Tag Archive for: Mahanidhi Swami

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Boons of Bhagavad Gita

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The Padma Purana “Gita Mahatmya” describes many amazing stories to illustrate the astonishing spiritual power, benefits and results of reciting each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the quintessence of all Upanishadic wisdom.

To encourage everyone to daily read a chapter, a few verses or even half a verse of the most perfect and wonderful Bhagavad Gita, we present the shruti phalas i.e. the fruit or benefit received by hearing, reading or chanting each chapter.

1: End material misery; attain eternal service of Bhagavan Sri Krishna

2: Quickly attain full knowledge, devotion and the mercy of Sri Krishna.

3: Frees one’s ancestors from ghostly bodies or bondage in hell, and gives them sarupya mukti to Vaikuntha.

4: Frees one from tree form of life; gives devotee family birth; destroys material desires and awards Krishna bhakti.

5: Attain complete purity, purify anyone contacting you, and go to Vaikuntha.

6: Attain deep detachment, and the service of Bhagavan Vishnu’s lotus feet.

7: Freedom from all sins and Vaikuntha liberation.

8: Gives immense joy and Vaikuntha liberation to you and all your ancestors.

9: Removes fear, destroys sins and aparadhas, and gives constant remembrance of Sri Govinda’s lotus feet.

10: Freedom from the effects of curses, and attain the darshana of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu.

11: Gives full sense control, continuous remembrance of Jagat Ishvara Sri Vishnu and Vaikuntha liberation.

12: Attain divine powers and Sri Krishna bhakti.

13: Attain complete freedom from sinful reactions and Vaikuntha sarupya-mukti.

14: Attain Vaikuntha liberation and Sri Vishnu’s nitya seva.

15: Attain Vaikuntha liberation.

16: Attain immense peace, amazing powers and the lotus feet of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

17: Attain Vaikuntha sarupya-mukti.

18: Destroys all material desires, gives unlimited bliss and Vaikuntha liberation.

The author of this article and millions of other fortunate souls worldwide have all received unlimited wisdom, solace, peace, purity and bliss from reading, hearing, studying, teaching and distributing Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following quote from his wonderful introduction to this most sacred grantha will close this post.

Srila Prabhupada said, “The ways and means for ultimate realization and attainment are stated in the Bhagavad Gita which is open for everyone. If one adopts the principles enunciated in Bhagavad Gita, one can make his life perfect and permanently solve all the problems of life. If one properly follows the instructions of Bhagavad Gita, one can be freed from all miseries and anxieties in this life.”

Sri Bhagavad Gita ki jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Gitya Mahatmya ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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2018 GITA JAYANTI 5120 BIRTHDAY: How To Properly Observe?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

To celebrate the advent of the immortal song of surrender, devotion and perfection in bhakti, one should worship Bhagavan Sri Krishna in His eternal form as the Bhagavad Gita as follows:

** Place the Holy Scripture on a decorative cloth or asana on your altar or some other dedicated area. Then…

  1. Perform acamana (offer all articles below to grantha Sri Bhagavad-gita)
  2. Offer Tulasi manjaris with sandalwood paste
  3. Offer fragrant flower garland
  4. Offer milk sweet with Tulasi leaf
  5. Offer arotika (incense, ghee lamp, conch water)
  6. Do parikrama of Gita book
  7. Glorify Gita with prayers
  8. Chant each Gita sloka
  9. Conclusion of 18 chapters, offer dandavats to Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krsna, Arjuna, Sanjaya & Sri Gurudeva, begging them to accept your Gita jayanti puja.
  10. Also try to read or hear the Padma Purana “Gita Mahatmya” chapter which describes a lila and the benefits of chanting each chapter of Gita.

***NOTE: As suggested in # 7. One can chant the following prayers penned by Sripad Adi Shankaracharya and taken from the BBT Bhagavad-gita As It Is Introduction:

1 gita adhyaana-shilasya, pranayama-paraasya cha
naiva santi he paapani, purva janme kritani cha

If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of Krsna, the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.

