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 Srila Prabhupada said; "And when one understands that he is not a master—he is servant—and the real master is Kṛṣṇa, that is liberation."Tamohara dasa; The word "servant" in the world is tainted with visions of abuse and low-class versus upper class. Anyone who hears this word 'servant' thinks immediately of exploitation by the rich of poorer persons. But Krsna is Atmarama, He does not need any service of any kind. However, we the jivas are given full opportunity to associate with the topmost Being, and that must necessarily contain some degree of "subserviant" as we are comparatively tiny and Krsna is very great. Still He prefers to foget that He is Godhead, and engage with us as His equals, such as His cowherd friends or even Superiors, such as Yasoda Nanda, so there is no abusive exploitive relationship there. To be servant of the Supreme is to become oneself part and parcel of that Supreme, to identify with Him, and thus the notion of higher and lower vanishes in the light of lovi

 Sri Srivasa Pandita

Shrivasa Pandit, fifth member of the Panca-tattva, Shri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Shri Advaita, Gadadhara, Shrivasadi, Gaura Bhakta Vrinda lived in Navadwipa before the advent of Lord Chaitanya. Shrivasa lead his brothers Shri Rama, Shri Nidhi, and Shripati in their devotional lives of singing Krishna's names, worshiping the Lord, and bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.

   Meeting with Shri Advaita Acharya Prabhu, they studied Bhagavatam and prayed for an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. Why did they pray? Because only an avatara of Krishna could reestablish Vaishnavism among the staunch atheists, logicians, and proud pandits harassing Nadia at that time.

   Malini, wife of Shrivasa, was a constant friend of Sachi Devi. She served Nimai as a nurse. When Lord Vishvambhara appeared, the hearts of all the Devotees were filled with parental affection (vatsalya bhava). Gaurachandra loved Malini and Shrivasa as a second mother and father.

   Shrivasa Angan was lo

Tina Marie Kirner courtesy 

hdg A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami;  "We have taken the best in the whole creation of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

Without being pure, how can you expect to reach God? This is all rascaldom. To keep oneself dirty, impure in mind, in body, in feeling, in character, and you want to go to God? Rascal. (laughter) Forget! There is no entrance for you to God.

yaṁ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutaḥ stunvanti divyaiḥ stavair
vedaiḥ sāṅga-pada-kramopaniṣadair gāyanti yaṁ sāma-gāḥ
dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yogino
yasyāntaṁ na viduḥ surāsura-gaṇā devāya tasmai namaḥ

Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa. He also accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri. During the time of the Lord's residence in Puri he continued to live with Him there as well. Sri Vakreshwar Pandit took birth in the villageof Guptiparanear Triveni. He was an especially proficient dancer and kirtaniya and could dance continuously for 72 hours.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began His pastimes of congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Sri Hari in Navadwip,Sri VakreshwarPandit was an important singer and dancer in that assembly. It was by His mercy that Devananda Pandit was delivered from the wrath of Mahaprabhu. He was also present during the Lord'sjourney to Ramakeli. Devananda Pandit was, at one time, known as the foremost lecturer on the Bhagavat. One day Srivas Pandit went to hear his discourse, and being moved in ecstatic love by hearing the Bhagavatam, he began to cry. A few of the ignorant

sri sri guru gauranga jayatah!

Year-8, Issue 5
Posted: 7 June 2015

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Dedicated to
nitya-līlā praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda

Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja

Inspired by and under the guidance of
nitya-līlā praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda

Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja

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Tiruppāṇī Ālvār

by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda

Situated on the south bank of the sacred river Kāverī is the city of Nichulapurī (the present day region known as Uraiyur). In the days of yore, it was a very prosperous city. It was protected by great walls on all sides and was filled with palace-like houses.

