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"Your strong desire to serve me is very beautiful; your serving me means serving Krishna. I am also your servant so I cannot accept your service from you, or from any of my disciples. I accept service from my disciples on behalf of Krishna. Just like a tax collector must collect for the treasury, not for himself. If he himself touches so much as a farthing it would be unlawful. So I have no right to accept service from any disciple, but on behalf of Krishna I can accept. Sincere service to the Spiritual Master is service to the Supreme Lord. As stated in the prayer, "Prasadad Bhagavat Prasadad''. That means because Krishna accepts service through the via media of Spiritual Master, therefore pleasing the Spiritual Master is equal to pleasing the Supreme Lord."
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Letter to: Upendra -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Letter to: Upendra -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1968
On the tenth day of the waxing moon of Padmanabha (Asvina) month, occurs Vijayotsava. On this day Lord Ramacandra heard from Hanuman beneath the sami tree that he had found and seen Sita on the Island kingdom of Lanka. Hearing this, Ramacandra held a festival, and then set out for Sri Lanka. On this day one may perform special puja of Lord Ramacandra and then in His honour feed the Vaisnavas. This is a popular festival in north India, where, on this occasion, large paper effigies of the demon Ravana are burned to the resounding chants of Victory to Rama, Victory to Rama.
In the pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he absorbed Himself in the transcendental lila of Lord Ramacandra in the following manner as recorded by Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraj Goswami.
Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-lila Chapter 15 Texts 31-35.
Madhya 15.31
parama-avese prabhu aila nija-ghara
ei-mata lila kare gauranga-sundara
TRANSLATIO
.
.Srila Prabhupada sent some American and European disciples to one of his sannyasi godbrothers' ashram in India in the late 60s'. However, this sannyasi forbid them to cook or to perform aroti; they were Westerners, and were thus too fallen to perform these services. Prabhupada never forgot this insult to his disciples: half a decade later, when that sannyasi asked Prabhupada for a contribution, Prabhupada replied as follows. Prabhupada was so cool. September 7th, 1975 Dear [...] Maharaja: Please accept my obeisances. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 27, 1975 and have noted the contents. Yes, it is Bhagavan's special mercy upon me that I am getting such immense wealth. You will be pleased to know that my books are selling to the extent of one million of dollars per month. But this money is coming from the mlecchas and yavanas. That is the difficulty. This money is not coming from the brahmanas. Therefore I am afraid to contribute to you as you request. How shall I giv
Madhvacharya took diksha at age five, sannyasa at twelve and left home. He appeared with a mission to fight and defeat Sankara's Mayavada (impersonal) philosophy. By giving a pure interpretation of Vedanta-sutra he promoted pure theism. He named his innovative shastric explanation dvaita-dvaita-vada (pure dualism). (In the image: Shrila Madhvacharya).
Shri Madhvacharya appeared in 1238 A.D. near Udupi, Karnataka in South India. He was considered an incarnation of Vayu (wind god). He had an unusually strong physique and extraordinary intellectual power. Once a fierce Bengali tiger attacked Madhvacharya's sannyasa disciple, Satya Tirtha. Madhvacharya wrestled the tiger and sent him away with his tail between his legs. Madhvacharya took diksha at age five, sannyasa at twelve and left home. He appeared with a mission to fight and defeat Sankara's Mayavada (impersonal) philosophy. By giving a pure interpretation of Vedanta-sutra he promoted pure theism. He named his innovative shastric ex
Devotee (3): , you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Prabhupada: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide? Prabhupada: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamala Krsna: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Prabhupada: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping D
Russel Brand is an English comedian, actor, and author. He has been a vegetarian since the age of 14, and has shown interest in the Hare Krishna Movement and chants the Hare Krishna Mantra regularly. In the video, Bhakta Russell Brand discusses karma, how one is not the body, varnasrama, the coming spiritual revolution, and mentions Srila Prabhupada. Furthermore, he can be seen with 108 japa mala beads strung around his neck.
