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Parshuram - The 6th incarnation of Shri Vishnu
Today is Lord Parshuram Jayanti
Sage Parshuram was the 6th incarnation of Shri Vishnu. The related stories of Sage Parshuram can be read in the great epic of Ramayan and Mahabharata. There is no separate Puran (ancient Holy scripture) like that of other previous incarnations of Shri Vishnu.
Parents
Sage Parshuram was born in the 19th Century of the Tretayuga to Devi Renuka (mother) and Bhrugukolatpan Rishi Jamadagni (father).
Purpose of birth
Destruction of the evil-minded Kshatriya kings was the purpose of Parshuram's birth. The incarnations of great Sages, Rishis , Munis on our Motherland had always been preplanned to save humanity from the evil forces. So was the birth of Parshuram. Rishi Valmiki called it ‘Rajavimardhan’, instead of ’Kshatriyavimardhan’; which means that, Sage Parshuram's birth was destined to destroy not all Kshatriyas, but only the evil-minded Kshatriyas.
The story goes like this. Once Karthavirya, a Kshatriya king, stol
"Anything which can be engaged in the service of the Lord should not be given up. This is our philosophy. Should not be given up. We do not say, "Oh, money is material. I do not touch. My hand becomes turned up.'' No. We don't say all these nonsense philosophy. (laughs) We know that money, lakṣmī, is Krishna's property, so it should be engaged in Krishna's service. Why money should not be touched? Money is Krishna's. It must be touched and used for Krishna. We don't try to (indistinct) that pseudo renouncement. What I have got that I shall renouncement? Everything belongs to Krishna. Our renouncement means we renounce our personal sense gratification, that's all. That is renouncement. Materialism means personal sense gratification, and spiritual life means no personal sense gratification, all Krishna's sense gratification. That's all. The same teaching by Bhagavad-gītā. Arjuna was thinking in terms of personal sense gratification: "I shall not fight. It is not good to kill my kinsmen,
Brahmana and Vaishnava Dāsyam (Servitorship)
BY: TATTVA DARSHINA DASA
Srila Prabhupada always said that one must first be aware and then Krishna consciousness will manifest. A conscious person is one who lives in the mode of goodness, for a person living in the mode of goodness has to live a sinless life and follow very strictly the four regulative principles:
1 - Do not eat meat, fish or eggs
2 - No gambling games
3 - No illicit sex-- just sex with your own wife to procreate and produce nice Krsna conscious children
4 - No intoxication-- no tea, no coffee, no snuff and alcohol.
And so that one can follow these four rules and regulations he/she must chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra as the primary method. Srila Prabhupada gives us the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and by chanting one obtains the strength and purification needed to lead a sinless life and follow the 4 rules and regulations mentioned above.
When Srila Prabhupada performed the first initiations in New York, He then put a paper
" Sit Properly ! "
One Who is Embraced by Sri Krsna
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then comments, “Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krsna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole world. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people. Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krsna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore he extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, he broadcasts the shining brightness of Krsna’s effulgence throughout the world. Such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered nondifferent from Krsna—that is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krsna’s potency. Such a personality is krsnalingita-vigraha—that is, he is always embraced by th
Bhajans Audio Lecture by Gour Govinda Swami
Roupa Manjari Devi Dasi
some nice nectar from Srila prabhupada......."It is expected by all means that by discharging regulated devotional service one must manifest the change of heart. If there is no such change, the heart must be considered steel-framed, for it is not melted even when there is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. We must always remember that hearing and chanting are the basic principles of discharging devotional duties, and if they are properly performed there will follow the reactional ecstasy with signs of tears in the eyes and standing of the hairs on the body. These are natural consequences and are the preliminary symptoms of the bhāva stage, which occurs before one reaches the perfectional stage of prema, love of Godhead.
If the reaction does not take place, even after continuous hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord, it may be considered to be due to offenses only."
To chant the holy name and dance in ecstasy is so easy and sublime that one can achieve
Venudhari Kanhaiya Das said;
The personification of transcendental mellows, the enchanter of Govinda, Sri Radha perfectly play the instrument known as alavani. She vibrates both vocally and instrumentally the three meters – sasja, madhyama, and gandhara.
Sri Lalita very expertly plays Brahma Vina, beginning with the sound of the srutis(twenty two different tones).
The beautiful Visakha plyas the Kacchapi Vina in vinous sweet ways.
The Rudra Vina is played by the beaytiful Sucitra, who is expert in manifesting the different in savra,jati, and prabheda ( verieties of melodies).
Campakalata plays the Vipani ( a type of vina) in different murchanas and talas (modulations and reythms).
Rangadevi plays the Vilasa Vina, manifesting different gamaka( vibrating notes).
Beautyful sudevi plays the Sarangi in different ragas.
Tungavidya playing the Kinnari Vina, showers nectar on the rasa mandala..
indulaka plays the Svara – mandala and easily manifests the different Svaras.
The Sakhis
The personification of transcendental mellows, the enchanter of Govinda, Sri Radha perfectly play the instrument known as alavani. She vibrates both vocally and instrumentally the three meters – sasja, madhyama, and gandhara.
Sri Lalita very expertly plays Brahma Vina, beginning with the sound of the srutis(twenty two different tones).
The beautiful Visakha plyas the Kacchapi Vina in vinous sweet ways.
The Rudra Vina is played by the beaytiful Sucitra, who is expert in manifesting the different in savra,jati, and prabheda ( verieties of melodies).
Campakalata plays the Vipani ( a type of vina) in different murchanas and talas (modulations and reythms).
Rangadevi plays the Vilasa Vina, manifesting different gamaka( vibrating notes).
