click on image to enlarge
The Nectar of Devotion Lecture
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Recorded October 18, 1972, Vṛndāvana
The Nectar of Devotion Lecture
04 Dec 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, lecture on nectar of devotion Vrindavan India, photo by Gurudas, Srila Prabhupada
Taking Credit Where Credit’s Due
02 Dec 2013 1 Comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arsha Prayoga, BBT, Bhagavad-gita, Book Changes, Rupanuga das Tags: 1983 second edition, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, book changes, Rupanuga das, Srila Prabhupada
Here is another nice article by Sriman Rupanuga Prabhu. This deals with the book changes issue, particularly, the revised 1983 Bhagavad-gita. This book change issue is very important for the spiritual welfare of all future generations of devotees and interested persons. It is worth a careful read.
Taking Credit Where Credit’s Due
by Rupanuga das (ACBSP)
The revised and enlarged edition of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is (BGAII), as published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) 1983, disregards the academic community’s protocols or standards governing the revised editions of the books. According to the guidelines now widely accepted and practiced by publishers and academicians, the names of editors and co-authors of such newly revised editions are to be included along with dates. This distinguishes such a 2nd edition from a publication which is only a second printing of an author’s original first edition.
Anomalies in the Kali Age
01 Dec 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Kali Yuga, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vedas Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, anomalies, enlightened in spiritual knowledge, future anomalies, Kaili age, Kali, Kali-yuga, millennium, spiritual knowldege, spiritual master, Srila Vyasadeva, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vyasadeva
The great sage Vyāsadeva saw anomalies in the duties of the millennium. This happens on the earth in different ages, due to unseen forces in the course of time.
The great sages like Vyāsadeva are liberated souls, and therefore they can see clearly past and future. Thus he could see the future anomalies in the Kali age, and accordingly he made arrangement for the people in general so that they can execute a progressive life in this age, which is full of darkness. The people in general in this age of Kali are too much interested in matter, which is temporary. Because of ignorance they are unable to evaluate the assets of life and be enlightened in spiritual knowledge.
…The unmanifested forces of time are so powerful that they reduce all matter to oblivion in due course. In Kali-yuga, the last millennium of a round of four millenniums, the power of all material objects deteriorates by the influence of time. In this age the duration of the material body of the people in general is much reduced, and so is the memory. The action of matter has also not so much incentive. The land does not produce food grains in the same proportions as it did in other ages. The cow does not give as much milk as it used to give formerly. The production of vegetables and fruits is less than before. As such, all living beings, both men and animals, do not have sumptuous, nourishing food. Due to want of so many necessities of life, naturally the duration of life is reduced, the memory is short, intelligence is meager, mutual dealings are full of hypocrisy and so on.
Srimad Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto One, Chapter 4, Texts 16, 17-18
full text and purport More
Belief in the Words of Our Spiritual Master
30 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Chanting Hare Krishna, Sahajiya, Spiritual Life, Spiritual Master, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Adi-lila 7.95-96, association of devotees, chanting Hare Krishna, guru, holy name of the lord, instructions of the spiritual master prabhupada vani, Lord Krsna, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, vani
“I firmly believe in these words of My spiritual master, and therefore I always chant the holy name of the Lord, alone and in the association of devotees. That holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa sometimes causes Me to chant and dance, and therefore I chant and dance. Please do not think that I intentionally do it. I do it automatically. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.95-96)
A person who cannot keep his faith in the words of his spiritual master but acts independently never receives the authority to chant the holy name of the Lord. (from purport)
This is one of my favorite verses from the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, and the purport here is one of the most important lessons in spiritual life. Namely, success in spiritual life is faith in the words of the spiritual master and following his instructions. Thereby receiving his blessings. If one receives the blessings of his spiritual master he can chant the holy name of the lord constantly.
Full text and purport More
Black Friday The Material Disease
29 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Materializm Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, birth death diease and old age, material comforts, material desease, material existence, wealth and economic development
The problems of material existence-birth, old age, disease and death-cannot be counteracted by accumulation of wealth and economic development. In many parts of the world there are states which are replete with all facilities of life, which are full of wealth, and economically developed, yet the problems of material existence are still present.
If economic development and material comforts could drive away one’s lamentations for family, social, national or international inebrieties, then Arjuna would not have said that even an unrivalled kingdom on earth or supremacy like that of the demigods in the heavenly planets would not be able to drive away his lamentations. He sought, therefore, refuge in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and that is the right path for peace and harmony.
