Tag Archive for: Diksha

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Mahaprabhu exclusively accepted the mood of the gopis who considered Vrajendranandan their lover.

gopi-bhava -yate -prabhu, dhariyache ekanta
vrajendra-nandane -mane -apanara -kanta

(Caitanya Caritamrita 1.17.277)

Sri Gaura Raya Mahaprabhu was always relishing gopi-bhava in His heart, gopi -bhava -hrdaye, and lamenting in separation, “Alas, O Krishna! Where have You gone? Govinda! Damodara! Madhaveti!” (Caitanya Caritamrita 3.19.53)

As Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself personally accepted and relished gopi-bhava, He also requested all His followers to accept it too, ataeva -gopi-bhava -kari -angikara. (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.8.228)

After accepting gopi-bhava, what should one do? Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu instructs us: “Day and night you should think of the pleasure pastimes of Radha-Krishna, ratri-dina -cinte -radha -krishnera -vihara.” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.8.228)

If one meditates on Radha-Krishna’s asta-kaliya-lila day and night, what result will one receive? Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu answers, “You will attain the lotus feet of Radha-Krishna, paya- radha -krishnera -charana!” (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.8.228)

To follow the path of raganuga-bhakti summarized above by Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, one should take proper initiation and chant one’s diksha mantras. The shastras explain the astonishing power of our diksha mantras.

Fruit of Chanting Gopal (Krishna) Mantra

Gautamiya -Tantra (cited Krama Sandarbha 3.4.29) says:

ahar-nisham -japen -mantram
mantri -niyata -manasah
sa -pashyati -na -sandeho
gopa-rupa-dharam -harim

“A person who controls the mind and chants the Krishna -mantra day and night will surely see Sri Hari in His gopa form.”

Fruit of Chanting Kama Gayatri

Sanat-Kumara-Samhita says:

japed -yah -kama-gayatrim
kama-bija-samanvitam
tasya -siddhir -bhavet -prema
radha -krishna-sthalam -vrajet
etam -panca-padim -japtva
shraddhaya -shraddhaya -sakrt
vrndavane -tayor -dasyam
gacchaty -eva -na -samshayah

“Whoever chants the kama-bija combined with the kama-gayatri attains prema-siddhi and goes to the abode of Radha-Krishna.

“Whoever with faith or without faith chants japa of kama-gayatri will obtain the service of Radha-Krishna in Vrindavan without a doubt!”

What better fruits could any raganuga-sadhaka desire! So, we humbly ask everyone to keep these fruits in mind while chanting your diksha mantras, and meditating upon the beautiful meanings given by your beloved masters.

Diksha mantras ki jai! Gurudeva ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

By: Mahanidhi Swami

Any conditioned soul from any country, caste or creed can get freed from the samsara. All one needs to do is take diksha in the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya. Then by the grace of Guru and God, he/she will eventually attain Vraja prema, the eternal seva of Radha Govinda Yugala, and life eternal in the land of loving joyful play, Sridhama Vrindavana.

To achieve this perfection one must undergo five rites of purification which are called the pancha samskaras.

The word samskaras means “perfect duties.” It is a highly beneficial, purifying, and sanctifying ceremony. Its rite rests on a series of actions in harmony with metaphysical rules that manifest the invisible reality in the visible world of sense perception. Samskaras eradicate bad karma and increase the auspicious influence of material nature.

Samskaras (rites of purification for mind and body) exist in all religions and in all countries. The purer the religion is, the more its samskaras are sacred and complete. Purification rituals are needed because the original spiritual nature of every conditioned soul is covered by contamination.

Without samskaras the life of the conditioned soul remains impure. Samskaras are rites of sanctification which purify the consciousness, attach one to God, and ultimately lead to prema. Performing a samskara renders an individual fit to execute a particular duty. Prescribed in various Vedic texts, the samskaras are a series of about ten physical and mental purification rites beginning from birth and ending at death.

Gaudiya Vaisnavas accept five sacraments or rites of purification (panca-samskaras). Upon adopting these panca-samskaras, a faithful person receives Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha and begins his life of Radha-Krishna worship, bhajana-kriya, the personal worship of God which eventually leads to pure love of Krishna.

These five sacraments have both internal and external aspects. Tapa, pundra, nama, mantra, and yaga—these five rites are the panca-samskaras. They are the basis of intense devotion to Lord Hari.

1) Tapa—using sandalwood paste or tilaka to write the holy names on the body: Jaya Gaura-Nitai, Hare Krishna, Sri Radhe, and so on. Tapa also includes internal cleansing of the heart by repentance, and developing a genuine aversion to material life.