2 mala nirmochanam pumsam, jala snanam dine dine
sakrid gitambhaasi snanam, samsara mala nashanam

One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.

3 gita sugita kartavya, kim anyaih shastra vistaraih
ya svyam padama nabhaayasa, mukha padmad vinih srita

Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita

4 bharat amrita sarvasam vishnor vaktrad vini sritam
gita gangodakam pitva punar janma na vidyate

One who drinks the Ganges water attains salvation, so what to speak of one who drinks the nectar of Bhagavad-gita? Gita is the essential nectar of Mahabharata and is spoken by Krsna Himself, the original Visnu.

5 sarvo panishado gavo dogdha gopala nandanah
partho vatsah sudhir bhokta dugdham gita amritam mahat

This Gitopanishad is just like a cow and Krsna is a famous cowherd boy, who is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf and learned scholars and pure devotees are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gita.

6 ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam eko devo devaki-putra eva
eko mantras tasya namani yani karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

Let there be one common scripture for the whole world—Bhagavad-Gita. Let there be one God only—Sri Krsna; and one prayer only—chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra; and let there be one work only—Krishna bhakti.

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

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Glories of Vilapa Kusumanjali

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Without any shade of a doubt Vilapa Kusumanjali, “A Flower Bouquet of Lamentations”, is the most important and essential book for any serious sadhaka practicing raganuga-bhakti in manjari-bhava, craving to attain the nitya-seva of Srimati Radhika in the Vraja nikunjas.

Every word, every line and every verse is sheer nectar—full of hope, intimate sevas, tears of lamentation and practical guidance on how to meditate on Bhanunandini’s loving service while being “absorbed in chanting” the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, or while rapt in single-minded contemplation.

I beg those hankering for love divine in Swamini’s seva to daily read and remember, and to think and drink the sweet nectar within all the verses of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada’s chintamani grantha, Sri Vilapa Kusumanjali.

By this daily practice, flowers of beautiful intimate sevas at Srimati’s sweet lotus feet will blossom on the tree of your hearts! This is the SRI guarantee!!!

Srimati Tulasi Manjari ki jai! Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Best Manjari Meditations:  Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

These amazingly sweet and charming nectar-filled verses will carry you into the kingdom of service to Srimati Radharani. The original Sanskrit verses of Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi, which are popular with many Vaisnavas, are all incomparably beautiful and worthy of remembrance.

However, since most people cannot memorize Sanskrit verses, we have presented mostly just English translations. These verses give wonderful lila pictures for meditating on Srimati Radhika with or without the chanting of Harinama japa.

2 Madhusudana, who is difficult to attain for even the king of yogis, feels greatly blessed by a mere touch of the playful breeze coming from the edge of Radhika’s cloth. I offer my obeisances to any direction where I can find this Vrishabhanunandini.

8 yat kinkarīshu bahushah, khalu kākuvānī
nityam parasya purushasya, shikhanda mauleh
tasyāh kadā rasa nidher, vrishabhanu jāyā
tat keli kunja bhavan āngana, mārjanī syām

Wearing a crown of peacock feathers, Sri Krishna, the Absolute Person, perpetually pleads with and flatters Radha’s maidservants to grant Him darshana of Radharani. When will I become a broom for sweeping the courtyard of the cottage in the play groves of Vrishabhanunandini—the ocean of rasa?

9 In Vrindavana, there is a divine jewel named Radha who is full of the rapturous nectar of beautiful moods and who liberates the saintly. O mind! Now just leave all great persons and things behind you and run to Vrindavana with love.

14 Radha karāvacita, pallava vallarīke
Radha padānka vilasan, madhura sthalī
Radha yasho mukhara, matta khagāvalīke
Radha vihāra vipine, ramatām mano me

May my mind find pleasure in the play forest of Radha; where the leaf buds and vines are touched by Radha’s hands; where the ground is sweetened by Radha’s footprints and lilas; and where the birds madly sing Radha’s glories.

