Every Town and Village
14 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Guru & Disciple, Srila Prabhupada Tags: devotional sentiments, guru and disciple, Guru Maharaja, mercy of Krishna, Niragadeva das, spiritual master is present, spiritual masters instructions, 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 Sriritual Master, so there is no question, as long as you follow my instructions, than I shall never leave you” -Srila Prabhupada
13 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Guru & Disciple, Prahlada-Nrsimha das, Srila Prabhupada Tags: GBC, Iskcon, Prabhavisnu das, prabhupada, Prahlada-Nrsimbha, Rupanuga das, Sannyasi, Srila Prabhupada
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
This is an older post that appeared sometime back on the Sampradaya Sun, but in light of all the discussion on the plight of the ex-GBC/sannyasi/guru; Prabhavisnu Prabhu, we thought it important to remind our readers again of the unique position of Srila Prabhupada. As Prahlada-Nrsimbha reminds us in the following article…”Let us — members of ISKCON, friends of ISKCON, “fringes”, haters of ISKCON, whoever, everyone, just love Srila Prabhupada and fly the one flag of Srila Prabhupada over our heads, and all of us be united under Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet!”
Fly the One Flag of Srila Prabhupada
By Prahlada-Nrsimha Prabhu
Aug 23, 2011 — USA (SUN)
Dear Rupanuga Prabhu I respect and admire you greatly! I just read your recent article, entitled “The World Acarya”. It is so inspiring to me how you honor Srila Prabhupada very nicely, concluding by saying: “…in due time, people will understand the true meaning of “Prabhupada” – the Master (Prabhu) at whose lotus feet (pada) all others pay their obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada…”
It gives my heart great happiness to see others recognize the unique position of Srila Prabhupada and acknowledge that we (at best) sit at his feet in his shadow as a speck of insignificant dust in comparison to Srila Prabhupada.
I feel now (and since 1977) in ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada is greatly minimized. I have seen that devotees initiated since 1977, the devotee that gives the name and chants on the beads of the newly initiated disciple is given more importance then Srila Prabhupada.
I more often than not meet devotees that have been initiated by devotees in ISKCON and they know the mood and standpoint on various subjects of the devotee that has preformed their initiation ceremony (and/or their local GBC or temple president) and they can even quote him on so many subjects. But when I quote Srila Prabhupada on these subjects they have no idea that Srila Prabhupada said this. They only know what their own GBC or initiator or temple president said.
09 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Kanhaiya das, Srila Prabhupada Tags: devotee, Kanhaiya das, poem to Srila Prabhupada, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Lotus feet
Click photo to enlarge
What else do I want other than Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus feet?
By Kanhaiya Das
“What else do I want other than Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus feet?
In this age of hypocrisy and hatredness that’s my only treat
Who else will remind me of my eternal relationship that I have forgotten,
Just due to the same reason – many million life times, here I have rotten,
When there was so darkness and the path in front I couldn’t see….
When everyone else has given up hopes and abandoned me,
What else do I need other than His Lotus Feet,
Which promise me the world –
The world of love and not hatred,
The world of care and not enviousness
The world of light and not darkness…
The world of association and not isolation…”
03 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: Bhagavad=gita, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Sri Caitanya, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, The Hare Krishna Movement
…Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, “one who teaches this most confidential knowledge to others is very dear to Me.” Through his translations of Vedic texts such as the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada taught others the instructions of Lord Krishna in a way that was understandable to all…
Srila Prabhupada is a Friend to All
Author unknown
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, more affectionately known as Srila Prabhupada, is the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, or more popularly known as The Hare Krishna Movement. The movement was inaugurated in India by Lord Caitanya almost five hundred years ago. The age that we currently live in is full of quarrel and dissent and the only means of self-realization is through the constant chanting of the holy name of God.
