Tag Archive for: GopalMantra

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Eclipse & Mantra Siddhi

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

To attain siddhi or perfection in chanting of the diksha mantras i.e. gopal mantra, Sri Sanatana Goswami says the one must observe the purashcaran process which he and Sri Rupa did before meeting Sri Chaitanya. (Bhakti-ratnakara I.647)

In over 220 verses, Hari Bhakti Vilasa describes the details of purashcaran

Puja- traikaliki- nityam- japas -tarpanam -eva -ca
Homo- brahmana-bhuktish- ca- purashcaranam ucyate
Guror- labdhasya -mantrasya -prasadena -yatha-vidhi
Panchanga upasana-siddhyai –purash- caitad -vidhiyate

“The purashcaran process is as follows:

‘In the morning, afternoon and evening of each day of purashcaran, one must do:

murti-puja;
murmur the gopal diksha mantra;
offer tarpana, oblations to ancestors;
perform homa, fire sacrifice; and
feed brahmins.

‘To do purashcaran vrata, one must do these five activities daily for as many days (20, 30, 45) it takes to chant one’s diksa mantra 18,000 times or whatever number one vows to murmur (sankalpa). To attain siddhi in the gopal diksha mantra received from Sri Guru, one must observe the purashcaran process.’” (Hari Bhakti Vilasa 17.11–12)

Hari-bhakti-vilasa (17.4–5, 7) says:

vina -yena -na –siddhah – syan -mantro -varsha-shatair -api
krtena -yena -labhate -sadhako –vanchitam -phalam
purashcarana-sampanno -mantro -hi -phala-dhayakah

“Without doing purashcaran, one cannot attain mantra siddhi even by chanting the diksha mantra for hundreds of years. But one who does purashcaran can very easily attain mantra siddhi.”

At the end of the description of the purashcaran process, Sri Sanatana Goswami describes a samkshipta-purashcaran, a brief or “short cut” form of it.

“During a solar or lunar eclipse, one should fast, remain in a pure state of mind, and chant the gopal diksha mantra from the beginning of the eclipse until the end (sparsha time to moksha time), while standing in the water of a river that flows into the sea up to his waist.” (Hari Bhakti Vilasa 17.235-236)

Regarding this point, Pandit Sri Krishna Das Babaji said that according to Hari Bhakti Vilasa (17.17-21), one may chant in other places also: “Purashcaran may be done by the side of a river, underneath a bilva or banyan tree, within water, in a holy place, before murti of Sri Krishna [best place], on the seashore, or any place where you can easily concentrate your mind.”

Before observing a purashcaran vrata one should receive blessings from Sri Guru. After bathing, dress in clean cloth (dhoti & chadar or sari), sit on a pure asana, and chant the gopal mantra without stopping or getting up for the entire eclipse period.

The Moon eclipse on June 5-6th is not mentioned or observed in the Radha-kunda Babaji Panchangam. But the Sun eclipse is described, and one can do purashcaran then.

Sun eclipse June 21
Chanting time 10.20 a.m. to 1.50 p.m.

After doing purashcaran, one must bathe, change clothes, worship Sri Guru and take maha-prasad after full Thakurji puja.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe! Mantra siddhi ki jai!

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Diksha Mantra Shows Krishna

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Diksha mantras are given for the purpose of worshiping, attaining, and seeing one’s desired istadevata, Radha-Krishna. The diksha mantras received from Sri Guru are so powerful that by chanting them a sadhaka can achieve a post of unlimited wealth, power and influence; travel to any planet in the universe; enjoy eternal bliss; attain Krishna prema; and see Radha and Krishna face to face, sakshad darshana!

Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana acharya Sri Sanatana Goswami proves this point in his magnum opus titled “Brhad Bhagavatamritam” by narrating the spiritual odyssey of a cowherd named Gopa-kumara who lived in Vrindavana five hundred years ago.

One day when Gopa-kumara was playing by the Yamuna, a vairagi sadhu noticed the boy and called him to his side. Being inspired by the Paramatma to give diksha, the sadhu whispered the Gopala mantra three times in Gopa-kumara’s right ear. After giving diksha, the sadhu experienced divine ecstasy, started crying and ran away.

Feeling amazed and grateful by the transforming experience, Gopa-kumara began sincerely chanting his diksha mantra while praying to Thakuraji Sri Sri Madan Gopal for His divine mercy. Just by chanting his diksha mantra (Gopala mantra), Gopa-kumara got the power to travel through India and beyond the earth. Gopa-kumara’s diksha mantra chanting carried him to Indraloka, Brahmaloka, Shivaloka, Vaikuntha, Ayodhya, Dvaraka and finally to Goloka Vrindavana.

