Monthly Archives: May 2019

31st May 2019

Today’s conference is being attended by 683 participants. Hari Hari bol! Congratulations for joining.

I do believe that we have achieved the target of 600 as we had desired. We are doing so far so good. It is the end of the month, 31 May, and we have exceeded the target! This number is beyond our expectation. Although we are not entirely steady with this number of 600, but we are almost there. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow which is our deadline for this target. Keep going ahead, keep chanting and get more of your friends and family to join us. Devotees have assembled in Vallabha Vidyanagar, almost 300 devotees are chanting. Sacidanandan Prabhu has organized retreat for change of heart and I just saw hundreds of devotees chanting in open field. I am very thankful for the retreat and I congratulate all those who have joined. I am happy. Special thanks to Sacidanandan Prabhu .

The name of that retreat in Vallabha Vidyanagar is ‘change of heart’ but I have not seen the devotees going to any operation theater, they were not lying on the hospital beds. I did not see heart being transplanted. So, what is this change of heart? Its change of values, its change of attitude, its change of consciousness. Or it is also change of soul because soul is in the heart, soul resides in the heart. When I saw devotees of this retreat I was reminded of 10,000 sons of Daksha who were sent to forest for some rituals but Narada Muni reached there and gave discourse to them and there was transformation in the hearts of those 10,000 sons of Daksha. As there was change in heart they did not return home to their parents but they were going towards Vaikuntha, this is example of change of heart. Mrigari the hunter was killing animals and was happy to see their suffering then, Narada Muni gave answers to all his arguments and changed his heart, changed his consciousness, changed his attitude, changed his philosophy, changed his vision. Narada Muni also gave him japa mala to chant. He had agreed to chant Hare Krishna, and all change took place. Mrigari was no more the hunter, the killer of animals. He used to chant with his wife, keeping Tulsi Mahrani nearby. Initially he was thinking if I chant how will I take care of my family? Narada Muni said,

keep chanting don’t worry. Lord has said in Bhagavad-Gita,

yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham [BG 9.22]

I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess.

So as he was chanting and chanting there was purification of heart and Lord was pleased with him. He was chanting and calling out for the Lord. So many visitors were coming. They were all surprised to see Mrigari one-time hunter, killer of animals he has now become Hare Krishna. He is sitting down and chanting. They were amazed and pleased and started getting so many gifts. All his needs were fulfilled, by what they were bringing.

Patram pushpam phalam toyam (BG 9.26)

Take clothes from us, take milk for us, take this, take that. Lord was fulfilling all his needs. So Mrigari was following Krishna consciousness.

Once Narada Muni came to meet him, he was walking very slowly in zig zag fashion. Narada Muni asked what happened, you could come to me running when you saw me but you took so much time? Mrigari explained I could but there were so many ants on the path so I was clearing the path, so it took me longer to reach your lotus feet. When he heard this he was very much pleased so see the transformation in heart of his disciple. He said well-done. You were killer of animals now you don’t want to kill ants. This change of heart you have under gone, I am very much pleased. Now you are not killing animals you are not drinking their blood you have gone for pataram pushpam phalam. You are following all the principles of Bhagavad dharma, you are not killing animals any more you are only honoring Krishna prasad. I am very happy with this change of attitude, change of consciousness, change of values.

Once Prabhupada was asked in UAE by reporter “Swamiji, you have come so what change you would like to see, what change you are looking for?” Prabhupada responded “I want to see in the way people think.” Thinking, feeling and willing in other words change of heart, purification of minds. From dirty mind make pure mind so that is change of consciousness, change of heart, change of intelligence –pure intelligence. And all this change of heart and consciousness occurs by process of Krishna consciousness or basically by chanting Hare Krishna, reading Bhagavad-Gita, Bhagavatam, following 4 regulative principles every day we change. Gradually our attitude changes, our consciousness changes, our mind changes, its purified. Thus we have fully developed Krishna prema, evolution has taken place and we have achieved full Krishna consciousness. Complete change has taken place from mundane consciousness to spiritual consciousness.

Initially we were lusty now we are premi. Now we have love for Krishna, love for spirit soul initially we had love for matter. So it’s a big thought these are the thoughts of change of heart. Krishna consciousness is meant to bring about change in heart and change in consciousness. So keep changing every day, every day we want to be a changed person, every day changing evolving going higher and higher we are not stopping then we are fixed and confident. Now we are on the way back to home. We are going back to home back to Godhead and we will invite others also. Come to this ISKCON boat, we are going back there we will get Darshan of Lord’s lotus feet. We will also move forward and help others also move ahead.

Hare Krsna

30th May 2019

Today’s conference is being attended by 645 participants. Hari Haribol!

I do believe that we have achieved the target of 600, as we had desired by the end of this month, 30 May, and we have exceeded the target! This number is beyond our expectation. Although we are not entirely steady with this number of 600, however we are almost there. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow which is our deadline for this target. Keep it up, keep going ahead, keep chanting, and get more of your friends and family to join us.

That could be the reason for this huge number because today is Ekadasi. This is a serious day, a day for serious chanting. Of course, we should be chanting seriously everyday but on the occasion of Ekadasi, we should become more serious about chanting. The day has just now begun, so keep chanting seriously with attention, meditation and prayers.

Speaking of our target, target was set for King Parikshit,

‘ante narayan smriti’

At the time of death last moment of death he remembered Krishna. You can also remember Narayana, Govinda, your Istadev, your worshipable deity, or the Lord of your heart. That’s the target, the goal, that’s the vision for all of us, not just for Parikshit Maharaja.

So to achieve that goal of remembrance of Krishna, we have to practice the remembrance of the Lord every single day. That is what we attempt to do during these chanting sessions. As we noted yesterday, there are so many, unlimited number of chanters of the holy name or devotees of the Lord. There are practitioners who have been chanting the holy name of the Lord seriously, and they have achieved the goal. Now it is our turn, through our practice, to achieve the same goal.

But we may think and argue that no one has seen death, and therefore believe that “I have nothing to do with death, I am not going to die, or I am not going to die that soon.” This may be a reason why we are not taking chanting seriously. We should get rid of this thought that we will not face death at any given point in time. We could die at any time.

Padmaja, your God sister, my dear disciple, just reported to me that she lost her mother. We must remember that we could die any day. Devotees who are serious, think that this could be their last day, and they chant the Maha-mantra more seriously. Unfortunately as we are talking about death, last night, a devotee who chants with us from Burma lost her mother who was chanting with us as recently as yesterday. Today, the mother is no longer with us.

These things happen daily, at every moment and it could happen to me, or to you! In India, while the body is been taken to the cremation ground, the family chants

ramanama satya hai

This means that the name of the Lord is the only reality, the name of Ramais the only truth. Those who are carrying the body will realize that it is too late for the dead body. What good is that reminder of Rama Rama now to that dead body?

In the Mahabharat, there is a dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhiṣṭhira Maharaja. The episode known as Yaksha Prashna in Mahabharata relates to the exchange of questions and answers between Yama in the guise of a Yaksha who poses 126 difficult questions to Yudhishthira, who gives the most fitting answers to those questions. In this dialogue, Yaksha asks several questions to Yudhiṣṭhira Maharaja. One of these was ‘kim ashrayam’ what is the most wonderful thing of this world, or the wonder in this world? The following is the famous statement that you may be familiar with:

ahany ahani bhutani gacchantiha yamalayam
sheshaḥ sthavaram icchanti kim ashcaryam atah param

“Yamaraja once asked Maharaja Yudhisthira, ‘What is the most wonderful thing within this world?’ Mahārāja Yudhisthira replied (Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.116:

“Hundreds and thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, but a foolish living being nonetheless thinks himself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most wonderful thing in this world.”

Every day, every moment, in the morning, during the day and the night, people are leaving their bodies. For those who are not, they think Sthavaram, I am going to stay on, I have nothing to do with death, we will be here forever or for a long time.

Yudhishthira asked a counter question, “Could there be a more wonderful thought or thing in this world than this. “Oh I am okay, I will stay on, this is the wonder of the world. Some go but I am ok. This is a wonder of this world; it is one of the wonders of the world. When he was asked ‘kim ashcaryam’, he did not say Taj Mahal is the wonder of the world or Tower of Italy or Victoria Falls or the Great Wall of China. Yudhishthira Maharaj did not mention any of those as a wonder of this world, however, he said that the wonder is that people think “I am Okay”, this is a wonder. I think we should take this death business seriously, and prepare for the last moment. That is what all the sastras and acaryas are saying. The whole of the Krishna Consciousness movement is designed to achieve this target of remembering the Lord, and never forgetting Him, and becoming Krishna conscious at the time of death ante narayana smirti.

yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah (BG 8.6)

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.

Lord Krishna says that whatever you remember at the time of death, that thought becomes the cause for your future birth. So let us keep chanting,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Chant, hear and remember. Narayana smriti comes from,

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam (SB 7.5.23)

Keep chanting and hearing, and this will result in remembrance.

As you sit for chanting and begin chanting the holy name of the Lord, whatever you have done prior to the chanting, the previous day, weeks and months and years and births all that is there on your mind as we begin chanting. That influence is constantly there, the kind of consciousness that we developed, conditioning that we developed through so many acts, thoughts, so many kinds of hearing and talking or eating, our entire lifestyle, that is very much with us as we begin chanting.

So during chanting we have to neutralize or counteract all those forces, all those thoughts and all those anti-Krishna consciousness thoughts. That is also called in language of Yoga- ‘pratyahar.’ We have fed ourselves through all five senses and now we have to counteract the effects of sense gratification by chanting. Using the power of the intelligence, we will be able to discriminate, and with the intelligence we have to take cognizance, of worldly and mundane thoughts, and be able to discriminate and select thoughts that are spiritually positive.

Not this not this, the battle between the mundane and the spiritual is ongoing during the chanting, and we should try to sort out, this thought must get out, or this one must stay on. If they are thoughts of Krishna, His qualities, form, or pastimes, then these thoughts should stay. This should form part of the meditation. So, after pratyahara, you will go higher and higher towards full concentration.

After pratyahara comes dharana, then dhyanaand samadhi which is the final stage. After pratyahara comes retention: we retain, maintain, nourish and flourish only Krishna consciousness thoughts and we try to eliminate anti-Krishna thoughts. First discrimination then elimination.

That is more than enough food for thought on this auspicious day of Ekadasi. On this day, minimize other activities and maximize Krishna consciousness activities.

I am noting that some devotees are making comments, and others are offering dandavats. Continue chanting and dancing and taking prasadam.

Hare Krishna!

27th May 2019

As we chant, realize Krishna, the Lord as a person

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannath Puri, He was meeting devotees from Kulia, Kulingram. So one year devotees asked,” how are followers to be recognized? What is their identification? What is the expectation?“

So in that year, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jai! He was personally talking to devotees and others; we also should talk and have dialogues. We should have the same mood and imagine and visualize the Lord’s physical presence in Jagannath Puri. Of course, there is nothing physical in the Lord’s form, because He is fully spiritual, and presents a fully spiritual form as He speaks to the assembled devotees.

The impersonalist mayavadis, wish to merge with Brahmajyoti, Brahaman, and are unable to understand the chanting of Hare Krishna. How could one relate or address to Brahaman?

Towards the end of Bhagvad Gita, Lord is asking His devotees to do four things.

man mana bhava mad bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
[BG 18.65]

Remember Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your obeisances unto Me.

So, if you are an impersonalist, how will it be possible to follow the Lord’s instructions? What would they remember about Brahman, because there is nothing much to remember, just light, and nothing more. The Lord wants us to remember Him, but if you are nirakar, nirguna, impersonalist follower of Shankaracarya, what are you going to remember in Brahmajyoti?

When we chant Hare Krishna we can remember so much. There are thousand names by which you can remember Krishna while chanting, and you can think of the meaning of these names of the Lord. Krishna says ‘mad bhakto’, become My devotee. So, how can you become a devotee of brahmajyoti?

In India, there are many impersonalists, like our Muslim brothers. There are also those other religions that subscribe to impersonalism. Unfortunately, you cannot remember and become a devotee of brahmajyoti light.

If you are chanting Hare Krishna you have to be personalist, you have to understand Krishna’s personality, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is a person, like you and me, as noted by Srila Prabhupada.

namaste saraswati deve gauravan pracarine nirvisesa sunyavadi pastatya desatarine

(Srila Prabhupada Pranati)

In chanting these words, we offer our most humble obeisances to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada who saved us, saved the eastern and western world from this Shunyavad and Nirvisheshvad among so many Vads or isms, theories and philosophies. The predominant is Nirvisesvad, impersonalism, this Brahmajyoti business and Shunyavadi or Buddhadev of Voidism.

We have been saved by Gauranga, Gauravani Pracharine. Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s message, His presence, His lilas, His preaching which Srila Prabhupada presented on behalf of Gauranga. This is what we are now presenting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, so we are being saved from this onslaught of impersonalism and voidism.

‘Man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji’

Worship Me, how can you worship Brahmajyoti? Can you offer a garland to brahmajyoti? Can you offer Chandan to the Brahmajyoti? Where could you smear chandan on the Brahmajyoti? Forget all of this because the Lord says worship Him. Those who understand the Lord as brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate.

[SB 1.2.11] sees the Lord as having three features and one of them is Bramhajyoti, but that’s not all, the Lord is more. He is also Paramatma, He is also Bhagavan. So the chanters of the Lord’s Holy name have to understand the Bhagavan or revive their bhagavata as we chant. We have to realize Krishna, the Lord as a person, with His pastimes, His abode, and His associates.

To become an impersonalist means it’s the end of Bhakti, because there is no devotion, nor is there a flow of feeling of emotions unto the Lord. There is no Bhakti, there is no Bhakta, and there is no Bhagavan because as per this philosophy, there just exists just a light -merge into Brahman! This is the last snare of maya, Prabhupada writes, this BrahmaJyoti.

He refers to it as Nirakar which is big maya. “I am that light, Aham Brahmasmi” you forget becoming somebody’s devotee, you want to be the Lord. Not that you are becoming devotee or servant of the Lord, but the idea that “I am Lord”.

man mana bhava mad bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru

The remaining item is namaskuru, we write and we say, “Koti Koti Dandavats” to you or to the Lord. There is no question of offering any dandavats or even one dandavat to the light, He is not a person, just a light. Offering obeisances is not possible, unfortunately they maintain that “I am that Lord”, so to whom is he going to offer obeisances ? Unto whom are you going to offer obeisances, “I am Him” this is big maya. We can say that this Mayavadi philosophy is a big illusion. Sadly, this is going on, being propagated and is continuing to spread.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,
mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa

If you listen to Mayavad theory or philosophy, everything will be finished, your devotion will be finished, and your bhakti will be finished.

Finally the Lord says in this beautiful statement of Bhagavad-Gita, ‘mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te’, meaning that if you remember Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer obeisances unto Me, then you will certainly, surely, come to Me, come back to home, where I eternally reside, that’s where you will end up if you do these four things.

If you are an impersonalist, those who are, a lot of them out there are, there is no question of them going anywhere. There is no Vaikuntha for them, there is no Goloka for them, there is no going anywhere, even if they believe they are, this activity of going for them is maya. Form is maya, everything is maya only – the light. For them nothing else exists only Brahman, this jyoti, there is no question of going back to Godhead. The Lord wants us to go back to Him, ‘mām evaiṣyas’ meaning, “Come, where I am residing eternally.” So this mayavadi philosophy is all anti- Krishna statement and is anti-Bhagavad Gita.

Lord Chaitanya had been meeting devotees from Kulingram in West Bengal. When asked about how devotees were recognised, He said “One who chants the holy name all the time, Kirtanya sada hari all the time, that is Hare Krishna devotee, that is my devotee.”

The following year the devotees from everywhere met in Kulingram once again with Lord Chaitanya. The devotees raised the same question, “How do you recognize your devotees, Gaur bhaktas, my dear Lord.”

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “As soon as you look at a Hare Krishna devotee, see what he is doing? He will remind you of Krishna, his this act and that act will remind you of Krishna, he will be a big reminder of Krishna, that’s my devotee, that’s a Gaur bhakta.”

Yet again the same question was raised the following year. The Lord said that “as soon as he begins to chants Hare Krishna, all the symptoms of ecstasy manifests, as he chants Hare Krishna you will see tears roll down his cheeks, his body will be trembling and you can read all the symptoms of ecstasy in him, that is my devotee.”

The Lord spoke about devotees from one level to another and another beginning with one who is at least chanting all the time. Then his life is full of devotion, and then he reminds others of Krishna that is another higher level. Then highest, he is fully absorbed remembering the Lord and exhibits all the symptoms of ecstasy in his personality.

Hare Krishna

26th May 2019

Siksastakam: Importance of singing and chanting the holy names of Lord

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us Siksastakam. This needs to be read carefully and studied. We should concentrate on each verse and meditate on these while chanting. For chanters, this is an appropriate way start to japa. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself would meditate on the mood of these verses before japa. Many temples recite Siksastakam before chanting to create the right mood and right focus for our mind.
The Siksastakam which is a Gaudiya vaisnava prayer of eight verses was composed in Sanskrit by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. These eight verses are concise but profound.
krishna nama-sankirtana
1. Cleanses our chitta which is compared to a mirror.
2. Extinguishes this great forest-fire of material existence.
3. Like lotus of excellence spreads cooling moonlight.
4. Gives knowledge of life which is compared to a spouse who helps us flourish.
5. Increases our bliss-intellect.
6. At each step gives taste of complete amrita (nectar).
7. Is all atma-attractive / attracts atma fully.
8. Victorious is Sri Krishna’s sankirtana.
Within his Siksastakam, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stresses the importance of singing (bhajan) and chanting (japa) the names of God. Nama ruci can be achieved if you want to increase your taste for chanting then chant with accomplished and other faithful people. By serving the vaishnavas, nama ruci will grow. If you want to chant with more attention and offenselessly, chant with the attraction for the holy names, with feeling, then serve the vaisnavas. Do some vaishnava seva with all those that you will associate today by sharing kirtana, Srila Prabhupada’s books with them or darsana of the Deity. By doing this, Krsna will be pleased with all these endeavours and when you chant after doing all this, your taste for chanting will increase, (nama ruci will increase).

25th May 2019

All those who are chanting with us can tell your friends and family to join. We need steady chanters. It’s not just for my disciples, it’s not sectarian anyone can join. Chanting is a meditation. And we have example of Akrura while he was on the way to Vrindavan expecting meeting. On the way, he was doing his manorath. He was contemplating on how he would meet the Lord at the end of the day, end of his travel. He was meditating. So,it is not that we do not meditate, every person in the world meditates. Every person in the world is always constantly meditating, contemplating, aspiring to meet this person, that person. And once I meet him, we will die together and we live together and people will have this kind of fun that kind of experience. Whole world is meditating contemplating.

We Hare Krishna devotees, Hare Krishna chanters they just have to change the meditation topic or object of meditation has to be changed. They don’t have to stop meditation. Again, the topic of meditation is Krishna that we have to include during chanting. As we chant,

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

We begin meditation or we could aspire for meeting or reunion with the Lord. As we chant Hare Krishna and then we could and we do say that we meditate upon name of Krishna, fame of Krishna, qualities of Krishna, pastimes of Krishna and abode, the dhama of the Lord, this is topic of our meditation.

I mean Krishna is object, these are the topic of details, these names, form, qualities, pastimes. So Akrura, while riding on the chariot on the way to Vrindavan was considering himself fortunate that he had such a rare opportunity now to meet Krishna. So, that is also meditation that is also appreciation in relationship with Krishna. So we could also be thinking like that ‘how fortunate I am able to chant Hare Krishna instead of singing or chanting some worldly songs. I am very fortunate for spiritual superiors and spiritual master. Krishna has arranged that through or from my spiritual master from other way and I am in such a fortunate position or situation’. Thar also could be there, as we chant Hare Krishna.

Also at some point prior to his journey, he had arranged his travels so that he could meet Krishna returning from the forest, cow herding pastimes. He had made this plan, strategic planning to meet Krishna at appropriate time and circumstances so we could also make such a plan or such a lifestyle reorganize, reshuffle things and try to meet Krishna early morning. I will perform arati to the Lord, and I will dance and chant in association of devotees so that kind of planning and organization this is also the part of meditation or preparation for meditation on Krishna.

This way Srila Sukadeva Goswami has described Akrura’s manorath or his meditation or his contemplation. “When I see Krishna I will stop this chariot. I will jump down as soon as I see Krishna and Balarama”, he is thinking like that. I will touch Their feet, he is thinking like that and I will eventually look at Their kind and beautiful lotus faces. He is thinking like that I will touch Them or They may embrace me also he is thinking like that and they will address me uncle so he is on the way, he is thinking this is his meditation and gradually he is going to the whole body and touching and more things to happen. He is contemplating, fully absorbed like that. And then he is also thinking that Krishna will hold one of my hands and Balarama will hold the other hand and they will both bring me inside Their home and on the way they will keep saying and greeting me and kissing me ‘uncle’. They will be very jubilant as They receive me. He is contemplating like that. So he will also address them oh! Krishna Oh !Balarama Oh! Krishna Oh! Balarama, so as we say Hare Krishna Hare Krishna so he will also say he will also address them, but at the same time he is saying Krishna Balarama Krishna Balarama Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, while saying Hare Krishna the name he is also seeing Their form. He is also experiencing Their magnanimous, Their kindness, Their quality or the whole pastime or They may be just returning from milking the cows or They are on the way to milk the cows, so he is also thinking of that pastime of the Lord, meeting Nanda Maharaj or Krishna Balarama or parents of Krishna Balarama and of course the whole thing is happening in the context of dhama Nandgram so he is also thinking.

The name is being uttered and qualities of Krishna are being experienced and beautiful form is being visualized and the pastimes are visible and the associates of course, without associates, pastimes is not possible so everything is happening the name, the form, the qualities, the pastimes and abode of all these features and aspects of Sri Krishna revealed as he is meditating.

So sometimes devotees wonder no I am only going to chant Hare Krishna, nothing else only focus on hearing and I am not going to think of anythjng else. Yes, this is misunderstanding how could you chant and not think of or contemplate upon form and how could you only chant without thinking. How could you keep the pastimes away or separate the qualities of Krishna and associates of Krishna so this what non-difference ‘abhinatvat nama namino’,

Name and the person name, we chant and the person that Krishna’s form is non-different from His qualities non different from His pastimes and His pastimes are non-different from His dhama. His associates are not some extra additional entities they are part of Him they are parcels of Him. We cannot get rid of them when we think of Krishna, I mean think of Krishna then associates are also there you are chanting and of course chanting is bringing into the form, the qualities, the whole contemplation. That is expected to happen as we chant.

So, of course this we call as mantra siddhi, the perfection in chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

So, when our chanting is perfect & pure with full attention then all these revelations are going to take place. So, this is perfection of chanting Hare Krishna, this is mantra siddhi, Krishna has revealed ,the holy name has revealed Himself. So then addressing Hare Krishna and these are My pastimes and these are My qualities and these are my associates, look and this is my Dhama. So, this is of course ultimate perfection that we talked, this is holy name as one chants and he will utter Krishna, the form, the qualities and pastimes.

So this is of course, perfection stage we are talking about perfection of chanting mantra siddhi. So those sadhakas who have not become sadhana siddha so we are only sadhakas so this is sadhana stage. Everyone does meditate, every single person in the world, the dog, even animal they are all meditating they are all doing dhyana

’dhyayate vishayan punsa sangasteshupjayate’

So they are meditating on the objects of senses. The tiger, king of forest, he is thinking of some animal as object of his senses, he is looking for some food. Like that every single entity does meditation- contemplating. Is planning to achieve that object of their so-called meditation. So in perfection, I mean in sadhana stage as we are, so we should try to get free from that kind of meditation that we have mentioned. Practicing that mundane meditation, so we have to say not this and instead ok this one, you can think of Krishna.

Krishna’s form not mundane form, Krishna’s pastimes, not activities of the politicians or worldly people, Shimla or Dehradun or kind of abroad that kind of destination no he would like Vrindavan.

yato yato nischalati manaha chanchalam asthiram
(BG 6.26)

Wherever mind goes or mind has been going so we have to drag our mind back, replace substitute mundane thoughts are to be substituted by Krishna, Krishna as object, Krishna’s form like that.

And then we have to do our manorath or planning or meditation. As we are following on the footsteps of he did. He is one of the example, as Prabhupada said, “Akrura is our hero those who wish to go to Vrindavan and see Krishna, do the way Akrura did it.”

So we could read the pastimes of Akrura’s manorath or journey to Vrindavan. How at every step he is thinking like this way, that way how will I meet and once I meet, I will do this or Krishna will do that to me so we are given this example to follow his footsteps.

This is homework for rest of our life, this is something we want to achieve in and be perfect. And attain perfection in this homework overnight, you have to practice it or do this homework day in and day out with enthusiasm and determination.

So, this will keep you busy for long time or till last breath of my life or your life so this is homework, something to contemplate upon and then implement and practice it.

Stop our talk here.

Hare Krishna!!

24th May 2019

By chanting more and more one day Krsna will reciprocate with you

Today’s number of participants are 508. Ok we think, kind of internet facility or speed is the factor that influences the number of participants. There may be other factors also, someone may be caught by maya or some may be sleeping. You should sometime record your chanting and you could hear and review performance of your own chanting. I heard my own chanting some days ago from one of these recordings and I was surprised I wasn’t chanting all the 16 names I was missing some. I am normally proud that I chant all the 16 names.

Iti shodashakam namnam

I think the reason why I was not chanting all the 16 names of mantra I get may be distracted as I go through this conference, sometimes there are social medias, lots of obeisances, “Oh, Maharaj bless me, today is my birthday and someone is paralyzed, Maharaja, please pray this and that lot of things.” And that I think these factors get my attention and I am not chanting all the 16 names. So, let’s not just make this japa conference a social media and type of chit chat. This conference is a serious communication. Ok that will help in concentrating and hearing all 16 names. Hari Hari !

You could send your comments on Loksanga or websites. We have dedicated website for chanting also.

Chanting brings us closer to Lord and as we chant, we get lot of realisations from chanting, during chanting or after chanting. The benediction is either on the spot or ‘pratyaksh or paroksha’ may be another time we realize or we will see the fruits of chanting.

