Autumn Vrindavan

The killing of Pralambasura and the devouring of the devastating forest
fire by Krishna and Balarama became household topics in Vrndavana. The
cowherd men described these wonderful activities to their wives and to
everyone else, and all were struck with wonder. They concluded that
Krishna and Balarama were demigods who had kindly come to Vrindavana
to become their children.

In this way, the rainy season ensued. In India, after the scorching heat’ of the summer, the rainy season is very welcome. The clouds accumulating in the sky, covering the sun and the moon,
become very pleasing to the people, and they expect rainfall at every
moment. After summer, the advent of the rainy season is considered to be
a life-giving source for everyone. The thunder and occasional lightning are
also pleasurable to the people.

The symptoms of the rainy season may be compared to the symptoms
of the living entities who are covered by the three modes of material
nature. The unlimited sky is like the Supreme Brahman, and the tiny
living entities are like the covered sky, or Brahman covered by the three
modes of material nature. Originally, everyone is part and parcel of
Brahman. The Supreme Brahman, or the unlimited sky, can never be
covered by a cloud, but a portion of it can be covered. As stated in the
Bhagavad-gita, the living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. But they are only an insignificant portion· of the
Supreme Lord. This portion is covered by the modes of material nature,
and therefore the living entities are residing within this material world. The
brahmajyoti-spiritual effulgence-is just like the sunshine ; as the sunshine
is full of molecular shining particles, so the brahmajyoti is full of minute
portions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Out of that unlimited
expansion of minute portions of the Supreme Lord , some are covered by
the influence of material nature, whereas others are free.

Clouds are accumulated water drawn from the land by the sunshine.
Continually for eight months the sun evaporates all kinds of water from
the surface of the globe, and this water is accumulated in the shape of
clouds, which are distributed as water when there is need. Similarly, a
government exacts various taxes from the citizens which the citizens are
able to pay by their different material activities: agriculture, trade and
industry; thus the government can also exact taxes in the form of income
tax and sales tax. This is compared to the sun drawing water from the
earth. When there is again need of water on the surface of the globe, the
same sunshine converts the water into clouds and distributes it all over the
globe. Similarly, the taxes collected by the government must be distributed to the people again, as educational work, public work, sanitary
work, etc. This is very essential for a good government. The government
should not simply exact tax for useless squandering; the tax collection
should be utilized for the public welfare of the state.
During the rainy season, there are strong winds blustering all over the
country and carrying clouds from one place to another to distribute water.
When water is urgently needed after the summer season, the clouds are
just like a rich man who, in times of need, distributes his money even by
exhausting his whole treasury. So the clouds exhaust themselves by
distributing water all over the surface of the globe.

When Maharaja Dasaratha, the father of Lord Ramacandra, used to
fight with his enemies, it was said that he approached them just like a
farmer uprooting unnecessary plants and trees. And when there was need
of giving charity, he used to distribute money exactly as the cloud
distributes rain. The distribution of rain by clouds is so sumptuous that
it is compared to the distribution of wealth by a great, munificent person.
The clouds’ downpour is so sufficient that the rains even fall on rocks and
hills and on the oceans and seas where there is no need for water. It is
like a charitable person who opens his treasury for distribution and who
does not discriminate whether the charity is needed or not. He gives in
charity openhanded.

Before the rainfall, the whole surface of the globe becomes almost
depleted of all kinds of energies and appears very lean. After the rainfall,
the whole surface of the earth becomes green with vegetation and appears
to be very healthy and strong. Here, a comparison is made with the person
undergoing austerities for fulfillment of a material desire. The flourishing
condition of the earth after a rainy season is compared with the fulfillment
of material desires. Sometimes, when a country is subjected by an undesirable government, persons and parties undergo severe penances and
austerities to get control of the government, and when they attain control,
they flourish by giving themselves generous salaries. This also is like the
flourishing of the earth in the rainy season. Actually, one should undergo
severe austerities and penances only to achieve spiritual happiness. In the
Srimad-Bhagavatam it is recommended that tapasa or penance should be
accepted for realizing the Supreme Lord. By accepting austerity in devotional service, one regains his spiritual life, and as soon as one regains his
spiritual life, he enjoys unlimited spiritual bliss. But if someone undertakes
austerities and penances for some material gain, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that the results are temporary and that they are desired by persons of
less intelligence.

