The Hare Krishna Movement

Sri Aparadha-shodhana / Verses for Requesting Forgiveness for One’s Offences

12 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Deity Worship, sri-aparadha-shodhana Tags: faith, forgiveness, God, Hare Krishna, Jesus, Krishna, spirituality, sri-aparadha-shodhana, Srila Prabhupada

This morning this verse kept going through my head:

Whatever inauspicious things I have done out of ignorance or unknowingly, please forgive that, and accept me as Your insignificant servant.

I had a hard time remembering where it came from. Then I remembered it was from the Sri Aparada-shodhana prayers. So I share them with you again. Hare Krishna!

Sri Aparadha-shodhana
(Verses for Requesting Forgiveness for One’s Offences)

mantra-hinam kriya-hinam bhakti-hinam janardana
yat pujitam maya deva paripurnam tad astu me

O my Lord, O Janardana, whatever little puja or worship that has been performed by me, although it is without devotion, without proper mantras, and without the proper performance, please let that become complete.

The Blazing Fire of Material Existence

11 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Bhagavad-gita, Bible, california-fires, chant Hare Krishna, Kali-yuga, Krishna, material-exestince, nature, samsara, spirituality

I am so saddened by the news coming out of California. Such a tragic loss for so many. Beautiful homes and forests, lives lost, lives disrupted. Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the utter devastation.

This morning as I was singing the morning prayers:

.samsara-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
tranayakarunakarunya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyana-guṇārṇavasya
vandegurohsri-caraṇāravindam

“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” (Śrī Gurvaṣṭakam, Verse 1)

I was again reminded of the California Fires and how this material world is often compared to a forest fire in Srila Prabhupada’s books. From the small paperback book entitled “Elevation to Krsna Consciousness” we read:

This material world is often compared to a forest fire which takes place automatically. No one wants a forest fire, but there is often lightning, or carelessness, or friction, or whatever, and the fire immediately takes place. Similarly, this material world is beset with a blazing fire of problems. Everyone wants to live here peacefully, but situations develop in such a way that this is not possible for anyone. We struggle very hard to adjust things in so many ways, but nature’s laws are so cruel and dangerous that in spite of our hopes and plans the blazing fire of the problems of material existence continues.

The Spiritual Master and Disciple

11 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, disciple, guru, I will never leave you, Krishna, Krsna, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada

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

The Eight Chief Gopis of Radha and Krishna

10 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Gopis, Radha Krishna Tags: Champakalata, Citra, eight chief gopis, India, Indulekha, Krishna, lalita, Radha and Krishna, Rangadevi, spirituality, Sudevi, Tungavidya, Visakha

For some reason, this morning while I was chanting on my japa beads, I realized that I don’t know the names of the eight chief gopis of Radha and Krishna. Seemed like something I should know. So I did a little research this morning…and now I can relax a bit having discovered their names. Now I just have to learn how to pronounce them. -V

Lalita
Visakha
Champakalata
Citra
Tungavidya
Indulekha
Rangadevi
Sudevi

The Eight Gopis are the foremost, dearest and most beloved friends of Srimati Radharani. They are known in the world as Asta-sakhis (Eight main), Parama-preshta(Dearest) or Varishta(Top Most ) Gopis . Their names are Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Campakalata, Tungavidya, Induleckha, Rangadevi and Sudevi. The Astha-sakhis display the zenith of spiritual love for Radha and Krishna. No one can equal or exceed the love they bear for the Divine Couple. To increase the transcendental ecstasy of Radha and Krishna, the Parama-preshta Gopis show partiality; sometimes they favor Krishna, sometimes Radha. These Eight Gopis are the leaders of all the other gopis. In whatever time, place, or circumstance, these Gopis are placed, their most exalted and intense love for the transcendental Divine Couple is always very easy to see. These Varishtha Gopis are the leaders of millions of other gopis, and because they are very greedy to earn Radha’s love , try to please Her in every way possible.

Lady Subadhra

06 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Subhadra Tags: Baladeva, Bhagavad-gita, India, jaganatha, Krishna, Krsna, lady-sudadhra, spirituality, subadhra, travel

Who is that smiling women in the middle? Why its Lady Subhadra!

