geeta kakkar's Posts

KRISHNA IS LET DOWN

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 29, 2010 at 3:30pm

KRISHNA IS LET DOWN
Taken from the book "The butter thief"

Now Krishna became somewhat bigger. One day Yasoda told Him, “It’s your birthday today. Go and bring a female calf here, and worship her.“ Krishna became so happy. He went out and chose a very beautiful she-calf, who was as snow-white as a swan.

The calf was very healthy, and stout and strong, and was jumping here and there. Krishna wanted to catch her, but He couldn't, because she was jumping so much. After a great struggle, He managed to hold her, and then He wanted to bring her in to the courtyard. He tried to tie up her four legs, but the calf refused to let Him tie her, and they had another wrestling match. Somehow or other, Krishna managed to bring her into the courtyard, and as He was doing so, He suddenly noticed a pot hanging from a rope. He could immediately understand that this pot must be full of sweet butter. In an instant, Krishna’s intense greed for the butter made Him forget that He was supposed to bring the calf in. But how could He reach the butter? It was hanging high up in the rafters, and there was no ladder, or anything to stand on. When He was with His friends, He would climb on their backs, one by one, higher and higher, until He could reach the butter.

However, none of His friends were there, and He had no stick. What to do? After considering carefully, Krishna thought, “I can reach the butter very easily if I stand on this calf.“ He managed to climb up on the calf’s back, and when He stood upright, sure enough, He was high enough to put His hand into the pot.

Just at that moment, however, the calf suddenly jumped away. Little Krishna had put His whole arm into the pot, so when the calf ran away, He was left dangling there. Now He called out fearfully, “O Mother! Mother! Mother!“ and cried bitterly. Mother Yasoda was churning, and when she heard Krishna weeping and crying for her, she smiled and ran out to help Him. As soon as she saw Him hanging high above the ground, she understood what had happened. “You stay like that!“ she told Him. “I’m not going to touch You. And I’ll punish You for being naughty, as well. I’ll never help You!“ Krishna began to weep more loudly: “Mother! Mother! Mother! Mother!“ and of course, Yasoda brought Him down. Krishna was extremely naughty in His boyhood, and that is why He garnered so much love and affection from all the gopis, and especially from His mother.

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 27, 2010 at 2:50pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Reunion

1. When the gopis saw that their dearmost Krsna had returned to them, they all stood up at once, and out of their affection for Him their eyes bloomed wide. It was as if the air of life had reentered their bodies.

2. One gopi joyfully took Krsna’s hand between her folded palms, and another placed His arm, anointed with sandalwood paste, on her shoulder.

3. A slender gopi respectfully took in her joined hands the betel nut He had chewed, and another gopi, burning with desire, put His lotus feet on her breasts.

4. One gopi, beside herself with loving anger, bit her lips and stared at Him with frowning eyebrows, as if to wound Him with her harsh glances.

5. Another gopi looked with unblinking eyes upon His lotus face, but even after deeply relishing its sweetness she did not feel satiated, just as mystic saints are never satiated when meditating upon the Lord’s feet.

6. One gopi took the Lord through the aperture of her eyes and placed Him within her heart. Then, with her eyes closed and her bodily hairs standing on end, she continuously embraced Him within. Thus immersed in transcendental ecstasy, she resembled a yogi meditating upon the Lord.

7. All the gopis enjoyed the greatest festivity when they saw their beloved Kesava again. They gave up the distress of separation, just as people in general forget their misery when they gain the association of a spiritually enlightened person.

8. Encircled by the gopis, who were now relieved of all distress, Lord Acyuta, the supreme Personality of Godhead, shone forth splendidly. Krsna thus appeared like the supersoul encircled by His spiritual potencies.

9. The almighty Lord then took the gopis with Him to the bank of the Kalindi, who with the hands of her waves had scattered piles of soft sand upon the shore. In that auspicious place the breeze, bearing the fragrance of blooming kunda and mandara flowers, attracted many bees, and the abundant rays of the autumn moon dispelled the darkness of night.

10. Their heartache vanquished by the ecstasy of seeing Krsna, the gopis, like the personified Vedas before them, felt their desires completely fulfilled. For their dear friend Krsna they arranged a seat with their shawls which were smeared with the kunkuma powder from their breasts.

11. Lord Krsna, the supreme Personality of Godhead, for whom the great masters of mystic meditation arrange a seat within their hearts, took His seat in the assembly of gopis. His transcendental body, the exclusive abode of beauty and opulence within the three worlds, shone brilliantly as the gopis worshiped Him.

12. Sri Krsna had awakened romantic desires within the gopis, and they honored Him by glancing at Him with playful smiles, gesturing amorously with their eyebrows, and massaging His hands and feet as they held them in their laps. Even while worshiping Him, however, they felt somewhat angry, and thus they addressed Him as follows.

13. The gopis said: some people reciprocate the affection only of those who are affectionate toward them, while others show affection even to those who are indifferent or inimical. And yet others will not show affection toward anyone. Dear Krsna, please properly explain this matter to us.

14. The supreme Personality of Godhead said: so-called friends who show affection for each other only to benefit themselves are actually selfish. They have no true friendship, nor are they following the true principles of religion. Indeed, if they did not expect benefit for themselves, they would not reciprocate.

15. My dear slender-waisted gopis, some people are genuinely merciful or, like parents, naturally affectionate. such persons, who devotedly serve even those who fail to reciprocate with them, are following the true, faultless path of religion, and they are true well-wishers.

16. Then there are those individuals who are spiritually self-satisfied, materially fulfilled or by nature ungrateful or simply envious of superiors. Such persons will not love even those who love them, what to speak of those who are inimical.

17. But the reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion. They then become like a poor man who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and who thus becomes so anxious about it that he can think of nothing else.

18. My dear girls, understanding that simply for My sake you had rejected the authority of worldly opinion, of the Vedas and of your relatives, I acted as I did only to increase your attachment to Me. Even when I removed Myself from your sight by suddenly disappearing, I never stopped loving you. Therefore, My beloved gopis, please do not harbor any bad feelings toward Me, your beloved.

19. I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahma. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.

20. When the cowherd girls heard the supreme Personality of Godhead speak these most charming words, they forgot their distress caused by separation from Him. Touching His transcendental limbs, they felt all their desires fulfilled.

THE RUNAWAY CALF

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 25, 2010 at 12:38pm

THE RUNAWAY CALF
Taken from the book "The butter thief"

One day a gopi told Mother Yasoda, “Today, I caught your son Krishna red-handed, with His hand right in a pot of
butter. I asked Him, ‘Why have you come here? Did You come to steal butter?’ “‘No, no mother! I was searching for My calf. I was playing with him today, and he ran away. So I followed him, but he jumped into this pot.’
“‘Oh, your calf has jumped in this pot, has he?’ “‘Yes, Mother’, Your son replied very innocently, and when He pulled His hand out of the butter pot, He was holding a marble toy calf! Then He and His friends all began to laugh, and they quickly ran away.

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 24, 2010 at 2:52pm

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Meherana-gaon

Once, Yasoda-maiya and child Krsna came to the house of Abhinandana, Yasoda-maiya's elder brother-in-law. After dinner, Yasoda-maiya sat on the bed lulling Krsna to sleep in her lap. "Maiya, please tell a story," Krsna said. Yasoda proceeded to narrate a story as Krsna nodded and murmurred, "Yes, yes."

