12 May 2024
HH Krsna Chaitanaya Swami Maharaj
Glories of HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj

It has been a very difficult week for all of us. We have been suffering from the disappearance of HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. We are feeling the pain of his disciples that are suffering from the loss of the physical presence of their guru Maharaj. We are praying that we can all stay together as ISKCON family members and continue serving the Srila Prabhupad’s mission together. At the same time we have been blessed with the wonderful opportunity to hear the glories of HH Krsna Goswami Maharaj and that has been very purifying on our parts. And this is very nourishing for our spiritual lives. So our mouth should always be filled with the glories of the devotees. On this day I will also say a few words trying to glorify HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. Today is also the appearance day, Vyas Puja of HH Kadamb Kanan Maharaj. Here I am staying in Australia and devotees are having a big celebration, they are celebrating the vyas puja. I agree with the devotees in Australia that I would come online and glorify HH Kadamb Kanan Swami Maharaj. So at the same time I am speaking, I am on my laptop and will join the Zoom meeting to share the glories of HH Kadamb Kanan Maharaj at the Vyas puja celebration.

It is very important to glorify the devotees. Lord Chaitanaya said that when we glorify devotees, it’s like nectar and when we blaspheme devotees it is like poison. So we should always fill our mouths with the glories of the devotees, that’s the nectar that will neutralize the poison that we may have spoken of blaspheme of the devotees. And we see an example of this in the life of wonderful Srila Prabhupad’s disciples Jai Nandan Thakur. Jai Nandan Prabhu whenever he heard anyone criticizing or blaspheme any devotee he would immediately leave that place. We should take his example. Because if someone is criticizing a devotee and we are also hearing that then we also become implicated in the aparadha. How can somebody speak blaspheme if he has no one to talk to. So in this way if we give someone an opportunity we also become implicated in the aparadha. We should take every opportunity to glorify the devotees.

When a devotee disappears from this world like HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj has disappeared, it’s an opportunity for us to glorify him. And when a devotee appears in this world, that is also an opportunity to glorify him. So today is the most auspicious appearance day of HH Kadamb Kanan Maharaj. Kadamb Kanan Maharaj is a very dear disciple of HH Jai Advait Swami Maharaj, a very beloved and grand disciple of Srila Prabhupada.

And now we are also addressing the devotees here in Australia, there is a joint another zoom group. They have physically gathered together and celebrating the Vyas puja of HH Kadamb Kanan Swami Maharaj.

I meet first Kadamb Kanan Maharaj when he was a Krsna Balrama temple president. He was doing Gaura aarti, he was chanting for three hours from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Sunday with the gurukul boys. He will be covered with sweat and perspiration. He will just be shining with wonderful effulgence and smiling happily. And he would say I have sing for two hours just to get warmed up to start to sing. So this was one of the qualities of HH Kadamb Kanan Maharaj that I most appreciated with his taste for kirtan, enthusiasm for kirtan, powerful kirtan that would knock the heart of all the devotees. When I was a Bhakti Vaibhav student in Mayapur, Maharaj took all the bhakta vaibhav students on a parikarma and we went to Mayapur modadrumdwipa. We had a wonderful kirtan for more than one hour. Everyone was dancing and jumping and flying there.

Another time after Maharaj has taken sanyasa, I was traveling with HH Lok Nath Swami Maharaj and we met Maharaj in Paris. He was so serious about chanting his japa that he woke up at 1 o’clock in the morning before traveling because he said “I don’t like to chant japa when I travel therefore I have to chant all my japa before I have to leave for my journey”.

When I was a sanyasa candidate, Maharaj was on the sanyasa committee, he said that “because you stay at Chowpati in Bombay for two years, it means you are very serious. So I am going to give you my recommendation”. He inspired me and persuaded me for sanyasa.

The last time I met Maharaj, it was in kartik in Vrindavan, just before he was leaving his body. We were sitting together for Srimad Bhagvatam class and HH Jai Advait Swami was giving the class. At the end Maharaj asked “are there any questions?” and I had a question but then I was a little shy. Then HH Kadamb Kanan Maharaj said “don’t be shy, ask your question”. In this way I gained the understanding that we should be bold – preaching boldly and practicing boldly, sincerely and strongly. The last time I met Maharaj he was doing kirtan at the MVT kirtan-mela in Vrindavan. After the kirtan we got together and he shared with me that … He was persuading me to preach in New York City. Because New York City is a very dear project of Kadamb Kanan Maharaj. On his Vyasa puja I offered the prayers that he can empower me with his enthusiasm to practice and preach Krsna consciousness. HH Kadamb Kanan Swami Maharaj ki Jai…Sila Prabhupad ki Jai…I thank you those devotees in Australia.

Now I am back to Zoom temple, where I will speak of my memories and the glories of HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. I came to India in 1992 in Delhi, East of Kailash, I was staying with guru Maharaj. At that time the New Delhi temple construction had not yet started. I was going for morning program every day in the temple and HH Gopal Krsna Maharaj was there many times. I received a lot of spiritual encouragement and enthusiasm from him. He used to chant his japa session very enthusiastically. He would walk back and forth from one end of the room into another and chanting strongly and very loudly like a lion. In those days I used to chant Harinam sankirtan with my kartals, walking to the temple and then back to our ashram and Gopal Krsna Maharaj said “very good, keep it up, keep it up”.

In 2000’s I had a chance to do some seva with Maharaj with some presentations. We co-presented two presentations. One was ICC (ISKCON India Continental Committee) presentation about the GBC resolutions. I met Maharaj in his room in the Delhi temple and we sat together. We decided how we would share the presentation. We took some prasadam together and then we made the presentation together. Maharaj is a very strong presenter; he is very enthusiastic and he is very focused. The second presentation we made was in Mayapur, we both attended one course. The leadership course (the spiritual leadership course in ISKCON). This course is compulsory for all gurus in ISKCON. Even though he was alredy very experienced guru, Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj decided that I will take this course. That is how we were batch mates. The teacher said to divide all the students into teams of two each. He and I were teamed together. We had to make one topic about spiritual life and we sat together almost one hour for preparing the presentation. I felt so fortunate because it is difficult to get one hour with Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj without the phone ringing. And when we made the presentation Maharaj was the leader and he presented most of it and I presented some of it.

Around 2016, I was sitting in East of Kailash temple chanting my japa, Gopal Krsna Maharaj called me and said “Why don’t you take sanyasa”. He said “You like to travel, you like to preach, you should take sanyasa” So I said “I don’t know if I am qualified” He said “You should do it”. So he was the first senior devotee to encourage me to take sanyasa. If he had not come up to me that day, maybe I would not be a sanyasi today. So I owe it to you that – HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj.

As guru Maharaj mentioned this morning, they were very close – friends, brothers, buddies. They did the service together for more than 14 years. HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj gave guru Maharaj the greatest gifts. He gave him wonderful services; he made him temple president in Delhi. He made him regional secretary in Maharashtra.

In the accomplishments of Gopal Krsna Maharaj, his scores are just incredible – 18 temples in Delhi, he was instrumental in helping guru Maharaj complete the Noida temple. He was a BBT trustee, he did so much book distribution – Delhi’s book distribution is incredible and book publishing. He made so many devotees. He really encouraged book distribution. One time a devotee told me that he would go and book distribution to a big factory. HH Gopal Krsna Goswami would go any time, 24 hrs. If a devotee called him “Guru Maharaj please preach this person to take books, he is in a big factory, they can take thousands of books” then Gopal Krsna Maharaj would come, get up any time, go and facilitate the book distribution. Any time, any place any situation Gopal Krsna was always ready for prachar.

I am here in Australia, the devotees here just got a new land to build new temple after so many years. As devotees soke to Gopal Krsna Maharaj a few months ago. Gopal Krsna Maharaj said “Would you like me to come to Australia and help you with the fund raising”. This is when Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj could barely walk and barely move and he was so enthusiastic to assist the devotees around the world to preach Krsna consciousness. So we are praying at the lotus feet of Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj that we too can get some drop of the mercy, of the enthusiasm that he has for spreading Krsna Consciousness. And we also pray to his disciples, followers, friends, well wishers that we can be of some service to them. If there is any service that we can do for them, please let us know and we are eager to serve them with all compassion.

I have made something of Jai Lila Prem Dhan that I would like to share and then conclude today’s session.

Date- 13th May 2024
Speaker – Parthasarathi Prabhu
Theme- Mind your mind

Hare Krishna! My humble obeisances to all zoom temple devotees. Today’s subject is mind. It is not easy to engage our mind in Bhakti, but with the help of Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas we can do it. As it is said in the scriptures –

samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁpuṇya-yaśomurāreḥ
bhavāmbudhirvatsa-padaṁparaṁpadaṁ
padaṁpadaṁ yad vipadāṁnateṣām

Translation –

For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁpadam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.[SB 10.14.58]

padaṁpadaṁ yad vipadāṁ,in this Kaliyuga there is problem at every step, but by the mercy of Sri Guru and vaishnavas and as said by Guru Maharaj by the mercy of parampara this ocean of material world becomes a small pond of water made by a calf’s feet, vatsa-padam. By their mercy we get the Holy name and with the strength of this Holy name we can control our mind.

As we say naman, that means it makes the mind humble. Only by the Holy name, the blessings of Vaishnavas and by offering them obeisances our mind can be humbled, controlled. Otherwise, it is very difficult. It is mentioned in various scriptures, Puranas, and also in Bhagavad Gita Lord is giving instructions to Arjuna. We will have short glimpse of those indications. Arjuna said to the Lord that I can even control the wind but I cannot control the mind. He was with the Lord, was listening the Lord, yet his mind was not controlled. Then how we can do it? We can do it only by following the instructions of the Lord. This is very important in bhakti. In morning we give time for chanting. We keep saying, ‘while chanting I am not able to focus. My mind is going here and there.’So, we will try to know about the instructions given by the Lord to Arjuna.Daily we chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare, we chant this Mantra. Mantra means that which delivers our mind. Every day we chant, remembers the Holy name in the association of devotees, online or offline.

Sub-theme: what is good, chanting or kirtan?

Sometimes devotees ask, what is good, chanting or kirtan? So chanting is for our self-benefit and kirtan is good for other’s benefit and with that we also get benefitted. We give morning time for chanting and evening time for kirtan or lecture or preaching. In other words, morning time is to take in and evening time is to give, to distribute that which we have gained, which bliss and mercy we have gained.

Bharata-bhumitehailamanusya-janmayara
janmasarthakakarikara para-upakara

Translation-

“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.”[CCĀdi 9.41]

So, in the morning we do chanting and, in the evening, kirtan or giving lecture. But sometimes we feel that when we chant alone, we cannot concentrate our mind. Alone we have to fight with the mind, but as we are with devotees then it becomes very easy. And in kirtan there are mrdanga, karataletc, so we can easily concentrate our mind. Both are very important. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did kirtan as well as chanting.

hari-bhakti-param hari-nama-dharam
kara-japa-karamhari-nama-param
nayanesatatampranayasru-dharam
pranamamisaci-suta-gaura-varam

Translation-

He is absorbed in devotion to Sri Hari. He maintains the chanting of the names of Hari. While chanting He counts the holy names on the fingers of His hands. He is addicted to the name of Hari. He always has tears of love welling in His eyes. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.[Sacisuta Astakam-3 by SarvabhaumaBhattacarya]

Sub-theme: Best way to purify the heart

Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to chant and Gosvamis also used to chant on beads. Our Acharya taught us that chanting is important and kirtan is also important. But today we will try to know more about chanting from the Bhagavad Gita and Gita Mahatmya and from Bhagavatam. So,in Gita Mahatmya there is one verse-

maline mocanampumsam, jala-snanamdine dine
sakridgitamrita-snanam, samsara-mala-nashanam

Translation-

One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.[Gita Mahatmya by Adi Sankaracarya Text 3]

maline mocanampumsamWhen our body gets maline, dirty, then we take bath, jala-snanam dine dine, every day. Similarly, to clean our mind what we need to do? sakridgitamrita-snanam, samsara-mala-nashanam, dirt of material world though we do not want, it comes in our mind. Do this, do that, this is good, this is bad, like this the material dirt fills our mind. We have only one heart. To whom we should give it? To the Lord! Lord is everything. If we will give our heart to Him then everything else will be automatically satisfied. Yasmin tuṣṭejagattuṣṭam: if the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied, everyone is satisfied.Only Lord can control our mind. Maya tries to pull our mind and Maya is Lord’s energy. Many times,Prabhupada said to his disciples, Maya is as powerful like Krsna. She is Krsna’s Maya and only by the Lord she could be conquered. So Gitamrta, or Namamrta, mantras enter through our ears, and with that samsara-mala-nashanam, the dirt which is on our brain and heart that gets cleaned out. That’s why every day the morning time, Brahma muhurata time we give for chanting of Holy names, because of that we do not get affected by the dirt of material world. Therefore, it is said that the easiest way to control the mind is Hare Krishna Mahamantra. With this Mantra our heart gets purified.

‘śraddhā’-śabde — viśvāsakahesudṛḍhaniścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kailesarva-karma kṛtahaya

Translation–

Śraddhā is confident, firm faith that by rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable to the discharge of devotional service.[CC Madhya 22.62]

If with niścaya, determination we will chant every day in the morning, then what happens?

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhunaya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-cittekarayeudaya

Translation-

Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.[CC Madhya 22.107]

śravaṇādi-śuddha-cittekarayeudaya, our heart gets purified and kṛṣṇe bhakti kailesarva-karma kṛtahaya. There is no need of any other activity for heart’s purification if we are chanting daily in the morning. The easiest way to control our mind is Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. And the Lord Himself said in the Bhagavad Gita-

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājīmāṁnamaskuru
māmevaiṣyasiyuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation-

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.[Bg. 9.34]

Lord has given this verse, 9.34. The same verse He repeated again. We keep repeating the important things. So, the Lord repeated the first two lines, but this time He said, this is not just My opinion, but I confirm this-

manmana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasisatyamte
pratijanepriyo’si me

Translation-

“Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”[Bg. 18.65]

This is satyam te, truth. I promise you this because you are dear to Me. First, He said, man-manā, engage your mind in Me. We do that, but then various thoughts keep coming in the mind. So next time in eighteenth chapter Lord is saying, satyam, I am saying this truth and I promise you this. Lord has given this seminar to Arjuna. I am trying to give a glimpse. ‘How to control the mind.’

