THE DEMONS IN VRINDAVANA-LILA Krishna Vanquishes Our Material Desires Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains in his Sri Caitanya Siksamrita: "Sri Krishna's activities are of two distinct types; namely nitya (eternal), and naimittika (occasional). In Goloka Vrindavana, Krishna's nitya-lila or eternal pastimes are conducted throughout eight periods of the day, and they are constantly in motion. But in Bhauma Vrindavana this ata-kaliya-lila is mixed with the naimittika-lila or occasional pastimes. Some occasional pastimes include Krishna's leaving Vrindavana to live in Mathura and Dvaraka, His returning to Vraja, His killing of various demons and so forth. These pastimes are very useful for an aspiring devotee who is bound within the material world. The naimittika-lila or occasional pastimes of leaving Vraja actually exist in Goloka Vrindavana, but only in a conspicuously absent manner; they are truly manifest only in the material world. Practicing devotees (s€dhakas) understand these occasional pastimes to be like negatively-tinted reflections of the eternal pastimes. And such sincere devotees hope that by the influence of understanding the purpose of Krishna's performance of different occasional pastimes, their own various anarthas or unwanted material contaminations will be destroyed." In the above-mentioned book Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has explained how the demons Lord Krishna killed in Vrindavana represent the main obstacles facing the aspiring devotee. If, by the Lord's grace, these demons can be killed in the various ways they may manifest themselves in our lives, then our progress in devotional service is guaranteed. That is the theme of this course. Srila Rupa Goswami has explained in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu that there are nine stages devotees pass through as they advance in Krishna consciousness: adau sraddha tatah sadhu- sango-'tha bhajana-kriya tato'nartha nivrittis syat tato nistha rucis tatah athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati sadhakanam ayam premnah pradhurbhave bhavet kramah Srila Prabhupada translates these verses as follows: "In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. This taste leads one further forward to attachment for Krishna consciousness, which is matured in bhava, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life." The specific stages are: 1. Sraddha - faith 2. Sadhu-sanga - association with devotees 3. Bhajana-kriya - trying to seriously take up the process of devotional service 4. Anartha-nivritti - becoming free of all unwanted things 5. Nistha - steadiness in Krishna consciousness 6. Ruci - a deep taste for Krishna consciousness 7. Asakti - attachment for Krishna 8. Bhava - ecstasy, the first rays of the sun of love for Krishna 9. Prema - pure love for Krishna To attain Vraja-bhakti, pure devotional service in Sri Vrindavana Dhama is no cheap thing. In Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada says: "Persons desiring to follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lord as the Vrishnis and Vrindavana denizens are called raganuga devotees, which means that they are trying to attain to the perfection of those devotees. These raganuga devotees do not follow the regulative principles of devotional service very strictly, but by spontaneous nature they become attracted to some of the eternal devotees such as Nanda or Yasoda, and they try to follow in their footsteps spontaneously. There is a gradual development of the ambition to become like a particular devotee, and this activity is called raganuga. "We must always remember, however, that such eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the denizens of Vraja (Vrindavana) is not possible unless one is freed from material contamination. In following the regulative principles of devotional service, there is a stage called anartha-nivrtti, which means the disappearance of all material contamination. Sometimes someone is found imitating such devotional love, but factually he is not freed from anarthas, or unwanted habits. It has been seen that a so-called devotee proclaims himself a follower of Nanda, Yasoda or the gopis, while at the same time his abominable attraction for mundane sex life is visible. Such a manifestation of divine love is mere imitation and has no value. When one is actually spontaneously attracted to the loving principles of the gopis, there will be found no trace of any mundane contamination in his character. "Therefore, in the beginning, everyone should strictly follow the regulative principles