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Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition
09 Jun 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Tags: 1972 Edition, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arjuna, as it is, Bg. 11, bhagavad-gita, Chapter Eleven, Krishna, Krsna, prabhupada gita, spiritual master, Supreme Lord, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Universal Form
Pranams (Prayers)
06 Jun 2013 2 Comments
in Pranams, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jagannatha dasa babaji, Lord Caitanya, mangalacarana, om ajana-timirandhasya, pranams, sri guru pranama, sri-caitanya-mano-bistam, sri-varsabhanavi-devi, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Bhaktivinoda, Srila Gaurakisora, Srila Rupa Goswami, vande ham
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One of the most used books in our temple room is the songbook. Everyday it seems, I am flipping through the “Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas”, singing one of the many songs or reciting some of the numerous pranams (prayers) as part of my daily sadhana. The following post is the first 13 pages of songbook, which in my mind is a nice way to start the day and is a good prelude to other devotional service.
Pranams
from the Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas More
Predictions for the Age of Hypocrisy (Kali-yuga)
05 Jun 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Kali Yuga Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavatam, chanting Hare Krishna, future, Hare Krishna, hypocrisy, kalau dasa-nidhe rajan, Kali-yuga, past, prediction, present, Srimad Bhagavatam
Predictions for the Age of Hypocrisy
Fifty centuries ago a great sage looked into the future and told us just what to expect. . .
An address based on the Srimad-Bhagavatam of Krsna-Dvaipayana Vyasa, given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in Los Angeles during the summer of 1974.
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine
tatas canu-dinam dharmah
satyam saucam ksama daya
kalena balina rajan
nanksyaty ayur balam smrtih
“My dear King, with each day religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, forgiveness, mercy, duration of life, bodily strength, and memory will all decrease more and more by the mighty force of time.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2.1)
This description of the Kali-yuga [the present Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy] is given in the Twelfth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam was written five thousand years ago, when the Kali-yuga was about to begin, and many things that would happen in the future are spoken of there. Therefore we accept Srimad-Bhagavatam as sastra [revealed scripture]. The compiler of sastra (the sastra-kara) must be a liberated person so that he can describe past, present, and future.
In Srimad-Bhagavatam you will find many things which are foretold. There is mention of Lord Buddha’s appearance and Lord Kalki’s appearance. [Lord Kalki will appear at the end of the Kali-yuga.] There is also mention of Lord Caitanya’s appearance, although the Bhagavatam was written five thousand years ago. Tri-kala-jna: the writer knew past, present, and future.
So here Sukadeva Gosvami is describing the chief symptoms of this age. He says, tatas canudinam: with the progress of this age (Kali-yuga), dharma, religious principles; satyam, truthfulness; saucam, cleanliness; ksama, forgiveness; daya, mercifulness; ayur, duration of life; balam, bodily strength; smrti, memory—these eight things will gradually decrease to nil or almost nil.
Chanting the Holy Name of the Lord
04 Jun 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanting Hare Krishna, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Antya-lila 4.71, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, holy name of the lord, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada, ten offenses
The Following is a very nice verse from the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta about the importance of Chanting the Holy Name of the Lord. Following that is the verse which describes the importance of chanting the names śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda before chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and the ten kinds of offenses which should be avoided.
…”Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.” (Antya-lila 4.71)
Similarly, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī has praised the chanting of the holy name as follows in his Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta (Chapter One, verse 9)
“All glories, all glories to the all-blissful holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation and worship. When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure.”
Gotta Serve Somebody
01 Jun 2013 1 Comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bob Dylan, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prtabhupada, Bob Dylan, illusioned by material energy, liberated soul, Lord Krishna, Maharaja Yudhisthira, materially engrossed, one who is served, SB 1.12.6, sense gratification, servitor, song lyrics by Bob Dylan, You Gotta Serve Somebody
This morning as I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.12.6 about Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who was the King and a liberated soul durning the time of Lord Krishna. How he did not take any pleasure in a his vast kingdom, good wife, obedient brothers, happy subjects and prosperous world. He was satisfied only by rendering loving service for the satisfaction of the Lord. As is stated in following verse:
O brāhmaṇas, the opulence of the King was so enchanting that the denizens of heaven aspired for it. But because he was absorbed in the service of the Lord, nothing could satisfy him except the Lord’s service.