Saint Tiruppāṇī Ālvār was born in this city in l00 B.C. in the month of Kārtika, with Rohīṇī asterism. He was an incarnation of the Śrīvatsa mark on the chest of Śrī Viṣṇu but appeared in the society of pariahs, or cāṇḍālas. In recognizing saints, one must always take divine wisdom and spiritual illumination into consideration in place of social status. Our saint, though low

'Come as you are... No suit required'.

I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and I had finally decided to see what this place was all about.

But, this just couldn't be the right place. Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No suit required," and found the location. Yes, I was at the right place.I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine ethnic garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant.

Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my body.

As I turned around to leave, the words from the in

It is said that while there is not material solution for material problems, there is a spiritual solution for every problem. 

I believe that we are disregarding the injunctions in the scriptures which is causing disturbance of the body and mind, and suffering to our soul.

The Isopanishad states that one who pursues materialism alone goes into great darkness and one who pursues spiritual life alone goes into even greater darkness. But those who pursue materialism and spiritualism side by side like two wings of the bird, are happy in this world and the next.

I personally see that we are either going from one extreme or another. We don't have balance. We have lost our values because we lost touch with our ancient scriptures. We even discard our older generation, like our parents and grand-parents who have acquired wisdom through age and experience. We do not want to listen to them. So how do we expect the younger generation to imbibe the wisdom from our scriptures.

The most importan

The Chida-dadhi Mahotsav, also known as the Chipped Rice Festivalof Panihati, is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of SrilaRaghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Thisastonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges atPanihati, which is just north of Calcutta. Lord Caitanya and hisassociates enjoyed many transcendental pastimes here. Chida-dadhiMahotsav remembers how the Lord mercifully reciprocated with Hisdevotees by arranging, through Nityananda Prabhu and Raghunathadasa, to provide an ecstatic feast of yoghurt and chipped rice,along with various other nectar foodstuffs. Linked below is anexcerpt from Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya lila chapter 6, whichdescribes this wonderful pastime in detail.

The chipped rice festival took place just before the monsoons,when it is very hot (45 - 50 C) and muggy (80 - 90 % humidity), sonaturally the most cooling of foodstuffs were offered. Cool yoghurt(dadhi) and chipped rice (chida) were offered with sugar, bananas,milk sweets

Despite Facebook’s apology last fall, thousands of users are still being maliciously targeted, reported, and their accounts suspended for having an alleged “fake” name. The anonymous reporting process is heavily flawed and has already done great harm to Native Americans, survivors of domestic violence and stalking, political dissidents, sex workers, religious minorities, artists and performers, LGBTQ people (especially trans* youth), and many many others.

Protest!!!

WHEN: Monday, June 1, 2015
WHERE: Facebook Campus Headquarters, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California
WHAT TIME: Caravan: 9AM / Protest: 11AM
RSVP: Facebook invite
Media Advisory: Click here

HOW TO GET THERE:
Meet us in the Safeway Parking lot on Market Street (at Church) at 9:00 am. We have two buses sponsored by Ello and will carpool/caravan out to the campus.  (If you can drive just in case, please do!)  If you want to get there on your own, you’ll find us at the empty lot across the street

Hare Krishna!

Yagna or Sacrifice is the means to realize God. There are many types of Yagnas. Some of them include - meditation on the form of the Lord, fire sacrifice, study of the scriptures, deity-worship, sacrifice of material possessions and sacrifice of individual sense pleasures.

The sacrifice specifically recommended in Kali Yuga - is the chanting of the names of God.

1) Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita - Yagnanam japo yagno'smi.

"Of all the sacrifices, I am the chanting of the Holy Name."

2) The Bhagavata Purana states: ....Kalau tad dhari kritanad.

"In Kali Yuga the sacrifice recommended is the chanting of the Holy Name.

3) The Brhad Naradiya Purana states: Harer Nama Harer Nama Hare Namaiva kevalam, Kalau nasty Kalau nasty Kalau nasty eva gatir anyatha.

"There is no other way, There is no other way, There is no other way in Kali Yuga - other than chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name."

We may chant any bonafide name of God. All the names of God hav