KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

Krishna Consciousness, by Haripada dasa
In the preface of the book Krishna Srila Prabhupada says that the art of concentrating our attention on the Supreme and giving our love is called Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada always said that if you do not serve God, you have to serve your dog. Today I was thinking that dogs are not satisfied with the service of their masters, worldwide there are plenty of ads that say your dog has escaped. The meaning of the Hare Krishna ma...ha-mantra Srila Prabhupada says that Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition that does to the mind, but the original energy of the living entity, and this consciousness of Krishna is revived when we sing and listen the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This maha-mantra Hare Krishna is not subject to law of satiety, so you can be singing 24 hours a day and never get tired, you will always find fresh, in the material world everything is subject to the law of satiety, you see a movie, hear a song, or eat something tasty, all tired, that is material, but spiritual is not tired but purifies and is always fresh, the difference between material and spiritual energy is that the material is subject to strict laws and spiritual is free is not subject to any substantive law in Bengal was a pure devotee of God called Murari Thakura, he bofeteaba to Bengal tigers and told them chant Hare Krishna and awakens your soul and tigers sang his way, he plunged into the river three days chanting Hare Krishna Gages fish with poisonous snakes and put it in his lap and chanting Hare Krishna.
Yesterday died a gypsy singer Spain called Peret, he became famous Catalan rumba in the world, at a time of your life parent or priest Angelica Church became, he said he received all the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ to save to lead a bad and degraded life, said I do not believe in religions and they all have personal and selfish interests, but I have full faith in God, God is love, and he who awakens their awareness of God in a natural way will love everyone and everything. Srila Prabhupada always said that unfortunately in this age people have a twisted mind so they want the kingdom of God without God.

SRIMATI SITA THAKURANI KI JAYA

Transcendental appearance of Sri Sita Thakurani, the wife of sri Advaita Acharya

　


Sri Sita Thakurani is to be worshiped just as much as Sacidevi herself, as the mother of the universe. She is the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acharya. She was the daughter of Sri Nrishinga Baduri. She was married to Sri Advaita Acharya in Phuliya Nagara.
After their wedding, Advaita Acharya went to Nadiya, to live in Shantipura. Sita Thakurani was always absorbed in vatsalya prema for Sri Gaurasundara Prabhu, and, out of parental concern used to instruct Jagannatha Mishra on how to care for the boy. Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami has described the birth celebration at the house of Jagannatha Mishra upon the advent of the Lord, giving special attention to the position of Sri Sita Thakurani. Advaita Acharya's wife, worshipable by all the three worlds was Sita Thakurani. Taking the Acharya's orders on her head, she had come to take a look at this new child, this jewel of jewels, and to offer him presents.

On the eve of his son's advent Sri Jagannatha Mishra, seeing the imminent signs of his child's arrival, sent word to Advaita Acharya in Shantipura that the long-awaited child was being born. Hearing news of the advent of this unprecedented child, Advaita Acharya floated in the waves of ecstasy. With Sri Haridasa Thakura, he went to bathe in the river, and, after much dancing and song, he sent his wife to go quickly to Mayapura in Navadwipa.

According to Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika, Sri Sita Thakurani is Yogamaya. The Gaura-Parshada-Charitvali says that in Krishna Lila, she was Purnamasi, the mother of Sandipani Muni, grandmother of Madhumangal and Nandimukhi and a disciple of Narada Muni. (Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika, however, says that Paurnamasi in Krishna-lila became Sri Govinda Acharya in Chaitanya lila.)

In Dvapara-yuga, during the celebration of Krishna's birth ceremony, she was present in the house of Nanda, and at that time gave Nanda and Yashoda many instructions on how to care for the child. The Caitanya-Caritamrita gives the following account of Sita Thakurani's visit to the house of Jagannatha Mishra after the birth of the Lord:
"One day, shortly after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Acharya's wife, Sitadevi, who is worshipable by the whole world, taking permission of her husband, went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presents. She brought different kinds of golden ornaments, including bangles for the hand, armlets, neclaces, and anklets. There were also tiger nails set in gold, waist decorations of silk and lace, ornaments for the hands and legs, nicely printed silken saris and a child's garment, also made of silk. Many other riches, including gold and silver coinds, were also presented for the child.
Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sita Thakurani came to the house of Jagannatha Mishra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kunkuma, and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a big basket. When Sita Thakurani came to the house of Sacidevi, bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses, and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newly born child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Krishna of Gokula Himself.
Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very much pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting. She blessed the newly born child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, "May You be blessed with a long duration of life." But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai. On the day that the mother and son took bath and left the maternity room, Sita Thakurani gave them all kinds of ornaments and garments, and then also honored Jagannatha Mishra. Then Sita Thakurani, being honored by mother Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra, was greatly happy within her mind, and thus she returned home."


From that day on, Sita Thakurani would often come to Mayapura from Shantipura, in order to teach Sacimata how to care for the new baby. She would give her many different instructions on how to raise children. And after helping with the child in this way, she would return to Shantipura. When it came time for the child's birthday ceremony, Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi let the worshipable Sita Thakurani be the first to offer the child his new clothes. Advaita Acharya Prabhu also had a house in Navadwipa. There he would live from time to time and discuss Krishna-katha with the devotees headed by Srivasa, diving and surfacing in the waves of joy until the break of dawn. After Sri Gaurasundara's appearance, all the devotees prayed together with Sri Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani that the child might live long in Mayapura and have good fortune.

Sita Thakurani and Sacidevi were of one mind; the baby Nimai was their life and soul. Every day Sita Thakurani would go to the house of Sacidevi and help her with the care and nurturing of the boy. In the house of Jagannatha Mishra, the divine child increased the pleasure of the eyes and minds of all the devotees, just as the waxing moon gradually grows more brilliant with each passing day.

After several years, when Jagannatha Mishra's son Vishvarupa - Nimai's older brother - had grown up, he suddenly took sannyasa. The grief and agony of Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi upon their son's leaving was great. Gaurasundara was also dismayed and unhappy at his brother's separation. At that time Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani consoled Jagannatha Mishra and Sita Thakurani, and helped take care of Nimai.


Srivasa Pandit's wife Malini Devi also was always very affectionate towards the child, nurturing him and caring for him. She and Sacidevi were of one mind in doing this.

After exhibiting his childhood pastimes, Nimai gradually progressed into his Kishora-lila, or pastimes of youth. After some time, he went to Gaya and revealed his true form and real purpose. Having returned from Gaya he gathered all the devotees at the house of Srivasa Angan for the purpose of beginning kirtan. At that time, Advaita Acharya brought Sita Thakurani from Shantipura to Mayapura, and, having arrived there was the first to worship the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya.

