The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all
incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the
same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily
expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental
pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-
guru, the original spiritual master.
He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the
pastimes of Lord Krishna, an
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Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
May Lord Balarama, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balarama, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.
May Lord Balarama protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord Balarama, who holds a plow, always protect me in battle. May Lord Balarama, who holds a club, a
Lord Nityananda, who is Balarama Himself, the first direct manifestation or expansion of Krsna, is the original spiritual master. He helps Lord Krsna in His pastimes, and He is a servant of the Lord. Lord Caitanya is the same Lord Krsna, and Lord Nityananda is Lord Balarama. Lord Nityananda fulfills all of Lord Caitanya's desires. The source of the sentiment of servitude is indeed Lord Balarama, and the plenary expansions who follow Him are all influenced by that ecstasy.
Sri Rama, or Balarama,
We are gathered here on the most auspicious occasion of Lord Balarama's appearance day at the lotus feet of the Deities of Sri Sri Krsna-Balarama. Lord Balarama is considered the original spiritual master. As the first expansion of Krsna, He is the first servant of Lord Krsna. And He fulfills the two functions of the spiritual master: to engage in service to Krsna and to give knowledge of Krsna.
Once, in Calcutta , Srila Prabhupada raised the question, "What is the duty of the spiritual master?
Sunday, 26th August, 2018 is the day of the divine appearance of Sri Balaramji, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. On this day the practising vaishnavas observe fast (even from water) till noon (1200hrs).
Lord Balarama is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master. In Chanitanya Lila, Lord Balarama appears as Lord Nityananda, the bestower of mercy to even the most fallen conditioned soul. Therefore his appearance as the son of Rohini and Vasudeva is celebrated by devotees with great jubilation
Chaitanya Charan das: It is because Krishna enjoys rasa in different ways with different people. So just like Krishna is God, but Mother Yasoda sometimes chastises Krishna, she ties Krishna, threatens him. Why does she do that? Because that’s the way Krishna rejoices in maternal rasa with her. She is in that relationship. So Krishna enjoys a fraternal rasa with Balaramji. Although Balaram is at one level non-different from Krishna but He is also His own Person. And when Krishna wants to do some
For most of the Croatian people (or as they call themselves, Hrvati) when it comes to defining their origins and tracing their ancient roots they turn towards the land of Iran and Persia. According to academia the name Hrvat comes from Hrovat which comes from the Slavic Horvat which originates from the Indo/Slavic Harvat and which is ultimately traced to Persia and the name Harahvaiti.
Harahvaiti however, is the corrupted name of Sarasvati, the great Vedic Goddess, the Mother of Sanskrit, the g
Since we’re just a month away from the World Holy Name Festival, we’re presenting ideas for temple Presidents and devotees to make the most of this spiritual event.
Harer Nama, harer Nama harer Nama Eva kevalam
Kalau nasty Eva Nasty Eva nasty Eva gatir anyatha
Around 500-years ago, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had given us the ultimate instruction which was to chant as it is the only mode of deliverance from this material world. In a month’s time, ISKCON’s World Holy Name Festival will give each and
TEXT 55
mat-karma-krn mat-paramo
mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava
mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava
SYNONYMS
mat-karma-krt—engaged in doing My work; mat-paramah—concerning Me, the Supreme; mat-bhaktah—engaged in My devotional service; sanga-varjitah—freed from the contamination of previous activities and mental speculation; nirvairah—without an enemy; sarva-bhutesu—to every living entity; yah—one who; sah—he; mam—unto Me; eti—comes; pandava—O son of Pandu.
