Hare Krishna

Before I started the Bhagavad Gita study group one of the best advice I got was from HG Asit Prabhuji. I had called him, anxious on what I was about to start. He gave few priceless gems which I am sharing

1. Do not think that people who come will stay for the deep philosophy they would hear. They will stay in the group if I serve them with genuine love and care.

2. Never ever feel superior to the newcomers, serve them will all my heart. Always remain humble from the heart, always in a serving mood.

3. Improve my own Sadhna Bhakti.

4. If I ever get to speak in any of the class then I should not speak a single word which I have not realised personally.

5.  Don't ever think that I am responsible for bringing people in the group. It is all arranged by Srila Prabhupada and Krishna, we are just a via medium.

These instructions sank deep inside me and I pray at the lotus feet of Asit Prabhu that I never forget them and thank him from the bottom of my heart for guiding me so well.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada the new group started and as it progresses I can't help myself  but remember a most humble and dedicated devotee, HG Radheshyam Prabhuji. His home, Radha Niwas, was nothing short of  temple for all the other devotees. He has now moved to Sri Vrindavan Dham. But he will always remain a benchmark for me in serving the devotees. He was never in the front, always at the back, serving and serving. At that time I could not appreciate it as, foolishly, my single point of agenda used to be the lecture and not so much devotees. I never saw him correcting anyone, requesting for a favour but we would all go to him requesting favours after favours and he would always help. There was always prasadam for every one at Radha Niwas, be it a short class at 6am or late class finishing at 10pm. There was music classes for devotees at his home. All visiting Sanyasi's would be served at best, the list would go on.  I hope that one day I am able to serve 0.1% of what he did.  I wish I had touched the soil under his feet and rubbed on my forehead, I would for sure.

Last but not the least, Achuyt Hari Prabhuji helped me when against general norms I wanted to set up a stall in my complex on Janamashtami evening, helping me kick start the group. With the help of  Pawan Bajaj Prabhuji I could gather enough courage to stand in the open. And a big thanks to HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji who agreed to take these classes. He is a senior devotee, chairperson of Gurgaon council, and still agreed to help the group where everyone is new to Krishna Consciousness.

All these devotees, and many more,  teach us by example and we, like small children, look at them with admiration as they cross what seems to us as unworkable, impractical and even unthinkable.

All glories to all the wonderful devotees of Gurgaon.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna.

The next three days were in complete bliss of Hari Nama and association of wonderful devotees.

Day 2: Maharaj touched the below topics

a. Role of japa in Bhakti and mechanical chanting.

b. Forgiveness and Humility

c. Preparing for 64 rounds of japa on day 3rd

Maharaj spoke how it is very important to do our japa early in the morning and we should try to fix a sitting place for the same. This place should not not offer any distractions while we are chanting our Japa. He also stressed that chanting in front of Tulasi Maharani brings additional potency into our chanting. He added that we should hear the sound and not our mind during Japa.

while preparing us for the 64 rounds the next day he gave a very important instruction that we should chant in a receivers mood and not in an achiever's mood. This was a very important lesson for me as whenever I chant 64 rounds I mostly felt it in an achiever's mood. I now know what was not correct in those rounds. This was like a personal instruction for me and I pray that I never forget it.

Then Maharaj spoke about another most important topic of Vaishnava Apradha and how it is the only Apradha which can not be countered by chanting. He spoke about recognising offences, how to beg forgiveness and benefits of forgiving and being forgiven. It was one of the most interesting topic of the day and generated maximum no. of questions.

Maharaj ended the day with encouraging words from Chaitanya Charitmrita and Nectar of Instructions, verse 5, purport.

Next day was for 64 rounds Japa and Maharaj advised everyone to get up early, as early as 2am, and start chanting.

Day 3 : I got up around 3.45am and got into chanting with a fresh mind and consciousness. Three days of association of devotees showed its benefit clearly. I reached the home where prog was being conducted around 7 am. I had completed more than one fourth of the rounds by that time. Inside everyone was sitting in circles in front of Tulasi Maharani and chanting seriously. We had a break for breakfast and more or less everyone did their Japa non stop. By 2 pm when we had a break for lunch prasadam almost everyone had completed their 64 rounds. The whole atmosphere remain charged with devotional energy. I am confident that had the session continued til evening many of the devotees would have crossed 100 rounds. Maharaj blessed everyone by leading with example as to what each of us is capable of doing and how important it is to chant in the association of devotees.

Day 4 : Maharaj started the day with a practical discussion about how we should always be grateful to the lord in whatever position we find ourselves and gave some practical advice on how to turn adverse happenings in our lives into  Krishna's mercy. He finished this session with an exercise where everyone was to write ` What do we feel in our life where we feel ungrateful and what is Krishna trying to teach us , what is the lesson ?  This session proved be a very humbling experience.

The next session was to prepare for Sankalapa letter. We were to write a letter to Sri Nama Prabhu expressing gratitude towards Srila Prabhuapada, our spiritual master and the first person who introduced us to Krishna Consciousness. We were to complete the letter with a sankalapa /vow in relation to Japa. We all felt very charged up in Maharaj's presence. I wrote a very long letter, which I will share some other time.

