piektdiena, 2011. gada 30. decembris
piektdiena, 2011. gada 16. decembris
Cakra on the top of the temple in Jagannatha Puri, Orissa
ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 15. decembris
Madhavendra Puri’s Bhaitak ( a sitting place )
Madhavendra Puri came in Radha kunda shortly before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
He used to sit in this place.
He used to sit in this place.
Map of Radha Kunda and Shyama kunda
http://devoteesvaishnava.blogspot.com/2010/04/reviews-all-at-phones-at-penny-for-new.html
A satellite photo ( Google Earth )
http://tirilin.wordpress.com/2008/08/
Must see also at
http://www.radharani.com/radha%20kunda_009.htm
Parikrama path map!!
Sorry, it was not downloadable.
ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 8. decembris
trešdiena, 2011. gada 16. novembris
Keshi Ghat on the bank of Yamuna, Vrindavan
http://foto.delfi.lv/picture/884494/
Lord Krishna killed the Keshi demon here. Keshi Ghata is on the bank of the Yamuna. One who bathes here gets the benediction of bathing in all of the holy places. There is an arati performed here every day at sunset. This is the only ghata in Vrindavana that is still on the bank of the Yamuna. The Adi-varaha Purana says that Keshi Ghata is a 100 times more sacred than the Ganges and that by offering pinda (sraddha) to the forefathers at Keshi Ghata, one gets the same result of offering pinda in Gaya.
On the ghata are some small temples dedicated to Rama, Hanuman and Yamuna. There is the Mancinteswara Mahadeva Temple dedicated to Lord Siva here. Next to it is the Yamuna Temple, which has a picture of Krishna thrusting His hand into the mouth of the Keshi demon.
About 100 metres upstream from this ghata the rare sewage from the town of Vrindavana enters the Yamuna.
"After being instructed by Kamsa, the demon Keshi assumed the form of a terrible horse. He entered the area of Vrindavana, his great mane flying and his hooves digging up the earth. He began to whinny and terrify the whole world. Krishna saw that the demon was terrifying all the residents of Vrindavana with his whinnying and his tail wheeling in the sky like a big cloud. Krishna could understand that the horse was challenging Him to fight. The Lord accepted his challenge and stood before the Keshi demon. As He called him to fight, the horse began to proceed toward Krishna, making a horrible sound like a roaring lion. Keshi rushed toward the Lord with great speed and tried to trample Him with his legs, which were strong, forceful, and as hard as stone. Krishna, however, immediately caught hold of his legs and thus baffled him. Being somewhat angry, Krishna began to move around the horse dexterously. After a few rounds, He threw him a hundred yards away, just as Garuda throws a big snake. Thrown by Krishna, the horse immediately passed out, but after a little while he regained consciousness and with great anger and force rushed toward Krishna again, this time with his mouth open. As soon as Keshi reached Him, Krishna pushed His left hand within the horse's mouth. The horse felt great pain because the hand of Krishna felt to him like a hot iron rod.
Immediately his teeth fell out. Krishna's hand within the mouth of the horse at once began to inflate, and Keshi's throat choked up. As the great horse began to suffocate, perspiration appeared on his body, and he began to throw his legs hither and thither. As his last breath came, his eyeballs bulged in their sockets, and he passed stool and urine simultaneously. Thus the vital force of his life expired. When the horse was dead, his mouth became loose and Krishna could extract His hand without difficulty. He did not feel any surprise that the Keshi demon was killed so easily, but the demigods were amazed, and out of their great appreciation they offered Krishna greetings by showering flowers." (Krishna Book, Chap. 36)
"My dear friend, if you still have any desire to enjoy the company of your friends within this material world then don't look upon the form of Krishna, who is standing on the bank of Keshi Ghata. He is known as Govinda, and His eyes are very enchanting. He is playing upon His flute, and on His head there is a peacock feather. And His whole body is illuminated by the moonlight in the sky." (Nectar of Devotion)
http://chinnaap.blogspot.com/2009/0...indavan_27.html
otrdiena, 2011. gada 15. novembris
Srila Syamananda prabhu and Sri Caitanya Nitai Deities
Gouridas was born at Saligram, about 18 kms from Sridham Navadwip in
Bengal. His father was Kansari Mishra, mother Kamala Devi. Suryadas
was his elder brother. Suryadas had two daughters, Vasudha and Jahnavi.
Suryadas was a boyhood companion of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was a sadhaka in the sakhya bhava, i.e., in the mood of friendship with God.
He told Gouridas, “Go and live at Ambika-Kalna and do your sadhana and worship at a lovely place near the river Ganga.” What could have been more close to the heart of Gouridas? Joyfully, he left for Ambika-Kalna.
One day Sri Gauranga was returning from Santipur. He took a boat at Harinadi village. Pulling the oars with His own hands, He crossed the wide Ganga and arrived at Ambika. But He did not leave the oar behind. Carrying it in His hands, he went to Gouridas’ house. Gouridas was astonished. Mahaprabhu said, “This oar is for you.”
“What shall I do with it?”
“What shall you do? You shall take people across the samsar-river with the help of this oar” said the Lord.
With profound reverence Gouridas accepted the oar with folded hands. Mahaprabhu embraced him and said, “Come with me to Navadwip. I shall give you something there.”
Gouridas became full of bliss with the Lord’s embrace. He could not comprehend what more than this could be there. What as the thing that lay beyond imagination even?
Indeed, there was something truly beyond imagination. The Lord handed over to Gouridas the Bhagawat Gita written with His own hand. From beginning to end it was written with pearl-like letters. The nectar of his unblinking eyes was saturated in it. It was sheer bliss just to look at the writing, to hold it in one’s hand. It was a joy flowing from the absorption of consciousness.
