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Maha Shiva Ratri Vrata

By: Mahanidhi Swami

What is this vrata? The Nagara Khanda (HBV 200) says, “This day, phalguna krishna chaturdashi, is called Shivaratri because on this day Lord Shiva personally remains present in all the shiva-lingas on earth.” This is the most essential and important day of the year to honor Shree Krishna’s greatest devotee (vaishnavanam yatha shambhu) named Lord Shiva. Therefore, one should fast and remain awake all night (jagaran) on Shiva Chaturdashi.

Do Gaudiya Vaisnavas observe this vrata? Yes, it is very important, and everyone should observe it; even if you have never done it before. In Hari-bhakti vilasa (187) Sanatana Gosvami quotes Gautimiya-tantra: siva ratree vratam vaishnava karryam, sri krishna preetaye sadaa: “It is the duty of Vaishnavas to observe the Shiva Ratri vow to remain forever dear to Shree Krishna.” Text 195: “Lord Shiva is the topmost Vaishnava, therefore, every Vaishnava should observe the vow of Shiva Ratri.”

What are the benefits of this vrata?

“When devotees of Sri Krishna observe Shivaratri, Lord Shiva shows his mercy by showering them with Krishna bhakti-rasa.” (HBV 221) “One who worships Shiva today and remains awake all night will never take birth again in the material world.” (HBV 219)

How to observe the Shiva Ratri Vrata?

“One should fast, worship Lord Shiva, and remain awake the entire night” (upavaasa mahadeva pujaa jaagaranam nishi: HBV 208)

1. 6 a.m.-8:36 am : Early morning at sunrise, read Rudra Gita, SB Fourth Canto ch. 24.

2. Fast all day until next sunrise, or at least until midnight.

3. Worship a Shiva Linga on the night of Chaturdashi:

a. In the evening, go to a Shiva Temple and take a vow before Lord Shiva before commencing your worship. If no temple, i-net download a picture of the Vrndavana Gopisvara Linga deity. Then worship the picture by pouring the milk, water and offerings into a bowl or pot placed in front of the picture.

b. Chant the 5-syllable mantra (Om Namah Shivaya) (HBV 211) and bathe Lord Shiva with milk, honey and ghee. Offer bilva patra (bael leaves), (upside down on top of linga). Then offer sesame seeds, perfumes, flowers, ghee lamps, incense, and arghya in a conchshell.

c. Stay up all night chanting Hare Krishna and dancing, reading Srimad Bhagavatam, hearing Shiva tattva. You can chant the many prayers of Lord Shiva glorifying Radha-Krishna like Radha-Krpa Kataksha (e-book on Amazon) You should especially hear about the pastimes of Lord Shiva visiting Sri Kåñëa in Vrndavana, and the glories of his linga deity forms in Vraja. “One who sees the linga of Bhuteshvara Mahadeva in Mathura, Vrndavana will obtain the result of visiting the entire Vraja Mandala.” (Mathura-mahatyam v. 235)

Conclusion:

When one receives the mercy of Lord Shiva, he will become free from false ego and the purusha bhava of being the enjoyer. He will then manifest his eternally pure, and true serving nature, kinkari-bhava. The “easily pleased” lord Ashutosh Shiva will become satisfied with such a devotee. Lord Shiva will then grant him residence in the sweet land of Vrndavana to forever serve his divine sweethearts, Radhe-Syama.

We hope on this most auspicious day of Shiva Ratri that everyone will please Lord Shiva by duly honoring him and thus receive his mercy.

Bom Bom Bole! Om Namo Shivaya!

Kundeshvara Mahadeva ki Jai! Gopeshvara Mahadeva ki Ji!

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The Exciting Month of Sravana

By:Mahanidhi Swami

In India, Sravana masa is the first full month of the rainy, monsoon season (varsha-ritu). In Vraja, for the pleasure of Priya-Priyatama, many wonderful festivals are celebrated to rejoice in the refreshing cool air and life nourishing rains.

In Hari-bhakti vilasa 15.166, Sri Sanatana Goswami encourages us to increase our Thakuraji seva this month by especially offering camphor, sandalwood paste, musk (kasturi) and mogra (jasmine) flowers. Satisfy Krishna’s transcendental taste buds with varieties of fruits; and also cook with cloves (long) and cardamom (elaichi).

This month’s dates and descriptions are given to enable everyone outside of the Holy Dhama to celebrate these amazing Vraja festivals with their personal Thakurajis. Jai Radhe-Shyama!

