Namahatta Festival in Czech Republic (Album with photos)

Dear devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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The largest-selling edition of the Gita in the Western world, Bhagavad-gita As It Is is more than a book. It is alive with knowledge and devotion; thus it has the power to change your life for the better. Bhagavad-gita is knowledge of five basic truths and the relationship of each truth to the other: These five truths are Krishna, or God, the individual soul, the material world, action in this world, and time. The Gita lucidly explains the nature of consciousness, the self, and the universe. It is the essence of India's spiritual wisdom, the answers to questions posed by philosophers for centuries.

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New Vrindaban is famous throughout ISKCON as being Srila Prabhupada’s first farm project, named after the holy dhama. Like other farm projects and temples, it was given the nomenclature “New” to link it to its origin. Srila Prabhupada even said there was no difference between the two, Vrindaban and New Vrindaban. The presiding Deities of Radha Vrindaban Chandra, Srinathji and Gaur Nitai are stunning. The larger than life Deities of Lord Nrsimha and Prahlad Maharaja are astounding. Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra also have a separate altar, as do the Six Goswamis.

We arrived from Pittsburgh on Wednesday, May 27th in time to honor lunch prasadam at the home of Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Nityodita prabhu and his wife Padma, and were pleased to have Malati prabhu in our midst. Gopisa prabhu and other senior Srila Prabhupada disciples were also present. From there we went to the temple to begin making arrangements for the TOVP presentation that evening.

About 75 devotees assembled for the TOVP presentation. During kirtan there was an abhisheka of the Padukas and Puspanjali, after which the program began with Radha Jivan and Jananivas prabhus speaking about the TOVP project. Many devotees came forward to make pledges, despite this being a farm community. By the end of the pledgeing almost $115,000 was raised.

On Thursday, May 28th Jananivas was given a tour of Prabhupada’s Palace and other places in New Vrindaban. He was very pleased to get an opportunity to come to one of the original temples in the Western world established by Srila Prabhupada.

On this date in 1969, Srila Prabhupada initiated me--probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. He accepted me as his disciple and chanted on my beads in Los Angeles, while I was in Boston. And he sent me the following instructive letter:

My dear Giriraj,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj. Giriraj is the name of Goverdhan Hill, on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban Goverdhan Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devotees take stone from Goverdhan Hill and keep it at home as a representation of Krishna, and they worship in this way.

I am very glad to understand that you have relished at least some of the transcendental bliss of Krishna consciousness. It is a great fortune for you. Living entities are roaming within the universes in different species of life and in different planetary systems, enjoying or suffering the reaction of pious or impious activities. But they have no information how to get out of this entanglement of repetition of birth and death. Due to the darkness of ignorance, most living entities have no idea about the values of life. Therefore, one who understands the importance of Krishna consciousness must be a very fortunate soul. So I marked it in your person when I was in Boston, and I prayed to Krishna that this good soul may be aware of the importance of Krishna consciousness.

With my blessings, I am sending herewith your beads, duly chanted upon by me. You should avoid the ten offenses as far as possible, and follow the four regulative principles, as Satsvarupa will instruct you. I know your good godbrother Satsvarupa will always help you in this connection. Regarding your $2,000, which you promised to send me within three weeks, I beg to thank you for this.* Actually, a brahmachary should contribute whatever he has got to Krishna, through the spiritual master. The spiritual master does not accept anything for his personal use, but he employs everything for Krishna's service. Therefore the spiritual master is accepted in the renounced order of life. So far as householders are concerned, they may contribute at least half of their income to Krishna. Then life is sublime. After all, everything belongs to Krishna, and the sooner we return whatever we have got to Krishna, the better it is. That is our normal life. Regarding your stocks, you can keep them for yourself for the time being, and if need be I may ask you to deliver them in the future. Your engagements there are nice, so continue to follow rigidly. You may inform Satsvarupa that I have sent the Krsna tape #13, so he may transcribe it and send me a copy. I will be sending further tapes henceforward, because my Nectar of Devotion is now finished and I shall concentrate on the Krsna tapes. I hope this will meet you in very good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*You can directly transfer this amount to my a/c No. 12410 with the Equitable Savings & Loan Association, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California.

Padayatra India on the roads of Andhra Pradesh

• by: Acarya Dasa

Here are  the main places where Padayatra India visited from January to June 5th.  Some of these places  have already been mentioned in previous articles. The reason  they again appear here is  because we later received many photos of these locations, some without captions, alas. Life on the road is very intense, as you can all imagine.

Ichapuram (January 9):on the border of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.  Raghupati Dasa, disciple of  Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, did all the arrangements, and Murli  Dasa, a retired military man, provided us with books in the local telegu language, which he had brought form Hyderabad.

Sompeta (January 11): a census town in the Srikakulam district

Narasannapeta: We were welcomed by Sevanidhi  Dasa, disciple of Jayapataka Maharaja. With his help we organized a shobha yatra in the city and did nagar sankirtan.

