Planet ISKCON

The March issue of the “Conch”, the Newsletter of the Hare Krishna Farm community of Australia is now online.
Special Edition: Children in Iskcon.
EDITORIAL ADVISOR – H.H. Mukunda Goswami
GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT – Urvasi devi dasi
PHOTOGRAPHY - Urvasi devi dasi and Trevor Gore
EDITORIAL BOARD
Damodara Pandit dasa
Govardhana Seva dasa
Krishna Rupa devi dasi (ACBSP)
Mandakini devi dasi
You can download it here: http://goo.gl/c7sOzY

New Govardhana Community’s Special 50th Anniversary Projects.
Many New Govardhana devotees (Australia) have begun planning special 50th projects. Please support these proposed projects and also create your own special 50th Anniversary event.
For more info: http://www.krishnafarm.net/

A Krsna conscious person will never blaspheme any person, any religious leader, who is trying to spread Krsna consciousness or God consciousness!
Srila Prabhupada: A Krsna conscious person will never blaspheme any person, any religious leader, who is trying to spread Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. In any country, in any religion, anyone who has tried to spread God consciousness to the people, they are all respectable persons. Those who are atheists, those who do not believe in God or those who personally declare that “I am God,” we have nothing to do with such persons. But anyone in any country who accepts God as the Supreme, Krsna as the Supreme, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (SB 1.3.28), such persons are respectable persons and we should offer our always respect to them. We have… Unnecessarily we do not want to criticize anyone. But when there is necessity, because we are preacher, it may be sometimes you’ll be faced with opposite elements, so we have to criticize in that respect. Generally we don’t praise or eulogize somebody or criticize somebody. That is not our business. Our business is Krsna consciousness, God consciousness, always thinking that we are eternal servant of Krsna.
And sruti-sastra-nindanam. No scriptures of the world shall be decried. Any scripture which is preaching about God consciousness, that is bona fide. It may be in some scriptures information of God is not fully explained, but if the idea, target, is God, that is a scripture. So generally sruti-sastra means Vedas, the books of knowledge. So one should not go beyond the books of knowledge, just like we are studying Bhagavad-gita. So sruti-sastra-nindanam. Nobody should criticize or malinterpret the statement in the scripture.
(Initiation of Satyabhama Dasi and Gayatri Initiation of Devotees Going to London – Montreal, July 26, 1968)

The post Questions after introduction to kirtana-mela appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Kesava Krsna Dasa

Many devotees, who were previously active in preaching when living full time in the temples, feel that now – living outside and earning a living – those “good old days” remain just distant topics of nostalgia. Will those days ever return, they wonder? How many new generation devotees understand these things?

There is a general tendency for senior devotees who feel somewhat inactive to hark back to those days of jovial communal efforts, volunteered austerities, shared risks, exciting ventures, brotherly and sisterly camaraderie, and that famous “taste” derived from being dependent on Krishna. This is usually the case for Srila Prabhupada disciples, and those who joined in the late 1970’s and early 80’s.

One could argue that much of Iskcon’s frontline preaching is done by younger devotees and the relatively few active full time Srila Prabhupada disciples, whereas the majority – both senior and junior – attend temple functions to hear and associate. Of these, the experienced devotees will have noticed the differences today compared with “olden” day methods of presenting Krishna conscious culture.

“Oh there used to be so many exotic Iskcon preps at Sunday feasts…we don’t see them any more. We used to have those rip roaring kirtans…ah those life shaking ice cold bucket baths…Krishna Book and hot milk before going to bed…those were the days my friend…I think the present generation has it easy for them nowadays.” Are all these observations valid in light of the dramatic changes in Iskcon’s social dynamics, then and now?

Then the questions will arise; what is to stop us from depending on Krishna now? What is preventing us from reliving that “taste” that lingers in the annals of the mind?

During Srila Prabhupada’s time his disciples would marvel at his treasure trove of vaisnava qualities and his cultural demeanour. His trickling drinking water into his mouth without touching lips to the cup was a sensation for some. His ability to make someone feel special, and his every word and deed had a profound effect on many followers, yet they were all different aspects of preaching. These incidents were taken as God-given signs or messages of providence by the sincere. He meant something for everyone. He is a preacher after all.

