Shikshashtakam
The Siksastaka (IAST Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam) (Śikṣa means 'instruction', and aṣṭaka means 'eight') the only verses left by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,[1] with the majority of his philosophy being codyfied by his primary disciples, known as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan.[2] The Siksastaka is quoted within the Chaitanya Charitamrita[3], Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami's biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, written in Bengali script. The teachings contained within the eight verses are believed to contain the essence of all teachings on Bhakti yoga within the Gaudiya tradition.
Starting verse of Siksastaka states number of reasons on why sankirtana (i.e. congregational chanting of the holy names) should be emphasized.
"The first reason is because it cleanses the heart of all the dust that’s been there for many years. This refers to an internal cleansing process. If we neglect to clean a room, soon dust will appear on the furniture and under the bed. But the dirt that the chanting of Hare Krishna cleans is the dirt of material desires within the heart. Whenever we desire something and forget the pleasure of Krishna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is a “dirty” desire. Otherwise, nothing is innately good or bad. But if we desire anything other than pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is inauspicious."
Verses
The Eight Verses of Siksastaka of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are
1
- ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha--davagni-nirvapanam
- sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
- anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
- sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-Krishna-sankirtanam
Glory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
2
- namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis
- tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah
- etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi
- durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
3
- trnad api sunicena
- taror api sahisnuna
- amanina manadena
- kirtaniyah sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
4
- na dhanam na janam na sundarim
- kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye
- mama janmani janmanisvare
- bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth.
5
- ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
- patitam mam visame bhavambudhau
- krpaya tava pada-pankaja-
- sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya
O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krishna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet.
6
- nayanam galad-asru-dharaya
- vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira
- pulakair nicitam vapuh kada
- tava nama-grahane bhavisyati
O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs on my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?
7
- yugayitam nimesena
- caksusa pravrsayitam
- sunyayitam jagat sarvam
- govinda-virahena me
O Govinda! Felling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.
8
- aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam
- adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
- yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
- mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah
I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly in His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord unconditionally.
Importance of Japa
Within his Siksastaka, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stresses on the importance of singing (bhajan) and chanting (japa) the Names of God. This is the primary feature of Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual practice (sadhana).
- 2) O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
- 3) One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
See also
References
- ^ a b
Satsvarupa, Dasa Goswami (2005). "Gaura Purnima - Sri Siksastakam - Reflections". www.iskcon.com. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|authorslink=ignored (help) - ^ Gaudiya.com "Sri Chaitanya is not known to have written anything but a series of verses known as the Siksastaka, the eight verses of instruction. He requested a select few among his followers, who later came to be known as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, to systematically present in their writings the theology of bhakti he had taught."
- ^ CC-Al 6.239 ""One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."
External links
- Sikshashtaka: Lord Chaitanya's Mission (vedabase.net)
- "Sri Siksastakam". www.iskcon.com.