It was Rasa Purnima, the full moon night of October. According to the Srimad Bhagavatam this was the night when Lord Krishna performed the Rasa dance, a dance that represents the most perfect intimacy between the soul and God.
At Radhagopinath Temple, Mumbai, devotees had worked all day to transfigure the holy altar of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krishna into a replica of the flower forest of Vrindavan. Now, in the darkness of the night, a veil of dim blue light (of course from concealed electric bulbs ;)) draped that forest; and amidst trees, creepers and fountains were deities of Radha, Krishna and the Gopis dressed in bright attires.
Radhanath Swami sat in front, singing kirtan in deep emotion, while devotees who numbered in thousands chanted in response. He chanted a slow melody that surfaced that yearning for devotion in every sincere heart; I played the mradanga drum in a soft beat while the hand cymbals chimed in the backdrop.
After hours of chanting, Radhanath Swami requested one of the monks to lead the Kirtan, now that he was exhausted. As the new singer took the microphone, upon a friend’s instigation I kept the mradanga drum aside and placed the dholak drum on my lap. BHOOM! It’s very first beat was foreboding, for my conscience whispered that dholak didn’t fit the occasion. Dholak is meant for roaring kirtans, not soft one’s. But that whisper soon drowned in the booms, and before long, my beats–and not the lead singer–controlled the kirtan; the kirtan roared, the crowd rose to their feet and danced in wild abandon.
Radhanath Swami looked appalled. The reason was obvious to me: the music didn’t reflect the mellow mood of the festival. Guilt rushed through me upon seeing Radhanath Swami’s displeasure, and my hands froze. Meanwhile, Radhanath Swami leaned over to his dear student Gaur Gopal Prabhu and told something in his ear. In response, Gaur Gopal Prabhu directed the kirtan party to swerve back to the soft melody. The music then fell to gel with the occasion.
I was mortified: I had ruined one of the best festivals of the year; I had desecrated the devotional sentiments of the devotees; and I had spoiled the Kirtan. I decided to beg forgiveness from Radhanath Swami the next day. But that night my mind reeled with apprehensions about Radhanath Swami’s response. Will he glower at me in disgust? Will he jab his finger into my chest and banish me from his sight? Or, in his natural self, will he forgive me with a sweet smile?
The next morning I caught Radhanath Swami alone in the staircase. Pressing my hands together I apologized, “I am sorry for spoiling the kirtan yesterday.” Radhanath Swami surprised me with an amused smile. “Gaurang, you don’t have the potency to spoil the kirtan of the Supreme Lord.” Softly touching my forehead in blessings, he walked away.
He had not only forgiven me, but had also deeply humbled me. How could any mortal like me spoil the glorification of the almighty Supreme Lord? We might imagine doing that, but no activity of the mundane realm can hinder the enjoyment of the Supreme autocrat Lord Krishna. And what to speak of disturbing the Supreme Lord, the consciousness of even the Lord’s exalted devotee floats above the undulations of worldly mishaps.
–Gaurang Chitphule
108 replies on “With Radhanath Swami on Rasa Purnima”
radhanath swami’s responses are always unique
thank you for sharing
Radhanath Swami is very deep. He is very forgiving as well.
Such a importaant lesson.
Thank you for sharing.
Radhanath Swami always sees the good qualities in a devotee and apppreciates it – which encourages from him/her to do more service.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much for sharing
Radhanath Swami’s focus at ALL times, is the pleasure of the Lord.
Every moment of association wth Maharaj helps us build our humility,as Maharaj speaks it as it is, and always so direct. Thank you Maharaj.
thanks for sharing this article with us.
I remember hearing once in Maharaj’s lecture that if forgiveness is not there in this world then the entire creation would come to a halt. Maharaj is forgiving so much down to earth in a human way that it brings the divine culture to the earthly relam.
Thankyou so much for sharing this marvellous event.
Radhanath Swami is always thinking about giving wonderful experience to the visitors coming to the temple
Radhanath Swami is so conscious of all the details while serving lord. And it is said details is sign of love.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj is showing how to deal with guilt in a humble way!
