ViBha Class Notes – November 5, 2023

A great Sadhu in our culture is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and we may have seen images of him. Vivekji shared that he reminds him of Rshi Narada, the one who sang and danced in reverence of Bhagavan Narayana. He would travel and teach, and one day a family had invited him to sing and dance in their home, but in that home, earlier that day, their child had died. Naturally the parents, particularly the father ,who was a great devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Bhagavan Narayana, were lost. In our culture, when a family member dies, they are always kept in an open area because they have a relationship with the community. This father, however, put the child in a corner of a room. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came, he sensed that something was not right in this home as he knew the father. So he asked him what he was thinking about, what he was feeling right then. And the father said that he was happy that Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu was there and asked him to continue with Keertana. And so Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu sang and danced, but he was great and could feel what was in someone’s heart, so he asked the father once again if anything had happened. The father then shared that his child had died earlier that morning. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked him how come he was open to having this Satsanga in his home in spite of the death of his child. Then the father responded by saying – Bhagavan gave and Bhagavan called back. Why should Satsanga be stopped? 

Bhagavan gave, Bhagavan called back – Vivekji shares this because Vedanta in Bhagavata, this magical course, is for those who believe in Bhagavan, in the Divine, but the maturity of this course is not for us to just believe in the Divine, but to KNOW the Divine. If this father were only a believer in the Divine, he would not have continued with this Satsanga, but he knew the Divine, that the Divine gives and the Divine calls back. That is why this course is called Vedanta in Bhagavata or it is the Jnana of Bhakti, to know what Bhakti is so we know who Bhagavan is. How many of us feel that we have grown out of belief and faith and that we now trust the Divine? 

The ego is described as Anirvachaniya or inexplicable. Inexplicable means that which cannot be explained, and that which cannot be explained, cannot be real. However, Bhagavan is also inexplicable, but Bhagavan IS Reality. There is a difference between being joyous and being Joy. Being Joy is the nature and being joyous is the expression. Similarly, Bhagavan is Reality and the expression of that is this is real and this is not real. 

In Skanda 12, the final section, in Chapter 6, there is a description of our scripture and how Bhagavan Brahma, also known as one of the original teachers, is contemplating or engaged in dhyana. What does he feel inside of him? Nada. He feels this Presence and that keeps on getting expressed to Gayatri Mantra – Gaayantam Trayate, meaning that which is sung causes one to evolve. 

In Chapter 7, there is a sharing of the genesis of the scripture in particular. There are eighteen Puranas. Purana means ancient, yet applicable, like walking as an exercise. If we imagine walking is a Purana, it’s an ancient exercise that will never go away. The original collector of the Puranas is Rshi Vyasa. He took the eighteen Puranas and placed them into six collections of three Puranas each. Then he taught these six collections to Rshi Romaharshana. Rshi Romaharshana then taught these to six different Rshis. So each of these Rshis learned three Puranas. Rshi Ugrashava, who is almost like the narrator of Shrimad Bhagavata, he became the disciple of each of these six Rshis and so he learned all eighteen Puranas which is why when we read all of these Maps, we keep hearing Rshi Ugrashava or Sutaji. They are the same one. The implication of this chapter and the final question in Shrimad Bhagavata is – Where does Dharma Live? The answer being shared here is that it lives in the Purana. 

The Veda teaches Dharma and Brahma, the responsibilities that lead to Brahma or Oneness. What do the Puranas teach us? Not Dharma, but Bhakti or dedication to Divinity. Are they different? No, they are not different, but different folks have different strokes. This is why it is shared that studying the Purana is equivalent to studying the Veda.  

In Chapter 8, we get to meet Rshi Markandeya. He is sent this arrow with five heads where each arrowhead is meant for each sense organ. It is an arrow to distract the sense organs. The sublest sense organ we have is hearing, then touch, then seeing, then tasting and finally smelling, just like our social media that tries to capture a different sense organ. Instagram is more visual, Facebook is more reading and Tiktok is more audio. Similarly, baseball was designed to be listened to on the radio, hockey was designed to be watched on TV, and basketball was designed to be watched live. Rshi Markandeya is awesome and is challenged with being distracted, but he is un-distractible. A distraction is a distraction only if we are distracted. If we are not distracted, then we shouldn’t say that this and that is a distraction. We are responsible to be distracted or not. 

Rshi Markandeya is so awesome that Rshi Nara Narayana come to Him. In the Bhagavad Gita, Rshi Nara Narayana are casually known as Prince Arjuna and Bhagavan Krshna respectively. Traditionally, they are not known as the famous eight immortals. In our culture, there are eight famous immortals and one of them is Hanumanji. Rshi Nara Narayana are not included in this, but they are known in our culture to still live in Badrinath. What are they doing there? Thinking peacefully. Our thoughts radiate, so their thinking peacefully is actually creating Peace for us. Rshi Nara Narayana come to Rshi Markandaya and ask him what boon he wants. Rshi Markandeya has already seen Bhagavan since he has seen them, so what does he ask for? He asks to see Bhagavan’s Maya. And that is how Chapter 8 ends.