17 Radhe! After You enjoy blissful pastimes throughout the night with Your rasika lover, I will bathe You and serve You some honey-sweet foods. When will You then fall asleep as I massage Your lotus feet with my hands?

18 vaidagdhya sindhur anurāga, rasaika sindhur
vātsalya sindhur ati sāndra, kṛpaika sindhuh
lāvaṇya sindhur amrita, cchabi rūpa sindhuḥ
sri radhika sphuratau me, hrdi keli sindhuh

Sri Radha embodies seven ocean which include an ocean of cleverness, anurāga rasa, motherly affection, deep compassion, elegance, play, and a nectar-ocean of glistening transcendental forms! When will this Sri Radha appear in my heart?

24 O Sri Radhike! When You go to a lonely place on the bank of the Yamuna, I will massage Your nectarean limbs that are the very life of Ananga, Cupid Sri Krishna, amritam angam ananga jivam. At that time, I will notice that the Youthful King of all paramours is sitting high above us in a kadamba tree immersed in admiring Your exquisite form.

32 saṅketa kunjam anu, pallavam āstarītuṁ
tat tat prasādam abhitaḥ, khalu samvarītum
tvāṁ shyamachandram abhisāra, yituṁ dhrtāshe
sri radhike mayi vidhehi, krpā kaṭāksham

O Sri Radhike! I want to make a bed of fresh sprouts in the trysting bower and arrange Your meeting with Shyamachandra. Cherishing this desire in my heart, I beg for Your sidelong glance of mercy.

38 In separation from Shyama, Radhika passes the day constantly lamenting with anxious eyes while sighing, ‘O most beautiful Shyama! O enchanter of My mind! O wonderful lover, You are as charming as crores of Cupids!’ (shyāmeti sundara vareti, mano hareti kandarpa koṭi, laliteti su nāgareti)

39 veṇuḥ karān nipatitaḥ, skhalitaṁ shikhandam
bhrashtam ca pīta vasanam, vraja raja sūnoḥ
yasyāḥ kaṭāksha shara, ghāta vimūrcchitastya
tāṁ rādhikāṁ paricar, āmi kadā rasena

When will I happily serve that Radhika whose arrow-like glance strikes Vrajendranandana to make His flute fall from His hand; His peacock feather crown slip off; and His yellow dhoti drop down as He faints?

40 Even great devatas like Brahmaji and others cannot attain Radhika, who is the source of the most amazing topmost bliss, and the embodiment of playful pastimes for Krishna who Himself is the essence of endless loving mellows. O Vrishabhanunandini, birth after birth may I be your maidservant?

43 When will I become eager to take Vrishabhanunandini, Who is shy and afraid of Her first meeting with the king of debauchees, by Her lotus-like hand and bring Radha to the play-bed in the trysting-bower which is made of soft fresh sprouts?

44 sad gandha mālya nava, chandra lavaṅga saṅga
tāmbūla sampuṭam adhīsh, vari mām vahantīm
shyāmam tam unmada rasād, abhisaṁ sarantī
sri rādhike karuṇa, yānucariṁ vidhehi

O my Ishvari Radha! When You madly rush out to meet Shyama will You kindly accept me as Your maidservant, and let me carry some quality perfumes, garlands, and a box of fresh betel leaves mixed with fresh camphor and cloves?

48 kunj āntare kim api, jāta rasot savāyāḥ
shrutvā tad ālapita, sinjita mishritāni
sri rādhike tava rahaḥ, paricāri kāhaṁ
dvāra sthitā rasa hrade, patitā kadā syām

O Sri Radhike! When will I be Your confidential maidservant, and fall into a pool of rasa while standing at the kunja gate listening to the sweet jingling of Your ornaments mixing with the sweet sound of Your love prattles with Krishna in the beginning of Your festival of love?