As I was reading from the purport to this verse a song by Bob Dylan kept going through my head…
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
…which was kinda cool because it coincided with the reading. So I share with you, the complete verse and purport by Srila Prabhupada, as well as the song lyrics by Bob Dylan.
Offering Food to the Lord
30 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarianism Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, nama om vishnu-padaya, namo maha-vadanyaya, namo rahmanya-devaya, offering food, offering food to the Lord, offering prasadam, Prasadam, prayer to Srila Prabhupada, spiritual master
…For offering prasadam simply prayers to the Spiritual Master is sufficient. The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system, and as we come by parampara system, it is our duty to go through the right channel—namely, first the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Krishna. So when we chant prayers, we do this, Vande ham Sri Guru . . . and gradually to the Goswamis, then to Lord Caitanya, and then to Radha Krishna. That is the praying system. But offering the prasadam to present everything before the Spiritual Master whose picture is also in the altar, means that the Spiritual Master will take care of offering the foodstuff to the Lord. Therefore simply by chanting the prayer to the Spiritual Master, everything will be complete. (Letter to Harer Nama May 28, 1968)
The Living Entities (Prajā)
29 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Prajah, Vaisnava Vocabulary Tags: 84000000, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bg 14/.4, bhagavad-gita, birth and death, kunteya, living being, material desires, material nature, material world, praja, sarva-yonisu, species of life
Here is a word for your vaisnava vocabulary; Prajah.
Prajā means the living being who has taken his birth in the material world. Actually the living being has no birth and no death, but because of his separation from the service of the Lord and due to his desire to lord it over material nature, he is offered a suitable body to satisfy his material desires. In doing so, one becomes conditioned by the laws of material nature, and the material body is changed in terms of his own work. The living entity thus transmigrates from one body to another in 8,400,000 species of life.
As Krishna points out in the Bhagavad-gita:
It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. (Bg 14-4)
Full verse and purport More
Heaven or Hell
27 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Distribution, Krsna Consciousness, Krsna Consciousness the Matchless Gift, Srimad Bhagavatam, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Distribution, devotees, heaven or hell, jnanis, karmis, krsna consciousness, Lord Nrsimhadeva, material adjustment, materialistic activity, meditate, prahlada, Prahlada Maharaja, sankirtan, SB 7.9.44, secluded place, Transcendental meditation
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…The Kṛṣṇa conscious person can go even to hell and still be happy. The pure devotee is never unhappy in any condition of life.
For a devotee, being situated in the heavenly planets and being in the hellish planets are equal, for a devotee lives neither in heaven nor in hell but with Kṛṣṇa in the spiritual world. The secret of success for the devotee is not understood by the karmīs and jñānīs. Karmīs therefore try to be happy by material adjustment, and jñānīs want to be happy by becoming one with the Supreme. The devotee has no such interest. He is not interested in so-called meditation in the Himalayas or the forest. Rather, his interest is in the busiest part of the world, where he teaches people Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was started for this purpose. We do not teach one to meditate in a secluded place just so that one may show that he has become very much advanced and may be proud of his so-called transcendental meditation, although he engages in all sorts of foolish materialistic activity.
A Vaiṣṇava is not interested in such a bluff of spiritual advancement. Rather, he is interested in enlightening people in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because that is the only way for them to become happy. One wanders within the universe, life after life, but by the grace of a devotee, a servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one can get the clue to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then not only become happy in this world but also return home, back to Godhead. That is the real target in life… The members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must be fully convinced that without Kṛṣṇa one cannot be happy. Thus the Kṛṣṇa conscious person avoids all kinds of pseudo spiritualists, transcendentalists, meditators, monists, philosophers and philanthropists. (from Purport to SB 7.9.44)
Full Verse and Purport More
Ways of Meeting Krishna
26 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Nectar of Devotion Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotees, linking up with the Lord, Nectar of Devotion, perfection, perfectional stage of meeting krsna, Radha-Krsna, Radharani, Rupa Goswami, satisfaction, Srimati Radharani, steadiness, Yamuna, yoga
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…When Kṛṣṇa and His devotees meet, the meeting is technically called yoga, or linking up with the Lord. Such meetings between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees can be divided into three classes-namely, perfection, satisfaction, and steadiness. When the devotee meets with Kṛṣṇa in great eagerness, that state of meeting is called perfection.
