They came in through the open window! 
Tribhuvannatha Das: A devotee named Jeremy was with us on our Festival tour of East & Central Africa. Jeremy is more of a congregational member of ISKCON and is just starting to understand the commitment that there is in Krsna Consciousness. He caught malaria and had to come back early. Upon his return I spoke to him on the phone. I mentioned how he should be careful not to fall down from the process of KC. Two weeks later he was back to his ‘old ways’ but still a devotee - not as strict as before though. 
He’d been out with his girlfriend, and while admiring some waterfalls in the mountains of Wicklow, Ireland, he slipped and fell 60 ft down the side of the mountain - lucky for him he chanted at the top of his voice Krsna! Krsna! as he went tumbling down the side of the mountain, the bushes slowed his pace, but then over the edge… another 160 ft sheer drop to death! 
He screamed “Krsna” and suddenly he stopped… 'smack’ he had landed on the only rock jutting out from the side of the mountain. He was damaged - broken pelvis, leg, etc. but still alive. The rock had an unusual inward curve, just the right size to cushion his body. If it had been a normal rock he would have simply bounced off it, to his death! The rescue team said that they could not believe his fortune. Ten others before him had fallen from the same spot, nine died, one crippled. Then in hospital (where he is making a full recovery) in comes Michael who has just fallen off a crane. His head hit a steel girder on the way down (his luck was he had a hard hat on), the whole top of his head, peeled like an orange. Miraculously his heavy coat had got caught on the way down and saved his life. He came over to see Jerry - by this time in his life he has gone from been one of the most debauched personality to almost a saint, even setting up his own alter at the hospital! He had heard that Jerry was a 'Hare Krsna’ and was intrigued to meet him. After some conversation Jerry complained about the 'nightmares’ he was getting. “Nightmares!” says Michael. “I was attacked by five horrible-looking monsters that came in through the window. They said they had come to get me.” (While in intensive care Michael was 'dead’ three times, in the same night). He described them in detail. He was so frightened at their appearance that he threw a chair at the window, four nurses had to restrain him! They had come to get him, he even mentioned that one appeared to have a rope. “They came back again, and said they were coming to get me very soon. "Was it just a nightmare?” asked Jerry. “No!” said Michael, “these guys were as real as you or me… These guys were very real!”

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18872

Every time, the fist question coming to mind when we hear about a “discovery” by modern science is, whether it is really a discovery or recovery. In almost all cases, and it’s ought to be so, the answer is, it is a partial recovery.

Same thing happened when news of gravitational waves came up.

“Long ago, deep in space, two massive black holes—the ultrastrong gravitational fields left behind by gigantic stars that collapsed to infinitesimal points—slowly drew together. The stellar ghosts spiraled ever closer, until, about 1.3 billion years ago, they whirled about each other at half the speed of light and finally merged. The collision sent a shudder through the universe: ripples in the fabric of space and time called gravitational waves. Five months ago, they washed past Earth. And, for the first time, physicists detected the waves, fulfilling a 4-decade quest and opening new eyes on the heavens.

The discovery marks a triumph for the 1000 physicists with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), a pair of gigantic instruments in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Rumors of the detection had circulated for months. Today, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., the LIGO team made it official. “We did it!” says David Reitze, a physicist and LIGO executive director at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. “All the rumors swirling around out there got most of it right.”  (Source: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/02/gravitational-waves-einstein-s-ripples-spacetime-spotted-first-time)

Remembering the infallible science explained in the Vedas, Mr Nair, Chairman ISRO (2003-2009) had earlier said that astronomy experts like Aryabhatta knew about gravitational force much before Issac Newton. He revealed that ISRO’s Chandrayan project used Aryabhatta’s equation. Mr Nair had also shared some interesting insight:

“Some sholkas in one of the Vedas say that there is water on the moon but no one believed it. Through our Chandrayaan mission, we could establish that and we were the first ones to find that out,” Mr Nair said, adding that everything in the Vedas could not be understood as they were in chaste Sanskrit.

“Even for Chandrayaan, the equation of Aryabhatta was used. Even the (knowledge of) gravitational field… Newton found it some 1500 years later… the knowledge existing (in our scriptures),” he added. (http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-scriptures-mention-gravity-1500-years-before-isaac-newton-former-isro-chief-g-madhavan-nair-741360)

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19197

The Devotees of ISKCON Jalandhar celebrated Sri Nityananda Trayodashi in a very special way. On The special morning the devotees had organized the Shilanyaas puja and Yajna for Lord Jagannath’s upcoming Installation Ceremony. 
The Yajna was performed by HG Balbhadra Das, and was overseen by Temple President Ramanuja Acharya Das and approx 150 of the Temple devotees. 
Special Guests included Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Sh. Vijay Sampla (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet Minister) and Ashwani Gupta (Former Independent Director of State Bank Of Patiala).
Devotees chanted mantras during the Yajna and afterwards placed the sacred pot in the ground where Lord Jagannath will be Sitting)

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19167

Giriraj Swami addressed devotees, friends, and students from California State University, Channel Islands.

“Somehow or other, come to Krishna, come to God. He is known by different names in different cultures, and they all refer to the same Supreme. But the beauty of Krishna consciousness is there is more information, more detail. Any bona fide religion will say that you should love God and that such love is the goal of life. But if you ask them who is God, they don’t have a clear conception—and how can you really love someone if you don’t know the person? Our study of the Vedic literature begins with the Bhagavad-gita, and then there are other books with even more detail. By reading them, you can learn about how kind, merciful, and loving God is, and you can develop your personal relationship with Him. It is also a service to God to help others come to Him.”

