janmastami - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T23:52:54Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/janmastamiSrila Prabhupada and some of his disciples talk about Janmastami, Montreal, August 16, 1968https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-prabhupada-and-some-of-his-disciples-talk-about-janmastami-2023-09-07T10:30:00.000Z2023-09-07T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fm7VqlLfhEg/VeqrT8sq2uI/AAAAAAAATVU/1NUHuQIkr7g/s0/2015-09-05_10-43-50.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" alt="2015-09-05_10-43-50.jpg?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></p>
<p>Janmastami; Lord Sri Krsna’s Appearance Day Lecture<br /> By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami<br /> Montreal, August 16, 1968</p>
<p>So today, is the birth appearance ceremony of Lord Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says:</p>
<p>janma karma me divyam<br /> yo janati tattvatah<br /> tyaktva deham punar janma<br /> naiti mam eti kaunteya<br /> [Bg. 4.9]</p>
<p>“My dear Arjuna, any person who simply tries to understand about My transcendental birth or appearance and disappearance and activities, janma karma…” The Personality of Godhead is not niskriya, without activities. So anyone who can understand that what kind of activities the Lord has and what kind of birth He accepts, simply by understanding these two things one gets wonderful result. What is that? Tyaktva deham. By quitting this body, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9], he does not take any more birth in this material world. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. Some of us may think that punar janma naiti means he becomes vanquished. No. Punar janma naiti, but mam eti, “He does not come to this material world, but he comes to Me.” Mam eti. Mam eti means, then… [break] …abode where we can go. Simply by understanding the nature of His appearance and activities.</p>
<p>So today is that auspicious day, Janmastami, when Lord Krsna appeared five thousand years ago in India, Mathura. Those who are Indian ladies and gentlemen present, they know very well where is Mathura. It is about ninety miles south of New Delhi. Mathura is still existing and it is eternally existing. Krsna appeared in Mathura in His maternal uncle’s house in a very precarious condition. That birthplace, Lord Krsna’s birthplace, is now maintained very nicely. One who goes to India, they see.</p>
<p>So anyway, Lord Krsna appeared on this planet five thousand years ago. Now Krsna says, janma karma me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. Divyam means “not ordinary.” It should not be understood just like we take our birth. Krsna does not take his birth like us.</p>
<p>That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. When Arjuna inquired from Krsna, “My dear Krsna, You are speaking that formerly You spoke this yoga system of Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god. That means it is millions and trillions years ago You spoke. How can I believe it?” Because Krsna was contemporary to Arjuna, so he was thinking that “Krsna is my friend, is my cousin brother. How it is possible that He spoke this Bhagavad-gita yoga to sun-god?” So what was the reply?</p>
<p>The reply was this, that “You also appear many, many times; I also appear many, many times. The difference is that I can remember. You cannot remember.”That is the difference between God and ordinary living creature, that we are also taking birth after birth. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and so long we are in this material world, we are cycling round this birth after birth. So Krsna’s birth is not like that. Therefore Krsna says, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. Tattvatah means in truth. Not superficially. Scientifically, one who knows, he can get immediately liberation.</p>
<p>And how one can understand the same truths? That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Again the same thing, tattvatah, in truth. If anyone wants to know God, or Krsna, in truth, not superficially, then he has to undertake the process of devotional service. Bhaktya.</p>
<p>In another place Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. “Any person who gives Me a little fruit, little flower, little water, but with devotion, bhaktya…” That is the only qualification. So Krsna says, taya bhaktya upahrtam asnami. “Because he brings it with devotion and faith and love, I eat.” Krsna eats. We are offering in the temple prasadam. So He eats because He says “I eat.” How you can say that He does not eat?</p>
<p>Some gentleman asked me that “Swamiji, you offer prasadam in the temple, but do you think Krsna or God eats?” I answered, “Yes, why not? He says, ‘I eat.’ How you can say He does not eat? But you do not know how He eats.” Due to poor fund of knowledge, you think that God does not eat. But eat…, His eating process is different. That is answered in the Brahma-samhita. Brahma-samhita, it is said angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti [Bs. 5.32]. God’s senses, Krsna’s senses are as powerful as other senses. Just like I can see with my eyes, but Krsna can eat also with His eyes. That is… Angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti. Just like…</p>
<p>There is many examples. Krsna or Visnu, the first creation is that Garbhosayi (Garbhodakasayi) Visnu lying on the ocean and Brahma was created from His navel. There was a lotus stem grown from the abdomen of the Lord, and Brahma was born. Now Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, was just sitting. But as we understand that if we beget child, we require the cooperation of wife, but here we see that wife was sitting, but He begot Brahma from the navel. This is called sarva-saktiman. He does not require anyone’s help. He can beget child. Not exactly as we beget child. Therefore janma karma me divyam [Bg. 4.9].</p>
<p>He is within your heart, He is everywhere, so He can appear from everywhere. Just like sun rises from the eastern side. It does not mean that eastern side is the mother of sun. We simply see that sun is rising from the eastern side. In this way, if we try to understand in truth, then we can understand what is God. Superficially, if we try to understand by our experimental knowledge, then it is not possible to understand God.</p>
<p>panthastu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo<br /> vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam<br /> so ‘pyasti yat prapada-simny-avicintya-tattve<br /> govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami</p>
<p>The Brahma-samhita said that if one starts on the chariot of air and makes progress on the speed of mind, still one cannot understand what is God. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33]. He cannot be understood simply by studying Vedas. Traigunya visaya vedah nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. One has to transcend the position of Vedas also. Then one can understand what is God or what is Krsna.</p>
<p>So that process is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, that bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. So this bhakti, devotional service of Krsna, is so nice. And under that bhakti category, this Janmastami… Of course, this Janmastami ceremony is observed by all Hindus. Irrespective of becoming Vaisnava or not, this ceremony is observed in India every home. Just like in your Western countries the Christmas is observed in every home, similarly Janmastami is observed in every home. Today is a great ceremonial day. So our program is, at twelve o’clock night the Lord will take birth and we shall receive Him. And just now it is ten o’clock. For two hours our program will continue in kirtana. Kirtana means sometimes chanting with music, and sometimes speaking. Both of them are kirtana. Kirtayati iti kirtanam. Whenever we glorify the Lord, that is called kirtana. The Srimad-Bhagavatam reading is also kirtana. Abhavad vaiyasaki kirtane. Vaiyasaki, Sukadeva Gosvami, he achieved the highest perfection, liberation, simply by reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri-visnu-sravane pariksit. Pariksit Maharaja, he simply heard. There are nine processes of devotional service. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. Chanting, hearing. First hearing, then chanting. Without hearing, nobody can chant. Sravanam kirtanam. And what sort of sravanam kirtanam? Visnoh, of Visnu. Not anything else.</p>
<p>sravanam kirtanam visnoh<br /> smaranam pada-sevanam<br /> arcanam vandanam dasyam<br /> sakhyam atma-nivedanam<br /> [SB 7.5.23]</p>
<p>These are nine processes of devotional service, of which sravanam, hearing, is most important. Without hearing, nobody can understand the science of God. Therefore the Vedic mantras are called sruti. Sruti means it is to be heard. It is not to be experimented in the laboratory. It is simply to be heard. Therefore it is called sruti. So sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam. Vandanam, offering prayer. We also offer prayer. The other religious sect, just like the Christians, they offer prayer; the Muhammadans, they offer prayer. So prayer, offering prayer is also one of the items of bhakti. Chanting, hearing, meditating, offering prayers, arcanam, worshiping the Deity in the temple, all of them are together devotional service. So out of the nine… If you can execute all the nine, it is very good. But it is not possible. So even if you can execute one item, you become perfect. It is so nice. Sri visnu sravane pariksit. Just like Maharaja Pariksit, he simply executed the function of hearing, he got perfection. Similarly, abhavad vaiyasaki kirtane. Vaiyasaki means Sukadeva Gosvami, he simply glorified the Lord. Prahladah smarane. Prahlada Maharaja, he was simply meditating. There are many examples. Simply by following one principle of this devotional service, they got the highest perfectional life, liberation, back to home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p>So we shall invite today to speak about Krsna from our students, as well as all the members who are present here. So I shall request Janardana to speak something about his realization of Krsna. (pause) All right. Let him speak.</p>
<p>Janardana:</p>
<p>nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhutale<br /> srimate bhaktivedanta svamin iti namine</p>
<p>Krsna, we know, is the ultimate Supreme Personality of Godhead. The name Krsna has a meaning. The meaning of the name Krsna is “the supreme attractive.” Whatever there is that holds any attraction, that attraction is given by Krsna. Krsna explains this Himself in the Bhagavad-gita. So in our life in this material world, we have so many different attractions which we are pursuing in order to build what we think will be our happiness. All this attraction is the attraction of Krsna’s inferior energy. Krsna’s maya holds a great attraction for all the conditioned souls. And by following this attraction of Krsna’s maya, they are continuing in the circle of birth and death. We are born into this world because we desire to enjoy something, so Krsna provides us with a body that is suitable for that enjoyment, and He provides us also the objects of the enjoyment that we desire. However, also to remind us of our highest possible potential, that of the spiritual, unconditioned existence, we have along with these material enjoyments various kinds of suffering. These material enjoyments, although they are temporarily real, come to an end, and then there is feeling of bereavement and regret.So we are now enjoying the maya of Krsna’s external potency in our ordinary life. Unless we realize the personality of Krsna Himself…</p>
<p>We must have personal realization, personal contact with Lord Krsna. So long as we are enjoying these objects of our senses and thinking that these objects belong to us, and so long as we don’t know to whom all these objects belong, to whom belongs the land, the money, the foods that we eat, the clothes that we wear, our families—so long as we do not know to whom all these belong, then we are enjoying in a state of ignorance. Factually we are being thieves. We cannot be happy in such a condition. Krsna is very kind. He provides us with all these objects of enjoyment, as we like them. But we can achieve a far happier state, not only for ourselves but for the whole human kind, if we realize that Krsna, who is the supreme source of all the attractive objects that we are enjoying, is a person who is ready to receive as His loving servants the moment we want to surrender all our false ideas of ownership and come back to the spiritual platform.</p>
<p>So Lord Krsna for this reason has appeared. He wants to call the conditioned souls back to Godhead. He wants us to realize that He is the source of the whole universe, He is the owner of the universe, He is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme knower of everything, and that we are always welcome to associate with Him by the grace of His devotees, by the grace of a spiritual master. And so He has appeared, and we are now celebrating the Janmastami day, the day when Lord Krsna came to this conditioned plane out of His own transcendental power, with His full spiritual potency, in order to reveal the supreme nature of sac-cid-ananda vigrahah [Bs. 5.1], eternal knowledge, consciousness, and bliss, to all the conditioned souls so that they might be attracted to Him, and so that they might come out of the miseries of material existence and of ignorance. At this particular time in the world it is very much necessary that all people hear about Krsna and that they should become attracted to chanting the name of Krsna, to hearing about Krsna’s wonderful pastimes.</p>
<p>So that by this exquisite attraction for Krsna they might forget their lower desires, which are now leading everybody to a hellish condition of life in which it seems inevitable there are going to be wars and pestilences and starvation, diseases, all kinds of social injustice. All these things are unavoidable so long as the world at large does not understand who owns everything, who owns the land, who owns the money, who owns the food. So long as they don’t understand that Krsna is the owner and enjoyer of everything, so long as they don’t understand that it is the highest enjoyment for the living soul to serve Krsna, it is the perfect harmony in this condition to serve Krsna, so long there will be fighting due to ignorance and deluded cross purposes.This International Society for Krsna Consciousness movement is meant for spreading the Krsna consciousness to the whole world so that people might realize their spiritual existence, and so that the whole atmosphere of the world can become spiritualized by chanting the names of Krsna. So we welcome everybody who comes to this temple to inquire about how to make your life perfect by tuning in to the desires of the Supreme Lord Krsna. You’ll find that this is such a pleasant proposition, that all insignificant lower desires will be forgotten. There will not be any need for unnecessary fighting among the people of the world if they can only understand the spiritual plane of Krsna consciousness. The way to realize Krsna consciousness is very simple. Simply chant:</p>
<p>Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare<br /> Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare</p>
<p>Chant this maha-mantra under the guidance of the spiritual master and the results will be very quick. Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Gaurasundara?</p>
<p>Gaurasundara:</p>
<p>om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya<br /> caksur-unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah</p>
<p>[I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.]</p>
<p>So this mantra is another form of obeisance to the spiritual master, and the meaning is that I, who was standing in darkness with my eyes sealed, now offer my obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has forced me to open my eyes. He has forced me to open my eyes with this torchlight of knowledge which he is bearing. So therefore my spiritual master is my master. He can give me this actual knowledge of my position, my position as an existing entity. And that perfection of understanding my position is understanding Krsna, or the supremely perfect entity. Krsna is perfect existence, the perfect being, and as such, His existence is the greatest certainty of all. In one syllogism or one comparison that I can give, I could say that how can a shadow of my hand exist unless my hand exists? The point is how can these individual entities exist except as the shadow of the perfect entity, God? Of course, we can understand from the Bhagavad-gita or Vedic literatures that living entities are atomic particles of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such they reflect the potencies of that Supreme Person.So because Krsna has personality and because Krsna has individuality, we have individuality. Krsna’s existence, because He is perfect, is the most certain. Imperfect existence has no meaning. Our existence has no meaning except as reference, in reference to Krsna’s existence. We haven’t even got the power to conserve our own existence. Or in other words, we can’t understand how we’re existing. We can understand in some deluded manner that we’re feeding our bodies and so on. We can have some sort of knowledge of ritual. But we don’t actually know what we are and what the ritual is, why we’re performing it.</p>
<p>So getting beneath the actual ritual of daily life by this process of revealed or transcendental ritual taught by the spiritual master, then we can realize the real…</p>
<p>Prabhupada: (in background:) Pradyumna. After he speaks they may…</p>
<p>Gaurasundara: …importance or the real striking features of our own existence. Again I want to come back to this point. Krsna’s existence is the most certain. Sometimes people have the idea that they can debate whether Krsna exists or not. They can do that as long as they want to close their own eyes or keep their own brains, their own minds clouded by so many extraneous factors. Actually, Krsna’s existence is the most certain. We can go through many so-called proofs or logical proofs. Simply because that fact is already established, I might give one or two. We can understand in our mundane logic that if something exists, that there’s some reason for its existence, and similarly, if something does not exist, that there’s some reason for that. Just as we can say something exists…</p>
<p>For example, a harmonium exists because somebody has made that harmonium. A circle exists on the wall because somebody has drawn that circle on the wall. But on the other hand, a square circle does not exist because that existence would involve a contradiction or that would be absurd.So for anything which exists there must be a reason, and for anything which does not exist, then there is a reason why it does not exist. Now Krsna’s existence therefore is most certain because any reason which could deny Krsna’s existence is impossible to be found. Krsna means He is the all-inclusive entity. Therefore any reason which could prevent Krsna’s existence would have to be either external to His own divine nature or in His own nature. Nothing can be outside of Krsna’s all-inclusiveness. Therefore no external agent can prevent Krsna’s existence. And it is again self-contradictory to attribute any imperfection to the perfect being. Therefore the conclusion is that Krsna necessarily exists because no one can prevent His existence.By definition, God is the perfect entity. So just as we’ve seen that existence of Krsna cannot be checked…</p>
