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by Laksman dasa

The material world

June 29, 2018 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Laksman dasa

The material world, by Haripada dasa

It is very interesting what Srila Prahlada Maharaja says in his prayers to Lord Nrisimhadeva. He says that whatever we do in this material world to be happy, if there is no awareness of God or Krishna, these things are the source of many anxieties. to illustrate this point I will put two very simple examples. A person thinks that if I were a very rich person then I would be very happy. When he gets money, now he has a bank account with 30 numbers. However, he thinks, “now that I have a lot of money, where I will put it to have more money, now that I have a lot of money,” “it is possible that someone may kidnap my daughter or my wife to force me to pay a ransom, etc.,”
The other example is that one can think that If I get to marry Miss Universe I will be happy. A man gets to marry Miss Universe, and now he thinks, “now that I have such a beautiful woman, to see if someone takes it from me, I have to control my wife a lot so that nobody will remove her from me.” “If my wife left with another I would commit suicide, etc. “
God or Krishna has created this material world and He is so intelligent that He describes it in the Bhagavad-gita with two words, this material world is a temporary place full of suffering. The ignorant, materialistic and atheistic people think that we have come to this material world to enjoy and exploit matter. They ignore the reality of it because God or Krishna has created this material world. This material world has been created by God or Krishna to give us an opportunity. By practicing Krishna consciousness, we purify ourselves and we return back to God. We are an energy of God that is called marginal, that means that we have two options to choose. We can choose what we call free will. One is our constitutional nature that is that we are eternal spiritual souls, loving servants and eternal of Krishna and His devotees. When we practice that we are happy and we live with Krishna and His devotees.
When we forget that, we are in maya, maya means here that which has no existence but is only a temporary illusion, maya means “what is not”. And, what is that illusion? The illusion is that we try to be the lords of material nature, when the reality is that we are subject by the shackles of their strict laws. When a servant tries to artificially imitate his almighty master, that is called illusion. Contaminated by this concept of life, we all try to exploit the resources of material nature, but the reality is that we get entangled more and more in its complexities. Therefore, despite our hard struggle to conquer nature, we depend more on it. This illusory struggle against material nature can be stopped immediately if we revive our Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada always said that the problem of people is that they are not afraid of maya.

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Syamananda Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] – Friday, June 29, 2017 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

June 28, 2018 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Subject: Sri Syamananda Goswami tirobhava tithi – Friday, June 29, 2017  [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]
Srila Prabhupada explains the exalted position of Sri Shyamananda Goswami
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).

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.164 : PURPORT :

When Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted the cult of His saṅkīrtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. Both distribution of books and construction of temples must continue side by side in parallel lines.


Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.97 : PURPORT :

This Kṣīra-curī Gopinātha is situated about five miles away from the Bāleśvara station on the Northeastern Railway, formerly known as the Bengal Māyāpura Railway. This station is situated a few miles away from the famous Kargapura junction station. Sometimes the charge of the temple was given to Śyāmasundara Adhikārī from Gopīvallabhapura, which lies on the border of the district of Medinīpura. Śyāmasundara Adhikārī was a descendant of Rasikānanda Murāri, the chief disciple of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī.


Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 4: Sri Madhavendra Puri’s Devotional Service : Madhya 4.12 : PURPORT : There is a railway station named Baleśvara, and five miles to the west is the village of Remuṇā. The temple of Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha still exists in this village, and within the temple the samādhi tomb of Rasikānanda Prabhu, the chief disciple of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, can still be found.

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 8: Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya : Madhya 8.128 : PURPORT : na sudrah bhagavad-bhaktas te ‘pi bhagavatottamah sarva-varnesu te sudra ye na bhakta janardane :

One who is actually advanced in spiritual knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is never a śūdra, even though he may have been born in a śūdra family. However, even if a vipra, or brāhmaṇa, is very expert in the six brahminical activities (paṭhana, pāṭhana, yajana, yājana, dāna, pratigraha) and is also well versed in the Vedic hymns, he cannot become a spiritual master unless he is a Vaiṣṇava. But if one is born in the family of caṇḍālas yet is well versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can become a guru. These are the śāstric injunctions, and strictly following these injunctions, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as a gṛhastha named Śrī Viśvambhara, was initiated by a sannyāsī-guru named Īśvara Purī. Similarly, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, a sannyāsī. According to others, however, He was initiated by Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha. Advaita Ācārya, although a gṛhastha, was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, and Śrī Rasikānanda, although born in a brāhmaṇa family, was initiated by Śrī Śyāmānanda Prabhu, who was not born in a caste brāhmaṇa family. There are many instances in which a born brāhmaṇa took initiation from a person who was not born in a brāhmaṇa family. The brahminical symptoms are explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.35), wherein it is stated

yasya yal-lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam
yad anyatrāpi dṛśyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiśet

If a person is born in a śūdra family but has all the qualities of a spiritual master, he should be accepted not only as a brāhmaṇa but as a qualified spiritual master also. This is also the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura therefore introduced the sacred thread ceremony for all Vaiṣṇavas according to the rules and regulations.


Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse : Madhya 24.330 : PURPORT : samo damas tapah saucam ksantir arjavam eva ca jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam :

Unless one is qualified with all these attributes, he cannot be accepted as a brāhmaṇa. It is not a question of simply taking birth in a brāhmaṇa family. In this regard, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, although not born in brāhmaṇa families, are accepted as bona fide spiritual masters because they were brāhmaṇas by qualification. Personalities like Śrī Gaṅgā-nārāyaṇa, Rāmakṛṣṇa and many others, who were actually born in brāhmaṇa families, accepted Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī as their spiritual masters.


Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Antya-lila : Antya 5: How Pradyumna Misra Received Instructions from Ramananda Raya : Antya 5.88 : PURPORT :

To inundate the three worlds with nectar is the purpose of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. How this could be possible was exhibited by Śrīla Raghunātha Gosvāmī and later by Ṭhākura Narottama dāsa and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, who all represented the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Now that same mercy is overflooding the entire world through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. The present Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is nondifferent from the pastimes performed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He was personally present, for the same principles are being followed and the same actions performed without fail.

