Everything is Auspicious when Krishna is there!

A  story about Krishna from the book ‘Gopala Champu’ by Jiva Goswami. We recall when Krishna lived in Dvārakā. At that time, there was a an eclipse. A full eclipse where the eclipse of the sun was being predicted. So everyone was worried about it and Vasudeva decided that they should all go to Kuruksetra, to perform a big sacrifice there. Therefore, the whole entire family of the Yadus went to Kuruksetra and a big arrangement for a sacrifice was being made, and all on the order of Vasudeva who was arranging for everything.
It was just at that time, Nanda Maharaj was also coming to visit and he arrived. When Krishna saw Nanda Maharaj, then Krishna became so emotional and so did Nanda Maharaj. Vasudeva had never seen Krishna like that. Then he said out loud:
“It’s not surprising that Krishna is so attached to Nanda Maharaja, although Nanda Maharaj was not his real father, but of course he stayed there for a long time”.
Nanda Maharaj didn’t even hear that, he just saw Krishna and Krishna saw Nanda Maharaj. Then a brahmana came and said to Vasudeva:
“Please, you must come now for the sacrifice, so that we can counteract the inauspicious influence of the eclipse”.
And Jiva Goswami or some narrators who tell story say:
“What is the question of any inauspiciousness when Krishna is there!”
So the whole sacrifice was not required, because Krishna was present. Nanda Maharaj understood that there was no need for a yajña. But Vasudeva wanted to do the yajña, to ward off the inauspiciousness. So here, we see something between the mood of Dvārakā, and the mood of Vrindavana, which is very interesting. How in the mood of Dvārakā, there is all this opulence so they are into the external ritual, and for the sake of dharma and everything! But in Vrindavana:



‘It’s okay, we have Krishna. When Krishna is here then everything is auspicious…..where there is Krishna ”.
The gopis have that same mood! So one who chants the holy name of Krishna, goes for the essence – ‘Krishna, Krishna, Krishna!’
Wherever there is Krishna, then there is no need!

- HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, 2011

Mother Cow

November 7 1966: In delhi, 200000 hindus riot, demanding an immediate ban on government cow slaughter.

"The government is atheistic" Prabhupada comments, "but you can see that the people are protesting. The know that go-mata, mother cow is beloved of Krishna and therefore sacred."

Prabhupada outlines a letter to The Times of India, and sites Vedic injunctions against cow slaughter, pointing that the cow is one of man's mothers, representative of the earth.

"There a very severe reactions awaiting all of them." Prabhupada comments. "Cattlemen, cow butchers, transporters, restaurant owners and consumers. Even the dishwasher."

From the Hare Krishna Explosion Chap 5 by Hayagriva Das

Krishna Consciousness means coming out of the Comfort Zone

Do you think of returning to Vrindavan? Rayarama asks Srila Prabhupada


(Srila Prabhupada in His room at Radha Damodar Temple, Vrindavan)

Srila Prabhupada: "My heart is always hankering after that Vrindavan. Even though I am sitting in New York a magnificent city, I shall be very happy to return to my Vrindavan, that sacred place. Of course, if someone asks, "Why are you here?' I must say that it is my duty. I have brought some message for you people. My Guru maharaja ordered me, 'Whatever you have learned, whatever knowledge you have, you should go to the western countries and distribute it.' If I go and sit down in Vrindavan, I will be very comfortable there and have no anxiety. But I have taken these risks in old age because I am duty bound. In spite of all inconveniences, one has to execute his duty. This is the basic principle for advancement in spiritual knowledge.

If we think of Krishna, we are always in Vrindavan. Krishna consciousness means living with Krishna in that spiritual planet, Goloka Vrindavan. You simply have to wait to give up the body. That is the process.



Ananya cetah satatam yo mam smarati nityasah - For one who remembers Krishna constantly, Krishna becomes purchased. The greatest most valuable thing, becomes easily available. Why?
Tasyaham sulabhah partha nitya yukta yoginah - Beacuse My devotee is continually engaged in Bhakti Yoga, I am easily available.

Ofcourse you may think sometimes it is not that easy, but sometimes when the moon is covered by clouds, we think it is not there because everything is dark. But when the clouds pass, we see that the moon has been there all the time, shining in all its brightness. This Krishna Consciousness movement is that benediction moon, shining through the clouds of Kali-Yuga.

- The Hare Krishna Explosion Chapter 5

Pleasure and Pain

Walking down the road, a man sees some stool and the stool is soft, and he thinks, "This is nasty." And a little further down the road, he again sees stool, but it has been in the sun for sometime, and becuase it is hard, the man thinks, " This is good." - But he does not stop to consider that hard or soft, stool is stool.

Pleasure or pain - they are the same.