<p>And actually nobody can prove that Krsna does not exist, neither can they prevent Him from existing. This is sort of an indirect way to prod you to think about the position that you’re in now. People become very proud because they have some material opulence or material knowledge, and they tend to think that they are self-sufficient. But actually, we’re dependent on so many things. For example, we are just taking it for granted that our bodies will remain unmutilated by various forces in nature, when actually at any moment the bodies could be totally destroyed. And, even granted that our bodies will be with us for some time in operable condition, this field of our activities has many laws which we’re dependent upon. Just as the other day we were discussing the law of gravity. This idea of laws in nature necessarily implies the existence of the lawmaker. And this can be demonstrated very easily in many, many ways. We’ll take the law of gravity again. If some object in nature which has no consciousness behaves in a regulated manner, then it’s obvious that it’s under the control of a law. We call it a law. For example, if an apple drops from a tree, the apple is obeying the law of gravity. The apple does not know the law of gravity; therefore that law is being enforced by some superior entity. In our dealings in society, people know laws. Still, they don’t obey them. They have to be forced to obey the laws, and still, people disobey the law. But the laws of nature are so perfectly enforced that nobody can disobey. Just a little thought will make this a little bit more clear to anyone. So there are twofold implications, namely the law proceeds from lawmaker, law enforcement proceeds from law enforcer. Man has tried so hard to establish law and order. Law and order is already there in this existence which he’s now facing.</p>
<p>I think that we don’t need to consider any more on these points just now. The main point or the main information which we’re considering now is that by understanding Krsna’s existence, understanding Krsna’s appearance before the perception of ourselves, that we can terminate this material existence which we now face. This life we’re now conscious of through these bodies which were born… Now these bodies were very small. They develop into impressive size. The bodies will dwindle and the bodies will be gone ultimately, lost. But all these living entities here in the room will go on existing. This process of birth and death we should understand. And we should especially understand how Krsna appears before us who are trapped by birth and death. If we understand that Krsna’s appearance is not like ours, because He’s perfect and because He’s appearing for our benefit, then we may be able to reach out and grab hold of the lifeline that can… [break] …of our own suicidal bogs.</p>
<p>So anyway, everybody has been coming here knows that we’re recommending, simply associate with us, chant with us and listen to the teachings of our spiritual master. Put questions to us. Any question. And at this point I’d also like to invite questions. Is there any question?</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Let him speak. Mukunda.</p>
<p>Gaurasundara: Mukunda prabhu will speak now.</p>
<p>Mukunda: Let me offer my respectful obeisances to our spiritual master, Swami Bhaktivedanta, who is dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter unto His lotus feet. The Krsna consciousness movement is intended to make a solution to our everyday problems. It’s not a kind of place where people just come because there’s some religious rites being performed. But everyone in this age is thinking that “I am free,” and actually I am not free. I am very bound up. We’re strictly bound up by the stringent laws of nature. In every status of life I have to serve somebody or something or my own body. In every status of life I have to serve my wife or I have to serve my children, I have to serve my pet, I have to serve my work, my boss, my associates. If I’m very wealthy, very elevated, or very beautiful physically, I am born in an aristocratic family, I always have to serve somebody. If nothing else, one has to serve one’s own stomach. I have to eat. I have to get food. I have to serve my stomach. So I am not free at all. I have to do these things. There’s no way I can stop. If I don’t eat, I will die.</p>
<p>So our natural position as a living entity is that we have to serve something. Every living entity has to serve. That’s our natural position. If something is wrong with my hand and I want to be cured, I don’t grab onto some foodstuffs or some medicine, some herbs, and squeeze it with the hand and think that this hand is going to be cured. I take the medicine or the food through my mouth, and then it circulates through the digestive system and through the veins and finally comes to the hand and can work its cure. So the hand, unless it’s serving its source, then it’s useless. The servant must serve its master or the part must serve the whole. And our relationship with God is the same. Just like the hand is made out of bile, blood and air, flesh and bone, as all the body is. So similarly we’re made out of spirit. Qualitatively the same as Krsna, but quantitatively many millions of times less. Qualitatively the same, quantitatively different. Fragmental portion. So if we fragmental portions, separated parts and parcels, can serve the source or the whole, then we can be cured of this material disease which is rampant nowadays. And this is possible only by mercy. By mercy alone we can transcend this material existence and know that I am part and parcel of the Supreme, Krsna, or God, and I can erase all of my karma and situate myself in pure consciousness. But this consciousness cannot be purified unless there is mercy. And in this age, Kali-yuga, as we know, mercy is diminished to being almost nonexistent. And Kali-yuga is just beginning.</p>
<p>So if we can get some information about what I am, what is my position, and what is God and how am I related to God, what is this world, then we’re very fortunate. So by the mercy of the spiritual master we can free ourselves from these stringent laws of nature, and these unbreakable bonds. And only in this way. We can’t free ourselves superficially or by our own mental invention. We can’t sit, just go out and sit and think and free ourselves from this material existence. We must be subject to our own body, bodily discomforts and our own mind, and we must be subject to the actions upon us of other living entities, and we must be subject to the laws of nature, to providence, to pestilence, famine, catastrophe. But if we can accept and hear submissively this teaching of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita from the bona fide spiritual master, then we are free immediately. We are in Vaikuntha.</p>
<p>So we’re very shocked and astonished that so many people are coming to the West, to the United States, and posing as holy men and simply making business, charging money, and giving somebody some magical formula whereby they can become God in half of a year. And so many people who are sincere seekers are being deluded, and this is very unfortunate. There is said to be two classes of men. One class of men is satisfied with his existence. He goes from one pleasure to another. From the cinema to the restaurant to sports, from one to the other. “I can’t wait to finish one to go to the next,” and still he’s saying, “I’m happy. I’m satisfied.” And there’s another class of men that is not satisfied. These men are searching, that there is always something on his mind. He is thinking, “There must be something behind all of this. That I can look at all of this as a unified whole.” So this first class of men will not want to take to spiritual knowledge, but the person who is inquisitive and is not satisfied with this material life, he can hear this knowledge submissively and derive great benefit from it. The symptom of the human being is that he is not satisfied. He’s disgusted, he’s searching. The symptom of animal life is that he is satisfied taking everything, “That’s very nice. Everything is fine.” Like a hog, hog eating stool. He’s thinking, “Oh, it’s very nice.” But the human being will not accept such awful things. The human being has the chance to get out of this shackle of continued, repeated births and deaths.</p>
<p>So simply by hearing the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, and the names of Krsna diligently, submissively, and from a bona fide source, we can immediately get some relief from this material existence. Just like when we were chanting here you could feel some ecstasy. Well, this ecstasy goes unlimitedly and infinitely, eternally, if one takes to it. It’s not as if you reach some point of enlightenment and then you’re enlightened. No. But it’s always eternal, ever increasing. Just like the relationship between ourselves and our spiritual master is eternal and ever increasing, our relationship with God is the same. So please try to realize that this is a very serious movement, and we’re not asking you to sign up or pay us anything, but simply to sincerely try it and you’ll immediately feel some benefit. Thank you.</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Yamuna? Yamuna.</p>
<p>Yamuna:</p>
<p>nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhutale<br /> srimate bhaktivedanta svamin iti namine</p>
<p>I am offering my repeated, humble obeisances unto my spiritual preceptor, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Please try to understand that everything that we are learning here in Krsna consciousness is received through the ears. And unless one does not listen submissively, one cannot hear transcendental message. This is the opening of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. It states that at the reading of the Srimad-Bhagavata, the forest of Naimisaranya, many sages were present, and it was so quiet that the dropping of a pin could be heard on the sand. So the science of Krsna consciousness must be received submissively. Our spiritual preceptor has brought Krsna consciousness to the Western world, in the hopes that the people here will sincerely take to this process of practicing bhakti-yoga, or the yoga of devotional service and love unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna. This is not a sect. This is for people of the world who understand one premise, that “I am not this body; I am pure spirit soul,” that this body is simply a dress. Just like you wear clothes. But what is it that keeps you alive that is eternal? This is spirit soul. This is so simple that even a child at the age of five years can understand this. If it’s from a bona fide source, he can understand this.We are requesting to you that you please come to the practices of Bhagavata. Come to kirtana. By chanting:</p>
<p>Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare<br /> Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare</p>
<p>…you at once are elevated into the spiritual platform, and our contaminated material senses may become purified simply because of this association of the names of God. These names are absolute. They are not material. If you chant “water, water, water, water,” your thirst will not be quenched. But if you cry “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna,” you may find your position in this world, where you came from, why are you here, what are you doing, where are you going. These questions man must answer, or he’s not making use of his ability of man. He’s simply living an animal life, eating, sleeping, mating, defending. It does not matter if you are man, you are woman, you are a child, you are Indian, you are American. You simply must ask these questions. And when one comes upon a bona fide source one must take advantage of that source and not pass it up. Krsna consciousness, or the practice of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Srimad Bhagavad-gita, are open to all, and we invite you to please come. Chant Hare Krsna. Feel the sublime ecstasy. Thank you very much. Are there any questions?</p>
<p>Prabhupada: Pradyumna? So Hans, you can speak.</p>
<p>Hamsaduta:</p>
<p>There are so many religions. There’s Hindu, there’s Christian, there’s Jewish, Muhammadan, so many things. And people are professing, “Oh, I’m Christian. I’m Hindu. I’m Jewish.” So many things. But this religion is not so cheap. This religion is not simply something I can take up, take it, “Oh, now I think I should be Christian. That’s very nice. Or maybe I’ll become Hindu.” No. You see these boys and girls, they’re not Hindus, they’re not Christians, they’re not Jews. What are they? You see the spiritual master. He’s not Hindu. You may be thinking, “Oh, he’s from India. And these American or these Canadian boys and girls, they’ve taken some fad. They like these Indian things.” No, it’s not like that at all. This is not religion. According to Sanskrit definition, religion means that quality of the living entity which after everything is removed… Oh, you can lose all your money, you can lose your family, you can lose your nationality, but when everything is removed, that religion remains. So what is that? What is that quality that’s common to every living entity? What is that? Just like fire.What is… [break] (end)<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19588">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19588</a></p></div>Sweetest Description of Janmastami-lila by Srila Kavi Karnapurahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sweetest-description-of-janmastami-lila2023-09-07T09:30:00.000Z2023-09-07T09:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mRLRZt5UwFk/VerbNoanwpI/AAAAAAAATWQ/423YaskrBVE/s0/2015-09-05_14-08-17.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="2015-09-05_14-08-17.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" /></p>
<p>From Ananda Vrindavan Champu by Srila Kavi Karnapura Translated by Bhanu Swami & Subhaga Swami.</p>
<p>Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, “Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth.”</p>
<p>The time for an appearance of the Lord coincided with two internal desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. First the Lord desired to descend on earth to increase the fortune of Yasoda and Nanda. Also at that time Krishna wanted to relish the sweet mellow of smgara rasa (paramour love) while enacting His worldly pastimes. For these two reasons the Lord appeared within the material creation on Bhuloka, (earth planet), along with His parents, friends, and other eternal associates.</p>
<p>Another distinction of Lord Krishna’s earthly pastimes is that when the eternally liberated gopis such as Srimati Radharani, Candravali, and others appeared, the Srutis personified also appeared in the homes of other gopis,because they had previously cultivated the desire to serve Sri Krishna as Vraja gopis. The Dandakaranya sages, upon seeing the svakiya bhava (the sweet conjugal relationship) of Lord Ramacandra and Sitadevi, desired to have the same relationship with their Lord Madana Gopala. Upon attaining perfection in their sadhana they achieved the fortunate position of appearing as gopis in Vrindavan. Yogamaya, Lord Krishna’s pastime potency who possesses unlimited abilities, appeared invisibly in Gokula to arrange this, and perform other difficult tasks on behalf of the Lord.</p>
<p>Sri Nanda, Yasoda, and others appeared in Brhadvana (Mahavana) before the Lord. The gopas, gopis, and other eternally liberated associates appeared after the Lord. Then those who had attained perfection by sadhana, namely the sruti-caris and muni-caris, took birth in Vrindavan.</p>
<p>Learning of Krishna’s imminent appearance, the earth personified, feeling like a wife happily greeting her husband after a long separation, immersed in unlimited joy. At the time of Krishna’s birth the general mass of people tasted the inner bliss that devotees forever relish. Auspicious signs abounded everywhere. As Visnu’s conchshell Pancajanya opens in a clockwise fashion, similarly, auspicious sacrificial fires glowed in all directions. Pure gentle breezes brought a refreshing coolness like devotees who satisfy and sanctify everyone with their calm, sweet, and affectionate behavior.</p>
<p>The whole atmosphere became as completely purified as the heart of a devotee. The devotees once again found peace and prosperity in worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Hari. Fruits filled the jubilant trees. But the envious demons exhibited various inauspicious signs of degradation such as rapidly aging bodies and symptoms of imminent death. The desire vines of the celestial denizens seemed to be hanging in the air as if eager to produce fruits. At that time all the directions became felt as pure and joyful as the mind of a devotee who has received the mercy of Lord Hari. Just as gems, mantras, or medicines can a remove a poisonous disease from the body of a man, the advent of the Lord relieved the world from the contamination of material existence and the sinful effect of the demons. Happiness gradually replaced the distress in everyone’s hearts.</p>
<p>The bodies of all creatures manifested extraordinary beauty and youthful vitality. Men felt extremely joyful and displayed virtuous qualities. Throughout the world people behaved cordially and interacted amicably. Happiness twinkled in everyone’s eye. At the end of Dvapara-yuga, which completely destroys faults and doubts, an auspicious, favorable, obstacle-free time appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon in Bhadra month. Just at that sweet moment the Rohini Naksatra, along with the good qualities of the moon and an auspicious conjunction of stars called Ayusman, appeared in the sky to give shelter to gentle persons.</p>
<p>As the living entity comes out from the womb of his mother and the moon appears on the lap of the eastern direction, Yogesvara Sri Krishna, the personification of complete bliss, appeared amidst great festivities. As the moon appears in the lap of the eastern direction, which is like a beautiful bride, Krishna manifested the wonderful pastime of His appearance out of His love and compassion for the conditioned souls.</p>
<p>Due to austerities performed in previous lives, Vasudeva and Devaki received the opportunity to momentarily relish parental affection for Lord Sri Krishna when He appeared before them in His form as Vasudeva. Thereafter in fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva brought Vasudeva Krishna to Gokula. There the Supreme Lord appeared as Govinda before Nanda and Yasoda, His eternal parents who have been smothering Him with the sweetest form of parental love since time immemorial. The four symbols of Visnu (sankha, cakra, gada, padmd) adorned His hands and feet. The flute, flower garland, and kaustubha mani, although present within Him, had not yet manifested.</p>
<p>In fear of cruel Kamsa, Vasudeva decided to transfer all his wives except Devaki to Gokula. He sent Rohini to the house of Vrajaraja Nanda. By the sweet will of the Lord, Yogamaya arranged for the seventh child of Devaki (Balarama) to enter the womb of Rohini. As a result, Balarama appeared in the home of Vrajaraja Nanda before the birth of Krishna.</p>
<p>Lord Hari, who is bliss personified, appeared in the home of Nanda Maharaja, the king of Vrindavan for three reasons: to engage the self satisfied sages in devotional service, to please the devotees by performing sweet transcendental pastimes, and to relieve the earth’s burden caused by the demons. At the time of His majestic birth Krishna employed His inconceivable powers to appear in a body of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Everyone in the maternity room swelled with joy upon seeing the Lord’s exquisite transcendental form that looked like a creeper of beauty.</p>
