Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Hare Krishna

Greetings to the one that rules the 18 million internal
and external universes.
Greetings to the one who created everything out of itself
Who permeates and rules it and is the consciousness of and
In it
and who dwells in me



Greetings to the one who is one alone and the many as one
Who is the substance of things unseen
Who is always more than there is
no matter
How much there may be
The rising sun that never hits the zenith



Greetings to the living light behind all appearances
Who composes the appearances and is not what appears
Greetings to the qualities and virtues that make up the personality of
The ineffable in the cloud of unknowing that shrouds the blinding world and
Humbles everything before it and which
Dwells in me.



Greetings to the unassailable unmoving center
From which spirals the galaxies and worlds
Like the spiral of a closed fist
Of perfect concentration
That holds it all in place that
Moves it all that forms and un-forms and does not
Begin or end and which dwells in me.



Greetings to that which endures and prevails
And is the life in everything
That meets and greets itself knowing and unknowing
That scatters itself into uncountable pieces and
Gathers them altogether again and
That dwells in me



Greetings to the dynamic animating principle.
Greetings to the one that does not know time nor size but
Does know sequence and form



Greetings to the one whose idea is complete in the genesis and
Is the intelligence behind evolution and design and not the result of them.
Greetings to what cannot be known but whose presence can be practiced
And enjoyed and who dwells in me.



Greetings in the before and after that both spill into the endless now
Greetings to the one who commands the superiors and inferiors
Whose every effort serves the entire
Who is the one who waits before
In the midst and at the end of every thought, word and deed



Greetings to the mind inside the mind of every architect in every dream
Who waits and watches forever and who
Abides in me.



Greetings from within the sleep that struggles for awakening
That cries out for union with the beloved
That cries in this moment for awakening to the one
Who dwells in me.



Greetings
many greetings and
much gratitude
Greetings and greetings and
much gratitude



Hare Krishna


Patrick Willis narrates:

1106 comments:

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Anonymous said...

Not that... In India there are examples like Haridasa Thakura, Prahlada Maharaja. And the Western countries also, Lord Jesus Christ, he is saktyavesa-avatara, God's son. And he tolerated so much. These are the examples of mahatma. Don't misunderstand that we are preaching that mahatmas are only in India. No. By the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead there are mahatmas even amongst the birds, even amongst the beasts, even amongst the lower than animals. Because this Krsna consciousness movement is going on in different places, in different circumstances.(Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.3 --vrndavana Oct 25, 1976)

Anonymous said...

I laughed and cried a little too..
----------------------------------

The Prabhu Brothers Are a Hit at Mayapur

BY: THE PRABHU BROTHERS

Mar 23, 2011 — SRIDHAM MAYAPUR, WEST BENGAL (SUN) —


"And now for something really different…" So went the introduction to our Prabhu Brothers comedy team show at the recent Mayapur Festival:

Prabhu 1: Say, wasn't Prahladananda supposed to introduce us?

Prabhu 2: Yeah, but he has a difficult time speaking when he's standing on his head!

Prabhu 1: None of the others could introduce our act, either.

Prabhu 2: Why's that, Prabhu?

Prabhu 1: They were all on hari nama retreat. That is, retreat away from hari nama. Apparently managing the sankirtan movement is more important than performing sankirtan.

Prabhu 1: Jai, Prabhu. Did you hear about the man who died on the way to meet his sweetheart?

Prabhu 2: No, what happened?

Prabhu 1: He told the yamadutta," Listen, come get me tomorrow. Tonight I've got a hot date.

Prabhu 2: And the yamadutta told him he could work out a deal if he'd take his dog for a walk…?

Prabhu 1: No, the yamadutta said, "Don't worry; I've got a hotter date for you!"

Prabhu 2: Nothing hotter than those burning iron images in naraka.

Prabhu 1: Except some of the tempers on the GBC. Ouch!

Prabhu 2: GBC? I heard they're on probation!

Prabhu 1: Not probation, Prabhu, prohibition!

Prabhu 2: How's that?

Prabhu 1: They are prohibited from getting drunk with power.

Prabhu 2: Speaking of the GBC, Rabindra Swarup just flew in.

Prabhu 1: Air India?

Prabhu 2: Naa, he just flapped his ears.

Prabhu 1: You know many of the devotees from his temple had a tough time getting through customs.

Prabhu 2: Really, what happened, Prabhu?

Prabhu 1: The Indian Customs authorities are worried about letting their bed bugs back into India.

Prabhu 2: And who can blame them? Such a clean country…

Anonymous said...

Prabhu 1: When it comes to Customs inspections, you can always tell the disciples of Bhakti Caru Maharaja.

Prabhu 2: How's that, Prabhu?

Prabhu 1: They're the ones carrying Swiss cheese as an offering for their Guru Maharaja.

Prabhu 2: I heard that Romapada Swami almost didn't make it.

Prabhu 1: Why?

Prabhu 2: He couldn't get a discount flight.

Prabhu 1: It happens every time the Fed lowers the interest rates.

Prabhu 2: And Praghosh almost couldn't get to Heathrow Airport.

Prabhu 1: Why, was he stuck in traffic?

Prabhu 2: No, he couldn't find a brahmana to bless his car.

Prabhu 1: Well, it's been a great show. Everyone loving it so far?

Crowd: Loud applause.

Prabhu 1: Great! This year along with an astrologer and palmist, there is a phrenologist who read the bumps on your head.

Prabhu 2: Did you see him, Prabhu?

Prabhu 1: Sure did, Prabhu.

Prabhu 2: And what did he say?

Prabhu 1: He said, "You've got a lot of bumps on your head."

Prabhu 2: You'll probably get a few more after the show!

Audience: Uproarious laughter. Applause.

Prabhu 1: But this year one of the acts had to cancel.

Prabhu 2: Which one, Prabhu?

Prabhu 1: The Mayavadi Sarva-Nasas. They were going to come onstage with Radhanath and the Meditating Rabbi to chant OM.

Prabhu 2: Well, what happened?

Prabhu 1: They forgot the words to the mantra.

Prabhu 2: No problem. If there's a gurukuli in the audience, we can have a rap performance instead.

Prabhu 1: Or a fashion show.

Prabhu 2: Well, I'd prefer a fashion show to a fascist show.

Prabhu 1: After seeing some of the stone-faced millionaires in the audience, I think I know what you're talking about.

Prabhu 2: Say, I heard that the GBC put an old Prabhupada disciple on probation at this year's meeting.

Prabhu 1: Yes, but one member did abstain from voting.

Prabhu 2: Why's that?

Prabhu 1: Well, he remembered how some years ago, Bhakti Tirtha had abstained from censuring Kirtanananda, so he thought abstaining must be important, since Bhakti Tirtha wasn't really known for abstinence.

Prabhu 2: Wow! I heard that there was so much hot air at this year's GBC meeting that they had to take down the wind chimes.

Prabhu 1: Well, they say that Chanakya Pandit re-incarnated as a member of the GBC, but had to resign.

Prabhu 2: Oh, why was that, Prabhu? `

Prabhu 1: He couldn't take all the politics.

Prabhu 2: Speaking of politics, everyone is so excited about the royal wedding!

Prabhu 1: Oh, Is Jagadisa getting married again?

Prabhu 2: Say, did you hear which devotee won the Tamal Krishna Scholarship Award?

Prabhu 1: Yeah, the one who didn't finish his thesis!

Prabhu 2: Speaking of scholars, I hear Hridayananda has been blessing gay marriages.

Prabhu 1: Sure. But was it a male couple or a female couple?

Prabhu 2: They were males, he wouldn't do that for a female couple.

Prabhu 1: Why not?

Prabhu 2: He's a sannyasi, Prabhu!

Prabhu 1: Did you hear Satsvarupa is working on his auto-biography?

Prabhu 2: The Shri Satswarupa (Ret.) Lilamrita?

Prabhu 1: No, it's called Shri Sanitorium.

Prabhu 2: Hmm, sounds like a book that'll get you a few extra initials after your name.

Prabhu 1: Or a new place to live!

Prabhu 2: Hey, Prabhu, did you book your samadhi yet? Choice plots are going fast.

Prabhu 1: Well, if Tirtha's on probation, we might need samadhis sooner than we think!

Audience: Applause.

Prabhu 2: Thanks very much folks. It's all in good clean fun. We're the Prabhu Brothers. Book us for your next event.

Prabhu 1: We bring joy to yagnas, baptisms and Bar Mitzvahs, too. It's all inter-faith comedy. Even holy mothers laugh at our material. See you next year.

Crowd: Standing applause.

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.8.44

sūta uvāca

pṛthayetthaḿ kala-padaiḥ

pariṇūtākhilodayaḥ

mandaḿ jahāsa vaikuṇṭho

mohayann iva māyayā

TRANSLATION

Sūta Gosvāmī said: The Lord, thus hearing the prayers of Kuntīdevī, composed in choice words for His glorification, mildly smiled. That smile was as enchanting as His mystic power.

PURPORT

Anything that is enchanting in the world is said to be a representation of the Lord. The conditioned souls, who are engaged in trying to lord it over the material world, are also enchanted by His mystic powers, but His devotees are enchanted in a different way by the glories of the Lord, and His merciful blessings are upon them. His energy is displayed in different ways, as electrical energy works in manifold capacities. Śrīmatī Kuntīdevī has prayed to the Lord just to enunciate a fragment of His glories. All His devotees worship Him in that way, by chosen words, and therefore the Lord is known as Uttamaśloka. No amount of chosen words is sufficient to enumerate the Lord's glory, and yet He is satisfied by such prayers as the father is satisfied even by the broken linguistic attempts of the growing child. The word māyā is used both in the sense of delusion and mercy. Herein the word māyā is used in the sense of the Lord's mercy upon Kuntīdevī.

Anonymous said...

KIRTAN PASTIMES AT SRIVAS ANGAN

The Appearance Day of Sri Srivasa Pandita is observed on March 26th.

Another day, Srivas' only son died while sankirtana was being performed in his house. Srivas was afraid that the sounds of mourning from the women's quarters would disturb Mahaprabhu while He was engaged in singing the Holy Names. So he went directly into the house and tried to quiet the women by explaining spiritual truths to them. When they still didn't stop their loud lamentations, Srivas threatened to throw himself into the river and drown if they did not stop making noise. This had the desired result.

Later on that night, however, the kirtan came to a stop and Mahaprabhu said, "Something doesn't seem right. Has some tragedy taken place in the pandit's house?" Srivas answered, "How can anything be wrong, when I have Your smiling face in my home?"

"However, some of the other devotees said, "Prabhu, Srivas' only son died in the evening about an hour after sunset."

Mahaprabhu asked, "Why did no one say anything before now?"

The devotees answered, "Lord, Srivas told us not to, because he was afraid that it would interfere with Your pleasure in kirtana."

Mahaprabhu said, "How could I ever abandon devotees who love Me to this extent!" and started to cry. After this, He went inside and sat down beside the child's dead body and brought him back to consciousness. He asked, "Child! Why do you want to leave the house of such a great devotee as Srivas?"

The dead child answered, "The few days that I was to spend in Srivas' house are over, and now I am following Your wishes in going elsewhere. I am a living being without any independence; I cannot go against Your wishes. Please be merciful to me that I never forget Your lotus feet, wherever I go."

When Srivas' family members heard the child speak such wisdom, they immediately forgot their distress and stopped mourning. Mahaprabhu said to Srivas, "From this day on, Nityananda and I will be your sons. We will never leave you."

Anonymous said...

The names of the twelve most important cowherd boys are Sridama, Sudama, Vasudama, Subala, Mahabala, Subahu, Mahabahu, Stoka-krsna, Dama, Arjuna, Lavanga, and Kusumasava. Of the twelve cowherd boys, Sridama is considered to be the chief. Sridama wears a yellow colored dress and his turban is a reddish copper color. His bodily complexion is blackish and around his neck there is a nice garland. He carries a buffalo horn.

Sridama would always challenge Krishna in joking friendship, saying: "Oh, you are so cruel that you left us alone on the bank of Yamuna and we were all mad from not seeing You here. If You now want to pacify us, You must embrace each one of us with Your arms. But believe me, my dear friend, a moments absence from You creates great havoc, not only for us but for the cows also. Everything becomes disarranged and we become mad after You."

Sridama sakha is expert at singing and dancing, is fond of flower garlands and sandal paste, and is expert at writing love letters. He displays the ecstatic symptoms of perspiring and standing erect of the body's hairs. Krsna would sometimes perform mock fighting along with the cowherd boys, and when Krsna blew His horn in this mock fighting, Sridama, who was on the opposing side, felt his bodily hairs stand up.

"Lord Krsna's friends in Vrndavana, headed by Sridama, have pure fraternal affection for Lord Krsna and have no idea of His opulences. Although they fight with Him and climb upon His shoulders, they worship His lotus feet in a spirit of servitude. Some of the friends of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, massaged His feet, and others whose sinful reactions had been destroyed fanned Him with hand-held fans."

Anonymous said...

Ear to Ear

BY: RAGHU MISHRA

Mar 28, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) —

working
this little bit

of

independence around

homeward

clearly i hear lies and
see the near

dead
people twisting

truth

gone

back
to Godhead lets

any respective

indiscriminate
inferiority
complex swirl

away

as it is

nothing

but a
mortal
coil that reminds

one

of
snakes

alive snakes in

the
grass greener on

the other
side
even

joining

them all

dying for

the

same

thing
ear to ear as the

truth keeps

going

back

to
Godhead a little

independence

goes

a

long way
ear

to ear see
can

you

just

see now
what

it
would
be

like
if Sri Krsna Caitanya
Mahaprabhu

had

to

grab one

by
one

Anonymous said...

Given the fact that there is relatively little information available in Vaisnava sastra about many of the Lord's transcendental Vrindavan-lila friends, it is all the more enjoyable to learn about these personalities by seeing the ways in which Krsna Himself is described in relationship to them. It is, after all, their relationship with Krsna that truly defines them.

In the Garga Samhita there is a description of Sri Goloka-dhama, where Krsna is found in the close company of His transcendental companions:

"Bowing down to offer respects, the demigods entered the Lord's personal forest grove, which was a thousand-petal lotus that was a great circle of light. (49)

Above that was a sixteen-petal lotus, above that an eight-petal lotus, and above that a long path decorated with three stairways. (50)

There all the demigods saw, sitting on a splendid throne studded with beautiful kaustubha jewels, and accompanied by Sri Radha, Sri Krishna, . . . (51)

. . . who was accompanied by eight splendid gopi friends headed by Mohini and served by eight gopas headed by Sridama, . . . (52)

. . . who was served with diamond-handled camaras glorious as swans and millions of parasols like millions of moons, . . . (53)

Very happy, as if plunged in an ocean of bliss, by seeing Him, and their eyes now filled with tears, with folded hands and bowed heads the demigods offered their respectful obeisances to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (57)

(Sri Garga Samhita, Chapter Two)

Sri Krsna is often described in the company of His dearmost friends in Vraja:

"Glory, glory to the Lord whose form is dark like a new raincloud and who is the ecstatic friend of Sridama, Sudama, Subala, and Arjuna! Glory to the Lord who was the dear and glorious companion of Balarama and a host of gopa boys! Glory, glory to the Lord who now manifests a fair form charming and peerless!"

Anonymous said...

There are several verses in Srila Jiva Goswami's Sri Sankalpa-kalpadruma which mention Sridama's participation in various Vraja pastimes with Krsna:

[Describing Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda,…]

"...who, imitating the bees and other creatures, played with Balarama, Sridama, and other friends in beautiful Vrndavan forest..." (37)

"...who on the pretext of playing with Sridama, Sudama, Bhadrasena, Arjuna and the others, arranged for the killing of Pralambasura..." (65)

"...who in the summer called one by one His gopa friends, eager to play with Him, who delighted them by saying... (77)
..."Stokakrishna! Amsu! Sridama! Subala! Arjuna! Visala! Vrsabha! Ojasvi! Devaprastha! Varuthapa!"... (78)
"...who after calling them joked about the exalted position of the unmoving trees of Vrndavan..." (79)

"O Uddhava! To those beautiful cows who upon hearing the sweet song of My flute became restless and leaving aside their calves, rushed to Me with tears gushing from their eyes.

You kindly go close to them and sing My glories loudly and inquire with great love how they are. (93)

When Brahma had stolen their calves, I had taken the form of those calves and drunk the sweet milk of those cows. You please offer My obeisances again and again to my mothers (cows). (94)

When I would go to the forest to see the flowers, Sridama and My other dear friends would come rushing happily to touch me, shouting: "I will be first, I will be first." (95)

Taking My name and inquiring about their well-being, affectionately embrace them over and over on My behalf." (96)

"That most merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, Who enjoys childhood pastimes with Sridama and the other cowherd boys, Who dances with the young beautiful gopis and also playfully destroys many demons, should be remembered, for He will deliver you to the other shore of the ocean of birth and death." (131)

(Uddhava Sandesh by Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada, June 24, 1976, New Vrindaban: [...] So even understanding that you have improved the lighting system, but that is not the only necessity of my life. But to improve from the castor seed lamp, castor oil lamp, to this electricity, you have to work so hard. You have to go to the middle of ocean and drill it and get out petroleum and… In this way your real business of life is finished. The energy and the intelligence you got for your self-realization or your, this precarious position, constantly dying and taking birth in various species of life, this is your problem, and this was to be solved in human life, you have got advanced intelligence, but that intelligence is utilized from castor seed lamp to the electric lamp. That’s all.

Just try to understand. What is that improvement? And for this improving from castor seed oil lamp to electricity lamp, you forget your real business. You lost yourself. This civilization is going on. This is called maya. For some fictitious happiness you lose your whole purpose of life.

http://causelessmercy.com/t/?P=760624rc.nv

Anonymous said...

Mercy of Lord Balarama
******************

Lord Balarama exemplifies the service attitude to Krishna. His only mission is to please Krishna by rendering service to Him, whether it is in the creation of the material worlds, maintaining the spiritual world or as His personal paraphernalia.

Lord Balarama is the eternal companion of Sri Krishna. He came as Lakshmana with Rama and later as Nityananda Prabhu with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is the original spiritual master, and any one desiring to make spiritual progress must first get the mercy of Lord Balarama.

All glories to Lord Balarama !!

Anonymous said...

At one time, Indra, the king of heaven, committed an offense at the feet of his spiritual master, and his spiritual master cursed him to take the birth of a hog. Thus the throne of the heavenly kingdom became empty as Indra went to earth to become a hog. Seeing the situation, Brahma came to earth and addressed the hog: “My dear sir, you have become a hog on this planet earth. I have come to deliver you. Come with me at once.” But the hog replied:. “Oh I cannot go with you. I have so many responsibilities—my children, wife and this nice hog society.” Even though Brahma promised to take him back to heaven, Indra, in the form of a hog, refused.

This is called forgetfulness.

Similarly, Lord Sri Krsna comes and says to us, “What are you doing in this material world? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Come to Me, and I’ll give you all protection.” But we say, “I don’t believe You Sir. I have more important business here.”

This is the position of the conditioned soul—forgetfulness.

Anonymous said...

FORGETFULNESS OF RELATIONSHIP

"The marginal energy is ORIGINALLY under the control of the SPIRITUAL energy, but, under the control of the material energy, the living entities have been wandering in forgetfulness within the material world since time immemorial. The conditioned state is caused BY MISUSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE SPIRITUAL PLATFORM, for this separates the living entity from the association of the spiritual energy. In the conditioned state, the living entities of the marginal energy are a mixture of spiritual and material energies. The marginal jiva, or living entity, misuses his independence and becomes averse to the eternal service attitude when he independently thinks he is not energy but the energetic. This misconception of his own existence leads him to the attitude of lording it over material nature. But when the living entity is enlightened by the grace of the Supreme or His pure devotee and becomes inclined to revive his original state of loving service, he is on the most auspicious platform of eternal bliss and knowledge." CC Adi 5.66 pp.

One can revive something only if one has had it before, and one can go back to godhead only if one has been there already!

Anonymous said...

Additional information that can help us understand the activities of the next coming of God is found in the Linga Purana (40.50-92), the Brahmanda Purana (1.2.31.76-106 & 2.3.73.104-126), and the Vayu Purana (58.75-110). In these texts we find descriptions of Lord Kalki as He will appear in the future and also as how He appeared in previous incarnations as Pramiti in this time period known as the Svayambhuva Manvantara. These texts tell us that as Kali-yuga comes to a close, and after the death of Bhrigu (or in order to slay the Bhrigus), Kalki (Pramiti) took birth in the Lunar dynasty of Manu. He will wander over the planet without being seen by any living being. Then he will start His campaign in His thirty-second year and roam the earth for twenty years. He will take with Him a big army of horses, chariots, and elephants, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of spiritually purified brahmanas armed with weapons. [Being brahmanas, these weapons may be brahminical weapons that are activated by mantras, such as the powerful brahmastra rather than base weapons of combat such as knives, swords, and spears, or even guns and ordinary explosives.] Though they may try to do battle with Him, He will kill all of the heretics [and false prophets] and wicked, mleccha kings. In a previous incarnation He killed the Udicyas (Northerners), Madhya Deshyas (residents of the middle lands), Purvatiyas (mountain dwellers), Pracyas (Easterners), Praticyas (Westerners), Dakshinatyas (of Southern India), the Simhalas (Sri Lankans), Pahlavas (the fair-skinned nomadic tribes of the Caucasus mountains), Yadavas, Tusharas (people of the area of Mandhata, India, or present day Tukharistan), Cinas (Chinese), Shulikas, Khashas, and different tribes of the Kiratas (aboriginal tribes living in north-eastern India and Nepal) and Vrishalas. No one could stop Him as He wielded His discus and killed all the barbarians. When He was finished He rested in the middle land between the Ganges and Yamuna with His ministers and followers. He allowed only a few people to remain, scattered over the planet. These would be as seeds for the next generations that would follow in the next Satya-yuga.

Anonymous said...

Thereafter, when Lord Kalki has made way for the next age of Satya-yuga, and delivered the earth and whatever is left of civilization from the effects of Kali-yuga, He will go back to His eternal abode along with His army. Continuing with the description of Lord Kalki as described in the Linga, Brahmanda, and Vayu Puranas, they explain that after Lord Kalki returns to His eternal abode, when those subjects surviving at the end of Kali-yuga are enlightened, the yuga changes overnight. Then the minds of all people will become enlightened, and with inevitable force Krita or Satya-yuga sets in. People will then realize the soul, and acquire piety, devotion, tranquility, and clear consciousness. Then those Siddhas [the enlightened and perfected living beings who had remained invisible on a higher dimension through the end of the age of Kali] return to the earthly dimension and again are clearly visible. They establish themselves with the return of the Saptarishis, the seven sages, who instruct everyone about spiritual life, Vedic knowledge, and the progressive organization of society for a peaceful and fulfilling existence. Then again people flourish and perform the sacred rites, and the sages will remain in authority to continue the advancement of the new Satya-yuga.

Jai Sri Radha Krishna!
Ki jaya Ananta Balarama!

Anonymous said...

Vedic Cosmology - Mysteries of the
Sacred Universe

BY: SUN STAFF

Apr 06, 2011 — CANADA (SUN)

— A film by Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa das), who explains the world and universe from the cosmological viewpoint of Srimad Bhagavatam.
----------------------------------

http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/04-11/editorials7179.htm

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada: Manorathena asati dhavato bahih. By mental speculation, you will remain on this asati, in this temporary field. Asat means "which will not exist." Anything in this material world, you take, that will not exist. Anywhere man can say. The skyscraper building is constructed, but everyone knows that it will not exist. Some day it will fall down. Everyone knows. It will never exist. That is explained by Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita, that "If you think that by combination of matter, life has come, so life was not there before the combination. And this combination will dismantle. So life, there will be no more life. So why these three period you are lamenting? There is life." Because according to this theory--"The combination of matter makes life"--so before combination there was no life, and the combination dismantled, there is no life. So beginning and end no life. Why you are lamenting in the middle? Very good reasoning. Just see. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan. Maya-sukhaya, that illusory, illusory happiness. Maya-sukhaya. And for that reason, they are making huge, gorgeous arrangement and working day and night, which will be zero. It has begun from zero and it will end into zero. In the middle they are busy. Just see. Therefore vimudhan.

Anonymous said...

For your entertainment and encouragement.
------------------------------------

"Vedic Cosmos" by HH Danavir Goswami

http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/04-11/editorials7184.htm

Anonymous said...

Ram Navami, or Ramanavami, is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama and it falls on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in the month of Chaitra (March – April). In 2011, the date of Ram Navami is April 12.

The Tenth Chapter of the Ninth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Lord Ramachandra appeared in the dynasty of Maharaja Khatvanga.
It also describes the Lord’s activities, telling how He killed Ravana and returned to Ayodhya, the capital of His kingdom.

When the Lord descended into this world in His full quadruple expansion-as Lord Ramachandra, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna, great sages like Valmiki who were actually in knowledge of the Absolute Truth described His transcendental pastimes. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami describes these pastimes in brief.

Anonymous said...

Sri Hanuman who is praised as SRI RAMA SEVA DURANDHARA or the one greatly devoted to the service of Sri Rama, is known for his extra ordinary capabilities.

Hanuman is installed in every temple of Sri Rama.

Sri Hanuman is a personification of all that is divine. He is in an extra ordinary state. Sri Hanuman’s life is a divine message. By birth, every one is beastly. Every being could become divine, through refined living.

Sri Hanuman is a devoted Vaishnava. He is recognized as the one born with the aspects of Siva. Sri Hanuman is the greatest devotee of Sri Rama. Every hair follicle on Sri Hanuman’s body is said to chant Sri Rama’s name.

Ki jaya Sri Hanuman!

Anonymous said...

There was a demon by the name “ Gardhaba Nisvana”. He performed a great penance and Lord Siva was pleased with it. The demon sought a boon that no God or demon or yaksha should kill him. Siva granted the boon. Siva’s boon emboldened the demon Gardhaba Nisvana (the one who brays like a donkey). The demon used to bray very loudly killing the listeners. He tormented sages and disturbed their holy activities

Unable to bear the deeds of Gardhaba Nisvana, many sages and Indra (the Lord of heaven) went to complain Brahma, the creator of the universe. Brahma said that since the demon was a devotee of Lord Siva, it is better to seek Lord Siva’s advice. Lord Siva said that he couldn’t kill the demon devoted to him. The sages Indra, Brahma and Siva than went to Lord Maha Vishnu. Lord Vishnu assured them that he would kill the demon. Lord Siva interrupted: “It would be difficult to kill the demon Gardhaba Nisvana as he is protected by my grace”. Lord Vishnu replies: “The demon’s strength is diminishing, due to his misdeeds and I shall surely kill him”.

Lord Siva said emphatically: “It would be impossible to kill Gardhaba Nisvana. If you do kill him, I shall serve you”. Lord Vishnu replies: “If I don’t kill the demon, I shall become the servant of the Siva and stay at Kailasa it self”.
After these proclamations, Lord Vishnu once again took the form of Mohini, the celestial beauty. Lord Vishnu in his female form, entered the garden where Gardhaba Nisvana was resting, carrying a vessel filled with an intoxicating drink. The demon was attracted by Mohini and sought her to be with him. She sought him to drink the wine she was carrying as a prelude to their enjoyment. The demon started drinking and soon fell down, unconscious. Lord Vishnu left his form as Mohini and took the form of a Wolf and tore the abdomen of the Gardhaba Nisvana, killing him instantaneously.

Having lost his wager, Lord Siva got ready to serve Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu dissuaded Lord Siva, saying that their wagers were intended for the welfare of the universe. “You will serve me incarnated as a Kapi Veera (Monkey Hero) when I incarnate as Sri Rama in Treta Yuga”, asserted Lord Vishnu.

Thus Lord Siva incarnated as Sri Hanuman to serve Sri Rama, to fulfill his word to serve Lord Vishnu.

Anonymous said...

The Life of King Kulasekhara – a Great Rama Bhakta

BY: SHYAMASUNDARA DASA (ACBSP)

Apr 11, 2011 — INDIA (SUN) — In honor of Rama Navami, the Appearance Day of Lord Sri Ramacandra, observed on April 12th.

Though his name is well known, for most devotees, very little is known about Maharaja Kulasekhara. We shall now try to remedy this lacuna by presenting a concise synopsis of his life. But before we start we must briefly answer the question-- Who are the Alvars? Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.38-40 states:

"My dear King, the inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in this age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the Supreme Lord, Narayana. These devotees will appear in various places but will be especially numerous in South India. O master of men, in the age of Kali those persons who drink the waters of the holy rivers of Dravida-desa, such as the Tamraparni, Krtamala, Payasvini, the extremely pious Kaveri and the Pratici Mahanadi, will almost all be pure hearted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva."

Anonymous said...

The Alvars are 12 especially great devotees who appeared in South India. They are not ordinary jivas but are incarnations of the parshadas (paraphernalia) of Lord Sri Krsna. The Tamil word Alvar has the meaning "Drowned in God-love" or "Sunk deep in divine ecstasy."[i] The Alvars all composed devotional songs, in praise of Lord Krsna and His Avataras. The vast majority of these compositions are in the Tamil language. They embody the highest philosophical knowledge of the science of God in all its nuances (namely sambhanda, abhideya, and prayojana) and are considered by the followers of the Sri Sampradaya (one of the four Vaisnava Sampradayas) to be as good as the Veda. This Tamil Veda of 4000 compositions is known as the Divya-prabandha. Thus, the acaryas of the Sri Sampradaya such as Natha-muni, Yamunacarya, Ramanujacarya, Vedantadesika, and Viraraghavacarya learnt not only the four Sanskrit Vedas but also the Tamil Veda--the Divya-prabandha. These 12 Alvars are thus of tremendous importance in the Sri Sampradaya.

The 12 Alvars and who they are incarnations of and other birth details are as follows:

Tamil Name

Poygai

Pudatt

Peya

Tiru-Mazhisaippiran

Madhurakavigal

Nammalvar

Kulasekara

Peri-y-alvar

Andal

Tondaradipodi

Tiruppani

Tirumangai


Sanskrit Name

Saro-yogi

Bhuta-yogi

Bhrantha-yogi

Bhakti-sara

Madhurakavi

Parankusa

Kulasekara

Visnu-chitta

Goda-devi

Bhaktanghri-renu

Munivahana

Parakala


Incarnation

Pancajanya (conch)

Kaumodaki (club)

Nandaka (sword)

Sudarsan

Kumuda-Ganesha[ii]

Visvaksena

Kaustabha-mani

Garuda

Bhu-devi

Vaijayanti-mala

Srivatsa mark

Sarnga (bow)


Date of birth

4202 BC

"

"

"

3103 BC

3102 BC [iii]

3075 BC

3056 BC

3005 BC

2814 BC

2760 BC

2706 BC

We note that according to the traditions of the Sri-Vaisnavas the Alvars appeared between 6200-4700 years ago, but modern scholars claim that they appeared around the 7th-9th century AD, about 1300-1100 years ago. We accept the Sri-Vaisnava tradition. After all, these same politically motivated scholars also claim that the Aryans "invaded" India in 1200 BC (1900 years after the events of the Mahabharata took place). That the tradition of Kali-yuga starting in 3102 BC is a myth, and thus the events of the Mahabharata and Ramayana which took place prior to this time are also myths. Thus, Lord Krsna and Lord Rama are also myths if we are to accept the mundane scholars. In general, the mundane scholars view the Vedic tradition as mythical and constantly try to shorten the Vedic time-line. We categorically reject the opinions of these Indologists.

Anonymous said...

In this passage from Srila Sanatana Goswami's Sri Brihad-bhagavatamrita, Balarama and Uddhava have come to Dwarka to report to Krsna on the great unhappiness of the people of Vraja. Attempting to revive Krsna, who has fainted away after hearing about the sentiments of the people of Vraja, the demigods arrive. Lord Brahma announces the construction of a mirror version of Mathura, created by Visvakarma in order to soothe Krsna's distress. Here, Sridama is again mentioned as one of Krsna's dearmost friends in Vrindavana.

Chapter Seven: Purna (The Perfect Devotees)

"Sri Pariksit said: Mother, the great weeping of the Lord and His associates filled the universe and at once created a great host of terrible calamities.

Because no one (but Krsna) could have brought these calamities, Brahma, accompanied by His associates, the demigods and the scriptures headed by the Vedas and Puranas, personally came (to Dvaraka).

Gazing with wonder on his father and guru, Lord Maha-Narayana who, tortured with love for His dearest devotees and His most secret glories openly displayed, was in a wonderful, unprecedented condition of heart, Brahma lost all composure and for a moment wept.

Carefully composing himself, he thought how to bring the Lord to an auspicious condition. Then, in his heart he found the way.

Addressing Garuda, who loudly wept by the Lord's side, and with great effort gaining his attention, Brahma spoke.

Sri Brahma said: Built by Visvakarma and decorated with deities of Nanda, Yasoda, the other cowherd people, and many cows, a district of Mathura is splendidly manifest between Mount Raivata and the ocean. It is as if Vrndavana itself had come there.

Carefully and slowly, as His delicate state allows, bring Krsna there with His elder brother. Rohini may also come, but no one else.

Anonymous said...

Sri Pariksit said: Carefully brought by Brahma to his normal state, Garuda, who is the king of birds and the best of the wise and skilful, very gently placed the two of Them (Krsna and Balarama) on his back.

Brahma brought everyone to their natural states and they all returned to their own places. As He was being carried by Garuda, Balarama seemed to regain His original consciousness.

Then Lord Krsna was gently put in that place. It was as if the gopas and gopis stood around Him.

Uddhava, Devaki, who dearly loved her son, Padmavati, and the queens headed by Rukmini and Satyabhama, unable to leave Krsna in that state, went there. By Brahma's order they hid, staying far from the path of Krsna's eyes.

Thinking himself an offender, Narada, did not follow the demigods and Yadavas.

Tightening his yoga-garment, he stayed in the sky to see the sweetness of the Lord's pastimes.

Garuda also went into the sky where he followed the Lord, giving shade with his wings.

Krsna's elder brother, Balarama, the crest-jewel of philosophers, quickly attained His original consciousness and understood everything. At once He covered Krsna's lotus face and gently placed a flute in His belt, a horn-bugle and stick under His arms, a kadamba garland on His neck, a peacock feather on His head, and new gunja earrings on His ears.

Having thus dressed Krsna with forest-garments fashioned by Visvakarma, Balarama picked up Krsna and loudly spoke.

Sri Balarama said: Sri Krsna! Krsna! Brother! Rise! Rise! Wake Up! Look! It is late! The cows are already entering the forest!

Your friends headed by Sridama are waiting for You! Overcome with love, Your parents have no power even to speak to You!

Gazing at Your lotus face and whispering in each other's ear, the gopis smile at You.

Sri Pariksit said: In this way Balarama spoke again and again, affectionately addressed Krsna by different names, lifted Krsna with His hands and made Him stand up. After a long time Krsna regained consciousness. Filled with wonder, and saying, "Good! Good!", Krsna stood up."

(Sri Brihad-bhagavatamrita, Chapter 7, Verses 1-20, by Srila Sanatana Goswami)

Anonymous said...

The Glorious Passing of Bhaktin Edna Galicia

BY: VAISNAVANANDA DAS (ACBSP)

Apr 13, 2011 — USA (SUN) — Whenever someone passes away, it becomes a cause for bereavement and lamentation. However, when a Vaisnava or Vaisnavi passes, it is a jubilant and glorious occasion. This was highly exemplified by the passing of my former wife, Bhaktin Edna Galicia.

Bhaktin Edna passed away blissfully on March 1, 2011 surrounded by family and dear friends. I’d like to share some details about her life and passing for the benefit of other devotees. Although Edna never received formal initiation, she accepted Krsna consciousness wholeheartedly. She raised her children as devotees and participated in many temple functions, including the Women’s Mela held annually back in the 80’s and 90’s at Murari Sevak, the Tennessee farm community.

About ten years ago, Edna discovered that she had a liver disease. She did not share the doctor’s findings with her family or anyone else in order to spare them any anxiety. Over the years, her body gradually deteriorated and soon she required a liver transplant to survive. Shortly before the transplant was to be administered, she suffered a stroke. The doctors stated that as a result of the stroke she was no longer eligible to receive the transplant. Edna at this point realized this was her time, and refused to accept any further treatment or medications and bravely chose to peacefully meet her impending demise.

