Arya Siddhanta dasa:
( Click here to read the article in its original format. )
Have you ever heard a story about Krsna’s pastimes and wondered, “Where does that come from? I don’t see it in the Bhagavatam?” Now you have some answers. Many of the pastimes that we have heard about are being presented in the Sri Garga Samhita with authoritative scriptural evidence to back them up. These are available at http://www.rvc.edu/rvc_books.html
KRSNA, THE BUTTER THIEF (Sri Garga Samhita Canto 1 Part 3) by HH Danavir Goswami and HG Kusakratha Prabhu. Srila Sanatana Goswami calls Garga Samhita one of the rare texts teaching “the confidential science of pure devotional service.” This authoritative scripture, spoken by the family priest of the Yadu Dynasty, Sri Garga Muni. In this volume you will hear the hilarious pastime of gopi Prabhavati capturing the butter thief and her surprise when she took him to court. Also included are the liberation of Sakatasura and Trnavarta, revelation of the universal form to Nanda’s wife, Sri Radhika’s wedding, vision of the universal form, breaking of the two Arjuna trees and Durvasa Muni’s vision of the Maya potency and prayers to Nanda’s son. (435 pages, 32 color pages of illustrations, hardbound stitched binding, gold foil and color covers, complete devanagari, Roman transliteration, word for word meanings, translations by HG Kusakratha Prabhu, elaborate purports by HH Danavir Goswami, full indexes, and glossary)($20)
KRSNA ENTERS VRNDAVANA (Sri Garga Samhita Canto 2 Part 1) by HH Danavir Goswami and HG Kusakratha Prabhu. In this volume you will learn why Govardhana Hill was cursed to sink every day. Also included are Giriraja Govardhana’s birth, Yamuna’s arrival, the liberation of Vatsasura, Bakasura and Aghasura, and the kidnapping of the calves and cowherd boys. (430 pages, 32 color pages of illustrations, hardbound stitched binding, gold foil and color covers, complete devanagari, Roman transliteration, word for word meanings, translations by HG Kusakratha Prabhu, elaborate purports by HH Danavir Goswami, full indexes, and glossary)($20)
KRSNA’s VRAJA SPORTS (Sri Garga Samhita Canto 2 Part 2) by HH Danavir Goswami and HG Kusakratha Prabhu. In this volume you will hear how Krsna magically assumes the appearance of a young girl in order to meet Radharani. Also included are Brahma’s prayers, Sri Krsna’s herding the cows, the liberation of Dhenukasura, subduing Kaliya, drinking the forest fire, the story of Sesa, Kaliya’s story, Sri Radha-Krsna’s falling in love, the worship of Tulasi and the meeting of Sri Radha-Krsna. (450 pages, 32 color pages of illustrations, hardbound stitched binding, gold foil and color covers, complete devanagari, Roman transliteration, word for word meanings, translations by HG Kusakratha Prabhu, elaborate purports by HH Danavir Goswami, full indexes, and glossary)($20)
SAINTLY SCIENTIST (Vaisnava Society Journal #11) written by HH Danavir Goswami and other IKSCON authors. Highlights the remembrance of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami along with “Zombie Jamboree,” “Marriage — The Art,” divorce, “Psychological Characteristics of ISKCON Members,” “Liberalism and the Catholic Church,” the passing of Narmada Swami, the bull and the Bhagavata, chocolate and poet reflections on the Bhagavad Gita. (125 pages, soft bound $5)
The pastimes of Sri Damodara
The pastimes of Sri DamodaraPayonidhi das:
There is a wonderful pastime of Krsna staling butter from Garga Samhita from the 1 canto chapter 17 of this book ,I like to share it as this is the month we meditate on Krsna as the butterthief:
Chapter Seventeen
Description of the Yogurt Theft
Text 1
Sri Närada said: With Their pastimes the two handsome fair and dark boys, Krsna and Balaräma, made Nanda’s palace beautiful.
Text 2
O king of Mithilä, They crawled on Their hands and knees and soon They were speaking sweet words in Vraja.
Text 3
Yasodä and Rohini fed, fondled and caressed the two boys. When did the boys leave their laps? To whose lap did They go?
Text 4
Tinkling Their anklets and small bells, They enchanted the three worlds as They went here and there. By the influence of Their Yogamäyä potency They manifested the forms of two small boys.
Text 5
When her son’s limbs were dark, anointed with dust by playing in the courtyard with the boys of Vraja, Yasodä took Him and bathed Him with great care.