Now in Chapter 9, just like in this whole section, there is an emphasis on Pralaya or Dissolution. When everything that can be taken away is taken away, we should remember that there is still the foundation that remains. If, for example, an intense Category 5 hurricane comes through this building, everything will be taken away, even the foundation, but the earth will not be taken away. It is the original basement, the earth. So all of a sudden Rshi Markandeya is experiencing Pralaya. There is water everywhere and he is running, running and running everywhere to get away from this water. Then he finds this high ground, he finds this high tree and as he keeps following the trunk, to the branch, to the leaf  and what does he see on the leaf? He finds this miniature Krshna or miniature infant, smiling and sucking His own toe. And Rshi Markandeya, really exhausted now, tries to go speak to this being, when this being just breathes in and Rshi Markandeya is gone. He has gone into that being and what does he see in the being? He sees the whole multiverse! Earlier, he was overwhelmed by sorrow, thinking that he was going to drown, but now he is overwhelmed by Joy. He is seeing the multiverse and feeling the Oneness, and he is then breathed Out. He is back to the area of dissolution and now as he is overwhelmed by Joy, he tries to go and hug this being, but the being disappears, the tree disappears, the pralaya disappears and Rshi Markandeya finds himself in his Ashram. He wanted to see Maya, and he got to see Maya. Not that this is something we can explain logically, however in our dreams,  the whole dream multiverse, all that which is contained within it – video games, airplanes, food and the dreamer – are all in one mind, just our mind. This comes out more clearly in the next chapter.  

Skanda 12:10:23 – This is Bhagavan Shiva who is speaking to Rshi Markandeya.

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni

na devāś cetanojjhitāḥ

te punanty uru-kālena

yūyaṁ darśana-mātrataḥ

Bhagavan Shiva shares –  Not the sacred waters which are tirthas, places of pilgrimage, like going to the Ganga, not the devas who have no Consciousness. This is referring to pilgrimages, to mandirs where there are murtis. Bhagavan Shiva is sharing that these pilgrimages of water or murtis, purify, but in a very long time. It is a slow journey. In contrast, a Sadhu, a noble person like you, Rshi Markandeya, one gets purified just by seeing you. Just by seeing one who is a Sadhu, one who is dedicated to Bhagavan, one gets purified. How many of us agree with this statement? Those who are hesitant, who said this? Bhagavan Shiva. This shows that we believe in Bhagavan Shiva, but are not trusting Bhagavan Shiva. When we are in the presence of the great, we are first humbled, and then inspired. Isn’t that what purification is? 

After Rshi Markandeya realized what Bhagavan’s Maya is and how it can just wipe away someone, He stayed close to Bhagavan Hari. He lived close to Him, acted for Him, spoke about Him, thought about Him. Hari means the one who takes away. Maya caused Pralaya which took everything away, but who is the one who can take away Maya? Bhagavan Hari. So he stayed close to Him. Now Bhagavan Hara (Bhagavan Shiva) and Bhagavati Uma (Devi Parvati) were on vacation. They were traveling the multiverse and they happened to see Rshi Markandeya who is close to Bhagavan Hari. Bhagavati Uma seeing Rshi Markandeya, sensed his greatness, and asked Bhagavan Hara to go grace him with a boon. Bhagavan Hara then said that there was no point as Rshi Markandeya had no desires. He didn’t even want Mukti or enlightenment. But Bhagavan Shiva shares that since she brought this up, He would like to go and have Satsanga with him. Bhagavan Shiva is like a radar for Satsanga. 

When Bhagavan Shiva went to Rshi Markandeya, he was contemplating, feeling really very close to Bhagavan Hari. He was not on pilgrimage to a place of water nor to a mandir, but was engaged in Dhyana. Bhagavan Shiva was in front of him and he wanted to talk to him and hear from him, but Rshi Markandeya was in Dhyana. So Bhagavan Shiva, who is the original shape shifter, became very small and entered into the heart of Rshi Markandeya, and Rshi Markandeya started to see Bhagavan Hara in his heart. There are some lovely details where Bhagavan Hara’s hair is described as flashy as lightning and Rshi Markandeya is feeling like the Sun is rising inside of him. He was so moved by this that he couldn’t help, but open his eyes. And who was in front of him? Bhagavan Hara. See how sneaky Bhagavan Shiva is. He went into Rshi Markandeya’s heart to disturb his contemplation so he could have Satsanga with him! When he saw Bhagavan Hara, Bhagavan asked him what boon he could offer to him. So Rshi Markandeya asked for a boon that he only wanted Bhakti to Bhagavan Achyuta or Bhagavan Narayana and to those who are also dedicated to Bhagavan. So he asked for Bhakti to Bhagavan and to Bhaktas. So when we meet Bhagavan Hara, we must use Rshi Markandeya as a role-model and ask for Bhakti. Bhagavan Shiva was feeling a bit insecure, so Rshi Markandeya asked for Bhakti to Bhagavan Narayana, to His Bhaktas and to Bhagavan Shiva. Who is Bhagavan Narayana’s greatest Bhakta? It is Bhagavan Shiva. We spent two and a half years in Ramayana to lock that in. 

