Krishna
gives darshan (sight) in many ways before giving darshan in person. Sometimes,
He gives darshan in dream, Sphurti state, etc. But all of these are ‘Avrita
darshan', that is, shrouded darshan. The ‘Anavrita darshan', that
is, pure and unshrouded darshan is so powerful that the human body cannot
tolerate its impact and the devotee might die. In dream or Sphurti, Radha
Krishna give only partial darshan with the help of Yogmaya. Many people think
that they have received divine darshan and become content in their bhajan as
soon as they get a glimpse in Sphurti state. But such darshans are not
the perfection of bhajan. The pure darshan can be tolerated by a devotee
only at the stage of perfection of Prem Bhakti.
One
of my godbrothers, Shankararanya, gave a letter to my Gurudev saying, “I am
going to Nidhivan. I cannot tolerate the pain of separation anymore. I don’t
know if I will return.” He left on an Ekadashi night. At that time, the
boundary wall of Nidhivan was low. Next day morning, he was found lying just
beside the gates of Nidhivan. When the keepers of Nidhivan opened the gates,
they saw a young Babaji lying nearby and repeatedly opening and closing his
mouth as if yawning silently. They were astonished and immediately took him to
the doctors, but nobody could understand what was wrong with him as he looks physically
well.
My
Gurudev was in Govardhan at that time. So, Shankararanya was taken to Govardhan
on Dwadashi (the very next day of Ekadashi). Word reached the ears of my
Gurudev that he was taking his last breaths. Gurudev said, “Bring water,
quickly.” Someone brought a cup of water. Gurudev submerged his big toe in the
water and said, “Go quickly, and give this water to him.” Someone immediately
did as told. As soon as he drank the water of Gurudev's lotus feet, he left his
material body.
Another
devotee used to cry and pray to Radharani to give darshan. Radharani said (in
his dream), “You are not ready to receive pure darshan yet.” But he wouldn’t
listen and cried miserably. Merciful Radharani showed him just Her hand in pure
state. Just by having Darshan of Her Hand in his unqualified stage, the brain of
devotee got damaged and thereafter, he roams in streets like a mad-man. Imagine
what would have happened if Radha Krishna gave full darshan to him!
This
is why, Krishna gives shrouded darshans of mild powers initially. As the tolerance
capacity of devotee increases with enhanced power, gradually, he becomes ready
to tolerate the power of pure darshan.
In
my childhood, we used to watch an ‘electric girl' in our local circus shows. A
girl would hold a light bulb and it would light up. If a normal person touched
her, they would get an electric shock. The truth is, she was trained like this
since childhood. She was given small shocks of electricity on regular basis (as
much as she could tolerate) in increasing powers as she grew up. The result was
that she could tolerate a high amount of electricity which was unimaginable for
normal people.
In a similar way, the devotee has to tolerate the bliss of darshan and pain of separation in increasing powers. Gradually, his body and mind become ready to tolerate the power of pure darshan.
- At first, Krishna gives darshan in Sphurti state. This
power is called ‘Saundarya’. The devotee becomes overwhelmed with bliss
and falls unconscious on seeing His beauty.
- Krishna gives him the ability to smell His
intoxicating fragrance. This power is called ‘Saurabhya’. The devotee
becomes overwhelmed and falls unconscious again.
- Then Krishna gives him the ability to hear His voice.
This power is called ‘Sauswarya’. Krishna calls the devotee lovingly in
His sweet voice, hearing which the devotee gets engulfed in bliss and falls
unconscious again.
- Then Krishna gives him the ability to experience His
touch. Krishna places His soft lotus hand on his head or wipes his tears. This
power is called ‘Saukumarya'. The devotee becomes overwhelmed with bliss
and falls unconscious yet again.
- For the devotees of Sringar rasa (Sakhi mood), Krishna
gives them the ability to relish the taste of His lips. This power is called ‘Saurasya’.
The devotee becomes intoxicated by the sweet & nectarine taste of Krishna's
lips and falls unconscious again.
- Ultimately, Krishna gives him the ability to
experience all aspects of the His sweetness together at the same time. This
power is called ‘Audārya’. The devotee finally becomes able to tolerate
the tremendous power of full darshan. Therefore, Krishna gives him full
darshan in which the devotee is able to see His beauty, smell His intoxicating
scent, hear His voice and experience His touch.
- Although the devotee reaches the perfection of Krishna
Prem, he is still unable to see the pastimes of Golok Dham in its full power. Therefore,
Krishna bestows His ‘Kārunyå'. Then the devotee is able to see Radha
Krishna along with all Their eternal devotees in Golok Dham and Their nectarine
pastimes.
He
becomes immensely grateful. Henceforth, Krishna never leaves the devotee and he
always experiences divine pastimes in person.
