The story where Lord Narasimha courageously protected his child devotee Bhakta Prahlad and killed his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. Since today is the apperance day of Lord Narasimha, I thought it would be appropriate to share my experience with Lord Narasimha and how he protected me. It was all during the summer of 2013 when my aunt and uncle wanted to take me and my brother on a vacation to congratulate us for our success in middle school. At the time I was still getting into the whole beliefs of Krishna Conciousness and was still a rookie devotee. I was especially attracted to one of Lord Krishna's famous avatars, Narasimha. At night time I would often have troubling nightmares, because I had experienced some traumatic events in my younger life as a kid which led me to depression and anxiety. Across from my bed was my nightstand and on it was a picture of Narasimha for protection, and everytime I woke up from my nightmares I would feel relief by looking at Lord Narasimha, and I just knew he was protecting me because I could feel his protection. Anyway, onto the story of the vacation. We went to rocky mountain national park in Colorado, a very beautiful place filled with mountains. Before we left I was a bit nervous because we had to get their by plane, and I had a phobia of hights, so just to feel safe I recited the Narasimha Kavacham before leaving. After the flight we traveled by car up the mountains. The part where things got unsettling was when I realized the trail that led up the mountain was completely unguarded and had no fences to keep us from falling off. So naturally, I felt a huge wave of anxiety flood over me. I griped tightly on my icon of Narasimha and chanted his name so we wouldn't fall off the cliff, luckily I felt great relief when we didn't fall off the cliff. So a few hours past and we finally got into our cabin. That following night I stayed up later than everyone else to continue chanting my japa, when I heard a sound outside of my cabin. I considered it to be nothing, since we were around forests and what not I thought it was just a deer. So I continued chanting, when the same noise occured again. This noise was not something like a branch snapping or something cheesy like that, but rather it was the sound of hard knocking. I had woke up my brother due to the noise and I asked if we should tell our aunt and uncle what was going on. But my brother told me not to, as we might anger them if it turns out to be nothing. So instead we went back to sleep only to be awoken again by the same kind of noise a few hours later, only this time more louder than before. This time we were seriously freaked out. I made a foolish decision and decided to look out the blind but did not see anything, only a very hard depiction of a shadowy figure standing by the other side of our cabin, so I quickly shut the blind not doing anything else. We finally woke up our aunt and uncle and told them what was happening and how I saw the shadowy figure outside, they looked around the house outside but found no trace of anything being around our cabin. So I considered it to be because of my anxiety, so I went back to sleep once more. The thing that happened next was the most terrifying experience I ever had in my life. I woke up completely paralyzed and was not able to move. I could however still breath and move my eyes around, and beside me there was the same shadowy figure I saw before, only this time standing right next to my bed. And I swear it started moving closer and closer to my bed and saw the sheets also moved. At first I considered it to be just a regular case of sleep paralysis as I heard this is what usually goes on, but I changed my mind and considered it to be a real demon as it moved my sheets back. Logically, No scientist can say that the sheets moving had a logical explanation and tell me it was just a product of my imagination, because if that were true then the sheets would not be moving away from me when I had absolutely no ability to move. The demon just went above me and stared at me for a good minute, I remembered I kept a small statue of Narasimha next to me and I loudly chanted in my head "Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!" Until I finally bursted out "Narasimha help me!" Outside in the far distance I could hear the sound of a lion and the demon instantly fled. My brother woke up from it and I informed him what had just happened. The next morning I told my aunt and uncle about the experience. My belief in God strengthened from that point as I knew for a fact Lord Narasimha had protected me. I know this story sounds extremely cheesy and artifical, but I tell you, this story is none other than the truth. Lord Narasimha is the supreme protector of all his devotees, and will stop at nothing to protect us. Sri Narasimha Ki! Jai!

