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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 79 – 10.14.7-12 – Practicing devotion gratefully while accepting responsibility for our difficulties opens the door to liberation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post When people don’t get what they desire, they sometimes become angry and sometimes depressed – are anger and depression twins appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

A fire has caused major damage to Govinda’s restaurant at ISKCON of Tucson, Arizona, depriving the community of its income. The temple has also lost power; however no devotees or Deities were harmed.

Titled A Legacy Begins, the beautifully presented photo book features rare, original photos from Gurudas’ personal archive documenting the years 1968 – 1973, from when the seven pioneers first arrived in London, iconic pictures of the devotees meeting The Beatles.

Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

A visit to Iskcon Las Vegas (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These four principles: Always think of Krishna, become Krishna’s devotee, worship Krishna and offer your respect, obeisances to Krishna. That’s all. This is Krishna consciousness. Hyderabad, November 17, 1972.

Open Fun Day at the Manor today (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Philosophy is the highest, but even higher than philosophy...

Best ever photos from Rathayatra in Puri 2019.
The biggest Rathyatra festival of the world is the Rathyatra in Sri Jagannath Puri. Lord Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra and Sudarshan come out of the main temple and adorn Their respective chariots. The chariots are huge and amazingly beautiful. This event of the Lord coming out of the temple is known as Pahandi. After Pahandi, the King of Odisha comes to greet Their Lordships on the chariots and various rituals are observed. Then an ocean of millions of people pull the chariots to take the Lords to Gundica Temple. That’s the most spectacular thing to witness. In Gundica, the Lord resides for seven days and then again They come back in another amazing procession. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, during His time in Puri used to attend this Rathyatra festival, whose description is found in details in Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. Please come along and witness one of the biggest annual religious events of the world and be blessed. Jay Jagannath!

Krishna explains in Bhagavad-gita that one who distributes His message of Bhagavad-gita is most dear to Him.
Vijaya Prabhu: One Muslim boy was reluctant to take a book from me because it was from outside his tradition. I saw him another day, and he said, “I had this dream the Bhagavad-gita came to me glowing.” I again encouraged him to get the book, and after repeated attempts, he finally accepted it.

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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 78 – 10.14.1-6 Krishna is known by devotional hearing, not by intellectual probing appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

It is Lord Jagannath’s festival in Mayapur. In the beautiful Gundicha Mandir offered to Lord lovingly, He is enjoying His Vrindavan Pastimes ! This year a grand Ratha Yatra Mela is put up to attract everyone to festival. Everyday evening, Jagannath Astakam kirtan is sung along with lamp offering . We request everyone to take […]

The post appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A wonderful celebration of Ratha Yatra festival at ISKCON Salem, Tamilnadu, India (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)

Each And Every Day (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Here on the Baltic Sea coast in Poland we are engaged in presenting Kr...

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The post When love for Krishna is so far away for most of us, should we even talk about it in our classes? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Fifty years ago, out of his causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada accepted me as his initiated disciple and wrote me the following letter:

My dear Giriraj,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj. Giriraj is the name of Goverdhan Hill, on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban Goverdhan Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devotees take stone from Goverdhan Hill and keep it at home as a representation of Krishna, and they worship in this way.

I am very glad to understand that you have relished at least some of the transcendental bliss of Krishna consciousness. It is a great fortune for you. Living entities are roaming within the universes in different species of life and in different planetary systems, enjoying or suffering the reaction of pious or impious activities. But they have no information how to get out of this entanglement of repetition of birth and death. Due to the darkness of ignorance, most living entities have no idea about the values of life. Therefore, one who understands the importance of Krishna consciousness must be a very fortunate soul. So I marked it in your person when I was in Boston, and I prayed to Krishna that this good soul may be aware of the importance of Krishna consciousness.

With my blessings, I am sending herewith your beads, duly chanted upon by me. You should avoid the ten offenses as far as possible, and follow the four regulative principles, as Satsvarupa will instruct you. I know your good godbrother Satsvarupa will always help you in this connection.

