Introduction
Divine Transformation
An excerpt from Chapter 3 of Jaiva Dharmma written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
(Translated by Sripad B.A. Sagar Maharaj)
One evening, a few hours after nightfall, Sannyasi Thakura sat alone, singing the Holy Name. He was seated on a small mound in a lonely arbour of Sri Godruma forest. As he cast his glance northward, the full moon rose, revealing an unprecedented beauty throughout the Holy Abode of Sri Nabadwip. A short distance away, Sri Mayapur became visible. Sannyasi Thakura exclaimed, «O! What is this wonder? I see an ecstatic holy place. There, constructed of precious jewels, are an effulgent palace, a temple, and gateways. The entire bank of the Jahnavi River is illuminated by their brilliance. In many places at once, a tumultuous roar of Hari-nama Sankirttana is arising, vibrating through the skies. And now hundreds of devotees resembling the celestial sage Narada are vibrating vinas, chanting the Holy Name and dancing. Somewhere, the white-complexioned god of gods, Mahadeva, is clutching his Dambaru drum, crying, ‚O Visvambhara, please give me Your mercy!’ Dancing in a mad frenzy, he now falls to the ground. Somewhere else, four-headed Lord Brahma, seated in the assembly of Veda-reciting Rsis, is singing the Vedic mantra,
mahan prabhur vai purusah sattvasyaisah pravarttakah,
sunirmmalam imam praptim isano jyotir avyayah
«That Supreme Person is Mahaprabhu; He alone is the Source of our enlightenment. Only by His grace can one attain immaculate peace. He is the Supreme Being, the Invincible.»
«Now Lord Brahma is giving the transcendental commentary on that mantra. And somewhere else, all the devas headed by Lord Indra are leaping and bounding, singing, ‚Jaya Prabhu Gaurachandra, jaya Nityananda – glory be to the Lord Gaurachandra, glory to Sri Nityananda!’ All the birds, perched on the branches of the trees, break out in song, ‚Gaura-Nitai, Gaura-Nitai!’ The bees have become intoxicated drinking the nectar of the Name of Gaura, and they are busily humming through the length and breadth of the flower gardens. Intoxicated by the Ecstasy of Love for Gaura flowing in all directions, Mother Nature extends her beauty all around. Lo! I never saw all these things in Sri Mayapur by day! What am I seeing?»
Then, remembering his Divine Master, he said, «My lord, I know well that you have given me your grace by extending unto me a divine vision of Holy Mayapur. From now on, I shall adopt a method to come out into the world as a member of the party of Sri Gaurachandra. In this Holy Abode of Sri Nabadwip I see that everyone wears Tulasi beads around their necks, and they decorate their bodies with the signs of tilaka and the Holy Names. I also shall do this.»
Speaking in this way, Sannyasi Thakura fell into semi- consciousness.
Shortly after, he awoke. Certainly he was awake, but the beautiful divine vision was no longer visible. Falling to weeping, Sannyasi Thakura said, «I am greatly fortunate. I received the grace of Sri Guru, and just for a moment I had a divine vision of Sri Mayapur Dham.»
The next day, Sannyasi Thakura threw his mayavadi sannyasa-danda into the river. He tied three strands of Tulasi beads around his neck and decorated his forehead with the Vaisnava insignia of tilaka. He danced, chanting, «Hari! Hari!»
When the Vaisnavas of Godruma saw his new-born countenance and charming new attire, they all offered him their obeisances, considering him to be most blessed. Sannyasi Thakur felt somewhat bashful, and said, «No doubt I accepted the dress of a Vaisnava to become a fit recipient of their mercy, but now I’m falling into another predicament. Over and over I have heard this verse from the lotus mouth of Sri Gurudeva:
Trnad api sunicena, taror api sahisnuna
Amanina manadena, kirttaniyah sada harih
«Knowing oneself to be lower than a blade of grass, being more tolerant than a tree, divesting oneself of all pride, and offering due respect to others – one should chant the Holy Name constantly.»
