Prasad.Life - Catur-Sloki Class Rupanuga Das (ACBSP) Mayapur 1975

The Transparent Via Medium: Rupanuga Das and the Historic 1975 Mayapur Masterclass on the Catur-Sloki

In the spring of 1975, the sacred dust of Sridham Mayapur was charged with extraordinary spiritual anticipation. The 1975 Mayapur-Vrindavan Festival was only the second large-scale international gathering in ISKCON’s history, but it marked a monumental turning point for the movement. Packed with historical "firsts," the festival served as the spiritual launchpad that culminated in the grand opening of the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan later that season.

Among the many memorable moments of this seminal festival was the Srimad Bhagavatam class delivered by Rupanuga das on March 24, 1975. As one can hear, the discourse resonated with exceptional clarity and power on the first verse of the Catur-sloki of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. This was the first Srimad Bhagavatam class of the 1975 Mayapur Festival after Srila Prabhupada's arrival officially kicked it off. The next day, Srila Prabhupada began a series of lectures on Chaitanya Caritamrta.

A Life of Pioneering Service: From Buffalo to New Delhi

To understand the weight of this 1975 lecture, one must look at Rupanuga das’s deep history of service under the direct guidance of his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Rupanuga das was a true pioneer in the early days of the movement. He recognized early on the importance of reaching intellectual and youthful minds, developing a groundbreaking university outreach program in Buffalo, New York. The success and methodology of his Buffalo campus program laid the blueprint for university programs across the United States, bringing thousands of students into contact with Vaisnava philosophy.

His journey as a preacher was defined by immense courage and resilience. When the temple in Knoxville, Tennessee, was tragically firebombed by local opposition, Rupanuga stood firm, embodying the unwavering determination required to establish Srila Prabhupada’s mission in uncharted territory.

His leadership also shone brightly in India. In 1974, when the first large plane-load of Western devotees landed in India for a historic tour, Rupanuga das had the distinction of being the first devotee to lecture at the prestigious Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi. The memorable archival photos often featured alongside recordings of this era capture that historic event—a powerful moment when the ancient wisdom of India was brought back to its homeland through Srila Prabhupada's international disciples.

Deconstructing the Catur-Sloki: The Four Seed Verses

The centerpiece of Rupanuga das’s March 24, 1975 class was the first verse of the Catur-sloki—the four core seed verses of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Canto 2, Chapter 9, Texts 33–36).

These four verses contain the complete philosophical essence of Bhagavata philosophy. They detail:

1. The supreme, eternal existence of the Personality of Godhead before, during, and after the cosmic manifestation.

2. The nature of the illusory energy (maya).

3. The distinction between the Supreme Soul and the individual soul.

4. The eternal imperative of searching for the Absolute Truth through devotional service.

These are the same four slokas that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explained to Sanatana Goswami, as recorded in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, illustrating how the entire expanse of Vaisnava theology expands from this foundational seed.

A Masterclass in Teaching: Easy, Practical, and Empowered

What made this specific lecture stand out during the 1975 Mayapur Festival was Rupanuga’s rare, innate talent for teaching. He took deep, intricate Sanskrit slokas and unpacked them with lucid, effortless logic:

The Supreme "I" vs. the Little "i": He clearly articulated the distinction between Krishna (the Supreme "I") and the individual living entities (the small "i"s), debunking the misconception that the soul merges into non-existence or becomes God.

Practical Renunciation: He addressed the realities of material bondage—specifically sexual attraction—and demonstrated how true freedom comes not from artificial suppression, but from genuine detachment coupled with active devotional service (bhakti-yoga).

The Missionary Spirit: He reminded every devotee present that self-realization is a dynamic, active struggle to be shared with others, contrasting a vibrant, preaching movement with the static, bureaucratic decay that can overtake spiritual traditions.

