Surrender and Doubt

It is healthy to doubt surrender, but we should not surrender to doubt

Vedic antiquity

Vedas form a body of astounding knowledge. So, sophisticated is the wisdom and technology in the Vedas that their origin and aniquity is much debated. If we refer to the Vedas themselves, they declare to be existing since the time of creation. Vedic knowledge is also called shruti because it is traditionally handed down in generation by the process of hearing and repeating. Scholars however will not agree to the Vedic claim and would like to use their conventional tools to put a date to the writing of the Vedas.

Linguistic analysis: The sanskrit language is most systematic among all the languages of the world. For a long time due to scant archaeological records Sanskrit was the only way to understanding the antiquity if Vedic India. Early German scholars were astonished at beauty of the sanskrit language. In 1786 Sir William Jones, a brilliant Oxford linguist commented:
       " The sankrit language, whatever its antiquity is more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin and more exquisitely refined than either; yet bringing to both of them a stronger affinity than could have been produced by accident; so strong that no philosopher could examine all three without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which perhaps no longer exists."                                                                    They concluded that languages like latin, greek, gothic, celtic and sanskrit have a common origin. Despite rigrous research on the common language conjecture, the common language has not been traced. Could sanskrit be the common origin of all the major languages of the world. Skeptics would not like to accept the supremacy of a foreign language.

Archaeological records: The civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro is found to be the oldest civilisation in the world. These civilizations were discovered on the banks of river Indus in 1924. The life-style, culture and artifacts of the Indus civilisation conformed to the descriptions of the Vedas, and resembles the practices in India even today. A 5000 year old dam was discovered in Dholavira amid a desert. Another finding on thebank of the Indus river-- an agricultural community dated between 7000 and 6500 B.C.

Vedic India as seen from the Space: In 1986 the National Center for Space Study in France designed a techonology to take specialized pictures of earth from the space. India collaborated with France. The SPOT satellite ascertained that the Sraswati River as described in the Vedas is a fact, not mythology. Excavations on the saraswati river bed have been found to be 5000 years old. Thus, the river must have dried much before that. The Vedas distinctly mention the Sraswati river. Thus they must have been written before its appearance. 

Why it becomes difficult to put faith on spirituality

It was easier in the Vedic times

In the Vedic times the miraculous effects of religion were directly observable. The fire sacrifices performed by qualified brahmanas would yield immediate results for everyone to see. Demigods would appear in front of everyone’s eyes and would give the deserved benediction, animals sacrificed would obtain a human body, powerful weapons and machineries were invoked, rain obtained and many more. How nice it would have been if such miracles were ubiquitous today for everyone to testify the truth in the scriptural injunctions.

The techno-yagynas

In the modern times however the oblations of time, energy, money, intellect and resources is poured in the altar of hi-tech laboratories and research centres. They provide the masses with their material necessities, comforts and luxuries. More than having a solution for all our problems, they give fulfilments for the wants we never had. Thus technology is the obvious fall-back for our material necessities, scriptural injunctions are out of question.

What remains of religion?

Effect of religion has, however, not vanished. Effect of religion on the physical and mental health of people has been popularly documented in the Oxford Handbook of Religion and Health, and God the Evidence by Patrick Glynn. The evidences however are not as loud as we have described in the first section of the article and thus needed close observation by researchers. The cream of the Vedic scriptures has fortunately survived in its full potency. This is the process of God-realization by 9 processes of devotional service like hearing about God, chanting His glories, remembering the Lord, offering prayers to God and so on. Chanting of the holy names Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and the supporting injunctions to make the chanting more effective, has made a marked difference in the lives of millions of people around the world. Many individuals have been elevated to the level of God realization of the Vedic sages. Thus the effect of Vedic injunctions on consciousness is still observable. The experiential aspects of religion have survived but the experimental aspects are conspicuous by their absence. It takes a spiritual advancement to detect the effect of spirituality on consciousness.

