Hare Krishna Society

Sri Mukunda datta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]

compiled by Yasioda nandana dasa

śrī-mukunda-datta śākhā–prabhura samādhyāyī

yāṅhāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-gosāñi

SYNONYMS

śrī–mukunda–datta—of the name Śrī Mukunda Datta; śākhā—another branch; prabhura—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; samādhyāyī—class friend; yāṅhāra—whose; kīrtane—in saṅkīrtana; nāce—dances; caitanya–gosāñi—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya’s, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.

PURPORT

Śrī Mukunda Datta was born in the Caṭṭagrāma district, in the village of Chanharā, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Paṭiyā. This village is situated ten krośas, or about twenty miles, from the home of Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (140) it is said:

vraje sthitau gāyakau yau
madhukaṇṭha-madhuvratau
mukunda-vāsudevau tau
dattau gaurāṅga-gāyakau

“In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaṇṭha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya–līlā as Mukunda and Vāsudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” When Lord Caitanya was a student, Mukunda Datta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu would fight with Mukunda Datta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Ādi-līlā, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned from Gayā, Mukunda Datta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about kṛṣṇa–līlā. It was by his endeavor that Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī became a disciple of Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, as stated in Śrī Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Seven. When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Śrīvāsa Prabhu, Mahāprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sāta-prahariyā, Mukunda Datta inaugurated the function by singing.

Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu chastised Mukunda Datta by calling him khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā because he attended many functions held by different classes of nondevotees. This is stated in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Ten. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed Himself as the goddess of fortune to dance in the house of Candraśekhara, Mukunda Datta began the first song.

Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya first went to the house of Mukunda Datta, but at that time Mukunda Datta requested Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to continue His saṅkīrtana movement for a few days more before taking sannyāsa. This is stated in Caitanya–bhāgavata, Madhya–līlā Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Caitanya’s accepting the renounced order was made known to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Candraśekhara Ācārya and Mukunda Datta by Nityānanda Prabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kīrtana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya’s acceptance of sannyāsa. After the Lord took sannyāsa, they all followed Him, especially Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu and Govinda, who followed Him all the way to Puruṣottama–kṣetra. In this connection one may refer to Śrī Caitanya–bhāgavata, Antya–līlā, Chapter Two. In the place known as Jaleśvara, Nityānanda Prabhu broke the sannyāsa rod of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Mukunda Datta was also present at that time. He went every year from Bengal to see Lord Caitanya at Jagannātha Purī.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Sub-branches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.40

mukunda-dattere kaila daṇḍa-parasāda

khaṇḍila tāhāra cittera saba avasāda

SYNONYMS

mukunda–dattere—unto Mukunda Datta; kaila—did; daṇḍa—punishment; parasāda—benediction; khaṇḍila—vanquished; tāhāra—his; cittera—of the mind; saba—all kinds of; avasāda—depressions.

TRANSLATION

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in that way vanquished all his mental depression.

PURPORT

Mukunda Datta was once forbidden to enter the association of Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu because of his mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists. When Lord Caitanya manifested His mahā–prakāśa, He called all the devotees one after another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, “I shall not soon be pleased with Mukunda Datta, for he explains devotional service among devotees, but then he goes to Māyāvādīs to hear from them the Yoga–vāśiṣṭha–rāmāyaṇa, which is full of Māyāvāda philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him.” Hearing the Lord speak in that way, Mukunda Datta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was going to give up the association of the Māyāvādīs for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association of the Māyāvādīs and gave him the association of pure devotees.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.65 :

TEXT 273

saṅge nityānanda, candraśekhara ācārya

mukunda-datta,–ei tina kaila sarva kārya

SYNONYMS

saṅge—in His company; nityānanda—Nityānanda Prabhu; candraśekhara ācārya—Candraśekhara Ācārya; mukunda–datta—Mukunda Datta; ei tina—these three; kaila—performed; sarva—all; kārya—necessary activities.

