All Posts (4101)
Sort by
Radha Kund is the bathing place of Radharani and Her most elevated assistants, the gopis or cowherd girls. Radha Kund is located on the northern end of Govardhan Hill in the area of Greater Vrajamandala, not far from Vrindavana or Mathura. Sri Rupa Gosvami explains in verses 9 and 10 of his Sri Upadesamrita that out of all the places in Vraja, Radha Kund is superior to them all because it is flooded with the ambrosial nectar of Krishna prema, ecstatic love of God. Therefore, those who live here are the most fortunate in the universe. The Padma Purana also explains that just as Radharani is most dear to Krishna, Her bathing place of Radha Kund is also dear to Him.
Across from Radha Kund is Shyama Kund, Krishna’s bathing place. Krishna dug Shyama Kund when Radharani insisted that He purify Himself by bathing in all the holy rivers after He had killed the Aristasura demon who was in the form of a bull. So rather than going to all the sacred rivers, He simply dug His heel into the
|
1) To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,
knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed, to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
2) Seeing the whipping stick in His mother's hand, He is crying and rubbing His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and the necklace of pearls around His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conch shell, is shaking because of His quick breathing due to crying. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with H
|
Meanings of the Symbols on Radha-Krsna's Lotus Feet.
The following descriptions come from the Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana, Garga Samhita, Sarartha-darsini (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Trukura's tika on Srimad-Bhagavatam), Ananda-candrika (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's tika on Govinda-lilamrta), Rupa Cintamani by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, and Sri Jiva Gosvami's Sri Kara-pada-yugala-samahrti. Marks that appear on Radha and Krsna's feet are indicated with (RK). Marks that appear only on Radha's feet are marked (R) and Krsna's (K).Conchshell (R.K) The conchshell is the symbol of victory proclaiming that those who take shelter of Radha-Govinda's lotus feet are always saved from all distress and awarded with fearlessness. As the conchshell holds water for bathing the Divine Couple, Their lotus feet contain divine amrta that extinguishes the blazing fire of the material miseries of devotees.Flag (RK) Ths flag announces security a
The intent of this tiny site is great; to simply encourage chanting of Hare Krsna under the orders of Srila Prabhupada.
The site is open; any member can post away at their own discretion, barring certain organizational necessities and any obvious philosophical deviations. As well, we do not tolerate abuse towards women by males onsite, ever. There is simply no tolerance for any member abuses; but so far as the GBCs etc, have at 'em. As a site which brings in new devotees, there will be incidents of members coming and going and sometimes with acrimony.
We do not pretend to great scholasticism or stature in devotional service, just steadiness over time. By presenting simply the teachings of the pure maha bhagavata Srila Prabhupada, we avoid all gambling and cheating in the name of religiosity. There is never a fall down, as Srila Prabhupada is perfect. The rest of us admit our fallen status. *see
We are one of the few sites fully recognizing the power of simply reading and chanting a
Srila Prabhupada, New York, November 29, 1966: [...] That is bhakti: taiche bhakti-phale krsne prema upajaya. If you execute the devotional service, then you develop that love. And as soon as krishna-prema asvada haile, bhava nasa paya..
And as soon as you develop, the more the proportionate way of, you develop love of Krishna, love of God, proportionately, you are free from this material contamination. When you are perfectly in Krishna love, you are perfectly free from material contamination. This is the way of liberation.
daridrya-nasa, bhava-ksaya,—premera ‘phala’ naya prema-sukha-bhoga—mukhya prayojana haya
So one should not think that “Now I am materially happy. My all distress, my all poverty, has gone by Krishna, by devotional service of Krishna,” or “I have become liberated.” No. These are by-products. To become liberated and to become materially happy by prosecution of Krishna consciousness is a by-product.
You have to attempt further thing. And what is that? Prema-sukha-bh
- Sri Damodara-ashtakam
- During this special season, devotees remember Yasoda Nanda Damodara. This song is sung daily, and ghee lamps are offered in great fun and affection to Sri Krsna Damodara.
(found in the Padma Purana of Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa, spoken by Satyavrata Muni in a conversation with Narada Muni and Saunaka Rsi)
"In the month of Kartika one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodara-ashtakam, which has been spoken by the sage Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara. (Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa 2:16:198)
In Iskcon temples, centres, and devotees homes world wide devotees gather for the entire month of Damodar (Kartika) to offer lamps (candles - dipas, etc) and in ecstacy sing the glories of Sri Damodar. Check locally for the timings of that ceremony - usually it is done in the evening, but some temples and communities perform the ceremony morning and evening.
1
namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda--bhiyolukh
Nice kirtan in Bengal.