In this material world, pleasure is simply hard stool. But we are thinking it is so nice.

- Srila Prabhupada to Brahmananda (Hare Krishna Explosion)

More Enthusiastic to Chant

“In the relative world, the word “water” and the substance water are different. When I am thirsty, if I simply chant “Water, water, water,” my thirst will not be satisfied. I require the real water. That is the nature of the relative world and relative consciousness. But in the spiritual world or spiritual consciousness, the name is the same as the thing that is named. For instance, we are chanting Hare Krsna. If Krsna were different from the chanting of Hare Krsna, then how could we be satisfied chanting the whole day and night? This is the proof. An ordinary name-if you chant “Mr. John, Mr. John,” after chanting three times you will cease. But this Hare Krsna maha-mantra- if you go on chanting twenty-four hours a day, you will never become tired. This is the spiritual nature of the Absolute Truth. This is practical. Anyone can perceive it.” (Civilization and Transcendence ch. 7)

“Krsna’s words and He are not different. That is omnipotency. Omnipotency means everything relating to Krsna has the same potency. Just like here in this material world, if you are thirsty and want water, simply calling repeatedly, “water, water, water, water, water,” will not satisfy your thirst. Because the word “water” has not the same potency as water itself. You require the water as it is. Then your thirst will be satisfied. But in the transcendental, absolute world, there is no such difference. Krsna and Krsna’s name, Krsna’s words and Krsna’s qualities, Krsna’s pastimes- everything is Krsna.” (SPT 25/3/67)

“So immediately you can be in touch with Krsna by vibrating this sound, Hare Krsna. It is so potent. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah. The name of Krsna is cintamani, transcendental. It is not this material sound, material name. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya. Living force, caitanya. It is not dead sound. If you want water, if you chant only “Water, water, water, water,” you will not get water, because it is material sound. The water substance is different from the word “water”. Therefore, simply by chanting, “water, water” you cannot quench your thirst. You must have the substance water. That is material sound. Anything you take, simply by chanting the name, you will not get the thing. That is material.
“But in the spiritual world, the name and the person or the substance is the same. Krsna and Krsna’s name is the same. There is no difference. Therefore, those who are chanting “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna,” they are becoming more and more enthusiastic to chant.”(SPT 22/1/75)

- SRILA PRABHUPADA

Supremacy of the Holy Name

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?’ Mahaprabhu replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Then Mahaprabhu quoted a verse from Brhan-naradiya Purana: ‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’ (cc Madhya.241-2)

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu always emphasized the supremacy of nama-bhajana in His preaching. In Jagannatha Puri, Mahaprabhu also instructed Sanatana Gosvami on this point:

bhajanera madhye srestha nava-vidha bhakti
‘krsna-prema’, ‘krsna’dite dhare maha-sakti
tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana
niraparddhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

Of all the different spiritual practices, the nine forms of bhakti (sravanam, kirtanam, etc) are the best because they have great potency to deliver Krsna and ecstatic love for Him. Of these nine practices, nama-sankirtana is the best. By chanting the holy name without offense, one very easily obtains the priceless treasure of krsna-prema. (cc. Antya 4.70-1) “The Caitanya-caritamrta states that of the nine ways of devotional service to obtain love of God, the foremost is nama-sarikirtana. One who chants nama without offenses surely achieves love of God. Bhakti-sandarbha says no form of bhakti (i.e. mathura-vasa, sadhu-sariga, sri-murti seva, and bhagavata-sravan) is complete without Sri Krsna nama-sankirtana. The Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya says that sahkirtana is the best and foremost of all spiritual practices for attaining Krsna’s mercy. If the other practices of bhakti are helpful to it, they should then be accepted.” (Sri Caitanya’s Teachings) “Sri-nama bhajana is more powerful than all other forms of bhajana (nava-vidha-bhakti). There is no difference between nama (the holy name) and nami (Bhagavan, who possesses the name.) If you chant nama without offense, you will very quickly attain all perfection. All nine forms of bhajana are, automatically carried out by performing nama-bhajana. When one utters sri-nama, he is engaged in hearing and chanting (sravanam, kirtanam). As one continues to chant, one also remembers the pastimes of Krsna, and within the mind one serves Krsna’s lotus feet (pada-sevanam), worships Him (arcanam), offers prayers (vandanam), serves Krsna in the mood of a servant (dasyam) or friend (sakhyam), and offers one’s very self to Krsna (atma-nivedanam).” Jaiva Dharma ch. 4)

Upon completing the description of the sixty-four limbs of devotional service, Srila Rupa Gosvami mentions five of them as the most important items. Srlla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura clearly shows how each one of these five most potent devotional processes points to the chanting of the holy name.
Sarasvati Thakura once explained that after careful consideration of the five limbs of bhakti, the best practice is sri-nama bhajana. The next entry shows how chanting Krsna’s holy names is the root of all nine forms of devotion and is glorified above all.

