Tag Archive for: #MahanidhiMadanGopalDas

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Grace and Gratitude

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The diksha guru is like a father, and you can never reject a father even if he commits some transgression. One’s being a father is not dependent on his making or not making transgressions but on a simple biological act. Similarly, the Guru is guru, not because of any material deeds good or bad, but because he has established for the disciple a real connection to a particular spiritual ideal and practice. In other words, the guru literally gives life to the disciple. So to reject the guru means to reject the life that he has given. And many people do so rather hastily which results in their own spiritual detriment.

There is no way to find the guru inside our heart without first recognizing and appreciating the grace of the Guru standing in front of us. As a disciple, I expect the guru to be perfect because I have a psychological need for such perfection. And if the guru disappoints me, I become angry as described in the Bhagavad gita (2.62-63). Then I forget whatever grace he did gave me (smṛti-bhraṁśa) and I lose my intelligence (buddhi-nāśa).

The main error here is that we have not really seen the guru’s grace for what it is. Instead we mistook something else to be his grace: his wisdom, his charisma, his power to give boons, the ego-expansion that comes from having a famous guru, etc. If we recognize the grace, then we will pursue the perfection that it points to.

Everyone will agree that bhakti is the path of Grace and Gratitude. The Guru embodies Grace and is therefore the principal object of gratitude for a disciple. The Grace that came through the Guru WAS and IS real; it is part of the eternal stream of grace that continues in all time and place. If we find fault with the guru, the flow of grace stops.

Guru’s grace is tangible, and it manifests to the disciple in the form of many wonderful divine assets. In Mukta-carita, Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada mentions all the transcendental gifts that he as a disciple received from his Guru:

nama-sresthammanumapisaci-putramatrasvarupam,
rupamtasyagrajamuru-purimmathurimgosthavatim,
radha-kundamgiri-varamaho! radhika-madhavasam,
praptoyasyaprathita-kripayasrigurumtamnato’smi

“I bow my head again and again to the holy preceptor, through whose most celebrated mercy I have received the best of all names, the initiation mantra, Sri Sachinandana Mahaprabhu, Svarupa, Rupa and his older brother Sanatana, the extensive dominions of Mathurapuri, a dwelling place in the pasturing grounds [of Krishna], Radha Kunda, the chief of all mountains, Sri Govardhana, and most pointedly of all, the hope of attaining the lotus feet of Sri Radha Madhava.”
As long as that grace in our life takes the form of serving and striving to realize Yugala Kishor Radha-Krishna, a disciple can never reject his spiritual master. Yet at the same time, one must always increase and revise his understanding of the siddhantas and the methods of attaining the goal of Radha-Govinda’s premaseva in the groves of Vrindavana. If a disciple fails to that, he is like a scientist who is told not to make any new discoveries because Newton had already said everything one needs to know.
We live in a progressive universe filled with vast amounts of information, and more keeps coming all the time. Deeply studying, contemplating, understanding, and acting upon the conclusive truths of bhakti and the Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta is a necessary part of being a disciple.
Grace does not come from an impersonal source, it comes a person, Sri Guru, who is representing the Supreme Personality of Godhead Bhagavan Sri Krishna. In essence, Guru IS the Grace, and Grace IS the Guru. We have to recognize exactly what the grace was that I received from Sri Guru. Fidelity to the guru means fidelity to the Grace, and to forever express gratitude for having received it.
All the divine assets described above by Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami pada, beginning with the Holy Name, and on to the hope of attaining the confidential service of Radha and Krishna, came to me from Srila Prabhupada. And every one of them is important for me, especially at this point in my life. To pursue the cherished spiritual ideals I received forty years ago, I have made some changes in my life. However, I will always remain indebted to and grateful to my “ever well-wisher”, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
Samashti Guru ki jai! Guru Krpa hi kevalam ki jai!
Jai Gurudeva! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
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Bhakti, Karma and Falldown part four “Taking and Surrender”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

In this last article, we will describe how Krishna takes everything and gives Himself, and the power of surrendering to Sri Krishna.

Most pious Bharatvasis believe, follow and say, “If you worship Durga or Siva you will get wealth, power and fortune. But if you worship Gopal Krishna…YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING! So by all means don’t worship Krishna.”

Perfect love means giving everything to that one in whom you have absolute faith, trust, confidence, dependence and hope. We will only give our heart’s treasure to that one who makes us feel completely blissful, peaceful, protected, wanted and secure without the least bit of doubt, hesitation or holding back.

For devotees, that one is the Absolute One, our beautiful, charming, sweet and playful loving master, Sri Govindadeva. Here’s the dreaded Bhagavat shloka that scares everyone away from Krishna.

yasyaham -anugrhnami,
harishye -tad-dhanam -shanaih,
tato -adhanam -tyajanty -asya,
svajana –duhkha -duhkhitam

Sri Krishna said, “O Yuddhishthira! If I especially favor someone, I gradually take away all one’s money. Then one’s family, relatives and friends reject one because one is poor. Then, one repeatedly suffers one misery after another.”

