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Srila Prabhupada praise His Guru Maharaja, the exalted Srila Gaura Kishora dasa babaji

excerpted from: Srila Prabhupada Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 4.24-34 — New York, August 12, 1966

Indian: Because if we go wholeheartedly to God without proper understanding, there is also a flaw.

Srila Prabhupāda: No. There is no question of understanding. Suppose this process… Just like Kṛṣṇa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate: [Bg. 7.19] “After many, many births of culture of knowledge, the person who has come to the highest point of knowledge, he surrenders unto Me.” So similarly, if any person without any knowledge, if he surrenders only to Kṛṣṇa, he acquires all the knowledge. He has surpassed all stages. He has surpassed all stages. And that is also confirmed. If you say, “How he has gone, surpassed all stage?” That answer in Bhagavad-gītā you find,

teṣām evānukampārtham
aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho
jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā
[Bg. 10.11]

Teṣām: “Because he is a devotee, just to give, just to show him a special favor,” teṣām evānukampārtham, “simply for showing a special favor, I Myself, from within, I light up the knowledge, I mean to say, searchlight, and he becomes…”

And you will be surprised that my Guru Mahārāja’s spiritual master was Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja. He was completely illiterate. He did not know how to sign, and my spiritual master was the most learned man of his age. He accepted that guru who was completely illiterate. But when he would speak, that Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, he would speak with all Vedic references. And you will find in the Veda that:

yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
[ŚU 6.23]

So the spiritual knowledge becomes revealed. It is not subjected to any material acquisition. It is not subjected to any material acquisition of knowledge. It becomes revealed. How? Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. One who has a staunch faith in the Supreme Lord and staunch faith in the personality of his spiritual master, bona fide, then he gets all the things revealed in himself. Spiritual things are not just like material things.

So according to Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-guhyatamam, the Lord says that “The most confidential part of knowledge I am speaking to you, my dear Arjuna, because you are My very dear friend, that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66].” So one who has the conception of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and has surrendered unto Him, he is considered to be highest, topmost spiritualist.
Indian: What is the importance of prasādam? Importance of prasādam?
Srila Prabhupāda: Prasāda? Prasāda means mercy. Mercy. Prasāda means prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa sīdati. That is prasāda means completely satisfied.
Indian: At the end of this, you will give us some prasāda. What is the importance of that prasāda?

Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, that. Yes. Prasāda. Very good. That prasāda is Kṛṣṇa’s favor. Kṛṣṇa’s special favor. That is prasāda. Prasāde sarva-duḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate. If we simply eat Kṛṣṇa prasāda, without any culture, we can get spiritual knowledge. All right. Let us have saṅkīrtana. (end

Srila Prabhupada Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 4.24-34 — New York, August 12, 1966

Source...http://theharekrishnamovement.org/2015/11/21/disappearance-of-srila-gaura-kishora-dasa-babaji/

By Tamoharadasa

I have seen time and again how devotees who have undergone brahmacari training, and who later take up the reins of householder life, enter the workplace with skills far above those of the average man or woman. It is not that the skills and mentality of the devotional training have no value in the work theatre. On the contrary, the training as given by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada raises the devotee to a level above that of others.

The first thing that a brahmacari must do is exercise self-discipline, as according to the Iskcon temple standards. They must rise early, even though the mind may prefer to stay down for the count. This is no easy matter, especially for teenagers or younger people. They thus learn to rise to the ocassion, to do the needful, even if it initially is unpleasant They learn to stave off sense gratification for the sake of a higher goal. The brahmacari thus learns that some things are worth sacrificing for, and this becomes part of his or her mind-set.

Even in regards to a simpler matter, the mind also learns internal time-keeping, such that, even without an alarm, after a while, many automatically rise at just the right time. They learn this skill from our scheduled Iskcon activities.

The brahmacari learns to appreciate the value of putting first and foremost attention on matters of the spirit, and thus the values are properly aligned. In later years, this translates into the ability to seperate things which are important from those which can wait, or should be neglected. This disciminatory ability serves the devotee well in all walks of life, and establishes the devotees as men of higher values.

One learns to clear the mind and to focus on transcendental matters, and to thus be attentive; skills necessary for success in any program of studies or field of work. These skills are derived from paying attention in class, and staying attentive for the full morning program, all for the sake of developing bhakti. One further learns to direct the mind towards the goals of the day, a valuable lesson for anyone, and a skill often hard to attain for those with no such training. Many persons in the work world complain that their minds wander, or that their values become lost in the competitive marketplace.

Self-sacrifice for the cause instills virtue and honesty. Without these, a man cannot be said to have any good character, whether here or in the marketplace. Dedicated people find themselves ahead in the competitions of life. As well, the renunciant learns not to be envious of others’ so-called wealth. Thus, the individual becomes a loyal and dedicated employee, or manager, who is honest and self-motivated.

Devotees learn to memorize and improve their reading skills. In university, should they go to that, or in any competitive marketplace, knowledge and the ability to remember and to read with a discerning eye, are essentials. Sorting out the chaff from the grain is also important.

The brahmacari learns how to control the genitals and the urges of ego by dint of a higher knowledge and taste. This benefits society in general, and elevates the practitioner to that of the wise and self-controlled. Such a person is unlikely to get in trouble with the law over sexual criminality or become addiced to anti-social sexual activities.

The high standards of cleanliness are unsurpassed. This cleanliness goes a long way in the world, and is respected by others.

The brahmacari learns how to get along with others, how to be merciful, how to be organized, how to be humble, how to serve others, how to have faith and devotion to Godhead…the list goes on and on. I hope that others may have some attributes to add to this short list.

Brahmacaris learn to tolerate, sleeping on floors, having only a few necessary clothings and possessions, etc. This austerity means that they can be happy anywhere, despite material circumstances. They learn a higher taste that will carry them through many of the difficulties that the world tosses out to us. The brahmacari learns a transcendental set of values that are not dependent upon material circumstances, and thus the individual becomes steady even in the face of some adversity.

Thus, certainly there is no loss or diminution as a result of bhakti yoga practice as a youth. On the contrary, valuable mental skills and standards are learned which will never leave the individual, but will be helpful even in grhasta life.

Hare Krsna.

All Glories to the Brahmacaris! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17064

Of course, today, India is a conglomeration of various thoughts, and culture. Still, I feel there are places all over the country with edifices so old no one can estimate its origins. When people visit India as a tourist spot, they approach India from a 21st century mindset coupled with their time frame. If a westerner visits India, he or she is used to the biblical time frame which at the most is 6000 years old or so and within that time relevance experience India. If one is a rational thinker he or she visits India withe a modern vs non-modern perspective about India. All of these lenses may infuse certain relative truths about the country, however, the real India is not modern or non-modern or 6000 years old, it is actually a timeless piece of history like walking into a vast museum where we can see artifacts from a timeless age. The buildings, practices, values, rituals, sentiments, emotions all of it stem from that timeless age. Unless a visitor to India has this vision of a timelessness, he or she cannot and will not appreciate the real and true Indian culture.

Even to this day, parts of India has this timeless culture rooted in its spiritual values. People still glorify and desire to have a leader like Lord Ramachandra, From North to South, Lord Ram and His transcendental companions are glorified and worshipped. According to Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana, it is mentioned that Lord Rama appeared in Treta yuga of the 24th Manu cycle, which translates to about 18 million years before today. According to modern science, 18 million years ago  there was no human beings as we know today and yet Lord Rama ruled over a vast kingdom with human subjects.

