Lord Vishnu Praises Lord Siva
Venue: Mayapur
Dated: April 5, 2018

Sri Suka Uvaca
evam bhagavata rajan
srivatsankena sat-krtah
amantrya tam parikramya
saganah svalayam yayau (SB 8.12.41)

TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, having thus been praised by the Supreme Personality, who bears the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, Lord Siva circumambulated Him. Then, after taking permission from Him, Lord Siva returned to his abode, Kailasa, along with his associates.

PURPORT
Srila Visvanatha Cakravart?  Thakura remarks that when Lord Siva was offering obeisance’s unto Lord Vishnu, Lord Vishnu arose and embraced him. Therefore, word srivatsankena is used here. The mark of Srivats adorns the chest of lord Vishnu, and therefore when lord Vishnu embraced lord Siva while being circumambulated, the Srivats mark touched lord Siva’s bosom.

Have you seen a photograph, a picture of Vishnu and Siva embracing? Then someone should paint the picture. I am sure it exists somewhere. Lord Shri Ram embracing Hanuman is there. You have seen? When Shri Ram appreciated and was very grateful for what Hanuman had done for him, for Shri Ram. And Ram had given a deep embrace to Hanuman. Well done, well done Hanuman. And lord praised Hanuman. Hari Hari. Hanuman was held in a deep embrace by Shri Ram and here Lord Siva has been held in a deep embrace by Vishnu. This is giving an idea may be Oh! When that day could be mine? It is a very high idea or but that’s possible and that happens. Lord does embrace his devotees. He praises them, appreciates them and is grateful also for what they always keep doing for Him. And then occasionally He embraces them. And when that happens, Oh! That’s it. Could anyone ask for anything more than that?

tuka mane aadi, na urechi vegadi

Tukaram Maharaj, Saint Tukaram from Maharashtra, he said this. Tuka mane aadi Lord embraces His devotees. na urechi vegadi, then there is nothing remaining to be asked for, to be achieved, to be attained. King Prataprudra also, received such benediction of embrace of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Has Chaitanya Mahaprabhu praised him what for he was?

tava kathamrtam tapta jivanam kavibhiriditam kalmasapaham 

He was reciting. He was asked to recite ‘Gopi geet’ and as Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu kept hearing and hearing, are you hearing? Some of you or one of you was not hearing. Gopis had said then King Prataprudra had recited, repeated,

bhuvi grnanti ye bhuri-da janah

Those who recite this Gopi geet, recite Krishna katha, recite, propagate, and make it available everywhere, bhuri dajanah. They are magnanimous people, most magnanimous. So said King Prataprudra which was said by gopis, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this, oh you are that Bhurida. You are the one giving charity of this kathamrit, gopi geetamrit to me. You are magnanimous. And lord was feeling very grateful for having received this gift, charity of Gopi geet recitation. As he said and Mahaprabhu was lying down and King Prataprudra was also massaging the lotus feet of the Lord. Lord gradually started getting up. While getting up He said to Prataprudra I could have given you a big reward, big gift in return for what you have given to me but you know I am just sannyasi, renounced. I don’t have anything, I am empty pocket. I don’t have even pocket. I don’t have even kurta with a pocket, what could I give you? But if you don’t mind, could you please accept my embrace instead of all other kinds of possible rewards? And saying so Mahaprabhu took lead in approaching King Prataprudra and He grabbed him and held him in a deep embrace. That could be the best reward for all that devotee does for Krishna, finally, he could be held in deep embrace of the Lord. So that has happened here, I mean these are rare occurrences.

sa mahatma su-durlabhah (BG 7.19)

He is mahatma, such a vaishnava is very rare. And Lord is happy with, oh he passed the test. Sat-krtah, Lord applauded him, Lord applauded, praised Siva. So what kind of Lord applauded Siva?

bhagavata srivatsankena

That kind of Lord, first of all He is mentioned as a bhagavata, Bhagavan is going to be, He is appreciating. He is praising and He is going to be embracing. Bhagavata, what kind of Bhagavan? Srivatsankena, Srivatsa-one of the opulences mentioned here is vatsanka. On His breast, on His chest, He is eternally holding onto Laxmi. He is Laxmidhar. He is Giridhar, He is Murlidhar. So many kinds of dhar, holders. And He is holding Laxmi on His chest. And He is not a holder of just one Laxmi, laxmi sahasra sata sambhrama sevyamanam Of serving, the millions of, I mean this is Krishna. Here is Visnu dealing with Siva here. But He is also originally Krishna. In Vrindavan, He is Krishna. In Vaikunth, He is Narayan or Visnu. And in Kailash, He is Siva. In Mahesh dhama, He is Sadashiv. Siva is also somebody, not like one amongst us here. We are just tiny living entities, but Siva is not a jiva. Siva is Hari har. He is Hari and also he is har. And he is dealing with Visnu, here Hari har. So bhagavata srivatsankena, Lord has been glorified or described or introduced as Bhagavan with opulence’s and one opulence mentioned aisvaryasya samagrasya, this is first one.

aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah (Visnu Purana 6.5.47) 

Like that goes on. So, the wealth, how wealthy He is? Samagra, samagra means everything that exists is His. You cannot compare. Could Lord’s wealth be compared with yours or with Tata’s or Rockefeller, could be compare? No. You cannot compare. Nothing belongs to Tata, Ambani or Rockefeller or George. He was also wealthy. Nothing, they own nothing. So it can’t compare. Oh this much is my wealth and. Lord has more, you can’t say that. You are zero, you are nothing. And that’s the beginning, that’s the realization. Lord is to be realized like that.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka- mahesvaram

Srivatsankena that Lord, sat krtah- is praising. He has praised Siva and Vishwanath Chakravarty Thakur is a one who is reading in between lines and inside story, is revealed onto him. Sukhdev Goswami is not specifying but Vishwanath Chakravarty Thakur is concluding Srivatsankena, reason hy Srivats is mentioned this is they must have embraced and that Srivats touched Lord Siva as they embraced each other. There is a touch. It’s kind of complete praise, right? From a distance, oh you are there and one who is praising is here and he is saying something on the microphone. That’s nice, that’s nice praise but finally shake hand and then finally embrace that praise is complete praise. The whole hearted praise. Samagra-complete praise with no reservation or not holding back. Lord is praising and to the extent of embracing Siva.

amantrya tam parikramya

And then Lord Siva has, lila has come to an end. Pastime is getting over here. He had come all the way, all the way. svalayam yayau- so where he has come from his aalay, from his abode, with some purpose in mind. He wanted to take darshan of, such darshan he never had. Lord as a woman, Lord looking like a woman. And there are womanly forms. Radha, gopis and women are there. Those are shaktis.

In shakti and shaktiman, Lord is shaktiman but here shaktiman has assumed the woman form. There are not shakti’s, shaktiman has become woman. And He had bewildered those asuras. He had to deal with asuras. Hari Hari.

So Lord’s purpose of becoming woman, taking a form of woman also over once the nectar was handed over to the Demigods. Lord had wound up His pastime and the form. He was a regular Bhagavan again. But then comes the Siva, he was curious. Oh! I missed it. I missed it. My dear Lord, please just once, just once. And okay have it. And then get darshan, Lord has become woman.

So, tam parikramya. So Siva is taking permission to go. Okay permission given, you may go. So he is before going he is doing parikrama of the Lord.

parikramya saganah svalayam yayau

And along with as a whole entourage they had come with Siva. He is never alone. Uma Parvati is also had come and the bhuta’s, the pishacha’s and they were all around. They never leave him alone. So saganah-with all of them. Svalayam yayau- He is alay. Siva’s alay is mentioned Kailash here.

devi mahesh hari dham suteshu suteshu

This is devi dhama. And above this devi dham, above the brahmanda is Mahesh dhama. And then Hari dhama. Then Sri Ram or Ayodhya dhama. Then Dwarkadhish dhama. Then Mathuradhish dhama. Then Krishna dhama, Golok dhama. Of course, Dwarka and Mathura are the part of Golok.

So, Mahesh dhama is also abode of Siva and half of Mahesh dhama is Vaikuntha. It is like Vaikuntha. It is part of Vaikuntha. The lower half of Mahesh dhama is part of this devi dham. And Lord Siva is Sadashiv in that Vaikuntha part of Mahesh dham and he is Kalbhairav, and he is Rudra and there is a time for destruction. Siva takes his Rudra form and begins

playing dim dim dim dim dim damroo he plays holding his trishul in other hand and begins his tandav nritya. Agitating, activating the modes of nature. Especially ignorance and this is all doing with empowerment of Lord Anantshesh whom he always worships and then destruction is on. So Siva is Harihar, he is Hari in that half of the Mahesh dham which is part of Vaikuntha. He is Hari and down there is Har. Siva is quiet a mysterious personality of godhead.

ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa- yogat (Brahma-samhita 5.45)
What is ksiram? Ksira-chor Gopinath, milk. Dadhi is dahi, mishti dahi.

So milk becomes dahi, yogurt, and that yogurt is Siva. Ksiram is Hari and dahi, the yogurt is Siva. sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh Brahma is giving us this understanding. Siva tattva he is described in Brahma samhita.

sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh

So Visnu is the cause and Siva is effect. Now the milk is cause and yogurt is effect. The effect or the yogurt is not different but also not the same. Yogurt is not different from the source or the cause and it is also not similar. So Siva is not different but not same. So that Harihar, Harihar ki jai. So even he was bewildered when Lord is becoming woman, very powerful effect. Most powerful woman and he has not become some living entity woman. Some living entity has accepted woman form. Lord has his Visnu tattva and he has assumed the form of a woman. So I was going to say you could imagine. We can’t even imagine the power, how much power of that womanly form.

balam me pasya mayayah
stri-mayya jayino disam (SB 3.31.38)

Kapil Muni is talking to His mother.Just see just see, balam me pasya mayaya, just look at the balam, the power of the maya. In what form? stri mayya. In the stri form. In the woman form, just see the balam. The power of Me or the Lord’s power has been invested in that form bewildering power. Power to bewilder.

So what to speak about Lord, living entity woman could not exhibit so much power. Jayino disam, some emperor he has just now returned conquering the three worlds. And now he is back home, back in the palace. The Kapil Muni is describing talking to his mother that he is back home.

bhruvi-jrmbhena kevalam

As a woman, what does She do? Moves Her eyebrows. Oh that’s it. What happens next? Immediately he falls, the emperor, the conqueror of all directions. Haribol, king aa rahe hai. Now the king is here, emperor is here. But as soon as he is back in the palace in association of the woman, she moves her eyebrows and he falls at her feet. Begins licking her feet. Just see the power of My maya, but it is My maya that has to be powerful. If it was of your maya, my maya might not be so powerful but it is My maya. Lord’s maya has the way powerful.

balam me pasya mayayah

Just see, so, what Kapil Dev said about the power of my maya in the form of a woman? This is the exhibition or illustration. Okay prove it, you just said balam me pasya mayaya, my maya is very powerful in the form of a
woman. Is there any example, any illustration? Okay. Here is,

mam maya, duratyaya

My maya is very very difficult, insurmountable to transcend, to get out of the clutches of this maya.

So the demonstration of that power of maya in form of a woman is here. Mohini murti, Lord who is Mohan, Manmohan or Madanmohan. Mohan means the attractor. That Madan has become personified in the form of the Lord as a woman here. Mohini, that Mohan has become Mohini Himself. Mohini murti, that Mohan, the bewildering energy and the power has
become murti. Taken a form personified in the form of this Mohini murti. And Lord is trying out; I mean He did not picked one of us to exhibit the extent of His power. He has picked up Siva, yet another powerful personality. For us, not much power you could be just brushed aside and you are gone, finished, lost. But, lord Siva has been picked up. You are going to try My maya, show My maya to you. Lord Siva has, he has some desires. Lord is behind all these. In heart of Siva, there is a desire Oh, I would like to see, I would like to take darshan, some inspiration.

divya jnana hride prakashito
divya jnanaof course there was other kind of jnana.
aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah (BG 10.8)

I am seated in the heart of everybody and from Me comes knowledge or ignorance also. So Siva has been inspired like that. He comes down. And there is a whole lila, pastime. Like one Lord is dealing with other Lord. There are two Lords. They both are Lords. Well one Lord is incomplete Lord or he is half Lord and half not Lord. He is a Harihar. One is full-fledged Hari, other one is Harihar. And Lord full on exhibition of his power as a woman that bewildering energy and that energy has done its job. And Siva has gone, is bewildered and has lost his intelligence. He could not discriminate any more. And this is what happened. This is a beginning.

dhyayato visayanpumsah sangastesupajayate
sangat samjayate kamah kamatkrodho bhijayate.
krodhadbhavati sammohah sammohatsmritivibhramah
smritibhramsad buddhinaso buddhi nasat pranasyati (BG 2.62-63)

So this is one after the other, one after the other, one after the other. If we don’t check dhyayato, contemplation. If we don’t check their contemplation on the sense objects then sangah, the association to attachment. From attachment comes lust and if lust is not fulfilled then what happens? kamat krodhobhijayate. One becomes angry,krodhadbhavati sammohah. And when person is taken over by anger which comes from passion.

Kama esa krodha esa rajo-guna- samudbhavah (BG 3.37)

From the passion comes kama and krodha. Lust and anger are Prabhupada says as Mr.Anger and Mr. Lust. They are brothers or the followers of each other. kamat krodhobhijayate. So passion, person in full of passion,

kamat krodhobhijayate krodhad bhavati sammohah

When person is krodha, full of anger cannot think straight, is bewildered buddhinaso then one completely loses his intelligence. And when intelligence is lost which is also compared to the driver.

yantra rudhani mayaya

All these connections are there. We are sitting in yantra. The body is yantra and who is a driver in this yantra in this machine? Intelligence. And the horses of the senses the mind is he rein and the soul is a passenger and who is a driver? Intelligence is a driver. And the driver is a drunkard and then what happens? It is going to be off the cliff into the ditch of the bridge, into the gutter. Buddhi nasat, cannot think anymore. Lost the control, when one loses the control over his machine, over his wanderings? When intelligence is lost. Anyway, so that did happen. Siva lost his intelligence. He was bewildered and started running after, after that woman. And Lord is running earlier on. Lord is taking a tour He is going by brahmachari ashrams. Remembered? These ashrams, the sage ashram, the brahmin ashram. Now bringing to their attention, just see, just see, and just see. Just see the power of My maya to begin with and even Siva like personalities could be bewildered then what to speak of you? And
to the extent that Siva passes semen and that he has come to kind of senses pacified.

Prabhupada is commenting in one of the purports when that happens, person begins thinking. And Oh! What happened? Just now what happened? What was happened? So Siva by God’s grace, Krishna’s grace has quickly come to conclusion. And I was wondering if this pastime had not taken place and Siva had not passed semen then what about the gold and silver? From the semen that Siva passed that created all gold mines everywhere and silver mines. They are caused by the semen of Siva. So who knows so many different things that Lord is accomplishing by performance of this pastime. Also the production of gold and silver which is caused by this pastime. If that pastime had not taken place, oh! No gold no silver, no valuable elements. But that also bewildering also.

Hiranyakashipu, right? They like Hiranya they like gold and they like kashipu means soft bed. This gold produced from this act, which was a lusty act. Full of lust, gold produced and that gold continuous to bewilder that glitter of that gold. Its origin in this sinful act, sinful thought, ending up passing semen. So as he has come to senses.

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah

That also things comes into the picture here. Although the act was abominable, he immediately came to the senses and has situated himself.

swarupen na vyavasthithi,

His swarupa as Siva, sadhur eva sa mantavyah, that person should be accepted as sadhu. And Lord has accepted him as sadhu.

vaishnavanam yatha shambhu,

That leader of vaishnavas is involved with this pastime. Lord has used him. But immediately he has reinstated himself into his position. And he has come to his senses, so Lord is appreciating this. Okay some kind of fall he had or about to happen but he got his act together. Quickly, he got his act together. He was not fallen forever or for a longer time. Also proving that Lord Visnu or Krishna are Achyuta and everyone else is chyuta. Including Siva could be, he could fall. Lord Krishna and all His different incarnations well some of them gunavatar ae there they are not infallible. They are fallible. They could fall. And he is an example.

Now Brahma running after his daughter that’s a fall. This never happens to the Lord. Lord never falls down. Maintains His position but others could fall down and here,

yashantam na sura asura saganah, devaya tasmayi namah

I offer my obeisance’s unto the Supreme Lord whose end is not understood by sura, suraganaha. Suras, the demigods and asuras, demons they do not understand. So that also we could understand here. How Siva doesn’t sometimes understand or he misunderstands or Brahma misunderstands. Indra misunderstands Lord or doesn’t completely understand the Lord. Now what does speak about asuras. Asuras, they don’t understand extent of the Lord.

And then Lord has, Lord Visnu has praised Siva and also given benediction. Okay, enough is enough. You tried, right? You wanted to see, yes? You wanted to see my woman form. Did you see? How was it? Did you learn some lessons? I think you did. Good boy, now I bless you, Lord has just now said I bless you.

seyam guna-mayi maya na tvam abhibhavisyati (SB 8.12.40)

From hence forward, this will not happen to you again. I bless you. You have learnt your lesson. So, Lord has blessed, empowered Siva, praised and embraced him. Siva is taking permission, does circumambulation and mounts his nandi. I am sure; he is not walking back to his abode. He is riding on the back of nandi, the bull. It was slow, slow but steady. And he has taken everyone along with him. Returned to his abode, leaving his pastime behind as a history. As a major event, universal and important. And lessons to be learned hence it has been included in the Bhagavatam for us to study. Study this case. Different cases to study, this case should be studied by vaishnavas or aspiring vaishnavas, sadhakas and learned something. Come to conclusions, the power of maya never be curious to know about maya. Oh! I would like to see. Could I see? Could I see? Could I see? And insisting and insisting. Okay, go ahead. Don’t touch, don’t touch, and don’t touch the fire. But child is insisting. Okay,
go ahead and he is burnt. Now,
okay now you know.
Hari haribol.

Damodhar lila and killing of vatsasura
Dated : July 2004 (Bhagvat Saptah-Day one)
Hare Krsna!