Lectures : General Lectures : Sunday Feast Lecture — London, July 25, 1976 : 760725LE.LON :

Prabhupāda: Somebody fanning, and water also. (chants maṅgalacaraṇa prayers) So śrī-caitanya-mano-‘bhiṣṭam. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s ambition or mission. Śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhu mano ‘bhiṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale. His ambition was propagated or established by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī. They were ministers in charge of the then Pathan government in Bengal and very learned scholar in Urdu and Sanskrit, but after meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Rāmakeli village in the district of Maldah in Bengal, North Bengal… That was supposed to be the capital of Nawab Hussain Shah. So then they joined to preach this saṅkīrtana movement or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So their mission was to establish the Rādhā-Govinda Mandir, as many as possible. They first started in Vṛndāvana, Madana-mohana temple. Most Indians present here, they know. There are… [break] …temples in Vṛndāvana. There are five thousand temples in one small city of fifty thousand population, but the most important because they were established by the Gosvāmīs. Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, Dāsa Raghunātha, the Six Gosvāmīs, direct disciple of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Sanātana Gosvāmī established first the Madana-mohana temple. Then Rūpa Gosvāmī established Govindajī’s temple. Then Jīva Gosvāmī established Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, then… [break] …Gosvāmī established Rādhā-Madana-mohana temple. Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, he established Śyāmasundara temple. These are important temples.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Sri Syamananda made his appearance at Orissa in the village of Dharenda Bahadurpur. His father’s name was Sri Krishna Mandal and his mother’s name was Sri Durika. Sri Krishna Mandal had many sons and daughters who unfortunately passed away before the birth of this son. For this reason this son was named Dukhiya.
Everyone said that this child would be a very saintly person. The scholars were astounded to see his profound intellect. Within a short period he completed his studies of grammar, poetry and rhetoric. His parents were overjoyed to see his talents and his religious proclivity. After having carefully listened to the glories of Gauranga and Nityananda from devotees, he was able to repeat them to others. When listening to the activities of Gaura-Nitai or those of Radha and Krishna, tears would flow in waves from his eyes. He also devotedly served his parents and they told him to get initiated so that he could fully commit himself to the service of the Lord. Duhkhi agreed and told them that he wished to take diksha from Hriday Chaitanya, the disciple of Gauri Das Pandit. His parents happily gave him permission to go there.
When Duhkhi arrived in Ambika Kalna, he threw himslf at the feet of Hriday Chaitanya, who upon learning his identity, happily gave him Krishna-mantra and named him Krishna Das. Hriday Chaitanya ordered him to go to Vrindavana to study the literatures of the under the tutelage of Srila Jiva Gosvami. Krishna das bowed his head in assent, and on an auspicious day he set out for the holy dhama.
In Vrindavan, Krishna Das studied the Vaishnava scriptures under Sri Jiva Goswami, who was the leading scholar of the sampradaya. Krishna das very carefully began to serve Jiva Gosvami as well as study the literatures of the Gosvamis. Srinivasa Acarya and Narottama dasa Thakura also came to Sri Jiva at this time to study under him. Thus Krishna das had the opportunity to meet them.
Krishna das requested Srila Jiva Gosvami for a special service. Sri Jiva instructed him to sweep the forest grove of Sevakunja everyday. From that day he began to carry out this service with great pleasure. He felt that his life had become successful.
One day, Krishna das was sweeping the Rasa-mandala in Vrindavan, absorbed in ecstatic trance. Suddenly, by Radharani’s transcendental mercy, he found her ankle bracelet lying on the ground. In his excitement, he touched the ankle bracelet to his forehead, where it left a mark. It is known as nupura tilaka.  While in Vrindavan, Krishna das was given the name Shyamananda because he brought great joy to Shyamasundar.
Jiva Goswami sent Srinivas Acharya, Narottama Das Thakur and Shyamananda back to Bengal with the Vaishnava scriptures. But the books were stolen by the dacoit king. There Srinivasa Acarya prabhu remained behind to recover the books while Narottama continued on towards Kheturi and Shyamananda proceeded to Ambika Kalna. Arriving there, Syamananda paid his obeisances to his guru, and Sri Hrday Caitanya Prabhu embraced him and inquired about the well being of the gosvamis of Vrindavana.
Syamananda served the lotus feet of his guru in great happiness and in this way passed his days. At this time most of the devotees of Lord Caitanya in Orissa had all left the planet. Thus the preaching of Mahaprabhu’s teachings had all but come to a halt. Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu considered this a very serious problem and finally instructed Syamananda Prabhu to go there to carry on the preaching of Mahaprabhu’s mission.
Syamananda set out for Orissa. After entering Orissa he first went to his birth place at Dharenda Bahadurpur. From there he came to Dandeshwar, where his father, Sri Krishna Mandal, had previously resided. By the auspicious arrival of Syamananda Prabhu in Utkala the teachings of Mahaprabhu revived. On the banks of the Suvarna Rekha River lived one pious and devoted landholder by the name Sri Acyuta deva. His only son was called Rasik. From his very childhood Rasik was very devoted to Lord Krishna. As he gradually attained the appropriate, age his father engaged some panditas to see to his education. However he didn’t have much regard for material knowledge. He had already ascertained that the greatest goal in life is devotion to Lord Hari. Rasik became anxious to take shelter at the lotus feet of a bonafide spiritual master. One day as he was sitting alone, contemplating on this subject, when he heard a divine voice: “Rasik! Don’t be in anxiety anymore. Very soon a very great personality of the name Syamananda will arrive here. Just take shelter of his lotus feet.”
Hearing this, Rasika was encouraged and took to continuously waiting and watching for the arrival of Prabhu Syamananda. After a few days Shyamananda prabhu, accompanied by his disciples, came to the village of Rohini. Syamananda prabhu initiated Rasika. Many people of Rohini also became disciples of Syamananda prabhu.
From here Sri Syamananda Prabhu went to Sri Nrsimhapur, where many atheists lived. But when Syamananda stayed a few days, these atheists got the chance to hear his necterian talks, which melted their hard hearts in love for Krishna. Thus, in this place also, he gained many disciples.

Day by day the glories of Syamananda spread throughout Utkaladesa. From Nrsimhapur he came to Gopiballabhpur. Here again, many well to do people were attracted to his lotus feet and so took shelter there. The people here especially requested him to install the Sri Vigraha of Radha-Krishna. Thus, a temple for the deity was constructed. The greatness of Syamananda became known throughout all of Orissa and the worship of Sri Gaura-Nityananda was inaugurated in many, many places.  Shyamananda’s disciples have established five principle seats in the towns of Dharenda, Bahadurapura, Rayani, Gopiballabhapura, and Nrisinghap.

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Mukunda datta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day of Sri Mukunda datta] Thursday, June 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

June 28, 2018 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Sri Mukunda datta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]

compiled by Yasioda nandana dasa

śrī-mukunda-datta śākhā–prabhura samādhyāyī

yāṅhāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-gosāñi

SYNONYMS

śrī–mukunda–datta—of the name Śrī Mukunda Datta; śākhā—another branch; prabhura—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; samādhyāyī—class friend; yāṅhāra—whose; kīrtane—in saṅkīrtana; nāce—dances; caitanya–gosāñi—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya’s, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.