2) Urdhva-pundra—marking the body with the tilaka symbols of your particular Gaudiya lineage to designate it as a temple for the Lord’s service. The tilaka symbol represents Krishna’s footprint. Seeing it, the devotee thinks, “I have Krishna’s footprint on my head. He is my eternal master, and I am His eternal servant. In all times, places, and circumstances I have an eternal relationship with Krishna.” In a broader sense, urdhva-pundra means all the things related to one’s identity as an eternal servant of Krishna, such as neck beads, dhoti, sari, andjapa mala. Urdhva-pundra also means the illumination of the body, mind, soul and attachment to the Supreme Lord.

3) Nama—receiving the name of Hari (Hare Krishna maha-mantra) in the ear from the preceptor and a spiritual name as Krishna’s servitor like Radha-carana dasa or Priyaji dasi. By taking shelter of the holy names, (and his diksha mantras), and by practicing intense devotional bhajana a disciple will taste the nectar of bhakti, realize his spiritual identity and rejoice in devotional service.

4) Mantra—receiving the eighteen-syllable Gopala-mantra from the spiritual master. By giving a mantra the teacher helps his student more easily experience the nectar of the holy name. The mantra also helps the disciple taste a particular flavor or mellow in the holy name of Krishna.

5) Yaga—utilizing the guru-given mantras to worship Sri Murti or Salagrama. Such puja purifies and protects the devotee from the danger of falling into maya. Yaga, the fifth and final samskara, is the procedure of worshiping the Lord by employing all the mental and physical faculties of meditation, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, thinking, discriminating and acting. A person without yaga has no life, and he is forced to reap the results of his karma.

“Without accepting the panca-samskara system a conditioned soul cannot develop intense devotion to Lord Krishna. Therefore, panca-samskara is extremely necessary.” (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

Our next article will define and describe the rite of initiation into sacred mantras, diksha.

(Excerpt from book Gayatri Mahima Madhuri by Mahanidhi Swami)

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

By: Mahanidhi Swami

The most significant, auspicious, beneficial and beautiful event in person’s entire material existence occurs when he/she receives diksha from Sri Guru. It is a momentous moment of transformation, elevation and elation that permanently establishes one on the path of liberation to the kingdom of God, Vraja prema or Vaikuntha moksha.

The candidate for diksha sits in the sacred space created just beside Sri Guru and Thakuraji Sri Krishna. It is confidential time; private, personal and intimate; hearts exchanging surrender and mercy, shishya sharanagati and Guru krpa.

Although based on thousands of years of tradition, and solid, scientific scriptural evidence, the whole transcendental function is very sweet, loving and above all completely personal. You alone sitting beside God incarnate Sri Guru.

As you read on, you will discover how personal and divinely endearing the timeless tradition of diksha is. According to shastra all Vaisnavas receive diksa by observing the pancha samskara process, or five rites.

Samskaras, which are purifying processes and rites used to sanctify the human body, are practiced in every religion in every country. For the last five hundred years of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, the pancha samskara process has been used by gurus to give diksha to worthy candidates. Acharyas Madhva and Ramanuja established it in their sampradayas. The Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya and practically all Vaisnava sects give diksha using the pancha samskara process.

This article will cite shastric evidence for the practice; describe the pancha samskara process and its application in the Gaudiya diksha tradition; and quote Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to highlight the absolute necessity of undergoing the pancha samskara process.

The pancha samskara process is mentioned in the Padma Purana and cited by our Gaudiya Vaisnava tattva acharyas Sri Jiva Goswamipada and Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana in Bhakti-sandarbha (anu. 200) and, Prameya Ratnvalli (8.5). Pancha samskaras are also mentioned in Sat-kriya-dipika attributed to Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami. In recent times, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura described them in great detail in several articles and books. Iskcon’s Deity Worship Manual (Pancha Pradipa vol. 1) says, “The Guru gives the disciple Vaiñëava diksha which is also known as pancha samskara.”

Sri Jiva Goswamipada cites the Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda) in Bhakti Sandarbha anu. 200:

tapam pundram tatha nama, nama mantro yagash ca, panchama, ami panchaiva samskarah paraikanti hetavah

“The five samskaras (tapa, pundram, nama, mantra and yaga make one supremely one-pointed.” Or according to Bhanu Swami: “These five samskaras are the cause of intense devotion to Lord Hari.”