<p>Mother Yasoda resembled a lake of spiritual ecstasy in which a brilliant blue lotus of personified bliss had appeared. Neither the wind nor the bees relished the fragrance of that blue lotus. That unborn lotus was never touched by the waves of the modes of nature. Even Lord Brahma could not see it, what to speak of ordinary men.</p>
<p>After Yasoda and her family members fell asleep in the maternity room, Hari cried beautifully like a newborn baby. His crying sounded like the maha-vakya omkara announcing the auspicious arrival of His pastimes. Omkara is a transcendental vibration that had previously emanated from the mouth of Lord Brahma. When the ladies of Vrindavan heard the sweet sound of Krishna’s crying, they woke up and ran to see the Lord. With the mellow of their matchless overflowing affection they anointed His body.</p>
<p>The natural fragrance of Krishna’s body smelled just like musk. After the ladies bathed Krishna hi sweet ambrosia, He looked cleansed and beautiful. Then they smeared His body with fragrant sandalwood pulp. The presiding deity of the house sent a campaka flower resembling the flame of a lamp into the maternity room to worship that ornament of the three worlds. With the strength of His little arms, delicate as the tender leaves of a tree, Krishna made all the lamps in the maternity room look like a garland of lotus flower buds.</p>
<p>The ladies of Vrindavan saw baby Krishna like a blossoming flower made of the best of blue sapphires, or like a newly unfurled leaf of a tamala tree. Krishna looked like a fresh rain cloud decorated with the musk tilaka of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. The ointment of the greatest auspiciousness lined His eyes. His presence filled the maternity room with good fortune. Although a mere baby, Krishna had a head full of curly hair. To hide the unique signs on His hands (goad, fish, conch etc.) the Lord folded His delicate petal-like fingers into His lotus palm. At that time Krishna laid on His back with His eyes closed.</p>
<p>Mother Yasoda awoke amidst the joyous chattering of the elderly gopis. Leaning over the bed she admired her gorgeous son. But upon noticing her own reflection on Krishna’s body, she imagined it another woman. Thinking that a witch had assumed her form to kidnap Krishna, Yasoda became bewildered and yelled, “Get out of here! You go away!” Spontaneously she cried out to Nrsimhadeva to protect her precious son. Beholding Krishna’s tender face, Yasoda showered tears of affection that looked like an offering of a pearl necklace.</p>
<p>Yasoda saw Krishna’s body as a mound of dark blue musk, softer than the butter churned from the milk ocean. Overflowing with nectar, His charming body appeared like the foam of milk, but being dark blue in color it seemed the foam was full of musk juice. Admiring the supremely delicate form of her son, Yasoda worried about His safety and feared the touch of her body might hurt his tender body.</p>
<p>As she leaned over the bed Yasoda bathed Krishna with the milk dripping from her breasts. The elderly gopis instructed Yasoda how to caress the baby in her lap, and affectionately push the nipple of her breast into Krishna’s mouth to feed Him. Due to Yasoda’s intense love, personified bliss flowed from her breasts as steady streams of milk. When milk sometimes spilled out of Krishna’s bimba fruit red lips onto His cheeks, Mother Yasoda would wipe His face with the edge of her cloth. After feeding her son, Yasoda gazed affectionately at Him in wonder.</p>
<p>She saw her child’s body as made of dazzling blue sapphires. His mouth resembled a red bimba fruit and His hands and feet looked like exquisite rubies. Krishna’s nails shone like precious gems. In this way, Yasoda thought her child was completely made of jewels. Then she perceived that His naturally reddish lips looked like bandhuka flowers, His hands and feet resembled Java flowers, His nails looked like maJlika flowers. Yasoda then thought, “Krishna’s whole body seems to be made of blue lotus flowers. He does not appear to be mine.” After thus deliberating within herself Yasoda became stunned in amazement.</p>
<p>The beautiful, soft curly hairs on the right side of Krishna’s chest resembled the tender stems of a lotus. Seeing the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, Yasoda thought it was breast milk that had previously spilled out of His mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove these ‘milk stains’ with the edge of her cloth. Struck with wonder, Yasoda thought this must be the sign of a great personality. Observing the sign of Laksmi (a small golden line) on the left side of Krishna’s chest, Yasoda thought a small yellow bird had made a nest amidst the leaves of a tamala tree. Could this be a streak of lightning resting on a rain cloud, or could it be the golden streaks marking a black gold-testing stone? Krishna’s delicate, leaf-like hands and feet, glowing pink like the rising sun, looked like clusters of lotus flowers floating in the Yamuna.</p>
<p>Sometimes Yasoda saw the curly, dark blue locks of baby Krishna as a swarm of bumblebees surrounding His face. Intoxicated from drinking too much honey nectar, the bees just hovered in the sky. His thick, beautiful blue hair appeared like the dark night. The two lotus eyes of Krishna looked like a pair of blue lotus buds. His cheeks resembled two huge bubbles floating in a lake of liquefied blue sapphires. Krishna’s attractive ears looked like a pair of fresh unfurled leaves growing on a blue creeper.</p>
<p>The tip of Krishna’s dark nose appeared like the sprout of a tree, and His nostrils looked like bubbles in the Yamuna River, the daughter of the sun god. His lips resembled a pair of red Java flower buds. Krishna’s chin rivaled a pair of ripe, redjambu fruits. Seeing the extraordinary beauty of her son fulfilled the purpose of her eyes and submerged Yasoda in an ocean of bliss. The elderly Vrajavasi ladies addressed Vrajaraja Nanda, “O most fortunate one, you fathered a son!” Previously Nanda Maharaja had felt deeply aggrieved over his long-standing inability to obtain a son. His heart was like a small lake that had completely dried up during a long hot summer. But when Nanda Maharaja heard of his son’s birth he felt as if the dry lake of his heart had been blessed with a sudden downpour of nectar. The gentle sound of Krishna’s voice removed all his grief and lamentation. Now he bathed in the rains of bliss, swam in the ocean of nectar, and felt embraced by the joyful stream of the celestial Ganges.</p>
<p>Eager to see his son, Nanda’s body thrilled with astonishment and waves of ecstasy as he stood outside the maternity room. Because he had accumulated heaps of pious activities, it appeared that the King of Vrindavan was now shaking hands with the personification of pious deeds. Anxiously standing in the background, Yogamaya induced Nanda Maharaja to enter the maternity room. He rushed in to see his son, the personified seed of condensed bliss. It seemed that all the auspiciousness of the three worlds now resided within Krishna, the original cause of everything. Nanda saw his son as a perfectly charming person. The kajala around Krishna’s eyes looked like lines on a black creeper of beauty. As the very embodiment of Nanda’s good fortune, Sri Krishna bloomed like a beautiful flower in a garden of desire trees.</p>
<p>The aparajita flower is compared to the body of the Queen of Vrindavan. Her son is like the representative of the Upanisads that are compared to the fruit of the desire creepers. By seeing his glorious son Nanda felt that he had attained happiness, perfection, and the fulfillment of all his desires. Meeting that embodiment of bliss overwhelmed Nanda with immeasurable satisfaction. He stood motionless, stunned; his hair stood erect and tears flowed from his eyes. He appeared like a person carved in stone or a figure drawn in a painting. For some time Nanda Maharaja remained in this semi-conscious state like a sleeping man about to awaken.</p>
<p>Upananda, Sunanda, and other relatives felt extremely joyful while observing the best of brahmanas perform the rites of purification for Krishna’s birth. To insure his son’s welfare Nanda Maharaja donated newborn calves to each and every brahmana, thus turning their homes into abodes of surabhi cows. These cows had gold and silver plated horns and hooves, and jeweled necklaces adorning their necks. In addition, Vrajapati Nanda filled the courtyards of their homes with hills of gold, jewels, and sesame seeds. While Nanda distributed charity, the kamadhenus, touch- stones, and desire-trees lost their power to produce valuable items. Even the jewel-producing oceans lost their stock of jewels, and the goddess of fortune, the abode of lotuses, had but one lotus in her hand. The auspicious news of Krishna’s wonderful appearance spread in all directions by word of mouth. Delight danced in the hearts of Nanda, his brothers Upananda and Sunanda, and all the other gopas. The gopas brought many varieties of delicious dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter, wet cheese, and hard cheese in jewel-studded pots. The pots were tied to the ends of bamboo poles with jute straps and carried on their shoulders. Bedecked with many precious jeweled ornaments, the gopas appeared very handsome. They dressed in beautiful yellow cloth defeating the brilliance of lightning, and held staffs topped with gold and jewels in their lotus hands. As a great ocean spreads its waves in all directions, the birth of Krishna filled the Vrajavasis with unbounded bliss. The gopas and gopis enjoyed a grand festival by happily eating and by splashing each other’s bodies with a mixture of yogurt, butter, milk, and condensed milk. The society girls visiting Nanda Maharaja’s house experienced more happiness than they had ever felt since their birth. Their minds saturated with joy and satisfaction. Hearing the delightful description of Krishna’s birth carried away the chariots of their minds and made them abandon all other duties. They became possessed with the desire to see Krishna.</p>
<p>Sparkling rubies hung from the necklaces adorning the society girls. Their diamond-studded armlets shown more beautifully than drops of crystal clear water. Their jewel inlaid golden bangles boasted unparalleled elegance. For this unique festival they took out some highly ornamental waist-belts from their jewel boxes and tied them around their hips. The sweet jingling of the waist-bells resting on their broad hips enhanced the beauty of these society girls. They attracted the minds of everyone with their bulky golden anklets, loosened hair braids, and graceful gait, which resembled the smooth gliding of swans. Their minds entered a state of enchantment as they gazed upon the captivating beauty of Krishna’s transcendental body. To worship Krishna they brought golden trays full of auspicious articles such as fruits, flowers, yogurt, durva grass, uncooked rice, and jewel bedecked lamps. They covered the offering plates with splendid yellow silk cloth and held them in their soft lotus hands. Their jeweled ankle-bells vibrated pleasantly as they walked.</p>
<p>Beholding the astounding beauty of the delicate baby, the society girls considered the purpose of their eyes fulfilled. They perceived Krishna’s perfect birth to be like the appearance of the leaves of an important herbal medicine. Krishna resembled a blue lotus floating hi the lake of His parent’s affection. After bestowing their blessings for Krishna’s prosperity, they worshiped Krishna with fresh flowers and a constant shower of loving glances. With great enthusiasm the society girls glorified Vrajesvari Yasoda since she had attained the essence of all good fortune by having Krishna as her son. Leaving the maternity room, the society girls entered the assembly hall of Nanda Maharaja’s palace. Their faces looked exceedingly beautiful as they sung melodious songs, which resembled the soft sweet humming of bees moving amidst a cluster of lotus flowers. All the guests bathed in a nectar shower produced by these soothing sounds. Overwhelmed with love, they filled then- lotus palms with fragrant oil, turmeric paste, and fresh butter and started smearing each other’s faces and bodies. They looked very attractive with then* smiling faces and glittering white teeth.</p>
<p>Then: red lips seemed more beautiful than red bandhuka flowers. This incredible display of elegance smashed the pride of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. Carried away with joy over Krishna’s birth, they fearlessly threw cheese balls, butter, and yogurt at each other. One could mistake the white balls of cheese for hailstones, solidified moonlight, or white mud from the floor of the milk ocean. Then they showered each other with buttermilk, aromatic oils, and water mixed with turmeric.</p>
<p>Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds in specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ensemble inspired the society girls to sing and dance in mirth and merriment. Though not good singers, by the will of the Lord they sang with great virtuoso. Then” wonderful songs filled Nanda Maharaja’s heart with joy. The combined vibrations of brahmanas’ chanting Vedic hymns, the recitation of Purank lore, and the panegyrists’ prayers transformed the ethers into sabda brahman,</p>
<p>The joy of Krishna’s birth celebration taxed the drains of Nanda’s capital city as they swelled to the brim with milk, yogurt, and other auspicious liquids. Soon rivers of this nectar flooded the streets of the town and permeated the entire atmosphere with a sweet fragrance. Disguising themselves as birds, the demigods descended to Vrajapura to happily drink the flood of nectar. The Vrajavasis decorated their cows with gold and jeweled ornaments. Then in great excitement they smeared them with oil, fresh butter, and turmeric paste. Beholding Krishna in their hearts, these fortunate cows looked like the essence of the earth’s auspicious-ness. The whole world resounded with their jubilant bellowing. Absorbed in the ecstasy of Krishna’s birth, they forgot about eating and drinking.</p>
<p>The festival drowned the gopis in an ocean of joy. After offering oil, vermilion, garlands, and utensils in charity to all the assembled gopis, Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, asked them to bless Krishna, Upon completion of the sacrifice, Upananda and the other relatives felt constant happiness while taking their baths. Keeping the King of Vrindavan in the front,Nanda’s relatives offered opulent cloth, jeweled ornaments, tambula, garlands, and sandalwood pulp to the guests. Then they humbly requested all in attendance to bless that wonderfully auspicious boy who had just appeared in Vrindavan.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19595">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19595</a></p></div>Remembering Janmastami 1966 By Satsvarupa dasa Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/remembering-janmastami-1966-by-satsvarupa-dasa-goswami2023-09-07T08:30:00.000Z2023-09-07T08:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515200284,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515200284,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515200284?profile=original" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>While attending the Janmastami festival at the ISKCON farm in Czechoslovakia several years ago, I was asked to give a lecture about the appearance of Lord Krishna. Afterwards I asked for questions and an elderly, red-haired lady raised her hand. Since almost all the devotees there spoke only Czech, I was surprised when she began to speak in English. She said, “Satsvarupa Gosvami, could you tell us something about Prabhupada, because you knew him very well?”</p>
<p>I started out by remembering Janmastami 1966 in the storefront. “The room we are in now reminds me of that storefront,” I said. “It was about the same size. 1966 was the first year Prabhupada observed Janmastami in America. In 1965, he left India and observed Janmastami at sea a few days later. By 1966, ISKCON had just begun. So he asked the devotees to stay all day in the storefront and fast.</p>
<p>“His request seemed like a very difficult proposal. Some of us expressed doubt that we could do it, so Swamiji said, ‘If you get hungry or weak in the afternoon, you can take some fruit from our refrigerator.’</p>
<p>“When he said that, it gave us some hope, because it seemed almost impossible that a living being could go all day without eating. He wanted us to try for it, and yet it was not such a hard and fast rule that we had to do it or die.</p>
<p>“Fasting was one problem, and another problem was what to do all day? How to control the mind? When Prabhupada stayed with us in the storefront, reading his manuscript from the Bhagavad-gita, then it was very enjoyable. But whenever he left us alone, our consciousness and conversation dropped way down. We began to complain, ‘I don’t think I can do this. How does he expect us to stay like this all day? This is like being in prison; you can’t even leave the temple.”</p>
<p>Even while Prabhupada was present, one of the disciples who was later to be initiated as Janaki dasi said, “Swamiji, I am sorry but I have to leave. I have to go home and feed my cats.” Swamiji said, ‘No, do not do it. Stay here and you can take care of them later.’ Janaki thought about it but then said, ‘I’m sorry, I have to go and take care of them.’”</p>
<p>“The rest of us reluctantly surrendered and stayed there for a whole day, which very slowly turned into afternoon, and night. We sat against the wall drowsily and weakly, trying to chant on our new beads.”</p>
<p>I went on to tell the devotees about the jar of ISKCON bullets that Prabhupada kept in a corner of his room upstairs. Many of his devotees had been cigarette smokers and almost everyone committed illicit sex. This jar of ISKCON bullets was like the last resort against temptation. If you became agitated, before you broke any of the principles, you knew you could go up at any time and take a gulabjamumn, an ISKCON bullet.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30761">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30761</a></p></div>‘What do we love about Krishna?’https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/what-do-we-love-about-krishna-22023-09-07T04:30:00.000Z2023-09-07T04:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10777222658,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10777222658?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p>In the chapter of the Krishna book titled “Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krishna in the Womb” Srila Prabhupada cautions against the tendency to be a bit impersonal towards God. We understand that Krishna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has both personal and impersonal aspects – He is simultaneously one with everything and different from everything. It’s easy to see and appreciate the power and energy of Krishna in the world in front of us, but sometimes not so easy to see or understand Krishna as a person – who is He? What does He do?<br /> The call of the soul, the dharma of life, is to reawaken our relationship with the person Krishna. Prabhupada says we have to have some ‘feeling for the Personality of Godhead’ and to become ‘affectionately attached’ to the Lord. How do we do that? How do we feel those feelings?<br /> A good place to start is to ask ourselves ‘What do we love about Krishna?’. Maybe it’s His flute playing, or His dancing with the Gopis under the full moon? Perhaps it’s His love for animals and especially His affection for cows? Or His love of nature – forests and flowers, rivers and trees?<br /> Is it the sweets He likes to eat? The kirtan of His holy name that warms our heart? Do we love His devotees who seem so happy to serve Him, or His philosophy of equal vision and spiritual consciousness? Or the incredible role He plays in the Bhagavad-gita as a friend and mentor to Arjuna?<br /> There are so many things to love about Krishna. Read Krishna Book and be drawn to love and honor Him for who He is, not who we want Him to be. After all, He gives us our individuality and want’s us to be ‘real’ with Him. Let’s return the gesture, give Him His and allow it to nourish and grow our love for Him, for God as a Person, for Krishna.<br /> Happy Janmastami!</p>
