,

The Ten Offenses to Sri Krishna’s Holy Names (Padma Purana)

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

  1. satāṁ ninda-namnaḥ param aparādham vitanute, yataḥ khyātiṁ yātaṁ katham u sahate tu tad vigarhām
    The topmost offense (param aparadha) is to criticize a devotee.
  1. śivasya śrī visnor ya iha guṇa nāmādi sakalam, dhiyā bhinnaṁ paśyet sa khalu hari-nāmāhita-karaḥ
    One will get no benefit from Harinama (hari-nama ahita karah) if one considers the name or qualities of Siva as equal to or independent (bhinna) of Sri Vishnu.

  1. guror avagya
    To disrespect, disregard or disobey Sri Guru.

  2. śruti śāstra-nindanaṁ
    To disrespect any scriptures describing God.

  3. tathārthavādo
    Think the glories of Krishna Nama are exaggerations or empty praise.

  1. hari nāmni kalpanam
    To give imaginary or concocted meanings to Krishna’s Holy Names.
  1. nāmno balād yasya hi pāpabuddhir, na vidyate tasya yamair hi śuddhiḥ
    To commit sin on the power of Krishna’s Name means one has sinful intelligence (papa buddhi). Such an offender cannot be purified by any type of rule or regulation (yama na suddhi).
  1. dharma-vrata-tyaga-hutādi-sarva, subha-kriyā sāmyam api pramādaḥ
    To consider Krishna’s transcendental prema giving Holy Names to be a form of shubha karmas (good deeds) like varnashrama duties, vows, austerities, yagyas.
  1. aśraddadhāne vimukhe’py aśṛṇvati, yas copadeṣaḥ śiva-nāmāparādhaḥ
    To describe the glories of Krishna Nama to the faithless (ashradha); or one whose face is turned away from God  – agnostic, not interested  (vimukhe); and to one who does not want to hear anything about Krishna (ashrnvati).
  1. śrute’pi nāma-māhātmye yah prīti rahito naraḥ, ahaṁ mamādi paramo nāmni so’py aparādha-kṛt
    To not have faith, taste or affection (priti) for Krishna’s Holy Names even after hearing the glories of Krishna Nama, and to not give up material attachments and continue to think and act only in terms of “I and mine” (aham mam adi).

Nama Acharya Haridasa Thakura ki jai! Sri Harinama ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

,

Who Can Speak or Hear Rasa Lila?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Why do we speak on rasa lila? We discuss rasa lila to please Srila Prabhupada, purify our heart, increase our devotion, dedicate our life to the Bhagavata (nityam bhagavata sevaya), deepen our love and attachment for Radha and Krishna, and to share the blessings of our teacher.

After publishing “Krishna Book” in 1969 as one of his foremost foundational works, Srila Prabhupada ordered all disciples to read it every night before sleeping. Thus, for the last 44 years, Krishna Book has been a main part of our life. And of all the lilas therein, Sri Krishna’s rasa-lila has especially thrilled and enlightened us regarding the divine reality of true love—pure, selfless, blissful and eternal: The immaculate, transcendental romantic love of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, Srimati Radharani and the beautiful cowherd damsels of Vraja.

To answer the often asked questions regarding Sri Krishna’s rasa-lila, we will quote His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

  1. Who can hear rasa-lila?

Srila Prabhupada: “One who has faith in Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead can both describe and hear the rasa-lila.”

  1. Who can speak rasa lila?

Srila Prabhupada: “One should hear the rasa-lila from an authorized spiritual master person in the disciplic succession who is always engaged in Krishna consciousness. In this way, one will understand the whole situation, lose all traces of lust, and be elevated to the highest standard of spiritual life.”

  1. What benefit does one get by hearing rasa-lila?

Srila Prabhupada: “One who actually hears the rasa-lila will become completely freed from lusty desire.” (“Krishna Book” chapter 33)

Indeed, this is a most astonishing benediction which Sri Suka Muni himself proclaims at the end of his rasa lila description.

vikriditam vraja-vadhu, bhir idam ca visnoh
sraddanvito ‘nusrnuyad, atha varnayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati, pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinot, yacirena dhirah

“A person who with a reverential attitude hears the transcendental pastimes of Sri Krishna with the damsels of Vraja from the mouth of a pure devotee and then describes those pastimes accordingly, achieves the supramundane loving service of Godhead [Sri Krishna] within no time and thereby drives away mundane lusty desires for sense gratification from his heart.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.39/trans: Srila Prabhupada “Search Ultimate Goal of Life”)

Second trans: “Anyone who faithfully and continually hears or describes Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s playful affairs with the young gopis of Vrndavana will attain Vraja madhurya Krishna prema, quickly destroy the heart disease of lust, and immediately become steady and serene.”

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally described the incredible power and benefit of Sri Krishna’s rasa-lila:

ye sune ye pade, tanra phala etadrsi //
sei bhavavista yei, seve ahar-nisi
tanra phala ki kahimu, kahane na yaya //
nitya-siddha sei praya, siddha tanra kaya

Mahaprabhu said, “Anyone who hears or speaks the rasa-lila will attain the fruit of being absorbed in bhava. Day and night such a person will serve Radha and Krishna, and his/her body will become perfect and transcendental [siddha-deha] like Sri Krishna’s eternal associates.” (Caitanya-caritamrta 3.5.49-50)

May all devotees now become inspired to hear, study, meditate and enter the rasa-lila of Radha and Krishna in order to see the most beautiful “smiling face of Krishna” and to experience the “five life airs” (panca-prana) of the Srimad Bhagavatam!

Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai! Radha Govinda Yugala ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

,

Gita Chapters Sanskrit Titles

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Different acaryas name the Gita chapters differently, and some like Srila Prabhupada give English titles. Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada and Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana did not name their chapters. Here’s a sample of the most famous chapter titles for Sri Bhagavad-gita.

1. arjuna-viṣāda-yogaḥ
2. sāṅkhya-yogaḥ; sarva-gītārtha-sūtraṇam
3. karma-yogaḥ
4. jñāna-yoga; jñāna-karma-saṁnyāsa-yogaḥ; brahmārpaṇa-yogaḥ.
5. karma-saṁnyāsa-yogaḥ; saṁnyāsa-yogaḥ; sva-svarūpa-parijñānam
6. dhyāna-yogaḥ; ātma-saṁyama-yogaḥ; adhyātma-yoga
7. jñāna-vijñāna-yogaḥ; vijñāna-yoga; adhikāri-bhedenajñeya-dhyeya-pratipādya-tattva-brahma-nirūpaṇaṁ
8. akṣara-para-brahma-yogaḥ; tāraka-brahma-yoga; adhikāri-bhedenākṣara-para-brahma-vivaraṇaṁ
9. rāja-vidyā-rāja-guhya-yogaḥ; adhikāri-bhedenarāja-vidyā-rāja-guhya-yogaḥ;
10. vibhūti-yogaḥ; adhikāri-bhedenavibhūti-yogaḥ
11. viśva-rūpa-darśana-yogaḥ
12. bhakti-yogaḥ
13. kṣetra-kṣetrajña-yogaḥ; prakṛti-puruṣa-viveka-yogaḥ
14. guṇa-traya-vibhāga-yogaḥ
15. puruṣottama-yoga
16. daivāsura-sampad-vibhāga-yoga
17. śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga
18. mokṣa-saṁnyāsa-yogaḥ; paramārtha-nirṇayaḥ; saṁnyāsa-yogaḥ

Gita Jayanti ki jai! Bhagavad-gita As It Is ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

,

Do We Have Free Will?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Do we have free will? We have the innate ability to desire, but not the free will to carry out or fulfill that desire. Nor do we have the free will to choose what path we walk in life, or anything else that we do or experience. People take birth after birth deluded by avidyāand ahankāra, ignorance and pride, until their desire and ego is purified by the causeless mercy of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

It’s not our free will, but it’s our desires that shape our actions. Everything we do or try to do is going on by the control of the Antaryami, who is the form of Bhagavan within you deciding what you need to experience to become free from aversion to Bhagavan’s control. Often karma is seen as a simple action-reaction—your good deeds bring good results and your bad deeds bring punishment.

The reality is that the law of karma is designed by Bhagavan Sri Krishna to purify the desire of the jīva. Karma is meant to bring one to the point of accepting Bhagavan’s ultimate control in everything one does.

So what is free will? It’s the idea that one is free to act or choose independently of any other controlling factor. However, the sastra clearly state that the idea of free will is an illusion.

Only Bhagavan Sri Krishna has the free will to act in any way He likes. Our actions, however, which bring us happiness or misery, are prompted by the Antaryami, not by our independent free choice.

ajno jantur anīśo‘yam ātmanaḥsukha-duḥkhayoḥ
īśvara-prerito gacchet svargaṁvāśv abhram eva ca

“The ignorant living entity is not Bhagavan. One’s happiness and distress is prompted or initiated by the Supreme Controller who is making one go to either heaven or hell.” (Mahābhārata 3.31.27)

eṣa eva sādhu-karma kārayati taṁyamebhyo lokebhya unninīṣate.
eṣa evāsādhu karma kārayati taṁyam adho ninīyate

“Bhagavan Sri Krishna makes whomsoever He wishes to liberate from this world of birth and death do good deeds, and whomever Bhagavan wishes to send to hell to do bad deeds.”(Kauśitaki Upaniṣad 3.8)

The fact is that we have no free will because our destiny is set already and cannot be altered. Of course, it’s not easy to accept the reality of having no control, and that there is a supreme controller over everything you and everyone else does and thinks.

When one is ready to accept, then the truth of Bhagavan’s omnipresence and full control in one’s life is gradually revealed through books like the Bhagavad-gita and Upanisads. In Bhagavad-Gītā 9.10, Sri Krishna says: mayādhyakṣena prakṛtiḥ, sūyate sa-carācaram… “Prakṛti (the material world) works under my supervision, O son of Kunti.”

prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi,  kriyamānāni sarvaśaḥ
yah paśyati tathātmānam,  akartāraṁsa paśyati

Sri Krishna said, “In all respects, all the activities that one does are being performed by material nature. He who sees that the ātmāis not the doer actually sees.” (Bhagavad Gītā 13.30)

na kartṛtvaṁna karmāni, lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ
na karma-phala-saṁyogam, svabhāvas tu pravartate

“The jīva is not the doer nor the cause of his actions. Nor is he connected to the reactions of his actions. Everything is taking place because of the nature (svabhava: guna & karma) of the jīva.”(Bhagavad-Gītā 5.14)

Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravarti comments on this verse: “Bhagavan Sri Krishna does not make the jīva do activities, nor does He give the jīva the results of his activities. Rather the nature of the jīva in the form of his beginning less ignorance alone produces this. That ignorance makes the jīva assume the false identification as the doer.”