02.19.16, Camarillo, California

Speaker: Bhakti Vigna Vinasa Narasimha Swami
Venue: Sri Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir
Date 20-FEB-2016

Jaya Jaya Sri Caitanya Jaya Nityananda!
Jaya Advaitacandra Jaya Gaurabhakta vrnda!

So today the auspicious day of the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. We will attempt to speak some of the glories of Lord Nityananda for the pleasure of the devotees.

Lord Nityananda appeared in Ekacakra dhama. Just last week we had the opening of the ISKCON branch there in Ekacakra. Lord Nityananda was the son of Hadai Ojha and Padmavati. Hadai Ojha was brahmana. Padmavati was the daughter of a king, Mukuta Roy. I had the opportunity last week of going to some of the places around Ekacakra with HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami. Of course he is Bengali, so he able to research many of the places and he showed me the place actually where Nityananda’s father in law lived. His name was Mukuta Roy. Actually that place today, there is a saw mill there in that place. But for us its the birthplace of one of the family members in the line of Lord Nityananda.

So Mukuta Roy was a king and as a king he had to go and fight wars. His daughter Padmavati was six years old when he left home. And when he returned home it was twelve years later and his daughter had grown up quite a bit. So much so that when he first saw his daughter he did not recognise her. Instead he looked at her as simply as an attractive young woman. And the girl could understand the thinking of her father. And she went and told her mother. The mother came and told her husband, “You foolish man! This is your own daughter. She is eighteen years old now. You’ve been away from home so long, you do not recognise her.”

So Mukuta Roy when he heard these words he vowed, tomorrow morning I will our daughter married to the first man we meet. And that was Hadai Ojha. So Hadai Ojha and Padmavati were married but Hadai Ojha is a brahmana. He was just doing puja in the different temples there, in Ekacakra, there is many Shiva temples there. He said, “I have no money! How can I take care of your daughter? You are a king. She is used to opulence!” But Mukuta Roy said, “Don’t worry, I will provide everything.” And he donated lands, and treasure, all kinds of dowry were given for the marriage to take place.

So Lord Nityananda appeared in that family and He lived with Padmavati and Hadai Ojha for twelve years. The pastimes of Lord Nityananda there in Ekacakra are described in Caitanya Bhagavata. How in the association of the other children there, they reenacted all the pastimes of the Lord in His different incarnations. And even the local people were amazed that how the children know all of these things. Even we don’t know, we are learning from them. But it was all known to Lord Nityananda. He could guide them and inform them how to perform all of these different pastimes.

Lord Nityananda understood that His parents were deeply attached to Him and that He somehow or other had to get free from their attachment. So it was arranged that a sadhu would come and visit their home. And Hadai Ojha being a dutiful brahmana offered this sannyasi to come to his home and take food and offered all kinds of charities – “Whatever I can provide for you, please tell me! Don’t hesitate to ask.”

So then when it came time for the sannyasi to leave then he said, “You just give me your son! That will be the best thing you can do. I am alone, I am travelling alone. I am a sannyasi.” Just like Lord Caitanya as a sannyasi, He was travelling alone. He wanted to travel alone but the devotees told Him, “No, You should have someone with You. Someone can carry Your danda, or carry Your waterpot, when You have to go begging.”

So in this way this sannyasi told Hadai Ojha that “If your son can come with me it will help me a lot in my travels. I am going to visit all the holy places.” So in this way Lord Nityananda went with this sannyasi, visited all the holy places. But it was not a new experience for Lord Nityananda because Lord Nityananda is not different from Lord Balarama. And Lord Balarama had also visited all the holy places. In order to avoid taking part in the Kuruksetra war Lord Balarama had gone off on pilgrimage and visited all the holy places. In the same way Lord Nityananda was desiring to visit all of these holy places again. Just like once we come to Mayapur and Vrindavana we leave our heart here, right? We have to come back, find our heart again. So this is the nature of the holy places that we can never forget them. And in the same way Lord Nityananda was eager to visit all of those holy places which He had seen in His previous incarnation.

So Lord Nityananda after twenty years of travelling came to live in Vrindavana. And it was in Vrindavana that He heard how the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu were beginning. Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His early childhood, in His youth, He had been a scholar, He had been a logician and He had His own school. But after going to Gaya and being initiated by Isvara Puri, then His bhava, His love for the Lord had been aroused. And He had began having regular kirtana with the devotees. So Lord Nityananda being not different from Lord Caitanya could understand that Lord Caitanya was beginning His pastimes, beginning to inaugurate the sankirtana movement.

Lord Nityananda returned to Mayapur. But before He returned to Mayapur Caitanya Mahaprabhu was informing the devotees there in Mayapur, that very soon a great personality is going to come and visit us. He is going to come here. All the devotees were wondering, “Who is this? We don’t know! What’s happening! Who is this person who is going to come?” And then Lord Caitanya after a few days He said, “That personality came in My dream! He is already here in Mayapur! He came in My dream and He told Me, He is My brother. He is not different from Me. He appeared in My dream and in My dream, He came to My house and He was speaking Hindi!” Could you imagine it? In Bengal speaking Hindi? Nowadays of course because of Hindi movies, and Hindi songs and so on Bengalis also know Hindi. But five hundred years ago it was a different situation. So to be in Bengal, to speak Hindi, its like speaking Chinese. Nobody could understand, right!