The Hare Krishna mantra, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, is found in the ancient scriptures of India, and is the most powerful of mantras in this age since it directly addresses God and His energy in a loving way. Lord Chaitanya freely distributed this mantra to all of India through congregational chanting. Srila Prabhupada, a spiritual master in the disciplic succession descending from Lord Chaitanya, preached this same movement in the mid 1960s beginning in America and eventually spreading throughout the world.
21 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Devotee's, Srila Prabhupada, Vegetarian Cooking, Yamuna devi Tags: equal to all, Govindam Prayers, panditah sama-darsinah, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty, Vegetarian cookbooks, Yamuna devi
Srila Prabhupada with Yamuna Devi
As many of you already know, Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi, one of the first disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, departed on the morning of the auspicious day of Saphala Ekadasi. She is well-known for her glorious contributions to the Iskcon society and the world at large. She has authored many fine award winning books on Vegetarian cooking, and is famous as a kirtan leader, and for her beautiful singing of the Govindam Adipurusham prayers that we hear and chant daily in all of the Hare Krishna Centers throughout the world. We offer her our respectful obiesances.
The following is a Presentation to the GBC, on “Women in ISKCON”, March 2000
Srila Prabhupada’s Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty
Presentation by Yamuna devi dasi
What a week of Vaisnava sadhu-satsanga this has been! I leave the richer, having exchanged with my family members, old and new, Godbrothers, Godsisters, nephews and nieces. While I feel most unqualified to speak to you today, I am honoured and privileged to join my Godsisters in voicing my concerns as a woman in ISKCON.
As the GBC body, all of you are responsible for establishing Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, which, in these difficult and turbulent times, is at stake. One realm of that legacy – the rapport Srila Prabhupada established with his Vaisnavi disciples – is the topic of our discussion today, because over the years since his disappearance it has been largely forgotten. Perhaps my personal service and association with him, along with his later guidance and instructions, offer some insights in this area.
As a strong and independent young woman I met Srila Prabhupada in 1966 and took initiation in 1967. Had Srila Prabhupada demanded conformity to orthodox roles for women as a condition of surrender, I, along with many of my Godsisters, would probably not have joined ISKCON. That he did not is testament to his spiritual vision. He lovingly encouraged and engaged us in the service of the sankirtana movement, and he consistently revealed himself to be panditah sama-darsinah – equal to all.
04 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada Tags: Advent of Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna, battle of Kurksetra, bhagavad-gita, essays and articles, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Awami Prabhupada, Krishna, origin of Bhagavad-gita
In honor of the Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita we are reprinting an Essay on the Bhagavad-gita written by Srila Prabhupada and published on the advent of Bhagavad-gita in 1948
Interpretations of Bhagavad-gita
Originally published c. 1948, on the auspicious observance of the advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita.]
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
It has become a luxurious fashion of the day, along with the progress of material civilization, that everyone can make his interpretation of the great Indian philosophy called the Bhagavad-gītā. This concise form of Vedic knowledge, known as the Gītopaniṣad, is acknowledged by all sections of transcendental scholars, in India especially, as the cream of all Upaniṣads and that of Vedānta-sūtras also. Scholars and ācāryas like Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya and some of his followers also could not leave out this very important book of knowledge, although such scholars of the Māyāvāda school did not acknowledge the bona fides of the Purāṇas. But the interpretation of Śrī Śaṅkarācārya differs from the interpretations of the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas headed by Śrī Ramanujācārya and Madhvācārya. There are innumerable interpretations of the Bhagavad-gītā in the market, and it is certainly a puzzling business to select which of the various interpretations shall be accepted as bona fide and which of them shall be rejected as mala fide.
In order to make a distinction between these two classes of bona fide and mala fide interpretations, we have to make an impartial study of the book, and such unbiased study only will make us able to discern the bona fide from the mala fide.
