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Health Update… Dear devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. HG Pankajangri Prabhu, one of our Head Pujaris of Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, is struggling with his health due to COVID-19. He and his twin brother have been serving Sri Sri Radha Madhava since the very beginning of the Mayapur Project. […]
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From: Mukund
Is there any scriptural basis or scriptural reference for it? Or is it started just started by someone and people are following it blindly?
Transcription by: Manju Agarwal Mataji (Muzaffarnagar)
प्रश्न: तिरुपति में जो लोग मुंडन कराते हैं उसका क्या कारण है? क्या शास्त्रों में इस प्रथा का कोई उल्लेख है या इस प्रथा को किसी ने आरम्भ किया और लोग उसका अंधाधुंध अनुसरण कर रहे हैं?
उत्तर: पुराने समय में तीर्थयात्रा करने के पीछे हेतु यह होता था कि हम अपनी भौतिक आसक्तियों को कम करें और आध्यात्म की ओर अधिक ध्यान दें। यह भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार से किया जाता था। उदाहरणार्थ श्रीमद्भागवत के दसवें स्कंध में बताया गया है कि जब नंद महाराज, यशोदा मैया और बृजवासी तीर्थयात्रा पर गए तो उन्होंने उपवास रखा, दान दिया और कुछ धार्मिक कार्य किए। साधारणतया तीर्थयात्राओं में इस प्रकार के कार्य प्रचलित होते हैं।
कलियुग में बालों के प्रति लोग बड़े आसक्त होते हैं – लावण्य केश धारणं। भागवतम् के बारहवे स्कंध में वर्णित कलियुग के लक्षणों में एक लक्षण यह भी है कि इस युग में केशविन्यास (hairstyle) को सुंदरता का प्रतीक माना जाएगा। लोग बालों को आभूषण की तरह देखेंगे। आजकल ऐसा हम प्रत्यक्ष रूप में देख भी रहे हैं। लोग अन्यों के बालों को बड़े ध्यान से देखते हैं और अपने बालों को भी उसी प्रकार बनाना चाहते हैं।
आध्यात्म की दृष्टि से यदि हम शरीर के प्रति अपनी आसक्ति कम करना चाहते हैं तो बालों को लेकर दो विकल्प सम्भव हैं – (i) उनकी तरफ ध्यान न दें, जैसे बढ़ते हैं उन्हें बढ़ने दें (ii) उनको मुंडन के द्वारा त्याग दें। हम देखते भी हैं कुछ सन्यासी अपने बालों की तरफ बिल्कुल ध्यान नहीं देते जिससे उनके बाल बड़े लंबे और गुच्छेदार हो जाते हैं।
कलियुग में, स्त्री और पुरुष दोनों में, बालों के प्रति बड़ा लगाव देखने को मिलता है। स्त्रियों के बाल तो प्राकृतिक ही लम्बे होते हैं किन्तु पुरुष भी लंबे बाल रखने में पीछे नहीं हैं। अतः वैष्णव आचार्यों ने बालों का मुंडन कराने का परामर्श दिया है। यह प्रथा वर्षों से चली आ रही है। हमने देखा है कि चैतन्य महाप्रभु ने भी जब संन्यास लिया था तो अपने बालों का मुंडन कराया था। यहाँ सिद्धांत यह नहीं कि हम श्रीकृष्ण को अपने बाल समर्पित करते हैं। सिद्धांत यह है कि हम श्रीकृष्ण को बालों के प्रति अपना लगाव समर्पित करते हैं।
ऐसी कई वस्तुऐं हैं जिनसे हमें बड़ी आसक्ति होती है। ऐसी वस्तुओं का हम श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा में सीधा उपयोग कर सकते हैं। उदाहरणार्थ हमें धन से बहुत लगाव होता है जिसका उपयोग हम श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा में कर सकते हैं। किन्तु कुछ ऐसी अशुद्ध वस्तुऐं होती हैं, जैसे सिगरेट, शराब, जिनसे प्रायः हमारी आसक्ति हो जाती है पर उन्हें हम श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा में सीधे-सीधे नहीं लगा सकते। ऐसी वस्तुओं का उपभोग हमें श्रीकृष्ण से दूर ले जाता है। अतः इस प्रकार की अशुद्ध वस्तुओं को अपने जीवन से पूर्णतया त्याग करके ही हम श्रीकृष्णा की वास्तविक सेवा कर सकते हैं। बालों का त्याग इन दोनों श्रेणियों के त्याग के बीच में आता है। बाल कोई ऐसी वस्तु नहीं जिसे हम सीधे श्रीकृष्ण को अर्पण कर सकें। हमारे बाल जब तक शरीर से जुड़े होते हैं तब तक हमारी उनसे आसक्ति होती है, किन्तु जैसे ही हम उन्हें काटकर शरीर से अलग कर देते हैं तो हम उन्हें एक अशुद्ध वस्तु के रूप में देखने लगते हैं। भोजन के समय यदि कोई बाल हमारी दाल या चावल में गिर जाए तो हमें बड़ा खराब लगता है भले ही यह बाल हमारे प्रियजनों (पत्नी, पुत्री, पुत्रवधू) का ही क्यों न हो। अतः यह एक विचित्र आसक्ति है कि जब तक शरीर से जुड़ा है तो हम उसकी सुंदरता पर मोहित होते हैं किन्तु जैसे ही वह शरीर से अलग हो जाता है तो हम उसका तिरस्कार करते हैं।
