The Beauty of Sri Radha Krsna

 

 Srimati Uma didi is here in Malaysia and she is giving wonderful classes. Below is a very short and powerful excerpt of Didi's class she gave on 11 January 2013

"In this world we are attracted to very beautiful persons. In the beginning a man is very attracted to the face of his beautiful wife. Her face will be like the beautiful moon. After some time, her face will be like the sun. So much heat is coming. After many years her face will be like the volcanoes. This means her beauty fades and she is not as palatable as she was before. 

Miss Universe is very beautiful. But how long her beauty is going to last. This is material beauty. Nothing lasts. Therefore the beauty of Sri Radha and Krsna is forever beautiful. It is transcendental beauty. If one has the good fortune to see Their Beauty, then all material desires will be vanquished.

Once there was a goonda called Dhanurdasa. Everyone was afraid of him. He married a very beautiful girl. Her father had to give her hand in marriage to Dhanurdasa as the father was afraid of the goonda. 

Dhanurdasa was enamored by his wife's beauty. He used to make public affection of his love for his wife. People used to scoff him. But Sri Ramanuja said that a man who is capable of so much love should be directed to the right goal - that is towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Sri Ramunuja approached Dhanurdasa and asked why he deeply loved his wife. Dhanurdasa said that his wife is so beautiful, with beautiful eyes and none can equal her beauty. 

Then Sri Ramunuja said, " I will show you the One who is more beautiful!"

Dhanurdasa scoffed, "Impossible! If you do then I will be your servant, otherwise you will have to be my servant."

Sri Ramanuja placed his hand on Dhanurdasa's head and took him to have darshan of the Lord. Dhanurdasa was overwhelmed with love of God. Now he knows than none can equal the beauty of the Lord. He immediately became a follower of Sri Ramanuja."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Play

  

When I started the Kids for Kids Program (Friends of GATE) in Facebook, I wondered how am I to go around collecting stationery for the school children that Srila Gurudeva started in Navadvipa. GATE stands for Golden Avatar Trust Education Initiative and by the order of my Srila Gurudeva, some of my godsisters and godbrothers are doing great service in providing free education besides incorporating kirtans and hari-katha into the school curriculum. 

The strong desire to do some service, kept me going. I told this venture to my students. At first they gave me blank stares. Then a little boy, gave his pencil. Another little girl gave her unused eraser. The ball started rolling from there. From colour pencils to sharpeners, note books and little purses. I know they cannot buy new ones. So my idea was to get them to part with anything that they don't need. Instead of throwing the stationery away, they can give it to others. But it most be in good condition. Children here are very fortunate in material terms. But if they were to help the children of the holy land in Navadvipa, then they are surely accumulating sukriti (spiritual pious activities). 

Besides children, some teacher friends and a nurse chipped in as well. But the best part of all, when the temple sevaks were cleaning the temple one day, they found a box filled with pencil cases. In each pencil case there was a ruler, an eraser, sharpener and pencils. There were 69 pencil cases! The temple sevaks knew of my project, so they gave the box to me. But I was apprehensive at first. First of all we do not know to whom the box belonged to. We asked around and nobody came to make the claim. 

After taking it, the collection of stationery was pretty complete. To make the work faster, someone threw a nice big rope at my husband's office. In fact we were looking for a rope to tie the box. We actually got a nice brown box from a grocery store nearby. When we wanted to take the ones the shop usually puts outside, a worker saw us and said he will give a nice box instead. 

Then it was to the post office. Getting a parking was highly unlikely as the post office is situated near a wet market. But once we were there, it was as though by divine arrangement there was a lot just waiting for us in front of the post office. My husband and I tied the rope tightly around the box. We were afraid the stationery might come out. So we taped and tied everything to the best of our ability. When we weighed the box it was 19.990kgs. What a relief! By sea mail, we were only allowed the maximum weight of 20kgs. The very friendly staff told us that it will take at lease 1 to 3 months to reach the designated address.