In this connection, we may first of all try to find out the origin of the Bhagavad-gītā. It is wrong to understand that The Bhagavad-gītā was first spoken in the battlefield of Kurukṣetra as it is a part of the great history of India, namely, the Mahābhārata. We can understand from the talks of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, that long, long before the battle of Kurukṣetra, this philosophy was once spoken by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Vivasvān (the Sun), and from Vivasvān the knowledge was transferred to Manu, and from Manu it was transferred to King Ikṣvāku. And, in that way of disciplic succession, the knowledge has come down to generations after generations, but in course of time, such disciplic succession broke, and therefore, Śrī Kṛṣṇa again repeated the same yoga or transcendental knowledge to Arjuna. In the beginning of the 4th Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, this fact is stated as follows:
12 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Srila Prabhupada, Uncategorized, YouTube Tags: brahma-muhurta, Lord of Vrndavana, Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka, service to Krishna, Sri Gurvastakam Prayers, Srila Prabhupada YouTube
Srila Prabhupada sings Sri Gurvastakam Prayers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMiyGh2elHU&feature=player_embedded
Sri-Sri-Gurv-astaka
(Eight prayers Glorifying the Spiritual Master)
By Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who appeared in the latter half of the 17th century, is a great spiritual master in the Krsna Consciousness chain of gurus and disciples. He says that one should loudly chant the following eight prayers, with great care and attention, during the brahma-muhurta, the auspicious time an hour and a half before sunrise when devotional practices are especially potent. Anyone who thus chants these eight beautiful prayers glorigying the spiritual master will certainly get a chance to render direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavan, after the demise of his body. (from 1974 edition of “Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas)
For complete sanskrit text, translation and purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada…
08 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: as uttamasloka, great devotees, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, lotus feet, praised by selected verse, Srimad Bhagavatam
A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything.
Srimad Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto 4, Chapter 20, Text 25
sa uttamaśloka mahan-mukha-cyuto
bhavat-padāmbhoja-sudhā kaṇānilaḥ
smṛtiṁ punar vismṛta-tattva-vartmanāṁ
kuyogināṁ no vitaraty alaṁ varaiḥ
saḥ—that; uttama-śloka—O Lord, who are praised by selected verses; mahat—of great devotees; mukha-cyutaḥ—delivered from the mouths; bhavat—Your; pada-ambhoja—from the lotus feet; sudhā—of nectar; kaṇa—particles; anilaḥ—soothing breeze; smṛtim—remembrance; punaḥ—again; vismṛta—forgotten; tattva—to the truth; vartmanām—of persons whose path; ku-yoginām—of persons not in the line of devotional service; naḥ—of us; vitarati—restores; alam—unnecessary; varaiḥ—other benedictions.
My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.
It is explained in the previous verse that one has to hear glorification of the Lord from the mouth of a pure devotee. This is further explained here. The transcendental vibration from the mouth of a pure devotee is so powerful that it can revive the living entity’s memory of his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In our material existence, under the influence of illusory māyā, we have almost forgotten our eternal relationship with the Lord, exactly like a man sleeping very deeply who forgets his duties. In the Vedas it is said that every one of us is sleeping under the influence of māyā. We must get up from this slumber and engage in the right service, for thus we can properly utilize the facility of this human form of life. As expressed in a song by Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, Lord Caitanya says, jīva jāga, jīva jāga. The Lord asks every sleeping living entity to get up and engage in devotional service so that his mission in this human form of life may be fulfilled. This awakening voice comes through the mouth of a pure devotee.
29 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Festivals, Srila Prabhupada Tags: disappearance of vaisnavas, Disapperance Day of Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lord Krishna's devotee, SB 4.20.25, Srimad Bhagavatam, uttama-sloka
Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana; Vrindavan India
“He reasons ill that Vaisnavas die when thou art living still in sound. The Vaisnava dies to live, and living spreads the holy name around.”
Today is the Disappearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada had this to say about the disappearance of Vaisnavas
“As Lord Krsna’s appearance and disappearance are all spiritual, transcendental, they are not ordinary things, similarly, Lord Krsna’s devotee, His representative, who is sent to this material world for preaching the glories of Lord Krsna, their appearance and disappearance is also like Krsna’s. Therefore, according to Vaisnava principles, the appearance and disappearance of Vaisnava is considered all-auspicious.”
