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- H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 16 February 2011--The Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda--and--My Chances of Going Back to Godhead?
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- Australian News: Everything you would ever want to know for “Nityananda Trayodasi”
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- H.H. Sivarama Swami
- H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
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- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Nitai-pada-kamala
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Radha-vallabha dasa asks what the standard of worship should be for Gaura Nitai deities presiding over our restaurants’ kitchens
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A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Wednesday 16 February 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Today's Thought: Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA Today is the sublime appearance day of the most merciful Lord Nityananda. In the following excerpt from his introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada describes the wonderful mercy of Lord Nityananda: Once Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura were walking down a main road, and on the way they saw a roaring crowd assembled. Upon inquiring from passers-by, they understood that two brothers, named Jagai and Madhai, were creating a public disturbance in a drunken state. They also heard that these two brothers were born in a respectable brahmana family, but because of low association they had turned into debauchees of the worst type. They were not only drunkards but also meat-eaters, woman-hunters, dacoits and sinners of all description. Srila Nityananda Prabhu heard all of these stories and decided that these two fallen souls must be the first to be delivered. If they were delivered from their sinful life, then the good name of Lord Caitanya would be even still more glorified. Thinking in this way, Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa pushed their way through the crowd and asked the two brothers to chant the holy name of Lord Hari. The drunken brothers became enraged upon this request and attacked Nityananda Prabhu with filthy language. Both brothers chased them a considerable distance. In the evening the report of the preaching work was submitted to the Lord, and He was glad to learn that Nityananda and Haridasa had attempted to deliver such a stupid pair of fellows. The next day Nityananda Prabhu went to see the brothers, and as soon as He approached them one of them threw a piece of earthen pot at Him. This struck Him on the forehead, and immediately blood began to flow. But Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that instead of protesting this heinous act, He said, It does not matter that you have thrown this stone at Me. I still request you to chant the holy name of Lord Hari. One of the brothers, Jagai, was astonished to see this behavior of Nityananda Prabhu, and he at once fell down at His feet and asked Him to pardon his sinful brother. When Madhai again attempted to hurt Nityananda Prabhu, Jagai stopped him and implored him to fall down at His feet. In the meantime the news of Nityananda's injury reached the Lord, who at once hurried to the spot in a fiery and angry mood. The Lord immediately invoked His Sudarsana cakra (the Lord's ultimate weapon, shaped like a wheel) to kill the sinners, but Nityananda Prabhu reminded Him of His mission. The mission of the Lord was to deliver the hopelessly fallen souls of Kali-yuga, and the brothers Jagai and Madhai were typical examples of these fallen souls. Ninety percent of the population of this age resembles these brothers, despite high birth and mundane respectability. According to the verdict of the revealed scriptures, the total population of the world in this age will be of the lowest sudra quality, or even lower. It should be noted that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu never acknowledged the stereotyped caste system by birthright; rather, He strictly followed the verdict of the sastras in the matter of one's svarupa, or real identity. When the Lord was invoking His Sudarsana cakra and Srila Nityananda Prabhu was imploring Him to forgive the two brothers, both the brothers fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and begged His pardon for their gross behavior. The Lord was also asked by Nityananda Prabhu to accept these repenting souls, and the Lord agreed to accept them on one condition, that they henceforward completely give up all their sinful activities and habits of debauchery, both the brothers agreed and promised to give up all their sinful habits, and the kind Lord accepted them and did not again refer to their past misdeeds. --end of quote-- Let us all take advantage of this auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda and beg His mercy to bestow upon us pure Krishna prema. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Unlimitedly Merciful Lord Nityananda http://www.backtohome.com/images/Lord_Nityananda.jpg Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: My Chances of Going Back to Godhead? Dear Gurudeva, Kindly please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet! My question is: If I'm in this material world repeatedly taking billions and billions of material bodies since time immemorial, then what are the chances of my going back to spiritual world back to home, back to the abode of God, after leaving my present body? D.B. Patel India Answer: With Full Surrender, 100 Percent If you will take full shelter of Guru and Krishna by faithfully following whatever instructions you are given by them, your chances of attaining spiritual perfection in this lifetime are 100%. In other words, there will be no chance of failure. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. 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Pastimes of Lord Nityananda on Nityananda Trayodasi.
Here is the first batch of pictures from the Ratha Yatra Festival. They are absolute works of art taken by Radha Carana Prabhu. Since he took 450 of them and we still have to compile pictures from 2 other sources, you will receive little doses of last weekend's blast everyday.
Here is also a video of the musical preparations and coordinations pre-Ratha Yatra. Needless to say that the videos will come in frequent batches as well.
Posted on facebook by HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj:
“During his grhastha years, Srila Prabhupada set a specific regimen to insure that he chanted at least 16 rounds every day. He would chant at least 4 rounds before eating anything in the morning, then chant another 4 rounds (minimum) before taking lunch. Before accepting dinner, he would chant at least 4 more rounds, and would not take rest at night without chanting another 4 rounds.” [ Giriraja Swami, Lecture, LA, 11.02.11 ]
Comment added by Srutakirti Das:
He told me that he chanted four rounds early in the morning and four rounds before each meal He said it was practical, and if you don’t chant your four rounds you can’t eat that meal. He laughed and said this way you will be sure to get your rounds done.
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An update from ISCOWP (International Society for Cow Protection)
I left Moscow on Nov.29 headed for Belgrade Serbia. Due to poor weather conditions in Frankfurt and other eastern European countries, I was stranded, along with thousands of other travelers, in Frankfurt airport for 30 hours. I was headed for Novi Sad, Serbia to visit Paramesvari Radha and her son Maha. Nineteen years ago they founded GOPAL, a cow protection group, and rescued several cows and oxen. Over the years, we had been in touch but I had never visited them. So now, after all these years we were finally going to meet. Paramesvari Radha had made many arrangements for me to speak in different cities in Serbia. Because of the flight delay, the three speaking programs in Belgrade had to be canceled. When I finally arrived at the airport in Belgrade at 1:00 in the morning… my luggage did not arrive. So, the necessary paperwork was filled out and by the time we reached Novi Sad and the home of Maha and his wonderful wife, Krsna-jivani, it was 3:30 a.m. Maha was waiting up for us and we had some light prasadam and Maha gave me some clothes and toiletries and we all took rest.
In the morning, I woke up Giriraja, my personal Diety, and He was bathed and fed wonderful Ekadasi prasadam. Because of the crazy travel schedule, we got some rest and in the evening, I was taken to a home program with many wonderful devotees. We discussed cow protection and rural community development and had some nice bhajans and prasadam.
Click here to read the rest of the newsletter at ISCOWP
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By Chandan Bhatia
Hare Krishna! On 16 Feb’11, Wednesday is “Nityananda Trayodasi”, the Appearance day of Lord Nityananda (Nitai). Fasting is till noon.
“EKACHAKRA DHAMA”
THE BIRTHPLACE OF LORD NITYANANDA (Nitai)
Birchandrapur, Dist. Birbhum
(165km north-west of Sridham Mayapur)
“…without the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda, one cannot enter into the affairs of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna” — Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 5.204
“EKACHAKRA”: “EKA” means one and “CHAKRA” means wheel; this place is named “Ekachakra” because this is the place where the chariot-wheel fell, which Lord Sri Krishna took to kill Bhismadeva on the Battle of Kurukshetra. Ekachakra is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda (Nitai). Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna Himself thus inaugurated His Harinam Sankirtan movement from the Dwapar-yuga itself.
Ekachakra is located 165km north-west of Mayapur and is easily assessable by car or bus. Ekachakra village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekachakra. There is a big festival here on Nityananda Trayodasi (Appearance day of Lord Nityananda) and also on Gosthastami.
“Lord Nityananda”: Lord Sri Krishna, as the Vedic literature ultimately explains, is the absolute Personality of Godhead, and His first expansion in a form for pastimes is Sri Balarama. In the age of Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna appears in this material world as Lord Caitanya, and Balarama appears as Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda (also known as Nityananda Prabhu, Nitai, Nityananda Balarama) appeared as Lord Caitanya’s principal associate for spreading the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna:
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE |
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE ||
In Harinama-sankirtana, or the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, and to bring the mercy of Lord Krishna to all the fallen, materially conditioned souls.
Lord Nityananda was born to a pious brahmana family. His father was Hadai Pandita and mother Padmavati. He appeared in Ekachakra around 20 years before the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, on Shukia Trayodashi, in the month of Magha, in the year 1473, 12th of February. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cannot be approached or understood without the mercy of Lord Nityananda. He is the cardinal guru of all the universes and serves as an intermediary between Mahaprabhu and His devotees. A great Vaishnava acarya Sri Vrindavan Das Thakura, the dear-most & the last initiated disciple of Lord Nityananda, glorifies his Master in Sri Caitanya Bhagavata as follows:
Lord Nityananda is very effulgent like the brilliant sun. He is statuesque, like His Master, with the whitish complexion of Lord Balarama. His garments resemble a cluster of blue lotus flowers and His effulgence is said to surpass the grandeur of a rising moon at sunset.
He has a deep melodious voice, constantly chanting the holy name and singing the glories of Lord Sri Krishna day and night.
He is unequalled in the three worlds, non-different from Lord Caitanya. Absorbed within Himself, He often roared loudly like a lion, for He is the direct manifestation of Lord Balarama. His beautiful, glowing face easily defeats a thousand shining full moons. A captivating smile plays sweetly on His exquisite lips. So white and radiant are His teeth that if a pearl were held next to them the pearl would look like a faded and discarded piece of glass.
His long, languid eyes steal the pinkish tinge of the early rising sun. His arms are long and reach down to His knees, and He possesses a robust chest and broad shoulders. His lotus feet are soft. His gait is graceful. He speak to everyone with kind words which sever the bonds of material attachment within everyone’s heart.
He carries a red stick with benedictions for the devotees, but feared by the demoniac. He has the carefree mood of a wild avadhuta, so absorbed is He in the love of Godhead; no one knows what He will do next.
“EKACHAKRA DHAM” ENTRANCE
DEVOTEES ALONG WITH “GAURA-NITAI” SET OUT FOR EKACHAKRA DHAM PARIKRAMA
First stop: BEAUITIFUL NITAI(left)-GAURANGA(right) AT EKACHAKRA ISKCON TEMPLE
“GARBHAVASA” or “SOOTIKA MANDIR”:
THIS WHITE TEMPLE IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE LORD NITYANANDA APPEARED
In Janmasthan Mandir there is a Deity of Nitai (Nityananda). Hadai Pandita Bhavan is the site of the original house of Nityananda’s father. There are two banyan trees by this temple that are said to have existed since the time of Nityananda.
In the centre of the main altar of the temple is a deity of Lord Nityananda.
§ To His left, with His hands raised, is Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
§ On Nityananda’s right is Sri Advaita Acarya.