PURPORT

Śrī Mukunda Datta was born in the Caṭṭagrāma district, in the village of Chanharā, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Paṭiyā. This village is situated ten krośas, or about twenty miles, from the home of Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (140) it is said:

vraje sthitau gāyakau yau
madhukaṇṭha-madhuvratau
mukunda-vāsudevau tau
dattau gaurāṅga-gāyakau

“In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaṇṭha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya–līlā as Mukunda and Vāsudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” When Lord Caitanya was a student, Mukunda Datta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu would fight with Mukunda Datta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Ādi-līlā, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned from Gayā, Mukunda Datta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about kṛṣṇa–līlā. It was by his endeavor that Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī became a disciple of Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, as stated in Śrī Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Seven. When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Śrīvāsa Prabhu, Mahāprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sāta-prahariyā, Mukunda Datta inaugurated the function by singing.

Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu chastised Mukunda Datta by calling him khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā because he attended many functions held by different classes of nondevotees. This is stated in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Ten. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed Himself as the goddess of fortune to dance in the house of Candraśekhara, Mukunda Datta began the first song.

Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya first went to the house of Mukunda Datta, but at that time Mukunda Datta requested Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to continue His saṅkīrtana movement for a few days more before taking sannyāsa. This is stated in Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Caitanya’s accepting the renounced order was made known to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Candraśekhara Ācārya and Mukunda Datta by Nityānanda Prabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kīrtana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya’s acceptance of sannyāsa. After the Lord took sannyāsa, they all followed Him, especially Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu and Govinda, who followed Him all the way to Puruṣottama–kṣetra. In this connection one may refer to Śrī Caitanya–bhāgavata, Antya–līlā, Chapter Two. In the place known as Jaleśvara, Nityānanda Prabhu broke the sannyāsa rod of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Mukunda Datta was also present at that time. He went every year from Bengal to see Lord Caitanya at Jagannātha Purī.

mukunda-dattere kaila daṇḍa-parasāda

khaṇḍila tāhāra cittera saba avasāda

SYNONYMS

mukunda–dattere—unto Mukunda Datta; kaila—did; daṇḍa—punishment; parasāda—benediction; khaṇḍila—vanquished; tāhāra—his; cittera—of the mind; saba—all kinds of; avasāda—depressions.

TRANSLATION


Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in that way vanquished all his mental depression.

PURPORT

Mukunda Datta was once forbidden to enter the association of Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu because of his mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists. When Lord Caitanya manifested His mahā–prakāśa, He called all the devotees one after another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, “I shall not soon be pleased with Mukunda Datta, for he explains devotional service among devotees, but then he goes to Māyāvādīs to hear from them the Yoga–vāśiṣṭha–rāmāyaṇa, which is full of Māyāvāda philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him.” Hearing the Lord speak in that way, Mukunda Datta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was going to give up the association of the Māyāvādīs for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association of the Māyāvādīs and gave him the association of pure devotees.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.65 :
TEXT 273

saṅge nityānanda, candraśekhara ācārya

mukunda-datta,–ei tina kaila sarva kārya

SYNONYMS

saṅge—in His company; nityānanda—Nityānanda Prabhu; candraśekhara ācārya—Candraśekhara Ācārya; mukunda–datta—Mukunda Datta; ei tina—these three; kaila—performed; sarva—all; kārya—necessary activities.

TRANSLATION


When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted sannyāsa, three personalities were with Him to perform all the necessary activities. They were Nityānanda Prabhu, Candraśekhara Ācārya and Mukunda Datta.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.273
mukunda datta kahe,–prabhu, tumi yāha āge

āmi-saba pāche yāba, nā yāba tomāra saṅge

SYNONYMS

mukunda datta kahe—the devotee named Mukunda Datta said; prabhu—my Lord; tumi—You; yāha—go; āge—in front; āmi–saba—all of us; pāche—behind; yāba—shall go; nā—not; yāba—shall go; tomāra saṅge—with You.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My Lord, You should go ahead and allow all the others to follow. We shall not go with You.”
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 5: The Activities of Saksi-gopala : Madhya 5.155 :
mukunda tāṅhāre dekhi’ kaila namaskāra

teṅho āliṅgiyā puche prabhura samācāra

SYNONYMS

mukunda—Mukunda Datta; tāṅhāre—him; dekhi‘-seeing; kaila—offered; namaskāra—obeisances; teṅho—he; āliṅgiyā—embracing; puche—inquires; prabhura—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; samācāra—news.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta offered obeisances unto Gopīnātha Ācārya upon meeting him. Then the Ācārya embraced Mukunda Datta and inquired about news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.20
mukunda kahe,–prabhura ihāṅ haila āgamane

āmi-saba āsiyāchi mahāprabhura sane

SYNONYMS

mukunda kahe—Mukunda replies; prabhura—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ihāṅ—here; haila—there was; āgamane—coming; āmi–saba—all of us; āsiyāchi—have come; mahāprabhura—Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sane—with.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta replied, “The Lord has already arrived here. We have come with Him. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.21 :
mukunda kahe,–‘mahāprabhu sannyāsa kariyā

nīlācale āilā saṅge āmā-sabā lañā

SYNONYMS

mukunda kahe—Mukunda Datta replies; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sannyāsa kariyā—after accepting the renounced order of life; nīlācale—to Jagannātha Purī; āilā—has come; saṅge—with Him; āmā–sabā—all of us; lañā—taking.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta continued, “After accepting the sannyāsa order, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has come to Jagannātha Purī and has brought all of us with Him. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.23 :
kahena yadi, punarapi yoga-paṭṭa diyā

saṁskāra kariye uttama-sampradāye āniyā’

SYNONYMS

kahena—says; yadi—if; punarapi—again; yoga–paṭṭa diyā—offering Him saffron cloth; saṁskāra—reformatory process; kariye—I perform; uttama—first-class; sampradāye—to the community; āniyā—bringing.

TRANSLATION

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, “If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would like, I could bring Him into a first-class sampradāya by offering Him saffron cloth and performing the reformatory process again.”

PURPORT

The Bhaṭṭācārya wanted to reinstate Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu into the Sarasvatī sampradāya because he did not like the Lord’s belonging to the Bhāratī sampradāya or Purī sampradāya. Actually, he did not know the position of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not depend on an inferior or superior sampradāya. The Supreme Personality of Godhead remains in the supreme position in all circumstances.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.76 :
śuni’ gopīnātha-mukunda duṅhe duḥkhā hailā


gopīnāthācārya kichu kahite lāgilā

SYNONYMS

śuni‘-hearing; gopīnātha–mukunda—Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta; duṅhe—both; duḥkhā—unhappy; hailā—became; gopīnātha–ācārya—of the name Gopīnātha Ācārya; kichu—something; kahite—to speak; lāgilā—began.