Gradually Sri Gaurasundara began, in Navadwipa, to unfold his kirtan pastimes, wishing to deliver the fallen souls. As time went by he took sannyasa and turned his face towards Vrindavana, and ran off, half mad into the jungle in search for Sri Krishna. Upon hearing this, Sri Sita Thakurani spent four days with Sacidevi, who, plunged in the darkness of separation as if the sun had left the sky forever, lay fallen on the ground like one near death.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being bound by the ropes of love, was unable to go to Vrindavana, but was drawn to return to Shantipura. When he arrived in Shantipura, Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani felt as if their life has returned. After having fasted for four days, Sri Gaurasundara accepted prasada cooked by the hand of Sita Thakurani. Previous to taking sannyasa also, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with Nityananda Prabhu would, from time to time go to the house of Advaita in Shantipura, where they would have a festival and perform Krishna-nama-lila-kirtan all day and all night. The beautiful nature of this subject has been described by Sri Parameshvari Dasa Thakura in his Sri Pada Kalpataru as follows:
One day the Lord laughed, having arrived in the temple of Sri Advaita and thus the son of Saci took his seat. Along with Nityananda, Advaita sat down, and the two of them began playfully assessing the idea of having a festival. Hearing all this, Sita Thakurani entered smiling. At that time, in sweet words which made the minds of those who heard them blissful, the son of Saci ruled that there must be a great festival. He said, "Listen Sita Thakurani: we shall extend invitations to all the different Vaishnavas who live nearby. Let whoever hears the sound of our song, resounding through the air, come and join us. We shall invite one and all."
Saying this, Sri Gaurachandra gave orders to the devotees saying,
"You, invite the Vaishnavas."
"You, ready the mridanga and karatalas."
"You, prepare sandalwood and aguru for distribution."
"Have everything ready at the ghat."
"Carrying out these assignments expertly, and after garlanding the devotees with flower garlands, the devotees shall gather together in a circle for an uproarious kirtan."

Hearing the words of Mahaprabhu, the devotees followed his orders with great affection, collecting garlands, sandalwood, betel, ghee, honey, and milk, and everything else essential for worhsiping the Lord. The different gifts and fragrant articles for the devotees and the Lord were then distributed in the proper ways. The kirtan began at midday. At that time everyone chanted "Hari! Hari!" and the mridanga made the whole kirtan auspicious. Thus swims Parameshavara Dasa in the rasik pastimes of the Lord.


After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and went to live in Jagannatha Puri, Sri Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani used to go and visit him each year, bringing their son Achyutananda with them. On one such occasion, Sita Thakurani prepared some of the Lord's favorite preparations for him and invited Him to their home to take lunch. Simply to increase their ecstasy, the Lord, who was always absorbed in Krishna Nama, honored their invitation and took lunch in the home of Advaita and Sita.
Sita Thakurani, being always overwhelmed with vatsalya-prema treated him as affectionately as if he were her own son. The Lord himself also treated her with the same kind of regard and affection that he had for Sacidevi herself. Sri Sita Thakurani bore three sons, Achyutananda, Krishna Mishra and Gopala Mishra, who were followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

According to Bhakti-Ratnakara, Sri Sita Thakurani's father was Sri Nrishimha Baduri. Sita Thakurani also had a sister, Sri. According to the Gaura-Ganoddesha-Dipika, Sita Thakurani, the wife of Sri Advaita Acharya, is Yogamaya, and her sister Sri is the prakasha, or manifestation, of Yogamaya. (yogamaya bhagavati, grihini tasya sampratam, sita rupenavatirna, "Sri" namni tat prakashatah)

SRIMATI LALITA SAKHI KI JAYA

Lalita Sasti : Appearance Day of Lalita Sakhi
Lalita is one of the principal eight sakhis of Srimati Radharani in Vrindavan. It means “playful and charming”. Srimati Radharani is also called as Lalita”. She is a very dear friend of Radha-Krsna. Lalita-sakhi and her assistants incarnate from time to time in the material realm to propogate the topmost mood of serving Radha-Krsna, namely to become a maid-servant of Srimati Radharani.
Rupa manjari (Rupa Goswami) is the assistant and follower of Lalita-sakhi; thus all who consider themselves as Rupanuga bhaktas (followers of Rupa Goswami) are ultimately the servants of lalita-devi and thus through the media of the parampara should always be longing to engage in the service of her lotus feet. When that day comes that we are able to please her, she will engage us in the intimate loving service of Sri Sri radha-Krsna according to our heart's desire.

Lalita-sakhi incarnated as Svarupa Damodara in the pastimes of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu and acted as his personal secretary. "Sri Svarupa Damodara was the personification of ecstatic love, fully cognizant of the highest transcendental mellows in relationship with Lord Krsna. He directly represented Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu as His second expansion. In fact, no one could approach or present anything to Gauranga Mahaprabhu without his sanction. If someone wrote a book or composed verses and songs and wanted to recite them before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara would first examine them and then correctly present them. Only then would Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu agree to listen."
Information of Lalita Devi :

Mother's Name:	Saradi
Father's Name:	Visoka
Husband's Name:	Bhairava
Complexion:	Like gorochana, a type of yellow pigment
Cloth:	Sikhi-piccha, like peacock feathers
Grove:	Her kunja to the North of Radha-kunda, named Lalitanandada, is colored tadid i,e, like lightening, with many ruby-studded features.
Service:	Her special seva is serving tambula, betel-nuts.
Age:	In the Nikunja-lila, her eternal age is 14 years, 8 months, 27 days; she is the eldest sakhi.
Mood:	Her bhava is khandita, or a jealous heroine who chastises her beloved. This pure mood is never manifest in relation to herself, however but only when there is a delay in the meeting of the Divine Couple.
Temperament:	Vama-prakhara, contrary and hot-tempered to enhance the pastimes of Radha & Krsna.
Favourite Instrument:	Vina
Favourite Tune:	Raga bhairava-kalingada
Maidservant:	Her chief assistant is Sri Rupa-manjari.
Girlfriends:	Her 8 closest sakhis are Ratna-prabha, Rati-kala, Subhadra, Bhadra-rekhika, Sumukhi, Dhanishtha, Kala-hamsi, Kalapini.

Characteristics of Lalita Devi :
(1) The leader of all the sakhis of Srimati Radharani

(2) Very magnanimous like her father

(3) The instigator of most pastimes

(4) Always displays contrariness to Krsna's suggestions

(5) Frequently becomes angry and speaks outrageously insolent retorts to increase the intensity of the loving affairs between Radha & Krsna.

(6) Brilliant in composing and understanding riddles

(7) Unparalleled in fashioning things with flowers including awnings, dancing arenas, umbrellas, couches, bowers

(8) Expert in performing magic tricks and juggling.

RADHASTAMI 2014 KI JAYA

TRANSCENDENTAL APPEARANCE OF SRIMATI RADHARANI KIA JAYA

"Anyone who does not serve Sri Radha, wishing only the personal company of Govinda, is like someone who wants to enjoy the seed of full moon on a night that is no full moon, and whoever does not know that Srimati Radharani is the seed of pleasure of Syama is like someone who only takes a drop of the great ocean of nectar that is available to him."

(Radha Rasa 80-Prabodhananda Sudhanidhi Saraswasti-).

"Not even for a moment I want to go to that place where a proud hypocrite impureworships Govinda alone, without worshiping his beloved Sri Radhika, whose gloriesare sung by the Vedic scriptures and by great sages like Narada, who carries the vina .This is my solemn vow. "(Sva Niyamama daskam 6-Sri Raghunat das Goswami)

"How someone may enter the ocean of Syama rasa without having adored the dust of the feet of Sri Radha, without having taken shelter in Vrindavan where theirfingerprints, and " without talking " to people whose hearts are with deep feelings oflove for Her? "

(Sva Sankalpa Stotram 1-Sri prakasa Raghunat das Goswami)

RAVAL KI JAYA

KI JAYA Srimati Radharani

RAVAL

 This at a distance of five miles from Mathura , according to the Gaudiya parampara was in this sacred place where Srimati Radharani appeared .

