Pages

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Bhakti Shastri Chapter 2 Verses 1-9 Contents of the Gita Summarized

We should try to remember the name of each chapter so then we can understand what it is all about.

In this chapter Arjuna gives us his role as a Kstariya warrior and also his friend and he talks about he wants to be his disciple. There is a change in the rasas - from Guru to a disciple. Chapter 2 is a little more technical - lot of gyana. We should hence pay careful attention to SP's purports. It is the process of transmigration. He finally ends with the characteristics of a self realized person. Connection between chapter 1 and chapter 2 - 1st chapter doubts and lots of reasons to avoid fighting. He shows lots of doubts and Krsna in chapter 2 answers these doubts. We also see Arjuna is getting very confused. His relations towards Krsna hence changes completely. Burijan prabhu's book divides chapter 2 into 5 parts. Chapter 2 is more about Jyana yoga and some parts of Karma Yoga.

1-10 : Arjuna continues to give his last reason and surrenders to Krsna.
11-30 - Krsna speaks for the first time. He gives him the technical knowledge about the spirit soul. He directly or indirectly tells Arjuna to fight.
31-38: Counters Arjuna's reasons to not fight. Lots of ways he gives to counter his points. Karma kanda section
39-53: Buddhi Yoga. Understand the knowledge and apply that knowledge. How I can fight and not accumulate any reactions. Niskam karma yoga. Not be attached to the outcome of the battle. Just fight for the pleasure of Krsna and no reactions.
54-72: How one who works in buddhi yoga can get samadhi - All these yogas means to be connected to the Supreme then we are always situated in KC with body, mind and soul.

2 Chapters in BG 2 and 18 chapters are the longest and chapter 18 has the longest verses.

V1: Krsna has waited all this time to now speak to Krsna. Madhusudhana refers to Krsna. Krsna killed the Madhusudhana demon - kill the demon of misunderstanding that had overtaken him in the discharge of his duty. At this point Dhirtarastra is very happy but sanjaya says Krsna now says to tell him it's not done yet but just the beginning.

V2: Krsna knows Arjuna is coming from a very exalted lineage - not ordinary personality. Guided by the proper Ksatriya code and principles. Hence he says these statements - impurities have come upon you. You should know the value of life. When Ksatriya when they fight and die go to the higher planets and he is directly referring to Arjuna. Lot of sarcasam and ridicules Arjuna in these verses.
Bhagavan = Supreme Personality of Godhead = Krsna. 3 aspects of Krsna = Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan; example of the Sun is given here. This paragraph is very important. Analogy of the 3 features of Krsna with Sun.  Please learn the next paragraph also very nicesly. Prabhuji has given examples of Krsna to be full in all 6 opulences.
Aim of Life - to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to go back to Godhead and if Krsna wants us to come back then we will go back to serve Krsna but if our Spiritual Master says we need to stick around and preach then we preach. Not bound by the material nature.

V3: It;s important how the names are being used to address each other. Son of Prtha - Kunti is related to Krsna, sister of Vasudeva. So you are related to me and we come from such a pious background, how can you behave like this. If someone can't behave according to their status then it's not good.

V4: O killer of Madhu, again brings back point about superiors. It is the ettiquitte in those days that you don't fight with your superiors but give respect to them.

V5: Again looks at dharma shastra (religious) vs artha shastra (political). Killing of an agressor vs fighting with superiors. Religious principles says you forgive - tolerate more than react. Political principles you need to rule in the benefit of the person you has done right vs wrong. Arjuna is thinking he rather practice Dharma Shastra vs Artha Shastra but that is wrong as he is a Ksatriya and not a brahmana to go out and beg and hence he says he would rather go and beg like a mendicant in the street begging for survival than to kill his Guru and Grandfather to get a kingdom.

V6: So here he is confused conquering them or getting conquered by them. If he killed his brother the Ksatriyas what kind of enjoyment is there to live in a kingdom when there is nobody to enjoy with. Hence KC says we need to make sound judgments so we can please Krsna more and more and not be selfish to please our sense pleasures. He is saying many times that he wants to beg and live shows that he has detachment and he keeps turning to Krsna to show us that we should also keep turning to our Spiritual Master for guidance whenever we have questions. If senses are not controlled then we won't be able to understand the knowledge we read, otherwise it will be just reading, appreciating but not applying it in our daily lives. The most important thing about reading BG is to apply it to our daily lives and that is only possible by controlling the senses.

V7: This is good intelligence. The fact that he accepts that he is lost and can't make good decision and he turns to the person who has lot of faith in Krsna and he surrenders to him to ask what should I do. Same way we should turn to our Spiritual Master and not have our big egos that we can make our best decision ourselves. We should surrender to an authority and a well wisher. We should very carefully see who is our well wisher so we can share our problems, our questions so they can help us get out of these material life. On our own we won't be able to get out of this material life. Everybody in this material life is perplexed. We are always perplexed. But because we are covered we are not able to realize this. Here he is saying I'm not your friend but your disciple and now you show me the path. This is not easy. Even after initiation sometimes we don't want to listen to our Spiritual Master and just keep doing what we want to do. Kripanas - We should consider our kids, wife are guests of Krsna and we should take care of them but not have overly affection for them.

V8: He says nobody can help him at this stage. Even if he gets kingdom or wealth he won't be happy. So very nicely he is approaching Krsna and in the same way we need to approach the SM and how they can help us. In general we should approach them for spiritual matters and not a lot for material problems. We need to know the science of Krsna and only then we can help any person. He quotes a verse from CC.Anyone can preach and all we need to know who is Krsna and how can we approach him. Hence we need to be properly situated with shastras so we can always use it to help us in our preaching purposes. Aim is to become a Uttama Adhikari to guide other people. Key is to follow in the footsteps of a pure devotee like we are following in the footsteps of SP - exactly what he wants to do we are doing it and because we are sincerely following his instructions we will also become pure. In time all our bad qualities will go away and we will be properly situated in KC. To solve his problems of KC he is surrendering to Krsna.

V9: He still says he is competent to kill the enemies. Now because he has surrendered to Krsna he will be ready to fight again soon. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Real meaning of Diwali.

The real celebration of Diwali is for us to go into our hearts and pray to Krsna to further ourselves in KC and also exchanges between devotees as Srila Rupa Gosvami has mentioned in NOI. When you pray to Krsna, all the thousands of Lakshmi's (Goddesses of fortune) are also worshiping him. If our rituals have Krsna in the center then all these rituals will bring us closer to Krsna, but if Krsna isn't there then these rituals will just become a matter to doing it. It won't bring any transformation of heart. It is hence very important to reflect on what Srila Prabhupada has given us.