Text 6
On His hands and knees crawling first to the courtyard and then to His mother’s lap, Krsna was like a lion cub splendidly playing in Vraja.
Text 7
Gazing at her son dressed in yellow garments decorated with gold and splendid with a crown of jewels, Yasodä became happy.
Text 8
Forgetting their homes, leaving them behind and coming to King Nanda’s cowherd village, all the gopis gazed at the charming and playful child Mukunda and became very happy.
Text 9
When infant Krsna saw the statue of a lion at the entrance to King Nanda’s home, He became frightened and began to cry. The gopis took Him inside and compassionately spoke to Yasodä.
Text 10
The gopis said: O beautiful one, don’t take this restless and playful boy decorated with crows’ feathers and the milk still in His mouth out of the courtyard to play.
Text 11
O Yasodä, your son’s two front teeth have now appeared. Now his maternal uncle should perform a ceremony to ward off inauspiciousness, but your son has no maternal uncle.
Text 12
Therefore, to destroy all obstacles you should give charity, chant Vedic prayers, and worship the cows, brähmanas, demigods, and saintly devotees.
Text 13
Then, to bring auspiciousness to their sons, Yasodä and Rohini regularly gave garments, jewels, and new grains in charity.
Text 14
Now walking on their two feet among the gopas’s homes, and their glances like those of a lion’s cub, Krsna and Balaräma grew in the village of Vraja.
Text 15
With the boys of Vraja, Their friends headed by Sridämä and Subala, They played on the Yamunä’s sandy shore.
Text 16
In the Yamunä’s forests opulent with kadamba groves and sturdy black tamäla trees, Krsna and Balaräma walked.
Text 17
Delighting the gopas and gopés with His childhood pastimes, with His friends Lord Hari stole butter and ghee.
Text 18
One day Prabhävati-gopi, who was Upananda’s wife, came to Nanda’s palace and spoke to Yasodä.
Text 19
Sri Prabhävati said: O Yasodä, for the two of us there is no separate property in butter, ghee, milk, yogurt, and buttermilk. By your kindness yours is also mine.
Text 20
I don’t say you taught Him to steal. You didn’t teach Him. Your son steals butter on His own.
Text 21
When I try to give Him good instruction, Your arrogant son gives me bad words and runs from my courtyard.
Text 22
He is the son of Vraja’s king. He should not steal. O Yasodä, there are some other things also that, out of respect for you, I have not told.
Text 23
Sri Närada said: After hearing Prabhävati’s words, Yasodä, the wife of Nanda, rebuked her son, and with great love gently spoke to Prabhävati.
Text 24
Sri Yasodä said: I have ten million cows. There is so much yogurt in the house I cannot move. I do not know why my little boy never drinks any of the yogurt here.
Text 25
Bring this yogurt-thief to me. O Prabhävati, there is no difference between your son and my son.
Text 26
You bring that boy here with butter in His mouth and I will give Him a lesson. I will scold Him and tie Him up.
Text 27
Sri Närada Muni said: Hearing these words, the gopi became happy and went home. Then one day Krsna went to her home to steal yogurt.
Text 28
Grasping it with one hand after another, Krsna and His boy friends gradually scaled the outer wall and entered the courtyard.
Text 29
Seeing the yogurt was in a jug hanging on ropes beyond His hand’s reach, by arranging a footstool, a grinding mortar, and the gopa boys, Lord Hari climbed up to it.
Text 30
When even from that height the yogurt-jar hanging from ropes could not be reached, Sridama and Subala hit the jar with sticks.
Text 31
As all the beautiful yogurt flowed from the broken jug to the ground, Krsna, Subala, the boys, and some monkeys, all ate it.
Text 32
Hearing the sound of the jug breaking, the gopi Prabhävati came. As the boys fled, she grabbed Lord Hari’s beautiful hand.
note; Krsna is allowing Prabhavati to catch him
Text 33
As frightened Krsna shed false tears, she brought Him to Nanda’s palace. Seeing Nanda standing there, she covered Krsna’s face with the edge of His garment.
Text 34
Lord Hari thought, "My mother will hit Me with a stick." The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can do whatever He likes, then manifested the form of Prabhävati’s son.
Text 35
Yasodä quickly came. The angry gopi said, "He broke a jug and stole all the yogurt in it."
