 The animals, considered holy by the Hare Krishna faith, are massaged during milking and scented candles and soothing music add to the calming atmosphere Thursday 16th June 2011
By Paul Lee and Chris Hewett
Production of the most expensive pint of milk in the UK will be expanded after Hare Krishna farmers in Aldenham agreed a deal with a Kent dairy.
Ahimsa milk, costing £2.40 per litre, or £1.70 a pint, is currently produced at Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, but officials at the temple have penned a deal to increase production.
The Lotus Trust, which manages sales of the produce through its Ahimsa Milk Foundation, has agreed a deal with Commonwork Organic Dairy, in Kent, to produce more of the luxury white stuff.
Customers in Watford will be able to order the dear dairy straight to their door, via a subscription, when production begins in July.
The extraordinary produce costs more than double the price of organic milk due to the special treatment the pampered cows receive before and during milking.
The animals, considered holy by the Hare Krishna faith, are massaged during the process and scented candles and soothing music add to the calming atmosphere.
No animals are ever slaughtered, and elderly cows are given retirement to a sanctuary at approximately 13 years old, safe in the knowledge a pension scheme, derived from milk sales, will support them into their later years.
Approximately 65p from every litre sold goes towards the animal's retirement fund, which covers hospice and vet costs.
Sita Rama das, director of the Lotus Trust, said: "It has been a lot of effort to get here and we're happy to provide this service to the public. We are very excited about how this project will develop in the future.
"The Lotus Trust has been campaigning for better treatment of cows, and all money gained from this venture will be invested to promote care and better welfare for the animals."
For more information visit www.ahimsamilk.org
Yesterday was the disappearance day of Sri Syamananda Prabhu and with a busy Thursday and we failed to ackknowledge or do a post. Another post may be added later on today or over the weekend with some pastimes of this important vaishnava personality but in the meantime we want to share a video we posted on YouTube. It was prepared for lecture by Subhavilasa das honouring Sri Syamananda Prabhu on his appearance day and the presiding deities of Sri Radha Shyamasundar which were installed by Sri Syamananda Prabhu. Please enjoy these pictures Radha Shyamasundar and images of Sri Syamananda's pastimes which were gathered from dioramas in Vrindavan.
This is the last post promised to honour the disappearance day of Sri Sridhara Pandita.
I have run out of time today and will clean up the post tomorrow. However I wanted to share from Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila, Chapter 10 verse 67 describing the 29th branch of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's tree...
CC Adi 10.67:
khola-vecasridharaprabhurapriya-dasayanha-sane prabhukarenityaparihasaTranslation:
The twenty-ninth branch was Sridhara, a trader in banana-tree bark. He was a very dear servant of the Lord. On many occasions, the Lord played jokes on him.
Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
Sridhara was a poor brahmana who made a living by selling banana-tree bark to be made into cups. Most probably he had a banana-tree garden and collected the leaves, skin and pulp of the banana trees to sell daily in the market. He spent fifty percent of his income to worship the Ganges, and the balance he used for his subsistence. When SriCaitanyaMahaprabhu started His civil disobedience movement in defiance of the Kazi, Sridhara danced in jubilation. The Lord used to drink water from his water jug. Sridhara presented a squash to Sacidevi to cook before Lord Caitanya took sannyasa. Every year he went to see Lord CaitanyaMahaprabhu at JagannathaPuri. According to Kavi-karnapura, Sridhara was a cowherd boy of Vrndavana whose name was Kusumasava. In his Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (133) it is stated:
khola-vecataya khyatahpanditah sridharo dvijahasid vrajehasya-karo yo namna kusumasavah
"The cowherd boy known as Kusumasava in krsna-lila later became Kholaveca Sridhara during CaitanyaMahaprabhu's lila at Navadvipa."
Today's write up glorifying Snana Yatra was just posted. However there are two other festivals today as well and this post is our humble attempt to honour the disappearance day of Sri Mukunda Datta.
Of course we are unqualified to fully appreciate or glorify these remarkable branches of the Caitanya tree and thus we turn to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and the pure vani of our spirtual master, Srila Prabhupada. The first verse is from CC Adi-lila 10th chapter, verse 40.
śrī-mukunda-dattaśākhā — prabhurasamādhyāyīyāńhārakīrtanenācecaitanya-gosāñiTransaltion:
MukundaDatta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya's, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.
