Tamal Krishna Goswami: “This Braj is in prakad and aprakad, prakad means manifest and aprakad unmanifest. So, we cannot see the Braj without getting the eyes to see Braj, and Giriraj Govardhana has the power to bless us to be able to see. We can pray that 'You have seen everything, you have arranged everything, all of the pastimes happened on your own slope, on your lap.’ Just like if a child is sitting on the lap, you can see very nicely that child. So Krishna and Krishna’s associates, they’re performing their activities right on the lap of Giriraj Govardhana, he has seen everything. So we ask him to bless us with the vision to be able to see in the same way.
At the same time we also want another blessing, and that is the blessing which actually preceeds…comes first. 'Please give us the blessing to somehow be pleasing to our spiritual master,’ because without pleasing the devotee guru, how can one expect to please Krishna. So what is that service or activity which gives pleasure to guru? It is to help the guru in his service to his guru. And what is the guru’s or the guru parampara’s service? To reclaim the fallen conditioned souls. So the first prayer we can also make here is 'Give me some compassion my dear Giriraj Govardhana, give me some determination, give me the qualities by which I can assist my spiritual master and the other devotees of the Lord in the mission of spreading Krishna conciousness. At the same time give me that purity of heart by which one day I will qualify to be able to absorb myself in constantly remembering Your transcendental pastimes.’
This is the goal of our Krishna conciousness movement, to always remember Krishna, never forgetting Krishna.”
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Devotee artist: After Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate Mike Pence said in a speech that we had to stop illegal entry into the country otherwise ‘we’ll have taco trucks on every corner’, a Los Angeles curator invited me to participate in a new art exhibit called 'A Taco Truck on Every Corner’, the theme being, of course, taco trucks.
Remembering Srila Prabhupada’s directions, I dovetailed my abilities with the show’s theme and created a piece called 'Govinda’s Vegetarian and Vegan Taco Truck’.
It turned out to be a popular art piece in both the show and on social media.
Satsvarupa das Goswami: Sri Krishna is “handsomeness and waves of nectar of handsomeness.” (Brhad-Bhagavatamrta). But Srila Prabhupada was seventy or eighty years old. We were all young men, so why were we attracted to this “old man”? (Srila Prabhupada used to say, “I’m an old man, I may die at any moment.” And, “I am a poor foreigner. Why are they after me?”) He had the attractive features of a sage. The way he sat, the shape of his head, the gestures of his hands. He was from the East, like Gautama Buddha. He sat on the floor or on the ground, and whatever furniture he had was at a low center of gravity, no chairs. The aura and look in his eyes was from another world. You can’t describe it, his shining eyes. His eyes signaled, “You can look in my eyes but you will not be able to understand my love of Krishna, but that’s what’s there.” He was childlike also, very sweet but very strong. You couldn’t come before him like a rogue and a rascal and still approach him. You had to accept that he was an elderly person, a guru, and you must be respectful to him, and then things could happen. Then you could begin to perceive his actual beauty; he would relax and allow himself to be taken care of by you and exchange with you.
We were certainly not turned off by the fact that he was an elderly person. We weren’t looking for youth. We knew where our youthful smart-aleckness had gotten us—into trouble and suffering. There was no question of sexual attraction, or as men sometimes do, squaring off with aggressiveness: “Can you beat me up? Can I beat him up?” With Srila Prabhupada, it was freedom from all that because he was the guru, he was old, and he knew so many things that you didn’t know.
Srila Prabhupada kept spelling everything out: He was a representative of Krishna, and Krishna is there in His name, Krishna is there in so many ways, and we can serve Krishna and go to Krishna. Aside from Srila Prabhupada, nobody was going to tell you about Krishna —that Krishna is God and that Krishna is a cowherd boy. Krishna was so “far out” we couldn’t believe it, but every time we went in front of Srila Prabhupada, we had to believe it. He kept up the reality of Krishna. And in the books that he gave out—there was Krishna. He made such a powerful presentation that you said, “Let’s go up and hear the Swami talk about Krishna.” You would come to him with your concoctions, “What about this? And what about that?” But Srila Prabhupada would bring it right back to Krishna and you would accept it. And so, gradually in his presence, hearing about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and devotional service to Krishna, you started becoming Krishna-ized and you realized that Srila Prabhupada had knowledge and influence to do this to people—to create faith in them, for Krishna. But you had to go back regularly to him and get it charged up.
He had unshakeable faith in Krishna, and he could see Krishna. We sometimes imagined how he saw Krishna. We couldn’t quite understand it. When did he talk with Him, in sleep? Srila Prabhupada would say, “Yes, you can talk with Krishna, but He only talks with intimate persons.” We may not have known exactly how, but we did know that we were attracted to him because he had such conviction about Krishna. I remember once in that room he said, “People can talk philosophy about Krishna, but what is their realization?” Then I realized that’s what he’s got—full realization of Krishna. Exactly how he realized, we didn’t know, but we had faith that he was experiencing a huge amount that we were not.
Those who were not his disciples thought he was pretty much like everybody else: an old man with Hindu knowledge, probably the same motives and drives as everybody else. But we disciples believed in him and sensed that his perception of everything was very different from ours. He was in touch with Krishna, and fascinating, attractive and lovable. We could sense his mystic potency. Even Allen Ginsberg saw it: “I would disagree with him and even suspect ego exchanges, but no matter how much I disagreed, I was always glad to be with him because of the aura of sweetness due to his complete dedication.” Nicely put. Even he, although not a disciple, when coming into Srila Prabhupada’s presence, was able to see, “Here is a man who is totally dedicated and in love with Krishna.” That made Srila Prabhupada beautiful; although he appeared to be an old man, he was beautiful because of his love for Krishna.
In this chapter, the passing away of Bhismadev, in the purport to this verse there is a list of challenges for society at large to improve their quality of life. The first challenge is, “Not to become angry!” We remember Upadesamrta, the Nectar of Instruction Verse 1, vaco vegam manasa krodha vegam, one must control the pushings of anger. So even when anger is pushing, one must somehow or other subdue it. Bhismadev also said that in order to conquer anger, one must learn to forgive because it is very difficult to judge with two types of measurements – measurement for others and different measurements for ourselves. For ourselves, there are so many explanations for our mistakes, “It wasn’t really my fault. It was just circumstances. I didn’t intend it that way…”whereas for others, “How could they do that! This is outrageous.” We judge them different and the same extenuating circumstances are not being considered so Bhismadev points out that we must learn to forgive. We have to see that others make mistakes because then we can overcome anger.
Forgiving is not necessarily the same as forgetting. If someone has committed an abominable activity, we may forgive but it does not mean that we forget. We will remember but we will also keep a special eye – if someone puts his fingers in the money box then after that we keep him at a distance from the money box obviously. So forgiving and forgetting is not necessarily the same. Also, there may be a point when we forget, it depends on the seriousness of the offence.
Sometimes though, anger is required. Sometimes, it is necessary to send out a signal that from now it is too much. This has to stop. BANG, fist on the table! Everyone needs that also. It is not that anger per se is bad. Those who are envious sometimes deserve anger. Those who are envious of devotees, we need to sometimes check it with anger. That is also there. But Bhismadev is referring to uncontrolled anger. Controlled anger has a place. Srila Prabhupada would also get angry at times but his anger was always related to Krsna and to whatever was favourable to Krsna. When there was neglect, Prabhupada was not tolerating that. He would point it out!
When I was 21, a close college friend of mine died. Suddenly, just like that. And I felt like someone had cut the phone line and I could never speak to her again. It was over and I was shaken to the core.