Some more insights – It is Rshi Vasishta who had the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra revealed to him, and not Rshi Markandeya. There are a lot of Puranas, so it is possible that Rshi Markandeya also had this mantra revealed to him. Some people feel that the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is to be chanted when someone is dying. That is not the best practice, not the best use of this mantra. This mantra is for those who are seeking and want to be free. This mantra describes how a well grown vegetable is attached to its vine, but this vegetable is on the ground. So it has nowhere to fall. So what happens to this vegetable? Only when the farmer comes and separates it, does it become free. This well grown vegetable is not someone who is dying, but someone who is seeking, that they have worked their hardest to be free, but they can’t be free, so they surrender. 

Now the final chapter of content –

Skanda 12:11:49 – A very visual verse –

vālakhilyāḥ sahasrāṇi

ṣaṣṭir brahmarṣayo ’malāḥ

purato ’bhimukhaṁ yānti

stuvanti stutibhir vibhum

Where did we start our journey in Shrimad Bhagavata? In Naimisharanya, which is typically a jungle in Uttar Pradesh. In terms of etymology, Naimisharanya means where the Mind becomes Quiet. It is where our thoughts slow and stop. In Naimisharanya, there is a Satra that is happening, a long ritual, and so our Rshis would have Katha during the Satra. There was a private Satsanga going on and that is how Bhagavata came to be. In this Satsanga, the primary teacher is Sutaji and the representative student is Shaunakaji. He is the greatest amongst the people there as he led himself and others wanted to be led by him too. 

Shaunakaji asks Sutaji six questions. The last question was – Where does Dharma live? This dialogue took us to another dialogue between the primary teacher, Rshi Shukadeva, and primary student, Raja Parikshita. Those two are done now as Rshi Shuka continued with his enlightenment and Raja Parikshita continued with his enlightenment. So now, this dialogue has to go away as well. 

In this chapter, the final two, not so important, questions are asked. Now, even this great Shaunakaji becomes quiet. What does Naimisharanya mean? Where you become quiet. The final two questions on behalf of everyone are –

Q1. Please tell us the significance of a murti (icon) and all associated with a murti, the decorations specifically. 

Q2. Tell us the significance of Surya Narayana, typically the Sun. 

This is what Sutaji responds with. He starts this chapter with – “I remember my teachers and my teachers have taught this teacher, have taught this teacher, have taught this teacher, so I am teaching you now.” One of the original teachers is Bhagavan Brahma. When Pujya Swami Tejomayananda was teaching us this, he had mentioned that everytime we open our mouths, we should remember our teachers. Vivekji has shared that whoever gave us power, we should serve the one who gave us that power. 

There are a lot of technicalities in this chapter. Here are some of the highlights – 

Sutaji shares – The trees of the Earth are the hair of Bhagavan. When we see a murti and we see Bhagavan’s and Bhagavati’s hair, this should take our mind to the trees of the earth, which should take us to Bhagavan. Controlled environment – hair, uncontrolled environment – trees, but finally it should take us to Bhagavan. 

Another highlight is – Bhagavan’s weapons, they symbolize the elements. For example, Bhagavan has a conch called panchajanya and that symbolizes the element of water. Where do we find a conch? In water. If we see the sequence, controlled environment there is conch, uncontrolled environment, there is water itself. Both should bring us back to remembering Bhagavan. Sutaji completes answering the first question by sharing that everything that is in the micro is in the macro. Who lives inside of us? Bhagavan! 

Now Sutaji answers the question about Surya Narayana, the Sun, Verse 49 that we just heard. What this verse shares – There are 60,000 Brahmarshis who are completely pure and are known as the Valakhilyah. They are in front of the chariot, facing the chariot. So, Bhagavan Surya Narayana is in a chariot and he keeps on moving and in front of him are these 60,000 Rshis. We need to visualize this to really feel this. What is our entry point into the trust triangle? Our Guide, our guide who directs us to Divinity. Whatever these Rshis are looking at, we look at that too. That is the map itself. Here, these Rshis are guiding us to Bhagavan Surya Narayana, and while they are doing this, they are singing and praising Divinity. 

This is the last question of our 5 year course, and now the last verse of this chapter – The worshipful Lord Hari, the ruler of All, the Birthless, the Deathless, and the Eternal Being, thus assumes various forms. – What is one of His forms? The trees. What is another form? Water. What is another form? The Sun. Why does He assume these various forms? From kalpa to kalpa, for the protection of the world. If we trust Divinity, that means we know this teaching to be true, that means we are forever protected. Even a diplomat does not have pure immunity. Even Airforce One is not immune to weather. For the one who feels ever protected, how can our mind be loud? Tum rakshaka kahu ko darana – You are the protector, so there is no logic to be afraid, which means to have any negative thoughts.

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Last week’s RAW: To research what arrow keeps hitting us and distracting us in five ways. 

• Vivekji’s research was that the five arrowheads were on the five senses. 

RAW: If we were the leader of Sanatana Dharma or Spirituality, what would be three policies that we would enact or mandate for humanity?