So in the dream Lord Caitanya said, “I saw this personality and He was speaking in Hindi – ‘Is this the home of Mahaprabhu? Is this the home of Nimai Pandita.’ ?” And He asked ten or twenty times because no one could understand of course. So Lord Caitanya told all the devotees, “This personality has now come to Mayapur. We have to find Him. You have to go and bring Him here.” So He instructed Srivasa Pandita and Haridasa Thakura, His two very intimate associates who were both maha-bhagavata devotees. And He told them, “Go find this person! He is here in Mayapur! You bring me here!”

So Haridasa and Srivasa Pandita left and they went all over Mayapur. They came back after nine hours and they told Lord Caitanya, “We have searched everywhere! We didn’t just go to the grhastha’s homes, we visited the sannyasi’s. We even went to the homes of the atheists. We went to every home we could find. We cannot find this personality anywhere!”

This the mystery of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda is not different from Lord Balarama. And He is the original spiritual master. Without the mercy of Krishna, we cannot contact a spiritual master. In the same way without Lord Caitanya we cannot get connection to Lord Nityananda. We were hearing in the song, we have to have a connection with Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda is not different from Lord Balarama. He is the original spiritual master. He is visnu-tattva. He is not different from the Lord but He comes in the mood of the servant of the Lord. He is the servitor personality of Godhead. And He comes to teach all of us the mood of rendering service to the Supreme Lord.

So Srivasa Pandita and Haridasa Thakura, they told Lord Caitanya, “We cannot find this person anywhere.” Lord Caitanya said, “I will take you to Him.” And Lord Caitanya then arose and all the devotees followed Him with kirtana and they proceeded to the home of Nandana Acarya. Nandana Acarya’s house is very near, its the next house you could say, its the next temple down the road, on the way to Jalangi we pass the home of Nandana Acarya. Nandana Acarya is also a maha-bhagavata devotee. It is described in the Caitanya Caritamrta that he is the seventeenth branch of the tree of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And it is noteworthy that in his home, it was in his home that not only Lord Nityananda was hiding but later on Advaita Acharya would hide in his home. And sometimes also Lord Caitanya would also come hide in the home of Nandana Acarya.
Lord Caitanya brought all the devotees to the home of Nandana Acarya and they saw this wonderful effulgent personality. His effulgence was like millions of suns and He was tall, decorated in blue garments and a blue turban on His head and with His lips He was chanting the holy names of Krishna. All of the associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu were astonished to see this personality. But for Lord Caitanya it was like meeting an old friend.

Lord Caitanya wanted all of the devotees to understand the position of Lord Nityananda. So He requested Srivasa Pandita, “Please recite some verses from the scriptures!” And Srivasa Pandita began to recite a beautiful verse describing Lord Krishna as He enters the forest of Vrindavana. How His head is decorated with peacock ornament and how His ears are decorated with blue coloured flowers and round His neck is the vijayanti garland. His body is covered with a golden coloured cloth and He appears as a best of all the dancers as He enters into the forest of Vrindavana, decorating the earth of Vrindavana with His footprints, with His beautiful footprints on the soil of Vrindavana. He fills the flute with the nectar from His lips and all the cowherd boy are singing His glories.

So Srivasa Pandita recited this verse. And when Lord Nitayananda heard this verse. Then His love for Krishna was aroused. And He began to exhibit all kinds of ecstatic symptoms. He fell to the ground unconscious. Then His body was trembling. His hairs were standing on end. Tears were flowing, all of His cloth became very wet with the tears from His eyes. Lord Caitanya told Srivasa, “Keep reciting!” And he continued to recite. As he recited Lord Nityananda came more to consciousness and continued exhibiting ecstatic symptoms, rolling on the ground in front of all the devotees. All of the devotees seeing Lord Nityananda display this ecstatic love for Krishna, they could understand His exalted position.

Lord Caitanya took Lord Nityananda in His arms and began to caress His body bringing Him back to external consciousness. Lord Caitanya taking Lord Nityananda into His arms caused, brought a smile on the face of Gadadhara Pandita because Gadhadhara Pandita knew the identity of these two personalities. And he understood that usually the situation is reversed because Lord Nityananda is not different from Lord Balarama, not different from His plenary portion Sesa and on the body of Sesa lies the Supreme Lord Lord Naryana. In the same way Lord Balarama is the servant of Lord Krishna. But here Lord Caitanya is taking Lord Nityananda on His lap and started giving service to Him, just the reverse of how it is in the spiritual world.

Lord Caitanya wanted to bring Lord Nityananda back to external consciousness, He began to speak to him and he asked Him, “Where did you come from?” Lord Nityananda replied that, “I visited many places connected with the pastimes of Lord Krishna and I visited many of the temples of the Lord. But everywhere I was not able to find Lord Krishna. I went to so many places of the Lord’s pastimes. ButI could not find Lord Krishna anywhere. I inquired from some learned persons where is Lord Krishna? And they told me that He has appeared in Navadvipa. And He is performing His pastime in chanting the holy name. He has come to inaugurate the sankirtana movement to deliver everyone in the Kaliyuga.” In this way Lord Nityananda was glorifying Lord Caitanya. He wanted everyone to understand the identity of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya wants to glorify Lord Nityananda and Lord Nityananda comes to glorify Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

This is the mood of devotional service. We give service to the Lord and the Lord serves the devotees. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda reveal to us the mood of confidential loving service. Lord Nityananda we said, He came here in Mayapur in the home of Nandana Acarya but generally His pastimes would be performed in the home of Srivasa Pandita. Actually Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu also chose the home of Srivasa Pandita to perform His pastimes. Just as Lord Krishna appeared in Mathura but His pastimes were performed in Vrindavana, in Gokula. In the same way Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared at the Yogapitha, but He came to the home of Srivasa Pandita. And similarly Nityananda came from Ekacakra to the home of Srivasa Pandita and there they inaugurated the sankirtana movement.