In Bhagavad-Gītā (3.27), Sri Krishna says,

prakrteh kriyamanani, gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma, kartaham iti manyate,

“The three modes of nature perform all activities, but due to pride and false ego, one foolishly thinks “I am the doer!”

Some try to prove free will exists by citing the Bhagavad-Gītā (18.63) statement “yathecchasi tathākuru”(“Whatever you like, you can do”). However, here Krishna is just jesting with Arjuna. This verse does not at all prove or indicate free will. Just a few verses earlier (18.60) Bhagavan Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that he will be “forced” to act according to his adhikāra and svabhāva (his inherited karmic qualities and nature).

Therefore, the statement means that Arjuna must understand his adhikāra and act accordingly because he actually has no real “choice” in the matter.

svabhāva-jena kaunteya, nibaddhah svena karmana
kartuṁnecchasi yan mohāt,  kariṣyasy avaśo‘pi tat

“Out of illusion you do not wish to act, but due to your nature which binds you to your actions you will forced to act anyway.”  (18.60)

Further Sri Krishna emphasizes that all jivas are being moved and controlled by the supreme controller in the heart, Bhagavan Antaryami.

Īśvaraḥsarva-bhūtanam, hṛd-dese‘rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni, yantrārūḍhāni māyayā

“The supreme controller is in the heart of all beings, Arjuna, prompting and causing the movements of all living beings, who are sitting in a machine (i.e. material body) made of His maya.” (Bhagavad-Gītā 18.61)

In recent times, for various purposes some teachers have inserted the concept of free will, which originates from the Christians and western rationalists, into the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy. But the Vedas say karma is beginning less, anādi karma (Vedānta-sūtra 2.1.35), so where is the question of free will? Thus all the actions we perform are all being prompted by and initiated by Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

The jīvātma has the power to act, but that power is granted by Bhagavan only. In other words, “man proposes, God disposes”, or “Bhagavan iccha” as they say in India. Bhagavān from within the heart as Antaryami prompts the jīva to act good or bad according to his individual svabhāva, karma, saṁskāras etc. The jīva always has the capacity to will, feel and act, but what he wills, feels and does is restricted by and controlled by his own karma, svabhāva and Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s sanction.

The only way one can get free from the control of ignorance and maya is by surrendering to Krishna. In Bhagavad-Gītā (7.14), Krishna says:

daivī hy-eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā 
mām-eva ye prapadyante māyām-etāṁ taranti te

“The material nature consisting of the three modes of material nature is very difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” But then again surrendering to Krishna is not within our control; we don’t have the “free will” to choose but we may be chosen by Bhagavan.

To surrender to Krishna and start practicing bhakti is not due to one’s free will, it’s just the FREE WILL AND MERCY of Bhagavan Sri Krishna upon someone He chooses. The evidence that there is no free will regarding the principle of surrender is in Caitanya Caritamrta (2.19.151): brahmanda bhramite kon, bhagyavan jiva, Guru krsna prasade pay, bhakti lata bija, “Some fortunate soul who is wandering through the universe will get the seed of the creeper of devotion by the grace of Guru and Krishna.”

The phrase kon bhāgyavan jīva means some fortunate soul—Not everyone. Bhakti is very very rare as the Srimad Bhagavatam (6.14.5) says, “Among millions of liberated souls, one may be a devotee of Lord Nārāyana, or Krishna. The Katha Upanishad (1.2.23) says, yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tenaiva labhya, “Bhagavan Sri Krishna is only attained by one who is chosen by Him (Bhagavan Sri Krishna).”

InBhagavad-Gītā (14.26), Sri Krishna says,

māṁca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa, bhakti-yogena sevate,
sa guṇān samatītyaitān, brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

“One who serves Me alone in unswerving bhakti surpasses the guṇas, and becomes endowed with his own eternal spiritual nature.”

Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments, “This verse answers the question ‘How can one surpass the guṇas?’ Krishna is saying that one who takes exclusive shelter of Him by performing bhakti-yoga surpasses the guṇas which are hard to surpass, and attains (kalpate) his own inherent nature (brahma-bhuyāya), which means the eight qualities of ātmā(no—sin, death, old age, hunger, thirst, lamentation—and one is truthful and fully satisfied devoid of all material desires).

All conditioned souls are driven and made to act by their individual svabhāva (guna & karma), and the will of Bhagavan—not by free will. Bhakti or the desire to serve and please Krishna, and the ultimate perfection of Krishna prema are both gifts of Krishna.

The fact and Vedic truth that we don’t have free will is a deep philosophical point of reality. One must accept the ultimate authority of sastra which is adbhuta and apauruṣeya, amazing and transcendental, because it is spoken by Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Sastra is not man-made.

In matters that are so grave and inconceivable such as this, we cannot follow or trust our minds, our powers of logic and reason or our sentiments. By one’s mind and intellect it is impossible to understand and accept the reality that “we have no free will”.

Bhāgavata Purāna (3.7.9) says: “Although by nature the jīva is superior to matter and liberated, by Krishna’s maya potency, which cannot be understood by logic, the jīva is eternally bound in ignorance.”

Jīva (ātmā) is superior to prakrti or māyābecause the soul is sentient and matter is inert. Ātmāhas the capacity to realize its own transcendental state, which is blissful and beyond the touch of maya. However, because of beginning less ignorance the jivatma is now bound by ignorance, which is a feature of māyā. Māyāis a potency of Krishna with the power to act in inconceivable ways.

