Gauḍīya Goṣṭhī Pati Śrī Śrīla Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda told that—“ In the way of hari-bhajan automatically lābha-pūjā-pratiṣṭhā can come in our life, do not be busy with all those cheap things.”
bhaktis tvayi sthiratarā bhagavān yadi syād
daivena naḥ phalati divya-kiśora-mūrtiḥ
muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitānjali sevate ‘smān
dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ
(Kṛṣṇa Karanamṛta Chap. 5 / 107)
“O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense gratification are all automatically attained without separate endeavor.”
Oh Bhagavān ! If our bhakti unto your Lotus Feet became totally fixed up, then your divya-kiśora-mūrti can automatically get manifested inside our heart. Then in that case (nothing to beg for dharma-artha-kāma-trivarga, and also nothing to expect for apavarga in the form of mukti etc. , no prayer for such thing can stand inside heart) than in that case mukti herself with folded hand (like a maidservant) can wait in front of such a great devotee (as an ancillary result dismantle of avidyā can come or pursue automatically) and dharma-artha-kāma all can wait for the order to get the opportunity to serve the Lotus Feet of that great devotee on time. As per Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know that mainly eight types of primary siddhis are there, except those more ten different types of secondary siddhis are there, and also five different kind of natural yet small siddhis are there.
From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam eleventh Canto we can see that Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Uddhava Ji Maharaj—those yogis (specially those bhakti-yogis) their heart naturally resting in Me, so all yoga-siddhis automatically coming in them without any expectation or invitation.
How many siddhis are there about that Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Uddhava that –aṇimā, laghimā, mahimā, prāptir, prākāmyaṁ , īśitā, bashita, kamabosaita. Those are the main (primary) astha-siddhis, My natural śakti. Except that ten different kind of siddhis are there which all are secondary siddhis like—khutpipasa hinota, dura-darśana, durasharavan, maner mato bega or goti-prāptir, kama-rūpatā , parodehe pravesh, iccha mrityu, deva krīḍā darśana, saṅkalpa siddhi, apratihata goti. Except those, more five kinds of natural yet small siddhis are there like—amogh agya, trikāla gnata, shitoshnadi yaya, agni-sūrya -jala-bisha sthamban und kutrapi apāra-bhāva, those siddhis manifest with the brightness of sattva-guṇa automatically. But Oh Uddhava! Those who want to get “Me” I mean those who are running in the way of bhakti-yoga, for them those yoga siddhis are nothing but great impediments. The following śloka from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Maha-Purāṇa given below in support of the above siddhanta vichar.
antarāyān vadanty etā
yuñjato yogam uttamam
mayā sampadyamānasya
kāla-kṣapaṇa-hetavaḥ (ŚB 11.15.33)
Learned experts in devotional service state that the mystic perfections of yoga that I have mentioned are actually impediments and are waste of time for one who is practicing the supreme yoga, by which one achieves all perfection in life directly from Me.
Furthermore Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān speaking to Uddhava that—though I am the cause and protector of those yoga-siddhis, still pure devotees they never expect any such siddhi from Me. Like the five elements of nature already there inside and outside of all jivas, similarly I am present there everywhere inside jiva as antarātmā (supersoul) and also as viśvātmā (as all pervading Lord). Those who are doing My bhajan, for them all such siddhis automatically reach their gate, still they never like to utilize those siddhis, because bhakti unto My Lotus Feet is the actual amṛta to give complete satisfaction to anybody.
mayi bhaktir hi bhūtānām
amṛtatvāya kalpate
diṣṭyā yad āsīn mat-sneho
bhāvatīnāṁ mad-āpanaḥ (ŚB 10.82.44)
Rendering devotional service to Me qualifies any living being for eternal life. But by your good fortune you have developed a special loving attitude towards Me, by which you have obtained Me.
As per Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Uddhava that—
siddhayo ’ṣṭādaśa proktā
dhāraṇā yoga-pāra-gaiḥ
tāsām aṣṭau mat-pradhānā
daśaiva guṇa-hetavaḥ (ŚB 11.15.3)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The masters of the yoga-system have declared that there are eighteen types of mystic perfection and meditation, of which eight are primary, having their shelter in Me, and ten are secondary, appearing from the material mode of goodness.