Soon I e-mailed the school to inform them about the parcel that is coming their way. It was a big surprise, that within less than a month the school contacted me and said they received the parcel. They gave some stationery to the children and the rest to be distributed during Guru Purnima, where Sripad Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja was there as well. 

Please click here for the full story: http://goldenavatartrust.com/2012/07/golden-avatars-4th-anniversary/

From the turn of events that happened, from the rope, the box of stationery, parking etc, it was Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's big play. Everything was His doing. 

O yes, at the time the parcel was sent, GATE had about 69 to 70 students. Two students of mine gave away their pencil cases to make the number quite complete. 

My only prayer is to be an instrument and a servant in Srila Gurudeva's and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's play. 

Give Respect to All and Know Your Goal & Object

(A short excerpt from Sripad Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja's class when His Holiness was in Malaysia.)

Sakhis (the beloved cowherd girls of Lord Krsna) always have competitive mood to always serve the Lord. They want Krsna for themselves as well.

But the manjaris (the dear most maid servants of Srimati Radhika) have always servitor mood - always wanting to serve their swamini Srimati Radhika.

This is our goal and object. We have to pray for the mood of the maidservants of Srimati Radhika. If we want to worship Srimati Radhika's lotus feet, then we must respect all here, in this world. We must practice and avoid all offenses.

Once a babaji from the Babaji Sampradaya did hard austerities, doing special sadhana and bhajana of asta-kaliya-lila. When he left his body, all his disciples cried bitterly.

One disciple, even after a long time, felt so much separation mood for his Gurudeva. He felt that he was embroiled in the material world and prayed he could serve his Gurudeva.

Then his Gurudeva came into his dream.

His Gurudeva said he could not enter the realm of serving Srimati Radhika. Even though he respected all scriptures like the Vedas, he neglected the scriptures of the Gosvamis. For that offense he was not admitted into the realm of servitorship of Srimati Radhika. He now had to come back and take birth to perfect his sadhana and bhajana.

Just image for someone who had done so much sadhana and bhajan, yet he cannot enter Goloka Vrindavan. What to speak of us!

Therefore, we must be very careful in avoiding offenses.

Krsna Gives Everything

On the recent passing away of Vijay Krsna prabhu's father, Sriman Kanu Priya prabhu, Sripad Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja gave a short class.

Below is the excerpt of the class:

We come to this world with our hands closed. When we die, the hands are open. We cannot take anything with us. At every step of our lives, we face difficulties. We are doing everything for our family and children when we are young.

But then old age and disease come to rob our vitality. When we are old, children may not want us anymore. They will think when will this old lady or old man will die.

Govinda - 'Go' means mother earth, the Vedas or giving pleasure to senses. Here when one dies, especially a South Indian, they will say, "Govinda! Govinda!"

In North India, it is "Rama Nama Sathia Hai" (the only truth is Lord Rama)

When we leave this body, we cannot take any of our belongings our any of our beloved.

Once, when I was in north Malaysia, a gentleman approached me. He wanted to ask me some questions. He told me that by worshipping Krsna all our wealth will be gone.

I said I will give him 2 answers, whether he wanted to hear the spiritual first or the material second.

The gentleman said he would like to hear the spiritual first.

Once Yuddhisthra Maharaja asked Krsna for some boons. Krsna said go on and ask as many as you want. Yuddhistra Maharaja said:

a) I want to marry a very beautiful girl.

b) I want to be very wealthy

c) My treasures must be very vast

d) All my brothers are qualified so it will be difficult to control them. Therefore, they should be under my control.

e) My children and grandchildren must always remember me.

f) I should not be defeated by anyone in any battle.

Krsna smiled and granted all of the boons. Krsna also asked Yuddhistra Maharaja why he is asking all of these as he is already a great devotee.

Yuddhistra Maharaja said it is for the whole world to worship Lord Krsna. Many think that Krsna will take away everything from them and make them a street beggar.

In fact, it is written in sastra:

yasyaham anugrhnami
harisye tad-dhanam sanaih
tato dhanam tyajanty asya
svajana duhkha-duhkhitam

'O King! When I favour someone, I gradually deprive him of all his wealth. In other words when a person, although desirous of giving up material sense gratification, is somehow engrossed in the sense objects present before him, he is afflicted with distress. For such a person the removal of these objects is itself a manifestation of My favour. When his wife, sons and relatives find him to be an abject failure beset with repeated misery, they reject the impoverished man."