The family supported her in this decision and came together to help prepare her for this trying event. Her son, Atmarama and Nehda, his fiancée sat by her bedside for eight consecutive days chanting Hare Krsna, hardly ever leaving her side only for ablutions and to take short naps. The Govindam prayers played on continuously while her daughters, Sita and Lila Krsna took alternate turns to read to her from the Krsna Book. Edna chanted Hare Krsna non-stop before going into a coma.

I regret not having the opportunity to be with her at this final moment of her life, however, I was able to speak on the phone with her shortly before her passing.

When I state that her passing was glorious it is because Edna, in and out of her coma, spoke only of Krsna, calling out His Name: “Oh Krsna, Oh Gopala, everything is love, everything is so beautiful, the water, the trees, other people...” She mentioned that she had seen others known to her who had passed, and that they did not look the same, but she could recognize them. At first, I thought that she was delirious, but as I further analyzed the content of her statements (and please forgive my conjecture) I ventured to think that possibly Edna was having glimpses of higher spiritual planes. Who can say?

However, the fact remains that she was continuously chanting the Holy Name right before her passing. She spoke only of Krsna and exhibited absolutely no fear and fully accepted that this was her time to meet her maker, Lord Krsna!

We are all naturally sad that she has passed and has gone beyond our mortal vision, however, we also deem this occasion to be jubilant, because Edna, we are confident, as stated in Bhagavad-gita 8.6, has gone to a better place.

Edna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and most importantly a sincere follower of His Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. All glories to Bhaktin Edna Galicia!

Vaisnavananda das (ACBSP)

Anonymous said...

In Sri Sangita-madhava by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati there is a description in Chapter 4 of Radha searching for Krsna in the madana-jivana forest of Vrindavan. Radha caused Krsna to faint from the delight of seeing her. She revived Him, then departed, and Krsna was discovered in an agitated state by sakha Sridama:

"Sridama searched for his dear friend Krsna, and finally found Him. Krsna was rolling about on the ground, completely overwhelmed. Unhappy to see his friend in this condition, Sridama said:

'The cows have wandered far away. The day is almost over. We are famished with hunger, and Your mother has fixed her eyes on the path, waiting for Your return. O Krsna, when You silently leave Your pastimes with us, and then we find You sorrow-faced with tears flowing from Your eyes, we no longer desire to remain alive in these bodies.'"

Krsna then sang a song to Sridama in which He glorified Radha, after which Sridama admonished the Lord not to lament: "My friend, stand up. Do not lament. Start towards home and call the cows with the sound of Your large flute." Krsna was not pacified by Sridama's words, however, and returned home to a sleepless night. Later on we read:

"The next day Krsna climbed the lofty summit of His favorite Hill, Govardhana. As He placed His eyes on the entire land of Vraja, He saw Radharani, the jewel of Maharaja's Vrsabhanu's home. He pointed to Her, identifying Her to Sridama as the thief who had stolen His heart. All this made Krsna very happy."

There are numerous pastimes with Sridama mentioned in Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna) by Srila Rupa Goswami. Here, Krsna is playfully taking advantage of the fact that Sridama is the brother of His beloved Radha:

Visible said...

Homer; Wow, Edna's passing. Thank you for that. I know you can imagine as I can, what it is like to have the divines name upon your lips while passing. I've been around some people at that point or approaching it and for some reason they forget all about that option. I think the divine engineers that when it happens.

Anonymous said...

Homer says..

Thanks les. I'm happy you take this in the spirit it is meant.

I was and always am moved to tears by these very personal moments of sharing such glorious events.

The passing of the Lord's dear devotees as they open their hearts are nothing less than the finest moments of life.

This is what Srila Prabhupada has given any who ask.
His mercy and and love.

Jai Sri Radha Krishna!
Ki jaya Balarama!
All glory to Srila Prabhupada!
All respects to the devotees!

Anonymous said...

Act One: Venu-nada-vilasa (Pastimes of Flute-music)
Scene 2, Texts 32(s-u):

"Krsna: (Smiling, He glances at the sky. Then He approaches Balarama). noble friend, it is already late in the afternoon. Please take the cows to the Yamuna's shore and let them satisfy their thirst. Please enjoy these delicious laddu candies. I will rest for a moment with my dear friends Sridama and Subala. (Balarama and the cowherd boy friends exit.)

Paurnamasi: (aside) I should go and see if the picture of Krishna is finished. (She respectfully takes leave of Krishna and then departs.)

Krishna: (takes one step, and then pauses) Friend Sridama, have you ever seen this Radha, the most beautiful girl in the universe? (Smiling with embarrassment, Sridama lowers his face.)

Subala: Friend, how can You ask if he has seen her? Radha is his sister."

Elsewhere in Act One, there are several passages describing the cowherd boys preparing to take the cows out for the day:

"Nandi: Noble lady, look! Accompanied by Balarama, Madhumangala, Sridama, and a host of friends, and embraced by affectionate Nanda and Yashoda, His parents, Krsna now goes from Gokula to Vrindavana forest…. (17c)

Krsna: (looking ahead) The sweet, fragrant honey oozing from newly grown mango buds is again and again attracting groups of bumblebees, and this forest is trembling in the softly moving breezes from the Malaya Hills, which are full of sandalwood trees. Thus the forest of Vrindavana is increasing My transcendental pleasure. (23b)

Rama: My dear friend Sridama, see how this forest of Vrindavana is full of transcendental creepers and trees. The tops of the creepers are full of flowers, and intoxicated bumblebees are buzzing around them, humming songs that please the ear and surpass even the Vedic hymns.

Krsna: Friend Madhumangala, staying here with you and the others, I will delight the creatures of Vrindavana forest with the sound of My flute. (Krsna places the flute to His lips)

Rama: (with wonder) Look! They are becoming the opposite of what they were!

When Krsna, playing by the Yamuna's bank, kisses His flute, the waters of the streams become stunned and solid, the rocks become soft and melt, and the mountains, no longer standing still, tremble and walk about.

Madhumangala: Oh! Oh! Wonderful! Drinking a flood of nectar that is the sweet sound of Krsna's flute, the cows are stunned with bliss. Now they are all sprinkling the flowers with great flowing waves of milk."

(Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna) by Srila Rupa Goswami)

As we have seen over the course of these many segments, Krsna's priya-sakha friend in Vrindavan, Sridama gopa, is one of the topmost confidential friends of the Lord. Participating in countless wonderful pastimes with the gopas and gopis of Vraja, Sridama's unfailing affection for Krsna is beautifully stated in this final passage from Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrta:

Anonymous said...

Texts 68 and 69

nikunja-varye surabhi-prasuna-
suvasite gunjad-ali-praghushte
vinirmite talpa-vare navina-
mridu-pravala-cchada-pushpa-jataih
sri-dama-nama-dayitanga-sukhopadhanah
susvapa mitra-nikaraih paricaryamanah
kesa-prasadhana-su-gita-karanghri-padma-
samvahana-stavana-vijana-caturibhih

"Then, in a beautiful forest grove scented with fragrant flowers and pleasant with humming bees, on an excellent bed made of new soft leaves and flowers, served by boys expert in combing and decorating His hair, singing, massaging His lotus hands and feet, reciting prayers, and fanning Him, and His soft pillow the body of a dear friend named Sridama, He slept."

(Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrta by Srila Sanatana Goswami, Part Two, Chapter Seven)

Anonymous said...

Mother Yajna devi dasi:

We can communicate with Prabhupada and Jayananda even now, though being invisible they are always with us. We can stray from God, and that was how it happened with me, but they will always come to help us. They will get us out of the ditch and bring us back on the way. This happened to me. It is amazing to believe and know this. True love is the most amazing, incomparable treasure, as it comes directly from Lord Krishna, and from our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and from all the saints, and from our saint, Sriman Jayananda Thakur.
----------------------------------

The perfection of Krishna consciousness is culminated in the shedding of tears-
So I saw Jayananda at that moment. He was just … the look on his face was so ecstatic; you know it was like his crowning triumph. I couldn’t help just bursting into tears, and I turned around and Srila Prabhupada also was crying, looking at Jayananda. And he said, “I am so pleased with him because he is so sincere.” – Adi-keshava Dasa
----------------------------------

“They remain struck with devotion, and tears glide down from their eyes, illustrating vividly how they are embracing Krishna heart to heart.” These phenomena indicate that even the cows and calves in Vrndavana knew how to cry for Krishna and embrace Him heart to heart. Actually, the perfection of Krishna consciousness can be culminated in the shedding of tears from the eyes. > Krishna Book ch 21: The Gopis Attracted by the Flute

Anonymous said...

"All schemes are only useless scraps of paper in the face of war, famine, earthquakes and other disasters. All these disasters are warnings from Mother Durga, and by them she confirms her eternal superiority over the illusioned plan makers."

When there was an earthquake in Los Angeles, everyone ran out their houses screaming. Everyone was terrified, thinking, “Now death is coming!” This is material nature. There are many events in nature that cause fear. There are great cyclones and tornadoes. There is excessive heat and excessive rain. There is flood and famine and war. Yet people are thinking of being happy on this planet. (Teaching of Lord Kapila Vs. 42 purport)

"Miserable conditions brought about by natural catastrophes are controlled by the higher demigods. There may be severe cold or thunderbolts, or a person may be haunted by ghosts. Sometimes we suffer bodily when we are attacked by a fever, and sometimes we suffer mentally when a close relative dies. Other living entities also cause us misery. There are living entities born of the human embryo, of eggs, perspiration and vegetation. The threefold material miseries are miseries arising from the body and the mind, miseries arising from dealings with other living entities, and miseries arising from natural disturbances. These threefold miseries are always before us, and they entrap us in a dangerous situation. Padam padam yad vipadam. There is danger in every step of life."

*** Our sufferings are classified as adhibhautika, adhyatmika, and adhidaivika.

Adhyatmika miseries are those caused by our own bodies and minds, adhibhautika miseries are those inflicted by other living entities, and adhidaivika miseries are those which are inflicted by higher authorities (devas) and which are completely beyond our control — such as earthquake, drought, flood, and famine. We cannot adjust these situations. In the same way, after death superior authorities will offer us a certain type of body, and we cannot say, “Oh no, sir, I do not want this body.” We have to accept it."

Anonymous said...

SANTI PARVA

Apr 18, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — Santi Parva, Book 12, Part One - Mokshadharma Parva - Section 314.

Vasishtha said, 'Thus in consequence of his forgetfulness the Soul follows ignorance and obtains thousands of bodies one after another. He attains to thousands of births among the intermediate orders and sometimes among the very gods in consequence of his union with (particular) attributes and the puissance of attributes.

From the status of humanity, he goes to heaven and from heaven he comes back to humanity, and from humanity he sinks into hell for many long years. As the worm that fabricates the cocoon shuts itself, completely on every side by means of the threads it weaves itself, even so the Soul, though in reality transcending all attributes, invests himself on every side with attributes (and deprives himself of liberty). Though transcending (in his real nature) both happiness and misery, it is thus that he subjects himself to happiness and misery. It is thus also that, though transcending all diseases, the Soul regards himself to be afflicted by headache and opthalmia and toothache and affections of the throat and abdominal dropsy, and burning thirst, and enlargement of glands, and cholera, and vitiligo, and leprosy, and burns, and asthma and phthisis, and epilepsy, and whatever other diseases of diverse kinds are seen in the bodies of embodied creatures.

Anonymous said...

The Soul regards himself as adopting the observance of Chandrayana according to the rites ordained in the scriptures, or diverse other vows and observance, and the courses of duty prescribed for the four modes of life, and even derelictions of duty, and the duties of other subsidiary modes of life included in the four principal ones, and even diverse kinds of practices that distinguish the wicked and sinful. The Soul regards himself as enjoying retired spots and delightful shades of mountains and the cool vicinity of spring and fountain and solitary river banks and secluded forests, and sacred spots dedicated to the deities, and lakes and waters withdrawn from the busy hunts of men, and lone mountain caves affording the accommodation that houses and mansions afford. The Soul regards himself as employed in the recitation of different kinds of hidden Mantras or as observing different vows and rules and diverse kinds of penances, and sacrifices of many kinds, and rites of diverse sorts.

Though not possessed of a material case, he still regards himself as possessed of one; and though unborn, he still regards himself as in-vested with birth. Though transcending penances, he still regards as engaged in penances, and though he has no end (after which to strive), he still regards himself as liable to attain to ends (of diverse kinds). Though not endued with motion and birth, he still regards himself as endued with both, and though transcending fear, still regards himself as liable to fear. Though Indestructible, he still regards himself Destructible. Invested with Ignorance, the Soul thus thinks of himself."
----------------------------------
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/mahabharata/santi/mahabharata314.htm

Anonymous said...

Acharya Prabhakar said that on Shri Krishna Janmashtami in 1954, he had to go to Delhi. When he returned to Jhansi, he took a little rest, woke up at 1:00 am and heard Shrila Prabhupada ecstatically playing mridanga in the temple room. Prabhupada was chanting in total bliss.

Acharya Prabhakar went upstairs and saw Shrila Prabhupada bouncing around the temple room performing kirtan. Prabhupada was wearing a kadamba flower garland that went all the way down to his feet. Kadamba flowers are very rare in Jhansi and when they are available they are usually the size of a golf ball.

But the ones Prabhupada was wearing were big, the size of tennis balls. And he said that the atmosphere right down to the atoms in the room was not material, aprakrita. The place was surcharged with the fragrance of the heavenly planets.

Acharya Prabhakar wanted to ask Shrila Prabhupada, “Where did this garland come from? It is not available from the market.” But Shrila Prabhupada would not answer. His Divine Grace just kept on performing kirtan, bouncing round the room and chanting. The next morning Acharya Prabhakar asked Shrila Prabhupada, “Where did you get the garland, why did it have such a rich fragrance, and why were you feeling so blissful?”

Shrila Prabhupada told him, “I was chanting to Krishna and feeling some love for Him. And He appeared and gave me this garland. I went to touch His feet and He disappeared. Because of that I was dancing around the temple room.” Shrila Prabhupada was crying.

Anonymous said...

Lecture by Peter Schmidt:

In his commentary of 1975 on the „Srimad Bhagavatam“, a central Vaishnava document about Krishna, Bhaktivedanta Swami referred to the twelve year old Jesus in the temple (Luke 2, 41-52). By using not identifiable secondary sources he presented an incident of grave consequence for Christianity: to his knowledge the adolescent Jesus (same as Buddha) was shocked by the Jewish practice of animal sacrifice in the synagogues (!). Consequently he declined the Jewish faith and started his own religion, i.e. Christianity, with a "thou shalt not kill" finally correctly understood.

On another occasion Bhaktivedanta Swami justified the necessity of the confirmation of the fifth commandment with the argument that people of the biblical period would have been so accustomed to killing, that they couldn´t grasp the real meaning of this law.

Nowadays the situation has escalated, because animals are killed not only as objects for sacrifices but also for inadmissible food purposes in slaughter-houses. Since the killing of living beings, as a matter of principle should be condemned as an abominable and merciless action, one has to describe Christians, who tolerate or support such a deplorable state, as incapable of realizing the true nature of God.

At the same time Bhaktivedanta Swami ascribed a steadily fading influence of the Bible on the urgently necessary religious recovery of the modern western world. It´s decay is based on an extremely materialistic and egotistical way of life, particularly of many Christian clergymen.

In his complete teachings Bhaktivedanta Swami used the name of Jesus 861 times and the title „Christ“ even 1083 times; in comparison: Judaism is mentioned merely 3 times, Mohammed 40 times, Buddha 619 times and Krishna 81,826 times.
----------------------------------
(Judaism, mentioned only three times, is an insignificant side issue for Bhaktivedanta Swami)
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Jesus for whom titles like „Lord" or „Son of God" are used has shown an overwhelming sympathy towards all creatures on this planet, moreover a remarkable tolerance (particularly towards his enemies) as well as a self-sacrificing modesty without any material adherence to this world. He has proven an infinite confidence and an absolute dedication to God's powerful greatness.

It is interesting that Bhaktivedanta Swami also used terms of the Hindu tradition: Jesus would have been a real Vaishnava-teacher, a guru, and a powerful „Devotee“. This term describes a purely religious and pious man who serves God voluntarily and with infinite devotion. The title „Avatara“ is also very important to Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Again and again the exemplary fundamental attitude of Jesus, regarding the serving obedience towards God, is emphasized.

Bhaktivedanta Swami agreed uncompromisingly with the biblical version of Jesus´ fate, despite his doubts about the authenticity of the Gospels. He was convinced that there was a divine order for His salvation giving death at the cross. This also applies to the following resurrection. The latter remained secondary for him, in view of the meaning of Jesus as a sublime, divine ambassador and reformer, towering above everything. The people of the biblical times should have been guided back to the godhead Krishna by developing a more unpretentious - please allow me this expression! - "light-"version of the Vaishnava-philosophy.

Summarizing, Bhaktivedanta Swami accepted the biblical texts as the work of a divine revelation and even recommended studies in the Holy Book now and then. Although the words of Jesus are not quoted as a first source, for him the Bible includes all considerable guidelines for the practice of a true religion.

Anonymous said...

Jesus therefore is also indisputably in the tradition of all important religious reformers. His magnanimous and selfless attitude most likely consisted in taking over and wiping out once and for all the sins of mankind, with his self-sacrifice. The after-death interpretation of Jesus´noble deed however, had nothing to do with the original intention, said Bhaktivedanta Swami. For him the practice of the Christian religion rather was based on the creation and preservation of a tricky and disastrous contract which has been concluded in Jesus ever since biblical times. Jesus had the function of a kind of scapegoat to forgive the sins committed in the past, present and future.

This reproach is only comprehensible through Bhaktivedanta Swami´s definition of sin, namely the human disobedience towards God and his commandments. No "rotten" contract with Jesus but devotional service to God alone, integrated in daily life prevents the origin of new sins. Every man therefore incessantly and only has to strive activities dedicated to God.

No word of disapproval of the devine concept of forgiveness of sins for the world's salvation is said; only the misunderstanding, and thus abnormal behavior of the supporters of Jesus which in Bhaktivedanta Swami´s critical crossfire by undermining morality, even to this day.

So to speak as a counterweight to the faultless and perfect Jesus, Bhaktivedanta Swami reproached Christians of all times for being helplessly lost in a purely materialistic life, intolerant fanatics towards other religions, without any kind of world saving philosophy, in return well equipped with inconsistent, corrupt and selfish ethics. All of this proved to be fatal for Bhaktivedanta Swami because in the Ten Commandments there is an acceptable and potentially suitable normative basis for a truthfully meek life.

Nevertheless, he had great confidence that the younger generations will prevent the decline of western society. Bhaktivedanta Swami considered a strong rejection of his movement as a measurable degree of public success for himself.

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.6.17

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows.

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.6.18

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and other demigods, please hear Me with great attention, for what I say will bring good fortune for all of you.

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.6.19

As long as you are not flourishing, you should make a truce with the demons and asuras, who are now being favored by time.

PURPORT

One word in this verse has two readings — kālena and kāvyena. Kālena means "favored by time," and kāvyena means "favored by Śukrācārya," Śukrācārya being the spiritual master of the Daityas. The demons and Daityas were favored in both ways, and therefore the demigods were advised by the Supreme Lord to execute a truce for the time being, until time favored them.

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.6.20

TRANSLATION

O demigods, fulfilling one's own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one's enemies. For the sake of one's self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of the snake and the mouse.

PURPORT

A snake and a mouse were once caught in a basket. Now, since the mouse is food for the snake, this was a good opportunity for the snake. However, since both of them were caught in the basket, even if the snake ate the mouse, the snake would not be able to get out. Therefore, the snake thought it wise to make a truce with the mouse and ask the mouse to make a hole in the basket so that both of them could get out. The snake's intention was that after the mouse made the hole, the snake would eat the mouse and escape from the basket through the hole. This is called the logic of the snake and the mouse.

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.6.21

TRANSLATION

Immediately endeavor to produce nectar, which a person who is about to die may drink to become immortal.

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.32

māḿ hi pārtha vyapāśritya

ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ

striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās

te 'pi yānti parāḿ gatim

TRANSLATION

O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.

PURPORT

It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower and higher classes of people. In the material conception of life there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18) it is stated that even the lowest, who are called caṇḍālas (dog-eaters), can be purified by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and the guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking shelter of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance. According to the different modes of material nature, men are classified in the mode of goodness (brāhmaṇas), the mode of passion (kṣatriyas, or administrators), the mixed modes of passion and ignorance (vaiśyas, or merchants), and the mode of ignorance (śūdras, or workers). Those lower than them are called caṇḍālas, and they are born in sinful families. Generally, the association of those born in sinful families is not accepted by the higher classes. But the process of devotional service is so strong that the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord can enable people of all the lower classes to attain the highest perfection of life. This is possible only when one takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa. As indicated here by the word vyapāśritya, one has to take shelter completely of Kṛṣṇa. Then one can become much greater than great jñānīs and yogīs.

Anonymous said...

ISKCON Ministry of Propaganda Hires PR Firm

BY: HASYA MUKHI DEVI DASI

May 02, 2011 — CHOWPATTY, MUMBAI, INDIA (SUN) — Tired of being the brunt of jokes, cartoons and critical articles on innumerable websites around the Internet, the GBC's Ministry of Positive Propaganda announced today that it is hiring the high-powered London public relations firm Finkelblatz, Grubbstein & Smythe. At the press conference, Propaganda Minister Chanakya Pandit das explained wisely: "Hey, try looking at things from our point of view for a change. We're not clowns and we're damn sick and tired of envious Godbrothers making us look like a three ring circus. It's time for you Internet crackpots to understand that we're not simply buying a bunch spin doctors to cover our tracks. The public ought to know the truth about our pure motivations. Besides, the limey PR firm's giving us a great deal since one of the partners has a daughter who is married to one of the GBC's."

For the £1,000,000 that the Propaganda Ministry will shell out, Chanakya Pandit das expects to get a lot of bang for the bucks. At long last the public at large will learn that:

1. Changing the books has been absolutely necessary to arouse awareness amongst devotees as to why the books should never be changed. Had they not been changed, then who would have objected?

2. No children were ever wronged in any ISKCON gurukula. It is simply that some innocent teachers had hands-on classes wherein the breaking of the regulative principles was demonstrated with a little too much enthusiasm. It is a great misfortune that the saintly teachers like Sri Galim and Bhavananda have been so badly misunderstood and maligned for their sincere efforts.

3. The youth movement in ISKCON is valid because a 700-year old yogi in the Himalayas has delivered a panacea of eternal nectar to the gurukulis to insure that they will never age like everyone else.

4. Devotees were left to starve in jail by the grace of the India GBC because they needed the opportunity to fast for several years and thus obtain pious merits that even Lord Indra would envy.

5. His Grace Sriman Tirtha Prabhu, who is serving a life sentence for "murder", is actually nothing more than a misunderstood saint. He has sent many devotees to the spiritual kingdom with his talent for ending their rounds of karma and samsara at just the right moment, after consulting with the official GBC astrologer. He has kindly allowed himself to be placed behind bars as a sacrifice for the sake of an engagement he truly believes in.

6. The Bhaktivedanta Institute has been shut down because there is no longer any need to preach to the world's scientists. They have all become pure devotees.

7. Back to Godhead has voluntarily gone from 1 million copies a month down to several thousand out of concern for the world's diminishing paper resources, and to halt rampant ink pollution.

8. The entire country of America has been promoted to the Spiritual Kingdom; hence the need there for an army of book distributors no longer applies.

9. The GBC needs to meet every six months due to their intense collective desire to chant and dance together.

10. The GBC has encouraged ISKCON Gurus to add their own name as number 33 on the list of Sampradaya Acaryas to show how nicely they are following Srila Prabhupada.

Anonymous said...

11. Satsvarupa's poems about wine, sex and cigarettes are actually deeply meaningful sutras that explain the Absolute Truth in ways only enlightened souls will understand.

12. The GBC kicked out all their Godbrothers and Godsisters as an act of utter humility because they felt that they were too impure to be worthy of their association.

13. GBC members who loan money to temples and collect interest on it are simply trying to demonstrate in a practical way the spiritual principle of daivi sampath, the value of spiritual growth.

14. The Laguna Beach devotees sell calendars with half-naked bodies on them at malls for no other reason but to remind the unfortunate karmis that with each passing day, time is running out on their physical forms.

15. Zonal Acaryas accepted their zones out of humility because they knew they were not jagat gurus.

16. The gurus in ISKCON have purposely behaved like popes in order to attract the Pope himself and preach Krishna consciousness to him.

17. Radhanath was directly ordered by the Supreme Lord to appear on mayavadi videos and thereby mislead the atheists.

18. The Sannyasa Minister who teaches yoga to females only teaches those women whom he ascertains will be reborn as men in their next lives.

19. Members of the GBC had Jadurani beaten so that she could do a better job in her next painting of Krishna beating up Kamsa.

20. The GBC encourages the criticism of Srila Prabhupada on Dandavats.com so they can hope to someday correct the misled members of the movement.

After the meeting Chanakya Pandit das was overheard telling his assistant Bhakta Bob, "The winner writes the history books. This million pounds is money well spent."

Anonymous said...

Benefits of Prasadam

BY: APRAKRITA DASA

May 03, 2011 — MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA (SUN) —

Many devotees think that by eating prasadam, an animal will get a human body in its next life and if a human being eats prasadam he will become a devotee in his next life. In this lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.23, January 19, 1974 in Hawaii, Srila Prabhupada gives clear information on this subject matter:

Bali-mardana: "I believe I've heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a..., any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: No, if he's devotee, then he'll come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that "This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God," if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, "All right, these people are distributing, prasa... Let me take it. It is very tasteful," that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next... In this way, one day he'll come to the point that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff." Then he'll... There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsna's remnant of..." Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice. "

Anonymous said...

[Beginning of SB 1.1.6]

First of all, there is the Veda. Originally, the Veda, Atharva-veda. That is divided now into four: Sama, Yajur, Atharva, Rg. Then all the Vedic instructions are concentrated in the Vedanta-sutra.

There are 108 Upanisads, and many others. All the knowledge is concentrated in the Vedanta-sutra, or Vedanta philosophy.

It is explained for common men by puranani, by Puranas. Just like this Bhagavata-purana. Purana means old, old history, purana. And itihasa means history.

Vedic civilization was concerned with historical evidences which are very, very important. At the present moment, they write history chronologically. One period may be important, one period may not be important, but they write all the history. The Vedic way of writing history was not like that. Suppose for millions of years of history you write, then where you'll keep the records? It is not possible.

Nobody used to write autobiography. But the life of great kings, sages, saintly persons, they were recorded.

In the Vedic civilization there are twenty big, big books, dharma-sastra, for regulating life. Very difficult subject matter. Suta Gosvami was offered the seat of vyasasana because he was aware of these things, itihasa, history, purana, still older history, dharma-sastra, the scriptures, everything.

Therefore Suta Gosvami is first of all addressing that "You have read... Not only you have read, but you have described." Unless you fully assimilate, understand, you cannot describe it.

Simply reading will not help us. When we shall be able to preach the reading matter, doesn't matter whether in the same language or in my own language... It doesn't matter. That is wanted. Akhyatany adhitani. Adhitani means "You have read."

The saunakadi rsis... there were thousands of rsis in Naimisaranya. It is very, very old place. At least, from historical point of view, modern estimate is it is five thousand years old, because the first Bhagavata discussion took place there after instruction of Vyasadeva.

All the statements or narrations described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, they're all historical evidence, they're not imagination. Itihasa means history.

Vedic language is sometimes very difficult to understand. So Puranas are explanation of the Vedic knowledge in a supplementary way by taking references from the history, from the life of great saints and sages.

Mayavadi philosophers say that the Puranas are not Veda. That is not the fact. Here in the Bhagavata it says the Purana is part of the Vedas. As Upanisad is part of Vedas. It is written in simplified language for those who are less educated, having less brain substance.

Anonymous said...

Mahabharata means the history of greater India. Maha means greater. Bharata means India, At that time the whole world was Bharata-varsa.

Mahabharata especially was written for three classes of men: stri, sudra, dvija-bandhu. Stri means woman, sudra means worker class, and dvija-bandhu means persons who have taken their birth in higher caste, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, but they're degraded. They could not keep up their standard of culture.

Simply by becoming the son of high court judge, one does not become a high court judge. He must have the qualification. So when one is simply proud of his high parentage, he is called dvija-bandhu.

All English boys and girls present here, now you become greater than your forefathers by taking this Krsna consciousness. That will make you more powerful, spiritually powerful. You can render service to the humanity. Every human being should try to become very important. That importance can be achieved by culture.

What was written five thousand years ago for the less intelligent class of men, that literature is not understandable even by the highest and elevated, educated persons at the present moment. Try to understand this point. How much you have degraded!

Formerly this Vedic literature was not in written pages. Just like Suta Gosvami. There is no question of taking notes. As soon as they will hear, they'll immediately get it in memory, and they will never forget. Memory was so sharp. At the present moment, our memory is so low-grade we cannot remember even what I have done two hours past.

So this is Kali-yuga. We are in so many degraded positions; still, falsely we are proud that we are advancing. It is false prestige. Actually, we are very, very much degraded.

The only means of our being elevated to the highest position is this: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Anonymous said...

Krsna's confidential friends (priya-sakha)

"Krsna's confidential friends are Sridama, Sudama, Dama, Vasudama, Kinkini, Bhadrasena, Amsu, Stokakrsna, Vilasi, Pundarika, Vitankaksa, Kalavinka and Priyaskara. These friends are the same age of Krsna. Their leader is Sridama, who is also known as Pithamardaka.

Bhadrasena is the general who leads Krsna's childhood friends in military pastimes. Stokakrsna is very appropriately named, for he is just like a small (stoka) Krsna."

(Sri Sri Radha-Krsna-Ganoddesa-dipika, Part Two, Texts 30-32)

In Sri Garga Samhita we find this description of Stoka-krsna's birth:

sri-bhagavan uvaca
nandopananda-bhavane
sridama subalah sakha
stoka-krishno 'rjuno 'msus ca
nava-nanda-grihe vidhe

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My friends Sridama and Subala will take birth in the homes of Nanda and Upananda. Stoka-krishna, Arjuna, and Amsu will take birth in the nine homes of Nanda's relatives."

(Sri Garga Samhita, Chapter Four, Text 1)

The appearance in Vrindavan of the gopa Stoka-krsna is also mentioned by Sri Rupa Goswami in Sri Sri Radha-Krsna-Ganoddesa-dipika, Part One, Text 103-107:

"Mahavasu-gopa desired to beget a powerful and heroic son and a beautiful daughter. To attain this end the self-controlled Mahavasu engaged Bhaguri Muni in performing a Vedic sacrifice. (103)

Certain nectarean foodstuffs appeared from that sacrifice and the delighted Mahavasu gave them to his wife, Sucandra-devi. (104)

As Sucandra-devi was hastily eating the sacred foodstuff on her front porch, she spilled some of it. At that time the doe named Suranga, who was the mother of the doe named Rangini, was wandering in Vrajabhumi. Seeing Sucandra-devi spill some of the foodstuff, the doe Suranga quickly came forward and ate some of it. As a result of eating this sacred foodstuff, both the gopi Sucandra and the doe Suranga became pregnant. (105-106)

Sucandra-devi gave birth to a son whom the gopas called Stokakrsna and the deer gave birth to the girl Hiranyangi in the village of Vraja." (107)

Stoka-krsna sakha's identify in Gaura-lila is also disclosed, both in Caitanya-caritamrta Adi lila and in Sri Kavi Karnapura's Sri Gaura Ganodesa Dipika.

Anonymous said...

Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila 11.33

navadvipe purusottama pandita mahasaya
nityananda-name yanra mahonmada haya

"Purusottama Pandita, a resident of Navadvipa, was the eighth gopala. He would become almost mad as soon as he heard the holy name of Nityananda Prabhu.

PURPORT

It is stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata that Purusottama Pandita was born in Navadvipa and was a great devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. As one of the twelve gopalas, his former name was Stokakrsna."

Anonymous said...

In the purport to the 18th verse, second chapter, first canto of the Bhagavat Purana, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Prabhupada, spelt this out very nicely: "There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles. … Bhagavata book and person are identical."
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In other words, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation...The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process. Although initiation may depend on puracarya or purascaryana, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend upon purascarya-vidhi, or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name once without committing an offence, he attains all success...Simply by chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 15.108)
----------------------------------

This is an excellent honest reporting of the current reality in the malfunctioning and in many cases malefic ISKCON.

http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/05-11/editorials7262.htm

Anonymous said...

All Invited: GBC Emeritus Dinner-Dance

BY: YOUR SERVANTS, THE GBC

May 09, 2011 — LONDON, ENGLAND (SUN) — To celebrate the latest member of the GBC being awarded the honorific title of "GBC Emeritus," your servants on the GBC will host a gala Interfaith Dinner-Dance party at Bhaktivedanta Manor. All are welcome to attend. There will be a scrumptious 108-course feast served on silver trays with candelabras lighting the event. There will be candlelight dancing to Goura Vani crooning their favorite James Taylor hits from the 70's. ISKCON's Youth Ministry will entertain with a Fashion Extravaganza featuring the latest in daring and chic devotional apparel.

We, your servants of the GBC are eager to perform our sacred duty of joyous outreach to the community. We want all devotees to know that they are welcome to attend this festive event free of charge. This is your chance to come and rub elbows with us! One minor detail is that the table only has room for the GBC, some representatives of the World's Animistic and Wicca Religions and a few scientists. Rank and file devotees like you and anyone you know are welcome to attend in the capacity of waiters, masseuses, valets, dishwashers, chauffeurs, shoe shine boys, sweepers, and receptionists.

See you there!
----------------------------------

wv: cryin

Anonymous said...

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22.31-32:

"[Lord Krsna said:] O Stoka Krsna and Amsu, O Sridama, Subala and Arjuna, O Vrsabha, Ojasvi, Devaprastha and Varuthapa, just see these greatly fortunate trees, whose lives are completely dedicated to the benefit of others. Even while tolerating the wind, rain, heat and snow, they protect us from these elements.

PURPORT

Lord Krsna was preparing to bestow His mercy on the wives of the hard-hearted ritualistic brahmanas, and in these verses the Lord indicates that even trees who are dedicated to the welfare of others are superior to brahmanas who are not.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada, February 27, 1972: [...] Yes. A devotee must work under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, not imitate the best devotee.
Bob: Imitate. Oh. I see.
Syamasundara: One time you said that sometimes you feel sickness or pain due to the sinful activities of your devotees. Can sometimes disease be due to that? Caused by that?
Srila Prabhupada: You see, Krishna says:

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah

“I will deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” So Krishna is so powerful that He can immediately take up all the sins of others and immediately make them right. But when a living entity plays the part on behalf of Krishna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful activities of his devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb them. So sometimes–because he is not Krishna–sometimes there is some trouble. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forbidden, “Don’t make many sisyas, many disciples.”

But for preaching work we have to accept many disciples–for expanding preaching–even if we suffer. That’s a fact. The spiritual master has to take the responsibility for all the sinful activities of his disciples. Therefore to make many disciples is a risky job unless one is able to assimilate all the sins.”
He takes responsibility for all the fallen souls. That is… That idea is in Bible. Just like Jesus Christ take all the sinful reaction of all people and sacrificed his life. That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Because he’s Krsna’s representative. So Krsna takes all responsibility. Krsna is Krsna, apapa-viddham. He cannot be attacked by any sinful reaction. But a living entity may be subjected sometimes, because he’s small. Big fire, small fire. On a small fire if you put some big things, (chuckling) then the fire itself may be extinguished. In the big fire, whatever you put, that’s all right. Finished. The big fire can consume anything.

Anonymous said...

Bob: So Christ’s suffering was of that nature?

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Bob: Was Christ’s suffering this…

Prabhupada: That I have already explained, that he took the sinful reaction of all the people, therefore he suffered.

Bob: I see.

Prabhupada: He said… That is the Bible, that he has taken all the sinful reactions of the people and he sacrificed his life. But these Christian people, they have made it a law that “Christ will suffer and we shall do all nonsense.” Such great fools they are. They are… “Let Jesus Christ make contract for taking all one sinful reaction, and we will go on with all nonsense.” That is their religion. This… They are not in sense that “Christ is so magnanimous that he took all our sins and he has suffered… We stop all these sins!” They have not come to that sense. They have taking it very easily: “Let Lord Jesus Christ suffer, and we do all nonsense.” Is it not?