In delivering this message, Rupanuga das became a personification of what Srila Prabhupada frequently referred to as the "transparent via medium." Because he was completely surrendered to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, the pure teachings of the disciplic succession flowed through him without distortion. Empowered by his master’s grace, he possessed the rare ability to empower everyone who listened.

A Fitting Legacy

As we look back at the historic 1975 Mayapur-Vrindavan Festival, Rupanuga das’s lecture on the Catur-sloki remains a timeless artifact of ISKCON’s golden era. It serves as both a practical guide for understanding the core of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and a fitting tribute to a devotee whose pioneering spirit, intellectual vigor, and deep devotion helped shape the landscape of modern global Vaisnavism. All of this accomplished through consistently presenting Srila Prabhupada’s teachings as they were.

Personal Reflections: A Note from Gopati Das (ACBSP)

"Rupanuga’s early accomplishments in Buffalo were legendary to us Midwestern devotees in the early 1970s. He taught Srila Prabhupada’s teachings so effectively that he helped inspire the birth of most temples across the Midwest. The 'who’s who' list of devotees he trained went on to manifest Srila Prabhupada’s vision around the world—names like Jagadisha, Bhagavan, Tejiyas, Guna Grahi, Lakshmi Narayan, and Narottamananda immediately come to mind.

I first met him in 1974 at the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi. A couple hundred devotees had landed there for a night on our way to Mayapur, and as part of a makeshift program in a conference room, Rupanuga gave a class. While I do not recall the exact specifics, I distinctly remember it as a powerful introduction to Srila Prabhupada’s mission in India.

The second time our paths crossed was during the time of this class in Mayapur in 1975. Rupanuga was not flashy. He was serious and entirely focused on Srila Prabhupada’s business; he truly stood out in that way. Looking at photos from that period, you can see he was not clamoring for Srila Prabhupada’s personal attention—he understood that the best way to please his spiritual master was simply to act on his instructions.

Our paths crossed again in 1978, the year after Srila Prabhupada passed. I had been living with my small family at the 55th Street temple in NYC and needed a place to serve outside of the hard asphalt of Manhattan. I met with Rupanuga and his wife Kalindi at the Potomac temple near Washington, D.C. He had been through so much and was clearly recovering from the trauma of losing Srila Prabhupada while trying to navigate an ISKCON that was striving to move forward. I found real solace in the service there. Rupanuga was like a stalwart mast that held the sails steady under any kind of weather. It was in Potomac that I operated a side food catering service alongside Alankara das, serving congressmen, senators, and art gallery openings. I also had the unique honor of serving as chef for a diplomatic entertainment program run by Kirtiraj prabhu out of his home. Both programs were run with the blessings of Rupanuga Prabhu.

In 2022, I began conducting prasadam interviews with devotees as part of the Feast Book project with Kurma Prabhu, Mayapriya dd, and Apurva Prabhu. Through a series of interviews with Tejiyas, I gained a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes impact of Rupanuga’s work in Buffalo and the immense contributions he made to Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON in general. I already knew his association was unique, but revisiting those memories served as a profound reminder of how powerful the association of dedicated devotees is in the service of Srila Prabhupada."

Transcription of the Recording

Singer & Chorus:

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

Sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

Speaker: Translation: "Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself, nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation, what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead."

I say, you say... destroy. The ego. As some philosophers have wanted to do. We want to purify our identity, to find out what we are. Not that we mistake ourselves as God and worship ourselves as God; that is laughable. In Western culture, when someone comes there and begins to preach that, "Let us worship ourselves as God," people laugh. It is funny. How can we be God? Insignificant.

The Western culture is monotheistic, principally monotheistic, meaning belief in one supreme God. In the Webster's Dictionary, you will find God as the Supreme Being. So there are many beings, but we are human beings, not the Supreme Being. The Supreme Being is one.

And Krishna confirms this in Bhagavad-gita when He tells Arjuna, "Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." That "I", that Krishna, and that little "i", Arjuna. That is unchangeable. That "I" is always there, the Supreme "I" and the little "i".