That event, among others, made me rethink life. What are we all doing here, where are we going, and what really matters? It propelled me to continue my search, not exactly sure what I was looking for, but certainly something better than what was presenting itself before me.
This week again, when I heard the news that a dear and respected senior devotee passed away, I was again shaken. Just like that – it’s over, life is gone, and the body finished.
ISKCON’s Founder, Srila Prabhupada, said that the fact we don’t want to die, indicates we are eternal, that we don’t actually die. It’s unnatural and uncomfortable for the soul to leave the body, as it’s unnatural for the soul to even be in a body. So we fear death, the pain, the struggle, and the pain we leave behind for others – but in so fearing, we also end up fearing life. We fear to acknowledge life, that life is consciousness and that consciousness, the soul, actually animates the body.
“For the soul, there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” Bhagavad-gita 2.20
My ‘just like that’ moments are like a loud alarm clock. They send me running to the Gita, for words to make sense of it all. They also slow me down and as I sit quietly at the kitchen table I see the large cobweb on the outside window for the first time. Death simplifies and makes the web of life clear – we all have to walk through that door, sooner or later. The promise of bhakti is that with Krishna, no matter how difficult the passage, for us and others, we can make it through with support, shelter, and loving kindness.
On this day in October 1966 I was ten years old and living in a small village in Cornwall. I’d gone out for a walk in the afternoon and wherever I went, people were talking to each other about a terrible thing that had happened that morning in a Welsh village.
I don’t remember hearing about disasters very much when I was young, so this made a deep impression on me. It was as if the whole village felt it. News travelled a little slower back then, but the grainy images on a neighbours black and white television set was showing hundreds of people trying to rescue children from a school that had been covered in an avalanche of mining waste. Thousands of tons of slag, made unstable due to the rain, had slid down a hill and covered houses and an entire primary school. Many children my age had died, I heard.
One neighbour shooed me away, saying to her husband: “He’s too young to listen to this; these are kids his age. He’ll get affected by it.”
Affected I was. For days afterwards we were told harrowing stories of the little children who had been at their lessons when the hill simply slid down on top of their school. The black slag came in through the windows of their classrooms, covering them and everything else. We had bad dreams about it, and wrote letters to ‘The children of Aberfan’ to show our support and solidarity. A collection was taken up, and I brought a threepenny bit from home.
News wasn’t just ‘the news’ then, where you could choose to distant yourself from all the bad things in the world. This was real children who had died, 116 of them within a few minutes, in a small village just like ours, and in a primary school just like ours. We were connected.
Source:https://deshika.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/remembering-aberfan/
The mid-term GBC meeting usually comprises strategic planning sessions with the leaders discussing a range of topics on how to develop and spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world.
The local devotees, headed by TP Brajahari das, provided all the necessary facilities, such as, accommodation, conference halls, office needs and and wonderful prasadam.
Source:http://www.ramaiswami.com/iskcon-gbc-meeting-juhu-part-2/
National Institute of Education (NIE) – Sri Lanka celebrated the annual Navaratri festival during the first week of October. Participants were the Minister of Education Mr. Radhakrishnan and all leading educational officers from different districts of the country. On this occasion, ISKCON devotees were invited as guests along with Buddhist head-monks and Christian priest. As ISKCON’s representative, Vasudeva Datta Prabhu spoke in length on the importance of adding the study of Bhagavad Gita As It Is in the religious school curriculum in Sri Lanka. He stressed that the students are the future of the country, so it is great responsibility on the teachers, professors and government officers to give proper spiritual guidance to their pupils. Not only this, they should first teach by their good example – yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah. He explained the word “acharya” and cautioned the esteemed audience not to be like his European teacher who would with a cigarette in his hand say to the students – “It is not good to smoke”.
He also explained that ISKCON devotees are offering various seminars and giving practical guidance to university students on how to give up their bad habits and how to live a pure life based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna. At the end of the speech, the minister jubilantly came to the stage to receive a copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Tamil. Seeing this, the Director General of NIE Mrs. Jayanthi Gunasekara also stood up from the audience and indicated that she would also like to have a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Vasudeva Prabhu called her on the stage and gifted her a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in English.
The Minister of Education approved on the importance of Bhagavad Gita and he was impressed with the proposal of including Bhagavad Gita in school curriculum for the Hindu students. He assured that he would try to do it. He welcomed devotees to meet him at his office anytime in the future.
NIE is very influential institute because it is the place where the school syllabus for the entire country is designed and published. Thus we hope that this step would be a turning point to disseminate the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita throughout the country through the educational system.
The photos from the event were published in Veerakesari, the most prominent Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka.
To see more photos click here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1849171755301611.1073741889.1639909306227858&type=3
– Sudarshan Cakra dasa
GBC meetings in Mumbai.
The GBC Body today is meeting with the Indian ISKCON Bureau at Juhu in Mumbai.
In Racitambara’s great desire to find the absolute truth, she traveled throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States studying different religions. Finally, she gave herself fully to God, knowing He would surely help her.
Racitambara Devi Dasi (in the photo with the light blue sari): I was 22 and it was November 17, 1972 when I left home with only the clothes on my back and the prayer, “Please, God, help me find You.” After about two hours of praying and walking in Vancouver, Canada, I was standing on the corner of Georgia and Granville when Bhakta John said, “Hey, little lady, would you like some incense?” I said, “No, thank you, I’m looking for God.” He said, “Well, you’ve found Him!” He opened the Bhagavad-gita and showed me the picture of Gopal with His arm around a calf and said, “God is a blue boy with a flute.” I said, “Man, you’re crazy. I’ve studied many different religions, but no one’s told me God is a blue boy with a flute!” He opened to Srila Prabhupada’s picture and said, “This is our spiritual master and he believes it.” I looked at Srila Prabhupada’s picture and thought, “This is the wisest, most all-knowing person in the world. If he believes it, it must be true.” I bought a Bhagavad-gita, wandered down the street, and met a friend who let me stay with her.
After that I met devotees every day – Bhakta John who became Caitanya Simha Dasa and Bhakta Roger who became Riddha Dasa – and each day they gave me a gift. I started attending the Sunday feasts and then moved into the temple. I never left, but later married Caitanya Simha. After a short time we moved to Los Angeles.
In December ’73 Srila Prabhupada arrived at the L.A. airport greeted by a huge kirtan. I was at the back of the crowd with two youngish businessmen behind me, also excitedly looking on. Suddenly there was Srila Prabhupada, and when I offered my obeisances it was like a tidal wave welled up from my inner being and poured out and I cried and cried. It was so purifying. When I finally stood I saw the two businessmen had tears pouring down their faces, too.
One of my main services was to make the cookies Srila Prabhupada gave to the children after class. We called them “Prabhupada cookies,” and they were made of butter, flour, and sugar in a simple ratio. I wouldn’t have dreamed of making anything but these type of cookies. I would run home after mangala-arati, make the cookies, arrange them neatly on a tray, and bring them in time for guru-puja and place them behind Prabhupada’s vyasasana.