वास्तव में बाल शरीर की एक उपज है जो अपवित्र है किन्तु उसके प्रति हमारी आसक्ति उसे मूल्यवान बनाती है। अतः बालों का काटना एक प्रकार से संकेत है कि हम अपने भौतिक लगाव का त्याग कर रहे हैं। हम अपने मन को बालों के प्रति आकर्षण से मुक्त कर रहे हैं।
इसके अतिरिक्त, लोग अपने बालों को सजाने सँवारने के लिए दर्पण से सामने बहुत समय बिताते हैं। साथ में कँघी रखते हैं और मिनट-मिनट में बालों को संवारते रहते हैं। आध्यात्मिक दृष्टि से देखा जाए तो यह व्यर्थ समय गँवाने जैसा है। जब लोग तीर्थयात्रा पर जाते हैं तो इस अवसर पर वे अपने बालों के प्रति आसक्ति का त्याग करते हैं ताकि समय नष्ट न हो। अतः तीर्थयात्रा के समय मुंडन कराना एक मान्य आध्यात्मिक प्रक्रिया है जिसके पीछे उचित कारण है।
आजकल लोग इस प्रथा की समीक्षा करते हैं, आलोचना करते हैं क्योंकि तिरुपति में इसने एक व्यवसाय का रूप ले लिया है। इन कटे हुए बालों को विग निर्माताओं को बेचकर धन कमाया जाता है। इसमें अनुचित कुछ नहीं। बालों को बेचकर कमाए गए धन को यदि श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा में लगाया जाए तो उसमें क्या हानि है। साधारणतः बालों का कोई मूल्य नहीं होता किन्तु यदि विदेश में लोग उसे इंपोर्ट करना चाहते हैं और हमें उस से सेवार्थ धन की प्राप्ति होती है तो यह बुद्धिमानी ही कही जाएगी। ऐसा नहीं है कि व्यवसाय बनाने के लिए ऐसी प्रथा बनाई गई थी। यह वर्षों से चली आ रही प्रथा है। यदि ऐसा होता कि बालों के व्यवसाय के लिए ही यह प्रथा आरम्भ की गई होती तो अवश्य ही यह एक अंधश्रद्धा होती, किन्तु ऐसा नहीं है। यह व्यवसाय तो इस प्रथा का एक उपफल (byproduct) है।
पंचशास्त्र में बताया गया है कि बाल काटना एक प्रकार का शुद्धिकरण है जो हम भगवान के समक्ष जाने के पहले करते हैं। उदाहरणतया जब स्त्रियाँ भगवान के लिए भोग बनाती हैं तो वे अपने बालों को ढक कर रखती हैं ताकि उनके बाल भगवान के भोग में न गिरें। मूल रूप से बालों को अशुद्ध माना जाता है। अतः या तो उनका मुंडन कराया जाता है अथवा उन्हें सादगी से रखा जाता है ताकि हम या अन्य इनसे अनावश्यक रूप से आकर्षित न हों।
वर्तमान समय में हमारी हिंदू प्रथाऐं मात्र एक अंशकालिक (short-term) आध्यात्मिकता बनकर रह गई हैं। अधिकांश लोग तिरुपति अपनी भौतिक मनोकामनाओं की पूर्ति के लिए जाते हैं। इसी कारण यह प्रथा हो गई है कि तिरुपति जाकर अपने बालों का मुंडन करवाते हैं और बदले में भगवान से अपनी भौतिक मनोकामनाऐं पूरा करने के लिए वर माँगते हैं। वास्तव में ऐसे लोग तिरुपति स्वयं को भौतिक लगाव से मुक्त करने के लिए नहीं अपितु अपने भौतिक लगाव के कारण जाते हैं। यह आचरण बुरा भी नहीं है किन्तु श्रेष्ठ भी नहीं है।
प्रथा के पीछे सही हेतु जानने के लिए शिक्षा की आवश्यकता है। उदाहरणार्थ लोग वर्ष में एक सप्ताह के लिए भागवत सुनते हैं और शेष वर्ष भौतिकता में डूबे रहते हैं। श्रील प्रभुपाद हमें कहते हैं कि हमें प्रतिदिन भागवत का पाठ सुनना चाहिए और सदा उस पुस्तक की शिक्षाओं के सम्पर्क में रहना चाहिए। ऐसा करने पर ही हम वास्तव में हम अपने भीतर कोई बदलाव ला सकेंगे। वे यह भी चाहते थे कि स्त्री और पुरुष अपने बालों से आसक्त न हों। अतः उन्होंने पुरुषों को मुंडन कराने की अथवा सादगी से बाल रखने की तथा स्त्रियों को इस प्रकार बाल रखने का परामर्श दिया जिससे वे अनावश्यक रूप से बालों के प्रति आसक्त न हों।
सारांश में बालों के मुंडन की प्रथा हमारे भौतिक लगाव को कम करने और श्रीकृष्ण के प्रति अपनी भक्ति बढ़ाने के लिए है। इस लगाव को कम करने के लिए हमें नियमित रूप से श्रीकृष्ण भक्ति में व्यस्त रहना चाहिये।
End of transcription.
From: Purushottam Kumar
Can one go back home back to godhead by practicing Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Judaism?
Are Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Judaism authorized religious practice? Can one develop genuine love for God by practicing these religions? If yes then what is the destination of those who are sincerely practicing these religions? Do they go back home back to Godhead?
