Sri Aisvarya-kadambini
BY: SUN STAFF
Mar 06, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — 'Sri Aisvarya-kadambini: The Monsoon of Lord Krsna's Opulence' by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana – the first of seven parts.
A Glimpse into the Life of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born in the early part of the 18th century in a village near the city of Remuna. Even though he was born the son a vaisya farmer, in his youth he still received a very thorough education in Sanskrit, rhetoric, logic and scripture. In his youth he accepted sannyasa in the Madhva-sampradaya, and, staying in Jagannatha Puri, he quickly became prominent in intellectual circles. His study of Srila Jiva Goswami's Sandarbhas made him a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He visited Navadvipa and spent the remaining part of his life in Vrndavana, studying Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vaisnava scriptures under the guidance of his spiritual master, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti. At this time, by the order of Visvanatha Cakravarti, and by the mercy of the Deity of Sri Govinda, the famous Govinda-bhasya commentary on Vedanta-sutra was written to answer criticism that the followers of Sri Caitanya were not genuine followers of the Vedas because they had neglected to comment on the Vedanta.
The most important works of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana are: 1. Govinda-bhasya, 2. Siddhanta-ratna, 3. Vedanta-syamantaka, 4. Prameya-ratnavali, 5. Siddhanta-darpana, 6. Aisvarya-kadambini, 7. Sahitya-kaumudi, 8. Chandah-kaustubha, 9. Kavya-kau-stubha, 10. Bhagavad-gita-bhasya, 11. Vaisnav-anandini tika (commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam), as well as commentaries on 12. Tattva sandarbha, 13. Stava-mala, 14. Gopala-tapani Upanisad, 15. Visnu-sahasra-nam, 156. Laghu-bhagavatamrta, 17. Nataka-candrika, and 18. Syamanada-sataka.
Sri Aisvarya-kadambini
The Monsoon of Lord Krsna's Opulence
Prathama vrsti - Bhagavat-tripada-vibhuti
(First Shower - The Spiritual World)
Text 1
I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is like blue lotus flower, who wears golden ornaments, who possesses a multitude of eternal transcendental qualities and opulences, and who bears the name Sri Krsna.
Text 2
Appearing in this world with Srila Santana Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami, and bringing great tidal waves to the ocean of transcendental bliss, may the wonderful and splendid rising moon of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dispel the darkness within our hearts.
Note: If the word sanatana is interpreted to mean "eternal" and if the word rupam is interpreted to mean "form," then this verse may be understood in the following way: "Revealing its eternal transcendental form in this world, and bringing great tidal waves to the ocean of transcendental bliss, may the wonderful and splendid rising moon of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dispel the darkness within our hearts."
Text 3
Lord Visnu's very wonderful realm is named Paravyoma. It is like a great city of regal palaces. It is filled with the most exalted transcendental knowledge, and it shines far beyond the darkness of matter.
Text 4
In this spiritual world Lord Krsna appears as Narayana, Vasudeva, and His other catur-vyuha expansions, and as Lord Nrsimha and His other lila expansions. In these forms He displays His transcendental opulences and enjoys pastimes with His devotees.
Text 5
Appearing in many blissful transcendental forms, endowed with a host of transcendental opulences, and accompanied by many friends, who are all goddesses like her, the supreme goddess Laksmi eternally worships her husband Narayana, who also appears in many transcendental forms.
Text 6
Above he Paravyoma are the realms of Dvaraka, Mathura and Vraja. In these places Lord Krsna, the son of Devaki, enjoys transcendental pastimes with His friends and relatives.
Text 7
In Mathura, and in the opulent city of Dvaraka, Satyaki, Uddhava and many others worship the Lord and many goddesses of fortune, headed by Srimati Rukmini worship their husband, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 8
Accompanied by many friends and servants, Lord Hari, the Prince of Vraja, stays in the beautiful and opulent realm of Gokula. Sri Radhika, along with Her friends, who are all goddesses like Her, continually serve Him without engaging in any other activity.
Text 9
The Gopala-tapani Upanisad explains that although Lord Krsna eternally remains in the spiritual world, sometimes, accompanied by His personal expansions and confidential devotees, He descends to the material world.
Text 10
Because of His great handsomeness, sweetness, charm, and opulence, because of the musical sound of His flute, because He is filled with love, and because of His host of friends and relatives, great poets and philosophers say that Lord Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.
