Planet ISKCON

Final Day of the #GivingTOVP & TOVP Care Fundraiser

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam
keshava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

“O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp- like demon Hiranyakashipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.”

The world is currently going through an unprecedented and historic ordeal against what some have called, the ‘invisible enemy’. Some have even gone so far as to literally refer to it as a modern ‘asura’ terrorizing the world. Whatever the case may be, this material world is a place of misery and ‘danger at every step’.

“For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Mukunda or the giver of mukti, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoofprint. Param padam, or the place where there are no material miseries, or Vaikuṇṭha, is his goal, not the place where there is danger in every step of life.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.48

The example of Prahlad Maharaja stands out as probably the greatest in human history of a devotee being harassed to the utmost by a demon. And on account of his pure devotion he was protected by Lord Nrsimhadeva from afflictions we could not even imagine undergoing, from being boiled in oil, thrown off a cliff, dropped in the middle of the ocean, poisoned, attacked by snakes, pierced with swords and tridents, etc. Our current struggles pale in the face of his life-threatening challenges. Yet he did not budge an inch from his pure love for the Lord, Who thus appeared to annihilate the great demon Hiranyakasipu.

With the above in mind we want to remind all devotees and supporters of the TOVP that Mayapur Nrsimha at our ISKCON World Headquarters is extremely powerful and merciful to all the devotees of the samkirtana movement who have pledged their lives to the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Having adopted the mood of Lord Gauranga and Sridhama Mayapur, audharya (mercy), He protects and uplifts His devotees who face the harassment of all kinds of demoniac forces throughout the world in Kali-yuga as they mercifully distribute love for Sri Krishna, the avatari.

On May 5th we will be performing a Nrsimha Maha Yajna for the protection of ISKCON, the devotees, and the gurus, and the following day, Nrsimha Caturdasi, an abhisheka of the Lord. We encourage every devotee to use this poignant time to take shelter of Lord Nrsimha, to chant extra rounds of japa, to pray like Prahlad Maharaja for the Lord’s service, and to worship His lotus feet so that all auspiciousness will manifest in the world for all devotees and humanity in general to counteract the evil influence now rampant.

This Nrsimha Caturdasi we also want to remind every ISKCON devotee that OUR Lord Nrsimhadeva in Mayapur is going to be re-located to His long-awaited new home in the TOVP in 2022. In lieu of the opening of the Pujari Floor this year, our Phase Two plan is to complete the entire Nrsimha wing and altar by 2021. Thousands of devotees have already participated in the #GivingTOVP & TOVP Care 10 Day Matching Fundraiser for this purpose to raise funds for Lord Nrsimha’s temple wing and altar, and to also support ISKCON Mayapur during the India lock-down. Ambarisa prabhu is matching $150,000 for the TOVP and 10% of the online collection for ISKCON Mayapur. We are grateful to all those devotees who have participated in this fundraiser thus far and to all those who continue to make their pledge payments during these challenging times.

With the approach of Nrsimha Caturdasi in a few days we hope those who have not yet contributed to this service to Lord Nrsimha will give their might, large or small. We pray for His protection daily, now let’s reciprocate in love and gratefulness by offering our merciful Protector a beautiful, opulent new home in the TOVP. Here are some links to make your donation:

U.S.A. – https://paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2036619 (no fees – debit or cc card also)
Canada – https://paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3440882 (no fees – debit or cc also)
India – https://rzp.io/l/DYfw6ex ( debit/credit, Netbanking, Wallet, UPI)
U.K. – https://www.paypal.me/TOVPUK (debit or cc also)
Europe – https://www.paypal.me/TOVPEU (debit or cc also)

All other countries please go to: https://m.tovp.org/givingtovp

If you need assistance with making a donation contact us at: fundraising@tovp.org

We conclude with this wonderful talk by Srila Prabhupada during an initiation ceremony in 1969 wherein he talks about how to cure the “Hong Kong Flu of Maya”:

I Have Brought This Medicine for Killing This Hong Kong flu of Maya

“Infected or disinfected. So in the material world we are all infected. This is the disinfecting process, simply remembering Kṛṣṇa, yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣam. So this initiation is to teach how to remember always Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa. This Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, as soon as we hear, we immediately remember Kṛṣṇa, His speech in the Bhagavad-gītā, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes. Everything comes. So we have to practice that. Then we remain always uncontaminated. And if you forget Kṛṣṇa, then there is chance of… Just like in the medical science, if there is some epidemic disease, they give some vaccination. I think in Los Angeles you gave me some vaccination? (chuckles) What is that, flus?

Hayagrīva: Hong Kong flu.

Prabhupāda: Ah. Hong Kong flu. Yes. So everyone took that vaccination. So our Hayagrīva prabhu took me also. “All right, let us have.” (laughter) So there was no attack. Fortunately, there was no attack. So similarly, this world is Hong Kong flu. (laughter) Māyā is always ready to attack. Always. So we have to take this injunction, this antivaccine, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi’. That song, Jīv Jāgo, Jīv Jāgo. “I have brought this medicine for killing this Hong Kong flu of māyā.”

Prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva by Shani (Saturn)

Shani said:

By the mercy of the dust of Your lotus feet which destroy a multitude of sins, grant infinite auspiciousness to Your devotee who always worships Your lotus feet with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your lotus feet are worshipped by Goddess Lakṣmī, even though She is fickle by nature (cancala) and by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva whose feet are worthy of worship with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By contemplating or meditating upon Your appearance, which is expounded in the Vedas extensively, the best of the saints are liberated from the three-fold miseries and from all misfortunes. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By the word of His devotee named Prahlāda, Lord Hari, who is generous and kind, appeared from a pillar and by placing Hiraṇyakaśipu on His thighs split open his stomach with His nails. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

You protected your own devotee Prahlāda from a raging fire, the deep ocean, from falling from a tall mountain peak, poison, a mad elephant and the fangs of poisonous serpents. You are omnipresent and supremely generous. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose great form is devoid of imperfections, the best of the saints attained liberation from the ocean of materialistic attachments and obtained unmitigated salvation. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose form is fearsome, all peace, happiness and prosperity can be obtained, all sins can be obliterated, the fear arising from evil spirits, fevers and unfavorable planetary positions can be removed, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your transcendental fame is sung gloriously in all the divine assemblies of Śiva, Brahmā and Indra etc. and whose power is steadfast in wiping out all impurities, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

On listening to the heartfelt prayer composed by Śanideva in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, Lord Hari who is ever compassionate to His devotees, spoke to Śanideva as follows.

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, I am pleased with your devotion. Whatever you desire that will benefit the world, ask for that kind of boon and I will grant it.

Śrī Śanideva replied:

O Lord Nṛsiṁha, O reservoir of compassion, please be kind to me. O Lord of all gods, let my week-day (Saturday) be Your favorite day. O Purifier of all the worlds, may You fulfill the desires of all those who listen to or read this great prayer to You composed by me.”

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, let it be so! By virtue of My being the universal protector (Rakṣobhuvana), I fulfill the desires of all My devotees. Please listen to My words let there be no fear of the twelfth and eighth birth positions (and implicitly any unfavorable birth positions) and consequent troubles from you for anyone who reads or listens to this prayer to Me composed by you.

Then Śanideva replied to Lord Narahari that he would follow the Lord’s instructions. Then the joyful saints and sages present there (in Brahma’s assembly) responded with cries of, ‘jaya, jaya!’”.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Dharmarāja, “Whoever listens to or recites this conversation between Śanideva and Lord Nṛsiṁha in the form of this prayer of devotion will definitely have all desires fulfilled and will always rejoice.”

Thus ends the prayers offered to the universal protector Śrī Nṛsiṁha by the great soul Śani.

The post Nrsimha Caturdasi, May 6 – The All Auspicious Appearance Day of Our Divine Protector appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Jananivas and Braja Vilasa prabhus speak about how devotees can participate in the 2020 Nrsimha Maha Yajna and Japa Yajna on May 5, 2020 for the protection of ISKCON, the devotees, and the gurus, and the welfare of the entire human race.

To become a Yajnaman, participant in this yajna, and have your name read to Lord Nrsimha, and to receive a special Nrsimha Raksha Sutra protection wrist thread, follow the directions below to register on the TOVP App:

New App Users

To download the TOVP App select one of the following links:

• TOVP APP iOS – apple.co/2lgtrCw
• TOVP APP Android – bit.ly/2mIWM93

Once you complete the registration process click on the App Menu at the top left corner of the page (three small lines). Under NEWS you will see the option to register for the Nrsimha Maha Yajna. Please fill out and provide all the details requested on the Registration Form.

Existing App Users

Open your TOVP App. You may be requested to update the App upon opening. Once that is done click on the App Menu at the top left corner of the page (three small lines). Under NEWS you will see the option to register for the Nrsimha Maha Yajna. Please fill out and provide all the details requested on the Registration Form.

Hare Krishna and please be safe and healthy. We pray to the Lord for His blessings upon you and hope to be of some small service to you and your family through this Maha Yajna event.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
App at: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts at: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post TOVP Nrsimha Maha Yajna And Japa Yajna – May 5, 2020 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

I have been a late bloomer my whole life, and yet time sometimes comes to my aid to teach me lessons that only are understood years later. A 19 ½ as a young brahmacari, we learned that “sleep was death” and was a waste of time, so if Prabhupada recommended 6 hours for those in the mood of goodness, then surely we should lessen that.

Thus, we experimented pushing the envelope back to 5½ to 5 hours etc. For a while, when I was a pujari in the old San Francisco, Valentia Street, temple, in the early 70’s, I was doing 4 hours a night, going to bed at around 11 and rising in time to wake the Deities at 3:30 a.m.

Somehow, I functioned, though I was always nodding out, since I thought taking rest during the day was “maya.” Sitting for chanting japa or class, or cleaning the Deity room floor, meant I would be in and out of sleeping, except when taking prasad. I used to chant my rounds on the roof of the building next door which we rented for storage and parking, and I am amazed I didn’t fall off, since I used to pace on the concrete border edge! Krishna protected me then and so many times in my life!

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I have been a late bloomer my whole life, and yet time sometimes comes to my aid to teach me lessons that only are understood years later. A 19 ½ as a young brahmacari, we learned that “sleep was death” and was a waste of time, so if Prabhupada recommended 6 hours for those in the mood of goodness, then surely we should lessen that.

Thus, we experimented pushing the envelope back to 5½ to 5 hours etc. For a while, when I was a pujari in the old San Francisco, Valentia Street, temple, in the early 70’s, I was doing 4 hours a night, going to bed at around 11 and rising in time to wake the Deities at 3:30 a.m.

Somehow, I functioned, though I was always nodding out, since I thought taking rest during the day was “maya.” Sitting for chanting japa or class, or cleaning the Deity room floor, meant I would be in and out of sleeping, except when taking prasad. I used to chant my rounds on the roof of the building next door which we rented for storage and parking, and I am amazed I didn’t fall off, since I used to pace on the concrete border edge! Krishna protected me then and so many times in my life!

read more

Sri Nityananda’s two wives, Sri Vasudha and Sri Jahnava Devi, are expansions of Lord Balarama’s eternal consorts Varuni and Revati.

Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda offers this prayer to Jahnava Mata in Kalyana-kalpa-taru: 

“Oh Jahnava Devi! By the power of your divine qualities, be merciful to this servant of yours. Dispel this illusion which torments me. And relieve me of material existence. Let me take shelter at your lotus feet. 

You are Nityananda-sakti, the divine energy of Lord Nityananda Himself. You are the guru of Krishna bhakti. Be merciful to me and grant me the shade of your lotus feet, which are like a desire tree. 

You have delivered countless abominable sinners. Please deliver me in the same way. Today, praying for your mercy, this lowly sinner falls at your holy feet.”

It is said that Shri Jahnava Devi left this world by entering the Deity of Gopinatha in Vrndavana. 

We offer our prayers for the well-being of all those affected by the pandemic. We pray for those souls who have passed away, and for their family members and friends. We also pray for those currently ill and their loved ones. And, we pray for those millions of people who suffer from the financial impact of the coronavirus and who worry for the safety of their families.

Kirtan Space, an online educational effort that started in 2016, has been revamped and will offer a free ten-week foundational kirtan course on Youtube starting May 25^th. “During this time, when you may be not working and may be stuck at home, is a good opportunity to learn a new instrument,” says director Balaram Nityananda Das.  

"Your merry rides have been thwarted, / Your house has been fenced, / Amazing you are, O mind, / You still don’t wish to be cleansed..."

Devotees from the Five Truths Pancha Tattva Center in Omsk, Siberia organized a Srimad-Bhagavatam online marathon, in which the translations of all 18,000 verses were recited over ten days, from April 10^th to 19^th. The marathon, which aimed to inspire devotees and benefit the world during the current dark times under a global pandemic, was entitled Spiritual Victory in Seven Days.

Altruism is defined as having a disinterested and selfless concern for the wellbeing of others. The Bhagavad Gita 16.1-3 describes the same, daya bhutesv aloluptvam or being without greed and having mercy towards others. Putting this concern into action not only aids those in difficulty but also eases your own.

" At my best of times, at my worst of times / I have always turned to and received the comfort and reassurance / of Mother Nature."

Answer Podcast

The post When a pauper and a millionaire both have human bodies, how is their happiness different and destined by their bodies? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The film portrays a pilgrimage, starting at the Bay of Bengal where the Ganges enters the sea (Ganga Sagar), to Gangotri and Gomukh in the Himalayan Mountains where the Ganges appears. Director & Producer: Gunnar Raimann (Bhaktivaibhava Swami) | Genre: Documentary | Produced In: 2005 |

By Bhakti Chaitanya Swami.

Born in 1941, Hansadutta grew up in New York City and joined ISKCON in 1967, becoming initiated by Srila Prabhupada in May of that year. Under Prabhupada’s direction, he helped to spread the Hare Krishna movement by preaching and opening many centers in Canada, USA, Europe, and Asia.

On April 11, under the direction of Braja Vilasa prabhu, TOVP Director of Development, a daily Nrsimha Yajna was inaugurated by the TOVP Care initiative for the protection and blessings of devotees worldwide, and the benefit of humanity in general. To date over 10,000 devotee names have been received and are read daily during the yajna. This will continue unabated until May 5th when a Nrsimha Maha Yajna and Japa Yajna will be performed. The video and photos in this article are from the yajna on April 23rd.

Concerning the Nrsimha Maha Yajna and Japa Yajna, we hope that every devotee worldwide will participate by providing their names by registering through the TOVP App (directions below). Participants anywhere in the world will also be mailed a special Nrsimha Raksha Sutra protective wrist thread offered to Lord Nrsimha. These will be mailed out as soon as the India lock-down is lifted and shipping services are available.

Below are directions for registering on the TOVP App:

New App Users

To download the TOVP App select one of the following links:

• TOVP APP iOS – apple.co/2lgtrCw
• TOVP APP Android – bit.ly/2mIWM93

Once you complete the registration process click on the App Menu at the top left corner of the page (three small lines). Under NEWS you will see the option to register for the Nrsimha Maha Yajna. Please fill out and provide all the details requested on the Registration Form.

Existing App Users

Open your TOVP App. You may be requested to update the App upon opening. Once that is done click on the App Menu at the top left corner of the page (three small lines). Under NEWS you will see the option to register for the Nrsimha Maha Yajna. Please fill out and provide all the details requested on the Registration Form.

Hare Krishna and please be safe and healthy. We pray to the Lord for His blessings upon you and hope to be of some small service to you and your family through this Maha Yajna event.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
App at: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts at: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Daily Nrsimhadeva Protection Yajna – Overview appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Answer Podcast

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प्रश्न: जीवन में अनेक उलझनों के बीच हम भगवान के प्रति अपनी श्रद्धा को कैसे बनाए रख सकते हैं?

उत्तर: एक मानव होने के नाते हम सब सीमित हैं। ऐसा समझना भूल होगी कि भक्ति का अभ्यास हमें हमारी मानवीय सीमाओं से परे ले जा सकता है। जीवन में विपत्तियों के बीच व्याकुल होना स्वाभाविक है। जब श्रील प्रभुपाद दिल्ली की सड़कों पर पत्रिकाएँ बाँट रहे थे, तब एक गाय ने उन्हें टक्कर मार दी। श्रील प्रभुपाद उस प्रहार से सड़क पर गिर पड़े। उनकी सारी पत्रिकाएँ तितर-बितर हो गईं। उन्होंने उठने का प्रयास किया किन्तु उठ नहीं पाए। वहाँ दिल्ली की सड़क पर पड़े-पड़े उनके मन में विचार आया – मेरे साथ ऐसा क्यों हो रहा है?

