Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Hare Krishna Society » 2016 » November

by Laksman dasa

The most beneficial

November 28, 2016 in Articles by Laksman dasa

The most beneficial, by Javier Figuerola or Haripada dasa

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada we understand and accept that there is nothing more beneficial as associating with the pure devotees of God or Krishna, association with the pure devotees of God or Krishna is more valuable than all the riches of the Universe and more valuable than going To the heavenly planets, a moment of association with the pure devotees of God or Krishna can liberate you from birth, death, old age and disease and go back home to God or Krishna. If the association with the pure devotees of God or Krishna is so valuable because people do not associate with them, the answer is that the generality of the people, or heads of families, think that their primary duty is to give in to solving family problems , And that self-realization or enlightenment in spiritual knowledge is a secondary matter, and it is also that such people are very poor in heart so they do not associate with the pure devotees of God or Krishna. I remember a class from Srila Prabhupada who said that people think that as long as I’m going to be listening to a Bhagavad Gita or Bhagavatam class, that time is best spent in the office or at work and earn money. It is a very practical fact that one’s desires and ambitions develop according to the company one has. If one maintains association with the devotees of God or Krishna, he will surely develop love for God or Krishna.

I share this beautiful verse Srimad-Bhagavatam (3-25-25) which says: “Talks about the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the company of pure devotees are very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and heart. The one who cultivates this knowledge gradually advances along the path of liberation until it is liberated and its attraction is fixed. Then true devotion and true devotional service begin. “

Evil people who think that great Masters like Srila Prabhupada and others die, they live eternally in their instructions and those who obey them live with them.

https://alimentosparalapaz.blogspot.com https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

by Laksman dasa

DEATH ? No it will never happen to ME

November 14, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Laksman dasa

Death?? No-it will never happen, to ME !!

1.)New York, November 23, 1966

Srila Prabhupada…”At least every day we see so many death list. If you go to the crematorium ground, you can see. So ahany ahani lokāni gacchanti yama-mandiram, śeṣaḥ sthitam icchanti. But those who are still alive, they think, “Oh, death will not take place. I’ll live. I’ll live.” He does not think that he… You are also subjected to this principle of dying.

But he does not take it seriously. This is called illusion, māyā. He thinks, oh, that “I shall live forever. Therefore let me do whatever I like. There is no question of responsibility.” Oh, this is very risky life, very risky life. And this is the most covering part of illusion. One should be very serious that death is waiting. “As sure as death.”

2.)Nov 23 1966 NY

When Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was asked, “What is the most wonderful thing in the world?” he replied, “The most wonderful thing is that every day, every moment, people are dying, and yet everyone thinks that death will not come for him.” Every minute and every second we experience that living entities are going to the temple of death. Men, insects, animals, birds—everyone is going. This world, therefore, is called mṛtyuloka—the planet of death. Every day there are obituaries, and if we bother to go to the cemetery or crematorium grounds we can validate them. Yet everyone is thinking, “Somehow or other I’ll live.” Everyone is subject to the law of death, yet no one takes it seriously. This is illusion. Thinking we will live forever, we go on doing whatever we like, feeling that we will never be held responsible. This is a very risky life, and it is the densest part of illusion. We should become very serious and understand that death is waiting. We have heard the expression, “as sure as death.” This means that in this world death is the most certain thing; no one can avoid it. When death comes, no longer will our puffed-up philosophy or advanced degrees help us. At that time our stout and strong body and our intelligence—which don’t care for anything—are vanquished. At that time the fragmental portion (jīvātmā) comes under the dictation of material nature, and prakṛti (nature) gives us the type of body for which we are fit. If we want to take this risk, we can avoid Kṛṣṇa; if we don’t want to take it, Kṛṣṇa will come to help us.

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by Laksman dasa

The brahmana constructs his character, thats all–SP

November 14, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Laksman dasa

Mauritius Oct 5 1975

Guest (3) (Indian man): Car is a necessity, Swamijī, don’t you think so? Car is a necessity.

Prabhupāda: Not necessary. What is the use of car? If you locate yourself to get everything, your necessity, then where is the use of car? If you require car, you have a bullock cart. That’s all. Why should you hanker after petrol, mobile (Mobil?) oil, machine, this, that, so many things. Why?

Guest (3): Yes, but don’t you think that it would be impossible for you to come mostly?

