Brahma-gayatri worships Srimati Radharani by Nrsingha Maharaja and my comments

[Paramananda das]

Dandavat pranams

All glories to the lotusfeet of Sri Guru and Gauranga and Gandharvika Giridhari

Jaya Srila Prabhupada

this first part is by Nrsingha Maharaja:

Question: I have read in an article that brahma-gayatri worships Srimati Radharani. Where does this conception have its origin?

Answer: The origin of gayatri is Krsna Himself and therefore the conception of gayatri worshiping Srimati Radharani finds its primeval origin in Krsna. The meaning of brahma-gayatri is self-effulgent; "Above the three planes of mundane experience, bhur, bhuvah, svah, is the soul, savitur, who shows us everything just like the sun. Above the soul is the super-subjective plane which is varenyam, most venerated and worshipable. That worshipable plane of existence is called bhargo, brilliant and illuminating. The super-subjective area, bhargo, is the plane known as the svarupa-sakti which is the internal pleasure potency of deva, Krsna, Reality the Beautiful. That bhargo is His own divine potency, Srimati Radharani. Let us meditate upon the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, whose extended self and essential nature, maha-bhava, is the svarupa-sakti, and who enthuses our capacity of devotional service. Let us surrender unto Her divine service."

Gayatri springs from the flute of Krsna. Gayatri-muralista kirtana danam radha-padam dhimahe - the flute song of Krsna only sings the glories of Srimati Radharani.

I once quoted this portion of a verse to a learned scholar who sarcastically remarked, "That is found in many places." Why this gentleman said like that I do not know, but the fact is that since the universe began until now the clear and pristine explanation of gayatri as Krishna's flute glorification of Srimati Radharani can only be found in one place and one place only, the Gayatri-Nigudharta' by Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja.

The Gayatri-Nigudhartha is a realized explanation of brahma-gayatri that manifested in the heart of Srila Sridhara Maharaja by the divine grace of his Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Srila Sridhara Maharaja wrote the Gayatri Nigudhartha in 1974 and it was published in his Matha's journal with a limited distribution. Later in the early 1980's many western devotees took shelter of Srila Sridhara Maharaja after the departure of our Guru Maharaja, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. At that time the Gayatri-Nigudhartha began to receive a much wider circulation, being printed in several of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's books.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja has mentioned that Jiva Gosvami has drawn the conception of gayatri to Krsna but that he (Sridhara Maharaja) felt the tendency within to show that brahma-gayatri worshiped Srimati Radharani. Thus he wrote Gayatri-Nigudhartha in Sanskrit.

These days some unscrupulous persons are trying to present themselves as the revealers of the hidden meaning of gayatri but due to envy they do not quote the Gayatri-Nigudhartha or give credit to Srila Sridhara Maharaja for his spiritual genius. Thus they are not able to give us more than the general explanation that, "Yes, gayatri worships Radhika."

In Gayatri-Nigudhartha Srila Sridhara Maharaja gives a most detailed meaning of brahma-gayatri and draws its ultimate meaning to the worship of Srimati Radharani. Without taking this line of approach, as shown by Srila Sridhara Maharaja in Gayatri-Nigudhartha, it is not possible for anyone to demonstrate to us how gayatri actually worships Radharani.

Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja has described the Gayatri Nigudhartha as follows: "The explanation of brahma-gayatri, the mother of all Vedas, signifying devotional worship unto Srimati Radharani, sri radhanudhyana-para, explanation which was revealed in the depth of realization of Pujyapada Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, possessed with the divine grace of Paramaradhya Sri Srila Prabhupada (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura) upon his head - is deeply appreciated by those fortunate, intelligent devotees who are aware of the relishable beauty of pure devotional service."

Srila Sridhara Maharaja has said, that OM is the seed mantra which contains everything within it. Bhur is where we are, bhu-loka, the world of our experience. Bhuvah (Bhuvarloka) is the world of mental acquisition, the background of our experience. The mental world (Bhuvarloka) means acceptance and rejection. Svah (Svaloka) is the plane of decision, the world of intelligence. In this way the material world is composed of three general layers, bhu, the physical world, bhuvah, the mental world, and svah, the intellectual world. These three planes of experience have been summarized in a word, tat.

Savitur generally means surya, the Sun - that which shows or illuminates, that by which we can see. But actually the world is not shown to us by the Sun, but by the soul. The Sun can show color to our eyes, the ear can reveal the sound world, and the hand can reveal the touch world. But really, in the center is the soul. It is the soul who gives light to this world. All perception is possible only because of the soul. So savitur can only mean soul, like the Sun, which shows us everything.

Varenyam means puja: worshipable, venerable. This indicates that although within this plane (the objective world) the soul is the subject, there is another domain that is to be venerated and worshiped by the soul. That is the Supersoul area.

That worshipable plane of existence is known as bhargo. Bhargo means the subjective area, the area of the Supersoul. Bhargo is svarupa-shakti. Bhargo belongs to whom? It belongs to Deva, to Krsna.

Deva (devasya) means who is beautiful and playful, that is Krsna, Reality the Beautiful. He is full of lila, pastimes and beauty combined. His domain is bhargo, brilliant and it is varenyam, to be venerated by the soul. Svarupa-sakti is the extension of Srimati Radharani. She holds the full energy to serve Krsna. Bhargo is no less than the extended body of Srimati Radharani. Bhargo means Radharani and Deva means Krsna.

Dhimahi, come to meditate. Dhimahi means to participate in the spontaneous flow, the current of devotion in Vrndavana. Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat, the capacity to serve will increase within us. That is the remuneration of prema. The result of prema (divine love) will be that we are given more energy to serve.

Gayatri is the song of deliverance that also means sankirtana. The sankirtana of Mahaprabhu improves us toward the highest goal and reinstates us in our highest serving position. Gayatri (and thus kirtana) in connection to Mahaprabhu will always excite us to be mindful about Srimati Radharani's lotus feet and to obey Her orders.

For a clear and detailed understanding of what Srila Sridhara Maharaja has revealed in brahma-gayatri it is recommended that one study the Gayatri-Nigudhartha which can be found in Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika, a chapter summary and excerpts with purport published by Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha.

Sri Gayatri Nigudhartha

bhvades-tat savitur-varenya-vihitam ksetra-jna-sevyarthakam bhargo vai vrsabhanu-jatma-vibhavaikaradhana sri-puram bhargo jyotir-acintya-lilana-sudhaikaradhana- sri-puram bhargo dhama-taranga-khelana- sudhaikaradhana- sri-puram bhargo dhama-sada nirasta kuhakam prajnana-lila-puram devasyamrta-rupa-lila-rasadheraradha-dhih-prerinah devasyamrta-rupa-lila-purusasyaradha-dhih-presinah devasya-dyuti-sundaraika-purusas-yaradhya-dhih-presinah gayatri-muralista-kirtana-dhanam radha-padam dhimahi gayatri-gaditam mahaprabhu-matam radha-padam dhimahi dhir-aradhanam eva nanyad-iti-tad- radha-padam dhimahi

"With all of your thoughts and heart's desire, fully engage yourself in the pure devotional service and worship of bhargo, the supreme goddess Srimati Radharani, who is the unlimited origin and possessor of the svarupa-sakti of Krsna, the Supreme Beautiful Godhead (deva). Being the ultimate and all harmonizing potency of Krsna, She remains His eternally unexcelled beloved servitor. In order to fully enrich and promote His lila-vilasa, She manifests Herself in variegated congenial forms. It is She Who manifests Herself as dhama (Goloka) the abode of Krsna, in the form of beautiful effulgence (saundarya-jyoti) and opulence (vaibhava), adorning and glorifying Him all around. It is She who extends Herself as lila-sakti (the potency principle which promotes the bliss giving pastimes of Sri Krsna in variegated colorful, tasteful, mystically opulent and beautiful ways). She is the unlimited ocean of love of Krsna personified (mahabhava-svarupini). Therefore adore Her as the supreme goal of life, Who gives venerable, blessed intelligence, realization and taste of enhanced loving worship towards Her and Her eternal beloved deva, Sri Krsna, the all fulfillment of life. The sound of gayatri is none other than the divine flute song of Krsna. This flute song is naturally filled with Radha prema and dedicated to serve pleasure unto Her. What is the special characteristic of this all-attractive flute song in the life of devotional aspirants? It deeply attracts all souls to the unending beauty, glories and qualities of His eternal beloved Srimati Radharani, and situates them correctly in their own respective positions in Her eternal ecstatic service. Krsna's flute song thus deeply inspires the devotees to embrace an artist-servitor in the divine service-concert of His eternal consort Srimati Radharani through harmonious service performance. The innermost meaning of this flute song for all devotees is radha-padam dhimahi which means to wholeheartedly embrace and engage yourself in the service of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani with all devotional love. The highest and innermost instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is radha-padam dhimahi."

another devotee has quoted:

Srimati Radharani and Her Golden  Effulgence

AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja  writes as follows of Gadadhara dasa in his Caitanaya-Caritamrta commentary:  "About eight or ten miles from Calcutta on the banks of the Ganges is a village  known as Endiyadaha-grama. Srila Gadahara dasa was known as an inhabitant of  this village...After the disappearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Gadadhara  dasa came from Nabadipa to Katwa. Thereafter he came to Endiyadaha-grama and  resided there. He is stated to be the luster of the body of Srimati Radharani,  just as Srila Gadadhara Pandita is an incarnation of Srimati Radharani Herself. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is sometimes explained to be radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalita, or  characterized by the emotions and bodily luster of Srimati Radharani. Gadadhara  dasa is this dyuti or luster. He counts among the associates of both Srila  Gaurahari and Nityananda Prabhu...Even though he was an associate of Lord  Nityananda Prabhu, he was not among the cowherd boys but was situated in the  transcendental mellow of conjugal love. He established a temple of Sri  Gaurasundara in Katwa.

"In 1434 sakabda (1534 AD) when Lord  Nityanada Prabhu was empowered by Lord Caitanya to preach the sakirtana movement  in Bengal, Sri Gadadhara dasa was one of Lord Nityananda’s chief assistants. He  preached the sankirtana movement by requesting everyone to chant the Hare Krsnamaha-mantra....

Srila Kavi-karnapura has mentioned in His  Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvamis own words about the  position of the five members of the Panca-tattva.

TEXT 10

"I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme  Lord Krsna, who is non-different from His features as a devotee, devotional  incarnation, devotional manifestation, pure devotee energy"*

TEXT 11

I shall now summarily explain the meaning  of these words. In this Panca-tattva, the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is  Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who formerly appeared as Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda  Maharaja. The bhaktavatara (devotional incarnation) is Lord Nityananda, who  foremerly appeared in Vrajabhumai as Lord Balarama. The bhaktavatara (devotional  manifestation) is Lord Advaita Acarya, who is not different from Lord Sadasiva.  The bhaktakhya (pura devotee) is Srinivasa and the other great devotees as well. The bhaka-sakti (devotional energy- Hladini Sakti ) is Gadadhara  Pandita, the foremost of brahmans.

TEXT 12

Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda Avadhuta,  and Lord Advaita, are all incarnations of the supremely exalted Personality of  Godhead, and They are all known by the title Prabhu (Master). Among Them, Lord Caitanya, who is an ocean of mercy, is known as Mahaprabhu (The Great Master),  and the great personalities Lord Nityananda and Lord Advaita are known only as  Prabhu (Master). All three are also known Gosvami (Master of the Senses). Gadadhara is called by the title Dvija (Brahmana), and Srinivasa is  called by the title Pandita (Learned Scholar). These are the titles of  the members of the Panca-tattva."

In conclusion Srila Gadadhara Das is not  the same person as Sri Gadadhara Pandit.

Submitted for the pleasure of the Devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by Arijit das.

Comment: This radha-bhava-dyuti- the effulgence of Srimati Radharani is manifested in the sun, actually a vaisnava should see the Sun and remember the lotusfeet and transcendental luster of

Lord Caitanya and Srimati Radharani .

In Brahma Vaivarta Purana we find this:

krsnasyardhanga sambhuta nathasya sadrsi sati goloka vasina sreyam atra krsnajna adhuna ajoni sambhava devi mula prakrti isvari
"The best of Goloka's residents appeared here by Krsna's command. She (Radha) is born of no mother and She (Radha) who is the fundamental Prakrti (the female energy) is a goddess and emerged from the better half of Krsna's being and molded after His image."
sri krsnasya tejasardhena sa ca murtimati sati eka murtihi dvidha bhuva bhedo vedanirupita
"Radha embodies half the divine effulgence of Sri Krsna. They are both one body divided into two beings - such is the irrefutable decree of the Veda."
iyam stri sa puman kimva sa va kanta puman ayam dvirupe tejas tulye rupenanca gunena ca parakramenaca budhya va, jnanen sampadapica purate gamane naiva kintu sa vayasadhika...
"In Their looks, in Their radiance, in Their attributes, in Their prowess, in Their wisdom, in Their intelligence and in Their riches, They are so identical to each other that it is difficult to tell Radha from Krsna or Krsna from Radha and that She precedes Krsna and is the older of the two."

the first sloka of Bhagavatam comes to mind

janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah sva-rat

tene brahma hrda ya aadi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah

tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mrsa

dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi (SB 1.1.1)

Krsna is the source of the light of the sun Bhagavad Gita and elaborated in Brahma Samhita. Sri Radha worshipped Surya every day at Surya kunda and when Krsna went to Dvaraka ,Srila Rupa Goswami explains Sri Radha entered the Sun planet and from there expanded Her form as Satyabhama ( it is mentioned in Lalita madhava or Vidagdha Madhava I forgot which of the books he has explained this)

hiranmayena patrena

satyasyapihitam  mukham

tat tvam pushann  apavrinu

satya-dharmaya  drishtaye

O my Lord, Sustainer of all that  lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that  covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee.

This effulgence is the Brahman that is simply the bodily effulgence of Radha and Krsna, thus the devotee is not so much interested in this effulgence of Radha and Krsna and Lord Caitanya but want and prays to see Their Divine forms:

anarpita-carim cirat  karunayavatirnah kalau

samarpayitum  unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-shriyam

harih  purata-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipitah

sada hridaya-kandare  sphuratu vah shaci-nandanah

"May Shri Shacinandana Gaurahari,  resplendent with the radiance of molten gold (having adopted the splendour of  the limbs of Shrimati Radhika), ever manifest Himself within your hearts. He has  descended in the age of Kali out of His causeless mercy to bestow upon the world  that which had not been given for a long time, the most confidential wealth of  His bhakti, the highest and most radiant madhura rasa (unnata ujjvala prema  rasa)."

—Shri Rupa Gosvami; Vidagdha Madhava  Nataka

radha  krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini shaktir asmad

ekatmanav api bhuvi  pura deha-bhedam gatau tau

chaitanyakhyam prakatam  adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam

radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam  naumi krishna-svarupam

"Although Radha and Krishna are one  (ekatma) in identiy (svarupa), They perpetually exist in two forms because of  the eternality of the principal of exchanging amorous pastimes (vilasa tattva).  This is brought about by the hladini shakti which exhibits itself in the form of  the transformation of Their love. At this time these two Personalities have  manifested as one Person in the form of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I offer my  respectful obeisances unto Him who has assumed the form of Lord Gaura, but who  is the very same Lord Krishna, covered with the sentiment (bhava) and bodily  splendour (kanti) of Shrimati Radhika."

—Shri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami

Krsna is often compared to the moon even by Radharani Herself:

Radha: (glancing at  Vrinda, She trembles and says) A person like the moon now stands before us, a  moon who is the friend of the gopis' eyes, a nectar moon who breaks the darkness  of peacefulness in the lotus-eyed gopis, a moon that with its flute music makes  the whole world tremble with amorous desires, a moon dressed in splendid yellow     garments, a moon now standing on the summit of Govardhana Hill.  (26)

This is from Srila Rupa Goswamis Shri  Dana-keli-kaumudi.In Govinda Lilamrta we can read how Krsna dressed as a brahmacari fools Jatila and glorifies the transcendental body of Sri Radha in the name of Surya mantras. Thus this rasika meaning of how the Sun represents Sri Radha is very important.

I pray this gives pleasure to the vaisnavas , holding the lotusfeet of my Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada and all the vaisnava acaryas headed by Srila Rupa Goswami on my head, they have allowed me to glorify Sri Radha who is the real source behind the sun, from the sun the mystic yogis attain Brahman and the Bhakti yogis sometimes enter the spiritual world via the media of the sun and attain their eternal bodies serving Radha and Krsna in their Nitya Svarupa

vaisnava das anu das

Paramananda das

references: http://radha.tribe.net/thread/8c62191b-dfdd-4791-b611-351dceb69a86

http://swami.org/pages/sanga/1999/1999_4.php