Regarding your $2,000, which you promised to send me within three weeks, I beg to thank you for this.* Actually, a brahmacharishould contribute whatever he has got to Krishna, through the spiritual master. The spiritual master does not accept anything for his personal use, but he employs everything for Krishna’s service. Therefore the spiritual master is accepted in the renounced order of life. So far as householders are concerned, they may contribute at least half of their income to Krishna. Then life is sublime. After all, everything belongs to Krishna, and the sooner we return whatever we have got to Krishna, the better it is. That is our normal life. Regarding your stocks, you can keep them for yourself for the time being, and if need be I may ask you to deliver them in the future. Your engagements there are nice, so continue to follow rigidly.

You may inform Satsvarupa that I have sent the Krsna tape #13, so he may transcribe it and send me a copy. I will be sending further tapes henceforward, because my Nectar of Devotion is now finished and I shall concentrate on the Krsna tapes.

I hope this will meet you in very good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*You can directly transfer this amount to my a/c No. 12410 with the Equitable Savings & Loan Association, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California.

Harinama in Vilnius, Lithuania, 25.06.2019 (5 min. video)
People do not understand that they are actually sleeping in this material world, being devoid of knowledge of spiritual life. Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore says:
“I have brought medicine to awaken every living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and awaken.”(S.B. 5,.13.9 Purport)

BBC article, 4 July 2019: Rath Yatra - The legend behind world’s largest chariot festival.
One of India’s biggest religious festivals, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, got underway on Thursday.
Believed to be the oldest Rath Yatra or chariot procession in the world, this festival marks the annual ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra, from their home temple to another temple, located in what is believed to be their aunt’s home.
This journey is documented in undated Hindu sacred texts known as the Puranas which are believed to have been written a few thousand years ago.
What makes it so interesting?
To read the complete article please click here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48864239

Drama by Kishori Yatra at Boston Ratha Yatra - 6/30/2019 (video)
Srila Prabhupada: “Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.2.17)

Prayers required for Nikhilananda Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from Germany in a very serious health condition.

Harinama Sankirtana in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), a spa town in the west Bohemia region of the Czech Republic (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12)

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  July 4th, 2019, on the auspicious Ratha Yatra Day of Lord Jagannath, HG Sacimata devi dasi, disciple of Srila Prabhupada passed away at Swarupganj , in the island of Godrumadvipa. Ratha Yatra day was also her birthday. She joined ISKCON in Kolkata at the age of 16 and gave her heart to Srila Prabhupada […]

The post Auspicious Passing away of HG Sacimata devi dasi appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Her Grace Sachi Mata devi dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, left her body at noon yesterday in Mayapur, on July 4th, 2019, the ...

[Rath Yatra class at Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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The post Appreciating Rath Yatra – RATH acronym – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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The post Significance of Ratha Yatra in Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition – Place, Purpose, Process – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post When Krishna doesn’t reciprocate, how can we avoid becoming cynical? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Francis the “Prasadam bhakta”.
Shastrakrit Das: This is Francis, really intelligent and very humble, young man. He reads the bible every day and he also comes to our Gita discussions regularly. He is a Prasadam Bhakta. This eve he came little early and on his own he was sitting in the couch and loudly reading a purport from the Gita. I tried to introduce him to Bhagavatam but to my surprise he already knew about Bhagavatam just from reading Srila Prabhupada’s Gita purports and he was all ready to receive the set

Jagannath Ratha Yatra all over the world. Now in Kathmandu also (video)

Sivananda Sena’s and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami’s Disappearance Day.
HH Giriraj Swami: On the auspicious day of Jagannatha Ratha-yatra in Puri, two of Lord Chaitanya’s most confidential associates, Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Srila Sivananda Sena, left this world to return to the supreme abode.
The inner moods of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, especially in Puri, were not easy to understand, and they were unknown to most devotees. Only Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, who was the most intimate associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Puri, could really understand them, and by his grace we have been given the chance to understand them, too.
To read the complete article please click here: https://is.gd/ijUa4y

Rajapur Ratha-yātrā
What are the characteristics of Śrī Jagannātha, Śrī Baladev, and Śrī Subhadra? Jagannāthaa, the emblem of God, has no other form than eyes and hands, which show that God sees, knows, and creates. Balarām is the source of jīva-śakti, Subhadra is māyā-śakti, and Sudarśana is the energy of will. (Pg. 128, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Vāṇī Vaibhava)

Puri Rathayatra 2019! Beyond comparison!
Annual Car Festival of Lord Jagannath 2019 - LIVE from Puri.(Doordarshan National)

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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 76 – 10.13.50-56 – Brahma sees all universal opulences sheltered in the Vishnus expanded from Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

On the auspicious day of Jagannatha Ratha-yatra in Puri, two of Lord Chaitanya’s most confidential associates, Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Srila Sivananda Sena, left this world to return to the supreme abode.

