Sri K

Krr is
ishh n a K
Kaa t h amr
amrtta
Tav k- QaaMa*Ta& TaáJaqvNaMa(
tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanam Bi n du
Bi-monthly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications
Issue No. 4 19 May 2001 Çré Aparä Ekädaçé, 12 Trivikrama, 515 Gauräbda

CONTENTS:

·
·
·
• “Even Namaparadha”
Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
• Abhiram Thakur T ests the Sons of Lord Nityananda
Tests
Adapted from Çré Abhiräma Lélämåta
• Bhajan and Begging
From The Life of Srila Gour Kishor Das Babaji

“EVEN NAMAPARADHA”
AMAPARADHA Chakravarti Thakur describes the word
bhakti by saying premaivoktaù. Kaù anyaù
... with a strong vow one arthaù asya: in the presence of bhakti, what
should chant the holy name of the is the necessity of liberation?
Lord — Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Srila Viswanath Chakravarti Thakur also
Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare quotes this verse from the Padma Puräëa:
Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma,
nämäparädha-yuktänäà nämäny eva haranty agham
Hare Hare — for thus one will cer-
aviçränti-prayuktäni täny evärtha-karäëi ca
tainly be delivered from the clutches of mäyä by
the grace of Krishna. Even if in the beginning one chants the
The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is Hare Krishna mantra with offenses, one will
recommended even for persons who commit of- become free from such offenses by chanting
fenses, because if they continue chanting they again and again. Päpa-kñayaç ca bhavati
will gradually chant offenselessly. By chanting smaratäà tam ahar-niçam: one becomes free
the Hare Krishna mantra without offenses, one from all sinful reactions if one chants day and
increases his love for Krishna. As stated by Sri night, following the recommendation of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, premä pum-artho Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was Sri Chaitanya
mahän: one’s main concern should be to increase Mahaprabhu who quoted the following verse:
one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of
harer näma harer näma harer nämaiva kevalam
Godhead and to increase one’s love for Him.
kalau nästy eva nästy eva nästy eva gatir anyathä
In this regard Srila Viswanath Chakravarti
Thakur quotes the following verse from Çrémad “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the
Bhägavatam (11.19.24): only means of deliverance is chanting the
holy name of the Lord. There is no other
evaà dharmair manuñyäëäm uddhavätmani vedinäm
way. There is no other way. There is no other
mayi saïjäyate bhaktiù ko ’nyo ’rtho ’syävaçiñyate
way.” [Cc. ädi 17.21] If the members of the
“My dear Uddhava, the supreme religious Krishna consciousness movement strictly fol-
system for human society is that by which low this recommendation of Sri Chaitanya
one can awaken his dormant love for Me.” Mahaprabhu, their position will always be
Commenting on this verse, Srila Viswanath secure. — Purport to Bhäg. 6.3.24 ·
Page — 2 é[q k*- Z<ak- Q
ABHIRAM THAKUR TESTS No Invitation
THE SONS OF LORD NITYANANDA
ITYANANDA Although Nityananda Prabhu is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Lord Balaram, still,
Abhiram Thakur is perhaps the most prominent
while acting out His human-like pastimes, He
follower of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. According to
externally became very unhappy seeing all of
Srila Kavi Karnapur, Abhiram Thakur is the incar-
His sons die. Therefore, when the next child was
nation of Sridama Sakha, the chief cowherd boy in
born, Nitai thought to Himself, “If Abhiram does
kåñëa-lélä.2 His pastimes were described in simple
not come My child will live.”
Bengali verse by his disciple Sri Tilak Ram Das in a
Nityananda Prabhu invited many quests for the
book called Çré Abhiräma Lilämåta. In the fourth
festive occasion, but He did not invite Abhiram
chapter the author reveals how he was able to write:
Thakur. Seeing that Abhiram was not there,
uöha uöha ore çiñya çunaha vacane Adwaita Acharya inquired from Nityananda,
ämära yateka lélä karaha varëana “Why have You not invited Abhiram?”
eta bali mora säthe caraëa dharilä Nityananda Prabhu replied, “Abhiram has
caraëa paraçe lélä svaraëa hailä
made Me bereft of sons. So I will not invite him.
[My guru Abhiram Thakur came to me while I was I’ve told all of the boatmen not to bring him
resting and said] “Wake up! Wake up! O disciple, across the Ganga in their boats.”
hear my words! I want you to write about my pas- During the time of the festival for the birth of
times.” I touched my head to my guru’s lotus feet and Nityananda Prabhu’s latest son, Abhiram and
at that time all of his pastimes appeared to me.1 his wife Malini were staying at Krishnagar.
The following story, adapted from chapter 15, Vakreswar Pandit came to see them. Malini of-
verses 141-246, describes how Abhiram Thakur fered him a seat, and Vakreswar inquired from
tested the newborn sons of Lord Nityananda. Abhiram, “Nitai is performing a festival on the
occasion of the birth of his son. You are the
Uncommon Powers
pradhäna-gopäl, the leader of the cowherd boys.