Few days ago, I was in Pandharpur devotees have been going to take darsana of Vitthal and they were coming back. I have this garland before devotees offered another garland it to me. They returned from darsana and offered me another tulasi garland from the neck of Lord Vitthal coming in my direction. And this has been happening for several days as I am chanting here, I am getting benediction of Lord Vitthal. The devotees are given flower garlands, tulasi garlands nice fragrance. This is charnamrita from the mahabhishek of Lord Vitthal, I could have distributed to you if you were next to me. But you could only see and be happy.

Then just other day in our temple Radha Pandharinath, I was offering obeisances to the deities and stood in front of them and pujari reached the lotus feet of the deities and collected some flowers and offered them to me. Initially I was thinking he was offering me just ‘patram pushpam’ he is not offering me nothing much substantial. But as I accepted these flowers and I smelled fragrance of those flowers; I was reminded Lord’s statement.

Fragrance of the flower that is fragrance of the earth, that is offered to Lord. Lord says that fragrance is Myself so I had a strong deep realization of experience and thinking that “oh this is, don’t think this is just flowers coming to you but this is a Lord’s fragrance. It is Lord”. Lord is not different from the fragrance. But Lord is a source of that fragrance of all the fragrances, this is Lord, the fragrance is Lord. This pujari has given me Lord not just flower.

And then during the day I was reading or studying Bhagavatam and then I was reading the chapter which is entitled as ‘Description of Krishna kingdom of God Vaikuntha’ then there is a description of four Kumaras visiting Vaikuntha and finally four Kumaras encountered. They are taking darsana they are in a close proximity to the Lord, that description I was reading. It is described there those time they were arriving and entering Vaikuntha lok from one gate to another. There were seven gates they had go through. They were ‘brahmavadis’, they were more fixed on ‘brahmajyoti’ aspect of the Lord that was their realization. God is brahman. As they were moving through or moving on, they were smelling flowers, fragrance of the flowers of all these kind of substances offered to the Lord. And eventually as they reach Lord’s close proximity then they literally started smelling lotus feet of the Lord and thus they were inhaling the fragrance of the lotus feet, the chandan offered to the Lord. And as we have chandan yatra going right now, chandan is offered to the of lotus feet of the Lord. And of course, the substances also get fragrance from Lord’s lotus feet. So, they were literally smelling the lotus feet of the Lord and as a result their whole realization changed. They were kind of brahmavadis first, impersonalists, neutral bhaktas but their whole devotion aroused, revived or revolution in the consciousness and they were now realizing Lord as a Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The realization changed just by smelling the fragrance of the lotus feet of the Lord. The fragrance of the Lord, it’s non-different from the Lord.

So then further realization I had, I was also smelling the fragrance of the flowers I felt the Lord as I was smelling the fragrance of the flowers. It was further confirmed as I was reading from the 3rd canto of Bhagvatam – Four Kumaras they were transformed and evolved just by smelling the flowers at the lotus feet of Lord at Vaikuntha.

Then I turned to Caitanya Caritamrita and now Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu now is in Jagannath Puri. He is going through His final pastimes. He is in Radha bhava, emotions of Radha, He is missing Krsna. Where is Krishna? Where is Krishna? And Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu one day enters one garden in Jagannath Puri and He went through very special experiences. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu as He was looking for Krishna in fact He was smelling the fragrance and He thought that fragrance is coming from Him. He had darsana of Sri Krishna in that garden. Lord runs in the direction of that form and He is trying to grab embrace of that form which He had visualized. Suddenly there was no form so this was also fragrance connection. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu smelled fragrance and He had a darsana of Lord that gandha that fragrance is non-different from the Lord.

When that particular pastime when Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had a darsana and He lost darsana, the wind was blowing slowly ‘manda’ not ‘tivra’ that wind was carrying the fragrance same fragrance which He had smelled before. In whichever direction He got the smell ‘Oh! My Lord is now in this direction see the fragrance is coming from that direction.’ Wherever the fragrance came, He would run in that side thinking ‘Oh My Lord is in that side see that fragrance is coming from side.’ He is here, He was trying to embrace the Lord so as He was smelling the fragrance whichever direction, he was getting receiving that fragrance. Running in that direction and he was going round and round intoxicated by smelling the sweet deep fragrance. And He was rolling on the ground, He was jumping in the air and lots of emotions. He was going through these emotions. This fragrance from the body of the Lord was making Him move to the source of that fragrance.

These are some thoughts related with the fragrance, I was getting as I was getting these garlands, flowers from lotus feet, garland from the lotus feet of Lord Vitthal.

I thought this was the fruit of my chanting, Lord was reciprocating like this, these are the realizations out of my chanting and hearing and calling out, ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ these are my experiences.

May you all also experience and realize Krishna more and more; may Krishna reveal Himself to you more and more. As you chant with attention more and more.

Stop here, carry on your chanting and remembering the Lord.

Hare Krishna

23 May 2019

Number of participants 596 so far! So, we are almost there. May be another five ten steady chanters! We have ten more days to go to achieve our target of 600 steady chanters of this conference till the end of this month. Encourage others and keep chanting!
Keep chanting the holy names of the Lord regularly constantly and you will be with Him, right then and there, and here. The Holy name is the Lord.
So, I am here in Pandharpur. Pandharpur is known for chanting also. Or it is said here locally and in shastras that this holy abode Pandharpur is known as Nada brahma. Nada is vibration of the names of the Lord, the sura, tal or nada, the note they indicate the name of the Lord. Of course, we know Anna Para brahma, the food that is offered to the Lord also becomes brahma, becomes Lord’s prasad is same as Lord. In Jagannath Puri, Lord is known as Anna brahma. So, at different holy places Lord is known by different features, His Personalities or His manifestations.
In Srirangam He is known for His sleeping pastimes, Bhuktam madhuram, in Jagannath Puri He is relishing lot of food and suktam madhuram, and likewise Lord is known as Nada brahma here in Pandharpur. That is always chanting the Holy names of the Lord here or Lord’s bhajan and kirtan is constantly chanted here in Pandharpur dham.
So, every Ekadashi or one of the two ekadashis, I think Sukla paksh, fortnight, devotees of Panduranga Vitthala come from long distances, many of them come walking and they just don’t walk, come singing and chanting, come towards Lord. And Srila Prabhupada compared these chanting parties coming to Pandharpur from different destinations, in large numbers of course they come, he compared these parties with Gaudiya Vaisnava sankirtan parties. As we Gaudiya vaisnavas use mridanga and karatals, which are the main instruments for them also which they play. And they always dance in kirtana like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did and all the Gaudiya vaisnavas, as soon as they chant, they are dancers. So Srila Prabhupada appreciates the mood of the singers and chanters and dancers, they called Warkaris, on pilgrimage to Pandharpur while performing sankirtan. Now the devotees and associates of this dhama, they all sing the glories of the Lord, Vitthala Panduranga, who is Krishna and they compile so many abhangas and hundreds and thousands of them, which are sung regularly in every town, every village of Maharashtra.
And of course, 500 years ago Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Pandharpur and He spent here quiet some time. Chaitanya Charitamrta describes, for 11 days Mahaprabhu stayed in Pandharpur. So, Lord has said He stayed here. Lord doesn’t stay in some guest house. He was busy and mostly He was busy with two things. He was chanting and dancing on the streets of Pandharpur and also chanting right in front of Panduranga Vitthala in darsana mandal. He was chanting and dancing with great ecstasy that is one thing. Hari Hari! He spent another seven days in association of Srirangapuri, disciple of Madhavendra Puri and they spent time in nityam bhagavat sevaya and that was also kirtan sravanam kirtanam hari katha, so this was second thing, one was kirtan and other was also kirtan, the glories of the Lord, they were sharing and hearing in Pandharpur.
We have ISKCON here, ISKCON Pandharpur and we have Radha Pandharinath and we consider this dhama non different from Vrindavan. We have Radha Pandharinath here. Others consider this Pandharpur as Bhuvaikuntha of the earth or they consider Pandharpur as daskhin Dwaraka or extension of Dwaraka. But we consider it as Vrindavan dhama.
I have written a book, of course we are calling it Bhuvaikuntha and there is lot of glories of Pandharpur dhama, mahatmya, glories of Pandharpur dhama. In that book we are making this point or explain this point by giving evidence, how this Pandharpur is not just Vaikuntha, it is Goloka Vrindavan.
So, this book was written in Marathi around 10 years ago and this book is in big demand. We have published this book I think in seven editions, seven times, some more than 40000 copies have been distributed, mostly in Marathi and Hindi also. And now I have the next festival here in July, the Prabhupada ghat opening and also my birthday is coming up. By that time, we wish to make this book available in English language first time, so you could all, the devotees from around the world would also hear and understand the glories of Pandharpur dhama.
Of course, on the altar besides Vitthala Rukmini, I am talking about Pandharpur dhama deities, of course we have ISKCON, we have Radha and Pandharinath, but the Vitthala altar also has Rukmini and Radharani is also there. So that’s very clear indication that this dhama is not just Vaikuntha or Dwaraka but this is Goloka Vrindavan. And part of Pandharpur dhama is another dhama that is Gopalpur, there is Pandharpur and Gopalpur. And Gopalpur is exclusively, that is Vrindavan, Krishna’s cow herding pastimes took place there. And there are footprints of cows and calves, Krishna’s flute and all that symbols, markings reminders of Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes. Some days, four five days of Ashadhi ekadashi festival, all the pilgrims they go to Gopalapur and they have festival called Gopalkala meaning, the cowherd boys or the pilgrims are in mood of cowherd boys, they sit around in circles and they honor Prasad called Gopalkala and they re-inact the pastimes of Krishna enjoying His meals or food, lunch on the bank of Yamuna. Near there is also the hill which is considered as the Govardhan hill of the Vrindavan and at the foothill of this Govardhan hill, Yamuna flows and enters into the Chandrabhaga river, there is the confluence of Yamuna and Chandrabhaga. So, these all manifestations, features of Pandharpur dhama exists, we also had explained in the Pandharpur book.
So, keep chanting, the dhama reminds also the glories of the Holy name and all saints associated with the dhama. One of those saints is Tukaram, who is known for his bhajans and kirtans and chanting and this also considered, it is said that Tukaram was initiated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Tukaram has spread glories of chanting Holy names of the Lord as well as the holy glories compiled and recited by him.
Okay, so you are welcome to Pandharpur for the festival in July month. Here devotees are doing arrangements for receiving you and giving you prasadam and specially chanting and dancing and some hearing program has been planned here. So, you all are welcome to Pandharpur dhama opening. Join us and see yourself or hear and understand the glories of the dhama here and glories of the holy name here.
Okay keep chanting!
Hare Krishna!

22nd May 2019

Hare Krishna!

We have 561 participants so far. Today is Wednesday and that is Krishna’s day as Krishna appeared on Wednesday. In Pandharpur every Wednesday is Krishna’s day, Vitthal’s day. So it’s very special day. And I said that ‘today is Wednesday and that is Krishna’s day, Vitthal’s day, one devotee who had gone for darsana of Lord Panduranga early morning, ran to me and offered this garland. This garland is of Lord Vitthal. I am feeling blessed, Lord Vitthal has blessed me. Krishna is blessing to all of you also as you are chanting not only on Wednesday but everyday. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, we are calling to Krishna; Oh Krishna! You are great. Oh Krishna! You are beautiful. When we chant, Lord hears, He knows that we are chanting. But how we are chanting? Whether we are clearly chanting, clearly calling out His name or we are just carrying on our chanting without seriousness, addressing Him lightly. Krishna also knows if we are chanting with bhava or not, what are our thoughts? He can read our minds.

The shepherd takes care of sheep, so many of them, the goats, sheeps. Shepherd may sometime scream wolf! wolf! So he is just making a fun. There is no wolf around, but he is just making a fun and joking and crying wolf! wolf! Villagers come with sticks, ‘where is wolf?’ So if you will keep doing this ‘wolf, wolf no one will help you out, when help is actually needed. So one day wolf came and he started crying wolf! Help me. But as people had already heard him saying like this many times before, so no one took it seriously and did not come for help. When the help was really needed, wolf had actually come; no one came forward to help.

We also have to call Krsna with bhava, bhakti. Krsna, where are you? Krsna please come. Lord can be purchased with Laulyam. That is eagerness, strong desire to have darsana of the Lord.

‘Laulyam eka mulyam’, is also said in sastras.

Then we say Lord doesn’t come. Why is Lord not coming? Because you are not calling Him as Draupadi, Draupadi had called Him. It is not His fault. He is ready to come. So when we will call Him like Draupadi, then there will be no other alternative for the Lord. He has to give darsana,

Aham bhakta paradhina (SB 9.4.63)

He says: “I am the servant of my servant. We don’t call Him like Draupadi, so He is not coming. Lord wants to come but nobody is calling Him.

Why Lord is not eating? Because you are not offering berries or fruit or food like Shabari had offered. Why is He not dancing? because you are not making Him dance like gopis. Gopis make Him dance. Gopi bhava! Why is Lord not coming? because our address is not like Draupadi. So follow the footsteps of Draupadi and so many others, six Gosvamis of Vrindavan, namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur.

If we sing glories of Lord, Lord comes.

yatra mad bhakta gayanti tatra tisthami narada

There is no alternative for the Lord. There is no one for Lord other than His devotees. And there is no one for devotees other than Lord. Lord does come, there is proof. Yes, there are so many proofs. And what is the proof? Many devotees have called Him. Suradas called and Lord appeared there. Tukaram Maharaja also called on Bhandara hill which is near Dehu, there he called Lord,

‘Pandurang, Pandurang, Pandurang, Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari! Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari!’

May be we have not called like Tukaram Maharaja called. That time even there were no instruments. We use so many kinds of instruments. When we do kirtana there is microphone and so many other facilities. When Saint Tukaram used to do kirtana, he used to pick two stones and use them as kartal.

So many examples, millions of devotees had called out for Lord many times and Lord gave them darsana every time. It is not that we are the first one who are calling Lord and desiring darsana, association of the Lord. As soon as right chemistry is there, right kind of address, right mood, intense mood and all that is there, then for sure, Lord keeps His promise.

yatra mam bhakta gayanti tatra tisthami narada (BS 5.37)

So Lord does come and He will keep coming, but there is some short fall on our part. How to chant with that mission, intention or mission, right mood, following footsteps.

premanjancchurit bhakti vilocanena
santah sadaivi hrdayesu vilokayanti (BS 5.38)

Lord comes face to face. There is no problem from Lords side but problem is on our side. Lord understands what is the condition of our minds, what is going in our minds.

ye tatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajami aham(BG 4.11)

We cannot say that Lord is not giving darsana. So let’s keep chanting with devotion, feelings, you may say that I don’t have love and bhava then how could I call Lord with love and devotion when it’s not there. So the answer is, chanting of Hare Krishna is the means and the goal. It is sadhya as well as sadhana. Soul has love for Lord, keep chanting ,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Gradually day by day, day after day more love will arouse, manifest. Chant more and revive more love, revive and survive.

Hare Krishna

21st May 2019

596 today, we have almost reached our goal today. Keep chanting the holy name of the Lord regularly constantly and you will be with the Lord. Right here we will be with the Lord. The holy name is the Lord. Nada brahma- I am in Pandharpur dhama and it’s known for chanting. According to sastra and locally Pandharpur is called as Nada brahma.

Nada is vibration of the names of the Lord, nada – sura –tala indicate the name of Lord. Of course, we know Anna Para brahma, food that is offered to the Lord also becomes same as the Lord. Lord in Jagannath Puri is called as Anna brahma . At different holy places Lord is known by different features or aspects of His Personalities. Lord in Sri Rangam is known for its sleeping pastime, Suptam pastime.

bhuktam madhuram suptam madhuram

Bhuktam pastimes in Jagannath Puri. Likewise, Lord is known for Nada brahma in Pandharpur. Pandharpur is famous for Lord’s holy name. Lord’s bhajan and kirtan is constantly chanted here. Every ekadasi or one of the two Ekadasi sukla paksha fortnightly Pandharpur Vitthala devotees come walking towards Pandharpur. They don’t just walk they sing and walk towards the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada compares the sankirtana parties coming to Pandharpur in large numbers to Gaudiya vaisnava sankirtana party. As Gaudiya vaisnavas use mridanga and kartala, these are the main instruments of sankirtana parties also. They are always dancing in kirtan as Caitanya Mahaprabhu did. As soon as there is chanting there is dancing also.

Srila Prabhupada appreciates the mood of the singers the dancers. They are called as warkaris. Devotees sing the glories of Pandharpur while performing sankirtana on the way. Acaryas who have come to Pandharpur have written abhangas which are sang regularly in kirtan in every town and every village of Maharashtra .

Of course 500 years ago Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Pandharpur and Caitanya Caritamrita states He stayed here for 11 days. Lord does not just stay in any guest house but Lord was busy with two things chanting and dancing on the streets of Pandharpur. Also chanting and dancing right in front of Lord Pandhuranga, dancing in darsana mandap with ecstasy in front of Lord Pandharpur, this was one thing. He stayed another 7 days in association of Srirangapuri disciple of Madhavendra Puri they spent time in nityam bhagavata sevaya. So these were two things, He was busy with Harinama kirtan and Bhagavatam kirtanam.

So we have ISKCON here in Pandharpur we have Radha Pandhrinatha. We consider this dhama non different from Vrindavan. Others consider it as Bhu Vaikuntha or south Dwarka. But we consider it non different from Vrindavan. I have written a book of course we call it Bhuvaikuntha in its mahatmya, I have written that it’s Vrindavan. There are many evidences that it’s nondifferent from Vrindavan. This book was original in Marathi, some 10 years ago. This book is in great demand. It’s printed 7 times, 40000 copies have been distributed. By next festival here in July that’s my birthday we will have this book in English. So devotees around the world could understand the glories of Pandharpur dhama.

In the ISKCON temple we have Radha Pandharinath and on the altar in the Vittala temple we have Rukmini and Radha Rani also. That’s a very clear indication that this dhama is not just Vaikuntha or Dwarka it’s Vrindavan. Part of Pandharpur dhama there is Gopalpur, Krsna’s cow herding pastimes took place there. The foot prints of cows, calves, Krsna’s flute like that all these symbols reminds us of Vrindavan.

4 -5 days after ashadi ekadasi devotees go to Gopalpur and they have festival there called as Gopalkala meaning all cowherd boys sit in circle and have Bhajan. So, devotees in mood of cowherd boys also sit in circle remembering the Go-charan pastime and enjoy prasadam there called as Gopalkala.

There is also is a mountain nearby that’s Govardhana. At the foot hill of this Govardhana hill, Yamuna also flows here and joins Chandrabhaga, there is confluence of Yamuna and Chandrabhaga.

I have described all this in my book. So, keep chanting. Pandharpur dhama also reminds of the glories of the holy name and saints here in Pandharpur. One such devotee was Tukaram Maharaja he was known for his abhangas, bhajans, kirtan. It is considered that Tukaram was initiated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and he has spread the glories of the Lord by his chanting. He has written the glories of the Lord in his abhangas and were also sung by him.

Hare Krsna

18th May 2019

jai narsingha sri narsingh
jai jai sri narsingha
ugram viram maha-vishnum
jvalantam sarvato mukham
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram
mrityur mrityum namamy aham
Prahalad Narsingha Dev ki Jai

Harikirtana nice name, Hari’s kirtana- Harikirtana. Today’s participants 580 still there is obstacle on our path in reaching the target. Target of 600 steady chanters by end of this month. May Lord Narsingha remove that obstacle.

Lord Narsingh Dev ki jai!

We need 20 more steady chanters. Please Lord, I am praying on your behalf to Lord Narsingha Dev. Once we have 650 chanters few days ago on day of Ekadasi that means some of you are not steadily chanting on this conference being unsteady that is also anartha. I pray that Lord Narsingha remove that obstacle from your life.

You want more vapu association then vani association. You would all like me to visit your temples, visit your country. I am trying to minimize my travel. And hence we have this means of communication like we are doing this japa through this conference. May be you demand of me personally coming to you to your home, to your temple, to your countries, to continents. May Lord settle you with this. More important is vani association, vani seva.

Vapu seva verses vani seva, so may you all be settled with vani seva concept. Not be attached to vapu seva, vani seva is more important.

We are all chanters of the holy name. Of course we have received this instruction of chanting from our spiritual master but originally this instruction came from Prahalad Maharaj, a great devotee of Lord Narsingha Dev. He got this instruction from Narada Muni when he was in womb of his mother.

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

(SB 7.5.23)

These are the nine ways to serve the Lord. His demonic father had sent him to so called gurukul -school where teachers were also demons Shanda and Amarka.

One time when Prahalad Maharaj had come for vacation, he had come back to palace of Hiranyakasipur. Then Hiranyakasipur had enquired “My dear little boy, what did you learn, could you tell me the essence of what you had learnt. Prahalad Maharaj said “Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam..” these are the nine ways to serve my Lord, serve Krsna.

Especially in this age of kali this is the process to serve and love the Lord. Beginning with sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam this is the process which we have to learn from Prahalad Maharaj, which he learned from Narada Muni. Narada Muni learned from Brahma and which he learned from Lord Himself. So in that parampara we are taught this process of chanting and hearing that we do during this conference also

As one takes to process of chanting hearing sravanam kirtanam then there are obstacles stumbling blocks. Something that comes to do vinash of our bhakti. Some factors some personalities and we want protection. We want someone to remove these obstacles.

Lord Narsingha is known for bhakti vighna vinashak. Narsingha Dev bhagvan ki jai! Bhakti vighna vinashak Narsingha dev ki jai!

Lord Narsingha Dev removes obstacles anarthas. We want Narsingha Dev we want Him to intervene and help us out so that we could carry on our chanting and hearing.

kesava dhrita-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare [Sri Dasavatara-stotra]

Narsingha Dev is Krsna Keshav dhrita, Keshav became Narsingha. Krsna assumes the form of Narsingha and then He does His lila to remove obstacles. He becomes Bhakti vighna vinashak for the practitioners, the chanters of holy name. As we chant Radha’s name obstacles are there, stumbling block are there. Then Krsna for us also becomes Narsingha and removes those obstacles.

He removes all obstacles from our path of bhakti. So Prahalad Maharaj’s own father was obstacle on the path of his devotional service. In our case also it could be our parents our neighbors, somebody, some man, some women they become kind of personification of kama, krodha, lobha, mad, moha, matsarya, personification of all these demoniac qualities. Or that demon could also be hiding within us. Our mentality could be like that of a demon.

We are also stumbling block on our path of our devotional service. So that was demonstrated by Lord by appearing as Narsingha. That Lord got rid of this Hiranyakasipur. He was lust personified, kama and spirit of enjoyment. They are inside and outside. We would like to pray to Narsingha Dev that there are so many obstacles, please remove these obstacles.

Jai Narsingha Dev.

As there is lion king of the forest, he maintains peace in the forest as all the other animals are scared of him and they don’t create any disturbances. Like that, this material world is also like a dangerous forest filled with animals which keep on attacking us.

So, Lord Narsingha Dev like a bodyguard will always give us protection form anarthas –kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mad, matsarya and other people who create disturbances in our chanting and hearing.

yato yato yami tato nrisimhah
bahir nrisimho hridaye nrisimho
nrisimham adim saranam prapadye

This prayer we pray, Oh! Lord be with me, wherever I go, be around and protect me so that I can carry on my devotional activities without any obstacles. This demon Hiranyakasipur

wanted to be immortal. Like that demons personified around us want to survive, thrive and be around us troubling us forever. That was also wish of Hiranyakasipur but Lord kindly and so smartly and intelligently He handled Hiranyakasipur took care of him, smashed him. Like that there are anarthas around us day after day and day in and day out or forever. But Lord Narsingha Dev took care of Prahalad Maharaj like that He takes care of demons around us. Lord is very tricky also.

Today is appearance day of Narsingha Dev but we want Lord to always be in our life and give us power to fight with the obstacles. We should always thank Lord Narsingha as He protects us from all obstacles. We should welcome the Lord, we thank Lord for whatever He is doing for us. Be part of our life, enter our life. He should keep appearing in our life every day.

Today is Narsingha chaturdasi you should all celebrate it where ever you are. It was first started in Los Angeles by Srila Prabhupada.

Narsingha Dev ki jai!

Prahalad Maharaj ki jai!

Hare Krsna

17th May 2019

Today’s participants are 575 by now, we have assigned Padmamali Prabhu to keep track of the participants. And at the end of the month the scores will be announced. I am expecting and praying that you are improving the quality of your chanting after joining this conference in association of devotees and I am witness, I am also present. So some devotees are replying ‘Yes Guru Maharaj definitely’ So, sometimes you also write that your japa is improving in my association. You should also tell if you are facing any problem in chanting. Some devotees in Ukraine must be getting up very early so your sleep may not be completed. You can write your realizations or questions, appreciations we can’t do that fully or whole heartedly here so we have our official website. We will try to respond to your questions.

So japa talk is to inspire you for quality chanting and attentive chanting. We give some tips, guidelines, some inspirational statements for improving your chanting. So talking of the mood during chanting also I would like to share the mood of Akrura while he was on the way to Vrindavan to meet Sri Krsna. Srila Prabhupada strongly recommends us to cultivate that kind of mood for those who are going to Vrindavan. So you might be thinking I only go once to Vrindavan during kartik time or Govardhan puja time or Mayapur Vrindavan festival. But that’s not true while chanting we are on our journey or we are on our way to Vrindavan. We aspire to meet Krsna, see Krsna, meet Krsna, associate with Krsna, be a apart of His pastimes. So we are thinking of meeting Krsna, where we will find Krsna? In Vrindavan, we will find Krsna in Vrindavan, He does not put a step out of Vrindavan. Our goal is to meet Him, feel Him so that’s the journey; we are on the way to Vrindavan while we are chanting.

vrindavanam parityajya padam ekam na gacchati
So your goal while chanting is to meet Krsna. So,
ratham asthayaprayayau nanda-gokulam[SB 10.38.1]

Bhagavatam is describing journey of Akrura to Vrindavan or of Vrindavan. His journey is described as prayayau, Sukdeva Goswami does not say yayau means to go but he says prayayau, prakrista rupena yayau. Making his journey wholesome and what made his journey wholesome? The way he was thinking and contemplating and aspiring to meet to Krsna. All those thoughts made that journey a wholesome journey or prayayau journey.

In fact there were kind of two journeys his body was moving forward in the chariot and his soul, his thoughts were seated on the chariot of his mind this journey is called manoratha. Mind does thinking feeling willing so that mind is also seated on a chariot and is travelling moving forward in the direction of Vrindavan. So there are two journeys simultaneously happening of body and mind. Both the journeys are happening seating in the chariot, seating in the chariot of mind. He is thinking its great fortune of mine that I am able to go Vrindavan. What did I do? Is that due to the austerities i did I am able to go to Vrindavan today and will be able to see Krsna.