For materialists this verse is poison. But for devotees this verse is amritam; positive encouragement confirming Krishna’s reciprocation with them in love, anugraha, Krishna’s kindness on them. Devotees may have trouble advancing in bhakti, so Krishna lends a hand, takes away all the undesirables, and pulls the struggling bhakta to His sweet lotus feet. Such is the sweet kindness of a true lover, our eternal, benevolent master Shyamsundar.

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada comments: “One suffers when one loses one’s money, and suffers even more when rejected by one’s family and friends. Krishna bhaktas, however, experience both happiness and distress; not as the fruits of their karma (material work), but as incidental effects of their loving reciprocation with their sweet master Sri Krishna.

“Devotional scriptures such as Sri Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu explain how a Vaisnava is relieved of all karmic reactions, including the unmanifest ones (aprarabdha), those about to manifest (kuta), those barely manifesting (bija), and the full manifest present karmas (prarabdha). As a lotus gradually drops its many petals as it dries, all the karmic reactions of a bhakti sadhaka are destroyed one by one.

“Gopala Tapani Upanisad (1.14) says, ‘Krishna bhakti bhajan means concentrating one’s mind on Krishna without selfish material desires in this life or the next. This bhajan destroys all karma.’

“This verse means that by becoming freed from material desires due to Krishna taking away everything, a devotee can fix one’s mind and senses in Krishna’s seva and become free from karma. Therefore, by doing bhajana all karmas are destroyed, even though the devotee is still situated in the material body. This happens due to the inconceivable mercy of Krishna.

“It appears that the happiness and distress devotees experience resembles ordinary karmic reactions (prarabdha). However, they are actually personally given by Krishna Himself. A mature devotee recognizes the superficially good and bad conditions one encounters as signs of the direct guidance of our ever well-wishing Master Sri Krishna.

‘But if Krishna is so compassionate to His devotees, why does Krishna expose them to special suffering?’

“This analogy answers your question: A very affectionate father takes the responsibility of restricting a child’s play and makes them go to school. The father knows that this is a genuine expression of his love for them, even if the children cannot appreciate it.

“Similarly, Sri Krishna is mercifully strict with all His devotees, not just the immature ones struggling to become qualified. Even perfect saints like Prahlada and Dhruva were subjected to great tribulations. But in the end the Sri Krishna gave them profuse enjoyment of wealth and material happiness.

“Thus the conclusion is that only Sri Krishna Himself, being affectionate to His devotees, knows His intentions and no one else. But you may question, ‘What’s the difference between the happiness and distress caused by one’s own karma and that given directly by Krishna?’

“Material happiness and distress, arising from karma, leave a subtle residue, more seeds of material desire (karma-bija) which cause future entanglement. Such enjoyment and suffering tend toward degradation and increase the danger of falling into hellish oblivion.

“However, the happiness and distress arranged by Krishna’s will for His devotee leave no trace after their immediate purpose has been served. Moreover, Krishna’s devotees enjoy this reciprocation with Krishna and will never fall down into hell.

“Yamaraja himself confirms this point (Srimad Bahgavatam 6.3.29); ‘O Yamadutts! Bring me the non-devotees who have never served Krishna, never once bowed to Krishna, never chanted Krishna’s name and qualities, and whose minds have never remembered Krishna’s lotus feet.’

“Thus for Krishna’s devotees there is no danger of going to hell. Because devotees are objects of Krishna affection (anugraha 10.88.8), their suffering is never extreme. How can one consider the suffering arising from karma and that given personally by Krishna to be equal?

“One is like the pain arising from getting beaten by an enemy, and the other is like that caused by one’s mother; one is like poison and the other is like nectar.

‘But wait a minute. Since Krishna can do anything, can’t Krishna accomplish His purposes without giving distress to His devotees?’

“No! Although Krishna is the reservoir of unlimited pastimes, He cannot accomplish His purposes without this. But when Krishna sometimes gives suffering to His beloved devotees, that suffering gives rise to great pleasure, just as a stinging ointment cures a patient’s infected eye.

“The suffering given to devotees by Krishna increases their eagerness to call upon Krishna to appear and come to them. Moreover, if the devotees were complacently happy all the time, Sri Krishna would have no reason to appear in this world.

“And without seeing Sri Krishna in His original, human-like form, how would the devotees on earth be able to enjoy playing in the nectar ocean of the rasa-lila and Krishna’s other wonderful, sweet Vraja lilas?

“In the next verse (Srimad Bahgavatam 10.88.9) Sri Krishna elaborates more the anugraha, or compassionate mercy that He bestows upon His Hari bhaktas. Here Krishna says, ‘After I take away everything from My devotees, they become frustrated in their attempts to make money. Then if they befriend the devotees, I will give them special mercy.’

“This second special mercy (anugraha) from Krishna means Krishna is saying, ‘I will cause an extraordinary shower of sweet bhakti-rasa to rain down on My devotees. It was for this purpose that My first mercy, of taking away everything (10.88.8), bore the fruit of tormenting pain. In other words, I will give mercy by giving My very self to My devotee.’”

Salvation Through Surrender

In part one, we described how fear of maya and the fear of falling down from the path of bhakti are helpful for spiritual advancement. The following commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam verse (10.87.50) shows that simply by surrendering to Shyamsundar one will become free from all fear and achieve liberation.

