When Character is lost
WHAT SHOULD WE DESIRE FROM SREE NARASIMHA BHAGAVAN?
Vaishnavas generally advise anybody who is in distress, to remember Lord Sree Narasimha deva.
For remembrance, utterance of Sree Narasimha Mantra is essential.
Lord Sree Narasimha deva removes all anti-devotional desires so that the sincere aspirants can remove the root cause of suffering, which is— ‘aversion to Supreme Lord Sree Krishna’. Simultaneously, it may also give non-eternal benefits. Utterance of the Holy Name should be from the core of the heart, with firm belief.
True Vaishnavas do not want to disturb their object of worship, the Supreme Lord and His Absolute Counterpart Gurudeva, for their worldly difficulties. If they require any kind of relief from physical disease, they take the help of doctors.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
This and That Realm
In this realm of dvitiya-abhinivesa – where a person is absorbed in anything other than the Supreme Absolute Reality – each individual is separated from every other by one thing – illusion. In such a place, one indeed distinguishes between ‘you’ and ‘me’, and ‘yours’ and ‘mine’. Consequently, one person’s self-interest cannot be reconciled with the self-interest of another. There is even a disparity of interest between mother and son, husband and wife, master and servant, and teacher and student.
Such incongruity, however, does not exist in the spiritual world, where the Absolute Truth, the son of the king of Vraja (advaya-jnana Sri Vrajendra-nandana) is the exclusive Object (visaya) of interest. The sole interest of the residents of the spiritual realm is to bring Him happiness.
It thus follows that in that place where everyone has one interest only and where only one person enjoys being the cynosure of that interest, the manifestation of duality would be impossible.
In that realm, there is no difference between ‘your’ master and ‘my’ master, for there, to speak of ‘my’ master’s glories is to automatically speak of ‘your’ master’s glories, and vice versa: when you speak of ‘your’ master’s glories, I only hear the glories of ‘my’ master.
– Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupad
He never eats anything
There is one other extraordinary legend about Srila Raghunath Das Gosvami, a great devotee of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna.
One day he was exhibiting pastimes of suffering from indigestion. One of the residents of Vraj, Sri Vitthalnath came with two doctors from Ballabhpur to cure Srila Raghunath Das.
After examining him, the doctors said that the indigestion had been caused by eating rice and milk.
Sri Vitthalnath was astonished to hear this diagnosis and said, “This is impossible. This man never eats anything but buttermilk.”
Srila Raghunath Das Gosvami then spoke up, saying that he had indeed eaten milk and rice in the course of his meditation on the pastimes of Srimati Radha and Sree Krishna.
Benefits of Haribhajan
In our family life, the husband blames the wife and the wife blames the husband. Parents blame children and children blame parents. The younger brother blames the older brother and the older brother blames the younger brother. All out of ignorance, one person is blaming the other.
If you become disturbed you cannot perform bhajan.
Srila Narad Goswami told Sri Dhruva– Perform bhajan, but WITHOUT ANY HOSTILITY.
You are the cause of your own miseries. You should repent for your own actions. If you perform Sri Hari bhajan, Sri Krishna bhajan, with the proper mentality and one-pointed devotion, then whatever appears to be against you, such as circumstances or family members, will automatically become congenial, automatically. But you are not to demand this.
You are to just perform bhajan.
When Sri Krishna is satisfied everybody will be satisfied.
Sree Kheer-chor Gopinath
Once Srila Madhavendra Puri ji, a devotee of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna was on the way to Sreedham Puri. While on his way to the South, Sree Madhavendra Puri arrived at Remuna. Seeing the beautiful Sree Gopinath deity in Remuna, Srila Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed with love, and started singing His Names and danced for some time in ecstasy. Being extremely satisfied with the exquisite offerings to Lord Sree Gopinath, he asked one of the Brahmin servitors what foods were offered to the deity. The brahmin answered: “In the evening we offer to Sree Gopinath twelve bowls of Amrita-keli, a thickened milk preparation that is like the nectar of the gods. This kheer is famous everywhere as Sri Gopinath’s kheer and no offering anywhere in the world is its equal.”
As the brahmin spoke, other servants of Lord Gopinath started to make the Amrita-keli offering to the deity. Srila Madhavendra Puri thought that if he could just get a taste of this preparation unsolicited, he would be able to one day make it himself and offer this kheer to his own Sree Gopal deity. However, this very thought of eating the kheer shamed him. After watching the arati ceremony, Srila Madhavendra Puri went outside and sat in the empty market-place, chanting the Holy Names. Srila Madhavendra Puri followed ayachaka-vritti, which means that he would never ask for food from anyone, only accepting the food that was spontaneously offered to him. He was able to do this because he never felt hunger or thirst, as he was constantly engaged in drinking the nectar of prema and that kept him satisfied.
In the meantime, the pujari had finished his duties and was taking a rest when he had a vision of the deity in a dream telling him, “Get up! Open the door. I have put a bowl of kheer aside for the sannyasi. It is hidden behind the pleats of My dhoti. You did not see Me hide the bowl there because of My maya. The sannyasi, whose name is Madhava Puri, is sitting in the marketplace. Quickly take this kheer to him.”
The pujari was startled by the dream and immediately got up. He bathed, opened the door to the altar and found a bowl of the kheer behind the deity’s cloth, just as he had been told. He took the bowl and went to find Srila Madhavendra Purī. He wandered through the market, shouting, “I have kheer here for Madhava Purī. Sree Gopinath has stolen it for you. Take it and eat it with joy, for there is no person as fortunate as you in the three worlds.”
When Srila Madhavendra Puri heard the pujari shouting in this way, he approached him and identified himself. The pujari gave him the kheer and then fell at his feet. He recounted the whole story to Srila Madhavendra Puri, sending him into paroxysms of divine love for Lord Sree Krishna. He respectfully ate the prasada and then, after washing the clay bowl, broke it into many small pieces and wrapped them up in his outer garment. Each day thereafter, he would eat a piece of the clay bowl and once again feel the same ecstatic love. Knowing that word of this miracle would spread by morning, Srila Madhavendra Puri became fearful of the celebrity that would inevitably befall him and the crowd of people that would then surround him. So, he paid his obeisances to Lord Sree Gopinath from that very place and left for Puri before dawn.
Supreme Lord appears in front to Srila Sanatana Goswami
Srila Sanatana Gosvami had another vision of the Supreme Lord later in his life.
While staying at Chakratirtha near Sri Govardhana, Srila Sanatana Gosvami would regularly circumambulate Sri Govardhan hill. As he grew older, he became too weak to circumambulate on a daily basis without becoming excessively fatigued. One day, Lord Gopinatha Himself came in the form of a cowherd boy to fan him when he became too tired from walking. After refreshing Srila Sanatana Gosvami in this way, the boy climbed onto the hill and brought down a (shila) stone marked with Sri Krishna’s footprint. He gave the shila to Srila Sanatana Gosvami and said, “You have grown old. There is no longer any need for you to trouble yourself to this extent. I am giving you this shila from Govardhana. If you circumambulate this shila, you can consider yourself to have circumambulated Govardhana.”
Then He disappeared.
Srila Sanatana Gosvami was overwhelmed with pain and began to cry upon losing sight of the cowherd boy’s charming form.
(Bhakti-ratnākara 5.728-741)
Why should we deprive God of that pleasure?
— Once, there was a magician. A friend told him that he was experiencing difficulties in his marriage.
He said, “I have everything I need, but my wife is not congenial. She is always doing something to displease me, so I am not happy. How can I control her? You are a magician. Can’t you help me? You must know a spell or something.”
The magician gave him a magic wand and said, “Your wife will obey you, whatever you command.”
The man went back to his house with the wand and ordered his wife, “Come here!” and his wife came. “Go there!” he said, and his wife went. “Sit here!” he commanded, and his wife sat down.
But after doing this for sometime, he realized he was still not happy. Why? Because his wife had become like a dog! He realized that for them to have a joyful relationship, she must have her independence, the ability to think independently. Only if she served willingly could there be happiness. If consciousness is destroyed, there can be no happiness.
In the same way, God is not so ignorant that He will choose to suppress the relative independence of the jivas. He retains it and His counterpart, Gurudeva, does the same. But they make the jivas understand that they are eternal servants of the Supreme Lord and that by serving Him they will become happy. They try to change the jivas mentality by showing them their own ideal character and example, and by explaining to and inspiring them.
God does not want to destroy the relative independence of His minute particles. With whom will He enjoy His pastimes? In order for service to exist, there must be both a servitor and a served. Only then does prema or divine love become a possibility. There can be no such love where there is only one person.
The jivas who are now here in this material world have forgotten Sree Krishna, but ultimately, when they experience the awakening of the eternal nature of the self, they will cry for the Lord with great earnestness and perturbation. And God will taste and relish their emotion. Why should we deprive God of that pleasure?
When Sri Sarang Thakur revived the corpse to initiate him
Sri Saranga Thakur was a devotee of Supreme Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
He is also known as Sri Sringadhar and Sri Sarngapani. He used to live in Modadrumdwip. The name of the town is Mamgachi. He would sit in a secluded place by the banks of the Ganges to meditate and chant the Holy names. Through these practices he obtained many miraculous powers.
At first, Saranga Thakur did not want to make any disciples for fear of disturbances to his bhajan, but Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu repeatedly encouraged him to do so.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur writes in his Anubhashya: “Having been ordered by Sree Mahaprabhu to take disciples, Sri Saranga Thakur decided that he would make a disciple of the first person that he met the following morning. As fate would have it, the next morning, a dead body washed up against him while he was taking a bath in the river Ganges. He revived the corpse and made him his disciple. This disciple was known as Sri Thakur Murari, or sometimes as Sri Saranga Murari.
In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is further said that Sri Murari was a boy who had been killed by snakebite and his parents had set his uncremated body afloat on a raft in the river Ganges, as was the custom in that time. Sri Saranga Murari Thakur himself became an empowered preacher of Sree Mahaprabhu’s dharma. Descendents of his disciples still live in a village named Shava. (“corpse”).
Sree Saranga Thakur’s deities were served in the town of Mamgachi. The original temple was built in front of a bakula tree. The deities of Sree Radha Gopinath can be seen in this temple, as can the deity of Sree Mahaprabhu’s other parshad, Srila Vasudeva Datta Thakur, Sri Madana Gopal. The devotees who do parikrama of Sree Nabadwip Dham visit this temple for darshan.