So if we really want to appreciate the "Real India", then we have to approach it in this timeless manner. In doing so, the land will speak to you and embrace you as its own!

Hare Krishna

Source...http://servantoftheservant-ananda.blogspot.in/2015/11/the-real-india.html

Read Biography of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja on www.gaudiyahistory.com
Bhajan by Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja on www.vaishnavsongs.com 

Read more about Utthana Ekadasi on www.harekrishnacalendar.com
View recipes for Ekadasi on www.totalveg.com

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is going to be the last detailed health update on Mukunda Goswami in this
forum.

Thanks to all your prayers and good wishes, Mukunda Goswami is making a slow
but steady recovery from his two surgeries.

On November 6, Mukunda Maharaja was transferred from Gold Coast University
hospital to the rehabilitation facility of Murwillumbah hospital, which is a
15-minute drive from New Govardhan farm community and his residence there.

In the next 12 days that followed, the local medical staff have been doing
their best to gradually encourage Mukunda Goswami towards complete recovery.

Initially Mukunda Goswami was placed in a room with two more patients. But
later an intestinal infection, a highly contagious and tenacious bug,
Clostridium difficile,  was detected and Maharaja was shifted to a single room.
This was a blessing in disguise since being alone in the room allowed Maharaja
to continuously listen to Srila Prabhupada’s classes played via his loudspeaker
system, chant and converse with devotee attendants. Doctors put Maharaja on a
course of antibiotics, and as of yesterday, his blood markers indicated that
the infection is all but gone. He will still be kept in quarantine for a few
days until his recovery is confirmed microbiologically.

Although Mukunda Goswami was quite weak, dehydrated and undernourished after
the surgeries, it was a challenge for doctors, nurses and devotee attendants
alike to encourage Maharaja to eat more and drink more water. They even had to
put him on an IV drip for two days to replenish fluids in his body. It got to
the point that one nurse, an elderly lady named Jan, had to tell him: “Look,
Mukunda, you Hare Krsnas are very peace-loving people, right? So if you do not
drink enough, you’re gonna see one very angry woman!” The nurses also try to
trick Maharaja into drinking more water each time they bring him a pill, which
fortunately works. Still, Maharaja is very reluctant to drink more, joking
today, a cup of water in his hand, that he feels like Socrates forced to drink
hemlock. Heparin injections are given twice daily to prevent clotting as well
other blood thinning medications until Maharaja starts moving more and is
further reviewed by the cardiac team.

As far as nutrition, Maharaja conceded to start taking more food, and has three
meals a day supplemented by a high-protein Resource drink that is put on his
medication list so he cannot avoid it so easily. All his food intake is
carefully logged by a dietitian and Maharaja’s attendants
(https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666501709665964032
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666501709665964032>).

Being a rehabilitation facility, the staff here are trained (and train us as
well) to make sure that Mukunda Goswami feels him more like a normal healthy
person than a patient. Their mantra is “You are helping him best by not
helping”. They encourage Maharaja to increase his level of self-dependence each
day in such basic things as getting out of or into bed, transferring himself to
the chair, using toilet, showering, helping himself on water etc. As recently
as one week ago Mukunda Goswami could not do much on his own, but soon he
started walking using a walking frame (video:
https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/665288500447580160
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/665288500447580160>). From
yesterday he is shifted to a lower and much more physically-intensive wheeler
(https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666470253665226752
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666470253665226752>).

Maharaja walks daily laps around the rehab, as much as 800 meters a day and
counting. Yesterday, for the first time since his hospitalization on October
23, he went outside on a wheelchair accompanied by Krsna-kirtana Prabhu,
breathed the fresh air and basked in the sun for 30 min while enjoying a
beautiful view of the Tweed river commanded from the hospital deck (video:
https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666472431146565633
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666472431146565633>). Whether
permitting, such outings will become a daily part of his recovery. The aim is
to make him secure and confident using the wheeler so he could resume his
normal lifestyle at home. A local devotee, expert masseur Trayadisa Prabhu also
visits Maharaja twice a week to work on his legs, which helps reduce
post-operative swelling and pain .
(video: https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666809857228435456
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666809857228435456>)

A few words must be said about the staff. Female and male nurses, most of them
in their late 50s or early 60s, are very friendly, caring and attentive.
Murwillumbah being the seat of one of the largest and oldest Hare Krsna
communities in Australia, most of the staff workers either have friends among
devotees, live next door to one of them or in the very least have a very
favorable opinion about devotees. A couple of devotees work at the hospital
too, one of them, Mahavan Prabhu, serving as a security officer here. They
treat Maharaja will a lot of respect and affection. One lady, Maharaja’s
occupational therapist, said she was “blown away” after looking "Mukunda
Goswami" up on Google and learning of his world renown. Another male nurse
asked for the Hare Krsna mantra, which Maharaja had written out for him, and
still another swore by “that wonderful pudding with dates” (halava) and
indicated he would not mind trying it again. Mukunda Maharaja remarked that the
nurses here are very positive, personal and “winsome”.

Today’s medical assessment concluded that, if all goes well, Mukunda Goswami
would be discharged in a week or two, but still kept as an outpatient for some
more time until they are confident that Maharaja is strong and able to walk
assisted with only a walking stick. The intestinal infection quarantine forced
us to discourage visitations to Maharaja for now, but hopefully the restriction
will be lifted in a few days after Maharaja is ruled as C.diff.-negative.
Still, devotees keep regularly sending Maharaja flowers
(https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/665393740387741696
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666084501466972160>), garlands, and
mahaprasadam from the temple
(https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666084501466972160
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami/status/666084501466972160>).

With Mukunda Goswami’s discharge nearing, an assessment visit to his house is
scheduled by the occupational therapist for November 20 in order to identify
all the necessary adjustments in his living space to enable him to resume his
normal lifestyle safely and securely. We want to express our heartfelt
gratitude to devotees from all over the world who have generously contributed
funds towards preparing the house for his rehabilitation needs.

As I said in the beginning, barring any emergency, this is the last detailed
report on Mukunda Goswami’s health sent to this forum. However, we will
continue regular or live updates on Mukunda Goswami’s health, recovery and
service on hisTwitter account at: https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami
<https://twitter.com/Mukunda_Goswami>

And, again, we cannot thank enough all of you and thousands of devotees across
the world for their ongoing prayers form Mukunda Maharaja’s full recovery and
many more years of service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

On behalf of Mukunda Goswami’s disciples and followers

your servant,
Madana-mohan das

Read more about Bhisma Panchaka on www.harekrishnacalendar.com

In my last post, I talked about how there are different types of devotees and we should be aware not all of them are of the same qualitative nature. Similarly, when we do outreach or as in ISKCON called preaching, there are different types of audiences.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (7.3) that among the millions of people, very few will know Him as He is. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made it more liberal by distributing this message to one and all. Srila Prabhupada following Mahaprabhu's footsteps took up that order of practically distributing this message. However, in many instances Prabhupada himself acknowledged that this Krishna consciousness movement is not for everyone in the sense that not all will accept it. Yet Prabhupada was always finding ways to present this message to the public at large even if only few may accept at the end. In that mood of large scale presentation (with the knowledge not all can appreciate the value), we have to strategically present this message.

I say strategic because not all audiences have the same mood, intellectual acumen and capacity to assimilate and digest the information. When we get into this place of relativity, then we also have to think about self image, marketing and messaging at all types of social, political, religious, economic etc levels to suit the particular audience. In other words, we have to employ all means to reach out to the public. As my boss in my office once said, which I liked, we have to "meet people where they are". In that spirit, we have to present the message without compromise and in digestible bits so the audience can bare the brunt of the message such as "we are not these bodies" and yes "we will die" etc.