Holding the Gita close to his heart, Gouridas returned to Ambika going over the entire transcendental experience in his mind. “How painstakingly must He (Gauranga) have written it with His own hands, and yet He gave it to me so unhesitatingly” he mused.
What meditation and worship would Gouridas do? He was absorbed in the experience and shedding tears. What divine love, what leela? Gouridas could not fathom its vastness.
When the Lord came to Santipur after His sannyas, Gouridas did not go to see him because of his deep sorrow on Mahaprabhu’s taking sannyas. If Prabhu renounces the world in this way, how can we live then, he thought. With what shall we continue to live?
But the Lord cannot stay away from His true devotees. When Mahaprabhu came to Santipur He himself went to Gouridas’ house alongwith Nityananda Prabhu. Gouridas wept and said, “I will not let you go again. Both of you stay here as my permanent captives. I shall serve you to my heart’s content.”
Gauranga smiled and said, “Do one thing. You can serve our images.”
Gouridas: “Will the images be alive?”
Mahaprabhu: “Surely”
Gouridas: “Can they sit in a squatting position?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, of course”
Gouridas: “Will they be able to take rice with their own hands?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, certainly. Now you go and bring a neem tree from Navadwip and carve out images of us two brothers from the wood. We will surely fulfill your wish.”
Gouridas wiped his tears. He sent men to Navadwip who brought a neem tree from there. He had two wooden deities made out of it – one of Sri Nityananda and another of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
On the instructions of Sri Advaita Acharya, his son Achyutananda consecrated both the deities with the ten-syllable Gopal mantra and installed them. These were the very first idols of Nitai-Gaurhari. Gouridas was the first founder of installing, serving and worshipping the dual deities.
After the deities were established, Mahaprabhu said, “Now feed the four of us.”
Gouridas: “Four of you?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, the four of us. We two brothers and the two deities. Make places for all four.”
Gouridas: “Will the two deities eat?”
Mahaprabhu: “Of course. Otherwise you wouldn’t believe in Them.”
With great joy Gouridas prepared many nice food items. He placed four seats. Sri Gauranga, Nityananda and the two idols partook of the food. There was no difference between the real persons and their deities.
Mahaprabhu then said, “Now as per your wish, two of us will stay at Ambika and two will go to Nilachal. Thus your wish will be fulfilled.”
Gouridas was thus blessed. Now there was a need to find a sincere and competent Brahman who would undertake the regular worship and service of the deities. In search of such a person Gouridas approached Gadadhar and said, “I have come to beg one thing from you.” Gadadhar looked at his face and said, “I have nothing that I cannot give to you.” Gouridas then said, “Please give your Hridayananda to me.”
Madhav Misra, known for his piety and virtues, lived at Bharatpur in the district of Murshidabad. He had two sons, Gadadhar and Kashinath. Kashinath had two sons, Nayananda and Hridayananda.
Gadadhar was one of the most intimate associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was known as Gadadhar Pandit. And he had raised and nurtured Hridayananda, initiating him and educating him. In this way Hridayananda was Gadadhar’s personal attendant as well as his student.
Gadadhar Pandit handed over this Hridayananda to Gouridas. Gouridas gave mantra-diksha (initiation with bija mantra) and appointed him to serve the Gaur Nitai deities.
Gouridas desired to have a great celebration on the occasion of Mahaprabhu’s birth anniversary, Dol purnima. Telling Hridayananda to worship and serve the deities with utmost care, he set out for collecting bhiksha. “I shall return in time for the festival” he said.
After Gouridas left, there was no news about him at all. Hridayananda was in a dilemma. If invitations were not sent immediately to the mahantas and vaishnavas, how could they be present on the fixed date?
There was a great deal of related work left unfinished. Hridayananda took it upon himself to complete all the arrangements before his Guru returned.
Gouridas returned to Ambika-Kalna just one day before the festival. Hridayananda told him with some satisfaction, “Seeing your delay in returning, I have myself completed all the arrangements.”
Gouridas was not happy and did not bless him. Rather he came angry and asked, “What is the meaning of your independent action without my permission?” Hridayananda was dumb-struck.
Gouridas continued harshly, “Since you have gone over me and thus disregarded me, you no longer have a place here. Go somewhere else.”
Heartbroken, Hridayananda bowed his head and obeyed his Guru’s order. He went to the bank of the Ganga and sat under a tree.
Gouridas then started the celebrations at the ashram. Having received Hridayananda’s invitation, people started gradually assembling at the ashram for the festival. One such person, carrying huge offerings for the Lord, saw Hridayananda beside the Ganga and asked the palki-bearers to stop.
Hridayananda told him, “The celebrations are taking place at the ashram, not here. Please take all these things to the ashram.”
But Gouridas refused to accept the offerings. He said, “these have come because of Hridayananda’s invitation. I shall not take them. Tell him to organize a separate festival with these offerings.”
The bearers once again brought the offerings back to Hridayananda. “Has Gurudeva asked me to organize a separate celebration with these? So be it.” Hridayananda began to organize the festival under the very tree on the bank of the Ganga. Hearing the commotion of the festivities, most of the invitees started assembling under the tree.
On the other side, Gouridas also conducted the festival at the ashram as per his own arrangements. At the time of the midday bhog offering, he told the priest Gangadas to open the temple doors and make the offering to the deities.
The door of the temple was opened, but the temple was empty! The deities were missing. Gouridas started running towards the bank of the Ganga with a stick in his hand. “This is definitely the work of Hridayananda. He has removed the deities from the temple” he exclaimed.
On reaching the river bank he saw a strange sight. Kirtan chanting was going on and in the midst of the singing and dancing, he saw the two deities also dancing !! Seeing Gouridas with the stick in his hand, the deities of Nitai-Gaur tried to disappear.