Why should we associate with devotees?
The love for Supreme God — Sree Krishna, is inherent in every individual soul.
Due to forgetfulness of our relation with Sree Krishna, we are envelopedi by the illusory energy consisting of three primal qualities– Rajah, Sattva and Tamah and pass through cycles of births, deaths and threefold afflictions.
Love of God is not to be borrowed from somebody, only it is to be awakened by the association of a pure bona fide devotee.
The Real Touchstone
There was a Brahmin who was worshipping Lord Shiva. He was very poor and desired wealth. Lord Shiva appeared to him and told him, “If you want wealth, you should go to Vrindavana. On the banks of the river Yamuna is the Dvadasha-aditya tila. There you will find Sri Sanatana Goswami. He has a sparsha-mani (touchstone). If you touch iron with that touchstone, it will turn it into pure gold. If you ask him, he will give it to you”. The Brahmin very enthusiastically went to Vrindavana. He climbed up the Dvadasha-aditya tila and there was Sri Sanatana Goswami, performing his bhajan.
The Brahmin said, “Lord Shiva appeared to me and told me that you will give me a sparsha mani. Do you actually have one?
Sri Sanatana Goswami answered, “Yes I have one. Do you want it?”
The Brahmin replied, “Yes”, so Sri Sanatana Goswami pointed and said, “It’s over there.”
“Where?” asked the Brahmin.
“There,” replied Sri Sanatana Goswami.
“There? But that’s a pile of rubbish,” said the Brahmin.
Sri Sanatana Goswami then confirmed, “Yes, somewhere in that pile of dust and rubbish there is a sparsha – mani. If you can find it you can have it.”
So the Brahmin looked through the rubbish, and sure enough, there it was-the touchstone!
Anything of iron, he touched would turn into gold. He was very happy. He was touching and getting gold. But Lord Shiva blessed him, and therefore, he had good intelligence. He began to think, “The whole world is looking for a touchstone like this. But Sri Sanatana Goswami had it lying in a rubbish bin, so he must have something more valuable than this.”
He went back and asked Sri Sanatana Goswami, ” Do you have something more valuable?”
Sri Sanatana Goswami replied, “Yes, I do have something millions of times more precious. Do you want it?”
The Brahmin said, “Yes, please. I do.”
Sri Sanatana Goswami then told him, ” First take your touchstone and throw it into the Yamuna, because you cannot receive what I have until you are freed from all these other attachments.”
The Brahmin had faith in the words of a Sadhu. To get the treasure of Krishna Consciousness, there has to be a great leap of faith in the words of the Sadhu.
The Brahmin threw the touchstone into the river Yamuna, knowing that it would never be seen again.
Sri Sanatana Goswami said, “I will now give you a touchstone that will give you something greater than all the gold in creation. The greatest treasure is the treasure of Sri Krishna – Prema. That treasure is lying dormant within your heart. There is only one means of achieving it; through the touchstone of the very sincere chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Sri Sanatana Goswami initiated him in the chanting of the Holy Names and he became the possessor of the ultimate wealth.
Featured image: Kailash Temple
How will Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna come to me?
In a town in Bengal, there was a man who worked in an office. He lived with his wife and two children. One of the children was only three or four months old and the other was seven years old. One day, the man told his wife, “You will have to prepare breakfast early today because I have to go into the office early. After I eat, I shall leave right away.”
When the wife went to cook, she first put the baby on the bed and then went into the kitchen. But, whenever she would enter the kitchen, the child would cry. She thought, “With the child in my lap, how will I be able to cook? It is very difficult.” She was thinking what she should do. Then she thought of a way she could manage. She called the seven-year-old child.
“Darling, come here!” she called. “Do you know that red toy in the shop?”
”Yes, I know it,” the child answered.
”Go and buy that toy, but be sure that it makes a nice jingling sound.”
The child took some money and went off to buy the toy. He brought it home and gave it to the other. The mother laid the baby down on the bed and hung the red-coloured toy with the jingling sound above him, at the end of a rope. The baby saw the toy and immediately started to play with it, hitting it from side to side. The child was most delighted as he continued to slap the toy and hear the jingling sound. For one hour he played like that, and the mother went to do her cooking. After that, the child started to feel hungry. For the entire time that the child was playing, he did not remember his mother. But, now that he felt hungry, he thought, “Oh, where is my mother?” But his mother did not come. Then, he started crying, signifying, “I am hungry! Come!” He could not speak, so he beckoned his mother by crying. “Come to me and suckle me! I am hungry!” His mother, however, was busy cooking. “No,” she thought, “let the child cry.”
After some time, the child stopped crying and went back to playing with the toy – jingle, jingle, jingle. After playing like that for a while, the pangs of hunger returned. His hunger increased and increased and he became more and more unhappy. He began to cry for his mother even more loudly than before.
His mother heard the crying of the baby, but thought that she should first finish her cooking. Finally, the hunger became unbearable for the child. The child thought, “I don’t want toys!” All he could think about was his mother.
His crying became louder and louder until he was screaming. He started to throw his arms about and kick his legs, in a tantrum.
Then the mother thought, “Oh, I cannot stay away any longer!” The mother ran toward the child, embraced him and suckled him.
Similarly, the Supreme Lord has given us toys – the toy of a wife or husband, toys of children, toys of buildings, toys of radios, toys of videos, toys of computers. Seeing this, Krsna thinks, “They are absorbed in their toys! I have no worries. I am engaged in My pastimes in the transcendental realm. They do not want this. They want those things instead. Here, take this computer! Take that video! Take this! Take that!”
Upon the awakening of his real self (atma), a man feels the want of the sweetest affection of the Supreme Lord. He cries, “Oh Supreme Lord! In this world, nothing gives me happiness. Everything is temporary. Everyone is selfish. You are my most beloved! Where are You? I have forgotten You! Come! Come! I am in a furnace! Come! Come!” Weeping, he calls, but Krishna does not come. “I am engaged in My pastimes,” Krishna says. For some time, the man then becomes absorbed in the affairs of his family and relatives, and forgets Krishna. Time passes and he cries again, “Where is My beloved Supreme Lord? Where is He?” Crying, crying. But, the Supreme Lord still does not come.
Ultimately, he shouts, “I do not want a house! I do not want anything! Nobody is mine – You are mine! Oh beloved Supreme Lord! Come! Come! Come!” He cries and weeps, tossing his arms and legs about. Then Krishna cries, “Oh!” and comes to him. This sort of perturbation of the heart, extreme eagerness for getting Bhagavan, must be there.
When we associate with the suddha bhakta who is crying for Sri Krishna, then the eternal nature of atma will be awakened. You have love for God. Love is there in your soul. It exists, but it is presently enveloped by the external potency of the Supreme Lord and you have become averse to Sri Krishna. Passing through different species, our minds have become enveloped by so many evil desires.
— Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ji.
Understanding Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta
Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta is universally adored name and scripture. It is commonly known to everyone across the globe. But the difficulity is, there are thousands of commentaries on the Geeta, and in these commentaries the commentators have expressed their own views. They all have different views and ordinary people are confused about the actual message of Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta.
The speaker of the Geeta is the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Only those who have entered into the heart of Sri Krishna can understand the real implication and significance of His sayings and the purpose of His speech and advice. Outside people cannot understand.
In India, and outside India, you will find many people who say — We do not believe Krishna is Supreme Lord because He took birth and, therefore, He was a human being. He may have many powers, perhaps even superhuman powers. He may even be a great politician, a great diplomat. But He is still only a human being.
Even those who have gone through the Geeta may also speak like this. It is most astounding. When I ask them — Have you gone through the Geeta? The reply is — Oh, yes.
I ask them — How! If you have gone through the Geeta, then you should accept the teachings of the Geeta.
Supreme Lord Sri Krishna mentions in Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta (7.7) –There is nothing superior to Me.
With emphasis, Sri Krishna says that He is the Supreme Lord. We read the Geeta, but we do not believe the teachings of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Why is this? He also says in the Geeta (9.24) — I am the only Master and the only Enjoyer of all yajnas (sacrifices).
There are many verse in Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta substantiating Sri Krishna as Supreme Lord.
In the Geeta (10.8), He says — I am the cause of all creation, the origin of all the things.
In verse (14.27), He says — I am the cause of the impersonal formless God (Brahm). That impersonal, formless God is the halo of own light of Sri Krishna, emanating from Sri Krishna Himself. And so on.
Sri Krishna is the Supreme Lord. How can we know the Supreme Lord? Without His grace, no one can know Him. If anybody says — Yes. I can know Him, then he will be equal to or greater than the Supreme Lord. But the Supreme Lord, Infinite and Absolute, is One. Nothing can be outside the Infinite. If you say — This flower is outside the Infinite, then the Infinite becomes finite. Even particle of dust cannot be outside the Infinite, or the Absolute will lose His position. The Absolute is One. The only way to get Him is to take absolute shelter at His Lotus Feet and to act according to His will. There is no other way to get Him except by means of exclusive, pure devotion.
Therefore, only those who have surrendered to Sri Krishna, who have access to the heart of Sri Krishna, can understand the implication and significance of His teachings. Those without knowledge of Sri Krishna, who have not submitted to Sri Krishna, how can they know. They may write many commentaries, but they cannot comprehend the actual significance of the teachings of Sri Krishna.
Even Sri Arjuna took the shelter unto Sri Krishna, means he also surrendered unto Sri Krishna, before he was imparted with this divine knowledge. He says in the Geeta (2.7) — I have lost my natural valour. I am bewildered and cannot ascertain what is right and what is wrong. I submit to you. I am your disciple. Please advise me regarding my eternal welfare.
(From the lectures of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj)
Dates of travel / Ukraine Europe / preaching programs
Dates of travel / Ukraine Europe / preaching programs by Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
Dear Devotees,
Hare Krishna.Dandvat Pranam.I had been travelling to Orissa, Bengal and Tripura for preaching programs. Programs were quite nice and well managed. During Tripura program, Chief Minister of Tripura, Deputy chief minister of Tripura, Governor of Tripura. CHief Justice of Tripura High court came to Math for blessings of Lord Jagannath and met all devotees.
