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The most auspicious and powerful Pandava Nirjala ekadasi is approaching on June 10 (US) / June 11 (India). Observing a full fast, including water, on this one ekadasi is equal to observing all others. And additionally, giving charity on this ekadasi leads to “imperishable” results.
Srila Vyasadeva said to Bhima, “Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that whoever observes this Ekadasi should take a holy bath, give charity to a worthy person, chant the Lord’s Holy names on a japa-mala, and perform some kind of recommended sacrifice, for by doing these things on this day one receives imperishable benefits. There is no need to perform any other kind of religious duty. Observance of this Ekadasi fast alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Sri Vishnu. Oh best of the Kurus, if one donates gold, cloth, or anything else on this day, the merit one obtains is imperishable.”
Last year on Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi we launched the Pankajanghri Das Seva Campaign in honor of Sriman Pankajanghri prabhu to raise funds to complete the TOVP Nrsimha Wing. We continue that same campaign now for the same purpose, only the urgency level has heightened as we plan the opening of the Nrsimha Wing in the Fall of 2023.
Sponsor a Nrsimha Brick with your name inscribed and placed under the altar or give a General Donation by going to the Pankajanghri Das Seva Campaign page.
Be sure to watch the inspiring video, In Memoriam, dedicated to Pankajanghri prabhu at the bottom of this article.
This breathtaking, spellbinding and emotionally charged video will astound you. Your heart will be moved and your hairs stand on end. You will want to watch it more than once, maybe even five or six times. It will bring tears to your eyes and an outpour of love from your heart for this great servant of Lord Nrsimhadeva.
NOTE: Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi is observed on June 10 in the U.S. and June 11 in India. Please refer to your local calendar through www.gopal.home.sk/gcal.
View, download and share the TOVP 2022 Calendar.
Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great sage Srila Vyasadeva, the grandfather of the Pandavas, if it is possible to return to the spiritual world without having observed all the rules and regulations of the Ekadasi fasts.
Bhimasena spoke as follows, “Oh greatly intelligent and learned grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fast completely on each Ekadasi and strictly follow all the rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions of that sacred day.
Being very religious, they always tell me that I should also fast on that day too.
But, Oh learned grandfather, I tell them that I cannot live without eating, because as the son of Vayudeva, samanaprana (the digestive air) hunger is unbearable to me. I can give widely in charity and worship Lord Keshava properly with all manner of wonderful upacharas (items), but I cannot be asked to fast on Ekadasi.
Please tell me how I can obtain the same merits without fasting.”Hearing these words, the grandsire of Bhima, Srila Vyasadeva said, “If you want to go to the heavenly planets and avoid the hellish planets, you should indeed observe a fast on both the light and dark Ekadasis.”
Bhima replied, “Oh great saintly, intelligent grandfather, please listen to my plea.
Oh greatest of munis, since I cannot live if I eat only once in a day, how can I possibly live if I fast completely? Within my stomach burns a special fire named Vrika, the fire of digestion. Agni, the fire-god, descends from Lord Vishnu through Brahma, from Brahma to Angirasa, from Angirasa to Brihaspathi, and from Brihaspathi to Samyu, who was Agni’s father. He is the gatekeeper in charge of Nairritti, the south-eastern direction. He is one of the eight material elements, and Parikshit Maharaja, he is very expert at examining things. He examined Maharaja Shibi once by turning into a dove. (for further information on this incident see Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam commentary to 1:12:20. Purport.)Agni is divided into three categories; Davagni, the fire in wood, Jatharagni, the fire in the digestion in the stomach, and Vadavagni, the fire that creates fog when hot and cold streams mix in for example the ocean. Another name for the fire of digestion is Vrika. It is this powerful fire that resides in my stomach. Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the fire in my stomach become satisfied.
Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to fast only once, so I beg that you tell me of an Ekadasi that is worthy of my fasting and that includes all other Ekadasis.