Maharaj then made each of us show our letter and vow to the Deities, Tulasi maharani and of course Maharaj. I knew I have stepped forward and agreed to do more in my Japa and I pray at the lotus feet of all the devotees and Maharaj that I am able to keep my vow.

In the end everyone sat together and shared their experience of the seminar. We were most thankful to Maharaj for taking time out for such a small batch of devotees and begged him to organise the level 2 of the seminar next year, Maharaj, ever merciful, agreed. 

All Glories to all the devotees who attend the seminar. 

All Glories to His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavad Swami Maharaja.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna.

I had the fortune to attend the Namamrita Seminar of His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavad Swami Maharaja during the third week of September.  I had heard a great deal about the seminar from HG Chitralekha Devi Dasi mataji in her news letters in the past. It was difficult to leave work for 3 days but then the Lord arranged everything to fall perfectly in place as seminar finished by lunch time everyday.

Maharaj spoke about Holy name and reinforced how Holy name is non different from Krishna. He spoke about relationship with the Holy name and how in this age of kali it is the incarnation of Lord and out of nine processes of devotional service it is the most important.

Maharaj also stated that between kirtana and japa, japa is more important. He explained that japa maintains us internally and kirtana brings people from external to internal consciousness. Hence in this sense japa is more important. Secondly we also take a vow in front of our spiritual to chant minimum of 16 rounds of japa  our spiritual master at initiation.

Maharaj brought to highlight another subtle difference between `neophyte chant at least 16 rounds' and `members of Krishna Consciousness chant a minimum of 16 rounds' . He explained that minimum means we should to chant more than 16 rounds, that is the clear instruction of Srila Prabhupada for initiated devotees.

Chanting Hare Krishna is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to Go back home, back to Godhead.

Stages in chanting the Holy Names : Maharaj explained three stages of chanting :

a. Nama Apradha ( Chanting with offenses)

b. Namabhasha ( Clearing stages)

c. Shudha nama ( Pure Chanting)

He explained that irrespective of what stage we are in, we should simply be repentant and go on chanting and we will cross to the next stage. As we progress we can realise Krishna through our tongue  and ears not our eyes.

The last topic of the days was Evaluating our Japa. Maharaj stressed that we need to develop a relationship with Nama Prabhu. And we should hear our japa loud and clear and we should sincerely practice to chant without offences.

Maharaj asked everyone to rate our Japa on a scale of 1 to 10 on the criteria of taste and steadiness separately.

In the last he brought another subtle point that as per scriptures there are 32 syllables in the Maha mantra. Which means that the name `Rama' should be pronounced as `Ramah' . We should not get so self conscious that we stop at each syllable but we must know what is the correct sanskrit pronunciation.

The day ended with delicious lunch  Prasadam. Later, many munificent devotees went for Nagar Sankirtana.

All glories to His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavad Swami Maharaja.

All glories to Srila Prabhuada.

Hare Krishna.

I read another pastime  of Srila Prabhupada today morning by Janananda Maharaj sent by HG Chitralekha Devi Dasi mataji. It read:

Prabhupada asked for water. Amogha, who was holding the microphone at the time, got up and went to the kitchen.

Amogha: "In the kitchen a lady handed me a silver tray on which was a pitcher of cold water, with ice in it, and a drinking cup or goblet upside down. The drinking cup had a long slender base that widened at the bottom. As I brought it in I couldn't understand that it was upside down so I conjectured that it was a funnel which would fill the cup if I poured the water into it. I came close to Srila Prabhupada and nervously, in front of the guests, I poured the water into the bottom of the cup which was standing upside down on the tray. Naturally the water spilled out onto the tray, but I didn't notice. I thought, 'They put a funnel there so I wouldn't spill it'. Srila Prabhupada looked at me and the tray and Srila Prabhupada said, 'What is that?' I said, 'Water, Srila Prabhupada', and Srila Prabhupada said, 'NO, what is THAT?', referring to what I was doing. People began to jump up to assist, but suddenly it dawned upon me what I had done. 'Oh, No!' I exclaimed and I poured the water out of the base and filled the cup properly. It was a big embarrassment. Everyone was on edge about it. Red-faced, I sat down where I had been before. At the time I walked in with the cup, Prabhupada was preaching about how people have misused their intelligence. Then I interrupted with the water blunder. After I sat down again Srila Prabhupada said, 'Misused intelligence', and everyone laughed heartily and felt relieved. Prabhupada could always say something at the right time that would put everybody at ease."

As I finished reading the last line I could not understand why is this pastime being mentioned in the first place as I could only read embarrassment in it. It took me couple of seconds to realise their surrender to Srila Prabhupada. Whatever way Srila Prabupada conducted with them,  for them it was coming from Krishna directly. They had understood the meaning of complete devotion to Guru and they know that every action from Srila Prabhupada was for their own betterment.

aslishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.

