Thursday 31 July 2014

Vaishnava Reminder-Disappearance day of Shri Raghunandan Thakur and Vamsi Das Babaji

Shri Raghunandan Thakur



Shri Mukunda Das, Madhab Das and Shri Narahari Sorkar Thakur were three brothers who lived in the village of Shri Khanda. Raghunandan was the son of Shri Mukunda Das. [C.C.Madhya 15]

In the house of Shri Mukunda Das, who lives at Shri Khanda, Lord Shri Gopinath is served with great attention.
One day Mukunda had to go out for some specific work so he called his son Raghunandan and asked him to serve Lord Gopinath that day. Raghunandan was only a small child at that time so his father carefully explained to him, "This Deity is in our family for many generations. He has been worshipped by my father and his father before him, and his father, on and on in this way for so many years. Just as your mother feeds you and I everyday, so also He has to be fed everyday."
He explained to Raghunandan that this is a very big responsibility and he should be very careful to give his full attention to this service. Then Mukunda went out.
Raghunandan collected the items for offering to Shri Gopinathji and entered into the Deity room. Raghunandan was at that time barely 5 years old. He tried to offer the bhoga as he had seen his father do but when he looked up after reciting some prayers he saw that the bhoga was still there. When he saw that Gopinath hadn't eaten the offering after he had imitated his father's offering procedure as best as he could remember, he became very worried. His father had impressed upon him the importance of this service and now he could understand that he wasn't doing it properly, and that his father would be displeased. Ultimately he simply requested Gopinath with tears in his eyes, "Eat! Eat!"
Gopinath became completely subjected by Raghunandan's simple request, made entirely in love, and thus He stealthily ate up everything without leaving any remnants.
After some time Raghunandan's father, Mukunda, returned and asked his son if he had done as he was told? When his son replied "Yes", then Mukunda asked him to bring some of the prasadam. Raghunandan replied, "Prasadam? I offered everything just like you told me, and Gopinath ate everything. So what should I bring you now?"
Mukunda was completely taken aback. "This boy is not naughty and is always accustomed to speak the truth. I doubt if he would have eaten everything. I wonder what actually happened?"
Musing on this matter in his mind for some days, his curiosity remained unsatisfied even after a few days time had elapsed. He got an idea and so again requested Raghunandan to offer the bhoga to Gopinath on that day. Raghunandan was very excited to hear this request and replied that he would be more than happy to make the offering since he liked to do that service so much.
On this day however, after going out of the house, he again came in by another way and remained hiding in one place.
Raghunandan was very happy to be able to serve Shri Gopinathji again. He brought everything into the Deity room and as before, he again very insistently persuaded Gopinath to take his meal. As Gopinath had eaten half of a laddu, he espied Mukunda standing in the doorway. He didn't try to cover up the fact that he had eaten what he had, but neither did he eat any more.
Seeing all this Mukunda was completely immersed in ecstatic love and picked up his son and put him on his lap. Again and again he extolled his virtues in a voice trembling with ecstasy, all the while torrents of tears of joy falling from his eyes. Even today, those who are greatly fortunate can still see that half-eaten laddu in Gopinatha's lotus hand. Thus Shri Uddhab das sings the glories of Raghunandan, who is non-different from Madan(Cupid).

Raghunandan was present at the kheturi utsob (festival).In Krishna lila he was Kandarpa manjari and/or the priya narma sakha Ujjval. In Dwaraka lila he was Shri Krishna's son Kandarpa (Pradyumna).

Raghunandan's son is Kanai Thakur. His descendants are still residing at Shri Khanda. Shri Khanda can be easily reached from Katwa by bus or train.
Raghunandan Thakur was born in the year 1432 sakabda. He appeared on the first day of Spring, Basantpancami, in the year 1432 (saka). His disappearance is on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Srabon.