But to his great astonishment, Gouridas saw Sri Chaitanya merging into the heart of Hridayananda. With outstretched arms, Gouridas ran and tightly embraced Hridayananda. “You are truly blessed. From today, your name should be Hriday-Chaitanya” he cried.
Returning to his ashram Gouridas saw that the two deities were back in their usual places. Their bright laughing eyes seemed to ask, “Now do you understand Hridaya’s devotion to his Guru? Have you realized Who is enshrined in whose heart?”
This Hriday-Chaitanya became the diksha-guru of Syamananda prabhu.
Syamananda’s childhood name was Dukhi. He was born in a village called Dharenda- Bahadurpur (presently known as Kalaikunda in Midnapur) in a family of milkmen. His father’s name was Sri Krishna Mondal and his mother was Durika. His father left his native place and migrated to Dandeshwar in Orissa.
Prior to Syamananda’s birth, his parents had lost several children in childbirth and they vowed to surrender their next child to Vishnu if it survived. Having suffered so much grief in the loss of their previous children, they first named Syamananda Dukhi, to ward off further distress.
Some called him Dukhia. After taking initiation from Hriday-Chaitanya, he was known as Krishnadas or Dukhi Krishnadas.
From his early childhood itself, signs of renunciation became visible in him. Once after completing his studies, he felt the strong urge to take a bath in the Ganga. He told his father, “I am going to the Ganga for a dip.”
Where? With whom, the father enquired.
“A group of pilgrims is going to Ambika-Kalna. I shall go with them” came the reply.
There was no point in refusing. The boy could not be held back. The father only hoped that Dukhia would return home after a holy dip in the Ganga.
But Dukhia never returned. He chanced to meet Hriday-Chaitanya at Ambika. Hriday-Chaitanya realized that the lotus of devotion was blooming on the stem of renunciation in the heart of the boy.
He said, “Come, I will give you a mantra.” He gave him the Krishna mantra and said, “from this day, your name is Krishnadas.” Dukhia smiled and said, “Yes. Dukhi Krishnadas.”
Krishnadas’ heart only became more agitated after the bath in the Ganga. “Now I shall see the Yamuna” he said. Hriday-Chaitanya said, “Yes, of course, you shall see it. You shall go to Brij dham.”
After Krishnadas had spent some time in serving his Guru, Hriday-Chaitanya gave him permission to travel to Vrindavan.
Dukhi Krishnadas first went to Navadwip and from there proceeded to Sri Vrindavan. There he took refuge at the feet of Srila Jeeva Goswami. Jeeva Goswami began to teach him the scriptures and the bhakti philosophy. With the light of knowledge, the last remaining darkness of Krishnadas’ ignorance began to melt away.
One morning in Vrindavan, Dukhi Krishnadas was walking down a lonely path lined with trees. His forehead was adorned with a gopichandan tilak, he had his prayer beads in his hands and he was singing the glories of Sri Gauranga as he walked along.
While walking thus, he suddenly stopped on the path. A beautiful golden anklet was lying in the middle of the path. Krishnadas bent and picked up the ornament. Perceiving its ethereal beauty and elegance, he spontaneously pressed it to his forehead and then held it to his heart with both his hands. He started to horripilate and tears filled his eyes.
Shortly he saw a young maiden coming up the path from the opposite direction, seemingly searching for something on the ground. “Devi, are you searching for something?” Krishnadas asked politely in a soft voice.
The maiden looked up, startled. She saw a handsome and dignified young man standing before her, and said “Yes, something is lost, that belongs to my dearest friend and I’m searching for that.” “What?” asked Krishnadas.
“A golden anklet that was on my dear friend’s left foot.” The maiden added, “Last night while dancing, the anklet had loosened, which is why while returning home, it must have fallen off on the way.”
Krishnadas held out the ornament that he held close to his heart, “Please see if this is the same anklet that you are searching for” he said.
The maiden held out her hand. Even before she could say a word, the anklet dropped into her hand on its own. Was it magic? Or a mirage? That every instant, the girl disappeared.
Krishnadas fainted and fell to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, Dukhi Krishnadas found himself lying near Jeeva Goswami. Asked what had happened, Krishnadas told him the whole story.
Jeeva Goswami exclaimed, “What a blessed soul you are, Krishnadas. You held on your breast the golden anklet which adorns the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, the goddess of the rasa dance. You have also seen her dear friend Lalita. Having got her anklet back, Srimati is definitely delighted and so is her beloved Shyamsundar. From today, I give you the name Syamananda.”
Syamananda sat up. “And look”, Jeeva Goswami continued, “as you had pressed the anklet to your forehead, a tilak mark in the shape of the anklet has appeared on your forehead. From today, let your tilak also be in the shape of an anklet, and this will be henceforth known as the Syamannandi Tilak”.
News eventually reached Hriday-Chaitanya that Krishnadas has taken a second initiation from Jeeva Goswami and had also adopted a new tilak. When Syamananda returned to Ambika-Kalna, Hriday-Chaitanya noticed the new tilak and was annoyed.
“I had fixed the form of your tilak, but you’ve erased it. In its place you have adopted a new form. I hereby renounce you. Leave this ashram this very moment” he commanded.
Eyes filled with tears, Syamananda looked on silently. Feeling a bit sorry for him, Hriday-Chaitanya said, “if you wash away that tilak and put on the old one again, I can withdraw my order.”
But poor Syamananda could not wipe out the tilak mark from his forehead. As soon as he wiped it, it emerged by itself on his forehead again.
Syamananda left the ashram and went away. He stayed on the banks of the Ganga without taking any food.