1. July 30 HARIYALI TEEJ

In Vraja, teej means three, the third day of the waxing moon (suklatritiya), and hariyali means green—rich and soothing forest green. On this day Radha-Krishna sit on a swing, which is completely decorated with lots and lots of fresh from the forest (or your garden) green leaves, sweet-smelling flowers and vines (latas of fragrant madhavi and malati); all placed by the fragrant loving hands of devotees.

2. July 30-August 10 JHULANA YATRA

Throughout Vraja Mandala, Hariyali Teej marks the first day of Radha-GovindaYugala’s blissful 12 day swing festival, Jhulana Utsava. Most temples in Vrindavana, Radha-kunda and elsewhere decorate the jhulana most beautifully on Hariyali Teej. So don’t miss the wonderful darsanas in Vrndavana on that day, Wednesday July 30; especially Radha-Damodara, BankeBihari, RadhaRamanji, Govindaji, RadhaVallabhaji, Radha-MadanaMohanaji and Radha-Gopinathaji. Now and forever let’s follow the Vrajavasis, and swing your hearts and your Thakurajis for 12 happy monsoon days until Sravana Purnima, August 10.

3. August 7 LALITA-SAKHI APPEARANCE DAY & PAVITRA EKADASI (sravana sukla ek)

You might be surprised to know that according to the only available authentic scriptural reference today is the actual day of Lalita-sakhi’s avirbhava tithi or appearance day. Now let’s discuss exactly when is Lalita-sakhi’s appearance day?

In Radha-Krishna Ganoddesa Dipika (v. 79 or 80 sapta vimshati-vaasarih) SrilaRupaGoswamipada says Lalitasakhi’s appearance day is 27 days before Radhastami, which means EVERY YEAR the app. day of Lalita is today Sravana sukla ekadasi. And this date has been acknowledged by most all Gaudiya Vaisnavas for the last 500 years. There are no other sastric references mentioning any other day. Some say it’s on saptami before Radhastami and Vrajavasis say it’s on sashti, the 6th.

Either way, Lalita’s app. day is not really celebrated much by any Vaiṣṇava group with fasting, feasting, a specific lecture about Lalita, or even a mentioning of Lalita-sakhi during in a lecture. During my 12 years in U.S. Iskcon, before moving to Vrindavana, we never observed this day.

Srila Prabhupada did not give one lecture on Lalita-sakhi, nor did His Divine Grace give any instructions on observing her birthday. Hence the contradiction of dates is not so important. Of course in Vraja it is observed in Unchagoan (Lalita’s temple) and maybe Iskcon Vrindavana.

The conclusion is that in principle, based on the authority of Srila Rupa Goswamipada, one could according to their personal wish celebrate Lalita’s avirbhava today, sravana sukla ekadasi, which is the actual day. But how to properly celebrate it since there are no sastric descriptions or historical examples to guide its observance?

As a suggestion, today you could pray to Lalita-sakhi for her for mercy and chant Srila Rupa Goswamipada’s beautiful Lalita-ashtakam. Certainly this will bring gain and no loss.

Srimati Lalita Sakhi ki jai!

4. August 8 SRILA RUPA GOSWAMIPADA TIROBHAVA MAHOTSAVA

In Radha-Krishna’s divine Vraja lilas, Lalita-sakhi is the leader of all Radha’s sakhis, and Sri Rupa-manjari (RupaGoswami) is the leader of all the manjari maidservants of Radhika. It is interesting to note the proximity of their days of appearance and disappearance. By prayer and meditation, one might realize the internal reasons for the disappearance of Srila Rupa Goswamipada falling the day after the appearance day of Lalita-sakhi.

Srila Rupa Goswamipada ki jai!

5. August 10 BALADEVA APPEARANCE DAY &RAKHI PURNIMA, Last Day Jhulana-yatra

Jaya Radhe, Jaya Krishna, Jaya Vrindavana

Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, Madana-Mohana!

2014 Karttika Classes (Oct. 3- Nov. 5) Mahanidhi Swami

3 pm Mahaprabhu’s Amazing Pastimes.

4 pm The Glorious Sweet Seva of Sri Radha

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Don’t Miss The Magha Month Vrata !!!

By: Mahanidhi Swami

* What is it?