Answer Summary By HG Kanai Krishna Prabhu
Transcribed by: Amit Agrawal Prabhu, Nidhi Agrawal Mataji (Noida)
प्रश्न- क्या ईसाई, इस्लाम, बौद्ध, जैन और यहूदी धर्म के पथ को अपनाकर परमधाम की प्राप्ति हो सकती है?
उत्तर- यदि अपने अंदर ईश्वर के प्रेम को विकसित कर लिया जाए तो निश्चित रूप से ईसाई, इस्लाम, बौद्ध, जैन और यहूदी धर्म को अपनाकर भी परमधाम की प्राप्त की जा सकती है। ईश्वरीय प्रेम सांप्रदायिक नहीं है बल्कि भक्ति पर आधारित है।
श्रील प्रभुपाद के अनुसार सभी धर्म सच्चे हैं। यदि किसी को भी अपने ईश्वर से सच्चा प्रेम है तो वह अवश्य ही परमधाम को प्राप्त कर सकता है।
एक ईसाई धर्म उपदेशक के अनुसार ईश्वर तक पहुंचने का रास्ता बहुत संकीर्ण है। केवल इसाई धर्म ही ऐसा धर्म है जो अधिकृत और सच्चा है। किन्तु वैदिक धर्म ऐसा नहीं मानता।
वैदिक धर्म के अनुसार किसी धर्म विशेष से संबंधित होना भक्ति का मापदंड नहीं है। ईश्वर के प्रेम का विकासित होना ही भक्ति का मापदंड है। फ्रांस के संत अस्सीसी एवं अविला की संत टेरेसा का भगवान के प्रति प्रेम असाधारण था। इन्होंने दया, करूणा, क्षमा और सहनशीलता जैसे ईश्वरीय प्रेम के सर्वोत्तम गुणों का अपने अंदर विकास किया। श्रीमद्भागवतम् में भी भक्तों के इन्हीं गुणों का वर्णन किया गया है। इस्लाम में सूफी भी उत्कृष्ट भक्त होते हैं।
जिसमें भी ईश्वरीय प्रेम के प्रति सच्ची जागृति होती है वह परम स्थान की प्राप्ति कर सकता है। इसाई, यहूदी और इस्लाम ये तीनों ही धर्म मानते हैं कि ईश्वर ही जीवन का लक्ष्य है और लक्ष्य को प्राप्त करने के लिए ईश्वर के प्रेम की आवश्यकता होती है। साधारणतया यदि हम ईश्वर के प्रतिनिधि का अनुसरण करते हैं तो प्रतिनिधि और ईश्वर इस बात का ध्यान रखते हैं कि हम अपने प्रेम का सही ढंग से विकास करे।
ईश्वरीय प्रेम विकासित करने पर किसको कौन सा स्थान प्राप्त होगा यह अपनी-अपनी चेतना और परिस्थिति पर निर्भर करता है। यदि कोई सच्चे मन से ईसाई धर्म का पालन कर रहा है तो यीशु उसे ऐसे स्थान पर ले जाएंगे जहां उसकी भक्ति में विकास होगा। अंत में उसे भगवान कृष्ण की प्राप्ति होगी या फिर अन्दर से शुद्धिकरण हो सकता है। यह विकास कब होगा इस बात की कोई समय सीमा निश्चित नहीं होती क्योंकि यह सब हमारे भक्ति के स्तर और पूर्व जन्म के कर्मों पर आधारित होता है। यह बात स्पष्ट है कि भगवान के प्रति यदि हमारी भक्ति शुद्ध है और हम अधिकृत भक्त का अनुसरण कर रहे हैं तब हम सुरक्षित रहते हैं और आध्यात्मिक प्रगति करते हैं।
बौद्ध धर्म और जैन धर्म के अनुयायी भगवान के अस्तित्व को नहीं मानते पर यदि वे नैतिकता और सच्चे मन से अपने धर्म का पालन करते हैं तो इससे उनका राजसिक और तामसिक गुणों से शुद्धिकरण होगा। दर्शन शास्त्र के अनुसार बौद्ध धर्म में भगवान को नकारने से अधिक सात्विक जीवन व्यतीत करने पर बल दिया गया है। गौतमबुद्ध ने शास्त्रों को नकार दिया था। उनका कहना था कि आप शास्त्रों का पालन मत करो। बस एक अच्छा जीवन जीने की शिक्षा लो। उदाहरण के लिए जो व्यक्ति पशुओं की हत्या करते हैं और उनका मांस खाते हैं क्या उन्हें समझ नहीं आता कि पशु भी हमारी तरह जीव हैं, उन्हें भी हमारी तरह पीड़ा होती है। बुद्ध का ज्ञान व्यवहारिक अधिक था। बौद्ध धर्म और जैन धर्म सात्विक जीवन जीने की बातें करते हैं। संक्षेप में जो भी ईश्वर द्वारा दिए गए मार्ग का अनुसरण करता है, वह उस मार्ग पर प्रगति करता है।
महत्वपूर्ण यह है कि भक्ति को संप्रदाय की दृष्टि से न देखकर, विचारधारा और आचरण की दृष्टि से देखना चाहिए। यह बात श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता के सत्रहवें अध्याय में भी बतायी गयी है।
संक्षेप में, मूल सिद्धांत यह है कि यदि हमें भगवान के प्रति प्रेम विकसित कर लें तो हम उत्तम स्थान प्राप्त कर सकते हैं, चाहें हम किसी भी धर्म का पालन कर रहे हों।
End of transcription.