53 When will I see myself in Vrindavana as a very tender adolescent maidservant, wearing Swamini’s prasadi dress and a silken blouse lovingly given to me by Her own hand (prasadam svaminyah svakaratala dattam pranayatah)? I will always stay near Sri Radhika to expertly serve Her in various ways.

54 O Sri Radhe! When will I become an expert maidservant to serve You by separating Your tangled hair with my fingernails, or place a silken blouse on Your lustrous jug-like breasts, or fasten jeweled anklebells on Your graceful ankles?

55 May I always meditate upon Radha’s tender lotus feet as I loudly and very affectionately sing Hari’s name to Her, and offer perfumes and other items to Her while blissfully following behind Radha in Vrindavana?

59 The cheeks of Sri Radhika, the best of ladyloves, and Sri Krishna, the king of loving enjoyers, are moistened with sweat drops of fatigue from Their incomparable dancing during the rasa-lila which is full of wonder, mirth and enchantment. When will I joyfully serve Radha and Krishna by massaging Their feet and nicely fanning Them?

63 When will accompany Radha and on Her order tell Nandanandana, “O king of cheaters! My Ishvari will not go alone into that secluded Kadamba grove because She is afraid of You.” Although Radha is apparently rejecting Krishna’s repeated proposals to meet in a particular kunja, in reality Radha is indicating the same kunja.

76 O Nāgari Radha! When will I remove Krishna’s yellow cloth, mistakenly switched in the kunja, from Your body and give You another garment? When at daybreak will I run back to that love bower to retrieve Your forgotten blouse? When will I tie Your hair-braid, restring Your broken pearl necklace, paint eyeliner around Your eyes, and use colorful substances like musk or vermilion to hide the bruises on Your body caused by Krishna’s amorous sports?

87 labdhva dāsyaṁ tad ati kṛpayā, mohana svāditena
saundarya sri pada kamalayor, lālanaiḥ svāpitāyāḥ
sri Radhayā madhura madhura, occhishta pīyūsha sāraṁ
bhojam bhojam nava nava ras, ānanda magnaḥ kadā syām

When by Sri Radhika’s mercy will I attain Her seva, and become immersed in ever-new ecstasy as I massage Radha’s beautiful lotus feet while She sleeps and relishes Krishna’s enchanting sweetness? When will I become immersed in ever new blissful rasa by repeatedly eating Radha’s sweeter than sweet food remnants, which are the essence of nectar?

96 May the two supremely astonishing, blissful, desiring fulfilling, enchanting, love-filled and tasty syllables “RA DHA”, that are muttered by Sri Hari as He sits in a kunja cottage beside the Yamuna meditating with tear filled loving eyes on the effulgence of Radha’s lotus feet, always appear in my heart!

154 O Radhe! When will You and I have an indescribably wonderful talk, wherein each syllable emanates a matchless ocean of love that showers my cup-like ears with a stream of cool and mild nectar that melts with rasa and gives the highest bliss?

156 lulita nava lavaṇ godāra, karpūra pūraṁ
priyatama mukha candrod, gīrṇa tāmbūla khandaṁ
ghana pulaka kapola, svādayantī mad āsye
arpayatu kimapi dāsī-vatsalā karhi radha

When will indescribable Radha, who is affectionate to Her maidservants and whose cheeks are adorned with thrill bumps of bliss, give me the betel-nut prasadi from Priyatama’s moon-like mouth that is mixed with lovely fresh cloves and lots of camphor, by putting it in my mouth after She relishes it?

159 When can I serve Sri Radhika by fanning Her and giving Her fresh betel-leaves while She blissfully displays original artful dances with Her lover Madhupati and Her sakhis during the Rasa lila which is full of astonishingly tasty pastimes and madly ecstatic love?

166 When can I fan Radha and Krishna, who are covered in perspiration from Their vigorous amorous affairs, in such a way that They blissfully close Their eyes while enjoying the cool breeze as They relax outside the cottage of fresh creepers (nava lata mandira) beside the Yamuna?

