Lecture in Hindi

Haṁsadūta:
[introducing recording] The following lecture is recorded at the Sanātana-dharma Dharmshala, December 21st, 1970.

Prabhupāda:

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

śrī-caitanya-mano ’bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikam
[Śrī Guru Praṇāma]

he kṛṣṇa [karuṇā-sindho] dīna-bandho jagat-pate
gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo ’stu te
[Śrī Kṛṣṇa Praṇāma]

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṇamāmi hari-priye
[Śrī Rādhā Praṇāma]

hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa, hare hare
hare rāma, hare rāma, rāma rāma, hare hare

You have heard in English about of this bhagavad-bhakti rasa-bhāvitā saṅga [Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement] from our disciples Mr. Girirāja Brahmacārī and [indistinct] Adhikārī. I see that you have not understood and therefore I present it in Hindi before you. Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya is a volume on bhakti. There is a verse [śloka] in it that states:

bhagavad-bhakti-hīnasya
jātiḥ japas tapa kriya
aprāṇasyeva dehasya
maṇḍanaṁ loka-rañjanam
[Cc. Madhya 19.75]

Jātiḥ [caste]. Nowadays many castes have come up, minor and major, spreading the entire world. But from ancient scripture, Mahābhārata it is known that at least 5,000 years ago there used to be only one king, ruling the whole world, Bhārata-varṣa. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, a grandson of Arjuna, also ruled the world. After that, as the influence of Kali-yuga gradually intensified, the Indian culture.., just like in front of you, India was divided into two-Pakistan and Hindustan. Before that, whole world was Bhārata-varṣa. This planet globe [bhū-gola], was formaly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa. After that, after Mahārāja Bhārata, it became Bhārata-varṣa. The Bhārata-varṣa is not what we know now. Whole world, entire earth was known as Bhārata-varṣa. With the influence of Kali-yuga, as these Indian culture and Vedic discipline began diminishing, there originated numerous types of dharma; there evolved the creation in numerous ways.

If you look back into the history, the Hindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religion, Jewish religion, Buddha religion, these are all temporary. These have got an history. These religions came up under certain circumstances. But nobody could trace back the origin of the Indian Vedic religion, which is known as sanātana-dharma [eternal occupational duty]. Because just like living entity is sanātana, God is sanātana, and the relation of the living entity with God is known as sanātana-dharma. Sanātana-dharma-means that which does not change. There is no origin of it, and it can not be destroyed. That is sanātana-dharma. Therefore the sanātana-dharma…, God incarnates to teach this sanātana-dharma:

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
[Bg. 4.7]

Whenever there is a decline in religion…, declining the religion means dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ [Hitopadeśa 25]. When one is bereft of religion, he is no more a human being, he is called an animal. This is the difference between a human being and an animal.

āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca
sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām
[Hitopadeśa 25]

Eating and sleeping: āhāra-nidrā, and being fearful, and sex, sense gratification. All these which are pertaining to the body are common to both human beings and animals. But the dharma is not for animals. Dharma is meant for human beings. And dharma means that which remains permanent. Temporary religion is not dharma. Just like water. Water. What is dharma of water? It is fluidity. But sometimes due to natural circumstances the fluidity becomes frozen, like ice. This ice is not the natural state of water. Its natural state is fluid. Similarly, since time immemorial there exists a relation between the living entities and God. This permanent relation, as described to you just now by Girirāja Brahmacārī and as Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us: jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya-nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. The real svarūpa of living entity is-he is an eternal servant of God. And when he forgets that he is a servant of God, he comes to a frozen state like water being frozen to ice under natural circumstances. Similarly living entity in association with asat [temporary] becomes rival to God, he becomes an athiest. In this way, an athiest, whoever he may be…, this is not related to any caste. He may be an Indian, or American, or German, or English. Any caste, he may be a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or śūdra, whoever he may be. If he is without devotion then his caste, chanting [japa], austerity [tapaḥ], actions [kriyāḥ], his highly aristocratic caste, and his austerities etc., ādi-dharma-sājā. These are like a decoration of a dead body. The real purpose is…, dharma means our Vedas [scriptures]. Vedas are original. One can find the history of all religions but Vedas. From historical point of view, Buddha religion is the oldest. It has got 2,600 years past. Muslim religion is not older than just 1,000 plus years. And Christian religion is 2,000 years old. But if you see the sanātana-dharma from historical point of view, it is older than 5,000 years. Because Kṛṣṇa instructed Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna before 5,000 years ago. From this calculation it can be known that the sanātana-dharma or Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ [Cc. Madhya 8.70], is the oldest amongst all.