Bob: It is so.

Prabhupada: That is my misdeed, that I accept a disciple who is nonsense. That is my misdeed.

Bob: This happens on occasion?

Prabhupada: Yes, this is sure to happen because we are accepting so many men. But it is the duty of the disciple to be cautious. That “My spiritual master saved me. I may not put him again into these sufferings.” [break] When the spiritual master is in suffering, Krsna saves him. Krsna thinks, “Oh, he has taken so much responsibility for delivering a fallen person.” So Krsna is there. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati. Because the spiritual master takes the risk on account of Krsna.

Bob: So your suffering is not the same kind of pain that an impure person…

Prabhupada: No, it is not due to karma. The pain is there sometimes so that the disciples may know that “Due to our sinful activities my spiritual master is suffering.” [break]

Anonymous said...

SANTI PARVA

May 11, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — Santi Parva, Book 12, Part One - Mokshadharma Parva - Section 333.

Yudhishthira said, 'If there is any efficacy in gifts, in sacrifices, in penances well-performed, and in dutiful services rendered to preceptors and other reverend seniors, do thou, O grandsire, speak of the same to me.

Bhishma said, 'An understanding associated with evil causes the mind to fall into sin. In this state one stains one's acts, and then falls into great distress. Those that are of sinful acts have to take birth as persons of very indigent circumstances. From famine to famine, from pain to pain, from fear to fear, is their change. They are more dead than those that are dead. Possessed of affluence, from joy to joy, from heaven to heaven, from happiness to happiness, proceed they that are possessed of faith, that are self-restrained, and that are devoted to righteous deeds. They that are unbelievers have to pass, with groping hands, through regions infested by beasts of prey and elephants and pathless tracts teeming with snakes and robbers and other causes of fear.

What more need be said of these? They, on the other hand, that are endued with reverence for gods and guests, that are liberal, that have proper regard for persons that are good, and that make gifts in sacrifices, have for theirs the path (of felicity) that belongs to men of cleansed and subdued souls. Those that are not righteous should not be counted among men even as grains without kernel are not counted among grain and as cockroaches are not counted among birds. The acts that one does, follow one even when one runs fast. Whatever acts one does, lie down with the doer who lays himself down. Indeed, the sins one does, sit when the doer sits, and run when he runs. The sins act when the doer acts, and, in fact follow the doer like his shadow.

Whatever the acts one does by whatever means and under whatever circumstances, are sure to be enjoyed and endured (in respect of their fruits) by the doer in his next life. From every side Time is always dragging all creatures, duly observing the rule in respect of the distance to which they are thrown and which is commensurate with their acts. 1 As flowers and fruits, without being urged, never suffer their proper time to pass away without making their appearance, even so the acts one has done in past life make their appearance at the proper time. Honour and dishonour, gain and loss, destruction and growth, are seen to set in. No one can resist them (when they come). One of them is enduring, for disappear it must after appearance.

Anonymous said...

The sorrows one suffers is the result of one's acts. The happiness one enjoys flows from one's acts. From the time when one lies within the mother's womb one begins to enjoy and endure one's acts of a past life. Whatever acts good and bad one does in childhood, youth, or old age, one enjoys and endures their consequences in one's next life in similar ages. As the calf recognises its dam even when the latter may stand among thousands of her species, after the same manner the acts done by one in one's past life come to one n one's next life (without any mistake) although one may live among thousands of one's species. As a piece of dirty cloth is whitened by being washed in water, after the same manner, the righteous, cleansed by continuous exposure unto the fire of fasts and penances, at last attain to unending happiness.

O thou of high intelligence, the desires and purposes of those whose sins have been washed off by long-continued penances well-performed, become crowned with fruition. The track of the righteous cannot be discerned even as that of birds in the, sky or that of fishes in the water. There is no need of speaking ill of others, nor of reciting the instances in which others have tripped. On the other hand, one should always do what is delightful, agreeable, an beneficial to one's own self.'"

Thus ends Part Three, Section 333 of the Santi Parva of the Mokshadharma Parva of of Sri Mahabharata.

Anonymous said...

Rukmini Dvadasi is observed on May 14th.

You are the embodiment of all human goals and are Yourself the final aim of
life. Desiring to attain You, O all-powerful Lord, intelligent persons
abandon everything else. It is they who are worthy of Your association, not
men and women absorbed in the pleasure and grief resulting from their mutual
lust.

26 Qualities of Srimate Rukmini devi

1. rucirananam - whose face is charming

2. hriya, vrida - shy

3. sati - exalted, of saintly character

4. buddhi - possessing intelligence

5. laksana - possessing auspicious bodily markings

6. audaarya - magnanimous

7. sila - of proper behavior

8. sadrsim bharyam - an ideal wife

9. devim - the divine goddess

10. asitapangi - dark-eyed

11. mohinim - enchanting

12. mahati - aristocratic

13. dhira - sober-minded

14. kulavati - of good family

15. laksanabhijna - an expert knower of bodily symptoms

16. aradhito - having rendered devotional service

17. mat-param, atmarpitas - dedicated exclusively to Krishna

18. anavadyangim, sobham - of flawless beauty

19. sucismita - sweetly smiling

20. varaaroha - of lovely hips

21. bimba-phala-adhara - glowing bimba red lips

22. syamaa - firm breasts

23. calantim kalahamsa - walking with the motions of a royal swan

24. su madhyamam - shapely waist

25. govinda-hrtamanasa - whose mind is stolen by Krishna

26. gunasrayam - a repository of all other good qualities

Anonymous said...

Sri Rama-rasa-krida (Lord Balarama's Rasa Dance)

"Cooling, gentle, delightful, lotus-pollen filled breezes pushed the Yamuna's waves and blew to the splendid shore. Then the land of Vraja became very splendid, its many forest groves and courtyards filled with the fragrant pollen of playfully and gracefully blossoming flowers, with the cooing of cuckoos and peacocks, and with the sweet humming of bees.

Decorated with tinkling ankle-bells, glittering gold and jewel necklace, armlets, belt, crown, and earrings, and with many lotus petals, dressed in blue garments, and His eyes like glittering lotus petals, Lord Balarama was splendid with the gopis in the rasa-dance circle. He was like Kuvera surrounded by a host of beautiful yakshis."

(Sri Garga Samhita 8.2.9.4-5)

Sri Pradvipaka Muni said: One day, eager to see His devotees, Lord Balarama mounted His chariot bearing a palm-tree flag, left Dvaraka, and, yearning to see the gopas, gopis, and cows, went to Gokula. Yasoda and King Nanda embraced Him when He arrived. Later He met with the gopas and gopis. He stayed there for two months.

The previously described snake-girls became gopis and, in order to attain Lord Balarama's association, on Garga Muni's advice followed the five methods of worshiping Lord Balarama. In this way they became perfect. Pleased with them, Lord Balarama enjoyed a rasa-dance with them on the full-moon night of the month of Caitra (March-April), a night when the red moon reddened the whole of Vrindavana forest.

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada: Hmm. The example is just like there is air vibration, water vibration, the radio message. In one place, the vibration is made, and it goes like waves. It expands. Very quickly, within a second, it expands seven times the earth, so far we have heard. Or if you throw one stone on the lake, they’ll become a circle, circle, and the circle expands, unless it goes to the limit. So our loving propensity is there, and it should expand. Ultimately it should reach the lotus feet of the Lord. Then it will be perfect. So this is being explained.

Just like people are coming here to hear, but there has been impediment: “Oh, sir, our lift if being to much used. The electric supply will cut off.” Maya is always there. They will, I mean to say, spend electric energy in so many ways, that is not loss. But people were coming for half an hour and one hour, gentlemen, “No. Electricity will be spoiled.” This is maya.

Maya is always after this checking process. So we have to fight against the maya, then we come to Krishna consciousness. That fighting determination must be there. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. One must be determined. So maya may check my progress in Krishna consciousness, but I must fight maya. This determination wanted. Drdha-vratah.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada, our ever well wisher..

Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. The process is sevonmukha, service. Service, beginning with the tongue, vasudeva realization is possible. The service, the first service is sravanam kirtanam. Chant Hare Krsna mantra and hear repeatedly and take prasada. These are two business of the tongue. So you’ll realize. Very simple method. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam… Krsna will reveal, not that by your endeavor you can understand Krsna, but your endeavor in the loving service, that will make you qualified. Krsna will reveal. Svayam eva sphuraty adah. Krsna is very much anxious to take you back home, back to Godhead. But we are stubborn. We do not wish. So He’s always finding out the opportunity how you can be taken back home, back to Godhead. Just like affectionate father.

Anonymous said...

LORD BALARAMA'S DISAPPEARANCE

Due to a curse placed on the Yadu dynasty they were to be the cause of their
own destruction, thirty-six years after the end of the battle of Kuruksetra.
After Balarama took part in the drunken battle that caused the destruction
of the rest of the Yadus, and after He witnessed the disappearance of Lord
Krishna, Lord Balarama sat down in a meditative state and At the last stage,
He departed from this world by producing a great white snake from His mouth,
and thus He was carried by Sesanaga in the shape of a serpent (Srimad
Bhagavatam First anto pg.573)
----------------------------------

In the pastime of Ratha-yatra the reason that Lord Balarama appears with
dilated eyes and shrunken limbs is because he is affected by the mood of
separation that Radha and Krishna are feeling for each other.
----------------------------------

Balarama rides in the chariot known as Taladhvaja. Tala means rhythm and
dhvaja means ensignia or distinguishing symbol. Rhythms are said to have
originated from Lord Shiva's cosmic dance. The rhythm created by Balarama's
huge moving chariot is said to produce an equally powerful and blissful
sound. The four horses that pull Balarama's chariot are 1.Tivra-strength,
2.Ghora-constancy, 3, Dirgha-timelessness, and 4.Srama-work. Balarama's
chariot in Orisa is 47 feet high and requires 763 pieces of wood to build.
Daruka, the one who takes care of all, is Balarama's charioteer.
----------------------------------

Sri Balarama is the servitor of Godhead who serves Lord Krishna in all
affairs of existence and knowledge. The transcendental abode exist by the
energy of Lord Balarama. Krishna's first expansion in a form for pastimes
is Lord Balarama. Balarama Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna and
He does the work of creation in four other forms. In all forms Balarama
tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna.
----------------------------------

Lord Balarama is the beauty incarnation of the Lord. (Srimad Bhagavatam
First Canto pg.168)

Anonymous said...

Nrsimha Caturdasi: the Appearance Day of Lord Nrsimhadeva, observed May 16th).

My salutations to That Nrusimha,
Who is fierce,
Who is heroic,
Who is Maha Vishnu,
Who is burning,
Who has faces every where,
Who is half Lion and half Man,
Who is fearful,
Who is safe,
Who is death and deathlessness.

Lord Nrsimha appeared not to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu.

He appeared for Prahlada.

Prahlada Maharaja, he was being so much teased and so much tortured. He could not tolerate it. So he wanted to show His devotee that "I shall kill your torturer before you." That is the purpose. So He did not appear for killing Hiranyakasipu. He appeared to give encouragement to Prahlada Maharaja.

As Hiranyakasipu was killed in a second, the godless civilization can be destroyed at any moment.

Since the creation of the material world, there have been two kinds of men--the devas and the asuras. The devas are always faithful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas the asuras are always atheists who defy the supremacy of the Lord. At the present moment, throughout the entire world, the atheists are extremely numerous. They are trying to prove that there is no God and that everything takes place due to combinations and permutations of material elements. Thus the material world is becoming more and more godless, and consequently everything is in a disturbed condition. If this continues, the Supreme personality of Godhead will certainly take action, as He did in the case of Hiranyakasipu. Within a second, Hiranyakasipu and his followers were destroyed, and similarly if this godless civilization continues, it will be destroyed in a second, simply by the movement of one finger of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demons should therefore be careful and curtail their godless civilization. They should take advantage of the Krsna consciousness movement and become faithful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; otherwise they are doomed. As Hiranyakasipu was killed in a second, the godless civilization can be destroyed at any moment.

Anonymous said...

There is a very interesting parallel that we can see by looking at texts 26 and 27 from this eighth chapter of the seventh canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, where Lord Nrsimhadeva plays with Hiranyakasipu before killing him.

TRANSLATION: O Yudhisthira, O great son of Bharata, when Lord Nrsimhadeva gave Hiranyakasipu a chance to slip from His hand, just as Garuda sometimes plays with a snake and lets it slip from his mouth, the demigods, who had lost their abodes and who were hiding behind the clouds for fear of the demon, did not consider that incident very good. Indeed, they were perturbed.

PURPORT: When Hiranyakasipu was in the process of being killed by Lord Nrsimhadeva, the Lord gave the demon a chance to slip from His clutches. This incident was not very much appreciated by the demigods, for they were greatly afraid of Hiranyakasipu. They knew that if somehow or other Hiranyakasipu escaped from Nrsimhadeva's hands and saw that the demigods were looking forward to his death with great pleasure, he would take great revenge upon them. Therefore they were very much afraid.

TRANSLATION: When Hiranyakasipu was freed from the hands of Nrsimhadeva, he falsely thought that the Lord was afraid of his prowess. Therefore, after taking a little rest from the fight, he took up his sword and shield and again attacked the Lord with great force.

PURPORT: When a sinful man enjoys material facilities, foolish people sometimes think, "How is it that this sinful man is enjoying whereas a pious man is suffering?" By the will of the Supreme, a sinful man is sometimes given the chance to enjoy the material world as if he were not under the clutches of material nature, just so that he may be fooled. A sinful man who acts against the laws of nature must be punished, but sometimes he is given a chance to play, exactly like Hiranyakasipu when he was released from the hands of Nrsimhadeva. Hiranyakasipu was destined to be ultimately killed by Nrsimhadeva, but just to see the fun, the Lord gave him a chance to slip from His hands.

(By the law of nature, the nuclear weapons have been produced for crushing the result of blind-materialism)

Visible said...

Wonderful stuff Homer; just great!!! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

It is marvelous, isn't it!

And to think it never ends!

I'm honestly starting to feel a little affection for the Lord and His creations.

I hope and pray so.

Thanks you for your encouragement, my friend.

Anonymous said...

Pilgrimage to Ahobelum | Lord Nasringadeva’s Appearance Place

BY: GAURIDASA PANDITA DASA

I have been to India ten times for a total of three and a half years. During this time I was fortunate enough to travel to some of the Holy places, which are everywhere and seem to be unlimited like our unlimited Lord. My favorite Holy Places are Vrindavan, Hrishikesh and Ahobelum.

Ahobelum is the place in South India where Lord Nasringadeva appeared. I went there with an entourage of about 16 devotees headed by Achutyananda Swami and Yasodanandan Swami. We traveled all around India putting on public pandal programs.

We traveled mostly in South India doing big Kirtan events sometimes getting crowds of thousands. The Indians love to see western devotees taking to the Vedic culture with our enthusiastic chanting and dancing. It was so nice seeing so many Holy Places.

Ahobelum is not reachable by public transportation as it is way out in a remote area. We traveled in a nice Mercedes bus and thus were able to go places where public transportation didn’t go.

We arrived in the Ahobelum in the hot summer. At first the hotel keeper said we could not stay, because generally westerners were not allowed in some Temples, but was persuaded by Achutyananda Swami who had a letter from the Governor of Madras giving us permission.

Once situated we were treated like royalty by the head pujari and his good family with quite a few kids. They served us excellent prasadam on silver plates and even fanned us while we honored Lord Nasringadeva’s prasadam although we kept asking them not to.

Anonymous said...

There are eight temples in a circle situated north, south, east, west and the directions in between. There is also a main temple in the middle. It was over 100 degrees when we started up a mountain trail to reach one of the temples that Lord Chaitanya Himself is said to have visited.

On the way we could see the cliff where Sri Prahlada was thrown off and caught by Krishna. I was weak from the heat etc. and was even thinking of staying back that day. I was glad I decided to go!

After a beautiful hike up the mountain trail we arrived at the temple in a cave. Achutyananda Swami told us all to wash ourselves in the creek that flowed by the temple before taking darshan of the self-manifested Deity of Lord Sri Nasringadeva.

The water was reddish so I didn’t want to wash up there thinking that someone must of sacrificed an animal up stream or something. Then Achutyananda told us that it was red because that’s where Lord Nasringadeva washed his nails after killing Hiranyakasipu.

It’s called Rakta Kunda and the water has remained reddish for thousands of years! Such is the potency of our all-powerful Lord. After putting some of the water on my head I felt like a newborn baby as all of my fatigue disappeared. It was amazingly energizing.

We entered the temple which is situated in a cave. The pujari opened gate after gate to let us in to the end of the cave where Lord Nasringadeva is situated. A couple of ghee lamps light the cave and even though it was cool in the Temple Cave there were waves of spiritual energy were coming from the Deity.

Lord Chaitanya Himself went into this Cave on His South Indian tour and passed out in ecstasy there. Can you imagine being right there where Lord Chaitanya fainted in the ecstasy of love of God and the self-manifested Deity of Lord Nasringadeva is effulgent! Being there was so ecstatic that I didn’t want to leave.

Another one of the temples is situated in a desert area. The temple is one of the only self-manifested temples. It’s a big round blackish rock that is hollow with a hat like top. Lord Nasringadeva is also self-manifested. The Lord Nasringadeva has a big beautiful body with a big chest and small waist sitting nicely in a yoga posture.

He is called Yogananda Nasringa because he is teaching Prahlada some yoga asanas. He is blackish and about seven feet high, seated! You can circumambulate the awesome Deity of Lord Sri Nasringadeva and Sri Prahlada Maharaja.

I highly recommend to any devotee that can, to go to Ahobelum and experience the awesome atmosphere and kind Vaisnava hospitality that we experienced there. These are the treasures of the Earth; the Holy places of pilgrimage.

Sri Nasringa Jai Nasringa Jai Jai Nasringa!!!

Visible said...

I hope you will come to the Kumbhamela with me Homer.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what to say, except..
perhaps.

It is honestly humbling that you would invite me like this.

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.16.26

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

etau suretara-gatiḿ pratipadya sadyaḥ

saḿrambha-sambhṛta-samādhy-anubaddha-yogau

bhūyaḥ sakāśam upayāsyata āśu yo vaḥ

śāpo mayaiva nimitas tad aveta viprāḥ

TRANSLATION

The Lord replied: O brāhmaṇas, know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family. But they will be firmly united with Me in thought through mental concentration intensified by anger, and they will return to My presence shortly.

PURPORT

The Lord stated that the punishment inflicted by the sages upon the doorkeepers Jaya and Vijaya was conceived by the Lord Himself. Without the Lord's sanction, nothing can happen. It is to be understood that there was a plan in the cursing of the Lord's devotees in Vaikuṇṭha, and His plan is explained by many stalwart authorities. The Lord sometimes desires to fight. The fighting spirit also exists in the Supreme Lord, otherwise how could fighting be manifested at all? Because the Lord is the source of everything, anger and fighting are also inherent in His personality. When He desires to fight with someone, He has to find an enemy, but in the Vaikuṇṭha world there is no enemy because everyone is engaged fully in His service. Therefore He sometimes comes to the material world as an incarnation in order to manifest His fighting spirit.

Anonymous said...

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.8) also it is said that the Lord appears just to give protection to the devotees and to annihilate the nondevotees. The nondevotees are found in the material world, not in the spiritual world; therefore, when the Lord wants to fight, He has to come to this world. But who will fight with the Supreme Lord? No one is able to fight with Him! Therefore, because the Lord's pastimes in the material world are always performed with His associates, not with others, He has to find some devotee who will play the part of an enemy. In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says to Arjuna, "My dear Arjuna, both you and I have appeared many, many times in this material world, but you have forgotten, whereas I remember." Thus Jaya and Vijaya were selected by the Lord to fight with Him in the material world, and that was the reason the sages came to see Him and accidentally the doorkeepers were cursed. It was the Lord's desire to send them to the material world, not perpetually, but for some time. Therefore, just as on a theatrical stage someone takes the part of enemy to the proprietor of the stage, although the play is for a short time and there is no permanent enmity between the servant and the proprietor, so the sura janas (devotees) were cursed by the sages to go to the asura jana, or atheistic families. That a devotee should come into an atheistic family is surprising, but it is simply a show. After finishing their mock fighting, both the devotee and the Lord are again associated in the spiritual planets. That is very explicitly explained here. The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuṇṭha planet, for it is the eternal abode. But sometimes, as the Lord desires, devotees come into this material world as preachers or as atheists. In each case we must understand that there is a plan of the Lord. Lord Buddha, for example, was an incarnation, yet he preached atheism: "There is no God." But actually there was a plan behind this, as explained in the Bhāgavatam.

Visible said...

Truth be told, there is no one more worthy of the invitation.

Anonymous said...

For clarification, in the Bhagavata Purana, Ravana and his brother, Kumbakarna were said to be reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, gatekeepers at Vaikuntha, the abode of Krishna and were cursed to be born in Earth for their insolence.

These gatekeepers refused entry to the Sanatha Kumara monks, who, because of their powers and austerity appeared as young children. For their insolence, the monks cursed them to be expelled from Vaikunta and to be born in Earth. The all-merciful Krishna agreed that they should be punished but agreed to mitigate their curse. He asked them whether they would want to be undergo seven births as devotees of Krishna or three births as enemies of the Lord. Since they wanted to get back as soon as possible, they agreed to be born in three births as enemies of God.

In the first birth, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Vishnu incarnated as Varaha and Narasimha and killed them both. In Treta Yuga they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and were killed by Rama. Then in Dwapara yuga, and in their final birth, Jaya and Vijaya they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra and killed by Sri Krishna. After the end of three births, they returned to Vaikunta.
----------------------------------
A perplexing perspective to the identity of Ravana the ten headed demon as well as the other demons killed by the Lord during His manifested pastimes.

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.16.31

mayi saḿrambha-yogena

nistīrya brahma-helanam

pratyeṣyataḿ nikāśaḿ me

kālenālpīyasā punaḥ

TRANSLATION

The Lord assured the two Vaikuṇṭha inhabitants, Jaya and Vijaya: By practicing the mystic yoga system in anger, you will be cleansed of the sin of disobeying the brāhmaṇas and within a very short time return to Me.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead advised the two doorkeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, that by dint of bhakti-yoga in anger they would be delivered from the curses of the brāhmaṇas. Śrīla Madhva Muni remarks in this connection that by practicing bhakti-yoga one can become free from all sinful reactions. Even a brahma-śāpa, or curse by a brāhmaṇa, which cannot be overcome by any other means, can be overcome by bhakti-yoga.

One can practice bhakti-yoga in many rasas. There are twelve rasas, five primary and seven secondary. The five primary rasas constitute direct bhakti-yoga, but although the seven secondary rasas are indirect, they are also counted within bhakti-yoga if they are used in the service of the Lord. In other words, bhakti-yoga is all-inclusive. If one somehow or other becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he becomes engaged in bhakti-yoga, as described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.15): kāmaḿ krodhaḿ bhayam. The gopīs were attracted to Kṛṣṇa by bhakti-yoga in a relationship of lusty desire (kāma). Similarly, Kaḿsa was attached to bhakti-yoga by dint of fear of his death. Thus bhakti-yoga is so powerful that even becoming an enemy of the Lord and always thinking of Him can deliver one very quickly. It is said, viṣṇu-bhaktaḥ smṛto daiva āsuras tad-vipanyayaḥ: "Devotees of Lord Viṣṇu are called demigods, whereas nondevotees are called asuras." But bhakti-yoga is so powerful that both demigods and asuras can derive its benefits if they always think of the personality of Godhead. The basic principle of bhakti-yoga is to think of the Supreme Lord always. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.65), man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ: "Always think of Me." It doesn't matter which way one thinks; the very thought of the Personality of Godhead is the basic principle of bhakti-yoga.

In the material planets there are different grades of sinful activities, of which disrespecting a brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava is the most sinful. Here it is clearly stated that one can overcome even that grave sin simply by thinking of Viṣṇu, not even favorably but in anger. Thus even if those who are not devotees always think of Viṣṇu, they become free from all sinful activities. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest form of thought. Lord Viṣṇu is thought of in this age by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. From the statements of the Bhāgavatam it appears that if one thinks of Kṛṣṇa, even as an enemy, that particular qualification — thinking of Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa — cleanses one of all sins.

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada: Sometimes invite them all and give them prasadam. Nice boys.

Syamasundara: Have them all out here, yeah. [break]

Prabhupada: You just work little, produce your food, eat, and save time, and try to understand Krsna. This is the nature’s arrangement. Anywhere, any part of the world, you can produce your food. Simply you require a little land and some cows. Everything is complete. You take milk from the cows and just till the field and get some food grains. That is sufficient. Whole economic question solved. And save time for developing Krsna consciousness. This is the arrangement.

David Lawrence: It was interesting to see a recent television program in this country…

Prabhupada: Yes.

David Lawrence: …on farming, and it was talking about the so- called modern methods of farming which have destroyed the earth in this country, really, in great areas. And it showed an Englishman and his son who believe in the old methods with cows on the land. And he is not only doing better economically, but he was so happy, the two men were so happy.

Prabhupada: Yes.

David Lawrence: They were just working with nature, not against nature.

Prabhupada: Just like so much field is there. You, if you take the all village people, you can produce enough food for them in this village. So much land is lying there. Simply you keep cows and till ground, get your food grains. Enough. And if you take the whole planet as it is, you can feed ten times population. There is so much prospect. Australia, Africa. So much vacant land. You can produce enough quantity of milk and food grains.

David Lawrence: Yes, I think this was the clinching argument in this program…

Prabhupada: But they are doing… What they are doing? They’re taking the milk and slaughtering the animals and sending to foreign countries for trade. New Zealand, Australia, they are doing like that. Just see.

Anonymous said...

David Lawrence: Or they’re throwing down the surplus milk down coal mines.

Prabhupada: Eh?

David Lawrence: They throw surplus milk down coal mines.

Prabhupada: That’s it.

David Lawrence: When there are people without any…

Prabhupada: How they are wasting! You see? And they’re putting the overstocked grain into the sea. America.

David Lawrence: Dumping tomatoes, bananas, all these things.

Prabhupada: What kind of civilization? And producing Nixon on the head. (laughter.) Just see.

David Lawrence: Yes.

Prabhupada: And they want to be happy. This is their position.

David Lawrence: They’ll give…

Prabhupada: The head of the administration is Nixon, and the activities is killing and throwing the grains in the sea. And they are civilized. Just see. Where is civilization? They have no common sense even.

David Lawrence: The thing is the economic system now runs the heart. The heart is not allowed to beat in the right way. It’s completely controlled.

Prabhupada: It is a soul-killing civilization. We have to fight against it, to save at least a few men. So you are thoughtful young man. You try to understand this philosophy, and you try to spread. You have got good field for teaching students.

David Lawrence: I feel that students need to be able to see that somebody who is God conscious can really, really enjoy life.

Prabhupada: Oh yes. Certainly. That is life. This is not life. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. Life means with high qualities. So one who is not God conscious, they cannot have any good qualities. It is not possible. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah. He’s simply hovering on the mental plane. Asati dhavato bahih. And he has to come to these non-permanent things, material things. Asati. Asati ma sad gama. The Vedic injunction is, “Don’t stick to this asat. Try to come to the sat, eternal.” Tamasi ma jyotir gama. These are the… “Don’t remain in the darkness. Come to the light.”

David Lawrence: That was one track on George’s record which really, really got through to our boys, I think. “Light, is it? Light of the World.”

Syamasundara: “Light, there is, Light of the World.” (?)

David Lawrence: Really…

Prabhupada: So his record has become very successful.

Syamasundara: Number one everywhere. In America.

Prabhupada: Now, even they are appreciating.

David Lawrence: Very successful even with one boy, you see. That’s success, isn’t it?

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Syamasundara: He likes to hear it.

Prabhupada: “I am in material world.”

Syamasundara: We get letters from all over the world addressed to George Harrison care of Radha-Krsna Temple London. (laughter) From Poland, from behind the Iron Curtain even. Russia, China, every place, they send.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.12: My Lord, I have seen all kinds of incarnations You have exhibited by Your transcendental qualities, and now that You have appeared as a beautiful young woman, I wish to see that form of Your Lordship.

PURPORT

When Lord Śiva approached Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu inquired about the purpose for Lord Śiva's coming there. Now Lord Śiva discloses his desire. He wanted to see the recent incarnation of Mohinī-mūrti, which Lord Viṣṇu had assumed to distribute the nectar generated from the churning of the ocean of milk.

SB 8.12.13: My Lord, we have come here desiring to see that form of Your Lordship which You showed to the demons to captivate them completely and in this way enable the demigods to drink nectar. I am very eager to see that form.

SB 8.12.14: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When Lord Viṣṇu was thus requested by Lord Śiva, who carries a trident in his hand, He smiled with gravity and replied to Lord Śiva as follows.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is known as Yogeśvara. Yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. Mystic yogīs want to acquire some power by practicing the yoga system, but Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is known as the Supreme Lord of all mystic power. Lord Śiva wanted to see the Mohinī-mūrti, which was captivating the entire world, and Lord Viṣṇu was gravely thinking of how to captivate Lord Śiva also. Therefore the word bhāva-gambhīram is used here. The illusory, material energy is represented by Durgādevī, who is the wife of Girīśa, or Lord Śiva. Durgādevī could not captivate Lord Śiva's mind, but now that Lord Śiva wanted to see Lord Viṣṇu's feminine form, Lord Viṣṇu, by His mystic power, would assume a form that would captivate even Lord Śiva. Therefore Lord Viṣṇu was grave and at the same time was smiling.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I am a moslem and I am not so sentimental to be easily effected by what I see or hear. But every time that I watch this video, every time, tears run down from my eyes involuntarily!
Thank you Les for this video and much gratitude.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.15: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: When the demons took away the jug of nectar, I assumed the form of a beautiful woman to bewilder them by directly cheating them and thus to act in the interest of the demigods.

PURPORT

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead assumed the form of the beautiful woman Mohinī-mūrti, the demons were certainly captivated, but the demigods present were not. In other words, those who maintain a demoniac mentality are bewildered by the beauty of a woman, but those who are advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or even those on the platform of goodness, are not bewildered. The Supreme Personality of Godhead knew that because Lord Śiva is not an ordinary person, he cannot be bewildered even by the most beautiful woman. Cupid himself tried to invoke Lord Śiva's lusty desires in the presence of Pārvatī, but Lord Śiva was never agitated. Rather, the blazing fire from Lord Śiva's eyes turned Cupid to ashes. Therefore, Lord Viṣṇu had to think twice about what kind of beautiful form would bewilder even Lord Śiva. Consequently He was smiling gravely, as stated in the previous verse (prahasya bhāva-gambhīram). A beautiful woman generally cannot induce Lord Śiva to be lusty, but Lord Viṣṇu was considering whether there was any form of woman who could enchant him.

SB 8.12.16: O best of the demigods, I shall now show you My form that is very much appreciated by those who are lusty. Since you want to see that form, I shall reveal it in your presence.

PURPORT

Lord Śiva's desiring to see Lord Viṣṇu reveal the most attractive and beautiful form of a woman was certainly a joking affair. Lord Śiva knew that he could not be agitated by any so-called beautiful woman. "The Daityas may have been bewildered," he thought, "but since even the demigods could not be agitated, what to speak of me, who am the best of all the demigods?" However, because Lord Śiva wanted to see Lord Viṣṇu's form as a woman, Lord Viṣṇu decided to impersonate a woman and show him a form that would immediately put him in an ocean of lusty desires. In effect, therefore, Lord Viṣṇu told Lord Śiva, "I will show you My form as a woman, and if you become agitated by lusty desires, do not blame Me." The attractive features of a woman are appreciated by those who are affected by lusty desires, but those who are above such desires, who are on the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are very difficult to bewilder. Nonetheless, by the supreme desire of the Personality of Godhead, everything can be done. This was to be a test of whether Lord Śiva could remain unagitated.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.17: Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After speaking in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, immediately disappeared, and Lord Śiva remained there with Umā, looking for Him all around with moving eyes.

SB 8.12.18: Thereafter, in a nice forest nearby, full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and varieties of flowers, Lord Śiva saw a beautiful woman playing with a ball. Her hips were covered with a shining sari and ornamented with a belt.

SB 8.12.19: Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there.

SB 8.12.20: The woman's face was decorated by broad, beautiful, restless eyes, which moved as the ball bounced here and there from Her hand. The two brilliant earrings on Her ears decorated Her shining cheeks like bluish reflections, and the hair scattered on Her face made Her even more beautiful to see.

SB 8.12.21: As She played with the ball, the sari covering Her body became loose, and Her hair scattered. She tried to bind Her hair with Her beautiful left hand, and at the same time She played with the ball by striking it with Her right hand. This was so attractive that the Supreme Lord, by His internal potency, in this way captivated everyone.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) it is said, daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā: the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is extremely strong. Indeed, everyone is fully captivated by her activities. Lord Śambhu (Śiva) was not to be captivated by the external potency, but because Lord Viṣṇu wanted to captivate Him also, He exhibited His internal potency to act the way that His external potency acts to captivate ordinary living entities. Lord Viṣṇu can captivate anyone, even such a strong personality as Lord Śambhu.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.22: While Lord Śiva observed the beautiful woman playing with the ball, She sometimes glanced at him and slightly smiled in bashfulness. As he looked at the beautiful woman and She watched him, he forgot both himself and Umā, his most beautiful wife, as well as his associates nearby.

PURPORT

The material bondage of this world is that a beautiful woman can captivate a handsome man and that a handsome man can captivate a beautiful woman. Such are the affairs that began when Lord Śiva observed the beautiful girl playing with the ball. In such activities, the influence of Cupid is very prominent. As both parties move their eyebrows and glance at one another, their lusty desires increase more and more. Such reciprocations of lusty desire took place between Lord Śiva and the beautiful woman, even though Umā and Lord Śiva's associates were by Lord Śiva's side. Such is the attraction between man and woman in the material world. Lord Śiva was supposed to be above all this attraction, but he was victimized by the captivating power of Lord Viṣṇu. Ṛṣabhadeva thus explains the nature of lusty attraction:

"The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life's illusions and thinks in terms of 'I and mine.' " (Bhāg. 5.5.8) When a man and woman exchange feelings of lust, both of them are victimized, and thus they are bound to this material world in various ways.

SB 8.12.23: When the ball leaped from Her hand and fell at a distance, the woman began to follow it, but as Lord Śiva observed these activities, a breeze suddenly blew away the fine dress and belt that covered her.

SB 8.12.24: Thus Lord Śiva saw the woman, every part of whose body was beautifully formed, and the beautiful woman also looked at him. Therefore, thinking that She was attracted to him, Lord Śiva became very much attracted to Her.

PURPORT

Lord Śiva was observing every part of the woman's body, and She was also glancing at him with restless eyes. Thus Śiva thought that She was also attracted to him, and now he wanted to touch Her.

SB 8.12.25: Lord Śiva, his good sense taken away by the woman because of lusty desires to enjoy with Her, became so mad for Her that even in the presence of Bhavānī he did not hesitate to approach Her.

SB 8.12.26: The beautiful woman was already naked, and when She saw Lord Śiva coming toward Her, She became extremely bashful. Thus She kept smiling, but She hid Herself among the trees and did not stand in one place.

SB 8.12.27: His senses being agitated, Lord Śiva, victimized by lusty desires, began to follow Her, just as a lusty elephant follows a she-elephant.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.28: After following Her with great speed, Lord Śiva caught Her by the braid of Her hair and dragged Her near him. Although She was unwilling, he embraced Her with his arms.

SB 8.12.29-30: Being embraced by Lord Śiva like a female elephant embraced by a male, the woman, whose hair was scattered, swirled like a snake. O King, this woman, who had large, high hips, was a woman of yogamāyā presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She released Herself somehow or other from the fond embrace of Lord Śiva's arms and ran away.

SB 8.12.31: As if harassed by an enemy in the form of lusty desires, Lord Śiva followed the path of Lord Viṣṇu, who acts very wonderfully and who had taken the form of Mohinī.