Shri Vamsi Dasa Babaji Mahraja



Vamsidas Babaji was a Gaudiya Vaishnav sadhu who lived at Swarupa Gunj, Navadwip during the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was respected by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and he used to see to it that Vamsidas Babaji was provided with grains and so on by Gaudiya Matha brahmacharis.
Srila Vamsidas Babaji appeared in the village of Majidpur in the Jamalpur district of Bangladesh. Before the partition of India, this city was formerly in the district of Mymensing. His father’s name was Sanatana Malobrahma and he was previously known as Bhairava. Babaji Maharaj came to Nabadwip from East Bengal.
He lived as a total recluse, far away from the hubbub of the town in a solitary place on the bank of Ganga near Baral Ghata in Navadvipa, as if he was a mad or crazy person. His only possessions were an old kaupina, karanga and kantha. Vamsidasa Babaji lived in a world of his own. His world centered round his deities-Gaura-Gadadhara, Nitai, Radha-Krishna and Gopala. For the service of his deities he had two brass pots, some earthen pots, one plate, one glass, some small cups, pancapatra, bell and conch-shell and nothing else.
Baba passed day and night in the service of the deities and in sweet talks with Them. Early in the morning he went out from his kuti to collect flowers. Then he went for bhiksa. He returned to his kutiya about noon and made garlands from the flowers for each of the six deities. After that he would cut the vegetables. He washed each vegetable a number of times. Then he cleaned rice. He examined each grain of rice. If he found any grain from which the husk was not removed, he removed it with his own hand.
He did everything slowly, contemplating all the time the lila of Radha-Krishna or Gaura-Nitai, and singing or talking to Them. It was only late in the evening that he could cook and offer bhoga to the deities. He had no consciousness of time. Morning and evening, day and night had no meaning for him. Almost the whole night he kept awake, talking and singing.
One day, a lady selling fish approached V.B., offering him some choice type of catch.  Somehow or other, the Babaji's mind became attracted to tasting the fish.  But he immediately rebuked himself and became very angry. He first of all shouted at the woman to go away. Then he shouted at his deities, "How could this happen?  How could this happen?  I've surrendered my life to Radha Krishna, I'm under They're protection, and still this happens!  Why are You not protecting me?" He went storming into his bhajan kutir.  People gathered while he fussed and fumed at his Deities inside.  Then he came out, bringing the Deities tied by rope, and threw Them into the Ganga.  He kept the end of the rope under his foot.  When one man inquired why he was doing this, the Baba threw a stone at him.
When this news reached the Gaudiya Matha, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur called his brahmacharis together and forbade them from visiting the baba again, save for one who would just deliver supplies. After a few days, he again called them together and said, "Some of you think I've stopped you from visiting babaji maharaja because he is in maya.  That is not so.  I’ve prevented you because  you will not be able to understand this bhava and will only commit offences.  So better you stay away." Later, when that one brahmachari visited, Vamsidas babaji maharaj threw a stone at him and told, "If you want to please me, then never return here again!"
Babaji never locked the door of his kutir when he went out for bhiksa or to bathe in the Gariga. When asked why he did not lock the kutir, he said, "If the owner of the house Himself does not keep a watch then what is the use of locking the house? I do not even keep the keys of the lock with me. The lock has three keys. All the three are with the three boys. One is with Gaura, one with Nitai and one with Gadadhara."
After entrusting the lock and the keys to the three “boys”, Baba used to be free from anxiety. If while he was out a cow entered the kutir and ransacked everything, he would be angry with the boys. If someone stole something from the kutir he would say, "Gaura has a soft corner for Nadiyavasis, the residents of His own Dhama. Therefore He gives things away to them. I am after all an outsider." Once a gold necklace, given by someone to Sri Gaura, was stolen, when he had gone out for bhiksa.
On returning to the kutir he kept on scolding Gaura and asking Him whom He had given away the necklace to, for about two hours. Towards the evening he got a hint. He then went to the house of the thief and asked him for the necklace. The thief pushed him down the verandah of his house. He was hurt. But he did not say anything. But how could Gaura tolerate this? The thief soon died as well as all the other members of his family.
Once Baba had to punish Gaura-Nitai for Their connivance in a theft. The two brass-pots, in which Baba' used to cook for Gaura-Nitai were stolen. How could this happen without the connivance of Gaura-Nitai? So They were punished. Baba scolded Them and did not give Them anything to eat that day. The punishment had its effect. The next day someone came quietly and delivered one of those pots. Baba said, "This small pot is Nitai's. He will be fed today. If Gaura wants to eat, He must also bring His pot." Baba always did what he said. He cooked and offered bhoga to Nitai. Gaura drew a long face as He kept looking at Nitai eating. In the meantime another man came and delivered the other pot. Baba then cooked in that pot and offered bhoga to Gaura. When Gaura also had eaten, he said with tears in his eyes, "Do I ever want to punish You? But both of You are so naughty that You always harass me. Don’t you know that I have now become old and cannot bear it all. What can I do?"
Babaji Maharaj did not stay exclusively in the Navadwip area, but also travelled to many holy places where he practiced the spiritual disciplines of bhakti-yoga. Whenever he saw a peepal tree, he would sit under it, taking it to be the Vamsi-vata under which Krishna played his flute to attract the gopis. Once he had installed himself there, it would be difficult to get him to move.
In February 1941, Vamsi Dasji left Navadwip and headed for Vrindavan. He sometimes walked, sometimes travelled by ox-cart and sometimes by rail. He first went to Katwa where he stayed for two days under a vata tree near the railway station. Then he took the train to Bhagalpur where he stayed for a day under again under a vata tree near the station and for four days by the Ganges. Then he travelled on to Gaya where he remained on the banks of the Phalgu River for three days.
He also stayed on a boat in the Ganges near Dashashvamedha Ghat in Benares for three days, spent another three days in Ayodhya by the Sarayu including three hours under a vata tree, at the Triveni confluence at Prayag for ten days, two days at the Vishram Ghat in Mathura, eight days at the Vamshivata in Vrindavan, at the Madhya-curia on the banks of the Yamuna, the Govindevji temple, Kaliya-daha, near a tamala tree on the east bank of Surya Kund at Nandagrama, two days at Pavana-sarovara and then nine days at Vamshivata Ghat in Vrindavan.
Everywhere that he went, he remained absorbed in chanting the Holy Names and meditating on Krishna’s form and pastimes. After three months, he returned to Navadwip Dhama, in the month of Jyestha.
Those who travelled with him recounted that when wandering through Vraja Mandala, he would sometimes sing songs about Krishna’s lila, sometimes glorify Navadwip Dhama, sometimes laugh madly. Sometimes, he would babble incoherently, and oftentimes he would remain completely silent.
When visiting a temple, he was often seen muttering confidentially to the deities, disclosing some personal sentiment to them. All in all, his companions were charmed by his devotional absorption. In an old Gaudiya Math weekly magazine, further accounts of Babaji Maharaj’s travels are given. It is stated there in the four years from March 1943, he travelled to Ambika Kalna, Kharagpur, Baleshvara (Balasore), Soro, Bhadrak, Khurda Road and Purushottam.
During these travels the sadhus of the Gaudiya Matha rendered great service to him. Nothing is known about Baba's life as a householder, except that he was married at an early age and his son Haricandra was nine or ten years old when he renounced the world. He went to Navadvipa around 1906.
There was a person from Navadvipa-dhama who used to come to Babaji Maharaja. One day, he thought, "I have the desire to obtain the Supreme Lord. How can I get Bhagavan?"  This person came back repeatedly to see Babaji Maharaja. Finally, one day, he approached Maharaja directly.
"What do you want?" Babaji Maharaja asked him.
"I want to see Bhagavan," the man said.
Babaji Maharaja replied with only one word: " Then weep for Him!"
Babaji Maharaj’s disappearance day is on the Shukla Caturthi of Shravan.