श्रील प्रभुपाद ने अपने एक तात्पर्य में लिखा है – एक भक्त विचलित हो सकता है किन्तु निराश नहीं। विचलित अर्थात् यह न समझ पाना कि क्या करें क्या न करें। निराश अर्थात् कुछ भी करने का उत्साह न होना। हम सभी का जीवन अनिश्चितताओं से भरा है। भले ही हमारी मंशा श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा करने की हो, किन्तु कभी-कभी यह स्पष्ट नहीं हो पाता है कि श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा कैसे करें।

विचलित होने और निराश होने के बीच के अंतर को समझना महत्वपूर्ण है। हर किसी के जीवन में उलझनें आती हैं क्योंकि जीवन सामा्न्यतः जटिल है। एक मानव होने के नाते हम सीमित हैं अर्थात् हम पतनशील हैं। हम श्रीकृष्ण की भाँति अनंत और अच्युत नहीं हैं। हम सीमित हैं अतः निश्चित रूप से जीवन में कभी न कभी विचलित होंगे। हम निराश तब होते हैं जब जीवन की जटिलताओं के कारण आशा खो बैठते हैं और अंततः पलायन कर जाते हैं। आध्यात्मिकता हमें श्रीकृष्ण की भाँति अच्युत नहीं बनाती। आध्यात्मिकता हमारी निकृष्ट प्रकृति – काम, क्रोध, लोभ, मोह, मद, मत्सर्य – से ऊपर उठने में हमारी सहायता करती है ताकि भीतर से शुद्ध होने पर हम अपनी उलझनों को निराशा में परिवर्तित न होने दें।

जब जीवन में हमारे सामने कोई उलझन अथवा संकट आए, जब हम किसी मार्ग पर चलें और अचानक अंधेरा छा जाए, तो ऐसे समय में यह मंत्र याद रखें – “छोटे-छोटे सरल कदम”। हम स्वयं से पूछें – मैं अभी क्या कर सकता हूं? मैं अभी, इस समय, श्रीकृष्ण की कोई छोटी-मोटी सेवा कैसे कर सकता हूँ। जीवन में बड़े लक्ष्यों के निर्धारण के लिए स्थिरता की आवश्यकता होती है। जब हम उलझनों से घिरे होते हैं जब हम बड़े-बड़े लक्ष्यों के बारे में ठीक से नहीं सोच पाते हैं। ऐसे समय में जब सब कुछ हमारे विपरीत जा रहा हो, हमें तात्कालिक परिस्थिति पर ध्यान देने की सबसे अधिक आवश्यकता है।

जब परिस्थितियाँ अत्यधिक कठिन हो जाऐं, तो हमें बस उतना ही आगे का सोचना चाहिए जिसे हम ठीक से नियंत्रित कर सकें। मैं अगले एक घंटे, एक दिन, एक सप्ताह के लिए “सर्वश्रेष्ठ” कैसे बन सकता हूं? “सर्वश्रेष्ठ” अर्थात् मैं चिड़चिड़ा नहीं हूँ, किसी पर चिल्ला नहीं रहा हूँ, स्वयं को कोस नहीं रहा हूँ आदि। यदि हम अपने व्यवहार को एक घंटे, एक दिन, एक सप्ताह के लिए नियंत्रित कर सकते हैं, तो हम स्वयं की सराहना करें, हमें आत्मबल देने के लिए श्रीकृष्ण का धन्यवाद करें और फिर एक बार अगले एक घंटे, एक दिन, एक सप्ताह के लिए स्वयं पर नियंत्रण करने का प्रयास करें। जब जीवन में निराशा घेर ले तो हमें स्वयं का उत्साहवर्धन करना चाहिए। हमें अपने भीतर सकारात्मकता और एक उद्देश्य की भावना पैदा करने के लिए जो भी करना पड़े उसका प्रयास करना चाहिए। “छोटे-छोटे सरल कदम” उठाने से, भले ही हमारा जीवन पुनः प्रकाशवान न हो किन्तु हमारी सेवा करने की भावना – मैं अभी श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा कैसे कर सकता हूँ, मैं अभी कौन से छोटे-छोटे कदम उठा सकता हूँ – हमारे लिए एक छोटे से दीपक की भाँति बन जाएगी। यह छोटा सा दीपक हमें एक कदम आगे का मार्ग दिखाएगा। अंतत: हम पाऐंगे कि इस प्रकार छोटे-छोटे कदमों के कारण हम चलते भी रहेंगे और कठिन समय में भी प्रगति करते रहेंगे।

जीवन की जटिलताऐं हमें विचलित करेंगी, किन्तु हमें निराश होने की आवश्यकता नहीं है। हम निराशा से बच सकते हैं यदि हम अपनी सेवा करने की भावना पर ध्यान बनाऐं रखें । हम बस छोटे-छोटे सरल कदम उठाऐं, और इससे धीरे-धीरे अंतर आने लगेगा। यदि हम श्रीकृष्ण की सेवा करते रहें, तो श्रीकृष्ण हमारी कठिनाइयों को दूर करने में सहायता करेंगे। हमारे कर्म हमें जिस भी कठिनाई मेें डालेंगे, अपने प्रयास और श्रीकृष्ण की कृपा से ही हम उससे बाहर निकल पाऐंगे।

End of transcription.

The Passing of Arca Vigraha Devi Dasi
by Daivi Sakti Devi Dasi

Arca Vigraha Devi Dasi joined ISKCON in 1985. She was a successful artist who was disillusioned with material life and wanted an alternative. For a long time she searched for the truth, and she was finally satisfied when she met Srila Prabhupada’s devotees in South Africa.

She discussed philosophy with them and considered how to dovetail her art career in Krishna’s service. Thus she began working on a series of charcoal drawings which included passages from Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita depicting the qualities and activities of Kali-yuga. She graphically portrayed the ills of deviating from the four regulative principles to show the truth about Kali-yuga.