191 O Radhe! When will I follow You and Shyama down the road, and totally enchant both Your hearts by pushing Your rasika lover away from You while saying: “O king of cheaters! Why are approaching our prana sakhi Radha, who becomes bewildered just like a young girl when You just touch the side of Her breasts?”

202 When will I drown in a pond of rasa while sweeping Sri Radhika’s enchanting play cottage, sprinkling it with liquid sandalwood paste, and singing about the supremely sweet and abundant nectarean rasa of Madhubhid’s wonderful character and pastimes?

208 O Radhike! When will I hide the signs of You and Your beloved’s amorous affairs from Your cruel superiors by saying: “My sakhi was picking flowers far away from here, and while hurrying back Radha’s breasts were bruised by thorns; the tilaka was washed from Her forehead by perspiration; and Radha’s lips were bruised by the cold wind!”

213 While softly massaging the lotus feet of Radha Madhupati, the personal forms of the most blissful, inebriating and tasty love, when will I somehow fall asleep at the end of Their bower bed?

219 O Pranayini Radhe! Whenever You are angry with Krishna, He falls at my feet with a straw between His teeth. Then Shyama prays to me with many pitiful words while continually following me, and asking me to arrange a meeting with You. O Radhe! When will I become upset with that and submit Shyama’s plea to You?

223 O Sri Radhe! When will I fulfill my desires by lovingly painting leaf-pictures on Your cheeks, eyeliner around Your eyes, lipstick on Your lips, vermilion on Your breasts and red lac on Your toes when You are nervous about Your new meeting with Krishna?

224 O Vrishabhanunandini! When will I tell Your Priyatama: “O Gopendra-kumara! Don’t tell such proud jokes in vain! With great endeavor You may have held one Govardhana Hill on Your hand. But You immediately become afraid just by seeing the golden mountains upon Sri Radha’s body!” ( sri radha tanu hema shaila yugale, drshte pi te syad bhayam)

246 May Sri Radha’s smile protect us when She sees Hari admiring His own reflection in Her shining golden breasts and hears Him say, “I see two beautiful boys on Your breasts whose luster removes the glories of hosts of blue lotus-flowers! I am completely enchanted by them. So please make Me Your girlfriend, so these boys can tightly embrace both of Us young girls!

247 O Radhike! When will I, just after You meet Shyama at the start of Your love festival, hear You sarcastically tell Shyama: “O Knower of morality, stay away from Me!” Then I will watch You push away Krishna’s hand and storm out of the kunja. With tear-filled eyes, You will then angrily lament to Your girlfriends that You just saw some other girl reflected in Krishna’s Kaustubha gem on Your lover’s chest. [although it was actually Radha’s own reflection]

254 sadā gāyaṁ gāyaṁ madhuratara, radha priya yashaḥ
sadā sāndrānanda nava rasada radha, rati kathāḥ
sadā sthāyaṁ sthāyaṁ nava nibhṛta radha, rati vane
sadā dhyāyaṁ dhyāyaṁ vivasha hṛdi radha, pada sudhāḥ

I always sing about the sweeter then sweet glories of Radha’s beloved Shyama. I always speak about the fresh, condensed and blissful rasa-filled talks of Radha’s love. I always dwell in fresh solitary love-forest of Radha. And my heart is always overwhelmed by meditating on the nectar flowing from the feet of Radha.

259 While holding in my heart the desire to attain the supremely cherished service of Sri Radha’s lotus-feet, I always meditate on Krishna wearing a crown of peacock-feathers; and sing Krishna nama in sankirtana; serve Krishna’s lotus-feet (murti) and murmur His best of mantras. When by Krishna’s mercy will Radha-Madhava’s grand festival of divine love arise in my heart?