Sub-theme: if you act enthusiastically, enthusiasm comes automatically

Many times, we think, should I do this or not? Sometimes it is required to do it, but our mind does not get ready for that. One time, one devotee asked Prabhupada, ‘Swamiji, I do not feel to offer obeisances.’ But Prabhupada said, ‘yet you have to offer obeisances.’ Once one devotee said, ‘if you act enthusiastically, enthusiasm comes automatically.’ At least in the beginning we have to act. Then gradually this act will become fact. Our mind will react. Similarly, we have to think that whether my mind wants or not, I have to do this. As it was said by Prabhupada, khābo ki khābonāyadikhāotupauṣeif mind is thinking ‘should I eat or not’, that time better is don’t eat. If stomach is not cleaned, Jābo ki jābonāyadijāutuśauce, should I go to clean my stomach or not, then I must go. To eat or not, means no need to eat. But for cleaning the stomach, to go or not, then better we should go. And if there is question of opening mind to someone then we should open our mind in front of any right person, at right time and right place. Similarly, our mind should be cleaned. Therefore, there are mentors, guides, counselors and Siksa Gurus, Diksa Guru, so that we can open our mind to someone. Lord also tried to make Arjuna understand and Arjuna understood. Here the peace formula is given. It is given in Bhagavad Gita that peace is-

bhoktāraṁyajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁsarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvāmāṁśāntimṛcchati

Translation-

The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.[Bg. 5.29]

Lord is the ultimate enjoyer, proprietor and owner. He is everything.  And in the fifth and sixth verse of sixth chapter, sometimes Guru Maharaj has also given class on this. We will try to understand this in brief.

What is the purpose of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s incarnation?

patita-pāvana-hetutavaavatāra
mosama patita prabhu nāpāibeāra

Translation-

Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is first.[Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu song by Narottama Das Thakur]

Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to liberate us, but we ourselves must have to take efforts, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu will help. We have to accept that ‘O Lord I am fallen, mosama patita prabhu’. When we will endeavor then seeing our efforts Lord will be pleased and will help us, will give us Mantra. Prabhupada has given one analogy, we can see the sun with the help of light, but we cannot see even our hand in the dark. Even though we have eyes, and when there is no light, no knowledge, then we cannot see even our hand. Only by the mercy of the Lord we can see everything.

And then in the sixth chapter it is said that it is up to us whether the mind is our friend or enemy. We have to choose. It is said-

bandhurātmātmanastasya
yenātmaivātmanājitaḥ
anātmanastuśatrutve
vartetātmaivaśatruvat

Translation-

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.[BG 6.6]

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is best friend, but one who has failed to do so, for him mind is worst enemy. Therefore, it is very important toconquer the mind. But it is not easy. Arjuna has said

cañcalaṁ hi manaḥkṛṣṇa
pramāthibalavaddṛḍham
tasyāhaṁmanye
vāyorivasuduṣkaram

Translation-

The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.[Bg. 6.34]

Sub-theme: Balance and tolerance to conquer the mind

So, we have only two options, either friend or enemy. If we will conquer it then friend, if we will lose then enemy. So, Lord has given the solution. With balance and tolerance, we can do it.

jitātmanaḥpraśāntasya
paramātmāsamāhitaḥ
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu
tathāmānāpamānayoḥ

Translation-

For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquility. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.[BG 6.7]

Whatever situation is there, comfortable or not, good or bad, we have to balance and tolerate. As we heard that one devotee said to Prabhupada, ‘I do not feel to offer obeisances.’Prabhupada said, first you try to do it. If you are not feeling enthusiastic then you act, then mind will react, then it will become fact.Even though you are not feeling to do it, but if you will act enthusiastically then enthusiasm will come automatically. When we will bow down and offer obeisances then it will become our habit. In this way our mind will be controlled. In the beginning we have to put our efforts, then the Lord will shower His mercy. We have to keep balance between happiness and sadness, heat and cold, honor and disrespect, good and bad, day and night. Balancing is very important. If we will not balance then we will have to tolerate. Then in next verse Lord instructs Arjuna

yatoyatoniścalati
manaścañcalamasthiram
tatas tatoniyamyaitad
ātmanyevavaśaṁnayet

Translation-

“From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.” [BG 6.26]

Wherever your mind will go bring it back. And then at the end Lord gave the essence.

śrī-bhagavānuvāca
asaṁśayaṁmahā-bāho
mano durnigrahaṁcalam
abhyāsenatukaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate

Translation-

“Lord ŚrīKṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.”[BG 6.35]

There are two things, practice and renunciation. Both are very important and we must do that. You have to do practice and detachment with determination. Practice to practice. In the beginning somehow engage the body, the senses, then the effect will be seen on mind.

yena tenaprakāreṇamanaḥkṛṣṇeniveśayet
sarvevidhi-niṣedhāsyuretayorevakiṅkarāḥ

Translation-

One should fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa by any means. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of this principle.[Brs. 1.2.4]

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said-

smartavyaḥsatataṁviṣṇur
vismartavyonajātucit
sarvevidhi-niṣedhāḥsyur
etayorevakiṅkarāḥ

Translation-

Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.[CC Madhya 22.113]

sarvevidhi-niṣedhāḥsyuretayorevakiṅkarāḥ -All other rules and regulations are servants of this rule and what is this rule? smartavyaḥsatataṁviṣṇurvismartavyonajātucitWe have to constantly remember the Lord. Then we will never forget Him. One day Guru Maharaj said, we are Lord’s and Lord is ours. Lord become charioteer of our mind and He is our companion as well. Vaisnavas are also our guide as well as companions. Caitanya Mahaprabhu always used to say, mora mana — vṛndāvana

anyerahṛdaya — mana, mora mana — vṛndāvana,
‘mane’ ‘vane’ eka kari’ jāni
tāhāṅtomāra pada-dvaya, karāhayadiudaya,
tabetomārapūrṇakṛpāmāni

Translation-

Speaking in the mood of ŚrīmatīRādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vṛndāvana, I consider My mind and Vṛndāvana to be one. My mind is already Vṛndāvana, and since You like Vṛndāvana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.[CC Madhya 13.137]

When we will make our mind Vrndavana, then Lord will reside there, will not go anywhere else.

So, the process of cleansing our heart begins with sravan.

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhunaya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-cittekarayeudaya

Translation-

Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, the living entity naturally awakens. [CC Madhya 22.107]

Sravan is at the first place in navadha bhakti. By Sravan, hearing our mind gets purified and then it becomes place of the Lord.

tomarahridoyesadagovinda-visram
govindakohena—mora vaishnavaparan

Translation-

Your heart is always the resting place of Lord Govinda, and Lord Govinda says, “The Vaishnavas are in
My heart.”[From ei-baro karuna koro vaishnava gosai-5, by Narottama Das Thakur]

Govind resides in the hearts of vaishnavas. So, if we want to give our mind to the Lord, we do give our body, we apply tilak

āmāranitāi mile nābholā mana
gaura mile na
sarāgāymākhilatilaka
gaura mile nā.

Translation-

O Lost Mind You cannot find my Lord Nityananda as well as Lord Gauranga. You have smeared
your whole body with tilak but still cannot find Gaura chaand.[Songāmāranitāi mile nā]

That we are doing. So along with body our mind will also come. Right now, it is the exam time for the mind. In the devotee association we easily pass exam of the body, but for the exam of mind we alone have to fight. Therefore, we will make this mind a devotee. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, Mora mana Vrindavan. And Gosvamis who were at Govardhan, yet they said-

he rādhevraja-devīke ca lalite he nanda-sūnokutaḥ
śrī-govardhana-kalpa-pādapa-tale kālindī-vane kutaḥ
ghoṣantāvitisarvatovraja-pure khedairmahā-vihvalau
vanderūpa-sanātanauraghu-yugauśrī-jīva-gopālakau

Translation-

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who were chanting very loudly everywhere in Vrndavana, shouting, “Queen of Vrndavana, Radharani! O Lalita! O son of Nanda Maharaja! Where are you all now? Are you just on the hill of Govardhana, or are you under the trees on the bank of the Yamuna? Where are you?” These were their moods in executing Krsna consciousness. [Sri Sad-Goswamyastakam-8, by Srinivasa Acarya]

They used to call, where are You Radharani, where are You Krishna? In one purport Prabhupada says, it is said in Amrtabindu that-

mana evamanuṣyāṇāṁ
kāraṇaṁ bandha-mokṣayoḥ
bandhāyaviṣayāsaṅgo
muktyainirviṣayaṁmanaḥ

Translation-

“For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation.” [ViṣṇuPurāṇa 6.7.28]

Lord Himself is saying this. Mind is the cause of bondage as well as liberation. When the mind is attached to sense gratification then it is the cause of bondage. When the mind is detached from the sense objects, then it is the cause is liberation. When our mind will be engaged in Krishna Consciousness then it will free us from material bondages. And when Lord is residing in our heart then – Mora mana Vrindavan. It is Vrndavana. Where there is Lord Krsna, that place is dham.

And what does mind do?I do not like these things. I like those things. Then what we have to do? Which things we have to accept and which things to reject? So, Sanatan Goswami says, and in the scriptures, it is given-

ānukūlyasyasaṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasyavarjanam
rakṣiṣyatītiviśvāso
goptṛtvevaraṇaṁtathā
ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhāśaraṇāgatiḥ

 Translation-

‘The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one’s guardian or master, full self-surrender, and humility.[Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.676]

Sub-theme: Sankalpa and Vikalpa

There are two things- sankalpa and vikalpa. Accept the favorable ones, reject the unfavorable. In this way gradually along with body, mind will also get surrendered. According to acharyas there are two definitions of sankalp and of vikalpa. Sankalpa means we have options, do this or that. Sankalpa means determination, I will do this; first, we should have clear vision of the decision. And then another definition is I will definitely do this. I will be ready to do this. Means preparation to take the sankalpa and then the decision. If we do not have anything in front of us then how we will do it? So, to take sankalp, there should be determination, preparation and decision. We have a seed and soil. If we will sow the seed in the soil then there will be a plant. If seed is good but soil is not good then plant will not grow. If the soil is good but seed is not good then also it is of no use. Both should be good. Balance is required. Similarly, the situation and our mind’s preparation, both should be there.

What is the definition of vikalpa? Option and efforts to reach there, to that process. There is vikalpa means there are options, we can go, and for that Sankalp is required. We have to accept what is favorable and reject unfavorable. So, in vikalpa it comes which one we have to accept and which one to reject. There are two things, determination and discrimination. There are many things. I am telling briefly. So, determination and discrimination, determination comes bymaking efforts, doing services again and again and discrimination comes with knowledge, faith, sadhana, by keeping down the false ego.

Once there was conversation between Prabhupada and Nandarani Mataji, on 11^thAugust 1976. In the morning,Prabhupada was going and Nandarani Mataji said, this is also in devotees, ‘should I accept this and reject that, do this and don’t do that’. These sankalpavikalpas are there till we have freedom. In devotees also these things are there. This sankalpavikalpas, choices come in our mind till we have freedom. So Prabhupada said, in devotees also these things are there; the old things which we have done, they still have some effect on our mind. As there are bubbles hidden somewhere in water, similarly there are thoughts hidden in our mind. We need to clean them. And this happens gradually, when we take efforts. Sometimes we do not like, we accepted that opinion because of some situation or reason, but mind is not accepting it. Therefore, in the beginning just do it, then gradually there will be cleansing, purification and then mind will accept it. Sometimes devotees get entangled in do this and don’t do that. This is because of old habits. This fan is moving. When we will switch it off, it will stop gradually. We see that it is still moving, but it is slowing down and going to stop soon. We need to keep moving ahead, then we can take the decision. So, determination comes after discrimination. Utsah, niscayaanddhairyawill take us ahead. Similarly, our mind fools us by telling do this and don’t do that. In Bhagavad Gita Lord says-

aneka-citta-vibhrāntāmoha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ
prasaktāḥkāma-bhogeṣupatantinarake ’śucau

Translation-

Thus, perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell.[BG 16.16]

Those who have demoniac mentality, they do not have knowledge, intelligence, discrimination, so their mind remains in anxiety, illusion and gets affected to sense objects. So, what is the solution?

vyavasāyātmikābuddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhāhyanantāś ca
buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām

Translation-

Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.[BG 2.41]

Those who are determined, they have one fix goal, to attain Lord’s devotional service, Lord’s devotees and the Lord. All three things, Bhagavan, Bhakti and Bhakta. It is known as prayojana, sambandha andabhidheya. After starting the process, we will automatically attain prayojan. One-timePrabhupada said, ‘Krishna consciousness is successful, it drags one to success.’ For that we have to tie ourselves with the rope of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna KrishnaKrishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare. We have only one goal and that is Lord. Lord says to Arjuna, O Kurunandana, you are one of the Kurus, but your intelligence is fixed, determined and not divided in many branches. EkehaKurunandana, you have only one goal. So, surrender! We do not have to divide in two different branches. We should have one goal. Get up in the morning and do chanting, then rest things will gradually fall in place. So many questions are asked regarding mind.

yatatohyapikaunteyapuruṣasyavipaścitaḥ
indriyāṇipramāthīniharantiprasabhaṁmanaḥ

Translation-

The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.[Bg. 2.60]

Senses are so strong that it carries away even the intelligent person. Then what is the solution?

tānisarvāṇisaṁyamyayuktaāsīta mat-paraḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇitasyaprajñāpratiṣṭhitā

Translation-

One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.[Bg. 2.61]

So, first we have to engage our senses in the service of the Lord and mind will also get engaged. But if we cannot engage our senses then engage mind, senses will follow. There is a ladder, first sense objects, then senses, then mind and then intelligence. Gradually we have to progress.