Text 36
Seeing Her son, Yasodä smiled and said to the gopi, “O gopi, take the edge of the garment from His face and tell the mischief He has done.
note:seeing Prabhavatis own son instead of Krsna , Mother Yasoda is getting angry:
Text 37
”When it may be said my son has done mischief you may throw Him out of my house. Your son did the theft you say my son did.”
Text 38
Ashamed of what people might think, she took the cloth from His face. Seeing her own son, she was surprised at heart and said:
Text 39
"How did you come here without walking? I have the treasure of Vraja in my hand!" Saying this, and taking him with her, she left Nanda’s palace.
note :Prabhavati Gopi is obviously confused how her own son was there ,when she had actually brought Krsna with her.
Text 40
Yasodä, Rohini, Nanda, Balaräma, and the gopas and gopis laughed, saying, ”Today we saw a great injustice in Vraja.”
Text 41
On the path outside again becoming Nanda’s son, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, smiling, confident, and His eyes restless, spoke to the gopi Prabhävati.
Text 42
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O gopi, if you capture Me again, I will take the form of your husband. There is no doubt of it.
Text 43
O king of Mithilä, when she heard this, the astonished gopi went home. From then on, in every home, impelled by fear of embarrassment, the gopis would not capture Krsna.
note: Prabhavati Gopi must have spread the news of Krsna’s trick to other elderly Gopis thus from that point on no one would restrict His sweet lilas of stealing butter.
Srila Prabhupada mentions in the Krsna book how full the boys are even critiquing the butter and yogurt (being completely full of eating freshly churned butter and youghurt.):” This butter and yogurt is so useless see even the monkeys do not like it’ ( even the monkeys being complete full of eating this butter and yogurt)
The pastimes of Sri Damodara
Oct 13 2008 Preacher’s concession
By Danavir GoswamiThe following is an excerpt from a forthcoming volume of Sri Garga Samhita, Canto 4 Chapter 8 verses 21-23. The translations are from Kusakratha Prabhu and the purports are from Danavir Goswami
Preacher’s concession
Preacher's concessionBy Danavir Goswami
[The following is an excerpt from a forthcoming volume of Sri Garga Samhita, Canto 4 Chapter 8 verses 21-23. The translations are from Kusakratha Prabhu and the purports are from Danavir Goswami…to be available at: http://www.rvc.edu/rvc_books.html]
Text 21
evam snatva nara-varah
krodha-lobha-vivarjitah
nalapet tad-dine nicams
tatha pakhandino naran
evam—thus; snatva—bathing; nara-varah—an exalted person; krodha-lobha-vivarjitah—free of greed and anger; na—not; alapet—should talk; tad-dine—on that day; nican—to degraded people; tatha—so; pakhandinah—to offenders; naran—people.
TRANSLATION
In this way one should bathe. On ekadasi day one should be free of greed and anger, and one should not talk to sinful people, atheists, and offenders.
PURPORT
This verse reminds me of a morning walk conversation, for which I was present, of 1975 in Chicago. Strolling through a city park early in the morning, one disciple among a group of about twenty mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that he had heard that Ekadasi was an inauspicious day and should be counteracted by chanting many rounds. The guru dispelled that illusion by responding that Ekadasi was indeed the most auspicious day. Then the disciple asked whether chanting twenty-five rounds was recommended for devotees on Ekadasi. The reply is here:
Prabhupada: Oh yes, Ekadasi, simply you should chant. No other business. Nirjala.
Devotee: Should they go out for preaching work?
Prabhupada: No, those who are preaching, not for them. Those who are sitting idle… (laughter) A preacher is so exalted. He hasn’t got to follow any regulation. But don’t take it.” (laughter)
Nirjala means fasting even from water. In this charming exchange, Srila Prabhupada shocked his students by saying that devotees who are engaged in preaching work such as book distribution sankirtan need not follow any other Vedic rules and regulations. Upon hearing, “He hasn’t got to follow any regulation” the students walking with him spontaneously began to laugh. Then after a poignant pause His Divine Grace delivered the sobering conclusion, “but don’t take it” meaning “but do not take advantage of it.” In other words, the preachers of Krishna consciousness should comply with Vedic principles while at the same time continuing their enthusiastic missionary work. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita:
yuktahara-viharasya
yukta-cestasya karmasu
yukta-svapnavabodhasya
yogo bhavati duhkha-ha
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
Although strictly observing Ekadasi is highly recommended in the sastras, Srila Prabhupada brought forward an even higher Vedic principle namely that of disseminating transcendental knowledge. Lord Krsna states:
ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva
mam evaisyaty asamsayah
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavita na ca me tasmad
anyah priyataro bhuvi
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. (Bhagavad-gita 18.68-9)
The spiritual master carefully chooses among the millions of Vedic injunctions those most essential for his disciples’ spiritual advancement. Moreover, as the founder-acarya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada’s advice is meant to be followed by all of the society’s members (present and future), for the remainder of the “golden age of Lord Caitanya.” It is said that the Krsna consciousness movement will be prominent within the ten thousand years since Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s birth (1486 AD) but after that people will become too degraded to accept Krishna consciousness.
