TAVASMI Ashtasakha, Manorath, Ram Navmi & 252 Vaishnav

1. TAVASMIAshtasakha, Manorath, Ram Navmi & 252 Vaishnav March 14, 2010

2. Agenda • Ashtasakha #5: Govindswami • Ashtasakha #6: Chitswami • Manorath • Ram Navmi • Recap of the Govindraiji & Balkrishnaji • 252 Vaishnav Story – ChaChaJi • Jeopardy

3. Govind Swami • Born as a Brahmin in the village of Aantari in UP in 1506 CE and lived to 80. • Govind Swami was a great poet and musician. • He was initiated into PushtiMarg by ShriGusainji in 1536. • Govind Swami became a disciple of Shri Gusainji upon which he changed his name from Govind Swami to Govind Das. • Govind Das spent his life in the village of Mahavan near Gokul. • Only about 200 Kirtans are available today • Govind Das and ShriNathji had a friendly relationship and were often found playing. • Once when Govind Das was doing Kirtan in the Temple, he playfully took the pebble and hit ShriNathji. ShriGusainji saw this and asked: “Why did you hit ShriNathji? You should not.” • ”ShriNathji hit me 3 times before I hit back. What did I do wrong?” ShriGusainji chose not interfere anymore in the friendly relationship of ShriNathji and GovindDas.

4. Ashta-Sakha: Chitt Swamiji • Born a Brahmin (Chauba) in Mathura in 1516 CE. Lived to be 70. • Initiated into Pushti Marg by Gusainji. • Spent his life in Poonchari near Mt. Govardhan • Before being initiated into Pushti Marg, ChhitSwami was the bully of Mathura. As a “Chauba” he was considered a strong man and his gang was famous for harassing residents and visitors of Mathura. • When the ChhitSwami gang heard of Gusainji and his divine powers, they decided to test him. ChhitSwami entered the chamber to meet Gusainji and felt divine vibrations and saw Krishna. • He confessed his intentions and requested Gusainji to make him his disciple. Gusainji agreed and asked him for the offerings that he brought. ChhitSwami did not wish to offer rotten coconut and fake coins so he hesitated. To ChhitSwami’s surprise, the coconut turned out to be a good one and the coins were not fake anymore. He ultimately understood ShriGusainji’s divine powers.

5. Manorath • Nandottsav: Celebrating birth of the Lord by the residents of Vraj. • Khel: One of the most colorful manoraths of all times, it celebrates the festival of color - holi/ dhuleti. • Dana: Lord demanding buttermilk from the gopis of Vraj. • Lagna Mahotsav :- Celebrating the wedding of the Lord. • Ratha Yatra: Lord's journey in the chariot. • Snana Yatra: Lord is bathed in various cool and fragrant liquids. • Nav Mahotsav: The Lord's boating expedition with the milk maids of Vraj. • Kunj: flower bowers and gardens of Vraj. • Bangala: Pavilions made of various woods, silver, gilt, gold, flowers, khas, various scented spices, pearls, mirrors, embroided cloth etc. • Hindola:- Swings made of similar materials (set in halls, courtyards or garden) • Chappan Bhog: Various food offered to Lord as a great feast. (Generally 56) • Chak / Vanbhogan etc: Picnic of the Lord in woods of Vraj with his friends. • Shada-rutu-ka-uttsav: Celebrating all the six seasons in one day. Progressing through the seasons and celebrating the best of each during the darshans through the day.

6. Difference between Utsav and Manorath? • The root word in Manorath is Man=Heart’s desire. • The whole word Manorath means ones desire to perform seva for Thakroji. • Utsav is a festival with celebration to perform seva for Thakroji.

7. Ram Navami • Celebrated in honor of the birth of Lord Ram on the 9th day (navam). Also honors Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman • Celebrations begin with a prayer to the Sun early in the morning. At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a special prayer is performed • Period of Ram’s reign is known to be of peace and righteousness • The pujas and celebrations all include worship to the Sun (Surya). Ram’s dynasty is considered to have come from the Sun = Raghu Vansh. (Raghu means sun; Vansh means family) • Surya also represents power and energy as does Ram • Celebrations are similar to Janmastmi: processions, honoring the actual birth time, fasting, wearing new clothes, and giving dakshina to Brahmins are some of the traditions • People travel to temples in Ayodhya, Ujjain and Rameshwaram

8. Ram Navami • Varying traditions all across India to celebrate • In the North, they celebrate across 9 days (Spring Navratri) • In the South, viewed as a wedding anniversary for Ram-Sita so wedding celebrations take place • In Ayodhya, they have pujas starting at sunrise and do a Rathyatra • Celebrated on March 24th this year

9. Govindraiji • Second son of Gusaiji • He was born in the village of Adel in 1542 AD • His nickname was 'Rajaji‘ because of his wisdom and well-rounded knowledge of Sanskrit, Brijbasha • He married Shri Raniji and had four sons and two daughters. • He was an eminent scholar of Sanskrit Grammar. He had such a great attachment for Krshna worship that he hadn't even attended the marriage procession of his son Kalyanraiji to avoid being apart from worship. • He served his swaroop Vitthalnathji devotedly throughout his life. • He always perform Uthapan’s seva. On the day of Khaliyanji’s wedding, tears ran down from his eyes. Seeing this Gusainji asked why tears on this occasion, he replied “He is missing Uthapan seva” Shri Gusainji told him to attain uthapan seva.

10. Vitthalnathji • Found a Renunciate saint during a holy bath in the Ganga river • The saint took the swaroop to Vallabhacharya in Charanat; this was just before the birth of his second son • Vallabhacharya named his second son after the swaroop • Currently is worshipped in the Vitthalnathji Mandir in Nathdwara, Rajashthan; Vithalnathji and Swaminiji preside in this mandir together • The word “Vitthal” comes from “vid” which means “knowledge”. The suffix ‘tha’ means ‘ignorance’ and the verb ‘la’ means to provide. It means one who removes ignorance and provides complete knowledge of devotion. • The complexion of Vittalnathji is both golden and dark. In His right hand there is a Lotus symbol and a conch shell in His left hand. His feet are equal in size and point forward. His head has a crown (Mukut). Only one foot has an anklet (nupur).

11. Balkrishnaji • Third son of Shri Vitthalanathaji, born in Adel • He was a bit darker, well built and had big eyes. • Married Kamlavati Bahuji • He had six sons and a daughter • Since his eyes were so beautiful, he was called by the nickname 'Rajiv-lochan' (Rajiv=Lotus Lochan=eye) • Balkrishnalalji had a great bond to his 6th brother (Yadunathji). Due to this, they always use to perform the seva together. • Balkrishnalalji got the swaroop of Dwarkadhishji. • Once on Nandmahotsav day he became Yasodhaji and was swinging the palna and because of motherly love and affection a spring of milk ran out from his breast and at that time he was singing pad “tum vrajrani ke lalna”. • He had immense knowledge and he could interpret Dreams

12. 252 Vaishnav #3 :: ChaChaji • Chacha Harivanshraiji was a Rajas Bhakt • Born near Patna into a Kshatriya family • Chandrakala in the Leela (gopi form) • Gusaiji allowed Chachaji to initiate others with Krishna mantra • ChaChaji told Gusaiji to remain in Gokul and that if he had would travel around for any work that needed to be done. When Gusaji was leaving the world, he told ChaChaji that he would always be in Gokul. • Because he couldn’t see Gusaiji leaving his body, ChaChaji left for Gujarat (for that time period). • After Gusaiji left the world, ChaChaji renunciated the world and never left Gokul.