of devotional service, according to the injunctions of the scriptures and the spiritual master. Only after the stage of liberation from material contamination can one actually aspire to follow in the footsteps of the devotees in Vrindavana." Once one has passed through the stage of anartha-nivritti one is able to advance more quickly, seeing that one's obstacles are largely overcome. While lecturing on Bhagavad Gita in 1971 Srila Prabhupada explained: "In this way, when anartha-nivritti is finished, perfect, then he becomes firmly stuck up in Krishna consciousness. Tato nistha tato ruci. Then taste. The taste is so nice that one cannot give up Krishna consciousness. One cannot give up chanting of Hare Krishna. It increases the transcendental taste. And after taste, there is asakti. Krishna is speaking from that stage here. Mayy asakta-manah, asakti, attachment. When there is attachment of Krishna, that is the almost final stage of your perfectional life." A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DEMONS AND THE ANARTHAS THEY REPRESENT In his Sri Caitanya Siksamrita Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of the demons Krishna killed in His Vrindavana pastimes and the anarthas they represent. (Of course we should note that not in all cases is Lord Krishna dealing with demons as such, like in the pastime of the Brahma-vimohana-lila, and the lifting of Govardhana Hill, although He is always dealing with people who have antagonistic mentalities.) 1. Putana. The pseudo-guru, which may be either a person or one's own conditioned mind. 3. Sakatasura (the cart demon). The tendency to carry the cartload of bad habits accumulated in this life and previous lives. He also represents lethargy and dullness. 2. Trinavarta (the whirlwind demon). The false pride arising from material scholarship, which gives rise to bogus philosophies. 4. Deliverance of Nalakuvara and Manigriva (breaking the twin arjuna trees). Arrogant pride from a high birth, rooted in madness for wealth. 5. Vatsasura (the calf-demon). Anarthas related to children. 6. Bakasura (the duck/stork demon). Cunning duplicity, deceptiveness and false types of behaviour. 7. Aghasura (the snake demon). Cruelty and violence. 8. Brahma-vimohana lila (Lord Brahma steals the cowherd boys and calves). The tendency to think that aisvarya-lila is more important than madhurya-lila. Also the tendency to think that material position is important in spiritual life. 9. Dhenukasura (the ass demon). The mode of ignorance. Gross materialistic intelligence, ignorance of spiritual knowledge. 10. Kaliya (chastising the Kaliya serpent). Brutality and treachery. Poisoning the hearts of the devotees with malicious gossip. 11. Extinguishing the First Forest Fire. Inter-communal discord among Vaisnavas. 12. Pralambasura (killing the Pralamba demon). The mode of passion. Lusty inclinations, and desire for personal gain or honour. 13. The Second Forest Fire. Disruption of religious principles and interference with religious people by atheism. 14. Correcting the Brahmanas Performing Sacrifice. Callousness towards Krishna due to pride because of one's position in varnasrama. 15. Overcoming the Pride of Lord Indra. Demigod worship, and the tendency to think "I am Supreme." 16. Nanda Maharaja Stolen by Varuna. Thinking that spiritual life can be enhanced by intoxication. 17. Nanda Maharaja Delivered from the Snake. Rescuing the truth of eternal Krishna consciousness which has been swallowed by impersonalists. 18. Sankhacuda (killing the conch-shell demon and retrieving the jewel stolen by him). Proneness towards acquiring name and fame, and desire for sensuous enjoyment, under the plea of devotion. 19. Aristasura (the bull demon).Pride arising from indulging in false religions invented by cheaters which causes neglect of bhakti. 20. Kesi (the horse demon). The feeling that "I am a great devotee and spiritual master" 21. Vyomasura (the sky demon). Associating with thieves and other rascals, and with people who put themselves forward as avataras. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: "The devotee who worships the holy name should first petition the Lord for the strength to cast out all these unfavourable tendencies - and should pray thus before Lord Hari on a daily basis. By doing this regularly, the devotee's heart will eventually become purified. Sri Krishna has killed a number of demons which may arise in the kingdom of the heart - so in order to destroy these problems, a devotee must cry very humbly before the Lord and admit defeat - then the Lord will nullify all contaminations."