I knew in a split second that this is what I lack. I judge devotees, and for that matter, everyone else. Neither I have complete faith in Guru and Krishna. I also suffer from another disease of being able to find fault in others.

I had attended a lecture of HG Damodar Prabhuji many months back in Gurgaon where he mentioned that the definition of `Muni' is the one who does not find fault in others. So I thought let me ask him only for a solution. I requested him for a treatment for this disease to judge others. He instructed me to pray. So now I pray everyday to six Goswamis and Narsimha Deva to please have pity on me and remove this dreaded disease from my heart.

All Glories to all the sons and grandsons of Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to the most soft hearted and most merciful Gaudia Vaishanva samradaya.

Hare Krishna.

I left the evening before for Vrindavan, reaching Vrindavan Dham around 9pm. The temple was closed,  I paid my dandvat pranam inside the courtyard and then had a quick dinner at Govinda.

Got a room in my regular guest house, Sri Krishna Sudama Dham, and slept around 11pm after reading a bit.

Radha Ashtami

I got up early and attended Prabhupada's Arti in the temple after many months, it was wonderful to be just there.

Then it was 4.30 am and time for Mangal Arti. The doors opened and it was a glorious view of their Lordships. Oh ! What a beautiful altar and my first view was of Sri Sri Krishna and Balaram ji. They looked so handsome, happy, jubilant,  the words fail me to describe Them and enjoying their pastimes at Govardhan hill, which was the back ground. I was in Vrindavan after many months and though I see Them every day via internet still being there is an entirely different experience. I was very emotional meeting Them and paid as many obeisances mentally as I could, begging for Their mercy. And somehow I felt the connection and it was a most wonderful feeling in the heart. Then with so many people I could move some feet to my right and get to see only Radha Rani and Vishakha sakhi. I haven't seen a more beautiful Radha Rani ever before, she looked gorgeous. I was spell bound by her sheer beauty and dazzling smile. There was a spark in her eyes and she seemed be glowing more by every passing second. I  tried to push more to see the complete altar but could not as there simply too many people. I then moved to Sri Gaur Nitai and took Their darshan and paid mental obeisances. I then came back in the middle for the Arti and kept my eyes firmly fixed on Sri Krishna and Balaram. I left just before the start of the Tulsi arti for Govardhan.

I was about to start Bhagavad Gita Study group from the coming Sunday at my home, my baby step to help our preaching movement,  and I felt inspired to take the blessing of Lord Govardhan before I begin.

I chanted my rounds sitting in the back of the car, admiring the fresh morning scenery outside, all serene and calm.  I reached Govardhan at 6.15 and started the parikarma immediately. Being alone I had my iphone and Mp3 player loaded with many lectures for the trip. There were not too many devotees but as I progressed I could see many devotees doing parikarma.  As I took  left turn from the bus stand towards Govardhan my eye met a pair of very bright eyes. I had never seen a brighter pair of eyes in my life before. He was a very tall, fair and lean person, dressed up in surprisingly neat, and I would add even majestic, clothes, wearing a turban on his head. Our eyes met, he held my gaze and then he crossed. My heart told me that don't be so surprised as many demi gods come to Govardhan for parikarma every day, Giriraj Maharaj Ki Jai.

The biggest advantage I found doing parikarma in the morning was that there was very less noise pollution from those blaring horns selling some ring, `surma', etc today. In fact except for some odd TV playing at loud level at tea stalls it was was very peaceful and I heard Maha mantra japa in many temples for the first time. As I completed my rounds I remember I have to do some extra rounds from my past `account'  . Once I completed them I asked myself that do I have no taste at all for the chanting and all I wish to do now is listen to lectures I brought. I decided to chant more. I completed the parikarma in five and a half hours, non stop and chanting all the way through. While taking  parikarma it is difficult not to get distracted by things around but by the mercy of Lord I did the Parikarma pretty much focused on my chanting, paying obeisances to Giriraj Maharaj and soaking in the atmosphere. I tried to keep my heart soft and prayed that I get His blessings to serve Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON and don't let HG Rukmini Prabhu ji down. I tried to remember all the glories of Giriraj Maharaj explained by HH Sacinandan Maharaj in his Govardhan retreat, I had listened the audio recording some months back.

I was tired when I reached Radha Kund. The dip in the holy water filled me with bliss and gratitude towards the Lord and Srimati Radharani . Taking a dip in Radha Kund is always a unique experience for me.

I have taken bath many times in the past at Radha Kund but today I felt silly taking a bath in my small shorts.  I bought two `gamchas' for my bath next time.

I came back to the SBI ATM where the driver was waiting for me, paid my obeisances and then left for Krishna Balrama temple for the  Maha Prasad. I was hungry for Their darshan again.

After many months I completed 64 rounds today.

Radha Rani Ki Jai.

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gaurnaga.

Hare Krishna.