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada: “In this verse, Shukadev Goswami says, ‘By surrendering to Sri Krishna one can escape the embrace of illusion, just as a dreaming person forgets one’s own body. One who wants freedom from the fear of rebirth should constantly meditate upon Bhagavan Sri Hari (nirasta –yonim –abhayam, -dhyayet –ajasram –harim).’

“Shukadeva explains how the jiva can transcend material existence by devotion to Krishna: ‘By surrendering to Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the jiva, who is helplessly bound in the embrace of illusion, lies down paying dandavats again and again to Krishna. By that surrender one becomes totally free from maya.’

“This means that the devotee gives up ignorance by abandoning one’s false identification with the material body. In some cases, Sri Krishna may show special consideration for one He favors, regardless of whether any sadhana has been performed or not.

“Even if a jiva has not practiced solitary bhajana for attaining liberation, still merciful Sri Krishna dispels one’s illusion and liberates one just as He did even for demons like Putana, Agha, Baka and Keshi who never ever did any spiritual practices. This proves Sri Krishna’s unique position as the topmost form of the Personality of Godhead.

“Knowing this, devotees should abandon all their doubts and fears, and just incessantly meditate upon Bhagavan Sri Krishna, whose absolutely charming sweetness steals away the mind of all those who love Him.”

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada ki jai! Krishna sharanagati ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Eager to know more about karma? Please read our articles from serie “Karma Trilogy and Freedom” part one, part two.

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Sri Rupa & Praying

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The word paddhati means a few verses or even a small book of mantras, prayers, pujas and instructions meant to guide a sadhaka in successful bhajana. Dhyana Chandra Goswami, a grand-disciple of Mahaprabhu parishad, Pandita Sri Vakreshvara Ji, wrote the famous Paddhati Traya to help sadhakas attain the eternal seva of Srimati Radharani in manjari bhava.

Sri Rupa Gosvami’s Stava Mala contains a small paddhati of only seven verses praising Sri Radha. It concludes with very wonderful prayers of humble surrender petitioning Priyaji for Her eternal service.

Reciting, imbibing, feeling and realizing the deeper import of the following prayers from that paddhati will enrich the devotional hearts of all sadhakas.

“[O Sri Radharani!] I am full of offenses, have wicked intelligence and I am unqualified in all respects. But still I beg You, Sri Radha: ‘You are Karunamayi, so please give me the matchless gift of a little seva at Your lotus feet.’”

krtagaske py ayoge pi, jane smin kumatav api
dasya dana pradanasya, lavam apy upapadaya

“O most merciful Radharani! Your butter-like, tender heart is always melting with the warmth of Your compassion. So please don’t neglect this most pitiable person.”

yuktas tvaya jano naiva, duhkhito yam upekshitum
krpa dyota drava citta, navanitasi yat sada
(Sri Prarthana-paddhati 6, 7)

Sri Rupa Gosvamipada ki jai! Begging Radha for krpa ki jai! Jaya Jaya 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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PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA (ADHIKA MAS) 2018 16TH MAY—13TH JUNE

Mahanidhi Swami

INTRODUCTION TO PURUSOTTAMA MONTH:

Purusottama month or adhika masa (extra month) is also called mala masa, which means the dirty or useless month. In India, the sadhus, sadhakas and pious people of all sampradayas undertake serious penances (vratas) during Purusottama Month. Now let us examine the name, history, benefits and method of practice of this age old “King of All Vratas” or month long penances.

WHY IS IT CALLED MALA MASA? (dirty or useless month) This is because all forms of karmic activities i.e. karma-kanda (reward seeking) pujas and yajnas will not produce any results this month. Therefore it is a useless month. Gaudiya Vaisnavas say the dirt or filth indicated by the word mala refers to the fact that devotional activities performed in this month quickly and easily destroy the mental dirt, filth and contamination caused by sins, ignorance and aparadhas. Thus for Krishna bhaktas this is the most purifying and beneficial month.

WHY IS IT CALLED ADHIKA MAS? (extra month)

It is called adhika (extra) masa because Sri Krishna has placed not only extra but ALL HIS potencies, mercy and blessings in this month, which supercharges this month beyond all others. Thus a sadhaka will receive extra or more results from any religious actions performed.

WHAT MAKES THIS MONTH SO GREAT?

The Puranas say that Purusottama Month is the favorite month of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna personally created this month and named it after Himself. Purusottama Month, which only comes once every 36 months, is the most powerful spiritual reward giving month among all the months. It is far superior to the pious months of Magha, Vaisakha and Karttika. On the earth planet and all over the universe the Purusottama Month is honored and worshiped by devotees, sages, gods and Laksmi Devi Herself.

BENEFITS OF PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA

Different months of the year have different ista-devatas, worshipable Personalities. But for Adhika Month, Radha-Krishna Yugala are the ista-devatas. If one sincerely worships Radha and Krishna in Purusottama month, he will attain whatever he wants. Observing the Purusottama vrata burns up the reactions of all one’s bad karma and gives the direct service of Radha and Krishna.