Then one devotee returning from Vrindavan showed her some exquisite photographs of all the holy places. She fell in love with Vrindavan and during Kartik of 1986 made her first visit, which left an indelible impression on her mind.

Owing to her artistic talent, she was always requested to paint deities, but she was not allowed to until she received initiation from His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja in 1987.  He named her Arca Vigraha Devi Dasi, indicating she was the servant of the deity form of the Lord. She was deeply thrilled upon receiving second initiation, as now she could paint installed deities. This gave great meaning to her life, and soon she painted all the major deities in South Africa and Mauritius. When she returned to Vrindavan, she was asked to paint the deities there, including Srila Prabhupada in his samadhi.

Six months after initiation, she learned she had cancer. She underwent an operation, took radiation treatment, and got some temporary relief. She then bought a piece of land in Raman Reti near the temple, where she intended to build a house for her spiritual master. She began to travel back and forth between South Africa and Vrindavan, bringing earnings from art sales to build the house. During this time she performed a variety of services, though her health deteriorated.

In 1991, on the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva, she realized the cancer had returned—this time in her lymph gland. When she told her spiritual master, he advised her, “Sell up everything. Just run to Vrindavan and let Srimati Radharani take over.” She then returned here with her godsister Kuntidevi to assist her.

Her guru maharaja told her to increase bhajana and japa, to read as much as possible, and to serve in the holy dhama. She did that and continued painting, but as time went on, the cancer in her shoulder and neck began to impair her movements. That spring she was confined to bed; thus she could no longer attend the temple program. So she increased hearing and reading about Krishna’s pastimes, which became more and more enthralling.

Whenever she got a burst of energy, she would sit up in bed and work on designs for two carved marble panels in Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi. Meditating on Srila Prabhupada made her closer to him than ever before. She found great solace in hearing about his final years and how he had served right up to the last moment.

While Arca Vigraha prepared to leave her body in the association of devotees in Vrindavan, we asked her to share her realizations with us.

How do you overcome the extreme pain?

What helps me transcend the pain is kirtan. B. B. Govinda Maharaja does kirtan here. He sings to me, and I become extremely blissful. I can transcend the pain when I’m hearing that. Other devotees also do bhajana here, and of course the readings of various literatures is really helpful.

I remember all the love and help I’ve received from the devotees. It’s as though they’ve taken me step-by-step out of this material world. I’m eternally indebted to them for all the support they’ve given me. I have never known such selfless love as this. My impending death has forced all of us to look into ourselves and become more selfless. Srila Prabhupada said, “Don’t think this is not going to happen to you.” We all know that finally we’ll have to go through this. I just happen to be the first in line right now. It is tolerable because we know where we are going.

What realizations are you getting about where you are going? Any glimpse from the saintly persons who come to see you?

Yes. I have a glimpse from them. I meditate on what they tell me, and it sounds very encouraging. I won’t take birth in the material world again. But I really accept whatever Krishna wants me to do as long as I can serve Him and Srimati Radharani. That’s really all that I would like. I know I won’t go through this again. All I want to do is to serve in a healthy body again.

Are you able to maintain your chanting?

Yes, I can chant, but it takes a bit longer and I can’t always do so aloud. I have to whisper, but I’m able to do it. I chant sixteen rounds a day and more when I can. But I don’t count any more. It’s tiring to count it now.

You’re hearing and preparing to go back to Godhead like Maharaja Pariksit did. What is the message you have for other devotees who will be in your position later?

One big realization is the importance of remembering the name of Krishna. We have always been told to remember Krishna and never forget Him. With everything that happens to us in this situation, Krishna is saying, “Drop this attachment. Clean up all attachments and desires and remember Me only.”

All mortal beings will either leave us or die. It’s only Krishna who will never let us down. He is the only one we can rely on. The more suffering you go through, the more you realize it. We have to be completely pure to serve Him, and that’s what He wants. I don’t resent what I’m going through. Hearing Krishna’s pastimes is endearing Him to me much more. He’s so charming that I just want to serve Him.

Anyone who finds himself in this position must take great courage. Only this philosophy will answer the questions of life. We are so fortunate to know where we are going. Whatever Krishna is arranging for you, just have great faith. Hear His pastimes, for that will make you appreciate. It will give you a little glimpse, a little taste of the love we should develop for Him. Never let that faith go or you’ll become despondent, you’ll get depressed.

Devotees’ association is the best thing at a time like this. I couldn’t do without it. I’m getting a lot of mercy, and I hope I will not let them down.

Is there a particular example in Srimad-Bhagavatam that encourages you?

Grandfather Bhismadeva and how he left his body on the bed of arrows. A devotee can either laugh or cry about death. If you lament, then somehow you’ll have to keep going through the same test until you give up the lamentation.

But if you can see the beneficial side of it, you can mine every jewel out of the experience and attain an exalted consciousness. One doesn’t lament if he has a positive attitude towards suffering. You see clearly that Krishna is forcing you to surrender everything for your own benefit.

The only thing that holds us back is desires in the heart that don’t correlate with what He wishes for us. He wants us to come back to Him. We have to understand exactly what He wants us to do. We have to surrender everything. We have to have a clean slate; otherwise we can’t go back.

We know that suffering is temporary and that we are not the body. If you don’t eat for a while, your body begins to dissolve. It’s like a vision in front of you; it just dissolves away. How can you be the body if it so radically changes like this?

Where does our independence lie?

Krishna gives us a choice. If we understand what He wants and that He is the controller, we will have enough faith to surrender to Him. He knows what’s best for us. The important thing is to have complete faith in Him. Whatever He does to us we should accept with full faith. This is the key to becoming completely peaceful. Nothing can be done to change anything.

 At one point you were seeking relief in hospitals. Were you trying to get out of Krishna’s clutches then, or were you depending on Him?

