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While travelling throughout Russia, the great Vaisnava saint Indradyumna Marharaj met with professor Medvedev, chairman of the religious affairs committee. The irony of the professors name was not lost on Indradyumna Marharaj, he could immediately recognise its Sanskrit/Vedic influence. Medvedev is a common Russian word which according to academia means bear. The source of this name however is Vedic, Medevedev is Madhavadeva, Madhava a name for Krsna and Deva a Sanskrit word meaning God. Madhava comes from the word Madhu which means honey and Madhava means one who intoxicates like bees around honey. As well as bees we find others who are also attracted to honey, namely bears. The name Medvedev means "honey eater" thousands of years ago the people who lived in this part of the world used a Vedic/Sanskrit terminology to describe one of the prominent characteristics of the bear, thousands of years later Madhavadeva had become Professor Medve

Ramanujacharya.

   When the religion of the Vedas became weakened due to the influence of less intelligent men who blindly performed ritualistic ceremonies and wantonly killed animals in the name of Vedic injunctions, Buddha appeared on the scene as a great reformer. Totally rejecting the Vedic literature and substituting his rational, atheistic views, Buddha advocated the path of ahimsa, (nonviolence and nirvana-the negation of reality as we know it) as the ultimate goal of life. Soon after, the philosophy of Shankaracharya overpowered Buddhism and spread throughout India.

   The authority of the Upanishads and other Vedic literature were revived by Shankara and employed as weapons to fight the Buddhist doctrine. Interpreting the Vedas to draw a particular conclusion, Shankara established the doctrine of non-dualism, adwaita-vedanta, stating that all living entities were on an equal level with God. He prominently stressed those texts which afforded an answer to the rationalistic atheism

"One should have complete faith in the transcendental literature such as Shrimad Bhagavatam and other literatures that directly glorifies the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should also have faith in Vaishnava Tantra, the original Vedas, and Mahabharata which includes Bhagavad Gita, and which is considered the fifth Veda. The Vedic knowledge originally emanated from the breathing of Lord Visnu, and the Vedic literature has been compiled in a literary form by Shrila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of Vishnu. Therefore Vishnu should be understood to be the personal speaker of all this Vedic literature." (In the image: Incarnation of Vayu and Hanuman Shrila Madhvacharya).

   Madhvacharya was born Vasudev, son of Narayan Bhatt and Vedavati in the village of Padakakshetra, near Udupi usually taken as being 1238 AD., on the Vijay Dasami of Lord Rama. After  79 years of wonderful pastimes he passed on to be with his Lord, Shrila Vyasadev in the year 1317 AD.

   This self realised soul, Mukhyapra

Appearance of Bhishmadeva

Geneology:
From Vishnu were descended in the following order - Brahma-Atri-Candra-Budha - Pururavas - Ayus - Nahusha- Yayati - Puru - Janamejaya - Prachinvaa - Pravira - Namasyu - Vitabhava - Shundu - Bahuvidha - Samyati - Rahovadi - Raudrasva - Matinara - Santurodha - Dushyanta - Bharata - Suhotra - Gala - Gardda - Suketu - Brhatksetra - Hasti - Ajamidha - Riksha - Samvarana - Kuru - Jahnu - Suratha - Vidaratha - Sarvabhauma - Jayatsena - Ravyaya - Bhavuka - Chakroddhata - Devatithi - Riksha - Bhima-Pratipa-Shantanu-Bhishma.

Birth and Boyhood:
Bhishma's name in his boyhood was Devavrata. He was the eighth son of Shantanu, a king of the lunar dynasty and Gangadevi. This boy was the human embodiment of Dyau, one of the Ashthavasus. Shantanu, his father was the re-birth of another king, Mahabhisheka. The story concerning this is given in the Mahabharata as follows:
King Mahabhisheka after his death, attained Vishnuloka. Once he went to visit Brahma at Satyaloka. At t

Sri Advaita Acharya.

   The foremost of all the Vaishnavas who reside at Navadwip is Sri Advaita Acarya, whose virtuous presence has made all the worlds blessed. He is the most preeminent preceptor in all fields including knowledge, renunciation and devotion. In explaining Krsna-bhakti he is like unto Lord Shankara (Shiva) himself, and whatever scriptures that exist within the three worlds he explains in the light of Krsna-bhakti.