The first time I prayed with all my heart was when HG Sarvabhauma Prabhuji came to Punjabi Bagh temple and gave a lecture on atonement almost two years back. I used to feel a lot of guilt over my past karma and did not know how to get rid of them or ask forgiveness from all the people whom I hurt. All the past incidents would come into my thoughts as I would chant, it was getting difficult to chant. In the lecture Prabhuji mentioned that apart from our own lack of courage to face people and ask for forgiveness, we should also be careful that we don't hurt them again by opening the old wounds and many a times people don't see our bad intentions and don't even know what transpired.  So he suggested a way around it. He told us that we can write all our past mistakes on a letter addressed to Krishna and ask  for forgiveness and a promise to not  repeat them. And later read the letter in front of the altar and again ask for forgiveness with all our heart . After completing it we should tear the lette and the guilt should go away. For me it was a message from Lord and it took me 3 days and many sheets of papers to write my past mistakes. As I wrote I was full of shame and surprised at what I did and wonder for what petty gains. So one morning I went to temple in the afternoon, read my whole letter to Krishna and Balrama and then tore the paper into pieces. It may sound unbelievable but all my guilt went away in less than a week and I could concentrate during my chanting.

Then another time was when I asked HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji that I am not able to find a Guru, I was completely blind that time with eyes anointed with ego, I feel ashamed to look back at my conversation. Prabhuji, all merciful,  listened to me patiently and then advised me to pray to Nityanand Prabhu and Lord Balram. I followed his instructions and started praying to Them. I met Guru Maharaj within few months. Hari Bol ! But I was, and still am, so ungrateful that  I didn't thank any of my Lords. I thought it was all my good luck or my own enthusiasm which made it happen, more shame.

Third incident relates to my trip to Surat this year January to attend Brahma Samhita seminar by Guru Maharaj. I was most fortunate to share the room with HG Nanda Vraja Prabhuji from Auckland. We talked and discussed so many spiritual topics, I shared my concern on the slow progress my family in their devotional journey. He instructed me to recite Shad Goswami Ashtakam. He added that the six Goswami are most merciful and they will bless me to remove any impediments in my spiritual journey. I googled the ashtakam and found it had  difficult sanskrit words and I could not even recite it. I dropped the idea and forgot all about it once I came back home. Many months later,  I don't remember what was the trigger, but I pulled myself to start reciting Shad Goswami Ashtakam every morning. Well, in next two months I could see the change which I would call nothing short of a miracle.

vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau..... All glories to the six Goswamis.

All glories to the Wonderful institute of ISKCON and its glorious, and most merciful, devotees.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Guru Maharaj.

Hare Krishna.

I wrote in one of my previous blog that how I chant but do not pray to Lord so regularly.

Yesterday I was wondering why I pray so less. And this too when so many devotees   instructed me in the past to pray whenever I went to them with some difficulty in my spiritual progress. I had no clear answer. It is more bewildering when I look back and see that Srila Prabhupada, Lord Balarama, Guru Maharaj, whomsoever I prayed, those prayers have always been answered.

Few days back HG Chitralekha Devi Dasi Mataji sent me below mail. Mataji does a wonderful service by sending daily a pastime of Srila Prabhupada,  one can subscribe it at srila-prabhupada-said@googlegroups.com.

Once, Srila Prabhupada gave a class at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in which he told the audience, “The difference between you and me is that you can fall down but I cannot fall down.” Later, after the class, Srila Prabhupada was praying in front of the deities, and one disciple asked him, “What were you praying?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “I was praying that I may never fall down.” The disciple responded, “But in your talk you said that you can never fall down.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I am always praying never to fall down, therefore I can never fall down.”

I could not keep these words from Srila Prabhupada's away from my thoughts. Then I realised that this is the trick, to pray and pray continuously . I have to always depend on the mecry of senior Vaishanavas, acaryas and my Lord so I don't fall. I realised it but didn't put into practice.

Last Friday during at a prog at Sumeet Prabhhuji's home I suggested a mataji that she should pray to Krishna. Later, I again thought why I am not praying so often, do I consider myself so advanced that I don't need to pray. The answer was negative but it prodded me to start praying immediately, without any more delay or thinking.  It took association of devotees to finally get me started.

All Glories to merciful devotees !

I also realised that whole Srimad Bhagavatam is full of wonderful prayers and if those exalted devotees needed to pray then what chance do I have to progress in my devotional life without praying continuously. This process also helps me keep a check on my ego. I know that any progress in my material and spiritual life is due to mercy and not by own efforts.

Due to the mercy of Guru Maharaj,  Srila Prabhupada and association of devotees, I have started to pray regularly and I pray at the feet of all the vaishanava to please bless me that I never forget to pray.

I will share some of my experiences of praying in my next blog.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.

Hare Krishna.

When Guru Maharaj stayed with us last month he left a packet behind, it was already opened and when I took it out,  it had neem twigs. I reminded him of the packet after 2 days and he said he deliberately left them as  they were too hard for his gums. With a strange bit of coincidence I had received a mail mentioning Srila Prabhupada asking one of the devotees to get his some twigs from a tree during one of his pastimes in USA and spoke about using twigs from eucalyptus, mango and even birch trees to clean his teeth. Something kindled inside me to tell that this is too much of a coincidence and I decided to  take it up. Over the years my teeth had turned pale yellow and whenever I would request my dentist to to polish them he would scoff at the suggestion and tell me that polishing damages teeth's enamel and not to try it.