Let good happen to Rama , Who is the king of Kosala, And the ocean of good qualities Let good happen to Rama, Who is son of emperor Dasaratha, And who is a very great king. Let good happen to Rama, Who is venerated by Vedas and Vedanta, Who is of the black colour of the rich cloud, Who is one of the prettiest among men, And who has a fame which is pure. Let good happen to Rama, Who is a confidant of Viswamithra, Who is the matured luck of , The king of Mithila and , Is the form of pure humility. Let good happen to Ramabhadra, Who is a devotee of his father, Who shines with Sita and his brothers, And who makes the entire world happy. Let good happen to Lord Rama, Who is courageous and kind, Who left the city of Ayodhya, And lived in the forest of Chithrakoota, And who served all great sages. Let good happen to my Lord Rama, Who was with Lakshmana and Sita, Who was armed with sword and bow, And who is always served by devotees. Let good happen to the giver of salvation, Who lived in the forest of Danda karanya, Who was the enemy of Asuras, Khara and Dhooshana, And who was greatly devoted to Jatayu , the king of birds. Let good happen to him who has lot of good qualities Who liked the fruits and roots offered by Shabhari. And can be fully realized, extremely easily. Let good happen to the God who is very brave, Who can be easily be attained by Hanuman, Who used to fulfill desires of King Sugreeva, And who wounded and killed the great Bali. Let good happen to the God who is brave in battle, Who is the valorous hero of the clan of Raghu, Who built the bridge over the sea, And who won over the king of Rakshasas. Let good happen to Lord Raghava, Who presented with happiness Lanka, To Vibheeshana due to his love, And who has the entire world as devotees. Let good happen to Lord Raghava, Who was crowned along with Sia, When he returned back to the city of Ayodhya, And who is the king of all kings. Let good happen to the Lord of the Raghu clan, Who is served by Lord Brahma and other devas, Who protected Vedas and Brahmins, And who was the king of the soul of Janaki. Let good happen to the Lord of the Raghu clan, Who was got to us by the grace of the saint Jamathru, Who is my Lord who is on of the greatest. Let good happen to the Lord who only did good, The salutary song about him is greatest by my teacher, Grater than all that is written by previous great teachers This song praying for good souls who are devoted to Lord Rama.

During my first years of high school, I was introduced into Hare Krishna philosophy. It was extremely akward because NO ONE at my school knew what a Hare Krishna was. Everyone knew what a Hindu was, but at the same time no one knew who Lord Krishna was. I had originally left Christianity because it had felt too basic for me, I did not feel much energy from it. I could tell that everyone went to church just for social acceptance, and just to get it done and over with, no one was truely worshiping God. So I left Christianity to find a much more serious and deeper path of spirituality, and that was when my friend Radhika introduced to me the Bhagavad Gita. I especially loved the Bhagavad Gita because it was moral and truthful. Many other religious scriptures say it is alright to kill just because someone is different, but the Bhagavad Gita says it is only acceptable to kill when it is absolutely necessary, and that is another reason why I found the Bhagavad Gita to be moral and full of truth. After finishing the Bhagavad Gita, I bought other books by Prabhupada, and eventually without even realizing, I began pracitcing Vaishnava philosophy. I had found the truth I was looking for, I was more happy as a devotee of Krishna than I was a worshiper of Christ, however there was one problem. I was afraid what my community would think, everyone around me was Christian, or at least most was. The only closest location for Hare Krishna's was Chicago, and I lived 40 minutes away from Chicago. I really wanted to come out to my community and everyone around me that I was a Hare Krishna, so I did. I started wearing tilak and carried Hare Krishna books with me to read at school. Most of the time I would read, a student or teacher would ask me what book I'm reading and what I'm wearing on my forehead. It was akward to answer, but it was nice to let others know what a Hare Krishna is. However it got annoying, literally I could not go anywhere without someone asking me all these questions about my religion. Some even bullied me and called me a "hippie" and a "queer worshiper" Because of Krishnas feminine apperance. I was especially annoyed at their rude comments towards Krishna. I would take any negative comments towards myself, but anything negatively directed towards Lord Krishna was almost like a bullet being shot at a friend, I would jump myself in front of the bullet for Lord Krishna because I had a deep love for him.

