ISKCON Swaziland with Jagat Guru Prabhu (left) & Savyasaci Prabhu(right)
After the last post with the disappointing news about the fire at ISKCON Dallas, this is something positive. With the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's message is being spread to every town and village ~ Gauranga! 
MBABANE – Meditation is catching on in Swaziland and one of the types is japa meditation, practised by the Hare Krishna sect. Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, also known as Savyacasi Das, his initiation name, has declared meditation to be an important aspect of life. The Tshwane University of Technology graduate and monk belonging to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness said his initiation involved practising the Maha mantra for one hour thirty minutes, for a couple of weeks, converting to vegetarianism and avoiding pre-marital sex. Speaking of being a monk, Das said it was about dedicating one’s body, mind and soul to the service of God and he is a full time missionary for Krishna. He described the International Society for Krishna Consciousness as an ‘educational society’ and said some of the monks were allowed to marry and they were the ones who wore orange robes. The society, which was founded by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is based in Mbangweni in the country and led by Bhajti Narasymha Swami, from Durban in South Africa. He said the society teaches the science of self-realisation through meditation and refers to the Indian scripture called the Bhagavadgita. Das said the society provided home programmes and centreprogrammes on Sundays at 2pm. According to Das’ beliefs, meditation is a very important and a necessary function for one who wants to be happy and free of miseries and anxieties of life. He said their belief was that meditation meant fixing the mind to be above the everyday anxieties which affect the mind; hence one must raise oneself above the material platform to a transcendental level. "We believe that God is on the spiritual level and that if we are in constant contact or association with God, we can be situated on the spiritual platform," said Das. Their belief states that the easiest way to be fixed in constant association with God is through the chanting of his names. It further states that if one practises their meditations and followed the golden rules for japa meditation, they will achieve real success and happiness in life. Add Comment Some disappointing news. Last night there was a fire at ISKCON Dallas, primarily affecting Kalachandji's Restaurant. A cook top was left on. A good lesson. A few weeks ago it was rather late and we were sitting with Maharaj after a sanga at ISKCON Toronto and we smelled gas from the kitchen and indeed one burner was left on... Hopefully Kalachandji's can be quickly restored and thankfully Lord Narshima protected all devotees from any physical harm. 
Fire Friday night started in Kalachandji's Restaurant and Palace a restaurant below a Hare Krishna temple in Dallas. NBC 5
Dallas Restaurant Damaged by Fire Dallas Fire-Rescue says the fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant By Elvira Sakmari| Saturday, May 19, 2012 | Updated 9:04 AM CDT A Dallas restaurant must close its doors after a kitchen fire Friday night. The fire started in the kitchen at Kalachandji's Restaurant and Palace, which is located just below a Hare Krishna temple near Graham and Fairview Avenues. The restaurant played host to a celebration Friday night, Dallas Fire-Rescue says after the kitchen closed a cook top was left on. "There happened to a wok of cooking oil, we believe that contributed to the fire, the damage and the fire," said Dallas Captain Paul Martin. Fire officials said while the fire was put out quickly the restaurant suffered tens of thousands of dollars in damage. The temple above suffered only smoke damage. The Glories of today's Apara Ekadasi 05/16/2012
 Sri Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh Janardana, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June)? I wish to hear from You the glories of this sacred day of Hari. Please narrate everything to me" Lord Sri Krishna said, "Oh king, your inquiry is wonderful because the answer will benefit the whole human society. This Ekadasi is so sublime and meritorious that even the greatest sins can be erased by its purity. "Oh great saintly king, the name of this unlimitedly meritorious Ekadasi is Apara Ekadasi. Whoever fasts on this holy day becomes famous all over the universe. Even such sins as killing a brahmana, a cow, or an embryo; blasphemy; or having sex with another man's wife are completely eradicated by observing Apara Ekadasi. Oh king people who bear false witness are most sinful. A person who falsely or sarcastically glorifies another; one who cheats while weighing something on a scale; one who fails to execute the duties of his varna or Ashrama (an unqualified man's posing as a brahmin, for example, or a person's reciting the Vedas wrongly); one who invents his own scriptures; one who cheats others; one who is a charlatan astrologer, a cheating accountant, or a false Ayurvedic doctor. All these are surely as bad as persons who bears false witness, and they are all destined for hellish punishments. But simply by observing Apara Ekadasi, all such sinners become completely free of their sinful reactions. Warriors who fall from their kshatriya-dharma and flee the battlefield go to a ferocious hell. But, Oh Yudhishthira, even such a fallen kshatriya, if he observes fasting on the Apara Ekadasi, is freed of that great sinful reaction and goes to heaven. That disciple is the greatest sinner who, after receiving a proper spiritual education from his spiritual master, turns around and blasphemes him. Such a so-called disciple suffers unlimitedly. But even he, rascal though he be, if he simply observes Apara Ekadasi, can attain to the spiritual world. Listen, Oh king, as I describe to you further glories of this amazing Ekadasi. The merit attained by one who performs all of the following acts of piety is equal to the merit achieved by one who observes Apara Ekadasi: bathing three times daily in Pushkara-kshetra during Kartika (October-November); bathing at Prayag in the month of Magh (January-February) when the sun is in the zodiac of Capricorn; rendering service to Lord Shiva at Varanasi (Benares) during Shiva-ratri; offering oblations to one's forefathers at Gaya; bathing in the sacred Gautami River when Jupiter transits Leo (Simha); having darshan of Lord Shiva at Kedarnatha; seeing Lord Badrinath when the Sun transits the sign of Aquarius (Kumbha); and bathing at the time of a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra and giving cows, elephants, and gold there in charity. All the merit one gets from performing these pious acts is gained by a person who observes the Apara Ekadasi fast. Also, the merit attained by one who donates a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land, is attained by one who fasts on this day. In other words, Apara Ekadasi is an axe that cuts down the fully matured forest full of trees of sinful deeds, it is a forest fire that burns sins as if they were kindling firewood, it is the sun blazing before one's dark misdeeds, and it is a lion stalking the meek deer of impiety. Therefore, Oh Yudhishthira, whoever truly fears his past and present sins must observe Apara Ekadasi very strictly. One who does not observe this fast must be born again in the material world, like one bubble among millions in a huge body of water, or like a small ant among all other species. Therefore one must faithfully observe the sacred Apara Ekadasi and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Trivikrama. One who does so is freed of all his sins and promoted to the abode of Lord Vishnu. Oh Bharata, for the benefit of all humanity I have thus described to you this the importance of the holy Apara Ekadasi. Anyone who hears or reads this description is certainly freed from all kinds of sins, oh best of saintly kings, Yudhishthira. Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-krishna Ekadasi, or Apara Ekadasi, from the Brahmanda Purana.  Artist's rendering of Srila Prabhupada's mother Since today is Mother's day we thought it would be nice to post about Srila Prabhupada's mother. So here is an excerpt from the Prabhupada Lilamrta about Srila Prabhupada's mother, Srimati Rajani Devi. Abhay’s mother, Rajani, was thirty years old when he was born. Like her husband, she came from a long-established Gaudiya Vaisnava family. She was darker-skinned than her husband, and whereas his disposition was cool, hers tended to be fiery. Abhay saw his mother and father living together peacefully; no deep marital conflict or complicated dissatisfaction ever threatened home. Rajani was chaste and religious-minded, a model housewife in the traditional Vedic sense, dedicated to caring for her husband and children. Abhay observed his mother’s simple and touching attempts to insure, by prayers, by vows, and even by rituals, that he continue to live. Whenever he was to go out even to play, his mother, after dressing him, would put a drop of saliva on her finger and touch it to his forehead. Abhay never knew the significance of this act, but because she was his mother he stood submissively “like a dog with its master” while she did it. Like Gour Mohan, Rajani treated Abhay as the pet child; but whereas her husband expressed his love through leniency and plans for his son’s spiritual success, she expressed hers through attempts to safeguard Abhay from all danger, disease, and death. She once offered blood from her breast to one of the demigods with the supplication that Abhay be protected on all sides from danger. At Abhay’s birth, she had made a vow to eat with her left hand until the day her son would notice and ask her why she was eating with the wrong hand. One day, when little Abhay actually asked, she immediately stopped. It had been just another prescription for his survival, for she thought that by the strength of her vow he would continue to grow, at least until he asked her about the vow. Had he not asked, she would never again have eaten with her right hand, and according to her superstition he would have gone on living, protected by her vow. For his protection she also put an iron bangle around his leg. His playmates asked him what it was, and Abhay self-consciously went to his mother anddemanded, “Open this bangle!” When she said, “I will do it later,” he began to cry, “No, now!” Once Abhay swallowed a watermelon seed, and his friends told him it would grow in his stomach into a watermelon. He ran to his mother, who assured him he didn’t have to worry; she would say a mantra to protect him. Srila Prabhupada: Mother Yasoda would chant mantras in the morning to protect Krsna from all dangers throughout the day. When Krsna killed some demon she thought it was due to her chanting. My mother would do a similar thing with me. His mother would often take him to the Ganges and personally bathe him. She also gave him a food supplement known as Horlicks. When he got dysentery, she cured it with hot puris and fried eggplant with salt, though sometimes when he was ill Abhay would show his obstinacy by refusing to take any medicine. But just as he was stubborn, his mother was determined, and she would forcibly administer medicine into his mouth, though sometimes it took three assistants to hold him down. Srila Prabhupada: I was very naughty when I was a boy. I would break anything. When I was angry, I would break the glass hookah pipes, which my father kept to offer to guests. Once my mother was trying to bathe me, and I refused and knocked my head on the ground, and blood came out. They came running and said, “What are you doing? You shall kill the child.” Abhay was present when his mother observed the ceremony of Sadha-hotra during the seventh and ninth months of her pregnancies. Freshly bathed, she would appear in new clothing along with her children and enjoy a feast of whatever foods she desired, while her husband gave goods in charity to the local brahmanas, who chanted mantras for the purification of the mother and the coming child. Abhay was completely dependent on his mother. Sometimes she would put his shirt on backwards, and he would simply accept it without mentioning it. Although he was sometimes stubborn, he felt dependent on the guidance and reassurance of his mother. When he had to go to the privy, he would jump up and down beside her, holding her säré and saying, “Urine, mother, urine.” “Who is stopping you?” she would ask. “Yes, you can go.” Only then, with her permission, would he go. Sometimes, in the intimacy of dependence, his mother became his foil. When he lost a baby tooth and on her advice placed it under a pillow that night, the tooth vanished, and some money appeared. Abhay gave the money to his mother for safekeeping, but later, when in their constant association she opposed him, he demanded, “I want my money back! I will go away from home. Now you give me my money back!” When Rajani wanted her hair braided, she would regularly ask her daughters. But if Abhay were present he would insist on braiding it himself and would create such a disturbance that they would give in to him. Once he painted the bottoms of his feet red, imitating the custom of women who painted their feet on festive occasions. His mother tried to dissuade him, saying it was not for children, but he insisted, “No, I must do it, also!” All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Our respectful obeisances to Srimati Rajani Devi who so tenderly raised "Abhay" who went on to became the Founder Acarya of ISKCON, the greatest Acarya of modern times and our beloved spirtual master.  Artist's rendition of Srila Prabhupada as a child SHE is my Guru 05/13/2012
This guru has taught me how to love Krishna. This guru chants for hours and does not take morning prasadam until she has completed. This guru so delicately offers flowers to Radha & Krishna that you can feel her love. This guru sings songs while cooking and cleaning. This guru has composed many songs and poems to Radha and Krishna. This guru so lovingly puts Krishna to sleep, you know He will cuddle in His blanket. This guru does not gossip/talk on phones for hours, avoiding Vaishnava apradha. This guru does not watch television or waste time with mundane activities. This guru is straight forward in thinking and speaking. This guru chastises me for offences. This guru cherishes my service to Guru and Gauranga. This guru lovingly feeds me Prasadama. This guru has kept those around her engaged in Krishna bhakti. This guru will help me go back home...back to Godhead. I am appreciative that Krishna has given me this guru and she is my Mom. (You may know her as Ashalata devi dasi) ~ Indresh I know Mother's day is not on the Vaishnava calendar but I consider respecting our parents part of Vaishnava culture and even more so when through great endeavor they have tried to keep their family (3 generations) Krishna Conscious. Our scripture does not mince words, for example in Srimad Bhagavatam (5.5.18) it states " One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod." So in this small way I wanted to appreciate my mom. I have also included a video of her chanting...figuring some readers may want to put a face to the name. (written by Indresh, son of Subhavilasa and Ashalata.) Honouring Sri Ramananda Raya 05/11/2012