During the rainy season, in the evening, there are many glowworms
visible about the tops of trees, hither and thither, and they glitter just like
lights. But the luminaries of the sky, the stars and the moons, are not
visible. Similarly, in the age of Kali, persons who are atheists or miscreants
become very prominently visible, whereas persons who are actually following the Vedic principles for spiritual emancipation are practically
obscured. This age, Kaliyuga, is compared to the cloudy season of the
living entities. In this age, real knowledge is covered by the influence of
material advancement of civilization. The cheap mental speculators,
atheists and manufacturers of so-called religious principles become prominent like the glowworms, whereas persons strictly following the Vedic
principles or scriptural injunctions become covered by the clouds of this
age. People should learn to take advantage of the actual luminaries of the
sky, the sun, moon, and stars, instead of the glowworm’s light. Actually,
the glowworm cannot give any light in the darkness of night. As clouds
sometimes clear, even in the rainy season, and sometimes the moon, stars
and sun become visible, so even in this Kaliyuga there are sometimes
advantages. The Vedic movement of Lord Caitanya’s-the distribution of
chanting the Hare Krishna mantra-is heard in this way. People seriously
anxious to find real life should take advantage of this movement instead
of looking toward the light of mental speculators and atheists.

After the first rainfall, when there is a thundering sound in the clouds,
all the frogs begin to croak, like students suddenly engaged in reading their
studies. Students are generally supposed to rise early in the morning. They
do not usually arise of their own accord, however, but only when there is
a bell sounded in the temple or in the cultural institution. By the order of
the spiritual master they immediately rise, and after finishing their morning
duties, they sit down to study the Vedas or chant Vedic mantras. Everyone
is sleeping in the darkness of Kaliyuga, but when there is a great acarya, by
his calling only, everyone takes to the study of the Vedas to acquire actual
knowledge. During the rainy season, many small ponds, lakes and rivulets
become filled with water; otherwise the rest of the year they remain dry.
Similarly, materialistic persons are dry, but sometimes, when they are in a
so-called opulent position, with a home or children or a little bank balance,
they appear to be flourishing, but immediately afterwards they become dry
again, like the small rivulets and ponds. The poet Vidyapati said that in
the society of friends, family, children, wife, etc., there is certainly some
pleasure, but that pleasure is compared to a drop of water in the desert.
Everyone is hankering after happiness, just as• in the desert everyone is
hankering after water. If, in the desert, there is a drop of water, the
water is there of course, but the benefit from that drop of water is very
insignificant. In our materialistic way of life, we are hankering after an
ocean of happiness, but in the form of society, friends and mundane love,
we are getting no more than a drop of water. Our satisfaction is never
achieved, as the small rivulets, lakes and ponds are never filled with water
in the dry season.

Due to rainfall, the grass, trees and vegetation look very green. Sometimes the grass is covered by a certain kind of red insect, and when the
green and red combine with umbrella-like mushrooms, the entire scene
changes,just like a person who has suddenly become rich. The farmer then
becomes very happy to see his field full of grains, but the capitalists-who
are always unaware of the activities of a supernatural power-become unhappy because they are afraid of a competitive price. In some places
certain capitalists in government restrict the farmer from producing too
much grains, not knowing the actual fact that all food grains are supplied
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. According to the Vedic injunction, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains this creation; therefore, He arranges for a supply of whatever is required for all living entities. When there is population increase, it is
the business of the Supreme Lord to feed them. But persons who are
atheists or miscreants do not like abundant production of food grains,
especially if their business might be hampered.

During the rainy season, all living entities, in the land, sky and water,
become very refreshed, exactly like one who engages in the transcendental
loving service of the Lord. We have practical experience of this with our
students in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Before
becoming students, they were dirty looking, although they had naturaly
beautiful personal features; but due to having no information of Krishna
consciousness they appeared very dirty and wretched. Since they have
taken to Krishna consciousness, their health has improved, and by following
the rules and regulations, their bodily luster has increased. When they are
dressed with saffron colored cloth, with tilaka on their foreheads and
beads in their hands and on their necks, they look exactly as if they come
directly from Vaikuntha.

In the rainy season, when the rivers swell and rush to the oceans and
seas, they appear to agitate the ocean. Similarly, if a person who is engaged
in the yoga-mystic process is not very advanced in spiritual life, he can
become agitated by the sex impulse. High mountains, however, although
splashed by torrents of rain, do not change; so a person who is advanced in
Krishna consciousness, even if put into difficulties, is not embarrassed
because a person who is spiritually advanced accepts any adverse condition
of life as the mercy of the Lord, and thus he is completely eligible to enter
into the spiritual kingdom.