Yasoda said," Once there was a king named Dasaratha. He had four sons- Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna. Rama married Janaki, the daughter of Maharaja Janaka. She was also known as Sita. On the order of His father, Rama went to the forest with His wife Sita and His brother Laksmana."

"Yes,yes", Krsna uttered. Yasoda-maiya continued," In the forest, a demon named Ravana kidnapped Sita."

Hearing this, Krsna, being absorbed in His previous incarnation as Rama, called out," Laksmana, bring my bow. Laksmana, bring my bow." and jumped up from bed. Seeing this made Yasoda-maiya fearful. This pastime took place here.

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 22, 2010 at 2:30pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Gopis’ songs of separation

1. The gopis said: O beloved, Your birth in the land of Vraja has made it exceedingly glorious, and thus Indira, the goddess of fortune, always resides here. It is only for Your sake that we, Your devoted servants, maintain our lives. We have been searching everywhere for You, so please show Yourself to us.

2. O Lord of love, in beauty Your glance excels the whorl of the finest, most perfectly formed lotus within the autumn pond. O bestower of benedictions, You are killing the maidservants who have given themselves to You freely, without any price. Isn’t this murder?

3. O greatest of personalities, You have repeatedly saved us from all kinds of danger—from poisoned water, from the terrible man-eater Agha, from the great rains, from the wind demon, from the fiery thunderbolt of Indra, from the bull demon and from the son of Maya Danava.

4. You are not actually the son of the gopi Yasoda, O friend, but rather the indwelling witness in the hearts of all embodied souls. Because Lord Brahma prayed for You to come and protect the universe, You have now appeared in the satvata dynasty.

5. O best of the Vrsnis, Your lotuslike hand, which holds the hand of the goddess of fortune, grants fearlessness to those who approach Your feet out of fear of material existence. O lover, please place that wish-fulfilling lotus hand on our heads.

6. O You who destroy the suffering of Vraja’s people, O hero of all women, Your smile shatters the false pride of Your devotees. Please, dear friend, accept us as Your maidservants and show us Your beautiful lotus face.

7. Your lotus feet destroy the past sins of all embodied souls who surrender to them. Those feet follow after the cows in the pastures and are the eternal abode of the goddess of fortune. since You once put those feet on the hoods of the great serpent Kaliya, please place them upon our breasts and tear away the lust in our hearts.

8. O lotus-eyed one, Your sweet voice and charming words, which attract the minds of the intelligent, are bewildering us more and more. Our dear hero, please revive Your maidservants with the nectar of Your lips.

9. The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one’s sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent.

10. Your smiles, Your sweet, loving glances, the intimate pastimes and confidential talks we enjoyed with You—all these are auspicious to meditate upon, and they touch our hearts. But at the same time, O deceiver, they very much agitate our minds.

11. Dear master, dear lover, when You leave the cowherd village to herd the cows, our minds are disturbed with the thought that Your feet, more beautiful than a lotus, will be pricked by the spiked husks of grain and the rough grass and plants.

12. At the end of the day You repeatedly show us Your lotus face, covered with dark blue locks of hair and thickly powdered with dust. Thus, O hero, You arouse lusty desires in our minds.

13. Your lotus feet, which are worshiped by Lord Brahma, fulfill the desires of all who bow down to them. They are the ornament of the earth, they give the highest satisfaction, and in times of danger they are the appropriate object of meditation. O lover, O destroyer of anxiety, please put those lotus feet upon our breasts.

14. O hero, kindly distribute to us the nectar of Your lips, which enhances conjugal pleasure and vanquishes grief. That nectar is thoroughly relished by Your vibrating flute and makes people forget any other attachment.

15. When You go off to the forest during the day, a tiny fraction of a second becomes like a millennium for us because we cannot see You. And even when we can eagerly look upon Your beautiful face, so lovely with its adornment of curly locks, our pleasure is hindered by our eyelids, which were fashioned by the foolish creator.

16. Dear Acyuta, You know very well why we have come here. Who but a cheater like You would abandon young women who come to see Him in the middle of the night, enchanted by the loud song of His flute? Just to see You, we have completely rejected our husbands, children, ancestors, brothers and other relatives.

17. Our minds are repeatedly bewildered as we think of the intimate conversations we had with You in secret, feel the rise of lust in our hearts and remember Your smiling face, Your loving glances and Your broad chest, the resting place of the goddess of fortune. Thus we experience the most severe hankering for You.

18. O beloved, Your all-auspicious appearance vanquishes the distress of those living in Vraja’s forests. Our minds long for Your association. Please give to us just a bit of that medicine, which counteracts the disease in Your devotees’ hearts.

19. O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our life rests only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.

20. Having thus sung and spoken their hearts out in various charming ways, the gopis began to weep loudly. They were very eager to see Lord Krsna.

21. Then Lord Krsna, a smile on His lotus face, appeared before the gopis. Wearing a garland and a yellow garment, He directly appeared as one who can bewilder the mind of Cupid, who himself bewilders the minds of ordinary people.

Importance of Gurudeva

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 20, 2010 at 4:55pm

Importance of Gurudeva

If a devotee is doing a great deal of chanting, reading and glorifying Sri Krsna, but he is not following his gurudeva, what will be the result? It will be zero. This has been described in many places in sastra. Krsna
Himself has said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.21): “madbhakta-pujabhyadhika – the worship of My devotees is better than worship of Me.” He also says, “That person who says he is My devotee but who is not devoted to My devotee, is not My devotee at all.” Krsna rejects that person.

BABY WRESTLERS

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 19, 2010 at 4:39pm

BABY WRESTLERS
Taken from the book "The butter thief"

Sometimes, the cows would come into the cowherd town of Nandagrama, and stand waiting. Then Krishna and Baladeva used to go out, and lie down on the ground beneath them, and the cows udders would spontaneously pour milk into Their mouths. The cows would think, “If only Krishna were my son! Then I could give Him my milk, and show love and affection for Krishna.“ This mood was everywhere in Vraja.

Krishna and Baladeva grew up, and when They were about one and a half years old, They could stand up, and walk
a little; and sometimes They would fall down, as well. The gopis would come to see Them, and they divided themselves into two parties. One party took Baladeva’s side and the other party supported Krishna. The gopis on Krishna’s side announced, “Krishna is so strong that He can defeat Baladeva.“ Then Baladeva Prabhu’s party disputed with them: “No, no, Baladeva is stronger than Krishna.“ The gopis on Krishna’s side said, “If Krishna defeats Baladeva, I will give Krishna a laddu.“ And the gopis in Baladeva Prabhu’s party said, “If Baladeva wins this battle, then we will give Baladeva a laddu.“ Krishna and Baladeva could understand what was going on, and in this way, the gopis inspired the two brothers to wrestle with each other. Krishna and Baladeva were naked. They stood opposite each other, and began to slap Their thighs and chests like adult wrestlers. Then They caught hold of each other and tried to bring each other to the ground, but They were equally matched. Sometimes Baladeva would almost defeat Krishna but then, Oh! Krishna turned just in time, and He would defeat Baladeva; then Baladeva would defeat Him. They were going on like this — back and forth — and everyone rejoiced, singing and clapping. All the gopis were overjoyed to see this play.

