brhat-sama tatha samnam
gayatri chandasam aham
masanam marga-sirso 'ham
rtunam kusumakarah
TRANSLATION
Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brhat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.
CC Madhya 22.31
krsna——surya-sama; maya haya andhakara
yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara
"Krsna is compared to sunshine, and maya is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Krsna consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.
Features Margazhi-The Sacred Month
Margazhi Thingal (Dhanur month): Based on a recording by Sri Sriram Bharathi.
In Srimad Bhagavadgita Sri Krishna says "I am Kalpavriksha in trees, I am Samaveda in Vedas, Margazhi in months"("Masanam Mrigasirsho-aham")
We complete a day in 24 hours, when earth revolves around its own axis, whereas it is one day for the Devas, when Earth goes around the Sun in twelve months. In the 24 hours of the day early morning 4 to 6hours, is called Bramha Muhurtham. At this time when the Sun is rising in the horizon, there is no angular movement and there is stillness. At this hour our mind will be in Satva gunam (Calmness) and it is in Rajoguna in the day and Tamoguna in the night. The brain will be sharp and there will be full clarity of perception. Similarly, for the Sun, who transits from Dakshinayana when he is Rajoguna, to Utarayana in Tamoguna, the month of Margazhi, is the transit month and there is stillness. This is the Bramha Muhurta for the Devas. Therefore early morning hours of 4 to 6, in Margazhi, is Bramha Muhurtam in Bramha Muhurtam. This time is therefore prefered to wake Him up and pray. For this purpose Sri Andal has composed Tiruppavai, at the rate of one hymn for everyday of the month.
Devotees consider Margazhi as a very sacred month and go to Vishnu temple everyday, in Brahma Muhurtham, for reciting Tiruppavai (devotional songs by Sri Andal) and offer prayers.
Saranga Thakura replied, "Besides Your mercy Prabhu, I don't see any hope for this tree." Then Mahaprabhu embraced that tree, which has remained healthy to this day and is now quite large.
Saranga Thakura had resolved that he would not accept any disciples but Mahaprabhu nevertheless repeatedly requested him to do so. Finally he relented and agreed by saying, "Tomorrow morning the first person I see I will initiate with the divine mantra."
The next day, in the early morning, he went to take his bath in the Ganges. By chance a dead body came and touched his feet as he entered the water. Picking up this body he said, "Who are you? Get up." From behind Mahaprabhu who was witnessing everything called out, "Saranga! Say the mantra in his ear!" Then when Saranga said the mantra into the ear of that dead child, the body became consious. He said, "My name is Murari. I am your servant. Please bestow your mercy upon me."
On the day when this boy was to be invested with the sacred thread he was by chance bitten by a snake and died. As he was only a boy, the custom was not to burn the body but rather to place it on a raft of banana trees and float it down the Ganga. When his parents received the news that their child was alive, they came there to take him home. However Murari declined to accompany them to his former home. He told them, "I will remain in the service of he who has given me life again, for I am indebted to him."
Vrindavana dasa Thakura has described this Sri Saranga Murari Thakura as follows: "There was an external consiousness present in Caitanya dasa's transcendental body. He would enter into the forest just to chase tigers. Sometimes he would jump on the back of a tiger, who by his influence remained inert. At other time he would put a phython on his lap and play with great delight. It was by the mercy of Avadhuta Mahasaya (Nityananda Prabhu) that he was able to play in this way with tigers and snakes. Sri Nityananda Raya is very affectionate to his servants, and thus by a simple wink of his eye they are able to enjoy mellows which are not even accessible to Lord Brahma.
"Sri Saranga Murari Thakura was constantly in forgetfulness of himself, absorbed as he was in the bliss of speaking his inner thoughts. Sometimes he would remain in the within the water for 2 or 3 days without suffering any bodily inconveniences. He appeared to be almost insen-tient and therefore his activities were imperceivable. Such was the fierce intensity of his immeasurable prowess. How much can I describe of the interminable transformations of his devotional sentiments?" [Chaitanya Bhagavat Antya-lila. 5:426-434] The descendants of his family are still residing at Sargram in Barddhaman district.
According to Gaur-Ganoddesa-Dipika (text 172.) Saranga Thakura was previously Nandi Mukhi, in Braja lila.
"The Vraja-brahmani Nandimukhi-devi appeared as Saranga Takura. Some people think that Saranga Thakura was the incarnation of Prahlada Maharaj. My father (Shivananda Sena - the father of Kavi-karnapura) did not agree with them."
His appearence is on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asar. His disappearance is on the 13th day of dark fortnight af the month Agrahayon (Mrigarirsa - November-December).
The temple of Saranga Thakura and his worshipable Deities, Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath are still being worshipped at Mamgachi (Jaharnagar), just North of the present town of Navadwip. The worshipable Deities of Vasudeva Datta Thakur, Sri Sri Radha-Madan Gopal are also residing there. One can go there by rikshaw or tram from Navadwip town. By train one should go north towards Katwa and get down at the 2nd stop, Bhandar tikuri there one can easily ask and find the temple.
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