But as he thinks I have not performed any austerities, I have not done any charities, I have not performed any yajnas still He is allowing me to go to Vrindavan and see Him today. It must be just causeless mercy of Lord that I am able to go to Vrindavan. He was thinking this aspiration or desire of wanting to take His darsana or meet Krsna he had always maintained in his heart for long time. May be because of that I am able to go.

Kamsa, as the kind of person he was, he had been harassing so many Yadavas. So all the devotees and Kings of Mathura as result they had gone to this country that country. They had deserted but in midst of that Akrura tolerated all the inconvenience or harassment of Kamsa and he stayed on in Mathura the only reason being Mathura is next to Vrindavan, sometime I will be able to have darsana of my Lord. So he had maintained this desire that I will meet Krsna and see Krsna. So he never left Mathura, while others had done so. On the way to Vrindavan he was thankful to Kamsa because he is the one who was sending Akrura to Vrindavan; of course he had different reason why he is sending Akrura. But Akrura’s own purpose of meeting Krsna was also getting fulfilled. So he was thanking Kamsa.

Akrura is also thinking he is thinking and thinking that I hope and pray that Krsna will not misunderstand me that I have been sent, dispatched by Kansa. But then Akrura thinking, no no Krsna is in everybody’s heart, He knows what is on my mind. I preferred this path, Kamsa has his reasons but I have different reason, for different reason I am going to Vrindavan.

Krsna will not misunderstand; He will certainly understand my feelings of going to Vrindavan. Kamsa has his own purpose and I have my own purpose and for sure Krsna will definitely take recognition of this and He will not misunderstand me.

Akrura, his mind is fixed on Krsna or on meeting Krsna, darsana of Sri Krsna. He has whole strategy. As I arrive in Nandagokul, first person I want to see in Gokul is Krsna and Balarama. I don’t want to see anybody. First person he wants to see is Krsna. That is why he doesn’t want to arrive in the middle of the day while Krsna is in the forest. He wants to arrive in Nandagokul around the time of Krsna’s returning from forest, like sandhyakal or godhuli bela that’s the time he wants to arrive,just little after Krsna’s arrival from forest. So he is making all this strategic planning. So as soon he reaches there, Krsna is there and he would see Him.

Akrura is also thinking, so this is his mood and contemplating. He is thinking, oh Krsna is known as Uttamsloka He is glorified by uttamslokas. Beautiful, wonderful slokas He is glorified. I won’t be able to do that so I am not qualified or eligible to meet Him. I won’t be able to see him because I won’t be able to praise Him with best of the shloka, best of the statements or verses.

One name of Krsna is Uttamsloka, He is also called Uttamsloka but then he remembers He is also known as Achyuta, meaning infallible. Krsna never falls in maya or never falls down. Living entities could fall down. But Krsna never falls down or maya never takes over Krsna, He always remains on top of maya, Achyuta.

So when Akrura is thinking that Krsna is addressed as Achyuta he is thinking Lord is very kind and He never falls. Being kind is His nature and under all circumstances He is very kind Achyuta. In that sense he is thinking. Look Putana had come to Him and only thought of coming to Him, she wanted to make Krsna her child. She wanted to feed Him, what she wanted to feed is another thing, the poison. Just a thought of feeding Krsna but Krsna took it in different sense. He exhibited all kindness to her.

kam va dayalum saranam vrajema [SB 3.2.23]
Uddhava was taking like that to Vidura.

And then Krsna made another mother other then Yasodha, mother Putana in the spritual sky. Look at the kindness of the Lord. This is the nature of My lord, He is achyuta. Then he thought there is a hope for me. I can’t do Uttamsloka but He is Achyuta. I am sure He will be kind to me as I am going to meet Him, He will certainly give me darsana.

It’s not that I want to see Him or living entity wants to meet Krsna but Krsna also wants to see, meet living entity, His children, His part and parcel. So we take one step and Krsna takes 1000 steps towards us. While he was traveling to Vrindavan he is thinking of beauty of Krsna. His pitambar,

purnendra sundar mukhat arvind netrat

He is bringing all those beautiful features in his mind and he is contemplating on beauty of Krsna.

drakṣyāmi nūnaṁ su-kapola-nāsikaṁ [SB 10.38.9]

Certainly I will see my Lord, who is sukapola nasikam He has broad forehead and raised nose.

smitāvalokāruṇa-kañja-locanam

His smiling face and beautiful blooming eyes I will see, draksyami nunam. So he is contemplating on the beautiful features of the Lord.

So like that there is lot more about the mood and mission of Akrura. His mission of meeting Krsna. He is very thoughtful, he is thinking of Krsna, he is very anxious to meet Krsna. Prabhupada says one should have mood like Akrura while as one is on the way to Vrindavan. And we are moving towards Vrindavan while chanting. So the mood or bhava or dhyana or meditation is of prime importance on the way back to Vrindavan, on the way back to meet Krsna. OK time for darsana.

Hare Krishna

16th May 2019

Encourage everybody to keep chanting and chant with attention. Attentive chanting or meditative chanting, offence less chanting Sravanam, kirtanam leads to smaranam. It helps us in remembering the Lord. We are chanting to remember the Lord’s pastimes. Each day could be an opportunity, a reason to remember different pastimes. If we remember what day it is then that also becomes a reason to remember different pastimes. What we have heard the day before can also help us remember different pastimes.

So today is Rukmini Dvadasi, appearance day of Rukmini Maharani. So naturally while chanting we remember form of Rukmini, pastimes of Rukmini, abode of Rukmini which is related to Dwarkadhish. As we hear and remember the consorts of the Lord we get attached to the Lord. We feel we should get the association of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish and Vitthala Rukmini.

dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate [BG 2.62]

When we contemplate on something we get attached to it. From the life of Rukmini we can understand as She heard about Dwarkadhish She got attached to Him. Sometimes we write, ‘How I came to Krsna Consciousness in Back To Godhead magazine. I also wrote. It is interesting to know how Rukmini became Krsna conscious. First of all we can remember Her birthplace, Rukmini was born in Kundinpur, Vidarbha Central India about 150 kms from Nagpur.

There lived king Bhīsmaka and She is daughter of Bhīsmaka so She was called Bhīsmaka kanya. She was born in Vidarbha so She is also called Vaidarbhi. Her complexion is golden so She is called Rukmini – rukma means gold. As she grew as a child in Kundinpur, there were many opportunities to hear about the Lord from saints visiting King Bhīsmaka. Those parivrajakacaryas had association of Dwarkadhish and they traveled to Kundinpur and shared the pastimes of Dwarkadhish with King Bhīsmaka. Rukmini would sit around and hear.

Sri Suka uvaca, Sukadev Goswami has narrated pastimes of Rukmini in the 10th canto from chapter 52 onwards as to how She was brought up in Kundinpur, how She was kidnapped by Lord Dwarkadhish. An interesting detail about Rukmini is She is Chandravali. Just like Radha becomes Satyabham in Dwarka.

Lailta becomes Jambavati and Vishaka becomes Kalindi. So the gopis become consorts of Dwarkadhish in Dwarka.

sopaśrutya mukundasya
 rūpa-vīrya-guṇa-śriyaḥ
gṛhāgatair gīyamānās
 taṁ mene sadṛśaṁ patim [SB 10.52.23]

Sukadev Goswami is narrating with great joy how Rukmini heard about the Lord who is described here as Mukunda about His Rupa, His pastimes, His qualities. Rukmini heard from those parivrajakacaryaa of Dwarka.

taṁ mene sadṛśaṁ patim

Her determination was that She would only marry Dwarkadhish. ‘I love you, Oh Lord!She had never seen or met Him. Just by hearing about Him She wanted to marry Him only. This could also happen to us. We could also come to such a conclusion that I will accept the Lord only as my husband. ‘My Lord and no one else and I will be chaste about it and I will not go to anyone else. Not to this Demigod or this person or that person nayti nayti mam yeti fixed on the Lord only. This is attentive chanting.

vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo 'vyavasayinam [BG 2.41]

Fixed get determination only on Krsna and not on many branches, so cut of all those branches that's called vyavasayatmika buddhi. So she got such buddhi by hearing about the Lord. Elder brother of Rukmini Rukmi was against Rukmini getting married to Krsna because he had proposed Krsna’s number one enemy Sisupala to be Her husband. So Rukmini sat down and wrote a love letter to the Lord. First thing She wrote Sukadev Gowami has narrated that letter in Bhagavatam it contains 7 sloks.

So first thing She mentions is,

rī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam [SB 10. 52.37]

She admits and writes: ‘You are so sundar, You are so beautiful. I heard through ears and those sounds reached my heart and that has given me relief. My temperature has gone done. I was missing You, separation from You, but hearing about You I am pacified and it has made me happy.

You could read rest of the pastimes which run through different chapters. And you could also sometime visit the birth place of Rukmini. That's also part of my preaching zone. We are happy we are serving Kaundinpur. Its also called as Kaundinyapur in Maharashtra. Today there is a big celebration, big birthday
party. We have 5 acres land and we are confident that it is where the kidnapping of Rukmini occurred and Balarama had also come. Our land is between the palace of Bhīsmaka and Ambikadevi. As you know She would go to pray to Ambikadevi so that She gets Lord Dwarkadhish as Her husband. We also find kadamba trees on our property. Nowhere else you will find kadamba trees in Vidarbha. So how did the kadamba tree grow there. We like to believe that when Dwarkadhish had come to kidnap Rukmini some flowers must have fell from the garland He was wearing. Now more and more trees are growing on our property. Nobody was planting them. Akrura Prabhu is taking care of that land he had showed me many tress growing there. So please come to Kaundinpur. Also we have Rukmini Dwarkadhish temple in Amravati. We are planning to build a big temple in Kaundinpur.

Rukmini Dwarkadhish ki jai
Kaundinpur dhama ki jai

15th May 2019

60 devotees from Noida and also from different places like Greater Noida. There are 30 from Bangalore, also devotees from Mauritius. Devotees from Bangalore, Mathura base are also chanting as a result the number of participants is 650. We are still in middle of the month and we have reached our target. But we will reach target only if we have steady chanters. So, keep chanting regularly there should not be ups and downs. You get devotees from bhakti vriksha and congregation devotees to chant, of course temple devotees are chanting so that the number of participants keeps increasing.

Today is also birthday of Aradhya Bhagwan prabhu from Nagpur. He is a brahmachari. 9 devotees from Bhauvaikuntha Pandharpur. We all wish him. We will chant one maha-mantra on occasion of birthday of Aradhaya Bhagwan prabhu. He is a brahmachari. He does a lot of services, he is also a youth preacher, does lot of book distribution. I am very pleased with his services and I am sure Lord is pleased with his services as a result Lord made his parents also devotees. They also have moved into the temple. His mother, father they are also initiated and they are doing lot of services. In this way,he has proved to be genuine putra or putra in a true sense. Putra or even putri in that case, is that person who saves or stops their parents from going to hell called ‘Pum.’ There is one hell called ‘pum’ and ‘putra’, means to make free from. So he is a good putra, he has made his parents devotees.

So, all of you devotees, including all other temple devotees you keep chanting and serve Lord. When Prahalad Maharaj was told to ask benediction, he said “please bless my father, oh Lord.”

And Lord Narsimha declared as you have become devotee so do not worry 21 generations have been liberated just by your becoming devotee. All your chanters are doing good service. All those who are becoming devotees of Krishna, you are rendering great services to your dynasty, to your forefathers.

mrityur mrityum namamy aham

When we chant Hare Krishna, Lord becomes mrityu of mrityu, kills the death.

Talking about Aradhya Bhagwan prabhu’s birthday today, we also received sad news of departure of my God sister Parvati mataji from Vrindavan dhama. I received the news last night.

She was staying in Vrindavan since long time. She was doing service of maintenance of Srila Prabhupad’s samadhi from 20-30 years. She had also written many books for children based on Krishna. She used to co-ordinate Bhagavad Gita classes at Prabhupada’s quarters. We grew up together at Hare Krishna land Mumbai. She had joined Prabhupada at New Delhi. After spending some time in New Delhi she came to Hare Krishna land Mumbai. She was from America. So, we were first batch of devotees at Hare Krishna land.

Later, she married to Prasannath Prabhu and they had nice children. We are confident that she has attained Krishna Balarama’s lotus feet service in Vrindavan as she was serving from long time.

Parvati Mata ki Jai!

I remember once I had interviewed her when I was working for ‘Bombay is my office’ book. She said when Praphupada departed in 1977 many devotees from Hare Krishna land Juhu went but she was not allowed or she was not able to go to Vrindavan. She was feeling so much separation from Prabhupada. She was very frustrated as she was unable to go to Vrindavan when Prabhupada was leaving this world. This was her lamentation.

Lord and Prabhupada fulfilled her desires as she took charge of maintenance of Prabhupada samadhi. That is where Prabhupada resides, Prabhupada entered in samadhi there, samadhi mandir there and so she took service at Prabhupada’s samadhi mandir, maintenance of samadhi mandir and raising funds for samadhi mandir. So, in that way her desire to be always with Prabhupada was fulfilled. Lot could be said about her grace.

Today is Mohini Ekadashi reminding you of what Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur recommends, from previous Ekadashi to this Ekadashi. Devotees should review performance of sadhana, devotional services, how I did that, how I did this quantity wise and quality wise. So, we could take advantage of this Ekadashi, and do ‘simhavalocan’.

Take note of your strong and weak points, start improving from weak points on next Ekadashi. This is homework for you. Try to improve whereever you are weak for two weeks till the next Ekadashi.

Explaining the meaning of Ekadashi -upvasa, we say ‘today is Ekadasi upavasa.’ We know they are fasting but true meaning, upa means near and vasa means residence.

So, today is a day near or nearer to Lord Krishna. Take upavasa as fasting day – day of fasting from maya. As we do fast from maya, we get ‘upavasa’ and we get closer to Krishna.

I would like to share one of prayers of queen Kunti on the occasion of Ekadasi today. The prayer begins with first word is ‘janma’

Janma aiswarya shruta shrivih edhamana madah puman
Na eva arhati abhidhatum bai twam akinchanagocharam
(SB 1.8.26)

This is wonderful prayer by Kunti Maharani. Kunti Maharani is talking about four things- Janma- birth, Aishwarya-your wealth, your opulence, Shruti- your education and Shri- your beauty but these could be cause of intoxication also.

We all are more or less affected and conditioned by these four things. That is why we are bond. So many times, we are proud of our birth; I am from this family, this aristocratic family. Oh! I am born in America. I am from this family that family. We are mostly proud of our birth, our origin, our belonging to this and that family which is false we have to be free from this kind of pride.

But we are born in this material world, in prison house. You are born in ‘dukhalayam asasvatam’ kind of world. There is nothing to be proud of. One should be ashamed of the fact, that I am born here. Oh! I should not be here. This is so fortunate, doesn’t matter high or low you are already low,lowest birth. The whole act of taking birth in this material world is condemned.

Janma , aishwarya, then we accumulate some wealth then we become more proud. Then there is Käma krodha lobha moha mätsarya and mada.on, mätsarya.

“shadripu”- 6 enemies are there. As we are greedy, we accumulate more and as we accumulate more we become proud, the mada develops. This is Queen Kunti talking about ‘janma aiswarya shruta shrivih edhamana madah.’

In English it’s said ‘Even a beggar is proud of his penny.’ Even little wealth person immediately becomes very proud.

One Indian family settled in Great Britain they are the wealthiest family. As they became wealthiest the news spread around, that made them more proud oh! I am the wealthiest person.

So,’janma aiswarya shruta’

As we do our studies graduation and post-graduation and oversees education and this and that. These days we go on studying and half-life in studying this and studying that. You become specialist, you become wormologist, and you go to New Zealand. They study worms and germs and they get upadhi – this doctor is wormologist. They come to Delhi airport and big press is waiting for them “Doctor wormologist is in town.” So all these studies that we do makes one proud.

Queen Kunti says.

vidya dadati vinayam,
raja vidya raja guhyam
(BG 9.2)

When one gets Rajavidya true knowledge one becomes humble.

But as one acquires mundane knowledge one becomes more and more proud. Queen Kunti says, puman , people become madanvit or they get intoxicated by their janma, aishwarya, shruta, shri. We did not touch upon shri or the beauty. They have beautiful body and they are proud of their beautiful body. When they look into the darpan (mirror) their dhamba (pride) touches the sky. So ‘madandha’, this false pride that one gets due to aishwarya etc. person becomes blind, madandha, krodhandha, lobhandha, dhanandha he becomes blind.

So main point Queen Kunti wants to making in this sloka is, ‘na eva arhati abhidhatum.’

Such persons who is madandha cannot glorify the Lord with feelings, emotions. He does not have feelings for the Lord. As he is chanting ‘Hare Krishna’ he does not have feeling, no emotion because of this false pride. Lord could be perceived, received, experienced by those who are ‘akinchan gochara’ -materially exhausted, materially disinterested in these material acquisitions, material position. They can experience Lord with his senses.

Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate

(CCA Madhya lila19.170 CCA)

Bhakti is that activity, in which we engage our senses in service of Lord’s senses. That

reciprocation results in Lord revealing to us. That is ‘gochara’

Hare Krsna

14 May 2019

I will chant today, I will chant now

Blessings to all the chanters! Today number has gone up, 572. Congratulations to all, especially to those additional numbers and be steady during chanting. Be with us steadily! And you all have to work also to add numbers. Tell your relatives, dear ones to connect with this conference. The name of this conference is ‘let us chant together’, so more the merrier! Will you be happy? Or only I will become happy if there are more devotees chanting.
I did see a big number of boys chanting together in ISKCON Jalgaon. Looks like they are having their summer camp. Udaipur is also having big number. So when I see that big number chanting together, I become happy. Krishna becomes happy for sure and then we also become happy, so let us chant together in a bigger number and every day, day after day.
We should be in present while chanting.
adyaivameva visato manasaraj hansah, this is the prayer of king Kulashekhar, ‘Oh Lord, let my mind enter or think of Your lotus feet, now!’ so he did not want to postpone his chanting or prayers to the Lord, or thinking of the lotus feet or form of the Lord; not that I will do that later on. Now and here! Some people think I will chant later on, I will chant tomorrow. So there was a person who had made a sign ‘from tomorrow I will chant’. So whenever he would get up in the morning, he would place that sign on the wall and the first thing he could read after getting up was ‘I will chant from tomorrow’. So everyday he would read from tomorrow I will chant, from tomorrow I will chant and that tomorrow has no end and he would never chant in that mood. He thinks, ‘I will chant later on, I will chant in future, I will chant when I will be old.’ Don’t do this. The prayer of Kulashekhar is “I will chant today, I will chant now.”
I am seeing some of you elderly folks are also chanting and I am happy that you are chanting. I was thinking that you should be praying, ‘Oh Lord! Now I don’t have a big future. I don’t know how long I am going to be around. Oh Lord, please bring me, please keep my mind on Your lotus feet now.’ But this is also illusion when youngsters think, ‘No, no, I have lot of time. The old folks, they should take it seriously.’ This is not right thinking either.  
One time in a press conference, Prabhupada, to one of the press person, he asked this question, ‘Swamiji, people are supposed to be getting sannyasa at the advanced age, when they are towards 70. That is when they should be taking sannyasa. But you are giving sannyasa to young disciples. They are in their 20’s and 30’s and you are giving them sannyasa. This is not fair. When they will become old, they should be given sannyasa. So Prabhupada asked him, ‘how did you find the old age? Who do you think is old?’ So they said, ‘the person who is about to die is considered old. He could die any day, any month, in one of these years, he is old. So Prabhupada said, ‘is there any guarantee that my young disciples, they would not die one of these days or one of these weeks or months or next year? There is no guarantee. Is there any guarantee?’ They said, ‘yes, Swamiji, there is no guarantee. They could also die any day in one of these years.’ So Prabhupada said, ‘so they are old, old enough to receive sannyasa.’ I am seeing that you are getting the message. So don’t postpone! We should have faith in present tense. Not in future, I will chant, I will become devotee. Who knows whether we are going to reach that future or we will stop reaching that future.  So old people, either they are in the past or they are in the future mentally and as a result they do not remain in the present. In Bhagavad-Gita in one shloka Lord says, either we are thinking of the past or lamenting for the past or we are hankering for something to achieve in future and in this thought process kind of contemplation, we do not remain in the present.
So chanting is the time to chant in the present. Now I am here, I am chanting, I want to chant. Now is the time, I want to take shelter of the Lord in the form of this Holy name.  Then as we chant and by chanting take shelter of the Holy name, and we are doing, mam ekam sharanam vraja (BG 18.66), then what does Lord do, aham tvam sarva papebhyo mokshayisyami ma sucah. So, whatever wrong doings we perform in the past and then reactions are awaiting us, so Krishna will stop those reactions from transpiring or taking place and as a result we have brighter future, Krishna conscious future, which we are aspiring for.
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param [BG 18.54]
na socati na kanksati, then we will become prasannatma, our atma will become prasanna,
samah sarvesu bhutesu madbhaktim labhate param
We will attain bhakti and with devotion we will perform all our activities, then no more lamentation of the past and no more mundane aspiration for the future.
So, the essence of Bhagavad Gita, or the final instructions of Bhagavad Gita or advice of Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita is to take shelter of Me, mam ekam saranam vraja or sarva dharman parityajya is also there. Not by karma, not by yoga, not by jnana, but only by chanting, that’s why mam ekam saranam vraja. We do this. We follow that instruction, final instruction of Bhagavad Gita, as we chant Hare Krishna. We did sarva dharman parityajya, not karmakanda dharma, jnana dharma, yoga dharma, but harer nama kevalam, mam ekam saranam vraja, we did that as we chant Hare Krishna. And then as a result, we already said, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah, Lord makes us mukta, liberation, Lord makes us bhakta, we become bhakta as we are chanting His Holy Name and not to worry, not to lament for the sins we had performed, the wrong doings we did.
I was remembering the prayers of queen Kunti also, some of the prayers of queen Kunti, this morning as we were chanting. Specialty of those prayers is she had offered these prayers in personal presence of the Lord. She was face to face with the Lord. They both were in Hastinapur and Lord was sitting on the chariot and this was after Kurukshetra battle and Krishna was now ready to leave for Dwaraka and  Kunti has come forward and as she is seeing Lord sited on the chariot and she was praying. There is no time to share all those prayers, but I will share some.
namah pankaj nabhaya namah pankaj netraya
namah pankaj maline namaste pankajangraye (SB 1.8.22)
You have heard this prayer. So as if why there is no ifs and buts, but in fact, she is seeing the Lord and then she is informing us, broadcasting to all of us as we were not present there.  She is seeing face and eyes of the Lord, Oh! namah pankaj netray, Oh lotus eyed Lord and she is seeing the garland around His neck, namah pankaj maline, Oh Lord You are wearing garland of lotus flowers.  
That famous prayer is also there,
krsnaya vasudevaya devaki dandanaya ca
nandagopa kumaraya govindaya namo namah (1.8.21)
This is one of the prayers of queen Kunti. Towards the end she is also saying gangevaugham udanvantih ratim, so my thoughts that my devotion, let it flow towards You like a Ganges’ flow, like Ganges flow constantly day and night without interruption so let me devote myself unto You like that without interruption.
srnvati gayanti grinanty abhiksnasah smaranti nandanti tavehitam janah
She is encouraging, as we are in this chanting conference, srnvanti gayanti, we should do hearing, chanting, remembrance, take get pleasure in doing this. Pasyanti acirena tavakam bhava pravahoparamam padambujam, and she is also giving guarantee, okay, I am seeing Krishna is in front of me, I am seeing His lotus feet, but you could also, you will  also become eligible, qualified to see these lotus feet which I am seeing if you will do srnvanti gayanti grnanty. If you will be chanting, hearing, remembering, you would also see these lotus feet of the Lord. And of course, she is adding bhava pravahoparamam, otherwise we are floating, going down the drain with the flow. This world is sansar sagar (material ocean) or sansar pravah, so this could be stopped, come ashore, come to Lord. Stop this going round and round and up and down, stop bhava pravahoparamam. Lord Vitthal, Panduranga, by placing His lotus hands on His hips, He is also giving indication, hinting at all those who come for His darshan, that water here is not that deep. You have come for My darshan, how deep is the water? Only waist deep! You could see, you have crossed this ocean and stopped the flow of going up and down and round and round. You have come to Me, now you have been saved, rescued, ma sucah, do not fear.

Panduranga! Panduranga!
So keep chanting, chant and be happy!
Hare Krishna

13. 05.19

हरे कृष्ण!