TRANSLATION

Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta became very unhappy when they heard this. Gopīnātha Ācārya therefore addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as follows. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.77
                                            `
                                                                                                  bhaṭṭācārya’ tumi iṅhāra nā jāna mahimā

bhagavattā-lakṣaṇera iṅhātei sīmā


  

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by Laksman dasa

The Hare Krishna Movement

June 27, 2018 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Laksman dasa

The Hare Krishna Movement, by Haripada dasa

The Hare Krishna Movement was founded by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in New York in 1966. Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta in the year 1896, he was born into a family of pure devotees of God or Krishna and from his childhood lived the whole environment was full of the love for God.  An astrologer predicted that this great soul at 69 will go to foreign countries to preach Krishna consciousness, open more than 100 temples of Krishna, and write more than 80 books.
These books will be the law books for all humanity in the next 10,000 years. His Spiritual Master ordered him to go to Western countries to preach the message of the conscience of God or Krishna. At the age of 69 he left India to the USA to fulfill the order given by his Spiritual Master to spread the message of Krishna consciousness in the English language. He started chanting the Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare in Tompkins Square park in New York.  There he started his movement. Many young people approached him to receive spiritual training. Many people abandoned illicit sex life, gambling, drugs and the consumption of meat, fish and eggs and sang every day 27,648 names of God in their rosaries.
These people felt so much spiritual happiness that in a natural way they wanted to help Srila Prabhupada to spread his movement, so that everyone would be happy. Srila Prabhupada initiated more than 10,000 disciples around the world, went around the world 14 times, wrote 80 books of 400 pages each, opened more than a hundred temples around the world and many farming communities. He slept every day only 3 hours from 10 in the night until 1 in the morning. Then he got up to translate the great classics of India such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita. His disciples and admirers have distributed more than 500 million of his books in all the languages ​​of the world. Srila Prabhupada is Acharya, which means he who preaches by his personal example.
As the saying goes, the words convince but the example drags. Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatam, 5, 12, 13, that this movement for Krishna consciousness has been founded to engage people in the service and glorification of the Lord twenty-four hours a day. In this institution, students devote themselves to the cultivation of Krishna consciousness from five in the morning until ten at night. Thus they have no opportunity to waste time unnecessarily speaking about politics, sociology and current affairs. All this follows its own course. A devotee is only interested in serving Krishna in a serious and positive way.
Unhappily, in his last days, as Srila Prabhupada was almost ready to depart his body, he said that he was being poisoned. He ordered his disciples to initiate in Hhis name, and not to change His books. Unhappily, when Srila Prabhupada departed His disciples did not obey the order to initiate in His name and they became gurus in an artificial way. Srila Prabhupada says in his books that a guru is not made by votes, but the current self-appointed gurus make other gurus by votes. They made more than 6,000 unauthorized changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada sacrificed His life to found the Hare Krishna Movement, but now His movement is run by very strange, envious and very dangerous people. Fortunately there are people who like Krishna Consciousness, and we try to help people to know, serve and love Srila Prabhupada, and let them go back home to God or Krishna.

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by Laksman dasa

Snana yatra – Bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha – Thursday, June 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata bhumi time]

June 27, 2018 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Subject: Snana yatra – Bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha

Srila Prabhupada explains the snana-yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

 

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Adi-lila: Lectures : Adi 7: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.3 — Mayapur, March 3, 1974 : 740303CC.MAY : [I offer my obeisances to Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of d : You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa without the mercy of these Pañca-tattva. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, although He came personally, He taught the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā and asked people, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. But because we are mūḍhas, we misunderstood Kṛṣṇa. We could not take the last instruction of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa again came as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us how to approach Kṛṣṇa. If we read the life of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His acceptance of sannyāsa order, His preaching all over India, His chanting and dancing, His living at Jagannath Purī, His activities, His meeting with the devotees, His Guṇḍicā-mārjana, His Ratha-yātrā kīrtana—if we study all these activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, immediately you understand Kṛṣṇa..


punarapi nīlācale gamana karila
bhakta-gaṇe meliyā snāna-yātrā dekhila
SYNONYMS

punarapi—again; nīlācale—to Jagannātha Purī; gamana—going back; karila—did; bhakta-gaṇe—all the devotees; meliyā—meeting; snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha; dekhila—saw.
TRANSLATION

After collecting these books, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī. At that time, the bathing ceremony of Jagannātha was taking place, and He saw it.  Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.121
anavasare jagannāthera nā pāñā daraśana

virahe ālālanātha karilā gamana
SYNONYMS

anavasare—during the absence; jagannāthera—of Lord Jagannātha; nā—not; pāñā—getting; daraśana—visit; virahe—in separation; ālālanātha—of the place named Ālālanātha; karilā—did; gamana—going.
TRANSLATION

When Jagannātha was absent from the temple, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who could not see Him, felt separation and left Jagannātha Purī to go to a place known as Ālālanātha.
PURPORT
Ālālanātha is also known as Brahmagiri. This place is about fourteen miles from Jagannātha Purī and is also on the beach. There is a temple of Jagannātha there. At the present moment a police station and post office are situated there because so many people come to see the temple.
The word anavasara is used when Śrī Jagannāthajī cannot be seen in the temple. After the bathing ceremony (snāna-yātrā), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period renovations are made on the body of the Jagannātha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors.  Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.122
snāna-yātrā dekhi’ prabhu saṅge bhakta-gaṇa

sabā lañā kailā prabhu guṇḍicā mārjana
SYNONYMS

snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony; dekhi‘-seeing; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; saṅge—with Him; bhakta-gaṇa—the devotees; sabā—all; lañā—taking; kailā—did; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; guṇḍicā mārjana—washing and cleaning the Guṇḍicā temple.
TRANSLATION

After seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and cleaned Śrī Guṇḍicā temple with the assistance of many devotees. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.133
jagannātha-sevaka ei, nāma-janārdana


anavasare kare prabhura śrī-aṅga-sevana
SYNONYMS
jagannātha-sevaka—servitor of Lord Jagannātha; ei—this; nāma—named; janārdana—Janārdana; anavasare—during the time of renovation; kare—does; prabhura—of the Lord; śrī-aṅga—of the transcendental body; sevana—service.
TRANSLATION

