Holi Poornima and Holi Celebration

HOLI POORNIMA AND HOLI CELEBRATION.

Holi Poornima (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanti)

Holi Poornima is the full moon night before the Holi celebration day and is of extreme importance to mankind. On this auspicious full moon night, our supreme Divine Beloved Shri Radha -Krishna descended on this earth as the supreme embodiment of Love and Devotion in the form of Shri Chaitanyadev Gaurang Mahaprabhu. 

In Shri Mahaprabhu Chaitanya is to be found, the culmination and fulfilment of the philosophy and religion of Love (Bhakti).  The essence of devotion is contained in his “Ashtapadi” (eight verses), like the ocean concentrated in a little pot. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the descension of Shri Radha Rani. He propounded the message of devotion to lord Krishna, by practicing devotion himself.  His lovelorn condition reached a climax in the last six years of his life, which were spent in intensive bhava (ecstatic feelings) of Shri Radha Rani. In those days, all the expressions of the highest devotion, i.e. “Mahabhava” became manifest in him. His divine association turned great advaitavadis, such as Vasudev Sarvabhaum and Prakashanad, into loving devotees of Lord Krishna. Shri Chaitanyadev laid great emphasis upon sankirtan or chanting of the Divine Name as the highest means, and spread his message of devotion to Lord Krishna, through sankirtan. The Eight verses he wrote contain the most purest and beautiful philosophy.  

When Mahaprabhu Ji was eighteen years of age, He decided to reveal through His body” Divine Expressions” (Sattvic Bhava). In the Bhakti rasamrit sindhu it is stated that in remembering or chanting the name of Radha Krishna, one may become absolutely still. This is called (1) Stambh. The tone of voice changes and deepens. This is (2) Swarbhed. (3) Swed means perspiration and (4) Romanch means goose pimples. (5) Vepathu is the shaking of body and (6) Ashru are the tears of love. During ecstasy, the experience of Virah (separation) and Milan (union) cause the change in facial glow and expression.  This is (7) Vaivaran. Fainting in excessive feeling of virah or excessive joy of Milan is called (8) Pralaya.

These eight are the main Divine expressions, which appear in various intensities. A Divine personality may conceal these expressions at times, but not always. They are directly related to the ecstatic states of loving excitements with Shri Radha-Krishna. As Mahaprabhu Ji was himself the descension of Shri Radha Rani, His divine excitements were boundless.

There is no path which is as perfectly gratifying as devotion. You will be surprised to know that bhakti which submerges even the paramahansas’ is special ecstasy, it’s not something that can be practiced, nor does it come by itself. Bhakti is actually the name of the most intimate powers of God. Thus, about 500 years ago, Shri Radha Rani appeared in Nadia district of east India as Shi Chaitanya Mahaprabhu whose childhood name was Nimai. Mahaprabhu Ji appeared with hundreds of His associates. His mother, father, brother, and close relatives were all Divine personalities and the eternal associates of Shri Radha-Krishna from the Divine Vrindavan.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ji acted as a strict sanyasi so; in general, devotees were not even allowed to touch his feet. His diet and living was extremely simple. There was no propagation of the mission and no monastery to build. Thus, there was nothing much in the name of service (seva) which the devotees could do.  Their hearts longed to come close to Mahaprabhu Ji, have more of his association and serve him. Mahaprabhu Ji decided to come back again with expanded Graciousness and give them the opportunity to serve him by all means and have the most of his association. His philosophy is called ‘Achintyabhedabhed’, simultaneous distinction and non-distinction.

Thus happened the descension of the Supreme Power of Grace – Kripavatar as Bhakti-Yog-Rasavatar, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, lovingly called Shri Maharaji by his devotees. Thus after 500 years of Mahaprabhu's ascension descended the Yugal form as Shri Kripalu Mahaprabhu. Our Beloved Gurudev descended once again as embodiment of Grace, Love, and Devotion this time to deliver us further on the path of Shri RadhaKrishna Bhakti.

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Ji disappeared from this earth planet, people commented, “Oh, he had a Divine body. He disappeared in front of hundreds of people ... Surely he was a descended Divine personality”. However, the opportunity to receive his Divine grace also went with his departure.

On millions of occasions you have received the association of a true Saint, but your faith was imperfect and weak. Your attachment to your family, friends and pets and your intellectual involvement with false ideologies about God, introduced by religious ritualists and believers of impersonalism, have kept you well within the bounds of maya. For similar reasons only very few people submitted themselves fully to Mahaprabhu Ji and received the vision of Shri Radha-Krishna.

