I guess you could say I have reached old age. I am 72 now and am semi-retired. It is nice to have more free time, where I don’t need to drive to work every morning, where I’m not under the control of some boss, and can pretty much decide what I want to do every day. But this so called free time in old age is not really freedom. Every day I look at the calendar, to check my appointments. One day it is the dentist to get my lose teeth pulled and fitted for dentures, or to again see the doctor about my different medical conditions, and believe me none of this is free.
Then there is the pain and suffering. There is a tiredness and weakness and in some, a loss of memory. These are what I refer to as the indignities of old age.
But in reality we are not this body. We are Spirit soul.
“For the soul there is never birth or death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (Bg 2.20)
As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change. (Bg 2.13)
One should try to understand the distress of accepting birth, death, old age and disease. There are descriptions in various Vedic literatures of birth. In the Srimad Bhagavatam the world of the unborn, the child’s stay in the womb of the mother, its suffering, etc., are all very graphically described. It should be thoroughly understood that birth is distressful. Because we forget how much distress we have suffered within the womb of the mother, we do not make any solution to the repetition of birth and death. Similarly at the time of death, there are all kinds of sufferings, and they are also mentioned in the authoritative scriptures. These should be discussed. And as far as disease and old age are concerned, everyone gets practical experience. No one wants to be diseased, and no one wants to become old, but there is no avoiding these. Unless we have a pessimistic view of this material life, considering the distresses of birth, death, old age and disease, there is no impetus for our making advancement in spiritual life. (from purport to Bg 13. 8-12)
Intelligent persons who are endeavoring for liberation from old age and death take refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they entirely know everything about transcendental and fruitive activities. (Bg 7.29)
Purport
Birth, death, oldage and diseases affect this material body, but not the spiritual body. There is no birth, death, old age and disease for the spiritual body, so one who attains a spiritual body, becomes one of the associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages in eternal devotional service, is really liberated. Aham brahmāsmi: I am spirit. It is said that one should understand that he is Braham—spirit soul. This Brahman conception of life is also in devotional service, as described in this verse. The pure devotees are transcendentally situated on the Brahman platform, and they know everything about transcendental and material activities.
When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes, he can become free from birth, death, oldage and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life. (Bg 14.20)
Purport
How one can stay in the transcendental position, even in this body, in full Krsna consciousness, is explained in this verse. The Sanskrit word dehi means embodied. Although one is within this material body, by his advancement in spiritual knowledge he can be free from the influence of the modes of nature. He can enjoy the happiness of spiritual life even in this body because, after leaving this body, he is certainly going to the spiritual sky. But even in this body he can enjoy spiritual happiness. In other words, devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the sign of liberation from this material entanglement, and this will be explained in the Eighteenth Chapter. When one is freed from the influence of the modes of material nature, he enters into devotional service.
One who is intelligent should be eager to solve these four principal problems—birth, death, old age and disease. No one wants to die, but there is no remedy. Everyone has to die… . There is no stoppage of death, and there is no stoppage of birth. Nor can diseases be stopped, nor can old age, despite all of the latest inventions in medicine.
…where is the solution to these four problems of birth, death, old age and disease? That solution is Krsna consciousness.
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” (Bg. 4.9)
Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened the heart of Lord Brahmā with the details of the creation and manifested the Vedic knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the Vṛndāvana pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, impregnated the heart of Rūpa Gosvāmī with spiritual potency. By this potency, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī could revive the activities of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, activities almost lost to memory. In this way, He spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world. (Cc. Madhya 19.1)
The Nectar of Devotion is a unique spiritual text that explains the devotional science of bhakti-yoga, or Krsna consciousness. Astonishingly intimate in its detailed descriptions of the loving relationships between Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, it is at the same time practical, authoritative and philosophically substantial. It is a summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which was written in Sanskrit over 400 years ago by the great philosopher-devotee Srila Rupa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, and it contains hundreds of quotes from such important Vedic literatures as Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Upaniṣads, Mahābhāraya and the Purāṇas.
The Nectar of Devotion has been called the “lawbook of Krsna consciousness,” for it is the text which guides the devotees of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in the details of their daily lives. It elaborately explains the philosophical background behind the many rules and regulations that devotees of Kṛṣṇa voluntarily follow, and it probes deeply into the thoughts and emotions that motivate a Kṛṣṇa conscious devotee.
