29 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Nectar of Devotion
Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, free downloads, free eBooks, Hare Krishna, ISKCON Press, Krishna Path, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nectar of Devotion, Rupa Goswami, Srila Rupa Gosvami. Krsna consciouness movement, Sriman Jayananda brahmacari
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This morning I wanted to share with you all one of my most favorite books The Nectar of Devotion. I began re-reading it this morning, and feel very inspired to practice my bhakti yoga with new enthusiasm. You can click on following links to read or save to your computer the scanned version or the pdf version.
From Preface
…The Nectar of Devotion is a summary study of Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, which was written in Sanskrit by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda. He was the chief of the six Gosvāmīs, who were the direct disciples of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. …The Nectar of Devotion is specifically presented for persons who are now engaged in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. I beg to offer my sincere thanks to all my friends and disciples who are helping me to push forward the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in the Western countries, and I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the contribution made by my beloved disciple Śrīman Jayānanda brahmacārī. My thanks are due as well to the directors of ISKCON Press, who have taken so much care in publishing this great literature. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ISKCON Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Scanned The_Nectar_of_Devotion-1970_ISKCON_Press_edition-Hardcover-SCAN (1)
PDF Nectar-of-Devotion-1970-Edition
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27 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Sahajiya, Vaisnava Vocabulary
Tags: 72-07-14, Bhavananda, by the grace of Krsna, cheater, Dr Patel, impersonalism, Lord Caitanya, sahajiyas, sahijiya, Srila Prabhupada
Sahajiyā is a word I have been researching lately, trying to come up with a clear understanding of its meaning, and to better understand why Srila Prabhupada has warned us to ‘avoid the association of Sahajiyā’s and Māyāvādīs, and not to become Sahajiyā’. So the following post is the beginning of our research.
Dr. Patel: What is sahajiyā?
Prabhupāda: Sahajiyā… Sahaj means easy. Easy-going. They will smoke cigarette at the same time they will play rasa-līlā. This is sahajiyā. This is sahajiyā. They will do all nonsense; still, they will become God, imitation of God. (Morning Walk Excerpts; May 1, 1974, Bombay)
…One thing, on the invitation card you have written All Glories to Our Guru Maharaja. This is impersonalism. As soon as we offer obeisances to guru, the name should be there. We are strictly personalists. The sahajiya’s, they write Glories to Guru. Why you are learning this impersonalism, who has taught you? Daily I am offering obeisances to my Guru by vibrating his real name, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, otherwise it is impersonal. (Letter to: Bhavananda London 14 July, 1972)
Prabhupāda: These sahajiyās will come out of so many devotees. What can be done? From my Guru Mahārāja’s disciples, so many sahajiyās came. These are called sahajiyās. Very easily they capture thing. So my Guru Mahārāja used to say, “When my disciples will be sahajiyā, it will be more dangerous.”
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24 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya, Lectures
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, as it is, astanga yogi, avajananti, bhagavad-gita, bhakti yoga, bhakti yogi, devotion, Govinda, hatha yogi, in yoga, jnana yogi, karma yogi, Krsna, krsnaconsciousness, Lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Rama, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, transcendental loving service, Vasudeva, yoga, yoginam api sarvesam, yogis
Devotion – The Highest Yoga
A lecture given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
1968
The word yoga has become synonymous in Western vernacular with a lithe figure, radiant health, peace of mind, and other material benefits. But the original meaning of the Sanskrit term carries a different, higher import: linking with the Supreme. In this lecture from 1968, Srila Prabhupada distinguishes the true goal of yoga—loving devotion to the Supreme Lord—from the physical and psychological elements of yoga practice.
Full Lecture More
24 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Back to Godhead, Narahari das, Simple Living, Spiritual Life
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, bonafide religion, BTG, chant Hare Krsna, every town and village, God, Iskcon, Krsna, Narahari, narahari das, read Srila Prabhupada's books daily, Sailing Back to Godhead, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement, the hare krsna's, transcendental knowledge
Yesterday I was cleaning out the abandoned barn at Bahulavan, which is now being put back together again, and I found an old issue of Back to Godhead Magazine mixed in with so much debris. I pulled it out, cleaned it off, and added it to my collection of Back to Godhead Magazines. I had always heard of this famous sailing ship, and finally got a chance to see it.
Sailing Back to Godhead
Article excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine Vol. 16, No. 6, 1981
A teakwood ketch and a devotee’s determination help bring Lord Krsna’s message to the Hawaiian Islands.
“…Krsna consciousness is the only established religion I know of that openly respects all other bonafide religions. My wife and I chant Hare Krsna and read Srila Prabhupada’s books daily. It’s added a dimension to my life that I feel is essential.”