SRILA RAGHUNATHA BHATTA GOSWAMI
krita-shri-radhika-kunda-kutira-vasatih sa tu
In Krishna-lila, Raghunath Bhatta, who made his home in a cottage by Radha Kund, was Raga Manjari. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 185)
Serving the Lord in Benares
In around 1503 AD, Raghunath Bhattacharya appeared as the son of Tapana Mishra, a dear devotee of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who hailed from the village of Ramapura on the banks of the Padma River in East Bengal. Mahaprabhu first met Tapana Mishra when he went to East Bengal during his career as a teacher of Sanskrit. Tapana Mishra had studied many scriptures but was still bewildered about the purpose of life and what to do to attain it. He had a dream in which he was instructed by a Brahmin to go to Nimai Pandit who would clarify these matters for him. When Tapana Mishra when to the Lord and told him of his dream, Nimai answered that Harinama-sankirtana was both the purpose of l
Samadhi.
Srila Prabhupada; " So anyone who is chanting Hare Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyone who is cooking for Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyones who is typing for Krsna, he is in samadhi. Anyone who is working in the field for Krsna, he is in samadhi.
Because his consciousness is that "I am doing here for satisfaction of Krsna." Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anusilanam, cultivation of Krsna knowledge favorably, not unfavorably. Then it is perfection. Bhaktir uttama. Anukulyena. Anyabhilasita-sunyam. When you cook, if you think, "Oh, this nice thing is being cooked. I shall eat it very nicely," then it is not Krsna. But while cooking, if you think, "Let me do it very nicely so that Krsna will taste it," it is Krsna consciousness.
The same thing. Activities is the same, but the consciousness is different. That is samadhi. So samadhi is not very extraordinary thing. One has to become simply serious and sincere to (serve -ed.) Krsna. Then he is in samadhi. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gi
On Repayment of Honest Debts
Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Janardana -- 12 April, 1967
My Dear Janardana,
I am in due receipt of your very long letter of April 10, 1967. On the same day I received also your wife's letter requesting me to pay $300.00 which she gave in loan to the Society. I have at once replied to her letter through Rayarama that the money, $300, which she has given in loan to the Society must be returned to her, and I am glad that you are going to repay next week. If you, however, find any difficulty to repay her, then write to me and I shall manage to send her the $300. Of course it will be difficult for the managers to send $300 while they have lost $6,000. Still, I do not wish to put your wife into trouble for the money which she faithfully loaned to the Society. So kindly let me know that you are going to repay her loan. Otherwise I shall send her the money.
I can understand that there is some difficulty in meeting the regular expenditure of your Society—na
BY: TAMOHARADASA V. (acbsp), MSc.
If we observe the real situation of the world around us, we can gain insight into what is the best direction for people to go; science or spiritual knowledge. A system of thought that correlates or explains more of what we can observe around us would, by Occam’s razor alone, have to be taken as more correct or true. And we also take it as a given that by following our own essential natures and thus a system of thought most akin to that nature, we will be most satisfied and happy.
At a basic physical level, gravity and the other forces of nature have no meaning except in realationship to things other than themselves. The law of Gravity, for example, must have an object, such as a planet, upon which to act. So the basic laws have their existence only in relation to there being an “other” to interact with.
Even at a molecular level, we observe that molecules have a built-in capacity to interact with each other systematically, such as
My life in Guyana 
I must say that since I started practising Krishna bhakti in a small way, it has helped me to be a better person than before.
My parents and brothers and sisters left Guyana to live in Scarborough, Canada and Heston, England. I live with my grandparents in Guyana. The Guyana dollar is very low and with my wage I can never afford a computer or visit my relative abroad. But by the mercy of Krishna I receive a free plane ticket to spend two weeks with my brother, Vipin, in Heston, England. It so happens that he gave me a good second hand laptop as a present.
I will return home this Wednesday and I am happy to do so. This foreign climate is not for me. In Guyana we have hot sun or rain. There is pure water, fresh air, lots of fruit trees. I bought a tulsai bead and a bead bad, but before, I used to chant on buck beads. I just went to Vergenoegen bush and chop a few stems of buck beads from a buck bead tree, then I took a pliers and pull out the shoot in each bead
Radha Krishna
Asta-kaliya-nitya-lila
Radha Krishna's eternal eightfold daily pastimes
The version of asta-kaliya-nitya-lila which is most bona fide for Gaudiya Vaisnavas was revealed by Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami. It is essential, basic knowledge for any Rupanuga devotees. The following eight slokas are excerpts from Srila Kaviraja Goswami classic, 'Govinda-Lilamrta,' and are named:
"Sri Radha-Krsnayoh Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana-mangala Storam"
A sacred song of remembering the sports performed by Sri Radha and Krsna during the eight periods of the day.
