heartinvrindaban

Rukmini krsna

2009-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Rukmini worshipped Krsna as a boy with this deity in Dwarka 5,000 years ago. He carries a churning stick and a rope. Over the centuries he ended up buried in the mud of coast near Dwarka. Merchants unwittingly dug him up with the loads of dirt they were using for ballast. The ship ran into trouble off the coast near Madhavacarya's home village near Udupi, where he was meditating by the shore. Seeing the trouble, Madhacarya waved one of his garments, calming the storm and saving the ship and crew. The grateful captain offered Madhacarya gifts, but he would only accept a heap of balast dirt. Inside was this deity Who has been worshipped in Udupi ever since.

Gopinath

2009-12-27T20:44:00.001-08:00

Tota Gopinath is the Deity worshipped by Sri Gadadhara pandit. Sacimata and Gadadhara's mother were friends as close as sisters, so Gadadhara was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's friend since earliest boyhood. When Sacimata noticed that Gadadhara could soothe Nimai's moods of intense separation from Krsna, better even than she could, she asked him to stay always at Nimai's side. Gadadhara took a vow to serve Tota Gopinath in His temple and never leave. The diary of a devotee in Orissa at that time says that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left the planet everyone first thought he had gone missing inside the Gundica Matha. Devotees searched Puri in every direction for a sign of him. Finally his outer garment was found on the ground outside Tota Gopinath's temple and a small crack or mark had appeared in the Deity's right knee. Devotees understand that Sri Mahaprabhu merged with this Deity.

Gadadhara was the appearance of Srimati Radharani, and after Sri Caitanya's disappearance his longing for Mahaprabhu was so great that every day he aged another year. He got so frail that he couldn't reach up to garland the Lord properly, so Sri Gopinatha obligingly knelt and He remains kneeling to this day. He is flanked on either side by Radha and Lalita.

The fourteen lokas

2009-12-18T02:08:00.000-08:00

athala
vithala
suthala
talAtala
rasAtala
mahAtala
pAthAla
bhooloka
bhuvarlOka
suvarlOka
tapOlOka
mahAlOka
janarlOka
sathya

Forests of Vraja

2009-12-18T02:07:00.000-08:00

Twelve Divine Forests...of vraja
Madhuvana
Tälavana
Kumudavana
Kämyavana
Bahulävana
Bhadravana
Khadiravana
Mahävana
Lohajaìghavana
Bilvavana
Bhäëòiravana
Våndävana

Jiva Gosvami's Questions and the Answers

2009-09-26T01:50:00.000-07:00

From Nawadwip Dham Mahatmaya Chap 17
Chapter Seventeen

All glories to Lord Gauracandra and Prabhu Nityananda! All glories to Advaita and Gadadhara, who relish ecstatic prema! All glories to the devotees headed by Srivasa! All glories to Nabadwip-Dham! And all glories to nama-sankirtana, the abode of prema.

Nityananda Prabhu was sitting in Srivasa Thakura's courtyard with tears of love for Gauranga streaming from his eyes. From all directions saintly Vaisnavas came, overcome by that inundation of love. At that time, Jiva Gosvami appeared there intoxicated with love for Radha and Krishna. Offering dandavats to Nityananda's lotus feet, Jiva rolled in the dust of that place.

Nityananda Prabhu affectionately asked him. "After how many days will you go to Vrndavana?"

Jiva answered, "The Lord's order is supreme. Accepting that order, I must indeed go to Vrndavana. But I have a few questions to ask. O Lord, for the benefit of Your servant, please answer. You say that Nabadwip and Vrndavana are non-different. If that is so, why should one make the effort to go to Vrndavana at all?'"

After hearing Jiva's question, Nityananda Prabhu answered, "This is a deep topic, so listen carefully. But as long as the Lord's pastimes are manifest, see that the materialists do not know of this.

"Nabadwip and Vrndavana are one principle, one is neither less than nor greater than the other. Vrndavana is the receptacle of rasa, the goal of the living entities, but one who is not qualified cannot receive that nectar. Therefore, that same Dham has mercifully become Nabadwip, where the living entities can attain qualification for that nectar. In other words, Radha and Krishna's pastimes are the highest of all transcendental mellows, therefore one has no immediate right to them.

"After many lifetimes of austerity one reaches the stage of knowledge. When that knowledge matures, one inquires about this rasa. But there are always many obstacles, so to obtain the great treasure of this nectar is very rare indeed. Therefore, anyone and everyone who goes to Vrndavana does not get that rasa. Rather, because of offenses, that sweet nectar turns sour.

"In this terrible age of Kali, offenses are continuous, the body is short-lived, and there are many troubles, so even if one wants the Vrndavana rasa, it is not attainable. Therefore, the only method of getting that rasa is by the mercy of Krishna.

"Radha and Krishna have given that mercy to the living entities by manifesting Vrndavana in the form of Nabadwip and by incarnating in the womb of Saci in a combined form as Gaurahari. In that form, They have given the process to qualify for vraja-rasa. Even the initial presence of offenses does not bar one from quickly attaining the goal of prema.

"If one lives in Nabadwip and takes shelter of the holy name, his offences will be destroyed and the qualification for the rasa will appear. Love of Krishna will soon shine within his heart and topics of' Radha and Krishna will prevail. In this way, by achieving Gauranga's mercy, the living entity attains Vrndavana, the holy abode of Radha and Krishna's nectarean pastimes.

"As this in a confidential topic, do not discuss it openly. Actually, there is absolutely no difference between Nabadwip and Vrndavana. Now you are qualified to take shelter of the place where Radha and Krishna's rasa is fully manifested, so you should go to Vrndavana. In the strict sense, there is no need to go to Vraja-Dham, for upon attaining qualification that Vraja-Dham appears here in Nabadwip. Still you should go to Vraja, for that is the Lord's order. For living entities it is always proper to first take shelter of Nabadwip to obtain the qualification for relishing the rasa of Vraja. Then one may live in Vrndavana, the place for actually acquiring that rasa, and there he will enjoy those transcendental mellows. When you get the mercy of Nabadwip, you will easily attain Vrndavana."

Hearing Nityananda Prabhu's conclusions, Jiva caught His lotus feet in ecstatic bliss and said, "I have one more question. Please listen. Many people live in Nabadwip, but why they are still unable to attain Krishna-bhakti?" As they are staying in this Dham, how do offenses remain in them? This has been disturbing me. O Lord, You are the abode of the universe, yet You remain eternally free from material contamination. Please tell me how the devotees will be freed from this doubt?"

Desiring the shade of the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, this low and worthless Bhaktivinoda speaks these topics.

Wonderful Quotes

2009-09-26T01:18:00.000-07:00

to give & take affection is a natural craving for every living entity"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"Humility does not mean to think yourself less, but to less think of yourself"

-H.H.Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj

"Devotional service is so simple,
but devotees because of their material
inclinations make it complicated".

-H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj

"If you want to be happy in this world,
then "stop" searching happiness in this world".

-Prahlad Maharaj

"Guru is heavy, because he carries Krishna in his heart".

- H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

- Sridhara Maharaj

"a disciple serves the spiritual master with the sole purpose of getting instructions from him"
-Srila Prabhupada

"Yes! Krishna is so nice! but this thing to really go inside our heart we must understand how awakward & miserable is our condition in this material world"
-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"A good dancer does not blame the stage!
A good cook does not blame the utensils!
A good engineer does not blame the instruments,
so a good preacher does not blame the field of his preaching"
-H.H.Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj

Four Arrows of Kamadev
1)Harshanam-boy & girl indulging in flowery thoughts for each other 2)Roshanam-endeavoring hard to get each other 3)Shoshanam-exploiting each other 4)Maranam-killing each other
-H.G.Gaurang Prabhu

"If we are proud we are already fallen, rest is just details"

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"beware of anarthas! they are there to distract us from our unified purpose of serving God, and so bringing disunity among us"

-H.H. Niranjan Swami Maharaj

"there are many in this world, and specially in India,
who think wealth & power can make a person happy,
for them I say, I am comming right from that point, down the road, there is nothing!"

-H.G.Ambarish Prabhu(Albert Ford) (Owner of FORD company)

"A tree full of ripened fruits bows down naturally, because of
1) the weight of the fruits
2) its willingness to make its fruits accessible to others"
-H.G. Madan Gopal Prabhu

The three final instructions
1) Do not try to be a hero, simply try to be a speck in the hands of the spiritual master.
2) Always take shelter of Hari Naam & Hari Katha.
3) Beware of disunity

-H.D.G.Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur

"Krishna and pure devotees see through the substance, not the maya the world sees through"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"There is nothing lacking in Krishna consciousness, its only that we lack Krishna consciousness"

-H.H. Bhakti Marg Swami Maharaj

"Efforts to enjoy spiritual ecstacies -Discipline + Sense Gratification = Sahajiya
(imposter devotee)"

-H.H.Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj

"to expect utopia in life is impersonalism"

-H.G.Braj Bihari Prabhu

once Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj was admitted at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai He had a dream He saw the spiritual world Where he saw all the previous acaryas They were asking Srila Prabhupada- "Whats the news from the material world?" Srila Prabhupada said, "there is no one who has the determination to do devotional service,including my followers" "only thing they have is, little attachment with me" "thats their hope"

Srila Tamal Krishna Maharaj told the dream to Srila Prabhupada Srila prabhupada replied, "Its true"

"a devotee doing sense gratification out of material conditionings, if keeps on listening to pure devotees, soon becomes disgusted of sense gratification and gives it up, and so attains the pure devotion to krishna"

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"Krishna does not remove those karmas from our lives,
reaction of whose are needed to install wonderful qualities in our lives "

-H.G.Gopi Paranadhana Prabhu

Mundane educational qualifications are no evidence of genuine intelligence. Rather they are a certificate of a person's stupidity or at least misfortune in having dedicated much time and energy in amassing information that has no intrinsic value.

-H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami Maharaj

The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent.

-Vrindavan Gopies

"unless you are very very advanced in Krishna consciousness, you should be very very busy, else sense control is not possible"

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"impurities in heart make it so complexed that simple spiritual truths do not appeal to the person"

-H.H.Candramauli Swami Maharaj

"early morning meditation of a devotee
1) I am eternal spirit soul
2) I am part & partial of Krishna so
3) I have to serve Krishna as per instructions of Guru & Krishna

All things else must pass"

-H.H.Saccinandan Swami Maharaj

"Lord Caitanya declares a war against Kali Yuga with "the bow""the six Goswamis", by pulling back "the string"" Bhakti Vinod Thakur" making a thunderous sound, puts "the long strong arrow""Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur", having "the direction giving feather back of the arrow""Sri Gaur Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj", and "the sharp penetrating arrow front""Srila A.C.Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada"

-H.G.Atma Tattva Prabhu

I have opened a crying school here in Bhubaneswar. Unless we cry for Krishna, we can not get His mercy.
-H.H.Gaur Gavind Swami Maharaj.

"Complaining is the pastime of the mind engrossed in petty selfishness"

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"Devotional service means to give the best you have to Krishna "

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"April fool"
"its difficalt to say who is a bigger fool, one who things himself to be happy in this material world
or one who thinks he will become happy by his plans in the future"
-H.G.Tejas Prabhu

"the way Krishna katha brings a person to devotional service 'prajalpa(useless talking)' takes him away from devotional service"

-H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj

" a proper leader works with
1) integrity ( does justified activities, does not justify after doing it)
2) maturity ( Couragiousness + Consideratness)
3) nonenviousness (towards the fellow devotees)"

-H.G.Radha Gopinath Prabhu

Be very humble when you plan so that Krishna is happy with you

-H.G.Bihari Gopal Prabhu

Our quota is not sixteen rounds, but attentive sixteen rounds.

-H.H.Gopal krishna goswami maharaj

"fault of Eklavya"
'he wanted to be the greatest'
-H.D.G.Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur

"Goal of life is not to become great but to become an instrument in the hands of great persons"
-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"you can think your self to be great, you can go on thinking your self to be great, till you see all fellow devotees going back home back to Godhead, while you remain in this material world only"
-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"Details are sign of love"

-H.G.Radha Gopinath Prabhu

"because of anarthas, a person forgets the principle & gets stuck up with details"

-H.G.Gaurang Prabhu

"compromise with details may make a person deviate from the principles"

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"its not easy to give up blaspheming devotees through determination only, thinking that just determination can work is illusion, its trap of maya,you fail, you hide and live in shame,
because maya is more powerful than your determination"
-H.H.Kadaba Kanan Maharaj

".........by Krishna's help only you can overcome maya,so cultivate knowledge given by Krishna,consider sreyas & preyas like a brahmana,then make it the basis of your determination,not like a kshatrya make only a decision to be the basis of your determination.for whom passion about decision is every thing.so you can make determination to be less austere"

-H.H.Kadamba Kanan Maharaj

"most importent thing in a dicussion is
1) What is the adhikar of the speaker to discuss the topic
2) What is the adhikar of the inquirer about the topic"

-H.G.Gopi Paranadhana Prabhu

"Sensitive topics are supposed to be handled by compitent devotees"

-H.H.Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj

"natural life is when power of love forces you always to do the right thing"

-H.G.Gopi Paranadhana Prabhu

"Krishna's karuna sakti (mercy) spontaneously flows to a sincere devotee, and devotee reciprocates it with love, and then Krishna becomes a prisoner in his heart".

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

" earlier I would pray to Krishna 'Please purify me' now I pray 'please purify me softly'."

-H.H.Hridayananda Maharaj

"Do not condemn a dirty man, who is standing below a shower"

-Srila Prabhupada

"Naimettik Kriyas are ment to give new life to Nitya Kriyas "

-H.H.Kadamba Kanan Maharaj

"If you cannot forgive your enemy then what is the difference
between you and a tax collector"

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

Struggle with maya "a football match"
you may be winning by 20-0 till the end wistle blows,
but at the last moment maya becomes heavy
and match ends with 20-21.
you may be loosing by 0-20 till the end wistle blows,
but at the last moment Krishna's infallible mercy becomes heavy,
and the match ends with 21-20.

-H.G.Shyamanand Prabhu

Four 'R's of Krishna Consciousness

Recognition, (locating the weeds inside the heart)
Remorse, (feeling ashamed of them)
Rectification, (removing the weeds from the heart)
Reunion, (Krishna's awarding us His love)

-H.H.Satswaroop Das Goswami Maharaj

"a delayed decision is better than a wrong decision"

-H.G.Radha Gopinath Prabhu

"feed your faith, your doubts shall starve to death"

-H.G.Gaur Gopal Prabhu

"Devotional Service is so pure & perfect that once having begun, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success"

Srila Prabhupada (NOI pg 36)
"A humble servent of the spiritual master is the best preacher"

-H.G.Sankirtan Prabhu

"Aggressive intellectualism is atheism"

-H.D.G.Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur

"You want to see God through your material eyes, so God manifests through matter in the form of a deity"

-H.G.Jananivas Prabhu

"I had Krishna, and I have lost Him." thats humility.

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"We are always fighting in one of the wings of the armed forces against maya
either in the navel wing in the ocean of material nescience with the tides of duality
or having been saved from this, fighting in the air wing with our inflated false ego
or getting the false ego crushed, fighting on the ground thinking,
how humble I am.!"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"we are supposed to dovetail our sentiments
as per love of Godhead
but for this we need so much philosophy"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"When a non envious devotee sees a better devotee than himself, he becomes very happy and at once makes friendship with him"

-H.G.Krishnananda Prabhu

"How many of us, while going through unfavourable situations, think "Why me ?"
How many of us, While being rewarded, think "Why me and not he?"
How many of us, While seeing others suffer, think "Why he and not me?" "

-H.H.Bhakti Tirth Swami Maharaj

"Material world is not ment for setleing down, but for getting out"

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"envy is indirect appreciation, just make it direct"

-H.H.Radhanath Maharaj

"If you want to develop a particular quality, then serve the devotee who has that quality"

-H.G.Shyamanand Prabhu

"In giving you receive! Krishna Consciousness teaches you, in giving you learn the art of giving more".

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"Collective unity is better than individual purity"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"Responsibilities does not mean some fancy dress compitition, your mental composure should match with the gravity of the situation around"

-H.G.Radha Gopinath Prabhu

"Guru is not on the way to Krishna, Guru is 'the way' to Krishna"

-H.H.Satswaroop Maharaj

" Holy name alone is sufficient to take you back home back to Godhead, but to cultivate surrenderence you need Guru".
-H.H.Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaj

"Heart seems to have just a few wishes, as the surface of a sea seems to have just a few fishes, but if you see the deep inside, it gives a mesmerizing view"

-H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj

" Democracy "
Where the pilot is not selected by the airways company,
but the passengers elect, who among themselves would be the pilot.

-H.G.Sankarshan Nitai Prabhu

" Holy name alone is sufficient to take you back home back to Godhead, but to cultivate surrenderence you need Guru".

-H.H.Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaj

" The nature of false ego is, that we think we have the right to judge anyone and every one."

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Every one should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Every one should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking.
- Bhagavatam 7.5.12 purport

"When you are chanting "Hare Krishna" the body may be breaking, the mind may be reeling but you should know for sure that the soul is in 'ecstacy' "
-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Do your best to serve Krishna and He will give you required intelligence to cope with disturbing situations.

-Srila Prabhupada in his letter to Jayagovinda, September15, 1967.

To love to preach is one thing, & to love those whom we preach is quite different.
-H.G. Govind Prabhu

"A general instruction of the spiritual master becomes a personal and specific instruction for a sincere disciple"

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"Grudge for some one means you drink poison and expect the other person to die."
-H.G.Shyamanand Prabhu

"Gopis burnt the bridge behind while surrendering to Krishna"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

“No great thing is cheap and no cheap thing can be great”

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"Out of all the opulences of a living entity its humility which pleases Krishna,other opulences can also please Krishna if offered with humility."

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

"Surrenderence is the substance of devotional service"

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

As a kshatriya has no problems taking the wounds on his chaste, So a devotee has no problems taking wounds while serving Krishna

-H.G.Govind Prabhu

"The trascendental knowledge of devotional service is digested by the engyme of humility"

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Whichever ashram you may be in you should stand by the responsibilities, you should live a life of integrity, and you should be exemplary in your behavior

-H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

A devotee is one who has recovered his intelligence and sanity. Thus he avoids sin, just as an intelligent child or sane person avoids touching fire.

-H.H. Satswarupa Goswami Maharaj

If an ordinary man does not eat, he will grow weak and die. Similarly, if a devotee does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krishna, he will gradually weaken and die spiritually.

-H.H. Satswarupa Goswami Maharaj

Defining Friendship in True Sense

2009-09-26T00:58:00.000-07:00

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant."
-Socrates

The people that you surround yourself with have a huge impact on your life, association can effect you so strongly even without the phsycial presence. The things you read, watch, listen to, eat...etc have the potential to lure you deeper into the clutches of Maya. Almost anything around you has the potential to make you identify with the body. That's why it's important to understand the Antaranga Shakti (Internal Energy of the Divine) and Bahiranga (external aspect of the lord usually referred to as the inferior nature or matter). We are actually the internal energy but when we identify with The Bahiranga then we are called Tatasha Shakti (Marginal Energy).
It is very easy to be absorbed in the things around you, specially with the help of the raging senses, the mind, intelligence and the false ego. The process that is recommended to surpass these obstacles is by trying to situate your self in the mode of goodness.
Once situated, then one can start to see how things really are. Appreciation and gratefulness take over...this leads to the natural mood of service that is embedded within our hearts. This mood of service develops in to Love. The intention of that service is the key.
If you notice, everybody is serving in some way. If its your dog, your wife, husband, friend, company, society etc...however what we tend to serve most is our desire to lord it over material nature. We are constantly finding ways to satisfy our senses for our own pleasure.
The more we try and manipulate material nature for our desires, the deeper we interact with our Karma.
However, by dovetailing these propensities to a higher level of consciousness allows one to experience Ananda transcendental bliss that cannot be explained by words. If the intention is Bhakti then every act becomes pure and you can step out of the cycles of birth. death and Karma It has to be real though...If there is a tinge of selfish desire to enjoy then it is called Viddha Bhakti (contaminated devotional service), the way you can really cleanse all misconceptions is through Paraa Bhakti (unalloyed devotional service and unconditional love which is the purest form of Bhakti).

Thus the self-controlled yogi, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.
B.G 6.28

Instead of being distractions for one another, we can help each other dovetail our habits and help one another fight the anarthas (unwanted things) that keep us grounded in this material platform. We have to be Spiritual Warriors. We should be strong mentally, physically, materially and spiritually. Just because guns might not be firing around your vicinity doesn't mean there isn't a war...she is trickier and more powerful than that. And once you become a little sincere is when she starts to wage full on war, Guerilla style.
Trying to fight a war alone can be difficult for us weaker folk. But that is why there is Sankirtan Yoga, the more the merrier.

"Reminding each other about our constitutional position is the true meaning of friendship...being Firm and Constant."

(Views from Krishna Kishore Prabhu's Facebook Page of Mayapuris Kirtan )

"Real friends do not just stroke each other's egos or encourage nonsense, but remind one another about what is most essential. True friends are those who connect with us spiritually, motivating us to move faster toward the ultimate goal. Their own examples should remind us of the benefits of remaining faithful to the devotional process." -
BT Swami, Spiritual Warrior p.105

"When a non envious devotee sees a better devotee than himself, he becomes very happy and at once makes friendship with him"
H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Final Journey

2009-09-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

He is Here (Part 1)
Spoken in Houston Temple on the Disappearance Day of Srila Prabhupadaby Sangita devi dasi
_________________
I first met Srila Prabhupada's devotees in 1969 in San Francisco. By Srila Prabhupada's grace I was taken to the temple. I was fourteen years old, and I did not take to it at the time. I was too involved in enjoying my teenage years. But Srila Prabhupada never gave up on me. We may think that we find our spiritual master, but actually the spiritual master comes and finds us. Srila Prabhupada made so many arrangements. A year later I met the devotees again in Philadelphia, and then in 1972, when I was sixteen, I moved away from my family. I wrote to Srila Prabhupada and asked him what I could do to serve him. When I look back at it now, I had no idea what I was really asking. He gave me some nice instruction, and I moved into the Los Angelestemple. I was initiated the following year, in 1973, at the age of seventeen. In those days they gave second initiation very quickly because they needed pujaris. So a few months later I became a pujari in Los Angeles.
Eventually I was asked by Jayatirtha Prabhu to go to Hawaii to take care of Panca-tattva there. I could say that in Los Angeles as well as in Hawaii I was always in the right place at the right time, because I saw Srila Prabhupada many, many times. He spent so much time in Los Angeles, and when I moved to Hawaii he spent a month there, and later he visited Hawaii many times. There was no telling when you would walk around the temple grounds when he would suddenly appear, or come into the kitchen, for example, and ask what I was cooking for him. There were so many nice exchanges. I did not come early enough in the beginning of the movement to have the mercy that some of my Godsisters had when they traveled with him. But still, with Srila Prabhupada, it is like finding out what the taste of the ocean is. All you need to do is taste one drop and you know what the entire ocean tastes like. It is the same with Srila Prabhupada. You needed just one glance, one smile -- he did not have to say anything -- and you knew his mercy, his unlimited mercy.
I can tell some stories. One time in Hawaii he was giving class. At that time he was taking his morning walks at the beach park, Ala Moana Beach Park, and that is when he made his famous statement about surfers, because there were surfboards on so many of the devotees' cars in the temple parking lot. And after he gave class all the devotees would hit the waves. So when Srila Prabhupada saw the surfers in the water at Ala Moana Beach Park, surfing in the waves, he made that famous statement: "You call them surfers. I call them sufferers." And then he added, "They will all take birth as fish." So when everyone came back from this morning walk and told the other devotees, the next day there were quite a few empty cars without surfboards!
One thing that happened during that visit was that Srila Prabhupada called a big GBC meeting. Ambarisa Prabhu, still Bhakta Alfred Ford, had just donated the new temple in Hawaii, and as many of you know, it is quite a large mansion. It is a beautiful property with two acres of gardens. So Srila Prabhupada called all the GBCs to come, and he was taking his first walk around the grounds. The GBC men surrounded him wherever he went. I was just this young nineteen-year-old pujari girl, feeling very, very insignificant. That was my proper position. I remember sitting in class and praying to Srila Prabhupada, "If you just give me one look, just look at me one time, then my life will be fulfilled." I felt very unnoticed. I was very immature and needed some attention from Srila Prabhupada, so I prayed like this during class. "If you just look at me one time, my whole life will be complete." Then class ended and Srila Prabhupada got up from the vyasasana and all the GBCs and sannyasis were following him, singing "Jaya Prabhupada" walking out of the temple room. I had already gotten up and was near the doorway of the pujari room, so Srila Prabhupada had to pass by me as he was leaving, but I was several feet back in the pujari room. Srila Prabhupada stopped at the entrance, turned, and looked at me. He folded his hands, his eyes lit up, his face broke into a big smile, and he looked me right in the eyes and nodded as if he was pleased. That was the first time that I realized that Srila Prabhupada hears our prayers. The guru does hear us when we pray. Even though it was a few years after I had joined the movement, I would say that that was the moment that my spiritual life began -- when I realized that Srila Prabhupada is in the heart and that he does hear us. There is a special relationship.
Over the years there were other incidents. I went back to Los Angeles, and we always just tried to get the mercy. We cleaned his room. We arranged the flowers for his vases. This was all while he was on his morning walk. The women were very encouraged because we had heard this one story that on a morning walk in India some of the sannyasis had been saying something about what the women's position in ISKCON should be. Srila Prabhupada just listened. While he was on his walk, his lady disciples had stayed behind and cleaned his entire room, made the vases, dressed the Deities, and cleaned the altar. When he returned from his walk and saw his lady disciples, he said to the sannyasis, "Yes, but if you associate with these women you will go back to Godhead." So we were very encouraged. He was always very sweet, but he especially gave his gentle, supportive mercy to his Goddaughters. He knew that we could not handle the other type of mercy.
Anyway, I do not want to dwell so much on past stories, because after all Srila Prabhupada is still with us. That sounds almost cliché, but it is true that he is still here and that he is still guiding us and smiling when we accomplish something for him and make some advancement. And he chastises us in his own way when we fall. But he still always picks us up. We can stumble and fall, but he never lets us stay down too long.

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He is Here (Part 2)by Sangita devi dasi
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I wanted to share one story, if I may, about something that happened just recently. Some of you know that I do hospice nursing. I take care of terminally ill devotees. In June I received a phone call from my Godbrother Gopavrindapala, whom I had not seen in twenty-five years. We had served together in the Los Angeles temple in the early '70s. We just lost touch. He was married to Mula Prakrti dasi, my Godsister, who was very famous for a lot of things. One of her great legacies was teaching the devotees how to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. She opened up the Los Angeles airport, and she was one of the first to do big books in the airport. She pleased Srila Prabhupada very much with her service. So, in June I received a call from her husband, Gopa, and he told me that she was dying of cancer. He said that the doctor had given her one month to live and would I please come to Vrndavana and help her and care for her while she was dying. When something like this happens you just know that it is Srila Prabhupada wanting you to do this service. There is no other way to take it.
Within a week I left and met them in Amsterdam, and I helped Gopa to get his wife to the dhama. It was not easy for him. It was emotional for him, but it was also very difficult physically to get her there. She was very, very sick. So, we got her to the dhama, and we were staying at MVT. You all know MVT. For two weeks we had nothing but hearing and chanting twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. So many devotees quickly rallied around her, and it was just so wonderful to see all the devotees cooperating and helping this one mataji leave her body. Immediately the women who lived there, my wonderful Godsisters, came and decorated her bedroom with so many nice posters of Deities. Radha Kunda dasi put a nicely framed painting of Srila Prabhupada over the head of the bed, and that became the focal point of the room and for the devotees when they entered the room. And for twenty-four hours there was nothing but hearing and chanting. Devotees took shifts. They would bring in a harp and other instruments and chant, and others would take shifts and read to her, and in between we had Srila Prabhupada's bhajanas playing constantly.
I am telling the story because of this part. Right before she left her body she looked at me. She had not opened her eyes in two weeks, but she opened her eyes, and it was very clear communication. She could not speak. Her breathing was very, very difficult. For two days, forty-two hours, her lungs had been filling up with fluid, and she had that death rattle, as it is called. It is like a gargling. It was amazing that she could even open her eyes. She opened her eyes, and she was communicating something to me. She was air-hungry, and she was in anxiety because it was just so difficult for her to breathe. I turned to my Godsister Vrindavana Vilasini and said, "She is in so much anxiety. Please say something," because they had been close, dear friends for years. They used to do book distribution together. I knew that she would find a way to calm her down. So, Vrindavana Vilasini felt so inspired by Srila Prabhupada at that moment that she went close to Mula's ear and said, "Mula, just surrender and Srila Prabhupada will breathe for you." And immediately Mula Prakrti just calmed down, and she was focused again on Srila Prabhupada, because she had said just a week before . . . Everyone had been reading to her different pastimes of Krsna and Radharani, which were wonderful pastimes, but she said to me, "That is not my mood, Sangita." I asked, "What is your mood, Mula? Do you want to hear about Srila Prabhupada?" She replied, "Yes." And I asked, "Would it be okay if we read Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta to you?" And she agreed, "Nice," with this big smile, the famous Mula smile.
Vrindavana Vilasini, our Godsister, knew exactly what to say at that moment: "Just surrender and Srila Prabhupada will breathe for you." Then we bathed her with Radha-kunda water. I just had this feeling that she was going leave within a few minutes, and I wanted her nicely prepared to greet Srila Prabhupada. For the last two weeks we had kept telling her, "When Srila Prabhupada is ready, he will come for you. You may think that you are ready, but he knows when you are ready. And when he is ready, he will come for you." So I just had this feeling that it was going to be that morning, because of her symptoms. Actually, the night before, I had prayed to the painting of Srila Prabhupada over her bed. The devotees were chanting in her room, and I prayed, "Srila Prabhupada, please come for her." And I just had this feeling; I knew that Srila Prabhupada was communicating to me, "You cannot summon me. You cannot summon me. When I am ready to come, I will come." So it taught me a lesson in patience as well.
That morning I bathed her in Radha-kunda water and got her dressed, and we decided to sit her up so she could breathe more easily. We propped her up with pillows around her. I was listening with my stethoscope to hear her heartbeat, and her eyes started to roll back. I immediately said to her daughter, "Go get your father and your brothers. Go get them right now," because it looked like that time. There were maybe five women in the room. It was amazing how Krsna arranged that some of the devotees who were closest to her, who most wanted to be there at that time, were unable to be present. But this handful of women were able to be there and witness this great event. So, we do not know how we can plan for these things; in the end Krsna makes the arrangement who is there and who is not there to witness such a thing.
Anyway, I was holding her up, and her daughter ran and got her father and one brother. I was chanting in her left ear the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and Vrindavana Vilasini was chanting in her right ear. Her husband walked in, and when he saw her condition he immediately rose to the occasion to perform his last duties as her husband. He was amazing. At that moment he detached himself materially and knew just what to do for her spiritually. He had a silver tray already prepared with auspicious items. He placed tulasi and caranamrta in her mouth. I said, "Gopa, we need Vrndavana dust." He handed it to me, and I sprinkled some in her mouth. Her mouth opened and quivered, which is an auspicious sign that she was going back to Godhead, and you could just feel the presence of Srila Prabhupada in that room. We had said to her, "Srila Prabhupada will come for you when he is ready." Those words will always stay with me; I do not think I really understood what I had been saying until that moment. Srila Prabhupada came for her. You could feel his presence in the room. In fact, I felt that the room was very crowded. There was so much going on at the same time -- holding her up and trying to hear her heartbeat and feel her pulse and at the same time chanting in her ear -- it just seemed like the room was very, very crowded with many great personalities hovering above. It was very crowded. It is hard to explain. I looked up for a moment from all the things that I was doing and saw only a handful of women at the foot of her bed, but there were great personalities there to help her on her journey. And Srila Prabhupada was definitely there. There was no doubt that he came for her. It was a glorious moment. It felt as if the room had opened up, as if the whole sky, the material sky, had opened up for this one jiva to leave this material world and go back to Godhead.
We were all crying because of course we would miss her personally, but we understood that there was this great kirtana going on, on the other side -- in Krsnaloka there was this amazing party happening -- and that Srila Prabhupada was there in his true form. She was so fortunate that she was getting to see Srila Prabhupada in his spiritual form and that he was reintroducing her to Radha and Krsna. So it gave us some solace at that moment. We were crying and laughing and crying and laughing. The emotions were just running. It was such a transcendental event. It was Srila Prabhupada's lila, and I felt extremely grateful to Srila Prabhupada for allowing me to take part in it.
Anyway, I mainly wanted to share that story, not to dwell so much on other stories from the '70s, because it is so clear that Srila Prabhupada is still with us. Srila Prabhupada once told Indradyumna Swami that when we go back to Godhead, "I stand in the middle, and
Krsna is on one side of me, and you are on the other side of me, and I take Krsna's hand, and I take your hand, and I join them together." So this is going home, back to Godhead. And I just want to encourage everyone that if we just continue with this process, continue to follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions, continue to just hang in there through the trials and tribulations, Srila Prabhupada will give us strength to get through it. He will give us the words when we need them. He is everything. His mercy is all that we are. So, when we relate to each other we can understand, "You are also Vaisnava. Please accept my obeisances. You are representing Srila Prabhupada as well. Everyone is a representative of Srila Prabhupada if they are following his instructions."
I do not want to speak of Srila Prabhupada as being only in the past, and I get very disturbed when I hear devotees speaking of "when he was here." He is here. He is here. Of course, we miss his personal association. That is what makes this a very bittersweet day. We miss his personal association tremendously, and that will always be there.
I cannot believe that it has been all these years, because I remember the moment that I heard he left the planet. I immediately thought, "What is going to happen to me?" Because I was so selfish, I thought, "What is going to happen to me?" Then I thought, "What is going to happen to ISKCON now that he is not here?" Now after all these years I am asking different questions. I am asking, "Srila Prabhupada, please tell me what I can do for you for the last part of my life." This is like the sprint at the end of the race, and I just pray to him all the time. He has given me a mission in Vrndavana, and for that I am extremely grateful.
I do not know what else to say. Srila Prabhupada is here, he is with us, and he gives us guidance. Please have faith and pray to him, because he did not go anywhere. He is still with us spiritually.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Sangita devi dasiPresident of Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. (Hospice Project)Author of The Final Journey—Complete Hospice Care for Departing Vaisnavas