An example of this perfectional stage of meeting Krishna can be found in the words of Srimati Radharani in this very nice verse;
Rādhārāṇī told Her companion, “My dear friend, I was just going to the bank of the Yamunā, and all of a sudden a very nice boy whose complexion is like a dark blue cloud became visible in front of My eyes. He glanced over Me in a way that I cannot describe. But since this has occurred, I am sorry that I can no longer engage My mind in the duties of My household affairs.”
The following is Chapter 39 from the Nectar of Devotion More
Lord Nrsimhadeva Slays the King of the Demons
24 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Nrsimha, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, demons, half lion, half man, half man and half lion, hiranyakasipu, king of the demons, Lord Nrsimhadeva, Lord Visnu, Nrsimha, Nrsimhadeva, prahlada, Prahlada Maharaja, SB 7.8, Sri Nrkesari, Srimad Bhagavatam, Supreme Personality of Godhead
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In honnor of the Appearance of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, we are posting the entire Eighth Chapter from the Seventh Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, entitled “Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons”. We are celebrating Lord Nrsimhadeva’s today, with a fast till dusk, because it is the variant date for our area. This is a wonderful chapter, and one I am fond of reading on this auspicious day.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto Seven, Chapter Eight
Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons
As described in this chapter, Hiraṇyakaśipu was ready to kill his own son Prahlāda Mahārāja, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in front of the demon as Śrī Nṛkeśarī, half lion and half man, and killed him.
Krsna Meditation LP
23 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Free Downloads, krsnaTunes, MP3 Downloads Tags: bhajanas, classic kirtans, free downloads, hansadutta das, Hare Krishna LPs, krsna tunes, MP3 downloads, streaming audios, The Hare Krishna Movement
Krsna Meditation Album
Excerpted from; krsnaTunes
Arguably one of the most important and most mesmerizing recordings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Produced by Hansadutta & the German Yatra, 1974. The album was recorded in June, 1974 at Schloss Rettershoff, during Srila Prabhupada’s visit there. It was his second and final visit to Germany. The devotees set up a recording room beneath the stairs, and Srila Prabhupada happily obliged their request to do a recording. Vocals and harmonium by Srila Prabhupada, Hansadutta on mrdanga, Cakravarti and Himavati play kartals. Read more about it: Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Meditation Double LP.
There aren’t many Krishna-related double LPs out there. And only one that is fully Srila Prabhupada.
One of the cool things about double LP’s is that they often have gatefold covers. Krsna Meditation is no exception. The inside of this gatefold sports a huge picture taken during the recording session.
click on image to enlarge
The paragraph that appears on the lower left corner of the gatefold reads:
The singing of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Gosvami Prabhupada is pure devotional music in praise of Krsna – Meditation, Srila Prabhupada explains, is not inactive, impersonal or void. Meditation is the awakening of the soul’s eternal relationship with the Supreme Person, Krsna. One who has experienced such an awakening cannot stop meditating on Krsna even for a moment, just as a young boy who has fallen in love with a young girl cannot stop thinking of her at any time. One can sing for Krsna, dance for Krsna, cook for Krsna, think for Krsna, work for Krsna or even fight for Krsna. In this way doing everything for Krsna, in the end one returns to Krsna.
By Hearing the spiritual sound vibrations of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Gosvami Prabhupada, the listener is immediately elevated to the platform of Krsna meditation which brings supreme peace and bliss within the heart.