Harmonizing the two worlds

In Vedic world the immediate necessities, comforts, power, luxuries and tenets of spirituality for God realization are excavated from the same territory of Vedic injunctions. It is much easier for an individual to quickly advance from taking ephemeral benefits to taking eternal benefits from the scriptures. He can be sure it will work; only consideration is whether or not he wants it. At present however we face the problem of harmonizing the two worlds viz.: the world of technological conveniences—derived from a invariably atheistic scientists and technicians—and tenets of spirituality which are laid down in the authentic scriptures. Thus the modern man facilitated and enamoured by the technological advancement is sceptical about the efficacy of spiritual activities. Moreover it becomes all the more indigestible because the premise of verification of the efficacy is experiential and may take time for an individual to realize. Thus we see the present craze among the spiritualists to establish even ‘Science points to Spirituality’, Spirituality encompasses everything including material science. Thus people who are qualified by being sceptical about spirituality can be taken to the premise of spirituality by means of science. Thus for Krsna Consciousness to be easily embraced by people at large, its presentation should be professional and pure. By professional it is meant that we should be able to effectively bridge the scientific realm with the devotional realm. Being attracted by this people would like to experiment with Krsna Consciousness. Purity in the presentation will give people hands on experience of the happiness in Krsna Consciousness and coax them to take to it whole heartedly.

My Maiden Pilgrimage to Vrindavan

We zoomed through the heavy traffic of the Mathura town in an auto-rikshaw. Managing to reach the station just ten minutes prior the train departure, we darted inside the railway station. After enquiring about the platform we looked back to find Amit P missing. Scanning the platform we found him resolving some issues with the ticket at the ticket counter. ‘Haribol, Pr let it be, we will miss the train’, I shrieked. With only three minutes remaining before the departure we hurried through the foot over bridge to the other platform. We all boarded the train hoping Amit Pr will follow. About a minute passed and the train departed. I peeped outside the window to check if Amit Pr is coming. I was pleasantly shocked however as he announced ‘Bad luck the matter wasn’t settled, we have to travel without reserved seats from Allahbad to Kharagpur’, from inside the train. We exchanged a few loving curses. As we jiggled past the birth place of Sri Krsna—Mathura, remembrance of my maiden pilgrimage to Vrndavan veiled my thoughts.

Day 1: Perceiving Purity:  The first place we visited in our Vrndavan Parikrama was Kaliya Ghat. The place where Krsna took the leap into Yamuna to subdue Kaliya. HG SAP explained how envy is the root of material existence. If envy is removed then all the anarthas will cease to exist. Monkeys of Vrndavan taught us an important lesson which prji revealed. The monkeys took away some of our foot wears. Most of us were in anxiety looking after our foot-wears. Prji explained at present we have very less assets still they keep us in anxiety. What will be condition of one married and having family and many assets. From Kaliya Ghat we made our way to Radha Madana Mohan Temple. A magnificent sight to behold  even though ravaged by the Mughals. Prji described the beautiful pastime of how these deities as Madan Gopal were manifested to and worshiped by Advaita Acarya. Advaita Acarya had given these deities to a devotee named Purushottam Dubey, from whom Srila Sanatan Goswami obtained Madan Mohanji. He also described how once one merchant, Kapoor, was helped by Srila Sanatan Goswami when his ship was stuck in Yamuna. As a token of gratitude he had offered to build the Madan Mohan temple. Visiting Srila Sanatan Goswamis bhajan kutir was heart touching. Purity was emanating from that place. We concluded the day with realisation session while honouring Prasad.