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first introduced Janārdana, saying, “Here is Janārdana, servant of Lord Jagannātha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body.”
PURPORT
During Anavasara, after the Snāna-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is absent from the temple for fifteen days so He can be renovated. This occurs annually. Janārdana, who is here being introduced to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was rendering this service at the time. The renovation of Lord Jagannātha is also known as Nava-yauvana, which indicates that the Jagannātha Deity is being fully restored to youth.  .Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannatha Puri : Madhya 10.41 :  



snāna-yātrā dekhi’ prabhura haila baḍa sukha

īśvarera ‘anavasare’ pāila baḍa duḥkha
SYNONYMS

snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha; dekhi’—seeing; prabhura—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haila—became; baḍa—very much; sukha—happiness; īśvarera—of the Lord; anavasare—during the pastime of retirement; pāila—got; baḍa—very much; duḥkha—unhappiness.
TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.
PURPORT
After the bathing ceremony of Śrī Jagannātha, which takes place just a fortnight before the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, the body of the Lord Jagannātha Deity is repainted, and this takes just about a fortnight to complete. This period is called Anavasara. There are many who visit the temple to see Lord Jagannātha regularly every day, and for them His retirement after the bathing ceremony is unbearable. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt Lord Jagannātha’s absence from the temple very much.  Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 11: The Beda-kirtana Pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 11.62
baliṣṭha dayitā’ gaṇa-yena matta hātī

jagannātha vijaya karāya kari’ hātāhāti
SYNONYMS

baliṣṭha dayitā’ gaṇa—very strong dayitās, or carriers of Jagannātha; yena—as if; matta hātī—drunken elephants; jagannātha—of Lord Jagannātha; vijaya—departure; karāya—cause; kari‘-performing; hātāhāti—hand to hand.
TRANSLATION

The very strongly built dayitās [carriers of the Jagannātha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannātha from the throne to the car.
PURPORT
The word dayitā refers to one who has received the mercy of the Lord. Lord Jagannātha has a number of stalwart servants known as dayitās. These servants do not come from very high-caste families (brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas or vaiśyas), but because they are engaged in the service of the Lord, they have been elevated to a respected position. Thus they are known as dayitās. These servants of Lord Jagannātha take care of the Lord from the day of the Snāna-yātrā up to the time the Lord is carried from the throne to the Ratha car. In the Kṣetra-māhātmya these dayitās are said to come from the śabaras, a caste that keeps and sells pigs. However, among the dayitās there are also many who come from the brāhmaṇa caste. Those dayitās coming from the brāhmaṇa families are called dayitā-patis, or leaders of the dayitās. The dayitā-patis offer food such as sweetmeats to Lord Jagannātha during the anavasara, the resting period after Snāna-yātrā. They also make the early morning offering of sweetmeats daily, It is said that during the anavasara Lord Jagannātha suffers from fever and that the dayitā-patis offer Him an infusion of drugs represented by fruit juice. It is said that in the beginning Lord Jagannātha was worshiped by the śabaras and was known as the Deity Nīla Mādhava. Later, when the Deity was established in the temple, the Lord became known as Jagannātha. Because the Deities were taken from the śabaras, all the śabara devotees were elevated to the position of dayitā. 
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra : Madhya 13.8


 

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by Damaghosa dasa

once recognized by Krsna for distributing the books-he goes back to Godhead-guaranteed-SP

June 27, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Letter to German Disciples
 Bombay May 6, 1977
My dear beloved disciples,
 
Please accept my blessings. I know that over the past years you have suffered so many tribulations to push forward Krsna consciousness in Germany. But this has not stopped you from your determination to serve the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. A devotee is pleased when there is difficulty, for in these difficulties he is forced to remember Krsna. We cannot expect that the people of Kali-yuga will welcome our attempt to spread Krsna consciousness. It is just like a lunatic asylum: The patients are running around madly andwhen the doctor tries to give them treatment, they insist that they are not crazy. Sometimes the patient even strikes the doctor. So our task is like that. We cannot stand to see people suffering due to ignorance. What is that ignorance? They do not know that they are not their body. This Krsna consciousness movement is meant to deliver people to the proper understanding that they are not their body, that they are pure spirit soul. We may or may not be appreciated, that is not our concern. We must execute the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu which is:
 
    Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa
    amara ajna guru haya tara ei desa
    (CC Madhya 7.128)
 
“Whomever you meet, instruct them to follow the orders of Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way by My order become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”
So our business is to satisfy the acaryas and Krsna. If they are pleased then we know our work is successful.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Prabhupada refutes a “Prabhuapada says” story

June 26, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

June 6 1976 LA
Mahendra: Eating mahā-prasādam is also fasting.
Prabhupāda: Who says?
Mahendra: You said that to Paramahaṁsa Swami once.
Prabhupāda: And you heard from Paramahaṁsa.
Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe Caturmāsya.
Prabhupāda: I never said that.
Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.
Prabhupāda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he can take mahā-prasāda, render service.
 
(Note–so in the above short conversation we see and hear how our hearing is not so accurate even when we think we are “hearing” it correctly. )

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by Laksman dasa

Friends

June 25, 2018 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Laksman dasa

Friends, by Haripada dasa

I remember a class of Srila Prabhupada where he said that there are different degrees of friends. There is the common friend, the common friend is not our intimate friend. Then there is the intimate friend.  With this person, there is a relationship based on love and trust, when you are happy in the consciousness of God or Krishna this friend is very happy, and when you are experiencing problems and sufferings, this friend helps you without wanting anything in return.
One is sure that my intimate friend will never betray me. The other day a devotee sent me some nectar of Srila Prabhupada and I replied that you are my best friend because you are transmitting to me Srila Prabhupada. And another devotee sends me the information of all the festivals of the Vaisnava calendar. We celebrate the apparitions of God or Krishna and His devotees.  That too is very good. And then, there is our best well-wisher, our Gurudeva, the authorized spiritual master who is known to be the beloved of God or Krishna, the Supreme Lord.  He  gives liberation from the torments of material bondage. The devotee must think that God or Krishna has sent me Sri Gurudeva to liberate me, and in this way everything is perfectly harmonized, understanding that the spiritual master is a confidential confidential servant of Srimati Radharani.
Usually people do not understand what a spiritual master authorized by God or Krishna is, nor do they know that at the time of initiation the guru grabs all the karma of his disciple and with his spiritual power reduces it to ashes, Srila Prabhupada says in The Srimad Bhagavatam, 8, 7, 44, that great personalities usually accept voluntary sufferings to alleviate the suffering of ordinary people. This is considered to be the highest form of worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Krishna, who is in everyone’s heart. We all have an intimate and eternal relationship with God or Krishna and His devotees on the absolute platform or pure goodness. God or Krishna and His devotees are infallible and our best friends.
A great devotee said that it is a great mistake to think that the pure devotees of God or Krishna die, they die to live and preach the glories of God or Krishna and His devotees throughout the universes, and he who obeys his instructions lives with he eternally.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Cherry picking time