In the rainy season some of the roads are not frequently used, and they
become covered with long grasses. This is exactly like a brahmana who is
not accustomed to studying and practicing the reformatory methods of
Vedic injunctions-he becomes covered with the long grasses of maya.
In that condition, forgetful of his constitutional nature, he forgets his
position of eternal servitorship to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
By being deviated by the seasonal overgrowth of long grasses created by
maya, a person identifies himself with mayic production and succumbs to
illusion, forgetting his spiritual life.

During the rainy season, lightning appears in one group of clouds and
then immediately in another group of clouds. This phenomena is compared
to a lusty woman who does not fix her mind on one man. A cloud is
compared to a qualified person because it pours rain and gives sustenance
to many people; a man who is qualified similarly gives sustenance to many
living creatures, such as family members or many workers in business.
Unfortunately, his whole life can be disturbed by a wife who divorces him;
when the husband is disturbed, the whole family is ruined, the children
are dispersed or the business is closed, and everything is effected. It is
therefore recommended that a woman desiring to advance in Krishna
consciousness peacefully live with a husband and that the couple not
separate under any condition. The husband and wife should control sex
indulgence and concentrate their minds on Krishna consciousness so their
life may be successful. After all, in the material world a man requires a
woman, and a woman requires a man. When they are combined, they
should live peacefully in Krishna consciousness and should not be restless
like the lightning, flashing from one group of clouds to another.

Sometimes, in addition to the roaring thunder of the clouds, there is an
appearance of a rainbow, which stands as a bow without a string. Actually,
a bow is in the curved position, being tied at its two ends by the bowstring;
but in the rainbow there is no such string, and yet it rests in the sky so
beautifully. Similarly, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends
to this material world, He appears just like an ordinary human being, but
He is not resting on any material condition. In the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord
says that He appears by His internal potency, which is free from the bondage of the external potency. What is bondage for the ordinary creature is
freedom for the Personality of Godhead. In the rainy season, the moonlight is covered by clouds but is visible at intervals. It sometimes appears
that the moon is moving with the movement ofthe clouds, but actually the
moon is still; due to the clouds it also appears to move. Similarly, for one
who has identified himself with the moving material world, his actual
spiritual luster is covered by illusion, and with the movement of material
activities, he thinks that he is moving through different spheres of life.
This is due to false ego, which is the demarcation between spiritual and
material existence, just as the moving cloud is the demarcation between
moonlight and darkness. In the rainy season, when the clouds appear for
the first time, after seeing their appearance, the peacocks begin to dance
with joy. This can be compared to persons who are very harassed in the
materialistic way of life . If they can find the association of a person engaged
in the loving devotional service of the Lord, they become enlightened,
just like the peacocks when they dance. We have practical experience
of this, because many of our students were dry and mqrose previous to
their coming to Krishna consciousness, but having come into contact with
devotees, they are now dancing like jubilant peacocks.

Plants and creepers grow by drinking water from the ground. Similarly,
a person practicing austerities becomes dry; after the austere performances
are completed and he gets the result, he begins to enjoy life in sense gratification, with family, society, love, home and other paraphernalia. Sometimes it is seen that cranes and ducks meander continually on the banks of the lakes and rivers, although the banks are filled with muddy garbage and
thorny creepers. Similarly, persons who are householders without Krishna
consciousness are constantly tarrying in material life, in spite of all kinds of
inconveniences. In family life, or any life, one cannot be perfectly happy
without being Krishna conscious. Srila Narottama dasa Thakur prays that he
will have the association of a person-either a householder or a man in the
renounced order of life-who is engaged in the transcendental loving
service of the Lord and is always crying the holy name of Lord Caitanya. For the materialistic person, worldly affairs become too aggressive, whereas
to a person who is in Krishna consciousness, everything appears to be
happily situated.

The barriers around the agricultural field sometimes break due to heavy
torrents of rain. Similarly, the unauthorized atheistic propaganda in the
age of Kali breaks the boundary of the Vedic injunctions. Thus people
gradually degenerate to godlessness. In the rainy season, the clouds, tossed
by the wind, deliver water which is welcomed like nectar. When the Vedic
followers, the briihmarws, inspire rich men like kings and the wealthy
mercantile community to give charity in the performance of great
sacrifices, the distribution of such wealth is also nectarean. The four
sections of human society, namely the briihmarws, the kshatriyas, the
vaishyas and the shudras, are meant to live peacefully in a cooperative
mood; this is possible when they are guided by the expert Vedic brahmanas
who perform sacrifices and distribute wealth equally.