Srikakulam (January 26):  Two kilometres from this town is the temple of the Sun God in Arasvalli, constructed by a king of the Kalinga dynasty. It is the only Sun God temple in South India. Padayatra arrived for the festival of   Ratha Saptami or Rathasapthami marking the birth of Surya, also celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday).  Ratha Saptami also marks the gradual increase in temperature. We had darsana of the Sun God and had a grand harinama on the streets of Srikakulam, during which  we distributed 500 Bhagavad-gitas.

Sri Kurmam: It  is located13 kilometers East of Srikakulam near the sea. This is the holy place of Kurma-ksetra (also known as Kurma sthana), with a temple dedicated to Sri Kurmanatha, the second avatar of Lord Vishnu, ( the tortoise incarnation). We all went with Nitai-Gaurasundara for the darsana of Lord Kurmadev  and had a big kirtana there.  To make the pilgrims’ meditation easier, locals had made a pond with different types of tortoises.We also saw the footprints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur.

Ranasthalam (Feb 1 to 3):  This village is located 28 kms West of Srikakulam.  Trivari Govinda Dasa, a brahmacari from ISKCON Tirupati, came there to receive the Padayatra and Their Lordships. He did the necessary arrangements, and with his assistance we celebrated a wonderful festival for the appearance  of Lord Nityananada. We had kirtana, abhisheka of Gaur Nitai and we all sang vaisnava songs. Many devotees had arrived for the occasion.  A grandshobha-yatra was organized and Gaur Nitai were carried through the streets, mercifully giving Their darsana to everyone. After the program prasadam distribution was done.

Vishakapatnam : Padayatra stayed at the ISKCON Vishakapatnam  temple on Beach Road,  a few kilometers away from the city.  Samba Dasa, a disciple of Jayapataka Maharaja, welcomed us and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai with love and affection. The devotees were glad to see us and Their Lordships, and did all the necessary arrangements for our comfort. On February 17 we celebrated Mahashivaratri in the Shiva Temple of Vishakapatnam. With the congregational devotees we organized a grand celebration with harinama and prasadam distribution; every evening we did nagar sankirtana and book distribution in the area.

From March 11 to 12  we were hosted at the Gaudiya matha of Srila Puri Maharaja. Srila Prabhupada had also stayed there for 4 to 5 days. Lokanath Maharaja had instructed us to visit the  Maharsatra Society ( a group of Maharastrians staying in Vishakapatnam) and have a program with them. Our Maharastrian brothers were very happy to see us and welcomed us warmly. We had a special katha describingthe glories of the holy names. The members of the  Maharsatra Society were very pleased and gave us a donation for  padayatra.

As Gaur Purnima was approaching 15 devotees went to Mayapur to attend the  Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama while the  rest of us stayed back in the temple and took advantage of this break from the road to renovate the cart by repairing the damages done and giving it a fresh layer of paint.

Simhachalam (March 17): Simhachalam – the hill of the lion  (“Simha” means lion and  “Adri” or “Achala” means hill)  is located at a distance of 18 km from Vishakapatnam.  The temple of Lord Nrsimhadeva  located at the top of a hill  is said to be the place where  the Lord appeared in His ugra (ferocious) form to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu. This form of the Lord is so fierce that it is kept covered by sandalwood paste throughout the year, and can be seen without it for only 12 hours per year. In the month of May is the festival of Chandana yatra or ‘Chandanotsavam’  during which the deity is again covered with sandalwood paste. The priests of the Simhachalam temple belong to the Sri Sampradaya, the line that follows the revered devotee and philosopher Ramanujacarya. Simhachalam is one of the 108 places recognized by the Sri Sampradaya as  divya-devams, spiritual places in this material world. The temple functions are performed by Vaisnava priests as they have been since Ramanujacarya visited there nine centuries ago.

The  padayatris went for darsana of the Deity and we all prayed to Lord Nrsimhadeva  to remove all the obstacles on our bhakti marga.  The  temple on the hill is accessed via a motorable road, and it attracts scores of pilgrims from both Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. On the hill  we also saw  the footprints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu  established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and had a grand kirtana  at that spot.

Let’s not forget to mention Simhacalam Prasad Dasa, who did all the arrangements for our party.

Rajahmundry (April 16 to 18): We stayed at the local ISKCON temple.  Many congregation devotees and children participated in the shobha-yatra and many women did book distribution with us.

Kovvur ( April  21): It is an  important town in the West Godavari District due to its location on the banks of the sacred Godavari River. We visited the Sri Ramananda Gaudiya Matha established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati  Thakura on July 1932.  He had also installed the footprints of Sri  Caitanya Mahaprabhu to mark  the Lord’s meeting with Sri Ramananda Raya on the banks of Godavari river. Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Nayanabhirama and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu are the presiding Deities of that small temple. This matha has very nice dioramas displaying  the pastimes of Lord Caitanya and Lord Sri Krishna, and also a small goshala. Besides the streets of Kovvur we also did kirtana in a boat on the  river Godavari.