Next morning I took one big twig and brushed my teeth with it. It was like brushing with a hard tooth brush, my gums bled a little as I tried too hard scrubbing my teeth.  Once done I asked my wife and she told me that there is a visible difference, this was day one.  Enthused, next few days I got a hang of how to brush it with the softer twigs and go easy on the scrubing. Result : White teeth, and the mouth feels fresh hours after. I am hooked on to them forever.

Second activity is my hair.  I used to put an Aloevera gel after bath to set my hair and over a period of time I knew it didn't work well till evening and then the salon person suggested a spray with natural ingredients, using it made my hair full of dandruff. One day Anand Prabhuji was at my home and he asked for coconut oil and when I gave him he rubbed a little on his hair, as he rubbed it he told me that using oil is good for the hair. I just smiled wondering it had been decades since I used oil on my head except for an occasional head massage.  When the neem twigs worked like a magic on my teeth, I somehow  remembered that conversation and started using coconut oil after bath on my hair. Within 2 weeks all my issues with hair are gone, no dandruff, the hair are set till evening and no one has yet complained that I smell of coconut !

Lastly, I had a bout of bacterial infection in my throat few weeks back and Atma Prabhuji suggested that I should have not started anti biotics and should try  neem capsules. He told me not to buy commercial ones as the capsules contain gelatin. He was kind enough to lend a bottle of capsules from his own stock. On the second day my throat was 60% normal, though I had continued my anti biotic dose. But now me,  my wife and my daughter are taking two capsules every day. This will be a long term benefit and would only the difference after 6-8 months. 

I realised that using these simple natural products not only I benefited health wise but they also cost me almost nothing compared to what I was using. I only had to overcome my own inhibitions built up over years.

I request readers to kindly share their experience of using natural products.

Hare Krishna.

What a wonderful and joyous day to look forward to.

I got up around 3 am and rushed to attend the Mangal arti at Punjabi Bagh temple. At 4.30am the whole road  was full of neatly parked cars. There were devotees assisting  the drivers. The que outside the temple was already long. By Krishna's mercy I could enter from the exit gate and then a devotee put me in the crowd control service. In minutes I was standing right outside the temple hall from where my eyes could take darshan of the Lord's feet.  Altar was glowing with flowers and decorations. The Deities looked so beautiful, specially Lord Jagannath seemed to be basking in glory. HG Rukmini  led the morning Arti with so much devotional force, he seemed spiritually charged up. Everyone was participating enthusiastically in sankiratna. I wished this would just go on and on.

After the arti, I tried to do preaching seva, was not successful with no conversion for the seven day seminar registration. I then did my japa rounds. And then Guru Puja was led my dear friend HG Karuna Prabhuji, who got a special gift to start wearing saffron from today.

HG Karuna Prabhuji Ki Jaya.

After the Guru puja, our team was preaching inside the complex and I finally got the first booking, then the second and third quickly followed. My confidence went up and I pushed other team members to do more.  All my stereotype notions about people  turned 180 degree as I approached people for registration.HG Bimpla Prasad Prabhuji encouraged us with his presence and guidance. 

I left for Gurgaon in the afternoon, slept for two hours and then went to Gymkhana grounds for service at celebrations in Gurgaon. It is was at a grand scale. I did some service at the BTG stall, learning how to sell the subscription of Back to Godhead magazine. I realised that I forgot to call Sumeet prabhuji, who was in Australia,  as I had offered to take his children out for darshan.

I left with Pawan Prabhuji, who graciously agreed to accompany me, for home to set up my first stall in my apartment complex at 8 pm. We set up the stall and apart from book distribution tried to start a Bhagavad Gita study group at my home. Pawan Prabhu helped me a lot by teaching me, by practice, on how to get the attention of the people and get over my hesitation to approach strangers. I had made up my mind that I will start the group even with a single devotee. Krishna was merciful and I got around 20 people interested to join the group, my first go to start preaching. Pawan prabhuju left to do service at the centre and then my amused daughter joined me for the last one hour at the table. I was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm of some of the people who registered for the group.

I wrapped up the stall around 11.15 pm and went home,  Priti was watching live action from  both Vrindavan live and Mayapur.tv. It was festival time all around with loud sankirtana and abhisheka. She had dressed the deities at home with new dresses and the altar looked beautiful with long stemmed flowers.   We did kirtan for the last 15 minutes and then a rousing celebration for the Lord at 12. We offered Bhoga to our Lord with love and affection. I had a sumptuous prasadam later. Subir Prabhuji's SMS came to wish happy Janamashtami and I finally slept around 1 pm with memories of Lord Krishna in my heart.

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकी नन्दनाय च ।
नन्दगोप कुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः

Let me therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has become the son of Vasudeva, the pleasure of Devaki, the boy of Nanda and the other cowherdmen of Vrindavana, and the enlivener of the cows and the senses.

