Hṛṣīkeśa - Controller of the Senses

In the Vedic science of spirituality, the senses are often compared to wild horses that must be reined in by the mind. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the ultimate controller of these senses is Lord Kṛṣṇa, known as Hṛṣīkeśa. Real self-mastery does not come from suppressing the senses, but from engaging them in the service of their original owner. This article explores the relationship between the individual soul, the senses, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The Supreme Controller (Hṛṣīkeśa)

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is the source and master of all faculties. While the living entity claims proprietorship over the body, the senses actually belong to the Lord. Recognizing Kṛṣṇa as Hṛṣīkeśa—the master of the senses—is the first step in spiritual life. He is the twenty-fifth element, controlling the ten senses, the mind, intelligence, ego, and the material elements.

• Above all others, the supreme controller is Krsna, who is known as Hrsikesa. The word hṛṣīka means "senses." We are enjoying our senses, but ultimately the controller of the senses is Krsna.
• Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hrsikesa, the controller of all my senses and the origin of everything. As the supreme master of all bodily, mental and intellectual activities, He is the only enjoyer of their results.
• My dear Lord, You are the supreme controller of the worker, sense activities and results of sense activities (karma). Therefore You are the controller of the body, mind and senses. You are also the supreme controller of egotism, known as Rudra.
• The body consists of the senses. The Supreme Lord is Hrsikesa, which means controller of the senses.

The Qualification of a Guru (Gosvāmī)

A spiritual master is not defined by birth or social title, but by the ability to control the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the terms svāmī and gosvāmī literally mean "master of the senses." Only one who has conquered the urges of the senses is authorized to accept disciples and teach the science of God. This status is achieved through detachment and knowledge, not heredity.

• Gosvami or svami, the same meaning: one who has been able to control the senses. Generally everyone is controlled by the senses. When one becomes controller of the senses, then he is gosvami.
• It is stated in the Upadesamrta of Rupa Gosvami that a guru is a gosvami, a controller of the senses and the mind. Such a guru can accept disciples from all over the world. Prthivim sa sisyat. This is the test of the guru.
• Unless one is a prabhu, or controller of the senses, he cannot act as spiritual master, who is authorized by the supreme prabhu, or Lord Krsna.
• The gosvami title is not hereditary. The word gosvami refers to one who can control his senses, who is master of the senses. A devotee is not controlled by the senses, but is the controller of the senses.

Control Through Devotional Service

How does one become a controller of the senses? Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that positive engagement is the key. By engaging the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, they automatically become controlled. A devotee who sees, hears, and works for Kṛṣṇa has no time for material sense gratification. This natural detachment, born of higher taste, makes the devotee a true jitendriya (conqueror of the senses).

• A Krsna conscious person being always situated in the transcendental loving service of God, automatically becomes the controller of the senses. His senses, being always engaged in the service of Krsna, have no chance of becoming otherwise engaged.
• One who is situated in devotional service is certainly the controller of his senses, and thus he is a liberated person.
• If one engages in devotional service from the beginning of life, he easily attains vairagya-vidya, or asakti, detachment, and becomes jitendriya, the controller of his senses.
• Brahma said, "We may be proud of being controllers of the senses, but here the residents of Vrndavana are so transcendental that they are not under our control. Actually they are enjoying their senses through service to You."

Brahminical Training

Society requires a class of men who serve as the brain, providing guidance and wisdom. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that such men, the brāhmaṇas, must be specifically trained in sense control. An educational system that does not teach how to control the mind and senses cannot produce first-class citizens. This internal and external cleanliness (śaucam) is the hallmark of a civilized human being.

• Brahmanas, they are to be trained up how to become truthful, how to become controller of the senses, how to become simple, how to become tolerant.
• You have to be trained up how to become first-class brain. That is brahmana. You have to become truthful, you have to become controller of the senses, you have to become fully aware of things, of God, everything, full knowledge, then you become brain.
• There should be educational department to create first-class men by all these qualities: how to become controller of the mind, how to become controller of the senses, how to become cleansed, bahyabhyantaram, inside clean and outside clean, saucam.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the senses, their controllers (the demigods), and the objects of the senses all emanate from the Supreme Lord. By understanding Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate Hṛṣīkeśa and engaging in His service, one moves from being a slave of the senses to becoming their master. This transformation from servant of the senses to servant of God is the perfection of life.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Controller of the Senses. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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