August 5, 2006
Hare Krsna and pamho. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I did not know Mother Saranagati, but met her in Vrndavana when I interviewed her for a book about my godsister Kirtida Devi Dasi, who passed away in Dallas in June, 2001. Both these devotees had retired to Vrndavana in their final years and became close friends in the dhama. Although they originally hoped to leave their bodies in Vrndavana, each departed not Sri Vrndavana dhama, but in the West during the hot Vrndavana summer near their home temples, and - by Krishna's arrangement - in the physical association of their spiritual masters.
Mother Kirtida financed the bhoga for the Deity of Lalita Sakhi at the temple in Unchogaon for several years, and when Kirtida passed away, Mother Saranagati continued this service.
In an excerpt from my book, Elegant Saint: The Life of Kirtida Devi (to be published in early 2007)Saranagati discussed her service in Unchogaon:
Kértidä brought me here to Uïchogaon and I fell in love with her spirit here, which was in the mood of Lalitä-sakhé. She used to supply the money for bhoga each month. There’s a story in the Old Testament about Elijah’s mantle falling on somebody, and I felt as if Kértidä’s mantle fell on me – so I have just carried on. It is my pleasure to try to keep her service going on here. We bring the food regularly, and I have taken Lalitä Devé a couple of outfits. During the winter, Lalitä Devé looked cold, so I had a couple of wool outfits made.
Saranagati personally assumed the expense for the bhoga and deity outfits in the little temple in Unchogaon, just as Kértidä had done. When Çacénandana Swami spent the Kärtika month in Uïchogaon in 2004, he found that the new priest and assistants at Lalitä’s temple – who have replaced Çré Rädhä Ramaëa Bäbäjé since he passed away – exhibited an unusally cordial mood toward the ISKCON devotees:
In the Lalitä-sakhé temple they are very kind devotees who immediately had a high opinion of us, most probably because of the services of Mother Kértidä and Mother Saranagati. They were very respectful; in fact they did something that no one does in Vraja: they switched off the temple loudspeakers, just so that we could do our bhajan undisturbed!
Submitted by Sarvabhauma Dasa,August 4, 2006

February 5, 2006Hare Krishna !Glorious Passing away of H.G. Stoka Krishna Prabhu.Stoka Krishna Prabhu's health started deteriorating from the 3rdFebruary's evening. At 4:30 pm, he started gasping for air and manifestingsymptoms of "air hunger". Dr. Acyutanand Prabhu nebulised him which helpedhim relax. Later on in discussion with Madhavacharya Prabhu (H.H. BhaktiTirtha Swami Maharaja's physician during his last days), it was declaredthat Stoka Krishna Prabhu's health is going down rapidly and he may leavehis body in the next 24 hrs. Devotees immediately called for H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj. GaurGopal Prabhu was leading a soft and melodious kirtan in the room around 5:30pm. Stoka Krishna Prabhu was now really struggling with his breathing andhis health was going down. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaja came to meet his beloved disciple inthe evening and this proved to be the last time that Guru & discipleexchanged sweet words in transcendental reciprocation. Of course, this isjust external observation, as the relationship of spiritual master anddisciple is always eternal. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaja walked into theroom when Stoka Krishna Prabhu was struggling with his breathing. His bloodpressure was hovering around 80. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaja came nearStoka Krishna Prabhu and inquired about his health from the doctors. Then hestarted encouraging Stoka Krishna Prabhu for his final journey. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj: Stoka Krishna Prabhu! Vrindavan iswaiting for you. Yamuna is waiting for you.Stoka Krishna Prabhu: Because of your mercy Maharaj.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj: (very lovingly) Do you have any desire?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : To take shelter at your lotus feet.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj : That you have already achievedStoka Krishna Prabhu : Please forgive me. I spoke something foolishlast week.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj : No foolishness. Just remember Krishna.I am very proud of you. I am very pleased with you. Don't have any regret.Just be grateful. Concentrate on the holy names. Think of the beautifulforms of Sri Sri Radha Gopinathji. Think of Their pastimes. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj continued in his sweet voice: Successof life is to depart with great dignity which you have achieved. All yourmistakes are erased. You are now left with all wonderful qualities,wonderful service. Do you believe me?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : (nodding his head like a small innocentchild) Yes. Maharaja please bless me.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj : Lord Krishna and Radharani havealready blessed you. I am praying 24 hours to Srila Prabhupada for you. Whenyou go to Goloka Vrindavan, you will see the transcendental beautiful formof Lord Krishna covered with dust of Vrindavan with peacock feather on Hishead and beautiful flower garland around His neck; horn, various colored mudsmeared over His bluish body. He must have killed some demon that day. Hemust have played games with Balaramji and other cowherd boys. Gopis will bethere but at the background. Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda Mayi will be there atthe front. Yasoda Mayi will come forward and scrutinizingly search for anyscratch marks on His body. Then she will bathe Him with scented water, dressHim in beautiful garments, offer Him nice bhoga and put Him to rest. But atnight He will go secretly at Ter Kadamba to meet the Gopis.At this time, H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj stopped patting StokaKrishna Prabhu's head and lovingly ordered – "Stoka Krishna Prabhu, youshould serve and please Krishna. Don't think of anything else." StokaKrishna Prabhu nodded his head.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj continued the pastime: Next morning,Krishna wakes up. All the Gopas are waiting to go with Krishna and all cowson seeing Krishna start pouring milk. There is no need of milking them. Whenthe elderly Gopis see Krishna, milk starts flowing from their body out ofintense affection for Him.Because of mercy of Srila Prabhupada and previous acharyas, you havegot entrance into Vrindavan. H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj told me, "I amgoing there to make arrangements for all the devotees".Maharaj continued: Do you want to assist H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : (lovingly) YesH.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj: When do you want to go?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : At this very moment.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj (laughing in his transcendental way):Nice answer. A devotee should always be ready. Remember Krishna's name,form, pastimes, engage in Radharani's seva. She is supreme. Leave this bodyand assist the servants of Radharani. Rupa Goswami is waiting for allGaudiya Vaishnavas, so that he can engage them in the service of servants ofRadharani. Krishna loves you. Radharani loves you. Srila Prabhupada's mercy ison you.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj : Where do you want to go?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : Maharaj, wherever you want me to go.Maharaj: (laughing) My order is you should go Back to Godhead. You areleaving this body in dham. Brijbasis told Radha Gopinath Mandir isnon-different from Vrindavan. Do you want to go for final darshan of Sri SriRadha Gopinath or you are feeling too weak now.Stoka Krishna Prabhu : (softly) I am feeling too weak.Maharaj: Did you like Their darshan during Pushya abhishek festival?Stoka Krishna Prabhu : Yes.Maharaj turned to Achyutanand Prabhu to record the blood pressure. To theutter surprise of all devotees, the BP which was 80/60 before Maharajentered the room, had now risen to 104/70. Stoka Krishna Prabhu, who just afew minutes earlier gasping for breath, was now steady with his usual heartwarming smile and effulgence on his face.Maharaj (jovially): BP for you is Bhakti pressure. Your BP is better thanmine. 2 days back, mine was 102/52. So you should pray for me!!Madhavacharya Prabhu who was literally amazed by this surprisestabilizing of BP said to Stoka Krishna Prabhu, "You are a saintly person. Ishould take dust from your feet."Stoka Krishna Prabhu got medications for the night, by which heremained peaceful. His BP continued to fall again. In the night as theeffect of the medications was over, he again started gasping and strugglingfor air. So again Achyutanand Prabhu had to administer sedatives and now asthe night proceeded, devotees noticed that Stoka Krishna Prabhu's head wastilted to his right side and he was struggling with his breath.4th Feb 2006 Sri Advaita Acharya's Apperance DayIn the morning, Raghupati Prabhu came to see his dear Godbrother andin love decorated his body with dust of Brijdham, sacred waters fromVrindavan. Govind Pr entered SKP's room around 9 a.m. and seeing thesituation started intense kirtan. The BP was just starting to crash.Maharaja had given instructions that as soon as the doctors diagnosed thesituation as precarious, he should be informed.Govind Prabhu asked that Panca Tattva photograph be placed beforehis eyes. So the photograph was kept near SKP on the bed. Around 10:15 a.m.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj came into the room. He placed Jagannath's Mahathread on Stoka Krishna Prabhu hand, Tulasi leaf and sacred waters fromVrindavan in Stoka Krishna Prabhu mouth. Devotees continued to intenselypray to the holy name. H.H. Niranjan Swami Maharaj also entered the room. RMinstructed the doctors that they should monitor the BP every 10 minutes.H.G. Nartaki Mataji came in the afternoon. She sat beside him likea loving mother chanting for him. She placed Tulsi leaves and Ganga jal inhis mouth. This was the last drops of water which he drank. Ezikel Prabhuhad brought maha garlands from Vrindavan. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj placed each and every garland with love around Stoka Krishna Prabhu. He also placed Srila Prabhupada's maha pillow cover on his head. Rose petals of Sri SriRadha Syamsundar were put all around his body and the room was suddenlyconverted to the forest groves of Vrindavan.H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj: (coming close to Stoka Krishna Prabhuears) Stoka Krishna Prabhu, this is Radhanath Swami. This is garland fromSri Sri Radha Syamsundar. Then after whispering more encouraging words to Stoka Krishna Prabhu, he left the room. H.H. Giriraj Swami Maharaj had called for encouraging Stoka KrishnaPrabhu for his final journey.At 3:30 p.m., H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj again entered the roomalong with some Brajvasis. Devotees were saying that it appeared as though,Srimati Radharani had personally sent the Brajvasis to chant for StokaKrishna Prabhu. He held his hand, patted his head. After some time, MadanMohan brijavasi and Rameshchandra Goswami started singing the Hare KrishnaMahamantra in beautiful Brajvasis melodies enchanting the hearts of alldevotees.The doctors noticed that Stoka Krishna Prabhu's pulse was almostnon-existent. The kirtan became esctatic and the whole room became enthusedwith spiritual energy. Maharaja came into the room. He started rubbing SKP'shands softly. SKP then took a deep breath. Everybody sensed that this greatdevotee who had sincerely served his Guru Maharaja all his life, was aboutto leave his body in the most glorious way in the presence of devotees andhis spiritual master. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj was raising his hands andenthusing everybody to chant louder. SKP was surrounded on either side ofhis bed by devotees. His family was standing near his feet. The whole roomwas packed with devotees and the air was permeated with the holy names.Everybody was chanting the holy names at the top of their voices. Thedevoted servant of his Guru Maharaja was now surrounded with garlands androse petals. Prabhupada and Panca Tattva were at his side. SrilaPrabhupada's chanting was also going on continuously near his ears.At approx 4:30 p.m. suddenly SKP stopped breathing. Had he leftalready? After approximately 40 seconds, during which the Kirtan rose toanother higher level never before experienced by the devotees. After a fewseconds, he again took a deep breath and then he left very peacefully toattain eternal shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath.H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj continued to encourage the devotees tochant more. He placed Tulasi leaves on his eyes. Kirtan continued for halfan hour. Govind Pr then requested all devotees to leave the room so that SKPcould be bathed for the last time. H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj throughouthad maintained a grave mood throughout the entire episode. But when thedevotees had left the room and the curtains were closed, H.H.Radhanath SwamiMaharaj allowed a line of tears to gush down his cheek - partiallyrevealing to the onlookers, how much love the spiritual master has for hisdisciple.The brahmacaris then bathed SKP, dressed him in new clothes,decorated him with Tilak. At around 6 p.m., the devotees brought his bodyout of the room on a stretcher, covered with H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharajsaffron upa vastra cloth and Gopalji's shawl. He looked as blissful asusual, lying in peace amidst rose petals and garlands. Then he was taken forparikrama of the temple. H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj & Niranjan Maharajawalked along with the devotees. SKP was placed in the courtyard and devoteesstarted offering flowers to this loyal servant who inspired all devoteeswith his example.Then Madan Mohan brajvasi began kirtans for the evening, he sang very sweetand soft Hare Krsna mantra kirtana. After brajvasi concluded his kirtanaNiranjana maharaja took over the kirtana. Whole night devotees did kirtanafor Stoka Krsna prabhu.5th feb.The procession from the temple to cremation left at 7.00 a.m. amidst sweetand soft kirtana led by Gauranaga Prabhu. it was 3 kilometere walk to cremationground, many hundreds of devotees had come to show their affection forStoka Krsna Prabhu who passed so gloriously.THIS WRITE UP IS COMPILED BY THE CARE TAKERS OF STOKA KRSNA PR WHO WERE CONSTANTLY AT HIS BEDSIDE TILL DEPARTED TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLDWe request all the devotees to thank these wonderful devotees who served himso lovingly and with great attention.The doctors of Bhakti vedanata hospital, dwarakadhisha pr, giriraja pr,vaishnava seva pr, madhavananda pr and visharupa pr.At the temple for last 10 days Dr Acyutananda pr, Murari gupta pr took care...In the hospital and in the temple these following devotees served Stokakrsna pr with great care and love, Haribolananda pr and his friends,Sadbhuja pr, Bhakta avnisha, and two care takers from the hosptal sanjay andrupesha mahtreWe thank Dr madhavacarya pr disciple of bhakti tirtha maharaja who gavevaluable advice in regards to taking care of stoka krsna pr.Of course many devotees sponsored his treatment for all these months. Wethank these devotees for their kindness on Stoka Krsna Prabhu."Stoka Krsna Prabhu's glorious departure ki jai"Belgaum ratha yatra is dedicated in his memory.

February 3, 2006

This is a transcript of Radhanath Swami speaking with his disciple, Stoka Krsna Prabhu, who has a wife and young baby. Stoka Krsna Prabhu was Maharaja's personal servant for seven years. Now this young devotee is dying of cancer in India.
H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj talks to Stoka Krishna Prabhu:H.H. Radhanath Swami: Nothing left. Nothing left to live for or die for,except seva to Guru, Krishna and the Vaishnavas. Haridas Thakur begged andprayed as his only desire to give up his body in the presence of Vaishnavas,showing us what a great benediction that was. So leave behind all theattachments for this world. Leave behind the attachments to this body whichis the source of so much trouble. It has served you well over the years andnow it is time for the inevitable. Leave it behind and respond to thecalling of Krishna. For you this cancer was simply the calling of Krishna.And now that call is coming to a culmination and the doors to His abode areopening. And by Prabhupada's mercy, eternal life is awaiting you. Be happy.Show the world how a Vaishnava could give up his body in happiness,gratitude, absorbed in Krishna. Hare Krishna.Take a little Prasad and join the Harinam kirtan in whatever way you can.Absorb yourself in the mercy of the Lord. You have earned the love of thegreatest Vaishnavas in the world. There is no greater achievement than that.You can eat this (while offering a little piece of pizza)... I was told thatyou only drink liquid.Stoka Krishna Prabhu: Maharaj whatever you give I will accept.H.H. Radhanath Swami: Bhakti Tirtha Swami was also taking Prasad like thisat the end.
This is just before maharaja went to take rest, and he had taken him aroundthe temple. Deity darshana, Vrindavan garden and Laxmi Narayan garden.After a whileH.H. Radhanath Swami: I wanted to take you on a last Yatra. – enjoy it.Stoka Krishna Prabhu: Where Maharaj?H.H. Radhanath Swami: In Radha Gopinath Vrindavan forest. Don't be afraid.Prayers of hundreds of devotees are with you. Just try to remember the holyname, Form, Pastimes, and try your best to remember Krishna and thesedevotees will help you remember. Make your best effort, Krishna, Radharaniand all our acharyas will be with you.Did you hear my lecture, I dedicated for you last Sunday, just after youspoke – about Ananta Acharya.Absorb yourself in Krishna, take nice rest and anytime you call me, I willbe there in seconds. May Krishna be with you.
26 January 2006Today whole day Stoka Krsna pr was exhausted but he was in rightconsciousness. In the evening many devotees came to see him. Beforemaharaja started giving Prerana lecture he came to his room Stoka Krsna prwas not talking to any devotees, he was just giving some instruction to caretakers, when he saw gurudeva he was shinning, and he started to gaze atGurudev with wide open eyes. Gurudev offered tulasi in his mouth, offeredsome Ganges water. He told the doctor if they see any time his bloodpressure goes down, he will stop the lecture and come to Stoka Krsna pr. Heasked one of the devotee should I give lecture?. he went to deliver alecture. As devotees were chanting intensely Stoka Krsna Prabhu startedchanting with him. He heard very attentively the narration of HaridasThakur's passing away and passing away of Bhismadeva.After the darshan and touring Vrindavan garden, Stoka Krsna pr healthstarted dwindling. blood pressure was dropping, pulse was becoming slowlyless. He still maintained his consciousness. 11.00 p.m. Gurudev came tosee him, he told me be fearless and try to chant as much as possible. Healso said when inevitable happens he will be there in his side, and maharajainstructed the devotees to inform him even if it is in the middle of thenight.At 1.00 in the morning his condition started to aggravate, still maintainedhis consciousness, he wanted sit in a lotus posture, he was made to sit inthat posture, he was chanting intensely, while other devotees were alsotrying to remind him and they were also chanting loudly, our care takerswere saying the inevitable may happen within an half hour. But he continuedto survive in full memory, he applied tilaka on his own perfectly as anyhealthy person would apply, in fact, better than them.He stayed up whole night, and he was brought to the temple during MangalArati, he stayed in the temple till the Narasimha pranama then he came backto his room.Now he is exhausted because of no rest in the night, devotees are chantingjapa around him & kirtan is going on 24 hours.Haribol,Your servants,Sri Radha Gopinath devotees.

The Departure of a Great Soul—His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami By Sangita devi dasi
June, 2005
By the mercy of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, I was called upon to serve as the hospice nurse for my dear Godbrother, His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami during his final months on this Earth.
As most of our readers are aware, Maharaja had been diagnosed with melanoma (an aggressive form of cancer) last year and had undergone surgery as well as many types of treatments in an attempt to slow the progression of his cancer. In the midst of tolerating the intense pain of his illness-- as well as the side effects of the “cures”-- he generously shared with our society of devotees his innermost thoughts and realizations about facing death.
During my visits to the Gita Nagari farm to see him I watched in awe as he used his last bit of strength and energy to teach others about what he was experiencing. Every Sunday he willingly accepted so much personal discomfort to travel from his house down a rocky road in order to give class to the large crowd of devotees who assembled weekly in the temple room. He began each class with a kirtan and within minutes his voice would choke up and tears would flow from his eyes as he sang the holy names of Radha-Damodara, the presiding Deities in Gita Nagari. Watching him, I could not imagine the level of intense physical pain he was feeling, but like the “spiritual warrior” he was he simply tolerated it in order to speak one more time to his devoted disciples and loving Godbrothers and Godsisters. Just as Maharaja lived his entire life thinking about the welfare of others, he spent his last days in this same mood. He never cared for himself or the pain it would bring him to give yet another dynamic lecture that touched the hearts of all who were present. The one class that stands out the most in my memory (and I am simply paraphrasing this) is when he asked for a show of hands from everyone who had ever suffered in any way and had asked, “Why me? Why not someone else?” He then asked for a raise of hands from those who had ever watched another’s suffering and thought, “I’m glad it’s not me.” Finally, he asked who in the room had ever watched another’s pain and suffering and thought, “Why them? Why not me?”
What can be said of such a rare soul?
My association with Maharaja began in 2001 when my husband and I met with him in Philadelphia to bring to his attention a new project I was starting with my Godsister, Jusaniya dasi, called Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. (Counseling, Assistance, Resource, and Education for the Terminally ill and Their Families). After only a few minutes he enthusiastically said, “Put me on the Board of Directors and let me know what I can do to help.”
Over the next few years he helped in countless ways. He encouraged his disciples, especially those in the healthcare field, to become involved as volunteers. He met with us in Mayapur for our yearly meeting and discussed strategies to expand Vaisnavas CARE by presenting worldwide seminars and workshops and by fundraising so we could offer more assistance to those in need of our services. He encouraged us to dream large for this project. One of his dreams for us was to build inpatient hospice facilities in the West for those who will seek the shelter of a devotee community in their final days. He inspired us to have the CARE website translated into many languages for our international community. He also made us understand the importance of patience when taking on such a seemingly enormous endeavor as an ISKCON hospice project. He taught us many things, but most importantly, he taught us to love and have compassion for others because Maharaja himself exemplified love, compassion, and forgiveness for others to such a heightened degree.
I will always be grateful to his dear disciples, Ekavira Prabhu and his wife Vraja lila for calling me to Maharaja’s bedside during his last few days. I was welcomed into an excellent group of caregivers who had given everything to their Guru during his year-long fight with cancer. Their degree of love and surrender should be held as the highest standard of care for ones spiritual master and should serve as a reference for future generations to follow. I cannot thank them enough for including me into their circle of love.
So now, as a society, we have the difficult task of learning to live without the personal presence of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami. As Indradyumna Swami once said, “Whenever a devotee passes away, this world becomes a little more unfortunate.” Today, the world is much more unfortunate. However, through my grief I remain hopeful because I know his sincere disciples and those who had the privilege of knowing him will carry on his mood of care and compassion. In this way, His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami will always be present within our Krsna consciousness movement.
Surrounding His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami are his beloved disciples and His Holiness Radhanath Swami. Mother Sangita listens for a heartbeat just seconds before pronouncing that Maharaja had departed from this world and had gone "back to Godhead."

Monday 27th June - 08:47 The Journal of the Departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami. June 27th, morning (9:30-10:30am)
Gurudeva lays surrounded by his caregivers. Srila Radhanatha Swami holds Gurudeva’s hand, as it holds a Govardhana Sila which sits in his hand facing him. Ekavira is on his left massaging his left hand; Druva is massaging his lotus feet. Other caregivers take turns holding another Govarhdana sila on Gurudevas head. Agni Prabhu fans Gurudeva with a peacock fan at his right. A molding of Srila Prabhupada rests by Gurudeva’s left arm. Gurudeva is adorned with chandan, a large tulasi garland from the Panca tattva and a maha garland from Radha Damodara. The day is clear, and the room serene. A unison chanting of Hare Krsna, in the classic tune pervades the whole house. It is sweet and stately. Srila Prabhupada looks upon Gurudeva from the altar that faces him above his feet. Beautiful images of Krsna with the Cowherdboys and Gopis surround Gurudeva. Gurudeva is serene and transfixed.
There is a slow queue of devotees coming in and offering obeisances. Many bring their deities to show Gurudeva. They offer their prayers, their tears, and after a brief darsana return to the living room where the majority of devotees are seated together in unison kirtana. Everything is organized and harmonious. Fresh air circulates throughout Gurudeva’s room. It is the best of times and the saddest of times. Glory abounds. As from all directions, throughout the room and house and from within the devotees, comes forth deepest reciprocation for the magnificent sacrifice, compassion and love that Gurudeva has gifted to us all. His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami Maharaj Ki, Jai!
Monday 27th June - 11:14 After the initial darsana of Gurudeva, in his process of departing, all the devotees except a couple caregivers and Sangita Prabhu (the nurse) left the room to allow for Sangita to do a proper examination. This brought all the devotees together the living room where Vrakesvara pandit had recently received began leading the kirtana. Gurudeva had expressed such a heartfelt desire that Vrakesvara pandit Prabhu be here to provide the kirtana seva that was so dear to Srila Prabhupada. Recently Gurudeva disclosed to Vrakevara Pandit his strong desire to have him present throughout his departure, requesting multiple times to stay and “chant for me to go back to Godhead” he said “your kirtana helps me to remember Srila Prabhupada and Krsna”.
As the devotees settled outside, Vrakesvara pandit’s very sweet and solemn voice gradually compelled the hearty participation of everyone in the room. As he chanted the whole assembly listened, feeling solace and inspiration. Then the whole assembly responded as one chorus, together finding the shelter and grace of Krsna’s holy names.
After mother Sangita was finished the rest of the caregivers returned, and small groups of devotees were escorted in to spend some minutes before Gurudeva. Often they were invited to take a turn fanning Gurudeva. Groups of the local children and youth, God brothers and sisters, disciples and well wishers gradually came in for a final darsan. As they come forth, they offered their homage. And, facing Gurudeva’s transition, prayed to solidify their own transition in preparing to remain dedicated to Gurudeva in his physical absence.
The caregivers remain around Gurudeva, massaging his lotus feet and hands, periodically spraying radha kunda water. Radhanatha Swami is always by Gurudeva’s side as his “Maha friend”. His face and disposition reveal his deep and intimate love for his dear friend and Godbrother.
There is some slight visible interaction between Gurudeva and his outward surroundings. Mostly the interaction happens through the Holy Names, and spiritual vision of the devotees there. From time to time Gurudeva will adjust his vision of his surroundings. Srila Radhanatha Swami sometimes speaks in Gurudeva’s ear. Recently a tear streamed down from Gurudevas left eye. Everyone is so proud that their friend and master is now receiving the greatest blessings. He is obviously embracing this wonderful new phase of his service. May we embrace it ourselves. We will continue updating as much as possible. All glories to the most blessed departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami! Monday 27th June - 12:15 Journal of the Glorious Departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami, Tuesday 6/27 - 12:30pm-2:30pm Near to 1:00pm the room filled with devotees again. Also outside of Gurudeva’s room a sizable assembly of devotees are snuggled together in front the door, getting a slight view of Gurudeva as he lies in his bed. Both groups of devotees are chanting in unison the Maha mantra, to the classic tune. There is a small path along side to allow for devotees just arriving to come in for their darsan.
The caregivers continue to tend to Gurudeva; keeping his mouth moist, his face clean and dry, lightly massaging his feet, ensuring that proper circulation goes throughout the room. Two devotees are now stationed with camara and peacock fan to add to the circulation of air, and comfort of Gurudeva.
Radhanath Swami continues to stay fixed in front of Gurudeva. Sometimes whispering into his ear, sometimes offer encouraging prayers. Often for sometime he will tap Gurudeva lightly in time with the chanting, tapping his shoulder and arms. His affection radiates throughout the room.
Looking through the windows of Gurudeva’s room, one can see the heads of various devotees popping in and out to get a different view of Gurudeva and the atmosphere. Devotees from throughout the world continue to stream in. Dhanudar Swami, Rukmini and Anutama, Brajabihari - so many are coming! Often they take their turn in fanning Gurudeva.
Through the medium of the holy names everyone is connecting themselves to Gurudeva and to each other. We are all experiencing first hand just how factual it is that the relationship with the spiritual master and with the Vaisnavas, is of spiritual nature. For hours the same devotees have been chanting in unison in Gurudeva’s service and in prayer. Certainly the assembly present is breaching far beyond Gita Nagari, to include all of you, and so many devotees in so many places. May this connection continue to expand. All glories to the most blessed departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami. Journal of the Glorious Departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami. June 27, 3:30 4:00 His Holiness Bhakti-tirhta Swami passed away from this world, and into the loving embrace of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar at 3:35pm this afternoon. Gurudeva’s passing was so graceful and peaceful, as if he slipped out by the gentle hands his helpers to board his chariot.
Sangita Prabhu noticed a change in Gurudeva’s breathing pattern and alerted Brahma- muhurta Prabhu, who immediately came and sprayed Radha Kunda water around Gurudeva and applied Tulasi from Krsna-Balaram, Radhe Syam, and Gaura Nitai to his tongue. Srila Radhanatha Swami had left the room briefly. He was altered, and sat down next to Gurudeva. Shortly after that, Gurudeva gave a very gentle breath, a kind of release. It was so slight and graceful, so much so that half the people in the room didn’t notice it. It was his last breath.
After this Sangita and Madhvacarya checked his vital signs. And minutes latter confirmed that Gurudeva had indeed made “the perfect escape”
As the final check of Gurudeva’s vital signs was happening the kirtana intensified, and grew in the minutes it took. When the confirmation finally was expressed, the kirtana roared, rising up with emotion. So many of the devotees started to clap along with the kirtana, with their hands over their heads. The devotees were crying, embracing one another, expressing their feelings of celebration and sadness. Then Kalpavrksa Prabhu loudly chanted the prema dvanai pranam for Gurudeva and for Srila Prabhupada. The kirtana continued in Gurudeva’s room for sometime. Initially devotees in the living room stayed there, but then after five minutes they stared filing into the room, and naturally a queue formed, allowing everyone to have a final darsan of Gurudeva in his bed. Gurudeva’s expression was so sublime, like he was in divine rapture in awe, in gratitude, in love. The processional through Gurudeva’s room continued for ten minutes, and then concluded leading out into the living room. From there the departure ceremony continued with Vrakesvara Pandit leading the devotees in Sankirtana, circumambulating around Gurudeva’s room and the Institute House. Inside Gurudeva’s room everyone except a small group assembled to assist Brahma-muhurta and Radhanatha Swami in the Samadhi Samskara process, which is currently going on.
We will continue to send updates and pictures throughout the full duration of the departure ceremony. The processional bringing Gurudeva from the Institute House to the temple will begin at 8pm, est. All glories to the most sublime departure of that great general of Srila Prabhupada who deeply touched the lives of so many thousands and brought Srila Prabhupoada’s transformation throughout the world. May his legacy be carried by us, leading us to meet with him again in kind. His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami Maharaj Ki Jai!!! kåñëe lasat-péta-paöe catur-bhuje puraù sthite 'mélita-dåg vyadhärayat Thereupon that man who spoke on different subjects with thousands of meanings and who fought on thousands of battlefields and protected thousands of men, stopped speaking and, being completely freed from all bondage, withdrew his mind from everything else and fixed his wide-open eyes upon the original Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa, who stood before him, four-handed, dressed in yellow garments that glittered and shined.
PURPORT In the momentous hour of leaving his material body, Bhéñmadeva set the glorious example concerning the important function of the human form of life. The subject matter which attracts the dying man becomes the beginning of his next life. Therefore, if one is absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa, he is sure to go back to Godhead without any doubt. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gétä (8.5-15): Çré Bhéñmadeva attained the perfection of quitting his body at will and was fortunate enough to have Lord Kåñëa, the object of his attention, personally present at the time of death. He therefore fixed his open eyes upon Him. He wanted to see Çré Kåñëa for a long time out of his spontaneous love for Him. Because he was a pure devotee, he had very little to do with the detailed performance of yogic principles. Simple bhakti-yoga is enough to bring about perfection. Therefore, the ardent desire of Bhéñmadeva was to see the person of Lord Kåñëa, the most lovable object, and by the grace of the Lord, Çré Bhéñmadeva had this opportunity at the last stage of his breathing. SB 1.9.31 viçuddhayä dhäraëayä hatäçubhas tad-ékñayaiväçu gatä-yudha-çramaù nivåtta-sarvendriya-våtti-vibhramas tuñöäva janyaà visåjaï janärdanam By pure meditation, looking at Lord Çré Kåñëa, he at once was freed from all material inauspiciousness and was relieved of all bodily pains caused by the arrow wounds. Thus all the external activities of his senses at once stopped, and he prayed transcendentally to the controller of all living beings while quitting his material body. SB 1.9.32 Bhéñmadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord Çré Kåñëa. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes, being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by descending on the material world, although from Him only the material world is created. SB 1.9.33 Çré Kåñëa is the intimate friend of Arjuna. He has appeared on this earth in His transcendental body, which resembles the bluish color of the tamäla tree. His body attracts everyone in the three planetary systems [upper, middle and lower]. May His glittering yellow dress and His lotus face, covered with paintings of sandalwood pulp, be the object of my attraction, and may I not desire fruitive results. SB 1.9.34 On the battlefield [where Çré Kåñëa attended Arjuna out of friendship], the flowing hair of Lord Kåñëa turned ashen due to the dust raised by the hoofs of the horses. And because of His labor, beads of sweat wetted His face. All these decorations, intensified by the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows, were enjoyed by Him. Let my mind thus go unto Çré Kåñëa. SB 1.9.35 In obedience to the command of His friend, Lord Çré Kåñëa entered the arena of the Battlefield of Kurukñetra between the soldiers of Arjuna and Duryodhana, and while there He shortened the life spans of the opposite party by His merciful glance. This was done simply by His looking at the enemy. Let my mind be fixed upon that Kåñëa. SB 1.9.36 When Arjuna was seemingly polluted by ignorance upon observing the soldiers and commanders before him on the battlefield, the Lord eradicated his ignorance by delivering transcendental knowledge. May His lotus feet always remain the object of my attraction. SB 1.9.37 Fulfilling my desire and sacrificing His own promise, He got down from the chariot, took up its wheel, and ran towards me hurriedly, just as a lion goes to kill an elephant. He even dropped His outer garment on the way. SB 1.9.38 May He, Lord Çré Kåñëa, the Personality of Godhead, who awards salvation, be my ultimate destination. On the battlefield He charged me, as if angry because of the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows. His shield was scattered, and His body was smeared with blood due to the wounds. SB 1.9.39 At the moment of death, let my ultimate attraction be to Çré Kåñëa, the Personality of Godhead. I concentrate my mind upon the chariot driver of Arjuna who stood with a whip in His right hand and a bridle rope in His left, who was very careful to give protection to Arjuna's chariot by all means. Those who saw Him on the Battlefield of Kurukñetra attained their original forms after death.
PURPORT A pure devotee of the Lord constantly sees the presence of the Lord within himself because of being transcendentally related by loving service. Such a pure devotee cannot forget the Lord for a moment. This is called trance. The mystic (yogé) tries to concentrate upon the Supersoul by controlling the senses from all other engagements, and thus he ultimately attains samädhi. A devotee more easily attains samädhi, or trance, by constantly remembering the Lord's personal feature along with His holy name, fame, pastimes, etc. Therefore, the concentration of the mystic yogé and that of the devotee are not on the same level. The concentration of the mystic is mechanical, whereas that of the pure devotee is natural in pure love and spontaneous affection. Bhéñmadeva was a pure devotee, and as a military marshal he constantly remembered the battlefield feature of the Lord as Pärtha-särathi, the chariot driver of Arjuna. Therefore, the Lord's pastime as Pärtha-särathi is also eternal. The pastimes of the Lord, beginning from His birth at the prison house of Kaàsa up to the mausala-lélä at the end, all move one after another in all the universes, just as the clock hand moves from one point to another. And in such pastimes His associates like the Päëòavas and Bhéñma are constant eternal companions. So Bhéñmadeva never forgot the beautiful feature of the Lord as Pärtha-särathi, which even Arjuna could not see. Arjuna was behind the beautiful Pärtha-särathi while Bhéñmadeva was just in front of the Lord. As far as the military feature of the Lord is concerned, Bhéñmadeva observed this with more relish than Arjuna. All the soldiers and persons on the Battlefield of Kurukñetra attained their original spiritual form like the Lord after their death because by the causeless mercy of the Lord they were able to see Him face to face on that occasion. The conditioned souls rotating in the evolutionary cycle from the aquatics up to the form of Brahmä are all in the form of mäyä, or the form obtained by one's own actions and awarded by material nature. The material forms of the conditioned souls are all foreign dresses, and when the conditioned soul becomes liberated from the clutches of material energy, he attains his original form. The impersonalist wants to attain the impersonal Brahman effulgence of the Lord, but that is not at all congenial to the living sparks, parts and parcels of the Lord. Therefore, the impersonalists again fall down and get material forms, which are all false to the spirit soul. A spiritual form like the Lord's, either two-handed or four-handed, is attained by the devotees of the Lord either in the Vaikuëöhas or in the Goloka planet, according to the original nature of the soul. This form, which is cent percent spiritual, is the svarüpa of the living being, and all the living beings who participated on the Battlefield of Kurukñetra, on both sides, attained their svarüpa, as confirmed by Bhéñmadeva. So Lord Çré Kåñëa was not merciful only to the Päëòavas; He was also merciful to the other parties because all of them attained the same result. Bhéñmadeva wanted the same facility also, and that was his prayer to the Lord, although his position as an associate of the Lord is assured in all circumstances. The conclusion is that whoever dies looking on the Personality of Godhead within or without attains his svarüpa, which is the highest perfection of life. SB 1.9.40 Let my mind be fixed upon Lord Çré Kåñëa, whose motions and smiles of love attracted the damsels of Vrajadhäma [the gopés]. The damsels imitated the characteristic movements of the Lord [after His disappearance from the räsa dance]. SB 1.9.41 At the Räjasüya-yajïa [sacrifice] performed by Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira, there was the greatest assembly of all the elite men of the world, the royal and learned orders, and in that great assembly Lord Çré Kåñëa was worshiped by one and all as the most exalted Personality of Godhead. This happened during my presence, and I remembered the incident in order to keep my mind upon the Lord. SB 1.9.42 Now I can meditate with full concentration upon that one Lord, Çré Kåñëa, now present before me because now I have transcended the misconceptions of duality in regard to His presence in everyone's heart, even in the hearts of the mental speculators. He is in everyone's heart. The sun may be perceived differently, but the sun is one. SB 1.9.43 Süta Gosvämé said: Thus Bhéñmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.
PURPORT The stage attained by Bhéñmadeva while quitting his material body is called nirvikalpa-samädhi because he merged his self into thinking of the Lord and his mind into remembering His different activities. He chanted the glories of the Lord, and by his sight he began to see the Lord personally present before him, and thus all his activities became concentrated upon the Lord without deviation. This is the highest stage of perfection, and it is possible for everyone to attain this stage by practice of devotional service. The devotional service of the Lord consists of nine principles of service activities, and they are (1) hearing, (2) chanting, (3) remembering, (4) serving the lotus feet, (5) worshiping, (6) praying, (7) executing the orders, (8) fraternizing, and (9) fully surrendering. Any one of them or all of them are equally competent to award the desired result, but they require to be practiced persistently under the guidance of an expert devotee of the Lord. The first item, hearing, is the most important item of all, and therefore hearing of the Bhagavad-gétä and, later on, Çrémad-Bhägavatam is essential for the serious candidate who wants to attain the stage of Bhéñmadeva at the end. The unique situation at Bhéñmadeva's time of death can be attained, even though Lord Kåñëa may not be personally present. His words of the Bhagavad-gétä or those of Çrémad-Bhägavatam are identical with the Lord. They are sound incarnations of the Lord, and one can fully utilize them to be entitled to attain the stage of Çré Bhéñmadeva, who was one of the eight Vasus. Every man or animal must die at a certain stage of life, but one who dies like Bhéñmadeva attains perfection, and one who dies forced by the laws of nature dies like an animal. That is the difference between a man and an animal. The human form of life is especially meant for dying like Bhéñmadeva. SB 1.9.44 Knowing that Bhéñmadeva had merged into the unlimited eternity of the Supreme Absolute, all present there became silent like birds at the end of the day. SB 1.9.45 Thereafter, both men and demigods sounded drums in honor, and the honest royal order commenced demonstrations of honor and respect. And from the sky fell showers of flowers. SB 1.9.46 O descendant of Bhågu [Çaunaka], after performing funeral rituals for the dead body of Bhéñmadeva, Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira was momentarily overtaken with grief. As a devotee of the Lord, he knew that the Lord's devotee cannot be vanquished at any time. Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira was quite aware of all these good wishes of Bhéñmadeva, and therefore he must have been feeling the great separation. He was sorry for the separation of a great soul, and not for the material body which Bhéñmadeva relinquished. The funeral ceremony was a necessary duty, although Bhéñmadeva was a liberated soul. Since Bhéñmadeva was without issue, the eldest grandson, namely Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira, was the rightful person to perform this ceremony. It was a great boon to Bhéñmadeva that an equally great son of the family undertook the last rites of a great man. This is an important message regarding His Holiness, Bhakti-tirtha Swami.We are sad to inform you that his Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami departed this world at 3:40PM EDT on Monday, June 27, 2005 in Gita Nagari. You may check www.btswami.com or the B.T. Swami List for moreinformation. Please inform disciples and well-wishers in your area. Hare Krishna Your servants, The Caregivers of Bhakti-tirtha Swami