Thank you for coming in this endeavor of worshipping Bhagavatam. We took Bhagavatam on the procession today. When we want to glorify someone, the players also do, when someone wins the match, they lift him, really give him lift. So we lifted Bhagavatam to worship Bhagavatam. Of course we were chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! We glorified that Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam is incarnation of Krsna. There are many forms, that is one form which stands before us. Bhagavatam is also the Lord, Lord’s pastimes are also the Lord, non different than Lord. His dham is Bhagavat svaroop, non different. Sva, His own rupa, another form of the Lord.

Everyone runs to see Rukmini Dwarakadhish. I don’t want to minimize the importance of running to Rukmini Dvarakadhish, and seeing them, but Prabhupada did emphasize hearing. Unless you hear you will not understand or really see. That’s why Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur one time asked one of his followers, who had left the dharma sabha where Bhagavat discourse was on and he went away and returned. ‘Where did you go?’ ‘I went for darshan’, he thought my spiritual master will be pleased to hear such reply. Instead he asked, ‘so how was your eye exercise? You went, you opened your eyes and closed them many times. So how was your eye exercise? I was here teaching technique or science of how to see Krsna, with the help of Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita and you ran away in middle to see.’ So this way our previous acaryas and certainly Srila Prabhupada has emphasized hearing process.

That’s certainly number one business, nitya siddha krsna prema sadhya kabu naya sravanadi suddha citte karah uday We all have love for the Lord. It is not something to be purchased from the market near by. It is in there, it is part of you. So how to get it out? How to manifest it? Sravanadi suddha citte karah uday, sravan, then citta shuddha, consciousness is pure then Krsna prema uday, manifest naturally. So Srila Prabhupada certainly wanted us to distribute his books. He also wanted us to read them, not only read them but study them. Many of us read but not everyone studies Prabhupada’s books. Anyway we will attempt to study Bhagavatam, contemplating on Bhagavatam. This is very very favorable time, nice time. Any time is good, shubhasya shighram.  If it’s a good think. Do it when? Tomorrow? No. this evening? No. Do it now. When there is the best thing to do then you don’t have to check our watch, one day, no. but there are certain times certainly beneficial. We get more benefit out of those times. And this is that time. Staring from today is also Caturmasya, right? Today marks beginning of Caturmasya. What is business of Caturmasya? Eat less, circular was distributed, don’t eat salt, sweet voice. So minimizing, cutting down eating sleeping etc and maximize certainly hearing and we would like to do that. Today also guru pornima, it’s guru day, also Brhaspati var (wednesday).

We don’t do this as a money making thing. That is why Prabhupada was against this ‘saptah business’. Yeah this has become a business. Contract has to be sign. How many lacks? They are not shy about this. And some other reasons why Prabhupada was against this reciting for 7 days, but he was not against reciting Bhagavatam. It’s popular thing and few extra people do come in the name of Bhagavata katha. So we could take advantage of that trend that tradition. And don’t do this this and this while studying Bhagavatam or reciting Bhagavatam.

So last time we did childhood pastimes of Krsna, Krsna in Gokula, circumstances before His birth, Bhumi-devi crying and demigods go to Brahma, and Brahma said, ‘let’s go to Supreme Personality of Godhead’ and Lord heard the prayers. Prabhupada said ‘wireless communication’, from the beach of Svetadvipa Brahma communicated. He was on the beach and Lord was in Sveta ocean. Sveta means white, why white? Because there is milk all around, Lord in the middle. And He said, ‘ok, sure, you go ahead, you Demigods you take birth’.

So they took birth and then Lord also took birth. And then He was taken across through Jamuna to Gokula and baby girl back to Mathura and an attempt to killing and that did not work out and more pastimes. Krsna was 6 days old and what happened? Putana! And she was killed, then name giving ceremony was there, Gargacarya came. Krsna Balarama’s names, privately in a goshala, no big affair. He did not want; otherwise news will easily reach Kamsa and then more trouble. Why invite trouble.  Then more pastimes and Krsna as child eating dirt; ‘open your mouth.’ What was inside? Whole universe was inside. ‘Oh you heard that I ate dirt. Ok you may see inside. There was so much dirt, whole universe, it is made of dirt. I took few pinches. Please look inside. Not only dirt, there was water, fire, air and ether and earthly planet was there. Bharat varsa, New Delhi Agra highway road and Bhaktivedanta Swami Road and Jamuna and there is Gokula too and as Yasoda looked more closely, there was Yasoda inside chastising Krsna.

Wonderful Krsna! But He was thief also. Nice child but stealing. So, so many complaints; everyday complaint box would get full. Yasoda said ‘you have to prove.’ Then attempts were made to catch Krsna, red handed or white handed? Butter in hand then hand becomes white. White handed. Bluish hand covered with white butter. So many attempts were made to catch hold of Krsna. One lady was successful. And her name was Prabhavati.  She caught hold. She thought she caught hold of Him and dragged Him. As she got closer, she started yelling, ‘Yasoda please come, I caught hold of your son look.’ And she enters Nanda bhavan. Yasoda comes running. This lady’s face was covered like this.

(Guru maharaj shows with action, Vrajwasi ladies cover their face with sari) Brajavasi ladies! With one hand she was dragging Krsna. She said ‘look, here he is.’ And Yasoda went close, ‘remove your veil please’. And when she really looked there was no Krsna, there was son of Prabhavati. You could imagine the embarrassment of Prabhavati. She was thinking, I am the one, I will get the special reward. I will be in the front pages of Mathura newspaper, ‘thief was caught by Prabhavati’.  But instead her son was there. Then she rushed out of Nanda bhavan back to her home. On the way to home there was Krsna waiting for her. He said, ‘Ok, next time you try this, I will become your husband.’

How could Krsna be a thief? Who is a thief? We are. Everything belongs to Him. So that is just pleasure pastime. Not for His pleasure but everyone was highly pleasing with Krsna’s stealing butter. Ladies got up early morning. Why would they get up early morning? If Krsna comes to steal and butter is not ready, He will go disappointed. Keep all ready, just in case thief comes to steal. So there was competition for getting up early in Vrindavan to prepare butter. So many pastimes stealing butter related. And everyone just loved this Krsna, the butter thief.

One day stealing took place in Yasoda’s own home. Krsna was hungry and then Yasoda runs to kitchen to take care of milk dropping the hungry child middle of, He was drinking the breast milk. She just threw Him on floor and ran to the kitchen. Krsna was very angry. He did not like this and He became so angry that His lips were trembling with anger and He broke that pot in which Yasoda was churning butter that morning. And He was hungry so He did stealing. Yasoda came. He was watching. He thought He was smart. He was seeing this way and that way. But Yasoda was smarter. She came from behind. Krsna still noticed and not only she was coming, she had a stick. And He jumped down and ran. And attempts were made to catch hold of Him.

Yasoda is well built and Krsna is liitle. He is running and she is running behind Him. It took a while to catch hold of Him. Even yogis can not catch, but Yasoda caught and trying to bind Him. Not Him only but also the mortar. Why mortar? Because mortar also has to be punished. What is mortar’s fault? Mortar helped Krsna to climb up and reach butter. So one who helps stealing, he also gets punished. So Krsna and the mortar both are getting punished. She trying to tie and ‘two inches short’ story and finally it worked out.

And He wanted to do some more naughty things. He crawled as mother Yasoda was busy in some other activity. Behind at the backyard two trees were waiting from a long time. Yamalarjuna trees, they were cursed and blessed at the same time. So now was a blessing time. Otherwise also these trees had good time. They were with Krsna, seeing Krsna in court yard of Nanda maharaj. That’s not the curse.  Would you like to be tree in the court yard of Nanda maharaj, anyone here? Many hands are there. Anything in Vrindavan, anybody. And so Krsna uprooted those two giant trees. They crashed and there was dust storm.  Everyone came running. ‘What happened?’

Yamalarjuna trees were liberated. They were sons of Kubera. And they were trying to untie the knots. ‘May I help you’? These two demigods asked, seeing Krsna in awkward condition, ‘May I help you?’ Krsna’s response was, ‘thank you for the offer but this knot has been tied by my mother. Only someone with equal amount of affection could untie this knot. This is knot of affection, my mother’s affection for me. You won’t be able to do untie this.’ So they had circumambulated Krsna and went happily. So right in there in the middle of this story, Sukadeva Gosvami describes another pastime just in two verses, beautiful. One lady she comes with big basket of fruits. And ‘please buy fruits. I have this fruit, that fruit. Kela lelo, amruda lelo, buy gvava, by chikoo.’ And she is going around and around more to Nanda bhavan than any other place. Because this fruit vendors, they come with intension of hoping to get glance of Krsna, to meet Krsna. The selling business is just secondary thing. Primary goal is how to get to meet Him, see Him. So for sure, Krsna heard, ‘take fruits, buy fruits’ and Krsna, ‘oh fruits,’ was excited and hurriedly ran out of the door of Nanda bhavan.

Sukadeva Gosvami describes, Krsna who is sarva phal pradah, the Personality Of Godhead who gives fruits to everybody, fruits of their labor to everybody, every time, that Personality is now in need of fruits. He is giving fruit to everybody but now He becomes phalarthi, He likes to get a fruit for Himself. Those were not the time for dollar, rupees and currencies. Those were time of barter system. So Krsna caught hold with both hands, full of grains. Lady is now comfortably sited. Potential buyer is there. Krsna is coming with His small, baby steps, taking longer, and that is fine with her. She wants Krsna as long as possible in her site, vision. So she could take darshan. What fun is it if He ran out and ran in with fruits? No, she wanted it, ‘take your time baby’. He is coming and He is trying to hold those grains tight. Tighter as He holds, they are spilling more, they are losing the grip. First of all how small fist, just a little child, how many grains could He hold. And by the time He reached, He had hardly anything there. But she took it and she is returning now.

He has been described as Acyuta, means what? Infalliable, but the grains are falling from His hands. He is Acyuta but grain is cyuta. He can not even hold dhanya (grains). So He is loosing grains. So she accepted those few left over grains and in exchange she is giving fruits to the beautiful darling of Yasoda, and as she is looking at Him, fully focused on the beauty of the Lord, beautiful moon like face, blooming lotus like face. And while doing so she lost the track, how many fruits she is handing out. She also wanted to stay longer and she knew as soon as she stops He will turn around and go away. What good is that? She is trying to keep Him longer. So in the process she emptied her whole basket.

And He is also looking for more fruits. You have some more you know. We hear sometimes, when you give, He takes note of that and what you haven’t given, Krsna notice that. He tries to go deeper into the person. ‘Hey that’s moha, you know.’ So Krsna knows what he has kept. Krsna would like everything.  So this is what this lady has done. She has given everything. But is she the looser? Look at her basket. It is getting full of jewels, diamonds and rubies.

Sukadeva gosvami, middle of all this lila, he has talked of this pastimes and then Krsna was rescued, Nanda maharaj came at the site, and picked up baby and was delighted to know if the baby is safe. He started to pray to the Lord for protection of the child.

And following that there was big ista-gosti held in Gokula dham. All the leading citizens gather together. They wanted to review all situations and come to some conclusion. Is there some way out? Elderly persons, in the forest, there are 12 forests in Vrindavan and Gokula is Brihad vana, big vana, Brihad Bhagavatam like that. So in Brhad vana, Gokula, all the elderly persons after experiencing the recent disasters, terrorist attack; Nanda maharaj and others have gathered. And in that assembly there is Upananda, who is eldest brother of Nanda maharaj.

There are five brothers. Nanda maharaj is number three,  Upananda is number two. So Upananda is there in the assembly and he is well known for, first of all he is superior, he surpasses everybody in two things. First of all in age he is eldest member present and in jnana, experience also he is most experienced. That’s not always the case, right. You may be oldest but you may be.. Hiranyakashipu was very old but so far jnana is concerned he was just a baby. And Prahlad maharaj was older in jnana, and his father was older in age. But Upananda was older in age and in jnana, experience. He was also known for, someone who is always concerned, care for Balarama and Krsna.

So what he had been doing, he had been travelling all over Brajamandal. He had been thinking that we have to leave this Gokula.  We have to get out of here to a safer location. No one appointed him but because of his concern for Krsna and Balarama and other residents of Gokula also, he had been doing this research. And travelling and travelling and he had just now returned from his travel, and he is proposing, ‘you know we have to leave this place. We care for all residents of Gokula, and for everyone’s benefit, especially for the benefit of Krsna and Balarama we have to leave this place. And it is seen that target of these attacks are children and specially Krsna and Balaram.’

And he is reminding everyone ‘do you not remember, that Krsna was only 6 days old, Putana appeared. Luckily Krsna managed. Then Krsna was 3 months old, then Sakatasura, he just kicked the cart, flying and broken into pieces, but attempt was there, trying to kill this child. Then he was 100 days old, 3 months old and Trinavarta came, took the baby in sky. Of course baby did not mind. He was enjoying seeing whole Braja, great opportunity to fly in the sky, free. And Krsna became heavier and heavier and He killed the demon. And before us this ghastly disaster you could see, the trees uprooted and Acyuta, Lord Narayan is protecting our children but how long, you know. One of these days, who knows? So far so good, protected, but we can’t take risk. We have to go, take everything with us, all the residents, all the cows, all the basic needs. We have to leave this place.’

‘Where to go?  What are you talking about? Do you any concrete proposal?’ ‘Yes yes I have been travelling through out Brajamandal and I have found a place. Place called Vrndavan. Let’s go to Vrndavan.’ Are you ready? (Hari bol!) Then what about katha? You have taken sankalpa. We are in Vrndavan! As we listen to katha of Krsna and Vrndavan, we are in Vrndavan. We are with Krsna, trying to become part of Krsna’s pastimes, witness those pastimes through the eyes of the Bhagavatam.

Bhagavatam has two pages. See through one page with this eye and another page with another eye and there is window through which you could see things, sastra chaksusa.

‘And that Vrndavan is very appropriate, suitable place for cows.’ Always the concern is cows. ‘For the cows very good place and for us also.’ And especially he is mentioning, ‘there is one mountain called Govardhan. There is lots of grass and creepers and lakes, everything is there. Beautiful place I have come across. And we should go there right away.’ Now he made this presentation, proposal in front of residents of Gokula and he says, ‘if you like we will go. If you think its good place then we go.’ What do you think what was the response of the residents? Jay Jay they said sadhu sadhu, speaking sanskrit now. Forgot english! Yes that’s what they said, ‘sadhu sadhu, wonderful. Yes let us go to Vrndavan.’ And they got ready to go to Vrndavan. They have long way to go. Residents of Vrndavan are also singing on the way.

So everything is ready to go. Everything is getting loaded into bullock carts. Every family has at least one bullock cart or more. So many cows and so many bulls.  And that’s the mode of transportation. Krsna had never gone, His travels were limited to Brhad vana, more into Gokula, into the town, around the bank of Jamuna. This was the first time He was going on very long travel. Going to another country. ‘Mummy mummy where are we going?’ ‘We are going to Vrndavan.’ ‘Vrndavan!! Why Vrndavan?’ ‘You know there are big big playgrounds, you can play there.’ ‘Hey!!’ Krsna started jumping in the cart.  So there are so many carts. Cart after cart after cart. Carts were mainly for elderly folks, old people and children and ladies were in the carts. Everyone else were walking. And Cows were all the way in front. And priests were chanting the prayers. And they also have weapons for protection of cows. Cows have been described repeatedly ‘the wealth’, go-dhan of Vraja. So they used to protect them. So they are going. They left Gokula.  There is no one in Gokula. They all left. Ghost town! And they went in northerly direction.

There mention of this special cart where is Krsna, Balarama and Yasoda and Rohini, four of them in one cart. We also hear that, everyone would like to have his cart next to this cart and Krsna makes them experience. Everyone was thinking, ‘my cart is next to Krsna’s cart. Everyone else’s cart behind or ahead, my cart is just next to Krsna’s.’ Krsna is expanding, His cart has been expanded, He had expanded.  So because it was getting late, sunset time, they camp at the bank of Jamuna. Some distance in north. Whole camping has been described. The next morning as they got up, they wanted to cross. So what they do? They tied carts, one cart to another. What is this going on?  Bridge! They are walking, and crossing, many bridges like that. Other cowherd men carrying calves little baby calves on their shoulder and swimming Jamuna, going across. And as they are swimming across with the calves on their backs, who is swimming right behind you think? Mother cow! So many men are carrying the baby calves on their shoulders and they are swimming and the Cows are swimming right behind. Thousands of them are swimming across like that. Go mata ki jay! And now they all have reached Vrndavan. Vrndavan dham ki jay!

We are in Vrndavan now. There are 12 forests. All of them put together is we call Vrndavan but one of those twelve forest is also Vrndavan. Between Jamuna and Govardhana is Vrndavan forest and beyond also. So after entering Vrndavan they parked their carts in semi circular format. And made that as compound and they started residing there. Temporary housing facility and they stayed there for several years. According to Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, Krsna stays for 3 years and 4 months in Gokula and He stays 3 years and 4 months, where they have just now come, Shakatavarta. Probably you have heard the name Chatikara. You go to Delhi Agra highway; then you take turn to go to Krsna Balaram temple, the Bhaktivedanta Marg. So at that junction, highway, you are turning left to go to Krsna Balarama temple. So that junction, there is village called Chatikara, that’s where they parked their carts. Big area! So 3 years and 4 months there and finally from there they go to Nandagrama. Krsna stayed for 3 years

and 4 months in Nandagrama. And then comes Akrura to invite Krsna to Mathura. So just to give idea where is Krsna now? Where is his family? So here at this place, Krsna becomes a calf-herd boy. He was given the task of herding calves. He was little boy and He could only manage herding little calves.

choti choti gaiya, chote chote gvala,
chotoso mero madan Gopala

Everything is chota, Krsna chota, cow choti choti everything choto. So Krsna is very anxious to take this assignment. So with this sakhya bhava, in Gokula basically vatsalya bhava; He is spending time with Yasoda and parents and little bit sakhya, few friends. But having come to Vrndavan, now the friendship became more dominant, sakha bhava. So He has to be away from home playing with friends, so this calf herding pastime, more opportunity to be with friends and more play, to give excuse to be away from family but play with friends.

So when Krsna first time proposed, Yasoda said no no you are going into forest? Forget it. She was not ready. Stay home. You are still tiny baby. You don’t have to go to work at this age. But He was insisting and then Nanda maharaja took Krsna’s side. Father and mother debating. And Krsna and Nanda maharaj won the debate. And Krsna was allowed to go out, to be cowherd boy. First day Nanda maharaj, he gathered small group of calves and he had friends. They had small group of calves also. And Nanda and Yasoda personally were accompanying Krsna and Balaram, training them, how to control the cows, how to turn them. They gave little ropes in the hands of Krsna and Balarama and little sticks. ‘But don’t go deep into the forest ok, come back before lunch.’ ‘Yes yes daddy, yes yes mummy.’