 Sucandra and Kalavati were performing austerity and surviving estban leaves falling from the trees. After 10 , 000 years had passed Lord Brahma appeared before them and asked them what they wanted blessing . Kalavati informed him that she wanted the consort of Lord Sri Vishnu would become his daughter. After thinking for a while I inform Lord Brahma that Lord Sri Krishna Dwaparayuga appear and His consort Srimati Radharani would become his daughter.

 In Dwaparayuga Sucandra and Kalavati became Vrsabhanu and Kirtida . One day Vrsabhanu went to the Yamuna for a bath when he came to the bank of the Yamuna he saw a bright light benia of the Yamuna. After a while he approached he could see that amid the Yamuna there was a golden lotus flower on this havia stop a little girl , but could not reach

 Being puzzled by the situation Lord Brahma arrived on the scene and informed him of his previous birth and his desire to have a daughter who was the consort of Lord Sri Vishnu. Lord Brahma said that Srimati Radharani was the original and that was Laksmi take very good care . Then Lord Brahma gave the little girl. After obtaining permission from Lord Brahma Vrsabhanu home.



 Although Kirtida Vrsabhanu and felt ecstasy estabn also unhappy that the girl was mowing . Narada Muni came to inform them that they should hold a party in honor of the newborn girl and invite all the cowboys and women.

 All men and women jeans including Maharaja Nanda , mother Yasoda , Balarama , gathered in the capital city of King Vrsabhanu Mukhyeravali - pure , to see the newborn . When Yasoda heard the news that a daughter was born to her friend she went to congratularla Kirtida , carrying the baby Sri Krishna .

 Kirtida told her mother Yasoda was very happy to have such a beautiful daughter but she was feeling a bit of trouble , because his daughter had been born blind . While this conversation was taking place between the mother Yasoda and Sri Krishna Kirtida the baby was crawling in the room.When He came to the crib where Srimati Radharani was sleeping on the subject and got up he looked to Srimati Radharani. At the time when Srimati Radharani , she could smell the asrafan and sandalwood paste along with the fragrance of His transcendental body brought his face against hers , stood up and opened his eyes looked at the baby Sri Krishna . When the two mothers saw this they became very happy.

25 QUALITIES OF SRIMATI RADHARANI KI JAYA

TRANSCENDENTAL APPEARANCE DE SRIMATI RADHARANI KI JAYA

The 25 transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani are:
1 - She is sweetness personified .
2 - She is a lusty young .
3-Your eyes are always moving .
4 - She always exhibits a bright smile .
5 - It has all the marks on his body favoravles .
6 - She can agitate Krishna with the scent of her body.
7- She is an expert in the art of singing .
8- She can speak very sweet and pleasantly .
9- She is an expert in showing the attractive female .
10 She is modest and gentle.
11 She is always very merciful .
12 She is transcendentally cunning .
13 - She knows how to dress neatly .
14 - She is always shy.
15 - She is always respectful .
16 - She is always patient .
17 - She is very serious.
18 - She is enjoyed by Krishna .
19 - She is always situated on the highest devotional level .
20 - She is the abode of the residents of Gokula .
21 - She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees.
22 - She is always affectionate to superiors and inferiors.
23 - She is always obliged by the dealings of its associates .
24 - She is the largest among the friends of Krishna .
25 - She always keeps Krishna under his control.
When Srila Prabhupada arrived in U.S.A. wrote some very beautiful poems , one of them said : 'O , my, I say that until we get the mercy of Srimati Radharani , never achieve the favor of Krishna .
In the Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada says that we should not go directly to Krishna , but through his compassionate nature represented in Srimati Radharani .
In 1972 KARTIKA OF Srila Prabhupada VRATA said : If we take shelter of Krishna 's external energy , where the neglect of Krishna is very prominent , then we move more and more of Krishna , but if we take refuge in the internal energy of Krishna , Radharani because she is serving Krishna directly and in Vrindavan , Radharani always talk to very easily get closer to Krishna , DAIVIM PRAKITIM ASRITAHA , ease of Vrindavan is that if you take shelter of Radharani directly , she will help you get closer Krishna very soon, that's the idea coming to Vrindavan .
OM TAT SAT

BACK TO GOD

Back to God, Javier Figuerola
Notice that God is merciful, Pure Goodness, even though we have given back, he kept bringing us food, water, etc., all, the reason why we are in this material world, the world of envy is that we he misused free will, and we have turned our backs on God, thinking that we will be happy without God, and God is so merciful that does not intrude on our freedom, the material world is a real prison where a rebel souls are punished the alleged material pleasures cause more suffering, but because the punishments are remedies, souls are reformed through suffering, when a person suffers false ego is loosened, but big reason was Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura when he always said that the rebellious soul is hostile to serve God and His devotees.
The consciousness of God or Krishna is a spiritual science, and to reach the goal of life is to have love for God must go through nine stages, the first is faith, then one associates with pure devotees of God, result is that faith increases, then one begins at the edge of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, sing and live a life without sin the heart is purified of evil qualities that rob energy to the soul, these are the lust, anger, greed, envy, pride and ignorance, then one is fixed in the spiritual life, then one likes the spiritual life, then one sticks to the spiritual life, then when you do your spiritual practices feels spiritual emotions, tears in his eyes and body hair stand on end, etc., and then love for God, when one reaches this goal can not live without God as a fish can not live without water.
The difference between the spiritual culture of India and other cultures is that the Scriptures of India are ten billion verses that inform us of the unlimited names, forms, qualities and pastimes of God, and there is ALSO a lot of detailed information on what is the Kingdom of God, then there is one God, His devotees and the relationship between God and His devotees.
In the Nectar of Devotion Chapter 9 the price you have to pay to return to God, to return to our true home says:

In other words, one should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn this small technique, and he should be very eager and actually cry to become engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulyam, and such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one develops this laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God. Otherwise, there is no material calculation for the value of the ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for such entrance is this laulyam lālasā-mayī, or desire and great eagerness.

SRILA PRABHUPADA KI JAYA

How to find the way to properly glorify Srila Prabhupada and how articulate the gratitude to His Divine Grace? How express feelings of love when know that those feelings are impure and not worthy of such great personality? Who am I and what have I done to even address His Name in conection with mine? I can only as humble as possible present how His Divine Grace, out of His unconditional, causeless mercy, entered my life.
 The story is as follows:
 When I was a girl between 4-5 years old I was painting alone in a hallway of my parent's home. Suddenly I have remebered how I died in my past life. I passed trought the whole expirience of dying, I felt fear and pain and everything and I remebered me begging the Lord for just one more day to finnish the proces and surrender. But tere was a clear voice that told me that it's over and in the next life time I'll get new oportunity.When this vision stoped I was confused and scared above explanation. I did not have any idea to what I wanted to surrender to and what I wanted to finnish? And above all I was affraid that in this life time I would not be able to find exactly the same way. Knowing well that there is nobody arround me to whom I could tell what just happened, I was still sitting alone in a fear. Than I had another vision, An oldery, beautiful , kind, male person appeared just for the second to tell me "to find this wayin this life time is assured for you". I have never told anyone about this and years passed by. I entered my 19ties. I had pretty enough nice life, many friends, nice home, own car, good boy friend who was a doctor...but I was empty inside all the time.Than I get opportunity to buy Bhagavad Gita. I bought 2 of them, one for me, and one for my mother. We started reading it very same day and did not stop until we finnish reading. It took 4 days. We started chanting (wrongly) and less than a month a crishtmas eve came. About midnight on the Chrismast eve, me and my mother (later Bahlika devi dasi) were walking home trought the streets coverd with snow. Snow was falling down and night was beautifull. Than she asked me "Dina, what is you finnal decision? How are you going to live from now on? What about KC you have just discovered?" And, most foolish me, answered: "in this life time I am not going to surrender to this but trought my whole life, me and my future husband are going to support KC." My mother was satisfied and we entered our home. Before sleeping we had tea together and each of us went to her room. At 3,15 in the morning at very same night while I was deeply sleeping I heard someone calling me "Dina, Dina, Dina.." I opened my eyes scared and than I sow again a beautifull, kind, olderly man standing next to my bad. He had orange outfit and a big orange shawl over His shoulders. He told me: "I came to tell you that such decision you made in your previous life time. This is the life when you have to surrender!" And He left. I got up of my bad and start packing my things. I left my whole life at 4.15 that very same night. In the temple, later on, I sow the pictures of Srila Prabhupada and I recognized Him. A beautifull, kind, oldery man in orange outfit!

