Hare Krishna Society

By Narasimha das

Many great Vaisnavas have taken birth in low families or had checkered pasts, but at some point in their lives they exhibited the qualities of true Vaisnavas. According to Lord Shiva, worship of a Vaisnava is better than worship of the Supreme Lord Himself. On the other hand, deliberate offenses to a Vaisnava can be more disastrous than offenses to Lord Krishna Himself. It can totally ruin the offender in this life and the next.

As described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, high-born brahmins, demigods like Lord Indra and Chitraketu and even great sages like Druvasa Muni and Vishvamitra Rishi have committed offenses to Vaisnavas—usually due to their culturing feelings of superiority. Such exalted persons are easily and quickly rectified by Krishna’s grace. Others, however, such as Prajapati Daksa, have condemned Vaisnavas due to malicious envy only. Such persons, particularly those without much devotional merit, are not easily saved from destruction. Daksa, for instance, had to die and get the head of a goat. Continue reading →

“Ganesha: Srila Prabhupada, if the knowledge was handed down by the saintly kings, evam parampara-praptam, how is it that the knowledge was lost?

Srila Prabhupada: When it was not handed down. Simply understood by speculation. Or if it is not handed down as it is. THEY MIGHT HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES. Or they did not hand it down. Suppose I handed it down to you, but if you do not do that, then it is lost. Now the Krishna consciousness movement is going on in my presence. NOW AFTER MY DEPARTURE, IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, THEN IT IS LOST. If you go on as you are doing now, then it will go on. BUT IF YOU STOP…”
( – Room Conversation with Carol Cameron – May 9, 1975, Perth)

“Time I am, Destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people…”

Unauthorized 1983 edition:

“Time I am, Destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people…”

Why has Jayadvaita Swami exchanged the word “engage” with the word “destroy”? There is no explanation for this particular change on the BBTI’s website.

Sanskrit synonyms says to engage twice:

The so called original manuscript is missing for this part of the gita, so no claim can be made that this change is “closer to Prabhupada”. On the contrary it seems to be what Srila Prabhupada wanted, since he made no objections when he heard the text to verse 11.32:

Giriraja: (reads synonyms for following verse:) “Translation: The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. With the exception of you, the Pandavas, all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain.”

Dr. Patel: Shall I read further, sir, or you want to comment?

Prabhupada: Yes. The process is going on. Although we have got so many plans to save, nobody can be saved. The destination, the bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19], that will go on. Simply vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upasritah [Bg. 4.10], they will be saved. Otherwise all finished.

We would like to hear from Jayadvaita Swami and the BBT International what the explanation for this change is?

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.” Continue reading →

When Advaita Ācārya heard this statement from His five-year-old son Acyutānanda, He felt great satisfaction because of his conclusive judgment.

Commenting on verses 13 through 17, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives an extensive description of the descendants of Advaita Ācārya. The Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa, Chapter One, states that Acyutānanda was the eldest son of Advaita Ācārya. The Sanskrit book Advaita-carita states, “Advaita Ācārya Prabhu had three sons, named Acyuta, Kṛṣṇa Miśra and Gopāla dāsa, all born of the womb of His wife, Sītādevī, who were devotees of Lord Caitanya. Advaita Ācārya also had three more sons, whose names were Balarāma, Svarūpa and Jagadīśa. Thus there were six sons of Advaita Ācārya.” Among the six sons, three were strict followers of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and of these three, Acyutānanda was the eldest.

Advaita Prabhu married in the beginning of the fifteenth century śakābda (late fifteenth century A.D.). When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to visit the village of Rāmakeli while going from Jagannātha Purī to Vṛndāvana during the śakābda years 1433 and 1434 (A.D. 1512 and 1513), Acyutānanda was only five years old. The Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa, Fourth Chapter, describes Acyutānanda at that time as pañca-varṣa vayasa madhura digambara, “only five years old and standing naked.” Therefore it is to be concluded that Acyutānanda was born sometime in the year 1428 (A.D. 1507). Before the birth of Acyutānanda, Advaita Prabhu’s wife, Sītādevī, came to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at His birth. Thus it is not impossible that she had the other three sons by Advaita within the twenty-one years between 1407 and 1428 śakābda (A.D. 1486 and 1507). Continue reading →

2nd of Feb was the disappearance day of Sri Madhvacarya, who is the sampradaya-acarya of our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya.

