The Remnants of Sri Krishna

Excerpt taken from www.purebhakti.com (read full article …)

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila chapter sixteen, describes that Sriman Mahaprabhu once went to Jagannatha Mandira to receive darsana of Lord Jagannatha. After darsana, when He returned to the Gambhira, the pujari of the Jagannatha temple sent Him a large plate of maha-prasada. Seeing the beautiful and fragrant prasada, Mahaprabhu began to weep, thinking,

Jagannatha is so kind to have sent this for Me.”

“Krsnera ye bhukta-sesa, tara ‘phela’-nama.” The remnants of Krsna, or Jagannatha, are called phela, and a very little particle of this is called phela-lava. Krsna tasted that prasada, and in that way it had touched His lips and has thus become nectar.

After tasting this maha-prasada, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to weep and praise it: “Oh, only those who are very fortunate can taste this.” What is that fortune? “Samanya bhagya haite tara prapti nahi haya.” If one does not have sufficient sukrti, he will not be able to taste it.

maha-prasade govinde
nama-brahmani vaisnave
svalpa-punyavata rajan
visvaso naiva jayate

Those who do not possess sufficient pious credits will not have faith in the Holy Name, in maha-prasada, in the Vaisnavas, or in the pure brahmanas. Why? Because maha-prasada is cinmaya (transcendental), such persons will not be able to taste it. On the other hand, those who possess abundant sukrti – here sukrti means bhakti – they will be able to taste it and directly experience that it is maha-prasada.

Mahaprabhu told His associates, “I think that if someone tastes maha-prasada and serves it, he has received the full mercy of Krsna. This sukrti, or punya (spiritual pious credits), is Krsna’s mercy, and without it one will be unable to realize that this is maha-prasada.”

“Koti-amrta-svada pana prabhura camatkara, sarvange pulaka, netre vahe asru-dhara.” When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu tasted that maha-prasada, He closed His eyes and began to weep. The whole day He continued to praise it, weeping and chanting harinama. For twenty-four hours He was under its influence.

Why did He weep? He was remembering the pastimes of Krsna and the cowherd boys taking prasada together, sitting in lines. Yasoda and Rohini were distributing the prasada. Nanda Baba was there, Madhu-mangala was there, and everyone was happily taking prasada.

Mother Yasoda saw that everything she was distributing was too little. Seeing Srimati Radhika cooking puris in the kitchen, she called to Her, “My dear darling daughter, come and bring more puris.” When Radhika came out from the kitchen with a golden pot full of puris, Mother Yasoda asked Her to put some on Krsna’s plate. Instead, Srimati Radhika quickly placed down the pot somewhere else, ran back into the kitchen, and began to tremble. Yasoda came and asked Her, “What is the matter? I called You to come and put the puris on Krsna’s plate.” Radhika smiled shyly, but did not say anything.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was remembering these pastimes and weeping. Having taken the bhava and complexion of Srimati Radhika, Mahaprabhu could experience how She felt as Krsna took prasada.

Material preparations cannot be so tasteful and fragrant

Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Svarupa Damodara, Raya Ramananda, and all the other devotees present with Him, “Ei dravye eta svada kahaì haite aila? krsnera adharamrta ithe sancarila.” You know how tasteful are rice, dahl, grains, vegetables, milk, rabadi, koa, and laddhu; but taste this, the remnants of Krsna. How fragrant it is! How sweet it is! Certainly Krsna has tasted it and has left some remnants in this pot. Material preparations cannot be so tasteful and fragrant.” Weeping, He distributed the prasada to His associates with His own hand; and upon tasting it, they all became as blissful as Him.

In the same way, Srimati Radhika took the remnants which were sent through Dhanistha, tasted some, and then divided it among Her sakhis. Tasting Her sentiments, Caitanya Mahaprabhu told His associates, “Tanu-mana karaya ksobha, badaya surata-lobha.” As Radhika tasted the remnants of Krsna, the effect was that Her rati (attachment) to meet with and love Krsna increased unlimitedly. She became maddened with desire to see Krsna and to taste His lips. “Harsa-sokadi-bhara vinasaya.” Radhika told Her sakhis, “Taking this maha-prasada from Krsna makes My heart feel as if I am tasting Him, seeing Him, talking with Him, and touching Him. Tasting the prasada increases My eagerness to meet with Him. Taking His remnants certainly vanquishes all of one’s anxieties, lamentations, bewilderment, fear, and all other worldly emotions. All worldly desires disappear. “Pasaraya anya rasa, jagat kare atma-vasa.” Every kind of desire to enjoy this material world – eating, drinking, dressing, meeting, and everything else – disappears by tasting this maha-prasada. Even shyness (shame), religion, and patience go away.

“Patience and shame are what obstructs a gopi from meeting with Krsna. She considers, ‘How can I go? Everyone will see that I’m going. What will they say?’ By this thinking, patience comes, and becomes an obstacle to meet with Krsna. And shame: ‘What will everyone say? I should not go in front of everyone. If there is no one present, then I will go.’

“Taking His prasada clears the way, at which time one will not care for anything; whether it is day or night, or any circumstance, they will go to Krsna. “Mataya narira mana, jihva kare akarsana, vicarite saba viparita.” If one is male, he will easily go at once, so what to say of females; by taking these remnants, the way becomes clear and they meet with Krsna. These remnants have so much potency.” While Srimati Radhika took this prasada and also distributed it to Her sakhis, She said, “O sakhis, all of you, take this prasada.

The Nectar of Krsna’s Lips

She continued, “Although the flute is male, he desires to drink the adharamrta, the nectar of Krsna’s lips. And, continually drinking, he has left nothing for us. The nectar of Krsna’s lips is really meant for us, because we are of the same class as Krsna – He is a gopa and we are gopis – whereas this person is nothing but a piece of bamboo; simply dull matter. At the same time, he drinks this nectar directly in front of us, and we are helpless to do anything about it. This flute is trying to show us: ‘Stay away from here. What can you do? I am taking this nectar for myself. This nectar is yours, but I am taking it.’ How bold he is! He is so naughty that he is looting our property right in front of us!” Praising maha-prasada in this way, Srimati Radhika distributed it to all Her sakhis.

It was Tulasi Manjari who had brought all the prasada, so Srimati Radhika asked her, “You were so near to Krsna at that time. Which preparation was most tasteful for Him?” Tulasi Manjari replied, “Krsna loved the taste of all your preparations. He personally kept His remnants, and by His glance He told me to give it to You.”

Excerpt taken from www.purebhakti.com (read full article …)