Ananthapalli (May 3): Celebration of Nrisimha Caturdasi.

See previous article “Padayatra India now in Andhra Pradesh”, posted May 7

Jangaredypalli  (May 13):

See previous article “Who are these people walking in the hot sun and distributing so many books?”, posted May 13

Dwaraka Tirumala,  or Dwarakatirumala: ( May 15) This village  is famous for the temple of Lord Venkatesvara. Dwaraka Tirumala, also known as ‘Chinna Tirupathi’. is located about 40 kilometres from the city of Eluru.  Here is the story behind the name of Dwaraka Tirumala: there was a great devotee of Lord Balaji who used to go to Tirupati regularly for darsana. Once he could not make it to Tirupari so Lord Balaji appeared to him in his village, which then became known as Dwaraka Tirumala.

Bhimadole (May 17): This village is located in the West  Godavari district.

Hanuman junction (May 23): This town  got its name because of  the junction of four  road near the Hanuman temple. The feet of the deity separate the Krishna and West Godavari districts. Locals believe Hanuman  to be the protector of the town and people from different religions worship him and celebrate Hanuman Jayanti  day together.

Vijayawada  (May 30 to June 2):   Vijayawada is situated on the sacred Krishna River. It is named after Arjuna, who was also known as Vijaya.  A disciple of Srila Prabhupada named Manihara  Dasa had started a school for orphans  in this city, trying to give Krishna consciousness to the students by doing  regular programs for them.   The padayatris all went to that school to do harinama and perform bhajans. After a small lecture  we distributed prasadamto all the children.With about 300 members of  the congregation we celebrated the Panihatti  dahi chida festival  on  the banks of the Krishna River, then gathered at the local ISKCON temple.

Mangal Giri  (June 4 and 5):

The temple of Pana-Nrsimha in Mangal Giri (Guntur district) still draws many devotees, who come to get the Lord’s darsana in His Andhra Pradesh’s abode. It is one of the most famoustirthas visited by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu during His South India travels. This tirtha is briefly mentioned in the  Caitanya-caritamrta ( Madhya Lila 9.66) :  “Everywhere Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went, His influence astonished everyone. He next arrived at the temple of Pana-Nrsimha. The Lord is extremely merciful » Mangal giri means  « the auspicious  hill ». We all took darsana of the Deity  of Pana-Nrsimhadev on top of the hill. It is said that Lord Nrsimha rested here after killing Hiranyakasipu, and Lakshmi Devi then gave him a drink to quench his thirst.

In making offerings to Lord Pana-Nrsimha, the temple priest takes a pot of sweet jaggery water and, with a conchshell,  pours half of the drink into the Lord’s mouth and the rest is returned asmaha-prasadam to the devotee making the offering. This jaggery water is made of gour, water, camphor, black pepper, and cardamom.  While the water is being poured into the mouth of the Lord, a gurgling sound can be  heard, like the sound of someone drinking. We also offered jaggery water and  all of us heard this transcendental gurgling sound. Even though there is so much sugar water offered here, there is not a single ant on the hill.

The temple is built around a self-manifest mouth of Lord Nrsimhadev. Over the mouth is a brass mask with an ugra (ferocious) expression. The Lord’s disk and club are also self-manifested in the stone. The worshipable footprints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu are housed in a shrine known as Padapeet, which was established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur to commemorate Lord Caitanya’s visit to that place. On July 3rd 1985 Lokanath Swami visited this holy place with Padayatra India. After that visit the padayatris built a small temple around the footprints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There a slab in telugu explaining that this temple was built by  Padayatra India devotees under the guidance of Lokanath Swami.

MAY 2015 BOOK SCORES (All in Telegu language):

• Maha big books: 2207
• Big: 24
• Medium: 64
• Small: 6693
• Total: 8988

To View more photos click here

http://www.padayatra.com/padayatra-india-on-the-roads-of-andhra-pradesh/

Lecture on Disappearance Day of Srivas Pandit Prabhu by Prabodhananda Sarasvati Maharaj on 12 Jun 2015 at Gita Nagari

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Lecture on The Yoga of the Supreme Person by Sachinanadana Swami on 21 Jun 2015

In 1990, she established an all female ISKCON temple which later was awarded a large road side bronze plaque by the State of Ohio Historical Society recognizing the center as the first Vaishnava/Hindu temple in the state, mentioning in detail its unique status in training women in Krishna consciousness.

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Lecture on Special Ratha Yatra by Kadamba Kanana Swami on 14 Jun 2015 at Bhaktivedanta Manor

Kadamba Kanana Swami joined ISKCON in 1978 in Amsterdam. Until 1984 he managed projects in Vrindavana. From 1985 through 1990 he coordinated the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi in Mayapur. Then, for three years, he was the temple president in Vrindavana and later spent two years preaching in Europe. He took sannyasa in 1997 and is now an initiating guru. 