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23 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Places of Pilgrimage, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, duty of a pilgrim, Krsna, pilgrim, pilgrim's journey, pilgrim's progress, post office, postal system, postboxes, SB 3.1.18, traveling as a pilgrim
This morning I was reading from the 3rd Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam about Vidura and the beginning of his journey to the great places of pilgrimage. The following is excerpted from some of my reading.
He began to travel alone, thinking only of Kṛṣṇa, through various holy places like Ayodhyā, Dvārakā and Mathurā. He traveled where the air, hill, orchard, river and lake are all pure and sinless and where the forms of the Unlimited decorate the temples. Thus he performed the pilgrim’s progress. (SB 3.1.18)
…Places of pilgrimages are meant for eradicating the sins of the pilgrims, and they are distributed all over the universe just to give facility to all concerned for attaining pure existence and God realization. One should not be satisfied, however, merely by visiting the places of pilgrimage and performing one’s prescribed duties; he should be eager to meet the great souls who are already there, engaged in the service of the Lord. In each and every place of pilgrimage, the Lord is present in His various transcendental forms.
…The first and foremost duty of a pilgrim is to satisfy the Supreme Lord Hari. While traveling as a pilgrim, one should not be worried about pleasing society. There is no need to depend on social formalities or occupation or dress. One should remain always absorbed in the function of pleasing the Lord. Thus sanctified by thought and action, one is able to realize the Supreme Lord by the process of a pilgrim’s journey.
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20 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Draupadi
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bg 1.2, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, blindness, Dhrtarastra, Draupadi, Duhsasana, King Yudhisthira, Krsna, Pandavas, progressive path of human life, SB 3.1.6, SB 3.1.7, spiritual blindness, Spiritual Life, spiritual vision
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The Insulting of Draupadi
I have always found this story of the disrobing of Draupadī, the wife of the godly King Yudhiṣṭhira, to be and example of how Krsna always protects his pure devotees. This incident contributes greatly to the Great Battle of Kurukṣetra, which almost completely annihilated the Kuru’s. And is a very good example of Spiritual Blindness. The following is a few select verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind from birth, but his blindness in committing impious activities to support his dishonest sons was a greater blindness than his physical lack of eyesight. The physical lack of sight does not bar one from spiritual progress. But when one is blind spiritually, even though physically fit, that blindness is dangerously detrimental to the progressive path of human life. (SB 3.1.7 purport)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind from birth. Unfortunately, he was also bereft of spiritual vision. He knew very well that his sons were equally blind in the matter of religion, and he was sure that they could never reach an understanding with the Pāṇḍavas, who were all pious since birth. (Bg 1.2 purport)
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18 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Nama Sankirtan, Narottama das Thakur, Six Goswamis, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, giridhari, gopala govinda rama, Gopinatha, Hari, hari haraye namah, kesavaya, krsna yadavaya namah, Madana-mohana, madhavaya, namah, six goswami's, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, sri madhusudana, Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur, yadavay
Nāma-saṅkīrtana
by Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura
I have always liked the following song by Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur. And this song describes very simply, the beginning of the Sankirtan Movement, or The Hare Krishna Movement. The first four lines of the song, are the ones most often sung, with the first verse repeated as refrain.
Full Song and Purport follow.
…“You say that everything means Kṛṣṇa and we should ultimately always be chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa. Just how should we do this?” Then Lord Caitanya began to sing the names of Kṛṣṇa and clap His hands, and He began His nāma-saṅkīrtana movement. The names He sang are the first two lines of this song, and Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura and others have placed these names in the beginning of their writings to immortalize these events in the memory of everyone.
…Then Śrīla Narottama Dāsa chants the names of the six Gosvāmīs. “I offer my obeisances at their feet,” he sings, “which destroy sufferings accumulated over many long years. I am the servant of these six Gosvāmīs, and the dust of their lotus feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs. To serve their lotus feet and keep the association of devotees is my only business, birth after birth.” (from purport to song by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Song & Purport More
16 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srimati Radharani
Tags: Adi1.5, buddhi yogam, devotee, esoteric, God, isvarah sarva-bhutanam, Krsna, magnum opus, philosophy, Radharani, scientist, servant of God, spiritual master, spiritual philosophy, spiritual science, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, tesam satata-yuktanam
click on image to enlarge
Lately, I have been absorbed in reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. For me it is a hard book to pick up, but after I begin reading…it is a hard book to put down. Sometimes it seems so esoteric (1 intelligible only to those with special knowledge. 2 intended only for the initiated), but I cannot help but to be thrown into complete and utter awe of the masterful writing, it seems to be Srila Prabhupada’s magnum opus (1 great work of art, literture. 2 the most important work of an artist, writer, etc.). Yes, I have the Oxford Dictionary open on my desk.