While thinking back on times gone by, a feeling of being inactive in preaching, and bemoaning the lack of opportunities thereof may persist. “I think I have some experience to pass on to the largely younger devotee community, but they are now managing affairs in the temple…many of them are qualified as professionals in corporate dealings…I might be seen as a backward old-fashioned revivalist to these spiritual technocrats.”

If there are senior devotees like this around – and who are non combative and in tune to Iskcon’s needs – they should be invited to participate as mentors and advisors. It should make an interesting blend of young and “old.” Care should be taken that the seniors having gone through the “good old days” not be highly opinionated, whereas the younger devotees should not write off the older devotees as “old school.” But the “good old days” could be reinvented as it were. The problem is what the youngsters experience today will be the “good old days” of tomorrow.

The fact is, just as every action and word of Srila Prabhupada meant something in a preaching sense to his disciples, the actions and deeds of our senior devotees are similarly scrutinized by younger devotees who seek worthy role models for their Krishna conscious careers. Simply put, a negative action or use of words by a senior devotee equals bad preaching. If Iskcon is a preaching mission then every feature of Iskcon life is in preaching mode.

Many senior devotees are perhaps unaware how they are observed in the presence of younger devotees. Just as Arjuna asks Krishna how an elevated soul walks, sits and so on, the external behaviour of senior devotees do affect sometimes impressionable devotees and sincere younger devotees alike. Along with experience comes the burden of responsibility of assuring our nephews, cousins and nieces that we have been trained properly.

Preaching does not only mean giving classes, lectures, seminars, or speaking to someone holding a book on sankirtana. Everything from our personal conduct to how we cook, serve the deities, serve the devotees, serve the guests and newcomers, setting an example to our children, caring, nurturing and the rest, are all various levels of preaching. And there are two ways of doing so, negative or positive.

Yet at present there are many experienced devotees who are inactive. There is one good reason why those “days of old” seem not to feature nowadays. During those days when everyone lived in the temple, and the general mood was – to use the colloquial term “Fired Up” – almost everyone at some stage or other voluntarily shifted out of their normal comfort zones to, well, depend on Krishna. This sense of detachment had a way of inducing the experience of “taste” and pleasure from this dependence.

Within the shelter or comfort zones of our homes and workplaces our dependence may not be as intense. So when apathy develops so does the desire not to preach. “One whose happiness is within, who is active and rejoices within, and whose aim is inward is actually the perfect mystic…” (BG 5.24) Our outer actions will reflect our inner thoughts. Of course, there are many exemplary devotees living at home who set internal challenges for themselves; they are seriously preaching to themselves to progress in Krishna consciousness.

Even if due to circumstances we cannot preach, we still have our bodies, mind and words/thoughts. A sincere devotee will use the intelligence to tell the mind – manah siksha – of the need to always improve oneself continually. By good conduct and politeness one can indirectly endear people and indirectly give them pious sukrti to advance in Krishna consciousness. There are many ways to preach.

We often read or hear the word – lobha – or greed used. Someone really sincere will never be able to rest comfortably in any comfort zone, always feeling inadequate and incomplete without reaching the towering level of Bhava and beyond, or at least having cognizance to this degree: “For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.” (BG 6.30) On this level every situation imaginable is a preaching message from the Lord to be serious.

This whole material world is a preaching tool to remind us constantly about the miseries and sufferings it causes, therefore the demigods in charge of universal affairs are preaching there part too. There is an absolute preaching quality in Lord Krishna’s description of birth, death, disease and old age, and His Time factor preaches that all good things must come to an end, including our comfort zones.

By becoming mentors or advisors, or organisers, or any background service within Iskcon, it is all preaching nonetheless. To think again about our recommitment and voluntarily coming forward to assist, will, in the higher sense mean that we will be helping to reunite all lost souls back into the divine company of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Your servant Kesava Krsna Dasa

The post Daily Darshan: March 14th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Nitya Kishora devi dasi

Before sunrise the International Party moved slowly from Svarupa Ganj (Godrumadvipa) to Hamsa Vahana (Madhyadvipa) . Lord Shiva appeared in this place just to hear Gauranga Lila, so this is very auspicious island. From there we went to the manifestation of Kuruksetra in Navadvipa dhama where the devotees heard about the glorious of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj.