During his travels, Gopa-kumara spoke a very important verse regarding how to properly chant diksha mantras.

Gopa-kumara said, “I eagerly chanted my diksha mantra (i.e. Gopala mantra) with the specific intention to see Bhagavan Sri Krishna.” (Brhad Bhagavatamrita 2.2.12)

tad darshane jata mano rathakulah
sankalpa purvam sva japam samacaran

Here, Gopa-kumara reveals three mental attributes necessary for perfection in chanting diksha mantras:

1) Eagerness, enthusiasm;

Gopa-kumara chanted with fervor, an intense eagerness to achieve mixed with anxiousness (akulah).

2) Desire;

Like all of us riding on the uncontrolled chariot of material desires, Gopa-kumara had desires. But Gopa-kumara had only one all-consuming enthusiastic desire driving his mind and life forward (manah ratha): To see God, Sri Sri Madan Gopalji.

3) Specific intention, fixed purpose, mental resolve and fixity;

Every day before (purvam) chanting his diksha mantra, Gopa-kumara would focus, concentrate and fix his mind on his desired goal (sankalpa) by enthusiastically and eagerly addressing his mind: “By chanting this Gopala Mantra I must see my most worshipable Prananatha—Sri Sri Madan Gopalaji!”

In this way, the great devotee Sri Gopa-kumaraji is instructing us how to properly chant our diksha mantras. First, you should make a sankalpa, which means to mentally see and state the purpose or goal you want to achieve by chanting this mantra. “O Krishna, I really want to see You so please help me. O Gurudeva, O Sri Gopala Mantra, please bless me with the sweet darshana of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Yugala!”

This is called sankalpa purvam and jata manah ratha, to mentally, before chanting, fix one’s attention on one’s cherished desire. Then EACH AND EVERY TIME you chant your diksha mantras, you should, like Gopa-Kumara, pray and meditate upon your sankalpa and the meaning of the mantra while fervently chanting it with an “an intense eagerness to achieve your goal mixed with anxiousness (akulah).

If one chants in this way as taught by the humble Vrajavasi cowherd, Gopa-kumara, then by the unlimited power of the Gopala Mantra and Kama Gayatri, the primary Gaudiya Vaisnava diksha mantras, a sadhaka will surely obtain darshana of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Diksha mantras ki jai! Mantra Guru gana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Seven Amazing Mantras

Mahanidhi Swami

The receiving of diksha and the mantras of liberation from Sri Guru is the most significant event in the karmic wanderings of a conditioned soul.

Sri Ishvara Puripada explains the difference between mantra and nama: “O Sri Chaitanya! By chanting the Krishna mantra [gopala-mantra] one will be liberated from material existence. And by chanting Krishna’s name, one will attain His lotus feet,” krishna mantra haite habe samsara mocana, krishna nama haite pabe krishnera charan (Cc. 1.7.73) Thus, the diksha mantras and the holy name or nama work together to bring sadhakas to spiritual perfection. Mantras liberate, and Nama, the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, gives Krishna and Krishna prema.

Usually at the time of initiation, Sri Guru will explain three aspects of chanting of the diksha mantras: the mantra devata (the divine personality addressed by the mantra); the mantra dhyana (meditation to accompany the mantra chanting); and the mantra artha (meaning of the mantra).

The Srimad Bhagavatam says that Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the mantra devata or the presiding Lord or Deity of all mantras, namo namas te, ‘khila mantra devata (SB 3.13.39) Chaitanya Bhagavata describes Lord Gauranga’s mantra dhyana or meditating on the meaning of the mantra. “One day Mahaprabhu sat down in a lonely place to meditate on His mantra, eka-dina mahaprabhu vasiya nibhrte, nija ishta mantra dhyana lagila (Cb. 1.17.14)

What follows are the mantra devata, meditation and meaning for the seven diksha mantras given in ISKCON. We hope this information will help devotees deepen their absorption in chanting their diksha mantras and gayatris.

  1. BRAHMA GAYATRI
  2. i) Mantra Devata: (presiding personality of the mantra) Radha-Govinda Yugala
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: (Meditation to do before chanting the mantra): I am a palya-dasi manjari (nourished maidservant) of Srimati Radhika, forever hoping to serve in the Vraja pastimes of Radha-Govinda Yugala.

iii) Mantra Artha (meaning of the mantra to meditate upon while chanting it):

“By the mercy of Radha-Govinda Yugala, I will transcend the three planes of material existence (sensual, mental, and intellectual). I meditate upon the brilliant light of Bhanunandini’s [Radha] ecstatic love, which shows me how to serve Kamadeva Krishna, the personified perfection of transcendental beauty and playful sports. May this mantra incite and inspire me to surrender to Sri Radhika, accept Her order and engage in Her eternal loving service in the groves of Vrindavana.”