Vrindavana forest improved from the rains and was replete with ripened
dates, mangoes, blackberries and other fruits. Lord Krishna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and His boy friends and Lord Balarama, entered
the forest to enjoy the new seasonal atmosphere. The cows, being fed by
new grasses, became very healthy, and their milk bags were all very full.
When Lord Krishna called them by name, they immediately came to Him
out of affection, and in their joyful condition the milk flowed from their
bags. Lord Krishna was very pleased when passing through the Vrindavana
forest by the side of Govardhana Hill. On the bank of the Yamuna He saw
all the trees decorated with bee hives pouring honey. There were many
waterfalls on Govardhana Hill, and their flowing made a nice sound. Krishna
heard them as He looked into the caves of the hill. When the rainy season
was not ended completely but was gradually turning to autumn, sometimes,
especially when there was rainfall within the forest, Krishna and His
companions would sit under a tree or within the caves of Govardhana Hill
and enjoy eating the ripened fruits and talking with great pleasure. When
Krwa and Balarama were in· the forest all day, mother Yasoda used to
send Them some rice mixed with yogurt, fruits and sweetmeat. Krishna
would take them and sit on a slab of stone on the bank of the Yamuna.
While Krishna and Balarama and Their friends were eating, they watched the
cows, calves and bulls. The cows appeared to be tired from standing with
their heavy milk bags. By sitting and chewing grass, they became happy,
and Krishna was pleased to see them. He was proud to see the beauty of the
forest, which was nothing but the manifestation of His own energy.

At such times Krishna would praise nature’s special activities during the
rainy season. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that the material energy, or
nature, is not independent in its actions. Nature is acting under the superintendence of Krishna. It is also stated in the Brahma-samhita that material nature, known as Durga, is acting as the shadow of Krishna. Whatever order
is sent from Krishna, material nature obeys. Therefore the natural beauty
created by the rainy season was acted out according to the indications of
Krishna. Soon all the water reservoirs became very clean and pleasing, and
refreshing air was blowing everywhere because of the appearance of
autumn. The sky was completely cleared of all clouds, and it recovered its
natural blue color. The blooming lotus flower in the clear water in the
forest appeared like a person who has fallen down from yoga practice but
again has become beautiful by resuming his spiritual life.

Everything becomes naturally beautiful with the appearance of the
autumn season. Similarly, when a materialistic person takes to Krishna
consciousness and spiritual life, he also becomes as dear as the sky and
water in autumn. The autumn season takes away the rolling of dark clouds
in the sky as well as the polluted water. Filthy conditions on the ground
also become cleansed. Similarly, a person who takes to Krishna consciousness
immediately becomes cleansed of all dirty things within and without.
Krishna is therefore known as Hari. “Hari” means “he who takes away.”
Krishna immediately takes away all unclean habits from anyone who takes
to Krishna consciousness. The clouds of autumn are white, for they do not
carry any water. Similarly, a retired man, being freed from all responsibility of family affairs (namely, maintaining the home, wife and children)
and taking completely to Krishna consciousness, becomes freed from all
anxieties and looks as white as clouds in autumn. Sometimes in autumn
the falls come down from the top of the hill to supply clean water, and
sometimes they stop. Similarly, sometimes great saintly persons distribute
clear knowledge, and sometimes they are silent. The small ponds which
were filled with water because of the rainy season, gradually dry up in
autumn. As for the tiny aquatics living in the reservoirs, they cannot understand that their numbers are diminishing day by day, as the materially
engrossed persons cannot understand that their duration of life is being
reduced day by day. Such persons are engaged in maintaining cows, property , children, wife, society and friendship. Due to the reduced water and
scorching heat from the sun in the autumn season, the small creatures
living in small reservoirs of water are much disturbed; they are exactly like
uncontrolled persons who are always unhappy from being unable to enjoy
life or maintain their family members. The muddy earth gradually dries up,
and newly grown fresh vegetables begin to wither. Similarly, for one who
has taken to Krishna consciousness, desire for family enjoyment gradually
dries up.

Because of the appearance of the autumn season, the water of the ocean
becomes calm and quiet, just as a person developed in self-realization is no
longer disturbed by the three modes of material nature. In autumn, farmers
save the water within the fields by building strong walls so that the water
contained within the field cannot run out. There is hardly any hope for
new rainfalls; therefore they want to save whatever is in the field. Similarly,
a person who is actually advanced in self-realization protects his energy by
controlling the senses. It is advised that after the age of fifty, one should
retire from family life and should conserve the energy of the body for
utilization in the advancement of Krishna consciousness. Unless one is able
to control the senses and engage them in the transcendental loving service
of Mukunda, there is no possibility of salvation.