In honor of Srila Prabhupadas disappearance day we are posting this nice verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam explaining the importance of hearing from a pure devotee.
Opportunity to Hear from the Pure Devotee
Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of the importance of hearing from a pure devotee (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25):
sa uttamasloka mahan-mukha-cyuto
bhavat-padambhoja-sudha-kananilah
smrtim punar vismrta-tattva-vartmanam
kuyoginam no vitaraty alam varaih
sah—that; uttama-sloka—O Lord, who are praised by selected verses; mahat—of great devotees; mukha-cyutah—delivered from the mouths; bhavat—Your; pada-ambhoja—from the lotus feet; sudha—of nectar; kana—particles; anilah—soothing breeze; smrtim—remembrance; punah—again; vismrta—forgotten; tattva—to the truth; vartmanam—of persons whose path; ku-yoginam—of persons not in the line of devotional service; nah—of us; vitaratialam—unnecessary; varaih—other benedictions.
Translation
My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.
24 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Back to Godhead, Devotee's, Hayagriva das, Srila Prabhupada Tags: disciples of Srila Prabhupada, Hayagriva dasa, holy river Yamuna, India, Karttika, Karttika pilgrims, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, photo by Gurudas, Radha-Damodara Temple, Srila Prabhupada, Vrndavan
“We should try to make Krsna happy like the gopis of Vrndavana. In Vrndavana everyone is trying to please Krsna—the birds, trees, cows, the river and all His associates. It is not that Vrndavana is only here. We can have Vrndavana everywhere. Krsna is not limited. We should not think that Krsna is far away in Goloka Vrndavana and cannot accept food from us. If you offer food with love, Krsna eats. Krsna does not leave Goloka Vrndavana, but His expansion goes and accepts food. This Vrndavana, which so happens to appear in India, is as worshipable as Krsna. As Krsna is worshipable, His dhama [residence] is also worshipable. So we cannot offend His dhama. If we live in Vrndavana, we are living with Krsna, for Vrndavana is nondifferent from Krsna. There is no difference between the original Vrndavana and this Vrndavana. Vrndavana is so powerful.”
With Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana
By Hayagriva Dasa
Vrndavana, India, the land of Krsna five thousand years after the disappearance of the Supreme Person, is invaded by eighty American and European disciples of Srila Prabhupada. The white and saffron robed pilgrims arrive in Vrndavana for Karttika, a celebration of Krsna’s rasa dance with the cowherd girls (gopis) of Vrndavana. Yearly, Vrndavana is crowded with Karttika pilgrims from October 15th to November 15th, the best time of year for Vrndavana, a month of clear, pleasant days and cool nights.
Vrndavana is approached by train from Delhi to Mathura, about ninety miles to the Southeast of Delhi. From Mathura, one takes a bus some eight miles to the village of Vrndavana bordered on three sides by the holy River Yamuna. As a cowherd boy, Krsna sported in the Yamuna, and Vaisnavas consider its waters more purifying than the Ganges itself. In Krsna’s time, Vrndavana was a forest, as its name indicates. Today it is a congested holy-town forgotten by the tourist maps, a town of crumbling temples, memories, chanting devotees, filth and poverty-stricken masses. Tourists whiz by it on the Delhi-Agra Express, unaware of passing Krsna’s old abode. Vrndavana was rediscovered by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciples Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami in the early 16th Century. Many magnificent temples were built in honor of Lord Krsna, but despite the sanctity of the place, it has not been kept up.
