Durga Puja, Shalimar Bagh
Durga
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Shalimar Bagh
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, U & V Block, Shalimar Bagh
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Sec - 17 Rohini
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Sec - 17 Rohini
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Tagore Park
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Timarpur
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Kashmere Gate
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Karol Bagh
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Durga Protima, Kali Bari
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Protima, Shiv Mandir - C.R. Park
Durga
------
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा, meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; Bengali: দুর্গা, durga) or Maa Durga (Bengali: মা দুর্গা, ma durga, meaning "Mother Durga") "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
An embodiment of creative feminine force (Shakti), Durga exists in a state of svātantrya (independence from the universe and anything/anybody else, i.e., self-sufficiency) and fierce compassion. Kali is considered by Hindus to be an aspect of Durga. Durga is also the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is thus considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, goddess Parvati. Durga manifests fearlessness and patience, and never loses her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
The word Shakti means divine feminine energy/force/power, and Durga is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karuɳamayi (karuɳa = kindness). Durga's darker aspect Kali is represented as the consort of the god Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing.
Durga Slays Mahishasura, Mahabalipuram sculpture.
As a goddess, Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar, etc.
According to a narrative in the Devi Mahatmya story of the Markandeya Purana text, Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight an asura (an inhuman force/demon) named Mahishasura. He had unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds, and he could not be defeated by any man or god, anywhere. The gods went to Brahma, who had given Mahishasura the power not to be defeated by a man. Brahma could do nothing. They made Brahma their leader and went to Vaikuntha — the place where Vishnu lay on Ananta Naag. They found both Vishnu and Shiva, and Brahma eloquently related the reign of terror Mahishasur had unleashed on the three worlds. Hearing this Vishnu, Shiva and all of the gods became very angry and beams of fierce light emerged from their bodies. The blinding sea of light met at the Ashram of a priest named Katyan. The goddess Durga took the name Katyaayani from the priest and emerged from the sea of light. She introduced herself in the language of the Rig-Veda, saying she was the form of the supreme Brahman who had created all the gods. Now she had come to fight the demon to save the gods. They did not create her; it was her lila that she emerged from their combined energy. The gods were blessed with her compassion.
It is said that upon initially encountering Durga, Mahishasura underestimated her, thinking: "How can a woman kill me, Mahishasur — the one who has defeated the trinity of gods?" However, Durga roared with laughter, which caused an earthquake which made Mahishasur aware of her powers.
And the terrible Mahishasur rampaged against her, changing forms many times. First he was a buffalo demon, and she defeated him with her sword. Then he changed forms and became an elephant that tied up the goddess's lion and began to pull it towards him. The goddess cut off his trunk with her sword. The demon Mahishasur continued his terrorizing, taking the form of a lion, and then the form of a man, but both of them were gracefully slain by Durga.
Then Mahishasur began attacking once more, starting to take the form of a buffalo again. The patient goddess became very angry, and as she sipped divine wine from a cup she smiled and proclaimed to Mahishasur in a colorful tone — "Roar with delight while you still can, O illiterate demon, because when I will kill you after drinking this, the gods themselves will roar with delight".[cite this quote] When Mahashaur had half emerged into his buffalo form, he was paralyzed by the extreme light emitting from the goddess's body. The goddess then resounded with laughter before cutting Mahishasur's head down with her sword.
Thus Durga slew Mahishasur, thus is the power of the fierce compassion of Durga. Hence, Mata Durga is also known as Mahishasurmardhini — the slayer of Mahishasur. According to one legend, the goddess Durga created an army to fight against the forces of the demon-king Mahishasur, who was terrorizing Heaven and Earth. After ten days of fighting, Durga and her army defeated Mahishasur and killed him. As a reward for their service, Durga bestowed upon her army the knowledge of jewelry-making. Ever since, the Sonara community has been involved in the jewelry profession [3].
The goddess as Mahisasuramardhini appears quite early in Indian art. The Archaeological Museum in Matura has several statues on display including a 6-armed Kushana period Mahisasuramardhini that depicts her pressing down the buffalo with her lower hands [4]. A Nagar plaque from the first century BC - first century AD depicts a 4-armed Mahisamardhini accompanied by a lion. But it is in the Gupta period that we see the finest representations of Mahisasuramardhini (2-, 4-, 6-, and at Udayagiri, 12-armed). The spear and trident are her most common weapons. a Mamallapuram relief shows the goddess with 8 arms riding her lion subduing a bufalo-faced demon (as contrasted with a buffalo demon); a variation also seen at Ellora. In later sculptures (post-seventh Century), sculptures show the goddess having decapitated the buffalo demon
Durga Puja
----------
Durga puja (pronounced [ˈd̪uɾga ˈpudʒa], Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা ,Oriya: ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব, ‘Festival of Durga’), is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha (Bengali:দেবী পক্ষ , ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া), the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Pokkho (Bengali: পিতৃ পক্ষ, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (Bengali: কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পূজা, ‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society. Apart from eastern India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait, among others. In 2006, a grand Durga Puja ceremony was held in the Great Court of the British Museum.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularised due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya. Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted idols (murti) of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.
Source: www.Wikipedia.com
Sandhya Arati
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Sri Krishna Janmastami Maha Kalash Abhisekha
Annual Patron Member Puja You are cordially invited to sponsor a Golden Kalash to bathe Sri Sri Radha Krishna, on the most auspicious day of
Sri Krishna Janmastami
(September 4, 2007)
This is a wonderful chance for you and your family to sponsor a beautiful bathing ceremony for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. With your generous sponsorship, you will get to keep the sacred Kalash that the temple priest uses to bathe the Lord on your behalf. We will mail you your golden Kalash along with a wonderful assortment of prasadam sweets that will be offered to Sri Sri Radha Krishna on Janmastami. Your tax deductible contribution with help us to maintain and develop the worship of Lord Krishna.
Your golden Kalash is an amazingly beautiful transcendental work of art that your family will treasure for many generations. It will be shipped to you in a red velvet box as seen above:
There is a very limited supply. So if you would like to to sponsor a Kalash, do so right away before they are all taken: www.backtohome.com/KalashBroadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
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150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self- realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Tuning In to the Best Channel
Reality is like a TV set with two channels: channel A and channel B. We have our choice at every minute which version of reality we want to be tuned into. On channel A is playing a program of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. On channel B temporality, ignorance, and misery is the program. On channel B one is a slave of unlimited material desires and is forced to act helplessly under the influence of those desires. In this condition one is dragged through the cycle birth and death repeatedly experiencing birth, death, old age, and disease. On channel A one has compete freedom to the taste the highest bliss by always serving Krishna or God in unlimited varieties of ecstatic loving relationships.
Which channel are you watching? If you are not satisfied, try the flipping the channel. You will be in for an incredible surprise. Krishna consciousness is real.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
What Happens When a Soul Departs from a Body?...
What happens when a soul departs from a body. Does it enter another body immediately. What happens if there is no body to enter. I need clarification on this.
Paruvathy
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He Immediately Enters Another Body...
The next body is already determined by superior control. The living entity immediately gives up the present body and enters another. Material nature can produce unlimited bodies to facilitate the material desires of the living beings now living in this material world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
No Time
Today I received a note from one of our subscribers that he has cancelled his subscription for the stated reason, "No time." I felt a natural sadness. This person is so much entangled in material existence that he feels he has no time for self-realization. The fact is that each and every one of us has exactly the same amount of time at our disposal, 24 hours daily. What we choose to do with our time is up to us. If we like, we can choose to use our time exclusively for activities related to our material body. Or if we like, we can set aside some of that time for activities to elevate the eternal spirit-soul, which is presently entrapped in the misery of bodily misidentification, to the platform of eternity, knowledge, and bliss.
If an intelligent person owns a bird and a bird cage, he will take care of both the bird and the cage. He will keep the cage clean and tidy and at the same time he will make sure to feed the bird. But in our modern so-called advanced society we give all of our attention to polishing the cage of the material body while neglecting to feed the bird, the soul within.
We say that we have no time. But yet we take so much for so many trivial and even frivolous activities. What kind of civilization have we created? We are still living in the dark ages. Let us now come into the renaissance of spiritual enlightenment.