The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 1.5)
The following is a Lecture given on this important verse, and the complete text.
…You cannot understand God, or Kṛṣṇa, without being a faithful servant. This is the secret. And if we become faithful servant under the guidance of proper spiritual master, then we can understand what is Kṛṣṇa, what is Parabrahman, and what is loving affairs with Rādhārāṇī, what is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. These things are revealed. It is not acquired by so-called mundane knowledge. That is not possible… So we should always remain faithful servant of Kṛṣṇa. And Kṛṣṇa is within everyone’s heart, and He will be pleased by your service, and then He will reveal Himself, what He is. Otherwise it is not possible. (from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Lecture Ādi-līlā 1.5)
Adi-lila 1.5 Lecture and Verse More
15 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Founder-Acarya, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Jaladuta, Poetry of Srila Prabhupada, Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Arrival in the USA
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead Magazine, First Arrival in the USA, Founder and Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Jaladuta, poem by prabhupada, Poetry of Srila Prabhupada, science of bhakti-yoga, Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA, transcendental loving service to God
Today we celebrate the Arrival of Srila Prabhupada in the U.S.A. 1965 with this poem written aboard the ship the Jaladuta and with a free pdf download the Jaladuta Diary. Just click on link at bottom of post to read or save the pdf file.
Poem by Srila Prabhupada on His First Arrival in the USA
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1970, Vol. 1, No 34
The spiritual master and founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is now engaging thousands of men and women in America and throughout the world in the science of bhakti-yoga, transcendental loving service to God. Prabhupada had no personal motive in first beginning ISKCON; he so vigorously preaches the philosophy of God consciousness simply because he has been ordered to do so by his own spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada first arrived in the United States in 1965 with seven dollars, a letter of introduction to an Indian family in Pennsylvania, and a suitcase with some volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the following poem, written in Bengali on the day of his arrival in the USA, Srila Prabhupada addresses the Supreme Lord Krsna, asking Him His purpose in sending His servant to America. The translation from Bengali was done by Srila Prabhupada himself.
Poem More
14 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Krishna Path, Prasadam, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarian Recipies, Vegetarianism
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhakti yoga, cow protection, ebook, free download, Simple Living, The Higher Taste, vegan, vegetarian cookbook, vegetarian cooking, vegetarian health and nutrition, vegetarian recipeis, vegetarianism
This is a nice little cookbook, with information on vegetarian cooking, health, nutrition, cow protection, bhakti yoga, etc. We offer it as a free download which you can view, print or save to your computer by following the link below:
click on link to veiw or download book; The Higher Taste
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13 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Ananda devi dasi, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Sankirtan, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada vani, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Ananda devi dasi, disciples, guru, sankirtan movement, SB 3.25.21, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami, The Words of the Spiritual Master, vani, vapu
click on image to enlarge
“The Words of the Spiritual Master”
by Ananda devi dasi
“Believing in the words of His Spiritual Master, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Sankirtana movement, just as the present Krishna Consciousness movement was started with belief in the words of our Spiritual Master. He wanted to preach, we believed in his words and tried somehow or other to fulfill them, and now this movement has become successful all over the world. Therefore faith in the words of the Spiritual Master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the secret of success. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu never disobeyed the orders of His Spiritual Master and stopped propagating the Sankirtana movement.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami, at the time of his passing away, ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish disciples disobeyed his orders. Each one wanted to become head of the mission, and they fought in the courts, neglecting the orders of their Spiritual Master, and the entire mission was defeated. We are not proud of this, however the truth must be explained. We believed in the words of our Spiritual Master and started in a humble way-in a helpless way – but due to the spiritual force of the Supreme Authority, this movement has become successful.” (From the Chaitanya Charitamrita written and presented by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada Cc Adi 7.95-96)
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12 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lectures, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Adi-lila 1.4, causeless mercy, incarnation, Kali, krsna-prema, radiance of molten gold, Rupa Gosvami, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, son of Srimati Sacidevi, spiritual knowledge, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Rupa Gosvami, srimati sacidevi, Swami Prabhupada, transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart, uaya jagadisa hare
“May that Lord, who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service.”
