Happy Narasimha Chaturdashi!
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Happy Narasimha Chaturdashi! Today is the most auspicious appearance day of Sri Narasimhadeva. Mayapur is filled with devotees assembled to celebrate this special festival. Evening from 4 pm onwards, Abhisheka will begin. Watch the festivities live at mayapur.tv. Maha Sudarshana Yajna & adhivas took place yesterday. We thank all the donors for their kind support […]

The post Happy Narasimha Chaturdashi! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

With Srila Prabhupada in Juhu on Nrsimha-caturdasi
Giriraj Swami

Srila Prabhupada was with us in Juhu for Nrsimha-caturdasi on May 5, 1974. The following excerpt from my forthcoming book about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu, entitled I’ll Build You a Temple: A Good Fight and a Promise Fulfilled, describes the devotees’ drama:

For Nrsimha-caturdasi, a troupe of devotees led by Jagat Purusa organized a drama depicting the appearance of Lord Nrsimha, to be performed in the temple room. There was an all-male cast, including the young and slender Nava-yogendra as Prahlada Maharaja; Bhagavata, who was quite large, as Nrsimhadeva; and Jagat Purusa, who was very thin, as Hiranyakasipu. The stage was set before anybody arrived, and Bhagavata, wearing a massive lion headdress, was hidden with a microphone in a papier–mache pillar that had been built in the corner of the darshan area. He narrated the drama, but because his voice was broadcast by speakers, nobody knew where he was. Prabhupada sat on his vyasasana, and the play went on all around him, with the temple room itself as the stage, and everyone else in the audience outside on the grounds.

Hiranyakasipu was the most powerful man in the universe, so he was supposed to have a big, muscular physique, but the drama opened with him when he was performing his austerities—standing on the tip of his toes with outstretched hands, with all his ribs showing—and afterward Jagat Purusa put on shoulder pads and lots of wadding. Anirdesavapu had been in the pujari room washing pots, but when the person playing Lord Brahma didn’t show up, the devotees asked him to fill in. All he had to do was respond to Hiranyakasipu when he asked for his boons, they assured him, and they dressed him up with some ornaments and a crown and sent him to the temple room.

From his viewpoint on stage, Anirdesavapu could see how absorbed Prabhupada was in the drama. “When he saw me,” Anirdesavapu later recalled, “he was astonished and opened his eyes wide, as if he was actually seeing Lord Brahma. His eyes got big, his head tilted back, and he was smiling. He wasn’t just seeing some brahmacharis dressed up in makeshift costumes—he was seeing Lord Brahma and the other divine personalities.” At the climax, when Hiranyakasipu called for Prahlada’s lord and pounded the pillar, Bhagavata, as Lord Nrsimha, burst out with a roar, and Prabhupada opened his eyes wide and leaned so far back that his vyasasana almost toppled over.

Decades later, Jagat Purusa still remembered the day vividly: “Over the years, I had done dozens of dramas with various devotees, but I’d never had an experience like this. In one particular school of drama, the Stanislavski School, the actors meditate upon their roles and by doing so transform into the characters they are portraying. I wasn’t really trying to train the devotees in this way, but even without any conscious attempt, by Srila Prabhupada’s presence every devotee in the drama ceased being that devotee and became the part he was playing. It was just unbelievable! Srila Prabhupada was there from the opening scene to the very end, and he was showing all these amazing expressions: surprise, concern, happiness, delight. Some of the devotees could barely watch the drama, they were so transfixed watching Srila Prabhupada watch it unfold. Everything was flawless, because it was not a drama—it was a pastime.”

Afterwards, the actors, still in their costumes, sat down where they were for Prabhupada’s lecture. “Today is the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva,” he began. “I am so pleased that within such a short time these boys have nicely learned how to play, and especially I have to thank Mr. Hiranyakasipu,” at which everyone laughed and applauded. “Mr. Hiranyakasipu has played his part very nicely.”

The devotees—especially the actors—were exuberant. “As every devotee knows,” Jagat Purusa recalled, “there is nothing—nothing—compared to getting the confirmation that Srila Prabhupada is pleased with something that you have done in his service. I was sitting there just two feet from his lotus feet, and I felt myself melting into the cracks between the tiles, and I thought, This is the best time for me to leave my body! It is so fulfilling to know that Srila Prabhupada is pleased.”

Animated Map Shows How Religion Spread Around the World
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Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are five of the biggest religions in the world. Over the last few thousand years, these religious groups have shaped the course of history and had a profound influence on the trajectory of the human race. Through countless conflicts, conquests, missions abroad, and simple word of mouth, these religions spread around the globe and forever molded the huge geographic regions in their paths. A video by Business Insider.

Milan Parmar – Candle [Official Music Video]
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Independent Label’s, The Child That Forgot Records., recording artist Milan Parmar is a young Hip Hop musician who has been writing lyrics for over 10+ years. His recording journey started in 2012 with the release of his first mixtape ‘Just Another Kid’ and produced further mixtapes year after year. Until 2016, with the release of an independent album, When A Soul Acknowledges, available on all major platforms. He now embarks on a greater journey releasing an upcoming album, titled Spiritual Warrior - observing the complexities of today’s culture.

Day 3 – Vyasa-puja Ceremony
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Written by Rukmini devi dasi, 29 apr 2019

he guro jnana-da dina-bandho
svananda-datah karunaika-sindho 
vrindavanasina hitavatara 
prasida radha-pranaya-prachara


“O spiritual master, O giver of divine wisdom, O friend of the fallen, you are the giver of your own bliss and you are the only ocean of mercy. Although dwelling in Vrindavana, you have descended for the welfare of fallen souls like myself and you are preaching the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Please be kind upon me.”

(from Prayers in Glorification of the Spiritual Master)

Kingsday was barely over when Vyasapuja dawned. In the morning class Maharaja turned to the Antya lila of Caitanya Caritamrta, a section on sadacara that Krsnadasa Kaviraja includes to prevent us from taking Vrindavana cheaply.

“When spiritual life is a struggle to make a commitment, lust is a constant pressure. It’s not that we have to overcome the material energy, but we have to look for absorption.”

Instead of a ‘sense grati-vacation’, going to the holy places was his advice. Maharaja shared his  meditations in Benapole, Bangladesh, where Haridasa Thakura transformed the lustful intentions of a prostitute to pure love of God.

“If we are light in our spiritual practice the wind of lust will sweep us off our feet. One must be heavy with the weight of knowing, exploring and serving Krsna. It is not enough to do the right things. Sadacara is still too light. Initiation is still too light. The unabating pressure of lust will still be there. How do we get rid of it? We turn to the mercy of Lord Caitanya.” 

It was the ground-setter to the Vyasapuja celebrations which continued as per tradition in the community hall where we were under the sweet shelter of Krsna’s lotus feet – literally! High up on the ceiling was a gigantic depiction of Krsna’s feet with all the symbols embossed on translucent yellow fabric. Adorning the ceiling was a paper-chain version of the disciplic succession – Vaisnavas holding onto the feet of the Vaishnava ahead of them. Around us were the waves of the ocean of material existence. On all the walls were creative depictions of the different countries that Maharaja preaches in and his special projects (and nuances) there. Kalindi and her team of devotees from all over the world did a sterling job.

Krishna Kirtan, the funny but thoughtful master of ceremonies, set the program into motion and after a lightning quick foot bathing, it was time for offerings of the heart in spoken word.

Some reflections and offerings that are embedded in my memory:

Rupa Sanatana:   May your example guide me in the expression of freedom through responsibility.

Gopinatha Acarya: To be a guru is to be a disciple. To be true to ourselves and the spiritual master is the difference between the imitator and the real disciple.

Atulya took the first verse of the sad-goswami astakam and explained it in relation to Maharaja’s qualities; everyone can relate to him and he is an example of no envy – “you share your mellows.”

Gaura Mohan highlighted the meaning behind the decor, including “Blessings are the stepping stones in spiritual life” which was lettered onto the ceiling.

Bhagavati hinted at the rapid advancement made by Manisha Mataji, a cancer-patient Maharaja initiated and shared his response: “I didn’t do anything special. I’m just the servant of great personalities before me.”

Gurudasa was in top performance. His live rap was pacey, catchy and creative.

Navadwipa Prabhu (read in absence): One cannot repay the debt to the spiritual master because he introduces you to the spiritual world.

Gopali: There is nothing that can compare to the taste of serving you directly or indirectly.

Neil: I come to make a lifelong commitment to use this life in the service of Krsna. This is no longer scary.

Jahnavi Candrika: This is our real new year. I’m so proud to be your disciple. I hope that you will be proud of me also.

Urugayi: You are someone who really cares about our benefit. You saved my life in so many ways.

And then little Giriraj handed Maharaja a t-shirt with “Papa Gurumaharaja”, matching his own mini version.

Sanatani: I’m grateful for the time you spent with us in Vrindavana. Thinking of it brings me to tears. I think now I have developed the intelligence to just say, “Yes”.

Tirumala, Kalindi and Tungavidya presented words in action with their first Krsna conscious kids book ‘Simha’ decked with beautifully painted illustrations for Maharaja (in response to which he did a series of baby poses). Tirumala also send a video of a “based on real life” story of the adventures of a tortoise –  with expert graphics, script and soundtrack.

A team of devotees from New York including Aditya, Ataryami and Harivilasa also sent video offerings and a feel for the important New York project they are supporting in Maharaja’s absence.

Sadbhuja: The nature of the spiritual master is that he engages us in service and without him we cannot serve.

Sudhama: Your blessings are our strength, your shelter is our blessings…

Nityamanjari: It’s so wonderful to be part of Lord Caitanya’s mission by your mercy. With Kingsday we can purify Amsterdam and ourselves as well.

Gita Govinda and Rati Manjari took the limelight with a spiritual take on a Stevi Wonder song on the good old days on sankirtana.

Harinamananda: You are my best friend. You are always there for me, especially on harinama. Once we did harinama at the departure gates at the airport and we didn’t see that you were watching from the lounge. You are always looking out for me.

Namarupa: You said that you consider sadhu-sanga successful if we leave with a deeper commitment.

Krishna Kirtan: A meditation from Maharaja: When will my disciples stop looking to take and start giving?

Sutapa: All my life I tried to fit in but now I’m connected to you. It’s unpredictable and dangerous to be your disciple. Jayadvaita Swami told me the greatest thing you can have in your life is someone who has more faith in you than you do.

You said: “I don’t know how much I love Krsna but I love the opportunity to do devotional service.”

The article " Day 3 – Vyasa-puja Ceremony " was published on KKSBlog.

Lord Nrsimhadeva Comes To Mayapur
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By Atma-tattva Das

ON MARCH 24, 1984, at 12:20 A.M., thirty-five men armed with weapons and bombs attacked Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, ISKCON's center in Mayapur, West Bengal. When the dacoits tried to steal the deities of Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani, the devotees fearlessly challenged the attackers. How could the devotees see Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani carried away? Both sides fired shots, and people on both sides were injured. Srila Prabhupada was rescued, but the Deity of Radharani was not. Continue reading "Lord Nrsimhadeva Comes To Mayapur
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I’ll Build You a Temple: A Good Fight and a Promise Fulfilled
→ Dandavats

For Nrsimha-caturdasi, a troupe of devotees led by Jagat Purusa organized a drama depicting the appearance of Lord Nrsimha, to be performed in the temple room. There was an all-male cast, including the young and slender Nava-yogendra as Prahlada Maharaja; Bhagavata, who was quite large, as Nrsimhadeva; and Jagat Purusa, who was very thin, as Hiranyakasipu. The stage was set before anybody arrived, and Bhagavata, wearing a massive lion headdress, was hidden with a microphone in a papier-mâché pillar that had been built in the corner of the darshan area. He narrated the drama, but because his voice was broadcast by speakers, nobody knew where he was. Prabhupada sat on his vyasasana, and the play went on all around him, with the temple room itself as the stage, and everyone else in the audience outside on the grounds.

Sri Nrsimha-caturdasi
Giriraj Swami

Today is Nrsimha-caturdasi, the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The appearance and activities of the Lord in the world are a great mystery. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita (4.9) Lord Krishna says:

janma karma ca me divyam
   evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
   naiti mam eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

To understand the appearance and activities of the Lord is not so easy for ordinary people. Or, as Srila Prabhupada said, “It is simple for the simple but difficult for the crooked.” If one is a simple devotee and hears submissively from Vedic authorities, he or she can understand the transcendental science. Therefore the Vedic literature enjoins, tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigaccet: In order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach a spiritual master. No matter the subject, we require a teacher. If we want to learn how to play harmonium, we require a teacher. If we want to learn how to make a puri, we require a teacher. If we want to learn how to program a computer, we need a teacher. For every field of activity, we need a teacher. Why, then, should we not need a teacher for the most important subject: how to understand, to realize, God?

The Sanskrit word jnana can be translated as “knowledge,” and the word vijnana can be translated as “applied knowledge” or “science” or “realization.” Thus jnana may be called “theoretical knowledge” and vijnana “realized knowledge.” In the process of spiritual realization we learn by hearing. Lord Krishna begins His instructions in the Bhagavad-gita by telling Arjuna, “Tac chrnu: Hear from Me.”

Krishna is the supreme authority. In explaining the spiritual science in the Bhagavad-gita, He advised, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh: to understand the transcendental science one must receive the knowledge through disciplic succession. If we try to understand the knowledge by our own independent study of the books, we will fail. So Krishna advises that we receive the knowledge through parampara. Parampara means “one after another.” In the context of Vedic knowledge, it refers to the chain of masters and disciples that follow one after the other, through which the knowledge is passed down.

The original speaker of the Bhagavad-gita is Krishna. He taught the knowledge to Arjuna and others. One of the others was Lord Brahma, and Lord Brahma instructed Narada, Narada instructed Vyasa, and Vyasa instructed Madhvacharya, and so the knowledge was passed down from master to disciple in an unbroken chain. In more recent times, after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis, the same knowledge has been passed to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and then our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

The disciplic succession helps us to understand the original teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures. In the Bhagavad-gita (9.11) Lord Krishna explains that less intelligent persons—He uses the word mudha, which means less intelligent, foolish rascal. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam—think that in the beginning Krishna is impersonal and that for some time He assumes what they believe to be a physical body as Krishna. This, of course, is the impersonal theory—that ultimately God is impersonal and that he assumes various shapes and forms for temporary manifestation, but that ultimately God is impersonal and that our goal is to merge and become one with God, one with the impersonal light. Krishna says that such people are mudhas because they do not know His eternal nature, which is changeless and supreme. In other words, Krishna is eternally Krishna. Krishna is eternally the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is not some impersonal light that comes in the form of Krishna and then goes back and becomes light again; He is always the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We living entities are also, eternally, individuals. A prisoner is an individual while he is incarcerated, and when he is released he remains an individual. The only difference is that in prison he was bound by so many restrictions and punished in so many ways, and when he is released from the prison he is free. He is no longer subject to the rigors and punishments administered by the prison. But he is still an individual. In the same way, as conditioned souls in bondage we are individuals, and when we are liberated we will continue to be individuals. It is just that then we will be free.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always an individual, and when He comes into the material world He is the same Supreme Person. Srila Prabhupada gives the example that sometimes the governor may visit the prison. He may come to inspect the prison; he may come to show mercy to the prisoners. But although he is in the prison, he is not subjected to the same rules as the prisoners. He is always free. Similarly, when Lord Krishna, or any of His incarnations, comes into the material world, although He may appear to be like a conditioned soul, He is not. He is not bound by the laws of material nature but is always free.

Now, Krishna is the original form of Godhead (krsnas tu bhagavan svayam). He comes to the material world and speaks the Bhagavad-gita and engages in various pastimes with His devotees. And He comes in many other forms as well, for specific purposes, of which one is the Nrsimha avatar. The Sanskrit word avatar means “one who descends.” All of Krishna’s forms are eternal and liberated, not different from Krishna. They are actually Krishna Himself manifest in different features. The example is given of a gem, which has many facets that reflect the light differently and therefore appears to be of different colors—red or green or yellow or whatever—but the gem is one. Similarly, God is one; Krishna is one. Krishna is the complete manifestation of Godhead, but He also appears in other forms that are basically the same as Him, although some of His qualities as Krishna are not manifest in His other incarnations.

According to scripture, Lord Nrsimhadeva is one of the fullest manifestations of Godhead. He has almost the same opulences as Krishna. Krishna is the most complete—He is completely complete—but after Him, Lord Ramachandra and Lord Nrsimhadeva are the fullest manifestations of the opulence of Godhead.

The story of Lord Nrsimhadeva is most interesting and instructive. The history dates back millions of years, to a previous age in which a great demon named Hiranyakasipu performed severe austerities. He stood on his toes with his hands upstretched, tolerating the heat and cold, the scorching sun, torrential rains, and severe wind—all the disturbances of nature—for more than a hundred years. I don’t think many of us could last more than fifteen minutes. To perform such a feat of austerity required tremendous willpower and strength and determination. And as a result of austerity, one gets power. That is always the result of austerity: one gets power—which one may use for good or bad purposes. Hiranyakasipu’s austerities were so severe that he had the power to disturb the universe, and the universe was, in fact, disturbed.

Lord Brahma, the chief of the demigods, the devas, came to the earth to induce Hiranyakasipu to give up his austerities, and to do so he offered him a boon. Hiranyakasipu was pleased and asked to become deathless. But Lord Brahma informed him, “I cannot make you immortal, because I myself am mortal.” Still, Hiranyakasipu was very intelligent, and he was very proud of his intelligence, so he thought that he could become immortal indirectly, by obtaining so many other boons. He asked that he should not be killed by any created being. And Lord Brahma agreed: “Granted.” He asked that he should not die inside a building or outside, during the day or at night, on the ground or in the sky. And again, “Granted.” And he asked, “Let me not be killed by any weapon, or by any demigod, demon, man, or beast.” And again Lord Brahma agreed: “Granted.” So, in various ways, Hiranyakasipu thought that he could eliminate all the logical possibilities for his death. He thought that indirectly he could be assured of immortality.

After receiving the boons from Brahma, Hiranyakasipu was confident of his invincibility, and he declared war on the demigods. He was so powerful that he actually captured the heavenly planet, Indraloka, Svargaloka. He occupied the throne of King Indra and was being served by all of the demigods except for Brahma and Shiva. The demigods were in a very distressed condition, and they prayed to the Supreme Lord—Vishnu, Krishna—for relief.

Earlier, after Hiranyakasipu had left his palace to perform his austerities, in the fighting between the demigods and the demons, the demigods were successful, and King Indra arrested Kayadhu, Hiranyakasipu’s pregnant wife. He intended to take her to his heavenly kingdom, and, thinking that she bore another demon, another Hiranyakasipu, within her womb, he planned to kill the child at birth. But just then, the great sage Narada Muni appeared on the scene, and he stopped Indra and the other demigods. He said, “No, the child within the womb is a great devotee, a maha-bhagavata,” and escorted Kayadhu to his ashram and gave her shelter there. And while she was there, with her unborn child in her womb, Narada instructed her in Krishna consciousness, and her child, within the womb, heard the instructions.

In due course, Kayadhu was  returned to Hiranyakasipu, who raised their son Prahlada, arranging for him to study under two so-called brahmans.

One day, Hiranyakasipu called for Prahlada and asked him, “What is the best of all the subjects that you have studied from your teachers?” And Prahlada replied:

tat sadhu manye ’sura-varya dehinam
   sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat
hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam
   vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta

“O best of the asuras, King of the demons, as far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest [vana]. More clearly, one should go to Vrndavana, where only Krsna consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (SB 7.5.5)

When Hiranyakasipu heard Prahlada’s words, which were faithful to Lord Vishnu, he laughed and sent Prahlada back to be properly educated by his teachers. Hiranyakasipu considered Vishnu to be his enemy, and he thought that Prahlada’s intelligence had been spoiled by Vaishnavas, who might have infiltrated the school in disguise.

When, after some time, Prahlada’s teachers were satisfied that he was sufficiently educated in politics and diplomacy, they presented him again before his father.

“For so long you have been hearing so many subjects from your teachers,” Hiranyakasipu said to his son. “What is the best of the knowledge you have learned from them?”

And Prahlada replied (SB 7.5.23):

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
   smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
   sakhyam atma-nivedanam

He said that the best thing he had learned was devotional service—the nine processes of devotional service—and that one who engages in pure devotional service to the Lord is the most learned person.

Hiranyakasipu thought that Vishnu was a demigod who had mystic powers but could be killed—and he was determined to kill Him, to avenge the death of his twin brother, Hiranyaksa, who had previously been killed by Varahadeva, Vishnu’s boar incarnation, after he had created great disturbance in the universe. So when Prahlada answered, “The best thing that I have learned is to serve Lord Vishnu,” Hiranyakasipu became furious. He blamed Prahlada’s teachers: “You have taught him devotional service to Vishnu.”

But the teachers replied, “No, we haven’t. And we haven’t allowed anyone else to teach him either.”

“Then how did the boy become Krishna conscious?” Hiranyakasipu demanded.

“We don’t know,” they replied. “He seems to be naturally Krishna conscious. If you want to know, you better ask him.”

When Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlada, Prahlada replied in three famous verses. In effect, he said, “My dear father, one cannot become Krishna conscious by one’s own efforts, by the efforts of others, or by the combined efforts of oneself and others.”

Now, logically one might think that there is no other way to become Krishna conscious; it would have to be through one’s own efforts or the efforts of others or the combined efforts of oneself with others. But here, all these possibilities were excluded. But then Prahlada added (SB 7.5.32):

naisam matis tavad urukramamgrim
   sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhisekam
   niskicananam na vrnita yavat

The only way one could become Krishna conscious, he said, was by being blessed by the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who was completely free from material contamination.

As Srila Prabhupada has commented, Sri Prahlada was indirectly telling his father, “My dear father, you needn’t worry about becoming Krishna conscious, because only someone who bows down to the lotus feet of a pure devotee can become Krishna conscious, and you are so puffed up, you will never bow down to anyone. So you don’t have to worry about becoming Krishna conscious. That is not a possibility for you.”

Of course, Hiranyakasipu was no happier with Prahlada’s explanation of how he became Krishna conscious than he was with Prahlada’s statement that devotional service to Vishnu was the best thing that he had ever learned. Indignant and angry, he ordered his servants to kill his son. He was prepared to kill his own son, an innocent child of five years. And he tried in so many ways. He had his servants try to pierce and chop Prahlada’s tender body with their tridents, but they couldn’t; he had them hurl Prahlada from a mountain, but Krishna saved him; he had them poison him, but Krishna saved him; he had them throw boulders to crush him, but Krishna protected him. Whatever methods Hiranyakasipu adopted failed, even though he had subdued the most powerful demigods in the universe—except for Brahma and Shiva, all the demigods had come under his control. And yet he could not touch this five-year-old boy. Prahlada was only five years old, and Hiranyakasipu such a powerful tyrant, but still, Hiranyakasipu could not touch him.

Finally, Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlada, “Where do you get your strength? You know that when I am angry, the three worlds tremble. By whose power do you defy me?”

“My strength comes from the same source as yours,” Prahlada replied. “From God.”

Hiranyakasipu resolved to kill Prahlada himself. “Oh, from God?” he challenged. He thought that he was the source of all his strength and austerities. “Well, then, where is this God of yours?”

“He is everywhere,” Prahlada replied.

“Oh, He is everywhere?” Hiranyakasipu challenged. “Then is He in this pillar?”

“Yes,” Prahlada replied.

Enraged, Hiranyakasipu took up his sword and struck his fist against the column. And from the pillar emerged a great roar—and the half-man, half-lion incarnation of the Lord, Nrsimhadeva.

Lord Nrsimha played with the demon. He fought with him, but He was actually just playing with him. And when He had had enough, He captured him, placed him on His lap, and in the doorway of the assembly hall, tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand. Hiranyakasipu’s body was so strong that it could not be pierced even by the thunderbolt of Indra, but it was pierced by the nails of the Lord. He was so powerful from his austerities that his body was like stone. But Lord Nrsimhadeva’s nails were like chisels that cracked it open. Then the Lord pulled out his heart, draped his intestines around His neck as a garland, and let out a great roar.

This is also one of the rasas, or mellows—vibhatsa-rasa—in English called the “ghastly” rasa. But because the Lord is absolute, everything about Him is beautiful—every feature. When Krishna would return from the pasturing grounds in the evening, accompanied by Balarama and the cowherd boys, He would be playing on His flute; beads of perspiration would decorate His forehead, and dust raised by the cows’ hooves would adorn His hair. When the gopis would see this image of Krishna in their mind, they would be stunned by His beauty. In the same way, Lord Nrsimhadeva also looked beautiful, with drops of blood sprinkled on His face and mane, His eyes gleaming like fire, and the garland of Hiranyakasipu’s intestines around His neck.

So, what happened to Brahma’s boons? Well, the Lord is so intelligent that He kept all the boons intact and still killed the demon. He killed him at twilight, not during the day or at night. He placed him on His lap, which was neither on the earth nor in the sky. He killed him at the doorway to the palace, not inside or outside. He pierced him with His nails, not with any weapon. And He assumed a unique form that was half-man and half-lion, neither man nor demigod nor beast.

We may think that we are so clever that we can cheat God, but we should know that God is always more intelligent than we are. Hiranyakasipu was extraordinarily intelligent, but still, God was more intelligent. Srila Prabhupada remarked that Hiranyakasipu wanted to protect himself from the bomb. He made all these arrangements to protect himself from the bomb, but he forgot about the nails. He never thought that he could be killed by Krishna’s nails. So, no matter how clever we are, how intelligent we are, God is more intelligent than we are. And mrtyuh sarva-haras caham: Krishna manifests Himself as death for those who deny Him, and no one can defy death. When death comes, you have to surrender—“as sure as death.”

So, Krishna gives us the choice. At the end of the Bhagavad-gita He says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: “Surrender to Me. Give up all varieties of religiousness, all extraneous duties, and just surrender to Me.” And that is our choice. We can surrender to Krishna in His beautiful form of Syamasundara, His threefold bending form, playing on His flute. And if you don’t want to surrender to Krishna, or Lord Nrsimhadeva, voluntarily, then Krishna will come as death (mrtyuh sarva-haras caham) and take everything away. All right, we do not want to give this to Krishna; we do not want to give that to Krishna. We want to hold on: “What will happen if I give this away?” But if you don’t give it voluntarily to Krishna, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham: He will come as death and take away everything. That is what happened to Hiranyakasipu.

After Hiranyakasipu was killed by Lord Nrsimhadeva, the Lord remained sitting on the throne, furious. No one could pacify Him; no one could get Him to give up His anger. Even the great demigods were afraid. Finally Lord Brahma requested Prahlada, “You go forward and appease the Lord.”

Prahlada was not afraid. He was a pure devotee. He thought Lord Nrsimhadeva looked beautiful. He recited many beautiful prayers, and in one he said, “My dear Lord, even saintly persons take pleasure when a snake or a scorpion is killed.”

tad yaccha manyum asuras ca hatas tvayadya
   modeta sadhur api vrscika-sarpa-hatya
lokas ca nirvrtim itah pratiyanti sarve
   rupam nrsimha vibhayaya janah smaranti

“My Lord Nrsimhadeva, please, therefore, cease Your anger now that my father, the great demon Hiranyakasipu, has been killed. Since even saintly persons take pleasure in the killing of a scorpion or a snake, all the worlds have achieved great satisfaction because of the death of this demon. Now they are confident of their happiness, and they will always remember Your auspicious incarnation in order to be free from fear.” (SB 7.9.14)

What is the purport of this verse? Lord Nrsimhadeva was angry. Although He had killed Hiranyakasipu, still, as Srila Prabhupada explains, He was concerned that people might blame Him, that Prahlada’s relatives might blame Him: “You killed Prahlada’s father. He is just a five-year-old boy, and You killed his father.”

So, to assure the Lord that no one would blame Him for His action, Prahlada said, “Don’t worry, my Lord. You have killed him, it is true. But he was like a snake or a scorpion.” Snakes and scorpions are very envious and dangerous. So Prahlada was saying, “Even saintly persons, who are known to be nonviolent and friendly toward everyone, take pleasure when a snake or a scorpion is killed. Because snakes and scorpions are so envious that they will attack and kill even innocent persons, they should be killed—to save them from committing further sinful activities. So we bear no animosity towards You. We feel no ill will. No one will consider that You have done anything wrong. In fact, everyone is pleased.”

Then the Lord offered everything to Prahlada, who wanted nothing. In fact, when Lord Nrsimhadeva asked Prahlada to accept a benediction, Prahlada refused. “Why are You tempting me?” he asked. “I have not come to do business with You, to render service to You so that You would give me something in return. I just want to serve You for Your pleasure. So don’t tempt me with material things.”

But Lord Nrsimhadeva insisted: “No, I want you to accept something.”

Then Prahlada replied, “All right, I pray that my father be liberated.” Just see the kindness of a Vaishnava. His father was so envious of him that he tried to kill him, his own son, an innocent child of five years; he tried to kill him brutally. But Prahlada did not become Hiranyakasipu’s enemy. He remained his friend. Devotees are always the friends of every living entity. So Prahlada prayed for his demonic father’s deliverance.

Then Lord Nrsimhadeva said, “You are the heir to the demons’ opulence. I order you to occupy the throne and rule the kingdom.”

“I don’t want material opulence,” Prahlada said. “If I accept it, I might become puffed up like my father and forget You. To the contrary, I desire to be liberated from materialistic life.”

“It does not matter that you are in the material world,” Lord Nrsimhadeva assured him. “Just always engage in hearing and chanting and remembering Me, and being fully free from material bondage, you will come to Me”—back home, back to Godhead. And so Prahlada became Prahlada Maharaja.

Devotees take pleasure in hearing how the Lord kills the demons and how He delivers the devotees, and both pastimes are recounted wonderfully in the story of Lord Nrsimhadeva.

There is much to learn from this story, and there is much to relish in hearing the glories of the Lord and the deliverance of devotees and the destruction of the demons. And among other lessons, we learn that not only should we adults be educated in Krishna consciousness, but we should educate our children in Krishna consciousness as well.

Hare Krishna.

Devotee: There are many stories of worshipers of demigods who get boons from Brahma or Shiva and then actually turn against their worshipable deity. So, was it the acquisition of these great powers that turned their recipients demoniac or were they so demonic from the start that even austerities didn’t do anything to benefit them? Instead of turning to spiritual life, they turn into demons.

Giriraj Swami: So, the first question is, Do they become demons after they get their boons? And the next is, How is it that they perform austerities and don’t make spiritual advancement?

In principle, the answer is the same for both questions. Nothing in the material world is good or bad; it all depends on how we use it. Austerities can be used for spiritual advancement, and they can also be used to gain material power.

No one can be successful in any endeavor without making sacrifices and performing austerities—not even a businessman. One of our friends came to visit recently, and he had lost weight. So I asked, “What happened? You seem to have lost weight.

“Well, my business has been doing very well,” he replied.

“You have lost weight because your business is doing well?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I’ve been doing such good business that I haven’t been coming home for lunch. I prefer to keep making money, so I have lost weight.”

Any activity requires austerity for success. If you want to do well in school, you have to study, you have to make sacrifices. You could be out playing, but you have to attend classes, read books, and prepare for your exams.

Still, the fruit of austerities can be used either for spiritual or material purposes. Devotees perform austerities to make spiritual advancement. Materialists also perform austerities, but for material development. It is not that they become demons. They may have been demons from the beginning, and when they got what they wanted, their demonic propensities became manifest.

But it is also true that ordinary persons or even devotees, if they are weak and come in contact with too much opulence, may fall down. In one case, an ordinary family won the lottery, and the family became completely disturbed. Until then, they had been relatively peaceful and happy, but after they got the lottery money, there was so much tension. What to do with the money? How to save the money? How to protect it? How to spend it? And in the end, the wife was saying that they had been happier before they had won the lottery.

It can happen that even a devotee who is not strong enough can become bewildered by material opulence. Therefore, in general, devotees live simply. They do not want to become confused or bewildered or agitated by material facilities. When Lord Nrsimhadeva offered Prahlada material benedictions, Prahlada considered them impediments on the path of devotional service. He prayed:

ma mam pralobhayotpattya
   saktamkamesu tair varaih
tat-sanga-bhito nirvinno
   mumuksus tvam upasritah

“My dear Lord, because I was born in an atheistic family I am naturally attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, kindly do not tempt me with these illusions. I am very much afraid of material conditions, and I desire to be liberated from materialistic life. It is for this reason that I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet.” (SB 7.10.2)

And if devotees do get some opulence, they give it to Krishna. There is a saying that Prabhupada used to quote: If you give a brahman a lakh of rupees, he will still be a beggar—because he won’t save that lakh of rupees, but he will spend it for others. He will spend it for God, and so the next day he will still be a beggar. Or, as Srila Prabhupada told us, “Make a million dollars for Krishna one day, and spend a million dollars for Krishna the next day.” So we don’t hoard. If we do, there is a chance that we will become preoccupied with our wealth, at least to some degree, and forget Krishna.

Devotee: All the forms of Krishna are eternal. So, is the form of Lord Nrsimhadeva also eternal, and did it exist even before He appeared before Hiranyakasipu?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. All the forms of Krishna are eternal, but They have appearance pastimes. Krishna appeared as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki in Kamsa’s prison, but that was just a play. He exists eternally, but as a pastime He seemed to take birth. All the incarnations of Godhead have appearance pastimes. Just like in tonight’s play: an actor will play the part of Lord Nrsimhadeva and appear from a pillar. But the actor existed before the play began. Someone may appear on the stage, but he existed before the dramatic performance began. Similarly, the Lord enacts appearance pastimes, but He always exists.

Devotee: You mentioned that Hiranyakasipu was told that he could not become a devotee because he would not take the dust of a pure devotee, but before that there was a verse matir na krsne paratah svato va. Prahlada was saying that because you are too attached to material opulence, you cannot become a devotee.

Giriraj Swami: Very good point. Of those three important verses, matir na krsne paratah svato va is one.

matir na krsne paratah svato va
   mitho ’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
   punah punas carvita-carvananam

“Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Krsna are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.” (SB 7.5.30)

Prahlada is saying that people who are too entrapped in the bodily concept of life and too attached to material opulence cannot bow down to the pure devotee and become Krishna conscious. And Queen Kunti says the same thing in her prayers to Lord Krishna:

janmaisvarya-sruta-sribhir
   edhamana-madah puman
naivarhaty abhidhatum vai
   tvam akincana-gocaram

“My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.” (SB 1.8.26)

To be akincana—materially exhausted, or materially impoverished—means either that we have no possessions and live very simply or that we have no sense of false proprietorship and dedicate everything to Krishna’s service. For example, if we think, “I am the proprietor of this temple,” we cannot get Krishna. But if we think, “This temple is not mine; it is Krishna’s,” then we can get Him. Still, we have to be responsible—not that we think, “Oh, this is Krishna’s temple; let Krishna worry about it.” No, we are Krishna’s servants. We should think, “Yes, it is Krishna’s temple; it is not mine to enjoy. But I am Krishna’s servant, so I have to make sure that everything goes well—for Krishna.”

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Nrsimha-caturdasi, May 22, 2005, San Diego]

simple thoughts 2019-05-16 19:42:18
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Dear Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Summer is here, summer means festivals, happy days, get your diary out.
Watford Rathayatra kick starts the yajna. 25th May .


The following day Sunday we are in Manchester, 26th May. The third biggest city in the U.K., with two football clubs.


And the day before 24th May we are distributing 3,000 plates of Prasad to the students and teachers at the eco demo in Parliament square.

The last time we did this the police gave me a hand to get the Prasad on site

Calendar

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Your servants

Parsharama Das

Does the upside-down tree metaphor of Gita chapter 15 imply that there’s a separate tree for each individual soul?
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The post Does the upside-down tree metaphor of Gita chapter 15 imply that there’s a separate tree for each individual soul? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Srimati Parvati Devi Dasi a stalwart female pioneer in Srila Prabhupada’s mission
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By Kishori Jani

Yesterday, we lost one of the pillars of the Iskcon movement, one of the stalwart female pioneers in Srila Prabhupada's mission- in the most glorious way! Her service to SP in the US, Kenya, Mumbai and Vrindavan is almost unparalleled. The stories and glories go on and on... But the true test comes at the end.. And the whole affair at the end for her was SO beautiful and uplifting! Witnessing it gives me so much courage and confidence that this path is real! Experiencing such a glorious passing is a true and rare gift that I'm indebted to her for sharing with us.. Something I will cherish forever... Continue reading "Srimati Parvati Devi Dasi a stalwart female pioneer in Srila Prabhupada’s mission
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Srila Prabhupada: “Jayananda’s death is glorious!”
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Srila Prabhupada: “Jayananda’s death is glorious. It is very good that he had stated, what is the use of such a useless body, better to give it up. He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. I have already sent a condolence letter for publication in Back To Godhead. Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda’s picture should be hung in the Ratha of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnavas.”
In the photo: Jayananda at his last birthday party, with his cart


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Self-centered
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We are all so self-centered; we are the center of the universe.
The only way we can possibly change this is by working for the benefit of others – working so much that we have no time for ourselves…

The article " Self-centered " was published on KKSBlog.

Final Call To Action! Last Day of the #Giving TOVP Fundraiser, May 17th (18th India Time)
- TOVP.org

1 Day remains (2 days India Time) to the completion of the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser on Nrsimha Caturdasi. The response to this first-of-a-kind online TOVP fundraiser has been phenomenal and we are almost at our goal of $250,000, which includes Ambarisa prabhu’s matched amount of $125,000. We thank all the devotees who have participated thus far.

This year, as usual, the TOVP is sponsoring a special puja and yajna for the protection and blessings of all our donors and well-wishers. And on Nrsimha Caturdasi His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja will be hoisting a Victory Flag onto Lord Nrsimha’s dome.

Take advantage of this event to sponsor a Nrsimha Brick on Nrsimha Caturdasi. That brick will have your name on it and will be placed under ISKCON Mayapur Nrsimha’s altar to remain for hundreds and thousands of years. Just go to the TOVP website page below and make your offering: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/giving-tovp-fundraiser/

 

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
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post Final Call To Action! Last Day of the #Giving TOVP Fundraiser, May 17th (18th India Time) appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

How can we avoid getting infected with material desires because of the triangularity of desires?
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H.H. Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja Speaks About Nrsimha Caturdasi and the #Giving TOVP Fundraiser May 7-17 (18 India Time)
- TOVP.org

In a few days we will all be celebrating the divine appearance of the most amazing half-lion/half-man avatar of the Lord, Sri Nrasimahdeva Bhagavan. For devotees in ISKCON our Mayapur Ugra Nrsimha Deity is especially dear and He protects all the Vaishnavas in Their preaching activities to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world. In this video His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja encourages participation in the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser, especially on Nrsimha Caturdasi.

The #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser ends on the auspicious advent of Lord Nrsimha, May 17 (May 18 India Time) and we are encouraging devotees to sponsor 108 Nrsimha Bricks with their names to be placed under the Deity’s altar. The TOVP is Lord Nrsimha’s new home and we have invited Him to enter in 2022. It must be completed by then without fail. Every year at this time the TOVP sponsors a special puja and yajna for Lord Nrsimhadeva for the protection of all donors, well-wishers and friends, and this year His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja will be hoisting a Victory Flag onto the TOVP on Nrsimha Caturdasi.

We have raised over $100,000 so far towards our goal of $250,000 with Ambarisa prabhu’s matching amount and we want to thank all the devotees who have participated thus far. If you have not yet given a donation, please do so. Any amount, large or small will help and is appreciated. Please watch the video by Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja and go to the website address below. Be a generous TOVP GIVER today. https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/giving-tovp-fundraiser/

Sri Nrsimhadeva Bhagavan Janma Mahottsava Ki Jaya!!!

 

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
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post H.H. Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja Speaks About Nrsimha Caturdasi and the #Giving TOVP Fundraiser May 7-17 (18 India Time) appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Back to The Motherland – St. Petersburg (Album of…
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Back to The Motherland - St. Petersburg (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: St. Petersburg was the last stop on our Russian tour before moving on to Ukraine. No doubt, St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And the local devotees are an integral part of that beauty. We enjoyed 5 days of chanting, dancing and feasting in their association. Myself, Badahari Dās and Chaturatma Dās all lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam to attentive audiences. We look forward to returning!

Law Book — Guru Name Abbreviations — 2019
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By the GBC

Resolved: Any devotees referred to in any proposal to the GBC will be identified by adding the abbreviation of their spiritual master’s name after their initiated name. The Guru Services Committee is directed to maintain this list and generate abbreviations for new initiating spiritual masters. Continue reading "Law Book — Guru Name Abbreviations — 2019
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Sastric Advisory Council’s Pati-guru Paper — 2019
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By the GBC

A primary reason this issue was brought before the SAC was to consider whether a husband initiating his wife is like a guru marrying his disciple. There are major differences in the two scenarios. Traditionally, a guru is sometimes considered to be like a parent, and for a guru to marry a disciple is like a parent marrying his or her own offspring – something strongly disapproved in both general society and śāstra Continue reading "Sastric Advisory Council’s Pati-guru Paper — 2019
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