Srila Prabhupada: “Srila Madhvacarya is the original acarya for those who belong to the Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 6.1.40.purport

“… This Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya is also known as the Brahma-sampradaya because the disciplic succession originally began from Brahma. Brahma instructed the sage Narada, Narada instructed Vyasadeva, and Vyasadeva instructed Madhva Muni, or Madhvacarya…” (Krsna Book, Introduction)

CC Adi 1.19 pp. — The devotees of Orissa are called Udiyas, the devotees of Bengal are called Gaudiyas, and the devotees of southern India are known as Dravida devotees. As there are five provinces in Aryavarta, so Daksinatya, southern India, is also divided into five provinces, which are called Panca-dravida. The four Vaisnava acaryas who are the great authorities of the four Vaisnava disciplic successions, as well as Sripada Sankaracarya of the Mayavada school, appeared in the Panca-dravida provinces. Among the four Vaisnava acaryas, who are all accepted by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Sri Ramanuja Acarya appeared in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh at Mahabhutapuri, Sri Madhva Acarya appeared at Pajakam (near Vimanagiri) in the district of Mangalore, Sri Visnusvami appeared at Pandya, and Sri Nimbarka appeared at Mungera-patana in the extreme south. Continue reading →

Qualifications to become Guru-One Must be a Paramahamsa, and no less.

What that means is given below.

710409SB.BOM Lectures

So anyway, our point is that paramahamsa means one who has no such

dirty things in the heart, bhukti-mukti-siddhi. All, they are dirty

things. Bhukti means material enjoyment, mukti means to become, to

merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord, and siddhi means

yoga-siddhi. So they are all dirty things. So such dirty…, a person

with such dirty things, he is not paramahamsa.

He may be a sannyasi,but he’s not a paramahamsa.

Paramahamsa means who has no dirty things.