Purusottama month is the best month to make spiritual advancement because Krishna overlooks all aparadhas. Residence in the holy dhama in this month yields 1000 times the benefit of living elsewhere!!! We invite all the fortunate to quickly book a room in Radha Kunda or Vrindavana to worship Radha-Krishna Yugala in the prema giving holy abode of Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Come and join the thousands of pilgrims doing dandavat parikrama of Giri-Govardhana this month!!! Giriraj Dharan ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

THE GLORIES OF PURSOTTAMA MONTH

All quotes come from the Padma and Skanda Purana.

  1. Lord Sri Krishna: “Purusottama Month has all the power I have to bless its observer. One who follows Purusottama vrata will destroy all his past sinful reactions. Without performing Purusottama vrata, one cannot perform pure devotional service. The value of Purusottama month is far more valuable than all other types of austerities and religious activities mentioned in the Vedas. Anyone who observes Purusottama vrata will return to My abode, Goloka, at the end of his life.”
  2. Durvasa Muni: “One becomes sinless just by bathing in a holy river during Purusottama Month. The glory of all other months is not equal to one-sixteenth of the glory of the Purusottama Month. Bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Names of Krishna during Purusottama Month destroys all miseries, awards all kinds of perfection and fulfills all desires.”
  3. Valmiki Muni: Observing Purusottama vrata brings more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All holy places live within the body of an observer of the Purusottama Month vrata. Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottama vrata will go to Goloka Vrndavana”.
  4. Narada Muni: “Purusottama Month is the best of all months, vratas and austerities. Just by faithfully hearing the glories of Purusottama Month, one attains KRISHNA-bhakti and immediately nullifies his sinful reactions. One who performs Purusottama vrata properly will attain unlimited piety and spiritual merit (sukrti) and go to the spiritual world.”
  5. Naimisaranya Sages: “Merciful Purusottama Month acts like a desire tree to fulfill a devotee’s desire.”

HOW TO OBSERVE THE PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA

GENERAL POINTS: Observe celibacy and bathe daily before sunrise; chant extra rounds and read Srimad Bhagavatam daily; give charity.

  1. Rise at brahma-muhurta (1½ hours before sunrise), and jump out of bed chanting “Jaya Radhe!”
  2. Chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra and meditate on Radha-Krishna’s beautiful divine forms, qualities, and ecstatically purifying and heart stirring transcendental pastimes in Sridhama Vrndavana. Daily chant fixed number extra rounds for entire month: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 64, 108, 192 (always multiples of four rounds).
  3. Observe the Vrata in Vrndavana, Navadvipa or any holy dhama to experience the maximum benefits and bliss.
  4. Daily offer full puja or at least a ghee lamp to Radha-Krishna Deities or picture. Offer a row of 33 individual clay ghee lamps daily, or at least for one auspicious day this month e.g. (ekadasi, sankranti, purnima etc).
  5. Daily Tulasi Devi aratika and parikrama.
  6. Daily Thakuraji Mandira parikrama (4 times).
  7. Daily offer roses, lotus, and tulasi manjaris and 100,000 Tulasi leaves (or as many as you can) to Radha-Krishna Deities or photos and paintings.
  8. Daily read Srimad Bhagavatam.
  9. Hear Radha-Krishna Katha from advanced Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
  10. Daily chant Sri Jagannathastakam (because this vrata is named after and often performed in Purusottma Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama. Also chant astakams, prayers and bhajans glorfying Radha-Krishna Yugala.
  11. Take a vow to remain peaceful and 100% truthful throughout the month.
  12. Be careful not to blaspheme any devotees, brahmanas, saints, cows, sastras or especially anyone observing the Purusottama Month Vrata.
  13. Don’t ask anyone for anything; be satisfied with whatever you have, and don’t endeavor to acquire any material thing during this month.
  14. Try your best to please Radha and Krishna by performing devotional austerities according to your abilities. Don’t break your vow in the middle of the month. Be determined, pray intently for mercy and tolerate your crazy monkey mind. Take a vow, at least for this month, to remain deaf to your mind.
  15. Eat on leaf plates sitting on the floor (optional).
  16. No cutting of hair or nails (optional).
  17. No cooking in oil or rubbing oil on your body.
  18. Don’t eat mustard oil nor rub on the body.

Diets: Be your own guide and choose an eating program that is realistic within your means. The main vrata and austerity is to everyday Krishna consciously associate with serious devotees in Vrndavana who are glorifying Radha-Krishna

************If you can, it is best to EAT ONCE A DAY after sunset or at noon the following diets:

  1. i) only milk; ii) only fruits (no milk, no veg.); iii) no grains (selected veg., fruits, nuts, milk); iv) selected foods (all categories as per caturmasya standards).

A NICE HUMILITY VRATA: Daily offer 33 dandavats to Bhagavan Sri Krishna or the Vaisnavas.

SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA’S Purusottama Month VRATA:

Observe 30 days of concentrated, one–pointed worship and service to Radha-Govinda Yugala by hearing, chanting, remembering Their divine names, forms, qualities, pastimes, and honor Sri Krishna’s Mahaprasada.

