Nag Panchami : Snake Worship Day (August 4, 2011)

Nag Panchami, a.k.a., Naga or Nagula Panchami, is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of snakes and serpent deities. It is observed across India and Nepal on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravan during the monsoon season. It celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the mythical Kaliya, a monstrous black python that was killed by Krishna in the Yamuna river. This year Naga Panchami falls on August 4.

Nine serpent deities are worshiped on the auspicious Nag Panchami day. Elaborate rituals in the form of 'puja' are held in temples and temporary altars in the honor of snake gods - Ananta, Vasuki, Padmanabha, Sesha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhruthrashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya - the nine prominent snake gods. In many parts of Eastern India Nag Panchami is dedicated to the serpent goddess, Manasa.

In Bengal and Bangladesh, the Manasa worship is a month-long affair spanning July and August. Devotees pay obeisance to goddess Manasa and perform various 'pujas' or rituals to appease her. Special 'murtis' or statues of the goddess are sculpted, various sacrifices made, and prayers chanted. In some places, worshippers are seen to pierce their bodies, poisonous snakes are displayed on the altar, and live shows depicting the life and legends of Manasa Devi are performed.

The Gayatri Mantra: Meaning & Significance

The Gayatri mantra is one of the most powerful of Hindu mantras. The word "Gayatri" itself explains the reason for the existence of this mantra. It has its origin in the Sanskrit phrase Gayantam Triyate iti, and refers to that mantra which rescues the chanter from all adverse situations that may lead to mortality.

Goddess Gayatri is also called "Veda-Mata" or the Mother of the Vedas - Rig, Yajur, Saam and Atharva - because it is the very basis of the Vedas. It is the basis, the reality behind the experienced and the cognized universe.

The Gayatri mantra is composed of a metre consisting of 24 syllables - generally arranged in a triplet of eight syllables each.

The Gayatri mantra is one of the oldest and most powerful of Sanskrit mantras. It is believed that by chanting the Gayatri mantra and firmly establishing it in the mind, if you carry on your life and do the work that is ordained for you, your life will be full of happiness.

The Laws of Life

Here are 15 chosen gems gleaned from the immortal writings of Swami Vivekananda that can well be termed as the laws of life.

1. Love Is The Law Of Life
2. It's Your Outlook That Matters
3. Life is Beautiful
4. It's The Way You Feel
5. Set Yourself Free
6. Don't Play The Blame Game
7. Help Others
8. Uphold Your Ideals
9. Listen To Your Soul
10. Be Yourself
11. Nothing Is Impossible
12. You Have The Power
13. Learn Everyday
14. Be Truthful
15. Think Different

Why Do Devotees Have a Negative Outlook on the Material World?

The actual fact is that this material world is a miserable, negative place, full of danger at every step. It is a temporary abode of death, birth, disease and old-age, home of suffering and pain only. To come to this platform of understanding of things as they are, is not a very common thing, and therefore such persons who attain to it, they are described as great souls:

Los Angeles 30 April, 1973

Lynne Ludwig
15163, Sylmar, California 93142

“And You, O [insert your name here], Can Be But An Instrument”

Today I was at a college and these three guys were walking and so I stopped them and handed them all a book. Immediately the middle guy got some crazy expression on his face and said “OH! THE BHAGAVAD-GITA! I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE! THIS IS AMAZING!” He started grabbing the shirts of the two guys next to him and said, “This is an amazing book, I’ve aways wanted a copy of this!” He was just looking at his two friends and looking at the Bhagavad-gita he had in his hands in a state of ecstatic shock. His two friends were also favorable and interested, but not like him. They were looking at him as if he was nuts.

Before I had a chance to explain what the books are about, he just asked me, “How much?” I felt like I should at least tell them a little bit about the book. So I said a few words. But this guy just cut me off and said “I know man, this is the Bhagavad-Gita. How much?” I said “Yeah, just give a donation to help with the printing and distribution cost.” He gave me all the money in his wallet and just stood there still staring at the Bhagavad-Gita in awe. His eyes were really big. Then all three of them walked away, and this guy was just grabbing the shoulders of his friends, zealously extolling the Bhagavad-gita to them as they walked away.