§ The side of altar has Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Radhakanta and Sri Sri Radha-Srikanta, a large dancing Gauranga in the centre, and ten brass sakhis at the bottom.
v The temple was constructed by Prasannakumara Karapharma.
“NITAI KUNDA”
This is the pond besides Lord Nityananda’s house dhotis, plates, utensils etc of Nitai were washed. Embedded in its core and not visible to material eyes is another kunda named Ananga Kunda. The pujaris of the temple use water from this kunda for their Deity worship.
“MALA-TALA”
In the courtyard of Lord Nityananda’s house is an old pippala tree called Mala-Tala. Just before Nitai departed with the unknown sannyasi, Hadai Pandita came here and chanted japa under this tree. Mala means “japa beads” and tala means “tree”. When Nitai was about to depart Hadai Pandita left his japa beads here due to anxiety.
Lord Caitanya came to Ekachakra many years after Lord Nityananda left. It is said that at that time Lord Caitanya left His flower garland on a branch of this tree. Mala also means “garland”. Therefore also for this reason this tree was called Mala-Tala.
HANTUGADA or JHANUKUNDA
It is said that Nitai brought all the sacred waters from all the holy places to this kunda to save the local residents from having to journey to the Ganges to take a sacred bath. It is named Hantugada because Nitai used to perform the Dadhi-cida festival of distributing chipped rice with yogurt prasada here and He would take the prasada while kneeling down. This lake is always full of water throughout the year. A great fair is held there during Goshthashtami, and there is another big fair on Lord Nityananda Tryodasi, the Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda.
How To Get There: You get here by walking east out of the village, past the birthplace. It is a small kunda surrounded by grass and a lone tree, which hangs over the water.
HANTUGADA: Devotee take holy dip at this most auspicious place. At the centre of the pond is a submerged Temple
DEVOTEES WALKING TOWARDS “PANDAVA-TALA”
This is a 5mins walk (400m) into the fields, southeast of Lord Nityananda’s birthplace. The Pandavas lived here with their mother, Kunti, when they were exiled to the forest.
DEVOTEES REACHING “PANDAVA-TALA”.
This area is surrounded by a group of Keli-Kadamba trees.
PANDAVA-TALA
SRILA VYASDEVA WITH PANDAVAS
BHIMA KILLING DEMON BAKASURA
Sikhandabi: This is where Bakasura demon lived, who terrorized the people of Ekachakra for many years. Demon used to eat one human being from the local villages in the area of Ekachakra. The people set up a system where one person from a different family was sent to Bakasura each day. Queen Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas requested Bhima, who had the strength of 10,000 elephants to kill this demon. Bhima then killed this demon after a furious fight. In Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.3-4 there is a brief mention of killing of Bakasura demon by Bhima.
FOSSILIZED KNEE-CAP OF BAKASURA DEMON
The local pujari says that if the fossil comes in contact with fire it produces a very bad smell.
“Kundalal Tala” (not in picture): “The place where Lord Nityananda used his earring to block a snake in his hole, stopping him from disturbing the residents of this area.”
#Pastime: This snake was actually an arrow-weapon given by Lord Siva to Arjuna. Arjuna fired it to kill Bakasura in order to help Bhima who left alone on that mission. By the time the weapon arrived on the spot Bakasura was already dead and therefore the snake weapon could not complete its mission. Since then the snake remained in the area and would disturb the locals. When Lord Nityananda heard of this he blocked the snake in its hole with one of his earrings which magically expanded in size. When the snake asked Lord Nityananda how he would get his food Lord Nityananda told him that a temple would be built here and people would regularly come and make offerings of milk and other things. This pastime is the reason why Lord Nityananda is seen with only one earring in pictures that depict His later pastimes.
“KUNTI’S DEEP” – THE LAMP USED BY QUEEN KUNTI DEVI
SRI SRI RADHA-KRISHNA DEITIES AT PANDAVA-TALA
“BAKULA-TALA”-HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami discussing Nitai’s pastimes
Between the birthplace and Jahnu Kund is a Bakula tree where Lord Nityananda and His boyfriends used to take part in sporting activities known as jhala-jhapeta. This tree is wonderful because all its branches and sub-branches look like the hoods of serpents. It has been suggested that by the desire of Nitai, Anantadeva manifested Himself in that way. The tree is very old. It is said that formerly it had two trunks, but later on, when the playmates of Lord Nityananda felt inconvenience in jumping from the branches of one trunk to those of the other, Lord Nityananda by His mercy, merged the two trunks into one.
“NARI-PNOTA” or “AMARA PITHA” -
UMBILICAL CORD SAMADHI: Nimai’s umbilical cord was placed here by His parents Sriman Hadai Pandita & Srimati Padmavati devi
PADMAVATI KUNDA
It is named after Lord Nityananda’s mother, Srimati Padmavati. Hadai Pandita received this as gift from his father-in-law, Mukutanarayan Roy. Padmavati would come here and bathe little Nitai every day. This kunda is behind Lord Nityananda’s birthplace.
DEVOTEES RELAXING ON THE BANKS OF PADMAVATI KUNDA
“BANKE-RAYE” TEMPLE: The priests of the temple describe that Lord Nityananda entered within the body of Bankima Raya and departed for His unmanifest pastimes. The deity of Jahnava-mata was therefore later placed on the right side of Bankima Raya.
This temple was built under the direction of Virabhadra Gosai, the son of Lord Nityananda. On the altar of this temple is Lord Krishna as Bankima Raya, who was originally established by Lord Nityananda. On His left is Srimati Radharani, and on His right is Jahnava Devi. It is said that Lord Nityananda left this planet by entering into this Deity. After Lord Nityananda’s disappearance, the Deity of Jahnava was placed to the right of Bankima Raya. On another throne, to the right of Bankima Raya, is a Deity of Yogamaya.
In this temple there is also an altar with a Deity of Murali-dhara. It is said that this Deity was given to Padmavati Devi by the sannyasi Nitai went on pilgrimage with when He was 12. On the same altar are Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.
To the right of the altar, outside the gate, is another little temple dedicated to ‘Madana Mohana Krishna’. On His left is His consort, Srimati Radharani, and on His right is the gopi Candravali. On the right-side is Sri Sri Radha-Vrindavana Candra. These Deities are supposed to have been worshiped for 13 generations and are over 450 years old.
To the right of the altar, outside the gate, is another little temple dedicated to ‘Madana Mohana Krishna’. On His left is His consort, Srimati Radharani, and on His right is the gopi Candravali. On the right-side is Sri Sri Radha-Vrindavana Candra. These Deities are supposed to have been worshiped for 13 generations and are over 450 years old.
After Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Jagannatha Puri, He ordered Lord Nityananda to return to Bengal and preach. At this time Nityananda returned to Ekachakra after being gone for almost 30 years. By this time, His parent had already left this world. He then found the Deity of Bankima Raya in the Yamuna at Kadamba Khandi. He installed this Deity in a temple. Later, a Deity of Srimati Radharani was discovered in Bhaddhapur, in the locality of Viracandrapura, underneath the roots of a neem tree, about ½ mile west. This Deity was installed to the right of Bankima Raya. For this reason, the Radharani of Bankima Raya was known as Bhaddapurera Thakurani, the mistress of Bhaddhapura.
#Pastime: About 15 years back some construction workers were restoring the outer structure of this temple. During the work-break they were smoking. Suddenly a small very beautifully effulgent boy appeared before them. He started beating fiercely with a stick chastising them not to smoke at this most auspicious site. Construction workers were shocked by this. Simultaneously their hearts melted to see the beautiful face of this young boy. They vowed that they will never smoke for the rest of the life. It is said that this most beautiful effulgent boy was none other than NITAI (Lord Nityananda).
“KADAM KHANDI”
The small temple of “Kadam Khandi” marks the spot where Lord Nityananda recovered the Bankima Raya Deity from the Yamuna river, which is also called the Maudesvara River.
Kardam means clay and khandi means “ghata.” In the rear of the temple is a small river, the Yamuna.
It is said that the Deity of Bankima Raya was floating in the water and Lord Nityananda picked Him up and then installed Him in the temple. Thereafter, in a place known as Bhaddapura, in the village of Viracandra-pura, about half a mile west, in a place underneath a neem tree, Deity of Srimati Radharani was found. For this reason, the Radharani of Bankima Raya was known as Bhaddapurera Thakurani, the mistress of Bhaddapura.
SRI GAURA NITYA NANDA, KRISHNA BALARAMA & SADBHUJA GAURANGA AT KADAMKHANDI
YAMUNA RIVER, NON-DIFFERENT FROM YAMUNA RIVER AT SRIDHAM VRINDAVAN
Devotees taking holy dip at Yamuna River
“Mouresvara Siva”: This is an ancient Siva Temple were Hadai Pandita the father of Lord Nityananda would do his worship. When Lord Nityananda appeared in Ekachakra this deity roared so loudly that Advaita Acarya and other devotees could hear and understand the roar’s meaning at their distant residences in Mayapur and Santipur that “Avadhuta” has appeared on this planet.
Fields at Ekachakra Dham
DEVOTEES HAVING ECSTATIC HARINAM SANKIRTAN AT LORD NITYANANDA’S EKACHAKRA DHAM!
ITAI-PADA-KAMALA – One must take the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, for He is the original spiritual master. It is by the mercy of Nitai that we can obtain love of Krishna.
“Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s face is more beautiful and cooling than the autumnal moon. The effulgence coming out from His body is supremely beautiful. He always moves like a mad elephant, since He is always intoxicated with Krishna-prema (love of God). He is always mad after Krishna-prema. His body is completely pure spiritual energy. He always has a smiling face. His eyes are very fickle, moving to and fro. His lotus hand always holds a glowing staff. Yes, that is Sri Nityananda, who by the beating of that staff, destroys all our reactions of Kali-yuga. We should take shelter of Sri Nityananda and cry for the mercy of Sri Nityananda! He is the root of Krishna-prema bhakti-kalpa-taru, the root of the tree of loving devotion unto Krishna. I [Vrindavana Das Thakura] do my bhajana of Lord Nityananda, the very root of the Krishna-Bhakti-Vriskha.”
Lord Nityananda is an ocean of mercy, the shelter of all Vaishnavas and the giver of devotion.
Supreme Lord Sri Krishna with a wheel (Cakra) at Kurukshetra breaking His vow for the sake of His dear-most devotee & friend Arjuna, charging towards Bhismadeva. Arjuna tried to stop Lord Krishna reminding Him of His promise that He won’t pick up any weapon in Kurukshetra battle. Bhismadeva, another great devotee of the Lord and one of the twelve Mahajans is fully surrendered to Lord Krishna’s will and simply waiting to see his beloved Lord approach him. This very wheel landed here at Ekachakra!
Directions to reach Ekachakra Dham:
#1) Ekachakra is located about 165 km northwest of Mayapur and takes about four hours by car or bus. It is 11 miles north of the town of Rampur Hat in the district of Birbhum. It is 8 miles east of Mallarapura railway station. After Burdwan station is another branch line, which is called a Loop Line of the eastern railway. This is a station on this line called Mallarapura. Ekachakra is 8 miles east of this railway station.