Texts 22-23
mithya-vada-ratams caiva
tatha brahmana-nindakan
anyams caiva duracaran
aagamyagamane ratan
para-dravyapaharams ca
para-darabhigaminah
durvrttan bhinna-maryadan
nalapet sa vrati narah
mithya-vada-ratan—to liars; ca—and; eva—certainly; tatha—so; brahmana-nindakan—to they who have offended brahmanas; anyan—to others; ca—and; eva—indeed; duracaran—misbehaved; agamya-agamane—to illicit sex; ratan—attached; para—of others; dravya—the property; apaharan—stealing; ca—and; para—of others; dara—the wives; abhigaminah—approaching; durvrttan—wicked; bhinna-maryadan—who break the rules of morality; na—not; alapet—should talk; sa—he; vrati—following the vow; narah—a person.
TRANSLATION
A person who follows the vow of ekadasi should not talk to liars, offenders of brahmanas, sinners, debauchees, thieves, adulterers, and the ill-behaved and immoral.
PURPORT
Venturing out into society for distributing transcendental books on any day, even Ekadasi, almost guarantees contact with the regrettable types of persons mentioned in this verse. How then can such a seeming violation of this Vedic injunction be adjusted ? King Yudhisthira answers this question:
tarko ‘pratisthah srutayo vibhinna
nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the sastras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahajanas advocate.
To illustrate this point imagine an automobile and driver approaching an intersection where a red traffic light is illuminated. The driver dutifully stops the car at the appropriate place behind the pedestrian crosswalk and waits for the light to turn green. The driver also sees a uniformed policeman standing in the middle of the street moving his arms and blowing a whistle. The policeman turns toward the car and driver, catches her attention and motions her to drive through the intersection. The driver acknowledges the policeman’s request but points her finger toward the red light so that the policeman will understand that the reason she is not driving forward is because she is obeying the traffic signal. The policeman makes a sour face, blows his whistle and more emphatically motions for the driver to proceed through the intersection. But the lady again responds by pointing directly at the red light with two forward poking motions as if to tell the policeman, “Don’t you see that I cannot go forward because the light is red?” Now the policeman becomes visibly angry, his face turns red and for the third time he motions for the driver to drive forward while stridently screeching his whistle. Nevertheless, the driver, who has never gotten a traffic violation for going through a red light, once more points to the red traffic light. The policeman walks over to the driver and vociferously says, “What is wrong with you? I have instructed you to move your car forward three times and still you sit there pointing at the red light. I know the light is red, it is malfunctioning and that is why I am out here directing traffic. It has been stuck on red for hours in all four directions. It will not turn green until it is repaired. The repair men have been called and they are coming but in the meantime I am directing traffic. (Raising his voice) Do your understand?” The driver replies, “Officer, I respect what you are trying to do but I read in the drivers’ manual that one is never supposed to drive through an intersection when the light is showing red, so I am following that. After all the law is the law, sir. I have never run a red light and I do not plan to begin now.”
In this analogy the traffic light represents Vedic injunctions, the driver represents the pious person trying to obey the scriptures, the malfunctioning of the traffic light represents the current cataclysmic age of Kali and the policeman represents God’s representative-the mahajana (perfected spiritual teacher). The policeman apparently supersedes municipal law by ordering drivers to pass through a red light but in actuality he perfectly upheld the real intent of the law. The factual purpose of automated traffic signals was meant to regulate the safe flow of moving vehicles. The poor driver, confused by apparent contradictions, stubbornly stuck to her driver’s manual without understanding the true meaning of the law. In Sanskrit parlance this is called niyama agrahah. In her mind she was the most obedient citizen but not so to the policeman, the other drivers behind her nor to the municipal court judge.