So they were proceeding towards forest and then lots of playing and then they came back. This is going on for some days and one day; once upon a time, at the bank of Jamuna, other side now, everyone is staying at western bank, and now Krsna and Balaram and others are going across Jamuna to estern bank of Jamuna. They are herding their cows and one demon arrived on the scene. With the aim of killing Krsna and Balarama, he has come. And Krsna noticed. And this demon has come in the shape of calf. Easy right? So many calves there, one more calf. So demon thought it’s easy, no one will notice me. But Krsna noticed, not only noticed, He brought in notice, ‘hey Balarama, you see? What about him? That’s not regular calf, strange kind of.’ ‘Yes yes, something we had never seen. This is extra one.’

Krsna showed him to Balarama and Krsna is moving forward then closer and closer and closer to that calf. As He got there, He caught hold of that calf’s two hind legs and the tail. And then next thing He did, whirling and demon felled on top of a big tree. The demon lost his life in this process. And as he has been thrown, whirl around and thrown, this calf, it was no more calf, it was gigantic demon form. Big from and he was so heavy. That tree fell down with so many other trees. Demigods they were highly pleased, and they started showering flowers. And all the cowherd boy friends they were kind of hiding. Krsna was handling the demon. They were not sure what could be outcome of this. So they were maintaining safer distance and watching from behind the trees. And once the demon was killed then they came forward and sadhu sadhu, well done.

Next thing they are doing is some special kind of fruit tree. So the tree fell and there are so many fruits and all the cowherd boys are running after the fruits. There is breakfast time. Someone lost life and no big deal. They just wanted to enjoy fruit. Ran for the fruits!

So like that they would have good time, herding calves and playing with friends.  And another day they were all thirsty. These are two pastimes. One demon killing which was Vatsasur and there is more. There is news of Vatsa the calf.  Some residents of Vrndavan, ‘hey Krsna you killed the cow, you have to take bath. You have to take holy deep now for self purification; go take bath in Ganga.’ So Krsna was willing but He doesn’t leave Vrndavan. How does He manage? He creates Ganga from His mind. That is Manasi Ganga. When you do Brajamandal parikrama, you take darshan of Mansi Ganga. So that comes from mind of Krsna. Krsna takes bath, everyone taking bath now in Mansi Ganga. Some other pastimes also mentioned in connection of this Mansi Ganga. This is one of them.

So another day boys were thirsty. There was another demon coming. He is Bakasur, brother of Putana. Putana has been killed. Now second member of family, he has come as big duck. So they drank water and suddenly they saw big big huge size duck. So Bakasura comes with big pointed beak and catches hold of Krsna and he swallows. Where is Krsna now? He was just playing with the friends and demon came and he just swallowed Him. And cowherd boys were right there. Where is Krsna? Seeing His friends disturbed and Krsna inside the throat is becoming very very hot and very bitter also. Could you swallow something that is so hot and bitter? You will vomit. So this demon vomits. And what came out? Krsna! Krsna held beak of this demon and Bakasur also was killed.

We are rushing because idea was to kill another demon today. Aghasur! So Putana is sister, and Bakasur and Aghasur are two brothers. So Aghasur’s time for killing. Cowherd boys, as the news spread of Krsna killing another demon, residents of Vrndavan, Nanda maharaj reminded of Garga muni’s prediction, ‘this will happen, that will happen, but Krsna will always come victorious, always depend on Him, He will protect you.’ And the way he predicted is exactly happening. They all are talking.  So these topics are giving great pleasure to residents, protectors of the town, Nanda maharaj and ohers. This Rama Krsna katha they are absorbed, this is their life.

mat cittah mat-gat pranah, bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca

Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita. Same thing; residents of Vrndavan are busy, absorbed talking about Krsna. We also wish, before we talk what we have to do? You have to hear, you have to read. Otherwise what would you talk about? Whatever you hear about, you talk about. Gramya katha! Simple thing! What goes in, input, is the output. If katha goes in, katha will come out. You will relish. We also wish to how Krsna katha is topic of devotees. Krsna is expecting that we talk about Krsna, hear about Krsna, hear more and more and then do mananam. Krsna is reminding us, ‘you hear Me, hear and then come back tomorrow to hear more, but in mean time what happens? Mananam, bring those pastimes back to the mind, contemplate, relish and take them in again. Just like cows or animals they eat twice. First time they gobble up, grazing, and when they sit down, then what do they do? Chewing the chewed. They bring whole thing back into the mouth, then chewing it finer and finer and they assimilate it into the system and they get nourished.

So here we hear, gobble up in couple of hours. Then we have 22 hrs more. To do what? Bringing these pastimes back into the mind and relish them, then they will become our property. Then we will not forget them. Bring them back again.

So the person who did this katha, I told you in beginning only, he was Gokarna. This is part of Bhagavat Mahatmya and he was reciting this Bhagavat for seven days for the benefit of his brother Dhundhakari. Dhundhakari was kind of not good fellow. His brother Gokarna showed special mercy. This person was turned into ghost in fact. Dhundhakari had no body, just subtle body. So he took shelter in bamboo which had seven knots. Otherwise the wind comes, they he will go away. It ‘s not heavy 100 kg body, just 50 gm body. So he took shelter of this bamboo of seven knots. So what was happening, at the end of each day, one of the knots was getting opened. And another recitation, another day, by the end of second day, one more knot was opened. Like that the end of the seventh day, that bamboo was no more and there comes out four handed beautiful person.

And mean time there was one aircraft that had come from up above, the trance airline, TWA, and landed and airhosts were signaling please come please come. He was about to got the steps and take his seat, but before they took off, this Gokarna said hey hold on. What’s the matter? In audience I have so many listeners, not just one person. I was expecting you would bring big jambo jet and board everyone to take back home. But how come only one person is boarding the plain? Haridas, Visnudas, they were captain, airhosts, they said, the question was raised by Gokarna that the speaker is same, same subject matter was shared by me with everyone and they all were listening. So how come not the same fruit. How come one person become capable of going back to Vaikuntha and everyone else is staying behind? Why there is discrimination? What went wrong?

Several things were pointed out by these Haridasas. One of these is mananam, this contemplation, what had been heard. This person was thinking, contemplating, relishing, bringing into the mind and others were not doing. This was the reason. Faith of the listener is also other factor. But main thing was pointed out, mananam. So sravanam kirtanam, and the mananam pat. So he said, ‘but we have no problem. You can organize another katha and let them follow the guidelines that we have just mentioned and we will have bigger plane next time.’ and that is what happened. Another katha was organized, Gokarna spoke. Eveyone who was attaining that katha, ‘hey mananam, hey mananam. Unless we do mananam, no going. Mananam mananam. And we need to have attention. Turn off mobile phone and children … ‘ like that.

And everybody was so alert, so respectful. No offenses, attention and the result was at the end of those seven days of recitation of Bhagavatam, big jambo jet arrived. And this time Lord personally accompanied pilots and the staff. And everyone was shown the door of the aircraft, please get in please and the engine started and everyone went back to the Lord.

So the quality of hearing, contemplation, attentions, etc. kind of few things mentioned there in Srimad Bhagavat mahatmya. These things mentioned by four Kumaras, also how fund should be raised.  Just like at the time of marriage you raise funds somehow. First thing mentioned by four Kumaras is fund raising and invitaion. And they have given little draft, how to invite, and what should be location, where should be katha to be conducted and which part of the year. What kind of speaker has to be vaisnava, Hari bhakta and like that it goes. The main thing is hear about subject matter. So we are trying to stick to what Sukadeva Gosvami speaks and how Prabhupada has explained that in purports, something from purports and something from previous acaryas. We are going to try to share this with you. Hare Krishna

Aghasur killing and Brahma Vimon lila
Venue: Pune
Dated: December 2004 (Bhagvat Saptah)
Hare Krishna

Do not think that this kirtan is not part of Bhagvatam. Essence of Bhagvatam is singing.
Last verse of Bhagavatm 18,000th verse talks about this Harinam.

nama-sankirtanam yasya sarva-papa vinasanam

This is conclusion. It was last day, 7th day of Bhagavtam recitation and Sukadeva Gosvami said,

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet

Kali yuga is full of faults and mukta sangah, one becomes free, liberated of sangah, attachment to this world by kirtan. eko mahan gunah, there is only one good quality of this age, chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu did that. Krishna appeared 500 years ago and then in the evening He would sit down with His most confidential associates and recite Bhagvatam.

srimad Bhagvatam praman amalam prema pumartho mahan

sri ciatanya mahaprabhor matm idam, this is opinion, philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And who is He? He is topmost authority. There is no one equal to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So He says Srimad-Bhagvatam is authority, why, amalam, there is no dirt, contamination, kaitava dharma. Recitation of it develops love of Godhead, prema pumarto mahan.

Prabhupada also gave us this process. Chanting, dancing, and hearing Bhagvatam. Srimad Bhagvatam is foundation of Bhagavat dharma. By studying Bhagvatam we protect the principle of Bhagvat dharma and by doing that dharma protect us. May this Bhagvat dharma protect everybody. Soon this is going to be the dharma for everybody all over the planet.

So today we will hear killing of Aghasur and Brahma vimohan lila. We will also see drama presentations. It becomes easier. One photograph is equal to thousand words. When we go through Bhagvatam, we get to know Krishna, then we serve Him more, we love Him more. Go to the source, understanding from Sukadeva Gosvami. If there is anyone who knows Bhagvatam, that is Sukadeva Gosvami. So we follow the parampara, through acaryas, through Srila Prabhupada. First thing first, so what is the first thing, hear.

So Krishna and Balarama were 5 years old. They have become calf herds. They were very eager to go to forest, so anxious that one day Krishna had an idea. Today we will have picnic. Today we will not eat breakfast at home. We will take breakfast in forest. So that morning He blew His buffalo horn that woke up all the boys. He just blew His buffalo horn and with that goes the message also. They understood that we have to take our breakfast packets and leave early today. They all got up; there was no snooze and all, because they didn’t want to miss Krishna. What if Krishna will leave for forest and we will leave behind. What is there without Krishna? These are the thoughts. If we will have such thoughts then we are qualified to go back to Goloka. That’s why we have mangal arati, we practice getting up early everyday.

So boys got up and they are thousands of them and all of them were carrying four items, breakfast lunch packet hanging on their sticks and everyone had flutes. The calves were in the front and calf herd boys behind them. Sometimes Krishna goes ahead of everybody else. He wants to see some beauty, scenery. Then other boys would run to be with Him. Everybody would say, I want to touch first, I want to touch first. There is competition to get Krishna, catch Krishna. If this is the purpose of competition then competition is transcendental, Krishna centered.
Everyone was doing different things. Many cowherd boys were playing flutes. Some were imitating different birds, bhramars etc. Everyday they would get great pleasure doing this. Sukadeva Gosvami says oh, how fortunate are these boys to be with Krishna all the time, to play with Krishna! How many pious activities they must have performed? Even all the residents of Vrndavan are so fortunate. In what words I could describe their fortune?

Everything was going so smoothly. Everyone was absorbed in Krishna and something came to disturb. Now comes Aghasur. This is not against the will of the Lord. Lord’s Yogamaya sakti was inspired by the Lord to bring demons, because cowherd boys were not taking their meals. Everyone was just enjoying, they forgot all eating part. Now Aghasur is going to come and then will look at their watch oh it’s breakfast time. And of course Lord appears to destroy the demons, one of the reasons. Mother earth was feeling burden.  So everyday demons were being killed by Krishna; all those who were on hit list. List became smaller and smaller.

So this demon came and he was watching Krishna and cowherd boys enjoying. He was inspired by Kamsa. He was younger brother of Bakasur and Baki. Baki is Putana. So he became 12 mile long python. He was just lying on the main road. He was thinking, oh that boy is the one, leader of the team, killer of my brother and sister. Now I will kill him along with all his friends. So this was his sankalpa. He was demonic person and was very hungry. His lower lip was right on the ground and the upper lip was touching the clouds.

Cowherd boys were seeing and they could not understand what this is? His teeth were like mountain ranges. Tongue was like express highway. It was deep and dark inside, like a cave. Some cowherd boys were thinking looks like it is part of Vrndavan’s beauty. But others thought, no this is living one and waiting for us. As these two parties went closer, oh very bad smell. It is certainly a python and he had a nice breakfast and that’s why very bad smell, flesh smell. We are getting into some trouble here. But even if it is real one, we have nothing to worry. Krishna is there, let’s go. They all entered in the mouth of Aghasur, clapping and singing. Cows entered with their tails upraised. Krishna was listening all their conversation and He knew although demon was motionless, doing good act, making His friends think that it’s a statue. He wanted to stop His friends, but they were so many and it was too late. Many of them had already entered.

Krishna has now two things to do, kill the demon keeping in mind that His friends are inside the body of the demon. Demigods assembled behind clouds. They said ‘alas, so far Krishna was outside but now He also entered in the mouth of Aghasur. He has also not realized that this is Aghasur.’ They were in total anxiety and they were screaming. News reached to demons party also and they were very happy, singing dancing. ‘Finally we got him.’

Of course Krishna had a plan. He knows what to do. He is boss and boss is always right. So as everybody is inside, Aghasur closed his mouth and swallowed everyone. By this time cowherd boys each one them and cows also lost their lives. Krishna began to grow in size and forced the demon to open his mouth. Sukadeva Gosvami is describing that his eyes bulged and he lost his life.

Demon was killed but Krishna’s friends were still unconscious. Then just by the merciful glance of Krishna, all His friends and all the cows got up. They were brought back to life. They were not aware what happened. They all got up as nothing had happened and came out of Aghasur’s body. Demigods showered flowers on Krishna and His party. Apsaras began dancing. Kamsa and party were having good time but it did not last for

long. Now demigods were having good time. Gandharvas were singing and apsaras were dancing. So having described Aghasur killing pastime, Sukadeva Gosvami is concluding, Krishna killed this demon when He was kumar, 5 years old and cowherd boys were there, they had witnessed the pastime. But only when He entered in His pauganda age, that is after 6 years old, one year later, the cowherd boys talked about this pastime to their parents.

Practice was whatever wonderful they see, the highlight of that day, the cowherd boys when they return, they make their parents sit down and then evening news time. In each home, cowherd boys shared all the pastimes. This becomes talk of the town.  Whatever happens during the day, by the evening time everyone gets to know. So this was daily practice. But this particular pastime of Aghasur killing, the cowherd boys shared with their parents and others after one year. So this was final statement of this chapter. Krishna killed demon Aghasur. This was mercy on the demon because Krishna entered in the body of demon. Yogis are struggling; Krishna would enter in their heart and will sit there. Here Krishna entered in demon’s body. Sukadeva gosvami says, if one remembers Lord, brings Him into his heart once and remembers Him at least once, he will attain salvation. Even bringing Him in by force, only once, that’s enough for salvation.

So Krishna entered in Aghasur’s body and he was seeing and thinking about the Lord, he attained perfection. Sukadeva Gosvami says, if that is the case with demon then what to speak about that person who always think about Krishna, meditating on Krishna, mind is fixed upon Krishna, what to speak of him, great fortune.

So for next 30 seconds think about the Lord, bring Him into your heart, pray to Him then salvation is guaranteed. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, mora mana Vrndavan, my mind is Vrndavan for Krishna to enter. So take Krishna in. Nama prabhu is another form, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

So end of this chapter leads next chapter. King Parikshit’s question, how come after one year everyone found out Aghasur killing. This sound very mysterious! Certainly I see Krishna’s hand here otherwise how come for one year no one heard about this pastime?

We are very fortunate because we are drinking Bhagvatam. What is easy eating or drinking? Drinking is easier.
pibata Bhagvatam rasam alayam It is juicy, so drink.

muhur aho  rasika bhuvi bhavukah

You all are rasikas, one who like rasa, juice, nectar is rasika. So Parikshit maharaj says, we are very fortunate as you are sharing this kathamrita with us. He called himself kshatra-bandhavah, so called kshatriya, because the way he had treated the Samika Rsi. He was very thirsty and he saw Samika rsi sitting in trance. For the first time king Parikshit thought look at the hospitality of this sage. I am asking for water and he is trying to avoid receiving guest. He is just making a show of being in trance. Then he takes a dead snake on his arrow and put that around the neck of the sage. Shringi had cursed, ‘the person who had done this have to die after 7 days.’ Then Parikshit maharaj sits down to listen Bhagvatam for seven days, as he was having only seven days. We also sometimes listens Bhagvatam for seven days, because we also have to die one day, each of us. Someone will die on Monday, someone will die on Thursday, so that seven days, connection.

So Parikshit maharaj is thinking, the way I have treated that sage, I am kashtra-bandhavah. You are great spiritual master, sharing kathamrita. You are doing this from last four days now. Beginning of the tenth canto was fourth day. So may be its afternoon of fourth day.We are wealthy, getting enriched. Wealth of holy name, Lord’s pastimes, these riches satisfy the soul. Other worldly riches may satisfy the body and senses but deep within there is always dissatisfaction. Again and again you are feeding us kathamrita, so he is expressing gratitude.

Suta Gosvami says, as Badarayani, Sukadeva Gosvami heard about Parikshit’s inquiry, something changed with him. For a while there was complete silence. The speaker is in trance. He looses all his external consciousness because he is reminded of exciting pastime that took place during that one year. He was thinking, this is very very confidential thing. He was trying to skip over. But immediately after the inquiry, he started looking inward, observing the pastime and lose external consciousness. It took lot of effort to Sukadeva Gosvami to come in external consciousness and respond to the inquiry made by Parikshit maharaj.

Additional information is provided by our acaryas. They said, this is not the first time that he went into trance. This used to happen from time to time. Janame jay, son of Parikshit had all the instruments ready, drum, conch shells, all the sankirtana samagri. Whenever this would happen, they would sing out loud, beating out drums, blowing conch shells, and after that Sukadeva Gosvami would be again with them and then he would continue.

Ok he is back with Parikshit and others and he addressed king Parikshit, you are Bhagavat uttam, topmost amongst all person Bhagavatas. And he said, you make the katha very fresh, the way you inquire, the way you take interest. You never said I know this, I have heard this many times. You are enlivening me making these ever fresh topics more fresh. Like debauchees, the sex mongers the way they take kin interest in sex related topics, they relish, contemplate; just like that you are also keeping the topic alive. But of course your topic is about prema love, and the other topics are about lust.