Once, Prabhupada was coming to Los Angeles from Hawaii. Ramesvara Prabhu, our GBC, told us that Srila Prabhupada was gravely ill and wouldn’t be coming to the temple to see the Deities. “Are there any questions?” he asked. I said, “Should I make the cookies?” In front of two devotees, Ramesvara said, “Stupid woman! I just said how sick Prabhupada is and how he’s not coming to the temple, and she wants to know if he’s going to give cookies to the children!” I was so shocked by what he said that I wanted to be like Sita and let the earth open and swallow me. I slinked home, crying, and my husband, trying to make me feel better, said, “Service is absolute. You should make the cookies, and later you can offer them to a picture of Srila Prabhupada and give them to the children in the playground.” I made the cookies, and the next morning Prabhupada, supported by two devotees, came into the temple room and offered his obeisances before each of the three altars. He took caranamrita and said, “There must be guru-puja.” He was so weak he had trouble getting onto the Vyasasana. After guru-puja he said, “There must be class.” He could hardly hold himself up, and even though he was speaking into the microphone, it was hard to hear him because he was so weak. Still, he gave a short class. After the class the devotees wanted him to return to his room, but Prabhupada said, “No, where are the cookies? The children are waiting for cookies.” Ramesvara said, “Cookies!” in an odd voice, and I said, “I have the cookies!” I was so pleased that I had done my service and I later thanked my husband for inspiring me.
Once, when I found a cow cookie cutter, I thought, “How wonderful! Srila Prabhupada will remember the Vrindavan cows!” I made beautifully decorated cow-shaped cookies and took them to Srila Prabhupada. Palika offered the cookies to Prabhupada, and later told me, “Prabhupada said, ‘They think I will eat the cow?’” I threw the cow cookie cutter away.
Once, I made carob-mint ice cream for Srila Prabhupada. I gave it to Prabhupada’s servant and said, “Please, can you take it to Srila Prabhupada?” He said, “Prabhupada doesn’t eat carob.” I said, “I worked so hard to make this. Please!” I was almost crying. “All right,” he said, I’ll take it in.” The servant came back a few minutes later and said, “Do you have more of that ice cream? Prabhupada ate the whole bowl and would like another.”
For the 4 o’clock offering I used to cut the grapes in half and take the seeds out. Once Prabhupada sampled the offering and said, “Tell the cook that sometimes Krishna likes to suck on the seeds. She doesn’t always have to take the seeds out of the grapes.”
Srila Prabhupada’s window overlooked an alleyway that was quite scary at night. It was the time of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., and I was always afraid someone would take a shot at Prabhupada. I’d get up about 1 a.m. and chant my rounds in the alleyway looking up at him. He was always before me. His window would be open and I’d hear him either chanting his rounds or translating. I felt I was somehow protecting him. Of course, what could I have done?
In July ’76, Prabhupada told my husband, “We’ve just purchased a thirteen-story building in New York. I want you to go and rewire, replumb, reorganize, and paint it. When do you think it can be ready?”
My husband calculated and was about to say they could have it ready in a year when Prabhupada smiled and said, “I am scheduled to be in New York in six weeks.” My husband came home and said, “Pack up – we’re on the first plane to New York in the morning.” I never went back to Los Angeles.
Prabhupada said something and we did it. I don’t remember sleeping for six weeks. I painted, and my husband was everywhere at once with work crews ripping this and doing that. It was a wonderful marathon, and six weeks later the temple was finished. It was astounding. When Srila Prabhupada’s car drove up, the devotees lined the walkway from the road to the front door, each with a gift for him. My husband, who’d been doing last minute things, came running out and saw that everybody had a gift but him. He ran back in, found an old blackened rose, and came out again. Srila Prabhupada glided along wonderfully slow and regally with his head held high, looking at the temple. Devotees gave him garlands, chadars, fruit, flowers, and Prabhupada kept handing them to his servant. When he was in front of my husband, Srila Prabhupada stopped, waited, and put his right hand out like he was expecting something. By now, my husband had hidden the blackened rose behind his back, thinking it unworthy of being offered, but now he slowly brought it out and put it in Srila Prabhupada’s hand. Prabhupada wrapped his two hands around the rose and said, “Thank you very much.” Prabhupada was pleased with everything in the temple.
In Juhu, Srila Prabhupada asked my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, “Would you like to ride in my car?” It was like one child with a wonderful idea speaking to another. My daughter looked at me for permission, and then said, “Yes, Srila Prabhupada.” She got in the back with Srila Prabhupada and they drove to his apartment. That happened every day for two weeks, and each time it was like a brand new idea, child to child.
In early ’77, when Prabhupada came to Juhu for the last time, I was at the back of the crowd thinking, “Oh, Srila Prabhupada, you have so many disciples. I’m also your disciple, but do you know me?” Srila Prabhupada got out of his car and instead of sweeping into the building as we expected, he stopped, looked over the crowd, and saw me. He looked deep into my eyes, into the soul, gave me a smile as if a million suns had come out at once, and nodded his head. I clearly heard him say, “Of course, I know you. We have an eternal relationship.” Since then I’ve always felt Prabhupada is with me and knows me, for we have an eternal relationship.
Then Prabhupada went inside and got on the elevator. I offered my obeisances with my little daughter next to me. But when I stood up, my daughter was gone! I called out, “Has anyone seen my daughter?” Someone said, “Didn’t you see? Prabhupada called her into the elevator!” I ran upstairs and there she was, sitting at Prabhupada’s feet. Prabhupada picked out a piece of pineapple from a huge tray of cut fruit and popped it into her mouth. How did he know that pineapple was her favorite fruit? The last six months of my pregnancy I ate a pineapple every day because I craved it – it was her craving. She still loves pineapple. Out of so many varieties of fruits, Prabhupada picked out and fed that one to her.
Later, my family was living at the farm in Hyderabad when we heard that Srila Prabhupada was sick in Vrindavan. We purchased cheap train tickets, traveled sitting on our suitcases with the chickens and the goats, and arrived in Vrindavan to have Bhavananda tell us, “You can’t go in to see Srila Prabhupada. He’s not seeing anybody.” We said, “You have no idea of the austerity we went through to get here. Please, let us see Srila Prabhupada one last time!” But he said it was impossible. So the three of us went out and stood in front of Prabhupada’s long French doors, knowing that he was just on the other side, in bed. We were saying our last prayers to Srila Prabhupada when suddenly the curtains and doors opened and we saw him. We offered our obeisances and felt satisfied. Bhavananda later said, “Those curtains and doors hadn’t been opened for months, but Srila Prabhupada had told his servant, suddenly, to open them. Srila Prabhupada knew. He just knew.
The Madan Mohan Temple, established by Sanatan Goswami, was the first temple to be erected in Vrindavan on the order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago. Near the temple is the sacred samadhi of Sanatan Goswami. Our parikrama party of 375 devotees enjoyed many hours discussing the glories of Lord Caitanya and His associates. We also relished chanting the holy names as we viewed the sacred waters of the Yamuna river a short distance away.
Source:https://www.facebook.com/indradyumna/posts/10207468803501204
On the evening of 17th October, world renowned Bollywood playback singer, Alka Yagnik, and her daughter, Syesha, came to meet HH Jayapataka Swami at Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Mandir, ISKCON Juhu. They were thrilled to meet Maharaja. Alka Yagnik also sang a short maha mantra kirtan in which all the devotees joined in to sing. They discussed various topics from chanting to Mayapur to the Bangla language. Both Alka and Syesha were inspired and expressed interest in meeting and collaborating with Iskcon in the near future.
Worshippers of faiths from all corners of the world now call Houston home.
A Hare Krishna temple - ISKCON Houston – was built in 1969, and by the 1970s, the city’s Hindu community had begun expanding dramatically.
At first, devotees met in each other’s homes; now, mandirs are sprinkled throughout suburban Houston, most notably in Pearland, Stafford and Sugar Land.
The community has now swelled to more than 120,000 people, according to Vijay Pallod, a spokesman for Hindus in Houston, who immigrated here in 1980.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/VRwY2S
The question many ask is, what is so special about Kartik month that the Vedic scriptures, which do not exaggerate at all, praise it so lavishly? Why rewards offered during this month are so great, to the extent of being unbelievable?