anyabhilasita-sunyam

jnana-karmady-anavrtam

anukulyena krsnanu-

silanam bhaktir uttama

Continue reading →

nitai-pada-kamala

koti-candra-susitala

The lotusfeet of Lord Nityananda
are cooling like a million moons

Meaning of the Auspicious Marks on the Lotus Feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu Compiled and translated by Dasaratha-suta dasa
CONCH (sankha) -This auspicious mark indicates that those who take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are always rescued from all sorts of distress. Just as during the arati ceremony the conch-shell is used to hold water that is offered directly after the fire of the ghee-lamp, similarly Nityananda’s lotus feet hold transcendental water that soothes His devotees from the blazing fire of material miseries. Also this symbol proclaims ultimate victory for the devotees, since the conch-shell mark on His feet contains the entire ocean of material existence that may now be easily crossed. This mark also shows that those who resort to Nitai’s feet become completely fearless. FLAG (dhvaja) – This mark announces that for the devotees meditating on His feet, They give security and safe protection from all sorts of fear. FISH (matsya) – This mark shows that just as a fish cannot live without water, similarly the surrendered devotees cannot live a moment without directly associating with His feet. It also shows that all the most cherished desires and longings of those who resort to Nitai’s feet will be truly fulfilled. It also means that the mind is very fickle, just like a fish that wavers this way and that, and so only after much meditation do His feet finally come into the heart. It also indicates that Nitai’s feet will come to live in one’s heart only if the heart has been liquefied by soft loving emotions; His feet do not thrive where it is dry. LOTUS (kamala) -This mark increases greed for nectar in the minds of the bee-like devotees who meditate on Nitai’s feet. The lotus also signifies that just as a lotus grows out of water, similarly those whose eyes swell with tears upon holding the Divine lotus feet of Srila Nityananda Prabhu to their heart receive the highest benefit. This mark also shows that the goddess of fortune, Sri Laksmi Devi always resides at His feet rendering humble service. It signifies that His feet are so soft that they can only be compared to lotus petals; indeed upon first glancing at His lotus feet, you would think you are directly seeing fresh lotus blossoms. It also reveals that just as a lotus blooms by day and contracts by night, similarly those who remain steeped in meditation on Their feet always feel the blossoming unfoldment of brilliant sattvika ecstasies that dispel the darkness of ignorance. It also means that the bee of the devotee’s mind cannot fly beyond the bondage of dry jnana (knowledge) and vairagya (renunciation) without the temptation offered by the superior nectar of Their lotus feet. BOW (dhanu) – This mark reveals that those who take shelter of Nitai’s lotus feet will be perpetually free from all worries and difficulties. It also shows that those who are stupefied in the material world remain motionless like a target and do not come to His feet. Whereas those who come to the ultimate goal of His feet remain there and never go back to the material world. Further, when the mind of the devotee meets the target of His feet, then prema condenses as a result and overflows as the tears showering from their eyes. GOAD (ankusa) – This mark indicates that meditation on Nitai’s feet brings the elephants of the devotee’s minds under control and keeps them on the right path. It also shows that those who thus stay on the path toward Their feet be come superior among men, just as one riding on top of an elephant travels far above the rest. ALTAR (vedi) – This mark proclaims that the sins of those who meditate upon His feet are burned up as if on the altar of sacrifice. Furthermore, it indicates that just as the universe is nourished by the brahmanas offering fire-sacrifices, similarly those who offer their minds in sacrifice to His feet stimulate universal nourishment that affects all of creation. HALF-MOON (ardha-candra) this mark symbolizes how His feet truly provide the desired objectives of the devotees. It signifies that even devatas like Lord Siva (whose symbol is a half moon) have decorated their own heads with the soles of His feet. It also shows that devotees who likewise decorate their own head with His feet can become exalted like Lord Siva. Just as the moon showers nectar with its cooling rays, similarly Nitai’s lotus feet shower nectar upon the devotees, extinguishing the threefold material miseries. So that the minds of the devotees may reside at His feet, they bear the symbol of the moon (which is the devata or presiding deity of the mind) upon His feet. Just as the moon is one, yet it destroys the darkness seen by many people simultaneously, similarly the Lord is one and yet by His cleverness can deliver many souls at the same time. Th e half-moon also indicates that since His toenails appear like ten splendorously full moons, the real moon has shriveled up in shame and appears in half-form.		PITCHER (kalasa) – This mark shows that Nitai’s feet hold the golden pitcher full of purely nectarean ambrosia to be freely consumed by the surrendered souls; indeed, they will never be bereft of nectar for this pitcher always remains full. This mark also indicates that His feet can pour out nectar that extinguishes the blazing three-fold miseries of the separated devotees. The full pitcher is a symbol to show that no inauspiciousness can come near His devotees. Rather His feet bring ripples of happiness emanating from divine auspiciousness. DISK (chakra) – This mark cuts down the six enemies of the devotees – lust, anger, greed, illusion, envy and bewilderment. It indicates teja-tattva, or the principle of brilliance by which He destroys the darkness of sins from within His devotee’s hearts. SKY (ambara) – This mark indicates that His feet are all pervading throughout the entire creation, both within and without all manifestations. It also shows that even though His feet are everywhere, they are unattached just like the sky. UMBRELLA (catra) – This mark proves that those who take shelter of Nitai’s feet are shielded from the incessant rainfall of material miseries. It also denotes that those who sit in the shade of His feet become exalted just like maharajas (great kings), who usually have umbrellas held over their heads. COW-HOOF (gospada) – This mark signifies that for those who have taken full shelter of uninterrupted meditation on His feet, the great ocean of worldly existence becomes very small and insignificant like the water held in a calf ’s hoof-print and is thus easily crossed over. THUNDERBOLT (vrajra) – This mark reveals that meditation on Nitai’s feet smashes to pieces the mountain of His devotee’s karmic reactions to past sins. It also indicates that whoever holds on to His feet becomes as exalted as Lord Indra (whose weapon is the thunderbolt). ROSE-APPLE (jambu-phal-phala) – This mark is indicative that His feet are the only worshipable objects for all those who are residents of this region of Jambudvipa (“island of the rose-apple”, according to Vedic cosmography) CLUB (gada) – This mark is to show that Nitai’s feet are capable of chastising the elephant of sinful lust. It further indicates that for whoever takes shelter of His feet, all their ancestors will also receive benefit. SPEAR (sakti) – This mark assures those who wish to have the miserable bonds of the mundane sphere cut, and who take shelter of Nitai, His feet immediately appear to slash all entanglements and difficulties. It also indicates that He is saktimana or the natural possessor of all divine potencies, whereas His servants are not endowed with separate, independent power but are completely dependent on Him. FLOWER (puspa) – This mark shows that the divine fame of His feet spread everywhere just like the fragrance of a flower. It also shows that His feet are not hard, but soft as flower petals. And it means that just as every fruit comes into being after the plant blooms, similarly all spiritual fruits come into being after first blossoming at the soles of His feet. CREEPER (valli) – This mark symbolizes how intelligent persons hold on to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda firmly just as a creeper firmly grasps whatever it is ascending. PLOW (hala) – Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. His lotus feet are as cool as the cooling effect of crores of moons. Balarama has a plow in his hand, and Krishna a flute. In the beginning cultivation – karsana is needed. Then all the nasty weed-like things will be rooted out. The field should be cultivated properly with the plow of Balarama, then the field of the heart – hridaya-ksetra – becomes fertile and the seed of the devotional creeper – bhakti-lata – will be sown. After proper cultivation by the plow of Nityananda/ Balarama when the land is fertile, then the seed should be sown. Then when one develops prema-bhakti you will be attracted by Krishna’s flute. The flute means akarsana – attraction. Karsana- akarsana – cultivation and enchantment.

