KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 2.1.37
- Krishna Consciousness is Monotheistic. All varieties of demigods are included in the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; they are only the parts and parcels of the original whole.
- The divisions of the orders of human society, namely the brāhmaṇas (the intelligent class), the kṣatriyas (the administrators), the vaiśyas (the mercantile community) and the śūdras (the laborer class), are all included in the body of the Supreme.
- Hence all classes of men are recommended to perform sacrifice to the Supreme Lord, with feasible goods in order to please the Lord. One does not have to perform sacrifices to many demigods under different names as mentioned in the Vedic literatures.
- Generally, the sacrifice is offered with clarified butter and grains, but with the progress of time, human society has produced varieties of goods by transforming materials supplied by God’s material nature.
- Human society, therefore, must learn to offer sacrifices not only with clarified butter, but also with other *manufactured goods* in the propagation of the Lord’s glory, and that will bring about perfection in human society. – THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO USE EVERYTHING IN LORD’s SERVICE.
- By development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness one can know that everything has its use in the service of the Lord.
- Those who are without knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness artificially try to avoid material objects, and as a result, although they desire liberation from material bondage, they do not attain to the perfect stage of renunciation. Their so-called renunciation is called phalgu, or less important.
- On the other hand, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord; Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is no danger of a downfall and he does not become a victim of material consciousness.
- By the cooperation of all classes of human beings, the sacrifice recommended in this age, namely the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, may be executed for the common welfare of all the people of the world.
- The sacrifice of Congregational Chanting of the holy name of the lord it not only benefits human beings, but every living entity both moving and non moving. This is demonstrated by Lord Caitanya Maha Prabhu.
- Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy nam.e of Kṛṣṇa.
- When the Lord loudly chanted “Haribol!” the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.The loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers, what to speak of those of animals and human beings.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once asked Haridāsa Ṭhākura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra would benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an opportunity to hear.
- Thus all living entities in the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa — some moving and some standing still — became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic love of God.
- First, the holy name is vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. 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.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly and without material motives.
- When a pure devotee chants offenselessly, another person will become a Vaiṣṇava, and from him another Vaiṣṇava will emerge. This is the paramparā system.
SB 2.1.37 TRANSLATION:
The virāṭ-puruṣa’s face is the brāhmaṇas, His arms are the kṣatriyas, His thighs are the vaiśyas, and the śūdras are under the protection of His feet. All the worshipable demigods are also overtaken by Him, and it is the duty of everyone to perform sacrifices with feasible goods to appease the Lord.
CLASS NOTES:
MONOTHEISM IS PRACTICALLY SUGGESTED HERE
Offering sacrifices to many demigods under different names is mentioned in the Vedic literatures, but the suggestion made in this verse is that all those varieties of demigods are included in the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; they are only the parts and parcels of the original whole.
The divisions of the orders of human society, namely the brāhmaṇas (the intelligent class), the kṣatriyas (the administrators), the vaiśyas (the mercantile community) and the śūdras (the laborer class), are all included in the body of the Supreme.
SACRIFICE TO THE SUPREME LORD IS RECOMMENDED
Sacrifice by all divisions of the human society, in terms of pleasing the Supreme by feasible goods is recommended. Generally, the sacrifice is offered with clarified butter and grains, but with the progress of time, human society has produced varieties of goods by transforming materials supplied by God’s material nature. Human society, therefore, must learn to offer sacrifices not only with clarified butter, but also with other manufactured goods in the propagation of the Lord’s glory, and that will bring about perfection in human society.
The intelligent class of men, or brāhmaṇas, may give direction for such sacrifices in consultation with the previous ācāryas; the administrators may give all facilities to perform such sacrifices; the vaiśya class or mercantile community, who produce such goods, may offer them for sacrifice; and the śūdra class may offer their manual labor for the successful termination of such sacrifice
Thus by the cooperation of all classes of human beings, the sacrifice recommended in this age, namely the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, may be executed for the common welfare of all the people of the world.
This is a brilliant explanation of text 37 by Srila Prabhupada. It begins by explaining different parts of Virat rupa, and he explains Monotheism is practically suggested here. Krsna Consciousness is monothiestic. Western people claim that monotheism begin with persians…zoroastrianism. . It was a speculative theory and was false. In modern times many are propagation of polytheism.
The concept of Godhead should be understood also. God is defined by Pancha tattva. Caitanya mahaprabhu, Advaita Acharya – Vishnu, Gadhadhara pandit – Radha rani, Srivas – Narada muni devotee.
Krishna – Balaram – 1st Chaturvyuha, 2nd chatur vyuha,
Ksirodakasayi Vishnu –
Krishna is never alone, he always expands Himself and appears along with his associates.
KC is strictly monotheistic, but yet you have acintya abeda beda tattva, simultaneous oneness and different … Lord Caitanya exhibits this through the Pancha Tattva.
The whole concept of Godhead is the KC.
Muslims – strict oneness – only one God
Christians – one god…
Jewish Christian, Zoroastrianism – Speculative oneness
They all do not have the knowledge who God is, how he expands, what are his activities.
Mosses – prophet, they do not put him on the same level as Allah.
To know the truth we need to go back to the original Vedas.