The Vedas certainly establish the importance of following Ekadasi completely, yet His Divine Grace emphasized propagation of sankirtan and the public distribution of transcendental literature over and above a strict observance of every minute detail of Ekadasi. By instructing his followers in this way, Srila Prabhupada did not minimize the importance of the Vedas or Ekadasi-rather he fulfilled the essential purpose of both. The fully-authorized saintly person extracts allusive essentials from the Vedas by accentuating one activity ahead of another.
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami stresses the quintessential activity of broadcasting the glories of the holy name:
kali-yuge yuga-dharma-namera pracara
tathi lagi’ pita-varna caitanyavatara
The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya. (Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 3.40)
In summary we say that if one can minutely execute Ekadasi and also effectively preach Krsna consciousness, then that is excellent. Nevertheless, devotees in general are advised to actively disseminate Krishna consciousness, distribute books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, honor grainless prasadam on Ekadasi and have confidence that they are not violating Vedic principles by failing to fast from all food and drink. By such missionary service and simultaneous adherence to the ordinary observance of Ekadasi, devotees will definitely please the Lord Who fervently desires to save the drowning souls of Kali yuga. Those unable to preach in this way, should try their best to fast completely on Ekadasi, avoid talking to sinners, debauchees, thieves, adulterers, the ill-behaved, immoral, and so forth.
Preacher's concessionComments • [comment feed]
Pranams,
I would like to know the value traditional gaudiyas gave to Garga samhita.
Who and where were these text quoted?
I guess 6 Goswamis never quoted this.
Please let me know
Dasan
• “The confidential science of pure devotional service is taught explicitly only in a few Vedic scriptures little known to the public. Amongst these rare texts are the Gopala-tapani Upanisad, the Narada-pancaratra, the Garga-samhita, the Visnu Purana, the Hari-vamsa Upapurana, the Uttara-khanda of the Padma Purana, and the Bhagavata Maha-purana.”
— (Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s Dig-darsini Commentary on Brhad-bhagavatamrta: 1.1. 21-23)
• “Mayapura is the Lord’s yogamaya potency. It is filled with ever-increasing bliss. In the Garga-samhita it is described as ‘the destroyer of sins.’”
maya mayapuri saksat
sarvananda-vivardhini
sri-garga-samhitayam sa
kirtita papa-nasini
—(Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chapter 3; Text 19 by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
• “Parvati said, ‘O lord Siva, Please describe to me the most wonderful character and confidential activities of the One on whom you meditate and adore with great devotion. Previously I heard from your mouth the thousand names of Lord Krsna, now please tell me His story.’
Siva (Mahadeva) replied, ‘O Goddess who provides welfare to all, the life story of Lord Krsna has been included in the Garga-samhita.’”
—(Garga-samhita Mahatmya, taken from Sammohana-tantra)
How could we possibly avoid talking to sinners, debauchees, thieves, adulterers, the ill-behaved, and the immoral?
It is much, much easier to take some fruit, peanuts and tapioca and go out on book distribution!
I recall when Garga samhita started coming out some Gaudiya math persons objected that this book is not quoted by our acaryas, but soon they realized they where wrong.Now some Gaudiya maths take the Garga samhita very serious. Kusakrata Prabhu has done a great service by translating it and HH Danavir Maharaja for commenting on it.
i just found another place where Bhaktivinoda Thakura quoted Garga Samhita:
It sn his Sri Amnaya Sutra part 1:
“I take shelter of the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is older than the oldest, greater than the greatest, the supreme person, the supreme master, full of transcendental bliss, a jewel mine of mercy, and a jewel mine of transcendental virtues.”
In Bhaktivinoda Thakuras, Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya praman khanda:
Text 24
Prthu-kunda (in Navadvépa) is described in Garga-samhitä, where Arjuna says: O son of Devaki, please tell me who owns this wonderful lake filled with golden lotuses and surrounded by golden vines?
Text 25
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: In ancient times the great king Prthu of the Sväyambhuva dynasty performed spiritual austerities here. This is his wonderful lake.
Text 26
O son of Prthä, one who drinks the water here is at once free from all sins. The lowest of men who bathes here attains the supreme abode.
In regards to vers 4.8.22-23 of the Garga Samhita;
A person who follows the vow of ekadasi should not talk to liars, offenders of brahmanas, sinners, debauchees, thieves, adulterers, and the ill-behaved and immoral.
I fully agree with HH Danavir Maharajas analyzise of this vers, even about the lady in the trafic light.However being a sankirtana devotee for 30 years I like to offer another light this vers can be seen in, and with this I mean no disrespect to Danavir Maharaja.