#2) Every year during three weeks before Gaura-Purnima, ISKCON Mayapur organizes regular bus services and guided tours to Ekachakra Dham. Tours leave early in the morning from Mayapur reaching Ekachakra at noon. Tours return back to Mayapur in the evening. Packaged tours to Ekachakra Dham can also be arranged throughout the year by contacting Mayapur Tourism office on: Mayapurtours@gmail.com
Practicalities: There is a small ISKCON temple in Ekachakra. The local devotee can help show you the area. There is a small guest house for pilgrims at the temple where one can stay overnight. This village is very small and there are virtually no facilities here.
“RADHA-DESA”:
Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 13.61- http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/13/61/en1
Nityananda Trayodasi & Abhishek: http://www.youtube.com/user/MayapurISKCON#p/u/18/uDs4jiCJ6cA
Ekachakra Temple Project: http://Mayapur.com/node/862
Ekachakra Dham Screen-saver (downloadable): http://screensavers.iskcondesiretree.info/ISKCON_Mayapur_Screensavers/Ekachakra_Dham_Nityananda_Appearance_Place.exe
Sri Nityananda Lila: http://www.Prabhupada.org/Rama/?p=4220
“Sri Nityanandastaka” (downloadable): http://www.iskconmedia.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=63&func=download&id=35553&chk=9c2a2b9a7bf2b89ed5d5283d65ba43f5&no_html=1
Mayapur TV: http://Mayapur.tv
EKACHAKRA DHAM KI JAI!!!
LORD SRI NITYANANDA KI JAI!!!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE |
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE ||
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Get ready for one of the most enchanting darsana in the history of Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir.
As Kaushal so rightly said, "Sri Sri Radha Ballabha look so exquisite, adorned with fine jewelry and decorative chandan, that you just can't stop looking at Them".
Bhakta Prabhu was at the task on Lord Nityananda and His brother, and once again did a marvellous job.
As for chota Gaura Nitai They are already dancing Their way to Swanston Street for the harinama in honour of Lord Nityananda; this will be our collective gift to Nitai Gosai on the occasion of His most joyous appearance day.
It seems that Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Maharani long to go out too after having tasted the open air on Sunday.
Here is today's darsana; it wouldn't be surprising if most of you will press the "Play again" button after the first run of the slideshow!
The monthly CDM (Ceto Darpanam Marjana) project entails organized cleaning of the temple as a group. This time around, the maha clean-up will feature a special group of Bhakti Vriksha devotees, led by HG Rupanuga das. They will be joining all of us as we get ready to make our temple room shine! A warm invitation goes out to all of you to attend as we encourage you to join these amazing devotees during the clean-up.
Afterwards, we will all sit down over pizza, made by the new "Pizza King" of ISKCON Toronto - Jaya Caitanya, and will able to hear the experiences of Bhakti Vriksha devotees! Everyone is welcome to ask any questions to our dear Rupanuga prabhu who will be there for you!
The schedule will be as follows:
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Maha clean-up of the temple room
9:00pm to 9:30pm - Special pizza party and nectar-filled conversations
Here is a quote by Srila Prabhupada, that hopefully will inspire you:
"Everything within the temple should be kept very, very neat and clean. And the more you keep the temple neat and clean, you will be neat and clean within your heart. And then your understanding will be very easy. We cannot understand Krsna because our heart is piled up with many garbages. That we have to cleanse."
-- Srila Prabhupada Melbourne, May 22, 1975
Please come out and bring your family and friends for this unforgettable experience!
One of the sweetest festivals of the year falls on Wednesday, February 16th! A warm invitation goes out to you and your family to join us as we celebrate the advent (appearance) of Lord Nityananda this Wednesday evening, starting at 6pm.
Lord Nityananda (also known as Nityananda Prabhu, Nitai, Nityananda Balarama) appeared as Lord Chaitanya’s principal associate for spreading the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. He especially spread the holy name of the Lord throughout Bengal. He is considered an incarnation of Lord Balarama.
This festival is a special one for ISKCON Toronto and often features very sweet, intimate and spiritually-soaked festivities! We are very excited to announce that joining us for the festival will be HG Rohini Priya das who has been visiting Toronto since last week.
The whole festival will be based on the translation of the seventh verse of the Nityanandastaka, "I worship Lord Nityananda, the limitless root of the tree of devotional service. He traveled on every path, dancing, singing the names of Lord Hari, and describing His glories. Without considering His own interests, He was merciful to the people, and He cast upon them His merciful sidelong glance."
Devotees are encouraged to come to the program wearing the colour blue, the colour commonly associated with Lord Nityananda! The program will be as follows (subject to change):
6:00pm to 6:30pm - Kirtan (Arati)
6:30pm to 6:40pm - Welcome & Announcements
6:40pm to 7:25pm - Class by HG Rohini Priya das
7:25pm to 7:30pm - Launch of Toronto Krishna Internet Radio
7:30pm to 8:00pm - Special Audience-Interactive Presentation
8:00pm to 8:30pm - Kirtan (Arati)
8:30pm - Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam)
How can you hide your thoughts from the Supreme Lord Gauranga? He knows everything in your heart.
- Jagadananda Pandit
Tecumseh Speaks for All Times
Toronto, Ontario
Okay! So I'm in a rush and I have to put something out there. Tomorrow I'm India bound. On today's trek I thought of heroes. One of my favourite warrior heroes is King Bhismadeva from the Mahabharat and I've quoted him. But I also have my secret heroes to do with my birthplace, Chatham, Ontario. Just down the river from where I grew up an admired warrior, Chief Techumseh, was shot at war in 1813 and died on the spot. And like Bhisma, Tecumseh was not just a warrior, but an eloquent philosopher and speaker.
Here's what Chief Tecumseh said which is truly inspirational.
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."
7 KM
Our Latest Monk
Toronto, Ontario
Our latest arrival as far as monks are concerned, is a mellow fellow from Slirguri, India and who spent two years in Birmingham. India, being the land of excess sun; the U.K., of excess rain; now Canada, his latest assigned place of residence, he now sees excess snow. So observes the young man in his twenties.
His name is Uttamananda, and I'll refer to him as the mellow monk, because that's just his disposition. I insisted that for an afternoon walk that our mellow monk wear pants. The day was windy. A dhoti (robe) is cold. The salt and wet areas ruin the delicate cloth. Gladly he took to trousers while the rest of us four ashram residents were snuggled up for fresh air and ready to do favour to our lets and bodies.
We headed for the Rosedale section of the city and then a ravine. Our mellow monk was charmed by the hairy and happy running collie dogs, three of them, who couldn't resist our petting them. "Their noses looks like fox," he remarked after giving some affection to the anxious collies.
It was Doug, who was amongst us, who posed a question to our mellow monk and me, regarding dogs.
"It says in the Gita that a dog, a dog-eater, a cow, elephant and brahman are supposed to be the same. How is that?" he asked.
Given that the samples Krishna identified are unilaterally very different from each other, the question has some validity. So we discussed that although the physical structures and mental and intellectual capacities vary so much, each creature mentioned has a living force - a spirit. That becomes the common denominator. There is the anti-material particle in all forms of life and hence that is what should make us harmonious.
The message discussed melted our thoughts and turned us all into mellow monks.
7 KM
What will be the result of accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda? He says, heno nitai bine bhai: unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda radha-krsna paite nai -- it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krsna. The aim of this Krsna consciousness movement is to enable us to approach Radha-Krsna and associate with the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance. Narottama Dasa Thakura advises that if one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krsna, he must accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
>From Srila Prabhupada's Purport to Nitai-pada-kamala, a song by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
www.sdgonline.org. 
EXPLANATION OF THE TEXT:
At present I am working on an autobiographical project. The writing of this project goes slow, and I cannot write enough to print it every day. Therefore, I am posting daily a book called Every Day, Just Write. A book by that title was printed many years ago but it was heavily edited. I am now posting the unedited edition, which is fresh reading, and I am confident my readers will like it. So please note that this journal is telling of things that happened in 1996, and it is not a journal of my present day’s activities. Presently I am quietly writing my autobiographical text, and when it is finished I will print it.
Every Day, Just Write, Volume I: Welcome Home to the One Big Book of Your Life
November 21, 1996
Abhaya
Abhaya dasi at the hospital with her
daughter turned blue and the hospital authorities
are very concerned.
Abhaya is overwhelmed, thinking of all the cats and
dogs she has seen chloroformed, some she did herself
and her three favourite aunts who died in their forties from cancer, and her
own younger brother died from an “OD”
She said, “if I were in a man’s body
I would come to you and beg to talk to you.”
I said, please don’t, I am only a teacup.
I don’t know how to face oceans of misery
I can quote like a sadhu but are
your ready to hear from the scriptures quotes
which say we should be callous to the death of
even a near relative and go on with our KC duties?
Are you ready to admit it’s the modes of ignorance
and recall Krishna saying that the wise don’t lament
for the living or the dead?
She says, I want you to instruct me
how I can make a leap ahead so I won’t
have to be reborn into this world of sorrow.
I said I don’t know that either or
I would be leaping. I go slow and steady.
I think that I may not be able
to go back to Godhead
in this lifetime. She asked is it faithless
if I think I won’t go back to Godhead right away?
I say it’s realistic, humble
like Maharaja Pariksit who prayed,
”If I don’t
make it to the spiritual world
let me be born with full devotion to Krishna,
friends with devotees and compassion for all.”
She’s still in the hospital but will be released soon
and you’ll se smoke rising
from her chimney and
life goes on in cold and happy—sad
gay—glum. The key to life
on the quay—hard work and don’t complain
of cold, eat simply not too much
row your own boat
and get together with others to talk
what’s wrong, how to get money
to improve and serve Radha-Govinda
and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Let’s go see that hermit. He may know something.
Oh, he’s not there? He’s gone to the shed.
I am the Man
I am the man who lives in the house a while
and who treasures his own sayings.
He doesn’t allow too much self sarcasm
or bashing of himself or anyone else.
He’s got it figured out by compassionate sayings
of saints. Looks a little bit at his own
self under a glass darkly, can’t
figure it out, the soul, the sastra.
The soul is in every atom, cant be cut or burnt
by negative definition and positive.
You are a person who can play with Krishna
but you can’t surmise it yet.
So you go on walking and chanting and
never minding until you end
and maybe just before that
you see your lacking and what
you should have done.
The man who visits, who lives here a month. They started getting familiar with him and said, “Hey Guruji, what have you got going? You really want that tapioca for ekadasi dessert”.