Remembering Krishna
25 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhismadeva, Gopis, Honey, Sahajiya, Salvation Tags: Bhismadeva, death, duration of life, gopis, impersonalist, leaving ones body, liberation, lover and the beloved, moment of death, next stage of life, sayujya, The Passing of Bhismadeva in the presence of lord Krsna
click on image to enlarge
This morning as I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam, my mind was drawn to the following verse:
The devotees of the Lord are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one’s valuable life? (SB 1.16.6)
Our duration of life is not very long, and there is no certainty of when we shall be ordered to leave everything for the next stage. Thus it is our duty to see that not a moment of our life is wasted in topics which are not related with Lord Kṛṣṇa. Any topic, however pleasant, is not worth hearing if it is devoid of its relation to Kṛṣṇa. (from purport)
Which lead me to remember another very beautiful verse from an earlier chapter entitled “The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa”
Our Ever Well Wisher
25 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Sita devi
Remembering Srila Prabhupada
by Sita devi-dasi
Excerpted from ‘Back To Godhead’ magazine
I had the good fortune to be in Srila Prabhupada’s room when he was visiting the Mexico City temple in 1974. At that time a disciple who had strayed away had returned and was asking Srila Prabhupada to forgive him. He said he was afraid that Srila Prabhupada might have rejected him forever. The entire room fell silent. Srila Prabhupada lowered his head thoughtfully for a moment. Then he looked up and said, “Krsna is God, and if He likes He can spread Krsna consciousness all over the world in a second, without the help of anyone. But I am not God. I am simply a servant of God, so I require assistance. If someone helps me even a little, I am eternally indebted to him. You have helped me very much, so how can I reject you?” We were all moved by Srila Prabhupada’s humility and forgiveness.
Chanting Hare Krishna
24 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanting Hare Krishna Tags: always chant, chanting Hare Krishna, chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Krishna, Lord Visnu
The following are a few select excerpts on the importance of chanting Hare Krishna. Even if there is still some offence, our chanting should not be abandoned, but rather continued day and night.
Simply our prayer should be, My dear Krishna, please remind me to always chant Your Holy Name, please do not put me into forgetfulness. You are sitting within me as Supersoul, so you can put me into forgetfulness or into remembering You. So please do not put me into forgetfulness. Please always remind me to chant, even You send me into the hell, it doesn’t matter, just so long as I can always chant Hare Krishna. (letter to Devananda, Nov. 23, 1968)
The chanting of the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brāhmaṇa, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, “Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.9-10)
“I do not find the strength to carry on alone the sankirtana of the holy name of Hari. Please bless me by giving me just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Krsna.
Krsna is yours. You have the power to give Him to me. I am simply your servant running behind you shouting, “Krsna! Krsna!” (Ohe! Vaisnava Thakrua-Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur)
Goddess Durgā
22 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Durga Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, demigods, Durga, durga-devi, external energy of Krishna, goddess durga, Krsna, material enjoyment, saktas, servants of the lord, spiritual salvation, Vaisnavas
This morning I ran across this nice image of the Goddess Durgā. Durgā-devī, is actually the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, the shadow energy of the Lord. People in general worship goddess Durgā, the wife of Lord Śiva, for material prosperity. As devotees of Krishna, we do not worship the demigods or demigoddess’s. As Srila Prabhupada points out;
There is a misconception that there are many Gods. Actually that is not a fact. God is one, but there are many other powerful living entities who are in charge of different departments of administration. They are called demigods. All the demigods are servants who carry out the orders of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead.
Only the less intelligent worship the demigods for their various purposes. The most intelligent worship only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
Sometimes we, the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, are accused of not approving of the worship of demigods….
…Because Kṛṣṇa and His energy appeared simultaneously, people have generally formed two groups—the śāktas and the Vaiṣṇavas—and sometimes there is rivalry between them. Essentially, those who are interested in material enjoyment are śāktas, and those interested in spiritual salvation and attaining the spiritual kingdom are Vaiṣṇavas. Because people are generally interested in material enjoyment, they are interested in worshiping Māyādevī, the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaiṣṇavas, however, are śuddha-śāktas, or pure bhaktas, because the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra indicates worship of the Supreme Lord’s energy, Harā. A Vaiṣṇava prays to the energy of the Lord for the opportunity to serve the Lord along with His spiritual energy. Thus Vaiṣṇavas all worship such Deities as Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and Rukmiṇī-Dvārakādhīśa, whereas durgā-śāktas worship the material energy under different names. ( from purport SB 10.2.11-12)
…But he also points out that we offer all respect to the demigods as they are all servants of the Lord.