Here is a statement by Prahlāda Mahārāja, one of the twelve authorities, regarding the distinction between a devotee and a brāhmaṇa expert in karma-kāṇḍa, or Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. There are four varṇas and four āśramas, which divide human society, but the central principle is to become a first-class pure devotee. It is said in the […]
The post Prologues-Narasimha Caturdashi May 25th 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
To hear the Hindi answer, please click here
Transcribed by: Neelam Kuldeep Mohan Mataji (Muzaffarnagar)
प्रश्न: क्या कोई भक्त साँप और बिच्छू को मार सकता है?
उत्तर: श्रीमद्भागवत के सातवें स्कन्ध के नौवें अध्याय में प्रह्लाद महाराज की प्रार्थनाओं के दौरान इस बात का उल्लेख होता है। वहाँ कहा गया है कि जब हम साँप और बिच्छू को मारते हैं, तो साधू-सन्त प्रसन्न होते हैं। शास्त्रों में यह भी बताया गया है कि जो व्यक्ति अपने जीवन काल में ईर्ष्यालु रहते हैं, उनको साँप और बिच्छू की योनि में जन्म लेना पड़ता है।
साँप और बिच्छू बिना छेड़े भी डंक मार सकते हैं, इसलिये उन्हें मारने की हमें अनुमति है। लेकिन उन्हें मारने के पहले हमें कुछ बातों का ध्यान अवश्य रखना चाहिये।
सर्वप्रथम – क्या हम इसलिये उनकी जान ले रहे हैं कि वो निम्न योनि के हैं और द्वेष से प्रेरित हैं? यदि हाँ तो हमें स्वयं से भी यह प्रश्न करना चाहिये कि क्या हम स्वयं द्वेषमुक्त हैं?
दूसरी बात – यह एक अनुमति है नकि आदेश। यह अनुमति कोई “लाइसेंस टू किल” नहीं है। ऐसा नहीं कि इस अनुमति का सहारा लेकर कोई भक्त इसे अपने जीवन का उद्देश्य बना ले और संसार के सारे साँप और बिच्छूओं को मारने का बीड़ा उठा ले।
तीसरी बात – इन्हें मारने के पहले हमें इनको भगाने का सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रयास करना चाहिये, और अन्त में हमारे सभी प्रयासों के बावजूद, यदि हम इसमें सफल न हों फिर हम बेशक इन्हें इस अनुमति का प्रयोग कर मार सकते हैं।
End of transcription.
Starting of Tulasi Jala Dana During the hot season in India, a pot of dripping water is placed over Tulasi and Salagrama to keep them cool.
Keshava Vrata starts; for one month one should control the senses, sleep on the earth, bath twice daily in a river, worship the Lord and give cloth, sugar, sesame, rice, and gold to the brahmanas. If one worships Madhsudana in this month one gains the benefits of one years worship.
While Keshava Vrata lasts one may hang a pot with a hole in it, fill it with water and drip water over Tulasi and a Shalagrama Shila.
This is especially done in the now hot northern hemisphere when water becomes a vital asset for the growth of Tulasi Devi. In the southern hemisphere be careful not to overwater as we come out of Summer and into Autumn.
Update on Pankajanghri Prabhu's health [13th April 2021, 12:30 PM]
This afternoon Prabhu was shifted to Vamsi Bhavan. Here he will be getting more oxygen supplies and better medical assistance.
Kindly continue prayers for Prabhu's speedy recovery!
Room at 243, Toronto
Panel Discussion
English was not her first language and she also struggled with my Sanskrit name. However, she properly pronounced the “Swami” part. The best she could come up with for my first name, Bhaktimarga, was “beautiful.” So, there you have it, “Beautiful Swami.” It was a sweet flattery. She also made mention of my intense orange top.
It was a Zoom call and Beautiful Swami was on the panel with other spiritual leaders represented by Catholicism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Protestant and Hare Krishna. We did speak on the theme of creation, based on what the respective, distinct scriptures have to say.
I would say it was fun, although, the moderator could use some training in watching the time. The program, which was meant to be of an interfaith nature, ended up being very agenda-driven. It was primarily a Christian cheerleading session. Still, I’m grateful to be involved and to quote the Bhagavad-Gita. Truly it’s a pleasure to have such a session in the middle of the day.
This is my second to last day for isolation, according to the Public Health Consultant who contacted me by phone. I told him I live in a monastery but I am definitely nestled away from the world. I mentioned about my mild Covid symptoms and also how my noon-time meal is made and delivered, with care, brought from a congregant who lives in the suburbs, and who leaves it at the green bin outside. They call me and wave their hands as greeting from the ground level. Such love!
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
Panel Discussion
English was not her first language and she also struggled with my Sanskrit name. However, she properly pronounced the “Swami” part. The best she could come up with for my first name, Bhaktimarga, was “beautiful.” So, there you have it, “Beautiful Swami.” It was a sweet flattery. She also made mention of my intense orange top.
It was a Zoom call and Beautiful Swami was on the panel with other spiritual leaders represented by Catholicism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Protestant and Hare Krishna. We did speak on the theme of creation, based on what the respective, distinct scriptures have to say.
I would say it was fun, although, the moderator could use some training in watching the time. The program, which was meant to be of an interfaith nature, ended up being very agenda-driven. It was primarily a Christian cheerleading session. Still, I’m grateful to be involved and to quote the Bhagavad-Gita. Truly it’s a pleasure to have such a session in the middle of the day.