So the challenge is presenting an Absolute truth in a relative setting maintaining the purity of the message and the messenger. Indeed, as Prabhupada said "purity is the force". Without purity of heart, this message will not penetrate the hearts of the audience. Besides,  if purity is lacking, there are always the chance that the messenger can go to the dark side.  Purity is cultivated through tolerance and perseverance. But ultimately we become pure by taking shelter of Krishna and come to the realization that we are not the ultimate doers but the instruments of Krishna.

I will end with this - Prabhupada once said that we are happy to sit under a tree and chant Hare Krishna but you (pointing to the reporters and general public) will not come if we simply did that, so we have to build big temples, dramas, music, food etc to attract as many as possible.

Hare Krishna.

Source...http://servantoftheservant-ananda.blogspot.in/2015/11/absoluteness-in-relative-setting.html

Sri Bhisma Pancaka (first day)

========================================================================
Bhishma Panchaka
This kind of 5 day fast is also prescribed for the last 5 days of Kartika
(Damodara) Month and it is known as "Bhisma Pancaka".  During that vrata
puja offerings to the Lord are also prescribed.  I am listing them below.
There are also mantras that go with these offerings.  However,  I didn't
find any specific mention about this for Purusottama month.  In the Padma
Purana it only stated that in addition to ekadasee one can observe a
"pancaratrika" fast until amavasya.  Here are offerings prescribed for
Bhisma Pancaka.
---------------------

Devotees may offer the following to the Deity form of the Lord:

On the first day, one must offer padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of the
Lord
On the second day, one must offer bilva (wood-apple) leaves of the thigh of
the Lord
On the third day, one must offer gandha (scents) to the navel of the Lord
On the fourth day, one must offer java flower to the shoulders of the Lord
On the fifth day, one must offer malati flower to the head (siro-desa) of
the Lord

Reference: Garuda Puraana (op cit.)


=========================================================================
Haribodhini - Prabodhini - Devotthani
Utthana Ekadasi
About this EkAdasi from Hari Bhakti Vilas - Dikdarshini tika