Extensively described in the Puranas, the magha month vrata is a one month long penance, vow or vrata observed from pausa purnima until magha purnima to please Bhagavan Sri Krishna worshiped as Lord Madhava, the presiding Deity of the month of January 15 to February 15.

The vrata involves mainly taking a bath daily before sunrise in a holy river like Ganga, Yamuna, especially in a holy place like Radha-kunda, Vrndavana, Navadvipa, Jagannatha Puri, Prayaga Triveni (Allahabad)

* Is the magha month vrata for Gaudiya Vaisnavas?

Yes, definitely for Srila Rupa Gosvamipada mentions it in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.260), “bathing in the Ganga or Yamuna in magha month is part of hari-bhakti, pure devotion to Sri Krishna.” In Hari-bhakti-vilasa, Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives a 40 page description of this vrata, which is summarized herein with reference verses in brackets.

* Who observed the magha month vrata?

In Chamatkara Chandrika, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura describes a wonderful pastime of how Sri Krishna, on the pretext of observing a magha month vrata, secretly met Srimati Radharani and the Vraja-gopis early in the morning in the keli-kunjas near Keshi Ghata beside the Yamuna river in Vrndavana. At that time, Kutila devi, the crooked, inane and suspicious sister-in-law of Sri Radha, came to spy on Radha in hopes of catching Her with Syamasundara.

However, Sri Krishna cleverly fooled Kutila by disguising Himself as Sri Radha’s alleged husband Abhimanyu, the brother of Kutila. Then after tricking Kutila, Sri Krishna went to Yavat, and enacted even more hilarious and satisfying conjugal pastimes with Srimati Radharani right inside the home of Kutila and her nasty mother Jatila.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed ten days in Prayaga bathing daily at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna (Triveni) during the yearly magha-mela, the magha month vrata (Cc. 2.18.222).

All the pious demigods and their chaste wives like Aditi, Anasuya, Arundhati, Rohini and Saci observed the magha month vrata. In 1971, Srila Prabhupada and 40 disciples attended the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad to honor the magha month vrata and preach pure Krishna consciousness.

* What benefits does it give?

Like most of the austerities and vratas mentioned in the Puranas, the magha month vrata gives good health, beauty, good qualities, wealth and long life. Bathing outdoors in any body of water during Magha month is very pleasing to Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

It also destroys unlimited sins because the demigods place all their individual potencies in outside bodies of water (163) during this month. Magha snana in a holy place instantly destroys all sinful reactions (115), and grants residence in Vaikuntha (78, 154, 164).

* When to observe the vrata?

Start on Pausa Purnima and end on Magha Purnima. (67)

* How to observe the vrata?

Admittedly, most devotees do not observe this vow, but everyone should be familiar with it and then decide accordingly what is best for your devotional advancement. At least, this most beneficial magha month vrata gives one a good reason to spend a few days in a holy dhama to bathe in Radha kunda, Yamuna or Ganga.

And do not think this vrata is only for neophytes, because I have personally seen one of the biggest Bengali preachers at Radha kunda observing the magha month vrata with a daily pre-sunrise bath.

Like any vow or vrata, this vrata also includes many details concerning diet, prayers, pujas, personal restrictions, chanting astakams etc. but specifically in relation to this vrata, the Hari-Bhakti Vilasa stipulates, “You don’t have to follow any other vow except bathing in a holy place (88). Thus the main vrata or activity is to bathe before sunrise (90, 138) in an outside body of water, preferably Radha-kunda, Yamuna or Ganga (or a bucket of water left outside over night to collect the celestial nectar).

Every step one takes to go outside for bathing pleases Yamaraja, and burns up the reactions of sins that have not yet fructified.

a. Daily Sankalpa Mantra

(affirms your determination or vow)

Upon waking, recite: “O Supreme Lord Madhava! I will bathe every morning without fail during Magha masa.”

b. Before bath, chant this mantra:

“O Acyuta, O Govinda, O Madhava! I am bathing in the month of Magha when the sun travels to the Makara rasi. O Govinda, Madhava kindly bestow upon me the appropriate fruit of this vow.”

c. Puja:

Offer your Thakurji lots of tulasi leaves, manjaris, kitri, kheer, sesame seed preps, fried items and dry fruits.

d. Charity:

Magha, Vaisakha, and Kartika are the most auspicious and beneficial months of the year to observe vratas and give charity. Hari-bhakti-vilasa says Bhagavan Sri Kåñëa becomes very pleased if one donates blankets, quilts, warm clothes, shoes, rice, ghee, oil, wood, ghee lamps and kumkuma (47).

e. Breaking the vrata: On magha purnima, feed Vaisnava Brahmins and give them money and gifts. At the end of the Purnima tithi, break your fast if you fasted.