Sukadeva Gosvami said time to time, please listen with attention, that does not mean that Parikshit maharaj was sleeping, but just to get his attention more. The submissive inquiry made by the disciple, then the guru is impelled to share that is very confidential. From submissive disciple nothing is hidden. Spiritual master reveals everything to submissive disciple.

And he begins narration. Next two chapters he talks about the pastime which took one year. After killing Aghasur and bringing His friends and cows back to life, Krishna brought all of them to bank of Yamuna. Krishna said, we are now away from that ghastly scene. Do you see how nice is this place? Sand is so soft, everything so clean, nice smell of lotuses, sounds of chirping birds. So now we will take our Prasad here. Mahaprasade Govinde ….. everybody is excited. There are two popular mantras, one put you to sleep, Om namo Bhagavate Vasudevay and then Mahaprasade Govinde, you jump up in the air. `We will eat here. Let our cows drink water and graze fresh grass here. There is lot of fresh grass here.`

So they opened their packets. Krishna was in center, so that everyone could see Him. Not darshan of His back. How is it possible? If I will sit in the middle, only those who are in front and some of this side and that side could see my face. But literally they were all able to see Krishna. Our acaryas, Jiva Gosvami, Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur, they said, what Krishna does, Krishna is facing everyone. He is facing in all direction. He expands is one theory and other one is He moves so fast that everyone feels that He is right in front of them.

The cowherd boys are laughing and making others laugh while honoring prasadam. How do they offer prasadam? Krishna is there. Their Deity goes with them. So everyone was enjoying and then some of the cowherd boys noticed, where are the cows? Everyone was in anxiety. They are scared now. Some of them tried to get up to find the cows but Krishna said no no everyone sit down. You were hungry. You continue and I will bring them.

He did not even wash His hands. He got up; there was yogurt rice in His hand. He went from one forest to another but no sign of cows. It took a lot of time. When He returned to His friends to give report, all His friends were not there. And it was getting late, time to return home. Everyone’s parents must be waiting; the cows must be waiting for calves. He also searched for His friends but He could not find them. Krishna came up with idea, because these other mothers were also used to think, ‘will we ever have Krishna like son? Yashoda is so fortunate. Is it possible that we will have Krishna like son?’ Is there anybody like Krishna? So only Krishna could be Krishna. And the cows also, ‘He drinks breast milk of Yashoda but He never drinks our milk directly from our udders.’ Krishna had already taken note, so that time has now come.

So as many cowherd boyfriends he had that day and as many calves were there, he expanded Himself. Everyone’s look was different, voices were different, likings disliking was different. Age, complexion of body, the dress they were wearing that day, the long or short stick they were carrying that day, Krishna becomes like that with all those things they were carrying. And this way He was proving everything is expansion of Lord. He became all the forms and each form was Vishnu tattva, no more jiva tattva.  So they returned as usual in evening, playing flute and doing funny things as they used to do. So all the cowherd boys entered in respective homes and all the calves entered in respective goshalas. Sukadeva Gosvami describes the reactions of the mothers. It was different that day. As they were playing their flutes while returning, all the mothers stopped their household duties and ran out to greet their sons. They picked them and embraced them. But today there was some special additional rasa. They had never experienced it before. But they don’t know what’s going on. In cowsheds, the calves are drinking milk of mother cows with their tails upraised and the cows are licking the bodies of calves. Gopi mothers and cows, their affection for the children, for the calves increased.

Next morning they are getting up and going in forest and whole day different pastimes, then in evening they returned and mothers are greeting them. But today’s greeting is more pleasing than yesterday. Tomorrow’s will be even more sweeter. And as days and weeks and months passed like that, they began to experience, is this Krishna? This must be Krishna. So for one year each cowherd boy is Krishna and He is holding stick and beating another calf, beating Himself. Hundred and thousands of them, but only one person, He was playing all the roles.

Few days before completion of one year, the cows and cowherd men were on the top of the Govardhan hill and cowherd boys and calves were in the valley. Krishna and Balarama were there in the valley. So what happened? The cows noticed their calves in valley and they all came running and meet their calves. Men were trying to stop them but it was like a big powerful magnet is attracting them and they are not able to keep them. So all the cows end up in the valley and all men also were dragged there. Cows started licking bodies of their calves and the elderly men noticed that their children are in the valley.  So they left the cows with calves and they ran to their children. Each one was picking his child and smelling his head, so many sweet affectionate dealings. And Balaram is witnessing all this. He was doubting, is this normal thing? The boys and calves, something is different.

Krishna said, ‘one year before, that day, may be it was your birthday or something Balaram and you were not with us. And we were taking lunch at the bank of Yamuna and cows went missing. I went searching for them and I returned my friends also went missing. So just me, I have to do this. It is confidential, between you and me.’ Few more days passed. In fact on the day one, when Krishna did not find calves, He had realized this is job of Brahma. So after one year Brahma comes. He had taken boys and calves and hidden them. He wanted to see, without friends and cows, how Krishna functions. He must be bewildered. Our one year, is Brahma’s few moments. He had gone and quickly returned. When he returned, he was expecting there will be only Krishna, but nothing was changed. It was just as usual. Krishna’s pastimes continued like always.

Brahma was wondering, did Krishna steal and bring them back here? He wanted to double check. So with his mystic power he saw they are there. Double set! So he was thinking which one set is real one? When he was thinking like this, then there was no cowherd boys and no calves, all disappeared. There was only Krishna.  And still in His left hand He had yogurt rice. And even before Krishna made all these cowherd boys and calves disappear, Brahma also had noticed that whole creation is worshipping each of those forms. And each of those forms has become four handed form. So he realized that all those forms are Krishna and then they all disappeared and there was only Krishna.

Brahma realized that he had done blunder. He wanted to bewilder Krishna but he ended up getting bewildered himself. He immediately jumped down from his carrier and felt flat on the ground touching the lotus feet of the Lord. He paid obeisances again and again and he was crying. He was doing abhishek of lotus feet of Lord with his tears. He tried to control himself and got up. With humility, his hands are folded and his body is trembling, he offered his prayers.

He returned Krishna’s friends and calves. So now they are exactly at the same spot where they were eating their lunch, one year before. Krishna returned from forest, finding calves. Cowherd boys asked, ‘Hey, you returned so quickly. You are so fast.’ So the pastime continues, Krishna eating in the middle. And then they returned to their homes playing their flutes. That night they shared with their parents Aghasur killing pastime which was happened one year before.

Hare Krishna!

Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance
Venue : ISKCON Bangladesh
Dated : 8th March 2018
Hare Krsna,

This is a Bangladesh and technology doesn’t work here. We are still in 500 years old Bangladesh here, ‘prachin Bangladesh.’So we have little presentation here. We want to project that on the screen, so you could also see. Now you will not see only I will see. So I will see and I will show you and talk to you about what I see.

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprbhu ki Jay!

We have just celebrated Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s 532nd birth anniversary. Nice thing to see but you cannot see. I’m seeing the beautiful form of Gaura sundar here. And basically we would like to remember the Lord Gauranga.

Or who is Gauranga ?
Gauranga ke?
Keaami?
Gauranga ke? Nice.

And we have a limited time, i will go faster. And half of the time prabhu is going to talking and I will talk half of the time, so that reduce time on further. Then we would like to do another kirtan towards the end.
Kirtan mela ki Jay! You like kirtan? Haribol

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprbhu or Sri Krsna appeared as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He appeared to relish the Prem Rasa or Radha bhava, He assumed Radha bhava.

radha-bhava-dyuti suvalitam navami krsna svarupam

The complexion of Radha rani and the emotions of Radha rani to relish prem rasa And His purpose also was to share and propagate love of Godhead.

He appeared as we said earlier, appeared in Bengal. Bengal is called Gaudadesh.
And from Gauda desh comes Gaudiya Vaisnava “Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya” Haribol!

Sravanam then Kirtanam! You hear and then talk.Lord appeared as Caitanya Candra on falgun Purnima. As if the moon wants some excuse so that he doesn’t have to show his face to the world.Chandra was thinking my face has so many black spots.But, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s face is “bahu-koti candra jini vadana ujjvala” So let the world see Caitanya Candra. So he hid his face ‘candragrahan’.He appeared in ‘Navadvip Mayapur’. Appeared under a neem tree, he gets the name “Nimai”

Sacimata called him all the time Nimai, Nimai Nimai..nice name. Do you like this name?So sweet.Nimai, Nimai.
NilambarCakraborty had come and he gave official name ‘Vishvambhar’ His name would be ‘Vishwambhar’.At the time of appearance of Vishvambhar or Gauranga or Krsna Caitanya or Nimai, so many names. He also has a sahasranam, Gaura sahasranam. As there is Vishnu sahasranam, there is also Gaura sahasranam.He has thousands of thousands of names.
So at the time of appearance of Gauranga the Demigods had appeared in the sky.

“sacigarbha sindho”

The garbha the womb of Sacimata is compared to the ‘ocean’.

‘saci garbha sindhau harindu’

Indu meanscandra, a moon. So Haricandra or Caitanyacandra appeared from the womb of Sacimata which was like ocean.

saci kahe — muñi dekhon akasa-upare
divya-murti loka saba yena stuti kare (CC Adi 13.83)

She was wondering who is up there in the sky? As she was hearing ‘stuti’ praise.

jagat bhariy? loka bale — ‘hari’ ‘hari’
sei-k?a?e gaurak???a bh?me avatari (CC Adi 13.94)

On the bangs of Ganga that day being moon eclipse thousands of people were chanting HariHari!HaribolHaribolHaribol.So that time Gaurkrishnabhumeavatari.

hari bali narigana dei hulahuli
svarge vadya-nrtya kare deva kutuhali (CC Adi 13.96)

All the ladies were doing hula huli, huludwani.So men were doing HariHari and ladies were doing hula huli.Haribol!

savitri gauri sarasvati saci rambha arundhati
ara yata devanari gana nan-dravye patra bhari
brahmanira vesa dhari asi sabe kare darasana (CC Adi 13.105)

All these ladies Sarasvati and Arundhati and Savitri and Gauri and Saci, wife of Indrathey all appeared there dressed like some local brahminis.

namo maha vadanyaya krsna-prem- pradaya te
krsnay krsna caitanya namne gauratvise namah

Rupagoswamicompiledthis prayers and offerd at the Lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprbhu at Prayagraj. He is offering his obeisance’s. That is why this prayers begins with ‘namaha’. It begins with ‘nama and ends also with ‘namah’ meaning obeisance’s. He is offering obeisance’s unto the Lord whose name is krsnaykrsnacaitanyanamne. He says I am offering my obeisance’s to Krishna. Which Krsna?His name is Krsna Caitanya. He was Krsna now He has become Krsna Caitanya. I offer my obeisance unto him. So His name is Krsna Caitanya.

Nama : Krsna Caitanya
Rupa : Gauratvise namah
Quality : namo mahavadanyaya.

I offer my obeisance’s unto that Sri Krsna Caitanya who is Gaur kanti. Gauranga, His complexion is Gaur Varna.So in this prayer he is talking or mentioning the name as Sri Krsna Caitanya, form as Gauranga or Gaursundar.And the quality is namomahavadanyaya, He is magnanimous, most Magnanimous.

sri-krishna- caitanya prabhu doya koro more
toma bina ke doyalu jagat-samsare

No one is as magnanimousas you are. So this is quality of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and remaining is ‘lila’. What is his ‘lila’? What are His past times?

“krsna-prem-pradaya te”

You are the giver of Krsna prem.Pradaya, da’ means giver and “pra” means giving so much, to everyone to everywhere profusely giving. So that’s prada- ‘pradayte’.So like this in this small sweet compact prayer Rupa Goswami has mentioned nama, rupa, guna, lila of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

asan varnas trayo hy asya g?hnato nuyugam tanuh
suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah (SB 10.8.13)

When Garga muni was in Gokul giving name to Krsna and Balarama, name giving ceremony. That time he said, this child now has appeared as “krsnatamgatah”. He is Krsna and also looks Krsna, blackish complexion.

In Dvaparyuga He appeared Krsna in blackish complexion. However in other edges He appears in ” sukla, rakta, pita varna”. In satyugs He appeared in suklavarna white complex and tretayuga He appeared in reddish raktavarna and in kaliyuga He appeared in pita varna, golden.

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah (SB 11.5.32)

Bhagvatam also says He will appear as Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He will do,
Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna he!
He will do varna, He will describe Krsna.He will also chant ‘Hare Krsna’.
‘tvisakrsnam’ but His complexion will be ‘akrsna’ He will not be black. “akrsna” –a means no and Krsna means black. He will not be black. He will be white, whitish which is closer to the golden complexion.

sangopangastra-parsadam

He will appear with, sangopangaastraparsada so many associates. They will appear all over Bengal.Haribol!In your country ‘amar Bangladesh, sonar Bangladesh’. Because Caitanya Mahaprbhu appeared in Bengal so this called ‘sonar Bangla’. HariHari!

gaurangera sangi-gane nitya-siddha kari mane

All the associates of Gauranga, they were ‘nitya – siddha’. They were not sadhana –siddha, like we are trying to become sadhana – siddha. But they were siddha up there with the Lord, they came down and appeared to the Lord.

golokam ca parityajya lokanamtrana-karanat

In ‘MarkandeyaPuran’ it is mentioned that ” Lord will abundant or will leave behind Goloka and come down here, appear in Navadvip.To give us relief from so much suffering here.

kalau gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya- vigrahah

Hence mentioned in the ageof Kali-Yuga’, gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya-vigrahah, beauty of vigrah form of “Gauranga.
In another VisvasaraTantraShastra, there is mention of Gauranga’s the prediction appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

gangayah dakshine bhage, navadvipe manorame

On the banks of Ganga in Navadvip Lord will make His appearance.
Why would He appear? What would He do as He appears?

kali-papa- vinasaya, saci-garbhe sanatani

To destroy the sin or even the papvasanathe thoughts of sin would be destroyed by Him. He will appear as darling of Sacimata.

janishyati priye misra-purandara- grihe svayam

His father would be purandara means the best of the bramhanas. This was mentioned long long long time ago, prior to the appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It’s written down and it says,

phalgune paurnamasyam ca, nisayam gaura-vigrahah

Which day? Which time of the day?

Phalgun paurnima at the time of moon rise, He will make His appearance”.

Meerabaiki Jay!She was the great devotee of ‘GirdharGopal’. She was on the planet around the same time as sixgoswamisof Vrndavan. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also there, at the same time in Rajasthan, inVrndavan. She was also there in Rajasthan, Vrindavan.She had realization that ‘Gauranga’ is ‘Krsna’.

saba jaga ko yaha maakhan choraa,
naam dharyo vairaagee!
kita chodi vohu mohan murali?
kita chodi saba gopi?  (Meera bai)

What happened to your butter stealing past time? You don’t do that anymore? You have became renounced vairagi’?

maata yasomati maakhan kaaran
baandhi jaaki paav,
shyaama kishore bhayo nava goraa,
caitanya jaako naam !

He is son of Yadhoda, sometimes Sheused to tie Krsna because He steals butter. Now that Shyamkishorhas become Navagaura and His name is now ‘Caitanya Mahaprabhu’.

gora krishna ki daasi meeraa,
rasanaa krishna base !

She said I’m Gaurkrsna dasi,Meera.

So Gauranga appeared in NavadvipMayapur and His main lila was ‘Krsna kirtana’. Of course He wasNimaipandit one time a Scholar. Then His father departed He had gone to Gaya for shradhaseremony. There He received the Holy name of Lord from IshvarPuri and from that time onwards Nimai changed. That serious scholar, had become pagal-madman’. By the time He returned Navadvip from Gaya He was gone madman. Even He goes back to His Guru maharaj and enquired from him.

‘kiba mantra dila gosani kiba tara bala
japite japite mantra karila pagala’ (C.C 1.7.81)

What kind of mantra have you given to me? So much power in this mantra its shaking me up, waking me up, sometimes I dance, sometimes I tremble, sometimes I shed tears, roll on the ground and I have gone mad. Oh! What kind of mantra have you given to me?

So that Mantra is

“HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA,KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA,RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.”

Of course His chanting was offence less, power chanting.

nitya-siddhakrsna-prema ‘sadhya’ kabhunaya
sravanadi-suddha-cittekarayeudaya.

By hearing the love in the heart is awoken. And that time onwards He was into kirtana.

‘kirtaniya sadahari’
udilo aruna puraba-bhage, dwija-mani gora amani jage,
bhakata-samuha loiya sathe, gela nagara-braje

He was taking thousands of devotees along with Him chanting and dancing all over Navadvip.

tathai tathai bajalo khol, ghana ghana tahe jhajera rol,

The mrdangas (khol) resounded “tathai, tathai,” and the jhanjha [large metal karatalas that look like small cymbals] in that kirtana played in time.

preme dhala ddhala sonara anga, caranne nupura baje

Golden Gauranga is dancing in the middle of kirtana and around the ankles, the anklets are tinkling ring bells.

nama bina kichu nahiko aro, caudda-bhuvana- majhe

And this is Bhakti Vinod Thakur’s realization that there is nothing better to be had in this 14 world planet system better than the Holy name is, nothing!

Nama Sankirtan ki Jay!
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jay!
Gauranga Mahaprbhu appeared to give this Gift to the whole world, the gift of holy name.
“HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA,KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA,RAMA RAMA HARE HARE”!!!
Haribol!!!

By serving cow we will become protected
Dated: 20th March 2018

One devotee walked with umbrella and was trying to hold it over me, immediately I was reminded of a tough time. When first time Krishna had to leave for cow herding then mother Yashoda approached Krishna, please take a pair of shoes. Krishna refused. No no I can’t wear shoes; cows don’t not have shoes, but if you insist that I should wear the shoes then bring shoes for all the cows first. Nanda Maharaj had 900 thousand cows, each cow has 4 feets, and then how many shoes are required, 36 lakh. Which Bata, Tata company will provide shoes? Mother Yashoda gave up the idea of insisting to wear the shoes. Instead atleast you take the umbrella, it is very hot out there, and again Krishna’s condition was to first bring umbrella for all the cows. How many umbrellas are required? 9 lakh umbrellas are required. Krishna said cows have feet, but they don’t have hand so we require someone to carry the umbrella. So 9 lakh people also walking next to the cow holding umbrella.