The deity in the temple could not remain silent any longer. That night the Lord appeared in Hriday-Chaitanya’s dream and said, “What have you done, Hriday? Have you not banished my very Joy? The sign on Syamananda’s forehead is the sign of my anklet. It is my anklet that Srimati Radhika wears.”
The whole incident was revealed in the dream. Hriday-Chaitanya realized his mistake and ran all the way to the river and gathered Shyamananda in his embrace. Placing him on his lap and shedding tears of joy, he asked, “Who is your Guru?” Shyamananda replied “Sri Hriday-Chaitanya is my revered Guru.”
There were no more doubts. The reapproachment between the Guru and disciple was complete.
It was in Vrindavan that Syamananda prabhu met and befriended Srila Narottam das Thakur and Srinivas Acharya, and thus became the famous trio of the second generation of Vaishnava acharyas after the six Goswamis.
These three were empowered by Mahaprabhu to continue the work of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Virachandra and Jahnava Thakurani and plant the victory flag of Vaishnavism in Bengal and Orissa. They unleashed a great flood of love and devotion to God in these blessed lands.
Syamananda prabhu was deputed to Orissa for preaching. In a village called Rohini on the banks of the river Subarnarekha, the village chieftain Achyuta and his son Rasikananda became the disciples of Syamananda prabhu.
Gradually, a large following collected around Shyamananda and thus grew the Syamanandi sect. The land of Utkal (Orissa) was saturated in prema-bhakti. People became mad after Syamananda and his teachings.
The whole of Orissa, Dharinda, Nrisinghapur, Balarampur, Gopiballabhpur, etc., became the centres of preaching of love and devotion by Syamananda prabhu and his chief and dearest disciple Rasikananda prabhu.
One day the news arrived that Hriday-Chaitanya had passed away. Shortly after that, Syamananda prabhu installed Sri Rasikananda as the Mahanta of the Sripat and handed over responsibility of the Syamanandi sect to him.
Then he entered into the eternal leela.
Jai Sri Radhe!
http://www.srigaurangashram.in/syamananda.html
Suryadas was a boyhood companion of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was a sadhaka in the sakhya bhava, i.e., in the mood of friendship with God.
He told Gouridas, “Go and live at Ambika-Kalna and do your sadhana and worship at a lovely place near the river Ganga.” What could have been more close to the heart of Gouridas? Joyfully, he left for Ambika-Kalna.
One day Sri Gauranga was returning from Santipur. He took a boat at Harinadi village. Pulling the oars with His own hands, He crossed the wide Ganga and arrived at Ambika. But He did not leave the oar behind. Carrying it in His hands, he went to Gouridas’ house. Gouridas was astonished. Mahaprabhu said, “This oar is for you.”
“What shall I do with it?”
“What shall you do? You shall take people across the samsar-river with the help of this oar” said the Lord.
With profound reverence Gouridas accepted the oar with folded hands. Mahaprabhu embraced him and said, “Come with me to Navadwip. I shall give you something there.”
Gouridas became full of bliss with the Lord’s embrace. He could not comprehend what more than this could be there. What as the thing that lay beyond imagination even?
Indeed, there was something truly beyond imagination. The Lord handed over to Gouridas the Bhagawat Gita written with His own hand. From beginning to end it was written with pearl-like letters. The nectar of his unblinking eyes was saturated in it. It was sheer bliss just to look at the writing, to hold it in one’s hand. It was a joy flowing from the absorption of consciousness.
Holding the Gita close to his heart, Gouridas returned to Ambika going over the entire transcendental experience in his mind. “How painstakingly must He (Gauranga) have written it with His own hands, and yet He gave it to me so unhesitatingly” he mused.
What meditation and worship would Gouridas do? He was absorbed in the experience and shedding tears. What divine love, what leela? Gouridas could not fathom its vastness.
When the Lord came to Santipur after His sannyas, Gouridas did not go to see him because of his deep sorrow on Mahaprabhu’s taking sannyas. If Prabhu renounces the world in this way, how can we live then, he thought. With what shall we continue to live?
But the Lord cannot stay away from His true devotees. When Mahaprabhu came to Santipur He himself went to Gouridas’ house alongwith Nityananda Prabhu. Gouridas wept and said, “I will not let you go again. Both of you stay here as my permanent captives. I shall serve you to my heart’s content.”
Gauranga smiled and said, “Do one thing. You can serve our images.”
Gouridas: “Will the images be alive?”
Mahaprabhu: “Surely”
Gouridas: “Can they sit in a squatting position?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, of course”
Gouridas: “Will they be able to take rice with their own hands?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, certainly. Now you go and bring a neem tree from Navadwip and carve out images of us two brothers from the wood. We will surely fulfill your wish.”
Gouridas wiped his tears. He sent men to Navadwip who brought a neem tree from there. He had two wooden deities made out of it – one of Sri Nityananda and another of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
On the instructions of Sri Advaita Acharya, his son Achyutananda consecrated both the deities with the ten-syllable Gopal mantra and installed them. These were the very first idols of Nitai-Gaurhari. Gouridas was the first founder of installing, serving and worshipping the dual deities.
After the deities were established, Mahaprabhu said, “Now feed the four of us.”
Gouridas: “Four of you?”
Mahaprabhu: “Yes, the four of us. We two brothers and the two deities. Make places for all four.”
Gouridas: “Will the two deities eat?”
Mahaprabhu: “Of course. Otherwise you wouldn’t believe in Them.”
With great joy Gouridas prepared many nice food items. He placed four seats. Sri Gauranga, Nityananda and the two idols partook of the food. There was no difference between the real persons and their deities.
Mahaprabhu then said, “Now as per your wish, two of us will stay at Ambika and two will go to Nilachal. Thus your wish will be fulfilled.”