While constantly associating with nondevotees, the bookdistributors may take this ekadasi to take a break from nondevotee association. Not that this day is used in frivilious talk and elaborate honoring ,elaborate ekadasi feasts, but used for 24 hours hearing and chanting about Krishna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung that ekadasi is the mother of devotion.
There is many other days a devotee can do bookdistribution.However if it is not possible , then surely go on sankirtana that day and at least chant extra rounds and hear extra about Krsna, read Srila Prabhupadas books more etc.We have seen other talks with Srila Prabhupada where he did not mind but actually encouraged strict ekadasi performance.
But Danavir Maharaja has emphazised correctly.In a time when less persons go on sankirtana , maybe on these days, the non regular sankirtana devotees could go out.Thus give some much needed rest for the regular sankirtana devotees, that day after day have to see and assocaite with nondevotees.
Some devotees keep ekadasi so strictly, nirjal every time, and chanting all night through without sleep. (!) We have to admire them. To me it seems super human.
I remember Mahanidhi Swami as being one of these transcendental personalities, when I saw him in Vrndavan in 1991: he was fasting from even water and doing parikrama every ekadasi (probably still is), a very holy, advanced sadhu.
I am glad we have some great examples like that. People should not think the bhakti cult is just an “easy path” for those who cannot come up to truly high standards of knowledge, austerity, renunciation and detachment.
On the other hand, those of us who just fast from grains and beans and who try to hear and chant a little more, although we are fallen, are also following Prabhupada’s orders. He made it easy for us.
Not that we should have the mentality of taking advantage, but we should also avoid the mentality of condemning those who do the minimum that Srila Prabhupada required.
The more we raise the minimum standards, the more we exclude people who cannot handle that much austerity. Therefore the best policy is to be lenient with others and not impose standards Srila Prabhupada himself did not impose, and at the same time we can take whatever personal vows of austerity that we find optimizes our own ability to serve the sankirtan movement.
This looks like it will be another great book by Danavir Maharaja.
[For the editors (if there is still time for typo corrections): I think the word “allusive” in the text should be changed to “elusive”. “Elusive” means difficult to discern or hard to express (eluding the grasp), whereas “allusive” means given to allusions or casual references to other works. For example, Tarentino or Spielberg movies are often “allusive” in the sense that they contain allusions or references to other movies and pop culture. Saintly persons can extract “elusive” essentials from the Vedas, because they know the actual purpose (”vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo”) and how to help others achieve that purpose.]
“I think the word ‘allusive’ in the text should be changed to ‘elusive’. ”
Correction noted with much thanks.
Srila Prabhupada had high expectation of devotees in the beginning of ISKCON he tried
hard to introduce 64 rounds. Even in Gaudiya Math most devotees do not chant 64 rounds they have minimum 4 for grhasthas in some temples.Srila Prabhupada wanted a higher standard.So he introduced minimum 16 rounds.Now this being said this is the month of Kartika. One of Radharanis names is Kartika ,She Herself becomes this month to accept the devotees devotion. Especially it is recommended if possible we spend 1 month in Vrindavan if possible .1000 times more is the benefit of devotional service this month and by staying in Vrindavan and performing devotional service another 1000. However those who sacrifice everything to stay in the west to distrbute Srila Prabhupadas books I am sure Radharani will give them all blessings even as if they where in Vrindavan for Kartika, similarly is the case with ekadasi.Thus HH Danavir Maharaja has really given us his mercy in this matter, by his enlivening purports to this text.
Of course some are strict like Akruranatha Prabhu is mentioning.For sannyasis , varnaprasthas and widovs to perform more tapasya is easier.Thus Hari Bhakti Vilasa says that those who fail to observe Kartika in these 3 catagories go to hell.
In either case, we should always try to surrender more to Krsna, not less.We will not be like Sukracaray that told Bala Maharaja not to surrender to Krsna.To always try to fully surrender to Krsna is always the best.
I have a question for Danavir Maharaja: I would like to know if you also will translate the parts of Garga Samhita that Kusakrata Prabhu did not ?
In response to Comment #9: Yes, we have begun arranging for the translation work of the cantos not translated by Kusakratha Prabhu. Thank you.