This is my second to last day for isolation, according to the Public Health Consultant who contacted me by phone. I told him I live in a monastery but I am definitely nestled away from the world. I mentioned about my mild Covid symptoms and also how my noon-time meal is made and delivered, with care, brought from a congregant who lives in the suburbs, and who leaves it at the green bin outside. They call me and wave their hands as greeting from the ground level. Such love!
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
Touching Truth
Oh, how I miss green! How I miss us — groups chanting together in that outdoor or indoor space. Every day I reminisce.
My isolation will end on the coming Monday but it still won’t be normal. Regardless, we learn from our guru, Prabhupada, that whatever the circumstance, make it bhakti-centric.
So, I do my best. I spent quite the time today clarifying an issue. It was rumored that I was taken to the hospital. The calls came in. There is nothing further from the truth. As long as we touch an element of truth in our day then there is an ounce of fulfillment for that day.
At 7 pm I conducted a class with the Stoufferville group. From The Gita, 4.2, we hear about the truth and importance of parampara; exploring the roots of truth. An admission that I expressed to the group is that I joined Krishna Consciousness because it had roots that go back thousands of years. Frankly, I would not have become a member of a group from the 60s on the basis of a charismatic leader. I needed a time-tested group of people to believe in.
Yesterday I was on a podcast with Dr. Raj Kalram and it was an interview focused on the richness of spiritual life. Raj asked great questions that touched on truth. More specifically we spoke about the joys of not only chastity but the celebration of spiritual practice and identity as well as the cultivation of one’s relationship with the Supreme.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
New Full-Fledged Monk
There are few North American fellows stepping up for the renounced title, sannyas. We have a queue of people from Eastern Europe and India but it is rare to find on the list of candidates anyone from the western frontier taking this esteemed position.
It has been a long road for Ekalavya, born and raised in New York City in what he calls “the centre of Kali Yuga”. To go from being a talented street musician who discovered monks in Cork, Ireland to be awarded the new name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami. I’m proud of him, especially since I’ve been blessed as one of his swami mentors. His being ordained happened by the side of the Ganges, just the other day.
He has been kind to join us in the US and Canada, having visited some ISKCON centres to deliver classes and lead kirtans. His presentations of bhakti are good, well thought out and relevant. When he visits me, he’ll trek with me down the ravine.
As mentioned, we don’t get a whole lot of continental receptively in North America. For Canada there has been some successful Swami’s from the 70’s who scored well — Sridhara Swami from Vancouver, Banu Swami from BC, Ganapati Swami from Alberta, Bhakti Raghava Swami from Northern Ontario, Shivaram Swami from Montreal. I’m puttering along. I can think of three more who did not stay the course as “swami” but are nonetheless still devotees on the path.
Congratulations to all and to our New York monk.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
New Dawn, New Donor
Kind donor, I thought, and that was my last thought (to my recollection) before shut-eye and saying goodbye to the day. A good sleep.
Our Vancouver centre received a nice donation from one admirer (anonymous) to the tune of just less than a quarter million. That’s super kind. So, I was informed. Good heart, I thought. More hearts like that are needed. Our project in the centre of the Greater Vancouver Area is in Burnaby; a great location. A new facility needs to go up and will cost 15 million. That’s to include a temple, lobby, auditorium, classrooms, washrooms, kitchens, residents, altar prep rooms, an outdoor playground and gardens; a place to be proud of.
It’s about time. The issue is Covid, I know, but we can plan now before things reset. Of course, one big heart decided not to wait. It’s much appreciated.
I do wish I was there in BC. And then to Alaska, perhaps, which is assigned to me. Once doors open, or flights (I know roads are open), then I’ll move about to go back to where I left off from. That means continents. But easy does it. Pace yourself, Swamiji. Not so fast. Travel with caution. Have breathing space and time in between. BE SATVIC. Act in goodness.
For now: NEW DAWN, NEW DAY. NIGHT’S GONE. LET’S PRAY.
May the Source be with you!
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Lord Nrsimha roars loudly and causes others to roar. With His multitudes of arms, He tears the demons asunder and kills them in this way. He is always seeking out and tormenting the demoniac descendants of Diti, both on this earth planet and in the higher planets, and He throws them down and scatters them. […]
The post Sri Narasimha Caturdashi May 25th, 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Just want to make an announcement that Sadbhuja prabhu has typhoid and COVID. This is a double infection.
Ask everybody, please, pray for his speedy recovery. And come back to his service again.
By Kamalini Devi Dasi We're seeing Krishna at every moment. We're just not aware of it. There's nowhere Krishna is not, so it's really amazing that we can't see Him. At the same time, we can't see very much with our material eyes, so we shouldn't be surprised that we can't see Krishna—the source of all that exists—personally. Even with sufficient light, we can only see what's within the visible color spectrum. Without light, we can't even see our hand in front of our face. Continue reading "The Eyes to See Krishna (video)
→ Dandavats"
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.2-3, Speaker: HG Harisauri Prabhu, ISKCON Mayapur
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From: akash
vedas say that if you worship this god you will get rain, that god you will get this etc. and if you don’t if will be bereft of those benefits, rains will be less etc. Now if we look at almost whole of western world, they have almost everything they need, even without any sacrifices, or worship etc. How is that to be understood.