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted sannyāsa, three personalities were with Him to perform all the necessary activities. They were Nityānanda Prabhu, Candraśekhara Ācārya and Mukunda Datta.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.273

mukunda datta kahe,–prabhu, tumi yāha āge

āmi-saba pāche yāba, nā yāba tomāra saṅge

SYNONYMS

mukunda datta kahe—the devotee named Mukunda Datta said; prabhu—my Lord; tumi—You; yāha—go; āge—in front; āmi–saba—all of us; pāche—behind; yāba—shall go; nā—not; yāba—shall go; tomāra saṅge—with You.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My Lord, You should go ahead and allow all the others to follow. We shall not go with You.”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 5: The Activities of Saksi-gopala : Madhya 5.155 :

mukunda tāṅhāre dekhi’ kaila namaskāra

teṅho āliṅgiyā puche prabhura samācāra

SYNONYMS

mukunda—Mukunda Datta; tāṅhāre—him; dekhi‘-seeing; kaila—offered; namaskāra—obeisances; teṅho—he; āliṅgiyā—embracing; puche—inquires; prabhura—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; samācāra—news.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta offered obeisances unto Gopīnātha Ācārya upon meeting him. Then the Ācārya embraced Mukunda Datta and inquired about news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.20

mukunda kahe,–prabhura ihāṅ haila āgamane

āmi-saba āsiyāchi mahāprabhura sane

SYNONYMS

mukunda kahe—Mukunda replies; prabhura—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ihāṅ—here; haila—there was; āgamane—coming; āmi–saba—all of us; āsiyāchi—have come; mahāprabhura—Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sane—with.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta replied, “The Lord has already arrived here. We have come with Him. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.21 :

mukunda kahe,–‘mahāprabhu sannyāsa kariyā

nīlācale āilā saṅge āmā-sabā lañā

SYNONYMS

mukunda kahe—Mukunda Datta replies; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sannyāsa kariyā—after accepting the renounced order of life; nīlācale—to Jagannātha Purī; āilā—has come; saṅge—with Him; āmā–sabā—all of us; lañā—taking.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta continued, “After accepting the sannyāsa order, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has come to Jagannātha Purī and has brought all of us with Him. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.23 :

kahena yadi, punarapi yoga-paṭṭa diyā

saṁskāra kariye uttama-sampradāye āniyā’

SYNONYMS

kahena—says; yadi—if; punarapi—again; yoga–paṭṭa diyā—offering Him saffron cloth; saṁskāra—reformatory process; kariye—I perform; uttama—first-class; sampradāye—to the community; āniyā—bringing.

TRANSLATION

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, “If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would like, I could bring Him into a first-class sampradāya by offering Him saffron cloth and performing the reformatory process again.”

PURPORT

The Bhaṭṭācārya wanted to reinstate Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu into the Sarasvatī sampradāya because he did not like the Lord’s belonging to the Bhāratī sampradāya or Purī sampradāya. Actually, he did not know the position of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not depend on an inferior or superior sampradāya. The Supreme Personality of Godhead remains in the supreme position in all circumstances.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.76 :

śuni’ gopīnātha-mukunda duṅhe duḥkhā hailā

gopīnāthācārya kichu kahite lāgilā

SYNONYMS

śuni‘-hearing; gopīnātha–mukunda—Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta; duṅhe—both; duḥkhā—unhappy; hailā—became; gopīnātha–ācārya—of the name Gopīnātha Ācārya; kichu—something; kahite—to speak; lāgilā—began.

TRANSLATION

Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta became very unhappy when they heard this. Gopīnātha Ācārya therefore addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as follows. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 6.77

bhaṭṭācārya’ tumi iṅhāra nā jāna mahimā

bhagavattā-lakṣaṇera iṅhātei sīmā

The Hare Krishna Movement, by Haripada dasa

The Hare Krishna Movement was founded by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in New York in 1966. Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta in the year 1896, he was born into a family of pure devotees of God or Krishna and from his childhood lived the whole environment was full of the love for God. An astrologer predicted that this great soul at 69 will go to foreign countries to preach Krishna consciousness, open more than 100 temples of Krishna, and write more than 80 books.