Beautyful sudevi plays the Sarangi in different ragas.
Tungavidya playing the Kinnari Vina, showers nectar on the rasa mandala..
indulaka plays the Svara – mandala and easily manifests the different Svaras.
The Sakhis
>>> SRILA ABHIRAMA THAKURA <<<
Srila Abhirama Thakura was one of the most vigorous preachers among the associates of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. If Abhirama Thakura offered obeisances to any stone other than a sacred salagrama-sila, it would at once burst into pieces. Abhirama Thakura used his home for preaching and for serving Vaisnava pilgrims. His house constantly resounded with kirtana and topics of Krsna.
According to Gaura-Ganodesa-Dipika (12) in Krishna-lila he was Sridama, one of the 12 prominent boy cowherd friends of Sri Krsna. He was Nityananda's dearmost Devotee. Śrī Rāmadāsa was later known as Abhirāma Ṭhākura, he married his wife, Malini, upon the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Also in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Fourth Wave), there is a description of Śrīla Abhirāma Ṭhākura.
By the order of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Abhirāma Ṭhākura became a great ācārya and preacher of the Caitanya cult of devotional service.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to prea
Srila Abhirama Thakura was one of the most vigorous preachers among the associates of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. If Abhirama Thakura offered obeisances to any stone other than a sacred salagrama-sila, it would at once burst into pieces. Abhirama Thakura used his home for preaching and for serving Vaisnava pilgrims. His house constantly resounded with kirtana and topics of Krsna.
According to Gaura-Ganodesa-Dipika (12) in Krishna-lila he was Sridama, one of the 12 prominent boy cowherd friends of Sri Krsna. He was Nityananda's dearmost Devotee. Śrī Rāmadāsa was later known as Abhirāma Ṭhākura, he married his wife, Malini, upon the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Also in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Fourth Wave), there is a description of Śrīla Abhirāma Ṭhākura.
By the order of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Abhirāma Ṭhākura became a great ācārya and preacher of the Caitanya cult of devotional service.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to prea
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"The answer to your Istagosthi questions are as follows: Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance. And who is a liberated person? One who knows Krishna. It is stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone who knows Krishna in truth is immediately liberated, and after quitting the present body, he immediately goes to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna Loka. As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the version of Lord Caitanya. So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka."
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Letter to: Mukunda -- New Vrindaban
When Will I Realize that
The Holy Name is Directly Kṛṣṇa?
by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda
Question 1: When will I be able to realize that the holy name is directly Kṛṣṇa?
Answer: The name (nāma – Śrī Kṛṣṇa) and the person (nāmī – Śrī Kṛṣṇa) are non-different. This shall be especially realized when our anarthas have been destroyed. When Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name is chanted without offences, one can directly realize that through His name alone, all types of perfection can be attained.
While regularly chanting the holy name, as all the anarthas are gradually dispelled, His form, qualities and pastimes shall be naturally realized in one’s heart. One need not endeavour to artificially remember the form, qualities and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. For those who chant the holy names, step by step, the obstacles of their egoistic gross and subtle bodies are removed and their eternal constitutional form (siddha-svarūpa) is awakened. And, after one’s eternal form manifests, chanting the
THE TRANSCENDENTAL ABODE EXISTS BY THE ENERGY OF LORD BALARAMA
Balarama is the servitor Godhead who serves Lord Krsna in all affairs of existence and knowledge. The transcendental abode exists by the energy of Lord Balarama. Krsna’s first expansion in a form for pastimes is Balarama. Balarama Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krsna and He does the work of creation in four other forms. In all forms Balarama tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krsna” (CC Adi 4.8-11v.).
“If we develop consciousness of this fact, then we are in actual Krsna consciousness. We should always remember that Krsna is the only Supreme Master and that everyone else is His servant ekale isvarah krsna, ara saba bhrtya. Either Narayana or Lord Siva, everyone is subordinate to Krsna. Even Baladeva is subordinate to Krsna’ (SB 10.13.53p.). “1n the transcendental pastimes, Krsna is the chief hero, and Balarama provides additional help.” (SB 10.8. 27p.).
Balarama is the servitor Godhead who serves Lord Krsna in all affairs of existence and knowledge. The transcendental abode exists by the energy of Lord Balarama. Krsna’s first expansion in a form for pastimes is Balarama. Balarama Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krsna and He does the work of creation in four other forms. In all forms Balarama tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krsna” (CC Adi 4.8-11v.).
“If we develop consciousness of this fact, then we are in actual Krsna consciousness. We should always remember that Krsna is the only Supreme Master and that everyone else is His servant ekale isvarah krsna, ara saba bhrtya. Either Narayana or Lord Siva, everyone is subordinate to Krsna. Even Baladeva is subordinate to Krsna’ (SB 10.13.53p.). “1n the transcendental pastimes, Krsna is the chief hero, and Balarama provides additional help.” (SB 10.8. 27p.).
Here are some nectar notes and verses on the Holy Name...if read...your chanting will never be the same :)
Here is the essence of the entire Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, devotional service to the Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa. One should chant the Holy Name, and by what ever means listen to the katha of God and the Holy Name will come into the heart.
SB12.13.23
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ yasya sarva-pāpa praṇāśanam
praṇāmo duḥkha-śamanas taṁ namāmi hariṁ param
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.
Also in 12.12.46-50, especially verse 46 confirms this siddhānta;
SB12.12.46
iti coktaṁ dvija-śreṣṭhā yat pṛṣṭo ’ham ihāsmi vaḥ
līlāvatāra-karmāṇi kīrtitānīha sarvaśaḥ
Thus, O best of the brāhmaṇas, I have explained herein what you have inquired from me. This literature has glorified in full detail the activiti