Fault-Finding:The Nature of Rascals [MP3 Audio Morning Walk]

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Just try to understand what is the mentality of these rascals, that The good things do not come to your notice. If something is bad, Oh, here is… That means they are not even a Vaisnava. You see?

Indian man: (break) …my weekly visits, that Jyoti Swami showed me that incident at Japan(?), and he asked me, “Have you seen…?”

Prabhupada: Dosam icchanti pamarah. Dosam icchanti pamarah. Maksika bhramara icchanti…(?) Maksika, these ordinary flies, they find out where is sore, and the bhramara, he finds out where is honey. Similarly, dosam icchanti pamarah. And the Bhaktivedanta Swami is doing preaching all over the world–that has not come to his eyes. He has come to the Japanese incident. He has come.

Hari Kirtan In Sohn Puri Graveyard Karachi,Pakistan

Interview Prabhu Aatama Ram Before Event Held

(Video Clip)

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This is for the first time (as per our record) a Hari Naam Kirtan held at Karachi, Graveyard.The event organised by devotees of and in loving memory of SHRI SAT GURU MAHANT BABA DURGA BHARTI MAHARAJ.


Beside of Hari Naam Kirtan and Bhagvat Gita Parchar the event Organizer also arranged a MAHA HAVAN for the peace of unrest soul at Graveyard.

Video of Maha Havan Doing Ram Nath Maharaj

The best part of the Event was the Hari Kirtan held in Graveyard with Bhagvat Gita Parchar by ATAMA RAM PRABHU.

Video of Prabhu Aatama Ram (Kirtan)

Below are the picture of Maharaj ATAMA RAM PRABHU with there fellows.

Below are the external view of Karachi Graveyard where, the above event held.


When you enter the Graveyard at the Left of the gate there is a temple of Mata Meldi.

MATA MELDI MANDIR

MAIN ENTERANCE GATE

Event Organised By : Shree Ram Nath Maharaj

Event Date : 24-07-2011

Hari Kirtan In Sohn Puri Graveyard Karachi,Pakistan

This is for the first time (as per our record) a Hari Naam Kirtan held at Karachi, Graveyard.The event organised by devotees of and in loving memory of SHRI SAT GURU MAHANT BABA DURGA BHARTI MAHARAJ.


The best part of the Event was the Hari Kirtan held in Graveyard with Bhagvat Gita Parchar by ATAMA RAM PRABHU


Beside of Hari Naam Kirtan and Bhagvat Gita Parchar the event Organizer also arranged a MAHA HAVAN for the peace of unrest soul at Graveyard.


Below are the pictures of Maharaj ATAMA RAM PRABHU with there FELLOWS.


Below are the external view of Karachi Graveyard where, the above event held


MAIN ENTERANCE GATE


When you enter the Graveyard at the Left of the gate there is a temple of
MATA MELDI


Event Organised By : Shree Ram Nath Maharaj

Hari Kirtan In Graveyard Karachi,Pakistan

Event Organised By : RAM NATH MAHARAJ

This is for the first time (as per our record) a Hari Naam Kirtan held at Karachi, Graveyard.The event organised by devotees of and in loving memory of SHRI SAT GURU MAHANT BABA DURGA BHARTI MAHARAJ


The best part of the Event was the Hari Kirtan held in Graveyard with Bhagvat Gita Parchar by ATAMA RAM PRABHU

Beside of Hari Naam Kirtan and Bhagvat Gita Parchar the event Organizer also arranged a MAHA HAVAN for the peace of unrest soul at Graveyard.