Lord Brahma, he is an "i" like us. He is also $1/10,000\text{th}$ the tip of a hair in size. But he has been invested with super-potencies by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, enough to understand the Supreme. So Lord Brahma knows who Krishna is, because Lord Krishna is speaking these very, very wonderful verses called the Catur-sloki. Catur means four. These four slokas in this chapter answers by citing the Lord's version in the Second Canto, Chapter 9, beginning with text 33, 34, 35, and 36. These are the philosophical essence of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. And they are very important verses.

And in this first verse, Krishna is clearly establishing that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the rest of us are supported by Him and maintained by Him. That is the basic distinction. And also Krishna is verifying, janmady asya yatah, that everything is coming from Him because He says here, "I existed before everything else, and when everything is finished, wound back up into Me, I will remain." So Krishna is verifying that verse also.

These four verses in the Srimad-Bhagavatam should be understood by everyone. They are very, very important. All of our basic philosophy will be found in them.

So here it is stated that the creator "I" and the created "i" are both accepted in the Vedas as qualitatively one, because both of them are nityas and cetanas. But the singular "I" is the creator "I", and the created "i"s are of the plural number because there are many "i"s like Brahma and those generated by Brahma. It is the simple truth: the father creates or begets a son, and the son who creates many other sons, and all of them may be as one, or may be one as human beings, but at the same time, from the father, the son and the grandsons are all different. The son cannot take the place of the father, nor can the grandsons. Simultaneously, the father, the son, and the grandson are one and different also.

So sometimes, just like now in our present situation, we may not know the situation of our great-great-great-grandfather. We do not know who he was, perhaps, or what he did, or what he was like. But if there is some family tradition, then we may find out all about this great-great-great, this original progenitor of our family. Similarly, one who wants to find out about the Supreme Personality of Godhead must approach the disciplic succession.

Krishna has a family. He has His friends, He has His relatives, He has His servants, He has His beloveds. And when we become detached, we can join His family—detached from the material conception of family life. This is the first thing Queen Kunti prays for in her famous prayers to Lord Krishna. Please, she wants her mind only to flow to Him, without attachment to anyone else. First she prays for detachment, because then after detachment comes attraction for the Supreme Lord. We must become detached and attached to Krishna. That is the process.

So Lord Brahma, before talking to Krishna, before hearing these Catur-slokas, he was lusty. He was lusty after his own daughter, Vak. In a previous kalpa, in a previous day of Brahma, Lord Brahma was running after his own daughter for sex life, just to show how this sex life is the bondage in this material world. That is a fact. We may give up everything, but if we have some taste for sex life, we must remain. We may be so renounced in so many ways, we may give up our money and surrender our intelligence, so many things, but if we still have some attraction for sex life, we must remain. So even Lord Brahma was overcome by sexual attraction for his own daughter.

And so, in a later day of his life, after Lord Brahma heard these Catur-slokas, then he no longer was like that. He was no longer materialistically inclined. Similarly, after we hear the Srimad-Bhagavatam, these ultimate slokas, the perfect glorification of the Lord, after we read Catur-slokas, then we should have some understanding like Lord Brahma. Brahmanas, those who are Brahmanas and have taken a second initiation, what does that mean? That means that they should know for sure that they are not their bodies, that they are spirit souls. They should know for sure, what is the business of the spirit soul? They should be like Brahma after he realized himself by Lord Krishna's mercy.

And Lord Krishna was so pleased with Lord Brahma because Lord Brahma performed so many sacrifices and penances, bhakti-yoga. There are different yogas. Jnana-yoga is for those who think that they are their minds, identifying the self as the mind. Karma-yoga is for those persons who are still thinking that they are their body and in a bodily relationship. But bhakti-yoga is for that person who knows who he is, that he is a servant of the Supreme Lord. We may not know what kind of servant yet, that is depending on the sweet will of the Lord. Someday we will know that, but first we must become situated.

