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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Jewels of South India

August 16, 2017 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Jewels of South India:

Ram Pujan Das and Madhuvan Ashram

By Narasimha das

 

I have been going to South India since 1975.  After Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, I began wondering if I might ever be fortunate enough to meet, in this life, face to face another self-realized pure devotee. In the past people went to holy places to meet genuine sadhus who would instruct them regarding the path of liberation and devotional service. It is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam that pure devotees, such as Mahatma Vidura, go to holy places to purify and protect such places, whereas most pilgrims burden these places by their sinful reactions.

I never had any illusions about meeting a sadhu as exalted as Srila Prabhupada, or even close. Indeed, I was usually disappointed with the people I met in the dress of sadhus. Nonetheless, I remained confident that realized sadhus still existed in India—even though they may be rare or hard to find, like hidden gems. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Sri Syamananda Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] – Saturday, June 10, 2017 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhuimi time]

June 11, 2017 in Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains the exalted position of Shyamananda Goswami
compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Honesty

May 30, 2017 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Preaching in favorable fields.

April 7, 2017 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Sri Bhisma Astami February 4, 2017

February 5, 2017 in Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Saturday, February 4, 2017 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]
Sri Bhisma astami
 
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Bhisma and his passing away

compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Bhisma and his passing away
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB 1.8: Prayers by Queen Kunti and Pariksit Saved : SB 1.8.47 : PURPORT :
King Yudhiṣṭhira, though he was not expected to become aggrieved like a common man, became deluded by worldly affection by the will of the Lord (just as Arjuna was apparently deluded). A man who sees knows well that the living entity is neither the body nor the mind, but is transcendental to the material conception of life. The common man thinks of violence and nonviolence in terms of the body, but that is a kind of delusion. Everyone is duty-bound according to one’s occupational duties. A kṣatriya is bound to fight for the right cause, regardless of the opposite party. In such discharge of duty, one should not be disturbed by annihilation of the material body, which is only an external dress of the living soul. All this was perfectly known to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, but by the will of the Lord he became just like a common man because there was another great idea behind this delusion: the King would be instructed by Bhīṣma as Arjuna was instructed by the Lord Himself.
 
 
dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṁ bhūmau
divaś cyutam ivāmaram
praṇemuḥ pāṇḍavā bhīṣmaṁ
sānugāḥ saha cakriṇā
 
SYNONYMS
 
dṛṣṭvā—thus seeing; nipatitam—lying down; bhūmau—on the ground; divaḥ—from the sky; cyutam—fallen; iva—like; amaram—demigod; praṇemuḥ—bowed down; pāṇḍavāḥ—the sons of Pāṇḍu; bhīṣmam—unto Bhīṣma; sa–anugāḥ—with the younger brothers; saha—also with; cakriṇā—the Lord (carrying the disc).
 
 
TRANSLATION
 
Seeing him [Bhīṣma] lying on the ground, like a demigod fallen from the sky, the Pāṇḍava King Yudhiṣṭhira, along with his younger brothers and Lord Kṛṣṇa, bowed down before him.
 
PURPORT
 
Lord Kṛṣṇa was also a younger cousin of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira as well as the intimate friend of Arjuna. But all the family members of the Pāṇḍavas knew Lord Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord, although conscious of His supreme position, always behaved in a humanly custom, and so He also bowed down before the dying Bhīṣmadeva as if He were one of the younger brothers of King Yudhiṣṭhira. Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB 1.9: The Passing Away of Bhismadeva in the Presence of Lord Krsna : SB 1.9.4
 

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Idolatry in Iskcon?

September 4, 2016 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Madhya 8.90  Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya
Following the example of the gopis, the devotees sometimes worship the goddess Katyayani, but they understand that Katyayani is an incarnation of 
Yogamaya. The gopis worshiped Katyayani, Yogamaya, to attain Krsna as their husband. On the other hand, it is stated in the Sapta-sati scripture 
that a ksatriya king named Suratha and a rich vaisya named Samadhi worshiped material nature in the form of Goddess Durga to attain material perfection. 
IF ONE TRIES TO MINGLE THE WORSHIP OF YOGAMAYA WITH MAHAMAYA, CONSIDERING THEM ONE AND THE SAME, HE DOES NOT REALLY SHOW VERY HIGH INTELLIGENCE.
 Idolatry in Iskcon?
 
by Narasimha das
 
These pictures show a vyasasana in an Iskcon temple room. On this vyasasana is mounted a large picture of an “Iskcon guru,” and it appears there is a ritvik initiation ceremony going on – but without Srila Prabhupada. Apparently the gbc accepts ritvik initiations as long as Srila Prabhupada is not recognized as the guru. These photos indicate that the gbc is allowing idolatry in Iskcon.  Idol worship is condemned in every scripture. Idolatry is defined as the unauthorized worship or adoration of a material object or person as if it (or he) were super potent, super cognizant, fully divine and capable of reciprocating with all devotional offerings.
 