The Lotus Feet of Lord Caitanya
21 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaurangera Duti Pada, Narottama das Thakur, Narottama Dasa Thakura, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotee, eternal pastimes of Radha-Krsna, gaurangera duti pada, Lord Caitanya, Narottama Dasa, Narottama Dasa Thakura, O Gauranga, sabarana sri gaura mahima, Vaisnava songs
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This is a very nice song by Naottama dasa Thakura who says; Anyone who has accepted the two lotus feet of Lord Caitanya can understand the true essence of devotional service. Therefore, Narottama dasa Thakura prays that one take shelter of Lord Caitanya and follow in His footsteps.
We have included the Bengali/Elglish transliteration, translation, and 2 different purports by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
Gaurangera Duti Pada
by Narottama dasa Thakura
Anyone who has accepted the two lotus feet of Lord Caitanya can understand the true essence of devotional service. If one is captivated by the pleasing pastimes of Lord Caitanya, the dirty things in his heart will all become cleansed.
One who simply takes the holy name of Gaurasundara, Sri Krsna Caitanya, will immediately develop love of God. To such a person I say: Bravo! Very nice! Excellent! If one appreciates the merciful pastimes of Lord Caitanya and feels ecstasy and sometimes cries, this process will immediately help him to understand the eternal pastimes of Radha-Krsna.
Simply by understanding that the associates of Lord Gauranga are eternally free from material contamination, one can immediately be promoted to the transcendental abode of Lord Krsna. If one simply understands that the land of Navadvipa is not different from Vrndavana, then he actually lives in Vrndavana.
If one says: “Let me dive deep into the waves of the nectarean ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya”, he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna. It does not matter whether one is a householder living at home or a vanaprastha or sannyasi living in the forest, if he chants “O Gauranga, and becomes a devotee of Lord Caitanya, then Narottama dasa begs to have his association.
Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana
20 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uddhava Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, cowherd boys, cowherd men, devotional service, expert devotees, gopis, Krsna and Balarama, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, message of solace, residents of Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radharani, Uddhava, Uddhava Visits Vrndavana, Vrndavana, Yasoda, ye yatha mam prapadyante
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This is perhaps one of my favorite chapters in the Kṛṣṇa Book, and I find myself reading it again and again. There are many lessons one can take away from this chapter. With great pleasure we are posting the entire chapter in the hopes that one of our readers will become enlivened in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness as a result of reading it.
…As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante: Kṛṣṇa is very responsive. He responds in proportion to the devotee’s advancement in devotional service. The gopīs were thinking of Kṛṣṇa in separation twenty-four hours a day. Kṛṣṇa was also always thinking of the gopīs, mother Yaśodā, Nanda Mahārāja and the residents of Vṛndāvana, although He appeared to be away from them. He could understand how they were transcendentally aggrieved, and so He immediately wanted to send Uddhava to give them a message of solace.
Uddhava is described as the most exalted personality in the Vṛṣṇi dynasty, almost equal to Kṛṣṇa. He was a great friend, and on account of being the direct student of Bṛhaspati, the teacher and priest of the heavenly planets, he was very intelligent and sharp in decision. From the intellectual standpoint, he was highly qualified. Kṛṣṇa, being a very loving friend of Uddhava, wanted to send him to Vṛndāvana just to study the highly elevated ecstatic devotional service practiced there. Even if one is highly elevated in material education and is even the disciple of Bṛhaspati, he still has to learn from the gopīs and the residents of Vṛndāvana how to love Kṛṣṇa to the highest degree. Sending Uddhava to Vṛndāvana with a message to the residents of Vṛndāvana to pacify them was Kṛṣṇa’s special favor to Uddhava.
