I created this group because i saw many people are submitting their work on this site, and it would be good to have it all in one place. Poetry is to me very important because it is a form of expression that can convey our emotions in a very powerful, direct way. Being poetic is one of the 26 qualities of a devotee, and we can see that throughout history many great devotees and acharyas have composed beautiful prayers in praise of the Lord. Of course, we should not get carried away and become proud of our writing, but we definitely can take time to praise the Lord according to our realization.
I found a nice quote from Srila Prabhupada yesterday on this topic. In a lecture given in New Vrindavan on June 6, 1969, Prabhupada said -
"You write something; the aim should be simply to glorify the Supreme. Then your literature is pavitra, purified. And however nicely, either literally or metaphorically or poetically, you write some literature which has nothing to do with God, or Krsna, that is vayasam tirtham. That is pleasure spot for the crows.
This is the version of Narada Muni. We should be taking note of this. And for the Vaisnava there is one qualification: poetic. You should... Everyone should be poetic. So... But that poetry, that poetry language, should be simply to glorify the Lord. Then it is... Just like Narottama dasa Thakura, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Locana dasa Thakura, they are poets. They have produced so many songs. But about whom? About Krsna.
Anything written with no connection to the Lord has no value, however poetic, while anything written about Krsna sincerely is perfect, despite any seeming mistakes. In the purport of Adi 16.102, Prabhupada says -
"In explaining the glories of the Lord, inexperienced men may compose poetry with many faults, but because it contains glorification of the Lord, great personalities read it, hear it and chant it." Despite its minute literary discrepancies, one must study poetry on the merit of its subject matter. According to Vaiṣṇava philosophy, any literature that glorifies the Lord, whether properly written or not, is first class. There need be no other considerations.
So I encourage everyone to join in the eternal glorification of Lord Krishna, who is known as Uttamasloka, the one who is praised by the choicest poetry.
Hare Krsna!
Comments
help me walk the path i choose and make choose the path correct for this world shuns at what we do and depresses our mind to make a hell ,so that we lose ;
but i know your lovely hand is always on mine to make me walk on paths unknown and to hold me when i fall in places that i not know ,with you i fear not and will walk like a winner no matter what pushes me back .
help me krsna in this world of discontent and unhappiness for noone who comes with hands open ,every day there is a hope for you shine like dream from the clouds of my faith and there will be real smile which will never fade
hare krsna
*A teacher takes responsibility of your growth
A Guru makes you responsible for your growth
A teacher gives you things you do not have and require
A Guru takes away things you have and do not require
A teacher answers your questions
A Guru questions your answers
A teacher helps you get out of the maze
A Guru destroys the maze
A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil
A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil
A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey
A Guru strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey
A teacher is a guide on the path
A Guru is a pointer to the way
A teacher sends you on the road to success
A Guru sends you on the road to freedom
A teacher explains the world and its nature to you
A Guru explains yourself and your nature to you
A teacher makes you understand how to move about in the world
A Guru shows you where you stand in relation to the world
A teacher gives you knowledge and boosts your ego
A Guru takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego
A teacher instructs you
A Guru constructs you
A teacher sharpens your mind
A Guru opens your mind
A teacher shows you the way to prosperity
A Guru shows the way to serenity
A teacher reaches your mind
A Guru touches your soul
A teacher gives you knowledge
A Guru makes you wise
A teacher gives you maturity
A Guru returns you to innocence
A teacher instructs you on how to solve problems
A Guru shows you how to resolve issues
A teacher is a systematic thinker
A Guru is a lateral thinker
A teacher will punish you with a stick
A Guru will punish you with compassion
A teacher is to pupil what a father is to son
A Guru is to pupil what mother is to her child
One can always find a teacher
But a Guru has to find and accept you
A teacher leads you by the hand
A Guru leads you by example
When a teacher finishes with you,
you graduate
When a Guru finishes with you,
you celebrate
When the course is over you are thankful to the teacher
When the discourse is over you are grateful to the Guru
Joy and sorrow are not still;
They come as they will
As you desire you might get;
But analyse what is best
Don’t be afraid of obstacles;
They are just race hurdles
But remember about the reality;
To develop your dormant identity
You are having a choice;
To be a fool or a wise
Fool tries to gratify himself;
Wise indulges in discovering self
Problems will come and go;
You are also standing in a row
When call will come you have to go;
Packing your bag and leaving the show
But now is time and now is chance;
To realize truth then chant and dance
Pray always for divine fate;
Then illusioned heart will illuminate.
Written by – Kartik Agrawal
I don't have any poems to share here yet,
but I'm going to sit on a bus the whole night,
so I bet there will pop up a poem on the tour :)
post anything you feel inspired by.