GAURANGA SUNDAR PRABHU

Vyasa Puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my respectful obeisances. Today I am reflecting upon your causeless mercy. You have roamed the world collecting the broken glass of our worthless lives. Lord Caitanya has commissioned you for this miraculously task. O most merciful Srila Prabhupada, you are repeatedly impressing upon us the intense urgency for Krsna consciousness. You clearly see the tragic waste of human lives as the world’s population rushes into the jaws of death. At times you humbly appeal to us with the tearful pleas of a loving mother. At another time you may expose our ignorance with the roar of a lion. You have shown us how to utilize all that Lord Krsna has created, to awaken sleeping souls from the slumber of illusion. The world is addicted to drinking the poison of material enjoyment. You have given us the opportunity to realize, in this very life, Krsna, the embodiment of all rasas. When will we wholeheartedly respond to your urgent call? Life is passing quite rapidly. How intensely are we calling out the holy names? How faithfully are we studying your sacred books? How determined are we to preach your mission to suffering humanity? How lovingly are we serving your beloved servants? O Srila Prabhupada, you have entrusted us with the integrity of your divine legacy. I pray with all my heart that in a spirit of genuine humility we may be united in serving your sweet will. In pleasing you we will find shelter in the dust of your lotus feet. Let that dust be our ultimate aspiration, birth after birth.
Praying to become your faithful servant, Gauranga Sundar Dasa
 

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH

I love you very much, Javier Figuerola
When a friend sent me a very nice message saying that each day we have to tell several people that we love. So I put it into practice and I have titled this writing I love you very much. You long ago with love and trust I send my writings, you may ask yourself why Javier Figuerola or Haripada dasa sends me his writings, the answer to this question is very simple, my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada risked his life to give us awareness God, Krishna consciousness, and through his books with lots of love takes us from ignorance and leads to the spiritual world where there is only eternity, bliss and transcendental knowledge, and it is our duty to share with love and trust with other people all this nectar. People are like magnets, we attract people in our vibration, I always caught my attention the song that glorifies the six Goswamis of Vrindavan, there it is sung that they were loved by all, both gentlemen as ruffians, because they were pure souls without envy.
Another point is the relationship we see in practice the result of interacting with people in the physical and mental plane is terrible for anything people fight, separate, divorce and kill. However spiritual relationships are different, there is no relationship of soul to soul, with God at the center of our life, the result is wonderful, there is love and trust, and as God is pure goodness can not be anything negative. To become conscious of God a person must be very brave and give up many misconceptions that we also have to be very humble, humility is the ornament of the person who has love for God, and as there is only one God and their energies, who has a love for God naturally love everyone and everything and see everything in relation to God. Also keep much faith, faith means to have complete conviction that by chanting the holy name of Krishna automatically perform all the duties and complete all pious activities.
A tip to all, pray that God will not be fooled again, we are in a society of cheaters and cheated, you pray to God that wants to be happy in God consciousness and live the Truth, the Truth will set you free.

ANNADA EKADASI KI JAYA

Aja - Annada Ekadasi

Aja - Annada Ekadasi Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Janardana, protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September)." The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh King, hear Me attentively. The name of this sin-removing, sacred Ekadasi is Aja. Any person who fasts completely on this day and worships Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, becomes free of all reactions to his sins. Even one who simply hears about this Ekadasi is freed from his past sins. Oh King, there is no better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true without a doubt. "There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was the emperor of the world and a person of great truth and integrity. His wife's name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Lohitashva. By the force of destiny, however, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and son. The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dog-eater, who made him guard a crematorium. Yet even while doing such menial service, he did not forsake his truthfulness and good character, just as soma-rasa, even when mixed with some other liquid, does not lose its ability to bestow immortality. "The king passed many years in this condition. Then one day he sadly thought, 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I be delivered from this plight?' In this way he drowned in an ocean of anxiety and sorrow. "One day a great sage happened by, and when the king saw him he happily thought, 'Ah, Lord Brahma has created brahmins just to help others.' Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the sage, whose name was Gautama Muni. With joined palms the king stood before Gautama Muni and narrated his pitiful story. Gautama Muni was astonished to hear the king's tale of woe. He thought, 'How has this mighty king been reduced to collecting clothes from the dead?' Gautama Muni became very much compassionate toward Harishchandra and instructed him on the process of fasting for purification. "Gautama Muni said, 'Oh king, during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada there occurs an especially meritorious Ekadasi named Aja (Annada), which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadasi is so auspicious that if you simply fast on that day and perform no other austerity, all your sins will be nullified. By your good fortune it is coming in just seven days. So I urge you to fast on this day and remain awake through the night. If you do so, all the reactions of your past sins will come to an end. Oh Harishchandra, I have come here because of your past pious deeds. Now, all good fortune to you in the future!' So saying, the great sage Sri Gautama Muni immediately disappeared from his vision. "King Harishchandra followed Gautama Muni's instructions concerning fasting on the sacred day of Aja Ekadasi. Oh Maharaja Yudhisthira, because the king fasted on that day, the reactions to his previous sins were completely destroyed at once. Oh lion among kings, just see the influence of this Ekadasi fast! It immediately vanquishes whatever miseries one may be suffering as a result of past karmic sinful activities. Thus all Harishchandra's miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful Ekadasi, he was reunited with his wife and son, who had died but were now revived. In the heavenly regions the devas (demigods) began beating on their celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his queen, and their son. By the blessings of the Ekadasi fast, he regained his kingdom without difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left the planet, his relatives and all his subjects too, went with him to the spiritual world. "Oh Pandava, whoever fasts on Aja Ekadasi is surely freed from all his sins and ascends to the spiritual world. And whosoever hears and studies the glories of this Ekadasi achieves the merit gained by performing a horse sacrifice." Thus ends the narration of the glories of Bhadrapada-krishna Ekadasi, or Aja Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.