Manjari bhava upasana ki jai! Radharani ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Identity of a Radha Dasi

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Abhimana means the mentality, attitude, thought, self-conception, inner feeling, or the innate sense of knowing who or what I am and what I want. Abhimana can be either material or spiritual.

Possessing the right attitude (abhimana), mentality and heart is the foundation of success in bhakti sadhana. It’s not about numbers, fasts, vratas and big quantities, it’s about QUALITY. Bhakti means being pure-minded, tender-hearted, and doing everything to please Radha and Krishna. Having the right abhimana (mentality, self-esteem) is so important and powerful that just by this one attains spiritual perfection!

Sri Jiva Goswami confirms: “Even without any spiritual practice, by this attitude (abhimana) alone [that I am Krishna’s eternal servant] one attains spiritual perfection, astu tavad bhajana prayasah kevala tadrshatv abhimanenapi siddhir bhavati. (Bhakti S. 304.2) The Upanisads say, “The soul is neither male, female, nor neuter. It attains a body according to its absorption in a particular thought, naiva stri na puman esa, na caivayam napumsakah, yad yac chariram adatte, tena tena sah rakshyate.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 5.9.10)

A basic spiritual abhimana is having the self-conceit and feeling that I am Krishna’s eternal servant. A more developed sense of abhimana will give one the idea that I am an eternal maidservant of Srimati Radharani.

For example, a genuine devotee with shishya-abhimana, the attitude of a disciple, will think, “In this world, Gurudeva is my only true friend, wisdom guide, companion and ever-well wisher. And for time eternal I will lovingly serve my Gurudeva. Gurudeva is very dear to Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Their sakhis and manjaris. I pray to be eternally engaged in the seva of my Guru’s lotus feet.”

For a raganuga bhakta the best example of spiritual abhimana is Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami who was fully immersed in the abhimana or self-conceit of identifying as Radhika’s manjari.

Wetting the vraja-dhuli with his tears of separation, Dasa Goswami continually lamented in separation from his Swamini while praying, “O Radhika, I have nothing and no one but You. You are my everything and I am Your dasi. Although I am totally insignificant, please know it clearly that I am Yours, I am Yours!”

Here’s a wonderful example of transcendental abhimana in the kingdom of Vrindavana. One day after Krishna left Vraja, a clever sakhi, noticing the blossoming beauty of her younger sister, spoke to her in a private place just to test her: “O sakhi, our Krishna has now left Vrindavana. I see that your youthful beauty and other qualities are now developing. And Vraja is full of handsome dashing young lads. So if you want to marry one, just whisper your preference and I’ll make all arrangements.”

“What are you saying?” said the youthful kishori. “Surely there are millions of talented and qualified young men in this world. But I don’t care! If a young man does not have a mor mukuta, a murali, and mineral powders adorning his form then he is as insignificant as a piece of straw, and I could care less.” This is the abhimana of a kishori gopi.

The bhava and thoughts we cultivate and the sevas we meditate upon during sadhana will be attained at the stage of perfection. A raganuga bhakta should continually meditate on being Radha’s kinkari, loyal loving servant.

The following prayer of Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati shows the intimacy and sweetness of having sakhi abhimana and being close to Priyaji: “When will I eternally live with Kishori jeu and serve Her in various clever ways while wearing Radha’s cloth and bodice that She lovingly gave me with Her own hands, prasadam svaminyah svakara-tala-dattam pranayatah?” (Radha Rasa Sudha Nidhi 53)

In this regard, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura gives very clear advice on how to cultivate spiritual abhimana in raganuga bhakti.

One aspiring for manjari bhava on the path of raga should think, feel and hanker like this: “I will follow the manjaris of Radhika, and by their mercy I will blissfully serve Radha-Krishna in the kunjas of Vrindavana. Just by seeing the gestures of my guru sakhi or Tulasi-manjari, I will understand what seva is required for the pleasure of Lila Yugala.

