25 Years of Service – by Nityananda Chandra Granger.

Chandra: How long have you been distributing free hot meals at Tompkins Square Park?

Adi: Bhaktivedanta Swami, a.k.a. Śrīla Prabhupāda, started this program of distributing vegetarian food 55 years ago, in 1965. We have continued this endeavor steadily as Interfaith Community Services for the past 25 years, rain or shine.

Chandra: Can you tell us more about Interfaith Community Services?

We feel that God’s love is distributed through service

Adi: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we gather at our kitchen in the Lower East Side with cooks and volunteers to prepare healthy, flavorful, and balanced vegetarian meals for anyone who is hungry.

To read the complete article please click here: https://nyspirit.substack.com/p/25-years-of-service

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117236

Uncover the greatest jewels of wisdom
Find Your Jewels is a simple yet profound journey into the oldest, deepest, and most practical wisdom known to humanity. Uncover insights that most seekers spend decades searching for. Our best gift to the world is our own consciousness, character and compassionate heart. The WTB community empowers each member in raising their vibration, so they become the best versions of themselves.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117240

Praghosa Dās, GBC for ISKCON UK & Ireland, together with Sukanti Rādhā Devī Dāsī, Temple of the Vedic Planetarium Coordinator for the UK, Ireland, and the European Union, recently paid a visit to the High Commission of India at India House. During the meeting, they met with Mr. Kartik Pande, Deputy High Commissioner, and Mr. Deepak Choudhary, Minister (Coordination).

The meeting was productive, focusing on collaboration and strengthening the relationship between ISKCON in the UK & Ireland and the High Commission.

India House—an elegant and historic diplomatic landmark—stands as a symbol of India’s presence and friendship in the UK and served as a fitting venue to discuss cultural and spiritual exchange. “We informed the Deputy High Commissioner about ISKCON’s 60th anniversary and the upcoming opening of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), and presented a copy of the Bhagavad-gītā along with a book on the TOVP as a token of our goodwill,” said Praghosa Dās. “We look forward to working closely with the High Commissioner’s Office on the projects outlined moving forward and are grateful for the warm reception and hopeful for continued cooperation.”

Source: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-uk-leaders-visit-the-high-commission-of-india-at-the-iconic-india-house/

By Atma Tattva Das,

In December 2025, Bhakti Gauravani Goswami shared a newly released music video titled A Day in Vraja Mandala, accompanied by a downloadable visual book, Krishna’s Cows in Vraja Mandala, written by Madhavi Devi Dasi, one of his disciples. Together, the song and book form a unified devotional offering, part meditation, part storytelling, part invitation, to contemplate Krishna’s daily pastimes from dawn to dusk in the land of Vraja.

The book unfolds across thirty-three paired panels, each aligned with verses from the song. Rather than functioning like a conventional book, it reads more like a guided pilgrimage. The reader moves slowly through scenes of early-morning stillness, forest play, flute song, dust-raised evenings, and twilight’s return. The structure itself encourages revisiting, lingering with an image, returning to a verse, allowing the imagination to settle.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/review-a-musical-window-into-krishnas-daily-pastimes-in-vraja/

Gaura Vani Music has released the first in a new series of music videos filmed during his successful concert last year at the iconic Royal Opera House. The opening release features “Wade in the Water,” a traditional African American spiritual that emerged in the 19th century, rooted in the lived experience and spirituality of enslaved Africans in the United States.

In this unique rendition, the song is woven together with the timeless devotion of Draupadi, creating a bridge between cultures, histories, and spiritual traditions. Reflecting on the piece, Gaura Vani Music explained, “It is a celebration of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of prayer. In the moment Draupadi was turned into a slave, she sang ‘Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murari,’ a song that has nourished hearts for over 5,000 years. Blended with the roots of American gospel, this music shows how faith and devotion can turn suffering into liberation.”

Additional videos from the concert will be released in the coming days. To stay up to date with Gaura Vani’s ongoing musical service, readers can connect with him on Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Click here for the “Wade in the Water” video.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/gaura-vani-music-releases-first-video-from-iconic-mumbai-concert/

Why Thousands of Families Trust BGIS for Value-Based Education

In today’s fast-changing world of education, how can academic excellence go hand in hand with strong values and character building?
This is the question that concerns thousands of parents today—and for many of them, the answer is Bhaktivedanta Gurukula & International School (BGIS).

For years, BGIS has stood as a beacon of holistic education, where knowledge, character, discipline, and devotion grow together. Rooted in timeless Vedic wisdom and supported by modern academic frameworks, BGIS offers an education that prepares children not just for exams, but for life.

Vision & Philosophy: Educating the Heart and Mind

BGIS is inspired by the ancient Gurukula system of education, where learning goes beyond textbooks and enters the realm of values, purpose, and self-realization.

The school’s vision is simple yet profound:

• To nurture responsible, compassionate, and self-disciplined individuals

• To integrate spiritual wisdom with modern education

• To develop students who excel academically while remaining grounded in humility and service

At BGIS, education is not about competition alone—it is about character, clarity, and contribution.

Daily Routine: A Balanced and Conscious Lifestyle

A child’s daily routine shapes their habits for life. BGIS follows a thoughtfully designed schedule that balances:

• Academics

• Physical activity

• Spiritual practices

• Creative expression

The day begins with prayers, mantra meditation, and positive affirmations, creating a calm and focused mindset. Structured learning sessions, yoga, sports, music, and self-study ensure that students remain energized, disciplined, and joyful throughout the day.

This rhythm helps children develop self-control, time management, and inner stability—qualities often missing in today’s fast-paced schooling systems.

Academic Framework: Excellence with Purpose

BGIS follows a strong academic curriculum aligned with national and international standards, while uniquely integrating:

• Value education

• Ethics and moral reasoning

• Critical thinking

• Sanskrit and Vedic studies

Students are encouraged to ask questions, explore concepts deeply, and connect learning with real-life application. Teachers act not just as instructors, but as mentors and role models, guiding students academically and personally.

The result?
Students who are confident, articulate, disciplined, and academically competent—without losing their cultural and spiritual roots.

Student Diet & Care: Nourishing Body, Mind, and Soul

At BGIS, great importance is given to student well-being.

• Freshly prepared nutritious sattvic vegetarian meals

• Balanced diet supporting physical growth and mental clarity

• Clean, safe, and nurturing campus environment

• Personal attention to health, hygiene, and emotional care

The belief is clear: a pure diet supports a pure mind. Children thrive when they are cared for with love, awareness, and responsibility.

Leadership Development: Creating Tomorrow’s Torchbearers

Leadership at BGIS is not about authority—it is about service and responsibility.

Students are encouraged to:

• Take initiative

• Lead by example

• Participate in group responsibilities

• Develop communication and decision-making skills

Through assemblies, service projects, cultural programs, debates, and team activities, children naturally grow into thoughtful leaders with strong moral compasses.