VYASA PUJA 2014 ( GOPTA PRABHU )

When so many of the young and old people of this world were lost with no direction or Real teacher-Guru...Krishna sent you in our midst. We were hungry for spiritual knowledge and you fed us sumptuously with the words that emanated from your lotus mouth. I am one of those souls who continue to struggle in this material world but pray to always remember your mercy upon us. You are empowered to save even a dog so please forgive my weakness and send us good association.  Your mercy is all that I am made up of and even though I do not deserve I pray for it again and again. Just like a child who cry's for their mother or a beggar in the street I have no pride left....please bless us with Krishna consciousness ...love of God. You are an ocean of mercy Srila Prabhupada...so kindly please send me the cooling water from that ocean of mercy. All glories to you on this your appearance day. I am your fallen and humble servant. Gopta dasa

VYASA PUJA 2014 KI JAYA

Vyasa Puja Offerings 2014 per Haripada dasa
Srila Prabhupada is mor sena pati or the commander in chief of the spiritual forces of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, The Avatara Dorado, Srila Prabhupada is śaktyāveśa Avatar or a very special soul that God or Krishna sent from the spirit world to do a mission on Earth Srila Prabhupada is the Guru-Guru Jagat Universe, Srila Prabhupada is traveling all the planets in the Universe and in mercy very lucky, serious and sincere in spiritual life souls awaken their love for God and go back home back to God. If Srila Prabhupada had not come to be from us, Srila Prabhupada always said that if you want to avoid falling for Krishna consciousness ought always to remember from where you have taken, before he met Srila Prabhupada life had meaning, now life it is beautiful and there is a life full of hope and a bright future. Srila Prabhupada risked her life to give Krishna consciousness, that is the greatest demonstration of love to do in this world.
This day is to reflect, that gives me great sadness to see how his own disciples poisoned Srila Prabhupada and stole his movement, these people live in unconsciousness, and others through messages that these people are trying to give him back the movement Srila Prabhupada, envy and stop offending Srila Prabhupada, the only thing that will take one to the next life are your experiences and what you sow crops. Everyone in the moment of our death we will experience if we lived the truth or falsehood. That would be ecstatic to stop envying and offending Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON center was like when he was in his physical form, and all spiritual brothers and friends, so there would be more descriminaciones, you are a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and although have raped children, stolen money, envy and offended Srila Prabhupada never mind that it's okay to be a disciple of Srila Prabhupada you're already assured of salvation, and another who is not a disciple of Srila Prabhupada but has distributed thousands of books, has made many sacrifices to please Srila Prabhupada, but as it is not a disciple of Srila Prabhupada is doomed, that philosophy is very abominable people. The truth is that God's law says that when you see something wrong protest to not be complicit, on the other hand we must associate with devotees who serve and love Srila Prabhupada without wanting anything in return. Personalities like Srila Prabhupada make history in humanity, now we say we are in the year 2014 of the Christian era, one day it will be said in humanity, we are now in the year 6789 was of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada prophesied that his books would law books for all mankind for the next 10,000 years, all people with faith, love, attachment and gratitude are serving Srila Prabhupada are very fortunate and his future is very bright, and people who envy and offend Srila Prabhupada are very unfortunate and its future is very dark.
Share this high thinking:
"All Scripture and authoritative agree that the conception of the Guru can not be explained intellectually, because it is a very deep feeling heart."

   

FANATICISM

Fanaticism, by Javier Figuerola
Srila Prabhupada said that religion without philosophy is sentimentalism or fanaticism, there are many kinds of fanaticism, but religious fanaticism is terrible, many Christian fanatics killed many Muslim fanatics and many Muslim fanatics killed many Christian fanatics. A person practicing genuine spiritual life when he takes refuge in the guru or God's representative in the holy people and the Scriptures. I will try to explain the psychology of fanatical person:
The fanatical person does not listen to anyone, and he thinks he knows everything and everyone else is below him.
The fanatical person when you see someone has a lot of devotion to God or Krishna and Srila Prabhupada, who is very pure, very knowledgeable and wise, he instead of rejoicing, envies.
The fanatical person does not know how to deal with the devotees of Krishna or God or with people in general.
The fan is very intolerant person and wants all fans are also usually fanatical person is very violent, what is the cause of violence ?, the cause of the violence stems from fear of others' ideas and little faith in themselves and fear to the ideals of others.
The fanatical person thinks that others are fans and that he is not a fan.
To stop being a fanatical person one must first of all to associate with non-fans, as we said before Srila Prabhupada said the cause of fanaticism is the lack of philosophy, should study the books of Srila Prabhupada very well and practice well one will be a devotee of God without fanaticism.
It's very interesting what the book entitled THE Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura BHAGAVATA, PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY AND ITS ETHICS.
When awake thinking, the thinker is no more ignorant and are able to get an absolute idea of ​​religion. This is true and God has done so in His infinite goodness, fairness and mercy. The work pays and entertainment will never be rewarded true-it is a useful-who does not think should be satisfied with superstition until you wake up and open their eyes to the God of love. The reformers because of their universal love and who crave good, try some other means for making the thoughtlessly people drink the cup of salvation, but the latter's drink wine and fall to the ground under the influence of intoxication because imagination also has the power to do one thing it ever was. Here's how the evils of the convents and the corruptions of Akras advanced. No, we will not defame the savior of Jerusalem or the savior of Nadia by these subsequent evils. We Luthers rather critical to correct these evils by the true interpretation of the original precepts. Luther did two things, one that saw that the Catholic religion was very degraded and made its own independent group, this group was never recognized by the Catholic Church, but it was approved by the King of Germany. And two to see that the Bible was much changed by personal interests, grabbed the original Aramaic writings and made his Bible. I suggest you watch the movie Luther, it is very interesting.
Another point I always emphasize is that do not get into political criticism or the cause of political criticism and is the envy and insults are made. When Prahlada Maharaja went to school, demonic teachers told that the first thing you are going to teach political science, these are our friends and those are our enemies, and Prahlada Maharaja told them that I can not accept this as I I see that all are children of God, you are pure ignorance.
Two MAXIMUM Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada who have helped me in my spiritual life, is that NOBODY CAN HURT YOU, YOURSELF CAN ONLY HURT YOURSELF AND OTHERS THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO NO RESPECT ME, I ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH WORK CONVICTED PURIFY MY MIND.
Ultimately the spiritual life depends on your sincerity, as cap14 Nectar of Devotion says: Actually, the cultivation of knowledge or renunciation, which are favorable to settle in the plane of Krishna consciousness, can accept at first but in the end may also be rejected because devotional service only depends on the feeling or desire you have for that service. It requires more than sincerity.

JAGAT-GURU SRILA PRABHUPADA KI JAYA

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Founder Acharya of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).

    His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in a family of pure Gaudiya Vaisnavas in 1896 in Calcutta. From early childhood he showed signs of pure devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. At the tender age of five, he single-handedly organized a neighborhood Ratha-yatra festival to glorify Lord Jagannatha. He authentically decorated a small cart to resemble the Lord's colossal chariot in Puri. Besides leading the kirtana party, he organized cooking and prasadam distribution. With his enthusiasm and ecstatic love for Lord Krishna he engaged the community in chanting:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. 

   Unlike other children his age who would waste their time playing, Srila Prabhupada preferred to visit the local Radha Krishna temple. For hours together, he would lovingly gaze upon the transcendental forms of Radha-Govindaji, absorbing Their divine blessings and beautiful darsana. In his youth, Maharaja Parikshit used to dress a Deity of Krishna. Similarly, from his childhood, Srila Prabhupada also began worshiping small Deities of Radha and Krishna. He quickly mastered the traditional beats and ragas on mrdanga and harmonium. With pure devotion Srila Prabhupada would sing sweet devotional bhajans to please Radha-Govindaji.
   At twenty-six, he met his eternal spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (Founder-Acarya of Gaudiya Math). At their first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave Srila Prabhupada a divine command: "Go to the West and spread Krishna Consciousness in the English language." In full faith Srila Prabhupada embraced the order as his life and soul. After realizing his guru's teachings, he started writing and distributing Back to Godhead, an English language magazine on the science of Krishna consciousness. Although begun in 1944 in a small way, Back to Godhead now circulates worldwide in over fifty languages. 