“I will immerse my mind and heart in the beauty, charm and sweetness of Radha Govinda Yugala. I will live amongst Their intimate sakhis and serve Radha and Krishna with all my heart throughout the day and night. No matter what happens to me, I will always meditate upon and serve Radha-Krishna.

“By Their mercy, I will eventually realize and see the siddha deha upon which I was meditating on during my sadhana. It is only a matter of time. For what is now unripe during my sadhana will fully ripen when I attain the stage of prema. This is the way of bhajana for those treading the path of raga. (Prema-bhakti-candrika 53-58)

By the grace of Sri Guru a mature sadhaka will be introduced to his/her eternal identity (nitya-abhimana). Then that fortunate sadhaka will start identifying with that siddha svarupa, one’s eternal, seva-saturated spiritual form.

By regularly contemplating that siddha deha and mentally serving Radha and Krishna in that form, the sadhaka will one day have the crystal clear realization that, “I am nothing but a servant of the servants of the servants of Srimati Radharani, radha dasi dasi anudasi!

What could be more fascinating and wonderful than thinking that someday I will become a most trusted, confidential serving girl of Srimati Radharani? May everyone someday receive this great treasure of possessing the pure abhimana of a being Radha’s eternal servant.

Gopi abhimana ki jai! Sri Radha’s eternal seva ki jai!

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Mixing Murti Puja & Asta-kaliya-lila

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

With the right mood and desire, one can “link” one’s daily murti or Deity puja with the loving flow of Radha Govinda’s eternal daily pastimes in Gokula Vrindavana, the spiritual sky. By remembering the entries below a pujari will be able to link his/her Thakuraji seva with Krishna’s nitya lila. Basically, the pujari will transit between presence and transcendence by linking his body and mind with lila.

1) Pastimes at Night’s End (nishanta-lila) 3.36-6 am

Thakuraji (your murti, Deity) awakens much before sunrise on the pretext of inviting his pujari servants to awaken Him, which They do with the sweetest of songs and the tinkling of bells [mangala-aroti]. In Goloka, Radha-Krishna are resting in the secret bower-house after a night of exotic fun in the forest groves along with Their sakhis. When the pujari offers Thakuraji a pre-dawn snack of sweets and water [balya-bhoga], the sakhis are offering Radha-Madhava a tasty light snack as They lounge lazily upon Their flower bed. The pujari closes curtain after Thakuraji’s arati ceremony so that Radha Govinda Yugala can sneak back to Their respective homes, slide into Their beds and pretend to be sleeping right where Their parents had left them.

2) Morning pastimes (pratah-lila) 6-8.30 am

In Yavat and Nandishvara, Radha and Krishna are awakened by Their respective superiors. Radha-Krishna perform Their morning duties i.e. brush Their teeth, massage, bathe and dress. Then the Playful Pair are greeted by Their eternal associates, who make much celebration of the morning darsana. Similarly, during this time the pujari will bathe, dress, and feed Thakuraji who will then be greeted by the assembled devotees with arati, singing, chanting and dancing [srnghar-arati].

3) Forenoon pastimes (purvahna-lila) 8.36-10.48 am

Krishna Govinda meets His gopa friends and takes the cows out to graze in the Vrindavana pasturelands. Although Thakuraji stays [apparently] in the temple, actually Thakuraji is out frolicking in the meadows of Vraja. Radha watches Her Praneshvara depart for the pastures, and feels very sad in Krishna’s absence. Returning home, Radha plans how to later meet Shyama in the forest. Similarly, the devotees take Thakuraji’s morning darshana and leave for their duties. Though saddened in Thakuraji’s absence, the devotees are planning when they can return for another blissful darshana of Thakuraji Radha Ramana Giridhari.

4) Midday pastimes (madhyahna-lila) 10.46 am—3.36 pm

At noon, out in the forest, Krishna and the boys enjoy a big meal, raja-bhoga, sent to Him by Yashoda Maa. Krishna’s many friends and servants enjoy His remnants, maha-prasada. Thakuraji in the temple is served in the same way. Although Thakuraji eats in private, afterwards He meets the devotees and gives them His remnants.