Bhāgavata Purāna repeatedly points to māyāas the cause of the bondage of a jīva. ŚrīKṛṣṇa says this to Uddhava (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.11.1-2):

“The state of the jīva as bound or liberated is because of its being influenced or uninfluenced by the guṇas of prakriti controlled by Me. These states are not related to the essential nature of the jīva. In the next verse (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.11.3), ŚrīKṛṣṇa states that the ignorance of the jīva about himself is beginning less.

If Krishna favors a jiva, He will give intelligence, knowledge, and memory power so one can do bhakti bhajan and get free from maya. Otherwise, one will remain forever bound in beginning less ignorance, maya and samsara. In Bhagavad-Gītā (15.15), Bhagavan Sri Krishna says that memory, knowledge and forgetfulness come from Him. Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the source of everything (Bhagavad-Gītā. 10.8), and the director of all beings (Bhagavad-Gītā.18.61).

Krishna saranagati ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

post concept Sri Advaita Dasji

,

Five Effects Nama Aparadha

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Everyone! Please be careful not to offend Sri Krishna’s most merciful and powerful, sweet, ever-present loving form as the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

In Kali-yuga, Sri Krishna Nama is our only hope—our only chance, and the only way we’ll ever attain the plane of love divine desired by all. Worship Krishna Nama! Protect Krishna Nama! Cherish Krishna Nama! Chant Krishna Nama! Give Krishna Nama! Live Krishna Nama and depart with Krishna Nama! And by all means never, never, ever offend Krishna Nama!

The Five Disasters

In Bhakti-sandarbha (anu. 154-159), Sri Jiva Goswamipada describes five prominent effects of offensively chanting Sri Krishna’s transcendental names i.e. Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The five effects are as follows: crookedness; faithlessness; absorption in mundane objects that erode one’s faith in Krishna; slackness in devotional service; and pride.

If a sadhaka is experiencing any of the following effects, it means one is committing offences to Sri Krishna Nama:

  1. Crookedness (kautilya)

Offenders to Nama become crooked in their dealings with others, disrespectful towards Sri Hari, Sri Guru and other devotees, and start acting in various deceitful ways. In Skanda Purana, Muni Parasara says, “Crooked, deceitful people cannot attain Govinda bhakti, or chant and remember Bhagavan.”

  1. Faithlessness

Offenders to nama gradually become faithless, lose their conviction about the glories of Krishna bhakti, and start harboring contrary non-devotional ideas.

  1. Distraction

Nama aparadhis become absorbed in material objects and pursuits i.e. making money, attaining degrees, etc. that erode their faith in Krishna and Krishna bhakti.

  1. Slackening Devotion

As a result of Nama aparadhas, one’s bhakti bhajan wanes and one again becomes absorbed in sense gratification—maya! One thinks excessively about one’s own bodily happiness and distress and that of others.

  1. Pride

When one offends Sri Nama Prabhu, one starts feeling proud of his/her devotional service and activities. This in turn generates other offenses i.e. disrespecting Vaisnavas. As they say, “pride precedes a fall.”

To close, we offer a poem in praise of Krishna Nama:

The name puts you in a new frame, beyond the game of name and fame. Your mind the name will tame. You’ll never be the same as your old claim goes aflame. The Name will set your aim, and take you to Vraja dhama for more and more Nama!”

Suddha Nama ki jai! Namacarya Sri Haridasa Thakura ki jai!

Sri Jiva Goswamipada ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

,

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Mini Biography of the World’s Greatest Saint

Mahanidhi Swami

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in a family of pure Gaudiya Vaisnavas in 1896 in Calcutta. From early childhood he showed signs of pure devotion to Lord Sri Krsna.

At the tender age of five, he single handedly organized a neighborhood Ratha yatra festival to glorify Lord Jagannatha. He authentically decorated a small cart to resemble the Lord’s colossal chariot in Puri. Besides leading the kirtana party, he organized cooking and prasadam distribution.

With his enthusiasm and ecstatic love for Lord Krsna he engaged the community in chanting: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Unlike other children his age who would waste their time playing, Srila Prabhupada preferred to visit the local Radha Krsna temple. For hours together, he would lovingly gaze upon the transcendental forms of Radha Govindaji, absorbing Their divine blessings and beautiful darsana.

In his youth, Maharaja Pariksit used to dress a Deity of Krsna. Similarly, from his childhood, Srila Prabhupada also began worshiping small Deities of Radha and Krsna. He quickly mastered the traditional beats and ragas on mrdanga and harmonium. With pure devotion Srila Prabhupada would sing sweet devotional bhajanas to please Radha Govindaji.

At twenty six, he met his eternal spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (Founder Acarya of Gaudiya Math). At their first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave Srila Prabhupada a divine command: “Go to the West and spread Krsna consciousness in the English language.”

In full faith Srila Prabhupada embraced the order as his life and soul. After realizing his guru’s teachings, he started writing and distributing Back to Godhead, an English language magazine on the science of Krsna consciousness. Although begun in 1944 in a small way, Back to Godhead now circulates worldwide in over fifty languages.

Srila Prabhupada, like all pure Vaisnavas, showed immense compassion for the suffering conditioned souls. Although they are rotting in the materialistic life of ignorance, the stubborn conditioned souls insist that they “have no time for spiritual life.”

Neither their indifference, nor the sizzling summer heat of Delhi could keep Srila Prabhupada from distributing the cooling balm of Krsna consciousness. Once while selling Back to Godhead he collapsed on the street from heat stroke. Yet he remained fixed in his determination to please his spiritual master.

