TAVASMI Ashtasakhas , Krushnashray & 252 Vaishnavs

1. TAVASMIAshtasakhas, Krushnashray & 252 Vaishnavs January 10, 2010

2. Agenda • Recap of the Swaroops • Overview of Ashtasakhas • Ashtasakha #1: Surdas • Ashtasakha #2: Krushnadas • NatOverview & Meaning • Overview of 252 Vaishnavs • 252 Vaishnav Story

3. Navratna Stotra :: The Hymn of Nine Jewels • One of Vallabhacharya’s 84 devotees, Govind Dubey, wrote him a letter how he was having trouble concentrating and achieving manasi seva.

4. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 1 Chinta kapi na karya, niveditamabhihi kadapitiBhagavanapi pushtistho, na karishyati loukikincha gatim ||1|| One who has dedicated one’s self to God should not have any anxiety about anything at any time. God, the embodiment of pushti (grace), will not condemn one to this-worldly existence.

5. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 2 Nivadana tu smartayam, sarvatha tadrashairganaihiSarveswarashcha sarvatama, nijachataha karishyati ||2|| One should recall in all ways the dedication in the company of enlightened men. God is every one’s Iswar as well as every one’s soul. He will therefore do everything according to his own wish.

6. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 3 Sarvesham prabhusambandho, na pratyakamiti sthitihiAtonya viniyogapi, chinta ka svasya sopichet ||3|| The situation may be such that every one (in the family) has established a relationship not with God but somewhere else. Even then, why worry? Even if your own relationship is established elsewhere, why worry?

7. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 4 Agyanaathava gyanaate, krutematema nivedanamYaihi Krshnasatkrutpranai, stesham ka paridevana ||4|| Those who have merged their souls into Krishna, whether they have performed the act of self-dedication to God consciously or unconsciously, why should they worry?

8. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 5 Tatha nivedana chinta, tyaagya shripurushottamaaViniyogapi sa tyagya, samartho hi harihi svataha ||5|| In the same way, do no worry about whether Purushottam himself appropriates what we dedicate to Him. Because, he is by himself quite capable.

9. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 6 Loke svasthayam tatha vede, haristu na karishyatiPushtimargasthito yasmate, sakshinao bhavatakhilaha ||6|| God does not allow ease to be abeing involved in worldly and Vedic actions. Because, God is set on the page of grace. Be you all witnesses.

10. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 7 Sevakrutirgururagnya, badhanam va harichhayaAttaha seva param chittam, vidhaya sthiyatam sukham ||7|| The Guru’s directive should prevail in performing seva. However, if some obstacle arises because of God’s wish, then you should remain happy by concentrating your mind in seva.

11. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 8 Chittodvagam vidhayapi, hariryadhyat karishyatiTathaiva tasya lileti, matva chintam dhrutam tyajete ||8|| Whatever God does even while creating trepidation in your mind, is also His lila (play) only. So thinking, you should expel anxieties with utmost swiftness.

12. Navratna Stotra :: Verse 9 Tasmaate sarvatemana nityam, Shri Krshnaha Sharanam maamaaVadaadbhirevam satatam, sthayamityava mae matihi ||9|| So one should always go on chanting loudly the mantra “Shri Krishna Sharnam Mama” with the bhav (attitude) of Sarvaatma.

13. 252 Vaishnav Varta • Stories from the lives of the disciples of Vitthalnathji (Gusaiji) were written in the 17th century by his son, Gokulnathji and then commented upon by Harirayaji, Gusaiji's great grandson. • The stories of the bhaktas lives contain the key elements to leading a devotional life.

14. 3 gunn (Qualities) • There are three major gunas (qualities) in Hinduism that serve as the fundamental operating principles or 'tendencies' of prakriti (universal nature) which are called: sattva, rajas, and tamas. • The three primary gunas are generally accepted to be associated with creation (satva), preservation (rajas), and destruction (tamas). • The entire creation and its process of evolution is carried out by these three major gunas • Tamas is lowest, heavist, slowed and most dull (example sotne or lump of earth). It is devoid of the energy of Rajas and the brightness of Sattva.