I was depending on Krishna at that time. I was looking for a way to extend my ability to do service. The question arises, “Do you want to heal yourself or not?” But it is not up to us. We have to understand that everyone must die sooner or later.

In the beginning it looked like I could stand off the cancer for a number of years. But at other times it would flare up and it appeared like my stay in this body would be finished in a couple of days, weeks, or months. It was like being on a roller coaster.

At one point I decided to let it take its natural course. The alternative was chemotherapy, which leads to other problems which can be worse than the disease. It’s too much of a gamble, so I made up my mind not to accept treatment, as I never liked drugs anyway. I thought that Krishna may give me more time to do service. It’s not like you’re working for yourself. But when I realized that the illness was getting worse, I slowly began to surrender. You don’t fight it any more. You reach the stage of accepting death and no longer try to deny it—this is really important. We have denied things for so long, but still they have happened. At the stage of acceptance you begin to say, “OK, whatever Krishna wants.” If He wants you to live, nothing can kill you, and if He wants you to die, nothing can save you. So it’s up to Him anyway.

Which attachment is hardest to give up?

My art—my work for Krishna.

You consider that an attachment?

Yes, a very big one.

What are you aspiring for?

I’m aspiring for radha-dasya-bhava. I want to serve Radharani by painting Her feet, Her eyes, or doing anything in that way, anything that I’m capable of.

Do you meditate on painting Radharani’s feet and hands?

Yes. That is really the thing that helps the most. It takes you out of the bodily concept. It actually helps the pain. You become immersed in the idea of the service, and it’s so enchanting. That’s why it’s so important to hear.

Has painting the deities helped you realize the nondifference between arca-vigraha and the original Radha and Krishna?

Yes. Painting the deities was one of the hardest things to give up. I was completely attached to that. But we have to be practical. I realized that one has to be prepared to share whatever one is doing for Radha and Krishna.

That means allowing others to do the service?

Yes. It used to worry me because I thought I would be able to do this for many years. But when you realize you can’t, you have to surrender. You have to see things positively; otherwise you just become despondent, and there is no future in that. Just as it is hard to live, it’s even more difficult to die.  We can’t die when we want, so we have to become humble in this respect and tolerate.

It seems that I’m not really functioning much, yet Krishna is using me as an instrument, not only to purify me more and more, but to force everyone to face the reality of death. It’s not easy for people to visit me, because it reminds them of what it will be like when their time comes.

We have to learn to be very patient. Even now I think, ”OK, that’s enough. That’s enough!” But I can’t do anything about it. We just have to get more purified. It’s a hard thing, and you get tired of waiting. Still, there is a reason why it’s going on like this. It brings you closer to Krishna. Everything has dissolved in your life and there’s just the one relationship remaining.

You are the most fortunate because you’ve been given this time to prepare.

 Yes. It’s fortunate that you can see where you are. But for those who are able to get more knowledge by living a longer time, it’s very beneficial, because they can see even clearer where they are. It becomes quite exciting to recognize the various stages of bhakti Prabhupada mentions in The Nectar of Devotion.

What stage do you think you are on right now?

I can’t really say, since I haven’t got much knowledge.

You have developed some faith.

Yes, and to me that’s the most important thing.

 Have you got some taste?

I hope I have. I think it’s taste. It seems like it.

You’ve got sadhu-sanga. You are doing all right.

I feel like I am drowning in an ocean of mercy, which is delectable. I’ve been thrown into the deep end—like a crash course, and I’m getting an honorary degree. I don’t know about all the different stages separately. Krishna is accelerating everything, pushing it all into one short space. Whatever it is, I feel gratitude for it. They say it’s not how you come into it; it’s how you leave it.

So what’s your desire for leaving?

I just want to be with the Vaishnavas.

You’re keeping your guru maharaja’s socks on your bed.

Yes. I asked him, “Just do one thing for me.”

Giriraj Swami said, “What?”

“It’s a big endeavor for me to get out of bed, but I’m going to put my chaddar on and put my head on the floor at your feet.” Tamal Krishna Maharaja was here, and he told Giriraj Swami to sit down.

Then I asked him, “Please put your feet on my head.” Then I felt his feet touch my head, and he kept them there for some time. When he took them off I looked at him and said, “Thank you. That’s all I wanted.” And I got back into bed.

Then he couldn’t check it; he had something in his heart. I don’t know, but he had to go and wash his face.

It sounds like these birds outside your window are having kirtan for you.

 Yes, there are hundreds of pigeons, sparrows, and peacocks. It’s nice, because when you hear the pastimes of Radharani and Krishna you can visualize what they do at the different times of the day. They always talk about the birds. The singing of the parrots and peacocks connects you with Them and Vrindavan. It’s all based on sound vibration. It’s times like this that makes it all worthwhile. It’s painful, but it’s all worthwhile.

(Mother Arca Vigraha cast off her body in Vrindavan in the presence of her spiritual master on May 8, 1994.)

[Published in Sri Vrndavana Dhama Newsletter]

Two months before Mother Arca-vigraha left her body, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Kurma-rupa Dasa wrote her on the letterhead of Sri Vrndavana Dhama Newsletter:

March 12, 1994

Dear Mother Arca Vigraha,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I consider this act of facing death so bravely your greatest work of art. I know you would rather be applying various colored ointments upon the transcendental forms of Radha-Krishna, but Krishna is engaging you in more intimate service.

As He says in the Bhagavad-gita, “No one is more dear to Me than he who gives this message to the devotees.” Now Krishna has asked you to preach this message to us, and I for one can say that by your doing so you are removing my fear of death. And except for Srila Prabhupada, I do not know anyone who has ever done that.

