by spreading Krsna consciousness." Srila Prabhupada further comments, "The transcendental potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one can claim His potency. Nonetheless, if one is a pure devotee, hundreds and thousands of men can be purified by his vibration. This potency is within every living being, provided he chants the Hare Krsna maha mantra offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants offenselessly, another person will become a Vaisnava, and from him another Vaisnava will emerge. This is the parampara system... Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not physically present now, simply by chanting His holy name (sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) people throughout the world are becoming devotees. This is due to the ecstatic chanting of the holy name of the Lord. It is said that a pure devotee can see the Lord at every moment, and because of this he is empowered by the Lord... Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared five hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is less than it was in His presence. By hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the parampara system, one can be purified."

Within this one verse then, so many truths are contained, samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam. The spiritual master kindly rescues us from the endless cycle of vicious suffering within the wheel of samsara through his causeless mercy. He avails us to the process of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting, thereby hastening our reinstatement within our true purpose and identity in pure service to the Supreme Lord. All of these truths are simultaneously contained within this first verse in glorification of the spiritual master. By glorifying the spiritual master and pleasing him everything is revealed and accomplished. This is our mission in Krsna consciousness.

Your worthless servant,
Tirtha dasa