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 18, 2010 at 12:52pm

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Vihvala kunda

One day, Sri Krsna and Subala sakha were engaged in sweet rasika talk, as they sat in a beautiful kunja by this delightful pond. A female parrot sitting on the branch of a nearby tree began to sing of Sri Radhika's glorious qualities. When Sri Krsna heard the name and qualities of Srimati Radhika, various sentiments arose in His heart. He saw manifestations of Her wherever He looked and anxiously began to run here and there in an attempt to catch Her. Subala sakha noticed the extremly elevated asta-sattvika bhavas of mahabhava on Sri Krsna's limbs, and contemplated how to pacify Him. He understood that the only way would be for Krsna to meet with Srimati Radhika. He somehow sent news of Krsna's astonishing condition to Visakha sakhi and requested her to bring Srimati Radhika to Krsna. Srimati Radhika arrived there with Visakha and some other sakhis, and from a distance Subala pointed towards Sri Krsna in His condition of extreme restlessness. Radha and Krsna had been eager to meet and were therefore endlessly joyous to have each other's darsana. As soon as Sri Krsna experienced the touch of Srimati Radhika's transcendental body, He felt satisfied and content.

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 16, 2010 at 11:19am

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Gopis search for Krsna

1. When Lord Krsna disappeared so suddenly, the gopis felt great sorrow at losing sight of Him, like a group of female elephants who have lost their mate.

2. As the cowherd women remembered Lord Krsna, their hearts were overwhelmed by His movements and loving smiles, His playful glances and enchanting talks, and by the many other pastimes He would enjoy with them. Thus absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, the Lord of Rama, the gopis began acting out His various transcendental pastimes.

3. Because the beloved gopis were absorbed in thoughts of their beloved Krsna, their bodies imitated His way of moving and smiling, His way of beholding them, His speech and His other distinctive features. Deeply immersed in thinking of Him and maddened by remembering His pastimes, they declared to one another, “I am Krsna!”

4. Singing loudly of Krsna, they searched for Him throughout the Vrndavana forest like a band of madwomen. They even asked the trees about Him, who as the supersoul is present inside and outside of all created things, just like the sky.

5. [The gopis said:] O asvattha tree, O plaksa, O nyagrodha, have you seen Krsna? That son of Nanda Maharaja has gone away after stealing our minds with His loving smiles and glances.

6. O kurabaka tree, O asoka, O naga, punnaga and campaka, has Balarama’s younger brother, whose smile removes the audacity of all proud women, passed this way?

7. O most kind tulasi, to whom the feet of Govinda are so dear, have you seen that infallible one walk by, wearing you and encircled by swarms of bees?

8. O malati, O mallika, O jati and yuthika, has Madhava gone by here, giving you pleasure with the touch of His hand?

9. O cuta, O priyala, O panasa, asana and kovidara, O jambu, O arka, O bilva, bakula and amra, O kadamba and nipa and all you other plants and trees living by the banks of the Yamuna who have dedicated your very existence to the welfare of others, we gopis have lost our minds, so please tell us where Krsna has gone.

10. O mother earth, what austerity did you perform to attain the touch of Lord Kesava’s lotus feet, which has brought you such great joy that your bodily hairs are standing on end? You appear very beautiful in this condition. Was it during the Lord’s current appearance that you acquired this ecstatic symptom, or was it perhaps much earlier, when He stepped upon you in His form of the dwarf Vamanadeva, or even earlier, when He embraced you in His form of the boar Varahadeva?

11. O friend, wife of the deer, has Lord Acyuta been here with His beloved, bringing great joy to your eyes? Indeed, blowing this way is the fragrance of His garland of kunda flowers, which was smeared with the kunkuma from the breasts of His girlfriend when He embraced Her.

12. O trees, we see that you are bowing down. When the younger brother of Rama walked by here, followed by intoxicated bees swarming around the tulasi manjaris decorating His garland, did He acknowledge your obeisances with His affectionate glances? He must have been resting His arm on the shoulder of His beloved and carrying a lotus flower in His free hand.

13. Let us ask these creepers about Krsna. Even though they are embracing the arms of their husband, this tree, they certainly must have been touched by Krsna’s fingernails, since out of joy they are manifesting eruptions on their skin.

14. Having spoken these words, the gopis, distraught from searching for Krsna, began to act out His various pastimes, fully absorbed in thoughts of Him.

15. One gopi imitated Putana, while another acted like infant Krsna and pretended to suck her breast. Another gopi, crying in imitation of infant Krsna, kicked a gopi who was taking the role of the cart demon, sakatasura.

16. One gopi took the role of Trnavarta and carried away another, who was acting like infant Krsna, while yet another gopi crawled about, her ankle bells tinkling as she pulled her feet.

17. Two gopis acted like Rama and Krsna in the midst of several others, who took the role of cowherd boys. One gopi enacted Krsna’s killing of the demon Vatsasura, represented by another gopi, and a pair of gopis acted out the killing of Bakasura.

18. When one gopi perfectly imitated how Krsna would call the cows who had wandered far away, how He would play His flute and how He would engage in various sports, the others congratulated her with exclamations of “Well done! Well done!”

19. Another gopi, her mind fixed on Krsna, walked about with her arm resting on the shoulder of a friend and declared, “I am Krsna! Just see how gracefully I move!”

20. “Don’t be afraid of the wind and rain,” said one gopi. “I will save you.” And with that she lifted her shawl above her head.

21. One gopi climbed on another’s shoulders and, putting her foot on the other’s head, said, “Go away from here, O wicked snake! You should know that I have taken birth in this world just to punish the envious.”

22. Then another gopi spoke up: My dear cowherd boys, look al this raging forest fire! Quickly close your eyes and I will easily protect you.

23. One gopi tied up her slender companion with a flower garland and said, “Now I will bind this boy who has broken the butter pots and stolen the butter.” The second gopi then covered her face and beautiful eyes, pretending to be afraid.

24. While the gopis were thus imitating Krsna’s pastimes and asking Vrndavana’s creepers and trees where Krsna, the supreme soul, might be, they happened to see His footprints in a corner of the forest.

25. [The gopis said:] The marks of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, elephant goad, barleycorn and so forth on these footprints clearly distinguish them as belonging to that great soul, the son of Nanda Maharaja.

26. The gopis began following Krsna’s path, as shown by His many footprints, but when they saw that these prints were thoroughly intermixed with those of His dearmost consort, they became perturbed and spoke as follows.

27. [The gopis said:] Here we see the footprints of some gopi who must have been walking along with the son of Nanda Maharaja. He must have put His arm on Her shoulder, just as an elephant rests His trunk on the shoulder of an accompanying she-elephant.

28. Certainly this particular gopi has perfectly worshiped the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, Govinda, since He was so pleased with Her that He abandoned the rest of us and brought Her to a secluded place.

29. O girls! The dust of Govinda’s lotus feet is so sacred that even Brahma, siva and the goddess Rama take that dust upon their heads to dispel sinful reactions.

30. These footprints of that special gopi greatly disturb us. Of all the gopis, she alone was taken away to a secluded place, where she is enjoying the lips of Krsna. Look, we can’t see Her footprints over here! It’s obvious that the grass and sprouts were hurting the tender soles of Her feet, and so the lover lifted up His beloved.

31. Please observe, my dear gopis, how in this place lusty Krsna’s footprints are pressed more deeply into the ground. Carrying the weight of His beloved must have been difficult for Him. And over here that intelligent boy must have put Her down to gather some flowers.

32. Just see how in this place dear Krsna collected flowers for His beloved. Here He has left the impression of only the front part of His feet because He was standing on His toes to reach the flowers.

33. Certainly Krsna sat down here with His girlfriend to arrange Her hair. The lusty boy must have made a crown for that lusty girl out of the flowers He had collected.