To hear the answer, please click here
To hear the Hindi answer, please click here
ANSWER: It is a misperception, that the west has almost all that it needs. All of us have probably heard about devastating hurricane and storms. We have heard of hurricane Katrina, few years ago, and also there was a big storm right in the New York City, which is the economic and social capital of America, the pride of America. When the storm came up, the whole American government was helpless . To some extent people were told, flee from here. If we look at the overall situation of nature in America, it is at times quite furious, and there are times when throughout the year, for many months, one is just not able to go out of the house because of heavy snowfall. This may not happen in all parts of America and it certainly does not happen in those parts of America which we see in television or movies. But it does happen in real America. So, first of all the idea that the America is getting everything that it needs, is not true. Similarly, in Europe there have been farce heat waves. Also, in India we had tsunamis , earthquakes, famines etc., but the frequency and the ferocity of the regular hurricanes in America are much more severe. The heat wave that hit Europe few years back was much fiercer than the occasional heat waves, or cold waves or excessive rains that come in India. So rather than going into the intricacies of comparison of natural calamities and l problems that we face in India and America, the underlining principle is that, things are not as rosy in the west as are portrayed in our media and TV. They are quite grave in many ways. Yes, if people do not worship and perform yajgya then the result is, not just that they don’t get rains; rather they don’t get rains in proper way. We should not be naive and simple in understanding that if someone is performing yajgya or is following dharma then suddenly the rains start coming. No that is not completely correct. That is just a causal connection between the two. But this causal connection is much more broader and deeper. You can read the article “artificial rains, imaginary gains, real pains” to get the broader understanding of this.
The general principle is that, the yajgya, the sacrifice, that are performed and dharmic activities that are done are like the taxes that are paid to the government. If the taxes are not paid, the governmental facilities will not come. If we do not pay the water tax then the water may be cut off. But with respect to the nature if the taxes are not paid, things happen in a more subtle and complex way. Sometimes when people do not pay any tax in terms of not doing any yajgya then the result may be less rain or sometimes the result may be heavy rains. Devotees sometimes have a very simplistic understanding that, ‘ Becausewe are doing kirtan, that’s why the rain came’. This is a very superficial understanding because the skeptic may argue, when too much rains come, “Oh, you have done too much kirtan, stop the kirtan now, and the rains will stop”, No. We should not encourage such simplistic and naive misunderstandings and caricatures of the Vedic philosophy. Yajgya in one form, in one way is like paying of taxes, but along with that there is consideration whether all the citizens are following the rules of the state or not. Hence, the citizens have to live according to the rules of the state and they have to pay the taxes, then they will get the facilities from the state. Similarly there are basic principles of morality and spirituality which all human beings are expected to follow. When human beings don’t follow that then they get the reactions and those reactions come in various forms. One of the forms is disruption in natural conditions and natural supplies. This disruption may be in terms of shortage of rains, or it may be excess rains. It may be excess cold or it may be excess heat. If you look at the world today , it’s not just the matter of India or the west, everywhere we are seeing, because people are not living according to the principles of morality and spirituality. Because people are not performing sacrifices, that’s why the natural supplies are increasingly being destructed.
At the time tsunami came I wrote an article called “nature boomerangs”. In that article I had given statistics, how, if we compare 1950s with 2000, the frequency and the ferocity of the natural calamities that have hit the world have increased manifold . Because over the last fifty or sixty years, the world has given up religious morality and spirituality in a major way and we have embraced the course of materialism in an entirely unrestrained manner. Therefore, it is producing its reactions. That’s why all over the world, in the west and in India, because of non performance of yajgya and because of non adherence to morality and spirituality, there is disruption of natural supplies and there are disturbances in nature, which are, in the form of karmic reactions is coming to all of us.
Thank you
Transcriber: Amit Agrawal and Nidhi Agrawal (Noida)
प्रश्न – कोई भी यज्ञ पूजा किये बिना पश्चिमी दुनिया अपनी आवश्यकताओं की पूर्ति सरलता से कैसे कर पा रही है?