Avanti Brahmana gave one definition. He said, this mind is the biggest problem and one who will control it will havesthir buddhi, absolute determination. This is given in Bhagavatam.

dvijauvāca

nāyaṁjano me sukha-duḥkha-hetur
nadevatātmāgraha-karma-kālāḥ
manaḥparaṁkāraṇamāmananti
saṁsāra-cakraṁparivartayedyat

Translation-

The brāhmaṇa said: These people are not the cause of my happiness and distress. Neither are the demigods, my own body, the planets, my past work, or time. Rather, it is the mind alone that causes happiness and distress and perpetuates the rotation of material life.[ŚB 11.23.42]

Mind is the cause of all problems.

mana evamanuṣyāṇāṁ
kāraṇaṁ bandha-mokṣayoḥ
bandhāyaviṣayāsaṅgo
muktyainirviṣayaṁmanaḥ

Translation-

“For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation.” [ViṣṇuPurāṇa 6.7.28]

These are my bondages but I will cross over it by being engaged in the services, by keeping hold of Krishna’s lotus feet. Then there is sannyasa mantra-

etāṁsaāsthāyaparātma-niṣṭhām
adhyāsitāṁpūrvatamairmaharṣibhiḥ
ahaṁtariṣyāmiduranta-pāraṁ
tamomukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva

Translation-

I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. This was approved by the previous ācāryas, who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.[ŚB 11.23.57]

This is approved by the acharyas who were fixed in the service of Krishna. We are not the only one who are fighting against mind.

vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayāmāmupāśritāḥ
bahavojñāna-tapasāpūtā mad-bhāvamāgatāḥ

Translation-

Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me – and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me. [Bg. 4.10]

Many acharyas have gone back to the Godhead after purifying their minds. There are many examples. We are not only one and if we will remain alone then we cannot win the mind. Thinking feeling and willing are the functions of the mind. Mind thinks and it is having feelings. It keeps on trying to know more and it always stays in all three times, past, present and future. So, we do not have to think what happened on the past. We just have to accept it. And we do not have to worry what will happen in future. We have to remain in present and think where am I, what am I doing. Then only we can save ourselves.

We can have self-realization. Past is gone. When future will come don’t know. Right now, present is in hand and we have to act accordingly. At present some devotees are having bead bags in their hands. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna KrishnaKrishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare. In present we have to win over the mind. Bhakti Vinod Thakur said, in the morning we have to beat our mind with shoes and in the evening, we should beat our mind with broom. Then we will win. This is philosophy. To beat with shoes means have to chant and read, it is same like beating with shoes. And in the evening, all dust will be accumulated. So, we need to clean it with broom. In the morning sometimes mind becomes hard. So have to beat it with shoes. That means have to wake up early and start chanting.

This mind always keeps on increasing the problems. If the problem is small then the mind makes it very big. It always keeps on imagining. What if this will happen, what is this will not happen? It gets stuck in favorable, unfavorable, sankalpa, vikalpa, etc. And then sometimes due to lack of devotee association and determination we miss many opportunities. Because there is no knowledge, no proper understanding of philosophy, then we do not understand the reality and miss the opportunity.

That’s the problem. He doesn’t understand. It magnifies the problem. If a small child gets hurt, he started to cry, mummy! But mother says, no problem, dear, it’s not big thing. So, we need to teach our mind also like a child. This is the time of chanting. I am with the devotees in temple. Like that. Then imagine the pleasure! Mind tries to imagine pleasure in sense gratification. For example, a prostitute imagines pleasure in her work, but that is not true. She just imagines. We have to make the mind understand, not to magnify the problem.

It neglects the opportunity. Monkey always keeps on postponing the work of making a house. I will it next time. Right now, it is raining, so I will construct it afterwards. Now it’s summer, no need of house. Like that he keeps on postponing. So, if we will keep on neglecting the opportunities then we will roam like a monkey.

Then comes reality. In the cinema theatre people gets absorbed in the movie due to darkness. But as soon as there comes light they realize the reality. Therefore, we need to understand the reality with the help of Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam and the devotees. Mind your mind! We can control our mind. And in Bhagavad Gita solution is given. So, we must conquer the mind, but how to do that? With the help of mantra, man trayateiti mantra, one which controls the mind.

One last formula I will tell you. Accept, tolerate and go on. If we will listen then we will improve and if we will read then we will progress. So, we should keep on chanting and by the mercy of Lord, Guru and vaishnavas we should control the mind.

Thank you.

Sub-theme: Questions and answers

Question by Mitravrnda Rani Mataji- Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Prabhuji sometimes we get fully focused while chanting. We feel that there is only Krishna and me. But sometimes we cannot focus at all. When we chant without focus, then will it be of any use?

Answer- Yes Mataji, in this world there is always duality. Sometimes we can focus and sometimes we cannot. The senior devotees always think about the Lord. But we, in case of a house wife, we think this needs to wash and this news to do; if we are working in bank, then we will think about from whom to get money and all. So, mind will keep on running here and there. We need to endeavor. Yato yatoniscalati, wherever it will go, we have to bring out back. From many births, life times, mind is doing this same job of running here and there. It will not come on the path of devotion so easily. We have to keep walking on this path. Gradually we will achieve the goal. One day we will be successful. Right now, we are not on pure stage. When we will be on pure stage, then our mind will be focused on one goal and there won’t be many branches, bahu sakha. To clean the house completely we need time. It is not work of a day. Brooming, mopping, cleaning every cupboard and so many things are there. This is not work of one day. But we should keep on doing it. One day out will get cleansed completely.

Question by Damodar Priya Mataji –Prabhuji, I do not want to do any offence but unknowingly I commit offence. Like in mind we think bad about someone, but later on we think, no we should not think like that. So, is the offence done by the mind will get counted?

Answer –Thereare many faults of Kali yuga, but there is one benefit,

kalerdoṣa-nidherājann
astihyekomahānguṇaḥ
kīrtanādevakṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥparaṁvrajet

Translation-

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇamahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.[ŚB 12.3.51]

There are so many bad things about Kaliyuga, but there is one good thing and that is kīrtanādevakṛṣṇasya. We are in Kaliyuga, there will be faults like looking at the shortcomings of others and all. As we fall down in the water, we will get wet. But we should not sit just by saying, I got wet. We have to hold the rope given by acaryas and Parampara. Hold the rope, acaryas will pull us. Kaya, manasa, vaca, first it comes in mind and then in words and then in action. So first we have to control our mind. In satyayuga, if we think bad in mind, then we have to face the result. Ahilya devi, thought in mind, but had to face the result. But in Kaliyuga, if we will think good in mind, then we will get the good result. As there is example of one brahmin, who made sweet rice in mind and in reality, his finger got burnt. If we will think bad, we will not have to face the bad result. But that doesn’t mean that we can keep on thinking bad by our mind.

Question by Ugrasen Prabhu- Hare Krishna Prabhu, Dandavat Pranam. In the morning while chanting after waking up early, we keep on thinking the services we have to do in the day. What is the solution to this?

Answer- As it is said, if morning is given for chanting, then whole day is ours. Initiated devotees should do maximum chanting in the morning. Because we get the energy. In the advertisement of Chyavanprash, he eats it in morning and then goes to school. In the school even if someone sneeze on him, he doesn’t get affected. Similarly, when we first do our chanting and then start our work, then the bad thoughts of colleagues or boss or other things will not affect us. Prabhupada has said, those who are living near temple, they must go to temple for mangal arati. Those who are not near temple, they should go to their centers. Do you want to go to Goloka? Then must have to follow all these things.

Question by Shyamala Mataji- Sometimes while cooking or chanting we think bad about any devotee, but immediately another thought comes in mind that we should not think like this. And then we start chanting. And again, we come back to that bad thought. Will this give bad result?

Answer- Dirt is dirt, whether it is small or big. Have to clean it. One sannyasi said, in our mind also bad thoughts come. But we immediately conquer over them with the help of intelligence. Small child will try to put finger in fan, we will immediately stop him. Similarly, when bad thoughts come in our mind, immediately we should start chanting loudly. Mind will become alert. Therefore, we chant loudly. Once I asked Guru Maharaj, many thoughts are coming in mind while chanting. So, Maharaj said, ‘thought about chanting; do not chant the thoughts.’ So, this is important.

Question by Panchali Mataji- Prabhuji, you said in the morning we chant for our own benefit and in the evening, we do kirtan to benefit others. I liked it. At least we are giving something to others. Prabhuji my question is even one round we can not keep full focus. What to do?

Answer- Why Prabhupada said 16 rounds and not one round? One pure name can take us back to Godhead. But we can not chant that pure name as our mind is very flickering. In Hare Krsna Mantra also there are only three words. Hare, Krsna and Rama! We do not chant Hare HareHare, but in between comes Krsna and then Rama. So, the mind gets focused. In the beginning to drive bike we get afraid, but by practice we becomes expert. In the beginning we say to new devotees, very good you did one round. Because in the beginning one round is also very difficult. Appreciation is required in the beginning. So, Prabhupada said 16 rounds. By throwing many stones, at least one will hit the target, similarly by chanting 16 rounds, we will chant at least one pure name.

Hare Krishna!

Date: 15 May 2024
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj 
Topic: Spread the Mercy

HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj:

Hare Krishna!
Today, we have 1835 participants. In just one day, the number has reached this level. The credit goes to you all. The target is to reach 2000 by July.Butyou have increased the number by 125 in just one day.

Good Job!!
Keep up the good work. Spread the mercy.
People usually pray for themselves but Gaudiya Vaishnavas pray for the welfare of others too.

Paropakarayaidamsariram

Translation:

This body is given by God for helping others.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had said that we should make our life successful by helping others.

Of course, Many of you have worked hard.This will bring foremost joy to the Lord. It gives happiness to the Lord when he sees a person chanting Hare Krishna.

phalenaparicīyate

Translation:

one’s success or defeat in any activity is understood by its result

He will be pleased with the person chanting and also with the person who inspired this person to chant. A Gaudiya Vaishnava should be bhajanandi as well as gosthyanandi. A devotee should talk to others to tell them things for their benefit. We should preach and spread this movement.

This conference is not limited to my disciples.All the followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Srila Prabhupada is welcome.By this we will definitely get a profit.

They may be the disciples of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj or HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj. You can invite them also. All are welcomed in this conference. When Krishna becomes pleased, then we are pleased and vice versa. Krishna’s happiness is the cause of our happiness. Laughter or happiness is contagious.When we see a person happy or laughing, we also begin to laugh. This is known as Laughter therapy.Whenever we visit Nanada Bhavan to take darshan of Little Krishna and Balaram, the Pujaris there make you hold the strings of Lord’s Craddle and ask you to laugh, they say it will give joy to Krishna.

Vaishnav Song, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Daya Karo More, By Srila Narottama Das Thakur:

ha ha prabhu nityananda, premanandasukhi
kripabalokana koro amiboroduhkhi

Translation:

My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I
have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put Your glance over me, then I may also
become happy.

If we are unhappy, we can be happy just by seeing the joyous Krishna. When you meet others, do share some good news.Something that inspires others.Do not share the offenses and sins of others.

Nectar Of Instruction, Verse 2:

atyāhāraḥprayāsaś ca
prajalponiyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca laulyaṁ ca
ṣaḍbhirbhaktirvinaśyati

Translation:

One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.

You can remember and share the pastimes of Krishna and Panduranga.

BG, Verse 10.9:

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥparasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁnityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Translation:

The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.

This will bring Joy to them and you will also feel joyous. Don’t forget you all are preachers. You all are the protectors and preachers of religious principles.
I named one of my disciples as “Dharmrakshak”. But this title and duty belongs to you all.
Its’s not limited to him only.

BG, Verse 4.8:
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation:
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.

When you establish or protect Dharma then Dharma will also protect you.

Mahabharata, Vana Parva 313/128:

dharmevahatohantidharmorakshatirakshitah।
tasmaddharmonahantavyo maa no dharmohatoऽvadhit॥

Translation:

The phrase means, the one who destroys dharma, dharma destroys them, and one who protects dharma, dharma also will protect them. That’s why dharma should never be destroyed so that the destroyed dharma can never destroy us.

You might have a big list of friendsin your mobile phones, you can invite them to join the conference.
This is a zoom temple. You can invite everyone to join.
If you practice such attempts then definitely, one day you will be very happy.Good days will come for you as well as for the world. If as much as Bhagvad Gita will be distributed, Prasad will be distributed and yatras will be there.

Every Iskcon Temple is a place of pilgrimage and also you can transform your home to a place of pilgrimage.You can maintain your home in such a way that every visitor could feel connected to the Lord.

SB 1.13.10:

bhavad-vidhābhāgavatās
tīrtha-bhūtāḥsvayaṁvibho
tīrthī-kurvantitīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthenagadābhṛtā

Translation:

My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.

You can keep scriptures.You can establish Grahstha Ashrams.The place where we establish the deities and perform deity worship or Naam Sankirtan, that place is Tirtha. That is how, we can make the whole world a tirtha.

You should not just limit your life to a routine life.You should continue to swim towards the shore. These Tirthas are like the beaches or an Islands.
A drowning man feels, if somehow, he could get to theIsland, then he will be protected.We have been entrapped in this cycle of birth and death.
But now we are heading towards the end of the tunnel.We are chanting the Holyname.We are performing Naam Sankirtan.Also, we are honouring prasadam.Our hope is association of devotees. We are moving towards tirtha.
He needs to return back home back to Godhead in this life itself.
Is anyone willing to share something?
You can share some preaching reports or some realizations.

HG Shyamalangi Mata ji:

Recently, we were hearing the Glorification of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj
that he did the book distribution so nicely. We are facing some challenges with preaching in Dubai. I was wondering how to continue to preach and book distribution.

I have tried it online and send messages in the Indian Women of Dubai group. As a result, she received 100+ responses.So many ladies came to take books and to take Bhagavad Gita classes. One lady came through that group was of my society. I am seeking your blessings for the same to continue and spread the Krishna Conscious movement.

HG Purnanandi Mata ji:

At the time of Corona, you have instructed to start class on Zoom. I have started a group of 100 devotees during covid.
They read Bhagwad Gita and now they are reading SB Canto 3.
We want to read complete SB. We are preaching to the devotees in Pakistan and some of them are going to accept initiation also.

HG Ratnabhusan Prabhu Ji:

Also, we are preaching at 2 Centres. I was preaching in Chilvara for 2 years. Now HH BhaktiPrem Swami Maharaj instructed me to preach in Naya District. We have started 2 centres here. Around 45 devotees are coming to Sri Pandharpur Dham. I am seeking your blessings to serve you.

HG Madhavi Kumari Mata ji:

I am running a centre at my home.
I am also coming to Pandharpur Dham with a group of 11 devotees and 5 amongst them are going to accept initiation.Also, I am raising funds for Pandharpur Project.I am seeking your blessings to preach in the movement.

HG Madhavali Prabhu Ji:

Today we will start kids’ class for 12 kids. Many devotees are coming to Pandharpur..

HG Bilwa Mangala Thakur Prabhu Ji:

We have started a centre with the help of other senior devotees in Gangotri. Last Monday we did nagarsankirtan and aarti also. 15-20 devotees attended the very first class. Also, one mata ji accepted BG. I am seeking your blessings to preach well.

HG Dharmarakshak PrabhuJi:

I have written an email to Guru Maharaj with preaching reports. I am requesting for some assistance from your end. I am trying to preach in tribal community and running an eduacational institute for them and distributing prasadam and people are chanting Hare Krishna.

