Sthayi-bhava never changes

[The following pastime is from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter 9, verses 109–149:]

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places:

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa is a devotee of the rāmānuja sampradāya. He used to worship Śrī Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Seeing his devotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very satisfied. By associating with each other continually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa developed a relationship of friendship, and they would laugh and joke with each other.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; “My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, your goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī-ṭhākurāṇī is always situated on the chest of her husband, Nārāyaṇa. She is known as the crest-jewel of all chaste ladies. My worshipable Lord is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, a cowherd boy who tends cows. Why is it that Lakṣmī, being so chaste, wants His association? For this reason, She has given up pleasure and for a long time, has taken regulative vows and performed endless austerities.”

(Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted the Nāga-patnīs prayer to Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.16.36):

कस्यानुभावो’स्य न देव विद्महे
तवाङ्घ्रि-रेणु-स्पर्शाधिकारः
यद्-वाञ्छया श्रीर् ललनाचरत् तपो
विहाय कामान् सु-चिरं धृत-व्रता

kasyānubhāvo’sya na deva vidmahe
tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparśādhikāraḥ
yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo
vihāya kāmān su-ciraṃ dhṛta-vratā

O Lord, we cannot understand what sādhana our husband has performed to become qualified to receive the touch of the dust of Your lotus feet. This dust is so rare that to attain it, even Your wife Lakṣmī gave up all forms of enjoyment for many, many days and performed austerities according to rules and regulations.

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa replied, “Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are one and the same personality. Lord Kṛṣṇa has more attractive pastimes due to their clever amorous nature. By touching the same personality, Lakṣmī’s vow of chastity does not disappear. It was in great delight that Lakṣmī wanted to associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then quoted a verse from scripture:

सिद्धान्ततस् त्व् अभेदे’पि श्रीश-कृष्ण-स्वरूपयोः
रसेनोत्कृष्यते कृष्ण-रूपम् एषा रस-स्थितिः

siddhāntatas tv abhede’pi śrīśa-kṛṣṇa-svarūpayoḥ
rasenotkṛṣyate kṛṣṇa-rūpam eṣā rasa-sthitiḥ

According to siddhānta, there is no difference between the forms of Kṛṣṇa and the husband of Lakṣmī. However, the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is superior in rasa, and therefore He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. (Bhaktirasāmṛta-sindhu, 1.2.59)

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa went on: “The goddess of fortune considered that her vow of chastity would not be broken in the company of Kṛṣṇa. rather, she would profit by being able to take part in the rāsa dance. Lakṣmī-devī, the goddess of fortune, is a relisher of transcendental happiness. Therefore, what fault is there if she wants to enjoy herself with Kṛṣṇa? Why do You joke about this?”

The Lord replied, “There is no fault there. But I know that Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, could not join the rāsa dance. We hear this from the revealed scriptures.”

नायं श्रियो’ङ्ग उ नितान्त-रतेः प्रसादः स्वर्-योषितां नलिन-गन्ध-रुचां कुतोऽन्याः
रासोत्सवे’स्य भुज-दण्ड-गृहीत-कण्ठ-लब्धाशिषां य उदगाद् व्रज-सुन्दरीणाम्

nāyaṃ śriyo’ṅga u nitānta-rateḥ prasādaḥ svar-yoṣitāṃ nalina-gandha-rucāṃ kuto'nyāḥ
rāsotsave’sya bhuja-daṇḍa-gṛhīta-kaṇṭha-labdhāśiṣāṃ ya udagād vraja-sundarīṇām

In the rāsa festival, Śrī Kṛṣṇa embraced the vrajasundarīs around their necks with His vine-like arms, thus fulfilling their hearts’ desires. even Lakṣmī, who eternally resides on His chest, does not attain this mercy. It is also not attained by the most beautiful girls of the heavenly planets, whose bodily lustre and fragrance resemble the lotus flower, what to speak of other beautiful women. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 10.47.60)

“What is the reason why Lakṣmī-devī could not attain this? How did the personified Vedas who also underwent austerities attain this?