What Parents Say: Voices of Trust and Transformation

Parents across India and abroad share a common experience with BGIS:

Mr. Ramesh Sharma (Delhi)
“BGIS has given our child something truly rare today—strong values along with academic confidence. We have seen a remarkable change in discipline, focus, and respect for elders. This school is shaping character, not just careers.”

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Mrs. Sunita Iyer (Bengaluru)
“As parents, we were looking for a school that balances modern education with spiritual grounding. BGIS exceeded our expectations. The daily routine, teachers’ care, and value-based learning have positively transformed our child.”

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Mr. Anil Gupta (Jaipur)
“My son has become more responsible, calm, and self-motivated since joining BGIS. The Gurukula environment instills habits that we struggled to develop at home. We feel confident about his future—academically and spiritually.”

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Mrs. Pooja Verma (Lucknow)
“What touched us most is the personal care given to each student. From nutritious meals to emotional well-being, BGIS truly treats every child as their own. The environment is pure, disciplined, and nurturing.”

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Mr. Suresh Rao (Hyderabad)
“BGIS is not just a school—it is a life training center. Our daughter has developed leadership qualities, confidence in communication, and a strong moral foundation. We are grateful for this holistic education.”

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Mrs. Neha Mishra (Prayagraj)
“In today’s world of screens and distractions, BGIS has helped our child rediscover focus, simplicity, and purpose. The integration of academics with values is exactly what Indian education needs.”

The trust of thousands of families is built on visible transformation, transparency, and timeless principles.

Admissions Open 2026–27 | Entrance Exam on 15 February 2026

🏫 Bhaktivedanta Gurukula & International School
🎓 Admissions Open for Academic Year 2026–27

📅 Entrance Examination: 15 February 2026

If you are seeking an education system that nurtures intelligence, integrity, devotion, and leadership, BGIS invites you to take the first step.

📞 Call for Admissions:
+91-7088016910 | +91-7088004339

🌐 Apply Online:
👉 https://bgis.org

BGIS is not just preparing students for a career—it is preparing them for a meaningful life.
That is why thousands of families continue to place their trust in Bhaktivedanta Gurukula & International School.

A global online gathering of ISKCON leaders and devotees presenting results of the 2025–2026 “Live to Give” book distribution campaign, centered on spreading Bhagavad Gita As It Is worldwide in the spirit of Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

After opening chants and greetings, regional representatives shared reports:

Africa: 10 countries participated, distributing 15,189 Bhagavad Gitas, showing strong growth and inspiration across the continent.

Continental Europe: A total of 37,485 Gitas, led by France (10,121), German-speaking countries (8,750), Hungary (4,230), Italy (2,500), and Benelux (3,670).

Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg): Innovative strategies, women’s sankirtan breakthroughs, seminars, and use of older titles resulted in 3,670 Gitas.

London (UK): A major highlight—ISKCON London smashed its goal, distributing over 30,000 Gitas, emphasizing community spirit and enthusiasm.

Russia: Over 10,000 Gitas distributed across 20+ temples, helped by increased public interest.

Latin America: Growth driven by affordable editions and creative sponsorship strategies, with strong momentum across Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions.

Canada: Record-breaking 26,662 Gitas, despite harsh weather, expanding to 29 centers and innovative outreach locations.

USA: A massive effort from 58 communities, distributing over 224,000 Gitas, with notable growth in remittances, youth involvement, and Arabic/Farsi distribution.

Madhya Pradesh (India region): Extensive grassroots innovations led to 60,251 Gitas, supporting distribution across India and neighboring regions.

India (nationwide): Reports from 163+ centers showed over 6.3 million total books and over 4.5 million Bhagavad Gitas, exceeding previous years significantly.

The global consolidated report revealed that the campaign surpassed the long-sought milestone of 5 million Bhagavad Gitas worldwide, reaching approximately 5.08 million, a year earlier than expected. Leaders emphasized courage (“Be Brave”), innovation, cooperation, and faith in Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.

The event concluded with gratitude, encouragement, and inspiration for upcoming campaigns, highlighting that collective effort—across cultures, climates, and conditions—made this historic achievement possible.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117228

Gauranga Dās, a Governing Body Commission (GBC) member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and Director of Govardhan EcoVillage, has been appointed as a United Nations Representative to the AWWG at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The AWWG, or Alliance of NGOs on Water and Sanitation for All, is a UN-associated working group that brings together civil society organizations to contribute expertise and advocacy on sustainable water, sanitation, and development-related issues aligned with the UN’s global agenda.

In a social media post, Gauranga Dās described the appointment as both an honor and a responsibility, expressing his intention to actively contribute to global dialogue and policy engagement. “In this role, I look forward to contributing meaningfully to global dialogue, policy advocacy, and multi-stakeholder collaboration aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, highlighting a particular focus on sustainable development, inclusive growth, and international cooperation.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-leader-takes-on-un-role-supporting-sustainable-development-goals/

On the festival of Nityānanda Trayodasi, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) Chairman, Govardhan Dasa, delivered his 2025 annual report ahead of the 2026 ISKCON Annual General Meeting. In the video presentation, he offered an overview of the society’s priorities, achievements, and ongoing challenges.

He opened by reaffirming the GBC’s commitment to building a caring and responsible global ISKCON community where all devotees—youth, elders, and families—are valued and protected. A key highlight was the announcement of the first-ever world online Maha Istagosthi, designed to invite live questions and participation from devotees worldwide as part of the AGM agenda, reflecting a drive toward greater transparency and communication. More details are forthcoming; devotees are invited to save the date: February 8, 2026, 4 PM IST. The report emphasized enhancing connectivity with the international ISKCON community and fortifying the movement’s foundations as Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual inheritance.

For the full video report, click here.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/gbc-chairman-releases-annual-report-ahead-of-agm/

Our false ego prevents us from looking at our own faults. It makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our faults and therefore, instead of being introspective, we see those faults in others. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Because I am myself honeycombed with faults, I see the faults of others”.

If you spot it, you have got it

In the realm of psychology it is said that if something about someone really bothers you, it’s usually because you have that fault. Of course, we usually don’t accept or acknowledge this. This is a powerful way to understand ourselves better.

Say “Thank you!”
One executive coach that works with very successful people teaches them to be open to feedback. He says that they when receiving feedback they must not use the words, “But”, “No”, and “However.” They should just say “Thank you!”

Devotee versus Demon

Advanced vaisnavas acknowledge their dark side, or faults, whereas demons tend to overlook or minimize their own faults.

Humility means reality, the reality of our own lacks and failings. Pride blinds us to this. The more a devotee advances, the more he feels unqualified to serve Krsna. He never becomes proud of his achievements.

How can I not see faults?

Intelligent persons usually recognize if “a preacher is proud” or “a temple is mismanaged” and so on. How does a devotee see the bad? We always have the option to choose our attitude – we can either criticize or we can choose to improve the situation. If we find ourselves faultfinding, we should remember “if we spot it, we have got it.”

Suppression takes vital energy away from you.

Faultfinding can be somewhat innocent, like when you are simply disturbed by what someone does and make a comment about it. But it can also be the result of envy or jealousy, as when we are jealous of the success of another and want to bring that person down by belittling him. This can happen when we cannot tolerate the success of another person we dislike.