TRANSLATION
My dear Arjuna, one who is e
Brief history:
During the stage program of the inauguration, Smt Usha Bhardwaj w/o Late Sri Gopal Bhardwaja revealed that they met Srila Prabhupada for the first time in 1972 in Australia and their faith grew in spiritual life upon receiving personal care and affection from him. They became the first life members in Australia and felt inspired to contribute in building a temple at Bahadurgarh, their homeland(on the borders of Delhi and Hariyana, India). To them, however, Srila Prabhupada did no
I am pleased to know that a special souvenir is being published by ISKCON-India on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami celebrations. ISKCON has been leading a spiritual transformation of the humanity by illuminating the world with the wisdom and grace of Shri Krishna’s philosophy. Its members have been serving the humanity through its numerous philanthropic missions underlining the non duality of service to God and humanity. I convey my best wishes to the whole ISKCON family, as it prepares
The Indian State of Haryana witnessed the grand opening of it’s first Iskcon temple. Fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire of twelve Temples in Delhi NCR His Holiness Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaja ji has taken the target exceedingly beyond that. Under his guidance has come up a Majestic, Regal, Grand Palace Temple in Bahadhurgarh ; a busy town of Haryana.
This temple has a beautiful history of its umbilical chord attached to Srila Prabhupada. The Land where this great architecture stands has been
From Back to Godhead
In a former age, God’s empowered incarnation employed extreme measures to deal with an extreme situation.
Sectarian and political disputes are common not only today but occurred even during the time of Sri Parashurama, an empowered incarnation of the Supreme Lord who appeared several ages before Lord Ramachandra, millions of years ago. The kings at that time, proud of their strength and fighting for absolute power, revolted against the spiritually advanced sages, who gen
TEXT 54
bhaktya tv ananyaya sakya
aham evam-vidho 'rjuna
jnatum drastum ca tattvena
pravestum ca parantapa
aham evam-vidho 'rjuna
jnatum drastum ca tattvena
pravestum ca parantapa
SYNONYMS
bhaktya—by devotional service; tu—but; ananyaya—without being mixed with fruitive activities or speculative knowledge; sakyah—possible; aham—I;evam-vidhah—like this; arjuna—O Arjuna; jnatum—to know; drastum—to see; tattvena—in fact; pravestum—and to enter into; ca—also; parantapa—O mighty-armed one.
TRANSLATION
My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I a
“Regarding Jhulan Yatra Ceremony, during these five days the Deities’ clothing should be changed every day, and there should be nice prasadam distribution and sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during kirtana. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.”
– Letter to Jayapataka, Los Angeles, 1 August 1969
For the last 33 years, an enthusiastic gro
What is Janmashtami?
Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Krishna, who is described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. One of the biggest religious festivals in the world, it is celebrated by nine hundred and thirty million people around the world–and tw
Gunagrahi das Maharaja Health Update.
** Important health report of ss Gunagrahi Maharaja *** Hare Krishna devotees please accept my obeisances, all the glories to Srila Prabhupada I hope you are very well. As everyone knows Maharaja was doing during these last 8 months, a very austere Ayurvedic treatment which consisted mainly in the taking of liquid mercury and 10 liters of water per day and in which, every 15 days, we would check with the doctor the Maharaja’s health and to renew his medici
“It wasn’t you had to think, ‘Oh, can I have a mango?'”
Srutakirti dasa, November 1973, ISKCON Bombay, Juhu Beach
One evening Srila Prabhupada called me into his room.
“This evening you can make me some puffed rice and peanuts,” he said. “It will fill me, but it is not heavy. What I ate last night made it difficult for me to get up and do my translating work. With puffed rice there is no indigestion.”
I left his room and began to prepare the puffed rice and peanuts. He told me to serve it with
This time of the year is most eagerly awaited by all devotees as it is filled with constant festivals such as Balarama Jayanti, Janmastami, Radhastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja celebration. In Mayapur we take these festivals very seriously, being that it is the World Headquarters for ISKCON and the janmasthan of our beloved Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
This is also a unique time for us to make a special TOVP fundraising seva appeal to all devotees worldwide, as these auspicious occasi
Death is a 100% certainty. How are we going to face it? If it comes when we least expect it, this is what makes death so mystifying, yet it is often kept away at a distance within the mind. People know they will die, but how they die is the unknown fascination. Will it hurt? Some people wish to die in their sleep. Whichever way it comes, death is the life stalker, a phenomenon no genius can stop.
News stories are abuzz with incidents of death. It is not a coincidence that death happens everywhe
