Hare Krishna Society

Yesterday, we observed the ecstatic festival of Lord Krsna lifting Sri Govardhana Hill. Many devotees came and took part in the kirtans, and hearing the description of the birth of Govardhana and how Krsna lifted that mountain to protect His devotees.

After that we offered an abhisek of two Govardhana Silas, which everyone got to bathe, then a feast that was wonderful, to say the least. Too many preparations to even begin to count.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and RadhaGiri HariGovardhana

See festival video below on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/kanhaiyadasanudas/videos/10217614937548722/

https://www.facebook.com/kanhaiyadasanudas/videos/10217614510338042/

Subject: Sri Govardhana Puja- Go Puja -Thursday, November 8, 2018 (Mayapura, West Bengal, India and Los Angeles, California time]

Thursday, November 8, 2018 (Mayapura, West Bengal, India time] Govardhana Puja, Go Puja, Bali daityaraja Puja and Sri Rasikananda Tirobhava Tithi [appearance]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains Govardhana Puja Continue reading →

Dipavali [Diwali} Thursday, November 8, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]

Srila Prabhupada explains the actual meaning of Dipavali celebration of Lord Krsna breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by Yasodamayi
compiled by Yasoda nandan dasa

Srī-śuka uvāca
ekadā gṛha-dāsīṣu
yaśodā nanda-gehinī
karmāntara-niyuktāsu
nirmamantha svayaṁ dadhi
yāni yānīha gītāni
tad-bāla-caritāni ca
dadhi-nirmanthane kāle
smarantī tāny agāyata

SYNONYMS Continue reading →

Subject: Sri Virabhadra Goswami Avirbhbava [appearance day] Thursday, novemberr 1, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi Time]

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Virabhadra Goswami

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srī-vīrabhadra gosāñi–skandha-mahāśākhā
tāṅra upaśākhā yata, asaṅkhya tāra lekhā

SYNONYMS

śrī-vīrabhadra gosāñi—of the name Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi; skandha—of the trunk; mahā-śākhā—the biggest branch; tāṅra—his; upaśākhā—subbranches; yata—all; asaṅkhya—innumerable; tāra—of that; lekhā—the description.

TRANSLATION

After Nityānanda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Vīrabhadra Gosāñi, who also has innumerable branches and subbranches. It is not possible to describe them all.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes Vīrabhadra Gosāñi as the direct son of Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu and a disciple of Jāhnavā-devī. His real mother was Vasudhā. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 67, he is mentioned as an incarnation of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Therefore Vīrabhadra Gosāñi is nondifferent from Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In a village of the name Jhāmaṭapura, in the district of Hugali, Vīrabhadra Gosāñi had a disciple named Yadunāthācārya, who had two daughters-a real daughter named Śrīmatī and a foster daughter named Nārāyaṇī. Both these daughters married, and they are mentioned in Bhakti-ratnākara (Thirteenth Wave). Vīrabhadra Gosāñi had three disciples who are celebrated as his sons-Gopījana-vallabha, Rāmakṛṣṇa and Rāmacandra. The youngest, Rāmacandra, belonged to the Śāṇḍilya dynasty and had the surname Vaṭavyāla. He established his family at Khaḍadaha, and its members are known as the gosvāmīs of Khaḍadaha. The eldest disciple, Gopījana-vallabha, was a resident of a village known as Latā, near the Mānakara railway station in the district of Burdwan. The second, Rāmakṛṣṇa, lived near Māladaha, in a village named Gayeśapura. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura notes that since these three disciples belonged to different gotras, or dynasties, and also had different surnames and lived in different places, it is not possible to accept them as real sons of Vīrabhadra Gosāñi. Rāmacandra had four sons, of whom the eldest was Rādhāmādhava, whose third son was named Yādavendra. Yādavendra’s son was Nandakiśora, his son was Nidhikṛṣṇa, his son was Caitanyacāṇḍa, his son was Kṛṣṇamohana, his son was Jaganmohana, his son was Vrajanātha, and his son was Śyāmalāla Gosvāmī. This is the genealogical table given by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura for the descendants of Vīrabhadra Gosāñi. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/8

īśvara ha-iyā kahāya mahā-bhāgavata
veda-dharmātīta hañā veda-dharme rata

SYNONYMS

īśvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ha-iyā—being; kahāya—calls Himself; mahā-bhāgavata—great devotee; veda-dharma—the principles of Vedic religion; atīta—transcendental; hañā—being; veda-dharme—in the Vedic system; rata—engaged.

TRANSLATION

Although Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/9

adyāpi yāṅhāra kṛpā-mahimā ha-ite
caitanya-nityānanda gāya sakala jagate

SYNONYMS

adyāpi—until today; yāṅhāra—whose; kṛpā—mercy; mahimā—glorious; ha-ite—from; caitanya-nityānanda—Śrī Caitanya-Nityānanda; gāya—sing; sakala—all; jagate—in the world.