Our preaching of dharma all over the world is not a preaching of a new dharma. It is the oldest: purāṇo śāśvato’yaṁ [Bg. 2.20]. Although it is very ancient, it is eternal. And all other religions are temporary. Just like Buddha religion, it was essential at that time because the whole human society was engaged in animal killing in the name of yajña. Many people are still doing it in the name of yajña. [indistinct] many people are killing animals. In the same Bhārata-varṣa, 2,600 years ago, there was an increased amount of animal killing through karma-kāṇḍa [fruitive activity]. At that time Lord Kṛṣṇa sent his 27th incarnation, Lord Buddha. This is described in Bhāgavatam. You know this: sammohāya sura-dviṣām [SB. 1.3.24]. In the beginning of Kali-yuga, Lord Buddha appeared to delude those who are athiest, sura-dviṣām; āñjana-sutaḥ kīkaṭeṣu bhaviṣyati [SB. 1.3.24]

This name kīkaṭeṣu refers to Gayā province. You know this. Lord Buddha appeared in the province of Gayā. This is written in the scripture: kīkaṭeṣu bhaviṣyati. And because Bhāgavatam was written down 5,000 years ago, it was foretold. In the beginning of Kali-yuga. Āñjana-sutasya: mother’s name is given. Buddho nāmna: his name is Buddha. Kīkaṭeṣu bhaviṣyati: he will born in the province of Gayā. Similarly there is a description of Kali-yuga in the scriptures. Kali.., Kalkideva will appear after 4 lakh years from now. His father’s name is also mentioned in the scriptures. And the name of his native village, Sambhalpur, has also been given. And father’s name is Viṣṇu Yaśi.

This is called scripture. There involves no illusion in scriptures, nor is there any cheating. This is scripture. The scriptures are free from the four defects: bhrama, pramāda, vipralipsā, karaṇāpāṭava, which are found in conditioned souls. And the person who made the scriptures, Vyāsadeva, is also free from these defects. Therefore it is considered as veda-pramāṇa [scriptural evidence], śabda-pramāṇa [sound evidence]. There are many types of pramāṇa-pratyakṣa-pramāṇa [direct perception], anubhūti-pramāṇa, and śāstra-pramāṇa. Śāstra-pramāṇa is the best. And Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā:

yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya
vartate kāma-kārataḥ
[Bg. 16.23]

Discarding scriptural injunctions. [indistinct] According to scriptures, the kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ [Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement] is for all time. This is called sanātana-dharma. God and devotees.., the eternal relation between God and living entity, and the non-stop activities surrounding this subject constitute sanātana-dharma. Sanātana-dharma can not be substituted by any other religions. And all other religions are temporary. Therefore the sanātana-dharma is the background. And it is:

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
[Bg. 18.66]

God says, “abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto my [lotus] feet”. This is called sanātana-dharma. Because the living entity is sanātana [eternal], God is sanātana, and the living entity should surrender to the lotus feet of God. When that does not occur, it is called asanātana-dharma, a temporary religion. So this world-wide preaching of kṛṣṇa-bhakti rasa-bhavita mati [Kṛṣṇa Conscioussness] by us is the real sanātana-dharma. You just think of. When God says:

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja

God is sanātana, sattva-sanātana. And being a part and parcel of God, the living entity is also sattva-sanātana. And the daily program [activity] between God and the living entity is sanātana. This is sanātana-dharma…

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
[Bg. 4.7]

This decline of sanātana-dharma…, means, living entity, human being… Living entity includes all. Living entities are found in all innumerable types of species among 84 lakh species. The human species is special. Because in human species only, there can be knowledge of dharma and adharma. Not in animals. Therefore religion is meant for human beings. When human being forgets dharma or his eternal relationship with God, this is called dharmasya glānir. Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati. So these days in the world, ‘to eliminate God’ has become dharma. Not only in India, it is everywhere. Lord Kṛṣṇacandra appeared in our country. And the boys and girls of these days of our country…, an Indian girl in Berkeley university asked me: “Swami Mahārāja, what is God?”. Just see. In the country of God, who was borned.., God does not belong to any country, but He appears by His causeless mercy here in Bhārata-varṣa. Therefore there needs country of God.

For example, just like there is sandalwood in Malaya country. Though sandalwood can be grown anywhere, it grows specifically in Malaya country. Therefore the sandalwood is called Malaya sandalwood. Similarly God… in any dynasty. Sometimes God appears in sūkara [boar] dynasty, sometimes in horse dynasty, sometimes in tortoise dynasty. Similarly God appears in Yadu dynasty, in Raghu dynasty. Therefore He is called Yāduvendra, Rāghavendra. So He is fully independent. He can appear anywhere. It is His wish. Just because He appeared in India does not mean God is Indian. It is not like that. God is for everyone. This theory that Lord Kṛṣṇacandra is for everyone is very well understood nowadays in western countries. And to understand it, these books are kept before you. With the help of these books they [westerners] are grasping it from theoretical, scriptural and historical view points. It is not that they are dancing just out of sentiment. No. This is not ordinary sentiment. It is called aprakṛti [transcendental] sentiment. It is called: bhagavad-bhakti bhāva. This bhāva is not ordinary. But it can be attained by anyone. There is no difficulty. [indistinct] It is mentioned in scriptures, what is that? Ādau śraddhā. If one has faith in God then there opens the path for bhāva. Like you have come here with faith. To hear “What will we say? What kind of songs will we sing?” This is called śraddhā [faith]. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo [Cc. Madhya 23.14]. To increase this faith itself constitutes bhagavad-bhakti [devotional service]. What is the program to enhance this faith further? Saintly persons. To mingle with those who are devotees. Making friendship with them. To feed them, being fed by them, to reveal oneself to them and to hear from them. In this way increase friendship with devotees. This is called sādhu-saṅgo [associating with devotees]. Sādhu-saṅgaḥ does not mean to sit before a devotee by force. No. Sādhu-saṅgaḥ means: dadāti pratigṛhṇāti, offering him gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts from him.