If I find a fault with you, and it helps me avoid dealing my own faults, then I get some perverted pleasure. But even though I don’t admit my faults, they still affect me. Often time we must put out tremendous energy to ignore them or to camouflage them from others.

Valuable gems

If someone is pointing out a fault in you, they are giving you a valuable jewel. If you do not accept feedback with a positive outlook, you are throwing away this gem. Someone who criticizes you is actually your friend and someone who praises you is your enemy.

It is the duty of a guru to make you aware of your faults.

Don’t abandon your vaisnava behavior

Even a devotee is wrongly accused; he accepts it as Krsna’s arrangement in his life. Also, when we are sympathetic to the accuser, it takes a lot of the negativity away from the situation. If we are humble, it touches the heart of the other person and their attitude will change.

Whatever difficulties we encounter, at least we should not abandon our vaisnava behavior and qualities.

When we talk about sankirtana, we are, of course, talking about the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, specifically in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. For many people, this is the first way they come in contact with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and with Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement, by hearing the devotees chanting the holy names. But what is it about this process that makes it so effective, and so important in the way people are first exposed to it?
To answer this, we find specific evidence in the works of Jiva Goswami who explains it a most insightful way.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SANKIRTANA IN KALI-YUGA

First of all, we find information about the importance of sankirtana for this age of Kali-yuga. In his Sri Krishna-sandarbha, Anuccheda 82, Jiva Goswami explains: “Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His holy names, qualities, and pastimes are sublime and unequaled. That no other holy name of the Lord is equal to the name of Krishna is confirmed in the following verse from the Sri Krsnastottara-shata-nama-stotra, found in the Brahmanda Purana: ‘By chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna only once, one achieves the same purifying effect obtained by chanting other names of the Supreme Lord three thousand times.’”
Then, continuing in his Sri Bhakti-sandarbha, we find important additional information which clarifies things even further. Starting at Anuccheda 270, he explains how and why kirtana is the recommended process for Kali-yuga:
“This devotion to the Lord in the form of kirtana is unlimitedly merciful to devotees who are humble and devoid of the pride associated with wealth, prestigious birth, admirable qualifications and praiseworthy accomplishments. This is understood from the Vedas and the Puranas. As stated in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana:
“‘Therefore in Kali-yuga, activities such as penance, yoga, study of the Vedas and sacrifices, cannot be properly performed, even by those who are highly competent.’
“Therefore sankirtana, appearing amidst the people of Kali-yuga, who are naturally meek, easily confers upon them all the results derived from the practices prominent in other yugas and thus makes them perfect. For this reason, the Lord is especially pleased in Kali-yuga only by sankirtana, as stated in the Caturmasya-mahatmya of the Skanda Purana: ‘In this world, singing about Lord Hari is the best penance. In Kali-yuga especially, one should perform kirtana for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu.’
“The same point is made by sage Sukadeva: ‘What is attained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Lord Vishnu, and in Treta-yuga by propitiating Him with elaborate sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by worship of the deity, is attained in Kali-yuga by singing about Lord Hari’ (Bhagavatam 12.3.52)
“Also, ‘Whatever one achieves in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Treta-yuga by the performance of sacrifices [rituals], and in Dvapara-yuga by worship of the deity, is attained in Kali-yuga by singing about Lord Keshava.’” (Vishnu Purana 6.2.17)
Furthermore, the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.36-37) says: “Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age, all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana. Indeed, there is no higher possible gain for embodied souls forced to wander throughout the material world than the Supreme Lord’s sankirtana movement, by which one can attain the supreme peace and free oneself from the cycle of repeated birth and death.”
So, in many ways, the Lord is so merciful that since this is the worst age, the Lord has given us the easiest way to be delivered from this situation of the repeated cycles of birth and death. In whatever other method of spiritual development that is possible, in Kali-yuga a person can attain whatever is necessary by the process of sankirtana. It cannot get much easier than that.
Jiva Goswami continues to elaborate on the above verse, “… supreme peace means that one attains the pinnacle of fixity in the Lord, which is unattainable even by meditation and other methods, and as a concomitant result, one’s material bondage is also destroyed. Thus, even the people of Satya-yuga, who were established in meditation, could not attain such fixity in the Lord.
“In the Skanda Purana it is said: ‘In Kali-yuga great devotees always perform kirtana.’ In other yugas, the Lord, who bestows special grace only upon the meek, did not reveal the process, or the glory, of kirtana, which is the cause of such fixity in Him. According to the above statement from the Skanda Purana, the reason why the Lord did not promulgate kirtana in other yugas is because the people of those times had the ability to follow the processes recommended for their respective ages. Consequently, the people of those ages, who were fit for meditation and other practices, would not have considered the mere movement of the tongue and lips as much of a spiritual practice, and thus they would not have faith in kirtana.”
This is the benefit of Kali-yuga. The processes that take years to develop in other ages can be quickly accomplished in a short life in Kali-yuga. For this reason, as related in the Bhagavatam (11.5.38), “The inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in this age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the Supreme Lord.” This also indicates that there will be the process of sankirtana that will be popular amongst those devotees, which is all that makes the age of Kali-yuga attractive.
Therefore, as it is said in the Skanda Purana, the Vaisakha-mahatmya of the Padma Purana, and the Vishnu-dharma, “At all times and in every place one should sing the names of the Lord, the wielder of the disc.” And in the Skanda Purana again, “the chanting of the holy names is not dependent upon any particular place, time, condition or purity of the heart. Rather, it is fully independent and awards the result desired by the aspirant.” And again in the Vishnu-dharma, “For one in whose heart Lord Govinda is situated, the age of Kali is Satya-yuga, and for one in whose heart Lord Achyuta is not present, the age of Satya is Kali-yuga.”

