Comments

• Volunteer

  Ram Charan Das April 4, 2016 at 2:15pm

  Dear Devotee, Hare Krishna, dandvats. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I do wish you a very happy Krishna conscious day today on your birthday and pray for you to have Krishna conscious years in the time to come, to let all your material and spiritual desires be fulfilled and for you to have this as your last birth in this material world. Take care, Gauranga, Radhe Radhe, Hari Hari, Hare Krishna.

  Krshne matri astu - May your attention always be on Krsna....
• E-Counselor

  Karunanidhi Das April 4, 2016 at 2:50am

  To day is Papmochani Ekadashi 2016 - April 3 (Sunday)

  Tomorrow (Monday) Ekadasi Fast-Breaking time : 06:276 to 10:45 AM

  Papmochani Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of fading phase of moon in Chaitra. This Ekadashi is the last one in all 24 Ekadashi fasts. The word 'Papamochani' is made with two words Paap and Mochani. 'Paap' means sin or misdeed and word “Mochani” means remover. Devotees believe that observing fast on Papamochani Ekadasi is highly auspicious. Those who observe this fast would be forgiven from their sins. Lord Vishnu is mainly worshipped on Ekadashi Fasts.

  The Papmochani Ekadashi Vrat Katha

  This tale is narrated in the Bhavishya Uttara Purana in the form of dialogues between Lord Krishna and king Yudhishtira.

  There was a sage named Medhavi who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. This sage used to perform deep Tapas (meditation) in the forest of Chaitraratha. This forest was full of beautiful and scented flowers. The Chaitraratha forest was also frequently visited by Indra and Apsaras. Beautiful Apsaras tried many times but could never succeed in seducing young Medhavi. One famous Apsara, "Manjughosa", also tried many ways to seduce this sage but she could not come closer to him due to the power of his sobriety that he had attained over the years.

  After many attempts Manjughosa decided to pitch a tent couple of miles away from the sage and started singing. She sang so beautifully that even the Kamdev (Cupid) got excited and decided to use Manjughosha to target Medhavi. But when Manjughosha looked at powerful and attractive body of the sage, she herself got restless by lust .She again started singing seductively, Kamdev drew Medhavi’s attention towards the charm of Manjughosha through his powerful magical bows .She slowly reached closer to Medhavi and embraced him with her beautiful arms. Medhavi stopped his tapa (meditation) and got trapped in Manjughosha’s charm.

  He lost his purity of mind instantaneously. He got so much attracted to her charm that he even forgot the difference between night and day.

  Medhavi was charmed by her for a very long time. After living a married life for 57 years, Manjughosha lost her interest in the sage, and decided to abandon him .Tricked by Apsara’s charm Medhavi couldn’t be aware of the time he spent with Manjughosha. When Manjughosha asked Medhavi to permit her to leave, now the sage got his lost senses back and realized how he was tricked by this Apsara.

  Fuming with anger Medhavi cursed her to become an ugly witch.Very said Medhavi returned back to his father Sage Chyavana’s ashram and told the whole story to his father.

  Sage Chyavana asked Medhavi to observe fast on Papamochani Ekadashi, and assured him that all his sins will be removed by observing fast on this Ekadashi. Medhavi observed the fast with full devotion to Lord Vishnu and got relieved from his mistakes. Chyavana advised the same fast to Majughosha as well. Manjughosha also observed the fast and regretted for her wrong deeds and she was also relieved from her sin.

  Suggestion:  If you can not keep full day fasting, please eat only Ekadasi Prasadam—friuts, vegetables,no grains,etc.-- one time at lunch time only. At night ,you  may drink one glass of milk. Recommended chanting on this day is atleast 25 rounds of Mahamantra—Hare Krishna,Hare Krishna,Krishna,Krishna,Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama,Rama,Rama, Hare,Hare.

  Through this austerity, you can take advantage to keep your health and mind in good shape!!!

  Thank you,

  Your servant,

  Karunanidhi Das

  ISKCON,Chicago
• Volunteer

  padmavati mataji May 15, 2013 at 11:53am

  Pranam Dearest Devotee.  Hare  Krishna.

  May you receive transcendental blessings and grace

  and mercy; health and strength  and  understanding;

  peace and love; harmony  and  wisdom;  insight  and

  intuition and inspiration from the God of Gods; the

  Lord of Lords; the King of Kings; the God of love; the

  Original Bhagavan; the  Supreme Personality of Godhead,

  Lord Krishna. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

  The secret of happiness is hidden under the cover of service

  and devotion to Lord Krishna, which makes the soul and

  the body blissful. When the stream of love of Godhead, love

  for Lord Krishna flows in its full strength, it purifies all that

  stands in its way, as the Ganges purifies all those who dip in

  its sacred waters. May your devotion to Lord Krishna be

  resolute and unflinching; may your confidence in Him be

  firm and total; may your love for Him be unfailing and intense,

  and may your faith in Him be strong  and steadfast; deep and

  profound; unwavering and unshakeable. Know well that Lord

  Krishna`s eternal love for you encircle and encompasses you at

  all times, night and day. With love and best wishes, take care,

  bye. Radhe Radhe.