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Lecture on Narada Bhakti Sutra by Loknath Maharaj on 26 Jun 2015 at Noida

Lokanath Swami born in Aravade, a small village Maharashtra, Indian, he went to Mumbai for studying. In the year 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples and had organized a pandal program in Mumbai.Intrigued, maharaj attended the whole Hare Krsna Festival and heard from Srila Prabhupada. Wanting to surrender his life to Lord Krishna, he joined Juhu under the able leadership of Giriraj Swami. As he was coming from a traditional Indian family, there was some initial resistance. However, Maharaj not just made them favorable but transformed his entire village into Krishna consciousness by opening a fantastic ISKCON temple.

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The Worship of Srimati Tulasi Devi

SB 7-5-23&24
(4) pada-sevanam. According to one’s taste and strength, hearing, chanting and remembrance may be followed by pada-sevanam. One obtains the perfection of remembering when one constantly thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord. Being intensely attached to thinking of the Lord’s lotus feet is called pada-sevanam. When one is particularly adherent to the process of pada-sevanam, this process gradually includes other processes, such as seeing the form of the Lord, touching the form of the Lord, circumambulating the form or temple of the Lord, visiting such places as Jagannatha Puri, Dvaraka and Mathura to see the Lord’s form, and bathing in the Ganges or Yamuna. Bathing in the Ganges and serving a pure Vaisnava are also known as tadiya-upasanam. This is also pada-sevanam. THE WORD TADIYA MEANS “IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.” Service to the Vaisnava, TULASI, GANGES AND YAMUNA ARE INCLUDED IN PADA-SEVANAM. All these processes of pada-sevanam help one advance in spiritual life very quickly.

SB 7.5.23-24
If one commits any of the above offenses, one must read at least one chapter of Bhagavad-gita. This is confirmed in the Skanda-Purana, Avanti-khanda. Similarly, there is another injunction, stating that one who reads the thousand names of Visnu can be released from all offenses. In the same Skanda-Purana, Reva-khanda, IT IS SAID THAT ONE WHO RECITES PRAYERS TO TULASI OR SOWS A TULASI SEED IS ALSO FREED FROM ALL OFFENSES.

SB 9.4.18-20
sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor
vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane
karau harer mandira-marjanadisu
srutim cakaracyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-lingalaya-darsane drsau
tad-bhrtya-gatra-sparse ‘nga-sangamam
ghranam ca tat-pada-saroja-saurabhe
SRIMAT-TULASYA RASANAM TAD-ARPITE
padau hareh ksetra-padanusarpane
siro hrsikesa-padabhivandane
kamam ca dasye na tu kama-kamyaya
yathottamasloka-janasraya ratih

Maharaja Ambarisa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Krsna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord’s temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Krsna or about Krsna. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Krsna, Krsna’s temples and Krsna’s places like Mathura and Vrndavana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord’s devotees, HE ENGAGED HIS SENSE OF SMELL IN SMELLING THE FRAGRANCE OF TULASI OFFERED TO THE LORD, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord’s prasada. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Maharaja Ambarisa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.

Adi 3 Advaita Acarya was a contemporary of Lord Caitanya’s father. He felt sorry for the condition of the world because even after Lord Krsna’s appearance, no one had interest in devotional service to Krsna. This forgetfulness was so overwhelming that Advaita Prabhu was convinced that no one but Lord Krsna Himself could enlighten people about devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Therefore Advaita requested Lord Krsna to appear as Lord Caitanya. OFFERING TULASI LEAVES AND GANGES WATER, HE CRIED FOR THE LORD’S APPEARANCE. THE LORD, BEING SATISFIED BY HIS PURE DEVOTEES, DESCENDS TO SATISFY THEM. As such, being pleased by Advaita Acarya, Lord Caitanya appeared.

Adi 3.105-106 Advaita Acarya considered the meaning of the verse in this way: Not finding any way to repay the debt He owes to one who offers Him a tulasi leaf and water, LORD KRSNA THINKS, “THERE IS NO WEALTH IN MY POSSESSION THAT IS EQUAL TO A TULASI LEAF AND WATER.”

Adi 3.107 Thus the LORD LIQUIDATES THE DEBT BY OFFERING HIMSELF TO THE DEVOTEE. Considering this, the Acarya began worshiping the Lord.