We have heard of people dancing on the new year day, on birthdays, in clubs and in parties. Such dancing lasts for a day or two; may be a week. But one full month of nonstop dancing? That sounds insane. Surprisingly, that is the case with the devotees of Lord Krishna, especially the Hare Krishnas, during the Damodara month, also known as Kartik.
You have heard how special Kartik month is and how it gives rich rewards to devotees. If you are like me, you may have wondered what makes it so special. There must be a reason behind it.
Everything and every event in the world has a reason. This applies to the smallest atoms in a molecule as well as to the gigantic galaxies mystically floating in the universe. It is only when we cannot understand the reason behind a phenomena or an event that we call it a coincident or an accident. There are many verses in the Vedic scriptures that glorify the Kartik month for its magnanimous nature. We have described its glories in the article titledThe most rewarding Damodara month is back. The internet is filled with information on what smart people do during this month and why they do it.
One article described the benefits offered during Kartik vrata, or Damodara month aTranscendental Big Billion offer. Another called it the month of Sale. In reality though, the benefits one can receive by doing even little devotional service during this month are way beyond the imagination of the performer. Any worldly reward, including the so-called big billions, are too tiny to be compared with the generously distributed rewards during Kartik month.
The question many ask is, what is so special about Kartik month that the Vedic scriptures, which do not exaggerate at all, praise it so lavishly? Why rewards offered during this month are so great, to the extent of being unbelievable? Not only that, why any devotional service performed during this month earns thousands times the benefit? What makes this month so extraordinarily special that people around the world leave all their work in order to grab the opportunity to offer even a little service to Lord Krishna?
Offering a ghee lamp, some fresh fruits and flowers to Their Lordships, offering water to Tulasi Devi, taking dips in the sacred waters of holy rivers or ponds in the early morning, visiting a nearby Vishnu temple and paying obeisances to the Deities…. Indeed, the list of what services one can render during this month is big and the benefits derived are even bigger.
Devotees offering ghee lamps to Lord Damodara during Kartik month
So, again, what is it that makes this month so special?
Have you heard of King’s birthday? Do you know how the emperors used to give out expensive gifts to citizens, almost indiscriminately, on certain days, like Queen’s birthday, Prince’ birthday or on the wedding ceremony of the Princess? There are two main reasons why they do so; 1) they are very happy on those days, and 2) they are extremely wealthy and generous.
If an earthly emperor can give out liberally when he is happy, why cannot the owner of the universe? It is said that when God gives, He gives in abundance. When God gives, He gives in style; His own style. The inconceivable benefits offered during Kartik month is just an example of what God can do when He is pleased with someone. The best part is, it is very easy to please Him, especially during this month.
Lord Krishna, who is also known as Lord Hari, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What it means is, He alone is the master of the entire cosmic manifestation. Brahma-samhita and other Vedic scriptures declare that the innumerable Vishnu forms are Lord Krishna’s expansions or expansion of His expansions. The same Lord Krishna has declared that Kartik month is His dearmost month.
“Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to Me; of all months, Kartik is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days, Ekadashi is most dear.” (Padma Purana, Uttara Khand 112 .3 )
Skanda purana says:
“As Satya-yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as Ganga is the best of rivers, so Kartik is the best of months, the most dear to Lord Krishna.”
Numerous other statements are found in the Vedic scriptures showing how Kartik month, being very dear to Lord Krishna, is greatly rewarding. Just as a Prince’ birthday is very dear to the King and just as he generously distributes gifts to citizens on such occasions, Lord Hari magnanimously gives out big rewards during this month. We all know there is no limit to Lord Krishna’s capacity to give out, His love for His devotees, and His inconceivably magnanimous nature. He can give unlimited to unlimited people and still have unlimited. That is Him.
This is confirmed in Sri Isopanishad:
“The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance. (Supreme Absolute Truth is the complete Personality of Godhead – Mayapur Voice)
Now that we read how Kartik month is very dear to the Supreme Lord and how that makes it supremely beneficial, one more question can come to mind – what makes Kartik Lord Krishna’s most dear month? In other words, why out of total 12 months, Lord Krishna says that Kartik is the most dear to Him?
Answer to this question is given by Lord Krishna Himself. It is mentioned in Padma Purana, Kartik mahatmaya, 3rd adhyaya, that once Lord Krishna’s dear wife Satyabhama devi asked Him what made her so fortunate that she became His wife. In reply, Lord Krishna narrated a story from her past life how she had performed austerities during the Kartik month. Devi Satyabhama then asked why Kartik month was so exalted. This time Lord Krishna recalled the conversation that took place between Sri Narada Muni and Prithu Maharaj, the son of King Vena. It was the story of Shankhasura, the demon who stole the Vedas, and how Lord Vishnu, in His Matsya incarnation, killed him and restored the Vedas.
When Shankhasura noticed that although he had defeated the demigods they were still powerful, he realized that it was due to the Vedic mantras. So he went to Brahma loka, stole the Vedic mantras and hid them in the ocean. When the demigods realized it, they, headed by Lord Brahma, went to Lord Vishnu and chanted prayers to wake Him up from yoga-nidra. On waking up, Lord Vishnu assured them that He would kill the demon and bring back the Vedic mantras along with their seeds. Lord Vishnu then said that just like the demigods offered Him prayers, whoever worships Him during that period of the year, that is, 11th day of Shukla paksha of Ashvini month to 11th day of Shukla paksha of Kartik month, known as Deva-uthi ekadhashi, will please Him immensely and attain His abode. This is how the Kartik month became so glorious and dear to Lord Hari. It was the 11th day of Kartik when Lord Hari woke up from His yoga-nidra and incarnated as Matsyavatara (Fish incarnation). The word Deva-uthi ekadashi literally means the ekadashi when Lord Vishnu woke up from yoga-nidra. While narrating this story, Lord Krishna stressed the importance of religious observances during Kartik to Queen Satyabhama.
As mentioned earlier, in other articles we have covered more details on the type of devotional service one can offer and its corresponding rewards. However, we thought it appropriate to mention at least a few of them here explaining why devotees specifically offer ghee lamps.
“In the month of Kartik, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who bathes early in the morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of pilgrimage. Anybody who offers the Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartik, O brahmana, becomes free from all kinds of sins, such as killing a brahmana, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari.” -Padma Purana
“When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink.” – Skanda Purana
“By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse.- Skanda Purana
“Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Karttika.” Skanda Purana –http://www.jayapatakaswami.com/?page_id=2530
Offering of ghee lamps to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna is the most popular service that devotees render throughout this month. Offering of lamps can be done at home, at office, at clubs and even in hospitals. ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, organizes spiritual campaigns to inspire people to offer ghee lamps to Sri Sri Radha Damodara at least once everyday during the Kartik vrata. Devotees chant prayers called Damodarastakam and dance jubilantly in front of the Deities. The specialty of the ISKCON devotees, widely known as the Hare Krishnas, is that they have Radha-Krishna temples in all corners of the world. Being in different time zones, at any given time chanting and dancing is going on in one or more of their temples in the world.
As we know, this month is also known as Damodara month as Lord Krishna’s Damodara pastime took place during this month. Considering how rendering devotional service during Damodara month brings all auspiciousness to the performer, one can only thank Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, for his enormous contribution to the welfare of human society.
If you are not offering ghee lamps to Lord Krishna during the Kartik month, it is high time you start it at the first opportunity. The benefits mentioned in the scriptures for devotional service performed during this month are not imaginary; they are for real. Sincere seekers of happiness should take such scriptural injunctions seriously and perfect their human life.