Hey JM, what you’ve got going? You know I could write like that too, what you are doing. I read your confessions and I’m thinking you’re not so great. I’m thinking now that you cannot be nikunja yuno ratih keli siddhyai. You must be what you say you are. You must be a split sentencer. Hey, I can do it too. I’m not letting you off. I see into too many books in your storage shelves. Books of WCW and Henry Miller. I mean how do you think I can believe you are pure and true when you read that and write down this crazy mind stuff? Srila Prabhupada says you can’t trust the mind.”
Muddy walk and cows hoof impressions, crumbled buildings, walking the same brisk walk, he’s got no ideas…
Walking in the city, the European birds, she doesn’t know their names. Did they fly from Mallorca, Spain? Are they Irish or British? Does it matter? Oh, yes.
The man walks wearing three pairs of socks and ten layers of pants and coats and he leaves accuracy behind, moves under the “misshapen” moon, less than half full but still a substantial moon. It won’t be very long before we get the full moon at the end of kartika and there will be plenty of sweets in the bazaars although he’s been having sweets all along and didn’t follow the vratas he have promised at the beginning of Damodara month. At least we lit candles almost every night. It has been good not to get so many headaches. Whatever Krishna desires, see the good in it.
8:20 A.M.
Shed windows frosted over. It’s getting too cold here for a morning visit. Ani said he and Manu could arrange a gas heater which takes fumes out of the room. When Manu is away (or when he’s here) I shouldn’t demand too many things for myself. Ladies have to give up a morning to cook for me. Don’t ask for things you don’t need. Cold hands.
Dream of painting and getting your dhoti paint—stained.
Oh man, I want to say Krishna is Christmas, wood knots, men and women working hard to confront karmis on street. Please take a book.
The end, he writes his last. Don’t believe it. He won’t give up. Once there was a mouse and a monster. One was a devotee the other was innocent. The mouse told a story that once a monster received a KC book and was going to eat it but first read a page. The page was on immortality of the soul. It opened his eyes, blew his mind. “Believe it,” he said. The monster decided to drop out of Monster Flying Academy. They said “you can’t, you signed a contract.”
The monster said, “I must chant always Hare Krishna mantra and eat vegetarian prasadam” and he began singing loudly. They thought of smacking him on both his ears and jailing him but decided to kick him out of the academy. So he joined a local temple but they didn’t like him being a monster.
He said, “I’m not this body. Don’t think of me as a monster.”
”Gee, you’re right there”, they said, but in their minds they retained prejudice.
Oh monster, hang in there,
the Lord loves you, your
soul is bright pure and
you are the gentle servant
of the true monists who
love God. You’ll soon get
awarded your svarupa and
that will be lovely and joyful forever.
Hey, it’s cold, matra-sparsas fingertips
sting, body chills. It’s not gonna be so good here.
Of rulers—Yama
Of Devarsis—Narada
Of Daityas—saintly Prahlada
Of Yajna—Hare Krishna mantra japa
www.sdgonline.org.
10:11 A.M.
They put an extra paragraph
in the posting which shouldn’t
have been there. It’s from
the Autobiography, a sketch
of school and childhood and it
doesn’t belong in the journal. But
what’s the harm? Everything
has a place.
Everything belongs. Just
don’t leave out the full banner,
“Every Day, Just Write”
that’s the full title of the book
I would write in the shed
complaining that it’s getting too cold.
Now I’m warm and peaceful
at the Vasant Falls community.
We decided to hold a
Gaura Purnima festival
at our own house although
we don’t have much room.
You’re invited to come and
squeeze in before Gaura-Nitai
and sing kirtana and
feast on a plate of prasadam.
Maybe there will be a little
talk.
Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!
Date: February 13th, 2011
Topic: Dhruva Maharaj Goes Back To Godhead
Verse: SB 4.12.11
Speaker: HH Atmanivedana Swami
_________________________________
sarvatmany acyute 'sarve
tivraugham bhaktim udvahan
dadarsatmani bhutesu
tam evavasthitam vibhum
Translation: Dhruva Maharaja rendered devotional service unto the Supreme, the reservoir of everything, with unrelenting force. While carrying out his devotional service to the Lord, he could see that everything is situated in Him only and that He is situated in all living entities. The Lord is called Acyuta because He never fails in His prime duty, to give protection to His devotees.
Purport: Not only did Dhruva Maharaja perform many sacrifices, but he carried on his transcendental occupation of engagement in the devotional service of the Lord. The ordinary karmis, who want to enjoy the results of fruitive activities, are concerned only with sacrifices and ritualistic ceremonies as enjoined in the Vedic sastras. Although Dhruva Maharaja performed many sacrifices in order to be an exemplary king, he was constantly engaged in devotional service. The Lord always protects His surrendered devotee. A devotee can see that the Lord is situated in everyone's heart, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita (isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]). Ordinary persons cannot understand how the Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, but a devotee can actually see Him. Not only can the devotee see Him outwardly, but he can see, with spiritual vision, that everything is resting in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as described in Bhagavad-gita (mat-sthani sarva-bhutani [Bg. 9.4]). That is the vision of a maha-bhagavata. He sees everything others see, but instead of seeing merely the trees, the mountains, the cities or the sky, he sees only his worshipable Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything because everything is resting in Him only. This is the vision of the maha-bhagavata. In summary, a maha-bhagavata, a highly elevated pure devotee, sees the Lord everywhere, as well as within the heart of everyone. This is possible for devotees who have developed elevated devotional service to the Lord. As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.38), premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena: only those who have smeared their eyes with the ointment of love of Godhead can see everywhere the Supreme Lord face to face; it is not possible by imagination or so-called meditation. [End of Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 4.12.12]
Atmanivedana Swami: So from the pastime of Dhruva Maharaj we understand that originally Dhruva Maharaj had only one desire in his heart. He wanted to achieve a kingdom which is greater than his grandfather. Simply this was so because he was refused to sit on the lap of his father. So we have studied in the previous verses how under the instructions of his mother he knew that the only way he could get this position was by approaching the Supreme Lord. So initially when Dhruva Maharaj was approaching the Supreme Lord with his severe austerities he only had one desire and that was to achieve the greatest kingdom.
After his sever austerities when Dhruva Maharaj was given audience of the Supreme Lord face to face Dhruva Maharaj was completely awe struck by the beauty of the Supreme Lord and the effulgence emanating from Him. He could not say anything but simply fell at the feet of the Lord. When the Lord saw that Dhruva Maharaj was completely surrendered to Him in that spirit He touched his head with the conch. Then Dhruva Maharaj started speaking very beautiful poetry in glorification of the Lord. When all that was finished the Lord said, “Now that you have finished this official business I know that you are performing these austerities for a reason. I know why you were doing that but still I want you to ask for it.”
Dhruva Maharaj at that point was completely purified by the beauty of the Lord and the personal face to face darsan of the Lord that he said, “Now that I have seen You dear Lord all my material desires are vanquished. I have no desire for anything. All I want is your lotus feet.” This is the condition of a soul who gets to see the Supreme lord face to face. All his material desires are completely vanquished from the heart.
Our good fortune is that by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, he introduced us to Krishna consciousness. Not only did he introduce us to Krishna consciousness but he allowed us to have personal vision of the Lord in the form of His deities. So when we see the Supreme Lord in His deity form as described in the scriptures and by saintly persons that He is non-different from the Supreme Lord Himself.
We take darsan of the Lord every day. When we come to Mayapur we take darsan of Sri Sri Radha Madhava. When we are in our respective temples which ever presiding Deities are there we take darsan of those particular deities. They are non-different from the Supreme Lord. We take darsan everyday but it doesn’t have the same effect on our heart as Dhruva Maharaj had when he saw the Supreme Lord face to face. So we would ask, “Why is this condition not in my heart? When I see the Supreme Lord face to face why am I not actually being purified?”
We have to understand that when we see the Supreme Lord unless and until our hearts are very pure and free from all material contamination then only you will see the Lord as he is. Otherwise generally our approach to the Supreme Lord is with the theoretical understanding that here is the Supreme Lord and it is my duty to bow down to Him and I bow down to Him with awe and reverence. But we don’t feel that the Supreme Lord is physically there in His magnificent beauty and in His all perfection. That we don’t see.
It is simply because we have not developed the eyes to see the Lord. In fact in the Bhagavad-gita Krishna is telling Arjuna that, “In order to see My Divine form I have to give you special vision. Only through that you can see.” Generally we are trying to see Krishna with our material eyes. Our material eyes are only equipped to see the material world, not beyond. Our sense perception, through the five senses that we have we can only perceive the material world. We cannot perceive the spiritual nature of the creation, the spiritual understanding, or the spiritual energy. All we can perceive is material.
If we really want to see the Lord then we have to see the Lord in the heart. And that same lord when see in the heart will be manifest in the Deity form. Because when we see the Deity as we are serving the Lord on the altar we become purified by the lord’s mercy that he is allowing us to serve Him and worship Him and offer Him service. Through this service gradually purification will take place and He will begin to reciprocate with the Lord. Unless and until you are serving the Lord you won’t have that reciprocation.
When we see the Lord we are only seeing the form of the Lord. Why is that? Because once you come in the temple room, we bow down to the Lord. After we have bowed down to the lord and we have offered our prayers we ignore Him. Generally in our material situation if you go to see a great person and if he gives you audience with great difficulty then in his presence we are very conscious and aware of him. You will not ignore him.
For example if you go to see the president of this country and only with great difficulty you can get appointment to see him through all the channels. Finally you are in his office. He receives you. He shakes hands with you and offers you a seat. After all the general business is taken care of receiving and social interaction is done then you begin to turn to your colleague and start chatting away and ignore the president it is completely against the protocol.
Similarly he is just a mundane person and because when you see a mundane person you are so much conscious and aware of his presence that your mind is focused on him and you are dealing with him for the business that you have gone to see him for. After the business is finished and you officially say your goodbyes and leave the office then you may get forgetful of him. That is okay. But while in his presence you will not ignore him. You are very conscious of him.
Here the Supreme Lord Himself out of His causeless mercy He is manifest before us. He is giving us His divine audience but we take it for granted. The Lord is giving us His darsan but we don’t reciprocate with Him in that mood. We are always very forgetful. That is why it is very much advised in the scriptures that we practice our devotional service in the mood of constantly trying to understand the Supreme Lord and His mercy which is upon us. Gradually when we develop that then our spiritual life will progress and soon you will see the lord in His beautiful manifestation and He will reciprocate with you.
Sometimes we say that it is very difficult that the Lord does not reciprocate with us. But He does reciprocate with us every day. The only thing is that we do not recognize His reciprocation because we are so conditioned in the material world and with material reciprocation that we are trying to relate the Supreme Lord’s reciprocation with us on a mundane level.
Every day when we have experiences with devotees or in the material world with the non-devotees it is some reciprocation. It is either a physical contact. There is a verbal exchange of words; exchange of gifts; exchange of service. All these things are based on mundane level. It is reciprocation. You may do something for some one. He may do something for you.