आज के जपा कॉन्फ्रेंस में 554 प्रतिभागी हैं। आप सभी के लिए हरिबोल। आज अभी 554 प्रतिभागी हुए हैं, 600 अभी पूरे नही हुए हैं। हमें तो ध्येय अर्थात अपना लक्ष्य प्राप्त करना है। मैंने अभी-अभी सुना है कि आज सीतानवमी है, सीता माता का अविर्भाव दिवस है। हम सीता माता के चरणों में प्रार्थना करते हैं कि आज के दिन वो हमें अपने प्राणनाथ भगवान श्रीराम के चरणों की सेवा में नियुक्त करें। राधा रानी ही सीता है,राधा रानी जब अपना विस्तार करती हैं। वे अनंत गोपियाँ बन जाती हैं और जब वो आगे और अधिक विस्तार करती हैं,फिर द्वारका में भगवान की पटरानियां बनती हैं और आगे जब वो अपना और विस्तार करती हैं, तो अनंत लक्ष्मियाँ बन जाती हैं। उसमें से लक्ष्मी , सीता जी भगवान राम के साथ है।

भगवान कृष्ण जब अपना विस्तार करते हैं और भगवान राम बनते हैं और राधारानी अपना विस्तार करती हैं, तो जानकी जी (सीता जी) बनती हैं। हम सीता माता का रोज नाम जप करते हैं,जब हम महामंत्र का जप करते हैं। जब हम हरे शब्द का संबोधन करते हैं तो उसमें हम सीता माता को भी सम्बोधित करते हैं। जब हम हरे कृष्ण या हरे राम कहते हैं तो भी हम भगवान राम के साथ सीता माता को संबोधित करते हैं।श्री कृष्ण चैतन्य महाप्रभु कहते हैं “निजसर्वशक्ति” तो उससे ज्ञात होता है कि राधा रानी , सीता मैया, लक्ष्मी, रुक्मिणी जी भी उनकी शक्ति हैं। उनके विस्तार से हम जीवात्माएँ भी उनकी शक्ति हैं । हमारी जो शक्तियाँ हैं, वह भी उनकी शक्तियाँ हैं।

भगवान और ये जो तीन शक्तियाँ हैं, लक्ष्मी जी, सीता जी, राधा रानी ये भगवान की बहुत बड़ी शक्तियाँ हैं। ये भगवान ही हैं, ये भगवान की ही शक्ति का विस्तार हैं।

ये हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र जो है, इसे महामंत्र इसलिए कहा गया है क्योंकि इसमें भगवान और भगवान की अनेक शक्तियाँ सम्मलित हैं। भगवान की अनंत शक्तियाँ है जैसे आल्हादिनी शक्ति है, इसके द्वारा आल्हादिनी शक्ति को भी सम्बोधित करते हैं।

राधा रानी ने भगवान कृष्ण की जिस प्रकार वृंदावन में सेवा की, उसी प्रकार सीता जी ने भी भगवान राम की अयोध्या में सेवा की। सीता माता का भगवान राम से बहुत अधिक प्रेम, प्रगाढ़ता है। भगवान राम की सेवा के प्रति उनकी विशेष श्रद्धा और लगाव है।

हम देख सकते हैं कि उनका भगवान के प्रति कितना आकर्षण है। भगवान राम नवमी के दिन ही प्रकट हुए तो भी उन्होंने नवमी का दिन चुना,नवमी तिथि को उनका आविर्भाव हुआ। इसी प्रकार से राधा रानी ने अष्टमी का दिन चुना क्योंकि भगवान कृष्ण अष्टमी के दिन प्रकट हुए।

हम इस प्रकार देख सकते हैं कि भगवान राम ने किस प्रकार से माता जानकी के साथ स्वयंवर किया। उनको जय माला पहनायी। उस समय वहाँ कई अवध नारियाँ जो उस समय उपस्थित थी, वो इस दृश्य को देखकर आनंदित हो रही थी। अवध नारियां जब ये दृश्य देख रही थी तो उनको प्रसन्नता भी हो रही थी पर वो इसके साथ में अप्रसन्न भी हो रही थी कि सिर्फ सीता ही क्यों, मैं क्यों नहीं। मेरा कब ये वरण करेंगें। मैं कब इनकी अर्धांगिनी बनूँगी। इस प्रकार से उनके अंदर ये भाव प्रकट हो रहे थे।

भगवान राम को इस अवतार में एक पत्नी व्रतधारी बनना था इसलिए वो एक ही पत्नी को धारण कर सकते थे। हालांकि भगवान ने उनके मनों का अध्ययन कर लिया था लेकिन उन्होंने गृहस्थों के लिए गृहस्थी व्रत का अनुपालन सिखाने के लिए इस अवतार में एक पत्नी व्रत का निर्णय लिया था। भगवान ने इस प्रकार इन सभी अवध नारियों की इच्छा पूर्ण की, जब भगवान वृंदावन में प्रकट हुए और उन्होंने सभी को गोपियों का स्थान दिया। गोपियों की भी विभिन्न प्रकार की श्रेणियां है। मिथिला और अवध की नारियों ने भगवान को अपने प्रियतम के रूप में प्राप्त किया।

हम हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र का जप करते हैं। ये जप सीता राम के चरणों में प्रार्थना है जिस प्रकार से उन्होंने अनंत जीवों को अपने चरणों में शरण दी है, उसी प्रकार से हम जीवों को भी नियुक्त करें।

श्रील भक्ति विनोद ठाकुर प्रभुपाद लिखते हैं कि भगवान ने अनेक बड़े-बड़े असुरों का तारण किया, मेरी बारी कब आएगी, कृप्या मेरी और भी दृष्टिपात कीजिए।
किसी भक्त के द्वारा किसी अन्य स्थान पर प्रार्थना की गयी है कि मैं एकदम संशय रहित होकर इस बात को कह सकता हूँ कि बिना राधा रानी की कृपा के भगवान की कृपा प्राप्त नहीं हो सकती। बिना सीता माता की कृपा के हमको भगवान कृष्ण की भक्ति प्राप्त नहीं हो सकती। भगवान की भक्ति में निहित होने के लिए हमें दोनों की कृपा चाहिए। इसी प्रकार से हमारे पूर्ववर्ती आचार्यों जिनकी कृपा से परंपरा में कृपा आती है, हमें उन आचार्यों के भी चरण कमलों में प्रार्थना करनी होगी कि हमें उनकी कृपा से भगवान कृष्ण की भक्ति प्राप्त हो।

कुछ ही दिनों में रुक्मिणी देवी की भी आविर्भाव तिथि आने वाली है। भारत में 16 तारीख को रुक्मिणी देवी का आविर्भाव दिवस मनाया जाएगा।
भगवान जब वनगमन के लिए वन में गए तो सीता माताजी भी उनके साथ हर क्षण वन में रही और लक्ष्मण जी भी उनके साथ में रहे। वन में किसी भी प्रकार की सुविधा उत्पन्न नही थी, उन सभी तपस्या पूर्ण स्थितियों में उन्होंने कभी राम जी को नहीं छोड़ा। सीता माता भगवान श्री राम की निरतंर सेवा करती रही। माता सीता भगवान की सबसे उन्नत और उच्चतम श्रेणी की भक्त हैं, वो वास्तव में हम सब के लिए एक उदाहरण प्रस्तुत कर रही हैं कि भगवान की सेवा करने के लिए हमारा किस प्रकार का मूड होना चाहिए। हालांकि कितनी संकटपूर्ण परिस्थितियाँ आई, माता सीता दृढ़ निश्चय होकर भगवान की सेवा निरतंर करती रही। हमें भी अपने जीवन में सीता माता का अनुसरण करना है एवं अपने जीवन में कितनी भी विषम परिस्थितियां आने पर भी हमें अपनी सेवा को नहीं छोड़ना है। रावण ने कितनी विषम परिस्थितियाँ एवं यातनाएँ माता सीता को दी। हालांकि रावण स्वयं उनको यातनाएँ नही देता था अपितु जो उसकी राक्षसियां थी, उनके द्वारा वो माता सीता को यातनाएँ दिलवाता था। उसने कितना प्रयास किया कि माता सीता भगवान राम को अपने जीवन से निकाल दें और उसको ग्रहण कर लें, एक प्रकार से वो सब राक्षसियां माया थी वो माया के रूप में माता सीता को कामवासना देना चाहता था और अपनी कामवासना की पूर्ति करना चाहता था।

माता सीता के सामने यहाँ पर दो विकल्प थे या तो वो उस मायावी रावण को चुने, जो काम की प्रति मूर्ति था या फिर भगवान राम को चुने जो प्रेम की प्रतिमूर्ति थे। माता सीता ने बिना किसी संशय के भगवान श्री राम के चरणों में अपनी निष्ठा अडिग रखी और वो हमेशा उन्हीं से जुड़ी रही। इस प्रकार से हमारे पास भी विकल्प हैं कि हम किसको चुनते हैं। हालांकि सीता जी साक्षात भगवान की आह्लादिनी अंतरंगा शक्ति हैं, लेकिन हम सब भगवान की तटस्था शक्ति हैं। भगवान सीता राम की लीला में रावण उपस्थित था लेकिन रावण एक प्रकार की मानसिकता है जो हमेशा से शाश्वत तरीके से जीवित रही है। माता-सीता के सामने तो एक रावण था लेकिन हमारे समक्ष तो कई सारे रावण उपस्थित रहते हैं। प्रतिक्षण हमको ये इच्छा करनी होती है या निर्णय करना होता है कि रावण को चुने या फिर भगवान राम को चुने। रावण कई तरीक़े से हमारे जीवन में प्रस्तुत होता हैं- काम, क्रोध , लोभ, मद के रूप में।
वहीं दूसरी तरफ भगवान का नाम है, भगवान का रूप हैं, भगवान का गुण हैं। भगवान का धाम है, भगवान के भक्त हैं। भगवान का प्रसाद है। विभिन्न प्रकार के रावण हमारे पास हैं,तो हम उनको किस प्रकार से “इति न इति” नही चाहिए। ये भी नही चाहिए, ये भी नही चाहिए

हमें केवल भगवान का नाम चाहिए, भगवान का रूप चाहिए,भगवान के भक्त चाहिए, भगवान का प्रसाद चाहिए और भगवान के परिकर। हमें हमारी इच्छा को प्रगाढ़ करना होगा। माता सीता के चरणों में बहुत बहुत प्रार्थना करनी चाहिए। जब हनुमानजी लंका में गए तो उन्होंने माता जानकी से बोला कि आप मेरे साथ अभी चलिए और मैं आपको जहाँ प्रभु राम है, वहाँ ले चलता हूँ। आप उनसे अभी मिल सकती हैं, तो माता जानकी ने उनसे स्पष्ट मना कर दिया क्योंकि उनका पतिव्रत धर्म उनको ये आज्ञा नहीं देता था कि वो किसी अन्य पुरुष या अन्य किसी व्यक्ति का स्पर्श भी करें। उन्होंने हनुमान जी से कहा कि मैं आपके साथ नहीं जा सकती। आप भगवान राम को लेकर आइये। भगवान राम अपना शौर्य दिखा के और अपनी पूरी विजय हासिल करके मुझे यहाँ से ले जाएं।

हमें पता है कि किस प्रकार से राम और हनुमान पूरी सेना को लेकर लंका में आए और लंका में रावण का वध हुआ। पूरी सेना का वध हुआ और पुनः भगवान राम का माता जानकी के साथ, एक लंबे अंतराल के बाद मिलन हुआ लेकिन उस मिलन के पहले माता सीता की अग्नि परीक्षा ली गयी। माता सीता जानकी को किसी का भी कोई स्पर्श नहीं हुआ था, तो अग्नि उनका कुछ भी बिगाड़ नही सकी और उन्होंने अग्नि परीक्षा को पार किया। भगवान राम और जानकी का महामिलन हुआ।

सीता नवमी महोत्सव की जय।

आप सभी आज के दिन रामायण पढ़ सकते हैं। राम सीता के विषय में और अधिक पढ़ सकते हैं और विशेष कर सुखदेव गोस्वामी जी ने नवमें स्कन्ध के दसवें और ग्यारवें अध्याय में वर्णन किया है, रामायण का अध्ययन कर सकते हैं। आज के दिन माता सीता का ध्यान करने और उनसे आशीर्वाद प्राप्त करने के लिये हम प्रार्थना कर सकते हैं।

जय सीता, जय श्री राम, जय श्री हरिनाम।
हरिनाम प्रभु की जय।

13th May 2019

Keep serving the Lord under all circumstances.

Hari Bol to all the chanters! Today we have 554 chanters, not yet reached 600! So work towards the goal. Jai Sitai I just heard the announcement that today is appearance day of Sita Maharani. Jai Sitai! Today is Sita Navami. We pray unto Sita’s lotus feet that She should engage us in the service of Her Lord Sri Rama! Radha is Sita. Radharani expands and becomes Gopi and Radha further expands and becomes queens of Lord Krishna in Dwaraka. Radha further expands and becomes Laxmi. Radha further expands and Sita is Laxmi of Sri Rama. So like that, these are all Radha’s expansions.

So, Krishna also expands and becomes Rama, Radha also expands and She becomes Sita. So we are chanting Sita’s name everyday as we chant Hare Krishna. When we say Hare we say Sita or Sitai. Chanting of Hare Krishna,

namnamakari bahudha nijasarva shaktis (Siksastakam Sholka2)

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said that there are so many shaktis, energies and Radha is one name of that shakti and Rukmini is another name of that shakti and Laxmi is yet another name and Sita is yet another name of that shakti. These are big shaktis, otherwise there are so many other shaktis, ultimately, we all living entities are shaktis. So especially Radha and Sita are His energies. They are Him, Krishna only, He has expanded in form of all these shaktis and have their names.

Like that Hare Krishna mantra is called mahamantra, the greatest mantra for or of deliverance. As we chant Hare Krishna, we are chanting or that chanting includes the names of all other incarnations and Alhadini shakti and spiritual potencies or pleasure giving potencies like Sita also. Rama Sita is included in this mantra, that’s why it is mahamantra.

We know as Radha serves Krishna in Vrindavan, Sita serves Rama in Ayodhya. Sita is so much attached to the association of Sri Rama and attached to the service of the lotus feet of Sri Rama. We could also say that She choose navami as a tithi for Her appearance as Rama also appeared on navami. So Rama navami and today is Sita navami. As in case of Sri Krishna also Krishna appeared on ashtami and so did Radha appeared on ashtami. We have Krishna ashtami and Radha ashtami, Rama navami and Sita navami.

Lord Rama accepted Sita as concert by garlanding in that Sita svayamvar. So many ladies those were watching Rama accepting Sita. They were happy, Rama was accepting Sita, but they were also not happy thinking, ‘only Sita? Why not us? When would He accept us also, make us His wife? Could we also be wives of Sri Rama?’ These were the thoughts of those ladies around, during Sita’s svayamvar. Of course that avatar, Sri Rama, He was going to take vow of ‘eka patni’, Rama is known for eka patni, only one wife. So He did not accept other; He read their minds, but He was not going to do that. Lord was setting another example for grihasthas, ‘one life one wife’.

So, Lord very kindly accepted these Avadha naris or Mithilavasi ladies as gopis in Vrindavan in Krishna lila. So there is one category, there are different kinds known by different names, different sets of gopis, one is Mithilavasini gopis from Mithila or Avadhadesh, all those who wanted to be Rama’s wives or accepted Rama as their beloved. Lord fulfilled that desire as He appeared as Sri Krishna in Vrindavan and they were Mithilavasini gopis.

So, as we chant Hare Krishna, this chanting is a prayer; we also pray at the lotus feet of Sita and Rama, They may accept us as servant at Their lotus feet. He has accepted so many, as Bhakti Vinod Thakur says, Lord You have delivered even demons. Why not me? Why are you leaving me behind, Oh! Lord please deliver me, accept me also into that universe, into that abode, into that world.’ So that should be our prayer while chanting our japa. This is one prayer.

And there is also prayer which says, I could say without doubt that without mercy of Radharani one cannot get Sri Krishna. So without mercy of Sita we cannot get Sri Rama. We need Sita’s recommendation. And we can extend that and say that without the mercy of our previous acaryas, without the mercy of guru-parampara, without the mercy of spiritual master, we cannot get or achieve Sri Krishna or Sri Rama. Jai Sitai!

Within few days there is appearance day of Rukmini also coming, on 16th in India, celebration of Rukmini appearance day. So Lord left for the forest. Sita could not stay behind and She followed Sri Rama everywhere. And that forest life, Sita was also forest dweller with Sri Rama and Laxman was also there. So, in that austere condition She kept serving Sri Rama. So this is the topmost example, how Lord should be served, Sita is the topmost devotee of Lord Sri Rama. No matter what She had to face or go through, She maintained Her determination, kept serving Lord under all circumstances. We could also follow that example, that we could also serve even in adverse situation or anti Krishna conscious elements or factors or situation which try to cause disturbance or distraction, we should push through, stick to our service as did Sita.

We know how Ravan was torturing Sita, not himself but through other agents or demonesses, he had appointed them, so that She would give up this Rama. ‘Who is this creature Rama?’, he would say. He would insult Sri Rama, trying to get Sita to accept him, Ravan. And he was trying and trying day in and day out. But there was no way that Sita would change Her mind and would give up Rama for Ravan, give up Lord for Maya, this mayavi Ravan. He was representing Maya and he was going to provide some lust, kama, as he was full of lusty desires. And other side, Rama providing love, prema, full of loving dealings. So Sita was in between, but She was not allured, not for a second. And She stucked to Rama consciousness, praying to Rama, wanting reunion with Rama, keep Ravan out.

So we are also caught in between. Of course Sita is not marginal energy like us. Sita is eternal potency of the Lord; we are marginal energy of the Lord. So certainly we are in between, Krishna at one side and Maya at another side. And Maya is in so many forms, there is Ravan, that time there was one Ravan, but so many Ravans around us now, they eternally exist. Ravan is a mentality, Ravan is representative of Maya. So those Maya’s representatives, Ravans are around us at one side and at other side we have Sri Rama, we have Sri Krishna, and that whole world. And choice is yours, choice is ours, but we know what did Sita chose and that should be our choice or we should pray to Sita that we make the right choice. Neti, neti, not this, not this, this is Maya, this is Ravan, this is lust, this is anartha, Oh this side this is Krishna,, Krishna’s name, Krishna’s qualities, Krishna’s abode, Krishna’s devotees, Krishna’s service, Krishna’s prasad. So we have to say no to Maya or no to Ravan and yes to Rama, yes to Krishna, yes to Krishna’s pastimes, devotees, like that.

So when Hanuman had come to Lanka and met Sita, and towards the end proposed, let us go where there is Rama. How to go? He proposed that he could carry, Sita would sit on his shoulders and he would take off and would drop Her off wherever Sri Rama is. But Sita did not approve that proposal. She said, ‘no, no, I could only touch Sri Rama. You are another person, another man.’ This is Sita’s chastity. ‘No I can’t touch your shoulders. You bring Rama here. Let Him accept me. Let Him show His prowess to gain me, back again.’ So that is what Rama and Hanuman did and finally the battle of Sri Lanka, Ravan was killed and finally there was reunion after long separation, reunion between Rama and Sita. But before Rama would accept Sita, She had to undergo scrutiny, She had to go through the fire and if She is pure, unadulterated, not touched by Ravan, not touched by illusory thoughts of enjoying something else or someone else other than Sri Rama then She would be in tact in the fire, fire would not touch Her, burn Her. So She had put through this test and She passed the test. She came out clean, untouched by the fire and then there was great union between Sita and Sri Rama.

Jai Sitarani Mahotsav ki Jai!

During the day, read Ramayan. You could also read, Shukadeva also done recitation of Ramayan in two chapters of ninth canto of Bhagavatam, I think chapter 10th and 11th. So you could read that summary. Summary of Ramayan is there, pastimes of Sita and Rama are there.

Jai Sitai! Jai Sri Rama! Jai Sri Harinama! Harinama prabhu ki Jai!

Hare Krsna

Blessings to all the chanters! You had been seeking blessings – please bless my family, bless my son. So I am blessing you all. My blessings are there. The whole parampara is blessing you. It's Sunday so it's understandable that the number is 508. This is the trend. We go low on Sundays. However whatever talk I give you should not be missed. Some days we have gone up to 580 also and then all the way down to 508. We are fluctuating, but it is good to remember that our target by the end of this month is to cross and be steady with 600. This is responsibility of all of you participants to see how to achieve this goal of 600 by end of this month.

nirodho ’syānuśayanam
ātmanaḥ saha śaktibhiḥ
muktir hitvānyathā rūpaṁ
sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ

The merging of the living entity, along with his conditional living tendency, with the mystic lying down of the Mahā-Viṣṇu is called the winding up of the cosmic manifestation. Liberation is the permanent situation of the form of the living entity after he gives up the changeable gross and subtle material bodies. (SB2.10.6)
Giving up all varieties of bodies and forms ultimately we have to situate ourselves in sva-rupena vyavasthitih. Situate in our own svarupa and that is our self the spirit.

atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah.

"No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krsna through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him." (Padma Purana)

The full Lord can't be experienced using our blunt material senses. atah sri-krsna-namadi –rupa, guna, lila adi can't be realized.

Sevanmukhe jiva – we have begin somewhere. Begin using your tongue to realize the Lord. Of course you could also honor prasada. That's nice but you could also use your tongue to chant Hare Krsna or other glories of Lord could be chanted with the help of the tongue. As we chant and chant the glories of the holy name
or chant the holy names with the tongue in this age of kali, you will be purified.

The Lord will reveal Himself unto you, the chanter. So in our existence there is something called antahkaran. That refers to antah(internal or inside) and karan (upakaran – subtle body, mind, intelligence, false ego). Some cetana, some sort of consciousness or realisation that I am living, that I exist. As there is antahkaran
there is also bahyakaran, the external senses. There are five knowledge acquiring senses. These are also upakaran which are external in our gross body. Of course we are not certainly anthakaran. Either as we hear we are not this body does not mean “ I am not this body!” So we are not this gross body consisting of external senses bahyakaran. Neither are we anthakaran. We are not mind, body, intelligence, false go. We are not that either.

As it is said in Bhagavad- Gita [5.8-9]

naiva kiñcit karomīti
yukto manyeta tattva-vit
paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann
aśnan gacchan svapañ śvasan

pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann
unmiṣan nimiṣann api
indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu
vartanta iti dhārayan

While we do different activities with this body, breathing in and out, eating, walking, talking, sleeping. Lord Krsna has given a small list there. Krsna says that the soul does not take part in it. It's not the soul doing all this – you sleeping,talking. whatever you are doing – the eternal body or the subtle body.
Bhagavatam explains many things the hunger and the thirst is because of the praan in us. This is part of the subtle body. Because of praan one feels hungry or thirsty. It's not the soul that's hungry and thirsty. It's the body that is hungry or thirsty. It's the praan that experiences hunger and thirst, not the soul.

We of course identify ourselves with this body and we think I am this body. This is illusion. The bigger illusion, more subtle illusion is caused by the subtle body. We identify more with the subtle body than the eternal body.

hitvānyathā rūpaṁ
sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ

This is how mukti or liberation is defined. We have given up so many bodies and now we are in this body. But jivan mukta sa ucyate while you are still in this body, while your soul is still on this body jivan mukta you are mukta. Some souls attain such level while residing in this world and residing in this body. They are jivan mukta, they are free. They do not identify with the gross body. As we hear from Jad Bharat while he was talking with King Rahugan. His self realisation is very clear. Our goal while chanting is try to attain this svarupena – situating our self in our real self. Situating our self in our real self is completed when we keep ourselves at the lotus Feet of the Lord. In the good old days people would enquire “Svastha ho?” How are you? They thought differently. Nowadays we think differently. We think of the body and the health of the body. But knowledgeable people in the ancient days when they asked “Svastha ho?’ they asked – tha means situation like there is grhastha, gramastha stationed in the house, the village. Stha are you situated in yourself? In other words how’s yourself. IS it properly situated at the lotus Feet of Lord or in relationship with Lord? How's your situation? Svastha ho? Are you properly situated in relationship with the Lord. So while chanting the holy names of the Lord while we are chanting our goal is to become svastha healthy, properly situated sva-rupena vyavasthitih.

Situated in our self in our ultimate svarupa. we should situate ourselves in the ultimate relation that we have with the Lord. I was thinking while chanting today that we should be paying attention. We are chanting. I am chanting, but who am I? I am a soul. My soul is chanting and not just my throat or my tongue. In my
mind there are some thoughts of chanting. Some of this is gross and some of it is subtle but ultimately spiritual chanting is that the soul is chanting. Not my tongue, body or anthakaran but the core, my soul is chanting.

Why do we say I think you or congratulate you from the bottom of my heart. That's the place where the soul is. May be antahkaran is at some other place of the heart,but the core of my heart or bottom of my heart that is myself. I am saying this from the soul. You require full attention in order to achieve that goal.
One has to be fully attentive while chanting. Our intelligence in this case, our spiritual intelligence is in action. It is discriminating making sure who is chanting.

Is this body chanting or the throat or am I chanting? NO! I want my soul to chant. Not this! Not this! Yes, this one! This is the soul chanting. I want my soul to chant. I am chanting means my soul is chanting. So in that state of spiritual mind or spiritual intelligence action then the soul will be the chanter who is now chanting with attention, devotion and longing. He will connect with the Lord in form of the holy name. Atma and Parmatma. The Lord in the form of the holy name are connected to bhakti or devotion. That is Japa-yoga. In that state there is no one or nothing in between the soul and the supreme soul in the form of the holy name.

You are fully linked. That is samadhi. This is mantra meditation. That’s the trance which you have transcended all other realm or elements parties. You are beyond this material existence and on spiritual plane with Krsna. I want you to chant more, contemplate on whatever is presented. Keep doing different activities. Share Hare Krsna with others. We can't be selfish now. Think – I have Krsna and let
me share Him with others.

10th May 2019

Hare Krishna!

jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri-adwaita gadadhara
shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara Pandit, Srivasa Thakur, and all the devotees of Lord Chaitanya.

We want to hear the spiritual sounds, the truth because we are surrounded by untruth and falsity. We are surrounded by falsities and we need to reach out at the real sound and select “not this, not this, this one.” This is the truth that I want to hear then we will become free from illusion

satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi(SB 1.1.1)

-the supreme ultimate reality of the Lord. This subject matter is presented by one of the Navayogendras, called Hari. He is talking about the different gradations or kinds of devotees or bhagavats. They are described elsewhere in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu.

kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī. Briefly the symptoms of those three categories of devotees are explained here.

King Nimi asks, please explain me the symptoms of different categories of devotees. What are the qualities of a devotees; how do they act, behave or feel? By understanding the symptoms belonging to each of the levels, we can then understand on which one we are. Am I a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, 3rd class or a little more evolved – at the madhyama-adhikārī level or Am I a top-notch devotee evolved at the top level? Am I a first-class devotee (uttama-adhikārī)?

Of course, our goal is to become uttama-adhikārī, and he is only eligible as the first class to go back to Krishna and enjoy the past times of Krishna. There is a good chance that many of us are at the lower level of kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, and we need to be honest because honesty is the best policy.

Srila Prabhupada used to say that we should expect at least to come to the level of 2nd class devotee, not to remain at the 3rd level. The goal is to become a first-class devotee of the Lord. I was thinking we will talk of uttama-adhikārī and understand the symptoms of the different levels every day and also to discuss how when somebody is stuck, can become free.

Sarva-bhutesu means all living entities. It is not that God is not situated in the cat’s heart or dog’s heart. A pure devotee sees everyone and everything in relation to the Lord. This is his speciality – everyone is part and parcel of the Lord and then he loves them because they are related to Krishna and he is kind to all of them. He is the pandit who is fully knowledgeable and is a bhagavat. When he looks around, he sees everyone as souls, not just human beings and these belong to the Super soul or Supreme soul. He does not see the bodies, he sees the souls within these bodies. He loves and cares for them just because they are attached to Krishna. And he is kind to all others.

mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-dravyeṣu loṣṭravat
ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ
(Chāṇakya-śloka -10)

One who sees that is a real pandit. As its said in Bhagavad Gita,

vidyā-vinaya-sampanne
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śvapāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
(BG 5.18)

When he looks around, he sees everyone as souls. Not only humans have souls but everyone has souls. They are not the body they are souls and that soul belongs to the Super soul. He does not see the body but the soul in the body. He also loves and cares for them also.