(1) Sadhu-sanga-assotiating with devotees is recommended to create a taste or inclination for sri-nama bhajana. This comes from associating with holy saints who are attached to chanting Krsna’s holy names with firm faith and who systematically chant the names.
(2) Bhagavata-sravaha-hearing Srimad Bhdgavatam which itself declares sri-nama bhajana to be the highest virtue. In its beginning, middle (sixth canto, Ajamila story), and end, the Srimad Bhagavatam repeatedly stresses the efficacy of sri-nama bhajana.
(3) Mathura-vasa-sri-nama bhajana is situated at the root of residence in Vrndavana or Sridhama Mayapur. The sadhus living in or visiting these holy places are always engaged in nama-sahkirtana.
(4) Sri-murti-seva-the service of Krsna’s Deity is always conducted with mantras full of God’s names. The Hari-bhakti-vilasa and Sri Jiva Gosvami say that Deity service must be accompanied with chanting the Hare Krsna mantra for it to be accepted.
(5) Nama-sankirtana-is directly chanting the holy names.

According to Sri Jiva Gosvami, chanting the holy name is not only the greatest form of sadhana, but it must accompany every other form of devotional service: “Chanting the holy name of Krsna is the chief means of attaining love of God. This chanting does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor birth in a good family. All the Vedas proclaim that by humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krsna. Therefore, chanting Hare Krsna is the greatest sadhana (maha-sddhananam), and the fulfillment of all sacrifice, penance and austerities. Simply by chanting one achieves ecstatic love of God and complete perfection in life. Therefore, whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied with the Chanting Of the holy name.” (Bhakti-sandarbha 270)

Humble Meditations on Govardhan Pastime

Today we celebrated Govardhan Puja by offering dandavats to Giriraja Govardhan. I remembered that one of the reason Sri Krishna arranged the Govardhan Puja was to remove the pride of His devotee Indradeva. So among other prayers, I was humbly requesting Girigovardhan to please remove the Sumeru mountain of pride within my heart.



Just like a sharp thorn thrust within the eye causes blindness, the sharp thorn of pride pierces the eye of our self realisation and causes spiritual blindness. Please Giriraja, lift this mountain of pride from my heart and allow me to become your genuine devotee. Today we began in the lane leading to Jatipura village. Passing the Vallabha Sampradya Mukharavinda we proceeded to the end of the village, then turned left to return to the main road. The area along the boundary wall had been used as an open toilet. There were multicoloured mounds of freshly deposited remains of the previous day's curries, and, the waters used for cleansing had trickled across our path. As I was prostrating my body in the dust, glancing left, catching various aromas, I realised that the bad, smelly desires of my heart were no better than the waste products on the side of the path. The only difference was that path-side stools had passed easily from someone's body, whereas the stool-like desires of my heart cling and cling, never wanting to come out. As much as I may read, or chant, or pray, or serve, I am understanding that I am totally dependent upon the causeless grace of Sri Radhe and Sri Krishna to free my heart from these filthy material desires. O Giriraja-dharan, O Giriraja Govardhan, please bestow your grace upon me, allow me to one day become your devotee.

Turning to the main road we proceeded a short distance till we again entered the inside path. As it was Govardhan Puja the parikrama path was full of pilgrims and the dust from their feet covered our bodies. Half way between Jatipura and Govardhan Village we stopped our parikarama, our car was waiting, we stopped at Giriraja Sweet Shop for kacoris with a pumpkin subji that was like a sweet hot chutney. Madhava bought fresh jalebis, delicious Bengali chum chums, and we proceeded to Kusum Sarovara for our bath and picnic. Returning home the devotees had worshipped my Giriraja beautifully. The altar was decorated with many flower garlands, pleasant incense and aromatic oils were burning, Giriraja had eaten a feast cooked by Vrindavan Bihari, mountains of delicious fruits, and tons of sweets. My neighbour Balarama Baba sent samples of the 56 preparations he had offered to Giriraja, Vijaya Radhika prepared sweet rice that tasted like amrita from the spiritual world. After a long shower we honoured the Lord's tasty foodstuffs. Then I feel into a deep comatose situation. After an hour I rallied my spirits, again bathed, dressed, and went to Madhava Prabhu's kirtan on the MVT lawn. It was celestial. Following that the vaisnavas allowed me to sing in the temple. After offering my lamp to the deities I walked in the cool Vraja night to Varaha Ghat relishing japa. Though Diwalli was yesterday, I can hear big explosions of firecrackers throughout Vrindavan. Good night dear friends from blessed Vrindavan on the evening of Govardhan Puja. I pray that you all had blissful celebrations filled with sweet remembrance of the Lord's Govardhan Lila. May the ever merciful, best devotee of Lord Hari, Giriraja Govardhan fulfil your heart's deepest spiritual yearnings. O Vrindavan, my home, the land I love, please let me serve you.