HG Vanshivadan Prabhu Ji:

We have pledged to distribute 7500 BG from the day of Akshaya Trityaas part of the Vyaspuja Offering as being a part of 75000 book distribution.

HG Lila Priya Shyama Mata ji:

As part of Guru Maharaj’s instructions, we have started a zoom temple which has 100 regular participants. I have got an opportunity to organize Disciple course at Pakistan. We are also planning to go for Padyatra.
Also we have pledged to distribute 75 BG by Guru Maharaj’s Vyaspuja as part of our offering for Guru Maharaj’s Vyaspuja.

HG Badarayan Prabhu Ji:

We are preaching at Schools. We have started a Gita Champion League here. 500 kids participate among 50 schools. We have organized a competition at Junior and Senior level.

We have distributed the prize of 5100, 2100and 1100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd position and 25 consolation prizes are also distributed. We are organizing two summer camps also. One is from 30 may to 2 June, for small kids and another is from 3 June to 8 June.
In last 1 month, we have distributed 15 sets of SB and 10 sets of Chaitanya Charitamrita.

HG Kaunteya Prabhu Ji:

We had a very successful Rama Katha program of 9 days. We have also started many Nama Hattas. Also, a Glorification session for HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj was organized. We are also planning to preach bin various areas. We are trying to organize Vaishnavi Padayatra and we are also planning to come to Pandharpur for Vyaspuja. I am seeking your blessings for further preaching programs.

Japa Talk : 16^th May 2023 Hare Krsna!

Speaker:-HG Loknath Swami Maharaja

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare! Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare!!

You all can see on the side and behind a portrait of Shri Vrindavan Das Thakur. You all can see the deities of Shri Shri Gaur Nitai and Shri Jagannath. Welcome Gate is the same place where Vrindavan Das Thakur stayed inVrindavan. These are deities served by Shri Vrindavan Das Thakur in Mamgachi, Mayapur. You can also see his scripture Shri Chaitanya Bhagwat translated into English. You can see Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is doing Kirtan. You can also see his signature in the Pandu script.

Paramdekhedukhi,parasukhesukhi

Devotees become sad when they see others sad or in misery. They become happy when they see others happy. Participants are reduced today since yesterday when we had 1500 participants.

Like Children are motivated to go to school and again the next day they need to bemotivated to go to school. You shall continue your efforts and keep this room full. Similarly, new joining devotees would be happy. I would also be happy after seeing them and Krishna will be happy too. Yashaprasadabhagwatprasado, this is our ideology.

jivedayänämerucivaisnavasevanaihachäradharmanähisunasanätana

Hear, Sanätana! Kindness to all living being staste for the holy name, and service toVaisnavas—apart from these there is no other religion. This is the theme till the next Ekadashi! This is a campaign to increase the taste in the holy name, service to Vaishnavas, and kindness to all living beings. We will do all possible efforts to increase the taste in Holy Name. To increase the taste in Holy Name, we first need to service devotees, and second,we need to show kindness to all living beings. These three are the home work or one consolidated homework i.e. taste inthe holyname, service to Vaishnavas, and kindness to all living beings.

One of our targets is driven by the increase in the holyname’ stastei. e making this conference house full. That is onething. The second thing is reciting Shikha Astakaman drecitingor remembering the 10 offenses towards Hari Naam. We all need to understand and focus on these two items i.e. understanding Shiksha Astakam and understanding 10 offences towards Holy Name. When we learn about the 10 offences it talks about the prohibition. We shall not commit these mistakes or those mistakes. Shikha Astakam talks about how shall we do the Japa i.e. We shall do the Japa with pure devotion and surrender. This is also called law or method of practicing the Holy Name. Similarly, we have Service offenses, Vaishnav offenses, and deity service offenses that come under the 10 offenses. Offenses talks about what we shall not do. These are the dos and don’ts, Yam or Niyama. There is AsthangYog and DhayanaYog which Krishna explained in the sixth chapter of the Bhagwat Gita. Asthang Yog–The first two rules of Asthang Yogis Yam and Niyam. Yam–means the work which will take us to Yam Puri. Niyam – means the regulations or methods.

satataṁkīrtayantomāṁyatantaścadṛḍha-vratāḥ

namasyantaścamāṁbhaktyānitya-yuktāupāsate [Bhagwat Gita 9.14]

Our objective is to always perform Kirtan of Holy Name. What is the work of Gopis?

smartavyaḥsatataṁviṣṇurvismartavyonajātucitsarvevidhi-niṣedhāḥsyuretayorevakiṅkarāḥ

[Bṛhat-sahasra-nāma-stotra]CCMadhya22.113

Gopis only knows two things i.e. SmartavyahsatatamVisnur – Always remember Krishna and vismartavyonajātucit–never forget and always remember Krishna. Krishna Kanahiya Lal ki Jai! Radha Shyam Sundar Ki Jai! Hare Krishna! Radhe Krishna!

ārādhyobhagavānvrajeśa-tanayastad-dhāmavṛṇdāvanaṁramyakaścidupāsanāvraja-vadhu-varga-vīryakalpita

śrīmad-bhāgavatamamalaṁpurāṇaṁpremāpum-arthomahānśrī-caitanyamahāprabhormatamidaṁtatradaraḥnaparaḥ[Caitanya-mañjusā]

[The Supreme Personality of Godhead,the son of Nanda Mahārāja,is to be worshiped along with His transcendental abode, Vṛndāvana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopīs of Vṛndāvaṇa. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotles sauthorityon everything, and pure love of God is the ultimate goal of life for all men. These statements, for which we have the highest regard, are the opinion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.]

As per Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, one of the points is how shall we worship Krishna, we all shall worship Krishna similar to Gopis of Vrindavan. This is the recommendation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We shall always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna. Understanding Shiksha Astakam will help us to remember Krishna.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!  Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!!

When we chant this MahaMantra in the full mood of remembering Krishna. And when we avoid the offenses we will be able to do offense-free chanting of Holy Name.

aparadha-sunyaho’yelohakrishna-namakrishnamatakrishnapitakrishnadhanaprana from nadiya-godrume by Bhakti Vinod Thakur

We all need to very well understand these dos and don’ts till the next Ekadashi. We will have classes intheJapaTalkto haveadeeperunderstandingoftheShikhaAstakam.Wehaveprepared a syllabus

which will be covered by various speakers including me. I will be showing you the book which was covered during the Pad yatra. This book unfortunately is out of stock because of the high demand. Does any one of you have this book? Raise your hand in case you have.

Who all have these book can scan and distribute this book to all of you?

dadātipratigṛhṇātiguhyamākhyātipṛcchatibhuṅktebhojayatecaivaṣaḍ-vidhaṁprīti-lakṣaṇam NOI 4

This way you are going to help lots of devotees.We will not spend much time on this. If by any means it reaches you it would be very nice. Anyways padayatrapress need to reprint this book, but it will take time and you might not be able to get reprint version near soon. You can get it from Shyam Sundar Prabhuji fromVrindavan. He is one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable disciple of mine. He has compiled and written this book. We will discuss the 10 offenses and other offenses for the next 2 weeks.

mac-cittāmad-gata-prāṇābodhayantaḥparasparamkathayantaścamāṁnityaṁtuṣyanticaramantica [Bhagwat Gita 10.9]

Devotees will share their deeper understanding of these two topics and you can also share your opinion and understanding on the topic. This small thinking is actually not a small and can-do revolution in your consciousness. It can bring transformation in your behavior. We all believe that today’s you will not be there till next Ekadashi. You will be a different you after these 15 days. With these attempts Gauranga will be happy will all of you! Hari Hari!

These things are our objectives or our homework till the next Ekadashi! We will have a strong foundation in Devotion and on top of it we can build many more stories of devotion further. We can build high devotional buildings touching the skies. To have such buildings we need a strong foundation and this theme will provide the required foundation for the same.

Yam, and Niyam are the foundation of AshtangaYog. After this foundation only we can follow other asanaslikeAsana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi! If Yamand Niyam arenot stable then we will not have a stable foundation and it can lead to our destruction. We all will make our foundation very strong. This is our resolution to have a stable foundation. You all are also ready to have a strong foundation. I am proposing this resolution. Who all are ready to participate in this transformation journey? Is there anyone who is not interested in this journey, came forward?

It seems all of you are taking this resolution.

We will close this Japa talk with a discussion about Vrindavan Das Thakur’s Appearance Day. Vrindavan Das Thakur Ki Jai!

Vrindavan Das Thakur appeared at the same time as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! He was an in carnation of SrilaVyas Dev Ji! VyasDev appeared in the form of Vrindavan Das Thakur. When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wasin Jagannath Puri, aftertaking Sannyasa, that time Vrindavan Das Thakur appeared in Mamgachi, Modadruma-dvipa, Nawadweep! Wedon’t know all these places. Modadruma-dvipais in between Jahnudvipa and Rudradvipa. Elder brother of Srivas Thakur, Nalin Pandit’s daughter Narayani’s sonis Vrindavan Das Thakur. Narayani was also a very special devotee.When Narayani was only 4 years, Mahaprabhu revealed his Mahaprakash pastime for 7 pahrs (21 hours). Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Narayani to perform Kirtan during his Mahaprakash time. She performed Kirtan will full submission and involvement. She was crying and doing Kirtan. She was showcasing the eight types of devotions. Vrindavan Das Thakur was the son of such exemplified devotee Narayani. When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this material world, a complete spiritual universe appeared along with him on this earthas mentioned by Kavi Karnapura in his scripture, Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika. He mentions who from Krishna’s pastime appeared as what in Sri ChaitanyaMahaprabhu’s pastime. There he mentioned that Sri Vyas deva appeared as Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur.

Krishnaraj Kariraj Goswami was similar to Six Goswamis. He also wrote Sri Chaitanya Charitmrit. He has mentioned a lot about Vrindavan Das Thakur.

bhāgavatekṛṣṇa-līlāvarṇilāvedavyāsacaitanya-līlātevyāsa—vṛndāvanadāsa CC Ādi 11.55

Śrīla Vyāsadeva described the pastimes of Kṛṣṇain Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Vyāsa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Vṛndāvanadāsa. He is given a detailed explanation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in his scripture Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat! He is very well qualified to remove the darkness from this world from his scripture. Earlier Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur names his scripture Sri Chaitanya Mangal. But when he came to know that Lochan Das Thakur, another spiritual master,has also written a scripture named Sri Chaitanya Mangal, then he renamed his scripture as Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat.

bhāgavateyatabhakti-siddhānterasāralikhiyāchenaiṅhājāni’ kariyāuddhāra CC Ādi 8.37

In ŚrīCaitanya-maṅgala [later known as ŚrīCaitanya-bhāgavata] ŚrīlaVṛndāvanadāsaṬhākura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The way Sri Vyasadev has written Srimad Bhagwatam, similarly, Vrindavan Das Thakur has written in Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat, as mentioned by Krishna Raj Kaviraj Goswami.

manuṣyeracitenāreaichegranthadhanyavṛndāvana-dāsa-mukhevaktāśrī-caitanya CC Ādi 8.39

This scripture cannot be written by an ordinary person. The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Śrī VṛndāvanadāsaṬhākura.

vṛndāvana-dāsa-padekoṭinamaskāraaichegranthakari’teṅhotārilāsaṁsāra CC Ādi 8.40

I offermillionsofobeisances unto the lotus feetof VṛndāvanadāsaṬhākura. No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls. We offer our obeisances to Vrindavan Das Thakur who has given this scripture which has thecapability to overcome fallen souls from this material world. We have to study this Shri Chaitanya Bhagawat as well. Al though Srila Prabhupada has only given Sri Chaitanya Charitmrit to us. In case he had more time he could have translated Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat in English as well.

We will know the character and pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu only when we read both Sri Chaitanya Charitmrit and Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat. They complement each other. It is because the pastimes of nawadweepa re explained in detailin Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat by Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur. Only a few of these pastimes are explained by Krishnaraj Kaviraj Goswamiin Sri Chaitanya Charitmrit. Thismight be the policy Krishnaraj Kaviraj Goswami that he has either completely om it tedor written in short those pastimes which were written in detail by Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur.

Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur was the councilor and was close to Sri Nityanada Prabhu. He was very educated and initiated the disciple of Sri Nityanada Prabhu. If you want to read the pastimes of Nityanand Prabhu then also you have to read the Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat. It is so because Sri Chaitanya Charitmrit has very less description of the pastimes of Nityanand Prabhu! Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur became the benevolent disciple of universal spiritual master Nityanand Prabhu. It is because of the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu he wrote this magnificent scripture Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! Hestayed here for 82 years and disappeared after that from this material world.

As Prabhupada said if you want to know me, read my books. Similarly, if we want to know Sri Vrindavan  Das Thakur you shall read his books. Prabhupada also said that I will never die and will always remain alive with my books. Certainly! Similarly, Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur is also alive with his scripture. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given the gift of Sri Harinaam. Similarly, Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur, the expansion of Sri VedVyasa, has given Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat, a magnificent gift, as a gift to all of us. So we all shall read, listen and hear Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat along with Sri Chaitanya Charitamrit.

NitaiGaurPremamananda,HariHariBol!!

18 May 2024
Become a Yogi instead of Bhogi
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj

Hare Krsna. This holy name is also a medicine. We are providing you this medicine. This is the greatest cure of all. Thank you for inviting me and I welcome you all Yogis, you all are trying to become Yogis.

Krsna emphasizes to become yogi.

tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī
jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ
karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogī
tasmād yogī bhavārjuna (BG 6.46)

Translation: A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī.

This world is teaching us to become Bhogi’s(sense gratifiers). But the scriptures teach us to become yogis.

dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate
sangat sanjayate kamah
kamat krodho ‘bhijayate (BG 2.62)

Translation: While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

Yesterday when I met Ramadev Baba Ji, I told him that he is benefiting humanity at large by providing this facility of Karma Yoga. I told him that, I came here to express my gratitude towards him for this contribution.

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham (BG 4.7)

Translation: Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ paran-tapa (Bg. 4.2)

Translation: This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

When yoga is destroyed then Krsna descends.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge (Bg. 4.8)

Translation: To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.

Krsna appears in this material world from time to time to deliver the fallen souls of this material world. Also he sends his empowered representative for this cause. Ramdev Babaji Maharaj is also one such empowered personalities.

Ayurveda is also Veda (Upaveda). It’s the vani of the Lord. Keeping our body fit is a medium to attain our ultimate goal of keeping our souls fit by connecting ourselves to the Lord. Our body is an instrument to reach our goal which is Krsna consciousness. Once in history when people used to ask, Are you okay?