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name is Hari, which means one who takes away all the distress from the surrendered souls. Lord Caitanya states that there cannot be, at any time, a worship as exalted as that realized by the gopīs. Being very anxious about the gopīs’ grief, Kṛṣṇa talked with Uddhava and politely requested him to go to Vṛndāvana. Shaking Uddhava’s hand with His own hands, He said, ”My dear gentle friend Uddhava, please go immediately to Vṛndāvana and try to pacify My father and mother, Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā-devī, and the gopīs. They are very much griefstricken, as if suffering from great ailments. Go and give them a message. I hope their ailments will be partially relieved. The gopīs are always absorbed in thoughts of Me. They have dedicated body, desire, life and soul to Me. I am anxious not only for the gopīs, but for anyone who sacrifices society, friendship, love and personal comforts for Me. It is My duty to protect such exalted devotees. The gopīs are the most dear. They are always thinking of Me in such a way that they remain overwhelmed and almost dead in anxiety due to separation from Me. They are keeping alive simply by thinking that I am returning to them very soon.“
Full Chapter More
The Center of Attention: Radha-Madhava
18 May 2013 2 Comments
in Back to Godhead, Jananivasa das, Mahamaya devi dasi, Radha Madhava Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, Jananivasa dasa, Krsna, Madhava, Mahamaya devi dasi, Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, Radha, Radha-Krsna, Radha-Madhava, Radhapada, Radharani, Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Srila Prabhupada, the husband of the goddess of fortune
The Center of Attention: Radha-Madhava
by Jananivasa Dasa
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magizine, 1999, Vol. 33, No. 6
At the heart of any Krsna conscious community are the Deities. On the main altar of the Mayapur Chandro-daya Mandir (ISKCON’s temple in Mayapur) stand Sri Sri Radha-Madhava (Radha-Krsna) along with Radha’s eight intimate gopi (cowherd girl) friends. Overseeing the worship is Jananivasa Dasa, who has been serving the Deities in Mayapur for forty-one years. The following history of Radha-Madhava was adapted from an interview with Jananivasa conducted by Mahamaya Devi Dasi.
…Once I was standing in the Deity room near Srila Prabhupada while he was viewing the Deities, and he said, “They’re dancing.”
Another time he said, “You see how Radharani is standing like this—” (imitating Her outstretched hand) “holding something out to Krsna? Sometimes Radharani is holding her hand up like this [in blessing pose]. When She’s like that, Krsna can leave Her. But when She’s offering something to Him, He can never leave.”
Once a devotee asked, “Srila Prabhupada, we’re sitting in these rice fields, and you’ve asked us to build a city. Where is all the money going to come from?”
Srila Prabhupada laughed. “You are always worried about where the money will come from. Here we have Radha-Madhava. ‘Madhava’ means the husband of the goddess of fortune. You just worship Radha-Madhava nicely, and everything will come by Their mercy. You don’t have to worry about money.”
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Interview with Ramesvara Prabhu on Book Changes
16 May 2013 3 Comments
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Book Changes, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, ISKCON History, Ramesvara das Tags: 1979 interview with Ramesvara, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Baladeva Vidyabhusana, BBT, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Bhaktivedanta Books, book changes, interview with Ramesvara, Iskcon, ISKCON history, MacMillan, Ramesvara, Ramesvara dasa, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada books, Tamal Krsna Maharaja, The Hare Krishna Movement
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Testimonial by Ramesvara dasa
Ramesvara-interview-1979
A very, very important document has just become public. It is a 300+ page transcript of a 1979 interview betweem Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu and Ramesvara Prabhu, the manager of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, the person who was directly in charge of printing Srila Prabhupada’s books durning that time. Ramesvara had many direct instructions from Srila Prabhupada in regard to printing his books, and he also gives an eye-witness account of many events that took place while Srila Prabhupada was physically present. Very interesting read!!!
You can download the PDF file of the interview by clicking on: Ramesvara-interview-1979
Or you can read the entire interview here… More
To Edit or Not To Edit – That Is The Question
14 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Book Changes, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Govinda dasi, Hayagriva das, Srila Prabhupada's Books Tags: 1972 Edition, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, BBT, bhagavad-gita, book changes, gita manuscript, Govinda dasi, Hayagriva, Jayadvaita Swami, MacMillan, That is the Question, to Edit or Not To Edit
This is another very nice article by Govinda dasi on Book Changes, posted recently on the Sun. We are reprinting it here, as it is a very important issue, and needs to be shared with every devotee.
…Yes, he read his books daily, and he spoke from that original Bhagavad-gita for over 10 years! He gave lectures on nearly every verse in that original Gita, and he requested only a couple of corrections, such as “the planet of the trees,” (to be changed to “the pitris”), and a couple of other small corrections. Had only those few changes been made, perhaps this controversy would never have occurred.