Day 2: A ceremonious circumambulation: We set out early on the second day for the parikrama. We went to the Madan Mohan temple, took darshan. Then we proceeded towards Chir Ghat, where the pastime of Krsna stealing the clothes of the gopis took place. Going further was a very special place—Imli Taal. A pastime specially significant for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas took place there. Once during rasa-lila Srimati Radharani disappeared suddenly. Krsna was crestfallen in separation of Radharani. He sat under a tamarind tree and started meditating on Srimati Radhaarani. Due to His meditation on the golden form of Srimati Radharani, Krsna assumed a golden complexion. Then He predicted that in future He shall appear in this form. This was the prediction about Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance. We had a difficult time chanting at the temple there, most of us were dozing off. Going further we reached the beautiful Keshi Ghat, on the banks of Yamuna. In his talk HG SAP mercifully rebuked us for dozing off in chanting. He explained: Imagine that we are feeling very drowsy and a beautiful girl comes near us, then immediately we will become alert and active, but for the sweet holy names of Krsna we have no attraction. He narrated the pastime how once Balaramji had dressed like Krsna. That was the time when Kesi demon attacked. Balaramji was kicked by the demon and He flew in the air. Later Balaramji gave away the attire of Krsna, illustrating that we should not try to imitate the great souls. We took three drops bath in the Yamuna. HG SAP commented that the pitiable plight of Yamuna was a systematic plan of the government to destroy the holy places.

Next we funnelled through the streets of Vrndavan to visit the Radha Damodar temple. We were fortunate to get the darshan of 4 deities, the prana dhana of great acaryas in Gaudiya Vaisnava  sampradaya. 1. Radha Damodar—Worshipped by Srila Jiva Goswami. 2. Radha Vrndavan Chandra—Worshipped by Srila Krsna Dasa Kaviraj Goswami. 3. Chaila Chikan—Worshipped by Srila Bhugarbha Goswami. 4. Radha Madhava. One devotee in the temple requested HG Sankirtan Ananda P speak in the temple room for everyone. Therein he described how this Radha Damodar temple is specially significant for the followers of Srila Prabhupada. He also informed that Radha Damodar temple is the center of whole universe. We prayed at the samdhis of Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Jiva Goswami. Gaudiya Vaisnavas are also called Rupanugas, followers of Rupa Goswami. It was a great fortune to be there at his Samadhi and beg for his mercy. We then saw the room where Srila Prabhupada stayed deeply absorbed in prayers to Srila Rupa Goswami, and scrutinizing study of the Goswami literatures. His kitchen window gave a purifying view of the samadhis. We then made our way to the Radha Raman temple. The deity was worshipped by Srila Gopala Bhatt Gosvami. We also visited the samadhi of Srila Gopala Bhatt Gosvami. Back to the temple we contemplated on the plan to visit Sri Giriraj Govardhan. A visit that would become my most cherished memory of VOICE life.

While waiting for a taxi outside the temple, Krsna made arrangement for our bodies and language to be smeared in Vraj-raj, dust of Vrndavan, with a mild sand storm. Rain followed and rendered our scenic trip to Sri Giriraj Govardhan, a soothing experience. Chanting all the way an occasional appearance of the peacocks enlivened my heart. Darshan of Sri Giriraj Govardhan was elevating, we paid obeisance to the great devotee of Krsna, looking forward to the parikrama, eager to learn more.