1. pratham-yama-kirttanam: Chanting during the first period: (3:22 a.m. to 5:46 a.m.)
ratryante trastavrnderita bahuviravaibedhitau kirasari-
paghairrhrdhyairapi sukhasayana dunthitau tau sakhibhih/
drstau hrstau tadatvoditarati-lalitau kakkhatigih sasamkau
radhakrsnau satrsnavapi nija-nijadhamnyapta talpau smarami//
ratryante --at the close of night; trasta --afraid; vrnda --vrndadevi; irita urged; bahuviravai --with many chirping t
THE RAINS CAME The Second Miracle
Artwork by RasaManjaridd
“Late at night, when everyone else was asleep, was a nice time to be with Prabhupada. He was usually in a very mellow mood, so if I wanted to have his precious darshan I would sometimes stand outside his door and make slight noises so he would come out to see what the noise was and invite me in. We were staying in the new quarters in Mayapur, in the first of the four, large residence buildings.
The sky was overcast; I was yearning for Prabhupada’s association, so I went near his rooms and made walking and chanting sounds. No servants were around, so Prabhupada came out himself saying, “Who is that?” He saw me chanting, smiled, and came all the way out of his quarters.
Srila Prabhupada walked up and down the balcony with me, Then turned towards the fields and walked to the balcony railing. He looked out and said “The farmers beg Krishna for rainwater.” He paused briefly, “All right, take it!” As Prabhupada swept
TEXT 38
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
SYNONYMS
prema—of love; añjana—with the salve; churita—tinged; bhakti—of devotion; vilocanena—with the eye; santaḥ—the pure devotees; sadā—always; eva—indeed; hṛdayeṣu—in their hearts; vilokayanti—see; yam—whom; śyāma—dark blue; sundaram—beautiful; acintya—inconceivable; guṇa—with attributes; svarūpam—whose nature is endowed; govindam—Govinda; ādi-puruṣam—the original person; tam—Him; aham—I; bhajāmi—worship.
TRANSLATION
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.
PURPORT
The Śyāmasundara form of Kṛṣṇa is His inconceivable simultaneous personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that form in their purified hearts under the influe
-
diparchir eva hi dashantaram abhyupetya
dipayate vivrita-hetu-samana-dharma
yas tadrig eva hi cha vishnu-taya vibhati
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami
The light of one candle being communicated to other candles, although it burns separately in them, is the same in its quality. I adore the Primeval Lord Govinda who exhibits Himself equally in the same mobile manner in His various manifestations ( Ch 5, Govindam Prayers, Brahma Samhita )
oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
- The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance. Sri Isopani
The prostitute said, "My dear Haridasa, O great preacher, great devotee, you are so beautifully built, and your youth is just beginning. Who is the woman who could control her mind after seeing you?"
Haridasa Thakura and the Prostitute
Strict followers of the caste system in sixteenth-century India avoided all contact with Muslims. Yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, founder of the modern-day Hare Krsna movement, shattered all bonds of prejudice and bigotry by elevating Haridasa Thakura, who was born in a Muslim family, to the position of namacarya, or the spiritual master of the holy name of Krsna. In this way Sri Caitanya practically demonstrated one of His central teachings-if any person is seen to be a great devotee of the Lord, he should be honored and respected regardless of his birth or social status. Such a spiritually advanced person can completely transform the lives of others. In the following incident from the life of Haridasa Thakura, we see how a beautiful p
by Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
Only When The Activities Are Executed For The Pleasure of Krsna It Is Called Bhakti
You may also find interesting:
- Even Untouchables Have the Right to Perform Bhakti (If They Have Shraddha)
- Rightful Candidates for Vaidhi-Bhakti, and Their Shraddha
- Shraddha is an Attribute for the Adhikara for Shuddha-Bhakti
- “Those Who Have Not Done So Remain Fearful”
- Rightful Candidates for Shuddha-Bhakti (Part 2)
- Rightful Candidates for Shuddha-Bhakti
(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read the whole work.
You can also read the previous page: People Mostly Practice Mishra-Bhakti (Mixed Devotion))
* * *
What are the svarupa-lakshana or intrinsic attributes of bhakti? To answer this question it is said that bhakti is anukulyena krsnanushilana, the cultivation of activities which are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Sri Krsna.
In his Durgama-sangamani commentary on Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Srila Jiva Goswami has explained that the word anushi
Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Vallabha were three brothers, all employed in the service of the Badshaw Hussain Shah. Amongst the three, there was only one descendent, Sri Jiva. Having been rewarded richly by the Badshaw for their sevices, their household life was very opulent. There was nothing lacking in whatever was necessary for the upbringing of the only son. The house was illuminated by the effulgence of the child's golden complexion; his eyes were like the expanded petals of the lotus; every part of his body was graced with a lusterous, radiant splendor.
When Sri Gaurasundara came to Ramakeli, Sri Jiva was blessed by having darshana of His worshipable lord, though he was just a baby at the time. Placing the dust of His lotus feet on the child's head, Mahaprabhu indicated him to be the future sovereign preceptor of the Gaudiya sampradaya. Though he was only a child, Sri Jiva kept the form of the Lord, which fascinates all the world, wit