Lord Nityananda appeared in the home of Srivasa Pandita, just sometimes behaving almost like a child because Srivasa Pandita and his good wife Malini, are in the mood of vatsalya rasa. They see this Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya just like their sons. When Lord Nityananda was living there He was just like a child. He behaved just like a child. But Lord Caitanya instructs all the devotees that never doubt the character of Lord Nityananda. That if you worship to Lord Krishna but do not offer respect to Lord Shiva then you will go Yamaraja. In the same way if you worship Lord Caitanya but do not have respect for Lord Nityananda then it is a great offence. You can never get the goal of life.

Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s pastimes are very difficult to understand. We know that in His previous incarnation as Lord Balarama He went to Naimisaranya. And in Naimisaranya He took a kusa grass and pierced the heart of Romaharsana Suta. That same Lord Balarama comes as Lord Nityananda and in Kaliyuga He takes kusa grass between His own teeth and He falls at the feet of Jagai and Madhai and asks them to chant the holy name. This is the difference in Kaliyuga, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes to teach all of us the mood of devotional service, to offer all respects to others and not to be anxious to be respected. Sri Nityananda Prabhu personifies this mood of amanina mana dena (Siksastakam). He would go to all the fallen souls and engage them in the service of Lord Krishna. Of course this was His instruction. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had requested Lord Nityananda and Haridasa that they should go door to door to every home and fall at the feet of the people and beg them to chant the holy name of Krishna, to worship Krishna, and to read the books of Krishna.

Lord Nityananda however sometimes He could become a little, He could behave differently in a manner which would sometimes confuse people as to His identity. And we see this, there is one pastime which takes place when Lord Nityananda is going to Jaganath Puri with all the devotees. Now usually the party would be under the care of Sivananda Sen. Sivananda Sen would have to deal with all the different formalities in the course of the journey to Jagannath Puri. So on one occasion they had to pay taxes on the way and Sivananda Sen was delayed. Lord Nityananda and all the devotees were left without any shelter in the hot sun. On that particular day Lord Nityananda felt hunger. He was feeling very hungry and He had to wait for Sivananda Sen for a long time. During this wait Lord Nityananda became angry and He cursed Sivananda Sen that his sons would die. Hearing the curse of Lord Nityananda the wife of Sivananda Sen began to cry because she thought if Lord Nityananda wants my sons to die, certainly they would die. When Sivananda Sen finally came Lord Nityananda showed His anger and kicked Sivananda Sen. And then when Sivananda Sen heard about how Lord Nityananda had cursed his sons to die, Sivananda Sen replied, “If Lord Nityananda wants our sons to die, let them die!” This is the loving dealing between Lord Nityananda and His confidential devotees.

There is one song taken from the Caitanya Mangala, akrodha paramananda nityananda raya, Lord Caitanya (Nityananda) is described as one who never becomes angry. But this is His transcendental anger. He is performing these pastimes behaving like a hungry man, affected by hunger, affected by anger. But actually it is all His transcendental pastime to exhibit the wonderful qualities of His devotees like Sivananda Sen. Some of the family members became confused however. And one of them had gone off on his own to Jagannath Puri. And it is recorded in the Caitanya Caritamrta that in order to heal the misunderstandings of the family of Sivananda Sen, Lord Caitanya personally instructed His servant Govinda that, “All the remnants of My prasadam should be given to the family of Sivananda Sen.” This is the loving exchange. This is how these two Lord’s reciprocated their loving dealings.

Another wonderful pastime between Lord Nityananda, and Advaita and Caitanya Mahaprabhu took place in Shantipur after Lord Caitanya had taken sannyasa. Lord Nityananda tricked Caitanya Mahaprabhu into coming to Shantipur and then bringing mother Saci and all the devotees. So then a big feast was arranged and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy to see that they were offering so many wonderful preparations for the pleasure of Lord Krishna. However Advaita Acarya then instructed that “These plates are for You, one is for You my Lord. I want You to eat.” But Caitanya Mahaprabhu would say, “No, I am a sannyasi. I cannot eat so much.” But Advaita Acarya told Him, “You cannot fool me. I know that in Jagannath Puri everyday You eat 56 offerings, with many big pots at every offering. So why, this is just a mere morsel for You!” In this way Caitanya Mahaprabhu was induced to sit down and along with Lord Nityananda and Advaita Acarya they began to take prasadam.

Lord Nityananda exhibited His joking mood and began to complain to Advaita that, “ I have been fasting for three days. This is not a mere morsel of food for Me.” Actually they had been coming from Navadvipa, all the way from Katwa where Lord Caitanya took sannyasa, all the way down to Shantipur. It would take some time to walk there. Maybe about three days, I don’t know, maybe not that long. But anyway He told jokingly to Advaita, “I have been fasting for three days. This is not a mere morsel food for Me.” And Advaita requested Him, “Please I am a poor brahmana. I know You can eat 4 or 500 kilos of rice every time. I am a poor brahmana. Kindly accept what I am offering to You.”

So they began to eat. At one point Lord Nityananda then rose up and said that “This is not at all satisfying My hunger.” And then He took some rice and He threw it and it hit the leg of Advaita Acarya. And when that rice stuck to the body of Advaita Acarya then Advaita Acarya began to dance. And this dancing, this shows something of the power of the maha prasadam. The remnants from the plate of pure devotee, actually maha maha prasadam. The remnants of Lord Nityananda touching the body of Advaita Acarya caused him to dance.