I hanged up an image of Radha worshiping Krishna on my locker, and sometimes kids would desecrate it. Kids would somehow break into my locker and write all over my images of Krishna, and that brought me to tears. So I decided I had enough of kid's desecrating my dear lord Krishna, who was the one I worshiped. I made the bold and yet terrifying decision to make an entire speach to my whole school on Hare Krishna's and respecting other religions. I also told them that bullying one for the causes of their sexuality, race, gender, or religion is illegal and that I would not tolerate it, I would report them.  I was compassionate to everyone who insulted me, but I have a limit, a rude comment now and then is acceptable, but bullying is a whole different story. Anyway, during my speech I taught them what Hare Krishnas are because I constantly got questions for what I practiced. The people who bullied me had apologized to me, and apperantly did not realize they were bullying me, they thought they were just "joking around" (which annoyed me because how does desecrating a religious image count as "joking around") But I forgave them. I am still in high school as of now, soon to finish it. I have met several Indians at my school who are Hindu, but never heard of Lord Krishna. They mainly worship God's like Shiva, Ganesh, Vishnu, Durga, Etc. But were never introduced to Hare Krishna. I was able to make a club solely for Hare Krishnas or anyone interested in it. I feel good that I am leading others back to Lord Krishna. Anyway now I have gained acceptance and everything is fine from here on out. Thank you for listening to my story, More to come!

A being who believes he is ultimately enlightened and happy, is not happy because his mind is not controlled and he does not controll his senses. This is why Lord Caitanya descended into the world, to teach us the teachings on how to be purely Krishna Conscious. Krishna Conciousness means to re awaken to our transcendental position, which is attaining love of Godhead. By being Krishna Conscious we can understand why we sorrow so much, and how being Krishna Conciouss can re awaken our transcendental love for God (Krishna). Being Krishna Conscious, we can be liberated from all mental sufferings such as distress, depression, anxiety, and diseases. Here is the proof as to why Krishna Conciousness is benefital to all beings, especially ones that suffer so much. I will reveal to you the benefits of being Krishna Concious.

1. Chanting Hare Krishna Relieves Stress, Thus Making You Live Longer

It has been scientifically proven that stress will cause you to live less longer, and it has been proven that by chanting mantras over and over, especially Hare Krishna mantras, will stop this stress and make you happier, which will make you live longer.

2. Krishna Conciousness Invokes Mindfullness

Mindfullness is essential for being happy, and because devotees are always thinking of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna their minds are always focused on the Supreme Lord and thus ignore all negative aspects of the material world. When engaging in material activites such as cleaning your house, eating food, watching tv, or reading a book, imagine Krishna being within that object, thus you will never be lost to him.  "Bhagavad Gita 6.30. For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me."

3.Being Krishna Conciousness Is Healthy

We are always as material beings finding happiness through material speculation, such as drinking, gambling, sexual activity, and  smoking and even gaming. This may seem fun, but this is NOT healthy for the mind and not for the body and its organs. Smoking will cause lung cancer and drinking will kill brain cells, and playing video games constantly will make you more likely to be depressed in the future. Chanting Hare Krishna is a more natural and positive way to deal with problems, because it will release negative hormones and create positive ones, and make them even happier. Now this doesnt mean I am saying you cant enjoy something harmless like watching TV or playing video games, but do it with mindfullness and do it less and dedicate more time to praciticing Krishna Conciousness.

4. Attaining Love Of Godhead

Have you ever seen those pictures of Lord Caitanya dancing and crying? The reason for this is not madness, it is because he is crying in ecstasy. Material things bring impermanent happiness, but this divine ecstasy can only be experienced by one who has felt the love of Krishna enter their hearts. This happiness has been experienced by many devotees and you can too. 

I hope you liked this post :) Hare Krishna!