Wednesday 30 July 2014

Oh! God please save me

I am just failing, falling down and falling down
Just sliding down and going down


I am not able to stand
What am I living for I am not able to understand

Moving unknowingly
Just disturbing the silent water with pebbles
Crawling on the ground as a lamb, I just need the crutches
Suffering has become a part of my life
Light seems running away what remain all around is the endless night


God please forgive me as I just slid
I forgot You that I am your ‘child’

  Tears turned into streams on the face
Trying to come out, got entangled more in the mesh

Please put the foot-marks of your devotees
 Following those I can seek You
Let me bath in the soil they have walked on
And Let me enter into the song they felt for You

I am not in the very few who has surrendered unto You
I am just that ignorant who never likes to remember You

Feeling proud for the past, at last I have become exhausted
Who was just blaming You and now he himself got rejected
I just want to get hold of the path because no option either has been left  for this “dejected”

'The Highest Law of Nature'

The Highest Law of Nature

Dr. Singh: Nowadays it seems everyone has his “view.”

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Every rascal will give his own “view.” But we don’t have to accept this.
“Modern world” means “I think,” “in my opinion,” “in my view.” This is going on. But we don’t accept this.
Dr. Singh: We hear these very words all the time from so-called scientific authorities. “In my opinion.” “In my view.”

Srila Prabhupada: In your opinion.In your view. But first of all, who are you? A soul shackled inside a material body, totally under the control of the material laws. So what is the value of your view?
This is ahankara, false ego. Ahankara- vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate: one wants to give his view when he thinks, foolishly, “I am this big, proud material body. I am something.” Kartaham iti manyate: he thinks, “I am doing such great things.” But actually he is vimudha, a great ass. He does not understand that in fact he is not the material body, and that material nature—not he—is carrying out his so-called great activities.

In fact, material nature is pulling him around by his ear: “Come here. Lie down and sleep.” And he has to lie down and sleep. He’s so independent. So what is the value of his “view”?
Prakriteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvashah. As Lord Krishna explains, “The spirit soul bewildered by false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that in reality are being carried out by the modes of material nature.” He doesn’t realize that he is totally under the control of nature.
Now, you rascal scientists, just try to understand. From the spiritual world you have fallen into this prison, this material world. You have your prison uniform, this material body. So shall I have to accept your view? You are a fallen criminal, and I have to accept your view? What is the value of your view?
Dr. Singh: These rascal scientists are so arrogant. They won’t listen.