I shall faithfully observe that fast and hopefully still become eligible for liberation’s release.”Srila Vyasadeva replied, “Oh king, you have heard from me about the various kinds of occupational duties, such as elaborate Vedic ceremonies and pujas.
In the Kali-yuga, however, no one will be able to observe all these occupational & functional duties properly. I shall therefore tell you how, at practically no expense, one can endure some small austerity and achieve the greatest benefit and resultant happiness. The essence of what is written in the Vedic literatures known as the Puranas is that one should not eat on either the dark or light fortnight Ekadasis. One who fasts on Ekadasi is saved from going to the hellish planets.”As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (Mahabhagavat Puranam) 12:13:12 and 15, the Bhagavat Puranam is itself the essence or cream of all Vedanta philosophy (sara-vedanta-saram), and the Srimad Bhagavatam’s unequivocal message is that of full surrender to Lord Sri Krishna and the rendering of loving devotional service to Him. Observing Ekadasi strictly is a great aid in that process, and here Srila Vyasadeva is simply stressing to Bhima the importance of the Ekadasi vratam.
Hearing Srila Vyasadeva’s words, the son of Vayu, Bhimasena, the strongest of all warriors, became frightened and began to shake like a leaf on a banyan tree in a strong wind. The frightened Bhimasena then said, “Oh grandfather, what should I do? I am completely unable and ill equipped to fast twice in a month throughout the year! Please tell me of the one fasting day that will bestow the greatest benefit upon me!”
Vyasadeva replied, “Without drinking even water, you should fast on the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) when the sun travels in the sign of Taurus (Vrishabh) and Gemini (Mithun).
According to learned personalities, on this day one may bathe and perform Achamana for pratiprokshana purification. But while performing Achamana one may drink only that amount of water equal to a drop of gold, or that amount it takes to immerse a single mustard seed. Only this amount of water should be placed in the right palm for sipping, which one should form to resemble a cow’s ear. If one drinks more water than this, he might as well have drunk wine despite the soaring heat of summer (in the northern hemisphere and cold in the southern hemisphere).
One must certainly not eat anything, for if he does so he breaks his fast.
This rigid fast is in effect from sunrise on the Ekadasi day to sunrise on the Dwadashi day. If a person endeavors to observe this great fast very strictly, he easily achieves the result of observing all twenty-four other Ekadasi fasts throughout the entire year.On Dwadashi the devotee should bathe early in the morning. Then, according to the prescribed rules, guidelines and regulative injunctions, and of course depending on his ability, he should give some gold and water to worthy brahmanas. Finally, he should cheerfully honor prasadam with a branmana.
Oh Bhimasena, one who can fast on this special Ekadasi in this manner reaps the benefit of having fasted on every Ekadasi during the year. There is no doubt of this, nor should there be.
Oh Bhima, now hear the specific merit one gets by fasting on this Ekadasi. The Supreme Lord Keshava, who holds a conch, discus, club and lotus, personally told me, `Everyone should take shelter of Me and follow My instructions.’ Then He told me that one who fasts on this Ekadasi, without taking even drinking water or eating, becomes free of all sinful reactions, and that one who observes the difficult nirjala fast on Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi truly reaps the benefit of all other Ekadasi fasts.’
“Oh Bhimasena, in the Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, when all the principles of the Vedas will have been destroyed or greatly minimized, and when there will be no proper charity or observance of the ancient Vedic principles and ceremonies, how will there be any means of purifying the self? But there is the opportunity to fast on Ekadasi and become free of all one’s past sins.
Oh son of Vayu, what more can I say to you? You should not eat during the Ekadasis that occur during the dark and light fortnights, and you should even give up drinking water (nir = no jala= water) on the particularly auspicious Ekadasi day of Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi.
Oh Vrikodara (voracious eater), whoever fasts on this Ekadasi receives the merits of bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, giving all kinds of charities to worthy persons, and fasting on all the dark and light Ekadasis throughout the year, in one go. Of this there is no doubt.
