September | 2023 | The Hare Krishna Movement

The Process of Worshiping the Deities and offering Prasadam

29 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Deity Worship, Devotional Service, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Prasadam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, deities, deity worship, Deity Worship Manual, Krishna, offering prasadam, Prasadam, Srila Prabhupada

Call me old-fashioned, but sometimes I hate to see new things introduced, to the process and standards, Srila Prabhupada has given us.

…The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the Deities. So don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all. (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dhruvavanda 1973)

Now you are asking if Lord Jagannatha carries flute? Why this nonsense question? You are asking me so many concoctions and manufactured nonsense. Don’t bother my head in this way any more. From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way. You manufacture ideas and then I have to waste my time. I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom? (Srila Prabhupada letter to Dhruvavanda 1973)

In 1975 Prabhupada confirmed the process of offering prasadam to the Deities:

“The process is that what ever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Krsna. We don’t directly offer Radha-Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why are they there? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krsna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krsna or other subordinates to Krsna. That is not possible.

Full Letter to Dhruvananda das

Prema-dhvani Prayers

29 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, jaya om, Krishna, prema-dhvani prayers, spiritual master

Prema-dhvani Prayers

jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī śrīmad a.c. bhaktivedānta svāmī mahārāja prabhupāda—kī jaya.

(All glories to the ācārya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda 108 Tridaṇḍī Gosvāmī A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who travels everywhere, preaching the glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyāsa.)

jaya oṁ viṣṇu-pāda paramahaṁsa parivrājakācārya aṣṭottara-śata śrī śrīmad bhaktisiddhānta sarasvatī gosvāmī mahārāja prabhupāda—kī jaya.

(All glories to the ācārya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda 108 Tridaṇḍī Gosvāmī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda, who travels across the earth, preaching the glories of Hari, and who is situated on the highest platform of sannyāsa.)

ananta-kotivaishnava-vrinda—kī jaya.

(All glories to the unlimited millions of devotees of Lord Krishna.)

nāmācārya śrīla haridāsa ṭhākura—kī jaya.

(All glories to the Nāmācārya Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura.)

prem-se kaho śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī advaita, gadādhara, śrīvāsādi gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—kī jaya.

(Call out with love the names Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya.)

śrī śrī rādha-kṛṣṇa, gopa-gopīnatha, śyāma-kuṇḍa, rādhā-kuṇḍa giri-govardhana—kī jaya.

(All glories to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd boys and girls, the cows, Śyāma-kuṇḍa, Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Govardhana Hill.

[One may glorify the Deities of the temple at this time.]

śrī māyāpur dhāma—kī jaya.

(All glories to Śrī Māyāpur-dhāma.)

śrī vṛndāvana dhāma—kī jaya.

(All glories to Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma.)

gaṅgā-mayī—kī jaya.

(All glories to Gaṅgā-devī.)

yamunā-mayī—kī jaya.

(All glories to Yamunā-devī.)

bhakti-devī—kī jaya.

(All glories to Bhakti-devī.)

tulasī-devī—kī jaya.

(All glories to Tulasī-devī.)

ananta koṭi vaiṣṇava-vṛnda—kī jaya.

(All glories to the unlimited millions of Vaiṣṇavas.)

śrī hari-nāma saṅkīrtana—kī jaya.

(All glories to the congregational chanting of the holy name of Hari.)

samāveta bhakta-vṛnda—kī jaya.

(All glories to the assembled devotees.)

gaura-premānande hari-haribol.

(Chant the names Hari! Hari! in the ecstasy of Caitanya-prema.)