BEST DAYS TO GIVE CHARITY TO DEVOTEE BRAHMANAS:

Ekadasi, Dvadasi, Purnima, Amavasya, Sravana Naksatra Day; DO offer money, gold, cloth, shoes, fruits, etc. Also offer 33 plantains or mangos plus dana and daksina to Brahmanas and Vaisnavas.

Very Important Point: When you give dana (i.e. diff. items like cloth, land, gold, cows, books, sweets, flowers, clothing, shoes, umbrellas) to a brahmana, one must simultaneously donate daksina (i.e. money equal to the monetary value of the dana). For example, if give a 300 rupees pair of new shoes, then must give 300 rupees in laksmi or money to that same person.

BREAKING THE PURUSOTTAMA VRATA

  1. Day and Time: consult local calendar.
  2. Bathe in brahma-muhurta time
  3. Perform Deity Worship: Radha-Syamasundara Deities, personal Deities or Picture.
  4. Chant this mantra: “O Supreme Lord, O Sanatana, O Purusottama, O Lord Hari! I offer my obeisances unto you. May you and your beloved Radhika, please accept my offerings. I offer my repeated obeisances unto Syamasundara, who wears effulgent yellow garments on His beautiful body.
  5. Offer pushpanjali (handfuls of fresh fragrant flowers or petals) and then dandavats to your personal Deities or Deity Picture.
  6. Feed and give charity to 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 brahmanas/ Vaisnavas to the best of your ability (e.g., new clothes, two pairs of shoes, umbrella, ghee, yogurt, gumsas, sweets, lotas, plates. Also donate money equal to cost of given item (ie If give Rp. 300 box of sweets, then also give Rp. 300.

********According to Puranas, the best charity is to give a Srimad Bhagavatam to a qualified grhastha vaisnava brahmana. This act will deliver all your ancestors to the spiritual world and award them the association of Lord Purusottama!************

SPECIFIC VRATA BREAKING ACTIONS

If you ate fruits, ghee, rice, wheat etc, donate the same to brahmanas.

If you slept on the floor, give a bed and pillows to a brahmana.

If you ate on a leaf plate, feed brahmanas with ghee and sugar.

If you didn’t cut nails or hair, donate a mirror to a brahmana.

If you offered ghee lamps, give new lamps and pots to a brahmana

*******If you broke any rules or regulations during Purusottama vrata, feed different sweet juices to brahmanas.

******Mahadeva Lord Siva says that the best charity is to: “Fill a bell metal pot with thirty malpuas (a pancake like sweet), bind the pot with seven new threads and give to a worthy brahmana.”

Comment: Many humble niskincana Vaisnavas have no money or sufficient wealth to donate substantially to brahmanas. But according to your means, donate some laksmi or a new object to a qualified person, begging for his mercy and blessings. And in your mind, (manasi-seva), you can sincerely donate generously to many good devotees. Remember that sastras say, bhava grahi janardana, Bhagavan Sri Krishna is pleased with the purity and sincerity of one’s attitude, mood of love and purity of purpose. Try your best to break your vow by donating something within your means.

May Giridhari Syama bless you all with full success in your Purusottama Month Vrata, being performed solely for the divine pleasure of Sri Guru, Gauranga and Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA KI JAI!   JAI JAI SRI RADHE!

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Bhakta Prahlada: A Most Glorious Devotee

Mahanidhi Swami

Among Vishnu bhaktas, Bhakta Prahlada is exceptionally dear to Bhagavan Sri Krishna, jagatyam krishnasya nitaram priyam.(Brhad Bahgavatamrta 1.3.75). Bhakta Prahlada is a most rare Vaisnava whom Sri Vishnu cherishes more than His own self. (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.64)

His surrender is so complete that he stands above even such devotees as Shesha and Garuda. (Br.bh. 1.3.79) Sri Krishna Himself exalts Bhakta Prahlada, “You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.21)

After Nrsimha Bhagavan killed Hiranyakasipu, no one could cool Him down including his dearest Lakshmidevi, Shivaji, Brahmaji and Garuda. Being completely astonished at the ghastly scene, everyone was too afraid to come anywhere near Nrsimhadeva. However, at that wonderful time, loving Nrsimhadeva suddenly sat peacefully on the ground.

Then Bhagavan tenderly placed Prahlada on His lap, gently rocked him back and forth, patted him and embraced him repeatedly like a mother embracing her bundle of joy. (Hari Bhakti Sudhodaya 14.13). Then to the utter amazement of all, Sri Nrsimha… “Licked Prahlada’s limbs as an ordinary lioness licks her baby cub, lilihe tasya gatrani, sva potasyeva keshari.” (Brhan-narasimha Purana)

Nrsimhadeva said, “My dear child, just feel free to express your love for Me. For when a devotee looks at Me without hesitation and speaks to Me affectionately, My pleasure grows with every new moment, navam navam idam priyam, nihshankah pranayad bhakto, yan mam pashyati bhashate.” (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 14.29)

Then just to show the world the exclusiveness of Vishnu bhakti, Nrsimhadeva repeatedly offered boons to Bhakta Prahlada up to liberation, punah punar varan vishnur muktim. (Narayana-vyuha-stava). To this the desire less Bhakta Prahlada replied, “O Natha, I may travel through thousands of wombs, but may I always be Your acyuta bhakta.” (Vishnu Purana 1.20.38)