“If one tries to mingle the worship of yogamaya with mahamaya, considering them one and the same, he does NOT really show high intelligence.” (Cc. Madhya 8.90, Purport)
 

One reason idolatry is sinful is because simple persons who are pious and naturally attracted to offer worship to the Supreme Lord sometimes become diverted from authorized devotional service to the Lord’s Deity form and bewildered instead by showy displays of idolatrous rituals based on concocted traditions. Sometimes in imitation of Deity worship, tribals, fallen dvijas, misguided sudras and others offer incense, flowers, fruits, ghee lamps and meat to murtis of goddesses associated with Ma Kali, other minor devatas, yaksas, raksasas, bogus “avatars,” bogus “gurus,” and even political leaders.  All such unauthorized ritual is useless.

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False Ambition: The original sin

July 22, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Paramahamsas in the line of succession – Qualifications

May 28, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha das
In his Purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.9.43, Srila Prabhupada describes who is a genuine disciple and who is a genuine spiritual master. The original guru is Lord Sri Krishna and the original disciple is Lord Brahma. Devotees in the Brahma Sampradaya receive transcendental knowledge through the paramapara coming through Narada Muni, Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Goswami—and other great paramahamsas in this line of succession.  All this is described.
Qualifications of Genuine Disciples and Gurus:
Those who attempt to understand Vedic knowledge through grammar alone are not allowed access into the pure transcendental knowledge of bhakti-yoga. Such jnanis, yogis, karmis, and even prakrita-bhaktas, generally try to capture Vedic knowledge through scholarship, or under the tutorship of institutional leaders or professional clerics or pundits. Because they have not surrendered to a “realized person”, a pure devotee, they remain on the mundane plane.
“One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master. And one cannot be a bona fide and authorized spiritual master unless one has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master.” (SB.2.9.43, Purport)

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5 Articles – NSD

May 24, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

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Sri Syamananda Goswami Avirbhava tithi 04 22 2016

April 22, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Sri Syamananda Goswami avirbhava tithi [appearance day]

Friday, April 22, 2016
compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains the unique position of Sri Syamananda Goswami.

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.19 : PURPORT :

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained this mode of devotional service in three stages, and therefore these worshipable Deities were installed in Vṛndāvana by different Gosvāmīs. They are very dear to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas there, who visit the temples at least once a day. Besides the temples of these three Deities, many other temples have been established in Vṛndāvana, such as the temple of Rādhā-Dāmodara of Jīva Gosvāmī, the temple of Śyāmasundara of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, the temple of Gokulānanda of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, and the temple of Rādhā-ramaṇa of Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. There are seven principal temples over four hundred years old that are the most important of the five thousand temples now existing in Vṛndāvana

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.45 : PURPORT :

There are many Vaiṣṇava families in Bengal whose members, although not actually born brāhmaṇas, act as ācāryas by initiating disciples and offering the sacred thread as enjoined in the Vaiṣṇava tantras. For example, in the families of Ṭhākura Raghunandana Ācārya, Ṭhākura Kṛṣṇadāsa, Navanī Hoḍa and Rasikānanda-deva (a disciple of Śyāmānanda Prabhu), the sacred thread ceremony is performed, as it is for the caste Gosvāmīs, and this system has continued for the past three to four hundred years. Accepting disciples born in brāhmaṇa families, they are bona fide spiritual masters who have the facility to worship the śālagrāma-śilā, which is worshiped with the Deity. As of this writing, śālagrāma-śilā worship has not yet been introduced in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, but soon it will be introduced in all our temples as an essential function of arcana-mārga (Deity worship).
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Goraksa vs. Goshala

April 13, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Goraksa vs. Goshala

A Practical Guide for Cow Protection

By Narasimha das

“Krishna said at that time that the cows are worshipped even by the demigods, and He practically demonstrated how to protect cows. At least people who are in Krishna consciousness should follow in His footsteps and give all protection to the cows. Cows are worshipped not only by demigods; Krishna Himself worshipped the cows on several occasions, especially on the days of Gopastami and Govardhana Puja.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 21, Item 9)

Goraksa, or cow protection, and goshalas dependent on charity are not one and the same. Actual goraksa can be practiced and preached only when cows and bulls are properly engaged for the purposes for which they were created. Srila Prabhupada once told the leader of NV, “Unless you make and program to use the bulls, you will make a program to kill them.” Sadly, this is what came to pass in NV and other iskcon farm projects due to the gross negligence of this man and others like him who misdirected so-called cow protection programs.