June 23, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna—
These cherries from one of our trees will get made into cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cherry crisp,eaten fresh, etc etc
and a lot more are coming…..it took my wife about a half hour to pick these….the birds get the ones at the top of the trees and we get the ones we can reach-everybody is happy !
DSCN0455.JPG
Everyone, not just householders, should live on farms––
India, Jan 11 1977—
Prabhupāda: Śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya. This is basic platform, that “What Kṛṣṇa says, that is truth.” Kṛṣṇa bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya: “If I follow Kṛṣṇa, then my business is complete.” This is intelligence. Now… We have come to the open field. How it is nice. And so long we were passing through that congested areas-hellish, simply hellish. And now here is open space. How it is nice.
Hari-śauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness.
Prabhupāda: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in…Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm. (background talking)
Hari-śauri: He’s just saying that in the West one requires a great deal of capital. To start a farm, to get the land, you need a lot of money because land is very expensive. And also we have to use modern farming techniques because we have so few men to run the farms.
Prabhupāda: No, you show example. People will do automatically. When the people find it is very nice, they will take.
Hari-śauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready to do that?
Prabhupāda: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (japa)
Rāmeśvara: In America there is a very big emphasis on getting people to join us by moving into our temples. The temple presidents are very eager to get as many people to move in as possible, but in the long run most people cannot come up to the standard.
Prabhupāda: Therefore I am… Farms.
NOTE–you dont need a 100 acre piece of land with barns, farming equipment,etc..-start with what land you can afford, and work from there. This is a myth that you need all these above mentioned things to please Prabhupada and Krsna. No…

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana Tirobhava tithi – Friday, June 22, 20187 = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]

June 22, 2018 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Laksman dasa

Sripad Baladeva VIdyabhusana Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Gangamata Goswamini avirbhava tithi [appearance day]


Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sripada Baladeva Vidyabhusana
 Friday, June 22, 2018  = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata Bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains how Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana wrote the Gaudiya-Bhasya on the Vedanta-sutras.


Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 13: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12 — Bombay, September 30, 1973 : 730930BG.BOM : But sometimes back, in Jaipur, there was a challenge that “The Gauḍīya Sampradāya has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra.” So at that time Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was requested… Because he was grand scholar, grand old man scholar, at that time living in Vṛndāvana… So he was very old at that time; so he authorized Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, that “You do it.” There was no need, but people are demanding, “Where is your commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra?” So Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, with the order of Govindaji at Jaipur, he wrote the commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That name is Govinda-bhāṣya. So the Gauḍīya-Brahmā Sampradāya, they have got also commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That is required.
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Interview with Professors O’Connell, Motilal and Shivaram — June 18, 1976, Toronto : 760618iv.tor :

Prabhupāda: So, it is actually bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. It is stated. This is the real commentary on Brahma-sūtra by Vyāsadeva himself, author. Vyāsadeva is the author of Brahma-sūtra, and he has written personally, under the instruction of his guru, Nārada Muni, this Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya. And it begins with the Brahma-sūtra aphorism: janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. The Brahma-sūtra begins with these words: janmādya, athāto brahma jijñāsā. Janmādy asya yataḥ. So these things are explained elaborately. Therefore Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya, bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtra. Vedārtha paribṛṁhita. So therefore in our Gauḍīya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not write any bhāṣya of the Brahma-sūtra, neither the gosvāmīs, because they took it that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya of Brahma-sūtra. But when…. Sometimes the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You cannot be accepted as bona fide community, spiritual community, because you have no bhāṣya on Brahma-sūtra.” Then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa wrote govinda-bhāṣya. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like or ask His disciples to write, because He thought, “This is the Gauḍīya, Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya.” Not Gauḍīya—for every Vaiṣṇava. Bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. So we have got now Gauḍīya Vedānta-bhāṣya. Rāmānuja Vedānta-bhāṣya is there. Madhvācārya Vedānta-bhāṣya is there, all. And Gauḍīya had not. But since this challenge was made in Jaipur, then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he took: “Yes,” and he finished, Gauḍīya bhāṣya, and it is called Govinda-bhāṣya. Actually, in India, unless one follows the ācāryas and has given commentary on the Brahma-sūtra, he’s not a bona fide. Nyāya-prasthāna. Brahma-sūtra is called nyāya-prasthāna. Śruti-prasthāna, smṛti-prasthāna, nyāya-prasthāna. So any bona fide ācārya must give his understanding about these three prasthānas..

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.2: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.25 — Vrndavana, November 5, 1972 : 721105SB.VRN :

Now, the Vedānta, in the beginning it is, the first sūtra is: athāto brahma jijñāsā. So to inquire about Brahman, the Absolute. Now, the next answer is janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is that from whom everything emanates. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Now, this janmādy asya yataḥ is explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is explained by Vyāsadeva himself. Vyāsadeva is explaining Vedānta-sūtra in his book, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bhāṣyaṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām **. Śrī Vyāsadeva says, “This is the real comment, or bhāṣya, of Vedānta-sūtra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.” Therefore Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, Gosvāmīs, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra because they accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra. So why they should write again? But still, when there was such question raised in Jaipur that the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, at that time, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he wrote Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra. But still, Vedānta-sūtra does not mean to understand impersonalism. No. That’s not the fact

Guest (1) (Indian man): …cultural affairs, Orissa government. Here there is a large stack of palm leaf manuscripts. Palm leaf manuscripts. We are editing the Sanskrit manuscripts, correcting them and publishing them.

Srila Prabhupāda: Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Sanskrit.

Prabhupāda: It is published in Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Yes.

Prabhupāda: Palm beach?

Guest (2) (Indian man): Palm leaves.

Hari–śauri: Some manuscripts on palm leaf.

Prabhupāda: Oh, palm leaf.

Hari–śauri: They’re translating and publishing. So he is the editor in charge of all that for the government.

Guest (1): What is the…?

Srila Prabhupāda: What is the śāstra?

Hari–śauri: What is the name of the śāstra?

Guest (1): Śāstra. I told yesterday Bhakti–bhāgavatam of Kavisurya Baladeva(?).

Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, yes.

Guest (1): And ācārya, there is one… (quotes long Sanskrit verses) This is one Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa līlā by Kavisurya Baladeva of Orissa.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana who commented on, wrote Śrī Bhāṣyam..

Gurukṛpa: That’s the same one you just quoted? By who?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Gurukṛpa: The one you just sang.

Guest (1): No. This is Kavisurya Baladeva.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, different.

Guest (1): Different.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana belonged to Orissa or Bengal?

Guest (1): Yes, Orissa. And he has clearly mentioned that near Tilika, Tilika Lake he was born. It is clear mentioned.

Srila Prabhupāda: But he used to live in Balasore.

Guest (1): Yes. He used to live in Balasore, and then went to Bhastrana,(?) where he wrote Bhāṣya on Vedānta–sūtra and Gītā.

Prabhupāda: Vedānta–sūtra, Govinda–bhāṣya, he wrote in Jaipur.

Guest (1): Jaipur. Yes, last time, Jaipur.

Srila Prabhupāda: I have dedicated my Bhagavad-gītā to Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana? Following Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Hari–śauri: He dedicated it. Yes, this is… Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.
Conversations : 1977 Conversations : January, 1977 : Room Conversation — January 24, 1977, Bhuvanesvara

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Conversation with Prof. Saligram and Dr. Sukla — July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C. : 760705rc.wdc :

Prabhupāda: Brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva hetumādbhir viniścitaiḥ [Bg. 13.5]. Very…. Nyāya-praṣṭhāna. But Vedānta-sūtra is explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra. They accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya. But when the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You have no Vedānta-sūtra-bhāṣya, therefore you cannot be accepted as transcendental party,” so Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana immediately gave Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta. Our Gosvāmīs, they did not write because they knew Brahma-sūtra bhāṣya, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Madhya-lila: Lectures : Madhya 20: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.100-108 — New York, November 22, 1966 : 661122C2.NY :

So Sanātana Gosvāmī, he’s ācārya in this disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Caitanya. He is the first disciple of Lord Caitanya, and from him, Sanātana Gosvāmī, six Gosvāmīs. There were six among the first followers of Lord Caitanya. And then, from next step comes Raghunātha Gosvāmī and then this author of this book, Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, and from him, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, and then from him, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. In this way this disciplic succession is coming from Lord Caitanya. So as ācārya… Ācārya means one who knows the principles of scripture, properly being initiated by authority who knows things as they are, and they apply those things in their own life. They are called ācārya. Acinoti śāstrāṇi: he must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be ācārya. Āpani ācari prabhu jīva disa (?). Lord Caitanya, He, although He is accepted as the, I mean to say, the personal, He’s Kṛṣṇa Himself, still, He behaved in such a way that others can follow. He also accepted Īśvara Purī. Īśvara, Īśvara Purī was His spiritual master, Lord Caitanya’s. This is the disciplic succession. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Laksman dasa

The spiritual culture

June 19, 2018 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Laksman dasa

The spiritual culture, by Haripada dasa

The spiritual culture of India is so high that if a person does not follow these four regulative principles, 1- abandon the illicit sex life, 2- gambling, 3- coffee, stimulants and drugs and 4- consumption of meat, fish and eggs and sings every day The Maha-Mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H is read as J of Jota), 27,648 names of God in the rosary, if a person does not practice this is considered uncivilized.
I share that in the meaning of the verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, 1, 9, 26, Srila Prabhupada says: “Bhīṣmadeva recommended nine qualities that all human beings must exhibit: 1) not get angry, 2) not lie, 3) distribute wealth equitably , 4) forgive, 5) beget children only with one’s legitimate wife, 6) be pure-minded and healthy, 7) not hostile to anyone, 8) be simple, and 9) keep servants and subordinates. One can not be called a civilized person, if he does not acquire the aforementioned preliminary qualities.
By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we understand and accept that the cultured person is identified because he has three basic qualities, these are: 1) He sees all women as mothers, except his own wife. There are seven mothers: the original mother, the wife of the priest, the wife of the king, the wife of the spiritual master, the nurse, the cow and the Earth.
2) See the properties of others as straw on the street, in other words, be satisfied with what you have and not want or envy the property of others and
3) Do to others what you would like them to do to you and Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you. Can you imagine a society formed by people with these qualities? It would be a perfect society. We see how nowadays people consider all women as their wives and their wife and do not pay attention to them.
There is an excessive competition to surpass others, both personally and between nations and nobody thinks about the welfare of others. All are politicians, politician is one who makes plans to be happy without thinking about the welfare of others. Nowadays, a person is considered cultured for their diplomas and degrees and not for their qualities. The spiritual culture of India was killed by people who invented or speculated that one can belong to the upper class or be a priest by birth, But in the Sacred Scriptures, it is said that one belongs to the high class or priest by qualities, and his birth does not matter.
Srila Prabhupada was authorized and empowered by God to revive the spiritual culture of India, for his mercy and instructions he turned people from all over the world, who were like crows into swans.

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by Damaghosa dasa

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP

June 18, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP
May 15 1975 Perth
Prabhupāda: This man is unemployed, and if we engaged him for plowing, will he do that?
Paramahaṁsa: I don’t think so. (laughter)
Prabhupāda: Just see.
Amogha: That’s too hard, that’s work. “We don’t want to work like that, we just want some easy job.”
Prabhupāda: Then you suffer.
Śrutakīrti: That would mean they had to leave the city. They don’t want to leave the city.
Prabhupāda: Then go to hell.
Śrutakīrti: Yes.
Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, we received news yesterday that one man in northern New South Wales is willing to sell us a farm, a great big farm out there in the southern tropics. Would this be a good place for engaging boys like the Indian, the Indian boy that came yesterday?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Our next program is to organize farming. Let anyone come. We shall give him free food and employment: “Come on.” Not that “I want to work as a clerk in the city.” You produce your own food. I give you ingredients. I give you land. And work for five, six hours, and take your food and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
 
Some conclusions— So here we are some 43 years later and what devotees are leaving the cities to produce their own food? Not many, so Srila Prabhuapda tells them–then suffer. I was talking with one of my grown up children and he said to go 10 miles in Seattle  to see a friend, takes him one hour to drive there. You  could ride a bike and get there faster than that. This is just one reason why Prabhupada says-yesremain in your cities and suffer, what to speak of all the crime, filth, smog pollution, high costs of living there, taxes,thousands of homeless people  everywhere, the list seems endless.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Why do we remain stone hearted even after years of chanting? SP explains

June 14, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna–Why do we remain stone hearted even after chanting for so many years? Stone hearted means tears do not come to our eyes when we chant nor do the hairs on our body stand up in ecstasy. The answers, for those interested, are given below in a few purports by Srila Prabhuapada
SB 2.3.24 text-Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one’s chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end.
 