Prabhupāda: No, no. So long it is not available, we must take the best advantage. That is another thing. But gradually we shall develop a society that all these unnecessary rubbish things should be rejected. That is the idea. Or those who are interested, let them manufacture car; we take advantage. We don’t bother ourself how to manufacture car. Ajagara-vrtti. ajagara vrtti the idea is… Ajagara means the snake. So a mouse makes a hole in the field to live very peacefully. So, and he enters the hole, and a snake gets the information and he comes, enters the hole. He eats the snake… The snake eats the mouse and lives peacefully. So let this rascal manufacture motorcar. When we require, we take from them and ride away. We are not going to manufacture. There will be some rascals. Let them do that, mouse. We enter as snake. (laughter) That’s all. We are doing that. We are doing that. I did not manufacture this house, but somebody, some mouse, has done. (laughter) And we have entered it, that’s all. That’s all. This is going on all over the world. You know George Harrison? He has earned money with so great hard labor, and he has given us a house in London, fifty-five lakhs’ worth. Another boy, Alfred Ford, he’s the great grandson of Mr. Henry Ford. He has given. He is giving still money. He is prepared with all his money. So those who are after money, material things, we have to induce them that “Spend for me,” that’s all, and let him earn. So far we are concerned, we shall live very simple life, simply in Krsna consciousness. That is brahmana, brahmana does not go to construct big, big house. He simply constructs his character, and the other kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, they offer him, “Please come here and sit down.” Therefore the division is… One who is unable to become a brahmana ,let him become ksatriya. If he cannot become ksatriya, let him become a vaisya. Otherwise let him remain a sudra. But there should be ideal class. So we are trying to create an ideal society of brāhmaṇas. Then people will be benefited. And if everyone is sudra, rascal, then what people will be benefited? They do not know how to live. The brāhmaṇas will give idea, “Live like this. You will be happy.”

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by Laksman dasa

Mode of Goodness means— knowing there is no happiness here–SP

November 14, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Laksman dasa

Oct 20 1975 Johannesburg

Harikeśa: Well, only some people commit suicide. As far as I’m concerned, I’m very happy. I have my car, my air conditioner…

Prabhupāda: That means you are fool number one. That means you are fool number one. As soon as you say, “I am happy,” it is immediately proved that you are a rascal, fool number one.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: But everyone is afraid of death. They don’t like the idea of dying. Put if off.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So therefore, you cure that first of all; then prolong life that there will be no death. Then you prolong life is… Make some understand.

Harikeśa: So it’s not possible that anyone’s happy? There is no possibility of anyone being happy.

Prabhupāda: No. One who thinks he is happy, he is number one fool.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Everyone is searching after material happiness.

Prabhupāda: Yes. But there is no happiness.

Harikeśa: What about if one is in the mode of goodness? Maybe one or two…

Prabhupāda: Mode of goodness… If he thinks that he is happy, then he is fool. The mode of goodness means one must know that we cannot be happy here. That is mode of goodness. And if he thinks, “I am happy,” then he is not in mode of goodness. He’s in darkness.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So everyone at present is trying to become happy by this or that activity.

Prabhupāda: They are fools, rascals.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So if everyone accepts that there is no happiness at all to be found in this world…

Prabhupāda: Then they are intelligent.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Then what to do?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Tad-vijñānārtham… Therefore you go to guru. Go to Kṛṣṇa.

Devotee (1): Do I have to join your movement to be happy? Can I just take Kṛṣṇa consciousness outside your movement?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee (1): So there is no possibility of me being Kṛṣṇa conscious outside your movement.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be developed with devotees. Alone it is difficult.

Devotee (1): If I start my own community outside the movement?

Prabhupāda: Yes. The community means many devotees.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So you were saying, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that if there is no happiness and one recognizes it, then he goes to guru.

Prabhupāda: Then he must… Just like Arjuna submitted to Kṛṣṇa because he was disturbed. So that is the point where one must approach a guru, how to become happy. That is intelligence. Athāto brahma jijñāsā: “Now inquire about real happiness.”

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So one who is looking for material happiness…

Prabhupāda: He’s a fool.

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by Laksman dasa

dont be depressed or feel alone–SP

November 14, 2016 in Padmapani Dasa by Laksman dasa

Dont be depressed or feel alone

compiled by Padmapani prabhu

“I understand that you are feeling my absence. Krishna will give you strength. 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.”