   With the intense eagerness he continually worships the Shalagram of Sri Krsna with Tulasi manjaris and Ganges water. By the momentum of his spiritual force, his loud shouts pierce the coverings of this universe and, resounding throughout Vaikuntha, reach the ears of Sri Krsna. Hearing this loving summons saturated with devotion, Sri Krsna advents Himself. 

Advaita Achariya worshipping Shalagram Sila offering to Him Tulasi leaves and Ganges water.

   On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, the great ocean of ecstasy swelled to its limit

Palaka Dasa

KRSNA BECOMES ATTACHED TO HIM

But a person who has taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness even by sentiment and has fallen, he has great benefit because once he has taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa becomes attached to him. That is ajñāta-sukṛti. Therefore, in all circumstances, we should accept the Kṛṣṇa’s instruction, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66], and surely we shall be benefited.

The Supreme Lord has three different internal saktis (potencies), Sri, Bhu and Nita. Bhu sakti appeared as Srimati Vishnupriya Devi in Gaura lila to assist Sri Caitanya's sankirtana movement. King Satrajit, the father of Satyabhama in Krishna lila, appeared in Gauranga lila as the brahmana Sanatana Mishra, Vishnupriya Devi's father.

Srimati Vishnupriya Devi overflowed with all good qualities. Her beauty surpassed the goddess of fortune. She was devoted to her parents and dutifully followed scriptural injunctions. Regularly she worshiped Tulasi Devi, and observed vows of austerity such as bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.
 
Whenever she met Saci Mata at the Ganges Vishnupriya would humbly bow down at her feet. Saci Devi often thought that chaste beautiful Vishnupriya would make an ideal bride for her son Nimai. After Laxmipriya Devi, Lord Caitanya's first wife, "died in separation from the Lord," Nimai Pandit married Srimati Vishnupriya Devi. Caitanya Mangala and Caitanya Bhagavata giv

The deity of baby Raghunandana on the lap of his mother at his birthplace, Sri Khanda. Courtesy of Sakhicharan dasa. Being called away on medical business, Mukunda Dasa once asked his young son, Raghunandana, to offer the raja bhoga to the family Deity of Gopinatha. Raghunandana prepared everything timely, carefully, and with great devotion. When he made the offering he remembered his father's order, "make sure the Deity eats." Ringing the bell the simple boy told the Gopinatha Deity, "Eat, eat!" Raghunandana began crying when he saw the untouched food remaining on the Deity's plate. He feared his father's anger for his inability to "make the Deity eat." Gopinatha couldn't resist the child's intense devotion. So the Lord ate everything on the plate, leaving no remnants. Upon returning, Mukunda asked for Gopinatha's Maha-Prasadam. Raghunandana said the Deity ate everything. Astonished, Mukunda told his son to make the offering again. From a hidden place Mukunda watched in total amazemen

Today is Vasanta Panchami, the beginning of the Vasanta season, at which time the Rasa Dance of Krishna was performed in Govardhana, in the village of Parsauli, by the lake known as Chandra Sarovar. Srila Jayadeva Gosvami has described the vasanta-rasa-lila in his Gita-govinda.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to hear this description and weep loudly, with tears rolling down His face and with a melted heart. In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta vasanta-rasa has been described as giving vivid evidence of as the prominency of Srimati Radhika over millions of gopis.

Appearing in 1638, (Hari Vallabha Dasa) came in the disciplic succession from Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura. Visvanatha took diksa from Sri Radha Ramana Cakravarti. Although married, Visvanatha was indifferent and soon renounced family life. He came to Vrindavana dhama and did Krishna bhajana at Radha-kunda.
 
He was known as "the crest jewel of the Vaisnavas" because of his pure devotion, scholarship, and realized perception of Radha Gokulananda's intimate conjugal pastimes. Gaudiya authorities say that Sri Rupa Goswami is vag-devavatara (an incarnation of the god of speech). And Gaudiya acaryas, especially among his direct disciples, believe that Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is an incarnation of Sri Rupa Goswami.

Among all Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas only Visvanatha Cakravarti comes close to matching Srila Rupa Goswami's profound realizations on the Absolute Truth. Visvanatha Cakravarti's name itself implies his position. Visvanatha means "He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Visvanatha

A disciple of Shri Madhavendra Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was Shri Gadadhara Pandit's guru, and an intimate friend of Svarupa Damodara. (In the image: Pundarika Vidyanidhi).