THE SUPERIORITY OF KIRTANA

Going back to Jiva Goswami’s Sri Bhakti-sandarbha, Anuccheda 273, he explains how kirtana is the superior process for all. “In the Vishnu Purana it is said: ‘By fixing the mind on Krishna, one does not go to hell. Those who have fixed their hearts and minds on Krishna consider even the pleasure of heaven as an obstacle to meditation on Him. Then, even Satya-loka, the planet of Brahma, appears insignificant. It is no wonder then that the sins of those who sing the names of Lord Achyuta are destroyed, because the imperishable Lord, becoming situated in the hearts of those who are pure in mind, grants them liberation.’ (Vishnu Purana 6.8.55)
“This verse of the Vishnu Purana shows by the kaimutya principle the superiority of kirtana over remembrance of Krishna, which continues even in the state of trance.
“Therefore, it was said earlier: ‘O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, and also those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, as well as those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.’ (Bhagavatam 2.1.11)
“And in the Vaishnava chintamani, ‘The remembrance of Lord Vishnu, which destroys sin, is attained through tremendous effort. Therefore, singing is superior to remembrance because it is accomplished merely by moving the lips.’
“The superiority of kirtana is shown elsewhere also: ‘O descendant of Bharata, the names of Lord Hari are always present on the tongue of one who has properly worshiped Lord Vasudeva for hundreds of previous lives.’
“The preeminence of kirtana is also understood from the Namaparadha-bhanjana-stotra, already cited in Anuccheda 265, which states that the holy name delivers one even from offences to Lord Hari.
“Thus, in all yugas, singing the Lord’s name has the same power. Nonetheless, in Kali-yuga, the Lord personally advocates the method of kirtana out of His grace, and for this reason kirtana has been specifically praised in scripture for the age of Kali. So, if one performs any other type of bhakti in Kali-yuga, it should be accompanied by kirtana, for it is said (Bhagavatam 11.5.32): ‘In the age of Kali-yuga, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”
In Anuccheda 265, Jiva Goswami explains that “After the glorification of the Bhagavata Purana, Sri Suka begins the narration. From the very outset, although there are many limbs of devotion, he instructs the king that singing the Lord’s names is the chief of all methods for attaining perfection. Furthermore, he informs the king that such singing of the Lord’s names is also the supreme goal for all.
“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, and also those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, as well as those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.” (Bhagavatam 2.1.11)
[The great commentator on the Bhagavatam] “Sridhara Swami comments: ‘There is no method more beneficial than singing the Lord’s names, both for practitioners and for those who have already attained perfection. Sri Suka speaks this verse just to make this clear. For those desiring material enjoyment, singing the Lord’s names is the very means by which their desires can be fulfilled. For those who seek liberation, this alone is the means of salvation. And for those who seek knowledge of the Absolute, this also has been determined as the goal. By saying that this has already been concluded, it indicates that there is no need for further evidence in this regard.’
Then Narada Muni describes his own experience after being instructed by the Lord, and just before leaving his material body to be transferred to a spiritual body, “Thus I began chanting the holy name and fame of the Lord by repeated recitation, ignoring all the formalities of the material world. Such chanting and remembering of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are benedictory. So doing, I traveled all over the earth, fully satisfied, humble and unenvious.” (Bhagavatam 1.6.26)
This is the power of the process of chanting and singing about the glories of the Lord, which is attained only after many lifetimes of spiritual pursuits, or by the rare blessing of a pure devotee. Nonetheless, it is also recommended to avoid the ten offenses to the holy name if a person wants to make rapid progress.

SPEAKING ABOUT THE LORD IS REALITY

Also, simply remembering Krishna is itself the epitome of yoga, as Lord Krishna says in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.13.14). Therefore, anything that helps us remember Krishna, whether singing, chanting, or reciting and reading about Him, puts us in touch with Him as the Supreme Reality.
In this connection, in Anuccheda 269 of Sri Bhakti-sandarbha, Srila Jiva Goswami explains how speaking about the Lord is real, by quoting the verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.49-50): “Words that do not describe the transcendental Personality of Godhead but instead deal with temporary matters are simply false and useless. Only those words that manifest the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord are actually truthful, auspicious and pious. Those words describing the glories of the all-famous Personality of Godhead are attractive, relishable and ever fresh. Indeed, such words are a perpetual festival for the mind, and they dry up the ocean of misery.”
“The word asatih here means false, and asatam, extracted from the compound asat-katha, refers to speech about people other than the Lord and His devotees. These adjectives describe speech that is unrelated to the Lord. On the other hand, that speech in which the fame of the glorious Lord is sung is alone real and endowed with the other virtues mentioned in these two verses. This refers specifically to recitations of the Lord’s pastimes. And why is this speech true and auspicious? In answer to this, Suta says that this speech causes the Lord’s qualities to be revealed in the heart of the speaker. This means that such discussions generate love for the Lord.”

HOW SANKIRTANA EFFECTS OTHERS BY AROUSING LOVE

Now we are starting to approach the unique view that I want to highlight in Jiva Goswami’s explanation of how and why sankirtana is so potent. It is because it invokes and inspires the love that all conditioned souls are continually looking for. No matter what a person does, it is done for expressing or seeking love. But that love outside the connection with the Supreme Person is only a reflection of the real love for which the soul is always seeking. And that real love, which is spiritual, is often first experienced to some degree by someone who hears the transcendental sound of the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
The sound of the holy names enters the ears, and then passes through the mind, which may interpret it as being attractive. But the vibration goes deeper through the intelligence until it reaches the soul, which then reverberates the sound because of the love that is invoked in the soul. It is that love, or even the reflection of it, that captures the soul. The soul wants to dive more deeply into this feeling and then focuses on the chanting and singing of the holy names. This is more than merely playing the mridunga drums in a traditional or attractive way, which may indeed attract some people. It is more than singing the traditional melodies. But it is the love for Lord Krishna which the kirtan leaders inject into the vibration of the holy names which inspires the listeners to want to become part of the kirtana. Even Srila Prabhupada once explained in a lecture (Bg. 7.1, in LA, Dec. 2, 1968) that in leading a kirtana, our first business is to please Krishna. Then we give the crowd Krishna, which will then please the participants.
This reflects on the fact that if there is a universal language, it is music. Music can capture moods, attitudes, longings, and inspirations even when the language of the words are not fully understood. And when the language is the transcendental, spiritual vibrations of the Lord’s holy names, qualities and characteristics, a person can feel like they are coming home, or have even arrived at what they have been searching for over many lifetimes, which is the divine love in connection with Lord Krishna.
This is also why it is important that the kirtana leaders use a melody which is easy to follow, in which people can easily join in and participate. That is the key–they become participants in this form of devotional service. For many, it may be the first act of devotional service to the Lord that they have ever performed. And if they can join in, then they get the added benefit of not merely listening, but in participating in the sankirtana. Otherwise, if the melody is complicated or difficult to follow, then the audience may simply stand or sit there and become mere observers, and cannot easily participate in singing along. Listening is also greatly beneficial, but participating in the kirtana is even better. Plus, the more people who join in the singing, the more powerful it becomes.
It is like the explanation of the difference between the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. The Vishnu Purana often contains the same stories, even elaborations of details not found in the Bhagavatam. But it is said that the Vishnu Purana is described from the point of view as a reporter telling the stories. But the Bhagavata Purana is sweeter because it tells the stories from the view of a participant, someone who is actively involved in the events that are being described. So, it is much more intimate and endearing.
As described by Jiva Goswami in Anuccheda 266, “When the beauty of Lord Krishna’s form is glorified, it creates an attraction for the speech of the poets who sing the glories of the Lord’s form.
“Therefore, the four Kumaras also prayed: ‘O Lord, we pray that You let us be born in any hellish condition of life, just as long as our hearts and minds are always engaged in the service of Your lotus feet, our words are made beautiful [by speaking of Your activities] just as tulasi leaves are beautified when offered unto Your lotus feet, and as long as our ears are always filled with the chanting of Your transcendental qualities.’” (Bhagavatam 3.15.49)
In this way, the more love there is in the descriptions of the glories of the Lord, the more it attracts the listeners who then can feel that love. The extent of the feeling of love for the Lord is expressed in the verse from the Bhagavatam (11.2.40), “By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the stage of love of Godhead. Then the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion.”
Furthermore, in Anuccheda 264, Jiva Goswami says that the effect of chanting or singing the Lord’s names also grants one direct experience of the Lord’s attributes. Through this process, it opens the channels for direct experience and realization.