Gouridas was thus blessed. Now there was a need to find a sincere and competent Brahman who would undertake the regular worship and service of the deities. In search of such a person Gouridas approached Gadadhar and said, “I have come to beg one thing from you.” Gadadhar looked at his face and said, “I have nothing that I cannot give to you.” Gouridas then said, “Please give your Hridayananda to me.”
Madhav Misra, known for his piety and virtues, lived at Bharatpur in the district of Murshidabad. He had two sons, Gadadhar and Kashinath. Kashinath had two sons, Nayananda and Hridayananda.
Gadadhar was one of the most intimate associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was known as Gadadhar Pandit. And he had raised and nurtured Hridayananda, initiating him and educating him. In this way Hridayananda was Gadadhar’s personal attendant as well as his student.
Gadadhar Pandit handed over this Hridayananda to Gouridas. Gouridas gave mantra-diksha (initiation with bija mantra) and appointed him to serve the Gaur Nitai deities.
Gouridas desired to have a great celebration on the occasion of Mahaprabhu’s birth anniversary, Dol purnima. Telling Hridayananda to worship and serve the deities with utmost care, he set out for collecting bhiksha. “I shall return in time for the festival” he said.
After Gouridas left, there was no news about him at all. Hridayananda was in a dilemma. If invitations were not sent immediately to the mahantas and vaishnavas, how could they be present on the fixed date?
There was a great deal of related work left unfinished. Hridayananda took it upon himself to complete all the arrangements before his Guru returned.
Gouridas returned to Ambika-Kalna just one day before the festival. Hridayananda told him with some satisfaction, “Seeing your delay in returning, I have myself completed all the arrangements.”
Gouridas was not happy and did not bless him. Rather he came angry and asked, “What is the meaning of your independent action without my permission?” Hridayananda was dumb-struck.
Gouridas continued harshly, “Since you have gone over me and thus disregarded me, you no longer have a place here. Go somewhere else.”
Heartbroken, Hridayananda bowed his head and obeyed his Guru’s order. He went to the bank of the Ganga and sat under a tree.
Gouridas then started the celebrations at the ashram. Having received Hridayananda’s invitation, people started gradually assembling at the ashram for the festival. One such person, carrying huge offerings for the Lord, saw Hridayananda beside the Ganga and asked the palki-bearers to stop.
Hridayananda told him, “The celebrations are taking place at the ashram, not here. Please take all these things to the ashram.”
But Gouridas refused to accept the offerings. He said, “these have come because of Hridayananda’s invitation. I shall not take them. Tell him to organize a separate festival with these offerings.”
The bearers once again brought the offerings back to Hridayananda. “Has Gurudeva asked me to organize a separate celebration with these? So be it.” Hridayananda began to organize the festival under the very tree on the bank of the Ganga. Hearing the commotion of the festivities, most of the invitees started assembling under the tree.
On the other side, Gouridas also conducted the festival at the ashram as per his own arrangements. At the time of the midday bhog offering, he told the priest Gangadas to open the temple doors and make the offering to the deities.
The door of the temple was opened, but the temple was empty! The deities were missing. Gouridas started running towards the bank of the Ganga with a stick in his hand. “This is definitely the work of Hridayananda. He has removed the deities from the temple” he exclaimed.
On reaching the river bank he saw a strange sight. Kirtan chanting was going on and in the midst of the singing and dancing, he saw the two deities also dancing !! Seeing Gouridas with the stick in his hand, the deities of Nitai-Gaur tried to disappear.
But to his great astonishment, Gouridas saw Sri Chaitanya merging into the heart of Hridayananda. With outstretched arms, Gouridas ran and tightly embraced Hridayananda. “You are truly blessed. From today, your name should be Hriday-Chaitanya” he cried.
Returning to his ashram Gouridas saw that the two deities were back in their usual places. Their bright laughing eyes seemed to ask, “Now do you understand Hridaya’s devotion to his Guru? Have you realized Who is enshrined in whose heart?”
This Hriday-Chaitanya became the diksha-guru of Syamananda prabhu.
Syamananda’s childhood name was Dukhi. He was born in a village called Dharenda- Bahadurpur (presently known as Kalaikunda in Midnapur) in a family of milkmen. His father’s name was Sri Krishna Mondal and his mother was Durika. His father left his native place and migrated to Dandeshwar in Orissa.
Prior to Syamananda’s birth, his parents had lost several children in childbirth and they vowed to surrender their next child to Vishnu if it survived. Having suffered so much grief in the loss of their previous children, they first named Syamananda Dukhi, to ward off further distress.
Some called him Dukhia. After taking initiation from Hriday-Chaitanya, he was known as Krishnadas or Dukhi Krishnadas.
From his early childhood itself, signs of renunciation became visible in him. Once after completing his studies, he felt the strong urge to take a bath in the Ganga. He told his father, “I am going to the Ganga for a dip.”
Where? With whom, the father enquired.
“A group of pilgrims is going to Ambika-Kalna. I shall go with them” came the reply.
There was no point in refusing. The boy could not be held back. The father only hoped that Dukhia would return home after a holy dip in the Ganga.
But Dukhia never returned. He chanced to meet Hriday-Chaitanya at Ambika. Hriday-Chaitanya realized that the lotus of devotion was blooming on the stem of renunciation in the heart of the boy.
He said, “Come, I will give you a mantra.” He gave him the Krishna mantra and said, “from this day, your name is Krishnadas.” Dukhia smiled and said, “Yes. Dukhi Krishnadas.”
Krishnadas’ heart only became more agitated after the bath in the Ganga. “Now I shall see the Yamuna” he said. Hriday-Chaitanya said, “Yes, of course, you shall see it. You shall go to Brij dham.”
After Krishnadas had spent some time in serving his Guru, Hriday-Chaitanya gave him permission to travel to Vrindavan.