Once long after the famous “Nrisimha Lila”, the great Narada Muni met Bhakta Prahlada in Sutaloka. At that time, Bhakta Prahlada, glowing brilliantly with prema, was deeply absorbed in meditating upon the lotus feet of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu, bhagavat padambuja premollasad, dhyana-vishakta-cetasa. (Brhad Bahgavatamrta 1.4.2)

Bhakta Prahlada’s devotion was so blissfully pure, attractive and influential that upon hearing his amazing and brilliant katha, some people became immediately detached and started crying. Others simply bowed down to him, while others stood by just playfully laughing and watching him. (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 15.1–2)

Such are the glories of the great Vishnu bhakta, Sri Bhakta Prahlada Maharaja ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Sri Giriraja Ji & Radhika’s Lotus Feet

Mahanidhi Swami

Why do raganuga bhaktas especially worship Govardhana shilas?

Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja answers in Chaitanya-caritamrita (3.6.294-307):

“One day during His gambhira-lila in Jagannatha Puri, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu lovingly gave Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami the Govardhana Shila that He had been personally worshiping for three years. At that most auspicious time, Mahaprabhu said, ‘This Govardhana Shila is directly the transcendental form of Sri Krishna. You should attentively worship Sri Girirajaji with great eagerness.’ ”

prabhu hahe ei shila Krishnera vigraha
inhara seva kara tumi kariya agraha

Mahaprabhu continued, “Worship Sri Girirajaji with purity, then you will quickly attain the wealth of Krishna prema”.

ei shilara kara tumi sattvika pujana
acirat pabe tumi Krishna prema dhana

‘To worship Sri Girirajaji, you need a jug of water and tulasi manjaris. You should serve Sri Girirajaji with all purity and gopi bhava”. sattvika seva ei shuddha bhava kari[gopi-bhava is the purest bhava, shuddha bhava].

“With faith you should offer eight soft tulasi manjaris [four to each lotus foot].”

dui dike dui patra madhye komala manjari
ei mata ashta manjari dibe shraddha kari

“After receiving the Govardhana Shila, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami served Sri Girirajaji with great bliss, anande raghunatha seva karite lagila. Svarupa Damodara gave Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami two cloths, a wooden platform and a water jug for Sri Girirajaji puja”.

“When Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami worshiped Sri Girirajaji, he saw the shila as directly Vrajendranandana”, puja kale dekhe shila vrajendranandana.” [The carefree, funny, witty lover of the cowherd girls]. In other words, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami worshiped Sri Girirajaji in the raganuga mood of worship.

Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja continues, “Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami submerged in Krishna prema whenever he remembered how Mahaprabhu had given him the Govardhana Shila with His own hand”.

prabhura sva hasta data Govardhana Shila
ei chinti raghunatha prema bhashi gela

“Great happiness would arise in his heart when Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami simply offered water and tulasi to Sri Girirajaji [in the simple Vraja mood of gopi-bhava in raga marga.] Such joy does not arise even if one worships with all the 16 different articles of Thakuraji puja”. [as done in vaidhi-marga]

jala tulasira sevaya tanra yata sukhodaya
shodash opacara ujaya tata sukha naya

“One day Svarupa Damodara said, ‘O Dasa Goswamiji! Now start offering Sri Girirajaji a small amount of khaja [a rich and sweet, crunchy grain sweet] and sandesh [a mild milk sweet]. If you offer these with faith, they will taste just like nectar.’ ”

ashta khaja sandesha kara samarpana,
shraddha kari dile sei amritera sama

“Upon receiving the Govardhana Shila and the garland [mala] of small, shiny red and black dried seeds of the gunja shrub from Mahaprabhu, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami thought, ‘By giving me this Govardhana Shila, Mahaprabhu has awarded me a place near Govardhana Hill. And by giving me this gunja mala, Mahaprabhu has offered me the beautiful, sweet lotus feet of Srimati Radhika.’” [Bengali trans. Sri Advaita dasji]

shila diya gosani samarpila govaradhane
gunja mala diya dila RADHIKA CHARANE

Sri Radhika charanashraya ki jai! Sri Giriraja Maharaja ki jai ho! Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja ki jai! Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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How Krishna Ignites Devotees’ Love?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

With His beautiful form, fragrance, features, ages, dress, ornaments, hair styles, footmarks, flute and pastimes Sri Krishnachandra ignites, nourishes and excites love in the soft and sweet hearts of His devotees (bhava uddipana:Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu. 2.1.301).

The contents of this post come from Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu (Vibhava: 2.1.301-381, wherein Sri Rupa Gosvami describes the following unique features of Bhagavan Sri Krishna which, although actually part of His svarupa i.e. divine transcendental form, also act independently as stimulants or excitants (uddipanas) to expand the blissful feelings of His loving premi bhaktas.

Reading about these features of Sri Krishna will create attraction in the curious; nourish the surrendered hearts of Krishna’s bhaktas, and cause a cascade of bliss within Krishna’s loving servants.