Alex Jones is the personality behind the world’s largest internet talk show. The show, and his website Infowars.com, address current issues within the realm of social, political, and spiritual activism. The Alex Jones Show, based in Austin, Texas, airs via the Genesis Communication Network on over 70 AM, FM, and shortwave radio stations across the United States and on the internet. As of September 2013, his YouTube channel had received over 300 million views. As of 2010,
In 1885, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura took Bimala along with other sons to visit a few places of Lord Caitanya's pastimes in Bengal. Arriving late one night evening on the outskirts of Kulina-grama, a settlement whose former inhabitants were very dear to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the father and sons were accorded repose in a temple. Next morning upon entering the halmet, they were asked by some local residents where they have come from and where they have spent the night.
Upon hearing the answer the village men, amazedly asked, "How could you have slept? No one can stay there peacefully, for it is haunted by a brahmana raksasa who pitches stones and brickbats at anyone passing by after dusk." Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura replied, "Yes, that ghost did try to disturb us, but I loudly chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and he went away." Learning that he was Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, whom they already knew of, some having read his books, the villagers became most obeisant and further questio
ORIGIN OF NATIONS
Everyone wonders or will wonder at some time "What is the origin of different peoples and how did I get here?"
According to Darwinists, the ancestors of modern humans migrated out of Africa and colonized Asia and Europe. When North of Europe and Asia became ice free the Caucasus region was the route used. Immediately to the south of the Caucasus, the Euphrates and the Tigris have their sources. According to Jews, Moslems and Christians this is where the garden of Eden was located and is the homeland of Abraham. Mount Ararat in the South Caucasus was the mountain where Noah's ark landed. This is the supposed homeland fatherland of the Indo-European Caucasians.
The Vedic scriptures give a similar account as far as the Caucasian ranges being a stage for the development of the human being. The Aitareya Upanisad says: "He (the atma) was thinking: "Shall I create the worlds?" and He created the worlds." After being empowered by the mantra from the fl
Everyone wonders or will wonder at some time "What is the origin of different peoples and how did I get here?"
According to Darwinists, the ancestors of modern humans migrated out of Africa and colonized Asia and Europe. When North of Europe and Asia became ice free the Caucasus region was the route used. Immediately to the south of the Caucasus, the Euphrates and the Tigris have their sources. According to Jews, Moslems and Christians this is where the garden of Eden was located and is the homeland of Abraham. Mount Ararat in the South Caucasus was the mountain where Noah's ark landed. This is the supposed homeland fatherland of the Indo-European Caucasians.
The Vedic scriptures give a similar account as far as the Caucasian ranges being a stage for the development of the human being. The Aitareya Upanisad says: "He (the atma) was thinking: "Shall I create the worlds?" and He created the worlds." After being empowered by the mantra from the fl
The Two Famous Parrots, Daksa and Vicaksana
Just as Sukadeva Goswami expertly awakens the world from maya by glorifying the Lord in an attractive way (i.e. explaining the Bhagavata Purana), similarly the (male) suka-arrots, Daksa and Vicaksana, woke the Lord up at Vrnda's request." ~Sri Krishna Bhavanamrita Mahakavya, p.4
It is stated in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (145) that the two famous parrots named Daksa and Vicaksana in krsna-lila became the elder brothers of Kavi-karnapura, namely, Caitanya dasa and Ramadasa. Karnapura, the third son, who was also known as Paramananda dasa or Puri dasa, was initiated by Srinatha Pandita, who was a disciple of Sri Advaita Prabhu. Karnapura wrote many books that are important in Vaisnava literature, such as Ananda-vrndavana-campu, Alankara-kaustubha, Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika and the great epic Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka. He was born in the year 1448 sakabda (A.D. 1527). He continually wrote books for ten years, from 1488 until 1498."
Caitanya-cari
Just as Sukadeva Goswami expertly awakens the world from maya by glorifying the Lord in an attractive way (i.e. explaining the Bhagavata Purana), similarly the (male) suka-arrots, Daksa and Vicaksana, woke the Lord up at Vrnda's request." ~Sri Krishna Bhavanamrita Mahakavya, p.4
It is stated in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (145) that the two famous parrots named Daksa and Vicaksana in krsna-lila became the elder brothers of Kavi-karnapura, namely, Caitanya dasa and Ramadasa. Karnapura, the third son, who was also known as Paramananda dasa or Puri dasa, was initiated by Srinatha Pandita, who was a disciple of Sri Advaita Prabhu. Karnapura wrote many books that are important in Vaisnava literature, such as Ananda-vrndavana-campu, Alankara-kaustubha, Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika and the great epic Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka. He was born in the year 1448 sakabda (A.D. 1527). He continually wrote books for ten years, from 1488 until 1498."