Dukhi Krishnadas first went to Navadwip and from there proceeded to Sri Vrindavan. There he took refuge at the feet of Srila Jeeva Goswami. Jeeva Goswami began to teach him the scriptures and the bhakti philosophy. With the light of knowledge, the last remaining darkness of Krishnadas’ ignorance began to melt away.
One morning in Vrindavan, Dukhi Krishnadas was walking down a lonely path lined with trees. His forehead was adorned with a gopichandan tilak, he had his prayer beads in his hands and he was singing the glories of Sri Gauranga as he walked along.
While walking thus, he suddenly stopped on the path. A beautiful golden anklet was lying in the middle of the path. Krishnadas bent and picked up the ornament. Perceiving its ethereal beauty and elegance, he spontaneously pressed it to his forehead and then held it to his heart with both his hands. He started to horripilate and tears filled his eyes.
Shortly he saw a young maiden coming up the path from the opposite direction, seemingly searching for something on the ground. “Devi, are you searching for something?” Krishnadas asked politely in a soft voice.
The maiden looked up, startled. She saw a handsome and dignified young man standing before her, and said “Yes, something is lost, that belongs to my dearest friend and I’m searching for that.” “What?” asked Krishnadas.
“A golden anklet that was on my dear friend’s left foot.” The maiden added, “Last night while dancing, the anklet had loosened, which is why while returning home, it must have fallen off on the way.”
Krishnadas held out the ornament that he held close to his heart, “Please see if this is the same anklet that you are searching for” he said.
The maiden held out her hand. Even before she could say a word, the anklet dropped into her hand on its own. Was it magic? Or a mirage? That every instant, the girl disappeared.
Krishnadas fainted and fell to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, Dukhi Krishnadas found himself lying near Jeeva Goswami. Asked what had happened, Krishnadas told him the whole story.
Jeeva Goswami exclaimed, “What a blessed soul you are, Krishnadas. You held on your breast the golden anklet which adorns the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, the goddess of the rasa dance. You have also seen her dear friend Lalita. Having got her anklet back, Srimati is definitely delighted and so is her beloved Shyamsundar. From today, I give you the name Syamananda.”
Syamananda sat up. “And look”, Jeeva Goswami continued, “as you had pressed the anklet to your forehead, a tilak mark in the shape of the anklet has appeared on your forehead. From today, let your tilak also be in the shape of an anklet, and this will be henceforth known as the Syamannandi Tilak”.
News eventually reached Hriday-Chaitanya that Krishnadas has taken a second initiation from Jeeva Goswami and had also adopted a new tilak. When Syamananda returned to Ambika-Kalna, Hriday-Chaitanya noticed the new tilak and was annoyed.
“I had fixed the form of your tilak, but you’ve erased it. In its place you have adopted a new form. I hereby renounce you. Leave this ashram this very moment” he commanded.
Eyes filled with tears, Syamananda looked on silently. Feeling a bit sorry for him, Hriday-Chaitanya said, “if you wash away that tilak and put on the old one again, I can withdraw my order.”
But poor Syamananda could not wipe out the tilak mark from his forehead. As soon as he wiped it, it emerged by itself on his forehead again.
Syamananda left the ashram and went away. He stayed on the banks of the Ganga without taking any food.
The deity in the temple could not remain silent any longer. That night the Lord appeared in Hriday-Chaitanya’s dream and said, “What have you done, Hriday? Have you not banished my very Joy? The sign on Syamananda’s forehead is the sign of my anklet. It is my anklet that Srimati Radhika wears.”
The whole incident was revealed in the dream. Hriday-Chaitanya realized his mistake and ran all the way to the river and gathered Shyamananda in his embrace. Placing him on his lap and shedding tears of joy, he asked, “Who is your Guru?” Shyamananda replied “Sri Hriday-Chaitanya is my revered Guru.”
There were no more doubts. The reapproachment between the Guru and disciple was complete.
It was in Vrindavan that Syamananda prabhu met and befriended Srila Narottam das Thakur and Srinivas Acharya, and thus became the famous trio of the second generation of Vaishnava acharyas after the six Goswamis.
These three were empowered by Mahaprabhu to continue the work of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Virachandra and Jahnava Thakurani and plant the victory flag of Vaishnavism in Bengal and Orissa. They unleashed a great flood of love and devotion to God in these blessed lands.
Syamananda prabhu was deputed to Orissa for preaching. In a village called Rohini on the banks of the river Subarnarekha, the village chieftain Achyuta and his son Rasikananda became the disciples of Syamananda prabhu.
Gradually, a large following collected around Shyamananda and thus grew the Syamanandi sect. The land of Utkal (Orissa) was saturated in prema-bhakti. People became mad after Syamananda and his teachings.
The whole of Orissa, Dharinda, Nrisinghapur, Balarampur, Gopiballabhpur, etc., became the centres of preaching of love and devotion by Syamananda prabhu and his chief and dearest disciple Rasikananda prabhu.
One day the news arrived that Hriday-Chaitanya had passed away. Shortly after that, Syamananda prabhu installed Sri Rasikananda as the Mahanta of the Sripat and handed over responsibility of the Syamanandi sect to him.
Then he entered into the eternal leela.
Jai Sri Radhe!
http://www.srigaurangashram.in/syamananda.html
pirmdiena, 2011. gada 14. novembris
piektdiena, 2011. gada 14. oktobris
Padma Purana on Kartika Vrata
Intro-if one neglects to perform the Kartika Vrata all his pious merits amassed in the passed are burned to ashes; his study of the Vedas becomes futile; and his performance of japa, charity, and austerity becomes fruitless.