Source:http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/month-full-dancing-makes-kartik-month-special/
Damodara lila special
One of the important legends associated with Diwali is Damodara lila, a pastime in which mother Yashoda tried to tie Krishna with a rope. The rope turned out to be two fingers short. So she tied more rope, but, no matter how many ropes she tied together, the combined rope remained two fingers short.
This pastime signifies that no matter how much we try, we will always fall short in our attempts to understand God with our intelligence. Modern science is finding the same about the universe too, which, the Vedic literatures state, is a product of God’s superintelligence. Centuries of cosmological research has increased scientific information, but not scientific understanding, because of “two” unexpected trends:
1. The more scientists know, the more they realize how little they know –
Science “conquered” space – and realized how little it knew about space. To the uninformed, space missions proved human greatness. To the well informed, they showed human smallness. Space research reveals that there are more stars in the universe than all the grains of sand on all the beaches of earth, and our sun is just one of these cosmic grains. No wonder former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Kenneth R Boulding admitted, “Cosmology… is likely to be very insecure because it studies a very large universe with a small and biased sample.”
2. The more scientists know, the more they realize what they previously “knew” was wrong –
Newton’ laws were considered bedrock truths of physics till they were found inapplicable in the microscopic and the macroscopic realms. Quantum physics was developed to explain the atomic world, and relativistic physics for the cosmic. But then both of them turned out to be violently contradictory. As both have to coexist at the origin of the universe – when both the microscopic and the macroscopic were one, science had the formidable challenge of devising with a Theory of Everything (ToE) to unify these irreconcilable pillars of science. Let’s review the history of the development of the ToE:
Initial vain roar: Physicist Leon Lederman, former president of the American Physical Society, “we hope to explain the entire universe in a single, simple formula that you can wear on your T-shirt.”
Subsequent exasperated grunt: Astrophysicist Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in physics, “As we make progress understanding the expanding universe, the problem itself expands, so that the solution always seems to recede from us,”
Final concealed whimper: Theoretical physicist John Wheeler of Princeton University, “Never run after a bus or woman or cosmological theory, because there’ll always be another one in a few minutes.”
Going back to the pastime, the rope Mother Yashoda was trying to tie around Krishna was only two fingers short. But the rope of ToE that science has been trying to tie around the universe is not only short, but also broken, as Stephen Hawking confessed, “The theories (in physics) we have so far are both inconsistent and incomplete.”
Mother Yashoda did eventually succeed in tying Krishna – but only after when Krishna, by His own grace, let Himself be bound. Similarly science can understand the universe, especially our place and purpose within it – but only when it harmonizes with super intelligence by researching and applying the verifiable spiritual science delineated in BG, thus paving the way for spiritual revelation.
That’s not as unscientific as it may sound. A scientist no lesser than founder of quantum physics Nobel Laureate Max Planck stated, ” For religion, God is at the beginning; for science, God is at the end.” And science has started reaching that end by its discovery of “fine tuning” of the universe – micro-precise adjustment of the values and inter-relationships of at least 80 parameters essential for life. Obviously fine-tuning needs a fine tuner. Of course, diehard devotees of atheism have proposed chance and multiple universe theories, but these are all intrinsically unproven and unprovable. They fit better the realm of science-fiction than science.
When scientists accept the verdict of their own evidence, they will remove the obstacle in a long-overdue spiritual leap of science. Lest they hesitate or falter in this bold step, renowned physicist Micheal Faraday’s reminder can urge them on, “We ought to value the privilege of knowing God’s truth far beyond anything we can have in this world.”
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From Back to Godhead
A time filled with love, devotion, and gratitude.
After going through the intense summer and a humid monsoon, we in India perceive sarat, or autumn, as one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. According to the vedic calendar, Sarat falls during the months of Asvin and Karttika, of which Karttika carries special significance because it is favored by Lord Krishna.
Everyone loves certain foods, drinks, clothes, and music, and Lord Krishna is no exception. In fact, we have our likes because we are parts of Krishna, who has His own personal likes. Krishna loves butter, yellow clothing, peacock feathers, cows, flutes, and the land of vrindavan. Similarly, of all months, He loves Karttika the best.
A Month of Love
Devotional service can be performed at any time, in any place, yet devotees know well that devotional service performed during Karttika is especially pleasing to the Lord. Therefore they perform additional austerities and devotional practices during this month. Although the vedic scriptures describe in detail material benefits one may derive by performing devotional service during Karttika, pure devotees of Lord Krishna have no interest in these. rather, they are interested only in pleasing the Lord. every year, ISKCON devotees eagerly await the arrival of Karttika, when they daily sing the Damodarastakam prayers and offer heartfelt love and devotion as they circle ghee lamps before the Lord. Throughout the month they are so immersed in the childhood pastimes of Krishna as damodara that you can hear them constantly sing about them.
The Damodarastakam prayers, composed by Satyavrata muni, beautifully describe the damodara pastime, in which Yasoda binds mischievous Krishna to a grinding mortar. The prayers also give information about God, His devotees, and the science of devotional service. The essential lessons we learn from the pastime and the Damodarastakam prayers is that the all-pervading, allpowerful Lord is easily conquered by the love of His devotee and that the love-saturated devotees desire nothing except to constantly hear and glorify His pastimes.
O Lord damodara, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor for the highest liberation of eternal life in vaikuntha, nor for any other, similar boon. o Lord, I simply wish that this form of Yours as baby Gopala in vrindavana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to me of any other boon besides thisn Your supremely enchanting face, encircled by shining locks of dark-blue curling hair, resembles the fully blossomed lotus tinged with a reddish luster due to its being kissed again and again by mother Yasoda. may this vision of Your lotus face, with lips as red as a bimba fruit, remain forever in my heart. millions of other benedictions are of no benefit to me. Damodarastakam 4–5
This prayer reveals the mood of pure devotional service and the life of pure devotees the essence and the sweetness of the month of Karttika.
The Damodara Pastime
According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Lord Krishna enacted the damodara-lila on the day of dipavali (diwali). In this pastime, which is described in the Tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Krishna angered His mother, Yasoda, by breaking a pot of butter. He then ran away when He saw a furious Yasoda chasing Him. After a great struggle, Yasoda caught baby Krishna and tried to bind Him with rope to a grinding mortar. but surprisingly, she found the rope she was using was two inches too short. Although she added more rope, every time she tried to bind Krishna she found the rope was short by exactly two inches. Finally, Krishna, appreciating His mother’s hard endeavor, agreed to be bound. devotees then began to call Him damodara, “one whose udara (belly) is bound by dama (ropes).” Srila Prabhupada writes:
Yogis, mystics, want to catch Krishna as Paramatma, and with great austerities and penances they try to approach Him, yet they cannot. Here we see, however, that Krishna is going to be caught by Yasoda and is running away in fear. This illustrates the difference between the bhakta and the yogi. Yogis cannot reach Krishna, but for pure devotees like mother Yasoda, Krishna is already caught. Krishna was even afraid of mother Yasoda’s stick. . . . Krishna is afraid of mother Yasoda, and yogis are afraid of Krishna. Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.9, Purport
When devotees see the master of the entire universe bound by the love of His devotee, their hearts are filled with extreme gratitude. Attracted by Krishna’s divine qualities, their hearts are uncontrollably pulled toward Him. Although devotees do not wish to subdue the Lord, He takes extra pleasure in being ordered and controlled by His devotees. each tries to be controlled by the other, because where love is present, happiness lies not in winning but in being won over. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.16.34), “The Lord and the devotees both conquer. The Lord is conquered by the devotees, and the devotees are conquered by the Lord. because of being conquered by one another, they both derive transcendental bliss from their relationship.”