He took sannyasa in 1959 after retiring from household life. Taking shelter of Vrndavana, he rented a bhajana kutira in the Radha Damodara temple where he absorbed the association of Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva Gosvamis. Srila Prabhupada spent the next six years performing intensive Krsna bhajana.

Regularly, he bathed in Yamuna, and took darsana of Madana Mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha, and Radha Ramana. He prayed for the mercy of the six Gosvamis and continued writing and printing. During bhajana he would receive blessings, inspiration, and direct guidance from the all merciful Sri Rupa Gosvami.

At this time, he began his life’s main literary work, an English translation with commentary of the Srimad Bhagavatam. For Srila Prabhupada it was more of a devotional outpouring than a mere translation from esoteric Sanskrit to understandable English.

Gaudiya Vaisnava history reveals that some advanced devotees would begin crying in spiritual happiness while reading the Srimad Bhagavatam. Smearing the ink on the pages, their tears would make the lines illegible. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada once said that his Srimad Bhagavatam commentaries are actually expressions of his “devotional ecstasies.”

Working alone, Srila Prabhupada wrote, begged money to print, and personally hauled the paper to publish the first three volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam. Recollecting these times, he once said humbly to his disciples:

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

Other disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura tried unsuccessfully to preach Krsna consciousness in English speaking Europe. Srila Prabhupada, however, had full faith in his guru and Krsna’s name. Fearless as Abhimanyu, he brought Krsna consciousness to the world’s most powerful country, America.

Besides speaking English and being a “super power,” America was leading the world in the sinful activities of meat eating, illicit sex, gambling, intoxication. If Americans would take up Krsna consciousness, thought Srila Prabhupada, then surely it would spread to “every town and village,” as Lord Caitanya predicted five hundred years ago. After all, “What’s a glorious victory without a glorious fight,” which Srila Prabhupada would sometimes say.

At the age of seventy, armed with karatalas and a crate of Bhagavatams, Srila Prabhupada set off to America in 1965 on the steamship “Jaladuta.” During the arduous forty day sea journey the ship met heavy storms. For two consecutive nights, he had severe heart attacks which almost killed him.

On the third night, Lord Krsna appeared to Srila Prabhupada in a dream. The Supreme Lord Himself was pulling the ship to America, encouraging Srila Prabhupada and giving him all protection. Srila Prabhupada penned this prayer upon reaching New York City:

“My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. How shall I make them understand the message of Krsna consciousness?

“I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and most fallen. Therefore, I am seeking Your benediction so I can convince them. For I am powerless to do so on my own.

“O Lord, I am like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like.”

In Manhattan, Srila Prabhupada struggled through the icy cold snowbound winter of l965. He continued writing and occassionally selling a few Bhagavatams. But for one year nothing really happened.

Gradually, a few yoga students began attending his classes on Bhagavad gita. The word spread that an “Indian swami was in town teaching a unique yoga method: chanting Hare Krsna.” After his room was robbed, he moved into a small storefront apartment at 26 Second Avenue in the Lower East Side.

In nearby Tompkins Square Park, Srila Prabhupada led the first public chanting of Hare Krsna in the Western world. On July 13, 1966, he founded ISKCON (The International Society for Krsna Consciousness) and initiated a dozen disciples.

To receive initiation disciples must promise to give up all forms of illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. Srila Prabhupada was well on his way to realizing his mission.

Under Srila Prabhupada’s pure guidance the Krsna consciousness movement quickly flourished. Within months ISKCON Radha Krsna temples opened in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Montreal, and London. In the l970’s, he traveled around the world fourteen times, establishing 108 Radha Krsna temples in all the major cities of the America, Europe, Africa, India, Asia, and Australia.

He initiated a total of five thousand sincere disciples from different nationalities. He opened asramas and pure vegetarian “Govinda’s” restaurants. On every continent he started Vedic gurukulas and goshallas. Srila Prabhupada was the first spiritual master to introduce both elegant Deity worship of Radha and Krsna and the annual Ratha yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha in the western countries.

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

Though constantly traveling and preaching to priests, princes, politicians, philosophers, scientists, and his disciples, Srila Prabhupada kept translating the Srimad Bhagavatam. He wrote over eighty books about Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion, The Science of Self Realization, and English translations with commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad gita As It Is, Isopanisad, Upadesamrta, Narada Bhakti sutras, Mukunda mala stotra, and Caitanya Caritamrta are some of his works.

Prabhupada’s books have been translated into fifty languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Swahili, Hindi, Bengali. Almost a billion copies have been distributed worldwide.

In only eleven years, between the ages of seventy and eighty one, Srila Prabhupada accomplished his mission. He credited his phenomenal success to personal effort, an unshakeable faith in his spiritual master and the holy names of Lord Sri Krsna.

He was not an ordinary person. Srila Prabhupada was personally chosen and empowered by the Supreme Lord to spread Krsna consciousness and chanting Hare Krsna all over the world.

In Vrndavana, during the auspicious month of Kartika in l977 on November 14, while surrounded by loving disciples singing their hearts out in kirtana, Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krsna and entered the eternal pastimes of Radha Syamasundara. To this day ISKCON keeps growing through cooperation and strict following of Srila Prabhupada’s pure example and perfect instructions.

As one of the world’s most dynamic religious and cultural movemments, ISKCON has more than three hundred temples on five continents. Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi is in Vrndavana at the ISKCON Krsna Balarama Mandira.