At 7pm we set out for Govardhan parikrama, with Mrdanga Kartal and Vaisnava Song book. Ankit P and Raman Raja P stayed back to arrange for our dinner which we would take on the parikrama. Albeit walking slowly we soon reached a very special place: Govind Kund. A small playful boy led us through a dark path way to the kund. The kund was dark as well, moon was hiding behind tree tops. An atmosphere which would otherwise send tingle up my spine, amazingly, felt relaxing. All of us settled down on steps of kund, barely able to see each other. Monkeys screeching at a distance, and fishes swimming nearby made the background sound for our discussion. I wanted to suggest we just take darshan and revert to our parikrama. The confidence of devotees to hear about the significance of the place sitting there insipired me. Govind Kund is the place where Indra came with Surabhi cow to beg forgiveness for sending devastating rainstorms to Vrndavan. He coroneted Krsna as Govinda(the enlivener of the senses and the cows). At Govinda kunda the great Vaisnava Acarya Srila Madhavendrapuri would chant incessantly. [He would not even go for begging food. If someone offers food he would accept. In this way, once, he remained hungry for many days. A beautiful cowherd boy approached and offered him milk in a earthen pot. Madhvendra Puri enquired, why he had brought the milk. The boy said that He had learned from the ladies who come to fill water there that Maddhvendra Puri had not eaten anything since many days. “Every one gets enough food in my village, if he begs. For those who don’t beg, I personally feed them. Please take this milk”. Madhavendra Puri accepted the milk, the boy went away. When he drank the milk it was nectarine. Same night boy came in his dream, revealing himself as Krsna. He instructed Madhavendra  Puri to excavate Him from below the bushes. He was lying below the ground for many years and was now feeling very hot. He asked him to establish Him at the top of Govardhan. ] Gopalaji appeared to him here and instructed him to install Him at the top of Govsrdhan. Srila Madhavendra Puri did so and celebrated anna-kuta festival everyday for one full year. Prabhu told that in Krsna’s time anna-kuta was for only one day but the devotees are more eager to celebrate the Lord’s pastime, therefore there was anna-kuta for one full year. We learnt how gopis called Govardhan a better devotee than them. Prabhu related the pastime of appearance of Govardhan on earth and its travel to Vrndavan. Our discussion was interrupted by call by Raman Raja Pr enquiring our whereabouts. Carrying a heavy sac of food items they had already crossed the Govind Kund area. We darted out to the parikrama road, purchasing a couple of battery torches on the way.

We soon met Raman Raja P and Ankit P who raised their hand a shouted ‘Haribol’. Raman Raja P eagerly enquired from me, which place we visited and what did HG SAP speak there. Moving ahead we found a temple with an open compound, and made up to have our dinner there. A lone young caretaker generously accommodated us. It was 10 o’clock. Aditya K P offered the bhoga. Raman Raja  P and Aditya K P served all devotees in their usual motherly way. There was samosha with dry fruits inside( the most delicious I had ever tasted), puffed rice(mudi) topped with finely cut tomatoes, lemon juice and bhujia. The delicious petha and rabdi will be the most unforgettable sweets of my life. By 11:15pm we had made a nice mess in the compound as to enrage any owner. But ours looked tolerant. We cleaned everything up thanked him, gave him little charity and resumed on our parikrama.

Moving ahead we reached ‘Puchari ka Lota Baba’. Lota Baba is a cowherd boyfriend of Krsna, who did not consent Him going to Mathura. Krsna assured Lota Baba that he would return in a few days. Lota Baba decided to wait for Krsna at the place where they had separated. He also decided to fast till Krsna returned. Krsna never returned. Lota Baba has been fasting for all these thousands of years waiting for Krsna. It is explained how although fasting for many years he is getting fatter—because of being nourished by the remembrance of Krsna. HG SAP taught that we should be similarly patient for the mercy of Krsna to dawn in our lives. Enthusiasm without patience is mode of passion, patience without enthusiasm is mode of ignorance. Enthusiasm with patience is ideal. As if still not sure whether we will complete the 21km parikrama in the night itself HG SAP asked our opinion about carrying on right away, or resting there and starting early morning the next day. Many pilgrims who were marching confidently on the parikrama path gave us confidence, and we danced ahead with the beat of the Mrdanga and chime of the cymbals chanting Hare Krnsa alongside Govardhan.

Path was lonely with vast field on both the sides, moon was the exclusive source of illumination. Our LED torches helped little.  An otherwise grisly setting seemed extremely safe with the chanting of the Holy Names, association of devotees and Govardhan by the side. Peacocks warbling at a distance mingled musically with the kirtan. We kept dancing ahead for a long time—till 2 am. We reached Uddhava kund, where we halted to discuss about the great devotee. Udhhava is a very dear devotee of Krsna. We discussed how Uddhava was amazed to see the devotion of the gopis of Vrndavan for Krsna and desired to become a grass in Vrndavan.