The inner moods of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, especially in Puri, were not easy to understand, and they were unknown to most devotees. Only Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, who was the most intimate associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Puri, could really understand them, and by his grace we have been given the chance to understand them, too.

svarupa-gosani-prabhura ati antaranga
tahate janena prabhura e-saba prasanga

“Svarupa Gosani is the most intimate associate of the Lord. He therefore knows all these topics well.” (Cc Adi 4.105)

In the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada tells us about Svarupa Damodara’s historyand identity: “Prior to the Lord’s acceptance of the renounced order, Purusottama Bhattacarya, a resident of Navadvipa, desired to enter the renounced order of life. Therefore he left home and went to Benares, where he accepted the position of brahmacarya from a Mayavadi sannyasi. When he became a brahmacari, he was given the name Sri Damodara Svarupa. He left Benares shortly thereafter, without taking sannyasa, and he came to Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, where Lord Caitanya was staying. He met Caitanya Mahaprabhu there and dedicated his life for the service of the Lord. He became Lord Caitanya’s secretary and constant companion. He used to enhance the pleasure potency of the Lord by singing appropriate songs, which were very much appreciated.”

In the context of Lord Chaitanya’s experience of the Ratha-yatra in Puri, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 13.168) confirms:

prabhura bhavanurupa svarupera gana
yabe yei rasa taha kare murtiman

“Svarupa Damodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara would personify it by singing.”

Srila Prabhupada’s purport continues: “Svarupa Damodara could understand the secret mission of Lord Caitanya, and it was by his grace only that all the devotees of Lord Caitanya could know the real purpose of the Lord.

“Svarupa Damodara has been identified as Lalita-devi, the second expansion of Radharani. However, text 160 of Kavi-karnapura’s authoritative Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika describes Svarupa Damodara as the same Visakha-devi who serves the Lord in Goloka Vrndavana. Therefore it is to be understood that Sri Svarupa Damodara is a direct expansion of Radharani who helps the Lord experience the attitude of Radharani.”

Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami ki jaya!

Sivananda Sena is another confidential associate of the Lord who also assisted Him in His pastimes, especially at the time of the Puri Ratha-yatra. He is one of the important branches of the Chaitanya tree.

sivananda sena-prabhura bhrtya antaranga
prabhu-sthane yaite sabe layena yanra sanga

“Sivananda Sena, the twenty-fourth branch of the tree, was an extremely confidential servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone who went to Jagannatha Puri to visit Lord Caitanya took shelter and guidance from Sri Sivananda Sena.

rativarse prabhu-gana sangete la-iya
nilacale calena pathe palana kariya

“Every year he took a party of devotees from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri to visit Lord Caitanya. He maintained the entire party as they journeyed on the road.” (Cc Adi 10.54–55)

In a purport in the same part of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 10.60), which describes Sivananda Sena, Srila Prabhupada writes, “Srila Sivananda Sena has been described by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja as follows: ‘Sivananda Sena was a resident of Kumarahatta, which is also known as Halisahara, and was a great devotee of the Lord. About one and a half miles from Kumarahatta is another village, known as Kancadapada, in which there are Gaura-Gopala Deities installed by Sivananda Sena, who also established a temple of Krsnaraya that is still existing. Sivananda Sena was the father of Paramananda Sena, who was also known as Puri dasa or Kavi-karnapura. Paramananda Sena wrote in his Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (176) that two of the gopis of Vrndavana, whose former names were Vira and Duti, combined to become his father. Srila Sivananda Sena guided all the devotees of Lord Caitanya who went from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri, and he personally bore all the expenses for their journey. This is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Sixteen, verses 19 through 27. Srila Sivananda Sena had three sons, named Caitanya dasa, Ramadasa, and Paramananda. As mentioned above, this last son later became Kavi-karnapura and wrote the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika. His spiritual master was Srinatha Pandita, who was Sivananda Sena’s priest. Due to Vasudeva Datta’s lavish spending, Sivananda Sena was engaged to supervise his expenditures.’