Below are the external view of Karachi Graveyard where, the above event held

MAIN ENTERANCE GATE

When you enter the Graveyard at the Left of the gate there is a temple of
MATA MELDI


Below are the pictures of Maharaj ATAMA RAM PRABHU with there fellows

The Greatest Barrier for Advancing in Spritual Consiciousness

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So long this conception of life will exist, that, ‘I am this body, and anyone who is related with this body, they are my own men, kinsmen, relatives…’ This conception of life is the greatest barrier for advancing in spiritual consciousness.

arjuna uvacadrstvemam svajanam krsnayuyutsum samupasthitamsidanti mama gatranimukham ca parisusyati

vepathus ca sarire meroma-harsas ca jayategandivam sramsate hastattvak caiva paridahyate

Translation: “Arjuna said: My dear Krsna, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up. My whole body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end. My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.”

From Naradhama to Angel Instantly, This Is Srila Prabhupada’s Program

A few days ago we met a young man who at first told me that he’s totally not interested at all. But I tried my best to explain the book to him in hopes that something may inspire him somewhere deep in his heart to give Srila Prabhupada a chance and take a book. I started out by explaining to him that this book (Bhagavad-gita As It Is) is the most important thing to all humankind because it teaches us who we are beyond the bodily, materialistic conception, and this misconception of our bodily identification is what we are all bewildered with.

 I showed him the Sanskrit verses, “These are the original ancient texts where all knowledge of yoga, meditation, karma and how the mind works comes from. Einstein would read these books regularly and many other great thinkers got their ideas from here, like Emerson and Thoreau.” I continued like this, explaining and showing him how awesome these books are.

Advancement of Civilization Means Advancement of Sense Gratification. Bhakti Means the Opposite

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Everyone in this material world is engaged in sense gratification. This is material world. And spiritual world means there is no question of sense gratification. Simply they want to satisfy Krsna. Just like Vrndavana. Vrndavana means there mother Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja, Radharani, the gopis, the cowherds boys, Sridama, Sudama, the land, the water, the trees, the birds–everyone is trying to satisfy Krsna. That is Vrndavana.

Nitai: “Thus consciously engaged in devotional service in the association of devotees, a person gains distaste for sense gratification, both in this world and in the next, by constantly thinking about the activities of the Lord. This process of Krishna consciousness is the easiest process of mystic power; when one is actually situated on that path of devotional service, he is able to control the mind.”

Prabhupada:

bhaktya puman jata-viraga aindriyad
drsta-srutan mad-racananucintaya
cittasya yatto grahane yoga-yukto
yatisyate rjubhir yoga-margaih

The Ksatriya Spirit

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Not that the poor soldiers would fight and the leaders would remain in a secure place, no. The oldest man in the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of Arjuna and Duryodhana. He was very old man, brahmacari, and he was taking the risk of fighting. This is ksatriya spirit.

Pradyumna: Translation: “Then Bhisma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly like the sound of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.”

Prabhupada: So Duryodhana was doubting that “My grandfather, Bhisma, is more affectionately inclined to the other party. So he may not be lenient in fighting.” So in order to encourage Duryodhana,tasya sanjanayan harsam. “Don’t think that I am lenient. I am strong.” Immediately, to encourage him, he blew his conchshell. Nowadays they use bugle. Formerly the conchshells were used by the kings.

Religion of Love–A Book Review

In my opinion the whole thesis is based on the philosophy of pantheism and the approach is made by the services of mankind. Religion of love is the true religious idea but if the approach is made through the service of mankind only, then the process is made imperfect, partial and unscientific.

Raja Mohendra Pratap
World Federation
Prem MohaVidyalaya
P.O. Brindaban.

Dear Raja Sahib,

In continuation of my last post card, I beg to inform you that I have finished the reading of your book Religion of Love. In my opinion the whole thesis is based on the philosophy of pantheism and the approach is made by the services of mankind. Religion of love is the true religious idea but if the approach is made through the service of mankind only, then the process is made imperfect, partial and unscientific.

Seeing the Prime Cause

On July 29, 1971, Srila Prabhupada was interviewed on television at the University of Gainesville in Florida (which His Divine Grace described as “a remote corner of the world, thousands of miles from the birthplace of Lord Caitanya”).