Srila Prabhupada: Make them listen. “What is the value of your proud view? You have become a criminal. You are being punished. And we have to accept your view?”
Again, what is the value of this materially imprisoned living entity’s view? No value. At least we Krishna conscious, God conscious, people will not accept it. This position we shall maintain. “No ‘view’ from you, sir. Only Krishna’s view shall we accept—only God’s view.”That’s all. “Who are you to propound some view, rascal scientist? Your view? We don’t give your view any value.” Stick to this point. And maintain it scientifically. Then it will stand. Don’t compromise.

Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. “I am the supreme truth,” the Lord says. “There is no truth superior to Me.” This is the Supreme’s view. The Supreme’s view we shall accept.
Why accept some puny rascal’s view? We are getting knowledge from the supreme person—nobody is greater than Him; nobody is equal to Him. So why shall we accept some puny nonsensical rascal’s view?

All over the world, people are becoming godless cats and dogs in the mere dress of human beings. So para- upakara: we have to rescue them from this nonsense and make them truly happy—restore their God consciousness. The first step is to disprove their nonsensical pseudoscientific “view” that life comes from matter, with no need for the soul or the supreme soul. This is simply incorrect.
Dr. Singh: How true. This materialistic view is incorrect. So we are holding these nonsensical ideas—this pseudoscience—under the light of honest scientific scrutiny. And we’re showing that it is all wrong.

Srila Prabhupada: That is required. Now, as you say, sometimes scientists bring data to amplify the God conscious understanding. And that is nice. We can employ their data to restore people’s sense of God.

Dr. Singh: Yes. Unfortunately, pseudo- scientists often use the phrase “the laws of nature” to imply a universe without a lawmaker. So to suggest the lawmaker, we can say, “the higher laws of nature.”

Srila Prabhupada: Oh, yes. These so-called scientists—they do not even know all the laws of nature.

Dr. Singh: They don’t know all the natural laws. They know only a few,

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And they do not know who the lawmaker is. They do not know that the laws of nature can be changed by the lawmaker. It is just as we see in ordinary, mundane governmental affairs: today something is the law, but tomorrow the government can change it. So this is the real meaning of God: the supreme governor, the person who makes the natural law—and who can change it.
Krishna says, daivi hy esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya: “No one can overcome My natural laws.” And then He goes on to say, “But anyone who surrenders unto Me—he can cross beyond My natural laws.” That is the difference between the ordinary being and the supreme being. God can change the laws.
For example, Krishna’s natural law states that if you have sinned, you must suffer. Now, you and I are not God; so if we break His law and commit sin, we must suffer. That’s all. But Krishna can change the law and say, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami: “Even though you have sinned, I will deliver you from the resultant suffering. Don’t be afraid. Simply surrender to Me.”
How can Krishna say this? He can say this because He is the Supreme. So here is God realization. Here is the supreme science: to realize, “Yes, all around me I see so many natural laws that no one can change. Certainly I cannot change them. I am under the laws of nature. Therefore, let me search out that one person who is above the laws of nature—that one person who made the laws and can even change them. I must make Him the goal of my life.”
Dr. Singh: That’s why it seems best to say “the higher laws of nature.”

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And be sure to mention the highest law of nature: God, the lawmaker—who can do anything, even change the laws—requests us, “Just 
become My devotee and surrender to Me. I’ll protect you.”

Sunday 27 July 2014

Saturday 26 July 2014

'You Have To Serve Somebody'


You have to serve somebody strong. You cannot avoid it. Just study all status of society, animal society or human society. The law is that the stronger is dominating the weaker. That is the law. You cannot avoid it. So wherefrom this idea came unless it is in God? Janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. All ideas come from the Supreme. That is the law, that the strong predominate over the weak. So who can be stronger than God? So this is our natural position, to serve God.
(Prabhupada Conversation. Hawaii, June 20, 1975)


Prabhupada: So why not serve the supreme strong (?)?

Siddha-svarupa: Yes.

Prabhupada: That is natural. Nunam mahatam tatra. Mahat means bigger and more powerful, and nunam means there are less powerful. So everyone is less powerful than God. Then why don’t you serve God? That is the perfection. You have to serve somebody strong. You cannot avoid it. Just study all status of society, animal society or human society. The law is that the stronger is dominating the weaker. That is the law. You cannot avoid it. So wherefrom this idea came unless it is in God? Janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. All ideas come from the Supreme. That is the law, that the strong predominate over the weak. So who can be stronger than God? So this is our natural position, to serve God.