Adi 3.107 Through devotional service one can easily please Lord Krsna with a leaf of the tulasi plant and a little water. As the Lord says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.26), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or some water (patram puspam phalam toyam), when offered with devotion, very much pleases Him. He universally accepts the services of His devotees. Even the poorest of devotees in any part of the world can secure a small flower, fruit or leaf and a little water, and IF THESE OFFERINGS, AND ESPECIALLY TULASI LEAVES AND GANGES WATER, ARE OFFERED TO KRSNA WITH DEVOTION, HE IS VERY SATISFIED. IT IS SAID THAT KRSNA IS SO PLEASED BY SUCH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE THAT HE OFFERS HIMSELF TO HIS DEVOTEE IN EXCHANGE FOR IT. Srila Advaita Acarya knew this fact, and therefore He decided to call for the Personality of Godhead Krsna to descend by worshiping the Lord with tulasi leaves and the water of the

Ganges. Madhya 15.9 Sri Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord’s neck and TULASI FLOWERS [MANJARIS] ON HIS HEAD. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Acarya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

Madhya 22.125 “TADIYA MEANS THE TULASI LEAVES, the devotees of Krsna, the birthplace of Krsna, Mathura, and the Vedic literature Srimad-Bhagavatam. KRSNA IS VERY EAGER TO SEE HIS DEVOTEE SERVE TULASI, Vaisnavas, Mathura and Bhagavatam.

Madhya 22.125 After item twenty-six (meditation), the twenty-seventh is TO SERVE TULASI, the twenty-eighth is to serve the Vaisnava, the twenty-ninth is to live in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krsna, and the thirtieth is to read Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly.

Madhya 23.51 Life’ s Ultimate Goal–Love of Godhead “Krsna’s smile, the fragrance of His transcendental body, His flute, bugle, ankle bells, conchshell, the marks on His feet, His place of residence, HIS FAVORITE PLANT [TULASI], His devotees, and the observance of fasts and vows connected to His devotion all awaken the symptoms of ecstatic love.”

Madhya 24.115 The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse ” ‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], THEY EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN BOTH BODY AND MIND, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ATTACHED TO IMPERSONAL BRAHMAN UNDERSTANDING.’

Antya 3.137 Although Krsna wants everyone to surrender to His lotus feet, because of people’s sinful activities they cannot do this. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah: rascals and fools, the lowest of men, who engage in sinful activities, cannot suddenly surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna. NEVERTHELESS, IF THEY BEGIN CHANTING THE HARE KRSNA MANTRA AND RENDERING SERVICE UNTO THE TULASI PLANT, THEY WILL VERY SOON BE ABLE TO SURRENDER.

KB 30 The gopis then began to address the tulasi plants: “DEAR TULASI, YOU ARE MUCH BELOVED BY LORD KRSNA BECAUSE YOUR LEAVES ARE ALWAYS AT HIS LOTUS FEET.

SB 1.19.6
It is especially mentioned herein that Maharaja Pariksit took shelter of that particular river which is beautifully flowing, carrying the dust of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, mixed with tulasi leaves. LORD KRSNA’S LOTUS FEET ARE ALWAYS BESMEARED WITH THE TULASI LEAVES, and thus as soon as His lotus feet contact the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna, the rivers become at once sanctified.

SB 3.15.19
Description of the Kingdom of God Although flowering plants like the mandara, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna, punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata are full of transcendental fragrance, THEY ARE STILL CONSCIOUS OF THE AUSTERITIES PERFORMED BY TULASI, FOR TULASI IS GIVEN SPECIAL PREFERENCE BY THE LORD, WHO GARLANDS HIMSELF WITH TULASI LEAVES.

SB 3.15.49
The tulasi leaf is very useful EVEN FROM THE MEDICINAL OR ANTISEPTIC POINT OF VIEW.

SB 3.16.21
It is said in the Brahma-samhita that the Lord is always served by many hundreds of thousands of goddesses of fortune in His Vaikuntha planet, yet because of His attitude of renunciation of all opulences, He is not attached to any one of them. The Lord has six opulences–unlimited wealth, unlimited fame, unlimited strength, unlimited beauty, unlimited knowledge and unlimited renunciation. All the demigods and other living entities worship Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, just to get her favor, yet the Lord is never attached to her because He can create an unlimited number of such goddesses for His transcendental service. THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE, LAKSMI, IS SOMETIMES ENVIOUS OF THE TULASI LEAVES WHICH ARE PLACED AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD, FOR THEY REMAIN FIXED THERE AND DO NOT MOVE, WHEREAS LAKSMIJI, ALTHOUGH STATIONED BY THE CHEST OF THE LORD, SOMETIMES HAS TO PLEASE OTHER DEVOTEES WHO PRAY FOR HER FAVOR. LAKSMIJI SOMETIMES HAS TO GO TO SATISFY HER NUMEROUS DEVOTEES, BUT TULASI LEAVES NEVER FORSAKE THEIR POSITION, AND THE LORD THEREFORE APPRECIATES THE SERVICE OF THE TULASI MORE THAN THE SERVICE OF LAKSMI. When the Lord says, therefore, that it is due to the causeless mercy of the brahmanas that Laksmiji does not leave Him, we can understand that Laksmiji is attracted by the opulence of the Lord, not by the brahmanas’ benedictions upon Him. The Lord is not dependent on anyone’s mercy for His opulence; He is always self-sufficient. The Lord’s statement that His opulence is due to the benediction of the brahmanas and Vaisnavas is only to teach others that they should offer respect to the brahmanas and Vaisnavas, the devotees of the Lord.