As we danced ahead, limbs ached. But relentless we progressed singing Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna… Hare Krsna and other songs in turn. Attached to a regulation in sleeping; night out parikrama  was an outlandish idea. I would better savour the opportunity to purify myself I thought, however. Soon we reached the climax of the parikrama—Radha Kund and Shyama Kunda. Glorified as the holiest spot in the creation, the placid waters of the kund offered a congenial opportunity for Mangal Arati, the earliest I ever attended—at 3.30am in the morning. However I again felt sorry as drowsiness dominated me. This is very much true in daily course of my devotional service also—so much mercy is available but I evade by not being attentive and conscious about it. Next we visited the Bhajan Kutir and Samadhi Mandir of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, our prayojana acarya. I was enthused to see old devotees performing keertans before the break of the dawn. On coming out we walked through the alleys. A few Vrajvasis walked around, preparing for the morning program. I was moved with the attitude of the devotees in the area. As they saw us performing keertans they would bow down every time they would encounter us. We came across a milk shop and drank some before we moved ahead.

As the dawn broke, we beheld an astonishing scene. Children, young and adult devotees would prostrate on the footpath of the parikrama path, moved ahead to the point there hand could reach and again prostrate to reach ahead. His Grace Sankirtan Ananda Pr explained they were performing dandavat parikrama. Vrndavan had more in store although. We saw a person paying repeated dandavats at the same place. Each time shifting a pebble from the pile near his foot to the pile near his head as he would prostrate. Amazed we learned that he was doing 108 dandavat parikrama!

The beautiful sight of Kusum sarovar delighted us beyond expectations. Beautiful darshan of Sri Sri Radha Banbihari was very soothing. Light of the sun also unveiled beautiful peacocks atop the trees. Soon we reached Mukharavinda—the mouth of Govardhan and our final destination. Inside in the temple devotees offered milk in the mouth of the Govardhan. We also took darshan of the Manasi Ganga. Coming out of the temple a board declared—‘You have successfully completed Govardhan parikrama’. We chanted our way to the accommodation. We took rest for few hours and then departed back to Vrndavan.

Day 3: Carrying home ‘Vrndavan’:

Back in Vrndavan I anticipated some more exciting visits. Our next destination was Radha Gopijanvallabha temple. The glories of Ghanshyam Baba who was serving Radha Gopijanavallabha is extolled by HH Radhanath Maharaj which made the visit all the more interesting. In there we discussed about the mood of service of Vrndavan and developing Vaisnava relationship. I feel this is the mood I need to cultivate in my heart so that I can experience Vrndavan where-ever I go.

Mental speculation can't find God for us

Human vocabulary is made up of words formed from letters from ‘a’ to ‘z’. Thus this vocabularly is limited, by the permutaions and combinations of limited alphabets. All our knowledge and experience is within this range of permutations. God, however, is unlimited and thus not within the reach of mental speculation. Lord is thus called adhokshaja, meaning that he is beyond the perceptions of mind and senses. Lord however can be realized by engaging the senses in the service of the Lord. Engagement of the senses begins with the engagement of the tongue, which happen by chanting Hare Krsna Mahamantra.

Slap of Nature

The power of nature often stuns and scares us. Any sensible person looks for the logic behind these calamities being tended to specific people. To discard them as random events denigrates us to an illogical premise; while blaming the almighty is questioning His mighty love for us and justifying our often obscure irresponsibility.
Vedic world-view says that the tragic natural calamities are a result of ruthless violence committed by man to the animals. Killing of cow is specially deemed sinful inviting vengeance from nature. Man has no ability to give any life so he has no right to take any either. Thus the calamities which we face are like slap of nautre to correct a wayward child who harms his brother. Since we have severly harmed our brothers the slaps we have recieved from nature has been very ghastly. Hope we will recitfy and stop killing our brothers.