Caitanya-cari
Maya-devi’s farmhouse – Prema-bhakti-candrika - 05 Oct 2013
Link: http://bhaktabandhav.com/2013/10/maya-devis-farmhouse-prema-bhakti-candrika/ (Latest harikatha on Bhaktabandhav.com)
Sometimes, in his Prema-bhakti-candrikā, Narottama dāsa Thakura is in antar-daśā activities of the internal world, and then describes the spiritual abode, and when in bāhya-daśā, external sense, he mercifully thinks about the conditioned souls and advises how they can follow the Vrajavāsīs and vraja-bhakti. He has great kindness and worries about the conditioned souls’ welfare, considering, how will they get spiritual benefit?
In Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (2.62-63), Kṛṣṇa instructs Arjuna—
dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ‘bhijāyate
krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati
“By meditating on the sense objects, one develops attachment. Attachment gives rise to desire, which in turn leads to anger. Anger
Link: http://bhaktabandhav.com/2013/10/maya-devis-farmhouse-prema-bhakti-candrika/ (Latest harikatha on Bhaktabandhav.com)
Sometimes, in his Prema-bhakti-candrikā, Narottama dāsa Thakura is in antar-daśā activities of the internal world, and then describes the spiritual abode, and when in bāhya-daśā, external sense, he mercifully thinks about the conditioned souls and advises how they can follow the Vrajavāsīs and vraja-bhakti. He has great kindness and worries about the conditioned souls’ welfare, considering, how will they get spiritual benefit?
In Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (2.62-63), Kṛṣṇa instructs Arjuna—
dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ‘bhijāyate
krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati
“By meditating on the sense objects, one develops attachment. Attachment gives rise to desire, which in turn leads to anger. Anger
Purport 
by Srila Prabhupada.
The word jada-dhiyah refers to intelligence like that of an animal. A person with such intelligence cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without being beaten, an animal cannot understand the purpose of a man. Similarly, those who are dull-minded cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but when punished severely by the modes of material nature, they begin to understand Him.
A Hindi poet has said:
duhkha se saba hari bhaje sukha se bhaje koi sukha se agar hari bhaje duhkha kathan se haya
When one is distressed he goes to the church or temple to worship the Lord, but when opulent he forgets the Lord. Therefore, punishment by the Lord through material nature is necessary in human society, for without it men forget the supremacy of the Lord due to their dull, blunt intelligence.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.10.14
yatha yatha bhagavato
bhaktya paramayabhida nrpas caidyadayah satmyam hares tac-cintaya yayuh
yatha yatha-just as; bhagavatah-of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktya-by devotional service; paramaya-supreme; abhida-incessantly thinking of such activities; nrpah-kings; caidya-adayah -Sisupala. Dantavakra and others; satmyam-the same form; hareh-of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-cintaya- by constantly thinking of Him; yayuh-returned home, back to Godhead.
Translation By His Diving Grace Srila Prabhupada
By devotional service, pure devotees who incessantly think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead receive bodies similar to His. This is known as "sarupya-mukti". Although Sisupala, Dantavakra, and other kings thought of Krsna as an enemy- they also achieved the same result.
Purport By Srila Prabhupada
In Caitanya-caritamrta, in connection with Lord Caitanya's instructions to Sanatana Gosvami, it is explained that a devotee should externally execute his routine devo
Satsvarupa: "Then our next question concerns initiation IN THE FUTURE, particularly at a time when you are NO LONGER WITH US. We want to know how 1ST & 2ND INITIATION would be conducted." Prabhupada: "Yes. I shall recommend some of you...I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acaryas...
Pancali Devi Dasi ...(continue) Tamal Krishna Gosvami: "Is that called RITVIK-ACARYA?" Prabhupada: "RITVIK, YES."....The term Ritvik acarya means one who is surpose to act as an officiating priest. They perform initiation on behalf of another...Srila Prabhupada...This was Prabhupadas final instruction on initiations.