Concluding prayer:

“O Acyuta, O Govinda, O Madhava! Please give me the fruit of this magha vrata and grant me the eternal service of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani in the groves of Vrndavana as Her eternal maid in attendance.”

Magha Month Pre Sunrise Radha Kunda Snana ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

*****(Note: this fb article is a streamlined version, but if you want a detailed description of the magha month vrata, then request and we will e-mail to you)****

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How To Observe Utthana Ekadasi

By:Mahanidhi Swami

Utthana Ekadasi is a major fast day for four reasons.

1) Today all the demigods awake and get up, utho or utthana, from bed after resting for 8 hours of their time, which encompasses four months of earth time i.e. Caturmasya.

2) On this day, Krishna killed the Sakata(cart) demon described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto, Chapter 7. Please read this chapter today.

3) Today Baby Gopala Krishna rolled over (Utthana) on His belly after lying on His back for three months after birth. Then due to His intense eagerness to meet Radhika, Gopala began crawling about on His hands and knees searching for His eternal beloved Gopali. Yasoda Maiya observed a special ceremony to celebrate this auspicious event.

Splendidly dressed and decorated, all the Vrajavasis rushed to Yasoda Maiya’s house to witness the wonderful event. Melodious music from rumbling mrdangas, kettledrums and other instruments filled the air. Mother Yasoda put Krishna to rest on a bed which was more like a swing or hammock. It was suspended below a hand cart as big as a house. Vishnu Dharma says the cart was as tall as a palm tree (30 m), very heavy, long and wide. Amidst all the festivities, Baby Krishna started crying due to hunger. But the Vrajavasis could not hear Krishna due to the din of music, singing and merry-making.

Meanwhile, a demon named Sakata sent by Kamsa to kill newborns in Vrindavana invisibly entered that huge hand cart. Fully aware of this, baby Krishna just playfully kicked His tender feet. Simultaneously the cart was demolished and the demon was killed. Although Gopala was only three months old, from the force of Krishna’s kick, the wheels split from the axle, the hubs and spokes fell apart and the hand cart collapsed. The big brass pots on the cart made a tremendous sound as they tumbled on the ground. Upon hearing that shattering sound, the Vrajavasis anxiously ran to the spot. Mother Yasoda was relieved to see Krishna smiling and playfully rubbing his fingers along the cloth of the hammock.

The Vrajavasis thought the cart had fallen apart due to some unknown cause. However, the children who were attending Krishna described the whole event in broken language. They said, “It’s not Krishna’s fault that the huge cart was destroyed. Krishna felt hungry and started crying loudly for His mother’s milk. When Krishna did not get any, He just kicked His little legs while crying and the cart collapsed.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the Sakata bhanjana lila (Krishna’s breaking the cart) represents smashing of old and new bad habits and the destruction of laziness and vanity. By reading this pastime and praying to Sri Krishna for His mercy Sri Krishna will personally kick these obstacles far away. In Caitanya Shiksamrta , Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that the twenty-one demons killed by Krishna in His Vrindavana lila represent specific anarthas or unwanted material contaminations.

These create obstacles to serving Sri Krishna in the pure loving mellows of Vraja. One should read the various chapters of the Srimad Bhagavatam 10th canto describing Sri Krishna’s vanquishing these demons. And one should pray to Sri Krishna to give one the strength and determination to cast away all these obstacles to progress in pure Krishna bhakti. One can find the list of the 21 demons and the anarthas they represent in my book Appreciating Vrndavana Dhama available on amazon.com.

4) Lastly, on this day of Utthana Ekadasi, most Gaudiya Vaisnavas end their Chaturmasya or Karttika Niyama Seva Vrata.

In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives specific details on observing the Uttana Ekadasi Vrata, and he encourages everyone to follow it in order to please Radha Damodara. Here, we have listed the main points to help the devotees follow it.

I. BENEFITS OF UTTHANA EKADASI

All Vedic sastras highly emphasize the need to fast completely even from water and stay awake all night on this most important day of Utthana Ekadasi. Observing jagarana (remaining awake all night) gives great pleasure to Sri Krishna and host of other benefits including liberation, destruction of all one’s mental, physical and vocal sins for 1000 lives. One receives unending results or benefits (akshaya phala) from any act of Deity worship, charity, austerity or sacred bathing.