निभृत-मरुन्-मनो-ऽक्ष-दृढ-योग-युजो हृदि यन्मुनय उपासते तद् अरयो’पि ययुः स्मरणात्
स्त्रिय उरगेन्द्र-भोग-भुज-दण्ड-विषक्त-धियो वयम् अपि ते समाः समदृशो’ङ्घ्रि-सरोज-सुधाः

nibhṛta-marun-mano-'kṣa-dṛḍha-yoga-yujo hṛdi yanmunaya upāsate tad arayo’pi yayuḥ smaraṇāt
striya uragendra-bhoga-bhuja-daṇḍa-viṣakta-dhiyo vayam api te samāḥ samadṛśo’ṅghri-saroja-sudhāḥ

The upaniṣads said, “By practising mystic yoga and controlling the life-airs, great sages subdue the mind and senses. In this way, they are able to see the Supreme Lord within the heart and ultimately enter into the impersonal Brahman. even the enemies of the Supreme Lord attain that position simply by thinking of the Lord. But the gopīs, attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, whose arms are like serpents, simply wanted to be embraced by Him. Thus, the gopīs tasted the nectar of the Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. By following in the footsteps of the gopīs, we upaniṣads also obtain that nectar.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 10.87.23)

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked why the goddess of fortune could not enter into the rāsa-līlā whereas the personified Vedas could, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa replied, “My mind is unable to penetrate this.” He then admitted, “I am an ordinary human being with limited intelligence. I am easily agitated. My mind cannot enter into the deep ocean of the pastimes of the Supreme Lord. You are Kṛṣṇa Himself. You know the purpose of Your activities. Only that person whom You choose to enlighten can understand these pastimes.”

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Śrī Kṛṣṇa has a special characteristic: He attracts everyone’s heart by the mellow of His sweetness. By following the inhabitants of Vraja-loka (Goloka Vṛndāvana), one can attain the shelter Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. However, the inhabitants of Vraja do not know that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Vraja someone may accept Kṛṣṇa as a son and bind Him to a grinding mortar. Someone else may accept Him as a friend and ride on His shoulders after attaining victory over Him. The inhabitants of Vraja know Kṛṣṇa as the son of Nanda Mahārāja, and they have no relationship with Kṛṣṇa in the mood of opulence. One who worships Śrī Kṛṣṇa by following the mood of the inhabitants of Vraja attains Kṛṣṇa in Vraja, where He is known as the son of Nanda Mahārāja.”

Caitanya Mahāprabhu then quoted a verse:

नायं सुखापो भगवान् देहिनां गोपिका-सुतः
ज्ञानिनां चात्म-भूतानां यथा भक्ति-मताम् इह

nāyaṃ sukhāpo bhagavān dehināṃ gopikā-sutaḥ
jñānināṃ cātma-bhūtānāṃ yathā bhakti-matām iha

The Supreme Lord, the son of Mother Yaśodā, is not as easily attainable by jñānīs, by those performing severe austerities, and by those who consider the body the same as the self. But He is accessible to those engaged in spontaneous loving service to Him. (ŚrīmadBhāgavatam, 10.9.21)

“The personified Vedas followed in the footsteps of the gopīs, worshiping Śrī Kṛṣṇa in their mood. They attained bodies like those of the gopīs and took birth in Vraja. They were allowed to enter into Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā with those bodies. Śrī Kṛṣṇa belongs to the community of cowherds, and the gopīs are His dearmost lovers. The wives of the demigods are the most opulent within the material world, but neither they nor any other women in the material universe can obtain Kṛṣṇa’s association. Lakṣmī wanted to associate with Kṛṣṇa in her form of Lakṣmī. However, she did not follow in the footsteps of the gopīs in her worship of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Vyāsadeva composed the verse beginning with the word nāyaṃ [nāyaṃ sukhāpo bhagavān…] because no one can enter into the rāsa-līlā in a body other than that of a gopī.”