After immersing their minds in this wonderful pastime for an entire month, devotees feel much more closely connected to their Lord. You can also try this immersion. If possible, visit an ISKCON temple and take part in the Damodar- astakam prayers throughout Karttika, offering your own devotion to Lord damodara with your lamp. If you cannot visit an ISKCON temple, please arrange to sing these prayers and offer lamps at home.
Other Events in Karttika
After killing the demon ravana, Lord ramacandra entered Ayodhya on dipavali. To celebrate this event the residents of Ayodhya used lamps to illuminate the city, which in the Lord’s fourteen-year absence had come to resemble a city haunted by ghosts.
Damodarashtakam – Back To Godhead
Ayodhya is like our heart, and Sita-rama are the life-force within that heart. Ayodhya was once a wealthy city, but when Sita and rama left it, the residents felt they had lost their hearts and behaved like moving corpses. It is impossible to describe the mental agony these people suffered in separation from their beloved Lord. They performed their daily duties only as a formality and maintained their lives only in the hope that one day they would again see Lord rama. caitanya mahaprabhu expressed His own feelings of separation in His Siksastaka (7): sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. “In Your absence, I feel that the entire universe is a dreary void.”
When Lord rama returned to Ayodhya, the city’s residents regained their life and their distressed hearts lit up with joy. This light became manifest in the form of lighted lamps.
Govardhana Puja also falls in the month of Karttika. When Krishna convinced nanda maharaja to stop the family’s traditional Indra Puja, an infuriated Indra sent a heavy downpour of rain over vrindavan. but because Krishna protected vrindavan, Indra could not destroy even a particle of dust of this holy land. With the little finger of His left hand, Krishna effortlessly lifted Govardhana Hill and crushed Indra’s pride, thus protecting the devotees of vrindavan.
This pastime, too, proves Krishna’s unlimited love for His devotees. In the Bhagavad-gita (18.66) Krishna assures us that if we abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender to Him, He will protect us in all situations. by lifting Govardhana Hill, Krishna showed how He will go to any extent to protect His loving devotees. by meditating on this pastime, devotees feel extremely grateful and are ready to give up everything and surrender to Krishna.
Finally, for devotees of ISKCON the month of Karttika holds another importance: ISKCON’s founder-acarya, His divine Grace A. c. bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, left this world during this month and rejoined Lord Krishna in His eternal pastimes in the spiritual world. everyone, especially devotees in ISKCON, will remain eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada, without whose guidance we would have never understood the significance of damodara-lila, dipavali, Govardhana Puja, or Karttika, nor would we have appreciated the inconceivable love between the Lord and His devotee.
Glories of the Month of Karttika
From Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, Sixteenth Vilasa, Volume One
In The Skanda Purana it is said: “The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Karttika.”
In the Padma Purana it is said: “of the twelve months, Karttika is the most dear to Lord Krishna. To anyone who even slightly worships Lord visnu during its time, the month of Karttika gives residence in Lord visnu’s transcendental abode.”
“Lord Krishna is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of Karttika. Lord Krishna glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to offer.”
“O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Karttika hears the topics of Lord Hari becomes free from the sufferings of hundreds and millions of births.”
“They who during the month of Karttika bathe, keep an allnight vigil, offer lamps, and protect a tulasi forest attain spiritual forms like Lord vishnu’s.”
Authorities and Lawyers (2:10:51)
Any question that is put forward may be answered by quoting the authority, and that satisfies the saner section. That is the system even in the law court. The best lawyer gives evidence from the past judgement of the court without taking much trouble to establish his case. This is called the parampara system and learned authorities follow it without manufacturing rubbish interpretations.
Activities (Material and Spiritual) & Milk Preparations (4:30:19)
Material activities for sense gratification are the cause of material bondage, whereas the very same activities for the satisfaction of Krsna are the cause of liberation. How the same activity can be the cause of bondage and liberation can be explained as follows. One may get indigestion due to eating too many milk preparations condensed milk, sweet rice, and so on. But even though there is indigestion or diarrhea, another milk preparation yogurt mixed with black pepper and salt will immediately cure these maladies. In other words, one milk preparation can cause indigestion and diarrhea, and anoher milk preparation can cure them.
Atheists and Criminals
When there is too much lawlessness and there are too many criminals, the state becomes overburdened and disturbed, and the state administrator are puzzled about what to do. Similarly, when the world is overrun by demons and atheists, they create a burden, and the demigods, the pious administrators of the universe, become perplexed. When the people of a state abide by the laws, administration is easy, but if people are criminals they overburden the state administrators. A similar situation sometimes upsets the balance of the cosmic affairs of this material world. Both he demons and the demigods always exist, but when the demoniac power increases, the world is overburdened. It is the system that the demigods approach Lord Brahma for assistance.
Body and Fortress (3:14:20)
Of the four orders of human society, the householder is on the safe side. The bodily senses are considered plunderers of the fort of the body. The wife is supposed to be the commander of the fort, and therefore whenever there is an attack on the body by the senses, it is the wife who protects the body from being smashed. The sex demand is inevitable for everyone, but one who has a fixed wife is saved from the onslaught of the sense enemies.
Bodies and Firewood (3:28:43)
As fire is exhibited in different forms of wood, so, under diferent conditions of the modes of material nature, the pure spirit soul manifests itself in diferent bodies.
Body’s Occupant and Apartment’s Tenant (TQK, P.158)
Although one may claim that the body is his, he does not even know how it is working. A tenant in an apartment may pay rent and somehow or other occupy the apartment and enjoy its utilities, although he may not actually know how the heat and tap water are working. Similarly, although we do not know the details of how the body works, we are using this body, which actually belongs not to us but to Krsna.
Body in Krsna Consciousness and Iron in Fire (POP p.4)
The spiritual body is developed through the practice of Krsna consciousness. This material body is spiritualized by this bhakti yoga process. If you place an iron within fire, the iron becomes so hot that it also becomes fiery. When the iron is red hot, it aquires all the qualities of fire. If you touch something with that iron, that iron will act as fire. Similarly, although this body is material, it can become spiritualized through Krsna consciousness and act as spirit.
Creation and Goat’s Neck Bags (1:3:2)
We should not expect milk from the fleshy bags on the neck of a goat, although they look like breastly nipples. Similarly, we should not expect any creative power from the material ingredients; we must believe in the power of the purusha who impregnates prakrti, or nature.
Creation and Dreams (2:1:39)
Being an emanation from the glancing potency of Narayana, the whole material creation is nondiferent from Him. But because it is the effect of His external energy (bahiranga maya) and is aloof from the internal potency (atma maya), the whole material creation is different from Him at the same time. The example given in this verse very nicely is that of the dreaming man. The dreaming man creates many things in his dream, and thus he himself becomes the entangled seer of the dream and is also affected by the consequences. This material creation is also exactly a dreamlike creation of the Lord, but He, being the transcendental Supersoul, is neither entangled nor affected by the reactions of such a dreamlike creation. He is always in His transcendental position, but essentially He is everything, and nothing is apart from Him.
Creation and Seasons (4:31:15)
During the rainy season, water is generated from the sun, and in due course of time, during the summer season, the very same water is again absorbed by he sun. Similarly, all living entities, moving and inert, are generated from the earth, and again, after some time, they all return to the earth as dust. Similarly, everything emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in due course of time everything enters into Him again.