…He is giving His blessing that “This form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, may always remain within your…, in the core of your heart.” If we simply keep Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu within our heart, then it will be very easy to understand what is Kṛṣṇa, because if you understand Kṛṣṇa, then your life is successful. Janma karma ca divyaṁ me yo jānāti tattvataḥ. That is only. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means just try to understand Kṛṣṇa; then your life is successful. Kṛṣṇa says, “Anyone who understands Me, why I come here, what is My activities,” tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma [Bg. 4.9], “he becomes liberated. After giving up this body, he does not accept any material body. In his own spiritual body he goes back to home, back to Godhead.” This is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. (from lecture on Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 1.4)
Full Lecture More
10 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Mahamaya, Maya, Yogamaya
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Adi4.29, Adi4.30, Bg. 9.13, Lord Krsna's internal potency, mahamaya, maya, mayas, meaning of yogamaya, Vaikuntha, yoga, yogamaya
click on image to enlarge
This morning I was reading again from the 4th chapter of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila, wherin Srila Prabhupada was describing the yogamaya potency…
…Yogamāyā is the name of the internal potency that makes the Lord forget Himself and become an object of love for His pure devotee in different transcendental mellows. This yogamāyā potency creates a spiritual sentiment in the minds of the damsels of Vraja by which they think of Lord Kṛṣṇa as their paramour.
I thought it would be interesting do do a post on the difference between yogamaya and mahamaya, and define the word yogamaya.
Yogamaya means the mercy of the Supreme Lord which connects a devotee in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and mahamaya means the external potency of the Lord which puts a conditioned soul into illusion that he will be happy by material adjustment. (Letter to Aniruddha Los Angeles 14 November, 1968)
Yogamāyā means… Here, this is also Kṛṣṇa’s exhibition of māyā, but it is temporary. In the another, spiritual world, that is also exhibition of Kṛṣṇa’s māyā, but it is permanent. Here is a perverted reflection, we say. (Lecture on SB 2.9.2 Melbourne, April 4, 1972)
Yogamāyā means that which connects you. Yogamāyā, the original yogamāyā, is Kṛṣṇa’s internal potency. That is Rādhārāṇī. (from Lecture Seattle, October 18, 1968)
Yogamāyā means forgetfulness. (Lecture on SB 3.25.13 — Bombay, November 13, 1974)
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09 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Soul, Spiritual Life
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Back to Godhead Magazine, Bhagavata-dharma, BTG, God, Krsna, part and parcel of God, relationship with God, sons of God, soul, Supreme Lord Krishna, wandering soul
Which Way Home for the Wandering Soul?
A lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine Vol. 18, No. 10, 1983
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for kindly participating in this Krsna consciousness movement, which is spreading bhagavata-dharma. Bhagavata-dharma means “the activities performed in relationship with the Supreme Lord.” The Lord is Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the devotee is bhagavata, one who acts in relationship with Bhagavan.
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07 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Kirtanananda Swami, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, New Vrindavan, Radha Krishna, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani
click on image to enlarge
The above image was taken at New Vrindavan at 12:00 noon, at the moment of Srimati Radharani’s Appearance. The altar looks particularly nice today, and Srimati Radharani is overwhelmingly beautiful on this her appearance day. Jaya Radhe!
…Agriculture and protecting the cow, this is the main business of the residents of Vrindaban, and above all simply loving Krishna. The cows, the trees, the cowherd men and Gopis, their chief engagement was loving Krishna, and in New Vrindaban we want to create this atmosphere and thereby show the whole world how practical and sublime our movement is. (Letter to Kirtanananda July 27, 1973)
Full letter and more images More
06 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee Books, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Jiva Goswami, Kusakratha das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance of Jiva Gosvami, Bengali Vaisnava, Books by Srila Jiva Gosvami, classical Sanskrit, Dina Sharana das, Gaudiya Vaisnava, initiated disciple of His Divine Grace, jiva gosvami, Krishna Institute, Kusakratha das, Kusakratha Prabhu (ACBSP), literary treasures, prabhupada.de, Radha-Carana das, Sri Krishna Sandarbha
Today marks the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva and of Srila Jiva Goswami. In honor of the appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami, we share with you one of the great literary works written by Jiva Gosvami, and translated into English by Kusakratha Prabhu, as a free download. The work is entitled “Sri Krishna-sandarbha”.
Sri Krishna-sandarbha
Written by Srila Jiva Gosvami
Translated by Kusakratha Prabhu
click on link to read online or save; Sri Krishna-SandarbhaSri Krishna Sandarbha Kusakratha
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05 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna is the Source of All Incarnations, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vamanadeva
Tags: dwarf brahmaṇa, fifteenth incarnation, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Maharaja Bali, SB 1.3.19, the kingdom of the universe, three steps of land, Vamana, vamanakam
Today is Parsva Ekadasi (fast from grains and beans) and also a fast till noon for appearance of Lord Vamanadeva. His appearance is tomorrow but the fast is today so that the Edadasi Break fast can take place between 6:54 – 8:37 tomorrow. With His appearance day in mind, as we are fasting today, we offer in Honor of Lord Vamanadeva, a select verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam, and a chapter summary. Hare Krishna!
