BHISMASTAMI KI JAYA

Bhismastami

Appearance of Bhishmadeva

Geneology:
From Vishnu were descended in the following order - Brahma-Atri-Candra-Budha - Pururavas - Ayus - Nahusha- Yayati - Puru - Janamejaya - Prachinvaa - Pravira - Namasyu - Vitabhava - Shundu - Bahuvidha - Samyati - Rahovadi - Raudrasva - Matinara - Santurodha - Dushyanta - Bharata - Suhotra - Gala - Gardda - Suketu - Brhatksetra - Hasti - Ajamidha - Riksha - Samvarana - Kuru - Jahnu - Suratha - Vidaratha - Sarvabhauma - Jayatsena - Ravyaya - Bhavuka - Chakroddhata - Devatithi - Riksha - Bhima-Pratipa-Shantanu-Bhishma.

Birth and Boyhood:
Bhishma's name in his boyhood was Devavrata. He was the eighth son of Shantanu, a king of the lunar dynasty and Gangadevi. This boy was the human embodiment of Dyau, one of the Ashthavasus. Shantanu, his father was the re-birth of another king, Mahabhisheka. The story concerning this is given in the Mahabharata as follows:
King Mahabhisheka after his death, attained Vishnuloka. Once he went to visit Brahma at Satyaloka. At that time Ganga devi was also present in Brahma's assembly. In that pious atmosphere, a gentle breeze began to blow and Gangadevi's clothes were slightly deranged. Just at that moment Mahabhisheka took a stealthy glance at her and she also returned that glance. This was noted by Brahma who turned both of them into human beings by a curse. Gangadevi begged pardon and Brahma lifted the curse and blessed her that the Ashthavasus would come to the earth to be born as her sons and that afterwards she could come back to heaven. After that Gangadevi was born as a mortal woman in the world under the name Ganga and she spent her days in the forests near the Ganga river valleys.
In those days the ruler of the lunar dynasty was a king named Pratipa. Having no children he went to the bank of the Ganga and performed tapas there. Gangadevi who was moving about in the forests nearby, saw the king deeply absorbed in tapas. She approached him and sat on his right thigh. She wanted the king to be her husband. He explained to her that the right thigh is the proper seat of the daughter-in-law and so she would become his son's wife in due course. In due course of time, Pratipa has a son, Shantanu, born to him. When Shantanu grew up into a young man, one day he went for a hunt to the Ganga-valley and there he met Gangadevi. He fell in love with her at first sight and courted her. Gangadevi agreed to become his wife on the condition that he should not say anything to displease her and if he violated that condition she would leave him. The king accepted the condition and they became man and wife.
At about that time, the wife of Dyo, one of the Ashthavasus, happened to see the sacrificial cow of the sage Vasishtha and wished to have it. She expressed her desire to her husband, Dyo. Dyo with the other seven vasus went and took away by force Vasishtha's cow. Vasishtha in his anger cursed the Ashthavasus to be born as mortals. they repented and begged pardon from Vasishtha. The sage told them that all of them would be born as the sons of Gangadevi and all except Dyo, who actually stole the cow, would return to heaven at the time of birth itself. As for Dyo, he would continue to live in the world for a long time, as an adventurous hero.
Gangadevi became pregnant and gave birth to her first child. She carried the child to the river Ganga and threw it into the river. Shantanu who followed her up to the river bank, did not say anything against her, remebering his promise.
Seven children were born to her and she threw all of them into the river in this way. When she gave birth to the eighth child Shantanu insisted that he would not allow her to throw away that child in the river. As he had violated the conditions of his promise, the angry Gangadevi left the palace with her child. She named it Devavrata and brought him up in the forest. The sage Vasishtha and Gangadevi taught him all branches of knowledge. Thirtytwo years later, the king went to the same forest for hunting. He saw a handsome by stopping the flow of the river Ganga. Getting interested in the boy, the king approached him. But by that time he had disappeared. The king prayed to Gangadevi to give back the child. She appeared with the child and after handing over the child to him vanished. The king returned to the palace with the child (Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapters 95-100.)

The name of Bhishma:
Devavrata was anointed, as heir-apparent. One day king Shantanu reached the forest near the Ganga river valley, for hunting. As he was hunting absorbed in the beauty of the forest scenery, he felt the perfume of musk filling the air in the forest. He wondered from where it could come. He went on and on trying to find out the source of this smell until he reached the cottage of a fisherman. The fisherman had a daughter named Satyavati. It was from her that the fragrance of musk spread all around (Satyavati's original name was Kali. The fisherman got her from the stomach of a fish. Since she had a smell of a fish she got the name Matsyagandhi. She used to assist a fisherman in his work as a ferryman in the river Ganga. Once the sage Parasara happened to get into her boat and fell deeply in love with her. The sage removed the smell of fish from her and gave her the perfume of musk instead. By this mystic power he created a mist at noon and under its cover, he had a sexual union with her. As a result of it the child Krsna (Vyaasa) was born. The child immediately left the mother to perform tapas in the forest after promising to return to her whenever she wished for his presence. Although she gave birth to a child, Parasara blessed her that she would again remain a virgin. The whole episode remained a secret. As usual, Satyavati returned to the fisherman's cottage in the evening and continued to live with him. It is at this stage that Shantanu was attracted by the perfume of musk and came to the cottage where he met Satyavati.
The king fell in love with her at first sight. He asked the fisherman to give the girl in marriage to him. But the brave fisherman did not yeild to the king's demand immediately. He laid down several conditions; one of which was that Satyavati's sons should succeed to the throne of Shantanu. The king was in a fix. Devavrata was the eldest son and heir-apparent. To deny kingship to his sons would be highly improper. Unable to find a solution to this difficult problem, the king returned to the palace, much depressed and gloomy. there he avoided all company and took to his bed, passing his time in sadness and solitude.
When Devavrata knew about hism father's condition, he called the Ministers and asked them about it. They told him everything in details. At once, without informing even his father, Devavrata went to the fisherman's cottage on the bank of the river Ganges and begged for Satyavati on behalf of his father. the fisherman repeated his former condition. Devavrata agreed that Satyavati's son shall be given the right of kinship. The fisherman pointed out that disputes were likely to arise between Devavrata's sons and Satyavati's children regarding the right of succession to the throne. At once Devavrata stood up and made a solemn pledge (drdavrata) that he would remain a bachelor for life. The fisherman gave Satyavati to Devavrata to be taken to the king. Devavrata took her to the palace and presented her to his father. The king, when he came to know of the part played by his son in that matter, rose from his bed and embraced Devavrata with tears of joy and gratitude. the gods showered flowers on the scene. Because he had taken such a solemn oath, it was decalred that henceforth he would be known by the name BHISHMA. The loving father Shantanu also gave him a boon that Bhishma would die only when he wished. (Mahabharata. Adi Parva, Chapter 100.)

APPEARANCE OF SRILA ADVAITA ACHARYA KI JAYA

Advaita Acarya

Sri Advaita Acharya.

   The foremost of all the Vaishnavas who reside at Navadwip is Sri Advaita Acarya, whose virtuous presence has made all the worlds blessed. He is the most preeminent preceptor in all fields including knowledge, renunciation and devotion. In explaining Krsna-bhakti he is like unto Lord Shankara (Shiva) himself, and whatever scriptures that exist within the three worlds he explains in the light of Krsna-bhakti.

   With the intense eagerness he continually worships the Shalagram of Sri Krsna with Tulasi manjaris and Ganges water. By the momentum of his spiritual force, his loud shouts pierce the coverings of this universe and, resounding throughout Vaikuntha, reach the ears of Sri Krsna. Hearing this loving summons saturated with devotion, Sri Krsna advents Himself. 

Advaita Achariya worshipping Shalagram Sila offering to Him Tulasi leaves and Ganges water.

   On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, the great ocean of ecstasy swelled to its limits, being forcibly attracted by the moon of Advaita, Who appeared from the womb of Sri Nabhadevi as the moon appears in the autumn sky. His father, Sri Kuvera, Pandit floated in that ocean of joy. In great happiness gave many gifts in charity to the brahmanas (who voluntarily accept vows of poverty). Very quietly he approached the maternity room to get a glimpse of his newborn son. Then his own face began to shine by the reflected light of that moon-like personage. The residents of Nabagram came running to see the child. Everyone remarked that they had never seen such a beautiful baby. What a pious activities his father must have been performed to get such a jewel of a son, and that in his old age. Thus Ghanasyama sings about this occasion. [B.R.12.1759] The child was named Mangal and his other name was Kamalaksa.

   Advaita Acarya is the combined incarnation of Maha Visnu and Sadaisiva (who resides in Goloka). His two consorts, Sita and Sri are manifestations of Yoga Maya. Once when Advaita performed worship, whatever gods and demigods He used to meditate upon He saw all gathered at Lord Caitanya's lotus feet, offering prayers. Raising up his two hands, Advaita exclaimed in great ecstasy, "Today all the days of my life have produced a successful result, as all my desires have been fulfilled. My birth and activities have finally born fruit. I have directly perceived Your two lotus feet, which are proclaimed throughout the four Vedas but are unattainable thereby. Now, by Your causeless mercy, You have revealed Yourself to Me.

   "Mahaprabhu replied, "Acarya, now you should perform My worship." First Advaita Acarya washed the Lord's two lotus feet with water scented by flower petals and then with water scented with sandalwood. Then He placed on His lotus feet Tulasi manjari dipped in sandalwood paste along with arghya – an auspicious offering of rice, durbagrass, yogurt etc. 

Advaita Acharya called for Lord Chaitania to descend to this world and by performing His Sankirtana Yagya - Chanting of the Holy Names Hare Krishna give love for all fallen souls.

His eyes brimming with tears, he offered incense, ghee lamps, flowers, sandalwood paste, and some foodstuffs. After offering various prayers he loudly proclaimed the Lord's glories with auspicious shouts. All glories to the Lord and maintainer of the universe, the Lord of all that lives. All glories to Gaurcandra, the ocean of mercy. All glories to the most munificent incarnation of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whose form is all-enchanting. All glories to He who is decorated with the ornaments of Sri Vatsa and Kaustubha. All glories to He who has revealed the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra. All glories to He who enjoys the pastimes of accepting devotion unto Himself. All glories to Mahaprabhu who reclines on the bed of Ananta Sesa. All glories to the refuge of all living entities. [C.B.Mad. 6.116]  

   Hearing Advaita's prayer's Mahaprabhu replied, "My dear Acarya, I am very pleased by your prayers. Now you can ask from me any benediction you like." Then Advaita requested that, "My only request is that you distribute love of Krsna even to women, laborers and the ignorant fools as well. [C.B. Mad. 6.167]

Advaita Bhavan, Navadwipa Dhama.

    A Nrsimha sila and Deities, fashioned after a picture of Sri Sri Madan-Gopal that were worshipped by Advaita Acarya are still residing at Santipur in Madan-Gopal Para. Santipur is a short distance from Krsnanagar by bus. 

   The place on the banks of the Ganga where Advaita Acarya worshipped shalagram and called out to the Lord to please descend to the world is known today as Babla. A temple has been built in memory of Advaita Acarya's pastimes there. This place can be reached by rikshaw from Santipur.

 

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/advaita-acarya/#sthash.pe0Z8KJy.dpuf

RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSWAMI KI JAYA

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

Shrila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

   Born in a dynasty of Vaishnavas, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was the only son of a wealthy land owner. As a boy, he received Haridasa Thakura's association and blessings. At fifteen he met Lord Chaitanya. By the mercy of Lord Nityananda he renounced a beautiful wife and an opulent family. He ran to Jagannatha Puri to intimately serve Shri Gaura Raya and his siksha guru Svarupa Damodara Goswami for sixteen years. Lord Gauranga gave His personal Govardhana Shila and gunja mala to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

   Raghunatha Dasa couldn't live after Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world. So, he came to Vrindavana to end his life by jumping off Govardhana Hill. Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis affectionately received him. They convinced him to live on and enlighten all the Vrajavasi Vaishnavas with Shriman Mahaprabhu's Puri pastimes. For three hours a day on the banks of Radha-kunda he spoke about Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

   Raghunatha Dasa did Radha-Krishna bhajana at Radha-kunda for forty years. He lived an austere life of pure devotion. Raghunatha Dasa Goswami showed the standard of renunciation required to attain the eternal loving service of Radha-Giridhari in the nitya nikunja lilas at Radha-kunda, His perfect example enthuses all Gaudiya Vaishnavas to develop unalloyed pure love for Radha-Krishna.
   Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami's daily bhajana included: chanting 64 rounds japa (1,00,000 Holy Names); doing manasi-seva in his spiritual body; worshiping Govardhana Shila; bathing thrice in Radha-kunda; offering one-thousand obeisances to Krishna; offering two-thousand to Vaishnavas and embracing them; resting ninety minutes, and some days not at all; Keep in mind however, when an eternal associate of the Lord externally rests, internally he continues serving. He ate only one leaf cup (100 grams) of buttermilk daily.
   Throughout his life he never ate anything for sense gratification. He took the bare minimum to keep body and soul together. It's said that after the disappearance of Lord Chaitanya Raghunatha Dasa ate only fruit and milk. After Shri Sanatana Goswamipada left he existed on a leaf cup of buttermilk every day or two. And when Shri Rupa Goswami entered nitya-lila Raghunatha gave up all eating and drinking! He was slowly burning in the fire of separation from the Lord and His loving servants. The Vrajavasis would cry upon seeing his weakened condition.
   Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami wrote three books; Stavavalli (contains Manah Shiksha, Vilapa-kusumanjali and more), Mukta-charita, Dana Keli Chintamani. In Jaiva Dharma, Shrila Thakura Bhaktivinoda said, "Raghunatha Dasa Goswami showed the esoteric method of engaging oneself in the loving service of Shri-Shri Radha-Krishna." Raghunatha Dasa wrote and taught that the divine service of Shrimati Radharani in Vrindavana is the topmost spiritual perfection. For this he was known as the prayojana acharya, the teacher who reveals the highest fulfillment in life.
   Raghunatha Dasa Goswami clearly established the supremacy of Shrimati Radharani. In Vilapa-kusumanjali, a collection of intimate prayers, he states that Shri Radha's service is the highest attainment. Feeling extreme impatience and hopelessness, due to separation from the "Queen of his life," he desperately prays for Radharani's service:
   "My life is worthless. I will give it up without receiving Your mercy. Living in Radha-kunda and Vrindavana is meaningless to me. To say nothing of Vrindavana, even Krishna Himself is useless to me without You. 0 Shrimati Radharani, You are the only object of my life. Please be merciful to me. Crying profusely in great lamentation, I hold Your lotus feet to my heart and beg for Your loving service. May this Vilapa-kusumanjali bring even the slightest satisfaction to You."
   Shrila Raghunatha Dasa serves Shri Radha as Rati-manjari in Shri Vrindavana-dhama. His samadhi is at Radha-kunda and the 64 Samadhis Area. 

Born in a dynasty of Vaishnavas, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was the only son of a wealthy land owner. As a boy, he received Haridasa Thakura's association and blessings. At fifteen he met Lord Chaitanya. By the mercy of Lord Nityananda he renounced a beautiful wife and an opulent family. He ran to Jagannatha Puri to intimately serve Shri Gaura Raya and his siksha guru Svarupa Damodara Goswami for sixteen years. Lord Gauranga gave His personal Govardhana Shila and gunja mala to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. (In the wallpaper: Shri Vijaya Gauranga, ISKCON Hungary, New Vraja Dham).

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/sri-raghunatha-dasa-goswami/#sthash.dieTukPf.dpuf

RAGHUNANDANA THAKURA KI JAYA

Raghunandana Thakura – Biography

vyuhas tritiyah pradyumnah priya-narma-sakho’bhavat

cakre lila-sahayam yo radha-madhavayor vraje

shri-caitanyadvaita-tanuh sa eva raghunandanah

 

   The third member of the chatur-vyuha, Pradyumna, took part in Radha Madhava’s lila in Vraja as Krishna’s intimate friend or priya-narma-sakha. He has now appeared as Raghunandan, whose body is not different from that of Chaitanya. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 70)

 

Raghunandan’s Father: Mukunda Das

 

   Raghunandan was born into a family of physicians in the Shaka year 1432 (1510 AD). His father’s name was Mukunda Das, his mother’s name is unknown. Mukunda Das was Narahari Sarkar Thakur’s older brother. In the fifteenth chapter of the Madhya-lila of Chaitanya Charitamrita, it is clearly said that Mukunda Das was physician to the king.

 

   Externally, he appears to be a physician to the king who is engaged in government service. But internally, he is filled with divine love. Who would be able to know his love? (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.15.120) 

Once when Mukunda Das was engaged in treating the king, he saw a peacock feather and fainted. (In the wallpaper: Peacock feather , fainted person).

 

   Once when Mukunda Das was engaged in treating the king, he saw a peacock feather and fainted. This incident is also described in the Chaitanya Charitamrita (2.15.121ff). His home was in Shrikhanda, a village in Burdwan district. On the Katwa-Burdwan rail line, the first station west of Katwa is Shripat Shrikhanda, and the second Shrikhanda. Mukunda Das’s home is about one mile from the Shrikhanda station. Raghunandan Thakur took birth on the Vasanta Panchami day. His uncle Narahari took a great deal of interest in raising Raghunandan, for whom he had much affection.

 

   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu indicated that one’s importance increases with the depth of devotion by telling Mukunda Das that his son was really his father.

 

   The three most important Devotees from Shrikhanda were Mukunda Das, Raghunandan and Narahari. Mahaprabhu asked Mukunda Das, “Are you Raghunandan’s father and he is your son? Or, is he your father and you his son? Tell me so that I can put My doubts to rest.” Mukunda answered, “Raghunandan is my father and I am his son, rest assured. Whatever devotion we have comes from him, therefore I see him as my father.” When He heard Mukunda Das’s answer, Mahaprabhu was thrilled and He said, “He from whom we imbibe devotion is certainly our guru.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.15.112-117)

 

Mahaprabhu Gave Raghunandan the Service of Deity Worship

 

   Raghunandan’s work is to serve Krishna. He has no interest in anything other than serving Krishna. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.15.131)

 

   From his early childhood, Raghunandan Thakur would feed the family’s Gopinath Deity laddus. Uddhava Das has written a song in which this lila is described:

 

   Mukunda Das lived in the village of Shrikhanda, where his household Deity was named Gopinath. One day he had to go somewhere for work and he called Raghunandan to do the service.

 

   He said, “In this house we worship Krishna, so I want you to be sure to give Him something to eat.” and then he left. Raghunandan did as his father had ordered and made the offering to the Deity.

 

   Raghunandan was just a child and in his simplicity, he said to Gopinath, “Eat! Eat!” Krishna is controlled by love, and so He did as the child told Him and ate everything on the plate without leaving a grain of rice. 

Raghunandan was just a child and in his simplicity, he said to Gopinath, “Eat! Eat!” Krishna is controlled by love, and so He did as the child told Him and ate everything on the plate without leaving a grain of rice. (In the wallpaper: Shri Gopinatha, ISKCON Belgium, Radhadesh, a kid).

 

   When Mukunda Das returned, he asked the boy to bring him the Prasad from the offering he had made. The child answered, “Father, He ate everything and left no remnants.”

 

   Mukunda was astonished at his child’s wonderful words that he asked him again on another occasion to make an offering. This time after he left the house, he returned and hid to watch what his son would do.

 

   Raghunandan joyfully placed a laddu in Krishna’s hand and said in a commanding voice, “Eat! Eat!”. When Krishna had eaten half of the laddu, Raghunandan saw Mukunda Das in the doorway.

 

   Mukunda saw that Krishna did not take another bite and that the half-eaten laddu remained in His hand. This caused him to be filled with love. He embraced his child and, as tears of joy rained from his eyes, spoke to him in a broken voice.

 

   To this day, fortunate people come to Shrikhanda to see the half-eaten laddu in Gopinath’s hand. Raghunandan is not different from Cupid himself, says Uddhava Das with great feeling.

 

   [All the mahantas] felt fascinated to see the Gopinath Deity whom Raghunandan had fed laddus. (Bhakti-ratnakara 9.525)

 

Other Miraculous Events

 

   Narahari Sarkar Thakur gave mead to Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu from a pond which was right next to the their home. This pond became known as Madhu Pushkarini. The legend is told that a kadamba tree which grew right next to the pond always had two flowers blooming regardless of the season by Raghunandan’s miraculous powers. 

Narahari Sarkar Thakur gave mead to Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu from a pond which was right next to the their home. This pond became known as Madhu Pushkarini. The legend is told that a kadamba tree which grew right next to the pond always had two flowers blooming regardless of the season by Raghunandan’s miraculous powers. (In the wallpaper: Madhu Pushkarini pond and Kadamba tree, Shrikhand).

 

   According to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, another miraculous event took place in Raghunandan’s life: One day Abhirama Thakur came to Shrikhanda and paid his obeisances to Raghunandan. Then he embraced him and melted with feelings of prema. Raghunandan started to dance and sing kirtan, and while doing so, one of his ankle bells slipped from his foot and went flying off, landing four miles away in Akai Hat near his disciple Krishna Das’s house. Later, in order to commemorate the event, a tank was excavated there which was given the name Nupur Kund.

 

   Mahaprabhu, the father of sankirtan, gave his adopted son Raghunandan Thakur the authority to offer the garland on the day before the sankirtan yajna (the adhivasa) and to make the final offering at the yajna’s end.

 

   Raghunandan Thakur accompanied the Bengali Devotees to Puri ever year at chaturmasya. He would dance with his uncle Narahari at the Rathayatra festival in the group formed by the residents of Shrikhanda.

 

   He participated in the Kheturi festival organized by Narottama Das Thakur, at Gadadhara Das’s festival in Katwa and at the commemorative festival for Narahari Sarkar Thakur in Shrikhanda.

 

   Some people said, “Anyone who is dear to Raghunandan will win Mahaprabhu’s mercy for life after life.” Others said, “Raghunandan is so merciful that he gives life to the most humble and fallen.” Some said, “What humility! There is no one who is his equal.” And others, “He is as beautiful as Kandarpa himself!”, etc. (Bhakti-ratnakara 9.660 ff.) 

Raghunandan Thakur bequeathed the service of his Gaura-Gopal Deity to his son Kanai Thakur and then left this world on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Shravan. (In the image: Gaura Goapl and Gopinath of Raghunandana Thakur, Shrikhand).

 

   Shrila Raghunandan Thakur had great affection for Shrinivas Acharya. Prior to his disappearance he consoled Shrinivas that despite the difficult times, he would be able to spread Vaishnavism in the future:

 

   “A difficult time is coming in which people will succumb to various doubts. Narahari Prabhu wrote in his Shri-Krishna-bhajanamrita:

 

krishna-caitanya-candrena nityanandena samhrite

avatare kalav asmin vaishnavah sarva eva hi

bhavishyanti sadodvignah kale kale dine dine

prayah sandigdha-hridaya uttametara-madhyamah

(verses 3-4)

 

   Once our Lord Krishna Chaitanya and his companion Nityananda Prabhu have ended their incarnation, the Vaishnavas in this age of Kali will be anxious with every passing day. Whether very advanced, somewhat advanced or neophyte, their hearts will nearly always be filled with doubt.

 

   But don’t let this worry you. Lord Gauranga will accomplish many great works through you. I bless you that you remain long on this earth and that you and your followers protect our Lord’s religion. Those who are opposed to devotion to Krishna will become Devotees by your influence and they will take shelter of you. (Bhakti-ratnakara 13.174-179)

 

   Raghunandan Thakur bequeathed the service of his Gaura-Gopal Deity to his son Kanai Thakur and then left this world on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Shravan. Kanai Thakur gave a feast as a part of his father’s last rites:

 

   Raghunandan slowly became hidden to mortal eyes while repeating again and again the names of Shri Krishna Chaitanya. How glorious is that day of Shravan shukla chaturthi! Who will not sing the glories of Raghunandan Thakur? (Bhakti-ratnakara 13.183-4)

 

   [Excerpted from "Shri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Shrila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj] 

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PUNDARIKA VIDYANIDHI KI JAYA

Pundarika Vidyanidhi – Biography

 vrishabhanutaya khyatah pura yo vraja-mandale

adhuna pundarikaksho vidyanidhi-mahashayah

svakiya-bhavam asvadya radha-viraha-katarah

caitanyah pundarikaksham aye tatavadat svayam

 

prema-nidhitaya khyatim gauro yasmai dadau sukhi

madhavendrasya shishyatvat gauravam ca sadakarot

tat-prakasha-vishesho’pi mishrah shri-madhavo matah

ratnavati tu tat-patni kirtida kirtita budhaih

 

   He who was previously known in Vraja as Vrishabhanu, is known here as Shri Pundarikaksha Vidyanidhi. When Mahaprabhu was in His own mood as Krishna and felt the pain of separation from Radha, He would call him “father!”. Gaurachandra was happy with Pundarika and named him Premanidhi, or “the treasure house of love”. Mahaprabhu always treated him with respect because he was the disciple of Madhavendra Puri. Madhava Mishra is said to be his expansion and his wife Ratnavati was Kirtida in Vraja. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 54)

 

   Pundarika Vidyanidhi’s father was named Baneshvara and his mother, Ganga Devi. He was born on Vasanta-panchami, the fifth day of the waxing moon in the month of Magh in Chakrashala in Chittagong. His home, or Shripat, used to stand in the village of Mekhala which is two miles east of the Hat Hajari police station, about twelve miles north of the city of Chittagong. Vidyanidhi’s father was a Varendra Brahmin who hailed from the town of Baghiya in the district of Dhaka. Pundarika Vidyanidhi himself was a wealthy zamindar of Chakrashala.

 

   He is a zamindar from Chakrashala, extremely rich and very pure in his actions. He is a Varendra Brahmin, whose lineage is extremely respectable. His name is Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Sometimes he stays in Chittagong, and sometimes in Navadwip. He is a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. (Prema-vilasa, 22)

 

The Lord Glorifies Pundarika

 

   Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi came to Navadwip because he wished to live by the banks of the Ganges. Mahaprabhu, the indweller of all beings, knew prior to his coming that he had such a desire, and one day in the assembly of Devotees started calling out, “Pundarika, My friend, My father!” and crying. 

Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi came to Navadwip because he wished to live by the banks of the Ganges. Mahaprabhu, the indweller of all beings, knew prior to his coming that he had such a desire, and one day in the assembly of Devotees started calling out, “Pundarika, My friend, My father!” and crying. (In the wallpaper: in the backgraund Ganges River, in the left Pundarika Vidyanidhi, in the right Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu).

 

   When His associates asked Him why He was crying in this way, the Lord described Pundarika Vidyanidhi to them in the following way: “His character is quite extraordinary. Just by hearing his name, the whole world is purified, but he dresses and looks just like a materialistic person in the midst of the accouterments of the life of pleasure. No one is able to recognize him as a Vaishnava, yet he remains constantly merged in the deep ocean of devotion for Krishna. He never bathes in the Ganges because he is afraid to touch the holy waters with his feet, which would show disrespect. He only goes to take darshan of the Ganges at night and from a distance. He cannot bear to see people engaged in offensive behavior to the Ganges by gargling, cleaning their teeth, washing their hair in her waters, so he never goes there during the daytime. He never engages in worship of the Deity without having taken a drink of Ganges water. He has homes in both Chittagong and in Navadwip and will soon be arriving here. Because of his apparently materialistic behavior, you will not be able to recognize him, but I feel unwell because I am not able to see him.”

 

   The Supreme Lord has appeared in Navadwip, but He heaves long sighs because He doesn’t see Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Lord Gauranga stands up and starts to dance, calling out loudly, “Pundarika, My father! Pundarika, My friend, My father! When will I see you?” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.7.11-3)

 

   It is thought that Pundarika Vidyanidhi took initiation from Madhavendra Puripada at the same time that Advaita Acharya did. Mahaprabhu always showed him the respect that was due the godbrother of His own guru. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes:

 

   I know Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi to be a major branch, for the Lord Himself cried while spontaneously calling out his name. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.14)

 

Gadadhara Becomes Pundarika’s Disciple

 

   Shrila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami, Mukunda Datta and Vasudeva Datta were also originally from Chittagong and so they were acquainted with Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Indeed Gadadhar Pandit’s father Madhava Mishra was his good friend. Mukunda Datta knew his transcendental personality and that he was a Vaishnava, but Gadadhara did not, even though he was from the same town. This was, of course, a pretense for the sake of the lila.

 

   When Pundarika was living in Navadwip, Mukunda Datta told Gadadhar one day that he wanted to introduce him to a great Vaishnava. Shrila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami was a brahmachari from childhood and extremely detached from the senses and ascetic in his lifestyle. When he saw Pundarika sitting on comfortable cushions covered in sheets as white as the foam of milk, and wearing very expensive clothes and perfumes, smoking from a hookah, and generally surrounded by all the trappings of a sensual lifestyle, he was unable to recognize him as a Vaishnava. Indeed, he felt let down.

 

   Mukunda could see from Gadadhara’s face what was going through his head, and in order to bring out Pundarika’s inner mood, recited two verses from the Bhagavatam that enkindle the flames of love for Krishna.

 

aho bakiyam stana-kala-kutam

jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi

lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato’nyam

kam va dayalum sharanam prapadye

(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.2.23)

 

putana lokabalaghni rakshasi rudhirashana

jighamsayapi haraye stanam dattvapa sad-gatim

(Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.6.35)

 

   How truly amazing! The sister of Bakasura, the evil Putana, was sent on a mission to kill Krishna. He drank the kalakuta poison mixed with her breast milk, and despite her evil intentions, awarded her the position of a wet nurse (as Ambika Killimba in Goloka). Who is more merciful than He that I should take shelter of Him?

 

   That Rakshasi Putana was a blood-drinking killer of infants. Even though she wanted to kill Krishna, because she gave Him her breast, she attained the auspicious goal of a nurse in Goloka.

 

   As soon as he heard these two verses in glorification of Krishna’s mercy, Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi cried out “Ha Krishna!” and fell to the floor in a swoon. He began to roll on the floor in ecstasy, knocking over the hookah and tearing his clothes. 

That Rakshasi Putana was a blood-drinking killer of infants. Even though she wanted to kill Krishna, because she gave Him her breast, she attained the auspicious goal of a nurse in Goloka. As soon as he heard these two verses in glorification of Krishna’s mercy, Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi cried out “Ha Krishna!” and fell to the floor in a swoon. He began to roll on the floor in ecstasy, knocking over the hookah and tearing his clothes. (In the wallpaper: Putana feeding Krishna her milk).

 

   When he saw these transcendental symptoms of love on Pundarika’s body, Gadadhara realized that he had committed an offense, which he began to regret. He decided that the only way to rid himself of this offense would be to take initiation from Pundarika, and he related this idea to Mukunda. Mukunda then communicated his desire to Pundarika who happily set a date for the auspicious act. Mahaprabhu also gave His approval and so Gadadhara took mantra initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi. 

 

   In Krishna lila, Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi is Vrishabhanu and Shrila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami is Radha. Because of his identity as Vrishabhanu, Mahaprabhu would call out to him as “father!” when He was Himself in the mood of Shrimati Radharani. The deep affection from their previous life’s relation became apparent between Pundarika and Gadadhara. No one can understand the pastimes of the Vaishnavas without their mercy.

 

vaishnava cinite nare devera shakati

mui kon chara shishu alpamati

 

   Even the gods are unable to recognize a Vaishnava, so how can a foolish, fallen child like Myself do so?

 

   Even though Pundarika Vidyanidhi was a great Vaishnava, he kept it a secret and appeared just like a materialistic person. One cannot recognize a Vaishnava through any superficial examination. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur writes in his Gaudiya-bhashya to the Chaitanya Bhagavat: “Krishna lila is not accessible to pure sensual understanding. Krishna’s servants occasionally go unrecognized due to their apparently materialistic surroundings. In this way they deceive the conditioned souls. Most scholars take Krishna’s activities to be those of a material lover because of their own obsession with sensuality, and thus they have no faith in Him. Others consider Krishna to be an ordinary man who is born and dies and is transformed and thus they have no idea of who He really is. Krishna’s Devotees are also sometimes reluctant to reveal their real selves to those who are unworthy and thus make a pretense of being ordinary materialistic persons. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is also sometimes called the pracchanna-avatar or hidden incarnation. In the same spirit, Pundarika put on the show of being sensualist for those who were capable of being deceived by someone’s external appearance.”

 

   One day Pundarika Vidyanidhi came to see Mahaprabhu when it was already quite late at night. As soon as he saw the Lord, he was so overcome by love that he could not even pay his obeisances. Mahaprabhu was similarly anxious to see His most dear Devotee, Pundarika and He immediately took him to his breast and washed Him with his tears of love. When the other Devotees heard Mahaprabhu cry and call Pundarika “father” and “treasure of love”, they knew that he was most dear to Him. Pundarika Vidyanidhi was also known to Mahaprabhu’s associates as Acharyanidhi.

 

   The Supreme Lord cried and called out “Pundarika! Father! Today I have seen My own father! Today I rose from My sleep at an auspicious moment, and I saw Premanidhi standing before me. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.7.131, 143)

 

Pundarika in Puri

 

   Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi participated in the nightly sankirtan festival in Shrivasa Pandit’s house along with Mahaprabhu and His other associates. On Mahaprabhu’s order, Nityananda and Hari Das went door to door to spread the chanting of the Holy Names and thus to liberate the conditioned souls, succeeding in converting Jagai and Madhai. Later, when Jagai and Madhai were sitting amongst the Devotees before Mahaprabhu, they also displayed the ecstatic symptoms of prema. Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was also present there and he became completely submerged in loving ecstasy to see their fortune. On Mahaprabhu’s order, the Devotees led by Advaita Acharya went each year to see the Rathayatra. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami describes him as being one of the leaders of Gauranga’s associates as they made the annual trip:

 

   All of Mahaprabhu’s servants such as Advaita, Nityananda, Mukunda, Shrivasa, Vidyanidhi, Vasudeva and Murari came together each year to meet with Him and they would stay four months. The Lord enjoyed many pastimes in their company. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.1.255-6)

 

   Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was also present at Jagannath’s Chandana yatra festival when Mahaprabhu and all His Devotees would play in the water of Narendra Sarovara, also known as Chandan Pukur. Pundarika and Svarupa Damodar were close friends and they joyfully splashed each other as a part of these pastimes.

 

   Vidyanidhi and Svarupa Damodar were friends. Laughing, they splashed water on each other. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.8.124)

 

   Pundarika Vidyanidhi also participated with Mahaprabhu and His associates in the cleaning of the Gundicha Temple, afterwards relishing Mahaprasad with them.

 

Gadadhara Wants to be Reinitiated

 

   One day, Shrila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami asked Mahaprabhu if he could retake again. He said,

 

   “Ever since I repeated my ishta-mantra to someone, I have been unable to concentrate when I chant. Please repeat the mantra to me, then my mind will be calmed.”

 

   Mahaprabhu answered, “You already have a mantropadeshaka guru. Be careful, otherwise you will be an offender to him. Everything I have is yours, even My life, what to speak of the mantra. But as long as your guru is alive it is improper for Me to repeat it to you.” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.10.23-6)

 

   Gadadhara answered, saying, “He isn’t here. Please do it in his place.”

 

   Mahaprabhu replied: “Destiny will bring your guru Vidyanidhi to you.” The omniscient Mahaprabhu continued, “Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi will be here in Puri to see Me in ten days.” And that is what came to pass. Mahaprabhu became ecstatic, crying, “Father has come! Father has come!” Upon Vidyanidhi’s arrival, Gadadhara went to him and asked him to repeat the mantra to him.

 

   Gadadhara Deva asked Premanidhi to again initiate him in the ishta-mantra, which he lovingly did. How can I sufficiently glorify Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, who has a loving disciple like Gadadhara Pandit! (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.10.79-80)

 

   Our most worshipable Shrila Prabhupada commented on the above verse (3.10.24) in the following way: “The mantra is that divine sound or shabda brahma which destroys the mental aptitude for sense gratification. If one instructs a faithless person in the divine sound, the mind becomes contaminated. If one’s divine understanding (divya-jïana) is destroyed, then one must seek the same again. Gadadhara Pandit understood this and so he asked Gaurasundara Mahaprabhu to reinitiate him. Mahaprabhu’s judgment, however, was that he should go to his own guru to hear the mantra again.”

 

   The lesson to be learned here is this: Shrila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami is Mahaprabhu’s eternal associate; it is thus impossible that any contamination could have entered his mind. It was only through Gadadhara that He was instructing those who would be guru that if one instructs an unqualified person in the mantra, it loses its potency and no longer brings the same joy to the heart of the practitioner. When this happens, it is necessary to go to the guru again and hear the mantra from him again. It is against custom to hear the mantra again from someone who is not one’s guru, because one cannot change initiating spiritual masters in this way. Gadadhara was only saying “I cannot concentrate like before” (na sphure bhalo mati), i.e., “The ecstatic feelings no longer come when I chant”, out of an exemplary humility designed to teach humanity how to act.

 

Jagannath Slaps Pundarika

 

   On the Oriana Shashthi festival, Jagannath’s servants dress Him in a cloth which still has starch in it. Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was a pure sad-achari, i.e., attached to the proper etiquette of Vaishnavism. When he observed this custom, he did not feel happy about it and said to his friend, Svarupa Damodar, “Why do they give this unwashed cloth to the Lord? The people of this country know the rules in the Smritis and the Shrutis, so why do they give this mariuwa cloth to Jagannath?”

 

   Svarupa Damodar answered that the Supreme Lord is beyond the rules and regulations that have become general custom and that therefore there was no fault. Vidyanidhi did not find this conclusion satisfying and he countered by saying, “That may be true for the Lord Himself. But His servants should follow the rules of the scripture. The shri-vigraha of the Lord is beyond the material qualities, so you can say this of Him, but His servants are not of the same nature as He. So we have to judge whether their behavior is proper or improper.”

 

   Vidyanidhi is Mahaprabhu’s dear associate and beyond any fault, but once again we see that the Lord teaches particular lessons through His Devotees. Here He wished to show that we have no right to make judgments or to find fault with the behavior of Jagannath’s Devotees. That night an angry Jagannath came to Pundarika Vidyanidhi and gave him a dream vision. Vidyanidhi was frightened when he saw the anger of the Lord. He saw both Jagannath and Balaram slap him on each of his cheeks and he started to cry out, “Krishna save me! Krishna, save me! Forgive me my offense!” Jagannath said to him:

 

   “There is no end to your offensiveness. Just as there is no question of pure and impure in My case, the same holds true for My servants. You are staying here; you should know all this. If you thought that it was impure, then why did you stay at all? Go home then, if you want to maintain your purity.” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.10.131-2) 

Jagannath said to him: “There is no end to your offensiveness. Just as there is no question of pure and impure in My case, the same holds true for My servants. You are staying here; you should know all this. If you thought that it was impure, then why did you stay at all? Go home then, if you want to maintain your purity.” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.10.131-2) When he woke up in the morning, the Devotees saw the marks of the Lords’ slaps on his cheeks, which had swollen as a result and they started to laugh. This pastime shows just how dear Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was to Jagannath and to Mahaprabhu, for the Lord only comes to His dearest Devotees to personally punish them in this way. (In the wallpaper: Lord Jagannath, a girl).

 

   When he woke up in the morning, the Devotees saw the marks of the Lords’ slaps on his cheeks, which had swollen as a result and they started to laugh. This pastime shows just how dear Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was to Jagannath and to Mahaprabhu, for the Lord only comes to His dearest Devotees to personally punish them in this way.

 

   That night Jagannath and Balaram came to him and, laughing all the while, slapped him on the cheeks. Pundarika Vidyanidhi felt a secret joy at his swollen cheeks, as has been described by Vrindavan Das in detail. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.16.80-1)

 

   It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnakara that Mahaprabhu celebrated the birth of Radharani at Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi’s house. (Bhakti-ratnakara 12.3177).

 

   Vrindavan Das Thakur concludes the Chaitanya Bhagavat with the following glorification of Shri Pundarika Vidyanidhi:

 

   The Supreme Lord Gauranga called out the name of this Devotee, crying “Pundarika, My father. Anyone who hears about his life and activities will undoubtedly attain Krishna’s lotus feet.” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.10.183-4)

 

   [Excerpted from "Shri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Shrila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj]

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/pundarika-vidyanidhi-biography/#sthash.Hq7mRuOx.dpuf

SRILA VISVANATHA CHAKRAVARTI THAKURA KI JAYA

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

Appearing in 1638, Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (Hari Vallabha Dasa) came in the disciplic succession from Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura. Visvanatha took diksa from Sri Radha Ramana Cakravarti. Although married, Visvanatha was indifferent and soon renounced family life. He came to Vrindavana dhama and did Krishna bhajana at Radha-kunda.

He was known as "the crest jewel of the Vaisnavas" because of his pure devotion, scholarship, and realized perception of Radha Gokulananda's intimate conjugal pastimes. Gaudiya authorities say that Sri Rupa Goswami is vag-devavatara (an incarnation of the god of speech). And Gaudiya acaryas, especially among his direct disciples, believe that Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is an incarnation of Sri Rupa Goswami.
Among all Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas only Visvanatha Cakravarti comes close to matching Srila Rupa Goswami's profound realizations on the Absolute Truth. Visvanatha Cakravarti's name itself implies his position. Visvanatha means "He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Visvanatha (Sri Krishna, the Lord of the universe)." Cakravarti means "he who expands the cakra (circle) of bhakti."

Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, "Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was the protector, guardian, and acarya during the middle period (1600-1700) of the historical development of Gaudiya Vaisnavism." The growth of Gaudiya Vaisnavism began with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was later rejuvenated by Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda, spread by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and broadcast all over the world by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya of ISKCON.

During his stay in Vrindavana, Visvanatha worshiped Deities of Radha Gokulananda and Sri Giriraja. His Govardhana sila was first worshiped by Lord Caitanya, then Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, Sri Mukunda Dasa, Srimati Krishna Priya Thakurani, and Visvanatha Cakravarti. Today this Giriraja Govardhana Deity resides in the Radha-Gokulananda temple in Vrindavana. Some claim the Govardhana sila is in "Bhagavat Nivas" in Ramana Reti near the ISKCON Krishna Balarama Mandir.

In a dream Lord Sri Krishna ordered Visvanatha to make commentaries on the Goswami's books. Immeditately, he started writing prolifically. Clouds would shield him from the sun whenever he sat to write. Once a torrential downpour flooded the area where Visvanatha was writing his Bhagavata commentaries. Miraculously, not a drop touched Visvanatha or his Bhagavata manuscript.

While compiling Mantrartha Dipika (explanation on Kama Gayatri), Visvanatha became perplexed. According to his exhaustive research which indicated twenty five, he couldn't substantiate why Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote in Caitanya-caritamrta that Kama Gayatri contains twenty-four and one-half syllables. And that these syllables correspond to the twenty-four and one-half moons present on Krishna's transcendental body.
In a dream Srimati Radhika instructed Visvanatha, "0 Visvanatha, Please don't lament anymore. What Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote is true. He is also My confidential maidservant. And he knows everything about My most secret innermost moods. This Kama Gayatri is the mantra for worshiping Me. Indeed, I can be known by the syllables of this mantra. Without My mercy, no one can learn anything about the mystery of this mantra."
"The solution to the half syllable is found in the book Var-nagama-bhasvadi. Seeing this book, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote as he did, The letter ya which is followed by the letter vi as in the words kama devaya vidmahe is considered to be a half syllable. This falls on Krishna's forehead because His forehead is shaped like the halo of a half moon. All the other letters of the mantra are full syllables and therefore full moons. Now wake up, check that book, and compile this evidence for everyone's benefit."
Instantly awaking, Visvanatha cried out in ecstasy–"Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe!" Having Radharani's darsana infused Visvanatha Cakravarti's writing with divine sakti. He felt that he had been accepted as one of Srimati Radharani's confidential maidservants. His writings reflected this realization.
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura wrote over forty Sanskrit books on the science of pure devotion to Radha-Giridhari. He also made the sweetest, most highly realized rasika tikas (commentaries) on Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, the works of Srila Rupa Goswami, Kavi Karnapura, and Narottama Dasa Thakura.
Sri Krishna Bhavanamrta, Madhurya kadambini, Vraja-riti cin-tamani, Camatkara Candrika, Svapna Vilasamrta, Sankalpa Kalpa Druma, and others. The life and teachings of Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada give happiness, inspiration, and transcendental wisdom to the entire Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. We sincerely pray that after thousands of births we will someday qualify to become a particle of dust under the shade of his lotus feet. Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada ki jai!
In Krishna lila he serves Srimati Radhika as Vinoda-manjari. His samadhi is in the Radha Gokulananda temple courtyard.

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/sri-visvanatha-cakravarti-thakura/#sthash.Thb6qawp.dpuf

SARASWATI PUJA KI JAYA

History
In the Vedas, Goddess Saraswati is refered as the water deity and is revered for her purifying and enriching powers. The Goddess of knowledge and learning is said to have invented Sanskrit, the language of the Brahmins, of scriptures and scholars. It is also believed that it was Goddess Saraswati who discovered 'amrit' in the Himalayas and brought it to the other gods. She was said to be identical with Viraj being created out of the substance of Purusha or Prajapati and thus is the instrument of creation. As Brahma's wife, she provides the power to execute what Brahma conceives with his creative intelligence. She is the goddess of all the creative arts and in particular of poetry and music, learning and science.

Saraswati puja is celebrated through out the country. The Goddess of knowledge is revered among the students and learned who strictly follow all the rituals to worship her. The festivities that accompany Saraswati puja is a part of the social celebrations. Young girls are seen in yellow saaries. Pushpanjali (offering of flowers along with mantras) are offered. Bright palash flowers are offerd that are a part of the worship.Young people enjoy the day with each other. Cultural programmes are staged at night. The Goddess who is the patron of music, culture and learning is revered by singers and musicians with great devotion.

VISHNUPRIYA DEVI KI JAYA

Vishnupriya Devi

The Supreme Lord has three different internal saktis (potencies), Sri, Bhu and Nita. Bhu sakti appeared as Srimati Vishnupriya Devi in Gaura lila to assist Sri Caitanya's sankirtana movement. King Satrajit, the father of Satyabhama in Krishna lila, appeared in Gauranga lila as the brahmana Sanatana Mishra, Vishnupriya Devi's father.
Srimati Vishnupriya Devi overflowed with all good qualities. Her beauty surpassed the goddess of fortune. She was devoted to her parents and dutifully followed scriptural injunctions. Regularly she worshiped Tulasi Devi, and observed vows of austerity such as bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.

Whenever she met Saci Mata at the Ganges Vishnupriya would humbly bow down at her feet. Saci Devi often thought that chaste beautiful Vishnupriya would make an ideal bride for her son Nimai. After Laxmipriya Devi, Lord Caitanya's first wife, "died in separation from the Lord," Nimai Pandit married Srimati Vishnupriya Devi. Caitanya Mangala and Caitanya Bhagavata give elaborate descriptions of this most auspicious wedding.
Buddhimanta Khan, a rich landowner, bore all expenses of the opulent royal wedding of the Divine Couple, Vishnupriya and Sri Nimai Pandit. All the people of Navadvipa and the neighboring villages came to the wedding. During the ceremony all eyes were on the Divine Couple,as if to devour the matchless beauty of Vishnupriya and Nimai Pandit.
The Vaisnavas sang Hari's glories. The brahmanas made a circle around the Lord and chanted the Vedas. A sea of joy flooded the four directions. Those who didn't drown simply floated in bliss. Besides the wedding, Vrindavana Dasa Thakura doesn't elaborate about Vishnupriya's pastimes.

In Caitanya Mangala, Locana Dasa Thakura tells pastimes not mentioned elsewhere. He narrates the especially touching last conversation Lord Gauranga had with Vishnupriya Devi the night before He took sannyasa:
"In a voice choked with emotion, Vishnupriya said, 'Tell me, 0 Prananatha (Lord of my life), is it true the rumor I heard that You will take sannyasa and leave me? If I lose Your association I might as well end my life by drinking poison.'

"Responding with gentle compassionate words, Sri Gaura Raya said, 'Vishnupriya, you are as dear to Me as life itself. There is no need to worry. Please hear what I am about to say; for it will help you. The only truth in this world is Bhagavan and the Vaisnavas. Everything else is illusion. Fathers, mothers, children, relationships between men and women are all illusory. Krishna is the master, the real husband of everyone. Don't lament, don't worry your nameis Vishnupriya. Therefore, fulfill the real meaning of Vishnupriya and always think of Krishna within your heart.'

"Then Sri Gaurasundara showed His four-armed form which helped Vishnupriya understand His absolute position. Seeing this vanquished Vishnupriya's grief and pain. She felt blissful. This vision and Mahaprabhu's instructions removed her bewilderment. But she kept the mentality of taking the Lord as her husband.

"Sobbing and falling at Lord Caitanya's feet, she said, 'I beg You to accept my humble submission. You are the most dear Lord of my life, my only wealth. Without You, without Your service 1 have nothing.'

"Lord Gauranga embraced Vishnupriya with His eyes. He gave her mercy with these words: 'I shall travel here and there. But wherever I go, I shall always remain at your place.'
"Understanding the supremely independent nature of Lord Gaura, Vishnupriya said, 'You must do what makes You happy my Lord. Let no one be an obstacle to Your divine mission."(Caitanya Mangala)
After Sri Nimai Pandit left Navadvipa, Vishnupriya adopted an austere and devoted life. She became as thin as the crescent moon before Amavasya (dark moon). Following a rigid sadhana (spiritual practice), she set aside one grain of rice for every round of Hare Krishna japa she chanted. In the evening, Vishnupriya Devi cooked these grains, offered them to her personal Deity of Mahaprabhu, and honored the remnants. Known today as Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu, Vishnupriya's gorgeous Deity of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu resides in Navadvipa city. Sriman Mahaprabhu receives regular worship and gives unlimited mercy.

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/srimati-vishnupriya-devi/#sthash.Nx1vGnIl.dpuf

Vasanta Panchami ki jaya

Basant Panchami Date 2014 When: 4th February 2014 Where: India and Nepal
If you visit India during Basant Panchami the description of ‘ten thousand golden daffodils’ by William Wordsworth will strike a chord in your memory and you will be enthralled by this visual treat of nature that surrounds the whole country. The fields are loaded with yellow mustard and the whole country is delightfully decorated in different shades of yellow flowers and ribbons. Basant Panchami also known as Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of spring season. It falls on the fifth day of Maagh (the Indian month). In Hindi language the word ‘Basant/Vasant’ means spring and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day. Although Basant Panchami festival is celebrated all over India, the festivities in Punjab are unique and worth attending. Significance of Basant Panchami Apart from marking the beginning of the spring season the festival of Basant Panchami is also known as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati, Lord Brahma’s wife. According to the Hindu mythology Goddess Saraswati symbolizes constant flow of knowledge, wisdom and learning. Therefore, the festival is especially celebrated in all institutions of learning. Students observe the blessings from Maa Saraswati on this day. Vasant Panchami Celebrations This festival of spring is celebrated with great fervour and joy amongst Hindus. Basant Panchami tradition includes wearing traditional yellow colour clothes, cooking sweet saffron rice and visiting friends and relatives to distribute sweets and gifts. You will see the pure, bright and sunny yellow colour dominating the whole country on this particular day. The Basant Panchami celebrations also comprise an elaborate puja of Goddess Saraswati who is worshipped with full dedication. People also feed Brahmans on Vasant Panchami believing that their ancestors are accepting the food. The occasion is also celebrated by flying kites and merrymaking. - See more at: http://www.journeymart.com/holidays-ideas/festivals/basant-panchami.aspx#sthash.3hCFTlva.dpuf

HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONALITY

Having your own personality, or Haripada Javier Figuerola Dasa Brahmachari
Today I was thinking to have your own personality is not easy to have your own personality means you have all your ideals in life and certainly clear . For example I have clear that I am not a temporary material body but an eternal spirit soul , I have clear that Srila Prabhupada is my eternal spiritual master , I have clear that the goal of human life is to know and love God or Krishna , I I am clear that karma is temporary and disappears through the practice of devotional service , I have clear that faith moves mountains , thank goodness this point I have much personal experience, I have clearly fallible people exist and infallible people, fallible people are those who live in pure goodness , and Surefire people are those who live in pure goodness , I have clear that Krishna is a God or not dual person, and his body is full of transcendental eternity, bliss and knowledge , I have clear that one who deceives others deceives himself, I have clear that this material world is made to blame for world envious, I have clear that God or Krishna is the Supreme Controller , I have clear that you can not trust the fallible people , your best friend can become your worst enemy and vice versa, I have clear that my love is for God or Krishna and His devotees. That is to have your own personality.
What I do not understand is why people find it so difficult to understand and accept that God or Krishna is a person in the Bible it says that God made ​​us in His image and likeness , a child born with arms and legs that parents have arms and legs, when one does not accept that God or Krishna is a person falls into impersonalism , and becomes an atheist.
OM TAT SAT PEACE AND WELL

WHO IS GOD?

Letters S.D.G. AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

"Who is God? It can be summarized in just five words: Krishna is the supreme controller. If you get to convince you of this, and enthusiastically preach success is sure, and you will be doing the greatest service to all living entities. So Krishna continues to serve more and more and He will help you. "
Letter Danavir May 5, 1972 Vol.2 Pág.1350

ATHEISM

Atheism , by Javier Figuerola or Haripada Dasa Brahmachari
The Nectar of Devotion in chapter seven Srila Prabhupada says that atheism means challenging the authority of the Vedas or Sacred Scriptures and belittle the great acharyas or genuine spiritual teachers of the Vedic scriptures for the benefit of people in general.
Once Srila Prabhupada was giving a talk in Los Angeles to very important people , teachers , psychologists, PHDS , etc and openly said that a person who believes in God is a fool , a person he thought this very strong statement and told Srila Prabhupada would be better to call it silly or stupid , and Srila Prabhupada said that insanity is the sum total of all the stupid and everyone laughed heartily.
Anyone who disobeys the instructions given by the pure devotees of God as Jesus Christ, Srila Prabhupada , Mohammed, etc. , the result of offending the pure devotees of God above by refusing to obey his orders is that the person becomes an atheist, or a politician or philanthropist, or mayavadi at these great souls offend you lose the relationship with them, because the relationship with genuine spiritual masters comes through obedience . It would be great that all people who believe in God no matter what religion they belong to unite in the common ground that God is our only Savior, Lord and Master , and we are all eternal and loving servants of God. Unfortunately there are so many atheists , political , philanthropic and mayavadis disguising themselves devotees of God and pollute the whole atmosphere. One has to be very serious and sincere prayer to God and not to fall into the hands of those deceivers . It is said that the devotee of God experiences God through devotional service and the atheist experience God at the time of his death.
OM TAT SAT PEACE AND WELL

THE LAW OF KARMA

The law of karma , or by Javier Figuerola Haripada Dasa Bramachari
The law of karma is a law of God which means that if you cause any pain or suffering on another living being or suffering the same pain as you have to experience in your own person , the law of action and reaction, as Jesus said what planting crops. It is very interesting what Srila Prabhupada says in her text tenth of the Nectar of Instruction , says that there are people who are only interested in material happiness , these people are called materialists karmis or within the materialistic some people perform sacrifices to please God and receive His blessings , they are elevated to the heavenly planets, and there are others who engage in impious activities so degrade and are born as animals, trees or plants. By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada understand and accept that the only activity that creates positive or negative karma is devotional service , there are nine devotional activities 1 hear the name and glories of God or Krishna , 2 sing His glories 3 remember God or Krishna , 4 serve the lotus feet of the Lord , worshiping the Deity 5 , 6 offer obeisances to Lord 7 act as servant of the Lord 8 making friends with the Lord and 9 completely to the Lord .
I agree that when I was 16 I asked a Franciscan monk in practice we see that a child is born into a very wealthy family , everyone wants it and is surrounded by lots of opulence , etc. and simultaneously we see that a child is born a prostitute , nobody wants it , all dirty , drugs , police, etc. , why this happens ? , the Franciscan monk replied that God is the creator of all creations and some will go well and others badly, when one understands the law law of karma and transmigration of the soul from one body to another is very easy to understand and accept this, the child born under such favorable conditions is that in past lives did many good things , giving charity , helping others , etc. and as a result well born , the other child born in terrible conditions is that in his past life became very negative things to hurt people , kill people , steal from people, etc. . The saying goes that everyone has what they deserve has much depth. The difference between God's laws and the laws made by men is that God's laws are perfect and infallible and the laws of men are imperfect and fallible .
OM TAT SAT PEACE AND WELL

you will go down

Notes: Most of you will fall. Actually I haven't given any of you sannyas, but I am in a war with Maya, the material energy and I need leaders. It is called in wartime Battlefield commission. There are no qualified leaders but someone has to lead the charge. So you take every fifth man, now you are lieutenant of the squad. He really is a private but we make him lieutenant for the day and he leads the charge. It is to be understood that you are not sufficiently equipped for this fight and most of you will go
 down" (Srila Prabhupada Conversation with Tamal Krishna 1976 after Mayapur festival)

About initiations

"My Dear [Disciple 1], Please accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for giving first initiation… and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen such requests from new students. So it is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such a long distance, and it has become a little bothersome for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America [Disciple 2] is doing that. So now if there are two of you, that will give me great relief. [Disciple 2] will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that; you can chant on the beads for the European continent, new disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting."
 (SP Letter, January 4, 1973)

Hamsadutta prabhu

 Hamsadutta prabhu said.
I immediately wrote a letter to Śrīla Prabhupāda asking him why he had been so merciful towards me by appointing me as his “Ṛtvik representative of the Ācārya” which I understood to be a very confidential and responsible position. In other words, it was clear to me that this letter appointing “Ṛtvik Representatives” to initiate new disciples on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s behalf was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s final instructions in anticipation of his disappearance from the world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda replied my letter by paraphrasing my question and answering in a letter dated July 31st 1977 as follows:

“You have written to Śrīla Prabhupāda saying you do not know why he has chosen you to be a recipient of his Mercy. His Divine Grace immediately replied, “It is because you are my sincere servant. You have given up attachment to a beautiful and qualified wife and that is a great benediction. You are a real preacher. Therefore I like you. (Then Laughing). Sometimes you become obstinate, but that is true of any intelligent man. Now you have got a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. MAKE YOUR OWN FIELD AND CONTINUE TO BE RITTVIK AND ACT ON MY BEHALF.”

COMPANIES

Companies by Javier Figuerola or Haripada Dasa Brahmachari
Srila Prabhupada says in his Nectar of instruction that the wishes and aspirations of a person are developed according to the company that maintains or other tell me who your friends are words and I will tell you who you are , once a devotee will be asked Srila Prabhupada how do I can return a devotee of God or Krishna serious and sincere ? , and Srila Prabhupada replied that as a drunk person , hanging out with drunks , just as is done when a person associates with devotees of God or Krishna earnest one makes a serious and sincere devotee . In the Hari- Chintamani is said that the association with people has great power to mark our destiny , for example , I had a very good friend, this person began to associate with people who envied me and were very critical , the result is that this person began to envy and criticize , and that friendship was lost.
In my current personal life I'm trying to have a relationship with people based on spiritual love and trust , love spiritual means that God is at the center of life, and trust means no betrayal , relationships based on sense gratification ultimately end in suffering, as my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada likes me and the next time not like you, and then there are deceptions , frustrations and sufferings.

Ganga Sagara Mela

• Posted by ISKCON desire tree network on January 10, 2012 at 10:30am
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Ganga Sagara Mela a festival observed especially at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bangal. Kapilasrama, the asrama of Lord Krsna's incarnation as Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti, is located at this place. The festival Commemorates King Bhagirathi's bringing the River Ganges down from the celestial planets to the ocean and the lower worlds. In Ganga Sagar Mela, over 6 lakhs pilgrims assembled to take a holy dip at the place of confluence of river Ganges on the Makara Sankranthi day.

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Tags: 2012, Ganga, Ganga Sagara Mela, Makara Sankranthi, Mela, iskcon, prabhupada, river ganga

Sat-Tila Ekadasi

Sat-Tila Ekadasi (Trisprisha Ekadasi) Sri Dalbhya Rishi said to Palastya Muni, "When the spirit soul comes in contact with the material energy, he immediately begins to perform sinful activities, such as stealing, killing, and illicit sex. He may even perform many other terrible deeds, such as killing a brahmin. Oh purest of personalities, please tell me how these unfortunate souls may escape the punishment of being sent to hellish regions of creation. Kindly inform me how, by giving even a little in charity, one may be easily be released from the reactions of his sins." Pulastya Muni replied, "Oh fortunate one, you have asked me an important and confidential question, which not even Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer. "With the arrival of the month of Magh (January - February), one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 108 balls. This should be done on the day when the constellation of Purva-ashadha nakshatra arrives. Then one should follow the rules and regulations of Sri Ekadasi, which I shall now explain to you. "After bathing, the person who intends to observe Ekadasi should worship the Supreme Lord. While praying to Lord Sri Krishna by chanting His holy name, he should promise to observe the Ekadasi fast. He should remain awake overnight and perform a homa (fire sacrifice). Then the devotee should perform an Arati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord - Who holds a conch, disk, club, and so on in His hands - offering Him sandalwood paste to his feet, incense, camphor, a bright ghee lamp, and delicious food preparations. Next the devotee should offer the 108 balls of cow dung, sesame seeds, and cotton wool into the sacred fire whilst chanting such holy names of the Lord as Purusha sukta, and other names. Throughout the whole day and night he should also observe the standard Ekadasi vrata (fast, which in this case is a fast from all kinds of grains and beans). On this occasion one should offer the Lord - pumpkin, coconut, and guava. If these items are unavailable, betel nut may be substituted. "The devotee should pray to Lord Sri Janardana, the benefactor of all living beings, in this way: 'Oh Lord Sri Krishna, You are the most merciful Personality of Godhead and the giver of liberation to all fallen souls. Oh Lord, we have fallen into the ocean of material existence. Please be kind to us. Oh lotus-eyed divinity, please accept our most humble, affectionate and respectful obeisances. Oh protector of the entire world, we offer You our humble respects again and again. Oh Supreme Spirit, Oh Supreme One, Oh source of all our forefathers, may You and Your eternal consort, Srimati Laxmi-devi, please accept these humble offerings.' "The devotee should then try to please a qualified brahmin with a warm welcome, a pot full of water (purna kumbha), an umbrella, a pair of shoes, and clothes (cloth - dhoti, and anga vastra), requesting him at the same time to bestow his blessings, by which one may develop unalloyed love for Lord Sri Krishna. According to one's ability, one may also donate a black cow to such a brahmin, particularly to one who is very well versed in all the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. One should also offer him a pot full of sesame seeds. "Oh exalted Dalbhya Muni, black sesame seeds are especially suitable for formal worship and fire sacrifices while white or brown ones are meant to be eaten by a qualified brahmin. One who can arrange to give both kinds of sesame seeds (black and white or brown) especially on this Sat-tila Ekadasi day will be promoted to at least the heavenly planets after leaving this present body, for as many thousands of years as the number of seeds that would be produced if the seeds he donated were sown in the ground and grew into mature, seed bearing plants. On this Ekadasi a faithful person should : (1) bathe in the water mixed with sesame seeds, (2) rub sesame seed paste on his body, (3) offer sesame seeds into the fire in sacrifice, (4) eat sesame seeds, (5) give sesame seeds away in charity, (6) accept charitable gifts of sesame seeds. These are the six (sat) ways in which sesame seeds (tila) are utilised for spiritual purification on this Ekadasi. Therefore it is called Sat-tila Ekadasi. "The great Devarishi Narad Muni once asked the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, 'Oh mighty armed Lord, Oh! You who are so affectionate to Your loving devotees, please accept my most humble obeisances. Oh Yadava, kindly tell me the result one obtains by observing Sat-tila Ekadasi.' "Lord Sri Krishna replied, 'Oh best of the twice born brahmins, I shall narrate to you an account of an incident I personally witnessed. Long ago on earth there lived an old female brahmini who worshipped Me every day with controlled senses. She very faithfully observed many a fast, especially on special days honouring Me (My various appearance days Janmasthami, Rama-navami, Vaman Dwadasi, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Varaha Dwadasi, Gaura Purnima, etc.) and served Me with full devotion, devoid of any personal motive. Her rigorous fasting made her quite weak and thin. She gave charity to brahmanas and to young maidens (kanyas), and even planned to give away her house in charity. Oh best of the brahmanas although this spiritually minded woman gave charitable donations to worthy people, the odd feature of her austerity was that she never gave food to brahmanas or the devas (demigods). "'I began to reflect on this curious omission: "This fine woman has purified herself by fasting on all the auspicious occasions and by offering Me strict devotional worship. Therefore she certainly has become eligible to enter My personal abode, which is unattainable by ordinary persons." So I came down to this planet to examine her, disguising Myself as a follower of Lord Shiva's, complete with a garland of skulls draped around My neck and a begging pot (kumandalu) in My hand. "'As I approached her, she said to Me, "Oh respectful one, tell me truthfully why You have come before me." "'I replied, "Oh beautiful one, I have come to get some sacred alms from you" whereupon she angrily threw a dense lump of mud into My begging pot! Oh Narada Muni I simply turned around and went back to My personal abode, astonished at this fine brahmani's peculiar mixture of great magnanimity and stinginess. "'At last this austere lady reached the spiritual world in her self-same body, so great were her efforts at fasting and charity. And because she had indeed offered Me a lump of mud, I transformed that mud into a beautiful home. However, Oh Naradaji, this particular house was just like that mud completely devoid of any edible grains, as well as any furniture or ornamentation, and when she entered it she found only an empty structure. She therefore approached Me and said with great anger, "I have fasted repeatedly on so many auspicious occasions, making my body weak and thin. I have worshipped You and prayed to You in so many different ways for You are truly the master and protector of all the universes. Yet despite all this there is no food or wealth to be seen in my new home, Oh Janardana, please tell me. Why is this?" "'I replied, "Please return to your house. Sometime later the wives of the devas (demigods) will pay you a visit out of curiosity to see the new arrival, but do not open your door until they have described to you the glories and importance of Sat-tila Ekadasi." "'Hearing this, she returned to her house. Eventually the devas' wives arrived there and in unison said, "Oh beautiful one, we have come to have your darshan. Oh auspicious one, please open the door to your house and let us see you. "'The lady replied, "Oh most dear ones, if you want me to open this door, you will have to describe to me the merit one obtains by observing the sacred fast of Sat-tila Ekadasi." But to this request, not even one of the wives responded. "'Later, however, they returned to the house, and one of the wives nicely explained the sublime nature of this sacred Ekadasi. And when the lady at last opened her door, they saw that she was neither a demigoddess, a Gandharvi, a she-demon, nor even a Naga-patni. She was simply an ordinary human lady. "'From then on the lady observed Sat-tila Ekadasi, which awards all material enjoyment and liberation at the same time, as it has been described to her. And she finally received the beautiful furnishings and grains she had expected for her home. Moreover, her once ordinary material body was transformed into a beautiful spiritual form made of sac-cid-ananda (eternality, knowledge, and bliss), with a fine complexion. So, by the mercy and grace of Sat-tila Ekadasi, both the lady and her new home in the spiritual world were at last radiantly splendid and lustrous with gold, silver, jewels, and diamonds. "'Oh Naradaji, a person should not ostentatiously observe Ekadasi out of greed, with the hope of attaining wealth dishonestly. Selflessly, he should simply donate sesame seed, clothes, and food according to his capacity, for by doing so he will achieve good health and exalted spiritual consciousness, birth after birth. Ultimately, he will be given release from the bonds of this world (liberation) and admittance into the Lord's supreme abode will be his to enjoy. That is my opinion, Oh best of the demigods deva-rishis).' "Oh Dalbhya Muni," Pulastya Rishi concluded, "one who properly observes this wonderful Sat-tila Ekadasi with great faith become free from all kinds of poverty - spiritual, mental, physical, social, and intellectual - as well as all kinds of ill luck and evil omens (sakuna). Indeed, following this Ekadasi fast by donating, sacrificing, or eating sesame seeds frees one of all past sin, without a doubt. One need not wonder how this happens. The rare soul who properly performs these acts of charity in the right devotional mood, following the Vedic injunctions, will become utterly free of all sinful reactions and go back to Godhead, back home to the spiritual world." Thus ends the narration of the glories of Magh-krishna Ekadasi, or Sat-tila Ekadasi, from the sacred Bhavishya-uttara Purana of Srila Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.

Everyone knows

Everyone knows , or by Javier Figuerola Haripada Dasa BrahmachariEveryone knows that happiness is not women enjoy , have lots of money and have the power to control people , above all this is the knowledge to understand and accept that I am not the temporary material body but a soul spiritual eternal , and my relationship is with God or Krishna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that there is true happiness and that happiness is eternal happiness and sense gratification is temporary. Higher than this knowledge is love for God , that is the goal of human life and the greatest power of the universe , that love for God is latent in all living entities and who wakes has reached the goal of human life and his life is a success. Now the question that arises is that everyone knows this, but why people are not interested in awakening the love of God? , An answer would be that people usually are attached to the subject and detached from matter is not easy , one answer is that people are afraid to change, see generally that people are like sheep in a herd , where one goes they all go today to have your own personality without anyone influence you is very difficult the definitive answer to all this is given in Srimad Bhagavatam , there is said that when a person practices or devotional service to Lord Krishna , naturally the person will be in transcendental knowledge and detachment from matter . People usually think that to practice spiritual life one must go to the Himalayas and meditate without being disturbed and forsake all , people do not know or understand what the vairagya yukta that means understanding and acceptance that everything is God or Krishna because He has created everything , and everything that God gives me I occupy in His service , to do this I become conscious of God and honest person .