If we can't even devote five minutes a day to thoughts of God, how far have we become engrossed in only serving that which is temporary? It's time that we all reassess our priorities and begin to put God back into the center of our lives where He belongs.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Why Do Christians and Muslims Eat Meat?...
Why is it that in some religions (like Christianity and Islam) the followers are allowed to eat meat, while we don't eat meat? Shouldn't they be disallowed to eat meat because they are taking the lives of innocent animals by doing so?
Jai Shree Krishna
Poojan
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No One Should Be Killing and Eating Animals...
The Bible says not to kill. These so called Christians do not follow their Bible.
Prophet Muhammad preached that we should be kind to all living creatures. Killing an animal to eat it may be necessary in the desert if there is no other food. But when we can easily and more healthfully subsist on a vegetarian diet, it is not kindness. It is cruelty.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Bliss at Bhaktivedanta Ashram
There is nothing sweeter than a life centered around Krishna. Here at Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas everything we think about, speak about, or do is all for Krishna. This creates a very sweet, sublime spiritual atmosphere. Because we are all originally Krishna conscious beings, to be back in the Krishna consciousness atmosphere is the most satisfying, gratifying feeling. Once we take complete shelter of a bona fide spiritual master by initiation we are finally back home after being shipwrecked in the material existence since time immemorial. What a wonderful relief!
For our personal happiness Mataji and I don't need to travel anywhere. We can simply remain here and dive deeper and deeper into the fathomless ocean of Krishna bhakti. But as the entire world is drowning in the ocean of forgetfulness of Krishna, to not dedicate ourselves to saving the suffering masses would be very selfish and inconsiderate. Therefore we are regularly traveling and preaching all over the world to perform the highest welfare activity of awakening the fallen conditioned souls to their original spiritual nature, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Please Help Me to Find the Fire Again...
Hare Krishna.
What is your understanding regarding the origin of our Lord? Where did Lord Krishna come from? The usual reply is that He was just always there. This just does not make sense to me because I am so in the matter of consciousness I am still immature. Do you find your self asking this question from time to time? Is there any way that a human is able to grasp this concept? Has the Lord revealed this answer any where that you know of?
The reason I ask is that I wonder how lonely it must be if You are the only one. Is not creating beings to love and honor you a sign of loneliness?
Imagine existence through God's eyes. May He forgive me for this, but anyway: What would be your own thoughts on the reason for Being and Origin?
How could there have been a time of nothingness?
I know the scriptures say that we are not to ask such questions on account of them being useless to our progress, but this does not satisfy my longing to know more about our Lord and ourselves.
Energy, we are led to believe, can not just come from nowhere. The Lord is pure energy, all energy. Time does not exist in the spiritual plane, and all exists at once, forever. But what started it all off and why? The natural tendency is to wind down and rest, not to be active and create for a duration unending.
I can and do fully understand our task of surrendering our entire all to our Lord, and I do believe with all that I am that we come from The Lord, and that we are supposed to do as He suggests, for our own good and that of the whole, but why? Just because He says so?
It is said that we are the process whereby our Lord expands. But why expand, what is the reason, what is the absolute goal? To go on for ever, expanding and expanding in all ways unimaginable to what end, for what?
What is going on here that it just does not seem to make sense to me any more? What has happened to me now? A short while ago I was so overjoyed for having been blessed with the findings of Your course and the sacred books that have come down since time immemorial to tell us what to do. So much peace and satisfaction was the result of doing what was suggested. Do not get me wrong, I still have more than full faith in what we are doing.
It is the larger purpose that has my stupid mind bothered now. It seems as though it cannot exist without not knowing.
Please help me to find the fire again. I am going through a down cycle concerning, not my faith, but the reason for it all. The Lord knows I ask Him day and night. I pray and try to meditate and chant. But from behind this great barrier of what ever it is now, I sit and see right past His replies.
I know I am missing something... what is it?
Your assistance and guidance is eagerly awaited for. May the Lord continue to bless you and all whom you hold dear.
Your student
....
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You Are to Be Congratulated for your Wonderful Questions...
God means He has no origin. If He has an origin He is not God. If you are thinking that He must have an origin, then you should understand that He is His own origin; He is self- manifested.
God is never lonely. He is fully self-satisfied. He manifests countless numbers of living beings to increase His satisfaction.
In regards to being, you should simply understand that Krishna exists eternally for the sheer pleasure of it.
Regarding origin, you should simply understand that Krishna originates everything also for the sheer pleasure of it.
There was never a time of nothingness. Krishna exists eternally and manifests the living entities eternally to enjoy a loving relationship with them.
The Vedic scriptures enjoin that we must inquire about the Absolute Truth. They condemn blind following.
The Lord is not pure energy. He is the energetic, the source of all energy.
You ask what started it all off. In the spiritual existence there is no past, present, and future. Everything there eternally exists and therefore there is no question of something starting it off.
It is to our advantage to surrender to the Lord. Surrender simply means that you become fully in tune with God. When a guitar player plays his guitar he first of all makes sure it is properly tuned because it makes it sound better. In the same way if we are in tune with God we feel better. There is no worse feeling than being out of tune with God.
Why does God expand from Himself? This is simply for the purpose of increasing His pleasure.
It is very nice that your intelligence is hankering to know the ultimate purpose of existence. You are to be congratulated for your wonderful questions.
The real bottom line is that you are missing a loving relationship with Lord Krishna. This is what you've been hankering for for millions of lifetimes. Now you have the best of all possible opportunities to reawaken the dormant love of Krishna within your heart. You can easily do this by constantly or as much as possible always chanting:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
--------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
We are Now in 107 Countries
Yesterday when I checked the country report for this e-course I was very happy to see that we now have subscribers in 107 different countries. I never imagined when I began offering this course in December of 2002 that I would get such expansive results.
Of course, the credit is not mine. The results are because of the kindness of my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He has given me the words to write, the enthusiasm to write them, and has blessed me by sending me thousands of sincere souls who desire to receive our daily mailings.
Here's our current country listing. The countries are listed in the order of popularity. In other words, the country which has the most subscribers (India) is listed first. And the country which is listed last (Benin) has the least subscribers:
India, United States, United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Latvia, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahrain, Germany, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Mexico, Finland, Philippines, Belgium, Kuwait, Fiji, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Peru, Estonia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Norway, Maldives, Sweden, Turkey, Israel, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Russian Federation, China, Hong Kong, Slovenia, Ireland, Japan, Bulgaria, Kenya, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Ghana, Panama, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Iran, Guyana, Chile, Colombia, Lebanon, Cyprus, Nepal, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Afghanistan, Suriname, Hungary, Malta, Iceland, Belize, Barbados, Morocco, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Jordan, Togo, Gibraltar, Bolivia, Palau, Uruguay, Netherlands Antilles, Haiti, Ecuador, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Cote D'Ivoire, Tunisia, Belarus, Mozambique, Egypt, Austria, Romania, Tanzania, Swaziland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jamaica, Benin
Since there are 192 countries on this planet, we have 85 more to go.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Emancipation By Executing Material Duties?...
When we perform our karma as perfectly as possible as a doctor or as a trader or as a housewife, can we attain spiritual perfection? Is the state of perfect harmony with God possible in the above- named circumstances?
My respects,
Shass
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Emancipation Only By Complete Surrender to Krishna...
The idea that by being as perfectly as possible a doctor, a trader, or a housewife, etc can enable one to attain spiritual perfection is not correct. This misconception is widely held today in India due to a major misunderstanding of the Bhagavad-gita. Because Krishna told Arjuna to do his duty people think that just by doing their material duty very nicely that they will become perfect. What they fail to note is that in this case duty refers to the duty assigned to them by Krishna or by his representative, the bona fide spiritual master. If we do THAT duty perfectly, then we will achieve perfection.
In the key verse of the Bhagavad-gita Sri Krishna clearly states:
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
"Abandon all varieties of duties and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." Bhagavad-gita 18.66
If requested, we must be prepared to abandon all duties executed for the fulfillment of our own personal desires or the desires of others and simply execute the duties given by Lord Sri Krishna or His representative, the bona fide spiritual master. In this state of mind we can quickly and easily achieve spiritual perfection.