These books will be the law books for all humanity in the next 10,000 years. His Spiritual Master ordered him to go to Western countries to preach the message of the conscience of God or Krishna. At the age of 69 he left India to the USA to fulfill the order given by his Spiritual Master to spread the message of Krishna consciousness in the English language. He started chanting the Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare in Tompkins Square park in New York. There he started his movement. Many young people approached him to receive spiritual training. Many people abandoned illicit sex life, gambling, drugs and the consumption of meat, fish and eggs and sang every day 27,648 names of God in their rosaries.

These people felt so much spiritual happiness that in a natural way they wanted to help Srila Prabhupada to spread his movement, so that everyone would be happy. Srila Prabhupada initiated more than 10,000 disciples around the world, went around the world 14 times, wrote 80 books of 400 pages each, opened more than a hundred temples around the world and many farming communities. He slept every day only 3 hours from 10 in the night until 1 in the morning. Then he got up to translate the great classics of India such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita. His disciples and admirers have distributed more than 500 million of his books in all the languages of the world. Srila Prabhupada is Acharya, which means he who preaches by his personal example.

As the saying goes, the words convince but the example drags. Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatam, 5, 12, 13, that this movement for Krishna consciousness has been founded to engage people in the service and glorification of the Lord twenty-four hours a day. In this institution, students devote themselves to the cultivation of Krishna consciousness from five in the morning until ten at night. Thus they have no opportunity to waste time unnecessarily speaking about politics, sociology and current affairs. All this follows its own course. A devotee is only interested in serving Krishna in a serious and positive way.

Unhappily, in his last days, as Srila Prabhupada was almost ready to depart his body, he said that he was being poisoned. He ordered his disciples to initiate in Hhis name, and not to change His books. Unhappily, when Srila Prabhupada departed His disciples did not obey the order to initiate in His name and they became gurus in an artificial way. Srila Prabhupada says in his books that a guru is not made by votes, but the current self-appointed gurus make other gurus by votes. They made more than 6,000 unauthorized changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada sacrificed His life to found the Hare Krishna Movement, but now His movement is run by very strange, envious and very dangerous people. Fortunately there are people who like Krishna Consciousness, and we try to help people to know, serve and love Srila Prabhupada, and let them go back home to God or Krishna.

https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

Subject: Snana yatra – Bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha

Srila Prabhupada explains the snana-yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Adi-lila: Lectures : Adi 7: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.3 — Mayapur, March 3, 1974 : 740303CC.MAY : [I offer my obeisances to Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of d : You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa without the mercy of these Pañca-tattva. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, although He came personally, He taught the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā and asked people, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. But because we are mūḍhas, we misunderstood Kṛṣṇa. We could not take the last instruction of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa again came as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us how to approach Kṛṣṇa. If we read the life of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His acceptance of sannyāsa order, His preaching all over India, His chanting and dancing, His living at Jagannath Purī, His activities, His meeting with the devotees, His Guṇḍicā-mārjana, His Ratha-yātrā kīrtana—if we study all these activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, immediately you understand Kṛṣṇa..

punarapi nīlācale gamana karila

bhakta-gaṇe meliyā snāna-yātrā dekhila

SYNONYMS

punarapi—again; nīlācale—to Jagannātha Purī; gamana—going back; karila—did; bhakta-gaṇe—all the devotees; meliyā—meeting; snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha; dekhila—saw.

TRANSLATION

After collecting these books, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī. At that time, the bathing ceremony of Jagannātha was taking place, and He saw it. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.121

anavasare jagannāthera nā pāñā daraśana

virahe ālālanātha karilā gamana

SYNONYMS

anavasare—during the absence; jagannāthera—of Lord Jagannātha; nā—not; pāñā—getting; daraśana—visit; virahe—in separation; ālālanātha—of the place named Ālālanātha; karilā—did; gamana—going.

