Text 135] The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple 67

ing) and pratisthasa (the desire for name and fame and for high position), jiva-him-
sa (envy of other living entities), nisiddhacara (accepting things forbidden in the
sastra), kama (desire for material gain) and puja (hankering for popularity). The
word kuti-nati means duplicity. As an example, one may attempt to imitate Srila
Haridasa Thakura by living in a solitary place. One's real desire may be for name
and fame—in other words, one thinks that fools will accept one to be as good as
Haridasa Thakura just because one lives in a solitary place. These are all material
desires. A neophyte devotee is certain to be attacked by other material desires as
well—women and money. In this way the heart is again filled with dirty things
and becomes harder and harder, like that of a materialist. Gradually one desires to
become a reputed devotee or an avatara (incarnation).

The word jiva-himsa (envy of other living entities) actually means stopping the
preaching of Krsna consciousness. Preaching work is described as paropakdra,
welfare activity for others. Those who are ignorant of the benefits of devotional
service must be educated by preaching. If one stops preaching and simply sits
down in a solitary place, he is engaging in material activity. If one desires to make
acompromise with the Mayavadis, he is also engaged in material activity. A devo-
tee should never make compromises with nondevotees. By acting as a profes-
sional guru, mystic yogi or miracle man, one may cheat and bluff the general
public and gain fame as a wonderful mystic, but all this is considered to be dust,
straw and grains of sand within the heart. In addition, one should follow the
regulative principles and not desire illicit sex, gambling, intoxicants and meat.

To give us practical instructions, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cleansed the
temple twice. His second cleansing was more thorough. The idea was to throw
away all the stumbling blocks on the path of devotional service. He cleansed the
temple with firm conviction, as is evident from His using His own personal gar-
ments for cleaning. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to see personally that the
temple was thoroughly cleansed as clean as marble. Clean marble gives a cooling
effect. Devotional service means attaining peace from all disturbances caused by
material contamination. In other words, it is the process by which the mind is
cooled. The mind can be peaceful and thoroughly cleansed when one no longer
desires anything but devotional service.

Even though all dirty things may be cleansed away, sometimes subtle desires
remain in the mind for impersonalism, monism, success and the four principles of
religious activity (dharma, artha, kama and moksa). All these are like spots on clean
cloth. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also wanted to cleanse all these away.

By His practical activity, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed us how to cleanse
our hearts. Once the heart is cleansed, we should invite Lord Sri Krsna to sit down,
and we should observe the festival by distributing prasada and chanting the Hare
Krsna maha-mantra. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to teach every devotee by His
personal behavior. Everyone who spreads the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ac-
cepts a similar responsibility. The Lord was personally chastising and praising in-