Most importantly, The Nectar of Devotion goes beyond the limitations of both empty religious sentiment and dry, impersonal philosophy. It brings the reader to a factual understanding of the eternal activities of the spiritual world and offers practical step-by-step instructions which can enable the serious student to actually enter into these pastimes, in a personal, face-to-face loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
THE NECTAR OF DEVOTION A Summary Study of Srila Pupa Gosvāmī’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
ISKCON PRESS 38 North Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02134
We are still in the month of Damodara (Kartika). In honor and in celebration of the month of Damodara, we will be focusing our attention on the pastimes of Krishna in Vrndavan. Especially Krishna’s childhood pastimes.
Upon seeing His mothers whipping stick, He cried and rubbed His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes were fearful and His breathing quick, and as Mother Yasoda bound His belly with ropes, He shivered in fright and His pearl necklace shook. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, who is bound with His devotee’s love, I offer my humble obeisances. (Damodarastakam verse 2)
The following is the summary of Chapter 9 of the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, entitled “Mother Yasoda Binds Lord Krsna.“
And following that, is a nice purport by Visnujana Swami describing the verse in more detail.
Every day I preform some simple devotional service, that somehow gives me great pleasure. Its such a little thing really, I refill Srila Prabhupadas water cupon our home altar. It is a tiny cup really, not a big service, but I relish this simple task.
My favorite verse from the Bhagavad-gita, and also the first verse I memorized was:
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
TRANSLATION
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. (Bg 9.26)
So every day as part of my devotional practice, I offer Srila Prabhupada and Krishna a little leaf, a flower, fruit and water. Such a simple thing really, but it gives me great joy.
“Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krishna mantra and worship God.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture, London’s Conway Hall, November, 1969)
I don’t make it to the temple very often, I chose to worship the Lord in the comfort of our own home, but with the right attitude, and a spirit of devotion, it is non-different. Hare Krishna -V
I love this month of Damodara (Kartik). Every evening we sing the Damodarastakam Prayers and offer a candle to the Lord. I am sure everyone has a favorite verse. The verse that melts my heart is verse 5.
idaḿ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair vṛtaḿ kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā muhuś cumbitaḿ bimba-raktādharaḿ me manasy āvirāstām alaḿ lakṣa-lābhaiḥ
O Lord, the cheeks of Your blackish lotus face, which is encircled by locks of curling hair, have become reddened like bimba fruit due to Mother Yasoda’s kisses. What more can I describe than this? Millions of opulences are of no use to me, but may this vision constantly remain in my mind.
I remember singing this song with Visnujana Swami, and he has given a nice purport to the verse I found on KKSongs.
The poet demonstrates in this verse that longing for the association of the Lord in the heart is the best means to achieve Him. The longing to see the beautiful lotus face of the Lord, which is supremely enchanting, is stated first (idam te mukhambhojam). The indescribably sweet face of Sri Krishna resembles a lotus flower in full bloom. Simply by seeing His face, which is the treasure house of supreme bliss, all anxiety and distress disappear. Therefore, may that lotus face (mukhambhojam) manifest within the mind even just once (manasy avirastam), or again and again (muhuh), or constantly (sada). The concept of sada is carried over from the previous verse to give its definitive conclusion in this verse. All three meanings are intended.
That lotus face is always surrounded (vrtam) by curling hair (kuntalaih) which is a very dark blue color (atyanta-nilair). It is tinged with a reddish hue (raktaih) and is shining (snigdha). The curly locks encircling Krishna’s face bounce as He moves here and there, just as a lotus flower is surrounded by hovering honey bees. This is the meaning suggested by vrtan. His lotus face is kissed again and again by Mother Yasoda (gopya). The word muhuh (again and again), defines the supremely fortunate gopi (gopya) who repeatedly kisses that divine lotus face (muhus cumbitam).
Furthermore, Krishna’s lotus face is adorned with crimson red lips like the bimba fruit (bimba-raktadharam). That form is so completely enchanting and satisfying that millions of other attainments (laksa-labhaih) are simply useless (alam). They have no value. This is the meaning of the verse. (Visnujana Swami)
He lives forever by his divine instructions, and the follower lives with him.
