Significance of Janmastami

* Why does the Lord descend into this world?

1. To establish dharma, protect and glorify the followers
and to annihilate and punish the miscreants.
Eg: The story of the king and the shepherd boy who
explained “What is God’s daily activity?”
2. To perform His attractive pastimes of loving
reciprocation with His pure devotees whose goal of life is
to please Him alone.

* Why is He not coming now, when so many sinful

activities are going on?
- He has come and He continues to be with us performing
the same function in so many ways.

1. He has come as CM and Nitai, and established the

‘yuga dharma’.

(So by following the path shown by Them, we get the same

benefit.)
CC.1.1.85-100:
85-86: vraje ye vihare pürve kåñëa-balaräma
koöé-sürya-candra jini doìhära nija-dhäma
sei dui jagatere ha-iyä sadaya
gauòadeçe pürva-çaile karilä udaya
- Çré Kåñëa and Balaräma, the Personalities of Godhead,
who formerly appeared in Våndävana and were millions of
times more effulgent than the sun and moon, have arisen
over the eastern horizon of Gauòadeça [West Bengal],
being compassionate for the fallen state of the world.
87: çré-kåñëa-caitanya ära prabhu nityänanda
yäìhära prakäçe sarva jagat änanda
- The appearance of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya and Prabhu
Nityänanda has surcharged the world with happiness.
88-89: sürya-candra hare yaiche saba andhakära
vastu prakäçiyä kare dharmera pracära
ei mata dui bhäi jévera ajïäna-
tamo-näça kari’ kaila tattva-vastu-däna
- As the sun and moon drive away darkness by their
appearance and reveal the nature of everything, these two
brothers dissipate the darkness of ignorance covering the
living beings and enlighten them with knowledge of the
Absolute Truth.
90: ajïäna-tamera näma kahiye ‘kaitava’
dharma-artha-käma-mokña-väïchä ädi saba
- The darkness of ignorance is called kaitava, the way of
cheating, which begins with religiosity, economic
development, sense gratification and liberation.
91: tära madhye mokña-väïchä kaitava-pradhäna
yähä haite kåñëa-bhakti haya antardhäna
- The foremost process of cheating is to desire to achieve
liberation by merging into the Supreme, for this causes the
permanent disappearance of loving service to Kåñëa.
94: kåñëa-bhaktira bädhaka—yata çubhäçubha karma
seha eka jévera ajïäna-tamo-dharma
- All kinds of activities, both auspicious and inauspicious,
that are detrimental to the discharge of transcendental
loving service to Lord Çré Kåñëa are actions of the
darkness of ignorance.
95: yäìhära prasäde ei tamo haya näça
tamo näça kari’ kare tattvera prakäça
- By the grace of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda, this
darkness of ignorance is removed and the truth is brought
to light.
96: tattva-vastu—kåñëa, kåñëa-bhakti, prema-rüpa
näma-saìkértana—saba änanda-svarüpa
- The Absolute Truth is Çré Kåñëa, and loving devotion to
Çré Kåñëa exhibited in pure love is achieved through
congregational chanting of the holy name, which is the
essence of all bliss.
97: sürya candra bähirera tamaù se vinäçe
bahir-vastu ghaöa-paöa-ädi se prakäçe
- The sun and moon dissipate the darkness of the external
world and thus reveal external material objects like pots
and plates.
98: dui bhäi hådayera kñäli’ andhakära
dui bhägavata-saìge karäna säkñätkära
- But these two brothers dissipate the darkness of the inner
core of the heart, and thus They help one meet the two
kinds of bhägavatas [persons or things in relationship with
the Personality of Godhead].
99: eka bhägavata baòa—bhägavata-çästra
ära bhägavata—bhakta bhakti-rasa-pätra
- One of the bhägavatas is the great scripture Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, and the other is the pure devotee absorbed in
the mellows of loving devotion.
100: dui bhägavata dvärä diyä bhakti-rasa
täìhära hådaye täìra preme haya vaça
- Through the actions of these two bhägavatas the Lord
instills the mellows of transcendental loving service into
the heart of a living being, and thus the Lord, in the heart of
His devotee, comes under the control of the devotee’s love.
2. He has appeared as Srimad Bhagavatam:

SB.1.1.2: dharmaù projjhita-kaitavo…

- “The great scripture Çrémad-Bhägavatam, compiled by
Mahä-muni Vyäsadeva from four original verses, describes
the most elevated and kindhearted devotees and completely
rejects the cheating ways of materially motivated
religiosity. It propounds the highest principle of eternal
religion, which can factually mitigate the threefold miseries
of a living being and award the highest benediction of full
prosperity and knowledge. Those willing to hear the
message of this scripture in a submissive attitude of service
can at once capture the Supreme Lord in their hearts.
Therefore there is no need for any scripture other than
Çrémad-Bhägavatam.”
- pp : Compiled by Mahamuni Vedavyasa, as original and
genuine commentary on the Vedanta Sutra.

# Real religion v/s pretentious religion.

a. Natural inborn quality v/s a form of nescience that
artificially covers a living entity’s pure consciousness
under certain unfavorable conditions.
b. Lies dormant v/s dominates over mental plane.
c. Gives permanent happiness and relief v/s based on sense
gratification, gross or subtle, and therefore unable to give
perpetual protection to its followers.

# Karma kanda may give temporary happiness/distress but

not permanent relief. Jnana and Yoga-kanda equally
hazardous. Only pds can give complete relief (tapa traya
unmulanam).
# SB.1.3.43: “krsne svadhamopagate….”.
- This Bhägavata Puräëa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has
arisen just after the departure of Lord Kåñëa to His own
abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons
who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of
ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Puräëa.

3. Association of a person ‘Bhagavat’.

- “Vande gurun…” CC.1.1.1.

- “saksad haritvena samasta sastrair…”.
- “acharya mam vijaniyan….” SB.11th canto.
- SB.1.19.14: “…dvija shapa rupah…”.
The Lord resides with His devotees, and therefore the
presence of the great saints indicated the presence of the
Lord. The King therefore welcomed the presence of the
great åñis as a mark of favor “ the Supreme Lord.
- “brahmanda bhramite….”. By K’s mercy one gets a guru
and vice versa.
- “yahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai….”.
- “yasya prasadat bhagavat prasado…”.
- eg. of Mrgari meeting Narada, or the prostitute meeting
Haridas Thakur.

4. The Holy name.

* CC.1.1.20-
20: tabe çuklämbarera kaila taëòula-bhakñaëa
‘harer näma’ çlokera kaila artha vivaraëa
- After this incident the Lord ate raw rice given by
Çuklämbara Brahmacäré and explained very elaborately the
import of the “harer näma” çloka mentioned in the Båhan-
näradéya Puräëa.
21: harer näma harer näma
harer nämaiva kevalam
kalau nästy eva nästy eva
nästy eva gatir anyathä
- ‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other
means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the
holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name
of Lord Hari.’
22 : kali-käle näma-rüpe kåñëa-avatära
näma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistära
- In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare
Kåñëa mahä-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kåñëa.
Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the
Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
23 : däròhya lägi’ ‘harer näma’-ukti tina-vära
jaòa loka bujhäite punaù ‘eva’-kära
- This verse repeats the word ‘eva’ [‘certainly’] three times
for emphasis, and it also three times repeats ‘harer näma’
[‘the holy name of the Lord’], just to make common people
understand.
- pp – Emphasis is made to make people take it seriously.
# Millions of people have been benefited just by taking this
process of chanting.
# One must chant 16 rounds offencelessly.
# Attentive chanting is beginning of offenceless chanting.
CM calls it ‘durdaivam’ or misfortune, which is due to four
reasons – Tattva vibhrama (lack of understanding the
tattvas), Asat trsna (thirst for the temporary), Hrdaya
daurbalyam (weakheartedness) and Aparadh (offences).
# Aparadha : Comitting offences when we chant. CM tells
Sanatan Gos. (CC.Antya.4.71)

“tära madhye sarva-çreñöha näma-saìkértana

niraparädhe näma laile päya prema-dhana”
“Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most
important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If
one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very
easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.”

-- We should avoid the ten offences to the holy name. (ref.

SB.7.5.23-24.pp).
-- Why is aparadha so dangerous? Because being non-
different from the Lord, Nama prabhu, when insulted, does
not award full potency or give Himself to an offender. E.g.
Offences committed against a wealthy man (esp. the 1st
seven offences).