So we have come here to situate ourselves in devotional service once and for all! When we leave this place, we should be free of doubts for the rest of our lives and eternally thereafter. We take a vow and we take initiation. There are three vows we take. That vow is that I accept Srila Prabhupada as my spiritual master for the rest of my life and eternally thereafter. That I accept him as good as Krishna, because he is the eternal servant of the Lord. And that I am convinced of this philosophy.

Does that mean I have to know everything before I take first initiation? No. But I must be convinced that what comes from Srila Prabhupada's lotus lips is the absolute truth.

I remember when I first saw Srila Prabhupada at Tompkins Square Park. Simply he would go there on the weekends and chant Hare Krishna with a pair of kartals under a tree. That was his program. And then other times he would go and distribute Srimad-Bhagavatam in the bookstores. And he was chanting Hare Krishna, and many people were becoming attracted, and some of us went to the storefront. And when I heard him speak, I was convinced that he is speaking the absolute truth, because it was the first time I ever heard it.

So that must be there. We must accept that Srila Prabhupada is speaking the absolute truth, as before re-initiation.

So we have to understand through the disciplic succession. So we've come here to finalize it, to solidify it. It's not only that we've come here for purification, we've come here for rejuvenation. Srila Prabhupada's original plan was: come and sit in Mayapur-dhama, chant Hare Krishna, read these books, get re-enlivened, and go back out to preach.

So that is why we've come here. And every year we're coming, we're seeing the miracle of Krishna consciousness. Now even everyone here, the denizens of Mayapur-dhama, are beginning to see the miracle that our spiritual master is performing on behalf of Lord Krishna by His mercy.

We are all walking miracles! We were all reprobates before! What were we? Nothing! So Srila Prabhupada is turning a reprobate into a brahmana. That is because he is qualified. He has heard the Catur-sloka, he is coming in this disciplic succession from Lord Brahma, and he has understood the Catur-sloka, and he is performing accordingly. We must do the same thing.

So here we are in Mayapur-dhama. We should give up any idea of vacation, we should give up any idea of hiking and camping, should give up these materialistic ideas and understand that this is holy land. The dust is holy dust. We should appreciate this dust. We should worship this land. This is the homeland! This is the motherland! Actually, we have come from so many outposts, and we know that this is home! We've been all over the world and traveled so far, but this is our home! Mayapur-dhama. This is our real home. So we should appreciate it like that, and really worship this land.

Where are we located? In this universe, which is half over, we're now in the 51st year of Lord Brahma's life, and the first day of the first month, and the early afternoon. That is our place in time. And where are we in space? In space, we're located on the only planet where Krishna and Lord Caitanya comes. In all the planets in the universe, only one planet: Earth. And there are continents, varsas, so many continents on this planet. And what continent does the Supreme Lord come to, either as Lord Krishna or Lord Krishna Caitanya? India, Bharata-varsa. And where in India does He come? He appears in the five northern provinces known as Gauda. And specifically where there does He appear? In this province, in this district. There are nine islands, each island representing one of the processes of devotional service. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, like that. There are nine islands.

And there is a ninth island which represents atma-nivedanam, surrendering everything. Of these nine processes of devotional service, the first seven are vaidhi-marga, in the realm of sadhana-bhakti, or the practice of devotional service. And the last two, making friends with the Supreme Lord and surrendering everything to Him, these last two are on the platform of raga-marga.

So here we are. Here we are on this island of Mayapur, Navadvipa, the island where we should surrender everything.

So here we are, located perfectly in space and time, but actually not in space and time. Perfectly located historically, but not historically. Transcendental to everything! We've come so far! Through so many millions of births, we've transmigrated all over this universe, we've been on a pilgrimage for millions and millions of years, and this is the goal of that pilgrimage! This is the search is finished here! Just like Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada says in Brahma-samhita, that this bhakti-yoga is identical with the search for the Supreme Lord Krishna.