- HH BB Govinda Swami

(Taken from Facebook Updates) on October 27, 2011

Consciousness for entering Vrindavan Dhaam

To be in Vrindavan in the association of devotees is an inconceivacle good fortune. We should never think that we deserve but is has been given tio us. It is a matchless gift. If our hearts are truly grateful and we express that gratitude through our humble appreciation for Srila Prabhupada's mercy and that all of our previous acaryas and our Lord Sri Radha Shyamsunder and we express our gratitude through our service attitude. Vrindavan is a land of bhakti.

Srila Prabhupada says there is a very thin layer that covers Vrindavan. We must not see from our eyes but from the heart. When we hear from scriptures, we develop the faith that nothing can contaminate Vrindavan. But it is only revealed through devotion and surrender. Only by pure devotion I can be seen as I am standing before you. Therefore it is very important that when we come to Vrindavan we can't take anything for granted. We don't come here to enjoy or as a vacation. we come to Vrindavan to get purified and perform any service in association of devotees.

- HH Radhanath Swami

Jatayu - The Devotee

Jatayu - From material persepctive, jatayu failed. He lost, tried to keep sita from being taken away, but he was cut to pieces and was losing his life and Sita was taken by Ravana. But Lord Ramacandra did not see whether jatayu was successful or failure by material perspective but he saw the sincerity of devotion and Rama wept and wept to show the world, how much he loved His devotee.

To please the Lord is the only sign of victory, and to displease Him is the greatest failure, even if we win the whole world.

- HH Radhanath Swami

No Quality in Chanting?

Quality Chanting of the Name

Devotee (8): When chanting our sixteen rounds, we are not sure if these rounds are sincere...

Prabhupada: You should be sure.

Devotee (8): How can we be sure?

Prabhupada: There is beads.

Brahmananda: No, he's saying that when we chant our rounds, how can we be sure that when we chant the round that the round is a perfect, attentive round, sincere?

Prabhupada: Therefore it is sastra, "You must." There is no question of understanding.

Brahmananda: The quality of the chanting he's asking. How can we make the quality the best?

Prabhupada: Quality, you'll understand first of all come to the quality. Without having quality, how he'll understand the quality? You follow the instruction of your spiritual master, of the sastra. That is your duty.
Quality, no quality  *** it is not your position to understand. When the quality comes there is no force. You will have a taste for chanting. *** That is quality, automatically. Just like Haridasa Thakura was doing. He was not forced to do. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He requested, "Now you are old enough. You can reduce." So he refused, "No. Up to the end of my life I shall go on." That is quality. Have you got such tendency that you will go on chanting and nothing to do? That is quality. Now you are forced to do. Where is the question of quality? That is given a chance so that one day you may come to the quality, not that you have come to the quality. Quality is different. Asakti, attachment. Just like Rupa Gosvami says that "How shall I chant with one tongue, and how shall I hear, two ears? Had it been millions of tongue and trillions of ear, then I could enjoy it." This is quality. Quality is not so cheap. Maybe after many births. For the time being you go on following the rules and regulations. It is being done by force. Where is the quality? So you wanted to understand quality. This is the quality. You'll not be forced, but automatically you'll desire. That is quality. I am writing books. I am not being forced by anyone. Everyone can do that. Why one does not do it? Why I get up at night, one o'clock, and do this job? Because I cannot do without it. How one will do it artificially? This is quality. Therefore they like my purports.

That quality is shown by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda virahena me. "Oh, I do not see Govinda. The whole world is vacant." Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda virahena me. This is quality. Just like we have got practical example. One man's beloved has died, and he is seeing the whole universe vacant. Is it vacant? So that is quality of love. So there is no formula of quality. It is to be understood by himself. Just like if after eating something you feel refreshed and get strength, that is quality. You haven't got to take certificate: "Will you give me a certificate that I have eaten?" You'll understand whether eaten or not. That is quality. When you will feel so much ecstasy in chanting Hare Krsna, that is quality. Not artificially-"Chant. Chant. Otherwise get out." This is not quality. This is in expectation that someday you may come to quality. That requires time. That requires sincerity. But quality is there. Sravanadi suddha citte karaye... It will be awakened. Not by force. Just like love between two persons, it cannot be forced. "You must love him. You must love her." Oh, that is no love. That is not love. When automatically you love one another, that is quality. Dora vede (?) prema.