"Back To Godhead" journals.

   Srila Prabhupada, like all pure Vaisnavas, showed immense compassion for the suffering conditioned souls. Although they are rotting in the materialistic life of ignorance, the stubborn conditioned souls insist that they "have no time for spiritual life." Neither their indifference, nor the sizzling summer heat of Delhi could keep Srila Prabhupada from distributing the cooling balm of Krishna consciousness. Once while selling Back to Godhead he collapsed on the street from heat stroke. Yet he remained fixed in his determination to please his spiritual master. 
   He took sannyasa in 1959 after retiring from household life.Taking shelter of Vrindavana, he rented a bhajana kutir in the Radha-Damodara temple where he absorbed the association of Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva Gosvamis. Srila Prabhupada spent the next six years performing intensive Krishna bhajana. Regularly, he bathed in Yamuna, and took darshan of Madana Mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha, and Radha Ramana. He prayed for the mercy of the six Gosvamis and continued writing and printing. During bhajana he would receive blessings, inspiration, and direct guidance from the all-merciful Sri Rupa Gosvami.

Srila Prabhupada takes sannyasa.

  
   At this time, he began his life's main literary work, an English translation with commentary of the Srimad Bhagavatam. For Srila Prabhupada it was out of a devotional outpouring than a mere translation from esoteric Sanskrit to understandable English. Gaudiya Vaisnava history reveals that some advanced Devotees would begin crying in spiritual happiness while reading the Srimad Bhagavatam. Smearing the ink on the pages, their tears would make the lines illegible. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada once said that his Srimad Bhagavatam commentaries are actually expressions of his "devotional ecstacies." Working alone, Srila Prabhupada wrote, begged money to print, and personally hauled the paper to publish the first three volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam. Recollecting these times, he once said humbly to his disciples: 

   "I did not know anything about writing. But my spiritual master told me to spread Lord Krishna's glories in English. So this is what I tried to do, following in the steps of my Guru Maharaja. He was such a transcendental aristocrat. I had no great personal qualifications. I just tried to follow his instructions." 

Srimad Bhagavatam-earlier editions.

   Other disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura tried unsuccessfully to preach Krishna consciousness in English-speaking Europe. Srila Prabhupada, however, had full faith in his guru and Krishna's name. Fearless as Abhimanyu, he brought Krishna Consciousness to the world's most powerful country, America. Besides speaking English and being a "super power," America was leading the world in the sinful activities of meat eating, illicit sex, gambling, intoxication. If Americans would take up Krishna consciousness, thought Srila Prabhupada, then surely it would spread to "every town and village," as Lord Chaitanya predicted five-hundred years ago. After all, "What's a glorious victory without a glorious fight," which Srila Prabhupada would sometimes say.  
   At the age of seventy, armed with karatals and a crate of Bhagavatams, Srila Prabhupada set off to America in 1965 on the steamship "Jaladutta." During the arduous forty-day sea journey the ship met heavy storms. For two consecutive nights, he had severe heart attacks which almost killed him. On the third night, Lord Krishna appeared to Srila Prabhupada in a dream. The Supreme Lord Himself was pulling the ship to America, encouraging Srila Prabhupada and giving him all protection. Srila Prabhupada penned this prayer upon reaching New York City:

Jaladutta.

  
   "My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. How shall I make them understand the message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and most fallen. Therefore, I. am seeking Your benediction so I can convince them. For I am powerless to do so on my own.
   "0 Lord, I am like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like."
   In Manhattan, Srila Prabhupada struggled through the icy cold snowbound winter of 1965. He continued writing and occassionally selling a few Bhagavatams. But for one year nothing really happened. Gradually, a few yoga students began attending his classes on Bhagavad-gita. The word spread that an "Indian swami was in town teaching a unique yoga method: chanting Hare Krishna." After his room was robbed, he moved into a small storefront apartment at 26 Second Avenue in the Lower East Side.
   In nearby Tompkins Square Park, Srila Prabhupada led the first public chanting of Hare Krishna in the Western world. On July 13, 1966, he founded ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and initiated a dozen disciples. To receive initiation disciples must promise to give up all forms of illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. Srila Prabhupada was well on his way to realizing his mission.

Srila Prabhupada in New York's Topkins Square Park, 1966.

  
   Under Srila Prabhupada's pure guidance the Krishna consciousness movement quickly flourished. Within months ISKCON Radha-Krishna temples opened in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Montreal and

   London. In the 1970's, he traveled around the world fourteen times, establishing 108 Radha-Krishna temples in all the major cities of the Americas, Europe, Africa, India, Asia, and Australia. He initiated a total of five thousand sincere disciples from different nationalities.

He opened ashrams and pure vegetarian "Govinda's" restaurants. On every continent he started Vedic gurukulas and goshallas.

    He opened ashrams and pure vegetarian "Govinda's" restaurants. On every continent he started Vedic gurukulas and goshallas. Srila Prabhupada was the first spiritual master to introduce both elegant Deity worship of Radha and Krishna and the annual Ratha-yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha in the western countries. ISKCON's Jagannatha Ratha-yatra festivals, complete with three beautiful wooden carts carrying Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra, a thunderous sankirtana procession, and massive prasadam distribution, take place every year in over two-hundred cities worldwide.

   Though constantly traveling and preaching to priests, princes, politicians, philosophers, scientists, and his disciples, Srila Prabhupada kept translating the Srimad Bhagavatam. He wrote over eighty books about. Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Nectar of Devotion, The Science of Self-Realization, and English translations with commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Isopanisad, Upadesamrta, Narada Bhakti-sutras, Mukunda mala-stotra, and Caitanya Caritamrta are some of his works. Prabhupada's books have been translated into fifty languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Swahili, Hindi, Bengali. Almost a billion copies have been distributed worldwide. 

Srila Prabhupada was the first spiritual master to introduce both elegant Deity worship of Radha and Krishna...

   In only eleven years, between the ages of seventy and eighty-one, Srila Prabhupada accomplished his mission. He credited his phenomenal success to personal effort, an unshakeable faith in his spiritual master and the Holy Names of Lord Sri Krishna. He was not an ordinary person. Srila Prabhupada was personally chosen and empowered by the Supreme Lord to spread Krishna consciousness and chanting Hare Krishna all over the world.

   In Vrindavana, during the auspicious month of Kartika in 1977 on November 14, while surrounded by loving disciples singing their hearts out in kirtana, Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krishna and entered the eternal pastimes of Radha-Syamasundara. To this day ISKCON keeps growing through cooperation and strict following of Srila Prabhupada's pure example and perfect instructions. As one of the world's most dynamic religious and cultural movemments, ISKCON has more than four-hundred temples on five continents. In former communist Russia, fifty ISKCON temples serve the people of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Srila Prabhupada's samadhi is in Vrindavana at the ISKCON Krishna-Balarama Mandir. 

ISKCON's Jagannatha Ratha-yatra festivals, complete with three beautiful wooden carts carrying Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra, a thunderous sankirtana procession, and massive prasadam distribution, take place every year in over two-hundred cities worldwide.

