“Vedic” Marriage
→ The Enquirer

Not to kill a significant portion of my astrological work, but to tell the truth: In everything I’ve read so far in Bhāgavatam (Cantos one through three) there was never once any mention of anyone consulting astrology to determine relationship compatibility, nor is there exact support for the idea that the parents select the marriage partner. The way it is told in Bhāgavatam it usually works that a woman selects a man who has similar interests, talents, focus, and character – and who is also naturally appealing to her. Then she presents the idea to her parents. I have only read one instance of the father disagreeing, and that was Dakṣa disagreeing with Satī, and as a result Brahmā had to order Dakṣa to allow the marriage to Shiva.

After the parents and daughter agree on the suitability of a man, the parents go to the man (often with the daughter directly involved) and make a proposal of marriage. If the man agrees, immediately or after some time, arrangements are set in stone, and things proceed.

Often the woman searches for some time. For example Devahūti was asking people about eligible men, she reviewed their suggestions without finding anyone compatible, until she asked Nārada for suggestions, and Nārada suggested Kardama.

So, I find no support for the idea that marriage should be based on (a) astrological calculations, or (b) arranged independently by parents. The Bhāgavatam portays a very rational, natural system.

Tagged: astrology, mariage, vedic culture

Sati’s Suicide
→ The Enquirer

She who annihilates her enemies then wrapped herself in a yellowish-saffron cloth, sanctified herself with water, and sat silently on the ground in the northern quarter of Dakṣa’s sacrifice. Closing her eyes, she set her sight completely on the paths of yoga: After establishing firm sitting posture, she equalized her inhalations and exhalations to concentrate her energy in her navel chakra. Then that faultless woman used the serpentine energy to gradually and carefully raise her energy upward into her heart, and into her throat. Finally, she fixed it firmly between her eyebrows.

He body was beloved to Śiva, everyone’s guru and the beloved of great saints, and had always sat on his lap – but out of disgust with her father, Dakṣa, she wanted to abandon it. So she impelled the friction of her airs to ignite a fire within her body. Thinking of the intoxicating sweetness of her husband’s lotus-like feet, all her anxiety and troubles disappeared. Then, in a lightning flash, the fire born from her meditation blazed forth.

Seeing this, the earth and sky roared with shock, “Oh no! Oh no!”

The people at the sacrifice pointed in disgust at Dakṣa and cried, “Alas! Satī, the beloved goddess of the supreme god, has ended her life because of the anger he provoked! Aho, what a heartless person he is! He is supposed to be Prajāpati, the father of all animate and inanimate life-forms, but what kind of father is he? Even an ordinary father cares for his own daughter, but this wretch could not show an ounce of concern for his glorious daughter Satī, the most respectful and respectable person! He claims to be a philosophical brāhmaṇa but he is obviously just a cruel and hardhearted man! Because of his disgusting hatred of Śiva, the Supreme Person, he did nothing to dissuade his own daughter as she prepared to commit suicide! The whole world will know him as the most worthless, infamous man!”

As soon as Śiva’s followers had seen Satī suddenly and miraculously cast off her life, they rushed forwards with raised their weapons to kill Dakṣa. Powerful Bhṛgu saw them surging forward and quickly poured oil into the southern sacrificial fire while incanting mantras from Yujur Veda which destroy anyone who tries to destroy a sacrifice. “Oṁ! Ahapataṁ rakṣa!” With this, thousands of powerful divinities arose from the fire: the Ṛbhu, who possess the indefatigable vigor of Soma as a result their self-disciplines. Shining with magical power, and wielding blazing weapons, they attacked Śiva’s hidden, invisible fiends and sent them in all directions.

Bhāgavatam 4.4.24 ~ end.

Vraja Kishor dās

www.VrajaKishor.com


Tagged: Bhagavata Purana, Daksha, Sati, Shiva, Srimad Bhagavatam, Suicide

Bhagavatam-daily 175 – 11.10.15 – See the frustration of our material plans as confirmation of our spiritual purpose
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

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Durban Beach Harinam (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: The…
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Durban Beach Harinam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices are performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yajna, or sacrifice, called the sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of Hare Krishna, in which everyone can take part. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.6.20 Purport)
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Durban, April 2015
→ KKSBlog

We continue with reporting on Kadamba Kanana Swami’s visit to South Africa. It has been a very busy tour for Maharaj as he travelled between provinces, participating in various programs. Yesterday, he left for a short visit to Mauritius, a small island that is about 2000 km away from the east coast of SA, where Kirtan Mela is taking place (10–12 April). A live-steam is promised to be available via Mayapur TV from 10 am–10 pm (GMT +4). Once the schedule is known, we will share it with you. After the Kirtan Mela, Maharaj will return to SA for another week and then he will travel to Europe!