“Sri Sivananda Sena actually experienced Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s features of saksat, avesa, and avirbhava. He once took along a dog while on his way to Jagannatha Puri, and it is described in the Antya-lila, First Chapter, that this dog later attained salvation by his association. When Srila Raghunatha dasa, who later became Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, fled his paternal home to join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, his father wrote a letter to Sivananda Sena to get information about him. Sivananda Sena supplied him the details for which he asked, and later Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s father sent some servants and money to Sivananda Sena to take care of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Once, Sri Sivananda Sena invited Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and fed Him so sumptuously that the Lord felt indigestion and was somewhat sick. This became known to Sivananda Sena’s eldest son, Caitanya dasa, who gave the Lord the kinds of food that would help His digestion, and thus Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased. This is described in Antya-lila, Tenth Chapter, verses 142 through 151.

“Once, while going to Jagannatha Puri, all the devotees had to stay underneath a tree, without the shelter of a house or even a shed, and Nityananda Prabhu became very angry, as if He were greatly disturbed by hunger. Thus He cursed Sivananda’s sons to die. Sivananda’s wife was very much aggrieved at this, and she began to cry. She very seriously thought that since her sons had been cursed by Nityananda Prabhu, certainly they would die. When Sivananda later returned and saw his wife crying, he said, ‘Why are you crying? Let us all die if Sri Nityananda Prabhu desires.’ When Sivananda Sena returned and Srila Nityananda Prabhu saw him, the Lord kicked him severely, complaining that He was very hungry, and asked why he had not arranged for His food. Such is the behavior of the Lord with His devotees. Srila Nityananda Prabhu behaved like an ordinary hungry man, as if completely dependent on the arrangements of Sivananda Sena.

“A nephew of Sivananda Sena’s named Srikanta left the company in protest of Nityananda Prabhu’s curse and went directly to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri, where the Lord pacified him. On that occasion, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu allowed His toe to be sucked by Puri dasa, who was then a child. It is by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that he could immediately compose Sanskrit verses. During the misunderstanding with Sivananda’s family, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered His personal attendant, Govinda, to give them all the remnants of His food. This is described in Antya-lila, Chapter Twelve, verse 53.”

As Svarupa Damodara Gosvami is considered to be the incarnation of Lalita-devi, the direct expansion of Srimati Radharani and one of Her most confidential gopi friends, Sivananda Sena is considered to be the incarnation of two gopis of Vrindavan in krsna-lila. In Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes, Sivananda Sena played the part of a householder. He was very concerned for the welfare of all the devotees, and every year he would make the arrangements for the devotees to travel from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri during the rainy season to meet Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He took care of them in every respect. He would arrange for their transportation, accommodations, and prasada. Although they mainly walked, when they came to rivers that they had to cross by boat, he would pay the tolls and taxes. From his example we can understand the importance of service to the Vaishnavas. Sivananda Sena pleased Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the greatest extent just by being a humble servant of the Vaishnavas—not only by being a humble servant, but by being expert in his service of taking care of them and pleasing them.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter One begins by describing how all the devotees departed together for Jagannatha Puri. They assembled in Navadvipa, offered respects to Sachimata, and then prepared to leave.

TEXT 16

sivananda kare sabara ghati samadhana
sabare palana kare, deya vasa-sthana

TRANSLATION

Sivananda Sena arranged for the journey. He maintained everyone and provided residential quarters.

TEXT 17

eka kukkura cale sivananda-sane
bhaksya diya lana cale kariya palane

TRANSLATION

While going to Jagannatha Puri, Sivananda Sena allowed a dog to go with him. He supplied it food to eat and maintained it.

TEXT 18

eka-dina eka-sthane nadi para haite
udiya navika kukkura na cadaya naukate

TRANSLATION

One day, when they needed to cross a river, an Orissan boatman would not allow the dog to get in the boat.

TEXT 19

kukkura rahila,-sivananda duhkhi haila
dasa pana kadi diya kukkure para kaila

TRANSLATION

Sivananda Sena, unhappy that the dog had to stay behind, paid the boatman ten pana of conch shells to take the dog across the river.

