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Pradyumna (reading): "The Nectar of Devotion is a summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which was written in Sanskrit by Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. He was the chief of the six Gosvamis who were the direct disciples of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When he first met Lord Caitanya, Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada was engaged as a minister in the Muhammadan government of Bengal. He and his brother Sanatana were then named Sakara Mallika and Dabira Khasa respectively, and they held responsible posts as ministers of Nawab Hussain Shah. At that time, five hundred years ago, the Hindu society was very rigid and if a member of the brahmana caste accepted the service of a Muhammadan ruler he was at once rejected from brahmana society. That was the position of the two brothers, Dabira Khasa and Sakara Mallika. They belonged to the highly situated sarasvata-brahmana..."
Prabhupada: These two brothers, at that time their name was Sakara Mallika and Dabira Khasa. So they were ostracized from the brahmana community. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special grace, that He accepted two rejected gentlemen from the brahmana society and made them gosvamis. That is the special significance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. He accepted Haridasa Thakura from born in Muhammadan community and He made him the acarya, namacarya. The, practically Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to glorify the significance of the holy name. He is actually the acarya, namacarya, but He transferred His namacarya-ship to Haridasa Thakura. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement, kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya. It doesn't matter whether he's a brahmana or a sudra or anyone, if he's krsna-tattva-vetta, if he knows the science of Krsna, then he can be made the spiritual master. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128]. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement's significance.
So following His footsteps, we are preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult and giving sannyasa for preaching. That is not unauthorized. One who criticizes this action, he does not know the principle of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's principle is anyone who knows the science of Krsna, he can become spiritual master. This is the principle. So from the very beginning, these two Gosvamis... They were not in the beginning Gosvamis. They were Sakara Mallika, Dabira Khasa. But they were made Gosvamis. And Haridasa Thakura was made namacarya. Then go on. This is the new edition of Nectar of Devotion.
Pradyumna: "They belonged to the highly situated sarasvata-brahmana community, but they were ostracized due to their acceptance of ministerial posts in the government of Hussain Shah. It is the grace of Lord Caitanya that He accepted these two exalted personalities as His disciples..."
Prabhupada: The brahmana community was so strong that because acceptance of service is the business of the sudra... The brahmanas, they would not accept anyone's service. The ksatriyas, they would not accept anyone's service. And the vaisyas also. They should live independently. Brahmanas, by culture of Vedic knowledge. Ksatriyas by exacting taxes from the citizens. And vaisyas by trade, agriculture. They should live. To serve one is the business of the dog. That is mentioned in Bhagavata. So if there is dire necessity, a brahmana can accept the profession of a ksatriya or the, even the profession of a vaisya, but not the profession of a sudra. But at the present moment, because everyone accepts the profession of sudra, therefore sastra says: kalau sudra-sambhavah. Here is the example, that Sakara Mallika, he was brahmana, sarasvata brahmana. But because he accepted... They were learned brahmanas, not fools. Very good scholar in Sanskrit and Arabian language, still because they accepted service in the Muhammadan government, they were rejected. Immediately. No. Punishment. That is punishment. In Hindi it is called hookah panibhyam. In the society, in villages still, if one is ostracized, nobody will smoke with him. Hookah. Hookah means smoking. And pani means not to accept his water. Hookah panibhyam. So that is ostracization. That was taken against Sanatana Gosvami. They were not gosvami at that time. Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted them. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special grace. What is that word? Come on. Go on. What happened?
Pradyumna: "It is the grace of Lord Caitanya that He accepted these two exalted personalities as His disciples and raised them to the position of gosvamis, the highest position of brahminical culture. Similarly Lord Caitanya accepted Haridasa Thakura as His disciple although he happened to be born of a Muhammadan family. And Lord Caitanya later on made him the acarya,..."
Prabhupada: (indistinct)
Pradyumna: "...later on made him..."
Prabhupada: (Hindi)
Pradyumna: "...and Lord Caitanya later on made him the acarya of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Lord Caitanya's principle is universal. Anyone who knows the science of Krsna and is engaged in the service of the Lord is accepted as being in a higher position than a person born in the family of a brahmana. That is the original principle accepted by all Vedic literatures, especially by the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The principle of Lord Caitanya's movement in educating and elevating everyone to the exalted post of a gosvami is taught in the Nectar of Devotion.
Lord Caitanya met the two brothers, Dabira Khasa and Sakara Mallika in a village known as Ramakeli in the district known as Maldah, and after that meeting the brothers decided to retire from government service and join Lord Caitanya. Sakara Mallika, who was later to become Rupa Gosvami, retired from his post and collected all the money he had accumulated during his service. It is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta that his accumulated savings in gold coins equaled millions of dollars and filled a large boat. He divided the money in a very exemplary manner, which should be followed by devotees in particular and by humanity in general. Fifty percent of his accumulated wealth was distributed to the Krsna conscious persons, namely the brahmanas and the Vaisnavas. Twenty-five percent was distributed to relatives. And twenty-five percent was kept against emergency expenditures and personal difficulties. Later on when Dabira Khasa also proposed to retire, the Nawab was very much agitated and put him into jail. But Dabira Khasa who was later to become..."