Same with the Lord when we are rendering service to Him He is also reciprocating with us. He says very clearly in Bhagavad-gita: ye yatha mam prapadyante [Bg 4.11] – “I reciprocate with you as You reciprocate with Me.” So obviously when we are rendering service to the Lord, we are chanting His holy names, we are offering Him prayers, we are offering Him gifts. He is also reciprocating with us. Only thing is that we cannot recognize that because that our condition is such that unless and until the Lord physically comes in front of you and gives you something then you will say, “Oh! Now the Lord has given me His mercy.” Yet ever day he is giving us many things.
He is giving us our prasadam, he is giving us our accommodation to stay, He is making all arrangement for us to live and survive in this world. So all these things are His gifts but we don’t see that as the Lord’s gifts. We think, “This is all mu doing. This is my arrangement and I worked hard for it. Therefore it is I who is the doer.”
Again we understand from our philosophy that it is not you or I who are doing things. It is the Supreme Lord who is the doer. We are only instruments in His hands. Just like in Bhagavad-gita Krishna says, “I am the ability in man.” [BG 7.8] he gives us the ability. It is not that we have the ability. If He withdraws that power from us what do we have? We have no power!
Sometimes we are so proud that, “I am living because I am very healthy and I do everything with my own strength and energy.” But simply the process of breathing – if the Lord withdraws that what happens? We suffocate and we cease to exist anymore. And this sometimes we can experience in our own lives that how helpless a condition we are in without the Lord’s mercy.
I can relate one experience of how I was feeling very helpless. When I was in the Himalayas between Yamunotri and Gangotri after the Yamunotri trip. It was Yamunotri’s appearance day so we were very happy that it was a very auspicious day and we went to Yamunotri. And I heard from many devotees who had already done this journey before that it is a very, very hard journey to get up there. So we went there. Very early in the morning we began our trek to the source of the Yamuna. Somehow by the mercy of the Lord we reached there and we took a bath in the Yamuna River and the hot spring. We took darsan of Yamuna-devi and came down.
The next day I was feeling, “Okay I did it. Why were all the devotees talking about how rough it is and how difficult it is! It was so great.” I was thinking that I prepared for it because prior to going up there every day I was going for a five or six kilometer trek. Not just a leisure walk but fast walking. So I was preparing myself thinking that I was very strong and healthy and I could do anything now. So I was thinking “I” was doing these things. It was very nice.
The next day on our way to Gangotri we were driving up the mountain roads and somehow there was some delay so could not go to the destination in our prescribed time. Somehow we managed to reach Gangotri at around 11.30pm. Everything was very quiet except for the ‘coolies’ there who were waiting for pilgrims to come and they would pounce on them like vultures and try to make as much money out of them as they could.
When our car reached there we told few of the devotees to take out the baggage and prepare. Another devotee and I said we will go and check out the hotels where we are. So as we were walking all the ‘coolies’ were surrounding my other colleague. So I said,” You deal with him. I don’t want to deal with all this.” So they went ahead and at that moment I just collapsed. I collapsed and I could not do anything.
Moments before I was very strong and very healthy! I just fell there on the ground and was unconscious for maybe two hours. As I came to my consciousness I began to feel my body again I grabbed onto the side of the wall and sat up and started breathing. I was thinking, “I was fit but what happened?” in a moment, “Boom!” Krishna showed me that, “You are not what you think you are. I can withdraw this strength from you at any second.”
When I experienced this I was thinking this is something very, very deep thought provoking experience – that Krishna can withdraw His mercy from me at any second if you take it for granted. So we have to be so careful in our position that the mercy of the Lord that has been bestowed upon us, he is bestowing it without a cause. Simply out of His mercy and compassion for the living entity, especially those who are favored by the Supreme Lord although we are not deserving to come to the devotional level He is allowing us to worship Him and come to the platform of devotional service.
Devotional service as Prabhupada explains is not easily granted to anyone. Prabhupada says that with devotion you can actually purchase Krishna. Krishna is known as Ajay. He cannot be conquered by anyone but with devotion He becomes submissive.
We know from the pastimes of Mother Yashoda and Damodara that when Krishna in His baby form was doing mischief, stealing butter and yogurt from the gopis homes all the gopis came to complain to Mother Yashoda. So Mother Yashoda thought that, “Now I am getting a little frustrated with His behavior because every day I am getting so many complaints. Maybe I will have to discipline Krishna a little bit.”
So when she thought, “I will discipline Krishna.” Then she chased Krishna in the courtyard but she could not catch Him. Finally Krishna said, “Okay I will surrender to you since you are my mother and you have so much love and attachment to me. So when Mother Yashoda grabbed hold of baby Krishna then Mother Yashoda said, “Now I am going to tie you to the grinding mortar as punishment.”
She was trying to tie Krishna with rope. We have all heard this pastime many times. Every time she tried to tie Krishna to the grinding mortar the rope was two inches two short. In our experience if we are trying to tie a package or anything with a rope and you find it is a little short you get a longer one. And with the longer one we are hundred percent sure to be successful in tying. But in this case every time she got a longer rope it was always two inches too short.
Mother Yashoda was then feeling in her heart, “How cruel I am. He is my love. He is the joy and pleasure of my heart. How can I punish Him.” Immediately by feeling that her heart was filled with love for Krishna. Tears started coming from her eyes. These tears were not out of frustration that she could not tie Krishna but it was due to her love for Krishna that, “he is my life and soul. He is pleasure. How can I punish Him?” So when Krishna saw these tears from the eyes of Mother Yashoda, “Now Matta you can tie Me because you are not tying me with the rope, mundane material but you are tying me with you rope of love.” So Krishna immediately allowed Himself to be tied.
The second part of the story is that because Krishna had to deliver the two sons of Kuvera who were cursed to be trees. So that is another part. But most important is that here Krishna submits to mother Yasodha to be bound by the rope. And that rope is of love.
Similarly Prabhupada says that anyone who has devotion in their heart they can actually tie Krishna with their love and Krishna has to submit to you. He is the Supreme creator and master of the whole universe and he is submitting to you. So when we are on a devotional platform he submits to us. So it is not an ordinary position. It is a very, very rare position we have got.
This position is simply by the mercy of the pure devotee of the Lord that he sees the living entities suffering in this world and out of his compassion he comes to save us. And he picks us from the ocean of suffering in the filth of this material world and he cleanses us and puts us on a high pedestal of devotion.
When we are doing devotional service according to the scriptures it is said that those who are engaged in devotional service to the lord are worshipped and honored. So we have been granted a very, very honorable position. And we see in our experience that many times those who have understanding of Vedic culture or at least some understanding of dharma when a devotee goes to them they will show you a lot of respect and honor.
They are not showing this because you are some great person or you have your own merit but simply because you have surrendered to the Supreme he is showing you respect. So such a great position we have been given. We cannot take this for granted because at any moment this position can be withdrawn. Once it is withdrawn then you will be suffering in this material world for many, many lifetimes.
Somehow this position has come to us and we should be very, very mindful of this position now and be so careful that we do not do anything that would create a situation where we would lose the mercy of the Lord. Every day our devotion should be so fixed.
Just like in this verse Dhruva Maharaj after performing severe austerities, he was a young five year old boy and when he had audience with the Lord and the lord gave him all the mercy. He did not said, “Now that I have got the Lord’s mercy, I have taken darshan of Him face to face. I am now freed from my bondage I don’t need to do anything. I can just take it easy now because I have reached my goal.” We don’t see that.
Here we see Dhruva Maharaj after all that he went back. He got his kingdom and he was performing his duty as a king taking care of all his citizens or the welfare of everyone to be a proper king. To show everyone what a proper king is and set a proper example of a perfect leader. He was always concerned for the welfare of those who are under him.
Prabhupada also said many times that when somebody is appointed as temple president, Prabhupada said that temple president is not just a managerial position but that now you have been given responsibility by the Lord of all the devotees that are under you to personally take care of them and nurture their spiritual life so that they become fully fixed in the service of the lord. And we have to do everything possible within our powers to encourage all those who are entrusted to us. If we neglect that that would be the greatest disservice to our own spiritual master and to the Supreme Lord because the Supreme Lord is entrusting us.
So similarly here Dhruva Maharaj is entrusted with a kingdom. He was performing sacrifices to ensure that everything is provided for his citizens so that they are not short of anything and they can engage themselves fully in devotional service by his own perfect example. Here it is said that he was setting an example by his own exemplary practices. Not only was he performing sacrifices but he was also engaged in his devotional practices.
Similarly we also have to be in the same position as Dhruva Maharaj to continue increasing our devotional service. It is not something that we have been given we do that and that is it. That is the end of the day. It is not a nine to five job. Something like you go to your place of employment, they employ you and they say the conditions are there and they say, “Okay you work for me from nine to five and at the end of the week we shall give you this much salary.” And that is fixed.
Krishna consciousness is twenty-four seven. Devotional service never ends. Not service ends at all. It is a continuation. And the more and more you become purified in the heart the more and more you understand your real position. Then you will be engaged in more and more service because you have all this clear understanding.
Many times you have heard, jivera 'svarupa' haya -- krsnera 'nitya-dasa.' [Madhya 20.108-109] Eternally we are servants of Krishna. And if you are a servant of Krishna what does that mean? Serve Krishna! And serving Krishna is not a part time job. It is a full time twenty-four-seven.
We see in the example of Hanuman that he was serving the Supreme Lord Rama twenty-four hours a day. In the morning when Lord Ramacandra wakes up hanuman is right there at His feet. He is ready to execute any orders and all through the day he is serving Lord Rama. After Lord Rama’s service is finished and He takes rest in the evening he takes on a second services. He goes onto the roof of the palace and stands guard that nobody will disturb the sleep of his Lord. In the morning when the lord awakes he is down there again.
So when does hanuman sleep? He doesn’t sleep because he is completely fixed in his service to the Supreme Lord. In our position of course we cannot try to imitate Hanuman because you may be able to stay awake for maybe twenty-four hours. Sometimes even that is not possible because we see in our own experience that during japa time, after very enthusiastically chanting and dancing, after Tulasi puja we go Hare Krishna Hare Krishna and drop off. [Laughter.] Even then we are having difficulty staying awake and in the Bhagavatam class we are struggling to stay awake, [Laughter.] because we actually haven’t developed taste to hear the glories of the Lord and also we haven’t yet developed taste to hear the speaker the message. Sometimes the message is so strong that it is directing to us individually.
I have had experience of this. Sometimes while I am sitting in class and the speaker is speaking and I am thinking, “Is he talking to me because the point he is making is very much in tune with me. He is directing to me what I am not doing right. How did he know?” Actually I am receiving that from where I am sitting. I don’t like to hear that. So I say, “I am a perfect person. I am serving Krishna. I have been a devotee for - God knows – eternity. I can hardly remember my past now since I joined.” And I think, “I am perfectly situated now! Why he is talking like this. Why is he giving me this instruction?” So we don’t like to hear that.