In this world we are all suffering from fear of death. We sing every morning that Krishna is braja-jana-bhaya-hari—the one who removes fear from the Brajabasis. Now He is engaging you as His agent to do this, and we are all feeling so grateful to you.

I am completely convinced that the interview you granted Daivi Sakti Mata will soon become the most powerful preaching we have published to date.

Please consider if you have any artwork that you would allow us to publish along with your preaching.

Your servant,
Kurma-rupa Dasa

My dear friend, the scent of Kṛṣṇa’s body enchants the entire world. It especially enters the nostrils of women and remains seated there. Thus it captures them and forcibly brings them to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa’s eyes, navel and face, hands and feet are like eight lotus flowers on His body. From those eight lotuses emanates a […]

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Mother Arca-vigraha left this world in Vrindavan in 1994 on Jahnu-saptami, which is Wednesday, April 29, in America, and Thursday, April 30, in India. 

In her last days, Mother Arca-vigraha gave me the inspiration and vision to establish the Bhaktivedanta Hospice in Vrindavan. She had been a prominent artist in South Africa, and she built a house in Vrindavan, in Raman Reti, near the Krishna-Balaram Mandir, to serve as a residence and art studio whenever she visited India. But not long thereafter, she was diagnosed with cancer, and so she sold her lovely home in Johannesburg and settled permanently in Vraja.

She was the first devotee to leave her body in Vrindavan and receive so much attention. Her spiritual qualities attracted many devotees to spend time with her, and her departure became paradigmatic of how to pass away in Krishna consciousness with the support of the Vaishnavas. And she wanted other devotees to have the chance to leave their bodies in the same way, in the spiritual atmosphere of Vrindavan. At the same time, she became acutely aware of the deficiencies in the medical care there. So she wanted us to have what she called a “back-to-Godhead clinic.”

Now, of course, there is more facility for acute care, but then there wasn’t, and no system for palliative care. When during the course of her terminal illness Arca-vigraha got jaundice, there was no proper person to treat her, so Srila Prabhupada’s French disciple Gopaswami Prabhu came. As a medical student, Gopaswami had met Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan, and Srila Prabhupada had told him that he should complete his studies and become a doctor and take care of our devotees there. Eventually, Gopaswami became so enlivened and inspired in devotional service in the association of devotees that he preferred to dedicate himself fully to the practice of Krishna consciousness and to the service of the divine mission in their association. For many years he rendered valuable service in France; he was the main translator and translated almost all of Srila Prabhupada’s books into French. But in time, years later, he thought of Srila Prabhupada’s earlier instruction, and he became a medical doctor and then earned a certificate in hospice care. So, he treated Arca-vigraha. But the local care was very poor. The local people who came could not do an IV properly, and there was no local lab.

But Arca just loved being in Vrindavan. The plot where she built her house turned out to be next to Sivarama Swami’s and Govinda Swami’s, on a little lane called Radha-Raman Bagicha, off the Parikrama Marg on the way to the Krishna-Balarama tree. It’s the same lane where Balarama Baba has his ashram. She didn’t have AC, but she had air coolers, which run on water, a fan, and khus. And everything in her house was always spotlessly clean and well maintained. From her bed, through her windows, she could see trees, creepers, peacocks, parrots, cows, and calves. Even when she was bedridden, we would open the windows and she would look out and see the trees and vines and flowers, feel the breezes, and smell the aromas.

Because of her spiritual advancement and sublime qualities, Mother Arca-vigraha attracted a lot of people. People were always coming to visit her, and those with special abilities would offer specialized services. One devotee knew massage, and she would come once or twice a week and give Arca massage. Various types of alternative healers from different countries came and offered their services, which Arca graciously and gratefully—and affectionately—accepted. It all sort of just happened.

At the same time, Arca had her personal staff, devotees who were there specifically to serve her, headed by Kuntidevi. They took care of the house and grounds, the medical equipment, the laundry, the purchases, and the regular services of cooking, cleaning, bathing her, dressing her, feeding her, and administering her medication. As the cancer progressed, she got exactly what food she needed—simple foods, then soft food, then purees, then juice, and finally just crushed ice.

On the spiritual side there was constant chanting and hearing. Devotees came to do kirtan or chant japa with her, and many, such as Bhakti Bhrnga Govinda Swami, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Sivarama Swami, and Kesava Bharati Maharaja, would come and read to her. Bhurijana Prabhu came every day. And when there was no chanting or reading, a tape would be playing. Arca also had her altar, with various pictures and Deities. And whatever food she ate was always offered. Indradyumna Swami allowed her to keep his Radha-Krishna Deities, Sri Sri Gandharvika-Giridhari, and every day Govinda Maharaja would bring over his Gaura-Nitai Deities and sometimes his Govardhana sila.

Arca-vigraha reciprocated with her guests perfectly. Mainly she was just eager to hear and speak about Krishna. But depending on who came, she would give them a sympathetic ear, wise counsel, Krishna conscious philosophy, or even practical knowledge. With as much energy as she had, for as long as she could, she extended herself to others. In her last months, she gave art lessons to the gurukula students (who would also come and perform kirtan for her), she painted portraits of Srila Jiva Gosvami and Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami for their bhajana-kutiras at Radha-kunda, and she did some artwork for Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi. Whoever you were, whatever your mood, Arca was always there to reciprocate.

And there was always a high level of cooperation. As the director of the Santa Barbara hospice, Serenity House, recently told us, that is what attracts people. Not only the patients are touched by the mood of love and care; the staff and volunteers are too. That very positive mood of care and concern for the patients, for their loved ones, for their guests, and for the other caregivers is very, very appealing.

Often, good relations have much to do with good management, with having the right people in the right places, interacting properly. In any machine, if one of the pieces is out of place, it can cause friction. So we have to take care that we have competent management and leadership.