Hare Krishna.Dandvat Pranam.I had been travelling to Orissa, Bengal and Tripura for preaching programs. Programs were quite nice and well managed. During Tripura program, Chief Minister of Tripura, Deputy chief minister of Tripura, Governor of Tripura. CHief Justice of Tripura High court came to Math for blessings of Lord Jagannath and met all devotees.
Likewise we had a large gathering in Bengal. The scale of this gathering was similar to gathering when couple of years back, Srila Gurumaharaj visited Goalpara on the ocassion of Sri Ram Navmi.
This program in Medinipur, Bengal was organized in a College ground. It had a water-proof pandal with a capacity of 3000 congregation. During morning hours, pandal was occupied to full capacity, however by evening, equivalent number of people were standing outside pandal. Likewise we have a large Nagar Sankirtan and Prasadam distribution.
Two major illustrious points to mention are — about 100 sannyasi / brahmcharis attended the program. Secondly, main organizers (4-5 god brothers), were quite young (about 25-30 years of age)
I have just returned to Delhi after GBC and special member meeting at Kolkata.
The tickets have been booked as under:
27 August
Ukranian Airlines PS 392
Delhi Departure 10.00am
Kiev arrival 3.20pm
12 September
Baltic Airlines
Departure Kiev (from Borispol airport terminal D) BT 401 9:45am
Riga (11:35am) arrival
Riga (3:55pm) departure by BT 693
Arrival Paris 5:45pm
5 October
Departure Vienna 3:40pm / Ukranian Airlines PS 846
for Delhi (Via Kiev)
Now, we are in Ukraine from 27 August till 12 September.
Programs in France are between 13 September and 19 September.
20 September we will be in Germany.
24 September, we will arrive in Prague.
25-29 September in Prague / Ostrava
24 September, we will arrive in Prague.
25-29 September in Prague / Ostrava
30 September to Vienna.
5 October to Delhi
If you have contacts in these areas, please inform them, so that they may also attend these programs for their benefits.
If they need more details, please ask them to contact me on this email id or you can also ask me the query.
Haribol.
Sri Guru-kripa prarthi,
Bhakti Vichar Vishnu
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
www.sreecgmath.org
Marabi rakhabi yo icchha tohara
A surrendered devotee will always say from his heart —
Marabi rakhabi yo icchha tohara, nityadas prati tuya adhikara.
O Lord! You may kill me or let me live. This is your choice. You have complete right on this slave of Yours. Whether I live in this world or not will depend on Your desire. I will not say anything, as I am Your servant. The only condition would be that please continue to engage me in Your services.
Jahe vidhi rakhe Ram, tahe vidhi Rahiye
Sree Prahlad Maharaj while discussing surrender unto Supreme Lord, mentions that one cannot perform bhakti without surrender or sharnagati. Sharanagati is the foundation of bhakti. That is why it is said that Sreemad Bhagavatam begins, where Sreemad Bhagavad Geeta concludes. Sreemad Bhagavad Geeta’s message is sharangati.
‘Sarva dharman parityajya maamekam sharanam vraj.’
i.e. leave all sorts of ‘dharm’ and surrender unto Me.
One of the great Vaishnav Acharya Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur clarifies that sharnagati means, to submit unto the will of Supreme Lord. He explains the concept of sharnagati through 52 song compositions written by Him.
He writes,
sarvasva tomas, charane saumpiya, padechhi tomar ghare.
tumi t’ thakur, tomar kukkur baliya, janaha more.
O Lord Sree Krishna! I am handing over everything that I possess unto You…………….This is Sharanagati. Atma-nivedan. Surrendering ourself unto Him.
In another bhajan He writes,
manas deha geha, yo kichhu mora,
arpilun tuya pade Nand-kishore!
O Nandkishore! Son of Sree Nand! Sree Krishna! I have surrendered all of my possession like mind, thoughts, body, house, everything whatever belongs to me, unto You.
He further explains, that what will happen, when someone surrenders ‘self’ unto Supreme Lord.
He writes,
sampade vipade, jivane marane,
daay mam gela, tua o pada varane.
My Dear Supreme Lord, I am Yours. In whatever way, You want to maintain me, I will accept the conditions because this will be Your desire. Whether wealthy or poor, whether life or death, whatever You will desire for me, I will accept, I am not worried.
Jahe vidhi rakhe Ram, tahe vidhi Rahiye……this is sharanagati.
Sri Nrisimha Dev
Sri Nrisimha Dev has two dispositions. He is terrible with non-devotees, but with devotees, He is very affectionate and caring.
The following verse from the agamas is quoted as evidence by Sree Sridhara Swami in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.1:
ugro ’py anugra evayam sva-bhaktanam nri-kesari
kesariva sva-potanam anyesham ugra-vikramah
(Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 8.6)
“Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non-devotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrisimha Dev is very affectionate and kind to devotees like Prahlada Maharaja.” (Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)
This expresses thoroughly the glories of Sri Nrisimha Dev’s unique mercy.
Devotion to Sri Nrisimha Dev enhances bhakti and destroys uncongenial adverse motivations.
Love of God
Actually, love for God head Sree Krishna, is inherent in every individual soul.
Due to forgetfulness of our relation with Sree Krishna, we are enveloped by the illusory energy consisting of three primal qualities— Rajah, Sattva and Tamah and pass through cycles of births, deaths and threefold afflictions.
Love of God is not to be borrowed from somebody, only it is to be awakened by the company of pure bona fide devotee.
— Hid Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.
Chir haran pastimes of Sree Krishna
One of the great Vaishnav Acharya Srila Bhakti Vedant Narayan Maharaj once explained the ‘chir haran’ pastimes of Sree Krishna, wherein He stole the clothes of Gopis when they were taking a dip in river Yamuna.
Although it may seem so, but this is not a deed of a material person overcome with lust, where a person filled with lust pulls a cloth of a girl. Pastimes of Sree Krishna are not like these because Sree Krishna has always offered adequate respect to women. For e.g. Demon Putna came to kill Him. She picked Him up like a mother and took Him in her lap like a mother. Although she wanted to kill Him by poisoning Him but she fed Him with her milk. Merciful Sree Krishna wondered to give her a position similar to His mother. So, Sree Krishna Who gave Putna a life in Vaikuntha similar to His mother, because she ‘only’ acted like a mother, how can He dis-respect any woman?
In the pastime of Chir-haran, Sree Krishna saved Draupadi from the assembly of men. He punished those who tried to de-robe her or bring defame to women, how He can show dis-respect to any woman?
Maharaj ji also said that Narakasur had held 16000 girls, women as captive to fulfil his desires. Sree Krishna killed him and released all those women. After He killed Narakasura, He said to all of them — You are now free to go back to your place of residence. I can arrange to drop you to the destination. All of them replied in unison — No, no. we cannot go anywhere. We are ready to become your servants, but cannot go back. No one will accept us. Please provide us Your shelter.
Sree Krishna out of His Causeless mercy, accepted their prayers and married them and made them queens. He gave each separate palace to live in.
Such were His pastimes with women, so how can He defame Gopis by taking away their clothes?
We must always go through the appearance pastimes of Sree Krishna which will reveal to us that Sree Krishna is not an ordinary human being. He is transcendental., He is Bhagavan.
Please go through the pastimes of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna, when He stole the clothes. Sree Krishna at that time was about 5 years old and Gopis were of 5 or maximum 6 years old. If we will move back in time, we may recall that, children of 5-6 years used to roam here and there without clothes. So, under these circumstances of a boy lift the clothes of girls, when they were bathing, nothing should be mis-interpreted from such pastime.
Since our minds are polluted, hence we always have polluted thoughts.
Once His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj ‘Vishnupad’ was sitting on a stage with a sannyasi of Ramanuja sampradaya. During his lecture that sannyasi explained that Sree Krishna performed such pastime only to convey to worldly people that one must not bathe naked.
Hence one cannot understand pastimes of Sree Krishna, without understanding Sree Krishna.
Why is it essential to have a thorough understanding of Sree Shikshastaka?
Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this very Kaliyuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara by taking the form and mode of worship of Srimati Radharani, principally to taste the sweetness of Supreme Lord Krishna.
Simultaneously He also distributed Sree Krishna-prema to all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. He is the Highest Munificent Form of Godhead.
Although He is Supreme Lord, He takes the Form of devotee to teach others about how to love Sree Krishna, by practising Himself. So it is very essential to go through His teachings— ‘Shikshashtaka’.
Greatest Spiritual force
We have been brought nearer by science physically but our hearts are apart now. Cultivation of love can remove this distance between hearts.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad preached the Doctrine of Divine Love of Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Love for Sree Krishna— the Absolute Whole, will foster love for all. Non-violence is automatic in the culture of pure love.
Love of God is the greatest spiritual force on earth which can bring unity of hearts among all human beings. Cultivation of Love for Sree Krishna— ‘Sri Krishna-prema’ is to be widely propagated for bringing abiding peace in the hearts of the people which is the basis for progress of human civilisation.
Amongst all spiritual practices, Sri Hari-Nam-sankirtan is the best and most effective sadhan (means) to attain ‘Sri Krishna-prema’ in ‘Kaliyuga’. This spiritual practice of ‘Sri Hari-Nam-sankirtan’ is a universal dharm under which banner, people of all sects and rank can unite.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu pulled the chariot from the Jagannatha Temple
During a solar eclipse, people go to Kuruksetra to bathe and perform other rituals. In the scriptures, you will find descriptions of the immense glories of this practice. During the time of Lord Krishna’s pastimes on Earth, there was a solar eclipse where Lord Krishna came from Dvaraka to Kuruksetra with all His personal associates. At that time, Sri Krishna was the King, Emperor and Sole Proprietor of Dvaraka. All His subjects, consorts and personal associates were very eager to go to Kuruksetra during the solar eclipse so they could bathe, perform sandhya and other rituals. If they could perform these sacrifices with the brahmanas, they could get immense fruits. To fulfill this desire of His subjects, Sri Krishna said, “All right, we shall go.” So, all the numerous subjects, consorts and personal associates came to Kuruksetra. Sri Krishna intentionally invited everyone except the Vrajavasis-the devotees of Vraja.