SB 4.8.55
It is specifically mentioned herein that tulasi leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and devotees should take particular care to have tulasi leaves in every temple and center of worship. In the Western countries, while engaged in propagating the Krsna consciousness movement, WE WERE BROUGHT GREAT UNHAPPINESS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT FIND TULASI LEAVES. WE ARE VERY MUCH OBLIGED, THEREFORE, TO OUR DISCIPLE SRIMATI GOVINDA DASI BECAUSE SHE HAS TAKEN MUCH CARE TO GROW TULASI PLANTS FROM SEEDS, AND SHE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL BY THE GRACE OF KRSNA. NOW TULASI PLANTS ARE GROWING IN ALMOST EVERY CENTER OF OUR MOVEMENT.

Madhya 17.193 The word vana means “forest.” VRNDAVANA IS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE FOREST WHERE SRIMATI VRNDADEVI (TULASIDEVI) GROWS PROFUSELY. Actually it is not a forest as we ordinarily consider a forest because it is very thick with green vegetation. There are twelve such vanas in Vrndavana. Some are located on the western side of the Yamuna and others on the eastern side. The forests situated on the eastern side are Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lauhavana, Bhandiravana and Mahavana. On the western side are Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana and Vrndavana. These are the twelve forests of the Vrndavana area. NoD 9 Further Considerations of Devotional Principles A similar statement is in the Skanda Purana, which says, “Persons who are decorated with tilaka or gopi-candana [a kind of clay resembling fuller's earth which is produced in certain quarters of Vrndavana], and who mark their bodies all over with the holy names of the Lord, and on whose necks and breasts there are tulasi beads, ARE NEVER APPROACHED BY THE YAMADUTAS.” The Yamadutas are the constables of King Yama (the lord of death), who punishes all sinful men. Vaisnavas are never called for by such constables of Yamaraja. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, in the narration of Ajamila’s deliverance, it is said that Yamaraja gave clear instructions to his assistants not to approach the Vaisnavas. VAISNAVAS ARE BEYOND THE JURISDICTION OF YAMARAJA’S ACTIVITIES.

-- --------------------
Please chant
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"हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ||
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ||"

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare !
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare !!

108 times
********* --------------------
Chant Hare Krishna
And your life will be sublime!

ALWAYS REMEMBER KRISHNA NEVER FORGET KRISHNA

The Worship of Srimati Tulasi Devi

Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world.

Antya 3.100 Haridasa Thakura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily. Throughout the entire day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should not, however, imitate Haridasa Thakura, for no one else can chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the mukta-purusa, or liberated soul. We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra on beads every day and offering respect to the tulasi plant. THIS IS NOT AT ALL DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE, AND THE PROCESS OF CHANTING THE HARE KRSNA MAHA-MANTRA WITH A VOW BEFORE THE TULASI PLANT HAS SUCH GREAT SPIRITUAL POTENCY THAT SIMPLY BY DOING THIS ONE CAN BECOME SPIRITUALLY STRONG. Therefore we request the members of the Hare Krsna movement to follow Haridasa Thakura’s example rigidly. CHANTING SIXTEEN ROUNDS DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TIME, NOR IS OFFERING RESPECTS TO THE TULASI PLANT DIFFICULT. THE PROCESS HAS IMMENSE SPIRITUAL POTENCY. ONE SHOULD NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.

Antya 3.141 She worshiped the tulasi plant, following in the footsteps of her spiritual master. Instead of eating regularly, she chewed whatever food she received as alms, and if nothing was supplied she would fast. Thus by eating frugally and fasting she conquered her senses, AND AS SOON AS HER SENSES WERE CONTROLLED, SYMPTOMS OF LOVE OF GODHEAD APPEARED IN HER PERSON.

NoD 11 Aspects of Transcendental Service In the Skanda Purana there is a statement praising the tulasi tree as follows: “Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. SIMPLY BY OFFERING OBEISANCES TO AND POURING WATER ON THE TULASI TREE, ONE CAN BECOME FREED FROM THE FEAR OF BEING SENT TO THE COURT OF YAMARAJA [THE KING OF DEATH, WHO PUNISHES THE SINFUL]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krsna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.”

NoD 11 Aspects of Transcendental Service In the Skanda Purana there is another statement about tulasi, as follows: “Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, THERE IS ALWAYS AUSPICIOUSNESS. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world.”

SB 3.15.19 P Description of the Kingdom of God The most important thing about the spiritual world is that there is no envy among the devotees there. THIS IS TRUE EVEN AMONG THE FLOWERS, WHICH ARE ALL CONSCIOUS OF THE GREATNESS OF TULASI.

SB 5.3.6 O Supreme Lord, You are full in every respect. You are certainly very satisfied when Your devotees offer You prayers with faltering voices and in ecstasy bring You tulasi leaves, water, twigs bearing new leaves, and newly grown grass. THIS SURELY MAKES YOU SATISFIED.

SB 5.3.6 If one is fully absorbed in love and ecstasy, he need offer only a flower and a little water. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower. fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Bg. 9.26)

The Supreme Lord can be pleased only by devotional service: therefore it is said here that the Lord is surely satisfied by devotion and nothing else. Quoting from the Gautamiya-tantra, the Hari-bhakti-vilasa states:

tulasi-dala-matrena
jalasya culukena va
vikrinite svam atmanam
bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalah 

“Sri Krsna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, SELLS HIMSELF to a devotee who offers merely a tulasi leaf and a palmful of water.” The Supreme Lord is causelessly merciful upon His devotee, so much so that even the poorest of men can offer Him a little water and a flower in devotion and thus please Him. This is due to His affectionate dealings with His devotees. -- -------------------- Please chant

********

"हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ||
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ||"

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare !
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare !!

108 times
*********

Today, as I went out for sankirtana, I was thinking of how I'd once asked Vaisesika Prabhu whether teaching people to say “Gauranga” is the same as teaching them the Hare Krishna mantra. He'd explained that Krishna's names are the same, but when we teach the maha-mantra we get extra credit. So I had an internal dialogue on why I don't teach everyone the entire mantra; why I'm selective about it. Besides the external reasons, I fear that people might think we are a religion or a cult and perhaps not take a book. So somehow I decided that today I was going to teach everyone the maha-mantra.

I was telling everyone I spoke to the entire maha-mantra, and I was conscious that the doubt in my heart was proving wrong. Toward the end, as I was about to leave, I stopped a lady who was eager to get the Bhagavad Gita. She seemed very familiar with it and quickly gave a donation. As she walked away, I thought that there's no point in teaching her the mantra, since she'll read about it, or maybe she already knows it. But I quickly called out to her and ran up to her to tell her that there's a mantra I need to show her.

She opened her bag, and I pulled out the Bhagavad Gita from her bag and asked her to softly repeat the mantra after me. To my surprise, this complete stranger, right after reading the first two words, threw her hands up in the air and started to sway and sing the maha-mantra (she had the words all messed up but she really got the beats). So there we were, on the street both loudly singing the maha-mantra.

Witnessing the glories of nama-prabhu, I learned my lesson. Sankirtana is the best classroom, and holy names, the best teacher.

“O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names, you have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach you by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.”

Your servant,
Mangal-arti

VIHE Sanskrit Course Aug 2015

INTENSIVE SANSKRIT COURSE

For Preachers, Teachers & Translators

First Semester: Aug 20 – Nov 10, 2015

• The course covers 800 most essential sutras (grammatical rules) from Sri Hari-namamrita-vyakarana, Srila Jiva Gosvami’s complete Sanskrit grammar, and includes training in reading and understanding Sanskrit commentaries.

• By the end of the course students will be able to directly read and understand the Sanskrit commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam and several works of prominent Vaishnava acaryas. They will learn to rearrange key Sanskrit verses in prose order and give a comprehensive explanation of their grammatical structure and will become competent to grasp the nuances found in the multiple interpretations of a verse.

• Prospective candidates need not have any previous knowledge of Sanskrit.

• The complete course is divided into six semesters.

• The first semester (Aug 20 – Nov10, 2015) covers 150 sutras from the first two chapters ( Sandhi and Nama prakaranas ) of the HarinamamritaVyakarana. Students will also learn about right and wrong pronunciation, Sanskrit meters and most common usages nouns and pronouns.

• There will be two to three hours of classes five days a week. In addition, students are required to do 3 hours of homework daily, including memorization of sutras.

• Punctuality and full-attendance are compulsory.

The course will be conducted by Vraja Ramana Dasa, one of the teachers from the BBT Sanskrit School founded by His Grace Gopiparanadhana Prabhu.

Contact: 081 26 277 275 vihe.courses.admissions@pamho.net

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

ISKCON 50: Data Needed

ISKCON FACTS & FIGURES

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis.
Please accept my humble obeisances

For the purpose of celebrating ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary in 2016 we are compiling some approximate facts & figures about ISKCON.

We are collecting some quantitative data about ISKCON’s global achievements in terms of:

Temples (including farms & schools)
Devotees (including initiated, Nama Hatta, & visitors)
Books (amount distributed in all countries & languages)
Festivals (Including Harinamas, Rathayatra & Padayatra)
Prasadam (Plates distributed globally since 1966; Includes restaurants, Sunday Feast, FFL etc)

If you can contribute information for any of these categories please contact me.

Also please forward any research or contacts that may help.