dadāti pratigṛhṇāti
bhuṅkte bhojayate caiva
[NoI 4]

offering him prasāda and accepting prasāda given by his own hands. Guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati, revealing one’s mind in confidence before a devotee, and obeying the instructions given by the devotee. These six items constitutes sādhu-saṅgaḥ. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo. After having faith, sādhu-saṅgaḥ follows. Then, when one is always serious in sādhu-saṅgaḥ, then he, who associates with a devotee, says to the devotee: “you make me your disciple”. This is called bhajana-kriyā. And if the disciple executes the orders of guru properly then all the unwanted things [anartha] within him will go away: anartha-nivṛttiḥ ca. Having the unwanted things washed off, his faith in devotional service increases. His attachment for bhakti increases. Then bhāva. When the bhāva is attained he spontaneously dances in the songs of God, in kīrtana. He is immersed in bhāva. This bhāva is the first, what is that called, symptom of love of God. So with increase in bhāva you attain love of God, and with this attaining love of God your life will be successful. The purpose of our preaching of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement, bhagavad-bhakti rasa-bhavita mati, is that every human being…, back to Godhead, love of God. This love of God is with him, within him, it just needs to be awakened. And to awaken it, the simplest way is, like Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed you from scriptures, with scriptural injunctions:

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
[Cc. Ādi 7.76]

In Kali-yuga, perfection can not be achieved by any other means. It is very difficult. The human being in Kali-yuga [indistinct]…

mandāḥ sumanda-matayo
manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ
[SB. 1.1.10]

They are very lazy. To attain God in this lifetime is not understood by them. And if someone understands a little bit and wants to progress, he is misguided into many of the so called dharma-sampradāya, which are all meant for forgetting God. So misguided, and unfortunate. His destiny also.., nobody is really fortunate in Kali-yuga. And above all, there are many disturbances. Therefore there is no other way in Kali-yuga. Kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ. The process of dhyāna was followed in Satya-yuga, which is nowadays called meditation, and it was possible in Satya-yuga. It is not possible in Kali-yuga.

kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ
tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ
[SB. 12.3.52]

And in Tretā-yuga, God’s favour had been achieved by performing big yajña’s [sacrifices]. Today no one can perform such a big yajña, because there are no ingredients available for performing the yajña, nor are there any qualified brāhmaṇa priests who can perform the yajña. Therefore performing a yajña is also not possible in Kali-yuga. Kṛte yad dhyāyato. And due to short lives and having the hearts always afflicted, meditation or dhyāna is also not possible. So:

kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ
tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ
dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ
[SB. 12.3.52]

In Dvāpara-yuga [the method is] worshipping and serving the Lord. Serving and worhiping the Lord nicely in temples is also not possible. You may know that there are many ancient temples which are lying here and there and are unattended. Not only temples, I am traveling all over the world, nobody goes to a church these days. In church. Many churches are being sold out. We have purchased a very big church in Los Angeles. So this method involving temple and maṭhas, is also difficult. Therefore in Kali-yuga: kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt. The only method in Kali-yuga is to come together like this and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

So the subject of our preaching is: whether you hear this sanātana-dharma by coming to a temple, or you surely do the hari-kīrtana at your respective houses, sitting morning and evening with children, wife and son. You will see advancement. And then after, devotional service and what is your relation with God? And what is your activity in that relation? And what is your role in that activity? What is the purpose in doing kīrtana? These are the questions to be asked. Why does one do kīrtana? [indistinct] By doing kīrtana.., premartha pumartha.., premā pumartho mahān [Caitanya-manjusa]. You will get peace only by achieving love of God. By not having the love of God, our love is now distributed to many places. And the same love will become perfect if offered at the lotus feet of the Lord. Premā pumartho mahān. Therefore you are requested to kindly cooperate with this Krishna Consciousness movement [kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ], which is preaching kṛṣṇa-bhakti all over the world. The foreigners, whom we call mlecchas and yavanas, are cooperating. And not accepting it, you have forgotten your own familiar dharma, sanātana-dharma. You have a natural attraction for it, otherwise why would you come here? You certainly have attraction for it. But circumstances have created a situation such that it is dragging Indians today away from devotional service. You be cautious of it. You should take it seriously as a very important activity of your lives, and cooperate us. This much only I request you. Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa. [Applause] [end]