(Book Excerpt: Gaudiya Vaisnava Biographies and Samadhis in Vrndavana by Mahanidhi Swami)

,

Srila Prabhupada Glorifies Gita

Mahanidhi Swami

By Priya-Priyatama’s merciful plan, the BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS, Srila Prabhupada’s pure Krishna devotional edition, is the most popular and widely distributed multi-lingual edition of Gita in the whole world!

Unlike other editions, Srila Prabhupada’s As It Is speaks the clear, easy to understand, gentle and at times quite forceful message of Absolute Truth.

With its universal principles, philosophy, and reasonable analysis of the material world, time, action, the individual self and the Superself, the Antaryami, Srila Prabhupada’s Gita has profoundly and amazingly purified and transformed the minds, hearts and lives of millions of fortunate human beings.

Srila Prabhupada was a “Gita Man” in the sense that He fully realized the essence of Gita, which is selfless service-based immaculate love divine. For Srila Prabhupada, the Gita was one with his mind, heart, words, teachings and his sterling personal devotional behavior.

Thus, who would know the glories of the Bhagavad-gita more than Srila Prabhupada? I am sure my beloved Gurudeva would be most pleased that his own realized words spoken in praise of Gita were being shared with the world on the most auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi.

The following amazing statements of Srila Prabhupada will inspire, encourage, enliven and satisfy all classes of devotees. Just by reading them, many seekers of love divine will surely pick up the Bhagavad-gita, and start the most beneficial practice of reading it EVERYDAY!

And for the caring and compassionate transcendental book distributors, these quotes are the perfect “lines” to use in convincing the curious to buy the book. Worlwide Bhagavad-gita book distribution ki jai!

Srila Prabhupada speaks:

I. IDENTITY: Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upaniñads in Vedic literature.

  1. Vedic knowledge is complete because it is above all doubts and mistakes, and Bhagavad-gita is the essence of all that infallible Vedic knowledge.
  2. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, is the essence of all Vedic literatures and [very] special because it is spoken by Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  3. Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully.
  4. One need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita.
  5. Bhagavad-gita contains perfect knowledge which comes down by the disciplic succession, guru parampara.
  6. Bhagavad-gita is the essence of the Mahabharata, and it is spoken by Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself.

II. PURPOSE: The purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to deliver mankind from the nescience of material existence.

  1. All the instructions of Bhagavad-gita are intended to awaken one’s pure consciousness, which is the preliminary activity for the transcendentalist.
  2. Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Bhagavan Sri Krishna just to change Arjuna’s point of view [because Arjuna was foolishly stuck in the bodily concept of life].
  3. The whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanatana dharma, which means the eternal occupation of the living entity [i.e. Sri Krishna’s selfless loving seva].

III. READERS: Those who question why they are suffering; where they came from and where they shall go after death are proper students for understanding Bhagavad-gita.

  1. The ways and the means for ultimate realization, ultimate attainment, are stated in the Bhagavad-gita, and the doors of this knowledge are open for everyone.
  2. The Bhagavad-gita is just like a cow and its milk is the essence of the Vedas. Sri Krishna is milking this cow to feed the calf-like Arjuna. Wise men, great sages and pure devotees should drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gita.

IV. TEACHINGS: The subject of the Bhagavad-gétä entails the comprehension of five basic truths [i.e. the tattvas: Ishvara, Prakrti, Kala, Karma and Jivatma.]

  1. The Bhagavad-gita teaches that we have to purify this materially contaminated consciousness.
  2. The Bhagavad-gita teaches that the complete whole is comprised of the supreme controller, the controlled living entities, the cosmic manifestation, eternal time and activities [Ishvara, jivas, prakrti, nitya kala, karma].
  3. The Gita teaches that the living entity is never born and never dies. The jivatma, living entity, is eternal and indestructible. He continues to live after the destruction of his/her temporary material body.
  4. Through the Bhagavad-gita’s instructions, we are given information how to leave the material world and begin a truly blissful life in the spiritual sky.
  5. The Bhagavad-gita gives the real picture of the material world.
  6. The Bhagavad-gita teaches how to absorb the mind and intelligence in the thought of Lord Sri Krishna and thus transfer one’s self to the kingdom of the Lord.
  7. This is the art! And this is also the secret of Bhagavad-gita: total absorption in the thought of Sri Krishna.

V. BENEFITS: If we properly utilize the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, then our whole life will become purified, and ultimately we will be able to reach the spiritual sky [Krishnaloka].

  1. If one properly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, one can be freed from all miseries and anxieties in this life, and one’s next life will be spiritual.
  2. If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of Bhagavan Sri Krishna the reactions of his past misdeeds (papa karma phala) will not act upon him.
  3. One who takes his bath only once in the sacred Ganges water of the Gita cleanses away all the dirt of material life.
  4. In conclusion, Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully because it is capable of saving one from all fear. (all quotations from Srila Prabhupada’s personally written Introduction of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.)

Gita Jayanti ki jai! Srimad Bhagavad-gita ki jai! Daily Gita reading ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

,

Prabhupada’s Books & Me

Mahanidhi Swami

I took birth in an exciting life of Krishna consciousness 43 years ago from the mother of Srila Prabhupada’s wonderful transcendental books: Krsna Book, Nectar of Devotion and Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

For one year, I did not see or even know who my father was. Mama told me, “Your father is very busy traveling around the world expanding our family business of writing and distributing spiritual books. You will see him after some time.”

That didn’t matter so much anyway, because I myself was too busy being loved, fed and fattened by my Mama. In that tender first year of my life, mother showered me with so much compassion, patience and care.