Sri Narada Gosvami was very shocked by this. He approached Sri Krishna , saying, “The Vrajavasis love You so much. They are experiencing extreme separation grief by not seeing You. You are inviting everyone in the whole world but You are not inviting the Vrajavasis? What offense are they guilty of? Have they committed an offense by loving You? I cannot tolerate this!” Then Sri Krishna said, “They are our own people. No one has to send invitations to one’s own. Parents do not invite their children, and vice versa. They are our own. Outside people are invited. How can I invite the Vrajavasis? You are right, I intentionally did not invite them because they are saturated with love for Me. They have no interest in performing sacrifices to obtain mundane benefits. If they come, the results of all these ritual practices will be destroyed. For this reason, I have not invited them.”
Although not invited, the Vrajavasis came to learn that Sri Krishna was coming to Kuruksetra. The Vrajavasis thought, “Kuruksetra is much closer to Vraja-mandala than Dvaraka is. We should avail ourselves of this rare opportunity to see Sri Krishna ! We can have darsana of Sri Krishna ! We should not miss this chance!”
But they could not venture to go there. Why? They thought, ” Sri Krishna has become the Emperor. His standard is very high, and we are merely cowherd men and women. We are poor people. Perhaps Sri Krishna has forgotten us. If we go there, He will not recognize us. Someone of such a high position will not come to see ordinary people like us. Previously He was a cowherd boy in our Vraja-dhama, but now He has become King. But we are extremely grief-stricken. We cannot tolerate this separation.”
Thinking like this, the Vrajavasis reasoned, “A man might forget everything else, but he will never forget his parents, even if they live far away. If Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda go there, then Sri Krishna will bow down to them and make obeisances.” So they went to Nanda Maharaja, saying, ” Sri Krishna is coming to Kuruksetra! We are too grief-stricken with separation grief. We have not seen Him for such a long time, but we do not have the courage to go there. We do not know if Sri Krishna will give us the opportunity to see Him, as His present standard of living is so high. But, if His parents go there, then Sri Krishna will come to them as their son and offer obeisances.”
Then Nanda Maharaja and Sri Yasoda said, “No, no. This is not correct. He has not come here for such a long time! He has so many consorts and servants serving Him there. He is so wealthy now. His wives are also wealthy. We are only cowherd men and women. We have nothing. After so long, how can we go? If we go there, will He come to see us? If we go to Kuruksetra and are deprived of seeing Sri Krishna , we shall die!”
When Sri Krishna , the Emperor of Dvaraka, entered Kuruksetra, so many cavalry units, elephants, horses, etc. accompanied Him. Only those who had permission were allowed to go to speak with Him. He was surrounded by servants. There were four gatekeepers, one in each direction. The King’s parents, Vasudeva and Devaki were also there. The brahmanas had gone to start the sacrifices. So, no one was permitted to disturb the King.
Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda Devi and all the cowherd boys and other friends of Sri Krishna approached where He was. Nobody acknowledged them. Armed forces, cavalry and elephants surrounded Sri Krishna .
Nanda Maharaja approached one of the guards. “I have come to see my beloved son,” he said.
“Who is your beloved son?” a guard asked him.
” Sri Krishna .”
“How is that? You are a poor person. He is the King! His parents are already here-Vasudeva and Devaki. We do not believe you! From where have you come? Why are you claiming that He is your son? We do not believe you!”
Nanda Maharaja cried, “I shall die!”
The guard said, “I am doing my work as per the order of the King. If I do anything against His orders, I shall be dismissed. Do you have a permit?”
“No.”
“Then I cannot let you in,” the guard replied.
Then all the cowherd boys, carrying their small cow prods, cried, “My friend! My bosom friend! Kanhaiya!”
“What? He is the King! His friends are like this? You are paupers! I do not believe you!”
Then the gopis cried, “We are the consorts of Sri Krishna !”
“What? The consorts are already here. Satyabhama, Rukmini and all the other queens are here! From where have you come? Show me some permit from the King or His Prime Minister!”
Then, Yasoda Devi said, “I told you that, if I go to Kuruksetra and I am deprived of seeing Krishna, I shall die! I have nothing left. My life is finished!” She cried loudly, “Gopala!” and fell unconscious.
At that time, Sri Krishna was with the brahmanas, who requested Him to start the sacrifice. Sri Krishna removed all His royal garments and became a small, naked boy, crying, “Mother! O Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” He cried and cried and cried and ran to sit on the lap of Yasoda Devi. Now, without Sri Krishna ‘s presence, all the ritual sacrifices were destroyed. By hearing one single call from Yasoda Devi, Krsna could not remain there.
Then Sri Krishna met the gopis and the others. The gopis attracted Krsna. They said, “We are not very happy seeing You here. There are so many cavalrymen, elephants and chariots-we should go to Vrndavana. There, it is sweet. All this is Your majestic aspect. So, please allow us the opportunity to see You in better circumstances by coming with us to Vrndavana. Please do not remain here! “He Gopinatha! He Gopinatha! Vrndavane calo! He Gopinatha!”
In that mood of the gopis, saturated with gopi-bhava, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu pulled the chariot from the Jagannatha Temple (Kuruksetra) toward Gundica (Vrndavana). During the chariot festival, Sri Krishna , Sri Baladeva and Sri Subhadra make the trip in three chariots.
Today is Sri Vaman Dvadashi
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrita-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
(Sri Jayadeva’s Dasavatara-stotra, 5th Verse)
“O Kesava! You assumed the form of Vamana to trick the great demon Bali Maharaja by Your steps, and to purify all living entities by the water that emanated from the nails of Your lotus feet. All glories unto You, Lord of the universe.”
Entry to Spiritual Realm
In temples we find that the devotees repeat the same thing every day. Every morning and every evening is aratika and kirtana. Is there anything new? There is aratika in the morning, midday and the evening – the same program everyday.
Sri Narada Goswami has been uttering Sri Krishna – Nam from time immemorial. But still he cannot completely taste Sri Krishna-Nam.
When speaking of the glories of the utterance of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said “prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam.” At every step, you experience the taste of full, complete, transcendental ambrosia. It will never become stale. If we say, “I have finished it. It has become stale! Find something new for me,” then we have not understood anything.
Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did not hear about the lives of Sri Dhruva and Sri Prahlada once only. “We have not yet heard the full story,” He would say. We might say that we have heard the biographies of Sri Dhruva and Sri Prahlada, but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wished to hear the full biographies not one time, but one hundred times. “Again!” He would say, “Please tell Me again.” If, after hearing, you have the desire to hear again, then you have entered into the spiritual, devotional realm. Otherwise, you are outside and have learned nothing about spiritual life – nothing.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
When character is lost, everything is lost
The present-day world appears to be running fast towards destruction.
As per Indian scriptural evidence, the conditioned souls are enveloped by Lord’s illusory energy consisting of three primal qualities— Sattva, Rajah, and Tamah. ‘Tamah’ indicates tendency to commit vice or to inflict injury. In fact, tamah tendency has now engulfed the whole world and is spreading over like fire and showing its most monstrous destructive ugly appearance.
By Rajah-guna living beings are created, by Sattva-guna they are maintained and by Tama-guna they are destroyed. Living beings are non-eternal. Human beings are the best amongst all kinds of created species, because they have got the discriminating power between good and bad, eternal and non-eternal, vice and virtue. Eating, sleeping, defending and mating are equal in beasts and human beings but human beings are superior because of their discriminating power. Practically it is demonstrated now that the human beings have become the greatest enemy of their own species. They are causing unnatural deaths without considering the innocence of the killed— whether they are children or women, whom the killers have never seen and who have never done any harm to the killers. It is the greatest shame of such human beings to claim the false vanity of being the best amongst created beings.
The Supreme Lord does not think much about sins of other living beings who have got no such discriminating power. They do actions out of instinct. But God has bestowed discriminating power to human beings. In spite of that if they commit heinous crimes, surely they will be punished. They will never be spared. They are lowering the status of humanity. We may commit heinous crimes by deceiving ignorant human beings, beasts and birds, but we cannot deceive Supreme Lord Who is Omniscient. Lord is residing in the heart of every individual soul.
‘Karmanye va dhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana’ —Bhagvad Gita
As human being has got relative independence, he can do good and bad deeds by good or bad use of his relative independence. But the fruits of those deeds are controlled by Supreme Lord and not by conditioned souls of the world. Out of ignorance, conditioned souls always have the aptitude to blame others for their sufferings.
When human beings have lost the capacity to understand difference between civilization and non-civilization, good and bad, they have lost everything. There is one pithy saying to know the criterion to understand which is good and bad, beneficial and non-beneficial— ‘When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; and when character is lost, everything is lost.’
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
If there is any God, save me
Pilot Nikson was flying his plane and was locating the defence facilities of German army, during world war- I. He was accompanied by his four colleagues, all from air-force. They entered German air-space and were hiding their plane in clouds. Nikson as pilot wanted clear view of the defence sites, hence took risk of lowering his plane. Suddenly a jolt shook him. His plane was hit. German army was firing at their plane and suddenly plane was in flames.
Mr. Nikson wrote in his biography, ‘I was a firm non-believer in God. I observed that my burning plane was loosing height rapidly and would soon crash. There was no chance of survival. I murmured, ‘If there is any God, save me.’ I went blank after that. I do not know what happened after that. I regained consciousness after a long time. When I recovered a bit, I was told that I remained unconscious for almost 2 months. When I inquired about my colleagues, I was told that somehow the burning plane re-entered the French border and fell with a loud thud. Nothing remained in the place. All were dead. Your pulse was quite slow but running. You were hence taken to Army hospital in Paris and doctors worked very hard to save you. When all were discussing in detail about the crash, I began to re-collect all the minute details of events. Then I recalled how I have murmured, ‘If there is any God, save me’. A shiver ran in my spine and from that day, I had firm faith in God and His existence.’
He continues to write, ‘After I was discharged I began going to church and began inquiring about God from various fathers (priests). I thought that since I know that God exists then I should find Him and talk to Him. I was not satisfied with the answers I got and eventually began reading many holy books. I was still not satisfied. My desire to meet God increased day by day. After all He saved me that other day and I should meet my saviour. I was advised to visit India to learn further about God. I was informed that sages of ancient India had researched deeply into this topic. I resigned from the Royal Air Force, and came to India to research on God.’
The same pilot Nikson came to India. His complete name was Ronald Nikson and became known as Professor Nikson in the Lucknow University. He was acquainted with Dr. Gyanendra Nath Chakravarty (Vice-Chancellor) as they had met in England earlier and became good friends. Dr. Gyanendra appointed Professor Nikson in the English department of Lucknow University.