SANKIRTANA INVOKES THE LORD’S ATTRACTION FOR THE DEVOTEES

The other aspect of how sankirtana invokes love, is that singing and chanting about the Lord attracts the Lord Himself. As Jiva Goswami continues to explain in Anuccheda 269: “In the Skanda Purana it is said ’O King, Lord Hari goes wherever stories about Him and His devotees are sung, just as a cow follows her calf out of great affection.’
“In the Vishnu-dharma and in the Skanda Purana the Lord says: ‘I never abandon a person who always narrates my stories, one who is intent on hearing them, or one whose mind is captivated by My stories.’
“The verb anugiyate, meaning ‘is repeatedly sung,’ in the above verse from the Bhagavatam (12.12.50) implies that if one has a melodious voice, he or she should sing the pastimes of the Lord. This implies that singing the pastimes of the Lord is superior to simple hearing and recitation. The same is true about singing about the holy names, forms and qualities of the Lord.”
In Anuccheda 262, we find “The chanting of the holy name of Lord Vishnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, etc… Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Vishnu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, ‘Because this person has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.’ (Bhagavatam 6.2.10)
“Sridhara Swami comments: ‘This alone is the best form of atonement. The reason for this is that when a person chants God’s names, it attracts the attention of Lord Vishnu, who thinks, ‘This person belongs to Me, and as such, I should protect him.’
“Therefore, because the Lord’s name is part of His constitutional nature, it naturally impels Him to become absorbed in love for His devotees, who chant His names. As such, hearing even a part of the Lord’s names induces love in the great devotees of the Lord.”
In Anuccheda 268, Jiva Goswami uses the verse from the Bhagavatam (2.8.4) to explain that the Lord becomes so attracted to the devotee that He enters their heart. “Persons who hear [and recite the activities of the Lord as in] Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna manifested in their hearts within a short time.”
“The adverbial phrase nati-dirghena kalena, qualifying the verb ‘enters,’ means that the Lord enters the devotee’s heart without delay. The verb vishate, meaning ‘He enters,’ means that the Lord directly appears in the devotee’s heart.”
In this way, as the devotee becomes qualified for the Lord to enter his or her heart, so does the recitation or the singing of the holy names as in sankirtana become all the more potent and attractive. It is the love within the heart of the devotee that makes the sankirtana such a beautiful experience for those who hear it. The more love that is there, the more the Lord directly manifests within, and the more the listeners become enlivened by that spiritual vibration.

THE LOVE FOR KRISHNA FOUND IN SANKIRTANA IS THE ETERNAL RESULT OF ALL SPIRITUAL PURSUITS

In Jiva Goswami’s Sri Bhakti-sandarbha, Anuccheda 267 we find the verse from the Bhagavatam (1.5.22) that explains how all spiritual pursuits reach their zenith in bringing us to engage in reading, chanting and singing the holy names and characteristics of the Supreme Being: “Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.”
“The word srutam means study of the Vedas; svishtam, sacrifices; suktam, recitation of mantras; buddham, scriptural knowledge; and dattam means gifts given in charity. When all of such acts are offered exclusively to the Lord, they bear eternal fruit. And what is that eternal fruit? Being able to engage in regular recitation of the virtues of the glorious Lord.
“Even after attaining the supreme goal in the form of recitation of the Lord’s qualities out of love, one experiences ever-fresh delight in continuing to describe those qualities. It is for this reason that the adjective avichyuta has been used, which means that this result does not come to an end. Thus, the adjective avichyuta, ‘eternal [fruit]’ indicates that love for the Lord is the actual fruit of the recitation of His virtues.”

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

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=91181
 

By Amala Bhakta Dasa

Though Lord Caitanya is known as Krsna’s hidden incarnation,
His biographers have preserved accounts of His displays of divinity.

SOON AFTER LORD CAITANYA began His movement for chanting the holy name of the Lord (sankirtana), many of His followers would sing, dance, and play musical instruments for many hours in glorification of Lord Krsna. Some envious brahmanas resented the Lord’s increasing power and influence over the people and decided to try to check Him at any cost.

These brahmanas complained to the Muslim Kazi, or governor, that Lord Caitanya’s movement was sinful and would result in Navadvipa’s becoming deserted. Many Muslims also complained, but mainly about the resounding noise of the sankirtana. All the fault-finders urged the Kazi to banish the Lord from the city.

These reports greatly angered the Kazi. So one evening, entering a home in which sankirtana was in progress, the Kazi broke a devotee’s drum. He then banned all sankirtana and threatened serious punishment to anyone who violated his order. Shocked and disheartened, the devotees informed Lord Caitanya, who then organized a massive civil disobedience march consisting of hundreds of thousands of devotees engaged in a thunderous sankirtana.

When the demonstration reached the Kazi’s residence, Lord Caitanya conversed with him on several issues, and the governor revealed an amazing experience he’d had.

“On the evening I broke the drum and forbade any further sankirtana,” the Kazi said, “I had a horrifying dream. I saw a dreadful creature with a human body and a lion’s face roaring loudly. He jumped on my chest and savagely laughed at me. Placing His nails on my chest, He said in a grim voice, ‘I shall tear your chest apart the way you broke the drum! You have forbidden the performance of My congregational chanting; therefore I must kill you.'”

“Horribly afraid, I shut my eyes and trembled. Then the man-lion said, ‘I have conquered you just to teach you a lesson. But I will be merciful to you because on that day you did not create a big disturbance. So I have forgiven you and not killed you. But if you do that again, I will destroy you, your entire family, and all the meat-eaters [the Muslims].'”

“After the man-lion said this, He left. I would like you to see the scratches He made over my heart.”

The Kazi then revealed his chest, and as the people there saw the scratches, they were astonished. Everyone realized that Lord Nrsimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of God, who had appeared long ago to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu and protect His devotee Prahlada, had again appeared for a similar purpose. But what most people did not know was that Lord Caitanya Himself was also Lord Nrsimha-and thus His sankirtana mission could not be checked.

The Kazi then revealed something equally extraordinary.

On the same day that he had dreamed about Lord Nrsimha, one of his soldiers said, “When I went to stop the congregational chanting, suddenly flames struck my face. My beard was burned and there were blisters on my cheeks.”

Every other orderly who had tried to check the devotees’ sankirtana reported a similar expenence .

But even more remarkable was that some of the complaining Muslims, after hearing the Hare Krsna mantra, began to uncontrollably chant it, even though they had no desire to.

When the conversation ended, the Kazi said to Lord Caitanya, “To all my future descendants, I give this solemn order: No one should ever stop the saiikirtana movement.”

His descendants have respectfully honoured those words.