I just can’t believe how she so slowly and personally taught me how to correctly think and desire, feel, love and act, not only for my own benefit, but interestingly enough for the benefit of everyone around me too. Believe it or not, after one year of being Mama’s wild, wining babe, I soon became a “fairly” good Krishna conscious kid.

Then Papa finally came home. “How radiant, down-to-earth, warm and compassionate,” I thought as I gazed upon his beautiful, golden transcendental form with my clear and innocent baby eyes.

Father picked me up, and held me tightly in his arms with the kind of embrace that says, “I will always be here to help you, protect you and guide you throughout your life. Don’t worry and don’t be afraid of anything!”

My little baby heart whimpered a reply, “Yes, father! I fully believe you. I will take shelter in your words, and always follow the transcendental teachings received from mother.”

Since we are often asked, “What do you think about Srila Prabhupada and his books?” This short story is my reply, along with the obvious fact that whatever I am and have attained, wherever I am, and wherever I am going it is…

ALL BECAUSE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA AND HIS WONDERFUL TRANSCENDENTAL BOOKS!”

Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental book distribution ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

,

THE BITTER SWEET TRUTH

Mahanidhi Swami

In 1972, Srila Prabhupada wrote a very important letter concerning forbidden foods which ISKCON members CAN’T EAT! Of course, as always in Kali-yuga, there are many views, takes, personal anecdotes and “Prabhupada told me personally” quotes on this sweet and bitter topic.

Most senior ISKCON devotees grew up in their spiritual lives not eating this and not missing it. Who needs it—especially when you have Sri Krishna maha-prasada burfi, sandesh, rabri, rasagulla, gulabjamuns, rasa-malai, halavah, simply wonderfuls, lugloos, and date gur kheer.

Besides, it is definitely something that Srimati Radharani NEVER COOKS OR OFFERS to Her dearly beloved Sri Shyamasundaraji. Despite the flurry of opinions and personal anecdotes regarding this topic, the following letter serves as concrete evidence that this eatable SHOULD NOT BE EATEN BECAUSE IT IS AN INTOXICANT!!

What is this mysterious food which fills kids everywhere with supercharged passion?

In the official BBT Folio collection of all Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, we find the following letter wherein Srila Prabhupada says:

“My dear Surasrestha,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter. COCOA and CHOCOLATE ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN as they are intoxicants!” (SPLetter to Surasrestha, Los Angeles 14 June, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Sri Jagannatha maha-prasadam ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

,

Thakuraji’s Mental Food

Mahanidhi Swami

The Puranas, Goswami granthas and most Radha-Krishna Archana Puja books describe the bhakti sadhana of manasic-seva. This is one authentic limb of bhakti. It means to mentally, with your thoughts and feelings, offer varieties of invisible and intangible tasty foods to your beloved Thakurajis i.e. Radha-Krishna murtis.

Sri Krishna equally accepts any favorable thing that is lovingly and caringly offered to Him, be it done externally with the body or internally with the mind. The bhakta gets the full benefit and result from both devotional practices. Everywhere shastras proclaim the efficacy of this sublime and mystical practice.

Here are some examples of the visible effect and power of serving Sri Krishna within the mind.

  1. The Padma Purana and Sri Rupa Goswamipada’s Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (1.2.282) both narrate the famous story of the Pratinohanapura brahmin who burned his finger tip when testing the temperature of his mentally prepared sweet rice for Thakuraji. Afterwards, Sri Vishnu immediately took him to Vaikuntha.
  2. Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura:

One day while mentally visualizing Radha-Krishna’s divya-lila, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura was simultaneously mentally stirring milk (his nitya-seva for Swamini). Somehow due absorption in the lila, his “mental milk” boiled over and scalded his hand which he felt and saw upon returning to external consciousness. Sri Jiva Goswamipada thrilled with joy seeing how Narottama had attained bhajana siddhi. (Prem Bhakti Candrika’s tika Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja)

  1. In Antya-two of Sri Chaitanya Caritamrita, Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja tells the amazing story of Nrisimhananda Dasa’s beautiful, opulent and comfortable “mental road” he offered to Mahaprabhu who was traveling outside of Navadvipa. Suddenly his meditation broke and his “mental road” abruptly stopped in the village of Kanai Natashala. And lo and behold in external time and space that is exactly where Mahaprabhu stopped His journey.
  2. Once Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami suffered severe indigestion. Doctors diagnosed him and found no cause, especially since he only ate a bit of buttermilk. Humbly, Dasa Goswami revealed the mystery—within in mind during his meditation, he relished a little too much of Srimati Radharani’s “mental kheer prasadam”!
  3. Srila Prabhupada:

“Krishna makes no distinction. Thus, if you serve Krishna by mind He will accept. That is sure!” (conv. Hrshikeshanandaji) “But in case you have nothing to offer materially, but still, you can offer in the mind.” (folio: 740417BG.BOM) “Yes, you are correct—spiritual activities, even mentally performed, are beneficial.” (SPletter 72.12-21)

Offer Mental Chappana Bhoga (56 delightful preps)

Devotees generally eat simply and also externally offer simple foods to Sri Krishna. So why not start doing this from today for the pleasure of Sri Shyama in Vraja Dhama? Offer 6 items externally directly to Thakurji Sri Krishna. And then mentally offer 50 more to make it 56. Sri Sri Radha-Krishna pura santoshanam ki jai! Jagannatha Swami ki jai!