Before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave this explanation, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa had thought that Śrī Nārāyaṇa was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that worship of Nārāyaṇa was the supreme form of worship, for it was followed by the Śrī Vaiṣṇava followers of rāmānujācārya. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had spoken so many joking words to correct Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa’s misconception.

Mahāprabhu then continued, “Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, please do not doubt that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the conclusion of śāstra. In Kṛṣṇa’s form as Lord Nārāyaṇa, He attracts the minds of Lakṣmī-devī and Her followers.

एते चांश-कलाः पुंसः कृष्णस् तु भगवान् स्वयम्
इन्द्रारि-व्याकुलं लोकं मृडयन्ति युगे युगे

ete cāṃśa-kalāḥ puṃsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
indrāri-vyākulaṃ lokaṃ mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

All the incarnations of the Supreme Lord are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the puruṣa-avatāras. However, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He incarnates in different yugas to protect the world from the enemies of Indra. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 1.3.28)

“Śrī Kṛṣṇa has four extraordinary qualities that Lord Nārāyaṇa does not possess, and therefore, Lakṣmī-devī always desires His company. The very śloka which you have recited [siddhāntatas tv abhede'pi], is evidence that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

सिद्धान्ततस् त्व् अभेदेऽपि श्रीश-कृष्ण-स्वरूपयोः
रसेनोत्कृष्यते कृष्ण-रूपम् एषा रस-स्थितिः

siddhāntatas tv abhede'pi śrīśa-kṛṣṇa-svarūpayoḥ
rasenotkṛṣyate kṛṣṇa-rūpam eṣā rasa-sthitiḥ

According to siddhānta, there is no difference between the forms of Kṛṣṇa and the husband of Lakṣmī. However, the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is superior in rasa, and therefore He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. (Bhaktirasāmṛta-sindhu, 1.2.59)

“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, attracts the mind of Lakṣmī-devī, but Lord Nārāyaṇa is unable to attract the minds of the gopīs. To say nothing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Nārāyaṇa just to joke with the gopīs. He assumed the four-armed form of Nārāyaṇa in front of the gopīs, but the gopīs were not attracted.”

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, Trivallabha Bhaṭṭa and Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī were all great devotees of Śrī Śrī Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, but their sthāyī-bhāva had not yet manifested. That is why, when they associated with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, their mood changed.

Another example in this discussion of sthāyī-bhāva is Murāri Gupta, who was an incarnation of Hanumān. His mood never changed, even in the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This pastime appears in the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.137–157:

Embracing Murāri Gupta, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to speak about his unflinching faith in bhakti in front of all the devotees. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Previously I induced Murāri Gupta again and again to be attracted to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. I said to him, ‘O Gupta, Vrajendra-kumāra is supreme sweetness. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all incarnations and the basis of everything. He is pure transcendental love, and the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa possesses all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is intelligent, expert, selfcontrolled, and the foremost enjoyer of all rasa. His character is very sweet, as are His pastimes. By His cunning expertise, He enjoys pastimes filled with rasa. Worship that Śrī Kṛṣṇa and take shelter of Him. Besides His worship, nothing appeals to the mind.’”

“Hearing these words from Me again and again, his mind was a little altered by My influence, and he said to Me, ‘I am Your servant and I carry out Your order. I am not independent.’ He then went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would have to give up his Śrī rāmacandra, the protector of the raghu dynasty. Thus, he was overwhelmed. He wondered how he could possibly give up the feet of Śrī rāmacandra. He prayed to Śrī rāmacandra that it was better for him to die that night. In this way Murāri Gupta cried the whole night. His mind disturbed, he could not sleep, but stayed awake the entire night.