The process entails receiving the five marks of Vaisnava diksha: (1) Tapah (austerity i.e. follow the 4 niyamas, fasting etc.); (2) Pundram (tilaka); (3) Nama (accepting a new name i.e. Krishna dasa or Radhika dasi) ed. also includes receiving from Sri Guru the Hare Krishna mantra in the right ear; 4) Mantra (receiving the diksha mantra from Sri Guru in the right ear) ed. for Gaudiya Vaisnavas this means Gopala mantra and Kama Gayatri); 5) Yaga means yajna (homa, fire sacrifice) for some, but for most others it means Sri Murti puja and the nama-yajna of japa and sankirtana of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

What are the benefits of receiving pancha samskara diksha? Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana answers, “A person who receives pancha samskara gains two things: 1) Chance to directly serve Lord Hari and; 2) Attain spiritual joy eternal in Vaikuntha, avapta pancha samskaro labdha dvi vidha bhaktikah, sakshat krtya harim tasya dhamni nityam pramodate.” (Prameya Ratnävali 8.5)

In the pancha samskara process Sri Guru and the disciple will sit physically together in the presence of Thakuraji i.e. the murti of Bhagavan Sri Krishna in one of His many beautiful forms. Then Sri Guru will personally administer the five marks of a Vaisnava (pancha samskaras) to his disciple. In addition to the pancha samskaras, a few other procedures are followed to complete the Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha function.

  1. Anga suddhi: To receive the diksha mantras, the disciple’s body must first be purified and consecrated. To do this, Sri Guru will chant different purifying vedic mantras while sprinkling sanctified water on the disciple’s head and other limbs. He will also direct the disciple in taking achamana, performing nyasa and chanting mantras to further purify and qualify the disciple to receive the immaculate and divine diksha mantras.
  1. Observe the Pancha Samskaras: Sri Guru will tell the disciple the yamas and niyamas or rules to follow (tapah). Sri Guru will personally apply tilaka (pundram) on the disciple’s forehead and other limbs. Sri Guru will give the disciple a spiritual name (nama). Then while holding his right hand on the disciple’s head, Sri Guru will whisper the diksa mantras in his right ear (mantra). Lastly, Sri Guru will engage the disciple making some offering to Thakuraji and Sri Guru (yaga).
  1. Atma Samarpanam: This last rite is an essential part of diksha which is observed in most all Gaudiya Vaisnava lineages. Atma samarpanam was personally introduced by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is also mentioned by our tattva-siddhanta acharyas Sri Jiva Goswamipada and Srila Sanatana Goswamipada.

The rite of atma samarpanam is done by the disciple falling at the feet of his Guru during diksha to express his atma samarpana, or the surrender of his entire being in the seva of Sri Guru and Sri Krishna.

Mahaprabhu said to Srila Sanatana Goswamipada (Cc. 3.4.192): diksha kale bhakta kare atma samarpana, sei kale Krishna tare atma sama, “At the time of diksha, the devotee completely surrenders to Sri Guru. Then Krishna gives the disciple a transcendental spiritual form like His own (in quality i.e. cid ananda maya (Cc. 3.4.191). Then in that transcendental spiritual form (aprakrta deha) the disciple can engage in worshiping (Krishna’s) lotus feet: sei deha kare tara cid ananda maya, aprakrta dehe tanra carana bhajaya (Cc. 3.4.193).”

Thus, based on Lord Gauranga’s statement above, one can understand that actual diksa means the disciple must offer dandavats at the feet of the physical Guru sitting before him. This point is confirmed by Srila Sanatana Goswamipada, and by Sri Jiva Goswamipada while describing Gaudiya Vaisnava diksa in Bhakti Sandarbha anu. 283. “One should offer pranams to the Guru [at the time of diksha] and offer everything to him”, ato gurum pranamyaivam sarvasvam vinivedya (v. 869). The same verse also appears in Hari-bhakti vilasa (2.9-10).

This is the process of Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha. From the above description, one can see that diksha is a very personal and intimate spiritual function between the merciful Sri Guru and his surrendered disciple. When one follows this process, he genuinely feels transformed, purified and elevated. Indeed, he becomes a spiritual being qualified to serve the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna right here right now. And soon not too far in the future that fortunate soul will attain Krishna prema, and go to Sridhama Goloka Vrindavana in the spiritual sky.

We will end our article with excerpts from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s wonderful and powerful explanation of Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha and the pancha samskara process.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda said, “Everyone should seek shelter at the feet of a Guru and receive pancha samskara diksha, which is the source of bhajana. Without pancha samskara, bhajana is performed with difficulty. Some people think that prema can be obtained without pancha samskara process but this is wrong. Without samskaras human life is impure.”

He closes his essay saying, “I have concluded after deep study of the shastra that without accepting the pancha samskara process, the conditioned soul will not develop intense love of Bhagavan Sri Hari. Therefore the pancha samskara process is absolutely necessary.” (“Pancha Samskara, the Process of Diksa” in Sajjana Toshani vol. 2.1 1885 & vol. 4.1 1892)

Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha ki jai!

Sri Krishna’s krpa-shakti murti Sri Guru ki jai!

Diksha mantras ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!