At one point, Srila Prabhupada was asked the following question:

Interviewer: How would I recognize a true follower of the Krsna consciousness movement by his behavior? What would his traits be? What would his outward expressions be?

Srila Prabhupada: He’d be a very perfect gentleman, that’s all. You could not find any fault in him.

The only objective is to serve Krsna wherever he may be. (Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 11, Text 55)

The pure devotee does not even want salvation. He does not want to be transferred even to the highest planet, Goloka Vrndavana. His only objective is to serve Krsna wherever he may be.

TEXT 55

TEXT

mat-karma-krn mat-paramo
mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava

SYNONYMS

mat-karma-krt–engaged in doing My work; mat-paramah–considering Me the Supreme; mat-bhaktah–engaged in My devotional service; sanga-varjitah–freed from the contamination of previous activities and mental speculation; nirvairah–without an enemy; sarva-bhutesu–to every living entity yah–one who; sah–he; mam–unto Me; eti–comes; pandava–O son of Pandu.

Srila Prabhupada on his Godbrothers

Although my godbrothers knew that Prabhupada liked me very much, because I am grhastha, I was known as paca-grhastha. Paca-grhastha mens a rotten grhastha…

760119rc.may Conversations
Bhavananda: People are attracted by the Westerners coming to the matha. So if we’re up at that matha, any of us, and then they say, “Just see.” They say in Bengali, “Just see. They are coming. To see our guru maharaja, they are coming.”

Prabhupada: THAT WAS THE POLICY OF MADHAVA MAHARAJA AND SRIDHARA MAHARAJA, THAT “ALTHOUGH BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI IS PROPAGATING THROUGHOUT, HE IS SUBORDINATE TO US, UNDER OUR INSTRUCTION.” SO ALL THESE THREE..

Persistance! — The Key to Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Books

Recently I was distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books at the monuments in Washington DC and I stopped a group of people. One girl in the group asked me, “Have you been to ECU before?” I thought for a moment and then I remembered that ECU stands for Eastern Carolina University. She said she met me there in front of a residence hall and she and her friend got books from me. Then I remembered the whole thing and how we had a very nice, deep conversation about the philosophy and how they went back to their dorms and got all the money they had and came back and took all the books I had.

I asked her if she read the books yet and she said yes and now she is taking courses at her school on eastern philosophy and Hinduism. She was so excited and surprised to meet me again so randomly here in DC over a year later. I showed her that now we have Srila Prabhupada’s original KRSNA book and it is so nectar. She gave a donation for that one too. I showed everyone else in her group the various books I had of Srila Prabhupada and almost everyone in the group of about six people took a few books each. Luckily I had bags for them to carry away their new-found treasures.

The Prabhupada Story Part Eight 8

If you want to live alone in a secluded place and practice yoga for your own personal benefit that is very nice. But if you want to help others by spreading Krishna consciousness, that is far better.


PRABHUPADA INVOLVES HIS DISCIPLES IN HIS WORLDWIDE PREACHING MISSION… AND KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS SPREADS EVERYWHERE

Srila Prabhupada directed his disciples enthusiasm towards the goal of spreading Krishna consciousness.

“You should expect to perform public kirtana in the important cities of the world. Taking mrdanga and karatalas you can perform kirtana anywhere and get the mercy of Lord Chaitanya!”

We think we have met your goodness by the will of providence

You are the eternal captain of the lotus ship of Lord Caitanya’s mercy. We were so fortunate that you picked us up from the ocean of maya and gave us shelter aboard your ship. This ship named Iskcon was plying smoothly through the treacherous waters of Kali-yuga, with your beautiful vapu and your eternal vani always there to help us weather the various storms of maya.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you.

We think we have met your goodness by the will of providence just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali. (SB 1.1.23)

We Must Have a Definite Process–SRILA PRABHUPADA SPEAKS OUT

This is the conclusion of an exchange between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and an official from an impersonalist (God-is-simply-everyone-and-everything) movement. The exchange took place in Paris, on August 13, 1973, with Srila Prabhupada’s disciples translating the official’s remarks from French.