Compartmentalism – We only use ghee or grains for sacrifice. We dont use subways, planes, laptops, bridges, roads..
Human society, therefore, must learn to offer sacrifices not only with clarified butter, but also with other manufactured goods in the propagation of the Lord’s glory, and that will bring about perfection in human society. – THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO USE EVERYTHING IN LORDS service
When I go to temple I can pray once I go out, I can do whatever I want.
(BG 2.63) SHOWS INCOMPLETE NATURE OF RENUNCIATION OF MAYAVADIS AND IMPERSONALISTS AND ALSO DESCRIBES HOW EVERYTHING CAN BE USED IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD
By development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness one can know that everything has its use in the service of the Lord. Those who are without knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness artificially try to avoid material objects, and as a result, although they desire liberation from material bondage, they do not attain to the perfect stage of renunciation. Their so-called renunciation is called phalgu, or less important. On the other hand, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he does not become a victim of material consciousness.
Incomplete nature of renunciation of Mayavadis and Impersonalists
For example, for an impersonalist, the Lord, or the Absolute, being impersonal, cannot eat. Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the remnants, called prasādam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is no danger of a downfall. The devotee takes prasādam in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas the non devotee rejects it as material. The impersonalist, therefore, cannot enjoy life, due to his artificial renunciation; and for this reason, a slight agitation of the mind pulls him down again into the pool of material existence. It is said that such a soul, even though rising up to the point of liberation, falls down again due to his not having support in devotional service.
Christians, Muslims, Jews, … have knwodledge of some parts which are useful, but they do not have complete understanding. Hence they have wars, fights,…
General theme in India when Father dies – who gets what, fight between siblings..
Incomplete knowledge is a dangerous thing. Therefore we have to read the whole BG, whole SB one verse at a time. Drop by drop the cup is filled.
In the same way knowledge and wealth are gained drop by drop. Someone who becomes rich overnight will not be able to benefit out of it.
Dad and son story – Son asked for money and Dad said you need to work for it.
Moral of the story – Everything belongs to Krsna, and you have to do everything for Krsna and use everything in the service of Krsna.
Unless you understand who owns everything you will never be able to deal with money properly. It will be an obstacle to Spiritual life rather than being a help for spiritual life.
By development of KC one can know that everything has its use in service of Krsna.
The love of money is the root of all evil. It does not mean that money is evil. It means if one is too attched to use Money for sense gratification that is root cause of all evil. Therefore the first thing one must learn is the concept of proprietorship. It isnot known in capitalism, socialism, anarchism, communism,,,, it is only known through Krsna Consciousness. Everything belongs to Krsna and only be used in the service of Krsna.
Even if one has more needs due to being married, those needs have to be minimized or controlled as per acoording to spiritual principles and that way one does not become victim of maya. But as soon as one deviates, gets entangled in Maya and has less time for spiritual life and engages more and more time in material things.
If you Have money – you are worried about how not tolose it
If No money – you are worried how to earn more money,,,
Thus by the cooperation of all classes of human beings, the sacrifice recommended in this age, namely the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, may be executed for the common welfare of all the people of the world.
The basis of cooperaation of all classes of society is to perform the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There will be harmony across all classes(national level, individual level, family level….) because of one over riding purpose everyone is working towards, that is pleasing Krsna, Guru and cooperate, so that everyone can make spiritual progress, not only humans, but animals and plants too.. This is what Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu demonstrated.
CC MADHYA 17.34:
Sometimes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.
CC MADHYA 17.35:
Hearing the Lord’s great vibration, all the does followed Him left and right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them.
CC MADHYA 17.36:
“ ‘Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Mahārāja Nanda’s son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.’ ”
CC MADHYA 17.37:
While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.
CC MADHYA 17.38:
Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vṛndāvana. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vṛndāvana.
CC MADHYA 17.39:
“ ‘Vṛndāvana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship.’ ”
CC MADHYA 17.40:
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said “Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!’ ” the tigers and deer began to chant “Kṛṣṇa!” and dance.
CC MADHYA 17.41:
When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya saw them and was struck with wonder.
CC MADHYA 17.42:
Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and touching mouths, they began to kiss.
CC MADHYA 17.43:
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.
CC MADHYA 17.44:
Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
CC MADHYA 17.45:
When the Lord loudly chanted “Haribol!” the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.
The loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers, what to speak of those of animals and human beings. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once asked Haridāsa Ṭhākura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra would benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an opportunity to hear.
CC MADHYA 17.46:
Thus all living entities in the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa — some moving and some standing still — became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
CC MADHYA 17.47
In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic love of God.
CC Madhya 17.48-49
When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 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 Vaiṣṇava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.
THE TRANSCENDENTAL POTENCY OF THE HARE KṚṢṆA MAHĀ-MANTRA IS HEREIN EXPLAINED.
First, the holy name is vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. 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. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants offenselessly, another person will become a Vaiṣṇava, and from him another Vaiṣṇava will emerge. This is the paramparā system.
This explains the prime importance of Chanting of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra in Kali Yuga. If it is very very effective if it is done properly Without commiting any offense, with the pure desire to please Krsna. It not only benifits human beings but also all living entities, moving and non moving. So this loud chanting of Hare Krsna is very important. At every step of our life we must be chanting in one way or the other and encourage others to take up chanting.