Abhiram Thakur was a very powerful personal- Is He inviting you or not?”
ity. It is said that he would sometimes test the au- Abhiram laughed and said, “No. He is not
thenticity of a çälagräma-çilä or a deity by offering inviting me.”
obeisances. If they were not genuine, they would Vakreswar humbly told Abhiram, “Without
break. He had other uncommon powers as well. your presence this ceremony cannot be per-
On one occasion Abhiram Thakur met formed properly. Although He is not inviting
Nityananda Prabhu on the bank of the Ganga, near you, still you should go.”
to the home of Nityananda Prabhu. Nitai offered “How can I go without an invitation?”
Abhiram a seat. They embraced, and both sat down. Malini then said, “Abhiram is a räkhäl, a cow-
Nitai said, “O brother Abhiram, what is your herd boy. Such cowherders have no abhimän,
desire? Why have you come to My home?” false ego. He is not finding fault with
“I want to see Your son.” Nityananda Prabhu for not inviting him.”
Hearing this, Nityananda became happy.
However, when Nityananda Prabhu showed Crossing the Ganga
him His son, Abhiram offered obeisances to the Abhiram Thakur then told Vakreswar, “O
child and immediately the child died. When brother, I’ll go there later.” After Vakreswar left,
Nityananda Prabhu’s wives Vasudha and Abhiram conceived a plan. He bade Malini
Jahnava heard the news, they both fainted. goodbye and started off, saying, “Gaura Hari
Nityananda then placed the body of the child ki jaya!” He went to the bank of the Ganga and
in the Ganga and they all took bath. said to a boatman, “Take me across!”
Sometime later, another child was born, and The boatman looked at Abhiram Thakur and
again Abhiram Thakur came. As before, when inquired, “Who are you sir? Give me your name
Abhiram offered his obeisances, the child died. and then I will start the journey. If I take the
Everyone was astonished, thinking, “What is wrong person across then Nityananda Prabhu
Abhiram’s purpose?” In this way, every time a will be very angry with me.”
child was born, Abhiram would come, offer Abhiram replied, “Why does He want to
obeisances, and the child would die. restrict this person from crossing?”
 Sri Krishna-kathamrta Bindu Page — 3
The boatman said, “Nityananda Prabhu is mis- much prasäd as they brought, Abhiram ate it
erable and lamenting for His lost children. He told until he had finished everything in the house.
me, ‘There is one person named Abhiram Thakur. Seeing that he had eaten everything, Nitai
He is very powerful. If he offers obeisances to My said, “Dandavats to your pastimes! Who can
son then the child will die.’ Saying this, Nityananda understand You? In vraja-lélä you are Sridama.
Prabhu told me not to bring that person across. I Have you forgotten our loving relationship? In
think that you are that same Abhiram Thakur.” Vraj we all shared prasäd together. But now, for-
Out of fear of Nityananda Prabhu, the boat- getting all of that, you are taking all of the prasäd
man then put water in his boat and made it alone. In Vraja we would always share what-
sink. Hearing that Abhiram Thakur had come, ever fruits we got. What sort of behavior is this
all of the other boatmen also filled their boats that you are taking all of the prasäd alone?”
with water and sank them. Abhiram listened and said, “My nature is that
Abhiram Thakur then took some cloth and of a cowherd boy. First I take, then I give to oth-
threw it in the river. The cloth floated, and, sit- ers. My behaviour is that of Vraja. Knowing my
ting on it, Abhiram crossed the river. nature and activities in Vraja, how can You say
Seeing this, the people became astonished and I took all of the prasäd? Go and see Your pots.”
ran to tell Nityananda Prabhu. Although Nitai be- Then Abhiram performed äcamana.
came worried, He took all of the mahants who were Nityananda Prabhu went to see the pots and
present at the festival and went to meet Abhiram found that double the original amount of prasäd
Thakur. Abhiram saw them all performing ecstatic was there. Nitai then happily embraced Abhiram.
kértana and coming toward the bank of the Ganga Abhiram said, “O brother, you should feed all
to meet him. Abhiram then began playing his flute, of the mahants.”
and he lost external consciousness. Tilak Ram Das The mahants then happily took prasäd and
says, “Who can understand Abhiram Thakur?” shouted, “Hari! Hari!” Finishing, they all per-
formed äcamana. Then Nitai gave them tämbüla
Prasad at Nitai’s Home
and a place to take rest.
When they came together, Abhiram embraced
“Spare Our Child!”
all of them with ecstatic love while his hairs
stood on end. Nitai brought Abhiram into His Abhiram Thakur said, “Nitai, you have cel-
home. Abhiram told Him, “I am very hungry. ebrated a festival for the birth of Your son. What
Please give me some prasäd.” Nitai gave him a sort of son do You have? Please bring him and I
seat in a room and Vasudha and Jahnava hap- will offer my obeisances to him.”
pily brought him nice prasäd consisting of sweet Hearing this, everyone became worried.
rice, fancy rice and many opulent dishes. As Nityananda Prabhu’s wives Vasudha and