Glories of Kartika Vrata-Kartik is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartika month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krsna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartika Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, whereas ordinary vratas only last for one lifetime! As Krsna says in Gita that He is the month of Nov-Dev, similarly, Srimati Radhika is the holy month of Kartik which precedes His month. Rupa Gosvami and others refer to Radharani as the Kartika-devata or Kartika Devi, in other words, Radhika is the goddess or presiding Deity of the Kartika Vrata.
- Daily Offer-tulsi arotik, ghee lamp to Krsna and sing Damodarastakam, bathe in Yamuna if possible, give charity to pure devotees.
- Dont Eat: grains given by others, honey, sesame seeds, oils, hing, eggplant, loki, tasty foods like sweets and fried foods, samosas, pakoras.
- Dont Do: cut hair, nails, use things of others, criticize Vaisnavas, Vedas or anyone, no oil on body, do not find faults in others or be envious.
- Prayer before beginning: "O gopikas! By your mercy may Radha and Krsna be pleased with my Kartika Vrata."
- Benefits Observing Kartik Vrata: All sins flee from the heart. Perform other vratas one hundred times not equal to one performance of Kartik Vrata. All the holy places will live within your body. Proper performance of Kartik Vrata gives one a million times the result of chanting mantras, do yatras and other types of vratas. Those who worship Damodara in Vrndavana even once easily attain Krsna bhakti. Dhruva Maharaja attained Hari darsana by worshiping Krsna in Mathura during the Kartika month.
Summary of How to Follow the Kartika Vrata:
Remember--Kartika Vrata is a special time to worship Radha Damodara, and especially get the mercy of Radhika, since it is Her month, and She is very very easily pleased this month if one worships Her along with Her beloved Damodara.
Srila Prabhupada on When to Start Kartika Vrata: "In Vrndavana we should have Kartika Vrata, Urja Vrata, for one month beginning on Ekadasi (Pasanukusa) (Srila Prabhupada Tape 10/6/72)
Pasanukusa Ekadasi Morning: Offer prayer-"O Janardana, O Damodara, O Devesa who are accompanied by Radhika. During the month of Kartika, I will bathe early every morning for Your satisfaction."
- Rise early every day by Brahma Muhurta, bathe, chant japa offer Mangala Arotik
- Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, especially Radha and Krsna pastimes in Vrndavana, daily in association of exalted Vaisnavas, if possible. By regularly reading Srimad Bhagavatam during Kartika month, one gets the benefit of reading all the eighteen 18 Puranas. All other duties should be given up in favor of hearing the scriptures from sadhus during this month.
- Chant continually in japa and kirtan, Krsna nama, do extra rounds and more kirtana with family.
- Must maintain celibacy for entire month
- Give up favorite food article for entire month (sweets, salties) Try to eat only once in a day. *if you can do and carry on ordinary works*
- Eat your meals only on palasa leaves (if possible, will give tremendous punya.)
- No oil on body and NO EATING honey, eggplant, portal, pickles, red rajma beans, or sesame seeds, or urad dahl (no kichoris)
- Daily sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning
- Daily offer a ghee lamp to Krsna Deity or photo (no need of picture of Mother Yasoda-Damodara or photo)
- Daily offer arotik and prayers to Tulsi devi praying for eternal residence in Vrndavana and eternal service of the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna.
- Daily chant the Radha-krpa katakasam, and Krsna krpa kataksam in Giti Guccha songbook
- Also chant other prayers to Radha and Radha Krsna Yugala from the Giti Guccha songbook
- ON Ekadasi, Dvadasis, and Purnima chant the one-thousand names of Radha
- On the three Ekadasis in Kartik try to observe Nirjala Vrata and stay awake chanting hari nam, especially on the last one, Uttana Ekadasi, when Lord Visnu and all the demigods awake after four months slumber.
- Donate charity to pure devotees
- Offer special nice foods to Krsna for entire month. For example every day make sweet rice, (khira) which is the favorite food of Krsna.
svētdiena, 2011. gada 9. oktobris
Brahmananda Ghat in Vraja 2009
Samadhi of Gauridasa Pandit
Gauridasa Pandita was an incarnation of the cowherd boy Subala, one of the twelve most prominent cowherd boyfriends of Lord Krishna in the spiritual world.
Direction to go:
After leaving Srinivasa Acarya's samadhi, go to the left and walk 75m (220 feet). On the left there is a road that bends to the left, up a slight incline. You will see a yellow sign with Hindi writing. Follow this path until you come to the temple. From the outside, this building does not appear to look like a temple.
Temple Timings: Summer: Mangala arati-4:00am. Darshan: 6:00am to 12 noon and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Winter: Mangala arati-5:00am; Darshan: 6:00am to 12 noon and 4:00 to 8:00pm
Syama-raya
http://vrindavana.dasya.com/index.php/Syama-raya
Sri Sri Radha Vinode
This is a small temple, located up some stairs on Tripoliya Bazaar Road. Radha-Vinod was installed by Lokanatha Gosvami, who is mentioned in the Guru Vandana prayers. He was the first devotee sent to Vrindavana by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His most famous dicisple was Narottama dasa Thakura, who was a great poet. He composed many glorious Vaishnava songs in praise of Lord Krsna. The Radha Vinod deity is only about 12 inches tall. There are at least 15 shalagrama-shilas worshipped here.
Lokanatha Gosvami resided in Vrindavan near the place called Chatravan. From Kishori Kunda in Umaraa Village. He discovered the deity of Radha-Vinod, and he established the deity in a temple in Vrindavana. Radha-Vinod were later installed in the Gokulananda Temple. These Deities were later moved to a temple in Jaipur due to fearing possible attacks by the Muslims.
http://vrindavana.dasya.com/index.php/Radha_Vinode
ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 6. oktobris
Sri Dhameshwara Mahaprabhu - Srimati Vishnupriya Devi's Deity of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Navadwip, India
Srimati Vishnupriya Devi is a manifestation of Lord Krsna’s Bhu sakti, who appeared to assist Lord Chaitanya in His pastimes of distributing the Holy Name. One of the most beloved deities of Sri Navadvipa Dham is the deity of Sri Dhameshwara, the personal worshippable deity of Srimati Vishnupriya. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave His wife this deity for Her worship, in His place, when He took sanyaas. This deity, with His bewitching smile, is the controller of the holy dham of Navadvip.