34. Lord Krsna enjoyed with that gopi, although He enjoys only within, being self-satisfied and complete in Himself. Thus by contrast He showed the wretchedness of ordinary lusty men and hardhearted women.

35. As the gopis wandered about, their minds completely bewildered, they pointed out various signs of Krsna’s pastimes. The particular gopi whom Krsna had led into a secluded forest when He had abandoned all the other young girls began to think Herself the best of women. “My beloved has rejected all the other gopis, “she thought, “even though they are driven by Cupid himself. He has chosen to reciprocate with Me alone.”

36. As the two lovers passed through one part of the Vrndavana forest, the special gopi began feeling proud of Herself. she told Lord Kesava, “I cannot walk any further. Please carry Me wherever You want to go.”

37. Thus addressed, Lord Krsna replied, “Just climb on My shoulder.” But as soon as He said this, He disappeared. His beloved consort then immediately felt great remorse.

38. she cried out: O master! My lover! O dearmost, where are You? Where are You? Please, O mightyarmed one, O friend, show Yourself to Me, Your poor servant!

39. While continuing to search out Krsna’s path, the gopis discovered their unhappy friend close by. she was bewildered by separation from Her lover.

40. she told them how Madhava had given Her much respect, but how she then suffered dishonor because of Her misbehavior. The gopis were extremely amazed to hear this.

41. In search of Krsna, the gopis then entered the depths of the forest as far as the light of the moon shone. But when they found themselves engulfed in darkness, they decided to turn back.

42. Their minds absorbed in thoughts of Him, they conversed about Him, acted out His pastimes and felt themselves filled with His presence. They completely forgot about their homes as they loudly sang the glories of Krsna’s transcendental qualities.

43. The gopis again came to the bank of the Kalindi. Meditating on Krsna and eagerly hoping He would come, they sat down together to sing of Him.

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 14, 2010 at 12:12pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

Krsna and the Gopis Meet for the Rasa Dance

1. Sri Krsna is the supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all opulences, yet upon seeing those autumn nights scented with blossoming jasmine flowers, He turned His mind toward loving affairs. To fulfill His purposes He employed His internal potency.

2. The moon then rose, anointing the face of the western horizon with the reddish hue of his comforting rays, and thus dispelling the pain of all who watched him rise. The moon was like a beloved husband who returns after a long absence and adorns the face of his beloved wife with red kunkuma.

3. Lord Krsna saw the unbroken disk of the full moon glowing with the red effulgence of newly applied vermilion, as if it were the face of the goddess of fortune. He also saw the kumuda lotuses opening in response to the moon’s presence and the forest gently illumined by its rays. Thus the Lord began to play sweetly on His flute, attracting the minds of the beautiful-eyed gopis.

4. When the young women of Vrndavana heard Krsna’s flute song, which arouses romantic feelings, their minds were captivated by the Lord. They went to where their lover waited, each unknown to the others, moving so quickly that their earrings swung back and forth.

5. Some of the gopis were milking cows when they heard Krsna’s flute. They stopped milking and went off to meet Him. Some left milk curdling on the stove, and others left cakes burning in the oven.

6. Some of them were getting dressed, feeding milk to their infants or rendering personal service to their husbands, but they all gave up these duties and went to meet Krsna. Other gopis were taking their evening meals, washing themselves, putting on cosmetics or applying kajjala to their eyes. But all the gopis stopped these activities at once and, though their clothes and ornaments were in complete disarray, rushed off to Krsna.

7. Their husbands, fathers, brothers and other relatives tried to stop them, but Krsna had already stolen their hearts. Enchanted by the sound of His flute, they refused to turn back.

8. Some of the gopis, however, could not manage to get out of their houses, and instead they remained home with eyes closed, meditating upon Him in pure love.

9. For those gopis who could not go to see Krsna, intolerable separation from their beloved caused an intense agony that burned away all impious karma. By meditating upon Him they realized His embrace, and the ecstasy they then felt exhausted their material piety. Although Lord Krsna is the supreme soul, these girls simply thought of Him as their male lover and associated with Him in that intimate mood. Thus their karmic bondage was nullified and they abandoned their gross material bodies.

10. The supreme Lord is inexhaustible and immeasurable, and He is untouched by the material modes because He is their controller. His personal appearance in this world is meant for bestowing the highest benefit on humanity.

11. Persons who constantly direct their lust, anger, fear, protective affection, feeling of impersonal oneness or friendship toward Lord Hari are sure to become absorbed in thought of Him.

12. Seeing that the girls of Vraja had arrived, Lord Krsna, the best of speakers, greeted them with charming words that bewildered their minds.

13. Lord Krsna said: O most fortunate ladies, welcome. What may I do to please you? Is everything well in Vraja? Please tell Me the reason for your coming here.

14. This night is quite frightening, and frightening creatures are lurking about. Return to Vraja, slenderwaisted
girls. This is not a proper place for women.

15. Not finding you at home, your mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and husbands are certainly searching for you. Don’t cause anxiety for your family members.

16. Now you have seen this Vrndavana forest, full of flowers and resplendent with the light of the full moon. You have seen the beauty of the trees, with their leaves trembling in the gentle breeze coming from the Yamuna. so now go back to the cowherd village. Don’t delay. O chaste ladies, serve your husbands and give milk to your crying babies and calves.

17. On the other hand, perhaps you have come here out of your great love for Me, which has taken control of your hearts. This is of course quite commendable on your part, since all living entities possess natural affection for Me.

18. The highest religious duty for a woman is to sincerely serve her husband, behave well toward her husband’s family and take good care of her children.

19. Women who desire a good destination in the next life should never abandon a husband who has not fallen from his religious standards, even if he is obnoxious, unfortunate, old, unintelligent, sickly or poor.

20. For a woman from a respectable family, petty adulterous affairs are always condemned. They bar her from heaven, ruin her reputation and bring her difficulty and fear.

21. Transcendental love for Me arises by the devotional processes of hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating on Me and faithfully chanting My glories. The same result is not achieved by mere physical proximity. So please go back to your homes.

22. Hearing these unpleasant words spoken by Govinda, the gopis became morose. Their great hopes were frustrated and they felt insurmountable anxiety.

23. Their heads hanging down and their heavy, sorrowful breathing drying up their reddened lips, the gopis scratched the ground with their toes. Tears flowed from their eyes, carrying their kajjala and washing away the vermilion smeared on their breasts. Thus they stood, silently bearing the burden of their unhappiness.

24. Although Krsna was their beloved, and although they had abandoned all other objects of desire for His sake, He had been speaking to them unfavorably. Nonetheless, they remained unflinching in their attachment to Him. Stopping their crying, they wiped their eyes and began to speak, their voices stammering with agitation.

25. The beautiful gopis said: O all-powerful one, You should not speak in this cruel way. Do not reject us, who have renounced all material enjoyment to render devotional service to Your lotus feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just as the primeval Lord, Sri Narayana, reciprocates with His devotees in their endeavors for liberation.

26. Our dear Krsna, as an expert in religion You have advised us that the proper religious duty for women is to faithfully serve their husbands, children and other relatives. We agree that this principle is valid, but actually this service should be rendered to You. After all, O Lord, You are the dearmost friend of all embodied souls. You are their most intimate relative and indeed their very self.

27. Expert transcendentalists always direct their affection toward You because they recognize You as their true self and eternal beloved. What use do we have for these husbands, children and relatives of ours, who simply give us trouble? Therefore, O supreme controllers grant us Your mercy. O lotus-eyed one, please do not cut down our long-cherished hope to have Your association.