Prabhupada: In this connection, we may inform that our disciples in Krsna consciousness movement, those who are grhasthas, they contribute at least fifty percent of their income. Yes. Most of them, they are full-time engaged. But if one cannot be whole time engaged... Just like we, we have got our disciple, Professor Howard Wheeler. He gives more than fifty percent of his income for developing our New Vrindaban scheme. So we try to follow these principles laid down by Rupa Gosvami, that fifty percent for Krsna or Krsna's devotees, twenty-five percent for personal emergencies and twenty-five percent for the dependent relatives.
There are many couples here. They are married. I got them married. Sometimes I am criticized by my godbrothers. But they do not know why I got them married. Here is a couple, Gurudasa and his wife, Yamuna, and where is Malati? Malati's not here? Eh? Malati and her husband, Syamasundara. And another couple, Janaki and Mukunda. I sent them first, missionary to London to start the temple. And for one year, they struggled very hard and they called me that "I started the temple." So my Guru Maharaja wanted to start a temple in London. He sent two sannyasis but it was not possible. But these grhasthas, they started. So we want to see that the mission is fulfilled. It doesn't matter whether he's a grhastha or sannyasi. Kiba vipra kiba sudra nyasi kene naya. So by getting them married, I am benefited. They have helped me.
Guest (Indian man): There is nothing against marriage.
Prabhupada: But sometimes my godbrother criticizes that I am sannyasi, I am taking part in marriage. So I have got very good difficulties. Here, when I come to India, they say that I am spoiling Hindu system of religion. And when I go there, the Christian says that "You are the greatest enemy." (laughter) This is my position. You see. If I go ahead, then... And if I go behind, then... So what can be done? I have to execute my duty. I am not encouraged by the government, by my godbrothers, and still I have to do this duty. What can be done? So, so far I am concerned I know by getting them married I am benefited. They have done so much... He's also married, this boy. He's always... He has got his wife, he has got children, but he doesn't care for his wife and children. He remains with me and he helps me in editing the Sanskrit portion of my books. He has studied Sanskrit. He was not a Sanskrit scholar, but by his endeavor he has studied Sanskrit. So all my books, Sanskrit editing work, is done by...
Guest: I see.
Prabhupada: Yes. He worked very hard. Now he understands Sanskrit. He can read Sanskrit. So if I get facility for pushing on my missionary work, there is no harm in getting married. Because in Europe, America these boys and girls, they live like friends. So I said that "You cannot live as friends. You must get yourself married" and that is, that has proved... Here is a girl. Where is that Saradiya, Saradiya there?
Devotee: Here she comes.
Prabhupada: Eh. When she was young, fifteen years, she very frankly told me that "I want this boy to marry, Vaikuntha." (laughter) So I told Vaikuntha that "You, you are reserved for her. As soon as she's over sixteen years, you have to marry her." Another girl, she is now at Manila. She's Australian. She was a famous actress. So she came to Los Angeles and surrendered to me. And I asked her that "You go to Tokyo. I have got a disciple. And get yourself married with him."
Guest: Oh, wonderful!
Prabhupada: Yes. She never saw him. So in European countries...
Guest: That's impossible.
Prabhupada: It is impossible. But she went and married him and they're living peacefully. Now they are married. So I have to see the interest of my missionary work. Never mind. Of course it is a novel thing, that sannyasi is taking part in marriage. But what can be done? I have to execute my mission. Go on. I think it is now...
Pradyumna: "But Dabira Khasa who was later to become Srila Sanatana Gosvami took advantage of his brother's personal money..."
Prabhupada: You can arrange a light here. Yes.
Pradyumna: "...which had been deposited with a village banker and escaped from the prison of Hussain Shah. In this way, both brothers joined Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Rupa Gosvami first met Lord Caitanya at Prayaga (Allahabad, India) on the Dasasvamedha bathing ghata of that holy city and on the Dasasvamedha bathing ghata of that holy city the Lord instructed him continually for ten days. The Lord particularly instructed Rupa Gosvami on the science of Krsna consciousness. These teachings of Lord Caitanya to Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada are narrated in our book Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Later Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada elaborated the teachings of the Lord with profound knowledge of revealed scriptures and authoritative references from various Vedic literatures. Srila Srinivasa Acarya describes in his prayers to the Six Gosvamis that they were all highly learned scholars, not only in Sanskrit, but also in foreign languages such as Persian and Arabian. They very scrutinizingly studied all the Vedic literatures in order to establish the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu on the authorized principles of Vedic knowledge. The present Krsna consciousness movement is also based on the authority of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. We are therefore generally known as rupanugas, or followers in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. It is only for our guidance that Srila Rupa Gosvami prepared his book Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which is now presented in the form of the Nectar of Devotion. Persons engaged in the Krsna consciousness movement may take advantage of this great literature and be very solidly situated in Krsna consciousness.
Bhakti means devotional service. Every service..."
Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, he used to advise us to read Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Everyone, after initiation. At least, he advised me. So this Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is very important as study book for the Vaisnavas. It is the science of devotional service. And people are, in Western countries, taking interest. In the Temple University, it has become a textbook in the religious class. There are sixty students who are regularly studying the Bhakti, Nectar of Devotion published by us. And gradually it is being introduced in other colleges and schools. I think you are straining.
Gurudasa: The candle is coming.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/nod/the_nectar_of_devotion/vrndavana/october/16/1972 Previous: The Nectar of Devotion -- Los Angeles, June 23, 1970 Next: The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, December 26, 1972
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