January 19, 1967)

“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.”November 13, 1969)

“To feel separation from the Spiritual Master or Krishna is very good position. That means one who is in pure love with Krishna and His Representative, Spiritual Master, he thinks always of Them. And this thinking process is Krishna consciousness. If we can think always of Krishna even in separation, that is Krishna Consciousness. And in the absolute platform, there is no difference of separation and meeting. The separation is also meeting, rather in separation one relishes the loving relationship more tasty. So don’t be disappointed that you are separated from me, I am also always thinking of you how you are making progress there.” October 21, 1968)

“Spiritual Master is along with you by his words. Just like my Spiritual Master is not physically present, but I am associating with him by his words.” August 18, 1971)

“As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there, and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krishna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Chaitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.” June 30, 1974)

“So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.”

June 18, 1968 )

“There are two words, vani and vapuh. Vani means words, andvapuh means this physical body. So vani is more important than the vapuh. Vapuh will be finished. This is material body. It will be finished. That is the nature. But if we keep to the vani, to the words of spiritual master, then we remain very fixed up. It doesn’t matter. Just like Bhagavad-gita. It was spoken five thousand years ago. But if you keep to the words of Krishna, then it is always fresh and guiding. Not that because Arjuna personally listened to Krishna about the instruction ofBhagavad-gita, therefore he knew it. That is not the fact. If you accept Bhagavad-gita as it is, then you should know that Krishna is present before you in His words in the Bhagavad-gita. This is called spiritual realization.” March 2, 1975)

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by Laksman dasa

if you have an economic problem-here is how to solve it

November 14, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Laksman dasa

“It is by ignorance that people think that by opening factories they will be happy. Why should they open factories? There is no need. There is so much land, and one can produce ones own food grains and eat sumptuously without any factory. Milk is also available without a factory. The factory cannot produce milk or grains. The present scarcity of food in the world is largely due to such factories.

When everyone is working in the city to produce nuts and bolts, who will produce the food grains? Simple living and high thinking is the solution to the economic problem. Therefore the Krishna Consciousness movement is engaging the devotees in producing their own food and living self-sufficiently.…”

(Teachings of Queen Kunti, 18, ‘Liberation from Ignorance and Suffering’)

Here it is— from the dirt to the plate—Krsna Prasadam !!

by Laksman dasa

simplicity of living means being peaceful, healthy ,and ample time to think of God

November 14, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Laksman dasa

July 5 1975 Chicago–

Therefore too much attachment for material enjoyment is disqualification for spiritual life. So the western world is trained up for being too much attached to material enjoyment. Therefore lagging behind in spiritual life. Vedic civilization is not to encourage too much for material enjoyment. Minimize. That is Indian civilization.

They, if they had money they used to spend for constructing big temple, not for residential house. Maybe the king only had a big palace. Common men, they didn’t care for big palace, the palatial building. Common man would be very glad to live in a cottage, and a small garden for growing vegetables, fruits, small lake, that’s all. Not wasting time for big, big buildings, big, big… What is called, amenities?

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Bhugarbha Goswami Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day] Sri Kasisvata Pandita Tirobhava Tithi

November 14, 2016 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Sri Bhugarbha Goswami Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Sri Kasisvata Pandita Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Sunday, November 13, 2016. Caturdasi [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]

Srila Prabhupada explains the exalted position of Sri Bhugarbha Goswami adn Sri Kkasisvara Goswami

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Image result for images of bhugarbha goswami

Bhugarbha Goswami’s samadhi (shrine) in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavan

Kasisvara Pandita’s Deity of Gaura-Govinda.

paṇḍita-gosāñira śiṣya–bhugarbha gosāñi

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Gaura Kishora dasa tirobhava tithi (disappearance day)

November 14, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Thursday, November 10, 2016 – [Los Angeles, California, USA time] Ekadasi

Friday, November 11, 2015 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time] Ekadasi

Srila Prabhupada praises His Guru Maharaja’s guru, the exalted Srila Gaura Kishora dasa babaji

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Indian: Because if we go wholeheartedly to God without proper understanding, there is also a flaw.