Sri Krishna says in Gita that I help those, who look for me, sincerely. Wife of Dr. Chakravarty , Srimati Manika Devi was a devotee of Sri Krishna. She taught and explained various Indian scriptures namely Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Upanishads, Vedant and Srimad Bhagwatam and eventually initiated him and re-named him as Sri Krishna-prema. The same Professor Nikson established a centre at Mirtola (about 14 miles from Almora in the state of Uttar Pardesh) under the name ‘Uttar Vrindavan’. It is said that he realized the Supreme Lord here and used to talk to the Lord. Thus Lord fulfilled his desire.
The essence of the this topic is that Professor Nikson has concluded that he was a firm non-believer in God but he developed firm faith in God with that single incident. This means that God exists. There are many examples to prove that God exists. The only way to realize His existence is by submitting to Him. A sincere absolute surrender would bring Him to you. For e.g. to receive some education we have to submit to a professor or a teacher. Submission means you are accepting that the said professor is more learned than you in that sphere of education, thus he will impart you with that education once you submit to him. Similarly once we submit to Supreme Lord, He will impart us with knowledge to realize Him.
Month of Purushottam
The Vedic arya-sastras are divided into two sections:”smarta (literature based on smrti) and paramartha (transcendental literature based on sruti). Those who are eligible (adhikari) for the smarta section do not have any natural inclination or taste for the paramartha-sastras.
The thoughts, principles, activities and life goal of every human is constituted according to his respective ruci (inclination) . Generally, smartas accept those scriptures which are in accordance with their respective ruci. Having greater adhikara for smarta-sastra, they do not demonstrate much regard for paramarthika- sastra. Providence is the agent behind the creation of these two divisions. Therefore, undoubtedly the maintainer of the world must have a hidden purpose in having made such an arrangement.
As far as I understand, the purpose is that the jivas sequentially make progress in their level of consciousness by remaining steadfast in their respective adhikara. By deviating from one’s adhikara, one falls down. According to one’s activities, a person attains two types of adhikara:karmadhika ra and bhakti-adhikhara. As long as one maintains his karmadhikara, he derives benefit from the path shown by the smarta section. When he enters bhakti-adhikara, by transgressing the karmadhikara, then he develops a natural ruci (inclination) for the paramarthika, or transcendental, path. Therefore, providence has made these two divisions of sastra: smarta and paramartha.
Adhimasa (extra month), also called mala masa (impure month), is devoid of all auspicious activities
By dividing the whole year in twelve parts, the smarta-sastras have ascertained the auspicious, or religious, activities for these twelve months. All the karma, religious activities which are part of the varnasrama system when allotted to the twelve months, leave the extra month (adhimasa) devoid of any such activity. There is no religious performance in adhimasa. In order to keep lunar months and solar months in tally, one month has to be excluded every 32 months. The name of that month is adhimasa (extra month).* Smartas have discarded this extra month, considering it abominable. They gave it names such as mala masa (impure month), cora masa (thieving month), and so on.
From the perspective of paramartha-sastra, adhimasa is superior and advantageous for Hari-bhajana
On the other hand, the most worshipable paramartha-sastra acclaims adhimasa as the most outstanding month for transcendental activities. Since life in this world is temporary, it is not proper to spend any part of one’s life meaninglessly. It is imperative for the jiva to remain continuously engaged in hari-bhajana at every moment. Thus, the adhimasa, which comes every third year, may also become useful for hari-bhajana. This is indeed the deep meaning of paramartha-sastras. Even though karmis perceive this month to be devoid of all auspicious activities, for the deliverance of all the jivas, paramartha sastra, on the other hand, has ascertained that period as the most conducive for hari-bhajana. Paramartha sastra says, He jiva! During this adhimasa why should you remain lazy in hari-bhajana? Srimad Golokanatha Himself has ascertained that this month is the best of all. It is superior even to the greatly pious months of Karttika, Magha and Vaisakha. In this month, you should perform arcana of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna with special rules, or moods, for bhajana. You will thereby attain all types of perfection.
— Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur.
The Glories of Sri Chandan-Yatra Festival
Sri Jagannathdev has told the following to king Indradyumna (he who constructed the temple in Puri):
Vaisakhasya site pakshe tritiyakshaya sañjika
tatra mam lepayed-gandha lepanairati-sobhanam
(Utkal Khand, Chapter 29)
‘In the 3rd day of the bright fortnight during the month of Vaisakh, Akshaya-tritiya, smear My Transcendental Spiritual body with fragrant sandalwood paste.’
In Sri Vishnudharmottar it is written, ‘anulepana mukhyanta chandanam parikirtitam’ – sandalwood paste is superior among other smearing articles. This is also mentioned in Sri Narad Puran.
Chandan-Yatra in Narendra Sarovar
Sri Purushottamdev has ordered the Vaishnava king Sri Indradyumna, His servant at that time, to smear fragrant sandalwood paste on Lord Jagannath’s Transcendental Spiritual body on Akshaya-tritiya, the 3rd day of the bright fortnight during the month of Vaisakh. Following that order, even today Sri Jagannathdev’s vijaya-vigraha, Sri Madanmohandev is boarded on a palanquin everyday starting from Akshaya-tritiya till the 8th day of bright fortnight in the month of Jyesta and is taken from Sri Jagannathdev’s temple to the banks of Sri Narendra sarovar (lake). Sri Madanmodandev sails in the boat along with His minister, Sri Loknath Mahadev and others.
This Narendra sarovar is also called ‘Chandanpukur’ because the Chandan-Yatra of Sri Madanmohan takes place here. This ‘Chandanpukur’, which is 873 feet long and 743 feet wide, is situated almost a mile away from Sri Jagannathdev’s temple in the North-East direction. This huge sarovar is bound on all the four sides and there are stone-made steps. The king’s subordinate, Narendra Mahaptra, has established this sarovar (lake), in the 13th century.
narendrer jale govinda naukate cadiya
jalakrida kare saba bhakta gan lañya
saba bhakta lañya prabhu namilena jale
saba lañya jalakrida karena kutuhale
(Composed by Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur in Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat)
Sri Govindadev’s Chandan-Yatra is described in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat. It is also described there that Sriman Mahaprabhu used to take devotees to Sri Jagannath temple after sporting in the waters of Chandanpukur. Later, Sri Madanmohan has come to be known as vijaya-vigraha of Sri Govinda.
About three hundred years ago, the king of Bengal, Pratapaditya moved Sri Jagannathdev’s representative Sri Govindadev from Sri Purushottam to a place called Raipur near Takir after conquering Utkal. From then on the Chandan-Yatra in Narendra sarovar is performed for Sri Madanmohan instead of Sri Govindadev
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Srirupa Siddhanti Goswami Maharaj. says………
1) Only out of immense fortune does the moon of bhakti that exists in the heart of Sri Gurudeva, manifest within the heart of the disciple.
2) A simple-hearted disciple, who desires his true benefit, practically never meets a bad end.
——————- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Srirupa Siddhanti Goswami Maharaj.
If we churn water will we get butter?
Logically, If you churn yogurt or milk, then only you can make butter.
When a devotee says to us, “There is no ingredient in the water by which you will get butter. All your efforts are a waste of time.”
We answer, “No, you have lost your mind. I shall go on churning for thousands of births!” ( We think that by churning water, we shall get butter.)
Likewise, this world is devoid of existence, devoid of knowledge and devoid of happiness. If you devote all your energy to this world, you keep on churning, you will not get rather you will be in want of eternal existence, in want of eternal knowledge and in want of eternal happiness.
Sri Krishna is the embodiment of All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss.
Therefore, to get eternal existence, eternal knowledge and eternal happiness, we should worship Sri Krishna.
In the Gita, Sri Krishna says:
anityam asukham lokam
imam prapya bhajasva mam
(Bhagavad-gita, 9.33)
“You have forgotten Me and thus you have come to this non-eternal world.”
So start worshipping Him.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
What is normal nature of a freed soul?
The Geeta has shown a clear-cut way as to how one should follow the gradual steps in one’s oneward march to the Destination of all human life, according to the particular inclination and aptitude of individuals in their abnormal existence of self-forgetfulness, which should all harmoniously and favourably be subservient to Unalloyed Devotion or Bhakti, which is the normal nature of a freed soul.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Hriday Van Goswami Maharaj
…………..are not worthy of the title guru………….
— As a result of accepting the shelter of a sadhu’s lotus feet, a person performs Hari-bhajan, and as he gradually becomes free from anarthas, he becomes cognizant of the nature of the transcendental reality.
— Only a sadhu who knows the imports of all shastras, who is devoted to Sri Bhagavan and who is intent on bhajan, is a genuine guru. Those who speak in order to appease the fancies of the living being’s mind and thus try to attract it are not worthy of the title guru; rather they are the living-being’s enemies. Never associate with them no matter how fond of their charming words you may be.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Srirupa Siddhanti Goswami Maharaj
Understanding Sreemad Bhagavad Geeta
Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta is universally adored name and scripture and is commonly known to everyone across the globe. But the difficulty is this: there are thousands of commentaries on the Geeta, and in these commentaries the commentators have expressed their own views. They all have different views and ordinary people are confused about the actual message of Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta.
The speaker of the Geeta is the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Only those who have entered into the heart of Sri Krishna can understand the real implication and significance of His sayings and the purpose of His speech and advice. Outside people cannot understand.
In India, and outside India, you will find many people who say, ‘We do not believe Krishna is Supreme Lord because He took birth and, therefore, He was a human being. He may have many powers, perhaps even superhuman powers. He may even be a great politician, a great diplomat. But He is still only a human being.’
Even those who have gone through the Geeta may also speak like this. It is most astounding. When I ask them, ‘Have you gone through the Geeta?’ The reply is, ‘Oh, yes.’ I ask them, ‘How! If you have gone through the Geeta, then you should accept the teachings of the Geeta.’
Supreme Lord Sri Krishna mentions in Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta (7.7), ‘There is nothing superior to Me.’
With emphasis, Sri Krishna says that He is the Supreme Lord. We read the Geeta, but we do not believe the teachings of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Why is this? He also says in the Geeta (9.24), ‘I am the only Master and the only Enjoyer of all yajnas (sacrifices). There are many verse in Sreemad Bhagwad Geeta substantiating Sri Krishna as Supreme Lord. In the Geeta (10.8), He says, ‘I am the cause of all creation, the origin of all the things.’ In verse (14.27), He says, ‘I am the cause of the impersonal formless God (Brahm).’ That impersonal, formless God is the halo of Sri Krishna’s own light, emanating from Sri Krishna Himself. And so on.