  1. GURU MANTRA
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Sri Guru as Mukunda-prestha, one who is dear to Mukunda Sri Krishna and always pleases Him.
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: I meditate upon Sri Hari, Who has assumed the form of Sri Guru. Sri Guru has a sat-cid-ananda form filled with pure devotion, and his lotus feet are full of the nectar of mercy. Radiant with youth, Sri Guru has a golden complexion and he is adorned with sandalwood paste and a fragrant white flower garland. Sri Guru has lotus eyes and a very happy face. He is peaceful, ever delighting in his bhajana. He faithfully follows his line of gurus, and he is always very eager to serve Radha-Govinda Yugala.

iii) Mantra Artha: “I eternally meditate upon and respectfully dedicate myself to the service of my beloved Sri Gurudeva, who is the source of my transcendental knowledge, spiritual strength and bliss.”

  1. GURU GAYATRI
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Same as Guru Mantra.
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: Same as Guru Mantra

iii) Mantra Artha: “May I understand and realize the divine svarupa of my Guru whose heart is full of the beauty of ecstatic love for Krishna. I meditate on Sri Guru, as a purely devoted servant of Srimati Radhika, who gives unending pleasure to Radha and Krishna by her many intimate services. O Gurudeva! Please bless me with ecstatic love for Krishna.”

  1. GAURA MANTRA
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: I meditate upon the golden-hued Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. He has beautiful shiny black hair bound with a string of pearls, and a gentle smile appears on Gaura’s moon-like face. Gauranga’s body is anointed with aguru and chandana. Mahaprabhu wears beautiful, shimmering yellow cloth, a host of ornaments and with ornaments and a long, aromatic flower garland. Absorbed in madhurya-rasa, Gaurasundara dances in divine euphoria. Sri Gaurachanda is more beautiful than Cupid, and He is always surrounded by blissful loving devotees.

iii) Mantra Artha: “I repeatedly offer my humble obeisances unto Lord Gauranga, the combined form of Radha-Govinda, Who is freely distributing Krishna prema to everyone, even the lowest of the low.”

  1. GAURA GAYATRI
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: Same as Gaura Mantra.

iii) Mantra Artha: “I meditate upon Lord Gauranga, the combined form of Radha-Govinda. Sri Chaitanya has given me real life, and he is nourishing me with drops of prema. And Lord Gauranga is always inspiring me to perform pure devotional service in the mood of Vraja.”

  1. KRISHNA/GOPALA MANTRA
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Sri Gopala, the sweet and playful loving Master of Vrindavana.
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: Bathed in the rays of the full moon, Krishna stands on the banks of the Yamuna. Syama’s face is beautified by pearl-like beads of perspiration. Govinda’s long eyebrows dance seductively as He casts a sidelong glance. A pearl dangles from the tip of Krishna’s nose; His radiant teeth glisten like moonlight, and Madhava’s attractive moist lips are as red as cherriest. Krishna’s hands are adorned with bracelets and a jeweled seal ring. Syama holds a murali in His right hand and a lotus in his left. A sash of small, jingling bells ornaments His slender waist, and splendid ankle bells jingle on His lotus feet.

iii) Mantra Artha: “I meditate upon and hope to attain the confidential service of Radha-Govinda Yugala in Vraja. As the Prince of Vraja, Nandakumara, attracts the hearts of the Vraja-gopis with His sweetness and playful sports, may Krishna also attract me. As Krishna thrills and pleases all the senses of the gopis (Govinda), may all my senses be fully engaged in pleasing the Lord of the cows, cowherd boys, and damsels of Vraja. And may I throw myself (swaha) at the feet of Krishna’s most beloved sweetheart Sri Radha, and fully engage in Her service.”

  1. KAMA GAYATRI
  2. i) Mantra Devata: Radha-Govinda Yugala in Their madhurya-lila.
  3. ii) Mantra Dhyana: Overwhelmed in ecstatic love for Radhika, Madhava triumphantly plays His murali as He is roams from grove to grove in Vrindavana. Syama looks very beautiful dressed in attractive garments. Srimati, Who completely subdues Shyama with Her love, is embracing Krishna. Syama is full of love for Radhika and He is completely attached to sporting with Her. Every so often, Krishna contracts His eyebrows and smiles wantonly to reveal the desires in His heart.

iii) Mantra Artha: “I meditate upon that Kamadeva Govinda, Who shoots arrows of flowers into the hearts of His selfless servants, and thus maddens them with His enchanting beauty and rapturous prema. May that Kamadeva Gopinatha, the king of all amorous mellows, be pleased with me and engage me forever in His blissful service in Vrindavana.”

Diksha Mantras ki jai! Sri Guru Nitai ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!