II. DEITY WORSHIP

Begin with bath at sunrise. And then recite the Srimad Bhagavatam (especially Sri Krishna’s balya-lilas, or the Gajendra Moksa chapter), offer fruits and gifts to Your Thakuraji and brahmanas during the day. Circumambulate your Thakuraji and offer dandavats. You should offer aratika to Thakuraji and Tulasi Maharani, and offer a row of ghee lamps before them. In addition, you should offer Thakuraji flowers, fruits, camphor lamps, and sandalwood pulp water in a conch as arghya. Offer an aratika every three hours throughout the night.

III. PERSONAL ACTIONS

Give up all laziness and enthusiastically worship Sri Krishna in a joyful mood throughout the day and night and onto the sunrise. Vrindavana Biharilal ki Jai Ho!

Pass the night singing, dancing and playing musical instruments for the pleasure of Radha and Krishna. Keep an akhanda ghee lamp burning all day and night. This concludes the suggestions from Haribhakti vilasa.

From my side, I recommend that devotees gather together before Tulasi-devi and Thakuraji or in Radha-kunda or Vrindavana and perform akhanda Sri Hari Nama Sankirtana from sunrise of Utthana Ekadasi to sunrise of Dvadasi. In addition, the Hari Nama Sankirtana can be sweetly nourished by periodic reading of Radha Krishna Asta-kaliya Vraja lilas as depicted in Govinda Lilamrita, Bhavana Sara Sangraha, Krishna Bhavanamrita and Krishnahnika Kaumudi.

May Radha Giridhari bless all the devotees with success in performing the Utthana Ekadasi Vrata, which is like the sweet icing on the bliss cake of the Karttika Niyama Seva Vrata.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!

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Vaisnava Tattva

By: Mahanidhi Swami

FaceBookquote as one becomes purified by chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, so one can be purified simply by chanting the name of a holy devotee.

? This quote is a little strange or maybe I am not understanding the meaning, cause Srila Prabhupada also said we should chant Krishna’s name and Lord Chaitanya also?

My gurudeva said this while glorifying one Gaudiya acharya on his tirobhava. The lecture was centered on vaisnavas and how powerful and purifying is remembering them, worshiping them and chanting their names and qualities, at any time especially on their disappearance day. Obviously krsna nama nirantara lao, Mahaprabhu said take Krsna’s name without stopping. But remember God and everyone and thing intimately connected with Him is also worshipable and purifying, tadiyanam samarcanam, as told by Lord Siva and often quoted by Prabhupada (cc 2.12.38)

Jai Jai Sri Radhe

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11 Suggestions for Leaders,

By:Mahanidhi Swami

1. Regularly serve prasada.

2. Are generous.

3. Push others forward.

4. Genuinely care for others’ welfare.

5. Instruct disciples to honor godbrothers.

6. Are inclusive instead of exclusive.

7. Live very simply.

8. Sometimes joke and laugh with us, not at us.

9. Apologize after making mistakes.

10. Ask others what they want to do to please Krishna.

11. Don’t insist on being served.

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Six Main Ways To Attain Krishna Prema

By:Mahanidhi Swami

You and I, and all the fortunate Gaudiya Vaisnavas are worshipers of Prema Purusottama Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Gauranga’s mission on earth was to give pure love of God, Krishna prema, and all the bliss it brings to one and all without discrimination. Srila Sanatana Goswamipada shows how that most coveted goal of love divine can easily be achieved:

1. Mercy: the main cause of attaining prema is Krishna’s mercy (nidanam param Krishna karuna)

2. Meditation: on Radha-Krishna’s Vraja pastimes (vraja krida dhyana).

3. Singing: about Radha-Krishna’s Vraja pastimes (vraja krida gana).

4. Association: with premi-bhaktas (rasa loka sanga).

5. Residence: alone in a Vrindavana Radha-Krishna pastime place (priya krida vana, rahah nivasa).

6. Humility: always cultivate the utmost humility in thoughts, words and actions.

(source: Brhad-Bhagavatamrta II 5.215-223)

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Seventy Obstacles / Anarthas To Vraja – Bhajan

By: Mahanidhi Swami

The following list of obstacles to Vraja-bhajana comes from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s ‘Caitanya Siksastakam’. The demons manifesting in Vraja Gokula on earth have symbolic significance. They are not found in the spiritual world. There they appear only as rumors or impressions.