However, the problem is this: BBT did not simply edit Srila Prabhupada’s books and make simple Sanskrit corrections; rather, they edited Srila Prabhupada’s books and made sweeping changes, over 5,000 of them in the Gita alone, and thus changed the “writer’s voice” that had been so artistically created by Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva working together.
Full article More
Creating the Post of Officiating Acarya
14 May 2013 4 Comments
in Diksha, Disciplic succession, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, ISKCON, Iskcon Bangalore, Madhu Pandit das, Siksa Tags: 1st and 2nd initiation, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bangalore Group, diksa, diksa disciples, disciple, guru, guru disciple, initiates, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON Mumbi, officiating Acarya, ritvik, Satsvarupa, siksa, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Synopsis of the System of Initiation, Tamala Krsna
Creating the Post of Officiating Acarya
In the ensuing struggle between the Devotees of ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbi, it is this authors hope that both sides will try to work towards a brotherly reconciliation. Wherein both sides can find the common ground, which is faith in, and obedience to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada’s intentions with regard to how initiations should be conducted in his physical absence was clearly stated in the May 28th, 1977 discussion with the GBC:
Satsvarūpa: …Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you’re no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation would be conducted.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up, I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating ācāryas.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is that called ṛtvik-ācārya?
Prabhupāda: Ṛtvik, yes.
Satsvarūpa: Then what is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation and the…
Prabhupāda: He’s guru. He’s guru.
Satsvarūpa: But he does it on your behalf.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is formality. Because in my presence one should not become guru, so on my behalf, on my order… Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Be actually guru, but by my order.
Satsvarūpa: So they may also be considered your disciples.
Prabhupāda: Yes, they are disciples. Why consider? Who?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, he’s asking that these ṛtvik-ācāryas, they’re officiating, giving dīkṣā. Their… The people who they give dīkṣā to, whose disciple are they?
Prabhupāda: They’re his disciple.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They’re his disciple.
Prabhupāda: Who is initiating. He is grand-disciple.
Satsvarūpa: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That’s clear.
So it is plain to see that those giving diksa would be acting as officiating acaryas, and those receiving diksa from them would be their disciples. It is the duty of the GBC to create the post of Officiating Acarya so that we may all be properly connected to the disciplic succession.
“Who is Initiating” refers to the Officiating Acarya who is giving diksa, and those who receive diksa are his initiated disciples and Srila Prabhupada’s grand-disciples.
That’s clear. (However that instruction was never followed).
The GBC must create the post of “Officiating Acarya”, and all the ISKCON gurus would be considered as such, as it should have been since the time of the famous July 9th Letter. This I think, would be the beginning of the much needed reconcililation, and cure many of the ills of our society.
The following is the Synopsis of the System of Initiation as applicable to the ISKCON Bangalore group of temples and could be incorporated into mainstream ISKCON very easily.
The Post of Officiating Acarya More
The Singing Sadhu
12 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acyutanananda das, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas Tags: 26 second Avenue, Acyutananda, Acyutananda Swami, Brahmananda Swami, Bruce, Chuck Barnett, disciples, India, initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada, sannyasa, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Sriman Acyutananda, Tompkins Square Park, Vaisnava songs
It was my good fortune to finally meet one of my singing mentors, and God-brother, the legendary Acyutananda das, at the Festival of Inspiration held annually at the New Vrindavan farm community in West Virginia. He was a very likable character and willingly signed my 1974 copy of the Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas. He opened the Festival of Inspiration with a Question and Answer session, answering all kinds of questions on the “Early Days”, “India”, “Life with Srila Prabhupada”, “Spiritual Life” etc., etc. with his own blend of sarcastic humor, wit, and intellectual powers. It was quite enjoyable and enlightening. He is a very ‘real’, unpretentious fellow, and as I said very likable.