One of the most important days in our vedic tradition. It is because Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya. In the old days people were so KC and Ram Conscious, everybody in every house would celebrate it. This is actually KC, celebrate auspicious days and commemorating the appearance and pastimes of the Lord. These festivals are the mothers of devotion and they nurture our bhakti and they help us to remember Krsna. He takes inauspicious days like amavaysa (no moon day) and he makes it Diwali. The Lord shows when someone is inauspicious but when he does something on that day it becomes auspicious. His activities and pastimes creates auspiciousness. He came back after 18 years. Let us understand what did the residents of Ayodhya were feeling.

If we love our parents a lot and we haven't seen our parents for 14 years, when we are going back after so long, imagine how happy parents are or how happy we feel going to India. We decorate, we celebrate and we make the coming of this person very special. When we love somebody, we do some much preparation for this person to come. When Bharat came to know about Ram was exiled, he said he wanted to live in the forest with Krsna, so after 14 years of separations, imagine how everybody was feeling. They were longing and meditating on the lotus feet of Sri Rama. They were feelings of pure love, that is the understanding. On Diwali day, their emotions were at the peak and they welcome Sri Rama back to Ayodya.

Acaryas say how our life if bereft of Krsna is so tasteless and no fulfillment of the heart if Krsna is not in the center. Krsna is like the sun and Maya is like the darkness. If Krsna isn't in our lives, there is darkness and hence we need to invite Krsna,Ram in our hearts and our lives will become joyful. We have all banished Krsna to the forest and we have told Krsna we don't need you and there are more things important than you and we don't care for you and now by the mercy of pure devotees like SP we are given a chance to bring back the lord. The demons who are keeping us away from the Lord like Ravana and we pray on Diwali our Lord Krsna and Rama kill the demons in our heart and invite him to come back into our heart. We pray, we offer to Krsna  - lamps, prasad. These lamps signify knowledge, the importance of spiritual knowledge and taking shelter of Krsna that is the true Diwali. That is true Diwali by celebrating the return of Rama into our hearts by taking to KC wholeheartedly and removing the darkness of our hearts. On this day Krsna also kills Narkasura and it is the broadcast that Krsna on this day kills all the demons. Krsna set free the 16,000 princesses and marries them. Saying the same thing. Our heart has so many coverings and this is keeping us from Krsna. But just by our heart, we can break all these coverings and come to Krsna. We can't even chant properly because of these layers. Krsna can kill all these demons, cut these layers so we can come closer to Krsna. Intelligence is material at the moment and it is dirty. When the soul is covered over, the heart has so many layers it is considered the covering of the soul. Mind and intelligence are part of the same thing. When the covering is there on the heart, it is reflect by the dirty mind and intelligence.

Also same day when Mother Yashoda bound Krsna. Krsna is showing that he is bound by the love of his devotees. Just simple unalloyed Love. If we understand Krsna loves us at every moment of our life, then everyday can be Diwali.

JAPA is the only way - If our Japa is good then nothing can stop us to get to Krsna. Quality and Quantity is important. The more we chant quality rounds, the faster we will have purification of the heart and the faster we will get to Krsna. It is like when you go for war, you need to refill your ammunition and next day you are again ready. So same way we need to refill ourselves everyday by chanting 16 rounds so we won't be beaten by maya and slowly we will also be able to get rid of all the coverings we have for the million of years. But if we don't chant properly then we are in illusion that we have good bullets, but actually they are all duds and we can fall prey to the war of maya. Hence very important to chant very properly so all our bullets are sharp to fight the war of maya and we are ready to fight maya - but these bullets needs to be very very sharp and hence our japa should be very sincere and refill ourselves with these bullets. There is no limit to devotional service. SP has been very merciful to say that in this Kali yuga especially in this age do at least 16 rounds so that we have our ammunition to fight maya. Holy name and Hari Katha are what is the most most most important so at every step we need to give this to all our family members this.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Bhakti Shastri Chapter 1 Verses 38 - 46 by HG Radha Krsna Prabhu

Doesn't want to incur sins:
Verse 37-38: He's trying to act as a saintly person and what he's forgetting is he needs to upload the principles of a Kshatriya.
He doesn't want to destroy the family tradition. He thinks that everyone on each side are so powerful that all will die and he doesn't want to incur that sin. If all the Kshatriya die who everyone depends on then what will happen to everyone and then the common men will become frivolous and impure and irreligion will spread.

4th Argument 39-43: Tradition will be destroyed and irreligion will spread.
Verse 39: If older people are killed then as there are no guides in the varnasrama dharma and hence the younger will develop irreligious habits and lose their chance of spiritual salvation.

V40: If traditions are lost, then women of the family become polluted and from them degradation happens. The women have a very imp role to guide the children. Men go out to work and women help the kids understand the values so they can then go ahead and face the society. The softness of the women help them imbibe these values for the children. If there is nobody to take care of the women, because they always are looking for protection and there is nobody to protect them then not nice men try to enjoy them for their own sense gratification. But in Kali-Yuga both men and women are pretty foolish except the devotees have the intelligence to always follow in KC. The result is then unwanted children. The protection of the women is very important and we should consider in the +ve aspect in protecting them. We should not focus on the less intelligent part as this was written in a different yuga and in this yuga all of us are less intelligent. By expoilting women the entire society degrades. How to protect them - by engaging them in religious principles in the guidance of father, husband and son, otherwise there is always varna sankara = unwanted progeny. Varsneya = o descendent of Vrisni Krsna comes in the line of Vrishni dynasty, so how would you feel if your own Vrishni dynasty is about to be killed.  -  1. Women become free to act and mix with men, and thus adultery is indulged in at the risk of unwanted population, hellish life  2.Risk of war. 3. Life is very bad for the unwanted children and the mother.Also Shradha ceremony - pinda dana cannot take place - ancestors waiting to get liberation. Pinda dana helps these personalities some what. The best thing to do is to offer them prasada and as soon as you offer them prasadam, their miserable life can be reduced somewhat. But, for devotees always engaged in dev service, such obligations are automatically fulfilled by performance of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and these obligations are not necessary. Just offer everything to Krsna and then to Narayan and then forefathers best for us to offer.

V 41, 42, 43: Now Krsna is giving another reason that he has heard through different Gurus that if someone destroys some good tradition, that such people will go to hell. He is saying he is not making it up but has heard from valid sources that such people go to hell and hence he doesn't want to fight and how will such people try to atone for their sinful reactions then one will have to go to the hellish planets. Such is the destruction of the family tradition.

