Lecture in Hindi– December 21, 1970, Surat

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

Prabhupada:

You have heard in English about of this bhagavad-bhakti rasa-bhavita sahga [Krsna Consciousness movement] from our disciples Mr. Giriraja Brahmacari and [indistinct] Adhikari. 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 [sloka] in it that states:

Jatiḥ [caste]. Nowadays many castes have come up, minor and major, spreading the entire world. But from ancient scripture, Mahabharata it is known that at least 5,000 years ago there used to be only one king, ruling the whole world, Bharata-varsa. Maharaja Pariksit, 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 Bharata-varsa. This planet globe [bhū-gola], was formaly known as Ilavrta-varsa. After that, after Maharaja Bharata, it became Bharata-varsa. The Bharata-varsa is not what we know now. Whole world, entire earth was known as Bharata-varsa. 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 sanatana-dharma [eternal occupational duty]. Because just like living entity is sanatana, God is sanatana, and the relation of the living entity with God is known as sanatana-dharma. Sanatana-dharma-means that which does not change. There is no origin of it, and it can not be destroyed. That is sanatana-dharma. Therefore the sanatana-dharma..., God incarnates to teach this sanatana-dharma:

Whenever there is a decline in religion..., declining the religion means dharmena hinaḥ pasubhiḥ samanaḥ [Hitopadesa 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.

Eating and sleeping: ahara-nidra, 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 Giriraja Brahmacari and as Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us: jivera 'svarūpa' haya-nitya krsna dasa [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 brahmana, ksatriya or sūdra, whoever he may be. If he is without devotion then his caste, chanting [japa], austerity [tapaḥ], actions [kriyaḥ], his highly aristocratic caste, and his austerities etc., adi-dharma-saja. 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 sanatana-dharma from historical point of view, it is older than 5,000 years. Because Krsna instructed Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna before 5,000 years ago. From this calculation it can be known that the sanatana-dharma or Krsna Consciousness, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita 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: purano sasvato'yam [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 yajna. Many people are still doing it in the name of yajna. [indistinct] many people are killing animals. In the same Bharata-varsa, 2,600 years ago, there was an increased amount of animal killing through karma-kanḍa [fruitive activity]. At that time Lord Krsna sent his 27th incarnation, Lord Buddha. This is described in Bhagavatam. You know this: sammohaya sura-dvisam [SB. 1.3.24]. In the beginning of Kali-yuga, Lord Buddha appeared to delude those who are athiest, sura-dvisam; anjana-sutaḥ kikatesu bhavisyati [SB. 1.3.24]

This name kikatesu refers to Gaya province. You know this. Lord Buddha appeared in the province of Gaya. This is written in the scripture: kikatesu bhavisyati. And because Bhagavatam was written down 5,000 years ago, it was foretold. In the beginning of Kali-yuga. Anjana-sutasya: mother's name is given. Buddho namna: his name is Buddha. Kikatesu bhavisyati: he will born in the province of Gaya. 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 Visnu Yasi.

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, pramada, vipralipsa, karanapatava, which are found in conditioned souls. And the person who made the scriptures, Vyasadeva, is also free from these defects. Therefore it is considered as veda-pramana [scriptural evidence], sabda-pramana [sound evidence]. There are many types of pramana-pratyaksa-pramana [direct perception], anubhūti-pramana, and sastra-pramana. Sastra-pramana is the best. And Lord also says in Bhagavad-gita:

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

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

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

This decline of sanatana-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 glanir. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati. So these days in the world, 'to eliminate God' has become dharma. Not only in India, it is everywhere. Lord Krsnacandra appeared in our country. And the boys and girls of these days of our country..., an Indian girl in Berkeley university asked me: "Swami Maharaja, 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 Bharata-varsa. 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 Yaduvendra, Raghavendra. 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 Krsnacandra 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 aprakrti [transcendental] sentiment. It is called: bhagavad-bhakti bhava. This bhava is not ordinary. But it can be attained by anyone. There is no difficulty. [indistinct] It is mentioned in scriptures, what is that? Adau sraddha. If one has faith in God then there opens the path for bhava. Like you have come here with faith. To hear "What will we say? What kind of songs will we sing?" This is called sraddha [faith]. Adau sraddha tataḥ sadhu-sahgo [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 sadhu-sahgo [associating with devotees]. Sadhu-sahgaḥ does not mean to sit before a devotee by force. No. Sadhu-sahgaḥ means: dadati pratigrhnati, offering him gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts from him.

offering him prasada and accepting prasada given by his own hands. Guhyam akhyati prcchati, revealing one's mind in confidence before a devotee, and obeying the instructions given by the devotee. These six items constitutes sadhu-sahgaḥ. Adau sraddha tataḥ sadhu-sahgo. After having faith, sadhu-sahgaḥ follows. Then, when one is always serious in sadhu-sahgaḥ, then he, who associates with a devotee, says to the devotee: "you make me your disciple". This is called bhajana-kriya. And if the disciple executes the orders of guru properly then all the unwanted things [anartha] within him will go away: anartha-nivrttiḥ ca. Having the unwanted things washed off, his faith in devotional service increases. His attachment for bhakti increases. Then bhava. When the bhava is attained he spontaneously dances in the songs of God, in kirtana. He is immersed in bhava. This bhava is the first, what is that called, symptom of love of God. So with increase in bhava you attain love of God, and with this attaining love of God your life will be successful. The purpose of our preaching of Krsna 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 Mahaprabhu instructed you from scriptures, with scriptural injunctions:

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

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-sampradaya, 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. Krte yad dhyayato visnum. The process of dhyana was followed in Satya-yuga, which is nowadays called meditation, and it was possible in Satya-yuga. It is not possible in Kali-yuga.

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

In Dvapara-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 mathas, is also difficult. Therefore in Kali-yuga: kalau tad dhari-kirtanat. The only method in Kali-yuga is to come together like this and chant Hare Krsna.

So the subject of our preaching is: whether you hear this sanatana-dharma by coming to a temple, or you surely do the hari-kirtana 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 kirtana? These are the questions to be asked. Why does one do kirtana? [indistinct] By doing kirtana.., premartha pumartha.., prema pumartho mahan [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. Prema pumartho mahan. Therefore you are requested to kindly cooperate with this Krishna Consciousness movement [krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ], which is preaching krsna-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, sanatana-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 Krsna.

[Applause] [end]