The spiritual master will not order you to give up your material duties. He will instead teach you how to execute them in such a way that you will become perfect. In this way by doing all of your worldly duties under the guidance of the spiritual master you will be properly situated on the spiritual platform. By making your one duty to serve your guru's order, all other duties are purified and included within the self realization process.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
The Real Deal or a Colossal Hoax?
Is Krishna consciousness genuine?
How do we determine if anything is genuine or not? We can determine if a road map is genuine by following it and seeing if it leads us to our desired destination. We can determine if a cake recipe is genuine by following it and seeing if we get a nice cake at the end. Similarly, we can verity the legitimacy of the process of Krishna consciousness by sincerely trying it and then judging by the results.
We have historical evidence to indicate that the process of Krishna consciousness has been practiced throughout the ages by millions of devotees, who obtained very positive results. Therefore it is quite reasonable for us to think that we may also get positive results by following it. However, it's only when we fully embrace the process ourselves and taste its sublime results first hand that we can absolutely know for sure that it is the real deal and not a colossal hoax.
If you are looking for the supreme spiritual perfection, you owe it to yourself to give Krishna consciousness a very serious try. If you do so, we can guarantee you that you will experience results far, far beyond whatever you can conceive of in your wildest imagination.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Does the Soul Merge with the Universal Conciousness?...
Does the soul [atma]
[1] merge with universal consciousness absolutely [like, say, sugar mixes with water and becomes a clear solution] or
[2] does it remain as a separate entity [like oil in water]?
If [1] is true, upon reincarnation, how does it go to specific better or worse birth?
If [2] is true, does this mean that the souls can be counted ?
Please clarify.
Respects from,
Shass
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Simultaneous Oneness and Two-ness...
The soul remains separate after liberation. Unless there is two-ness love cannot exist within the oneness of perfect harmony with Krishna or God. As Srila Prabhupada said, "Love means two. Krishna and you." The oneness of spiritual perfection is when the devotee attains a state of perfect harmony with God, total agreement with the Lord. It is not that at any stage of spiritual emancipation that one becomes God.
The individual souls are real and substantial. Therefore we can definitely count them. But because they are infinite in number, we will never come to the end of our counting, even if we go on counting for all of eternity.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Getting a New Car
Yesterday we received an urgent phone call. The father of the one of the members of our ashram was on the verge of death. We hastily departed and arrived at the hospital ten minutes too late. He had just left his body.
Being there in the intensive care unit of the hospital seeing the dead body of the soul who had just departed was a graphic reminder of the truths contained in the most sublime Bhagavad-gita. We are indeed changing bodies at every minute of our existence. The body is in a constant state of flux. At every minute the old blood corpuscles are dying and new blood corpuscles are taking their place, but the soul remains ever the same. Each death the soul experiences is nothing more than another change in a long series of changes that have been going on ever since time immemorial when the soul entered this material world.
The materialists lament bitterly at the passing of a loved one, but the transcendentalists understand fully well that the soul has simply traded in his old worn out body for a fresh new body, either spiritual or material depending on his consciousness at the moment he passed out of his body. Is there any lamentation when we go to a car dealer and trade in an old worn out vehicle for a brand new one? No. We become enlivened to get a new car. Our body is nothing but a vehicle. It is not us.
Of course, if someone dies in material consciousness, it is lamentable because they will have to remain in this material world of birth and death. Depending on their degree of material consciousness they even may have to take birth as a plant or an animal and undergo many, many births and deaths before they are again allowed the opportunity to come out as a human being. The human form of life is a very special, special opportunity that should not be misused. It is our opportunity to escape the wheel of birth and death. The Vedanta Sutra therefore enjoins:
athato brahma jijnasa
"Now that you've got a human form, you should inquire about the Absolute Truth."
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
What Should Be the Guru/Disciple Relationship?...
I have got two questions:
1] What should be the exact relationship between the disciple and the spiritual master?
2] Between rendering personal service to the spiritual master and preaching Krishna consciousness, which thing is more important?
Your servant
Vijay
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Service and Inquiry...
The disciple always keeps himself as the humble servant of his spiritual master. He inquires from him submissively and renders service unto him.
Because generally the spiritual master is traveling and preaching all over the world, the opportunity to render personal service to the spiritual master is often a rarity. Therefore whenever you have the opportunity to render personal service to your spiritual master you should take full advantage of it. And the rest of time when you are not in his physical presence you should as far as possible put your full energy into expanding the Krishna consciousness movement. In this connection Srila Prabhupada one time said that anyone who is fully engaged in preaching is his personal servant.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Turn On Your Soul
--Turn On Your Soul--
a song by Sankarshan Das Adhikari
(not yet recorded)
Do you know who you really are?
Do you know where you're coming from?
Do you know for sure where you're going?
Or what will you will become?
You're eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
You should always remember this.
You're not of this world, dear friend.
Better tune in and turn on your soul.
Do you know what happens when you die?
Do you know what's beyond the sky?
Do you think that body is you?
It's just something that you're passing through.
You're eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
You should always remember this.
You're not of this world, dear friend.
Better tune in and turn on your soul.
We're told that everything happens by chance,
That the universe has no person in control.
But I see that every machine has got an operator.
Therefore the universe must also have one. This I know.
Do you know who you really are?
Do you know where you're coming from?
Do you know for sure where you're going?
Or what will you will become?
Your eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
You should always remember this.
You're not of this world, dear friend.
Better tune in and turn on your soul.
You're not of this world, dear friend.
Better tune in and turn on your soul.
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Questions and Answers:
What Happens in the Next Life?..
I wanted to clarify something. I know that once we die, we either go to Lord Krishna (if we have done good deeds this life) or take another life. If a person takes another life, does he/she remain a Hindu or take birth into another religion (like Christianity, etc.)?
Please let me know.
Jai Shree Krishna
Poojan
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That Depends on Your Consciousness at the Time of Death...
One who takes birth again will take birth according to their consciousness at the time of death. This is confirmed by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:
yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah
"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail." Bhagavad-gita 8.6
The living being may take birth as a human, an animal, a plant, or if he is extremely sinful even as a bacteria. If he takes birth as human being it can be in any country or in any religion according the mental state he had when he left his previous body.
But please try to understand in this connection that the concept of different religions is a manmade conception. On the spiritual platform religion is one, to love God.
Simply doing good deeds is not sufficient for elevation to the kingdom of God at the time of death. Good deeds will give you a better position in your next life in this world. But, if you want to attain the eternal kingdom of God you must fully surrender yourself at the lotus feet of the Lord. You must fully dedicate every thought, word, and deed in the Lord's service under the guidance of the expert spiritual master to achieve the supreme perfection.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Krishna's Most Special Devotees
Anyone who approaches the Lord for any reason is dear to Him. But especially dear are those who approach the Lord purely without any personal motive, who approach merely for the purpose of pleasing Him. This completely pure devotee is described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows:
sadhavo hrdayam mahyam
sadhunam hrdayam tv aham
mad-anyat te na jananti
naham tebhyo manag api
"The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them." Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68
Because such devotees forget all else except for the Lord, He shows the same mood of exclusive devotion to them. There is no more intimate relationship that one can have with the Lord. There is nothing sweeter and more ecstatic than this.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Is There a Difference Between Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva?..
Hare Krishna,
I am very much inspired by reading your Thoughts for the Day.
My question is... Is there any difference between Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva ?
I ask this, because although I pray to Lord Krishna as well, I feel a close bond with Lord Shiva.
Thanks
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Like the Difference Between Milk and Yogurt...
The difference between Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna is like the difference between milk and yogurt.
Yogurt is nothing but a transformation of milk, but yet it is different from milk. Yogurt and milk are the same, but the difference is that milk can be transformed into yogurt, while yogurt cannot be transformed into milk.
Krishna expands from Himself the greatest of all His devotees, Lord Shiva. But it is not that Lord Shiva expands from Himself Lord Krishna. That is the difference.