1st pastime from an exceprts from Srila Prabhupada's purport.
"In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaṇṭha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya-līlā as Mukunda and VāsudevaDatta, who were singers in the society of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu." When Lord Caitanya was a student, MukundaDatta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu would fight with MukundaDatta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu returned from Gayā, MukundaDatta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about kṛṣṇa-līlā. It was by his endeavor that GadādharaPaṇḍita Gosvāmī became a disciple of PuṇḍarīkaVidyānidhi, as stated in ŚrīCaitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, Chapter Seven. When MukundaDatta sang in the courtyard of ŚrīvāsaPrabhu, Mahāprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sāta-prahariyā, MukundaDatta inaugurated the function by singing.
2nd pastime from excerpt of Srila Prabhupada's purport:
Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya first went to the house of MukundaDatta, but at that time MukundaDatta requested Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu to continue His sańkīrtana movement for a few days more before taking sannyāsa. This is stated in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Caitanya's accepting the renounced order was made known to GadādharaPaṇḍita, CandraśekharaĀcārya and MukundaDatta by NityānandaPrabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kīrtana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya's acceptance of sannyāsa.
Of course scripture is there to teach us at every step and on thus through pastimes with Sri Mukunda Datta, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us a lesson about the type of association we should keep and the dangers of associating with Mayavadis/impersonalists, which unfortunately happens all too often.
In CC Adi-lila 17th chapter verse 65, Srila Prabhupada describes it as follows:
MukundaDatta was once forbidden to enter the association of ŚrīCaitanyaMahāprabhu because of his mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists. When Lord Caitanya manifested His mahā-prakāśa, He called all the devotees one after another and blessed them, while MukundaDatta stood outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that MukundaDatta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, "I shall not soon be pleased with MukundaDatta, for though he explains devotional service among devotees, he then goes to Māyāvādīs to hear from them the Yoga-vāśiṣṭha-rāmāyaṇa, which is full of Māyāvāda philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him." Hearing the Lord speak in that way, MukundaDatta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that MukundaDatta was going to give up the association of the Māyāvādīs for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association of the Māyāvādīs and gave him the association of pure devotees.
So in this way Sri Mukunda Datta was used as an instrument to teach us this same lesson over 500 years later, but don't misunderstand, he was an elevated representative who represents a branch of the Caitanya tree and had intimate association and pastimes with the Golden Avatar, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself!
Jaya Sri Mukunda Datta!
Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his purports!
Today is Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava, so I am begging you to read Caitanya Caritamrta Antya-lila Chapter 6, verses 43 to 100. It will transport you to Panihati at the banks of the holy Ganges and bring you ecstasy as you witness the devotion of Sri Raghunatha dasa and the exchange between Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda.
Simply by reading this, your consciouness will change and you too will want to chant Hari! Hari!. Perhaps this evening you will offer yogurt rice for the pleasure of Gaura-Nitai...
CC Antya 6.43: In the village of Pānihati, Raghunātha dāsa obtained an interview with Nityānanda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kīrtana performers, servants and others.
CC Antya 6.44: Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityānanda seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.
CC Antya 6.45: Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa was astonished.
CC Antya 6.46: Raghunātha dāsa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityānanda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunātha dāsa, offering You obeisances."
CC Antya 6.47: Hearing this, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!"
CC Antya 6.48: The Lord called him, but Raghunātha dāsa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunātha dāsa's head.
CC Antya 6.49: Lord Nityānanda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunātha dāsa as follows.
CC Antya 6.50: "You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you.
CC Antya 6.51: "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunātha dāsa was greatly pleased.
CC Antya 6.52: Raghunātha dāsa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back.
CC Antya 6.53: Raghunātha dāsa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around.
CC Antya 6.54: As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brāhmaṇas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people.
CC Antya 6.55: Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunātha dāsa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots.
CC Antya 6.56: He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brāhmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityānanda.
CC Antya 6.57: In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas.
CC Antya 6.58: The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as cāńpā-kalā. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added.
CC Antya 6.59: After Nityānanda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brāhmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.
CC Antya 6.60: On that platform, all the most important associates of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord.
CC Antya 6.61: Among them were Rāmadāsa, Sundarānanda, Gadādhara dāsa, Murāri, Kamalākara, Sadāśiva and Purandara.