In honor of our visit with him we are posting the Foreword from the Songs of the Vaisnava Acarays, wherein Srila Prabhupada is giving his thanks and blessings:
…I confer all my blessings upon Acyutananda Swami for his genuine attempt to advance in Krishna consciousness. I hope he will attempt to advance more and more and never be hampered my maya. We should always remember the danger of maya’s influence and endeavor to save ourselves from her great power. We must therefore always merge in the transcendental mellow of kirtana-rasa, for kirtana-rasa is the safest situation within this material world. Hare Krishna.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Foweard More
Natural Prosperity
10 May 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Teachings of Queen Kunti, Vegetarianism Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, fruits, godless civilization, herbs and grains, human prosperity, industrial enterprise, natural gifts of nature, nature, organic food, SB 1.8.40, Theachings of Wueen Kunti, vegetables, vegetarian, vegetarianism
The following is a very nice verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam describing the Gifts of Nature, and how everything is coming from God. We have also included the chapter from the Teachings of Queen Kunti, Where Srila Prabhupada further explaines this wonderful text.
…Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises.
Srimad Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto One, Chapter 8, Text 40
ime jana-padāḥ svṛddhāḥ
supakvauṣadhi-vīrudhaḥ
vanādri-nady-udanvanto
hy edhante tava vīkṣitaiḥ
ime—all these; jana-padāḥ—cities and towns; svṛddhāḥ—flourished; supakva—nature; auṣadhi—herbs; vīrudhaḥ—vegetables; vana—forests; adri—hills; nadī—rivers; udanvantaḥ—seas; hi—certainly; edhante—increasing; tava—by You; vīkṣitaiḥ—seen.
All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in abundance, the trees are full of fruits, the rivers are flowing, the hills are full of minerals and the oceans full of wealth. And this is all due to Your glancing over them.
Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises. The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life. The more we go on increasing such troublesome industries to squeeze out the vital energy of the human being, the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the people in general, although a few only can live lavishly by exploitation. The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables, fruits, rivers, the hills of jewels and minerals, and the seas full of pearls are supplied by the order of the Supreme, and as He desires, material nature produces them in abundance or restricts them at times. The natural law is that the human being may take advantage of these godly gifts by nature and satisfactorily flourish on them without being captivated by the exploitative motive of lording it over material nature. The more we attempt to exploit material nature according to our whims of enjoyment, the more we shall become entrapped by the reaction of such exploitative attempts. If we have sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs, then what is the necessity of running a slaughterhouse and killing poor animals? A man need not kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilizes the fields, and there is more than what we need. Minerals are produced in the hills, and the jewels in the ocean. If the human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some unfortunate men? But all these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service. The indications by Kuntīdevī are just to the point. She desires that God’s mercy be bestowed upon them so that natural prosperity be maintained by His grace.
Also From the Teachings of Queen Kunti, Chapter 23 More
Arunodaya Kirtana
09 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Arunodaya Kirtan, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Chanting Hare Krishna Tags: Gauranga's golden features, Hari, karatalas, Lord Caitanya, Lord Gaurasundara, mrdangas, Mukunda Madhava, puraba bhage, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, tathai tathai, udilo aruna, Yadava
When the rising sun appeared in the East, the jewel of the twice-born, Lord Gaurasundara, awakened, and, taking His devotees with Him, He went all over the countryside towns and villages. The mṛdangas (khol) resounded “tāthaī, tāthaī,” and the jhājas [large metal karatālas that look like small cymbals] in that kīrtana played in time. Lord Gaurāńga’s golden form slightly trembled in ecstatic love of Godhead, and His footbells jingled. All the devotees chanted the names Mukunda, Mādhava, Yadava and Hari, their mouths being filled with the vibrations. They would announce to the still sleeping people, “You spend your nights uselessly sleeping and your days decorating your bodies! You have achieved such a rare human body, but you do not care for this gift. You remain not serving the darling of Yaśodā and slowly fall through your last moments to death. With every rising and setting of the sun, a day passes and is lost. Then, why do you remain idle and not serve the Lord of the heart? This temporary life is full of various miseries. Take shelter of the holy name as your only business. To penetrate the darkness of ignorance and bless everyone’s heart, the holy name has risen like the shining sun. Drink the pure nectar of the holy name. There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds. It has filled the soul of Srī Bhaktivinoda Thākura.
Full Song with Bengali translation and word for word transliteration. More
The Hare Krishna Movement 