I am hastening to see Kausalya my mother as also Sumitra and the illustrious Kaikeyi (my step-mothers) as also Guha my friend and well wisher, as well as the citizens of Ayodhya and the inhabitants of the country-side.
Guha detailed all the conversations he had with Rama and Lakshmana and all their loving dealings and how they were ferried by him. Guha here displays another important quality of a devotee. Whenever a devotee gets a chance to glorify the Lord, he becomes thrilled spiritually and speaks with enthusiasm.
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Transcendental Boatman" wherein we have been meditating on the loving friendship between Lord Rama and Guha.
We saw how Guha ferried Lord Rama and the Lord entered the forest. In the meantime, in Ayodhya, King Dasaratha gave up his life due to separation from Lord Rama. And Bharata accompanied by Satrughna returned to Ayodhya from their uncles place called Kekaya desha.
We saw that the Lord made His hair into thick mass like ascetic and He was ferried by Guha across the Ganges. On reaching the other side of the Ganges, Guha was not ready to be separated from the Lord.
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Transcendental Boatman" wherein we have been meditating on the loving relation between Lord Rama and Guha.
We saw how Lakshmana and Guha spent the whole night in talking about the Lord's qualities and guarding Him. The next day morning, Lord Rama said He wanted to cross the Ganges and reach the forest on the other side. He ordered Guha to arrange a boat for the same. Before starting, He ordered Guha,
When Lord Rama and Mother Sita were taking rest on the bed of grass, Lakshmana was guarding them and Guha and his relatives were also guarding the Lord. The acharyas explain Lakshmana was walking around Lord Rama and Sita in a circle to guard them.
For me, none is dearer than Rama in this world. I speak the truth and swear to you by truth. As such, I along with my kindred, shall protect my dear friend Rama who is reposing with Sita in every way, with bow in hand.
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Transcendental Boatman" wherein we have been meditating on the loving relation between Lord Rama and Guha (the hunter and boatman).
O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking,...
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Transcendental Boatman" wherein we have been meditating on the loving relation between Lord Rama and Guha (the hunter and boatman).
Lord Rama reached the tribal chief named Guha, who is dear to Rama and to whom Rama is dear(priyam), on the bank of River Ganga in a town called Sringiberapura.
He cannot be seen by the eyes, nor fully expressed by words or realized by any of the senses. He cannot be attained by fruitive activities. Only one who is fully purified and transcendental can see the Lord who has a spiritual form, in meditation by the blessing of wisdom bestowed by Him.
"His form does not stand within the purview of our perception. So no one can see Him with one’s eyes. Those who know Him by pure heart and mind filled with devotion become immortal."
The Supreme Lord is so kind upon the living entity that He always accompanies the individual soul and in all circumstances is present as the Supersoul, or Paramatma.
Few months ago, the parliament election fever was gripping the whole of India and campaigning hit a feverish pitch for months with the leaders trying to woo the voters by travelling across the country and giving various promises. One of the important campaign tactics followed by all leaders is that they come down to the people at lower strata and interact with them closely and in this way show they are leaders of common men.
Srila Prabhupada translates the word niraamayam as prophylactic - which means Krishna's name is the preventive vaccine for us to save ourselves from all conditioned life of repeated birth and death.
As he uttered these words, the devotee took a small piece of cloth - climbed the chariot, wiped the Lord's transcendental face and then squeezed out the cloth. To the surprise of Clive - the transcendental sweat from the Deity's face poured out of that cloth like a river.
The Deity form of the Lord is non-different from Him and it is actually manifestation of Lord's mercy on conditioned souls like us. Lord is param pavitram - Supreme Pure.
Whatever we get out of its own accord or naturally is like milk, whatever we get by asking is like water and whatever we get by grabbing and fighting is like blood.
Sometimes the saintly or very religious person also has to meet with reversals in life. Such incidents should be taken as providential. Although there may be sufficient cause for being unhappy, one should avoid counteracting such reversals, for the more we become implicated in rectifying such reversals, the more we enter into the darkest regions of material anxiety.
Our beloved Gurudev said, "In my absence, you people just come together, you sit down, you study Bhagavatam peacefully lovingly, you hear the lectures of Srila Prabhupada, hear my lectures and after hearing it, you please go out and repeat whatever you have heard."
How much the Lord remembers the scene of Bharata begging Lord Rama to return back and Rama feels that He has hurt Bharata by not agreeing to return that time. He feels very apologetic for that. Also He remembers His mothers and hunter Guha who helped Him and all the citizens. Those who were all remembering Him in separation, Lord remembers with great affection.
In Srimad Ramayana, the captivating qualities of Lord Rama are very beautifully brought out. One fine quality of Lord Rama is His ability to speak in an eloquent, concise and sweet manner.
By causeless mercy of Lord we heard yet another sweet pastime of the Lord which we would like to share with all of you. From July 1, Lord Athivaradar has been showering His mercy by rising out of the Ananta-saras pond and showing His merciful darshan to all.
This shows how Krishna sends reminders to us through the devotees who make us hear the holy names of the Lord. They not only make us hear the holy names, but they fold their hands in supplication begging us to chant the holy names. This is the Lord Himself begging through the agency of the pure devotees.