उत्तर – हमें ऐसा लगता हैं कि पाश्चात्य देशों के पास सभी भौतिक सुविधाएं सरलता से उपलब्ध हैं। जबकि पाश्चात्य देशों के लोग कोई भी यज्ञ पूजा आदि नहीं करते हैं।
पर हमारी यह धारणा गलत है।
हमने पाश्चात्य देशों में आने वाले प्रचंड आंधी तूफानों के बारे में तो सुना ही है। कभी-कभी वहां पर प्रकृति बेहद उग्र और भीषण रूप ले लेती है। न्यूयॉर्क अमेरिका की आर्थिक और सामाजिक राजधानी है। एक बार न्यूयॉर्क में भयंकर आंधी आई थी जिसमें बहुत अधिक क्षति हुई थी और सरकार एकदम असहाय हो गई थी। अमेरिका के कुछ स्थानों पर इतनी अधिक बर्फबारी होती है कि लोग महीनों तक घर से बाहर तक नहीं निकल पाते हैं।
हम फिल्मों और टेलीविजन में जिस अमेरिका को देखते हैं वहां पर कोई भी प्राकृतिक आपदा नहीं दिखाई जाती। इसलिए हमारे मन में यह छवि बन गई है कि अमेरिका को बिना कुछ किए सब कुछ मिल रहा है परंतु यह सत्य नहीं है।
इसी प्रकार, यूरोपीय देशों मे आने वाली भीषण गर्म हवाऐं (heat waves) भारत में पड़ने वाली ठंड या अत्यधिक वर्षा की तुलना में कहीं अधिक भयंकर होती हैं।
पूजा यज्ञ आदि नहीं करने का अर्थ यह नहीं कि वर्षा नहीं होगी। इसका परिणाम यह भी हो सकता है उचित मात्रा में वर्षा न हो। कहीं वर्षा बहुत कम हो सकती है तो कहीं बहुत अधिक। इसके विपरीत यह सोचना कि यदि कोई पूजा-पाठ करता है तो तुरन्त वर्षा होने लगेगी। ऐसा भी नहीं है। यह इतना सरल नहीं। यज्ञ और वर्षा में सम्बंध अवश्य है किन्तु यह कहीं अधिक गहरा है।
सिद्धांत यह है कि हम जो धार्मिक गतिविधियां करते हैं वह हम ईश्वर रूपी शासक को कर के रूप में देते हैं। राज्य के सभी नागरिक नियमों का पालन करते हुए जब कर भरते हैं तभी राज्य नागरिकों को सुविधायें उपलब्ध कराता है। जैसे बिजली या पानी का बिल नहीं भरने पर शासक आपूर्ति रोक देता है, उसी प्रकार धार्मिक गतिविधियां न करने पर प्रकृति व्यवस्था में विघ्न उत्पन्न करती है।
यह केवल भारत या पश्चिमी देशों की बात नहीं है। विश्व में सभी जगह लोग नैतिकता और आध्यात्मिकता के सिद्धांतों के अनुसार जीवन यापन नहीं कर रहे हैं। लोग यज्ञ नहीं कर रहे हैं। जब नियमों का पालन नहीं किया जाता तो प्रतिक्रिया होती है जो कर्म फल के रूप में हम सब पर आ रही है और हम सब उसे भोग रहे हैं।
इसलिए यह आवश्यक है कि विश्व के सभी व्यक्ति अपने अपने नैतिक और आध्यात्मिक धर्म का पालन करें।
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Заметьте, у нас не было ни усилителей, ни каких-то других музыкальных инструментов, лишь одна старая мриданга и две пары каратал. Но ах! Что это были за времена! По девять часов в день – шесть дней в неделю – мы раздавали сладкие святые имена Кришны на улицах Кали-юги ( извиняюсь за свои башмаки )
Paris, France: 1974. Notice we had no sound system and no musical instruments other than one old mridanga and 2 pairs of kartalas. But Ah! Those were the best of times! Nine hours a day, six days a week, sharing Krsna’s sweet holy names on the streets of Kali Yuga. [ Apologies for my big boots! ]
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219463027229301&set=a.3707173840886
Just got informed that Nandanandana Das Acbsp left the body on April 3, 2021
By Jaya Gaursundar DasaLook brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-nāma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Continue reading "Share and care among Krishna Devotees
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By Lavanga Lata Devi Dasi Two days ago there was a raid in Moscow and 3 harinama parties were arrested at the same time and were charged with illegal rallies and obstructing pedestrian movement. Last summer in the same way the harinama party was arrested in my hometown, but we have won all 18 cases in court with the help of Maha Balram prabhu. We have the right to practice freedom of religion in gatherings, and it has been recognized by the courts in many cities. But if we lose the 48 cases now being tried in Moscow, not only will the devotees face heavy fines, but the precedent of loss of the suit in the capital will put our movement under threat of a ban on public chanting throughout Russia. Please in the next 2 weeks, pray to dear Lord Narasimhadev for the protection of the Harinama devotees, especially in Moscow, and for special strength for Maha Balaram prabhu, our glorious lawyer, that we will win and no one can ban Lord Chaitanya's movement in Russia. Continue reading "A new threat in Russia
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Braja Vilasa prabhu takes the I Love Mayapur YT Channel video crew and family on a wonderful tour of the TOVP
Prayers needed for Our Dear Godbrother and Goddister Pancharatna Das who has Covid and Attitaguna Devi who has Covid and typhoid, Mayapur Dham is in need of Prayers for all its residents at this fragile time. May Lord Nrsringhadeva protect everyone. As also Krpanidhi Prabhu's wife Karunamayi Dasi.
Room at 243, Toronto
Can and Cannot View
Calls continued to come from well-wishers. Thank you!
I spent a good chunk of the day reviewing the draft manuscript for “The Saffron Road,” which details my walking experiences throughout the US and Canada, as well as a host of other countries; mostly more tropical. Then there’s Ireland – very moist.
So, we are moving along and getting closer to the book’s release and I’m hoping you will all be looking forward to it’s reading. Frankly I feel that it was almost a previous life that I am looking at, since being, on lockdown and isolated. There’s little scope for walking right now. Stretches will suffice. My legs are feeling quite good and perhaps are getting rejuvenated from the break – the relaxation.
You cannot imagine how many doctors are out there. I mean to say every person I talk to has a formula and a subscription. Unofficial guidance. All done with love, of course.
Now while I’m in this isolation I’m deprived of dharsan(viewing) of the local deities of Krishna who go by the name, “Radha Ksirachora Gopinatha”. They are lovely. Fortunately, I am able to see them through the webcam. It’s interesting. Those lovely deities are merely 2 metres away from that perfect view but it is a line that, at the moment, I can’t cross.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
RAM
On the 21st of this month we will celebrate the birthday of Ram. This is my latest poetical rendering. It is in his honour.