PURPORT

Lord Śiva cannot be victimized by māyā. Therefore it is to be understood that Lord Śiva was being thus harassed by Lord Viṣṇu's internal potency. Lord Viṣṇu can perform many wonderful activities through His various potencies.

parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate

svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca

(Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.8)

The Supreme Lord has various potencies, by which He can act very efficiently. To do anything expertly, He doesn't even need to contemplate. Since Lord Śiva was being harassed by the woman, it is to be understood that this was being done not by a woman but by Lord Viṣṇu Himself.

SB 8.12.32: Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Śiva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain.

SB 8.12.33: O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Śiva, mines of gold and silver later appeared.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura comments that those who seek gold and silver can worship Lord Śiva for material opulences. Lord Śiva lives under a bael tree and does not even construct a house in which to dwell, but although he is apparently poverty-stricken, his devotees are sometimes opulently endowed with large quantities of silver and gold. Parīkṣit Mahārāja later asks about this, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī replies.

SB 8.12.34: Following Mohinī, Lord Śiva went everywhere — near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Mohinī-mūrti dragged Lord Śiva to so many places, especially to where the great sages lived, to instruct the sages that their Lord Śiva had become mad for a beautiful woman. Thus although they were all great sages and saintly persons, they should not think themselves free, but should remain extremely cautious about beautiful women. No one should think himself liberated in the presence of a beautiful woman. The śāstras enjoin:

mātrā svasrā duhitrā vā

nāviviktāsano bhavet

balavān indriya-grāmo

vidvāḿsam api karṣati

"One should not stay in a solitary place with a woman, even if she be his mother, sister or daughter, for the senses are so uncontrollably powerful that in the presence of a woman one may become agitated, even if he is very learned and advanced." (Bhāg. 9.19.17)

SB 8.12.35: O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of kings, when Lord Śiva had fully discharged semen, he could see how he himself had been victimized by the illusion created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he restrained himself from any further māyā.

SB 8.12.36: Thus Lord Śiva could understand his position and that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has unlimited potencies. Having reached this understanding, he was not at all surprised by the wonderful way Lord Viṣṇu had acted upon him.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.37: Seeing Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Viṣṇu [Madhusūdana] was very pleased. Thus He resumed His original form and spoke as follows.

PURPORT

Although Lord Śiva was aghast at the potency of Lord Viṣṇu, he did not feel ashamed. Rather, he was proud to be defeated by Lord Viṣṇu. Nothing is hidden from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for He is in everyone's heart. Indeed, the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaḿ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaḿ ca: "I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness." Whatever happened had taken place under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore there was no cause to be sorry or ashamed. Although Lord Śiva is never defeated by anyone, when defeated by Lord Viṣṇu he felt proud that he had such an exalted and powerful master.

SB 8.12.38: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of the demigods, although you have been amply harassed because of My potency in assuming the form of a woman, you are established in your position. Therefore, may all good fortune be upon you.

SB 8.12.39: My dear Lord Śambhu, who within this material world but you can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the influence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount.

PURPORT

Of the three chief demigods — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara — all but Viṣṇu are under the influence of māyā. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta, they are described as māyī, which means "under māyā's influence." But even though Lord Śiva associates with māyā, he is not influenced. The living entities are affected by māyā, but although Lord Śiva apparently associates with māyā, he is not affected. In other words, all living entities within this material world except for Lord Śiva are swayed by māyā. Lord Śiva is therefore neither viṣṇu-tattva nor jīva-tattva. He is between the two.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.40: The material, external energy [māyā], who cooperates with Me in creation and who is manifested in the three modes of nature, will not be able to bewilder you any longer.

PURPORT

When Lord Śiva was present, his wife, Durgā, was also there. Durgā works in cooperation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in creating the cosmic manifestation. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10), mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram: "The material energy [prakṛti] works under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and is producing all moving and unmoving beings." Prakṛti is Durgā.

sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā

chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā

[Bs. 5.44]

The entire cosmos is created by Durgā in cooperation with Lord Viṣṇu in the form of kāla, time. Sa īkṣata lokān nu sṛjā. Sa imān lokān asṛjata. This is the version of the Vedas (Aitareya Upaniṣad 1.1.1-2). Māyā happens to be the wife of Lord Śiva, and thus Lord Śiva is in association with māyā, but Lord Viṣṇu here assures Lord Śiva that this māyā will no longer be able to captivate him.

SB 8.12.41: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, having thus been praised by the Supreme Personality, who bears the mark of Śrīvatsa on His chest, Lord Śiva circumambulated Him. Then, after taking permission from Him, Lord Śiva returned to his abode, Kailāsa, along with his associates.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that when Lord Śiva was offering obeisances unto Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu arose and embraced him. Therefore the word śrīvatsāńkena is used here. The mark of Śrīvatsa adorns the chest of Lord Viṣṇu, and therefore when Lord Viṣṇu embraced Lord Śiva while being circumambulated, the Śrīvatsa mark touched Lord Śiva's bosom.

SB 8.12.42: O descendant of Bharata Mahārāja, Lord Śiva, in jubilation, then addressed his wife, Bhavānī, who is accepted by all authorities as the potency of Lord Viṣṇu.

SB 8.12.43: Lord Śiva said: O Goddess, you have now seen the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the unborn master of everyone. Although I am one of the principal expansions of His Lordship, even I was illusioned by His energy. What then is to be said of others, who are fully dependent on māyā?

SB 8.12.44: When I finished performing mystic yoga for one thousand years, you asked me upon whom I was meditating. Now, here is that Supreme Person to whom time has no entrance and who the Vedas cannot understand.

PURPORT

Eternal time enters anywhere and everywhere, but it cannot enter the kingdom of god. Nor can the Vedas understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is an indication of the Lord's being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.12.45: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, the person who bore the great mountain on His back for the churning of the ocean of milk is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Śārńga-dhanvā. I have now described to you His prowess.

SB 8.12.46: The endeavor of one who constantly hears or describes this narration of the churning of the ocean of milk will never be fruitless. Indeed, chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only means to annihilate all sufferings in this material world.

SB 8.12.47: Assuming the form of a young woman and thus bewildering the demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead distributed to His devotees, the demigods, the nectar produced from the churning of the ocean of milk. Unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always fulfills the desires of His devotees, I offer my respectful obeisances.

PURPORT

The instruction of this narration concerning the churning of the milk ocean is clearly manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is equal to everyone, because of natural affection He favors His devotees. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29):

samo 'haḿ sarva-bhūteṣu

na me dveṣyo 'sti na priyaḥ

ye bhajanti tu māḿ bhaktyā

mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

"I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him." This partiality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is natural. A person cares for his children not because of partiality but in a reciprocation of love. The children depend on the father's affection, and the father affectionately maintains the children. Similarly, because devotees do not know anything but the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord is always prepared to give protection to His devotees and fulfill their desires. He therefore says, kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: "O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes."

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva."

Anonymous said...

SB 8.15.1-2: Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from Bali Mahārāja like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest Bali Mahārāja? I am very much anxious to know the mystery of these contradictions.

SB 8.15.3: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, when Bali Mahārāja lost all his opulence and died in the fight, Śukrācārya, a descendant of Bhṛgu Muni, brought him back to life. Because of this, the great soul Bali Mahārāja became a disciple of Śukrācārya and began to serve him with great faith, offering everything he had.

SB 8.15.4: The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni were very pleased with Bali Mahārāja, who desired to conquer the kingdom of Indra. Therefore, after purifying him and properly bathing him according to regulative principles, they engaged him in performing the yajña known as Viśvajit.

SB 8.15.5: When ghee [clarified butter] was offered in the fire of sacrifice, there appeared from the fire a celestial chariot covered with gold and silk. There also appeared yellow horses like those of Indra, and a flag marked with a lion.

SB 8.15.6: A gilded bow, two quivers of infallible arrows, and celestial armor also appeared. Bali Mahārāja's grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja offered Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and Śukrācārya gave him a conchshell.

SB 8.15.7: When Mahārāja Bali had thus performed the special ritualistic ceremony advised by the brāhmaṇas and had received, by their grace, the equipment for fighting, he circumambulated the brāhmaṇas and offered them obeisances. He also saluted Prahlāda Mahārāja and offered obeisances to him.

SB 8.15.8-9: Then, after getting on the chariot given by Śukrācārya, Bali Mahārāja, decorated with a nice garland, put protective armor on his body, equipped himself with a bow, and took up a sword and a quiver of arrows. When he sat down on the seat of the chariot, his arms decorated with golden bangles and his ears with sapphire earrings, he shone like a worshipable fire.

SB 8.15.10-11: When he assembled with his own soldiers and the demon chiefs, who were equal to him in strength, opulence and beauty, they appeared as if they would swallow the sky and burn all directions with their vision. After thus gathering the demoniac soldiers, Bali Mahārāja departed for the opulent capital of Indra. Indeed, he seemed to make the entire surface of the world tremble.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.15.12: King Indra's city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, such as the Nandana garden. Because of the weight of the flowers, leaves and fruit, the branches of the eternally existing trees were bending down. The gardens were visited by pairs of chirping birds and singing bees. The entire atmosphere was celestial.

SB 8.15.13: Beautiful women protected by the demigods sported in the gardens, which had lotus ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravākas and ducks.

SB 8.15.14: The city was surrounded by trenches full of Ganges water, known as Ākāśa-gańgā, and by a high wall, which was the color of fire. Upon this wall were parapets for fighting.

SB 8.15.15: The doors were made of solid gold plates, and the gates were of excellent marble. These were linked by various public roads. The entire city had been constructed by Viśvakarmā.

SB 8.15.16: The city was full of courtyards, wide roads, assembly houses, and not less than one hundred million airplanes. The crossroads were made of pearl, and there were sitting places made of diamond and coral.

SB 8.15.17: Everlastingly beautiful and youthful women, who were dressed with clean garments, glittered in the city like fires with flames. They all possessed the quality of śyāmā.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura gives a hint of the quality of the śyāmā woman.

śīta-kāle bhaved uṣṇā

uṣma-kāle suśītalāḥ

stanau sukaṭhinau yāsāḿ

tāḥ śyāmāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

A woman whose body is very warm during the winter and cool during the summer and who generally has very firm breasts is called śyāmā.

SB 8.15.18: The breezes blowing in the streets of the city bore the fragrance of the flowers falling from the hair of the women of the demigods.

SB 8.15.19: Apsarās passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree.

SB 8.15.20: The city was shaded by canopies decorated with pearls, and the domes of the palaces had flags of pearl and gold. The city always resounded with the vibrations of peacocks, pigeons and bees, and above the city flew airplanes full of beautiful women who constantly chanted auspicious songs that were very pleasing to the ear.

SB 8.15.21: The city was filled with the sounds of mṛdańgas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapurī defeated beauty personified.

SB 8.15.22: No one who was sinful, envious, violent toward other living entities, cunning, falsely proud, lusty or greedy could enter that city. The people who lived there were all devoid of these faults.

SB 8.15.23: Bali Mahārāja, who was the commander of numberless soldiers, gathered his soldiers outside this abode of Indra and attacked it from all directions. He sounded the conchshell given him by his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, thus creating a fearful situation for the women protected by Indra.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.15.24: Seeing Bali Mahārāja's indefatigable endeavor and understanding his motive, King Indra, along with the other demigods, approached his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati, and spoke as follows.

SB 8.15.25: My lord, our old enemy Bali Mahārāja now has new enthusiasm, and he has obtained such astonishing power that we think that perhaps we cannot resist his prowess.

SB 8.15.26: No one anywhere can counteract this military arrangement of Bali's. It now appears that Bali is trying to drink up the entire universe with his mouth, lick up the ten directions with his tongue, and raise fire in every direction with his eyes. Indeed, he has arisen like the annihilating fire known as saḿvartaka.

SB 8.15.27: Kindly inform me. What is the cause for Bali Mahārāja's strength, endeavor, influence and victory? How has he become so enthusiastic?

SB 8.15.28: Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy's becoming so powerful. The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased by Bali Mahārāja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power.

PURPORT

Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, informed Indra, "Ordinarily, Bali and his forces could not achieve such strength, but it appears that the brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased with Bali Mahārāja, endowed them with this spiritual power." In other words, Bṛhaspati informed Indra that Bali Mahārāja's prowess was not his own but that of his exalted guru, Śukrācārya. We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi **. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one's personal endeavor for such advancement. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says:

guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya,

āra nā kariha mane āśā **

Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. By the paramparā system, one can thus be endowed with the original spiritual power coming from the Supreme Personality of Godhead (evaḿ paramparā-prāptam imaḿ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg. 4.2]).

SB 8.15.28: Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy's becoming so powerful. The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased by Bali Mahārāja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power.

SB 8.15.29: Neither you nor your men can conquer the most powerful Bali. Indeed, no one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead can conquer him, for he is now equipped with the supreme spiritual power [brahma-tejas]. As no one can stand before Yamarāja, no one can now stand before Bali Mahārāja.

SB 8.15.30: Therefore, waiting until the situation of your enemies is reversed, you should all leave this heavenly planet and go elsewhere, where you will not be seen.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.15.31: Bali Mahārāja has now become extremely powerful because of the benedictions given him by the brāhmaṇas, but when he later insults the brāhmaṇas, he will be vanquished, along with his friends and assistants.

PURPORT

Bali Mahārāja and Indra were enemies. Therefore, when Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, predicted that Bali Mahārāja would be vanquished when he insulted the brāhmaṇas by whose grace he had become so powerful, Bali Mahārāja's enemies were naturally anxious to know when that opportune moment would come. To pacify King Indra, Bṛhaspati assured him that the time would certainly come, for Bṛhaspati could see that in the future Bali Mahārāja would defy the orders of Śukrācārya in order to pacify Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva. Of course, to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can take all risks. To please Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja risked defying the orders of his spiritual master, Śukrācārya. Because of this, he would lose all his property, yet because of devotional service to the Lord, he would get more than he expected, and in the future, in the eighth manvantara, he would occupy the throne of Indra again.

SB 8.15.32: Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: The demigods, being thus advised by Bṛhaspati for their benefit, immediately accepted his words. Assuming forms according to their desire, they left the heavenly kingdom and scattered, without being observed by the demons.

SB 8.15.33: When the demigods had disappeared, Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, entered the heavenly kingdom, and from there he brought the three worlds under his control.

SB 8.15.34: The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu, being very pleased with their disciple, who had conquered the entire universe, now engaged him in performing one hundred aśvamedha sacrifices.

PURPORT

We have seen in the dispute between Mahārāja Pṛthu and Indra that when Mahārāja Pṛthu wanted to perform one hundred aśvamedha-yajñas, Indra wanted to impede him, for it is because of such great sacrifices that Indra was made King of heaven. Here the brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu decided that although Mahārāja Bali was situated on the throne of Indra, he would not be able to stay there unless he performed such sacrifices. Therefore they advised Mahārāja Bali to perform at least as many aśvamedha-yajñas as Indra. The word ayājayan indicates that all the brāhmaṇas induced Bali Mahārāja to perform such sacrifices.

SB 8.15.35: When Bali Mahārāja performed these sacrifices, he gained a great reputation in all directions, throughout the three worlds. Thus he shone in his position, like the brilliant moon in the sky.

SB 8.15.36: Because of the favor of the brāhmaṇas, the great soul Bali Mahārāja, thinking himself very satisfied, became very opulent and prosperous and began to enjoy the kingdom.

PURPORT

The brāhmaṇas are called dvija-deva, and kṣatriyas are generally called nara-deva. The word deva actually refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brāhmaṇas guide human society in becoming happy by satisfying Lord Viṣṇu, and according to their advice, the kṣatriyas, who are called nara-deva, keep law and order so that other people, namely the vaiśyas and śūdras, may properly follow regulative principles. In this way, people are gradually elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Fifteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets."

Anonymous said...

SB 8.17.11: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, best of the Bharata dynasty, when the lotus-eyed Lord, the Supersoul of all living entities, was thus worshiped by Aditi, He replied as follows.

SB 8.17.12: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O mother of the demigods, I have already understood your long-cherished desires for the welfare of your sons, who have been deprived of all opulences and driven from their residence by their enemies. (Bali Maharaja)

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being situated in everyone's heart, and especially in the hearts of His devotees, is always ready to help devotees in adversity. Since He knows everything, He knows how things are to be adjusted, and He does the needful to relieve the suffering of His devotee.

SB 8.17.13: O Devī, O goddess, I can understand that you want to regain your sons and be together with them to worship Me, after defeating the enemies in battle and retrieving your abode and opulences.

SB 8.17.14: You want to see the wives of the demons lamenting for the death of their husbands when those demons, the enemies of your sons, are killed in battle by the demigods, of whom Indra is the chief.

SB 8.17.15: You want your sons to regain their lost reputation and opulence and live again on their heavenly planet as usual.

SB 8.17.16: O mother of the demigods, in My opinion almost all the chiefs of the demons are now unconquerable, for they are being protected by brāhmaṇas, whom the Supreme Lord always favors. Thus the use of power against them now will not at all be a source of happiness.

PURPORT

When a person is favored by brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, no one can defeat him. Even the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not interfere when one is protected by a brāhmaṇa. It is said, go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca. The Lord's first inclination is to give all benedictions to the cows and brāhmaṇas. Therefore if brāhmaṇas favor someone, the Lord does not interfere, nor can anyone interfere with the happiness of such a person.

SB 8.17.17: Yet because I have been satisfied by the activities of your vow, O goddess Aditi, I must find some means to favor you, for worship of Me never goes in vain but certainly gives the desired result according to what one deserves.

SB 8.17.18: You have prayed to Me and properly worshiped Me by performing the great payo-vrata ceremony for the sake of protecting your sons. Because of Kaśyapa Muni's austerities, I shall agree to become your son and thus protect your other sons.

SB 8.17.19: Always thinking of Me as being situated within the body of your husband, Kaśyapa, go worship your husband, who has been purified by his austerity.

SB 8.17.20: O lady, even if someone inquires, you should not disclose this fact to anyone. That which is very confidential is successful if kept secret.

SB 8.17.21: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After speaking in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead disappeared from that very spot. Aditi, having received the extremely valuable benediction that the Lord would appear as her son, considered herself very successful, and with great devotion she approached her husband.

SB 8.17.22: Being situated in a meditational trance, Kaśyapa Muni, whose vision is never mistaken, could see that a plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead had entered within him.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.17.23: O King, as the wind promotes friction between two pieces of wood and thus gives rise to fire, Kaśyapa Muni, whose transcendental position was fully absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, transferred his potency into the womb of Aditi.

PURPORT

Here it is to be understood that the union of Kaśyapa Muni and Aditi was not like the sexual intercourse of ordinary human beings. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has nothing to do with the human secretions of sexual intercourse. He is always completely aloof from such material combinations.

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29), samo 'haḿ sarva-bhūteṣu: "I am equal toward all living entities." Nonetheless, to protect the devotees and kill the demons, who were a disturbing element, the Lord entered the womb of Aditi. Therefore this is a transcendental pastime of the Lord. This should not be misunderstood. One should not think that the Lord became the son of Aditi the way an ordinary child is born because of sexual intercourse between man and woman.

Here it may also be appropriate to explain, in these days of controversy, the origin of life. The life force of the living entity — the soul — is different from the ovum and semen of the human being. Although the conditioned soul has nothing to do with the reproductive cells of man and woman, he is placed into the proper situation because of his work (karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa). Life is not, however, a product of two secretions, but is independent of all material elements. As fully described in Bhagavad-gītā, the living entity is not subject to any material reactions. He can neither be burnt by fire, cut by sharp weapons, moistened by water, nor dried by the air. He is completely different from the physical elements, but by a superior arrangement he is put into these material elements. He is always aloof from material contact (asańgo hy ayaḿ puruṣaḥ) but because he is placed in a material condition, he suffers the reactions of the material modes of nature.

Although the living entity is aloof from the material elements, he is put into material conditions, and thus he must suffer the reactions of material activities.

SB 8.17.24: When Lord Brahmā understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead was now within the womb of Aditi, he began to offer prayers to the Lord by reciting transcendental names.

PURPORT

It is not that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absent; He is present there. And when a devotee utters the transcendental name, it is not a material sound. Therefore, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is naturally pleased. A devotee knows that the Lord is present everywhere and that one can please Him simply by chanting His holy name.

SB 8.17.26: I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the all-pervading Lord Viṣṇu, who have entered the cores of the hearts of all living entities. All the three worlds reside within Your navel, yet You are above the three worlds. Formerly You appeared as the son of Pṛśni. To You, the supreme creator, I offer my respectful obeisances.

SB 8.17.27: O my Lord, You are the beginning, the manifestation and the ultimate dissolution of the three worlds, and You are celebrated in the Vedas as the reservoir of unlimited potencies, the Supreme Person. O my Lord, as waves attract branches and leaves that have fallen into deep water, You, the supreme eternal time factor, attract everything in this universe.

SB 8.17.28: My Lord, You are the original generator of all living entities, stationary or moving, and You are also the generator of the Prajāpatis. O my Lord, as a boat is the only hope for a person drowning in the water, You are the only shelter for the demigods, who are now bereft of their heavenly position.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Seventeenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi's Son."

Anonymous said...

les, I am messaging here because I think it might be faster to reach you.

I received your very nice email. Thank you.
Now I find myself in an embarrassing position..

This Paypal wants to know the country you (the receiver) are in and I'm really not sure.

I'm thinking Germany?

I'll wait to hear from you before I proceed..

This is a big day for me because earlier today I sent $ via Western Union (also a first) to India for a young man's pilgrimage to the Himalayas.

They boys said, "Take us to the Himalayas. We can visit Vasista Muni's cave, the famous Jakhoo Hanuman Temple in Shimla, enter the gateway to Yamunotri and Gangotri, take darshana of Ganga Mai at Haridwar and Hrisikesh. We are willing to take the cheapest train."

Very dear young boys from Srila Prabhupada Asrama, Sri Mayapur.

So this is possibly too much feelings of good will I am having.

I'd better have warm milk and off to bed.

Hare Krishna!

Best wishes for your good health.

Homer

Anonymous said...

Bhaja Govindam

by Sri Shankaracharya

TEXT 1

Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.

TEXT 2

Oh fool! Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past.

TEXT 3

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and chest. Bodies are flesh, fat and blood. Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind.

TEXT 4

Uncertain is the life of man as rain drops on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.

TEXT 5

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.

TEXT 6

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse.

TEXT 7

Childhood is lost in play. Youth is lost by attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past things. Alas! Hardly is there anyone who yearns to be lost in Parabrahman.

TEXT 8

Who is your wife? Who is your son? Strange is this samsara. Of whom are you? Where have you come from? Brother, ponder over these truths.

TEXT 9

From Satsanga comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jivan Mukti (liberation).

TEXT 10

What good is lust when youth has fled? What use is a lake which has no water? Where are the relatives when wealth is gone? Where is samsara (the continuaiton of birth and death) when the Truth is known?

TEXT 11

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these are destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.

TEXT 12

Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never leaves.

Anonymous said...

TEXT 13

This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada.

TEXT 14

Oh mad man! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth? Is there no one to guide you? There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean of samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha (knowledge of the Truth) quickly.

TEXT 15

There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not.

TEXT 16

Strength has left the old man's body; his head has become bald, his gums toothless and leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless hope.

TEXT 17

Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire in front and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar's food from the bowl of his hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched puppet at the hands of passions.

TEXT 18

One may go to the Ganga, observe fasts, and give away riches in charity! Yet, devoid of jnana, nothing can give mukthi even at the end of a hundred births.

TEXT 19

Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya, could any fail to be content?

TEXT 20

One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else.

TEXT 21

Let a man read but a little from the Bhagavad-Gita, drink just a drop of water from the Ganga, worship Murari (Krishna) just once. He then will have no altercation with Yama (the lord of death).

TEXT 22

Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari! Redeem me through Thy mercy.

TEXT 23

There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated.

TEXT 24

Who are you? Who am I? From where do I come? Who is my mother, who is my father? Ponder thus, look at everything as essence-less and give up the world as an idle dream.

Anonymous said...

TEXT 25

In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the quality of Vishnu soon, have Sama Bhaava always.

TEXT 26

Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.

TEXT 27

Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly.

TEXT 28

Regularly recite from the Bhagavad-Gita, meditate on Vishnu in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.

TEXT 29

He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give up the sinful path.

TEXT 30

Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.

TEXT 31

Regulate the pranas (life airs within), remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

TEXT 32

Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the indwelling Lord of your heart!

TEXT 33

Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles.

TEXT 34

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.18.1: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Lord Brahmā had thus spoken, glorifying the Supreme Lord's activities and prowess, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never subject to death like an ordinary living being, appeared from the womb of Aditi. His four hands were decorated with a conchshell, club, lotus and disc, He was dressed in yellow garments, and His eyes appeared like the petals of a blooming lotus.

PURPORT

The word amṛta-bhūḥ is significant in this verse. The Lord sometimes appears like an ordinary child taking birth, but this does not mean that He is subject to birth, death or old age. One must be very intelligent to understand the appearance and activities of the Supreme Lord in His incarnations. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): janma karma ca me divyam evaḿ yo vetti tattvataḥ. One should try to understand that the Lord's appearance and disappearance and His activities are all divyam, or transcendental. The Lord has nothing to do with material activities. One who understands the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord is immediately liberated. After giving up his body, he never again has to accept a material body, but is transferred to the spiritual world (tyaktvā dehaḿ punar janma naiti mām eti so 'rjuna [Bg. 4.9]).

SB 8.18.2: The body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, blackish in complexion, was free from all inebrieties. His lotus face, decorated with earrings resembling sharks, appeared very beautiful, and on His bosom was the mark of Śrīvatsa. He wore bangles on His wrists, armlets on His arms, a helmet on His head, a belt on His waist, a sacred thread across His chest, and ankle bells decorating His lotus feet.

SB 8.18.3: An uncommonly beautiful garland of flowers decorated His bosom, and because the flowers were extremely fragrant, a large group of bees, making their natural humming sounds, invaded them for honey. When the Lord appeared, wearing the Kaustubha gem on His neck, His effulgence vanquished the darkness in the home of the Prajāpati Kaśyapa.

SB 8.18.4: At that time, there was happiness in all directions, in the reservoirs of water like the rivers and oceans, and in the core of everyone's heart. The various seasons displayed their respective qualities, and all living entities in the upper planetary system, in outer space and on the surface of the earth were jubilant. The demigods, the cows, the brāhmaṇas and the hills and mountains were all filled with joy.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.18.5: On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord's appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

SB 8.18.6: O King, when the Lord appeared — on dvādaśī, the twelfth day of the moon — the sun was at the meridian, as every learned scholar knows. This dvādaśī is called Vijayā.

SB 8.18.7: Conchshells, kettledrums, drums, paṇavas and ānakas vibrated in concert. The sound of these and various other instruments was tumultuous.

SB 8.18.8: Being very pleased, the celestial dancing girls [Apsarās] danced in jubilation, the best of the Gandharvas sang songs, and the great sages, demigods, Manus, Pitās and fire-gods offered prayers to satisfy the Lord.

SB 8.18.9-10: The Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Kimpuruṣas, Kinnaras, Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Suparṇas, the best of serpents, and the followers of the demigods all showered flowers on Aditi's residence, covering the entire house, while glorifying and praising the Lord and dancing.

SB 8.18.11: When Aditi saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had appeared from her own womb, having accepted a transcendental body by His own spiritual potency, she was struck with wonder and was very happy. Upon seeing the child, Prajāpati Kaśyapa exclaimed, "Jaya! Jaya!" in great happiness and wonder.

SB 8.18.12: The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands. Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.

PURPORT

The word naṭaḥ is significant. An actor changes dress to play different parts, but is always the same man. Similarly, as described in the Brahma-saḿhitā (5.33, 39), the Lord assumes many thousands and millions of forms (advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam ādyaḿ purāṇa-puruṣam). He is always present with innumerable incarnations (rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu [Bs. 5.39]). Nonetheless, although He appears in various incarnations, they are not different from one another. He is the same person, with the same potency, the same eternity and the same spiritual existence, but He can simultaneously assume various forms. When Vāmanadeva appeared from the womb of His mother, He appeared in the form of Nārāyaṇa, with four hands equipped with the necessary symbolic weapons, and then immediately transformed Himself into a brahmacārī (vaṭu). This means that His body is not material. One who thinks that the Supreme Lord assumes a material body is not intelligent. He has to learn more about the Lord's position. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evaḿ yo vetti tattvataḥ. One has to understand the transcendental appearance of the Lord in His original transcendental body (sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]).

Anonymous said...

SB 8.18.13: When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacārī-dwarf Vāmana, they were certainly very pleased. Thus they placed before them Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

PURPORT

According to Vedic civilization, when a child is born in the family of a brāhmaṇa, the birthday ceremony, known as jāta-karma, is first performed, and then other ceremonies are also gradually performed. But when this vāmana-rūpa appeared in the form of a vaṭu, or brahmacārī, His sacred thread ceremony was also performed immediately.

SB 8.18.14: At the sacred thread ceremony of Vāmanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gāyatrī mantra, Bṛhaspati offered the sacred thread, and Kaśyapa Muni offered a straw belt.

SB 8.18.15: Mother earth gave Him a deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him a brahma-daṇḍa [the rod of a brahmacārī]. His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear, and the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella.

SB 8.18.16: O King, Lord Brahmā offered a waterpot to the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, the seven sages offered Him kuśa grass, and mother Sarasvatī gave Him a string of Rudrākṣa beads.

SB 8.18.17: When Vāmanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yakṣas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavatī, the wife of Lord Śiva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.

SB 8.18.18: Having thus been welcomed by everyone, Lord Vāmanadeva, the best of the brahmacārīs, exhibited His Brahman effulgence. Thus He surpassed in beauty that entire assembly, which was filled with great saintly brāhmaṇas.

SB 8.18.19: After Lord Śrī Vāmanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.

SB 8.18.20: When the Lord heard that Bali Mahārāja was performing aśvamedha sacrifices under the patronage of brāhmaṇas belonging to the Bhṛgu dynasty, the Supreme Lord, who is full in every respect, proceeded there to show His mercy to Bali Mahārāja. By His weight, He pushed down the earth with every step.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is akhila-sāra-sambhṛta. In other words, He is the proprietor of everything essential in this material world. Thus although the Lord was going to Bali Mahārāja to beg something, He is always complete and has nothing to beg from anyone. Indeed, He is so powerful that in His full opulence He pressed down the surface of the earth at every step.

SB 8.18.21: While engaged in performing the sacrifice in the field known as Bhṛgukaccha, on the northern bank of the Narmadā River, the brahminical priests, the descendants of Bhṛgu, saw Vāmanadeva to be like the sun rising nearby.

SB 8.18.22: O King, because of Vāmanadeva's bright effulgence, the priests, along with Bali Mahārāja and all the members of the assembly, were robbed of their splendor. Thus they began to ask one another whether the sun-god himself, Sanat-kumāra or the fire-god had personally come to see the sacrificial ceremony.

SB 8.18.23: While the priests of the Bhṛgu dynasty and their disciples talked and argued in various ways, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, holding in His hands the rod, the umbrella and a waterpot full of water, entered the arena of the aśvamedha sacrifice.

SB 8.18.24-25: Appearing as a brāhmaṇa boy, wearing a belt of straw, a sacred thread, an upper garment of deerskin, and matted locks of hair, Lord Vāmanadeva entered the arena of sacrifice. His brilliant effulgence diminished the brilliance of all the priests and their disciples, who thus stood from their seats and welcomed the Lord properly by offering obeisances.

SB 8.18.26: Bali Mahārāja, jubilant at seeing Lord Vāmanadeva, whose beautiful limbs contributed equally to the beauty of His entire body, offered Him a seat with great satisfaction.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.18.27: Thus offering a proper reception to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always beautiful to the liberated souls, Bali Mahārāja worshiped Him by washing His lotus feet.

SB 8.18.28: Lord Śiva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of Viṣṇu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Mahārāja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord's lotus feet.

PURPORT

Lord Śiva is known as Gańgā-dhara, or one who carries the water of the Ganges on his head. On Lord Śiva's forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śiva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Śiva is one of the mahājanas. Similarly, Mahārāja Bali also later became a mahājana. One mahājana follows another mahājana, and by following the paramparā system of mahājana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Viṣṇu. Bali Mahārāja washed the lotus feet of Vāmanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Mahārāja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva.

SB 8.18.29: Bali Mahārāja then said to Lord Vāmanadeva: O brāhmaṇa, I offer You my hearty welcome and my respectful obeisances. Please let us know what we may do for You. We think of You as the personified austerity of the great brāhmaṇa-sages.

SB 8.18.30: O my Lord, because You have kindly arrived at our home, all my forefathers are satisfied, our family and entire dynasty have been sanctified, and the sacrifice we are performing is now complete because of Your presence.

SB 8.18.31: O son of a brāhmaṇa, today the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the śāstra, and I have been freed from all the sinful reactions of my life by the water that has washed Your lotus feet. O my Lord, by the touch of Your small lotus feet the entire surface of the world has been sanctified.

SB 8.18.32: O son of a brāhmaṇa, it appears that You have come here to ask me for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable. You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brāhmaṇa for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.19.1: Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, heard Bali Mahārāja speaking in this pleasing way, He was very satisfied, for Bali Mahārāja had spoken in terms of religious principles. Thus the Lord began to praise him.

SB 8.19.2: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O King, you are indeed exalted because your present advisors are the brāhmaṇas who are descendants of Bhṛgu and because your instructor for your future life is your grandfather, the peaceful and venerable Prahlāda Mahārāja. Your statements are very true, and they completely agree with religious etiquette. They are in keeping with the behavior of your family, and they enhance your reputation.

PURPORT

Prahlāda Mahārāja is a vivid example of a pure devotee. Someone might argue that since Prahlāda Mahārāja, even though very old, was attached to his family, and specifically to his grandson Bali Mahārāja, how could he be an ideal example? Therefore this verse uses the word praśāntaḥ. A devotee is always sober. He is never disturbed by any conditions. Even if a devotee remains in gṛhastha life and does not renounce material possessions, he should still be understood to be praśānta, sober, because of his pure devotion to the Lord. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore said:

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya

yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei 'guru' haya

"Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra — regardless of what he is — he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa." (Cc. Madhya 8.128) Anyone completely aware of the science of Kṛṣṇa, regardless of his status in life, is a guru. Thus Prahlāda Mahārāja is a guru in all circumstances.

Here His Lordship Vāmanadeva also teaches sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs that one should not ask more than necessary. He wanted only three paces of land, although Bali Mahārāja wanted to give Him anything He wanted.

SB 8.19.3: I know that even until now, no one taking birth in your family has been poor-minded or miserly. No one has refused to give charity to brāhmaṇas, nor after promising to give charity has anyone failed to fulfill his promise.

SB 8.19.4: O King Bali, never in your dynasty has the low-minded King been born who upon being requested has refused charity to brāhmaṇas in holy places or a fight to kṣatriyas on a battlefield. And your dynasty is even more glorious due to the presence of Prahlāda Mahārāja, who is like the beautiful moon in the sky.

PURPORT

The symptoms of a kṣatriya are given in Bhagavad-gītā. One of the qualifications is the willingness to give charity (dāna). A kṣatriya does not refuse to give charity when requested by a brāhmaṇa, nor can he refuse to fight another kṣatriya. A king who does refuse is called low-minded. In the dynasty of Bali Mahārāja there were no such low-minded kings.

SB 8.19.5: It was in your dynasty that Hiraṇyākṣa was born. Carrying only his own club, he wandered the globe alone, without assistance, to conquer all directions, and no hero he met could rival him.

SB 8.19.6: When delivering the earth from the Garbhodaka Sea, Lord Viṣṇu, in His incarnation as a boar, killed Hiraṇyākṣa, who had appeared before Him. The fight was severe, and the Lord killed Hiraṇyākṣa with great difficulty. Later, as the Lord thought about the uncommon prowess of Hiraṇyākṣa, He felt Himself victorious indeed.

SB 8.19.7: When Hiraṇyakaśipu heard the news of his brother's being killed, with great anger he went to the residence of Viṣṇu, the killer of his brother, wanting to kill Lord Viṣṇu.

SB 8.19.8: Seeing Hiraṇyakaśipu coming forward bearing a trident in his hand like personified death, Lord Viṣṇu, the best of all mystics and the knower of the progress of time, thought as follows.