In the same way, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada ordered Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja to the west to preach. At that time all his business failed and his family rejected him. Our Srila Gurudeva was his bosom friend and encouraged Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja to take sannyasa. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja told our Gurudeva how he remembered the sloka, verse.

But what happened when Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja went to the west? A miracle happened. He was so successful and established ISKCON. He had a whole family of devotees.

As for material pursuit, what is it we are hankering for. Look at the world now. So many wealthy countries in Europe are practically bankrupt. They are bankrupt spiritually and materially.

But for a Krsna conscious person he will be in tranquility and spiritually and materially wealthy as was the case of Yuddhisthra Maharaja.

There is nothing to fear.

The Greatness of Chanting

On her recent visit to Malaysia, Srimati Uma didi gave wonderful explanation on the powers of the maha-mantra. Below is an excerpt of Didi's class.

"[Once, in a village, a young boy was bitten by a snake. His parents were heart-broken. They wept bitterly. The whole village came over to see what had happened. Then someone said he will call a snake charmer who is expert in mantras.

Soon the snake charmer came. He kept reciting a mantra. He also put some stones on the boy's head, on his eyes and other important areas of the boy's body as only known to the snake charmer.

After much recitation of the mantra, the snake which bit the boy came. It sucked out all the poison from the boy's body. The snake then died. And the boy was saved.]

If a worldly mantra can have so much power, just imagine what the maha-mantra can do.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna

Krsna Krsna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

This is the top most mantra. If anyone has taken shelter of a bona-fide guru, and following all of Sri Guru's instruction, then the disciple will see the results quickly. Meaning he will feel peace and bliss. He will not be disturbed by the material calamities.


The maha-mantra has been infused by Sri Guru's powers when He initiated the disciple. It is now the duty of the disciple to follow all the instructions of Sri Guru strictly.

Also, when Srila Gurudeva was exhibiting his "sick pastimes" there was a time when he needed to be operated on. The doctors administered anaesthesia. Usually a patient will be asked to count 1 to 10 and then he or she dozes of. Their counting will be get weaker and weaker.

But Srila Gurudeva was chanting the maha-mantra. And each time it only got stronger and stronger. All the doctors were amazed. They realized that Srila Gurudeva was not an ordinary person. Somehow or other the operation did take place. As for the doctors, the paid obeisances to Srila Gurudeva everyday!

You should never think that the maha-mantra Sri Guru gave you in an ordinary sense."

Mahaprabhu Followed Caturmasya

The Beginning of Caturmasya - 14-15 July 2011

[Dear Readers,

July 14th or July 15th, 2011 (see calendar) is the beginning of Caturmasya, the four month period each year from July into November, in which devotees observe certain rules and regulations in order to advance in their bhakti. There are many items that are not allowed during Caturmasya, such as leafy vegetables on the first month, yogurt on the second month, milk on the third month, and mustard oil on the fourth month. Besides this, throughout all four months, tomatoes, eggplants, honey and several other foodstuffs are prohibited. (Please see the rest of the list below). Srila Gurudeva gave this talk on September 13, 2000 in Mathura.]

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to follow all these rules very strictly, but nowadays we see that devotees don't follow. Our Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura were very strong in this regard. Srila Prabhupada said, "Take my photo during the four months of Caturmasya-vrata, to show that I never shave at that time. Always keep it; otherwise so many so-called disciples will say, 'Oh, Prabhupada never observed Caturmasya-vrata'."

By his causeless mercy, Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja gave concessions in the Western countries, and that is the only reason he also used to shave. The Westerners could not follow strictly at that time. That is why he allowed tomatoes and eggplant, that is also why he used to take them, and that is why he also allowed carrots.