Also as per Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know– Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Uddhava that—
yat karmabhir yat tapasā
jñāna-vairāgyataś ca yat
yogena dāna-dharmeṇa
śreyobhir itarair api
sarvaṁ mad-bhakti-yogena
mad-bhakto labhate ’ñjasā
svargāpavargaṁ mad-dhāma
kathañcid yadi vāñchati (ŚB 11.20.32-33)
Everything that can be achieved by fruitive activities, penance, knowledge, detachment, mystic yoga, charity, religious duties and all other means of perfecting life is easily achieved by My devotee through loving service unto Me. If somehow or other My devotee desires promotion to heaven, liberation, or residence in My abode, he easily achieves such benedictions.
Again also as per Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know– Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Uddhava that—
na rodhayati māṁ yogo
na sāṅkhyaṁ dharma eva ca
na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo
neṣṭā-pūrtaṁ na dakṣiṇā
vratāni yajñaś chandāṁsi
tīrthāni niyamā yamāḥ
yathāvarundhe sat-saṅgaḥ
sarva-saṅgāpaho hi mām (ŚB 11.12.1-2)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, by associating with My pure devotees one can destroy one’s attachment for all objects of material sense gratification. Such purifying association brings Me under the control of My devotee. One may perform the aṣṭāṅga-yoga system, engage in philosophical analysis of the elements of material nature, practice nonviolence and other ordinary principles of piety, chant the Vedas, perform penances, take to the renounced order of life, execute sacrificial performances and dig wells, plant trees and perform other public welfare activities, give in charity, carry out severe vows, worship the demigods, chant confidential mantras, visit holy places or accept major and minor disciplinary injunctions, but even by performing such activities one does not bring Me under his control.
In the way of hari-bhajan those are all unwanted things and at the same time big impediments, so naturally those who are pure devotees they never want to get those type of false kṛpā from Bhagavān.
From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam some ślokas are given below in support of the above siddhanta-vichar—
sālokya-sārṣṭi-sāmīpya-
sārūpyaikatvam apy uta
dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṇanti
vinā mat-sevanaṁ janāḥ (ŚB 3.29.13)
A pure devotee does not accept any kind of liberation — sālokya, sārṣṭi, sāmīpya, sārūpya or ekatva — even though they are offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te
sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam
necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ
kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam (ŚB 9.4.67)
My devotees, who are always satisfied to be engaged in My loving service, are not interested even in the four principles of liberation [sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi], although these are automatically achieved by their service. What then is to be said of such perishable happiness as elevation to the higher planetary systems?
Also from Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā 4/11 Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking to Arjuna that–
ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ (Bg. 4.11)
As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking in Gītā that according to the bhajan of any devotee I also like to do his bhajan similarly, I mean I like to reciprocate the same bhāva. It means that Bhagavān like to repay the devotee according to his bhajan, because each and everyone is bound to follow Him anyway. 18 different kinds of siddhis are very insignificant in comparison to bhakti-yoga, because Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaking in Bhāgavatam that—
mayi bhaktir hi bhūtānām
amṛtatvāya kalpate
diṣṭyā yad āsīn mat-sneho
bhāvatīnāṁ mad-āpanaḥ (ŚB 10.82.44)
Rendering devotional service to Me qualifies any living being for eternal life. But by your good fortune you have developed a special loving attitude toward Me, by which you have obtained Me.
Bhagavat-bhakti is amṛta in true sense. So usually Bhagavān do not want to give bhakti (amṛta) to everybody, even Bhagavān like to offer mukti, because giving bhakti means to be under the loveful controlling of that devotee. Śrīla Narad Ji Maharaj speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira Maharaj that Bhagavān can even offer mukti, but always like to hide bhakti the amṛta.
rājan patir gurur alaṁ bhavatāṁ yadūnāṁ
daivaṁ priyaḥ kula-patiḥ kva ca kiṅkaro vaḥ
astv evam aṅga bhagavān bhajatāṁ mukundo
muktiṁ dadāti karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam (ŚB 5.6.18)
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the Supreme Person, Mukunda, is actually the maintainer of all the members of the Pāṇḍava and Yadu dynasties. He is your spiritual master, worshipable Deity, friend, and the director of your activities. To say nothing of this, He sometimes serves your family as a messenger or servant. This means He worked just as ordinary servants do. Those engaged in getting the Lord’s favor attain liberation from the Lord very easily, but He does not very easily give the opportunity to render direct service unto Him.
From Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu we can find the following śloka quoted by Śrīla Rupa Gosvāmīpad
kleśa-ghnī śubhadā mokṣa-laghutā-kṛt sudurlabhā
sāndrānanda-viśeṣātmā śrī-kṛṣṇākarṣiṇī ca sā (BRS 1.1.17)
“The unique characteristics of bhakti are: its ability to destroy suffering; its bestowal of auspiciousness; its disregard for liberation; its rarity of attainment; its manifestation of concentrated bliss; and its ability to attract Kṛṣṇa.”
All our Gaudiya Guruvarga like Śrīla Jaganath das Babaji Maharaj, Śrīla Saccidananda Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura, Śrīla Gaura Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj, Śrīla Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Ṭhākura Prabhupada, Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Maharaj, Śrīla Bhakti Rakshak Śrīdhar Dev Gosvāmī Maharaj etc. all they had natural bhakti-yoga-siddhis in their hand. Some examples are given below—
Someday when Śrīla Jagantha das Babaji Maharaj wanted to come to Śrī Gaura-dhāma from Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma, then the main question was how to carry him a long distance on head, because he was almost 125 years old. He asked his sevak Bihari to carry him in a basket on head and Bihari was assured by Baba that he would feel almost no weight on his head, and it was really so. Bihari didn’t feel any trouble to carry Baba all the way from Śrī Vṛndāvana to Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma. In the way of his journey there was one tiger sleeping on the road, Bihari was just afraid of it, but Śrīla Baba asked him to go ahead, he told there is no tiger on the way, that jivatma is gaura-bhakta, don’t worry. Now we can realise that natural siddhi was there with Baba.
Śrīla Gaura Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj one day reached Śrī Mayapur from that side of Ganga almost at the midnight time, Śrīla Prabhupada was just surprised to see Babaji Maharaj at that time, because there was no boatman nothing, also he cannot see properly, so who helped him to reach Mayapur at midnight, that was the main question. But Śrīla Babaji Maharaj started laughing. So we can see the unique bhakti-yoga-siddhi with Śrīla Babaji Maharaj. Some such more example we like to give in front of you all. Śrīla Bhagavān Das Babaji Maharaj was a siddha-bhakti-yogi, who used to do bhajan in Kalna. He one day was shouting with a stick at hand, as if driving away somebody, but at that time one very important personality was about to enter the gate to meet with Śrīla Babaji Maharaj, but he was feeling hopeless to be driven by Śrīla Babaji Maharaj. But finally he was surprised to know that Śrīla Babaji was driving away a goat at Śrī Govinda Mandir Śrī Vṛndāvana dhāma, because that goat was destroying the Tulsi Garden. Now we can realise the unique bhakti-yoga-siddhi with Babaji Maharaj because at that time he was in Kalna (W.B).
Another incident I cannot just avoid mentioning here about Paramahaṁsa Gurudeva Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Maharaj. He was a Namanandi Mahapurush. One day one devotee (known to him) who took hāriṇam from Śrīla Prabhupada was requesting him repeatedly to safe his daughter who by that time already developed blood cancer—which was almost the last stage and as per the doctor she was about to die shortly. Śrīla Gurudeva suggested the family members to pray unto the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. But due to their repeated request and crying, finally he was bound to show his bhakti-yoga-vibhūti, which he never wanted to open in front of anybody. According to his suggestion someone of that family member went to Śrī Vṛndāvana to collect Yamuna water at the conjugation of some very special star position and some dust particle from Sevā-kuñja gate at any special moment at night time specified by him. Finally by the application of the aprākṛta medicin given by Śrīla Gurupāda-Padma the patient was gradually feeling good. After some day at her koma stage all the bad poisonous blood started coming out of the ears of the patient to give her the final relief from blood cancer disease. Which was really a miracle. Writing of such endless cases only can make the article long, but the ultimate goal of the article is to show how cheap and useless the utility of those yoga-vibhūtis, in comparison to the unique bhakti-yoga-vibhūti which is quite natural with a siddha-bhakti-yogi, because without any expectation or demand automatically those yoga-vibhūtis are waiting to serve the dear exalted devotee of Śrī Bhagavān.
Hari Hari Bol