Mother Yashod gave up the idea, she couldn’t manage 9 lakh people. During all the cow herding past times of Shri Krishna in Vrndavan He always walks bear feet behind the cows. So don’t think you are the only ones going on Brajmandal parikarma without shoes, Krishna has also gone around without shoes, around Vrndavan. He has gone around without shoes without umbrella, then He did little preaching to mother Yashoda.

He said mother “dharmo rakshati rakshata” if you protect dharma then dharma will protect us. Krishna said serving cow, taking care of cow, this is our dharma. Then our own protection is guaranteed if we take care of the cow, protect the cow so the cow. Lord Krishna not only has delivered talk discourse of this topic He has practically demonstrated throughout His lilas importance of cow and importance of serving the cow. The Cow is centre of our culture and religion. Krishna’s one of principal past time is gocharan lila Cow herding, calf herding pastimes.

What does God do this question came this morning in question answer session? What does God do every day that priest the minister was not able give the answer but we know the answer is very simple. I know you also know the answer you already have the clue. So what does Krishna do every day, He is a cow herd boy He is hearding cows. The Supreme personality of Godhead is master or controller of all the universe all what He does in Vrndavan is herding cows, taking care of the cows.

namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana- hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namah

This way Krishna has established the importance of cows and brahmanas in Krishna Consciousness. We are doing puja of cows today as it was instructed by Krishna to Nanda Maharaj. Krishna said worship cows, brahmanas and Giriraj. We have done some puja of cows. Go Mata ki Jai. We should serve vaishnavas, brahmanas.

vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah.

And then soon we will worshiping Giriraj this way Krishna’s instruction is followed.
Giriraj Govardhan ki Jai.

The cows and Govardhan are very closely connected closely related. We could hear if you hear the name Go-vardhan, there is cow connection right there in the name Go-vardahn. The cow become healthy because of the grass available at the Govardhan, the water, shades of the trees available at Govardhan. The cows enjoy being around Govardhan. The cow herd boy also very happy being around cow and Govardhan. They can contemplate, meditate upon Govardhan and Krishna, cow herd boys, so that one day we also be promoted to get an assignment as cow herd boys.

Don’t think I am engineer, doctor I cannot be a cow herd boy but Krishna is a cow herd boy. If you want to be doctor, engineer then continue in this world, but if you want to come back home be prepared to become a cow herd boy, herding cows taking care of cows. Anyone interested in going back home, going to Krishna going to vrndavan , then pray to this dham, pray to cow, Giriraj and you will become eligible and have adhikar of entering Krishna’s past time and being a cow herd boy. Go mata ki jai.

Before you leave pay your obeisance to the cow

Let’s fall in love with Lord Ram
Venue: Bangalore
Dated: 24 March 2018

kasa mala takuni gela rama takuni gela rama
kasa mala takuni gela rama takuni gela rama

He has just abandoned us, He has dumped us here or behind and He has gone.

rama bina jiva vyakula hoto

Without Rama, jiva, me myself, I become vyakula.

rama bina jiva vyakula hoto

suchat nahi kama, takuni gela Rama

rama bina maja chaina padena nahi jivasiya arama, eka janardani pahuni dola

dola means eyes, I wish, we all wish to see Him again, is the prayer. And what kind of Lord that I would like to see Him again?

svarupa tuze ghanasyama, takuni gela rama…..
Sri Rama Jay Rama Jay Jay Rama!

Patita pavan Sita Rama!
Raghupati Raghava Raja Rama!

Sita Rama Jay Sita Rama!

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

om namo bhagavate sri ramay

Our obeisance’s again and again unto Sri Rama who is Bhagavan. So Lord appeared very kindly, we have to say this very kindly He appeared on Rama navami day which is tomorrow, some million years ago.

‘Show me your God, prove that He exists.’ So Lord proved, making His appearance, Gauranga ki…jai. By making His appearance Lord says, I am here, come near oh dear, not deer in forest. Do not fear, I am here. So Rama appeared.
This Ramayan is His photograph. Whole picture, His form is painted as Ramayan describes form of the Lord. How He looks like and others and Ayodhya and Sarayu river. So what has been written, compiled by Valmiki muni, we also heard that the experience of those sages in the forest, those who were listening to Lava and Kusha, they were commenting, ‘while we were listening to you, we felt that all that you are saying was happening right before our eyes. Your audio was transforming into video.’ And that is also very correct understanding. From the sound comes the form, this is spiritual technology here. Every word, sound, is uttered, is the description of the form and not only form, but activities also, qualities also, the places also. Ramayan is like a whole history.

So by hearing, by reading, you could begin seeing. Valmiki was just chanting the names of Rama Rama Rama, and outcome of this was he started seeing Rama, seeing the pastimes of Rama. And then as he was seeing, also was writing. He was seeing different pastimes and was writing down. He was seeing forms and activities and he transformed those activities and forms in the form of sound. And as we read, as we hear, back again, back to the form, qualities or activities of Sri Rama or Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jay!

sabda yonitvad
Sabda becomes yoni the source. Everything comes from sabda, the sound. In the beginning there was word and that word was with God. In bible it is said. And that word is God. Sabda brahma, sabda is not different from the form and activities. There is another brahma sutra, sastra yoni tvad. Sabda yoni tvad or sastra yoni tvad, sastra becomes yoni, the source. Lot of things you get from sastra, which is full of sabda, sound.

There is another vedanta sutra, anavrutti sabdat, very powerful sutra, Srila Vyasadeva says, ana avrutti sabdat, an means no, avrutti means repetition; repetition of birth and death. This could be accomplished by sabdat. And that
sabda is Bhagavad -gita, Srimad -Bhagavatam is that sabda, Ramayan is full of that sabdas, sounds, anavrutti sabdat.

Sound could give liberation to those who are bound. And that is the story here with all of us here. We all are bound up, conditioned. So un-conditioning is accomplished by sound. So that sound is again,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

That sound, all the spiritual sounds of all the sastras are packed in one mantra. All mantras in one mantra, that’s why it gets name maha mantra. And of course Gita is full of mantras. And what do mantras do? Manah trayate, mind is liberated, freed from the bonds. Mantra and you are supposed to be doing manan, repeat the mantra, you say and you hear.

nitya siddha krishna prema sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi suddha chitte karaye uday

This is the process or science, nitya siddha Krishna prema sadhya kabhu naya, all the living entities have prema for Sri Krishna, prema for Sri Rama. Jay Sri Rama! All the living entities, right here, right now or out there, out wherever living entities are, human beings are, sravanadi shuddha cite, as soon as they do sravan, karaha uday, love for the Lord is revived. By doing what? Just by hearing, chanting, sravanam kirtanam vishnoho smaranam Immediately we are reminded. The result, outcome of hearing, chanting, sravanam kirtanam. So what did we do? We are hearing the sound. We are reading the sound. By reading the scriptures we are hearing the sound.

When are we going to miss Sri Rama and Sri Krishna and Sri Caitanya? Everyone
else is missing. Residents of Ayodhya are missing Rama. When Krishna left

Vrindavan for Mathura and He did say, just now coming. But so many year after year He was not coming and they were missing Krishna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also, He was in Mayapur. He took sannyasa. ‘Nimai’, too much, Saci mata had to go through, and Nimai left home. Next morning she was running, calling out loud, Nimai. And all the residents of the Mayapur, they came in morning, they found Nimai is no where to be found, they collapsed. They were crying and rolling on the ground. They said, let’s go home and burn our homes and leave Mayapur.

Let’s go look for Nimai. Without Nimai, whole world is vacant.

So everyone else is missing Rama or Krishna or Krishna Caitanya. What about us? What are we missing? Missing the bus? Seeing these other instances or pastimes, Lord has left devotes behind. He left them behind in Ayodhya or Vrindavan or in Navadvipa Mayapur. But in our case, we left Lord behind. And we walked away into this world.

nama bina kichu nahiko aro chaudda bhuvan majhe

This is Bhakti Vinod Thakur’s realization. Without Holy name, for him Holy name is Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, the whole world is vacant. What is there without the Holy name? So one time Krishna entered the forest, in middle of the night, leaving gopis behind. Gopis were looking Him, were finding Him. They did not succeed. So they went back at the banks of Jamuna and then they all started recitation, remembrance called ‘gopi gita’.

tava kathaamritam tapta jeevanam kavi bhiriditam kalma shapham
shrawan-mangalam shrimada tatam bhuvi grinanti te bhurida janah

This is one of those prayers or song. The out come of this, as they went on singing or reciting, what is called ‘gopi gita’, Krishna appeared. Hari Bol! They were missing Him, no where to be found, they just sat down and they started recitation. Krishna is like this and Krishna is like that, they were remembering, glorifying, and praying, crying, part of that recitation. It takes you through all the emotions. And as this was happening Krishna appeared in midst of them. Making the point or proving that the words about Him, the song about Him is non different from Him.

yatra mad bhakta gayanti tatra tisthami narada

Lord has declared this, yatra mad bhakta gayanti. And before that He says, naham vasami vaikunthe, na ca yoginam hridaye, I cannot be find in vaikuntha or in hearts, yogis could not find me. But for sure you could fine me there, in ISKCON temple, where there is Rama katha is going on, that is my address. And there where my devotees get together and gayanti, they do gana, and I make my presence there, I become available where I am remembered. And how I am remembered? By recitation, hearing, and chanting. So that hearing and chanting is principally Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Or reciting Ramayan, Gita, Bhagavat, as we hear all this, then Lord makes His appearance in heart. He appears in heart.

gauranger madhur lila jar karne
pravesila hridaya nirmal bhelo tar

As one listens to Gauranger madhur lila, Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s lila are of what kind of lilas? Madhur lila. Krishna’s lila is also madhur and Rama’s lila is also madhur. So as we hear all these lilas, what happens? Hridaya nirmal bhelo tar, their hearts nirmal, free from mal, free from dirt of maya, they are free from the dirt of tamoguna, rajoguna, satvaguna.

pasu pakhi jhure pasan vidare suni jaira guna gatha, as guna gatha, katha is heard then pasu paksi, birds and animals and pasan vidare, rocks melt. That had happened in Citrakuta. We were there some time ago. Rama went from Ayodhya into the forest, then as He did send the chariot back, Sumantra had to return. And Rama crossed Ganga maiya ki Jay! And He had come to Prayag. He visits Bharadwaj muni’s asram. Rama had paid His full dandavat to Bharadwaj muni. Where could we stay? He point out to a mountain, which is part of Citrakuta. What’s the name? The particular mountain that Rama stayed on the top of that, Kamadgiri parvat. So those days, that mountain was so tall, some 100 miles away from Prayag it could be seen, over there.

So Rama Sita Laxman, they crossed Jamuna also. In Prayag Ganga Jamuna Sarasvati sangam, He crosses Jamuna. He encounters Valmiki muni. Where could we stay? Any suggestion? Valmiki had said my dear Lord please tell me where You do not stay? If there is any place where you do not stay, if such place exists then please stay there. And on the top of that Valmiki did say to Lord Rama, because you have asked, my dear Lord, You please stay in the hearts of Your devotees. Valmiki had written Ramayan so that those who recite, hear Ramayan, for them Rama would make His appearance in the hearts of such listeners. Rama will reside in their hearts. So he prayed like that, appealed to Sri Rama like that. Demigods came to know that Rama is coming in the direction of Citrakuta, they wanted to prepare very appropriate residence for Sri Rama to stay. So they made a cave, they dug into the mountain, wonderful, amazing, very spacious cave, which you could go and see. It is still there. When Rama arrived there, and their proposal, Lord please stay, accept this cave as Your residence. Rama said nothing doing. Me and residing in comfortable, like AC there, naturally air conditioned and lot of facilities, amazing cave. But He preferred to stay on the banks of Mandakini river there. On the Kamadgiri parvat, mountain. So Laxman just prepared parnakuti, hut made from some leaves and they were staying there.

What I wanted to say was, there comes Bharat. Not only Bharat, Satrughna also and the mothers and Vasista muni and lot of them had come. Idea was, Bharat wanted to bring Rama back to Ayodhya. What His mother wanted, Bharat’s mother wanted Bharat to be king and Bharat was not interested. So He had come and finally there was meeting at the foothill of this Kamadgiri mountain. They all met. Rama Laxman Sita met everyone else there. There that happened. pasana vidare suni jara guna gatah Kind of such atmosphere was created during this Rama Bharat milan, milap. Very extra ordinary Rama Bharat milap.

Kind of talks, dialogues that had taken place there, appeals made by Bharat. This is all expression of his attachment and love and affection for Sri Rama. Rocks melted, where they stood and spoke and embraced each other. Lot of

embracing, Laxman was also being embraced and Sita was also being embraced and Rama was also embraced by all near and dear ones. Rocks melted, leaving the footprints of Rama and Laxman Sita and Bharat and others. So we were there and they were showing footprints of Rama and Bharat. You see these lotus feet? These are the lotus feet of Rama and Laxman’s lotus feet. So after million years we could see.

So may our hearts melt one of these days. Today is better day, why postpone?

adyaiva me visatu manas raja hamsah

The prayers are like that, Kulashekar is praying, my dear Lord here and right now, let my mind enter in Your lotus feet, associate Your lotus feet.

adyaiva me visatu manas raja hamsah
prana prayan samaye kapha vata pittaih smaranam kutaste

Now is the good time. Let me fall in love with You. Falling in love with Sri Rama. Jay Sri Rama! Do you love Rama? I love you Rama, could you say that? So let that happen, Kulashekar says, let that happen quickly, now.

prana prayan samaye

When I get old and kanthe ghurghurayate, from my kantha, sound of ghur ghur ghur, kanthe ghurghurayate then it is very difficult, kapha vata pittaih, smaranam kutaste, Your remembrance will be difficult under those circumstances.
We will continue this hearing about Rama and Krishna, why not. And specially chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This will do it’s job. And we could be on the way back home, back to Ayodhya, back to Goloka; if you are interested of course. That choice was given by the Lord even to Arjuna,

yatha icchasi tatha kuru

After Lord has spent so much time talking to him, encouraging him to get up and fight, yogi bhava.

man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyosi me (BG 18.65)

What a wonderful statements of Sri Krishna, this man manabhava mad-bhaktah, Arjuna, man manabhava, fix your mind in Me, remember Me, man mana bhava, become madbhakta, become my devotee. Madyaji, worship me and mam namaskuru offer your obeisances unto me. If you will do this, mam evesyasi, you will come back to Me alone or only because you will become My devotee, because you are remembering Me, worshipping Me and you are offering your obiesances unto Me then you will come back to Me. He asked Arjuna to do those four things, every time said Me Me unto Me, then He says you come back to Me.

mam evasyasi satyam te

Lord says, it doesn’t matter, He did not have to say it but He is going ahead and say it, I am telling you the truth. Whatever Lord speaks, He speaks only truth nothing but truth, right? You take a vow in the court, nothing but truth, nothing but the lie. But Lord says only truth still He says satyam te. And not only He said satyam te, pratijane, I take vow, this is My sankalpa, I am determined to bring you back to Me. Why I will do this to you. You are very very dear to me. Lord says. So all this taking trouble, coming all the way from up there, from Vaikuntha, Saket Ayodhya, Goloka, Lord comes down, because He loves us, He loves you. He loves all of us. So Krishna had given choice to Arjuna, He said, it’s upto you. Yatha icchasi tatha kuru. You could become yogi bhava or you could become bhogi bhava. Both the choices are there. These days lot of bhogi bhava business. Whole business of bhogi bhava.

So he was given the choice, yatha icchasi tatha kuru. What did Arjuna choose, what was his choice? Karishye vacanam tava, Your wish is my command. I will execute Your will. Karisye vacanam tava, earlier he had his own ideas.

Hatva svajanam ahave, how could I kill? These are my people. What are you talking about? Na sreyah anupasyami, I don’t see any benefit in killing my own people. And like that he had lot of ideas. Most of the first chapter, of Bhagavad Gita it is Arjuna geeta, not Bhagavat geet. Arjuna is talking and talking his own ideas which are so called mental speculation. But now Arjuna has heard and has been transformed, his love for Sri Krishna is fully revived and he is committed and he is dedicating now his service of Sri Krishna.

nastah mohat smutir labdha tvat prasadat maya acyuta

By hearing sound, words emanating from Your lotus mouth which is Bhagavad Gita, tvat prasadat, I am drinking or hearing, which prasad? Tvat prasadat, whatever You had been speaking, that prasad.

ya svayam padmanabhasya muka padmat vinisritah

That is Bhagavad Gita. Gita is emanated right from the lotus mouth of the Lord. So those sabdas, that sound is all transcendental spiritual sound. I don’t want to open up this new angle. But I can just say it, the worldly sounds
bind us to this world. Mundane sounds, worldly sounds, sounds contaminated by ignorance, passion, goodness, they bind us. So to counteract the influence, effect of this worldly sounds, this battle of two sounds, spiritual sound, Hare Krishna sound, or sounds of Gita, Ramayana, Srimad -Bhagavatam, these sounds they battle fight out and defeat mundane sounds and they take over, they dominate our lives, they govern our thoughts and consciousness and we become free. That is what Arjuna says, nasto mohat, my illusion is nasta, destroyed, finished. Gata sandeha, no more doubts and now I am ready, karisye vacanam tava. So go on hearing and chanting about Rama, about Krishna.

Ramacandra Raguvira, Ramacandra Ranavira Ramacandra is Raghuvira and Ramacandra is Ranavira. Rana is battle, Rama is steady in battle, Ranavira.

Ramacandra mam bandhu, Ramacandra daya sindhu

Ramacandrta who is dayasindhu is my bandhu. So I am going to be benefited by his daya. He is ocean of kindness, and such person is my friend and we say friend in need is friend indeed. So I am needy, I am in need of kindness. So I am sure, my friend Sri Rama will shower all the mercy upon me. And at it’s His birthday, He will be more. So we will pray so we will also get few drops of that kindness.

Ramacandra Raghunatha, Ramacandra Jagannath. Rama Rama Rama…Jay Sri Rama!

Kirtan as an offering to HH Jaypataka Maharaj
Venue: ISKCON Bangalore
Dated: 25 th March 2018

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This kills or this destroys demon within us or demoniac nature in us and all around. Lord Sri Rama as He killed Ravan, may He kill Ravan within us or Hiranyakashipu within us or Jagai Madhai within us with the weapon of the Holy name. So Lord is about to shower His weapon or arrow and attack all that is bad within you me and the world around us.

Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge

So vinasaya ca duskrtam, let that happen. He has appeared today sambhavami yuge yuge, He appeared today also or we could say, He appears in the form of His Holy name.

kali kale nama rupe krishna avatar

This is yet another avatar but same and another simultaneously. Nama avatar, kali kale nama rupe, name of this avatar is Nama avatar.

I am also thinking or I wish to offer our kirtan that we are performing now and here. This kirtan as a prayer unto Sri Rama for protection of and the successful operation of H. H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj ki Jay! So he has requested that we pray and of course without request, we should pray. So let us make this kirtan as a prayer. His vyas-puja is just in few days, on 27th. I have sent my offering also. I am sure you have sent yours, you many of his disciples. But I am his brother. I also have compiled my offering and sent over to him, which we will read here and those who are present on that day in Chennai also may will read. But on the top of that I want to offer this kirtan as a prayer unto Sri Rama, unto Narsimha deva for removing all the obstacles from the path of H.H. Jayapataka Swami maharaj, specially his health and operation should be happening sometime soon. May all that go successfully, that is our prayer.

Non stop kritan……………………..

Now it’s time to talk less and work more
Venue: Nagpur
Dated: 18 th April 2018
Occasion: Ground breaking ceremony

Today's day was reserved, the moment for which we were waiting since long time has come and the work is going on. Today is also auspicious muhurta of akshya tritiya. Our temples are not just temples. They are vidyamandirs also. So just now we were hearing Srila Prabhupada. Once he said in Chandigarh at new temple construction. He was inspiring people to take up Krsna consciousness seriously. It’s for all even the illiterate they can also chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra. And for the intelligent people there are so many books available. Read those books and try to understand Krsna consciousness. There is lack of Krsna consciousness in the world. Lack of bhakti bhava.

We are all Lord's children. He knows what do we need but we are greedy. Let us understand our need rather running after greed. For that we need to understand who we are? And then what is our need? There is also lack of knowledge. We are after khagol and bhugol and the knowledge of who we are, is gol means zero. To fulfill the needs of the jivas , Nagpur devotees are working hard. They are coming up with IVCC- International Vedic Cultural Center. Its other name is glory of India. Some call it as ISKCON lotus temple. It’s also Radha Gopinath temple. It’s also vidyamandir. Jiva only needs the Lord. 

Like a bird in cage, we are after the decoration of the cage forgetting the parrot. But what is important the parrot or the cage? So to fulfill the need of the soul we are coming up with this temple and the preparations have started from today, Haribol.

So you have heard many devotees speaking about the temple and they have inspired all of you. So are you all ready? Haribol. Talk less work more or walk the talk. Now its time to work.

Just yesterday I was searching researching the ISKCON BBT folio, so I got a letter of Prabhupada that I want to share with all of you. Do you want to hear what Prabhupada wrote in that letter?

8 April 1975 from Mayapur (He wrote it from Mayapur)

To Ashis Roy, B.A.
c/o Artists Academy
85, Vasant Nagar, Nagpur-10

That person said to Prabupada, you are opening so many temples and centers all over the world, please open one temple in are city Nagpur .In reply Prabhupada wrote a letter to him.

My dear Mr. Roy,

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your kind letter dated 27th march, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. The process of opening a center somewhere is that we go there and hold classes for one week on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and if the people like, then we'll open a center. Actually, the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that in every town and village there will be a center of Krishna Consciousness, is essential. People must co-operate. If not, then they will have to suffer. So, I am very glad that you have come forward, being one of the leaders of the cultural community. I am very much enthused by this. Our ideology is standard. It is not anything new, but it is very old. It is not anything concocted. 

ajo nityah sasvato yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]

The living entity is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is
slain.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our Vrndavana festival which will be held on the 20th of April up to the 27th of April. We will be opening our temple there. If you can come, then we can talk in detail about a center at Nagpur.

I was thinking Prabhupada wrote letter to one person. Like Lord gave message of Gita to Arjun but that message was not only for Arjuna but it was for all of us. So the message Prabhupada gave in the letter is for all of us. Through this letter Prabhupada is giving his message to all the Nagpur devotees Haribol. Also Prabhupada said if you are interested then come, let's talk. So all of you have com and we will talk now. So today bhumi pooja is done, now there is no way we turn back. From here we just have to march forward and climb high.

na hati hai na ghoda hai, sajan re zoot mat bolo…whatever sankalpa you have taken.

So the work has begun and it’s going on, it’s not any private personal business its Lords work. Its service of the Lord and we all are servants of the Lord. So we all together should take up the construction of the temple seriously. And please the Lord. Temple means place where Lord stays and where His glories are sang and propagated. So we should work more talk less. 

Srila Prabhupada ki..jai
Radha Gopinath ki…jai

Today is birthday party or Rama’s appearance day celebrations
Dated: 25 March 2018
Venue: ISKCON Bangalore (Seshadripuram)

Dinesh, Din-isa, the master of the day is Surya, sun. So while the sun’s ruling time is the day, Rama appears. Night time is ruled by moon. Moon is also called as Raka, Raka isa becomes Rakesha, or Rajani also means ratri , night time. Rajanish that is moon, night time ruling, the moon is ruling. So Suryavamsi Rama appears during the day, mid-day. And Sri Krisna appears midnight when Candra is ruling.

Ayodhya dham ki jay! Lord Rama appeared; of course Ayodhya is His dhama, His home. He is Ayodhyavasi Rama. Rama is what? Ayodhyavasi Rama ki Jay! But then again we want to remind you, this is not only Rama has taken birth today, at this time of day, Laxman also, today is appearance day of Laxman and Bharat and Satrughna. So today is Rama navami, today is Laxman navami, today is Bharat navami and Satrughna navami is today.

Dasharatha had no children, no sons, and then today he received four sons. They are all Lord. Laxman is also Lord and Bharat is Lord and Satrughna is Lord. Some time we do not know or we do not think like that. Instead we say Lord Hanuman. One who is not Lord, we make him a Lord. We make Hanuman Lord but we do not think Laxman is Lord. We think Rama is Lord but Bharat is also Lord. He is Lord Bharat, Lord Satrughna.

This is how Sukadeva Gosvami describes, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha, these are the four Lords, Caturvyuha, the quadruple expansions of the Lord. They all four of them appeared on occasion of navami I should say. That navami’s name has become Rama navami. This navami became famous as Rama navami. As one astami has became known as Krsna astami. One purnima has become known as Gaur purnima, like that. So today is reserved for, today is this Navami, reserved for Sri Rama. And for almost one million years since Lord’s
appearance, this navami is celebrated as Rama navami.

So we have assembled here to celebrate appearance day, birthday. It’s a birthday party and the news is which is also good news, that all over the planet, as International Society for Krsna Consciousness has spread all over the planet. And today the birthday party or Rama’s appearance day celebrations are not India limited any more. It is unlimited. On the way to here through internet we were watching, Rama navami is being celebrated in Bombay and Delhi and London and may be not right now. Some places are still sleeping. Soon they will be getting up and that will be navami for them, and morning mangal arati. It’s not 12 o’clock everywhere, yeah, may be somewhere mid night 12 o’clock. But through out the day there is celebration of Rama’s appearance, all day long. This is mid day. Lord is appearing at mid-day, madhyanha time. Madhyanha time for devotees in Middle East is going to be after one two hours. In Europe it’s going to be after 3, 4 hours, their mid day. In New York it’s going to be after 7, 8 hours.

Los Angelis going to be after 12 hours, in Hawaii may be after 13, 14, 15 hours, like that, and in Japan, 16 hours. And Singapore, like that, you understand right? So it’s not 12 0’clock everywhere on the planet right now. But celebrations are being held and would be held all over the world. Jay Sri Rama! So like this Rama’s glories are spreading everywhere. Rama’s name is spreading everywhere. Rama mandirs are everywhere now. In London there is ISKCON Rama mandir. In Washington there is ISKCON Rama mandir. Like that, so many of them. We Gaudiya vaisnavas or in ISKCON we worship Radha Krsna. Of course we worship Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki Jay! We worship Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra; we worship Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman ki Jay! So these are some of our worshipable deities, worshipable Lords. They all are worshipable. There are so many more of them.

advaitam acyutam anadi ananta rupam

But some forms, some rupas we worship formally, regularly and one of those forms is Sri Rama. Jay Sri Rama!
We sing the same song. We don’t have many songs atleast I don’t have.

ayodhyavasi rama rama rama dasaratha nandan rama rama

Rama is Ayodhyavasi. Not today He became Ayodhyavasi. No no, He is always Ayodhyavasi, Ayodhyavasi Rama. But today He became Dasarath nandan, Dasarath nandan Rama. He appeared as son of Dasarath.
Dasarath nanadan Sri Rama ki Jay!

He also appeared as Kausalya nandan Rama. Kausalya nandan Rama. Kausalya ananda vardhanam, Ramayan says, as He appeared, what did He do? Kausalya ananda vardhanam, increased ananda of Kausalya. He gave so much ananda to Kausalya. Kausalya became happy and what about you? In fact of course He gave ananda to Dasarath and to Kausalya but to give ananda to all of us He appeared.

And right now, right now, is there some ananda? Are you experiencing some ananda? (Hari Bol!) Who gave that ananda to you? Rama! Directly Rama is the cause of ananda. That’s why also He is called Rama. Rama means arama, ananda, joy, Rama means joy. There is some genuine ananda, joy that is because of Rama. dasarath nandan Rama……

bolo rama jay sri rama! bolo rama sita rama
patit pavan janaki jivan sita mohan rama rama.

Patit pavan Rama, what kind of Rama He is? Patit pavan! That is why He appeared today. To become pavan, the purifier, uplifter, the liberator of who? Patitas, the fallen! We are patit and He is pavan.

Patit pavan and He is Janaki jivan,
He is life of Janaki, Sita Maharani ki Jay! Patit
pavan janaki jivan sita mohan rama.
As Krsna is Radha Mohan Krsna, Rama is Sita Mohan Rama.

Rama appeared in Ayodhya today. There is a big celebration; big festival all over Ayodhya, there is jubilation, celebration. They are all chanting and dancing and feasting also. So, how to celebrate Rama navami? Residents of Ayodhya, on this day, one million years ago when Rama appeared, they had set the example, they were chanting and singing.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! …… (Kirtan)

kujantam rama rameti aksaram madhuraksaram
aruhya kavita sakha vande valmiki kokilam.

We offer our obeisance’s unto Valmiki muni. We are grateful to him, having presenting Ramayan. That says in this vandana. Vande Valmiki kokilam, Valmiki has become kokila paksi (bird). Kuhu kuhu! It is best of the birds, singing birds, sweet singing. So vande Valmiki kokilam.
Kujantam, this kokila paksi is kujantam, singing. Rama Rama iti, he is singing glorifying Rama Rama. Aksaram madhuraksaram, every aksara, syllable, word, a verse of Ramayan is amrita. Aksaram madhuraksaram. Aruhya kavita sakha, as if Ramayan is compared to a tree and Valmiki is kokila and he is sitting on the branch of this Ramayan. So many branches, so many parts of that Ramayan. Bal kanda, at least we could say the names of those branches or portions or sections of Ramayan.

Bal kanda, Rama janma is part of Bal kanda. Then Ayodhya kanda, more things have happened in Ayodhya. Then Aranya kanda, aranya is what? Forest! Rama in forest, forest dweller Rama. He is no more Ayodhyavasi, He is vanavasi, vanavasi Rama, so that is Aranya kanda. Then Kishkinda kanda. Is Kishkinda in Karnataka?

Yes? Aranya kanda is upto Panchavati. So after kidnapping of Sita happened and left Panchavati and banks of Godavari and search of Sita, He is coming down south this way and He comes to Kishkinda. That is capital and on the top of mountain. Did you ever go to Humpi? Which is supposed to be birthplace of Hanuman is also there.

Shabari’s asram, Shabari maiya ki Jay! What a devoted lady! She was waiting and waiting for Sri Rama and finally Rama had come. Then she greeted Sri Rama and made Him sit down and fed Him berries which she had picked up from around, her little dwelling there. And while feeding, what she was doing? She was not eating as such, she was testing. She was tasting to test. These are two words. Test and taste. In exam you have test and juice you taste. So she was tasting and testing, making sure, those berries are ripe and sweet. And that maha maha prasad kind of, she was feeding Rama.

So that’s part of Kishkinda ksetra. That’s where first meeting of Rama and Hanuman takes place. Hanuman used to stay at the top of the hill, Rishyamuka parvat along with Sugriva and others. And then he was sent ‘go go find out! Some one is coming in our direction.’ Sugriva used to be always scared. So Hanuman had gone and they met, Rama Hanuman milan, bheta at the bank of Pampa sarovar they met. They introduced each other and Hanuman made Rama’s and Laxman’s job easier. Otherwise mountain climbing was involved; top mountain to be climbed. So what did Hanuman do? He said, Lord please have a sit, here and there (patting both shoulders). So two Lords sat on the shoulder of hanuman and he took off and landed on that Rishyamuka parvat.

And then meeting with Sugriva takes place there and of course Rama and Laxman they are looking for Sita. ‘Site, where are you Site!’ they are screaming out loud. They had been doing this from the time they left Panchavati, everywhere, ‘Site Site!’ Possibly She is somewhere in the same forest. Shabari also, ‘you go top of this mountain. You will get more clues of where about of Sita.’ Shabari also made a mention like that. ‘You go there, you will get clue about Sita.’ Of course Rama and Laxman were looking for Sita. ‘Have you seen our Sita, my Sita? Oh Sugriva have you seen?’ ‘Well I can’t say whether I have seen but I saw some viman, aircraft going this way and someone in the aircraft was saying the name Rama Rama Rama Rama.’ So there Rama was also saying ‘Site Site’ and Sita was also saying ‘Rama Rama’. ‘And while that aircraft just passing above here, little bundle, a cloth, something wrapped in it was dropped.’ And then Sugriva said, ‘please take this may be you will and we will find some more clues of where about of Sita or was that Sita in that aircraft.’ So Sugriva handed that potali to Rama and as Rama was anticipating, yes yes most probably that person flying over here and screaming Rama Rama, who else that could be? She must be Sita. And if She is the one who has thrown this little pouch, she said Rama Rama and touched and held that, Rama felt, His body was trembling. And His eyes were full of tears. Well He opened with His hands to check out what was inside, but He was not able to recognize. He was not able to
see because His eyes were full of tears. He called Laxman, ‘Oh Laxman Laxman check this out. See some ornaments here. Could they be Sita’s? This one – it was

bajuband, armlet of Sita. So Rama was showing ornaments one after the other- this one, could this be Sita’s?’

naham janami keyure

These are armlets. No, I can’t say whether they are of Sita’s. I never saw her armlets, arms or armlets. Naham janami kundale, and these are ear rings but I never looked Sita’s ear rings that closely. Ahh but these ones, these are ankle bells. Oh for sure these are Sita’s. Padami vandane, whenever I looked at her feet, offer my obeisances and looked at her feet, I have seen this. For sure these are ankle bells of Sita maharani.’ And then it was conformed, for sure, at least thus far Sita had come or the person who flew in that aircraft that is Sita.

So that is Kishkinda kanda, that is whole kanda, Kishkinda kanda. Then comes Sundar kanda which is full of Hanuman lilas or searching, looking for Sita. Hanuman had gone, others were also looking in different directions and Hanuman found Sita. Hari bol! And finally when they met, Hanuman said, ‘let’s go, back to Rama. How? Climb up my shoulders.’ Sita said, ‘no, nothing doing. I can not touch another man, another person. You go, let’s Rama know where abouts of me. Let Him come, battle with Ravan and as a hero let Him prove His prowess and rescue
me, have me back again. That will be glorious than me running away like this or you take me back.’

So Hanuman, at least he knew now, Sita is alive. She still exists. And he knew where exactly she is residing, existing. And Hanuman came back to Kishkinda.

‘I have good news for you’.
Hanuman had not only good, the best news.
‘I know I know where about of Sita.
I found out, I met her.’ And Rama, His joy had no limit.
He was so happy so happy to know where abouts of Sita.
Sita maharani ki Jay!

And Rama had said, ‘Hanuman, if I was in Ayodhya today, I could have given you big reward, big gift. But, I want to give big gift but I have nothing. I don’t have anything. I am vanavasi. I am empty pocket. I don’t even have pockets. My clothes even do not have pocket. But if you do not mind, if you don’t mind, you may like to accept my embrace.’ Saying so Rama stepped forward and He gave deep embrace to Hanuman. (Hari Bol!)

Wasn’t that the best reward for a devotee, Lord has fully accepted you, the devotee. Lord is embracing and Lord is holding that devotee to His heart. You would like to be accepted by Rama like so? (Hari Bol!) Then you have to give up the tight embrace of Maya. Maya is embracing us. As Rama embrace Hanuman, and he was in tight grip of arms of Sri Rama, like wise the conditioned souls are, or in tight grip of Maya in so many forms.

“balam pasya me mayayah stri-mayya jayino disam” (SB 3.31.38) Lord Kapil deva said to His mother. Balam me pasya mayayah, stri maiyyam, in the form of woman. For a man, woman is Maya and for a woman, man is Maya. I want to say that otherwise, ‘Be fair’. So Sundar- kanda, then comes Yuddha kanda, whole battle took place in Srilanka, which went on for many months. And it was a day of dasami, Rama Vijay Dasami,
Ravan was killed. Hari Bol? Someone got killed and you say Hari bol. (shankha dvani at background, from altar) Victory! When conch shell is blown, victory is declared, proclaimed. That is what conch shell, shankha dvani does, victory to Rama, victory to Sri Krsna, victory to Jagannath. So that was rama vijay dasami. And then Rama returns to Ayodhya and of course there is uttar-kanda, seventh and final is uttar -kanda. From Lanka to Ayodhya and many more things are of course happening on the way. Lord is stopping Kishkinda and at different places and He is not walking back to Ayodhya. From Ayodhya He started walking and walking and southerly direction, all the way Lanka. If He had to walk back, that could have taken few more years. But Lord was looking at the watch. Not just watch, but the whole calendar. And the fourteen year period was going to be expired very soon. And again He had promised Bharat, ‘brother I will be back.’ But Bharat had said, ‘Rama, make sure You come back on time. Preferably before time but not after the expiry of fourteen years time. Well You may come, whenever You come, but if You come late, You will not find me alive. I am going to be keep track of the time.’ This is Bharat’s and Rama Bharat milan had taken place.