- See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/#sthash.JpcFu61C.dpuf

NANDOTSAVA 2014 KI JAYA

Nandotsava

The Nandotsav - Birth ceremony of Lord Sri Krishna Taken from Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto, 5th Chapter, translated by H.D.G. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 

As described in this chapter, Nanda Maharaja very gorgeously performed the birth ceremony for his newborn child. Then he went to Kamsa to pay taxes due and met his intimate friend Vasudeva.

There was great jubilation all over Vrindavana due to Krishna’s birth. Everyone was overwhelmed with joy. Therefore the King of Vraja, Maharaja Nanda, wanted to perform the birth ceremony for his child, and this he did. During this great festival, Nanda Maharaja gave in charity to all present whatever they desired. After the festival, Nanda Maharaja put the cowherd men in charge of protecting Gokula, and then he went to Mathura to pay official taxes to Kamsa. In Mathura, Nanda Maharaja met Vasudeva. Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva were brothers, and Vasudeva praised Nanda Maharaja’s good fortune because he knew that Krishna had accepted Nanda Maharaja as His father. When Vasudeva inquired from Nanda Maharaja about the welfare of the child, Nanda Maharaja informed him all about Vrindavana, and Vasudeva was very much satisfied by this, although he expressed his grief because Devaki’s many children had been killed by Kamsa. Nanda Maharaja consoled Vasudeva by saying that everything happens according to destiny and that one who knows this is not aggrieved. Expecting many disturbances in Gokula, Vasudeva then advised Nanda Maharaja not to wait in Mathura, but to return to Vrindavana as soon as possible. Thus Nanda Maharaja took leave of Vasudeva and returned to Vrindavana with the other cowherd men on their bullock carts.

SB 10.5.1-2

TEXT

sri-suka uvaca

nandas tv atmaja utpanne

jatahlado maha-manah

ahuya vipran veda-jnan

snatah sucir alankritah

vacayitva svastyayanam

jata-karmatmajasya vai

karayam asa vidhivat

pitri-devarcanam tatha

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krishna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.

PURPORT

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has discussed the significance of the words nandas tu. The word tu, he says, is not used to fulfill the sentence, because without tu the sentence is complete. Therefore the word tu is used for a different purpose. Although Krishna appeared as the son of Devaki, Devaki and Vasudeva did not enjoy the jata-karma, the festival of the birth ceremony. Instead, this ceremony was enjoyed by Nanda Maharaja, as stated here (nandas tv atmaja utpanne jatahlado maha-manah). When Nanda Maharaja met Vasudeva, Vasudeva could not disclose, “Your son Krishna is actually my son. You are His father in a different way, spiritually.” Because of fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva could not observe the festival for Krishna’s birth, Nanda Maharaja, however, took full advantage of this opportunity.

The jata-karma ceremony can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut. However, since Krishna was brought by Vasudeva to the house of Nanda Maharaja, where was the chance for this to happen? In this regard, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura desires to prove with evidence from many sastras that Krishna actually took birth as the son of Yasoda before the birth of Yogamaya, who is therefore described as the Lord’s younger sister. Even though there may be doubts about the cutting of the umbilical cord, and even though it is possible that this was not done, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears, such events are regarded as factual. Krishna appeared as Varahadeva from the nostril of Brahma, and therefore Brahma is described as the father of Varahadeva. Also significant are the words karayam asa vidhivat. Being overwhelmed with jubilation over the birth of his son, Nanda Maharaja did not see whether the cord was cut or not. Thus he performed the ceremony very gorgeously. According to the opinion of some authorities, Krishna was actually born as the son of Yasoda. In any case, without regard for material understandings, we can accept that Nanda Maharaja’s celebration for the ceremony of Krishna’s birth was proper. This ceremony is therefore well known everywhere as Nandotsava.

SB 10.5.3

TEXT

dhenunam niyute pradad

viprebhyah samalankrite

tiladrin sapta ratnaugha-

satakaumbhambaravritan

TRANSLATION

Nanda Maharaja gave two million cows, completely decorated with cloth and jewels, in charity to the brahmanas. He also gave them seven hills of grain, covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery.

SB 10.5.4

TEXT

kalena snana-saucabhyam

samskarais tapasejyaya

sudhyanti danaih santushtya

dravyany atmatma-vidyaya

TRANSLATION

O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the brahmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is purified; and by self-realization, or Krishna consciousness, the soul is purified.

PURPORT

These are sastric injunctions concerning how one can purify everything according to Vedic civilization. Unless purified, anything we use will infect us with contamination. In India five thousand years ago, even in the villages such as that of Nanda Maharaja, people knew know to purify things, and thus they enjoyed even material life without contamination.

SB 10.5.5

TEXT

saumangalya-giro viprah

suta-magadha-vandinah

gayakas ca jagur nedur

bheryo dundubhayo muhuh

TRANSLATION

The brahmanas recited auspicious Vedic hymns, which purified the environment by their vibration. The experts in reciting old histories like the Puranas, the experts in reciting the histories of royal families, and general reciters all chanted, while singers sang and many kinds of musical instruments, like bheris and dundubhis, played in accompaniment.

SB 10.5.6

TEXT

vrajah sammrishta-samsikta-

dvarajira-grihantarah

citra-dhvaja-pataka-srak-

caila-pallava-toranaih

TRANSLATION

Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Maharaja, was fully decorated with varieties of festoons and flags, and in different places, gates were made with varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards, the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were perfectly swept and washed with water.

SB 10.5.7

TEXT

gavo vrisha vatsatara

haridra-taila-rushitah

vicitra-dhatu-barhasrag-

vastra-kancana-malinah

TRANSLATION

The cows, the bulls and the calves were thoroughly smeared with a mixture of turmeric and oil, mixed with varieties of minerals. Their heads were bedecked with peacock feathers, and they were garlanded and covered with cloth and golden ornaments.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has instructed in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), krishi-go-rakshya-vanijyam vaisya-karma-svabhavajam: “Farming, cow protection and trade are the qualities of work for the vaisyas.” Nanda Maharaja belonged to the vaisya community, the agriculturalist community. How to protect the cows and how rich this community was are explained in these verses. We can hardly imagine that cows, bulls and calves could be cared for so nicely and decorated so well with cloths and valuable golden ornaments. How happy they were. As described elsewhere in the Bhagavatam, during Maharaja Yudhishthira’s time the cows were so happy that they used to muddy the pasturing ground with milk. This is Indian civilization. Yet in the same place, India, Bharata-varsha, how much people are suffering by giving up the Vedic way of life and not understanding the teachings of Bhagavad-gita.

SB 10.5.8

TEXT

maharha-vastrabharana-

kancukoshnisha-bhushitah

gopah samayayu rajan

nanopayana-panayah

TRANSLATION

O King Parikshit, the cowherd men dressed very opulently with valuable ornaments and garments such as coats and turbans. Decorated in this way and carrying various presentations in their hands, they approached the house of Nanda Maharaja.

PURPORT

When we consider the past condition of the agriculturalist in the village, we can see how opulent he was, simply because of agricultural produce and protection of cows. At the present, however, agriculture having been neglected and cow protection given up, the agriculturalist is suffering pitiably and is dressed in a niggardly torn cloth. This is the distinction between the India of history and the India of the present day. By the atrocious activities of ugra-karma, how we are killing the opportunity of human civilization!

SB 10.5.9

TEXT

gopyas cakarnya mudita

yasodayah sutodbhavam

atmanam bhushayam cakrur

vastrakalpanjanadibhih

TRANSLATION

The gopi wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother Yasoda had given birth to a son, and they began to decorate themselves very nicely with proper dresses, ornaments, black ointment for the eyes, and so on.

