Krsna Book | The Hare Krishna Movement

The Most Blessed Event; Sri Vyasa-puja

20 Aug 2022 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, Krsna Book, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Krishna, Krsna, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja, Vyasasan das

The Most blessed Event; Sri Vyasa-puja

Dear Srila Prabhupada

Please accept my most humble and heartfelt obeisance’s on this most auspicious day of your appearance. Although I am an unworthy disciple, full of faults, I approach you with the greatest appreciation, and utmost respect, for you are the greatest spiritual ambassador to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world.

Thank you for coming to America, and bringing with you so many matchless gifts. Not only did you bring the message of Krishna and Lord Caitanya, but you brought with you music and art, Vedic medicine, the science of cooking vegetarian food, and the keys to a healthy and productive life, in the service of God. I may never have learned who is God, had you not appeared on our shores.

One of the very first books of yours I read, just a small book called the “Raja-vidya”, on the very first page, you gave the definite description of God. Although I had some conception of God from my early religious training, God is great, God is good, but no one could ever tell me who He was, what He looked like, where He lived, or what He does. But you could. On that very first page you gave the perfect definitive description of God.

“God possesses all opulence’s, the totality of knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame, and renunciation. When we find someone who possesses these opulence’s in full, we are to know that He is God…Only Krishna claims to possess them in totality.”

In time as I began to read from the Bagavad-gita As It Is, and the KRSNA Book, all my questions were answered. I came to know who God is, what He looks like, where He lives, what He does, and what is our relationship with Him.

It is interesting, but from the very first moment I saw a picture of you, on the back cover of the KRSNA Book, I knew, that at long last, I had found my spiritual master.

I fell in love with you from the very first moment I saw your picture. and I am still in love with you today. I have no words that convey the love that I feel , only to say, there is nothing that can compare.

Begging to remain in your service

Your unworthy disciple

Vyasasan das

Lord Balarama’s Apperance Day

22 Aug 2021 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, balarama's appearance day, Krsna Book, varuna, varuni beverage

Today we honor the appearance day of Lord Balarama with a half day fast, followed by a nice vegetarian feast. I may even open up the bee hive to collect a little honey as an offering to Balarama at moonrise, as Balarama is very fond of the aromatic beverage Varuni, which is made from liquid honey.

…The demigod known as Varuṇa sent his daughter Vāruṇī in the form of liquid honey oozing from the hollows of the trees. Because of this honey the whole forest became aromatic, and the sweet aroma of the liquid honey, Vāruṇī, captivated Balarāmajī. Balarāmajī and all the gopīs became very much attracted by the taste of Vāruṇī, and all of them drank it together. While drinking this natural beverage, Vāruṇī, all the gopīs chanted the glories of Lord Balarāma, and Lord Balarāma felt very happy, as if He had become intoxicated by drinking that Vāruṇī beverage. His eyes rolled in a pleasing attitude. He was decorated with long garlands of forest flowers, and the whole situation appeared to be a great function of happiness because of this transcendental bliss. Lord Balarāma smiled beautifully, and the drops of perspiration decorating His face appeared to be soothing morning dew. (from Krsna Book ch. 65 Lord Balarama Visits Vrndavana)

The Rare Occasion of a Full Solar Eclipse

21 Aug 2017 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, full solar eclipse, Krsna Book, Lord Krsna and Balarama meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana, solar eclipse, the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse

Today all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. I wanted to get some reference from Srila Prabhupada’s books on some historical events that took place during the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse. One such event took place some 5,000 years ago when Lord Krsna and Balarama meet with the inhabitiants of Vrndabana.

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Chapter Eighty-two

Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana

Once upon a time while Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were living peacefully in Their great city of Dvārakā, there was the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse, such as takes place at the end of every kalpa, or day of Brahmā. At the end of every kalpa the sun is covered by a great cloud, and incessant rain covers the lower planetary systems up to Svargaloka. By astronomical calculation, people were informed about this great eclipse prior to its taking place, and therefore everyone, both men and women, decided to assemble at the holy place in Kurukṣetra known as Samanta-pañcaka.

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Letter by Srila Prabhupada to George Harrision

01 Jul 2017 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, George Harrison, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Sriman George Harrison, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Apple Records, Apple Studio, George Harrision, Krsna Book, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Letters by Srila Prabhupada

george-harrison-and-srila-prabhupada

February 16, 1970

My Dear George,

Please accept my blessings. I am so much obliged to you for your valued cooperation in spreading my movement of Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world. I beg to acknowledge receipt herewith of your contribution of $19,000 (nineteen thousand dollars) for publication of my book, Krishna, now going to the press within the week.

Please note that every farthing of this money will be employed in the service of the Lord, and the Lord is so kind and grateful that He will bestow upon you benediction at least ten times more than that you have done for Him. It does not, however, mean that Lord Krishna is like a business man, and He bestows benediction when He is profited by our service. The Lord is full in Himself; He does not require our service, but if we render service unto Him in love and devotion, such action enriches our very existence.