Purport…. The system of pañca-upāsanā, recommending five mental attitudes for the common man, is also enacted for this purpose, namely gradual development, worship of the superior that may be in the form of fire, electricity, the sun, the mass of living beings, Lord Śiva and, at last, the impersonal Supersoul, the partial representation of Lord Viṣṇu. They are all nicely described in the Second Chapter, but in the Third Chapter further development is prescribed after one has actually reached the stage of Viṣṇu worship, or pure devotional service, and the mature stage of Viṣṇu worship is suggested herein in relation to the change of heart.
The whole process of spiritual culture is aimed at changing the heart of the living being in the matter of his eternal relation with the Supreme Lord as subordinate servant, which is his eternal constitutional position. So with the progress of devotional service, the reaction of change in the heart is exhibited by gradual detachment from the sense of material enjoyment by a false sense of lording it over the world and an increase in the attitude of rendering loving service to the Lord. Vidhi-bhakti, or regulated devotional service by the limbs of the body (namely the eyes, the ears, the nose, the hands and the legs, as already explained hereinbefore), is now stressed herein in relation to the mind, which is the impetus for all activities of the limbs of the body. It is expected by all means that by discharging regulated devotional service one must manifest the change of heart. If there is no such change, the heart must be considered steel-framed, for it is not melted even when there is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. We must always remember that hearing and chanting are the basic principles of discharging devotional duties, and if they are properly performed there will follow the reactional ecstasy with signs of tears in the eyes and standing of the hairs on the body. These are natural consequences and are the preliminary symptoms of the bhāva stage, which occurs before one reaches the perfectional stage of prema, love of Godhead.
If the reaction does not take place, even after continuous hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord, it may be considered to be due to offenses only. That is the opinion of the Sandarbha. In the beginning of chanting of the holy name of the Lord, if the devotee has not been very careful about evading the ten kinds of offenses at the feet of the holy name, certainly the reaction of feelings of separation will not be visible by tears in the eyes and standing of the hair on end.
….The whole process can be summarized as follows: The advanced devotee who chants the holy name of the Lord in a perfectly offenseless manner and is friendly to everyone can actually relish the transcendental taste of glorifying the Lord. And the result of such realization is reflected in the cessation of all material desires, etc., as mentioned above. The neophytes, due to their being in the lower stage of devotional service, are invariably envious, so much so that they invent their own ways and means of devotional regulations without following the ācāryas. As such, even if they make a show of constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord, they cannot relish the transcendental taste of the holy name. Therefore, the show of tears in the eyes, trembling, perspiration or unconsciousness, etc., is condemned. They can, however, get in touch with a pure devotee of the Lord and rectify their bad habits; otherwise they shall continue to be stonehearted and unfit for any treatment. A complete progressive march on the return path home, back to Godhead, will depend on the instructions of the revealed scriptures directed by a realized devotee.
 
(Going back a few verses and purports in this section of SB Srila Prabhupada explains WHY this necessary change of heart does not take place.)
SB 2.3.21 purport… The common man who is puffed up with his material position and does not bow down before the Deity of the Lord in the temple, or who defies temple worship without any knowledge of the science, must know that his so-called turban or crown will only succeed in further drowning him in the water of the ocean of material existence.

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by Laksman dasa

The five kinds of ignorance

June 13, 2018 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Laksman dasa

The five kinds of ignorance, by Haripada dasa

In the Sri  Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1, 102, it is said that in the Mahabharata, Udyoga-parva, chapter 43, the five kinds of ignorance are described, I will try to explain them.
 1- To believe that the body is the self. I, the soul, remember that when I was little in school some children wanted to hit me, I told my grandmother and she was talking to the school principal to defend me. The child body that I had has already changed, or in other words no longer exists. The self, the soul, remembers it because it is the same, never changes and is eternal. The first lesson one should learn in the spiritual life is to understand and accept that I am not the body.
2 – To make the material satisfaction of the senses the model of happiness. The most practical proof that happiness is not in sense gratification is that in rich countries like Denmark and Sweden and others are the countries with the highest suicide rates, one does not commit suicide because he is very happy, but because he is full of frustrations and sufferings.
3- Being in anxiety due to identification with the subject. We should not envy anyone, because envy is the cause of anxieties and fears. All relationships of materialistic people are based on envy, so they always live full of anxieties and fears. Materialists do not understand because the pure devotees of God or Krishna live happily without anxieties and without fears.
4- To lament. People complain about everything because they are not happy in God or Krishna consciousness. When a person is conscious of God, he lives with God and is happy and does not regret anything. He who is wise does not mourn for the living or for the dead. He who does good will never be overcome by evil.
5- To believe that there is something beyond the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is the cause of all causes and He has no cause.  There is only God or Krishna and His energies. When a person awakens his natural love for God, he will naturally love everything and everyone, since there is only God and His energies. There is the inconceivable unity and difference simultaneously.
From time immemorial the greatest problem of people is that they are attached to ignorance. When they know someone who is full of knowledge, bliss and eternity, instead of rejoicing, they envy him. I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my most respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada..

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by Damaghosa dasa

which deities are householders allowed to worship??—SP answers

June 13, 2018 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

May 22 1975 Melbourne conversations
Prabhupāda: Yes. But a pure devotee goes back to home. There is no more material body. That is the… So we are advocating that you come to this stage where you will not to have accept this material body. Then you are really happy. And if you want to enjoy the flickering, illusory māyā, then you are subjected to the māyā. You are enjoying as American. Then you enjoy as a dog. That is māyā’s control. But if you don’t enjoy material things then you become purified. You come to the eternal life, back to home, back to Godhead. But they are not willing to give up this material enjoyment. That is the defect. So it requires education. It requires knowledge. It requires training.
Devotee 7: Prabhupāda, when you leave this material world, will there be another spiritual master after you? Another pure soul?
Prabhupāda: Then that spiritual master is Kṛṣṇa Himself. There is no need of education. Everyone is free. Everyone is full knowledge. There is no need of spiritual master.
(He is talking here of the spiritual world, not the material world)
Devotee 8: Śrīla Prabhupāda, many people who live outside the temple have Jagannātha Deities and Gaura-Nitāi Deities.
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Devotee 8: Śrīla Prabhupāda, many people who live outside the temple have Jagannātha Deities and…
Prabhupāda: Better Gaura-Nitāi Deities.
Devotee 8: Huh?
Prabhupāda: Better Gaura-Nitāi.
Devotee 8: So they have to do full Deity worship when they have these Deities?
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Devotee 8: They have to do full Deity worship to have these Deities? Dress the Deities every day?
Prabhupāda: They are supposed to do so, but whether they are able to do so, that is the point. If you can worship properly, that’s all right. But whether you are able to worship?
Devotee 7: Prabhupāda, can a person go back to a spiritual planet without initiation?
Prabhupāda: Huh?

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