21 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Srila Prabhupada, Temples Tags: Bhaktisiddhanta das, bronze bas relief panels of Srila Prabhupada, Parvati devi dasi, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir
Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir
Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir
BY: PARVATI DEVI DASI
Oct 20, 2011 — VRNDAVANA DHAM, INDIA (SUN)
Announcement of the unveiling of the bronze bas relief panels depicting the life, works and mission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, to take place at the Krishna Balarama Mandir in the divine Samadhi at Raman Reti, Vrndavana, Dist. Mathura, U.P., on 29 October 2011, 5 p.m.
We would be privileged if you would kindly grace our function with your esteemed presence for this momentous occasion. Nothing of this magnitude, import, beautiful artistry and craft has ever been produced before anywhere in the world at any time. Created by esteemed American sculptor Bhaktisiddhanta das, it will make an historic landmark in the art world as well as the culture of Vrndavana, Land of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON culture.
Please take time out of your busy schedule to honour us by attending this brief but extraordinary cultural event.
Your servants for ISKCON
and the Samadhi Mandir,
Pancagauda das, Temple President
Parvati devi dasi, Samadhi Servant
Pasted from; http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/news/10-11/news4035.htm
14 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Srila Prabhupada, YouTube Tags: Bhaktivedanta Manor, devotees, Gurudas, Hare Krishna, Iskcon, London Temple, Shyamasundara dasa, Srila Prabhupada, Sriman George Harrison, Yamuna Devi Dasi
The Life of Krishna’s Pure Devotee; Srila Prabhupada / Part One
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare
02 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Back to Godhead, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, BTG 1978, disciples, final instructions, Srila Prabhupada Speaks out
Remembering Srila Prabhupada
Back to Godhead Magazine
Volume 13, Number 102, 1978
During his last months, Srila Prabhupada was not very active physically, and he spoke relatively little. Yet when he did speak, his words were full of spiritual strength. These excerpts from Srila Prabhupada’s last statements reveal the mind of the pure devotee and universal teacher. And they show that Srila Prabhupada is indeed a transcendental personality, whose devotion to Lord Krsna and to the mission of spreading love of Krsna is undying.
“There is nothing new to be said. Whatever I had to say, I have already said in my books. Now you must all try to understand it and continue with your endeavors. Whether I am present or not present doesn’t matter. Just as Krsna is living eternally, the living being also lives eternally. But especially… kirtir yasya sa jivati: ‘One who has done service to the Lord lives forever.’ You have been taught to serve Krsna, and with Krsna we’ll live eternally. Our life is eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire: the disappearance of this temporary body doesn’t matter. The body is meant for disappearance. So, live forever by serving Krsna. Thank you very much.”
05 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Devotee's, Mukunda das Goswami, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Hare Krishna, Indian Swami, Mukunda das, servant of God, Srila Prabhupada, The Science of Self Realization
The Science of Self Realization
Foreword By Mukunda Das
From the very start, I knew that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda was the most extraordinary person I had ever met. The first meeting occurred in the summer of 1966, in New York City. A friend had invited me to hear a lecture by “an old Indian svāmī” on lower Manhattan’s Bowery. Overwhelmed with curiosity about a svāmī lecturing on skid row, I went there and felt my way up a pitch-black staircase. A bell-like, rhythmic sound got louder and clearer as I climbed higher. Finally I reached the fourth floor and opened the door, and there he was.
About fifty feet away from where I stood, at the other end of a long, dark room, he sat on a small dais, his face and saffron robes radiant under a small light. He was elderly, perhaps sixty or so, I thought, and he sat cross-legged in an erect, stately posture. His head was shaven, and his powerful face and reddish horn-rimmed glasses gave him the look of a monk who had spent most of his life absorbed in study. His eyes were closed, and he softly chanted a simple Sanskrit prayer while playing a hand drum. The small audience joined in at intervals, in call-and-response fashion. A few played hand cymbals, which accounted for the bell-like sounds I’d heard. Fascinated, I sat down quietly at the back, tried to participate in the chanting, and waited.