These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing. (Letter to Rupanuga Das, 19/10/74)
Regarding parampara system, there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. […]We have to pick up the prominent acaryas and follow from him. (Letter to Dayananda, 12/4/68)
My wife shared this with me from Facebook. It is a very nice compilation of quotes answering the question: Does the Guru have to be physically present?
Srila Prabhupada on Vapu and Vani
Physical presence is immaterial. Presence of the transcendental sound received from the Spiritual Master should be the guidance of life. That will make our spiritual life successful. If you feel very strongly about my absence you may place my pictures on my sitting places and this will be source of inspiration for you. (Letter to Brahmananda and other students, 19/1/67)
But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection.(Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)
Kartik, also known as the month of Damodara, is a month for deepening one’s love for Krishna. It is proclaimed in the Purana’s to be the holiest month of the year.
“Among all twelve months, the month of Kartik is dear to Lord Krishna. If somebody performs a little worship of Lord Sri Hari in this month, that devotee is offered His own abode.” – Padma Purana
We are now in the month of Damodara (Kartika). In honor and in celebration of the month of Damodara, we will be focusing our attention on the pastimes of Krishna in Vrndavan. Especially Krishna’s childhood pastimes. The following is the first verse from the Damodarastkam prayer which is sung morning and evening, and it is customary to offer a candle or gee lamp as well to a picture of Lord Krsna and Mother Yasoda.
“To the supreme controller who possesses an eternal form of blissful knowledge, whose glistening earrings swing to and fro, who manifested Himself in Gokula, who stole the butter that the gopis kept hanging from the rafters of their storerooms and who then quickly jumped up and ran in retreat in fear of Mother Yasoda, but was ultimately caught-to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.“ (Sri Damodarastakam verse 1)
Once, seeing that her maidservant was engaged in different household work, mother Yashoda personally churned butter. While she churned butter, she sang the wonderful childhood pastimes of her son Krishna and relished thinking of Him. At that time Krishna appeared there and was hungry. He wanted her to stop churning the butter and feed Him first.
Mother Yashoda took her son on her lap and started feeding Him. While Krishna was sucking the milk, mother Yashoda smiled and enjoyed the beauty of Her child Krishna. Suddenly, the milk which was on the stove began to boil over. Just to stop the milk from spilling, mother Yashoda at once put Krishna aside and went to the stove. Left in that state by His mother, Krishna became very angry, and His lips and eyes became red in rage. He pressed His teeth and lips, and taking up a piece of stone, He immediately broke the butter pot. He took butter out of it, and with false tears in His eyes, He began to eat the butter in a secluded place.
In the meantime, mother Yashoda returned to the churning place after setting the overflowing milk pan in order. She saw the broken pot, in which the churned yogurt had been kept. Since she could not find her boy, she concluded that the broken pot was His work. She smiled as she thought, “The child is very clever. After breaking the pot He has left this place, fearing punishment.” After she sought all over, she found her son sitting on a big wooden grinding mortar, which was kept upside down. He was taking butter from a pot which was hanging from the ceiling on a swing, and He was feeding it to the monkeys.
She saw Krishna looking this way and that way in fear of her because He was conscious of His naughty behavior. After seeing her son so engaged, she very silently approached Him from behind. Krishna, however, saw her coming toward Him with a stick in her hand, and He immediately got down from the grinding mortar and began to flee in fear. Mother Yashoda chased Him to all corners, trying to capture the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never approached even by the meditations of great yogis. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, who is never caught by the yogis and speculators, was playing just like a little child for such a great devotee as mother Yashoda. Mother Yashoda, however, could not easily catch the fast-running child because of her thin waist and heavy body. Still she tried to follow Him as fast as possible. Her hair loosened, and the flowers in her hair fell to the ground. Although she was tired, she somehow reached her naughty child and captured Him. When He was caught, Krishna was almost on the point of crying. He smeared His hands over His eyes, which were anointed with black eye cosmetics. The child saw His mother’s face while she stood over Him, and His eyes became restless from fear. (from Krsna Book Chapter 9)
I found this interesting. This is the very first issue of “Back to Godhead” magazine published in 1944, India. Srila Prabhupada is explaining the purpose and mission of this publicationwith the following words:
…I wish that every one who is enlightened and educated of all nationality, may take active interest in this periodical publication for wide circulation as this paper will contain only the transcendental messages of the great savants of India and specially of Lord Chaitanya, the Godhead Incarnate Who descended for the deliverance of all fallen souls in the present age. My duty will be simply to repeat in the “BACK TO GODHEAD” just like an interpreter what I have heard from and what I have been ordered to deliver by my great spiritual master H.D.G. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. Nothing will be manufactured by me by my mental concoction. Such words will descend as Sound Transcendental and when they are given proper serving reception by the aural channel, surely they will act like medicine to carry all back to home and “BACK TO GODHEAD.”