Delicious breakfast was serving in Pancaveni, under Gauranga setu as we go every year. Panchaveni means the confluence of the five sacred rivers: Ganga, Sarasvati, Yamuna, Alakananda and Godavari rivers. The current in this part of the island is very strong, so the devotees just pour water in their heads and pay obeisances.

From there the party went to our new camp this year, Mahisura. It is situated in a beautiful muslim village area. It was amazing to see all these vaishnavas from different part of the world given the Holy Name to the curious hundreds of Muslim families on the way. Believe or not our Mayapur sankirtan devotees distributed for free 300 Bhagavad Gitas to these village people. The devotees were happy to give spiritual knowledge and the holy name in the Muslim area and they were happy to see the international party. Nonetheless Parikrama management call security force and dozens of Army soldier were there to protect the party just in case.

The names “Nitai Gauranga” was vibrating all around during Sandhya Arati time in the camp. After blissful kirtan, performed in the very land of Lord Caitanya, the pilgrims devotees were ready to listen Gauranga Katha from HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj.

HH Lokanath Swami Maharaja was giving class about how Lord Caitanya was making the animals in the Jarikhand forest love each other despite of the ‘deadly’ difference (the tiger and the deer for example). He said “…the tiger woke up by Lord Caitanya Himself and he was confused ‘..somebody is waking me up..’ then it started to walk side by side with the deer and both of them forgot about their natural enmity, forgetting their false ego … and by seeing it, as described in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta “Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vrindavan. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vrindavana.” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said “Vrindavana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, both human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship.”

In this way Maharaj was describing the nectar of the eternal pastimes of Lord Caitanya, he continued to say how he met Rupa Goswami in Prayaga and his travel to Benares.

Some years ago the devotees wrote in their feeback reasearch that they want more activities in the camp at evening time, so we created the evening class that has a duration of minimum 1 hour. During Parikrama we have sannyasis and senior devotees every evening speaking about different topics related to Lord Caitanya with the aim of enlivenend those which doing little bit more austerity stayed in the camp. By staying in the camp they get a chance to go deeper in Gauranga lila. By hearing and remembering these pastimes your love for Lord Caitanya will increase more and more.

These mental viruses infect us when we let ourselves become overwhelmed by excessive material desires for either the gross pleasures like smoking and drinking or the subtle gratifications of the ego. When we forget our spiritual identity and glory as beloved children of the Supreme Lord, we start thinking of such unnecessary material desires as necessary, resulting in a variety of negative emotions. All negative emotions are just permutations and combinations of six primal negative drives, namely lust, anger, greed, envy, pride and illusion. In Sanskrit, these are called as anarthas. An means not and artha means value or meaning. So anartha refers to that which is valueless and meaningless. Continue reading "Give Yourself A Break Before You Break Down
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Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Maharaja’s sannyasa initiation (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we performed the sannyasa initiation for Uttama Sloka das, who became Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Maharaja. The ceremony was held here in Sridham Mayapura in the association of many wonderful devotees. May Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya bless Maharaja to be successful in his preaching all over the world!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uljMyC

Answer Podcast

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Maha Harinam in Mayapur by Russian devotees (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is described as maha-vadanya, the most munificent of charitable persons, because He gives Krishna so easily that one can attain Krishna simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.3.38 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/QpgXU8

Vraja-Katha in Mumbai (Album with 180 photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: In January 2016 we were invited to do Braja Katha at the newly opened Sri Sri Radha Giridhariji Mandir at Mira Rd. We also gave class one morning in ISKCON Chowpatty and visited the Kanheri Caves and the famous Elephanta Caves. Enjoy these pics of Arjun Bhattacharyya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/D6QTHn