TRANSLATION

When Jagannātha was absent from the temple, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who could not see Him, felt separation and left Jagannātha Purī to go to a place known as Ālālanātha.

PURPORT

Ālālanātha is also known as Brahmagiri. This place is about fourteen miles from Jagannātha Purī and is also on the beach. There is a temple of Jagannātha there. At the present moment a police station and post office are situated there because so many people come to see the temple.

The word anavasara is used when Śrī Jagannāthajī cannot be seen in the temple. After the bathing ceremony (snāna-yātrā), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period renovations are made on the body of the Jagannātha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.122

snāna-yātrā dekhi’ prabhu saṅge bhakta-gaṇa

sabā lañā kailā prabhu guṇḍicā mārjana

SYNONYMS

snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony; dekhi‘-seeing; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; saṅge—with Him; bhakta-gaṇa—the devotees; sabā—all; lañā—taking; kailā—did; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; guṇḍicā mārjana—washing and cleaning the Guṇḍicā temple.

TRANSLATION

After seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and cleaned Śrī Guṇḍicā temple with the assistance of many devotees. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 1.133

jagannātha-sevaka ei, nāma-janārdana

anavasare kare prabhura śrī-aṅga-sevana

SYNONYMS

jagannātha-sevaka—servitor of Lord Jagannātha; ei—this; nāma—named; janārdana—Janārdana; anavasare—during the time of renovation; kare—does; prabhura—of the Lord; śrī-aṅga—of the transcendental body; sevana—service.

TRANSLATION

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first introduced Janārdana, saying, “Here is Janārdana, servant of Lord Jagannātha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body.”

PURPORT

During Anavasara, after the Snāna-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is absent from the temple for fifteen days so He can be renovated. This occurs annually. Janārdana, who is here being introduced to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was rendering this service at the time. The renovation of Lord Jagannātha is also known as Nava-yauvana, which indicates that the Jagannātha Deity is being fully restored to youth. .Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannatha Puri : Madhya 10.41 :

snāna-yātrā dekhi’ prabhura haila baḍa sukha

īśvarera ‘anavasare’ pāila baḍa duḥkha

SYNONYMS

snāna-yātrā—the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha; dekhi’—seeing; prabhura—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haila—became; baḍa—very much; sukha—happiness; īśvarera—of the Lord; anavasare—during the pastime of retirement; pāila—got; baḍa—very much; duḥkha—unhappiness.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.

PURPORT

After the bathing ceremony of Śrī Jagannātha, which takes place just a fortnight before the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, the body of the Lord Jagannātha Deity is repainted, and this takes just about a fortnight to complete. This period is called Anavasara. There are many who visit the temple to see Lord Jagannātha regularly every day, and for them His retirement after the bathing ceremony is unbearable. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt Lord Jagannātha’s absence from the temple very much. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 11: The Beda-kirtana Pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu : Madhya 11.62

baliṣṭha dayitā’ gaṇa-yena matta hātī

jagannātha vijaya karāya kari’ hātāhāti

SYNONYMS

baliṣṭha dayitā’ gaṇa—very strong dayitās, or carriers of Jagannātha; yena—as if; matta hātī—drunken elephants; jagannātha—of Lord Jagannātha; vijaya—departure; karāya—cause; kari‘-performing; hātāhāti—hand to hand.

TRANSLATION

The very strongly built dayitās [carriers of the Jagannātha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannātha from the throne to the car.