There
are seven more stages of Prem Bhakti called: Sneha, Maan, Pranay, Raag, Anuraag, Bhav
and Mahabhav. These stages of Prem are not possible in this human body. The
devotee, who has achieved his eternal Manjari Swarup in the stage of Prem
Bhakti, has to take birth in the earthly pastimes in one of the infinite
universes where Krishna incarnates at that time. The Manjari's mood of service
to Radharani develops through these six stages of Prem to the perfection of the
Manjari mood of ‘Bhavollasa Rati'. Henceforth, she is able to serve
Radharani in Golok Dham eternally.
So, how to progress quickly through these nine stages of Bhakti and attain the divine Krishna Prem in this very lifetime? Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave a very simple instruction – “Jive daya, Name ruchi aar Vaishnav sevan”.
- Jive daya: The sadhak must have compassion and sympathy towards all creatures and try to alleviate their suffering according to his capacity. He must acknowledge that Krishna resides in the hearts of all creatures and respect them. True compassion for all creatures, that is, having no grudges for anyone in the world, can only come when the sadhak sees Krishna in every heart. If you have even a hint of any grudge against anyone, you might be able to progress a little in the path of Bhakti but you cannot achieve the divine Prem Bhakti. Criticizing Vaishnavas is even more dangerous. Mahaprabhu says,
“Je mor daser sakrit
ninda kare,
Mor naam kalpataru tahare sanhare”.
Meaning: Whoever criticizes my
devotees, my Naam which is like a divine tree that fulfils the wishes of all
those who come under its shelter, destroys him.
Actually,
we perform many kinds of devotional services, but do not progress in the path
of Bhakti due to holes in our sadhana. Sometimes, earthen pots have very slight
cracks that is invisible to the naked eye. But if you fill water in such an
earthen pot, it will seep out of those cracks gradually. Similarly, we have
many cracks in our sadhana in the form of grudges, hatred or considering anyone
as inferior. Although we do a lot of bhajan, it leaks out of these holes.
- Naame ruchi: The sadhak must chant Harinaam with enthusiasm. The sadhak will not find pleasure in Harinaam until he is devoid of Vaishnav Aparadhas. There are six main types of Vaishnav Aparadhas:
- "Hanti" (beat or kill),
- "Nindanti" (to discuss a Vaishnava’s flaws),
- "Vaideshti" (to see a Vaishnav as an enemy even in the mind),
- "Vaishnav anabhinandati" (not serving a Vaishnav guest),
- "Krudhyate" (is angry on a Vaishnav) and
- "Na harsham darshane" (not to express happiness on seeing a Vaishnav).
Most importantly, the sadhak must try to please a Vaishnav by his behaviour. You don’t have to spend money to give honour to a Vaishnav. “Maharaj, come, come. How grateful I am to be able to serve you. I don’t know how to do seva, but you have come to shower mercy on me. I am a fallen person. Please be satisfied with my humble service,” this is how you must give honour to a Vaishnav. It is free, you don’t have to spend money, give valuable things to a Vaishnav. If one can please a Vaishnav in free and get priceless blessings for one’s progress in the Bhakti path, then why should you be a miser?! Please Vaishnavas through your sweet and humble behaviour.
- Vaishnav Seva: Krishna becomes pleased with the sadhak very quickly when he serves Vaishnavas. Even if he lacks in sadhana (in chanting Harinaam, observing austerities, etc), Krishna does not care. The most important thing in Vaishnav seva is Shraddha (faith) in Vaishnavas. This faith can be culminated by reading the glories of Vaishnavas in various scriptures.
“Krishna-seva hoiteo Vaishnaver
seva boro,
Bhagvat adi sab
shastre koila dadha.”
(Chaitanya Bhagvat 3.3.485)
Meaning: It is better and of
greater importance to serve Vaishnavas than Krishna. Srimad Bhagvatam and other
scriptures have resolutely emphasized this.
My
Gurudev used to say that if you are offering flowers at the lotus feet of Radha
Krishna and wanted to say, “Govindaya Namah”, but you have only said Govindaya &
not able to say Namah and suddenly at the same time a Vaishnav guest calls for
you, you must attend the Vaishnav and should leave the flowers. Krishna will be
more pleased to see your faith and devotion to Vaishnavas than the flower
offering.
“Bhakta bai amar
dvitiya aar nai,
Bhakta mor pita, mata,
bandhu, putra, bhai.”
(Chaitanya Bhagvat 3.1.267)
Meaning: I have no one else except my devotees. My devotees are my father, mother, friends, son and brother (friends and family).
Krishna
never leaves His devotees and is most pleased when the sadhak serves
Vaishnavas. But one must serve them without seeing their faults. If you
discriminate between Vaishnavas as renunciates and householders or brahmins and
low castes, etc, then Krishna will be displeased instead. Shri Ramdas Babaji
Maharaj taught a very simple principle:
“Jogote
sobai jogyo, ami sudu ojogyo, vidhi nishedh sudu amar e jonye.”
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