BHAJAN AND BEGGING your bhajan kuöir. But if I leave the transcenden-
From the Life of Srila Gour Kishor Das Babaji tal abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Chaitanya
Sri Manindrachandra Maharaja was an aris- Mahaprabhu, and come to your castle, which
tocratic landowner king. He once invited Srila is the same as Lord Indra’s, then after some time
Gour Kishor and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta I will begin to think that I would also like to
Saraswati Thakur to join in an assembly of amass a great amount of land. The result of all
vaiñëavas at his palace in Kasim Bazar. Hearing of this will be that the desire for sense gratifica-
his request, Gour Kishor said, “If you want my tion will enter my heart.
association, then you must offer all of your wealth “As a result of amassing large amounts of
unto the hands of the rent collector and come land, I will become an object of your envy.
here and live with me. You should build a bhajan If you want to become very dear to me, then
kuöir here and we will live together. as a friend you should bestow your mercy
“You do not have to worry about what food- by coming here to the spiritual world of Sri
stuffs you will eat because I will daily collect by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and maintain your
begging and feed you myself. If you come here life by the activity of begging.”·
Translated by Vyankata Das Brahmacari from Anaran Prabhura Katha,
in this mood I will always be impelled to visit a collection of articles written by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada.
Page — 4 é[q k*- Z<ak- QaaMa*Ta ibNdu
Jahnava approached Abhiram and humbly The Identity of Virabhadra Prabhu
said, “This time please give protection to our
Lord Balaram has appeared as Lord Nityananda
child. Don’t let us be criticized for not having a
Prabhu. As the Supreme Lord, He is sarvajïa, all
son. If you offer obeisances to our son then he
knowing. Hence He certainly understood and, in
will die. Every time this is what has happened.
fact, inspired the behavior of Abhiram Thakur. The
If you do this again, then we will also die.”
nature of the Lord is that He likes to see His devo-
Abhiram said, “Why are you fearing? You
tees glorified more than Himself. Therefore, to glo-
don’t understand. I am offering my obei-
rify His devotee Abhiram Thakur, and also His son
sances to test the child. If he is svayaà-
Virabhadra Prabhu, Lord Nityananda inspired
svarüpa, the Lord’s personal manifestation,
Abhiram Thakur to act in such an unusual way.
then he will survive my obeisances.”
Virabhadra Prabhu is the incarnation of
Hearing Abhiram’s words, Nityananda
K s h i ro d a k a s a y i Vi s h n u . S r i l a K a v i
Prabhu became happy and brought His son
Karnapura has written:
before Abhiram. Abhiram Thakur offered his
obeisances, and the child laughed. Abhiram saìkarñaëasya yo vyühaù payo-viñayi-nämakaù
sa eva véracandro ‘bhüc caitanyäbhinna-vigrahaù
become very happy and offered his obei-
sances a second and a third time, just to test The expansion of Lord Sankarshan known as
the child. He saw that this child was jagat- K s h i ro d a k a s a y i Vi s h n u a p p e a re d i n S r i
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes as
priya, dear to the entire universe. Abhiram
Virachandra Prabhu. Lord Virachandra was
took the child on his lap and began to dance. non-different from Lord Chaitanya Himself. 3
He then told all of the mahants there:
As Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, Virabhadra
ye nä dekhecha gorä dekha ära bär
Prabhu is the svayaà svarüpa, the plenary
punarbär sei gorä véra avatär
expansion of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Srila
“So that those who did not see Sri Chaitanya Krishnadas Kaviraj has described:
Mahaprabhu could again have the opportunity
saìkarñaëaù käraëa-toya-çäyé
to see Him, the Lord has reappeared in the form
garbhoda-çäyé ca payobdhi-çäyé
of Virabhadra Prabhu.”
çeñaç ca yasyäàça-kaläù sa nityä-
nandäkhya-rämaù çaraëaà mamästu
May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my
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Notes
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subject line.) Haridas Das. Çré Gauòiya-vaiñëava-abhidhäna. Haribol
Kutir. Nabadwip. 501 Gaurabda. (Bengali)
Gopal Jiu Publications is a branch of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness. Founder-Acarya His
Kavi Karnapur. Çré Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä. Translated
into English by Kusakratha Das. The Krishna Library. Cul-
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
ver City, CA. 1987.
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. Çré Caitanya-caritämåta.
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda
English translation and commentary by Srila A.C.
©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. All other materials,
unless specified, © ISKCON Bhubaneswar/Gopal Jéu Publi- Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book
cations. All rights reserved. Blanket permission is given to Trust. Los Angeles. 1975.
redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form, provided no Tilak Ram Das. Çri Abhiräma Lilämåta. Published by Kisora
changes are made to the contents. Das Babaji. Halisahar, West Bengal. 506 Gaurabda. (Bengali)