Then by default it used to mean that are you situated well in connection with the Lord. When we talk about our well-being then all these three aspects must be considered – Our body, mind and soul. We should not use our healthy body to enjoy this material world. If we do that, then once again we will develop disease.

Any disease originates from our mind. dhyayato visayan pumsah(BG 2.62). When the mind contemplates on the material desires too much then we develop such disease in our body as a result.

There are 2 types of diseases – Physical Sickness and Mental Sickness.

Once I read a research paper, it said, America is on top in terms of the most diseased people in the world. I was not amazed with this report. It’s natural, a place where we have the largest number of people with enjoying propensities then definitely we will have the most diseased people there.

Krsna has innumerable names and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is the Lord himself and he has given us this means to connect with him through the chanting of this Mahamantra. Please chant this Mahamantra with me.

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam (SB 7.5.23)

Translation: Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)

These 9 processes of devotional service start with hearing and then with the chanting and this will result in complete wellness.

cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambhdhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate shri-krishna-sankirtanam (Shikshashtakam 1)

Translation: Glory to the Shri Krishna sankirtana (congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names), which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. That sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

Also it’s my humble request to all of you. The lifestyle you are learning here, you should carry these practices with you.

oṃ sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścidduḥ khabhāgbhaveta
(Sarve Bhavantu Prayer)

Translation: May all sentient beings be at peace, may no one suffer from illness, May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer. Om peace, peace, peace.

You should not be acting like an elephant who bathes nicely in the river, and as soon as he comes out he throws all the dirt on himself and becomes dirty again.

kvacin nivartate ’bhadrāt
kvacic carati tat punaḥ
prāyaścittam atho ’pārthaṁ
manye kuñjara-śaucavat (SB 6.1.10)

Translation: Sometimes one who is very alert so as not to commit sinful acts is victimized by sinful life again. I therefore consider this process of repeated sinning and atoning to be useless. It is like the bathing of an elephant, for an elephant cleanses itself by taking a full bath, but then throws dust over its head and body as soon as it returns to the land.

You should adapt these practices in your life and practice them on a regular basis.

 

19 May 2024
Pastimes of Sri Rama and Mother Sita
Speaker: HG Anantashesha prabhu

So we were hearing the description of the divine form of mother Sita. We will continue to hear the descriptions of her glories on this auspicious occasion of Mohini Ekadashi. We shall continue with the description of Mother Sita as shared by Lord Rama to his younger brother Lakshman. Just like one cannot attain Sri Krsna without the mercy of Srimati Radharani similarly, one cannot attain Sri Rama without the mercy of Sri Sita devi. In the last session we heard Sri Rama is expressing his amazement.

(Ramcharitmanas Balkand 231)

Karata batakahi anuja sana mana siya rupa lobhana
Mukha saroja makaranda chabi karayi madhup iva pana

Translation: Thus Ram is talking to his younger brother, but his mind, attracted by the form of Sita, is drinking the nectar like a bumblebee in the image of her lotus face.

How mother Sita’s beauty is like that of a lotus and Sri Rama’s mind is like a bee who is continuously moving around the lotus. Mother Sita’s eyes are moving here and there looking for Sri Rama thinking ‘Where is that charming boy about whom my friends were describing and talking’.

Chitavata chakita chahu disi sita kaha gaye nrupa kisora manu chita
Jaha biloka mruga savaka naini janu taha barisa kamala sita sreni

Translation: Sita is looking around in surprise. The mind is worrying about where the prince has gone. Wherever the deer-eyed Sita looks, it seems as if rows of white lotuses rain down there.

Lata ota taba sakhinha lakhaye syamala gaura kisora suhaye
Dekhi rupa lochan lalachane harashe janu nija nidhi pahichane

Translation: Then the friends showed Sundar Shyam and Gaur Kumar behind the creeper. Seeing his beauty, his eyes were attracted; he became happy as if he had recognized his treasure.

Her friends show her from a bush, on the other side are Sri Rama and Lakshman. She is amazed and extremely happy.

Thake nayana raghupati chabi dekhe palakanahihu parihari nimeshe
Adhika sneha deha bhe bhori sarada sasihi janu chitava chakori

Translation: The eyes became astonished (immobile) after seeing the image of Raghunath. The eyelashes also stopped falling. Due to excessive affection the body became restless (uncontrollable). As if Chakori is looking at the autumn moon (fainting).

We can understand from Mother Sita’s example what the mood of a devotee should be so that even Lord Rama become forced to get attracted. The dark and the fair complexioned boys are on the other sides. Mother Sita is attracted and very happy as if she had found her long lost wealth.

She couldn’t move her eyes away from the beautiful form of the Lord. And very soon she began to manifest eight bodily transformations. All her friends are witnessing Mother Sita’s condition. She couldn’t even utter a single word.

Lochan maga ramahi ura ani dinahe palaka kapata sayani
Jab siya sakhinha premabas jani kahi na sakahi kachu mana sakuchani

Translation: Having brought Ram into her heart through her eyes, Chaturshiromani Janaki closed her eyelids (i.e. she closed her eyes and started meditating on him). When the friends came to know that Sita was in love, they were troubled in their hearts and could not say anything.

Having brought Rama into her heart through her eyes, chaturshiromani Janaki closed her eyelids (that is, she closed her eyes and started meditating on him). Later on she got married to Lord Rama. Valmiki Ramayana has given a very elaborate description of Mother Sita’s dialogues with Lord Rama prior to heading for exile. In Tulsi Das’s Ramayana there is limited description.

As soon as Mother Sita heard that Lord Rama has gone to meet Mother Kaushalya and was taking her permission to leave, immediately Mother Sita went to her room also. She paid her respectful obeisances to Mother Kaushalya. Once she was blessed by Mother Kaushalya, she began to express her grief.

Samachar tehi samaya suni siya uthi akulayi 
Jai sasu pada kamala juga bandi baithi siru nayi (57)

Translation: At the same time, after hearing this news, Sitaji Akula got up and went to her mother-in-law, worshiped both her lotus feet and sat down with her head bowed.

She said, the owner of my life is going to the forest. Now who will accompany Lord Rama to the forest? Just my life or my body along with my life.

Chalana chahat bana jivananathu kehi sukruti sana hoihi sathu
Ki tanu pran ki kevala prana bidhi karatabu kachu jai na jana (2)

Translation: Jeevanath (Prannath) wants to walk in the forest. Let us see which virtuous person will accompany them – will both body and soul accompany them or will only the soul accompany them? Nothing is known about the actions of the Creator.

Mother Sita is standing with her eyes looking at the ground and she was scratching the ground with her toe nails.

charu charan nakha lekhati dharani nupur mukhar madhur kabi barani
Manahu prem basa binati karahi hamahi siya pada jani pariharahi (3)

Translation: Sitaji is scratching the earth with the nails of her beautiful feet. While doing this, the poet describes the sweet words of the Nupurs in such a way that it seems as if the Nupurs, under the influence of love, are requesting that Sitaji’s feet should never abandon them.

While she was moving her feet in such a way, then her anklets were making sound as if they were saying something. The ornaments were thinking now its time to leave for the forest and Mother Sita will give away all the ornaments and expensive dresses. Anklets were thinking, will Mother Sita take me along with her or will she renounce me too?

Then Mother Kaushalya told Lord Rama, your good wife is very dear to all of us. She is very well behaved.

Manju bilochana mochati bari boli dekhi rama mahatari
Tata sunahu siya sukumari sasa sasura parijanahi piari (4)

Translation: Sitaji is shedding tears from her beautiful eyes. Seeing his condition, Shri Ramji’s mother Kausalyaji said – Oh father! Listen, Sita is very beautiful and is loved by her mother-in-law, father-in-law and all her relatives.

Pita janaka bhupala mani sasur bhanukula bhanu
Pati raghukula kairava bipina bidhu guna rupa nidhanu (58)

Translation: Her father Janakji is the crown of kings, her father-in-law is the Sun of the Surya clan and her husband is the moon that feeds the Kumudvan of the Surya clan and is the storehouse of qualities and form.

Mai puni putrabadhu priya payi rupa rasi guna sila suhayi
Nayana putari kari priti badhai rakheyu prana janakihi layi (1)

Translation: Then I have got a lovely daughter-in-law with good looks, beautiful qualities and modesty. I have increased my love for her (Janaki) by making her the apple of my eyes and have dedicated my life to her.

Kalapabeli jimi bahubidhi lali sichi saneha salila pratipali
Phulata phalata bhayau bidhi bama jani na jai kaha parinama (2)

Translation: Like Kalpalata, I have nurtured them in many ways with great care and affection by watering them with the water of love. Now at the time of flowering of this creeper, the Creator left. It is not known what the result will be.

Palanga pitha taji goda hindora siya na dinha pagu avani kathora
Jianamuri jimi jogavata rahau dipa bati nahi tarana kahau (3)

Translation: Sita never set foot on the hard earth except on the paryankapshtha (above the bed), the lap and the carousel. I have always been guarding them (carefully) like a life-giving herb. She never even asks me to remove the light from the lamp.

Soi siya chalana chahati bana satha ayasu kaha hoyi raghunatha
Chanda kirana rasa rasika chakori rabi rukhanayana sakayi kimi jori (4)

Translation: The same Sita now wants to go to the forest with you. Hey Raghunath! What orders does he have? How can a chakori, desiring the juice (nectar) of the moon’s rays, turn its eyes towards the sun?

Kari kehari nisichara charahi dushta jantu bana bhuri 
Bisha batika ki soha suta subhaga sajivani muri (59)

Translation: Many evil creatures like elephants, lions, demons etc. keep roaming in the forest. O son! Can the beautiful Sanjeevani herb grace the garden of poison?

Bana hita kola kirata kisori rachi biranchi bishaya sukha bhori 
Pahana krimi jimi kathin subhau tinahahi kalesu na kanana kau (1)

Translation: For the forest, Lord Brahma has created the girls of Kol and Bhils who do not know sensual pleasures and have a tough nature like stone insects. They never face any trouble in the forest.

Kei tapas tiya kanana jogu jinha tap hetu taja saba bhogu 
Siya bina basihi tata kehi bhanti chitralikhit kapi dekhi derati (2)

Translation: Or the women of ascetics are eligible to live in the forest, who have given up all pleasures for the sake of penance. O son! How will Sita, who gets scared after seeing the monkey in the picture, live in the forest?

Is the swan that wanders in the lotus forest of Devsarovar worthy of living in ponds? Considering this, I will give the same education to Janaki as per your orders.

Ehi te adhik dharamu nahi duja sadara sasu sasur pada puja
Jab jab matu karahi sudhi mori hoiha prem bikala mati bhori (3)

Translation: There is no other religion greater than worshiping (serving) the feet of mother-in-law and father-in-law with respect. Whenever mother remembers me and due to being overwhelmed with love, her mind will become innocent (she will forget herself)

Tab tab tumha kahi katha purani sundari samujhaehu mrudu bani 
Kahau subhaya sapatha sata mohi sumukhi matu hita rakhau tohi (4)

Translation: Oh beautiful! Every now and then, explain them to them by telling them old stories in a soft voice. Hey Sumukhi! I swear hundreds of times, I say this by nature that I keep you at home only for mother.

(By obeying my orders and staying at home), you get the result of following the Dharma (conduct) as per the Guru and the Vedas without any trouble, but due to stubbornness, Galav Muni and King Nahush etc. all endured troubles.

Hey Vama! If you are stubborn out of love, you will suffer as a result. The forest is very difficult (painful) and terrible. The sun, cold, rain and wind there are all very terrible. There are bushes, thorns and many pebbles on the way. One will have to walk on them without shoes. Your lotus feet are soft and beautiful and there are huge inaccessible mountains on the way.

The caves, caves (passes) of the mountains, rivers, streams and drains are so impassable and deep that one cannot even look at them. Bears, tigers, wolves, lions and elephants make terrible sounds.

One will have to sleep on the ground, wear clothes made of tree bark and eat tubers, roots and fruits. And will they also be found every day? Everything will be available only as per one’s own time.

In this way the Lord describes the difficulties of going to the forest. One who does not wholeheartedly follow the teachings of a Guru and Swami who are naturally interested in welfare, repents deeply in his heart and his welfare definitely suffers. Sitaji’s beautiful eyes filled with tears after hearing the soft and lovely words of her beloved.

Janakiji could not answer anything, she became distraught thinking that my holy and loving master wanted to leave me. By forcefully stopping the tears from the eyes, he brought Sitaji, the daughter of the earth, into his heart. Touching her mother-in-law’s feet, she folded her hands and said – O Goddess! Please forgive my extreme audacity. Pranapati has given me only those teachings which are for my ultimate benefit. But I understood in my mind that there is no sorrow in the world like separation from my husband.

Prannath karunayatana sundar sukhada sujana 
Tumha binu raghukula kumuda bidhu sunupur saman (64)

Translation: Hey Prannath! O abode of mercy! Hey beautiful! O giver of happiness! Hey Suzanne! O moon that blooms the lilies of the Raghu clan! Without you even heaven is like hell for me.

Matu pitu bhagini priya bhai priya parivaru suhrdaya samudayi 
Sasu sasura guru sajana sahayi suta sundara susila sukhadayi (1)

Translation: Mother, father, sister, loving brother, loving family, community of friends, mother-in-law, father-in-law, teacher, relatives, helpful and beautiful, well-mannered and happiness-giving son.

Hey Nath! As far as affection and relationships are concerned, a woman without a husband is more scorching than the sun. Body, wealth, house, earth, city and state, all this is a society of sorrow for a woman without a husband.

Bhoga rogasama bhushan bharu jama jatana sarisa sansaru 
Prannath tumah binu jaga mahi mo kahu sukhad katahu kucha nahi (3)

Translation: Indulgences are like diseases, ornaments are like burdens and the world is like Yama torture (pain of hell). Hey Prannath! Without you there is nothing pleasurable for me in this world.

Just like a body without a soul and a river without water, so O Lord! There is a woman without a man. Hey Nath! By being with you and seeing your face like the clear moon of autumn (full moon), I will get all the happiness. With you, birds and animals will be my relatives, forests will be cities and tree barks will be pure clothes and Parnakuti (hut made of leaves) will be the source of happiness like heaven.

Only the forest goddess and the forest goddess with a generous heart will take care of me like mother-in-law and father-in-law, and only the beautiful bed made of kusha and leaves will be like Kamadeva’s beautiful toshak with the Lord.