CC Antya 6.62: Dhanañjaya, Jagadīśa, Parameśvara dāsa, Maheśa, Gaurīdāsa and Hoda Krsnadāsa were also there.
CC Antya 6.63: Similarly, Uddhārana Datta Thākura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityānanda Prabhu. No one could count them all.
CC Antya 6.64: Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brāhmaṇas and priests went there. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him.
CC Antya 6.65: Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.
CC Antya 6.66: All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were.
CC Antya 6.67: Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots — one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.
CC Antya 6.68: Some of the brāhmanas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there.
CC Antya 6.69: Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice.
CC Antya 6.70: Thus some sat on the platform, some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.
CC Antya 6.71: At that time, Rāghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise.
CC Antya 6.72: He brought many kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasādam he first placed before Lord Nityānanda and then distributed among the devotees.
CC Antya 6.73: Rāghava Pandita said to Lord Nityānanda, "For You, Sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."
CC Antya 6.74: Lord Nityānanda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night.
CC Antya 6.75: "I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river."
CC Antya 6.76: Lord Nityānanda made Rāghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.
CC Antya 6.77: When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
CC Antya 6.78: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk.
CC Antya 6.79: From each and every pot, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as a joke.
CC Antya 6.80: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityānanda and laughed as He made Lord Nityānanda eat it.
CC Antya 6.81: In this way Lord Nityānanda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaisnavas standing there were seeing the fun.
CC Antya 6.82: No one could understand what Nityānanda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also present.
CC Antya 6.83: Then Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy.
CC Antya 6.84: Lord Nityānanda offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.
CC Antya 6.85: Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love.
CC Antya 6.86: Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari." Immediately the holy names "Hari, Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.
CC Antya 6.87: When all the Vaiṣṇavas were chanting the holy names "Hari, Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krsna and Balarāma ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamunā.
CC Antya 6.88: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunātha dāsa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings.
CC Antya 6.89: Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges.
CC Antya 6.90: All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Śrī Rāmadāsa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamunā.
CC Antya 6.91: When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas.
CC Antya 6.92: As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunātha dāsa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food.
CC Antya 6.93: Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas.
CC Antya 6.94: After Lord Nityānanda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunātha dāsa the food remaining in the four pots.
CC Antya 6.95: There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityānanda, and a brāhmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each.
CC Antya 6.96: Then a brāhmana brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityānanda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body.
CC Antya 6.97: When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityānanda, the Lord smiled and chewed them.
CC Antya 6.98: With His own hands Lord Nityānanda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained.
CC Antya 6.99: After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.
CC Antya 6.100: Thus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.
Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava ki Jaya!
Nitai! Nita!
Gauranga! Gauranga!
Hari! Hari! Please chant the names of Hari!
 Jaya Gaura-Nitai. ISKCON Budapest Some excerpts from an article :Going back for seconds" which makes sense on the last line. This article is from Budapest (a bit out of the area) but we liked some of the author's (Mary Murphy) commentary.
The grand delusion
Then just last week, I found myself visiting the Hare Krishnas in Csillaghegy. As I walked across the road from the local Catholic church to the temple, I had a strange sense of crossing a great divide – something far wider than the 20 feet or so of tarmac that separates the two.
I was nervous. I was brought up Irish Catholic and had survived convent school with all my prejudices intact. Back in 1980s Ireland, this new-fangled religion that made grown men dress in orange, shave their heads and spend their days singing in the streets while banging on drums had met with walls of suspicion and fear that Ireland’s young and impressionable might be caught up in the madness and disappear, never to be seen again.
It’s funny what you remember and how you remember it. Even 30 years later, some miniscule part of me wondered fleetingly if I’d make that hév train back to Budapest. A little nervously, I ventured inside, completely unprepared to have all my delusions shattered.
The global phenomenon
ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is just one month older than me. In its lifetime, it has developed into a global confederation of some 250,000 devotees. That surprised me. When compared to other religions, it’s not a big number – and yet the effect that just one of the ISKCON programmes is having worldwide would blow the lid off any religious Richter scale.
In 1972, looking out a window in Mayapur, a small village near Calcutta, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada saw a group of children fighting with street dogs over scraps of food. His reaction? The promise that no one within ten miles of a Krishna centre would go hungry. And so began the Food for Life programme, which recognised that starvation isn’t a problem of supply, but rather of fair distribution.
Each day, this programme alone feeds over 800,000 people worldwide. Ételt az életért (Food for life) began in Budapest in 1989, with the occasional distribution of vegetarian food during Christian holidays. In 2001, now officially registered as a non-profit organisation, it took up residence in Blaha Lujza tér.
From the back of a van, devotees distributed as many as 500 hot meals most days of the week with a further 500 to needy families near the Budapest temple. That’s 1,000 meals a day from produce grown on their farm and food donated by the public. Ten years ago, most of their clientele may well have been homeless; today, many have homes to go to but are unemployed, surviving on a meagre pension or victims of the foreign-currency mortgage fiasco. All are ordinary people, just like me.
The grave truth
...
...
My grandmothers will be turning in their graves as they read this. Not only did I survive my first encounter with the Hare Krishnas, I plan on going back for seconds.
The excerpts were cherry picked. (The full article can be found at http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19416&Itemid=210)  ISKCON Budapest Temple
Yesterday we did a reminder post about Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi and as promised, the story can be found below. Today is meant for extra meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna and what better way than to chant rounds. (So get off the net already :-) ... after reading the below story of course.
The description of Nirajala Ekadasi, which occurs during the month of May/June, is found in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana in the conversation between Vyasadeva and Bhimasena.
Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great sage Shrila Vyasadeva, the grandfather of the Pandavas, if it is possible to return to the spiritual world without having observed all the rules and regulations of the Ekadasi fasts.
Bhimasena then spoke as follows, "Oh greatly intelligent and learned grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fast completely on each Ekadasi and strictly follow all the rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions of that sacred day. Bring very religious, they always tell me that I should also fast on that day too. But, Oh learned grandfather, I tell them that I cannot live without eating, because as the son of Vayudeva ' Samanaprana, (the digestive air) hunger is unbearable to me. I can give widely in charity and worship Lord Keshava properly with all manner of wonderful upacharas (items), but I cannot be asked to fast on Ekadasi. Please tell me how I can obtain the same merits result without fasting."
Hearing these words, the grandsire of Bhima, Srila Vyasadeva said, "If you want to go to the heavenly planets and avoid the hellish planets, you should indeed observe a fast on both the light and dark Ekadasis."
Bhima replied, "Oh great saintly intelligent grandfather, please listen to my plea. Oh greatest of munis, since I cannot live if I eat only once in a day, how can I possibly live if I fast completely? Within my stomach burns a special fire named Vrika, the fire of digestion. Agni the fire-god, descends from Lord Vishnu through Brahma, from Brahma to Angirasa, from Angirasa to Brihaspathi, and from Brihaspathi to Samyu, who was Agni'' father. He is the gatekeeper in charge of Nairritti, the south-eastern direction. He is one of the eight material elements, and Parikshit Maharaja, he is very expert at examining things. He examined Maharaja Shibi once by turning into a dove (for further information on this incident see Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam commentary to 1:12:20. Purport.)
Agni is divided into three categories; Davagni, the fire in wood, JatharAgni, the fire in the digestion in the stomach, and Vadavagni, the fire that creates fog when hot and cold streams mix in for example the ocean. Another name for the fire of digestion is Vrika. It is this powerful fire that resided in Bhima's stomach.
Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the fire in my stomach become satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to fast only once, so I beg that you tell me of an Ekadasi that is worthy of my fasting and that includes all other Ekadasis. I shall faithfully observe that fast and hopefully still become eligible for liberation's release."
Shrila Vyasadeva replied, Oh king, you have heard from me about the various kinds of occupational duties, such as elaborate Vedik ceremonies and pujas. In the Kali-yuga, however, no one will be able to observe all these occupational, functional duties properly. I shall therefore tell you how, at practically no expense, one can endure some small austerity and achieve the greatest benefit and resultant happiness. The essence of what is written in the Vedic literatures known as the Puranas is that one should not eat on either the dark or light fortnight Ekadasis." As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (Mahabhagavat Puranam) 12:13:12 and 15.) the Bhagavat Puranam is itself the essence or cream of all Vedanta philosophy (sara-vedanta-saram), and the Srimad Bhagavatam's unequivocal message is that of full surrender to Lord Sri Krishna and the rendering of loving devotional service to Him. Observing Ekadasi strictly is a great aid in that process, and here Shrila Vyasadeva is simply stressing to Bhima the importance of the Ekadasi vratam. "... One who fasts on Ekadasis saved from going to the hellish planets."
Hearing Shrila Vyasadeva's words, the son of Vayu, Bhimasena, the strongest of all warriors, became frightened and began to shake like a leaf on a banyan tree in a strong wind. The frightened Bhimasena then said, "Oh grandfather, what should I do? I am completely unable and ill equipped to fast twice in a month throughout the year! Please tell me of the one fasting day that will bestow the greatest benefit upon me!"
Vyasadeva replied, "Without drinking even water, you should fast on the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) when the sun travels in the sign of Taurus (Vrishabh) and Gemini (Mithun), According to learned personalities, on this day one may bathe and perform Achamana for pratiprokshana purification. But while performing Achamana one may drink only that amount of water equal to a drop of gold, or that amount it takes to immerse a single mustard seed. Only this amount of water should be placed in the right palm for sipping, which one should form to resemble a cow's ear. If one drinks more water than this, he might as well have drunk wine ' despite the soaring heat of summer (in the northern hemisphere and cold in the southern hemisphere).
"One must certainly not eat anything, for if he does so he breaks his fast. This rigid fast is in effect from sunrise on the Ekadasi day to sunrise on the Dwadashii day. If a person endeavours to observe this great fast very strictly, he easily achieves the result of observing all twenty-four other Ekadasi fasts throughout the entire year.
"On Dwadashii the devotee should bathe early in the morning. Then, according to the prescribed rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions, and of course depending on his ability, he should give some gold and water to worthy brahmanas. Finally, he should cheerfully honour prasadam with a brahmana.
"Oh Bhimasena, one who can fast on this special Ekadasi in this manner reaps the benefit of having fasted on every Ekadasi during the year. There is no doubt of this, nor should there be. Oh Bhima, now hear the specific merit one gets by fasting on this Ekadasi. The Supreme Lord Keshava, who holds a conch, discus, club and lotus, personally told me, 'Everyone should take shelter of Me and follow My instructions.' Then He told me that one who fasts on this Ekadasi, without taking even drinking water or eating, becomes free of all sinful reactions, and that one who observes the difficult nirjala fast on Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi truly reaps the benefit of all other Ekadasi fasts.
"Oh Bhimasena, in the Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, when all the principles of the Vedas will have been destroyed or greatly minimised, and when there will be no proper charity or observance of the ancient Vedik principles and ceremonies, how will there be any means of purifying the self? But there is the opportunity to fast on Ekadasi and become free of all one's past sins.
"Oh son of Vayu, what more can I say to you? You should not eat during the Ekadasis that occur during the dark and light fortnights, and you should even give up drinking water (nir = no jalaa= water) on the particularly auspicious Ekadasi day of Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi. Oh Vrikodara (veracious eater), whoever fasts on this Ekadasi receives the merits of bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, giving all kinds of charities to worthy persons, and fasting on all the dark and light Ekadasis throughout the year, in one go. Of this there is no doubt.
Oh tiger among men, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi truly becomes a great person and achieves all manner of opulence and wealth, grains, strength, and health. And at the fearful moment of death, the terrible Yamadutas, whose complexions are yellow and black and who brandish huge maces and twirl mystic pasha ropes in the air for binding their victims, will refuse to approach him. Rather, such a faithful soul will at once be taken to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu by the Vishnu-dutas, whose transcendentally beautiful forms are clothed in gorgeous yellowish garments and who each hold a disk, club, conch and lotus in their four hands, resembling Lord Vishnu. It is to gain all these benefits that one should certainly fast on this very auspicious and important Ekadasi, even from water."
When the other Pandavas heard about the benefits to be gained by following Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi, they resolved to observe it exactly as their grandfather Srila Vyasadeva had explained it to their brother, Bhimasena. All the Pandavas observed it by refraining from eating or drinking anything, and thus this day is also known as Pandava Nirjala Dvadashii (technically it is a Maha-Dvadashii).From that day onward Bhimasena began observing this Nirjala Ekadasi, which became famous as Pandava Nirjala, or Bhimseni Ekadasi.
Shrila Vyasadeva continued, Oh Bhimasen, therefore you should observe this important fast to remove all your past sinful reactions. You should pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna in this way making your sankalpa declaration, 'Oh Lord of all the devas (demigods), Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, today I shall observe Ekadasi without taking any water. Oh unlimited Anantadev, I shall break fast on the next day, Dwadashii.' Thereafter, to remove all his sins, the devotee should honour this Ekadasi fast with full faith in the Lord and with full control over his senses. Whether his sins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to Mandarachala Hill, if he or she observes this Ekadasi, the sins that have been accumulated all become nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this Ekadasi.
"Oh best of human beings, although a person should also give water and cows in charity during this Ekadasi, if for some reason or other he cannot, then he should give a qualified brahmana some cloth or a pot filled with water. Indeed, the merit achieved by giving water alone equals that gained by giving gold ten million times a day.
"Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that whoever observes this Ekadasi should take a Holy bath, give charity to a worthy person, chant the Lord's Holy names on a japa-mala, and perform some kind of recommended sacrifice, for by doing these things on this day one receives imperishable benefits. There is no need to perform any other kind of religious duty. Observance of this Ekadasi fast alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Sri Vishnu. Oh best of the Kurus, if one donates gold, cloth, or anything else on this day, the merit one obtains is imperishable.
"Remember, whosoever eats any grains on Ekadasi becomes contaminated by sin and verily eats only sin. In effect, he has already become a dog-eater, and after death he suffers a hellish existence. But he who observes this sacred Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi and gives something in charity certainly achieves liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death and attains to the supreme abode. Observing this Ekadasi, which is merged with Dwadashii, frees one from the horrible sin of killing a brahmana, drinking liquor and wine, becoming envious of one's spiritual master and ignoring his instructions, and continually telling lies.
"Furthermore, Oh best of beings (Jivottama), any man or woman who observes this fast properly and worships the Supreme Lord Jalshayi (He who sleeps on the water), and who on the next day satisfies a qualified brahmana with nice sweets and a donation of cows and money ' such a person certainly pleases the Supreme Lord Vasudeva, so much so that one hundred previous generations in his family undoubtedly go to the Supreme Lord's abode, even though they may have been very sinful, of bad character, and guilty of suicide, etc. Indeed, one who observes this amazing Ekadasi rides on a glorious celestial airplane (vimana) to the Lord's abode.
"One who on this day gives a brahmana a waterpot, an umbrella, or shoes surely goes to the heavenly planets. Indeed, he who simply hears these glories also attains to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, Shri Vishnu. Whoever performs the Shraddha ceremony to the forefathers on the dark-moon day called amavasya, particularly if it occurs at the time of a solar eclipse undoubtedly achieves great merit, but this same merit is achieved by him who simply hears this sacred narration ' so powerful and so dear to the Lord is this Ekadasi.
"One should clean his teeth properly and, without eating or drinking, observe this Ekadasi to please the Supreme Lord, Keshava. On the day after Ekadasi one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form as Trivikrama by offering Him water, flowers, incense, and a brightly burning lamp. Then the devotee should pray from the heart, 'Oh God of gods, Oh deliverer of everyone, Oh Hrishikesha, master of the senses, kindly bestow upon me the gift of liberation, though I can offer you nothing greater than this humble pot filled with water.' Then the devotee should donate the waterpot to a brahmana.
"Oh Bhimasena, after this Ekadasi fast and donating the recommended items according to his ability, the devotee should feed brahmanas and thereafter honour prasadam silently."
Shrila Vyasadeva concluded, "I strongly urge you to fast on this auspicious, purifying, sin-devouring Dwadashii in just the way I have outlined. Thus you will be completely freed of all sins and reach the supreme abode."
{Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi or Bhimaseni-nirjala Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana. These stories have been summarised as they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press. pages 87-91}
We were requested a few months ago to post about Ekadasi the day before the Ekadasi as a reminder. There have already been 3 posts today honouring Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Srimati Gangamata Gosvamini and Sri Ganga Puja. So this is just a reminder of Nirjala Ekadasi for tomorrow and the story will be posted tomorrow.
Tomorrow's Ekadasi is austere and special. Many devotees keep a complete fast...even water. (Some devotees only take charanamrta and achamana water but in usual prescribed amounts). The mercy of Ekadasi is that it increases spirtual strenghth and realizations which allows for increased vigor in chanting and preaching. Nirjala Ekadasi also allows us to "repair" any discrepencies in the 24 annual Ekadasis including circumstances where it was forgetten, unable to be kept or accidently broken.
How do you accidently break ekadasi? Usually after a full day of Ekadasi (fasting from grains and beans) and as the day is winding down with something inconspicuous like maha-prasadam, hidden peas or french cut green beans or even coated peanuts :-) Hopefully some devotees are chuckling as they read this if they have had the "accident".
Keeping your mind off prasadam is not always easy but it gets easier by chanting more rounds as many devotees strive to chant 64 rounds on this special day.
So t Happy Nirjala Ekadasi & Happy Chanting.
 Puja of Sri Ganga Devi - Sridham Mayapur (ISKCON) Gauranga! Gauranga! Today is Ganga Puja.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would offer puja to Mother Ganga and bathe in her holy waters again and again and we can take shelter of these same waters.
She is Mother Ganga because just like a caring mother, Ganga nourishes and protects the tender bhakti creeper of those who take shelter of her. Simply by bathing in her sacred waters, praying or worshiping her this shelter is readliy available.
Ganga-devi emanates from the lotus feet of the Lord. She is flowing throughout the universe bestowing mercy to all.
I like how Jaya Vijaya Dasa summarizes her pastimes... Sri Ganga-devi personally appeared to Maharaja Bhagiratha before the river descended from Brahmaloka onto Lord Siva’s head. Ganga then descended onto the Himalayas prior to Jahnu Rsi swallowing the river. Later, Jahnu released Ganga, which marks the rivers re-appearance. Afterwards, Ganga descended to Rasatala, liberating Sagar’s sixty thousand sons. Then Ganga appears as Bhogavati in the netherworlds before appearing as the Vaitarani encircling Pitrloka.
Sri Ganga-devi continually appears in her unlimited pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees.
So today on Ganga Puja we pray to Mother Ganga to shelter us in Krishna Consciousness.  Srila Prabhupada bathing in Holy Ganga
Saci Devi was the only daughter of King Naresanarayana of Puntiya in the district of Rajsahi.
Although born a princess, Saci Devi was endowed with a religious temperament from childhood and within a short time Saci became conversant with vedic scriptures.
As Saci Devi grew up, her beauty and grace charmed everyone. However, Saci felt no attraction for any man however handsome or wealthy he might be. Her heart belonged to her Madanagopala.
When she came to know that her parents were concerned about her marriage, Saci very firmly told them that she would never marry a mortal being.
The king and queen were so disturbed by their daughter's decision that they both passed away, leaving Saci to shoulder the responsibility of running the royal administration. She performed her royal duties for some time, but after a short while she set out on a pilgrimage, leaving the royal administration to her relatives.
Saci Devi could not find peace of mind anywhere and he search took her to Puri.
She felt inspired after spending a few days there and then left for Vrndavana. There Saci had the good fortunate to meet Haridasa Pandita, an great devotee of Gaura-Nitai and a disciple of Ananta Acarya. Saci fell prostrate at the feet of Haridasa and with tears in her eyes prayed for his refuge.
Haridasa tested Saci's conviction:
"Since it is not possible for a princess to practice bhajana in Vrndavana without relinquishing all worldly possessions, it would be better for you to go back and perform your bhajana at your own house."
Although Saci understood the significance of Haridasa's remark and shecontinued performing her bhajana with great renunciation. Gradually she gave up wearing costly garments and refrained from using any ornaments.
One day Haridasa said to Saci, "If you can give up your sense of pride, dignity, and fear and go out in Vraja with a begging bowl, then and then only the divine grace shall be showered upon you."
Saci was very pleased to hear Haridasa's advice and from then on went out regularly begging, covering herself with only a tattered garment. Despite being dressed as vairagi, when she went from door to door in Vraja, her graceful appearance led people to believe that she was not a common woman. Saci gradually became very thin and looked emaciated.
Nevertheless, she went on with her daily routine; bathing in the Yamuna, cleaning the temple yard, parikrama, attending arati and religious discourses.
Seeing Saci meticulously carrying out his instructions, Haridasa became compassionate towards her. One day he called Saci before him and said:
"Although you are a princess, your personal sacrifice and devotion to Krsna has pleased me greatly. You may prepare yourself to receive mantra diksa right now."
Thus Saci devi was initiated in Radha Krsna mantra from Haridasa on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra, and thereafter devoted herself fully to the service of guru and Govinda. Everyday she attended discourses on Gosvami sastra given by Haridasa and listened with rapt attention. Within a short period of time, to everyone's pleasure, Sacidevi became thoroughly conversant with Gosvami-siddhanta.