Official: Personally, I do not like the idea of killing animals.

Srila Prabhupada: But what is the ideal of your order? That I am asking.

Official: Love between men. Understanding.

Srila Prabhupada: What have the animals done? There is no love or understanding shown to them.

Official: I love the animals. I have many animals living with me. I am surrounded by animals.[Laughter.]

Srila Prabhupada: That is nice. But a person who is habituated to kill animals–will he be admitted into your order?

The Prabhupada Story–Part Seven 7

Srila Prabhupada would preach at every opportunity, and there was no way his disciples could slow him down.


Strenuous Preaching Takes its Toll…




On the occasions when his followers had tried to restrain Srila Prabhupada, their concern for his physical welfare was no match for his determination to give Krishna consciousness away at all costs.

Srila Prabhupada could have safely lived out his days in Vrindavana in India but he had chosen strenuous international preaching instead.

Srila Prabhupada had another heart attack and he needed to go to India to receive Ayurvedic medical treatment.


Srila Prabhupada would preach at every opportunity, and there was no way his disciples could slow him down. Here he is preaching at a late night program in the Greenwich East Village Theatre.

The Prabhupada Story–Part Four 4

With great difficulty I got out of India. Some way or other by Krishna’s grace I got out so that I could spread the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. I wanted to start a movement in India, but I was not encouraged.


Srila Prabhupada Gets a Passage From India

Srila Prabhupada tried for over thirty years to inspire Indians to take up the message of Gita and Bhagavatam seriously and start a movement to spread Krishna consciousness worldwide. He met with practically no success.

Then he planned to go outside India.

The Prabhupada Story–Part Three 3

In his heart, always it was burning that the whole world was suffering in the materialistic view – everyone is busy in eat drink and be merry. He was having iron-will and determination about his mission. He was not doubtful at all. Actually, he was always preaching that there was no other way except the Hare Krishna mantra. So, always discussing, sometimes the whole night he was discussing with me.


A Lifetime in Preparation


Srila Prabhupada did not wait idly for the success predicted in his old age to arrive. He worked throughout his life to fulfill his guru’s words.

The Prabhupada Story–Part Two 2

Srila Prabhupada was neither enamoured by western education nor ambitious for scholastic achievement. He was always thinking about something religious, something philosophical or devotional about God. – Rupendranath Mitra (school friend)


Philosophical as a Youth


Srila Prabhupada’s father believed that with a good education his son would have a more promising career, thus in 1916 he arranged for him to attend Scottish Churches’ College, then the top British college in Calcutta.

Srila Prabhupada was neither enamoured by western education nor ambitious for scholastic achievement. “He was always thinking about something religious, something philosophical or devotional about God.” – Rupendranath Mitra (school friend)

However, Srila Prabhupada was a good student and took part in college activities. His college senior was Subhash Chandra Bose, who later became the famous freedom fighter.

You Can Pronounce Krsna in Any Way [Prabhupada Speaks Out]

We don’t say, ‘Why you are chanting Krsna like this?’ We never say that. We simply say, ‘Please try to chant Krsna.’

Here we continue an exchange between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the poet Allen Ginsberg. It took place on May 12, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio.

Allen Ginsberg: O.K. So, Your Divine Grace, my original question was, Is the complicated ritual and the Sanskrit language–are they going to keep people from accepting what you’re …

Srila Prabhupada: No, no. We are translating, presenting everything in the English language. All our books are being published in English. Our magazine is in English.

Allen Ginsberg: But the question is, Is the mode of life that you are proposing adaptable to many, many, many people?

Srila Prabhupada: To that I say that this Krsna culture is not something that many, many people can immediately accept.

Srila Prabhupada — On My Order

Srila Prabhupada arrived in Sri Vrindavan Dhama on May 17^th 1977 to prepare to ‘leave his body.’ He made all of the arrangements for the future of his movement. He formed his Will, the Temple Property Trusts, he gave instructions for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and the GBC and he established his initiation system for the future of ISKCON.