Advaita Acarya said, “Just see we do not know what is Your caste and I bring You in my home and You behave like a madman throwing the remnants of Your food at me.” Lord Nityananda told Advaita Acarya, “This is Lord Krishna’s own remnants. This is prasadam. You are making an offence by considering this foodstuff to be ordinary. It is Lord Krishna’s own remnants. For your offence you will have to invite a hundred sannyasi’s to your home and feed them all sumptuously.” Advaita Acarya replied, “After You have come to my home I will never bring another sannyasi to my home. I have lost all my smartha principles.” So this was the joking words between Lord Nityananda and Advaita Acarya.

The point is that Lord Nityananda is no ordinary person. And Advaita Acarya by his words, which not everyone could understand, they are meant to instruct us on the exalted position of Lord Nityananda, that He comes, just like we were singing the song about the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. That lotus feet, Prabhupada explains that whenever we speak of feet, feet means service. And Lord Nityananda comes to teach all of us the glories of service to the Supreme Lord Krishna or Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Nityananda shows by His own example how to serve Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by going to even the fallen souls like Jagai and Madhai and requesting to chant the holy names of Lord Krishna.

Our movement is founded in the same basis, to follow in the footsteps of Lord Nityananda, to hold tightly to His lotus feet means to hold firmly, to be fixed in this process of devotional service, to continue to preach the message of Krishna everywhere, to everyone, without discrimination. Lord Nityananda does not consider who is qualified and who is unqualified. Wherever He went He would give love of God.

Actually on one occasion I was telling how sometimes Lord Caitanya would go in hiding. One time they were having kirtana and Lord Caitanya stopped the kirtana and said, “I am not feeling any ecstasy today! What is wrong! I am not getting love of God!” and again they started the kirtana but again Lord Caitanya complained, “I am not getting this love for God anymore! Its not coming today!” Advaita Acarya told Lord Caitanya, he said “The problem is You have given everything to that Lord Nityananda. You put Him in charge of the storehouse of love of God. He has given it to everyone. He has given it to even the gardeners, even to the oil grinders. He has given it to all kinds of people.” Lord Caitanya was not very happy to hear these words. It was like a complaint. At that time Lord Caitanya left that place and hid Himself from Advaita Acarya.

Lord Caitanya was very happy to see devotees follow the mood of Lord Nityananda and to assist Him in the preaching mission. Lord Caitanya even instructed Lord Nityananda that “You don’t have to come to Puri every year. You can remain in Navadvipa, You can remain in Bengal.” Because He knew that if He was in Bengal the preaching would be going on and that is the important thing.

Srila Prabhupada also wants all of us to continue the preaching movement. We come here to Mayapur to imbibe something of the mood of Lord Nityananda and then to go back to our preaching places and continue in that mood of Lord Nityananda. So today, on this day we are all praying for the mercy of Lord Nityananda and that mercy is that without any discrimination we will distribute love of God to everyone. Not looking at their designation or their position or the colour of their skin or their language, without consideration. We will try to distribute this message of Krishna and in this way Lord Nityananda will bestow His mercy on us. By the mercy of Lord Nityananda only we can come to get shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we can come to understand Radha and Krishna.

Thank you very much! Hare Krishna!

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19174

By Sutapa Das

Srila Prabhupada emphasized distribution of his books and proclaimed that even if 1 percent of the whole world’s population become devotees of Krishna, His mission is accomplished.  As Srila Prabhupada rightly mentioned, these books are like time bombs, they show their effect when the right time comes.

My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life. If only 1% become devotees, that will change the whole world.
— Correspondence, Tokyo, 2/5/1972

Puttur is a place 50 km away from Mangalore, Karnataka. 20 years ago, one person (now Bhakta Prashanth at ISKCON Mangalore) from Puttur received  one book written by Srila Prabhupada from His Grace Madhava Prabhu of ISKCON Mangalore. He was so inspired by the book and the spiritual guidance given by Madhav prabhu that he started preaching in his small town. Over the years that followed, more than 1000 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is were distributed there.

Recently, ISKCON Mangalore Sri Jagannath Mandir organized a Bhagavad Gita contest across more than 15 schools in Puttur, as an effort to attract the school children and their parents towards devotional service. Around 800 students took part in the contest, and the winners were given awards on Feburary 14th 2016. The program was attended by more than 600 students accompanied by their parents and friends. The chief guest, Sri Radha Krishna Bhakta, one of the many local leaders who appreciate the event, blessed all the children with a bright future. His Grace Srirama Prabhu (President, ISKCON Mangalore) reinforced the message of Krishna Consciousness to the audience in a brief talk. Several parents expressed their desire to attend spiritual programs on a weekly basis.

HG Smitha Krishna Prabhu gave the Vote of Thanks and encouraged all the students to read Bhagavad Gita As It Is everyday and try to apply the knowledge in their lives. A special thanks to His Grace Suvarana Gaura Prabhu and Bhakta Vishal Prabhu for playing key role in Puttur preaching and doing all the ground work for making this mission of Prabhupada a great success in Puttur.
Following the “1 percent” instruction of Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON Mangalore is making efforts to spread the Holy Name and transcendental knowledge in his books around Mangalore. ISKCON Mangalore book distribution scores doubled compared to last year, reaching 2500 big books in December Marathon 2015.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Sutapa Das
Communication Incharge
ISKCON Mangalore