Hare Krishna.

This was 2011.  I had started going to Punjabi Bagh temple. I used to be very surprised to see a very different looking set of deities. They were Lord Jagannath, Baldeva and Subhdra Maharani. In my immaturity I didn't pay much attention to Them and almost smiled at the unique shape of Their bodies, while paying my full attention to Sri Krishna Balaram deities.

Lord Jagannath  is most merciful, within few months I was head over heals in love with Him.  I heard about Him in lectures by various senior Vaishnavas at temple like  HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji and HG Madhvanand Prabhu and many others, my inquisitiveness arose to new levels. Then inspite of a word of caution to bring deities home at my immature stage, I  brought the Lordships home at Janamashtami from Vrindavana.

Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me

And then it was time to meet the Lord at His holy Dham. My first trip to Puri, in 2011 was a memorable trip etched firmly in my memory. We took the morning flight to Bhubaneshwar from Delhi and reached Puri in the afternoon.  One `local panda' found us at the parking lot and `guided' us throughout our stay. The temple looked so majestic, the main wide road, washing of the feet, the entrance door all made me more excited to see the Lord immediately. The  crowd wasn't much that day and after a little while of waiting we bought the tickets and stood in the line. After 10 minutes of jostling with the crowd we were about to enter the altar doors. We first took darshan of Sri Lordships from a little distance and were then allowed to go inside the main room.  At the altar the Lord was sitting royally. The setting was nothing I had imagined. I wish there were not so many `panda's asking for donation', I tried to keep my concentration on Lord  and after circumambulating I did full dandavat. I cried while doing full dandvats, within my heart I felt a combination of awe and humbleness being right in front of the Lord. I would never forget that moment.

We went again in 2012 and then in 2103, immediately after my initiation, with Sumeet Prabhuji. Each trip brings me closer to the Lord of the universe and inspire me to serve Him. I try to read more about Lord Jagannath, hear about Him from senior devotees and try to serve Him at our home with much love and affection. He is the lord of my heart. He is the most handsome.  He is `patita pawan' and showers His mercy even on the lowest of the fallen souls.

He is all around me, at home, at Punjabi Bagh temple, at Ujjain, at Mayapur, at Gurgaon centre, the Lord continues to shower His mercy on all of us who love Him so dearly.

jaya Jagannath, jaya Jagannath, jaya Baldeva, jaya Subhadhara.

श्री जगन्नाथाष्टकम्
Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭakam

कदाचित् कालिन्दी तट विपिन सङ्गीत तरलो
मुदाभीरी नारी वदन कमला स्वाद मधुपः
रमा शम्भु ब्रह्मामरपति गणेशार्चित पदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥१॥

Who sometimes fervently plays His flute on the banks of the Yamuna river in Sri Vrindavana, who is like a bumblebee that blissfully tastes the lotus faces of the Vraja-gopis, and whose feet are worshipped by great personalities such as Laksmi, Shiva, Brahma, Indra, and Ganesha -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिच्छं कटितटे
दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचर-कटाक्षं विदधते ।
सदा श्रीमद्‍-वृन्दावन-वसति-लीला-परिचयो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥२॥

 on His head and a fine yellow silken cloth around His hips, who from the corners of His eyes bestows loving sidelong glances upon His companions, and who is forever known as the one who performs wondrous pastimes in the divine abode of Sri Vrindavana -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनक रुचिरे नील शिखरे
वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहज बलभद्रेण बलिना ।
सुभद्रा मध्यस्थः सकलसुर सेवावसरदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥३॥

Who on the shore of the great ocean resides in a palace situated on the gold-like crest of Nilachala Hill accompanied by His powerful brother Baladevaji and between Them, His sister Subhadra, and who bestows the opportunity to serve Him upon all the demigods -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

कृपा पारावारः सजल जलद श्रेणिरुचिरो
रमा वाणी रामः स्फुरद् अमल पङ्केरुहमुखः ।
सुरेन्द्रैर् आराध्यः श्रुतिगण शिखा गीत चरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥४॥

Who is an ocean of mercy, whose bodily complexion is as beautiful as a row of blackish rainclouds, who sports with Laksmi-devi and Sarasvati, whose face is like a spotless fully-blossomed lotus, who is worshipped by the foremost demigods, and whose transcendental glories have been sung in the topmost scriptures -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलित भूदेव पटलैः
स्तुति प्रादुर्भावम् प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः ।
दया सिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धु सुतया
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥५॥

When Jagannatha's Ratha-yatra cart is moving along the road, at every step assemblies of brahmanas sing His praises. Upon hearing them, Jagannatha, being an ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds, becomes favourably disposed towards them -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

परंब्रह्मापीड़ः कुवलय-दलोत्‍फुल्ल-नयनो
निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहित-चरणोऽनन्त-शिरसि ।
रसानन्दी राधा-सरस-वपुरालिङ्गन-सुखो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥

Who is the crown-jewel of transcendence, whose eyes are like the petals of a fully-opened blue lotus, who resides at Nilachala, whose feet are placed on the head of Sesa, who is blissfully immersed in bhakti-rasa, and who derives happiness from embracing the rasa-laden body of Srimati Radhika -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.

