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Hare Krishna, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to Sri Kshetra Dham! Welcome to Sri Kshetra Parikrama 2022. We would like to welcome you to our 19th anniversary celebration of Sri Ksetra parikrama which will be celebrated from the 10th to 13th of November 2022. Puri dham is also […]
The post Sri Kshetra Parikrama 2022 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Prabhupada: They were arranging my brain operation. Brahmananda: In New York. They threatened us that it must be done, that you must stay in the hospital. They refused that you should leave the hospital, and they wanted to take all these tests, spine..., put needles in the spine. When Gargamuni took you out of the hospital they threatened that now you will not recover, and now it is our responsibility, what we are doing. They tried to force us. Prabhupada: I could understand that. Therefore I said, They were arranging for my brain operation. Very dangerous.
According to Vrinda-kunda Baba, Srimati Vrindadevi appeared on the full-moon night at the end of Kartik, or Damodara.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, in Sri Vrndadevi-astaka (6-8), glorifies her:
rasabhilaso vasatis ca vrnda-
vane tvad-isanghri-saroja-seva
labhya ca pumsam krpaya tavaiva
vrnde namas te caranaravindam
“By your mercy, people attain residence in Vrindavan, the desire to serve your masters’ lotus feet, and the desire to assist in the rasa dance. O Vrinda, I bow to your lotus feet.
tvam kirtyase satvata-tantra-vidbhir
lilabhidhana kila krsna-saktih
tavaiva murtis tulasi nr-loke
vrnde namas te caranaravindam
“They who are learned in the Satvata-tantra glorify you. You are Krishna’s pastime-potency. The tulasi plant is your form in the world of men. O Vrinda, I bow to you lotus feet.
bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih
ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye
kpamayi tvam saranam prapanna
vrnde namas te caranaravindam
“O merciful one, I am devoid of devotion, and millions of offenses have thrown me into the turbulent waves of lust, anger, greed, and other faults. O Vrinda, I take shelter of your lotus feet.”
May Srimati Vrindadevi—and Sri Sri Radha-Damodara—bestow their mercy upon us all.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Board members and residents visit Vrindaville, a new development of 1-4 acre land plots that devotees can purchase for building homes. The semi-annual joint board meetings with ECO-Vrindaban, ISKCON New Vrindaban, and the Village Council took place on October 21-23rd. Members met in multiple sessions to discuss the achievements of 2022 and speak about […]
The post New Vrindaban Board Discusses Many Positive Projects and Challenges Ahead appeared first on ISKCON News.
The Third ISKCON Communications Global Online Conference was held on Saturday November 5th 2022 on the topic of Unity In Diversity. Her Grace Vishakha Devis Dasi, president of the Bhaktivedanta Manor and renowned author/film-maker, highlighted the various approaches Srila Prabhupada used in resolving differences amongst his disciples as he navigated the unprecedented growth of ISKCON […]
The post ISKCON Communications Conference on Unity in Diversity appeared first on ISKCON News.
Shri Nimbarka Acharya comes in the line of the Kumara Sampradaya and is believed to have lived around the 11th and 12th centuries. Born in the modern Murgarapattam in the southern Dravidian province, he was the son of Aruni and Jayanti, a very pious brahman a couple of the Tailanga order.
He was a great ascetic of the Tridandi order. He wrote many books according to the Dvaitadvaitavada and he lived most of his devotional life at a place called Nimbagrama near Govardhana at Vrindavana.
While at Nimbagrama, he defeated a great Jain pandit in a discussion. The Jain had refused to dine with him saying that the Sun had already set and so he would not take any food. At this, Nimbarka by his own potency made the sun appear from a Nimba tree and the astonished Jain accepted his hospitality. It is said that his name Nimbarka or Nimbaditya has been derived from this miracle of Aditya or Arka meaning sun from a nimba tree.
Once in a village near the forest of Bilva Paksha, a group of brahmanas came to engage in the worship of Lord Shiva. Just as Lord Vishnu is very much pleased when He is offered the leaves of His most beloved Tulasi, so Lord Shiva is pleased by offerings of leaves from the bilva or bael tree. Thus the brahmanas worshipped Lord Shiva by offering bilva leaves, for a period of one fortnight and satisfied Lord Shiva greatly.
Amongst those brahmanas was one whose name was Nimbarka. He had been particularly attentive in his worship of Lord Shiva. Being especially pleased with Nimbarka’s devotion, Lord Shiva personally appeared to him.
“Nimbarka,” said Lord Shiva, “at the edge of this village is a sacred bael forest. There, in that forest, the four Kumaras are absorbed in meditation. By their mercy you will receive transcendental knowledge, for they are your spiritual masters, and by rendering service unto them you will receive all that is of value.” After saying this Lord Shiva disappeared.
Nimbarka immediately went to that place and with great determination he searched for the four Kumaras in every direction, until he finally found them, shining as brilliantly as the sun. They were seated on a very beautiful natural platform beneath a tree and they appeared like fire blazing on an altar. They were all very young, seeming to be no more than five years in age, but they appeared most noble in character as they sat there naked, rapt in meditation. Nimbarka was so excited that he cried out, “Hare Krishna!”
This sudden sound startled the four brothers, breaking their meditation. Opening their eyes, they saw before them the blissful form of an ideal Devotee, and with great pleasure they embraced Nimbarka, one after another.
“Who are you,” they asked, “and why have you come here? We are certainly ready to answer all your prayers.”