SB 8.19.9: Wheresoever I go, Hiraṇyakaśipu will follow Me, as death follows all living entities. Therefore it is better for Me to enter the core of his heart, for then, because of his power to see only externally, he will not see Me.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.19.10: Lord Vāmanadeva continued: O King of the demons, after Lord Viṣṇu made this decision, He entered the body of His enemy Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was running after Him with great force. In a subtle body inconceivable to Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Viṣṇu, who was in great anxiety, entered Hiraṇyakaśipu's nostril along with his breath.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is already in the core of everyone's heart. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati (Bg. 18.61). Logically, therefore, it was not at all difficult for Lord Viṣṇu to enter Hiraṇyakaśipu's body. The word vivigna-cetāḥ, "very anxious," is significant. It is not that Lord Viṣṇu was afraid of Hiraṇyakaśipu; rather, because of compassion, Lord Viṣṇu was in anxiety about how to act for his welfare.

SB 8.19.11: Upon seeing that the residence of Lord Viṣṇu was vacant, Hiraṇyakaśipu began searching for Lord Viṣṇu everywhere. Angry at not seeing Him, Hiraṇyakaśipu screamed loudly and searched the entire universe, including the surface of the earth, the higher planetary systems, all directions and all the caves and oceans. But Hiraṇyakaśipu, the greatest hero, did not see Viṣṇu anywhere.

SB 8.19.12: Unable to see Him, Hiraṇyakaśipu said, "I have searched the entire universe, but I could not find Viṣṇu, who has killed my brother. Therefore, He must certainly have gone to that place from which no one returns. [In other words, He must now be dead.]"

PURPORT

Atheists generally follow the Bauddha philosophical conclusion that at death everything is finished. Hiraṇyakaśipu, being an atheist, thought this way. Because Lord Viṣṇu was not visible to him, he thought that the Lord was dead. Even today, many people follow the philosophy that God is dead. But God is never dead. Even the living entity, who is part of God, never dies. Na jāyate mriyate vā kadācit: "For the soul there is never birth or death." This is the statement of Bhagavad-gītā (2.20). Even the ordinary living entity never takes birth or dies. What then is to be said of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the chief of all living entities? He certainly never takes birth or dies. Ajo'pi sann avyayātmā (Bg. 4.6). Both the Lord and the living entity exist as unborn and inexhaustible personalities. Thus Hiraṇyakaśipu's conclusion that Viṣṇu was dead was wrong.

As indicated by the words yato nāvartate pumān, there is certainly a spiritual kingdom, and if the living entity goes there, he never returns to this material world. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): tyaktvā dehaḿ punar janma naiti mām eti so'rjuna. Materially speaking, every living entity dies; death is inevitable. But those who are karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs return to this material world after death, whereas bhaktas do not. Of course, if a bhakta is not completely perfect he takes birth in the material world again, but in a very exalted position, either in a rich family or a family of the purest brāhmaṇas (śucīnām śrīmatāḿ gehe), just to finish his development in spiritual consciousness. Those who have completed the course of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and are free from material desire return to the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaḿ mama [Bg. 15.6]). Here the same fact is stated: yato nāvartate pumān. Any person who goes back home, back to Godhead, does not return to this material world.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.19.13: Hiraṇyakaśipu's anger against Lord Viṣṇu persisted until his death. Other people in the bodily concept of life maintain anger only because of false ego and the great influence of ignorance.

PURPORT

Generally speaking, even though the conditioned soul is angry, his anger is not perpetual but temporary. It is due to the influence of ignorance. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, maintained his enmity and his anger against Lord Viṣṇu until the point of death. He never forgot his vengeful attitude toward Viṣṇu for having killed his brother, Hiraṇyākṣa. Others in the bodily concept of life are angry at their enemies but not at Lord Viṣṇu. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, was everlastingly angry. He was angry not only because of false prestige but also because of continuous enmity toward Viṣṇu.

SB 8.19.14: Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the demigods who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life.

PURPORT

Mahārāja Virocana, Bali's father, was so pleased with the brāhmaṇa community that even though he knew that those approaching him for charity were the demigods in the dress of brāhmaṇas, he nonetheless agreed to give it.

SB 8.19.15: You also have observed the principles followed by great personalities who are householder brāhmaṇas, by your forefathers and by great heroes who are extremely famous for their exalted activities.

SB 8.19.16: O King of the Daityas, from Your Majesty, who come from such a noble family and who are able to give charity munificently, I ask only three paces of land, to the measurement of My steps.

PURPORT

Lord Vāmanadeva wanted three paces of land according to the measurement of His footsteps. He did not want more than necessary. But although He pretended to be an ordinary human child, He actually wanted the land comprising the upper, middle and lower planetary systems. This was just to show the prowess of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB 8.19.17: O King, controller of the entire universe, although you are very munificent and are able to give Me as much land as I want, I do not want anything from you that is unnecessary. If a learned brāhmaṇa takes charity from others only according to his needs, he does not become entangled in sinful activities.

PURPORT

A brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī is qualified to ask charity from others, but if he takes more than necessary he is punishable. No one can use more of the Supreme Lord's property than necessary. Lord Vāmanadeva indirectly indicated to Bali Mahārāja that he was occupying more land than he needed. In the material world, all distresses are due to extravagance. One acquires money extravagantly and also spends it extravagantly. Such activities are sinful. All property belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all living beings, who are sons of the Supreme Lord, have the right to use the Supreme Father's property, but one cannot take more than necessary. This principle should especially be followed by brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs who live at the cost of others. Thus Vāmanadeva was an ideal beggar, for He asked only three paces of land. Of course, there is a difference between His footsteps and those of an ordinary human being. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His inconceivable prowess, can occupy the entire universe, including the upper, lower and middle planetary systems, by the unlimited measurement of His footsteps.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.19.18: Bali Mahārāja said: O son of a brāhmaṇa, Your instructions are as good as those of learned and elderly persons. Nonetheless, You are a boy, and Your intelligence is insufficient. Thus You are not very prudent in regard to Your self-interest.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being full in Himself, actually has nothing to want for His self-interest. Lord Vāmanadeva, therefore, had not gone to Bali Mahārāja for His own self-interest. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), bhoktāraḿ yajña-tapasāḿ sarva-loka-maheśvaram. The Lord is the proprietor of all planets, in both the material and spiritual worlds. Why should He be in want of land? Bali Mahārāja rightly said that Lord Vāmanadeva was not at all prudent in regard to His own personal interests. Lord Vāmanadeva had approached Bali not for His personal welfare but for the welfare of His devotees. Devotees sacrifice all personal interests to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and similarly the Supreme Lord, although having no personal interests, can do anything for the interests of His devotees. One who is full in himself has no personal interests.

SB 8.19.19: I am able to give You an entire island because I am the proprietor of the three divisions of the universe. You have come to take something from me and have pleased me by Your sweet words, but You are asking only three paces of land. Therefore You are not very intelligent.

PURPORT

According to Vedic understanding, the entire universe is regarded as an ocean of space. In that ocean there are innumerable planets, and each planet is called a dvīpa, or island. When approached by Lord Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja was actually in possession of all the dvīpas, or islands in space. Bali Mahārāja was very pleased to see the features of Vāmanadeva and was ready to give Him as much land as He could ask, but because Lord Vāmanadeva asked only three paces of land, Bali Mahārāja considered Him not very intelligent.

SB 8.19.20: O small boy, one who approaches me to beg something should not have to ask anything more, anywhere. Therefore, if You wish, You may ask from me as much land as will suffice to maintain You according to Your needs.

SB 8.19.21: The Personality of Godhead said: O my dear King, even the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one's senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.

PURPORT

The material world is an illusory energy to deviate the living entities from the path of self-realization. Anyone who is in this material world is extremely anxious to get more and more things for sense gratification. Actually, however, the purpose of life is not sense gratification but self-realization. Therefore, those who are too addicted to sense gratification are advised to practice the mystic yoga system, or aṣṭāńga-yoga system, consisting of yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra and so on. In this way, one can control the senses. The purpose of controlling the senses is to stop one's implication in the cycle of birth and death.

Anonymous said...

The Past Life of a Pure Devotee
by Hari das Prabhu

"One day Prabhupada was alone in his room. Usually he was quiet, but this day he was laughing and talking with himself. I went by his room and inquired, "Srila Prabhupada, why are you laughing?" Prabhupada said, "The reason I was laughing was that I just remembered my past life." Then I asked, "So, Prabhupada, what was your past life?" He replied, "I was a medical person and I had not committed any sin. I had a guru. I was fanning my Guru Maharaja and he could see in the rain that there was one snake and he make me go kill that snake." Then he said, "Now I remember why my Guru Maharaja made me kill that snake, so I had to take birth again in this life to save so many snakes like all of you."

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada in His Sept 2, 1970 letter to Hansadutta prabhu said, “It is a fact however that the great sinister movement is within our Society.”

“So there may be attempt like that. And Lord Jesus Christ was killed. So they may kill me also.”
-------------------------------------

“Demons habitually find fault with the demigods, brahmanas and innocent, to whom they are a constant source of fear. The way of the demon is to take power from the demigods and then tease the demigods themselves. Because of envy, the fight between the demons and the demigods continued. When the demigods were almost defeated by demoniac maneuvers and became morose, Lord Visnu appeared among them.”

Even in this world most of the believers in God lament and pray to God when they are in trouble and they forget to worship Him when they are living comfortably. The mentality is the same among the demigods. The level of enjoyment is so high in the heavenly planets that the demigods forget to worship God. They realize their precarious position when the demons attack them and take over the heavenly planets. At that time they run to Lord Vishnu for help. When they offer heartfelt prayers to Lord Vishnu and beg Him, the Lord would finally say a few words of encouragement. A similar situation emerged when Hiranyakashipu overtook heavens. He was on the throne of Indra, the king of heavens. All the demigods including the sage Narada were praising Hiranyakashipu.

One may ask why he was praised. The reason is that when there is low resistance, the enemy calms down. That was the technique they used to pacify Hiranyakashipu. The oppression went on until Lord Narasimha appeared and killed the demon.

As the dangers of a dream cease when the dreamer awakens, the illusions created by the jugglery of the demons were vanquished by the transcendental prowess of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as soon as He entered the battlefield. Indeed, simply by remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from all dangers.”

“The fighting between the demons and demigods is perpetual; it cannot be stopped unless intelligent persons from both sides take to Krsna consciousness.

Anonymous said...

Lord Kṛṣṇa did not approve of the so-called compassion of Arjuna for his kinsmen.”

Prabhupāda: So-called compassion. He was thinking that by showing that compassion he’ll be, I mean to say, eulogized by Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa condemned it. Yes. Just the opposite. In other words, Kṛṣṇa is very strict also. That is the qualification of Kṛṣṇa and His associates. Vajrād api kaṭhora and kusumād api kamala. Softer than the flower and harder than the thunderbolt. Two sides. When Kṛṣṇa is strict He’s harder than the thunderbolt, and when He’s soft, He’s softer than the flower. These two examples are given. Vajrād api kaṭhora, kusumād api kamala. So Kṛṣṇa is not lenient to His friend or to His devotee. Because that leniency will not help him, will not help him. Sometimes He appears to be very hard for the devotee, but He’s not hard. Just like father sometimes becomes very strict. That is good. That will be proved, how Kṛṣṇa’s hardness will prove his salvation. At the end Arjuna will admit, “By Your mercy, my illusion is now over.” So this sort of stricture by…, from God on the devotee is sometimes misunderstood. Because we are always accustomed to accept what is immediately very pleasing, but sometimes we’ll find that we are not getting which is immediately very pleasing, but we should not be disappointed. We shall stick to Kṛṣṇa.

Anonymous said...

Devotee: How does the devotee go about practicing this Kṛṣṇa consciousness when he’s asleep?

Prabhupāda: Yes, Sleep means your gross senses are stopped, but your mind works. Therefore you dream. So if you practice your mind to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in dream also you’ll see that you are preparing prasādam. “I am going to sell Back to Godhead.” (chuckles) That’s all. Sometimes some nights when I feel hungry, I dream that I’m eating Kṛṣṇa prasādam very sumptuous. (laughing)

Devotee: Oh, haribol! (laughing)

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Somebody is supplying me nice paraṭā and I am eating. (laughs) But, being hungry, oh, my hunger is not satisfied. I’m eating, eating, till the dream is end. So if you practice, this is the technique. We have to practice in this way, that when all functions of this body will be stopped at the time of death, oh, we shall remember some way or other, Kṛṣṇa. Then successful. Immediately successful. That is the technique.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada translated and wrote purports to 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavatam. Reading one verse with purport daily would take the reader 49.3 years to complete.

He translated and wrote purports to 700 verses of Bhagavad-Gita. Reading one verse with purport daily would take the reader approximately two years to complete.

He translated and wrote purports to the 17 volumes of Chaitanya-charitamrita (2,170 pages, or 11,555 verses). Reading one verse with purport daily would take the reader 31.6 years to complete. Reading one page daily would take the reader 5.9 years to complete.

He wrote teachings of Lord Chaitanya, a synopsis of Chaitanya-charitamrita;

He wrote Nectar of Devotion;

He wrote Sri Isopanisad.

He created a monthly magazine, Back to Godhead, which at one point was distributed in excess of one million copies per month.

Under his explicit direction and inspiration, thousands of artful illustrations were published in all the above-mentioned books.

He wrote over 7,000 personal letters to his disciples, published in five volumes of books.

He gave lectures on Srimad-Bhagavatam, compiled into 11 volumes of books.

He gave lectures on Bhagavad-Gita, compiled into 7 volumes of books.

His conversations have been compiled into 42 volumes of books.

He produced many recordings.

He established 108 temples (including Mayapur, Vrindavan, Bombay, with guest houses, Hyderabad temple, New Vrindavana and Gita Nagari farm communities).

He published a total of 147 books. Reading one book a month would take 13 years, reading one book every two months would take 25 years, about twice the time it took Srila Prabhupada to write them.

All the while Srila Prabhupada was constantly traveling, going around the world at least 12 times between the ages of 70 to 80. Plus, he recruited from countries all over the world, over 5,000 devotees and disciples, who served him enthusiastically, chanting Hare Krishna in towns and villages world-wide.

Jaya Sri Sri Guru - Gauranga!

Anonymous said...

SB 8.19.27: Therefore, O King, from you, the best of those who give charity, I ask only three paces of land. By such a gift I shall be very pleased, for the way of happiness is to be fully satisfied to receive that which is absolutely needed.

SB 8.19.28: Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Mahārāja, Bali smiled and told Him, "All right. Take whatever You like." To confirm his promise to give Vāmanadeva the desired land, he then took up his waterpot.

SB 8.19.29: Understanding Lord Viṣṇu's purpose, Śukrācārya, the best of the learned, immediately spoke as follows to his disciple, who was about to offer everything to Lord Vāmanadeva.

SB 8.19.30: Śukrācārya said: O son of Virocana, this brahmacārī in the form of a dwarf is directly the imperishable Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Accepting Kaśyapa Muni as His father and Aditi as His mother, He has now appeared in order to fulfill the interests of the demigods.

SB 8.19.31: You do not know what a dangerous position you have accepted by promising to give Him land. I do not think that this promise is good for you. It will bring great harm to the demons.

SB 8.19.32: This person falsely appearing as a brahmacārī is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who has come in this form to take away all your land, wealth, beauty, power, fame and education. After taking everything from you, He will deliver it to Indra, your enemy.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains in this regard that the very word hariḥ means "one who takes away." If one connects himself with Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord takes away all his miseries, and in the beginning the Lord also superficially appears to take away all his material possessions, reputation, education and beauty. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.8), yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaḿ śanaiḥ. The Lord said to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, "The first installment of My mercy toward a devotee is that I take away all his possessions, especially his material opulence, his money." This is the special favor of the Lord toward a sincere devotee. If a sincere devotee wants Kṛṣṇa above everything but at the same time is attached to material possessions, which hinder his advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by tactics the Lord takes away all his possessions. Here Śukrācārya says that this dwarf brahmacārī would take away everything. Thus he indicates that the Lord will take away all one's material possessions and also one's mind. If one delivers his mind to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa (sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ), one can naturally sacrifice everything to satisfy Him. Although Bali Mahārāja was a devotee, he was attached to material possessions, and therefore the Lord, being very kind to him, showed him special favor by appearing as Lord Vāmana to take away all his material possessions, and his mind as well.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe:

8.20 Summary

The summary of this Twentieth Chapter is as follows. Despite his knowledge that Lord Vāmanadeva was cheating him, Bali Mahārāja gave everything to the Lord in charity, and thus the Lord extended His body and assumed a gigantic form as Lord Viṣṇu.

After hearing the instructive advice of Śukrācārya, Bali Mahārāja became contemplative. Because it is the duty of a householder to maintain the principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification, Bali Mahārāja thought it improper to withdraw his promise to the brahmacārī. To lie or fail to honor a promise given to a brahmacārī is never proper, for lying is the most sinful activity. Everyone should be afraid of the sinful reactions to lying, for mother earth cannot even bear the weight of a sinful liar. The spreading of a kingdom or empire is temporary; if there is no benefit for the general public, such expansion has no value. Previously, all the great kings and emperors expanded their kingdoms with a regard for the welfare of the people in general. Indeed, while engaged in such activities for the benefit of the general public, eminent men sometimes even sacrificed their lives. It is said that one who is glorious in his activities is always living and never dies. Therefore, fame should be the aim of life, and even if one becomes poverty-stricken for the sake of a good reputation, that is not a loss. Bali Mahārāja thought that even if this brahmacārī, Vāmanadeva, were Lord Viṣṇu, if the Lord accepted his charity and then again arrested him, Bali Mahārāja would not envy Him. Considering all these points, Bali Mahārāja finally gave in charity everything he possessed.

Lord Vāmanadeva then immediately extended Himself into a universal body. By the mercy of Lord Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja could see that the Lord is all-pervading and that everything rests in His body. Bali Mahārāja could see Lord Vāmanadeva as the supreme Viṣṇu, wearing a helmet, yellow garments, the mark of Śrīvatsa, the Kaustubha jewel, a flower garland, and ornaments decorating His entire body. The Lord gradually covered the entire surface of the world, and by extending His body He covered the entire sky. With His hands He covered all directions, and with His second footstep He covered the entire upper planetary system. Therefore there was no vacant place where He could take His third footstep.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.20.3: I am the grandson of Mahārāja Prahlāda. How can I withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brāhmaṇa?

SB 8.20.4: There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, "I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar."

PURPORT

On the surface of the earth there are many great mountains and oceans that are very heavy, and mother earth has no difficulty carrying them. But she feels very much overburdened when she carries even one person who is a liar. It is said that in Kali-yuga lying is a common affair: māyaiva vyāvahārike (Bhāg. 12.2.3). Even in the most common dealings, people are accustomed to speaking so many lies. No one is free from the sinful reactions of speaking lies. Under the circumstances, one can just imagine how this has overburdened the earth, and indeed the entire universe.

SB 8.20.5: I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress, falldown from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a brāhmaṇa.

SB 8.20.6: My lord, you can also see that all the material opulences of this world are certainly separated from their possessor at death. Therefore, if the brāhmaṇa Vāmanadeva is not satisfied by whatever gifts one has given, why not please Him with the riches one is destined to lose at death?

SB 8.20.12: Although He is Viṣṇu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brāhmaṇa to come to me begging. Under the circumstances, because He has assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, even if He irreligiously arrests me or even kills me, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy.

PURPORT

If Lord Viṣṇu as He is had come to Bali Mahārāja and asked him to do something, Bali Mahārāja certainly would not have refused His request. But to enjoy a little humor between Himself and His devotee, the Lord covered Himself as a brāhmaṇa-brahmacārī and thus came to Bali Mahārāja to beg for only three feet of land.

SB 8.20.13: If this brāhmaṇa really is Lord Viṣṇu, who is worshiped by Vedic hymns, He would never give up His widespread reputation; either He would lie down having been killed by me, or He would kill me in a fight.

PURPORT

Bali Mahārāja's statement that Viṣṇu would lie down having been killed is not the direct meaning, for Viṣṇu cannot be killed by anyone. Lord Viṣṇu can kill everyone, but He cannot be killed. Thus the real meaning of the words "lie down" is that Lord Viṣṇu would reside within the core of Bali Mahārāja's heart. Lord Viṣṇu is defeated by a devotee through devotional service; otherwise, no one can defeat Lord Viṣṇu.

SB 8.20.14: Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Śukrācārya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Mahārāja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master's instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.

PURPORT

The difference between the behavior of Bali Mahārāja and that of his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, was that Bali Mahārāja had already developed love of Godhead, whereas Śukrācārya, being merely a priest of routine rituals, had not. Thus Śukrācārya was never inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to develop in devotional service. As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):

teṣāḿ satata-yuktānāḿ

bhajatāḿ prīti-pūrvakam

dadāmi buddhi-yogaḿ taḿ

yena mām upayānti te

"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."

Anonymous said...

Lord Vamanadeva said: My dear Lord Brahma, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions. While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained. If a human being is born in an aristocratic family or a higher status of life, if he performs wonderful activities, if he is youthful, if he has personal beauty, a good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his opulences, it is to be understood that he is especially favored by the Supreme Person. Although aristocratic birth and other such opulences are impediments to advancement in devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, these opulences never disturb a pure devotee of the Supreme Person. Bali Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service. Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, Bali, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretension that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.

The Lord continued: Because of his great tolerance, I have given him a place not obtainable even by the gods. He will become the Indra in the next coming Manvantara. Until Bali achieves the position of Indra, he shall live on the planet Sutala, which was made by Visvakarma according to My order. Because it is especially protected by Me, it is free from mental and bodily miseries, fatigue, dizziness, defeat and all other disturbances. Bali, you may now go live there peacefully. On the planet Sutala, not even the predominating deities of other planets, what to speak of ordinary people, will be able to conquer you. As far as the demons are concerned, if they transgress your rule, My disc will kill them. O great hero, I shall always be with you and give you protection in all respects along with your associates and paraphernalia. Moreover, you will always be able to see Me there.

Bali Maharaja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the gods or the leaders of the various planets.

Sri Suka continued: After speaking in this way, Bali Maharaja offered his obeisances first to Lord Vamanadeva, Hari, and then to Lord Brahma and Lord Siva. Thus he was released from the bondage of the naga-pasa, and in full satisfaction he entered the Sutala.

Anonymous said...

Discussion at Naimisaranya

We meditate on that transcendent Reality from Whom this Universe springs up, in Whom it abides and into Whom it returns. We meditate on Him, Who is self-conscious and self-effulgent, Who revealed to Brahma by His mere will the Vedas that cause bewilderment even to the greatest Sages, in Whom this creation though unreal, appears as real. In this glorious Bhagavata produced by the great sage Vedavyasa, has been taught that Supreme Religion, Bhagavata Dharma, Which is entirely free from all self deception in the shape of desire. Here is explained that Absolute Reality which can be known only by the greatest saints. While it is doubtful that God can be quickly realized in one’s heart through other means, He can be instantly seized through the hearing or reading of this Glorious Purana. Srimad Bhagavata is the essence of the wish yielding tree of Vedas. It is untainted sweetness. Keep on drinking this nectar again and again until there is consciousness left in you.

The Sages said: Sinless Suta, You’ve indeed studied and also expounded all the Puranas, Itihasas and Dharma Sastras. You’ve realized both the qualified and absolute aspects of the Supreme God. You know all that in reality by the grace of Vyasa, your Guru. Be pleased to tell us, that which you have determined to be the easy means to the supreme good of men. Suta, God bless you, you know the purpose for which Sri Krishna was born of Devaki and Vasudeva, please explain it to us who are keen to hear the same, for the Lord’s descent on this earth is for the protection and prosperity of all human beings. Any mortal man can be quickly delivered from the whirlpool of birth and death even if he utters His Name helplessly; for Fear itself is afraid of Him.

Wise Suta, recount the blessed stories of the descent of the Almighty Lord, who enacts at will sports of various kinds by dint of his Yoga Maya. We for our part are never sated with hearing the exploits of the Illustrious Lord.

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada:

samo ’ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo ’sti na priyah ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te tesu capy aham

The Lord says that “I am… Although I am equal to everyone…” God is nobody’s enemy and nobody’s special friend, just like the king, the government, nobody’s enemy, nobody’s friend. As you act, so you get result. Similarly, for common man, there is no special favor from God. Ye tu bhajanti mam bhaktya. Ye tu. This tu means “but.” Here is a word, but. But means just like we sometimes say that “I am such and such, but…” “But” means there is something special. So this word is used here, tu. Tu means “but.” What is that “but?” Ye tu bhajanti mam pritya: “Anyone who is engaged in devotional service of Me, so for him I have got special attention.” Ye tu mam…, ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te tesu capy aham: “As he is always, constantly engaged in My service, similarly, I am also engaged always in his service,” the Lord says.

Here one passage is quoted by a great commentator, Baladeva Vidyabhusana, that bhagavan bhakta-bhaktiman. Just like we become devoted, similarly, God also becomes devoted to us. You don’t think that one-sided devotion. No. Just like love is never one- sided. Love is reciprocation, reciprocation. Similarly, although God is great, He becomes a devotee of the devotee. He takes pleasure in that way. It is clearly stated that “I also try to devote Myself for his service.” As we take pleasure in serving God, similarly, God also takes pleasure by serving the devotee. That is reciprocation.

Anonymous said...

New York
19 April, 1968
68-04-19

My Dear Sivananda,
Please accept my blessings. Hope you are well. I am so much pleased that you are studying seriously our Krishna Consciousness philosophy. Please continue with your sincere efforts for Krishna. Now, regarding your question about Brahma, he may be chosen either from the liberated or the conditioned souls.

In this case Brahma is a liberated soul from the beginning; therefore there is no contradiction that Brahma can be Haridasa Thakura. Those who are conditioned souls are eternally so, which means that it is never possible to trace out how long ago the conditioned existence began.

We simply say that misuse of the little independence we have got creates so much trouble for us. But now by adopting Krishna Consciousness, we may finish this conditioned life immediately. That is Krishna Consciousness.

Your reasoning is all right that the Brahma energy must have conscious direction to manifest form. Therefore He who gives that direction is the Ultimate Controller or Param Isvara. In Brahma-Samhita it is said: “Isvarah paramah krsnah saccidananda vigrahah, anadir adir govindah sarva karana karanam [Bs. 5.1].”

Krishna is the Supreme Controller of all controllers and therefore, He is the Origin of everything including the Brahma Energy. This Govinda is the cause of all causes, and He is without any cause. This is the beauty of the sastras, that one sloka finishes billions of years hard labor of mental speculation. Just try to give evidence like this.

Regarding the Christian’s Trinity, I believe it is called God, the Holy Ghost, and the son. Person in Krishna Consciousness accepts this by the name Visnu, Paramatma, and Jiva. God is a Person, the holy spirit or the supersoul is a person, and the living entity is also a person. Also, Mary is the representation of the energy of God.

Either as internal energy Radharani or as external energy Durga, the energy of Godhead can be considered the mother of the living entities. But there is no clash between the Bible and the Vedas, simply some people formulate their personal ideas and cause quarrelings.

Nobody can say the Bible was meant for the same class of men as the Bhagavad-gita. And Bhagavad-gita is the ABC’s of spiritual knowledge. Beyond that is Srimad-Bhagavatam.

How great Srimad-Bhagavatam is nobody can imagine. And beyond that is Caitanya Caritamrta. But beginning from the Bible or Koran, on up the principle remains the same.

Anonymous said...

"I will give you one example how Krsna sometimes break His promise. It is very nice story. Krsna, when He joined Arjuna, He promised from His own side that “Because the fight is between your brothers, so it is not My duty… Because both of you are My relatives, so it is not My duty to join one party and not to join another. But because I have divided Myself—Myself, one side, and other side, My soldiers—but Duryodhana has decided to take My soldiers, not Me, so I shall join you. But I shall not fight. I shall not fight. I may take some work which may assist you.” So Arjuna offered, “Whatever work You like, You can take.” So He said, “All right. I shall drive your chariot.” So Krsna’s promise was that He will not fight. But at a time when Arjuna was perplexed by fighting with Bhisma… Bhisma was the greatest fighter, although he was very old man. Duryodhana incited him that “Because the other side are your very pet grandsons, you are not fighting fully.” That was the complaint of Duryodhana. So in order to encourage him, Bhisma said to Duryodhana, “All right, tomorrow I shall finish all these five brothers. Tomorrow I shall finish. And I have got now special arrows for killing these five chivalrous brothers.”

So Duryodhana was very intelligent. He told, “All right, please keep these five arrows with me for the night. I shall deliver you tomorrow in the morning.” “All right, you take it.” And Krsna understood. Krsna is, everything knows, past, present and future. Krsna knew it that “Bhisma has now promised. He will kill.” So He asked Arjuna—this is also politics—that “You go to Duryodhana. Do you remember that Duryodhana”—Duryodhana is elderly than Arjuna—“that he would keep some promise which was offered to you?” Duryodhana told him, “Arjuna, whenever you want something, I shall give you.” “Now this is the time. You can go.” “And what is that?” “Now, he has got five arrows for killing you. You should take and come to Me.” So after fight, they were friends. So Arjuna went to the camp of Duryodhana, and he was well received. “Well Arjuna, come on. What do you want? Come on. Sit down. Do you want anything from me? If you want, I can stop this fight. I can return you this…” Arjuna said, “No. I have not come to you for begging my kingdom. Fighting will go on. But I want… You promised something.” “Yes. I know. I offer you. What do you want?” “Now, I want those five arrows.” At once he delivered.

Anonymous said...

And this information was carried to, I mean to say, Bhisma. Bhisma knew that “Krsna is very cunning also. He will save His devotee. So He has done this. All right, in spite of Krsna… He has broken my promise, and tomorrow I shall see. If Krsna does not break His promise, then His friend will be killed. I will fight in such a way.” So he was fighting in such a way that Arjuna became almost dead. Then at that time, Krsna… The chariot was torn into pieces, and Arjuna fell down. And then Krsna took up one of the wheel of the chariot and came before: “Now, Bhisma, you stop this fighting; otherwise I will kill you.” Bhisma at once gave up his arrow, and he offered, “All right. Kill me.” So thing is that because Bhisma promised that “I shall kill Arjuna tomorrow,” and Krsna also promised not to fight, just to save these two devotees, Arjuna and Bhisma—Bhisma also was a great devotee—just to show him that “I am breaking My promise. Please stop…” He wanted that “Either I shall break My promise or you shall kill Arjuna. So better see that I have broken My promise.” So in this way, sometimes, for devotee, He sometimes breaks His own promise.

So here Krsna says, kaunteya pratijanihi. “You promise so I shall protect your promise.” And what is that? Na me bhaktah pranasyati: “Anyone who has taken to Krsna consciousness, he will be never destroyed. He will never be destroyed.” Na me bhaktah pranasyati. What is that destruction? The destruction is… Of course, a living entity is never destroyed so far his constitution is concerned. Na hanyate hanyamane [Bg. 2.20]. The destruction of this body is not his destruction. The real destruction is that when we lose our spiritual consciousness, we lose our identity, that is destruction. That is destruction, that now, in our material conception of life, we are practically destroyed because, destroyed in this way, because as spiritual being, I have got my eternal life, I have got my blissful life, I have got my knowledge, full knowledge, but here I am living in a wretched condition that my life is not eternal, I am not blissful, and I am not in full knowledge. So don’t you think that we are already destroyed? We are thinking that “I am very much advancing in civilization,” but unless you revive your original life of eternity and full knowledge and bliss, you should know that you are not advancing; you are being defeated by the illusory energy. This is destruction. Destruction of my real life is materialism.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.23.29: One who is subject to death cannot measure the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, Lord Viṣṇu, any more than he can count the number of atoms on the entire planet earth. No one, whether born already or destined to take birth, is able to do this. This has been sung by the great sage Vasiṣṭha.

PURPORT

Vasiṣṭha Muni has given a mantra about Lord Viṣṇu: na te viṣṇor jāyamāno na jāto mahimnaḥ pāram anantam āpa. No one can estimate the extent of the uncommonly glorious activities of Lord Viṣṇu. Unfortunately, there are so-called scientists who are subject to death at every moment but are trying to understand by speculation the wonderful creation of the cosmos. This is a foolish attempt. Long, long ago, Vasiṣṭha Muni said that no one in the past could measure the glories of the Lord and that no one can do so in the future. One must simply be satisfied with seeing the glorious activities of the Supreme Lord's creation. The Lord therefore says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42), viṣṭabhyāham idaḿ kṛtsnam ekāḿśena sthito jagat: "With a single fragment of Myself, I pervade and support this entire universe." The material world consists of innumerable universes, each one full of innumerable planets, which are all considered to be products of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's material energy. Yet this is only one fourth of God's creation. The other three fourths of creation constitute the spiritual world. Among the innumerable planets in only one universe, the so-called scientists cannot understand even the moon and Mars, but they try to defy the creation of the Supreme Lord and His uncommon energy. Such men have been described as crazy. Nūnaḿ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma (Bhāg. 5.5.4). Such crazy men unnecessarily waste time, energy and money in attempting to defy the glorious activities of Urukrama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Anonymous said...

SB 8.23.30: If one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead.

SB 8.23.31: Whenever the activities of Vāmanadeva are described in the course of a ritualistic ceremony, whether the ceremony be performed to please the demigods, to please one's forefathers in Pitṛloka, or to celebrate a social event like a marriage, that ceremony should be understood to be extremely auspicious.

PURPORT

There are three kinds of ceremonies — specifically, ceremonies to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the demigods, those performed for social celebrations like marriages and birthdays, and those meant to please the forefathers, like the śrāddha ceremony. In all these ceremonies, large amounts of money are spent for various activities, but here it is suggested that if along with this there is recitation of the wonderful activities of Vāmanadeva, certainly the ceremony will be carried out successfully and will be free of all discrepancies.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "The Demigods Regain the Heavenly planets."

Anonymous said...

28 September, 1968

My Dear Devananda,
Please accept my blessings. I am so pleased to learn that you are lecturing in the Boston University class in mysticism, and they are appreciating your versions. Please always remain submissive in spirit to Krishna and Spiritual Master, and by their Grace you will get all strength to speak and satisfy your audience.

I remember when you were walking with me on the New York street, you were proposing me to become lecturer in some University. And your honest desire has been fulfilled by Krishna, that He has given sufficient strength unto you, that instead of me, you are speaking there as my representative. This is all Krishna’s Grace.

But one thing I may inform you, that the three books which I have already prepared, namely, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and Srimad-Bhagavatam, all these books are the ultimate source of knowledge.

If you simply reproduce what I have tried to explain in those books, surely you will come out victorious, even in the midst of so many great mundane scholars.

The description given in these books, are not mundane speculations, but they are authorized versions of liberated souls, presented by our humble self. So the strength is not in us, but the strength is in the Supreme Lord.

And we have simply to present them without any adulteration, in humble service spirit. That is the secret of success. Hoping you are well,
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

The Essential Nature of the Energies of the Lord (bhagavata-sakti tattvam)

02.05.13 Brahma to Narada Muni

The illusory energy of the Lord cannot take precedence, being ashamed of her position, but those who are bewildered by her always talk nonsense, being absorbed in thoughts of "It is I" and "It is mine".

02.06.32 Brahma to Narada Muni

By His will, I create, Lord Shiva destroys, and He Himself, in His eternal form as the Personality of Godhead, maintains everything. He is the powerful controller of these three energies.

02.07.41 Brahma to Narada Muni

Neither I nor all the sages born before you know fully the omnipotent Personality of Godhead. So what can others, who are born after us, know about Him? Even the first incarnation of the Lord, namely Shesha, has not been able to reach the limit of such knowledge, although He is describing the qualities of the Lord with ten hundred faces.

02.09.01 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material body. That relationship is just like a dreamer's seeing his own body working.

03.06.39 Maitreya Rishi to Vidura

The wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is bewildering even to the jugglers. That potential power is unknown even to the self-sufficient Lord, so it is certainly unknown to others.

03.06.02 Maitreya Rishi to Vidura

The Supreme Powerful Lord then simultaneously entered into the twenty-three elements with the goddess Kali, His external energy, who alone amalgamates all the different elements.