The Psychology behind Asaucham by Pt Jaya Tirtha Charan dasa
Paradoxically the scenario we find ourselves in at this time is the most sensitive, and yet the most opportune for hearing the philosophy of Krishna consciousness.
We’re hurting, missing loved one’s and need to find genuine resolve.
I hope you don’t find this too long winded, as it comes to you from some years of experience in dealing with these matters as a priest, and counselor, and one who has lost many close and dear ones.
As you may know the entire structure of our philosophy is designed to help revert us wandering jiva souls back to our constitutional position as eternal servants of the Lord at each and every conjunction or maturational point of our conditioned sojourn here.
The purpose being to open our eyes to who we are, who those around us are, what is our purpose in being here, and what is our goal taking it that we’re disjointed eternal servants of Krishna away from our spiritual homeland. At each of these junctions of conditioned life (birth, childhood, growth, youth, bi-product stage – marriage) teleological free will is given for us to resolve the situation or for us to remain here in the world, caught with what is for some another unresolved issue.
Irrespective of whom we are, or what we’re doing at this time, to progress on the path back to Godhead a change of heart must take place. As eternal spiritual beings in a temporary situation we’re out of sync’. Most of us have had countless births here, each time having family, friends and so on. During these times we form all kinds of attachments, some good some not so good. How we react, to those things which present themselves has more of an impact often that an event in itself. Srila Prabhupada would use the example of a knife, in the hands of an expert surgeon it can do the greatest good, or in the hand of a maniac it can bring the greatest harm, so we cannot blame or thank the knife. Similarly the lessons we learn are in direct relation to how we react to incidences that happen in our lives, that we are destined to have to undergo, the results of which leave impressions on us which we carry with us. According to our individual natures’, karmas, and realization we interact in the world, and as a result we find ourselves taking shelter in various directives.
That’s like an overview of the process.
Dealing with the changes at those junctions determines how we move on, and the level of enlightenment by which we do it. The Vedic culture has a support system for such events that we call asaucham.
In that way the process of following the asaucham period is not some dry ritual or imposition upon us. It very is practical, dynamic and resolving.
Having said that, if we are spiritual beings then some might question why are we mourning someone who has passed on, and that is a fair question. The fact is, as devotees, and understanding the nature of the soul as eternal, we do not lament for the passing of the jiva, but for the association that we are now bereft of. That is why we need to come together and appreciate that we have strength in our mutual love and eternal bond with our fellow devotees. However, due to the bodily temporal situation there has to be closure, and resolve.
Loving family members have interacted and cared for their daughter/son/mother/father et al. So much personal sacrifice has been done. Prabhupada often glorified devotee’s parents for doing such a nice job in bringing them up, to help them/us come to Krishna consciousness.
Ordinarily many of us would find it an unlikely option to even be in the same room as each other due to material birth, background, nature, education, and interests. But here you see devotees, and that needs to be emphasized, devotees who have been through all walks of life, and become purified by coming in contact with the lotus eyed Lord, even the family members are devotees in the broadest sense, devoted to their loved one. So we’re all devotees here, and these relationships are not ordinary. Rather we understand from our philosophy that anything spiritual is ongoing and thus, by definition eternal.
The system we’re undergoing is for preservation of our spiritual status, and thus not ordinary. Let’s try to understand what is happening here, and by so doing accept the help of the great Acharyas, the previous spiritual masters, who themselves have traversed this path.
It’s such a tragedy for someone to lose a family member or friend, or guru who they have just known a few short years. It’s difficult, and for the devotee to lose such a devotional inspiration, an intimate friend, and confidant, it may seem difficult to go on. Many doubts, fears, so many things may present themselves. Especially in the first few days after a dear one has passed on, the emotions are heightened and the survivors are traumatized into various degrees of shock, and disbelief, which are natural mechanisms to protect the bereaved from intense reactions.
It’s to be noted that in this initial phase survivors often feel lost, dazed and confused. Shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and throat, nausea, and a feeling of emptiness in the gut are common. As the awareness of loss takes hold from the initial shock, sometimes survivors experience further symptoms of denial: maybe they got the wrong name, wrong person, wrong information, ...they couldn’t have gone, etc.
Even in the pre-occupational absorption in thoughts of the departed there may be bouts of anger toward the person, toward providence, and even toward God. These are irrational times; consequently such things are not taken seriously as offensive.
Due to the variables among different classes of individuals and communities (Brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and sudra), according to their nature and philosophical ability to understand and respond to what has happened, the scripture gives estimated time lapses for initial recovery. It makes sense, and with help from our "Joint Family" you/we can do things properly with full attention to detail, that otherwise, with so much to have to deal with anyway, might not be done. Although this may be a practical time period, it is not legislative of a set recovery time as often one will experience grieving sometimes 6 months or longer.
I remember when my father passed on, at first I doubted it, and was forced to come to terms with it. He was a good man, good provider, looked after us, and gave everything, working three jobs simultaneously. I never wanted for anything, so it seemed. Good a man as he was, he couldn’t keep me on the straight and narrow. It was only after finding Srila Prabhupada and adopting his life-style that my life truly changed for the better, so when Srila Prabhupada passed on in 1977 the shock, you can imagine, was unparalleled. So many of us struggled to come to terms with what had happened, most of us had no idea of what to do, and were lost thinking it all finished.
Today in some ways we are so fortunate in that we have mature God brothers and God sisters to help us in such times, who are experienced beyond material qualifications in helping us through such traumatic times - this is our Joint Family, of spiritual uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters, Krishna prasada, Krishna's devotees.
The structure behind what we’re doing here is that through honest grieving multiple things come to the surface; our love for the departed, and also how much they loved us, and gave to us. As survivors we often mentally go over and over the things we’d done together and the pain and grief becomes intolerably intense. Desperation, thoughts of how we can go on without him/her/them preoccupy our thoughts to such a degree that insomnia, fatigue and loss of appetite are common, some have even died from such intense separation - as we remember from our devotional history; Maharaj Dasarath, Hadai Pandit, father of Lord Nityananda.
To begin the healing, the natural mechanism of remembering and discussing in conversation with others the things one did together, and all the treasured good that the departed gave to us is very important. The little things, much of what we took for granted. This is a natural part of the healthy transition from the initial grieving phase through to practical healing.
Relapses into denial are also common, (and natural); where survivors still hope against hope that their loved ones are still alive as they remember them. Sometimes, survivors may hear a voice of the departed, or see their face before them (not only in dreams, but also in waking), or feel their presence in familiar places they’d shared. Even calling out of the person’s name is not uncommon….. All of these are quite natural, and it’s good for us to know that we’re all undergoing similar symptoms of loss.
As these feelings are allowed to surface and are sympathetically dealt with in the association of fellow god-brothers, god-sisters, friends, family members and so on, one can tangibly perceive a change evolving. Things move from being centered about me and my loss as we become more philosophically liberated by good association.
During this final phase one comes to terms with what has tragically happened through the support of the Joint family or extended family of friends and well wishers – of like minded, soft hearted and sensitive souls. We begin to use the philosophy to resume daily activities and look toward the future. When memories of the departed come to us, they bring fond feelings mingled with sadness, rather than sharp pain and longing.
For instance, a devotee still misses their beloved Guru, god-brother, god-sister, friend or family member, but one knows that life must go on, and now reflects on how that person who we loved so dearly would want us to act in the world.
Often this brings a seriousness and strength to please and share with others as we go to the much needed closure, of acceptance of what has happened. Having dealt with our great loss we have made a tangible resolve leading us to gradual recovery.
Of course we know the bitter-sweet taste will remain. Srila Prabhupada wrote the following to his dear disciple undergoing a similar trauma:
“So on one side we have to be very sorry if our dear friends are taken away from this world, and on the other side we should be satisfied that a pure devotee is never lost. He gets another good chance to cultivate Krishna Consciousness, or if one is advanced he goes back to Home, back to Godhead. But even if it is taken that a devotee is not mature, we should be confident that he will take birth in a rich or devotional family. ….So let us pray for the departed souls that they may be engaged again in Krishna's service.” (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 15th November 1971. Letter to Patita Uddharna dasa regarding the death of Jananirvas dasa, Delhi)
In this regard, for ordinary persons engaged in the karmic world of fruitive exchange, there are so many obligations that need to be fulfilled. Certain ceremonies or Shraddhas are required to enable the soul to move on. But according to scripture and the examples of Srila Advaita Acharya, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Haridas Thakur (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 4:21:41 purport) better than ritual offerings into the fire at this time, is that of glorifying the Lord and His devotees, invoking the favor of the devotees toward the departed by feeding the devotees Krishna prasadam.
As we remember, year after year, on the Tirubhav mahotsav (disappearance day anniversary) the wonderful qualities and activities of the Vaishnavas, we all grow from strength to strength. Sharing and reflecting back with appreciation and gratitude on how their short time with us so affected and bettered our quality of life and understanding of our relationship with the Lord and His devotees.
So it’s no accident that we follow a Vaishnava Calendar full of such wonderful devotional examples to share, it is part of the wholesome structure of Vaishnava culture. Even in the modern times we have experience of devotees who, quite rightly so, have risen to near Sainthood:- Jayananda prabhu, Puri prabhu, Gour Govinda maharaj, Mother Gauri, Tribhuvanath prabhu, George Harrison prabhu, …..So many. Now we add Tamal Krishna maharaj, and Vrindavanesvari mataji to that hall of fame.
The most amazing thing is, that by our soul searching into how we will ever go on without such souls, the resolve is that in fact we are never without them.
This to me is part of the meaning that: “Vaishnavas never die, when living still in sound………..”
We may look in this place or that for a leader, a Messiah and guide, as so many of us do, but factually they are all around us. Unfortunately familiarity makes us contemptuous and we regretfully miss out in appreciating the great souls who walk among us, often until it’s too late.
At this time let us learn some serious lessons, take heed from the great personal sacrifice these devotees have made, and then in their fine and saintly example let’s extend that, to see the potential in everyone, adorned with the wonderful attributes each and every one of you has.
Let us ponder as we go through our daily life, as events unfold, "What would ...................want me to do in such a situation?" And in that way go on.
In the future, performance of these rites of passage for each and every one of us will be done, and the glories of the exalted, simple hearted devotees, who paid the price, who crossed the line, who made their commitment to the Lord will be sung.
Such and such prabhu for his dedication to …….this mataji for her welcoming motherly simplicity, another for…….. well, just look around the room, so many wonderful devotees. There’s no question of this being exclusive to one ashram or even gender.
Such wonderful personifications of devotional Vaishnava culture are not limited to any material designation. A pure or purified devotee can come from anywhere, and so often does.
As for me, sadly I reflect and see myself as unworthy, foolishly proud and impure personality, who stands before you, yet now, even though a little late have some understanding of the influence potential and inspiration of those whose association we now lament.
Let us utilize their great example, their life struggles, their over coming challenges, their gifts of love and their inspirational teaching, let us utilize all those examples as we reflect on the impact their association made on our lives. Let then, keeping their association go on from that point, in loving appreciation and fulfill their desires by the positive and tangible way we go on from now.
Oh Vaishnava Thakur (and Thakurani) please bless us that we may become as you have become, a credit to Guru, to Krishna, and to the Vaishnava community.
I humbly beg to remain at your lotus like feet, reformed and ready to go on. Yhs, Jaya Tirtha Charan dasa

Tribhuvanesvari devi dasi, ACBSP ‘74
Despite all her brave efforts to heal herself, shortly after Christmas 1993, Tribhuvanesvari-devi dasi was admitted to hospital in great pain. Cancer had spread throughout her body. She had only a short time to live. As her present life was drawing to a close, her next life was manifesting. Thin, white, bald, draped in a simple hospital gown, she looked for all the world like an enlightened Vedic sage. She talked about spending her days meditating in beautiful Himalayan Valleys. She spoke spontaneously of devotional activities, "I have to go and prepare the prasadam." "Is it time for mangala arotik?" "Ask Dikshavati about the deity clothes." She was in and out of consciousness and for those who sat with her, even for a few minutes, she exuded a powerful spiritual presence.
The day before her death, she somehow managed to sit. There were a number of devotee ladies in the room, and some were engaged in frivolous conversations. According to Gayatri devi,Tribhuvanesvari, exhibiting the anger of Lord Narasinghadeva, stood up and exclaimed, "Get out....all of you, get out!........You have no idea what is going on here."
The day before her death, the hospital moved Tribhuvanesvari to a larger, more attractive room to accommodate all the visitors. There were so many phone calls, the hospital switchboard was complaining. Devotee friends decorated her new room like a temple. Pictures, garlands, tulasi plants, books, tapes, incense, maha prasadam filled the room.
In the middle of a clear, sunny Wednesday afternoon, January 12, 1994, a Godsister and close friend of Tribhuv, Manjari dasi, arrived from Hawaii. Manjari bathed Tribhuv, and put clean clothes and fresh tilak on her. A little while later, Tribhuvanesvari's eyes opened very wide and she looked as thought she were fixed on something far off. She was silent but moved her mouth as if trying to say something. A nurse came in and after a careful examination, confided, "She has only an hour to live." At that time, a special delivery package arrived from Alachua. In it was a deity garland and a picture of Krishna's lotus feet. A devotee put the garland around Tribhuvanesvari's head and placed the picture of Krishna's feet directly before her gaze.
The room was filled with devotees, friends and family. At her side, her husband picked up a mrdanga and began a beautiful, melodious kirtan. Everyone joined in, while others chanted auspicious prayers and mantras, or recited the Bhagavatam. Caranamrita and holy water from the Jamuna, Ganga, Radha Kunda and Govinda Kunda were sprinkled on her head, along with sacred dust from holy places of pilgrimage. According to the direction of Shastra, a tulasi leaf was placed on her tongue, forehead and ears, and a tulasi plant was placed at either side of her head. Numerous deity garlands decorated her neck. Her children, Gita and Devesha, wrote the holy names of Ram and Krishna on her body with Gopi Chandan. Amidst this wonderful devotional setting, Tribhuvanesvari slowly, and painlessly left her body. As the kirtan reached a glorious crescendo, she breathed her last, one finale exhale and her soul was free. Gaura premananda. Hari hari bol! Tribhuvanesvari devi ki jaya!
Three weeks ago, in the back of an old sketch pad, I found this poem. It was written by Tribhuvanesvari in July, 1992, just three days before she discovered she had cancer. It expresses very nicely the heart of this sincere devotee and gives us a glimpse of the great destination she set out on just 18 months later.

Upon the winds of change, my mask transforms.To take on yet another, for my soul's journey reform.A dream - a drama - a passing - at best.I will to will thy will - and put my ego to rest.
When will my Lord see me fit?To give up my addiction to it?When will the winds of fortune find me?Renounced, clear, happy, truly free?
Can this goodness a reality be?Only by that mercy of purityin taking the names in sincerity,Chanting being the means and the end,I beg to capture this mighty trend.
In God's hands I lay my tiny soul.A hope. A prayer. He makes me whole.
OM TAT SAT
July, 1992 - Tribhuvanesvari devi dasi
[From In Memoriam website http://www.iskcon.net/inmemoriam/devotees/d_Tribuv.htmlml

Memories of Aradhya dasi’s passing
Aradhya dasi, disciple of Srila Prabhupada, devoted wife of Pitavasa prabhu and loving mother to Daksina dasi, left this world on Mon., Sept. 27, 2004 on the disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur at 9:16 p.m. She and her family had been living in Prabhupada Village in Sandy Ridge, NC for the last 4-5 years. Aradhya prabhu had been ill with a chronic cough for many months and one month prior to her leaving, found out she had cancer that was already in many areas of her body and was quite advanced. Pitavasa prabhu did everything he could through natural methods, which was what she also wanted, and although she had made some progress in her health, her condition drastically worsened a few days before she departed. I would like to share my experiences as I spent practically every moment with her in her last few days.
Thurs., Sept. 23 – Aradhya prabhu’s condition suddenly took a turn for the worse and Pitavasa prabhu was finally able to reach Kamra dasi (a godsister who lives here and who has many natural healing skills). By the time she arrived at their home, Aradhya prabhu had almost left and she was aware of this. Kamra prabhu managed to bring her pulse down, but it was difficult to stabilize her so they decided to call an ambulance and take her to the hospital to see if anything further could be done to help her. The paramedics immediately put her on oxygen. Though she did not want to go to the hospital, her husband hoped the doctors could stabilize her and she could then return home to prepare for leaving her body. Once in the hospital, she firmly insisted that no drugs, especially morphine, be administered. At this point, the doctors said only ¼ of her lungs were working; they were filled with liquid which put pressure on her heart. It was decided to try to drain her lungs the next day but that there was the danger of heart failure. They said even if they did that, the lungs would again fill up and therefore gave her no more than 3 days to live. I learned of all of this after Aradhya prabhu had been taken to the hospital and it wasn’t until late evening that I learned about how much time she had to live. At this point, I knew that I wanted to be with her and serve her until the very end. I decided to sleep on it and then make phone calls the next day.
Fri., Sept. 24, Ekadasi – I was on the phone all day informing the devotees in the community and in different parts of the country and world of Aradhya prabhu’s situation as well as tried to make sure everything was covered from prasadam to kirtans. It was at this time I really began to appreciate how Srila Prabhupada had given us a world-wide family and how wonderful that was! Pitavasa prabhu kept me informed of Aradhya prabhu’s condition and said they were going to do a procedure that would drain only some of the liquid as it was too difficult to get to all of the many small pockets of fluid. It was a precarious situation because of the effect on her heart. Understanding this, the devotees immediately went to the hospital to have kirtan. During this time, I stayed on the phone and was able to connect with Bhakti Caru Maharaja with whom Aradhya and Pitavasa prabhus had a long-standing relationship. Unable to call the hospital, he relayed a very loving and concerned message through me to her; Pitavasa prabhu held the phone up to her ear as I told her what Maharaja had said. She was very deeply appreciative. Indradyumna Maharaja also called her from Russia and spoke at length with her. It meant so very much to her. The procedure went well (she would still have to remain on oxygen) and before Pitavasa prabhu brought her home, Aradhya prabhu, well-aware of the fact that she would leave her body soon, told her husband she wanted Daksina and him to her ashes put in the Yamuna. They arrived home around 7 p.m. and when I walked in, the atmosphere reminded me of when Srila Prabhupada was getting ready to depart. The room was peaceful and the devotees were sitting around her bed having beautiful bhajans. I had brought Srila Prabhupada’s shoes with me and placed them on her head. She brought her weak arms up and grabbing them, held them to her head and face. They remained at her head the whole time. She was completely conscious but was speaking small words and only as much as necessary. After a while Pitavasa prabhu thanked the devotees and asked them to leave in order to give Aradhya prabhu some time to rest. I stayed for quite a while; I was concerned – when would she leave? That could happen at any time and so I decided to speak with her and chant. She told me then she was ready to leave and I could see she was preparing for that final moment; she had an incredible fixity of mind and an incredible and determined fighting spirit.
Before I go any further, I would like to express how absolutely honored I felt to be in her presence, that I felt so fortunate to be able to render some small service. And what transpired over the next few days was something I had never experienced before. I have close relationships with some of my godsisters, but the relationship that developed between Aradhya prabhu and myself became deeply intimate and profound – we were teaming up for the final lesson – I, the servitor, she the teacher. Actually, Harivilas prabhu had expressed what a wonderful teacher she was and I said, yes, but she was especially teaching us how to leave this body.
Sat., Sept. 25 – Lord Vamanadeva’s and Jiva Goswami’s appearance day – Late last night at home, I spoke extensively with a hospice friend of ours and I found out more information as to what we needed to do to keep Aradhya prabhu comfortable. It was very kind of her as she took out special time to meet with Harakanta prabhu and myself at Aradhya prabhu’s at 9 a.m. We learned how to take care of all of her physical needs. When Daksina did her mother’s hair, I couldn’t believe it – she looked exactly like that picture of Draupadi surrendering to Lord Krsna when Dusasana was trying to disrobe her! Aradhya prabhu’s sister, Carol, and nephew, Nathan, were now here; my husband, Sivananda prabhu, had picked them up in the middle of the night. Carol was a huge help; she helped with all kinds of paper work, etc. Nathan had many times visited with Aradhya prabhu and family and was quite favorable. Her brother, Steve, who was also quite favorable, and others arrived later in the day. They were all very supportive. I believe it was early this morning when Aradhya prabhu woke Pitavasa prabhu at 4 a.m. as he slept on the floor next to her bed and told him it was time for mangala artik (she had no watch and had no way of knowing the time). She directed him in offering artik and then instructed him, step-by-step, in performing the puja for her Deities that she was so very attached to. (For the past several months, she could only engage in manasa puja, worship within her mind.) She constantly asked if he were washing off the flowers. This day she spoke only when spoken to and with only a word or two at a time. She, with the help of her sister, made sure all of the paper work was taken care of and she was finishing up all of her “last minute business”. In the late morning, I asked if she would like to hear the story of the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva – she was very eager. I reminded her of the time she gave these wonderful classes on the mahajanas some time ago and how we begged her to give more classes but she humbly declined. These were actually from some of the many childrens’ stories she had been working on. She wanted to hear only the translations but at one point, when the word “test” from one of the purports caught my eye, I told her I was going to read it to her. Here Srila Prabhupada explained that Bali Maharaja had passed the severe test put before him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that this was further proof of the Lord’s mercy toward His devotee. And that sometimes Krsna puts a devotee to severe tests that are almost unbearable. He appreciates the devotee’s forbearance and records that for further glorification. Krsna gives the test and also the strength to tolerate such adversity. I read this to her twice. Krsna couldn’t have shown us a more perfect purport! Though I had to leave the room for a moment, she eagerly awaited hearing the end – she even asked her husband to come get me and finish the story. She was so happy at the end of the story. When I spoke to her about how Bali Maharaja passed his test and now how she was being given the final test and that Krsna would give her the strength to pass this test, she did a “thumbs up”. I had to laugh. This moment reminded me of Aradhya prabhu’s great sense of humor which I saw often during the years. But, now the wit and humor were turned into sobriety. She was definitely dhira. In light of this, I can say she never, not once, said a word about her condition. Only once when I asked her if she were in pain did she nod yes. Some time after the reading, she looked at me and said, “up” and I asked, “Put the bed up?” (She was in a hospital bed brought by the hospice.) She said, “No” and motioned that she wanted to sit up. Grabbing for the bedrails, one in each hand, she slowly pulled herself up while I helped from behind. She had far more strength than I! When she sat up, she slowly pulled her legs into yoga position, crossing them on the bed. I laughed and told her I didn’t know she was such a yogi! But, inside, I was understanding that she actually was a yogi: yoginam api sarvesam. A little while later, her husband brought over her Krsna Balarama silas and she very slowly folded her hands in pranams. It was at this point I felt it was time to begin more steady chanting and preaching to her. We spent a lot of time alone and, from time-to-time, different devotees would come in and read to her or have a few bhajans. Her husband also came in and fed her some grapes and papaya. It made him so happy to see her eat something for during these last days she hardly ate or drank. I urged her, encouraged her to chant either out loud or in her mind, to fix her mind. Throughout the next days, I told her one of the things that Bhakti Caru Maharaja had said: “The gates to the spiritual world are opening up for you. Take advantage of this.” A few times during the day, I asked her if her consciousness were fixed and she said, “No”, and she slowly reached for my hand, took it in hers and asked, “Help me.” This happened about 3 times. She completely endeared me to her. During some of the bhajans later on, as I urged her to chant, she did so. It was so wonderful seeing her mouth move in time to the chanting. I told her that this body was finished, now it was time to give all attachments up to Krsna, that Krsna and Srila Prabhupada would help her, give her protection. That night, her daughter, Daksina, who has the voice of a demigoddess, like her mother, lead some beautiful bhajans. I will add here that, following in the footsteps of her father, Pitavasa prabhu, and her mother, Daksina was very controlled and focused. I deeply admire her for this was an extremely difficult time for her. More devotees came for bhajans and at one point, while Pitavasa prabhu was chanting at her side, Aradhya prabhu put her arms around his neck and pulled him near her. He chanted the names of her favorite Deities: Sri Sri Radha-Paris Isvara, etc. and it was at this time that she asked him to let her go. As the night wore on, I chanted near her ear; I could see that her health was quickly deteriorating. I believe I went home for a short while but quickly returned upon a concerned call from Pitavasa prabhu. I know that at some point he and I made a pact – that either he or someone else would always be chanting by her side if I were not there with her. Saturday evening turned into Sunday morning and, we had a small version of the morning program and passed around invisible ghee lamps.
Sun., Sept. 26 – Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur’s appearance day – Aradhya prabhu spoke a lot less and Arci prabhu fed her fruits and also liquid from a dropper off and on through the day as did Daksina. Morning was the time the women bathed her and as we usually did, asked her permission. When I inquired, she said no, but when Pitavasa prabhu personally came in and said she’d feel better, she said yes. After a few minutes I understood why this happened: she was a chaste wife and wanted to please her husband. Arci prabhu stayed with her the day and night and into the next day as well. By early afternoon, I realized I was beyond exhaustion and was encouraged to get some sleep. Seeing that someone would be with her, I went and took a few hours sleep. During the time I was gone, Astasakhi prabhu sang the beautiful prayers of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and their purports. Before my return, I went before the Deities and prayed to please make me an instrument, that I didn’t know what to do, what not to do, what to say, what not to say. When I returned, I quietly asked in her ear if she wanted me to stay and she said yes. At this point, seeing that she was becoming more internalized, I felt that I need not say much more – it was between her and Krsna now. Some time later, I asked if her consciousness were fixed, and although she had responded very little during the day, she slowly but briefly nodded yes. I felt reassured. There was small bhajan through the night and I continued to chant in her ear. I kind of laughed to myself as she really put me to work – all-in-all she had me chanting for 4-5 days continuously! I had to completely focus my mind. Actually, because I could see a change in her breathing, I kept my eyes on her chest as I slowly and deliberately chanted in her ear. Only a few times did I verbally encourage her to focus her mind. I kept praying to Krsna to give me the strength to go on. Sunday turned into Monday as I continued chanting in her ear watching as her breathing continued to become more labored.
Mon., Sept. 27 – Srila Haridas Thakur’s appearance day – Daksina dressed her mother’s Deities very beautifully this morning. I could now see the signs that this would be Aradhya prabhu’s last day with us as her breathing had become increasingly difficult. This was confirmed by the hospice representative who came out. She said, “I may be wrong, but it could be from a few hours to midnight tonight.” She said that generally right near the end, the patient becomes panicky, restless and anxious but in Aradhya prabhu’s case, being the devotee she was, she was completely the opposite – peaceful and controlled. Such a contrast! At this stage, Aradhya prabhu was no longer responding externally but lay there hardly moving – and I knew she was in great pain. My body, being in an awkward position for so many days, was in agony from leaning over and trying to reach her ear, but as I thought of how Aradhya prabhu was feeling – and I really didn’t understand – I felt ashamed, that my pain was nothing. I could see I certainly was not transcendental to the bodily aches and pains. I again prayed for the strength to go on and endure. Krsna was kind – I have the tendency to push myself and I found that I was able to use this ability to be with Aradhya prabhu all these days. And even though I found that I nodded out a few times, I awoke to find myself chanting just as audibly and clearly as before! I was amazed at how Krsna was holding me together. There were some bhajans off and on during the day, but in the late afternoon I asked someone to please call around and ask everyone to come; the time was coming nearer. A couple of times I encouraged her to focus her mind on the holy name. Occasionally throughout the day, her arms would move almost in slow motion and a couple of times she put her hands together, fingers clasped together, on her stomach as if she were doing yoga. But, I don’t really know. Some time later, while I was chanting in her ear, her left arm came up and her hand rested on my face. I immediately felt she was thanking me. She did it again and this time I felt she was thanking me for our friendship. Again, a third time, we both laughed – she had really put me to work! I must say that although I’m a very emotional person, I kept myself in check this whole time lest I create some disturbance for her. But, this time it was so hard; I almost broke down – I felt so deeply touched by her love and gratitude. I had to do some deep breathing to let those emotions go. I really have no idea if she meant anything by it, but that’s what I deeply felt. As early evening approached, I knew it was a matter of hours; the symptoms were there. Although I could not see because my eyes were focused on her chest, I could hear the room fill up with more and more voices of sweet kirtan. Pitavasa prabhu was chanting a good amount of the time in her other ear. I just kept chanting slowly, carefully, deliberately in her ear. I was beginning to hear the congestion in her lungs. Obviously they were filling up for the final time. It was getting dark, the light was very dim, I could hardly see and so I focused my eyes on her open mouth so I could watch her breathing while I continued to chant in her ear. I prayed to Krsna to please give me the strength to the end – I was beyond exhaustion. I felt like Arjuna when he had fixed his mind on the eye of the fish he was trying to pierce. And, in my exhaustion, I mentally told Aradhya prabhu that she had beat me – she was working so hard to attain the goal and I had to struggle to keep up with her! I was practically hallucinating at this point. During these last hours I simultaneously chanted and prayed to Krsna that He please end her suffering and take her. I remember telling her a few times that it was getting close to the end, that it would be soon. As I watched her breathing slow down, and as she began to hold a few breaths, I knew that the final moment was just around the corner. Just at that moment, I was tapped on the shoulder and was told that Pitavasa prabhu wanted to speak with me. She was just about to leave! I was in such anxiety! Of course, the tape of Srila Prabhupada was still on although drowned out by an incredibly sweet kirtan and I knew it was all up to Krsna, but I had made a promise I would be there to the end. I asked Mamata prabhu to chant in her ear. I ran out to hear that the relatives wanted to say good-bye to her. I was distraught – Krsna, why now? Only 3 devotees were allowed to remain in the room chanting, the others could chant in the other room. I ran back in and resumed my position at her ear. One-by-one they came in, speaking in her ear. I just kept chanting in her ear and praying. I mentally told her to remain fixed, that maybe this was her final test and reminded myself that Krsna was the orchestrator, not I. (Later Pitavasa prabhu had told me that they wanted to tell her that it was ok, she could go.) I put myself fully into chanting as the kirtan swelled. Her breaths were being held more often and were further apart. The time was close.
At 9:16 p.m., on the disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur, she took her final breath surrounded by the holy name. She surprised me - I actually thought it would take a bit longer. I chanted a little more watching her chest to make sure there were no more breaths. She looked so serene. Pitavasa prabhu had leaned over to speak with someone at that time and when he found out she had left, he announced it and the kirtan became so tumultuous that the whole room shook. The floor felt as if it were going to cave in! I placed a Tulasi leaf from Lord Jagannath in Jagannath Puri and several Tulasi leaves from her Deities in her mouth. After the kirtan subsided, she was bathed and dressed and the devotees came in again for more kirtan. When I looked outside, it was raining, which, from my understanding, is auspicious when someone leaves.
I can honestly say her passing was so glorious. She was a real trooper. I saw her fixity of mind the whole time – you could feel it. She never complained and you would never have known her body was riddled with cancer. She just lay there and endured everything. She had dedicated her life to Srila Prabhupada, never wavered, was a chaste wife and devoted mother. As I put my head to her feet, I felt exhilarated but felt sad I would no longer have her association. Although I was able to render a little service, I felt she did the greater service – she gave me the opportunity to constantly remember Krsna. I’ve been given a great gift that’s now locked in my heart – and no one can take that away. Aradhya prabhu was very devoted to Srimati Tulasidevi – she always wanted to have her in her window so she could see her. She was an excellent teacher in every way, an excellent gardener, she loved her Deities and always thought of Sri Sri Radha-Paris Isvara, her favorite Deities.
Through all of this, Pitavasa prabhu and his daughter, Daksina remained strong and fixed and constantly took the opportunity to preach. They both served her in every way to see to her comfort and assisted her in her last days and, they, along with Aradhya prabhu, set a wonderful example of Krsna consciousness. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Daksina, but I told her when her mother returned from the hospital that this would deepen her conviction in Krsna consciousness. I also feel 100% in my heart that Srila Prabhupada was pleased with our community as everyone put everything aside to serve in some wonderful capacity; it was like a puzzle with all of the pieces fitting perfectly together with Krsna orchestrating everything. We showed our love for him by how we co-operated. I also received some very extra-special mercy as a close godsister (who lives elsewhere and who didn’t know Aradhya prabhu had left) had a most wonderful dream with Srila Prabhupada and myself the night of Aradhya prabhu’s departure.
A feast was held in her honor on Thursday, Sept. 30. Pitavasa prabhu along with many other devotees spoke. Aradhya prabhu’s sister, brother and nephew and one of Daksina’s close friends also spoke and shared their profound realizations. Daksina spoke with such clarity and conviction – it was wonderful to hear.
And, so I just pray that when I leave, Aradhya prabhu will come and help me and again give me her association. Hare Krsna.
MadanMohanMohini dasi
Prabhupada Village
Oct. 1, 2004