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Biogenesis and the Birth of Modern Science

March 23, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

**newrule

Biogenesis and the Birth of Modern Science
By Narasimha das
The ancient Greeks, specifically the renowned philosopher Aristotle (384 B.C – 322 B.C.), believed that living things were spontaneously generated from non-living matter. Aristotle was a naturalist who loved to observe animals and nature while taking long walks through the country.  He noticed that ponds were full of various species, such as fish, frogs and tiny swimming insects. Later, in the summer months, many of these ponds would dry up and appear to become lifeless mud sinks or totally dry beds. But when the rains came, the same dry beds would fill up again with aquatic life. He wondered how all this life became regenerated. After pondering this puzzle for a long while, he finally concluded that earth itself had the power to generate life spontaneously with water and air under certain conditions. Observing the life cycles of insects on land, he came to similar conclusions: that rotting meat, animal fur and other non-living matter had the potency to generate various forms life under certain conditions. Read the rest of this entry →

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The Value of Discrimination

January 5, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

**newrule

Lord Krishna said, “This man is an assassin and murderer of your own family members. Not only that, but he has also dissatisfied his master. He is but the burnt remnants of his family. Kill him immediately.” (S.B. 1.7.39)
In spite of this unequivocal instruction from Lord Krishna who was personally present, both Arjuna and Draupadi wanted to spare evil Ashvattama for the sake of being kind and gentle to all Brahmins and brahmana-bandhus. Neither Srila Prabhupada nor Lord Sri Krishna faults them for their sentiment because such rare sentiments illuminate the matchless quality of great Vaishnavas. Such kind and forgiving qualities can’t imitated by ordinary devotees. It would be beyond the imagination of lesser devotees to forgive a false Brahmin who had mercilessly and enviously attacked and killed ones sons—just for spite–while they were sleeping.
It would also be impossible, and beyond our duty or power, to forgive 1.) those who secretly fed poison to Srila Prabhupada or 2.) those who went along with persons who tried to hide this incident due to political motives. Devotees who are not great paramahamsa uttama-adhikaris should hear carefully Srila Prabhupada’s final conclusions on these matters.
“The specific words used in this sloka are vama-swabhava, ‘mild and gentle by nature.’ A good man or woman accepts everything very easily, but a man of average intelligence does not do so. But, anyway, we should not give up our reason and discriminatory power just to be gentle. One must have good discriminatory power to judge a thing by its merit. We should not follow the mild nature of a woman and thereby accept that which is not genuine.” (S.B. 1.7.42, Purport)

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Avoiding Sahajiyas

January 5, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

**newrule

To avoid sahajiya association, we must first understand who sahajiyas are.
Some sahajiyas are easy to spot. They artificially manifest symptoms of ecstasy to make a show and win followers. They associate freely with women and often take intoxicants to “enhance” their kirtanas and bhajanas, and they are not well educated regarding Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta. Srila Prabhupada jokingly suggested that if such persons come to our temples to show their theatrics, we could test them by kicking them in the face. If they remain tolerant, they may be accepted only then as great devotees. In other words, Srila Prabhupada must have felt that there was practically no chance of such persons being actual great devotees, otherwise he would not have chided in this way and opened the door for us the mistakenly commit Vaishnava aparadha.
But there are others who follow strict sadhana, perform exemplary austerities and are externally free from attraction for women and intoxicants. They are very sober, more or less puca Brahmins; they know the shastras and they chant regularly on beads according to vows, usually far more than 16 rounds daily. Lalita Prasad and his descendants are examples of what Srila Prabhupada called “first-class” sahajiyas.
Why are these sadhus considered sahajiyas to be avoided? It is because they don’t accept all the conclusions of the paramahamsa acharyas, such as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.  They believe they are so advanced that they fail to fully recognize or accept the guidance of maha-bhagavatas. They are apparently proud to have a difference of opinion with great acharyas, as if this would prove they are on the same level or higher than recognized maha-bhagavatas.

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Branches of Sri Chaitanya’s Tree: The Eternal Parampara

January 5, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

**newrule

I have been reading in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 10) about the main branches of Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Gosvami describes nearly eighty main branches of the movement of Sri Chaitanya and then states at the end of the chapter that the branches and sub-branches of Lord Chaitanya’s tree are unlimited and produce unlimited fruits and flowers. Lord Nityananda Himself forms the topmost, main branch of this tree, and in the next chapter (Madhya 11) Krishnadas Kaviraja describes this branch and some of its sub-branches. Some branches and sub-branches are considered especially important but all are totally spiritual and full of potency. Each branch is connected to the Complete Whole, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through the mercy of at least one of His nitya-siddha associates.

“Each and every branch of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s tree has unlimited spiritual power and glory. Even if one had thousands of mouths, it would be impossible to describe the limits of their activities.” (Cc. Madhya 10.162)

Many of Lord Chaitanya’s personal associates are capable of liberating fallen conditioned souls simply by glancing at them or touching them. Lord Nityananda was such a great personality that by His desire even the most wretchedly fallen souls were liberated immediately– by His sweet will alone. In this connection Srila Prabhupada comments that it is by Lord Chaitanya’s mercy that so many western people have been able to take up the mission of Krishna consciousness. Because Srila Prabhupada received the full blessings of Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya, he was able to spread the sankirtana mission worldwide, even in this most fallen age, within 11 years.

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