Acaryopasanam
21 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acaryopasanm, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Srila Prabhupada vani, Vaisnava Vocabulary Tags: Acaryopasanam, Alakananda das, photo by Gurudas, Syamananda das, vani quotes, Visnu Murti das
Here is a new word for your Vaisnava Vocabulary; Acaryopasanam. I ran across this word the other day while reading and had to go to Vani Quotes to get a better understanding of the word. The following is some of data which came from the researched words: “acaryopasana” and “acaryopasanam”. Interesting that I have heard or read this word many times and never bothered to look it up. I think it was the previous post that must have sparked this sudden interest in acaryopasanam.
Acaryopasanam: one must approach the acarya for real knowledge. SB 7.15.56, Purport:
In Bhagavad-gita, Thirteenth Chapter, it is clearly stated that one should execute devotional service and advance on the path of spiritual knowledge by accepting the acarya. Acaryopasanam: one should worship an acarya, a spiritual master who knows things as they are. The spiritual master must be in the disciplic succession from Krsna. The predecessors of the spiritual master are his spiritual master, his grand spiritual master, his great-grand spiritual master and so on, who form the disciplic succession of acaryas. SB 3.29.17, Purport:
Don’t follow rascals and fools. Then it will be useless waste of time. Follow the great ācāryas. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. One who is ācāryavān, who has accepted ācārya, he knows. Lecture on SB 1.2.19 — Calcutta, September 27, 1974:
Ācāryopāsanā. We have to worship the ācāryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā, for making advancement in spiritual life, ācāryopāsanā. Lecture — San Francisco, June 28, 19
Ācāryopāsanam. Ācārya upāsanā is one of the process of making progress. Lecture — Bhuvanesvara, January 21, 1977:
much more More
Srimad Bhagavatam Tenth Canto Part 3 (Free Download)
18 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta purports, final srimad bhagavatam volume, Founder Acarya, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Krsna Balarama Mandira, prabhupada, SB 10.3, Srimad Bhagavatam, translated by His Divine Grace
This is the final Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam volume translated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, before his untimely departure. We share it with you as a free PDF download. You can click on following link to view the complete volume or save it to your computer.
click on following link; Srimad Bhagavatam Tenth Canto Part 3
Yasoda Vishvarupa-darshan
16 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Childhood Pastimes of Krsna Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, childhood pastimes, Krsna, month of Damodar, Mother Yasoda, Sampradaya sun, Srila Prabhupada lecture, Universal Form, vatsalya rasa, Yasoda Vishvarupa-darshan
We are reprinting here a nice article which appeared on the Sampradaya Sun a few days ago, entitled “The Glorious Month of Damodara”. These are excerpts from Srila Prabhupada’s Lectures and a question and answer discussion, concerning the childhood pastime of Mother Yasoda seeing the Universal form in Krsna’s mouth.
Yasoda Vishvarupa-darshan
One of the Krsna-lila pastimes glorified during the month of Damodar is that of Yasoda Ma getting vishvarupa-darshan in Krsna’s mouth. In a lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.25, Srila Prabhupada explained the pastime in terms of vatsalya-rasa:
“When Kṛṣṇa was playing as a child, He ate earth and the playmates complained to mother Yaśodā: “Mother, your son Kṛṣṇa is eating earth.” Mother Yaśodā called for explanation: “Kṛṣṇa, why You are eating earth? I have given You sandeśa. ” Kṛṣṇa said, “No, mother, I have not eaten.” “No, Your friends are complaining.” “No, they have become My enemies this morning. We had some quarrel. Therefore they have combined together to make Me chastised by you.” So in this way… Then mother Yaśodā wanted to solve this problem: “All right, show Your mouth, open Your mouth. I want to see.” And when Kṛṣṇa opened the mouth, the mother saw innumerable universes are within the mouth. This is Kṛṣṇa. Aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyān. Kṛṣṇa enters within the universe, but at the same time, millions of universes are within His mouth. This is the explanation of “the greater than the greatest and the smaller than the smallest.” Of course, mother Yaśodā, although she saw, she could not believe it because mother Yaśodā never thought of that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She always thought that “He is my teeny child.” That’s all. “I have to take care of Him.” This is called paternal feelings. Vātsalya-rasa.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.25 — Hyderabad, November 29, 1972)
Kṛṣṇa is known as Makhana-chora, “The Butter Thief”
15 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Childhood Pastimes of Krsna, Makhana-chora Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna's childhood pastimes, Krsna is known as Makhana-cora, Makhana-cora, the butter thief, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vrndavan pastimes
The month of Damodara is winding down, only a few days left. So we are continuing with our posts on “Krsna Childhood Pastimes”, with a few excerpts on Krsna’s pastimes of sealing butter.
…Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is sometimes described as a thief. He is very famous amongst His pure devotees as the Mākhana-cora. He used to steal butter from the houses of neighbors at Vṛndāvana in His early age. Since then He is famous as a thief. But in spite of His being famous as a thief, He is worshiped as a thief, whereas in the mundane world a thief is punished and is never praised. Since He is the Absolute Personality of Godhead, everything is applicable to Him, and still in spite of all contradictions He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (from purport SB 1.10.19)
The Choice is Yours
13 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, BTG magizine, God, Jon Nordheimer Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, God, interview with Srila Prabhupada, Jon Nordheimer, Krsna God, New York Times, prabhupada, spiritual sparks
click on image to enlarge
This is a nice article from Back to Godhead Magazine published in 1975. It is an interview with New York Times reporter Jon Nordheimer, and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on the subject of God.
The Choice is Yours
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1975, Vol. 10, No. 4
Interview with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
PRABHUPADA: When we speak of Krsna, we mean God. Everyone has some vague idea of God, but no clear idea. Therefore God descends to show what He is. If we speculate on God, someone will think one thing, and another person will think another. This is the result of speculation. But if God Himself comes and shows Himself as He is and speaks about Himself, that is perfect knowledge. This Krsna consciousness movement is spreading that message: God Himself is speaking about Himself: “I am this; I am like this; My form is like this; My activities are like this; My address is this and that—if you like, you can come back to Me. This is the situation. Everyone can come to Me.” All this information is in Bhagavad-gita As It Is. In Bhagavad-gita God speaks about Himself and presents Himself as He is. We simply have to take that information; then we can understand God. As soon as we understand God, we can go home immediately. It is very simple.
Lord Krsna’s Childhood Pastimes
12 Nov 2013 1 Comment
…There is no parallel to His childhood pastimes as exhibited at Vrajabhūmi, which are the prototypes of His eternal affairs in the original Kṛṣṇaloka described as the cintāmaṇi-dhāma in the Brahma-saṁhitā [Bs. 5.29]. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa descended Himself at Vrajabhūmi with all His transcendental entourage and paraphernalia. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore confirmed that no one is as fortunate as the residents of Vrajabhūmi, and specifically the cowherd girls, who dedicated their everything for the satisfaction of the Lord. His pastimes with Nanda and Yaśodā and His pastimes with the cowherd men and especially with the cowherd boys and the cows have caused Him to be known as Govinda. (from purport to SB 1.8.21)
Full Text and Purport More
Gopastami
10 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Cow Protection, Festivals, Gopastami, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, childhood age known as kaumara, cowherd boy, gopa, gopastami, gosthastami, Krishna, Krsna, Krsna Book, pauganda, The killing of Dhenukasura, vaisnava calender, Vrndavan
Please click on image to enlarge
Today on the Vaisnava Calender marks the day known as Gopastami or Gosthastami. On this day lord Sri Krishna became a qualified cowherd and took the cows out to Govardhana to graze. Previously He was the keeper of the calves. It was on this day that He became a gopa, or cowherd boy.
In this way, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, along with His elder brother Balarāma, passed the childhood age known as kaumāra and stepped into the age of paugaṇḍa, from the sixth year up to the tenth. At that time, all the cowherd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who had passed their fifth year charge of the cows in the pasturing ground. Given charge of the cows, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma traversed Vṛndāvana, purifying the land with Their footprints.
…When Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Their friends entered the village of Vṛndāvana, They played Their flutes, and the boys praised Their uncommon activities in the forest. Their faces were decorated with tilaka and smeared with the dust raised by the cows, and Kṛṣṇa’s head was decorated with a peacock feather. Both He and Balarāma played Their flutes, and the young gopīs were joyous to see Kṛṣṇa returning home. All the gopīs in Vṛndāvana remained very morose on account of Kṛṣṇa’s absence. All day they were thinking of Kṛṣṇa in the forest or of Him herding cows in the pasture. When they saw Kṛṣṇa returning, all their anxieties were immediately relieved, and they began to look at His face the way drones hover over the honey of the lotus flower. When Kṛṣṇa entered the village, the young gopīs smiled and laughed. Kṛṣṇa, while playing the flute, enjoyed the beautiful smiling faces of the gopīs. (from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 15)
To honor this day we are posting some further childhood pastimes of Sri Krishna from the Kṛṣṇa Book entitled “The Killing of Dhenukāsura”
Full Chapter More
Govardhana Pūjā
01 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Govardhana-puja, Krishna Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, Annakuta, circumambulate Govardhana Hill, Govardhana Hill, Govardhana-puja, Krsna, Krsna consciousness movement, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya, Madhya 4.86, Prasadam, temples of Vrndavana
On November 3rd the festival known as Govardhana Pūjā is celebrated.
