- Posted by Welcome on April 6, 2012 at 19:12 in Acaryas, Ekadasis, Holy Days
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"Prabhupāda: When I was a child my father gave me one red gun, and then I was not more than eight years. Then, after getting one, I said, "I must have another one." Eh? Then father said, "Why another one? You have got already one." So I said, "No, I have got two hands. I must have two guns." Then my father, "No, you are not.... I am not going..." Then I made so much agitation, he was obliged to give me two guns. (laughter) I was very pet child of my father and very pet son-in-law also. And I am very pet guru also. (laughter) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thank you. What is this?
Dr. Patel: This is Hanumān jayantī today.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Today is also the rāsa-yātrā of Balarāmajī.
Prabhupāda: Oh, rāsa-yātrā. Oh. So you have some festival?
Dr. Patel: Yes, they have got the festival in the Rāma-mandira.
Girirāja: We're having a bigger festival in our mandira.
Dr. Patel: Good.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Also it is the appearance day of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī and Vaṁśī-vadana Gosvāmī.
Prabhupāda: How many stories still remain?
Saurabha: Three. Three on top. The towers.
Viśāla: Prabhupāda ki jaya!"
Srila Prabhupada in Krsna Book, on the rasa-lila:
“The dancing of young boys and girls within the material world is in the kingdom of mahāmāyā, or the external energy. The rāsa dance of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs is on the platform of yogamāyā. The difference between the platforms of yogamāyā and mahāmāyā is compared in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta to the difference between gold and iron. From the viewpoint of metallurgy, gold and iron are both metals, but the quality is completely different. Similarly, although the rāsa dance and Lord Kṛṣṇa's association with the gopīs appear like the ordinary mixing of young boys and girls, the quality is completely different. The difference is appreciated by great Vaiṣṇavas because they can understand the difference between love of Kṛṣṇa and lust.
“On the mahāmāyā platform, dances take place on the basis of sense gratification. But when Kṛṣṇa called the gopīs by sounding His flute, the gopīs very hurriedly rushed towards the spot of the rāsa dance with the transcendental desire to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. The author of Caitanya-caritamṛta, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, has explained that lust means sense gratification, and love also means sense gratification—but for Kṛṣṇa. In other words, when activities are enacted on the platform of personal sense gratification, they are called material activities, but when they are enacted for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, they are spiritual activities. On any platform of activities, the principle of sense gratification is there. But on the spiritual platform, sense gratification is for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, whereas on the material platform it is for the performer.
“For example, on the material platform, when a servant serves a master, he is not trying to satisfy the senses of the master, but rather his own senses. The servant would not serve the master if the payment stopped. That means that the servant engages himself in the service of the master just to satisfy his senses. On the spiritual platform the servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead serves Kṛṣṇa without payment, and he continues his service in all conditions. That is the difference between Kṛṣṇa consciousness and material consciousness.”
Vamsivadana Thakura
When Vamsivadananda Thakura (Vamsi Dasa, Vamsivadana Thakura) appeared Lord Caitanya and Sri Advaita Prabhu were staying in his home. After the disappearance of Srimati Vishnu Priya Devi, Vamsi Dasa moved Her Mahaprabhu Deity to Koladvipa (present day city of Navadvipa). He began worshiping Him along with Pranavallabha, a Deity of Krishna.
Vamsivadana wrote wonderful poems and songs expressing the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. He was also the incarnation of Lord Murlimanohara's flute (vamsi). So it's not surprising that Vamsivadana Thakura's works contain sweet mellow expressions of devotion.
Sri Syamananda Prabhu
Feeling very sad (dukhi) over losing several children before his birth, his parents named him Dukhi Krishna Dasa. Upon taking diksa from Hrdaya Caitanya he became known as Krishna Dasa. In Vrndavana, he joined Narottama Dasa Thakura and Srinivasa Acarya to study the Gosvami granthas under Sri Jiva Gosvami.
Many “ankle bell stories” describe how Krishna Dasa received Radharani's mercy, the name Syamananda, and his unique tilaka mark.
“While living in Vrndavana, Krishna Dasa regularly swept the streets before dawn. He performed this humble service so that the Vaisnavas would not hurt their feet while walking to the temples. One morning he found a captivatingly beautiful golden ankle bracelet. When Lalita and Visakha-sakhis asked for the bracelet Krishna Dasa said he would only give it to the original owner.
“Blindfolding Krishna Dasa, the gopis brought him to Srimati Radhika. She allowed him to put the bracelet on Her ankle. But before fastening it, Krishna Dasa reverentially touched it to his forehead. This left a new tilaka mark which now distinguishes all of Syamananda's followers.
“Rejoicing over Krishna Dasa's transcendental fortune, Sri Jiva Gosvami awarded him the name Syamananda (one who pleases Srimati Radharani or the servant of Syamasundara Krishna. Sometime after Hrdaya Caitanya's disappearance, he reappeared in a dream telling Syamananda to preach. With the help of his foremost disciple, Rasikananda, Syamananda profusely spread the worship and service of Gaura-Nityananda all over Orissa.” Twenty-four hour kirtana surrounds Syamananda's pushpa samadhi which is located on the opposite side of the street running between Radha-Syamasundara and Radha-Damodara temples in Vrndavana.
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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Predicts Madhurya Rasa For The Western World
"Madhurya rasa first shone brightly in Braj. It is extremely rare for this rasa to enter the hearts of conditioned souls, because this rasa tends to remain with qualified, pure living entities. This confidential rasa was preached by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the moon of Navadvipa, along with His followers.
Till now, this rasa has not crossed beyond India. Recently a scholar from England named Newman realized something about this rasa and wrote a book about it. The people of Europe and America have not been satisfied with vatsalya rasa mixed with opulence as preached by Jesus Christ. I hope, by the grace of the Lord, in a very short time they will become attached to drinking the intoxicating nectar of madhurya rasa.
It has been seen that any rasa that appears in India eventually spreads to the western countries, therefore madhurya rasa will soon be preached thoughout the world. Just as the sun rises first in India and gradually spreads its lights to the West, the matchless splendor of spiritual truth appears first in India an gradually spreads to the Western countries. ~ excerpt: From Moses to Mahaprabhu by Bhaktivinoda Thakura