03.06.40 Maitreya Rishi to Vidura

Words, mind and ego, with their respective controlling demigods, have failed to achieve success in knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, we simply have to offer our respectful obeisances unto Him as a matter of sanity.

Anonymous said...

03.07.02-3,5 Vidura to Maitreya Rishi

Shri Vidura said: O great brahmana, since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete spiritual whole and is unchangeable, how is He connected with the material modes of nature and their activities? If this is His pastime, how do the activities of the unchangeable take place and exhibit qualities without the modes of nature? (2)

Boys are enthusiastic to play with other boys or with various diversions because they are encouraged by desire. But there is no possibility of such desire for the Lord because He is self-satisfied and detached from everything at all times. (3)

The pure soul is pure consciousness and is never out of consciousness, either due to circumstances, time, situations, dreams or other causes. How then does he become engaged in nescience? (5)

03.07.09 Maitreya Rishi to Vidura

Shri Maitreya said: Certain conditioned souls put forward the theory that the Supreme Brahman, or the Personality of Godhead, is overcome by illusion, or maya, and at the same time they maintain that He is unconditioned. This is against all logic.

10.14.57 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

The original, unmanifested form of material nature is the source of all material things, and the source of even that subtle material nature is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. What, then, could one ascertain to be separate from Him?

Anonymous said...

One of the gopis told mother Yasoda, ”My dear mother, your son is very expert among the cowherd boys. He knows all the different arts, how to tend the cows and how to play the flute. He composes His own songs, and to sing them He puts His flute to His mouth. When He plays, either in the morning or in the evening, all the demigods, like Lord Siva, Brahma, Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great attention. Although they are very learned and expert, they cannot understand the musical arrangements of Krsna’s flute. They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but become bewildered and nothing more.“

When Krsna walked on the bank of the Yamuna, He was seen nicely decorated with tilaka on His head. He was garlanded with different kinds of forest flowers, and His body was smeared by the pulp of sandalwood and tulasi leaves. The bumblebees became mad after the treasure and sweet nectar of the atmosphere. Being pleased by the humming sound of the bees, Krsna would play His flute, and together the sounds became so sweet to hear that the aquatics, the cranes, swans and ducks and other birds were charmed. Instead of swimming or flying, they became stunned. They closed their eyes and entered a trance of meditation in worship of Krsna.

One can very easily associate with Krsna simply by remembering His transcendental pastimes. Everyone has a tendency to love someone..

Anonymous said...

I'll be out of the loop for at least a month, maybe longer..

Thank you so much Les Visible Prabhu for offering a medium and for your sincere words with which to perhaps spark a little interest for the eternal transcendental perfection of Bhagavat Dharma.

Every time I post any of this I am moved to tears at the absolute beauty of the Supreme Person, His past times, His associates, his devotees, His creations.

Blessings on you, best of health and good fortune.

Jaya Sri Krishna!
Lord Ananta Balarama ki jaya!
Maheshwar ki jai!

your friend,
Homer

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada on Meeting with Society Leaders

BY: NRSINGHA DAS

Jul 08, 2011 — USA (SUN) —

From A Transcendental Diary, Volume 3, by Hari Sauri dasa, July 26,1976, London:

"Prabhupada was scheduled to visit the new center in Rome, with a meeting with the Pontiff on the agenda, but after some discussion Prabhupada decided it would be too much endeavor. He questioned the practical advantage of meeting the Pope, ...saying that simply meeting big men and showing no profit was the business of his Godbrothers like Bon and Tirtha Maharajas. He noted that they always advertise that they met this one or that one, but no actual preaching about Krsna consciousness was really accomplished.

To illustrate the point he told us the story of the tiger and the crane. There was once a tiger who, after eating a small animal, got a bone stuck in his throat. Not being able to dislodge it he called to the crane, "My dear friend, you have a nice long beak. Kindly put your head in my mouth and remove this bone. Otherwise I shall die. Do not be afraid, I shall not harm you, and I shall be very pleased with you." Naturally the crane was wary, for after all the tiger's business was to eat other animals like himself. But he thought that since the tiger is so powerful, if he actually removed the bone, certainly he would give him some benediction. So he agreed and stuck his head in the tiger's mouth. The crane then successfully removed the bone. Relieved, the tiger was about to go when he saw the crane still standing before him expectantly.

"Well, what is it?" the tiger growled.

"My dear sir," said the crane, "I have done what you requested and removed the bone. Kindly give me some benediction."

"What?" roared the tiger, "I have allowed you to put your head in my mouth without biting it off and you want something more?"

Prabhupada then explained that although his Godbrothers go to call on the so-called leaders of society expecting something from them, the leader is thinking, "What, I have given you some of my time and still you want something more?" He said that the conclusion was that there is no profit to be had in meetings such as these. Therefore he decided to tell Bhagavan not to bother arranging a meeting with the Pope."
-----------------------------------

Wishing you great health and vigor!

Anonymous said...

Traveling Light in Krsna Consciousness

BY: RAGHU MISHRA

Jul 09, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) —
kind

of fast right now yes of course
no
one will
countenance

a
sophomoric explanation of this
and that which is not this at
speed

at speed the way we

travel light
is lighter

lighter
as we are

far

more

light-fast than the first and
last
colors of earth as well

yes

yes lighter than the

water
lighter

than
fire and firefly winging
it
lighter than air
we are

not heavy like
silence
in ether or sleep in
mind

we are fast

beyond the

thick
headed blustering intelligence

and falsity
of temporal
ego

you know traveling

light

we are fast

friends
in

Krsna consciousness but
not
to be taken for

granted

naturally

there
is depth to any relationship with Sri Krsna
actually
and every

reason
for one

to
be

evenly

respectful of those very slowly
realizing how the

eternally

memorable realizations of so many
of us factor

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada, Bombay, May 5, 1974: [...] Just like this evening I was talking with a boy. He has got a mantra, very secret. But we say have no secret mantra. Our mantra, Hare Krishna, is open to everyone. Why it should be secret? If by chanting Hare Krishna mantra we can approach God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why it should remain secret? It should be distributed like anything so that everyone can go. So there is no secrecy. A secret mantra we don’t approve. It must be very open. There is no secret. The sastra never says that mantra can be secret.

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21]

In this age of Kali… Kali means the age of quarrel, age of misunderstanding, age of disagreement. So in this age it is very difficult to come to the right conclusion by philosophy and other methods. Therefore in the sastra it has been openly declared,

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21]

Three times. Three times means yajna-dana-tapah-kriya. There are many other things: meditation, sacrifices, worship in the temple. So in this age all these things are impossible to be performed, but even a child can chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra. That is proved here. Whenever there is Hare Krishna maha-mantra, even the child can take part, old man can take part. So this is the only method for God realization. There is no expenditure, but the gain is very, very great. That was the teaching of Sri Prahlada Maharaja, and we are following his footsteps. Let us stick to his principle, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah, and thus become more and more advanced in Krishna consciousness.

Anonymous said...

sanjaya uvaca
naham veda vyavasitam
pitror vah kula-nandana
gandharya va maha-baho
musito 'smi mahatmabhih

"Sanjaya said: My dear descendant of the Kuru dynasty, I have no information of the determination of your two uncles and Gandhari. O King, I have been cheated by those great souls.

PURPORT

That great souls cheat others may be astonishing to know, but it is a fact that great souls cheat others for a great cause. It is said that Lord Krsna also advised Yudhisthira to tell a lie before Dronacarya, and it was also for a great cause. The Lord wanted it, and therefore it was a great cause. Satisfaction of the Lord is the criterion of one who is bona fide, and the highest perfection of life is to satisfy the Lord by one's occupational duty. That is the verdict of Gita and Bhagavatam.* Dhrtarastra and Vidura, followed by Gandhari, did not disclose their determination to Sanjaya, although he was constantly with Dhrtarastra as his personal assistant. Sanjaya never thought that Dhrtarastra could perform any act without consulting him. But Dhrtarastra's going away from home was so confidential that it could not be disclosed even to Sanjaya. Sanatana Gosvami also cheated the keeper of the prison house while going away to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and similarly Raghunatha dasa Gosvami also cheated his priest and left home for good to satisfy the Lord. To satisfy the Lord, anything is good, for it is in relation with the Absolute Truth. We also had the same opportunity to cheat the family members and leave home to engage in the service of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Such cheating was necessary for a great cause, and there is no loss for any party in such transcendental fraud."

Anonymous said...

Chanting a pranam mantram to Siva.
Mahaprabhu said Sankaracharyya was an incarnation of Lord Siva, and Mahaprabhu himself mentioned Advaita Acharya as an incarnation of Lord Siva. He also offered flowers to Advaita Prabhu.
We will get a great super-chance to serve Mahaprabhu through the mercy of Lord Siva. He is renounced from material things, but all material things are serving him as his maidservant.
Sri Brahma-samhita mentions that when Bhagavan is creating, the Lord keeps some connection with Lord Siva.
As Sada-Siva he is living in Vaikuntha, in the lower part. In the highest part of Vaikuntha lives Mahaprabhu, Radha-Krishna. In the middle Lord Narayan.
Siva's position is also as one of the Mahajanas, one of the rulers and indicators of the service work.
Sometimes in the Lord's service it is necessary to cause a disturbance, such as teaching mayavada philosophy, and that kind of service is given to Siva. When Krishna wants to hide bhakti-yoga He orders to Lord Siva, "You preach mayavada!"
Where there is difficulty or a big obstacle, that duty is going to Lord Siva, and he is removing that, like during the churning of the ocean. Lord Narayan and all demigods and demons were there but none remembered Lord Siva at that time. Many wonderful things came out from the ocean, and everyone took what they liked, but when poison came, everyone was disturbed. None could control that. Then Visnu said, "Go to Lord Siva, he is in the mood of meditation and is living in Kailash." Then the demigods went there and prayed, "Prabhu, save us, poison has come from churning the ocean." So Lord Siva said, "No problem," and he came and took all poison. This is the very merciful nature of Lord Siva, if you surrender to him he will do anything for you.

Always Krishna likes him. He wears a moon crown. All the demigods worship him. He is not using any flowers or ornaments � his ornament is a snake. His colour is like the moon. He has five heads and he is always chanting the Holy Names. In one hand he holds his weapon, Parasu, and by one hand he is giving fearlessness. When Maharaj Bhagiratha brought the Ganga from Vaikuntha to Earth he asked Lord Siva to hold this powerful Ganga. Siva said, "Yes, I shall hold the Ganga on my head."
Anyone who is in the position of danger, Siva is giving fearless power and says, "Don't worry, I am with you." By a little worship and a little honour, he is very happy and will give everything.
No one, god or demigod, is as merciful to us as Lord Siva. Also Lord Krishna is taking his help many times. Even demons are worshiping him and he is giving his help, even fighting with Krishna.

devadidevam-ahibhusanam-indukasam
panchananam pasupatim varadam prasannam.
gangadharam pranatapalakamasutosam
vande sadasiva-haripriya-chandramaulim

Anonymous said...

Jul 13, 2011 — ALACHUA, FLORIDA, USA (SUN) — Valedictorian Speech delivered at Santa Fe High School Commencement Program by devotee youth.

Abhimanyu Wolf was the valedictorian of the 2011 graduating class of Santa Fe High School, in Alachua County, Florida. Below is the transcript of his valedictorian speech delivered at the commencement program on June 4, 2011, at the University of Florida Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Several thousand people attended the event and heard Abhimanyu speak about Srila Prabhupada and the vital importance of spiritual inquiry.

After the speech, I and several others heard from many attendees, some connected with the devotee community and some not, how moved they were by the talk.

Santa Fe High School valedictorian speech given by Abhimanyu Wolf:

"Henry Ford once said, ‘Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.' We have a natural tendency to focus on the obstacles between us and our goals, but when we fix our consciousness on the goal itself, the obstacles practically fade away.

A perfect example of this is a spiritual leader named Srila Prabhupada. He came to America at the advanced age of 69 with just seven dollars to his name and the intention to start a spiritual movement. Despite all odds, he was successful in making his dream a reality. It's not a safe proposition to depend on the external circumstances in our lives to be desirable, because this world just doesn't always follow our plans. There will always be a new set of so-called ‘obstacles' and ‘inconveniences' in between us and our goals. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to take full responsibility for our experience, while still acknowledging that there will always be things that are beyond our control.

Thanks to our peers, parents, teachers, mentors, all the staff at Santa Fe High, and all the people who have helped build the society we live in today, we have excellent tools to forge ahead to achieve our goals and really make the best of our precious lives. Each one of us has immense potential, and to waste it, to let each day pass without inquiring about who we are, what is our purpose, and how can we best serve mankind, is the worst kind of violence.

I would like to congratulate my fellow graduates of the class of 2011 on their great achievements and give thanks to my parents, sister, close friends, and spiritual teachers who have shined a light on the purpose of my life. Hare Krishna."

Anonymous said...

"Whatever talent one has got... These talents are also acquired after austerity. It is not ordinary thing. So everything should be employed to describe Uttamasloka, Krishna. Krishna is Uttamasloka. So we have got so many Krishna's pastimes, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastime. We can overflood. Just like you can overflood with this literature, we can overflood... This is art. Art, music, everything we can utilize. In any way one is addicted—let him eat only, let him sing only, let him paint only, let him dance only—we have got everything. That is Krishna consciousness. Let him do business also. Yes. Engineering-construct temple. It is so all-perfect movement, Krishna... That is Krishna, all-attractive. Everyone can be attracted and give up everything. He will be attracted by Krishna in such a way that he'll give up all nonsense. That is Krishna consciousness. No more other enga... anyabhilasita-shunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. All other attraction finished. Simply Krishna."
(Morning Walk Conversation, Feb 10, 1975, Los Angeles)

Anonymous said...

11.29.03-5 Uddhava to Shri Krishna

My dear infallible Lord, it is not very astonishing that You intimately approach Your servants who have taken exclusive shelter of You. After all, during Your appearance as Lord Ramacandra, while great demigods like Brahma were vying to place the effulgent tips of their helmets upon the cushion where Your lotus feet rested, You displayed special affection for monkeys such as Hanuman because they had taken exclusive shelter of You.

11.29.34 Shri Krishna to Uddhava

A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.

11.29.09-10 Shri Krishna to Uddhava

One should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and human beings.

Anonymous said...

After installing Shivalinga, a symbol of Shiva, and worshipping it, Shree Raama said, "There is none as dear to me as Shiva. One who wants to be called my devotee but is opposed to Shiva, cannot reach me even in one’s dream. One averse to Shiva, but who wishes devotion to me is stupid and goes to hell."

This verse is from an excerpt on 'Bhakti' written in 'Uttara Khanda'
spoken by Lord Ramacandra Himself.

Lord Ramacandra said:

" aurau eka guputa mata sabahi kahaum kara jori,
shankara bhajana binaa nara bhagati na paavai mori "

With folded hands I now lay before you one MORE SECRET doctrine:
WITHOUT ADORING Lord Shankara NO MAN can ATTAIN loving DEVOTION to ME.

Anonymous said...

07.01.26-27 Narada Muni to Maharaja Yudhishthira

Therefore, by enmity or by devotional service, by fear, by affection or by lusty desire - by all of these or anyone of them - if a conditioned soul somehow or other concentrates his mind upon the Lord, the result is the same, for the Lord, because of His blissful position, is never affected by enmity or friendship.

Narada Muni continued: By devotional service one cannot achieve such intense absorption in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as one through enmity toward Him. That is my opinion.

07.01.29 Narada Muni to Maharaja Yudhishthira

A grassworm confined in a hole of a wall by a bee thinks of the bee in fear and enmity and later becomes a bee simply because of such remembrance. Similarly, if the conditioned souls somehow or other think of Krishna, who is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, they will become free from their sins. Whether thinking of Him as their worshipable Lord or an enemy, because of constantly thinking of Him they will regain their spiritual bodies.

Many, many persons have attained liberation simply by thinking of Krishna with great attention and giving up sinful activities. This great attention may be due to lusty desires, inimical feelings, fear, affection or devotional service.

My dear King Yudhishthira, the gopis by their lusty desires, Kamsa by his fear, Shishupala and other kings by envy, the Yadus by their familial relationship with Krishna, and we, the general devotees, by our devotional service, have obtained the mercy of Krishna.

Somehow or other, one must consider the form of Krishna very seriously. Then, by one of the five different processes mentioned above, one can return home, back to Godhead. Atheists like King Vena, however, being unable to think of Krishna's form in any of these five ways, cannot attain salvation. Therefore, one must somehow think of Krishna, whether in a friendly way or inimically.

10.87.23 The Personified Vedas to Maha-Vishnu

Simply by constantly thinking of Him, the enemies of the Lord attained the same Supreme Truth whom sages fixed in yoga worship by controlling their breath, mind and senses. Similarly, we srutis, who generally see You as all-pervading, will achieve the same nectar from Your lotus feet that Your consorts are able to relish because of their loving attraction to Your mighty, serpentine arms, for You look upon us and Your consorts in the same way.

10.33.36 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

When the Lord assumes a humanlike body to show mercy to His devotees, He engages in such pastimes as will attract those who hear about them to become dedicated to Him.

Anonymous said...

sac-cid-ananda-vigraha

I am jiva, spirit soul, part and parcel and eternal servant of the Lord. My svarupa, spiritual body, is similar in form to any of the material bodies in the material world but it is of the same quality as myself and the whole spiritual world (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha).

Although I could stay here eternally in Lord's loving company and participate in His lila (pastime), I decided to explore the material world thus beginning my journey...

The Lord does not interfere with my free will by preventing me from leaving Him but is unlimitedly happy when I return to Him again:

"Having attained me [Sarupa], a friend more dear than life, as if He had not seen me for a long time, taking my hand in His lotus hand, asking me wonderful questions, bringing happiness to all the people of Vraja, and walking as gracefully as an elephant, the handsome Lord entered the village of Vraja." (Brhad-bhagavatamrta 2.6.76, by Sanatana Goswami)

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada..

“Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact. Actually, the cultivation of knowledge or renunciation, which are favorable for achieving a footing in Krsna consciousness, may be accepted in the beginning, but ultimately they may also come to be rejected, for devotional service is dependent on nothing other than the sentiment or desire for such service. It requires nothing more than sincerity.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 14)

“There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world. In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion.” (Srila Prabhupada letter, September 4, 1972)

In this way, we can have the association of the Supreme Lord and His pure devotee wherever we are. Then we can always feel the divine presence in our lives. This is the simple method recommended by Srila Prabhupada.

Anonymous said...

India, January 11, 1977: Conversation on Train to Allahabad

Ramesvara: [Localization is] possible in India but not in America.
Prabhupada: Why?
Ramesvara: The American people…consider it backwards.
Prabhupada: That has to be educated, that backward is real life.
Ramesvara: They think they have achieved a higher standard of freedom by traveling all over the world…

Jagadisa: People in general are very much inclined to accept whoever their leader is if they feel happy. So if we give them kirtana and prasadam, if their economic needs are met, then how can they avoid? Economic needs are the main thing. That’s why they…
Prabhupada: If they can eat nicely and they have no complaint for living conditions, they will become…

Ramesvara: In America there is a rule that there is separation of church and government
Prabhupada: It is not church.
Ramesvara: But they think of us…
Prabhupada: Not stereotyped church.
Ramesvara: But they think of us as a religion.
Prabhupada: They may think. It is not the fact. It is a culture…

Now… We have come to the open field. How it is nice. And so long we were passing through that congested areas — hellish, simply hellish. And now here is open space. How it is nice.
Hari-sauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness.
Prabhupada: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in… Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm.

Ramesvara: But for many people who live in the cities, they have their jobs already. They don’t want to give it up…
Say, in America, most people live in the cities, and they already have their job, and they are set in their ways.
Prabhupada: But you said that there is unemployment also.
Ramesvara: To a certain extent. But there are still 250,000,000 people. So most of them…
Prabhupada: So those who are unemployed, let them come to us. We shall give them employment.
Jagadisa: On the farm.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ramesvara: For those who are unemployed, that’s attractive.
Jagadisa: But for those who are already employed…
Ramesvara: But most people have jobs.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ramesvara: Many people already have their jobs and their families.
Prabhupada: All right, let them not come, but those who are unemployed, let them come.
Ramesvara: But what…? For those people who already have their jobs, instead of…
Prabhupada: That job… They will be very soon jobless. Don’t worry. (laughs) They will come. They will be obliged to come. Now they have got job, but as the days are advancing in Kali-yuga, they’ll be jobless.
Hari-sauri: So we can expect that material conditions are going to become very much worse than this.
Prabhupada: They may come or not. We don’t care for it. Let us establish an ideal society.

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada: So in my childhood, when I was one and one-half years old, I suffered from typhoid, and the Dr. Karttika Candra Bose, he said that he, "Please give him chicken juice." So my father refused: "No, no, we cannot." "No, no he has to be given. Now he has become very weak." "No, no, I cannot allow." "Don't mind, I shall prepare in my own house and send. You simply..." So it was sent from his house, and when it was given to me, immediately I began to vomit. And my father threw it away, and when the doctor asked that this was the... "No, no, then don't bother." This story I heard. This allopathetic system of medicine introduced all these things in India. Otherwise they did not know.

Hari-sauri: What system?

Prabhupada: This meat-eating, chicken juice, tea, these things are unknown to India. No, why India? By nature, you say that you refused meat. Although you were born of a father and mother meat-eaters, still. What a horrible civilization they have made. He's human being born. Making him animal by culture. Instead of making him more cultured towards the spiritual life, making him redirected again to animal life. This is the civilization, Western civilization.

Hari-sauri: Yes, there's not much choice, not any choice.

Prabhupada: These children are fortunate. Yesterday I was astonished how these children were receiving just like friend, laughing and something saying, you have seen it? As an old friend. Their mother pushes they would not come, but they were very glad to see me.

Hari-sauri: Everybody's very glad to see you.

Prabhupada: I was astonished, that how these children take me as friend.

Hari-sauri: I don't think that's too difficult. You're the best friend for everyone.

Prabhupada: No, but after all, they are children. How they can take it as it is? So they are fortunate children, and their parents and everyone should take care of them. A very difficult age.

Hari-sauri: You always said they're our asset for the future.

Prabhupada: If they can be trained up, they can become very good preacher, each one of them. And they can make hundreds of devotees. In this way we can expand. Are you realizing that there is no civilization? Actually civilization we are introducing. Except Aryan civilization, Vedic civilization, there is no civilization--animal society. What do you think? Are you convinced about it?

Harikesa: Oh, yes, every time I walk out the door I'm convinced. And when you come back to the temple, it's marvelous, the spiritual world. No matter what going on, may be bad, may be good, doesn't matter. It's very relieving.

Prabhupada: Civilization means to push the man forward for perfection. That is civilization.

Hari-sauri: Development.

Prabhupada: Yes. Society and economic condition, everything should be so arranged that this human child should be gradually pushed for perfection of life, go back home, back to Godhead. This is civilization. And modern civilization is "Don't care for what is going to happen. So long you live, eat, drink, be merry, enjoy," that's all. Sense gratification. This is called nastika-vada. Very dangerous. And that is going on all over the world. How a gentleman can live in that society?

Hari-sauri: They can't. Gradually people...

Prabhupada: Therefore my Guru Maharaja used to say, "This is not a place for a gentleman." Formerly, therefore, they used to go away from the society, go in the forest, to give up this bad association. Live alone.

Hari-sauri: Practically speaking, that's what we've done. By your establishing these temples, it's given us someplace to go where we can get out of Kali-yuga.

Prabhupada: Therefore our temples should be very carefully managed. It may not become again another pandemonium.

Harikesa: Pan-demon. Pan-demon-ium.

Hari-sauri: Says that in the dictionary.

Harikesa: Place of demons.

Anonymous said...

06.02.07 Vishnudutas to Yamadutas

Ajamila has already atoned for all his sinful actions. Indeed, he has atoned not only for sins performed in one life but for those performed in millions of lives, for in a helpless condition he chanted the holy name of Narayana. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offense, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation.

06.02.09-10 Vishnudutas to Yamadutas

The chanting of the holy name of Lord Vishnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughers cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Vishnu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, "Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection."

06.02.14-15 Vishnudutas to Yamadutas

One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures.

If one chants the holy name of Hari and then dies because of an accidental misfortune, such as falling from the top of a house, slipping and suffering broken bones while traveling on the road, being bitten by a serpent, being afflicted with pain and high fever, or being injured by a weapon, one is immediately absolved from having to enter hellish life, even though he is sinful.

06.02.17 Vishnudutas to Yamadutas

Although one may neutralize the reactions of sinful life through austerity, charity, vows and other such methods, these pious activities cannot uproot the material desires in one's heart. However, if one serves the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, he is immediately freed from all such contaminations.

06.02.18-19 Vishnudutas to Yamadutas

As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one's sinful activities.

If a person unaware of the effective potency of a certain medicine takes that medicine or is forced to take it, it will act even without his knowledge because its potency does not depend on the patient's understanding. Similarly, even though one does not know the value of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if one chants knowingly or unknowingly, the chanting will be very effective.

Anonymous said...

Sugar On Top

BY: RAGHU MISHRA

Jul 20, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) —

Are
you feeling

a
little

peaked

never mind Don't

ask
and yes please
don't
tell

all
about a sensitive

ulterior
universal Krsna

consciousness that is

transcendental

to one
or the others' reciprocal personal

relationship with
Sri Krsna
we do have a way
about

us

to maintain
Krsna consciousness on
an
individually

sanguine basis
affectionately

chanting
Hare Krsna
in separation now
and
again with all
due
respect
for you and the way

Krsna
is

conscious of
Himself and
all

but
please

with sugar on

top don't
even ask one

like

me and

yes

don't ever tell
one
like me at

all

about

a
sensitive ulterior
consciousness of any sort that
is

transcendental
to

every personal
relationship with Sri Krsna like
this
Hare Krsna !

Anonymous said...

“If You Actually Feel for People”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.14
Los Angeles, May 31, 1972

So Bhagavad-gita, although containing the high philosophy of the Vedic wisdom, is for the beginners in the transcendental science, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is for graduates and postgraduates in the transcendental science. Therefore literatures like Mahabharata, the puranas and similar other literatures which are full of the pastimes of the Lord, are all transcendental literatures, and they should be discussed with full confidence in the society of great devotees.

The difficulty is that such literatures, when discussed by professional men, appear to be mundane literature like histories or epics because there are so many historical facts and figures. It is said here, therefore, that such literatures should be discussed in the assembly of devotees. Unless they are discussed by devotees, such literatures cannot be relished by the higher class of men. So the conclusion is that the Lord is not impersonal in the ultimate issue. He is the Supreme Person, and He has His different activities. He is the leader of all living entities, and He descends at His will and by His personal energy to reclaim the fallen souls. Thus He plays exactly like the social, political or religious leaders. Because such roles ultimately culminate in the discussion of topics of the Lord, all such preliminary topics are also transcendental.

Anonymous said...

I'm wishing for you, les.

Sometimes I forget to ask for others to be assisted when they very much need it.
Mostly a habit I strive to live by. To not ask for anything for myself to the best of my nature.

I realize Paramatma knows everything I think and say and do or wish to do. So there's hardly a need or a desire to lie or get over and such.

This leads to an estrangement of other in need.
Others I know personally.

I'm ever amazed when I do ask!

Hope this helps..

Your friend,
Homer

Anonymous said...

Srila Haridas Thakura: “At twilight, the dispelling of darkness begins before the sun has risen. The fear of thieves, ghosts and evil forces is also dispelled; and when the sun has fully risen the nature and movement of things becomes revealed. Similarly, with the initial or twilight appearance of the Holy Name, our sins and obstacles are dispelled; and when the sun of the Holy Name rises fully, love for the divine lotus feet of the Lord awakens within the heart.”

“As deer flee in fear of the roar of the lion, all sins immediately flee from one who chants the Holy Name, even by chance.”
[Garuda-Purana]

"Even a person who is stumbling and falling, afflicted on the brink of death and helplessly passing away from the world – he somehow takes the Holy Name of the Lord he is liberated from the bondage of karma and attains to the supreme destination. Alas! The fools of Kali-yuga have no desire to worship that Supreme Lord.”
[Srimad-Bhagavatam]

Anonymous said...

We know how many seeds are in an apple……
……but only God knows how many apples are in a seed

Prabhupada, Mayapur, March 9, 1976:

tvam va idam sadasad isa bhavams tato ’nyo maya yad atma-para-buddhir iyam hy apartha yad yasya janma nidhanam sthitir iksanam ca tad vaitad eva vasukalavad asti-tarvoh

Cause and effect, sad-asad. One disappears, the cause appears, disappears, and the effect comes into being. The very good example is given here, asti-tarvoh. Asti means seed.

From the asti, from the seed, a big banyan tree comes out. At that time the asti, the seed, disappears. A tree is manifestation, so this is example of sad-asat. Asti, the seed, disappears, and the tree is manifest. So the creation of God is like that.

Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, bijo ’ham sarva-bhutanam. Bija, asti, or seed, He is the root cause of everything. One seed, a small seed, grain, and hundreds of thousands trees coming out of it, and in each tree there are millions of fruits, and each fruit, there are hundreds and thousands of seeds.

Again, from the seed, the same creation, hundreds and thousands, millions and millions. This is God’s intelligence, how from one source so many varieties are coming out. Again, when annihilation takes place, they again go into the original seed, Krsna. Yanti mamikam, it is said. It’s coming out.

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.48]

This material creation is done by Maha-Visnu. Maha-Visnu. The original Visnu, Krsna, He has nothing to do. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Original God—isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1] —
He is simply playing on flute and enjoying the company of Srimati Radharani.

He has nothing to do. And how things are taking place? Creation, He’s the creator? By expansion, svamsa. From Krsna the expansion is Balarama; from Balarama the expansion is Sankarsana, then Aniruddha, Pradyumna, like that, then Narayana, then again Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, dvitiya-catur-vyuha.

From this Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu. Therefore Maha-Visnu is described, kala-visesah. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah, sa iha yasya kala-viseso [Bs. 5.48]

This Maha-Visnu, from whom, by His breathing only, millions and trillions of universes are coming, and each universe there is a Brahma, jagad-anda-nathah. Just like in this universe there is one Brahma. He creates again so many demigods, animals, human beings in each universe.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada:
Because we are now in the material world, we do not see Kṛṣṇa directly. Nonetheless, we can see Him indirectly. For example, if one sees the Pacific Ocean one can remember Kṛṣṇa immediately, if one is advanced in spiritual life. This is called meditation.

So where is the difficulty in understanding God? There is no difficulty. If one is actually sane, one can understand God at every step. The Lord says:

“O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable oṁ in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.” (Bg. 7.8) Why then do people say, “I have not seen God”? Why don’t they see God as God directs them to see Him? Why do they manufacture their own way? One cannot see God by one’s own way. That is not possible. If one tries to do so, one will always remain blind. At the present moment so-called philosophers and scientists are trying to see God in their own way, but that is not possible. One has to see God by God’s way. Then one can see Him.

Anonymous said...

“For a person who is Kṛṣṇa conscious, at the same time philosophically trying to understand what is the nature of God, so he is very dear to Me,” Kṛṣṇa says. “He is very dear to Me because he has no other business than to understand what is God.” Others, just like a distressed man, he is in distress, but because he’s pious, therefore he believes in God, he goes to the churches or to the temple or to the mosque and prays, “My dear Lord, I am very much distressed. Kindly help me.” But the difficulty of this person is that God does not require to be prayed for, asking anything. He is… He is pious, he is distressed, but at the same time, he is foolish. Why he is foolish? Because he does not know that “God is with me, within my heart. He’s sitting along with me. The soul and the Supersoul, both of them are sitting together. And God knows everything about me. So I do not require to pray from God to get me out of this distress. He knows everything. Why shall I pray?” He leaves everything to God. He does not pray. He prays…, he prays to glorify the God, “How great You are,” not for his personal interest—“O God, give me my bread. Give me my dress. Give me my shelter.” That is also good. He is better than the person, that mūḍha, the foolish, the atheist and the lowest of the mankind. He’s far better. Even he is going and asking in the church, “O God, give me my daily bread.” But at the same time, he is less intelligent because he does not know that “God is with me, and He knows everything about me.”

Therefore such a learned and who has understood his real position and his relationship with Kṛṣṇa, he is jñānī. He knows. Therefore he is very much dear to Kṛṣṇa. And Kṛṣṇa always guides him. This man, who is in distress, goes and prays to God. That praying of God is an asset to him, but it may be, when he is put into opulence, he forgets God. There is defect in that.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada..
So sweet relation. God is always after me, as we have discussed many times, that He is sitting in the same tree, in this heart. I am sitting, and my friend, God, is also sitting, Supersoul, eternally. Wherever I am taking my transmigration, when I leave this body and enter into another body, God also goes there just to see what I am doing. When I shall turn my face towards Him— He is simply waiting. And as soon as I turn my face towards God, oh, He says, “My dear son, come on.” Sa ca mama priyaḥ. Lord says, “You are eternally dear to Me. Now you are turning your face to Me. So I am very glad.”

Therefore, in this age, Lord Caitanya recommended… But because I have no facility even for my material body, still I have to make progress in the spiritual life. How to do it?

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Adi 17.21]

You just always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Never mind you are in factory. Never mind you are (in) hell. Never mind you are in the skyscraper houses. Go on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. There is no expense. There is no bar. There is no caste. There is no creed. There is no color. Anyone: chant and hear; chant and hear.

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala

05.12.14 Jada Bharata to King Rahugana

aham pura bharato nama raja
vimukta-drishta-shruta-sanga-bandhah
aradhanam bhagavata ihamano
mrigo 'bhavam mriga-sangad dhatarthah

In a previous birth I was known as Maharaja Bharata. I attained perfection by becoming completely detached from material activities through direct experience, and through indirect experience I received understanding from the Vedas. I was fully engaged in the service of the Lord, but due to my misfortune, I became very affectionate to a small deer, so much so that I neglected my spiritual duties. Due to my deep affection for the deer, in my next life I had to accept the body of a deer.

Anonymous said...

Jul 26, 2011 — USA (SUN) — From Srila Prabhupada’s June 22, 1972 letter to Hamsaduta

“So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. In this way, by constantly engaging our tongues in the service of the Lord, either by discussing His philosophy or by chanting Hare Krishna, the truth is that Krishna Himself will reveal Himself to us and we shall understand how to do everything properly.

Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost. Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk.

Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions.”

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Damodarastakam!

"If you dance, then we will give you a sweet' - by these words, or by clapping their hands, the elder gopis sometimes induced Sri Krsna to dance. Thus Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, danced just like an ordinary child. Sometimes they made Him sing, and He therefore sang just like a bewildered innocent boy. In this way, He came under the control of the cowherd women exactly like a wooden puppet on strings. Sometimes His relatives would order Him to bring their shoes, chair or measuring pot; but if He was unable to lift the article called for, He would grasp it firmly and, just to please His dear relatives, flap His elbows again and again to demonstrate His childish strength."

‘Sri Krsna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers merely a tulasi leaf and a palmful of water.’

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada wrote in a September 21, 1970 letter to Isana and Vibhavati prabhus:

"Lately there has been some misunderstanding amongst our devotees about our Krishna Consciousness philosophy. Particularly there has been some confusion about the relationship between the Spiritual Master and Krishna.

The Vedas say that there is a Master Krishna. This Servant Krishna is the Spiritual Master and this is the conclusion. The Spiritual Master is the Mercy Representative of the Supreme Lord and as such He is given honor as good as Krishna, but He is never identical with Krishna.

Perhaps you know the picture of Madhvacarya, one of the great Acaryas in our line, who is holding two fingers up to indicate Krishna and jiva. The impersonalists hold up one finger because their idea is that everything is one. So if we make the Spiritual Master identical with Krishna, then we will also become impersonalists.

If we say that our Spiritual Master is Krishna, then the conclusion is that if we become Spiritual Master some day, then we will also become Krishna. Please try to understand how dangerous this kind of reasoning is.

In my books I have tried to explain clearly this simultaneously one and different philosophy acinta beda beda tattva propounded by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But sometimes it happens that this philosophy is given a self-interested interpretation. As soon as personal motivation comes in it is not possible for one to understand our Krishna Consciousness philosophy."