28. Until today our minds were absorbed in household affairs, but You easily stole both our minds and our hands away from our housework. Now our feet won’t move one step from Your lotus feet. How can we go back to Vraja? What would we do there?

29. Dear Krsna, please pour the nectar of Your lips upon the fire within our hearts—a fire You ignited with Your smiling glances and the sweet song of Your flute. If You do not, we will consign our bodies to the fire of separation from You, O friend, and thus like yogis attain to the abode of Your lotus feet by meditation.

30. O lotus-eyed one, the goddess of fortune considers it a festive occasion whenever she touches the soles of Your lotus feet. You are very dear to the residents of the forest, and therefore we will also touch those lotus feet. From that time on we will be unable even to stand in the presence of any other man, for we will have been fully satisfied by You.

31. Goddess Laksmi, whose glance is sought after by the demigods with great endeavor, has achieved the unique position of always remaining on the chest of her Lord, Narayana. Still, she desires the dust of His lotus feet, even though she has to share that dust with Tulasi-devi and indeed with the Lord’s many other servants. Similarly, we have approached the dust of Your lotus feet for shelter.

32. Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please show us mercy. To approach Your lotus feet we abandoned our families and homes, and we have no desire other than to serve You. Our hearts are burning with intense desires generated by Your beautiful smiling glances. O jewel among men, please make us Your maidservants.

33. Seeing Your face encircled by curling locks of hair, Your cheeks beautified by earrings, Your lips full of nectar, and Your smiling glance, and also seeing Your two imposing arms, which take away our fear, and Your chest, which is the only source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune, we must become Your maidservants.

34. Dear Krsna, what woman in all the three worlds wouldn’t deviate from religious behavior when bewildered by the sweet, drawn-out melody of Your flute? Your beauty makes all three worlds auspicious. Indeed, even the cows, birds, trees and deer manifest the ecstatic symptom of bodily hair standing on end when they see Your beautiful form.

35. Clearly You have taken birth in this world to relieve the fear and distress of the people of Vraja, just as the supreme Personality of Godhead, the primeval Lord, protects the domain of the demigods. Therefore, O friend of the distressed, kindly place Your lotus hand on Your maidservants’ heads and burning breasts.

36. Smiling upon hearing these despondent words from the gopis, Lord Krsna, the supreme master of all masters of mystic yoga, mercifully enjoyed with them, although He is selfsatisfied.

37. Among the assembled gopis, the infallible Lord Krsna appeared just like the moon surrounded by stars. He whose activities are so magnanimous made their faces blossom with His affectionate glances, and His broad smiles revealed the effulgence of His jasmine-bud-like teeth.

38. As the gopis sang His praises, that leader of hundreds of women sang loudly in reply. He moved among them, wearing His Vaijayanti garland, beautifying the Vrndavana forest.

39. Sri Krsna went with the gopis to the bank of the Yamuna, where the sand was cooling and the wind, enlivened by the river’s waves, bore the fragrance of lotuses. There Krsna threw His arms around the gopis and embraced them. He aroused Cupid in the beautiful young ladies of Vraja by touching their hands, hair, thighs, belts and breasts, by playfully scratching them with His fingernails, and also by joking with them, glancing at them and laughing with them. In this way the Lord enjoyed His pastimes.

40. The gopis became proud of themselves for having received such special attention from Krsna, the supreme Personality of Godhead, and each of them thought herself the best woman on earth.

41. Lord Kesava, seeing the gopis too proud of their good fortune, wanted to relieve them of this pride and show them further mercy. Thus He immediately disappeared.

Importance of Gurudeva

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 13, 2010 at 2:56pm

Importance of Gurudeva

bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo ’smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
(srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.37)
Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord, called maya. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage
unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.

By the association of Vaisnavas we can have a very pure guru - a sad-guru (a self-realized guru). If we take shelter in his lotus feet, he will take full charge of our lives. He will take all kinds of responsibility for our lives and he will teach how to do devotional service to Krsna. Guru-devatatma. First, we must think that guru is our atma, our life and soul. Being totally surrendered to him, we must depend solely on him. Tan abhajet. Tan means the Supreme Lord, Krsna. If we serve Krsna under the guidance of sad-guru, then certainly, like magic, we will be out of maya.

YASODA REMEMBERS KRISHNA

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 11, 2010 at 2:30pm

YASODA REMEMBERS KRISHNA
Taken from the book "The butter thief"

While Krishna and Baladeva were still very young babies, They sometimes crawled to the outer gate of the house. If They saw anyone, Oh! They became afraid. They remembered Their mothers, and at once turned back, and rushed to sit in their laps. And what did Yasoda, and Rohini do then? They put Them in their laps, covered Them with their veils, and caressed Their hair; and then with tears in their eyes, and with melting hearts, they put their breasts in the mouths of Krishna and Baladeva.

Sometimes a gopi would come into Yasoda Maiya’s courtyard. What did she see? Yasoda Maiya was engaged in churning and performing other duties, just to prepare something for Krishna. She had no other occupation. She was always engaged in serving Krishna, and whenever she was performing service, she always remembered him, and sang:

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Krishna was crawling in the house and courtyard, and she was making everything neat and clean to protect Him. While she did so, she was singing like this:

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Sometimes she was engaged in grinding something with a pestle and mortar, and as she did so, she sang:

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Sometimes she engaged her servants in various tasks. At other times, she gave some pomegranate seeds to the parrots, and she told them, “You should sing like me. sing this song:

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Yasoda Maiya was not the only one who remembered Krishna while she performed her household duties. All the gopis of Vraja always remembered Krishna in their homes, and they carried on their everyday activities for Krishna, just so that He would come to their houses and steal some butter. They used to think, “He must surely come, and then, somehow I will play a trick and catch hold of Him.“ The Vraja gopis spent all their time serving Krishna by performing their activities in this mood. Sometimes, at about seven in the morning, they would stop what they were doing, and gather together at Yasoda’s house. Why? To see Krishna. He was so beautiful that they had more love and affection for Him than they had even for their own sons. They longed for Krishna so much: “Oh, we want Krishna to be our son, so that we can give Him our breast milk, and serve Him with so much love and affection.“

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 10, 2010 at 10:48am

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Prema sarovara

Once, Radha and Krsna, surrounded by Lalita and other sakhis, were immersed in various kinds of loving pastimes when a bumblebee hovered around the beautiful lotus feet of Srimati Radhika. Thinking Her face to be a lotus flower, the bee wanted to sit there and drink its nectar; and so it continued to hover around Her face. Srimatiji became afraid and covered Her face with Her palms. She also tried to chase the bee away, but to no avail. Madhumangala saw Srimati Radhika's distress and chased the bumblebee far away with his stick. Upon His return, he announced, "I have chased madhusudana far away from here. He has gone and will not return." When Srimati Radhika heard Madhumangala's words, she at once thought that Madhusudana Krsna had gone away and had left Her, although she was sitting directly in Krsna's lap. She began to lament, deeply afflicted by seperation from Him. She could not, at that instant, understand that madhusudana also means "bumblebee". She wept and repeatedly cried out," Oh Prananatha, where have You gone? Oh, Lord of my life, where have You gone?"