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19182

Sri Svapna-vilasamrtastaka. 
Eight Prayers Describing Nectar Pastimes in a Dream
(by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
—-
Srimati Radharani said: Beloved, in a dream I saw a river shore like the Yamuna here. There were many expert dancers as in Vrndavana. There were mrdangas and other instruments. There was a brahmana jewel as splendid as lightning who was tossing the universe into an ocean of pure love.
—-
Sometimes He calls out: “O Krsna!” and sometimes He sighs: “O Radha, where are You?” Sometimes He falls to the ground, sometimes He acts wildly, losing all composure, and sometimes He dances ecstatically with His loving associates. He has made all the residents of this world, from the blades of grass up to Lord Brahma, loudly call out the name of Krsna.
—-
As I gazed at Him, My intelligence became bewildered. If He is my lover, where am I? If He is I, where is My lover? If He is My lover, where am I? As I slept, I became more and more bewildered.
—-
Sri Krsna said: O inquisitive girl, when I showed You Narayana and My other forms You were not surprised. Why does this brahmana surprise You? Why does He bewilder You so You say “Who is He?”
—-
After speaking these words to His beloved, the smiling lover, Krsna, touched His Kaustubha jewel. The jewel, understanding the Lord’s intent, glowed and then showed all the same pastimes and all the moving and non moving entities She saw in her dream.
—-
Srimati Radharani reflected for a moment and said: Beloved, I know what is in Your heart now that makes You smile. You are He. What You have said and thought is now clear to Me, and therefore I think I am also He.
—-
Making this Kaustubha jewel, which is so delightful to Us, shine in this way, You have revealed Yourself to all living entities. By Your own transcendental potency You will appear, display Your pastimes, teach everyone, and again plunge the world into the ocean of pure love.
—-
In the king of Vraja’s presence, the learned Vedic scholar Gargacarya said that You will appear with a yellow complexion. He did not lie. This dream of Mine is true. It is not an illusion. In this dream I have directly seen You.
—-
If the bumble-bee of the reader’s mind drinks the nectar of this Svapna-vilasamrta, then that intelligent reader will quickly awaken from the dream of materialistic doubt. Such a reader will attain Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will sport in the ocean of pure love. He will attain the peerless mercy of the king of Vrndavana.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19186

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2015, Vrindavan, India, Video Interview)

When Krsna left Vrindavan for Mathura, the gopis of Vrindavan and Nanda Maharaj felt great separation from Krsna – they all wanted to see Krsna. Therefore Krsna sent Uddhava to Vrindavan with a philosophical message, to say that Krsna is everywhere. Nanda Maharaj replied, ‘This Uddhava, he does not know what he is talking about! He is still wet behind his ears! He is just a boy! What is the point of Krsna being everywhere!? We want to see him with our own eyes, we want to drink in the sound of his flute! We want all this nectar!’

Therefore we go to the temple to see the deity form of Krsna. In Jaipur, you see old men every morning at three o’clock, walking in the street for five to ten kilometers to go the temple. They go there before Govinda and they chant, ‘Govinda, Govinda, Govinda!!!’ The perfection of old age! Because they want to see Krsna and such eagerness to see Krsna will bring us to the spiritual world. Therefore to say that Krsna is everywhere is not satisfying.

Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/02/if-god-is-everywhere-then-why-go-to-the-temple/

NAROTTAMA VILASA By Narahari dasa
Translated by Dravida Das THE FIRST VILASA

Oh! Supreme Lord Visvambhara, You are the husband of the goddess of fortune, and my eternal friend. Only You are capable of distributing the wealth of love of Godhead. You are known as kindhearted to those who depend upon You, therefore, oh Lord, please shower You kindness upon me. I worship Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, who is fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Vinode. He is the life of the devotees, and a confidential associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I worship Narottama dasa Thakura, who is especially dear to Lord Gauranga.

Like a honey bee anxious for the nectar, he hovers at the lotus feet of Srila Lokanatha, absorbed in love for Radha Krsna. I worship the disciples of Srila Narottama Prabhu who are rich in good qualities and are able to destroy all misfortune and misery. For the pleasure of the Vaisnavas and to fulfill my own ardent desires, I am writing this book Narottama Vilasa which briefly describes the glories of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. All glories to the son of Saci and Jagannatha Misra, Sri Gaura Govinda, the embodiment of divine love. He is the life of Nityananda and Advaita, and the only love of Svarupa, Sanatana, Rupa, and Gopala. 

Lord Visvambhara, who is expert at pleasing everyone, has bound the hearts of Haridasa, Vakresvara, and Narahari with the ropes of His love, and won the friendship of Gauridasa and Gadadhara. All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His associates. Oh listeners! please be kind upon me. I am an illiterate fool who knows nothing of right or wrong, yet I have been ordered by saintly persons to narrate this beautiful book Narottama Vilasa which will certainly be relished by the readers. I have offered my obeisances to the Lord in the above verses, now listen patiently and attentively as I briefly describe the glories of Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, a favorite devotee of the Lord and the light of his famous brahmana family. He was born to Sita and Padmanabha Cakravarti in the village of Talagari in the district of Jassora. 