TRANSLATION

It is by the glorious mercy of Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi that people all over the world now have the chance to chant the names of Caitanya and Nityānanda. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/11

sei vīrabhadra-gosāñira la-inu śaraṇa
yāṅhāra prasāde haya abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa

SYNONYMS

sei—that; vīrabhadra-gosāñira—of Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi; la-inu—I take; śaraṇa—shelter; yāṅhāra—whose; prasāde—by mercy; haya—it becomes so; abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa—fulfillment of desire.

TRANSLATION

I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of Vīrabhadra Gosāñi so that by His mercy my great desire to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta will be properly guided. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/12

sarvaśākhā-śreṣṭha vīrabhadra gosāñi
tāṅra upaśākhā yata, tāra anta nāi

SYNONYMS

sarva-śākhā-śreṣṭha—the best of all the branches; vīrabhadra gosāñi—of the name Vīrabhadra Gosāñi; tāṅra upaśākhā—His subbranches; yata—all; tāra—of them; anta—limit; nāi—there is not.

TRANSLATION

Among all the branches of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the topmost. His subbranches were unlimited. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/56

rāḍhadeśe janmilā ṭhākura nityānanda
gaṅgādāsa paṇḍita, gupta murāri, mukunda

SYNONYMS

rāḍha-deśe—the place where there is no Ganges; janmilā—took birth; ṭhākura nityānanda—Nityānanda Prabhu; gaṅgādāsa paṇḍita—of the name Gaṅgādāsa Paṇḍita; gupta murāri—of the name Murāri Gupta; mukunda—of the name Mukunda.

TRANSLATION

In Rāḍhadeśa, the part of Bengal where the Ganges is not visible, Nityānanda Prabhu, Gaṅgādāsa Paṇḍita, Murāri Gupta and Mukunda took birth.
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Hare Krsna-My personal feeling is that most people, myself and other devotees included, do not understand the principle of “Karma”. Krsna Himself tells us in His Bhagavad Gita that even among intelligent men this business of action and reaction is difficult to understand. And it is difficult to understand, otherwise we would find devotees talking more about it than so many other subjects which are not important as this one. Karma yoga is the beginning of how to stop karma, and this later develops into pure bhakti. So unless we understand completely how to dovetail everything for Krsna’s service and why we should do so, then we are still generating the wheel of karma for our selves, life after life.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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1.) Dec 18 1975 Bombay conversations

Dr. Patel: But suppose you had given me a knife to mend the pencil, and I stab somebody with it. So, like that.

Prabhupāda: What is that?

Dr. Patel: You have done a dāna to me, giving your knife to mend my pencil, or some useful work, and I stab somebody with the penknife, so…

Prabhupāda: That is your responsibility.

Dr. Patel: No, but then the dāna that you did was not tamasic. Still, it has ended in tamasic action.

Prabhupāda: Yes, everything. Just like the money. Money is not material. You can spend it for constructing a temple for Kṛṣṇa. Then it is not material; it is spiritual. Everything originally…, nothing is material. But when it is not used for Kṛṣṇa, that is material. Otherwise, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvaṁ tena…. tyaktena bhuñjithā [Īśo mantra 1]. If everything is belonging to Kṛṣṇa, how it can be material. He is spirit, so everything belongs to Him, so how it can be material? Material means when Kṛṣṇa’s things are not used for Kṛṣṇa, for oneself, that is material.

Dr. Patel: And that is sin also. Anything which is not…

Prabhupāda: Material anything you do, yajñārthāt karmano’nyatra loko yam. Anything you do, if it is not meant for Kṛṣṇa, then you are criminal, immediately.

Dr. Patel: Sinful activity.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Immediately. To spiritualize everything, Kṛṣṇa says therefore, yat karoṣi yaj juhosi yat tapasyasi dadāsi…. yat kuruṣva mad arpaṇam. Then it is spiritual. Immediately. Karmāny evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana.

Dr. Patel: Tad-arthaṁ kārma kaunteya.

Prabhupāda: Yes. This is spiritual. Yajñārthāt karma, everything is there. Unless you do it for Kṛṣṇa, everything is material and sinful.

Dr. Patel: That’s a fact. If you are doing work tad-arthaṁ karma, then you become mukta, because there is no, I mean, taking with you anything. Mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like government servant, soldiers, they are killing so many; they are not responsible, because he’s doing for the government. Police beats you, but he cannot bring any charge against the police. Another man, if he little slaps, you can bring charge, immediately. That is tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya. The police and military department, they are doing for the government.