   A disciple of Shri Madhavendra Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was Shri Gadadhara Pandit's guru, and an intimate friend of Svarupa Damodara.
 
   Once in Jagannatha Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi met Svarupa Damodara after a long separation. In a joyful mood of friendship Pundarika and Svarupa wanted to take the dust from each other's feet. A scuffle began as they tried to simultaneously catch the feet of one another, but at the same time, avoid having their own feet caught. Both being quite strong, neither won. But Shri Gauranga enjoyed their sporting play and everyone laughed.
 
   Pundarika Vidyanidhi has other names-Shri Vidyanidhi, Acaryanidhi, Bhaktyanidhi, and Premanidhi (given by Lord Chaitanya). "Simply by hearing his name," said Shri Gaura, "the whole world becomes purified." Premanidhi's pure devotion caused Sh

For a Krsna conscious person there is no distinction that this is hell, this is heaven." And if Krsna desires that he should go to sun planet then he'll go. What is wrong there? There is nothing wrong. You have to act what Krsna says. It doesn't matter what He says. You should not select Krsna's order according to your choice. You should accept Krsna's order by Krsna's choice. If Krsna says you go to hell, "Yes, I am going to hell." That's all. Svargapavarga-narakesv api tulyartha-darsinah. For a Krsna conscious person there is no distinction that this is hell, this is heaven. Just like we have come here to preach Krsna consciousness. We have no distinction between Los Angeles and Vrndavana. Wherever I am, I am in Krsna consciousness, that is Vrndavana. That's all. I don't live in Los Angeles or anywhere. I live in Krsna consciousness, I preach Krsna consciousness, therefore I live in Krsna. So your principle should be like that. You be fully in Krsna consciousness, you forget all othe

He mentions an especially touching conversation Shri Gaurasundara had with Vishnupriya Devi the night before He took sannyasa. Being a talented musician, Lochana Dasa told Mahaprabhu's pastimes in beautiful poetry filled with fire and rhythm. Common people could easily understand the divine character of Shri Chaitanya and awaken their religious feelings. As Devotees regularly chant the Vedic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Gaudiya Vaishnava's still wander through Bengal reciting the Chaitanya Mangala. (In the image: Shri Gaurachandra, ISKCON Chowpatty, Mumbai).

   Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.
 
   "My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura and serve him with my very life. The cherished desire of the fallen Lochana Dasa is to be allowed, by Narahari's grace, to sing the glories of Lord Gauranga. My Lord is Shri Narahari Thakura, I am His servant. Bowing before him I beg

Uniformity - Part One

by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda

In spiritual endeavour proper, there is a division of external and internal practices. But this division is not one between the physical and the mental. Neither the physical nor the mental functions are activities of the ātmā (soul).

Activities in the preliminary stage of spiritual endeavour, prior to the awakening of spontaneous attraction, constitute the external aspect of spiritual conduct. During that stage, the neophyte displays a decisive inclination for following the injunctions of śāstra under the guidance of the spiritual preceptor, who belongs to the class of inner devotees. Obedience to the spiritual preceptor prevents this kind of endeavour from degenerating into lifeless ritualism and rigid orthodoxy.

Nevertheless, there is an observable and striking uniformity of practice during this preliminary stage. This uniformity should not, however, be mistaken for the lifeless standardization of physical a

Three hundred years before the appearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Jayadeva Goswami served as the court pandita of Shri Lakshmana Sena, King of Bengal. Jayadeva and Padmavati (his wife and an expert dancer) used to worship Lord Shri Krishna with single-minded devotion. (In the image: Jayadeva Goswami and his wife Padmavati).

   Three hundred years before the appearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Jayadeva Goswami served as the court pandita of Shri Lakshmana Sena, King of Bengal. Jayadeva and Padmavati (his wife and an expert dancer) used to worship Lord Shri Krishna with single-minded devotion. After some time, he left the opulent royal life to live peacefully in a grass hut in Champahatti, Navadwipa. Here Jayadeva wrote Gita Govinda.

   One day while working on Gita Govinda Jayadeva felt inspired to write, "Krishna bows down to touch the lotus feet of Shrimati Radharani." Jayadeva was hesitant to say something which might diminish Lord Krishna's position as the Supreme