I am therefore also giving concessions, not here in India, but in Western countries. If the devotees there like, they can take these items; but we don't take them. We should strictly follow our proper line from Mahaprabhu to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura and my gurus, Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. In Western countries some concession may be given, but here in India we are very strict. If we cannot follow this, then how can we follow Sri Krsna, and how can we serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna? Mahaprabhu shaved – after two months – and we follow this.

Restricted foods during the entire four months of Caturmasya:

• Eggplants, tomatoes, loki, parmal, urad dahl, and honey

Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:

• First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry andpowdered leafy herbs and teas
• Second month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with water)
• Third month: No milk (if required, it can be mixed with a drop of lemon juice)
• Fourth month: No mustard oil or sesame seeds

Foods that can be taken all days of the year, including Ekadasi and Caturmasya:

• All fruits (fresh and dried), all nuts and all oils made from nuts
• Potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash, lemon, avocado, olives, coconut buckwheat, all sugars
• All pure milk products (except yoghurt during the 2nd month of Caturmasya and milk during the 3rd month)
• For sannyasis, brahmacaris and vanaprasthas: shaving head and cutting nails is to be done on full moon days ( no shaving on Baladeva Purnima or Purnima at beginning of Kartik )

A Great Devotee of Lord Jagannatha (part 3)

(This is the part 3 of the story of Dasia Bauri)

The Devotee's Devotion Captures the Lord's Heart

Day and night Dasia was thinking about the Lord. He knew nothing except the Lord. One night, he went to sleep meditating upon His lotus feet. He prayed, "Will that Lord be merciful upon me so that I can see that four handed form of the Lord?"

Understanding his mind, Lord Jagannath left the altar of His temple and appeared in front of Dasia. Dasia took darshan of the Lord to his heart’s content. He said, "What I had seen on the chariot is the same as the form before me now. I am directly seeing the Lord! Brahma and all of the demigods and asuras, yakhsas, gandharvsa, kirnars, siddhas, yogis and munis meditate constantly the lotus feet of Lord Hari. They are not able to see Him. I am ignorant, a low born. I have not done any devotional service. O Lord of the universe, You have come to my cottage."

The Lord, who was wearing yellow garments said, "Dasia, please listen. My heart is not attracted to heaven or liberation. Whoever worships me with devotion, My mind is attracted to him. Your mood of devotion is everything for Me. My dear devotee, please ask me what boon I can bestow upon you."

Being very pleased Dasia replied, "O my Lord, all I want is to remember Your lotus feet constantly. I do not need any other boon from You. Please bless me so that I can fix my mind at the lotus feet of Your devotees. Please bless me so that 1 can have Your darshan whenever I meditate upon You. I do not need anything else."

Hearing this, the Lord said, "Your life is blessed. Whenever you go to Puri, look upon Nila-chakra on the top of My temple. I will manifest to you there. Whatever you offer Me, I will accept that."

After saying this, the Lord disappeared.

The Coconut Offering

One day Baligram Dasia went to the home of one brahinana to sell some cloth. He saw a nice coconut in the tree.

He asked the brahinana, "Can you give me this coconut? I would like to offer this to Lord Jagannath. Whatever the cost, please deduct from the cost of my cloth."

The greedy brahinana said, "I can give you this coconut in exchange for the cloth."

Baligram Dasia had only this cloth to sell to maintain his livelihood. But he was not worried about that. He received the coconut in exchange for the cloth, and returned to his village. That day, one brahinana was going to Puri to offer many kinds fruits and milk to Lord Jagannath.

Baligram Dasia went to him and requested him to take his coconut to offer Lord jagannath. Baligram told the brahinana, "Please take this coconut. After finishing offering of your ingredients, please think about my offering. You hold my coconut standing behind Garuda stambha and appeal to the Lord that your devotee Baligram Dasia has sent this coconut. Please accept this. If the Lord will accept this coconut by extending His hand, then give it to Him. Otherwise, bring this coconut back to me."

Hearing this, the brahinana laughed and left for Puri. Baligrama Dasia went back to his house. The brahinana reached Jagannath temple and completed his puja to Lord Jagannath. When he was about to return, he remembered the coconut given to him by Baligrama Dasia. He thought, "Let me see what happens."