PURPORT

The word dayitā refers to one who has received the mercy of the Lord. Lord Jagannātha has a number of stalwart servants known as dayitās. These servants do not come from very high-caste families (brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas or vaiśyas), but because they are engaged in the service of the Lord, they have been elevated to a respected position. Thus they are known as dayitās. These servants of Lord Jagannātha take care of the Lord from the day of the Snāna-yātrā up to the time the Lord is carried from the throne to the Ratha car. In the Kṣetra-māhātmya these dayitās are said to come from the śabaras, a caste that keeps and sells pigs. However, among the dayitās there are also many who come from the brāhmaṇa caste. Those dayitās coming from the brāhmaṇa families are called dayitā-patis, or leaders of the dayitās. The dayitā-patis offer food such as sweetmeats to Lord Jagannātha during the anavasara, the resting period after Snāna-yātrā. They also make the early morning offering of sweetmeats daily, It is said that during the anavasara Lord Jagannātha suffers from fever and that the dayitā-patis offer Him an infusion of drugs represented by fruit juice. It is said that in the beginning Lord Jagannātha was worshiped by the śabaras and was known as the Deity Nīla Mādhava. Later, when the Deity was established in the temple, the Lord became known as Jagannātha. Because the Deities were taken from the śabaras, all the śabara devotees were elevated to the position of dayitā.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra : Madhya 13.8

Letter to German Disciples

Bombay May 6, 1977

My dear beloved disciples,

Please accept my blessings. I know that over the past years you have suffered so many tribulations to push forward Krsna consciousness in Germany. But this has not stopped you from your determination to serve the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. A devotee is pleased when there is difficulty, for in these difficulties he is forced to remember Krsna. We cannot expect that the people of Kali-yuga will welcome our attempt to spread Krsna consciousness. It is just like a lunatic asylum: The patients are running around madly andwhen the doctor tries to give them treatment, they insist that they are not crazy. Sometimes the patient even strikes the doctor. So our task is like that. We cannot stand to see people suffering due to ignorance. What is that ignorance? They do not know that they are not their body. This Krsna consciousness movement is meant to deliver people to the proper understanding that they are not their body, that they are pure spirit soul. We may or may not be appreciated, that is not our concern. We must execute the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu which is:

Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa

amara ajna guru haya tara ei desa

(CC Madhya 7.128)

“Whomever you meet, instruct them to follow the orders of Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way by My order become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”

So our business is to satisfy the acaryas and Krsna. If they are pleased then we know our work is successful.

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June 6 1976 LA

Mahendra: Eating mahā-prasādam is also fasting.

Prabhupāda: Who says?

Mahendra: You said that to Paramahaṁsa Swami once.

Prabhupāda: And you heard from Paramahaṁsa.

Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe Caturmāsya.

Prabhupāda: I never said that.

Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.

Prabhupāda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he can take mahā-prasāda, render service.

(Note–so in the above short conversation we see and hear how our hearing is not so accurate even when we think we are “hearing” it correctly. )

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Friends, by Haripada dasa

I remember a class of Srila Prabhupada where he said that there are different degrees of friends. There is the common friend, the common friend is not our intimate friend. Then there is the intimate friend. With this person, there is a relationship based on love and trust, when you are happy in the consciousness of God or Krishna this friend is very happy, and when you are experiencing problems and sufferings, this friend helps you without wanting anything in return.

One is sure that my intimate friend will never betray me. The other day a devotee sent me some nectar of Srila Prabhupada and I replied that you are my best friend because you are transmitting to me Srila Prabhupada. And another devotee sends me the information of all the festivals of the Vaisnava calendar. We celebrate the apparitions of God or Krishna and His devotees. That too is very good. And then, there is our best well-wisher, our Gurudeva, the authorized spiritual master who is known to be the beloved of God or Krishna, the Supreme Lord. He gives liberation from the torments of material bondage. The devotee must think that God or Krishna has sent me Sri Gurudeva to liberate me, and in this way everything is perfectly harmonized, understanding that the spiritual master is a confidential confidential servant of Srimati Radharani.

Usually people do not understand what a spiritual master authorized by God or Krishna is, nor do they know that at the time of initiation the guru grabs all the karma of his disciple and with his spiritual power reduces it to ashes, Srila Prabhupada says in The Srimad Bhagavatam, 8, 7, 44, that great personalities usually accept voluntary sufferings to alleviate the suffering of ordinary people. This is considered to be the highest form of worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Krishna, who is in everyone’s heart. We all have an intimate and eternal relationship with God or Krishna and His devotees on the absolute platform or pure goodness. God or Krishna and His devotees are infallible and our best friends.