PURPORT

One pana is eighty kadis, or small conch shells. Formerly, even fifty or sixty years ago, there was no paper currency in India. Coins were generally made not of base metal but of gold, silver, and copper. In other words, the medium of exchange was really something valuable. Four pieces of kadi made one ganda, and twenty such gandas equaled one pana. This kadi was also used as a medium of exchange; therefore Sivananda Sena paid for the dog with dasa pana, or eighty times ten pieces of kadi. In those days one paisa was also subdivided into small conch shells, but at the present moment the prices for commodities have gone so high that there is nothing one can get in exchange for only one paisa. With one paisa in those days, however, one could purchase sufficient vegetables to provide for a whole family. Even thirty years ago, vegetables were occasionally so inexpensive that one paisa’s worth could provide for a whole family for a day.

TEXT 20

eka-dina sivanande ghatiyale rakhila
kukkurake bhata dite sevaka pasarila

TRANSLATION

One day while Sivananda was detained by a tollman, his servant forgot to give the dog its cooked rice.

TEXT 21

ratre asi’ sivananda bhojanera kale
“kukkura panache bhata?”—sevake puchile

TRANSLATION

At night, when Sivananda Sena returned and was taking his meal, he inquired from the servant whether the dog had gotten its meals.

TEXT 22

kukkura nahi paya bhata suni’ duhkhi haila
kukkura cahite dasa-manusya pathaila

TRANSLATION

When he learned that the dog had not been supplied food in his absence, he was very unhappy. He then immediately sent ten men to find the dog.

TEXT 23

cahiya na paila kukkura, loka saba aila
duhkhi hana sivananda upavasa kaila

TRANSLATION

When the men returned without success, Sivananda Sena became very unhappy and fasted for the night.

TEXT 24

prabhate kukkura cahi’ kanha na paila
sakala vaisnavera mane camatkara haila

TRANSLATION

In the morning they looked for the dog, but it could not be found anywhere. All the Vaisnavas were astonished.

PURPORT

Sivananda Sena’s attachment to the dog was a great boon for that animal. The dog appears to have been a street dog. Since it naturally began to follow Sivananda Sena while he was going to Jagannatha Puri with his party, he accepted it into his party and maintained it the same way he was maintaining the other devotees. It appears that although on one occasion the dog was not allowed aboard a boat, Sivananda did not leave the dog behind but paid more money just to induce the boatman to take the dog across the river. Then when the servant forgot to feed the dog and the dog disappeared, Sivananda, being very anxious, sent ten men to find it. When they could not find it, Sivananda observed a fast. Thus it appears that somehow or other Sivananda had become attached to the dog.

COMMENT

We find in the case of Raghunatha Bhatta that Lord Chaitanya instructed him to serve his parents in Varanasi until they passed away, and then to join Him at Jagannatha Puri. In the purport Srila Prabhupada remarks that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would never have advised Raghunatha Bhatta to serve ordinary parents, but because they were devotees, the Lord instructed him to serve them.

In this case, Sivananda Sena extended his mercy even to a dog, just because it had followed the devotees. By the mercy of a Vaishnava, even a dog can be elevated and ultimately delivered.

PURPORT (concluded)

As will be evident from the following verses, the dog got the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was immediately promoted to Vaikuntha to become an eternal devotee. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has therefore sung, tumi ta’ thakura, tomara kukkura, baliya janaha more (Saranagati 19). He thus offers to become the dog of a Vaisnava. There are many other instances in which the pet animal of a Vaisnava was delivered back home to Vaikunthaloka, back to Godhead. Such is the benefit of somehow or other becoming the favorite of a Vaisnava. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has also sung, kita-janma ha-u yatha tuya dasa (Saranagati 11). There is no harm in taking birth again and again. Our only desire should be to take birth under the care of a Vaisnava. Fortunately we had the opportunity to be born of a Vaisnava father who took care of us very nicely. He prayed to Srimati Radharani that in the future we would become a servant of the eternal consort of Sri Krsna. Thus somehow or other we are now engaged in that service. We may conclude that even as dogs we must take shelter of a Vaisnava. The benefit will be the same as that which accrues to an advanced devotee under a Vaisnava’s care.