THE LORD REVIVES A CHILD

One night at Srivasa Thakura’s house, Lord Caitanya, along with His devotees, was deeply absorbed in sankirtana. During the festival, Srivasa Thakura was informed that one of his sons, who had been seriously ill, had just died. To avoid disturbing Lord Caitanya and His devotees, Srivasa forbade his family members from expressing their sorrow and grief at that time. Thus, the blissful chanting and dancing continued without tearful interruptions.

But when the sankirtana ended, the omniscient Lord Caitanya said, “There must have been some calamity in this house.”

He was then told about the death of Srivasa’s son.

“Why wasn’t this news given to Me earlier?” He sorrowfully asked.

Then He went to the deceased body and said, “My dear boy, why are you leaving Srivasa Thakura’s house ?”

The soul of the dead boy re-entered the body and replied, “I’ve lived here for as long as I was destined to. That time is now over. So I’m going someplace else now-to wherever You’re sending me. I’m Your eternal servant, a living being who depends on You. I must act only in harmony with Your wish. I can’t do anything else. I have no such power.”

Hearing these words, all the members of Srivasa Thakura’s family received transcendental knowledge and felt happily assured. Thus, they felt no reason to lament or grieve anymore.

THE LORD REVEALS HIMSELF

One day, in Jagannatha Puri, Lord Caitanya had a philosophical discussion with the famous scholar Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

After the Lord defeated him on every point, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thought, “Lord Caitanya is certainly Lord Krsna Himself. Because I could not understand Him and was very proud of my learning, I have committed many offenses.”

When Sarvabauma denounced himself as an offender and took shelter of Lord Caitanya, the Lord wanted to show him His mercy, so He manifested His four armed Visnu form. Then, just after this, He manifested His original two-armed Krsna form, with a blackish complexion and a flute near His lips.

When Sarvabauma Bhattacarya saw this, he prostrated himself before the Lord. Then he arose and with folded palms offered Lord Caitanya prayers of glorification. By the Lord’s mercy, all truths were revealed to him, and he could understand the importance of chanting God’s holy names and distributing love of God everywhere.

From that time on, Sarvabhauma did not know anything but reverence for the feet of Lord Caitanya. And all his explanations of the revealed scriptures were in strict accordance with the process of devotional service.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15895

Śrī Ekacakrā-dhāma at Your Fingertips

A New Digital Initiative Explores the Holy Places of Lord Nityānanda

Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about
going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the
mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur
Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the 

Virtual Pilgrimage

 to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda.
This initiative allows devotees around the world to explore holy
places, offer prayers and connect with the boundless mercy of Lord
Nityānanda at their own time and pace, throughout the year.

Discover the Holy Places of Ekacakrā-dhāma

“The ocean of mercy, the giver of devotional service, and the
shelter of all Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, appeared in
Rāḍha-deśa. At the time of Nityānanda’s appearance, all the demigods
secretly showered flowers and chanted, “Jaya! Jaya!” From that day
on, the land of Rāḍha began to prosper and signs of auspiciousness
became visible”

(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata Ādi-khaṇḍa 2.40-2.42).

Our goal is to serve all pilgrims as honored guests of Sri Nityānanda
Prabhu, ensuring a spiritually enriching and meaningful pilgrimage
experience while exploring the holy places of Śrī Ekacakra-dhāma.

Key Features of the Virtual Pilgrimage

• Darśan of Divine Deities – Experience the spiritual energy of each
  sacred site.
• Scriptural Narratives – Immerse in the pastimes of these places
  through Vaiṣṇava texts, including Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, Śrī
  Caitanya-bhāgavata, and Vaiṣṇava Bhajans.
• Srila Prabhupada Audio – Listen to Srila Prabhupada’s voice guiding
  and inspiring you through a dedicated “Srila Prabhupada Audio” icon.
• Multilingual Support – Explore the pilgrimage in your preferred
  language with Google-translated texts.
• Virtual Tour Guide – Navigate effortlessly with Google-integrated
  maps.
• Mobile-Friendly Website – Enjoy a seamless experience on any device.

Prominent Holy Places Included

• Garbhavāsa (Birthplace of Lord Nityānanda): The sacred site where
  Lord Nityānanda Prabhu appeared in this world.
• Baṅkima Rāya Temple: According to temple priests, Lord Nityānanda
  Prabhu entered within the body of Baṅkima Rāya.
• ISKCON Ekacakra: A vibrant spiritual center dedicated to preserving
  and spreading the glories of Lord Nityānanda.
• Hāṇṭugāḍā: It is believed that Lord Nityānanda Prabhu brought all
  the holy places there.
• Kadamba-khaṇḍī Ghat: The Deity of Baṅkima Rāya was said to have been
  found floating in the water, and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu personally
  picked Him up and installed Him in the temple.
• Pāṇḍavā Tala: The site where the five Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī stayed
  while living incognito during their exile.
• Bakulatalā: A place where Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and His boyfriends
  used to take part in sporting activities known as jhāla-jhapeṭā.
• Padmāvatī Pond: A sacred pond named after Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s
  mother, Padmāvatī Devī.
  
  Read more: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117204

Lord Nityananda is considered to be the most merciful manifestation of the most merciful incarnation of the Lord. The most merciful incarnation is Lord Chaitanya and he manifested his mercy most exuberantly through Lord Nityananda. Though these two transcendental brothers are non-different, still one takes on the mood of the servant of the other – Lord Nityananda considers service to Lord Chaitanya the supreme treasure of his life, indeed, the very purpose of his life.

In his service to Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda manifested his mercy through many extraordinary incidents. The most celebrated among them is his deliverance of Jagai and Madhai.

To understand the distinctiveness, in fact, the uniqueness, of this merciful accomplishment, let’s analyze it on three counts:

1. Magnitude: The sheer magnitude of the mercy was mind-boggling, even for Yamaraja. To have two people whose sins were so numerous, even mountainous, as to be impossible to even keep track of, being freed from all their sins in one moment of mercy was so astonishing, so historical, so utterly unprecedented that, as the Chaitanya Bhagavata mentions, Yamaraja on coming to know about it fainted in sheer ecstasy.

2. Motivation: At one level, the motivation of the Lord was obvious: compassion for the fallen souls. It is for this purpose that the Lord descends millennia after millennia, as the Bhagavad-gita (04.07-09) informs. But along with that standard purpose, the Chaitanya Bhagavata gives us special insight into the transcendental psychology of Nityananda Prabhu. When he heard about the fallen condition of Jagai-Madhai, his eyes lit up with not just compassion but also ambition – the ambition to glorify Lord Chaitanya in a way that would be remembered for all time to come: “These two people are so contaminated that on seeing them pious people feel impelled to bathe in the Ganges to purify themselves. If these sinners can become so pure that people on seeing them feel that they have become purified, as if having bathed in the Ganges, then the fame of all Lord Chaitanya will spread in all the three worlds.” With this desire to glorify Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda tolerated even the brutal assault on his head and uttered the incredible words of compassion that have become etched forever in the collective memory of Gaudiya Vaishanvas: “merechhish kolshir kana, tai bole ki prem debona” (Shall I stop giving you love because you have hit me with an earthen pot?).