Sri Krishna is the Supreme Lord. How can we know the Supreme Lord? Without His grace, no one can know Him. If anybody says, ‘Yes. I can know Him.’ then he will be equal to or greater than the Supreme Lord. But the Supreme Lord, Infinite and Absolute, is One. Nothing can be outside the Infinite. If you say, ‘This flower is outside the Infinite,’ then the Infinite becomes finite. Even particle of dust cannot be outside the Infinite, or the Absolute will lose His position. The Absolute is One. The only way to get Him is to take absolute shelter at His Lotus Feet and to act according to His will. There is no other way to get Him except by means of exclusive, pure devotion.
Therefore, only those who have surrendered to Sri Krishna, who have access to the heart of Sri Krishna, can understand the implication and significance of His teachings. Those without knowledge of Sri Krishna, who have not submitted to Sri Krishna, how can they know. They may write many commentaries, but they cannot comprehend the actual significance of the teachings of Sri Krishna.
Even Sri Arjuna took the shelter unto Sri Krishna, means he also surrendered unto Sri Krishna, before he was imparted with this divine knowledge. He says in the Geeta (2.7), ‘I have lost my natural valor. I am bewildered and cannot ascertain what is right and what is wrong. I submit to you. I am your disciple. Please advise me ragarding my eternal welfare.’
Supreme Lord’s transcendental glories are revealed to the heart of the bonafide votaries according to the degree of submission. Degrees of submission to God are ad-infinitum, so revelations of the glories of Divinity will also be ad-infinitum.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
Lord Vaman Dev
Lord Vaman Dev
Bali Maharaja had begun the performance of a fire-sacrifice in the field known as Bhrigukaccha on the bank of the Narmada River. He was a greatly charitable person. Brahmanas who were desirous of his charity were going to the place where the sacrifice was being held.
A new brahmana will beg alms after the sacred thread ceremony. Following this custom, Lord Vamana deva set out for the sacrificial arena of Bali Maharaja, holding His danda, waterpot and umbrella to beg alms from him. Lord Vamana deva was walking while holding His umbrella. Being small in size, He was completely covered by the umbrella. When the brahmanas saw Him from a distance, they thought that the umbrella was walking by itself, so they were very astonished. Later, they understood that a brahmana boy of small stature was underneath the umbrella. The brahmanas tried very hard to overtake him, but were unable to do so.
Lord Vamana deva bewildered all the brahmanas with His maya and became the first to arrive at the sacrificial arena.
The auspicious arrival of Vamanadeva in His brilliant effulgent form diminished the brilliance of the sacrificial fire. Understanding that a great personality had arrived, Bali Maharaja, his priests and others present there, rose up from their seats and welcomed the Lord by offering proper respects.
Later on, Lord Vamanadeva, the protector of dharma, said to Sri Sukracarya, the foremost of the Bhrigu dynasty brahmanas and guru of the demons, “Your disciple Bali Maharaja has undergone many difficulties. Please perform the yajna again for his welfare.”
Sri Sukracarya replied, “My disciple has seen You; he has chanted Your name and glories. Your rare lotus feet have been placed upon his head. Is my disciple still so impure that I have to perform a yajna to bless him?”
mantratas tantratas chidram
desa-kal
arha-vastutah
sarvam karoti nischidram
anusankirtanam tava
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.16)“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing mantras, observing the regulative principles in serial order and moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person, articles and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.”
Which karma are to be performed and which are to be avoided?
Which karma are to be performed and which are to be avoided?
The devotional scriptural prescript is always to remember Sri Vishnu and never to forget Him. There may be hundreds of devotional forms.
The purpose of the list of devotional forms, or positive assertions, is to remember Sri Krishna and the purpose of the list of prohibitions, or negative assertions, is never to forget Sri Krishna.
Any action which may no be in the list of prescribed devotional forms but makes us remember Sri Krishna is allowed, and any action which may not be in the list of prohibitions but makes us forget Sri Krishna is prohibited.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
How to awaken love for Sree Krishna?
How to awaken love for Sree Krishna?
The name ‘Krishna‘ denotes that He pleases all by attracting all.
All others, other than Supreme Lord Shri Krishna are being attracted by Him.
As for example– It is the nature of the magnet to attract iron and it is the nature of iron to be attracted by magnet. But when there is rust on the iron, this nature is not seen to be manifested. When the rust is removed iron immediately runs towards the magnet.
All living beings of this world in their real selves have got attraction for Shri Krishna i.e. have got natural love for Shri Krishna. It is not to be borrowed from somebody else.
When soul by misuse of his relative independence becomes averse to Shri Krishna is enveloped by the illusory energy of Supreme Lord and is hurled down into this world of ocean of births and deaths.
A fortunate soul by the previous good impressions of the eternal good deeds, when comes in contact with the bonafide pure devotee, the eternal nature to love Krishna is awakened in him/her.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.
Source: His letters
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj entered eternal pastimes of Supreme Lord Sree Radha-Krishna on 20 April 2017.
He was President Acharya of All India Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, as well as World Vaishnav Association. He is Founder Achrya of GOKUL (Global Organization of KrishnaChaitanya’s Universal Love).
He is dear disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj ‘Vishnupad’, Who is dear disciple of Jagadguru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami Thakur ‘Prabhupad’, Founder of All Gaudiya Maths, Gaudiya Missions and Chaitanya Math.
Maharaj ji is such a personality, He preached the teachings of Supreme Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sree Harinam Sankirtan not only in India but across 32 countries of the world.
President Acharya of Gopinath Gaudiya Math – Pujyapad Bodhayan Maharaj,
President Acharya of Gaudiya Vedant Smiti – Pujyapad Paryatak Maharaj,
President Acharya of Saraswat Gaudiya Math – Pujyapad Govind Maharaj,
Founder Acharya of Vrinda Mission – Pujyapad Paramadvaiti Maharaj,
Founder Acharya of Srila Sant Goswami Gaudiya Math – Pujyapad Bharati Maharaj,
General Secretary of Gaudiya Mission – Pujyapad Sannyasi Maharaj,
President Acharya of Gaudiya Sangha – Pujyapad Sadhu Maharaj
Founder Acharya of Sree Madhav Goswami Gaudiya Math – Pujyapad Mahavir Maharaj
and
Pujyapad Jayapataka Maharaj, Pujyapad Radhanath Maharaj, Pujyapad Gopalkrishna Maharaj from ISKCON
consider His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj as Their Shiksha Guru and have great respects for Him.
Srila Tirtha Maharaj is a perfect example of Guru-nishtha, Guru mein samarpan, Guruji ki agya palan. He is perfect example for all Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
His Gurudeva said about Him that I have many disciples, but only one disciple is as per my desire/mind and that is Srila Tirtha Maharaj.
— B.V. Vishnu
Sri Braj Mandal Parikrama invitation – 2017
Braj Mandal Parikrama
Dear Prabhu/Sister,
Hare Krishna.Dandvat Pranam.
Supreme Lord Sri Krishna smiled and said –
‘Try to come to My Home-town of Braj-mandal, sometime.’……….
By the blessings of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, we are pleased to announce that Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math is organizing 30 day long Braj Mandal Parikrama. (Circumambulation of Sri Braj Mandal)
The details:
(1st Oct to 1st Nov, 2017)
1- Mathura 1 Oct to 5 Oct
2- Govardhan 6 Oct to 12 Oct
3- Barsana 13 Oct to 18 Oct
4- Gokul Mahavan 19 Oct to 25 Oct
5- Vrindavan 26 Oct to 1 Nov
Devotees will travel by Bus to Kamyavan from Goverdhan on 9-10 October.
From Barsana to NandGaon on 15-16 October and on 17 October to Kosi.
Please note:
1. Devotees interested in participating in this Braj Mandal Parikrama, must reach Sree Radheyshyam Ashram, Bengali Ghat, Mathura on Saturday 30 September, 2017.
2. Upon arrival devotees must deposit Rs 7500/- per person in the office and get a reciept and badge from the office. This will cover staying, prasadam and Bus charges during parikrama.
3. There will be a group photo for all the devotees participating in Sri Braj Mandal Parikrama and Guru Puja on 1 November, at Kesi Ghat on the banks of river Yamuna.
For more details please contact:
Email – bh******************@gm***.com
phone – 0 9316103966 (From India)
91 9316103966 (from outside India)
Haribol.
Sri Guru-kripa prarthi,
Bhakti Vichar Vishnu
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
www.sreecgmath.org
Some recent pastimes of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj — 1
This is fact that His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj is transcendental and so are His pastimes. Both are for our benefit. His pastimes towards the end of His transcendental visit on this earth especially in between 12 and 22 April were full of realizations and inspiration for His disciples and devotees. Everyone headed for Kolkata irrespective of where he/she were? Some left their jobs, some their shops, some left their families and some came with families for the Darshan of His Divine Grace. Medically some organs of His transcendental body were working and some were not. Some reports were good and some were not. Hence, no one could predict what will happen next? He could stay for two hours or two days or two months or two years, depending upon His own desire.
On 17th April, 2017, 5pm Dr. Shuvanan Roy (famous Cardiologist, Fortis Hospital, Kolkata) paid a visit. Observing His Divine Grace, he said – This is a miracle. He is surviving under these parameters. This is absolutely transcendental.
Dr. A.K. Atri (Head of department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Chandigarh) expressed similar thoughts.
Dr. Amitabh Mukherji of AMRI Hospital and niece of Srila Gurudeva (His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj), Dr. Sushmita Guharoy (Head of I.C.U., R.N.T Hospital) had been attending Srila Gurudeva for more than three years, with utmost care and affection. Devotees of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math are thankful to them for their efforts.
18th April morning brought surprisingly good news for all. Pulse rate increased from 24 to 34, breathing rate went up from 17 to 21. Sri Tatpar Maharaj (personal assistant of Srila Gurudeva) mentioned that he saw Srila Gurudeva moving His lips and fingers of His holy feet while meditating on the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Govind ji.