You may pray to Lord Shiva as the greatest of all of Lord Krishna's devotees. You may beg His blessings that you can achieve pure Krishna bhakti.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day
The Principle of Disciplic Succession
March 2, 1975 is a day that is forever etched in my memory. That was the day when at our ISKCON center in Atlanta, Georgia my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, personally initiated me as a brahmana. That morning he told us that this was the most auspicious day because it was the appearance day of his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. At the conclusion of that lecture he explained to us how the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Krishna consciousness movement, has been passed down through the system of disciplic succession. He explained how it passed from Lord Caitanya gradually down to Bhaktivinode Thakur, from Bhaktivinode Thakur to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to him, and from him down to us, his disciples. Here's his exact quote,
"This is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and, by disciplic succession, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then my spiritual master. Then we are trying our level best. Similarly, you will also try your level best on the same principle. Then it will go on."
Srila Prabhupada was predicting that just as he had tried his level best to push forward the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that we, his disciples, would also try our level best to do the same. He foresaw that because of this, the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go on.
We are seeing practically how even though it is almost three decades now since his departure from this world in 1977 that the Krishna consciousness movement is indeed going on very powerfully all over the world. This is due to the divine grace of Srila Prabhupada, of the previous acharyas, and, of course, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If we always stay connected with their mercy by complete total surrender to their instructions, we will be empowered to expand this Krishna consciousness movement like anything all over the world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Doubts Regarding the Atma...
I have a lot of doubts regarding the atma. I read somewhere that after death the atma enters into a new soul. In the situation where the population is increasing alarmingly where do we get the new atmas. Are they newly created? What is going on?
Also, I have heard that whatever we sow we reap, but in real life I have seen the people doing bad or illegal things and enjoying happily. If this is the case why should we should follow Krishna?
Please clarify,
Suresh
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No New Atmas are Being Created...
The atma does not enter a new soul. The atma is the soul. No new atmas are being created. An increase in human population means that more atmas are coming up from the lower species, where they were burning off karma they created in previous human births.
Bad people who are enjoying are burning off the results of their previous pious activities. They deserved that enjoyment because of their previous piety. Unfortunately now they are spoiling themselves by sinful activity and setting themselves up for great suffering in the future.
We follow Krishna because we love Him. Whether we suffer or not, we don't care. We just want to please Krishna. That's all. This is real bhakti. There is no thought of getting something in return. This is pure love, pure selflessness. This is the highest bliss.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
A Devotee is Kind
A devotee of Krishna is the genuine well-wisher of all living beings because he wants everyone to be happy. He is so keen in this desire that he dedicates his entire life for the upliftment of the consciousness of the suffering humanity.
The entire human society is currently drowning in the ocean of bodily consciousness and its accompanying lifestyle of unrestricted sense enjoyment. In such an atmosphere people are simply becoming more and more miserable. Therefore the devotee propagates vigorously to all the world the enlightened knowledge of the spiritual nature of the self and the relationship between the individual self and the Supreme Self. This indeed is real kindness, the ultimate kindness, to distribute Krishna consciousness all over the world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Why is There So Much Suffering in the World Today?...
Why is there so much suffering in the world today?
Why is there so much silence in a world of tyranny?
Thousands of years of history have come to this?
There is too much bloodshed today. I am tired of watching the rich exploit the poor.
I feel with that every day when I accept what is going on around the world without protest that I lose a part of myself in the process.
Azeem Mohammed
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Because We Put Ourselves in the Center...
There is so much suffering because we are putting ourselves in the center, instead of God.
No one can speak out effectively against the tyranny because everyone is tinged with varying degrees of that very same tyranny within their own heart. The tyranny is that everyone in this world has rebelled against the authority of the Lord. That's why we're here.
Exploitation will always remain until we can fully put God back into the center. There is no other way to effectively root it out.
You must not accept what is going on in the world. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. You must dedicate your entire life now for bringing about a solution to all the problems of the world. The Krishna Consciousness Movement is the ideal vehicle for fulfilling this most noble of all desires.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Everything is Krishna's Energy
Since everything is Krishna's energy, everything is meant to be engaged in his service. If I usurp the property of someone else for my enjoyment, I am a thief, and I am liable to punishment by the laws of the state. Similarly, if I claim proprietorship over that which belongs to the Lord and try to utilize it for my enjoyment, I am a thief and am liable to be punished by the even more stringent laws of this material nature.
By honestly acknowledging the real owner and engaging everything in His service, we become very, very dear to Him and taste, at every moment, a pleasure that is extraordinarily sublime.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
Does the Initiating Guru Have to be Physically Manifested on this Plane?...
I am reading Srila Prabhupada's books and learning about the qualities of a spiritual master. You mentioned in your Thought for the Day on November 19, 2005 that Srila Prabhupada taught us that we must take our initiation from a guru who is physically manifest within this material world.
Because Srila Prabhupada is the final authority regarding all spiritual matters can you tell me where and when Srila Prabhupada taught us this principle? I have a friend who says the opposite - that we can take our initiation from a guru who is not physically present.
Thank you
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Personal Contact with the Spiritual Master is Required...
Your friend has an incorrect understanding. In the process of self- realization, reviving our dormant Krishna consciousness, it is very important that we understand everything according to the authoritative Vedic version as presented by the fully realized spiritual masters and confirmed in the Vedic scriptures. If we accept as authoritative the speculations of others who are not spiritually enlightened we will remain in the darkness of ignorance. It will simply be a matter of blind leading the blind.
Therefore what I teach is not my own imagination. I honestly present for your enlightenment whatever I have heard from my spiritual master. I shall be happy to clear your confusion by citing from his clear unequivocal presentation of the Vedic siddhanta (conclusion).
On September 3, 1971 Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture in London. At the end of the lecture an Indian lady asked Srila Prabhupada, "How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can you contact the spiritual master?" Srila Prabhupada replied, "No, you have to associate." Srila Prabhupada then further explained, "When you make a spiritual master you have got personal touch. Not that in the air you make a spiritual master."
Someone may imagine that a departed spiritual master has accepted him as his disciple, but he has no way of confirming this. It is only his speculation. Imagining that a departed spiritual master has accepted me as his disciple is clearly not in line at all with the teachings of Srila Prabhupada as evidenced by the above quote. The spiritual master must personally confirm it. This is why he must be physically present at time of initiation.
Srila Prabhupada told us that the guru/disciple relationship requires personal contact, that it cannot be done "in the air". Why should we now try to change his teachings by stating that we can take our initiation from a guru who is not physically present?
Your friend has clearly missed out in regards to properly understanding the Vedic siddhanta. Kindly request them to carefully read Srila Prabhupada's books and to sign up for our e-course at:
http://www.backtohome.com
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, in the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day
Bringing Peace to the World by Putting God in the Center
It is very painful to see the ever-increasing chaos that has enveloped our planet. A world society that refuses to put God in the center is for all practical purposes a hell on earth. Instead of putting God in the center we futilely try to put ourselves the center. Hence we have a world in which so many imitation Gods are running around butting heads with each other trying to assert their supremacy. This is not practical. It does not work. We are meant to put God in the center where He belongs. If we do this there will be immediate peace and prosperity throughout the world.
The current world leaders are blind to this solution. Instead of introducing God as the center they prefer to keep themselves or their individual nations in the center. We should no longer accept the leadership of such men and women who do not put God in the center. We should demand that our leaders put God in the center.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
How Can We Be Created If We Always Existed?...
Hare Krishna,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Guru and Gauranga.
You mentioned the following in a conversation in your yesterday's Thought for the Day. "He has created us for the sole purpose of loving Him, but then we foolishly left His eternal kingdom".
How is it that God has created us when in fact Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-Gita that there was never a time when we did not exist? Was there any time when we were not there?
Please explain.
Your student,
Pradeep
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The Lord is Eternally Creating You by His Sweet Will...
God has eternally been creating you by His sweet desire to have a loving relationship with you. He creates you simply by His will for you to exist. You, the eternal spiritual being, are eternally emanating from His transcendental form.
You exist eternally but not independently of His manifesting you. Without His manifesting you, you would not exist. Therefore you are His eternal creation.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day
Returning to Transcendence
The transcendental world is always available for us at every second. We come from there. We are citizens of that place. It's just that we got sidetracked somewhere along the line. We've been stuck on this material world side track for so long that we've forgotten our original track, our original homeland. However, if we are blessed with the proper instructions, returning home need not be that difficult. All we really have to do is develop the good habit of keeping the mind always fixed in Krishna consciousness through all varieties of circumstances. This fixity of mind will enable us to easily cross into transcendence at every minute of our existence.