Radhanath swami has the art of wining the heart of others. Thank you very much for sharing the same.
The thought process of a pure devotee is inconceivable.
An interaction with Radhanath Swami ensures a new realization. Which when contemplated upon results into a purer action and once it is implemented and practiced it helps in building our character ,such is the importance of words emanating from Radhanath Swamis mouth.
The forgiving nature of Maharaj is so deep.
This is th mood Radhanath Swami has created amongst his students that they take responsibility and feel that they are the cause in spoiling if any thing like this goes wrong .BUT they also learn to understand the glories of Supreme autocrat Lord Krishna .
Such a crystal clear understanding Radhanath Swami brings out every time. Also a beautiful quality of always pleasing others is so much appreciable & so much to learn from.
Your thought patterns about the reaction of Radhanath Swami are so beautifully put — Will he glower at me in disgust? Will he jab his finger into my chest and banish me from his sight? Or, in his natural self, will he forgive me with a sweet smile?
The response Radhaanth Swami gave was so wonderful – sweet correction and making one realise what the error was.
very unexpected and reliving reply from swamiji.
Radhanath Swami has a soft heart & therefore he is always merciful…..
Radhanath Swami is expert at killing the anarthas (unwanted desires) without murdering the person.
Very nice experience. Radhanath Swami’s mood to always to please Krishna.
Radhanath Swami is a great teacher because he does everything from his heart very sincerely.
Radhanath Swami is so amazing, he so nicely taught lesson to his student and at the same time made him comfortable and encouraged him. Such a wonderful quality. And Radhanth Swami’s students, they love their teacher so much that they know Radhanath Swmai’s heart – what will please him and what will displease him. Thank you for sharing such a nice experience with Radhanath Swami.
With one act and one sentence Radhanath Swami does many things. Radhanath Swami not only forgiven with that sentence ” You don’t have the potency to spoil the kirtan”, but also spurred many realisations in Gurang Prabhu. Thank you Gurang Prabhu for sharing one of the intimate experiences with Radhanath Swami and inspiring us too.
A very heart touching article. Thank you very much for sharing it.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.
Beautiful incident! To be corrected by Radhanath Swami is in itself a blessing.
Chastisement is an ideal blessing and one must wait to receive it… Prabhuji, you are very lucky..
Radhanath Swami used words which conveyed forgiveness as well as a message for correction.Wonderful.
I love Maharaj’s answer. I also like the point made in the article that the consciousness of even the Lord’s exalted devotee floats above the undulations of worldly mishaps. Thanks for sharing. Hari Bol.
swami ji you have amazing way of encouraging people.
This article reminds of a living entities insignificant position.
Thank you for sharing this experience. Radhanath Swami teaches us humility in a way that it reaches the heart directly.
Radhanath Swami has very wittily taught that we are not the doers.
Radhanath Swami is very kind
beautiful pass time with HHRM, thanks for sharing, haribol, bhakti
HHRM in his humbles of forms as always, haribol, rajesh karia
Nice one….
I liked the authors realization
“He had not only forgiven me, but had also deeply humbled me. How could any mortal like me spoil the glorification of the almighty Supreme Lord?”
Maharajah so forgiving and that changes our heart.
This pastime with Radhanath Swami gives us the learning that the perspective of the transcendentalist is much beyond our mundane vision.We always think ourselves the doers, while the advanced devotees know that the Lord’s plans are different. This is the reason why Radhanath Swami always stresses on humility and tolerance.
Radhanath Swami makes you think then how you should always be conscious while doing devotional service i.e. whether your act will be pleasing to Krishna and devotees or not?
Thank you radhanath swami for making us understand that the Lord krsna is the supreme controller and we are insignificant in front of him.
very nice, thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much for sharing this. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has a special way of communicating the power of Krishna.
Amazing lesson in love…Thank You for sharing
One yearns to be in the association of HH Radhanath swami after listening to such deeo yet loving exchanges.
Lord Krishna’s pleasure is always the top priority for HH Radhanath Swami.He was deeply forgiving because he thought of whatever happened was Lord’s will.All glories to HH Radhanath Swami.