During the daytime in autumn, the sun is very scorching, but at night,
due to the clear moonshine, people get relief from the day’s fatigue. If a
person takes shelter of Mukunda, or Krishna, he can be saved from the
fatigue of misidentifying the body with the self. Mukunda, or Krishna, is
also the source of solace to the damsels of Vrindavana. The damsels of
Vrajabhumi are always suffering because of separation from Krishna. When
they meet Krishna during the moonlit autumn night, their fatigue of separation is also satiated. When the sky is clear of all clouds, the stars at night
shine very beautifully; similarly, when a person is actually situated in Krishna
consciousness, he is cleared of all dirty things, and he becomes as beautiful
as the stars in the autumn sky. Although the Vedas prescribe karma in the
form of offering sacrifices, their ultimate purpose is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: one has to accept Krishna consciousness after thoroughly understanding
the purpose of the Vedas. Therefore the clean heart exhibited by a devotee
in Krishna consciousness can be compared to the clean sky of the autumn
season. During autumn, the moon looks very bright along with the stars in
the clear sky. Lord Krishna Himself appeared in the sky of the Yadu
dynasty, and He was exactly like the moon surrounded by the stars, or the
members of the Yadu dynasty. When there are ample blooming flowers in
the gardens in the forest, the fresh, aromatic breeze gives a great relief
to the person who has suffered during the summer and rainy seasons.
Unfortunately, such breezes could not give any relief to the gopis
because of their hearts’ dedication to Krishna. People in general might
have taken pleasure in that nice autumn breeze, but the gopis, not
being embraced by Krishna, were not very satisfied.

On arrival of the autumn season, all the cows, deer, birds and females in
general become pregnant, because in that season generally all the husbands
become impelled by sex desire. This is exactly like the transcendentalists
who, by the grace of the Supreme Lord, are bestowed with the benediction
of their destinations in life. Srila Rupa Gosvami has instructed in his
Upadesamrita that one should follow devotional service with great
enthusiasm, patience and conviction and should follow the rules and
regulations, keep oneself clean from material contamination and stay in
the association of devotees. By following these principles, one is sure to
achieve the desired result of devotional service. For he who patiently
follows the regulative principles of devotional service, the time will come
when he will achieve the result, as the wives who reap results by becoming
pregnant.

During the autumn, the lotus flowers in the lakes grow in large numbers
because of the absence of lilies; both the lilies and the lotus flowers grow
by sunshine, but during the autumn season, the scorching sunshine helps
only the lotus. This example is given in the case of a country where the
king or the government is strong; the rise of unwanted elem”ents like
thieves and robbers cannot prosper. When the citizens become confident
that they will not be attacked by robbers, they develop very satisfactorily.
A strong government is compared to the scorching sunshine in the autumn
season; the lilies are compared to unwanted persons like robbers, and the
lotus flowers are compared to the satisfied citizens of the government.
During autumn, the fields become filled with ripened grains. At that time,
the people become happy over the harvest and observe various ceremonies,
such as Navanna-the offering of new grains to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. The new grains are first offered to the Deities in various temples,
and all are invited to take sweet rice made of these new grains. There are
other religious ceremonies and methods of worship, particularly in Bengal,
where the greatest of all such ceremonies is held, called Durga-Puja.

In Vrndavana the autumn season was very beautiful then because of the
presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna and Balarama.
The mercantile community, the royal order and great sages were free to
move to achieve their desired benedictions. Similarly, the transcendentalists, when freed from the encagement of the material body, also achieved
their desired goal. During the rainy season, the mercantile community
cannot move from one place to another and so do not get their desired
profit. Nor can the royal order go from one place to another to collect
taxes from the people. As for saintly persons who must travel to preach
transcendental knowledge, they also are restrained by the rainy season.
But during the autumn, all of them leave their confines. In the case of the
transcendentalist, be he a jñani, a yogi, or a devotee, because of the
material body he cannot actually enjoy spiritual achievement. But as soon
as he gives up the body, or after death, the jniini merges into the spiritual
effulgence of the Supreme Lord; the yogi transfers himself to the various
higher planets, and the devotee goes to the planet of the Supreme Lord,
Goloka Vrindavana, or the Vaikunthas, and thus enjoys his eternal spiritual
life.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Twentieth Chapter of
Krishna, “Description of Autumn.”