The easiest and indeed the only practical means of achieving this is by constantly or as much as possible always chanting the holy names of God:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
If you are not able to audibly chant, such as when you may be at work or at school, you should try to always remember the Lord by seeing everything around you in relation to Him. Since nothing exists without its being emanated from the Lord, it's easy to see everything throughout the universe as being His energy. Simply see everything as the Lord's energy and engage it all in His service.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
It Seems Contradictory and Unfair...
I just wanted to know the answers to a couple of questions I have:
1. A few days ago, I read that the past, present, and future of a person can be known from the Bhrigu Samhita. However I read in today's "Questions and Answers" that our destiny lies in our own hands. Don't these two statements contradict each other?
2. We left the spiritual world because of out false ego to enjoy separately from Krishna, for which we were sent to this material world to realize our mistakes and come back to Him. Non-believers complain, "If Krishna loves us so much that He wants us to come back to Him, why is He putting us in this miserable material world?". Why didn't He make this material world as joyful as the spiritual world and let us enjoy happiness without Him for those not wanting Him? They say that He is a drawing a very unfair hard line that we have to either enjoy with Him or suffer.
I pray that kindly clarify my ignorance,
Darshu
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Krishna is Free from Contradictions and Unfairness...
This is one of those transcendental paradoxes. There seems to be a contradiction here, but yet both are true.
The question is whether we have control over our future or we do not have control over our future. An expert Bhrigu Samhita astrologer can indeed accurately tell what the future of a person is. This would make it appear that the person's future is already determined, that there is no way one can alter his destiny. On the material platform this is a fact. For every pious action there is a predestined reward, and for every impious action there is a predestined punishment. Everything is already there in your astrological chart.
However, when we come to the spiritual platform things are quite different. On this platform the living being has full freedom and can be independent from the reactions to his past pious and impious activities. One attains this platform by taking complete shelter of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna assures us in the Bhagavad-gita that He will free us from the reactions to our past activities.
Krishna did not put us into this material world. We put ourselves here. We chose not to live in a world where He is the Supreme. Just as it not possible for a fish to be happy out of the water, it is not possible for us to be happy in a world where we are separated from Krishna. The very nature of our being is to be a lover of God. If we try to deny this nature we are asking for nothing but trouble.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
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150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day
The Ultimate Excitement
I never tire of remembering those most exciting days back in 1971 when I first surrendered myself at the lotus feet of my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. From my freshman year in college (1965) onwards there was nothing that was more important to me than self-realization, discovering the real purpose of my existence. To become self-realized became my all-devouring passion. I lived for nothing else. Indeed, everything else became irrelevant.
So when after six years of intense struggle, I was blessed by Srila Prabhupada with the brilliant sun of transcendental awakening, there was truly nothing that could be more relieving and more enlivening. Since that time the beauty, the wonder, and the excitement has continued increasing more and more. Carefully and strictly following my spiritual master has taken me ever deeper into the nectarean transcendental ocean of spiritual enlightenment, Krishna consciousness. Who could possibly fathom the depth of this inconceivable ocean? What amazing nectar lies ahead as I continue to follow in my spiritual master's footsteps like a baby duck tagging along after its mother?
You are invited to tag along also on this ultimate exciting journey. Are you ready?
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers
Why Am I Still Here?...
Hi, I have had not such a good existence on this planet this time around. Quite frankly I don't know why I keep coming back. I have gone through life watching other people succeed, and I have always felt that I was held back for some reason.
Finally last year I had a "fatal" car accident. I say so because I came out of my body. Not many people survive rolling the car at 120km/hr. That was the most beautiful feeling. I was quite upset when I realized that I was still alive. I felt that God had cheated me out of my death.
Why am I still here? I am done struggling. I mean if this is all life has to offer then God had no right to do that. I am done struggling, and quite frankly I don't know what is so special about life. Maybe you can enlighten me.
Your student
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Because You Have Not Yet Re-Established Your Lost Loving Relationship with the Lord...
We can most assuredly enlighten you, if you are prepared to take the enlightenment that we can give you. We therefore request you to consider the following words carefully. Very soberly try to understand:
We are the architects of our own destiny. We have the choice of continually being tossed in the ocean of karma, sometimes knowingly suffering and sometimes foolishly thinking that we are enjoying. Or if we prefer, we can take shelter of Guru and Krishna and come out of the karmic ocean into the realm of eternity, knowledge, and bliss.
It is incorrect for us to think that God has cheated us. Factually is it just the opposite. It is we who are cheating God. He has created us for the sole purpose of loving Him, but then we foolishly left His eternal kingdom for trying to become imitation Gods ourselves in this world of birth and death.
If we are intelligent enough, we will get out of this suffering condition and return to our eternal, all blissful, all knowing identities in the spiritual world.
You are still here because you have not re-established your lost loving relationship with the Lord. If you can now fully dedicate your life to this, I can assure you that this will be your last birth. At the end of this lifetime you will go back home, back to Godhead.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Channeling Our Consciousness for Ultimate Success
In this material world we are out of contact with our factual eternal, all blissful, and all knowing identity. No matter how hard we try to be successful and happy here, in the long run we are fighting a losing battle. Even though we may gain great wealth, power, and fame, by the insurmountable influence of time it will surely be eroded. Castles made of sand are washed into the sea.
Therefore we should only put as much energy into serving this body as is necessary to keep it strong and healthy. The balance of our energy should go into re- awakening the dormant, enlightened consciousness, the Krishna consciousness, that is currently sleeping within us. If we properly channel our consciousness in this way, we will attain the ultimate success.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers
If I Had Free Will...
Why in the first place did we start our journey from the divine abode of absolute bliss, peace and love and enter this material world of turmoil that makes us restless, incomplete and think of going back to home? If I had had free will, I would never have made such a decision to go so far away from my home in the spiritual world.
I am so grateful and indebted to you for your inspiring words of divine wisdom and will be always.
Lovingly and respectfully,
Gokul
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You Do Have Free Will...
You do have free will. And you did misuse it. Free will means that you can either use it or misuse it. If you cannot misuse it, it is not free. It is constrained.
Just as a child out of curiosity may utilize his free will to stick his hand in the fire against his mother's good warning, you the living being decided to try enjoying separately from God. Now take advantage of your free will to re-establish yourself in your original constitutional position in the spiritual world.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Sufficiently Charge Your Spiritual Battery
The Srimad Bhagavatam states that every day we must absorb our thoughts in the transcendental name, fame, form, pastimes, teachings, entourage and paraphernalia of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore I am encouraging all of my students to rise early every day, chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna on japa beads, and read from the Srimad Bhagavatam and/or the Bhagavad-gita before they begin their day's activities.
By thus starting your every day with a solid program of hearing and chanting about Krishna you will able to taste the sweet nectar of Krishna consciousness throughout the day. Just as we make sure our mobile phones are sufficiently charged before we head out for our day's daily activities, we must also make sure that our spiritual batteries are sufficiently charged so that we can remain constantly connected with Krishna throughout the day.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Correspondence Selections:
It Truly Inspires and Touches Me Every Day...
Thank you for responding to my e -mail. I am receiving your Thought for the Day. It truly inspires and touches me every day. Though I am only in the third week of your course, so many pieces of the puzzle of life have come together. So many questions I have had for years are now answered. You are truly the most compassionate man I have ever come into contact with. You are bringing the Truth and Krishna so easily to the world.
I understand that you are merely executing the will of Krishna and your spiritual master. So what I would like to do is thank you for surrendering and submitting yourself to the will of Krishna.
Thank you,
Rebecca
Hare Krishna
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Our Humble Attempt...
I am very happy to hear that you are so inspired by our humble attempt to distribute the highest knowledge of Krishna consciousness. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is any way I can be of service to you on your pathway back to home, back to Godhead.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Don't Remain an Owl Philosopher
The owl is known for keeping his eyes closed during the daytime and only opening them at night. In the modern day society it is very common for people to follow the way of the owl and keep their eyes closed to reality. If you try to explain the truth to them, they will tell you that they are not interested and that you should leave them alone. If someone chooses to remain in darkness, what can be done?