Dr. Patel: [break] …eḥ? Very good discussion we had this morning. And we thank you very much.

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Srila Narottama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance]- Saturday, October 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

Srila Prabhupada explains the unique position of Narottama dasa Thakura in the Gaudiya Sampradaya.

compiled by Damaghosa dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura and Sri Srinivasa acarya
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 7: Lectures : SB 7.12: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.6 — Bombay, April 17, 1976 : 760417SB.BOM :
Dakṣa śraddadhānaḥ: faithful. Faithful to whom? To the spiritual master. Whatever he says, the brahmacārī should take it: “Yes, it is my life and soul.” That is the explanation given by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He is explaining with reference to the verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. He very nicely explains. You have perhaps read it, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s… Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has taught very, very nicely about guru. Therefore he has written in Gurvaṣṭaka, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. He is example, practical example of guru-bhakti, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He accepted his guru, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. So he said that “I am not interested for my salvation or going back to Godhead. I am not interested.” Interested means it may come; it may not come. “That I don’t mind. But I am interested only with the words of my guru.” Viśvanātha Cakravartī said. “That is my life. Whether I will be successful or not successful, it doesn’t matter. I must take the words of my Guru Mahārāja as my life and soul.”\

Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Madhya-lila: Lectures : Madhya 20: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.100-108 — New York, November 22, 1966 : 661122C2.NY :
So Sanātana Gosvāmī, he’s ācārya in this disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Caitanya. He is the first disciple of Lord Caitanya, and from him, Sanātana Gosvāmī, six Gosvāmīs. There were six among the first followers of Lord Caitanya. And then, from next step comes Raghunātha Gosvāmī and then this author of this book, Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, and from him, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, and then from him, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. In this way this disciplic succession is coming from Lord Caitanya. So as ācārya… Ācārya means one who knows the principles of scripture, properly being initiated by authority who knows things as they are, and they apply those things in their own life. They are called ācārya. Acinoti śāstrāṇi: he must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be ācārya. Āpani ācari prabhu jīva disa (?). Lord Caitanya, He, although He is accepted as the, I mean to say, the personal, He’s Kṛṣṇa Himself, still, He behaved in such a way that others can follow. He also accepted Īśvara Purī. Īśvara, Īśvara Purī was His spiritual master, Lord Caitanya’s. This is the disciplic succession
Lectures : Nectar of Devotion Lectures : The Nectar of Devotion — Vrndavana, November 13, 1972 : 721113ND.VRN :
Prabhupāda: The Gosvāmīs, or in the Pañcarātra system, in the śāstras, the regulative principles are so made that, if we practice it, gradually our dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be awakened. Therefore these prescribed rules and regulations, as it is given in the śāstras and confirmed by the ācāryas… Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi. We have to follow the footprints of the ācāryas. Ācārya means paramparā. One ācārya is following the previous ācārya. An ācārya does not manufacture anything, something novel. He follows the previous ācārya. And therefore he, he’s ācārya. And one who follows… Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. Ācārya upāsanam. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. So we have to accept the principles laid down by the ācāryas. Tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vāsa

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB Introduction : SB Introduction :
Many devotees of Lord Caitanya like Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Kavikarṇapūra, Śrī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and in this latter age within two hundred years, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and at last Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (our spiritual master) and many other great and renowned scholars and devotees of the Lord have prepared voluminous books and literatures on the life and precepts of the Lord. Such literatures are all based on the śāstras like the Vedas, Purāṇas, Upaniṣads, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and other histories and authentic literatures approved by the recognized ācāryas. They are unique in composition and unrivaled in presentation, and they are full of transcendental knowledge. Unfortunately the people of the world are still ignorant of them, but when these literatures, which are mostly in Sanskrit and Bengali, come to light the world and when they are presented before thinking people, then India’s glory and the message of love will overflood this morbid world, which is vainly searching after peace and prosperity by various illusory methods not approved by the ācāryas in the chain of disciplic succession.
Image result for images of narottama dasa thakura Continue reading →

Inconceivable things in the spiritual world-

Just for teasers, here is some of what you will find below…when our body is completely spiritualized it can and will act just like Krsnas-He/and we can eat thru the eyes, feet, ears,

etc/our spiritual body can become grass, a tree or whatever we want, and still return to the original human like form/ Gadadhara das– is the luster of Srimati Radharanis body and Gadadhara pandit is the incarnation of Radha Herself/ trees in the spiritual world can move from one place to another/and Arjuna and Devahuti remain in the material world to assist Krsna with His pastimes and they can expand themselves in unlimited bodies in unlimited universes to do so…….and more

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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Adi 5.22 purport