न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनक माणिक्य विभवं
न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जन काम्यां वरवधूम् ।
सदा काले काले प्रमथ पतिना गीतचरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥७॥

I do not pray to Jagannatha for a kingdom, nor for gold, jewels, wealth, or even for a beautiful wife as desired by all men. My only prayer is that Sri Jagannatha-deva, whose splendid glories are always sung by Shiva, be the constant object of my vision.

हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरम् असारं सुरपते
हर त्वं पापानां विततिम् अपरां यादवपते ।
अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहित चरणो निश्चितमिदं
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥८॥

O master of the demigods! Quickly deliver me from this worthless worldly existence. O Lord of the Yadus! Purge me of my limitless host of sins. Aho! You have promised to bestow Your feet upon the fallen and shelterless -- O Jagannatha Swami, please be the object of my vision.

जगन्नाथाष्टकं पुन्यं यः पठेत् प्रयतः शुचिः ।
सर्वपाप विशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥९॥

One who carefully recites this sacred Jagannathastakam, upon becoming sinless and purehearted, will attain entrance into Vishnuloka.

Hare Krishna.

18th August 2013.

Our second day in Surat. I woke up late in the morning as the last evening ended very late. By the time I got ready and reached the apartment where Guru Maharaja was staying it was almost 7am and not a single  japa round done. As I entered the living room one of the Brahamchari, who had come from Ujjain, pointed me to sit right across him. I had planned to walk but I followed his instruction and sat down and started my japa rounds.

I closed my eyes, as too many people were coming and leaving, and started my japa. I took the opportunity of my closed eyes to concentrate on Krishna playing with his friends at Govardhan hill. I can usually concentrate on it for like a minute then my concentration breaks. To my surprise, and joy, I went through this leela samaran and then mentally went to a round trip of Mayapur temple. I had no idea about the time but my chanting was wonderful. After remembering Mayapur temple. I saw myself sitting in the same room from a third person's perspective. I saw devotees looking at me chanting with close eyes and smiling. After sometime I see Guru Maharaj walking inside the living room and after observing everyone in the room, his eyes rests on me. My back is towards him, he touches me with his lotus feet,  just his toe. His toe felt soft, like cotton, at my back. Upon his touch I just tumble forward and fall on the ground. Some devotees try to wake me but realise that there is no pulse, I am dead.  I felt very light. Surprisingly I did not get worried about what will happen to my family, my office, new home, etc. I was watching everyone. Surprised, Guru Maharaja says`I just touched him'. One devotee adds `Giriraj Prabhuji has gone to Goloka Dham, Guru Maharaj has sent him straight there.' Everyone is bewildered at this strange happening.

At that very moment my eyes opened, something tingled. It was my phone on silent mode, in my kurta pocket, vibrating. I was at first startled at my concentration being broken. But I was in a blissful mood. I was very happy that I had such good thoughts while chanting, I saw the time and realised that I  had done japa for 30 minutes, with my eyes closed eyes.

It was my dear friend Sumeet Prabhuji from Gurgaon calling me. I took his call. In his own sweet way he told me that he wanted to speak to me before leaving for Australia on a short official trip. He then shared his own last night's dream with me. He saw himself as a 95 year old and poor man who comes to meet Guru maharaja, who is still in his late sixties, and request him to give him Diksha. Guru Maharaja asks him what could he offer to him. Sumeet Prabhu then offers him his old blanket,  Guru Maharaja is very pleased, he hugs him and agrees to give him Diksha. I told him that he is blessed that he had Guru Maharaja is his dreams.  I, then, shared my `day dream' with him. We spoke for some time about glories of Guru Maharaja and our own fallen mentality, it was then time to say good bye and chant my  balance rounds. It was strange that we  both had our own unique experience to share about Guru Maharaja.

Sumeet prabhu is a very special friend and guide for me. Its all thanks to Guru Maharaja who asked me to seek his association and I have benefited tremendously from his association.

I will always preserve and cherish this 30 minutes of chanting in my heart.

All glories to Guru Maharaja.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Hare Krishna.

It was my first trip to  Sri Radha Kund almost 2 years back. Devotees from Gurgaon sangha had kindly invited me there for a lecture next day. Till then Vrindavan for me was sri Krishna Balram temple. I left Gurgaon late afternoon with my driver. It was Kartik and  a lot of traffic from the moment we took right from the old Govardhan turn on the highway. The approach road full of all kind of vehicles. When we reached the edge of the parikarma marg, there was a huge rush of people. This was the first time that I saw so many people doing parikarma while lying down on the road, everyone was doing parikarma. It took us a while to convince to police constables to allow us to drive till our ashram which was a stone's throw from the turn. We drove in first gear amid a mass of people all around us and reached the Ashram.