«Now, what will be my fate if those very Vaisnavas that I have accepted as my Gurus offer me their obeisances?»
Thinking in this way, he approached Paramahamsa Babaji and offered him his prostrate obeisances.
Seated beneath the roof of Madhavi vines, Babaji Mahasaya was taking the Holy Name. Seeing the completely transformed appearance of Sannyasi Thakura, and seeing that his heart had bloomed in love for the Name, Babaji Mahasaya embraced his disciple, bathing him with his tears. He said, «O Vaisnava Dasa, today my ambitions are fulfilled by touching your auspicious form.»
By these words alone, Sannyasi Thakura’s previous name vanished. He now became known as ‚Vaisnava Dasa.’ He had now attained something very special, a new lease of life. His dress of a mayavadi ascetic, his haughty name and titles of that sannyasa order, and his condescending egotism – all these things had vanished.
In the afternoon many Vaisnavas of Sri Godruma and Sri Madhyadwip visited Sri Pradyumna Kunja to offer their respects and meet with Paramahamsa Babaji Mahasaya. All were seated around him, chanting the Holy Name on their Tulasi beads. Some shed tears, crying, «Ha Gauranga, Nityananda,» or «Ha, Sitanatha,» or, «He jaya Sacinandana.» The Vaisnavas discussed spiritual matters amongst one another. The visiting Vaisnavas circumambulated the Holy Tulasi tree, and began to offer their prostrate obeisances to the resident Vaisnavas. Just then Vaisnava Dasa also circumambulated Sri Vrndadevi, and threw himself into the dust before the feet of the Vaisnavas. Hearing the devotees’ remarks, some of the highly respected, elevated Vaisnavas exclaimed, «He can’t be the same Sannyasi Thakura – what an amazing transformation!»
Vaisnava Dasa rolled on the ground before them. Imploringly, he began to speak, «Today, my life’s mission is fulfilled. I have attained the dust of the feet of the Vaisnavas. By the mercy of Sri Gurudeva, I have learned well that there is no refuge for the soul other than the dust of the feet of the Vaisnavas. The foot-dust of the Vaisnava, the nectarean water that washed the feet of the Vaisnava, and the remnants of food left by the Vaisnava – these three are the medicine for the disease of mundanity, and they are the healthy diet for those afflicted with this disease. Not only do they cure the disease, but they bestow the highest ecstasy upon the healthy souls.
«O Vaisnavas, please don’t think I am flaunting my scholarship. These days, my heart has become purged of egotism. I was born in a brahmana family, I studied all the Scriptures, and I entered into the fourth order, the life of asceticism. Thus, the inflation of my ego has known no bounds. But since the day I became attracted to the principles of the Vaisnavas, a seed of humility was planted within my heart. By the mercy of you all, I have gradually cast off the pride of my birth, the megalomania of my scholarship, and the grandeur of my ascetic status. Now, I find that I am a helpless, wretched soul. Other than the shelter of the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas, I have no refuge whatsoever. Brahmanism, scholarship, and sannyasa – these things were the cause of my downfall. Now I have openly confessed everything at your lotus feet; please utilise your servitor as you deem proper.»
yada bhramam bhramam hari-rasa-galad-vaisnavajanam
kadacit sampasyams tad-anugamane syad ruci-yutah
tada krsnavrttya tyajati sanakair mayika-dasam
svarupam vibhrano vimala-rasa-bhogam sa kurate (8)
After wandering throughout the higher and lower species of life, when he is blessed with a holy glimpse of a Vaisnava whose heart is melted in the joy of love for the Supreme Lord Hari, the attraction to live the life of following in the wake of the Vaisnava is born for the conditioned soul. Continuously chanting the Holy Name and Glories of Lord Krsna, his life of illusory existence is gradually dispelled. He soon attains to his own intrinsic form and becomes eligible to revel in the joy of the unadulterated Service of Sri Krsna.