<div><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30788">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30788</a></div></div>A Child Sent by Krishnahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/a-child-sent-by-krishna-12023-09-07T02:30:00.000Z2023-09-07T02:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img style="height:509px;width:350px;" src="https://i.imgur.com/UsnQvvH.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">It was Janmastami, the annual celebration of the advent of Lord Krsna some five thousand years before. Residents of Calcutta, mostly Vaisnavas (devotees of Lord Krsna) but also many Muslims and even some British, were observing the festive day, moving here and there through the city’s streets to visit the temples of Lord Krsna. Devout Vaisnavas, fasting until midnight, chanted Hare Krsna and heard about the birth and activities of Krsna from Srimad-Bhagavatam, one of the principal Vedic scriptures. The devotees continued fasting, chanting, and worshiping throughout the night.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The next day (September 1, 1896), in a little house in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, a male child was born. Since he was born on Nandotsava, the day Krsna’s father, Nanda Maharaja, had observed a festival in honor of Krsna’s birth, the boy’s uncle called him Nandulal. But his father, Gour Mohan De, and his mother, Rajani, named him Abhay Charan, “one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krsna’s lotus feet.” In accordance with Bengali tradition, the mother had gone to the home of her parents for the delivery, and so it was that on the bank of the Adi Ganga, a few miles from his father’s home, in a small, two-room, mud-walled house with a tiled roof, underneath a jack-fruit tree, Abhay Charan was born. A few days later, Abhay returned with his parents to their home at 151 Harrison Road.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">An astrologer did a horoscope for the child, and the family was made jubilant by the auspicious reading. The astrologer made a specific prediction: When this child reached the age of seventy, he would cross the ocean, become a great exponent of religion, and open 108 temples.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Abhay Charan De was born into an India dominated by Victorian imperialism. Calcutta was the capital of India, the seat of the viceroy, the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, and the “second city” of the British Empire. Europeans and Indians lived separately, although in business and education they intermingled. The British lived mostly in central Calcutta, amidst their own theaters, racetracks, cricket fields, and fine European buildings. The Indians lived more in north Calcutta. Here the men dressed in dhotis and the women in saris and, while remaining loyal to the British Crown, followed their traditional religion and culture.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Abhay’s home at 151 Harrison Road was in the Indian section of north Calcutta. Abhay’s father, Gour Mohan De, was a cloth merchant of moderate income and belonged to the aristocratic suvarna-vanik merchant community. He was related, however,to the wealthy Mullik family, which for hundreds of years had traded in gold and salt with the British.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">An entire block of properties on either side of Harrison Road belonged to Lokanath Mullik, and Gour Mohan and his family lived in a few rooms of a three-story building within the Mullik properties. Across the street from the Des’ residence was a Radha-Govinda temple where for the past 150 years the Mulliks had maintained worship of the Deity of Radha and Krsna. Various shops on the Mullik properties provided income for the Deity and for the priests conducting the worship. Every morning before breakfast, the Mullik family members would visit the temple to see the Deity of Radha-Govinda. They would offer cooked rice, kacauris (fried vegetable patties), and vegetables on a large platter and would then distribute the prasadam (the remnants of the offering) to the Deities’ morning visitors from the neighborhood.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Among the daily visitors was Abhay Charan, accompanying his mother, father, or servant.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada: I used to ride on the same perambulator with Siddhesvar Mullik. He used to call me Moti (“pearl”), and his nickname was Subidhi. And the servant pushed us together. If one day this friend did not see me, he would become mad. He would not go in the perambulator without me. We would not separate even for a moment.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As the servant pushed the baby carriage into the wide expanse of Harrison Road, timing his crossing between the bicycles and horse-drawn hackneys, the two children in the pram gazed up at the fair sky and tall trees across the road. Sounds and sights of the hackneys, with their large wheels spinning over the road, caught the fascinated attention of the two children. The servant steered the carriage towards the arched gateway within the red sandstone wall bordering the Radha-Govinda Mandira, and as Abhay and his friend rode underneath the ornate metal arch and into the courtyard, they saw high above them two stone lions, the heralds and protectors of the temple compound, their right paws extended.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the courtyard was a circular drive, and on the oval lawn were lampposts with gaslights, and a statue of a young woman in robes. Sharply chirping sparrows flitted in the shrubs and trees or hopped across the grass, pausing to peck the ground, while choruses of pigeons cooed, sometimes abruptly flapping their wings overhead, sailing off to another perch or descending to the courtyard. Voices chattered as Bengalis moved to and fro, dressed in simple cotton saris and white dhotis. Someone paused by the carriage to amuse the golden-skinned boys, with their shining dark eyes, but mostly people were passing by quickly, going into the temple.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The heavy double doors leading into the inner courtyard were open, and the servant eased the carriage wheels down a foot-deep step and proceeded through the foyer, then down another step and into the bright sunlight of the main courtyard. The carriage moved ahead past two servants sweeping and washing the stone courtyard. It was just a few paces across the courtyard to the temple.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The temple area itself, open like a pavilion, was a raised platform with a stone roof supported by stout pillars fifteen feet tall. At the left end of the temple pavilion stood a crowd of worshipers, viewing the Deities on the altar. The servant pushed the carriage closer, lifted the two boys out, and then, holding their hands, escorted them reverentially before the Deities.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada: I can remember standing at the doorway of Radha-Govinda temple saying prayers to Radha-Govinda murti. I would watch for hours together. The Deity was so beautiful with His slanted eyes.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Radha and Govinda, freshly bathed and dressed, now stood on Their silver throne amidst vases of fragrant flowers. Govinda was about eighteen inches high, and Radharani, standing to his left, was slightly smaller. Both were golden. Radha and Govinda both stood in the same gracefully curved dancing pose, right leg bent at the knee and right foot placed in front of the left. Radharani, dressed in a lustrous silk sari, held up Her reddish right palm in benediction, and Krsna, in His silk jacket and dhoti, played on a golden flute.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">At Govinda’s lotus feet were green leaves from the sacred tulasi bush, with pulp of sandalwood. Hanging around Their Lordships’ necks and reaching down almost to Their lotus feet were several garlands of fragrant night-blooming jasmines, delicate, trumpetlike blossoms resting lightly on Radha and Govinda’s divine forms. Their necklaces of gold, pearls, and diamonds shimmered.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Beautifully dressed, dancing on Their silver throne beneath a silver canopy and surrounded by flowers, Radha and Krsna appeared most attractive to Abhay. Life outside, on Harrison Road and beyond, was forgotten. In the courtyard the birds went on chirping, and visitors came and went, but Abhay stood silently, absorbed in seeing the beautiful forms of Krsna and Radharani, the Supreme Lord and His eternal consort.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Then the kirtana began, devotees chanting and playing on drums and hand cymbals. Abhay and his friend kept watching as the priest, or pujari, offered incense, its curling smoke hanging in the air, then a flaming lamp, a conchshell, a handkerchief, flowers, a whisk, and a peacock fan. Finally the pujari blew the conchshell loudly, and the arati ceremony was over.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When Abhay was one and a half years old, he fell ill with typhoid. The family physician. Dr. Bose, prescribed chicken broth.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“No,” Gour Mohan protested, “I cannot allow it.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Yes, otherwise he will die.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“But we are not meat-eaters,” Gour Mohan pleaded. “We cannot prepare chicken in our kitchen.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Don’t mind,” Dr. Bose said. “I shall prepare it at my house and bring it in a jar, and you simply . . .”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Gour Mohan assented. “If it is necessary for my son to live.” So the doctor came with his chicken broth and offered it to Abhay, who immediately began to vomit.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“All right,” the doctor admitted. “Never mind, this is no good.” Gour Mohan then threw the chicken broth away, and Abhay gradually recovered from the typhoid without having to eat meat.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In 1900, when Abhay was four, a vehement plague hit Calcutta. Dozens of people died every day, and thousands evacuated the city. When there seemed no way to check the plague, an old babaji oraganized Hare Krsna sankirtana all over Calcutta. Regardless of religion, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Parsi all joined, and then a large party of chanters traveled from street to street, door to door, chanting the names Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The group arrived at 151 Harrison Road, and Gour Mohan eagerly received them. Although Abhay was a little child, his head reaching only up to the knees of the chanters, he also joined in the dancing. Shortly after this, the plague subsided.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">* * *</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Gour Mohan was a pure Vaisnava, and he raised his son to be Krsna conscious. Since his own parents had also been Vaisnavas, Gour Mohan had never touched meat, fish, eggs, tea, or coffee. His complexion was fair and his disposition reserved. At night he would lock up his cloth shop, set a bowl of rice in the middle of the floor to satisfy the rats so that they would not chew the cloth in their hunger, and return home. There he would read from Caitanya-caritamrta and Srimad-Bhagavatam, the main scriptures of Bengali Vaisnavas, chant on his japa beads, and worship the Deity of Lord Krsna. He was gentle and affectionate and would never punish Abhay. Even when obliged to correct him, Gour Mohan would first apologize: “You are my son, so now I must correct you. It is my duty. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s father would chastise Him, so don’t mind.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada: My father’s income was no more than 250 rupees per month, but there was no question of need. In the mango season when we were children, we would run through the house playing, and we would grab mangoes as we were running through. And all through the day we would eat mangoes. We wouldn’t have to think, “Can I have a mango?” My father always provided foodmangoes were one rupee a dozen.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Life was simple, but there was always plenty. We were middle class but receiving four or five guests daily. My father gave four daughters in marriage, and there was no difficulty for him. Maybe it was not a very luxurious life, but there was no scarcity of food or shelter or cloth. Dally he purchased two and a half kilograms of milk. He did not like to purchase retail but would purchase a year’s supply of coal by the cartload.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We were happynot that because we did not purchase a motorcar we were unhappy. My father used to say, “God has ten hands. If He wants to take away from you, with two hands how much can you protest? And when He wants to give to you with ten hands, then with your two hands how much can you take?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">My father would rise a little late, around seven or eight. Then, after taking bath, he would go purchasing. Then, from ten o’clock to one in the afternoon, he was engaged in puja [worship of the family Deity]. Then he would take his lunch and go to business. And in the business shop he would take a little rest for one hour. He would come home from business at ten o’clock at night, and then again he would do puja. Actually, his real business was puja. For livelihood he did some business, but puja was his main business. We would be sleeping, and father would be doing arati. Ding ding dingwe would hear the bell and wake up and see him bowing down before Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Gour Mohan wanted Vaisnava goals for his son; he wanted Abhay to become a servant of Radharani, to become a preacher of the Bhagavatam, and to learn the devotional art of playing mrdanga, a clay drum used in group chanting. He regularly received sadhus in his home, and he would always ask them, “Please bless my son so that Srimati Radharani may be pleased with him and grant him Her blessings.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When Abhay’s mother said she wanted him to become a British lawyer when he grew up (which meant he would have to go to London to study), one of the Mullik “uncles” thought it was a good idea. But Gour Mohan would not hear of it; if Abhay went to England he would be influenced by European dress and manners. “He will learn drinking and woman-hunting.” Gour Mohan objected. “I do not want his money.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">From the beginning of Abhay’s life, Gour Mohan had introduced his plan. He had hired a professional mrdanga player to teach Abhay the standard rhythms for accompanying kirtana. Rajani had been skeptical: “What is the purpose of teaching such a young child to play the mrdanga? It is not important.” But Gour Mohan had his dream of a son who would grow up singing bhajanas, playing mrdanga, and speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta continues next month with five-year old Abhay Charan organizing a miniature Ratha-yatra chariot festival for the pleasure of Krsna, and to the delight of his family and friends.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19612">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19612</a></p></div>Why Krsna Comes To This World? by Srila Prabhupadahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/why-krsna-comes-to-this-world-by-srila-prabhupada2023-09-05T07:30:00.000Z2023-09-05T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HepNv_0w7E8/VeqcrRa75RI/AAAAAAAATU8/fNsQdXFn5ls/s0/2015-09-05_09-41-25.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" alt="2015-09-05_09-41-25.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9503153057,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9503153057?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="337" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p><strong>By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada</strong></p>
<div>
<p style="text-align:justify;">August 1973 at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, in the countryside near London. Several thousand guests (including the Indian High Commissioner) listen to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speak about the day Lord Krsna made His appearance on earth.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Your Excellency the High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating in this ceremony -Janmastami, the advent of Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita [4.9] Krsna says,</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">janma karma ca me divyam<br /> evam vo veto tattvatah<br /> tyaktva deham punar janma<br /> naiti mam eti so’rJuna</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“One who knows the transcendental nature of My advent and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">It is a fact that we can stop our repeated births and deaths and achieve the state of immortality. But the modern civilization our great philosophers, great politicians, and great scientists they have no idea that it is possible to attain the stage ofamrtatvam, immortality. We are all amrta, deathless, immortal. In the Bhagavad-gita [2.20] it is said, na jayate na mriyate va kadacit: we living entities we never die and never take birth. Ajo nityah sasvato yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sarire. Every one of us we are primeval and eternal, without beginning and without end. And after the annihilation of this body, we do not die. But when the body is finished, we will have to accept another body.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">dehino ‘smin yatha dehe<br /> kaumdram yauvanam jara<br /> tathd dehantara-praptir<br /> dhiras tatra na muhyati</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change:” [Bg. 2.13]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">At the present moment, all over the world people are lacking knowledge of this simple thing: that all of us living entities are part and parcel of Lord Krsna that like Krsna, we are eternal, we are blissful, and we are cognizant. Krsna is described in the Vedic literatures:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">isvarah paramah krsnah<br /> sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah<br /> anadir adir govindah<br /> sarva-karana-karanam</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The supreme controller, the uncaused cause of all causes, is Krsna, whose transcendental form is full with eternity, knowledge, and bliss.” [Brahma-samhita 5.1]</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img title="Bhagavad Gita" src="http://backtogodhead.in/wp-content/uploads/1979/08/Back-To-Godhead-Bhagavad-Gita.jpg" alt="Bhagavad Gita" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Krsna when I say Krsna, that means “God.” It is sometimes said, “God has no name:” That’s a fact. But God’s name is given by His activities, For instance, Krsna accepted sonship to Maharaja Nanda and Yasodamayi and also to Vasudeva and Devaki. Of course, no one is actually the father or mother of Krsna, because Krsna is the original father of everyone. But when Krsna comes here, when He makes His advent, He accepts certain exalted devotees as His father, as His mother. Krsna is adi-purusam, the original. Adyam purana purusam nava-yauvanam ca: He is the original person.