The Birth Of Lord Krishna

25 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: Birth of Lord Krsna, Janmastami, Krishna, Krishna Janmastami, Krsna

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. (Krsna Book Chapter 3)

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KRSNA Book Vol. 1

25 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Janmastami, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: free scanned download, ISKCON Press 1970 edition, Krishna Janmastami Celebration, Krishna Janmastmi, Krsna Book

Krsna Book Vol. 1

Today, being Krsna Janmastami, we are offering a free scanned copy of the original ISKCON Press 1970 Edition of KRSNA Book Vol. 1, which you can download. Just click on the following link to began downloading. This could take a while depending on the speed of your connection. This free scanned copy includes all the original art work as well.

KRSNA_Book_Vol.1_1970_ISKCON_Press_edition_SCAN

Balarama Rasayatra & Sri Krsna Vasanta Rasa

22 Apr 2016 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, Balarama Rasayatra, full moon, Krsna Vasanta Rasa, Lord Balarama, rasa dance, rasa lila pastime, springtime rasa lila, Srila Prabhupada's books

Last night I noticed that the moon was full, and it reminded me that this must be Balarama Rasayatra, or the night that Lord Balarama danced the Rasa dance with the Gopis. It was also Sri Krsna Vasanta Rasa, the Lord’s springtime rasa lila pastime. We honor these pastimes with a chapter from the Krsna Book, entitled “Lord Balarama Visits Vrndavana”.

…Lord Balarāma could, of course, understand the ecstatic feelings of the gopīs, and therefore He wanted to pacify them. He was expert in presenting an appeal, and thus, treating the gopīs very respectfully, He began to narrate the stories of Kṛṣṇa so tactfully that the gopīs became satisfied. In order to keep the gopīs in Vṛndāvana satisfied, Lord Balarāma stayed there continually for two months, namely the months of Caitra (March-April) and Vaiśākha (April-May). For those two months He kept Himself among the gopīs, and He passed every night with them in the forest of Vṛndāvana in order to satisfy their desire for conjugal love. Thus Balarāma also enjoyed the rāsa dance with the gopīs during those two months. Since the season was springtime, the breeze on the bank of the Yamunā was blowing very mildly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, especially of the flower known as kaumudī. Moonlight filled the sky and spread everywhere, and thus the banks of the Yamunā appeared to be very bright and pleasing, and Lord Balarāma enjoyed the company of the gopīs there.

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Krishna and the Cowheard Boys

17 Jan 2016 2 Comments

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna, Krsna Book Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bugles made of horn, buzzing of the bumblebees, cowheard boys, devotees of Krsna, Krishna, Krsna, Krsna Book, Srimad Bhagavatam, voice of the cuckoo

All the boys would be differently engaged. Some boys blew their flutes, and others blew bugles made of horn. Some imitated the buzzing of the bumblebees, and others imitated the voice of the cuckoo. Some boys imitated flying birds by running after the birds’ shadows on the ground, some imitated the beautiful movements and attractive postures of the swans, some sat down with the ducks, sitting silently, and others imitated the dancing of the peacocks. Some boys attracted young monkeys in the trees, some jumped into the trees, imitating the monkeys, some made faces as the monkeys were accustomed to do, and others jumped from one branch to another. Some boys went to the waterfalls and crossed over the river, jumping with the frogs, and when they saw their own reflections on the water they would laugh. They would also condemn the sounds of their own echoes. In this way, all the cowherd boys used to play with Kṛṣṇa, who is the source of the Brahman effulgence for jñānīs desiring to merge into that effulgence, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead for devotees who have accepted eternal servitorship, and who for ordinary persons is but another ordinary child. The cowherd boys, having accumulated the results of pious activities for many lives, were able to associate in this way with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How can one explain their great fortune? (SB 10.12.7-11)

The Gopīs’ Feelings of Separation

02 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Gopis, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, gopis, gopis of vrndavana, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, KB 1.34, Krsna Book, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, The Gopis feelings of Separation

Kṛṣṇa, The Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vol. 1, Chapter 34

The Gopīs’ Feelings of Separation

The gopīs of Vṛndāvana were so attached to Kṛṣṇa that they were not satisfied simply with the rāsa dance at night. They wanted to associate with Him and enjoy His company during the daytime also. When Kṛṣṇa went to the forest with His cowherd boy friends and cows, the gopīs did not physically take part, but their hearts went with Him. And because their hearts went, they were able to enjoy His company through strong feelings of separation. To acquire this strong feeling of separation is the teaching of Lord Caitanya and His direct disciplic succession of Gosvāmīs. When we are not in physical contact with Kṛṣṇa, we can associate with Him like the gopīs, through feelings of separation. Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental form, qualities, pastimes, and entourage are all identical with Him. There are nine different kinds of devotional service. Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa in feelings of separation elevates the devotee to the highest perfectional level, to the level of the gopīs.