While Krishna’s friends rest under a shady tree, He slips away to the kunja for a midday tryst and a little nap with Radhaji and the sakhis. Since no one should see this, the pujari closes the curtain so Thakuraji can rest and enjoy His lilas within His private chamber i.e. Deity room.

5) Afternoon pastimes (aparahna-lila) 3.36-6 pm

Before long Krishna wakes up and rejoins His cowherd boyfriends. Collecting the cows, the boys sing and dance while walking back to Vraja. Nanda Baba watches from the goshalla and Yashoda stands anxiously at the door ready with a snack for her Lala. Similarly, the pujari wakes Thakuraji, offers Him fruit and sweets, and opens the Deity door so all the devotees can see their beloved once again.

6) Dusk pastimes (sayana-lila) 6-8.36 pm

In Goloka, Krishna is pampered by Yasoda and attended by His male servants, who prepare Him for His evening pastimes at home. Krishna thoroughly enjoys the evening meal with much joking and laughter, sharing boundless love with the assembled family members who participate.

Similarly, the pujaris excuse Thakuraji once again from the devotee darshana by closing the curtain. Then they personally attend to Thakuraji by washing off the dust of the day, offering fresh comfortable clothes, and letting Him relax for His evening meal.

7) Evening pastimes (pradosh-lila) 8.36-10.48 pm

As Krishna is enjoying majestic shows of talent and skill in the royal theater in Nandishvara, the temple devotees are singing and dancing for Thakuraji’s pleasure. Before Thakuraji takes rest, the priests bring him His evening repast and warm milk just as His mother Yashoda faithfully does in Gokula. For Maa’s happiness, Krishna drifts off to sleep. Similarly, in the mandir, Thakuraji is soothed by the affectionate lullabies his faithful devotees. And just before His eyelids drop, the pujaris close the curtain to take Thakuraji to his resting quarters.

8) Night pastimes (nisha-lila) 10.48 pm—3.36 am

Thakuraji’s temple is closed, the pujari goes home…and unseen by all…Thakuraji i.e. Rasaraja Shyama sneaks out again to join the cowherd girls for a night of rasa dancing, forest rambling and a sweet slumber. As Yashoda, who believes Lalaji is sleeping behind in His room, is completely unaware of what Krishna is really doing all night, Thakuraji’s devotees cannot even imagine what fun and bliss their worshipable Isatdeva is enjoying through the long night “behind closed doors.”

Thus the devotees take rest praying to dream of being with and serving Thakuraji throughout the blissful night until the auspicious time of mangala arati. In this way, one can combine Thakuraji puja with Radha-Krishna’s asta-kaliya-lila in the sweet land of eternal loving play, Gokula Vrindavana.

Radha-Krishna lila ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Gems of Cakravartipada

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

From the sweet ocean of Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada’s tikas on Srimad Bhagavatam, we have collected some of the most rare and incredibly amazing jewels—each one glittering with a uniquely soothing and enlightening effulgence. So now please bask in their beneficial rays and rejuvenate your soul! For easier understanding and reference, the gems are presented by category.

Bhagavat Preachers:

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti said, “For establishing attachment to Sukadeva, (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.2) says that Sukadeva entered into the minds of all living entities (sarva-bhüta-hådayam munim) by his yogic power.

‘’ ‘So let Sukadeva also enter my heart and speak the Bhagavatam through my mouth, as he once entered into dull trees and replied as an echo to pacify his father calling him back from the forest. May that Sukadeva also enter my heart and thereby please the intellects of all hearers of the Bhagavatam.’

“Before speaking, all Bhagavat katha vacakas should also meditate [and pray] in the same way.”

Srimad Bhagavatam prema amrita ki jai! Sastra Pramanam Amalam ki jai! Radha Govinda Yugala ki jai!

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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)

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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!

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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!