Siddha-svarupa: Yes. And He is a nice master.

Prabhupada: Yes. Perfect master. Even without becoming master He is providing everything. Even though those who do not accept Him, He is also giving them. So what to speak of those who have accepted Him? This is very simple philosophy. It is His position to accept service. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. It is good for the person who surrenders. Krsna doesn’t require your service. When He says, “You surrender to Me,” it does not mean that Krsna is suffering for your service. Krsna is self-sufficient. He can create millions of servants like you. So He doesn’t require your service. But if you serve, then it is your benefit. You become saved: “Now I am under the protection of a very able…” [break] …and every respect, opulence of master. You are serving cats and dogs. Why not serve the most supreme, able and opulent master? This is going on. You have to serve. You cannot say, “No, no. I will not serve. I am independent.” That is not possible. You have to serve. You have to serve, and you will be exploited, by the imperfect masters. So why not serve the perfect master so that you will not be exploited again? It is simple.

Siddha-svarupa: [break] …being servants, but we’re…

Prabhupada: You have to serve. If you do not serve, the strong will force you to serve.

Siddha-svarupa: And it’s the most horrible service, too.

Prabhupada: Yes. Now this, as you say that the Hawaiians, they are meant for cleansing the hotel to get some money. And without money, he cannot live. So he forced to serve. What are the tanks? Petrol?

Siddha-svarupa: I think so. Yeah. Shell Oil.

Prabhupada: [break] Therefore the good intelligence is kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesan tesam mayi na karuna jata na trapa nopasantih: “I have served. I have served the so-called master. Actually I have served my senses.” As they come to the hotel for sense gratification and do all nonsense and I have to serve him, so why I am serving? Oh, that is also for serving my senses. Without money I cannot serve my senses.


Siddha-svarupa: Yes. So that’s ultimately the problem.

Prabhupada: (laughs) Ultimately the problem, that we have to serve, and ultimately we have to serve our senses. Senses means lusty desires, kamadinam. Kama means lust.

Siddha-svarupa: Addicted.

Prabhupada: Yes. Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, matsarya. Kama means lusty. Krodha means anger. If my lusty desire is not fulfilled, then I become angry. Then I have to serve anger. Kama, krodha. Then I become more greedy. Kama krodha lobha. Then I become illusioned, moha. Then I become envious. In this way I have become implicated. So this service of this material world means I become more and more implicated. Therefore a devotee says, “My Lord, now I have got sense.” What is that sense? “Now I am meant for service, I have rendered service, but nobody has become happy, either the master or myself. Therefore now I have got intelligence: why not serve You? You are the supreme master. So I have come to You. Please engage me in Your service.” This is full surrender. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesah. By serving this material objective, there is no peace. Everyone is unhappy although they are rendering service and taking service. This is going on, but nobody is happy because this is artificial. Real service… Unless the thing comes to the real point, there is no peace. Here everyone is trying to become master, and everyone wants to avoid service. But by the nature’s law, one has to become servant and render service. Going on. Conglomeration. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas tesam mayi na karuna jata na trapa nopasantih.

Friday 25 July 2014

Kamika Ekdashi Darshan of Shri Shri Radha Govind Devji


Raj Bhog Darshan

Shayan Jhanki Darshan

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Useless Race

Useless Race


The useless race so far I ran
I remained there and everything went in vain
I was a great fool and I am still deluded
Never thought of becoming insane

The loads of miseries and the burning expectations
Amidst these my will valued less than pennies
Peace was in rags and life was restless
Works were merely “fruitless” and devotion less


Nevertheless fortune knocked my door one day
It was a simple hot burning day of May
Someone knocked my door with a book
Asked me to have a look

I said “books” have made me like this
Feeling like dying in absence of water as a fish

He said this will set you free from all grievances
Will place you in a valley of “roses”


I said, “Don’t make a fun of my life”
It is already going down and down towards the endless dark night

Don’t worry, just keep this book for one day
If you don’t like “gifting” is what you may

If you like just get stick to it
When it seems everything drowning just get hold of it
When boredom starts prevailing switch over to it

Start turning the pages when others wind up
Start enjoying it when all other sources give up

He then went away handing me “The Bhagwad Gita-As it is”
It looked like I got the “medicine” for my disease

His words went right and brought me to light
 I still look for him everywhere outside so that he may be found again somewhere as a “Spiritual Knight”

Tuesday 15 July 2014

!!! Spirituality is the culmination, not the contradiction, of science !!!