There used to be one Italian Saint Francis, the patron saint of the environment and animals because he loved all creatures and allegedly preached to even the birds. He would address the tree as “sister tree and brother moon, or sister hen.” That was his vision and that was his understanding.

An uttama-adhikārī, is free from the dual nature and is pervasively beyond the bodily concept and he is fixed in the soul – this soul is in a black body, American, Christian, or this Congress party. He transcends these conditionings and relates with the soul directly.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu acted like an acarya and in the Jharkhand forest, He made all the souls chant and dance. In the Chaitanya charitamrita theamazing pastimes of the Lord in that jungle is described:

“When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, pack of tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right through them. Balabhadra Bhattacharya was very much afraid to see them, but by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s influence, all the animals stood to one side. One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet. The Lord said, ‘Chant the holy name of Krishna!” The tiger immediately got up and began to dance and chant, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’

All the animals and birds in the sky revived their spirits and consciousness. He revised their spirits and they all began acting like souls. The deer and the tiger were next to each other and the Lord saw them embracing each other, even kissing each other! Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started saying that “this is Vrindavan” where there is no envy, fear or competition. In this forest all the souls were absorbed in chanting and dancing and here the power of the holy name was exhibited.

Srila Prabhupada warned us that we should not go into the forest and get the snakes to chant and dance but if we can get people of this age of Kali, with animalistic characteristic to chant then we would have achieved our goal to make people spiritual.

If we could not look at these bodies as western, American, man or women, that kind of discrimination. He spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world whether the people were poor Magolians, rich Americans, even a dog, a child – transcending all the body designation, beyond the body seeing all as souls without designation. He made the whole world chant. The maha bhagavat sees everyone as souls, and part and parcels of Krishna. He exhibits kindness and compassion to everyone with the intention to uplift and, sees everything that exists, as Gods property and the Lord as the enjoyer. Whatever realisations, wealth, laxmi, property, land or building he has is all seen as the Lord’s and therefore engages them in the service of the Lord. He sees everything as belonging to the Lord and offers these things in the service to the Lord. He believes that no man is an actual proprietor and that the proprietor is God.

isavasyam idam sarvam
yat kinca jagatyam jagat
tena tyaktena bhunjitha
ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” (Iso. 1)

The pure devotee or first-class devotee knows that Krishna claims proprietorship over all forms—including American forms, African forms, cat forms, dog forms, tree forms, etc.—for in actuality He is the proprietor and the Supreme Father.

One who is transcendentally realized is equally disposed to every living entity. Thus, Bhagavad-Gita points out that when one sees everyone equally, as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one actually begins his devotional service.

The first-class devotee understands that God is our father and “I am not the only son of the Lord. The Lord has many sons and daughters.” If someone claims it as his property – he is a thief – if you claim that it is yours, then you are a thief. The Mahabhagavad says “ no, no my Lord, you are the proprietor.”

Bhakti Vinod Thakur says “my mind, my body my my…, I offer this to You and engage this at your service. I surrender this to You.”

The subject matter of the uttama-adhikārī is deep and vast. The SrimadBhagavatam describes many such uttama-adhikārī personalities. We should study their lives and try to imbibe their spirit within us, and follow in their footsteps.

svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam (SB 6.3.20-21)

Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Shiva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhisma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and I (Yama) myself know the real religious principle. My dear servants, this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhagavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature. It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead.

In our lifetime we experienced and encountered Srila Prabhupada – we had the wonderful opportunity to have him, and you should read and study Srila Prabhupada Lila Amrita and become familiar with the characteristics of Srila Prabhupada. In him, we saw and experienced a Maha bhagavat in action. He would say that we are maha bhagavats in the making and we all have to become maha bhagavats.

Hare Krishna!

9th May 2019

Devotional Services: Relieves is from material existence.

As we keep on chanting, we will develop more and more taste, more and more detached from worldly activities worldly affairs worldly wanderings.

bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca[SB 11.2.42]

This is a philosophical statement from Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada always quoted this. that says bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo

As we perform devotional service and experience Param Isha-Parmeshwar, and the first symptom or outcome or result or experience of practicing bhakti or in this case practicing of chanting Hare Krishna is ‘virakti anyatraca’ that you develop virag, virakti, vairagya, detachment, detest from all that is worldly. In fact, the same Bhagavatam statement from 11 canto chapter 2 text no 42, says trika eka-kālaḥ, means three things happen simultaneously, instantly as one chants Hare Krishna or performs devotional service. So, what are those three outcomes or experiences as outcome of devotional service? That Bhagvatam says, gives example of someone eating rice or wheat, what happens as we eat.

yathāśnataḥ syustuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiḥ kṣud-apāyo ’nu-ghāsam

[SB 11.2.42]

anughasam [laughs] anu means as we eat one mouthful after another and another, then that gives us tushtih, you feel satisfied, manashyanti you become peaceful, self-satisfaction as you eat mouthful of food. As we performing devotional service, we stay busy performing Bhakti and in this case chanting Hare Krishna, who is satisfied? Soul is satisfied. Soul is satisfied. One becomes atarama, one gets arama [relived] as one chants. Pustih, we get nourished and we enhance our health. We revive and thrive in fact as we eat food that could happen to our body. We thrive, we are nourished, we get supplemented. We will gradually become mahatma, we are atma we will always remain atma but as we perform devotional service, as we chant, as we are nourished, we become mahatma bigger and bigger mahatma and size or health of atma is improved, so you become bigger and better atma.

Third thing is, kṣud-apāyo, that you become free from hunger; you are relived from hunger with every mouthful. You are so much hungry when you start taking meal and you took few morsels of mouthful you become free from some hunger, relieved from hunger. And if you eat more, more relieved and you eat more anughasam, you become free, and ultimately your hunger and thirst is fully quenched.

So, like this, as we serve Krishna more and more that’s the anubhava,

bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca

As we perform devotional service, our anubhav, experience, realization is that we are relieved from this material existence. The influence of this material existence doesn’t act or work on us or acts less and less and less. And final point, we are fully relived, and we develop detachment. So, a person has made progress, how much progress he has made, so how do we measure? That measure is done by seeing how much vairagya or virakti he has developed. So, what is a criterion to measure? It’s the degree of detachment from worldly things. So, we should cultivate this vairagya.

vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah

janyayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam

[SB 1.2.7]

This is another siddhanta that we understand from Bhagavatam is, as as one performs devotional service, Vasudeve unto Vasudev, Janyayaty- that bhakti will produce janayayaty , asu- quickly bhakti will produce jnanam and vairagyam, knowledge and vairagya- detachment. So, knowledge and detachment would be two products or outcomes of devotional service. As we become detached, we keep going higher speedily or going forward with speed, otherwise the strings attached, the attachments slow us down. The attachments bind us and we may get stuck at whatever level of devotion, devotional level we are. Attachment doesn’t allow us to move forward.

One interesting example given by Srila Prabhupada, if you do not develop detachment or strings attached if we don’t get rid of them, then you would not reach your destination. Example of marriage party that was crossing river Ganga to go to other side of the river for a marriage. So, everyone was sitting in the boat and boatman was rowing the boat all night long. So, by next dawn, he was expecting to reach final destination as he was looking around how far we have come. But he was surprised to see that boat has not yet started the journey. So, everyone was wondering what happened? And of course, the big blunder was he did not even remove the anchor, boats are usually anchored, tied up to a pole or pillar. So, he had not done so as a result the boat remained there at the same place where everyone had boarded the boat night before. So, we have to look around us whether any of such, or how many strings are around us that are binding us. As Krishna says,

asa-pasa-satair baddhah [BG 16.12]

We are bounded with asa- desires, pasa-ropes, so many desires. Each desire is like one rope that is dragging us, pooling us here and there shopping, cinema this and that. Dragged and pooled and pushed, here and there and that is how they keep making rounds in this world. So, talking about boat and the journey. Bhagavatam also says that this human form of life is like a boat, we are sitting in the boat and spiritual master is boatman and instructions of the shastras are favorable wind and we have decided the destination and we will keep making progress and make sure we are in boat and we have captain and we are following and keeping eye on what is anukul [favorable] and what is pratikul [unfavorable] what is favorable or what is unfavorable for all devotional service and how to move forward .

So, these guidelines or instructions hopefully give you inspiration and guide yourself through in the act of chanting also. Because you have to contemplate, meditate and make up your mind, making your intelligence sharper and sharper. Intelligence will keep an eye on chanting or during chanting. And intelligence will make discrimination for you. Intelligence will discriminate and say no don’t do that, do this is right thing to do, what is favorable and what is not favorable, or do this don’t do this. These guidelines, these tips should be used by you.

Wish you all success, success in bhakti and chanting.

Hare Krsna

8.05.2019
हरे कृष्ण!

आज जपा कॉन्फ्रेंस में 530 प्रतिभागी है। मैं आपको सुन तो नहीं पा रहा हूँ परंतु आप सब को देख सकता हूँ। आप सभी मेरे परिवार के सदस्य जैसे हो। आप सभी को जप करते हुए देख कर मुझे बहुत प्रसन्नता हो रही है। मैं केवल यह नही कह सकता कि यह मेरा परिवार है, वास्तव में यह प्रभुपाद जी का परिवार है और सही में ये भगवान कृष्ण का परिवार है। प्रभुपाद जी अपने शिष्यों को मेरे आध्यात्मिक पुत्रों और पुत्रियों कहकर संबोधित करते थे और परिवार जैसा वातावरण था और अब मैं भी ऐसा ही महसूस कर रहा हूँ।

मैं जब ज़्यादा से ज्यादा सदस्यों को इस जपा टॉक में जुड़ते हुए देखता हूँ तो मुझे बहुत प्रसन्नता होती है,क्योंकि मैं देखकर विश्वास कर पाता हूँ कि आप वास्तव में जप कर रहे हो। कल मुझे किसी और वस्तु ने प्रसन्नता दी। मेरी प्रसन्नता का मुख्य कारण यह था कि कल मैंने चंदन लेपन के साथ भगवान के सुंदर विग्रहों का भी दर्शन किया। नोएडा के श्री श्री राधा गोविंद देव , बीड के राधा गोविंद देव और अन्य विग्रह जो मेरे जोन में आते हैं तथा भारत भूमि पर जितने विग्रह हैं, मैंने उनका चंदन लेपन के साथ बहुत सुंदर दर्शन किया।

चंदन लेपन के साथ आपका भी स्वागत है। आप भी भगवान के विग्रहों का सुंदर दर्शन कर सकते हो। इंटरनेट की सुविधा के कारण अब आप और भी सुलभता के साथ भगवान के दर्शन कर सकते हैं।
शिरोमणि गोपी माताजी ने अपने विग्रहों का सुंदर चंदन श्रृंगार किया था।

भगवान बहुत दयालु हैं जो इस जगत में अपने विग्रह के रूप में हमारे कल्याण हेतु प्रकट होते हैं परंतु हम यह समझते हैं कि विग्रह मात्र एक पत्थर का टुकड़ा है और जो गुरु है, वह एक साधारण मनुष्य है या वैष्णव है, और वह किसी जाति विशेष से संबंध रखता है परंतु हमारी ऐसी समझ नहीं है।

हम सभी के लिए इस मास में एक बहुत बड़ा अवसर है कि हमारे मंदिर में अथवा घर में जो हमारे निजी विग्रह हैं, हम उनका चंदन का लेपन करके यात्रा में भागीदारी बन सकते हैं।

माँ यशोदा भी गोलोक और गोकुल में भगवान को प्रतिदिन चंदन का लेपन करती है।

माँ यशोदा का जो भाव है जिस प्रकार से भगवान का चंदन लेपन करती है , वही वास्तव में उत्सव की पृष्ठ भूमि है।

यह एक बहुत प्रमुख लीला है जिसमें यशोदा मैया भगवान को एक छतरी देना चाहती थी ताकि भगवान को सूर्य की गर्मी से बचाया जा सके परंतु भगवान, माँ से मना कर देते हैं कि मैं छाता लेकर नहीं जाऊँगा। भगवान कहते हैं ” माँ मैं छाता लेकर कैसे जाऊँ, जब मेरी गायों के ऊपर कोई छतरी नही है, कोई संरक्षण नही है।” इस प्रकार से भगवान गायों के प्रति अपने दिव्य प्रेम का प्रदर्शन करते हैं।

मैया यशोदा अपने कृष्ण की चिंता करती है एवं उनकी रक्षा करना चाहती है और भगवान अपनी गायों के प्रति अपना प्रेम और संरक्षण दिखाते हैं कि कैसे उनकी रक्षा करें ।

मैया यशोदा देखती है कि किस प्रकार तपती धूप में भगवान बिना किसी छतरी या किसी संरक्षण के वन में जाते हैं। माँ यशोदा भगवान के शरीर पर चंदन का लेपन करती है जिससे चंदन की जो ठंडक है, उससे भगवान का शरीर शीतल रहे और उनको आनंद दे।
भगवद्गीता 2.23 में भगवान बताते है

*नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि
नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो
न शोषयति मारुतः ॥*

गरम वायु से इस आत्मा को कोई कष्ट नही होता। माँ यशोदा वैसा नही सोचती थी, जैसा भगवत गीता में है।

जैसा कि हमें पता है कि जब भगवान एक बार अग्नि में फस गए थे। उनके साथ, उनके सारे गोप सखा और उनकी गायें भी सब दावाग्नि में फस गए थे। तब समस्त गोप सखा भगवान की ओर मुख करके जोर-जोर से चिल्ला रहे थे, “कृष्ण हमारी मदद करो, हमारी रक्षा करो।” भगवान उस समय कुछ समय के लिए शान्त होकर सोचने लगे कि कैसे मैं इनकी मदद कर सकता हूँ, मुझे क्या करना चाहिए।

निमीलयत मा भैष्ट लोचनानीत्यभाषत।। (श्री मदभागवतम 10.19.11)

भगवान ने कहा कि तुम सब अपनी आँखें बंद करो और बिल्कुल भी भयभीत मत हो। और जब मित्रों ने अपनी आँखे बंद कर ली तब भगवान ने उस सारी वायु का पान कर लिया। फिर भगवान ने उन सब से कहा कि अब अपनी अपनी आँखें खोल लो और सबने अपनी आँखें खोली और देख कर विस्मृत रह गए।वहाँ कोई अग्नि नहीं थी। भगवान ने उस समय अग्नि को डांट कर कहा कि मूर्ख अग्नि तू बाहर क्या कर रही है, तेरा स्थान तो मेरे मुख के अंदर है। तू वहीं प्रवेश कर जा।

वेद भी इस बात की उद्घोषणा करते हैं कि भगवान का जो मुख है वही अग्नि का जन्म स्थान है।

भगवान का विग्रह इस प्रकार का है जिस पर अग्नि का कोई भी प्रभाव नहीं होता, किसी शस्त्र का प्रभाव नही होता।भगवान ने बड़ी सहजता से उस अग्नि का पान कर लिया। भगवान के होंठ नही जले और ना ही कोई कष्ट हुआ।

भगवान की अन्तरंगा शक्ति है जिसे योग माया कहते हैं, वह यशोदा मैया जैसे भक्तों को अज्ञानता में डाल देती है और मैया यह नही समझ पाती कि उनका पुत्र किस प्रकार से दिव्य है। उसके शरीर को इन सब चीजों से कष्ट नहीं होता है। वो अपने वात्सल्य का प्रदर्शन उसी प्रकार से करती रहती है और ये सोचती है कि उनके पुत्र को, भगवान कृष्ण को किसी प्रकार का कष्ट ना हो।

यह चंदन यात्रा का जो उत्सव है यह वास्तव में हमें एक बहुत सुंदर अवसर देता है कि हम लोग अपने भगवान का चंदन श्रृंगार करके, अपने भाव ( इमोशन) को भगवान के प्रति प्रदर्शित कर सकें।

ये रागानुग मार्ग है जिसमें भक्त भगवान के प्रति अपने भावों को बहुत ही सामान्य रूप से प्रदर्शित करता है। यशोदा मैया जैसे भक्तों का हम अनुगमन करके भगवान की सेवा कर सकते हैं। इस प्रकार से हम भगवान की साक्षात प्रत्यक्ष सेवा कर सकते हैं।

हम भगवान के विग्रह की सेवा करते हैं। भगवान विग्रह से भिन्न नही है। जब उनकी सेवा करते हैं तो प्रत्यक्ष भगवान की सेवा करते हैं।
जब हम भगवान की प्रसन्नता के लिए सेवा करते हैं, तो वास्तव में हम अपनी भी सेवा करते हैं। इससे हमारी आत्मा को दिव्य प्रसन्नता प्राप्त होती है।

जैसे हम किसी शीशे के सामने खड़े होते हैं और जब हम अपने शरीर को सुंदर बनाते हैं, उसका श्रृंगार करते हैं, विशेष कर माताएं, परन्तु आप उन माताओं में नहीं हो लेकिन कुछ माताएं हैं जो शीशे के सामने अपना समय व्यर्थ करती हैं।

जब हम किसी शीशे के सामने खड़े होते है और जब हम अपने शरीर को सुंदर बनाते हैं, उसका श्रृंगार करते हैं, हमारा दूसरा शरीर जो प्रतिबिंब के अंदर है, उसका भी श्रृंगार होता है।

यह एक दृश्य है।

भगवान का जो विग्रह है, वह वास्तविक रूप है। हम विग्रह की तरफ अपना मुख मोड़ते हैं और विग्रह को सजाते हैं, उनको खिलाते हैं, उनका श्रृंगार करते हैं और हमारा शरीर जो कि प्रतिबिम्ब मात्र है। हम भगवान की सेवा और श्रृंगार करते हैं। उसके
प्रतिबिंब स्वरूप हम लोग अपना श्रृंगार करते हैं, हम भी अपने को सुंदर बनाते हैं।
जब हमारा श्रृंगार होता है हमारे अन्दर दिव्य गुण उत्पन्न होने लग जाते हैं और हम और सुंदर दिखने लग जाते हैं।

श्री मद भागवतम में कहा गया है

*तितिक्षवः कारुणिकाः
सुहृदः सर्वदेहिनाम्।
अजातशत्रवः शान्ताः
साधवः साधुभूषणाः।।*
(श्री मदभागवतम 3.25.21)

हमारे अंदर दिव्य गुण उत्पन्न होने लगते हैं। हम शान्त और अधिक सहिष्णु होने लगते हैं। हम अजातशत्रु हो जाते हैं अर्थात हमारा कोई शत्रु नहीं रहता है।

वास्तव में यही साधु का आभूषण है। यही वैष्णव का आभूषण है।

हरे कृष्ण का जप करते रहिए। यह भी एक सेवा है। प्रथम सेवा है। सुनना और जप करना इस प्रकार से भगवान अपने आप को अधिक से अधिक प्रकट करेंगें।

*कस्तुरी तिलकम ललाटपटले, वक्षस्थले कौस्तुभम्।
नासाग्रे वरमौक्तिकम करतले,
वेणु करे कंकणम।।
सर्वांगे हरिचंदम सुललितम,
कंठे च मुक्तावलि।
गोपस्त्री परिवेश्तिथो विजयते, गोपाल चूडामणी।।*

भगवान चूड़ामणि, हमें और अपने को अधिक से अधिक प्रकट करेंगे। इस प्रार्थना में विशेष रूप से बताया गया है कि भगवान अत्यंत सुंदर दिख रहे हैं। उनका शरीर चंदन से श्रृंगार किया गया है। भगवान के कण्ठ में मुक्तावलि मोतियों की माला है। वे हंस के सामान लगते हैं, जैसे एक हंस के पीछे दूसरा हंस और उसके पीछे, तीसरा हंस आकाश में उड़ रहे हैं। उनके पीछे आकाश के समान मेघ वर्ण के समान भगवान का सुंदर शरीर है। वह ऐसा लगता है कि जैसे हंस नीले आकाश में उड़ रहे हों, ये एक प्रकार का ध्यान है। भगवान का ये सुन्दर ध्यान है जिसमें भगवान के वस्त्र हैं, वह साधारण वस्त्र नही है| वो ऐसे हैं जैसे कि आकाश में मेघों के साथ में बिजली कड़कती है। उस प्रकार से बहुत ही सुंदर आकाश में ,नीले रंग के आकाश में भगवान की धोती रूपी वस्त्र आकाश में बिजली के समान लगती है।

फिर उस भक्त का ध्यान भगवान के मोर मुकट की ओर जाता है कि भगवान ने किस प्रकार से मोर मुकट धारण किया हुआ है। भक्त, भगवान के शीश पर लगे मोर पंख को देखते हुए ध्यान एवं दर्शन करता है, तो उसे ऐसा लगता है, जैसा कि आकाश में इंद्रधनुष उत्पन्न हो गया हो।वह कल्पना करता है कि आकाश में दिव्य हंस उड़ रहे हैं। बिजली की कड़कड़ाहट के साथ इंद्रधनुष भी है। बिजली के रूप में, भगवान के सुंदर शरीर के वस्त्र भी दिख रहे हैं।

हरे कृष्ण महा मन्त्र एक ध्यान भी है। हम अपने ध्यान में भगवान के सुंदर रूप का ध्यान कर सकते हैं, जो हमारे ध्यान का विशेष केंद्र बन सकता है।

हरे कृष्ण

8th May 2019

I am very pleased to see you chanting. I am not hearing you but at least I can see you chanting. You are all my family and i am happy to see all family members chanting. I can’t say it’s my family; its Prabhupad’s family appropriate to say Krishna’s family. Srila Prabhupada used to address his disciple as my spiritual sons and daughters also he used to write in his letters my spiritual sons. So, it’s kind of family spirit my children.

When i see more and more members joining this conference, chanting and as its said ‘seeing is believing’ when I see you chanting, I am happy. I was pleased yesterday something else gave me pleasure yesterday. And that was darshan of so many deities smeared with chandan in chandan yatra. I had darshan of Radha Govind Dev in Noida also another Radha Govind in Beed, Radha Damodar in Solapur and many more deities around the world mostly from India, that was from my preaching zone. And i was amazed to see those deities and that was very satisfying.

You are also welcomed, i think these days next 21 days beginning from yesterday, Akshay Tritiya there will be such darshan available. Thanks to the internet. So, you could also take those darshan. Lord is very kind that He appears in this world for our sake in the form of deities. Our understanding is not,

arcasiladhir gurusu naramati vaisnave jati budhi (Padma Purāṇa)

Oh! The Deity is just a rock and Guru just ordinary person and vaisnavas belong to certain caste this is not our understanding. During this month we have opportunity to serve our family deities, temple deities by taking part in this chandan yatra festival. Mother Yashoda also does this chandan yatra, maybe she does it every single day in Gokul or Goloka. The feelings, emotions of Yashoda were associated with this chandan yatra festival. She wanted Krishna to carry an umbrella so that umbrella would protect Him from sun. This is one favorite pastime that we keep hearing but then Krishna refuses- no umbrella for Me. Krishna says how could I carry umbrella for Myself when My cows have no umbrella or shelter. Krishna is expressing His affection or love for the cows.

Yashoda wants to take care of her Krishna but Krishna wants to take care of His cows. Krishna goes out in the forest without any umbrella. Yashoda could imagine the heat of the sun in the midday, so she wants to smear Krishna’s body with chandan so that it would create a cooling effect which is a property of chandan (sandalwood). So Yashoda doesn’t think that verse from Bhagavad Gita,

“nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavakah
na cainam kledayanty apo na sosayati marutah” [BG 2.23]

That the hot wind cannot dry up the soul. We also know from another pastime there was a forest fire one day and all Krishna’s friends and cows were caught in the fire they are about to be burnt in the fire. All the friends shouted “help help” they all turned to Krishna. They were crying for help. Then Krishna thought for a while to get an idea what to do? How to help?

nimīlayata mā bhaiṣṭa locanānīty abhāṣata [SB 10.19.11]

He said you all close your eyes and do not fear. And while they all had close their eyes Krishna swallowed the fire. Okay open your eyes and they had opened their eyes and they were surprised and pleased to see there was no fire. So, what Krishna had done when everyone had closed their eyes? Instructed fire “You rascal come in here is your position within My mouth’

Vedas utter this statement, mukhad agnir ajayata

“From the mouth of the Lord fire emanates.” Mouth of the Lord is source of fire. Lord instructed to the fire come in come in the mouth and nothing had happened to the body of Lord. Lips were not burned no rash. That is the form of the Lord not affected by fire, heat, weapon cannot cut. That’s the form of Lord.

Antaranga shakti of the Lord yogmaya keeps Yashoda like personalities kind of ignorant of these facts. What kind of body Lord has and they says no no He is just my son. He is my kid I have to take care of Him. I have to protect Him from sun. So, she smears His body by chandan, so these are feelings, emotions, bhava (vatsalya) of Yashoda. So this chandan yatra is opportunity for all of us to take part in and to review our emotions, devotions, bhava like Yashoda. That becomes Raganuga bhakti, we follow the footsteps of Yashoda the way she serves kind of feelings emotions bhava. Or keeping this example of Yashoda in our mind.

This way we get to serve Krishna directly. By serving the deity form of Lord who is Lord Himself in that form archa-vigraha avtara we are serving Lord directly. And when we serve the Lord we are also serving ourselves as we are serving the Lord. We are serving the Lord to please Him but while attempting to do that serving the Lord we are also served. Our soul is served, our soul is taken care of and our soul is also pleased.

It is also explained by imagining standing in front of mirror if you are decorating your body specially ladies like to spend hours to do makeup of our bodies. Then what happens that person in the mirror is also getting decorated. You are serving decorating your body simultaneously body in the mirror gets served gets decorated gets the makeup. This is one scene now you are in front of deity and you are smearing the Lord with chandan, bathing the Lord, dressing the Lord. So that form is the real form and our body is like body in the mirror you had been seeing. So, when we are serving the lord its reflection, we are kind of reflection that is also getting served.

So, as we serve the Lord we develop all the good qualities, devotional qualities, our personality is developed we begin looking beautiful. As we serve the Lord we develop good qualities and the qualities are described in Bhagavatam as,

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
uhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ [SB 3.25.21]

You become tolerant, you become peaceful, you have no more enemies. sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ. Bhagavatam declares these qualities are abhusana, alankar. It is beauty of that vaisnava, he is beautiful not because of some other ornaments earrings no. He is beautiful due to his qualities; he has become visible due to his qualities and that is his beauty.