The tubers, roots and fruits themselves will be food like nectar and the mountains (of the forest) will be like hundreds of palaces in Ayodhya. By seeing the lotus feet of the Lord every moment, I will remain as happy as Chakvi is during the day.

You have told about many sorrows of the forest and many fears, sadness and anguish, but oh blessed one! All of them together cannot even be equal to the sorrow caused by separation from God. Knowing this in my heart, O Sujan Shiromani! You take me with you, don’t leave me here. Oh lord! What more can I request? You are compassionate and know what is inside everyone’s heart.

O humble friend! Hey beautiful! O giver of happiness! O storehouse of modesty and love! If you keep me in Ayodhya for this period (fourteen years), then know that I will not survive.

ananya-chetāḥ satataṁ yo māṁ smarati nityaśhaḥ
tasyāhaṁ sulabhaḥ pārtha nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ (BG 8.14)

Translation: For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pṛthā, because of his constant engagement in devotional service.

Mother Sita is giving such a wonderful sacrifice here. All the Ayodhya vasis are devastated by the thought that their beloved Sri Rama is going away to the forest, but they are all admiring the sacrifice of Mother Sita. In the past 3 days we could listen to a few pastimes of Mother Sita from Valmiki Ramayana and Ram Charitmanas.

Today is Mohini Ekadashi and tomorrow is Rukmini Dwadashi. In the next two days, we will be celebrating the appearance day of Rukmini devi here in Kaundanyapur, the appearance place of Rukmini devi. The first Iskcon temple in LA is of Rukmini Dwarkadhish. The first temple in IMPM, Guru Maharaj’s zone, also has Rukmini Dwarkadhish here in Amravati.

Hare Krsna.

20 May 2024
Speaker: Srish Krishna Prabhuji
Theme: Sri Rukmini Mangalam

Hare Krsna!

I am feeling very happy. I know the fact that many disciples of HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj from different locations join this zoom conference daily and chant with him with firm faith and obey his orders. I have been told to speak upon Rukmini Mangalam as today is Rukmini Dwadashi, a very pious day. Rukmini ji had appeared today. It’s important to know that there has been no description of Rukmini Mangalam in the original Bhāgavata; though only marriage of Rukmini has been described. Mangalam means benefactor. Sridhara Swami had written a very beautiful commentary on Bhāgavata which is followed by many Acāryās and named as Rukmini Mangalam by him.

(02:08:03) rukmini mangalam nama bahu mangalam sarva mangalamayam mahapataka nasanam

 Those who contemplate on the divine personality Rukmini, he is bound to get blessed with auspiciousness. If we want our behavior to be right, we must listen to Rukmini Mangalam. Without her mercy, we cannot progress in devotional life. Even the biggest problems can be destroyed just by listening to Rukmini Mangalam. It has been described in Bhāgavata that just by remembering and surrendering unto the Lord, all our miseries get vanished.

tasmin praviṣṭe ’sura-kūṭa-karmajā
māyā vineśur mahinā mahīyasaḥ
svapno yathā hi pratibodha āgate
hari-smṛtiḥ sarva-vipad-vimokṣaṇam

 Translation

As the dangers of a dream cease when the dreamer awakens, the illusions created by the jugglery of the demons were vanquished by the transcendental prowess of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as soon as He entered the battlefield. Indeed, simply by remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from all dangers. (ŚB 8.10.55)

Theme: the importance of hearing

How did Rukmini ji choose Sri Krishna? It has been described that at first, she heard about the Lord.

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām
akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

Translation

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa. (ŚB 10.52.37)

 It is said that Parikshit Maharaj is an exemplary personality for śravana but Rukmini ji is the primary exemplary personality for śravana, who heard about the Lord just for once from Nārada Muni and accepted the Lord for the lifetime. Bhajan is also known as Śravana Bhakti (hearing). The main pillar of devotional service is śravana or hearing about the Lord, just like strong pillars of a building act as a base for a tall or strong building. Therefore, we must learn from Rukmini ji. She saw the Lord through hearing. Actually, hearing is also seeing. When we hear something, we start imagining or seeing those things. So, śravana or hearing about the Lord is very important. As soon as Rukmini ji heard about the Lord, she wrote a love letter to Him. She expressed Her feelings or prayers to Him.

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām
akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

Translation

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa. (ŚB 10.52.37)

We should recite this verse frequently. We tend to start a letter by addressing that person with a relation or bond we have with him like respected sir, my dear, etc. Similarly, Rukmini ji addressed the Lord in Her letter as Bhuvana Sundara or beauty of the worlds. She says, “O beauty of the worlds, having heard of your qualities from Nārada Muni, who always talks, hears and contemplates about you, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You. Since that time, all my miseries have gone.” So how can we expect to situate our mind unto the lotus feet of the Lord till the time we don’t hear about Him. Therefore, hearing is very important. We should hear about the Lord again and again. Valmiki Ramayan describes, when Śrī Rāma asked Hanuman ji to come to Saket Dhāma, he denied. He said to Śrī Rāma that he enjoys hearing His pastimes which will not be available in the Saket Dhāma but wherever the pastimes of the Lord are spoken, the Lord will be there. That’s why he surrendered himself in listening to the Lord’s pastimes. And that is the reason Rukmini ji also surrendered herself unto the Lord because the Lord is really very beautiful in and out.

advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca
vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham
ātma-bhaktau
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal puruṣa; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth. (Śrī brahma-samhitā 5.33)

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam

Translation

Kṛṣṇa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes. (Śrī brahma-samhitā 5.1)

Everything about the Lord is beautiful be it His body, His mind or His heart. He is the same inside out. The Lord is not like us who just pretend to be beautiful from inside but filled with so many sins. He is all beautiful. That’s why Rukmini ji, while writing a letter to Krishna, mentioned His character, His potential and His temperament. The Lord’s character is sweet.

Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram
Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram
Hrdayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram
Madhura-Adhipater-Akhilam Madhuram

Translation

O Krishna, Your lips are sweet, Your face is sweet, Your eyes are sweet, Your smile is sweet, Your loving heart is sweet, Your gait (walk) is sweet, Everything is completely sweet about You, the Lord of Sweetness.

We should pray to Rukmini ji for Her mercy so that we can also situate our mind unto the lotus feet of the Lord. It is important to understand that śravana is more important than kīrtana. This is the reason we are given two ears and one mouth. We have to listen more than to speak. The more we listen about the Lord, the better we can perform devotional services. Some people just want to speak and not listen but we are given two ears to listen more and more. But when it comes to speak, we should speak less and just the truth. To speak the truth, we should first listen. So we must follow the footsteps of Rukmini ji and hear more and more about the Lord so we can also attain the lotus feet of Krsna and become dear to Him.

Theme: the advent of the love letter

Rukmini ji is a resident of Vidarbha, Amravati. Her father’s name is Hiranyaroman, also called Bhishmaka. He has five sons and one daughter. The eldest among five sons is Rukmi; then Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu, Rukmakesa and Rukmamali and the youngest is Rukmini ji. When Nārada Muni was glorifying Lord Krsna among Bhishmaka, his wife, five sons and Rukmini ji, Bhishmaka became very happy listening to the glories of Sri Krsna as every father would want a handsome groom for his daughter and Sri Krsna is the most beautiful and handsome in the three worlds. His wife also wanted her daughter Rukmini to get married to Sri Krsna. His four younger sons also wanted the same as Rukmini was very dear to all. Bhishmaka decided to get his daughter married to Sri Krsna but as soon as Rukmi, his eldest son and Rukmini’s eldest brother heard this, he got very angry. He said that Sri Krsna is the greatest thief. He won’t let his sister get married to Him. Then Bhishmaka ji asked him the reason for his denial as Sri Krsna has everything. He is beautiful, wealthy, knowledgeable, etc. Every parent must see two things before getting their daughter married. First, the behavior and character of the person and second, the capability of that person to run a household; in other words how wealthy he is. All these things are present in the Lord. That’s why Bhishmaka ji was in favor of this marriage. But Rukmi was not. On asking the reason for his denial, he said, “Krsna is a thief. He had stolen everything He has now in Dwarka. He further added that Krsna has no strength as He was unable to kill Kalayavana. He took help of a Mahatma to kill him whose name was Mukund and after the demon was killed, Krsna stole all his wealth. Otherwise Krsna had no wealth. Therefore, I would not allow my sister to marry such a thief.” Then he advised his father to marry Rukmini with his friend whose name was Shishupal. He told him that Shishupal is the son of King Damaghosha and about to be a king. He is wealthy and powerful. Rukmini ji was listening to her brother Rukmi and she didn’t like what all he said and felt miserable. Then Rukmi consoled his father saying that he will arrange everything for marriage with Shishupal in 2 days. This thing bothered Rukmini ji a lot. She immediately started writing a letter. She wrote,

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām
akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

 Translation

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa. (ŚB 10.52.37)

The Lord is hearing these words of Rukmini very carefully. When the brahmanas went to Dwarka with the letter of Rukmini, the Lord became very excited to hear her out. Then a brahmana recited the letter to the Lord. The Lord reciprocated with her in His mind. He consoled Rukmini that He belongs to her now. Those who hear about the Lord and get attached to Him, the Lord becomes more attached to that person. Therefore, if we want the Lord to get attached to us, then we need to hear about Him. We can learn this from Rukmini ji.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

Hare Krsna!

 

Topic – Rukmini Mangalam Part 2
Date – 21st may 2024

HG Anant Shesh Pr- Today HG Sri Sri Krsna Prabhu is here with us to give Japa Talk. He is younger brother of HH Gaur Krsna Swami Maharaja and disciple of HH Radha Govind Swami Maharaj. We heard from him Rukmini katha part 1. Guru Maharaj’s vyasa puja will be celebrated in Vrindavan Dham. We will get the association of many Prabhupada disciples there. Initiations will take place on 18th July in Sri Vrindavan dham. And aspiring devotees from Maharashtra will take initiation in Bhuvaikuntha Pandharpur Dham on 20th July.

HG Sri Sri Krishna Prabhu –

 om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavams ca

sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa jivam

sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krishna-caitanya-devam

sri-radha-krishna-padan saha-gana-lalita- sri-visakhanvitams ca

he krishna karuna-sindho

dina-bandho jagat-pate

gopesa gopika-kanta

radha-kanta namo ’stu te

tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrindavanesvari

vrishabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

(jaya) sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu nityananda

sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

I offer humble obeisances to the lotus feet of Maharaj and all Vaishnavas. Let us continue with the discussion on Rukmini Mangalam. Yesterday, we initiated this topic, and today we shall proceed further. It is imperative for us to make strides in sadhana bhakti. We must earnestly pray to Rukmini Devi, as without her grace, progress in our devotional journey remains arduous. As I have previously mentioned, both Radharani and Rukmini are our spiritual guides. Rukmini perpetually serves at the lotus feet of the Lord. We learned yesterday that upon hearing about the Lord from Narada, Rukmini accepted him as her husband in her heart.

Bhishmak had 5 sons and 1 daughter. Except, Rukmi everyone wanted that Rukmini should get married to Krishna. But Rukmini was against this. She wondered why her elder brother acted as her adversary, despite the absence of enmity in this life. Rukmini contemplated on the fact that everyone wished for her marriage with Krishna, yet her brother remained unsupportive.Regardless of the circumstances, she resolved that she could only accept Krishna as her husband, having dedicated herself entirely to him. She expressed that if Krishna did not accept her, she would find no purpose in continuing her existence.This is very beautiful. We should understand her mind. She thinks,”I have given myself to Krsna completely. Now how can I accept anyone else as a husband?”  In the past, individuals would honour their commitments without fail, never reneging on their promises.

If my brother forces me to marry someone else, then i will give up this body. Then someone can say,”then give up this body because your brother won’t allow you to marry Krsna.” She says,”No. No. Now I don’t have any right to my body. Because i have given it to Krsna. Now Krsna has right on my body. He is  life and soul. My body is his property and how can I destroy it without his consent.” She thinks,”I have accepted him as my husband but he should also know that. Somebody should inform him.” Although he is Parmatma, supersoul. But she wants to inform him.

Then a brahmin comes infront of her. That time a brahmin comes and sees that she is very upset. Brahmin sees that she is very morose and asks her,”why are you so miserable?” She starts weeping in front of him. She says,”O Brahmin, please help me and protect me.” Brahmin says,”I will surely go to Dwarka. Dont worry.” This type of work only a Brahmin can do. Because krishna katha and marriages, sacrifices are done by Brahmin only.They go to each and every house and see their boys and girls and inform others about boys and girls they have seen. Thats how marriages would take place. That time, people used to have strong faith in Brahmin, that they would easily believe them and give their daughters for marriage. We should always have faith in Sadhu and Vaishnavas. They are our true well wishers. Brahmin says,”DOnt worry, have faith in me. I will convey your message to Him. And I am sure Krsna will accept you. Just like you want him, he will surely accept you.” Then Brahmin departs for Dwarka with a love letter written by Rukmini.

When he reached Dwarka, Krishna got to know that from Kaundilyapur a brahmin had come. When he heard Brahmin, he immediately ran towards Brahmin just like he ran when Sudama came. Lord paid obeisances to him, gave a nice seat to him, gave sumptuous prasadam to him, gave service to him.

CC Madhya 13.77. Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.19.65)
namo brahmaṇya-devāya
go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca
jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṇāya
govindāya namo namaḥ

Translation:

“ ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brāhmaṇas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda.’

He has a nature to serve brahmins, spiritual master.he started massaging his feet. Rama and Lakshaman would serve Vishwamirta when he would got to take rest.

Tulasi carita manasa Balakanda
munibar sayan kinhi tab jaee.
lage charan chapan dou bhaee॥
 jinh ke charan saroruh lagi.
karat bibidh jap jog biragi॥

Translation:

“Then the revered sage went to rest. Both brothers began to press his feet, for touching which even renunciants engage in various kinds of chanting and meditation for the vision and touch of the lotus feet.”

Both of them would massage his spiritual master’s lotus feet. He has practised that. He does the same when this Brahmin comes, he asks Brahmin,”is everything fine in Vidarbha? Is the king able to fulfil his duties properly?” is there any challenge?” Brahmin says,”No. No. there is no problem but there is one problem also.”