The real mood that we should have is if somebody is telling us something that means that Krishna in our heart is instructing through this person. Awaken yourself to these things. You are becoming complacent in your practice of devotional life. As we are progressing in our spiritual life and the longer we are in the movement our enthusiasm should increase ever more and we should be hearing more and more.
Sometimes we say, “Prabhu I have been around for forty years now and you know when I was young, then I was fired up. Now I am getting old. So I have to take it a little easy because you know the body is giving problems with this and that!” But Prabhupada didn’t say that. At the age of seventy he was running around the world opening up centers, saving living entities. You and I he was saving us. He did not say, “Well I am an old man. I just had an heart attack on the way here and you know this is bad news. I cannot do these things.”
Even when he was coming towards America in the bay of Colombo, Sri Lanka side when he suffered his heart attack the captain of the ship, Mr Pandia told Prabhupada, “Swamiji you are very sick now. Better we drop you off here and you make arrangements that you go back to India and take care of your health and your medical needs. Then we shall see what happens after that. I don’t think you should carry on.
Prabhupada said, “No. My business is to go forward. I have a straight mind now. I have to fulfill the order of my spiritual master come what may.’ And we all have experience of reading in Prabhupada Lilamrta and all Srila Prabhupada’s disciples who were with him during those early developing days how vigorously Prabhupada was working day and night. He was not thinking for a moment, “I will need a break.” Devotees were telling Prabhupada, “Please take it easy. Take a break” Prabhupada said, “No time for break. Work now Samadhi later.” He said, “Do it now.”
Here he is setting an example for us and we are thinking, “Oh I will take little break.” I have seen – and this is not a criticism for anyone or any particular center – but devotees are becoming complacent of the causeless mercy which we have received and are thinking, “We are now devotees so our ticket back to Godhead is guaranteed. So I am going back to Godhead anyway so why should I worry about it. I chant my rounds and I do my sadhana. I go out preaching now and then. I am doing my thing okay. So I am not so bad.”
We find devotees like to take holidays. Prabhupada said holiday for a devotees [laughter from audience] that you come to Mayapur for Gaura Purnima and you absorb yourself in the dham. And what do you do in the dham? Eat pizza? [Laughter.] No you come to the dham to associate with the devotees. You hear. So many devotees are here. So much realization is in their hearts. You exchange your thoughts.
The nectar of Instruction says devotees exchange their views with other devotees to enrich their hearts, their devotion, their understanding. Then you go to the places of pilgrimage where different divine pastimes of the Lord took place and revive those pastimes in your heart by being in the actual place were these wonderful pastimes took place and energize yourself with spirituality.
So when you return to your respective places that you are so fueled with this transcendental spiritual energy that you want to go and give the mercy t others. If what you have received you give, it increases many fold. If what you receive you keep, you are miserly, you become stagnated and then you lose that mercy.
Prabhupada never did that. Prabhupada never took holidays so why we are doing that? Why we are not following in the mood of being engaged all the time? It is because we are very complacent thinking, “I am done now. I am saved.’ This is not saved yet. Prabhupada said the only time you are saved is that last breath you take and say, “Hare Krishna” and you go. Then you can consider, “I have done it.” Up to that point you have never done it.
I will give two examples from personal experience. In 1993 when I was suffering from some neck problem they had to operate on me. So the doctor and one councilor came to me and they were counseling me. They were saying that, “We are going to prepare you for the operation but before we take you in you have to do two things. One is the procedure were we have to explain to you the fear of death.” So they were asking me, “Are you afraid of death?” I said, “No. what death. Death is taking place every day. I may die today or tomorrow, what is the problem?” So I started preaching to them from Bhagavad-gita. [Laughter from audience.]
After half an hour of me preaching from Bhagavad-gita they said, “This is our job to tell you and you are telling us.” [Laughter from audience.] I said, “Yes because my spiritual master is so kind to me that he showed me my real position. So I am not fearful of death. My only fear is that at the moment of death I only want to remember Krishna. Other than that I have no fear whether I die today or tomorrow. It does not matter because we all have got to go so why must I worry about it? The only thing we should worry about is whether I will think of Krishna when I leave my body.”
After that they said, “Now you have to sign these consent forms. There is ninety-three percent chance you will be okay but there is seven percent chance that you may die. If you die we are not the cause of it.” So you have to sign otherwise they will be sued not by me but by someone else [Laughter from audience.] who will take advantage of my position.
So I signed everything and I requested the doctor, “Before I go into unconscious state when you give anesthetic tell me how long does it take for anesthetic to take effect?” So he said, “This is the latest anesthetic. As soon as we put the tube in your hand within less than a second you will go.” I said, “Let me know when you are doing that.” So when he was doing it he said, “Now we are doing it Mr. …” So I said, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna.” I did not even finish the mantra and I was gone. [Laughter from audience.]
Five hours later the nurse was trying to slap me on my cheek to bring me back to consciousness and I am going, “ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ [Laughter and applause from audience.] So I felt very good. Then I asked her, I said, “Nurse, when they are going to operate on me.’ She said, “Operation is already done. You have been out for already five hours.” And I thought, “My God when I chanted Hare Krishna and when I finished with Hare Rama there was five hour gap in between [Laughter from audience.] but I was feeling very confident that Srila Prabhupada said Krishna takes care of you if you surrender to Him. So I was feeling very happy.
I was thinking that if I died at least I would have been half way through my mantra. So seeing the mantra was buzzing in my mind so when I came to consciousness I continued chanting. So I said, “Okay if I had gone that time no worries!” One minute here and the next minute in the spiritual world! So I was quite happy but then as I explained in 2008 when I was in the Himalayas and had this problem that I collapsed, at that point no Hare Krishna!
I was thinking, “My God, Krishna saved me here because if at this moment I had left my body because I was in Gangotri where you chant you can go back to Godhead I was not thinking of Krishna.” As I came back to consciousness I grabbed my mala and said Hare Krishna. Just in case I die now [Laughter from audience.] I am going to chant Hare Krishna.
Then all night because I had heart attack and there was no medication or anything, I was suffering from heart pain and I went Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. It was cold and very uncomfortable because I knew if I go there is no medical help now here in the mountains. If I am going to die at least I am going to die chanting Hare Krishna. I was chanting, chanting, chanting. But it was a little too late because just moments before when the incident happened I was not chanting.
The experience in 1993 was quite nice full of confidence that Krishna is protecting me. I can chant Hare Krishna. Even though I could have died there I was chanting but years later I am in a different situation. So that was my own proof that don’t take things for granted. Whatever we have is simply by the mercy of the Lord. It is not something that we can take very lightly. And the ability to chant His holy names is also by the mercy of the Lord. If he doesn’t allow us to chant we can’t chant.
We experience this in our preaching that we request someone, “Please chant Hare Krishna.’ “What?” “Just say Hare Krishna.” He doesn’t want but his good fortune is that at least he won’t say something from his mouth but his ears are open and the sound vibration goes to the core of his heart and he can at least hear the chanting of Hare Krishna.
We all know that sravanam is the highest principle. So that would help him to begin his devotional life. In my own example that I gave I was full of confidence thinking that if I die know it is okay. There is no problem but it did not happen. And another thing is I will share with you is that in 1996 after the experience in 1993 during which I was quite happy that I chanted Hare Krishna and was fully protected, going back to Godhead. 100% guaranteed.
In 19996 two other devotees and I were going in an auto rickshaw and all of a sudden I don’t know what happened the auto rickshaw slipped and there was a truck in front and Dehli buses are not known for their good brakes. There was a bus right behind us and we could have been squashed. There was no doubt that we would have died. But at that point of impact when that happened I was discussing with my friend that, “My God even in Dehli they have a Bank of Japan. And if at that moment I had left my body I don’t know where the hell I would be, thinking of Japan. [Laughter from audience.] Maybe I would be born as a Japanese somewhere. But there was no Krishna!
So any moment any incident can happen. Are we ready? So we should be like Dhruva Maharaj here – fully engaged in devotional service. Every opportunity we get should be fully engaged so that we don’t get complacent in our practice and be thinking, “Okay I am in Krishna consciousness now. I am here for so many years. What can happen now? Nothing can happen now. I can carry on with what I have been doing.” But it is not a question of carrying on in our spiritual life. It is a question of making progress every day. And this progress is not something like you physically see like you plant a seed in the ground and you see a little sprout coming out and soon it is growing into a big tree. And you say, “Wow. The big tree is progress.”
This is not something physical or something external. It is something internal. It is a change of consciousness. It is a change of heart and how the heart is becoming more and more pure so that the soul is free from all material contamination and all desires. If still after forty years of chanting Hare Krishna and you still have desire for something material then you should be a very, very worried man because even a slight desire for something material will throw you off. You have to stay back. You are going full speed ahead by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and his transcendental work. Krishna consciousness, Iskcon is going all the way to the spiritual world. We are passengers in the boat but one small desire you have to go overboard. You journey stops here even though you were on full swing.
So we should not create anything which will bar us from going forward in continuing our journey. We should always be thinking that, “I want to make progress.” And then as you become more and more purified in the heart your desire to do more service will increase. And if our desire for service doesn’t increase then we should be again very worried.
Sometimes when service does come to us we are not too enthusiastic to do it. We say, “Why not ask this devotee? He is free. He should do it.” Very kind of you but [Laughter from audience.] but that devotee will make progress and you will not be making progress. So something has come o you by the mercy of the Lord and you are saying, “No thank you! I am okay.”
At the time of death when Krishna says, “I am okay.”Are you okay because you are not going to remember Him. So we have to be in a position that constantly we are remembering the Supreme Lord and praying to Him and through the prayer only we can remember Him. It is not that simply by just chanting the holy names with our japa mala because when we are chanting our japa we are very, very happy. When we get initiated, when we receive our japa mala we are going Hare Krishna Hare Krishna very proudly. “I am initiated disciple now, chanting sixteen rounds every day. Hare Krishna. The counter beads are more important to us than the japa mala. Japa mala is an instrument to chant Hare Krishna. But counter bead now to say the last bead has gone down. “I am finished for the day.” No more chanting. But Prabhupada very cleverly said it is the minimum requirement. He did not say this is the maximum requirement. [Laughter from audience.] Maximum requirement is different thing. You have done your maximum. Okay you have reached the top. But it is the minimum.
At least once you have finished that minimum requirement hen you have to do more. This is just the basic qualification required. Not that it is a qualification itself. It is allowing us to just enter into the spirit of devotion. So when we are in the mood that we have finished our sixteen rounds for the day, that means my chore for the day is finished and now I can relax and do anything else. We will be in terrible trouble if we do that because as I said that any incident could take place at any moment, anytime or any place. The question is are we ready? If we are not then we are in big trouble.