KRISHNA’S THREE AGES

In his prakata bhauma Vrindavana lila, Bhagavan Sri Krishna displays three ages: kaumara, pauganda, kaishora. From babyhood to a fun-filled five year old Kaumara Makhancora Gopala plays and frolics stealing yogurt and so on with Janani Yashoda and other mothers.

Pauganda Krishna Govinda cavorts with His cows and boyfriends through the meadows of Vraja from ages 5-10.

From 10-15 Krishna Kaishora exhibits His youthful pastimes with the cows, boys and the charming fresh damsels of Vrajabhumi. Upon reaching the age of 15 years, 9 months, 7 ½ days, Sri Krishna stays eternally in this most complete condition of being carefree, beautiful, playful and youthful.

KRISHNA’S KAISHORA AGE: THREE STAGES

Ages 10-12 years

Sri Rupa Gosvami describes Krishna’s beauty during this part His kaishora age. Sri Krishna’s complexion is indescribably radiant; His eye corners turn ruddy; and fine hairs arise on His body. During this time, Govinda wears a Vaijayanti mala, peacock feather, refulgent dress like an actor, and plays sweetly on His flute, vamshi madhurima. At this time, as per local Vrajavasi customs, Govinda sports very sharp fingernails, dancing Cupid eyebrows, and fine designs painted on His glistening white teeth.

When Vrinda-devi sees this dashing boy, she exclaims, “O when the sakhis see Your fresh sweet smile they become stunned and bewildered unable to reveal their budding love. They feel such love pangs that their life airs practically leave their bodies.”

Ages 12-14

Now Krishna exhibits an indescribably sweet form with His beautiful chest rivaling a door of gems; arms challenging the bolts of doors; and thighs conquering the beauty of elephant trunks. Krishna’s restless flirty eyes move craftily like another Cupid, and His radiant lotus face is embellished with attractive lips and smiles. Krishna’s sweet singing enchants all and breaks the vows of chaste women. Krishna’s behavior consists of lots of charming, cunning actions, festive pastimes in Vraja bowers (kunja keli mahotsavah), and initiating His famous His rasa-lila, arambho rasa lila.

AGES 14-16

Entering His nitya-kaishora period, Sri Krishna’s limbs and entire form become extremely beautiful and alluring with three lines manifest in His belly. This last part of Krishna’s youth is called nava-yauvana, which is Krishna’s eternal feature. During the Kurukshetra war, Krishna was about 100 years old but looked like sweet sixteen!

At this time, Sri Krishna’s youth is distinguished by His special bodily characteristics, dress, actions and astonishing beauty. Now a special quality of sweetness appears in Krishna as one experiences great pleasure in the unique beauty and attractiveness manifesting in Krishna during this amazing period. In this last period of youth, Sri Krishna displays various romantic actions including quarreling with a beloved; dispatching love letters; eagerness to meet and enjoy; resolving differences via a go between; and meeting intimately with a gopi.

KRISHNA’S THREE SETS OF CLOTHES

Sri Krishna has three styles of outfits which include two, four or multi piece dresses worn according to the occasion.

Two-piece: Here Mukunda wears a golden yellow dhoti because it’s Radha’s complexion, and a brilliant red chaddar, representing His passionate attraction for His beloved Priyaji Radha.

Four-piece: Here Sri Krishna sports a turban, shirt, dhoti and sash. “Smiling blissfully, Krishna wore an orange turban, gold vest, pink dhoti and a multi-color sash.” (351)

Multi-piece: This consists of pieces of cloth of many colors, cut and uncut, suitable for performing artists. “One gopi said, “O sakhi! I feel blissful seeing Madhava so radiantly attractive with His fancy red, white, blue and gold cut and uncut cloth.” (353)

KRISHNA’S DECORATIONS & ACCESSORIES

Hair styles: Sri Hari shows four hair styles: a pony tail tied behind the neck; a tightly tied braid hanging far down His beautiful back; a topknot tied atop His head; and floral decorations bound in His hair.

Flower Garlands: Shyama adorns Himself with five types of malas: vaijayanti of five colored flowers hanging to knees; forest mala of leaves and wild flowers extending to the lotus feet; a mala draped on the chest; a chaplet of flowers around the topknot; and a small mala hanging straight down from the throat.

KRISHNA’S TILAKA AND DESIGNS

Sri Krishna’s tilaka and body designs in curly patterns and so are made with red, white and yellow substances. Sri Rupa says wise decorators can make additional colors including black as in musk tilaka.

KRISHNA’S JEWELRY

Shyama’s jewelry includes a colorful belt, an incomparable diadem, enchanting diamond earrings, a necklace of spotless pearls, golden bracelets, a pearl-studded broach, delightful rings, armbands and anklets filled with sweetness.

KRISHNA’S MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Flute: “O killer of Kamsa, all glories to your unpredictable flute song which defeats the sweetest nectar, shatters sages’ meditations, and continually surpasses the burden of Cupid.” (364) Krishna expertly plays three types of flutes made from gold, jewels and bamboo: Venu: 9 inches long; Vamshi: 12 inches in four types called akarshini, anandini, mahananda, sammohini. Murali: 18 inches.