A great devotee said that it is a great mistake to think that the pure devotees of God or Krishna die, they die to live and preach the glories of God or Krishna and His devotees throughout the universes, and he who obeys his instructions lives with he eternally.

https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

Hare Krsna—

These cherries from one of our trees will get made into cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cherry crisp,eaten fresh, etc etc

and a lot more are coming…..it took my wife about a half hour to pick these….the birds get the ones at the top of the trees and we get the ones we can reach-everybody is happy !

Everyone, not just householders, should live on farms––

India, Jan 11 1977—

Prabhupāda: Śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya. This is basic platform, that “What Kṛṣṇa says, that is truth.” Kṛṣṇa bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya: “If I follow Kṛṣṇa, then my business is complete.” This is intelligence. Now… We have come to the open field. How it is nice. And so long we were passing through that congested areas-hellish, simply hellish. And now here is open space. How it is nice.

Hari-śauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness.

Prabhupāda: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in…Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm. (background talking)

Hari-śauri: He’s just saying that in the West one requires a great deal of capital. To start a farm, to get the land, you need a lot of money because land is very expensive. And also we have to use modern farming techniques because we have so few men to run the farms.

Prabhupāda: No, you show example. People will do automatically. When the people find it is very nice, they will take.

Hari-śauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready to do that?

Prabhupāda: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (japa)

Rāmeśvara: In America there is a very big emphasis on getting people to join us by moving into our temples. The temple presidents are very eager to get as many people to move in as possible, but in the long run most people cannot come up to the standard.

Prabhupāda: Therefore I am… Farms.

NOTE–you dont need a 100 acre piece of land with barns, farming equipment,etc..-start with what land you can afford, and work from there. This is a myth that you need all these above mentioned things to please Prabhupada and Krsna. No…

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Sripad Baladeva VIdyabhusana Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Gangamata Goswamini avirbhava tithi [appearance day]

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sripada Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Friday, June 22, 2018 = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata Bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains how Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana wrote the Gaudiya-Bhasya on the Vedanta-sutras.

Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 13: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12 — Bombay, September 30, 1973 : 730930BG.BOM : But sometimes back, in Jaipur, there was a challenge that “The Gauḍīya Sampradāya has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra.” So at that time Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was requested… Because he was grand scholar, grand old man scholar, at that time living in Vṛndāvana… So he was very old at that time; so he authorized Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, that “You do it.” There was no need, but people are demanding, “Where is your commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra?” So Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, with the order of Govindaji at Jaipur, he wrote the commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That name is Govinda-bhāṣya. So the Gauḍīya-Brahmā Sampradāya, they have got also commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That is required.

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Interview with Professors O’Connell, Motilal and Shivaram — June 18, 1976, Toronto : 760618iv.tor :

Prabhupāda: So, it is actually bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. It is stated. This is the real commentary on Brahma-sūtra by Vyāsadeva himself, author. Vyāsadeva is the author of Brahma-sūtra, and he has written personally, under the instruction of his guru, Nārada Muni, this Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya. And it begins with the Brahma-sūtra aphorism: janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. The Brahma-sūtra begins with these words: janmādya, athāto brahma jijñāsā. Janmādy asya yataḥ. So these things are explained elaborately. Therefore Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya, bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtra. Vedārtha paribṛṁhita. So therefore in our Gauḍīya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not write any bhāṣya of the Brahma-sūtra, neither the gosvāmīs, because they took it that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya of Brahma-sūtra. But when…. Sometimes the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You cannot be accepted as bona fide community, spiritual community, because you have no bhāṣya on Brahma-sūtra.” Then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa wrote govinda-bhāṣya. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like or ask His disciples to write, because He thought, “This is the Gauḍīya, Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya.” Not Gauḍīya—for every Vaiṣṇava. Bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. So we have got now Gauḍīya Vedānta-bhāṣya. Rāmānuja Vedānta-bhāṣya is there. Madhvācārya Vedānta-bhāṣya is there, all. And Gauḍīya had not. But since this challenge was made in Jaipur, then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he took: “Yes,” and he finished, Gauḍīya bhāṣya, and it is called Govinda-bhāṣya. Actually, in India, unless one follows the ācāryas and has given commentary on the Brahma-sūtra, he’s not a bona fide. Nyāya-prasthāna. Brahma-sūtra is called nyāya-prasthāna. Śruti-prasthāna, smṛti-prasthāna, nyāya-prasthāna. So any bona fide ācārya must give his understanding about these three prasthānas..