Haribodhini Ekadasi
Lord Brahma said to Narada Muni, "Dear son, O best of the sages, I shall
narrate to you the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, which eradicates all
kinds of sins and bestows great merit, and ultimately liberation, upon the
wise persons who surrender unto the Supreme Lord.
  "O best of the brahmanas, the merits acquired by bathing in the Ganges
remain significant only as long as Haribodhini Ekadasi does not come.  This
Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Kartika, is
much more purifying than a bath in the ocean, at a place of pilgrimage, or
in a lake.  This sacred Ekadasi is more powerful in nullifying sin than one
thousand Asvamedha sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices."
  Narada Muni inquired, "O father, please describe the relative merits of
fasting completely on Ekadasi, eating supper (without grains or beans), or
eating once at midday (without grains or beans)."
  Lord Brahma replied, "If a person eats once at midday on Ekadasi, the sins
of his previous birth are erased, if he eats supper, the sins acquired
during his previous two births are removed, and if he fasts completely, the
sins accumulated during his pervious seven births are eradicated.
  "O son, whatever is only rarely achieved within the three worlds is
obtained by him who strictly observes Haribodhini Ekadasi.  A person whose
sins equal Mount Sumeru in volume sees them all reduced to nothing if he
simply fasts on Papaharini Ekadasi (another name for Haribodhini Ekadasi).
The sins a person has accumulated over a thousand previous births are burned
to ashes if he not only fasts but also remains awake throughout Ekadasi
night, just as a mountain of cotton can be burned to ashes if one lights a
small fire in it.
  O Narada, a person who strictly observes this fast achieves the results I
have mentioned.  Even if one does a small amount of pious activity on this
day, following the rules and regulations, one will earn merit to Mount
Sumeru in volume; however a person who does not follow the rules and
regulations given in the Scriptures may perform pious activity equal to
Mount Sumeru in volume, but he will not earn even a small amount of merit.
One who does not chant the Gayatri mantra three times a day, who disregards
fast days, who does not believe in God, who criticises the Vedic Scriptures,
who thinks the Vedas bring only ruination to one who follows their
injunctions, who enjoys another's wife, who is utterly foolish and wicked,
who does not appreciate any service that has been rendered to him, or who
cheats others - such a sinful person can never perform any religious
activity effectively.  Be he a brahmana or a shudra, whoever tries to enjoy
another man's wife, particularly the wife of a twice-born person, is said to
be no better than a dog-eater.
  "O best of the sages, any brahmana who enjoys sex with a widow or a
brahmana lady married to another man brings ruin to himself and his family.
Any brahmana who enjoys illicit sex will have no children in his next life,
and any past merit he may have earned is ruined.  Indeed, if such a person
displays any arrogance toward a twice-born brahmana or a spiritual master,
he loses all his spiritual advancement immediately, as well as his wealth
and children.
  "These three kinds of men ruin their acquired merits: he whose character
is immoral, he who has sex with the wife of a dog-eater, and he who
appreciates the association of rogues.  Whoever associates with sinful
people and visits their homes without a spiritual purpose will go directly
to the abode of Lord Yamaraj, the superintendent of death.  And if someone
eats in such a home, his acquired merit is destroyed, along with his fame,
duration of life, children, and happiness.
  "Any sinful rascal who insults a saintly person soon loses his
religiosity, economic development, and sense gratification, and he at last
burns in the fire of hell.  Anyone who likes to offend saintly persons, or
who does not interrupt someone who is insulting saintly persons, is
considered no better than an ass.  Such a wicked man sees his dynasty
destroyed before his very eyes.
  "A person whose character is unclean, who is a rogue or a swindler, or who
always finds fault with others does not achieve a higher destination after
death, even if he gives charity generously or performs other pious deed.
Therefore one should refrain from performing inauspicious acts and perform
only pious ones, by which one will acquire merit and avoid suffering.
"However, the sins of one who, after due consideration, decides to fast of
Haribodhini Ekadasi are erased from one hundred previous lives, and whoever
fasts and remains awake overnight on this Ekadasi achieves unlimited merit
and after death goes to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, and then thousand
of his ancestors, relatives, and descendants also reach that abode.  Even if
one's forefathers were implicated in many sins and are suffering in hell,
they still attain beautifully ornamented spiritual bodies and happily go to
Vishnu's abode.
  O Narada, even one who has committed the heinous sin of killing a brahmana
is freed of all stains on his character by faster on Haribodhini Ekadasi and
remaining awake that night.  The merit that cannot by won by bathing in all
the places of pilgrimage, performing a horse sacrifice, or giving cows,
gold, or fertile land in charity can easily be achieved by fasting on this
holy day and remaining awake throughout the night.
  "Anyone who observes Haribodhini Ekadasi is celebrated as highly qualified
and makes his dynasty famous.  As Death is certain, so losing one's wealth
is also certain.  Knowing this, O best of sages, one should observe a fast
on this day so dear to Hari - Sri Haribodhini Ekadasi.
  "All places of pilgrimage in the three worlds at once come to reside in
the house of a person who fasts on this Ekadasi.  Therefore, to please the
Lord, who holds a disc in His hand, one should give up all engagements,
surrender, and observe this Ekadasi fast.  One who fasts on this Haribodhini
day is acknowledged as a wise man, a true yogi, an ascetic, and one whose
senses are truly under control.  He alone enjoys this world properly, and he
will certainly achieve liberation.  This Ekadasi is very dear to Lord
Vishnu, and thus it is the very essence of religiosity.  Even one observance
of it bestows the topmost reward in all the three worlds.
  "O Naradaji, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi will definitely not enter a
womb again, and thus faithful devotees of the Supreme Godhead give up all
varieties of religion and simply surrender to fasting on this Ekadasi.  For
that great soul who honours this Ekadasi by fasting and remaining awake
throughout the night, the Supreme Lord, Sri Govinda, personally terminates
the sinful reactions that soul has acquired by the actions of his mind,
body, and words.
  "O son, for anyone who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, gives charity,
chants the holy names of the Supreme Lord, undergoes austerities, and
performs sacrifices for God on Haribodhini Ekadasi, the merit thus earned
all becomes imperishable.  A devotee who worships Lord Madhava on this day
with first-class paraphernalia becomes free from the great sins of a hundred
lifetimes.  A person who observes this fast and worships Lord Vishnu
properly is freed from great danger.
  "This Ekadasi fast pleases Lord Janardana so much that He takes the person
who observes it back to His abode, and while going there the devotee
illuminates then ten universal directions.  Whoever desires beauty and
happiness should try to honour Haribodhini Ekadasi, especially if it falls
on Dvadasi.  The sins of one's past hundred births - the sins committed
during childhood, youth and old age in al those lifetimes, whether those
sins are dry or wet - are nullified by the Supreme Lord Govinda if one fasts
on Haribodhini Ekadasi with devotion.
  Haribodhini Ekadasi is the best Ekadasi.  Nothing is unobtainable or rare
in this world for one who fasts on this day, for it gives food grains, great
wealth, and high merit, as well as eradication of all sin, the terrible
obstacle to liberation.  fasting on this Ekadasi is a thousand times better
than giving charity on the day of the solar or lunar eclipse.  Again I say
to you, O Naradaji, whatever merit is earned by one who bathes in a place of
pilgrimage, performs sacrifices, and studies the Vedas is only one
then-millionth the merit earned by the person who fasts but one on
Haribodhini Ekadasi.  Whatever merit one has acquired in his life by some
pious activities becomes completely fruitless if one does not observe the
Ekadasi fast and worship Lord Vishnu in the month of Kartika.  Therefore,
you should always worship the Supreme Lord, Janardana, and render service to
Him.  Thus you will attain the desired goal, the highest perfection.
  "On Haribodhini Ekadasi, a devotee of the Lord should not eat in another's
house or eat food cooked by a non devotee. If he does so, he achieves only
the merit of fasting on a full moon day.  Philosophical discussion of
Scriptures in the month of Kartika pleases Sri Vishnu more than if one gives
elephants and horses in charity or performs a costly sacrifice.  Whoever
chants or hears descriptions of Lord Vishnu's qualities and pastimes, even
if but a half or even a fourth of a verse, attains the wonderful merit
derived from giving away a hundred cows to a brahmana.  O Narada, during the
month of Kartika one should give up all kinds or ordinary duties and devote
one's full time and energy especially while fasting, to discussing the
transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord.  Such glorification of Sri Hari
on the day so dear to the Lord, Ekadasi, liberates a hundred previous
generations.  One who spends his time enjoying such discussions, especially
in the month of Kartika, achieves the results of performing ten thousand
fire sacrifices and burns all his sins to ashes.
  "He who hears the wonderful narrations concerning Lord Vishnu,
particularly during the month of Kartika, automatically earns the same merit
as that bestowed upon someone who donates a hundred cows in charity.  O
great sage, a person who chants the glories of Lord Hari on Ekadasi achieves
the merit earned by donating seven islands."
  Narada Muni asked his glorious father, "O universal sire, I best of all
demigods, please tell me how to observe this most sacred Ekadasi.  What kind
of merit does it bestow upon the faithful?"
  Lord Brahma replied, "O son, a person who wants to observe this Ekadasi
should rise early on Ekadasi morning, during the brahma-muhurta hour (an
hour and a half before sunrise until fifty minutes before sunrise).  He
should then clean his teeth and bathe in a lake, river, pond, or well, or in
his own home, as the situation warrants.  After worshipping Lord Sri
Keshava, he should listen carefully to the sacred descriptions of the Lord.
He should pray to the Lord thus:  'O Lord Keshava, I shall fast on this day,
which is so dear to You, and tomorrow I shall honour Your sacred prasadam.
O lotus-eyed Lord, O infallible one, You are my only shelter.  Kindly
protect me.'
  "Having spoken this solemn prayer before the Lord with great love and
devotion, one should fast cheerfully.  O Narada, whoever remains awake all
night on this Ekadasi, singing beautiful songs glorifying the Lord, dancing
in ecstasy, playing delightful instrumental music for His transcendental
pleasure, and reciting the pastimes of Lord Krishna as records in bona-fide
Vedic literature - such a person will most assuredly reside far beyond the
three worlds, in the eternal, spiritual realm of God.
  "On Haribodhini Ekadasi one should worship Sri Krishna with camphor,
fruits, and aromatic flowers, especially the yellow agaru flower.  One
should not absorb oneself in making money on this important day.  In other
words, greed should be exchanged for charity.  This is the process for
turning loss into unlimited merit.  One should offer many kinds of fruits to
the Lord and bathe Him with water from a conchshell.  Each of these
devotional practices, when performed on Haribodhini Ekadasi, is ten million
times more beneficial than bathing in all the places of pilgrimage and
giving all forms of charity.
  "Even Lord Indra joins his palm and offers his obeisances to a devotee who
worships Lord Janardana with first-class agastya flowers of this day.  The
supreme Lord Hari is very pleased when he is decorated with nice agastya
flowers.  O Narada, I give liberation to one who devotedly worships Lord
Krishna on this Ekadasi in the month of Kartika with leaves of the bel tree.
And for one who worships Lord Janardana with fresh tulasi leaves and
fragrant flowers during this month, O son, I personally burn to ashes all
the sins he has committed for then thousand births.
  "One who merely sees Tulasi Maharani, touches her, mediates on her,
narrates her history, offers obeisances to her, prays to her for her grace,
plants her, worships her, or waters her lives in the abode of Lord Hari
eternally.  O Narada, one who serves Tulasi-devi in these nine ways achieves
happiness in the higher world for as many thousands of yugas as there are
roots and subroots growing from a mature tulasi plant.  When a full grown
tulasi plant produces seeds, many plants grow from those seeds and spread
their branches, twigs, and flowers, and these flowers also produce numerous
seeds.  For as many thousands of kalpas as there are seeds produced in this
way, the forefathers of one who serves tulasi in these nine ways will live
in the abode of Lord Hari.
  "Those who worship Lord Keshava with kadamba flowers, which are very
pleasing to Him, get is mercy and do not see the abode of Yamaraj, death
personified.  What is the use of worshipping someone else if all desires can
be fulfilled by pleasing Lord Hari?  For example, a devotee who offers Him
bakula, ashoka, and patali flowers is freed from misery and distress for as
long as the sun and moon exist in this universe, and at last he achieves
liberation.  O best of the brahmanas, an offering of kannera flowers to Lord
Jagannatha brings as much mercy upon the devotee as that earned by
worshipping Lord Keshava for four yugas.  One who offers tulasi flowers
(manjaris) to Sri Krishna during the month of Kartika receives more merit
than can be obtained by donating ten million cows.   Even a devotional
offering of newly grown sprouts of grass brings with it a hundred times the
benefit obtained by ordinary ritualistic worship of the Supreme Lord.
  "One who worships Lord Vishnu with the leaves of the samika tree is freed
from the clutches of Yamaraja, the lord of death.  One who worships Vishnu
during the rainy season with champaka or jasmine flowers never returns to
the planet earth again.  One who worships the Lord with but a single kumbhi
flower achieves the boon of donating a pala of gold (two hundred grams).  If
a devotee offers a single yellow flower of the ketaki, or wood-apple, tree
to Lord Vishnu, who rides on Garuda, he is freed from the sins of ten
million births.  Furthermore, one who offers Lord Jagannatha flowers and
also a hundred leaves anointed with red and yellow sandalwood paste will
certainly come to reside in Svetadvipa, far beyond the coverings of this
material creation.
  "O greatest of brahmanas, Sri Narada, after thus worshipping Lord Keshava,
the bestower of all material and spiritual happiness, on Haribodhini
Ekadasi, one should rise early the next day, bathe in a rive, chant japa  of
Krishna's holy names, and render loving devotional service to the Lord at
home to the nest of one's ability.  To break the fast, the devotee should
first offer some prasadam to brahmanas and only then, with their permission,
eat some grains.  Thereafter, to please the Supreme Lord, the devotee should
worship his spiritual master, the purest of the Lord's devotees, and offer
him sumptuous food, nice cloth, gold, and cows, according to the devotee's
means.  this will certainly please the Supreme Lord, the holder of the disc.
  "Next the devotee should donate a cow to a brahmana, and if the devotee
has neglected some rules and regulation of spiritual life, he should confess
them before brahmana devotees of the Lord.  Then the devotee should offer
them some dakshina (money).  O king, those who have eaten supper on Ekadasi
should feed a brahmana the next day.  That is very pleasing to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
  "O son, if a man has fasted without asking the permission of his priest,
or if a woman has fasted without asking her husband's permission, he or she
should donate a bull to a brahmana.  Honey and yoghurt are also proper gifts
for a brahmana.  Someone who has fasted from ghee should donate milk, one
who has fasted from grains should donate rice, one who has slept on the
floor should donate a bedstead with a quilt, one who has eaten on a leaf
plate should donate a pot of ghee, one who as remained silent should donate
a bell, and one who has fasted from sesame should give gold in charity and
feed a brahmana couple with sumptuous food.  A man who wants to prevent
baldness should donate a mirror to a brahmana, one who has second-hand shoes
should donate shoes, and one who has fasted from salt should donate some
sugar to a brahmana.  During this month everyone should regularly offer a
ghee lamp to Lord Vishnu or to Srimati Tulasidevi in a temple.
  "An Ekadasi fast is complete when one offers a qualified brahmana a gold
or copper pot filled with ghee and ghee wicks, along with eight waterpots
containing some gold and covered by cloths.  One who cannot afford these
gifts should at least offer a brahmana some sweet words.  One who does so
will surely attain the full benefit of fasting on Ekadasi.
  "After offering his obeisances and begging permission, the devotee should
eat his meal.  On this Ekadasi, Chaturmasya ends, so whatever one gave up
during Chaturmasya should now be donated to brahmanas.  One who follows this
process of Chaturmasya receives unlimited merit, O king of kings, and goes
to the abode of Lord Vasudeva after death.  O king, anyone who observes the
complete Chaturmasya without a break attains eternal happiness and does not
receive another birth.  But if someone breaks the fast, he becomes either a
blind man or a leper.
  "Thus I have narrated to you the complete process for observing
Haribodhini Ekadasi.  Someone who reads or hears about this achieves the
merit earned by donating cows to a qualified brahmana."

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Karttika-sukla Ekadasi - also
known as Haribodhini Ekadasi or Devotthaani Ekadasi - from the Skanda
Purana.

This story is from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The
Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute
Press.

(the above excerpt is used with permission)
The Ekadashi Book is now available in its entirety -free to download with
our blessing at http://www.krsna.org

Entire book acknowledged to Mahamandelswar Mahant Krsna Balaram Swami

Dr. Vijay K. Parmar
European Secretary
Bhagavat Dharma Samaj


Prabodhini Ekadasi in Kartik: (Sukla paksha) from Hari Bhakti Vilas -
Vaishnava Smriti.
PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH
SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA TASMAT KURVITA NARADA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma)

 Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini (when the Lord gets up)
Ekadasi, does not enter again into the womb of another mother. Therefore, a
person should give up all varieties of occupation and fast on this
particular Ekadasi day.

DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO
YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA VIBHUDHYATE CA
TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM
KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM GARUDANKA SAYI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA)

 One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when the Supreme
Lord Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda (snake) goes to
take rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa and also the day He
gets up, gets all of his desires fulfilled.

BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI
YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI
SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between Yamaraja
and Narada Muni)

 This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri Hari.
Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi is present on
this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Lord Hari.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that one who exactly
observes the Ekadasi fast by observing this, he directly worships Lord Sri
Hari. This is the meaning of this verse. Therefore, Ekadasi is said to be
equal to Lord Sri Hari Himself.

CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH
KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA)

 A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways should
end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the month of
Karttika.

EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA)

 Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows properly as
it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last goes to the abode
of Lord Sri Hari, the son of Vasudeva
===========================================================================

SRILA GAURA KISHORA DASA BABAJI MAHARAJ

The next in the parampara, after and is an associate of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
- a great paramahamsa babaji by the name of Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji
Maharaja. Technically he was the disciple of Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja,
who was a disciple of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja.
In 1897 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja came to Mayapur Navadwipa Dhama
from Sri Vrndavana Dhama, where he was accredited the exalted title
"Bhajananandi". Srila Bhaktivinoda (Kedarnath Datt), seeing the
transcendental behaviour of Babaji Maharaja, would use him as an example of
nirapeksa (indifference), as his level of renunciation was beyond belief.

 This Vaisnava saint's life was an example of utter humility and poverty,
the true attributes of a Vaisnava.  Gaurakisora never accepted any material
object from anyone.  For his clothing he used the discarded loin cloths from
corpses left on the bank of the Ganges.  For food, he would collect rice by
begging, soak it in river water, and garnish it with salt and chilly.  He
never asked favors from anyone and lived a fully detached life, devoid of
all possessions.

 Very little information is available about the past life of Gaurakisora
except that he was born in a Vaisya family in the village of Bagjana near
Tepakhola on the bank of the Padma. As a householder, Gaurakisora was known
by the name Vansidasa (different from Vamsi das babaji).  At that time he
was engaged in some agricultural trade and from the income took care of his
wife and family honestly.  After the death of his wife, Gaurakisora
renounced his home and went to Vrndavana, where he was initiated into
Vairagi Vesha by Bhagavata dasa babaji, one of the foremost disciples of
Jagannatha dasa babaji.

 Srila Gaurakisora lived on madhukari, begging and slept beneath a tree.  He
would lie prostrate, offering his humble obeisances to the residents of
Vraja, considering them as embodiments of Lord Krsna.  He even offered his
obeisances to the flowers, trees, and land around him.  He spent about
thirty years at Vraja mandala serving the deities there.  Afterwards,
perhaps by the direction of the Supreme Lord, he left for Navadvipa.

 During his stay at Navadvipa, Gaurakisora underwent various transformations
of spiritual moods.  Sometimes he danced on the bank of the Ganges chanting,
"Gaura, Gaura", while at other times he would lie on the ground in an
unconscious state.  He joyfully moved throughout the groves located on the
bank of the Ganges, considering them sites of the divine sports of Sri Sri
Radha Govinda.  His only clothing was a strip of cloth around his waist and
often went totally naked.  He chanted japa on beads or sometimes knotted a
cloth and used that as a substitute for japa beads. Occasionally, he went to
Godruma Dvipa to listen to Bhaktivinoda Thakura recite ”Srimad Bhagavatam.

Babaji Maharaja would often visit Bhaktivinoda. During his last days in
retirement, absorbed in Krsna katha, he would hear Srimad Bhagavatam at
Bhaktivinoda's house and they would discuss together. Though Babaji Maharaja
could neither read nor write he was regarded as vastly learned and
self-realized. His only possessions were the Tulasi beads around his neck
and the japa mala he kept in his hand. Sometimes he wore no Tulasi mala on
his neck and would chant on knotted cloth as beads - such was his
renunciation. Sometimes he would live under an old broken overturned boat,
and  other times he would scatter fish bones around a place he occasionally
used as his bhajan kutir to make materialists think he was a fish-eater, and
thus they would not disturb him. But by his pure bhajan he purified the
three worlds.

 He was the guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, the founder of
the Caitanya Mathas and Gaudiya Mathas.

In 1898 when Bhaktivinoda's son, who was now residing in Godrumadwipa in
Navadwipa Dhama, first came in contact with the person who was to be his
spiritual master, Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the crest jewel of
avadhutas was wearing a tigerskin hat and carrying a basket with puja
paraphernalia inside. He offered the boy four or five pieces of rope for
chanting his rounds on, and a tilak stamp for marking the body with Hare
Krsna carved on it. Bhaktivinoda later told his son, "You must take
initiation from Babaji Maharaja, and don't return to this house if you
don't." Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji used to walk across a bridge at the same
time daily, so on one occasion Bhaktivinoda's son, Siddhanta Saraswati,
blocked his path and in all humility said, "If you don't give me initiation
then I will finish my life by throwing this useless body off this bridge."
Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja didn't want any disciples - he himself had
taken siksa from Bhaktivinoda, and this was Bhaktivinoda's dear son!
Siddhanta Saraswati told him how his father had instructed him to become
Babaji Maharaja's disciple or not return home, so in 1900 Babaji Maharaja
gave him the name Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa. He then gave his new
initiate the tiger skin hat and basket that had been given to Gaura Kisora
by his spiritual master Bhagavat dasa Babaji, which he in turn had received
from Jagannatha dasa Babaji.

In 1908 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja lost his external eye sight, so he
then stopped travelling and just chanted and performed worship of Krsna.
Being aloof from external consciousness, sometimes he would not dress his
body -  instead he would sit in his bhajan kutir internally absorbed in
Krsna's pastimes and in a very deep voice be heard calling the names of the
gopis of Vrndavana.

Once Srila Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa, Siddhanta Saraswati, offered to
take Babaji Maharaja to Calcutta to see an eye specialist, but he refused
saying, "Never! I will never go to the material world." His disciple
protested, "But in Calcutta I could serve you nicely. You wouldn't have to
undergo any inconvenience." But Babaji Maharaja was adamant declaring, "I
will never accept this service. Better I throw myself in the Saraswati
(Jalanghi) and drown."

Once Babaji Maharaja turned up at the Yoga Pitha (Lord Caitanya's
birthplace) at two in the morning. Amazed, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
enquired how he got there in the pitch black of night. Babaji Maharaja
replied, "Someone brought me here." "Who could have brought you such a
distance at this time?" enquired Bhaktisiddhanta. Finally his mind
concluded, "It must have been Krsna who personally brought you here or else
how did you cross the Ganges? How did you find your way across the dark
fields?" But Babaji Maharaja would not answer more than, "One person brought
me across the river, that's all."

One day Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja wrapped his body and two
feet with a cloth. Sitting covered like this he said, "Many persons, after
being informed by others, come here to collect the dust from my feet. I tell
them I am not a Vaisnava. If you go to the vicinity where there are
Vaisnavas with their feet pretentiously decorated and extended to touch, you
can have unlimited dust. How can I bless you? I don't have barfi or sandesh
or rasagulla, or even sweet words. How can I bless you? Nowadays people are
interested in spiritual masters who can give these things - wealth, good
wife, sweet words - these cheating things are now taken as anakula
(favourable)."

 Every virtuous person looked forward to rendering service to Srila
Gaurakisora.  However, he rarely allowed anyone the chance to serve him.
Once Manindracandra Nandi, the Maharaja of Kasimbazar, sent a distinguished
messenger to escort Gaurakisora to the former's palace.  Gaurakisora,
however, did not accept the Maharaja's invitation saying that if he visited
the palace he may feel tempted by the wealth of the Maharaja which may
result in a strained relation between the two.  Hence, Gaurakisora suggested
that instead of him visiting the palace, let the Maharaja free himself
completely from the shackles of wealth by donating everything he owned to
his relatives and then come to live with Gaurakisora in a specially prepared
shed where both of them could practice Haribhajan in peace."

 Srila Gaurakisora was very selective about accepting invitations for food.
He believed that partaking of food here and there could adversely affect the
spiritual life of a devotee.  Once a devotee name Haren babu partook of
prasada offered at the festival held at Bhajan kutir at Navadvipa.  For this
Gaurakisora stopped communicating with Haren for three days.  On the fourth
day Gaurakisora explained that the prasada of the above festival had been
financed by a woman of questionable profession, a pumscari (one who is moved
by other men).

 Once, on the eve of Sanatana Gosvami's disappearance day, Gaurakisora
decided to celebrate the occasion.  The devotee attending him asked who
would provide them with the materials for the celebration.  Srila
Gaurakisora replied: "Remember not to speak to anyone about it.  We shall
miss a meal and continue around the clock chanting the holy name.  This
could be the typical festival for those of us who have taken the vow of
poverty."

 Narendra Kumar Sen, a resident of Agartala (Tripura), once approached
Gaurakisora to learn about Guru pranali or Siddha pranali.  Gaurakisora told
him, "The Supreme Lord cannot be realized through worldly knowledge.  Only
through the chanting of the holy name can the true nature of the Lord be
revealed.  As the Lord is revealed from the letters comprising the Nama, the
devotee gradually begins to understand his own nature and becomes acquainted
with seva.

 Once a physician told Gaurakisora that he intended to move to Navadvipa and
take up charitable practices.  Gaurakisora advised the physician that if he
truly desired to live in Navadvipa then he should give up the plan for a
charitable practice because it would only encourage materially minded people
to save money. Those who sincerely practiced Hari bhajan should never get
distracted by the chains of welfare activities.

 A young seeker wearing only a kaupina, once stayed with Gaurakisora for
some days. later he arranged, through the agency of an employee of a female
estate owner, to obtain five kathas of land as a donation from the woman.
When Gaurakisora heard about this he was extremely annoyed: "Navadvipadhama
is beyond this material world. How can a worldly land owner dare to hold
land here and even think he can donate five kathas out of it?  A mere grain
of sand of the transcendental Navadvipa is more valuable than all the
precious gems in this world put together.  Moreover, how advanced could this
young kaupina clad devotee be if he dares to collect so much land in lieu of
his bhajan merit?"

 Once a devotee offered some sweets to Lord Gauranga and then took the
offering to Gaurakisora, urging him to partake of it. Gaurakisora told the
devotee, "Those who are non vegetarian, those who commit adultery, or offer
food to Lord Gauranga with a particular motive, their offerings never reach
Lord Gauranga and are never sanctified as prasada."

 Srila Gaurakisora regularly begged for rice, after which he would cook the
rice, offer it, and partake of the prasada.  He never touched any foodstuff
offered by someone else.  Once during monsoon, Gaurakisora stayed in the
rest house at Phulia Navadvipa.  Some prasada was left in a vessel for him
to respect later.  Meanwhile a snake passed by the vessel and a woman there
happened to notice it.  When Gaurakisora sat down to take prasada the woman
appeared there and informed him about the snake. Gaurakisora, however,
firmly stated that he would not touch the prasada until the woman left.
After the woman left, Gaurakisora said, "Look how maya works!  Taking the
form of compassion, maya attempts to hit deep into her target slowly.  Maya
can assume countless forms.  She always prevents a mortal being from
practicing Haribhajan."

 Giribabu and his wife once ardently requested Gaurakisora to stay in their
house at Navadvipa.  Gaurakisora was moved by their sincere devotion and
finally agreed to oblige them on the condition that he would live only in
their toilet room where he would perform Hari bhajan.  Giribabu tried to
persuade him to change his mind but Gaurakisora remained firm.  Giribabu
reluctantly arranged to have the toilet thorougly cleaned and Gaurakisora
used it for Haribhajan.  A realized soul can practice Haribhajan anywhere in
an unconcerned manner, and wherever he resides, that place becomes
Vaikuntha.

 Srila Gaurakisora was a highly spiritually advanced soul.  He never allowed
deceitful practices or any discussion which was not within the purview of
the holy books.  One day when a devotee questioned Gaurakisora about a well
known reiciter of ”Srimad Bhagavatam, who was in the habit of chanting
"Gaura, Gaura", Gaurakisora remarked,  "He doesn't say "Gaura, Gaura.
Rather what he means to say is, "More More" (`Money, Money.')  Those who
recite ”Srimad Bhagavatam for payment are not entitled to chant the name of
theSupreme Lord."

 Srila Gaurakisora never delivered discourses openly, yet his spotless
character drew everyone to him.  Upon meeting Gaurakisora, even a staunch
materialist would become inclined take up Haribhajan.

On 22nd June, 1914 Bhaktivinoda Thakura passed from this world into his
samadhi, deep meditation, on Lord Krsna in Bhakti Bhavan, and then on
November 17th, 1915 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, on the auspicious
Utthana Ekadasi, also left this world. His body was placed into a samadhi
tomb, but sixteen years later, due to flooding, the samadhi had to be moved.
There was a clamour of local babajis trying to claim the samadhi, but the
bold Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati (Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa) told
everybody frankly, "I am the only disciple of Paramahamsa Babaji Maharaja.
Even though I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate brahmacari and by
the grace of Babaji Maharaja I am not secretly addicted to abominable habits
or involved in fornication as some monkey-like people are. If there is
someone amongst the people here present who is a renunciate of stainless
character, then he can have Babaji Maharaja's samadhi. We have no objection
to that. He, who within the last year, or the last six months, three months,
one month or at least within the last three days, has not had illicit
connection with a woman will be able to touch this spiritual blissful body.
If anyone else touches it he will be completely ruined." Hearing these
words, the Inspector of police, who had come to judge for a fair and honest
decision said, "How will evidence be had for this?" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati replied, "I have faith in their word." At this, one by one all the
bogus babajis slipped away without a word.

Srila Gaura Kishor dasa babaji maharaj ki jaya

Indian politicians and media persons are going crazy after the so-called “intolerance” issue, which is in fact a non-issue. Only once in a while we find political leaders speak out their minds when it comes to cow killing. I believe there are more chief ministers and party leaders who understand that cow slaughter is slaughtering India’s civilization, but they are unable to open their mouths for multiple reasons including want of personal integrity or conviction for the cause and fear of losing their political career. This in itself is a mater of concern for Indians that politicians are afraid of speaking in favor of cow protection.

It is outright ridiculous to say that not allowing cow killing, or any animal killing for that matter, is intolerance. Those who say it have become blind to the fact that human beings are not the only living creatures on the planet. Even if bans on cow killing is a sign of intolerance, it makes absolutely no sense to say that killing cows shows tolerance. Tolerance should be shown by personal sacrifice, not at the cost of killing others.

And what intolerance are they talking about? They want to kill cows, throw away tons of vegetables and fruits, and then argue that not allowing cow killing is intolerance towards freedom, indifference towards economy, or restricting one’s earning. Only paid people and fools will accept such arguments and support the ongoing propaganda that killing cows to make money is a good policy and not allowing it is intolerance.

Talking about intolerance, why not think of the pain imposed upon the animals being killed?Have our political leaders and media persons forgotten that they are living in a civilized society, not in a barbarians’ one? The following statement, reportedly from Uttarkhand Chief Minister goes perfectly in line with this understanding.

The Chief Minister, a veteran Congress leader, had been quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying at a function in Haridwar on Tuesday: "Anyone who kills cows, no matter which community he belongs to, is India's biggest enemy and has no right to live in the country."

Although the minister has said he didn’t mean to say what he was quoted as saying, there is nothing personal about any community here. After all, cow protection is not all about religious sentiments; it’s equally scientific. It is the political leaders who make it appear so in order to provoke religious sentiments for political leverage. Such leaders should be taken to task and served appropriate justice as per Indian constitution.

‘Cow Killers Have No Right to Live in India’, Says Uttarakhand Chief Minister – NDTV

Last month, ML Khattar, the Chief Minister of BJP-ruled Haryana, had backtracked after appearing to suggest that Muslims in the country must give up beef. “Muslims can stay, but in this country they will have to give up eating beef. The cowis an … ‘Cow Killers Have No Right to Live in India’, Says Uttarakhand Chief Minister

Source...http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/dont-worry-chief-minister-if-you-said-cow-killers-have-no-right-to-live-in-india/

By Gauranga Das

ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV,www.ecovillage.org.in) a 100 acre sustainable farming community and retreat center, based near Mumbai, India has won the Green Apple Environment Award in Gold category in the international campaign to find the greenest companies, councils and communities. 

ISKCON GEV’s participation was amongst 500 other nominations in the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice, and were presented with their trophy and certificate at a glittering presentation ceremony in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster ,London on Monday, November 16 2015. Srutidharma Prabhu, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor, on behalf of ISKCON GEV, received this award from the hands of Mr. Mark Wolens, General Manager of The Green Organization

As a result of this Green Apple Award success, GEV has been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their achievement. GEV is also invited to progress to represent its country in the Green World Awards and the European Business Awards for the Environment. GEV will also be given free Ambassador Membership of Partners in Protecting the Planet (PPP) the organization planting trees to help save livelihoods, wildlife and the planet.

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as UK’s major recognition for environmental endeavor among companies, councils, communities and countries. The Green Apple Awards are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies. The Green Apple Awards campaign was one of the first to be accepted by Britain’s RSA Environmental Awards Forum as meeting the high standards and criteria to be approved as an automatic conduit into the Brussels-led European Business Awards for the Environment.

The awards are organized by The Green Organization, established in 1994 as an international, independent, non-profit, non-political, non-activist environment group, dedicated to recognizing, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. The Green Organization work for various environmental causes including the Green Earth Appeal and The United Nations to plant trees where they will do most good in the world and is having various environment initiatives of its own as well.

Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17040

ISKCON devotees in the United Kingdom recently got the chance to meet with both British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On November 10th, for the third year in a row, Bhaktivedanta Manor temple president Srutidharma Das was invited to chant prayers at an official Diwali function at Number 10 Downing Street.

Around 100 religious leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, as well as leading Hindu businesspeople, attended the event at David Cameron’s office/residence. Indian High Commissioner in London Ranjan Mathai, and Minister for Employment Priti Patel were also present.

After the lamps were lit, Srutidharma chanted the first verse of Sri Isopanishad, beginning “Om purnam adah purnam idam,” in which the Personality of Godhead is described as the “perfect and complete” source of this world. He then chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and wished everyone a happy Diwali.

“I then got to shake the Prime Minister’s hand and expressed how lovely it was to celebrate Diwali with him again,” says Srutidharma. “I also mentioned to him that the Krishna Avanti primary school’s first results had come out, and that the children were in the top two per cent academically in the country.”

Prime Minister Cameron speaks on Diwali, while Srutidharma stands by to chant prayers

In his speech, the Prime Minister praised the different Diwali celebrations happening around the UK, and said, “When we think of this religion, we think of the importance of Karma, and inner peace and pleasure. But of course, what’s really at the heart of it all, is Dharma rather than Karma. The guide to life, and how to do the right thing. And as we bring up our children, I think explaining to people good conduct, and doing the right thing, and the importance of conduct is so vital. So to me, that’s what I take from this extraordinary festival, and the extraordinary story of the Ramayana.”

Before leaving, Srutidharma presented the Prime Minister with a box of Mangala-arati sweets offered to Bhaktivedanta Manor’s presiding Deities Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda.

Two days later, at a Wembley Stadium event where 60,000 people welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Srutidharma was one of just fourteen people selected to officially greet both Modi and David Cameron.

When Srutidharma shook his hand, Cameron commented, “My kids are still eating all the sweets you left at Diwali!”

Meanwhile Modi fondly recalled his 2005 visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor for its Janmashtami festival.

At the Wembley event, during which Modi spoke about his economic goals for India and partnership with the UK, children of the Krishna Avanti School recited the national anthems of both India and the UK, and got to meet both Prime Ministers.

Later, at a VIP function organized by the Indian High Commissioner, three ISKCON devotees – Srutidharma, Gauri Das and Manor head of communications Vinay Tanna – were counted amongst the 1,000 VIPs.

There Gauri also got a chance to meet with Modi, and presented him with a box of Mangala-arati sweets too, saying, “These are made with milk from our own cows,” which delighted the Indian PM.

“Because we are introduced as ISKCON, attending these kinds of events builds our international reputation and brings us political support for any future ISKCON campaigns we might have,” says Srutidharma.

 Source...http://iskconnews.org/uk-devotees-meet-with-prime-ministers-cameron-and-modi,5212/

By Parsada dasi

Our camera does not do justice to capture the mood of excitement, joy and climax of this amazing festival. The opulence and grandeur is befitting the Lord of the Universe with His brother Lord Balarama and sister Subhadra Devi. The procession took us back 5,000 years ago when Krishna and Balarama entered the city of Mathura. And it is after 20 years Their Lordships, again happily distribute mercy to the people of Mathura by the expert arrangement of ISKCON Vrindavan’s Namahatta Department headed by HG Radha Shyamsundar Das and Temple President HG Pancha Gauda Das.
Mathura is considered to be the silver capital of India and organizers left no stone unturned when it came to top class arrangement for the devotees and guests. Devotees were transported to Mathura from our Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan and a grand welcoming ceremony for Their Lordships took place amidst a roaring kirtan in Kedarnath Dham. The entrance was decorated with fresh flower garlands and the most incredible rangoli decorations we had ever seen, thereafter devotees had breakfast. Members of our management welcomed sadus and dignitaries. His Holiness Navayogendra Swami and His Grace Deena Bandhu prabhu gave classes. In a side park of the hosting site, the chariot of Lord Jagannath was being decorated with beautiful garlands of roses, jasmine and marigold and colorful rangoli. Chappan Bhog and arti was offered to Their Lordships. The atmosphere was surcharged with an electrifying energy. Lord Jagannath was ready to ascend His chariot.

As Their Lordships were carried to the chariot, devotees and local Mathura vasi’s offered obeisances and rushed to touch Them. Amidst the blowing of conch shells and a roaring kirtan led by our temple president Pancha Guada Prabhu, Their Lordships were comfortably seated on Their thrones.

Thousands grabbed the ropes and pulled Lord Jagannath slowly on the main street of Mathura, which was beautifully decorated with rangoli, police flanked both sides of the chariot and the procession was led by another smaller beautifully decorated chariot of the Yamuna Foundation, a big brass band, horses and a camel, all gorgeously decorated. The Lord was on His way to shower mercy on all. Three groups of kirtaneers pelted out the Holy Names. Shopkeepers and residents showered Lord Jagannath and the devotees with rose petals and came forward with offerings of garlands, sweets, fruits and luxmi, throughout the procession. Every five to ten minutes Lord Jagannath stops to receive the worship and offerings of His people in Mathura. It was truly a very touching sight.

We noticed the entire path of the procession decorated with rangoli, which lasted 4 kilometers, these artists had the entire Mathura glorifying their artistic talent. Dignitaries walked the procession with our ISKCON leadership, His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami, His Holiness Lokanath Goswam, HH Subhag Swami, HH Navayogendra Swami, HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu and a host of sanyassis and senior devotees. The kirtan led by HH Lokanath Swami had Mathura in ecstasy. Devotees and guests wore a jute cap boasting “Jai Jagannath and “ Yamuna Foundation,” highlighting the plight of our Yamuna River.

Organizers arranged fruit juices, bottled water, fruits, sweets and savories to be distributed to everyone, this led up to the end of the procession in Jubli Park Vikas bazaar, where Lord Jagannath will rest and enjoy the evening program arranged for His pleasure by His loving devotees. His resting house was opulently decorated with cream and gold cloth.
Dignitaries addressed the guests and hailed the festival and ISKCON’s activities world-wide. His Holiness Gopal Goswami thanked the people of Mathura and the organizers.
Their Lordships were treated to chappan bhog and arati. The ISKCON Vrindavan congregation devotees did a drama on Mother Yasoda binding Gopal and the devotees from Noida a sweet pastime of Lord Caitanya. Beautiful bhajans brought the most incredible Ratha Yatra festival in the most holy birthplace of Lord Krishna to a close. Guests and devotees were treated to a royal feast organized by the Yamuna Foundation.

HG Radha Shyamsundar Prabhu said, “We are enthralled at the warm and loving reception of the Mathura vasi’s, we never expected such a welcome. Lord Krishna is very very pleased. We hope to make Ratha Yatra an annual event in Mathura. We would like to thank our dignitaries without whom this festival would not be done on such a grand scale: Srimati Manisha Gupta (Chairperson Mathura Municipality), Mr Ravikant Garg (Ex-State Minister U.P.) Mr S.K. Sharma (Member State Executive BJP), Mr Mukesh Gautam (Chairman Vrindavan), Mr Pradeep Bansal (Yamuna Mission), Mr Rajendra Bansal (Yamuna Mission), Mr Mohit Mukut Wala (Vrindavan), Mr Sandeep Arora (Giriraj Group), His Grace Radha Kinkar Das, Mr Trilokinath Bansal (Real Estate), Mr Deepak Goyal (Saraswati Hospital), Mr Manohar Lal Goyal (Shorawala), Mr Amit Gautam, Mr Ashwini K Bindas, Mr Paras Jain.
The photo’s here are of the morning session, evening session will be uploaded soon.

Hare Krishna!

Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17017