So we should always be thinking and praying to the Lord, Dear Lord please allow me to chant You holy names every day.” Our prayer and our crying from the heart should be like that. That is why Prabhupada says that we should be crying to Krishna. When he is explaining in the talk on the Hare Krishna mantra he says that one should cry from the heart like a child crying for his mother.
The child crying for the mother is out of his hopelessness, “Mother I need help here. I need feeding, I need cleaning.” He can’t sleep, he can’t do anything. He cries, “Mum I need feeding.” Because he is a child. He is still helpless. We should be cultivating that helplessness in our mood. But sometimes as I said I am a fully grown man. How can I be helpless? Because we think we can do everything on our own but nothing can be done.
So our prayer to Krishna should be in that helpless mood. And when we show that helplessness to Krishna then out of His kindness he puts a helping and towards us. “Okay I will help you out here.” But if we do not then, on the one hand we say, “Krishna help, Krishna help.” And on the other we say, “I can do it on my own also. So then Krishna says, “Why come to me then. Why waste My time?”
Krishna does not have time to waste. No He is has got the whole universe to run! It is for us to be in the mood of helplessness. If we make our prayers in helplessness the Krishna will reciprocate with us and we will feel genuine connection with Krishna and we will fell that He is there with us at every moment and every step. He is not abandoning us in any way. Although Krishna never abandons us in any way, only we abandon Him.
When we are engaged in some maya then we abandon Him. We are thinking, “Krishna You stay here for a while. I’ll finish my business here and then I can come back to You and say, ‘Okay Krishna now I want to be with you.’ ” Krishna is so kind that even if you go away and come back He will say, “Okay I will let you back in.” But after some time after doing that sometimes we stay out and never come back.
So we have to be very, very conscious as this purport says Dhruva Maharaj was constantly engaged in his devotional practice. So we should not be neglectful of our devotional practice but always endeavor to continue to pray to Prabhupada and Krishna that, “Please allow me to engage.” And we should make many, many arrangements for our own devotional practices. There is no such thing that there is something that you have done and that is it. You have done your maximum but nothing stops. If some project is there and you have finished, start a new project. If your service is finished you start a new one. Continue!
The mood of continuation will allow us to think about Krishna all the time. Then we can think of Krishna at every moment because we are fully engaged directly in some service or reading or chanting or studying. If you perfect you devotional life even in sleep you will be thinking of Krishna instead of nightmares. If you have nightmare you know that you are not completely there yet. But if you have very nice dreams about Krishna serving the Lord and His devotees then you know that you are making some head way.
This is our mood. So we should take this lesson from Dhruva Maharaj. We should appreciate the mercy we receive from the Supreme Lord and from His pure devotee and we should guard that very carefully so that we do not get complacent in spiritual life and make progress. Thank you very much for allowing me to share my thoughts with you. Does anybody have any comments or any questions?
Prabhu: Thank you very much Maharaj for the very nice lecture. We should not take our devotional service very lightly. And you have related your own experience also. My question is that if we have to put so much effort to continue our devotional life to reach our goal of Krishna prema, if we have to remember Krishna all of the time even if we are not able to and we have to do so many activities to engage ourselves in Krishna consciousness to attain Krishna’s mercy then how we can understand that Krishna’s mercy is causeless?
HH Atmanivedana Swami; Krishna’s mercy is causeless. The thing is if you appreciate something that is good then you will want to do something more for Krishna. A mundane example is if you are struggling in the material world and somebody say, “You are struggling for your basic survival, I will give you a good house and I will give you a good job.” That person is very kind and compassionate to you by relieving you of all this difficulties won’t you feel indebted to him and do more for him?
Similarly Krishna is doing so much for us. Shouldn’t we feel indebted to Krishna and say, “Krishna, You have done so much for me can I do anything more for You?” So that is why we are doing more. It is our reciprocation with the Lord. The more Krishna does for us the more indebted we feel towards Him and the more we want to do for Him. This is spiritual transcendental reciprocation between the Supreme Lord and His devotee. The devotee does not feel that he is doing anything more.
He always feels that, “I am so inadequate that I am not doing enough to please Krishna. It is not that we cannot understand Krishna’s causeless mercy. Krishna’s causeless mercy is there but it is a question of reciprocating once we appreciate what Krishna has done for us and how we are going to repay that debt or how we are going to reciprocate with Him. This debt we can never repay. So we should always feel inadequate that even though I am doing so much it is not enough. I should always s do a little more to feel pleased in my heart that I am doing my best. Krishna looks at that.
Prabhu: Hare Krishna Maharaj. How can we increase our enthusiasm in Krishna consciousness?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: Best way to increase our enthusiasm in Krishna consciousness is to associate with those devotees who are fully engaged with enthusiasm. If we are with them then our enthusiasm also increases. If we are associating with those that are not very enthusiastic and fully absorbed in devotional service then we seek out good help from devotees. There are very many devotees who are enthusiastic. We seek their shelter and their association. In their association you will develop enthusiasm. That is the best way.
So we have any time restriction?
Mataji; No.
Prabhu: Hare Krishna Maharaj. In this verse maha-bhagavat he sees Krishna everywhere. You gave the example that you where in an auto rickshaw and you saw the Bank of Japan or when you where in the Himalayas you were relaxing and you were not chanting at that time so you said maybe you did not remember Krishna but the maha-bhagavat would he see the auto rickshaw, the Bank of Japan, would he see everything as Krishna?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: There is a difference between the maha-bhagavat described here by Srila Prabhupada. The maha-bhagavat sees everything in relation to Krishna. So even if he sees the Bank of Japan he will not think that this is Japanese bank but he will see how it is related to Krishna. A maha-bhagavat sees everything in relation to Krishna. As we have explained, Krishna is within and without. So he sees Krishna everywhere.
Just like as it is said here the mountain, the trees, the wonderful scenery, everything is Krishna but we cannot see that. We see from a mundane point of view nice tree, nice river or mountain, water is flowing there from the waterfalls. We see a beautiful scenery but we do not see that this is an act of Krishna. This is Krishna’s beauty. Because Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita, “I am the taste of water, I am the smell of earth.’ All of these things! But when you smell the fragrance of fresh soil we don’t think of Krishna. Krishna is saying, “I am the fragrance of earth. I am that taste in water.’ When you are thirsty, when you are appreciating a glass of water to quench your thirst do you think, “Wow. Krishna!” You don’t see but a maha-bhagavata he sees everything in relation to Krishna That is the difference. So we have to be of that understanding training to see everything in relation and nothing is separate from Krishna.
Prabhu: Our philosophy is acintya bheda-and-abheda-tattva—simultaneous oneness and different. So this I think comes in oneness. The perception that this is Radha and Krishna. Everything that is within the perception of the maha-bhagavat. Let me ask for a Mayavadi what is the ultimate reality and he would say Brahman. And if somebody were to ask us what is the ultimate state of reality do we say Krishna, love of Krishna? Do we say this?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: We say the Supreme Lord is the ultimate. The Mayavadi says the Brahman effulgence, impersonal concept. But that is because his relation is to that point. Each one will perceive that Lord differently according to you realization. That is why Prabhupada says that you see the Lord as the Lord of energy in an impersonal way or you see Him as the Supersoul, localized aspect in the heart or Paramatma or you see Supreme Bhagavan with full opulence. Each one according to your development of consciousness and your relation with the Lord according to that you will see that and he has described that. It is not that you are stuck there. Gradually you will develop and you will see better. The point that we are trying to make is that a maha-bhagavata sees everything in relation to Krishna. Everything is not separated from Krishna.
We in the material world think that everything is material and everything is separate from Krishna. That is the only problem. So by understand from scriptures and from great saintly persons through our own practice and understanding we shall see how everything is so beautifully arranged by the Lord’s mercy. The sun is rising every morning. It is not coming by some mechanical process. It is purely by the mercy of the Lord and His arrangement.
Prabhu: Hare Krishna Maharaj. Thank you very much especially for pointing out that it is not sufficient to carry on but we should make progress also. I have a question. How do we know that we are trying our best in our endeavors?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: You have to try your best. If you endeavor for something if you just do you normal best then that is the result you will get but if you give your hundred percent, you have to know that you are trying your best. “I am giving my everything, my last energy, my last drop of blood I am giving.” If you feel comfortable with that then that is your best. I cannot judge which your best is. Only you will know what your best is. This is why we are all individually situated. If I am doing some act of service am I giving my best? Am I eager to complete that task, whatever the task is? Am I doing it with full vigor and energy?
In Krishna consciousness as I said the mood is that you are helpless and in our helplessness we just try our best. Keep doing it, keep doing it! Only you can know what your best is. I cannot describe what is one’s best because each individual knows their own capacity. They know their own ability their own desire in the heart. How much I can give to Krishna. Yes Prabhu.
HG Sruta Kirti Prabhu: With regards to this question asking how we know we are doing our best…if we are not doing our best. In a couple of books Srila Prabhupada along those lines Prahladananda dasa brahmacari one time asked Prabhupada, “Am I choosing Krishna or am I choosing maya?” He said, “You are always choosing maya.” This was very earlier on in his Krishna consciousness. Later on Giriraj Maharaj said, “Srila Prabhupada sometime I feel like I am in maya.” Prabhupada turned to him and said, “Sometimes?” So even when you are giving your best it is most likely that those that are giving a 110% to Krishna they are thinking they are not giving their best.
HH Atmanivedana Swami: Yes well we have to learn from Bhaktivinode Thakur who is understood to be a maha bhagavata. No question about it. But when we read the prayers of Bhaktivinode Thakur he in his heart out of humility is saying, “I am so bereft of love for Radha and Krishna. I have no love for Them.” But when we look at the prayer or just four lines of bhajan which we sing every day, Jaya Radha Madhava it has got such a deep powerful meditation that all the five kinds of relationship and all the major pastimes of the Lord are in these four lines. So powerful! And only someone who has tremendous love for Krishna can do that. But he is saying that, “I am like a worm in the stool.” So he is feeling very insignificant.
When we are making advancement then we really see our position as completely insignificant, not that we are something. As soon as you think, “I am something. I have achieved something.” Then we are in complete maya or illusion because in the entire cosmic creation we can think what our position is. According to the scriptures our position is very simple. We are one tenth thousand the tip of a hair and that is practically insignificant.
In relationship to the cosmos just this planet earth, what is our position? 6 billion human being walking around this planet earth and I am one of that 6 billion. What is my position in relation to the 6 billion never mind all the other billions and trillions of entities? So I am insignificant. When you begin to think that you are something or you are making achievements then you are going down the wrong path.
The more advancement one makes, the more one endeavors for Krishna consciousness he sees himself as totally insignificant. He only becomes significant when you are in connection to Krishna because you are then connected to that Supreme one. And you and me are something because it is standing next to that One otherwise if you take that one out zero is zero. Any mathematician will tell you a billion zeros put together is still zero. Zero plus zero is zero. Zero times zero is zero. Zero minus zero is zero. Any we are zero but we become something when we are at the lotus feet of Krishna. His mercy allows us to be something if he desires but from our point of view from where we are standing we always think because I am next to Krishna I am still zero. But Krishna sees, “He is next to me . He is my devotee.” That is the difference.