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.2: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.25 — Vrndavana, November 5, 1972 : 721105SB.VRN :

Now, the Vedānta, in the beginning it is, the first sūtra is: athāto brahma jijñāsā. So to inquire about Brahman, the Absolute. Now, the next answer is janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is that from whom everything emanates. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Now, this janmādy asya yataḥ is explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is explained by Vyāsadeva himself. Vyāsadeva is explaining Vedānta-sūtra in his book, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bhāṣyaṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām **. Śrī Vyāsadeva says, “This is the real comment, or bhāṣya, of Vedānta-sūtra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.” Therefore Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, Gosvāmīs, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra because they accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra. So why they should write again? But still, when there was such question raised in Jaipur that the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, at that time, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he wrote Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra. But still, Vedānta-sūtra does not mean to understand impersonalism. No. That’s not the fact

Guest (1) (Indian man): …cultural affairs, Orissa government. Here there is a large stack of palm leaf manuscripts. Palm leaf manuscripts. We are editing the Sanskrit manuscripts, correcting them and publishing them.

Srila Prabhupāda: Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Sanskrit.

Prabhupāda: It is published in Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Yes.

Prabhupāda: Palm beach?

Guest (2) (Indian man): Palm leaves.

Hari–śauri: Some manuscripts on palm leaf.

Prabhupāda: Oh, palm leaf.

Hari–śauri: They’re translating and publishing. So he is the editor in charge of all that for the government.

Guest (1): What is the…?

Srila Prabhupāda: What is the śāstra?

Hari–śauri: What is the name of the śāstra?

Guest (1): Śāstra. I told yesterday Bhakti–bhāgavatam of Kavisurya Baladeva(?).

Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, yes.

Guest (1): And ācārya, there is one… (quotes long Sanskrit verses) This is one Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa līlā by Kavisurya Baladeva of Orissa.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana who commented on, wrote Śrī Bhāṣyam..

Gurukṛpa: That’s the same one you just quoted? By who?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Gurukṛpa: The one you just sang.

Guest (1): No. This is Kavisurya Baladeva.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, different.

Guest (1): Different.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana belonged to Orissa or Bengal?

Guest (1): Yes, Orissa. And he has clearly mentioned that near Tilika, Tilika Lake he was born. It is clear mentioned.

Srila Prabhupāda: But he used to live in Balasore.

Guest (1): Yes. He used to live in Balasore, and then went to Bhastrana,(?) where he wrote Bhāṣya on Vedānta–sūtra and Gītā.

Prabhupāda: Vedānta–sūtra, Govinda–bhāṣya, he wrote in Jaipur.

Guest (1): Jaipur. Yes, last time, Jaipur.

Srila Prabhupāda: I have dedicated my Bhagavad-gītā to Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana? Following Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Hari–śauri: He dedicated it. Yes, this is… Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.
Conversations : 1977 Conversations : January, 1977 : Room Conversation — January 24, 1977, Bhuvanesvara

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Conversation with Prof. Saligram and Dr. Sukla — July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C. : 760705rc.wdc :

Prabhupāda: Brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva hetumādbhir viniścitaiḥ [Bg. 13.5]. Very…. Nyāya-praṣṭhāna. But Vedānta-sūtra is explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra. They accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya. But when the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You have no Vedānta-sūtra-bhāṣya, therefore you cannot be accepted as transcendental party,” so Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana immediately gave Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta. Our Gosvāmīs, they did not write because they knew Brahma-sūtra bhāṣya, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

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. Continue reading →

The spiritual culture, by Haripada dasa

The spiritual culture of India is so high that if a person does not follow these four regulative principles, 1- abandon the illicit sex life, 2- gambling, 3- coffee, stimulants and drugs and 4- consumption of meat, fish and eggs and sings every day The Maha-Mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H is read as J of Jota), 27,648 names of God in the rosary, if a person does not practice this is considered uncivilized.