March 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Real Love for Srila Prabhupada.
If we are to love Prabhupada, we have to actually care about his interests as much as we care about our own. What does he want? He wants us to become Krishna conscious. He wants us to cooperate with his other disciples, to maintain his movement and expand it by preaching. Loving Srila Prabhupada means carrying out these aims, even at the expense of some of our more personal aims. There is room for us to develop our interests in serving him. But our own aims should not be separate from his expressed desires; they have to fall within the parameters of his teachings.
This is, at least, a working definition of love for Srila Prabhupada. One will be ready to forgo one’s own conveniences, to invest one’s own time, and even to risk one’s own security to promote the desires of Srila Prabhupada. Our love is not just a feeling, but feeling translated into action. Feelings are fickle. Sometimes they are deep, and at other times, they are distracted. It is the constant sacrifice for the sake of love that makes those feelings profound and steady.
It is impossible to love all the different people in our lives with equal intensity. The spiritual master has a special place, and he is given special love. Srila Prabhupada said, “To be everyone’s servant means that you are no one’s servant.” We give him more respect, more credence, more attention than anyone else we may have love for. And by loving Srila Prabhupada, Krishna consciousness gets distributed and the love is spread around to all living entities. That is the special quality of loving a pure devotee – the love gets spread around: people can eternally benefit just by our loving Srila Prabhupada.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

05.03.2016_H.G. Advaita Acarya Prabhu_BG 2.55

Real Love for Srila Prabhupada

In the build-up to the Ratha Yatra Festival in Durban which takes places from 25-28 March, Snana Yatra took place on 06 March. Kadamba Kanana Swami was the guest speaker at the event. Photos and a recording of the lecture are below.

KKS_SA_DBN_06March2016_SnanaYatra_Lecture

Visit Flickr to see the full album.

For the last few years during the Mayapur festival, there has been five days sets aside for devotees to participate in a kirtan mela.

As usual, the Panca Tattva temple area is packed out from morning to night with devotees participating in the chanting led by such luminaries as Lokanatha Maharaja, Niranjana Maharaja, Madhava prabhu and others.

THE BALANCE OF GIVING AND RECEIVING: Like breathing in life-giving air, and breathing out carbon dioxide that is needed by the trees and plants, we have to learn that while giving is more celebrated, it cannot exist without receiving--we can't have one without the other. The trees give what we need and we give what they require. Many people are focused on being active for others, often at the cost of their own well-being and health--they feel uncomfortable accepting praise or service from others even when they really need it.

If we aren't doing or being active we think we aren't living. This idea is like the air in our fast-paced modern society, and is often emphasized by religious leaders quoting scriptures. Devotees of Krishna and its institutional leaders also get caught up in this by measuring someone's worth by their visible service at a place of worship or in outreach. Some of us have learned the hard way that to be consistent givers, we need to be able to gauge our personal needs and attend to them, or we will often become resentful or burn out. It isn't just the giving that is important, but how we give, and the spirit behind it--that we are joyful givers who give in a way that is sustainable and takes into account our needs and stages of life.

Personally, throughout my life I have been more of a taker than a giver. Thus a big part of my present push to speak and write is my attempt to give to others what I consider most essential. As I write I have the pull of my necessity to chant and my family responsibilities, and my need to give to you through writing. My writing is both giving and receiving and yet I have to really make the time to write or it doesn't happen. Writing is self-expression and my attempt to encourage others. Speaking is more difficult for me, but is based on the same idea, that I have to do it for my fulfillment and peace of mind, as well as in the spirit of service to others. At the same time I have to fulfill other obligations to take care of my body and mind, and family responsibilities. Balance is required in every aspect of our lives.