Atheists claim, “Science and spirituality are contradictory because science is founded on facts; spirituality, on faith.”
Actually however, the bedrock of science is not facts, but faith. Science doesn’t progress merely by observing facts of the natural world. It progresses by first assuming on faith that these facts have an underlying order and then seeking to discover that order. Newton discovered gravity not just by observing the fact of the falling fruit, but by his faith that a rational order in nature had caused the fruit to fall. Noted physicist Paul Davies acknowledges, “Even the most atheistic scientist accepts as an act of faith the existence of a law-like order in nature.”

Spirituality just takes this scientific faith to its next level by identifying the person behind the order. That person, the Bhagavad-gita (09.10) declares, is God, Krishna.

Is such an inference to the divine unscientific?
No. To the contrary, science is increasingly substantiating it.

The more science fathoms the laws of nature, the more their intricacy and inter-relationship insists that they couldn't have come by chance. The precision of the laws points to the prescience of the lawmaker. Many eminent scientists hold this inference to be not just reasonable but essential. Reputed Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan stated, “An equation for me has no meaning, unless it represents a thought of God.”

Accepting the role of the divine brings meaning not just to the natural order, but also to human affairs. The Gita (15.15) indicates that the same God who oversees insentient matter also guides human consciousness towards its ultimate evolution. If we harmonize with Krishna by practicing bhakti-yoga, we progressively realize our spiritual identity and relish lasting happiness. Discovering and delighting thus in the order that encompasses all of existence – matter and consciousness – is the culmination of science.

Hare Krishna

Friday 11 July 2014

Hare Krishna Village (Updates July 2014)

The Bhaktivedanta Goshala meant for cow protection



The top view of Bhaktivedanta Goshala depicting its all sections







































Gurukula student sharing love and affection with a cow within Goshala






















The cows are being cared by Gurukula students while they are taking fodder





















the lovely calves at Bhaktivedanta goshala





















The top view of on-going construction of the cottages for goshala workers





















Another view of worker-cottages with the flooring being done by above stones





















The cows enjoying grazing in Hare Krishna Village 





















One of the Gurukula boys is herding the cows




















Sunday 6 July 2014

Students of BIGVC at Rath Yatra, Shri Madhopur





The Rath Yatra Began with the most auspicious chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra


A student of  BIGVC singing ecstatically the holy names of Lord Krishna
The students of BIGVC dancing and the people all around them were seen relishing that dance
The younger students of BIGVC were no where behind their seniors in singing and dancing
The sounds of Mrdangas and Kartals were creating a very nice and holy atmosphere in the streets
"Lets not stop and go on with this Kirtan"
A student of the BIGVC leading the kirtan with all others following him.
All the devotees were deeply mesmerized in Kirtan and dance






















Friday 4 July 2014

Harinaam Sankirtan Trip to Nathdwara-Charbhuja Ji-Dwarkadeesh Ji-Sanwalia Seth

We started our journey from Jaipur Junction by doing Sankirtan and book distribution before boarding the train.
Let’s start, let’s start our journey with the most auspicious “Hari-Nam Sankirtan”-Devotees performing sankirtan @Jaipur Junction





Joining the hands in hands-Devotees engaged the people present @Jaipur Junction in the dance during Kirtan.
Srila Prabhupada said that his books are so powerful that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. So it is a very valuable service to distribute our books.
 So along with Sankirtan and dance we distributed books among the people present there.




Happy faces @Mavli Junction-Getting ready to reach the Nathdwara village where Srinath Ji temple is located.

The Deity of Srinath Ji at Nathdwara







 From Mavli station we hired cabs to reach Shrinath Ji Temple. Shrinathji is a form Lord Sri Krishna manifested as a seven-year old child. The principal shrine of Shrinathji is situated at the temple town of Nathdwara, located 48kms north-east of Udaipur city in Rajasthan.

One cannot take commodities like bags, cameras etc. inside the temple.

 Sankitan outside Srinath Ji Temple

Shrinathji’s deity was brought to Rajasthan from Govardhana near Vrindavan to protect it from the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who in 1665 was bent upon vandalizing the area of Vrindavan by widespread destruction of Hindu temples. When the Mughal army came to Govardhana, the devotees of the Lord showed them the titles and gifts given to the temple by the previous Mughal rulers. The army commander then ordered the deity to be taken away from Govardhana. For almost six months the statue stayed in Agra after which the custodians of the idol of Shrinathji left that place with the idol in search of a new heaven.
While several other princes were diffident, it was Maharana Rajsingh of Mewar who dared to provide refuge. The idol went on a journey to Mewar which took 32 months to complete. The decision to settle the Lord here at Nathdwara involves an interesting story. When the wheel of the chariot carrying the Lord got stuck in the mud at a place called Sihar, the Rana saw it as a divine sign that Lord Krishna wished to settle here, and thus a temple was built at this spot and the holy township of Nathdwara grew around the temple
In 1672 Lord Shrinathji was placed in a new Temple built in village Sihad, now called Nathdwara, on the banks of river Banas.


