Aparecimento igual ao Desaparecimento
O Aparecimento (Avirbhava) de um devoto puro é igual ao seu Desaparecimento (Tirobhava).
Do livro "Gaudiya Vaisnava Samadhis in Vrndavana" de SS Mahanidhi Swami.
Avirbhava Equals Tirobhava
Philosophically, the avirbhava (appearance day) and tirobhava (disappearance day) of a pure Vaishnava are the same. The acarya's appearance and disappearance is not like the ordinary person's birth and death. The existence of a Vaishnava compares with the visibility of the sun. The sun shining in the clear blue sky represents the devotee's living amongst us in his prakrta rupa (visible form). His disappearance from this world resembles the sun being hidden behind the clouds. He disappears in one place and appears in another. Therefore, a tirobhava simultaneously creates an avirbhava. When a pure Vaishnava leaves his prakrta rupa, he receives an aprakrta rupa (spiritual body or cit deha) to eternally serve Radha-Syamasundara in Goloka Vrndavana.
Here it appears as a tirobhava but in the spiritual world it is an avirbhava.
The pure devotee disappears from our vision, only to appear before the vision of Radha-Syamasundara in the Shri Vrndavana-dhama.
In the material world the Vaishnava passes his days chanting Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krishna, dancing, and honoring prasadam. He does the same in the spiritual world.
Once upon a time a sage gave different kinds of blessings to different types of people. He blessed a prince, raja-putfa ciram jiva, "You are the king's son, you should live forever." Then the sage blessed a Vaisnava, sadhavojiva va marava, "You can live or die, as you choose." Since royal families are prone to illicit sense enjoyment, the sage blessed the prince to live forever. Because after death the prince would go to hell to pay for his sins.
Hcwever, the Vaishnava could live or die because either way he continues the same activity blissfully serving the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna.
Tirobhava Mahotsava (yearly disappearance celebration)
Like the sun, the Vaishnavas are always present. But on account of our faulty perception they seem to "disappear."
Hari Sauri Dasa reports that Shrila Prabhupada told disciples to fast until noon on both the appearance and disappearance days of our predecessor acaryas.
If possible, do the same for the six Gosvamis, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, Narotttama Dasa Thakura, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, and others. Spiritually, a Vaishnava's appearance and disappearance day are equal. Although Shrila Prabhupada wanted both days to be observed, Gaudiya Vaishnavas traditionally only celebrate the tirobhava (disappearance day). The festival honors that pure Vaishnava who attained a manjari svarupa (spiritual form of a maidservant), and entered the eternal service of Radha-Gopinatha within the pleasure groves of Shri Vrndavana-dhama.
"Celebrate the avirbhava (appearance day) of Vishnu (Krishna) and the tirobhava (disappearance day) of the Vaishnava," say the Gaudiyas.
Of course, the more one worships the devotees, the more one makes advancement. But elaborate ceremonies are usually held on the disappearance day.
Why "worship the avirbhava of Vishnu and the tirobhava of the Vaishnava?"
Immeditately upon appearing on earth, the Vishnu avataras such as the Dasa Avataras (Matsya, Vamana, Nrsimha, Rama) act to bless, instruct, and protect everyone. They bring peace and prosperity to the world. Therefore, the appearance day of Lord Vishnu and His many forms is honored. When a Vaishnava first appears in this world he doesn't show any greatness or make any contribution. After some years he begins to manifest his spiritual power. The karma (activities) of the Vaishnava far outweigh his janma (birth). A Vaishnava's life of pure devotion and spreading Krishna consciousness is honored with a mahotsava. This is a grand festival of flowers, kirtana, puja, poetry, prasadam, and a procession.
Shri Padmanabha Goswami explains the reason for celebrating a Vaishnava's tirobhava:"When a devotee takes birth he has not really done anything yet. After his death everyone knows what great work he did. So we celebrate this time. At that time the Vaishnava enters Radha-Krishna's nitya-lila and that's a great cause for celebration. According to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy, we believe that the departed Vaishnava joins the Ma of Radha and Krishna and the asta-sakhis (eight intimate gopis) as a servant of the servant of the servant the mood of gopi bhava. Just inside our altar of Radha Ramanaji, we worship Gopala Bhatta Gosvami in his eternal form as Guna-manjari, serving the lotus feet of Shrimati Radharani."
Standard Gaudiya Vaishnava texts don't give any prayers for singing on the appearance day of a pure devotee. But they mention hundreds of stavas, stutis, and sucaks (varieties of mantras and bhajans) to sing on the disappearance day.
Most Gaudiya Vaisnava panjikas (yearly calendars) list only the disappearance days of the Vaishnava acaryas.
How to Observe a Tirobhava
Sucaka Kirtans (a biography in song) are special kirtans full of verses glorifying the life and teachings of the departed Vaishnava saint. Sung on the tirobhava, these beautiful prayers sometimes go on for two or three hours.
All the six Gosvamis, except Shri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, receive substantial bhoga offerings during their tirobhava mahot-savas. At Radha-kunda, devotees respect Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's mood of strict renunciation by daily offering him (in- side his samadhi) only buttermilk, maha Tulasi leaves and water from Radha-Gopinatha. But on his divine disappearance day they prepare a full feast and place it just outside his samadhi.
Any devotee, even if he has no money or materials, can sincerely worship the pure devotee on his tirobhava. The following pastime shows a pure and simple way to do it. Once on Shri Sanatana Gosvami's tirobhava, Shri Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja said,
"This afternoon we shall have a great festival, a tirobhava mahotsava, to honor the holy day of the passing of Shrila Sanatana Gosvami."His servant Bihari replied, "But Babaji Maharaja, you are totally renounced and have nothing. Where will you get the things needed for a festival?""We don't need anything," explained Babaji Maharaja, "We may fast and chant the holy name of Krishna. And in this humble way, we shall enjoy a great festival."
Vosso servo
Prahladesh Dasa