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Amazing aerial views from the 3rd day of Navadvipa Parikrama (Album with photos)
Today’s pics from the Navadwip Mandala Parikrama. Hamsa Vahana, Naimisaranya, Pancaveni, Maha Harinam through the streets of Navadwip, Bhajan Kutir of Srila Jagannath dasa Babaji, Sri Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu (where His consort, Srimati Visnupriya Devi worshipped His Deity form.)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/IRhG1I

Iskcon Russia: From modelling and beauty pageantry stages to Krishna devotees, distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We must be fixed up in our own rupa (form), svarupa, swarupa-siddhi. Svarupa-siddhi means to be engaged in the service of Lord. That is real mukti. Bombay, January 9, 1973.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qcH0UA

Visiting the holy places of India (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “When one becomes Krishna conscious, he loves everyone. If you chant loudly Hare Krishna, even the ants and insect who is hearing, he’ll be delivered, because it is spiritual vibration.” Bombay, January 4, 1973.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/1s9LU5

By Nitya Kishora devi dasi

Parikrama first day plus adhivas in Yoga Pita

After 4 days of wonderful Sravana Utsava festival, blisfull and an amazing 5 days of Kirtan Mela, the devotees finally left the temple room and the boundaries of ISKCON Mayapur campus. For what? To make connections with the old Kalpa Vrikshas trees, the birds, the land, the dhamvasis, having prasada in a open air and sharing the holy name around in the most sacred land of Sri Navadvipa Dham.

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama is an unique experience and the chance to get closer to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet. A great opportunity to serve and chant! Hari bol!

Despite of many sannyasis left Mayapur early this year we are having just the right people to give katha like the powerful Bhakti Dhira Damodara Maharaj, the steady Bhakti Vijana Vinas Narasimha, Rajendranandana prabhu, Pancharatna prabhu and others. HH Jayapataka Maharaja came, as he comes EVERY SINGLE YEAR, and gave an amazing speech at Nrisimha Palli. Pancharatna prabhu put a drama on Nrsimhadeva lila, and one devotee recited a very powerful prayer to the Lord Nrisimhadev. The devotees loved.

In the morning we crossed the Jalangi river very peacefully. Sulocana prabhu is doing an amazing service, he is always following vaishnava etiquette and take care of the kirtan very nicely, enganging those who are senior and qualified to lead kirtan.

In Parikrama if we can put Katha and Kirtan as the main activities it completely enhances the spiritual experience of the pilgrim devotees.

We visited Amgatha, Panchanatala, Nrsimhapally with its wonderful Mandakini lake and we ended in Hari Hara Ksetra with Hari Hara dev beautiful deity.

To see the photos: http://www.navadvipaparikrama.com/parikrama-first-day-plus-adhivas-in-yoga-pita/

Parikrama 2016 (day 2)

In a very nice and beautiful morning the devotees left the campsite at Hari Hara Ksetra and headed to Gauradaha.

Gauradaha is a very special place and the pastime which took place there is described by Jagadananda Pandita in his book Prema Vivarta. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu, Jagadananda Pandita and other associates of the Lord were peforming Harinama sankirtan in this place, where there is a lake. Daha means lake. In this lake a crocodile was living and it was delivered by Gauranga Mahaprabhu. The crocodile had been cursed by Durvasa Muni to live as a crocodile in that lake for 4 yugas. Anyone who hears this pastime becomes free from brahma-sapa, the curse of a Brahmana.

HH Jayapataka Swami joined International group also in Gaura daha, his speech made everybody chant the name of Gauranga many times and very loudly, we see in the face of the devotees that they were begging for Gauranga’s mercy.

HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Maharaja was explaining how it is important to chant japa without any distraction, he said “Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura affirmed that those who chant japa without full attention like talking, checking emails, having meetings, managing etc are influenced by pramada, or madness”. Maharaj said “We are known as the Hare Krsnas, because we chant Hare Krsna, but the day has 24 hours and how many hours are we supposed to chant? Only 2 hours and the rest of the time what do we do?”. The devotees were listening to him with full attention. We are very fortunate to have HH Bhakti Dhira Damodar Maharaj on Parikram because he always sets a very serious and deep mood for chanting in the devotees minds, and everybody becomes happy when he is present, everybody becomes powerful, with the mind under control.

After an ecstatic gurupuja and a delicious breakfast we continued walking towards Surabhi Kunja, the first namahatta in Bengal, inaugurated by “Koda Nitai” the magnanimous Nitai. We had drama, Katha, and bhajan sang by HG Sulocana prabhu, our kitan party leader.