Your servant,

Damodara Pandit das

ISKCON 50 Global Team

Respect – the Foundation to True Intimacy

By Devaki Devi Dasi

Recently I was invited to give the 15-hour course “Giving and Accepting Shelter” to the devotees in New Vraja Dham in Hungary – a wonderful community with around one hundred devotees living on the property itself, and another one hundred in the nearby village. Those who live on Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara’s property are aspiring to offer their entire life in Their service, without striving for personal economic development. They live a simple life in service to the Deities and the Vaisnavas – even as householders, and are fully maintained by the temple.

HH Sivarama Swami had suggested to have a 90-minute presentation each day during the morning program over five days, followed by further discussions in the afternoons, as a more informal get-together on the veranda outside the little Guest House where I was accomodated. It was a great idea which worked really well, with around sixty devotees attending the morning sessions, and around 25 assembling in the afternoons for further discussions in a more personal setting and atmosphere. This was a very nice way to give as many devotees as possible the opportunity to take part in the seminar – an idea which I might also apply in other communities in the future.

The afternoon sessions gave me an opportunity to get to know the devotees more personally and answer many questions. It allowed a more spontaneous mood, and I was simply following the flow of questions, unpacking the discussions from the morning sessions.

We also had arranged the printed hand-outs to be translated into Hungarian. In this way everyone received the materials of the systematic development of the topic with its nice quotes, and devotees could discuss them further in home programs.

Some years ago the devotees here had already started to put a mentor system into place, and this seminar was meant to give deeper insights into the underlying principles to it. Unless we receive these insights, a system can easily remain a hollow structure, and taking shelter stays more on an external platform of formality. We might accept a mentor externally, as we even may accept Guru, but within our heart we remain independent and ultimately seek shelter somewhere else – in our mind, intelligence, false ego, or even in old habits or relationships with non-devotees. The topic of endeavoring to take shelter accompanies us throughout our whole spiritual practice – it is the very essence of Krsna consciousness.

When discussing the main qualities we need to cultivate in order to be eager for shelter which are in one sense manifestations of humility – namely inquisitiveness, helplessness and respect, it became evident that in material life and its culture people do not strive for these qualities. Instead of being inquisitive people in general prefer to talk about themselves and share their opinions, and inquiring about a topic is seen as being incompetent, inexperienced and ignorant. This is even more so when it comes to feeling helpless. In material life, feeling helpless is considered to be a sign of weakness – almost being a loser. Nobody would strive for helplessly depending on others. However, in spiritual practice it is a sign of advancement – to recognise our tiny and insignificant position, being helplessly dependent on Hari, Guru and the Vaisnavas.

There is no meaning to the word ‘shelter’ unless it originates from feeling helpless. Prabhupada explains in the purport to SB 1.8.26. how one can only chant feelingly when one feels helpless. A proud person, situated in material satisfaction and striving for material progress will not be able to feel helpless, and thus his ability to actually take shelter is impeded.

Humility also manifests in our ability to respect other living entities, and especially Vaisnavas. A humble person will give respect to one and all, whereas a proud person will not be able to respect anybody but rather demand respect for himself. And unless we have genuine respect – how can we feel inspired to take shelter in a more experienced Vaisnava? Any intimate relationship has to be based on deep respect. But in modern days we consider respect to be formality, and we try to create intimacy by throwing out respect. But in return we simply get overfamiliarity – taking each other lightly, and using each other in subtle ways for our own gratification.

Interesting to understand that the very foundation of spiritual culture is respect. Thus the elders are able to pass down traditions, values and standards to the younger generation. Unless there is respect from both sides, this loving exchange cannot take place. In Nectar of Instruction verse 4 Prabhupada comments what guhyam akhyati prcchati means: a more experienced devotee explains, and a less experienced devotee learns from him. This is the confidential loving exchange of giving and accepting shelter which can only take place if respect is the foundation of the relationship.

Maybe this is one reason why we have not managed to establish the Vanaprastha ashram so far. Giving guidance to the younger generation and sharing their wealth of life experience and wisdom is the main and most valuable contribution the elders are making to human society. And this can only take place where giving and accepting shelter based on deep respect is cultivated. When this respect is not there, the elders don’t have any function in human society and are simply seen as a burden.

On my visit to New Vraja Dham I had a two-hour meeting with HH Sivarama Maharaja in the garden outside his house. He gave me a lot of encouragement and good advice how to develop our annual symposium of the Institute for Spiritual Culture in Mayapur. I highly value the fact that he is sacrificing his time and energy and shows such deep interest in this impossible mission of spreading spiritual culture. He is a very deep personality, and it is a great blessing and mercy upon me to have such saintly association. I also had the opportunity to take darshan of his Deities.

During my visit I was invited to take lunch with Maharaja one day, together with a few other visiting devotees from England, who were still here after his Vyasa Puja. It was a wonderful feast with all kinds of delicious preparations. I even broke my no-sugar diet and had a little piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. We were sitting outside in the garden, surrounded by blossoming trees and flowers – a beautiful setting….

I am looking forward to once again offer some humble service to this community in the near future. For further information on this topic please see www.therootsofspiritualculture.net

Your servant, Devaki dd