However, on 20th April, around 10:12pm His parameters began to decline. Sri Prasad Prabhu immediately asked Sri Sanandan Das Brahmchari that he should sing one of the bhajan which is dear to Srila Gurudeva ……Radha Kund tat Kunj Kutir, Goverdhan Parvat Yamuna Tir…..Immediately all began to sing this bhajan. All ran towards to room of Srila Gurudeva.
And….while listening to this bhajan, Srila Gurudeva began His journey to Golok dham.
Whole night devotees came pouring in for His Darshan and continued with Sankirtan while sitting around Him.
Radha Kund lyrics Radha Kunda Tata Kunja Kutir
Srila Gadadhara’s Kshetra-sannyas
Srila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami, devotee of Supreme Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, went to live in Puri as a kshetra-sannyasi.
Srila Chaitanya Mahaprabu Mahaprabhu gave him the service of the Sri Tota Gopinath deity and told him to live in the Yamesvara Tota, or garden.
When Sri Mahaprabhu showed determination to go to Vrindavan, the devotees finally gave Him permission to leave after Vijaya-dashami.
Srila Gadadhara Pandit Goswami was unable to tolerate the idea of separation from the lord and also wished to remain with Him, but Sri Mahaprabhu reminded him of his vow to remain in Sri Jagannath Puri and forbade him to go to Vraja. Srila Gadadhara said to Him, “Sri Jagannath Puri is wherever You are. My vows to remain in Puri can go to hell.”
Sri Mahaprabhu again told him not to abandon his service to Lord Gopinath. Srila Gadadhara answered, “Seeing Your lotus feet is worth a million services to Lord Gopinath.”
When Sri Mahaprabhu said, “If you abandon your duties to Lord Gopinath, you will be at fault.”, Srila Gadadhara answered that he was willing to take that responsibility, but he would not disturb Sri Mahaprabhu by following alongside Him..
Other than Sri Mahaprabhu’s intimate associates, no one is able to understand the extent of Srila Gadadhara Prabhu’s devotion to Sree Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Love on the path of spontaneous devotion is not easy to comprehend. Srila Gadadhara was ready to abandon his vows, his service, everything for the sake of Sri Mahaprabhu.
When they all arrived at Cuttack, Sri Mahaprabhu called Srila Gadadhara and said, “Your decision to break your vows and leave your service has been made a reality. If you come with Me, that will make you happy. But do you want your own happiness or Mine? It will make Me unhappy if your vows to remain in Sridham Puri and to serve Lord Gopinath are broken. If you want My happiness, return to Puri and take up your vows again. That is all I have to say.”
When he heard Sri Mahaprabhu’s words, Srila Gadadhara fell to the ground in a faint. Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya comforted him on Sri Mahaprabhu’s order and then accompanied him back to Puri.
Realization of Bhagavan
Realization of Bhagavan is of two types:
a) Aishvarya-pradahan. Realization in which reverence inspired by knowledge of His opulence is prominent. The aishvarya-pradhan feature is Sripati Narayan, the husband of the demi-goddess of fortune.
b) Madhurya-pradhan. Realization in which sweetness is prominent. The madhurya-pradhan feature is realized as Radhanath Sri Krishna, the beloved of Srimati Radha.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj
Source: Sri Srimad Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj / His Life and Teachings
When kadamba flowers blossomed on a lime tree
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, is the origin of unlimited expansions and avatars. He is the Avatari.
His first expansion is the Sankarshan or Sri Balaram. This same Sri Balaram appeared with Lord Chaitanya as Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Sri Balaram’s expanison, Sri Maha-Sankarshan has His abode in the Vaikuntha planets, and He in turn expands as the Purush-avataras in the work of creation of the universe, first as the Sri Karanodakashayi Vishnu, Who lies in the causal ocean, then as Sri Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, Who lies in the ocean within the individual universes, and finally as the Kshirodakashayi Vishnu, Who not only lies in the ocean of milk, but is the Director of the individual universe and is present as the indweller of every living being within the universe.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Sri Nityananda Prabhu to preach pure devotion in Bengal. While wandering through Ganges valley, Lord Nitai was attracted by Srila Raghava Pandit’s pure devotional attitude and came to his house in Panihati. Along with Him came the three Ghosh brothers, Srila Govinda, Srila Madhava and Srila Vasudeva, who were known for their ability as kirtaniyas.
When they started singing, Lord Nityananda fell into a trance-like state and started to dance. When He had finished dancing, He sat on the deities’ altar; Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s entourage and Raghava Pandit performed an elaborate abhishek ceremony to honor Him. After the bathing ceremony, they dressed and garlanded Him, whereupon Lord Nityananda sat down again on the deities’ throne while Srila Raghava Pandit held the parasol.
At this moment, a miraculous event occurred. Lord Nityananda Prabhu, still in a trance-like state, ordered Srila Raghava Pandit to quickly bring Him a garland of kadamba flowers. Srila Raghava answered that kadamba trees were not yet in flower. Lord Nityananda Prabhu told him to look around the grounds of his house and he would find the flowers. As Srila Raghava searched, he was amazed to find kadamba flowers blossoming on a lime tree. He quickly picked the flowers and made a garland, which he placed around Lord Nityananda’s neck.
A few moments later, the house was filled with the fragrance of damanaka flowers. Lord Nityananda Prabhu said that Sri Mahaprabhu Himself had come from Puri wearing a damanaka garland to hear the kirtan.
Srila Narahari Chakravarti Thakur mentions this dance and kirtan in his Bhakti-ratnakara.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj says,
Devotees observe Ekadashi vrat for the satisfaction of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna and His devotees and not for any material purpose.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaj says…..
Sri Krishna will grant the fruit of being the resident of Davarka immediately to those who wear Tulsi beads around the neck.
The sins of the person who wears neck beads made of Srimati Tulsi tree with devotion after offering to Sri Vishnu will get vanquished and Devakinandan Sri Krishna will always remain pleased with him, he does not need to undergo further atonement, no more sins remain in his body.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaj.
Lord Vaman Dev
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrita-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
(Sri Jayadeva’s Dasavatara-stotra, 5th Verse)
“O Kesava! You assumed the form of Vamana to trick the great demon Bali Maharaj by Your steps, and to purify all living entities by the water that emanated from the nails of Your lotus feet. All glories unto You, Lord of the universe.”
Lord Vamanadeva, the protector of brahmana-dharma, saw Shukracarya, the foremost of the Bhrigu dynasty brahmanas and guru of the demons, once said to Sukracarya, “Your disciple Bali Maharaja has undergone many difficulties. Please perform the yajna again for his welfare.”
Sukracarya replied, “My disciple has seen You; he has chanted Your name and glories. Your rare lotus feet have been placed upon his head. Is my disciple still so impure that I have to perform a yajna to bless him?”
mantratas tantratas chidram
desa-kalarha-vastutah
sarvam karoti nischidram
anusankirtanam tava
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.16)
“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing mantras, observing the regulative principles in serial order and moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person, articles and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.”
Source: www.sreecgmath.org
Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj answers the question……
Q: How will I attain Supreme Lord Krishna’s mercy?
Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj replies:
If you cry for Him, you will get His mercy.
Who cries for Him? One who love Him, will cry for Him.
If you cry with tears of love, if you love Him and yearn for Him and cry for Him, you will get the Lord’s mercy.
Mukhe bali Hari, kaje anya kari,
prema-vari cokhe elo na.
“I recite the names of Lord Hari, but I act otherwise.
So the tears of love do not well up in my eyes.”
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj says….
If the Supreme Personality of Godhead wills to show Himself to anyone, even the blind, they can see Him clearly, because the eyes of flesh are not necessary to see Him. By His will power alone, He can reveal Himself to any person. That was the case with Dhritarastra in the Kuru-sabha. Dhritarastra said, ‘For the time being, my Lord, restore my eyesight so that I can see Your wonderful form which others are seeing and praising. You can do anything, so for the time being, remove my blindness.’
‘It is not necessary to remove your blindness, Dhritarastra! When I will say you see Me, you will see Me.’
And by His order, Dhritarastra saw!
His wish is everything. His simple will is everything, the cause of all existence. The Kurus wanted to see Draupadi naked, but Draupadi’s appeal reached Him and He sanctioned unlimited cloth. As much clothing as they removed, so much cloth yet remained.
We are accustomed to think, This is good; this is bad and This is possible; this is impossible. But these rules do not apply in His case.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj.
Source: The Mystery of all mysteries.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj says…
In the pastimes of Supreme Lord Sri Ramchandra all the rasas (mellow) up to vatsalya ras (parental affection) is exhibited. However, due to moral codes having the highest priority in these pastimes, the mood of parental affection has a restricted nature. Maharaj Dasrath established these codes, so he was unable to prevent Sri Ramchandra from going to the forest. To exemplify these codes, Sri Ramchandra accepted exile in the forest to uphold a promise that his father had made.
Sri Ramchandra vowed to accept only one wife –‘Eka patni vrat dhar.’ Therefore, no one else can worship Him as a husband. Kant-ras (conjugal mood) is not exhibited in these pastimes. When the sages of Dandkaranya desired to have Sri Ramchandra as their husband, He told them to achieve conjugal bliss by paying allegiance to the gopis in His pastimes as Krishna.
Sri Krishna is Svayam Bhagavan, the Prime Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas Sri Ram, Sri Narsimha and others are His partial manifestations (amsha) or the parts of the partial manifestations (kala).
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
A Vaishnav is one who is more gentle than a rose, yet more terrible than the thunderbolt
In Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur’s pastimes we find that He personified the description of a Vaishnav as one who is more gentle than a rose, yet more terrible than the thunderbolt.
Although he was generally kind and sympathetic, He gave no quarter to dishonesty in the name of religion.
When He was in Orissa , in 1871, a member of the Khandait caste and the Atibari sect named Bishikishan who had gained some mystic powers through yoga practices proclaimed himself to be an incarnation of Sri Mahavishnu. He was staying with his acolytes at the edge of the jungle near the town of Bhubaneshwar.
Through his mystic powers, he had been able to cure incurable diseases and these powers had won for him a large following. One day he announced that on the full-moon day he would perform the ras-lila and invited girls of a nearby village to come and join him. The Chaudharis of the Bhringar clan found that he had polluted their womenfolk and went to complain en masse to the district commissioner, Mr. Ravenshaw. The commissioner gave the task of investigating the matter to Thakur Srila Bhakti Vinod, Who went personally into the jungle to meet with Bishikishan. Bishikishan told Him that he was living Mahavishnu and that Sri Jagannath Dev was nothing but a lifeless wooden statue. He tried in various ways to flatter the Thakur and to win Him over. When Srila B. V. Thakur saw that Bishikishan had no intention of stopping his efforts to deceive the people, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had him arrested and brought back to Puri.