We will take one last question.
Prabhu: The question is the location of our Supersoul. Maharaj you said in your lecture that the Supersoul is situated in the heart of the living entity and just recently I heard an expression that the soul of the soul. Like the first soul is the Supersoul. The soul, like sometimes we say the soul of this body, then I heard an expression the soul of the soul. And from this expression I was thinking of the oneness of the soul and Paramatma that it is united in a sense but then it is next to each other. They are side by side or is it that they are within the heart of the living entity?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: First of all you mentioned that the soul and the Supersoul is within the region of the heart. It is not specifically in the heart. It is in the region of the heart. Now we can debate about that. It still doesn’t matter. Scripture says it is there.
Secondly Prabhupada explains that there is citation from the Vedas were there are two birds sitting on the tree. One is eating the fruits and the other is observing. Prabhupada said the observing bird is the Paramatma and the bird eating the fruit is the living entity engaged in material activities. So obviously it is two different things. You can never merge it. This is the Mayavadi concept that we merge into one so that we lose our identity. Prabhupada is very clear about this thing. He is saying, “No. The living entity is an individual spark. Although he is coming from the Supreme soul but he does not merge to become one. He is still independent.
Prabhu: The expression of the soul of the soul.
HH Atmanivedana Swami: I don’t know where this expression the soul of the soul. It is only the soul not that the soul has a soul also. This body has a soul. That is you and me. I am the soul but my soul doesn’t have a soul.
Prabhu: Your soul doesn’t have a soul?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: No. because I am the soul.
Prabhu: But our soul is simultaneously one and different.
HH Atmanivedana Swami: yes but that does not mean that the soul has a soul. The body has a soul. I have never found any description anywhere in the scriptures that says that the soul has a soul or the Supersoul has another soul. No. Prabhupada said that the Supreme Lord Krishna is complete. He is not like me that His hand and leg – everything is one, but at the same time it has form. It is no like some jelly or something, some light or some energy.
Prabhu: are they side by side?
HH Atmanivedana Swami: Yes. That is what scriptures are saying. You have to accept that.
I think time is up. Thank you very much. Mataji, one last question or comment. [End of recording.]
[To receive Mayapurlive lectures by email, write to mayapurlive@pamho.net]
By Atmanivedana Swami
Dhruva Maharaja rendered devotional service unto the Supreme, the reservoir of everything, with unrelenting force. While carrying out his devotional service to the Lord, he could see that everything is situated in Him only and that He is situated in all living entities. The Lord is called Acyuta because He never fails in His prime duty, to give protection to His devotees
Sacinandana Swami tells the story of Gopa Kumara.
1967 February 15: "I allowed you to deal with the Bank for two reasons: 1) That I may be free from monetary dealings, 2) That you may learn how to deal with it. But recent indiscriminate issues of checks have perturbed my mind. By indiscriminate issues of checks, $1000 of society's money have been put into risk."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1967 February 15: "You are all innocent boys so please be careful in Krishna Consciousness of the cunning world. We should not ask Krishna but let Krishna give us when He likes. When Krishna will desire it will come to us automatically. So we should only wait for Krishna's mercy. I hope you will not misunderstand me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1968 February 15: "There isn't any difference between chanting the Holy Name at the same time washing the dishes of the Temple. There is variegatedness in transcendental activities. Sometimes we like to chant, sometimes we like to wash dishes. There is no difference on the Absolute plane."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 February 15: "12.14 Bembo on 70 lb. paper is approved by me. The sample of hardbound and the covering cloth, etc., are very nice. The paper is also nice, and the printing is also nice; now if they come down to the nice price, it all will be nice."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1972 February 15: "I thank you very much for understanding our philosophy correctly. Yes, if one is always engaged in following the orders of the bona fide Spiritual Master, even in hell, that is Vaikuntha. Now do everything nicely and I shall completely trust this important business to you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1971 February 15: "Inform all Temple Presidents that prospective initiations may wait until I return to the States. However you may offer the second initiation to this brahmacari and encourage him to open a nice center in Quebec. That will be great service and I know he is very enthusiastic devotee."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
1972 February 15: "I have just received a cable that Mr. Saraf has given us the land. We shall gladly accept the offer. So Krishna has been very kind upon us, now let us all work cooperatively. We shall settle up our Vrindaban program when we meet in Mayapur."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1973 February 15: "Right from the beginning of my mission, I have always stressed and encouraged my disciples to work with the college students. So you GBC men formulate some program to preach this Krishna Consciousness in the colleges and this will please me very much."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Dear Lord Varaha, Mother earth was pushed down into the muddy dark waters of the garbhadaka ocean. Out of your love you took the form of a boar, to save your devotee. Yes, dear Lord, our consciousness is darker than … Continue reading →
I got in late on the sign-up for my daughter’s Valentine party at school. Usually I put myself down for the baked good so my daughter would definitely have an eggless treat on party day. But the sweet spot was taken, so I signed up for the healthy, salty snack.
Three options were presented by me to the daughter–croissants, cheese biscuits or summer rolls. I saw a very cute heart shaped biscuit presentation here and thought that would be the perfect contribution to the party. My daughter chose summer rolls.
Really?
I thought no one would eat them. I filled them with carrots and cucumber and cellophane noodles and lettuce and marinated tofu and purple cabbage. I made a non-spicy, non-peanutty sauce to go along with them. I sent the sauce to school in a peri-bottle. Because I have three unused ones. Squirt squirt.
Apparently, the summer rolls were a hit! Children even asked for seconds.
Don’t underestimate the taste buds of the 5 year old crowd. Lesson learned.
Recently I did a post with a post with a picture of a picture of Srila Prabhupada apparently manifesting an effulgence.
Upon seeing this, my friend Bhakta Ed sent me a similar photo. He recently toured the US in an RV for a year or thereabouts.
“Today I ran across this photo taken in San Diego while I was at the temple there. I thought you might like it. It’s of my RV altar at the front of the rig in between the two front seats.”
Most days when I return home around lunch my dad is waiting with some notes for the blog. He usually has a few bullets, references and some scribbles. It is then my job to English-ize them, find references and content to fill up the blog post.
By the time I came home today, my dad (Subhavilasa) had already left to pick up a devotee to bring home for lunch. All I saw was a note saying Appearance of Lord Varahadeva next to the 3rd canto of Srimad Bhagavatam with a book mark on chapter 13 and a jot down of verses 25 to 33. So instead of reading these 10 pages I had a "brilliant" idea and thought I would surf the net and find something to quickly cut and paste about Lord Varaha. So after reading a lot of variations, I was wondering what to pick and choose.
So I finally did what I should have done in the first place and read the Srimad Bhagavatam and in Chapter 13 and especially those 9 verses the appearance and glories of Lord Varaha are so eloquently described. So below find the purity of Srila Prabhupada's translation and the greatness of the Srimad Bhagavatam without the need for addition, desciption or any editorial from a fallen servant like myself.
- Indresh
SB 3.13.25: When the great sages and thinkers who are residents of Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka heard the tumultuous voice of Lord Boar, which was the all-auspicious sound of the all-merciful Lord, they chanted auspicious chants from the three Vedas.
SB 3.13.26: Playing like an elephant, He entered into the water after roaring again in reply to the Vedic prayers by the great devotees. The Lord is the object of the Vedic prayers, and thus He understood that the devotees' prayers were meant for Him.
SB 3.13.27: Before entering the water to rescue the earth, Lord Boar flew in the sky, slashing His tail, His hard hairs quivering. His very glance was luminous, and He scattered the clouds in the sky with His hooves and His glittering white tusks.
SB 3.13.28: He was personally the Supreme Lord Visnu and was therefore transcendental, yet because He had the body of a hog, He searched after the earth by smell. His tusks were fearful, and He glanced over the devotee-brāhman as engaged in offering prayers. Thus He entered the water.
SB 3.13.29: Diving into the water like a giant mountain, Lord Boar divided the middle of the ocean, and two high waves appeared as the arms of the ocean, which cried loudly as if praying to the Lord, "O Lord of all sacrifices, please do not cut me in two! Kindly give me protection!"
SB 3.13.30: Lord Boar penetrated the water with His hooves, which were like sharp arrows, and found the limits of the ocean, although it was unlimited. He saw the earth, the resting place for all living beings, lying as it was in the beginning of creation, and He personally lifted it.
SB 3.13.31: Lord Boar very easily took the earth on His tusks and got it out of the water. Thus He appeared very splendid. Then, His anger glowing like the Sudarśana wheel, He immediately killed the demon [Hiranyāksa], although he tried to fight with the Lord.
SB 3.13.32: Thereupon Lord Boar killed the demon within the water, just as a lion kills an elephant. The cheeks and tongue of the Lord became smeared with the blood of the demon, just as an elephant becomes reddish from digging in the purple earth.
SB 3.13.33: Then the Lord, playing like an elephant, suspended the earth on the edge of His curved white tusks. He assumed a bluish complexion like that of a tamāla tree, and thus the sages, headed by Brahmā, could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offered respectful obeisances unto the Lord.
PART 2 KANISTHA ISKCON –CURE Contents A)Intro-Good News!”KAIDS” is curable! B)Story so Far……. 1)Review- MVS a bring-down-(now influenced by his African disciples). 2)Prabhupada’s time 3)KAI is a Syndrome? 4)Syndrome closeup 5)Aim of ISKCON 6)Healthy ISKCON is MA ISKCON 7)Symptoms of a Madhyam-adhikari. 8)MA/KA criticism natural and healthy 9)MAs take the side of the locals and [...]
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare Camp:ISKCON Kathmandu,Nepal. Mob 009779808597324 All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! Dear Kavicandra Swami and members of the GBC discussion Group about local preaching progress in ISKCON, Please accept my humble obeisances!All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! I feel [...]
Please not an addition of a Temporary Category this is due to the humble request of HH Mahavishnu Swami, who is waiting the launch or a new web-site but has asked that some articles/writings be posted here in the interim. Any feedback will be forwarded to HH Mahavishnu Swami who is currently in the Congo. [...]
We wish all our viewers a very happy Nityananda Trayodasi and we pray at the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, which is more cooling than one million moons, to empower everyone to preach the sankirtan movement far and wide. Celebrating the auspicious appearance of Nityananda Prabhu in Mayapur, Adivas ceremony will take place today- invoking auspiciousness and preparing ourselves to receive the Lord in our heart. The festivities on Nityananda Trayodasi will begin with Mangala Arthi at 4 a.m.
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In each of the Australian cities they've visited on this tour, Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits have held a kirtan workshop for local musicians, artists, and kirtan singers. In Melbourne, the rehearsal for the Ratha Yatra festival finale functioned in the same way.
Here is the end of the song on the night:
