Harinama in Radhakunda by HH Janananda Goswami 

We did Harinama Sankirtana at Radha kund and we where very lucky because HH Janananda Goswami joined us this day! (15.03.2015 ) Shri Harinama Sankirtana yajna ki Jai!

Original Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.864434430280031.1073742041.165222206867927&type=1

HH Indradyumna Swami's health update.

Indradyumna Swami: Dear devotees,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to thank all of you for your concern, your care and especially your prayers during these last few days. As my dear friend Govinda Swami reported, I was recently diagnosed with Melanoma skin cancer, but the small malignant mole was successfully removed and further testing showed the cancer had not spread anywhere at all. I am presently recovering from surgery to the affected area. My doctors are happy with the results and told me today that I'll be good to go in a few weeks time.
Krsna has been very kind to me and I have had many realizations over the past 2 weeks. I am more grateful than ever for the mercy of my spiritual master, the association of devotees, the holy names, service to my Deities, the chanting of my gayatri mantras, the abode of Sri Vrindavan Dhama and service to the samkirtan movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I wake up each morning and thank the Lord for a new day of service and the opportunity to come closer to His Lotus feet. I am infinitely more aware now how temporary life is and am determined to use every second of what remains of my life in service to guru and Gauranga. I feel a resurgence of dedication to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's instructions to me to, 'preach boldly and have faith in the holy names.' In fact, I feel my service to him has only just begun. Once again I thank all of you for remembering me in my time of difficulty. I look forward to your association for many years to come.
Your servant, Indradyumna Swami
"A person who has developed detachment can give up the bondage of material society, friendship and love, and a person who undergoes great suffering gradually becomes, out of hopelessness, detached and indifferent to the material world. Thus, due to my great suffering, such detachment awoke in my heart; yet how could I have undergone such merciful suffering if I were actually unfortunate? Therefore, I am in fact fortunate and have received the mercy of the Lord. He must somehow or other be pleased with me." [ SB 11.8.38 ]

ISKCON Chowpatty Celebrated 123rd Youth Program Named "Prerana - A festival of inspiration" at Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple on 14th March 2015

Promotional Video of IYS Prerna

Highlights of the Youth Festival

• Attended by more than 1300 youth boys
• Attended by Ex Cricketer Pravin Amre
• Attended by Raje Ambrish Rao
• Explaining Krishna consciousness in simple way with daily day to day examples which is understandable to youth and can relate it with their life.

What are those master strokes in this game of life?

8 Lessons which can be used in Material day to day world and in spiritual world too.

1. Lesson 1- assess the pitch and opponents. i.e. SWOT analysis
2. Lesson 2- practice is the key.In bhakti we call it- sadhana.
3. Lesson 3 React or Respond?
4. Lesson 4- power of blessings
5. Lesson 5- small things make a big difference.
6. Lesson 6- power of attitude.
7. Lesson 7- character vs achievement.
8. Lesson 8- final victory

Few Brief Recap about the Lecture.

Prerna Youth Festival-14th March 2015-playing the master strokes in life Speaker- GaurGopal prabhu In 2007 when India lost in world, there was this joke- there was a little girl in the court as parents were taking divorce. She was asked whom wud u like to stay wid-mom or dad. She said none. Coz mummy and daddy both beat me. I will stay wid the Indian cricket team. They don't beat anyone. HH Radhanath maharaja was doing a program in borivali in 1997 when there was an info pak match. He looked into the audience and there were only ladies. He called one of the brahamacaris and asked where are the men?/he was informed that there was Indo pak men. After the class in Kirtan all men came. They started dancing in Kirtan celebrating India's victory. In 2011 world cup, Prji went to receive maharaja on airport. One TV reporter asked maharaj- Swamiji pl give an interview on India's world cup final n give blessings. Maharaja said-Ok. Reporter asked-what is ur opinion who will win? Srilanka or India. Maharaja said- I'm from america and the only cricket is know is the insect called cricket. But I came to India in 1971 and ppl of India gave me so much love and affection that I pray India wins. Cricket is such a part of life. Like lord Vishnu pervades everywhere, so cricket pervades every pore of India. We all come to Prerna to get knowledge. Everyone is so obsessed wid knowledge.  J-one teacher asked a student- who put his first step on moon? Students Neil Armstrong. Teacher- who put second step? Students Neil only. Did he went there to play langadi there! There is para(spiritual) and apara(material) Vidya. A balance of the two is required. *Apara Vidya (material knowledge) gives us a 1)great lifestyle.  (To make a living you don't need apara Vidya. ) 2)quantity 3)to prove (to the world) (Karna was trying to prove.) 4)go through life 5)information (Information diarrhea - overwhelmed by informatio (J-once aurangzeb told mughal soldiers-go and find shivaji! They said- we r mughal not google) *Para Vidya gives us  1) great life. 2)quality. 3) to improve (Arjuna was trying to improve) 4)grow through life. (Like a larva in a cocoon growing to a butterfly) 5)transformation (Knowledge is meant to bring humility. Along with Vijay there shud be Vinay) We should take small steps to big dream. Change in life comes with small steps. What are those master strokes in this game of life? (8 lessons) Worst is googly bowl, when a leg spinner changes the direction of ball.  In life also there are many googlies.  Google in life is - In viva examiner asks such a question that no one knows. Result is duck. Lesson1- assess the pitch and opponents. SWOT analysis. Knowing- Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threats In home ground you can hit well. But in foreign ground it will difficult. So assessment is needed. We are all playing a game of life. We shud assess our opponents first.  In the game of life we r playing a game against an opponent called mind. No one can stop u from the accomplishments when the mind bowls googlies against u. Conflict in the mind. When an alarm clock rings in mrng, mind puts its first googly. It makes u clean bold when u put the first snooze the alarm clock. When we snooze the alarm, we decide the giving in to the mind. And this is how the morning begins. What match will u win later on! We develop the attitude of giving in. Lesson 2- practice is the key. Tiger woods was asked what is the secret of ur success? He said- practice practice practice. In bhakti we call it- sadhana. Don't leave the bat even if u fail. Lage raho. U may miss the first 5 balls but the last ball of the over u will hit a 6. Wait for that one ball when u r stronger than that opponent. The purpose of life is a life of purpose. When you a driven by a purpose it doesn't matter that the world says. There is a spiritual purpose too. To serve. Life is life a game of tennis. It begins with service and ends with love all. Don't just have passion, have compassion. Earn with dignity and spend with compassion. 3) React or Respond? Concept of sledging in cricket. Opponent team abuses to the batsman. Sachin is adored for that sledging hasn't bothered him. He is cool. Something's are out of our control. Question is do we want to be a 7UP can (react)or oxycool water bottle(respond). 70% of mind's space is occupied by things beyond our control. Between the stimulus and response is our choice. A great personality is not born in a maternity ward but by choices. Don't ask the question,why did this happen to me? Ask the question how can I deal with this? There is something called karma, factor beyond our control. Lesson 4- power of blessings. Submission and surrender to ppl who are better than us gives us an empowerment to factors beyond our control. Yuvraj Singh at age of 30 got cancer of left lung. Lesson 5- small things make a big difference. we can't wait only for 4s and 6s.  Kip the score board ticking. In 1987 american airlines, in one year they saved 40k dollars by eliminating 1 olive on the salad of business class  Small things can make a big diff Lesson 6- power of attitude. In 2007 India lost in world cup final against Bangladesh.  Sachin said I'm done .I can't play more. He came home n his older bro Ajit tendulkar inspired him. Don't giv up. Envision urself in 2011 holding the world cup. Sachin has the humility to work under a captain 14yrs younger to him. Team work is about we r together to win. A good follower is a good leader. If we are position driven we will be frustrated.  If we are service driven we will be happy. Position doesn't matter to us, contribution matters. Gita was spoken by Krishna to learn 3 words- never give up. Lesson 7- character vs achievement. One wrong decision in batting can take u back to pavilion . Lesson 8- final victory. After we leave the stadium what we will carry.. You have to change the currency of this world. Which u shud carry to the spiritual world Desire produces Karma. You work and exert to acquire the objects of your desire. Karma produces its fruits as pain or pleasure. You will have to take births after births to reap the fruits of your Karmas. This is the Law of Karma.

ISKCON Youth Services (IYS) is the youth wing of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, a branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). IYS is aimed towards nourishing the hearts of today's youth with the sublime message of the scriptures and helping them flourish in their lives in a wholesome manner. This Prerna festival started 12 years back

For Knowing more about Youth Festival at ISKCON Chowpatty visit below link

http://iysmumbai.com/

https://www.facebook.com/iysmumbai

Spiritual Unworthiness

By Mahatma Dasa

Depression and feelings of unworthiness are usually associated with failures and setbacks in life. An unsuccessful person, struggling to survive in a competitive world, feels doubtful about his or her competence and may feel depressed and unworthy. In fast-paced cities like Mumbai, work pressure and the race to the top are making people a clinically depressed lot, say psychiatrists. The increase of mental disorders and suicide is testimony to this phenomena.

However, feelings of unworthiness, when manifest as humility, are a positive spiritual asset. Humility is one of the qualifications of a transcendentally situated person. In fact Lord Krishna considers humility the most important item of knowledge, because only a humble person can approach a superior and receive spiritual knowledge. A heart overloaded with pride and egotism can never submissively inquire about the knowledge of transcendence.

From the Bhagavad-Gita we understand that the material world is like a reflection of the spiritual world, where everything mundane exists in its pure spiritual form. We learn that qualities and characteristics that are undesirable (such as jealousy, anger, sulking, envy, etc.) have their pure “all-good” spiritual counterparts. What may look like a material defect, or even a mental or emotional illness, can be a symptom of an elevated state of Krishna consciousness. Thus we sometimes see advanced devotees exhibiting extreme lamentation or hopelessness as aspects of their Krishna consciousness.

How are we to relate to this? Is there a kind of lamentation, self-denigration, and hopelessness that’s suitable to our level of Krishna consciousness? If there is, how can we not become discouraged by such feelings? Let us first look at feelings of unworthiness that are detrimental to our advancement.

Overcome Undesirable Feelings

Devotees often feel unworthy to receive Krishna’ s mercy, kindness, and love, feeling that Krishna is throwing pearls to a swine. More often than not, such feelings are mixed with, or result from, a material sense of unworthiness (I am bad, I am dirty, I am foolish, I am … ). So let’s first understand that the Lord doesn’t exactly see us as we may see ourselves.

Everybody is worthy of Krishna’ s love and thus worthy to become Krishna conscious. How did we all become worthy? What did we do? All we did was exist.

Now, you might say, “Why would Krishna care about me? I am insignificant. Besides, I don’t even like Krishna that much. I try to imitate him, I neglect him, I take things from him, I criticize his devotees, and I always think about my own enjoyment.”

Despite all this, Krishna always cares about us. If he didn’t care about us, he wouldn’t have become accessible in so many forms: the Deity, the scriptures, and especially his holy name. If Krishna didn’t want a relationship with us, why did he send so many of his eternal associates to come to this world to bring us back to him, despite our faults and dis-qualifications to engage in his service?

This is just a fragment of the evidence that shows how much Krishna cares for every one of us. There is nothing we can do, aside from continued blasphemy of, or willing disobedience to Krishna’ s pure devotees, that would make us unworthy of Krishna’ s love. Still, even if we believe we are truly unworthy, this makes us even more qualified to receive his mercy. Just as being poor qualifies one to receive welfare from the government, disqualification is the very cause of being worthy of the Lord’s mercy. If Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were selling love of Krishna for the price of qualification, he would have closed his shop long ago owing to a lack of customers.

Krishna Cares For Every Soul

Abnormal feelings of unworthiness can be caused by being (or feeling) unloved or denigrated by others, or by personal failures in life. In this unhealthy state, we can feel ourselves so low, impure, unintelligent, or unqualified, that even God couldn’t find a reason to love us.

A devotee once asked Srila Prabhupada, “Why would Krishna care about me? He has so many devotees. He has the gopis, the cowherd boys, his mother and father and so many servants. He doesn’t need me.” Prabhupada explained that if you cut your finger, you try to save it. You don’t say to the doctor, “Just let my finger fall off; after all, I have nine other fingers.” Similarly, Krishna doesn’t think, “I have so many other devotees. Who cares about you?”

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura describes that every living entity has a unique relationship with Krishna, and thus Krishna experiences unique pleasure from every individual relationship. This means Krishna is anxious to taste that specific relationship (rasa) with each of us. Not only that, he offers a unique taste of himself in every relationship.

Krishna is called Rasaraja, the king of relationships. Krishna thrives on relationships, and if Krishna wants a relationship with us, we shouldn’t deny him. Are we so foolish to say to Krishna, “I am unavailable to you because I don’t feel worthy”?

Stop Putzing Around

There is an expression in Yiddish: “putzing around.” If someone is putzing around, it means they are busy doing a lot of useless things that amount to practically nothing. Putzing around basically means, as the famous American musician Bob Dylan sang, “Being busy doing nothing.”

We are all very busy in the material world, doing millions of things that ultimately amount to nothing more than preparing our next birth. Have you ever been in a rush and you call for one of your family members to get in the car, but they are holding you up by being busy doing nothing of much consequence? In the same way, Krishna is calling us to leave this world, and yet we remain, doing a million unimportant things that amount only to holding him up.

Krishna is saying, “I’ve got a place for you in my home. Your spiritual body is ready for you; your service is ready for you; all arrangements are there for your eternal stay. Come back home!”

Krishna Is Waiting For Us

One of my god brothers said in a class that it seems awkward that Madhava (the Krishna Deity of ISKCON Mayapur) is playing his flute, because Krishna plays his flute to call Radharani and the gopis. Since Radharani and the gopis are already there (on the altar in Mayapur), Krishna doesn’t need to play the flute. So why is he playing it? He’s playing his flute to call us. His flute sings a song that goes something like this: “Come home. I am waiting for you. Stop putzing around. What are you doing that’s so important?”

Krishna didn’t have to come to the material world. Yet he came and performed his mas to attract us back to him. In fact, everything that Krishna does is ultimately done for this purpose. In other words, he only acts to help us reestablish our relationship with him. He creates the material world to give us a chance to reform ourselves, and he performs his pastimes to attract our mind and heart to him. This means he performs his pas-times to awaken our love for him. Try to feel this affection when you hear his mas; try to feel him calling you into a relationship with him. When you read between the lines of the Srimad-Bhagavatam you can hear Krishna saying, “Please accept my love. Please join me in my eternal Lila.”

Similarly, when reading Srila Prabhupada’s purports, behind the words you can feel Prabhupada showering love and compassion. Of course, the messages of the purports are there, but behind those messages allow yourself to feel the love that Srila Prabhupada has for you – and for all conditioned souls.

Srila Prabhupada’s love for us is further evidence of Krishna’ s love for us. Srila Prabhupada is a messenger of Krishna’s love, and thus he loves us all without discrimination. Prabhupada loves everyone to such a degree that he never rejects anyone – no matter how fallen he or she may be – who is willing to serve Krishna,

Positive Unworthiness

Still, as stated earlier, there are proper feelings of unworthiness appropriate to our level of advancement. These feelings are both natural and helpful for bhakti.

Feelings of unworthiness mani-fest in two prominent ways in the stage of vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti, or regulated devotional service: appreciation and humility. Appreciation manifests in gratitude that Krishna accepts us and our service despite our past sins and present faults as long as we simply make a sincere effort to serve him and Srila Prabhupada, Even though unqualified, Krishna mercifully gives us lots of service. As we meditate on how Krishna allows us, even though un-qualified, to be engaged in his service, our appreciation for him and the service he gives us grows. Thus, feelings of unworthiness help us see our service as a precious gift that we are blessed to have.

Feeling unworthy also makes us feel helpless. Taken in the correct way, helplessness is a manifestation of humility in accordance with our present level of Krishna consciousness. It manifests as a total dependence on Krishna for guidance, intelligence, and ability to do our service well – or sometimes even to do our service at all. It is through this kind of humility that we advance rapidly in Krishna consciousness. Thus, feelings of unworthiness, when exhibited in a Krishna conscious sense, become one of our greatest allies in sadhana-bhakti, because humility is integral to advancing in Krishna consciousness.

Symptoms of Advanced Devotion

As love for Krishna matures in a devotee, he or she becomes more and more humble and feels totally unworthy to receive Krishna’s mercy. Such an uttama-adhikari; or the most advanced devotee, feels bereft of devotion and considers everyone else to be richer in devotion. In one conversation, Srila Prabhupada explains the thoughts of an uttama Adhikari: “Yes, he sees no more non-devotees – all devotees. He is called an uttama adhikari … Just like Radharani – she does not see anyone as a non-devotee. Therefore we try to approach Radharani.” (PQPA 6: The Perfect Devotee)

Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, a Vaishnava saint of medieval India, presents a rare example of extreme unworthiness. He says, “I am lower than the worms in the stool.Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Anyone who utters my name becomes sinful.” But such humility did not cause him suicidal depression. In fact, he was the author of the Bengali classic, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, in which he writes,”1 have now become too old and disturbed by invalidity. While writing, my hands tremble. I cannot remember any-thing, nor can I see or hear properly. Still I write, and this is a great wonder.” That he completed the greatest literary gem of medieval India under such debilitating conditions is surely one of the wonders of literary history.

Srila Prabhupada too expressed his deep humility in his poem Markine Bhagavata-dharma, which he wrote upon reaching Boston harbor during his first visit to America. These are the last few lines from this poem: “0 Lord, I am just like a puppet in your hands. So if you have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, 0 Lord, make me dance as you like. I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna, I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if you like, you can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.”

The Bottom Line

So yes, we should feel unworthy. We don’t deserve Krishna’s love. We are not qualified to even be devotees. We have turned our back on Krishna, we have competed with him, we have disobeyed him, and we have even tried to become like him.

Still, Krishna overlooks all of this and forgives us. His desire for a relationship with us is so strong that he will not allow any of this to get in the way. As Krishna will not allow our own disqualifications to get in the way, we should also never allow our own disqualifications to get in our way. Rather, we should allow our feelings of unwor-thiness to bring us closer and closer to Krishna,

In the Brihad-bhagavatamrta, when Gopa-kumara arrives in the spiritual world and first meets Krishna, the Lord tells him, “Why did you take so long? I missed you so much.”

Holy Places where Srimati Sita Devi ( Consort of Lord Sri Ram) Dis-appeared from this material world

Place where sita mata entered the earth

 tree under which she did tapasya everyday In bithur(kanpur)

Place where dhruva was born and later ruled for 36000 yrs

Arrows found in excavation.....arrows used by luv kush

Offenses Their Consequences and Rectifications 
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

More than inviting sinful reactions,offenses can uproot and destroy the tender devotional creeper we are struggling to cultivate.

Beware of the Following Actions : It is indicated herein that if there is negligence on the part of the priest, the demigods do not accept their share in sacrifices. Similarly, in devotional service there are offenses known as seva-aparadha. Those who are engaged in worshiping the Deity, Radha and Krishna, in the temple, should avoid such offenses in service. The offenses in service are described in The Nectar of Devotion. If we simply make a show of offering services to the Deity but do not care for the seva-aparadha. certainly the Radha-Krishna Deity will not accept offerings from such non devotees. Devotees engaged in temple worship should not, therefore, manufacture their own methods, but should strictly follow the regulative principles of cleanliness, and then offerings will be accepted. – Bhagavatam 4.21.37; purport 

To interpret Bhagavad-gita without any reference to the will of Krishna is the greatest offense. In order to save oneself from this offense, one has to understand the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as He was directly understood by Arjuna, Lord Krishna' s first disciple.- Bhagavad-gita Preface

To take Srimad-Bhagavatam as a means of maintaining family expenditure is the grossest type of namaparadha offense at the feet of the Lord (sarva-subha-kriya-samyam api pramadah). – Bhagavatam 2.4.2, purport 

It is a great offense, therefore, to consider Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be an ordinary man. Those who do so are certainly deluded because they cannot understand the eternal form of Krishna, The Brhad-visnu-smrti clearly states: 

 

yo vetti bhautikam deham 
krishnasya paramatmanah 
sa sarvasmad bahis-karyah 
srauta-smarta-vidhanatah 
mukham tasyavalokyapi 
sa-celam snanam: acaret 

"One who considers the body of Krishna to be material should be driven out from all rituals and activities of the stuti and the stuti. And if one by chance sees his face, one should at once take bath in the Ganges to rid himself of infection." People jeer at Krishna because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their destiny is certainly to take birth after birth in the species of atheistic and demoniac life. Perpetually, their real knowledge will remain under delusion, and gradually they will regress to the darkest region of creation. – Bhagavad-gita 9.12, purport 

In human society, aversion to the principles of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all fall downs. That is the greatest offense of human life. – Bhagavad-gita 16.24, purport 

Vaishnava Aparadha the Createst Offense 

Vaishnava-aparadha is very, very offensive. You should be very careful. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned vaishava-aparadha, hatimata. Vaishnava-aparadha, offense at the feet of Vaishnava, is exactly like mad elephant. If a mad elephant enters your garden, then he spoils everything. This has been given. Vaishnava-aparadha means hatimata. Mata means mad, and hati means elephant. So we should be very, very careful not to commit any offense at the feet of vaishnava. Vaishnava does not take any offense. He does not care who is offender, but Krishna takes care. Krishna will never tolerate if a person commits Vaishava-aparadha. Mind that. Just like a big man -you can offend him, he doesn't mind. But if you harm his child, he becomes very angry. – Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.33, Vrindavana, November 20, 1976 

An offense at the lotus feet of the Lord is sometimes excused by the merciful Lord, but an offense at the feet of a devotee is very dangerous for one who actually wants to make progress in devotional service. – Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Introduction 

When an offense is done unto the devotee of the Lord, it is very difficult to overcome the reaction. The brahmanas, being at the head of the social orders, are meant to give protection to their subordinates and not to curse them. There are occasions when a brahmana may furiously curse a subordinate kshatriya or vaishya, etc., but in the case of Maharaja Parikshit there were no grounds, as already explained. The foolish boy had done it out of sheer vanity in being a brahmana's son, and thus he became liable to be punished by the law of God. The Lord never forgives a person who condemns His pure devotee. Therefore, by cursing a king the foolish Srngi had committed not only a sin but also the greatest offense. – Bhagavatam 1.18.47; purport 

Devotee: Prabhupada Does Lord Jesus Christ appear in the spiritual sky with the body he manifested on the earth? 

Prabhupada: Yes. Otherwise how there can be resurrection? Ordinary body cannot be resurrected. He appeared in his spiritual body, certainly. Jesus Christ told, if I remember, that "Lord, excuse these persons," who were crucifying him. Is it not? He knew that "These rascals, they are killing me, but… They are offending certainly. So they do not know that I cannot be killed, but they are thinking that they are killing." You see? But that was offensive, therefore he begged Lord to be excused because God cannot excuse to the offenders of the devotee. He can excuse one who is offender to God, but if somebody is offender to the devotee, God never excuses. Therefore he prayed for them. That is devotee's qualification. He prays for everyone, even of his enemy. – Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.1- 6, Los Angeles, January 3, 1969

Hellish Mentality 

Therefore it is forbidden, arcye sila-dhlr gurusu nara-matih. If you think the Deity as sila, means stone, and gurusu nara-matih, if you think guru as ordinary human being, vaisnave jati-buddhi, and if you think a Vaishnava, "He is American Vaishnava, He is Indian Vaishnava." jati buddhi naraki – you become naraki immediately. – Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.6, Bombey. April 17; 1976 

The respect and recognition of Bhishmadeva are never to be imitated by artificial means, as it has become a fashion to observe the so-called jayanti ceremony for any and every common man. According to authorized shastras, such a jayanti ceremony for an ordinary man, however exalted he may be materially, is an offense to the Lord because jayanti is reserved for the day when the Lord appears on the earth. – Bhagavatam 1.9.45, purport 

"If one's heart does not change, tears do not flow from his eyes, his body does not shiver, and his bodily hairs do not stand on end as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it should be understood that his heart is as hard as iron. This is due to his offenses at the lotus feet of the Lord's holy name." – Cc. Adi, 8.25

Freedom from Offenses 

The water of the Ganges sanctifies all the three worlds, including the gods and the demigods, because it emanates from the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead Vishnu, Lord Krishna is the fountainhead of the principle of vishnu-tattva, and therefore shelter of His lotus feet can deliver one from all sins, including an offense committed by a king unto a brahmana. – Bhagavatam 1.19.7 purport 

The holy saints actually have no self-interest with the householders. The only aim of such saints is to sanctify the houses of the householders, and the householders therefore should feel grateful when such saints and sages appear at their doors. A householder who dishonors such holy orders is a great offender. It is enjoined, therefore, that a householder who does not bow down before a saint at once must undergo fasting for the day in order to neutralize the great offense. – Bhagavatam 1.19.33, purport 

There are ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Pancha-tattva mantra, namely, sri krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as maha-vadanyavatara, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the maha-mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), we must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, learn the Pancha-tattva maha-mantra, and then chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. That will be very effective.- Cc. Ad! 7.4, purport 

The Power of the Holy Name The powerful holy name of the Lord can certainly deliver one from sinful effects, but one who desires to utilize this transcendental potency of the holy name of the Lord in one's sinister activities is the most degraded person in the world. Such persons are never excused by the Lord or by any agent of the Lord. One should, therefore, utilize one's life in glorifying the Lord by all means, without any offense. – Bhagavatam 2.1.12, purport

Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. If one thinks that "I am chanting Hare Krishna mantra, so my sinful resultant actions are now nullified. Now again let me do it. Again I shall nullify." This is greatest offense. – Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.10, Bombay, March 30, 1974 

March 1st, 2013 | Category: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Siksa, Volume-10 Number-03 (Indian)

Recently, I set up a book table at a Festival of Colors in San Bernadino, California. An older, wealthy looking American man and his younger, Latino wife approached the book table. The wife became attracted to the books but the huband was disinterested. So he kept coming up with excuses, like, "Honey, are you sure you will read it? Are you sure you want to carry this book around all day? I don't have any cash right now to make a donation."

So they left without buying a book. As I was packing up to leave, the same man came back covered with colors. I almost didn't recognize him. He gave me $20 and requested that I please give him a Spanish and an English Gita. I happily asked him what made him change his mind.

He said, "Oh man, ever since I said no to these books, my wife wouldn't smile the whole day, so I want to make up for it by not only getting her a Spanish book but also an English book for myself."

I said, "You are very fortunate to have a wife who is interested in divine knowledge."

He agreed and gave me a firm hand shake and a huge smile.

Your humble servant,
Shastra Krit Dasa

Gopinath Deity of Srila Govinda Ghosh at Agradvipa

Srila Govinda Ghosh was intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, was known for his sweet kirtanas at the annual Jagannatha Puri Ratha-yatra festival. Lord Caitanya would at once begin to dance whenever Govinda Ghosh would sing. Govinda Ghosh and his brothers Vasudeva and Madhava are eternal associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. (See Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.115, 11.14-15, and 11.88.)

Mumbai City Celebrates Rath Yatra in More than 25 places each year.

Mumbai City Celebrates Rath Yatra in More than 25 places each year. It seems that Lord Jagannath is reaching every nook and corner of Mumbai City to bestow his unlimited mercy. This is only possible due to causless mercy of Srila Prabhupada and all Guru Maharaj. Thanks to devotees from Mumbai ISKCON temples and Mumbai preaching centers.

This Rath Yatra festival is celebrated in more than 25 places in Mumbai City. These Places include Juhu, Mira Road, Kharghar, Dadar, Colaba, Nagpada, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Thane, Charkop, Kandivali, Borivali, Malad, Goregaon, Bandra, Bhayander, Vasai, Nalasopara, Kalyan, Mahalaxmi, Worli, Andheri, Dahisar, Dombivali, Palghar, Wada, Vashi etc

The Rath yatra festival has been traditionally celebrated annually in Jagannath Puri, Orissa, where Lord Jagannath along with His sister Subhadra and elder brother Baladeva paraded through the streets of the city. This practice and festival still takes place in Puri, since late sixties all over the world.

The first Rath yatra outside India was initiated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON) on July 9, 1967 in San Francisco. The Lord of the Universe (Lord Jagannath) now parade in major cities all over the world such as London, Paris, New York, Durban, Rome, etc.

People around the globe are becoming attracted to the joyful and colorful Rath yatra festival. Thousands devotees come on the streets to pull the giant chariots, chant and dance and enjoy tasty prasad which brings real peace and joy to all devotees.

It seems that Lord Jagannath is very merciful to Mumbaikars, as in Metro City like Mumbai where people do not have time to visit temples, The Lord himself comes out unfailing like year on the streets of Mumbai to shower his limitless mercy.

Jai Jagannath!

Jai Srila Prabhupada !

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In our effort to keep the worldwide devotees informed about the TOVP North American Tour we have created a special page on our website. Additionally, a Daily Diary Section is being included on that Page for each of the 108 days of our tour. We would like to encourage you to also do the same as we will be sending you the Daily Diaries along with photos. You can decide if you want to use the emailed article and photos or use the Diary entry as it is posted on the website. Attached is the first entry of the Diary with accompanying photos.

Thank you for your support and cooperation with this historic event of Lord Nityananda, Lord Nrsinghadeva and their servant Jananivas touring in North America to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the U.S. in 2015, the Year of the TOVP.

Your servant,
Sunanda das

On the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, I told a few devotees, "Let's go chant locally for an hour." We had a plan to meet at 5 p.m.

At 5 p.m. I didn't see anybody outside the temple ready to chant, so I went by myself around the corner. While chanting and playing karatalas, I met a guy I'd met a few months ago.

At that time I'd distributed a "Higher Taste" to him for a donation. This time I invited him to the Sunday Feast and also told him that this evening there was a feast.

That evening this guy came to the feast, and the next day he started chanting on beads, associated with the devotees, attended mangala-aratis for the whole week, had Tulasi-mala around his neck, had more prasadam.

What an ecstatic feeling. Nothing feels like that--seeing the person you invited coming to the temple and chanting.

A week ago I was shooting a video for a fitness competition. I went to West Adams street to shoot. Two ladies in their fifties--sisters--and one son around twenty were participating. After the shoot, I distributed to the ladies "Chant and Be Happy" and invited all three of them to a Sunday Feast. That evening I was in the prasada hall and saw the young man in line and later that day saw on Facebook that one of the ladies posted a picture of prasada and wrote under the picture that she is enjoying Indian food.

I was so happy that all three people from the shoot ate prasada. Later I met one more guy who was in my video, who said he is vegetarian. We talked, had prasada together, and he also met some other devotees by Krishna's arrangement.

A few days later I went to the fitness studio to teach dance to a group of people. There were thirty Spanish ladies and one man, the owner. After the class I distributed the Spanish "Perfection of Yoga" and invitations to our Sunday feast. By 8 a.m. I had distributed around thirty of Prabhupada's books. What can be better than starting your day this way? The ladies where happy and received the books with joy.

You can preach always and everywhere. Always have books in your car, in your bag, and that way you can always distribute.

Your servant,
Gopi Gita Devi Dasi

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum

SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE

Trivandrum

LORD SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY, Trivandrum

Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple is one of the most prominent temples of India. It is considered as one of the 108 Vaishnava temples (divya sthanam), one of the seven moksha sthalas and one of the six Narayana sthalas. Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple. The Temple is located inside the East Fort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu. The main deity, Sri Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anantha sayanam posture (in yogic eternal sleep of yoga-nidra). This is an ancient temple and the city of Thiruvananthapuram derives its name from the name of the presiding Deity enshrined in the temple. This city is also called Syanandoora puram.

Inside the temple altar, Lord Vishnu is in a reclining position over Ananta Shesha. He is enjoying the aroma emanating from the lotus held in His left hand, and His right hand is blessing Lord Siva. There are three doors through which we can have the darshan - first the Lord’s face, then His Navel and His lotus feet. Through the first door, the worship is offered to Siva; through the second entrance Brahma prays to Lord Vishnu from his lotus navel, and through the third door is Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet, which are the only shelter and suitable means for a devotee of Lord by which one can cross over the ocean of material existence. Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, the two consorts of Lord Vishnu stand by His side and Lord Brahma is seen on a lotus, which emanates from the navel of Vishnu. Sages Bhrigu, Markandeya and assembly of celestials like Narada etc. are also present.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here to Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple during His South India tour as mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 9.241-242. Lord spent two to three days before the beautiful darshan of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy in chanting and dancing to the kirtan of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Here, Lord Vishnu gave darshan to sages like Divakar Muni and Bilvamangala Thakur.

History of Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

According to the Brahmanda Purana the story of this temple is revealed. In Karnataka there was a sage named Divakar. Every day he worshiped the Supreme Lord. One day his beloved Lord disguised Himself as a very beautiful boy. He attracted the heart of Divakar like no one else. Every day that little boy came and everyday Divakar’s love was growing. One day this little child told him “I have no father, mother and no place of residence. I am just all alone wandering alone.”Divakar said to the small child “I will take care of you, stay with me”. The child said“I will stay with you if you promise me that you will never chastise me for anything I do. If you chastise me I will leave.” Divakar said, “I promise that I will never chastise you.”

This boy was very naughty. But because of Divakar’s love he was in ecstasy to see the naughtiness. But the child really tested him. One day Divakar was doing worship and he was alarmed to see that his ‘saligram sila’ was missing. He was searching and he found that the little boy was sucking on the saligram. Divakar didn’t had time to think about this and he chastised Him. The child told Divakar that since he has violated his promise, He will now leave.

The child ran and Divakar ran after him. As the boy was running His waist bells and ankle bells were tinkling. Divakar’s heart was charmed; he could not live without the child. The child told him, “If ever want to see me again you should look for me in the Ananta forest.” Then the child disappeared.

Divakar was searching everywhere; he spent rest of his life looking for this Ananta forest. He had never heard of such a place. He was walking and asking everyone. He came all the way down to southern part of Kerala, which is today Thiruvananthapuram. He came to a village where a very simple tribal lady was chastising her son, “You are so naughty. Next time you do this I am going to throw you into the Ananta forest.” When Divakar heard that he became very enlivened. He was a saint, a sannyasi and he approached this lady and said, “I will give you all blessings but please tell me where is this Ananta forest?” Tribal lady told him how to get there.

The forest was very dark, Divakar had a single wick. He went into the forest searching for the child. Suddenly he heard the tinkling of the waist bells and the ankle bells. He went into ecstasy and started looking from where that sound was coming. Suddenly an Ilupa tree fell to the ground with a massive crash and from the tree radiant effulgence blinded Divakar. When the effulgence flashed by, he saw manifested from the tree was the deity of Ananta Padmanabha.

The deity was very huge with head in one village, His feet were in another village and His waist was in the Ananta forest. According to the records he was approximately 18 km long. Divakar took unripe mango and then he grabbed a coconut shell and made a little plate and put the salty mango in the coconut shell and offered it with love and devotion. Divakar requested the Lord to reduce in size so that he could worship Him and serve Him. Lord immediately accepted his prayers and reduced Himself in size. Divakar had a stick and the Lord reduced to three times the length of that stick. Till this day, naivedyam or offering prepared from rice is offered to the Deity here in a coconut shell.

Saintly kings

In olden days Sree Padmanabha Kshetram and its properties were controlled by powerful lords known as Ettuveetil Pillamar under the guidance of Ettara Yogam. Later, Marthanda Varma defeated the Pillamar and his cousins “Kunju thampis” and took over power. King Marthanda Varma was very saintly. He accepted Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy as the king of all kings. He accepted the Lord as the master and the proprietor. Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita 5.29,

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam santim rcchati

“A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

If one want to attain peace it is not through various political diplomatic negotiations. That could create some temporary peace. But real peace must come from one’s own heart. And that is possible when we accept that the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna is the supreme enjoyer of everything and we are meant for His enjoyment. The Supreme Lord is the proprietor of everything, all material and spiritual worlds, and we are the trustees. In the Supreme Lord we can keep our complete faith, our complete hope that He is eternally the best loving well-wishing friend of all living beings and therefore we can take shelter and find real peace.

King Marthanda Varma dedicated his kingdom to the deity, and pledged that he and his descendants would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa, meaning “servants of the Lord Padmanabha”. He came before the Deity along with family and ministers and put his crown at the lotus feet of Lord Ananta Padmanabha. King then made official legal document saying that the deed for the entire state of Travancore is the property of Sri Ananta Padmanabha as long as the sun and moon last. And my family are simply the trustee servants of Sri Ananta Padmanabha. With this, Sri Padmanabha became the nominal head of the state of Travancore, assuming the title Perumal, the Emperor. And because he put that in the legal document even the British had to honour that Lord Vishnu is the king. It stood on court on many occasions but was indisputable. The British government saluted the Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy with a 21-gun salute, a military tradition of colonial days, which was continued by the Indian Army as a mark of honor and respect to Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy until the abolition of the privy purses by government of India with Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister.

In the past there were many great kings who were highly spiritually advanced and were leading the kingdom to enlightenment. One such dynasty was the Chera dynasty. The kings would get the title of Padmanabha Das. The royal insignia of the Lord, Valampiri Shankhu or dextral conch-shell, served as the State emblem of Travancore and even continued so for some time after the re-organization of the States. Sri Padmanabha is still regarded as regional deity of Travancore. The two annual festivals of the Temple culminate in a grand procession, in which the three deities are carried on flower-deck and aesthetically decorated Garuda Vahanas to the Shankhumukhom beach, for ‘aarattu‘. The ‘aarattu’ days are declared as local public holidays in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Temple

The original Deity made of Iluppa wood was replaced with a new one in the year 1729 AD because a mystical fire in the temple damaged the original Deity. The new Deity (as per the revelation in the priest’s dream) is made up of 12,008Saligrams. They are special because they are from Nepal, from the banks of riverGandhaki and they were brought to the temple with all pomp and gaiety on elephant top. On top of them “katu sharkara yogam“, a special ayurvedic mix, was used to give a plaster. The consecration was conducted by Tanthri (chief priest) Tarananallur Padmanabharu Parameswararu in year 1739.

Given the huge size of Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy, one is able to have the fulldarshan of the Lord from three different openings- Head from the southern side, the body from middle door and the legs from a third entrance. The 18-feet-long Deity of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is covered with gold and invaluable precious stones and the Anantha is covered with silver plates. Since the Deity was made of Katu Sharkara Yogam, no abhishekham is carried out on this 18 feet long deity. Hence the thick smoke from camphor, lamps and agarbathis over the centuries gave a black color to the Deity. The temple faces east and surrounded by massive fort walls. The area covered by its enclosures is about 7 acres. The temple has a seven-tier gopuram.

Laksha Deepam is a unique festival being celebrated once in six years at Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Thiruvanantapuram. Lakshadeepam literally translates as one lakh (one hundred thousand) lamps. The entire Temple is adornedwith one lakh (one hundred thousand) Oil Lamps in and around temple. The maiden Lakshadeepam was celebrated on the first of Makaram 925 ME / 14th or 15th of January 1750 AD. The festival was conducted with much pomp and fanfare, in the grandest manner possible by King Marthanda Varma. This mega festival is observed on the concluding day of Murajapam. Murajapam is a holy prayer offered to the Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy once in 6 years which comprises chanting of 3 Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda) and Vishnu Sahasranamam for a period of 56 days which ends on the day of Makara Sankranti in the month of January.Laksha Deepam festival is celebrated on the day of Makara Sankranti. On this auspicious day the entire temple is adorned with one lakh (one hundred thousand) Oil Lamps in and around temple. This festival still continues as an immensely grand festival and visual magnitude attracting staggering numbers to the doors of this great Temple.

SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE, Trivandrum

SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE, Trivandrum

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Trivandrum

The East entrance of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

East Gopuram at Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

North view of the East Gopuram at Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sacred Padma Theertha Kulam

LORD SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY

LORD SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY

Utsava Deities - Lord Nrsimhadeva Swamy and Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy after coming from Shankumuka Beach during AaratFestival

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple Trivandrum and sacred Padma Theertha Kulam

Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple Trivandrum and sacred Padma Theertha Kulam

Laksha Deepam festival at Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple

King Marthanda Varma dedicated his kingdom to the deity, and pledged that he and his descendants would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa, meaning “servants of the Lord Padmanabha”. He came before the Deity along with family and ministers and put his crown at the lotus feet of Lord Ananta Padmanabha. King then made official legal document saying that the deed for the entire state of Travancore is the property of Sri Ananta Padmanabha as long as the sun and moon last. And my family are simply the trustee servants of Sri Ananta Padmanabha. With this, Sri Padmanabha became the nominal head of the state of Travancore, assuming the title Perumal, the Emperor. And because he put that in the legal document even the British had to honour that Lord Vishnu is the king. It stood on court on many occasions but was indisputable. The British government saluted the Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy with a 21-gun salute, a military tradition of colonial days, which was continued by the Indian Army as a mark of honor and respect to Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy until the abolition of the privy purses by government of India with Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister. In the past there were many great kings who were highly spiritually advanced and were leading the kingdom to enlightenment. One such dynasty was the Chera dynasty. The kings would get the title of Padmanabha Das. The royal insignia of the Lord, Valampiri Shankhu or dextral conch-shell, served as the State emblem of Travancore and even continued so for some time after the re-organization of the States. Sri Padmanabha is still regarded as regional deity of Travancore.

ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Trivandrum Temple

THEIR LORDSHIPS SRI SRI GAURA-NITAI, ISKCON Trivandrum

References of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Vedic scriptures

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple stands at a place considered as one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras. Texts including the Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana,Padma Purana, Vayu Purana, Varaha Purana and Brahmanda Purana have references to this holy site. In the Padma Purana, there is reference to the temple of Ananta sayanam, where the Lord Vishnu is having his yoga-nidra. In the Skanda Purana, Sethu Mahatmya, Brahmakhanda Chapter-52, verses 102 to 105, some of the most important places of pilgrimages are indicated, which include the Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple. It is also mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam canto 10 chapter 79 that Lord Balarama visited “Syanandoorapuram” in the course of His pilgrimage. An entire chapter named Anantapura Mahatmyam in Brahmanda Puranais dedicated to this temple.

Other Darshans and Attractions inside the Temple

Inside Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple complex there are a number of shrines.

Sri Krishna Temple: Sri Krishna Temple is situated in the northern side and it is believed that this is the place where Bilwamangal Thakura disappeared from this world. This temple has a flag staff made of silver.

Hanuman Deity: There is a huge Deity of Hanuman near the golden flag staff of Lord Padmanabha. The body of Hanuman is covered with butter. This butter will not melt even in hot days or even with the presence of fire and will not attract ants and insects. In the seventeenth century, as mentioned above, when there occurred a massive fire in the temple, the butter was not affected. It is mentioned that the fire could not go beyond this point. Also, there are huge Deities of Jaya and Vijaya, the two kshetrapalas (protectors) are located near Hanumanji. It is believed that the foot of one kshetrapala is growing day by day. This is evident from the protruding of the leg beyond the wooden fencing.

Lord Nrsimhadeva Temple: Before entering the main altar of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy, we also are blessed with the darshan of a beautiful form of Lord Nrsimhadeva.

Kulashekhara Alvar mandapam: As we come outside of the main altar of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy we see a small mandapam dedicated to Kulashekhara Alvar. This is the place where King Kulasekhara composed many of his divine songs including famous Mukunda-mala-stotra. It is a marvelous and fantastic architectural work on stone. It is also known as Aayiramkaal Mandapam andSapthaswara Mandapam. It is supported by 28 balustrades of pillars. The pillars on the four corners can produce musical notes when tapped. The pillars are adorned with exquisitely carved figures in half and full relief. It is called as Dashavatar Mandapam due to depictions of dashavatara on the mandapa pillars.

Ottakkal mandapam: The Ottakkal mandapam is single stone platform in the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a striking feature. The Mandapam is in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy. This structure is built with a single slab of granite which is two and a half feet thick and twenty feet square. The Abhishekams to Lord Sri Padmanabhaswamy are performed in this mandapam. Its granite pillars are covered with gold.

Abhisravana mandapam: This structure is in front of the Ottakkal mandapam but outside the Cherruchuttu containing the sanctum sanctorum. Special poojas related with Temple festivals are performed here. Devotees use this mandapam for meditation and prayers.

The Golden flag-staff (Dwaja Stambham): An eighty feet high pole near the eastern corridor was installed by Anizham Tirunal. A teak wood of this dimension was carried from the nearby forest to the Temple. As per Sastras the wood should not touch the ground while in transport. The teak pole was then covered completely with gold foils. The apex of the flag pole has a figure of Garuda Swamy, in kneeling posture.

Nine Entrances: The Temple has nine entrances, indicating the nine orifices of the human body.

Gopuram: The temple has a 100 foot, seven-tier gopuram on the eastern entrance. On the top there are seven golden domes suggesting pointers to the seven Worlds. The 10 incarnations of Lord Sri Krishna are portrayed inside the first storey of thegopuram. . The ground floor under the gopuram is known as the ‘Nataka Sala’ where the famous temple art, Kathakali is staged in the night during the ten-dayuthsavam conducted twice a year, during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam. The other three entrances are double storied Padippuras in typical Kerala Style. Entry to the upper levels of the Gopuram is restricted.

The Sreebalippura (Corridor): The Temple has a marvelous Sreebalippura. This magnificent rectangular corridor built of stone surrounds the main shrines and it is through this corridor that the Vahanams are taken out during Sreebali(procession). Records say that daily 4000 stone artisans, 6000 laborers and 100 elephants worked for a period of 6 months to finish the construction of the Sreebalippura. Sreebalippura is supported by 365 and a one quarter of pillars. Each pillar is a monolith. The master artisan Ananthapadmanabha Moothassari was in charge of the work.

Theerthams (Sacred water resources): The temple stands by the side of a tank, named Padma Theertham. Padma theertham is one of the oldest water bodies in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. The Temple has a large number of sacred water resources situated even in places far away from the Temple.

Bells: Large numbers of bells adorn the Temple. In most cases the tip of the bell has a metal banyan leaf attached to its tongue.

Mural paintings: The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy and Lord Sri Krishna are adorned with murals. Of these, theAnantha sayanam on the backside of the sanctum is termed as the largest one among the temple murals of Kerala, and was painted by a Brahmin artist by name Chalayil Kalahasti. It is of 18 feet long.

Multiplicity of Mandapams: Another feature of this Temple is the multiplicity of Mandapams (platforms). There are 11 mandapams in the Temple and 8 in thePadma theertham pond.

Other stories about the temple -

• In 1563, 10th January it was reported that milk started flowing from the cracks of the altar wall. This happened three times that year thus instilling the fact that Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy is resting on the Milk Ocean. In 1628 this incident about milk was again observed, this time from northern side of Rama temple opposite to main altar. To stop this flow, cracks in this small shrine was sealed. If one is fortunate than one can see these sealed spots with a close look.
• Even today for a few fortunate at a particular location on the back side of the altar wall near the lotus feet of lord, one can hear the mild sound of sea waves.
• In 1818, the Deity of the Lord in sleeping pose moved and pujaris could feel the tremor in the altar.
• In 1865, at midnight one day a massive sound of a lion was heard inside the main temple. Even today after closing the temple gates the temple guards relate the same experience happening, thus indicating the wonderful pastime of Lord Nrsimhadeva in the temple.

Darshan, Sevas and Festivals

Sri Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple celebrates bi-annual festivals in the months of Thulam (Alppasi) and Meenam (Painkuni). A function is conducted for according formal sanction to conduct the Utsavam (festival). The Alppashi festival which is inOctober/November and the Painkuni festival which is in March/April, lasts for 10 days each. These festivals culminate with the Aarat (holy bath) procession to the Shankumugham beach. The word Aarat refers to the purificatory immersion of the deities of the temple in sea. This event takes place in the evening. The King of Travancore escorts the Aarat procession by foot. The festival starts with Kodiyettu (flag hoisting) at Sri Padmanabhaswamy’s gold and Sri Krishnaswamy’s silver flag poles. The festival is of ten days duration culminating in the spectacular Palliveta and Aarat processions on the 9th and 10th days respectively. Special Sreebalies (processions) are conducted twice a day, in the evening 4.30 pm and at night 8.30 pm.

The Deities of Sri Padmanabhaswamy, Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Nrsimhadeva are carried in the Aarat procession. The Aarat procession slowly proceeds with pomp and pageantry, colour and music, men carrying divine emblems and insignias of royalty. The procession reaches the Sanghumugham beach and the Vahanams are positioned in the Aarat Mandapam. Deities are given the holy immersion in the sea after the prescribed poojas. After this ceremony, the Deities are taken back to the temple as a procession in the light of traditional torches, marking the conclusion of the festival. Once during the reign of King Marthanda Varma, an elephant ran amock. Since then, the practice of using elephants to carry the Deities in the procession was given up and Vahanas (vehicles) carried on the shoulder by a number of priests came into vogue. Six different kinds of beautiful conveyances are used for these processions. They are the Simhasana Vahanam (Throne), Anantha Vahanam (Serpant), Kamala Vahanam (Lotus), Pallakku Vahanam (Palanquin), Garuda Vahanam (Garuda) and Indra Vahanam (Gopuram). Of these the Pallakku and Garuda Vahanas are repeated twice and four times respectively. The Garuda Vahanam is considered as the favourite conveyance of the Lord.

Laksha deepam

The biggest festival in this temple is laksha deepam, which means hundred thousand (or one lakh) lamps. This festival is unique and commences once in six years. Prior to this festival, chanting of prayers and recitation of three vedas is done for 56 days. On the festival time, hundred thousand oil lamps are lit in and around the temple premises. The last laksha deepam was in January 2014.

Laksha Deepam is a unique festival being celebrated once in six years at Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Lakshadeepam literally translates as one lakh (one hundred thousand) lamps. The entire Temple is adornedwith one lakh (one hundred thousand) Oil Lamps in and around temple. The maiden Laksha deepam was celebrated on the first of Makaram 925 ME / 14th or 15th of January 1750 AD. The festival was conducted with much pomp and fanfare, in the grandest manner possible by King Marthanda Varma. This mega festival is observed on the concluding day of Murajapam. Murajapam is a holy prayer offered to the Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy once in 6 years which comprises chanting of 3 Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda) and Vishnu Sahasranamam for a period of 56 days which ends on the day of Makara Sankranti in the month of January.Laksha Deepam festival is celebrated on the day of Makara Sankranti. On this auspicious day the entire temple is adorned with one lakh (one hundred thousand) Oil Lamps in and around temple. This festival still continues as an immensely grand festival and visual magnitude attracting staggering numbers to the doors of this great Temple.

Temple Darshan Timings

Morning

03:30 am to 04:45 am (Nirmalya Darshanam)

06:30 am to 07:00 am

08:30 am to 10:00 am

10:30 am to 11:10 am

11:45 am to 12:00 noon

Evening

05:00 pm to 06:15 pm

06:45 pm to 07:20 pm

The above-indicated time schedule is subject to changes during festivals and other special occasions. During the festival occasions the darshan time is reduced in order to performing the special poojas.

Annadanam Maha Prasadam

At 12 noon free Annadanam Maha-Prasadam of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy is served inside the temple at Prasadam hall for all the visiting pilgrims.

GLORIES OF KING KULASHEKHARA

King Kulasekhara was born into the Sera dynasty of the royal family of Travancore, the southern half of the modern state of Kerala, in southwest India. The rulers of the land did not claim to own the kingdom but considered themselves vassals and ministers to Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy, whom they regarded as the actual owner of the land. The kings of Travancore would come before the Lord at least twice a day to offer obeisances and report on the administration of the country. Before the birth of Kulasekhara (around 3,000 BC), his parents were childless, a worrisome situation for a monarch. Kulasekhara's father, Drdhavrata, worshipped Lord Narayana and intensely prayed for a son who could rule the kingdom and lead everyone on the path of Krishna Bhakti. As a result of the king’s prayers, Alvar Kulashekhar was born.

Kulasekhara was sent by the Lord Himself to this world. He was a ksatriya of great prowess and became king not only of the Sera lands but also of the neighbouring lands of the Pandya and Chola dynasties. He had incredible intelligence. He learnt the knowledge of everything it took to rule the kingdom. He became a powerful warrior, expert at fighting with weapons, expert at diplomacy. He was so fair and just in the way he ruled his citizens that the weak people, the poor people were never afraid, they felt protected and empowered by their king and the wealthy people felt completely empowered as long as they were using their wealth and power for a just cause. And anyone who was arrogant and exploitative the king gave them no facilities to exploit the people with lower tendencies.

He actually ruled over all the three major kingdoms of South India - the Chola dynasty whose capital was in Kanchipuram, the Pandhya dynasty whose capital was in Madurai and the Chera dynasty in Travancore. All the three kingdoms wanted him to rule. He had everything. He was the ultimate success story materially but by the grace of God he wasn’t satisfied. As he was growing he was thinking I have everything but I have nothing. From sattva guna when we do good, our heart becomes very receptive to God’s grace. Even though king Kulasekhara have to work so hard and deal with so many worldly responsibilities, because he had such good intentions, such good motives and he was feeling himself, the servant of the people, he was receptive to God’s grace and in that grace, he began to think that this body is going to die. The living force the soul is real life; without the soul the body is just a corpse. The soul is taking shelter in a body for a little bit of time to do something in this world but the purpose of life is to realize our eternal existence, and he was meditating in this way.

He became so much deeply spiritual that at one point he was thinking that without the association of saints, living in this world is like being in the gallows with a rope choking your neck. He cried out like Vibhisana, he was willing to sacrifice everything and anything to get the shelter of Lord Ramacandra. He said, “I will go to Sri Rangam to take shelter of the Supreme Lord Ranganathar Swamy, I will go to Tirupati to worship Sri Venkatesvara Balaji, I will go to Kanchipuram to worship Sri Varadaraj.” He just wanted to go to see the Lord to surrender himself to the Lord and to be with devotees. He started inviting great saints to his kingdom. Blessed by the mercy of the Lord, Kulasekhara would often go into ecstasy. He recorded his spiritual visions and deep realizations in devotional songs, which became part of theDivya-prabandha. He now saw everything with purified spiritual eyes and developed a strong sense of detachment.

Kulasekhara felt shackled to the throne and could find no happiness in royal wealth and splendour. Now his ministers didn’t knew what to do, because they loved him. Nobody could rule the way he could rule, nobody had the power of the faith of the people like he had. But he wants to leave, and his ministers were thinking if he goes to visit Sri Rangam and starts associating with Vaishnavas there, he will never come back and then what happens to us and the whole kingdom. Somehow we have to keep him here, so let us bring as many devotees as we can here and whenever he starts leaving for Sri Rangam they will come and Kulasekhara will have to serve them and he will never leave. So he was always surrounded by devotees. Every time he said that I am going to Sri Rangam, some devotees would come and say “I have just come to your kingdom”. He would give them Prasad and hear Hari kathaand do kirtan. In this way the king passed his days absorbed in loving feelings towards the Lord and His devotees. Kulashekhar understood, according to Sri Sampradaya scriptures, that by worshiping a pure saint one day one gets the same result as worshiping the Supreme Lord for 60000 years.

Hearing Ramayana

Kulasekhara chose to hear daily from the Valmiki Ramayana, the history of Lord Ramacandra. He was so entranced in spiritual consciousness that he lived and breathed the pastimes of Sri Ramacandra and felt them to be ever fresh and present. His hearing was not just theoretical. Some of us we read Ramayana because we have to give a class on Ramayana so we are making notes thinking, I hope I could remember those things. Some people read Ramayana to tell to the children to help them go to sleep. Some people read Ramayana because they will get the pious credit, some people read because they really want to develop devotion.

When King Kulashekhar heard Ramayana, it was like it was happening right now. It is not something that happened millions of years ago, it did happen millions of years ago but if you are absorbed it is happening at the present moment in your very heart, in some universe somewhere. So whenever there was some beautiful thing that happened in Ramayana, Kulashekhar would celebrate in his kingdom. The king celebrated with great care every important event mentioned during the daily recital of the Ramayana. Kulasekhara would have the Deity of Sri Rama carried through the streets of the city in procession, and then he would serve everyone a feast of prasadam.

On one particular reading he was hearing the pastime when Suparnakha, sister of Ravana, approaches Lord Rama and proposes Him for marriage. Lord Rama explains how He had taken a vow of single wife and directs her to Laxmana. But Laxmana also puts off her request. Suparnakha became outraged and she attacked Sita, thinking that she was the cause of her not being able to marry Ram. Seeing this, Laxmana immediately cut off her nose. She ran to the nearby forest to call her brothers Khara and Dushana, they immediately marched towards Rama and Laxmana with an army of 14000 powerful mystic asuras. Rama told Laxmana to guard Sita in the cave and He stood there to face the army.

As Kulashekhar was listening to this, his love of God went into frenzy. He called out to his ministers and army to prepare for battle and he began to march towards Panchvati. Now the ministers were thinking that the battle took place millions of years ago. But Maharaja Kulashekhar was experiencing the pastime now. He was fully enlightened but sometimes enlightenment does not harmonize with effective material management. The ministers asked a group of soldiers to go ahead and come back and tell the king that they had just been to Panchvati and that Lord Ramacandra single handily defeated the entire army. In spiritual delirium, Kulasekhara believed. He started crying and said “my Lord has conquered everyone.” Let us go back and celebrate.

After this incident the ministers decided that whoever is reading Ramayana should only read happy parts and skip other parts. There was one scholar who was reading the Ramayana as per this editorial policy and one day the he had to attend to some business and he asked his son to read the Ramayana, however he forgot to mention this policy. So he read the part where Maricha was asked to take form of a golden deer to allure Rama and Laxmana. Maricha appeared as the golden deer and Sita requested Rama to catch the deer for her. Rama told Laxmana to protect Sita but Maricha called out in Rama’s voice for help and Sita forced him to go and help Rama. At that time Ravana came in the disguise of a sadhu and abducted Sita. As Ravana was caking Sita, Jatayu tried to protect her but he died while fighting.

Kulashekhar upon hearing this proclaimed his armies to get ready and march to Lanka. The whole army started galloping towards Lanka. They reached Rameswaram and reached the ocean. Kulashekhar marched right into the ocean and was getting submerged while moving further. They were seeing him getting drowned. In that incredible crisis of devotion, Lord Ramachandra appeared right in the ocean coming from direction of Lanka. Rama said “the battle of Lanka is over. I won the war and I am again with Sita.” Sita said, “I am here with Rama and Laxmana is here too. So let us go back to kingdom and celebrate.”

Lord Ramacandra said, “Just as I lift My devotees from ocean of samsara and lift them to My eternal abode I will carry you.” He brought Kulashekhar to the kingdom and then disappeared. Kulashekhar then had a big festival on the occasion of Rama’s victory over Ravana. We cannot imitate such devotion. We can simply cherish it by being the servant of the servant of such devotees.

Ministers plot

The ministers were worried that the king always wants to go to Sri Rangam and if he goes there he will never come back. To avoid this we started bringing devotees for Hari Katha, but our solution has become a bigger problem. Even in midst of important meeting the king will leave to serve the visiting sadhus.

The ministers thought that the solution is if he loses faith in devotees he will lose faith in Sri Rangam. The foundation for all problems is the faith in the Vaishnavas. The king worshiped a deity of Lord Rama. So the ministers made a plot to take the deity’s necklace from jewellery box and hide it. When it comes to his attention he will hold investigation and since only Vaishnavas have access to it they will be found guilty.

The ministers reported the theft and asked the king to bring Vaishnavas to trial. Kulashekhar listened to his ministers and he said, "O ministers, lovers of God are incapable of stealing. There is no vice in their thoughts or actions. To prove the truth of my conviction and the falsity of your accusations against these innocent devotees, let a basket be brought to me with a venomous cobra in it, and I shall thrust into that vessel my hand. If devotees are pure then that cobra cannot harm me and if they have stolen then let that cobra bite me and kill me."

The ministers had to do as ordered. So they brought a basket with a venomous cobra in it and the king plunged his hand in the basket and took it out. The hand was spotless. Seeing the display of faith startled the ministers. Ashamed, the ministers hung their heads. They fell at his feet, confessed their trick, brought the necklace, and placed it before him in fear and respect. Maharaja Kulasekhara pardoned them and asked them to become servants of the Vaisnavas.

Final days of King Kulashekhar

The incident however convinced Kulashekhar that the time has come for him to go to Sri Rangam and do seva there. "No more will I dwell with these vile and scheming ministers," the king thought. "I am disgusted with them. Indeed, I am weary of the whole world. I would prefer to leap into fire than keep company with brutes turned away from God."

He gave the throne to his son and travelled to various holy places and he made his base in Sri Rangam where he spent so many years of his life in loving service of Sri Ranganatha and all the devotees. He would sometimes go on pilgrimage to other holy places, such as Tirupati, Ayodhya, and Chitrakuta. In Sri Rangam, Kulasekhara composed the Perumal-tirumoli, a work containing 103 devotional songs.

In his last days Kulasekara went to the shrine of Nammalvar at Tirunagari (Tamil name for the Adi Kesava temple, where Lord Caitanya found the important scriptureBrahma-samhita), near present-day Tirunelveli. From Tirunagari, he went to the holy place called Brahma desam - Mannarkoil near Tirunelveli, where he stayed for some time serving the presiding Deity, Rajagopala Swamy. There in association of Vaishnavas he worshiped the deity of Rajagopala Swamy and returned to the spiritual world at age 67. Mannarkoil is a small village located at a distance of around 5 km from Ambasamudram near Tirunelveli. The temple at Mannarkoil is named as Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekara Perumal Temple. From Tirunelveli it takes about 1 hour to reach here. This temple is over 1000 years old and has beautiful architecture.

Inside Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple, Trivandrum there is a place called theKulashekhar Alvar Mandapam where, according to the legends, he composed theMukund Mala Stotra. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was especially fond of this work and would often sing one verse in particular:

krsna tvadiya-pada-pankaja-panjarantam
adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah
prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih
kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te

"O Lord Krishna, let the royal swan of my mind now enter the tangled stems of the lotus of Your feet. How will it be possible for me to remember You at the time of death, when my throat will be choked with mucus, bile, and air?"

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited all these places and the beautiful thing is, by doing so He has opened the treasures of incredible wisdom and history of these places and revealed them to the world. This is why we are so enthusiastic, every year, to come to yatra to feel that devotion, take association of the devotees and in our hearts of hearts cry out the holy names:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

Whatever austerities we perform to do something holy, those austerities they come and go and we forget them. But the experience of the darshan, the experience of the blessing, the experience of the seva that we performed there is forever, eternal and enshrined in the hearts of the devotees.

[References: His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj South India Yatra 2010 and Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Temple - ISKCON Chowpatty, Mumbai]

KING KULASHEKARA ALVAR

Selections from Mukunda-mala-stotra

By Kulasekhara Alvar

7
cintayami harim eva santatam
manda-hasa-muditananambujam
nanda-gopa-tanayam parat param
naradadi-muni-vrnda-vanditam

I always think of Lord Hari [Krishna], whose joyful lotus face bears a gentle smile. Although He is the son of the cowherd Nanda, He is also the Supreme Absolute Truth worshiped by great sages like Narada.

8
kara-carana-saroje kantiman-netra-mine
srama-musi bhuja-vici-vyakule 'gadha-marge
hari-sarasi vigahyapiya tejo-jalaugham
bhava-maru-parikhinnah klesam adya tyajami

The desert of material existence has exhausted me. But today I will cast aside all troubles by diving into the lake of Lord Hari and drinking freely of the abundant waters of His splendour. The lotuses in that lake are His hands and feet, and the fish are His brilliant shining eyes. That lake's water relieves all fatigue and is agitated by the waves His arms create. Its current flows deep beyond fathoming.

9
sarasija-nayane sa-sankha-cakre
mura-bhidi ma viramasva citta rantum
sukha-taram aparam na jatu jane
hari-carana-smaranamrtena tulyam

O mind, please never stop taking pleasure in thinking of the Mura demon's destroyer [Krishna], who has lotus eyes and bears the conch and disc weapon. Indeed, I know of nothing else that gives such extreme pleasure as meditating on Lord Hari's divine feet.

11
bhava-jaladhi-gatanam dvandva-vatahatanam
suta-duhitr-kalatra-trana-bhararditanam
visama-visaya-toye majjatam aplavanam
bhavati saranam eko visnu-poto naranam

The people in this vast ocean of birth and death are being blown about by the winds of material dualities. As they flounder in the perilous waters of sense indulgence, with no boat to help them, they are sorely distressed by the need to protect their sons, daughters, and wives. Only the boat that is Lord Visnu can save them.

12
bhava-jaladhim agadham dustaram nistareyam
katham aham iti ceto ma sma gah kataratvam
sarasija-drsi deve taraki bhaktir eka
naraka-bhidi nisanna tarayisyaty avasyam

Dear mind, do not bewilder yourself by anxiously thinking, How can I cross this fathomless and impassable ocean of material existence? There is one who can save you Devotion. If you offer her to the lotus-eyed Lord [Krishna], the killer of Narakasura, she will carry you across this ocean without fail.

26
tattvam bruvanani param parastan
madhu ksarantiva mudavahani
pravartaya pranjalir asmi jihve
namani narayana-gocarani

My dear tongue, I stand before you with joined palms and beg you to recite the names of Lord Narayana. These names describing the Supreme Absolute Truth bring great pleasure, as if exuding honey.

How to reach Trivandrum:

Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala state in India.Trivandrum is well connected by air, train and road to rest of India. There are several express trains and buses from across the country to Trivandrum.

Nearest Railway Station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is 1 km from Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Thiruvananthapuram is an important terminal on Indian Railways network, with connections from and to all parts of the country.

Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport is 7 km from Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY SRI ANANTA PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE

#1. Sri Adi Kesava Temple, Thiruvattar: Sri Adikeshava Perumaal temple is an ancient and a very important temple situated in Thiruvattar. Thiruvattar is 6 km north-east of Marthandam town, 30 km north-west of Nagercoil (in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu) and 54 km from Trivandrum. This is the temple where Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, during His South India tour, discovered the 5th chapter of Brahma Samhita. Brahma Samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old and so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Sri Adi Keshava temple at Thiruvattar. As soon as Lord began to hear and read the content of Brahma Samhita, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Lord transcribed Brahma Samhita to take it with Him and to share it with His devotees and ultimately with the whole world.

Directions to reach Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple Thiruvattar and map

#2. ISKCON Trivandrum: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has temple in Trivandrum. For details please visit:www.iskcontrivandrum.com

#3. ISKCON Parassala: Parassala is a small town at the southern border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in-between Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple at Parassala was established in 2002 and through Sunday programs, feasts, festivals, book distribution and the annual Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra; temple is propagating the philosophy of Krishna consciousness to the people in this area. The main deity in the temple altar is of Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. The temple complex also houses a Goshala (protective shelter for cows) and a school imparting Vedic education to young children. The Sri Adikesavaperumal temple in Thiruvattar, Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum, Thirupathisaram near Nagercoil, ISKCON Nagercoil, Sthanumalayan temple in Suchindram, Sri Krishnaswamy temple in Neyyatinkara, Kanyakumari and many other places of Vaishnava interest are easily accessible from ISKCON Parassala.Website: www.iskcon-parassala.org

#4. Kanyakumari: Kanyakumari (formerly known as Cape Comorin) is less than 2-3 hour drive from Trivandrum. Srimad-Bhagavatam (canto 10 chapter 79 verses 16-17) mentions that Lord Balarama visited Kanyakumari in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also visited Kanyakumari during His South India tour as stated in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 9.223.

#5. Sri Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekara Perumal Temple, Mannarkoil near Tirunelveli: This is the place where Kulasekara spent his final days. He stayed here for some time serving the presiding Deity, Rajagopala Swamy. There in association of Vaishnavas he worshiped the deity of Rajagopala Swamy and returned to the spiritual world at age 67. Mannarkoil is a small village located at a distance of around 5 km from Ambasamudram near Tirunelveli. From Tirunelveli it takes about 1 hour to reach Sri Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekara Perumal Temple in Mannarkoil. This temple is over 1000 years old and has beautiful architecture.

#6. Thirukurungkudi Temple: This is an important Vaishnava temple and is amongst 108 divya-deshams. Known as the ‘Dakshina Badri’, Thirukurungudi temple is located about 40 km from Tirunelveli (and about 15kms from Nanguneri) off the Nagercoil highway at the foot of the Mahendra hill on the Western Ghat. Thirukurungudi is a village with history dating back more than 1500 years. AtBadrinath, Lord Narayana instructed Sripad Ramanujacharya. Here, at Thirukurungkudi, He took the role of a disciple and obtained Vaishnava initiation from Ramanuja. Hence the Lord here is called Vaishnava Nambi. Thirukurungudi is also known as Kuranga-kshetram. Kuranga is the name of Bhoomi (earth) devi who performed penance for the Lord in this holy place. The Lord here has 39 different names including Kurungkudi Nambi, Tirupparkadal Nambi and Malai Mel Nambi. Under half a km from the main temple is the Thirupaarkadal Nambi temple and about 8 km from here on the Western Ghats is the Thirumalai Nambi temple, from where Hanuman is said to have taken the leap to Lanka.

History of Parasurama Kshetra:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMK0u5R4es

Glories of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy and King Kulasekhara:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQWlsWazIrI [Glories to Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy starts from 12^th min]

Glories of King Kulasekhara (continued):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK73jJt2ymg

Mukunda Mala Stotra book: http://vedabase.net/mm or www.vedabase.com/mm

14th March 2015 is Divine Appearance of Srivas Thakur Pandit

Srivas Pandita is described as an incarnation of Narada Muni. Through Srivasa Thakur, Lord Chaitanya taught us how He is so much conquered by the love of His devotee and how anyone who is dear to His devotee also conquers His heart.

Because young Nimai Pandita seemed to have grown arrogant by His scholarship, one day Srivasa Pandita told Him, “Why do people study? So that they might understand what is devotion to Sri Krsna. If by scholarship one doesn’t gain devotion to Sri Krsna, then how will that learning help him? It becomes simply a tedious endeavor which in the end is nothing but a waste of time. If you have actually learned something then begin your worship of Sri Krsna now. Make & haste. This is the purpose of your life.”

Nimai laughed as He replied, “By your mercy certainly that will come to be.If you are all kind enough for me, then definitely I’ll attain devotion to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet.”Shortly thereafter Mahaprabhu journeyed to Gaya where He performed the pastimes of accepting initiation from Sri Isvara Puri.The Lord wanted to show us that without blessings of great souls, without the prayers of great Vaishnavas beseeching Krishna to give mercy to us, there is no hope of our really receiving the mercy of Krishna.Lord Krishna was born in Mathura but performed His most intimate pastimes in Vrindavana. Similarly Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in the house of Jagannath Mishra, He performed His most intimate pastimes in the house of Srivasa Thakur.

One night while Lord Gauranga was doing kirtan, the son of Srivas Thakur who had a fever, left the body. The ladies started weeping very loudly. Srivas Thakur on hearing that quickly ran into the room he found his son lying dead in front of them all. He told them to give up this crying.There should be no grief, even a most sinful person if they die hearing the holy name and glories of Krishna they become liberated. My son is so fortunate that he left his body hearing the harinaamsankirtan of Lord Chaitanya and His devotees. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Gauranga Mahaprabhu is personally dancing in our house .In this environment my son is so fortunate that he died, he has returned to the spiritual world, the Vaikuntha.Now if you wish to cry, do it silently in your own heart, but don’t tell anyone what has happened, because if you  disturb the ecstatic dancing of my Lord Gauranga then I will tie a pot around my neck and drown myself in the Ganges today.

After speaking all these words Srivas Thakur went back into the kirtan and with a big smile on his face and  began dancing with Lord Chaitanya and the associates. The kirtan went on through out the entire night. When Lord Chaitanya came to know about the incident , He cried tears of love and said how could I ever leave association of such a pure devotee as Srivas Thakur. He loved me so much that he does not expect express the grief of the death of his own son.

Mahaprabhu gave this benediction to Srivasa: “There will never be poverty in your house. If you simply remain indoors, never even venturing out of your house, whatever you require for your worship will come to your door.”

14th March 2015 is Disappearance Day of HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj- Also Known as Jolly Swami (Srila Prabhupada Disciple)

HH Sridhar Swami began his Krishna Conscious at the ISKCON temple in San Francisco, US and was instrumental in connecting thousands of people to ISKCON in his thirty-five year spiritual journey in which he travelled several continents to spread the message of Lord Krishna. He rendered substantial service at Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple and founded the BHISMA dept. to connect people to Lord Krishna through mailing.

HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj was Sridhara dasa brahmacari when he was serving Srila Prabhupada in Juhu, Mumbai. He had a hefty built. His manifest form to us was a hefty built, like a football player. So Srila Prabhupada said that he must take care of the construction materials because he has this hefty built when he walks around and they know he is in charge of the construction materials,
nobody will steal. And you know HH Sridhara Swami he walked like that, "I am looking after Krishna's paraphernalia." And what is that paraphernalia? Construction materials - aprakat material to be prakat in the form of this beautiful marble temple for Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari.

When the news came that Srila Prabhupada wanted him to do that, HH Giriraj Swami went to HH Sridhar Swami and he said that Srila Prabhupada wants you to look after the construction materials. He said, "Why me? I want to preach. You go back to Srila Prabhupada and you tell him that." So back and
forth Giriraj Swami was going to Prabhupada and Sridhar Swami. "He wants you to do this." "No I want to preach." Then eventually Srila Prabhupada seeing his determination to preach gave him sannyasa. And we see that his desire to preach was without duplicity and he became one of the best
preachers practically in India and the whole world. He spent considerable time here in India itself.

When HH Sridhar Swami was in Conch Building Mayapur, where he left us in his manifest pastimes, the doctor came to him and his stomach was quite bloated. So the doctor was examining him and he was feeling his stomach to asses the situation. While he was doing that he was watching HH Sridhar Swami's face and Sridhar Swami slowly opens his eyes and he looked at the doctor and said, "You know it's a boy!"[Laughter.] Because his stomach was swollen. Amazing personality. In the most grave situation he could joke. He just cracked up. Therefore he is known as the Jolly Swami.

HH Sridhari Swami told HH Giriraj Swami on the phone when he was still considering what to do now that it was eminent that he has to leave. And he said, "You know I only have three desires. Everything else is fulfilled. I just want to survive to want to be in Mayapur. And then survive to see the installation of the Panca-tattva. And therafter, if Krishna wills I should leave after Gaura-purnima." Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya and the Panca-tattva fulfilled all three desires. He lived beyond Gaura-purnima for the installation of the Panca-tattva and Srivasa Thakur was One of Them. So Krishna fulfilled all three desires.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai !
Sridhar Swami ki Jai !

Haryana government to introduce bill making cow slaughter, beef possesion illegal in Budget session

Chandigarh: After Maharashtra, Haryana government will introduce a bill in the Budget session to ban beef and cow slaughter in the state. Punishment under section 302 which amounts to murder, will be slapped for cow slaughter and possession of beef will also be included as crime.

Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar had on March 8 said that the state is set to introduce a bill for "protection and upkeep" of cows in the session.

In the proposed 'Govansh Sanrakashan and Gau Samvardhan (Cow Protection and Cow Conservation and Development) Bill' efforts will be made to ban cow slaughter and for conservation and better care of indigenous cattle, he said.

"For the scientific test and analysis, government is considering to establish laboratories to differentiate beef from meat of that of other animal species. Test reports of these laboratories will be valid evidence in the court of law," Dhankar said adding that sale of packaged beef has been banned in the state.

The minister noted that there were some 3,000 cows in the state in 400 cow shelters run by NGOs. Besides, some 1.5 lakh cows roam in fields or streets.

He said that the existing cow sheds will be upgraded and made self-sufficient.

The state will provide financial and technical support to cow welfare organisations like Gaushalas, Gau-Grah, Gau-Abhyaranya, Gau-Sadan, Gokul Gram that are engaged in maintenance and care of sick, injured, stray and uneconomic cows, he said.

"The government will take necessary steps to provide incentives for marketing and processing of milk from indigenous cows," he added.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/haryana-government-to-introduce-bill-making-cow-slaughter-beef-possesion-illegal-in-budget-session/533417-37-64.html

The Importance Of Worshipping the Supersoul In All Living Entities

According to the Srimad Bhagavatam there are three ways in which the one original Absolute Truth is known. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.11 states, "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this non-dual substance Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan."

The one Absolute Truth is not only known in three different ways but this one Absolute Truth is also worshipped in three different ways.

In the beginning of the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita Krishna speaks about worship of Brahman, or the all pervading impersonal Absolute Truth. He says that one can worship Brahman "by controlling the senses and being equally disposed to everyone."

A spritual tradition based on worship of the impersonal absolute is primarily focused on performing rigorous austerities as the main discipline, as well as cultivating an attitude of equality towards all living beings.

Worship of the Supersoul is specifically elucidated upon in the Bhagavatam and consists of properly relating to other living beings, with compassion and respect. This is discussed in a number of places, here are a few references on the topic.

Lord Rsabhadeva instructs His sons, "My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity — be he moving or nonmoving. Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you offer respect to Me."

In the section of Srimad Bhagavatam describing the churning of the milk ocean where Lord Shiva drinks the poison that is threatening the universe.

Sukadeva Goswami says "It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart." The word used to the Lord in this verse is purusasya akhila atmani or the supreme person who is the soul of all or simple the Supersoul.

In the third canto Lord Kapiladev describes this more directly in a series of verses (3.29.21-27).

"I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation."

"One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramātmā, is situated in every living entity's heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes."

"One who offers Me respect but is envious of the bodies of others and is therefore a separatist never attains peace of mind, because of his inimical behavior towards other living entities."

"My dear Mother, even if he worships with proper rituals and paraphernalia, a person who is ignorant of My presence in all living entities never pleases Me by the worship of My Deities in the temple."

"Performing his prescribed duties, one should worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until one realizes My presence in his own heart and in the hearts of other living entities as well."

"As the blazing fire of death, I cause great fear to whoever makes the least discrimination between himself and other living entities because of a differential outlook."

"Therefore, through charitable gifts and attention, as well as through friendly behavior and by viewing all to be alike, one should propitiate Me, who abide in all creatures as their very Self."

This is very important and informative section of the Srimad Bhagavatam describes how if one does not properly worship the Supersoul in the heart of all living entities, one`s direct worship of the Lord in His deity form is considered to be completely worthless.

And the method described for worshipping the Supersoul in this section by Lord Kapiladev is astoundingly simple as offering one's attention to another living entity. Simply by offering one's attention to another living entity we can worship the Supersoul! And along with attention we can offer friendly behavior, that is a revolutionary statement to many religious fanatics who in the name of worshiping God engage in various forms of cruelty ranging from harsh judgement and criticism to physical violence.

This conception of religion validates our natural intuition that people who do harm to others in the name of religion and not truly religious, but rather their behavior is atheistic or against God because they disrespect the form of the Lord that resides in the heart of all living entities.

These three levels are summarized nicely in the Bhagavad-gita 18.54 where it is described that in order to properly perform devotional service one must first come to the platform of Brahman and Paramatma realization.

"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me."

Most of the Gaudiya Vaishnava literature does not deal with these lower stages of spiritual realization as they are discussed in many books and they have been revealed in many different religious traditions. The unique revelation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the intimate pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavan and especially Krishna's conjugal pastimes with Srimati Radharani and her confidential associates.

But the importance of properly relating to other living entities is given to us by Him in the third verse of His Siksastaka prayers wherein we are instructed to "be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, ready to offer all respects to others expecting none in return."

Understanding what this verse is asking of us is crucial because this is considered by our acaryas to be the most important verse for those aspiring to advance on path of bhakti yoga, because without developing these qualifications any external show of devotional service, any performance of the harinam sankirtan yajna is simply a waste of time or as Lord Kapiladeva says it is like pouring ghee on ashes.

The Srimad Bhagavatam is really an explanation of what it means to worship the Lord in that pure state of consciousness, and that is obviously a very deep topic but on the most basic simple level if we are not kind to others we are disrespecting Krishna or God in his form of the Supersoul residing in their heart.

All direct forms of worshipping the personality of Godhead, all direct forms of devotional service, will not bear fruit if we are not properly worshipping the Supersoul in the heart of all living entities.

BBT Only Day

How can we Celebrate BBT ONLY DAY?

BBT is requesting all GBCs, ISKCON centers and BBT directors to bring to the attention of all of ISKCON this very important letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote. Therefore it is important to emphasize and commemorate “BBT ONLY” DAY on March 14.

We humbly request that ISKCON Temples promote BBT Only Day according to the availability of resources and manpower:
Some suggestions:

All leaders to please circulate this important e-booklet to their databases.

All leaders can speak about the importance of Srila PrabhupadaÕs letter.

All devotees to please forward this letter to their databases of devotees.

Have a book display in prominent locations in their temples and centers
-like the foyer, entrance halls, and so forth.

Print the attachments, especially Srila Prabhupada’s letter and the Brochure and display them on their notice boards.

Have a special class by reading and discussing the letter written by Srila Prabhupada.

Encourage all members to distribute at least one book on March 14.

Please think of, and share innovative and creative ideas to celebrate “BBT Only” Day

Encourage members to read this important e-booklet.

Please promote this on your Facebook and other social media fora.

Sri Gaura Purnima 2015 at ISKCON New Talavan Farm Community, 3149 Carriere, MS, USA

Sent by Lajjadevi Rasaraj