Due to some unseen good fortune I got the opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada, at that time. Actually, I began to personally serve him in Bombay as one of his guards and then went with him to Hrsikesh to ‘regain his failing health’ on the advice of one of the life members, Mahadevia Kartikeya.

Things were like heaven in Hrsikesh serving Srila Prabhupada.

We were staying in a two story house right on the bank of the Holy Ganges River. We had the best Jalebi maker (Vedic sweets) in the world, according to Srila Prabhupada, right across the street. We used to have fruit, yogurt and hot Jalebis for breakfast. Srila Prabhupada said that hot Jalebis could cure the common cold.

Srila Prabhupada: A Brief Biography

In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.

Prabhupada’s Books — People Appreciate Them

May 25, 2010 — USA (SUN) — I was at a concert distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books and by his causeless mercy, I was doing very well. Towards the end of the show I was walking back to my van from a far corner of the parking lot, with my bag empty. I was feeling quite blissful from being an instrument for His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and tried not to let it go to my head. All of a sudden I see these big bare-chested jocks that I approached earlier, trying to sell them a book, but to put it nicely, they were not interested. Now they see me and they all swarm around me, and their drunk girlfriends wobble over to see the fun also. I felt like a toothpick in the center of many big boulders. I was nervous, to say the least.

Looking at my empty bag hanging from my shoulder, they said, “Looks like you sold all your books ha?” My bliss merged with fear and all I could do was say, “Yeah” and not focus on the fear that was making me shake a little. But I just remembered that I am simply a servant of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. One of them said, “So what are you smoking, you got to give me some of that sh*t”, to which I replied, “No, I am high on a transcendental platform, no drugs!” They insisted, “No, you got some crack or something. Look at this guy, you know he is high on something.”

Four Books are Enough

In our Krsna consciousness movement we have therefore limited our study of Vedic literatures to Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu. These four works are sufficient for preaching purposes. They are adequate for the understanding of the philosophy and the spreading of missionary activities all over the world.

• Bhagavad-gita As It Is:
  This book is the A, B, C book of spiritual education. This is the essence of the knowledge imparted in the Upanisads. Since Brahma-sutras give conclusive meaning to the Upanisads, Bhagavad-gita is also the essence of the subject matter of the Brahma-sutras. Vedic knowledge is complete because it is above all doubts and mistakes, and Bhagavad-gita is the essence of all such Vedic knowledge. Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the Bhagavad-gita is the best.

My View on Raja-Yoga

I am surprised at the condemnation of other methods of Yoga, especially Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. Are these methods not as divine as BHAKTI Yoga?…

Dear Guruji,

I have seen in many books published nowadays and have also heard about the method of attaining oneness with SHRI KRISHNA. That method is the method of BHAKTI.

Attaining oneness with Sri Krishna is certainly NOT the method of Bhakti. Bhakti means love. To develop a loving relationship there has to be two people. You can’t have a loving relationship with yourself and exchange loving relationships with yourself…

I am sure you are familiar with the Vedanta-sutra TheVedanta-sutra consists of four chapters. The first two chapters discuss the relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is known as sambandha-jnana, or knowledge of the relationship. The third chapter describes how one can act in his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called abhidehya-jnana. This relationship with the Supreme Lord is described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as jivera ‘svarupa’ haya krsnera ‘nitya-dasa’. “The living entity is an eternal servant of Krishna, the Supreme God. Therefore to act in that relationship one must perform sadhana-bhakti, or the prescribed duties of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called abhidheya-jnana. The forth chapter describes the result of such devotional service (pryojana-jnana). This ultimate goal of life is to go back home, back to Godhead. The words anavrttih sabdat in theVedanta Sutra indicate this ultimate goal.

1968 Interview with Srila Prabhupada

When all these attractions are reposed in one place without any rivalry, He is God. That is the conception of God. So Krsna means all these six opulences in fullness together. That is the full definition of God.