What can be done is that we should first of all open our own eyes fully to the spiritual reality which pervades and supports all of existence. If we come out of the darkness completely by fully experiencing and emanating the eternity, knowledge, and bliss of Krishna consciousness, this will have a significant impact on those with whom we associate and will inspire them to open their eyes also.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
You Have No Answers...
I was out of the country for a couple of months and I have lot of your e-mails to read and understand. In your January 2, 2006 Thought for the Day are you implying that (1) you are a bona fide Spiritual Master and that (2) your qualities are comparable in magnitude to that of Lord Jesus Christ?
I have been reading your e-mails religiously for the past year or so. You never explicitly said that you are one of the bona fide spiritual masters. May I know why? Since you have achieved your current state with great discipline, I don't see a reason for you to hesitate in saying so.
Out of ignorance, I sent you several impolite e-mails in the past. I will not do that in the future. However, I do strongly believe that you have no answers to some of my previous questions and that you do not want to admit that fact.
With regards,
Satya
Editors' note: You can read the Thought for the Day that Satya is referring to at:
http://www.sda-archives.com/tftd/2006/jan/tftd_010206.html
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Yes, but Krishna Has All the Answers...
The bona fide spiritual master never considers himself to be a bona fide spiritual master. He simply considers himself to be the humble servant of his spiritual master and of the people in general because he tries to serve them by bringing them out of illusion.
Such a qualified teacher of the science of bhakti never considers himself to be possessing any good qualities. To the contrary he feels himself to be drowning in an ocean of bad qualities. He understands fully well that any good qualities that are manifesting in his character are simply there by the causeless blessings of his spiritual master. Therefore he is never be proud of what others see as his spiritual attainments.
I personally have no answers for any of your questions. That's a fact. But Lord Krishna, being the Supreme Lord, has perfect knowledge regarding everything and perfect answers for everything.
Because my answers are based on the perfect knowledge given by Krishna, they are perfect. That you are not able to understand them or accept them is your imperfection.
Krishna gives us the choice to either accept His teachings or reject them. You can think freely according to your own decision. Krishna has His version. You have your version. Your non-acceptance of Krishna's version does not negate its reality.
The owl keeps his eyes closed during the day and cannot accept the existence of the sun. Only if he opens his eyes can he see the sun. If he tries to see the sun while he keeps his eyes closed, that will not be possible. So kindly now open your eyes, open your intelligence, and open your heart to the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you do so, you will find them to be strikingly wonderful!!
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
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150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Come Out of the Darkness into the Light
There is a famous Vedic injunction, a directive for everyone who has attained the human form of life after transmigrating through millions of births and deaths in the lower species:
Tamasi ma jyotir gama
"Don't remain in the darkness. Come to the light."
How many people are even aware of this injunction? And of those who are aware of it, how many are actually endeavoring to follow it? And of those who are actually trying to become enlightened, how many are actually succeeding?
We are talking about some pretty rare numbers here. So if you somehow or other you now find yourself at the right place, at the right time, with the right knowledge, and the right inspiration, all we can say is that you must now fully capitalize on your unlimited good fortune and thus expand it even more.
You may think that it is impossible that you can become a fully enlightened spiritual being, but it is absolutely possible that in this one lifetime you can achieve the highest perfection. This is possible by the combined mercy of Guru and Krishna.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
What is Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action?...
I attended your discourses when you were in Krishna Katha Desh in October 2005. I asked you a question regarding the meaning of the Bhagavad-gita verse that describes action in inaction and inaction in action. That verse is:
karmany akarma yah pasyed
akarmani ca karma yah
sa buddhiman manusyesu
sa yuktah krtsna- karma-krt
"One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities." Bhagavad-gita 4.18
I am still not clear about his. Can you kindly explain to me once again what this means?
Thank you for your great service.
Chitra
Editors note: To hear the Krishna-Katha Desh lectures go to:
Lectures in Krishna-Katha Desh
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One is Binding, the Other is Liberating...
Action in inaction refers to transcendentalists like the yogis, who try to become free from karma by stopping all activities of this material world to sit in one place and do astanga yoga. Even though they endeavor to be inactive, they are impelled by the influence of the material nature to remain active. Just by their breathing they are killing so many microbial germs and continuing to create karma. Thus there is action in their inaction and they remain bound in the wheel of birth and death
Inaction in action, on the other hand, refers to the devotees. Even though they are very, very active in this world, because they do everything on behalf of Krishna, not for their own sense gratification, they create no karma. Thus their action is factually speaking pure inaction. Their activity is inaction.
If the above mentioned yogis will add the element of bhakti (devotion) to their yoga practice, they will also attain the platform of inaction in action, and they will also become liberated.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Don't Be a Ruffian, Be Gentle
The biggest problem we face on the pathway of spiritual enlightenment is the tendency we have to be ruffians. This is our uncontrolled, insensitive, impatient, intolerant side. Chapter Sixteen of the Bhagavad-gita, "The Divine and Demoniac Natures," is dedicated to distinguishing between the higher and lower natures of the self. There is no question of becoming spiritually advanced and escaping the cycle of birth and death unless we can conquer over the lower self by situating ourselves in the higher self. The higher self, the spiritual nature, is our actual eternal identity. The lower self, the material nature, is simply a covering. Just as the brilliant morning sun can burn away the fog that has settled in during the night, the brilliant sun of Krishna's holy names can purify away all the fog of material existence provided we chant them regularly and with sincerity.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Questions and Answers:
What If We Do Only 1% Bhakti in this Lifetime?...
If we do only 1% Krishna bhakti (devotion to Lord Krishna) in this lifetime, will that go to waste? What will happen to that person in his next life who has done only 1% of bhakti? What will be the result of that devotion?
Vishal
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Why Not Do 100% Bhakti and Go Back to Godhead?...
Whatever bhakti you accumulate in this lifetime will go with you to your next birth. But why not develop 100% bhakti now so you won't have to take birth again. This is what you must be striving for.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
--- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day
Beyond Judgmentalism to the Ultimate Delight
An edict we often hear these days is, "Don't be judgmental." What's amusing about this is that the person who issues this command is judging the person he issues it to. In other words, the edict issuer is himself being judgmental and thus hypocritical. He is guilty of that very thing that he decries, passing judgment on others.
The anti-judgmental thinkers draw their apparent strength from the philosophy that there is actually no such thing as good and evil in the absolute sense. They say that all conceptions of good and evil are simply relative and that therefore you can't really tell someone else that they are wrong. What I consider to be good, you may consider to be bad, and vice versa. There is no absolute standard of right and wrong.
But this philosophy is bogus. Everyone intuitively understands that there really is such a thing as good and evil. This is confirmed by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:
paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma- samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
"To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium." Bhagavad-gita 4.8
Krishna is making a clear distinction between those who are saintly and those who are not. And herein lies the method of not being judgmental while at the same time not being philosophically wishy-washy. All we have to do is allow the Supreme Authority to make the judgments and then live our lives in perfect harmony with those judgments. We will then be properly situated beyond the much decried judgmentalism. We will then defeat the night by the weapon of light, driving wrong away with right, freeing the world from fright, tasting the ultimate delight.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
Do You Initiate Your Students on Behalf of Srila Prabhupada?...
When you initiate someone, do you do so on behalf of your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, since he is no longer here? Also, what are the requirements for being initiated?
Kathleen
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We Initiate Our Students as Our Own Disciples as per Srila Prabhupada's Order...
Everything we do is done on behalf of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Of course, if Srila Prabhupada were still physically present we would bring all of our students to be initiated by him as his disciples. But, as per his instructions, now that he is physically departed we initiate our students as our own disciples. In this way both the spiritual master and the disciples are acting under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada's divine instructions and thus qualify to receive his unbounded mercy.
If you have been steadily chanting 16 rounds and following the four regulative principles for at least one year: no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat eating, and no gambling, then you may approach the spiritual master for initiation. The spiritual master also will require a letter of recommendation from the temple president of your local ISKCON center.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Living a Truthful Life
My life is dedicated to Truth. I want to know the Truth, and I want to speak the Truth. Our modern day society is suffering in a chaotic condition because realizing and speaking the Truth are considered less important than economic development and sense gratification.