Upon seeing these amazing transcendental sentiments known as prema-vaicittya, in His beloved Radhika, Krsna also forget that She was sitting in His lap. He too wept and cried, "O my beloved" and they both fainted. The tears that flowed from Their eyes and the perspiration that poured from Their bodies created this pond. When the sakhis saw Their condition, they too became senseless. Srimati's female parrot began to loudly chant Sri Radha's name, and the male parrot began to loudly chant Sri Krsna's name. As They heard each other's name, Radha and Krsna regained external consciousness and gazed upon each other with great yearning. Gradually, the sakhis also regained consciousness and in boundless bliss began to call out," Jaya,jaya."

Prema-sarovara is a manifestation of Radha's and Krsna's transcendental sentiments, as the following brajabhasa poem explains:

prem sarovar prem ki bhari rahe din rain
janh janh pyari pag dharat syam dharat tanh nain

"Day and night, Prema-sarovara is always filled with prema, or divine love. Pyari Srimati Radhika keeps Her lotus feet there, and Syama desires to keep those lotus feet in the vision of His eyes. (In other words, Syama worships this pond because Srimati has placed Her feet in its waters.)

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 8, 2010 at 1:11pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

Krsna Rescues Nanda Maharaja from the Abode of Varuna

1. Having worshiped Lord Janardana and fasted on the Ekadasi day, Nanda Maharaja entered the water of the Kalindi on the Dvadasi to take his bath.

2. Because Nanda Maharaja entered the water in the dark of night, disregarding that the time was inauspicious, a demoniac servant of Varuna seized him and brought him to his master.

3. Not seeing Nanda Maharaja, the cowherd men loudly cried out, ”O Krsna! O Rama!” Lord Krsna heard their cries and understood that His father had been captured by Varuna. Therefore the almighty Lord, who makes His devotees fearless, went to the court of Varunadeva.

4. Seeing that the Lord, Hrsikesa, had arrived, the demigod Varuna worshiped Him with elaborate offerings. Varuna was in a state of great jubilation upon seeing the Lord, and he spoke as follows.

5. Sri Varuna said: Now my body has fulfilled its function. Indeed, now the goal of my life is achieved, O Lord. Those who accept Your lotus feet, O Personality of Godhead, can transcend the path of material existence.

6. My obeisances unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, the supreme soul, within whom there is no trace of the illusory energy, which orchestrates the creation of this world.

7. Your father, who is sitting here, was brought to me by a foolish, ignorant servant of mine who did not
understand his proper duty. Therefore, please forgive us.

8. O Krsna, O seer of everything, please give Your mercy even to me. O Govinda, You are most affectionate to Your father. Please take him home.

9. Thus satisfied by Lord Varuna, Sri Krsna, the supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of lords, took His father and returned home, where their relatives were overjoyed to see them.

10. Nanda Maharaja had been astonished to see for the first time the great opulence of Varuna, the ruler of the ocean planet, and also to see how Varuna and his servants had offered such humble respect to Krsna. Nanda described all this to his fellow cowherd men.

11. [Hearing about Krsna’s pastimes with Varuna,] the cowherd men considered that Krsna must be the supreme Lord, and their minds, O King, were filled with eagerness. They thought, “Will the supreme Lord bestow upon us His transcendental abode?”

12. Because He sees everything, Lord Krsna, the supreme Personality of Godhead, automatically understood what the cowherd men were conjecturing. Wanting to show His compassion to them by fulfilling their desires, the Lord thought as follows.

13. [Lord Krsna thought:] Certainly people in this world are wandering among higher and lower destinations, which they achieve through activities performed according to their desires and without full knowledge. Thus people do not know their real destination.

14. Thus deeply considering the situation, the all-merciful supreme Personality of Godhead Hari revealed to the cowherd men His abode, which is beyond material darkness.

15. Lord Krsna revealed the indestructible spiritual effulgence, which is unlimited, conscious and eternal. sages see that spiritual existence in trance, when their consciousness is free of the modes of material nature.

16. The cowherd men were brought by Lord Krsna to the Brahma-hrada, made to submerge in the water, and then lifted up. From the same vantage point that Akrura saw the spiritual world, the cowherd men saw the planet of the Absolute Truth.

17. Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men felt the greatest happiness when they saw that transcendental abode. They were especially amazed to see Krsna Himself there, surrounded by the personified Vedas, who were offering Him prayers.

Prayer to Sri Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 7, 2010 at 12:27pm

Prayer to Sri Krishna
by Bhaktivinoda Thakura

naham vande tava caranayor-dvandvam advanda hetoh
kumbhipakam gurum api hare narakam napanetum
ramya-rama-mrdutanulata nandane nabhirastum
bhave bhave hrdaya-bhavane bhavayem bhavantam

"Prabhu, I am not performing bhajana so that You will remove the worldly misery which is strangling me. I am not praying at Your feet for entrance into the heavenly garden of Nandana-kanana where one can enjoy with beautiful women for a very long time, nor am I praying for liberation so that I will never again have to suffer for nine months in the womb of a mother and never again be punished by the messengers of Yamaraja. I pray that in the core of my heart You will increase the bhava of Vrndavana, where You are roaming with the gopis and enjoying amorous pastimes. In meditation on the descriptions of these pastimes, I will at once become completely lost in prema-this is what I am praying for. I am praying that I may take birth as a gopa or gopi, or even as a peacock or tree or anything, anywhere within the sixty-four squaremile Vraja-mandala. There I will acquire the company of a rasika devotee, who being full of the bhava of Vrndavana, will describe all of these pastimes to me, and then my life will be meaningful."

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 6, 2010 at 12:57pm

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Pili- pokhara

Once, the unmarried daughter of Kirtida, Srimati Radhika, and Her sakhis went to Nandgaon to see Yasoda-maiya. Charmed by srimati Radhika's beauty and qualities, Yasoda-maiya desired in her heart to marry Radhika to her son Krsna and thus have Her as her daughter-in-law. So great was her desire that she painted Kisori Radha's hands yellow. Radhika's heart became very happy but, as She returned to Her father's house in Varsana, She became quite embarrassed. She washed and scrubbed Her hands in this pond, and the pond's water turned yellow. This pond is therefore called pili-pokhara, "the yellow pond".

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 4, 2010 at 1:21pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

Lord Indra and Mother surabhi Offer Prayers

1. After Krsna had lifted Govardhana Hill and thus protected the inhabitants of Vraja from the terrible rainfall, surabhi, the mother of the cows, came from her planet to see Krsna. She was accompanied by Indra.

2. Indra was very ashamed of having offended the Lord. Approaching Him in a solitary place, Indra fell down and lay his helmet, whose effulgence was as brilliant as the sun, upon the Lord’s lotus feet.

3. Indra had now heard of and seen the transcendental power of omnipotent Krsna, and his false pride in being the lord of the three worlds was thus defeated. Holding his hands together in supplication, he addressed the Lord as follows.

4. King Indra said: Your transcendental form, a manifestation of pure goodness, is undisturbed by change, shining with knowledge and devoid of passion and ignorance. In You does not exist the mighty flow of the modes of material nature, which is based on illusion and ignorance.

5. How, then, could there exist in You the symptoms of an ignorant person—such as greed, lust, anger and envy—which are produced by one’s previous involvement in material existence and which cause one to become further entangled in material existence? And yet as the supreme Lord You impose punishment to protect religious principles and curb down the wicked.

6. You are the father and spiritual master of this entire universe, and also its supreme controller. You are insurmountable time, imposing punishment upon the sinful for their own benefit. Indeed, in Your various incarnations, selected by Your own free will, You act decisively to remove the false pride of those who presume themselves masters of this world.