Here are further details about his stay in SA. After landing in Johannesburg on 19 March and being part of some programs in the region and the Ratha Yatra in Newcastle, Maharaj travelled to Durban on Monday, 24 March. Maharaj has been visiting Durban for twenty years now so he is a well-known personality, especially for his insightful classes, energetic kirtans and caring nature. Devotees sought after his association at the many engagements he held i.e. morning lectures, university preaching, Sunday Feast and home programs. On Wednesday evening, a special lecture entitled “The Science of Knowledge” was presented by Maharaj at the temple. HH Indradyumna Swami, who is currently spending some time recovering in Durban, attended the program and shared his appreciation of Kadamba Kanana Swami.

For the auspicious occasion of Rama Naumi, Maharaj travelled back to Johannesburg for the celebration at the temple in Lenasia. In addition to the many activities in glorification of Lord Ramachandra, a big initiation ceremony took place. On Sunday morning (29 March), Maharaj flew back to Durban and was the guest-speaker at the Sunday Feast programs at the New Jagannatha Puri Temple at 11 am and at the Sri Sri Radhanath Temple at 3 pm! In the days leading up to the Ratha Yatra Festival, Maharaj took some time to “tank up”…

Rama Naumi and Durban Ratha Yatra will be elaborated on in subsequent posts. Maharaj’s tour has been so full of activity that just following him around for a couple of days has been tiring. It leaves us awestruck as to how he does it week-after-week, year-after-year… We are grateful to the Lord for empowering Maharaj and allowing him to give so much of himself wherever he is!

 

Photos

Courtesy of Merumala dd

Visit flickr to see all the pictures

01 April 2015 (6) 25 March 2014 (2) 25 March 2014 (4) DSC_0560 26 March 2015 (2) dbn (1)

Audio

Courtesy of Vibhu Caitanya Das

Lectures

KKS_DBN_24 March 2015_BYS_Lecture

KKS_DBN_25 March 2015_BYS_Lecture

KKS_DBN_25 March 2015_Lecture_Science_of_Knowledge

KKS_DBN_25 March 2015_SB_1.13.20

KKS_DBN_26 March 2015_Home Program_Ramayana_Lecture

KKS_DBN_27 March 2015_SB_1.13.22

KKS_NJP_29 March 2015_Sunday Feast_Lecture

KKS_DBN_29 March 2015_Sunday Feast_Lecture

KKS_DBN_31March2015_HomeProgram_Lecture

KKS_DBN_01 April 2015_SB_1.13.24

 

Kirtans

KKS_DBN_24 March 2015_BYS_Kirtan

KKS_DBN_25 March 2015_Evening_Kirtan

KKS_DBN_26 March 2015_Home Program_Kirtan

KKS_NJP_29 March 2015_Sunday Feast_Kirtan

KKS_DBN_29 March 2015_Sunday Feast_Kirtan_I

KKS_DBN_29 March 2015_Sunday Feast_Kirtan_II

 

Five
→ ISKCON News

Five children, five religions, (almost) five minutes. This short film takes us from the mundane to the sublime, from the chaotic to the peaceful, and for a moment we consider our beliefs about spirituality. Director - Katina Mercadante

Samadrk-seva – rendering service to saintly persons who make no distinctions between one living being and another and who see every living being as a spirit soul
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Gramya-iha-uparamah – not taking part in so-called philanthropic activities.