I could never stomach selling out my philosophical integrity for the sake of temporary, fleeting sense gratification. Is such a thing worth it? Not at all. I don't care to be a servant of untruth. Better to live with a clean, honest heart before God and surrender fully unto Him as His eternal servant. For such a surrendered servant the Lord will personally provide whatever is needed. The devotee does not have to sell his soul to the material society in order to get his daily bread.
ananyas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesam nityabhiyuktanam
yoga-ksemam vahamy aham
"For those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form -- I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have."
Bhagavad-gita 9.22
If we will make the experiment of following the principles given by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, we will be find ourselves to be the most fortunate persons, relishing the sweetest happiness at every minute.
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
How to Choose Our Guru?...
A devotee who was giving class stated how we should choose our guru. He said that the guru should be a fully realized soul coming from a disciplic succession from Krishna. How will I know that a particular guru is fully self realized?
Sunil
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He Must Be Fully Surrendered to His Spiritual Master...
You must simply see that the spiritual master is fully surrendered unto his spiritual master, that he is accurately presenting the self-realization science without any adulteration. If he is, he is fully qualified to deliver you to the highest perfectional stage, pure love of God.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Grounded in Solid Reality
The thing I like the most about Krishna consciousness is that it brings us into solid contact with the underlying reality upon which everything rests. We can be in any situation, even in the most materialistic circumstance, and all we have to do is remember Krishna by chanting "Hare Krishna." If we do so, even though we are still living externally within the temporary material existence, we are immediately connected with the sublime transcendental atmosphere where life is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge.
Our critics say that we are too other-worldly, that we don't have our feet on the ground in this material world. But that is not a fact. The devotees of the Lord see the inner thread upon which all the pearls of existence are strung. That thread is Krishna.
Anyone who connects solidly with Krishna is the most solidly grounded and realistic person. They know what is really going on in this material world. They are not misled by the illusion of material happiness being every day propagated through movies, magazines, newspapers, and Web pages. Such a person always acts for the highest welfare of all living beings for manifesting Krishna consciousness in all times, places, and circumstances.
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
Can't the Rude Awakening Be More Polite?...
As I keep reading your literature, one part that hurts me is the harsh language that is being used to describe those who are in ignorance. For example, I was reading these words of Srila Prabhupada,
"Foolish rascals, including so-called jnanis, philosophers and scientists, cannot understand the existence of the soul within the body because they are lacking in spiritual knowledge."
I have noticed similar type of statements also in "Thought for the Day". I keep telling myself to respect others for what they are and not to be judgmental. Also I believe that every human has a good side to them including a serial killer. I agree that the world needs a rude awakening, but can't we do it in a more polite way?
Hare Krishna
Sobha
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The Truth Must Be Spoken to Free the World from Untruth...
We agree with you about not being judgmental. Judgment can only be made by God. Not by us. In this regard we request that you kindly do not be judgmental about us. That judgment should be made by the Lord, not by you or I.
The Vaisnavas naturally respect and love everyone seeing them all as part and parcel of God. You have described that person who is a serial killer. He may claim his innocence and argue that you are being judgmental to call him a serial killer. There reaches a point where the truth has to be spoken even if it is disturbing to those who propagate untruth.
Sometimes Vaisnavas are criticized for using strong language. But they are not the inventors of this sometimes strong language. Krishna Himself uses very strong language in the Bhagavad-gita to describe those who do not surrender unto Him. See Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 7, text 15.
Just as a reporter will publicize the strong verdict made by the judge, the devotee makes public the strong verdict made by the Lord. Therefore we cannot criticize the devotee for publicizing the strong words of the Lord anymore than we can criticize the newspaper reporter for publicizing the verdict of the judge. If we feel that the language is unfair then we must transfer the blame to the originator of that strong language, the Supreme Lord.
The next point is that we may object when God describes those who do not surrender to Him to be rascals. But do we object when the government labels as criminals those who refuse to surrender to its laws, such as the serial killer you mentioned? It would be hypocritical for us to maintain a double standard here. If we want to disallow the Lord the right to describe those who do not surrender unto Him as rascals, we must also demand that the government stop describing as criminals those who do not accept its authority.
It should be noted that the above philosophical points do not give the devotee the right to proudly criticize others as rascals. The only persons who are qualified to repeat the strong words of the Lord are those who do so out of compassion in a mood of service, a mode of freeing the world society from the shackles of ignorance. Those who speak out of pride will not be effective in purifying the world atmosphere of untruth because they are still holding on to the impurities, the untruths, within their own hearts.
In conclusion, it is necessary to speak the truth in order to put a stop to the untruth which has practically completely engulfed the world.
I hope that this has clarified this issue to your full satisfaction. If not, let me know.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
How to Be Spiritually Potent
As with the microcosm, so with the macrocosm. If we conquer fully over our senses by engaging them 24 hours daily in Lord Krishna's transcendental loving service, we will achieve the supreme happiness of pure Krishna bhakti, and at the same time we will become powerful for making a spiritual revolution on this planet. Therefore for own benefit and for the benefit of the suffering humanity we should always remain fixed in Krishna consciousness. After all if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. To be spiritually potent, an important, dynamic part of the solution, all we have to do is always remain Krishna consciousness at all times and in all circumstances by as much as possible always chanting:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
How Do We Know the Teachings are Pure?...
You have mentioned the following in your Thought for the Day, "I simply explain things to you as they are presented in the authoritative Vedic wisdom, which is coming from Krishna Himself." I have also considered your stress on not having blind faith in anything, especially Krishna Consciousness.
But, I am not able to understand one thing. How do you know that the Vedic wisdom given to you by your Guru Maharaja, which is ultimately coming from a disciplic succession, has successfully reached you unadulterated and is coming directly from Krishna as it is? Isn't there a probability of changes being made in them, to satisfy someone's personal motives?
Some times even Mayavadi sannyasis claim to be from an authorized disciplic succession. But, we reject them based on the scriptures given to us by our Guru Maharaja. Aren't we blindly following the scriptures which have been made available to us as authoritative? Please comment.
In the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Pradeep
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Because there is No Aduleration...
You are wondering how we know that what we have received from Srila Prabhupada in disciplic succession is actually pure. It's actually quite simple. We can directly read in the Bhagavad -gita that Krishna says "Surrender unto Me." And then Srila Prabhupada tells us, "Surrender unto Krishna." It is very clear to see that there is no adulteration. The Mayavadis on the other hand change the words of Krishna. They say, "Don't surrender unto Krishna." This is an obvious adulteration.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Beyond the Universal Fulfillment Failure
Who wants to live a drab, dull, boring existence? Everyone wants their life to be a thrilling, exciting adventure at every minute. Why does practically no one achieve this? The reason for this universal fulfillment failure is that the population in general is completely in ignorance about their actual identity. The material scientists have deceived them into thinking that they are nothing more than a random combination of material elements. People have forgotten that they are eternal spiritual beings. They are therefore lost in the dense, deep, dark, dungeon of delusion. They don't know who they are, nor what they are doing, and hence they make so many mistakes all the time. This implicates them more and more in the wheel of birth and death. Those who are fortunate discover who they really are, the eternal spirit-soul servants of Krishna.
Once you realize who you are, you cannot tolerate trying to be something other than what you actually are. You will no longer settle for a life of mediocrity. When you become self-realized you will think, speak, and act differently from the mass population of illusioned souls.
But 'tis folly to be wise in the place where ignorance is bliss. Therefore, in a world of illusioned souls the self-realized soul will be considered a madman. This means that to actually become solidly fixed on the self-realization platform requires a great deal of courage and determination. We can choose to comfortably remain a miserable coward, or we can choose to bravely stand up against illusion and regain our eternal, blissful, knowledgeable nature. The choice is ours right now.
What will you do?
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
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Things Clarified for Everyone...
I have enjoyed tremendously your reply to your reader who questioned whether Lord Nrisimhadeva could come out of the pillar was a fact or simply mythology. A very good objection and a very good answer. That is what a good dialogue does. It clarifies things for everyone. Your answer regarding what happens to the soul at the time of a heart transplant was also excellent.
I give you full respect for doing what you are doing. May you flourish in spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world.
Regards,
Runhild Roeder
Phd. Philosophy Student
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Prabhupada Wants Us to Lead the World out of Chaos...
