Radha Krishna Land: februāris 2011

pirmdiena, 2011. gada 28. februāris

Sri Radha Ramana, Vrindavana ( closeup picture )

http://harekrishnanetwork.ning.com/photo/1105629:Photo:70472/next?context=latest

The Lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Ramana

http://harekrishnanetwork.ning.com/photo/1105629:Photo:70473?context=latest

ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 24. februāris

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura in a car

Most of you have heard about this story. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Maharaja came to Vrindavan in a car with a driver.

http://www.krishna.com/bhaktisiddhanta-saraswati-thakura-0

Srila Prabhupada’s Passport & VISA

http://www.lotusimprints.com/new/blog/2010/02/

otrdiena, 2011. gada 22. februāris

Sri Sri Radha Gopal & Sri Sri Radha Madhava

Radha Gopal are on the left. On the right are Radha Madhava the original deities worshiped by Bhaktivinode Thakur
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopaljiu_publications/1253413714/in/photostream/

Sri Sri Radha Rasik Ray worshiped by Srila Rasikananda Prabhu

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopaljiu_publications/1253387868/in/photostream/

Srila Rasikananda Goswami

Rasikananda’s Birth

Rasikananda Goswami was born in 1512 of the Saka era (1590 AD) in the village of Rohini or Rayni in the Midnapore district. This village is situated at the confluence of the Subarnarekha and Dolanga rivers. His father’s name was Raja Achyutananda and his mother, Bhavani Devi. The Subarnarekha River crosses back and forth across the present-day Bengal-Orissa border. Midnapore district used to be a part of the Orissan kingdom. Raja Achyutananda was an Orissan of the Karana caste, the equivalent of the Kayasthas in Bengal. A Vaishnava is beyond the material qualities and should not be judged in terms of his caste origins. Achyutananda and Rasikananda were born in the Karana caste in order to bless it.

We can assume that Rasikananda was a manjari in Krishna lila. Though his spiritual master Shyamananda had himself been initiated by Hriday Chaitanya Goswami, who worshipped the Lord in the mood of friendship, he later took shelter of the conjugal mood due to the association of the Vraja devotees led by Jiva Goswami. Shyamananda thus initiated Rasikananda into the worship of Radha and Krishna.

Rasikananda was also known by the name Rasika Murari. Mother Jahnava’s disciple Nityananda Das wrote in his Prema-vilasa that Shyamananda had two principle disciples, one named Rasikananda, the other Murari, both of whom lived in Rayni. But Narahari Chakravarti indicates clearly in Bhakti-ratnakara that both names refer to the same individual.

In the village of Rayni lived the famous son of Achyutananda. He had two names: Rasikananda and Murari. Thus he was also known as Rasika-Murari. He became learned in the scriptures in his childhood. (Bhakti-ratnakara 15.27-8)

Rasika Murari Meets Shyamananda Prabhu

Rasika Murari was anxious to find a spiritual master who could give him guidance on the mystical path. One day while in Ghantashila, he went to a solitary place to meditate. He had just entered into a very deep trance when he heard a voice from an unseen source say, “Murari! You need be anxious no longer. Your guru is Shyamananda and you will meet him here very shortly. Take shelter of him and your life will be successful.” Upon hearing the divine message, Murari began chanting the name of Shyamananda on his beads with joyful enthusiasm. He spent the entire night crying out of eager expectation to meet his guru, until finally at the end of the night, he had a dream vision of Shyamananda Prabhu who said to him, “Don’t worry any longer, for you will meet me on this very day.”

At dawn, Rasika Murari was on the lookout for his guru, when he saw the tall figure of Shyamananda approaching him, as effulgent as the sun. Surrounded by disciples like Kishor Das, he was dancing in a state of absorption in divine love while chanting the names of Nityananda and Chaitanya. Rasika Murari had been waiting anxiously for so long to encounter his guru that he immediately fell down at his feet. Shyamananda affectionately lifted him up and embraced him. Then, after giving him the Radha-Krishna mantra, he offered him up to Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhus. This whole story demonstrates how we can find a guru through sincere prayers.

Rasikananda Becomes a Potent Preacher

Rasikananda Goswami fully committed himself in body, mind and soul to the service of his guru. Indeed, he served him so well that in a short time he was recognized as Shyamananda’s chief disciple, a very powerful preacher and initiating guru himself. In fact, it is a truism that a good disciple becomes a good teacher. A spiritual master may have innumerable followers who call him their guru, but are disciples in name only. Only a true disciple who has dedicated himself completely to his spiritual mater is imbued with all the powers of the guru. Shyamananda invested Rasikananda with such spiritual power that he was able to convert many criminals, atheists, Muslims, and other fallen spirit souls to the path of devotion, bestowing the jewel of prema upon them all.