Krishna asks,”What is the problem?” Brahmin says,”He has one daughter- Rukmini- very beautiful, sincere. Maharaj has 5 sons. All the other 4 sons and the king himself with Rukmini want you to marry her. Rukmini has accepted you as husband from her body, mind and soul completely. But her elder brother  Rukmi doesnt want that to happen.he is against it. That’s why Rukmini has written a letter for you out of fear. Please read this letter which she has written.” Krishna says,”you read the letter for me.” Brahmin starts reading the letter. Rukmini lives in Maharashtra and Lord is in Gujarat. Then Rukmini has written a letter in which language? Marathi or gujarati? If she writes in marathi then Krsna may not understand and if she writes in gujarati then that means she knows gujarati also. We should inquire like that. She has written neither in marathi nor in gujarati. She has written in sanskrit. Sanskrit is the mother of all languages. We should carefully read sanskrit. When I was in Varanasi and studying sanskrit. There is a place called “Sarvabhauma Sanskrit school”. From there, we used to go to take bath in ganges. They used to teach us how to speak sanskrit. I read that in 1974 and I still remember. Nobody wants to study Sanskrit nowadays, there is no good for them in future. Because then you can’t understand the scriptures, Bhagavatam. What is the use then if we can’t understand our scriptures. When they will see themselves unqualified to read scriptures, they will be embarrassed. So whatever happened . it’s ok. But now, please be alert now. Start studying and reading sanskrit carefully. With sanskrit , we should understand Hindi also. Both languages we should understand. And we should learn english also. Sanskrit, Hindi and English – these 3 languages we should know. That’s why Rukmini has written in Sanskrit and not in Gujarati or marathi. So that we also learn sanskrit. That’s why i said she is our spiritual master. This is the duty of a spiritual master to illuminate and destroy ignorance. She is illuminating us by writing in sanskrit.

ŚB 10.52.37

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

Translation:

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa.

Brahmin repeats the words of Rukmini, “ since I heard about your name, form, qualities and pastimes, I have shamelessly desired to marry you. I can’t see anything else. I Can only see you everywhere. Since the day, I  heard your glories from Narada, wherever I see, I can only see you. I see you inside, outside and everywhere. You have captured my heart and mind.

ŚB 10.52.38

kā tvā mukunda mahatī kula-śīla-rūpa-
vidyā-vayo-draviṇa-dhāmabhir ātma-tulyam
dhīrā patiṁ kulavatī na vṛṇīta kanyā
kāle nṛ-siṁha nara-loka-mano-’bhirāmam

Translation:

O Mukunda, You are equal only to Yourself in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, youthfulness, wealth and influence. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all mankind. What aristocratic, sober-minded and marriageable girl of a good family would not choose You as her husband when the proper time has come?

She says,”O lord, bestower of love, my life, there’s no one like you. Nobody is as knowledgeable, wealthy, beauty, power, renowned, powerful, opulent. Everything comes from you. Nobody is compatible with you. Who would like to marry other than you?

Everyone wants to have a very nice husband, knowledgeable, wealthy, powerful, beautiful husband. Their Relatives and parents also want the same for the girl. But all these qualities are there in Krsna only.

 (Visnu Purana 6.5.47)

aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah

nana-vairagyayos caiva sannam bhaga itingana

Translation:

“Full wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation – these are the six opulences of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Vishnu Purana 6.5.47) By these six opulences one can ascertain what is God.

 Wherever lord goes, everyone wats to have His darshan. Once Radharani writes a letter to Krsna, in that she claims clouds as her brother “oh brother, please convey my message to Shyamsunder.” Because clouds always moves from one place to another. Then cloud says,”how will i recognise who is your lover?” Radharani says,”His color is bluish” Clouds says,”there can be many people with bluish color.” Radharani says,”he must be having flute in his hands.” cloud says,”there can be many bluish people with flute in hands.” Radhrani says,”he must be in yellow garments then you’ll understand that he is my master.” Clouds says,”there can be many bluish people with flute in hands and wearing yellow garments.” Radharani says,”Oh dear brother, wherever my beloved may go, hundreds and thousands of people will be drawn to catch a glimpse of him. Then you will understand he is my master and my only lover.”

Lord is so beautiful that everyone is longing to have his darsana. His face is so beautiful that even dust looks beautiful on his face. Not that he gets ready and then he looks beautiful.

ŚB 3.2.12

yan martya-līlaupayikaṁ sva-yoga-
māyā-balaṁ darśayatā gṛhītam
vismāpanaṁ svasya ca saubhagarddheḥ
paraṁ padaṁ bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇāṅgam

Translation:

The Lord appeared in the mortal world by His internal potency, yoga-māyā. He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His pastimes. These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Himself in His form as the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha. Thus His [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments.

Every aspect of Krishna is so exquisite that even ornaments and garments become resplendent when adorned by him. Rukmini is also saying- You are incredibly beautiful; there is no one else quite like you. Your qualities are unmatched by anyone in this world. Your knowledge is unparalleled; no one else can possess 64 qualities in just 64 days. Oh Lord! What patient maiden would not eagerly accept you as her husband?Who would not be willing to accept you as husband or master? I, too, desire only you as my husband.

SB 10.52.39

tan me bhavān khalu vṛtaḥ patir aṅga jāyām
ātmārpitaś ca bhavato ’tra vibho vidhehi
mā vīra-bhāgam abhimarśatu caidya ārād
gomāyu-van mṛga-pater balim ambujākṣa

Translation:

Therefore, my dear Lord, I have chosen You as my husband, and I surrender myself to You. Please come swiftly, O almighty one, and make me Your wife. My dear lotus-eyed Lord, let Śiśupāla never touch the hero’s portion like a jackal stealing the property of a lion.

She says “Oh Lord, I have accepted you as my husband. I have completely surrendered to you. You are Supersoul. You know my mind and heart. Please accept me as your wife.Oh lord of my life,I have surrendered to you. Just like jackal should not take the prey of a lion, nobody should take me(your wife) apart from you. This is your responsibility. This is your duty and dharma. Shishupal should not take me. There is very little time.”

ŚB 10.52.40

pūrteṣṭa-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra
gurv-arcanādibhir alaṁ bhagavān pareśaḥ
ārādhito yadi gadāgraja etya pāṇiṁ
gṛhṇātu me na damaghoṣa-sutādayo ’nye

Translation:

If I have sufficiently worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead by pious works, sacrifices, charity, rituals and vows, and also by worshiping the demigods, brāhmaṇas and gurus, then may Gadāgraja come and take my hand, and not Damaghoṣa’s son or anyone else.

If ever i have done any piety(giving charity, gave food to poor, made home for beggars, made wells in a village, made gardens for others). This is all religious. If ever i did nay piety, served any vaishnavas, guru or sadhu then the result should be only that you accept me as your wife. I dont want anything else.

CC Antya 20.29

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

Translation:

‘O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.’

I just want to be yours. I want to be your wife. Accept me as your wife. Oh Shyamsunder, please accept me.

ŚB 10.52.41

 śvo bhāvini tvam ajitodvahane vidarbhān
guptaḥ sametya pṛtanā-patibhiḥ parītaḥ
nirmathya caidya-magadhendra-balaṁ prasahya
māṁ rākṣasena vidhinodvaha vīrya-śulkām

Translation:

O unconquerable one, tomorrow when my marriage ceremony is about to begin, You should arrive unseen in Vidarbha and surround Yourself with the leaders of Your army. Then crush the forces of Caidya and Magadhendra and marry me in the Rākṣasa style, winning me with Your valor.

You are unconquerable. Just one day before my marriage, please come to Kaundilyapur. All warriors will be present here. My elder brother Rukmi, will invite all the powerful demons here. So you come one day before my marriage and kill all of them and take me with you.

Now Krishna may say, “you are princess, living in a palace, how will I come? You must be inside the core of the palace. How will I come and kidnap you?”

Rukmini answers that also,”Oh Lord, you dont know about one ritual. I will tell you that in our family,there is one religious affair.

ŚB 10.52.42

antaḥ-purāntara-carīm anihatya bandhūn
tvām udvahe katham iti pravadāmy upāyam
pūrve-dyur asti mahatī kula-deva-yātrā
yasyāṁ bahir nava-vadhūr girijām upeyāt

Translation:

Since I will be staying within the inner chambers of the palace, You may wonder, “How can I carry you away without killing some of your relatives?” But I shall tell You a way: On the day before the marriage there is a grand procession to honor the royal family’s deity, and in this procession the new bride goes outside the city to visit Goddess Girijā.

There’s one ritual in our family where a girl before marriage goes to Girirja temple and worships her. It is a big festival. They dress the girl very beautifully and she goes to the temple with all her girlfriends. Oh lover of my life, that time you come and kidnap me. You hold my hand and take me with you on your chariot. Nobody will do anything that time.

ŚB 10.52.43

yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajaḥ-snapanaṁ mahānto
vāñchanty umā-patir ivātma-tamo-’pahatyai
yarhy ambujākṣa na labheya bhavat-prasādaṁ
jahyām asūn vrata-kṛśān śata-janmabhiḥ syāt

Translation:

O lotus-eyed one, great souls like Lord Śiva hanker to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet and thereby destroy their ignorance. If I cannot obtain Your mercy, I shall simply give up my vital force, which will have become weak from the severe penances I will perform. Then, after hundreds of lifetimes of endeavor, I may obtain Your mercy.

Oh lord, lotus eyed one, Personalities like Lord Shiva and other great demigods worship your lotus feet for their purification. If I don’t get you then I will do the necessary austerities and give up my life. And lifetimes after lifetimes I will do austerities till I get you as my husband. If you won’t come to take me then i will do austerities and i will dry up my body but will never go to Shishupal.

When Uddhava came to Vrindavan,

ŚB 10.47.61

āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām ahaṁ syāṁ
vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām
yā dustyajaṁ sva-janam ārya-pathaṁ ca
hitvā bhejur mukunda-padavīṁ śrutibhir vimṛgyām

Translation:

The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, because the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.

Dust of the lotus feet of Krsna is the dust of Vrindavan. Rukmini wants to serve the lotus feet of Krsna. When lord heard this letter of Rukmini, he immediately says to Brahmin,”Dont worry, i will surely come.” He called his charioteer and with the Brahmin came to Kaundilyapur from Dwarka. When he approached Kaundinyapur, the Brahmin requested, ‘Please allow me to alight from the chariot so that the citizens do not learn of my visit to Dwarka.” On the other hand, Rukmini was very morose, sad and at that time Brahmin came and informed her,”Please don’t worry. Shyamsunder has come.” When she heard, Rukmini was in ecstasy. All the kings have come to take her. As soon as Rukmini removed her veil, all the kings were illusioned,lust aroused in their heart and they fell down from their chariot. They were awestruck. That time, Lord Krsna came and hold the hand of Rukmini and pulled her to chariot. Everyone was looking at Rukmini and Krishna. Everyone was witnessing the beautiful divine couple of Rukmini and Krishna. Then all the kings came into their senses.

Le gayo re Rukmini ko bhaga kar le gae re (song. Couldn’t find source)

Translation –

Rukmini was taken away, they abducted her away.

When Krsna started his chariot, everyone started shouting. Then her elder brother said,”don’t worry. I am here. Till I kill this Krsna and bring my sister back , I am not kshatriya.if i can’t do that then I will never come back to kaundinyapur, Vidarbha.” he was a fool number one. How can he bring Rukmini back and fight with Krsna. He went with one whole army. Krsna killed his army and He tied Rukmi up with a piece of cloth and snipped at his mustache, beard and hair, keeping some spots here and there. Then Rukmi didn’t return to Vidarbha. He made his own place – Bhojakata.

Then Lord Krsna and goddess Rukmini went to Dwarka. They performed a marriage ceremony properly, this way He created the fortune of Rukmini and also He created our fortune. Because we read and hear this beautiful pastime. From this pastime, we learn that Rukmini never saw Lord but she only heard pastimes of Krsna. She heard it so beautifully that she fully dedicated her life to Krsna. We should also be attentive while hearing. Krishna has given us two ears to hear and one mouth to speak. So we should not speak instead we should hear more and more. If we hear properly and attentively then only we can speak. That in why in nine devotional process, first is hearing (sravanam). Sravan should be from bonafide spiritual teachers. Spritual teachers who read bonafide literatures, are connected to bonafide sampradaya, have taken shelter of bonafide parampara. If we hear from those acaryas with love and devotion, then we will also achieve Krsna prema. Just like Rukmini achieved Krsna.

HG Anant Shesh Pr- We are very grateful to Prabhuji. His voice reminds us of HH Radha Govind Goswami Maharaja and especially HH Gaur Krsna Swami Maharaj. It is our great fortune that Maharaj has set aside two days for us. Prabhuji with his brother studies Sanskrit in Vrindavana and Barsana. Presently also, Prabhuji studies Bhagavatam near samadhi of HH Gaur Krsna maharaj. Everyone invited him for Bhagavat class worldwide. He did one katha in Belgaon on 24 acaryas for 3 weeks. Again, we will express our gratitude to Prabhuji.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

We should also remember what he taught us that how we should hear about Krishna just like Rukmini.

Srimati rukmini Maiya ki Jai!

Srila Gurudeva ki Jai!

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Date: 22 May 2024
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj and HH Karunamayi Vanmali Swami Maharaj
Topic: Pastimes Of Lord Narsimha Deva

HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj:

I would like to request HH Karunamayi Vanmali Maharaj to give a nectarian lecture on the mercy of Narsimha dev.

nahamtisthamivaikunthe
yoginamhrdayesuva
tatratisthaminarada
yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah

 Translation:

“I am not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the yogis. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities.” It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees.

In 2015, HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj had installed lord Narasiṁha Deva deities in this very day in Ujjain.Last year, on this day, I was in Delhi, when HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj was installing Lakshmi Narasiṁha deities at Radha Parthasarthi temple and half day, I had spent here in Ujjain. So, please shower the mercy of lord Narasiṁha Deva by relating his glories to all of us.

HH Karunamayi Vanmali Swami Maharaj:

Today is most beneficial day for us devotees.Today is lord Narasimha Deva’s appearance day.By mercy of Lord Narasimha Deva all our obstacles and problems are vanquished.

When people of this material world choose us, then we can get the seat in parliament. And when God chooses us then, we get good association. In Satya Yuga, Prahlad Maharaj received the Lord’s mercy.So, does it happen now? Few years back, in Iskcon Durban, South Africa.
One 4 years old girl was attracted to Lord Narasimha dev there.She even got a little stuffed doll of lord Narasimha, who she would feed and put to sleep and play with.A year later, she was playing ball with her friendsand her father was watching from the balcony.The ball bounced away and was going to towards road,where there was traffic.Her father started shouting.A big truck hit her. Truck was coming in a very high speed. and she was hit and she fell 30 feet away on a haystack. She was taken to hospital in an unconscious state. When she regained consciousness after 2 days.And she started asking where is Narasimha Dev?He picked me up in his arms and put me onthe hay stack and saved me.