I very much appreciate your statement, "May you flourish in spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world.", because there is nothing that will give more pleasure to my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. He wanted that we, his disciples, would take the instructions that he gave us, make our lives perfect, and lead the world out of chaos.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
His Master's Voice
Yesterday morning at 4:10 a.m. I was in the ashram kitchen preparing the Lord's paraphernalia for the first worship of the day. I was freshly showered and alert and feeling great awe hearing a magnificent recording of Srila Prabhupada singing "Prayers to the Six Goswamis". It was so powerful and otherworldly. Drinking deeply the sound vibrations into my heart I was being carried on the airplane of Srila Prabhupada's mercy into the transcendental existence far, far beyond this world of turmoil. I then I reflected on the words of Narottama Das Thakur, "My only desire is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from the lotus mouth of my spiritual master." Yes indeed. How true! I need nothing else except to hear, meditate upon, and follow the teachings of my eternal master.
This sweet relationship I have with Srila Prabhupada, taking shelter of his voice, reminds me of the famous painting, 'His Master's Voice'. This classic painting shows a dog named Nipper listening with rapt attention to his master's voice being played on an early era record player known as a gramophone.
If someone laughs at me and tells me I'm just like a dog, I have no problem with that. I will readily agree with them. This is the position of the disciple. He always wants to sit at the feet of his beloved master drinking deeply of the sweet nectarean ocean of bliss emanating from his lotus mouth. May I always be a transcendental Nipper glued to the transcendental sound vibrations emanating from my spiritual master's mouth.
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
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Comprehending that We Are Not this Body...
How can we have the perfect comprehension than we are not this body?
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The Self Beyond the Body...
We can perfectly comprehend our existence beyond this body by seeing how this body is constantly changing while the self within the body remains the same. Your body is in a constant state of flux. At every second the old blood corpuscles are dying and new blood corpuscles are taking their place. But you remain as the constant observer of so many bodily changes.
This understanding regarding the self and the body is confirmed by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita as follows:
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change."
Bhagavad-gita 2.13
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
We Cannot Limit the Unlimited
One of my readers has instructed me that I need to apologize to you, my readers, for presenting the Vedas to you as historical fact rather than as mythology. He specifically complained in this regard about the Vedic description of Lord Nrisimhadeva appearing from a pillar. He told me, "Srila Sankarshan Das Adhikari, your disciples go on innocently reverently accepting whatever you present to them in your discourses. You owe it to them to always present to them accurate information, free of wild exaggerations."
My duty as your teacher is to present you solid, accurate information. This is why I never give you my own opinion. I simply explain things to you as they are presented in the authoritative Vedic wisdom, which is coming from Krishna Himself. When I received this complaint I considered whether it was valid or not. I pondered whether or not it was a wild exaggeration to consider that God can appear from within a pillar. I deliberated carefully.
Is God limited or unlimited? If He is limited there is no meaning to His being God. Therefore He must be unlimited. If He is unlimited, He can do anything He wants whenever and wherever He wants. For someone who can manifest unlimited universes simply by His will, bursting forth from within a pillar is mere child's play.
My message therefore to that reader is, "We cannot limit the unlimited by our limited brains."
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
What Happens During a Heart Transplant?..
May I know in which part of the body the soul resides? According to the Bhagavad-gita, it is in the heart. If it is in the heart, what happens during a heart transplant?
Thank you,
Jeffrey Cher
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The Soul Changes Seats...
The soul resides in the heart. In a successful heart transplant the soul shifts from sitting in the old heart to sitting in the new heart.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
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150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Escape the Sinking Titanic
If we neglect our prime duty of awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness, we are committing virtual suicide. Deluded by the propaganda of this material world we start to think that it offers us substantial shelter, but factually it gives us no more security than a sinking Titanic.
Lord Caitanya is calling out to us, "jiva jago jiva jago--Wake up, sleeping souls," but we prefer to continue sleeping, dreaming that our material body and its accompanying false ego are the end all and be all of existence. We fail to recognize that our present material situation is simply one of an infinite number of costumes/identities that have been imposed upon us by the material nature according to our stubborn fruitless desire to enjoy separately from the Lord since time immemorial.
It's time now to get off the stage, come out of the theatre of birth and death, and realize who we really are in real life. The great Vedic authorities such as Vedavyasa guarantee us a much better deal. Why settle for temporality, ignorance, and misery when we can instead enjoy eternity, knowledge, and bliss? Such a decision is a "no-brainer." So why do the majority of people choose temporality, ignorance, and misery? Simply because they do not know that there is an option. Therefore those who are compassionate dedicate their entire existence for warning everyone that the house of this material existence is on fire and pointing them towards the safe exit.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
Is the Soul Only in the Heart?..
I have a question about our soul's place in our body. I have been told by the bhaktas that it is present in our heart. Please tell me about the same and also about why it is living in the heart only.
Thanking you,
Your servant,
Santosh
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It's Influence is Spread throughout the Entire Body...
What you have been told by the bhaktas, the devotees, is correct. The soul is situated in the physical heart of the material body. That is its sitting place.
The sun is situated in one place in the universe, but by its rays its influence expands very widely. In a similar way, although the infinitesimal soul is situated in one place within the heart of the body its energy is spread throughout the entire body in the form of consciousness. This is why when you pinch your finger you can feel it.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Top of Page
Broadcast from the ecstatic road back to Godhead, In the sublime atmosphere of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
150 New Lectures Now Posted Online
Sankarshan Prabhu has just returned from a four month around-the-world lecture tour. He gave 150 lectures on the ultimate self-realization science, in 13 countries and 36 cities, towns, and villages. Now all of these lectures are posted online for your enlivenment and enlightenment. Surf on over and check them out! They are available at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm
You can listen to them online or download them onto to your computer or mp3 player to hear them later on for you convenience.
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Today's Thought for the Day
Passing the Final Exam with Flying Colors
Every morning at 4:30am we have an ecstatic spiritual celebration known as Mangala Arati. Today at Mangala Arati while singing the Gurvastakam prayers to my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, I made a conscious endeavor to put all of my energy into singing each word with devotion. I could have taken my lingering sickness as an excuse not to fully dive into the mood of the chanting. But I was thinking that since any moment could be my last moment in this body that I had better utter each and every word with complete total devotion. This determination paid off. In spite of a suffering body I was able to relish the ever-increasingly sweet taste of Krishna consciousness once again.
This is how we have to live each moment, as if it were our last. Why should we muster this sort of focus? The answer is given by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:
yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah
"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail." Bhagavad-gita 8.6
Death is the final exam for the course called life. In this course the final exam is sometimes administered as a pop quiz. Therefore we must be always be prepared for that final moment, which could come at any time, by always lovingly being fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness. In this way we will pass the final exam with flying colors.
Sankarshan das Adhikari
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Selections from Sankarshan Prabhu's Correspondence:
Why is there Disunity Amongst Devotees?..
Why is there disunity between followers of Krishna in India and the West as you had implied in your Thought for the Day? Don't you think this will bring disunity among the Indians who might think that Krishna belongs to them? Is there a solution to this way of thinking? In the Kaliyuga this division will further bring the world to doom. Those devotees will find it hard to accept if there is a perceived division.
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Coming to the Platform of Unity...
There are three types of devotees:
1. Kanistha adhikari
2. Madhyama adhikari
3. Uttama adhikari
The kanistha devotee is respectful only to the deity in the temple. He does not know how to properly respect the devotees.
The madhyama and the uttama devotees are respectful to all devotees and all living beings.
The only disunity amongst devotees of God is amongst the kanistha class. Whether someone is a Krishnite, a Christian, or a Muslim, if they are kanistha they will not give proper respect to other followers of God.
Amongst followers of religion we see so much fighting going on both within and between sects. This simply means that they are kanisthas who have not understood the real meaning of religion.
Amongst those who have come at least to the madhyama platform there is complete peace and harmony. To come to this platform we must see four divisions:
1. The Lord
2. The Lord's devotees
3. The innocent
4. Those who are envious of the Lord
The madhyama devotee surrenders to the Lord, takes shelter of the Lord's devotees, enlightens the innocent seekers of truth, and does not waste time trying to enlighten those who are envious of the Lord.
The solution is that all religionists must at least come to the madhyama platform. The easiest way to do this is to associate with devotees on the madhyama platform such as the ISKCON devotees, the followers of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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