So Rama had to go faster back to home, back to Ayodhya. So He preferred taking flight and not Padayatra. Padayatra is 4 Kms only per hour. So Rama has flown. But then He was at Prayag, another stop at Prayag. Bharadwaj muni’s asram. From there Rama send Hanuman, Hanuman you better go. Go fast, go ahead of us. And let Bharat know that I am on the way. Let him know I am coming.’ So Hanuman took another flight. He did not have to sit in another aircraft. His body is aircraft. So Hanuman went ahead of Sri Rama. Letting everyone know, especially Bharat, ‘Rama is on the way’.

And then in Ayodhya, Rama is greeted there. Big reception and that was another great celebration. Which ended up in becoming Dipavali. Ravan was killed, that is Dasahara. Das- ten headed Ravan; hara- his head is taken away or chopped off, Dasahara, Rama Vijay Dasami. And by the time, Rama reached Ayodhya, everyone was happy. The whole city was lit with lamps, one lamp, another lamp and another lamp, Dipa avali, rows of lamps everywhere. Town was lit up. Everyone was well dressed, new dresses. And they came all to greet Rama and Laxman and Sita and there are Sugriva and few others also, Jambavan also accompanied. And then Uttar-kanda.

Uttar- kanda is longest time, period wise, factor wise. Rama was on the planet for dasa sahasra dasa satani ca. So many years, dasa sahasra, ten thousand, dasa satani, that is another thousand. So that is total of eleven thousand years Rama was on the planet. So by the time He came back to Ayodhya after vanavas, not much time has passed. Fourteen years in forest and some years may be 20, 30; anybody knows how old was Rama when He left for forest? 25, 27? Let’s have battle. Anyways its close, if that is correct. So some two dozen or so years before He left for forest. Add fourteen years, so that’s only those many years, all the kandas, all other six kandas or cantos are covered. And the remaining ten thousand nine hundred sixty or something years Rama is going to be ruling Ayodhya. And that is all in Uttar- kanda. But you don’t find much because His ruler ship started. Yeah some beginning years are described and rest is left for your imagination or these are getting repeated.

raghupati raghava raja rama patit pavan sita rama sita rama jay sita rama

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

Yearning to hear Krishna Katha
SB 11.6.48-49 at
Venue: ISKCON Chowpatty
Dated: 17 Jan 2018.

Hare Krsna! Thank you for inviting us, it’s a great opportunity for us to be here at Radha Gopinath mandir ki … Jay! Whichgot realized as per the wishes of Srila Prabhupada or we were remembering while Prabhupada was here at Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, that time he pointed out, I don’t know which way, ‘there should be one temple here or there will be one temple here in future’. And eventually that has happened. He wanted one temple in Juhu, that happened and Radha Gopinatha temple is also here. World famous temple, Radha Gopianath or ISKCON Chowpatty isworld famous!

Udupi Krsna temple is famous because of Srila Madhvacarya and this temple is also famous for Radhanath maharaj.He is like mathadhisha, mandiradhisha. There are unlimited glories of Radha Gopinath temple and Radhanath maharaj and all the servants of Radha Gopinath here. So to have opportunity to be here at such a world famous temple is honor. So thank you for the opportunity to be amongst you all here this morning.

This morning we did, I also was part of Srila Prabhupada’s Guru puja and we had kirtan together. So we continue being together this morning as we recite Srimad Bhagavatam canto 11, chapter 6, text number 48 and 49. Only one text is on the board there. So please repeat.

vayam tv iha maha-yoginbhramantah karma-vartmasu
tvad-vartaya tarisyamas tavakair dustaram tamah(S.B 11.6.48)

smarantah kirtayantas tekrtani gaditani ca
gaty-utsmiteksana-ksveliyan nr-loka-vidambanam (S.B 11.6.49)

Translation: O greatest of mystics, although we are conditioned souls wandering on the path of fruitive work, we will certainly cross beyond the darkness of this material world simply by hearing about Your Lordship in the association of Your devotees. Thus we are always remembering and glorifying the wonderful things You do and the wonderful things You say. We ecstatically recall Your amorous pastimes with Your confidential conjugal devotees and how You boldly smile and move about while engaged in such youthful pastimes. My dear Lord, Your loving pastimes are bewilderingly similar to the activities of ordinary people within this material world.

Purport- ‘In this verse Uddhava, by stating bhramantah karma-vartmasu, humbly presents himself as one of the conditioned souls entangled in fruitive activities. Still, Uddhava is confident that he will certainly cross over the illusory energy because he is addicted to chanting and remembering the glorious activities and words of Lord Krsna.

Similarly, Rupa Gosvami has stated:

iha yasya harer dasyekarmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasujivan-muktah sa ucyate

Although one may outwardly appear to be involved in this material world, if one is always engaged, twenty-four hours a day, in the service of Lord Krsna, then one is considered to be a liberated soul. Uddhava states here that hearing and chanting the holy name and pastimes of Krsna is infinitely more effective than becoming a naked yogi in the forest and running the constant risk of becoming, due to lusty desires and sex indulgence, and risk of becoming naked monkey in the forest. Uddhava is begging the Lord for the mercy of His Sudarsana cakra, whose effulgence is represented by the process of remembering and chanting the pastimes of the Lord. One who absorbs himself in the incomparable bliss of thinking of the Lord’s abode easily becomes free from all lamentation, illusion and fear. That is the recommendation of Sri Uddhava.’

Hari Hari!
The chapter is entitled- ‘The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabh?sa’, which is not far from Dvaraka. Uddhava is speaking; he has been speaking from some days now. As you have been doing your Nityam Bhagavata sevaya, you have been hearing Uddhava speaking. He was speaking and speaking and he has spoken this, as we have just now heard.And he is compelled to speak this particular way because he has gota clue, more than a clue that Lord would be leaving, winding up His pastimes and returning to His own abode.

Demigods initially had appealed for Lord’s advent. Lord responded to their appeal and had advented and was on the planet for past 125 years. And Lord has accomplished His purpose of the advent,‘paritranaya sadhunam’ has happened, ‘vinasay ca’ demons have been killed. There was a big hit list that He had been working on. ‘Dharma samstharpanarthaya’ that also had happened. And then demigods, they were thanking the Lord for His advent and for all that He has done for the world and for the earth and they have said earlier that,You may leave my Lord now.
And then, so Uddhava has found out. He had more than a clue that Lord is leaving and he doesn’t want him to be left behind. Then first thing he had said,

‘sva-dhama naya mam api’

Oh! My dear Lord, please take me along with You, me too me too.

‘naham tavanghri-kamalam ksanardham api kesava’ (SB11.6.43)

He addressing Kesava, I cannot be away from you not even for ksanardha. For a fraction of second or a moment; I cannot be away from Your lotus feet -‘tava anghri-kamalam’. He could have said that I cannot be away from Your feet, but he also has said I cannot be away from Your lotus feet, glorified lotus feet of the Lord.

‘tyaktum samutsahe natha’- I cannot tolerate that separation, being away from You. ‘svadhama naya’- please bring me to Your own abode.

So this is his appeal, he has begun his appeal with that statement and he had been talking and talking and finally he has said, again he is addressing Lord as Maha-yogin. He has addressed as Kesava and now as Maha-yogin.

‘vayam tvihamaha-yogin bhramantah karma-vartmasu’

In the purport it has been pointed out, clarification is needed. You interpret only when some clarificationis necessary, otherwise things are clear, then no need for interpretation. I was just hearing Prabhupada’s lecture and he was making that point.

So at this point, one may wonder why Uddhava said vayam. It’s not just me but vayam, but many of us or all of us, bhramantah, we are wandering or going round and round and up and down. How does that sound? And we had been wandering all over, because of karma vartmasu. We have taken the path of the karma, karma kanda. Karma kanda, jnana kanda, keval visera bhanda, big pot of poison we had been drinking.

Anyways, it is pointed out in the purport. This is humility of Uddhava. He is humbly making this statement. Or it also could be said, he is representing all of us, the people of this world.

bhramantah karma-vartmasu

So we had been wandering but there is hope for us also. Krpanah phala-hetavah, Lord is saying, they are the misers, one is krpana and other is brahmana, the miserly and the other one broad minded, refined Brahmin. They are misers, who go for phala-hetavah, and they are karmis-they perform karma and they want to enjoy fruit of their karma, fruitive workers are phala-hetavah.

karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu

Krsna expects this to happen. Karmanyevadhikarah- yes you have right to perform karma, activity; but ma phalesu, don’t touch the fruit.

yatkarosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva madarpanam (BG 9.27)

But the karmis, karma-vartmasu their hetu their intension is to enjoy the fruit. So they are described as krpanas.
So those who had been wandering with this phala-hetavah, karma-vartmasu, vartma means path, for them also there is hope. Dustaram tamah, those who are caught in the grip of the darkness, ignorance, dustaram-insurmountable, mama maya duratyaya, Lord says, Maya causes tama the darkness. So they could also be saved, those who are karma-vartmasu, following path of fruitive activities, how they could be freed from the clutches or freed from the darkness or ignorance?

tvad-vartaya tarisyamah

Tarisyamah, we could cross over this insurmountable darkness of ignorance by tvad-vartaya. Varta is news. What is the news? Ka varta? That dialogue between Yudhistira maharaj and Yaksha, many many questions were asked and Yudhistira maharaj had answered all of those questions.

atha kim ascaryam param

So what is the news? Breaking the news, lots of news of this world, which bind and throws you in the ocean of darkness. But that varta is of two kinds, maya varta and Krsna varta or Krsna katha and grama katha. Tvad-vartaya, Your varta, news about You which could be heard and relish in association of devotees, like you are doing this. Let’s see how long it goes on.

tvad-varta tarisyamah tavakair

In association of pure devotes, if Your varta is heard and relished, then dustaraih tamah, we could be liberated from the darkness of ignorance.

Anyways there is more in next verse. Smarantah kirtayantah krtani gaditanica, so that varta is further unpacked or unfolded and explained, smarantah, kirtayantah te, about You. First he said tvad-varta and now he said te, about You. smarantah kirtanyantah te, it’s like sravanam kirtanam vishnoh, same thing. So kirtan has happened. Kirtayantah te, smarantah te, so first we have to do kirtan,

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

You also have to hear that kirtan and who hears? Who is the hearer? Ear hears? Body is dead, ear is there, but does ear hear or someone hears? So hearer is no more there. Hearer has gone. So who is the hearer?Us! Who are we? We are spiritsouls. We have to hear.

So first we say kirtan then there is sravanam and that results in smarantah. Kirtayantah te, smarantah te, and then Uddhava goes on. So hear and remember what? Krtani gaditani ca, it’s ca there. Ca means and, this and that, yes this could also be applied, ca is at the end. So smarantah kirtayantah te, remembering You, hearing You, krtani gaditani ca, so hearing and remembering what? Krtani, Your activities, Your krtya, and ca gaditani, Your words. Thus we are always remembering and glorifying the wonderful things You do, krtaniand the wonderful things You say gaditani, ca.

And towards the end, well he is giving little hint about the activities- krtani, the gati- the movement of smita.He just said few words but that is the idea, Uddhava said few words, now we are focusing on just few words or we are trying to hear those few words. But what do we hear? What sense we get out of what we hear or what Uddhava says? He said something. We kind of all the way heard but what did we hear? What kind of emotions or thoughts arouses?

Krtani, the activities of the Lord, and it says, gati the movement of smita, smita is what? The smile, but he says utsmita, that we should not be missing. What kind of smita? Widely, boldly, utsmita is broadly smiling.

utsmitekasana ksveli, He is not only smiling but it’s said, when Lord chews His tambulamasala, tambula pan, His lips are already reddish they become more reddish, they are reddened. And when Lord after eating His tambula, then He smiles, that is very special smile. His beauty really comes across as He smiles.

Normally also whenever photograph has to be taken what do they say? Smile, so that they could capture real you. As soon as we smiles beauty 10 fold, 100 fold, I don’t know how much when we smile our beauty, 2 fold or 3 fold 5 fold…. Lord smiles and what to speak of utsmita then His beauty is further enhanced. And that beautiful Lord eksana, that becomes His pastime in itself. Just looking at His devotee with the smile on His face, utsmita eksanaksveli, that kind of loving pastime, loving dealing.ksveli is translated as loving dealing, loving pastime. So pastime immediately becomes lovely as Lord puts on little smile, little smile on His face and glances at His devotees.

So Uddhava is talking all this. He hasn’t talked much. But he has talked everything also. So that kind of Lord I am going to be missing as You leave to Your own aboard.

The day Lord left this planet, that was the beginning, tad dina, from that day onwards, kali’s advent, took place. What kind of kali? Sarva sadhana badhakah. Introduction to the kali. You want to know who is Kali?Sarva sadhana badhakah, all your sadhana, badha- obstacles all the time, at every step, every day, every week, sarva sadhana badhakah, so that is dustaram tamah.

So Uddhava is already feeling separation from Lord. No no Lord I cannot be away from You. Please bring me with You. Otherwise I would miss my Lord. Utsmiteksanaksveli, the Lord who smiles among many many things, unlimited things You do. One of those good thingsYou do is also Your smile, Your smiling glance falls upon us, and that is perfection of our life. But You would be leaving. Please do not do so. You may leave but bring me with You.

So in response to this, Lord is going to say, ‘well I had come so I also have to go. One who comes, goes.’ Then Lord said, ok I will stay behind, I will go and I will stay in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam. All My kathas, all My pastimes will stay behind. I appeared and performed the pastimes and those who were contemporary human beings; they are benefited by My pastimes, My presence and My pastimes. But as I leave, then what would happen that is also concern of Uddhava what about me? No no I will stay behind in the form of Bhagavatam. And then Uddhava said, Ok then I don’t mind, if You stay behind in the form of Bhagavatam then I will also stay. He agreed to stay.
Like this also was said earlier, towards the end of 9th canto.

Kalau janisyamananam duhkha shoka tamo nudam
anugrahaya bhaktanam supunyam vyatanod yasah (SB 9.24.61)

For the benefit of the unfortunate folks of this age of kali, anugrahaya bhaktanam, Lord is going to stay behind in the formof Bhagavatam.

yasminsat-karna piyuseyasas-tirtha-vare-sakrta
srotrsnjalir upasprsya dhunute karma-vasanam(SB 9.24.62)

Simply by receiving the glories of the Lord through purified transcendental ears, the devotees of the Lord are immediately freed from strong material desires and engagement in fruitive activities. And people of this age of Kali would drink this piyusa, this nectar of Krsna’s pastimes, dhunute, there will be cleansing done, of what? Karma-vasanam.

Uddhava had said karma vartmasu, same thing had said earlier.

karma vasanam dhunute

As one hears Srimad-bhagavatam, the pastimes of the Lord, karma vasanam, cleansing of karma vasana. As we perform the karma, some activity, activity is over but what remains behind is vasana.

‘papachi vasana nako dau dola tyahuni andhala barach mi’

Tuka mane, Tukarama maharaj said, ‘better to be blind Oh! Lord, papachi vasana, do not give me that kind of vasana, desire, the seeds, some thoughts, ideas, some concepts about seeing some sinful forms or seeing some forms which will invoke some vasana desire. Better make me blind.’

So how to become free from karma vasana, those desires, thoughts, the seeds?karna piyusa, by hearing Srimad-bhagavatam.

Jnanagni sarva karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha

Krsna also said that, jnana agni or bhakti agni, the fire could do what? This karma vartmasu or karma vasana, bhasmasat- burn to ashes.

Srinvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah,
hrdyantah stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam (SB1.2.17)

Bhagavatam says as soon as you hear Bhagavatam, Lord makes space, room for Him in your heart. He gets situated. Getting rid of all the dirt, everything else is out.

As we say Krsna surya sum, all those connections are there,

Krsna surya sama, maya haya andhakara,
yahan Krsna tahan nahi mayar adhikara

So as soon as Krsna makes His appearance in the form of His pastimes, He is there and as mentioned by Uddhava, dustaram tamah, the darkness is gone.

om ajnana timiranadhasya, jnananjana salakaya caksur unmilitam

You are blind and here comes Srila Pranbhupada. Srila Prabhupada comes and he is giving all the dictation, translation and purport and as we hear, as we read what happens?jnananjan shalakaya, caksur unmilitam, our eyes are open, jnananjan, which is expected to result in premanjan.

And once that is there then, santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayani, and such person will see, as he has been hearing and hearing and hearing and well lot of this. From the sound comes the form. We hear the sound and it takes shape. We hear the pastimes, and they take the shape. Krsna takes His shape and He never performs pastimes alone. Pastime means Lord and the devotees. So as we hear Krsna and the whole pastime appears before or within us. So santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. They see the Lord within the heart.

caksudana dila yei janme janme prabhu sei

Our eyes are opened byacaryas ,of course sastras are opening, Bhagavatam is opening our eyes. Trying to open some of your eyes. They have great determination, not opening eyes. Or maybe you are seeing pastimes of the Lord in the heart, which I am not seeing. (Laughter)

nityam bhagavata sevaya bhagavati uttam sloke bhaktir bhavati naistiki

As we hear and go on hearing, nityam all the time constantly, this talk of 24 hours, purport says 24 hours we stay busy busy busy then bhaktir bhavati. In that, Prabhupada comments that way, nityam bhagavat sevaya.

‘Ok Bhagavatam, two kinds of Bhagavatam, book Bhagavat and the person Bhagavat.’ Srila Prabhupada ki Jay! You serve Bhagavatam, book Bhagavatam, hear, remember Krsna, you are reminded of Krsna and you also serve pure devotees, person Bhagavat. Prabhupada has given us lot to do. There is so much to do. There is so much to do.

So Lord did not leave, Lord stayed behind. People of age of Kali would say, Oh! what about us? We the unfortunate folks, it’s too late, Lord was here, He has gone now.’ But Lord has kindly stayed behind in the form of Bhagavatam, in the form of His pastimes and that is also one of His forms. The lilas of the Lord is also one of the svarupa of the Lord. There are many svarupas.

kali kale nama rupe krsna avatar

But kali kale also this lila rupe krsna avatar and our acharyas have stayed busy with nama and rupa.

sri radhika madhavayorpara madhurya lila guna rupa namnam, pratiksana

As Uddhava says ksna ardham, even fraction of second I cannot stay away.

pratiksana asvadana lolupyasya vande guroh sri caranara vindam

So our acaryas representing the Lord and continue to establish dharma in this world. Yeah they stayed busy.

nana sastra vicaranaika nipunau saddharma samsthapakau,

nana sastra- big pile of sasras in the middle and they are nana sastra vicaranaika, they are discussing, debating.

radha krsna padarvinda bhajananden mattalikau

Radha Krsna bhajan ananda matta, what are you hearing? Our acaryas are busy, Radha Krsna bhajan ananda, that bhajan must be giving them ananda immediately.