“In the morning, Murāri Gupta came to me and caught hold of My feet. Crying, he submitted an appeal. He said, ‘I have sold my head to Śrī rāmacandra. I cannot withdraw my head now, for that would give me too much pain. It is impossible for me to give up the service of Śrī rāmacandra’s feet. But if I do not do so, I shall disobey Your order. What am I to do? You are all-merciful, so please bestow Your mercy upon me. Let me die before You so that my doubts will vanish.’

“I became very happy when I heard this. I picked Murāri Gupta up, embraced him, and said to him, ‘All glories to you, Murāri Gupta! Your worship is so firmly fixed that your mind did not alter even upon My request. The servant should have love for his Lord just like this. even if the Lord Himself wants separation, the servant cannot give up His lotus feet. It was just to test your firm faith in your Lord that I repeatedly urged you to change your worship from Śrī rāmacandra to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You are Hanumān himself, the servant of Śrī rāma. Why should you give up the worship of Lord rāma’s lotus feet?” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Murāri Gupta is My life and soul. Hearing of his humility, My life becomes perturbed.”

Here is another example from the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 4.28–43:

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī said to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “I was born in a low family, for my family performs all irreligious and sinful activities. You have accepted me as Your servant without hatred for my family. Only by Your mercy is there auspiciousness in my family. My younger brother Anupama worshipped Śrī rāmacandra, the protector of the raghu dynasty, with great determination from his early childhood. Day and night, he chanted the holy name of Śrī rāmacandra and meditated upon Him. He continuously listed to the Lord’s pastimes from Rāmāyaṇa and sang about them. rūpa and I are his elder brothers. He always stayed with us. He heard ŚrīmadBhāgavatam and discussions about Śrī Kṛṣṇa with us, and we both examined him. We said to him, ‘Dear Vallabha, please listen. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is supremely attractive. His beauty, sweetness and loving pastimes are without limit. engage yourself in bhajana to Kṛṣṇa with the two of us. We three brothers shall stay together and enjoy discussing the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.’

“We spoke to him in this way again and again, and out of his respect for the two of us, his mind changed somewhat. Finally, he said to us, ‘Dear brothers, how can I disobey your orders? Initiate me into the kṛṣṇa-mantra so that I may perform bhajana to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.’

“After saying this, at night he began to think, ‘How shall I give up the feet of Śrī rāmacandra?’

“The whole night he was awake and weeping. In the morning, he came before us and pleaded: ‘I have sold my head at the lotus feet of Śrī rāmacandra. I am unable to take it back. That would be too painful for me. Be merciful to me. Please give me the order that I should serve the feet of Śrī rāmacandra life after life. It is impossible for me to give up the lotus feet of Śrī rāmacandra. My heart breaks when I think of doing so.’

“Hearing this, we both embraced him. We said to him, ‘excellent! Your determination in bhakti is immovable.’ In this way, we praised him.”

Through these examples of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, Murāri Gupta, and Anupama, we can see that the practitioner of devotional service (sādhaka) may change his attraction to a different form of the Lord if he has not yet realized his constitutional form. We see how, when Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa associated with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he changed his mood of exclusively worshipping Śrī Śrī Lakṣmī Nārayaṇa and came in the upāsana^[1] of Śrī Śrī rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

In contrast, Murāri Gupta in his nitya-līlā was the eternal servant of Lord rāma, therefore he could never change his exclusive worship of Lord rāma even in the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The same is true of Anupama. His devotion to Lord rāma was in accordance with his eternal nature, and that is why he could not change his service mood even in the association of rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs, who are the foremost devotees of Śrī Śrī rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Our Śrīla Gurudeva’s case is similar to that of Veṅkaṭa Bhatta. Śrīla Gurudeva had even received the darśana of Lord rāma, Sītā-devī, Lakṣmaṇa, and Hanumān. Nonetheless, when he heard the sweet glorification of the Divine Couple Śrī Śrī rādhā-Kṛṣṇa from the Gauḍīya sampradāya, he changed his line and mind, and determined to perform bhajana of the Divine Couple, as taught and exemplified by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Upāsana means to do sādhana bhajana