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

04.04.12 Satidevi to Daksa

Twice-born Daksa, a man like you can simply find fault in the qualities of others. Lord Siva, however, not only finds no faults with other's qualities, but if someone has a little good quality, he magnifies it greatly. Unfortunately, you have found fault with such a great soul.

04.30.33 The Pracetas to Shri Vishnu

Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to our material contamination and wander from one type of body to another and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those who are engaged in discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets.

06.03.20 Yamaraja to His Order Carriers

Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhisma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and I myself know the real religious principle.

06.17.28 Lord Siva to Parvati

Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.

07.10.18-19 Lord Nrsimhadeva to Prahlada Maharaja

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlada, O most pure, O great saintly person, your father has been purified, along with twenty-one forefathers in your family. Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified. (18)

Whenever and wherever there are peaceful, equipoised devotees who are well behaved and decorated with all good qualities, that place and the dynasties there, even if condemned, are purified.

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

10.48.31 Krishna to Akrura

No one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen.

11.11.33 Shri Krishna to Uddhava

My devotees may or may not know exactly what I am, who I am and how I exist, but if they worship Me with unalloyed love, then I consider them to be the best of devotees.

11.20.27-31 Shri Krishna to Uddhava

Having awakened faith in the narrations of My glories, being disgusted with all material activities, knowing that all sense gratification leads to misery, but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, My devotee should remain happy and worship Me with great faith and conviction. Even though he is sometimes engaged in sense enjoyment, My devotee knows that all sense gratification leads to a miserable result, and he sincerely repents such activities.

11.20.32-33 Shri Krishna to Uddhava

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.

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

05.19.27 The Demigods Chant

The Supreme Personality of Godhead fulfills the material desires of a devotee who approaches Him with such motives, but He does not bestow benedictions upon the devotee that will cause him to demand more benedictions again. However, the Lord willingly gives the devotee shelter at His own lotus feet, even though such a person does not aspire for it, and that shelter satisfies all his desires. That is the Supreme Personality's special mercy.

07.06.19 Prahlada Maharaja to the Sons of the Demons

My dear sons of the demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, is the original Supersoul, the father of all living entities. Consequently there are no impediments to pleasing Him or worshiping Him under any conditions, whether one be a child or an old man. The relationship between the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always a fact, and therefore there is no difficulty in pleasing the Lord.

Anonymous said...

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaḿ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaḿ ca:

"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness."

Anonymous said...

Advaita Prakasha
Lord Advaita Acarya
by Shrila Ishana Nagara

“I offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master, Shri Advaita Prabhu, who is nondifferent from Lord Hari. He induced the Supreme Lord Hari to manifest in this world.”

“I worship Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is outwardly of a fair complexion but is inwardly Krishna Himself. He is an ocean of love, eternally full of knowledge and bliss, and the origin of all energies.”

“I offer my obeisances unto Shri Nityananda Rama, who is most merciful and who illuminates love of God. I offer my obeisances to Gadadhara and Shrivasa, who are engaged in the service of the Lord of Radharani.”

All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha! All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees!

Anonymous said...

Advaita Prakasha
Lord Advaita Acarya
by Shrila Ishana Nagara

When the five-headed Lord Shiva saw Kali-yuga was filled with terrible sins, he thought, “How can I deliver the living entities?” After a long discussion with Yogamaya, he concluded that no one other than Lord Hari could deliver the fallen souls. Sadashiva, who is always joyful at heart, then went to the shore of the Causal Ocean. That great yogi then sat in yogic meditation for seven hundred years, until Maha-Vishnu, the Lord of the universe, was pleased by his severe austerities and appeared before him. When the five-headed Shiva saw Lord Narayana there, he offered many indescribable prayers. Maha-Vishnu then said, “You and I are nondifferent except for our separate bodies.”

Saying this, He embraced Lord Shiva and their two bodies became one. Who could understand His mind? It was most wonderful how they became one form with pure golden effulgent limbs, chanting, “Krishna! Krishna!” Suddenly there was a miraculous voice from the sky saying, “Listen, Maha-Vishnu! You first descend in this form in the womb of Labha, later I will descend in the district of Nadia in the house of Saci and Jagannatha. Balarama and other devotees will also take birth in order to deliver the living entities.”

Anonymous said...

The Perfection of Bhagavat Dharma:

Krsnakarunya: 'Our Sankirtan party pulled Lord Jagannath's Chariot with the congregational chanting of His Names and especially the Names of His dearmost Sri Radha. The Jagannath Temple represents Dwarka where Jagannathji Sri Krishna is separated from His most beloved Sri Radhaji and the Vrajavasis. Therefore for Vrajavasis, Ratha Yatra is really a festival to bring Sri Krishna back to Vrindavan which is represented by the Gundica Temple.

And to end the pain of separation between Krsna and His beloved Vrajavasis (the inhabitants of Vrindavan) -- Sri Nanda Baba, Yasoda Maya, all the gopas, the gopis and especially Sri Radhika, we pull Krishna's chariot and with Harinama Sankirtan take Him back to Sri Vrindavan-dhama.'
----------------------------------

http://youtu.be/Ctl1Qw5Ebi4

Anonymous said...

10.29.14-15 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

O King, the Supreme Lord is inexhaustible and immeasurable, and He is untouched by the material modes because He is their controller. His personal appearance in this world is meant for bestowing the highest benefit on humanity.

Persons who constantly direct their lust, anger, fear, protective affection, feeling of impersonal oneness or friendship toward Lord Hari are sure to become absorbed in thought of Him.

11.03.32 Prabuddha to MaharajaNimi

Having achieved love of Godhead, the devotees sometimes cry out loud, absorbed in thought of the infallible Lord. Sometimes they laugh, feel great pleasure, speak out loud to the Lord, dance or sing. Such devotees, having transcended material, conditioned life, sometimes imitate the unborn Supreme by acting out His pastimes. And sometimes, achieving His personal audience, they remain peaceful and silent.

Anonymous said...

Give Up Ego Altogether?

BY: MAHANANDA DASA

Srila Prabhupada is teaching us how to surrender to Krsna.

Some so-called spiritual teachers may also say to "surrender," but that surrender means to them something passive, to become free from your "ego." Their idea is that if you want to do something because it is YOUR desire, to do it because it's your own decision, it is ego-centric or wrong.

Even some devotees in the beginning were misunderstanding like this. They were saying that in order to serve properly somehow you need to be told by an "authority," because only then is it connected to Krsna. Not otherwise. At least, many years ago this party line was very popular. I don't know if we have finally gotten beyond all that.

But a bhakta is not interested in this type of impersonal thinking, and is never interested in doing away with his "ego." In his preaching, Srila Prabhupada never used this idea of ego as something to destroy, but rather he always referred to this idea of false ego as referring to this false identity of the embodied living entity with the material body as the self.

So, from studying Srila Prabhupada's words it becomes clear that there is no need to embrace this destructive philosophy of becoming selfless, because it will interfere with your developing love of God. As we have heard a thousand times, identity is always there, we just need to change with what we identify. Change from "I am this body, and this is my family, this is my country," to a more enlightened "I am an eternally existing individual spiritual entity, whose sole purpose is to serve the Creator."

We are all expansions of Krsna, teeny little spiritual sparks identical to Krsna qualitatively -- eternal, full of knowledge and bliss -- and we were created by Krsna (everyone of us) to serve Him for His pleasure. Krsna is omnipotent and complete, so He requires nothing outside to be happy. Yet He creates unlimitedly to enjoy loving experiences with His devotees.

The idea of becoming "egoless" and passively surrendering our will in order to somehow act selflessly is not very appealing to the devotee of Krsna. It is like death, passively waiting for God to act through you, always afraid to act on your own initiative. Krsna did not want Arjuna to be like that. He wanted him to use all of his warrior skills and intelligence to fiercely kill the enemy. His action was surrender because this fighting was what Krsna wanted him to do.

I was reading today and came across the following:

Devotee: "But isn't it better to give up ego altogether?

Srila Prabhupada: Why? That is mayavada [impersonalistic] philosophy. We want to make our ego purified. We want to understand, "I am a servant of Krishna." That egoism is wanted -- not that I make my egoism zero.

Devotee: Why do the Mayavadi impersonalists want to eradicate the ego?

Srila Prabhupada: The Mayavadis are disappointed in life, so they think, "Let me finish my ego. Let me become zero." But egoism cannot be finished. Because you are an individual soul, you will always have a sense of "I am." Now I am thinking I am Indian, you are thinking you are American, someone else is thinking he is Russian, and so on. But I am not Indian and you are not American: we are all part and parcel of Krishna. We have to come to this egoism, the real egoism -- that I am an eternal servant of Krishna."

"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be"

Anonymous said...

Advaita Prakasha: Lord Advaita Acarya by Shrila Ishana Nagara..

Now listen to this wonderful incident that occurred during the festival of Kali-puja. As all classes of people gathered at the temple of goddess Kali, there was customary dancing and singing. At that time Kamalaksha came and took His seat in the assembly. The King said, "Kamalaksha, what kind of behavior is this? Why didn't You offer obeisances to Kali?"

Advaita replied, "The Supreme Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He alone is My worshipable Lord. Those who follow various philosophies get bewildered, whereas those who are wise fix their minds on one worshipable Lord."

Hearing his son's scholarly statement, Tarka Pancanana gave arguments supporting the King. He explained to Kamalaksha, "You don't understand the final conclusion. The Supreme Brahman has many forms—this is the conclusion of the Vedas. All the demigods and demigoddesses are worshipable, and those who are envious of them are most sinful. In Treta-yuga even the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Ramacandra worshiped Devi to deliver Sita. Because Devi is the mother of the universe, she is most merciful. Those who engage in cultivating knowledge get liberation by worshiping her. Therefore You should offer obeisances to mother Kali to be free from all calamities and attain fulfillment of Your desires."

Kamalaksha said, "Listen, father. Please don't get angry, but unless there is only one worshipable Lord there will be many discrepancies. If one pours water on the root of a tree, then its branches and leaves are satisfied. Similarly, if one worships Narayana, the origin of all demigods and demigoddesses, then worship of all gods is complete. Bhagavati Devi is the external energy of Lord Vishnu, and by her potency the living entities are bewildered about the Absolute Truth. One who delights in the sacrifice of living entities is not worthy of worship. If she is the mother of the universe and all living entities are her offspring, then how will she be pleased by the sacrifice of her children?"

Kuvera said, "What benefit will You get from inappropriate arguments? You simply invite misfortune by blaspheming Devi. A king punishes the offenders and rewards the pious according to the laws of religion. Similarly, Devi gives liberation to saintly persons and leaves ordinary living entities in the ocean of ignorance. Killing animals for the purpose of sacrifice is not violence, because the animals are delivered and promoted to the heavenly planets."

Advaita Prabhu said, "When there is an easier method for achieving perfection, why should one separately endeavor to deliver his parents?"

In this way the father and son argued in various ways, and all the people in the assembly were amazed. As one's father is considered his worshipable Guru, Advaita Prabhu then stopped speaking out of respect. He said, "Dear father, please forgive My offense. I will now offer obeisances to Devi."

Saying this, He offered obeisances before the deity of Devi. At that time something amazing happened. Everyone present there was astonished to see the deity of Devi break to pieces. Because the deity was conscious, she was embarrassed when her master bowed down before her. The king along with his ministers and Kuvera Acarya were all struck with wonder on seeing that amazing event.

Kamalaksha, who is nondifferent from Hara and Hari, then disappeared from that place while chanting Gauranga's name. At the age of twelve He went to Shantipura, where He gradually studied the six branches of philosophy.

Praying at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and Shri Advaita, always desiring Their mercy, I, Ishana Nagara, narrate Shri Advaita Prakasha.

Anonymous said...

Ratha Yatra 2011: Subhadra Devi Enters Vrindavan (Gundica Temple)

Krsnakarunya: 'This is the second clip of the Pahandi Ceremony which took place outside the Gundica Temple on the third night of the Ratha Yatra Festival. Here you can witness Yogamaya Devi Sri Subhadraji brought down from her chariot by the Dayita-patis and as if floating, she quickly enters Vrindavan (Gundica Temple) after giving her loving glance to the assembled devotees.'

http://youtu.be/RbjWW_lWdYE

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.


07.05.14 Prahlada Maharaja to Sanda and Amarka

yatha bhramyaty ayo brahman
svayam akarsha-sannidhau
thata me bhidyate cetash
cakra-paner yadricchaya

O brahmanas [teachers], as iron attracted by a magnetic stone moves automatically toward the magnet, my consciousness, having been changed by His will, is attracted by Lord Vishnu, who carries a disc in His hand. Thus I have no independence.

Anonymous said...

Prabhupada, February 15, 1977, Mayapura..

Farm development is Krishna and Balarama. Krishna is tending cows, and Balarama is plowing. Therefore the plow and flute, flute for tending cows and plow for agriculture—Krishna-Balarama.
----------------------------------

Prabhupāda: Distribution.

Brahmānanda: Yes. I went to see it. Regularly people are coming. Even the taxi drivers.

Prabhupāda: Here also they are selling. They are paying sufficiently, khicuṛi and other, and they prepare very nice. This should be continued, prasāda distribution.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They say, “Prasādam is our secret weapon.”

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes. Yes. They say?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Many people are understanding now how we are defeating the enemy with prasāda. People become addicted.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Anonymous said...

Ratha Yatra 2011: Lord Jagannath Enters Vrindavan (Gundica Temple)

Krsnakarunya: 'After staying on His chariot for 2 nights outside the Gundica Temple, Sri Jagannath was brought down from His chariot on this third night of the Ratha Yatra Festival. Then just like His brother Baladeva, He rocked His way to the entrance of the Gundica Temple and with His lovely big round eyes, He showed everyone how He had become intoxicated by the love of the Vrajavasis.'

http://youtu.be/Ye3818xikhk

Anonymous said...

So Sanjaya recorded the Bhagavad-gita television, and then his spiritual master inserted it into the Mahabharata.

This Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna, and it was recorded by Sañjaya, by the grace of Vyasadeva. And then Vyasadeva put the conversation in the Mahabharata. (excerpt from lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.1, Bombay, March 21, 1974)

Originally this art was available to the individual person – they could see and hear things far away. Now that Kali Yuga has overwhelmed the conditioned souls, they have lost this subtle power of perception. Nature has externalized this and other abilities in a mechanical, and electronic way. Like for memory, we have tape recorder; for long distance travel, we have cars and airplanes, etc.

The soul has no need of any mechanical or electronic arrangements. The soul has no need of a gross material body of flesh and bones, stool, urine, blood, mucus, sweat and tears. Therefore also no need for eating, sleeping, defending and sex. All these struggles for sense gratification are a sort of punishment for the rebellious soul. It is like a criminal is confined in the prison and made to break rocks or do some other brutalizing hard labor. There is no need for this, but just to correct the errant citizens, the government arrests, isolates them in confinement and enforces hard labor on them.

Actually, the conditioned souls on this or any planet within this universe are all on death row, condemned to die, in one way or another. No one has been able to escape in the past, no one is escaping at the present, and no one will escape in the future. Every living creature from man down to the foolish moth flying into the glare of the fire – all are laboring hard to avoid birth, old age, disease and inevitable death. It is the planet of death. Instead of preparing to die, everyone is working hard for nothing, wasting time, deliberately IGNORING Death. It is definitely a FOOL’S PARADISE.

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada on a morning walk in 1974, spoke the following to Father Emmanuel Jungclaussen:

"The main point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God in this age. The easiest way is to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Rama and Krsna are names of God, and Hare is the energy of God. So when we chant the maha-mantra, we address God together with His energy.

This energy is of two kinds, the spiritual and the material. At present we are in the clutches of the material energy. Therefore we pray to Krsna that He may kindly deliver us from the service of the material energy and accept us into the service of the spiritual energy. That is our whole philosophy.

Hare Krsna means, "O energy of God, O God (Krsna), please engage me in Your service." It is our nature to render service. Somehow or other we have come to the service of material things, but when this service is transformed into the service of the spiritual energy, then our life is perfect."

Anonymous said...

SHRI HANUMAN

"All who hail, worship and have faith in Shri Rama as the Supreme Lord and the king of penance. By your mercy, you make all their difficult tasks very easy."-Hanuman Chalisa

Anonymous said...

Sanjaya said:

"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion."-Bhagavad Gita as it is 18.78

Anonymous said...

If any wonder exactly what and how transcendental sound vibrations manifest from the spiritual platform to the material, here is the answer.

Srila Prahbupada's transcendental sound vibration, chanting the Govindam Prayers from Sri Brahma-samhita.

http://youtu.be/1_W_zO91Li0

Anonymous said...

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
San Francisco, June 27, 1971

I thank you very much for your kindly participating in this great Ratha-yatra festival. I have already explained what is this Ratha-yatra festival. It is in commemoration of a grand visit by Lord Krsna along with His elder brother, Balarama, and His younger sister, Subhadra, in a solar eclipse ceremony at Kuruksetra. This occasion is the subject matter of this Ratha-yatra festival. Apart from these historical references in the matter of Ratha-yatra festival, there is another spiritual meaning, that the Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, and this body is just like ratha, or car. He is sitting in everyone’s heart. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart.’’

“I am giving everyone the intelligence as well as I am taking away the intelligence from everyone.’’ This double work is being done by the Supersoul. In one side He is helping how to realize self, how to realize God, and other side He is helping also to forget God. How is it that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as paramatma, is doing this double work? The sense is that if we want to forget God, God will help us in such a way that we’ll forget God life after life. But if we want to reestablish our relationship with God, from within He will help us in every way.

Our, this Krsna consciousness movement is the greatest welfare activities in the human society. We are giving information to every man, without any discrimination of cast, creed, or color, that every human being especially, not only human being, all living entities, including the animals, beasts, birds, trees, aquatics—everyone—they can achieve to the highest perfection of life by this Krsna consciousness.

Actually we have experienced that a child, a dog, an animal, everyone takes part in this movement. During the Lord Caitanya’s movement, when He passed through a great forest known as Jharikhanda… Central India there is a great forest. Along with Him, the tigers, the elephants, the deers, everyone danced and chanted Hare Krsna mantra. It is so nice, and it is so spiritual, the very vibration will immediately enthuse your ecstasy in spiritual consciousness.

But especially the extra intelligence of the human being can be utilized to realize Krsna. If we don’t do that, we are missing a great opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 2: “The Cosmic Manifestation”

Chapter Three

TEXT 18

“The materialists want to prolong life as much as possible because they have no information of the next life. They want to get the maximum comforts in this present life because they think conclusively that there is no life after death. This ignorance about the eternity of the living being and the change of covering in the material world has played havoc in the structure of modern human society.”

The materialist will argue that life in the tree and life in the man cannot be compared because the tree cannot enjoy life by eating palatable dishes or by enjoying sexual intercourse. In reply to this, the Bhagavatam asks whether other animals like the dogs and hogs, living in the same village with human beings, do not eat and enjoy sexual life. The specific utterance of Srimad-Bhagavatam in regard to “other animals” means that persons who are simply engaged in planning a better type of animal life consisting of eating, breathing and mating are also animals in the shape of human beings. A society of such polished animals cannot benefit suffering humanity, for an animal can easily harm another animal but rarely do good.

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.9.17

PURPORT

According to the Vedic injunctions, only an aggressor can be killed. If a person comes with an intent to kill, one can immediately take action and kill in self-defense. It is also stated that one can be killed if he comes to set fire to the home or to pollute or kidnap one's wife.

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.9.18

TRANSLATION

Intolerant of the offenses committed, the infuriated goddess Kālī flashed her eyes and displayed her fierce, curved teeth. Her reddish eyes glowed, and she displayed her fearsome features. She assumed a frightening body, as if she were prepared to destroy the entire creation. Leaping violently from the altar, she immediately decapitated all the rogues and thieves with the very sword with which they had intended to kill Jaḍa Bharata. She then began to drink the hot blood that flowed from the necks of the beheaded rogues and thieves, as if this blood were liquor. Indeed, she drank this intoxicant with her associates, who were witches and female demons. Becoming intoxicated with this blood, they all began to sing very loudly and dance as though prepared to annihilate the entire universe. At the same time, they began to play with the heads of the rogues and thieves, tossing them about as if they were balls.

PURPORT

It is evident from this verse that the devotees of goddess Kālī are not at all favored by her. It is goddess Kālī's work to kill and punish the demons. Goddess Kālī (Durgā) engages in decapitating many demons, dacoits and other unwanted elements in society. Neglecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, foolish people try to satisfy the goddess by offering her many abominable things, but ultimately when there is a little discrepancy in this worship, the goddess punishes the worshiper by taking his life. Demoniac people worship goddess Kālī to obtain some material benefit, but they are not excused of the sins performed in the name of worship. To sacrifice a man or animal before the deity is specifically forbidden.

Anonymous said...

Your good fortune truly gives me pleasure, Les Prabhu.

I very much respect and enjoy your intelligence, patience and qualified endurance.
----------------------------------

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala,
Part 83 CHAPTER NINETEEN

10.14.01 Brahma to Shri Krishna

Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord, You are the only worshipable Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore I offer my humble obeisances and prayers just to please You. O son of the king of the cowherds, Your transcendental body is dark blue like a new cloud, Your garment is brilliant like lightning, and the beauty of Your face is enhanced by Your gunja earrings and the peacock feather on Your head. Wearing garlands of various forest flowers and leaves, and equipped with a herding stick, a buffalo horn and a flute, You stand beautifully with a morsel of food in Your hand.

10.14.18 Brahma to Shri Krishna

Have You not shown me today that both You Yourself and everything within this creation are manifestations of Your inconceivable potency? First You appeared alone, and then You manifested Yourself as all of Vrndavana's calves and cowherd boys, Your friends. Next You appeared as an equal number of four-handed Vishnu forms, who were worshiped by all living beings, including me, and after that You appeared as an equal number of complete universes. Finally, You have now returned to Your unlimited form as the Supreme Absolute Truth, one without a second.

Anonymous said...

In a June 22, 1973 letter to Makhanlal prabhu, Srila Prabhupada wrote the following words:

"You have asked about whether nuclear devastation on this planet would effect the Sankirtana Movement. No, there is nothing that can stop the Sankirtana Movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His Holy Name be heard in every town and village. Neither can the demons devastate this planet independent of the will of Krsna. Nothing happens without His sanction. If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save Him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him.

For our parts we should just be determined to carry out our mission against all opposition, demons, nuclear war, whatever. The whole universe is finally subject to certain annihilation by the will of Krsna, but devotional service is eternal and is the only certain way one can save himself from devastation.

We can preach all over the world that the only way to be saved from collective and individual devastation is to take to the chanting of Hare Krsna. In short, this material world is a very precarious place therefore we should always chant Hare Krsna and seek Krsna's protection."

Anonymous said...

The Toilet Sweeper
a short story by

Sri Prahlad Chandra Brahmachari

Om Shanti, Om Shanti.
Jaya Ramakrishna! Jaya Ramakrishna! Jaya Ramakrishna!

All over India, in this land of India, the year 1382 has begun. And Premananda was asking me, "What is the reason for this changing of the year?"

There was once a great king named "Shakradit." He was a very noble-hearted soul. To test him, Bhagavan, taking the disguise of a Brahmin, went weeping to Shakradit and said,

Maharaj! I am about to become childless! My one and only son has been taken by a tiger! The tiger will eat him. I will lose my lineage. I asked the tiger, ‘Tiger, what do you want in exchange for my boy?’ The tiger said, ‘The king of this land is a very pious soul, a great wise man. If you can deliver his heart to me, then I will release your son.’ That is why, Maharaj, I have come running to you today."

King Shakradit, after thinking a bit, said, "Brahmin, your lineage will be assured if my heart is given.."

The Queen, the King’s children, they all came running to talk him out of it. But in spite of that, King Shakradit, without any hesitation, taking a knife in his hand, pierced his own breast and, laughing, went to give his heart to the Brahmin.

When he had struck his breast with the knife and stream of blood was flowing out, then in the sky there was the voice of God saying, "Blessed King Shakradit, for testing your religion I have come today disguised in the form of a Brahmin. From today on I proclaim this day all over India, ‘Shankranti,’ the last day of the year."

That is why it was the year 1381, and now it is 1382. The day after Shankranti is the first day of the year, the first of the month of Baishakh. And every Hindu, every type of person, in every kind of temple, on the first of Baishakh, the first day—they have a very beautiful festival.

This is our re-awakening. It is an awakening because it is waking up this ancient memory. The Hindu religion is a very liberal religion. And so today we say "Shankranti," believing that King Shakradit, king of all India, without hesitation, cheerfully gave his own heart to that appearance of the Brahmin.

Ramakrishna has said this: "Serve all creatures, be generous to all." And also Chaitanyadev, in our Hindu religion, has said: "Kindness to all, attachment to the Name of God, service to devotees. Listen, oh disciple, there is no true religion without this."

First one must love all mankind. Everyone becoming like brothers. This that we do, singing "Hare Krishna," or Ramakrishna’s name, or Bhagavan’s name, or Jesus Christ’s name, or the name of any other great man, there is no restriction. Someone is saying "Ram," someone is saying "Hari," someone is saying "Bhagavan," someone is saying "Ramakrishna," someone is saying "Jesus Christ," it is all one, it is all one thing. It is not different. As long as the mind stays in a low state, we see differences.

One day some devotees tested Ramakrishna. "Thakur, what is the greatness of the Name? If you will tell us by your own mouth, we will be very happy to hear it."

Today, in the year 1382, on the fourth day, Friday, sitting with this group of devotees in front of Ma Anandamayi, today I am revealing the words of Sri Sri Ramakrishna, venerable Devata. True stories.

What is there in caste?
What is there in birth?
Whose heart is noble,
He is a great man."

Indeed, everyone is born. Everyone dies. Caste. By being born there is a certain caste. What is there in birth? So many are being born, so many are dying! On this earth so many millions of creatures are coming, going, wandering around, leaving... what is there in that? "He whose heart is noble, he is a great man."

Ramakrishna used to tell this this story:

Anonymous said...

Ramakrishna used to tell this this story:

Once there was a Methor. There is one low-caste called "Methor" for cleaning toilets. There is "Methor" and "Methorani." The Methor cleans the King’s toilet, and the Methorani cleans the Queen’s toilet.

By chance one day the Methorani got sick. She had a fever. She said to her husband, "Dear, I won’t be able to go today. You go and clean the Queen’s toilet for me today."

But only the women were supposed to go there. The Methor spoke to the doorkeepers and they let him in.

The Methor was going to clean, or had already done a bit, when the Queen had to go to the bathroom. The Methor hid, standing behind a screen. When the Queen was going, so much fragrance was coming from her body! Sandalwood, musk—so much scent that the whole place became filled with it. Ah ha! What beauty! Truly a Queen, for it was God’s gift. Her beauty was dazzling to the eye, like lightning, as if one’s eyes were scorched. The Methor had never before seen such a beautiful woman.

Seeing this, the Methor is thinking: "Oh! What is this? I already have a wife, but how beautiful the Queen is! We are low caste, mere toilet sweepers." Then he said out loud:

"He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune.
He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune.
He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune."

It means, he who has no wife like this is a very unlucky fellow. In this way he became completely mad. Out on the roadside, going completely crazy, he only said, "He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune."

The Methorani was worried. It was evening, then seven at night. He should have been back by noon, but it is seven at night and he hasn’t come back yet.

Getting up in here feverish state she went after him to the King’s house. The doorkeepers said, "He left here in the morning. His mind seemed a bit disturbed. He was babbling incessantly and crying and dancing around. He went in the direction of the bazaar. Look that way."

Beyond the palace was a bazaar. She went on to the bazaar. Many shopkeepers told here, "Yes, a crazy man was walking around. Look that way, a little further."

The Methorani, going further, saw him sitting by a gutter saying only, "He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune." Only this. He says nothing else.

The Methorani quickly took some water—even with this fever, serving, nursing her husband—and washed his hands and feet and somehow brought him home. Getting him home, pouring water on his head into the night, and finally bringing him around somewhat to his normal condition, she asked him, "Alright, now how did you get yourself into such a state?"

Then the Methor said, "That thing for which I have become mad, can you give it to me?"

The Methorani said, "Tell me what it is. I will try. For the sake of your peace of mind I am prepared to give my life."

Anonymous said...

Then the Methor says, "I was going to clean the Queen’s toilet. How beautiful she is! What beautiful eyes, form, such dazzling beauty my eyes were scorched. What a fragrance she has! I want a wife like this! He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune ..." And again he lapsed back into his earlier state.

Then the Methorani says, "What fear? For this you went mad? The Queen is in the palm of my hand.

Tomorrow in the morning I will be able to get her for you. That which you wanted you will get."

The Methor thought to himself: "Men know men’s ways, women know women’s ways. Women understand each other’s inner feelings ..."

"Can you do it?"

"Of course I can. For this you have gone mad? Shame, shame! This is right within my grasp."

Then the Methor calmed down a bit and was peaceful and said, "I will get! Yes, I will get what I want."

How funny! "When she has said I will get her, then, by God, I will get her!"

His madness became better. The Methorani didn’t let him go to clean toilets. She said, "You stay at home. I am going to make everything okay. By tomorrow all the arrangements will be done."

The Methorani cleaned the King’s toilet. She cleaned the King’s toilet. Then, wrapping her cloth around her head she is standing there and crying.

The Queen asked, "Oh Methorani, what’s the matter with you? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?"

"No, Ma."

"Do you need something?"

"No, Ma."

"Is your husband sick?"

"No, Ma."

"So why are you crying? Your tears are falling on your breast! What is this?"

Then the Methorani said, "Mother, if you will forgive my offense, then I can speak what is in my heart."

"Yes, of course I’ll forgive you. Now tell me the truth."

Then the Methorani told the Queen the whole incident about her husband. "Ma, yesterday my husband came to clean the toilet. Smelling your fragrance, seeing your golden loveliness, your moon-like beauty, he has become completely mad, like a dwarf hoping for the moon. A low-caste Methor, who cleans toilets, he has become completely infatuated with you."

"Oh, Methorani, he is in love with me? Surely in some previous birth he must have had some relation with me. It’s alright, Methorani, here, take this 100 rupees and go buy a tulsi-wood mala from the bazaar. Also buy a nama-boli, a scarf with God’s name on it, and get some tilak mud from the Hari temple. Your husband will go to the bank of the Ganges, sit down, and without ceasing simply say:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

"Hare Krishna—he should say this on and on, taking care he doesn’t stop at all. After all, I am the Queen. I will tell the King that I want to go and see a holy man. He will give me permission right away. I will say, ‘There is a holy man sitting by the Ganges bank. I am going to see him.’ Going to see the holy man, I will fulfill his desires."

In accordance with the Queen’s command, the Methorani got the holy scarf, the gerua cloth, the tilak-mud from the Hari temple, and a tulsi-wood mala. Taking all these she went to her husband and said, "Husband, get up! Now you have to dress up as a holy man." She put the Hari Nam mala in his hand and told him: "You must repeat endlessly, ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare

Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.’"

"If I do this, dress up as a holy man, I will get the Queen?"

"Yes, you must disguise yourself as a holy man."

Anonymous said...

So, dressed up as a holy man, the Methor went to the Ganges bank. He had a desire for the Queen. He kept his aim completely on the Queen. At first one has a desire, then desirelessness comes. If one doesn’t start out with a desire, then dispassion will not come.

The Methor repeated the Name endlessly. Daily the Methorani would bring food for her husband to eat. On the first day he ate. The second day he ate. On the third day he wouldn’t eat anymore. Just continuously saying: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."

The Name IS Krishna, the form of Satchidananda. Beginningless beginning, Govinda, cause behind all causes. That which is the Name, that IS Krishna. Sing it without ceasing, with faith. Hari Himself is in the Name.

The Methor, that Methor who was so attached to his desire, who was keeping his aim so fixed on the image of the Queen while taking the name of God—within seven days, forgetting the Queen, he saw:

Holding flute in two hands,
Forest dweller, beautiful Shyam,
Stealer of Radha’s heart,
Dweller of Brindavan...

Krishna himself appeared to the heart of the Methor! No doubt the Methor is doing the name of God in a selfish way. But he doesn’t stop the name. He doesn’t sleep anymore! He doesn’t eat anymore!

It became known in that land that a certain sanyasi had come to the Ganges bank. He doesn’t pay any attention to anything. So many fruits, so much money, whatever is given to him is just lying in a heap. He simply has become absorbed in the Name. Immersed in the Name.

The King also went to see him. The Minister of State went too. The King, by his own impulse, said to the Queen, "Queen, you are my wife. Today by the Ganges bank a sanyasi has come, continuously absorbed in repeating God’s name. He doesn’t sleep, he doesn’t eat. He is all the time absorbed in the Name. Will you go and see him?"

"By your command," the Queen said. "If you command," she says, but the Queen is thinking to herself ... there are some impure thoughts in her mind.

A screened pathway was made from the King’s house to the side of the Ganges. The Queen will go to see the holy man. That day she dressed herself up doubly beautiful. She spreads the perfume on her body.

The Methor is continuously doing the Name, tears streaming from his eyes. The Queen went to him calling: "Oh Methor, Oh Methor! I have dressed you up as a holy man for my sake. Now I have come. Now you can enjoy me as you like. Oh Methor! Oh Methor!"

But is the Methor the same Methor anymore? When the Queen saw that he gave no response she shook him: "Methor! Oh Methor! She for whose sake you dressed up as a sadhu and took up Hare Krishna name, I have come! Now enjoy me!"

All of a sudden the Methor turned into black stone! Seeing this, the Queen began to cry. "What is this?

What has happened? What terrible destruction have I wrought?"

Then there was a voice from heaven. "Queen! Oh Queen Mother! Because of your command this lowly toilet sweeper, taking up the Divine Name, has gone beyond this world and attained salvation."

Anonymous said...

We all crave a little bit of wealth. If I am very poor and I get two rupees, then what do I lack? But if someone who has a thousand rupees gets a hundred, he says, "What’s this?" And if someone who has a hundred thousand rupees gets a thousand, to him that is nothing.

"By following your orders, this toilet sweeper, taking up the Name, (Sanskrit verses here ...) Having the vision of God, this toilet sweeper has attained liberation. His body has turned into black stone. On this black stone make an image of Krishna. Establish here his temple and do his worship. You will also attain to liberation."

Then the Queen began to cry. Tears started flowing and she said, (Hindi verses here...). Tulsidas has said this.

Sat Sanga. This ritual of taking a mantra is for making the mind still. Everything is within the mind.

Sri Sri Venerable Prem Kalpataru Ramakrishna, after telling this story to the devotees, went into samadhi. The devotees went to him and saying Hare Krishna Name in his ear, broke his samadhi.

Today I told this story of Ramakrishna’s. I think maybe everyone knows it. My devotees, Premananda, Yogananda, Nityananda, this boy Nityananda is very young. He is very anxious to see God. This is not a worldly thing. Is it something you can buy in the market place and give it out? For that reason he has taken a vow of silence and is sitting there. His purpose is to see God. If he has complete faith, of course he will see God.

"You can find Gurus by the thousand,

But a real disciple is rare."

There is only one disciple. Thakur Ramakrishna has said this. If he had not gotten Naren, that Naren who was a part of Siva, whose name was Vivekananda, who enmaddened the whole world, who aroused everyone’s fervor ...

Now, today, bowing to Sri Sri Ramakrishna, Venerable Devata, I end my speech here.

Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti.

Anonymous said...

In a June 22, 1973 letter to Makhanlal prabhu, Srila Prabhupada wrote the following words:

"You have asked about whether nuclear devastation on this planet would effect the Sankirtana Movement. No, there is nothing that can stop the Sankirtana Movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His Holy Name be heard in every town and village. Neither can the demons devastate this planet independent of the will of Krsna. Nothing happens without His sanction. If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save Him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him.

For our parts we should just be determined to carry out our mission against all opposition, demons, nuclear war, whatever. The whole universe is finally subject to certain annihilation by the will of Krsna, but devotional service is eternal and is the only certain way one can save himself from devastation.

We can preach all over the world that the only way to be saved from collective and individual devastation is to take to the chanting of Hare Krsna. In short, this material world is a very precarious place therefore we should always chant Hare Krsna and seek Krsna's protection."