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Then must Krsna be very old? No. Nava-yauvanam ca: always a fresh youth. That is Krsna. When Krsna was on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra you have seen the picture He was just like d boy of twenty years or, at most, twenty-four years. But at that time He had great-grandchildren. So Krsna is always a youth. These are the statements of the Vedic literatures.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">But if we simply read the Vedic literatures as a formality, it will be very difficult to understand what Krsna isalthough all the Vedas are meant for understanding Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita [15.15] Krsna says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: “By all the Vedas it is I who am to be known:” What is the use of studying the Vedas if you do not understand Krsna? The ultimate goal of education is to understand the Supreme Lord, the supreme father, the supreme cause. As it is said in the Vedanta-sutra, athato brahma jijnasa “Now in the human form of life is the time to discuss the Supreme Absolute Truth, Brahman:”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">And what is this Brahman? Janmady asya yatah. Brahman is the one from whom everything emanates. So science and philosophy mean finding out the ultimate cause of everything. And this we are getting from the Vedic literature that Krsna is sarva-karana-karanam, the cause of all causes.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just try to understand. For instance, I am caused by my father; my father is caused by his father; he is caused by his father, who is caused by his father . . . In this way if you go on searching, then you’ll ultimately come to someone who is the cause that has no cause. Anadir adir govindah: the cause that has no cause is Govinda Krsna. I may be the cause of my son, but at the same time I am the result of another cause (my father). But the Vedic literatures say that Krsna is the original person; He has no cause. That is Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Therefore Krsna says, “Just try to learn about the transcendental nature of My advent and activities.” The advent of Krsna it is a very important thing. We should try to understand Krsna, why He makes His advent, why He comes down to this material world, what His business is, what His activities are. If we simply try to understand Krsna, then what will be the result? The result will be tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so’rjuna: we will get immortality.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The aim of life is amrtatvaya kalpate, to achieve immortality. So today, on the advent of Krsna, we shall try to understand the philosophy of Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">If we are anxious for peace . . .”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">His Excellency was speaking of peace. The peace formula is there in the Bhagavad-gita spoken by Krsna. What is that?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">bhoktaram yajna-tapasam<br /> sarva-loka-mahesvaram<br /> suhrdam sarva-bhutanam<br /> jnatva mam santim rcchati</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.” [Bg 5.29] The politicians and diplomats are trying to establish peace in the world. We have the United Nations and many other organizations. They are working to establish real peace and tranquility, to eliminate misunderstanding between man and man and nation and nation. But that is not happening. That is not happening. The defect is that the root is wrong. Everyone is thinking, “It is my country,” “It is my family,” “It is my society,” “It is my property.” This “my” is illusion. In the Vedic literatures it is said, janasya moho ‘yam aham mameti: this “I-and-my” philosophy is maya illusion.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">So if you want to get out of this maya, this illusion, then you have to accept Krsna’s formula. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: whoever surrenders to Krsna can easily cross beyond all illusion. Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita,for our guidance, If we accept the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita as it is everything is there. Peace is there, prosperity is there. That is a fact.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Unfortunately, we do not accept it; or we misinterpret it. This is our misfortune. In the Bhagavad-gita [9.34] Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Krsna says, “Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer obeisances unto Me.” Is it a very difficult task? Here is Krsna’s Deity. If you think of this Deity, is it very difficult?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">You come into the temple, and just as a devotee would do, you offer your respect to the Deity. As far as possible, try to worship the Deity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Krsna does not want your property. Krsna is open to the poorest man for being worshiped. What is He asking? He says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: “With devotion, if a person offers Me a little leaf, a little fruit, a little water, I accept it.” [Bg. 9.26] Krsna is not hungry, but Krsna wants to make you a devotee. That is the main point. Yo me bhaktya prayacchati: “Offer something to Me with devotion.” That is the main principle. Offer Krsna some little thing. Krsna is not hungry; Krsna is providing food for everyone. But Krsna wants your love, your devotion. Therefore He is begging a little water or fruit or a flower. In this way man-mana bhava mad-bhakto: you can think of Krsna and become His devotee.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img title="Radha Krsna" src="http://backtogodhead.in/wp-content/uploads/1979/08/Back-To-Godhead-Radha-Krsna.jpg" alt="Radha Krsna" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There is no difficulty in understanding Krsna and accepting Krsna consciousness. But we’ll not do it that is our disease. Otherwise, it is not difficult at all. And as soon as we become a devotee of Krsna, we understand the whole universal situation. Ourbhagavata philosophy, our God conscious philosophy, is also a kind of spiritual communism, because we regard Krsna as the supreme father and all living entities as sons of Krsna. And Krsna says, sarva-loka-mahesvaram: He is the proprietor of all planets. Therefore whatever there is, either in the sky or in the water or on the land, it is all Krsna’s property. And because we are all sons of Krsna, every one of us has the right to use our father’s property. But we should not encroach upon others. This is the formula for peace. Isavasyam idam sarvam . . . and ma grdhah kasyasvid dhanam: “Everything belongs to God, and since you are sons of God, you have the right to use your father’s property. But do not take more than you need. This is punishable.” [Isopanisad 1] If anyone takes more than he needs, then he’s a thief. Yajnarthat karmano ‘nyatra loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]: whatever we do, we should do it for the satisfaction of Krsna. We should act for Krsna; we should do everything for Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">That is what we are teaching here. In this temple we are all residing happily. Americans, Indians, Englishmen, Canadians, Africans people from all different parts of the world. You know that. It is like that not only in this temple, but wherever people are Krsna conscious, throughout the world. Krsna makes His advent to teach this lesson.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When we forget this philosophy that Krsna is the supreme father, Krsna is the supreme proprietor, Krsna is the supreme enjoyer, and Krsna is the supreme friend of everyone when we forget this, then we come into this material world and struggle for existence, fight with one another. This is material life.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Nor can we get any relief through our politicians, diplomats, philosophers. They have tried so much, but actually nothing they have tried has become fruitful. Take the United Nations. It was organized after the second great war, and they wanted, “We shall now settle everything peacefully.” But there is no such thing. The fighting is going on, between Pakistan and India or between Vietnam and America or this and that. Mundane politics and diplomacy and philosophy this is not the process. The process is Krsna consciousness. Everyone has to understand this point that we are not proprietors. The actual proprietor is Krsna. That’s a fact. Take America, for example. Say two hundred years ago, the European immigrants were not the proprietors, Somebody else was the proprietor, and before that somebody else was the proprietor, or it was vacant land. But the actual proprietor is Krsna. Artificially we are claiming, “It is my property.” This is called maya, illusion. So Krsna makes His advent to give us this lesson. Krsna says, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata: “My dear Arjuna. I come when there are discrepancies in the process of religious life:” [Bg. 4.7]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">And what is real dharma, real religious life? The simple definition of dharma is dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: “Real religious life is that which is enunciated directly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” [Srimad–Bhagavatam 6.3.19] For instance, what do you mean by civil law? Civil law means the word given by the state. You cannot make civil law at home. That is not possible. Whatever the government gives you “You should act like this” that is law. Similarly dharma, religious life, means the direction given by God. That is dharma. Simple definition. If you create some dharma or I create some dharma or another man creates another dharma, these are not dharma.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Therefore Krsna ends the Bhagavad-gita by saying, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: “Just give up all your concocted ideas about dharma and surrender to Me.” [Bg. 18.66] This is dharma surrender to Krsna. Any other “dharma” is not dharma. Otherwise why does Krsna ask, sarva-dharman parityajya give it all up”? He has already said. In every age I make My advent to establish the principles of religion.” And at last He says that we should give up all the so-called religious principles that we have manufactured. All these man-made principles are not actually religious principles. Real dharma, real religious life, means what is given by God. But we have no understanding of what God is and what His word is. That is modern civilization’s defect.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">But the order is there, God is there it is simply that we won’t accept. So where is the possibility of peace? Everything is there, ready-made. But we won’t accept. So what is the remedy for our disease? We are searching after peace, but we won’t accept the very thing that will actually give us peace. This is our disease. Therefore, this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to awaken the dormant Krsna consciousness in everyone’s heart. Just consider: four or five years ago, these Europeans and Americans had never even heard of Krsna so how are they now taking Krsna consciousness so seriously? Krsna consciousness is already there in everyone’s heart. It simply has to be awakened. And this awakening process is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta[Madhya 22.107]:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">nitya siddha krsna-prema ‘sadhya ‘kabhu naya<br /> sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Love for Krsna, devotion for Krsna is within everyone’s heart, but we have forgotten. So this Krsna consciousness movement is simply meant for awakening that dormant love by giving everyone the chance to hear about Krsna. This is the process.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">For instance, when you are sleeping. I have to call you loudly. “Mr. Such-and-such! Such-and-such! Get up! You have to tend to this business:” No other senses will act when you are sleeping. But the ear will act. Therefore in this age, when people are so fallen that they will not listen to anything, if we chant this Hare Krsna maha–mantra they’ll be awakened to Krsna consciousness. This is practical. So if we are actually anxious for peace and tranquility in society, then we must be very serious about understanding Krsna. That is my request. Don’t take the Krsna consciousness movement lightly.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">This movement can solve all the problems of life, all the problems in the world. Social, political, philosophical, religious, economic everything can be solved by Krsna consciousness. Therefore, we request those who are leaders like His Excellency, who is present here “You should try to understand this Krsna consciousness movement.” It is very scientific and authorized. It is not a mental concoction or a sentimental movement. It is a most scientific movement. So we are inviting all leaders from all countries. “Try to understand.” If you are sober, if you are actually reasonable, you’ll understand that this Krsna consciousness movement is the most sublime movement for the welfare of the whole human society.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Unlimited, Endless Pleasure</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Anyone may come we are prepared to discuss this subject matter. The ultimate goal of human life is to achieve immortality. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. This is our mission, but we have forgotten this. We are simply leading the life of cats and dogs, without any knowledge that we can achieve that perfection of life where there will be no more birth, no more death. We do not even understand that there is the possibility of amrtatvam, immortality. But it is totally possible. Nobody wants to die. Nobody wants to become an old man; nobody wants to become diseased. This is our natural inclination. Why? Because originally, in our spiritual form, there is no birth, no death, no old age, no disease. So after moving through the evolutionary process, up through the aquatics, plants, trees, birds, when at last we come to this human form of body then we should know what the goal of life is. The goal of life is amrtatvam, to become immortal.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Immortal you can become simply by becoming Krsna conscious. Krsna says it. It is a fact. We simply have to understand. Janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah. If you try to understand Krsna in truth, then tyaktva deham punar janma naiti: after giving up this body, you won’t have to accept any more material bodies. And as soon as you don’t accept any more material bodies, that means you have become immortal. The thing is, by nature we are immortal. So Krsna makes His advent, Krsna comes to teach us this lesson:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">mamaivamso jiva-loke<br /> jiva-bhutah sanatanah<br /> manah-sasthanindriyani<br /> prakrti-sthani karsati</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“You are immortal by nature. As spirit soul, you are part and parcel of Me. I am immortal, and so you are also immortal. Unnecessarily, you are trying to be happy in this material world.” [Bg. 15.7]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">You have already tried and tried to find happiness in sensuous life, through so many bodies as cats, as dogs, as demigods, as trees, as plants, as insects. So now that you have a human body, with its higher intelligence, don’t be captivated by sensuous life. Just try to understand Krsna. That is the verdict of the Vedic literatures. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [Bhag. 5.5.1]: to work very hard like dogs and hogs for sense gratification is not the ambition of human life; human life is meant for a little austerity. Tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyet: we have to purify our existence; that is the mission of human life. Why shall I purify my existence? Brahma-saukhyam tv anantam: because then you will get spiritual realization, the unlimited, endless pleasure and happiness. That is real pleasure, real happiness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">ramante yogino ‘nante<br /> satyananda-cid-atmani<br /> iti rama-padenasau<br /> param brahmabhidhiyate</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The mystics derive unlimited transcendental pleasures from the Absolute Truth, and therefore the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, is also known as Rama.” [Padma Purana]</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">All the great saintly persons of India have cultivated this spiritual knowledge so nicely and fully. Formerly, people used to go to India to find out about spiritual life. Even Jesus Christ went there. And yet we are not taking advantage of it. It is not that these literatures and directions are meant only for the Indians or for the Hindus or for the brahmanas. No. They are meant for everyone, because Krsna claims, aham bija-pradah pita: “I am everyone’s father.” Therefore, He is very anxious to make us peaceful, happy. Just as an ordinary father wants to see that his son is well situated and happy, similarly Krsna wants to see every one of us well situated and happy. Therefore He comes sometimes. This is the purpose of Krsna’s advent. Thank you very much.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=10770">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=10770</a></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"> </p></div>Celebration of Janmastami festival at many Places in Bangladeshhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/celebration-of-janmastami-festival-at-many-places-in-bangladesh2022-09-14T12:52:10.000Z2022-09-14T12:52:10.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10811869687,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10811869687?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Srigarbha das</strong></p>
<p>Hare Krishna, this year Janmastami festival was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm in Bangladesh. Thousands of devotees gathered together for a huge extravaganza. Janmastami festival is celebrated as the holy appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Srimad Bhagavatam told, Krishna is the only God and all others are his expansions. Various acharyas like Shankaracharya, Madhavacharya, Ramanujacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have accepted Lord Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p>Krishna means all attractive. He attracts even atheists in his incarnation as Lord Buddha. Nowadays, common faithful persons of society are attracted hearing about him through his pure devotees. A pure devotee is always ready to render service and glorify the wonderful activities of the Lord. Krishna’s birth and activities are all transcendental and those who understand in truth about the glories of the Lord, they became free from the cycle of birth and death. To understand this principle and get the benefit one should follow the path showed by an acharya who successfully followed the teachings of Bhagavada Gita.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada spread the glories of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. In every country people are celebrating Janmastami festival. Those people who don’t know Krishna are now celebrating his birth ceremony because Krishna is all attractive. He attracts everybody, Russian, American, European, Middle East countries and many others. All are celebrating this auspicious Janmastami festival all over the world.</p>