“Association of Devotees”-A passerby devotee sharing a photo space with us on the way to Srinath Ji temple.
After reaching the temple, we did darshan of Srinathji and other deities along with the campus of the temple.After coming out of the temple we did a heavy Sankirtan and dance outside the temple campus.

Then we arranged for the Mahapasadam offered to Lord Shrinathji during Rajbhog Arati. The Prasad was more than enough for each of us. The taste was wonderful with very interesting natural things on which we got the prasadam. You can look at the next picture to know what I am trying to say about the Prasad. 





 A basketful of Mahaprasdam- The food offered to Srinath Ji as Rajbhog.The prasadam comprised of a number of vegetable curries, Dal, Kheer and Sikhand, boiled rice, fruits and fruit juices and paranthas.

“The Giant Parantha ”-difficult to end up hungry after eating this one.This was one of the major attractions in Srinath ji’s Mahaprasadam.






































The great basket feasting-Devotees enjoyed the prasadam in the baskets made of bamboos and fresh leaves and much more than that each basket had a large variety of items. 


The Mahaprasadam Effect





After going through journey in the train and again doing sankirtan, devotees re-energized themselves by consuming a delicious and sumptuous prasadam and that is being seen in this picture.  

After having a more than a hearty prasadam at Srinath Ji,our next destination was Dwarkadheesh Ji Temple situated in Kankroli near Rajsamand. As we reached there in the afternoon and next darshan was in the evening so we firstly decided to bath in the Rajsamand Lake situated near the temple.As we were very much exhausted by going up the stairs and a good walk in the blazing sun,it was much needed.




 The vast waters of Rajsamand Lake (also known as Rajasamudra Lake) besides Dwarkadheesh Temple in Rajsamand town touching the hills way away long.



The Ghats of Rajsamand lake-witnessed a long history with these birds


 Maharana Raj Singh build it in the year 1660.It is 1.75 miles long (2.82 km) wide, 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 60feet (18m) deep.  The lake was built across the Gomati, Kelwa and Tati Rivers with a catchment area of approximately 196 sq mile (510 square kms). It is one of the five popular lakes in the Mewar region of Rajasthan. The vista appears marvelous at the time of sunset when the orange shade of the departing Sun shades the waters of the lake. The southern part of this lake has 5 “Torans” or weighing arches.These arches were used by Maharajas of the royal families to weigh themselves in precious metals like Gold and the metals equal to their weight was given to Brahmanis. This event is known as Tuladan. 

Enjoying the splashes of water in Rajsamand Lake and losing all our fatigue to regain our energy and refreshing ourselves.



Waving Hands in Spiritual Joy
The Deity of Dwarkadheesh Ji Temple near Rajsamand


 During the Mughal period, frequent invasions on temples, vandalism and arson were very common. The fanatics made the temple deities the first object of their mindless destination. The idol of Shri Dwarkadhishji, then in Gokul was exposed to this danger. There was every apprehension of damage to the temple and the deity’s idol. Goswami Shri Girdharji Maharaja therefore fled to Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and took the idol of the deity with him. There also the apprehension was no less. Then Maharana of Udaipur Shri Rajsingh ji requested Shri Girdhar Maharaj and hence the idol was brought to Kankaroli where it was enshrined in a nearby village Asotiya, in Vikram Samvat 1726. When the temple on bank of Rajsamand had been completed, the idol was enshrined there in the temple.

Since this all happened in the times of Goswami Shri Girdharji, the building on the hill was named after him as Girdhar Garh. Since then Shri Dwarkadheeshji is enthroned there.
It is believed that great king Ambarish Maharaja used to worship this deity.

Let’s get in touch with the Supreme Lord via Sankirtan-devotees enjoying ecstatically in the sound of Mrdanga and Kartaal in the campus of Dwarkdheesh Ji temple

  
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  Nectar of Devotion says that one should dance before the Lord. So we all are trying to do that.




Thoughtful faces looking in the camera but thinking about Krishna-a close up snap on the stairs of Sri Dwarkdheesh Ji Temple

 Get Ready the devotees are coming to you-A photograph on the downstairs on the way to Sri Dwarkadheesh Ji Temple




After doing a lot of Kirtan and dance in the premises of Dwarkadheesh Ji Temple we set out for another destination i.e.Charbhuja Ji and Rokadia Hanuman Ji temple. But before that we did street sankirtan in the market places of Kankroli and then we switched to the next place.