02 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Devotee's, Rupanuga das, Srila Prabhupada Tags: Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Hare Krishna Movement, Kali-yuga, Rupanuga dasa, World Acarya, Yuga Dharma
Recent history has demonstrated Srila Prabhupada to be by far the greatest exponent of Lord Caitanya’s teachings, who freed them, carried them from the Indian sub-continent to the rest of the world. It is said that Nityananda Prabhu plundered the storehouse of love of God when preaching in Bengal by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 477 years later Srila Prabhupada again plundered that storehouse, only to return with the treasure to India to distribute it once again! These feats are impossible to duplicate. They have already changed the course of history.
The World Acarya
By: Rupanuga Dasa (ACBSP 66)
Aug 21, 2011 — FLORIDA, USA (SUN)
Even though Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam were spoken and recorded in 3,000 B.C., it wasn’t until 1965 A.D., 5,000 years later, that these original sastras containing the Yuga Dharma were released from India by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivinode Thakur had previously inaugurated the Hare Krsna Movement, the emblem of that Yuga Dharma, when he sent his Caitanya—His Life and Precepts to McGill University, Canada, in 1896. More copies of this sublime volume have been found in other countries, suggesting that the Thakur made an extensive mailing to the major English-speaking universities of his day.
31 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Arjuna das, Devotee's, Srila Prabhupada, Vyas-puja Tags: Arjuna das, By Your Mercy, Sampradaya sun, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja offering
By Your Mercy
By: Arjuna Das
Aug 29, 2011 — INDIA (SUN) —
An offering to Srila Prabhupada by Arjuna das.
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Someone explained to me once that ‘ by your mercy’ , we can speak something on this day even though there may be some literary flaws. Just like a loving father appreciates the incoherent stammering of his young child as the child tries to express his affections, by your mercy, you appreciate our outpourings and heartfelt appreciations reposed at your lotus feet.
Your Divine grace is the personification of the bliss of Krsna’s mercy. You are the storehouse of compassion for the poor and suffering souls. You reveal divine knowledge, pure devotion, and ecstatic love of God, and you are the savior of the fallen souls. Therefore I pray to offer this mind, body, and very life at your lotus feet and always hope to chant the divine names of Sri Hari.”
‘By your mercy’ I am getting to understand more and more that your Divine Grace is truly the only light and love in this very dark, temporary world. You are the Supreme Personality of the servitor of Godhead.
23 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Virupaksha das Tags: commander in chief of Lord Chatanya's army, humility, pure spiritual master, spiritual master of the whole world, Srila Prabhupada Epitome of Humility, Virupaksha dasa
Srila Prabhupada: Epitome of Humility
By: Excerpts from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada Compiled by Virupaksha Dasa
The manner in which Srila Prabhupada exhibited the opulence of modesty and humility is beyond compare. In spite of being the spiritual master of the whole world, the confidential associate of the Supreme Lord Krishna, the greatest personality on the surface of the earth, commander-in-chief of Lord Chaitanya’s army, and so much more… still Srila Prabhupada always showed us how humble a pure spiritual master is, even though he controls the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. As an acharya Srila Prabhupada taught everything by his own example.
As Srila Prabhupada says, “The symptoms of a devotee are meekness and humility. Although spiritually very advanced, he will always remain meek and humble, as Kaviraja Gosvami and all the other Vaishnavas have taught us by personal example.” Prabhupada also says in another place, “The more one advances spiritually, the more humble one becomes.” The spiritual master is the most advanced devotee and thus the most humble.
The following is a collection of Srila Prabhupada’s expressions on humility.
My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. ”But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?… But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic. How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.
(Markine Bhagavat-dharma)
22 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Gaudiya Math, Lectures, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada Tags: Gaudiya Matha, Spiritual Life, Srila Prabhupada, The Science of Self Realization, Vyasa Puja
The Absolute Necessity of a Spiritual Master
From; The Science of Self Realization
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In February 1936, in Bombay, India, the members of a reputed religious society, the Gauḍīya Maṭha, were astonished by the powerful and eloquent words of a young member who spoke in honor of his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. Three decades later, the young speaker would become the world-renowned founder and spiritual master of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s presentation is a memorable statement on the importance of the guru in spiritual life.
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
“In the revealed scriptures it is declared that the spiritual master should be worshiped like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this injunction is obeyed by pure devotees of the Lord. The spiritual master is the most confidential servant of the Lord. Thus let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master.”
Gentlemen, on behalf of the members of the Bombay branch of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, let me welcome you all because you have so kindly joined us tonight in our congregational offerings of homage to the lotus feet of the world teacher, Ācāryadeva, who is the founder of this Gauḍīya Mission and is the president-ācārya of Śrī Śrī Viśva-vaiṣṇava Rāja-sabhā—I mean my eternal divine master, Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja.
22 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Festivals, Lectures, Srila Prabhupada, Vyas-puja Tags: birthday of the spiritual master, New Vrindavan 1972 Vyasa-Puja, representative of Vyasa, Srila Prabhupada
Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā Address
New Vrindaban, September 2, 1972
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
…So this Vyāsa-pūjā means one day in a year, on the birthday of the spiritual master, because he is representative of Vyāsa, he is delivering the same knowledge which has come down by disciplic succession without any change, he is offered the respect. This is called Vyāsa-pūjā…
Prabhupāda: Ladies and gentlemen, this ceremony… Of course, those who are my students, they know what is this ceremony. Those who are visitors, for their information, I may inform you something about this ceremony. Otherwise, it may not be misunderstood. A outsider may see it that “Why a person is being worshiped like God?” There may be some doubt. So this is the etiquette. This ceremony is called Vyāsa-pūjā. Vyāsa. Vyāsa means the original author of Vedic literature. He is incarnation of Nārāyaṇa. He gave us all Vedic knowledge. He received the knowledge from Nārada. Nārada received the knowledge from Brahma. Brahmā received the knowledge from Kṛṣṇa. So in this way, by disciplic succession, we get transcendental knowledge.
22 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Festivals, Srila Prabhupada, Vyas-puja Tags: Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, spiritual master, Sri Vyasa Puja, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das
The Most Blessed Event
Sri Vyasa-Puja August 23rd, 2011
The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Dear Srila Prabhupada
On this most auspicious day, please accept my humble obeisance’s, and kindly forgive my offences. Although I am and insignificant disciple of your Divine Grace, and full of faults, still I am constantly awaiting your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon me. I have never given up my faith, or my love, nor the hope that someday I may be a worthy disciple. As you know my daily prayers always include the words “please forgive my offences”, as I am always feeling myself unworthy to be receiving your mercy. Srila Prabhupada you have been the one constant in my entire adult life, my best friend and ever well wisher. And I remain chaste to you, my lord and master, unconditionally.
Today I was reading from the Letters books, and there was one letter dated November 12th, 1968 addressed to Malati that is the basis for my offering today. In this letter you said;
“Yes, we should always think of ourselves as the most fallen, the most ignorant and it is simply by the mercy of Lord Caitanya that we have even the opportunity to serve Krsna. We have no qualification of our own; it is simply by the merciful glance of this most munificent appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that we have been given the chance to serve Radha and Krsna”
Due to your great humility, you give the credit to Lord Sri Caitanya, but I think it is simply by your mercy that we have received the benediction of Sri Caitanya. It was you who brought a trunk of Srimad Bhagavatams to the West, to open our eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. And it was you who first brought this Chanting of the Hare Krishna Mantra to Tomkins Square Park and due to your beautiful and pure chanting of the Holy Names of God caused the young Bramananda das to dance under the Hare Krishna Tree. It was you who turned the most fallen and most ignorant western hippies into vaisnava scholars and priests. It was simply by your munificent appearance and merciful glance, that the most fallen in this age were given the chance to know Lord Caitanya, and thus were given the chance to serve Radha and Krsna.
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