The residents of Vaikuntha have brilliantly black complexions much more fascinating and attractive than the dull white and black complexions found in the material world.Their bodies, being spiritual, have no equals in the material world. The beauty of a bright cloud when lightning flashes on it merely hints at their beauty. Generally the inhabitants of Vaikuntha dress in yellow clothing. Their bodies are delicate and attractively built, and their eyes are like the petals of lotus flowers. Like Lord Visnu, the residents of Vaikuntha have four hands decorated with a conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower. Their chests are beautifully broad and fully decorated with necklaces of a brilliant diamond like metal surrounded by costly jewels never to be found in the material world. The residents of Vaikuntha are always powerful and effulgent. Some of them have complexions like red coral cat’s eyes and lotus flowers, and each of them has earrings of costly jewels. On their heads they wear flowery crowns resembling garlands.

In the Vaikuṇṭhas there are airplanes, but they make no tumultuous sounds. Material airplanes are not at all safe: they can fall down and crash at any time, for matter is imperfect in every respect. In the spiritual sky, however, the airplanes are also spiritual, and they are spiritually brilliant and bright. These airplanes do not fly business executives, politicians or planning commissions as passengers, nor do they carry cargo or postal bags, for these are all unknown there. These planes are for pleasure trips only, and the residents of Vaikuṇṭha fly in them with their heavenly, beautiful, fairylike consorts. Therefore these airplanes, full of residentsof Vaikuṇṭha, both male and female, increase the beauty of the spiritual sky. We cannot imagine how beautiful they are, but their beauty may be compared to the clouds in the sky accompanied by silver branches of electric lightning. The spiritual sky of Vaikuṇṭhaloka is always decorated in this way.

The bestial civilization of eating, sleeping, fearing and sense-gratifying has misled modern man into forgetting how powerful a soul he has. As we have already described, the soul is a spiritual spark many, many times more illuminating, dazzling and powerful than the sun, moon or electricity. Human life is spoiled when man does not realize his real identity with his soul. Lord Caitanya appeared with Lord Nityananda to save man from this type of misleading civilization.

(SPL to Saradiya, 12th December 1968)-“To answer your second question, you should know that Arjuna and Kunti-devi are not in Krsnaloka. They are eternally associated with Krsna only in the material world. Just like Krsna is always in the spiritual world so similarly He is always in the material world and His pastimes are going on there also. In the material world, Krsna also has eternal associates, such as Arjuna and Kunti-devi.There is a difference between the body and soul of Arjuna and Kunti-devi. But although Arjuna is with Krsna in innumerable different material universes at one time, still there is only one spirit soul who is Arjuna. This spirit soul expands into many different bodies and thus you can understand that there are also incarnations of devotees as well as incarnations of Krsna. This is the power of the spirit soul, that it is unlimited. Such conception cannot be understood while one is still in the conditioned state.”

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Hare Krsna

This is a short photo story about growing grains (beans in this case), collecting them, drying them, and storing them in jars for years of later use. Annad bhavanti bhutani–In BG(3.14) Krsna tells us that all living entities subsist on food grains. Here is one such grain that practically anybody can simply grow, to fulfill this obligation to the Lord of Creation.

damaghosa das

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beans growing nicely in rows as the gardener takes– a well deserved “break”

Image may contain: plant, flower, tree, outdoor and nature

bundled up dead bean plants in the fall season to go in the green house for drying

tied up in bundles, we keep the beans here until they are very crispy brown on their outside skins-these have just gone into the greenhouse for drying which takes about a month or so.

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Murari Gupta’s deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Sri Murari Gupta Tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains the glories of Sri Murari Gupta Continue reading →

1.)Harikeśa: So if a devotee dies and remembers Kṛṣṇa, although he is not perfect…
Prabhupāda: Unless he is perfect, he cannot remember Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible. That is not possible. That is theory only. He must be perfect. Somehow or other, he fallen, so Kṛṣṇa gives him the chance. That is special concession for devotee. Some way or other, you become devotee. Even if you cannot finish the whole job, if you fall down, still, there is guarantee that you get your birth in a very good society. That is the prerogative.”Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk conversation — November 2, 1975, Nairobi

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Hare Krishna Society

Sri Govardhana Puja Festival-Sedro Woolley Wa 2018

Sri Govardhana Puja- Go Puja Thursday, November 8, 2018 (Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]

Srila Prabhupada explains dipavali (Diwali) Thursday, November 8, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

Sri Virabhadra Goswami Avirbhbava [appearance day] Thursday, novemberr 1, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi Time]

Karma-Srila Prabhupada kindly explains this difficult subject to us

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance]- Saturday, October 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

some Inconceivable things in the spiritual world

a short photo story on growing beans-which anybody can easily do

Sri Murari Gupta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Wednesday, October 24, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi]

We want facts not sentiment