And to find out that Supreme Lord, we must go through Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We cannot approach directly. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has accepted the mood of Radharani. The esoteric meaning is to understand that mood on behalf... Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants to understand that mood of Radharani and her relationship to Krishna. But the other meaning is that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come to free everyone, to give this Krishna consciousness to everyone. So anyone is actually able to come here if they behave. Simply behave like ladies and gentlemen, anyone can come here.

So we're sitting in the perfect spot in this universe! There is no better place to be. And if we can appreciate, then by the time we go home, we'll have that potency engrafted in us by the mercy of our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. And we'll feel such enthusiasm as we've never felt before.

Actually, this movement is a miracle! If you had joined in the beginning at some little storefront, 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, then maybe it would be more evident. Perhaps if you joined and you walked into the temple and there were deities already, and it was all set up, the program was already there, there were so many books, you might take it a little for granted. But this movement is a miracle! It's the proof, it's an incarnation of the Supreme Lord, the Hare Krishna movement.

So let us then take this opportunity to purify ourselves, to understand our mission, to become enlivened with the missionary spirit. That is what makes our movement distinct: the missionary spirit! That is what killed Christianity: no missionary spirit. Simply official, petty bureaucracy. Hierarchies of popes, priests, bishops, dead, skeleton. We must remain alive and become more and more enlivened and expand and expand this Krishna consciousness all over the world.

We must become preachers! Every one of us is a preacher, just like Srila Prabhupada gave the example that here in India there's the railway line, and everyone is said to be pushing on the wheels of the railway. Everyone is pushing, whether he is a telegrapher, the yard superintendent, or someone on down the line. If the superintendent, for example, has a message to get on down the line about changing tracks, he has to depend on so many assistants, so much machinery, so many mechanics, so many telegraphers, so many clerks to get the word through. But yet everyone is pushing on that wheel of the railway. Similarly, everyone is pushing by preaching on this great movement of this Hare Krishna movement.

So Lord Brahma, we are coming in his line of disciplic succession in the Brahma-sampradaya. Sampradaya means community. Community means the family of Krishna—Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krishna and all the great acaryas. We have joined that family. So we must become attached to that family, and give up all attachments for mundane things. Atma-nivedanam, we must surrender everything: our life, our words, our intelligence, and our money—everything.

So Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, gives some hints on chanting of the holy name. Lord Brahma, he engaged in meditation for 10,000 celestial years; we engage also in meditation, on the meditation of the holy name. And how do we do it offencelessly? In TLC [Teachings of Lord Caitanya], Srila Prabhupada explains that one should worship the holy name. Worship! When we chant, we should worship the holy name, then what is the question of offenses? What is the question of mind wandering? Well, the mind may wander when we're chanting Hare Krishna, Srila Prabhupada has said that, but we should improve! We should strive for self-realization. Self-realization is a struggle. It's not something that's going to happen, hit us on the head. We must try for it with everything we've got!

So, we should worship the holy name. And Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu tells us how we can chant without offense. He says you can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly if you're not looking for any respect from anyone else. If you're really tolerant like a tree, and humble like a straw in the street, in that humble state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

So somehow or another, we must realize the perfection of our life is simply to follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and come to the platform of chanting the holy name perfectly, perfectly. That is our mission.

And Srila Prabhupada's desire is that we simply, whoever we meet and wherever we're going, simply forget convention, forget dress...

(9:02)

...because, one of them answered, "Because ever since we started saying Hare Krishna in the company of devotees, why, this tongue hasn't been able to stop!" The holy name is so nice, it is nectar.

Srila Prabhupada says, when we listen to the holy name and we chant, we are liberated. This is a fact. As long as we're listening to that holy name and tasting the nectar of the holy name, we are liberated. And we must teach others this simple, sublime process of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then they can enter into the esoteric meaning and understanding of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, and become pure Vaisnavas. But first, simply say chant Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much. Any questions? Any questions or comments?

Yes?