Srimad-Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto One, Chapter 19, Text 19
pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ
kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ
pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ
pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the dwarf brāhmaṇa; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart to return; tri-piṣṭapam—the kingdom of the three planetary systems.
TRANSLATION
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
PURPORT
The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly, He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.
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05 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee Books, Dinatarine devi, Yamuna devi
Tags: A life of Unalloyed Devotion, Autobiography of Yamuna devi, Dinatarine Devi, Srila Prabhupada's disciple, unalloyed devotion, Yamuna devi
This link to pre-ordering the book “Yamuna Devi A Life of Unalloyed Devotion” by Dinatarine devi, appeared in my email box this morning. I thought I would share it with all of you as well. I went ahead and pre-ordered the two-set edition at the 20% discount, using my pay pal account. You can follow the link below to do the same and visit the books website.
Yamuna Devi A Life of Unalloyed Devotion
by Dinatarine Devi
Autobiography Now Available!
Now available for pre-ordering, at 20% discount, the long awaited autobiography of Yamuna devi dasi, one of Srila Prabhupada’s earliest disciples. Learn more about the book, “Yamuna Devi: A Life of Unalloyed Devotion” and how you can reserve your copy now. This and sample pages and chapter layout may be found by going to the book’s website: Pre-order Now
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04 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Om, Srimati Radharani
Tags: a-kara, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, aum, bhagavad-gita, devotee, entourage, His name fame, Krsna, ma-kara, Om, omkara, omkara is the resting place of everything, pastimes, potencies, sarva visva dhama, Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Srimati Radharani, u-kara
The other day as I was doing some research on Srimati Radharani, for her appearance day post, I ran across the following;
…Oṁkāra is a combination of the letters a, u and m. A-kāreṇocyate kṛṣṇaḥ the letter a (a-kāra) refers to Kṛṣṇa, who is sarva-lokaika-nāyakaḥ, the master of all living entities and planets, material and spiritual. Nāyaka means “leader.” He is the supreme leader (nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13)). The letter u (u-kāra) indicates Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa, and m (ma-kāra) indicates the living entities (jīvas). Thus oṁ is the complete combination of Kṛṣṇa, His potency and His eternal servitors. In other words, oṁkāra represents Kṛṣṇa, His name, fame, pastimes, entourage, expansions, devotees, potencies and everything else pertaining to Him. As Caitanya Mahāprabhu states in the present verse of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, sarva-viśva-dhāma: oṁkāra is the resting place of everything, just as Kṛṣṇa is the resting place of everything (brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham) (CC Adi 7.128, Purport)
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02 Sep 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, B. G. Sharma Art, Radha Krishna, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance day of srimati radharani, beauty of krsna, beauty of radharani, Lord Caitanya, Radha, Radha-Krsna, Radharani, Ramananda Raya, SB 2.3.23, Spiritual world, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimati Radharani
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So today being the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, my mind has been absorbed in thoughts of Radha and Krsna. It is described that she is the beloved consort of Krsna, Krsna’s pleasure potency, and the spiritual energy of Krsna.
…Lord Caitanya requested Rāmānanda Rāya to explain something more: “What are the transcendental features of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī, and what are the transcendental features of the reciprocation of Their feelings, and what is the love between Them? If you kindly describe all this to Me, I will be very much obliged. But for you, no one can describe such things.” (Teachings of Lord Caitanya Chapter 30)
…In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said that when Kṛṣṇa comes before Rādhārāṇī, She becomes so much engladdened by seeing the beauty of Kṛṣṇa that She becomes more beautiful, and as soon as Rādhārāṇī becomes beautiful, Kṛṣṇa becomes engladdened and He becomes more beautiful. So unlimitedly there is competition of becoming more beautiful. That is the state. Competition. Because in the spiritual world everything is unlimited. So unlimitedly both of them becoming beautiful and both of them enjoying unlimitedly. ((Lecture on SB 1.2.8 New Vrindaban, September 6, 1972)
…Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Rādhārāṇī is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. (Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 2, Chapter 3, Text 23)
…She is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa divided Himself into His energy and Himself. That energy, original spiritual energy, is Rādhārāṇī. ((Lecture on SB 2.1.1-5 Melbourne, June 26, 1974)
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