Srila Prabhupada introduced and beautifully sang the following bhoga bhajana which he wanted his followers to sing for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna when They enjoy our simple daily offerings. In Gaudiya Padavali i.e. songbooks, there are literally hundreds of such songs, many of them 500 years in vogue. The following bhajana was penned by Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

It would be best if our friends and students would sing this song at least once daily during their “big” bhoga offering to Sri Krishna. While singing, meditate that in your siddha deha you’re right beside Radhika in Nandagrama, assisting Her by cutting, cooking and giving the various delicacies to Yashoda Ma to serve to Sri Krishna. You may become so absorbed in your bhoga-lila smarana manasi seva than you completely forget to eat! The proper raga and tune of this bhajan is available on I-net.

Sri Krishna Pratah Bhojana Lila

(Nandagram: 7-8 a.m.)

(1) (refrain, sing between stanzas)
bhaja bhakata-vatsala śrī-gaurahari
śrī-gaurahari sohi goṣṭha-bihārī
nanda-jaśomatī-citta-hari

(2)
belā ho’lo dāmodara āisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi’ koraho bhojana

(3)
nandera nideśe baise giri-bara-dhārī
baladeva-saha sakhā baise sāri sāri

(4)
śuktā-śākādi bhāji nālitā kuṣmāṇḍa
dāli dālnā dugdha-tumbī dadhi mocā-khaṇḍa

(5)
mudga-borā māṣa-borā roṭikā ghṛtānna
śaṣkulī piṣṭaka khīr puli pāyasānna

(6)
karpūra amṛta-keli rambhā khīra-sāra
amṛta rasālā, amla dwādaśa prakāra

(7)
luci cini sarpurī lāḍḍu rasābalī
bhojana korena kṛṣṇa ho’ye kutūhalī

(8)
rādhikāra pakka anna vividha byañjana
parama ānande kṛṣṇa korena bhojana

(9)
chale-bale lāḍḍu khāy śrī-madhumańgala
bagala bājāy āra deya hari-bolo

(10)
rādhikādi gaṇe heri’ nayanera koṇe
tṛpta ho’ye khāy kṛṣṇa jaśodā-bhavane

(11)
bhojanānte piye kṛṣṇa subāsita bāri
sabe mukha prakhāloy ho’ye sāri sāri

(12)
hasta-mukha prakhāliyā jata sakhā-gaṇe
ānande biśrāma kore baladeva-sane

(13)
jambula rasāla āne tāmbūla-masālā
tāhā kheye kṛṣṇa-candra sukhe nidrā gelā

(14)
biśālākha śikhi-puccha-cāmara ḍhulāya
apūrba śayyāya kṛṣṇa sukhe nidrā jāya.

(15)
jaśomatī-ājñā pe’ye dhaniṣṭhā-ānīto
śrī-kṛṣṇa-prasāda rādhā bhuñje ho’ye prīto

(16)
lalitādi sakhī-gaṇa avaśeṣa pāya
mane mane sukhe rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa gāya

(17)
hari-līlā ek-mātra jāhāra pramoda
bhogārati gāy ṭhākur bhakativinoda

Translation:

(1) Just worship bhakta-vatsala Sri Gaurahari, who is the selfsame Goshtha-Bihariji Sri Krishna that forever steals the minds and hearts of Yashoda and Nanda Baba.

(2) Mother Yashoda calls Krishna: “My dear Damodara, it’s very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take bhoga.”

(3) Nanda Baba directs Giridhari, Baladeva and the other gopas to sit down in rows to eat.

(4) Yashoda, Rohini, Kilimba and other mothers serve a sumptuous feast of bitter vegetables to increase appetite, leafy, pumpkin and banana flower sabzis, fried items, jute leaf salad, baskets of fruit, small square lentil cakes in condensed milk, and thick creamy yogurt.

(5) Also included are fried mung and urad dal patties, rotis, ghee-soaked rice, condensed milk, sesame and milk sweets, rice flour cakes; kheer and cakes floating in milk.

(6) And delicious cheese, nectar rivaling kheer spiced with camphor, bananas, and twelve sour preparations from tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

(7) And white flour puris sprinkled with sugar, cream-filled puris, laddus, dal patties boiled in misri rice. Krishna eagerly eats all the items.

(8) In supreme bliss, Krishna relishes Radhika’s rice, curries, sweets, and pastries.

(9) Mischievous Madhumaìgala eats laddus, moves his right hand in his left armpit to make a funny thud noise while singing, “Haribol! Haribol!”

(10) Glancing at Radhika and Her sakhis from the corners of His eyes, Krishna Govinda eats with great gusto in Yashoda bhavan.

(11) Afterwards, Krishna drinks rose-scented water, and all the boys stand in lines to wash their mouths.

(12) After washing their mouths and hands, Baladeva and the gopas take rest in great bliss.

(13) Krishnachandra eats the tambula offered by the gopas Jambula and Rasala, and happily sleeps.

(14) While Krishna rests blissfully on an unprecedented bed, Vishalaka gopa refreshes Him with a peacock fan.

(15) On Yashomati’s order, Dhanishtha brings Sri Krishna’s prasadi to Radha who lovingly enjoys it.

(16) Feeling extremely joyful to receive Radha’s prasada, all the sakhis beginning with Lalita start singing about the beautiful qualities of Radha and Krishna.

(17) Thus I, Bhaktivinoda, whose only joy is hari-lila, sing this bhoga aroti song.

Radha-Krishna manasi chappana bhoga seva ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!