It is really only since Arca-vigraha’s departure that I have come to learn about hospice care. Before then I did not know what “hospice” meant, and Arca herself never used the word. Her idea, her desire, seemed to have sprung directly from her experience and realization—from her beautiful heart—that she wanted devotees to have the same facility she had.

At one stage we even considered building small cottages so that devotees could feel that they too had their own place in Vrindavan. That was beyond our means, but we do want to do whatever we can to create a congenial, beautiful, spiritual atmosphere. On the site, we have kept all the trees—so many trees—and that is good. Hospices try to offer patients their own private balconies or patios, their own little areas where they can have direct access to the outdoors, to sunlight, fresh air, and nature’s beauty. So we must try our best to create that sense of home in Vraja.

Vision is a subtle thing, comprising many diverse elements. Arca’s vision was for the hospice to afford devotees the same kind of experience that she had. And the Bhaktivedanta Hospice is drawing all those elements together to make that vision a reality—inspired by her, that saintly lady, that great soul, Arca-vigraha devi dasi.

[A Reflection by Giriraj Swami, June 6, 2007, Carpinteria, California]

Recently we sent out the official announcement about the Second Annual #GivingTOVP 10 Day Matching Fundraiser which you can read here. This event starts on April 26 (Akshaya Tritiya) until May 6 (Nrsimha Caturdasi) and is poised to raise over $300,000 to help the completion of Lord Nrsimha’s entire East Wing and altar in the TOVP for the opening ceremony during Gaur Purnima 2021.

In this video His Holiness Sivaram Swami speaks about the importance of this fundraiser for completing the TOVP.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to the disastrous effects of the Corona virus pandemic worldwide and the 21 day lock-down in India, ISKCON Mayapur is experiencing a serious financial crisis. On account of this emergency situation, Ambarisa and Braja Vilasa prabhus from the TOVP have decided to help ISKCON Mayapur by creating an extension campaign to the #GivingTOVP Fundraiser called the TOVP Care Emergency Matching Fund Campaign. Ambarisa will match 10 cents for every dollar raised for the #GivingTOVP Fundraiser (online only) and donate it to ISKCON Mayapur.

For more information go ​here​.

Please download and share the #GivingTOVP Fundraiser flyer below.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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The post H.H. Sivaram Swami Speaks About the #GivingTOVP 10 Day Matching Fundraiser appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Answer Podcast

The post Isn’t the Gita’s instruction to remain equipoised seem too idealistic? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Maharaj Bhagiratha had, after great penances, been successful in bringing the most purifying Mother Ganges, whose waters wash the lotus feet of the Lord and are therefore his charanamrita, from the heavenly planets to this earth for the purpose of delivering his forefathers. While he was making the way from the Himalayas to the ocean for her to flow, he happened to pass by the hermitage of the great sage Jahnu. 

Seeing the great river coming in his ashram and disturbing his meditation greatly enraged the pious sage, and in his anger, he swallowed all the water of the river. When Bhagiratha realised that mother Ganges was no longer following him and had been swallowed by the hermit, he immediately fell at the lotus feet of the sage, begging him to release Ganga. She was the only means of delivering his forefathers and her presence was for the benefit of the entire human race. 

As is the nature of all the devotees of the Lord, Jahnu muni was naturally very compassionate and therefore he agreed to release mother Ganga, and he did so by expelling her waters from his right ear. Due to having been thus swallowed by Jahnu muni, Srimati Ganga devi came to be known as Jahnavi, the daughter of the Sage Jahnu. 

It was on this auspicious 7th day of the Shukla paksha in the month of Vaisakh that this pastime of the Lord’s devotees took place and therefore this day is famous as Jahnu Saptami. This pastime actually came to take place in Sri Navadwip mandal at Jahnudvip, where Jahnu muni was absorbed in deep meditation upon Gaurahari and it was here that he was also blessed with the darshana of Mahaprabhu.

On this auspicious day, knowing mother Ganges to be very dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the devotees offer respects and perform puja to Srimati Ganga devi to get her mercy and the mercy of Jahnu muni. In this way they may also be able to some day serve in the pastimes of Sri Gaurahari.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 August 2019, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Janmashtami Lecture)

When we feel that we have no taste for chanting and when we think to ourselves, “Oh I have no desire to chant sixteen rounds… it is taking such a long time and it is appearing to me as boring“, this is because we have no remembrance of Krsna. However, it is so easy to remember Krsna through His pastimes, because they are filled with rasa, with taste. They are not boring at all; they are actually full of excitement.

Are we religious? No, we are not religious. We are attracted to the pastimes of Krsna; as simple as that. It is this attraction and remembrance of the pastimes of Krsna that will give us the strength in chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra. The reason for why we are not developing the taste for chanting is because we do not remember Krsna’s pastimes. So what we must do is just get fully absorbed in Krsna’s qualities, His pastimes, His nature and so on. We must focus to realize the kindness of Krsna and His mercy until we become captured by it. It is only when it captures us that we begin to chant with taste. If we do it as an exercise, we may struggle with it, but then we start to think about Krsna’s pastimes and suddenly our rounds move along. So it is really all about getting absorbed in remembering how amazing Krsna is. It is about being captured by His qualities and then we can chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra in ecstasy. That is what it is all about in the end, getting absorbed.

The article " Developing strength in chanting " was published on KKSBlog.

Mayapur head Pujaris HG Jananivas Prabhu & HG Pankajanghri Pr remembers how Sri Radha -Madhava boat festival celebrated in Mayapur in the past and also on the arrangements made for this year’s boat festival in the temple.

The post Jananivas Pr & Pankajanghri Pr speaks on Boat Festival appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Answer Podcast

The post How can we become more contemplative in daily life? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.