Questioner: Yes, what does it mean to surrender everything?

Speaker: Well, I gave that example: words, money, intelligence, life. That we are doing. Actually, everyone is surrendering. First surrender to the spiritual master. "Love me, love my dog," Srila Prabhupada said. First we have to love Srila Prabhupada, the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, then we can love the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And how do we love our spiritual master? Simply following his instructions. Then we can develop spontaneous love simply by following his instructions. So surrender means to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To surrender our love for others—that love will expand through loving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as all the parts and parcels of a tree are watered by the root.

Is it time for more questions?

Assistant: 6 minutes.

Speaker: 6 minutes, yes?

Questioner: You mentioned we have to hear the holy name, but so many nonsense thoughts are popping in while chanting.

Speaker: I said, Srila Prabhupada said that our minds may be wandering while we're chanting Hare Krishna. So you have to learn to distinguish between the self and the mind. It's like when you're chanting Hare Krishna: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna... then the mind is thinking something else. Maybe thinking about your service, maybe thinking about prasadam, maybe thinking about... but that's your mind, it's not you. You're chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna... but the mind is thinking something else. Hopefully about devotional service. But that's not you.

That will come. But as Giriraja Maharaja once asked Srila Prabhupada, "What do we think when we chant Hare Krishna?" Prabhupada said, "Chanting is thinking."

So, by meditating on the holy name, that is thinking. And the other thinking will subside gradually, until we become absorbed in the holy name. Until we are no longer offending. If I'm thinking it's imagination, maybe I don't give as much importance as my thoughts that are going through my mind. Later, as I understand the holy name, Krishna and Krishna are the same. Krishna and Krishna are one. Krishna the sound and Krishna the holy name are the same. When I understand that, then I'll be fully chanting the holy name and accept no substitutes.

Questioner: Can you give an idea how we can take nourishment and worship?

Speaker: You know... He asks, "Well, how can one..." We all know what worship means, what the feeling of worship means. Just worship the holy name with a feeling of worship. Then one will not commit offense. You know what I mean. You know what worship means. It is natural for the spirit soul to worship the holy name, the Lord. Just like someone says, "How do you be serious?" "Be serious," Srila Prabhupada says. "How does one have the feeling of worship?" Have it! It's there, it's in you, it's in me, it's in all of us. It is our nature, it is our... like liquidity is to water, and heat and light to fire—this worshipping Krishna is to us.

Is that all? No? Anyone else?

Questioner: In the verse, it says something about the Lord existed before creation and material nature did not exist, but spiritual nature is eternal.

Speaker: Material nature is called... material nature is the cause of creation. Now, sometimes material nature is not manifest. So therefore it is not eternal. It is eternal in the sense that it is the energy of the Lord, it is a transformation of the energy of the Lord, so it's not created nor destroyed in that sense, but it's not manifest sometimes.

Now we must manifest our love for our spiritual master. He is arriving this morning. Let us conduct ourselves very nicely, and let us love him. From him, ecstatic Krishna-prema is flowing, so we must reciprocate, must give our hearts and souls to our spiritual master, everything we have. So let us treat him with great respect, and little things mean a lot, like keeping the aisle open so Srila Prabhupada can see the deities. This is thoughtfulness. So we must... that is love. Be concerned: "Can Srila Prabhupada see the deities? Am I blocking the way?"

That, not just to think, "Oh Srila Prabhupada, Oh Srila Prabhupada, Oh Srila Prabhupada," not just to meditate, but to do something! Preach for Srila Prabhupada! That is what is pleasing to our spiritual master: to hear of our exploits, to hear of our victories! That enthuses him! Just like that mantra that we chant as brahmanas, let us meditate upon Srila Prabhupada, let us meditate upon being as enthused as he has enthused us. So that is your reciprocation with Srila Prabhupada: to enthuse him! That is the reciprocation with the spiritual master: as he has enthused us, let us enthuse him by our preaching! Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

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