-- Jiva Gos, “Aparadhas are those that block us from

achieving attachment to the holy name. Blaming the holy
name for our failure to become attached to Him is simply
the fifth namaparadha.

** Unfavorable results stemming from committing offenses

Jiva Gos describes five unfavorable effects resulting from

namaparadha, which may be carried in the heart from one
birth to the next.
a. Crookedness, or performing devotional service to gain
something other than K’s pleasure.
b. Faithlessness.
c. Attachment to things that destroy faith in the Lord.
d. Slackness in the performance of devotional practices.
e. Pride in one’s devotional advancement.
24 : ‘kevala’-çabde punarapi niçcaya-karaëa
jïäna-yoga-tapa-karma-ädi niväraëa
- The use of the word ‘kevala’ [‘only’] prohibits all other
processes, such as the cultivation of knowledge, practice of
mystic yoga, or performance of austerities and fruitive
activities.
- pp - According to the injunctions of the çästras, we cannot
make compromises with the so-called jïänés, yogés, karmés
and tapasvés. When they say they are as good as we are, we
must say that only we are good and that they are not good.
This is not our obstinacy; it is the injunction of the çästras.
We must not deviate from the injunctions of the çästras.
This is confirmed in the next verse of the Caitanya-
caritämåta.:
25 : anyathä ye mäne, tära nähika nistära
nähi, nähi, nähi—e tina ‘eva’-kära
- This verse clearly states that anyone who accepts any
other path cannot be delivered. This is the reason for the
triple repetition ‘nothing else, nothing else, nothing else,’
which emphasizes the real process of self-realization.
(Next, CM explains how to chant the Name)
26 : tåëa haite néca haïä sadä labe näma
äpani nirabhimäné, anye dibe mäna
- To chant the holy name always, one should be humbler
than the grass in the street and devoid of all desire for
personal honor, but one should offer others all respectful
obeisances.
27 : taru-sama sahiñëutä vaiñëava karibe
bhartsana-täòane käke kichu nä balibe
- A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord
should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if
rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others
to retaliate.
28 : käöileha taru yena kichu nä bolaya
çukäiyä mare, tabu jala nä mägaya
- For even if one cuts a tree, it never protests, and even if it
is drying up and dying, it does not ask anyone for water.
- pp – Actually this forbearance is very difficult to develop,
but by chanting regularly one gradually develops all the
qualities (yasyasti bhaktir bhagavati akincana…). Eg.
Mrgari.
29 : ei-mata vaiñëava käre kichu nä mägiba
ayäcita-våtti, kiàvä çäka-phala khäiba
- Thus a Vaiñëava should not ask anything from anyone
else. If someone gives him something without being asked,
he should accept it, but if nothing comes, a Vaiñëava
should be satisfied to eat whatever vegetables and fruits are
easily available.
30 : sadä näma la-iba, yathä-läbhete santoña
eita äcära kare bhakti-dharma-poña
- One should strictly follow the principle of always
chanting the holy name, and one should be satisfied with
whatever he gets easily. Such devotional behavior solidly
maintains one’s devotional service.
31 : tåëäd api su-nécena
taror iva sahiñëunä
amäninä mäna-dena
kértanéyaù sadä hariù
- One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more
tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal
honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others
can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.”
32 : ürdhva-bähu kari’ kahoì, çuna, sarva-loka
näma-sütre gäìthi’ para kaëöhe ei çloka
- Raising my hands, I declare, “Everyone please hear me!
String this verse on the thread of the holy name and wear it
on your neck for continuous remembrance.”
- pp – Sanatan Gos calls the holy name his only treasure
and ornament. (paramam amrtam ekam, jivanam
bhushanam me - The holy name of Krishna is the highest
nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure).
33 : prabhu-äjïäya kara ei çloka äcaraëa
avaçya päibe tabe çré-kåñëa-caraëa
- One must strictly follow the principles given by Lord
Caitanya Mahäprabhu in this verse. If one simply follows
in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and the Gosvämés,
certainly he will achieve the ultimate goal of life, the lotus
feet of Çré Kåñëa.

4. In the association of sincere devotees :

# “naham vasami vaikunthe…”.

# kåñëa-bhakti-janma-müla haya ‘sädhu-saìga’
kåñëa-prema janme, teìho punaù mukhya aìga
- The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kåñëa is
association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s
dormant love for Kåñëa awakens, association with devotees
is still most essential. (CC.2.22.83)
# “satam prasangan mama virya…” (SB.3.25.25).
- In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the
pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the
heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually
becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter
he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real
devotion and devotional service begin.