As Narsimha dev protects Prahlad Maharaj, He surely saves us too. So, if we serve Narasimha Dev with even a little dedication, seriousness and sincerity., he will be pleased and protect us. Even though we may not be as pure as Prahlad Maharaj, So, even too we can see his mercy.

We should trust on his strength. Because lord say the truth only and the strength in the prayers are even stronger.

On this day, I usually call HH Prabhodananda Saraswati Maharaj, a disciple of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj. That in 2010 or 2011, you had told a pastime of Lord Narasimha Deva and you told his mother and father’s name.Please tell me that pastimes.

SB 1.1.10:

prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥsabhya
kalāvasminyugejanāḥ
mandāḥsumanda-matayo
manda-bhāgyāhyupadrutāḥ

Translation:

O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.

He said why don’t you make note of it? He scolded me but he agreed to tell me after some request.

This same happen next year also.

So, every year, I would call him and he would tell me same pastime after scolding me.In Pakistan, on the banks of river Indus, a couple prayed and wanted to get a child as lord Narasimha Dev. The couple’s name was Haritmani and Lilavati. They did penance for 21 yugas.The lord being pleased and asked them to make a boon. The couple asked to get a child, like Narsimha Deva.

Lord says no one is like me. I myself will be come as your son soon.

BG 7.7:

mattaḥparataraṁnānyat
kiñcidastidhanañ-jaya
mayisarvamidaṁprotaṁ
sūtremaṇi-gaṇāiva

Translation:

O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.

Lord Narsima was pleased with the couple and promised themto have a son like Narasimha Dev.No one like me or more than me. How can I fulfill this? Only by becoming your son. They both became very happy. and on this day, lord appeared in the evening of Forteen day of Vaishakh Month and did many childhood pastimes. In padma puran, it is mentioned that one who remembers this pastime and the form of Harimuni and Liladevi alongwith the child Narsimha dev, one can get lot of benefit.

Child Nrasimha relished the Vatsalya Rasa very much and he also make his parents relished the same rasa. Parents were very happy to have him.

When prahlad pointed saying my lord is in the pillar. Narasimha dev came and appeared there in the state Multan, in Pakistan and made Prahlads words true.

Lord says onlt truth and nothing and the devotees are also same.

Hiranyakashipu started laughing at and counting all the boons, he had received from brahma Making him almost immortal.

Lord Narsimha slapped him continuously. In Andra Pradesh, we see that Ugra pillar and 18 miles away he dragged Hiranyakashipu to the gate. So, you canimagine how big was Hiranyakashipu palace. Lord put him on his lap. This is no land but my lap. This is not one of the 12 months, but Purushottam month.
There are no any weapon but my nails.Hiranyakashipu become furious on seeing that.

Hiranyakashipu had a heart attack and lord Narsimha Deva cut his stomach by his nails only. Lord Narsimha Dev was very angry, as Hiranyakashipu tortured his devotee at a very extent.

Lord Narsimha was amused as no one is praying in front of him. Whenever, He took any incarnation, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva offered their prayers onto his lotus feet. But, this time no one is coming forward. Not even a garland is offered. He himself dragged a throne to sit.

Hiranyakashipu disappearance day came once in a four year but Narsimha Chaturdashi is celebrated every year on the fourteenth day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh Month.

SB 7.8.17:

satyaṁvidhātuṁnija-bhṛtya-bhāṣitaṁ
vyāptiṁ ca bhūteṣvakhileṣucātmanaḥ
adṛśyatātyadbhuta-rūpamudvahan
stambhesabhāyāṁnamṛgaṁnamānuṣam

Translation:

To prove that the statement of His servant Prahlāda Mahārāja was substantial — in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.

Lord full filled the desire of Jaya and Vijaya to play a war in 3 births. He kept the promise of Brahma. Lord kept the words of narada muni, who said this boy in the womb of kayadu is agreat devotee who will be protected by lord. Also, he kept the words of the 4 Kumars when they cursed Jaya and Vijaya. And also, he kept the words of prahlad that my lord is in the pillar.

In padma puran, it is said that on Brahman named Vasudeva became fallen. And he was very distressed upon losing his prostitute Friends after fighting with them and wandering through the forest he came upon a broken temple of Lord Narasimha Deva.It was this very day of the fourteenth day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh Month.

and he happened to keep a Nirjala fast remembering his friends.But, because it was Narasimha chaturdasi, he got benefit for fasting.If, we observe Narsimha Dev Chaturdashi, then we get the benefit of 10,000 Dwadashi (Ekadashi, that lies on Dwadashi with rising sun) and a fast of Janamashtami gives the benefits of 1 crore ekadashis. So, we should pray, “oh lord Narasimha Dev please protect us till we are alive.” This was advised by Srila Prabhupada. When Chaitanya math was being constructed, dacoits were troubling again and again.Bhaktivinod Thakur and Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur installed lord Narasimha dev and asked to worship him.

Later Srila Prabhupada also installed it in mayapur during trouble times.

The Ugra Narsimha Iis not installed anywhere, but when Jaya Pataka Swami Maharaj asked to install it. Then the person, who makes deities on the name of ISKCON. We should pray to the lord to protect us, our Bhakti, our organization our Acharyas and Guru. We should go forward to get the Krishna Prem. Radha Rani also worship Lord Narsimha to get the love of Krishna. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also hears the pastimes of Lord Narsimha Many times. So, we should also follow the footstep of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Mati Radha Rani.

Hare Krishna!

Speaker :HH Bhakti karunamayivanamalimaharaj 
Date 23-05-2024
HH Bhakti karunamayivanamalimaharajspeaks – hare Krsna

Main Theme: Importance of Devotional Service by Great Acharya and end result
Sub Theme: Sri Radharaman Lal ji Appreance day narration

Today is very auspicious day, It is appreance day of Srimad Gopal Bhat Goswami Maharaj. Also we have today SrimadMadhavendra puri appeared today.

Srimadparmeshwar puri s dis-appearance day

Srinivas acharyas appearance day.

Today is Purnima, Srila Gopal bhatta Goswami was one of the pioneers amongst the 6 goswamis of Vrindavan. He lived for 120 years. When he was a small child he met Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Sri Rangam.

The temple is situated in the centre of the city. Anyone can take darshan during Mangala aarti in Sri rangam. This is our Vaishnava etiquette. A temple should be the tallest building in a city so that everyone can take darshan of the chakra and tomb of the temple. So when Mahaprabhu arrived in Sri rangam everyone though that He was not an ordinary person

Srila Venkata bhatta, father of Gopal bhatta was moved to see the 8 changes of Mahaprabhu while taking darshan of the dieties. He invited Mahaaprabhu to his house. He met little Gopal Bhatta. After accepting bhoga ,mahaaprabhu was ready to leave.

teṣāṁsatata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁprīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁtaṁ
yenamāmupayāntite

Translation

To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.[BG 10.10]

Krsna Bhakti is very clear “ Krsna Bhakt Bada Chatur”. He said you are Sanyasi and now it is Chaturmas and Sanyasis do not travel during this time. Venkat bhatta requested Mahaprabhu to stay with them for the rest of the chaturmaasi.e 120 days..

Little Gopal served Mahaprabhu for 4 months. Sri Krishna Chaitanya MahaPrabhu was performing Puja, reciting prayers, he would circumabulate Sri Ranga Shetra, Bath in Kaveri river every day etc.Gopa Bhatt was always serving Sri Mahaprabhu through Vapu and Vani sewa.  He was attached to Mahaprabhus service. After serving for 120 days when Mahaprabhuwas about to leave Gopal Bhat Started crying. Mahaprabhu blessed and  instructed him to come to vridnavan only after their parents leave their bodies. So Mahaprabhu left performing his Kirtan. Gopal Bhat served his parents till they left their body and was intensely remembering Sri Mahaprabhu. So, it happened during this time from his uncle Shri Prabodhananda Saraswati, Gopal bhatta learnt and became expert in Bhakti Vaibhav, Bhakti Vedanta and  BhaktiSarvabhom and others scriptures. During this period he was serving his parents and also learnt the scriptures and become expert in them.

After Venkat Bhatt’death and his mother’s departure, Gopal Bhat planned his journey to Vrindavan. During this time at Vrindavan Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told Rupa Goswami that when Gopal Bhat comes to Vrindavan, receive him well, treat him just like your brother Sanatan Goswami.

When Gopal Bhat Goswami reached Vrindavan, he was happily received by Rupa Goswami and he was very happy. Gopal Bhat Goswami was an expert in Shastra and followed all Vaishnav Etiquette, which impressed others in Vrindavan and was respected by all.

When ChaitanayaMahaprabhu heard that Gopal Bhatt Goswami had come to Vrindavan than he arranged to some items for him from Jaganthpuri. He was given the dhot,Uttatri,chaupai (Wooden Chauki on which wordship was being conducted by Mahaprabhu) of Mahaprabhuas he served Him very diligently. Since then, all these things are being worshipped in Vrindavan earlier by Gopal Bhat Goswami and is continued till todayeveryday. In this way Srila Rupa Goswami, Sanatan Goswami and gopal Bhat Goswami started working on the scriptures and preaching they were fully absorbed in devotional service of the Lord. They were involved in finding the lost places and temples connected with pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna and also building temples. During this time Lord Chaitanya disappeared from this material world when Gopal Bhat Goswami was 30 years old. He was feeling great separation from Mahaprabhu and was not understanding what he needs to do. At the time Mahaprabhu appeared in his dreams and instructed him to go to Nepal in Gandaki river and will never leave you, I will always be with you. When he was dip in Gandaki river he got 12 shilas, he placed them back in the river. But this process happened many times, (~ 108 times) the shilas appeared as smiling at Gopal Bhat Goswami.  He was wondering what is this and why is this happening. Looks like lord wants to come with me or accompany me. There he got 12 Shilas in the form of Shaligram. He remembered that Lord had mentioned in his dream that will always be with him. He brought them with him and  served nicely, built a beautiful temple for them. Then during Shukalpakash Chaturdashi which happens to be NarsihmChaturdeshi. He was performing kirtan and preaching.

At that time a businessman was distributing clothes in Vrindavan for deities, he visited Gopal Bhatta Goswami also and gave him beautiful clothes. But Gopal bhatta Goswami said did not have any deities, have just shilas, which are served by offering Yamuna water and Tulasi what will I do with these clothes. The businessman pleaded not to reject this offering. Gopal Bhatt remembered the past times of Narasimha dev wherein Narshim dev had emerged from a pillar. Gopal bhatta Goswami begged the Lord that if you can appear form a pillar for Prahalad Maharaj, can you not appear from these shilas ? Gopal Bhatt Goswami had all qualities of surrender to lord.

Sub Theme: Pure devotional love and service results in Lords appearance

He was praying to Narsim dev bhagawan whole night. Next say while he was bathing in Yamuna he found 11 shilas, one was missing. He saw the missing shila had got converted into a nice deity, bent 3 fold , appeared. Sri Radha Raman appeared with big eyes. Jai Jai Sri Radharaman lal ki Jai. Everyone in Vrindavan came to see the beautiful deity of Sri Radharaman ji.

He is beautiful with amazing captivating smile. He is lotus eyed. His eyes extend from the nose to the ears. Similar 5000 years ago when krishna descended in Vrindavan He was also very beautiful with beautiful eyes. That is why Lord is being called with different names as Lotus eyed (Padam Lochan, Padam Nayan, Kamal Netra, Kamal Lochan etc). This way looking at beautiful eyes devotees praise the lord who has His eyes extend from the nose to the ears. Some times self styled bogus people call themselves God, We should get their eyes tested. So this is about Radharaman ji of Vrindavan. Great festival was conducted on his appearance day. They performed abhishek of the lord pouring Yamuna, Ganga water and applied  He sandalwood paste etc. Once a naughty child  took up a long stick and passed it from one ear to the other ear of Radha Raman. Soon there was blood oozing out from Radha Raman. Belive it or not

The child who witnessed this vomitted  blood and left his body the next day !It has mahapran. Once a Britisher had a watch that would run on the heart beat of a person. He wanted to test Radharaman ji. But the Pujari was hesitant to put this watch thinking that he is a Melach or outcaste, but not to take any risk agreed to put the watch on Radharaman ji. After performing purification process, then that watch was taken close to the deity of Radha Raman, the watch started working.

On seeing this the Britisher was shocked, since that day he developed immense attraction to the lotus feet of Krsna. So we should not think that theseDiety are made of wood, steel, metal, just metal , it is Krsna Himself. Like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said

pratimānahatumi — sākṣātvrajendra-nandana
vipralāgi’ kara tumiakārya-karaṇa”

Translation

“My dear Lord, You are not a statue; You are directly the son of Mahārāja Nanda. Now, for the sake of the old brāhmaṇa, You can do something You have never done before.” [CC Madhya 5.96]

The Vrindavan devotees pray their Lord in the form of Archa “ Shyam Sunder”, “Nila Sunder”, “Braj Sunder”. These are in the form of Para Veyom.  But Archa is very important.

golokeraprema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,
ratinajanmilokenetay
samsara-bishanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale,
juraitenakoinuupay

Translation

 The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrindavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari’s holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it. [Hari HariBifale 2]

Today also Radha Raman is worshipped with Yamuna water especially during boat festival. Devotees  gather in lakhs to take darshan today. If anyone you are Vrindavan, you should visit the temple and take His darshan and pray as you have blessed Gopal Bhat Goswami and listened to His prayer, Please bless us too.

Jai Jai Sri Radharamn Lal Ki Jai.

Sub Theme: Importance of Archaryasappreance and Disappreance day

Today is also SrimadMadhavendra puri appeared today. Ashta Sattvik Bhawa is prevelant in three personalities one is Srimati Radharani, SrimadMadhavendra Puri and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is said if you visit Navedeep on SrimadMadhavendra Puri’s disappearance day to Advait Acharya place and take Kichadi Prasadam one will be bestowed with Krsna Prem.

Srimadparmeshwar puri s appearance day. Just remembering Parmeshwar Puri one get Krishna Prem

Srinivas acharyas appearance day. He is one of the pioneers of book distribution and disciples of Jiva Goswami

Let us remember these great acharays today and progress in our devotional service

We shall stop here. Hare Krishna