<p>In Bangladesh also, crores of people celebrated Janmastami festival this year after lockdown on Friday, 19th of August, a national holiday. Grand festivals were organized in thousands of temples all over Bangladesh to welcome Lord Krishna. There is no such personality in the history who is remembered with same joy so long. This is the glory of Lord Krishna, he is the Supreme Lord and the father of everyone.</p>
<p>ISKCON Netrakona celebrated Janmastami festival at Sri Sri Jagannath Ballav Temple, Netrakona, where thousands of devotees gathered from morning up to 12:00 a.m. midnight. Devotees did full fasting from grains and vegetables, some even fast from water and other eatables. This fasting is observed to engage our time in remembering Krishna by reading his glories, by listening his glories, doing Kirtan and inviting others to listen Krishna Katha. Every year hundreds of devotees make thousands of sweets and various nice items on the occasion.</p>
<p>Lord Krishna appeared in Mathura and after that he goes to Gokula in the house of Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda Mata. The residents of Gokula were very fortunate to associate with the lord and have his darshan daily. They exchanged loving service with the lord directly. The residence of Braja serve the Lord in spontaneous devotional service, Raganuga bhakti, without any external material motives. This spontaneous devotional service is the natural tendency of the jiva, the soul, which can be revived by following the process of Krishna consciousness given by Srila Prabhupada founder Acharya of ISKCON.</p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10811874052,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10811874052?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>ISKCON Netrakona had celebrated Janmastami with grand arrangements, where many young and enthusiastic devotees took part. Various programs such as kirtan, abhishek, dancing, chanting, prasadam distribution, lectures and drama make the festival very jubilant. Lord Krishna took birth in night around 12am, hence everyone fast whole day and wake up to midnight for abhishek of the Lord. Engaging ourself in various Krishna conscious activities during the festival purifies the heart and Krishna showers his mercy on everyone and someday Krishna may reveals himself. Krishna is a Supreme god, we cannot understand him by our tiny brain, only by our surrender service and humble attitude he may reveals himself through a bonafied spiritual master. .<br /> Next day, Srila Prabhupada Vyasapuja and Nanda Utsava, both festivals were observed there and thousands of devotees took prasadam in afternoon. Srila Prabhupada, a pure devotee of the Lord, a mahabhagavata, who has made thousands of devotees all around the world and is still preaching through his books.<br /> This year other preaching centres also celebrated the festival with great devotion and endeavour.</p>
<p>Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanya Preaching centre celebrated big janmastami where hundreds of Devotees gathered and mahaprasadam were distributed.</p>
<p>Also, this year June, His Holiness Subhag Swami gurumaharaj inaugurated new temple building and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Deities. On the day of janmastami temple was fully packed with devotees. In front of Gaura Nitai deities, devotees were chanting loudly with ecstatic dancing. Drama was presented kids and so many cultural programms were presented for the pleasure of the Lord. Next day also devotees celebrated Srila Prabhupada vyasa puja.</p>
<p>One year ago, by the inspiration of His Holiness Subhag Swami maharaja, some young dedicated brahmacharies opened one small preaching center in the heart of Mymensingh City. Very enthusiastically, first time they arranged the janmastami festival . From morning to mid night, whole day japa & kirtan mela. Almost five hundred devotees take part on this auspicious occasion.</p>
<p>Sri Govinda Mandir, Jhenaidah, little far from main town also celebrated janmastami festival. Village people were very excited and thousands of them visited the temple and took blessings of the Lord Govinda who gives pleasure to cows and peoples of braja.</p>
<p>Jamalpur, near Mymensing division Sri Sri Govinda Mandir also celebrate very nice janmastami festival. Day began with big street kirtan and night time around five hundred devotees participated in the abhisheka of the Lord.</p>
<p>This is the first time Gaura Gadadhar temple at Gabtali, Dhaka arranged big auditorium program at Dhaka, Mirpur, it’s the largest mess city in Bangladesh. Parliament Members, freedom fighter Aga khan Mintu, Sabina Aktar Tuhin, former parliament member, Sriman Tarun Kanti Sikdar, co-operative director, Dhaka, Bangladesh and many others VIP guest had attended rhe festival. Devotees arranged the program enthusiastically. Also, Tangail Kagmari Temple celebrated janmastami program very nicely. The event included several cultural activities, dance and skit performances, traditional</p>
<p>Vedic chants of the Hare Krishna mantra, keynote talks and complementary multi-course vegetarian dinner for all the guests.<br /> All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, All glories to Bangladesh all community .<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=102308">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=102308</a></p></div>ISKCON News In a Minute: Aug 26th, 2022https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/iskcon-news-in-a-minute-aug-26th-20222022-09-05T11:07:25.000Z2022-09-05T11:07:25.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lMLGpUO06kw" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>Last week Janmastami & Prabhupada Vyasa Puja was celebrated all over the world. At Bhaktivedanta Manor, it was extra special with British Politician Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy joining the celebrations.</p>
<p>In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a written message to ISKCON on the occasion of Janmastami, quoting Bhagavad Gita & glorifying Srila Prabhupada’s mission.</p>
<p>Janmastami Day was also special as Narayani devi dasi, ISKCON’s first Vaishnavi (female devotee) diksa guru formally accepted her first disciple, now named Nilambari dasi.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-news-in-a-minute-aug-26th-2022/">https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-news-in-a-minute-aug-26th-2022/</a></p></div>Thank You Janmastami Volunteers by Mukhya Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/thank-you-janmastami-volunteers-by-mukhya-devi-dasi2022-08-27T12:40:09.000Z2022-08-27T12:40:09.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10794119477,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="10794119477?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>This year’s Janmastami festival was the best attended to date. I think the post pandemic mood combined with a weekend day combined to encourage devotees and congregation to celebrate Krishna’s birthday in force. There was a blissful feeling throughout.<br /> Thanking the many, many devotees who made this festival a joy to attend, in person or even online, is the cherry on the cake for me.<br /> While the days of preparing are long, they aren’t arduous. Devotees take so much transcendental enjoyment in their service and it really shows.<br /> When we came up short handed on the festival set up side this year, Karnapura jumped in and put together the parking lot in the front field, a lot of work in the hot sun for a senior citizen but joyfully performed. Hridaya Krishna just returned from two months in Venezuela but came over the next day to help us get all the tables, chairs, tents, etc moved into place. We are so grateful to them coming to the rescue. Bhakta Clay, year after many years, was there, managing the fountain, tent lights, and so much more.<br /> Our pujaris once again created a sublime mood with the darshans of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from mangal arati, to morning greeting, to midnight arati. Rasamanjari planned and designed and produced a unique and opulent outfit and altar design for the past year. She had dozens of eager helpers, each one offering a special service to please the Lord. Jaganath Rico and daughters and friends created the temple room decorations, complementing the altar design and bringing the festive feeling off the altar too.<br /> The Kitchen buzzes all week preparing prasad for thousands. Janmeyjaya gets the ingredients, shopping day after day without complaint, Janaka keeps the shopping organized and all the parts moving so that cleaning and prepping goes on daily. Vishnu Mohan and family and Monish and friends came from out of town to prepare the main dishes. Avatar Krishna came back from India and jumped right in, saving the day by frying anything needed for hours on end. Jaya Nitai made quinoa batch after quinoa batch and never stopped smiling. Unless you cook in a commercial kitchen in Florida in the hottest part of the summer for hours on end, you cannot imagine the austerity they take on – but I hope you appreciate it.<br /> Hanan organized a fantastic crew of helpers to box up over 3000 prasad boxes which kept the feast going out for hours. We don’t know what we would do without him.<br /> Kaveri Dasi once again created a wonderful children’s activities tent with lots of special projects so the children can remember Krishna too and create great memories of Janmastami. She had lots of help from face painter extraordinaire Jayanti Dasi Rico, and from Lila Padma Dasi and Maha Mohini Dasi, from Ankita, and from others. Many thanks to them all.<br /> Thank you to our pandits: Raghunatha, Chaturatma and Krishna Svarupa for another beautiful Krishna Ashtottara Shata Nama Stotram Homa for the spiritual upliftment of the many assembled devotees. You may have noticed we are at a new, and permanent, location now. Thanks to Chaturatma, Raghu and Radhanatha Dasa Jakupko for creating the big, beautiful, new fire pit.<br /> Ramanya Prabhu leads the temple brahmanas in Radha Krishna’s morning abhisheka, and then sets up and organizes the evening abhisheka, where guests line up all night to take on the seva of bathing Radha and Krishna.<br /> Thank you to the Village of Vrindavan crew, I know putting this together takes a lot of hard work and coordination. This is such a special feature of our Janmastami festivals, and this year the village was better than ever. We appreciate your dedication to putting this up for the pleasure of all the devotees, it adds so much to this beautiful day.<br /> Thank you to the Village of Vrindavan crew; I know putting this together takes a lot of hard work and coordination. This is such a special feature of our Janmastami festivals, and this year the village was better than ever. We appreciate your dedication to putting this up for the pleasure of all the devotees, it adds so much to this beautiful day.<br /> Thanks to the kirtaniyas who kept the sweet transcendental tunes in our ears all day and night long. Special thanks to Madhava Prabhu who set up the outside bhajan band, so that at every corner of the festival we were serenaded with Krishna’s names.<br /> Thank you to Sakshigopal Dasa, who works all year cultivating devotees by doing home programs, encouraging our diverse Indian congregation to remember Krishna. He travels from June 1 through August 19, logging thousands of miles, meeting our congregation members and finding donations to put on our festival. He has created hundreds of deep relationships over the years, resulting in many initiations and thousands of friends. This service goes on all year long, and Sakshi lives and breathes it.<br /> Thank you to all of our festival donors; without you we would not have the wonderful festivals (and many other benefits) at New Raman Reti. We are so grateful to all of you.<br /> Thanks to everyone who helped put on the Vyasa Puja festival; it is the summum bonum of all our annual festivals. Hearing the devotees reveal their heart’s deepest gratitude to Srila Prabhupada is always moving and impactful. Thanks to Dhira Krishna Dasa, Premamanjari Dasi, Jaya Nitai Dasa and Jarati Dasi for making a most delicious feast. They took their specific preparations to the max, really working on making them the best they could be. Their love and devotion really showed.<br /> Icchashakti made beautiful vyasasan decorations again this year; she seems to top herself each new festival. She works hard in the pujari room, organizing the offerings the devotees bring for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and making sure those who sponsored items and worked hard for the festivals get recognized.<br /> Govinda’s Gifts is an important part of New Raman Reti. We supply what you want and need for your devotional lifestyle and help support our deity program at the same time. All devotees working there are volunteers. Jahnudvipa and Govinda Mohini have been doing this service expertly for about 15 years now. They are assisted by Jaganath Rico and daughters. We are very indebted to them. The shopping, unboxing, pricing, cleaning and setting up take hours of time every week, and we are all happy to do it.<br /> Thank you to our office staff, Astasakhi Dasi and Ranjit Dasa, who account for every dollar donated to the temple and make sure it goes exactly where you want it to go. Devananda helps with database entry and organization, Manorama oversees online content and website management. All of their service is much more complicated than it sounds here, and they are all very expert in what they do. We are a team and really enjoy working together.<br /> We have moved into the 21st century thanks to many hours of service from Damodara Kovie, who keeps everything that happens at the temple on youtube.com/alachuatemple. We have hundreds of devotees around the world who take part in our morning program thanks to Damodara.<br /> Everything you do for Krishna is recorded in your KC bank account; Krishna sees each and every endeavor you make, and comes ten times closer to you. All your seva is moving you closer to the goal, back to home back to godhead. Thank you to everyone who jumped in to clean, wash pots, pack prasad boxes, sweep floors, clean bathrooms, empty trash bins… you made this all possible!<br /> All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, Radhe Shyama, and Krishna Balarama. All glories to the beautiful New Raman Reti community.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=101823">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=101823</a></p></div>Devotee Engineer Distributes Bhagavad-gita and Celebrates Janmastami in Antarcticahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/devotee-engineer-distributes-bhagavad-gita-and-celebrates-janmast2021-10-05T13:08:58.000Z2021-10-05T13:08:58.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9647768869,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="9647768869?profile=RESIZE_584x" /><strong>By Madhava Smullen</strong></p>
<p>Surendra Singh, an engineer and ISKCON devotee, has distributed Bhagavad-gita As It Is, celebrated Janmastami (Lord Krishna’s appearance day), and practiced Krishna consciousness with fellow scientific expedition team members at the Indian Antarctic research station “Maitri.”</p>
<p>Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is home to the the South Pole. It is the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent, and 98% of it is covered with ice. Only scientists and supporting staff live there year round.</p>
<p>Back in November 2016, for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, Kesihanta Das and Trivikrama Das from the US were the first ISKCON devotees to hold kirtan in Antarctica. They also offered arati to Srila Prabhupada’s murti and distributed Prabhupada’s books in Antarctica for the first time, placing the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in several Antarctic research stations.</p>
<p>Surendra Singh is now the first ISKCON devotee to practice Krishna consciousness on a long-term basis and share it with other residents in Antarctica. A congregation member of the ISKCON center in Sikar, Rajasthan since 2016, he serves under the guidance of the center’s director Lalit Govinda Das, and took shelter from the late Bhakti Charu Swami three years ago. In Sikar, he started an online Bhagavad-gita class for a local girls’ school, and organized an online Janmastami program amongst other outreach efforts. </p>
<p>Surendra has been working for the Indian Antarctic Programme, which conducts scientific expeditions to the Antarctic, since 2016. The Programme is run by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Government of India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences.</p>
<p>Surendra’s first two Antarctic Expeditions, from November 2016 to December 2017, and from November 2018 to December 2019, were at the Bharati research station. During his current and third expedition, which is running from November 2020 until January 2022, he has set up a new atmospheric sciences laboratory at Maitri research station, and is doing various scientific experiments.</p>