All glories to the assembled devotees. [three times]

All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Dissapearance Day of Haridasa Thakura

28 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanting Hare Krishna, Haridasa Thakura Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Haridasa, Haridasa Thakur, Krishna, krsna consciousness, Srimad Bhagavatam

Today we honor the Appearance Day of Srila Haridasa Thakura, an associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily chanted 300,000 names of the Lord. Certainly the chanting of 300,000 holy names of the Lord is wonderful. No ordinary person can chant so many names, nor should one artificially imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s behavior. It is essential, however, that everyone fulfill a specific vow to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

Haridāsa Ṭhākura said that liberation and freedom from the reactions of sinful activities are only by-products of chanting the holy name of the Lord. If one chants the holy name of the Lord purely, he attains the platform of loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (SB 5.24.20)

Appearance Day of Lord Vamandeva

26 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vamanadeva Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance day of Lord Vamanadeva, Krishna, Lord Vamandeva, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vamanadeva

So today is the Appearance Day of Lord Vamanadeva, as well as the Appearance Day of Srila Jiva Goswami. The following is the entire 18th chapter, of the Srimad Bhagavatam, canto 8, texts 1-32, which describe the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva.

Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

TEXT 1

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Lord Brahmā had thus spoken, glorifying the Supreme Lord’s activities and prowess, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never subject to death like an ordinary living being, appeared from the womb of Aditi. His four hands were decorated with a conchshell, club, lotus and disc, He was dressed in yellow garments, and His eyes appeared like the petals of a blooming lotus.

PURPORT

The word amṛta-bhūḥ is significant in this verse. The Lord sometimes appears like an ordinary child taking birth, but this does not mean that He is subject to birth, death or old age. One must be very intelligent to understand the appearance and activities of the Supreme Lord in His incarnations. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ. One should try to understand that the Lord’s appearance and disappearance and His activities are all divyam, or transcendental. The Lord has nothing to do with material activities. One who understands the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord is immediately liberated. After giving up his body, he never again has to accept a material body, but is transferred to the spiritual world (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna [Bg. 4.9]).

The Spiritual Master and Disciple

25 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Spiritual Master, Spiritual Practice Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance of lord varaha, guru and disciple, guru tattva, Krishna, Lord Varaha

The Spiritual Master is present wherever his sincere disciple is trying to serve his instructions. This is possible by the mercy of Krishna.

In your attempts to serve me, and in all your sincere devotional sentiments, I am with you, as my Guru Maharaja is with me. Remember this always…I shall never leave you. You are my disciple and I am your Spiritual Master, so there is no question, as long as you follow my instructions, that I shall never leave you.

-Srila Prabhupada

Letter to Bob

23 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Brahmatirtha das, Krsna Consciousness, Letters by Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bob Cohen, Bramatirtha das, Perfect Ouestions Perfect Answers, Srila Prabhupada

Some years ago I read the small paper back book entitled “Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers.”. But just this morning, I happened to be reading some letters Srila Prabhupada had written, and there was one letter I opened that that simply said “Letter to Bob”. Turns out Bob was Bob Cohen who latter became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada; Bramatirtha das.

Letter to: Bob
Los Angeles
16 June, 1972

Springfield, New Jersey

My Dear Bob,

Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated June 12, 1972, and I have noted the sentiments expressed therein with great pleasure. I am very much glad to hear that you are associating with us, and I know that you are a very good boy, very intelligent and your behavior is gentle, so I have all confidence that very quickly Krishna will bestow all His blessings upon you and you will feel yourself becoming perfectly happy in Krishna Consciousness. One makes his advancement in Krishna Consciousness by giving up voluntarily his attachment to material nature or maya and such renunciation is called tapasya. But we are not very willing to perform austerities without good reason, therefore any man with scientific and philosophical good brain such as your good self, must appreciate first what is the transcendental knowledge. If you get knowledge, automatically tapasya will follow, and then you make your advancement in spiritual life. So to get knowledge is the first item for anyone who is hoping to find his perfection of life. Therefore, I advise you to daily read our books as far as possible and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision by discussing frequently with the devotees at New York Temple. In this way you will become gradually convinced, and by your sincere attitude and devotional service you will make progress.

The Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani

22 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Nector of devotion, Radha, Radhastami, Rupa Goswami, Srimati Radharani

Srimati Radharani ISKCON Toronto

Today we are in Toronto celebrating the Appearance day of Srimati Radharani, and the 51st anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha Ksira-chora Gopinatha. We share with you a few words from the “Nectar of Devotion” by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

The Beauty of Srimati Radharani

In describing Srimati Radharani, it is also said in the Vidagdha-madhava by Rupa Gosvami, “The beauty of Srimati Radharani’s eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold in a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening Vrindavana.”

“Although the effulgence of the moon is brilliant initially at night, in the daytime it fades away. Similarly, although the lotus is beautiful during the daytime, at night it closes. But, O My friend, the face of My most dear Srimati Radharani is always bright and beautiful, both day and night. Therefore, to what can Her face be compared””

“When Srimati Radharani smiles, waves of joy overtake Her cheeks, and Her arched eyebrows dance like the bow of Cupid. Her glance is so enchanting that it is like a dancing bumblebee, moving unsteadily due to intoxication. That bee has bitten the whorl of My heart.”

The Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani (Radhastami)

22 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Consciousness, Radha Krishna, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Radha, Radha Krishna, Radharani, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani

Today marks the Appearance of Srimati Radharani. We honor it with a half day fast, puspanjali, discussion on the glories of Srimati Radharani, followed by a feast.

The following are just a few of the many quotes from Srila Prabhupada which encourage us to approach Krishna through the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s eternal consort. For those of us who feel that there is no hope of making spiritual progress in this lifetime, Srimati Radharani, Who is compassion personified, kindly comes to our rescue if we can humbly invoke Her divine blessings.

tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

“I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.” (Sri Radha Pranama)

“So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that ‘Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.’ Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 5, 1973)

“The beauty of Srimati Radharani’s eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening in Vrindavana.” (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 1.169)

“I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.”(Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, September 13, 1965)

Srila Prabhupada Tributes

09 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, free download, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Tributes, vyasa-puga homage, vyasa-puja homages

Srila Prabhupada Tributes

If you would like to download the Book and read some of the offerings, you can follow this link: Srila Prabhupada Tributes

The Most Blessed Event; Sri Vyasa Puja

07 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Krishna, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, the most blessed event, the world acarya, Vyasa Puja, Vyasasan das

The Most Blessed Event

Sri Vyasas Puja

The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master

Sri Srimad A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder and Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

The World Acarya

by Vyasasan das

Dear Srila Prabhupada

Please accept my humble obeisances, and kindly forgive my offences.

Having just returned from England, where we attended the 50^th Anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda deities at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, I am reminded that you established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which we are all a part of. Having never been to England before, I had the fortunate opportunity of meeting so many Godbrothers and Godsisters from the English Yatra, whom I had never meet before. I realized how it is truly an International society, with temples and devotees practicing Krishna consciousness on every continent and in hundreds of countries throughout the world.

It is amazing that through you, just by becoming your disciple, it has connected me to thousands of other devotees throughout the world, in a very real way.

Janmāṣṭamī; Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance

06 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Janmastami, Krishna, Krsna, Krsna Book, krsna consciousness

click on image to enlarge

So today we honor Lord Sri Krishna’s appearance day with a full day fast, followed by a small feast after His appearance at midnight. We will try to increase our remembrance of Him by additional chanting and reading ,and singing His glories.

The following is the entire third chapter from the Krsna Book entitled “The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa”.

…As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the Lord says that His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world. The Lord’s appearance or birth is not like that of an ordinary man who is forced to accept a material body according to his past deeds. The Lord’s appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears out of His own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord, the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological influence of the star known as Rohiṇī was also predominant because this star is considered to be very auspicious. Rohiṇī is under the direct supervision of Brahmā. According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the different planetary systems. At the time of Kṛṣṇa’s birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious. ( from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Chapter 3)

Full Chapter