Illumination
I have been spending a great deal of time focusing my attention on the principle known in the Vedic/tantric scriptures as Prakasa(Illumination). This original principle of illumination is called Balarama in the Lila(play) of Sri Krsna and it is by the illumination of Balarama that Krsna is understood, or seen. I meditate daily on the significance of this principle in my life, essentially he is the light of truth which I strive to adore, to properly allow my consciousness to rest in his coils, so that I may be free to experience the divine play of Sri Radha-Krsna.
Balarama is portrayed as the elder brother of Sri Krsna and according to Vaishnava tradition, he is the origin of the concept of Guru(The remover of darkness, the teacher, and spiritual master) and often called Adi-Guru(the first Guru). A sincere seeker must learn to first take shelter of this principle personality of illumination in order to make genuine advancement on the path towards Prema(Self-realized divine love)
The Chaitanya Bhagavata of Vrndavana das Thakur, the 15th century Vaishnava saint, opens his with a detailed explanation of the importance of Sri Balarama and his role in reality as the first expansion, the first illumination, and the source of all incarnations of God, such as Sankarshana, Ananta Sesa, the three Visnu's, and all the various Avatars which occur in the material world for the purpose of giving pleasure to his devotees, instructing the inquisitive, and destroying the demonic forces which seek to increase suffering in the world.
Being the direct disciple of the great Avadhuta, Sri Nityananda Rama, who is considered by gaudiya Vaishnavas to be none other than Balarama incarnate, Vrndavana das writes as follows;
Being the direct disciple of the great Avadhuta, Sri Nityananda Rama, who is considered by gaudiya Vaishnavas to be none other than Balarama incarnate, Vrndavana das writes as follows;
"I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable Lord and spiritual master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously manifest. With a thousand tongues, we should incessantly glorify the Supreme Lord Balarama because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa constantly glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are kept in secure custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge about Krsna's pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. Therefore the tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will automatically be qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of Sri Caitanya."
-Chaitanya Bhagavata
Vrndavana das further describes the importance and glory of Balarama in the following few verses;
"Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Caitanya's deep affection. The offence at Balarama's lotus feet destroys all possibilities for salvation. In His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra, Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in His manifestation as the Supreme Lord, Balarama serves Himself in every respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, putting Him to sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding Himself as His house, umbrella, attire, jewellery and seat. "O, Lord! Your direct, partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all the various ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famous because He is manifest as Your residence, bed, throne, shoes, clothes, jewellery, etc. When shall I see you with Laksmidevi seated on the throne of Ananta Sesa?
Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras, Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas.
Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He is worshipped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the full nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays on his vina, and with well-composed verses, he sings the wonderful glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the supramundane nature of Anantadeva?
Just by His glance, He sets in motion the three modes of material nature which are the cause of this world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Although He is one, He supports the entire variegated material cosmic manifestation Himself (within the pores of His person). He is beginningless and eternal.
Other than Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons devoid of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the material world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes, has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the most powerful; in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant. He performs pure transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His dear devotees, and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His transcendental form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes purified by hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva, either respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is purified when he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta.
Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with ease, born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual, transcendental, eternal and unborn existence?"
-Chaitanya Bhagavata
Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras, Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas.Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He is worshipped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the full nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays on his vina, and with well-composed verses, he sings the wonderful glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the supramundane nature of Anantadeva?
Just by His glance, He sets in motion the three modes of material nature which are the cause of this world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Although He is one, He supports the entire variegated material cosmic manifestation Himself (within the pores of His person). He is beginningless and eternal.
Other than Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons devoid of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the material world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes, has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the most powerful; in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant. He performs pure transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His dear devotees, and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His transcendental form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes purified by hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva, either respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is purified when he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta.
Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with ease, born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual, transcendental, eternal and unborn existence?"-Chaitanya Bhagavata
To further extol the supremacy of Ananta sesha, Sankarshana, Balarama, He writes;
"Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva, and his consort pour out ambrosial devotional hymns to Lord Sankarsana."
"Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva, and his consort pour out ambrosial devotional hymns to Lord Sankarsana."
-Chaitanya Bhagavata
As today is the full moon appearance day or Avirbhava mahotsava of Balarama, I wanted to share with all of you this deep secret of theistic mystic yoga which begins in the understanding Balarama and ends with deep immersion in the mystic state of spontaneous and self-manifest Prema Bhakti.
I hope you enjoyed this little snipped of Vaishnava mystic devotional thought as a small meditation on your very own being, may your consciousness be illuminated and blossom into the full lotus of divine love.
I hope you enjoyed this little snipped of Vaishnava mystic devotional thought as a small meditation on your very own being, may your consciousness be illuminated and blossom into the full lotus of divine love.
#Jainitai
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