Srila Prabhupāda: No. There is no question of understanding. Suppose this process… Just like Kṛṣṇa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate: [Bg. 7.19] “After many, many births of culture of knowledge, the person who has come to the highest point of knowledge, he surrenders unto Me.” So similarly, if any person without any knowledge, if he surrenders only to Kṛṣṇa, he acquires all the knowledge. He has surpassed all stages. He has surpassed all stages. And that is also confirmed. If you say, “How he has gone, surpassed all stage?” That answer in Bhagavad-gītā you find,

teṣām evānukampārtham
aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho
jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

[Bg. 10.11]

Teṣām: “Because he is a devotee, just to give, just to show him a special favor,” teṣām evānukampārtham, “simply for showing a special favor, I Myself, from within, I light up the knowledge, I mean to say, searchlight, and he becomes…”

And you will be surprised that my Guru Mahārāja’s spiritual master was Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja. He was completely illiterate. He did not know how to sign, and my spiritual master was the most learned man of his age. He accepted that guru who was completely illiterate. But when he would speak, that Gaura Kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, he would speak with all Vedic references. And you will find in the Veda that

yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
[ŚU 6.23]

So the spiritual knowledge becomes revealed. It is not subjected to any material acquisition. It is not subjected to any material acquisition of knowledge. It becomes revealed. How? Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. One who has a staunch faith in the Supreme Lord and staunch faith in the personality of his spiritual master, bona fide, then he gets all the things revealed in himself. Spiritual things are not just like material things.

So according to Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-guhyatamam, the Lord says that “The most confidential part of knowledge I am speaking to you, my dear Arjuna, because you are My very dear friend, that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66].” So one who has the conception of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and has surrendered unto Him, he is considered to be highest, topmost spiritualist.

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Vasudeva Ghosh Tirobhava tithi [disappearance]

November 4, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Vasudeva Ghosh

Tuesday, November 1, 2016 – Sri Vasudeva Ghosh tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Los Angeles California, USA and Mayapura,. West Bengal, India time]

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Rare picture of Sri Caitanya Maha Prakasha with Advaita Acarya and Sita Thakurani worshpping Lord Gauranga ‘s lotus feet, Narahari Sarakara Thakura fanning and Vasudeva and Madhava Ghosh singing for Lord Caitanya

vāsudeva gīte kare prabhura varṇane

kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇa drave yāhāra śravaṇe

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains how the disciplic succession was lost

November 1, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada regarding the breakdown of disciplic succession

750509rc.per Conversations 380176/530501
Paramahamsa: Yes. The Christians always say that Christ was eating
fish and drinking wine, so what problem have we got? Drinking a little
alcohol, eating a little meat?
Prabhupada: Then how did he say that “Thou shall not kill”?
Srutakirti: That was actually the Ten Commandments. That was given by
God.
Ganesa: Given to Moses.
Srutakirti: That was given to Moses by God. The Ten Commandments.
Prabhupada: That is not Christ has said?
Srutakirti: Well, Christ enforced it.
Paramahamsa: It was accepted by him as one of the rules.
Srutakirti: Christ’s greatest commandment was to love God above all
things. So if one is to love God, one must follow His instructions.
Prabhupada: Who is following the instructions?
Srutakirti: We are.
Prabhupada: But supposing Christ distributed fish, but did he say that
we shall maintain regular slaughterhouse for killing animals?
Srutakirti: He was against that. He threw the men out of the temple,
because they were selling lambs in the temple to be offered at the
altar. So he kicked them out, saying this temple is not a place for

sellling animals for slaughter.
Paramahamsa: But in one place they say Christ encouraged fishermen.
Because he came and the fishermen were fishing on one side of the
boat, and Christ came along and said, “You are fishing on the wrong
side of the boat.” He said, “Put your nets on the other side, and you
will get more fish.” An they did that and they got huge amounts of
fish. And so they were encouraged in their fish-eating in this way.
Ganesa: Jesus also said to the fisherman, “Give up you fishing and I
will make you fishers of men.” He said this to his disciples.
Prabhupada: Then on the whole it comes that his instructions are
sometimes contradictory.
Paramahamsa: Not only that but they say that… Usually when it comes
right down to it, the Bible has gone through so many interpretations
and so many changes in the last two thousand years that…
Prabhupada: Yes. It is very difficult.
Paramahamsa: People…, I’ve talked to professors who know the
original Hebrew and the original tongues that the Bible was written
in. They say that is has changed so much that you can hardly…
Prabhupada: Yes, they are changing. Just like he said, “Thou shall not
kill.” They are now changing, “Thow shall not commit murder.” They are

doing that.
Paramahamsa: Yes. They have a modern Bible, using all modern
terminology.
Prabhupada: So, when you change, then the authority is lost. Just like
in our society, sometimes they do something nonsense and they say,
“Prabhupada said.” (laughter) They are doing that. We know that. It is
deteriorated like that. Therefore Krsna said, sa kaleneha mahata yogo
nastah kaunteya: “And in due course of time, this yoga was lost.
Therefore I am repeating the same thing, old philosophy to you.” So it
requires like that.
Paramahamsa: One thing about the Christian religion is that through
the last two thousand years, Christ’s original teachings may have been
good teachings, may have been potent preaching, but because there were
no potent preachers to carry on the preaching, therefore the whole
thing has been lost. But if there are potent preachers to continue
reestablishing and estabishing the principles,…
Prabhupada: So how you’ll find, if everything is now changed? Where
you will get the right information?
Paramahamsa: That’s the problem. That’s why there are so many hundreds
of branches of Christianity, literally hundreds. So many divisions of