Creation and Marriage (TLK p.202)
One may ask why Narayana has created us, why it is we are part and parcel of Narayana. Eko Bahu shyam. Why has Narayana become many? He has created us for enjoyment. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat. He has created us in the same way a gentleman accepts a wife. If one takes on a wifw, he will beget children. A man takes on the responsibility of maintaining a wife and children because he thinks that through them he will enjoy life. In the material world we see that during the evening a man tries to enjoy life with his wife, children and friends. Therefore he takes on so many responsibilities. This is supposed to be ananda, bliss, but because it takes place in the material world, the ananda is converted into something distasteful. However, we can enjoy this ananda when we are with our Supreme Father, Krsna.
Cosmic Dissolution and Sleep (3:5:24)
The cosmic manifestation gives the conditioned souls a chance to go back home, back to Godhead, and that is its main purpose. The Lord is so kind that in the absence of such a manifestation He feels something wanting, and thus the creation takes place. Although the creation of the internal potency was manifested, the other potency appeared to be sleeping, and the Lord wanted to awaken her to activity, just as a husband wants to awaken his wife from the sleeping state for enjoyment.
Conditioned Soul and Diseased Man (3:28:44)
After Brahman realization, one can engage in the activities of Brahman. As long as one is not self realized, he engages in activities based on false identification with the body. When one is situated in his real self, then the activities of Brahman realization begin. The Mayavadi philosophers say that after Brahman realization, all the activities stop, but that is not actually so. If the soul is so active in its abnormal condition, existing under the covering of matter, how one can deny its activity when free? An example may be cited here. If a man in a diseased condition is very active, how can one imagine that when he is free from the disease he will be inactive? Naturally the conclusion is that when one is free from all desease his activities are pure. It may be said that the activities of Brahman realization are different from those of ocnditional life, but that does not stop activity.
Coverings of Lust and Smoke, Fire and Embryo (BG 3:38)
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of lust.
PURPORT:Ther are three degrees of covering of the living entity by which his pure consciousness is obscured. This covering is but lust under different manifestations like smoke in the fire, dust on the mirrror, and the womb about the embryo. When lust is compared to smoke, it is understood that the fire of the living spark can be a little perceived. In others words, when the living entity exhibits his Krsna consciousness slightly, he may be likened to the fire covered by smoke. Although fire is necessary where there is smoke, there is no covert manifestation of fire in the aearly stage. This stage is like the beginning of Krsna consciousness. The dust on the mirror refers to a cleansing process of the mirrror of the mind by so many spirirtual methods. The best process is to chant the holy names of the Lord. The embryo covered by the womb is an analogy illustrating a helpless position, for the child in the womb is so helpless that he cannot even move. This stage of living condition can be comapred to that of the trees. The covered mirror is compared to the birds and beasts, and the smoke covered fire is compared to the human being.
Devotees of the Lord, Karmis, King’s Son and Orphans (1:5:19)
A karmi suffers the result of his own fruitive reactions, whereas a devotee is reformed by chastisement directed by the Lord Himself. The suffering of an orphan and the suffering of a beloved child of a king are not one and the same. An orphan is really poor because he has no one to take care of him, but a beloved son of a rich man, although he appears to be on the same level as the orphan, is always under the vigilance of his capable father.
Devotee and Magnate’s Son ((2:6:6)
The parts and parcels of the Lord are endowed with specific powers for rendering service unto the Lord, just as a big business magnate’s son is empowered with specific powers of administration. The obedient son of the father never goes against the will of the father and therefore passes life very peacefully in concurrence with the head of the family, the father. Similarly, the Lord being the father, all living beings should fully and satisfactorily discharge the duty and will of the father, as faithful sons. This very mentality will at once bring prosperity to human society.
Devotee of the Lord and Father’s Child (4:20:31)
It is the duty of the son to depend upon his father without asking anything from him. The good son has faith that the father knows best how to benefit him. Similarly, a pure devotee does not ask anything for spiritual benefit. The pure devotee is fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord takes charge of him, as stated in Bhagavad Gita (18.66): aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami. The father knows the necessities of the son and supplies them, and the Supreme Lord knows the necessities of the living entities and supplies the sumptuously. Therefore the Isopanisad states that everything in this material world is complete (purnam idam). The difficulty is that due to forgetfulness the living entities create unnecessary demands and entangle themselves in material activities, life after life.
Devotee and the Married Man (3:5:47)
The devotees derive more transcendental pleasure while engaged continously in the service of the Lord than when they have no such engagement. In the family combination of a man and a woman there is much labor and responsability for both of them, yet when they are single they feel more trouble for want of their united activities.
Devotee and the Calf (4:9:17)
The Lord is so merciful that not only does He fulfill the desires of a devotee who is driven by ignorance and desires for material benefit, but He also gives such a devotee all protection, just as a cow gives milk to a newly born calf.
Devotee Serving and Coconut Drying (4:12:18)
When a devotee completely forgets his bodily existence, he should be understood to be liberated. He is no longer encaged in the body. The example is given that when a coconut becomes completely dry, the coconut pulp within the coconut shell separates from the bondage of the shell and the outer covering is no longer attached to the shell or to the covering. Similarly, when one is fully absorbed in devotional service, he is completely disconnected from the two material coverings, the subtle and the gross bodies.
Devotee and Millionaire (9:5:27)
When one is very eager for more and more money, he is not satisfied even when he is a millionaire or a multimillonaire, but wants to earn more and more money by any means, the same mentality is present in a devotee. The devotee is never satisfied, thinking, “This is the limit of my devotional service.” The more he engages in the service of the Lord, the more service he wants to give.
Devotee and Rich Man’s Son (9:4:64)
Although the Supreme Lord is full in six opulences, He does not feel transcedental bliss without His devotees. An example that may be cited in this regard is that if a very rich man does not have sons in a family he does not feel happiness. Indeed, sometimes a rich man adopts a son to complete his happiness. The science of transcendental bliss is known to the pure devotee. Therefore the pure devotee is always engaged in increasing the transcedental happiness of the Lord.
Devotee and Cat’s Kitten (9:13:9)
For a devotee there is no pain, pleasure or material perfection. One may argue that at the time of death a devotee also suffers because of giving up his material body. But in this connection the example may be given that a cat carries a mouse in its mouth and also carries a kitten in its mouth. Both the mouse and the kitten are carried in the same mouth, but the perception of the mouse is different from that of the kitten. When a devotee gives up his body tyaktva deham, he is ready to go back home, back to Godhead. Thus his perception is certainly different from that of a person being taken away by Yamaraja for punishment.
Devotee and King’s Coterie (TQK p. 151)
A king gives protection to every one of his citizens, for that is his duty, but he especially protects his own circle of men. This is not unnatural. If one directly engages in the service of the President, when one is in some difficulty he is especially protected. Although the president gives protection to all the citizens, those who personally associate with him, giving his service, receive special consideration. That is not actually partiality. that is natural. When a gentleman loves all children but has a special love for his own children, no one will say, “Oh, why are you loving your own children more than others?” No, that is natural. Similarly, Krsna says in Bhagavad gita, samo ‘ham
sarva bhutesu: “I am equal to everyone.” Krsna, being god, loves everyone because everyone is part of Him. Nonetheless, He takes special care of His devotees.
Devotee and Housewife (TLK p.220)
One may engage in many activities, but in all cases, one’s mind must be fully absorbed in Krsna. Although a haousewife is always busy working around the house, she always takes care that her hair is nicely combed. Regardless of her engagements, she never forgets to arrange her hair in an attractive way. Similarly, a devotee engages in many activities, but he never forgets Krsna’s transcedental form. This is the meaning of perfection.