Pancali Devi Dasi So why the hell do we have so many who are acting as a bona fide acarya accepting their own disciples, with no mention of ritvik initiation at the time when one is initiated. Why are so many outright disregarding Prabhupadas direct order and why the hell are so many allowing them to?
Pancali Devi Dasi Those who accept the bogus guru as bona fide has a dark
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada :
“Service means you must take order from the master. That is service. Otherwise it is mental concoction. Actually, the servant requests, “How can I serve you?” So when the master orders, “You serve me like this,” then you do that, that is service. And if you manufacture your service, that is not service. That is your sense gratification. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. You have to see how he is pleased. Now if he wants a glass of water and if you bring a nice glass of milk, you can say milk is better than water, you take it. That is not service. He wants water, you give him water. Don’t manufacture better thing.” (Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 15.15, August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm))
"Govindam, adi Purusam, tam aham bhajami..." said Lord Brahma. All that we see before us is the blossoming radiance of the merciful qualities of Godhead.
Why merciful? Because He expands without restrictions and shares equally with all. And what are these qualities?
For example, we see a tree; it longs for the Sun, the manifestation of Krsna's energizing, warming, life-giving potency. It provides fruits to us in loving service. These fruits sustain us, a manifestation of the maintaining power of Godhead, and His delight in feeding His children with sumptuous health-giving delights. The tree then is a manifestation of His loving propensities, His own sourceful qualities, in small portion and infinite variety.
The Sky, we see it is blue like Krsna, and is a quality of His Greatness, ever expanding, never ending. It has a quality of allowing movement, refreshing, bringing sustaining rain to nourish and cleanse. God is clean.
Everywhere we see the principle of sexual attraction and re
For example, we see a tree; it longs for the Sun, the manifestation of Krsna's energizing, warming, life-giving potency. It provides fruits to us in loving service. These fruits sustain us, a manifestation of the maintaining power of Godhead, and His delight in feeding His children with sumptuous health-giving delights. The tree then is a manifestation of His loving propensities, His own sourceful qualities, in small portion and infinite variety.
The Sky, we see it is blue like Krsna, and is a quality of His Greatness, ever expanding, never ending. It has a quality of allowing movement, refreshing, bringing sustaining rain to nourish and cleanse. God is clean.
Everywhere we see the principle of sexual attraction and re
Reporter: Swamiji, your movement has received a great deal of attention for, at least one reason, because many of your followers dress in what for the West is an odd fashion and relate to the world in what for the West is an odd fashion. Can you respond to that? Why have you asked your followers to dress in this fashion and to play drums on the streets?
Prabhupada: This is our preaching method, some way or other to draw their attention. [laughter]
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
Reporter: I'm sure that you're aware that to many people in the West, in America, in New York City specifically, that your disciples seem strange because of the way they act on the streets. What about that?
Prabhupada: Yes, they must be strange because they are spiritual. You are all material. [laughter] So, for the material persons, we are surely strange people.
Reporter: Is this manifestation the only way to be spiritual, dressing in this fashion?
Prabhupada: No, no, you cannot compete with us. Because we don'
Prabhupada: This is our preaching method, some way or other to draw their attention. [laughter]
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
Reporter: I'm sure that you're aware that to many people in the West, in America, in New York City specifically, that your disciples seem strange because of the way they act on the streets. What about that?
Prabhupada: Yes, they must be strange because they are spiritual. You are all material. [laughter] So, for the material persons, we are surely strange people.
Reporter: Is this manifestation the only way to be spiritual, dressing in this fashion?
Prabhupada: No, no, you cannot compete with us. Because we don'
Indira Ekadasi
IndirA EkAdasii – from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.
Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “Oh MadhusUdana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, what is the name of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Ashwina (September-October)? Please describe its glories to me.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna then replied, “This Holy day is called IndirA EkAdasii. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins are eradicated and his forefathers who have fallen into hell are liberated. Oh best of kings, one who simply hears about this sacred EkAdasii achieves the great merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.
“In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena, who was so powerful that he destroyed all his enemies. His kingdom was called Mahishmati-puri. The glorious and highly religious King Indrasena took good care of his subjects, and therefore he was rich in gold, grains, sons, and grandsons. He was greatly devoted to Lord Sri