It is difficult to describe the wonderful attributes of Lokanatha's father and mother. Padmanabha was a famous Rarhi brahmana Vaisnava and a favorite of Sri Advaita Prabhu. He was constantly absorbed in sankirtana, singing madly and crying incessantly. Those who simply observed his kirtana were also unable to check their tears. He frequently came to Nadia for darsana of Lord Gauranga. However, after such visits upon returning to his own village he inevitably fell into the depths of despair due to intense feelings of separation from Gauranga. He and his wife always sang the glories of Gauracandra. Sita was like her husband. She was a devoted Vaisnavi and wife. She felt extremely fortunate to have a wonderful son like Lokanatha and her happiness knew no bounds as she watched his devotion to Gauracandra blossoming day by day. Who can describe the loving care she showered upon her exalted son? Lokanatha was always enthusiastically engaged in the Lord's devotional service. People were spontaneously drawn by his extraordinary beauty and deep devotion. He conscientiously served his parents, and was well-versed in all of the scriptures at a very young age. When his parents died, Lokanatha decided, after discussing with his friends, that he would give up the shackles of material existence, go to Nadia and surrender at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The mercy of the Lord was abundantly showered upon Lokanatha during his stay in Nadia. However, after sometime Lord Caitanya requested that he go to Vraja. Lokanatha could understand the mind of the Lord, he knew that Mahaprabhu was thinking of taking sannyasa shortly. Thus Lokanatha's departure was an indescribably pathetic scene; leaving the Lord's association was unbearable for him. Completely despondent, Lokanatha began his journey. Crying incessantly, the path before him became practically invisible, thus in five days he walked a distance which would normally be covered in a single day. After traveling for sometime he received the heart breaking news that Mahaprabhu had taken sannyasa and, after consoling his associates, had gone to Nilacala. Lokanatha lamented, knowing the Lord had given up His beautiful curling hair. Heavy-hearted and forlorn, Lokanatha continued his journey only because it was the order of the Lord. He arrived in Vrndavana practically lifeless, but the charming atmosphere of Vraja soothed his mind and eased his aching heart. However, after a few days Lokanatha heard that Mahaprabhu had gone to South India, and his mind became disturbed. Eager to see the Lord again, Lokanatha left for the south at once. In anxious anticipation he traveled quickly. However, after traveling a considerable distance he received news that the Lord had already left the South and returned to Nilacala [unclear] Afterwards he heard that the Lord had arrived in Vrndavana. With great anxiety Lokanatha immediately started for Vraja. However, upon reaching Vrndavana, he found that Mahaprabhu had departed for Prayaga just a few days before. 

The forlorn Lokanatha sank into the depths of despair. The next morning he decided to follow Mahaprabhu to Prayaga. He could no longer tolerate the intense misery of separation from his beloved Lord. Rolling on the ground he cried pitifully until at last he feel asleep. In his dream he finally received the long awaited darsana of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; His effulgent body was covered with yellow sandalwood paste, shining with a brilliance unknown to gold. Perfectly arranged hair, decorated with fresh flowers, surrounded His exquisite face, and His forehead was neatly marked with tilak. Who would not be captivated by His gorgeous lotus eyes, majestic eyebrows, and enticing smile which easily defeated the beauty of the moon? A sacred thread was draped across His broad chest and His long arms touched His knees. His dhoti was folded in three places and His transcendental body was bedecked with ornaments. He spoke affectionately to Lokanatha: "I shall always be with you, relishing loving pastimes, here in My eternal abode, Navadvipa. Even great personalities like Lord Brahma are unable to understand this Dhama of Mine." Saying this, He embraced Lokanatha and disappeared. Lokanatha awoke, the emptiness in the Lord's absence was intolerable and he was overwhelmed with despair. However, by Mahaprabhu's kindness, sleep once again overtook him and the Lord, dressed in the garb of a sannyasi, once again appeared before him. "You are thinking of going to Prayaga," the Lord said sweetly, "But what is the use of going there when you can see me here in your dream. Oh Lokanatha I also desire to be with all of you in Vrndavana. After I sent you to Vraja I took sannyasa from Kesava Bharati. At that time I was very eager to see Vrnda Vipina, but My devotees were so broken-hearted and desolate, due to my acceptance of the renounced order, that I was obliged to spend a few days in the house of Advaita Prabhu to console them. Afterwards I went to Nilacala, then later to the South. Unfortunately our paths did not cross either in the South or in Vrndavana. 

I know you are feeling despondent because of this and have decided to leave for Prayaga tomorrow morning, but don't leave Vrndavana, remember that I am always with you. I shall keep you informed of my whereabouts. From Prayaga I'll leave for Nilacala, there I will tell my dear devotees Rupa and Sanatana about you and they will meet you in Vrndavana soon. In their association you will float on the waves of happiness amidst the ocean of ecstatic love for Krsna." "Within a short period of time a prince named Narottama will become your disciple. He will be a gifted devotee, full of love and devotion, and empowered to save the fallen conditioned souls from hellish life. His enchanting beautiful kirtana will melt even wood or stone." Thus speaking He embraced Lokanatha, who fell at the Lord's feet. Awaking and finding himself alone, Lokanatha cried pitifully, remembering the beautiful Gaurangacandra. Eventually he pacified himself, but tears continued to flow like rivers from his eyes. As dawn approached he performed his daily duties and sat down in a quiet place to chant the holy name of the Lord until a local brahmana offered him some fruits to eat. He sat under the tree for a long time until restlessness overtook him and he began wandering aimlessly throughout Vrndavana. Eventually he happened upon a beautiful secluded area where he stayed alone for a long time. Later he happened to find out that Sri Subuddhi Misra had visited Vrndavana, followed by Sri Rupa Gosvami a bit later, but now they were both on there way to meet Sri Gaurasundara. Sanatana had also come to Vrndavana but had recently left for Nilacala. Hearing this Lokanatha could not suppress his disappointment. Sighing heavily and crying pitifully, he lamented, "Oh Rupa, Sanatana, when will I be able to live with you?" Suddenly a voice replied: "We shall definitely come to Vrndavana soon." Eventually Gopala Bhatta and others did come to Vrndavana. 