I share that in the meaning of the verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, 1, 9, 26, Srila Prabhupada says: “Bhīṣmadeva recommended nine qualities that all human beings must exhibit: 1) not get angry, 2) not lie, 3) distribute wealth equitably , 4) forgive, 5) beget children only with one’s legitimate wife, 6) be pure-minded and healthy, 7) not hostile to anyone, 8) be simple, and 9) keep servants and subordinates. One can not be called a civilized person, if he does not acquire the aforementioned preliminary qualities.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we understand and accept that the cultured person is identified because he has three basic qualities, these are: 1) He sees all women as mothers, except his own wife. There are seven mothers: the original mother, the wife of the priest, the wife of the king, the wife of the spiritual master, the nurse, the cow and the Earth.

2) See the properties of others as straw on the street, in other words, be satisfied with what you have and not want or envy the property of others and

3) Do to others what you would like them to do to you and Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you. Can you imagine a society formed by people with these qualities? It would be a perfect society. We see how nowadays people consider all women as their wives and their wife and do not pay attention to them.

There is an excessive competition to surpass others, both personally and between nations and nobody thinks about the welfare of others. All are politicians, politician is one who makes plans to be happy without thinking about the welfare of others. Nowadays, a person is considered cultured for their diplomas and degrees and not for their qualities. The spiritual culture of India was killed by people who invented or speculated that one can belong to the upper class or be a priest by birth, But in the Sacred Scriptures, it is said that one belongs to the high class or priest by qualities, and his birth does not matter.

Srila Prabhupada was authorized and empowered by God to revive the spiritual culture of India, for his mercy and instructions he turned people from all over the world, who were like crows into swans.

https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP

May 15 1975 Perth

Prabhupāda: This man is unemployed, and if we engaged him for plowing, will he do that?

Paramahaṁsa: I don’t think so. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Just see.

Amogha: That’s too hard, that’s work. “We don’t want to work like that, we just want some easy job.”

Prabhupāda: Then you suffer.

Śrutakīrti: That would mean they had to leave the city. They don’t want to leave the city.

Prabhupāda: Then go to hell.

Śrutakīrti: Yes.

Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, we received news yesterday that one man in northern New South Wales is willing to sell us a farm, a great big farm out there in the southern tropics. Would this be a good place for engaging boys like the Indian, the Indian boy that came yesterday?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Our next program is to organize farming. Let anyone come. We shall give him free food and employment: “Come on.” Not that “I want to work as a clerk in the city.” You produce your own food. I give you ingredients. I give you land. And work for five, six hours, and take your food and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Some conclusions— So here we are some 43 years later and what devotees are leaving the cities to produce their own food? Not many, so Srila Prabhuapda tells them–then suffer. I was talking with one of my grown up children and he said to go 10 miles in Seattle to see a friend, takes him one hour to drive there. You could ride a bike and get there faster than that. This is just one reason why Prabhupada says-yesremain in your cities and suffer, what to speak of all the crime, filth, smog pollution, high costs of living there, taxes,thousands of homeless people everywhere, the list seems endless.

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Hare Krishna Society

Sri Mukunda datta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day of Sri Mukunda datta] Thursday, June 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

The Hare Krishna Movement

Snana yatra – Bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha – Thursday, June 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata bhumi time]

once recognized by Krsna for distributing the books-he goes back to Godhead-guaranteed-SP

Prabhupada refutes a “Prabhuapada says” story

Friends

Cherry picking time

Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana Tirobhava tithi – Friday, June 22, 20187 = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]

The spiritual culture

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP