Sri Krishna Manifests Himself as Lord Ramachandra
Today, on Rama-navami, I want to speak about Lord Ramachandra. You must observe Rama-navami tithi. Lord Ramachandra established all the rules and regulations of society. Without following the instructions of the Ramayana or Lord Ramachandra, no one can enter into shuddha–bhakti. Are you observing Rama-navami or not? I am requesting you to please observe this day. One has to know who Lord Rama is and how Lord Rama manifested His lilas in this material world. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Svayam Bhagavan. Did you know this? Srimad-Bhagavatam explains,
ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.28)
[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and all of His manifested incarnations have different forms. Rama, Nrisimha, Varaha and Kalki are all incarnations of Krishna:
rāmādi-mūrtisu kalā-niyamena tisthan nānāvatāram akarod bhuvanesu kintu kṛṣṇaḥ svayam samabhavat parāmah pumān yo govindam ādi-purusam tam aham bhajāmi
Brahma-samhita (5.39)
[I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who is always situated in various incarnations such as Rama, Nrisimhadeva and many sub-incarnations as well, but who is the original Personality of Godhead known as Krishna and who incarnates personally also.]
The Brahma-samhita very nicely explains how Lord Rama, Nrisimha, Kalki and Varaha are incarnations of Lord Krishna and Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But there are no differences between Krishna, Rama or any of His incarnations. The same Krishna manifests different forms from the transcendental world. Krishna manifests in Vaikuntha-dhama in the form of Lord Narayana with four hands holding a shankha (shell), chakra (disk), gada (club), and padma (lotus flower). The same Krishna also manifested as the form of Lord Ramachandra in Ayodhya. Have you seen a picture of Lord Ramachandra? How many hands does He have? Four or eight hands? He has two hands. You have to learn these things because some of you have now been practising for many years. Everyone has to learn about Krishna, Rama, Nrisimha and also about all the other incarnations of Krishna. Ramachandra is called kshatriya. He always holds a bow and arrow in His hands and He also remains with His consort Sita-devi. If you chant ‘Sita-Rama’ then your life will be successful. One should first enter into Ramachandra’s lilas.
sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye jahi vidhi rakhe rama tahi vidhi rahiye
Sita Ram kahiye (1)
[Sing Sita Rama Sita Rama Sita Rama! Whatever circumstances and conditions of life Sri Rama has offered you, always live happily in them.]
Ratnakara's Transformation into Valmiki Rishi
What is the meaning of this song? Tulasi dasa, who wrote Rama-charita-manasa in Hindi, here explains you should always chant rama-nama. Rama-nama is very easy to chant. Krishna-nama is very difficult to chant, but rama-nama is very easy. I have previously spoken on the glories of rama-nama. Valmiki Rishi wrote the Ramayana in Sanskrit verses; prior to this he was a dacoit. He was a thief. But due to the association of Narada Rishi, he became a great devotee of Lord Ramachandra.
If you recall, on our first day I glorified Valmiki Rishi. His previous name was Ratnakara and his father’s name was Chavana Rishi. ‘Chavana rishi putra nama ratnakar‘ – the son of Chavana Rishi, Ratnakara, had committed many sinful activities. Then with the association of Narada Rishi he became a great devotee of the Lord and chanted rama-nama. He previously could not chant rama-nama because he committed so many sinful activities. Instead, he chanted the syllables in reverse, then eventually he became a great devotee. What were these reverse syllables of Rama that he chanted? Ma-ra, which means death or dead bodies. According to Indian custom, dead bodies are considered very inauspicious.
ulta nam japat jag jana, balmiki bhai bharam samana
Rama-charita-manasa
[The whole world knows how, by chanting the holy names backwards, Valmiki became equal to Brahma.]
Tulasi dasa explains that, as a dacoit, Ratnakara could not chant rama-nama. So Narada Rishi told him, “Ok, you can just chant the syllables of Rama in reverse.” What are the reverse syllables of Rama? As I just mentioned — ma-ra. Narada Rishi told Ratnakara, “You can chant, mara, mara, in place of Rama, Rama. Just chant mara, mara, mara, mara.” Rama-nama is very easy to chant and also very sweet. The grantha states,
ulta nam japat jag jana, balmiki bhai bharam samana
Lord Ramachandra is the Supreme Controller
Gurudevа, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, told that before he came into the association of Gaudiya Vaishnavas, he was a devotee of Lord Ramachandra. Gurudevа spoke on how he was born in a high-class brahmana family, the Tivari family. According to the traditions of his village, all the people chanted rama-nama. Gurudeva said, “First, I was the devotee of Lord Rama. Then by the causeless mercy of Lord Rama, I have come in the mission of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” So do not neglect chanting rama-nama or worshipping Lord Rama. Especially on His appearance day, Rama-navami. The Lord is one, but He manifests many forms. Do not think Rama is one Lord and Krishna is another. The same Krishna manifests in the form of Lord Ramachandra in Ayodhya.
sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye jahi vidhi rakhe rama tahi vidhi rahiye
[Sing Sita Rama Sita Rama Sita Rama! Whatever circumstances and conditions of life Sri Rama has offered you, always live happily in them.]
You can stay anywhere according to providence, still, always chant rama-nama. Tulasi dasa explains,
sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye jahi vidhi rakhe rama tahi vidhi rahiye jahi vidhi rakhe rama tahi vidhi rahiye jindiko dor so hatha vina nach ke tu akela nahin pyare rama tere satha mein mukh me rama nama, rama seva hatha me sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye sita rama sita rama sita rama kahiye
[Our lives are in His hands and He makes us dance. Let the name of Rama be on your lips, and let your hands continuously serve Him.]
Mukh me rama nama – With your mouth, chant rama-nama, and with your hands, serve the Lord. Lord Rama’s name is very sweet. So, ‘sadhu-sanga rama nama anga anga rangiye’ – with the association of a sadhu, one can become absorbed in rama-nama. ‘Kiya abhiman to vi man nahi payega hoga vahi pyare jo sri ramaji ko bhayega’ – we want many kinds of name, fame and reputation, but they are unattainable without the mercy of Lord Ramachandra, because Lord Ramachandra is the Supreme Controller. So, ‘hoga vahi pyare jo sri ramaji ko bhayega’ – that means whatever Rama desires will be performed. Try to understand this. Will you take prasada today or not? If Ramachandra desires this, then you can take prasada, otherwise you cannot. This is true. It could be that you are going to take prasada, then suddenly a call comes from your house and you have to quickly leave. Since Lord Rama did not desire, you were not able to take the prasada.
Shastra explains that Krishna knows what will happen. ‘Krishna taha jane‘. You do not know what will happen today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or any day. But Ramachandra is Bhagavan, He knows everything, He is the Supreme Controller. Try to understand this philosophy. Still, you should always perform good work. Chant the holy names and give up all the fruits from your actions or activities, otherwise known as your karma. ‘Fal asha tyaga subha kama karte rahiye’ – always perform good karma. What is considered good karma? Helping and nourishing people in all circumstances. Our scriptures explain one has to give charity and donations in different ways. But you also have to chant rama-nama. Then all of your karma, fruits of action, will be destroyed. If you chant vishnu-nama one thousand times, it is equal to chanting one rama-nama. If you chant rama-nama three times, it is equal to chanting one krishna-nama. If you chant krishna-nama one hundred times, it is equal to one radha-nama. Bolo Radhe Radhe Radhe Jaya Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!
The Origins of Ramayana
Why am I saying this? Because radha-nama is very powerful. ‘Radha nama parama sukhadai’ – if you chant Radha’s name you will get so much pleasure in your heart. Do you understand? Returning, I want to tell you about Lord Ramachandra and how He appeared in this material world to perform His lilas. Narada Rishi once performed hard austerities and meditated on the Lord. While he closed his eyes and meditated, Cupid appeared in front of him. Cupid is also known as Kamadeva. Due to the potency of Mahamaya, all living entities are completely illusioned by Kamadeva. The threefolds of maya are very powerful. There are three activities of maya, they are called sattvika, rajasika, and tamasika. Some of the qualities of being sattvika, in the mode of goodness, are that your mind becomes neat and quiet, and you help many people. If your mood is contaminated with the mode of passion, then many types of false egotistical conceptions will come in your heart. This is called rajasika. If your heart is contaminated with tamasika, the mode of ignorance, then lust, enviousness and laziness will come in your heart.
Understand this? Maya’s three gunas are very powerful. So, Narada Rishi was performing hard austerities and meditating on the Lord. In the meantime, Cupid, or Kamadeva, sat in front of him and paid his obeisances.
Then Narada Rishi opened his eyes and Kamadeva said, “Hey Narada Rishi, you have conquered me. I have been completely defeated.” Then Narada Rishi became very proud of this. Narada Rishi began thinking, “I have now conquered lust, and anger. I have conquered Kamadeva.” Then Narada Rishi visited Brahmaji in Brahmaloka and told Brahmaji, “I have conquered Kamadeva, I have conquered lust!” Then Brahmaji replied, “How is this possible? I am your father and I cannot even conquer lust. How can you possibly conquer lust?” Then Narada Rishi became very upset and left. He then arrived in Kailasa and went in front of Shivaji and said, “Oh my brother, I have conquered lust!” Shivaji replied, “I am your elder brother, I cannot conquer lust. How is it possible that you have conquered lust?” Do you understand? Only Vishnu can conquer lust, no one else can conquer lust, because Bhagavan is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Shivaji honestly told him, “Hey Narada Rishi, I cannot conquer lust and I am your elder brother. How can you possibly conquer lust?” But Narada Rishi was absorbed in so much false ego. He then left and he went to Vaikuntha-dhama. There he told Lord Vishnu, “Lord Vishnu, I have conquered lust.”
Lord Vishnu only smiled, He did not immediately say anything to him. Then Lord Vishnu glorified him, “Oh Narada Rishi, you have conquered lust. This is very good.” One of Lord Vishnu’s qualities is He will destroy any kind of false ego that arises in any of His devotee’s hearts. So Lord Vishnu realised that Narada Rishi actually had not conquered lust. Only because of his false ego was he thinking, “I have conquered lust.” Lord Vishnu began thinking, “I will have to operate on his heart. He has so much false ego. He is now thinking, ‘I have conquered the lust.’ I must operate on his heart.”
After Narada Rishi met with Lord Narayana, he returned to this material world. On his return, Lord Vishnu’s Yogamaya manifested a very nice and beautiful marriage ceremony. There was a very beautiful festival taking place for it. In that marriage ceremony, the bride would choose the groom herself. Narada Rishi became very surprised when he entered the place where the ceremony was held. He saw a very beautiful bride there, who was very attractive with beautiful eyes, hands, legs and nose. Then his heart became completely intoxicated with lust.
So Narada Rishi was thinking, “I have to marry her. But I think she will not want to marry me because I am not as beautiful as her.” So Narada Rishi returned back to Vaikuntha-dhama and asked Lord Narayana, “O Lord Narayana! Please give me Your beautiful face.” He asked this because Lord Vishnu’s face is unique and unparalleled. Lord Vishnu is always in a youthful form, very beautiful and attractive. Lord Vishnu is Bhagavan, He knows the heart of Narada Rishi. He just told Narada Rishi, “Ok, I will give you that which is best for you.” Lord Vishnu did not directly tell him, “I am giving My beautiful face to you.” Rather, Lord Vishnu said, “I will give you that which is best for you.” So Narada Rishi was thinking, “Oh Lord Vishnu has given me the appearance of His very beautiful face.”
Thereafter, Narada Rishi eagerly returned to the marriage ceremony and sat himself in front of the bride. Like I mentioned earlier, in this ceremony the bride has to choose her husband. At that time the bride took one garland and began looking at everyone in the assembly house. Narada Rishi became very eager and thought, “This bride will offer the garland to me, then I will marry her.” So the bride took the garland and saw Shivaji and Brahmaji there. The bride thought, “Oh Shivaji is not eternal and neither is Brahmaji.” What are Shivaji’s and Brahmaji’s gunas? Tamo-guna and rajo-guna. The qualities, gunas, of Brahmaji and Shivaji are called the modes of passion and ignorance, respectively. Because of this, the bride was thinking, “Shivaji will not be my groom.” Then she came in front of Brahmaji and thought, “Brahmaji is also not qualified to marry me.” What is the mood of Brahmaji? Rajo-guna, the mode of passion. In this way, the bride continued her search. Eventually she realised no one there was qualified to marry her.
Then Narada Rishi very quickly came in front of the bride and contemplated, “This bride will have to offer this garland to me.” But when the bride noticed Narada Rishi, she saw he was not attractive. In the meantime, Lord Vishnu appeared at the marriage ceremony, arriving on Garuda. The bride then offered the garland to Lord Vishnu. She sat on the back of Garuda and went with Lord Vishnu to Vaikuntha-dhama.
After seeing this Narada Rishi became very upset and said, “Oh Lord Vishnu cheated me!” Then all the demigods and demigoddesses began joking with Narada Rishi, “Hey Narada Rishi go and see how beautiful your face is.” So Narada Rishi stood in front of a mirror and saw he had the face of a monkey. He was very unattractive. Then Narada Rishi became very angry with Lord Vishnu and said, “Oh Vishnu cheated me!” Narada Rishi cursed Lord Narayana, “I am feeling so much separation from this bride. You will have to feel this same pain of separation.”
Then Lord Vishnu asked, “O Narada Rishi! You cursed me?” Narada Rishi answered, “You cheated me. So I have given this curse to You. You must be separated from Your consort. Then You will realise how painful it is.” Narada continued, “You gave me the face of a monkey. So You will have to rely on the co-operation of monkeys for You to meet again with Your consort.”
Because of this curse, Lord Ramachandra appeared in this material world with His consort Sita-devi and performed His sweet human being lilas in Ayodhya.
Gaura Premanande! Hari Hari bol!
Date: 02 April 2019 Location: Hong Kong
Transcriber: Sanatana dasa (USA) Editor: Damodara dasa (UK), Sanatana dasa (USA) Integrity check: Divya-premamayi dasi (Slovakia) Proofreader: Chandrika dasi (UK) Image: Navina-krishna dasa (Holland)