Saintly pepole - softness of heart, wants to forgive his aggressors, moral values should be protected - doesn't want irreligion to spread,

V 44- 46: Arjuna doesn't want to fight anymore and the 5th reaosn is given in the 2nd chapter. He would rather die than fight and kill the sons of the Dhirtarastra. While Dhirtarastra is hearing all this he is feeling very happy that Arjuna the chief of the maharathis didn't want to be fight. Both Dronacharya and Bhisma had to be killed the way they were killed with trickery was because they became party to the wrong things even though it was right under them and they didn't say anything or stop it. Arjuna never puts his bow down and he had actually taken a pledge that anyone who asks him to put his bow, he would kill them. Example - Yudhistara insulted Arjuna when Arjuna came to see him after Karna had injured him and he said you are a coward and you don't want to fight Karna so put down your bow even though Arjuna had come just to see Yudhistara's wound. So Arjuna had drawn his sword to kill Yudhistira but as Krsna was there he said instead of killing a Ksatriya better to insult them as it is worse than killing them. So it was a big thing for Arjuna to keep the Gandiva bow as he was ready to even kill his own brother. So in this verse to show that he put his bow down it was a big thing to show his soft heartedness and compassion for everyone.

Dhirtarastra was blind and he had blind love for his sons. Even though Krsna was right there with all of them yet he was blinded by his love for his sons. We are worse than Dhirtarastra as we have so much more need for sense gratification. 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Śrī Śrī Rādhā-kripa-kaṭākṣa-stava-rāja


This is the most famous stotra in Sri Vrindavana, Sometimes called the national anthem of Vrindavan.
All the sadhus and devoted matajis [ladies] know it by heart, and it is recited daily in most temples and nearby villages; indeed, this prayer is regarded as the very heart of Vrindavana.
It is also known as: "The King of Prayers which Petitions the Most Merciful Side-long Glance from Srimati Radharani". This exceptional prayer is composed in a lovely meter and daily sung in a charming melody by many Brijabasis (Vrindavan residents).

Śrī Śrī Rādhā-kripa-kaṭākṣa-stava-rāja
The PRAYER FOR THE MERCIFUL SIDELONG GLANCE OF SRI RADHA
(An Appeal to Śīmatī Rādhāraṇi from the Ūrdhvāmnāya-tantra)
Spoken by Lord Śiva to Parvati
Translated by Kuśakratha dāsa
Radharanis sidelong glance
श्री राधा-कृपा-कटाक्ष-स्तव-राजŚrī Rādhā-kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stava-rāja

Text 1
मुनीन्द्र–वृन्द–वन्दिते त्रिलोक–शोक–हारिणि
प्रसन्न-वक्त्र-पण्कजे निकुञ्ज-भू-विलासिनि
व्रजेन्द्र–भानु–नन्दिनि व्रजेन्द्र–सूनु–संगते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥१॥
munīndra-vṛnda-vandite triloka-śoka-hāriṇi
prasanna-vaktra-paṇkaje nikuñja-bhū-vilāsini
vrajendra-bhānu-nandini vrajendra-sūnu-saṅgate
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||1||
O goddess worshiped by the kings of sages, O goddess who remove the sufferings of the three worlds, O goddess whose face is a blossoming lotus, O goddess who enjoy pastimes in the forest, O daughter of Vrishhabhanu, O companion of Vraja's prince, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 2
अशोक–वृक्ष–वल्लरी वितान–मण्डप–स्थिते
प्रवालबाल–पल्लव प्रभारुणांघ्रि–कोमले ।
वराभयस्फुरत्करे प्रभूतसम्पदालये
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥२॥
aśoka-vṛkṣa-vallarī-vitāna-maṇḍapa-sthite
pravāla-vāla-pallava prabhā ’ruṇāṅghri-komale
varābhaya-sphurat-kare prabhūta-sampadālaye
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||2||
O goddess staying in a vine-cottage by an ashoka tree, O goddess whose delicate feet are as splendid as red blossoms, O goddess whose hand grants fearlessness, O abode of transcendental opulence's, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 3
अनङ्ग-रण्ग मङ्गल-प्रसङ्ग-भङ्गुर-भ्रुवां
सविभ्रमं ससम्भ्रमं दृगन्त–बाणपातनैः ।
निरन्तरं वशीकृतप्रतीतनन्दनन्दने
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥३॥
anaṅga-raṅga-maṅgala-prasaṅga-bhaṅgura-bhruvāṁ
sa-vibhramaṁ sa-sambhramaṁ dṛganta-bāṇa-pātanaiḥ
nirantaraṁ vaśī-kṛta-pratīti-nanda-nandane
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||3||
O goddess who, playfully shooting the arrows of Your glances from the curved bows of Your auspicious, amorous eyebrows, have completely subdued Nanda's son [Krishna], when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 4
तडित्–सुवर्ण–चम्पक –प्रदीप्त–गौर–विग्रहे
मुख–प्रभा–परास्त–कोटि–शारदेन्दुमण्डले ।
विचित्र-चित्र सञ्चरच्चकोर-शाव-लोचने
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥४॥
taḍit-suvarṇa-campaka-pradīpta-gaura-vigrahe
mukha-prabhā-parāsta-koṭi-śāradendu-maṇḍale
vicitra-citra-sañcarac-cakora-śāva-locane
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||4||
O goddess whose form is as splendid as champaka flowers, gold, and lightning, O goddess whose face eclipses millions of autumn moons, O goddess whose eyes are wonderful, restless young chakora birds, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 5
मदोन्मदाति–यौवने प्रमोद–मान–मण्डिते
प्रियानुराग–रञ्जिते कला–विलास – पण्डिते ।
अनन्यधन्य–कुञ्जराज्य–कामकेलि–कोविदे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥५॥
madonmadāti-yauvane pramoda-māna-maṇḍite
priyānurāga-rañjite kalā-vilāsa-paṇḍite
ananya-dhanya-kuñja-rājya-kāma keli-kovide
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||5||
O young girl intoxicated with passion, O goddess decorated with cheerful jealous anger, O goddess who passionately love Your beloved Krishna, O goddess learned in playful arts, O goddess expert at enjoying amorous pastimes in the kingdom of the peerlessly opulent forest groves of Vrindavana, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 6
अशेष–हावभाव–धीरहीरहार–भूषिते
प्रभूतशातकुम्भ–कुम्भकुम्भि–कुम्भसुस्तनि ।
प्रशस्तमन्द–हास्यचूर्ण पूर्णसौख्य –सागरे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥६॥
aśeṣa-hāva-bhāva-dhīra-hīra-hāra-bhūṣite
prabhūta-śāta-kumbha-kumbha-kumbhi kumbha-sustani
praśasta-manda-hāsya-cūrṇa-pūrṇa-saukhya-sāgare
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||6|
O goddess decorated with a pearl necklace of bold amorous hints, O goddess as fair as gold, O goddess whose breasts are great golden waterpots, O ocean of happiness filled with the scented powders of gentle smiles, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 7
मृणाल-वाल-वल्लरी तरङ्ग-रङ्ग-दोर्लते
लताग्र–लास्य–लोल–नील–लोचनावलोकने ।
ललल्लुलन्मिलन्मनोज्ञ–मुग्ध–मोहिनाश्रिते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥७॥
mṛṇāla-vāla-vallarī taraṅga-raṅga-dor-late
latāgra-lāsya-lola-nīla-locanāvalokane
lalal-lulan-milan-manojña mugdha-mohanāśrite
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||7||
O goddess whose arms are lotus stalks dancing on the waves, O goddess whose dark eyes are dancing vines, O playful, beautiful, charming goddess, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 8
सुवर्णमलिकाञ्चित –त्रिरेख–कम्बु–कण्ठगे
त्रिसूत्र–मङ्गली-गुण–त्रिरत्न-दीप्ति–दीधिते ।
सलोल–नीलकुन्तल–प्रसून–गुच्छ–गुम्फिते
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥८॥
suvarṇa-mālikāñcita-trirekha-kambu-kaṇṭhage
tri-sūtra-maṅgalī-guṇa-tri-ratna-dīpti-dīdhiti
salola-nīla-kuntala prasūna-guccha-gumphite
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||8||
O goddess who wear a golden necklace on the three-lined conchshell of Your neck, O goddess splendid with three jasmine garlands and three jewelled necklaces, O goddess whose moving locks of dark hair are decorated with bunches of flowers, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 9
नितम्ब–बिम्ब–लम्बमान–पुष्पमेखलागुणे
प्रशस्तरत्न-किङ्किणी-कलाप-मध्य मञ्जुले ।
करीन्द्र–शुण्डदण्डिका–वरोहसौभगोरुके
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥९॥
nitamba-bimba-lambamāna-puṣpa-mekhalā-guṇe
praśasta-ratna-kiṅkiṇī-kalāpa-madhya mañjule
karīndra-śuṇḍa-daṇḍikā-varoha-saubhagoruke
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||9||
O goddess who wear a sash of flowers on Your curved hips, O goddess charming with a sash of tinkling jewelled bells, O goddess whose beautiful thighs punish the regal elephant's trunk, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 10
अनेक–मन्त्रनाद–मञ्जु नूपुरारव–स्खलत्
समाज–राजहंस–वंश–निक्वणाति–गौरवे ।
विलोलहेम–वल्लरी–विडम्बिचारु–चङ्क्रमे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥१०॥
aneka-mantra-nāda-mañju-nūpurā-rava-skhalat
samāja-rāja-haṁsa-vaṁśa-nikvaṇāti-gaurave
vilola-hema-vallarī-viḍambi-cāru-caṅkrame
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||10||
O goddess whose anklets' tinkling is more beautiful than the sounds of many mantras and the cooing of many regal swans, O goddess whose graceful motions mock the moving golden vines, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 11
अनन्त–कोटि–विष्णुलोक–नम्र–पद्मजार्चिते
हिमाद्रिजा–पुलोमजा–विरिञ्चजा-वरप्रदे ।
अपार–सिद्धि–ऋद्धि–दिग्ध–सत्पदाङ्गुली-नखे
कदा करिष्यसीह मां कृपाकटाक्ष–भाजनम् ॥११॥
ananta-koṭi-viṣṇu-loka-namra-padmajārcite
himādrijā-pulomajā-viriñcajā-vara-prade
apāra-siddhi-ṛddhi-digdha-sat-padāṅgulī-nakhe
kadā kariṣyasīha māṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam ||11||
O goddess worshiped by Brahma, O goddess to whom countless millions of Vaishnavas bow down, O goddess who give blessings to Parvati, shaci, and Sarasvati, O goddess whose toenails are anointed with limitless opulence's and mystic perfections, when will You cast Your merciful sidelong glance upon me?