The Thakur proceeded to investigate the background of Bishikishan and visited many villages for that. After accumulating a mass of evidence showing the extent to which this yogi was cheating people, he had him brought to the court. While the case was being heard, the yogi used his mystic powers to cause Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and His family to be attacked by various illnesses, in an effort to intimidate Him, but without success.
The Thakur was determined to see Bishikishan punished for conspiracy to rebellion and gave him a sentence of one and half years.
In the months that followed, another on in Jaipur proclaimed himself to be the incarnation of Sri Brahma, while someone else in Khorda said that he was manifestation of Sri Balaram. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur quickly thwarted their efforts to cheat the populace.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj says…
My most Revered Gurudev, used to give me the advice not to take any decision by own initiative as the mind and intellect of a finite being (conditioned soul) is also finite and prone to commit mistakes. Any decision taken by the finite mind and finite intellect can increase problems. The correct way is to take absolute shelter of the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord and His Absolute Counterpart Gurudev or suddha bhakta, who are omniscient and All-Merciful.
A light of Transcendental Divine Knowledge will then enter into the heart of such a surrendered soul and remove all their doubts. All problems will be solved immediately and effectively.
‘To those who always worship Sri Krishna with sincerity of heart, the Supreme Lord bestows wisdom to understand the way to attain Him.’ (Sri Bhagavad Gita10.10)
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
BABY NIMAI STEALS GOPAL’S OFFERINGS
This is the childhood pastime of Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
On another day, a Brahmin pilgrim passed through Navadwip (West Bengal, India) with Bala Gopal, his deity of the baby Krishna. Sri Chaitanya Maparabhu was called Nimai, when He was a child. His father Sri Jagannath Mishra offered the Brahmin a place to perform his puja as well as food to cook for an offering. When the pilgrim had finished cooking, he sat down to offer the bhoga to his deity. But as soon as he started meditation on his mantra, baby Nimai came and began eating the offering. The Brahmin saw this and started to shout in distress. Sri Jagannath Mishra was extremely disturbed by the incident and the Brahmin had to intercede to stop him from giving the child a spanking.
Although the Brahmin did not want to cook again, Sri Jagannath begged him to do so. Before he recommenced preparing the offering.
Sri Jagannath took baby Nimai to a neighbor’s house so that He would not do any more mischief. Once again,when the Brahmin sat down to meditate on his Bala Gopal mantra to make his offering, Sri Gaura Gopal appeared out of nowhere and started to enjoy the food-stuffs.
The Brahmin again began to shout in frustration, “Everything’s ruined. Everything’s ruined!” For a second time Sri Jagannath was devastated and once again was about to punish the child, only to be stopped by his guest. The Brahmin said,“He’s only a child and doesn’t understand anything. It’s not His fault. It seems that it is not my destiny to eat today.”
This time, baby Nimai’s older brother Sri Vishvarupa begged the Brahmin to try a third time, and so finally, on his insistence, he began to cook again. This time it was quite late at night and Nimai was fast asleep in His room so no one suspected any trouble.
Even so, the Brahmin waited until the entire household had gone to bed before making his offering; but once again, contrary to all expectation, Sri Gaura Gopal came to consume it. This time, however, He gave the Brahmin a vision of an extraordinary eight-armed form. In four of these hands, He held the conch, discus, mace and lotus flower of Sri Narayana; but in the palm of another hand, He held a lump of butter from which He was taking morsels with another.The last two hands were engaged in playing a flute. When the pilgrim Brahmin saw this wonderful vision, he fainted away completely.
When he came to consciousness, Nimai told him not to reveal this pastime to anyone. He told him, “You have been My servant for many, many births. This very same pastime also took place at Sri Nanda’s house in Gokula.”
The Brahmin decided to stop his travels and remain forever in Navadwip to be close to his Lord. Every evening after finishing his daily activities he would return to Nimai’s house to behold his worshipable lord.
Srimati Jahnava Devi’s Glory
Sri Virabhadra Goswami was inundated with Srimati Jahnava Mata’s mercy, becoming Her direct initiated disciple. Sri Nityananda Das writes in his Prema-Vilasa that when Sri Virabhadra saw Srimati Jahnava Devi in a four-armed form, His mind was changed and He decided to accept Her as His diksha Guru.
Without the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s energy, Srimati Jahnava Devi, no one is able to cross over the ocean of material life, nor can one obtain the service of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and enter into the loving service of His worshipable Sri Gaurhari and Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.
Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has written in his Kalyankalpatru:
“O Jahnava Devi! Be merciful today to your servant and deliver me from my pain. Give me a place in the boat of your lotus feet so that I can be sure to cross over the ocean of birth and death. You are Nityananda’s energy. You are devotion to Krishna and my guru. Please give this servant the desire tree of your lotus feet. How numerous are the fallen souls that you have saved? So this fallen beggar seeks a place at your feet.”
Srila Krishna Das in his song that begins as Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna Jaya Vrindavana, has prayed for Jahnava Devi’s mercy after glorifying Krishna’s name, abode and associates: “Remembering Jahnava Devi’s lotus feet, the lowly Krishna Das sings the name of the Lord”.
When Sri Mahaprabhu brought back the dead boy to life
Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would always perform Sri Harinam Sankirtan in the house of one of His devotee, Srila Srivas Pandit.
One day, Sri Srivas’s only son died while sankirtana was being performed in his house. Sri Srivas was afraid that the sounds of mourning from the women’s quarters would disturb Sri Mahaprabhu while He was engaged in singing the Holy Names. So he went directly into the house and tried to quiet the women by explaining spiritual truths to them. When they still didn’t stop their loud lamentations, he threatened to throw himself into the river and drown if they did not stop making noise. This had the desired result.
Later on that night, however, the kirtan came to a stop and Sri Mahaprabhu said, “Something doesn’t seem right. Has some tragedy taken place in the pandit’s house?” Sri Srivas answered, “How can anything be wrong, when I have Your smiling face in my home?”
“However, some of the other devotees said, “Prabhu, Srivas’ only son died in the evening about an hour after sunset.”
Mahaprabhu asked, “Why did no one say anything before now?”
The devotees answered, “Lord, Srivas told us not to, because he was afraid that it would interfere with Your pleasure in Sri Harinam kirtana.”
Sri Mahaprabhu said, “How could I ever abandon devotees who love Me to this extent!”. After this, He went inside and sat down beside the child’s dead body and brought him back to consciousness. He asked, “Child! Why do you want to leave the house of such a great devotee as Srivas?”
The dead child answered, “The few days that I was to spend in Sri Srivas’s house are over, and now I am following Your wishes in going elsewhere. I am a living being without any independence; I cannot go against Your wishes. Please be merciful to me that I never forget Your lotus feet, wherever I go.”
When Srivas’ family members heard the child speak such wisdom, they immediately forgot their distress and stopped mourning.
Sri Mahaprabhu said to Sri Srivas Pandit, “From this day on, Nityananda and I will be your sons. We will never leave you.”
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj says….
Only those who are fully dedicated to Bhagavan and exclusively surrendered to Sri Krishna are sadhus.
The association of such sadhus is the only desirable thing for us, because it alone bestows the highest welfare.
In one sense, only sadhus are the life of one’s very life.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj says……
According to Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Transcendental Divine Love is the strongest spiritual force on earth which can establish close relation of love and unity of hearts amongst all human beings and thereby establish real peace in the world.
All animated beings are inter-connected and are the parts of the potency of One Organic System — The All Pervading Soul. The knowledge of our common relation to that Absolute Soul will foster in us love and affinity for each other.
— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.
The Story of Sri Khir-chor Gopinath
Srila Madhvendra Puripad, a devotee of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna once visited Remuna, a place in Orissa. During his visit to place he went for an audience (darshan) of Sri Gopinath deity.
Seeing the beautiful image of Lord Gopinath in Remuna, Srila Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed with love, and started singing His names and danced for some time in ecstasy. He asked one of Lord Gopinath’s Brahmin servants what foods were offered to the deity. The Brahmin answered: “In the evening we offer Sri Gopinath twelve bowls of amrit-keli, a thickened milk preparation that is like the nectar of the gods. It is famous everywhere as Sri Gopinath’s khira, and no offering anywhere in the world is its equal. As the Brahmin spoke, other servants of Lord Gopinath started to make the amrita-keli offering to their deity. Srila Puri thought that if he could just get a taste of this preparation, he would be able to one day make it himself and offer it to his own Lord Gopal. However, this very thought shamed him, as it is improper to desire the food intended for the Lord. After watching the arati ceremony, Srila Madhavendra went outside and sat in the empty market-place, chanting the Holy Names.
In the meantime, the pujari had finished his duties and was taking rest when he had a vision of the deity in a dream telling him, “Get up! Open the door. I have put a bowl of amrit-keli khira aside for the sannyasi. It is hidden behind the pleats of My dress. You did not see Me put it there because of My power (maya). The sannyasi, whose name is Madhava Puri, is sitting in the marketplace. Quickly take this khira to him.”
The pujari was startled by the dream and immediately got up. He bathed, opened the door to the altar and found a bowl of the khira behind the deity’s cloth, just a he had been told. He took the bowl and went to find Srila Madhavendra Puri. He wandered through the market, shouting, “I have khira here for Madhava Puri. Lord Gopinath has stolen it for you. Take it and eat it with joy, for there is no person as fortunate as you in the three worlds.”
When Srila Madhavendra heard the pujari shouting in this way, he approached him and identified himself. The pujari gave him the khira and then fell at his feet.. He recounted the whole story to Srila Madhavendra sending him into paroxysms of divine love for Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. He respectfully ate the prasad and then, after washing the clay bowl, broke it into many small pieces and wrapped them up in his outer garment. Each day thereafter, he would eat a piece of the clay bowl and once again feel the same ecstatic love.
Knowing that word of this miracle would spread by morning, Srila Madhavendra Puri became fearful of the celebrity that would inevitably befall him and the crowd of people that would then surround him. So, he paid his obeisance to Lord Gopinath and left for Puri before dawn.