Out of curiosity, he went behind the Garuda pillar. Holding the coconut in his hand and closing his eyes, he said, "O Daru-brahma! Baligram Dasia has sent this coconut for You. Please accept it by extending Your lotus hand, otherwise I will take it back."

Suddenly the Lord extended His long arm from the altar and took the coconut from the hand of the brahinana. In this way, the coconut was offered to Lord Jagannath. Just see the strong faith of the devoteel Even Laxmi Devi cannot understand this. By seeing this, the brahinana started to cry in ecstasy. He said, "Oh Baligram Dasia! Your life is blessed! Your father and mother are blessed! All glories to them! Your village is blessed. Lord Pitavas has is so pleased with you."

This news spread among the people in the temple. Everybody glorified Baligrama Dasia for his unalloyed devotion.

The Mango Offerings

One day, Baligram Dasia was planning to go to Puri to take darshan of Lord Jagannath. He was thinking to take something to offer to the Lord. At that time one mango vendor came along. He had very nice looking, big, sweet mangoes. Baligram Dasia bought about forty mangoes and carried those mangoes in a basket to Puri. When he reached the Lion Gate, all the pandas were behind him to take the mangoes inside the temple’ to offer to the Lord. They were fighting with each other to take the mangoes.

Baligram Dasia said, "I do not need any of you to offer these mangoes."

The pandas said, "Then what will you do with the mangoes? If you do not give them to us, how can they be offered? What will you do with them if you take them back without offering them to the Lord? These mangoes are meant for offering to Lord. No one can touch them without first offering them to Him."

Baligram Dasia went ten feet back and placed the basket of mangoes on the ground. He looked upon the Nila-chakra. There he saw Lord Jagannath. He offered his obeisances and said, "O Bhagavan, these mangoes are Your property. You please enjoy them by your own sweet will. What is the need of these brahmanas fighting unnecessarily?"

After saying this, Baligram Dasia picked up two mangoes and showed them to the Nila-chakra. Immediately those mangoes disappeared and went to the hand of Lord Jagannath. Jagannath ate the mangoes happily. In this way, Lord Jagannath enjoyed all the mangoes. This is the nature of the Lord. It does not matter how low born one may be, if he has strong devotion, the Lord will be pleased to accept leaves, fruits and flowers from his hand. Whatever high caste one may be, if he has no devotion, if he offers many varieties of tasty food, still the Lord will not touch it.

After eating all the mangoes the Lord disappeared from the place. All the people were watching how the mangoes were vanishing from Baligrama Dasias's hand.

They asked him, "What happened to all mangoes? Is it some sort of mesmerism? Black magic?"

Dasia told them, "The Lord of the universe ate all mangoes. Go and check inside the temple."

All the pandas ran to temple. They were surprised to see mango seeds and peels lying all over the deity room. The brahamanas said, "You are a great devotee of the Lord. You have purchased the Lord by your devotion. Who is there like you in this universe? We are nothing compared to you."

The Humiltiy of Dasia

The brahmanas gave Baligrama the prasada garland of Lord Jagannath and blessed him to achieve the highest destination of life. Hearing this, Baligrama Dasia fell at the lotus feet of all the brahmanas. He smeared the dust of the feet of brahmanas all over his body. He offered them obeisances again and again. He said, "Oh brahmanas, I am so fortunate to be blessed by all of you."

The Different Forms of the Lord

After blessing Baligram Dasia in this way, all the brahmanas left. Baligrama Dasia meditated upon the Lord withm his heart. He said, "Chakrapani, I offer my obeisances to that all cognizant Lord. I have a humble request to you: Please show me all Your forms. Let my life be purified by taking darshan of Your different forms!"

Lord Jagannath, understanding the mind of Baligrama Dasia, appeared on top the temple at Nila-chakra in His different forms from the fish incarnation to His Kalki incarnation. Baligrama Dasia fell to the ground to offer obeisances again and again, and said, "Now I am delivered!"

Then he went back to his house to live, happily engaging himself in the devotional service of the Lord.