<p><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/devotee-engineer-distributes-bhagavad-gita-and-celebrates-janmastami-in-antarctica,8020/">https://iskconnews.org/devotee-engineer-distributes-bhagavad-gita-and-celebrates-janmastami-in-antarctica,8020/</a></p></div>Janmastami on the Jaladuta by Yamuna Devihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/janmastami-on-the-jaladuta2020-08-12T07:30:00.000Z2020-08-12T07:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515131719,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515131719,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="2515131719?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p>Yamuna Devi: Three Years Ago, on Janmastami, Lord Krsna’s appearance day, I received a copy of the diary Srila Prabhupada wrote aboard the steamship Jaladuta. It’s a personal account of his first journey from India to America. Though I had read excerpts in various publications, the full handwritten text revealed a richness I had barely realized before.<br /> Often difficult to read, the cramped and sometimes blurry script describes dramatic events with life-threatening heart attacks, repeated illness along with personal observations and Srila Prabhupada’s daily routine. It also mentions two prayers he wrote to Lord Krsna while on the ship. I strongly recommend reading these inspiring verses. You can find them in Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Volume 2: Planting the Seed, by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami.<br /> As an avid student of Srila Prabhupada’s cooking instruction, I was particularly fascinated with entries in his diary noting some of the dishes he cooked and distributed to the crew members. In one entry Srila Prabhupada writes, “Today is the 32nd day of our journey from Calcutta. In the morning I couldn’t take my breakfast properly, then I cooked bati-chachari. It appeared to be delicious, so I was able to take some food.”<br /> In other entries, Srila Prabhupada mentions nourishing dishes that serve as one-pot meals. For example, kicchari is a rice-and-legume stew that can take on new and varied faces for months on end. Kadi, often served with kicchari, is an aromatic yogurt gravy laced with vegetables, cooked beans, or savory dumplings. Chachariis a succulent char-flavored vegetable dish. It combines three cooking procedures in one pot boiling, steaming, and frying without your ever stirring the pot, not even once!<br /> These dishes require no exotic ingredients, are easy to make, and, as was probably done aboard theJaladuta, need only be accompanied with hot wheat flatbreads or a salad for a simple meal.<br /> Srila Prabhupada was a generous cook who taught in the kitchen by demonstration. The same dishes he’d cooked on the Jaladuta he taught in the next two years to his ISKCON students in New York and San Francisco. The dishes became instant favorites. In 1967 I compiled a book of these early recipes. I’d lost track of the book until, to my amazement, someone recently sent me the manuscripts in my original calligraphy. To remember and savor Srila Prabhupada’s Janmastami of 1965, observed aboard the Jaladuta, it seems apropos to pass on a few of these early recipes to you.<br /> Kicchari<br /> (Serves 4-6)<br /> ½ cup yellow split peas<br /> 1 teaspoon salt<br /> 1 teaspoon turmeric<br /> 1-2 dried hot chilies<br /> 7 cups water<br /> 1 cup long-grain rice<br /> 1 cup sliced carrots<br /> 1 cup sliced Brussels sprout<br /> ¾ cup cubed potatoes<br /> melted butter or ghee<br /> Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, partly cover, and boil gently for 20 minutes. Stir in the rice and vegetables, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed and the grains are cooked, about 45 minutes. Drizzle with butter or ghee.<br /> Kadi<br /> (Serves 4-6)<br /> 1 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans)<br /> 3 tablespoons chickpea flour<br /> ½ cup yogurt<br /> 3 cups buttermilk<br /> ½ teaspoon turmeric<br /> ½ teaspoon salt<br /> 2 teaspoons cumin seeds<br /> ¼ teaspoon crushed red chilies<br /> 2 tablespoons butter or ghee<br /> Soak the chickpeas in water over-night and drain. Cook them in plenty of fresh water until tender, 1-2 hours. Drain.<br /> Combine the flour and yogurt in a saucepan and stir the mixture until it’s smooth. Blend in the buttermilk, turmeric, salt, and chickpeas. While stirring, gently boil over moderate heat until thickened, 5-10 minutes.<br /> To prepare the seasoning, place the cumin and chilies in a dry pan and stir-toast until darkened and fragrant. Add the butter or ghee, heat briefly, and pour the seasoning into the kadi.<br /> Bati-Chachari<br /> (Serves 4-6)<br /> 1 pound boiling potatoes, cubed<br /> 1 pound string beans, cut in 1 ½-inch pieces<br /> 1-2 whole red chilies<br /> ½ teaspoon turmeric<br /> 3 tablespoons butter or ghee<br /> 2 ¾ cups water<br /> 1 teaspoon salt<br /> Place all the ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, partly cover, and boil gently until the liquid is absorbed and the vegetables are fork tender, about 25 minutes. Remove the lid, raise the heat slightly, and cook until the vegetables fry in the seasoned butter. (Do not burn the vegetables; only allow a deep brown crust to form in the pan.) Cover and set aside for 10 minutes. Then stir in the crust and serve.<br /> Yamuna Devi is the author of Lord Krishna’s Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking.<br /> July 1st, 1991 | Category: Lord Krsna’s Cuisine, Volume-25 Number-04, Yamuna Devi Dasi</p>
<p><strong>Source : </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30784">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30784</a></p></div>5 Ways to Love Janmastami by Ananda Vrindavaneswari Devi Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/5-ways-to-love-janmastami2020-08-12T06:30:00.000Z2020-08-12T06:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads6/tumblr_objy6tAqFi1sbj0vuo1_500.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" alt="tumblr_objy6tAqFi1sbj0vuo1_500.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Janmastami is just one day, but how we spend it can deeply inspire us for the whole year.<br /> Krishna consciousness mean we are conscious of Krishna. He becomes an active part of our life – like a close friend or an affectionate family member we love to be around. Krishna consciousness, then, is loving to be around Krishna.<br /> Here are 5 ways to love and be with Krishna on his birthday:<br /> 1. Come early, stay late – be close to Krishna today, close to the Temple. This is our day with Krishna. There will be classes, music, beautiful meditations, readings, lots of time for quiet chanting by the creek, and lots of opportunities for service…<br /> 2. Read Krishna Book – to love someone is to know them. Krishna Book is one of many books that describe Krishna. Start reading something about Krishna everyday. <br /> 3. Fast till mid-night – this is the fast traditionally done on Janmastami, as Krishna appeared at midnight. If we can’t do a complete fast, eat less, or eat only fruit. Fasting can give us a great boost of energy, a great clarity of mind.<br /> 4. Do some service – our mood towards Krishna is one of a servant. We don’t usually see ourselves as servants, busy as we are in the center of our own little universe. But if we think about it a bit, as we walk our dog, go shopping, or clock in to work, we are always serving. If not others, then at least ourselves. So on Janmastami, or leading up to it, we can practice seeing ourselves as a servant of Krishna. Contemplate and reflect on that and see what Krishna inspires you to to do. Some practical service opportunities are here.<br /> 5. Increase your chanting of Krishna’s names – today is the day that we should find a quiet place and add more mantras to our mind. If you already sit for 15 minutes a day, do 30. If you chant for 5 minutes do 10. If you chant 4 rounds on beads try to make 8. Janmastami is a day for less talk and more thought, less me and more Krishna, more devotion, and deepening our call, our desire to rekindle a long lost relationship. Chant on this day and your life will be sublime.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30255">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30255</a></p></div>Janmastami is coming up ! by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/janmastami-is-coming-up-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2020-08-10T14:43:31.000Z2020-08-10T14:43:31.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7390744671,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7390744671,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="7390744671?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p>Janmastami is coming up… we celebrate the appearance of Lord Krsna in this world. Remember that this week is especially a week for serving Krsna, and the more we do so then the more Krsna will reveal Himself and we begin to see right here and now, and at the end of our life, we can go back the spiritual world!<br /> In this world, there are churches, mosques, temples – there are so many different religious groups. Sometimes, in the airport, I see Jews with their black hats and curls on the side of their faces; I see Arabs in their full Middle-Eastern outfits; I see a Christian priest; a few nuns from Africa; some Buddhists from Thailand… and then, there is a Hare Krsna devotee walking in the middle of it all!</p>
<p>In the airports, there is just an exhibition of world religions. So many religions in the world and the reason is because God is invisible!</p>
<p>When an atheist walks past and says, “There is no God!”</p>
<p>Then someone else argues, “HE is the only way.”</p>
<p>There are so many opinions on religion because HE is invisible in this world… that is the issue. Everyone has some information – this group has one prophet and the other group has another. Nobody else has seen ‘it’ but the prophet has and he has written about it. People accept traditions and beliefs from their teachers. This is the reason why there are so many religions in the world and why one group looks at the other without trust and with suspicion.</p>
<p>The more people take to their traditions very seriously and to heart, the more they get realisations and then religion is not just an idea from a book which is taught in some institution… but it begins to manifest within the heart! And the more it manifests within the heart, the more we find the same common experience – that there are no differences in religion actually since these differences exist only externally. If you go deeper then you will see that people in different parts of the world, in different traditions, actually have the same deep experiences however, it may not always be understood in this way.</p>
<p>Beyond this world, there is a spiritual world where pure living beings can go and live eternally with the Supreme Lord. We have heard this in the descriptions of all traditions – some say heaven but we say spiritual world but it is the same thing. In the spiritual world, we should understand that the Supreme Lord is always visible and present, and He appears in His all attractive form. Therefore, He is the one who attracts the attention of everyone! In the spiritual world, everyone can recognise Krsna as being in the centre.</p>
<p>Whether we look at the Vedic tradition, Christianity or Islam, people are practising with the desire to get blessings for good health, beauty or other materialistic things. Ultimately, such things are the lower aspects of spirituality because these things are temporary… so what is the point in praying for something temporary!? This Hare Krsna movement is not interested in that since we should only be interested in the eternal benefit!</p>
<p>Eternal is not after this life, eternal is also right now, eternal is always. So eternal is after this life and it is also now. Therefore, blessings come after and also for the present and this is truly how Krsna Consciousness works since it brings blessings for the present and for the future!</p>
<p>The devotees are not asking for materialistic things because they ask the Supreme Lord Krsna for service, to be allowed to serve Him. And when we serve the Supreme Lord, then a change of heart takes place and then our whole life will become auspicious and very nice!<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=49695">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=49695</a></p></div>2020 Janmastami Resources – to celebrate at home and with family and friendshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/2020-janmastami-resources-to-celebrate-at-home-and-with-family2020-08-10T14:16:32.000Z2020-08-10T14:16:32.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/LucSGB2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="LucSGB2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p>The glorious advent of Lord Krishna or Janmastami is celebrated with charming grandeur and magnificent pomp worldwide by millions of exuberant Vaishnavas. Due to the outbreak of a global pandemic, the entire devotee community has been urged to celebrate Janmastami at home.</p>
<p>Since the pandemic, the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team has been providing useful resources online. For this Janmastami we have compiled a celebrate-at-home Janmastami portfolio, which is a compilation of guidelines and instructions to make your Janmastami experience delightful and filled with personal loving service to the Lord.</p>
<p>Please explore our Janmastami Resources section on the GBC SPT Website here:</p>
<p><a href="https://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/2020/08/janmastami-resource-page/">https://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/2020/08/janmastami-resource-page/</a></p>
<p>included on the site is the ISKCON Deity MInistry booklet – “The Temple in our Hearts – A Guide for celebrating Krishna Janmastami at home”<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88205">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88205</a></p></div>Remembering Janmastami 1966 By Satsvarupa dasa Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/remembering-janmastami-1966-by-satsvarupa-dasa-goswami-12020-08-10T14:15:00.000Z2020-08-10T14:15:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515200284,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515200284,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="2515200284?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>While attending the Janmastami festival at the ISKCON farm in Czechoslovakia several years ago, I was asked to give a lecture about the appearance of Lord Krishna. Afterwards I asked for questions and an elderly, red-haired lady raised her hand. Since almost all the devotees there spoke only Czech, I was surprised when she began to speak in English. She said, “Satsvarupa Gosvami, could you tell us something about Prabhupada, because you knew him very well?”</p>
<p>I started out by remembering Janmastami 1966 in the storefront. “The room we are in now reminds me of that storefront,” I said. “It was about the same size. 1966 was the first year Prabhupada observed Janmastami in America. In 1965, he left India and observed Janmastami at sea a few days later. By 1966, ISKCON had just begun. So he asked the devotees to stay all day in the storefront and fast.</p>
<p>“His request seemed like a very difficult proposal. Some of us expressed doubt that we could do it, so Swamiji said, ‘If you get hungry or weak in the afternoon, you can take some fruit from our refrigerator.’</p>
<p>“When he said that, it gave us some hope, because it seemed almost impossible that a living being could go all day without eating. He wanted us to try for it, and yet it was not such a hard and fast rule that we had to do it or die.</p>
<p>“Fasting was one problem, and another problem was what to do all day? How to control the mind? When Prabhupada stayed with us in the storefront, reading his manuscript from the <em>Bhagavad-gita</em>, then it was very enjoyable. But whenever he left us alone, our consciousness and conversation dropped way down. We began to complain, ‘I don’t think I can do this. How does he expect us to stay like this all day? This is like being in prison; you can’t even leave the temple.”</p>
<p>Even while Prabhupada was present, one of the disciples who was later to be initiated as Janaki dasi said, “Swamiji, I am sorry but I have to leave. I have to go home and feed my cats.” Swamiji said, ‘No, do not do it. Stay here and you can take care of them later.’ Janaki thought about it but then said, ‘I’m sorry, I have to go and take care of them.’”</p>
<p>“The rest of us reluctantly surrendered and stayed there for a whole day, which very slowly turned into afternoon, and night. We sat against the wall drowsily and weakly, trying to chant on our new beads.”</p>
<p>I went on to tell the devotees about the jar of ISKCON bullets that Prabhupada kept in a corner of his room upstairs. Many of his devotees had been cigarette smokers and almost everyone committed illicit sex. This jar of ISKCON bullets was like the last resort against temptation. If you became agitated, before you broke any of the principles, you knew you could go up at any time and take a <em>gulabjamumn</em>, an ISKCON bullet.</p>
<div><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30761">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=30761</a></div>
<div class="wp-post-navigation"> </div></div>Happy Janmastami! - Resources to Celebrate At Homehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/happy-janmastami-resources-to-celebrate-at-home2020-08-09T11:03:08.000Z2020-08-09T11:03:08.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_image" style="text-align:center;"><img style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;height:338px;width:600px;" title="Covid-19" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/08-Aug/bocik_slideshow.png" alt="" /></div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>The glorious advent of Lord Krishna or Janmastami is celebrated with charming grandeur and magnificent pomp worldwide by millions of exuberant Vaishnavas. Due to the outbreak of a global pandemic, the entire devotee community has been urged to celebrate Janmastami at home.</p>
<p>Since the pandemic, the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team has been providing useful resources online. For this Janmastami they have compiled a celebrate-at-home Janmastami portfolio, which consists of resources to make devotees' Janmastami experience delightful and filled with personal loving service to the Lord.</p>
<p>The ‘Janmastami Kit’ has four broad sections:</p>
<p>Sraddha Kutir (resources for Deity-worship at home)</p>
<p>Virtual Festivities in devotee sanga (links to major online events)</p>
<p>Delectable world of Prasadam (cooking courses, menus and offerings) </p>
<p>Children’s Fun Corner (stories, activities)</p>
<p>Included on the site is the ISKCON Deity MInistry booklet - "The Temple in our Hearts - A Guide for celebrating Krishna Janmastami at home"</p>
<p>Please explore Janmastami Resources section on the GBC SPT Website here:</p>
<p><a href="https://iskconconnection.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=13043&qid=1260232">https://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/2020/08/janmastami-resource-page/ </a><br /> <br /><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/happy-janmastami-resources-to-celebrate-at-home,7458/">https://iskconnews.org/happy-janmastami-resources-to-celebrate-at-home,7458/</a> </p>
</div></div>Janmastami Meditation 1 by Kadamba Kanana Swamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/janmastami-meditation-1-by-kadamba-kanana-swami2020-08-08T10:55:53.000Z2020-08-08T10:55:53.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:left;">Janmastami is about focusing on the lotus feet of Krsna, about meditating on Krsna, thinking about Him, reading about Him and just getting totally absorbed in the thoughts of Krsna. This is the purpose of Janmastami, to somehow or other be completely absorbed in Krsna. In some temples, the Krsna book is being read the whole day on Janmastami. So in this way, devotees can go in and out of this room and hear about pastimes of Krsna all day, and it is a nice thing to do for Janmastami. Many devotees remain absorbed in Krsna in other ways – some by chanting extra rounds, some by distributing books and so on. There is no time to eat on this day! It’s not that we have to fast, it’s just that there is no time to eat because there is too much to do for Krsna. So this is the spirit of Janmastami – to get absorbed in Krsna, to remember Him and to glorify Him all day.<br /><br /><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7349858080,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="7349858080?profile=RESIZE_584x" /><br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxXe3kPni-s" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong></span><br /><br /><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.kksblog.com/2020/08/janmastami-meditation-1/">https://www.kksblog.com/2020/08/janmastami-meditation-1/</a></p></div>How to observe Janmastami at home by Nrsimha Kavaca Dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-observe-janmastami-at-home-by-nrsimha-kavaca-dasa2020-07-17T12:21:06.000Z2020-07-17T12:21:06.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}6954600464,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="6954600464?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}6954788896,RESIZE_192X{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="6954788896?profile=RESIZE_192X" width="190" />The Temple in our Hearts</strong></p>
<p><strong>A Guide for celebrating Krsna Janmastami At home</strong><br /> <br /> Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī mahā-mahotsava, the advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa on this earthly planet is the biggest religious festival in our vaishnava calendar and it is celebrated by hundreds of millions of people around the world. On this day, devotees flock to various temples including the holy land of Vrndavana to take darshan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in his arca vigraha form and absorb themselves in the sweet nectarian programs beginning with mangala ārati at 4:30am and culminating with the beautiful final ārati at midnight (the exact time Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared).<br /> <br /> This year we are faced with a global pandemic, with various restrictions in place throughout the world. We will thus be celebrating Janmāṣṭamī in a somewhat different way. For many this may be difficult to accept that one will not have personal darśana of the Lord.<br /> <br /> <strong>However the Lord resides within the heart of His devotee and one can celebrate in one’s own home. </strong><br /> <br /> Today we urge you to remember that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Lord within your heart, and your home. The temple of Lord Kṛṣṇa is a place of sanctity, purity and love. Wherever He or His devotees reside, is a temple and a place of pilgrimage and in whatever way we worship Kṛṣṇa on Janmāṣṭamī, He will reciprocate with us accordingly.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><em>To download the pdf document: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/uploads/Janmastami-article-2020-1.pdf">click here</a></em></strong></span><br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87568">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87568</a></p></div>Sweet reminiscence of Janmastami and Radhastami in Mayapur!https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sweet-reminiscence-of-janmastami-and-radhastami-in-mayapur2019-09-12T11:22:36.000Z2019-09-12T11:22:36.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552824566,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552824566,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552824566?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552825668,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552825668?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Today we are observing the Sri Krishna janmasahtami adhivas because lord Krishna Janmastami is one of the most holy days in the universe. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita My birth and My work is transcendental. We will offer about 26 sacred items to the deities. We will offer that with various prayers. We have here the gurukula students who will chant the mantras and different pujaris, brahmanas and sanyasis will offer the sacred items. See the deities have come forward in their utsav murti and you can offer your prayers to the deities what seva you want to do. And tomorrow we will observe the janmastami the whole day till midnight.” – His Holiness Jayapataka Swami on Janmastami adhivas ceremony speech 2019.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The auspicious Janmastami day in Mayapur was stocked with spiritual events like samskaras, aratis and abhishek. Melodious kirtan went on for the whole day. The day started with stunning mangal arati darshan. The Bhagavatam class focused on the transcendental janma, tattva and karma of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2lMI9Bn">Janmastami Festival Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2kvRf5j">Radhastami Darshan Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2kFz1OF">Radhastami Abhishek Gallery</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826022,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826022,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826022?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The festival events in Mayapur consisted of day darshan, samskaras, abhisekh and night darshan.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The entire temple room was decorated amazingly for sringar arati. Sri sri Radha Madhav and Asta Sakhis were adorned with a new colorful dress. They were marvelously dressed with a variety of flowers, jewels and ornaments.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The crowded temple full of devotees stood astounded taking darshan and singing to their lordships.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Devotees from the Gurukula then began preparations for the performance of Krishna’s samskaras. Devotees played different roles like Krishna, Nanda, Yashoda, and Garga muni. A large number of samskaras were performed, beginning from Jata Karma (Birth), Niskramanam (first outing), Nama karana (name giving), Paustika karma (nourishment), Anna prasana (first grains), Cuda karanam (hair cutting), Upanayanam (sacred thread), and finally Samavartana (graduation from Gurukula). Little boy Krishna then went out to everyone present in the temple room to collect Gurudakshina which was a wonderful sight to witness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The abhisekh started two hours before midnight. They were bathed with Panca-gavya – the five sacred items from cow – and are then bathed with milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and sugar water, which are known as the five nectars. They were also bathed with seasonal and colourful juices from fruits such as mangoes, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, watermelons, and papayas. Water scented with saffron, rose, aguru, musk and kusha grass were also used to bathe Their Lordships, and fragrant flower waters made with flowers such as rose, bakul, lotus, jasmine, and gandharaj. Radha Madhava are also bathed in coconut water and are given two kinds of showers: Sarva Aushadi and Maha Aushadi, which uses natural medicinal and herbal substances to bathe the Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">A maha-arati was performed and Radha Madhava gave darshan in another new outfit. This was the grand Night darshan that devotees eagerly waited for after the curtains closed. Mean time there was charanamrta distributed to all the devotees in the panchatatya courtyard. Sumptuous anukalpa maha prasadam was then served to everyone who attended and fasted on this auspicious day.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Just 12 days after celebrating Janmastami there was a buzz all over Mayapur. The 4th of September was Lalita sasti and the devotees of Mayapur were getting set for yet another celebration, the appearance day of Mayapur’s most beloved Srimati Radharani. Pilgrims from local villages and abroad gathered in huge numbers to attend this grand festival. The Radha Premdan Kirtan Utsav commenced the day before the festival, an ecstatic kirtan was performed all day with devotees both residents of Mayapur and visiting devotees, getting to chant the maha mantra singing radhe! radhe!.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826606,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3552826606,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="3552826606?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">Preparations carried on for the adhivas cermony and Radahastami.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the evening, during adhivas the utsav murti Sri sri Radha Madahv came forward and were honored with 26 auspicious items. The devotees were encouraged to prepare their consciousness for Sri Radhastami the next day.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“We often pray to Radharani because She is the pleasure potency of Krsna.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The very word “Krsna” means all-attractive, but Radharani is so great that She attracts Krsna. If Krsna is always attractive to everyone, and Radharani is attractive to Krsna, how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try humbly to understand and offer Her our obeisances, saying, “Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are Krsna’s beloved. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. Radharani is very dear to Krsna, and if we approach Krsna through the mercy of Radharani we can easily attain Him. If Radharani recommends a devotee, Krsna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be.” – Srila Prabhupad on Elevation to Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">On the Radhastami day srimati Radharani gave her first darshan during mangal arati. Srimati Radhika dazzled wearing a yellow saree, her hair braided on both sides, glancing mercy to all devotees assembled, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands. The bhagavatam classes started from 6AM discussing her glories, activities and birth narrated by various exalted vaishnavas. Srimati Radharani’s glorious birth occurred on the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra. Srimati Vishakha Devi was also born on the same day. The entire temple altar was exquisitely decorated by various selfless hard-working devotees.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">During darshan arti Her Divine Grace took your breath away. Srimati Radahrani was dressed in new clothes, ornaments, flower garlands and anklets. She was wearing a garden of all varieties of blooming flowers which attract even the maddened bumblebee Sri Krishna. Her bodily complexion snatched away the pride of a golden lotus flower and her fragrance spread all over the temple room. During that time the devotees chanted govindam adi purusham and nothing else mattered only our beloved Queen Srimati Radharani.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The devotees offered various gifs during the gift offering session and soon after the Radha Premdan Kirtan Utsav resumed from 10 Am which would go on till 10 Pm. The Maha Abhisheka started an hour before noon and this was the climax of the festival. The Radha Madhav utsav deities were bathed with various colors of auspicious items as the chanting mantras and the kirtan continued in the background. Bhoga offering, puspanjali and Maha arti followed. There was a feast prasadam served in all the kitchens for everybody who attended this glorious festival.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the evening, devotees chanted Sri Radhikastakam for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani with every line ending with one request – to always bestow upon me the service of Her lotus feet. Lamps were distributed for devotees to offer and sing at the same time. This day was all about Radharani!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you to all the donors and selfless servitude mentality of devotees who made this festival a grand success. All glories to Radharani – always bestow upon me the service of Your lotus feet.</p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="http://www.mayapur.com/2019/67098/">http://www.mayapur.com/2019/67098/</a></p></div>Brooklyn Janmastami Creates Lasting Positive Impressions for Pilgrimshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/brooklyn-janmastami-creates-lasting-positive-impressions-for-pilg2019-09-04T05:31:50.000Z2019-09-04T05:31:50.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/08-Aug/hansa1_slideshow.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/08-Aug/hansa1_slideshow.jpg" alt="hansa1_slideshow.jpg" width="624" height="351" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Madhava Smulen</strong></div>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">The first Janmastami festival organized by the new ISKCON management at Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir focused on improving the pilgrim experience to create lasting positive impressions for devotees and visitors alike. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To catch the interest of passersby, increase outreach and facilitate the large crowds, organizers introduced the first annual Janmastami block party. Tents, lights and seating livened up the entire sidewalk for the full length of the temple property. The party included book and prasadam booths, facepainting, and a stage where the NYC Yuga Dharma Ashrama devotees performed kirtan nonstop from 4pm to 10pm. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“We also had a welcome booth where we collected names and gave out information about the temple,” says ISKCON Brooklyn vice-chairman Chaitanyananda Das. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Throughout the day, an impressive 2,500 to 3,000 pilgrims came from their jobs on Wall Street or downtown Manhattan to stop by and take darshan of the Deities. During previous Janmastamis, the altar would be closed for hours in the afternoon, disappointing many first-time pilgrims; this time, however, it remained open during the regular darshan times, so that people could pay their respects on their way to their next destination. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Depending on when they arrived, pilgrims got to see Sri Sri Radha Govinda in one of three different newly offered outfits, made by members of the ISKCON NYC community. First was the morning outfit, made by longtime seastress Antaranga Dasi. Next came the afternoon flower dress, made with dahlias, mums, carnations and leaves, and designed and assembled by Akunthita Dasi, Acyuta Gopi Dasi, Janaki Priya Dasi, and others. Finally, there was the midnight dress, handmade by Varanasi Dasi.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="height:450px;width:600px;" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/08-Aug/hansa3.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Many visitors stopping by on their way home would come, see the Deities, hear some kirtan, associate with the Vaishnavas, and take a book or pamphlet. As they left, the receptionist also presented each person with Ekadashi kichari and fruit salad prasadam.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The ideas was that everyone would get the full ISKCON experience in just one or two hours,” says Chaitanyananda Das. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">For those who wanted to dive deeper, there were three lectures given throughout the evening by senior devotees Bhakti Vijanana Goswami, Jayadvaita Swami, and Narada Rsi Das to large crowds. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">There were also Bharatnatyam dances by Amrita Doshi and Yamini Kalluri, a dramatic dance about Krishna’s pastimes by Sunday School children, and a drama, the Liberation of Putana, by the Vaikuntha Players. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Meanwhile, this Janmastami was the first time in ISKCON New York’s history that government officials came to the temple to participate in a festival. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Mr. K Devadasan Nair, the Deputy Consul General from the Indian Consulate, and Mr. Dilip Chauhan, Brooklyn BP Advisor for South Asian Affairs, both attended and gave short speeches expressing their appreciation for the event. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Nair said that he was glad to see all the young children dressed up in traditional clothes, looking like gopis and gopas, and celebrating Lord Krishna’s appearance,” says Chaitanyananda. “He also remarked how every was so happy. Chauhan made similar comments, telling us that Janmastami is a happy time, and that the happiness he felt at the Hare Krishna Temple was a highlight of his day.”</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="height:405px;width:600px;" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/08-Aug/hansa2.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As they concluded, Chaitanyananda, who was serving as emcee, joked, “If Mr. Chauhan could bring Eric Adams, the Borough President of Brooklyn, next year that would be awesome!” </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As it turned out, Chauhan did one better. He immediately called Eric Adams, who happened to be in the area; and just half an hour later, Adams walked into the temple room. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“He was welcomed heartily by the congregation, and gave a very poignant speech on the importance of pursuing spirituality in one’s life,” Chaitanyananda recalls. “He added that he had found the answer to his own pursuit that day by coming to the Krishna temple and celebrating Janmastami with us.” </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Adams, who is a vegan and is interested in Eastern meditation, also took a selfie with the crowd in the temple. Posting it to his official Instagram page, he wrote, “Today is Lord Krishna Day and I am out with folks at ISKCON New York City - Hare Krishna Temple celebrating. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/janmashtami/">#janmashtami</a>!” </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Finally, Adams awarded ISKCON Brooklyn temple president Hansarupa Das with a framed formal citation carrying the seal of Brooklyn. The citation acknowledged Hansarupa’s service in the early days of New York when he joined at Henry Street in 1974, as well as his service as temple president today. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I commend him for organizing Janmashtani Day in Brooklyn, one of the largest Hindu festivals celebrated worldwide every year,” it read. “I acknowledge him for promoting unity and peace throughout the community, and distributing sanctified vegetarian food and propagating spiritual knowledge and practices based on the timeless Vedic scriptures of India.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Janmastami festival ended with a midnight arati and an Ekadasi feast served to over 1,200 people. Afterwards, in a mood of collaboration, many volunteers stayed on to clean up the temple and sidewalk. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The next day devotees from The Bhakti Center, Yuga Dharma Ashram, and other local sangas all gathered at ISKCON Brooklyn to jointly celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s 123rd Appearance Day. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“It was nice to have all the devotees together under one roof,” says Chaitanyananda. “With 400 devotees, including more than twenty Prabhupada disciples, it was the biggest turnout at the Brooklyn temple for Vyasa Puja in recent years.” </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the morning, many devotees shared their memories of Srila Prabhupada, including Hansarupa Das, Jayadvaita Swami, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, Locanananda Das, Bhaktivinode Das, Bhusara Das and Bhumipati Das. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Other disciples of Srila Prabhupada who attended included Adarsi Das, Anandamoy Das, Bakula Devi Dasi, Bindu Madhava Das, Candrasekhara Swami, Caturvyuha Das, Cinmayi Devi Dasi, Nayanabhiram Das, Sivaradhya Das, Subuddhi Raya Das, and Surrottama Das. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">After puspanjali (offering of flowers) and kirtan for Srila Prabhupada, everyone tucked into a gourmet prasadam feast featuring rice, shahi paneer, sukta, saag badi, chana dal, cucumber raita, mung dal kachoris, angoor rabri, jalebis, fruit salad, and mango lassi. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">All the devotees were then invited to 26 2nd Avenue, the very first ISKCON temple, to continue the celebration from 6 to 9pm with more kirtan, homages, and prasadam.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I think we achieved our goal of creating lasting positive impressions,” Chaitanyananda beams.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="https://iskconnews.org/brooklyn-janmastami-creates-lasting-positive-impressions-for-pilgrims,7069/">https://iskconnews.org/brooklyn-janmastami-creates-lasting-positive-impressions-for-pilgrims,7069/</a></p>
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