Yesterday was the disappearance day of Sri Ramananda Raya on the Vaishnava calendar. Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lilia chapter 10 describe the branches of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's tree. As we often do we must turn to Srila Prabhupada's puport to honour Sri Ramananda Raya, since our description cannot do justice to this great personality who Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu regards by saying, "... both you and I are madmen, and therefore we met intimately on an equal level." Please see verse 134 below complete with purport...  ei panca putra tomara mora priyapatra ramananda saha mora deha-bheda matra Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Bhavananda Raya, "Your five sons are all My dear devotees. Ramananda Raya and I are one, although our bodies are different." PURPORT The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (120-24) states that Ramananda Raya was formerly Arjuna. He is also considered to have been an incarnation of the gopi Lalita, although in the opinion of others he was an incarnation of Visakhadevi. He was a most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Although I am a sannyasi, My mind is sometimes perturbed when I see a woman. But Ramananda Raya is greater than Me, for he is always undisturbed, even when he touches a woman." Only Ramananda Raya was endowed with the prerogative to touch a woman in this way; no one should imitate him. Unfortunately, there are rascals who imitate the activities of Ramananda Raya. We need not discuss them further. In Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's final pastimes, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara always engaged in reciting suitable verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam and other books to pacify the Lord's ecstatic feelings of separation from Krsna. When Lord Caitanya went to southern India, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised Him to meet Ramananda Raya, declaring that there was no devotee as advanced in understanding the conjugal love of Krsna and the gopis. While touring South India, Lord Caitanya met Ramananda Raya by the bank of the Godavari, and in their long discourses the Lord took the position of a student, and Ramananda Raya instructed Him. Caitanya Mahaprabhu concluded these discourses by saying, "My dear Ramananda Raya, both you and I are madmen, and therefore we met intimately on an equal level." Lord Caitanya advised Ramananda Raya to resign from his government post and come back to Jagannatha Puri to live with Him. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu refused to see Maharaja Prataparudra because he was a king, Ramananda Raya, by a Vaisnava scheme, arranged a meeting between the Lord and the King. This is described in the Madhya-lila, Chapter Twelve, verses 41-57. Sri Ramananda Raya was present during the water sports of the Lord after the Ratha-yatra festival. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered Sri Ramananda Raya and Sri Sanatana Gosvami to be equal in their renunciation, for although Sri Ramananda Raya was a grhastha engaged in government service and Sri Sanatana Gosvami was in the renounced order of complete detachment from material activities, they were both servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who kept Krsna in the center of all their activities. Sri Ramananda Raya was one of the three and a half personalities with whom Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discussed the most confidential topics of Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised Pradyumna Misra to learn the science of Krsna from Sri Ramananda Raya. As Subala always assisted Krsna in His dealings with Radharani in krsna-lila, so Ramananda Raya assisted Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His feelings of separation from Krsna. Sri Ramananda Raya was the author of the Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka. Jaya Sri Ramananda Raya!  What better way to honour this most auspicious day of Nrsimha Caturdasi than reading Srila Prabhupada's lecture on this auspicious day. For readers a reminder that there are festivities at your local ISKCON temple. However for some that are unable to go to the temple today, perhaps this lecture will fill in the festivities gap and still allow you to be absorbed in celebrating the Appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada states: So today, appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared on this Nrsimha Caturdasi on account of His devotee, Prahlada. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam, sambhavami yuge yuge. The Lord appears with two purposes. Paritranaya sadhunam: just to give protection and rescue the devotees, and to kill the demons, vinasaya ca duskrtam. So Prahlada Maharaja, five-years-old boy, his only fault was that he was Krsna conscious. He was devotee of Krsna. That was his only fault. And the father was so unkind to a child, even five years old. He could not excuse, "Oh, let this boy do whatever, chanting Hare Krsna." No. The demons are so much against God consciousness that even at his home he would not allow his own child to become God conscious. This is demoniac civilisation. So you'll find many critics, many enemies, because you are making progress in Krsna consciousness. So the demons are always against this Krsna consciousness movement. That is the whole history. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified. What was his fault? He was preaching God consciousness, that's all. This society is so cruel. So Prahlada Maharaja was tortured in so many ways. The torturing methods, I think you will find as you will see in today's picture, how Prahlada Maharaja was tortured. So one day, Hiranyakasipu... After all, he was his son. Affection was there. So one day, Hiranyakasipu asked the boy, prahradanucyatam tata svadhitam kincid uttamam kalenaitavatayusman yad asiksad guror bhavan So he asked his son, "My dear son, what you have learned? The best thing, what you have learned from your teachers, so you kindly let me know." So Prahlada Maharaja informed that "I have learned like this." What is that? sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-laksana kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam Tan manye 'dhitam uttamam: one who is engaged in the matter of hearing about Visnu, sravanam kirtanamvisnoh. We are engaged in hearing and talking and chanting about so many things non-Visnu. Just like you'll find thousands of, millions of different types of magazines sold in your country, in all countries. Some of the magazines are sex literature, some cinema literature, some this literature, that... So many different types. There is one paper I have seen, "Diabetes Literature." There are many patients of diabetes, so they have formed a society, "Diabetic Society." I have seen it. (laughter) And there are many diabetic patients, they are being hoaxed, that "You pay two dollars per year, and you get all information how to protect yourself from diabetes disease." So in America two dollars is nothing, but it is collecting millions and millions of dollars, Diabetic Society. Diabetic magazine. So that sort of hearing and chanting is not needed. We are not interested in all these magazines, because we are followers of Prahlada Maharaja. He's our acarya. He's guru. Prahlada Maharaja's guru is Narada, and Narada is also our guru. Narada is guru of Vyasadeva. So we are a branch, but the original guru is Narada, Brahma-sampradaya. So Prahlada Maharaja is also a disciple of Narada Muni. So he teaches that sravanam kirtanam visnoh. We have to hear and talk and chant about Visnu. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. To remember Him always, to worship His lotus feet, pada-sevanam. Arcanam, temple worship, to keep the Deity nicely worshiped, offer foodstuff, arati, this is called arcanam. Vandanam, offering prayers. Just like we offer prayer, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. These are prayers. There are so many prayers. Kesava-dhrta buddha-sarira, kesava-dhrta narahari-rupa. These are all prayers. This is also part of devotional service. sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam... Arcanam vandanam dasyam. To be always in service of the Lord, dasyam; sakhyam, to make friendship with Him, to consider Krsna as your friend. He says... Even if I do not say that He's my friend, He says, "I am friend of everyone." Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. He's friend of everyone. We don't want His friendship, but He wants our friendship. He wants us to go back to home, Godhead; we don't want. So He is more anxious to take us, exactly like the father is more affectionate than the son. That's a fact. So He's the supreme father. So He wants that we may be happy, and therefore He comes to show us. He sends His representative, son. He leaves behind Him books so that we may go back to home, back to Godhead. So, sakhyam. He's always sitting with me, within my heart. I am in the heart, and Paramatma is also within the heart as friend to give me advice that "Why you are bothering in this material world? Please come back to home, back to Me." This is going on. Sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Atma-nivedanam means fully surrendered. So there are examples of devotees who, sarvatma-nivedanam. Just like Bali Maharaja. He gave everything to Krsna, even his body, everything, whatever, his kingdom, money, everything. So Prahlada Maharaja says, iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-laksana. All these items means hearing. Hearing about Visnu, chanting about Krsna, giving everything to Visnu, offering prayers to Visnu, offering arcana, temple worship, Visnu. In this way Prahlada Maharaja summarizes that "Anyone who is doing like this, everything about Visnu..." iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-laksana, "this nine kinds of different devotional services," kriyeta bhagavatay addha, "directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead," tan manye 'dhitam uttamam, "I think he is the best learned man in the world. He is the most learned." Tan manye 'dhitam. "He has studied everything very nicely." Actually, that is the fact. Jnana, knowledge Knowledge means to know Krsna, God, and the Vedic injunction is, yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavanti. If you understand the Supreme Lord, then you understand everything. You haven't got to study differently different subject matters. Just like we sometimes talk of science, of astronomy, economics, politics. We talk sometimes. But we are not going to, or we didn't study all the subject matter separately. But in course of our studying Krsna consciousness, we know something of everything. So Prahlada Maharaja says, tan manye adhitam uttamam: "One who is engaged in these nine kinds of devotional services directly..." So Prahlada Maharaja recommends, kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam. nisamyaitat suta-vaco hiranyakasipus tada guru-putram cedam rusa prasphuritadharah As soon as he heard, "Oh, what this nonsense boy is speaking?" he became so angry that sphuritadharah. When one becomes angry, his lips vi..., I mean to say, jumps. What is called? Quiver, yes. So he became so angry that it is said, sphuritadharah. (He) immediately called his teacher. He's king... Because he thought, "The rascal teachers, they have taught him like this. I have entrusted the boy to the teachers, to brahmanas, and they have taught this Krsna consciousness. So call him. Otherwise, how is that this small boy, five years old only, he's talking just like a great saint? So call his teacher!" brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksam srayatasata asaram grahito balo mam anadrtya durmate Hiranyakasipu became bitterest enemy of Visnu because his brother Hiranyaksa, he was killed by Visnu taking the shape of Varaha. You know the story. Since then, Hiranyakasipu was bitterest enemy. "Oh, He has, Visnu has killed my brother. So He is my greatest enemy." So he won't hear anything about Visnu. Any Visnu devotee, he will punish him, even his own son. That was his policy. So he immediately called him, the teachers, and addressed him, brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksam srayatasata asaram grahito balo mam anadrtya durmate So here... Teachers are generally brahmanas. Not generally. To become teacher is the business of the brahmanas. Brahmana means they have got six kinds of... Everyone must have livelihood. This material world is that you must work; otherwise you cannot get your livelihood. That is the law, whatever you may be. So the brahmanas' means of livelihood, six things: pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Pathana means he must be a very learned scholar, study the Vedic literature, and must teach others also. That is brahmana's business. And in that way, whatever the disciples bring, that is his income. No salary, no contract, that "If you pay me hundred dollars or five hundred dollars weekly, then I can teach you." No. There is no such contract. Teaching is free. It is the business of a brahmana to give free education to everyone. Now, it is the... Just like in our institution, I am your teacher, but there is no such contract that you have to pay me. But you pay me more than anything. So pathana pathana, that is the means of livelihood of brahmana. And ksatriya, they are kings. They can levy tax of the citizens because they are giving protection from being hurt by others. Ksatriya means one who gives protection (to) a man being hurt by others. That is the real root meaning. Ksatriya. And vaisya means they should, krsi-goraksya-vanijyam, they should engage themselves in producing foodstuff, foodgrains, krsi, protect cows. Especially goraksya. As the king is meant for giving protection to the man, similarly, a vaisya is supposed to give protection to the cows, or they keep cows and produce milk products. They are vaisya. And sudra, simply service. So these are the different types of employment of different kinds of social order. And a king, the king has to see that everyone is employed. Not that hundreds of people are unemployed, and government has to give welfare, subsidy. Not like that. The king's duty is that everyone is independently earning his livelihood. That is king's duty. So here the teachers are addressed here brahma-bandho. Brahma-bandho means a person who is born by a brahmana father but is not acting as a brahmana. He's called brahma-bandho, dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu, one who is born of a, actually born of a brahmana father, but he's not acting as a brahmana. So Hiranyakasipu addressed the teachers brahma-bandho, not brahmana. "Because you are untrustworthy. I gave you, I entrusted you with my son to be taught, and you have taught him this Krsna consciousness. So against my will..." He says practically, brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksam srayatasata: "I entrusted my child for being educated by you, and you have instigated him to speak in favor of my enemy, Visnu? Visnu is my enemy. How is that?" Asaram grahito balo mam anadrtya durmate. "This rascal boy, he does not care for me, and he has learned this Krsna consciousness, and you have taught him. How is that?" santi hy asadhavo