It was this endearing blend of compassion and ambition that motivated our beloved Srila Prabhupada to attempt something similarly outrageous: to deliver people from the Western world, who were so fallen that their only regulative principle was to break all the regulative principles.

This blend of compassion and ambition of the Lord and his manifestations is our supreme hope for being delivered from our fallen condition. 

3. Magic: The magic of Lord Nityananda’s mercy was not just that Jagai and Madhai became free from all their sinful reactions, or even that they became free from their sinful desires – though both of these transformations are no doubt incredible. But the ultimate magic of the mercy was that these two brothers became utterly free from the most subtle of all impurities – the impurity that so easily and frequently contaminates the pure, the impurity of pride.  

Perhaps nothing demonstrates this heart-rending humility of Madhai better than his constructing a ghat as an expression of atonement, begging for forgiveness from all the people who came there and, most significantly, allowing himself to be hit with stones by some of those people who were still angry with them for his past offenses and even picking up those stones and handing them back to his assaulters, saying, “I deserve worse – please hit me again.” That a person who would without the slightest pinch of consciousness assault people ruthlessly in the past was now equipping and encouraging people to assault him due to a feeling of remorse demonstrates the magical depth of his transformation.

Madhai demonstrated poignantly the consciousness of trinad api sunicena. And through him, the Lord demonstrated that by the power of his mercy this exalted consciousness that seems so impossible for us to achieve can indeed one day become achievable, thereby enabling us to relish the supreme sweetness of the holy name constantly.

Shri Nityananda Prabhu ki jaya!

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=12336

From Back to Godhead

A gang intent on stealing Lord Nityananda’s jewelry eventually surrenders to Him, and He mercifully awards them pure love of God.

When I was eight or nine years old, my parents took me to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. After meandering through myriad halls and galleries, we came across an exhibit of valuable gemstones in the Museum of Natural History. I remember being particularly struck by the famous Hope Diamond, a large bluish diamond pendant surrounded by small white diamonds. I was surprised that something could be so beautiful and so valuable. Although I’ve forgotten most of what I saw during my weeklong visit to the Smithsonian, I vividly remember my sense of wonder upon seeing such a unique jewel.

Lord Krishna likes jewels too. Scriptures explain that He adorns His body with jewelry. He is famous as the wearer of the Kaustubha gem, and scriptures describe other forms or incarnations of the Lord as decorated with exquisite valuable jewels. But these ornaments are not like those within the Smithsonian display cases, because everything directly related with the Lord—His clothing, paraphernalia, associates, abode, name, activities—possesses the same spiritual potency as the Lord Himself. In other words, the Lord’s ornaments are expansions of His personal energy. Although they appear to be material, they are not different from the Supreme Lord Himself.

The Supreme Lord is called Bhagavan, which indicates that He possesses six primary opulences (beauty, strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, and renunciation) to an unlimited degree. He possesses these qualities eternally, but sometimes one or more remain hidden from ordinary view so that He can achieve specific purposes. Five hundred years ago, Lord Krishna appeared in Navadvipa, West Bengal, in the form of His own devotee, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He came to relish being a devotee and to teach the process of devotional service so that we can achieve the highest spiritual treasure, pure love of God (krishna-prema). Mahaprabhu personally inaugurated the sankirtana movement (the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names) to uplift the sinful souls of the current Age of Kali, the Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy.

Balarama as Nityananda

Lord Balarama, Krishna’s first spiritual expansion, plays the role of Krishna’s elder brother. Lord Balarama appeared with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Nityananda Prabhu. He assisted Lord Chaitanya with His mission to spread Krishna consciousness freely, distributing pure love of God without regard to caste, color, or creed. In the second half of His life, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu entered the renounced order of life (sannyasa). He decided to live in Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, and He ordered Lord Nityananda to preach in Bengal.

Lord Nityananda enjoyed an especially opulent mood. In Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura, a disciple of Nityananda Prabhu, vividly describes how Lord Nityananda adorned His body with beautiful blue silk garments, valuable jewels, and many flower garlands. Once, He sat upon a golden throne while His followers offered Him abhisheka, bathing His body with milk, yogurt, juices, and other paraphernalia as described in scriptures pertaining to deity worship. By demonstrating His opulence and grandeur, He revealed His divinity and attracted many souls to pure devotional service.

Lord Nityananda is vishnu-tattva, that is, He is God and not an ordinary living entity (jiva-tattva). But the chief purpose of His appearance was not to showcase His wealth and beauty, but rather to distribute His inconceivable mercy to the suffering souls in material bondage. Out of His supreme compassion, He traveled from door to door to ask everyone to chant the holy names of the Lord and thus achieve spiritual perfection. Lord Nityananda did not distinguish between qualified and unqualified souls, and delivered the most degraded and sinful. Once, when a gang of thieves wanted to rob Him of His ornaments, Lord Nityananda not only purified them of their sins, but ultimately awarded them pure love of God.

A Greedy Gang of Thieves

Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura has narrated this astonishing pastime in Chaitanya-bhagavata (Antya-khanda 5.527–706). The leader of the gang, who had been born in a brahmana family, had rejected religious principles to associate with wicked, materialistic people and lead a sinful life of cheating, stealing, and even murder. Fortunately for him, he dwelled in the holy land of Navadvipa when Lord Nityananda was performing His pastimes there.

Lord Nityananda was residing with a devotee named Hiranya Pandita. Although Hiranya Pandita was poor, his heart was rich with pure love of God, and Lord Nityananda appreciated his company so much that He left His other associates to stay in Hiranya Pandita’s home. Unlike Hiranya Pandita, the thief lacked such appreciation for the spiritual wealth of Lord Nityananda’s company. He simply coveted others’ material assets under the illusion that these would somehow make him happy.

One day, the thief spied Nityananda Prabhu near Hiranya Pandita’s house. He saw that the Lord wore golden bracelets, armlets, and earrings set with pearls. Necklaces made of gold, coral, jewels, and pearls adorned His beautiful body. Enchanted by such dazzling splendor, the thief craved the Lord’s wealth. He stealthily followed the Lord to ascertain His residence, and informed his companions of his great discovery.

“My dear brothers,” the thief announced. “Our days of suffering are about to end. I have seen the most valuable jewels all together in one place, on the body of Nityananda. He is staying alone in the house of Hiranya Pandita, so tonight let us go there and rob everything.”

Equipped with daggers, swords, and tridents, the thieves gathered near Hiranya Pandita’s house that evening. They were blinded by boundless materialistic ambition, and their minds were overpowered by an insatiable greed. Because of their demoniac mentality, they did not consider Nityananda Prabhu’s true identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His jewelry as an expansion of His spiritual energy. Instead, they considered Him an ordinary man and His ornaments merely matter to be conquered.