Oh tiger among men, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi truly becomes a great person and achieves all manner of opulence and wealth, grains, strength, and health.
And at the fearful moment of death, the terrible Yamadutas, whose complexions are yellow and black and who brandish huge maces and twirl mystic pasha ropes in the air for binding their victims, will refuse to approach him. Rather, such a faithful soul will at once be taken to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu by the Vishnu-dutas, whose transcendentally beautiful forms are clothed in gorgeous yellowish garments and who each hold a disk, club, conch and lotus in their four hands, resembling Lord Vishnu. It is to gain all these benefits that one should certainly fast on this very auspicious and important Ekadasi, even from water.”
When the other Pandavas heard about the benefits to be gained by following Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi, they resolved to observe it exactly as their grandfather Srila Vyasadeva had explained it to their brother, Bhimasena. All the Pandavas observed it by refraining from eating or drinking anything, and thus this day is also known as Pandava Nirjala Dvadashi (technically it is a Maha-Dvadashi).
Srila Vyasadeva continued, “Oh Bhimasena, therefore you should observe this important fast to remove all your past sinful reactions. You should pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna in this way making your sankalpa declaration, `Oh Lord of all the devas (demigods), Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, today I shall observe Ekadasi without taking any water.
Oh unlimited Anantadeva, I shall break fast on the next day, Dwadashi.’
“Thereafter, to remove all his sins, the devotee should honor this Ekadasi fast with full faith in the Lord and with full control over his senses. Whether his sins are equal in volume to Mount Sumeru or to Mandarachala Hill, if he or she observes this Ekadasi, the sins that have been accumulated all become nullified and are burned to ashes. Such is the great power of this Ekadasi.
Oh best of human beings, although a person should also give water and cows in charity during this Ekadasi, if for some reason or other he cannot, then he should give a qualified brahmana some cloth or a pot filled with water. Indeed, the merit achieved by giving water alone equals that gained by giving gold ten million times a day.
Oh Bhima, Lord Sri Krishna has said that whoever observes this Ekadasi should take a holy bath, give charity to a worthy person, chant the Lord’s Holy names on a japa-mala, and perform some kind of recommended sacrifice, for by doing these things on this day one receives imperishable benefits. There is no need to perform any other kind of religious duty. Observance of this Ekadasi fast alone promotes one to the supreme abode of Sri Vishnu. Oh best of the Kurus, if one donates gold, cloth, or anything else on this day, the merit one obtains is imperishable.
Remember, whosoever eats any grains on Ekadasi becomes contaminated by sin and verily eats only sin. In effect, he has already become a dog-eater, and after death he suffers a hellish existence. But he who observes this sacred Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi and gives something in charity certainly achieves liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death and attains to the supreme abode.
Observing this Ekadasi, which is merged with Dwadashi, frees one from the horrible sin of killing a brahmana, drinking liquor and wine, becoming envious of one’s spiritual master and ignoring his instructions, and continually telling lies.Furthermore, Oh best of beings (Jivottama), any man or woman who observes this fast properly and worships the Supreme Lord Jalshayi (He who sleeps on the water), and who on the next day satisfies a qualified brahmana with nice sweets and a donation of cows and money – such a person certainly pleases the Supreme Lord Vasudeva, so much so that one hundred previous generations in his family undoubtedly go to the Supreme Lord’s abode, even though they may have been very sinful, of bad character, and guilty of suicide, etc. Indeed, one who observes this amazing Ekadasi rides on a glorious celestial airplane (vimana) to the Lord’s abode.
One who on this day gives a brahmana a waterpot, an umbrella, or shoes surely goes to the heavenly planets. Indeed, he who simply hears these glories also attains to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, Shri Vishnu. Whoever performs the Shraddha ceremony to the forefathers on the dark-moon day called amavasya, particularly if it occurs at the time of a solar eclipse undoubtedly achieves great merit. But this same merit is achieved by him who simply hears this sacred narration – so powerful and so dear to the Lord is this Ekadasi.