The post Samadrk-seva – rendering service to saintly persons who make no distinctions between one living being and another and who see every living being as a spirit soul appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! Review of “Muslim Devotees of Krsna” by HH…
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Hare Krishna! Review of “Muslim Devotees of Krsna” by HH Chandramauli Swami
This book is not about converting from one faith path to another, but understanding the universality of all religious seekers by showing examples of persons going beyond the all designations into the realm of universal love, Love of God. Therefore, far from what it may seem by its title, “Muslim Devotees of Krsna” is aimed at an audience which transcends the confines of gender, race, caste, ethnicity or religion.
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Hare Krishna! The Beauty of Harinama! By Indradyumna Swami The…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! The Beauty of Harinama!
By Indradyumna Swami
The following morning we went on harinama in Trzebiatow. To the amazement of all the devotees, as we drove into town we passed under a bright orange and green banner proudly advertising the Festival of India. As we descended from the bus into the center of town, several office windows opened and we heard one lady call out to her fellow workers, “They’re here!” As we started chanting down the street, children suddenly began appearing from everywhere, running toward us from all directions and calling out, “Hare Krsna! Hare Krsna!”
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Hare Krishna! The latest news from the Bhaktivedanta Research…
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Hare Krishna! The latest news from the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre’s work
At the end of 2014, the disciples of Lalita Prasad Thakura (Bhaktivinode Thakura’s son) and members of the Bhakti Binod Gosthi committee visited BRC to see how BRC’s restoration efforts were coming along. The committee was very pleased with our efforts to preserve the literature. Test strips are used to determine the level of acidity present in the paper. Manuscripts are treated to neutralize the acid.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16692

Naam Ramayana 17 – Losing a battle within the world of illusion doesn’t matter if we win the battle against ilusion per se
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Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

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CC daily 68 – CCM 5.82-86 – See mercy as resulting not due to our devotion but the blessings of our mentors
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CC daily Podcast:

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Bhagavatam-daily 174 – 11.10.16 – Holding that consciousness is eternal but not transcendental is misleading
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

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Ratha-Yatra Launch Date! April 19, 2015
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

With warmer weather (hopefully) approaching, the excitement surrounding the 43rd Annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) will be growing as each day passes!  On Sunday, April 19, 2015 will mark the official launch of the countdown to this year's festival! The program will begin at 4:30 pm with a special fire sacrifice to invoke auspiciousness for this year's Festival of India.

The program will be as follows (subject to change):
4:00pm to 5:45pm - Special Yajna (Fire Sacrifice)
5:45pm to 6:00pm - Tulasi Arati
6:00pm to 6:30pm - Kirtan (Arati)
6:30pm to 6:40pm - Welcome & Announcements
6:40pm to 7:30pm - Festival of India Presentation
7:30pm to 8:00pm - Free Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam)
8:00pm to 8:30pm - Kirtan (Arati)

Illusory beauty
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 March 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.1.4)

nepalAfter years of chanting, we may stop and say, “Why am I doing this? I do not feel like it anymore. I do not know. I cannot get myself to chant.” What happened? What happened to your knowledge? Is it all gone?

Don’t you know that there is no alternative? Don’t you know that the material world is hell?  Don’t you know that you are caught here? Don’t you know that it is all glossed over by the illusory energy with nice packing? Nice beautiful packing with ribbons and beautiful colours but what is inside? It is poison, it is suffering inside. This beautiful gift, packaged with glitter, beautiful ribbon and everything. And you want it but, oh God, it is Pandora’s Box.

In Greek Mythology, Pandora’s Box was given as a punishment to mankind and I will not get into the whole description of it, but basically, in Pandora’s Box all the suffering of the material world was kept and it was a beautiful box. Such an amazing box, a gift from Zeus himself, “Whoa, like a gift from the Gods! Oh, we are so lucky! Oh, what will be inside? I wonder, oh, let’s look, open it up.” And all the suffering came out.

So this principle of the beautiful packaging of the material energy is there – it looks good but inside is suffering. When you open up the package, “Do not open it. Watch out, do not do it!” The material energy is like that. So when one has knowledge in this way, he will not go for the material temptation, it is not worth it.

 

I Must Hear And I Must Chant
→ Japa Group

"The simple process to become purified. And that simple process is this chanting. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, this name "Kṛṣṇa" is reminding me. I must hear and I must chant with the tongue. Then you keep yourself always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.18 Lecture
July 1 1975 - Denver

Sukadeva and Radharani
→ Ramai Swami

IMG_1252IMG_1253

Sukadeva das and Radharani devi dasi were brahmacari and brahmacarini living in the temple ashrams for years. Around ten years ago they got married and now have two beautiful girls.

To maintain their family life they run a jewellery shop and travel agency. However, any sannyasi or guru who comes to Bali is always invited to their home for a program.
IMG_1251IMG_1254

Welfare
→ travelingmonk.com

By dint of circumstances I have been forced to think of my own welfare this past month. Having been saved, I am now free to travel again and think of the welfare of others. My dear Lord, thank you! I will serve You well. “‘He He Krsna! O ocean of mercy! Protect! Please protect these [...]