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

10.11.39-44 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

Sometimes Krishna and Balarama would play on Their flutes, sometimes They would throw ropes and stones devised for getting fruits from the trees, sometimes They would throw only stones, and sometimes, Their ankle bells tinkling, They wood play football with fruits like bael and amalaki. Sometimes they would cover themselves with blankets and imitate cows and bulls and fight with one another, roaring loudly, and sometimes They would imitate the voices of the animals. In this way They enjoyed sporting, exatly like two ordinary human children.

Anonymous said...

What distinguishes the Vedic cooking from other types of cooking is the cook’s spiritual consciousness, his awareness that he is preparing an offering for God.

In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says:

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. (BG. 9.26)

We think a lot of things when we cook, but pleasing God is usually not one of them.

“So anyone who is chanting Hare Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyone who is cooking for Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyones who is typing for Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyone who is working in the field for Krsna, he is in samadhi. Because his consciousness is that “I am doing here for satisfaction of Krsna.” Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anusilanam, cultivation of Krsna knowledge favorably, not unfavorably. Then it is perfection. Bhaktir uttama. Anukulyena. Anyabhilasita-sunyam. When you cook, if you think, “Oh, this nice thing is being cooked. I shall eat it very nicely,” then it is not Krsna. But while cooking, if you think, “Let me do it very nicely so that Krsna will taste it,” it is Krsna consciousness.

The same thing. Activities is the same, but the consciousness is different. That is samadhi. So samadhi is not very extraordinary thing. One has to become simply serious and sincere to Krsna. Then he is in samadhi. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita…”

Anonymous said...

Adi-lila
Chapter Seventeen, Text 111

TRANSLATION
“In My last birth I was born in the family of cowherd men, and I gave protection to the calves and cows. Because of such pious activities, I have now become the son of a brahmana.”

PURPORT
The words of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the greatest authority, herein clearly indicate that one becomes pious simply by keeping cows and protecting them. Unfortunately, people have become such rascals that they do not even care about the words of an authority.

Prabhupada: So use this. This is one of the business. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. We don’t stop trade. We don’t stop food, producing food grains. But we want to stop these killing houses. It is very, very sinful. Therefore in Europe, so many wars. Every ten years, fifteen years, there is a big war and wholesale slaughter of the whole human kind. And these rascals, they do not see it. The reaction must be there. You are killing innocent cows and animals. Nature will take revenge. Wait for that. As soon as the time is ripe, the nature will gather all these rascals, and club, slaughter them. Finished. They will fight amongst themselves, Protestant and Catholic, Russian and France, and France and Germany. This is going on. Why? This is the nature’s law. Tit for tat. You have killed. Now you become killed. Amongst yourselves. They are being sent to the slaughterhouse. And here, you’ll create slaughterhouse, “Dum! dum!” and killed, be killed. You know. You showed me?

Anonymous said...

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.11.17

TRANSLATION

This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong. It covers the constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by the weapon of service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Do this with great care.

PURPORT

There is one easy weapon with which the mind can be conquered — neglect. The mind is always telling us to do this or that; therefore we should be very expert in disobeying the mind's orders. Gradually the mind should be trained to obey the orders of the soul. It is not that one should obey the orders of the mind. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say that to control the mind one should beat it with shoes many times just after awakening and again before going to sleep. In this way one can control the mind. This is the instruction of all the śāstras. If one does not do so, one is doomed to follow the dictations of the mind. Another bona fide process is to abide strictly by the orders of the spiritual master and engage in the Lord's service. Then the mind will be automatically controlled. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has instructed Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī:

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

When one receives the seed of devotional service by the mercy of the guru and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one's real life begins. If one abides by the orders of the spiritual master, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa he is freed from service to the mind.

Anonymous said...

The material world is called Devi-dhama, since it is under the auspices of
Durga devi. She is the presiding deity of all the fourteen planetary
systems from the lowermost Patala loka to the highest Brahma loka. She is
ten-armed, representing the tenfold fruitive activities described in the
Vedas and the ten directions that she guards. She rides on the lion,
representing her heroic prowess. As the subduer of vices she tramples down
Mahisasura. She is the mother of two sons, Karttikeya and Ganesa,
representing beauty and success. She is placed between Laksmi and
Sarasvati, representing opulence and knowledge. She is armed with the
twenty weapons, representing the various pious activities recommended by
the Vedas for suppression of vices. She holds the snake, representing the
beauty of destructive time. Such is Durga devi possessing all these
manifold forms.

Spiritual and Material Durga devi
*********************************
In the spiritual world, the pure devotees of Krishna are under the
influence of Yoga-maya or His internal potency. Under the influence of
Yoga-maya the devotees forget that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and enjoy various mellows with Him. Thus Yasoda in the mood of a
mother chastises Krishna, Vasudeva as a protective father tries to hide
Krishna from Kamsa, the gopas (cowherd boys) in the mood of friends ride
on His shoulders and the gopis (damsels of Vrindavana) make Him the object
of their affection.

The material world is described as a perverted reflection of the spiritual
world. Yoga-maya, which enables the devotees to enjoy with Krishna, is
reflected in the material world as Maha-maya and under its influence the
spirit souls try to enjoy separately from Krishna. This Maha-maya is
personified by Durga devi. The jiva or he spirit soul represents the
marginal potency of the Lord (tatastha sakti). Based on his free will, he
can choose to be controlled either by the internal potency (Yoga maya) or
the external potency (Maha-maya). Under the influence of Maha-maya the
living entities begins to identify himself with his material body and
tries very hard to enjoy with his material senses.

Anonymous said...

The prison house
****************

living entities who have misused their free
will and placed in this prison in the form of the material world. Durga
devi is owner of durga, which means a prison house. The wheel of karma is
the instrument of punishment at this place. She very kindly takes on the
duty of purifying these penalized jivas until the time they re-establish
their original relationship with Krishna. She is incessantly engaged in
discharging this by the will of Krishna.

Despite her role of a ‘prison-warden,’ Durga devi is the most merciful
mother of the material world. She is quickly pleased by little devotion
from her children and grants them many material boons. However, the boons
received from Durga devi in the shape of wealth, property, recovery from
illness, of wife and sons, should be realized as her deluding kindness.
She is really pleased when the forgetfulness of Krishna on the part of the
imprisoned jivas is removed and their natural tendency for the loving
service of Krishna is aroused, Durga devi herself then becomes the agency
of their deliverance.

The greatest devotee
********************
One of the names of Durga devi is Vaishnavi. Lord Shiva is considered to
be the greatest Vaishnava, and Durga devi, as the consort of Lord Shiva,
the greatest Vaishnavi. Devotees of Krishna pray that Durga devi gives
them her mercy by removing the deluding cover of illusion. The gopis of
Vrindavana very sincerely worshipped Durga devi by following the Katyani
vrata and received the benediction that they would get Krishna as their
husbands. The Srimad Bhagavatam describes a pastime in which worshippers
of Kali devi (a form of Durga devi) tried to sacrifice Jada Bharata, a
great devotee of Krishna. Intolerant of the offenses committed against a
Vaishnava, the infuriated goddess Kali assumed a frightening body. Leaping
violently from the altar, she immediately decapitated all the rogues and
thieves with the very sword with which they had intended to kill Jada Bharata.

Durga devi assumes many forms to perform many duties. As Parvati, the
consort of Lord Shiva, she is the mother of the universe. As Durga she
deludes the envious spirit soul into thinking that they can enjoy separate
from Krishna. As Kali she is death personified for the sinful demons. As
Candi she very kindly takes charge of those in the mode of ignorance and
gives them an opportunity to rise to the modes of passion and goodness. As
Vaisnavi she freely distributes pure devotional service and removes the
illusory covering of maya from sincere devotees thus enabling them to
re-establish their eternal relationship with Krishna.

In the Brahma-Samhita (5.44), Lord Brahma states, “The external potency,
maya, who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit [spiritual] potency,
is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and
destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord
Govinda, in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.”

In Srimad Bhagavatam (10.2.11-12,10) Lord Krishna blessed Mayadevi by
saying, “In different places on the surface of the earth, people will give
you different names, such as Durga, Bhadrakali, Vijaya, Vaisnavi, Kumuda,
Candika, Krsna, Madhavi, Kanyaka, Maya, Narayani, Isani, Sarada and
Ambika. By sacrifices of animals, ordinary human beings will worship you
gorgeously, with various paraphernalia, because you are supreme in
fulfilling the material desires of everyone.”

Anonymous said...

Srila Prabhupada ..
Sept 9, 1972 letter to Krsna Dasa prabhu:

"My Godbrothers always discouraged me but I did not give up, I am doing my duty and always keeping my spiritual master in front. Even there is some difficulty or hardship, or even my godbrothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is my weakness."

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

10.13.05-6 Krishna to the Cowherd Boys

My dear friends, just see how this riverbank is extremely beautiful because of its pleasing atmosphere. And just see how the blooming lotuses are attracting bees and birds by their aroma. The humming and chirping of these bees and birds is echoing throughout the beautiful trees in the forest. Also, here the sands are clean and soft. Therefore, this must be considered the best place for our sporting and pastimes.

I think we should take our lunch here, since we are already hungry because the time is very late. Here the calves may drink water and go slowly here and there and eat the grass.

10.13.08 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

Like the whorl of a lotus flower surrounded by its petals and leaves, Krishna sat in the center, encircled by lines of His friends, who all looked very beautiful. Every one of them was trying to look forward toward Krishna, thinking that Krishna might look toward him. In this way they all enjoyed their lunch in the forest.

10.13.11-13 Shukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit

Krishna is yajna-bhuk - that is, He eats only offerings of yajna - but to exhibit His childhood pastimes, He now sat with His flute tucked between His waist and His tight cloth on His right side and with His horn bugle and cow-driving stick on His left. Holding in His hand a very nice preparation of yogurt and rice, with pieces of suitable fruit between His fingers, He sat like the whorl of a lotus flower, looking forward toward all His friends, personally joking with them and creating jubilant laughter among them as he ate. At that time, the denizens of heaven were watching, struck with wonder at how the Personality of Godhead, who eats only in yajna, was now eating with His friends in the forest.

Anonymous said...

SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI 2011

MONDAY AUGUST 22

Srila Prabhupada, Let us always be strive to hear your transcendental divine instructions and ambrosial voice. You have brought this sublime transcendental sound from the spiritual world.

“… This chanting of Hare Krishna, this transcendental vibration is not any material thing. It is imported from the transcendental abode, golokera. Goloka means the transcendental abode of Krishna. Golokera prema-dhana.

From there, the transcendental abode of Krishna. Just like the sunshine, wherefrom it has come? From the sun planet. Everyone knows it. Although you cannot go there, it is far, far beyond your reach, but you can understand that the sunshine is coming from the sun globe. There is no doubt about it. Similarly this vibration, this shining, is coming from Krishna, Goloka. Golokera prema-dhana. And prema-dhana means this chanting is in love with Krishna. Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,…”

Sometimes He descends personally, and sometimes He sends His bona fide representative in the form of His son, or servant, or Himself in some disguised form…

“…When there are too many asuras in the world, then it becomes a hell for those who are devotees of the Lord. Due to the growth of the asuras, the mass of people who are generally devoted to the Lord by nature and the pure devotees of the Lord, including the demigods in higher planets, pray to the Lord for relief, and the Lord either descends personally from His abode or deputes some of His devotees to remodel the fallen condition of human society, or even animal society. Such disruptions take place not only in human society but also among animals, birds or other living beings, including the demigods in the higher planets..”

Anonymous said...

In an October 7, 1968 letter to Tosana Krishna prabhu, Srila Prabhupada wrote:

"Regarding your question about this planet and Krishna's coming here, you may note that Krishna comes within this universe once in one day of Brahma. Duration of Brahma's day is very very long, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita - 432 crores of years forms the duration of 12 hours of Brahma's day. And similarly, there are 12 hours of night, so after 864 crores of years, Krishna comes in this universe, and whenever He comes, He of course, appears on this planet, that is the fortune of the people of this planet.

We should know very clearly that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead...the original name of this planet is Bharatavarsa, and in the Vedic literature, it is stated that anyone who takes birth on this planet, they are very fortunate. Because it is the special planet where Krishna descends when He comes."

Anonymous said...

Sweetest Description of Janmastami-lila

From Ananda Vrindavan Champu by Srila Kavi Karnapura

Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, "Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth."

The time for an appearance of the Lord coincided with two internal desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. First the Lord desired to descend on earth to increase the fortune of Yasoda and Nanda. Also at that time Krishna wanted to relish the sweet mellow of smgara rasa (paramour love) while enacting His worldly pastimes. For these two reasons the Lord appeared within the material creation on Bhuloka, (earth planet), along with His parents, friends, and other eternal associates.

Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, "Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth."

The time for an appearance of the Lord coincided with two internal desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. First the Lord desired to descend on earth to increase the fortune of Yasoda and Nanda. Also at that time Krishna wanted to relish the sweet mellow of smgara rasa (paramour love) while enacting His worldly pastimes. For these two reasons the Lord appeared within the material creation on Bhuloka, (earth planet), along with His parents, friends, and other eternal associates.

Sri Nanda, Yasoda, and others appeared in Brhadvana (Mahavana) before the Lord. The gopas, gopis, and other eternally liberated associates appeared after the Lord. Then those who had attained perfection by sadhana, namely the sruti-caris and muni-caris, took birth in Vrindavan.

Learning of Krishna's imminent appearance, the earth personified, feeling like a wife happily greeting her husband after a long separation, immersed in unlimited joy. At the time of Krishna's birth the general mass of people tasted the inner bliss that devotees forever relish. Auspicious signs abounded everywhere. As Visnu's conchshell Pancajanya opens in a clockwise fashion, similarly, auspicious sacrificial fires glowed in all directions. Pure gentle breezes brought a refreshing coolness like devotees who satisfy and sanctify everyone with their calm, sweet, and affectionate behavior.

Anonymous said...

The whole atmosphere became as completely purified as the heart of a devotee. The devotees once again found peace and prosperity in worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Hari. Fruits filled the jubilant trees. But the envious demons exhibited various inauspicious signs of degradation such as rapidly aging bodies and symptoms of imminent death. The desire vines of the celestial denizens seemed to be hanging in the air as if eager to produce fruits. At that time all the directions became felt as pure and joyful as the mind of a devotee who has received the mercy of Lord Hari. Just as gems, mantras, or medicines can a remove a poisonous disease from the body of a man, the advent of the Lord relieved the world from the contamination of material existence and the sinful effect of the demons. Happiness gradually replaced the distress in everyone's hearts.

The bodies of all creatures manifested extraordinary beauty and youthful vitality. Men felt extremely joyful and displayed virtuous qualities. Throughout the world people behaved cordially and interacted amicably. Happiness twinkled in everyone's eye. At the end of Dvapara-yuga, which completely destroys faults and doubts, an auspicious, favorable, obstacle-free time appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon in Bhadra month. Just at that sweet moment the Rohini Naksatra, along with the good qualities of the moon and an auspicious conjunction of stars called Ayusman, appeared in the sky to give shelter to gentle persons.

As the living entity comes out from the womb of his mother and the moon appears on the lap of the eastern direction, Yogesvara Sri Krishna, the personification of complete bliss, appeared amidst great festivities. As the moon appears in the lap of the eastern direction, which is like a beautiful bride, Krishna manifested the wonderful pastime of His appearance out of His love and compassion for the conditioned souls.

Due to austerities performed in previous lives, Vasudeva and Devaki received the opportunity to momentarily relish parental affection for Lord Sri Krishna when He appeared before them in His form as Vasudeva. Thereafter in fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva brought Vasudeva Krishna to Gokula. There the Supreme Lord appeared as Govinda before Nanda and Yasoda, His eternal parents who have been smothering Him with the sweetest form of parental love since time immemorial. The four symbols of Visnu (sankha, cakra, gada, padmd) adorned His hands and feet. The flute, flower garland, and kaustubha mani, although present within Him, had not yet manifested.

In fear of cruel Kamsa, Vasudeva decided to transfer all his wives except Devaki to Gokula. He sent Rohini to the house of Vrajaraja Nanda. By the sweet will of the Lord, Yogamaya arranged for the seventh child of Devaki (Balarama) to enter the womb of Rohini. As a result, Balarama appeared in the home of Vrajaraja Nanda before the birth of Krishna.

Lord Hari, who is bliss personified, appeared in the home of Nanda Maharaja, the king of Vrindavan for three reasons: to engage the self satisfied sages in devotional service, to please the devotees by performing sweet transcendental pastimes, and to relieve the earth's burden caused by the demons. At the time of His majestic birth Krishna employed His inconceivable powers to appear in a body of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Everyone in the maternity room swelled with joy upon seeing the Lord's exquisite transcendental form that looked like a creeper of beauty.

Mother Yasoda resembled a lake of spiritual ecstasy in which a brilliant blue lotus of personified bliss had appeared. Neither the wind nor the bees relished the fragrance of that blue lotus. That unborn lotus was never touched by the waves of the modes of nature. Even Lord Brahma could not see it, what to speak of ordinary men.

Anonymous said...

After Yasoda and her family members fell asleep in the maternity room, Hari cried beautifully like a newborn baby. His crying sounded like the maha-vakya omkara announcing the auspicious arrival of His pastimes. Omkara is a transcendental vibration that had previously emanated from the mouth of Lord Brahma. When the ladies of Vrindavan heard the sweet sound of Krishna's crying, they woke up and ran to see the Lord. With the mellow of their matchless overflowing affection they anointed His body.

The natural fragrance of Krishna's body smelled just like musk. After the ladies bathed Krishna hi sweet ambrosia, He looked cleansed and beautiful. Then they smeared His body with fragrant sandalwood pulp. The presiding deity of the house sent a campaka flower resembling the flame of a lamp into the maternity room to worship that ornament of the three worlds. With the strength of His little arms, delicate as the tender leaves of a tree, Krishna made all the lamps in the maternity room look like a garland of lotus flower buds.

The ladies of Vrindavan saw baby Krishna like a blossoming flower made of the best of blue sapphires, or like a newly unfurled leaf of a tamala tree. Krishna looked like a fresh rain cloud decorated with the musk tilaka of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. The ointment of the greatest auspiciousness lined His eyes. His presence filled the maternity room with good fortune. Although a mere baby, Krishna had a head full of curly hair. To hide the unique signs on His hands (goad, fish, conch etc.) the Lord folded His delicate petal-like fingers into His lotus palm. At that time Krishna laid on His back with His eyes closed.

Mother Yasoda awoke amidst the joyous chattering of the elderly gopis. Leaning over the bed she admired her gorgeous son. But upon noticing her own reflection on Krishna's body, she imagined it another woman. Thinking that a witch had assumed her form to kidnap Krishna, Yasoda became bewildered and yelled, "Get out of here! You go away!" Spontaneously she cried out to Nrsimhadeva to protect her precious son. Beholding Krishna's tender face, Yasoda showered tears of affection that looked like an offering of a pearl necklace.

Yasoda saw Krishna's body as a mound of dark blue musk, softer than the butter churned from the milk ocean. Overflowing with nectar, His charming body appeared like the foam of milk, but being dark blue in color it seemed the foam was full of musk juice. Admiring the supremely delicate form of her son, Yasoda worried about His safety and feared the touch of her body might hurt his tender body.

As she leaned over the bed Yasoda bathed Krishna with the milk dripping from her breasts. The elderly gopis instructed Yasoda how to caress the baby in her lap, and affectionately push the nipple of her breast into Krishna's mouth to feed Him. Due to Yasoda's intense love, personified bliss flowed from her breasts as steady streams of milk. When milk sometimes spilled out of Krishna's bimba fruit red lips onto His cheeks, Mother Yasoda would wipe His face with the edge of her cloth. After feeding her son, Yasoda gazed affectionately at Him in wonder.

She saw her child's body as made of dazzling blue sapphires. His mouth resembled a red bimba fruit and His hands and feet looked like exquisite rubies. Krishna's nails shone like precious gems. In this way, Yasoda thought her child was completely made of jewels. Then she perceived that His naturally reddish lips looked like bandhuka flowers, His hands and feet resembled Java flowers, His nails looked like maJlika flowers. Yasoda then thought, "Krishna's whole body seems to be made of blue lotus flowers. He does not appear to be mine." After thus deliberating within herself Yasoda became stunned in amazement.

Anonymous said...

The beautiful, soft curly hairs on the right side of Krishna's chest resembled the tender stems of a lotus. Seeing the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, Yasoda thought it was breast milk that had previously spilled out of His mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove these 'milk stains' with the edge of her cloth. Struck with wonder, Yasoda thought this must be the sign of a great personality. Observing the sign of Laksmi (a small golden line) on the left side of Krishna's chest, Yasoda thought a small yellow bird had made a nest amidst the leaves of a tamala tree. Could this be a streak of lightning resting on a rain cloud, or could it be the golden streaks marking a black gold-testing stone? Krishna's delicate, leaf-like hands and feet, glowing pink like the rising sun, looked like clusters of lotus flowers floating in the Yamuna.

Sometimes Yasoda saw the curly, dark blue locks of baby Krishna as a swarm of bumblebees surrounding His face. Intoxicated from drinking too much honey nectar, the bees just hovered in the sky. His thick, beautiful blue hair appeared like the dark night. The two lotus eyes of Krishna looked like a pair of blue lotus buds. His cheeks resembled two huge bubbles floating in a lake of liquefied blue sapphires. Krishna's attractive ears looked like a pair of fresh unfurled leaves growing on a blue creeper.

The tip of Krishna's dark nose appeared like the sprout of a tree, and His nostrils looked like bubbles in the Yamuna River, the daughter of the sun god. His lips resembled a pair of red Java flower buds. Krishna's chin rivaled a pair of ripe, redjambu fruits. Seeing the extraordinary beauty of her son fulfilled the purpose of her eyes and submerged Yasoda in an ocean of bliss. The elderly Vrajavasi ladies addressed Vrajaraja Nanda, "O most fortunate one, you fathered a son!" Previously Nanda Maharaja had felt deeply aggrieved over his long-standing inability to obtain a son. His heart was like a small lake that had completely dried up during a long hot summer. But when Nanda Maharaja heard of his son's birth he felt as if the dry lake of his heart had been blessed with a sudden downpour of nectar. The gentle sound of Krishna's voice removed all his grief and lamentation. Now he bathed in the rains of bliss, swam in the ocean of nectar, and felt embraced by the joyful stream of the celestial Ganges.

Eager to see his son, Nanda's body thrilled with astonishment and waves of ecstasy as he stood outside the maternity room. Because he had accumulated heaps of pious activities, it appeared that the King of Vrindavan was now shaking hands with the personification of pious deeds. Anxiously standing in the background, Yogamaya induced Nanda Maharaja to enter the maternity room. He rushed in to see his son, the personified seed of condensed bliss. It seemed that all the auspiciousness of the three worlds now resided within Krishna, the original cause of everything. Nanda saw his son as a perfectly charming person. The kajala around Krishna's eyes looked like lines on a black creeper of beauty. As the very embodiment of Nanda's good fortune, Sri Krishna bloomed like a beautiful flower in a garden of desire trees.

The aparajita flower is compared to the body of the Queen of Vrindavan. Her son is like the representative of the Upanisads that are compared to the fruit of the desire creepers. By seeing his glorious son Nanda felt that he had attained happiness, perfection, and the fulfillment of all his desires. Meeting that embodiment of bliss overwhelmed Nanda with immeasurable satisfaction. He stood motionless, stunned; his hair stood erect and tears flowed from his eyes. He appeared like a person carved in stone or a figure drawn in a painting. For some time Nanda Maharaja remained in this semi-conscious state like a sleeping man about to awaken.

Anonymous said...

Upananda, Sunanda, and other relatives felt extremely joyful while observing the best ofbrahmanas perform the rites of purification for Krishna's birth. To insure his son's welfare Nanda Maharaja donated newborn calves to each and every brahmana, thus turning their homes into abodes of surabhi cows. These cows had gold and silver plated horns and hooves, and jeweled necklaces adorning their necks. In addition, Vrajapati Nanda filled the courtyards of their homes with hills of gold, jewels, and sesame seeds. While Nanda distributed charity, the kamadhenus, touch- stones, and desire-trees lost their power to produce valuable items. Even the jewel-producing oceans lost their stock of jewels, and the goddess of fortune, the abode of lotuses, had but one lotus in her hand. The auspicious news of Krishna's wonderful appearance spread in all directions by word of mouth. Delight danced in the hearts of Nanda, his brothers Upananda and Sunanda, and all the other gopas. The gopas brought many varieties of delicious dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter, wet cheese, and hard cheese in jewel-studded pots. The pots were tied to the ends of bamboo poles with jute straps and carried on their shoulders. Bedecked with many precious jeweled ornaments, the gopas appeared very handsome. They dressed in beautiful yellow cloth defeating the brilliance of lightning, and held staffs topped with gold and jewels in their lotus hands. As a great ocean spreads its waves in all directions, the birth of Krishna filled the Vrajavasis with unbounded bliss. The gopas and gopis enjoyed a grand festival by happily eating and by splashing each other's bodies with a mixture of yogurt, butter, milk, and condensed milk. The society girls visiting Nanda Maharaja's house experienced more happiness than they had ever felt since their birth. Their minds saturated with joy and satisfaction. Hearing the delightful description of Krishna's birth carried away the chariots of their minds and made them abandon all other duties. They became possessed with the desire to see Krishna.

Sparkling rubies hung from the necklaces adorning the society girls. Their diamond-studded armlets shown more beautifully than drops of crystal clear water. Their jewel inlaid golden bangles boasted unparalleled elegance. For this unique festival they took out some highly ornamental waist-belts from their jewel boxes and tied them around their hips. The sweet jingling of the waist-bells resting on their broad hips enhanced the beauty of these society girls. They attracted the minds of everyone with their bulky golden anklets, loosened hair braids, and graceful gait, which resembled the smooth gliding of swans. Their minds entered a state of enchantment as they gazed upon the captivating beauty of Krishna's transcendental body. To worship Krishna they brought golden trays full of auspicious articles such as fruits, flowers, yogurt, durva grass, uncooked rice, and jewel bedecked lamps. They covered the offering plates with splendid yellow silk cloth and held them in their soft lotus hands. Their jeweled ankle-bells vibrated pleasantly as they walked.

Anonymous said...

Beholding the astounding beauty of the delicate baby, the society girls considered the purpose of their eyes fulfilled. They perceived Krishna's perfect birth to be like the appearance of the leaves of an important herbal medicine. Krishna resembled a blue lotus floating hi the lake of His parent's affection. After bestowing their blessings for Krishna's prosperity, they worshiped Krishna with fresh flowers and a constant shower of loving glances. With great enthusiasm the society girls glorified Vrajesvari Yasoda since she had attained the essence of all good fortune by having Krishna as her son. Leaving the maternity room, the society girls entered the assembly hall of Nanda Maharaja's palace. Their faces looked exceedingly beautiful as they sung melodious songs, which resembled the soft sweet humming of bees moving amidst a cluster of lotus flowers. All the guests bathed in a nectar shower produced by these soothing sounds. Overwhelmed with love, they filled then- lotus palms with fragrant oil, turmeric paste, and fresh butter and started smearing each other's faces and bodies. They looked very attractive with then* smiling faces and glittering white teeth.

Then: red lips seemed more beautiful than red bandhuka flowers. This incredible display of elegance smashed the pride of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. Carried away with joy over Krishna's birth, they fearlessly threw cheese balls, butter, and yogurt at each other. One could mistake the white balls of cheese for hailstones, solidified moonlight, or white mud from the floor of the milk ocean. Then they showered each other with buttermilk, aromatic oils, and water mixed with turmeric.

Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds hi specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ensemble inspired the society girls to sing and dance in mirth and merriment. Though not good singers, by the will of the Lord they sang with great virtuoso. Then" wonderful songs filled Nanda Maharaja's heart with joy. The combined vibrations of brahmanas' chanting Vedic hymns, the recitation of Purank lore, and the panegyrists' prayers transformed the ethers into sabda brahman,

The joy of Krishna's birth celebration taxed the drains of Nanda's capital city as they swelled to the brim with milk, yogurt, and other auspicious liquids. Soon rivers of this nectar flooded the streets of the town and permeated the entire atmosphere with a sweet fragrance. Disguising themselves as birds, the demigods descended to Vrajapura to happily drink the flood of nectar. The Vrajavasis decorated their cows with gold and jeweled ornaments. Then in great excitement they smeared them with oil, fresh butter, and turmeric paste. Beholding Krishna in their hearts, these fortunate cows looked like the essence of the earth's auspicious-ness. The whole world resounded with their jubilant bellowing. Absorbed in the ecstasy of Krishna's birth, they forgot about eating and drinking.

The festival drowned the gopis in an ocean of joy. After offering oil, vermilion, garlands, and utensils in charity to all the assembled gopis, Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, asked them to bless Krishna, Upon completion of the sacrifice, Upananda and the other relatives felt constant happiness while taking their baths. Keeping the King of Vrindavan in the front, Nanda's relatives offered opulent cloth, jeweled ornaments, tambula, garlands, and sandalwood pulp to the guests. Then they humbly requested all in attendance to bless that wonderfully auspicious boy who had just appeared in Vrindavan.

Anonymous said...

Letters from Srila Prabhupada

Cawnpore
12th July, 1947

Mahatma Gandhijee
Bhangi Colony
New Delhi.

Dear Friend Mahatmajee,

Please accept my respectful Namaskar. I am your unknown friend but I had to write to you at times and again although you never cared to reply them. I sent you my papers "Back to Godhead" but your secretaries told me that you had very little time to read the letters and much less for reading the magazines. I asked for an interview with you but your busy secretaries never cared to reply this. Anyway as I am your very old friend although unknown to you in order to bring you to the rightful position deserved by you. As a sincere friend I must not deviate from my duty towards a friend like your good self.

I tell you as a sincere friend that you must immediately retire from active politics if you do not desire to die an inglorious death. You have 125 years to live as you have desired to live but if you die an inglorious death it is no worth. The honour and prestige that you have obtained during the course of your present life time, were not possible to be obtained by any one else within the living memory. But you must know that all these honours and prestiges were false in as much as they were created by the Illusory Energy of Godhead called the Maya. By this falsity I do not mean to say that your so many friends were false to you nor you were false to them. By this falsity I mean illusion or in other words the false friendship and honours obtained thereby were but creation of Maya and therefore they are always temporary or false as you may call it. But none of you neither your friends nor yourself knew this truth.

Now by the Grace of God that illusion is going to be cleared and thus your faithful friends like Acharya Kripalini and others are accusing your inability at the present moment to give them any practical programme of work as you happened to give them during your glorious days of non-co-operation movement. So you are also in a plight to find out a proper solution for the present political tangle created by your opponents. You should therefore take a note of warning from your insignificant friend like me, that unless you retire timely from politics and engage yourself cent per cent in the preaching work of Bhagwat Geeta, which is the real function of the Mahatmas, you shall have to meet with such inglorious deaths as Mussolini, Hitlers, Tojos, Churchills or Llyoyd Georges met with.

You can very easily understand as to how some of your political enemies (both Indian and English) have deliberately cheated you and have broken your heart by doing the same mischief for which you have struggled so hard for so many years. You wanted chiefly Hindu/Moslem unity in India and they have tactfully managed to undo your work, by creation of the Pakishtan and India separately. You wanted freedom for India but they have given permanent dependence of India. You wanted to do something for the upliftment of the position of the Bhangis but they are still rotting as Bhangis even though you are living in the Bhangi colony. They are all therefore illusions and when these things will be presented to you as they are, you must consider them as God-sent. God has favoured you by dissipating the illusion you were hovering in, and by the same illusion you were nursing those ideas as Truth(?).

Anonymous said...

You must know that you are in the relative world which is called by the sages as Dwaita i.e. dual -- and nothing is absolute here. Your Ahimsa is always followed by Hinsa as the light is followed by darkness or the father is followed by the son. Nothing is absolute truth in this dual world. You did not know this neither you ever cared to know this from the right sources and therefore all your attempts to create unity were followed by disunity and Ahimsa. Ahimsa was followed by Himsa.

But it is better late than never. You must know now something about the Absolute Truth. The Truth with which you have been experimenting so long is relative. The relative truths are creations of the 'Daivi Maya' qualified by the three modes of Nature. They are all insurmountable as is explained in the Bhagwat Geeta (7/14). The Absolute Truth is the Absolute Godhead.

In the Katha Upanishad it is ordered that one must approach the bonafide Guru who is not only well versed in all the scriptures of the world but is also the realised soul in Brahman the Absolute -- in order to learn the science of Absolute Truth. So also it is instructed in the Bhagwat Geeta as follows:-

Tad Biddhi Pranipatena
Pariprasnena Sebaya
Upadekshyanti Tad Jnanam
Jnanina Tatwadarshina (4/34)

But I know that you never underwent such transcendental training except some severe penances which you invented for your purpose as you have invented so many things in the course of experimenting with the relative truths. You might have easily avoided them if you had approached the Guru as abovementioned. But your sincere efforts to attain some Godly qualities by austerities etc surely have raised you to some higher position which you can better utilise for the purpose of the Absolute Truth. If you, however, remain satisfied with such temporary position only and do not try to know the Absolute Truth, then surely you are to fall down from the artificially exalted position under the laws of nature. But if you really want to approach the Absolute Truth and want to do some real good to the people in general all over the world, which shall include your ideas of unity, peace and non-violence, then you must give up the rotten politics immediately and rise up for the preaching work of the philosophy and religion of "Bhagwat Geeta" without offering unnecessary and dogmatic interpretations on them. I had occasionally discussed this subject in my paper "Back to Godhead" and a leaf from the same is enclosed herewith for your reference.

I would only request you to retire from politics at least for a month only and let us have discussion on the Bhagwat Geeta. I am sure, thereby, that you shall get a new light from the result of such discussions not only for your benefit but for the benefit of the world at large -- as I know that you are sincere, honest and moralist.

Awaiting your early reply with interest.
Yours sincerely,
Abhay Charan De
Enclosure -- one leaf from Back to Godhead.

Anonymous said...

No bombs hit Delhi; in fact, the planes didn't make it past the border before returning with engine trouble. I figured something like that would happen, for we were with Srila Prabhupada. Later, as the war progressed, some Pakistani planes actually did make it into India. Indian citizens were frightened.

The next day two men were visiting Prabhupada and they asked, "Why didn't you cover the windows? Weren't you afraid of being bombed?"

Prabhupada said, "It is not under our control. If Krishna wants to kill, who can save, and if Krishna wants to save, who can kill?"

The men didn't understand. "But what if the bomb would --"

"You cannot even control your stomachache, your toothache," Prabhupada interrupted: "If I should see the bomb coming overhead" -- Prabhupada looked, wide-eyed and trusting toward the sky -- "then I will see the bomb as Krishna." He continued to look up, his arms spread wide open, "I will see the bomb as Krishna."
.
"If a devotee is slapped by Govinda,
he doesn't take it as an insult, but takes it as Krishna's mercy."
--A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Anonymous said...

"A man in Krishna consciousness does not walk around in a fog," Srila Prabhupada tells us. "No. He works well and with the touch of an expert. When one enters Krishna consciousness, he becomes a poet and writes hymns to God."

Anonymous said...

Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

10.21.10-11 The Gopis Glorify Krishna's Flute

O friend, Vrndavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.

Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Maharaja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.

10.21.13 The Gopis Glorify Krishna's Flute

Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of Krishna's mouth. The calves, their mouths full of milk from their mothers' moist nipples, stand still as they take Govinda within themselves through their tear filled eyes and embrace Him within their hearts.

10.21.14 The Gopis Glorify Krishna's Flute

O mother, in this forest all the birds have risen onto the beautiful branches of the trees to see Krishna. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and they are not attracted by any other sound. Surely these birds are on the same level as great sages.

10.21.16-17 The Gopis Glorify Krishna's Flute

In the company of Balarama and the cowherd boys, Lord Krishna is continually vibrating His flute as He herds all the animals of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded himself out of love. He is rising high and constructing out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella for the sake of his friend.

The aborigine women of the Vrndavana area become disturbed by lust when they see the grass marked with reddish kunkuma powder. Endowed with the color of Krishna's lotus feet, this powder originally decorated the breasts of His beloveds, and when the aborigine women smear it on their faces and breasts, they give up all their anxiety.

10.21.20 Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit

Thus narrating to one another the playful pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He wandered about in the Vrndavana forest, the gopis became fully absorbed in thoughts of Him.

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