I am lost for words to describe that joyous meeting and the immense pleasure they derived from each other's association. Sri Rupa Gosvami greeted Lokanatha with great warmth and affection, dissipating the anguish of long separation from the Lord and His devotees. In Sanatana Gosvami's Vaisnava Tosani he mentions his attachment for Lokanatha: "I worship Srila Kasisvara, Lokanatha, and Sri Krsnadasa who have taken shelter at the lotus feet of the dear-most Deity in Vrndavana, Srila Govinda Deva." Raghunatha Bhatta, Gopala Bhatta, Bhugarbha Gosvami, as well as many others, dearly loved Lokanatha. Together they spent many wonderful days in Sri Vrndavana Dhama relishing the highest pinnacles of devotional happiness. Lokanatha was fully engaged in the service of his worshipful Deities, Sri Sri Radha Vinode.

How he obtained these deities I have explained in Bhakti-ratnakara (page 23). Once while serving his Deities, Lokanatha suddenly saw the madhurya rupa** of Sri Gaura amalgamated with that of Sri Radha Vinode. Later, in a dream, the Lord ** revealed everything regarding His own transcendental nature. Such deep spiritual realizations gave rise to intense emotions, thus whenever Lokanatha tried to describe the divine attributes of the Lord, he would lose his composure and simply roll on the ground, cursing himself for not having personally witnessed the Lord's pastimes. Krsnadasa Kaviraja requested Lokanatha's permission for writing Caitanya Caritamrta, which he received with Lokanatha's wholehearted enthusiasm, yet both he and Gopala Bhatta, forbade Krsnadasa from mentioning their names within the book. I have heard all of these stories from some aged persons?? Whoever hears them is extremely fortunate. The merciful Lokanatha Gosvami remained in Vrndavana and later showered his blessings upon his dear disciple, Narottama dasa. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lokanatha obtained the precious gem of love of Godhead: "I worship the lotus feet of Lokanatha Prabhu whose is opulent with the wealth of Sri Krsna Caitanya's blessings, and whose mind is bedecked with the ornaments of love." "I take shelter at the lotus feet of Lokanatha Prabhu who eternally resides in Vrndavana. He is always absorbed in loving devotional service, enchanted by the transcendental pastimes of Sri Krsna. " 

"I take refuge at the lotus feet of Lokanatha Prabhu who is completely indifferent to the pains and pleasures of this material world. His mercy was fully realized only by the great scholar Narottama dasa." All glories to Narottama dasa Thakura, the beloved disciple of Lokanatha Gosvami. How the illustrious Narottama took his birth in the house of Krsnananda Datta, the elder brother of Sri Purusottama, I dare not discuss elaborately here. However, for your pleasure, I shall give a brief description. Rupa and Sanatana lived in Ramakeli, a beautiful village in a pleasant area of Gaudadesh. Although acting as high ranking ministers in the court of the king, they were always absorbed in discussing scriptures with scholars and professors. Their genius and wisdom won them fame throughout the world. In the courts of Maharastra, Karnataka, Dravida, Tailanga, Utkala, Mithila, Gaura, Gujarata, Vanga, Kasi and Kashmir they were considered the greatest scholars. (I have explained this further in Bhakti-ratnakara). Being favorites of the king, the brothers had no shortage of wealth. Meanwhile, Sri Gauracandra was performing His all-attractive pastimes in Navadvipa. Rupa and Sanatana happened to hear reports of the Lord's activities and were spontaneously attracted. Immediately they began writing numerous letters to Mahaprabhu, while earnestly waiting for the opportunity to meet Him personally. The Supreme Lord, who is bound only by the love of His devotees, soon also became anxious to meet Rupa and Sanatana. 

After accepting sannyasa, the Lord consoled his devotees, went to Nilacala and later to Vrndavana. When Mahaprabhu started for Gaudadesh millions of people ran behind him, thus He arrived at Ramakeli surrounded by hoards of devotees. On hearing of Lord Caitanya's arrival, Sanatana and Rupa, as well as Kesava Chatri and other friends, were overwhelmed with joy. The royal ministers, Rupa and Sanatana, could not contain their happiness and secretly rushed to meet the associates of Lord Caitanya. By the grace of Nityananda Prabhu they were introduced to Sri Krsna Caitanya. Who can describe the intense emotions of Rupa and Sanatana at that meeting? 

Sri Gauracandra happily welcomed them with sweet words, as Nityananda Prabhu, Haridasa, Vakresvara, Mukunda and others stood by watching with pleasure. Mahaprabhu stayed there for a few days constantly surrounded by an ocean of ecstatic devotees who were eager to bath in the purifying waters of the Lord's transcendental association. Not only the general mass of people were affected by the Lord, even the Yavana king was moved by Mahaprabhu's presence. One day while Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing with his associates during sankirtana, He suddenly looked in the direction of Sri Kheturi village. A peculiar look appeared on His face, tears whelmed up in His eyes, and He cried out the name "Narottama! Narottama!" again and again. The ocean of mercy, Nityananda Raya shouted in joy, and Haridasa, Vakresvara, and others were inexplicable filled with happiness. Witnessing the unusual behavior of the Lord, the devotees began talking amongst themselves: "Prabhu is repeatedly calling out the name of someone called Narottama." "It seems that this Narottama is extremely dear to the Lord, perhaps he is about to take birth soon." "Oh who is that fortunate man who will have such a son?" "The woman who bears him within her womb is the most fortunate lady in the world." "Obviously, the Lord has plans for this Narottama to fulfill His mission." In this way the rumors of the appearance of Narottama spread far and wide. 

A similar event took place again when Mahaprabhu was traveling to Nilacala, suddenly he cried out the name of Srinivasa. [unclear] These topics became known to all and everyone waited eagerly anticipating the appearance of Narottama. Oh listeners please hear attentively as Narahari dasa narrates Narottama Vilasa.