SB 10.5.10

TEXT

nava-kunkuma-kinjalka-

mukha-pankaja-bhutayah

balibhis tvaritam jagmuh

prithu-sronyas calat-kucah

TRANSLATION

Their lotuslike faces extraordinarily beautiful, being decorated with saffron and newly grown kunkuma, the wives of the cowherd men hurried to the house of mother Yasoda with presentations in their hands. Because of natural beauty, the wives had full hips and full breasts, which moved as they hurried along.

PURPORT

The cowherd men and women in the villages lived a very natural life, and the women developed a natural feminine beauty, with full hips and breasts. Because women in modern civilization do not live naturally, their hips and breasts do not develop this natural fullness. Because of artificial living, women have lost their natural beauty, although they claim to be independent and advanced in material civilization. This description of the village women gives a clear example of the contrast between natural life and the artificial life of a condemned society, such as that of the Western countries, where topless, bottomless beauty may be easily purchased in clubs and shops and for public advertisements. The word balibhih indicates that the women were carrying gold coins, jeweled necklaces, nice cloths, newly grown grass, sandalwood pulp, flower garlands and similar offerings on plates made of gold. Such offerings are called bali. The words tvaritam jagmuh indicate how happy the village women were to understand that mother Yasoda had given birth to a wonderful child known as Krishna.

SB 10.5.11

TEXT

gopyah sumrishta-mani-kundala-nishka-kanthyas

citrambarah pathi sikha-cyuta-malya-varshah

nandalayam sa-valaya vrajatir virejur

vyalola-kundala-payodhara-hara-sobhah

TRANSLATION

In the ears of the gopis were brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, and from their necks hung metal lockets. Their hands were decorated with bangles, their dresses were of varied colors, and from their hair, flowers fell onto the street like showers. Thus while going to the house of Maharaja Nanda, the gopis, their earrings, breasts and garlands moving, were brilliantly beautiful.

PURPORT

The description of the gopis, who were going to the house of Maharaja Nanda to welcome Krishna, is especially significant. The gopis were not ordinary women, but expansions of Krishna’s pleasure potency, as described in the Brahma-samhita (5.37,29):

ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis

tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih

goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto

govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

(5.37)

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vriksha-

lakshavriteshu surabhir abhipalayantam

lakshmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam

govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

(5.29)

Krishna is always worshiped by the gopis wherever He goes. Therefore Krishna is so vividly described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also described Krishna in this way: ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita. All these gopis were going to offer Krishna their presentations because the gopis are eternal associates of the Lord. Now the gopis were more jubilant because of the news of Krishna’s appearance in Vrindavana.

SB 10.5.12

TEXT

ta asishah prayunjanas

ciram pahiti balake

haridra-curna-tailadbhih

sincantyo ’janam ujjaguh

TRANSLATION

Offering blessings to the newborn child, Krishna, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men said, “May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants.” They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water upon the birthless Supreme Lord and offered their prayers.

SB 10.5.13

TEXT

avadyanta vicitrani

vaditrani mahotsave

krishne visvesvare ’nante

nandasya vrajam agate

TRANSLATION

Now that the all-pervading, unlimited Lord Krishna, the master of the cosmic manifestation, had arrived within the estate of Maharaja Nanda, various types of musical instruments resounded to celebrate the great festival.

PURPORT

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.7):

yada yada hi dharmasya

glanir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya

tadatmanam srijamy aham

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.” Whenever Krishna comes, once in a day of Brahma, He comes to the house of Nanda Maharaja in Vrindavana. Krishna is the master of all creation (sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]). Therefore, not only in the neighborhood of Nanda Maharaja’s estate, but all over the universe—and in all the other universes—musical sounds celebrated the auspicious arrival of the Lord.

SB 10.5.14

TEXT

gopah parasparam hrishta

dadhi-kshira-ghritambubhih

asincanto vilimpanto

navanitais ca cikshipuh

TRANSLATION

In gladness, the cowherd men enjoyed the great festival by splashing one another’s bodies with a mixture of curd, condensed milk, butter and water. They threw butter on one another and smeared it on one another’s bodies.

PURPORT

From this statement we can understand that five thousand years ago not only was there enough milk, butter and curd to eat, drink and cook with, but when there was a festival it would be thrown about without restriction. There was no limit to how extensively milk, butter, curd and other such products were used in human society. Everyone had an ample stock of milk, and by using it in many varied milk preparations, people would keep good health in natural ways and thus enjoy life in Krishna consciousness.

SB 10.5.15-16

TEXT

nando maha-manas tebhyo

vaso ’lankara-go-dhanam

suta-magadha-vandibhyo

ye ’nye vidyopajivinah

tais taih kamair adinatma

yathocitam apujayat

vishnor aradhanarthaya

sva-putrasyodayaya ca

TRANSLATION

The great-minded Maharaja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Vishnu, and thus he improved the condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sutas, the magadhas, the vandis, and men of all other professions, according to their educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone’s desires.

PURPORT

Although it has become fashionable to speak of daridra-narayana, the words vishnor aradhanarthaya do not mean that all the people satisfied by Nanda Maharaja in this great ceremony were Vishnus. They were not daridra, nor were they Narayana. Rather, they were devotees of Narayana, and by their educational qualifications they would satisfy Narayana. Therefore, satisfying them was an indirect way of satisfying Lord Vishnu. Mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika (SB 11.19.21). The Lord says, “Worshiping My devotees is better than worshiping Me directly.” The varnasrama system is entirely meant for vishnu-aradhana, worship of Lord Vishnu. Varnasramacaravata purushena parah puman/ vishnur aradhyate (Vishnu Purana 3.8.9). The ultimate goal of life is to please Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Lord. The uncivilized man or materialistic person, however, does not know this aim of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum (SB 7.5.31). One’s real self-interest lies in satisfying Lord Vishnu. Not satisfying Lord Vishnu but instead attempting to become happy through material adjustments (bahir-artha-maninah) is the wrong way for happiness. Because Vishnu is the root of everything, if Vishnu is pleased, everyone is pleased; in particular, one’s children and family members become happy in all respects. Nanda Maharaja wanted to see his newborn child happy. That was his purpose. Therefore he wanted to satisfy Lord Vishnu, and to satisfy Lord Vishnu it was necessary to satisfy His devotees, such as the learned brahmanas, magadhas and sutas. Thus, in a roundabout way, ultimately it was Lord Vishnu who was to be satisfied.

SB 10.5.17

TEXT

rohini ca maha-bhaga

nanda-gopabhinandita

vyacarad divya-vasa-srak-

kanthabharana-bhushita

TRANSLATION

The most fortunate Rohini, the mother of Baladeva, was honored by Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda, and thus she also dressed gorgeously and decorated herself with a necklace, a garland and other ornaments. She was busy wandering here and there to receive the women who were guests at the festival.

PURPORT

Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva’s, was also kept under the care of Nanda Maharaja with her son Baladeva. Because her husband was imprisoned by Kamsa, she was not very happy, but on the occasion of Krishna-janmashtami, Nandotsava, when Nanda Maharaja gave dresses and ornaments to others, he also gave gorgeous garments and ornaments to Rohini so that she could take part in the festival. Thus she also was busy receiving the women who were guests. Because of her good fortune in being able to raise Krishna and Balarama together, she is described as maha-bhaga, greatly fortunate.