We reached ashram around 11pm, it was dark and quiet, inspite of lights at parikarma road and so many people. Two devotees, Subir Prabhu and Gaurav  Prabhu, who guided us for each turn on our way on phone, had to finally  walk out of the ashram to show us the last turn.  I met them for the first time but they, especially Subir Prabhu, would leave the mark of their hospitality, humbleness, enthusiasm for service, hunger to learn and many more positive aspects and will eventually grant me their friendship and association for the rest of my life.  They served us dinner showed us our room.

This was probably the first time in last 30 years that I slept in a room with no electricity. It was not uncomfortable and I had a good sleep.

I woke up refreshed next morning and quickly got ready. When I came out of the room I realised that I am in altogether in a different world. There was absolute silence, I could hear someone chanting. As I stepped outside the ashram, the area was so different, it was lush green, serene, very tall trees and I could hear so many peacocks.  It was indeed very different from main Vrindavan, with all its hustle and bustle. I fell in love with this magical place at that very moment, which I would realise later. My attachment for Sri Radha Kunda began, and I had yet to see Sri Govardhan and Sri Radha Kunda.

Later we had an informal class by prabhuji, some Vaishanava visited the ashram and blessed us with his mere presence, and then finally the trip to Radha Kunda for a bath. We were told how to approach Radha Kunda before stepping in, we all paid our obeisances and then I entered, with all the respect and awe, what seemed to me, its mysterious waters. It may sound like a cliche to say something happened,  well indeed, it did. It was as if someone has sprinkled sacred water on my head and my whole body had entered something esoteric, beyond my level of understanding. I could feel the sensation, like my body has gone inside liquid mercury, the water touched me but in a way it did not touch me.

Radha Kunda is a magical place for me where my devotion and love for goes a level higher without any contamination, I always feel a tinge of genuine humbleness and gratitude inside me. I get a taste of what to aspire for.

A hundred obeisances to Radha Kunda.

Jaya Jaya Sri Radha Kunda Ki Jaya

Sri Shyam Kunda ki Jaya

 I just read Sri Radha Kunda Astaka by Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami which I am copying below with all humbleness.

SRI RADHAKUNDA-ASTAKA -
Eight Prayers Glorifying Radhakunda

vrsabha danuja nasan narma dharmokti rangair
nikhila nija sakhibhir yat sva hastena purnam
prakatitam api vrndaranya rajna pramodais
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, which, prodded by the gopis' many joking words after Vrsabhasura's death, the king of Vrndavana forest happily built and filled with His own hand, be my shelter.

vraja bhavi mura satroh preyasinam nikamair
asulabham api turnam prema kalpa drumam tam
janayati hrdi bhumau snatur uccair priyam yat
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very dear and fragrant Radhakunda, which for one who bathes in it immediately creates in the land of the heart a desire tree of pure love rare even among the gopi beloveds of Lord Krishna in Vraja, be my shelter.

agha ripur api yatnad atra devyah prasada
prasara krta kataksa prapti kamah prakamam
anusarati yad uccaih snana sevanubandhais
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very dear and fragrant Radhakunda, where, yearning to attain the merciful sidelong glance of His queen, Lord Krishna, diligently follows Her bathing attendants, be my shelter.

vraja bhuvana sudhamsoh prema bhumir nikamam
vraja madhura kisori mauli ratna priyeva
paricitam api namna yac ca tenaiva tasyas
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, which is named after a girl who is a realm of love for He who is the moon of Vraja, a girl who is like the most precious jewel in the crown of the sweet girls of Vraja, be my shelter.

api jana iha kascid yasya seva prasadaih
pranaya sura lata syat tasya gosthendra sunoh
sapadi kila mad isa dasya puspa prasasya
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

The mercy obtained by serving Radhakunda makes the celestial vine of pure love for the prince of Vraja, which is famous for bearing the flowers of service to my queen, sprout. May that very fragrant Radhakunda be my shelter.

tata madhura nikunjah klpta namana uccair
nija parijana vargaih samvibhaj yasritas taih
madhukara ruta ramya yasya rajanti kamyas
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, on the shores of which are many splendid and charming forest groves filled with the sweet sounds of bumblebees and each named after one of Sri Radha's friends, be my shelter.

tata bhuvi vara vedyam yasya narmati hrdyam
madhura madhura vartam gostha candrasya bhangya
prathayati mitha isa prana sakhyalibhih sa
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, on the shore of which, in a pleasant courtyard Queen Radha and Her friends sweetly joke with Lord Krishna, the moon of Vraja, be my shelter.

anudinam ati rangaih prema mattali sanghair
vara sarasija gandhair hari vari prapurne
viharata iha yasmin dam pati tau pramattau
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, where the passionate divine couple daily plays with Their passionate friends in the charming lotus scented water, be my shelter.

avikalam ati devyas caru kundastakam yah
paripathati tadiyollasi dasyarpitatma
aciram iha sarire darsayaty eva tasmai
madhu ripur ati modaih slisyamanam priyam tam

To one who is completely dedicated to Queen Radha's service and who happily reads these eight beautiful verses describing Her lake, even in this present body Lord Krishna shows His beloved as He happily embraces