COMMENT

Anyone in any condition of life who takes shelter of a Vaishnava can be purified and attain the highest destination. Sometimes people find fault with some of the devotees of Srila Prabhupada because of their birth, and they even suggest that because of their birth they cannot become pure devotees. But here we see that even a dog who takes shelter of a Vaishnava like Sivananda Sena can be purified and delivered, so why not living entities in various human bodies who take shelter of such an empowered Vaishnava as Srila Prabhupada? Why can’t they be purified, delivered?

TEXT 25

utkanthaya cali’ sabe aila nilacale
purvavat mahaprabhu milila sakale

TRANSLATION

Thus in great anxiety they all walked to Jagannatha Puri, where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met them as usual.

TEXT 26

saba lana kaila jagannatha darasana
saba lana mahaprabhu karena bhojana

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went with them to see the Lord in the temple, and on that day He also took lunch in the company of all those devotees.

TEXT 27

purvavat sabare prabhu pathaila vasa-sthane
prabhu-thani pratah-kale aila ara dine

TRANSLATION

As previously, the Lord provided them all with residential quarters. And the next morning all the devotees came to see the Lord.

TEXT 28

asiya dekhila sabe sei ta kukkure
prabhu-pase vasiyache kichu alpa-dure

TRANSLATION

When all the devotees came to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they saw the same dog sitting a little apart from the Lord.

COMMENT

The dog had disappeared, so the devotees were astonished to see the very same dog in the presence of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 29

prasada narikela-sasya dena phelana
“rama” “krsna” “hari” kaha”—balena hasiya

TRANSLATION

Furthermore, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, “Chant the holy names ‘Rama,’ ‘Krsna,’ and ‘Hari.’ ”

TEXT 30

sasya khaya kukkura, ‘krsna’ kahe bara bara
dekhiya lokera mane haila camatkara

TRANSLATION

Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting “Krsna, Krsna” again and again, all the devotees present were very surprised.

TEXT 31

sivananda kukkura dekhi’ dandavat kaila
dainya kari’ nija aparadha ksamaila

TRANSLATION

When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of Krsna, Sivananda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.

COMMENT

This is the humility of a Vaishnava. He saw that the dog had received the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and he, Sivananda Sena, felt guilty because he had not served the dog properly. So to get relief from his feeling of offense, he offered obeisances.

TEXT 32

ara dina keha tara dekha na paila
siddha-deha pana kukkura vaikunthete gela

TRANSLATION

The next day, no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for Vaikuntha, the spiritual kingdom.

PURPORT

This is the result of sadhu-sanga—consequent association with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and promotion back home, back to Godhead. This result is possible even for a dog, by the mercy of the Vaisnava. Therefore, everyone in the human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada says that the effect of associating with a Vaishnava is that one gets the association of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and goes back home, back to Godhead. Devotees in ISKCON are getting the association of a Vaishnava—of an empowered Vaishnava such as Srila Prabhupada—by hearing from him through his books and by serving him through his mission and devoted servants. And the result will be that they will get the association of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and be promoted back home, back to Godhead.

PURPORT (continued)

By rendering a little service, even by eating prasada, not to speak of chanting and dancing, everyone could be promoted to Vaikunthaloka. It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaisnavas . . .

COMMENT

Did you hear? “It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community”—not just in the temple but in the ISKCON community.

PURPORT (concluded)

It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaisnavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be transferred to Vaikunthaloka, even without their knowledge. Everyone should be given a chance to take prasada and thus be induced to chant the holy names Hare Krsna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back to Godhead.

Devotee: Even without their knowledge?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. Srila Prabhupada often said that Krishna consciousness consists of four elements—chanting, dancing, feasting, and philosophy. But here in the purport Srila Prabhupada says that just by chanting, dancing, and taking prasada, one can go back to Godhead—in other words, even without being educated in the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Of course, one has to be fortunate enough to be spontaneously attracted to chanting, dancing, and taking prasada in order to continue the process without knowledge of the benefits. Generally, because of material contamination, conditioned souls are not so attracted to chanting, dancing, and taking prasada. They are more attracted to material enjoyment and sinful activities. Therefore we preach the message of the Bhagavad-gita, the message of Lord Chaitanya, to convince them of the value of Krishna consciousness, the value of austerity, the value of chanting, so that they will do it even if they do not feel like it. But if someone is prepared to chant and dance and take prasada and refrain from sinful activities, then even without knowledge of the science, just by the potency of the process, he can be delivered. But actually, we do need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. We do need to attend Srimad-Bhagavatam class to remind ourselves of the importance of Krishna consciousness and the necessity of pure habits. Otherwise, we can very easily degenerate into animal life.