Submitted by Manjari devi dasiJuly, 2004
Respected Vaisnavas,
On July 12, 2004 at 8:26 a.m., at the MVT in Vrindavana, our dear godsister and friend, Mula Prakriti, gloriously departed from this world. Last September, during a stay in Vrindavana, Mula was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a courageous battle with the disease, she returned in order to leave her body to this spiritual home Srila Prabhupada has given us all.
Those of you who know Mula Prakriti will remember the intensity with which she lived her life. She had a burning desire to serve Srila Prabhupada by preaching. She joined ISKCON in L.A. in 1973, and in the early years, shot to the top of the book distribution charts, distributing literally hundreds of thousands of books all over the United States and Japan and collecting millions of dollars for Srila Prabhupada’s projects. After the departure of Srila Prabhupada, Mula and her husband, Gopavrindapal, lived and raised their three children in California, Oregon, and the Big Island of Hawaii. There they initiated unique programs to develop spiritual communities and foster loving relationships between devotees. In each community in which they lived, Mula was a driving force in the creation of a gathering place for the devotee community. She and Gopa started and renovated several temples and in Ashland, Oregon, had a popular storefront preaching center named “Inquire Within.”
In more recent years, Mula’s abiding desire to act as a bridge between devotees blossomed as her horizon expanded to include the entire family of Gaudiya Vaishnavas. She began a book of interviews of people who knew Srila Prabhupada before he went to the West. She became inspired by Srila Narayan Maharaj, who understood her great sincerity and encouraged her desire to glorify Srila Prabhupada. She took her personal bhajan very seriously, arising every morning at 2 o’clock to chant – gradually coming to one lakh – and worship her Govardhana Shila. Mula also traveled widely and touched the lives of countless devotees with her sweet, loving exchanges; exemplary humility, and yearning for devotees to realize their common bonds. A storyteller par excellence, she enthralled her listeners with stories of Srila Prabhupada that we had never heard before.
When cancer struck, Mula sensed that it was her time to leave this world. However, she underwent various treatments until she could do no more. All the while, she kept her sense of humor, once writing to a friend, “So, if everything turns out all right (cancer in remission), I will be coming to Vrindavana in June or July. If it is not all right I will also be coming then. So I guess it is win-win for me!” Mula always felt that her real home was Vraj Dhama. She was so happy and relieved to have made it back for her final journey. Gopavrindapal recounts that as soon as they reached Kosi (the border of Braj), she breathed a great sigh and wept tears of joy.
Medically, Mula’s condition was a miracle. Although the cancer had metastasized into her liver, intestines and chest, once she reached Vrindavana, she suffered no pain. Liver cancer is generally excruciatingly painful. The strongest analgesic she took was occasional Tylenol for her fevers. She was also conscious until the end. In the last days, when she could no longer rise from the bed or open her eyes, she dictated corrections, additions and even one whole interview for her book. At times she confided that Srila Prabhupada was blessing her with profound experiences. Before she lost the strength to speak, she assured us she was chanting in her mind. Karta, Vaijayanti Mala and those who chanted with her noted her lips moving faintly in time with their chanting, her hands fingering japa mala even when there were no actual beads. Her last audible words were, “Hare Krishna.”
Mula’s book of interviews, “Our Srila Prabhupada, A Friend to All, early contemporaries remember him,” was her final offering to Srila Prabhupada. Although it was still in production when she arrived in Vrindavana, we were able to show her a sample copy, with the cover and chapter layout. The book remained at the head of her bed throughout her final days. We had very much wanted to include in it a picture of her with Srila Prabhupada, but she knew of only one such photo -- that was of Prabhupada in L.A. in which she is just a blur in the background. And she didn’t even have it. Ranjit, at the BBT Archives, searched but was unable to find anything. But shortly before Mula’s daughter, Nitya was to leave for India, Ranjit, while searching for a photo of someone else, came across a misplaced slide. This slide just happened to be picture of Srila Prabhupada giving darshan in the courtyard of the Krishna Balaram Mandir in 1975. A very young, serious Mula Prakriti is sitting near his feet. By the time the picture was brought to Vrindavana, Mula wasn’t able to focus her vision on small things, but we described it to her. It seemed to us that the unexpected arrival of such a perfect picture of her with Srila Prabhupada – one that no one was even aware of – was Srila Prabhupada’s blessing upon Mula and her book. Mula Prakriti’s departure in Sukhada’s apartment, which is shaded by a huge banyan tree, was attended by great auspiciousness. Her husband, sons Sravana and Kirtan, and daughter, Nitya, were there to support her. Aindra prabhu and his brahmacharis; and Narayani, Sama Priya and the ladies sang kirtan for hours every day. She had twenty-four hour sadhu sanga, Krishna-katha, and Krishna-kirtan. A constant stream of Vaishnavas visited. Srila Narayan Maharaj came and gave her his blessings, assuring her she had no need to fear, that she would achieve the highest destination. B.V. Tirtha Maharaj chanted mantras while doing anga nyasas for her protection. B.V. Van Maharaj, Premananda prabhu, Uma didi, Rasananda prabhu, Krsnapriya Prabhu, Yasomatinanda prabhu, Radha Kunda, as well as other godbrothers and godsisters and many others came to have her darshan and to bless her.
Mula’s final stage was not quick; the active dying stage lasted forty-two hours. Her godsister and nurse, Sangita, and other medical attendants were amazed that she somehow was able to breathe in lungs that appeared completely full of fluid. “But there is nothing normal about Mula’s condition,” Sangita repeatedly said. Somehow, Mula was still able to hear and respond to some slight degree. When her son, Sravana, led mangal artik and morning bhajan, she raised her hands to offer pranams when the songs mentioned various personalities. In her last hours, Gopavrindapal, Nitya and other devotees took her on Govardhana parikrama by reading from the Vraj Mandala parikrama book.
In the end, she lay under Radha Kunda’s beautiful portrait of Srila Prabhupada, with Krishna’s thick Tulasi garland and Radharani’s flower belt encircling her face, her beloved Deity, Giriju, touching her forehead, and impressions of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet behind her head. The Holy Names were written in gopi chandan tilak on her body and her hand was in her beadbag, as it always was. She became restless as breathing became increasingly difficult. Her godsister, Vrindavana Vilasini rushed to her side. “Don’t be afraid, Mula,” she reassured her. “Take Prabhupada’s hand. He will do your breathing for you.” Mula then relaxed. Vrindavana, Sangita, Mahadevi, her children and other devotees began to chant by her side. Gopavrindapal placed Tulasi, Radha Kunda water, Vrindavana dust and charanamrita on her tongue, and placed Srila Prabhupada’s final volume of the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.13) on her chest. Sangita recalls, “For about 30 seconds it seemed as if the sky opened up. The room seemed packed with people – auspicious personalities like sages. I couldn’t see them but I could feel their presence.” On the CD, as Prabhupada began to chant, “Ceto darpana marjanam…,” Mula’s favorite verse of Sikshastakam, a devotee walked in bearing the Deities’ caranamrita and a garland from Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar. At that moment, Mula left her body.
In death, Mula’s body was even more beautiful than in her last days. She was smiling the old, million-dollar Mula smile. It seemed to get bigger and bigger. Her face was rounder – the gauntness was gone. She was bathed in Radha Kunda water then draped in a beautiful, violet-mauve Bengali sari with embroidered golden yellow border. It had been chosen by Sasikala in Mula’s style: understated and simple, but pretty.
Hearing of Mula Prakriti’s passing, devotees stopped whatever they were doing and came from all over. Yasomatinandan prabhu, in his Bhagavatam class in the Krishna Balarama Mandir, had just finished speaking of the passing of Haridas Thakur when the word came. The entire Keshavaji Gaudiya Math in Mathura emptied out and the brahmacharis, sannyasis and Mathuravasis all came to honor Mula and have her darshan. The kirtan in Mula’s room intensified as more and more devotees squeezed in. Sripad Tirtha Maharaj performed her last rites. She was then placed on a palanquin and taken in procession with kirtan to Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and in circumambulation of the Krishna Balarama Mandir. By this time it was the early afternoon and quite hot. Then the devotees, men and women, accompanied her in a sankirtan procession through Vrindavana town to the burning ghat. There, as the form that we had known for so long merged with the elements, we said our last goodbyes and paid pranams to the great Vaishnavi, Mula Prakriti devi dasi, who had graced our lives with her friendship and love and taught guru nishtha by her life’s example.
Your servant,
Manjari dasi

Submitted by Kaulini devi dasiFebruary, 2004
My Dear Suci,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I’m sitting here looking at a picture of you and me. It’s the day I arrived at your bedside, the Russian mothers were shaving your head and the room was filled with a few ladies singing. Mother Jagattarini brought me in, and as I sat down I began to sing along. Shortly after you, Suci, asked Jagattarini who I was.She said, “That’s Kaulini;” you knew I was coming. You looked at me and I came forward and held your hand. I said “Suci, I'm here now to stay with you, I'll be here for you.” Without words a very deep connection and relationship was there.
Just a couple of weeks before it all manifested. Early in the morning I was getting dressed to go to the barn and milk the cows and a devotee came and told me I had a phone call from Vrndavan. Amazed, I picked up the phone, "Kaulini, it’s Bhurijana.” I said, “Bhurijan, where are you?” He said, “Vraj, I have a special request......a wonderful devotee here, Sucirani, is preparing for her final journey, could you come to Australia and help?” Immediately I wanted to go, thinking this is a special call from Srimate Radharani, the Queen of Vrndavan.
Well, as time passed, Krsna's plan pervaded and I was called to Vrndavan instead. From that time on I became so attached to you and thought of caring for you everyday......mostly I was assisting Palika and Rachel. They had already been caring for you and had the daily routine very nicely in order. It was so satisfying to work with these two young girls who I could see had so much affection and respect for you. They were really serving out of love. I helped them with the bodily needs, repositioning, bathing, changing nappies, feeding you prasad, and other needs. I also chanted my japa with you, mostly read from nectar of devotion, and often just sat by your side. There were not a lot of words exchanged but it seemed like a much deeper exchange. I would tell you about funny things while milking the cows, about the beautiful land of Gita Nagari, and about themerciful Lordships SRI SRI RADHA DAMODARA.
I saw your eyes sparkle and you seemed to become happy hearing what I was saying. During much of my time with you there was so much was going on; your parents and brother were there, devotees were coming to read to you and chant, and of coarse the special and private time you had with your son and husband. I stayed in the room right next to you. I didn't ever really want to leave your side.
Suci, you were teaching so many things about a process I knew nothing of--not remembering--and fulfilling my desire to want to care for devotees on this special journey. It’s amazing how we were only together for 7 days, and what was probably the most important time of our lives. We have a connection, a very personal deep relationship, not like any other. I think of you everyday, and play a CD of Aindra chanting in your room. Yesterday I went to Gopinatha Dham by the mercy of Bhurijana’s CD. I have made a commitment to Giriraja Swami to be a real part of the hospice in Vrndavana.
Suci, you made my first experience with someone leaving their body most wonderful and transcendental. I remember reading the book that you had taken on your travels this past year and how all the devotees in the different places around the world benefited so much from your association and loved you so much. I too am such a fortunate soul. I never heard you complain unnecessarily, only simple requests to try to make you more comfortable. You never got angry or upset, even though you were going through so much difficulty. You were always eager to hear, not speaking so much yourself, but I could see such attention to the well wishes of your dear most friends. You didn't want any medication that would altar your awareness and receptivity of hearing the kirtan and Krsna katha. You were so serious and grave in your desire to remember Krsna. You set a most wonderful example, surrendering to Krsna’s plan, Icould see no protest. Suci, those 7 days with you have changed my life.
Although I miss you, I'm sure Prabhupada has cared for you very nicely. You were smiling then, and I'm sure you are feeling much more happiness now. Suci, I pray that somehow I was able to offer you some comfort. I pray that somehow I was able to remind you of Krsna. I pray that you will please remember me to our best friend and protector, and dear Suci, I forever remain in debt with unlimited gratitude and affection.
Till we meet again, if I’m luckyAffectionately, Kaulini dasi

Submitted by Katyayani devi dasiFebruary, 2004

I applaud the wonderful work Mother Jusaniya and Mother Sangita and all the other volunteers and caregivers are doing with Vaisnavas CARE.
It is nearing the fourth anniversary of my dad's death and I wanted to take a minute to remember him.

My dad, was 80 years old, but very active. He had had prostate cancer for a few years, but the effect on his activities was non-existent. He (and my mom who doesn't drive) came to my home, every day except weekends, and babysat my kids. On the weekends, my mom and dad would do all sorts of nice things together. Although my parents are not devotees, and my mother is particularly not favorable, my father was always respectful of devotees and particularly, of Srila Prabhupada. He made donations to the temple, and always inquired about the welfare of the devotees. When I was a young teenager and I first became attracted to ISKCON, my dad was so cool. He would take me to the temple, and take me all over the metro Detroit area looking for ingredients to make prasadam recipes. My dad also encouraged me to have an altar at home and perform aratikas, I don't think he really understood but he was attracted. When Srila Prabhupada left in 1977, my dad was very sad and referred to Srila Prabhupada as a truly saintly man.

Anyway, my father unfortunately woke up one Sunday morning in late September 1999 to discover that he had lost his ability to speak. It seemed that he had a stroke or something. He also began having seizures. Our family gathered at the hospital, and tests were done. We found out that he had a large mass on his brain and it didn't look hopeful.

This began a very difficult time for our family. First of all, because he was on blood thinners for another condition, surgery couldn't be performed until six weeks later because his blood needed to be regulated. So surgery was scheduled for late November. During those six weeks, my dad was a wreck, he was naturally a very vocal person and very intelligent, and his inability to make his mouth say what his brain was thinking was just horrible for him. My mother, who is a retired nurse, was also in anxiety.

The surgery of course revealed the worst, the mass was malignant, and by the time the surgery was done, the tumor has increased by three times. It also had grown on to the outside of his skull and had affected his speech and memory. Plus the cancer was so scattered throughout his brain, they were not able to get all of it out with surgery. Following the surgery, my dad had to have a long series of radiation treatments (which seemed futile and draining). This was required, according to the oncologist for any patient who had brain cancer surgery.

In the meantime also, my dad was going to Rehabilitation to learn how speak and write. This was also a horrible and degrading experience. A smart man, very articulate, was reduced to practicing letter patterning and very easy handwriting exercises. The tears in his eyes as he showed me his work which was painstakingly completed at a less than first grade level. I could see from the expression on his face and other body language that he was suffering like anything.

Through it all however, my dad thought he was going to get better and be in independent man again. He couldn't wait until the six month point had passed so he could drive again. He would not accept that his life was ending. He was very stubborn.
The oncologist then started laying a guilt trip on our family about starting my day on chemotherapy. In the meantime, it was quite obvious that the quality of his life was horrible. He was sleeping most of the time, hardly eating at all, unable to walk due to extreme swelling in his legs. He was very depressed, and seemed not to be able to accept and/or understand that his life was ending.

In the meantime, my mom was just going crazy. She is a retired nurse, and had taken to charting all of my dad's intake and output, as well as checking his vitals every fifteen minutes. Needless to say, sleep deprivation, coupled with just the intense agony of watching your husband of 60 years suffer and dwindle was taking it's toll. Finally she called me (this was in early February 2000) and told me that she just could not take it another minute and needed some help.

It was at this point that I called the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice. This was a complete turning point for our family. First of all, a case worker, along with a pastoral worker, came to meet with my mom, my brothers and myself, along with my dad. They, in an amazingly compassionate and caring way, enabled my dad to be comfortable with discontinuing treatment and preparing for the next step. A male nurse was immediately assigned to my dad. The first thing he did was review my dad's meds (which numbered higher than 30 pills a day) -- and he was able to determine that many of the meds were counteracting each other. He made arrangements to have all meds with the exception of comfort meds discontinued. The Hospice was able to provide a hospital bed, commode, fed ex delivery of prescriptions, a person to sit with my dad (giving my mom much needed space -- even to take a nap), a wonderful array of written material, actually outlining the indications of death that a loved one would observe, 24 hour/7 day a week coverage via phone, I can't even express how supportive and wonderful the Hospice staff was.

When my father passed away peacefully at home, on February 14, 2000, my mom, when she noticed my father was leaving, calmly called her hospice coordinator. He advised her to open the med kit that was provided and provide liquid morphine by mouth. She tried to do this but my dad didn't really accept any. Anyway, to make a long story short, my dad left, we were totally prepared, he was surrounded by loved ones, in his own home. The day before my husband had been reading to him from The Ramayana while my dad slipped out of consciousness. Our hospital nurse came about twenty minutes after my dad left. He cleaned my dad up, assisted in laying him on a mat on the floor (he died in a chair in my parents small apartment), and gathered us all together for a short prayer service. He then, made all arrangements for the funeral home and also for all of the durable medical equipment to go back to the many different companies (oxygen, wheelchair, etc).

I was able to give my father some maha prasad and put a garland on him before he left. After he left, I had strong realizations that enforced what I know so well, but had never been tested before, we are not our bodies, we are spirit soul and once the soul leaves the body, the essence is gone. My whole family, assisted by the care of the wonderful hospice staff, handled the whole situation beautifully and with dignity: my dad I am sure was very happy.

Our family continues to support the VNA Hospice in Michigan. The only unfortunate instance was that I think people are not made aware of the assistance that is available from Hospice -- if I did not work in a hospital, I am not sure I would have even known about it. Physicians push unnecessary expensive and horrifying treatments on patients that do not enhance the quality of life -- and only with the support of the Hospice staff, were we able to say NO to the pushy oncologist!

Anyway, so that is the story of my dad's passing. He was a good man. The day he died, the kind devotees at Detroit offered 12 noon artika on his behalf and my husband and I sponsored a feast. I am sure that my father has gone on to better things. With the assistance of the Hospice program, we were able to make a sad situation glorious and beautiful.

All glories to Hospice workers!

Your servant,
Katyayani devi dasi
Detroit, MI

Submitted by Sachin BoradiaFebruary, 2004
By the causeless mercy of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada I was placed at the bedside during the passing away of three of my very close family members; my grandmother, my grandfather, and my uncle (Father’s brother). Being in a traditional Indian joint family we had very close-knit family ties with our grandparents staying with us. Our family is from a Jain background and aesthetic and impersonal philosophy is ingrained in the mindset. So devotional service was definitely not a welcome move. Especially with my grandmother, who was a very strict Jain following the philosophy and practices in detail. We shared a very vague relationship, which I am now beginning to appreciate. Both of us were autocratic believing ours was the only right path. But nevertheless our attachment for each other was obviously there and it only grew as time passed.
First to pass was my eldest uncle who passed away in Indore, which is very far away from Mumbai. His body was transported to Mumbai. It took more than 18 hours before it reached Mumbai. Myself with my cousins were involved in cleaning a very now stale body. A realization dawned to me on the futility of materialistic way of life and attachment to the so-called beauty of the body.
I could not do anything spiritually except to pray intensely for the soul of my uncle. Within one year my second uncle, who was suffering from cancer of the abdomen being an alcoholic, had developed ulcers in the stomach, which were later found cancerous. He suffered for seven years and his body weight, which was 80 Kg, was reduced to 45kg. He was praying that death should come to him…though the suffering had to continue long before that. He was a lonely man as he did not have any children and was more or less a failure financially due to ill habits. All I could do was comfort him and try to heal the pain by just talking to him easing him and giving all the love I could. When he was on the verge of leaving his body I found myself chanting close to his ears with a photograph of Gopal Krishna in front of him. By the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada my uncle who had lead a very sinful life spent in intoxicating was hearing the transcendental sound vibration of The Holy names of their Lordships.
For my grandparents this was shocking losing two of their sons in a span of one year. My grandmother was very philosophical convincing everyone that we are not the body but spirit soul. Though this was her desperate attempt to get over the grief that had struck them at such a ripe age, she could not take it and went through a mental disorder where she had to live on tablets to get some sense of the real world. She was fine after sometime and with the advent of my son both my grandparents got a new lease of life. My mother, who also was very against my taking to the "cult-like" belief of Krishna Consciousness, one day asked my grandmother to try to convince me off the path. But the beauty was the Lord sitting in her heart made her something that allowed her to develop some unknown Sukruti. She told my mom, “ He is not doing anything wrong, he looks so satisfied doing his sadhana, if you had sons like mine (all three of her sons, including my father were addicted to intoxication) you would know”…bewildering my mom. My son due to the causeless mercy of the lord and wonderful devotees in Mumbai, from a very early age displayed a strong attraction for the holy name. Every time anyone sang Hare Krishna he would start shaking his legs and hands and wanted to dance. This inspired my grandparents to such an extent that every time they would see him they would start singing Hare Krishna Hare Rama for his pleasure and when he would smile it gave them great ecstasy. This made me realize if preaching is done with the innocence of a child’s heart and love and compassion then it would change the hearts of the strongest atheistic people. This quality which our dear Srila Prabhupada displayed helped change the hearts of all the people around the globe.
Meanwhile my grandmother's health was fast deteriorating and we were expecting the inevitable to happen anytime. But to our shock my grandfather, who at 86 was healthy, just passed away with a respiratory attack. I was trying to revive him but he was choking and I realized his time had come. We got Gangajal, poured it in his mouth and me and my wife started to chant Hare Krishna. My father and mother were too bewildered to do anything but cry. The greatness of Prabhupada's mercy enabled us to keep our presence of mind and help my grandfather pass peacefully.
This was too much for my grandmother, who was now bedridden and writhing in pain due to bedsores and could do nothing but yell in mental and physical pain. She developed a very strong attachment for me and would call to me using a vague sound. At that time I told her if you feel like yelling just yell Rama, as I thought it was easiest for her to pronounce that. Every time she needed to call me, to our surprise, she would call out Rama. And finally on the day when she was about to pass away myself and my wife realized that it was her time to go. This time my aunts were there who were very amused with the fact that I was trying to take up to spiritual path at such a ‘young age’. They could not do anything, but they joined us in loudly chanting the Holy names of the Lord. All of us were chanting while we poured Gangajal in her mouth as she prepared to leave.
All this happened in span of just 2 years.
It enabled me to look at my own eventual death more closely. Since then my determination to take to devotional service and my great appreciation for the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada and all the wonderful Vaisnavas has increased manifold.
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!!

Submitted by Bhaktavatsala dasaSeptember, 2003

I am employed as a registered nurses in an Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital here in San Jose, California. It might not seem the best place to find a devotee but I would argue a different point. Fallen and condition souls are everywhere, and sometimes the most distressed are lying in hospital beds very close to death. People always want to ask me what a body looks like as the soul leaves but I have no answer. I can tell you what the body looks like when the heart stops beating and the last breath is taken, but I have no insight into the soul leaving a body. I have to rely on shastra for that. Being on the front lines gives me no special powers to see these things, but I can try to send these helpless souls on their path of self realization. I see many people expire or die, and in order to help them I make an effort to be present at that moment when their heart stops and the physician states the time of death for the record. At that time I can be found slipping a Tulasi leaf into their moth and marking their foreheads with Vaishnava Tilaka. And in many cases I am able to chant the Maha mantra into their ear in hopes that they hear the transcendental vibration and their soul somehow remembers Krishna. I hadn't really noticed, but when I share these stories with people they wonder what the other staff are thinking and what they might say. Somehow or other they never notice. Once or twice someone would see me or hear me and ask later what I was doing. The result has always been very positive. Everyone at work knows I am a devotee and with the enormous influx of East Indians in the Silicon Valley, there is a growing curiosity into the culture. Most recently I was assigned an elderly Sikh gentleman. The charge nurse specifically asked me to take care of him because he was Indian. When I entered the room to do my assessment I saw that his head was not covered. From what little I know of the Sikhs, this is not allowed. I took a pillow case and wrapped his head in what looked like a turban. He was unconscious but I always talk to my patients incase they can hear. The Srimad Bhagavatam says that the hearing is the last sense to go. While I was listening to his heart and the sounds his breath made with my stethoscope, I could tell a few people were coming into his room behind me. I turned to find a large family all looking at me and wondering what I was doing. As I offered my respects with folded hands the patient's wife asked me my name. I responded "Brian, and I'll be the nurse taking care of your husband tonight". She had a blank look on her face and did not respond. Instead she walked to the head of the bed and asked who [put the turban on her husband. When I told I did, she continued to with her flat affect and did not acknowledge me. There was several moments of uncomfortable silence while I watched her stroke her husband's head when she suddenly turned to me and asked me again "what is your name?". I repeated my civil name "Brian, mataji". She shook her head and said, "No one wearing kanti mala and brahmin thread is named Brian". "I blushed and apologized saying "Bhaktavatsala das, mataji". She told me that they were Sikhs and not Hindus but that her husband would always go to the temple on Janmastami because he loved Krishna. She asked me if I would not go outside to chant my gayatri, but that I chant it at her husbands bedside, however silent I had to be. She told me that the name of Krishna and Govinda can penetrate anything in this material world. From then on I developed a strong bond with this patient's family and when Janmastami came I left the festivities after putting the Deities to rest and drove over to the temple with maha prasada and a garland from Sri Madan~Mohan for my patient. Everyday I would chant and play bhajans for him on a CD player the family had brought. When I asked then what do Sikhs do at the time of death, they didn't know. When I told them what we do and why, they insisted that when he died (which was imminent), that I chant in his hear and that we play bhajans. That time came and I was not present. I was sorry and I tried to call the family but only got voicemail. Then a few days later several of his sons and wife showed up at the ICU and told me that they saw he was dying and started to play the bhajan tape of Srila Prabhupada singing the Maha Mantra and the oldest son chanted the same in his hear as he left. I know this was Krishna's way of saying "It's not all about you Bhaktavatsala das" and that we have to pass on the message any way we can and hope that someone picks it up. The nurses in the ICU were floored when the family had showed up with an enormous feast of all my favorites and we went into the nurses lounge and ate and had a lively conversation. At the end, I had to get back to work and the wife grabbed my face in both her hands and she was weeping. She said, "Krishna is all powerful and he sent you to us to help my husband go home. Right" He went home?" All I could say is " Mataji, he had a better opportunity then most, I hope that Krishna took him back home" . I don't cry much, but when I saw the desperation in this old woman's face, I cried too. Like I said earlier, I don't know what the body looks like when the souls leaves the body, and I don't know where the souls goes, but I trust shastra and so I'll keep trying to be present or teach people what to do at the time of death.
Hare Krishna

The Lord's Merciful ArrangementBy Deena Bandhu dasaApril 2003
The following is a story written by Deena Bandhu Prabhu, who is a long time resident of Vrndavana Dhama and a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
I had received an email from my sister that my mother, who was suffering from colon cancer, was finally getting ready to go. The cancer had now spread throughout her body and she wasn't expected to last for more than two weeks. She said they were going to bring her home on Wednesday 16th of April. I got a ticket for Friday the 18th.
When I finally sent the flight details to my sister, she wrote back on the 17th profusely apologizing for not contacting me sooner, but that Mom had passed away at home surrounded by my brothers and sisters at 7:15pm on Tuesday. She completely blew my mind when she further wrote that my mother was wearing a "Krishna shawl" and that they had sprinkled holy water over her body. She also told me the flowers brought by devotees from the LA temple were hanging over her head.
I couldn't imagine how this had happened as I hadn't contacted anyone! I rushed to the temple room to thank Krishna Balarama and Radha Shymasundara for showing Their mercy to my mother. Tears welled in my eyes, not for my mother, but because I was astounded at how Their Lordships arranged all this without my even being there. For the last year I had been praying to them to somehow show mercy to my mother. Somehow they managed it.
My mother would never talk to me much about Krishna Consciousness; she wouldn't even let me in the house with my dhoti on stating, "I don't mind, but what will the neighbors think?" Whenever I visited her, if we went out somewhere I would instinctively reach for my bead bag, and she would chastise, "Why do you want to bring that thing along? Leave it here." So, for a long time, I was trying to think what I could do for her during her final days. But, the Lord arranged everything Himself.
Not that she was super unfavorable. She once told me how she had converted from Irish Protestant to Catholicism to marry my Italian Catholic father. Her parents practically disowned her. Of course, by the time I came into the world and was aware of anything, they had patched up all their differences and I never knew about this. But, what that experience did for my mother, she told me several years ago, was to help her understand that she did not want to put her son through the same thing her parents put her through just because he changed his religion. Therefore she never really gave me a bad time; she just wasn't interested, at all, in Krishna Consciousness and tolerated me.
Then someone suggested that my wife must have tipped off someone in Los Angeles. And, sure enough, she had contacted my old friend Nirantara. He very kindly took the time to collect a sanskrit Harinama chadar, Ganga Jal, and a Mahaprasad garland, and drive them over to the hospital. By Krishna's arrangement, my mother was just being discharged when he arrived; otherwise he would have missed her. My sister was very impressed by his pleasant demeanor and dealings, and she was kind enough to take the things from him.
The next night when my mother was departing from this world, surrounded by all my brothers and sisters, my sister was kind enough to put the Harinama chadar around her shoulders and to put the garland above her head to represent my presence there. When she had mentioned sprinkling holy water, I thought she meant from the Church, but is must have been the Ganga Jal. I am eternally grateful to my sister, Susan, for this act of kindness. And I'm proud and happy that I have a second family who helped me in this time of need. I wish to publicly thank Nirantara Prabhu for taking the time to do this wonderful service.
Without my planning, the Malaysian Air flight was arriving at about 1:00pm and the funeral service was set for 2:00pm. I flew Malaysian not only as it was the least expensive, but being based in a Muslim country I was not worried about anyone planting a bomb on the plane, and it is a world class airline as well. I don't know if devotees who are flying from the West coast know about it.
As it turned out, Krishna brought the plane in forty minutes early. I was having visions the whole time of delays and getting there as they're burying my mother, and of me never having the chance of getting last darshan. Everyone thought I would be the last one there, but I was practically the first. Another God brother, Virabahu Prabhu, had sent an email ahead and his disciple Rupa Raghunatha, who drives a taxi, was there to pick me up and get me to the Mortuary on time. He refused any payment despite my insisting on at least giving him the gas money and parking fees. He was simply happy to render service.
Then came a real mindblower. My brother was there and asked if I wanted to take last darshan as everyone else had already done so. He said that they hadn't embalmed Mom because she wanted to be cremated, so everyone else was afraid to look at this point. I was really flabbergasted when he said she wanted to be cremated. Mark said, "Yeah, she wants to have her ashes spread on the Pacific Ocean."
They opened the casket for me, and she was very peacefully lying there just as I remembered her, but completely draped in this Harinama chadar! I felt as if the Holy Name had embraced her as she left this world. It was the most amazing site. As I softly chanted and prayed to Krishna, my sister arrived. She had preserved the Mahaprasad garland in a bag and gave it to me. I carefully put it on my mother.
Then I met the priest who was going to do the service. He had only recently joined the priesthood, though he was about the same age as me. He had been in the Peace Corps in Thailand and had visited India and Malaysia. We had a very pleasant time exchanging notes. The main priest had some other engagement and couldn't come so they had sent Father Frank. "Good thing," I thought. We had a good time talking, whereas Father Glenn probably would have been upset remembering me as an Alter boy.
Of course, there was a very typical Catholic service, but still Father Frank asked me to talk. So very tactfully, so as not to offend anyone, I introduced a few verses of Bhagavad Gita and picked up the theme of Father Frank's where he quoted something about the silence of the tomb that gives us no answers. I quoted Bhaktivinode Thakura, "Mans life to him, a problem dark as screen both left and right. No soul hath come to tell us what exists beyond our sight. But then at last, how deep and soft, a voice within is felt. Man, man thou art immortal soul, thee death can never melt." Later my sister, Sue, asked me to write it down for her.
I thought that the cremation was to take place at this point, but my brother, Mark, informed me that it was now Saturday night and tomorrow was Easter Sunday, so it wasn't going to happen until Monday and that no one was going to be there. I commented that in our tradition, the eldest son lights the fire, so I wanted to at least be there and press the button. So, the mortuary was called and they said they could arrange it.
On Monday morning I was called and told to come at 10:30. There was an extra charge of $100 to "view" the cremation. I don't know why they call it "viewing," as there is nothing to see since it is inside a furnace, not like on the bank of the Yamuna. Then when we got there, in the office they said it was illegal for anyone except the staff to push the button. The guy from our Mortuary (we had to go to another place, as they didn't have cremation facilities) told me, after we got out the door, not to worry and that they would arrange it.
Sure enough, the little Mexican fellow who worked there understood my desire and was very happy to oblige. I helped them put the cardboard box my mother's remains were in inside the oven. I don't know if it was standard procedure, but for some time he left the doors opened. He showed me the button to push and there was a lot of noise as the gas burners turned on, but no flames. So I chanted softly for about five minutes, when he lowered the door until there was a three inch gap at the bottom. A couple of minutes later, I could see the light of the flames entering the furnace. Still he left the door ajar for a couple more minutes. He then closed the door and we bowed our heads.
I thanked him very warmly. For the mother who brought me into this world, as the oldest son, I sent her out of this world. I asked my brothers and sisters if I could bring a portion of the ashes to Vrindavan to put in the sacred waters of the Yamuna and they agreed.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and the Sankirtan Movement of Lord Chaitanya!
In service of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama,Deena Bandhu dasa

An Auspicious Passing
By Jusaniya devi dasiFebruary 2002
By the causeless mercy of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, I was recently able to assist in the peaceful passing of my mother who left her body on January 31, 2002 in the presence of devotees chanting Hare Krsna, and a recording of Srila Prabhupada’s soothing spiritual voice. Without the most merciful, selfless acts of Srila Prabhupada, who, through great difficulties brought this most beneficial knowledge to us, I would not have been able to assist my mother in such a peaceful, spiritual passing. Among so many many other things, I have him to thank for this.

Much to the dismay of my mother, I moved into the Denver ISKCON temple on January 1, 1974. She was sure I had joined a cult and that I was being brainwashed into giving up all my material possessions in exchange for some false spiritual concoction. Over the next twenty four years my mother’s only conscious connection to Krsna Consciousness was the couple of times she reluctantly came to the temple to see me, and the handful of times she allowed me to tell her something of the philosophy. Krsna consciousness to her was a phenomenon that stole her daughter away from living the pleasures of a “normal life.”
My mother did, however, on many occasions eat prasada, view pictures of Krsna, and look upon my beautiful Deities Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Lord Jagannatha, and Gopal Krsna. Although she did not understand the spiritual implications of these things she did have an appreciation of them. She loved the prasada and she thought the pictures and Deities were very beautiful, and commented positively on them many times. Lord Caitanya is so very merciful that even unknowingly someone can make spiritual advancement simply by eating prasada, seeing the beautiful forms of the Deities, and hearing about Krsna.
We are so fortunate in this age of Kali, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu has so mercifully given us such an easy and palatable process of attaining Krsna consciousness. Although at times it may seem difficult, due to our material conditioning, in actuality the Lord has mercifully and freely handed us everything we need to easily attain Him.
Because of Srila Prabhupada’s unending desire to please Krsna and his spiritual master, and to help the suffering conditioned souls, so many people in so many countries have this knowledge at their fingertips. And because of this mercy my mother passed from this world in peace. Even if I tried for countless lifetimes, I could never repay him for this.
In March of 1998 my mother came to live with me due to her advancing Alzheimer’s disease (a disease which causes a person to become more and more confused and all memory is lost). This was very difficult for her as she had always been a strong woman who had taken pride in being able to take care of herself without anyone’s help. Little did she know that both materially and, more importantly, spiritually she did need assistance and association as each of us do. The Lord, out of His infinite mercy, had His own plan and led her to a situation where she would be exposed further to Krsna consciousness.
Over the next four years, while living with me, I witnessed a spiritual transformation as my mother had many wonderful Krsna conscious experiences. My son, Vaikunthaloka, would get her to repeat the Maha mantra, and due to her attachment to him she would very much enjoy this little pastime. My son, Yudhisthira, and I took her to the 1998 Rath Yatra festival in Los Angeles. She was too elderly (87 years) to walk, but we pushed her along the whole parade in her wheelchair while she clapped to the kirtana and commented on how beautiful the carts and Deities were. She was even able to hold on to the rope for a few minutes and be part of this most merciful pastime. The Lord is so kind and compassionate that He comes out and allows anyone and everyone to serve Him and take part in His pastimes.
On many occasions my mother accompanied us to the temple where she would bow down before the Deities; stand, clap and chant Hare Krsna during artika; and comment on how beautiful the Deities were. When told that she needn’t bow down to the floor in her elderly, arthritic condition she would say “It makes me feel good to do this.” We just don’t know the individual, personal relationship each soul has with the Lord. She would reverently touch Srila Prabhupada’s feet and fold her hands as she passed before him. She attended several festivals at this temple, circumambulated Govardhana Hill, and even bathed Radha Krsna at the Abhiseka festival. She sincerely loved the temple and the devotees. Krsna consciousness is so sublime and the Lord so merciful that simply by engaging in these pleasurable activities we form an attachment for Krsna.
Because I had to work, I always had a live-in caregiver so my mother would never be alone. Over the past two and half years Krsna provided a nice Devotee, Visvakarma devi dasi, who lovingly cared for my mom and was with me chanting to her at her passing. Krsna is so kind that if we just try to depend on Him He will provide what we need. I was also extremely fortunate in that a very dear friend of mine, Sangita devi dasi, who is also an RN and Hospice nurse, had just written a book on how to care for the dying Vaisnava (soon to be published by Torchlight Publishing). It was due to my good fortune that Sangita asked me to do some proofreading of this book as it was being written, thereby allowing me to learn much about care of the dying. The Lord works in mysterious ways, intertwining our lives with others who can give us needed knowledge at the right time. I am so thankful for the Lord and His wonderful devotees.
Over the last six months of my mother’s life as her disease progressed and she was sleeping more and more, we had a Krsna conscious CD constantly playing for her. And, over the last seven days of her life I read Bhagavad-gita twice to her and she heard parts of Srimad Bhagavatam as well as constantly hearing Srila Prabhupada chanting. She was wearing Tilaka on the twelve parts of he body, and there were pictures of Krsna, Lord Caitanya, and Lord Nrsingadeva just above her head. As she was leaving her body Visvakarma and I were sitting right next to her chanting Hare Krsna, while the CD of Srila Prabhupada played on for her to hear. Her breathing just gradually slowed and slowed and finally stopped. All the while she had a peaceful look on her face, free from anxiety and fear. Even the manager of the funeral home commented on how very peaceful she looked. Only our beloved Lord Sri Krsna can give us that kind of peace.
I pray that Lord Krsna took the soul of this person, who played the part of my loving mother in this lifetime, back home to him in the spiritual world. But even if for some reason she needs to take another birth, for some unfinished business, I can be comforted by the knowledge my spiritual master has given me that she will be born in a family that will allow her to again take up Krsna consciousness and continue on the path back home, back to Godhead.
All glories to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna; all glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who so mercifully gave us this simple process of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And, all glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada without whose grace none of this would have been possible.

The following story was sent in by Carol on September 13, 2002
When my mom left her body, she had been completely non-verbal, disappearing from Alzheimer's, for quite a while. I gradually learned from hanging out with other sufferers that the soul is still able to hear and value our companionship, even when no response is possible. I also gradually learned to be sensitive to whatever subtle signals my mom could give me. So I would play Krishna-conscious music, or read from Krishna-conscious literature, or chant, until I could tell my mom longed for the forms that had been more familiar to her, then I would switch to Bible-passages, Psalms and hymns, and whatever words and music conveyed the awesome beauty of Nature, because I knew that she had learned to appreciate Krishna's world as a forest-heaven. I prayed to always be able to know what was actually comforting to her. I had posted a beautiful print of Krishna and gopis in some divine pastime in front of her bed to rest her eyes on - it was not a loudly Hare Krishna one - I knew she wouldn't want to disturb her highly Christian relatives, and was quiet in all my service to her devotional creeper. My goal was to remain in holy presence with her and support the best possible transition that her own soul was ready for. Years before my dad had left under the other type of circumstances, in a dark hospital room alone while I frantically tried to get help...

So I've walked a few others toward the end now, always being very careful not to put some unfamiliar trip on them at an already difficult time, and yet bringing an infusion of as much God-consciousness as possible to our times together. Some have lived their lives so far from any form of religion that one simple prayer seems to be all they can take. Some are finally ready to rest in the religion they embraced, and can sink deeply into appropriate scripture and ritual. Sometimes around the dying I can only remember Krishna myself, pray, and trust that his Mercy is there with us in the silence.

The sweetness of having had these experiences has been a new awareness of how very greatly each one of us is loved - how tremendous the unseen support is at our trying times, and how dear every soul is as it longs for home. Being with those who are directly looking at the ultimate goal of life is so real...I'm so grateful to have been pressed past the oppression and fear of hospitals and nursing homes, to have been admitted to such sacred moments. What a wonderful resource we have in the stories of Jayananda prabhu and all the great devotees whose passings have been gloriously successful! Again and again my heart cries "Thank you Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Wishing you well,
Carol

From the site....

http://www.vaisnavascare.com/new_beginnings.htm

Inspiring Story

2009-09-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Madana Mohan das is an 18-year-old brahmacari at the Singapore Hare Krishna temple, Sri Krishna Mandir. He is presently serving his compulsory 2-year National Service as a Private in the Singapore Army at the Jurong Camp. He cannot eat the food provided by the army camp. He would eat only Krishna Prasadam.
When he was enlisted into Basic Military Training (BMT), which lasts 3 months, he was allowed to have his food brought in from the temple. Upon completion of his BMT, he was posted as a driver. The commanding officer then made a request for him to be posted as a clerk so that he could be allowed to have his food brought from the temple and perform his national service without compromising his faith.
However we were told that this request was rejected and he has been disallowed to have his meals to be brought to him from the temple. We have sent a letter dated 15 May 2009 to Mindef (Ministry of Defence) about this situation, but they flatly denied providing any assistance. He was allowed to book out of the camp every Tuesday and Thursday evening and the weekends. Only then had he the chance to eat a proper meal at the temple whereas the rest of the days, he was sustaining on dry ration brought from the temple on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In the meantime, his superiors forced him to eat the food at his camp and have asked him to cut off his Sikha, the tuft of hair kept by devotees. They charged him twice: once for food and once for the sikha. He chose to go for court marshal. He was told that the trial would be in two weeks’ time. While he was waiting for his trial, they suddenly arrested him without any charge and took him on the 20th of July, 2009, to the Detention Barracks (DB), the army jail, for an indefinite period of rigorous punishment. But Madana Mohan das is going on a hunger strike until death, inside the jail as he would not eat anything except Krishna Prasadam (sanctified food), being a full-time brahmacari.

RAMAYAN BY VALMIKI WAS NOT JUST A MYTH OR A LEGEND

2009-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

When we were children our noted film maker Mr.Ramanand Sagar launched his opus magnum Ramayana on Indian television and during those days color Television was a novelty in every household and, though under strict government control, the televisions had a limited number of channels. This teleserial was aired in the evening prime time slot and we clearly remember that we would not shift anywhere during that hour and would watch Ramayana with rapt attention. As a child I remember reading the unabridged Ramayana and it had taken me about a month to
finish that epic. By the time I had reached the last chapters I had forgotten the intricate details of the earlier chapters. Every Indian either living in India or anywhere else in this world knows about Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In India it is every fathers dream to have a son like Rama every brothers dream to have a brother like Lakshman, every wife’s dream to have a husband like Rama. This epic or the Legend has a profound effect in the Indian psyche. The other great epic is Mahabharata,( about which I have written in my earlier article titled “Dwarka and Mahabharata” ) where there is a mention about Ramayana. Mahabharata was an event that had occurred about 5300 years BC which means about 7000years before present. Therefore Ramayana is an event which precedes Mahabharata and that would also mean that Ramayana
is 7000 years before present. Rich in its descriptions and poetic language, it consists of seven books or Kandas and 24,000 couplets and has been translated into many languages. The seven
"kandas" of Ramayana are: "Bal Kanda", the boyhood section; "Ayodhya Kanda", Rama's life in Ayodhya, until his banishment; "Aranya Kanda", Rama's life in the forest and Sita's abduction by Ravana; "Kishkindha Kanda", Rama's stay at Kishkindha, the capital of his monkey ally, Sugriva; "Sundara Kanda", Rama's passage to Sri Lanka; "Yuddha Kanda" or "Lanka Kanda", Rama's battle with Ravana, the recovery of Sita, and return to Ayodhya; and "Uttara Kanda", the section narrating Rama's life in Ayodhya as king, the birth of his two sons, Sita's test of innocence and return to her mother, and Rama's demise or "jala samadhi". The Ramayana tells of the birth and education of RAMA, (q.v.), a prince and the seventh incarnation of the god VISHNU, (q.v.), and recounts his winning of the hand of Sita in marriage. Displaced as rightful heir to his father's throne, Rama goes into exile, accompanied by Sita and by his brother Lakshmana. Sita is carried off by the demon king Ravana. With the aid of the monkey general Hanuman and an army of monkeys and bears, Rama, after a long search, slays Ravana and rescues Sita. Rama regains
his throne and rules wisely. In the probable addition, Sita is accused in rumors of adultery during her captivity. Although innocent, she bears Rama's twin sons in exile, sheltered by the hermit Valmiki, said to be the author of the poem. After many years Rama and Sita are reunited.
The first thing that sets us thinking about the legend ,not being a legend but could be a true story is the fact that Ravana abducts sita and takes her in an aerial vehicle called the pushpak rath. Question is if we all say that this was a figment of Valmiki’s imagination then how did Valmiki imagine a flying object which could transport humans over great distance? Imagining something which you have never seen before is impossible, and cannot happen. Let us say that you are told to imagine a very ferocious and blood thirsty beast then we would probably put a face of a fire emanating dragon, as we have seen visuals of a dragon, then we would probably
put a body of a tyrannosaurusas we know and have seen tyrannosaurus. In short we have seeneverything and we have taken parts of those to create a new thing. So Puspak rath was a type of an aerial vehicle and its mention in the epic, makes the epic somewhat of a reality.
The second thing that comes to my mind is the very fact that the monkey soldiers had to built a bridge to connect the southern India with Lanka ( In Ramayana Sri Lanka was known as Lanka ) which means Sri Lanka was separated from the Indian subcontinent. Dr Glen Milne of Durham University is one of the world’s leading expert in the cutting edge science of “inundation mapping”. They use a very powerful computer program to calculate the complex variables to produce accurate models of ancient shorelines at a chosen date and a chosen locality. He has done a fantastic work on the Indian shoreline from 21300 years ago to 4800 years BC. One
can see the comparative pictures in the book titled Underworld by Graham Hancock. Sri Lanka was attached with the Indian subcontinent till 10600 years before present. It completely separated from the Indian subcontinent by 4800 years BC. We know that Mahabharata was an event some 5300 BC ie 7000 Before present and Ramayana precedes Mahabharata therefore Ramayana could have occurred before 7000 years before present. Also to make a land bridge between India and Sri Lanka ( between Gulf of Mannar and Palk Straight ) was a daunting task as the length was 48 Km The Encyclopedia Britannica says it was once the world's largest tombolo ? a sandbar connecting an island to another island or the mainland ? The existence of
the bridge obviously cannot be denied! However to what extent there was manual intervention in connecting the gaps between the shoals, islands and rocks is a subject for detailed marine archaeological and geological research. This kind of research has never been carried out nor has any team been constituted so far. However, there is enough evidence about the existence as well as the use of this bridge in ancient Indian history, literature and travelogues etc. Maharishi Valmiki has recorded in his Ramayan- (Yuudh Kand, sarg 22 and shlokas 45-73) that Shri Rama’ s army constructed a bridge over the sea between Rameswaram and Sri Lanka. Valmiki has narrated in detail that originally Shri Rama’s army camped in Kodikarai but found that place unsuitable for constructing the bridge. Therefore, the entire army was shifted to Rameswaram. Research was carried out by Shri Ram for three days to find out a suitable location in the sea for
constructing the land route so that the army could cross over to Sri Lanka. Finally, the suitable location was identified. Shri Nal was a famous shilpakar, who had the expertise similar to that of Vishwakarma in constructing the bridges, was requested to construct the bridge. ( 6/22/45).
After carrying out the survey, Nal declared that a bridge can indeed be constructed. The armymen of Shri Ram utilized various tools and implements for uprooting trees like Taar, coconut, mango, ashoka, bakul etc., and with the help of various yantras transported these trees, stones, and rocks to the seashore. Shilpakar Nal directed the armymen to stand with long ropes/chains on either side and filled the space in between with creepers, trees, stones and rocks and bound them together. The construction of Ramsetu was completed in five days by connecting the existing land route consisting of islands, rocks and shoals. This bridge was being used as land route between India and Sri Lanka for thousands of years, though sometimes part of it was submerged under the seawater. King Asoka’ s son Mahendra and daughter anghamitra had used this bridge to go to Sri Lanka more than 2,300 years back. The ancient Indians had an accurate method of time measurement. They regularly and systematically recorded the `tithis', days marked according to the phases of the Moon, the months, the seasons, solstices, equinoxes and the positions of astrologically relevant luminaries like the Sun, the Jupiter, the Venus, and so on. In other words, the timings of events were recorded in the astronomical format. To
convert this coded information on heavenly positions into a simple calendrical timeline, all that is needed is a database of ephemeris. Sage Valmiki, the celebrated composer of the Ramayana records the birth of Rama in Uttarayana (the Divine Halfyear), in the Chaitra month, in the bright fortnight, on the ninth day, in the Punarvasu nakshatra, on a Monday, and under Karka lagna. Valmiki further details the birth with various planetary positions in the zodiac : Sun in Mesha at 10 deg., Mars in Capricorn at 28 degree, Jupiter in Cancer at 5 deg., Venus in Pisces at 27 deg. and Saturn in Libra at 20 deg. These starry configurations are so unique that they have occurred only once so far in measurable history and this helps us to fix the important date, the birthday of Rama, as the 4th of December, 7323 BC. Due to the slow yet continuous precession of the Earth, Rama's birthday anniversary, celebrated as Ram Navami, has since shifted by about four months over a period of about 9300 years. Valmiki further has beautifully described the sky (Ayodhya 41/10), when Rama left for forest exile. He states, "Crux (Trishankhu), Mars, Jupiter and Mercury have cornered the Moon. Vaishakha and Milky Way are shining in the sky". Crux is on line with Hasta (Corvus) on the southern side. On the eastern side of Hasta, there are
Chitra, Swati and Vishakha. As seen earlier, Mars was at 303 deg. in Dhanishta. Calculations show that Jupiter was in Poorvashadha at 251 deg. Pushya was at the western horizon with the setting Moon. On the southern side, from the west to the east, all the other planets were situated. So poetically Valmiki describes the sketch as if the Moon was cornered by the planets. The description of the sky, 17 years after the birth-date of Rama, is perfect astronomically. By doing such astronomical calculations backwards following are the dates of few events from the Ramayana:
Rama's Birth Date 4th December 7323 B.C
Rama-Seeta Married 7th April 7307 B.C
Rama Exiled 29th November 7306 B.C.
Hanuman enters Lanka 1st September 7292 B.C
Hanuman meets Seeta 2nd September 7292 B.C.
Seetu (Bridge) built 26-30th Oct. 7292 B.C on the ocean
The War begins 3rd November 7292 B.C
Kumbhakarna is killed 7th November 7292 B.C.
Ravana is killed by Rama 15th November 7292 B.C.
Rama returns to Ayodhya 6th December 7272 B.C.

Thus Ramayana was not just a mere legend but a historical document of an highly civilized, scientifically oriented,( the people mentioned had the capacity to do research carry out mega projects and had all the advanced war equipments ) civilization that existed some 9000 years before present and if that be so then here was a civilization which preceded all known civilization of the world. Though Epic mentioned Bows and Arrows, do they remind us of hand-held or shoulder fired missiles? Perhaps, yes. The Epic narrates arrows that could chase, change path and direction and always close in on the enemy. The modern weapons are aiming
precisely at this. A reminder of heat-tracing missiles? Naga Paanam (Naga meaning snake and Paanam meaning weapon) which could kill a person if remedial course is not administered immediately. We are now reminded of some of the chemical weapons used now. Paasa Paanam (Passa meaning that which could tie and Paanam meaning weapon). These were used to immobilize people temporarily. Immediately our mind goes to stun grenades. These are some of the weapons that were used in the war between Rama and Ravana.
Bibligraphy
http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b60_156.pdf
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/344063/ramayana_a_forerunner_of_today
s_scifi.html
http://varnam.org/blog/2007/09/ramayana_not_a_myth/
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/5/28116_space.html
Underworld By Graham Hancock.

Received from a friend through mail...............

Old Picture of Guru with Gurukuli Students

2009-09-25T03:59:00.000-07:00

Guru with gurukuli boys from past when boys used to write on strip of palm leaf.

Old picture of saints

2009-09-24T07:40:00.001-07:00

Save The Holy Cow

2009-09-24T07:34:00.001-07:00

Decoding Ganesha

2009-09-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

Tilaks of various hindu sects

2009-09-11T02:53:00.000-07:00

Mathura depicted in old british era railway poster

2009-09-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

Srila Prabhupad Pastimes

2009-09-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

Despite severe toothache and swollen jaw Srila Prabhupad continued giving lectures, interviews and his ususl activities.when asked if he would like to see a dentist he told the devotees"Dont worry I am used to difficulties"(Preaching to America, Part 2 Aug 7, 1975)

A king is sitting on the throne and there is a bug. The bug and the king, they
are on the same throne, but the bug and the king, much difference. Sitting on
the same throne does not mean that they have become equal. Why? Due to the
constitutional position. The bug's constitutional position is to bite only, and
the king's position is to rule. Although they are on the same level, the
difference is great gulf of difference. Similarly, God and the living entity may
sit down together, may talk together, they lie together, eat together, but that
difference will be there.
Montreal, June 10, 1968

They have forgotten Krishna, they have forgotten God, and I am trying to make them Krishna conscious. It is a very difficult job. I have to shed my blood three tons before I make one convinced in Krishna consciousness. That is my experience. I have to talk with them, especially these Europeans and Americans. They do not accept anything so blindly.

Hong Kong, April 18, 1972

"Krishna is ready to talk with you. He has come. He has descended in arca-murti to talk with you, to be visible by you. Now you make yourself ready and fit to talk with Krishna. Then He will exchange conversation. This is possible."

Srila Prabhupada, Bombay, December 4, 1974

Sorrow

2009-09-10T02:06:00.000-07:00

Some one asked prabhupad why did arjun lament the death of his son when he had been enlightened by bhagwat gita? Prabhupad said its natural in this world. There are physical situations, there are emotional situations and one is disturbed by them. However Arjuns service to the Lord was not disturbed. Arjundidnt give up the fight. Underany circumstance ones enthusiasm to serve the Lord is not disturbed.

Edwin Lord Weeks depiction of mathura ghats

2009-09-08T22:48:00.000-07:00

FROM...www.edwinlordweeks.org...

Ugliness in vrindaban

2009-09-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

...The ugliness that you see here is yogamaya..vrindaban appears this way to drive away the atheists and the impersonalits just as New York attracts them,,,,, vrindaban hides herself from the materialists.(Vrindaban Days. page20)

It is also said to be a filter...designed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is technically known as PAURDHA-MAYA. Paurdha (curtain), and Maya (in this case, energy). For those jivas that are not yet ready to ¨see¨ the Holy Place, they are given a different outlook.

DADU(From the blog of HG Akincana Krishna das on myspace)

2009-09-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

The day before Govardhana puja, Mukunda Datta, the head pujari of KB Mandir, had a home program, which Dadu attended. Before that program, I'd seen him around, but that day I got to relish his association directly.Here are some gem quotes:As they were serving the feast Dadu said "Every great civilization has developed near a large body of water. Why? Because water is the greatest necessity. Therefore, they should serve us some drinking water at this feast."Some of the devotees were teasing Dadu about his age. They asked him about his eternal age in the spiritual world. "How old are you there? 12 or 13?" "No" he said confidently. "10 to 12."Then they asked him how old he is now in his present body. "How old do I look?" he asked. Govinda said "You look like an energetic young man." "Oh?" Dadu said. "It must be the hat." (the same hat he's wearing in the "who i want to meet" section of my profile)As we were walking from the program he quoted the Lord's prayer: "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen." He laughed after he repeated it. He said he remembered it from the Protestant school he went to in Calcutta growing up. "It is a good prayer" he said.He told me he's been in Vrndavana for 20 years, and before that at Radha Kunda for 27 months.I asked him if he ever had a family. He said "No, Krishna has saved me from that trouble. Krishna is certainly the greatest savior." His conviction and happiness when he said that were so beautiful.I offered to pay for a rickshaw and asked if I could ride with him. He said "You are paying for the ricksaw and then asking me for my permission to ride on it? You are certainly a great Vaisnava gentleman." I asked him for a picture, and told him I have many friends who remember him and love him. The best one is the one on my page. He agreed, but as I was taking pictures he started laughing and said "you are wasting your film, you are wasting your film!"Basically, Dadu is really amazing and it was such a pleasure to see him again.

SOME OLD PICTURES

2009-09-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

Rare Shila

2009-09-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

A rarest of rare pradyumna salagram shila . It has four openings or dwars on its four sides . Inside of each hole one finds two distinct chakras - one one the upper roof and one on the lower of the hollow cavity , both of which adjoins at the tip .He... was once the tutelary deity of the royal family of Mymensingh of colonial Bengal ( now in Bangladesh )

Prabhupad humor

2009-08-18T02:26:00.000-07:00

Once a person got up after Prabhupads lecture and said that he couldnt understand anything.Prabhupad said.."this lecture was given to make to understand that you cannot understand"

Prabhupad humor

2009-08-18T02:19:00.001-07:00

Once someone said to prabhupad that he was surprised to see two of the devotees fighting...........

Prabhupad replied........." you are surprised that they fighting. I am surprised that they are chanting harekrsna"

रूपा सनातन

2009-08-04T02:13:00.000-07:00

Wonderful story

2009-08-04T01:31:00.000-07:00

A wonderful story by His Holiness Radhanatha Swami
Sri Sri Radha Gopijanavallabha ..H.H. Radhanath Swami MaharajToday is the last day of our yatra. On the request of devotees we have come to this place. It is a very unknown part of Vrindavana this particular temple. It is not to be found in any of the parikrama books. We only are aware of these deities Sri Sri Radha Gopijanavallabha. The mercy They have personally bestowed upon myself.
Yesterday devotees had a vote, by democratic process; conclusion was we come here today.
We understand Krishna by the grace of Krishna’s devotees. We cannot approach Krishna directly. It is by His own sweet will that He has arranged. Krishna wants to give credit to His devotees, He wants to bestow His mercy through His devotees. It is only through the mercy of Vaisnavas that we can understand what is Krishna, what is the Holy name, what is Vrindavana, what is the purpose of life beyond just greed and egoism.
I would like to briefly narrate a few personal encounters in my life in relationship to Sri Sri Radha-Gopijanavallabha - with your permission.
In 1971 I was a devotee of Lord Siva, I was traveling from the area Pashupatinatha to Amarnatha for a pilgrimage in month of August. Very crowded third class train, didn’t sit down for about 40 hours. Finally the train stopped and I wanted to somehow or other to move, so I crawled over people’s heads, somehow I pulled myself out of the window, because I had these attachments. The train started moving and I tried to get back in and it was so very crowded, no window to fit a human being inside.
So the train left and I was in this unknown place. I asked a sadhu on the railway platform - where is this. He said this is Mathura, today is Janmastami! So he took me to Janmasthaana where I spent the whole day. It was very crowded and very joyful, although I really didn’t know who is Krishna or what is Krishna so much. And then at midnight everyone went to Dwarkadhisha. Bathed in Visnu-ghata. So I was thinking actually that night I stayed, although I was in Mathura, in a temple of Lord Siva with a babaji named Sivananda. And I was thinking I will go to Vrindvana for about 3 days. Then I will go to Amarnatha.
So I started walking down the road and a bus saw me on the road between Vrindavana and Mathura near fields and it stopped and picked me up. They said I did not have to pay anything. So I went on the bus and then I arrived and I just asked someone is there a river here - Yamuna, because I knew there was Yamuna. So they pointed, so I was just walking toward Yamuna because that was my tradition - whatever holy place I would just go to; whatever holy river was there and just sleep under tree and do meditation. So as I was walking and one Vraja-vasi approached me and said to me; “oh you have come from foreign land.” Because foreigners were very rare at that time. There was no ISKCON at that time.He said you have come to Krishna’s home, we are Krishna’s family, you are our guest let me give you some food. So he took me to some Vraja-vasi’s house and had prasad, nice prasad, and then he said where are you staying, I said on the river. He took me to one ashram of one blind sadhu, then I met him and he said let him stay here and he said yes, but still I went to the Yamuna. So on the 3rd day when I was going to leave in the morning from Mathura to the railway station. I woke up with typhoid fever, so I was very very sick. And some of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers were very kind to me. And after I was in this Rama-Krishna charitable hospital for about 2 weeks. Laying in a room with 40 dying people.
They gave me shelter in one Gaudiya matha for some time and I was studyingthere. The doctor told me I had to wait at least 2 months before I could travel or I would die. My body was so weak and emaciated from the way I was living. By the end of the 2 months I came to the conclusion that of all the theologies, philosophies, religions and spiritual paths that I have experienced there is nothing higher, nothing as sweet, nothing more beautiful then the religion of Vrindavana. Devotion to Sri Sri Radharani and Sri Krishna. So I decided to spend the rest of the my life in Vrindavana and never leave.
So after some time I was living on the bank of Yamuna. Sometimes going to Govardhana, Nandaghama, Varsana and various places. I would usually sleep under trees near Chir-ghata here in Vrindavana. We would go to mangala-arati at Radharamana temple and then Radha-vallabha temple then go to mangal arati to Seva-kunja and Banke-bihari gets up quite late. Sometimes to Radha-Damodara temple. So what happened is some sadhu, one very nice sadhu he got to know me. I would go every night a few sadhu’s and myself we would go around Vrindavana, Vrindavana parikrama, we did this every night. For the whole month of kartik, we would just sing bhajans on the bank of the Yamuna. One of the sadhu’s was a musical godbrother of Ravi Shankara, he played sitar. But he considered Ravi Shankar to be somewhat in maya because he played ragas without Krishna’s names. He would play ragas and only chant Krishna’s names when he played. So he was a fantastic sitar player.
We would sit on bank of Yamuna and just chant and he would just play, 3/4/5 of us and then we would go around Vrindavana every night in the moonlight. And one of these nice sadhus told me I want you to meet a very very very simple and pure soul. When you meet him you will understand what is bhakti. So I thought he was going to bring me to some nice temple. He took me in the Radha-Vallabha temple area down this very isolated little ally way where there was an open sewer gutter just flowing like anything, black sewage and had to step over the sewage gutter to get in the door. And it was someone’s house. Very, very small house. And a family was living in that house. Always making noise and everything. Then a hallway and in one of the hallways in their house there was a closet. The family was always passing, walking through that hallway and in that closet were the Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Gopijanavallabha. And then he introduced me to the pujari. His name was Ghanshyam.
How gracious and how kind he was! He had such pure love and devotion to the Deities. I was told that many years before when was young a man, he came from a very wealthy family. His Father, Mother all family members came on a pilgrimage to Vrindavana. They spent a few days and what the dhama of Vrindavana did to his heart was something wonderful. He became so deeply attached to Vrindavana.Just by being here he became completely detached from everything in life. He saw no other purpose or meaning to existence except surrendering to Sri Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana. So when it was time to go he said I will stay here I will not leave. So his parents thought this is ridiculous so they said all right you come a little later. So they went back.
The parents came back again; they said now you must come, he said no I will not leave. So they told him we will take away all your property, all your money everything unless you come back. We will not in any way support you being here.He considered the only real treasure and wealth in life his residence in Vrindavana, in the service of Radha and Krishna. So they left. From a very wealthy family, he was in total poverty. In the summer, which is very hot, in the winter it is extremely cold, he would just sleep in the dust of Vrindavana on the ground in various places. He would go do madhukari and get some roti. At that time Vrindavana was a very very quite place. He hardly new anyone. He would just be immersed in chanting the holy name and praying. One day he was just sitting in the dust all day long just chanting the holy names and do you know what his Deity was? - The name of Radharani.
In the Sanskrit alphabet he just wrote “Sri Radha”. In the dust with his finger and he would just worship that. And at the end of the day he would erase it so that nobody would step on it. So when he erased he saw some gold. He rubbed the ground and he felt something there and he started digging in a little and there was a piece of gold. So he was thinking what is this. Dug into the ground and what he found was something extraordinary. It was the top of the head of Srimati Radharani’s deity. And next to Her underground was a beautiful blackish deity of Lord Krishna. And it was written underneath Him Radha-Gopijanavallabha.
So he had These deities, These deities you see, They’re quite big deities. He had absolutely not one paise. He only had one torn-up set of clothes, he had no residence and here is self-manifesting deities of Radha-gopijanavallabha. So he felt that They have somehow put Themselves under my care, I cannot leave Them.
So he would just sit there with Them and chant. And sometimes people would come by and give some madhukari. He could not go to homes because he can’t just leave the deities in the field. He was worshipping Them literary under a tree, even in the rainy season under a tree. And people would sometimes come by and give some roti and he would offer it. This went on for some time. And this particular family of Vraja-vasis they saw his genuine and sincere devotion. So they said you can put your deities in the closet of our house near our hallway. Those deities remained there for about the next 50 years. And he worshipped Them there.
This is where we met him. He would never leave the deities. He would only one time of the day he would go the Yamuna, because he had no one to help him, to collect water. To bring back. He would bathe in Yamuna and then bring a bucket back to bathe the deities.
Now when I met him he was an old man. Perhaps in his 80’s. And he had a certain mood about him. It was that he was the most fallen, insignificant servant of Gopijanavallabha. Most unqualified and that anyone who came to that temple and very few people ever came. But anybody who would come in to that little temple he would consider that was Gopijanavallabha’s very special guest, Gopijanavallabha’s friend, personally invited. And he would give his life, his soul his everything to serve anybody who came. He was one of the simplest people I ever met. He was really living in poverty. You know where he slept for that 50 or 60 years? He slept in the hallway. People would just, family would just walk by. Practically stepping over him. The deities were in a tiny little closet near that closet was a tiner closet. Whatever the deities belongings were, were in there. And he just slept on the hallway on the floor.
So I started coming there about 9 o’clock every morning after about 5 different mangal arati’s that I would attend. I would go to Gopijanavallabha temple. And one day I just went there because I just wanted to be with Ghanshyam. So one day he told me come today at noon and I will give you prasad. So I was thinking how can I refuse this. So I came at noon, he gave me, all he had was 3 rotis; nothing else. 3 rotis. So he said you come everyday, you must come. He said you must come everyday. Gopijanavallabha and Radharani want you to come everyday to take prasad with Them.
So after about 3 days there was this one sadhu who brought me to his house. He told me do you know that Ghanshyam has not eaten anything for 4 days. I said why. He said because you are eating all his rotis. He said Ghanshyam does not go out to beg really. He can’t go far. There’s 3 little houses right in that area. Each one cooks one roti. And he goes to those 3 houses everyday to get 1 roti from each house. And he brings, that’s all he has. He offers that to Gopijanavallabha. So he said he his giving you all of his food.
So I came the next day and he just put down the rotis down in front of me. And I said Ghanshyam these are your rotis. He said no, no, these are your rotis. I said I already had prasad. He said doesn’t matter Gopijanavallabha wants you to eat these rotis. I said no, no I do not want these rotis. He said You MUST, YOU MUST. He spoke nice English, because he was coming from an educated family.
I said Ghanshyam I have been told that you’ve not eaten for 4 days because I am eating all of your prasad. He said no, who has told you this, it is not true. i am eating so much, gopijanavallabha is giving me everything I need. Now you eat these rotis, please. I said Ghanshyam I am not going to eat these rotis because they are your rotis. Literally he began to weep and tremble with folded palms begging me to eat the rotis. I said Ghanshyam unless you show me that there is more rotis in your house I am not going to these.
He said I have so many rotis in this house. He said Gopijanavallabha is consort of Sri Radharani, She is the supreme goddess of fortune. You don’t think there is any rotis in Her house. I said Ghanshyam show me the rotis. He said no need to show you, no need. They are here. You just take this parasad. He became so concerned, I said Ghanshyam I know that there are 12 places in Vrindavana that give madhukari to sadhus at a particular time of the day. In those days every sadhu knew where to go at what time to get free rotis. That was the first thing sadhu’s learn when they come to Vrindavana; Time schedule of roti distribution in different temples.
So, I said I can go anywhere, you are here. You are starving. He said No need, you take these rotis. He started crying and pleading and praying to me. I understood if I did not take his rotis I would break his heart. So I was praying to Gopijanavallabha what should I do? Break his heart or starve his body. He would not let me leave without eating the rotis. But I never came back at 12 o’clock. The next day he didn’t eat the rotis at 12 o’clock knowing that I would come 9 o’clock the next day. We had a big fight and I refused to eat his rotis.
This was a selfless service attitude. He was so old and so thin. One day I saw him walking with this bucket of water to bathe Gopijanavallabha. And from the Yamuna he would walk about 3 steps and then would have to put the bucket down and rest. Then he would pick it up strenuously, 3 steps then put it down to rest. At the time I was only 20 years old. So I took the bucket from him and I said I will carry it to the top. He would not let go, he said no need, no need, no need. I said Ghanshyam let me carry it for you. I can carry it in 3 mins, it takes you half hour. I am young. He said yes you are young so you should enjoy. But I am old man. I am just the servant. My life is sacrifice, he said you are Gopijanavallabha’s friend. You should not have to work for Him, but I am just his fallen servant. It is my duty to serve Him. He would not give me that bucket. I was walking alongside him for about 20 mins. We were having tug of wars, he would not give me the bucket. And then finally he began to cry and with a choked up voice he said this service I have to Gopijanavallabha; is all I have in life. Please, please do not take it away from me. I never tried to take that bucket from him again.
One day I happened to be there and it was some festival so a Vraja-vasi brought him a cup of sweet rice to offer to Gopijanavallabha. Now please don’t give or take the spontaneous love of the Vraja-vasi’s but you can hear to understand its nature. He was just eating 2/3 rotis a day for how many years and here was a small pot of sweet rice in a clay cup and it was brought. The way he offered it to the deities is he sat me down on the little hallway in front of the closet. He put the spoon, 1 spoon in a cup and put it right to Gopijanavallabha’s mouth and said a little prayer. Then he put it to Sri Radharani’s mouth and said a little prayer, then he came to me because it’s only a few feet from the deities and where I was sitting. He came and said open your mouth and put your head back. Then I opened by mouth and put my head back and he just poured the sweet rice from the spoon in my mouth. And this is how he offered the entire pot of sweet rice. He just kept on doing it spoon by spoon, Gopijanavallabha’s mouth, Sri Radharani’s mouth then he would just toss in my mouth. I said Ghanshyam save some for yourself, he said no need, no need. Then with folded palms and tears in his eyes he said you are Gopijanavallabha’s friend, you Gopijanavallabha’s friend. I am only his insignificant servant.
One time in the month of January I happened to come by to visit him in the night time. So Ghanshyam and I were chanting together. Whenever I went, I would come at all different times of the day sometimes just to visit him and whenever I would come he was never idle, he was never sitting, sleeping, but always doing seva. I’d come and he would be fanning the deities he just be standing and fanning and singing songs. Another time I had come he had sandalwood pulp and he was putting chandan and grinding. But most of time, 90% of the times when I would come he would just be sitting alone with the harmonium and singing beautiful songs for Gopijanavallabha. He was always busy doing some seva. Sometimes he would be doing puja, offering arati, sometimes he be dressing Them. So this night I came and we were singing this nice kirtan together. In this old broken down little house in a hallway. So then I said I’m going, now I must go and Ghanshyam said where are you going. I am going to take rest. He said where do you take rest. I said I always take rest on the bank of Yamuna. He said oh no, it is January, it is very cold. Then you have no home, you have no proper clothes, no blanket even. He said you stay here tonight it is too cold, I insist you must sleep here tonight. So I said Ghanshyam I sleep on Yamuna every night. He said no no, tonight you must stay here.
Gopijanavallabha, you are His guest, you must sleep nicely. So I laid down on the floor next to him and he came out with this old blanket and put it on top of me. So I was thinking ahhh this is very nice blanket. And then he laid next to me. All he had is just a thin dhoti and little chadar. Not even a pillow. He slept right on the bare floor, he just had a little piece of burlap he wouldput on the floor and he would lay on his arm. And he was trembling cold. I said Ghanshyam this is your blanket. You sleep with your blanket. He said no no, it is not my banket. It is your blanket. He said Gopijanavallabha wants you to have this blanket. You are his friend. I am only his fallen servant. You must accept this blanket. I said no it is your blanket. I will only stay here if you sleep with the blanket. So then he was begging me again, weeping, begging me take the blanket, sleep nicely. He said I am an old useless servant. What difference does it make if I suffer. But you are dear to the Lord, you must enjoy.
This was his mood. He was worshipping the deities for 50, 60 years. And I’m just a new devotee, I just arrived in Vrindavana and understood who Krishna is a couple months before. So finally, he surrendered. I was about to walk out. I said if you don’t take this blanket I am leaving for the Yamuna. He said all right, all right, I will sleep in the blanket. You just lay down. So I lay down and it was cold. Ghanshyam was under this old tattered blanket but it was a little warm. So sometime later I woke up at night, in the middle of the night. And mysteriously I was feeling a little warm. So, I looked over at Ghanshyam and he’s just laying there trembling, trembling like a leaf in the wind. And then I looked at myself and I saw the blanket was on me. While I was sleeping he put the blanket on me.
So very, very quietly I picked up the blanket and I wanted to not wake him. As soon I touched his body with the blanket he just leaped up “NO NEED, NO NEED” I said Ghanshyam you are not even sleeping, you are freezing. He said NO NEED, NO NEED you are Gopijanavallabha’s friend, I am his servant. The duty of the servant is to serve the friend. Gopijanavallabha will never be pleased with me unless I sacrifice my life for the happiness of His guests and His devotees. You must accept this blanket. He said you keep this blanket, you take it with you. I refused. So then we actually, I wasn’t yelling but I said no I’m not going to sleep with this blanket and he was insisting and insisting, then finally I said I am going to the Yamuna. Then he said all right, all right I will sleep with the blanket. So I lay down, he laid down. And I woke up a few minutes later and I was warm. And I looked over there he was suffering, miserably, freezing, trembling and again I tried to really, really secretly put the blanket, as soon as I touched him NO NEED, NO NEED, NO NEED. He said my life is to serve. He said you don’t understand my happiness is to serve, my only function in life is to serve. Whether I suffer or I whether I enjoy means nothing. The only meaning is Gopijanavallabha and Radharani are happy with me. They are happy when I give everything I have to devotees.
He was so sincere. I would not except. At least 5/6 times that night this happened of the switching of blankets. I never came back there at night. In the winter.Then it started getting warmer, started going there sometimes at night and he was aging. It was so nice, somehow or other he had made this little bed for the deities, have you seen the size of these deities? He would, every night, whenever possible, he would put the deities in the bed and lay Them down and massage Their feet and put a little blanket over Them. And then he would sing for Them for hours while They were sleeping. But because he was getting, he did this for many many years, but in his old age he could not lift the deities and put Them in the bed. So any time I would come at night the would ask me please,please help put Radharani and Gopijanavallabha in Their bed.
I wasn’t initiated at that time. I didn’t even have a spiritual master, what to speak of being a brahmana. But he would have me lift, because the feet are lighter he would take the side of Gopijanavallabha’s feet and I would take His shoulder’s and we would carry Gopijanavallabha into and lay Him into the bed and take Sri Radharani and lay Her in bed. And he was so happy, he would just be crying in joy at Gopijanavallabha and Radharani tonight get to sleep in Their bed again. He would never ask me please come every night and help me. If I happened to come at night he would very humbly appeal, will you put Gopijanavallabha in Their bed. Otherwise he would put Them to rest standing up. And how much he was so happy I could see, it was like the most glorious festival, was like the most glorious feast in his heart to see the deities nicely lying in Their bed to take rest.
One day I said, I came in the morning, I said to Ghanshyam I am going to Varsana. He started to cry. He was so dedicated to those deities. As far as I know, although he was living in Vraja-bhumi since he was 19/18 years old he came, this time he was there about 60 years. As far as I know he had never gone to Varsana. He had never gone to Nanda-ghama, never even seen Govardhana hill. Because he was duty-bound to his deities. He would never leave Them. When I told him I going to Varsana he began to cry. With folded hands he said when you go so Sri-ji mandir please, please tell Sri Radharani Ghanshyam is longing to come there to see Her. But that I cannot come because I am only Her servant. And I cannot leave my service.Another time I was going to Govardhana hill, I said I am going for Govardhana parikrama. Ghanshyam again began to cry. He said when you see Giriraja, tell Him that Ghanshyam has been worshipping to Him and praying to Him for many years and is longing to see Him. He was seeing Varsana, he was seeing Govardhana, much clearer then so many thousands of pilgrims that walk around on parikrama of these places.Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura taught us do not try to see Krishna, decide to serve Krishna in such a way that He will be pleased to see you. When I heard this statement of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura some time later in remembrance of Ghanshyam came very intimately into my heart. Truly lived by the principles of servant of the servant of the servant.
It was actually in that little closet temple that I was with Ghanshyam and 2/3 other old sadhus that would come to meet him in the mornings. And I had to leave India because my visa had expired. So they gave me 2 suggestions in the presence of Gopijanavallabha. 1 suggestion is if you have to leave India; go to Mithala -Janakpura. It is the Varsana of Rama’s lila. It’s in Nepal so it is out of India. So I went there.I was in Nepal in for about a month or something, and then my Nepalise visa expired. And I only had a 2-week transit visa in India. Just to go through then I had to depart. So from Pashupatinatha I went to Ayodhya and Prayag, and then I came to Vrindavana. There I spent about 10 days in Vrindavana. My last day I did Govardhana parikrama and then departed. But the day before Govardhana parikrama I visited Ghanshyam baba. And he and a couple others were saying if you have to leave Vrindavana, because I was crying I have to leave Vrindavana. They said if you have to leave Vrindavana you should go to New Vrindavana. I asked what is this New Vrindavana? They said Swami Prabhupada, when he was here in Vrindavana, because I had already accepted Prabhupada as my guru by that time in Vrindavana.
They said your guru-maharaja Swami Prabhupada, he was telling us that he has created a Vrindavana in America called New Vrindavana. And he told us that it is non-different then from Vrindavana. So you should go there, that way you will never leave Vrindavana until you can come back. And he even told, he said you should be pujari when you go there.
So I had to leave and I went to Amsterdam. That was the first ISKCON temple I ever saw. I would live with Prabhupada when he came to Vrindavana. I was with Prabhupada in Bombay for sometime before. When I never saw an ISKCON temple and the whole expect for 10 days when Prabhupada was doing parikrama around Vrindavana there was never any ISKCON devotees here.
So then I went to the temple of London, Bury place ; stayed for some time. And then I visited my parents because they were severely heart-broken by my spirit of attempted renunciation. So I visited them for some time then I got the news that Prabhupada was coming to New York. So immediately I went and hitchhiked to New York. And I was with Prabhupada for about a week there. And the day he was leaving there was an announcement that Prabhupada is coming to New Vrindavana. And he is going to give a 7-day lecture series on Srimad Bhagavatam and it is going to be called the Bhagavat-dharma discourse. And he is going to celebrate Janmastami there and Vyasa-puja and we need people to help prepare for the festival because devotees from all over the country are going to be coming so whoever can come, please come and help to serve Prabhupada there and be there for his festival. So when I heard that I was thinking in Gopijanavallabha temple I was told that I should go to New Vrindavana and Prabhupada is going to be there. So I went to New Vrindavana. And my intention was only one thing - just to stay there till 6 months expired then I can get a visa to come back to Vrindavana India. That was my only intention. But when Prabhupada came and I heard him preach I realised that we really see Vrindavana through serving the spiritual master. Through the Supreme Lord. As long as we have any selfishness in our heart. Narottama Dasa Thakura (says)- as long as we have any material desire in out hearts we can’t really see what is Vrindavana.So by Prabhupada’s mercy he inspired me that you should just surrender to your service, where you are. You are here now to surrender to your service. Surrender to serving in helping in my mission. So I was in charge of milking cows and doing some other simple work. Then the pujari, the brahmacari in asharam got married. That happens sometimes. I was such a simple new devotee. I was thinking how is it possible, he’s serving Radha-Vrindavananatha. He is a personal, he is bathing Radha-Vrindavanatha, he is dressing Them, he’s feeding Them, why in the world would anyone who had such a wonderful service would want to get married. Inconceivable!! So I went to that devotee I said if you want female association come and help me milk cows. It’s the safest way to associate to with the opposite sex. Somehow or other he didn’t accept my advice. So he got married.
Then the temple president said you should be the pujari. I said who is going to take care of the cows? He said you, you do both. So I was pujari for Radha-Vrindavananatha. I remember one day I was putting the dress on Srimati Radharani something wonderful happened, I remembered then Ghanshyam baba told me I should be the pujari at New Vrindavana. So for 11 years I was not allowed to come to India. Because in those days devotees were really in a sense of surrender and they were very duty-bound in the way they rendered their service. We would never ever, ever act outside authority or blessings. So for 11 years I remained there worshipping the deities. And after I was given sannayas, actually I did not want to take sannayas. But the leader of New Vrindavana Kirtananda Maharaja he would. I would just always be talking about Vrindavana, because in those days nobody had ever been to India but a few devotees.When I was in London in Bury place, I had this old thin, it was one of those wolf grey chadars, was really an old one. Some sadhu wore it for years and gave it me. And I had it on when I was in London and the devotees in Bury place were gathering around me, they said that’s just like Prabhupada’s chadar. They had never seen a chadar except on Srila Prabhupada. And me, they said where did you get that, its just like Prabhupada’s chadar, we have never seen anything, its so. I said a sadhu gave it to me in Vrindavana. VRINDAVANA!, you have been to Vrindavana! People would be very interested to know what is Vrindavana. We would read about it Krishna book, but what is it like today.
So when I came to New Vrindavana only the leader had been to Vrindavana. Nobody else had ever been. So everyone would want to know about Vrindavana and after I would tell everyone, everyone wanted to go. Kirtananda Maharaja made a rule that I was not allowed to speak about Vrindavana. That rule was very very difficult to follow. Sometimes devotees would come way up to that old mountain farmhouse where the temple was of Radha-Vrindavanatha and it would be just me and them looking after the offerings and the aratis. In between they would say tell me about Vrindavana. And I would start telling them about the places of Govardhana and the places of Vrindavana and the places of Nanda-ghama, Varsana. I’d start telling them about Vraja-vasi’s and start telling them about different sadhus I would know there. Telling them about my meetings with Prabhupada there. And then they’d start telling everybody. And the temple president would say, because I was a brahmacari, he’d say Radhanatha is in maya.He wakes up at 1 in the morning and chants rounds and works all day, why is he in maya? Because he is talking about Vrindavana. Then he’d come all the way up, I told you not to talk about Vrindavana, you are agitating the community.One day he said Prabhupada said New Vrindavana is non-different then Vrindavana so you just talk about New Vrindavana. So he was trying to convince me, he would say I will never, ever in your life let you go back to Vrindavana because I know if you go you will never come back. So he was trying to convince me to take sanyassa in 1982. And I was refusing refusing, he was pushing, and pressurising, and he had the whole community, he preached to whole community to not give me any peace of mind till I took sannyasa. So everyone would be harassing me.
So finally he said to me you take sannyasa I will let you visit Vrindavana. But I still refused. Finally, it was too much, I had to surrender, and after I surrendered I decided I want to be unconditional so I knew I had to do it anyway I said but I still get to go to Vrindavana. So 11 years later 1983 I returned to Vrindavana. First time. I remember I came to Gaura-purnima, first time I ever went to Gaura-purnima in Mayapura 1983. Because when I was living in India, so then I took a train from Calcata to Delhi and I took the Taj express to Mathura and I decided to go according to my old tradition. I went to Visvam-ghata, took bath and walked along the Yamuna from Mathura to Vrindavana. But things really changed at that time, there was a lot obstructions in that water if you tried to do it today. So I came to Vrindavana. And I’ll never forget, this is 11 years later, you know at Radha-Vallabha temple there is the old temple, there is the new temple where the deities were. Well that old temple is very close to Ghanshyam baba’s house.
So I came and I happened to see Ghanshyam sitting on the steps outside the old temple. And now he was 11 years older, he was in his late 80’s or 90’s, I don’t know. And he looked at me. When I lived in Vrindavana, I wore this simple white lungi, that was kind of torn up and I had a little chadar and I had long dredded hair and I never shaved because I was young, it didn’t make that much difference that I never shave. And now here I am a Sannyasi, with a danda, with shaved head. So he was looking at me and he was old, he was just looking at me.
Because one great sadhu living in Vrindavana had given me a name when I was little, the name Ratin-Krishna dasa. I never got initiated but he gave it out of affection. So Ghanshyam always called me Ratin. That means Krishna the chariot driver of Arjuna.So he looked at me and he was just looking and I bowed down, and I got up, and he was just. And then he said, like a father to a long lost son - Ratiiiiin!Then he started to weep, started to cry. He embraced me. And he said Radha-Gopijanavallabha has been waiting for so long to see you. And he took me by the hand and took me to that same little hallway where the closet was. And he started; he started taking off the jewellery of the deities and giving it to me. Saying Radharani wants you to have this. He’s giving me rotis. And I came that night from Krishna-Balarama temple, secretly. I left Krishna-Balarama temple that night to help him put Radha-Gopijanavallabha into the bed, 11 years later. I even brought a couple godbrothers to the temple, he was just taking off, giving them whatever he could give them, he would give them, bow down to each Vaisnava.
Then the next time I came, I came to the door and I walked in. I walked into that little temple there was no Gopijanavallabha, there was no Ghanshyam. So I asked the family members - Ghanshyam, Ghanshyam. And the person, with tears in their eyes, smiling said Goloka.
He was so old but he knew that if he were to die, there’d be no one to take care of the deities. Because that family had nothing to do with the deity worship, they were just working people and like that. So even though, he was really aged then in poor health, he just lived to take care of the deities. From my understanding, because for many years I was asking people, where is Gopijanavallabha. Nobody knew, even that family didn’t know. Then I met one very dear brother and friend named Asika-Krishna dasa Prabhu. Who during the time I lived in Vrindavana he would often, we would go to see Ghanshyam baba. And he told me, what he told was this - that Ghanshyam baba was just living because there was no one else to do the seva of the deities. But then one trust built this temple, but they had no deity, so they were looking for a deity to put in the temple. So someone told them, there is this beautiful self-manifesting deity just in the closet. So they asked him, and he was so happy. After 60 years in this closet Gopijanavallabha, maybe 70 years in this closet, Gopijanavallabha will finally have a temple. So he came here when the temple was built and he was, somebody else’s temple, somebody else’s trust but he was just the pujari.And very very soon after, because the trust would supply another pujari. As soon as he saw that Gopijanavallabha had a house and he trained some other pujari, someone to take care of Them. As soon as he saw the deity seva taken care of nicely he gave up his body. A young person will serve the deity better then me.So he had no reason to remain in this world.
When we read about qualities of selfless service, when we read about the principle of servant of the servant of the servant, when we contemplate actual humility of the heart, Sri Gopijanavallabha empowered him to be a very wonderful wonderful example of that. But only a few people in the whole world ever saw him or knew him. He was just totally an unknown person. But his life and soul is the prayer where the people would just come to see the deities. Probably no more than 6/7 different people a month would come to see his deities. But anybody who came would be the joy of his life. To serve Gopijanavallabha’s friend, his special invited guest. So I think today Ghanshyam baba is very happy. That all of you have come to see the beautiful forms of his beloved Lord. And what a mystery life is that at the time I was just an insignificant little beggar sleeping on bank of Yamuna. And I been given the wonderful fortune of now bringing, helping to bring a 1000 devotees for the darshan of Gopijanavallabha.
Our beloved Srila Prabhupada was truly the embodiment of selfless service.Srila Prabhupada left Vrindavana, he left his beloved Radha-Damodara. He suffered heart attacks, strokes, sea-sickness, persecution to give us Krishna. Srila Prabhupada told us that he saw us as the representatives of his guru-maharaja.
And he how served and gave his life to give us Krishna. It is by Srila Prabhupada’s selfless compassion that my insignificant self has been spiritually sustained and nourished to whatever extent there is year after year. It is by his selfless service attitude based on pure love that is sustaining all our spiritual lives. And actually it’s Srila Prabhupada, his act of such humble devotion even to wretched materialistic people that has brought all of us to Vrindavana. It is actually Srila Prabhupada who has fulfilled the spiritual desires of millions of people throughout the world. And even it is Srila Prabhupada who has actually fulfilled Ghanshyam baba’s great desire. The 1000’s of sincere souls will come to take the blessings of his beloved Lord.
So we should know with great faith and conviction that His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the ultimate manifestation of the highest teachings of Vaishnava scriptures. He has given us everything, he has given us everything. He has given us the complete, unadulterated mercy of the parampara. And what does he stress, he puts such great great emphasis on the spirit of service. Throughout his lectures, throughout his books and manifested by his life how much emphasis he has put on developing a proper service attitude.
What is a service attitude?
Service doesn’t simply mean doing something for someone else. That is a very superficial understanding. But real service is selfless, unconditional, uninterrupted by various obstacles that come in our path. Ghanshyam baba longed to visit Varsana, Govardhana, Mahavana. But there was no consideration because his service was to his Lord. Srila Prabhupada could have been living here in Vrindavana, probably would have lived to over a 100 years old. But he sacrificed his health, he sacrificed the peace of mind of the holy dhama. He sacrificed everything. Selfless to give you the opportunity to love Krishna.
Prabhupada taught us this principle, to live by this principle. It is the principle we read on every page of Caitanya-caritarmta - unconditional selfless service. It is the principle that is broadcasted throughout the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam, from the first verse to the last - unconditional devotional service without ego.What is the pleasure of the Lord, what is the pleasure of His devotees? What is my duty to Him? Prabhupada notes the will of the Lord comes through Guru, Sadhu and Sastra. His guru told him to spread the holy names all over the world.It became his life and soul. Doesn’t matter what obstacles, what inconveniencies. Doesn’t matter whether it brings life or death. Because he had that selfless humble attitude of service; all of us have been saved. The doors to the spiritual world of Goloka have been opened to billions and billions and billions of people.trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina mana-dena kirtaniya sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]Caitanya Mahaprabhu told us to string this verse of the thread of the holy name and to wear it always. It is our life, we can evaluate how we are successful by how we are pleasing Krishna. We can evaluate how we are pleasing Krishna by studying our hearts, our intentions, our words and actions. In relationship to this teaching.trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina mana-dena kirtaniya sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]Be humble like the straw in the street, tolerant like trees, ready to offer all respect to others and expect none in return. If we live by this verse then we can actually follow Prabhupada’s teachings. And broadcast the glories of the holy name always.
Today is the last day of our yatra. This is the last meeting we will all have together. The purpose of this yatra is not sight-seeing, not just to come to a holy place and get sick become purified from that. The purpose of this yatra is to inspire us to dedicate our lives and soul with the selfless service attitude. To serving Srila Prabhupada and his mission. Because he has given us his life and his life’s contribution to the parampara was a society he created. If we are not grateful to him for saving us will Krishna be pleased with us.
However knowledgeable you may become in various high topics. Will Krishna be pleased with if we are not grateful to his pure servant who sacrificed his life to take us out of the ignorance of kali and give us the path of perfection? So let us pray here, with very sincere hearts, that through this wonderful yatra, we have participated in over the last 15 days will bring us a much deeper sense of dedication, humility, to really do that we possibly can to Prabhupada and his mission of pure compassion. And follow his teachings to humbly serve the Vaisnavas, give his compassion to the suffering conditional souls. By reading his books, by speaking from his books, distributing his books. By helping in what other way and ultimately we can pray that we can sincerely, whole heartedly, understand the importance of chanting the holy names and making it the first priority in our lives.
The more love we have the more love we can give. That love comes when we gratefully serve those who has given us so much. And we could really reciprocate with Srila Prabhupada by taking shelter of the holy name because that is the ultimate gift that he has given us. Prabhupada wanted us to remain united, to cooperate with each other in spreading the glories of chanting the holy names:HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HAREHARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
I wish to thank all of you very much for your outstanding service to the Vaisnava community during Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance festival. It was, it was a feast for my heart to see all of you serving so nicely. What a great benediction that was to have the opportunity to perform the sacred service of giving prasad to Srila Prabhupada’s followers from all over the world in honour of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance festival. I think some causeless mercy has descended upon us. I think because all of you are very very sincere in your efforts, Srila Prabhupada has rewarded by giving you the chance to serve his devotees. We must be convinced, not only theoretically but practically that happiness is never an acquired, the illusory mirages of this world, real happiness can only come through service, through giving.
Thakura Bhaktivinode said - the sufferings and miseries I endure in my service to Krishna are the source of my greatest joy.Getting prestige, popularity, followers, getting money, beautiful family, nice home, good health, these things give a very temporary superficial external sense of happiness or pleasure. But in service even if none of those things we just stated are there, in service we gain actual inner satisfaction.Let me ask of, were you happy in seeing how blissful the devotees were getting served prasad? - HARIBOLWho do you think was getting more inner joy - those being served and eating or those for fasting so long rendering service - huh? Would you have been happier sitting there eating?This is Prabhupada’s mercy. This is really Srila Prabhupada and Sri Radha’s mercy, that we can understand this principle practically. That our real happiness is in sacrifice of service. And the more that service is unconditional and selfless the more it is a service of love, of pure love. It is that pure love of Krishna that every soul is longing for. And nothing can replace it. We must long for that love. But we have no qualification, we are so far away from the standard of unconditional love. But if we serve sincerely, with humility, and we desperately, desperately, desperately trying to chant the holy names properly then Krishna will see out efforts.That little sparrow trying to dry up the ocean and Krishna sees if we are sincere and determined with the right purpose He will bestow that love upon us through the mercy of guru and Vaisnavas. Actually your service to the devotees during Prabhupada’s festival will perhaps give faith and happiness to people all over the world, even those who are thousand’s of miles away when they hear about it. It is preaching.
If we become proud we have served nicely then that pride neutralises the effect of the great benediction we received. But if we feel ourselves unqualified but grateful, grateful for the causeless mercy that I was allowed to serve amongst other Vaishnavas, soon Krishna will bestow the prime benediction of pure love within our hearts.
So I know all of you worked very hard to do this and on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, and behalf of all the leaders of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and all the devotees who have given their lives, I very gratefully thank all of you very much. Let this be a lesson of what is of real value to the heart.I’d like to also thank all of you for your incredible enthusiasm throughout this festival. Many of you have gotten sick, physically, and of course many thorns in your feet, much dust in your lungs. But still I didn’t hear anyone complaining, everyone is just trying to get purified, trying to help all the other devotees to be happy in Vrindavana. And especially thank you for tolerating me. I honestly and sincerely do not know how you do it or why you do it but you do it.
That is some special magic of Srila Prabhupada, that he can somehow or other see his eternal resplendent divine mercy through a little piece like me, that is his inconceivable power. So I thank all of you very very much and pray that when you return to your homes and bring the real spirit of Vrindavana - selfless service and the longing for complete attachment to Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha. And complete determination to glorify Them by hearing and chanting Their holy names.
I want to especially offer my gratitude to Malati devi mataji. She’s so humble, I’ve learnt so much, she’s one of the senior most disciples of Srila Prabhupada on the entire planet. She’s one of the few people who had accessive personal direct service to Srila Prabhupada and some of the most intimate surroundings of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. She’s fearless, she’s absolutely determined, despite inconceivable health problems, she just never gives up, never complains and never wants any credit, just happy to be amongst the devotees. My deep deep gratitude to Malati mataji for all she’s done and all she’s doing for Srila Prabhupada and all of us. And to Rasalila mataji who has performed very difficult service maintaining a marriage in the western world in the age of kali for so many years. This is very very outstanding preaching. And in the process to raise a child - Gaurangakishor Prabhu. Raise a child who loves Krishna, loves to preach about Krishna. Good fruits come from good trees. Thank you mataji.And to Nartaki mataji, is she here? Such a humble devotee and how much she, she really has deep deep attachment to Krishna. To hearing about Krishna, to speaking about Krishna, to being with devotees of Krishna. She has truly been blessed deeply in her heart by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.During this yatra we had many wonderful souls come and join us speak to us. Amongst them the shining jewel of all Vraja-vasis has come to be with us today - Dinabandhu Prabhu - HARIBOL, HARIBOL, HARIBOL!What would be Vrindavana yatra without Dinabandhu Prabhu! His spontaneous devotion, his enthusiasm to preach the glories of Vrindavana-dhama, with his incredible knowledge and realisations, always a profound inspiration for us.Same time he is very much involved performing great sacrifices in Prabupada’s service for making Vrindavana temple for what Prabhupada wants it to be. So my gratitude to you Dinabandu Prabhu. I learnt so much from you. I hope you are all happy.
Devotees: HARIBOL, HARIBOL, HARIBOL!
If you are happy then my insignificant life has served some noble purpose. So I am grateful that you have given me that. Srila Prabhupada ki’ jaya!

Karma or Destiny

2009-08-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

People often wonder that if destiny is all powerful, then what is the importance of endeavor? If one is pre-destined to enjoy or suffer as ordained by fate, then why must one exert needlessly? Why do bad things happen to good people and why do evil people flourish? Is it just by dint of their effort, in which case what is then the law of karma?
These questions have haunted thoughtful men for long, and have been addressed authoritatively in the Vedic scriptures. At the dawn of creation, Satyavrata Manu inquires of Lord Matysa, “Oh Lord, which is superior - fate or one’s own exertion and effort? I have got doubts on this, kindly solve them.” The answer to this question by the Lord has been recorded in the Matsya Purana.
The Lord explains that there are three elements that conjointly bear fruits. These are fate, effort and time. The situation is explained by the example of a farmer. First, he must prepare his field, ploughing it, sowing the seeds and making every thing ready. Then he waits for the rains to fall. He has no control on the rain, and if they do not fall then all his efforts are in vain. However even if the rains fall, and he has not prepared the field, there will be no crop. Finally there is time, even if he has prepared the fields, and the rains have fallen, he must wait for Nature to take its time and the crops to grow.
This example clearly brings forth the three basic elements that are at any given time deciding our situation. Based on our past and present activities, we must suffer and enjoy the results. That is the infallible law of karma, and every one performing fruitive activities is bound by them. However, destiny only provides us opportunities. Therefore, how much we enjoy or suffer the results of our destiny is now dependant on how we use or misuse these opportunities. And then there is the inexorable cycle of time, that is processing these two factors and serving us its results.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna further expands this field of action into five agents. These are Isavara (God), Jiva (living entity), Kala (time), Karma (destiny) and Prakriti (material nature). God is eternal and all-powerful, but He does not concern Himself with the sufferings or the enjoyment of people involved in fruitive action. The jiva is also eternal, but is infinitesimal as opposed to the infinite God.
The jiva has been given a limited amount of free will. Time is also eternal and brings forth the results of one’s past and present activities. Karma is the field of action that a person has performed or is performing and according to the Vedic injunctions may be sanctioned as good or bad. And finally there is Prakriti, material Nature, which is also eternal, even though it may be cyclical, that is manifesting itself in one of the three modes: goodness, passion and ignorance.
The scriptures explain that each one of us is suffering from three kinds of miseries. adhyatmika (inflicted by oneself), bhautika (by other people) and daivika (by divine providence). These three types of miseries are generated by a confluence of destiny, effort and time. People in the mode of goodness are addicted to performing pious activities, and are thus awarded the results. In the mode of passion, people are very attached to the fruits of the activity and strive very hard to achieve them. In the mode of ignorance, people are bewildered, in a state lethargy and inaction, and thus suffer the results of this.
Lord Matysa further explains, effort is superior to destiny. Without effort, one will never be able to avail of the opportunities offered by destiny. And with proper effort one can secure the future, and even the present. A person carrying an umbrella on a hot day can alleviate his personal discomfort to some extend, though not change the weather. Similarly by effort one can soften the effects of fate, if not fate itself. Each one of us has that free will to use for or against ourselves.
This seems to imply that destiny is changeable. This is a fact and is confirmed by Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. Of the five agents elaborated, Isvara, jiva, kala, karma and prakriti, only karma (destiny) is not eternal, the other four our eternal. Fruitive activities performed in one of the three modes of material Nature will always yield actions, good or bad. That is the intrinsic nature of these, and in that respect they are eternal. However when one performs activities in devotional service, the cycle of action and reaction, suffering and enjoyments ceases. Externally one may continue to perform the prescribed activities, but internally if there is a renunciation of results to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such activities become devotional service and transcend the three modes of material nature. The destiny of a person performing pure devotional service is controlled by Sri Krishna Himself and is not subject to the laws of karma.
Superior to destiny is endeavor, for one has to engage in activity simply to sustain one self. Superior to any whimsical activity is the performance of prescribed activity as per the scriptural injunctions, performed in the mode of goodness. But surpassing all this is devotional service that frees one from the cycle of material duality and takes one back home, back to Godhead.
( Vaishnava blog feeds)

Understanding Radharani

2009-08-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

We are Krsna's part and parcel and have been created to give pleasure to krsna.The chief pleasure potency is shrimati Radharani.Whereas material energy is conducted by the external potency(maya) the spiritualworld is conducted by the internal potency (Shrimati Radharani). We often pray to Shrimati Radharani because she is the pleasure potency of krsna. The very word Krsna means all attractive but Shrimati Radharaniis so great that she attracts krsna. If krsna is always attractive to everyone and Shirmati Radharani is attractive to krsna, how can we imagine the position of Shirmati Radharani?
(Bhakti vikas swami quoting prabhupad from the book Elevation to krsna conciousness)

Krsna is reservoir of all pleasure and shrimati Radharani is the personification of that pleasure.

SEX

2009-08-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

Prabhupada: No, we... "It is voluntary। In our society we find so many brahmacaris, [celibate students] so many grhasthas [regulated householders] And if you cannot stop this itching sensation, all right, marry one girl and live peacefully like a gentle... What is this nonsense, every three weeks divorce? We are not so rascal. If we accept one girl as my wife, I take full responsibility. Because I require a girl or woman, so this woman, that one... We are not so rascal that at home I have got woman, I am searching after another woman, another naked woman. We are not so madman. The sex pleasure is there at home, and I am seeking after sex pleasure in here, here, in the club, in the... What is that? Is that vagina is different? You are so fool. You require vagina; take one vagina. Be satisfied. And lick it. Why you are going here and there, here and there, here and there? Even old man is going to the nightclub to lick another vagina. Is that civilization? You are proud of your civilization." Tell them like that. "Licking of the vagina, different, obnoxious smell. You are less than the dog. The dog likes to smell the vagina. You are like that. What is business of going another vagina? You require vagina. Take one and be satisfied. That is intelligence. First of all there is no need of vagina. But if you want, take one and be satisfied. Why you are searching after dog vagina, this vagina, that vagina, that vagina? Is that civilization?" Expose them like that. "Your brain is filled with so much stool, so we are washing it. What is the wrong there?"

Adi-kesava: Actually they all need brainwashing।

Prabhupada: Yes, "Every one of you require, because your brain is filled up with
stool। You have no brain. Brain is covered with stool." What they will answer?

Satsvarupa: That "If I want to have a stool brain, it may be lamentable, but don't force me to be washed।

Prabhupada: It is not force। It is no...

Satsvarupa: Let me remain in stool।

Prabhupada: We are preaching। It does not mean that we are forcing. We are saying that "Your brain is in stool. Wash it like this. If one agrees, he does it. Not that in our movement all world has joined. One who is intelligent, he has agreed, 'Yes.' I am not forcing. If I would have possessed that forcive power, what right you have got to bring me in the court? You are forcing me to stop this. You are forcing. Nobody can force, but you are forcing." You should take this argument and expose them at least in the court, licking of the vagina civilization, like dog. Yes animals do that.

Adi-kesava: I think the more strongly we preach in this way, that we don't try to give in and compromise...

Prabhupada: No, no, no।

Adi-kesava: The more that everyone will hear about this issue...

Prabhupada: We must expose them, that's all. This is our business. This is a good
opportunity in the court, so that it will be published। People will know what is our philosophy. Licking of vagina civilization, this. Publish.

Adi-kesava: All right।

Prabhupada: What they have got anymore, this Western civilization?

Adi-kesava: They say that they are all actually in despair। They don't see any hope in the future.

Prabhupada: This is their position।

Hari-sauri: Their only hope in the future is that we'll eat trash, process trash and..

.
Prabhupada: What is that?

Indian: (Bengali) (break)

Prabhupada: All, let us sit down here।

Hari-sauri: In the room?

Prabhupada: Yes, Gaura-Nitai। Is that argument all right, licking the vagina civilization?

Prthu-putra: Great।

Adi-kesava(?): Very bold।

Hari-sauri: No one's ever talked to them like that।

Prabhupada: But this is a fact। The old man, seventy-five years old, he's going to lick up another vagina in the club. This is your Western civilization.

Adi-kesava: Sometimes in New York... You know we live right next to Broadway। The temple is right next to Broadway. Sometimes in New York we see old, old men...

Prabhupada: And in France it is very... In France you have got।

Prthu-putra: In France, yes। All the prostitution going on around the temple.

Adi-kesava: You see even old, old men going to these clubs।

Hari-sauri: If you can still have sex when you're seventy-five, then you're a great man। Glorified.

Prabhupada: Just see। This is their civilization. In Paris there are so many clubs. The old men, they first of all pay fifty dollars to enter into the club. Then he selects which vagina he will lick up. Then another payment. I know that. (aside:) No, he can be asked to sit down there.

Hari-sauri: To sit in the room।

Prabhupada: Yes। Actually this is the fact. But they are fools. They still like to lick up new vagina. Exactly dogs. We are restricting that "Give up this business, licking of vagina," and they are seeking up to the point of death another vagina, another vagina, another... Which is better? If we say that "Give up this nonsense business," is that brainwash? And if it is brainwash, it is for good. What is this civilization, who is never satisfied? The same business is going on up to the point of death. Our civilization is: "All right, you are attached to vagina-licking. Do it up to fifty years. Then give it up." This is our civilization. "You are so much accustomed to the vagina-licking business--up to fifty years, so long you are young. Then give it... Don't do it anymore." This is our civilization. And that also, after twenty-five years. For twenty-five years teach him, "It is no good business. Brahmacari. Remain alone. You have got so much botheration." If he's still unable: "All right, take one wife. Be satisfied. Lick up one. And then, at the age of fifty years, give up." This is our... Is that wrong?

Satsvarupa: It's good।

Hari-sauri: It's great।

Prabhupada: Because unless you give up this business of vagina-licking, you'll have to be entangled in this body। Either as a dog or as a hog, as a human being or as a demigod, as a tree, as an insect, it will go on. In this way plead. Let the people understand what we are preaching. Advance this philosophy, widely discussed. Then our success.

Hari-sauri: There's no question this will be widely discussed।

Prabhupada: And... (someone enters) (Bengali) (break) Smelling the aroma, such a nonsense।

Hari-sauri: As you say, just like dogs।

Prabhupada: Hm?

Hari-sauri: Just like the dogs।

Prabhupada: Dogs and all animals, smelling vagina। They think, "Here is real pleasure."

Hari-sauri: There's no need to move around, Srila Prabhupada... (break)

Prabhupada: They're going for vagina and paying heavy toll: fifty dollars for entering the club, then two hundred dollars for drinking। You know this?

Hari-sauri: Yes।

Prabhupada: This is their civilization, vagina civilization। In Florida they go, Miami, to spend money weekly, five hundred, five thousand dollars for naked dance. You know that?

Hari-sauri: Yes। So many places. Las Vegas. Every big city has...

Prabhupada: And Brahmananda told me sometimes they see on the stage a fatty woman having sex with an ass। This is exhibited in Mexico. And they enjoy it.

Hari-sauri: In Europe they have sex fairs।

Prabhupada: Sex fair? What is that?

Hari-sauri: You can go, and they have sideshows, men and women having sex on the stage at regular intervals, and they exhibit all kinds of contraptions that you can use to pervert your sex life even more।

Prabhupada: What they will understand about this Krsna consciousness?

Hari-sauri: There's not very much hope for them।

Prabhupada: Help is for everyone, but if they remain stubborn to their own way of life, then it is not possible. They have to wash the brain. Otherwise it is possible.

Hari-sauri: You explain in the Bhagavatam that everything actually is just an extension of the sex desire।

Prabhupada: That's it।

Hari-sauri: Their whole big cities and so much industry...

Prabhupada: Yes।

Hari-sauri: ...and work is just simply...

Prabhupada: For the central point--vagina। Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham। The other day... Maithunyam agaram ajnah vindati tapan.Hari-sauri: Rsabhadeva's instructions. (end)[S।P। Room Conversation, February 19, 1977, Mayapura]"

"Don't be a vagina-smelling animal."

Prabhupada: Everywhere। This male and female, nature's gift that is. Therefore tasyaiva hetoh. These things you'll get.

Tamala Krsna: Yes। So why use the...?

Prabhupada: Why you are after these things?

Tamala Krsna: Hm। Wasting human life.

Prabhupada: You'll get woman। So be satisfied, the nature's gift of woman, nature's gift of your position, and utilize your life for Krsna consciousness. Why more and more, more, and naked and this way and that way? The other day what did I say? Vagina-licking civilization.

Bali-mardana: Hm?

Tamala Krsna: Vagina-licking civilization।

Prabhupada: They're spending so much money for vagina-looking।

Tamala Krsna: Oh, that's their whole consciousness।

Prabhupada: Yes। The money is earned with so hard labor and it is spent for vagina-looking.

Tamala Krsna: Polished dog society।

Prabhupada: Yes। Yes, dog also smells the vagina, and they also do the same thing. Therefore nature has arranged that dog are smelling vagina on the street. One vagina and three dozen dogs surrounded.

Tamala Krsna: Yes। Vrndavana you see that.

Prabhupada: Yes।

Tamala Krsna: Now that's going on in America। They are spending money just for that.

Prabhupada: Yes।

Tamala Krsna: Three dozen men look at one woman, same business।

Bali-mardana: And they make big literatures, magazines, everywhere, all over the streets। They put them in the street...

Tamala Krsna: The big thing now in America, the most popular shop, is called "Adult Books।" "Adult Bookshop."

Hari-sauri: "Adult cinema," "adult this," "adult that."Prabhupada: Topless, bottomless. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham, trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Bahu-duhkha-bhajah. Krpana. The rascals. Krpana means non-brahmana, without any spiritual knowledge. They are never satisfied, the vagina business. Trpyanti neha krp-- although it is followed by so much miserable condition--bahu-duhkha-bhajah kandutivan manasijam visaheta dhirah. One who is dhira, sober, he tolerates little itching sensation: "What this nonsense?" And if you practice toleration, there will be no more. Finished. You become liberated. Therefore, from the very beginning of life, childhood, this teach him, that "Don't be a vagina-smelling animal." Brahmacari. Brahmacari guru-grhe vasan dantah. To learn how to control the senses, that is brahmacari. Where is that civilization? So establish. Give them food. Give them shelter. Give them knowledge. That is para-upakara, doing welfare to others. But don't be entangled in vagina civilization. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham. It is most abominable civilization, tuccham, condemned civilization.[S.P. Room Conversation, February 25, 1977, Mayapur

Why i dont see god?

2009-08-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Two proceses of knowledge
inductive--we aquire through our own experiment
deductive-- we accept from higher and superior source
Is god canbe known through inductive?cannot because we dont have sufficient intelligence
we have four basic defects in us:
1.imperfect senses...senses through which we aquire knowledge have inherent imperfection
2.tendency to make mistake
3.identity to this body..we live under illusion or misconceptionthat we are this body
4।with all these disqualification we say we know as if its factwhich makes it a cheating propensity...

spirit by its very nature is spiritual so how will u prove its precence though material means

sloka

2009-08-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

Lord Krishna also declares in Srima-Bhagavatam (9।4.68):

sadhavo hridayam mahyamsadhunam hridayam tv aham

"The pure devotee is always in the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them."*

ONCE UPON A TIME On A WALL

2009-08-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

God is dead..................

Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche is dead...........

God

Tomorrow always comes

2009-08-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

stop living like there is no tomorrow as tomorrow always comes..............

Disneyland

2009-08-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

we may like to visit Disneyland but we cannot live there we have to live in reality...

Prabhupad quotes

2009-08-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

while the sabji is fresh cook it...........prabhupad in answer to a question

"whyare you making sanyasis of young men?"

(Bhakti_Vikas_Sw_Q&A-02_-_09-03-14_Kuwait)

apple tree

2009-08-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

an apple tree doesnt have to struggle to produce apples..........its an apple tree and its fruit is appleif u know u are righteousness of god then your friut shall be right behavior

गुरुदेव कृपा बिन्दु दिया ...श्रीला भक्तिविनोदा ठाकुर

2009-07-07T02:15:00.000-07:00

gurudeva!
kripa-bindu diya, kara ei dase,
trinapeksha ati hina
sakala sahane, bala diya kara,
nija-mane spriha-hina (1)

Gurudeva! Give me a drop of mercy - make this servant more humble than a blade
of grass. Give me the strength to tolerate all eventualities. Let me not hanker for my
own honor and fame.

sakale sammana, karite shakati,
deha natha! yathayatha
tabe ta’ gaiba, harinama sukhe,
aparadha ha’be hata (2)

Give me the power to honor all living entities according to what they are due (and
all Vaishnavas as befitting their platform). Then I will be able to chant the holy names
blissfully, and all my offenses will be vanquished!

kabe hena kripa, labhiya e jana,
kritartha haibe natha!
shakti-buddhi-hina, ami ati dina,
kara more atma-satha (3)

O my master! When will I be benedicted with your mercy and finally be successful
in my life? I am so fallen that I have no strength or intelligence. Kindly take my soul
and make me like you.

yogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai,
tomara karuna sara
karuna na haile, kadiya kadiya,
prana na rakhiba ara (4)

If I examine myself, I find no good qualities; Your mercy is the essence of my
existence. If you are not merciful, then bitterly weeping I will no longer maintain my
life।

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

KRSNA' S LOST COW

2009-07-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

Tum Dhundo Mujhe Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,

Sudh Lo Mori Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,
Panch Vikar Se Haki Jaye, Panch Tatv Ki Yeh Dehi,

Barbas Bhatki Dur Kahi Main, Chain Na Pawo Ab Teri,
Yeh Kaisa Maya Jaal, Main Ulzi Gayi Yaa Teri,

Sudh Lo Mori Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,
Jamuna Taat Na Nandan Watna, Gopi Gwal Koi Dikhe,

Kusum Lata Na Teri Chatana Na, Pakh Pakhero Koi Dikhe,
Ab Sanj Dhali Ghanshyam Main, Vyakul Gayi Yaa Teri,

Sudh Lo Mori Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,
Kit Pawo Tarvar Ki Chawn, Jit Saje Krishan Kanhiya,

Man Ka Tap Shrap Bhatkan Ka, Tum Hi Haro Har Ras Rachyi,
Ab Rup Niharo Baat Tab Bhi, Main Gayi Yaa Teri,

Sudh Lo Mori Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,
Bansi Ke Swarnadh Tero, Madhur Tan Se Mujhe Pukaro,

Radha Krishan Govind Harihar, Mulrli Manohar Naam Tiharo,
Mujhe Kubaro He Gopal Main, Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri,

Tum Dhundo Mujhe Gopal, Main Khoi Gayi Yaa Teri

BRAJRAS

2009-07-06T07:49:00.001-07:00

सूरदास

2009-07-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

सखी, इन नैनन तें घन हारे ।
बिन ही रितु बरसत निसि बासर, सदा मलिन दोउ तारे ॥
ऊरध स्वाँस समीर तेज अति, सुख अनेक द्रुम डारे ।
दिसिन्ह सदन करि बसे बचन-खग, दुख पावस के मारे ॥
सुमिरि-सुमिरि गरजत जल छाँड़त, अंसु सलिल के धारे ॥
बूड़त ब्रजहिं 'सूर' को राखै, बिनु गिरिवरधर प्यारे ॥

- सूरदास

प्रीति करि काहु सुख न लह्यो।
प्रीति पतंग करी दीपक सों, आपै प्रान दह्यो॥
अलिसुत प्रीति करी जलसुत सों, संपति हाथ गह्यो।
सारँग प्रीति करी जो नाद सों, सन्मुख बान सह्यो॥
हम जो प्रीति करि माधव सों, चलत न कछु कह्यो।
'सूरदास' प्रभु बिनु दुख दूनो, नैननि नीर बह्यो॥

- सूरदास

Surdas

2009-07-04T04:32:00.000-07:00

The Glories of Vrindavana धाम through quotes

2009-07-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Selected verses from the Vedic scriptures:

In all the three planetary systems, this earth is especially fortunate for here stands the town of Vrindavana
Adi Purana

Vrindavana dhäma is non-different from Krishna because the name, form, fame, and place where the Lord manifests – are all identical with the Lord as absolute knowledge. Therefore, Vrindavana dhäma is as worshipable as the Lord.
Srimad Bhagavatam (Intro) — Srila Prabhupada

By uttering the name of Vrindavana one attains the merit of chanting Krishna's holy name. By smelling the fragrance of Vrindavana, one is blessed by the merit of smelling the sweet fragrance of tulasi leaves offered to Lord Govinda
Garga Samhita

How wonderfull it is that simply by residing in Vrindavana even for one day, one can achieve a transcendental loving attitude towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This land of Vrindavana must be far more glorious than even Vaikuntha. Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu — Srila Rupa Goswami

Visiting Vrindavana is by itself equal to the merit of visualisation of Lord Hari. By eating in Vrindavana one obtains the merit of partaking of the offering to Lord Hari. By working in Vrindavana with one's hands, one obtains the merit of serving Lord Hari. Walking in Vrindavana equals the merit of pilgramage to a different holy place with each and every step.
Garga Samhita

The results of travelling to all the pilgrimages in the three worlds is achieved simply by touching the holy land of Vrindavana.
Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu — Srila Rupa Goswami

Even if I have the opportunity to bathe in the nectarian ocean of pure love of Krishna, and even if I have the pure devotees of the infalible Supreme Personality of Godhead as my associates, I will not consent to live, even for a single moment, in any sacred place other than Vrajabhümi.
Vraja-vilas-stava — Raghunatha dasa गोस्वामी

Selected verses from the Mathura Mahatmya of Srila Rupa Gosvam

If a person who has not seen Vrindavana has a keen desire to see Vrindavana, he will be reborn in Vrindavana no matter where he dies.

If a man decides in his mind “I will go to Vrindavana and stay there,” — simply by having such thoughts he will be freed from the wheel of saàsära.

All the sins accumulated through many births can be destroyed in a second by staying in Vrindavana
Sins committed in Vrindavana can be washed off in Vrindavana only. By staying in Vrindavana one can rise above dhärma, ärtha, karma and mokña. All these steps leading to salvation are easily attainable in Vrindavana.

Those who stay in Vrindavana for three nights, to them Lord Krishna gives happiness not even obtainable for those who are liberated.

Those who with devotion for Lord Krishna make a parikramä of Vrindavana — are freed from all sins and at death go straight to Viñëuloka.

Even women, malecchas, sudras, animals, birds, deer or anyone else dying in Vrindavana — goes to Visëuloka.

Candälas, yavanas, women, and murderers who die in Vrindavana — will not take birth again.
Dumb unconscious beings, the blind, killers, and those not practicing any tapasya or nyamas, who die in Vrindavana at any time — go to Viñëuloka.

Any man — dying in a gutter, a broken house, a cemetery, in the air, on a stage, in a bed, in a mansion or anywhere in Vrindavana — will attain liberation.

If a person who has not seen Vrindavan has a keen desire to see Vrindavan, he will be reborn in Vrindavan no matter where he dies.

If a man decides in his mind-I will go to Vrindavan and stay there-simply by having such thoughts he will be freed from the wheel of samsara

Sins commited in Vrindavan can be washed off in Vrindavan only. By staying in Vrindavan one can rise above dharma, artha, karma and moksha. All these steps leading to salvation are easily attainable in Vrindavan.

Srila Prabhupada Quote….

"Those who have gone to Vrndavana, they have seen the temple of Radha-Madana-mohana. That was established by Sanatana Gosvami, the first disciple of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana Gosvami established this Madana-mohana temple, and Rupa Gosvami established that Govindaji's temple, and the Jiva Gosvami established Radha-Damodara temple. Gopal Bhatta Gosvami established Radha-Ramana temple. In this way, in Vrndavana there are seven temples authorizedly established by the Gaudiya-sampradaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya. Later on, many big, big kings and zamindars, landlords, they also established many temples, big, big temples. And altogether, there are five thousand temples in a small city like Vrndavana, and thousands of men go to see the Deities in every temple almost every day, and especially during the four months Sravana, Bhadra, Asvina, Karttika: July, in July, August, September, October. So Vrndavana is always crowded by many pilgrims, and anyone who goes there, immediately he feels spiritual consciousness, especially nowadays."

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, 03-04-75, Dallas

Because it is vrindavana those who come should be exemplary so that all the people of Vrindavana..will see that we are actually following the six Gosvamis headed by Rupa Gosvami

Srila Prabhupad letter, 23 March, 1974

Akuras journey to Vrindaban is exemplary. One who intends to visit Vrindaban should follow the ideal footsteps of Akura and always think of the pastimes and activities of the Lord.

(Krsna book, Akuras arrival in vrindaban)

“In Vrindavana the temple of Govindadeva is surrounded by devoted worshipers. I prefer to live there. O king, in this world Vrindavana is the Vaikuntha of Govinda. Vrinda and other female devotees of Krishna also remain there। O Mahapala, those great souls who get darsana of Govinda in Vrindavana are the most glorified persons in this world.”

Skanda Purana, Narada Muni

“Between Nandisvara and Mahavana is a place named Vrindavana. This place is very suitable because it is lush with grass, plants, and creepers for the cows and other animals. It has nice gardens and tall mountains and is full of facilities for the happiness of all the gopas and gopis and our animals.”

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.11.28)

“Vrindavana is completely under Vrinda devi's grace. Sri Hari Himself lives in this splendid, incomprehensible place, which is served by the demigods headed by Brahma and Siva. Extending over a wide area, Vrndavana is decorated with forests of tulasi and the asramas of saints. Vrndavana is as dear to Govinda as Laksmi is to Visnu. Surrounded by His cowherd boys and cows, Madhava sports in Vrindavana with Balarama. O what a beautiful place is Vrindavana where Govardhana mountain along with many other holy places created by Lord Visnu are situated.”

Skanda Purana

“Vrindavana is filled with transcendental bliss. It destroys the greatest sins and miseries. Simply by living there one is awarded liberation.”

Padma Purana

“O friend, Vrindavana is spreading the glories of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.”

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.21.10)

“Every part of this beautiful Vrindavana is My abode. Every creature or demigod who lives in this place will attain Goloka dhama after death. The cowherd girls who live in My abode are yoginis. The five yojanas of Vrindavana forest are like My body and the spinal cord of the body is the Kalindi River, which flows with nectarean water. Deities and other spirits live here in invisible bodies. And I, living within every being, never leave this place. My appearance and disappearance has been enacted in every age. The divine and glorious illumination of this place is beyond worldly vision. The glories of Vrindavana are beyond anyone's calculation. People say Vrndavana covers sixteen krosa, and in the Sastra it is said Vrndavana extends five yojanas. Whoever has darsana of Govinda in Vrindavana never goes to Yamalaya, but attains the destination of pious persons. The temple of Sri Govindadeva is situated in Vrindavana and is surrounded by devotees. A fortunate person can have His darsana.”

Gautamiya tantra where Krishna says to narad

Think of Vrindaban with love, roll in teh dust of Vrindaban, offer your entire body to the service of Vrindaban and thus develop firm love for Vrindaban।

(Prababhodananda Saraswati, Vrindaban mahimamrata, staka 1 text 5)

The mind’s activities are thinking, feeling and willing, by which the mind accepts materially favorable things and rejects the unfavorable. This is the consciousness of people in general. But when one’s mind does not accept and reject but simply becomes fixed on the lotus feet of krsna, then one’s mind becomes as good as Vrindāvana. Wherever krsna is, there also are Śrīmatī Rādhārani, the gopīs, the cowherd boys and all the other inhabitants of Vrindāvana. Thus as soon as one fixes krsna in his mind, his mind becomes identical with Vrindāvana. In other words, when one’s mind is completely free from all material desires and is engaged only in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one always lives in Vrindāvana, and nowhere else.¨

Srila Prabhupada

jaya radhe, jaya krsna

2009-07-03T23:49:00.001-07:00

jaya radhe, jaya krsna,
jaya vrndavan,
sri govinda, gopinatha, madana-mohan

All glories to Radha and Krishna and the divine forest of Vrindavan. All glories to the three presiding Deities of Vrindavan: Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, and Madana-mohana.

syama-kunda, radha-kunda, giri-govardhan,
kalindi jamuna jaya,
jaya mahavan

All glories to Syama-kunda, Radha-kunda, Govardhana Hill, and the Yamuna River (Kalindi). All glories to the great forest known as Mahavana, where Krishna and Balarama displayed all of Their childhood pastimes.

kesi-ghata, bamsi-bata, dwadasa-kanan,
jaha saba lila koilo sri-nanda-nandan

All glories to Kesi-ghata, where Krishna killed the Kesi demon. All glories to the Vamsi-vata tree, where Krishna attracted all the gopis to come by playing His flute. Glories to all of the twelve forests of Vraja. At these places the son of Nanda, Sri Krishna, performed all of His pastimes.

sri-nanda-jasoda jaya,
jaya gopa-gan,
sridamadi jaya, jaya dhenu-vatsa-gan

All glories to Krishna’s divine father and mother, Nanda and Yasoda. All glories to the cowherd boys, headed by Sridama, the older brother of Srimati Radharani and Ananga Manjari. All glories to the cows and calves of Vraja

jaya brsabhanu, jaya
kirtida sundari,
jaya paurnamasi, jaya abhira-nagari

All glories to Radha’s divine father and mother, Vrishabhanu and the beautiful Kirtida. All glories to Paurnamasi, the mother of Sandipani Muni, grandmother of Madhumangala and Nandimukhi, and beloved disciple of Devarsi Narada. All glories to the young cowherd maidens of Vraja.

jaya jaya gopiswara vrndavana-majh,
jaya jaya krsna-sakha
batu dwija-raj

All glories, all glories to Gopisvara Shiva, who resides in Vrindavan in order to protect the holy dhama. All glories, all glories to Krishna’s funny brahmana friend, Madhumangala.

jaya rama-ghata, jaya rohini-nandan,
jaya jaya vrndavana-
basi jata jan

All glories to Rama-ghata, where Lord Balarama performed His rasa dance. All glories to Lord Balarama, the son of Rohini. All glories, all glories to all of the residents of Vrindavan.

jaya dwija-patni, jaya naga-kanya-gan,
bhaktite jahara pailo govinda-caran

All glories to the wives of the proud Vedic brahmanas. All glories to the wives of the Kaliya serpent. Through pure devotion they all obtained the lotus feet of Lord Govinda.

sri-rasa-mandala jaya,
jaya radha-syam,
jaya jaya rasa-lila sarva-manoram

All glories to the place where the rasa dance of Sri Krishna was performed. All glories to Radha and Syama. All glories, all glories to the divine rasa dance, which is the most beautiful of all Lord Krishna’s pastimes.

jaya jayojjwala-rasa sarva-rasa-sar
parakiya-bhave jaha
brajete pracar

All glories, all glories to the mellow of conjugal love, which is the most excellent of all rasas and is propagated in Vraja by Sri Krishna in the form of the divine parakiya-bhava [paramour love].

sri-jahnava-pada-padma koriya smaran
dina krsna-dasa kohe nama-sankirtan

Remembering the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda’s consort, Sri Jahnava Devi, this very fallen and lowly servant of Krishna sings the sankirtana of the holy name.

गोपी उद्धव संवाद एक कवि के द्वारा

2009-07-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

ये भी कोई कायदा है वायदा न पूरा करे, भेजे एक दूत जो की दुश्मनों सा लगता
ज्ञान की तो बात करे तीन हाथ आगे बढ़, प्रेम का वो नाम सुन पीछे पीछे भगता
ब्रज के निकुंज कुञ्ज गली रिद्धियों के बीच कान्हप्रेम कान्हप्रेम कान्हप्रेम पगता
ओ जान के अनाथ नाथ आपका परम मित्र भोली भाली गोपियों को खुलेआम ठगता

ज्ञान की महानता बखानते हैं ज्ञानी लोग गोपियाँ तो प्रेम की व्यथा कथा सुनाएंगी
ज्ञान के विकास का प्रयास आप कीजियेगा गोपियां तो स्नेह सिक्त दीप ही जलाएँगी
ज्ञान के मंजीरे खड़ताल और मृदंग बजे, गोपियाँ तो प्रेम की ही बांसुरी बजायेंगी
ज्ञान के तालाब में नहालाइएगा रुकमनी को गोपियाँ तो प्रेम की नदी में डूब जाएँगी

ओ ज्ञान के पुजारी तेरी मति गयी मारी, मूढ़ जानता नही है तू महत्व अश्रुपान का
ज्ञान है दुकान प्रेम कांच का मकान और, गोपियों का मान बड़ी आन बाण शान का
गोकुल से मथुरा की दूरी सिर्फ़ पाँच कोस, जानते हैं फिर भी ये प्रश्न स्वाभिमान का
होंगे सम्राट वो विराट ठाठ बाट पर गोपियों का प्रेम भाव पात्र कहाँ मानता

किसकी इजाजत से घुसा बरन मंडल में आओ सखी इसका कमंडल झपट लें
किसने बुलाया और किसने बिठाया इसे ऐसी महामारी से तनिक दूर हट लें
आज ज्ञान भावना में युद्ध घमासान होगा, चलो प्रेम पुस्तिका के पृष्ठों को पलट लें
राम से सुलट लेंगे श्याम से उलट लेंगे, पहले इस धूर्त अवधूत से निपट लें

Unlimited is not Impersonal

2009-07-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

Morning Walk—
April 4, 1974, Bombay

Prabhupāda: You get credit just by cramming.

Girirāja:

arjuna uvāca
mad anugrahāya paramaṁ
guhyam adhyātma-samjñitam

Prabhupāda: Ah, read it.

Girirāja:

yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena
moho 'yaṁ vigato mama
[Bg. 11.1]

"Arjuna said: I have heard Your instruction on confidential spiritual matters, which You have so kindly delivered unto me, and my illusion is now dispelled."

Prabhupāda: There must be the word meaning. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Girirāja: Arjuna uvāca, Arjuna said. [break]

Prabhupāda: ...friend yesterday.

Dr. Patel: Sanskrit.

Prabhupāda: Ah. So let us begin from the Eleventh so that word meaning they may understand.

Dr. Patel:

mad anugrahāya paramaṁ
guhyam adhyātma-samjñitam
yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena
moho 'yaṁ vigato mama
[Bg. 11.1]

Prabhupāda: Now try to understand the word meaning.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms)

Dr. Patel: It is in relation to the previous, this thing, that Tenth that He showed you all the vibhūtis in various conditions of the creation, and by understanding the various vibhūtis, Arjuna said that "I have practically got disillusioned by this explanation." That is what he said. Is it all right?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Now it is clear. Any question on this?

Dr. Patel: All right. Shall I go on?

Prabhupāda: No. So what is the translation?

Girirāja: "Arjuna said: I have heard Your instruction on confidential spiritual matters, which You have so kindly delivered unto me."

Dr. Patel: There you see here the last, last... [break]

Prabhupāda: ...means, now we have discussed Tenth [break], what is the confidential?

