ViBha Class Notes: May 15, 2022

In Skanda 11, in Adhyaya 2, Shri Vasudeva, Bhagavan Krshna’s father, has this intensity to know his son as Bhagavan, not just as his child. And this is a very reflective question as it shows that the final relationship we have to have with Bhagavan is that of Oneness. We have to go beyond having a relationship with Bhagavan, for us to Be Bhagavan! So from chapter 2, starting with Verse 28 until chapter 5, Verse 42, all of these verses are encompassed within the Navayogi Gita. Lots of other terms are used like upadesha, dialog, but Vivekji is calling it Gita as in this Skanda many Gitas are coming.

Most recently, we studied Question 7 — What is Avatara? The answer is — Sansthapana. Bhagavan incarnates to balance, to balance His creation. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda has shared that Bhagavan incarnates only to bless. Establish, balance seem very functional, so Bhagavan comes for Anugraha. In answer 7, there is a reference to Rshi Nara-Narayana who slaps His thigh to give form to Devi Urvashi, and offers her to Indra, indicating that He didn’t want his spot as He was happy.

Then we studied Question 8 — What is Kama? What if one didn’t desire Bhagavan? And answer 8 is — Patanti — to fall, to devolve. We are yogayonis which means we can evolve or devolve. We can become animals again, mentally and physically and all because of kama. The teaching for us is to live intentionally, to be vigilant about our desires so that we don’t nurture desires for worldliness, but rather for Moksha. Vivekji has shared this many times with the Vanaprasthas that they should live a life filled with kama, not for Dharma or Artha, but kama for Moksha, like the Devis, like the Gopis who had the desire for the Desireless.

Skanda 11:5:19 — Raja Nimi now asks the last question to Rshi Karabhajana — In the different times that Bhagavan incarnates, O Master, what colors does He incarnate or reincarnate into? What forms does He reincarnate into? What names does He incarnate into? And what are the guidelines to worship, to be close to Bhagavan?

Simply put — Raja Nimi is asking about Yajanti, the key word in this verse. Raja Nimi is asking — Time is changing. How do I stay focused on Bhagavan? For us — As the context keeps changing, how do we still stay engaged with Bhagavan?

The answer is given in Chapter 5, verses 20–42. Here Verse 32 is being referenced and has a wonderful connection to Ramayana as well.

Skanda 11:5:32 — Bhagavan is dark in color, yet is brilliant. Darkness doesn’t shine, but Bhagavan can make darkness shine. And around Bhagavan, there are many who serve Bhagavan, there are many decorations around Bhagavan, and the way to be close to Bhagavan is Sankeertanah. The answer is Sankeertanah. Keerti is to praise, and Sankeerti is to praise only. Another way to be oriented towards this — The best way to praise Bhagavan is to live for Bhagavan, not just with words. Those who are wise, this is how they are close to Bhagavan.

Question — Yajanti. Answer — Sankeertanah or Japa. In Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita, the word Japa is used. In between all of this, more is shared –

Krta yuga, which is the beginning of time, there is integrity — what people think, they speak about, what they speak, they act upon. That is why it is called Krta. In this period, one of Bhagavan’s names is Suparna, the one with beautiful feathers, referring to Bhagavan riding Garuda. From nama to rupa, Bhagavan’s color is Shukla, white. In terms of guna, Bhagavan looks like a Brahmachari, and so the sadhana or Yajanti is Tapa, defined here as Dhyana or Contemplation. So in Krta Yuga, this is the nama, rupa and guna, and we should engage in sadhana to feel Him as dhama, in our hearts.

Next, in Treta yuga, one of Bhagavan’s unique names is Urukrma, and His color or varna is Rakta, reddish, or bloodlike. Bhagavan looks like a Purohit or a Pujari (has a spoon and the kusha grass on His finger and so on), and the way that Bhaktas like us can Yajanti is Yaga. Yaga is a macro ritual with a thousand priests and ten thousand people. Bhagavata is being shared in a Yaga right now.

Next, in Dvapara yuga, Bhagavan’s nama is Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha — that is Bhagavan Krshna and His family. Bhagavan’s varna or rupa is Shyama or dark like a rain cloud, and Bhagavan looks like a Maharaja. So Bhagavan has His crown, chakra, and so on. So as Bhaktas, our Yuga sadhana is Puja. In a Puja, don’t we do Raja upacharah for Bhagavan? Here is Your umbrella, here is Your elephant, here is singing, here is dancing and then we wash Bhagavan’s feet and so on. Puja is a micro ritual, not a thousand priests, but just us offering worship to Bhagavan. Our puja should eventually evolve to Manasa Puja, which is the mental offerings of Puja.

Now we are in Kali yuga and kali means conflict, harm, violence. Everyday we hear or read about this. Bhagavan’s nama is not given, and the implication of that is that any nama works. Less specific or conditions are given. Bhagavan’s rupa — Krshna. It is black, but brilliant. Bhagavan’s form — it is all that is surrounding Him — His Bhaktas, His sevikas, His Sudarshana Chakra. And so a Bhakta’s Sadhana is Sankirtana or japa.

To connect the dots — Why no name? — To engage in Japa, pick a name. Why all these accompaniments? — Since so much of Japa is about how Bhagavan looks, what Bhagavan is doing. When we offer Japa, we offer it towards our Ishta Devata, our personal God. It is important to have a personal God, as how else can we personalize God. But that Ishta Deva can only come from an Ishta Guru, as who else is going to reveal the authenticity and depth of Bhagavan than our personal Guide. It is mandatory to have a personal Guide. How else will this journey be personalized?

Another insight — There is an Upanishad called Kali Santarana — Kali is conflict and Santarana means how to cross over wealth, similar to Taranti. In this, Rshi Narada is asking his father, Bhagavan Brahma how to cross over Kali and what does Bhagavan Brahma respond with? Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krshna Hare Krshna Krshna Krshna Hare Hare — He gives him the Mahamantra, the same mantra we listen to before class.

Last insight about this sadhana — We all have equipments — intellect, mind and body, and all day, the identifications with these equipments change. In the morning, we are most identified with the intellect. At night, we are most identified with the body — from sattva to tamas. So the question really is — As our identification changes, how do we still engage in sadhana? And what is the easiest sadhana to engage in? Using our words or Japa. How loving Bhagavan is — start by using our words. That is Kali yuga. But then go back to Puja — small actions, Yaga — big actions and Tapa or Dhyana — our thoughts. Shrimad Bhagavata is finally teaching us Satyam Param Dhimahi — Dhyana. How do we get into Dhyana? Start with our words, then small actions, then big actions and finally our thoughts. We are taking a Kali yuga sadhana, but finally we have to get into the Satya or Krta yuga sadhana.

Skanda 11:5:44 — Here Rshi Narada is speaking to Shri Vasudeva — After the Navayogis gave their answers to Raja Nimi, they disappeared, in front of everyone, while everyone was seeing. Then Raja Nimi followed what they guided him in. The upadesha they shared, he followed through with that all the way to Moksha — to that dhama where there is no more higher or deeper dhama. This is the Phala Shruti. This is what will happen — if this, then this.

A couple of reflections on this verse — Our Sadguru-Shishya parampara, our shastra, our Bhagavan is our trust triangle and is ever present. If our sincerity becomes so intense, they will manifest for us to feel this trust triangle and then they will go back to being unmanifest. We know we are reflecting on this as we will become less fearful and more faithful. Love in the form of this trust triangle is ever present. We just have to invoke that through intensity.

Swami Tejomayananda had shared that when we are taught that Japa is the yuga sadhana for Kali yuga, we get into this idea of lip service. We only say we will do it, but don’t really do it. We say we love Bhagavan, but are so scared all the time. But Raja Nimi was not like this. He may have started with words, but then small actions, big actions and then dhyana. He followed through with this upadesha. And what does this show for us? Even though this is the beginning of Kali yuga, when the manifestation of Bhagavan Krshna is going away, where was Raja Nimi living? In Krta yuga, with integrity between his actions, words, and thoughts.

And now the final shloka of this adhyaya — Verse 52!

Skanda 11:5:52 — Rshi Shuka is sharing with Raja Parikshita — Shrimad Bhagavata, being described here as Itihasa or history, is punyam or purifying, for those who in a focused way are listening, reflecting and contemplating on this. Then, here and now, they become cleansed or freed of their deservership and doership and they re-discover that they are Infinite, that they are Brahman! That is how this chapter is completed.

This Gita starts with Shri Vasudeva asking Rshi Narada how he could become one with Bhagavan, and Rshi Narada explains to Shri Vasudeva this is how. And now in Verse 52, it is Rshi Shuka sharing with Raja Parikshita. This is how Bhagavata is flowing. We go so deep into the dialogue and then come back — Master teachers!

Here, Vivekji read many paragraphs in English, which is our Valedictory address –

Great men who see into the heart of things and understand their good sides, look upon the age of Kali with greater favor than the other ages, for in this age man attains to his goal merely by extolling His names and excellences. For jivas entangled in the transmigratory cycles, there is no better means than taking the Lord’s name, and singing His praise for the attainment of peace, enlightenment and liberation. O King, many of them who were born in earlier yugas long to have embodiment in Kali for more devotees of Narayana are born in Kali than in any other age.

Hearing all this, the high souled Vasudeva and his fortunate wife Devaki were thrilled with wonder and they overcame their ignorance of their heart. They asked the question, they followed through, they became one with Bhagavan. If a human hears this extremely holy narrative with a one-pointed mind, his ignorance will be dispelled here itself and he will attain to the realization of the Supreme Spirit.

Shri Krshna Chandra Bhagavan ki Jai!