Nimbarka fell at the feet of the four brothers like a rod, and with great humility he introduced himself.
With a sweet smile on his face Sanat Kumara then said, “The all-merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead, knowing that Kali-yuga will be extremely troublesome for the living entities, resolved to proagate devotional service to Himself. With this goal in mind, He has empowered four personalities with devotion and sent them into this world to preach.
Ramanuja, Madhva, and Vishnuswami are three and you are the fourth of these great souls. Lakshmi accepted Ramanuja as a disciple, Brahma accepted Madhva, Rudra accepted Vishnuswami and meeting you today we have the good fortune of being able to instruct you. This is our intention.
Previously we were engaged in meditating on the impersonal Brahman, but by the causeless mercy of Lord Vishnu, we have been relieved of this sinful activity. Since I have realised that it is essential to preach pure devotional service, I have composed a literary work entitled Sanat Kumara Samhita. After taking initiation from me, you should follow the instructions I have set forth therein.”
Nimbarka was greatly enlivened at the prospect of taking initiation and he immediately ran to take bath in the Ganges. After this he quickly returned and prostrated himself once more before the effulgent brothers.
“O deliverers of the fallen,” said Nimbarka, in all humility, “please deliver this low-born rascal.”
The four Kumaras gave him the Radha-Krishna mantra and instructed him in the method of worshipping Radha and Krishna with the sentiments of great love called Bhava Marga.
In that sacred bael forest Nimbarka began to worship Shri Shri Radha Krishna according to the Sanat Kumara Samhita and he chanted the mantra they had given him. Very soon Radha and Krishna revealed Themselves to Nimbarka. They stood before him, spreading an effulgence which illuminated all directions. In sweet voices They addressed him thus: “Nimbarka, you are very fortunate, for you have performed Sadhana in Shri Navadwipa. We both combine, and assume one form, as the son of Sachidevi.” At that moment Radha and Krishna combined and displayed Their form of Gauranga.
Beholding this splendid vision, Nimbarka began to tremble. “Never,” he said, “Never have I ever seen or heard of such a form at any time.”
Lord Gauranga then said, “Keep this form, which I now show you, a secret for the time being. Just preach about devotional service and the pastimes of Radha and Krishna, for I gain great satisfaction from this. When I make My appearance and perform My education pastimes, you will also appear.
Taking birth in Kashmir as a great pandit, you will tour all over India defeating all opposition. Your reputation and learning will be celebrated everywhere and you will be known as Keshava Kashmiri. Whilst wandering in Shri Navadwipa you will come to Shri Mayapur. Simply by hearing your name all the great pandits of Navadwipa will flee.
Intoxicated with scholastic pride, I will take great pleasure in defeating you. However, by the mercy of Mother Saraswati, the goddess of learning, you will realize My true identity. Giving up your false pride, you will take shelter of Me and I will reward you with the supreme gift of loving devotional service and will again despatch you to preach. Thus you can satisfy Me by preaching the philosophy of dvaita-advaita.
Keep My identity a secret. In the future when I begin My sankirtan movement, I will personally preach, taking the essence of your philosophy and the philosophies of Madhva, Ramanuja and Vishnuswami.”
After instructing Nimbarka in this way, Lord Gauranga disappeared, and filled with intense ecstacy, Nimbarka began to shed tears of love. After worshipping the lotus feet of his gurus and taking their permission, he left Shri Navadwipa to begin his preaching mission.
(Source: Shri Navawipa-dham mahatmya)
Gurudas, a Hare Krishna monk from Leicester gives an extraordinary insight into how he went from being a Drum ‘n’ Bass MC to a celibate monk. After years on the gritty, buzzy urban music scene, Gurudas became inspired by spirituality. In this live interview, Gurudas shares his perspectives on today's issues and gives an honest and insightful account of his spiritual journey.
By Visakha Dasi When dissimilar individuals or concepts are harmonised, it’s called ‘unity in diversity.’ Such unity isn’t based on mere tolerance of psychological, personal, or ideological differences but is based on an understanding that differences are natural and can enrich us. Discovering how we’re united despite our differences can make us more fulfilled, broader devotees of Krishna. This sort of unity doesn’t mean uniformity and this sort of diversity doesn’t mean fragmentation. In Srila Prabhupada words, “In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. Continue reading "Unity in Diversity
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Image: ISKCON Dallas, 2019 (ISKCON News Archives) We would especially like to hear from you about Unity in Diversity in terms of your experiences and understanding of Srila Prabhupada. Perhaps how you heard him talk about this, or how he put it into practice. Srila Prabhupada Evokes Unity in Diversity When dissimilar individuals […]
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On November 5th, 2022 a one-hour special conversation with Niranjana Swami, ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner, took place to learn about the current status of Hare Krishna devotees in Ukraine, the challenges they face, and how we can help. Maharaj shared many of the stories and the plight of the Ukrainian devotees. The situation in Ukraine […]
The post UPDATED: Ukraine Update with Niranjana Swami 2022-11-05 appeared first on ISKCON News.
Sacinandana Swami: Ask yourself the question: Am I just existing or have I already started to live? Living your dharma means more than a purpose, it’s the thing you are.
Srila Prabhupada: I had such experience. I had some experience in my childhood, in 1911. I was thirteen years old. There was a riot. So our house was there in Mahatma Gandhi Road, and all sides Muhammadans. The Mulliks and our house are simply some respectable men. Otherwise, it was surrendered by... That is called [Kalabagan basti]