7. Even fools like me, who proudly think themselves universal lords, quickly give up their conceit and directly take to the path of the spiritually progressive when they see You are fearless even in the face of time. Thus You punish the mischievous only to instruct them.

8. Engrossed in pride over my ruling power, ignorant of Your majesty, I offended You. O Lord, may You forgive me. My intelligence was bewildered, but let my consciousness never again be so impure.

9. You descend into this world, O transcendent Lord, to destroy the warlords who burden the earth and create many terrible disturbances. O Lord, you simultaneously act for the welfare of those who faithfully serve Your lotus feet.

10. Obeisances unto You, the supreme Personality of Godhead, the great soul, who are all-pervading and who reside in the hearts of all. My obeisances unto You, Krsna, the chief of the Yadu dynasty.

11. Unto Him who assumes transcendental bodies according to the desires of His devotees, unto Him whose form is itself pure consciousness, unto Him who is everything, who is the seed of everything and who is the soul of all creatures, I offer my obeisances.

12. My dear Lord, when my sacrifice was disrupted I became fiercely angry because of false pride. Thus I tried to destroy Your cowherd community with severe rain and wind.

13. O Lord, You have shown mercy to me by shattering my false pride and defeating my attempt [to punish Vrndavana]. To You, the supreme Lord, spiritual master and supreme soul, I have now come for shelter.

14. Thus glorified by Indra, Lord Krsna, the supreme Personality of Godhead, smiled and then spoke to him as follows in a voice resonant like the clouds.

15. The supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra, it was out of mercy that I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. You were greatly intoxicated by your opulence as King of heaven, and I wanted you to always remember Me.

16. A man blinded by intoxication with his power and opulence cannot see Me nearby with the rod of punishment in My hand. If I desire his real welfare, I drag him down from his materially fortunate position.

17. Indra, you may now go. Execute My order and remain in your appointed position as King of heaven. But be sober, without false pride.

18. Mother surabhi, along with her progeny, the cows, then offered her obeisances to Lord Krsna. Respectfully requesting His attention, the gentle lady addressed the supreme Personality of Godhead, who was present before her as a cowherd boy.

19. Mother surabhi said: O Krsna, Krsna, greatest of mystics! O soul and origin of the universe! You are the master of the world, and by Your grace, O infallible Lord, we have You as our master.

20. You are our worshipable Deity. Therefore, O Lord of the universe, for the benefit of the cows, the brahmanas, the demigods and all other saintly persons, please become our Indra.

21. As ordered by Lord Brahma, we shall perform Your bathing ceremony to coronate You as Indra. O soul of the universe, You descend to this world to relieve the burden of the earth.

22. Having thus appealed to Lord Krsna, mother surabhi performed His bathing ceremony with her own milk, and Indra, ordered by Aditi and other mothers of the demigods, anointed the Lord with heavenly Ganga water from the trunk of Indra’s elephant carrier, Airavata. Thus, in the company of the demigods and great sages, Indra coronated Lord Krsna, the descendant of Dasarha, and gave Him the name Govinda.

23. Tumburu, Narada and other Gandharvas, along with the Vidyadharas, siddhas and Caranas, came there to sing the glories of Lord Hari, which purify the entire world. And the wives of the demigods, filled with joy, danced together in the Lord’s honor.

24. The most eminent demigods chanted the praises of the Lord and scattered wonderful showers of flowers all around Him. All three worlds felt supreme satisfaction, and the cows drenched the surface of the earth with their milk.

25. Rivers flowed with various kinds of tasty liquids, trees exuded honey, edible plants came to maturity without cultivation, and hills gave forth jewels formerly hidden in their interiors.

26. Upon the ceremonial bathing of Lord Krsna, all living creatures, even those cruel by nature, became entirely free of enmity.

27. After he had ceremonially bathed Lord Govinda, who is the master of the cows and the cowherd community, King Indra took the Lord’s permission and, surrounded by the demigods and other higher beings, returned to his heavenly abode.

Topics of Meditation for Arousing Prema-bhakti

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 3, 2010 at 1:12pm

Topics of Meditation for Arousing Prema-bhakti
by Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura

jugala-carana-priti parama-ananda tati
rati-prema maya para-bandhe
krsna-nama-radha-nama upasana rasa-dhama
carane padiye paranande

In spiritual bliss, I will develop intense love for the youthful Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and hear the glorious topics of Their loving affairs. Worshiping and chanting the holy names of Radha and Krsna is the abode of all transcendental mellows. I will fall at Their lotus feet in ecstasy.(1)

manera smarana prana madhura madhura dhama
jugala bilasa smrti-sara
sadhya sadhana ei iha bai ara nai
ei tattwa sarba-siddha-sara

Remembrance of the Lord’s pastimes is the life and soul of the devotee. Remembering the sweet loving pastimes of Radha and Krsna is the essence of all the processes. This is the goal of life and as well as the best means of achieving the goal.(2)

jalada-sundara kanti madhura madhura bhati
baidagadhi abadhi subesa
pita-basana-dhara abharana mani-bara
mayura-candrika karu kesa

The sweet syama complexion of Krsna is like the effulgent new rain clouds. He is wonderfully dressed and the most expert in performing conjugal pastimes. Jewelled ornaments adorn His yellow garments and a peacock feather decorates His curling Hair.(3)

mrgamada candana kunkuma bilepana
mana murati tri-bhanga
nabina-kusumabali sri-ange sobhaye bhali
madhu-labhe phire matta bhrnga

Sandalwood pulp mixed with saffron and musk is smeared upon His forehead. He stands in a most enchanting threefold bending form. His beautiful limbs are decorated with newly blossomed flowers which attract maddened bees for their honey.(4)

isata madhura-smita baidagadhi-lilamrta
lubadhala braja-badhu-brnda
carana-kamala-para manimaya nupura
nakha-mani jhalamala-candra

The sweet attractive smile of the Lord and His expertise in conjugal pastimes capture the minds of the damsels of Braja. Gem-studded ankle bells adorn His lotus feet, His jewel-like toe-nails shine brightly like the moon.(5)

nupura-murali-dhwani kula-badhu-maralini
suniya rahite nare ghare
hrdaye badaye rati jena mile pati sati
kulera dharama jara dure

Hearing the sweet sounds of His ankle bells, and His flute which is like the call of a male swan, the female swan Braja gopis cannot remain in their homes. Forgetting the transgression of mundane morality in their hearts, their attraction for Krsna increases unlimitedly and they run to Him like chaste wives meeting their husbands.(6)

gobinda-sarira nitya tanhara sebaka satya
brndabana-bhumi tejomaya
tahate jamuna-jala kare nitya jhalamala
tara tire asta kunja haya

The transcendental body of Govinda is eternal. His servants are eternal. The abode of Vrndavana is effulgent. The water of the Yamuna is crystal clear. There are eight kunjas or groves on the banks of Yamuna.(7)

sitala-kirana-kara kalpa-taru-guna-dhara
taru-lata sada rtu-soba
purna-candra-sama jyoti cidananda-maya murti
mahalila-darsana-lobha

The groves of Vrndavana are charming with soothing moonbeams. The six seasons beautify the forests wherein the trees fulfill all desires. The blissful personality of Krsna is more effulgent than the full moon, and one
should be eager to have a glimpse of His wonderful pastimes.(8)

gobinda anandamaya nikate banita-caya
bihare madhura ati sobha
dunhu preme dagamagi dunhu donha anuragi
dunhu rupa dunhu mana lobha