5. In the form of ‘arca-vigraha’ or deities :

# pratimä naha tumi—säkñät vrajendra-nandana

vipra lägi’ kara tumi akärya-karaëa”
- My dear Lord, You are not a statue; You are directly the
son of Mahäräja Nanda. Now, for the sake of the old
brähmaëa, You can do something You have never done
before.” (CC.2.5.96)

6. He is always present in the ‘dhama’ :

# mathurä bhagavän yatray

nityaà sannihito hariù
- The city and district of Mathurä are very intimately
connected with Kåñëa, for Lord Kåñëa lives there eternally.
# våndävanaà parityajya padam ekaà na gacchati.
# çré gauòa-maëòala-bhümi, yebä jäne cintämaëi,
tä'ra haya vrajabhüme väsa
(Navadvipa and Vrindavan are non-different.)
- The Lord has made it convenient for the conditioned soul
to live in Mathurä, Våndävana and Navadvépa and thus be
directly connected with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Simply by living in these places, one can
immediately come in contact with the Lord. There are
many devotees who vow never to leave Våndävana and
Mathurä. This is undoubtedly a good vow, but if one leaves
Våndävana, Mathurä or Navadvépa-dhäma for the service
of the Lord, he is not disconnected from the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. At any rate, we must understand
the transcendental importance of Mathurä-Våndävana and
Navadvépa-dhäma. Anyone who executes devotional
service in these places certainly goes back home, back to
Godhead, after giving up his body. A devotee should fully
utilize this instruction to the best of his ability. Whenever
the Supreme Lord personally appears, He appears in
Mathurä because of His intimate connection with this
place. Therefore although Mathurä and Våndävana are
situated on this planet earth, they are transcendental abodes
of the Lord.
# The way to enter the dhama is explained by the acharyas,
“visaya chadiya kabe suddha habe mana,
kabe ama herabo sri vrndavana.”
(One should carefully avoid the dhama apraradhas).

7. The Lord is non-different from His devotional service :

# mäyä-javanikäcchannam
ajïädhokñajam avyayam. (SB.1.8.19)
Being beyond the range of limited sense perception, You
are the (eternally irreproachable factor covered by the
curtain of deluding energy. You are invisible to the foolish
observer, exactly as an actor dressed as a player is not
recognized.
- pp - For less intelligent men there must be such things as
temples, mosques or churches so that they may begin to
recognize the authority of the Lord and hear about Him
from authorities in such holy places. For less intelligent
men, this beginning of spiritual life is essential, and only
foolish men decry the establishment of such places of
worship, which are required to raise the standard of
spiritual attributes for the mass of people. For less
intelligent persons, bowing down before the authority of
the Lord, as generally done in the temples, mosques or
churches, is as beneficial as it is for the advanced devotees
to meditate upon Him by active service.
# Prabhupada’s attachment to serving his guru’s
instructions, of writing and publishing books, till the last
breath of his life. (prana ache jaar, sei hetu prachar).
RSM’s explanation of Ghanashyam baba’s mood.
# Eg. Preparation of KCPr to do Janmastami aarti.

8. K appeared as KC movement :

# SB.10.1.17.pp : Even long, long ago, asuras, persons

devoid of God consciousness, became the heads of state,
and now this is happening again. The various states of the
world are preoccupied with arranging for military strength.
Sometimes they spend sixty-five percent of the
government's revenue for this purpose. But why should
people's hard-earned money be spent in this way? Because
of the present world situation, Kåñëa has descended in
the form of the Kåñëa consciousness movement. This is
quite natural, for without the Kåñëa consciousness
movement the world cannot be peaceful and happy.
9. K appears wherever devotees take complete shelter :

# Eg : When Draupadi called helplessly in Kuru’s

assembly and in the forest when Durvasa muni came.
Eg : In the womb of Uttara to protect Parikshit.

@ Easy to remember Sutra :

AA : Archa vigraha & Association of devotees.
BB : Bhagavatam (book and person).
CC : Chaitanya mahaprabhu & Complete shelter like
Draupadi.
DD : Dham & Devotional service.
HH : Holy name & Hare Krishna movement.