On one occasion, a wicked Muslim tried to silence Rasika Murari by having him attacked by an intoxicated elephant, but Rasikananda was able to transform even the elephant into a disciple and engage him in the service of Vishnu and the Vaishnavas. All who witnessed this amazing event were overwhelmed with astonishment at Rasika Murari’s spiritual power and the evil Muslim zamindar himself came and surrendered to him.

Shyamananda turned the service of his personal Govinda deity in Gopiballabhpur over to Rasikananda. He delivered unlimited living beings without any consideration of their caste or religious background. Rasikananda remained constantly intoxicated in Harinam sankirtana. Who will not be overcome with emotion on reciting his virtues? (Bhakti-ratnakara 15.81-6)

The Prema-vilasa corroborates this account in the 19th chapter, “He delivered many criminals and Muslims.”

The Raja of Mayurbhanj in Orissan, Vaidyanath Bhanj, was also attracted to the transcendental power of Rasikananda and became his disciple. Other important disciples were Ganapati, the zamindar of Patashpur in Midnapore, Sri Bhima and Srikara, zamindars of Dharenda, and Ahmed Beg, the son-in-law of Ibrahim Khan, the governor of Orissa.

Rasikananda Goswami wrote a number of works, including Syamananda-staka, Bhakta-Bhagavatastaka, and Kunjakeli-dvadasaka.

Rasikananda’s Disappearance

It is said that just prior to Rasikananda’s disappearance in AD 1652, he went with seven of his disciples to a village named Bansdaha near Jaleswar. Mahaprabhu passed through the village when traveling to Puri with Nityananda. (Chaitanya Bhagavata 3.2.263-4)

Rasikananda and his party walked from there to Remuna, chanting kirtan the whole way. When they arrived in the courtyard of the famous Khirchora Gopinath temple, Rasikananda suddenly merged into the body of the Gopinath deity. His disciples also left their bodies in the same place. Rasika Murari’s flower samadhi and those of his seven associates are still maintained in the courtyard of the Khirchora Gopinath temple. An annual festival lasting twelve days is held in Remuna to celebrate his disappearance. This takes place on Siva-caturdasi in the month of Magh.

Visvambharananda Goswami, the author of the celebrated Astikya-darsana, was Rasikananda’s descendant.

http://www.cintamani.org/hari-katha...ananda-gosvami/

Srila Gour Govinda Swami's Samadhi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopaljiu_publications/1253393170/in/photostream/

The Departure of Srila Gour Govinda Goswami Maharaja

In late January 1996, Gour Govinda Swami mentioned, “Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said that this material world is not a fit place for any gentleman. Therefore, because he was disgusted, he left this world prematurely. I may also leave. I don’t know. Let me ask Gopal. I will do whatever He wants.” The next day he went to Gadeigiri to see Gopal. After returning, for the next four days he lectured before thousands of people at the Prabhupada Centennial festival in Bhubaneswar. Then he left for the annual ISKCON management meetings in Sridham Mayapur.

Ghanashyam recalls his discussion with Gour Govinda Swami during this last visit to Gadeigiri:

“We were talking about Gopal’s new temple and installing large deities of Radha Gopal to go with the existing small ones. Suddenly Gurudeva told me, ‘I won’t see this deity installation. You will see it, but I won’t.’ I said, “How is that? You are ten years younger than I am. If you won’t see it how will I?

“Gurudeva said, ‘No, no. You will see the inauguration of the temple and the deity because you have served Gopal so nicely. Uncle [Gopinath Giri] died thirty years ago and you went through so much difficulty to take care of Gopal. You continued all of the festivals, sarat-rasa, vasanta-rasa, etc. That is why Gopal is kind to you. So you will see Gopal’s new temple.’ That was the last discussion I had with Gurudeva. After that he went to Bhubaneswar for a few days and then to Mayapur where he stayed forever.”

In Mayapur on 9 February 1996, the holy appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, two senior ISKCON devotees requested an appointment in the early evening to see Gour Govinda Maharaja. They inquired, “Why did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stay in Jagannath Puri?” He enthusiastically began to explain the confidential significance of Mahaprabhu’s pastimes in Puri. He described the pains of separation felt by Radha and Krishna when Krishna was away from Vrindavan. He gradually unfolded the pastime to the point where Radha and Krishna were finally united after Their long separation. He described how Krishna became so ecstatic upon seeing Radharani that He manifested a form with big round eyes and shrunken limbs, Lord Jagannath. At that time the devotees noticed that tears had come to his eyes and his voice had become choked up. Barely audibly, he said, “Then the eyes of Krishna fell upon the eyes of Radharani. Eye-to-eye union.” Unable to continue, he apologized with folded hands, “Please excuse me. I cannot speak.” He then gave his final instruction: “Kirtan! Kirtan!” The devotees present began to chant as he calmly lay back on his bed, breathing slowly and deeply. Upon his request a servant placed a picture of Gopal Jiu in his hand. Then, gazing lovingly at that picture of his worshipable deity, Gour Govinda Swami said, “Gopal!” Then his eyes closed and he lost external consciousness. One devotee quickly ran to bring a doctor. Kaviraj Dr. D. K. Brahma M.D. recalls:

“Just before sandhya arati a devotee came to my residence and told me that Gour Govinda Swami was having some problem breathing and could I come to see him. When I arrived, Maharaja was lying down. Some doctors had come before me and had said that Maharaja had already passed away. Others were saying that we should take him to Krishnanagar and give him treatment in the Government hospital. I took his pulse and found that he was still alive.

“I told them, ‘Just wait. Give me another twelve minutes time, then I may tell you to take him.’ If they would have taken him to the Government hospital it means they would have been pumping his chest, thinking it was a heart attack. However, according to his pulse there was nothing wrong with him. His pulse only showed that he was taking rest. The Ayurvedic science teaches how to diagnose a patient by taking his pulse. If something is wrong we can feel it. But I never found anything wrong with Maharaja. According to his pulse everything was normal.

“By the second or third time I read Maharaja’s pulse it had become clear that he had left. Some say that he had a heart attack, but if someone dies from a heart attack generally we find that they suffer a lot. They also generally have some previous history of a weak heart. In Maharaja’s case, none of these things were there. Maharaja had the symptoms of asta-sattvika-vikara, ecstatic transformations, on his body. One kind of vikara is that one doesn’t want to stay here any longer, they want to go back to the spiritual abode, back to Krishna. Nothing in Maharaja’s body failed, he just left. I am 100% sure of that. I’ve never seen this kind of death before.”

[Excerpted from the book Gopaljiu the Beloved Deity of Srila Gour Govinda Gosvami Maharaja]

pirmdiena, 2011. gada 21. februāris

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

On 22nd Feb 2011 is Appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada was born in 1873 at Jagannatha Puri. His father, Kedar Dutta Bhaktivinoda Thakura, was magistrate of the city and superintendent of Jagannatha temple. Once, during the Ratha yatra festival, the car stopped in front of the family's house. Taking the opportunity, the mother of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura came out with the baby and put him on the Lotus Feet of Jagannatha. A garland from the hand of Jagannatha fell down on the baby.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was educated in Calcutta and became learned in Mathematics and Astronomy. In his childhood he once took a mango which was meant as an offering for the Deity. When his father rebuked him, saying that he should not have taken the fruit which was meant for the Lord, the child took it very seriously and thought himself a great offender, promising not to take mango again throughout his whole life. He was known as Bimal Prasad Dutta before his renunciation. On account of his writing a book on astronomy known as Surya Siddhanta, he received the title Siddhanta Sarasvati. And, when he took sannyasa, preaching the gospel of Lord Chaitanya, he was known as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He was acclaimed a great scholar in Calcutta, and the celebrated Dr. Kalidas Nag used to call him 'a living encyclopedia'.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda trained his son in childhood for preaching, and, after taking sannyasa, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura started the Gaudiya Mission Institution. He started 64 branches of the Gaudiya Math all over India plus one in London and another in Berlin. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the spiritual master of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
http://www.newvrindaban.com/newsevents/235-srila-bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvati-thakura-appearance-.html

svētdiena, 2011. gada 20. februāris

Prabupada's samadhi at Krishna-Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57498754@N08/5287366787/

sestdiena, 2011. gada 19. februāris

Key Events in the Life of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

(1486-1533 AD - 47 years)

February 18, 1486 - His birth in Sri Mayapura
August, 1486 (age 6 months) ceremony of giving first grains, and ceremony of offering coins and the Srimad-Bhagavatam (He chose the Bhagavatam)
1494 (age 8) - He begins His schooling under Ganga Dasa Pandita
1496 (age 10) - He becomes a scholar; His brother Visva-rupa takes sannyasa
1500 (age 14) - He marries Srimati Laksmi-Priya
1502 (age 16) - He starts His own school, teaching Sanskrit grammar
1503 (age 17) - He travels to Gaya and accepts initiation from Isvara Puri
1509 (age 23) - He propagates the sankirtana movement; He delivers Chand Kazi
1510 (age 24) - He formally accepts the renounced order of sannyasa
February 1510 (age 25) - He travels to Puri, Orissa; He visits the Deity Saksi-Gopala
March 1510 - He meets with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and converts him to vaisnavism
April 1510 - He continues toward South India; He meets Ramananda Raya
August-November 1510 - He spends Caturmasya in Ranga-ksetra
June 1511 (age 26) - He returns to Jagannatha Puri
October 1514 (age 28) - He travels to Bengal and meets Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis
June 1515 (age 29) - He returns to Puri via Santipura; He starts for Sri Vrndavana
June 1516 (age 30) - He returns to Puri, remaining there for His final 17 years (to 1533)
1516-1522 - He inspires active preaching work while based in Puri
March 1517 (age 31) - Sri Rupa Gosvami arrives from Vrndavana; then Sri Sanatana
July 1517 - Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami is freed from family duties and comes to Puri also
March 1518 (age 32) - Sri Sanatana is sent Vrndavana; Vallabhacarya arrives
1520 (age 34) - The passing away of Sri Haridasa Thakura is celebrated
1532 (age 46) - The Mahaprabhu's distressful separation from Lord Krsna increases markedly
1533 (age 47) - His disappearance pastime in the temple of Tota Gopinatha