loke durmaitras chadma-vesinah tesam udety agham kale rogah patakinam iva "So I think these demigods who are followers of Visnu, they are coming in disguise and poisoning my son by teaching Krsna consciousness, and you did not take care of him. So what is this?" Then the teachers replied, na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro naisargikiyam matir asya rajan niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma nah They said, "My dear King, don't think we have taught him like this. It is not... I know, it is not our duty to teach him against your will. But his Krsna consciousness is not due to our teaching; neither somebody is coming in disguise and teaching him." Na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam. "He is neither taught by us, nor by anyone else." Suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro. Indra-satro. The enemy... The Hiranyakasipu is the enemy of the demigods; therefore he is addressed as Indra-satro. As he addressed the brahmana, brahma-bandho, so they retaliated also, that "You are enemy of the demigods." Naisargikiyam, "By nature he is doing that. We try to forbid him. We try to stop him chanting Hare Krsna, but still he's doing." Matir asya rajan niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma. "You don't be angry upon us. We never did it." So... "He is, by his own nature he chants, he preaches, he's doing all this." gurunaivam pratiprokto bhuya ahasurah sutam na ced guru-mukhiyam te kuto 'bhadrasati matih Then he again asked his son, "Now I understand that your teacher has not taught you all these things. You rascal, where you have learned all this Krsna consciousness?" (laughter) Abhadra. Kuto abhadrasati matih: "Wherefrom you got this rascal wisdom? Tell me." So this is the position, you see. Even father becomes enemy. Now, Prahlada Maharaja is replying. Prahlada Maharaja is replying, matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam "My dear father, don't be afraid. It is not a thing to be taught." Matir na krsne. "Nobody can become Krsna conscious," matir na krsne parato, "being taught by others," matir na krsne paratah svato va, "or by mental speculation or thinking oneself," mitho 'bhipadyeta, "or by making conference meeting, religious meeting, conference." No. Three things. One thing is to learn Krsna consciousness by speculative method, self-realization. Just like so many people are very much interested that "Why shall I go to a guru? I can realize myself. I shall meditate." So that is called svatah. And paratah means by others' instruction. And mitho, mitho means by assembly. So who? Now, grha-vratanam. If one is grha-vrata... There are two things: grhastha and grha-vrata, or grhamedhi. "So those who are grha-vrata..." because he is pointing out his father's position, that he's grha-vrata. He has no other business. He simply wants to get money, hiranya. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu, a nice apartment. That's all. So he says that grha-vratanam, "If one makes it his point to remain in a comfortable home life, for him, either by speculation or by teaching or by meeting, he'll never develop Krsna consciousness." Grha-vratanam. Then what is their position? Now, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: "They are unable to control their senses, and as such, they are entering into the darkest region of material existence." Punah punas carvita-carvananam: "Their only business is chewing the chewed." They have no other ways. Grha-vratanam, those who want to be happy materially, actually they are chewing the chewed. Material happiness means sex life, ultimate, utmost, topmost happiness. So people are simply trying to, how to utilize this sex life in so many ways, in pictures and in... I do not wish to discuss. In dancing, in club, in so many ways. Because they cannot control the senses. The same thing, same thing, the same sex life in different way. Sometimes a naked dance, sometimes in this way, sometimes in that way. Therefore it is called punah punas carvita-carvananam. I have heard that some people go to Florida and they spend fifty thousand dollars per week for organizing naked dance. So naked woman he has seen so many times, but still he spends more money to see it in a different way. That is called punah punas carvita-carvananam, "chewing the chewed." So persons who are too much attached to sense gratification, and they have made it their conclusion that "We shall be happy within our family life or this social life..." Vidyapati sings, tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). Our society means... Society, friendship, and love. There must be woman, must be children, suto-mita-ramani-samaje. So there is some pleasure, undoubtedly. Otherwise, why people are working so hard to stick to this position? Vidyapati sings that tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). There is undoubtedly some pleasure, but that pleasure is so insignificant that it can be compared: a drop of water on the desert. Desert, if you want to utilize desert to make it a garden or productive field, you have to pour water. The whole ocean water you have to pour there. Now, if somebody says, "All right, you want water. Now take this one drop water," then what it will do? Similarly, our heart is hankering after so many things. We are hankering... Actually we are hankering after Krsna, but we do not know. We are trying to satisfy our hankering in so many ways in material life. Actually we are hankering after Krsna. Just like a small child, it is crying. It cannot express, but it is wanting the mother's breast feeding. So you cannot stop him crying unless it is transferred to the mother. Similarly, actually we love Krsna. That is a fact. Because we love Krsna... Therefore you, who did not hear even the name of Krsna, say, four or five years ago, why you after so much Krsna? This is the proof, that actually we are after Krsna. This Krsna consciousness movement is being accepted in Western countries by the younger generation. Why? Because every one of us, we love Krsna. But it is now covered by maya. We have to simply take out the covering, maya; then we are Krsna conscious. That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta, nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti 'sadhya' kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya That Krsna consciousness is not an artificial thing, that we are making some propaganda on Krsna consciousness, publishing some books, magazines, and our preachers are going place to place. No, there are so many propaganda is going on. But they are not so effective. And our, what means we have got to make propaganda? We simply make this propaganda, "Please chant Hare Krsna." That's all. Of course, we do sincerely. So if we propagate sincerely and seriously, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna' upadesa... We must be sincere. Then, if we canvass, "Please chant Hare Krsna," it will be effective. It will be effective. The business is not very serious or very difficult. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'... "Anyone you meet, you simply request him about hearing about Krsna." So... But if one is so much covered by materialistic enjoyment, it takes little time. It takes little time. Otherwise, automatically there is love for Krsna, and sravanadi-suddha-citte... Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, sravanam. If we hear about Krsna constantly, through realized souls, not professional--if we hear, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido---then automatically, our dormant Krsna consciousness come out. So Prahlada Maharaja says, therefore, that "Those who are determined to become happy within this material world, they cannot be raised to Krsna consciousness either by personal teaching or by making conference or by mental speculation." That is not possible, because he is determined. So our duty is that we should know that in the materialistic way of life we shall never be happy. This is called knowledge. And vairagya. So this vairagya and knowledge is not so easy. Prahlada Maharaja says, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: it is not possible. That means he assures his father, "Don't be worried. You will never be Krsna conscious. (laughter) Because your only aim is to stick to home and money and women. Therefore rest assured, you'll not be ... It is not that a person like you will be raised to Krsna consciousness." Then? How you have done? The next question should be: Why they are sticking to this materialistic way of life? That is answered by Prahlada, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum. "These persons, those who are so much materially attached, they do not know the ultimate goal of life is Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu." That is actually the ultimate goal of life. We are here in this material world, forgetting Krsna, to enjoy, to lord it over the material nature. Everyone is trying to become the lord, master of material... That is struggle. Nobody can become lord or master of this material world. But that struggle to become master, they are taking it happiness. They are taking it happiness. That is the nature of persons who are influenced by the modes of passion. They'll work hard, and that will, they will take it is very good, pleasing. Because they do not know that the... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah. They are hoping against hope to become happy within this material world. That is the whole history. Take the history, any history, modern history. There are so many empires: the Roman Empire, the Carthaginian Empire, the Greek Empire, the British Empire recently, Hitler's Nazism, and so many. For some time they become very powerful. Just like Hiranyakasipu, he's now very powerful. He's thinking, "Nobody can..." Now today he'll be killed. Kesava-dhrta narahari rupa is coming. So this demonic civilization will never be successful. That's a fact. But they are so fool, they do not see even historical evidences. So many empires failed. The Roman Empire failed, the British Empire failed. Still, somebody is trying to create another empire, another, different empire. Just like your President Nixon, he's trying to influence all other nations under his control. Why? Of course, I should not speak all these things. There may be criticism. But that is the way, going on. That is the way. We can understand. We can understand politics, economics, everything, but we do not bother about. But our aim is that this way of life, to increase materially happiness, it will never be successful. That is our conclusion. We are not fools that we have given up everything for advance in Krsna consciousness. Because we know that this, this way we shall never be happy. It is not possible. That is explained by Prahlada Maharaja. These rascal people who are so much materially attached... Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita, bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrta-cetasam vyavasayatmika buddhih samadhau na nigacchati Those who are too much attached, bhoga, material enjoyment, aisvarya, material opulence ... Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrta-cetasam. Persons whose heart has been misled by this kind of civilization, they cannot take to Krsna consciousness. Therefore to become too much materially opulent is a disqualification for attaining Krsna consciousness. It is a disqualification. Because they don't care. Just like in our temple, not very rich men, they are coming, because they (say,) "What is this nonsense, Krsna consciousness? We have got everything. These boys, they haven't got to eat anything; therefore they are chanting Hare Krsna on the street. That's all." They think like that. "They're needy. All right, they are needy. Give them some money." That's all. They don't like to take anything from us because the same business, matir na krsne paratah svato va. They'll never understand, because their aim is grha-vratanam. They want to be happy... Although they are seeing there is no happiness, they never can be happy, still... This is called punah punas carvita-carvananam, chewing the chewed. One, the sugarcane, is chewed by somebody. It is thrown away. And if somebody else comes and chew it again, what juice he will have it? So punah punas carvita... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum. Durasaya ye durasaya visaya vasi (reads Sanskrit commentary) tantraya karanam te hi visnum na viduh. Tatra hetu svasminn eva arthe purusartha yesam tesam gatim gramyam. Na tu te 'pi guru pati syat visnu jnasyasi tatra bhak bahir visaye bahavo yesam te bahir arthas tann eva guru tena mantra silam yesam te. So one who is fixed up in this conclusion, that "We shall become happy with this materialistic way of life," they cannot take to Krsna consciousness. And they do not know also that our ultimate goal of life is Krsna, Visnu. Then why it is so? Now, andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. They have become blind. They are blind themselves, and they are also led by blind leaders. The leaders, at the present moment, leaders, they say that "Why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? If you want your bread..." Just like in Christian religion you go to church, "O God, give us our daily bread." But the atheist class, they are propagating, "For bread, why you are going to church? You make industry, you make business, and you get bread." But actually... We were just talking that there are so many unemployment. Our Karandhara prabhu was... No. Who was talking? Syamasundara. Syamasundara said that the computer... What is called, computer? It can do thousands of men's business. So they have discovered this machine. That means thousands of men will be unemployed. That is actually happening in your country due to so many machines. Now, take for example, formerly... You have seen the picture, Krsna, Vrndavana picture, Krsna's father transferring Krsna. They were going on bullock carts, no motorcar. You have seen the picture. So formerly, transport was bullock carts. The cows and the bulls, the bulls were employed for agricultural purpose, for drawing the carts. So there was no necessity of motorcar. Now you have got motor, motor-tractor. You don't want the bullocks. Therefore kill them. How you can utilize them? Therefore you must have slaughterhouse to kill them. And as soon as you kill them, then you have to eat them. So this is the, I mean to say, entanglement. If you kill, then you become responsible for being killed. The subtle laws... Therefore, without knowing our ultimate goal of life is Visnu, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum... That is our interest. The human form of life is offered by nature after so much evolutionary process. Just to understand Visnu, God, this is the only business. But instead of attending our real business, we are trying to be happy in other ways. Then you can say that "If we are engaged in real business, then how the economic question will be solved? We have to work." That's all right, you work. But work simple. Why you have invented so much botheration? Work is there. If you have cows and if you have got land, then you till the land, get grains, and there is milk, there is fruit, there is flower. Anywhere, you can live peacefully. Whole economic question is solved. And because we have forgotten, we have missed the real point, that our life is meant for God-realization. We are simply increasing botheration. Punah punas carvita. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. The leaders are blind; we are also blind. So they are advising that "If you want to solve your economic problem, why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? Come here, increase business, industry. Take loan and start business." That's all. This is going on. But actually, the more we are trying to mislead this people... Because they are thinking it is all right. They are... That the social condition is becoming more and more grave. That's a fact. We are trying to solve one problem, but many other problems are coming because we do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Because we are missing the real point. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah. These rascals, they are thinking that by so-called economic development, by exploiting material resources, we shall be happy. That is not possible. The best example your country has given. You have exploited the material resources, and other countries are also following, but where is the happiness? Instead of happiness, there is "hippyness." (laughter) So still, they have no eyes to see that "Where we are going?" Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam. Because we cannot control our senses, we are driving, we are being pushed towards the darkest region of material existence, very hard to leave. Darkest region means that we are going to become animals next life. Because this is animalistic civilization. Nature gave us the opportunity to realize God, but God-realization is meant for human being. The human being, if he does not realize God, he's simply engaged in animalistic way of life--eating, sleeping, mating--then nature will call, "All right, sir, again become animal." Punar musiko bhava: "Again become a mouse." You know this story? Punar musiko bhava. There is a story. There is a very nice story. One rat, mouse, he came to a saintly person. Everyone comes to saintly person for some blessing, you see. Real blessing they don't want. Some material blessing. Real blessing, Krsna, they don't want. If you give him some blessing that "You become very rich man and..." These are all very well, this. So this mouse also came and begged the saintly person, "Sir, I am in difficulty. If you give me some blessing?" "What is that?" "The cat chases after me always. I'm very unhappy." "So what do you want?" "Now, if you make me a cat, then I can get relief from this thing." "All right, you become cat." So he became cat. So after few days, again he comes. "Sir, again I am in trouble." "What is that?" "The dog is chasing me." (laughter) Don't laugh, hear seriously. "Dog is chasing me." "All right, then, what do you want?" "Now, make me a tiger." "All right, you become a tiger." So when he became a tiger he was staring on the saintly person like this. So he asked, "Why you are staring upon me? You want to eat me?" "Yes." So he again curses, punar musiko bhava: "Again you become mouse. Again you become mouse." So that is our position. We are advanced in civilization. Now we want to kill God. So we are again going to be uncivilized, to remain in the forest and to remain naked. Actually, they are practicing that: nature's way. So again they are going to be aborigines. And that is being practiced. They are going to the forest, they remain naked. So actually, punar musiko bhava: "Again become mouse." Civilized human being means God conscious, happy life, no trouble, no enviousness, everything happy, no hard labor. Why hard labor? Everything is there. You just employ your little intelligence, you get sufficient food by grains, by fruits, by flowers, milk. There is no difficulty if we remain in our own way. So that is the difficulty, that we do not know that our ultimate goal of life is God-realization. Then God has got all arrangement. You cannot produce fruits and grains in factory. They are given by God. Why? That "You eat them and be Krsna conscious, chant Hare Krsna." But we don't want that. We want slaughterhouse, unnecessarily. Actually, if you go to the store... There are so many stores. How many stores are selling only meat? It is not possible. Ninety-nine percent fruits, vegetables, grains you are taking, and maybe a little percentage of meat. So why you cannot give up this little percentage? If you think that meat is very palatable, why don't you live on meat? Russia is also trying like that. That has become the fashion. In Moscow, it was very difficult to find out nice grains. With great dif... Syamasundara used to spend two hours daily to secure these things. So this is the problem. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durassaya ye bahir-artha maninah. They are trying to be happy by the arrangement of these material activities. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam. They do not know that the material nature is so strong that you cannot get out of it unless you are prepared to suffer more and more. If you take to natural life and live peacefully and take to Krsna consciousness, that is your real life. And if you simply increase botheration and problems, then you'll have to suffer. That is the position of modern civilization. Actually, superficially we see that material advancement of material science, people have got so many machines, so many facilities. But actually, they are in trouble. Just like I gave you one example: the computer machine. It can work for thousands of men. So thousands of men means the thousands of men must be unemployed. And especially in your country, they are taking advantage of this machine because the salary is If you want to pay to the worker, a big, big salary. So they want to save. They are taking machine, and they think they will save money, so many workers. But the workers are becoming unemployed. The government has to give them welfare. The government will tax. That's all. (laughter.) Government will not give money, welfare, from government's pocket. The government will increase your taxation. So you are..., you stop payment by importing some machine, now you have to pay that money to the government. This is called entanglement. This is a crude example. I don't say that you stop all this business, but the material world is like that. You want to solve something; instead of solving, you'll create so many problems. This is material life. Because our life is not meant for solving problems and creating problems. Our life is meant for understanding God. Then everything is all right. But that you have given up. na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah They do not know that you cannot go an inch beyond the stringent laws of material nature. That is not possible. Then the next question is that how... People are not interested in Krsna consciousness, and then, they are misled by blind leaders. So how, what is the solution? That is Prahlada Maharaja saying, naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat Therefore one has to take shelter of a pure devotee. That is the only solution. He says, naisam matis tavad urukramangrhim. The beginning was that "They are not interested in Krsna consciousness." Then how to become Krsna conscious if that is the solution? Then Prahlada Maharaja says, naisam matis tavad: "So long one does not approach a pure devotee," mahiyasam niskincananam, "great personalities, who has no more any material interest," niskincana, "and takes the dust of his lotus feet on the head..." Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim: "So long one does not approach such personality, there is no possibility of becoming Krsna conscious." Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim. As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately, anartha apagamah, he'll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he'll forget this idea that "Materially we can advance." This is the process. So we have to approach a niskincana, who has nothing to do with this material world. His only ambition is to serve more Krsna. And if somebody approaches him and takes the dust of his lotus feet, then he can understand. Mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat. (aside:) Our time is over? All right. So in this way Prahlada Maharaja talked with his father, and the father became more angry. Instead of taking the lesson ... Murkhaya upadesa hi prakopaya na santaye. If you teach lesson to a foolish person, he'll be simply angry. He'll not take your lesson. How it is so? Payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. If you keep a snake and if you want to make friendly behavior with him, that, "My dear snake, don't bite any more. I'll give you milk and banana. You eat here and stay here nicely," he'll not... His poison will increase, and one day he will... There is a story in the Hitopadesa: one day, one... The same thing. So payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. So these are lessons, stories. So his father, Hiranyakasipu, became more and more angry. So one day... Because after all, son and father... The son was simple boy. So one day he said, "Prahlada, I shall now kill you. I shall see how your Krsna saves you." So immediately, Prahlada was seeing to the pillars of the hall. He was king. So Hiranyakasipu asked him, "Is your God, Krsna, in the pillar?" He said, "Yes, sir. Yes, my father, He is there." So immediately, with anger he broke the pillar and Hiranyakasipu or Nrsimhadeva came out. Now we can honor Him. ~ Srila Prabhupada Jai Nrsimha! Jai Nrsimha Jai Nrsimha! All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the spirtual master, who opened our eyes with the torch of knowledge. Today is Nrsimha Caturdasi - Nrsimhadeva's Appearance. Jai Nrsimha! Jai Nrsimha! Jai Nrsimha! 05/05/2012
om nrsimha namah om mahasimha namah om divyasimha namah om malabala namah om ugrasimha namah om mahadeva namah Om! I invoke the name of the Half-man Half-lion The Great Lion The Divine Lion The Greatly Powerful The Terrifying Lion The Lord of Lords! jaya narasimha sri narasimha jaya jaya narasimhadeva praladesa jaya padma mukha padma bhrnga Glories to Lord Nrsimha, Sri Nrsimha, All Glories to Lord Nrsimhadeva. The Lord of Prahlada, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotus like face of the Goddess of Fortune. On this most auspicious day of Nrsimha Caturdasi (the Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva) please see this video of Lord Nrsimhadeva from Simhachalam. It will transform your day into one of meditation for the Divine Incarnation as the Protector of devotees.  "Je me souviens" is written on every Quebec license plate which translates into "I remember". "Lets we forget" is terminology we are familiar with here in Canada for Remembrance day. Srila Prabhupada himself instructed the remembrance date of a modern day saint, Sri Jayananda Prabhu and "lest we forget" it is on the vaishnava calendar. This in itself is unique and will remain unique since Jayananda Prabhu represents the only calendar posting officially commemorating a personality within the disciplic lineage after Srila Prabhupada. This day is special and must stand as its own Vaishnava festival and not one that eventually gets merged or "by the way it is also Jayananda das' disappearance day". In the old days there would be homages to Sri Jayananda Prabhu, talks about his exemplary service, his lessons in defining the role of a disciple and example of surrender in devotional service This would be coupled with estatic kirtans and feasting, complete with cakes looking like Rathayatra carts. Srila Prabhupada gave this unique honour to Sri Jayananda Prabhu to serve as an example and inspiration to all of us aspiring vaishnavas. So it is our duty to honour Sri Jayanada Prabhu in a grand way. He set the perfect example in serving Guru and Gauranga. He set the perfect example of how to deal with devotees and Godbrothers. He set the perfect example of how to deal with well wishers and not so well wishers. He set the perfect example of preaching and intrducing people to KC. He set the perfect example of humility. He set the perfect example of engaging others in service. He set the perfect example for loving Jaganatha. He set the perfect example taking care of resouces. And the list goes on. New devotees and well wishers can be introduced to Sri Jayananda Prabhu and what better way than this day dedicated him on the Vaishnava calendar. Sites like www.jayananda.com also make for a great resource with close personal associates of Jayananda Prabhu sharing memories and glorifying him. Srila Prabhupada instructed Jayanada Prabhu's disapperance day to be celebrated like those of other Vaishnava saints making this Modern day Saint part and parcel of Vaishnava history as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement spread accross the western world. He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die When thou art living still in sound! The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try to spread the holy name around. ..."Je me souviens"...   The Appearance Day of Srimati Sita Devi 04/30/2012
Today is the auspicious appearance day of Srimati Sita Devi. Of course the story of Lord Ram and Sita is well know and has been reenacted many times on various temple stages. So today's post focus on the actual appearance day of Srimati Sita Devi and some childhood pastimes which would reveal the glories of Sita Maharani.  Janaka maharaj was ploughing a piece of land and then to prepare it for conducting a yajna. He unearthed a golden casket in which he found a beautiful girl and was overjoyed. A land ploughed by the yoke is called 'Sita', and so he named the baby as Sita. Sita grew up and played in the palace of Janakaraj. She became well known for her beauty as well as her devotion. She could often be seen absorbed in the Deity of the Lord of the Surya-vamsa. She would sometimes lovingly enact the pastimes of the various forms of the Lord and relish His pastimes. In this way she revealed to those close to her that she was no ordinary young girl. One day the revered sage Parashurama came to visit king Janaka. He carried a bow with him. He left it at the doorstep of the royal hall and went inside. Sita saw the bow, ran to it and began playing with it as if it was a play-horse. Only those with great physical strength and daring could lift and handle the 'Vaishnava' bow. When Parashurama came out, the bow was missing. Ordinary persons could not lift it with ease and he, curiously looking around, spotted Sita playing with it as if it was a play-horse. The sage and the king were astonished. In Sri Janakatayane it states, Oh daughter of Janaka, the blessed souls of refugees! Oh Consort of Sri Raghu Rama, bedecked with shining gem-ornaments! Pray, protect me always! You are the wind that destroys the clouds of demons like the hundreds-headed Ravana. You are the indweller in the hearts of the devotees. Your Feet shine with the lustre of gems set in the crown of Indra. Jaya Srimati Sita Devi! |  Daily Blog Posts...Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Memories, notes, articles, news, commentary and thoughts by Subhavilasa das and family (with editing & write up by my son Indresh) will be added to this personal family blog site. ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll |
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