…The subject matters delineated in the pages of “Back to Godhead” may seem to be very dry in the beginning as the messages are from a different sphere altogether but still we have to give attention to the messages if we really mean to cure the disease of Nescience and go “BACK TO GODHEAD.”
…Godhead is One without a second and all living entities are His eternal subordinate transcendental servitors. Realization of this transcendental relation, will be the attempt of this paper and therefore there is no bar for any one in the world irrespective of colour, creed and nationality, to go back to Godhead.
Abhay Charan De, Editor and Founder.
You can view or download the scanned pages of this issue ofBack to Godheadby clinking on link
Or read the text of entire copy of this historic first issue that we have posted below
One time a devotee asked Srila Prabhupada, “‘”what is the most important sloka” and Srila Prabhupada replied:
yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ.
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” ((Śvetāśvatara Upanisad 6.23)
I was reading one letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to Jaya Govinda back in 1969, wherein Jaya Govinda was expressing some weakness in his faith, and Srila Prabhupada replied with such compassion, patience, and kind understanding.
…Of course, weakness in Krishna Consciousness we should always feel. That is a good symptom. We should never think that we are strong enough. But the source of strength is Krishna and His manifest representative, the Spiritual Master. We get this instruction from Caitanya-caritmrta that we receive the seed of Krishna Consciousness through the Spiritual Master and Krishna. Therefore, we should serve both simultaneously for continuous supply of spiritual vitality.
…When you came from India to Germany you told me that you felt complete satisfaction being in Germany, having a good engagement for serving Krishna. But at present you express that you may not be feeling that satisfaction intact. If you would explain to me why you are feeling like that, then I can help you.
… But in all circumstances we should have our staunch faith in Krishna and the Spiritual Master. Then we will never be shaken off. (Letter to Jaya Govinda October 15, 1969)
There is one nice verse in the Caitanya-caritmrta which describes this sentiment of faith:
“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 Krsna 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“. (Cc. Ādi 7.95-96)
Purport
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. It is said in the Vedas:
yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” This Vedic injunction is very important, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu supported it by His personal behavior. Believing in the words of His spiritual master, He introduced the sankirtan movement, just as the present Krsna consciousness movement was started with belief in the words of our spiritual master. He wanted to preach, we believed in his words and tried somehow or other to fulfill them, and now this movement has become successful all over the world. Therefore faith in the words of the spiritual master and in the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the secret of success. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu never disobeyed the orders of His spiritua master and stopped propagating the saṅkīrtana movement. Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Gosvāmī, at the time of his passing away, ordered all his disciples to work conjointly to preach the mission of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world. Later, however, some self-interested, foolish disciples disobeyed his orders. Each one of them wanted to become head of the mission, and they fought in the courts, neglecting the order of the spiritual master, and the entire mission was defeated. We are not proud of this; however, the truth must be explained. We believed in the words of our spiritual master and started in a humble way—in a helpless way—but due to the spiritual force of the order of the supreme authority, this movement has become successful.
Altough I have been to Hawaii a few times, I never got the chance to visit the Hawaii Iskcon Temple. But I have always heard about the beautiful Pancha Tattva Deities, and that they were the first Pancha Tattva Deities Installed by Srila Prabhupada in all of ISKCON.