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada; I Have Come Here to Give

November 1, 2016 in Padmapani Dasa by Laksman dasa

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

compiled by Padmapani dasa

.

Srila Prabhupada; I Have Come Here to Give

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Srila Prabhupada in Tompkins Square Park, new York, NY, USA 1966.)

“I have not come to earn money from your country, but I have come to your country to give you something sublime… not to take from you, not to exploit you, but to give you something sublime.” (Srila Prabhupada Interview, San Francisco, March 9, 1968)

“So far I am concerned, I have not come here to cheat you nor to gain. I’ve come to execute the order of my Guru Maharaja. I have no business to cheat you neither to get something from you.” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, New York, July 11, 1976)

“What is our movement? Why I have come to your country? Because to make you Krishna conscious. So, there is love of Krishna. Otherwise why… what is the business, I have come to you? I have no business. Because I love Krishna, I want to see all, everybody in the world, to become Krishna conscious. Otherwise why in this old age we are trying so much?” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, January 11, 1974)

“When I was lecturing in Berkeley University, one Indian student asked me, ‘Swamiji, what this Hare Krishna movement will benefit? We require technology.’ So I replied that ‘You have come to beg technology; I have come to give them, not to beg from them.'” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Bombay, January 7, 1977)

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada : Parampara means to accept the prominent acarya

November 1, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Guru-Parampara – the disciplic succession

Spiritual knowledge descends through the disciplic succession from Krishna. The representatives of the disciplic succession cannot change anything, add anything or subtract anything. Otherwise the disciplic succession will be broken and their preaching will have no potency. Many times, in the history this disciplic succession has been broken because the representatives of the disciplic succession did not correctly pass on the knowledge to their students.

We can understand how perfect knowledge can be received. This information is given to us by Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the Bhagavad Gita, particularly in Chapter 4 Text 1 and Text 2

1) Kṛṣṇa, 2) Brahmā, 3) Nārada; 4) Vyāsa, 5) Madhva, 6) Padmanābha, 7) Nṛhari, 8) Mādhava, 9) Akṣobhya, 10) Jayatīrtha, 11) Jñānasindhu, 12) Dayānidhi, 13) Vidyānidhi, 14) Rājendra, 15) Jayadharma, 16) Puruṣottama, 17) Brahmaṇyatīrtha, 18) Vyāsatīrtha, 19) Lakṣmīpati, 20) Mādhavendra Purī, 21) Īśvara Purī, (Nityānanda, Advaita), 22) Lord Caitanya, 23) Rūpa (Svarūpa, Sanātana), 24) Raghunātha, Jīva, 25) Kṛṣṇadāsa, 26) Narottama, 27) Viśvanātha, 28) (Baladeva) Jagannātha, 29) Bhaktivinode, 30) Gaurakiśora, 31) Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, 32) His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. (Introduction to “Bhagavad-gita As It Is”)

Parampara Means to Accept The Prominent Acarya

Bhakta Mark – New York, USA:
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by Laksman dasa

Sri Govardhana Puja- Go Puja Monday, October 31, 2016 (Mayapura, West Bengal, India and Los Angeles, California time]

November 1, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Monday, October 31, 2016 Govardhana Puja, Go Puja, Bali daityaraja Puja and Sri Rasikananda Tirobhava Tithi[ appearance]

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains Giovardhana Puja

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 4: Sri Madhavendra Puri’s Devotional Service : Madhya 4.86 : PURPORT : upahrtya balin sarvan adrta yavasam gavam go-dhanani puras-krtya girim cakruh pradaksinam :

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, therefore advised the cowherd men to stop the Indra-yajña and begin the Govardhana-pūjā to chastise Indra, who was very much puffed up at being the supreme controller of the heavenly planets. The honest and simple cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, accepted Kṛṣṇa’s proposal and executed in detail everything He advised. They performed Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill. According to the instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men called in learned brāhmaṇas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasāda. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana assembled together, decorated their cows and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate Govardhana Hill.”