Around that time Laksmipriya, an ardent devotee of Haridasa who was known to regularly chant Harinama, arrived in Vrndavana. Under Haridasa's instructions, Laksmipriya and Sacidevi began regularly practicing bhajana at Radhakunda. They also performed Govardhana parikrama together daily.
When Haridasa was convinced of Saci's purity in bhajana and total devotion, he called her one day and instructed her to move to Puridhama to perform her bhajana there and to preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya among the respectable residents of Puri.
By the time she arrived at Puri the majority of Lord Caitanya's companions had disappeared from the world. In Puri Saci devi lived and performed her bhajana in the dilapidated house of Sarvabhauma Pandita. Of all the Deities worshipped during Sarvabhauma's time only the Damodara saligrama still remained there.
Everyday Saci devi would recite from Srimad Bhagavatam in the presence of the respectable residents of Puri. Very shortly she became well-known as an accomplished commentator of Srimad Bhagavatam.
One day Mukunda-deva, the Maharaja of Puri, came to hear Saci devi's recital from Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was very impressed by her speaking and felt inspired to offer her something as a token of his appreciation. That very night Lord Jagannatha appeared to the Maharaja in a dream and commanded him to award Saci devi a site close to Sveta-ganga. Accordingly, Mukunda-deva met Saci devi the following morning, explained his dream, and requested Saci to accept his humble offering of the land near Sveta-ganga.
At first Saci devi declined, but later, in consideration of the command of Lord Jagannatha, and repeated requests of the Maharaja, Saci devi accepted the offering.
Incidentally, the fact that Saci devi was a princess by birth was generally known to the people of Puri. Once Saci devi expressed her desire to take a bath in the Ganges on the auspicious day of Varuni. However, she gave up the idea as it was her guru's order that she stay at Sriksetra.
That night Lord Jagannatha appeared in her dream and said, "Saci, do not worry, on the day of Varuni you take your bath in Sveta-Ganga, the Ganges will flow to meet you at your bathing place."
When the auspicious day came Saci devi went out alone at midnight to take a dip in Sveta-Ganga. As soon as she touched the water, Saci felt herself being swept away by swelling waves, similar to that of the Ganges. Saci devi was carried along in the current until she finally found herself inside the private restricted bathing place within Lord Jagannatha's temple premises.
Therein Saci devi saw herself amidst thousands of people of Puri taking bath in great joy while the chanting of hymns filled the air.
Hearing unusual sounds emanating from within the temple, the security staff of the temple woke up. The Maharaja was informed of the incident and under his order the temple door was opened.
To everyone's surprise they found the well known reader of Srimad Bhagavatam, Saci devi, standing alone inside the temple.
The sevaka pandas of the temple suspected that she had intended to steal the ornaments of Lord Jagannatha, although some others thought the idea of Saci devi being a thief was incredible . Ultimately, Saci devi was taken away and locked up in prison.
Saci devi, completely oblivious to the external circumstances, simply chanted Krsna nama happily.
Very late that night Maharaja Mukunda-deva saw Lord Jagannatha in a dream.
This time the Lord angrily commanded him: "It is I who brought the Ganges, under My feet, in order to enable Saci to take a bath in the Ganges as she desired. Go and release Saci immediately. Also you, along with your priests and pandas, pray at her feet for forgiveness and receive mantra-diksa from her."
Early the following morning Maharaja took his bath and went to Saci devi.
After releasing her from prison he fell prostrate at her feet, begging for mercy.
He explained his dream to her and sought refuge at her feet.
In compliance with the Lord's wish, on the next auspicious day Saci devi gave Mukunda, and numerous priests, Radha Krsna mantra diksa.
From that day Saci devi came to be known as Gangamata Gosvamini.
As a token offering to his guru, Maharaja Mukundadeva expressed his desire to donate some land to Gangamata. At first she declined to accept any material gift, but after repeated humble requests from Mukundadeva, Gangamata had to relent. She permitted the Maharaja to offer certain items and nothing else; two vessels full of mahaprasada of Lord Jagannatha for the Vaisnavas to relish, one vessel of vegetable, one piece of cloth first offered to the Lord and some small coins.
(compiled and consolidated from Lives of the Vaisnava Saints and other texts)
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