Not so far from Surabhi Kunja is the house of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and another ISKCON Jagannath Temple, very well taken care by Srila Prabhupada’s nephew Sankarshan prabhu.

To see the photos: http://www.navadvipaparikrama.com/parikrama-2016-day-2/

A new sannyasi for Iskcon: HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami!
Shaktyavesha Avatara Dasa: HG Utama Sloka Prabhu has just received a sannyasi initiation from HH Indradyumana Swami in the presence of numerous elevated Vaishnavas and guests. (And his new name is) HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Maharaja ki Jaya!
Thank you, dear Uttama Sloka, for guiding, helping and supporting over the years! Wish you complete success with your ‘Spiritual Untied Nations’ project and service to Srila Prabhupada!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ml0EZl

Dates: 12th and 13th March 2016

Venue: Shivaji Park Dadar

Program Highlights:

12th March 2016

3.00 pm : Maha Aarti

3.30 pm : Rath Yatra Begins

6.00 pm : Guiness Record

6.45 pm : GCL Awards

7.00 pm : Chhapan Bhoga offering to Lord

7.15 pm : Dusavatar Dance

7.30 pm : Lecture by HH Radhanath Swami

8.00 pm : Maha Prasad (Dinner Prasadam)

13th March 2016

8.00 am : Jagannath Darshan & Aarti

7.00 pm : Sandhya Aarti

7.15 pm : Dance & Drama

7.30 pm : Lecture

8.00 pm : Maha Prasad

Th Route of Yatra

Shivaji Park ——> Sena Bhavan —————> Plaza —————> Maruti Mandir ————> Portuguese Church —————> Gokhale Road ————> Khed Galli —————> Silver Apartment —————> Gokhale Road —————> Back to Shivaji Park

Krsna’s dedication to His friend Arjuna.
Aniruddha Dasa: We have a very mature crowd of devotees attending the Disciple Course in ISKCON Dwarka (Delhi) this weekend. It is a pleasure to teach.
I spoke on SB 1.15.17 this morning to an appreciative crowd of local devotees. The class was translated by Amogha Lila Prabhu.
A couple of things struck me in the purport and verse. Krsna’s dedication to His friend Arjuna, exemplified in His becoming His friend’s chariot driver. Arjuna’s humility in regretting he allowed Krsna to be his servant. Even though Arjuna is Krsna’s dearest friend he felt he had overstepped the mark in accepting service from the Lord. “…it was due to my lack of esteem for my Lord that I dared engage Him as my chariot driver, for He is worshiped and offered services by the best men to attain salvation.”
Krsna is perfect in all His dealings with His devotees and His pure devotees’ dealings with Him are not flawed. In his meditation on Krsna as the Supreme, Arjuna felt His familiarity lacked respect and proper recognition of Krsna’s position. It is exactly that intimate quality of friendship, devoid of awe and reverence, which is attractive to the devotees and which Krsna loves to reciprocate with His dearest friend.
The idea of service being the most attractive position is intriguing. Even Krsna, the Supreme Controller likes to serve. Everyone is a servant. No one, except Krsna, is fully independent. Ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya. Lord Krsna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. CC Adi 5.142 Yet, the mood of service is also within Krsna. Yes, He is the Supreme Controller but He is also the Supreme Servant.
In that sense His dealings with His intimate devotees is so attractive because He gives up the position of Superior and becomes the servant of the servant.

In each of its twelve cantos, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the "flawless ripened fruit of all Vedic scriptures," tells of miracles and mysticism, of the esoteric and extraterrestrial. We hear a cow, bull, elephant, monkey, and bird speaking deep philosophy. We learn of the four-headed creator who sits atop a lotus flower, of a magnificent aerial mansion, and of a five-year-old who pushes down half the earth with his toe and makes demigods suffocate. We learn of people giving birth to tens of thousands of children, of people with a thousand heads or arms, of an ocean of milk that is churned by demigods and demons using a snake for a rope. We are also given detailed information about this extraordinary universe we live in. Continue reading "Naive Literalism
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