Maharaja you just made my day , I am very happy , and looking forward to read commentaries to the Garga Samhita
Thank you very much
this is from Garga samhita mahatmya:
Sri Garga Samhita Mahatmya:
Saunaka Rsi said, “I have heard from you in detail glorification of the Puranas, which is very pleasing to the ears. Now, kindly tell me about the Garge Samhita, which is filled with narrations of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. In this Samhita, there is wonderful glorification of Sri Radha and Madhava.”
Suta Gosvami said, “O Saunaka, the glories of the Garga Samhita were revealed to me by Narada Muni. Thereafter, Lord Siva had spoken it to Parvati, along with the Sammohana-tantra. Lord Siva resides underneath an eternal banyan tree on Mount Kailash.”
“One day, as she sat along with her husband, surrounded by numerous Siddhas, Parvati requested him to narrate the pastimes of Lord Krsna.”
Lord Siva replied, “O goddess, listen now as I recite to you the life of Lord Krsna when He had incarnated on the earth, which is the remover of all kinds of sins. Long ago, Lord Krsna had Himself narrated His pastimes to Radha, and then later on, to Sesa, who thereafter recited them to Dharma. Dharma then recited the story of Lord Krsna’s earthly pastimes to his sons, Nara and Narayana and Narayana narrated it to Narada Muni. Later on, Narada Muni narrated the pastimes of Lord Krsna to Garga Muni, whereby he attained the platform of realized transcendental knowledge. At that time, Narada Muni said to Garga Muni.”
Narada Muni said, “O sage, I have narrated the glories of Lord Krsna briefly and so it would be good if you compose them in a more elaborate form. Previously, I had inspired Srila Vyasadeva to compose the Srimad-Bhagavatam for this same purpose. The Samhita composed by you should be in the format of me narrating it to king Bahulsva.”
Garga Muni cheerfully accepted this most difficult task put before him by Narada Muni. Thereafter, Narada Muni ascended into the sky, holding his vina in his hand, and went to Brahmaloka. And, Gargacarya composed the Garga Samhita, which bestows devotion to Lord Krsna upon the hearer.
In this regard, the following history is cited: There was a king named Pratibahu, the son of Vajra, who resided at Mathura, the abode of Lord Krsna. His wife was named Malini. He performed some difficult vows in the hopes of receiving a son. And yet, in spite of all his endeavours, the king did not receive a son and so he became quite morose. No one could him because it was his belief that the life of a man without a son is completely useless.
One day, after the king had become old and grey, the sage, Sandilya, came to him. Seeing how the king appeared morose, the sage inquired about his welfare. In reply, King Pratibahu revealed to him is misfortune of having no son. The sage then spoke to the king for his welfare.
Sandilya Muni said, “O King, after trying so many means for fulfilling your desire, without success, you should now listen to the Garga Samhita, along with your wife. In his Kali-yuga, Lord Visnu bestows riches and sons upon those who relish this divine literature. And at the end of life, such persons proceed to the abode of the Lord, Goloka. There are no hard and fast rules for listening to the Garga Samhita- it can be heard at all times and at all places. However, those who are not devoted to their spiritual master, who have no faith in the existence of God, who are sinful, and who do not follow the life of a Vaisnava, will achieve no good result while listening to the Garga Samhita.”
“The speaker of the Garga Samhita should be selected with great care. He should not be an envious person who continually criticizes others. He should be devoted to Lord Krsna and well-versed in the devotional literature. After the recitation of the Garga Samhita, there should be the performance of hari-name-sankirtana. The bona-fide speaker of the Garga Samhita should be treated with all due respect and he should be awarded gifts in charity in consideration of his highly meritorious service rendered.”
King Pratibahu became very pleased while listening to the words of the sage, Sandilya. He said, “O sage, I take shelter of you. Please recite the Garga Samhita to me and in this way, bestow upon me a son.”
Thereafter, a nice pandal was erected by the side of the Yamuna and all the people of Mathura came to listen. After the conclusion of the recitation, the sage, Sandilya, was given a great deal of wealth in charity by the king. Then, by the mercy of the great sage, Radha and Krsna appeared before the king. Everyone stood up and then bowed down to offer obeisances to the Supreme Lord and His consort. The king and his queen offered prayers, as did the sage, Sandilya, and the citizens appealed to the Lord to forgive their sins, benedict the king with a son, and award them all devotion at His lotus feet.
Lord Krsna then said, “Whatever ever has been spoken by all of you will certainly come to pass. The Samhita composed by sage Garga fulfills all aspiration of those who respectfully hear it.”