Horns: Hari’s horns, made from antelope or wild buffalo horns, are bound with gold at both ends and inlaid in the middle. Mandraghosha (rumbling thunder) is the name of Krishna’s buffalo horn. These items along with Sri Krishna’s lovely divine footprints, lila sthalis and Tulasi-devi are all sources of stimulating and exciting a devotees’ loving sentiments for Sri Krishna.

Sri Krishna uddipanas ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Sleep in Bhakti Yoga – October 6, 2018

Mahanidhi Swami

Srila Prabhupada spoke both negatively and positively about sleeping. Mostly he discouraged it by saying: “Sleeping is death—a waste of time—a great loss—maya—forgetfulness of Krishna.” We fully agree!

In Sri Bhagavad Gita (6.16), Bhagavan Sri Krishna advocates moderation: “A yogi does not eat or sleep too much or too little, na-ati-ashnatah, na-ati svapna.” So for Krishna bhakti yogis, eating and sleeping are also acts of devotion.

Although Srila Prabhupada often said we should give up all sleeping like the six Goswamis, he was also a realist who gave practical, sound advice to his followers. When speaking conservatively about sleeping, Srila Prabhupada said:

“Your [his disciples] eating and sleeping are also God consciousness. One should think, ‘I have to keep this body fit for working for Krishna’. Sleep is also necessary to keep the intelligence in working order. If there is no sleep, the brain cannot work nicely.

“So regular, six or seven hours a day is sufficient. However, sleeping should be kept to a minimum. We want to be wide awake and conscious of Krishna all the time.” (quotes from BBT FOLIO)

In pursuit of the practical, we humbly present our personal sleeping tips so that everyone will be healthy and enthusiastic in their Krishna bhakti bhajana.

  • BEFORE SLEEPING
  1. Two hours before sleeping time—keep the home lighting dim, not bright lights everywhere. This promotes the brain’s melatonin production which helps one to sleep quickly and soundly. Bright lighting taxes the eyes and brain making it hard to fall asleep quickly. It can also make you toss and turn restlessly until the brain slows down.
  2. Bathe & Dress in fresh clothes.
  3. Eat a light meal AT LEAST two hours before sleep.
  4. Fresh air walk 20 minutes.
  5. While sleeping, point your head EAST (promotes wisdom) or SOUTH (promotes health and disease recovery). This is VERY IMPORTANT and it may necessitate moving your bed.
  6. Hear/read some Radha-Krishna sweet lila-katha before sleeping.
  7. Bed prayer before sleeping: “O Gurudeva and Giridhari-Syama! Please forgive me for all my wrongs. If I leave my body tonight, then please I beg You to help me remember You fully at my last.”
  • WAKING TIME
  1. Don’t use alarm clock, bright lights, music, etc.!

Determine your sleep requirement, and rest early enough so your internal bio clock will automatically wake you at the right time. It’s actually being done by the all-merciful Paramatma Sri Krishna! Jai Sri Krishna! Gudakesa Arjuna ki jai!

  1. Before moving or opening your eyes remember Sri Krishna, Sri Guru and pray:

“O Krishna! You are so loving and kind. You have given me another day to serve and love You. Throughout this day, may I please you with my every thought, word and movement.”

  1. Keeping eyes closed; rub palms together briskly and continually while slowly inhaling and exhaling three times; now rest palms over closed eyes; take two very deep breaths. Now stretch your arms, extend your feet, and hold both knees against your chest.
  2. Open eyes, roll over on your RIGHT SIDE, slowly get up, and stand next to the bed without moving. Inhale deeply while stretching arms above head, and then slowly exhale while lowering arms.

Waking up slowly like this enables the body to adjust between rest and movement. It gives your system a chance to turn on and activate your vital human organs. To just open your eyes, jump out of bed, and run to the bathroom (emergencies excluded) is very bad for health. And for the elderly this can cause heart failure and “Hari Bol”!

We close with a blessing: “May you all have Radha Syama sweet dreams, svapna vilasa, as you remember the following transcendental nectar drops.

The Skanda Purana (Purusottama-ksetra Mahatmya) glorifies the astonishingly amazing power of ordinary acts done in Jagannatha Puri Dhama: “For those staying in Jagannatha Puri sleeping is equal to samadhi!”

As for our sweeter than sweet Thakuraji Syamasundaraji, Sri Vallabhacarya Ji says, “Syama’s singing is sweet, Syama’s drinking is sweet, Syama’s eating is sweet, Syama’s sleeping is sweet, Syama’s beauty is sweet, and Syama’s tilaka is sweet. Everything is sweet about the original King of the sweet.

gītaṁ- madhuraṁ –pītaṁ- madhuraṁ
bhuktaṁ -madhuraṁ –suptam- madhuraṁ
rūpaṁ –madhuraṁ-tilakaṁ -madhuraṁ
madhurādhi-pater- akhilaṁ- madhuraṁ

(Madhurastakam 4)

Happy, healthy Krishna bhakti yogis ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

2017 GITA JAYANTI: How To Properly Observe?

Mahanidhi Swami

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!