So, go on serving the Lord and chant Hare Krishna mahamantra. It is also service, that’s the main service or the first service. And then Krishna will reveal into us more and more.

sarvange harichandanam sulalitam kanthecha muktaavali
gopastri pariveshtito vijayate gopaala chudaamani

So that Gopal Chudamani will reveal into us more and more. In that particular prayer its said how Lords form is looking extraordinary beautiful Harichandanam sulalitam. His body is smeared with sandal wood paste.

kanthecha muktaawali

There is pearl necklace around His neck. So, when devotee takes darshan of Lord with pearls around His neck. He thinks, oh each pearls is like swan, and one swan behind another, behind another, another one and all of them are flying and Lords form is like a cloud and that seems like swans are flying in the sky.

This is meditation so as devotee contemplates the form and beauty of the Lord and he thinks look at the pitambar- the yellow garments of Lord. That yellow color is not ordinary color it reminds him as a lightening in the thunder in rainy season. Because already sky is there, Lord’s form reminds him of a sky and pitambar reminds him of glistening of the lightening in the sky, the bright effulgent lighting like.

When meditators or devotee attention goes toward peacock feather at the top His head or in the crown that peacock feather that reminds him of rainbow. The sky is there some birds are flying across, the lightening pitambar and look there is rainbow at the top. He gets absorbed in thinking like this about the Lord.

So, while chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra is a kind of meditation so we can meditate on the beautiful form of Lord while chanting. So, here are some hints to meditate on the form of the Lord.

Hare Krsna

7th May 2019

Akshaya Tritiya

We have special guest speaker today- Nityananda prabhu. I told you yesterday some of the glories of Nityananda prabhu. We asked him which day you would prefer to address our participants. So he preferred Akshaya Tritiya day. So today is very auspicious day to undertake, anyway all days, it is auspicious for new undertakings. Today just briefly want to say, today is Akshaya Tritiya. As mother Ganges descended on this day. Doors of Lord Badrinath, they remain close in winter season, so today they get opened and they are flung open for darsana on Akshaya Tritiya day. Lord Parasurama appeared on this day. Sacred grain barley also appeared on the earth today. Today Draupadi the wife of Pandavas, received the gift of Akshay patra from Vivasavan, Sun God. And then, Srila Vyasadeva started composing Mahabharat today.

So like that, some more items are also there of the great happenings on this day of Akshaya Tritiya. So on this shubha muhurta or maha-muhurt also begin any undertaking.

So you will also want to take advantage of this day, so we will be learning the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a sacred language or mother of all languages, spoken in Vaikuntha. We have to one day speak in that language. So today we want from Nityananda prabhu to learn some techniques, also hear some of the glories, not necessarily in detail of mother of languages Sanskrit, importance of Sanskrit, significance of the correct pronunciation.

So Nityananda prabhu one time was student of Govardhana Bhagavat Vidyapith in Vrindavan. And that was operated by our dear and late Godbrother Gopiparanadhana prabhu. I remember in those days, myself and Nityananda prabhu, few times, we studied commentaries of Bhagavatam together. I was kind of learning from him. I was his student. And mean time he has learned much more. And he has become a quiet well versed in Sanskrit. And hence he has been employed in services of book trust. I think the service of review board, review new publications. His contributions are highly appreciated by BBT trusties. So we are proud of Nityananda prabhu. I am specially taking a keen interest in seeing that ISKCON devotees around the world improve their pronunciation. And he has been or he has agreed to assist me in this endeavor. What we are today doing is, like a charity begins at home, I had requested him to teach few lessons to our students, you all who chant with us everyday. Ok he is all ready. I don’t want to be between you and him. So here he goes.

[Speech by Nityananda Prabhu]

So it’s the good beginning that we started with Hare Krsna Mahamantra. It is Japa conference and you are addressing 580 participants. Some of them are making their comments- that was excellent class- someone says. Simply wonderful someone says. It is very helpful for pronunciation, another devotee says. Some are offering you their obeisances. Some are saying please share this video. Very excellent class. Do it once again. Prabhuji does this online courses teaching pronunciation. Devotees can take advantage of these online courses. I know some of you are his students. And I like more and more of you to take advantage of this talent that Nityananda prabhu has gifted, God gift. Amongst us we have someone who can teach the correct pronunciation. He also gives personal guidance. To contact him- NTD108@gmail.com

Hare Krsna

जपा टॉक 06. 05. 2019

हरे कृष्ण!

आप सभी का स्वागत है। मैं आस्ट्रेलिया, यूक्रेन, साऊथ अफ्रीका, मॉरीशस, रशिया और पूरे भारत वर्ष से जो भी भक्त जप कर रहे हैं ,उन सभी का स्वागत करता हूँ।

आज का स्कोर 332 है।मेरे मोबाइल चार्जिंग की वजह से आज कॉन्फ्रेंस थोड़ी देर से शुरू हुई है। मैं आशा करता हूँ कि आप सभी के जप में निरन्तर सुधार हो रहा होगा।उसके लिए प्रतिदिन जप करना आवश्यक है। आप में से अधिकांश भक्त निरन्तर प्रत्येक दिन मेरे साथ जप कर रहे हैं परंतु वास्तव में सबसे मुख्य बात यह है कि किस प्रकार का जप कर रहे हैं।

आज मैं अपने कुछ विचार आप सबसे बाँटना चाहता हूँ। आज के मेरे विचार मुख्यतः नवयोगेन्द्र ने निमी महाराज से जो कहा उस पर आधारित है। वे मुख्यतः इस बात पर जोर डालते हैं कि किस प्रकार भगवान की पूजा की जानी चाहिए।

“करोमि यद्यत्त सकलं परस्मै नारायणा येति समर्पयामि”

इस श्लोक में मुख्यतः नवयोगेन्द्र महाराज यह बता रहे हैं कि हम जो कुछ भी करते हैं वह हमें भगवान नारायण को समर्पित करना चाहिए।
उनके कथन का यह एक भाग है। नवयोगेन्द्र जी, इसके अतिरिक्त कई अन्य विधियां व उपकरण बताते हैं कि क्या-क्या हम भगवान की सेवा में उपयोग कर सकते हैं।

“कायेन वाचा मनसे दियैर्वा बुद्धात्मना वा प्रकृति स्वभावात”

नवयोगेन्द्र जी बताते हैं कि ये सब साधन भगवान की सेवा में प्रयोग करने चाहिए। वह यहाँ एक सूची बता रहे हैं जिसे आप या तो लिख सकते हैं या मन में धारण कर सकते हैं या फिर सुन सकते हैं। जितने भी उपकरणों या साधनों का वर्णन यहाँ किया गया है, वे सब हम अपने जप में भी प्रयोग कर सकते हैं।

हम अपने शरीर का उपयोग करते हैं।
हम अपनी वाणी का उपयोग करते हैं।
हम अपने मन का उपयोग करते हैं।
हम अपनी इन्द्रियों का उपयोग करते हैं।
हम अपनी बुद्धि का उपयोग करते हैं।

और जो मुख्य रूप से हम अपनी आत्मा का प्रयोग करते हैं जो कि हम स्वयं है।

तृतीया विभक्ति में इनका सारा वर्णन किया जा रहा है। संस्कृत वाङ्गमय के अनुसार जप करते समय हमें इन सभी का ध्यान
रखना चाहिए क्योंकि जप करते समय इन सभी उपकरणों का उपयोग करते हैं। वास्तव में इनका उपयोग ही नहीं करना है, बल्कि इन का सेवा में प्रयोग करना है।हरे कृष्ण मन्त्र का जप करते समय इन सभी उपकरणों का समन्वय स्थापित करना है ताकि पूर्ण रूप से इनका उपयोग कर सकें।

कायेन मतलब शरीर का उपयोग अर्थात जप करते समय ठीक से बैठना। हम जप-योगी हैं। प्रभुपाद सदैव कहा करते थे, ’ठीक से बैठो।’ इसका मतलब है कि रीढ़ की हड्डी, हमारी गर्दन, हमारा सिर एकदम सीधा होना चाहिए। सीधा बैठना , यह आसन जप के लिए अनुकूल है। यह आसन ध्यान या ‘ध्यान-मुद्रा’ के लिए अनुकूल है। इनमें से प्रत्येक के लिए बहुत कुछ कहा जा सकता है।

वाचा – वाणी, होंठ और मुख का उपयोग जप के लिए किया जाता है। हमे केवल मानसिक जप नहीं करना हैं। हमें जप करते हुए अपने होंठों का प्रयोग करना है। प्रभुपाद जी कहा करते थे कि हमें प्रभु के पवित्र नाम का उच्चारण करने के लिए दोनों होठों का उपयोग करना होगा। बालेन बोलो रे वदन भरी हमारे वैष्णव गीत कहते हैं, बालन तुम अपनी सारी शक्ति, वदन-भूरी का उपयोग करते हो – हमारा जप जो है, वह बहुत ही वदन से भरा होना चाहिए, जैसा कि कहा जाता है कि हमें सिर्फ चिड़िया की तरह से हल्के-हल्के, धीरे-धीरे नहीं बोलना चाहिए। हमें उत्साह के साथ हरिनाम का उच्चारण करना चाहिए। इसके साथ ही हमारी बुद्धि का भी प्रयोग भी शुरू हो जाता हैं, जब हम हल्के हल्के बोलते हैं, तो ऐसा हो सकता है कि हम कई शब्द खा जाऐं या बोल ना पाएं या सुन भी ना पाए लेकिन जब हम होंठो का प्रयोग करते हुए ज़ोर-ज़ोर से उच्चारण करते हैं,तब हम सुन सकते हैं कि हम क्या बोल रहे हैं।

मनसा:- अगला साधन मन है। यह उपकरण बहुत ही उपयुक्त और आवश्यक है। इसका बहुत बड़ा उपयोग है, यह मन ही है, जो बना सकता है या बिगाड़ सकता है। यह हमारी जीत करवा सकता है और हमें हार भी दिला सकता है। मन से ही हम बंधन में बंध सकते हैं और मन ही हमारी मुक्ति का भी कारण बन सकता है।यह मन बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण उपकरण है। हमें मुख्यतः मन को ही जप में लगाना है ताकि मन स्थिर रहें। मन को स्थिर करने के लिए जप को सुनना है। हम जब मन को जप में लगाते हैं तो वहीं पर बुद्धि का भाग शुरू हो जाता है।

बुद्धि:- बुद्धि अगला उपकरण है। इस विषय पर नवयोगेंद्र जी बताते हैं कि मन और बुद्धि को कंधे से कंधा मिला कर एक साथ कार्य करना है। बुद्धि की जप प्रक्रिया में एक विशेष भूमिका होती है। बुद्धि ही देखती है कि हमारे मन में क्या चल रहा है, किधर जा रहा है, क्या सोच रहा है।
यह संपूर्ण संकीर्तन आंदोलन एक बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति का काम है, बुद्धिहीन का नहीं। इसमें बुद्धि का प्रयोग अत्यंत आवश्यक है।

हमें इन सभी उपकरणों की धार को तेज बनाना है, विशेष कर बुद्धि को तीव्र बनाना है जिससे वह मन पर नियंत्रण कर सके। मन के स्तर पर क्या चल रहा है, क्या कर रहा है, क्या सोच रहा है,कैसे क्रिया प्रतिक्रिया कर रहा है , ये सब देखने का कार्य वास्तव में बुद्धि का है

बुद्धि का कार्य है कि वह देखे की किस प्रकार के विचार आ रहे हैं और उनको इधर उधर जाने से रोके और उसे उपयोगी बनाये, भगवान की सेवा में लगाये।
जैसे हमें बताया जाता है कि ठीक से बैठो, तभी हम ठीक से बैठते हैं तो हमें स्वतः अपनी बुद्धि का प्रयोग कर देखना चाहिए कि हम प्रत्येक दिन के जप में ठीक से बैठे हैं कि नहीं। इसी प्रकार जब हम वाणी का प्रयोग करते हैं तो हमें स्वयं देखना चाहिए कि हम हल्के बोल रहे हैं, या साफ़ बोल रहे हैं या ठीक से बोल रहे हैं कि नहीं।

उस समय हमें बुद्धि का प्रयोग करना है और देखना है कि वास्तव में हमें प्रत्येक अक्षर सही सुनाई दें।

इस प्रकार हमने देखा कि बुद्धि- काया, वाणी तथा मन तीनों को ही सन्तुलित कर सकती है। हम स्वयं ही देख सकते हैं कि हम किस प्रकार से जप कर रहे हैं। हम स्वयं को ही सिखा सकते है कि सही जप कैसा होना चाहिये। कब तक हम दूसरों पर निर्भर रहेंगे कि कोई हमारा जप सुधारे। कोई हमें कब तक चम्मच से खिलायेगा। कब तक सिखायेगा कि तुम ऐसे बैठो, ऐसे जप करो, ऐसे बोलो इसलिए हमें स्वयं अपनी बुद्धि का प्रयोग कर देखना चाहिए कि हमारा जप किस प्रकार प्रतिदिन सुंदर होता जा रहा है।

आखिरी उपकरण आत्मा है जो कि बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। हम आपको समय-समय पर बताते रहे हैं कि वास्तविकता में जो जप करने वाला है, वो आत्मा है, हम स्वयं हैं। यह जिह्वा,शरीर, मुख और मन वास्तव में जप करने वाले नहीं है।जपकर्ता तो वास्तव में आत्मा है।
प्रायः हम कहते हैं कि यह बात मैं अपने हृदय के अन्तःकरण से कर रहा हूँ क्योंकि हम हृदय में स्वयं रहते हैं परन्तु हम कभी ऐसा नहीं कहते कि जिह्वा के या शरीर के अन्तःकरण से कह रहा हूँ।

निष्कर्ष रूप में हम कह सकते हैं कि कैसे हम इन सारे उपकरणों का सामंजस्य स्थापित कर इन्हें अपने जप में प्रयोग कर सकते हैं। हालॉकि समय समाप्त हो रहा हैं, फिर भी में बताना चाहता हूँ कि किस प्रकार से हम सब अपने अपने उपकरणों का प्रयोग कर अपने जप को प्रभावशाली बना सकते हैं। यहाँ सन्त तुकाराम जी के जीवन से एक घटना लेते हैं।एक बार सन्त तुकाराम के घर एक विद्वेषी(द्वेष करने वाला) आया और पूछा तुकाराम कहाँ है? मैं उनसे मिलना चाहता हूँ। उसे बताया गया कि तुकाराम जी शौचादि क्रियाओं के लिए किसी मैदान में गए हुए हैं। वह व्यक्ति संत तुकाराम जी के लौटने का इंतजार करने लगा।थोड़ी देर बाद उसने सन्त तुकाराम को आते देखा। उस व्यक्ति ने देखा कि सन्त तुकाराम हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण ,जय जय राम कृष्ण हरि, पांडुरंग पांडुरंग का नाम जप करते हुए आ रहे थे। इस विद्वेषी व्यक्ति ने कहा- “ए तुकाराम कैसे हो तुम? स्नानादि किए बिना, तुम हरि नाम कैसे जप कर सकते हो?

अभी-अभी शौच निवृत्ति से लौट रहे हो और भगवान के नाम का जप कर रहे हो ? सन्त तुकाराम जी ने कहा कि मैं क्या करूँ बिना नाम जप किए बिना मैं नहीं रह सकता और ये अपने आप से होता है। मेरे मुख से हरि नाम निकलता रहता है। मैं तो असफल हो गया हूँ। क्या आप मेरा जप रूकवाने का प्रयास कर सकते हो? तब इस व्यक्ति ने तुकाराम जी की ओर बढ़ कर ,उनका मुख कस कर के बंद कर दिया। उनके कानों के छिद्रों को बंद करके शरीर को भी कस कर पकड़ लिया परन्तु किसी भी प्रकार से तुकाराम महाराज का जप बन्द नहीं हो रहा था। तुकाराम महाराज के मुख में कम्पन हो रहा था क्योंकि उनका हरिनाम रुक नहीं रहा था। उनके शरीर के रोमकूप से हरिनाम निकल रहा था। पूरे शरीर में कम्पन हो रहा था क्योंकि तुकाराम महाराज सिर्फ मुख से ही जप नहीं कर रहे थे उनकी आत्मा, उनका शरीर, उनका मन ,उनकी बुद्धि सब कुछ जप कर रहे थे। ये जो मूर्ख व्यक्ति थे, वे तुकाराम महाराज को किसी भी प्रकार रोक नहीं सके।

तुकाराम महाराज जी ही वास्तव में हमारे नायक हैं, आचार्य हैं। यही हमारा लक्ष्य है। हमें इन सभी आचार्यो के चरणों में कोटी- कोटी प्रणाम करके उनके पथ पर चलने की आज्ञा लेनी चाहिए। नामाचार्य श्रील हरिदास ठाकुर, श्रील प्रभुपाद, षड गोस्वामी हैं। श्री कृष्ण-चैतन्य महाप्रभु भूलोक नायक,वैकुंठ-नायक हैं। उन्होंने ही इस धरा धाम पर खुद आकर हम सब को नाम जप की विधि सिखाई है। हमें इन सब के चरणों में प्रार्थना करनी चाहिए, इनके पथ का पथानुगमन कर सकें।

यह सब आपका आज का गृहकार्य है। हमने जो सुना है, उसका अभ्यास करना होगा।
मैं बहुत जल्दी, कल के जपा टॉक के विषय में एक घोषणा करूंगा। कल अक्षय तृतीया है। यह बहुत ही पवित्र दिन है, नए-नए कार्य-कलापों को प्रारंभ करने के लिए बहुत अच्छा दिन है।

कल एक यूरोपियन भक्त, नित्यानंद जो संस्कृत में बहुत ही एक्सपर्ट हैं, संस्कृत का उच्चारण बहुत स्पष्ट और सुंदर रूप से करते हैं। साथ ही वो संस्कृत का उच्चारण भी ऑनलाइन सिखाते हैं। संसार भर में उनके बहुत अनुयायी हैं और मैं स्वयं सभी इस्कॉन भक्तों को ठीक से उच्चारण करते देखना चाहता हूँ। मैंने इस विषय पर एक किताब भी लिखी है- “संस्कृत उच्चारणम्” हो सकता हैं – आप में से कई भक्तों ने देखी हो। उसका विशेष लक्ष्य यही है – संसार के सभी भक्त संस्कृत का उच्चारण सही प्रकार से कर सकें। मैंने नित्यानंद प्रभु को तैयार किया है कि वह ऑनलाइन आकर आप सभी को कुछ सुझाव दें जिससे आप सबका संस्कृत का उच्चारण ठीक हो सके। उच्चारण, आचार, विचार यह सब एक के बाद बनते हैं, नित्यानंद प्रभु को सुनने के लिए आप सब तैयार रहिएगा।

हरे कृष्ण!

6th May 2019

INSTRUMENTS USED IN CHANTING

I am hoping and expecting that your japa is improving day by day. In order to improve, chanting every day is essential. I think you are doing that, at least those who are participating in this conference, I know for them, that they are chanting everyday with me. But I think ‘How you are chanting’, that is the crux of the matter.

I had some thoughts which I would like to share with you. They are based on one of the statements of Navayogendra’s. They are addressing to king Nimi, wherein he states how to worship the Lord. They say -.

kayena vaca manasendriyair va
buddhyatmana vanusrta-svabhavat
karoti yad yat sakalam parasmai
narayanayeti samarpayet tat (SB 11.2.36)

They say yat yat karoti – whatever we do, that should be offered unto the service of Lord Narayan. That’s the one part of the statement. Then he has mentioned, several items or instruments that we use in service of the Lord. They are kayen manasa buddyatmaneva & like that.

He says we should be using all these instruments in service of the Lord. All these means are used to serve the Lord. This is a small list. Take note of this. Either write it down or take mental note, so that you can go back to it & listen to it again.

These instruments which he mentioned that we should use in service of the Lord are also the means, which also should be used while chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’. So, here is the list. He says Kayen – we use our body. Vacha – we use speech. Manasa – mind, indriye – senses, buddhya – intelligence & last but most important is atmana – soul. They have said it in Tritiya vibhakti according to grammar, as they are instruments, which we use wherever & whenever, they are used in Tritiya vibhakti.

So all these words are used here in Tritiya vibhakti as they are mentioned as instruments. We have to remember list of these instruments, which are at our disposal while chanting. Not only they are at our disposal, but they are utilised & also to make sure that all of them are synchronized or they are in alignment, while chanting ‘Hare Krishna’.

So, Kayen -mind & body – sit properly, not now but while chanting japa. We are japa-yogis. Prabhupada always used to say, ‘ Sit properly.’ It means neck bone, head spine should be straight. That kind of sitting, that posture is favourable for chanting. This posture is favourable for meditation or ‘Dhyan’ or ‘Dhyan-mudra’. Much more could be said for each of these items.

Vacha – Speech, lips and mouth are also is used for chanting. We don’t do mental chanting. We utter chanting. Prabhupada used to remind, we have to use both the lips to utter the holy name of the Lord. Not just whisper like a sparrow. Balen bolo re vadan bhori. Our vaishnav song says, balen you use all your strength, Vadan-bhori – it should be mouthful.

We have to make sure that, intelligence will come into picture. We should hear all sixteen names in the mantra. If we just whisper, we may utter some names & eat up rest of the names. But when we say loudly, using the lips, then all sixteen names are to be uttered clearly.

Manasa – So next mention is of mind. Navayogendra named Hari, is describing this. So this instrument is of prime importance. It has a prime role in activity of chanting. Make it or break it, success or failure, liberation or bondage depends on this item.

So we could only say that, make your mind favourable to the chanting. We should chant & chant. Specially while utilizing this mind while chanting, role of intelligence also comes into picture. This is a next instrument, mentioned in the list by Navayogendra, ‘Buddhya’ . Mind & intelligence has to work together, hand in hand.

Intelligence has a major role or only intelligence has a role, to play on governing the mind, moulding the mind, instructing the mind. Analysing what is on the mind. That is why we have been saying this chanting, is one & only activity or even whole sankirtan movement is a job of a ‘Buddhiman’ (intelligent) & not of a ‘buddhu’ (dumb). It is a job of intelligent person & not of a dull headed person.

When we sharpen the tools, especially when we will sharpen the intelligence, it will keep an eye on the mind. While we are chanting, mind is functioning, dealing, willing, has to be closely observed by intelligence. Mind function is thinking so mind thinks all sorts of things & runs here & there, as per its nature. So, intelligence has to sort it out & retain only those thoughts favourable for chanting & meditating on Krishna. Even we are sitting properly or not properly, “sit properly?” We have been told like that, so we could use our own brain, God has given intelligence & make sure, whether we are sitting properly or not. So this is about ‘kayen’.

What about ‘vacha’? Whether we are uttering all the sixteen names or are we skipping some, are we using the list while chanting, to utter the names properly, all this also we should be able to discriminate, with the help of intelligence. Then make the adjustments & alterations accordingly.

So that was ‘Kayen’ , ‘vacha’ then comes ‘manasa’. We have been told how intelligence has big role to play, governing the wanderings of mind. So, like that we should be preaching to ourselves, if we are intelligent enough, we could preach to ourselves. Not that we wait for someone else to tell, “This is wrong! This is right Prabhu! Don’t do this.” This help is offered, but how long? We cannot go on spoon feeding from external sources. We should become self-sufficient at some point in our march or progress on this path & should preach to ourselves, rectify ourselves.

Then comes the last & most important item, that we use in the chanting service of the Lord is ‘atmana’. Self or spirit soul, our real self ! our being!

We have been told from time to time, original chanter is our soul. The tongue or the lips, body they are not the chanters. ‘japa-karta’ the doer, the chanter is “the soul”. Many times we say, ‘I say this from bottom of my heart.’ we don’t say, I am saying this from ‘bottom of my throat’ or ‘bottom of my tongue’. We don’t say that because ultimately, we say it from ‘ bottom of our heart’ & that’s where the soul is situated. Soul is stationed within the heart. So when we say this, ‘ I say this from bottom of my heart’ it means ‘real me is saying this,soul is speaking.’

Just to summarize or wind up , we could say, from top to bottom all these items have to be activated, motivated or aligned in or during our japa service. Chanting & meditation on the holy names.

I could quickly give one demonstration of how someone was using all these instruments successfully, with the soul during chanting. This is from life of Saint Tukaram.

One early morning, one of the opponents of Tukaram, who disliked Tukaram, he had come to Tukaram’s home. He inquired, ‘Where is Tukaram? I want to meet him.’ He was told, he had gone to the fields. Early morning, he had to take care of body by carrying out excretory functions. So this person was waiting for him to return. When Tukaram returned, while returning he was chanting the holy names of the Lord. “Jay Jay Ram Krishna Hari! Jay Jay Ram Krishna Hari! Panduranga! Panduranga!”.

So this fellow, from enemies camp exclaimed, ” oh! Tukaram you haven’t even taken the bath & you are chanting the holy names of the Lord. You are just returning from toilet & you are Chanting the holy name of the Lord! How offensive it is!” Tukaram said, ” I am sorry. But I can’t help it. I can’t stop chanting, whether it is before bath or after bath. I just keep chanting. It just happens. It is beyond me. If you are able to stop my chanting, you could try. I have tried. But I couldn’t. I have failed. If you want to try, you could try.”

So this person stepped forward, he held Tukaram’s mouth, shut it & held tightly. He was trying to stop other senses. He was trying to close his ears. He was holding his body, so that it doesn’t move. But there was no way, he could stop chanting of Tukaram Maharaja. Tukaram Maharaja was not making any extra special efforts for chanting, it was just arousing from deep within his heart. His mouth was still vibrating. His full body was trembling & participating in that chanting, as if his Kayen – his body was chanting his mind was chanting, his lips were chanting, his intelligence was chanting, his soul of course was chanting.

So those who witnessed, Tukaram’s chanting as this ruffians was trying to stop, they saw, Tukaram chanting, his whole body was chanting. His ‘being’ was chanting, just by stopping or closing the mouth, or lips, chanting could not be stopped, because he was not only chanting with lips or mouth but his whole body, his whole existence was chanting.

So these are our heroes, these are our acharyas. They are our goals. We should follow in their footsteps & pray to their lotus feet. We have Namacharya Haridas Thakur, we have Srila Prabhupada, we have Shad Goswamis of Vrindavan. Of course, ultimately Gauranga is our hero-Vaikuntha-nayak, Goloka-nayak. He also chanted & danced & have set all these paths.