By reading the namittika (occasional) lilas of killing the twenty demons mentioned in the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the sadhaka purifies his heart of all the impediments, obstacles, anarthas and aparadhas. Then one becomes eligible to read, reflect upon and taste the asta-kaliya lilas of Radha Krsna.

Until one reaches the platform of bhava-bhakti, it is necessary to cultivate devotion by meditating on both the naimittika and asta-kaliya lilas. By reading and remembering the asta-kaliya lilas (Bhavanasara Sangraha, Krsnahnika Kaumudi), one gets a taste of madhura-rasa. By understanding and appreciating the naimittika lilas, a devotee will destroy all the obstacles to tasting the bhakti rasa within Radha Krsna’s eternal pastimes. With a sincere desire to become purified of all material contaminations, one should read all the above pastimes from the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. With all humility, one should pray to Krsna and Balarama to remove the impurities personified by the demons whom they had killed.

The demons killed by Krsna in the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam represent anarthas (impurities or obstacles) preventing a devotee from attaining pure love for Radha and Krsna. These undesirable impurities and demoniac qualities must be completely uprooted from the core of one’s heart. Only cent percent pure devotees of Krsna can live eternally in Vrndavana blissfully serving the Divine Couple.

If a devotee cries out humbly and sincerely to Lord Sri Krsna to remove these demoniac qualities which are represented by the demons killed by Lord Krsna, then Sri Krsna Himself will remove those evils. But the devotees must personally work to drive out the anarthas represented by the demons killed by Lord Balarama. This is a mystery of Vraja-bhajana. The aspirant must personally remove these strong impediments with his best care and efforts and by obtaining the mercy of Krsna. If the devotee’s humility- becomes very deep and intense, Krsna will be merciful. In that case, the feeling of Lord Baladeva will arise in his mind and quickly destroy these demoniac qualities. Then one will gradually improve his cultivation of bhajana.

anarthas Remedy – Tenth Canto Chapter
Aisvarya— Attachment to awe and reverence instead of Krsna’s sweetness Brahma-vimohana Lila – Ch.13
Argument— Attachment to false arguments Trnavarta – Ch.7
Argument— Accepting arguments as your guru Putana – Ch.6
Argument— Pointless Forest fire – Ch.17 & 19
Arrogance— Due to wealth and high birth Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch. 10
Association— With atheists believing in chemical evolution Trnavarta – Ch.7
Association— With proud people Trnavarta – Ch.7
Association— With dry logicians Trnavarta – Ch.7
Association— Giving up association of false, deceitful devotees Vyoma – Ch.37
Attachment— To enjoyment and salvation Putana – Ch.6
Battles & Conflicts— Fighting mental enemies or looking for fight with others due to ego Forest fire – Ch. 17&19
Buddhist philosophy— Trapped in the whirlwind of Trnavarta – Ch.7
Cheating propensity— Tendency to disobey the instructions of guru & Krsna due to material attachment Bakasura – Ch.11
Compassion— Lack of, for others Aghasura –Ch.12
Crookedness— Illegal, dishonest, bent out of shape Kaliya – Ch.16
Cruelty— In any form by the actions of one’s body, mind or words Liberation of yarnala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Cruelty & unkindness— Due to envy of other living entities Kaliya – Ch.16
Cunningness— Skilled at deceiving people Bakasura – Ch.11
Debauchery— Indulging in sex, alcohol and drugs Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Addiction— To drinking alcohol Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Demigods— Attachment to worshipping different demigods for fruits even after initiation Stopping Indra-puja – Ch.24& 25
Doubts— Illusions about Absolute Truth and position of Krsna Brahma-vimohana lila – Ch.13
Fame— Destroying the desire for name and fame Sankhachuda – Ch.34
Falsity— Leaving vaidhi-bhakti to practice raganuga-bhakti; but if one doesn’t attain spiritual attachment to Krsna, he then cultivates perverted material attachments; becoming a show-bottle devotee. Vyoma – Ch.37
Fighting— Against the opinions of others Forest fire-Ch.17& 19
Greed— For position, worship and money Pralambasura – Ch 18
Greed— Performing bad activities due to greed Vatsasura – Ch.11
Habits— Bad – Old & new; load bearing down on bhakti Sakatasura – Ch.7
Hatred— Towards others; tendency to harass them Aghasura – Ch.12
Hatred— Towards others because of pride in one’s birth and money Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Hatred — Inner hatred towards other communities and groups Forest fire – Ch.l7&19
Honour— Desire for honour Pralarnbasura – Ch.18
Holy Name— Ignorance about the oneness of Krsna, the person and His Holy Name Dhenukasura – Ch.15
Hypocrisy— In behaviour—Pretending to have higher standards Bakasura – Ch.11
Ignorance— About one’s relationship with Krsna (sarnbandha-jnana) Dhenukasura – Ch.15
Illicit Sex— Removing the desire for illicit sex and attachment to it Pralambasura – Ch.18
Illusion— Freedom from the illusion of thinking, “I am a great devotee and acarya” Kesi – Ch. 37
Intolerance— Inability to tolerate ideas or behaviour different from yours Aghasura – Ch.12
Intoxication— Destroying the idea — “I can increase my bliss by intoxication” Releasing Nanda Maharaja from Varuna – Ch. 28
Knowledge— Loss of knowledge concerning one’s spiritual identity Dhenukasura – Ch.15
Karma -kanda— Becoming indifferent to bhakti due to absorption in karma-kandiya activities Yajnic brahmanas – Ch. 23
Laziness— Due to bad habits or attachment to the mode of ignorance Sakatasura – Ch.7
Lies— Tendency to speak Vyoma – Ch.37
Logic— Attachment to material logic (nyaya) Trnavarta – Ch.7
Lust— An external show of devotion while maintaining lust for opposite sex Pralambasura – Ch.18
Mayavada philosophy— Letting the truth of bhakti be swallowed by Mayavada philosophy Vidyadhara liberated – Ch.34
Mentality— Ass-like neophyte mentality which can’t appreciate books of previous acaryas and forbids others to read them Dhenukasura – Ch.15
Mind— Immature; performing sinful activities due to an immature mind Vatsasura – Ch.11
Misconception— Carrying the load of misconceptions and bad philosophies Sakatasura – Ch.7
Neophyte— Strong spirit to enjoy and tendency to perform illicit activities Vatsasura – Ch.11 & read Krsna