Text 12
मखेश्वरि क्रियेश्वरि स्वधेश्वरि सुरेश्वरि
त्रिवेद–भारतीश्वरि प्रमाण–शासनेश्वरि ।
रमेश्वरि क्षमेश्वरि प्रमोद–काननेश्वरि
व्रजेश्वरि व्रजाधिपे श्रीराधिके नमो˜स्तु ते ॥१२॥
makheśvari kriyeśvari svadheśvari sureśvari
triveda-bhāratīśvari pramāṇa-śāsaneśvari
rameśvari kṣameśvari pramoda kānaneśvari
vrajeśvari vrajādhipe śrī rādhike namo ’stu te ||12||
O queen of Vedic sacrifices, O queen of pious activities, O queen of the material world, O queen of the demigods, O queen of Vedic scholarship, O queen of knowledge, O queen of the goddesses of fortune, O queen of patience, O queen of Vrindavana, the forest of happiness, O queen of Vraja, O empress of Vraja, O Sri Radhika, obeisance's to You!

Text 13
इती ममद्भुतं-स्तवं निशम्य भानुनन्दिनी
करोतु सन्ततं जनं कृपाकटाक्ष-भाजनम् ।
भवेत्तदैव सञ्चित त्रिरूप–कर्म नाशनं
लभेत्तदा व्रजेन्द्र–सूनु–मण्डल–प्रवेशनम् ॥१३॥
itī mam adbhutaṁ-stavaṁ niśamya bhānu-nandinī
karotu santataṁ janaṁ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanam
bhavet tadaiva-sañcita-tri-rūpa-karma-nāśanaṁ
bhavet tadā-vrajendra-sūnu-maṇḍala-praveśanam ||13||
Upon hearing this most astonishing prayer of mine being recited by a devotee, may Sri Vrishhabhanu-nandini constantly make him the object of Her most merciful sidelong glance. At that time all his karmic reactions - whether mature, fructifying, or lying in seed - will be completely destroyed, and then he will gain entrance into the assembly of Nandanandana's eternal loving associates.

Text 14-15
राकायां च सिताष्टम्यां दशम्यां च विशुद्धधीः ।
एकादश्यां त्रयोदश्यां यः पठेत्साधकः सुधीः ॥१४॥
यं यं कामयते कामं तं तमाप्नोति साधकः ।
राधाकृपाकटाक्षेण भक्तिःस्यात् प्रेमलक्षणा ॥१५॥
rākāyāṁ ca sitāṣṭamyāṁ daśamyāṁ ca viśuddha-dhīḥ |
ekādaśyāṁ trayodaśyāṁ yaḥ paṭhet sādhakaḥ sudhīḥ ||14||


yaṁ yaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ taṁ tamāpnoti sādhakaḥ |
rādhā-kṛpā-kaṭākṣeṇa bhaktiḥ syāt prema-lakṣaṇā ||15||
If a sadhaka with purified intelligence recites this stava with a fixed mind on the lunar days known as the full-moon day, the bright ashtami, the dashami, the ekadashi, and the trayodashi, then each and every one of his desires will be fulfilled, one by one. And by the merciful sidelong glance of Shri Radha he will obtain devotional service that has the special symptom of being imbued with pure, ecstatic love of God (prema).

Text 16-17
ऊरुदघ्ने नाभिदघ्ने हृद्दघ्ने कण्ठदघ्नके ।
राधाकुण्डजले स्थिता यः पठेत् साधकः शतम् ॥१६॥
तस्य सर्वार्थ सिद्धिः स्याद् वाक्सामर्थ्यं तथा लभेत् ।
ऐश्वर्यं च लभेत् साक्षाद्दृशा पश्यति राधिकाम् ॥१७॥
ūru-daghne nābhi-daghne hṛd-daghne kaṇṭa-daghnake |
rādhā-kuṇḍa-jale sthitā yaḥ paṭhet sādhakaḥ śatam ||16||

tasya sarvārtha-siddhiḥ syād vāk-sāmarthyaṁ tathā labhet |
aiśvaryaṁ ca labhet sākṣād dṛśā paśyati rādhikām ||17||
That sadhaka who recites this stava 100 times while standing in the waters of Shri Radha-kunda up to his thighs, navel, chest, or neck will attain complete perfection in the five goals of human existence, namely dharma, artha, kama, moksha, and prema. He also will attain the power by which everything he says will come true. He becomes very powerful and opulent due to attaining transcendental majesty, and he gets to meet shri Radhika face to face, seeing Her even with his present eyes.

Text 18
तेन स तत्क्षणादेव तुष्टा दत्ते महावरम् ।
येन पश्यति नेत्राभ्यां तत् प्रियं श्यामसुन्दरम् ॥१८॥
tena sa tat-kṣaṇād eva tuṣṭā datte mahāvaram |
yena paśyati netrābhyāṁ tat-priyaṁ śyāmasundaram ||18||
[By such chanting of this prayer in Radha-kunda] Shri Radhika becomes so pleased that She instantly bestows a great benediction on the devotee, which is that he sees Her beloved Shyamasundara with his very own eyes.

Text 19
नित्यलीला–प्रवेशं च ददाति श्री-व्रजाधिपः ।
अतः परतरं प्रार्थ्यं वैष्णवस्य न विद्यते ॥१९॥
nitya-līlā-praveśaṁ ca dadāti śrī-vrajādhipaḥ |
ataḥ parataraṁ prārthyaṁ vaiṣṇavasya na vidyate ||19||
Then that Lord of Vrindavana grants the devotee entrance into His eternal pastimes. Genuine Vaishnavas hanker for nothing beyond this.

॥ इति श्रीमदूर्ध्वाम्नाये श्रीराधिकायाः कृपाकटाक्षस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम ॥
|| iti śrīmad-ūrdhvāmnāye śrī-rādhikāyāḥ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stotraṁ sampūrṇam ||

Thus ends the śrī-rādhikāyāḥ kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-stotraṁ
found in the ūrdhvāmnāya tantra

Beautiful Sri Radha

PHALA SRUTI (THE BENEFIT OF RECITING THIS PRAYER)

The aspirant who recites this hymn on the full-moon day, on the eighth day of the waxing moon, and on the tenth, eleventh and thirteenth days of the waxing and waning moons, achieves the fruition of his desires and, by the grace of Sri Radhika's compassionate sidelong glance, bhakti characterized by prema sprouts in his heart.
The aspirant who recites this hymn one hundred times, while immersed in the waters of Sri Radha-kunda, either up to his waist, up to his navel, up to his chest, or up to his neck, achieves the perfection of his desired ends and whatever he speaks comes true, he is endowed with full spiritual opulence and gets the direct, personal darshan of Srimati Radharani.
Being pleased with him, Srimati Radhika immediately grants him the greatest benediction and he gets to see with his own eyes Her darling sweet Lord, Sri Syamasundara. The Lord of Vraja, in His turn, grants that devotee an entrance into His eternal sports. For the Vaisnavas there is no greater goal to be achieved than this.

Download PDF document
Radha-kripa-kataksha.pdf 
             

Sri Radha-Kundastakam

Click here to load whole tree
NITAAI-Veda.nyf > Compiled and Imp Scriptures > Vaishnava Song Book > Sanskrit Songs > Sri Radha-Kundastakam


Shri Radha-Kundashtakam
Shrila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

vrishabha-danuja-nashan narma-dharmokti-rangair
nikhila-nija-sakhibhir yat sva-hastena purnam
prakatitam api vrindaranya-rajnya pramodais
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (1)

After the killing of Arishtasura, Shrimati Radhika and Her sakhis exchanged many
joking words with Shri Krishna concerning the necessary atonement for one who has
committed the offence of killing a bull. As a result, the Queen of Vrindavana, Shrimati
Radhika, and Her sakhis joyfully excavated and filled Shri Radha-kunda with their
own hands. May that immensely fragrant Radha-kunda be my shelter.

vraja-bhuvi mura-shatroh preyasinam nikamair
asulabham api turnam prema-kalpa-drumam tam
janayati hridi bhumau snatur uccaih priyam yat

tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (2)
In the land of the hearts of those who bathe in Radha-kunda, a desire tree of the
superlative prema, which is not attainable even for Krishna’s principal queens in
Dvaraka, will arise. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.

agha-ripur api yatnad atra devyah prasadaprasara-
krita-kataksha-prapti-kamah prakamam
anusarati yad uccaih snana-sevanu-bandhais
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (3)

For the pleasure of Shrimati Radhika, even Shri Krishna Himself, yearning to attain Her
merciful sidelong glance, regularly bathes in Radha-kunda, carefully observing all the
appropriate rituals. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be my shelter.

vraja-bhuvana-sudhamshoh prema-bhumir nikamam
vraja-madhura-kishori-mauli-ratna-priyeva
paricitam api namna yac ca tenaiva tasyas
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (4)

May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda, which the moon of Vraja, Shri Krishna,
loves as much as He loves the crown-jewel amongst the sweet girls of Vraja, Shrimati
Radhika, and which He has made known by the name of Radhika Herself, be my
shelter.

api jana iha kashcid yasya seva-prasadaih
pranaya-sura-lata syat tasya goshthendra-sunoh
sapadi kila mad-isha-dasya-pushpa-prashasya
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (5)

The mercy obtained by serving Radha-kunda makes the desire-creeper of prema for
the prince of Vraja sprout and is celebrated for bearing the flower of service to my
svamini Shrimati Radhika. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.

tata-madhura-nikunjah klpta-namana uccair
nija-parijana-vargaih samvibhajyashritas taih
madhukara-ruta-ramya yasya rajanti kamyas
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (6)

Gloriously manifest on the banks of Radha-kunda are eight kunjas named after
Radhika’s principal sakhis.* Filled with the sweet humming of bumblebees, these
kunjas act as stimuli for the amorous pastimes of the Divine Couple. The lotus feet
of that Radhika, who sends Krishna to enjoy in all the different kunjas, are desired by
everyone. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.
*On the eastern bank is the kunja known as Citra-sukhada, on the southeastern side is Indulekhasukhada, on the southern bank is Campakalata-sukhada, on the southwestern side is Rangadevi- sukhada, on the western bank is Tungavidya-sukhada, on the northwestern side is Sudevi- sukhada, on the northern bank is Lalita-sukhada, and on the northeastern side is the kunja known as Vishakha-sukhada.

tata-bhuvi vara-vedyam yasya narmati-hridyam
madhura-madhura-vartam goshtha-candrasya bhangya
prathayati mitha isha prana-sakhyalibhih sa
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (7)

Situated on an exquisite dais on the bank of Radha-kunda and accompanied by Her
beloved sakhis, our svamini Shrimati Radhika charmingly engages in sweet, joking
words with Shri Krishna, the moon of Vraja. These playful verbal exchanges are enhanced
by the suggestion of so many innuendoes. May that Radha-kunda be the shelter of
my life.

anudinam ati-rangaih prema-mattali-sanghair
vara-sarasija-gandhair hari-vari-prapurne
viharata iha yasmin dampati tau pramattau
tad ati-surabhi-radha-kundam evashrayo me (8)

May that very charming and especially fragrant Radha-kunda, where intoxicated
with love the Divine Couple and the sakhis daily cavorts with great joy in the water
so fragrant with exquisite lotus flowers, be the sole shelter of my life.

avikalam ati devyash caru kundashtakam yah
paripathati tadiyollasi-dasyarpitatma
aciram iha sharire darshayaty eva tasmai
madhu-ripur ati-modaih shlishyamanam priyam tam (9)

To that devotee who, in a resolute mood of aspiring to serve Shrimati Radhika, reads this
charming prayer describing Shri Radha-kunda, even in their present body Shri Krishna will
quickly grant them darshana of not only His beloved Radhika, but also of Their many
variegated amorous pastimes. Witnessing these pastimes and envisioning himself serving
Yugala-kishora in various ways, such a devotee will feel immense jubilation. (This
ashtaka is recited in the poetic meter known as “Malini.”)

Glories of Kartik month, Sri Radha Kunda

Yesterday was the appearance of Sri Radha Kunda. Srila Rupa Gosvami has given us NOI and we are called Rupanugas because we are the followers of Rupa Gosvami and he was the one who gave us these scriptures. We should follow NOI. He says Bharatvarsha is very glorious, out of that Vrindavan, out of that Govardhan parikrama - if you have never done Govardhan parikrama please plan to do it as it is the sweetest place to do parikrama. It is just permeating with the mood of Krsna and on Govardhan the most powerful place is Sri Radha Kunda. Why is it so glorious? Rupa Gosvami explains because it the kunda of Srimati Radharani. She used to bathe in this kunda and it was her favorite place. As it was so pleasing to Radharani it is the most favorite place of Krsna. Why? Because she saw this place as the most confidential place to perform her past times with Krsna. This was here that Radharani was able to perform her most confidential past times with Krsna. Krsna, Radharani and all the gopis performed so many pasttimes here. Whoever takes bath in this kunda I will award that person love for Krsna. The waters of Radha Kunda are the liquid form of mercy. There are so many glories of Radha Kunda in scriptures. Hence, it's the meditation place for Radha and Krsna. Hence, lots of pure devotees performed bhajan here and there are lots of  bhajan kutirs at this place. Jhanava devi, Raghunathadas Gosvami and many others. SP also met his Guru Maharaj at Radha Kunda and at this bank he got his instruction that if you ever get money, print books. 

He instructed to SP, this communal feeling of envy and non-cooperation between each other will disturb the family of vaishnavas. His Gurudeva said you should be very careful of this fire of communal unrest. He said there is fire in the mutt and if it were upto mean I would sell the marble of the temple and print books. SP took this instruction on his head and he started the BBT which is the largest publications today. This seed of the movement of book distribution all over the world was actually planted at the banks of Radha kunda. This mercy manifested in the form of books at the banks of Radha kunda. Preaching is nothing but the mercy of Radharani, distributing books is nothing but the mercy of Radharani. So when we go there, we pray to Srimati Radharani that we become instrumental in the hands of our Gurudeva. We must understand the proper mood of Radhakunda and that is to beg for devotional service. How did this Radhakunda come about?

This area is also called Aritagram. Demon in the form of a bull. Krsna killed this Aritasura, Radharani and the gopis came to Krsna and said by killing the bull you have committed a sin. Killing of bull and cow is considered a big sin. They are dharma and mother personified. Now you need to purify yourself. How do I do it? Radharani said you have to go to all the holy places and bathe there. Krsna called for all the personalities personified and Krsna by his heel dug a hole and this hole became a large hole by the power of his heel and then asked all the holy rivers to fill this kunda. Krsna jumped into the kunda and he took bathe and he said I have now got purified. But as you sided with the bull who was a demon you have also performed a sin and now you need to purify yourself. So with their bangles they became to dig a hole. They dug a hole and millions of gopis formed a line and they were trying to get the water from manasa ganga. Krsna went to Radha and said my dear Radharani please allow me to serve you and he asked all the rivers to come and then they filled the kunda by Radha's permission. Radharani took bath in this Radhakunda and also Krsna took bath and he declared this is the dearest place for me in this whole wide earth.

These kundas were lost actually in kali yuga, when Sri Mahaprabhu was visiting Vrindavan which was also covered he was singing where are all the holy places and was meditating on Shyam kunda and Radhakunda. He found two paddy fields and he declared these are Radhakunda and Shyamkunda. He gave Radhakunda to Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and he built the existing Radhakunda. This is how we are so merciful to get mercy of Radhakunda. Actually everyday millions of Vrajavasis go to Radhakunda to offer lamps and to pray to get pure love for Krsna.

All these pasttimes in month of Kartik are to meditate upon Krsna and to beg for his mercy. Next week is Dipavali *23rd Oct. Same day when he performed Damodar lila. Our hearts have been eternally in darkness, but by remembering these pasttimes and lighting the diyas during this month of Kartik we should absorb ourselves in the past times of Krsna so we can get rid of all the anarthas and the darkness from our hearts. Damodar lila is etched in the hearts of the devotees. He charmed the hearts of the devotees and esp. Yashodamaya. It was the day of Dipavali and baby Krsna who was a few years old he was sleeping and in the early morning hours she was churning butter for the pleasure of Kana. It is explained that Yashodamaya was churning the butter. Acaryas have said it was being made by the the best milk on the planet. While they were churning butter, the gopis used to think about Krsna's past time from last day and while thinking about these past times they would compose beautiful bhajans and hence we should learn the bhajans of the Vaishanav acharyas along with the translation/meaning and with this we will be always KC. As Yashodamata was churning the butter her bangles were rubbing against each other and they were sounding like kartalas. More details in this section about this lila - http://radhekrishnaprema.blogspot.com/2012/11/karthik-damodar-leela-damodara-rope.html  One good point Prabhuji shared - Mother Yashoda while serving Krsna she went to save the milk because she knew that even the milk will be used in the service of Krsna. That's how expert devotees are - they know when lots of services come at the same time which one should they do. Similarly we need to understand how we can do service to Krsna all the time.

Our heart is flooded with so many anarthas - desires, lust etc - but Krsna has come to flood our hearts with the ecstacy of his past times. In this way, Krsna is performing these past times during Kartik. Hence, we need to be always very humble and always pray for the mercy of Krsna so he can pick us up. 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Bhakti Shastri Chapter 1 Verses 28 - 37

From verse 28, he says he doesn't want to fight. He gives 5 arguments. First 4 are in chapter 1 and last one is in chapter 2.

Reasons not to fight:
1. Compassion - V 28- 30
2. Loss of enjoyment. V 31- 35
3. Doesn't want to incur sinful reactions - V36-38
4. If he kills all the men, women won't be able to continue family traditions.
Chapter 2
5. He becomes indecisive after seeing all this.

In this chapter this is pretty much he talks till V 46.

Compassion:
Verse 28: These are the symptoms of compassion which Arjuna is feeling - quivering and mouth drying up.
Verse 29: More signs of compassion- body is trembling, hair on end and bow is slipping and skin burning. He has material fear - loss of life. He is also unable to hold on to his famous bow Gandiva.
Verse 30: He is on the chariot and he's saying I can't do this anymore. It has overwhelmed him. When we are in fear, we get overwhelmed and we forget whatever we know. In a bewildering condition - excessive distress and anxiety. When you are trying to run towards something material, you don't get it and then you become distressed and then we become despondent. Nimmittani Viparitani : Causes and just the opposite. He is seeing everything differnent. He was used to seeing a good life everybody as his family and happy and when he is seeing all this opposite, he is distressed and his mind is reeling. We find the causes of compassion of Arjuna who is a pure devotee. He is a pure devotee and the reason he's showing this sign is because compassion is in the pure devotee. But he is now covered by Krsna's Yogamaya. How do we develop compassion - but pleasing the devotees esp your spiritual master by trying to please him. Only when you are able to please him do you develop compassion. That's what we should try to develop this quality. He is truly compassionate, because he is actually thinking of both parties. He is not thinking of himself at all. He is soft hearted. These are all his material signs of Arjuna - He is being seen as a weakness of the mind. He also shows attachement to his family members and that would be a false compassion.

Loss of enjoyment:
Verse 31 - If you kill your friends/family - whom will be enjoy with later. If you have companion then it's more enjoyable. Example - if you want to celebrate janamastami and you are doing it alone how can you enjoy? We don't know why sometimes we are happy in this material life. Some situations are happy and some situations are unhappy. Nice description of roles of a Ksatriya. Please read the purport of this verse. If he kills his enemies he feels he won't be able to enjoy in his kingdom. Sometimes in material life, we want the position and post but don't want the responsibilities of that post. If you don't do your material activities properly, then you can't even do your spiritual duties properly. If you do your material activities properly then you are able to even focus on your spiritual duties.
Verse 32-35: When people are put into situations when they don't want to do something, they give different reasons and here also Arjuna is giving a reason. Here he calls him Govinda - because Govinda is the focus of all pleasures for cows and senses and indirectly he'll tell Krsna that you should satisfy him. That's how we are also. We should also please the senses of Krsna or other people. In case someone comes home and we serve the guests well, they will have a good impression of that person. We should always pray to satisfy Krsna's sensese. Hence, we should always sing the songs of the Vaisnavas acaryas - then we understand the mood in which we should pray to Krsna. Janardhana means the support of the people or the living entities. How somebody who supports people can see people getting killed. The other aspect of play of words is Jana Ardhana - killer, ardhana means killer and he's saying as you are the killer, maybe you should kill them so I don't incur any sins.

Don't want to incur sins
Verse 36- Here he's saying fighting will incur sinful reactions. He is his relatives and his elders and hence not proper to kill them. Killing our kinsmen - dharma shastra and artha shastra. Artha shastra says there are 6 types of aggressors. He calls Krsna Madhava - and Krsna is all fortunate.
Verse 37-38: He's trying to act as a saintly person and what he's forgetting is he needs to upload the principles of a Kstariya.


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Importance of Kartik Month 2014

This month is the most dear to Krsna. Krsna chose this month to reciprocate to show to the world that a devotee who is desiring to serve Krsna. That desire will never go in vain. A devotee should never feel that - Oh I served Krsna for 5 mins and it was a waste of time. To show to the world that what kind of personality Krsna is. He chose this month to reciprocate and flood the hearts of his devotees with full pleasure. This is what Krsna is waiting to give us. We always ask when we are getting a job - what is the package, what am I going to get. or sometimes we feel we want job satisfaction. We just want to enjoy what we are doing. What will we get in return? What is the offer.

We also go to Krsna that I will do all these things, but what will I get in return. In this month Krsna shows what will he get back. You are going to get very deep reciprocation from me. This is what Krsna is sharing to give us himself. He is giving himself to us. When he gives himself to us, then we feel connected to Krsna.

Satyavrata muni has rightly composed this poem  - iti driskalilabhir anandakunday. By performing all these pasttimes, leelas - what are your doing oh Krsna - you are drowing the brajabasis in the pools of ecstasy. This is Krsna's leela. Personally you are doing this and it's happening in this month. Throughout this month we should hear about these leelas and share it with others. More we preach to others, more this month will share these glories to us.

Only by the mercy of SP are we able to understand the importance of this month so we can progress in this month. We also have the chance to come closer to enter into Goloka Vrindavan during this month. So we should really pay our obeisances to SP first.

The beg of this month starts with sharad poornima and it;s the epitome of devotional service. This pasttime, during this time the environment is very pleasing, moonlit poorima of sharad ritu is the best evening of the year and it was on this day, he called the gopis. What is the relationship with the gopis. Krsna is the supreme purush and every jiva is the prakrati. All living entities are the parts and parcels of Krsna and all jivas give pleasure to Krsna. All these gopis who were sages during Rama's time they prayed to him that they want to become their close associates as their consorts. So all these great sages became the gopis and very close devotees of Krsna. The gopis bhava is to give complete pleasure to Krsna. They were thoroughly absorbed in Krsna. Even for a moment they never forgot Krsna. In fact, it's explained how Narada muni was passing and they were cursing Brahmaji - because he made these eyes which have eye lids - and everytime they close we can't gaze upon the beautiful form of Krsna. That was their focus upon Krsna. They were the only devotees who gave bucket full/cart full of dust for Krsna to cure his headache. Even if we go to hell for this, if it can cure Krsna's headache we will go to hell eternally. We will do anything and everything for Krsna's love. They just wanted to please Krsna. Hence, in the night of Sharad Poornima, he played the flute and as soon as the gopis heard this they knew Krsna is calling us, Krsna is calling me. When the call of Krsna enters into the pure devotee - a pure devotee leaves everything just to serve Krsna and to please him. Gopis left everything just to be with Krsna. They just left everythign and ran to the forest to be with Krsna. That is the highest form of selfless service for Krsna. The primary duty of a soul is the serve Krsna. The primary duty is to please Krsna. Every other duty is secondary. If we are trying to pleaes others but not please Krsna then our life is a waste. If we please Krsna, then Krsna will take care of everybody. They had full faith and conviction in Krsna. Just need to surrender to Krsna. SUrrendering to Krsna is the best situation for us and for all others connected to us! A pure devotee has full faith. If I serve Krsna with a SINCERE HEART - then Krsna reciprocates. Just to please Krsna, for his pleasure. This was the unalloyed devotion of the Gopis, because they chose to give up everything for Krsna, Krsna reciprocated. Nowhere did they feel it is for our good. They wanted to do it only for Krsna's pleasure, knowing well that he is like it. They knew very well that Krsna will break the pots, steal butter and they actually wanted him to do so Krsna will be pleased and that's a pure devotees mood. They did it for Krsna's pleasure. Krsna in return flooded their hearts with supreme ecstasy. What is this type of ecstasy? He blessed the gopis with love for Krsna and be KC. So you are able to perform devotional service at every moment. That is what Krsna awarded to them. Then he also taught another valuable lesson - For each gopi he was personally present to address their needs - SIMILARLY, We have our own Krsna to take care of our needs. So during the Rasa leela, all gopis got envy that oh, Krsna is only with me and hence I'm very special. So then he disappeared. Even when he is inducing this love for Krsna, there is one obstacle to this and that is envy. Envy can always keep us away from Krsna! Hence, always surrender to Krsna and dovetail good or bad to Krsna, just have faith in Krsna and always be humble lower than the straw in the street. With every rising and setting of the sun we are closer to death and hence we should try to escape this perpetual cycle of birth and death by becoming KC and please take advantage of this pure Kartik month.

Mood during Kartik - read all the pasttimes of Krsna during this month, try to engage in our sadhana very very carefully and we pray to Srimati Radharani may she also bless us with the mood of brajavasis - HUMBLE loving devotional service.The best way is to discuss the pasttimes of Krsna in the association of devotees because if we are alone we can become distracted and then its diluted. So lot of pasttimes and hence we should read all these pasttimes and sincerely read these past times, THEY will come to life. It's like practially watching a 3d movie in front of you. So carefully read all the past times and it;s like watching this whole movie in front of your eyes. In that mood you should do your sadhana so you can be absorbed to actually feel the past times from your heart. For example - the child is so innocent and when Krsna himself becomes a child and that child Krsna who is very innocent he is performing these past times and imagine when he performed these innocent past times what kind of emotions did he bring about in mother yashoda's heart. Similarly, we need to be absorbed in these past times so we can try to imagine it from our heart. So please sing damodarastakam, read, chant, past times with devotees. That should be our mood in Kartik. 

Association of devotees is so so so important, that whenever you remember your association, you feel like it's all coming to life. These loving experiences with the devotees just comes to life only by Krsna's mercy. So someday try to go for these yatras with association of devotees during Kartik so you can have an unforgettable experience and you can always remember this experience and they will all come to life.

Haribol!




Thursday, October 2, 2014

GNAB - Good News Action Broadcast from our book distribution Sankirtan on 9/20/2014

Good News Action Broadcast from our book distribution Sankirtan on 9/20 at the international festival at Raleigh. I personally witnessed HG Jagdish prabhu's pure desire to distribute at this location and immediately, the divine couple reciprocated and allowed us to get in.

We were able to setup a book table and it turned out to be a great location. We got to meet very interesting people all looking for Krsna. Couple of experiences which stood out for me were these:

1. I saw a 10 or 11 year old soft spoken boy walking by our book table and I immediately, lifted my hand and said hi. He stopped and I said "We have some books on yoga and meditation that can free your from stress. You've heard of stress before right?" I was expecting him to say no, but to my surprise he said yes he had. I said- "but you look very peaceful, what's your secret." He then revealed I don't have stress but my mom is very stressed. I was taken aback with his innocence and his eagerness to help her. Then as I got into the show and tell of the BG, the kid was so intrigued and very absorbed in hearing. I realized, there doesn't need to be any qualification to become KC, and it can happen at any moment just by hearing sincerely and surrendering to Krsna. He eventually didn't buy the BG as he didn't have any money and he didn't want to ask his mother, but we still gave him a book and told him about our center. He was so happy and immediately he ran to his mother to tell her. Seeing this moment was so exhilarating for us. We left him with a good impression.

2. Another person was walking by and we said Hi. He said, sorry I'm very busy and I'm in a hurry. We said, ok, let's show you very quickly then. I showed him the Gita and started the show and tell but then he stopped me after - Thorou. He said - " Is this THE Gita? I said yes it is. He said whoa! I just watched a video last night about brahman and Brahma and then later that night I had a dream about the BG. I woke up this morning hoping to find one! " After this experience, I was convinced once again - Krsna reciprocates with anyone having a very sincere desire to come to Him. He not took the Gita and gave us a nice donation. He was also excited to come to the BV program and the temple. 

Both these experiences left a very deep impression on us and made us realize how we can be instruments for Mahaprabhu and why SP stressed on the importance of book distribution. Haribol!