Sri Nitai Pada-kamala ki jai! Excerpts taken from the book, “Radha-Krishna Nectar” Chapter: “ The Meanings of the Auspicious Marks.” Published by Nectar Books P.O. Box 574 Union City Georgia 30291 USA Sources given: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sarartha-darsini (Visvanatha Cakravarti’s Bhagavatam commentary), Ananda-candrika (Visvanatha’s tika on Govinda-lilamrta), Visvanatha’s Rupa Cintamani, Jiva Gosvami’s Sri kara-pada-yugala-samahti, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana, Garga Samhita, and numerous other quotes and compilations.

730510SB.LA Lectures 215678/530501
Pradyumna: This King Yudhisthira is lamenting that the body, this
material body, does not actually belong to us. We can even see
relatively that the material body belongs, while we are inside this
material body, it belongs to the family. We have debts to pay to so
many living entities–to our forefathers, our family. It belongs to
our country. Our country takes it and says, “You take your body and
you fight in Vietnam,” or “You do this kind of work” or “You don’t do
this.” It is subject to the religion we are born in. It is subject to
so many rules and regulations beyond ourselves. This body, even while
we are in it, does not belong to us, and before we came into this
body, it was matter, belonging to someone else, and after we leave
this body, as it says in the purport, “While there is life in the body
it is meant for the service of others, and when it is dead it is meant
to be eaten by dogs and jackals or maggots.” So after death the body
is disposed of in different ways. Some people bury the body; in that
case the worms take the body. Some people burn the body; in that case
it is consumed by fire and becomes ashes. Continue reading →

Ramanujacarya

When the religion of the Vedas became weakened due to the influence of less intelligent men who blindly performed ritualistic ceremonies and wantonly killed animals in the name of Vedic injunctions, Buddha appeared on the scene as a great reformer. Totally rejecting the Vedic literature and substituting his rational, atheistic views, Buddha advocated the path of ahimsa, (nonviolence and nirvana-the negation of reality as we know it) as the ultimate goal of life. Soon after, the philosophy of Shankaracharya overpowered Buddhism and spread throughout India.

The authority of the Upanishads and other Vedic literature were revived by Shankara and employed as weapons to fight the Buddhist doctrine. Interpreting the Vedas to draw a particular conclusion, Shankara established the doctrine of non-dualism, adwaita-vedanta, stating that all living entities were on an equal level with God. He prominently stressed those texts which afforded an answer to the rationalistic atheism of the Buddhists, yet the teachings of Shankara were not wholly theistic, and thus a further unveiling of the ultimate reality was destined. That destiny was fulfilled through Shri Ramanujacharya. Continue reading →

Hare Krishna Society

“Candidates for Hellish Life”

The result of unauthorized book changes – broken guru-parampara

To engage or destroy (Bg 11.32)

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Advaita acarya

Srila Prabhupeda glorifies Sri Madhva

Who is Real Guru? Only a Paramhamsa, one of the topmost order.

Nitai-Pada-Kamala

“But if you become servant of Krsna, maya will not touch you” – SP

Sri Ramanujacarya life and( teachings-look for bold font at the end)