One should clean his teeth properly and, without eating or drinking, observe this Ekadasi to please the Supreme Lord, Keshava. On the day after Ekadasi one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form as Trivikrama by offering Him water, flowers, incense, and a brightly burning lamp. Then the devotee should pray from the heart, `Oh God of gods, Oh deliverer of everyone, Oh Hrishikesha, master of the senses, kindly bestow upon me the gift of liberation, though I can offer you nothing greater than this humble pot filled with water.’ “Then the devotee should donate the waterpot to a brahmana. Oh Bhimasena, after this Ekadasi fast and donating the recommended items according to his ability, the devotee should feed brahmanas and thereafter honor prasadam silently.”
Srila Vyasadeva concluded, “I strongly urge you to fast on this auspicious, purifying, sin-devouring Dwadashi in just the way I have outlined.
Thus you will be completely freed of all sins and reach the supreme abode.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadasi, or Bhimaseni-nirjala Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
( Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi story provided courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree).
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By Kamala Priya devi dasiIn the UK a regular stream of Ukrainian devotees are arriving from other European countries as well as from Ukraine itself. Devotees see the UK government’s Humanitarian Scheme to help Ukrainian Refugees as a viable option. Continue reading "ISKCON RELIEF FOR UKRAINE — Week 13 Report
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My dear godbrother Kshudi Das Prabhu posted this:
I had a wonderful dream.
In the dream I saw my spiritual master, guide, and teacher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was talking with some important people. When he saw me, he came over to me. He took hold of both my hands. He looked right into my eyes like he used to do and said, “Do not worry. I am here for you. I will provide all the support and inspiration you need, just as I always have.” He touched my head and said, “I will stay in your mind.” Then he touched my heart and said, “I will stay in your heart.” Last he said, “When you die, I will come to get you and take you back to the spiritual world to be with me and Krishna.”
Yes, I had the most wonderful, vivid dream.
By Vijaya DasaAfter more than two years of Covid and three months of a war, we've got good news about book distribution in April in Russia and Ukraine. Moscow's Gita-Nagari temple did an astounding 23,359 book points, making it the No. 4 temple in the world. A second Moscow temple did 7,416 book points, and a small temple in Moscow, Nagornaya, did 3,253 book points, a 593% increase. The temple in St. Petersburg also had a great month, with 8,313 book points. Continue reading "WSN April 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Photo source: Time Magazine ‘Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.’ This is the worn-out phrase used by politicians who can’t offer solutions to curtail the level of violence in this country. When mass school shootings started, the politicians were probably hoping that it was just a fluke and that the problem would go away […]
The post The Never-Ending Tragedy of Mass Shootings appeared first on ISKCON News.
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2 February 2020, London, United Kingdom, Bhagavad Gita 9.22)
We have information on the surface – Google. But if you get information from the Guru instead of Google, you go much deeper. Prabhupada was walking on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and he was asking his disciples, “Why is the ocean so peaceful?” It is one of those questions, why is it so peaceful? Prabhupada then responded himself, “Because it is very deep.” So, if we go deep, we can become peaceful. If we live on the surface, that means we are dealing with things with the external energy, and our mind goes into the things and the things go into our mind and we get preoccupied with all of them and carry them around in our consciousness. If we would however instead search for the cause of things, for the cause for all the phenomena, for the cause of the phenomenal world, then we will come to Krsna. And that cause is very interesting because it is not an impersonal cause.