sporting lila with the cowhered boys
Offenses— Due to pride, one thinks that he is a great devotee and therefore offensively lords over others. Kesi – Ch.37
Philosophies— Other than bhakti, which try to diminish or destroy bhakti Vidyadhara liberated – Ch.34
Pride— Pride in scholarship and material learning Trnavarta – Ch.7
Pride— Pride caused by money and worldly attachments. Kesi – Ch.37
Pride— Thinking you are more expert in bhakti than other devotees Vyoma – Ch.37
Religious practices— Disregard for religious practices of others Forest fire – Ch.17 & 19
Religious principles— Not understanding the purpose of religious principles; merely carrying the burden of following them due to attachment Sakatasura – Ch.7
Sampradayas— Disagreement with other sampradayas and mathas Forest fire – Ch.17 & 19
Sectarianism— Due to sectarianism, you can’t accept anyone outside your group as a vaisnava Forest fire – Ch.17 & 19
Scepticism— Doubts regarding the path of bhakti Brahma-vimohana lila – Ch.13
Shameful behaviour— Breaking of four religious principles Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Speech— Loose speech; speaking offensively due to one’s birth or money Liberation of yamala-arjuna trees – Ch.10
Sense gratification— Desiring to attain sense gratification via bhakti Sankhachuda – Ch.34
Suddha bhakti— Negligence or disregard for Aristasura – Ch.36
Stealing— Others’ property Vyoma – Ch.37
Varnasrama— Due to pride and attachment to varnasrama, one neglects Krsna bhakti Yajnic brahmanas – Ch.23
Vanity— Pride in one’s own appearance or achievements Sakatasura – Ch.7

Kaliya – Ch.16
Violence— Tendency of the mind to commit violence to others Aghasura – Ch.12
Women — Destroying the desire to associate with women Sankhachuda – Ch.34
Yajna— Attachment to vedic homas and yajnas, and therefore becoming indifferent to bhakti. Yajnic brahmanas – Ch.23

Om Tat Sat!
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!

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Purity Means Pure Food

By:Mahanidhi Swami

In America, there is a common saying, “You are what you eat!” This means that eating impure food produces an impure mind and an unhealthy body. Eating good sattvic food, which means pure vegetarian only, will make you think good sattvic thoughts; act in a good, pure and righteous way; and produce good health and peace of mind.

