View source for And what was his (Prakasananda Sarasvati's) role again in the town? What was he... He was a Vedantist?

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[[Category:Questions asked to Srila Prabhupada]]
[[Category:Questions asked to SP... 1967]]
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1967 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1967 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="DiscourseonLordCaitanyaPlayBetweenSrilaPrabhupadaandHayagrivaApril561967SanFrancisco_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="1" link="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco" link_text="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco">
<div class="heading">Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. He was a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. He accepted Caitanya Mahāprabhu's principle and he offered his respect. He touched His feet. And he also joined. But there is no mention that he became officially a Vaisnava, but he accepted the philosophy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco|Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Second scene, fourth act, Caitanya Mahāprabhu after finishing His South Indian tour, He came back to Jagannātha Purī, His headquarter, and after some days He started for Vṛndāvana. While He was in Vṛndāvana He was embracing the tree as old friend, and the birds were sitting on His hand, as if receiving an old friend. Because He was Kṛṣṇa. So after many years they have seen. And that scene, if you can describe how He's traveling in the Vṛndāvana forest. Then He took bath in the several vānas and ghāṭas. Ghāṭas means bathing place of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. And everywhere He felt the ecstasy of Rādhārāṇī, separation. In this way He returned from Vṛndāvana, and when He came down to Prayag, modern Allahabad, at that time He met Rūpa Gosvāmī. Rūpa Gosvāmī.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Now you say the trees were old friends because He could remember that He was Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa used to play in these forests. He used to play in the forest. Yes. Now He met Rūpa Gosvāmī.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: At Prayag.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: At Prayag. Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Allahabad. And...</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: What is His age? I just want to keep checking on this, His age now. Is He twenty, in His twenties still?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, no. He took sannyāsa at twenty-four. Say twenty-five, twenty-six years.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Couple years later. All right. Because time is an important factor. You have to keep track of the time in the play.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. He toured, after His sannyāsa, He toured all over India for six years only. That means up to 30th year He toured all over India. And from 30th year to 48th year, 18 years, He constantly remained at Jagannātha Purī. He used to chant in the temple and meet His visitors. Especially during car festival ceremony of Jagannātha, from Bengal about 400, 500 devotees would go and meet Him, and they would remain there for four months continually. July, August, September, October. Four months. And then they would come back. In this way, for 18 years He passed in Jagannātha Purī. So Rūpa Gosvāmī, He met Rūpa Gosvāmī and He taught him about the science of devotion for ten days. That devotional service He instructed that the living entities they're roaming in the 8,400,000 species of life. Fortunately, if by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and if he gets one good spiritual master, then he learns about devotional service. So He taught him about the science of devotional service. That is the importance of meeting Rūpa Gosvāmī. So here the scenery must be mentioned. It is on the bank of Ganges. There is a nice ghāṭa, just like... You have been to Benares? No. You have been to Hardwar?</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: You have seen many ghāṭas, bathing places.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Oh yes, yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Similarly, there are ghāṭas in Benares, Prayag, and all, I mean to say, Vṛndāvana. That is the specific significance of Indian places of pilgrimage.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Yes. They bathe there every day I noticed.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. So similarly, there is a ghāṭa which is called Daśāśvamedha Ghāṭa at Prayag. He instructed about the science of devotional service to Rūpa Gosvāmī.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Now how old is Rūpa Goswami? Is he an old man?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Oh, he was old enough. He was not less than fifty years at that time.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: I see. All right. Anything else in the second scene, fourth act?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is it... And then He came back to Benares.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Who?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Caitanya Mahāprabhu.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: I thought He stayed in Jagannātha... He's not now... He left...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, from Jagannātha Purī He went to Vṛndāvana. From Vṛndāvana while coming down again He first of all came to Prayag. There He taught Rūpa Gosvāmī. Then when He still came down He came to Benares. At Benares He remained for two months. More than two months. And for two months continually He instructed Sanātana Gosvāmī about devotional service. That instruction you'll find in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I've written that Teachings of Lord Caitanya?</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. In that you'll find.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Now this third scene, meets Sanātana Gosvāmī, that's in Benares. And Sanātana is how old?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Sanātana was older than Rūpa Gosvāmī. He was the eldest. He was not less than about 65 or 70 years old. He was old man. Sufficiently old man.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Yes. And of the instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī are in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. All right. Now...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Similarly, the fourth scene, the teachings with Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, that is also in there.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Who is this?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī was at Benares. He was a Māyāvādī sannyāsī, Śaṅkara sampradāya. So he used to... This scene should be given that at Benares He was also walking all over the streets and roads, "Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa" and thousands and thousands men were following Him. This news arrived to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī who was the chief sannyāsī there and some of the devotees told, "Oh, a very nice sannyāsī has come to Benares. He's chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa." So Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī deprecated, "Oh! This is a nonsense! Why a sannyāsī should chant and dance? He should concentrate his mind in studying Vedānta. He is a fool." In this way Caitanya Mahāprabhu was criticized. So one Maharastrian brāhmaṇa, he was devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said that "This incident gave us much pain, sir. If You kindly meet this sannyāsī and talk with him about Vedānta-sūtra, that would be a nice thing." In the meantime one brāhmaṇa came and invited Lord Caitanya that "I have invited all the sannyāsīns of Benares, but I know You do not meet these Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, but still I have come to invite You. You kindly accept my invitation." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw this opportunity of meeting Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. He accepted his invitation, and there was a meeting, and there was discussion of Vedānta-sūtra with Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, and He converted him to be a Vaisnava. That is another incident.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: How old is this man?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī? He was also old man. Not less than sixty years old. Yes.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: And what was his role again in the town? What was he... He was a Vedantist?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. He was a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. He accepted Caitanya Mahāprabhu's principle and he offered his respect. He touched His feet. And he also joined. But there is no mention that he became officially a Vaisnava, but he accepted the philosophy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya officially, he became a Vaisnava. Then Lord Haridāsa meets...</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Fifth scene.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Fifth scene.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: This is Haridāsa Ṭhākura?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Haridāsa Ṭhākura.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: At who's death? At Haridāsa's death?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Haridāsa was very old man. He was Muhammadan.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: He was the person that was thrown in the river.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: So he finally met his end here, in the fifth scene.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: We are not meant for those... Of course, Haridāsa Ṭhākura has a separate life, but that we are not going to show.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Yes. All right. This particular incident.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Particular incident is significant, that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a brāhmaṇa and He was a sannyāsī. According to social custom He should not touch even a Muhammadan, but this Haridāsa Ṭhākura was a Muhammadan, and at his death He took the body Himself and danced, and He put him in the graveyard and distributed prasādam. And Haridāsa Ṭhākura for two, three days he was feeling not well. Because he was Muhammadan he did not enter the temple of Jagannātha temple. Because the Hindus were very strict. He was devotee, he never mind. Why he should create some row? So Caitanya Mahāprabhu appreciated his behavior that he did not want to create any... Because he has become devotee. Forcibly he was not going to the temple. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself was daily coming and seeing him. While going to take bath in the sea, He'll first of all see Haridāsa. "Haridāsa? What you are doing?" Haridāsa will offer his respect and He will sit and talk for some time. Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu will go to take His bath. In this way, one day when He came He saw Haridāsa not feeling very well. "Haridāsa? How is your health?" "Yes Sir, it is not very... After all, it is body." Then the third day He saw that Haridāsa is going to leave his body today. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked him, "Haridāsa, what do you desire?" Both of them could understand. Haridāsa said that "This is my last stage. If You kindly stand before me." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood before him and he left his body. (pause)</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: You mentioned that...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: After his departure the body was taken by Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself, and other devotees took him to the seaside and dug his graveyard. That grave is still in Jagannātha Purī. Haridāsa Ṭhākura's samādhi, tomb. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to dance. That was the ceremony. Because in a Vaiṣṇava ceremony, everything is kīrtana and dance. So that was His last ceremony of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: You mentioned something about Caitanya dancing with Haridāsa?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Haridāsa's body. Caitanya...dead body. Haridāsa's dead body.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Oh, with his dead body?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. His dead body.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: After his death.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: After his death.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Caitanya...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: While, I mean to say, Haridāsa was alive, he was dancing. But after the death of Haridāsa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself took the body and began to dance with kīrtana. That means his funeral ceremony was conducted by Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself. He took the body to the seaside and in the graveyard He...</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: He conducted the...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Funeral ceremony, yes.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: With a kīrtana.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: With kīrtana. Kīrtana is always there. And after burial there was distribution of prasādam and kīrtana. Haridāsa Ṭhākura. So here you have to show some talks with Haridāsa, how feelingly.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: All right. Are there any other... Is there any other information about Haridāsa?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: The life history of Haridāsa is that he was born in a Muhammadan family. Someway or other he became a devotee and was chanting 300,000 times Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu made him ācārya, the authority of chanting. Therefore we glorify him, "Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura ki jaya." Because he was made the ācārya, the authority of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then, when Lord Caitanya took sannyāsa, Haridāsa Ṭhākura desired that "My dear Lord, You are leaving Nabadwip, then what is the use of my life? Either you take me or let me die." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "No. Why shall you die? You come with Me." So He took him to Jagannātha Purī. At Jagannātha Purī, because he considered himself born of Muhammadan family, he did not enter. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him a place at Kāśīnātha Miśra's house and there he was chanting and Caitanya Mahāprabhu's sending him prasādam. In that way he was passing his days. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to come and see him daily, and one day he died like this.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: All right. That's the end of the fourth act. Now the fifth act...</p>
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