Posted by geeta kakkar on November 29, 2010 at 6:30pm
GURU
The word ‘Guru’ has been derived from two roots, ‘Gu’ and ‘Ru’. ‘Gu’ means darkness and ‘Ru’ means light. The one who dispels all darkness and takes you towards light is a ‘Guru’. The one who dispels the darkness of sensuous pleasures and pains (which are temporary and fleeting) and takes you to the light of eternal bliss (which is permanent and everlasting), is a ‘Guru’. The one who teaches you the art of taming the five wild horses – ‘Kaam’ (Passion), ‘Krodha’ (Anger), ‘Lobh’ (Greed), ‘Moh’ (Emotional attachment) and ‘Ahankaar’ (Ego) and helps you to take the chariot of your life in the right direction of inner peace, is a ‘Guru’. The one who helps you to break the shackles of birth, death and re-birth and attain love of Godhead, is a ‘Guru’.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 27, 2010 at 11:53am
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Panihari-kunda
The Vrajavasis used to drink the pure and sweet water of this pond, and the gopa-ramanis would come here to fetch water. Therefore, this pond is also known as Panaghata-kunda. Krsna would come to Panaghata to meet with the gopis, and they too would eagerly make their way here to meet Krsna. While drawing water, they would become so absorbed in looking at Krsna that they were unaware whether or not they had filled their pots. The pot of their hearts, however, would at once become filled with their beloved.
There is another deep secret behind Panaghata. The gopis would come here remembering Krsna's promise or pana: "I will certainly meet you there." To fulfill His promise, Krsna ensured that He was present here, waiting for them. Thus the pana(keeping of one's promise or drawing of water)of both Krsna and gopis would be fulfilled here.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 25, 2010 at 1:29pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The slaying of Arista, the Bull Demon
1. The demon Arista then came to the cowherd village. Appearing in the form of a bull with a large hump, he made the earth tremble as he tore it apart with his hooves.
2. Aristasura bellowed very harshly and pawed the ground. With his tail raised and his eyes glaring, he began to tear up the embankments with the tips of his horns.
3. Clouds hovered about sharp-horned Aristasura’s hump, mistaking it for a mountain, and when the cowherd men and ladies caught sight of the demon, they were struck with terror. Indeed, the strident reverberation of his roar so frightened the pregnant cows and women that they lost their fetuses in miscarriages.
4. The domestic animals fled the pasture in fear, and all the inhabitants rushed to Lord Govinda for shelter, crying, “Krsna, Krsna!”
5. When the supreme Lord saw the cowherd community distraught and fleeing in fear, He calmed them, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” Then He called out to the bull demon as follows.
6. You fool! What do you think you’re doing, you wicked rascal, frightening the cowherd community and their animals when I am here just to punish corrupt miscreants like you!
7. Having spoken these words, the infallible Lord Hari slapped His arms with His palms, further angering Arista with the loud sound. The Lord then casually threw His mighty, serpentine arm over the shoulder of a friend and stood facing the demon.
8. Thus provoked, Arista pawed the ground with one of his hooves and then, with the clouds hovering around his upraised tail, furiously charged Krsna.
9. Pointing the tips of his horns straight ahead and glaring menacingly at Lord Krsna from the corners of his bloodshot eyes, Arista rushed toward Him at full speed, like a thunderbolt hurled by Indra.
10. The supreme Lord Krsna seized Aristasura by the horns and threw him back eighteen steps, just as an elephant might do when fighting a rival elephant.
11. Thus repulsed by the supreme Lord, the bull demon got up and, breathing hard and sweating all over his body, again charged Him in a mindless rage.
12. As Arista attacked, Lord Krsna seized him by the horns and knocked him to the ground with His foot. The Lord then thrashed him as if he were a wet cloth, and finally He yanked out one of the demon’s horns and struck him with it until he lay prostrate.
13. Vomiting blood, kicking his legs and rolling his eyes about, Aristasura thus went painfully to the abode of Death. The demigods honored Lord Krsna by scattering flowers upon Him.
14. Having thus killed the bull demon Arista, He who is a festival for the gopis’ eyes entered the cowherd village with Balarama.
15. After Aristasura had been killed by Krsna, who acts wonderfully, Narada Muni went to speak to King Kamsa. That powerful sage of godly vision addressed the King as follows.
16. [Narada told Kamsa:] Yasoda’s child was actually a daughter, and Krsna is the son of Devaki. Also, Rama is the son of Rohini. Out of fear, Vasudeva entrusted Krsna and Balarama to his friend Nanda Maharaja, and it is these two boys who have killed your men.
17. Upon hearing this, the master of the Bhojas became furious and lost control of his senses. He picked up a sharp sword to kill Vasudeva.
18. But Narada restrained Kamsa by reminding him that it was the two sons of Vasudeva who would cause his death. Kamsa then had Vasudeva and his wife shackled in iron chains.
19. After Narada left, King Kamsa summoned Kesi and ordered him, “Go kill Rama and Krsna.”
20. The King of the Bhojas next called for his ministers, headed by Mustika, Canura, sala and Tosala, and also for his elephant-keepers. The King addressed them as follows.
21. My dear heroic Canura and Mustika, please hear this. Rama and Krsna, the sons of Anakadundubhi [Vasudeva], are living in Nanda’s cowherd village. It has been predicted that these two boys will be the cause of my death. When They are brought here, kill Them on the pretext of engaging Them in a wrestling match.
22. Erect a wrestling ring with many surrounding viewing stands, and bring all the residents of the city and the outlying districts to see the open competition.
23. You, elephant-keeper, my good man, should position the elephant Kuvalayapida at the entrance to the wrestling arena and have him kill my two enemies.