15. Tamas • Tamas is a force which promotes darkness, death, destruction, ignorance, sloth, and resistance. • The result of a tamas dominated life is demerit by karma: demotion to a lower life-form. • A tamsic life would be marked by laziness, irresponsibility, cheating, maliciousness, insensitivity, criticizing and finding fault, frustration, aimless living, no logical thinking or planning, and making excuses. • Tamsic activities include overeating, oversleeping, and consuming drugs and alcohol. • This is the most negative guna because of its rejection of Karmic Law and the central principle of dharmic religions; that one's Karma must be worked out and not ignored.

16. Sattva • Sattva is a state of mind in which the mind is steady, calm and peaceful. A sattvika man or woman works with no attachment to the result. • For an object or food to be sāttvik, it must be uncontaminated and should not spread Evil or disease in the world. On the contrary its presence must purify the surroundings. Thus when an individual consumes such a food, he must feel that he is eating pure food. The food should be healthy, nutritious and clean. It should also not weaken the power or equilibrium of mind. This idea disallows aphrodisiac or other drugs and intoxicants that can affect the mind in such a way. It also disallows food or objects obtained after killing or causing pain to a creature. This is because the object would then have source in an Evil act. It also excludes stale and pungent-smelling food. • Some objects that are considered sāttvik are: • Flowers, fruits, and food that are allowed as offerings to God • Neem tree • The milk of a cow which has grown in good surroundings, is healthy and has been obtained after the calf of the cow has been fed well. In cases when the cow has been ill treated, it becomes sinful or evil to drink such milk. It must be remembered that the cow is sacred for the Hindus.

17. KINDS OF DEVOTION • Because of differences in temperament, Guna and paths four kinds of devotion are chiefly narrated in Sri Bhagvat Puran. 1. Satvik Devotion 2. Rajas Devotion 3. Tamas Devotion and 4. Nirgun Devotion. • 1. Satvik Devotion: Devotion in Shri Krishna guided by the inclination for destroying sins, for making dedication of the fruits of actions; or as an inevitable duty --is called “Satvik-Devotion”. • 2. Rajas Devotion: Devotion in Shri Krishna for obtaining wealth and affluence or for excellent worlds like heaven etc., or for obtaining praise and power is called “Rajas-Devotion”. • 3. Tamas Devotion: Devotion in Shri Krishna with evil sentiments like to do harm to others, to deceive people by making a show of devotion or for the sake of jealousy etc. is called “Tamas Devotion”. • 4. Nirgun Devotion: Devotion in Shri Krishna without having desire to obtain any kind of fruit and by concentrating mind in the Supreme-Being Bhagavan Sri Krishna is called Nirgun-Devotion. That uninterrupted and continious motion of the mind, towards HIM (GOD) Who resides in the hearts of all, free from the impediments created by the Vedas and Smritis. Like the flow of the GANGES (GANGA), which makes its way through mountains etc, and goes to the sea, is called Nirgun Bhakti. • Shri Vallabhacharya has preferably preached Nirgun-devotiona by the name of ‘Pushti-devotion’-- to which Bhagvan has considered as the best in Bhagvat Purana. • Nirgun-Pusti-devotion is the best of its kinds. Narrating the excellence of Nirgun-Pushti-Devotion in Sri Bhagvat Bhagavan says: Though my Nirgun devotees consider my worship as the very fruit, do not ask for any kind of liberation from me. But when I bestow upon them liberation-- in the form of Salokya-Mukti, Sarsti-Mukti, Samipy-Mukti or Sayujy-Mukti with love, on my own accord --my devotees are not ready to accept any kind of liberation at the cost of my service. This itself is recognized as ‘Bhakti-Yoga’ of ultimate type and as independent fruit. By this Bhakti-Yoga the devotee becomes free from the influences of all the three Guna and attains devout sentiment as the final fruit.