Sometimes in India we would go to a new place and some gentleman would become very enthusiastic about the devotees. He would receive the devotees, host them, and serve them day and night. He would arrange programs for them and invite people to meet them. He would take them to meet other gentlemen, and in general he would seem more enthusiastic than even the devotees themselves. Similarly, sometimes in South Africa we would do hari-nama–sankirtana in the townships and homelands and the Africans would seem more eager to chant and dance than the devotees in the party. We would become tired and want to return to the temple, but they would want to continue chanting and dancing.

Srila Prabhupada has explained that someone may spontaneously become attracted to chanting and dancing or to serving the devotees who are spreading Krishna consciousness. Citing the example of some of our hosts in India, Srila Prabhupada said that as karma-yogis working for the sake of Krishna with great enthusiasm, they were actually acting on a more advanced level than the devotees following vaidhi-bhakti without much taste or enthusiasm. But Srila Prabhupada said that the difficulty with such spontaneous service is that the service may end. After some time, these people may lose interest and start thinking of their wives and children and businesses. The enthusiasm they initially exhibited may wane and even disappear, whereas even if the devotees do not have so much taste or enthusiasm, if they follow the rules and regulations as a matter of duty, in pursuance of the orders of the spiritual master and the scriptures, they will continue to make progress gradually and eventually come to spontaneous devotional service—the purest love of Godhead.

So, every year, Sivananda Sena would lead the devotees from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri for Ratha-yatra, and it was a major effort. The party, which numbered two or three hundred, went by foot, and he arranged prasada and accommodations for them, and sometimes boats to take them across rivers. One day, when the party was being checked by a toll collector, the other devotees went ahead while Sivananda Sena remained behind to pay the taxes. Because no one else could arrange for their accommodations, the devotees waited beneath a tree. Meanwhile, Nityananda Prabhu, who was with the party that year, became very hungry and upset. And when Sivananda finally arrived, Nityananda stood up and kicked him severely. Of course, Sivananda accepted the kicking as the greatest blessing. After bringing Nityananda Prabhu to His residence, he told Him, “The dust of Your lotus feet is not attainable even by Lord Brahma, yet Your lotus feet have touched my wretched body. Today my birth, my family, and my activities have all become successful.” We read in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter Twelve:

TEXT 26

carane dhariya prabhure vasaya lana gela
vasa diya hrsta hana kahite lagila

TRANSLATION

Sivananda Sena touched the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu and led Him to His residence. After giving the Lord His quarters, Sivananda Sena, being very pleased, spoke as follows.

TEXT 27

“aji more bhrtya kari’ angikara kaila
yemana aparadha bhrtyera, yogya phala dila

TRANSLATION

“Today You have accepted me as Your servant and have properly punished me for my offense.

TEXT 28

“‘sasti’-chale krpa kara,—e tomara ‘karuna’
trijagate tomara caritra bujhe kon jana?

TRANSLATION

“My dear Lord, Your chastising me is Your causeless mercy. Who within the three worlds can understand Your real character?

TEXT 29

“brahmara durlabha tomara sri-carana-renu
hena carana-sparsa paila mora adhama tanu

TRANSLATION

“The dust of Your lotus feet is not attainable even by Lord Brahma, yet Your lotus feet have touched my wretched body.

TEXT 30

“aji mora saphala haila janma, kula, karma
aji painu krsna-bhakti, artha, kama, dharma”

TRANSLATION

“Today my birth, my family, and my activities have all become successful. Today I have achieved the fulfillment of religious principles, economic development, satisfaction of the senses and ultimately devotional service to Lord Krsna.”

TEXT 31

suni’ nityananda-prabhura anandita mana
uthi’ sivanande kaila prema-alingana

TRANSLATION

When Lord Nityananda heard this, He was very happy. He rose and embraced Sivananda Sena in great love.

TEXT 32

anandita sivananda kare samadhana
acaryadi-vaisnavere dila vasa-sthana

TRANSLATION

Being very much pleased by Nityananda Prabhu’s behavior, Sivananda Sena began to arrange residential quarters for all the Vaisnavas, headed by Advaita Acarya.

TEXT 33

nityananda-prabhura saba caritra—‘viparita’
kruddha hana lathi mari’ kare tara hita

TRANSLATION

One of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s characteristics is His contradictory nature. When He becomes angry and kicks someone, it is actually for his benefit.

COMMENT

Sivananda Sena, a pure devotee, understood that Nityananda Prabhu’s kick was for his benefit, but Srikanta, Sivananda’s nephew, who was only a boy, felt offended and left the group. He traveled to Jagannatha Puri on his own to meet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When Srikanta reached Mahaprabhu’s residence, Lord Chaitanya’s servant told him to remove his coat and shirt, because the rule is that when one comes before the Deity one must remove such garments. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Don’t disturb him. He has come in a distressed state of mind. Let him do as he pleases.” Lord Chaitanya considered the person’s emotional state, the person’s psychology. And when Srikanta heard the Lord say “He is distressed,” he understood that the Lord was omniscient. So when Lord Chaitanya asked him about all the Vaishnavas, the boy did not mention the incident of Lord Nityananda kicking Sivananda Sena.

In the meantime, Sivananda Sena and all the Vaishnavas arrived, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed extraordinary mercy upon him and his family.

TEXT 44

sivananda tina-putre gosanire milaila
sivananda-sambandhe sabaya bahu-krpa kaila

 TRANSLATION

Sivananda Sena introduced his three sons to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because they were his sons, the Lord showed the boys great mercy.

TEXT 45

chota-putre dekhi’ prabhu nama puchila
‘paramananda-dasa’-nama sena janaila

TRANSLATION

Lord Caitanya asked the youngest son’s name, and Sivananda Sena informed the Lord that his name was Paramananda dasa.

TEXTS 46–47

purve yabe sivananda prabhu-sthane aila
tabe mahaprabhu tanre kahite lagila

 “e-bara tomara yei ha-ibe kumara
‘puri-dasa’ bali’ nama dhariha tahara”

TRANSLATION

Once before when Sivananda Sena had visited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at His residence, the Lord had told him, “When this son is born, give him the name Puri dasa.”

TEXT 48

tabe mayera garbhe haya sei ta’ kumara
sivananda ghare gele, janma haila tara

TRANSLATION

The son was in the womb of Sivananda’s wife, and when Sivananda returned home the son was born.

TEXT 49

prabhu-ajnaya dharila nama-‘paramananda-dasa’
‘puri-dasa’ kari’ prabhu karena upahasa

TRANSLATION

The child was named Paramananda dasa in accordance with the Lord’s order, and the Lord jokingly called him Puri dasa.

TEXT 50

sivananda yabe sei balake milaila
mahaprabhu padangustha tara mukhe dila

TRANSLATION

When Sivananda Sena introduced the child to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord put His toe in the child’s mouth.

PURPORT

In this connection one may refer to Antya-lila, Chapter Sixteen, verses 65–75, for information about the later manifestations of the Lord’s mercy on Puri dasa.

TEXT 51

sivanandera bhagya-sindhu ke paibe para?
yanra saba gosthike prabhu kahe ‘apanara’

TRANSLATION

No one can cross over the ocean of Sivananda Sena’s good fortune, for the Lord considered Sivananda’s whole family His own.

COMMENT

From the example of Sivananda Sena, we can see how much mercy one can receive from the Lord by serving the Lord’s devotees. And we can also see how much mercy one can receive from the Lord if one comes under the care of the Lord’s devotee—even if one is a child or a dog.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Sivananda Sena’s and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami’s disappearance day, June 25, 1998, Los Angeles]

“What are the characteristics of Śrī Jagannātha, Śrī Baladev, and Śrī Subhadra? Jagannāthaa, the emblem of God, has no other form than eyes and hands, which show that God sees, knows, and creates. Balarām is the source of jīva-śakti, Subhadra is māyā-śakti, and Sudarśana is the energy of will”. (Pg. 128, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Vāṇī Vaibhava) […]

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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12 during a Skype call with disciples in Mumbai.

“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuntha competition. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuntha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability.” SB 7.5.12 purport

Skype call with disciples in Mumbai