Food falls into three categories:

1. Sattvic (goodness) food—Increases life-span, energy, strength, fitness, and it produces peace, balance and joy. It is healthy, full of essential nutrients to maintain the body and mind.

2. Rajasic (passionate) food—Is too bitter or sour, high in sodium, spicy, oily, hot or too sweet.

3. Tamasic (ignorance) food—Is dry, stale, foul-smelling and contaminated.

The Chandogya Upanishad says, “Pure sattvic (100 % vegetarian) food produces mental purity and continuous remembrance, ahar-shuddhou sattva-shuddhih sattva-shuddhou dhruva-smritih.

As devotees, we want to always remember Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s wonderfully attractive name, form, qualities and sweet pastimes. To achieve the requisite mental purity to do this one must be careful that the food he eats is free from contamination by foreign elements or mundane consciousness.

Food can be contaminated in three ways: by nature, by contacting impure items, and by material consciousness.

1) By nature certain foods are impure because they are sinful and produce disturbing vibrations of passion and ignorance within the mind. Such as meat, egg, alcohol, fish, onion, garlic, leeks, and mushroom.

2) External contamination means vegetarian food made impure by contacting dirt, mosquitoes, flies, saliva, blood or sweat.

3) Consciousness contamination means food purchased by, cooked by or served by individuals in impure material consciousness. In other words, even pure vegetarian food will become contaminated if any of the above three persons is miserly, lusty, greedy, angry, dull-witted person, or infected by a sexual disease. Their bad impure qualities are transmitted to the food and into the mind of whoever eats it.

One should eat only pure sattvic food, which is free from all the above contaminations, and offered to Bhagavan Sri Krishna with a pure mind and sincere heart. When Srila Prabhupada lived alone in the Radha-Damodara Mandir he never took prasadam at “bhandaras”, which is a function where sponsors invite sadhus to take free prasadam along with a donation. Srila Prabhupada was very strict; he only took Thakuriji Radha Damodara’s maha-prasada or food purchased and prepared by his own lotus hands.

In this regard, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one’s mind becomes contaminated, and then he cannot do Krishna smarana, remember Sri Krishna”… vishayira anna khaile, malina haya mana, malina mana haile nahe krsnera smarana. (Cc. 3.6.278)

In conclusion, sadhakas should be very careful about the purity of the food they eat. It should be purchased, prepared, offered to Sri Krishna, and served in pure Krishna consciousness. Then such pure food, Krishna prasadam, will sanctify our minds, purify our existence and enable us to always remember Radha Govinda Yugala throughout the day and night.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Pure Love Only By Mercy

Mahanidhi Swami

To Srila Rupa Goswamipada, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spoke a very beautiful verse describing the relation between mercy and love divine. Let’s look at it and dive into the ocean of truth:

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva,
guru krishna prasade PAYA bhakti lata bija

“All living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” (Caitanya-caritamrta 2.19.151; trans. Srila Prabhupada)

Comment: Please clearly read this most important verse, a main pillar in the house of Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada translates the Bengali verb paya as receive. The word paya means to receive or to get something, which means that that something IS NOT INSIDE OF ONE.

The word PAYA clearly means, as Srila Prabhupada states, that something is received or gotten from an outside source. In this case it means one receives or gets the seed of bhakti or pure love of God, Krishna prema, from an outside source, namely Bhagavan Sri Krishna or Sri Guru, or a combination both as Srila Prabhupada states. In other words, neither Krishna bhakti nor its development to bhava or its culmination as Krishna prema is within the heart of any conditioned soul in this material world.

The conclusion is that if a jiva is very fortunate, however, he may RECEIVE OR GET BHAKTI FROM SRI KRISHNA OR SRI GURU. Then by purely hearing, chanting and remembering Sri Krishna’s beautiful sweet names, forms, qualities and pastimes that seed of bhakti will sprout, and grow into the tree of bhava producing the sweet tasty fruits of Krishna prema.

In other words, mercy gives bhakti, and that bhakti grows and develops by more mercy. Then by a rare and extraordinary ingress of mercy that bhakti becomes bhava and then quickly blossoms into prema, pure love of Krishna.

From this essential verse of Krishna consciousness we can understand the absolute importance and necessity of Sri Guru in our lives and the supreme role of mercy. Thus without the mercy of Sri Krishna and Sri Guru no one in the entire universe can ever attain pure love of Krishna, the sweetly fulfilling taste of Krishna prema.

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!