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Caitanya Maha-Prabhu on Bhakti (Siksastaka verse 4)
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To: alt-hindu@cis.ohio-state.edu
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Subject: Caitanya Maha-Prabhu on Bhakti (Siksastaka verse 4)
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From: susarla@rice.edu (H. Krishna Susarla)
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Date: 28 May 1995 14:59:41 GMT
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From news@larry.rice.edu Sun May 28 10: 47:53 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Caitanya Maha-Prabhu was an avatar of Lord Krishna who appeared in
medieval Bengal to preach the glories of the holy name. These days
there are many gurus who claim to be avatars, often preaching a message
of "I am God, and so are all of you. But you will only realize this by
worshipping me, etc." However, Lord Caitanya, whose appearance is predicted
in a number of Vedic scriptures, was different. He never went around telling
everyone that He was God. Rather, He instructed them to worship Lord Krishna,
especially by Harinama-sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy
names of the Lord.
Maha-Prabhu is therefore the foremost authority on bhakti-yoga. I have
noticed on this net that some followers of the monistic gurus claim that
bhakti is merely a process designed for foolish people who think of God
as a separate entity so they can ask Him to give some material benedictions.
This is a misconception, and betrays total ignorance of what bhakti really
is. I therefore thought that this verse from the Siksastakam, the compostion
of Caitanya Maha-Prabhu, would be relevant:
na dhanaM na janaM na sundarIM
kavitAm vA jagad-Is'a kAmaye
mama janmani janmanIs'vare
bhavatAd bhaktir ahaitukI tvayi
"O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor
do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers.
I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth."
-- Siksastakam (4)
The Siksastakam, along with English translations, can be found in
_Songs of the Vaishnava Acharyas_.
Copyright, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Used with permission.
--HKS
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- Hari Krishna Susarla - "Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, -
- susarla@owlnet.rice.edu - become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me -
- Rice University - and worship Me. Being completely absorbed -
- Class of 1995 - in Me, surely you will come to Me." -
- Biochemistry - -- Bhagavad-Gita 9.34 -
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HARER NAMA HARER NAMA
HARER NAMAIVA KEVALAM
KALAU NASTY EVA NASTY EVA
NASTY EVA GATIR ANYATHA
"IN THIS AGE OF QUARREL AND HYPOCRISY THE ONLY MEANS OF DELIVERANCE IS
CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF LORD KRSNA. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. THERE IS
NO OTHER WAY. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY."
-- Brhan-naradiya purana 38.126