The ISKCON Hawaii Temple is a nonsectarian community dedicated to spiritual education and promoting unity and peace in the world through chanting of the mahã mãntra, distributing sanctified vegetarian food and propagating spiritual knowledge and practices based on the ancient Vedic teachings of Bhakti Yoga, as presented by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The first Pancha Tattva deities in Iskcon were installed in Honolulu, Hawaii in May 1972 by Iskcon Founder and Acarya: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Home of the Pancha Tattva
The Pancha Tattva represent five divine aspects, each manifesting to share the profound blessing of love for God. These personalities appeared with unique roles in the sacred mission of distributing God’s love.
The Pancha Tattva represent five divine aspects, each manifesting to share the profound blessing of love for God. These personalities appeared with unique roles in the sacred mission of distributing God’s love.
Although the book “Life Comes From Life” has been on our bookshelf for many years, I never really opened it until today. Mostly because my mind was not so scientifically inclined.But when I opened it, and began reading from the Introduction, I could see, even though it was originally published by the BBT back in 1979, it is very relevant to today’s current events.
When I read these following words from the Introduction, to “Life Comes From Life” by Srila Prabhupada, I came to realize just how prophetic, his words were. -V
“…a veil of fantasy and deception can be created with such unprecedented expertise that it can become impossible for us to distinguish between substance and simulation, reality and illusion.…”
Life Comes From Life
Introduction
Once upon a time (as in a fairy tale), most of us believed that the food we ate was basically wholesome, nutritious and free from dangerous chemicals, that advertising may have been believable, and that product labels truly described the qualities and contents of what we fed ourselves and our families. Once upon a time, most of the world believed in the integrity of our heads of state, high-ranking political officials and local leaders. Once upon a time, we thought our children were getting a solid education in the public school system. Once upon a time, many of us believed atomic energy had “peacetime uses” that were perfectly safe and completely congruous with a happy and healthy society.
Yet in recent times our illusions have been shattered. Repeated exposes of widespread consumer fraud and grand political collusion and bribery have all but destroyed our former innocence. We now know that through mass marketing and the media, a veil of fantasy and deception can be created with such unprecedented expertise that it can become impossible for us to distinguish between substance and simulation, reality and illusion.
Today many scientists are propagating the doctrine that life originates from matter. However, they cannot provide proof, either experimentally or theoretically. In fact, they hold their stance essentially on faith, in the face of all sorts of scientific objections. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this groundless dogma has done great damage to moral and spiritual standards worldwide and has thus caused incalculable suffering.
It has been suggested that we do a post on Srutakirti Prabhu, a prominent disciple, and personal servant of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. He has recently been traveling and speaking on his memories of Srila Prabhupada, and enlivening listeners with his personal remembrances.
Srutakirti Prabhu stands as one of the most revered personalities in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), primarily known for his intimate service as Srila Prabhupada’s personal attendant. His unique position allowed him unprecedented access to the daily life and teachings of ISKCON’s founder, experiences he has generously shared through his writings, lectures, and personal interactions with devotees worldwide. His humility, dedication, and deep spiritual insights continue to inspire thousands of devotees as he maintains his service attitude into his senior years at the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan.
Its funny how you can read Bhagavad-gita for years, and everytime you read from it, something new jumps out at you. For instance this morning, I happened upon a word I must have seen before, but never noticed: Kṛṣṇa-karma. I have seen karma-kāṇḍa before, and jñāna-kāṇḍa but never have I noticed the word Krsna-karma. I like this word.
I ran across this word Krsna-karma while reading from the purport to text 55 in the eleventh chapter of Bhagavad-gita. We share with you this very important text and purport.
Anyone who wants to approach the Supreme of all the Personalities of Godhead, on the Kṛṣṇaloka planet in the spiritual sky, and be intimately connected with the Supreme Personality, Kṛṣṇa, must take this formula, as is stated by the Supreme Himself. Therefore, this verse is considered to be the essence of Bhagavad-gītā. The Bhagavad-gītā is a book directed to the conditioned souls, who are engaged in the material world with the purpose of lording it over nature and who do not know of the real, spiritual life. The Bhagavad-gītā is meant to show how one can understand his spiritual existence and his eternal relationship with the Supreme Spiritual Personality and to teach one how to go back home, back to Godhead. Now here is the verse which clearly explains the process by which one can attain success in his spiritual activity: devotional service. As far as work is concerned, one should transfer his energy entirely to Kṛṣṇa conscious activities. No work should be done by any man except in relationship to Kṛṣṇa. This called Kṛṣṇa-karma. (from purport to Bg. 11.55)
I found this Advertisement most amusing. Most durable vinyl, because you will never tire of playing this record. That is an actual fact! I have probably listened to this album thousands of times, almost every day for many years. A friend jokingly asked me one time when we were discussing all our musical interests, “If your were banished to a remote island and could only take one record album to listen to for the rest of your life, what would you take?” My answer was immediate, I would take the ‘Krishna Consciousness LP”. So ya, It was a good idea back then to put it on the most durable vinyl in the world.
“Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can be freed from all undesirable habits. This is the means of awakening all good fortune and initiating the flow of waves of love for Kṛṣṇa. (Cc Antya 20.11)
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most recent incarnation of Krsna. He appeared 500 years ago in Bengal, in the form of Krsna’s devotee, in the mood of Srimati Radharani. He left only eight slokas (verses) of His instructions in writing. They describe the glories of the holy names of the Lord and the mood one must have to chant and to be a devotee.
The Sri Siksastakam is a collection of eight sanskrit verses written by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1535), the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. In Sanskrit, śikṣā means “instruction” and aṣṭaka means “consisting of eight parts”.
These verses represent the primary written teachings left by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and focus heavily on the practice, philosophy, and spiritual effects of the congregational chanting (sankirtana) of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
What I found interesting, when reading these verses from the Caitanya-caritamrta, is how the wording is different from the way we all learned it from “The Songs of the Vaisnava Acharya” songbook. The same but different.
“Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step. (Cc Antya 20.12)
Purport
This is the first verse of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Śikṣāṣṭaka. The other seven verses are found in texts 16, 21, 29, 32, 36, 39 and 47.
“My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda, by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting. (Cc Antya 20.16)
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord. (Cc Antya 20.21)
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord. (Cc Antya 20.29)
“Oh, My Lord, O Kṛṣṇa, son of Mahārāja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own fruitive acts, I have fallen in this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to Me. Consider Me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet. (Cc Antya 20.32)
“My dear Lord, when will My eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I chant Your holy name? When will My voice falter and all the hairs on My body stand erect in transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name? (Cc Antya 20.36)
“My Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium. Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void. (Cc Antya 20.39)
“Let Kṛṣṇa tightly embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet. Let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart. (Cc Antya 20.47)
Commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda: Lecture Excerpt — Bombay, November 7, 1970
I was thinking about the following verse the other day:
“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” ( SB 1.2.6)
And in some small way, I was feeling very fortunate. Over the years Srila Prabhupada has kept me engaged in devotional service to Krishna, as a wood worker building different pujari rooms for the Lords paraphernalia, construction projects, maintaining various web pages, gardening, offering food and water to the Lord, worshiping the Lord in our temple room, and washing the Lord’s plates and cups.
Sometimes I think I am just an insignificant servant of my spiritual master, but then I remember what Srila Prabhupada once said about devotional service:“If you had any idea of what you were doing, you would be fainting in ecstasy”. Not to often am I fainting in ecstasy, but I am nonetheless grateful every day, to perform some minimal devotional service.
…Everyone should engage himself in that transcendental loving service of the Lord, even in the present conditional state of material existence. That will gradually give one the clue to actual life and please him to complete satisfaction.” (Bg Introduction)
I was reading from the introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It is…
the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanātana occupation, or sanātana-dharma, which is the eternal occupation of the living entity. We are temporarily engaged in different activities, but all of these activities can be purified when we give up all these temporary activities and take up the activities which are prescribed by the Supreme Lord. That is called our pure life.
The Lord is very kind to the living entities because they are His sons. Lord Krsna declares in Bhagavad-gita 14.4, “sarva-yonisu…aham bija-pradah pita pitā.” “I am the father of all.” Of course there are all types of living entities according to their various karmas, but here the Lord claims that He is the father of all of them. Therefore the Lord descends to reclaim all of these fallen, conditioned souls to call them back to the sanātana eternal sky so that the sanātana living entities may regain their eternal sanātana positions in eternal association with the Lord. The Lord comes Himself in different incarnations, or He sends His confidential servants as sons or His associates or ācāryas to reclaim the conditioned souls.
Therefore, sanatana-dharma does not refer to any sectarian process of religion. It is the eternal function of the eternal living entities in relationship with the eternal Supreme Lord. Sanātana-dharma refers, as stated previously, to the eternal occupation of the living entity. Rāmānujācārya has explained the word sanātana as “that which has neither beginning nor end,” so when we speak of sanātana-dharma, we must take it for granted on the authority of Sri Rāmānujācārya that it has neither beginning nor end.
So in some small way, I am feeling very fortunate.
As I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam this morning about the passing of Bhīṣmadeva it was being described how “The perfect yogīs or mystics can leave the material body at their own sweet will at a suitable time and go to a suitable planet desired by them.” And how it is possiable to go beyond Saṁsāra, and go back to Godhead without any doubt?
…In the momentous hour of leaving his material body, Bhīṣmadeva set the glorious example concerning the important function of the human form of life. The subject matter which attracts the dying man becomes the beginning of his next life. Therefore, if one is absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he is sure to go back to Godhead without any doubt.
And what is Samsara?
Saṁsāra means material existence. That is called saṁsāra. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19). You take your birth once in some form of body. You live for some time. Then you have to give up this body. Then you have to accept another body. Then again live for some time. Then give up that body. Again accept another body. In this way, it is going on. That is called saṁsāra, rotating within this material world. (Lecture on Gurvastakam at Upsala University by His Divine Grace -Stockholm, September 9, 1973)
The saṁsāra means repetition of different bodies. That is called saṁsāra. (Lecture on SB 1.2.4 -Rome, May 28, 1974)
Saṁsāra means this material entanglement. This is called saṁsāra. (Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 25.40-50 – San Francisco, January 24, 1967)
Today we honor the disappearance day of Haridas Thakur.
Haridas Thakur is considered to be the namacarya, the spiritual master in chanting the holy name of Krsna. Though he was born in a low class, Muslim family, Lord Caitanya’s devotees respected him as being better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krsna 300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridas Thakur spread the chanting of Krsna’s name throughout Bengal. In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridas Thakur spent his later days, Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and discuss with him topics of Krsna. Haridas Thakur died chanting Krsna’s name in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridas Thakur’s death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition
The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives great pleasure from glorifying His devotees, and among the devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the foremost.
The transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are innumerable and unfathomable. One may describe a portion of them, but to count them all is impossible.
In Caitanya-maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has described the attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura to some extent.
No one can describe all the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One may say something about them just to purify himself.
O devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, please hear something about the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not described in detail.
After leaving his home, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stayed for some time in the forest of Benāpola.
Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.
Last night I woke in the middle of the night , and couldn’t fall back asleep. While laying there, my mind just kinda went to thoughts of Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Krishna as his spiritual master with these famous words from the Bhagavad-gita:
O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality. (Bg 10.14)
This lead me to think of our relationship with our spiritual master His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. And I came to the same conclusion as Arjuna. “I totally accept as truth all that You have told me“.
So I was thinking of our unique relationship with Srila Prabhupada. “Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality”.Maybe the whole world outside of the circle of disciples and followers of His Divine Grace, cannot know his greatness and divine personality, but as disciples and followers, we can began to understand. Our relationship with Srila Prabhupada is much like that relationship between Krishna and Arjuna.
With that last thought, I fell back asleep, reflecting on Srila Prabhupada. -V
Today we celebrate the Appearance of Lord Vamanadeva, the fifteenth Incarnation, wherin Krsna assumed the form of a dwarf brahmana.
“In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brāhmaṇa [Vāmana]…” (SB 1.19.19)
The following is a chapter summary from Srimad Bhagavatam, eight canto, chapter 18, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation”, describing the Lord’s appearance and activities, and a verse from the First Canto.
Srimad-Bhagavatam By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Canto One, Chapter 19, Text 19
pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the dwarf brāhmaṇa; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart to return; tri-piṣṭapam—the kingdom of the three planetary systems.
TRANSLATION
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
PURPORT
The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly, He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Canto 8, Chapter 18
Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
This chapter describes how Lord Vāmanadeva appeared and how He went to the sacrificial arena of Mahārāja Bali, who received Him well and fulfilled His desire by offering Him benedictions.