Sri Govinda is personified bliss. He is surrounded by the gopis and enjoys various sweet pastimes. They are overwhelmed by love, attracted and attached to each other’s beauty.(9)

braja-pura-banitara carana asraya sara
kara mana ekanta kariya
anya bola gandu-gola na suniha uttarola
rakha prema hrdaye bhariya

O my mind, take shelter of the lotus feet of the damsels of Braja without deviation. Do not hear useless gossips, instead fill my heart with Krsna’s prema.(10)

prema-bhakti-sudha-nidhi tahe duba nirabadhi
ara jata ksara nidhi praya
nirantara sukha pabe sakala santapa jabe
para-tattwa karile upaya

Loving devotional service is the ocean of nectar. Be always drowned in that ocean. Everything else is like an ocean of salt. If you follow this process, you will achieve eternal bliss and all your lamentations will go away.(11)

anyera parasa jena nahi kadacit hena
ihate haibe sabadhana
radha-krsna nama gana ei se parama dhyana
ara na kariha paramana

Never associate with non-devotees. Be very careful about them. Chanting the names of Radha and Krsna is the highest form of meditation. Do not accept any other process as the goal of life.(12)

karmi jnani misra-bhakta na habe taya anurakta
suddha-bhajanete kara mana
braja-janera jei mata tahe habe anugata
ei se parama tattwa-dhana

Do not mingle with fruitive workers, mental speculators and mixed devotees. Instead engage yourself in pure devotional service under the guidance of the residents of Braja. This is the highest treasure.(13)

prarthana karibe sada suddha-bhave prema-katha
nama-mantre kariya abheda
astika kariya mana bhaja ranga sri-carana
granthi-papa habe pariccheda

Will always desire to glorify the transcendental topics of Radha and Krsna, considering the holy names and mantras as non-different from Them. I will fix my mind in worshipping the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna. Then the knots of sinful desires within my heart will be undone.(14)

radha-krsna sri-carana tate saba samarpana
sri-carane balihari jana
dunhu nama suni suni bhakta mukhe puni puni
parama ananda sukha-pana

I surrender myself unto the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna and take Their merciful shelter. I will repeatedly hear the names of Radha and Krsna from the mouths of pure devotees and attain great happiness and satisfaction.(15)

hema-gauri-tanu rai ankhi darasana cai
rodana kariba abhilase
jaladhara dhara dhara anga ati manohara
rupe gune bhubana prakase

I will desire to see the golden complexioned Radha with my own eyes. I will cry to see the enchanting form and qualities of Krsna whose complexion is like the new clouds.(16)

sakhi-gana cari-pase seba kare abhilase
parama se seba-sukha dhare
ei bhane mane mora ei rase hana bhora
narottama sada-i bihare

The sakhis surround Sri Sri Radha and Krsna on all four sides, and while serving Them, feel ecstatic bliss in their hearts. Narottama dasa desires such service being absorbed in loving transcendental mellows.(17)

Sri Radhikastaka

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 2, 2010 at 2:23pm

Sri Radhikastaka from the suka-sari-stava,
by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja

1. kunkumakta-kancanabja-garva-hari-gaurabha
pitanancitabja-gandha-kirti-nindi-saurabha
ballavesa-sunu-sarva-vanchitartha-sadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Her gold complexion steals the pride of golden lotus tinged with red.
Her fragrance mocks the scent of lotus bloom with saffron powder spread.
Her skill in satisfying Sri Hari is perfect and complete...
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

2. kauravinda-kanti-nindi-citra-patta-satika
krsna-matta-bhrnga-keli-phulla-puspa-vatika
krsna-nitya-sangamartha-padmabandhu-radhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Her wondrous silken garments shame the splendor rubies can display.
She is a blooming garden where the bee of Krsna loves to play.
She worships surya every day so She and Madhava can meet . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

3. saukumarya-srsta-pallavali-kirti-nigraha
candra-candanotpalendu-sevya-sita-vigraha
svabhimarsa-ballavisa-kama-tapa-badhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Eclipsed by Radha's tenderness, the fame of budding blossoms dims.
The moon, the lotus, sandal paste, and camphor serve Her cooling limbs.
When Krsna burns with love's desires, Her soothing touch dispels the heat . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

4. visva-vandya-yauvatabhivanditapi ya rama
rupa-navya-yauvanadi-sampada na yat-sama
sila-harda-lilaya ca sa yato 'sti nadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Though youthful goddesses adored by all adore the goddess sri,
she lacks Sri Radha's beauty, youth, and every other quality.
so when it comes to lovers' sports, with Radha no one can compete . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

5. rasa-lasya-gita-narma-sat-kalali-pandita
prema-ramya-rupa-vesa-sad-gunali-mandita
visva-navya-gopa-yosid-alito 'pi yadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

In arts like dancing, singing, joking Radha is by far the best.
She shines with endless traits divine, like love and gorgeous form and dress.
Among the famous gopis of Vrndavan, She's supremely sweet . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

6. nitya-navya-rupa-keli-krsnabhava-sampada
krsnaraga-bandha-yauvatesu kampada
krsna-rupa-vesa-keli-lagna-sat-samadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Eternal pastimes, beauty, youth, and love for Krsna make Her rich.
The loving gopis tremble just to see Her love, at highest pitch.
Her meditation on Sri Krsna's form and pastimes is complete . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

7. sveda-kampa-kantakasru-gadgadadi-sancitamarsa-
harsa-vamatadi-bhava-bhusanancita
krsna-netra-tosi-ratna-mandanali-dadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Perspiring, trembling, hairs on end, and crying, falt'ring of the voice,
Impatience, joy, and guile - these signs of rapture make Her friends rejoice.
For Krsna's eyes Her many jeweled ornaments provide a treat . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

8. ya ksanardha-krsna-viprayoga-santatoditaneka-
dainya-capaladi-bhava-vrnda-todita
yatna-labdha-krsna-sanga-nirgatakhiladhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasyadastu radhika

Apart from Krsna for a moment, Radha feels anxiety
And restlessness and other moods - the highest kind of ecstasy.
But when she meets Him with some effort, all Her sufferings retreat . . .
May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet.

9.astakena yas tv anena nauti krsna-vallabham
darsane 'pi sailajadi-yosid-ali-durlabham
krsna-sanga-nanditatma-dasya-sidhu-bhajanam
tam karoti nanditali-sancayasu sa janam

Exalted goddesses like Parvati can hardly ever see
Sri Krsna's lover, Radhika. But if a humble devotee
Recites these verses, then Sri Radha, who enjoys with Sri Hari,
Will pour the nectar of Her service down on him eternally.

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on October 1, 2010 at 12:41pm

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Dohani-Kunda

One day, Kisori Radhika was watching the cows being milked, and She too desired to milk them. She took a clay pot and proceeded to do so. Mischievous Krsna arrived at that spot and said,"Sakhi, don't You know how to milk a cow? Come, I will teach You." And He sat down next to Her.

"O Mohana, teach Me," Radhika said, and She placed Herself in front of Him.

"All right. You milk from two teats and I will milk from the other two, and keep looking at Me." Laughing, Krsna started to milk. Suddenly He aimed a jet of milk at Radha's face, saturating Her with it. He and other sakhis started laughing. This charming pastime has been described in the following Brajbhasa poem:

amem samem baith dou dohat karat thathor
dhudh dhar mukh par padat drg bhaye candr cakor