Interview

–

February 1, 1968, Los Angeles

Interviewer: I think the first question is kind of basic, is why is everything always taped at all the…

Prabhupada: Because we have got so many branches, they want to hear me, my singing, my speech, therefore they record it and send it to different branches. We have got thirteen, fourteen

Krishna: Monism or Duealism?

I was debating something for quite some time and I was wondering if you could help me out. Does Krishna preach monism(the universe is one big manifestation of God and the idea of a personal God is replaced by this universe) or dualism (the idea that this universe is pervaded by the Lord but also seperate from Him.) I would greatly greatly appereciate an answer back. This has been on my mind for a long time and I am suffering greatly from the inability to get an answer. God bless whoever returns this message. Jacob.

Dear Jacob

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Krishna is God, whatever He says is correct. He is a person and He is the source of everything. Ultimately the source of everything, the cause of all causes, is a person and that person is called Krishna. Krishna is a name that describes God. In one sense God has no names, but He also has many names that describe Him and His pastimes. So the name Krishna means the “all attractive person.” It means the person who has all knowledge, all strength, all beauty, all fame and all renunciation. If you think about it even in this world we are attracted by people who are beautiful, people who are famous, people with a lot of knowledge, etc. So Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is the person who has all these attractive qualities in full.

It Has Always Been Clear to Me that Prabhuapda’s Books Should Never be Changed…

It has always been clear for me that Prabhupada’s books should never be changed, specially once they were edited and accepted by their author, who used them himself to lecture while present. That is why I am keeping the original version of Bhagavad Gita (1975 MacMillan) and not reading from other editions. The message is so clear when you read Srila Prabhupada’s original but when I try to read from the most recent version in some cases the verses, although once familiar to me, become quite unclear.

I pray that one day all books will be again available in their original form. These books were empowered to create new devotees but the present ones seem to have lost their ability to convince people to become devotees of the Lord.

Disciple of Krishna or Disciple of Kali?

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He says, ‘Here is a servant of Kali. He has got a tilaka and neck beads, that’s all.’ He does not know what is the philosophy. If you simply mark your body with tilaka and kanthi, then you are not proper servant, you are not qualified.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.38

–

Los Angeles, June 4, 1976

Pradyumna: Translation: “The blessed messengers of Lord Visnu, the Visnudutas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamaraja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion.”

The Material Body is a Machine. Who is Operating that Machine?

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Any scientist can understand that no machine, however nicely made, finely made, without some person to push the button, it cannot work.

Bhagavad-gita 4.12 –Vrndavana, August 4, 1974

Prabhupada:

kanksantah karmanam siddhimyajanta iha devatahksipram hi manuse lokesiddhir bhavati karmaja

Generally, people are karmaja. Karmaja means one who wants to enjoy the fruit of his labor. Everyone in this material world, they have come to enjoy. So therefore they are working so hard. We have seen in big, big cities, especially in the Western world, they are working very, very hard.

Arsha Prayoga – Part One

For those who saw the Hare Krishna movement spread from city to city and from country to country, it was clear that the original version of Srila Prabhupada’s books was full of spiritual potency and did not require to be changed in any way for his words to act upon the hearts of the conditioned souls.

The question as to whether the writings of the acarya may or may not be revised by his disciples after his disappearance is answered by the rule of “arsa prayoga”. This principle states that one should not see mistakes in what the spiritual master has written or think that his writings may be changed to make them more effective or politically correct. To preserve his teachings in their originally published form is the way by which the acarya is honored, and to do otherwise is to dishonor him. That is the rule of “arsa prayoga”, a principle that devoted followers of a bona fide spiritual master must adhere to without deviation.

Srila Prabhupada’s Poems — A New Book

A Shower of Divine Compassion is the collected poems of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It contains his expressions of his devotion to Lord Krishna and His mission.

I am so happy to see the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) publish this beautiful and complete compilation of the transcendental poems written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. They have titled it: A Shower of Divine Compassion.

“Kavi” or poet is one of the 26 qualities of a Vaisnava (devotee of Lord Krishna) and in these transcendental poems Srila Prabhupada exhibits his ability as a poet in a most brilliant way.