The sacrifice known as Govardhana Pūjā is observed in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Lord Caitanya has recommended that since Kṛṣṇa is worshipable, so His land, Vṛndāvana and Govardhana Hill, are also worshipable. To confirm this statement, Lord Kṛṣṇa said that Govardhana Pūjā is as good as worship of Him. From that day, the Govardhana Pūjā has been still going on and is known as Annakūṭa. In all the temples of Vṛndāvana or outside of Vṛndāvana, huge quantities of food are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population. Sometimes the food is thrown to the crowds, and they enjoy collecting it off the ground. From these instances, we can understand that prasādam offered to Kṛṣṇa never becomes polluted or contaminated, even if it is thrown on the ground. The people, therefore, collect it and eat with great satisfaction. (Kṛṣṇa, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, chapter 24)
…Formerly, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, all the cowherd men of Vṛndāvana had arranged to worship King Indra, but they gave this worship up, following the advice of Kṛṣṇa. Instead, they performed a ceremony whereby they worshiped the cows, brāhmaṇas and Govardhana Hill. At that time Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself and declared, “I am Govardhana Hill.” In this way He accepted all the paraphernalia and food offered to Govardhana Hill. (from purport of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 4.86)
The Gifts of His Divine Grace
01 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Jayadvaita Swami, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead Magazine, BTG Vol. 13, disappearance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jayadvaita Swami, ocean of mercy, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's gifts
The following is an older Back to Godhead article that that I fondly remember, which was published in 1978, shortly after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance. We reprint it here to honor the memory of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
The Gifts of His Divine Grace
by Jayadvaita dasa [Swami]
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1978 Vol. 13, No. 1-2
In just a dozen years, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gave the world a legacy that will last forever.
Childhood Pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa
01 Nov 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Childhood Pastimes of Krsna, Festivals, Govardhana-puja, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devastating Rainfall in Vrndavana, Govardhana Hill, Indra, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, lifting Govardhana Hill, Supreme Controller, Vrndavana
…Lord Kṛṣṇa picked up Govardhana Hill with one hand, exactly as a child picks up a mushroom from the ground. Thus He exhibited His transcendental pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill. Lord Kṛṣṇa then began to address His devotees, “My dear brothers, My dear father, My dear inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, you can now safely enter under the umbrella of Govardhana Hill, which I have just lifted. Do not be afraid of the hill and think that it will fall from My hand. You have been too much afflicted from the heavy rain and strong wind; therefore I have lifted this hill, which will protect you exactly like a huge umbrella. I think this is a proper arrangement to relieve you from your immediate distress. Be happy along with your animals underneath this great umbrella.” Being assured by Lord Kṛṣṇa, all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana entered beneath the great hill and appeared to be safe along with their property and animals.
…The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and their animals remained there for one week without being disturbed by hunger, thirst or any other discomforts. They were simply astonished to see how Kṛṣṇa was holding up the mountain with the little finger of His left hand.
… After this incident, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, surrounded by His dear friends and animals, returned to His home. As usual, the gopīs began to chant the glorious pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with great feeling, for they were chanting from the heart. (Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Chapter 25)
Full Chapter More
Glories of the Pañca-tattva
31 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Panca-Tattva, Sankirtan, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna mahamantra, Hare Rama, incarnation, internal potencey, Lord Caitanya, Maha Mantra, mahaprabhu, marginal potency, most magnanimous incarnation, panca tattva mantra, plenary expansion, sankirtan jajna, Sri Krsna Caitanya, ultimate benediction, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
“Love of Godhead is the ultimate benediction for all human beings.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the bestower of this great benediction.
“In the Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña.” (Bhāg. 11.5.32)
…Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, His incarnation Śrī Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu and His marginal potency Śrīvāsa Prabhu. He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by these other tattvas. Therefore our obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are complete when we say śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. As preachers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we first offer our obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chanting this Pañca-tattva mantra; then we say Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Pañca-tattva mantra, namely, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is known as mahā-vadānyāvatāra, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare), we must first take shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, learn the Pañca-tattva mahā-mantra, and then chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. That will be very effective. (Purport from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.4)
The Hare Krishna Movement 