RAM
Ram possesses all the qualities of a superhero
Royal traits of ultimate prince, monarch or pharaoh
Reverent to all, eager to help and listen
With a service attitude acting on what’s given
His build is admirable, countenance grave
A task he’ll tackle meant only for the brave
He never moves suddenly at a reckless whim
No wonder his father, the emperor, adores him
Ram is a heartthrob for many a woman
He also has a striking brother with name Laksman
Of all the ladies, lovely Sita won Ram in a tournament
These three leave an indelible mark, a footprint
Literally so, on a forest floor at Chitrakoot
In a fateful exile they meet an ogress — not cute
Smitten with desire the ogress solicits Ram
He declares loyalty, not yielding to this love bomb
This invokes a fury in the lustful jungle lady
Who attacks Sita, for all she does is shady
Lakshman draws his dagger making a clean cut
Off comes nose and ears disfiguring her somewhat
The wounded ogress flees to gain retaliation
Fourteen thousand aggressive ogres assail, adding aggravation
Ram single-handedly put their lives to completion
The ogress reaches her cannibal king, Ravan, to petition
In revenge, this ten-headed villain uses trickery and hoax
A mystic becomes a golden deer who goes to coax
Fair Sita away from the guard of her husband
Ravan’s plot triumphs, stealing Sita, Ram’s diamond
To Isle Lanka he flies with captive Sita by his side
Devastated is Ram with his love companion denied
A vulture, a bear, a monkey offer solace
As allies they pledge to regain the goddess
Battles are conflicts to avoid if possible
When negotiations fail with bridges not crossable
Speaking of bridges, monkey Hanuman cleared the ocean
With one leap to Lanka on the strength of devotion
Crossing a new causeway, now the means to go
Is a simian army wielding weapons, for Ram it’s a bow
A clash between mean man and monkey is a fierce fight
Casualties are plenty as all exhibit such might
The turning point — a fatal arrow hits Ravan’s navel
The only bodily location Ram finds unstable
The ten-headed fiend’s legion is completely defeated
But what now of Sita, has her life been depleted?
All this while it appears Sita’s in captivity
In a grove of ashaka trees devoid of festivity
Surprisingly the goddess in despair is a mere phantom
Putting a twist to the story, interesting to fathom
When Sita was abducted she prayed to the fire god
He gave her protection, for this we must applaud
Then and illusory Sita was suddenly manifest
The joke was on Ravan who thought he had the best
But then we wonder, did Ram too get tricked?
The drama plays out so emotions can be gripped
Ram, Sita, Laksman end a fourteen-year ordeal
Hanuman joins, they return to Ayodhya to reveal
More divine and sweet pastimes of a mystical kind
Tales of Ram are for a happy heart and happy mind
-Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
Sunny Spots
I’m receiving a lot of sympathy calls and mail. How sweet it is! Thank you all!
My peers do the same! Some of it’s fun, like the message I received from Devamrita Swami, regarding recovery:
“Some have written praying that you walk over the Covid. Other say no, “trample it.” I pray, Dance out of it, in your signature Vaishnava-Motown style!”
Thank you, dear Devamrita Swami. You lift my spirits.
Two more sunny spots of the day I’ll describe and brief. For a Halifax group I Zoomed in to deliver a summary on the second chapter of Bhagavad-Gita. A briefing of the summary went something like this:
“Arjuna, the warrior, is a broken-down-man; a nervous break-down really. He admits to his wise friend, Krishna, “I can’t do it!” Krishna won’t take that for an answer and retorts, “You have to, I’m afraid.” Let’s put aside frailties and tears. Gain your identity. Gain steadiness of mind. Ignore the senses. Follow those who are great. Here’s what you look for to detect the great.”
The second Zoom was to a Calgary group on the topic of Jesus & Haridas. Being that it’s Easter, Jesus comes into the picture. I drew some parallels to one of our saints, Haridas. Both were fearless during their arrests. Despite being tortured, they behaved like martyrs and also saved a prostitute in danger. Both were saints.
May the Source be with you!
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As per a health update dated 11 April, the CT Scan conducted on Pankajanghri Prabhu confirmed that the coronavirus has reached his lungs. His coughing is worst than before and he is having high fever and breathing problem. He is taking IV medicines and oxygen with the help nebulizer. He has been advised diet and rest by doctors.
Braja Vilasa prabhu, TOVP Vice Chairman and Director of Development takes the I Love Mayapur YouTube Channel video crew and family on a wonderful tour of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, the largest modern Vedic Temple in the world located in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.
The temple is a project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and has been under construction since 2009, and is scheduled to open in 2023.
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By HG Drutakarma Prabhu - Vedic Friends Association
For the past decade I've had the fortune of facilitating japa retreats and workshops and I can honestly say that I have never seen anything quite like this in Iskcon. I witnessed over and over devotees having intense experiences with Krsna’s holy names – and those experiences having a powerful impact on their spiritual lives.
By Sankirtana Das So, those in a position of authority have a grave responsibility. There has been so much criticism of police behavior lately. Angry complaints of injustice. With all the demonstrations and unrest, the leadership is trembling, trying to figure out what is the best course of action to take. No one wants to handicap or penalize the police force. Yet, how can we prevent racism from filtering into their ranks? Basically, this has to be addressed in the training and education the police receive. For the police to do their job properly, they need the holistic education that Lord Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedic paradigm provide. Continue reading "The Bhagavad Gita and the Path to Justice
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