The thieves camped near Hiranya Pandita’s house and sent a spy to investigate the feasibility of their plan. The scout returned and informed the others that Nityananda was eating and His associates were awake. He could no comprehend the activities of the Lord’s associates, who were intensely engaged in sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. They exhibited symptoms of deep spiritual ecstasy, such as shivering, crying, rolling on the ground, and standing up of the bodily hairs. The spy could see these activities only as a momentary impediment to his sense gratification.

The thieves decided to wait a few hours and approach the house later, when they presumed the Lord would be asleep. In the meantime, they dreamed of the wealth they expected to attain, each claiming a different ornament as his own.

The Thieves Fall Asleep

Lord Nityananda, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead Balarama, is fully endowed with spiritual strength (bala). As the first expansion of Krishna’s spiritual energy, Nityananda has all of Krishna’s potencies, and so He perfectly understood the thieves’ sinful intentions. Through His mystic power, He caused them to fall asleep, and they slept deeply through the night. When they awakened suddenly to the squawking of crows, the sun was already high in the sky.

The thieves furtively returned to their homes and then quarreled, each accusing the other of falling asleep and ruining their plan. Then their leader pacified them, attributing everything to the will of Goddess Durga, the demigoddess in control of the material nature. He conjectured that Durga had bewildered them because they neglected to worship her. Thus, the thieves offered meat and wine to Durga and then again set out to rob Lord Nityananda, unaware that Mother Durga is merely an agent of the Supreme Lord.

When the thieves approached Hiranya Pandita’s house, they saw fierce giant soldiers guarding the four directions and loudly chanting the holy names of the Lord: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The thieves observed that each soldier wielded many weapons and was powerful enough to kill a hundred people in an instant. Utterly mystified, they quickly left the vicinity and sat down together to discuss this strange sight.

“Where have these giant soldiers come from?” the thieves wondered. Someone suggested that Nityananda might have arranged for His own protection, since many people said that He was very wise. Their leader scoffed at the idea and determined that the guards must be the entourage of an influential government official, and he decided to wait a few days before making another attempt.

After ten days, the thieves gathered together for a third time, each carrying five or ten weapons. As soon as they approached Hiranya Pandita’s house, they went blind—which seems appropriate when one considers that they were already spiritually blind. Then they fell into various situations that made them cry out of agony and fear. Some of the thieves fell into a ditch and were bitten by leeches, mosquitoes, and bees. Others fell into a heap of garbage and were stung by swarms of scorpions. Others fell on thorns, which pierced their bodies so that they couldn’t move, while others fell into a hole and broke their limbs.

Then Indra, the king of the demigods, sent a fierce storm with heavy rains, lightning, and sharp hailstones, and the thieves shivered with extreme cold. Although Indra holds a high post as a universal administrator, he is but a servant of the Supreme Lord. He realized that the thieves had come to rob Nityananda, and punished them out of anger.

A Change of Heart

Suddenly, in the midst of this terrifying storm, the leader of the thieves experienced a change of heart. He understood that Nityananda Prabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and regretted his plans to harm Him. He prayed for forgiveness and took complete shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

“Who can protect me from this great danger?” the thief prayed. “I have no shelter other than Nityananda.”

He declared that his only desire was to become the servant of the Lord, whether he lived or died. Upon seeing the thief’s sincerity, Lord Nityananda relieved the gang from their suffering and restored their eyesight.

The head thief returned to Hiranya Pandita’s house. When he saw the glorious form of Nityananda Prabhu, he cried out to the Lord for protection and fell at His feet. Because Lord Nityananda had blessed him with ecstatic love of God, the hairs of his body stood on end, and he laughed, cried, and rolled on the ground, unable to speak. Eventually, he came to external consciousness and confessed everything to Lord Nityananda. He marveled how the Lord had delivered all the thieves from their suffering, and then acknowledged that the real benefit of remembering the Lord was not relief from physical pain but liberation from a materialistic mentality.

Lord Nityananda blessed the thief and promised to nullify all his sins if he agreed to renounce all sinful activities from then onward. The Lord commanded the thief to preach among the criminals, showing them the path of Krishna consciousness. Then the Lord gave His own flower garland to the thief and placed His lotus feet on the thief’s head. The thief was purified of all sinful reactions and empowered to influence other criminals to take up Krishna consciousness. Ultimately, by Lord Nityananda’s mercy, the thief and all of his followers became intoxicated with pure love of God.
The Original Spiritual Master

Lord Nityananda’s mercy defies description. He delivered the notorious sinners Jagai and Madhai, who were so degraded and offensive that even Lord Chaitanya—the most charitable form of the Lord—refused to save them after Madhai injured Nityananda’s forehead. When Lord Nityananda pleaded on their behalf, however, Lord Chaitanya saved both brothers and awarded them pure love of God; therefore, Nityananda is the protector of the devotees and their intercessor. He is the original spiritual master, and through His mercy one can get the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and achieve the ultimate goal of life: pure love of God.

Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, the author of Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, praises Lord Nityananda’s great compassion toward the fallen:

Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi 5.207–209)

Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami is a pure devotee of Krishna, and so he embodies true humility. Out of such feeling, he considered himself sinful and fallen, completely reliant on the Lord’s mercy. We cannot imitate such a great soul, but his words teach us how to approach Lord Nityananda: with a mood of sincere gratitude, cognizant of our utter dependence on His mercy.

The pastime with the thieves demonstrates Lord Nityananda’s inconceivable compassion and readiness to deliver the most fallen and sinful souls. Even though the thieves’ original intention was to harm the Lord, He nonetheless accepted them as soon as their leader surrendered. He mitigated their suffering at once and, more important, awarded them the highest spiritual perfection of krishna-prema. In an instant the thieves’ initial greed for material wealth became spiritual yearning for the Lord’s mercy.

The critical turning point in this pastime is the moment of the thief’s surrender. By Lord Nityananda’s mercy, the thief realized the Lord’s position and his relationship with Him. He regretted his attempts to plunder the Lord’s wealth and decided his only recourse was to take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet. The thief’s decision indicates the necessity of surrendering to the spiritual master (guru), who represents the Lord and makes His mercy accessible. The thief’s surrender to Lord Nityananda not only saved him (and his companions) from immediate danger, but also nullified the results of his heinous sins and granted him pure love of God. Additionally, he was empowered to be a spiritual master in his own right by becoming the dispensary of Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy to countless criminals.

By following the thieves’ example and surrendering to Lord Nityananda, we can get the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and thus easily gain the most elevated spiritual treasure of pure love of God. As Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura states, “The shelter of the Supreme Lord was not easily attainable in other incarnations, but Nityananda always induced everyone to surrender to Lord Chaitanya.” (Chaitanya-bhagavata, Antya 5.70) We must approach Krishna through the merciful form of Lord Chaitanya, and we must approach Lord Chaitanya through the even more merciful form of Lord Nityananda. The (misnamed) Hope Diamond in the Smithsonian can only increase our materialistic desire and greed, but Lord Nityananda—and His enchanting jewelry—offers us actual hope for true, everlasting bliss. Are we ready?

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18665