Okay, so all this is your homework. What we heard, has to be practised. Tomorrow is Akshaya-tritiya for doing new undertakings. Tomorrow one European devotee, Nityanand who teaches Sanskrit online will address, because I myself want to see all the ISKCON devotees utter the names properly. I also have written a book. Maybe you have seen, ” Sanskrituccharanam”.

Tomorrow that Nityananda Prabhuji will give you some tips. Ucchar, aachar, vichar follow each other.

Hare Krishna!

5th May 2019

हरे कृष्ण!
जय गौरांग!
“जेई जन गौरांग भजे से होय अमार् प्राण रे
भज गौरांग, कहो गौरांग, लेहो गौरांगेर नाम रे”
ऐसा प्रयास हो रहा हैं कि आज के जपा टॉक का भाषान्तर हिंदी में हरिकीर्तन प्रभु करेंगे। क्या आप सभी मुझे सुन पा रहे हो? क्या आप सब हरिकीर्तन को भी सुन रहे हो?

हरिकीर्तन प्रभुजी :- मैं सभी भक्तों के चरणकमलों में दंडवत प्रणाम कर रहा हूँ।
गुरू महाराज :- हम दोनों ही आज वक्ता हैं। अभी हम दोनों ही बोल सकते हैं। भविष्य में हम आप लोगों में से किसी अन्य को भी बोलने का मौका देंगे और यह व्यवस्था भी की जा रही हैं कि गुरु महाराज अंग्रेजी में बोलेंगे, और अन्य हिंदी में बोलेंगे। आगे-आगे गुरु महाराज जैसा चाहेंगे,वैसे आप में से कोई भी भक्त इस में भाग ले सकता है। इसमें केवल भाषान्तर ही नही होगा, इसमें कही से भी आप में से, कोई भी भक्त, अपना प्रश्न , कोई समीक्षा या कमेन्टस को गुरु महाराज के साथ एवं अन्य भक्तों के साथ शेयर कर सकता है।

आज का स्कोर 533 हैं, आज रविवार होते हुए भी हमारा स्कोर सामान्य चल रहा हैं। आप सभी को धन्यवाद हैं। आप सभी ने अपनी निद्रा को त्यागकर एवं अपने अन्य कार्यों को त्यागकर आज कॉन्फ्रेंस में भाग लिया है।
‘ जेई जन गौरांग भजे से होय अमार प्राण रे।
भज गौरांग कहो गौरांग लेहो गौरांगेर नाम रे”

मैं कह रहा था कि यह जो प्रसिद्ध वैष्णव गीत हैं, इसमें कहा गया हैं – भज गौरांग कहो गौरांग लेहो गौरांगेर नाम रे।”
भगवान का नाम कहो। गौरांग का नाम कहो। गौरांग को भजो। जेई जन गौरांग भजे से होय अमार प्राण रे।

जो गौरांग महाप्रभु का भजन करते हैं एवं गौरांग महाप्रभु से प्रेम करते हैं। हमें उन भक्तों से प्रेम करना चाहिए। हमें उन भक्तों की प्रेमपूर्वक सेवा करनी चाहिए। इस गीत में हम किस प्रकार से गुरू और गौरांग दोनों की सेवा करें या फिर विष्णु और गौरांग की सेवा करें, उसका वर्णन किया गया है। यह एक प्रकार की सोच है।

मुझे कई मैसेज मिल रहे हैं चारों तरफ से, कोल्हापुर में यथा -तथा, इधर-उधर आप हरिनाम के लिए तैयार हो रहे हो। मुरलीमनोहर प्रभु एक दिन के पदयात्रा के लिए तैयारी कर रहे हैं।

यह बहुत अच्छा हैं कि हम सभी जप कर रहे है परन्तु यह जप करना केवल अपने फायदे के लिए है लेकिन जो नगर कीर्तन है, वह हमारे और जनता के लिए बहुत उपयोगी है | श्रील प्रभुपाद जी ने इस्कॉन की ओर से पूरे संसार को पदयात्रा रूपी कार्यक्रम दिया है। वह जो पदयात्रा है वह संकीर्तन का विस्तृत रूप है जिसमें कि हम नगर-नगर, ग्राम-ग्राम और अन्य शहरों में जा कर हरिनाम संकीर्तन करते हैं। आप सभी जो श्री कृष्ण चैतन्य महाप्रभु, श्रील प्रभुपाद तथा मेरे अनुयायी हो, जिस प्रकार से उन्होंने छह वर्ष तक पूरी तरह से संकीर्तन पदयात्रा की। उसी तरह श्री कृष्ण चैतन्य महाप्रभु का पदानुगमन करते हुए हम सभी को भी पदयात्रा करनी है। संकीर्तन करना है।

चैतन्य महाप्रभु का अनुगमन करते हुये ,गुरु ओर गौरांग, श्रील प्रभुपाद जो हमारे संस्थापक आचार्य हैं ,उनकी प्रसन्नता के लिए हमें नगर संकीर्तन करना चाहिए हरिनाम को अन्य लोगों तक पहुँचाना चाहिए। यदि हम सुन्दर पदयात्रा का आयोजन कर सके तो उसका और विस्तृत रूप होगा।

जब हम हरिनाम के लिए जाते हैं, हरिनाम संकीर्तन में भाग लेने के लिए तो हम अन्य अपने बंधुओं को, जो सोये होते हैं, उनको भी बुलाते हैं । इस प्रकार से हरिनाम में जाने से हम, अपने समाज की, अन्य जीवों की, देश की, अपनी कॉलोनी की और जहाँ हम लोग रहते हैं- अपने पड़ोसियों की, सभी को हरिनाम दे कर सभी की सेवा करते हैं। हरे कृष्ण आंदोलन में शामिल होने से पहले ही मेरे अंदर बहुत अच्छी भावना थी कि मैं किस प्रकार से समाज की विस्तृत सेवा कर सकता हूँ परंतु मुझे पता नहीं था – कहाँ से शुरू करूँ, कैसे शुरू करूँ। मेरे पास उपलब्ध सामग्री भी नही थी।

1969 में मैं जब श्रील प्रभुपाद जी से मिला, मुझे वो सूत्र प्राप्त हुआ जिससे मुझे पता चला कि भगवान श्री कृष्ण की सेवा करके मैं पूरे संसार की सेवा, पूरे समाज की सेवा कर सकता हूँ। कृष्ण भावनामृत का प्रचार करके तथा स्वयं उसका अनुगमन करके मैं समाज की, देश की इस प्रकार से सेवा करके मैं अपनी वह इच्छा पूर्ण कर रहा हूँ।

मैं चाहूंगा कि आप सभी भी मुझे इस कार्य में सहयोग करें, मेरे साथ आऐं। इस प्रकार से आप सभी मेरे उद्देश्य को आगे बढ़ा सकते हैं। वास्तव में हम सभी का यही उद्देश्य होना चाहिए। इस प्रकार से हम संसार की, देश की, समाज की सेवा कर सकते हैं।

समाज के उत्थान के लिए, समाज में परिवर्तन के लिए कृष्णभावनामृत का प्रचार ही सही मायने में सबसे उत्कृष्ट कार्य है।

मैं इसके ज़्यादा विस्तार में नहीं जाना चाहता परंतु आप जानते हैं कि हम किस प्रकार के संसार में रह रहे हैं, जो पागल, खराब हो चुका है। एक प्रकार से मदमस्त हो चुका है। कल के दिन की बात है, जहाँ मैं रह रहा हूँ, वहाँ से ,थोड़ी दूर पर बहुत उल्टा-सीधा म्यूजिक बज रहा था और बंबारमेंट हो रहा था, एक प्रकार से उल्टे-सुलटे शब्दों का , जो बहुत ही तुच्छ था और अधिक था, वो जो आवाजें थी, वो जो भी संगीत था, वह असलियत में यह घोषणा कर रहा था कि यह संसार है, यह आनंद है लेकिन हम लोग इस संसार के बाहर की बात कर रहे हैं, हम लोगों को यह बता रहे हैं कि किस प्रकार से इस संसार से निकलकर वास्तविक अपने घर में अपने संसार में जा सके।

श्रील प्रभुपाद जी यह कहा करते थे कि यह संसार एक सभ्य व्यक्ति के लिए नहीं है। यह बदमाशों के लिए है। श्रील प्रभुपाद जी कहा करते थे कि हम शौचालय के अंदर बहुत अधिक समय नहीं रहना चाहते हैं और हम कोशिश करते हैं कि जल्दी से जल्दी शौचालय से बाहर निकल आऐं। इसके बारे में और अधिक क्या कहा जाए, यह संसार ऐसा ही है। शौचालय जैसा है, कारागार जैसा है, पागलों से भरा हुआ है। इससे जितना जल्दी बाहर निकला जाए उतना ही अच्छा रहेगा।

भगवान की कृपा से, गुरू परम्परा से तथा वैष्णवों की कृपा से हम सभी वास्तव में होश में आ रहे हैं और हम वास्तविकता को समझ रहे हैं। हमें यह सोचकर कभी भी संतुष्ट नही होना चाहिए कि अब हम बच गए हैं या हमें बचा लिया गया है। हमें इस संसार के दूसरे भाईयों-बहनों को बचाने के लिए उन तक पहुंचने का प्रयास करना चाहिए क्योंकि वो सब भी भगवान की संताने हैं।वह भी हमारे गुरू भाई हैं या भगवान भाई हैं।

बाहर निकलिये। हरिनाम कीर्तन में जाइए तथा पदयात्राओं का आयोजन करिए। श्रील प्रभुपाद जी की पुस्तकों का वितरण करिए। रविवार के दिन हम सबको बाहर जाना चाहिए। हमें श्रील प्रभुपादजी की पुस्तकें अधिक से अधिक मात्रा में दुकानदारों को या लोगों को वितरित करनी चाहिए। प्रसाद का वितरण करना चाहिए। माताएं जो रसोई की या अपने घर में , गृहस्थो के घर में प्रमुख हैं। वह सभी प्रसाद बना सकती हैं, प्रसाद बना के स्वयं ही न प्राप्त करें, अपने पड़ोसियों को, अपने समाज को वितरित करें।अपने घरों में आप हरे कृष्ण पार्टी करिए। पड़ोसियों को बुलाए, उनको प्रसाद खिलाइए एवं उनसे भागवत विषय में चर्चा कीजिए। इस प्रकार से भक्तिवृक्ष जैसे कार्यक्रम हम सभी अपने घर में चला सकते हैं।

जब हम अपना स्वयं जप करते हैं भगवान प्रसन्न होते हैं

परंतु जब हम कृष्ण भावनामृत को लोगों तक पहुँचाते हैं, उनको प्रसाद और पुस्तकें वितरित करते हैं। येन-केन प्रकार से उनको मंदिर बुलाते हैं, मंदिर में बुलाकर उनको भगवान का दर्शन करवाते हैं। इस प्रकार से यथा-तथा जितना भी हम प्रयास करते हैं। वह भगवान को अधिक प्रसन्न करता है। इस प्रकार से जब हम कृष्ण भावना का प्रचार अधिक से अधिक करेंगे तो उसका परिणाम यह होगा कि जब हम जप करेंगे तो हमारा जप बहुत अच्छा होगा और हम भक्ति कृत्य और अधिक अच्छे तरीके से करेंगे जिससे हमारी सेवा अच्छी होगी और साधना अच्छी हो जाएगी, यह दोनों एक दूसरे के पर्याय बनेंगे और हम आगे बढ़ते जाएंगे।
आप सभी को धन्यवाद ध्यानपूर्वक सुनने के लिए। आज रविवार का दिन है। हमें केवल अपने तक ही या अपने परिवार तक न सीमित करके हमको पूरे संसार तक पहुँचना है। हमें अधिक से अधिक प्रचार करना हैं क्योंकि पूरे संसार में हमारे भाई-बहन हैं और वही हमारा बड़ा परिवार है। इस बड़े परिवार की हमको सेवा करनी है। आज रविवार का दिन है, घर से निकलकर अधिक से अधिक लोगों तक पहुंचकर प्रचार करें, उनको कृष्णभावनमृत दें।

भाषान्तर करने के लिए हरिकीर्तन धन्यवाद!
आप में से भी कोई भाषान्तर कर सकता है। जब कभी हरिकीर्तन प्रभुजी उपस्थित नहीं रहेंगें, आप में से कोई अनुभवी भाषान्तर
करने वाला है ,तो मुझे नाम लिखकर भेजें।
जय गौरांग!
हरे कृष्ण!

5th May 2019

TOPMOST SOCIAL SERVICE!

Today in spite of being Sunday, our scores are good. Thank you for sacrificing your sleep, duties & obligations. You are with us on Sunday and also chanting.

Bhaja Gauranga kaha Gauranga laha Gauranger naam re.

(Song by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. )

I was remembering that song, chant Gauranga’s name, utter Gauranga’s name & keep singing Gauranga’s name. Song also says –

je Jana Gauranga bhaje sai aamar pran re.

All those who are chanters of Gauranga, lovers of Gauranga, they are my life & souls. That means I love Gauranga’s devotees. Not only I love but, I also love to serve, Gauranga’s devotees. Service unto Guru & Gauranga, Vishnu & Gauranga go on simultaneously. In this song, there is an inspiration, how we should serve Guru & Gauranga or Vishnu & Gauranga. That’s one thought.

I am getting messages that at various places, devotees are gathering for Harinam sankirtan. Murali Mohan Prabhuji has reached Chinchwad, & is getting ready for one day padayatra over there. We all are chanting japa, that’s nice. But this chanting is considered for our own benefit. But nagar sankirtan is for benefit of ourselves & for benefit of others.

Srila Prabhupada gave us Krishna, gave ISKCON, gave me this program of padayatras, which is extended as nagar-sankirtan. You go on doing kirtan in one nagar & then next village, next nagar on & on, then that is padayatra. It’s an extended nagar sankirtan.

So, we all chanters followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, & Srila Prabhupada & may be myself also, should be following in footsteps of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who went on padayatra for six years, which is known as ‘Madhya-lila’. All that He was doing was padayatra, doing extended nagar-sankirtan, in so many towns & villages. For us to prove to be true followers of Guru & Gauranga or the founder acharya of ISKCON & Gauranga, we also have to get on to the streets & participate in nagar- sankirtan. If you could do extended Nagar-sankirtan, then nothing like it.

When we go on Padayatra or nagar-sankirtan then that is also expression or exhibition of, ‘you being kind to fellow living beings.’ That way nagar sankirtan, padayatras are for the benefit of the whole world & others. This is how we serve the humanity, serve the nation, serve the colony people where you are residing. Serve your neighbours, by sharing ‘ Hare Krishna’ with them.

I had a desire to serve humanity, from very beginning, the time I had not even joined ISKCON. I didn’t know how & where to begin. Then as I came in contact with Prabhupada in 1974, his formula was ” By serving Krishna you could serve whole world.” So I had been trying to fulfil my desire of serving people, serving country, serving humanity by practicing & propagating Krishna consciousness. I would like you to also assist me, assist ISKCON. Continue kind of my mission, which is everybody’s mission I can say, to serve the public, serve the world.

Srila Prabhupada used to say propagating Krishna consciousness is a topmost welfare program. The topmost service for social reform. I don’t want to get in discussion of what kind of world is around us. It’s a bad & mad world.

I am residing here. Just yesterday kind of event that was taking place around the corner. Some kind of music, loud crazy music. There was bombardment! It was too much. That is this world. Sounds were introducing, okay, this is me! this is this world! Then we are talking of something, out of this world. Things to do, so that we can get out of this world & go to another world.

Srila Prabhupada used to say that, ‘ This world is not for a gentleman. This is for the ruffians’. He also say, ‘We don’t spend much time in a toilet.’ Least amount of time we would like to spend in a toilet & get out of toilet. So like that, world is like a prison, it’s mad, bad we describe it in so many ways, & we want to get out of here. Some of you are coming to the senses by God’s grace or by grace of vaishnav parampara. But we should not be satisfied with the thing, that now we are safe or we have been saved. That’s why, we have to remember others in this world & try to reach out to those souls, those brothers. They are our God-brothers. If they are children of spiritual master, we call them as God-brothers but if they are children of God then what we are God brothers or Bhagwan-bhai.

So go out & do nagar sankirtans, padayatras. Of course, when we go out, we distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. So we do japa conference, you also should distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books to friends, neighbours may be in vacations or Sundays or in free time. Go in groups & distribute books. Distribute prasad. Specially Grihastha can do that. They are kitchen holders. They have kitchens, matajis are in charge of kitchen. They should cook big quantities of prasad & not just gobble yourself, but share with neighbours & friends. Or call them over to your home.

Make ‘Hare Krishna’ party & chant & dance. Teach them philosophy in Bhakti-Vriksha program. Then Lord is pleased with you, while chanting Japa, that is nice. However, when you share Krishna with others by distributing books, prasadam, bringing them to temples & this & that then also Lord is very much pleased. More & more you get easy with this, sharing Krishna, propagating Krishna consciousness with others, then result of that is, it will be preparation for your japa. Result of that will be, your japa will get better. And as we endeavour to chant better with more attention, & devotion, reducing offenses then as a result, our chanting improves & we get inspired to do devotional service more & more. So when our sadhana improves our seva improves, our sadhana improves, our chanting improves, like that they compliment each other & we make an overall progress in Krishna consciousness.

Okay thank you for your attention. We will talk & hear another day, meanwhile you do homework, when our sadhana improves our seva improves, our sadhana improves, our chanting improves, like that they complement each other & we make a overall progress in Krishna consciousness.

So go out of house. Utilize Sundays.

Hare Krishna!

4th May 2019

हरि हरि बोल!
हरे कृष्ण!

आज आपसे दो बातें करते हैं। अभी 525, 26,27,28 और यह संख्या थोड़े समय के लिए बढ़ती जाएगी। आज तो यह संख्या 600 तक नही पहुंचेगी।

आज हमारे साथ पंढरपुर के गुरुकुल के विद्यार्थी भी जप कर रहे हैं। बड़े सुंदर बालक, चार कुमार जैसे, लेकिन यह चार नहीं 24 हैं। उनका भी स्वागत हैं।यह संख्या आज तो 600 तक नहीं पहुँचेगी। हमारा लक्ष्य हैं 600 को पार करना, तो प्रयास में लगे रहिए।

नोयडा से 40 भक्त जुड़े हैं, बैंगलोर से गणेश ने बताया – 3 भक्त जुड़े हैं। नवद्वीप प्रभु पहली बार जप कर रहे हैं। मेलबर्न से 16 भक्त जप कर रहे हैं। लेकिन एक ग्रुप में कर रहे हैं तो उनका 16 का क्रेडिट नहीं मिलेगा, उसको एक ही समझेगें, हम अगर अलग अलग जप करेंगे तो 16 गिने जाएंगे। जैसे मैंने मेलबर्न, ऑस्ट्रेलिया से भक्तों को जप करते हुए देखा और फिर उन्होंने यह जानकारी दी कि प्रभुपादजी जब मेलबर्न में मंदिर जाते थे और जिस क्वार्टर में रहते थे, उसी क्वार्टर में आज कुछ भक्त हमारे साथ जप कर रहे हैं। प्रभुपादजी के क्वार्टर में आज कुछ भक्त हमारे साथ जप कर रहे हैं। प्रभुपादजी के क्वार्टर में बैठने का और वहाँ जप करने का एक विशेष अनुभव, प्रभुपाद का सानिध्य।आप भाग्यवान हो। हरि हरि।

मेलबर्न का बीच इस्कॉन मंदिर से ज्यादा दूर नहीं हैं। हम लोग एक समय में कुछ भक्तों के साथ वहाँ गए थे और हम लोग वहाँ जप कर रहे थे।
मैं जो भी कुछ कहने जा रहा हूँ, उसका संबंध दसवें नाम अपराध के साथ हैं। हरिनाम में श्रद्धा नहीं होना और बहुत उपदेश सुनने के उपरांत भी भौतिक आसक्ति बनाये रखना, यह दसवां नाम अपराध हैं। यह दसवें अपराध के सम्मान की बात हैं।
जब हम बीच पर जाकर, कुछ भक्तों के साथ बैठ कर वहाँ जप कर रहे थे, तो कुछ लोग आ जा रहे थे, घुम रहे थे, दौड़ रहे थे। एक महिला आयी और हमने देखा, उसके हाथ में कुत्ते को बांधने की डोरी या रस्सी थी, वो तो थी लेकिन कुत्ता नहीं था। वह कुत्ते की याद में खोयी थी, तो वह हमारे सामने आयी और पूछने लगी, बड़े विरह के भाव के साथ, सचमुच वह अपने कुत्ते को याद कर रही थी, उसने पूछा, क्या आपने मेरे कुत्ते को देखा है?
हम सोच रहे थे कि जप करते समय हमें तो भगवान कृष्ण को देखना था, उनसे मिलने का प्रयास कर रहे थे और उसके उस कुत्ते को हम नहीं देख रहे थे। जब हम ने कुछ जबाब नहीं दिया, तब वह अपने कुत्ते का बड़े प्रेम से वर्णन करती रही। ओह! मेरा कुत्ता, ओह! प्यारा कुत्ता, ओह! कितना सफ़ेद, कितना सुंदर, हमने तो कुछ जवाब नही दिया लेकिन वह बोलती जा रही थी, क्या आपने मेरे ऐसे कुत्ते को, ऐसे-ऐसे सारा वर्णन, गुण,रूप, लीला, धाम का वर्णन कर रही थी तो पुनः पुनः वह अपने कुत्ते का वर्णन सुना रही थी और पूछ रही थी, ऐसे मेरे कुत्ते को देखा है, आपने? हमने तो उसका कोई जवाब नहीं दिया था। वो बेचारी आगे बढ़ी तो फिर हमने अपना जप जारी रखा।

हरे कृष्ण, हरे कृष्ण,
कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे।
हरे राम, हरे राम,
राम राम हरे हरे।।

पुन: हम भगवान का स्मरण और भगवान के दर्शन का प्रयास कर रहे थे , ना कि उसके कुत्ते का। यह महिला कुत्ते को खोजती हुई जा रही थी, क्या मेरे कुत्ते को तुमने देखा है? मेरे कुत्ते को, तुमने , तुमने, तुमने तो देखा ही होगा, किसी ने तो देखा ही होगा। जब हम देख रहे थे, उस महिला कि खोज, वह महिला, जो पूछताछ कर रही थी, तो इससे हमें स्मरण हुआ, गोपियों का, रासलीला के मध्य में से भगवान जब अंतर्धान होते हैं और वृंदावन में प्रवेश करते हैं, तो सारी गोपियां भगवान की खोज के लिए निकल पड़ती हैं और रास्ते में जिनको भी देखती हैं, जिनको भी मिलती हैं, सबसे पूछती हैं? क्या आपने मेरे कृष्ण को देखा है हमारे कृष्ण को देखा है? गोपियों ने एक हिरण को देखा तो उन्होंने हिरण से पूछा, हमारे कृष्ण को देखा, तो वह दौड़ गया। कुछ पौधे देखे, तुलसी को देखा, तुलसी को पूछा – क्या तुमने हमारे कृष्ण को देखा हैं, उसने भी जवाब नही दिया, गोपियां सोच रही थी, यह पौधा तो छोटा हैं, चलो इस मोटे, ऊंचे पेड़ को पूछते हैं क्योंकि ऊंचे पेड़ को दिखाई देता है पर उसने भी जवाब नहीं दिया। गोपियां खोजती ही जा रही थी। भगवत धाम में आध्यात्मिक जगत में भक्त भगवान को खोजते रहते हैं, भगवान के दर्शन के लिए लालायित होते हैं, इस संसार के लोग कुत्ते को खोजते हैं, फिर कुत्ता हो या परिवार, घर हो या व्यक्ति हो या कार हो, पाया और खोया इसलिए खोज रहे हैं या उसको पाने के लिए खोज हो रही है। चाह है, उसको चाहते हैं, उसको चाहते हैं, उसकी खोज में हैं, गोपियों की खोज कृष्ण के लिए है। यही उचित है, सर्वोपरि है, गीता में भगवान कहते हैं,

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम ‘ यह जगत बिल्कुल उल्टा हैं, ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम – इसके मूल ऊपर है, शाखा नीचे है इसलिए अध्यात्मिक जगत में जो सर्वोच्च या सर्वोत्कृष्ट बात है, वही इस जगत में निकृष्ट बात बन जाती है। इस संसार में भगवान GOD की बजाय DOG की खोज करते हैं ।आप स्पेलिंग जानते हो GOD को , उल्टा करो तो DOG हो जाता है। कीर्तन को उल्टा करते हैं तो नर्तकी होता है। हरि हरि!!
“प्रेमे ढलढल सोनार अंग चरणे नुपुर बाजे

इस संसार के लोग नट, नटी का नर्तन, जो काम क्रोध में निपुण है, जो नर्तन, कामवासना का प्रदर्शन है, उसको देखना, बध्द्जीव का लक्ष्य होता है। आप में से कुछ भक्त मेलबर्न में, प्रभुपादजी के क्वार्टर में बैठकर जप कर रहे हो या मुझे सुन रहे हो। श्रील प्रभुपाद जी ने एक समय कहा – हमारे जीवन का लक्ष्य है – राधा कृष्ण की डांसिंग पार्टी को जॉइन करना। हमारे जीवन का लक्ष्य है – हरि हरि।

एक बार हमने सब जपकर्ताओं से पूर्व तैयारी की बात की थी तो यह पूर्व तैयारी ही ‘अनासक्त वैराग्य विधा निज भक्तियोग शिक्षार्थम एक पुरूषोपुराणः’

गौरांग महाप्रभु शिक्षार्थम एकम पुरूषोपुराणः प्रकट हुए, क्या सिखाने के लिए, वैराग्य विधा निजभक्ति योग: – दो बातें भगवान शिक्षाष्टकम सिखाने के लिए वैराग्य सिखाने के लिए और भगवान की भक्ति में रागनुराग, वैराग्य शब्द विराग से आता है। विराग से वैराग्य मतलब मुक्ति , किससे मुक्ति – राग से मुक्ति राग क्या हैं? आसक्ति और आप कहते हैं – विराग या वैराग्य प्राप्ति के लिए हम को अनुराग अनुरागी बनना होगा। अनु मतलब अनुयायी बनना अनुगमन करना, रागानुराग भक्ति। जब हम गौड़ीय वैष्णव बनकर रागानुराग भक्ति का अवलंबन करते हैं, आसक्त होते हैं। राग का सम्बंध भावों से हैं,माधुर्य राग भाव, वात्सल्य राग भाव, सख्य राग भाव, उन महानुभाव का अवलंबन या अभ्यास करते हैं, तो फिर वैरागी भी विरागी होते हैं।
वैराग्य विद्या महत्वपूर्ण है, इसका हम सभी को अभ्यास करना चाहिए।

और भी बहुत कुछ कहा जा सकता हैं किंतु आप स्वयं की ओर सोचिए, चिंतन कीजिये, मनन कीजिए, अध्ययन कीजिये कैसे वैरागी बनना है, वैराग्यवान बनना है। हमने देखा है आपको बताया भी है रविवार के दिन आपमें से कुछ 50 या 100 भक्त इस कॉन्फ्रेंस में जप नहीं करते, हो सकता है कोई बुरी आदतें( बेड हैबिट्स) या आसक्ति। रविवार के दिन जप में आसक्त नहीं होंगे और किसी में आसक्त होंगे। निद्रा में आसक्त या किसी और चीज़ में आसक्त, वह छोड़िए। कल रविवार के दिन भी आप हमारे साथ जप करोगे, संकल्प लीजिए आप हमारे साथ जप करेंगे।
हरि बोल!
हरे कृष्ण!!!