Subhadra : Daughter of Vasudeva and sister of Lord Śrī Krsna. She was not only a very dear daughter of Vasudeva, but also a very dear sister to both Krsna and Baladeva. The two brothers and sister are represented in the famous Jagannatha temple of Puri, and the temple is still visited by thousands of pilgrims daily. This temple is in remembrance of the Lord’s visit at Kuruksetra during an occasion of solar eclipse and His subsequent meeting with the residents of Vrndavana. The meeting of Radha and Krsna during this occasion is a very pathetic story, and Lord Śrī Caitanya, in the ecstasy of Rādhārāṇī, always pined for Lord Śrī Krsna at Jagannatha Puri. While Arjuna was at Dvaraka, he wanted to have Subhadra as his queen, and he expressed his desire to Lord Krsna. Śrī Krsna knew that His elder brother, Lord Baladeva, was arranging her marriage elsewhere, and since He did not dare to go against the arrangement of Baladeva, He advised Arjuna to kidnap Subhadra. So when all of them were on a pleasure trip on the Raivata Hill, Arjuna managed to kidnap Subhadra according to the plan of Śrī Krsna. Śrī Baladeva was very angry at Arjuna, and He wanted to kill him, but Lord Krsna implored His brother to excuse Arjuna. Then Subhadra was duly married with Arjuna, and Abhimanyu was born of Subhadra. At the premature death of Abhumanyu, Subhadra was very mortified, but on the birth of Pariksit she was happy and solaced. (from purport to SB 1.13.3-4)

Sri Namamrta: The Nectar of The Holy Name

05 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Free Downloads, Mantra Meditation Tags: Chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, India, Krishna, Krsna, spirituality, sri-namamrta, Srila Prabhupada, the-nectar-of-the-holy-name, travel

This morning I was looking through my bookshelf and I saw a book I didn’t recognize. But when I opened it, I saw my name was written on the first page. I must have purchased it on one of our trips. I had completely forgotten about it, and it was still brand new. I love a new book, so I was overjoyed to discover what was inside. Thousands of quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s many books on the Nectar of the Holy Name. So today I am posting just a few of them that jumped out at me, but I am also including the entire book as a free PDF at bottom of post.

‘kanhara smarana jiva karibe anuksana?’
‘krsna−nama−guna−lila−pradhana smarana’

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “What should all living entities constantly remember?”
Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief object of remembrance is always the holy name of the
Lord, His qualities and pastimes.”
(Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Madhya−lila 8.252)

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari−kirtanat
[Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit]:

“Whatever result was obtained in Satya−yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta−yuga by
performing sacrifices and in Dvapara−yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can also be
obtained in Kali−yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha−mantra.”
(Srimad−Bhagavatam 12.3.52)

The Holy Name Is the Universal and Supreme Religion for this Age

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
(Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Adi 17.21)

“In this age of Kali there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for
spiritual progress than the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.”

krsna−varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra−parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana−prayair
yajanti hi su−medhasah

“The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Visnu three times can
be attained by only one repetition of the holy name of Krsna.”
( Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Madhya−lila 9.33)

trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih

“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself
lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all
sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one
can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”

New Years’ Resolution

01 Jan 2025 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, George Harrison, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna Book, Krsna Consciousness, Sriman George Harrison Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, George Harrison, Hare Krishna, India, Krishna, Krsna Book, My Sweet Lord, new-year-resolutions, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada

Happy New Year everyone, hopefully This will be a good year.

Ya know, every year I make New Years’ resolutions, to be a better person, or to wake up early every day, stop eating so much white sugar and white flour, practice yoga, exercise, walk, chant my 16 rounds, etc. Typically my resolutions don’t even make it past the first week in January. But this year I am going to try something a little different. Keeping it simple. I am going to try to love God [Krishna] more.

I am reminded of the George Harrison song “My Sweet Lord”

My Sweet Lord

…I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord
My Lord
My Lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you, Lord
But it won’t take long, my Lord (Hare Krishna)

full song below

But I am also reminded of the words of Srila Prabhupada in the KRSNA Book;

...Since Kṛṣṇa is all-attractive, one should know that all his desires should be focused on Kṛṣṇa… if we concentrate our loving propensities upon Kṛṣṇa only, then immediately universal love, unity and tranquillity will be automatically realized. When one waters the root of a tree, he automatically waters the branches, twigs, leaves and flowers; when one supplies food to the stomach through the mouth, he satisfies all the various parts of the body.

The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. (from Preface)

And from the Introduction of the KRSNA Book;

The supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is also described in the Brahma-samhita as the abode of cintamani. That abode of Lord Krsna known as Goloka Vrindavan is full of palaces made of touchstone. There the trees are called desire trees, and the cows are called surabhi. The Lord is served there by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. His name is Govinda, the Primeval Lord, and He is the cause of all causes. There the Lord plays His flute, His eyes are like lotus petals, and the color of His body is like that of a beautiful cloud. On His head is a peacock feather. He is so attractive that He excels thousands of Cupids.

Krishna is so attractive, that it shouldn’t be hard to love Him more. Maybe this is a New Year Resolution I can actually keep.