Satsvarūpa: About Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel: This is the confidential. Viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam ekāṁśena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. That is the most confidential. "Only by one of My this thing, the whole jagat is being supported. Why do you want to talk about nonsense of so many things? Only one thing is important and that is this."

Prabhupāda: So... Yes. So unless one is convinced that Kṛṣṇa is the original cause of all causes, sarva kāraṇa-kāraṇam [Bs. 5.1], he has not understood the confidential subject matter of Bhagavad-gītā. That is the con... Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. Unless one comes to this conclusion, that "Kṛṣṇa is the origin of everything," ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate, iti matvā bhajante mām, he cannot be fixed up in the worship or serving Kṛṣṇa. This conclusion must be reached.

Dr. Patel: The next word is telling the same thing as you say.

bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ
śrutau vistaraśo mayā
tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa
māhātmyam api cāvyayam
[Bg. 11.2]

That "Everything is originating from You and..."

Prabhupāda: Now the opposite. This is the conclusion, that one has to understand that Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes, He is the origin of everything. So why do they divert their attention to other subjects?

Dr. Patel: Because of the māyā.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And what is that māyā?

Dr. Patel: That Kṛṣṇa is... [break]

Girirāja: Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary human being.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Yaśomatīnandana: They think that "Kṛṣṇa's body is just like mine."

Prabhupāda: This is Māyāvāda. This has been explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā.

Dr. Patel: That's right. It was in me. Any of your ideas, it is, other than Kṛṣṇa, is māyā.

Prabhupāda: Please let me explain. Matir na kṛṣṇe. No, just explain. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā. Parataḥ means "from other sources." Just like I am explaining. That is parataḥ. And svato means...

Dr. Patel: Means Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: I will explain everything. Svato means personally, sva. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho 'bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām. Or mithaḥ. There are three sources of understanding.

Dr. Patel: What is that mithaḥ?

Prabhupāda: Mithaḥ means just like we are studying altogether. Mithaḥ means in congregation. Abhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām.

Dr. Patel: Of the embodied people.

Prabhupāda: No, no. Gṛha-vratānām means those who are attracted to this... Gṛha means this worldly family life. Gṛha-vrata. Gṛha. Gṛha-vrata. So those who have decided that "We shall remain in this gṛha, for them, either personally or from others or by conference, the matir na kṛṣṇe."

Dr. Patel: They do not have that mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes, they cannot. Why they cannot? Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamiśram [SB 7.5.30]. This gṛha-vrata means their sense enjoyment. This gṛhastha life is a concession for sense gratification, license. Actually, it is not required. Sex life is not required. But those who cannot avoid the sex life, they are given some license, "All right, you enjoy sex life, marry one woman, remain as faithful husband and wife." So unless one determines that "This is not my life, gṛha-vrata..." Apaśyatām ātma-tattvaṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām [SB 2.1.2]. In another place it is said also, by Sukadeva Gosvāmī, one who cannot understand what is his self-interest, apaśyatām ātma-tattvam, actually what is needed, what is the need of the soul, gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām... The gṛha-vrata and gṛhamedhi, these two words are for persons who are too much attached to this worldly life. So this determination already is there, that "Kṛṣṇa is the original cause of everything." Iti matvā bhajante mām. One who understands this perfectly well, he can be engaged in the matter of rendering service to Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise it is very difficult. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato va.

Dr. Patel: Swami Nārāyaṇa has answered in this way, that any of your matir...

Prabhupāda: Swami Nārāyaṇa...

Dr. Patel: No, no, I speak. Any buddhi other than giving Kṛṣṇa is māyā. Anything you think other than Kṛṣṇa is māyā.

Prabhupāda: Then when he thinks that "I am incarnation of Kṛṣṇa,"...

Dr. Patel: He has not said.

Prabhupāda: ...it is not māyā?

Dr. Patel: He had not said so.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.

Dr. Patel: If tomorrow these boys say that you are incarnation of God, is it your fault?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Dr. Patel: That is what it is. Tomorrow these boys say, after you pass away, that you are incarnation of God. It is not your fault. Like that, people will say so. I have not said so.

Prabhupāda: But that is going on. The other day one, another Swami Nārāyaṇa came. I ask him "Why there is no picture of Kṛṣṇa?"

Dr. Patel: That we will discuss after...

Prabhupāda: He also said like that. "No, because..."

Dr. Patel: Why do you want to divert?

Prabhupāda: Yes. You diverted. You brought Swami Nārāyaṇa. We don't accept Swami Nārāyaṇa as authority. We don't accept that.

Chandobhai: Let us hear the guru.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Chandobhai: Then what happens further?

Dr. Patel: Shall I read further?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ
śrutau vistaraśo mayā
tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa
māhātmyam api cāvyayam
[Bg. 11.2]

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

evam etad yathāttha
tvam ātmānaṁ paramesvarā
draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam
aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama
[Bg. 11.3]

He wants to see His real form.

Prabhupāda: Yes. No, that is not real form. Real form is Kṛṣṇa.

Dr. Patel: Aiśvaram rūpam.

Prabhupāda: This is a form for less intelligent. Those who are thinking "The God must be horizontal form. God, how He can be a human-like form?" God is great, so he is thinking of greatness of God. Somebody thinks that, according to his own idea. Greatness means they have got idea, "The sky is the greatest." So God must be of the form like sky. Yes. So what is the...?

Girirāja: (reads synonyms) "Translation: O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the appearance and disappearance of every living entity, as realized through Your inexhaustible glories." (reads next synonyms) "O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see here before me Your actual position, yet I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation."

Prabhupāda: Entered. So just like it is to be understood. He's very intelligent. Now, I am... As soul, my magnitude is described. What is that? Keśāgra-śata-bhāgasya śatadhā kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. Keśa agra, the tip of the hair, divide into hundred parts. And again take that one part and again divide into hundred parts. Keśāgra-śata-bhāgasya śatadhā kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. Now, it is simply, it is to be imagined. Kalpitasya. Jīva-bhāgaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ. That is the magnitude of the jīva. Now, that magnitude of jīva has entered in this body or in the elephant's body. Now, which is important, the body is important or that small particle is important?

Dr. Patel: Small particle is important.

Prabhupāda: Ah. Therefore those who are materialistic persons, they are amazed with the huge body of this universe. But Arjuna is saying that "On account of Your entering..." As this body has developed on account of entering, that minute particle or spiritual spark, similarly, there are innumerable universes. All these universes, they have developed. (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa, Jaya. [break] ...Kṛṣṇa's entering as Garbhodakaśayī Viṣṇu. That is explained in the last chapter.

athavā bahunaitena
kim jñātena tavārjuna
vistabhyāham idaṁ kṛstnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat
[Bg. 10.42]

By His one plenary portion, by entering into this material world, so gigantic form is there. Therefore they cannot understand that how Kṛṣṇa, just like a human being, he can be more important than this gigantic cosmic manifestation.

Dr. Patel: Shall I read further?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

manyase yadi tac chakyaṁ
mayā draṣṭum iti prabho
yogeśvara tato me tvaṁ
darśayātmānam avyayam
[BG. 11.4]

Prabhupāda: So darśayam, darśaya. "Now, how You have, I mean to say, manifested yourself in this cosmic, gigantic cosmic manifestation?" So if it is possible, kindly... So the point is: this gigantic cosmic manifestation is dependent on Kṛṣṇa, not that Kṛṣṇa is one of the product of this gigantic manifestation.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms) (Prabhupāda interrupts)

Prabhupāda: Here Kṛṣṇa is addressed, "Yogeśvara," because the yogic power, that is estimated very much important by the ordinary class of men. So He is the master of all yogic power. Just like here, that gold maker?

Girirāja: Sai Baba?

Prabhupāda: Sai Baba. He is showing little yogic aiśvarya. But people are, because they do not know, they are not aware of Kṛṣṇa, they are taking him as God. You see?

Girirāja: (reads rest of synonyms for this verse) "Translation: If you think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that universal self."

Prabhupāda: Now, here is the description of how God manifests. So unless one reads Bhagavad-gītā carefully, they will be misled by this avatāra, that avatāra, that avatāra. You see?

Dr. Patel: Shall I read?

śrī bhagavān uvāca
paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi
śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
nānā-vidhāni divyāni
nānā-varṇākṛtīni ca
[Bg. 11.5]

Paśyādityān...

Prabhupāda: No. One after another.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms) "Translation: The Blessed Lord said: My dear Arjuna, O son of Pṛthā, behold now My opulences, hundreds of thousands of varied divine forms, multi-colored like the sea."

Prabhupāda: This is another instruction. That I explained, that before accepting a so-called incarnation of God, one should ask him to show that "How you are God?" But they do not ask him. A group of persons... Because he is accepted by a group of persons, not by all... There are so many avatāras. But who knows them?

Dr. Patel: Shall I read?

Prabhupāda: Let us understand it. Don't be anxious to go forward. This is the..., that... Suppose a man declares himself that "I am avatāra." So intelligent man should test him, how he is avatāra. We accept Kṛṣṇa or Lord Rāmacandra for their uncommon activities. But what is the uncommon activities, so many avatāras? Simply being praised by a group of persons. That's all. Yes.

Dr. Patel: Paśyādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutas tathā [BG. 11.6].

Prabhupāda: Now, first of all, he's saying that paśyādityān. Ādityān, plural number. Not only one, plural number. Ādityān means the Sūrya...

Dr. Patel: Sūrya and all those twelve sons.

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes, ādityān. So here they cannot estimate the influence of one Āditya, and here he is showing all the Ādityas.

Dr. Patel: Within Him.

Prabhupāda: Within Him. That is Yogeśvara.

Dr. Patel: All ādityāns, vasūns, rudrān, aśvinau and the Marut. Bahūny adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms Bg. 11.6 up to:) "adṛṣṭa—that you have not heard or seen;"

Prabhupāda: Yes. Even which Arjuna did not hear before, that was also shown. What was heard by him formerly, that was also shown and unheard of, unseen, that was also.

Girirāja: (reads rest of synonyms) "Translation: O best of the Bhāratas, see here the different manifestations of Ādityas, Rudras and all the demigods. Behold the many things which no one has ever seen or heard before."

Dr. Patel:

ihaikasthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ
paśyādya sa-carācaram
mama dehe guḍākeṣa
yac cānyad draṣṭum icchasi
[Bg. 11.7]

Prabhupāda: So this is, this is... You can... Mama deha. So the so-called incarnations of God, they should show in their body all these things. They must be accepted by the śāstra that he is avatāra. Otherwise, why so cheap avatāra, we shall accept?

Girirāja: (reads synonyms)

Prabhupāda: (interrupting) Altogether.

Dr. Patel: Kṛtsnam means all, complete.

Prabhupāda: Yes, so that means there are innumerable universes and that was exhibited by Kṛṣṇa in His boyhood.

Girirāja: (continues synonyms) "adya-immediately;" (etc.)

Prabhupāda: What the modern scientists will say, that the..., all the universes were shown in the body of Kṛṣṇa. So what is the, I mean to say, what is called, action, reaction, reaction of the modern scientists?

Girirāja: They don't believe.

Dr. Patel: Even they are now trying to find out stars further and further with a bigger and bigger...

Prabhupāda: They cannot see even one universe, and here it is said that "All the universes, innumerable universes." So what these...?

Satsvarūpa: Their reaction is: "Simply because it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā does not mean it actually happened." They don't think it happened just because it is written here.

Prabhupāda: No, no, happened or not happened. But you have no estimation, even one universe. You cannot say like that because you are a fool still. Even though it did not happen in the body of Kṛṣṇa, but you have no estimation, you cannot know what is the sun-god or sun planet or moon planet. You cannot go there. So what is the value of your knowledge? If the statement of Bhagavad-gītā has no meaning, then what is the meaning of your scientific knowledge? You are not perfect. So how you can say? Because you are imperfect, so you cannot say against Bhagavad-gītā, which is accepted by all the ācāryas. Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya... Don't be in hurry. Just finish one word. That is sufficient.

Dr. Patel: Oh yes.

Prabhupāda: Without understanding, if you follow like a storm, that is no use. That is no use. Slow, but sure. Go slow... And that is the defect in the modern. If somebody can recite Bhagavad-gītā like storm, it is to be understood he has perfected himself. No. Let him explain at least one word of Bhagavad-gītā. That is wanted. Slow, but sure. That is going on. The professional Bhāgavata reciters, they jump over Kṛṣṇa's rāsa-līlā. The rascal does not explain the first line of Bhāgavatam, janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. It requires many years to understand that one word, janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1], and he jumps over, "Bhāgavata recitation means rāsa-līlā." That is going on. That has spoiled the whole atmosphere. Therefore that rascal has been able to challenge that Kṛṣṇa, that, what is that, rural?

Satsvarūpa: "Popular rural god with sixteen thousand wives."

Prabhupāda: That's it. He does not know what is Kṛṣṇa. And he is writing about Kṛṣṇa, "rural boy with sixteen thousand..." First of all, he does not know that when Kṛṣṇa was rural boy in Vṛndāvana he had no sixteen thousand wives. You see. Still, these rascals say, "rural boy with sixteen thousand wives."

Dr. Patel: When He had this rāsa dance, he was only seven years.

Prabhupāda: No, apart from that, actually, He had sixteen thousand wives when He was in Dvaraka, but these rascals say, "Rural boy." "Rural boy" means when He was in Vṛndāvana. So he does not know even the history, and he is trying to write about Kṛṣṇa. This is going on. And that is the proof. Kṛṣṇa had sixteen thousand wives. That is the proof that He is God, because you cannot maintain even one wife at the present moment. So He maintained sixteen thousand wives. That is the proof that He is God. That is the proof. But they will not take that side. They will take in other way, "Oh, this is all stories and fictitious." That's all. Paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto [Bg. 9.11]. They do not know. They do not know what is Kṛṣṇa, and they try to write upon Kṛṣṇa, to imitate Kṛṣṇa. "Kṛṣṇa was an avatāra. Therefore I am also avatāra." These things are not very good.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms) "Translation: Whatever you wish to see can be seen all at once in this body. This universal form can show you all that you now desire, as well as whatever you may desire in the future. Everything is here completely."

Prabhupāda: That is avatāra. So nobody can compare. In the Vedic literature it is said, na tasya kāryaṁ kāraṇaṁ ca vidyate na tat-samaś cābhyadhikaś ca dṛśyate. Nobody can be equal to Him. Sama, sama means equal. Na tat-samaś cābhyadhikaś ca dṛśyate: "Nobody is greater than Him, nobody is equal to Him." That is Kṛṣṇa. So as soon as one claims that "I am also Kṛṣṇa," he is a bogus immediately.

Dr. Patel: Shall I go further?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

na tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum
anenaiva sva-cakṣuṣā
divyaṁ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ
paśya me yogam aiśvaram
[Bg. 11.8]

Girirāja: (reads synonyms to:) "draṣṭum—to see..."

Prabhupāda: How one can see? Suppose I am seeing this material sky. I cannot see what are there, not even the stars at the present moment, although we know there are millions and trillions of stars. So this is my power of seeing. So how can I see all the universes in the body of..., unless he gets a special power from Kṛṣṇa to see.

Girirāja: (completes synonyms) "Translation: But you cannot see Me with your present eyes. Therefore I give to you divine eyes by which you can behold My mystic opulence."

Prabhupāda: Now, this is Kṛṣṇa's power. Let us understand. A teeny aeroplane is floating in the air, and it is making so much sound. And millions and trillions of planets are floating, there is no sound. There is no sound. [break] ...if you take it and fix it up... What is that? One thousand or more than, one thousand miles.

Dr. Patel: A second.

Prabhupāda: No, no. This earth, per hour.

Dr. Patel: Earth is rotating and also going round... It has got two movements.

Prabhupāda: Anyway, but we cannot understand any movement, but it is moving. The force is there.

Dr. Patel: Shall I go further?

Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.

Dr. Patel:

sañjaya uvāca
evam uktvā tato rājan
mahā-yogeśvaro hariḥ
darśayāmāsa pārthāya
paramaṁ rūpam aīśvaram
[Bg. 11.9]

Girirāja: (reads synonyms to:) "tataḥ-thereafter..."

Prabhupāda: Just see. Sañjaya was speaking in the room to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and he said that "Now He showed." That means he was seeing. That is another television. Another television. That television is unknown now. Santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu. Premāñjana-churrita-bhakti-vilocanena. This is also television. The television machine is within the heart. One can see everything, provided he has learned the art how to see, that television within the heart.

Girirāja: (finishes synonyms) "Translation: Sañjaya said: O King, speaking thus, the Supreme, the Lord of all mystic power, the Personality of Godhead, displayed His universal form to Arjuna."

Dr. Patel: Shall I read?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

aneka-vaktra-nayanam
anekādbhuta-darśanam
aneka-divyābharaṇaṁ
divyānekodyatāyudham
divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ
divya-gandhānulepanam
sarvāścaramayaṁ devam
anantaṁ viśvato-mukham
[Bg. 11.10-11]

Prabhupāda: So even in the universal form, there is personality. Divya-mālya, divya-gandha, kirīṭina, dressed, well-dressed. Well-dressed is possible not in the imperson. If you want to dress somebody, he must be a person. You cannot dress in the sky. "Here is helmet, here is garland." Where you put? (laughs) So in the universal form also there is personality.

Girirāja: (reads synonyms to:) "ābharaṇam-ornaments; divya-divine..."

Prabhupāda: You have to understand.

Girirāja: "Aneka-various..."

Prabhupāda: Aneka. So here is the word, aneka. Ana eka, "more than one." So what is that aneka?

Dr. Patel: Everything, aneka.

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

Dr. Patel: Innumerable you can say.

Chandobhai: I mean (indistinct Sanskrit)

Prabhupāda: Aneka, that is confirmed in the Vedas, eka puruṣam. That is aneka. That is aneka.

Dr. Patel: Eka puruṣam.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Although He is one, He can manifest. He is exiting, not manifest. He is existing in aneka. And what is that aneka? Aneka means expansion of svāṁśa... That is... Therefore we require reference from many śāstras. In the Varaha Purāṇa this aneka explained—svāṁśa and vibhinnāṁśa. Svāṁśa, expansion of the Viṣṇu-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva. Rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā niyamena tiṣṭhan [Bs. 5.39]. He has expanded Himself in so many incarnations, rāmādi, like Rāma, not this loafer class. Rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā niyamena tiṣṭhan [Bs. 5.39]. This is aneka. Another aneka-mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhuta [Bg. 15.7]. They are also aneka. Anantāya kalpate. So all the Viṣṇu forms and all the living entity forms, altogether, he was able to see in the body of Kṛṣṇa. That is aneka. Yes, go on.

Girirāja: (continues synonyms to:) "mālya-..."

Prabhupāda: Aneka. There are aneka ayuddhas. Every Viṣṇu form has four symbolic representation—śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma—and they are differently situated. People do not know it. They... It begins. Just like here śaṅkha, then next, cakra, then next, gadā, then padma. Then here begins padma, here begins śaṅkha, in so many.

Chandobhai: Differently.

Dr. Patel: Combination, combination.

Prabhupāda: Yes, changing. These are in the śāstra, siddhārtha-saṁhitā, how many forms are there. This is aneka. Not evasively, that "All is one." No. There are so many, so many varieties, variegated, all spiritual, aneka.

Girirāja: "Mālya-garlands..."

Prabhupāda: These things are there. Each of them were garlanded, had helmets, had, I mean to say, ornaments. Everything aneka.

Dr. Patel: Mālyāmbara-dharam.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Dress, everything, garment, all varieties.

Girirāja: (continues synonyms to:) "divya-divine..."

Prabhupāda: Divine. That means they are not material. Kṛṣṇa's dress, Kṛṣṇa's helmet, Kṛṣṇa's bedding, Kṛṣṇa's shoes, they are all expansion of Lord Sesa. They are not material.

Girirāja: (continues synonyms to:) "aścaryamayam-wonderful..."

Prabhupāda: Although this is virāṭ-rūpa, still, there are aneka, many varieties. And each one of them is personally described. Yes.

Girirāja: (continues synonyms to end) "Translation: Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths and unlimited eyes."

Prabhupāda: Unlimited mouths. The unlimited person. As soon as you say, "unlimited mouths," means unlimited person. That is not imperson. Even in His aneka-mūrti He is person. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā in the Second Chapter, that all we remained person in the past, we are persons at present, and we shall continue to become persons in the future. So this impersonal description of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is for the persons who do not understand what is God.

Girirāja: "It was all wondrous. The form was decorated with divine, dazzling ornaments and arrayed..."

Prabhupāda: Again personality. And where do they get the idea of impersonal, even in the virāṭ-rūpa? How do they get? What is the authority?

Chandobhai: Gopīs are personal.

Prabhupāda: No, no, everything is being described as person. So where is the question of imperson? Even in His aneka mūrti, in the virāṭ form, universal form, there are persons. At least from Bhagavad-gītā, nobody can prove that the Absolute Truth, God, is imperson. That is not possible. But still, they are doing that. That means they do not understand what is Bhagavad-gītā, although they are very much proud of regular scholar of Bhagavad-gītā. So am I right or wrong? Let us discuss.

Chandobhai: He is both personal and impersonal.

Prabhupāda: No, no, why?

Dr. Patel: You are right.

Prabhupāda: No, here it is described person. Although the virāṭ-rūpa is there... Virāṭ-rūpa is considered...

Chandobhai: Virāṭ-rūpa is personal.

Prabhupāda: Personal. So but...

Indian man: Kṛṣṇa has also declared...

Dr. Patel: For personal communication...

Indian man: Kṛṣṇa says that I am both personal, impersonal, and I am above that.

Prabhupāda: No, no. That imperson does not mean that He is not spiritually person. Impersonal means He does not become... That... This description of person, they are not these material persons.

Chandobhai: Ah, then it's all right. Spiritual personality, everyone believes. That's correct. Then there is no rift. Spiritual personality... [break]

Prabhupāda: Therefore it is said, avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ manyante mām abuddhayaḥ [Bg. 7.24]. They, these Māyāvādīs, they think, "Originally the Absolute Truth is avyakta. Now He has assumed, Kṛṣṇa, the form, accepting a body of māyā." This is called Māyāvāda. Abuddhayaḥ. They have no intelligence that spiritually the Lord is always vyakti, a person. Either Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, any way, He is always person.

Girirāja: "He was garlanded gloriously and there were many scents smeared over His body."

Prabhupāda: It is all personal description: "Dress, ornaments, flowers, garlands, scents." This is offered to the person.

Girirāja: "All was magnificent, all-expanding, unlimited. This was seen by Arjuna."

Prabhupāda: This is spiritual. Unlimited. Yes.

Dr. Patel: Shall I read?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel:

divi sūrya-sahasrasya
bhaved yugapad utthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād
bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ
[Bg. 11.12]

Girirāja: (reads synonyms) (end)

most confidential knowledge

2009-07-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

Bg 10.42

TEXT 42

TEXT

atha vā bahunaitena

kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna

viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam

ekāṁśena sthito jagat

SYNONYMS

athavā—or; bahunā—many; etena—by this kind; kim—what; jñātena—knowing; tava—you; arjuna—O Arjuna; viṣṭabhya—entire; aham—I; idam—this; kṛtsnam—all manifestations; eka—one; aṁśena—part; sthithaḥ—situated; jagat—in the universe.

TRANSLATION

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.

PURPORT

The Supreme Lord is represented throughout the entire material universes by His entering into all things as the Supersoul. The Lord here tells Arjuna that there is no point in understanding how things exist in their separate opulence and grandeur. He should know that all things are existing due to Kṛṣṇa's entering them as Supersoul. From Brahmā, the most gigantic entity, on down to the smallest ant, all are existing because the Lord has entered each and all and is sustaining them.

Worship of demigods is discouraged herein because even the greatest demigods like Brahmā and Śiva only represent part of the opulence of the Supreme Lord. He is the origin of everyone born, and no one is greater than Him. He is samatā, which means that no one is superior to Him and that no one is equal to Him. In the Viṣṇu-mantra it is said that one who considers the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in the same category with demigods-be they even Brahmā or Śiva-becomes at once an atheist. If, however, one thoroughly studies the different descriptions of the opulences and expansions of Kṛṣṇa's energy, then one can understand without any doubt the position of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and can fix his mind in the worship of Kṛṣṇa without deviation. The Lord is all-pervading by the expansion of His partial representation, the Supersoul, who enters into everything that is. Pure devotees, therefore, concentrate their minds in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in full devotional service; therefore they are always situated in the transcendental position. Devotional service and worship of Kṛṣṇa are very clearly indicated in this chapter in verses eight to eleven. That is the way of pure devotional service. How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Tenth Chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of the Opulence of the Absolute.

Sadhusanga

2009-07-03T00:01:00.001-07:00

Is Brahman Krsna?

2009-07-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

Father Emmanuel: Is Brahman Krsna?
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna is Parabrahman. Brahman is realized in three aspects: as impersonal Brahman, as localized Paramatma, and as personal Brahman. Krsna is personal, and He is the Supreme Brahman, for God is ultimately a person. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.11), this is confirmed:
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate"Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma, or Bhagavan." The feature of the Supreme Personality is the ultimate realization of God. He has all six opulences in full: He is the strongest, the richest, the most beautiful, the most famous, the wisest, and the most renounced.

The Vedas

2009-07-02T23:58:00.001-07:00

The Vedic scriptures are the spiritual literature of the ancient Indian culture. They consist of a huge collection of books written in the Sanskrit language that includes material (mundane), religious (ritualistic), and spiritual(monotheistic) knowledge. The word "Vedic" is derived from the Sanskrit word veda, meaning knowledge or revelation. According to Vedic history, these scriptures were written down about 5000 years ago. This date is not accepted in modern Indology, but the date is in fact not very important, because the knowledge in these scriptuires existed long before it was written down.

The Veda is understood by simply accepting what the Veda says about itself. This Vedic self-understanding may be amazing or even unbelievable to the modern reader, but the different opinions about the origin and history of the Vedic scriptures are due to a fundamental difference in world views between the followers of the Veda and modern mundane scholars.

According to the Indological world view, "Vedic Scripture" doesn't even exist. Modern Indology says that the collection of books mentioned in this article is not a consistent body of knowledge but a mere accumulation of texts from different sources. Indology claims that they were written over a long period, starting after the hypothetical Aryan invasion into the Indian subcontinent, about 1000 to 1500 B.C., when the mixture of tribes formed a "Vedic" culture. If we believe this scenario, then it is natural to think that the Indian scriptures are a mass of unsystematic, mythological texts.

The Vedic scriptures maintain a completely different version-one of ancient cultures, timeless revelations, and divine incarnations. The entire body of Vedic knowledge has a systematic structure and a clearly-defined goal, being compiled by Vedic rishis (sages) headed by Vyasadeva- the literary incarnation of Lord Krishna. About 5000 years ago these sages systematically wrote down this knowledge to prevent it from being lost in the upcoming Kali-yuga, the Iron Age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the most fallen in the cycle of ages.

The structure of the Vedic scriptures can be compared to a staircase with many steps, with specific scriptures corresponding to each step. The Vedic scriptures describe both the goal and the steps leading up to this goal. They are nonsectarian because they respect people of all "steps", encouraging everyone to progress to the next step. There is no converting or pushing, because everyone has to walk for himself. As the Vedic saying goes, "Even in a flock of birds, each bird has to fly for itself."

Individual evolution is not limited to one life. The Vedic understanding of reincarnation declares that the steps of this symbolical staircase can also be understood as lifetimes. The almost proverbial "Hindu" tolerance is based on a solid philosophical understanding and shouldn't be confused with merging, indifference or "everything is one."

Superficially, the Vedic scriptures may appear to be unsystematic and even contradictory, but this impression can easily be reconciled by finding out how each step is connected with the goal.

The Four Vedas

Known as Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva, the four Vedas are usually labeled as the original Vedic scriptures. Rig means ritual, and this Veda contains mainly hymns and prayers (mantras) for the worship of the universal forces known as the demigods. Yajur means ceremony, and this Veda mainly describes how to perform the rituals. Sama means singing, and this Veda contains many other mantras and strict rules how to chant these mantras according to mystic vibrations. Atharva means the priest who knows the secret lore, and this Veda describes many different kinds of worship and invocations. In a broader sense, the Atharva also includes scriptures of material knowledge, like the Ayur-Veda(pharmacology and health).

The purpose of these teachings is to encourage one to understand that one is not an independent entity but a part of a universal body that depends on many higher forces. The most important lesson from these four Vedas is to accept higher authorities. By linking up with the divine forces through ritual and understanding, one profits materially and experiences peace and harmony.

Tantric Scriptures

Not everybody is inclined to follow the methods of the Vedas, which demand strictness, purity, faith, and patience. Impatient, ignorant people demand instant results, and these can be obtained by magic, ghost worship, etc. By providing such knowledge, the Vedic scriptures encourage the faith of occultists, so that one day or one lifetime, they may develop interest in the higher aspects of the Veda. Such works are in the modes of passion and ignorance.

The Upanisads

Woven into the four Vedas are philosophical discussions called the Aranyakas and Brahmanas. The most significant of these are the Upanisads("sitting beneath", i.e. knowledge obtained from a spiritual teacher). These texts show that all material forms are temporary manifestations of an eternal energy beyond material duality. They show the oneness behind the variety and inspire those absorbed in the rituals of the Vedas to go beyond their short-term goals.

The Vedanta-sutras

To provide a common ground of argument for all philosophical schools, the 560 condensed aphorisms of the Vedanta-sutra define the Vedic truths in the most general terms. Therefore the commentaries to the Vedanta-sutras are voluminous.

The Itihasas

These are the historical works, mainly the Ramayana(the history of the incarnation Rama), the 18 Puranas and 18 Sub-puranas(the universal history of creation and annihilation, incarnations and great kings, saints and teachers), and the Mahabharata (the history of ancient India, or Bharata, up to the appearance of Krishna five thousand years ago). These scriptures are essential because they expand the understanding of the Absolute beyond the abstract, impersonal platform. The Absolute is supremely perfect and complete, which is why it is both impersonal and personal. But the personal aspect is the original source of the secondary impersonal existence of the Lord, since an impersonal energy cannot be the source of persons. The Itihasas reveal this personal feature, gradually introducing and identifying it, culminating in the purely monotheistic revelations of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

The Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam

The Vedic scriptures designate these sacred texts as the most important, essential revelations. They directly describe the nature, energy, and person of God, who is both the immanent (as Vishnu) and transcendent (as Krishna) source of everything, the cause of all causes, of both the impersonal and personal manifestations. Bhagavad-gita("the song of God") are the words spoken by God, and Srimad-Bhagavatam("Divine Revelation")are the words about God spoken by His representatives. This implicit structure of the Vedic scriptures sheds new light on the entire Vedic tradition and deserves closer examination. But the goal of these scriptures is to lead us to the Supreme, and it is not sufficient merely to study them theoretically. They imply practical consequences. Mere academic study of the Vedic scriptures can be compared to reading a cookbook or a musical composition. If we don't come to the point of actually cooking or playing, we will have missed the goal.

The Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Bhagavad-gita means "the song of God." It was spoken by Lord Krishna to His friend and eternal servant Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers, the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. The 18 chapters of the Bhagavad-gita are from the middle of the Mahabharata and comprise the core teaching of that history of India. The 700 verses of the Bhagavad-gita were spoken in about 45 minutes. They were spoken 3,134 years before the birth of Christ on a battlefield about 80 km. north of Delhi, India. That battlefield, called Kuruksetra, still exists today.

The external reason for the Bhagavad-gita's being spoken is the refusal of the great warrior and general Arjuna to fight on the battlefield of Kuruksetra due to the illusion that had momentarily overcome him. Krishna therefore gave him perfect instruction, which cleared up his illusion and ultimately led to the victory of the Pandavas and the reestablishment of righteousness and purity in the kingdom. The internal reason is to enable us, the fallen conditioned souls of this material world, to hear directly from Krishna how to free ourselves from illusion and return to our original position of eternal, loving devotional service to the Lord.

Although many editions of the Bhagavad-gita have been published in the world, most scholars agree that only the Bhagavad-gita As It Is truly represents the words of Krishna as they are understood by Krishna's sincere followers. Indeed, although many persons had translated the text before Srila Prabhupada presented his book, the study of these other versions had not resulted in anyone becoming a devotee of Lord Krishna-which is the whole point of the Gita. Since one may judge a thing by the results it brings, the result that thousands of people have transformed their lives by devotion to Krishna owing to the publication and distribution of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has made the science of Krsna consciousness available to those outside of India and has shown that Vedic knowledge is divine revelation to bring us to the supreme goal, pure loving devotional service of Krishna.

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita 15.15:

sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham

I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come rememberance, knowledge
and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known.
Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

Srimad Bhagavatam

The Bhagavata Purana, is the ripened fruit of the Vedic literature and is the narration of transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. It is narrated by Sukadeva and has become more sweet from being spoken from his lips.

"Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyasadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Part 1, Verse 2

"O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of desire of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls."
Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Part 1, Verse 3

One should read the Bhagavatam from the beginning to the end and not skip to the Tenth Canto, as recommended by Srila Prabhupada:
"The Tenth Canto is distinct from the first nine cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the tenth Canto without going through the first nine cantos. The book is complete in twelve cantos, eac independent, but it is good for all to read them in small installments one after another." -Preface

Krsna cannot give permission to eat animals?

2009-07-02T23:56:00.000-07:00

Father Emmanuel: Krsna cannot give permission to eat animals?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes-in the animal kingdom. But the civilized human being, the religious human being, is not meant to kill and eat animals. If you stop killing animals and chant the holy name Christ, everything will be perfect. I have not come to teach you, but only to request you to please chant the name of God. The Bible also demands this of you. So let's kindly cooperate and chant, and if you have a prejudice against chanting the name Krsna, then chant "Christos" or "Krsta"-there is no difference. Sri Caitanya said: namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktih. "God has millions and millions of names, and because there is no difference between God's name and Himself, each one of these names has the same potency as God." Therefore, even if you accept designations like "Hindu," "Christian," or "Muhammadan," if you simply chant the name of God found in your own scriptures, you will attain the spiritual platform. Human life is meant for self-realization-to learn how to love God. That is the actual beauty of man. Whether you discharge this duty as a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muhammadan, it doesn't matter-but discharge it!