Devotee and Schoolboy (TLK p.117)
Because we are not expert in approaching the Supreme Lord, we have to follow the principles of bhakti yoga enunciated by the acaryas. When a boy goes to school, he has to follow the rules and regulations, but after a while he becomes accustomed to them and does not have to be taught. In other words, he learns automatically to come to school at a certain time, take his seat and study nicely. Similarly, in this Krsna consciousness movement, we have certain rules and regulations. We must rise early in the morning for mangala arati, chant sixteen rounds of Hare Krsna daily, and execute all the functions of bhakti yoga. In this way we become practiced in the science. When we attain this stage, we immediately become self realized.
Death and Sleep (2:1:15)
After death one forgets everything about the present bodily relations; we have a little experience of this at night when we go to sleep. While sleeping, we forget everything about this body and bodily relations, although this forgetfulness is a temporary situation for only a few hours. Death is nothing but sleeping for a few months in order to develop another term of bodily encagement, which we are awarded by the law of nature according to our aspiration.
Demigod Worship and Travel Ticket (2:3:9)
One should not desire any sort of material enjoyment, being sensible enough to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The leaders of nonsensical persons are still more nonsensical because they preach openly and foolishly that one can worship any form of demigod and get the same result. This sort of preaching is not only against the teachings of the Bhagavad gita, or those of Srimad Bhagavatam, but is also foolish, just as it is foolish to claim that with the purchase of any travel ticket one may reach the same destination. No one can reach Bombay from Delhi by purchasing a ticket for Baroda.
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Kurma dasa: Our Australian Godbrother and disciple of Srila Prabhupada Sriman Yugatita Dasa passed away today Sunday 23 October at 3:40pm in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
Condolences for his family, especially to Yuga Avatar (Jingara Hart) and Suniti.
To pass away in the Holy Month of Kartik is a very great blessing.
Yugatita Prabhu ki Jaya! We deeply appreciate your many years of feisty, larger-than-life, prabhu-of-all-trades, sometimes grumpy, but always endearing, enthusiastic service to Srila Prabhupada.
We love you and thank you. Safe journey old friend.
Hare Krishna!
Chapati means hot!
Sravanananda das: While in Madras we had a nice facility for Srila Prabhupada to stay at in a life member’s home at night. But during the day he would come to the temple.
One day I was asked if I would cook for him. I said that I had never cooked for Prabhupada before, so Harikesh said, “I’ll cook.” We made a little sitting area for Srila Prabhupada and when I brought him his plate, he touched the chapati and said, “Chapati means hot.”
I ran back to Harikesh and told him what Prabhupada said. He said, “Okay, I’ll cook the chapati and you run it into his room.” The floors were made of marble so I was literally sliding to give it to Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada again tapped the chapati, and again he said, “Chapati means hot.”
Again I ran back to Harikesh and said, “Prabhupada is not eating the chapatis! He said, ‘Chapati means hot!’” So he puffed up a chapati the next time like a puri. I ran and slid to Prabhupada, putting it on his plate.
He poked the chapati that was puffed up and this time steam came out. Prabhupada said, “Ahhh, that is chapati.” I’ve always remembered that cooking instruction.
Bahulastami or appearance day of Radha-kunda comes in the month of Kartik. In this month of Kartik the presiding deity of the month is Srimati Radhika and in the same month is also the appearance day of the lake which is the embodiment of the Love of Radharani. In Front of Radha Madhava Asta Sakhi altar a Radha kunda and Shyam Kunda was made for the pleasure of the divine couple. Following is the description of Radha Kunda in Navadvipa Dham by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Bhakti vinoda thakura and Sri Chaitanya Mahabrabhu.
In the island of Rtudvipa, in the village known as Ratupura, Lord Nityananda along with Dvija Vaninatha and many devotees arrived. Lord Nityananda became entranced and called out, “Bring My sringa (horn) immediately! All the calves have gone far away from here. Kanai is still sleeping in the house. He is so childish that He has not come here yet. Where are Subala and Sridama? I, Balarama, am alone here. I cannot go alone to fetch the cows.” The most powerful Lord Nityananda shouted, “Kanai! Kanai!” and started leaping in the air. By seeing Lord Nityananda in this mood, the devotees immediately approached Him and said, “O, Lord Nityananda! Your brother is Gauracandra. Now He is not here. Gaurahari has taken sannyasa and gone to Nilacala, leaving us beggars behind.” When Lord Nityananda heard that Gaurahari was not there, He felt great distress and started crying and rolling on the ground, feeling separation from His Gaura. Lord Nityananda addressed Gauranga as Kanai, “O, My brother Kanai! For what reason have You taken sannyasa and left us behind here to go to Nilacala? I will not maintain this life anymore. I will jump into the water of the River Yamuna!” Having spoken these words, Lord Nityananda fainted. The devotees started harinama- sankirtana realizing that Lord Nityananda had developed mahabhava. Four dandas (one danda equals twenty four minutes) of the day had passed, but Lord Nityananda had not come back to His external senses. Then the devotees started to chant gaura-gita (songs about Gaura). When Lord Nityananda heard the name of Gauranga He immediately got up and said, “This place is Radhakunda. Here Lord Gaurahari along with His devotees would perform Nama Sankirtana every afternoon. Just see the beauty of Syama-kunda, attracting the minds of the whole universe. Just see the kunjas of the different sakhis. Here Gauracandra would come with his sankirtana party and please everyone by distributing love of Godhead.
O My brothers, there is no place equal to this in the three worlds. This is the best spot for devotees to perform bhajana. Whoever resides here will get love of Godhead and his heart will be pacified.” That day all the devotees along with Lord Nityananda stayed there chanting the holy name of Gauranga, immersed in love. The next day they proceeded to Vidyanagara.
Radha Kunda in Ratupura
In the Navadvipa Bhava Taranga Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura writes the mood and activities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as he came to Rtudvipa.
Ritudvipam tato gatva
drishtva sobham vanasya ca
radha-kundadikam smritva
ruroda saci-nandanah
“Arriving at Ritudvipa and seeing the beauty of the forest, Saci-nandana started crying while remembering Radha-kunda and other sacred places.” right Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.44)
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s meditation – When will I wander about the island of Ritu-dvipa, seeing the beauty of the forest and remembering these pastimes of the Lord? Suddenly I will catch a glimpse of the pastimes being performed at Radha Kunda and become completely stunned by such a wonderful vision. Here on the bank of the Manasa Ganga river, Balarama and Krsna along with Their cowherd boyfriends named Dama, Bala, and Mahabala head countless calves to secluded forests. While sporting numerous pastimes and playing tricks, all the boys sing the glories of Krsna.
The cowherd boys then sit down and engage in various types of funny conversations. Meanwhile, the calves keep grazing and grazing until they wander off to distant woods. Losing sight of them, all the boys become alarmed, but at the sound of Krsna’s flute the calves immediately come running back. While I am watching and watching this pastime with full attention, suddenly the scene vanishes and I will fall to the ground unconscious…
Radha Kunda in Chaitanya Math
Chaitanya Math is the house of Chandrashekhar Acharya, the maternal uncle of Mahaprabhu and also the headquarters of Gaudiya Maths established by Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. In this temple Sri Radha Kunda, Shyama Kunda and Giri Govardhan, Keli Kadamba and Tamal Vriksha are present. Sri Navadvip Dhama is non-different from Vrindavana and called as Gupta Vrindavana or hidden Vrindavana. These Kundas and Govardhana were made by Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawsati Thakur in memory of these holy places in Vrindavan. They are also known as Smriti Radha Kunda and Smriti Shyama Kunda.