24. Commence the bow sacrifice on the Caturdasi day in accordance with the relevant Vedic injunctions. In ritual slaughter offer the appropriate kinds of animals to the magnanimous Lord Siva.
25. Having thus commanded his ministers, Kamsa next called for Akrura, the most eminent of the Yadus. Kamsa knew the art of securing personal advantage, and thus he took Akrura’s hand in his own and spoke to him as follows.
26. My dear Akrura, most charitable one, please do me a friendly favor out of respect. Among the Bhojas and Vrsnis, there is no one else as kind to us as you.
27. Gentle Akrura, you always carry out your duties soberly, and therefore I am depending on you, just as powerful Indra took shelter of Lord Visnu to achieve his goals.
28. Please go to Nanda’s village, where the two sons of Anakadundubhi are living, and without delay bring Them here on this chariot.
29. The demigods, who are under the protection of Visnu, have sent these two boys as my death. Bring Them here, and also have Nanda and the other cowherd men come with gifts of tribute.
30. After you bring Krsna and Balarama, I will have Them killed by my elephant, who is as powerful as death itself. And if by chance They escape from him, I will have Them killed by my wrestlers, who are as strong as lightning.
31. When these two have been killed, I will kill Vasudeva and all Their lamenting relatives—the Vrsnis, Bhojas and Dasarhas.
32. I will also kill my old father, Ugrasena, who is greedy for my kingdom, and I will kill his brother Devaka and all my other enemies as well.
33. Then, my friend, this earth will be free of thorns.
34. My elder relative Jarasandha and my dear friend Dvivida are solid well-wishers of mine, as are sambara, Naraka and Bana. I will use them all to kill off those kings who are allied with the demigods, and then I will rule the earth.
35. Now that you understand my intentions, please go at once and bring Krsna and Balarama to watch the bow sacrifice and see the opulence of the Yadus’ capital.
36. Sri Akrura said: O King, you have expertly devised a process to free yourself of misfortune. Still, one should be equal in success and failure, since it is certainly destiny that produces the results of one’s work.
37. An ordinary person is determined to act on his desires even when fate prevents their fulfillment. Therefore he encounters both happiness and distress. Yet even though such is the case, I will execute your order.
38. Having thus instructed Akrura, King Kamsa dismissed his ministers and retired to his quarters, and Akrura returned home.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 23, 2010 at 6:36pm
GURU
Such is the degree of reverence a devotee has for his Guru, that is reflected in the following doha of Saint Kabir :
Guru Gobind donon khade, Ka ke lagoon paayen, Balihari Guru aapne, Jis Gobind diyo milaye.
Guru and Gobind (God) are both objects of reverence and worthy of worship but, Kabir puts ‘Guru’ at a higher pedestal than God. He says if both God and Guru condescend to give him ‘Darshan’ together, he would first touch the lotus feet of his ‘Guru’ before seeking blessings from the Lord, because it is He (Guru) who showed him the way to meet the Lord.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 21, 2010 at 2:30pm
Gita Govinda Dasavatara-stotra
pralaya-payodhi-jale dhrtavan asi vedam vihita-vahitra-caritram akhedam kesava dhrta-mina-sarira jaya jagadisa hare (1) Translation O Jagadisvara! O Hari! From your eternal spiritual abode, you descend to this temporary world in the form of a fish and save the Vedas from the ocean of universal devastation, just as a ship effortlessly rescues a drowning man. May you be victorious.
ksitir ati-vipula-tare tisthati tava prsthe dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garisthe kesava dhrta-kacchapa-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (2) Translation O Kesi-nisudana! O Jagadisa! O Hari! Assuming your tortoise form, you held the earth upon one part of your expansive back. The fame of the impression made by the earth on your back is ever-increasing. May you be victorious!
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (3) Translation O Jagadisa! O Kesava! O Hari! O you who have assumed the form of a boar! As the moon appears to contain a blemish, similarly, the earth is situated upon your tusks. May you be victorious!
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (4) Translation O Jagadisvara! O Hari! O Kesava! You have assumed the form of Nrsimha, part man and part lion. With the wonderful, sharp nails of your excellent lotus hands, you tear apart the body of Hiranyakasipu, just as a bumblebee tears a flower. May you be victorious!
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (5) Translation O master of the entire universe! O Sri Hari! O Kesava! Assuming the form of a dwarf, you cheat King Bali on the pretext of begging for three paces of land. The population of the universe has become purified by the water that touched your toenails (the Ganges). O wonderful Vamanadeva, may you be victorious!
ksatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam kesava dhrta-bhrgupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (6) Translation O Jagadisa! O Hari! O Kesi-nisudana! You have assumed the form of Bhrgupati (Parasurama). You have dispelled the anguish of the material world by destroying the dynasty of the reigning military caste and purifying the universe with the water of their blood. O you who have appeared as Bhrgupati, may you be victorious!
vitarasi diksu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam kesava dhrta-raghupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (7) Translation O master of the universe, Sri Hari! O killer of the Kesi demon! Assuming the form of Sri Rama, you engage in battle with the ten-headed demon king, Ravana, and distribute his extremely attractive and coveted crowned heads as sacrificial offerings to the presiding demigods of the directions such as Indra. May you be victorious!
vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham kesava dhrta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (8) Translation O Jagat-svami! O killer of the demon Kesi! O Hari! You have assumed a brilliant white complexion in your form as Baladeva Prabhu. You wear blue clothes that resemble the beauty of newly formed, fresh rainclouds. It seems that the River Yamuna has hidden in your cloth, fearing the blow of your plough. O carrier of the plough, may you be victorious!
nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare (9) Translation O Jagadisvara! O Hari! O Kesi-nisudana! You have assumed the form of Buddha. Being compassionate and sensitive, you decry the Vedas when you see the violence inflicted upon animals in the course of sacrificial performances. May you be victorious!
mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam dhumaketum iva kim api karalam kesava dhrta-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare (10) Translation O Sri Hari, controller of the universe! O Killer of Kesi! Assuming the form of Kalki, you wield a fearsome sword that resembles a foreboding star as you slaughter the barbarians. May you be victorious!
sri-jayadeva-kaver idam uditam udaram srnu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram kesava dhrta-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (11) Translation O Jagadisvara! O Sri Hari! O Kesi-nisudana! O you who appear in ten different forms! May you be pleased to hear this magnanimous prayer of glorification by Sri Jayadeva, which bestows both happiness and auspiciousness. It is the extracted essence of all material existence.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 20, 2010 at 12:44pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)- Hau-bilau
Here, the brothers Krsna and Baladeva became so absorbed in Their childhood games that They even forget to come home to eat. Yasoda-maiya first sent Rohini to get Them, but as Rohini approached, Krsna and Baladeva ran away, frustrating her attempts to catch Them. Yasoda then went herself. She would emply various tricks and, with great difficulty, bring Them home where she bathed and fed Them. Sometimes she told Them about a haua, or hobgobin, and filled Them with fear. She would then catch Krsna in her arms and bring Him home. Once, Krsna insisted on seeing the haua, "Maiya, I want to see the haua." The following Brajabhasa poem tells this delightful pastime:
dur khelan mat jau lal yahan hau aye hain hamskar pucht kanh maiya yah kinai pathaye hain
"'Do not go far away, my child, the haua has come.' Krsna smiled and asked maiya who had sent him."
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 17, 2010 at 10:55am
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The Gopis sing of Krsna as He Wanders in the Forest
1. Whenever Krsna went to the forest, the minds of the gopis would run after Him, and thus the young girls sadly spent their days singing of His pastimes.
2. The gopis said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute He has placed to His lips, stopping its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance. At that time the demigoddesses traveling in the sky with their husbands, the siddhas, become amazed. As those ladies listen, they are embarrassed to find their minds yielding to the pursuit of lusty desires, and in their distress they are unaware that the belts of their garments are loosening.
3. O girls! This son of Nanda, who gives joy to the distressed, bears steady lightning on His chest and has a smile like a jeweled necklace. Now please hear something wonderful. When He vibrates His flute, Vraja’s bulls, deer and cows, standing in groups at a great distance, are all captivated by the sound, and they stop chewing the food in their mouths and cock their ears. stunned, they appear as if asleep, or like figures in a painting.
4. My dear gopi, sometimes Mukunda imitates the appearance of a wrestler by decorating Himself with leaves, peacock feathers and colored minerals. Then, in the company of Balarama and the cowherd boys, He plays His flute to call the cows. At that time the rivers stop flowing, their water stunned by the ecstasy they feel as they eagerly wait for the wind to bring them the dust of His lotus feet. But like us, the rivers are not very pious, and thus they merely wait with their arms trembling out of love.
5. Krsna moves about the forest in the company of His friends, who vividly chant the glories of His magnificent deeds. He thus appears just like the supreme Personality of Godhead exhibiting His inexhaustible opulences. When the cows wander onto the mountainsides and Krsna calls out to them with the sound of His flute, the trees and creepers in the forest respond by becoming so luxuriant with fruits and flowers that they seem to be manifesting Lord Visnu within their hearts. As their branches bend low with the weight, the filaments on their trunks and vines stand erect out of the ecstasy of love of God, and both the trees and the creepers pour down a rain of sweet sap. Maddened by the divine, honeylike aroma of the tulasi flowers on the garland Krsna wears, swarms of bees sing loudly for Him, and that most beautiful of all persons thankfully acknowledges and acclaims their song by taking His flute to His lips and playing it. The charming flute song then steals away the minds of the cranes, swans and other lake-dwelling birds. Indeed they approach Krsna, close their eyes and, maintaining strict silence, worship Him by fixing their consciousness upon Him in deep meditation.
6. O goddesses of Vraja, when Krsna is enjoying Himself with Balarama on the mountain slopes, playfully wearing a flower garland on the top of His head, He engladdens all with the resonant vibrations of His flute. Thus He delights the entire world. At that time the nearby cloud, afraid of offending a great personality, thunders very gently in accompaniment. The cloud showers flowers onto his dear friend Krsna and shades Him from the sun like an umbrella.
7. O pious mother Yasoda, your son, who is expert in all the arts of herding cows, has invented many new styles of flute-playing. When He takes His flute to His bimba-red lips and sends forth the tones of the harmonic scale in variegated melodies, Brahma, siva, Indra and other chief demigods become confused upon hearing the sound. Although they are the most learned authorities, they cannot ascertain the essence of that music, and thus they bow down their heads and hearts.
8. As Krsna strolls through Vraja with His lotus-petal-like feet, marking the ground with the distinctive emblems of flag, thunderbolt, lotus and elephant goad, He relieves the distress the ground feels from the cows’ hooves. As He plays His renowned flute, His body moves with the grace of an elephant. Thus we gopis, who become agitated by Cupid when Krsna playfully glances at us, stand as still as trees, unaware that our hair and garments are slackening.
9. Now Krsna is standing somewhere counting His cows on a string of gems. He wears a garland of tulasi flowers that bear the fragrance of His beloved, and He has thrown His arm over the shoulder of an affectionate cowherd boyfriend. As Krsna plays His flute and sings, the music attracts the black deer’s wives, who approach that ocean of transcendental qualities and sit down beside Him. Just like us cowherd girls, they have given up all hope for happiness in family life.
10. O sinless Yasoda, your darling child, the son of Maharaja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamuna in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute.
11. Out of great affection for the cows of Vraja, Krsna became the lifter of Govardhana Hill. At the end of the day, having rounded up all His own cows, He plays a song on His flute, while exalted demigods standing along the path worship His lotus feet and the cowherd boys accompanying Him chant His glories. His garland is powdered by the dust raised by the cows’ hooves, and His beauty, enhanced by His fatigue, creates an ecstatic festival for everyone’s eyes. Eager to fulfill His friends’ desires, Krsna is the moon arisen from the womb of mother Yasoda.
12. As Krsna respectfully greets His well-wishing friends, His eyes roll slightly as if from intoxication. He wears a flower garland, and the beauty of His soft cheeks is accentuated by the brilliance of His golden earrings and the whiteness of His face, which has the color of a badara berry. With His cheerful face resembling the moon, lord of the night, the Lord of the Yadus moves with the grace of u regal elephant. Thus He returns in the evening, delivering the cows of Vraja from the heat of the day.
13. Thus during the daytime the women of Vrndavana took pleasure in continuously singing about the pastimes of Krsna, and those ladies’ minds and hearts, absorbed in Him, were filled with great festivity.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 16, 2010 at 3:43pm
GURU
The stature of Guru is so exalted that even if one surrenders completely, he is only able to touch the tip of His toes - where Guru has His feet, a devotee or a follower is only able to place his head there. In other words, where from the stature of Guru starts, (i.e., His lotus feet), devotee’s highest form, (i.e., his head) rests.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 15, 2010 at 3:36pm
THE GLORIOUS FRUIT-SELLER STORY From the book "The butter thief"
ATTRACTED BY NANDA-NANDANA At the same time as Sri Krishna was performing His pastimes in Vrndavana, there was a lady in the nearby city of Mathura who used to sell very, very sweet fruits. She would go to the country villages where small children lived, and she would walk through the narrow lanes calling out, “Mangos! Oranges! Bananas! Guava!“ She had such lovely, ripe fruits, that many children would run to her, and ask for them in a beautiful way. They would all collect around her, and watch her with greedy eyes, saying, “Mother, mother! I want to take that fruit.“ She was very popular with the children. One day, this fruit-seller lady heard the name Nandanandana, which means ‘the son of Nanda’, and she became very much attracted. Someone told her, “Yasoda has given birth to a very lovely boy, and His name is Krishna. He is so beautiful and so attractive, that anyone who goes to Gokula and sees Him just once cannot return his mind to his business. If he does return, it is without his mind and without his heart.“ When the fruit-seller heard this, she wanted to see that boy.
CALLING OUT TO KRISHNA One day she took a basket full of fruits, and with some difficulty crossed the river Yamuna in a makeshift boat made of branches and banana trees. Then she set off for Gokula, which was only seven miles from where she had crossed the Yamuna. The fruit seller went to Gokula, and she began calling out to attract people to buy her fruits. She wanted to call out, “fruit! Bananas! Mangos! Oranges! Guava!“ but she was just thinking of Krishna, so instead she called out, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda, Damodara, Madhaveti. She began to cry out more loudly, “Govinda! Damodara! Madhava!“ as she walked along with her basket on her head. The fruit-seller went on calling like this, and her heart was crying, “Krishna! Govinda! Damodara!“ The whole of that day, she made the rounds in Nandagrama, where Krishna lived with His parents, but Krishna did not come. She returned the next day, and the next, but she still did not see Him.
THE FRUIT-SELLER’S VOW After the third day, she vowed, “If Krishna does not allow me to see Him today, I will not return. I will just give up my life.“ With this conviction, she was so absorbed in singing, “Govinda! Damodara! Madhava!“ that Krishna could not check Himself when he heard her calling. He was sitting in Mother Yasoda’s lap, but He quickly jumped up to go to the fruit-seller. Krishna had seen adults bartering, and He knew that the fruit-seller would give Him some fruit, if He gave Her something in return. On the way out, He saw a sack of grains, and He picked some up in his little hands, and ran into the courtyard. “Oh, I want some fruits, I want some! Give Me fruits!“ This fruit-seller was from a lower caste, so she was waiting outside the gate; she could not come into Mother Yasoda’s house, or even into the courtyard. Although Krishna had tried to bring some grains for bartering, His little hands would not hold many, and most of the grains that He had picked up fell to the ground as He ran out. There were only a very few grains left, but Krishna did not notice this; He thought that His hands were so full of grains that the fruitseller would give Him plenty of fruit.
THE SUPREME LAPFUL When the fruit-seller saw Krishna, she became completely absorbed in the wonderful sight. She just sat looking and looking at Him. In a moment, she had given her heart to Krishna. “Give Me fruits! Give Me fruits!“ Krishna told her. “What will You give me in return?“ “I’ve brought lots of grains with Me.“ The fruit-seller smiled and said, “Oh boy, there are no grains in Your hands.“ Krishna looked at His hands, and was surprised to see that all the grains were gone. He still wanted the fruits, though. The fruit-seller looked at Krishna’s face, and said, “If you call me ‘Mother’ and sit in my lap, I will give You all the fruits You want.“ Krishna looked up and down, this way and that, to see if anyone was watching. He is very affectionate to all His devotees, and is not even slightly concerned what caste or class they are born in. Still, He was playing the part of the son of the Icing of Vraja. “I don’t know what will happen if My mother or anyone in Vraja sees Me sitting in the lap of this lady,“ He thought. “And what would My friends say if they found out that I had called Her ‘Mother’?“ That’s why He was looking here and there, to see if anyone was watching. When He saw that no one else was around, He quickly jumped into the lady’s lap and said, “Mother!“ Then just as quickly, He jumped out of her lap and demanded, “Now, you should give He some fruits.“ The fruit-seller lady was delighted, for Krishna had fulfilled all of her desires. She wanted to give Him everything — all of her fruits — but His hands were so small that He could only take two mangos and a banana. He held the fruits against His chest with both hands, and went off dancing, as small boys do. Krishna went to his mother and put all the fruits in her veil. She began to distribute them to her friends, and she became so happy, for they provided an endless and inexhaustible supply. She gave fruits to all the gopis. and when everyone had received fruits, there were still fruits left. And what happened to that fruit seller? When Krishna sat in her lap and called her. ‘Mother!’ she was overcome with transcendental sentiments and emotions. She had given her whole heart and mind to Krishna. She didn’t move for a long time, but sat there outside the gate, motionless in disbelief. When anyone came and asked. “Why are you just sitting here?“ she did not reply; she couldn’t.
A BASKET OF JEWELS Eventually, towards evening-time, the fruit-seller took her basket on her head, and started for home. When she came to the banks of the Yamuna River, she thought, “My basket is very heavy. What is in it?“ When she put the basket down and looked into it, she was amazed at what she saw. The basket was full of countless wonderful jewels, each one equal in value to the whole of King Kamsa’s treasury. The fruit-seller was completely fixed in her determination. Standing on the bank of the Yamuna, she cried out, “What is the use of all these jewels?“ Then she threw them all into the Yamuna, and with her hands above her head, she began to sing like a mad woman, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti. She had no veil — it had come off. She collapsed, and fell on the earth, weeping. She had no sense — only the sense that Krishna was there. Tears were pouring from her eyes, and her heart was melting. No one knew where she went after that, for she never returned to her house. Where had she gone? Can anyone tell? Krishna knew her heart completely, and He thought. “Oh, she would like to be My mother!“ He gave her a very beautiful spiritual body, and quickly took her to His supreme abode, Goloka Vrndavana, where she could be like His mother eternally. Only her body was left lying on the banks of the Yamuna, and someone came and gave it to fire.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 14, 2010 at 5:18pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Nanda Baithaka
Vrajesvara Maharaja Nanda would regurarly sit here with his elder and younger brothers, as well as with elderly gopas, priests and so on, to discuss Krsna's well-being. It is called a baithaka because they would sit here together for discussions.
Seven-year-old Krsna held Giriraja-Govardhana for seven days on His little finger and thus smashed the pride of Indra. The astonished elderly gopas called an assembly. Upananda, the eldest brother of Nanda Maharaja, was the chairman of this meeting to which Nanda baba had also been called. The elderly gopas expressed their opinion that Sri Krsna was not an ordinary boy. "Soon after taking birth, He killed the terrible raksasi Putana, as if He were simply playing," they said. "Afterwards He killed Sakatasura, Trnavarta, Aghasura and many other demons. He subdued the terrible snake Kaliya and sent him out of Kali-daha. Just a few days ago, He held the huge mountain Giriraja on His little finger for seven days and saved Vraja from the heavy downpour of the rain and raging storms. These are not the activity of an ordinary boy. It seems to us that He must be a perfected, liberated soul, a demigod or Narayan himself. It is not proper for us to consider Him to be the son of Nanda and Yasoda, to chastise or threaten Him, or to address Him with words such as 'thief', 'wilful' and 'impertinent'. Nanda, Yasoda and other gopas and gopis should always deal with Him lovingly and respectfully." All the gopas present heard this statement with much gravity and together they cautioned Nanda baba.
Nanda baba laughingly dismissed their words. "Respected gentlemen," he said. "I have heard your statements, but I do not see even the slightest demigod-like symptom in Him nor any symptom of supreme godliness. I have known Him from His very birth. Does Bhagavan feel hunger or thirst? This boy cries fifty times a day for bread and butter. Does Bhagavan steal and tell lies? This boy goes to the homes of the gopis and steals their butter, speaks lies and makes so much mischief. The neighbouring gopis play games with Him and make Him dance for a hand-full of buttermilk and a laddu. Whoever He is, He has taken birth in our home as our son; therefore it is our duty to raise Him to become an ideal man of excellent conduct who possesses all good qualities. That said, there is one thing we should remember. At the time of Krsna's name-giving ceremony, Maharsi Gargacarya predicted that this child of ours would have qualities like those of Bhagavan Narayana. This explains everything."
Such assemblies were held here to discuss Krsna's well-being, His betrothal and other such matters.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 12, 2010 at 12:00pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Killing of sankhacuda
1. Once Lord Govinda and Lord Rama, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja.
2. Krsna and Balarama wore flower garlands and spotless garments, and Their limbs were beautifully decorated and anointed. The women sang Their glories in a charming way, bound to Them by affection.
3. The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.
4. Krsna and Balarama sang, producing the entire range of musical sounds simultaneously. Their singing brought happiness to the ears and minds of all living beings.
5. The gopis became stunned when they heard that song. Forgetting themselves, they did not notice that their fine garments were becoming loose and their hair and garlands disheveled.
6. While Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama thus played according to Their own sweet will and sang to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named sankhacuda came upon the scene.
7. Even as the two Lords looked on, sankhacuda brazenly began driving the women off toward the north. The women, who had accepted Krsna and Balarama as their Lords, began to cry out to Them.
8. Hearing Their devotees crying out “Krsna! Rama!” and seeing that they were just like cows being stolen by a thief, Krsna and Balarama began to run after the demon.
9. The Lords called out in reply, “Do not fear! “Then They picked up logs of the sala tree and quickly pursued that lowest of Guhyakas, who swiftly ran away.
10. When sankhacuda saw the two of Them coming toward him like the personified forces of Time and Death, he was filled with anxiety. Confused, he abandoned the women and fled for his life.
11. Lord Govinda chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile Lord Balarama stayed with the women to protect them.
12. The mighty Lord overtook sankhacuda from a great distance as if from nearby, and then with His fist the Lord removed the wicked demon’s head, together with his crest jewel.
13. Having thus killed the demon sankhacuda and taken away his shining jewel, Lord Krsna gave it to His elder brother with great satisfaction as the gopis watched.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 11, 2010 at 3:42pm
Gurudev
Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.
I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.
When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of strength and intelligence? Allow me to be with you.
If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 10, 2010 at 12:30pm
A LOVING QUARREL Taken from the book "The butter thief"
Mother Yasoda held Krishna, and began to scold Him. “I’ll give You such a beating!“ she threatened. “I know You go from house to house, stealing. You are a thief (caura)!“ Krishna replied, “Oh! Why are you saying that I am a thief? There is no thief in My dynasty, in Nanda Baba’s dynasty. Perhaps there is a thief in your dynasty.“ He was so cheeky. He had heard Yasoda Maiya and Nanda Baba talking about Mother Yasoda’s forefather called Caura Ghosh. Caura means thief. Krishna now remembered that there was someone called Caura in his mother’s dynasty, and that is why He told Her, “There is no caura in My dynasty, but there is a Caura in your dynasty.“ “Why are you chastising me?“ Krishna protested innocently. “What have I done?“ “How was the yoghurt pot broken?“ “That was the punishment of the supreme Lord,“ said Krishna. “And who fed the butter to the monkeys?“ “He who made the monkeys, feeds the monkeys,“ said Krishna. Yasoda Maiya was a little angry, but she was laughing as well. “Now tell me the truth!“ she said. “Who broke the yoghurt pot?“ Krishna explained, “Oh Mother! You jumped up to pacify the milk that was boiling over, and when you rushed into the kitchen, you were in such a hurry that your heavy ankle bells hit the yoghurt pot, and broke it. I haven’t done anything.“ “Is that the truth? In that case, how is it that You have butter all over Your face?“ Krishna said, “Oh Maiya! Every day a monkey comes and puts his hand in the pot to eat the butter, but today I caught him. He pulled his hand out of the pot and began to run away, but the butter on his hand smeared all over My face. Tell Me honestly, am I to blame for this? But still you call Me a thief and you want to beat Me.“
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 9, 2010 at 1:09pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Nandagaon
Devadhideva Mahadeva Sankara(Siva) pleased his worshipful deity Sri Krsna and asked for the boon to have darsana of Sri Krsna's childhood pastimes. The Supreme Lord Sri Krsna ordered him to situate himself in Nandagaon in the form of a hill. Sri Sankara Mahadeva followed this order and became Nandisvara Hill. He then waited for the arrival of his worshipful deity. To fulfill the desire of the exalted Vaisnava Sri Sankara, Sri Krsna performed His sweet childhood(balya) and boyhood(pauganda) pastimes on Nandisvara hill, along with vrajvasis like Nanda baba, Yasoda-maiya and His gopa friends.
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 4, 2010 at 1:17pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Deliverance of Sudarsana
1. One day the cowherd men, eager to take a trip to worship Lord siva, traveled by bullock carts to the Ambika forest.
2. After arriving there, they bathed in the sarasvati and then devotedly worshiped with various paraphernalia the powerful Lord Pasupati and his consort, goddess Ambika.
3. The cowherd men gave the brahmanas gifts of cows, gold, clothing and cooked grains mixed with honey. Then the cowherds prayed, “May the lord be pleased with us.”
4. Nanda, sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds spent that night on the bank of the sarasvati, strictly observing their vows. They fasted, taking only water.
5. During the night a huge and extremely hungry snake appeared in that thicket. Slithering on his belly up to the sleeping Nanda Maharaja, the snake began swallowing him.
6. In the clutches of the snake, Nanda Maharaja cried out, “Krsna, Krsna, my dear boy! This huge serpent is swallowing me! Please save me, who am surrendered to You!”
7. When the cowherd men heard the cries of Nanda, they immediately rose up and saw that he was being swallowed. Distraught, they beat the serpent with blazing torches.
8. But even though the firebrands were burning him, the serpent would not release Nanda Maharaja. Then the supreme Lord Krsna, master of His devotees, came to the spot and touched the snake with His foot.
9. The snake had all his sinful reactions destroyed by the touch of the supreme Lord’s divine foot, and thus he gave up his serpent body and appeared in the form of a worshipable Vidyadhara.
10. The supreme Lord Hrsikesa then questioned this personality, who was standing before Him with his head bowed, his brilliantly effulgent body bedecked with golden necklaces.
11. [Lord Krsna said:] My dear sir, you appear so wonderful, glowing with such great beauty. Who are you? And who forced you to assume this terrible body of a snake?
12. The serpent replied: I am the well-known Vidyadhara named sudarsana. I was very opulent and beautiful, and I used to wander freely in all directions in my airplane. Once I saw some homely sages of the lineage of Angira Muni. Proud of my beauty, I ridiculed them, and because of my sin they made me assume this lowly form.
13. It was actually for my benefit that those merciful sages cursed me, since now I have been touched by the foot of the supreme spiritual master of all the worlds and have thus been relieved of all inauspiciousness.
14. My Lord, You destroy all fear for those who, fearing this material world, take shelter of You. By the touch of Your feet I am now freed from the curse of the sages. O destroyer of distress, please let me return to my planet.
15. O master of mystic power, O great personality, O Lord of the devotees, I surrender to You. Please command me as You will, O supreme God, Lord of all lords of the universe.
16. O infallible one, I was immediately freed from the brahmanas’ punishment simply by seeing You. Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear his chanting, as well as himself. How much more beneficial, then, is the touch of Your lotus feet?
17. Thus receiving the permission of Lord Krsna, the demigod sudarsana circumambulated Him, bowed down to offer Him homage and then returned to his heavenly planet. Nanda Maharaja was thus delivered from peril.
18. The inhabitants of Vraja were astonished to see the mighty power of Sri Krsna. They then completed their worship of Lord siva and returned to Vraja, along the way respectfully describing Krsna’s powerful acts.
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 3, 2010 at 12:11pm
Prayers in Glorification of the Spiritual Master
tvam gopika vrisharaves tanayantike 'se sevadhikarini guro nija-pada-padme dasyam pradaya kuru mam vraja-kanane shri- radhanghri-sevana-rase sukhinim sukhabdhau "O beloved spiritual master, you are always in the presence of the cowherd girl Radha, the daughter of King Vrishabhanu. Please award me service at your lotus-like feet, which are the proprietors of devotional service. Please place me in the ocean of joy by bestowing upon me happiness in the mellows of service at the feet of Sri Radha in the groves of Vraja Dhama."
mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim yat-kripa tam aham vande shri-gurum dina-taranam "I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains."
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-shalakaya chakshur unmilitam yena tasmai shri-gurave namaha "I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge."
radha-sammukha-samsaktim sakhi-sanga-nivasinim tvam aham satatam vande madhavashraya-vigraham "O spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krishna."
he guro jnana-da dina-bandho svananda-datah karunaika-sindho vrindavanasina hitavatara prasida radha-pranaya-prachara "O spiritual master, O giver of divine wisdom, O friend of the fallen, you are the giver of your own bliss and you are the only ocean of mercy. Although dwelling in Vrindavana, you have descended for the welfare of fallen souls like myself and you are preaching the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Please be kind upon me."
amsho bhagavato 'smy aham sada daso 'smi sarvatha tat-kripapakshako nityam tat-preshthasat karomi svam "I am a tiny part and parcel of the supreme Lord and I am always and in every way His eternal servant. As I am always hoping for His mercy and kindness, I offer myself to His most dear servitor, my spiritual master."
vancha-kalpa-tarubhyash cha kripa-sindhubhya eva cha patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namaha "I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desire of everyone. They are oceans of mercy and are the purifiers of the fallen souls."
Posted by geeta kakkar on November 2, 2010 at 2:53pm
CAUGHT RED-HANDED Taken from the book "The butter thief"
One day, Yasoda’s gopi friend told her a story about Krishna’s mischievous activities. “Early this morning, Krishna came to my house to steal butter. When He got there, He saw that everything had been stored very carefully, and there was no butter lying about for Him to steal. My little baby son was asleep, but Krishna pinched him so much that he woke up, and began to cry. If we don’t keep butter in our houses for Him to steal, then He will do such terrible things. And if He finds butter and doesn’t like it, He breaks all the pots.“ When Yasoda heard this story, she thought, “I think that Krishna has become naughty, stealing butter in other people’s houses. I must teach Him a good lesson.“ Meanwhile, her gopi friend thought, “Yasoda doesn’t really believe us when we tell her what her son has done. I’ll wait for Krishna in my house, and when He comes, I’ll catch Him red-handed, and take Him to Yasoda. Then she’ll see how naughty her boy is.“ In the very early morning, while it was still very dark, Krishna came alone to the house. He was stealing butter here and there, and thinking, “No one can catch me.“ However, that gopi was hidden from view, and waiting to catch Him. When Krishna came and ate her butter, she was watching Him from her hiding-place. She pounced on Him, and caught Him red-handed. “Oh, I will take you to Mother Yasoda!“ she exclaimed in great excitement. “Then she’ll have to believe us when we tell her that her boy is a great thief.“ The gopi covered Krishna with a cloth chaddar to take Him as a captive to Yasoda Maiya. When she arrived at Yasoda’s house, she called out, “Oh Yasoda! Oh Yasoda! Just see! I have caught your son red-handed! He has become a thief! You’ve never believed me up till now, but today you’ll have to believe me.“ Yasoda came out to meet her friend, and on the way, she saw that Krishna was asleep on the bed. Puzzled, she asked, “Where is my son?“ In response, the gopi took off the cloth that she had used to wrap up Krishna when she caught Him. “Oh!“ Both were amazed to see that it was not Krishna, but the gopi’s own son, who was wrapped in the chaddar! Krishna came out of the bedroom, and started weeping. “O Mother! O Mother! Just see! They are all telling lies about Me. I have never been to that house. They are all liars! Now I will have to go and steal some butter!“
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Posted by geeta kakkar on November 1, 2010 at 12:26pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The Rasa Dance
1. There on the Yamuna’s banks Lord Govinda began the pastime of the rasa dance in the company of those jewels among women, the faithful gopis, who joyfully linked their arms together.
2. The festive rasa dance commenced, with the gopis arrayed in a circle. Lord Krsna expanded Himself and entered between each pair of gopis, and as that master of mystic power placed His arms around their necks, each girl thought He was standing next to her alone. The demigods and their wives were overwhelmed with eagerness to witness the rasa dance, and they soon crowded the sky with their hundreds of celestial airplanes.
3. Kettledrums then resounded in the sky while flowers rained down and the chief Gandharvas and their wives sang Lord Krsna’s spotless glories.
4. A tumultuous sound arose from the armlets, ankle bells and waist bells of the gopis as they sported with their beloved Krsna in the circle of the rasa dance.
5. In the midst of the dancing gopis, Lord Krsna appeared most brilliant, like an exquisite sapphire in the midst of golden ornaments.
6. As the gopis sang in praise of Krsna, their feet danced, their hands gestured, and their eyebrows moved with playful smiles. With their braids and belts tied tight, their waists bending, their faces perspiring, the garments on their breasts moving this way and that, and their earrings swinging on their cheeks, Lord Krsna’s young consorts shone like streaks of lightning in a mass of clouds.
7. Eager to enjoy conjugal love, their throats colored with various pigments, the gopis sang loudly and danced. They were overjoyed by Krsna’s touch, and they sang songs that filled the entire universe.
8. One gopi, joining Lord Mukunda in His singing, sang pure melodious tones that rose harmoniously above His. Krsna was pleased and showed great appreciation for her performance, saying “Excellent! Excellent!” Then another gopi repeated the same melody, but in a special metrical pattern, and Krsna praised her also.
9. When one gopi grew tired from the rasa dance, she turned to Krsna, standing at Her side holding a baton, and grasped His shoulder with Her arm. The dancing had loosened Her bracelets and the flowers in Her hair.
10. Upon the shoulder of one gopi Krsna placed His arm, whose natural blue-lotus fragrance was mixed with that of the sandalwood pulp anointing it. As the gopi relished that fragrance, her bodily hair stood on end in jubilation, and she kissed His arm.
11. Next to Krsna’s cheek one gopi put her own, beautified by the effulgence of her earrings, which glittered as she danced. Krsna then carefully gave her the betel nut He was chewing.
12. Another gopi became fatigued as she danced and sang, the bells on her ankles and waist tinkling. So she placed upon her breasts the comforting lotus hand of Lord Acyuta, who was standing by her side.
13. Having attained as their intimate lover Lord Acyuta, the exclusive consort of the goddess of fortune, the gopis enjoyed great pleasure. They sang His glories as He held their necks with His arms.
14. Enhancing the beauty of the gopis’ faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopis danced with the supreme Lord in the arena of the rasa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment.
15. In this way Lord Krsna, the original Lord Narayana, master of the goddess of fortune, took pleasure in the company of the young women of Vraja by embracing them, caressing them and glancing lovingly at them as He smiled His broad, playful smiles. It was just as if a child were playing with his own reflection.
16. Their senses overwhelmed by the joy of having His physical association, the gopis could not prevent their hair, their dresses and the cloths covering their breasts from becoming disheveled. Their garlands and ornaments scattered.
17. The wives of the demigods, observing Krsna’s playful activities from their airplanes, were entranced and became agitated with lust. Indeed, even the moon and his entourage, the stars, became astonished.
18. Expanding Himself us many times as there were cowherd women to associate with, the supreme Lord, though self-satisfied, playfully enjoyed their company.
19. Seeing that the gopis were fatigued from conjugal enjoyment, merciful Krsna lovingly wiped their faces with His comforting hand.
20. The gopis honored their hero with smiling glances sweetened by the beauty of their cheeks and the effulgence of their curly locks and glittering golden earrings. Overjoyed from the touch of His fingernails, they chanted the glories of His all-auspicious transcendental pastimes.
21. Lord Krsna’s garland had been crushed during His conjugal dalliance with the gopis and colored vermilion by the kunkuma powder on their breasts. To dispel the fatigue of the gopis, Krsna entered the water of the Yamuna, followed swiftly by bees who were singing like the best of the Gandharvas. He appeared like a lordly elephant entering the water to relax in the company of his consorts. Indeed, the Lord had transgressed all worldly and Vedic morality just as a powerful elephant might break the dikes in a paddy field.
22. In the water Krsna found Himself being splashed on all sides by the laughing gopis, who looked at Him with love. As the demigods worshiped Him by showering flowers from their airplanes, the self-satisfied Lord took pleasure in playing like the king of the elephants.
23. Then the Lord strolled through a small forest on the bank of the Yamuna. This forest was filled to its limits with breezes carrying the fragrances of all the flowers growing on the land and in the water. Followed by His entourage of bees and beautiful women, Lord Krsna appeared like an intoxicated elephant with his she-elephants.
24. Although the gopis were firmly attached to Lord Krsna, whose desires are always fulfilled, the Lord was not internally affected by any mundane sex desire. Still, to perform His pastimes the Lord took advantage of all those moonlit autumn nights, which inspire poetic descriptions of transcendental affairs.
25. The cowherd men, bewildered by Krsna’s illusory potency, thought their wives had remained home at their sides. Thus they did not harbor any jealous feelings against Him.
26. After an entire night of Brahma had passed, Lord Krsna advised the gopis to return to their homes. Although they did not wish to do so, the Lord’s beloved consorts complied with His command.
27. Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the Lord’s playful affairs with the young gopis of Vrndavana will attain the Lord’s pure devotional service. Thus he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart.
I bow to that Shri Guru who pervades the whole universe constituting of beings moving and unmoving and by whom is shown the state of Tat (Supreme Brahman)
The Guru's Form is the root of meditation The Guru's Feet are the root of worship The Guru's Word is the root of mantra The Guru's Grace is the root of liberation
Shri Guru charan saroj raj, vandat main kar jor vighna mite pragate vibho, hoye vimal mati mor
I salute with folded hands the lotus feet of my Guru the dust of whose feet removes the obstacles, creates faith and purifies the intellect
Vandon charan saroj guru, mudmangal agar jehi sevat nat hote hai bhav sagar se par
I pray (salute to the lotus feet of my Guru) who is the reservoir of joy and auspiciousness by serving whom the beings cross the ocean of sansar (worldiness)
Guru ke sumiran matra se, nashat vighna anat ta te sarva arambe mein dyavat hain sab sant
By merely constantly remembering the Guru, lots of obstacles are removed or destroyed therefore all Saints meditate upon the Guru before the start of any undertaking
Guru is the Creator (Brahma), Guru is the Preserver (Vishnu), Guru is the Destroyer (Maheshvara) Guru is verily the Supreme Absolute Prostration to that Guru
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