‘anandi ananda gade ekade tikade chohikade, anandi ananda gade’

As soon as there is ananda, anand mattalikau, they were intoxicated, addicted to hearing and chanting and remembering.

And that is why Krsna said, My devotees, mat-cittah, their citta is in me. Tvad-vartaya,Your pastimes, mat cittah, their consciousness is glued down. Do you know glue? They can’t separate it, it’s glued. So mat cittah, mad-gata-pranah, and what they did they do? Their citta, consciousness is glued to Krsna, at His lotus feet.

mat-citta mad-gata-pranah bodhayantah parasparam

They are busy, bodhayantah parasparm, each other, they are conversing, they are talking, reminding, about Me.

kathayantasca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca

Ramanti, ramaman, they are happy,happily they are wandering, residing, eating, acting. So they are hearing, chanting, happily doing all this.

This is Lord’s expectation as He spoke to Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita, and this is the standard and this is standard practiceon daily basis, and very spontaneously in spiritual sky. In Goloka what the devotees do? This is what they do.

bodhayantah parasparam kathayantas ca mam nityam tusyanti ca

All the residents of Goloka that’s all that they do. They are always busy, talking about Krsna, lot of talk goes on.Even when they are acting,

hatha may kama and mukha mai nama, nama ya lila

All that they do is accompanied by hearing and chanting.That is why also harer namaiv kevalam, Jiva Gosvami Prabhupada says, everything that they do, Yeaheven smaranam padasevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam and sakhyam atmanivedanam. All these activities should be accompanied by or with what? sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam kirtanam has to be there. It’s constant factor, with all that you do, padasevanam, and arcanam is incomplete without sravanam, cintanam.

There is no kirtan singing during arati, that is mode of ignorance. Kirtan has to be, the glories of the Lord has to be chanted. So harer namaiva kevalam. So whether Harer namaiva or Harer lila eva kevalam. Nama and Lila is there. In name it is expected that you are remembering whole Krsna. Say Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, is anything more need to say? Having said Krsna, we have said everything that could be said. As we say Krsna, we glorify the pastimes of Lord.

Mamacittam akarsaya, our acaryas comment, when we say Hare, as we say each word, Hare, that Hare is getting our attention, some way, some special way. We say Krsna, yah karsati sa Krsna ,mama cittam akarsaya.

sva madhuryena mama cittam akrsaya

This is what we are saying also. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami maharaj, contemporary personality, contemporary of Caitanya Mahaprabhu; he is commenting on this Mahamantra and he is giving comment on each name. There are 16 names. As we say Krsna, sa madhuryena mama citta akarsaya.So when we say Krsna, we want to be attracted by madhurya of Krsna. We said Krsna, we just said, but we are wanting all madhurya, manifest in our heart, in our consciousness. We only said Krsna. Sva madhurya, there is so much madhurya, madhurya lila is there, venu madhurya is there, prema madhurya is there, rupa madhurya is there. We just said Krsna but with that saying Krsna, all these things are said or we get connected or we would likeall that make appearance in our hearts, mama cittam akarsaya.

mama seva yogyam kuru

We said Krsna, another Krsna, there are 8 Krsnas, and 8 Radhas. 8 times we say Radha, 8 times we say Krsna. So mama seva yogyam kuru, Oh Krsna Oh Krsna, you are trying to get His attention, Oh Krsna. And each one of the 16 names is address. Uddhava is addressing Lord directly, they are face to face. Oh Kesava, Oh this that. So we are also addressing as we say Hare, Hare is address. We are addressing Radharani. Is She there? She must be. We are addressing so She must be existing. Hara her name,from Hara comes Hare. Hara exists otherwise where did the name Hara come from? If the God did not exist, tarka vitarka, if God did not exist, where the name God come from? First He exists then the word God exist. God exist and then word God exists. So first Krsna exists and then His name also exists. Radha is there and then we say Hare, so that Hare and that Krsna, we are addressing. We are addressing Radha 8 times and Krsna 8 times. We are addressing, sambodhana. There is no visarga after Krsna, two dots after Krsna, because it is sambodhana. So we are addressing, so when we are addressing, are you saying something? So when we are saying Krsna, we are saying something to the Lord, we are appealing to the Lord, seva yogyam kuru, please make me eligible, competent to serve You my dear Lord. And the prayer also is that, let there be reciprocation between You and me my dear Lord. That is trying to get attention of the Lord.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

Srimad-bhagavatam is heard then Krsna makes His appearance because He is non-different from His pastimes. So Uddhava had stayed behind, Lord had left. Then all the queens of the Lord, Lord instructed to Arjuna, you protect them you take care of them, you bring them to Hastinapur. They would be under your care. So these queens had ended up in Vrndavan. Krsna is no more on the planet, His manifest lila is no more, so while all the queens were in Vraja, they were missing Krsna. Where is Krsna? They are expecting Krsna but He is no more. His prakatalila is unmanifested. He has wound up. Prakat lila is now aprakat lila. So the queens were part of prakat lila, manifested pastimes. So they were not seeingprakat lila and they were missing Lord like anything.

To cut the long story short, it was strongly recommended that all these queens go to the banks of Kusum sarovar and perform sankirtana. To play their vinas and mrdangas and sing melodies, sankirtana, and they were told by Sandilya Rsi, that Uddhava will make his appearance and he will take care of the rest. ‘You are missing right?You are wondering where is your Lord. You want to see Him,you want to meet Him, you want to enter in His pastimes?’‘Yes yes we want to do.’‘Ok then do this.’ So they all went. King Pariksit was also there. Vajranabh, king Pariksita and all the queens they go perform kirtana and in the middle of kirtan Uddhava appears. Jay Uddhava!

Where there is utsava there is Uddhava. Utsavas are represented by Uddhava. There was kirtan mahotsava. As soon as kirtan mahotsava was performed, Uddhava appeared. Then Uddhava was talking Bhagavatam, all the pastimes. He was witness; he was with the Lord all the time, so he was sharing all the pastimes with the queens and some Vrndavan pastimes. And as the queens were hearing the Bhagavatam, hearing the pastimes and this recitation of Bhagavatam went on for one month.For 30 days and 30 nights they were hearing this Bhagavat katha from Uddhava. Uddhava was the speaker.Bhagvatam is again going to make appearance through the lotus mouth of Uddhava.

Bhagvatam has stayed behind and he is going to make appearance as Uddhava speaks. As he was talking and talking the pastimes of the Lord and queens were hearing and hearing with attention and devotion and what else? They were also contemplating as they were hearing, mananam was also going on. Contemplation was going on. And that resulted in, all these queens seeing Krsna, performing all the pastimes right in front of them. And then like the first batch or some queens they got up and they started entering the respective pastimes, whichever pastime they belonged to as per their sambandha and lila and vesa and rupa. And then more and more queens were getting up and they were disappearing, they were all becoming nitya lila pravista. Jay om, this queen ki jay, and that queen ki jay!

And soon there was just Uddhava and Vajranabh, the king. And all the queens entered in the abode of the Lord, they entered in the pastimes of the Lord. They were back with the Lord through the medium. What was the medium? Bhagavatam. Recitation of Bhagavatam, hearing Bhagavatam did all the job, nasta prayesu abhadresu. Of course we can’t apply that really to the queens. But it could happen to others also if they are not siddha or liberated.

Ceto darpana marjanam or nasta prayesu abhadresu or hrdyantastho hy abhadrani vidhunoti, the cleansing.

iha yasya harer dasye karmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasu jivanmuktah sa ucyate(NOD 1.2.187).

In the purport of that, Rupa Gosvami has quoted, first thing become jivan mukta, you are free and you could take off anytime and you are back with the Lord. So that status, that eligibility could be attained. So that kind of visa of Goloka you could get stamped on your passport. This person will be allowed entry in Goloka. By hearing and hearing.

So sabda, anavrtti sabdat, with that ana avrutti, avrtti means repetition, ana means no, no repetition of birth and death, no more. Anavrtti sabdat, this is vedant sutra, one sutra. Repetition of birth and death is no more,ana- avrtti is possible by sabdat.sabda para brahma, sabda, words of Bhagavatam, words also the Holy name, all sabdas, all transcendental sabdas, anavrtti, they have potency.These sabdas could neutralize the bondage caused by the grama katha, varta of this world, sabda of this world, mundane sounds have bound us. The cause of bondage is this sabda, mundane words. So the way to neutralize, rectify, or get rid of bondage caused by the worldly words with the transcendental words and that is krtani, pastimes of the Lord, gaditani, the words of the Lord, that is Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita.And this is done and anavrtti sabdat, one could be completely freed from the bonds and becoming free from bonds is not the only goal. That could be just attaining mukti. Ok you are mukta, but not bhaktah as of yet. So one could become mukta and bhakta by nityam bhagavat sevaya, by this recitation of Bhagavatam.

So kindly Lord has stayed behind in the form of Bhagavatam and kindly Srila Prabhupada has translated and written purports based also on the commentaries of our previous acaryas. And when Srila Prabhupada went to west, what did he carry with him? He carried sabda with him. We say that he was friendless, his friend wasthere, Krsna was with him. And we say oh he was penniless or he had only 40 not dollars, 40 rupees. It was equal to 8 dollars or something in those days. But he had so much wealth, that he was carried. But one sense he had only 40 rupees, but was that all he had with him? He had what? He was carrying the Holy name with him. He wentto deliver the Holy name.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

And what else amongst many other things? He had delivered Bhagvatam which he had translated back there in Radha Damodar temple, the first canto. So the sound of Holy name, the wealth of Holy name, sound of Bhagvatam he took with him. And again we have to try to understand, Holy name is Krsna and Bhagvatam, the pastimes is Krsna Himself.

Abhinnatvam, this could take life time to realize, the Holy name is Krsna. As you chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, we are trying to realize that this is Krsna. What I am hearing? This is Krsna. The Bhagvatama recitation, pastime, this is Krsna. And when that realization would take place that yoga has happened, yoga means link between the soul and the Supreme soul. Bhagvatam is that Supreme soul. Holy name is Super soul or Supreme soul, Lord Himself and there is a link.

We are linked, Sambanda has happened, then Abhidheya-we remain busy busy, and then there is Prayojana, Radha Gopinatha ki Jay, Prayojana, vigraha, attainment of Krsna prema, loving emotions and devotions for the Lord and not just emotion and devotion but devotional service in fact. Bhakti is not translated by Prabhupada as just devotion. Mayavadis the peace lovers only.They may translate bhakti as devotion. But Prabhupada said, devotional service. We attain finally devotional service of Radha Gopinath, then we are fully situated.

hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih (CCM 24.135).

Krsna has His svarupa and we also, Krsna has given us also little little rupas, svarupas. We have svarupa, so we are situated, svarupena vyavasthiti. In relationship with Bhagvatam, pastimes, relationships with Holy name, all this nama rupa guna lila dhama, they help us to revive our dormant love, loving service with the Lord and finally situate ourselves into our own svarupas.

And Krsna says,
man-mana bhava mad bhakto madyaji mam namaskuru,
mamevaiyasi satyam te pratijane priyosi me (Bg 18.65)

If you have done this and that, man-mana, have become My devotee, mad bhakto, and remembering Me, worshiping Me, offering obeisance’s unto Me then you come back to Me. Where is that back? Back home, back to Godhead. So that person goes back to home, back to Krsna. So that is the program, the mission, the vision of this Hare Krsna movement. On behalf of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada established, founded this International Society for Krsna Consciousness. Ultimately with the aim of bringing souls back to Krsna, back to Godhead.

And Prabhupada emphasized going back to home, back to Godhead, so much so much, all the time. It was therebut others we don’t hear them talking so much about it. Either they become Svarga-vasis or Brahma lean. Two popular destinations are there, they want to go to Svarga or ‘jyota me jyota milado’, merging into Brahman. But there is very little talk of going back to Krsna. Srila Prabhupada emphasized, popularized, insisted uponthis going back. Svarga and other destinations are even fara distance away, but our so called leaders, political leaders, destination is chalo Delhi, not beyond, chalo Delhi. If you are in Gali, chalo Delhi. That is their campaign. But Prabhupada’s campaign is going back to Godhead.

ami jato amachya gava, amcha rama rama gyava

Tukaram maharaj went and Prabhupada has given us everything on behalf of Caitanya Mahaprabhu . So that people of this world; again it is not, how it could be limited to Hindus only or Indians only. It couldn’t be like that. The message of Gita,gaditani and krtani, the Bhagvatam ,it is for all the souls. Why would God, this is for Hindus only or Indians only. This is for all the souls, they are His souls. Wherever they are mamaivamso jiva, mama eva, not only He said mama amsa, mama eva, Mine only. Eva means He is insisting, emphasizing or eva also means full stop. There is nothing more to be said. Mama eva amsah, wherever they are, sarvasya ca aham, hrdi sannivistah, I am in the heart of all the living entities.

So this program of Hare Krsna movement is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s program, Krsna’s program, Krsna’s movement in fact. And now it is available, Prabhupada has kindly made it available all over, everywhere. And it is meant to reach every town and every village and sometimes in between the villages also. When we go on padayatra, sometimes devotees remember, ‘hey My name would be chanted in every town, and in every village,’ Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted. But we, padayatris chant in between the villages also. So prediction is being made true by Prabhupada’s strategic planning, more than true.Beyond the villages and town, in between the villages and towns, in the galis of villages.

Gehe gehe jane jane , that also was the vision of Narada muni. ‘I will spread you Bhakti devi, I will propagate you in foreign lands also and jane jane, in every society, gehe gehe, in every home, I will make sure you reach every home.’ So Narada muni and company, there is whole parampara. So every soul is in fact a target, every soul. Without discrimination, Lord cannot. This is Lord’s vision, Lord’s thought. His heart goes to everybody and He kindly made this arrangement through International Society for Krsna Consciousness. Lord could reach far and wide through His holy name, through His books, Bhagvatam and Maha prasade Govinde, prasadam also. What not, there are so many other aspects, festivals.

sarva dharman tirskrtya puraskrtya mahotsavan

Narada muniwas talking.How would you propagate bhakti everywhere, jane jane, gehe, gehe? He said sarva anya dharman tirskrtya, other dharmas , other strategies, I will kind of put them on a back burner or on the side, tiraskrtya, sarva dharman tirskrtya. Tiraskrtya, I will hate, put them aside, on back burner. Puraskrtya, I willfore front mahotsavan, through the mahotsav, utsava, Uddhava, utsava.Through the ustava, through the festivities, I will propagate you Oh Bhakti, everywhere. This is Padma Purana. Narada muni directly talking to Bhakti devi and he is talking this. Yes through the utsavas I will propagate you everywhere.

So that also we see, Prabhupada representing Narada muni. Prabhupada gave us utsavas, festivals of so many kinds, Sunday festivals and Jagannath Rathayatra mahotsav ki Jay! Yatra festivals, Janmastami festival, Gaur pornima festival, Mayapur Vrndavan festival. What other festivals? Pushya abhishek festival, this festival that festival. And the morning program, temple program is festival in itself, chanting and dancing. What is festival?If there is music dance and something feast, festival is complete.Kirtan mela like that. So through the festivals, ISKCON is full of festivals and through the festivals bhakti spreads. Krsna makes Himself available. Festival also is kirtan festival, Sravanotsav, Mayapur they have Sravanotsav, new name of none other than Sravanotsav, Kirtanotsav, kirtan mela utsav, and everyone likes utsavas. Utsav priya manavah, manavas are utsav priya. They all like utsav and we have lots of utsavas. Hari Hari!

Question by a devotee.
I have taste for hearing, but no taste for other limbs of devotional service. No taste for chanting and service. Can I be hopeful that it will develop in due course?

Answer by Maharaj- There is hope, that’s what Uddhava is talking about. Vartaya tarisyamah, we will all become free from tamah, dustaram tamah. By this tvada vartaya tarisyamah, varta, the pastimes or as you say like hearing Bhagvatam, that’s good fortune. Something you like and soon it is expected that you will like other things also. By hearing and hearing, you should be understanding not only lila, the pastime is Krsna, but the Holy name is also Krsna. Of course prasadam is Krsna. No one takes any lesson to realize that. As soon as you eat, any Tom Dick and Harry realizes, it’s so sweet or there is sweetness. What is that due to? That is because of Krsna.

Yeah so you say you like lila but may be not other aspects. That is because your liking is still incomplete. As your liking and love would arise or increase more and more and more in other aspects of Krsna, Krsna related items, including devotional service unto Krsna would also happen. There is something shortage. Karoti nischidram anusankirtanam tava (SB 8.23.16)

Yajna is being performed, then karma and mantra tantra.And if there is some defect in mantra chanting or tantra performance of yajna or applying mantra , execution, execute that which is said in mantra or vastu, samagri , ingredients that you use in a yajna; if there is some defect in mantra or tantra or vastu, samagri , sarvam karoti nischidram. Nischidram means whatever faults, flaws or loopholes were there, karoti nishcidram. Some sanskrit word for you, chidra you know, hole. Nischidra, some flaws, some defects in mantra, recitation or this or that, all that is taken care of. You are forgiven or rectified by tava anukirtanam, by performance of kirtan, gradually all other defects or imperfections are taken care of.

And when we say kirtan, well you said you like Bhagvatam but not kirtan, something like that you said. But Bhagvatam is also kirtan and kirtan is of course kirtan. There is nama kirtan, guna kirtan, lila kirtan, like that goes on. They are all kirtan. Kirtan is kirtan, nama kirtan, rupa kirtan, lila kirtan, kirtan means kirti, His glories and in fact they cannot say, ok I like only kirtan but I don’t like pastimes. What you are not realizing is the name is not different from the form, not different from pastimes, not different from qualities. They all are related, same person, if you are liking kirtan, you are also liking lilas, you are also liking guna. So whichever part or whichever door that you are entering through, keep going, you will realize as you make the progress. So at the center there is Krsna.