Srimati Vishnupriya chanted the Lord’s Holy Name, and for each complete round, she placed a grain of rice in a pot. After she was done chanting, she cooked the rice, and offered it to this deity of the Lord, and she sustained herself on His remnants. Her austerity was witnessed by Isana Thakur, Vamsivadana Thakura and Srivasa Acharya also. Srimati Vishnupriya was the first to establish the deity worship of Lord Gauranga.
Sri Dhameshwara’s temple is located on . The temple has been recently renovated, and also houses the paadukas, or wooden shoes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If you’re lucky you may get to see both, and even have the paaduka’s tapped to you head, changing your life forever!
Sri Dhameshwara Mahaprabhu ki JAI! Srimati Vishnupriya Devi ki JAI!
http://4krsna.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/sri-dhameshwara/
Steve Jobs With A Message About Krsna Food
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqVLRyMkYSQ&feature=player_embedded
piektdiena, 2011. gada 30. septembris
Lord Nrisimhadeva, manifest at Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.
A full story at:
http://mayapur.com/node/1517
Vrindavan 2009, Dina Bandhu Prabhu ( English with Russian translation )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFlSa1fhBTA&feature=related
ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 29. septembris
The Village of the Asta Sakhis Part 1 & 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stZRGz_ZLWk&feature=related
Govardhana Parikrama Map
http://www.mvtindia.com/parikrama.htm
http://www.radha.name/images-gallery/india-holy-places/vraja/govardhana-hill/govardhana-map
Radha Ashtami in Vrindavan - Aaj Ki Khabar ( Hindi ) 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruD9Z2-is0Y&feature=related
Aarati Sri Dauji Maharaj ( Radhashtami ) 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4zfYHdq198&feature=related
Lohavan and Nearby Tirtha Darshan: Dauji Temple to Krisna Kund
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFWUlOuKnkQ&feature=related
pirmdiena, 2011. gada 26. septembris
Nadiya Godrume Nityananda Mahajan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuP6v2Xpc-Y&feature=related
Translation:
1) In Nadiya's Godruma the great soul Lord Nityananda has opened a marketplace to sell the holy name to
the conditioned souls.
2) (O faithful people, O faithful people,) O my brothers, by the Lord's command I ask this charity of you:
Please chant, Krishna!", worship Krishna, and learn and teach about Krishna.
3) Chant Krishna's name without offense. Accept Krishna as your mother. Accept Krishna as your father. Accept
Krishna as your wealth and your life.
4) Give up all sins. Make Krishna your whole world. Be merciful to all souls. Chant Krishna's names. That is
the essence of all religion.
http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/page/nadiya-godrume-nityanand
Sri Nagara-kirtana
Kirtana in the City
(1)
nadiya-godrume nityananda mahajana
patiyache nama-hatta jibera karana
(2)
(sraddhaban jana he sraddhaban jana he)
prabhura ajnaya bhai magi ei bhikha
bolo krishna bhajo krishna koro krishna-sikha
(3)
aparadha-sunya ho'ye loha krishna-nama
krishna mata krishna pita krishna dhana prana
(4)
krishnera somsara koro char6i' anacara
jibe doya krishna-nama sarba-dharma-sara
Kirtana in the City
(1)
nadiya-godrume nityananda mahajana
patiyache nama-hatta jibera karana
(2)
(sraddhaban jana he sraddhaban jana he)
prabhura ajnaya bhai magi ei bhikha
bolo krishna bhajo krishna koro krishna-sikha
(3)
aparadha-sunya ho'ye loha krishna-nama
krishna mata krishna pita krishna dhana prana
(4)
krishnera somsara koro char6i' anacara
jibe doya krishna-nama sarba-dharma-sara
Translation:
1) In Nadiya's Godruma the great soul Lord Nityananda has opened a marketplace to sell the holy name to
the conditioned souls.
2) (O faithful people, O faithful people,) O my brothers, by the Lord's command I ask this charity of you:
Please chant, Krishna!", worship Krishna, and learn and teach about Krishna.
3) Chant Krishna's name without offense. Accept Krishna as your mother. Accept Krishna as your father. Accept
Krishna as your wealth and your life.
4) Give up all sins. Make Krishna your whole world. Be merciful to all souls. Chant Krishna's names. That is
the essence of all religion.
http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/page/nadiya-godrume-nityanand
Priyavratadas The parrot that sings Hare Krishna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJy8v4Es8sM&feature=related
ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 22. septembris
Listen To The Mantra Not The Mind
500 years old Rare Banke Bihari's statue in Devalchori, Sagar 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5trkDxXNKaY&feature=related
Mathura Darshan: Sri Mathura Devi, Sri Padmanabha and other temples 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PvdIvwGhvU&feature=related
Mathura Darshan: Kubja Bhavan (House of Kubja) 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nzlYM95110&feature=related
Sri Govardhan Annukut Day: Go Puja and Giriraja Annukuta 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPCS5_p-wHQ&feature=related
Govardhan Darshan: Santanu Kund, Paitha Gaon & Chandra Sarovar 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=dpz-6lZimuM
Tapovan, Vatsavan & Kumudvan Darshan: From Akshayvat & Chir Ghat to Garuda-Govinda 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M7DVL_22JY
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