Books : The Nectar of Devotion – 1970 Edition : NoD 21: Qualities of Sri Krsna : 9. Pleasing Talker :

Kṛṣṇa said at that time that the cows are worshiped even by the demigods, and He practically demonstrated how to protect the cows. At least people who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should follow in His footsteps and give all protection to the cows. Cows are worshiped not only by the demigods. Kṛṣṇa Himself worshiped the cows on several occasions, especially on the days of Gopāṣṭamī and Govardhana Pūjā.

Books : KRSNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead – 1970 Edition : Volume 1 : KB 1-24 / Worshiping Govardhana Hill :

The sacrifice known as Govardhana Pūjā is observed in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Lord Caitanya has recommended that since Kṛṣṇa is worshipable, so His land, Vṛndāvana and Govardhana Hill, are also worshipable. To confirm this statement, Lord Kṛṣṇa said that Govardhana Pūjā is as good as worship of Him. From that day, the Govardhana Pūjā has been still going on and is known as Annakūṭa. In all the temples of Vṛndāvana or outside of Vṛndāvana, huge quantities of food are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population. Sometimes the food is thrown to the crowds, and they enjoy collecting it off the ground. From these instances, we can understand that prasādam offered to Kṛṣṇa never becomes polluted or contaminated, even if it is thrown on the ground. The people, therefore, collect it and eat with great satisfaction.

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains dipavali (Diwali)

November 1, 2016 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Dipavali [Diwali} Sunday, October 30, 2016 and October 31, 2016 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]

Srila Prabhupada explains the actual meaning of Dipavali celebration of Lord Krsna breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by Yasodamayi

Srī-śuka uvāca

ekadā gṛha-dāsīṣu

yaśodā nanda-gehinī

karmāntara-niyuktāsu

nirmamantha svayaṁ dadhi

yāni yānīha gītāni

tad-bāla-caritāni ca

dadhi-nirmanthane kāle

smarantī tāny agāyata

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ekadā—one day; gṛha-dāsīṣu—when all the maidservants of the household were otherwise engaged; yaśodā—mother Yaśodā; nanda-gehinī—the queen of NandaMahārāja; karma-antara—in other household affairs; niyuktāsu—being engaged; nirmamantha—churned; svayam—personally; dadhi—the yogurt; yāni—all such; yāni—such; iha—in this connection; gītāni—songs; tat-bāla-caritāni—in which the activities of her own child were enacted; ca—and; dadhi-nirmanthane—while churning the yogurt; kāle—at that time; smarantī—remembering; tāni—all of them (in the form of songs); agāyata—chanted.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: One day when mother Yaśodā saw that all the maidservants were engaged in other household affairs, she personally began to churn the yogurt. While churning, she remembered the childish activities of Kṛṣṇa, and in her own way she composed songs and enjoyed singing to herself about all those activities.

PURPORT

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, quoting from the Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī of Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, says that the incident of Kṛṣṇa’s breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yaśodā took place on the Dipavali Day, or Dīpa-mālikā. Even today in India, this festival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kārtika by fireworks and lights, especially in Bombay. It is to be understood that among all the cows of NandaMahārāja, several of mother Yaśodā’s cows ate only grasses so flavorful that the grasses would automatically flavor the milk. Mother Yaśodā wanted to collect the milk from these cows, make it into yogurt and churn it into butter personally, since she thought that this child Kṛṣṇa was going to the houses of neighborhood gopas and gopīs to steal butter because He did not like the milk and yogurt ordinarily prepared.

While churning the butter, mother Yaśodā was singing about the childhood activities of Kṛṣṇa. It was formerly a custom that if one wanted to remember something constantly, he would transform it into poetry or have this done by a professional poet. It appears that mother Yaśodā did not want to forget Kṛṣṇa’s activities at any time. Therefore she poeticized all of Kṛṣṇa’s childhood activities, such as the killing of Pūtanā, Aghāsura, Śakaṭāsura and Tṛṇāvarta, and while churning the butter, she sang about these activities in poetical form. This should be the practice of persons eager to remain Kṛṣṇa conscious twenty-four hours a day. This incident shows how Kṛṣṇa conscious mother Yaśodā was. To stay in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we should follow such persons.

Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 10: “The Summum Bonum” : SB 10.9: Mother Yasoda Binds Lord Lord Krsna : SB 10.9.1-2 :

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