Try not to lose the chance of this lifetime; use it for divine service and the realisation of God, which offers internal joy and eternal wealth. If you have spiritual wealth, you can serve others and make them happy. However, if you are spiritually bankrupt, you will feel emptiness in your life. Material indulgence will not fulfil the emptiness that you often feel when you are alone. A needy person looking for physical needs uses his intelligence to politely bargain for the favour of another person. Such intellectual craftiness extends the field of further discontent. On the other hand, dedication to Radha-Krishna Love brings ultimate joy to those who wisely accept the path of divine love consciousness.

Holi celebration

On this night another supreme descension of Shri Krishna, known as Bhakt Prahalad was made to sit in the huge fire with Holika. Holika was Prahalad's father's sister and very evil in mind, a real Asura (demoness) who had the intention to kill Prahalad by burning Him alive. She sat in the fire with Prahalad because she was granted a boon that she could never be burnt by fire however, she was burnt, and Prahalad in turn came out unharmed since he had the power of unselfish Bhakti to Shri Radha –Krishna.

The death of evil Holika was celebrated with great joy. This is also known as Holika Dahan.  This simply shows that if any powers are abused the powers will destroy the abuser. Every power comes from God and the most powerful and the right power for us to have is the Power of Bhakti to Shri Radha-Krishna.

The true significance of Holi is Prahalad Charitra. Bhakt Prahalad, the divine descension of supreme Krishna Himself, in Asura (demonic) dynasty. Prahalad was born of Kayadu and Hiranyakashyap. When he was in His mothers womb his father was performing intense tapasya austere penance) and the mother was given shelter in Maharishi Narad’s ashram due to certain circumstances. She was in such a divine association with the Guru of the three worlds that Prahald who was extremely fortunate received all the Vedic teachings in his mother’s womb through the great Sage Narad. Both the mother and the child were brought back home by the father after he successfully completed his penance.

Hiranyakashyap started claiming to be the supreme god and dictated everyone to worship him alone. This was because he was granted the boon that not a single soul from the lord’s creation could kill him. That he shall not die either in the morning afternoon evening or night, neither inside nor outside, neither in the space nor on the ground, and neither with any weapon nor with any object. When granted this boon by Brahma he thought he became immortal. He was a bitter enemy of God Vishnu and was extremely cruel towards anyone who was found worshipping God Vishnu. Punishment was death penalty. However, he was completely unaware that God Himself had descended as his own son and was the most ardent devotee of God Vishnu.

Prahalad since his very childhood started teaching the children of the Asura’s right from the young age about Bhakti. They were small kids of 4-5 years old. In the Gurukul he would take the kid’s during spare time and teach them about God which would be against the teachings of the teachers. He turned every child into a great devotee of God through the most inspirational teachings. It made complete sense to the young minds and they started to experience the love and presence of God. Thus, Prahalad taught the entire world that divine knowledge should be given to a child right from the childhood.

He was the first Divine Personality to teach the world how to practise Bhakti by giving the nine steps to devotion. Shravanam, Keertanam, Vishnu-smaranam, Paadsewanam, Archanam, Vandanam, Daasyam, Sakhyam, and Atmanivedanam. (Listening, Chanting, Remembering, Devotion to the Divine Lotus Feet, Worship-arti,   Homage, Feeling as a humble Servant, Feeling as a humble friend, and   Self-surrender.)

He was the very personification of unselfish love and devotion. He proved to the world through His faith and devotion that God is omnipresent and appears for His devotees or when called with love and absolute faith at any time in any place.

Appearance of God as Lord Narsingh.

God descended on earth as Narsingh (half man half lion) to kill Hiranyakashyap and to put an end to evilness. Without going against the boon Hiranyakashyap was killed. Thus, no being of the creation but God Himself as Narsingh came and that too from a pillar which was in the centre of the palace, neither inside nor outside. The time was twilight, neither day or night. He held Hiranyakashyap on His lap, used His claws to tear him open, and thus came the end of Hiranyakashyap and evilness.

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and their Shakti’s all feared going near to pacify the most frightening and angry form of God Narsingh. Therefore, they asked Prahalad to approach Him. As soon as Prahalad went close to God Narsingh, the Lord started dancing with joy and held Prahalad on His Palm with deep affection pouring all His Love on Him.

Thus the Lord told Prahalad to ask for a boon. Prahalad started crying saying my Lord something must be wrong in my devotion that is why you are telling me to ask. The Lord said very lovingly that this is not the case but it is my irrefutable law that when I appear before a devotee I grant them a boon. Therefore, Prahalad said if this is the case then “grant me the boon Oh! My Lord that I may never have the  desire to ask for anything in my life”.

The moral behind this is that one should practise unflinching, unselfish, devotion to Shri Radha-Krishna and have absolute faith in the omnipresent form of God. To always chant the name of God disregard of age, time, and place.

Victory comes to the one who falls in Love with God and gets coloured in the colour of Divine Love Devotion.

HOLI KI BADHAI.HO! HO! HO! HORI HAI.