There are so many impersonal forces in this world which cause anxiety. For instance, there are these black holes in the universe and they eat matter, they suck it up and they are everywhere. So, all these things – so much anxiety out there. When I was a kid, there was a television series called “Twilight Zone”, and this was a spooky show. One time, it showed how these extra-terrestrial beings landed on Earth and they were very intelligent. They had very high heads and as a result, had a lot of brain, but they were very friendly and they came to Earth with good intentions. They were kind to humanity and they helped in so many ways. They brought medical knowledge and other goodness to humanity. So, everyone was happy and then they invited people to come on board of their spaceship and it was a huge thing, a huge dome and they would get an excursion to their planet. People signed up and they were ready to go. It was really good and they were going and they got nice cabins and all. Then, one man who was actually a scientist said that he wanted to go. As a scientist, his specialty was decoding texts somehow or other and that was what he was doing. He discovered some old unknown text on board the spaceship, and he tried to decipher it. After one point after the spaceship had taken off, he was locked in his cabin and the door was locked. Then after a while, some food came through a little opening in the wall and then the door closed again. Anyway, he was deciphering that book and eventually after hours, he figured it out. It was a cook book, and it had recipes of how to cook human beings!
Anyway, so because these creatures had so much more intelligence than human beings, they saw human beings as sort of lower creatures and therefore there was ethically nothing wrong with eating them – that was their philosophy. Anyway, as a kid, these things spooked me out for a long time. I was looking up at the sky and even my father could not calm me down. Because I basically said, “Give me one argument why it could not be true? This could be true!” And he said, “Well, it could be true but it is not likely that it is true.” And I said, “But you said it could be true!” Then I looked up at the sky again in anxiety because I did not know what was out there, and I knew that my father did not know what was out there. And this was the cause of my anxiety because not even the scientists knew what was out there. So, in this way, we live in a world which is unknown to us. It is a world of anxiety because we are limited in many ways and anything can come out at us at any moment out of anywhere. So, it is best to simply focus on the cause of all instead, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna!
The article " The unknown " was published on KKSBlog.
Moncton, New Brunswick
Something Going On?
It is quite obvious to Ryan and I that Moncton is ripe for a Krishna temple. During our walks we are encountering people who are asking, “Is something going on with Radha Krishna?” (Meaning are there gatherings for the Krishna chant?). For example, Akshay, from Madhya Pradish, India, studied in Moncton, got his degree, and is now delivering pizza for that money he needs. He was in his car when he spotted us, stopped and asked the question.
“We are working on it,” is our usual answer. Indeed, our dear and trusted Kadamba Priya, from Fredericton, has plans to visit Moncton monthly to encourage bhakti in this fine city. One more thing, a local woman by the name of Nancy is determined to see that a place of devotional service is established. By what means, I don’t know, but the other night at Louis’ she spoke passionately about it.
At Centennial Park, we converged with Ryan’s family – his Mum, brother and niece. It was sweet to see the reunion. Then, his bro led us to Victoria Park, where his friends were conducting what they call yoga aerobics. As usual, whenever devotees are present, there will be kirtan, chanting, so Ryan pulled out his drum. I led the kirtan while family and friends chanted together. This drew the attention of Vaishnavi, who came with her question, “Is there something going on in town, chanting-wise? I know Etienne who used to have weekly sessions.”
So, you see, Moncton is ripe.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Moncton, New Brunswick
Perfect Saturday
Louis is a musician in town who holds mini-concerts in his home. For years he resided in Toronto’s “Little India,” where he purchased and played instruments traditional to Mother India – everything from mrdanga drums to sitar and ecktar. Tonight was our night to hold our concert, which included a book launch for The Saffron Path. It was after our music that Louis pulled out, one by one, his musical string pride in the form of instruments from origins in China, India, and Arabic lands.
We were packed in Louis’ living room, half with musicians and half with spiritualists and healers. All got charged up by the chants that our group of four projected through the mics and monitors. They were loving it. Some of the attendees dove in to our small boutique corner purchasing books and beads for the hands and beads for the neck.
You could not experience a better Saturday night. It was the ultimate party, not in a traditional wild sense, but in a “natural high” experience. The musicians were totally in sync with our groove. We were one.
For me personally, the warm up for the evening was the walk along the Petitcodiac River at low tide (here you can witness the world’s highest tide). Ryan and I took to the wind, the sun, and the smell of lilac. It was all good.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