 Come on let us hit the streets with Hari Nam Sankirtan

 Devotees doing Sankirtan on the streets of Kankroli, the place where Dwarkadheesh Ji Temple is located.
Afterwards that we moved from Kankroli to Rokadia Hanuman Ji Temple,situated at a distance 44 kmsof Charbhuja Ji Temple and approximately 47 kms from Kankroli.

The deities at the Rokadia Hanuman Ji Temple

The chief person at the Rokadia Hanuman Ji temple told us that he met Srila Prabhupada in 1970s during Kumbh Mela. He told Prabhupada as a great personality and he hasn’t met a person like him during his life time. He said that Prabhupada was a great saint and definitely was not of this material world. No one else could have erected such large number of temples all over the world and it was he who made it possible to preach Krishna Consciousness blossom in the western world. 





 Spectacular faces and Spectacular background

A photograph clicked nearby Rokadia Hanuman Ji Temple  

 Sankirtan in the Rokadia Hanuman Ji Temple

Our halt in the night was near Rokadia Hanuman Ji’s temple so next morning we moved down to Charbhuja Ji for darshan.We stayed there for few hours and did kirtan all around the temple.

A group photograph on the main entrance of Charbhuja Ji Temple



 Charbhuja Ji's Temple was built in 1444AD. According to the inscription inside the temple, village name was Badri, therefore, the idol is considered as BadriNath. The deity of Charbhuja Nath is considered to be miraculous.
The deity of Shri Charbhuja Ji' is 85 centimeters high. The four arms of the idol hold conch, discus, mace and a lotus flowers. The discus and the mace symbolize dynamic power, energy and prowess. Some castes like Rajputs and the Gurjars hold a special reverence for this temple. Rajputs attributed a sword and shield as symbol of Rajput chivalry in every darshan
The temple is made by mirrors, Lime mortars and Marble. The excellent work of the mirror is done in the original temple. The shutters of the inner temple are made of gold while outer shutters are made of silver. Garud ji is installed in the other courtyard. Stone elephants are placed on the both sides of the entrance. Temple is in the open space. The temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims.
Once the king Shri Gang Dev got divine instruction in his dream to install the idol to be recovered from water. Then he installed this idol in his garh (fort). It is said the Pandavas also worshiped this idol before proceeding for their last YATRA to Himalaya. To protect this temple about 125 battles have taken place. Many times idol also was submerged in the water for its safety.

The Sacred Deity of Sri Charbhuja Ji
A large fair is held in the village on Jhaljhoolni Gyaras every year. Thousands of devotees come here for worship of lord Charbhuja and get blessings from all over the India.
Jhaljhoolni Gyaras (Ekadashi) is the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapad month (August/September). This day is specially celebrated in the Charbhuja. Pilgrims come by walking and other means for this day to the village and they get together and take the Lord to the lake nearby for the religious bath with a grand procession. After that they also perform special pooja of the lord. This great procession has many people and used to be welcomed with perfume and flowers.

Last but not the least we had another temple for darshan and that was Sanwalia Seth Ji. It was the longest one in the tour as we first moved to Gomati (from Charbhuja Ji), the place where we had to board our bus to Sanwalia Seth Ji and after a hectic journey by bus for nearly 5-6 hours we reached the temple.
The Story of Sanwalia Seth Ji
According to legends in the year 1840 a milkman named Bhola Ram Gurjar saw in his dream that three deities are buried in Chapar near Bhadsoda-Bangad. When that place was dig then Bhola Ram’s dream came true and three similar deities were excavated from there. All the deities were very beautiful. In these deities Lord Sri Krishna was playing his flute in his dark form.
The three deities are placed in three different sites.
Mandpiya Sanwaliyaji
First Temple is at Mandpiya also known as Sanwariyaji.Mandaphia is 7 km. from Bhadsora cross-roads which lies on the four - lanned highway no. 76, and 65 km. from Dabok (Udaipur airport).
Murti Parakatya Sthal
Second temple of Sanwaliyaji is at Bhadsoda- Bagund Chouraha which lies on the four - lanned highway no. 76.Bhadsoda Chouraha is 65 km. from Dabok (Udaipur airport) and 32 km from Chittorgarh Railway Station and bus- station.
Bhadsoda Sanwaliyaji Third temple of Sanwaliyaji is situated in Bhadsoda village.This temple is 1 km from bhadsoda cross road (chouraha).


The Deity Of Sanwaliya Seth Ji

  
With the hope of visiting these temples again we returned back to Jaipur via Udaipur doing Sankirtan and Book distribution all the way from Sanwalia Seth Ji till Jaipur.
Hare Krishna!!!!