May 4th 2019

Hare Krsna.

Let’s talk! 225 is the score, 526 okay! 527, 528 increasing! It will go on increasing for little longer. However we are not going to reach the target of 600 today, which is the target by end of this month, remember? So you have to work towards that goal, cross 600 by end of this month.

Jai Pandharpur gurukul boys!

Again we have gurukul boys from Pandharpur. Cute little boys, like four Kumaras! They are not four, they are more than four, they are twenty-four, they are chanting. Welcome them!

From Noida there are 40 chanters.

Ganesh from Bangalore reporting 3 more chanters from Bangalore have joined. Like that Navadvip prabhu, I saw him chanting first time. And 13 from Melbourne are chanting, Haribol! Of course they are one participant, we consider. Like 19 from Bangalore, when you are in group that is considered as one participant. We want 600 individuals as 600 groups to chant with us.

As I saw devotees from Melbourne chanting with us today, and they reported to me that they are chanting in Srila Prabhupada’s quarter in Melbourne. How fortunate you are! I am sure you are getting the vibes of presence of Srila Prabhupada in his quarter. As I am talking of Melbourne, I remembered something; I had some thoughts about Melbourne on my chanting in Melbourne, my chanting on the beach of the Melbourne.

Melbourne beach is not far from ISKCON temple.So, once we had gone, a group of devotees to the beach and we were chanting on the beach. And what I am going to talk has a connection with our relationship with one of the ten offenses. What is the tenth offense? Not having complete faith in chanting the holy names of Lord and maintaining material attachment even after hearing so many instructions on this matter, subject matter.

So, as we were on the beach, now sitting and chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, other people were also there. We noticed one lady took note of our sitting there and approached us and she had a leash of a dog in her hand, but no dog. She had lost her dog and she approached us and made very sincere, emotional inquiry, ‘Have you seen my dog? So of course we thought that we are trying to see God by chanting the holy name of Lord and not trying to see her dog.

She also started describing, ‘You know my dog, oh my dog, oh my beautiful dog, cute little white dog,’ and this and that, she went on describing her pet dog. So like that she was remembering, glorifying and missing and inquiring, ‘Have you seen such dog, this kind of dog, looking like this, looking like that, have you seen?’ Guna, rupa, lila, she was kind of mentioning the name of dog, and the qualities of dog and activities of her dog, pastimes of her dog and again ‘this dog, this kind of dog.’ So of course, we only disappointed her because we had not seen the dog. We couldn’t give any clue to her about her dog. So she moved on.

So then we kept on chanting,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Then we were trying to remember Krsna again and not her dog. However we were taking note that she continued her journey, or continued her search. Every person she came across she was stopping them and inquiring. I am sure, that same inquiry, ‘Have you seen my dog? Okay you have not seen’, she walked on. Next person, stop, ‘Have you seen my dog?’ ‘No, sorry!’ She walked on! Have you seen my dog?

And so that reminded me that how gopis when they had lost their Krsna somewhere in the forest or they thought He had entered in the forest, and all the gopis were searching and looking for Krsna and they were inquiring, ‘Oh deer have you seen my Krsna? Oh! Tulasi plant, what about you, have you seen my Krsna? But you are so tiny, may be you haven’t seen. But this tree is tall, Oh tall tree, have you seen my Krsna? So, like that gopis were going from one object to another or one person to another and another and inquiring, have you seen my Krsna? Have you seen our Krsna? So that attempt or endeavor of that lady, looking for dog, was just perverted reflection of the mood of the gopis. At the topmost level, the gopis were inquiring have you seen my Krsna. And this lady, she is not the only lady, ‘have you seen my dog, or have you seen my kid, or have you seen this or that on and on. Can you help me find? Help me to get this!’

What is the topmost?

urdhva-mulam adhah shakham [BG 15.1]

What is on the top in the spiritual sky it goes at the bottom most level of the material existence. So instead of God’s search, search of dog! So things are reversed, what is best in spiritual sky is worst in material world. In spiritual world they are seeking association of God. Dog in this world, things are reversed and what you say GOD in reverse fashion DOG and that is a dog. And even kirtana, kirtana, when you reverse that, it becomes nartaki, the dancer. That everyone likes to watch on the television screen, some actress dancing. Hari Hari! And not Nataraj Gauranga dancing! If you want to see Gauranga’s dance and kirtana.

preme dhal dhal sonar anga charane nupur baje

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to dance in Navadvipa during early morning hours in the midst of so many devotees with His arms raised and the bells tied around His ankles and they jingle as He dance or as He danced, they jingle.

So devotee aspires to see Gauranga dancing while chanting. This world prefers to see the woman dancing or the actress dancing, full of lust.

kama krodha parayanah[BG 16.12]

They are full of lusty desires, Kama vasana is exhibiting through these actors and actresses dance. So that’s the best thing in this world, the thing they are aspired for to see that kind of nonsensical dance, lusty dance, mundane dance, amongst so many other things worldly people aspire for. May be ultimately seeing the woman, beautiful woman, that’s extreme and that’s the lowest and that’s what this world is aspiring for, vice versa to the spiritual sky. The spiritual world is looking for Krsna’s form and Krsna’s dance.

Srila Prabhupada did say; you are sitting in Prabhupada’s quarters, in Melbourne there. Not exactly there but somewhere Prabhupada did say, goal of our life is to join the dancing party of Radha and Krsna. So for better chanting, attentive chanting, offense less chanting we have to develop detachment and this is preparation of our chanting. As we say, you have to prepare, you have to prepare so this is developing detachment. Everyday abhyasa, developing detachment from the worldly things! Lord appears to teach two things, one is detachment and another is attachment to Lord’s devotional service, bhakti yoga.

Try to understand this word vairagya, to renounce, develop detachment. Vairagya comes from word viraga and vi raga means free from raga. Raga means attachment, so free from attachment. So that is called anuraga. We have to develop viraga, by cultivating anuraga. Anu means to follow, following the footsteps of gopis, our Gaudiya vaisnavas, our previous acaryas, Srila Prabhupada ki jai, and our spiritual masters. So the Bhakti that we practice, also the Gaudiya vaishnavism is called as Raganuga bhakti, raga anuga bhakti, following raga anuga, attachment to the Lord, or those who are attached to the Lord we follow them. Practice bhakti like our heros, our previous acaryas, Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur and our spiritual masters, like that. So we attain perfection. So detachment, practicing detachment is of prime importance. Lot more could be said but you could think more or read more on this subject matter.

Hare Krsna

3rd May 2019

YAMARAJ’S INSTRUCTIONS TO YAMADUTAS

Congratulations to all of you chanters as the score has increased. Yesterday I had said, today’s talk will be by Yamaraja. Have you ever met him? Many times, many many times, but you have forgotten. So, today we will hear from Yamaraja. We will listen to his thoughts. Due to time constraints we can’t make it like storytelling, but some of his thoughts we will present.

This talk of Yamaraj comes in the beginning of sixth canto of Bhagavatam, chapter 3. At end of fifth canto there is description of hellish planets. So, Parikshit Maharaj inquired, whether there is any way, so that suffering could be avoided. In response to that inquiry by King Parikshit, Sukadeva Goswami narrates the glory of the holy name & hence he described this story of Ajamila.

Another way he said, “The way you could avoid going to hell is chanting of the holy names.” Harer nama eva kevalam.

(CC Adi 7.76)

Yesterday, we talked about how first time Yamadutas returned empty handed & they couldn’t bring Ajamila. When Yamadutas returned to Yamaraja their first question was:

yamadūtā ūcuḥ
kati santīha śāstāro,
jīva-lokasya vai prabho
trai-vidhyaṁ kurvataḥ
karma,phalābhivyakti-hetavaḥ (SB. 6.3.4)

Their question was ‘How many controllers are there? We thought you were the only one. But today we had some other experience. Someone intervened & stopped us from bringing Ajamila to you.’

Yamaraja explained, no! no ! I am not the supreme controller.’

yama uvāca
paro mad-anyo jagatas tasthuṣaś ca
otaṁ protaṁ paṭavad yatra viśvam
yad-amśato ‘sya sthiti-janma-nāśā
nasy otavad yasya vaśe ca lokaḥ

(SB 6.3.12)

He admitted. Iam not the supreme controller. He is the Supreme Lord. Yamaraja explains & reveals the fact that, Supreme Lord is superior to him. Then there is long talk in great detail about how He controls.

ahaṁ mahendro nirṛtiḥ pracetāḥ
somo ‘gnir īśaḥ pavano viriñciḥ
āditya-viśve vasavo ‘tha sādhyā
marud-gaṇā rudra-gaṇāḥ sasiddhāḥ.
( SB 6.3.14)

All these parties are governed by the Lord. We may be Ishwara, but Lord is Supreme controller – Parameshwar.

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam (BS. 5.1)

Like that Brahma also has said that, Parameshwar is Krishna.

dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ
na vai vidur ṛṣayo nāpi devāḥ
na siddha-mukhyā asurā manuṣyāḥ
kuto nu vidyādhara-cāraṇādayaḥ (SB. 6 3.19)

Yamaraja explained, that dharma is given by the Lord. Dharma means laws of the Lord, which governs the world. This dharma is given by the Lord. Yamaraja says, all of you my dutas should understand, that dharma which you follow, that laws are not given by me. They are given by Param niyamak – Parameshwar.

We follow, we abide by the laws given by the Lord, in the form of codes of dharma. Yamaraja is a kind of giving his ID, or introduction. He says there are twelve persons called ‘Bhagvats’. They are the knowers of that dharma given by the Lord. Swayambhuva, Naradha, Shambhu, Kumaro Kapilo Manu Balir Vaiyasaki vayam.

He gives the list of ‘Dwadash – Bhagvats’ or Mahajans. He explains, I am included in those Mahajans & we know dharma & we practice that dharma. Yamaraja is kind of big judge or supreme Court judge, when it comes to judgement. He is not only strict punisher but he is knowledgeable. He has to make so many decisions, about each living entities’ destination. It’s a big responsibility. But he doesn’t take those decisions, whimsically. He follows, the code of conduct given by the Lord.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
striyāḥ praviṣṭa udaraṁ
puṁso retaḥ-kaṇāśrayaḥ (SB 3.31.1)

He analyses whether someone has done ‘karma’, or ‘akarma’ means devotional service or vikarma – sinful activities, & taking all that into consideration, he gives the judgement. So, now Yamaraja is giving some special instructions or even warning to Yamadutas, his messengers. Please take note of this, Beware! Yamaraja was giving them job description, or reminding them of do’s & don’ts. You do this! & don’t do this ! Bring such person to me but don’t touch or even look at that person. Then Yamaraj tells

tān ānayadhvam asato vimukhān mukunda-
pādāravinda-makaranda-rasād ajasram
niṣkiñcanaiḥ paramahaṁsa-kulair asaṅgair
juṣṭād gṛhe niraya-vartmani baddha-tṛṣṇān
( S.B.6.3.28)

Bring those people to me who are vimukha, those who are against Lord. Whom you should bring,

mukund padaravind makarandam

Also those who have not developed attraction for the holy name. But others for whom the holy name has become ‘makarand’ or nectar. Those who are relishing the ‘makarand ‘of holy name, those who are offenselessly chanting so they are relishing the nectarine holy name, those who are attentive, don’t bring them. Those who have not developed attraction for holy name or Krishna or Krishna’s dham or devotees , they have not developed love for them, to all those ‘vimukhan, tan anayadhwam’. Bring those. Then he also says

jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ
cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam
kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi
tān ānayadhvam asato ‘kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān
( S.B. 6.3.29)

Yamaraj says one whose tongue doesn’t utter the holy name, tan anayadhwam….. who else cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam

Those who doesn’t remember Lord’s lotus feet, tan anayadhwam…… Krishnay yo na namati Shir ekadapi…. Those who had never bowed down in front of Krishna – tan anayadhwam…… akrit Vishnukrtyan……. Those who are not performing devotional service unto the Lord, bring them. Then towards the end he says

tasmāt saṅkīrtanaṁ viṣṇor
jagan-maṅgalam aṁhasām
mahatām api kauravya
viddhy aikāntika-niṣkṛtam
(SB. 6.3.31)

Therefore it is advised, conclusion or instructions to us for our knowledge. Yamaraja says ‘tasmat’therefore, ‘sankirtanam vishnum’ – Vishnu’s sankirtan or Krishna’s sankirtan.

‘Jagan-mangalam’ – it is all auspicious for the world. ‘Ambhasam’ those who are sinful, their lives will become auspicious if they go for sankirtan of Vishnu or Krishnasya sankirtanam, Chaitanya’s sankirtanam so ambhasam, those sinful souls in this world there lives will also receive auspiciousness.

Shreyaha kairav chandruka vitaranam
Vidya vadhu jivanam. ( Shikshastakam verse 1)

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also has said, that this sankirtan will spread the rays of moon in lives of those sinful folks.

śṛṇvatāṁ gṛṇatāṁ vīryāṇy
uddāmāni harer muhuḥ
yathā sujātayā bhaktyā
śuddhyen nātmā vratādibhiḥ (SB. 6.3.32)

Yamaraj continues by saying we should always hear, chant, glorify the powers of the Lord, pastimes of the Lord, powers of the Lord, beauty of the Lord, names of the Lord.

muhuhu – again & again & again.

So to summarise, you could study this talk by Yamaraja. Now you know where to find. Sixth canto, chapter 3. There is Yamadutas talk. Then Yamaraja has revealed the facts, including the glories of the holy name. This is a homework. By accepting holy name also, one will not have to go through the ‘Yam-yatana’ or

punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare shayanam iha sansare khalu dustare krpaya pahi pahi murare.

Pahi pahi murare.
(‘Bhaja Govindam’ prayers by Adi Shankaracharya)
Hey Murari please protect me.

Hare Krishna!

2.5.2019

575 – 576 भक्त आज साथ में जप कर रहे हैं अर्थात् हमारे से जुड़े हैं, धीरे – धीरे अपनी हम मंजिल की ओर बढ़ रहे हैं, मेरे प्यारे भक्तों, मेरे प्यारे साथियों भक्ति का प्रयास जारी रखो। प्रह्लाद महाराज अपने साथियों को कहते हैं कि आप अभी इसी समय से भगवान का नाम लेना तथा जप करना आरम्भ कर दो जबकि प्रह्लाद महाराज तथा उनके मित्र बच्चे थे फिर भी वह कहते हैं कि मित्रों यही समय हैं हमें अपनी बाल्यावस्था में ही कृष्ण भक्ति को अपनाना चाहिए। हमें हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र का जप करना चाहिए और इस प्रचार का लाभ हमारी संस्कृति में होता रहा हैं। मैं देख रहा हूँ कि आप अपने खुद के बच्चों से जप करवा रहें हैं, दूसरे बच्चों से भी जप करवा रहें हैं तथा भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार से सभी को अपने साथ जोड़ रहें हैं। मैं आप के इस प्रयास की सराहना करता हूँ। आप सभी अपने – अपने प्रयास जारी रखें। रेणु गोपाल प्रभु नागपुर में बच्चों के साथ जप कर रहे हैं। पंचाली सखी माताजी अपनी बेटी जिसकी आयु केवल 10 वर्ष हैं, के साथ हर रोज आठ माला का जप करती हैं। मुझे यह देखकर बहुत अच्छा लगता हैं।

आज पंढरपुर के गुरुकुल में छोटे–छोटे बच्चों को जप करते हुए देखा तो बहुत अच्छा लगा। आपकी जानकारी के लिए बता रहा हूँ कि पंढरपुर में गुरुकुल खुला है जहाँ आप अपने बच्चों को भेज सकते हो। मैंने गुरुकुल में देखा कि बहुत सारे बच्चे माला झोली लेकर जप कर रहे थे। नागपुर में भी समर कैम्प चलाया जा रहा था, जो बहुत ही अद्भुत लगा। 30-40 बच्चों का समर कैम्प चलाया गया था जो बहुत ही अच्छा रहा। मेरे सभी प्रचार क्षेत्रों में समर कैम्प चलाए जा रहें हैं अगर आपके क्षेत्र में समर कैम्प नहीं लगा तो इस वर्ष तैयारी करो और समर कैम्प लगाओ। अमरावती क्षेत्र में जयप्रद माताजी ने बाल वैष्णव पद-यात्रा का आयोजन किया जो बहुत ही सफल रहा। मैं उन सभी छोटे-छोटे बालक – बालिकाओं को बधाई देता हूँ और मुझे ख़ुशी हैं कि छोटे-छोटे बच्चों में कृष्ण भक्ति का बीज बोया जा रहा हैं, इसके लिए मैं बधाई देता हूँ।

यह सब देखकर मुझे अजामिल की कथा का स्मरण हो रहा हैं जो भागवतम् के छठे स्कन्द में कही गई हैं, जिससे हरी नाम कि महिमा प्रदर्शित होती हैं। इस प्रसंग में एक बालक की कथा का उल्लेख हैं। प्रभु की इच्छा व प्रेरणा से बालक को नारायण नाम दिया गया जिससे जीवन के अंत में अजामिल का बहुत उद्धार हुआ। अजामिल हर समय अपने पुत्र नारायण का ही नाम लेता रहता था। हर समय नारायण – नारायण पुकारता रहता था। नारायण यहाँ आओ, नारायण स्कूल जाओ, नारायण भोजन ग्रहण करो, नारायण पढ़ो। इस प्रकार अजामिल हर समय नारायण का ही नाम लेता रहता था। बच्चे का नाम नारायण था तो अजामिल नारायण नाम का ही जप करता था परन्तु भगवान बहुत दयालु है, उदार प्रकृति के हैं उन्होंने सोचा अजामिल मुझे पुकारता रहता है। यहाँ पर समझने कि बात यह है कि नारायण किसका नाम हो सकता है। नारायण नारायण का ही नाम हो सकता हैं अर्थात् नारायण ही नारायण है। वह बालक नारायण नहीं हुआ। वह नारायण दास हुआ। अजामिल हर समय नारायण नाम का जप करता रहता था तो भगवान ने इसका श्रेय भी अजामिल को ही दिया इसीलिए हमारे धर्म और संस्कृति में बालक – बालिकाओं के नाम यमुनादास, कृष्णदास, राधादासी, गंगाराम रखते हैं। इसका जीवन में बहुत लाभ प्राप्त होता है।

आज हमारे समाज में चीकू, टिंकू, पिंकू जैसे नाम रखे जाते है जोकि बेकार और निरर्थक है, और जिनका कोई मतलब भी नहीं है। इस कलियुग में भी नवद्धा भक्ति माताजी ने अपने पुत्र का नाम गौरांग रखा है। वह सारा दिन गौरांग – गौरांग पुकारती रहेगी तो गौरांग उसका उद्धार करेंगे। अब हम वापस अपनी कथा की और बढ़ते है – धीरे – धीरे अजामिल कि उम्र बढ़ने लगती है और उसका शरीर छोड़ने का समय आता है तो वह यमदूत को देखकर डर जाता है और अपने पुत्र नारायण को पुकारता है – नारायण आओ, नारायण मेरी मदद करो, नारायण देखो मेरी ओर देखो। अजामिल सोच रहा था कि मेरा बेटा मेरे पास आए और मुझे यमराज से बचा ले परन्तु तभी भगवान ने सोचा कि अजामिल अपनी मदद के लिए मुझे पुकार रहा है। उन्होंने विष्णुदूतों को भेजा और कहा कि जाओ अजामिल की मदद करो, उसकी रक्षा करो तो उन्होंने जाकर अजामिल की रक्षा करी, दुसरे शब्दों में हम कह सकते है कि अजामिल की रक्षा नारायण के नाम जप ने की क्योंकि उस समय वह नारायण नाम का ही जप कर रहा था जिसके कारण उसकी रक्षा हुई, जबकि उस समय अजामिल के जप नामाभास अवस्था थी इसलिए अजामिल को और शुद्ध नाम जप का अभ्यास करना पड़ा। इसके लिए वह हरिद्वार गया और वहाँ शुद्ध नाम का जप किया तो जब पुनः विष्णुदूत आये तो अजामिल को विष्णुधाम लेकर गए। जब यमदूत यमलोक लौटे तो सब हैरान थे कि ये सब कैसे हुआ इतने पापों के बाद भी हम अजामिल को हम यमलोक नहीं ला पाए। इन सभी प्रश्नों का उत्तर हम कल देंगे। यमराज महाराज ने सभो प्रश्नों का क्या उत्तर दिया, इसकी चर्चा हम कल करेंगे।

हरी बोल

2nd May 2019

‘VEN NAMABHAS’ CAN SAVE FROM GOING TO HELL!

kaumāra ācaret prājño
dharmān bhāgavatān iha
durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam (SB 7.6.1)

Prahlad Maharaj advised to his friends, ” My dear friends, this is the time, kaumaram, we are all children, (he was also a child) & we should be practicing Bhagavad- Dharma. This is the time we should be chanting ‘Hare Krishna’.”

So, following that advice many of you, I am seeing in this conference also, getting your or other children to practice Krishna consciousness. Get them to chant ‘Hare Krishna’. This is highly appreciated. Keep up this endeavour.

Venugopal prabhu’s son I saw sitting with him & chanting. Panchali Sakhi mataji’s ten year old daughter was also chanting with her & she chants 8 rounds every day. That is what inspired me to talk on this topic today.

We are proud to announce, in Pandharpur we have new Gurukul. Hari bol!

brahmacārī guru-kule
vasan dānto guror hitam
ācaran dāsavan nīco
gurau suḍṛdha-sauhṛdaḥ (SB 7.12.1)

So, from there i saw small children chanting. I received report from ISKCON Nagpur yesterday, that they had a summer camp. Some thirty to forty school children, they had wonderful experience in 5 days of summer camp. Such summer camps are conducted in most of my zone temples. Those temples who have not conducted as yet, please make sure; you conduct it this year.

Yet there is another report related to children. In Amaravati , Jaybhadra mataji organized Padayatra for children. This was first ever Bal- Padayatra for children. I congratulate & thank you & express my great pleasure for all these attempts & endeavours for Krishna consciousness among children. Hari bol! for all of them making these endeavours.

I am remembering the glories of holy name from Bhagavatam. So many glories of holy name are chanted throughout the Bhagavatam, specially the Ajamila episode explains the holy name & glorifies the ‘Harinam Mahatmya’.

Again, in this, child is involved in this episode, Ajamila’s son. Luckily or co-incidentally or accidentally he had named his son’ Narayan’. That made a big difference for him, naming the child that way. Ajamila got liberated ultimately, just by naming his son Narayan. He had been chanting name ‘Narayan! Narayan! come here! , Did you feed Narayan today? Narayan it’s time to go to school.’ Narayan! Narayan! Narayan! Ajamila was chanting few rounds of Narayan, Narayan every day. Narayan come. Narayan sit. Narayan eat. Narayan! Narayan! Narayan! used to go on.

Lord is so kind. Of course, as we know, he was calling, thinking Narayan is my son’s name. Because that is not possible. Whose name could be Narayan? Whose name could be Narayan? & who’s name is Narayan? Only Narayan’s name could be Narayan. His son could be Narayan-das. Narayan remains the name of Narayan. Lord is so kind. Though Ajamila was calling out Narayan, Narayan to his son, still Lord was giving credit to him, for his uttering the name Narayan.

Of course, this kind of credit not only Ajamila receives, but you all, we also receive it. That is why we name our children Krishna – das or Radha- Dasi, Jamuna Dasi or Ganga Das like that. What is the benefit of naming them Chinku , Tinku & Pinku. All sorts of names we get to hear nowadays. All this is nonsense. These are meaningless names. We waste our time & energy uttering those.

For example Navavidha Bhakti mataji’s son’s name is Gauranga. So she keeps calling Gauranga, Gauranga! & by that way she will get Gauranga’s mercy.

So, then when it was time for Ajamila’s departure, he called out the name Narayan! Narayan! He was helpless. He was thinking he was addressing his son Narayan. Narayan come here, look!! Yamadutas are here. help me! So, what happened was Lord took it as – Ajamila was addressing Him or Lord. Calling Him for help & Lord responded by sending Vishnu Dutas for the rescue of Ajamila.

Then we know the rest, how Ajamila was saved by Vishnu Dutas, by chanting the holy name of Narayan. So, we can say Narayan saved him, but if we analyse, on the spot there it was only name of Narayan, which is non-different then Narayan Himself, saved Ajamila. Of course, name Narayan he uttered did not give him full benefits of uttering the name of ‘Narayan’. He had chanted at ‘Namabhas’ stage. It was not pure chanting. Then he went to Haridwar & practiced further, he did Shuddha naam japa & attained the love of Godhead.

Then Vishnu Dutas had come again & brought him back to Lord’s abode.

Tomorrow we will discuss, how Yamadutas had to go empty handed, first time to Yamaloka in front of Yamaraj. They had lots of questions for Yamaraj. They wondered what happened? ‘Such a sinful person, but we couldn’t bring him to your courtyard, O Lord! Yamaraja please reveal the mystery.’ Then Yamraj gave answers to those questions. So we will listen to pravachan of Yamraj tomorrow.

Till then keep chanting.

Haribol!