Radha’s Birth
Radha's Birth
By Danavir Goswami
(Translation by HG Kusakratha Prabhu, Purport by Danavir Goswami)
In Garga Samhita, First Canto, Eighth Chapter, 6th Verse it is said:
avesya rupam mahasah parakhyam
kalindaja-kula-nikunja-dese
su-mandire savatatara rajan
Then, placing Her glorious transcendental form in (the womb of) King Vrsabhanu’s wife, Sri Radha descended into a great palace in a garden by the Yamuna’s shore.
PURPORT
As Krsna appears and disappears independent from the laws of nature so His eternal consort Sri Radha acts. Sri Radha, Srimati Radharani and Sri Radhika all indicate the one who perfectly worships the Lord. The words Sri and Srimati are titles indicating opulence and beauty. Sri Radha descended onto this planet and entered the womb of her mother, by Her own will (avesya rupam). She was not forced to take birth through reproductive processes in the material world as other souls are.
Sri Radha is originally manifested from half of Lord Krsna’s body as explained in Padma Purana:
Sri Radha is the original potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She is beautiful, graceful, saintly and full of all transcendental qualities. She enjoys pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana. She is manifested from half of Lord Mukunda’s transcendental body.
Discussing the verse above, Sri Raghava Pandita Gosvami quotes from the Sammohana-tantra, Patala 1:
His form is eternally full of bliss. It is never any other way. Radha is full of bliss. Lord Hari is full of bliss. Their forms are not composed of material elements. Their forms are full of bliss. They are the single Supreme Spirit, manifested as two for the knowledge of the devotees. The wise know that as a spark is one with the fire, so the potency and the master of potencies are one.
It is also said that according to the Brahmavaivarta Purana, Sri Radha was born from the left side of Krsna. Then Srila Raghava Pandita Gosvami further quotes the Govinda-Vrndavana-sastra, where Sri Krsna says to Balarama:
O Balarama, please listen and I will tell You something. One day, taking My flute, My heart full of bliss and My form bending in three places, I went under a kadamba tree and, seeing My own form reflected in a splendid golden platform studded with jewels, I became enchanted. At that moment My heart became filled with the sweet happiness known as conjugal love, which charms the entire world. My heart now desires to become a woman. I yearn to enjoy Myself as a woman.
As the Lord thought in this way, His heart approached itself. From the sweetness of His heart came bliss and from the bliss came Himself, manifested in a second form, a female form of transcendental bliss that could experience the direct perception of Himself.
At that time a goddess, whose form was nectar, whose fair complexion was like a host of lightning flashes, and who was decorated with glittering ornaments, appeared from the Lord’s left side. She is known as Radha, who is half of Krsna’s body, and who is the mistress of all potencies.
This is also described in the Govinda-Vrndavana-sastra, where Lord Krsna says to Balarama:
My beloved Radhika is the form if My three transcendental potencies. As I am beyond the touch of matter, so is She, whose form is My potency. Manifest in three forms, I am spiritual, My form is beyond the touch of the three modes of matter. I am the master of everything, and She is the mistress of this master of everything. She is said to be the kriya-sakti. She has the same sweetness as the other two saktis.
Sri Krishna’s three potencies (tri sakti) are the potency of desire (iccha-sakti) the potency of knowledge (jnana-sakti) and potency of action (kriya-sakti).
In the Varaha-samhita, the seven coverings of the material world and the transcendental abode of Vrndavana are described as follows:
Above that is a great platform made of gold and studded with rubies, and on that platform is a charming lotus flower with eight petals.
This is the favorite place of Sri Govinda. How is it possible to fully describe it’s glories? Sri Govinda, the gopis’ beloved, stays there. By His touch it has become fragrant with many flowers.
The Lord’s beloved Radhika is His dear original potency. Durga and the other goddesses in the world of the three modes are a million-millionth part of a part of Her.
Because Sri Sri Radha Krsna are not different and because Sri Krsna is the master of all potencies, therefore Sri Radha is also the master and source of all potencies. He is by nature full of sweetness and bliss, free from the three modes, and eternally manifest beyond the material nature. Because Radha is not different from Him, so is She also. It is said that within the Lord are all potencies, the modes and the material nature.
Thus Srila Raghava Pandita Goswami concludes that all potencies of the Lord are manifested from Sri Radha. This is explained in his Sri Krsna-bhakti-ratna-prakasa (The Splendor of the Jewel of Krsna-bhakti) Volume 2 Fifth Ray of Light; Third Part, verses 42-58.