http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/profiles/blogs/key-events-in-the-life-of-sri

Timetable of different important events

1473 Appearance of Lord Nityananda in Ekacakragrama, Birbhum district (West Bengal) as a son of Hadai Ojha and Padmavati
1479 Madhavendra Puri visits Radha-kunda and Govardhana Hill
1479 Madhavendra Puri establishes worship of Sri Gopala Raya
1482 Advaita Acarya takes diksa in Vrndavana from Madhavendra Puri
1483 Appearance of Lokanatha Gosvami

in 1407 Shaka Era ( February 18, 1486 - Western style ) on the full-moon evening of the mont of Phalguna, during the constellation of Simhalagna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared as the son of Srimati Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra.

1487 Appearance of Gadadhara Pandita
1488 Appearance of Sanatana Gosvami
1489 Appearance of Rupa Gosvami
1491 Disappearance of Madhavendra Puri
1491 Visvarupa (Lord Caitanya's brother) takes sannyasa
1494 Appearance of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
1496 Appearance of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
1503 Appearance of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami
1505 Appearance of Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami
1509 Lokanatha Gosvami and Bhurgarbha Gosvami come to Vrndavana
1510 Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu takes sannyasa
1513 Appearance of Jiva Gosvami
1515 Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visits Vrndavana
1516 Rupa and Sanatana come to Vrndavana
1516 Prabhdhananda Sarasvati Gosvami comes to Vrndavana
1534 Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disappearance
1534 Appearance of Narottama dasa Thakura
1535 Raghunatha dasa Gosvami comes to Vrndavana
1535 Jiva Gosvami comes to Vrndavana
1541 Disappearance of Lord Nityananda
1541 Completion of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu by Rupa Gosvami
1542 Installation of Radha Damodra in vrindavana
1542 Installation of Radharamna in vrindavana
1545 Raghunatha dasa Gosvami starts excavation of Radha-kunda
1550 Disappearance of Advaita Acarya
1554 Completion of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda
1558 Disappearance of Sanatana Gosvami
1564 Disappearance of Rupa Gosvami
1570 Emperor Akhbar meets Jiva Gosvami in Vrndavana
1571 Disappearance of Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami
1575 Completion of Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrndavana dasa Thakura
1576 Jiva Gosvami appointed Mahanta of Radha-kunda
1578 Disappearance of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami
1580 Temple of Madana-Mohana opens at Vrndavana
1581 Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami completes Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
1582 Disappearance of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
1583 Disappearance of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
1585 Disappearance of Lokanatha Gosvami
1590 Govindaji Mandira opens in Vrndavana
1608 Disappearance of Jiva Gosvami
1611 Disappearance of Narottama dasa Thakura
1630 Disappearance of Syamananda Pandita Gosvami
1638 Appearance of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
1670 Emperor Aurangzeb attacks Vrndavana
1708 Disappearance of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
1838 Appearance of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
1874 Appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami
1896 Appearance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
1914 Disappearance of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
1915 Disappearance of Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja
1933 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada initiated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami at Allahabad
1935 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada meets Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati at Radha-kunda
1936 Disappearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami
1954 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada takes vanaprastha
1956 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada arrives in Vrndavana
1959 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada takes sannyasa
1965 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada sails to America
1966 Incorporation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York, USA
1975 Sri Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandira opens in Vrndavana
1977 Disappearance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

http://www.dharmakshetra.com/articles/Chronology%20of%20Important%20Events%20in%20the.htm

piektdiena, 2011. gada 18. februāris

Dhruva Teela -{maduvan- maholi gram} Vrindavan

https://picasaweb.google.com/jay1985rk/GokulVrindavan_2#5403470493667454450

ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 17. februāris

Tulsi greenhouse next to old prasadam hall of Krishna-Ballaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57498754@N08/5334276598/

trešdiena, 2011. gada 16. februāris

Nityananda Janmasthan, Ekacakra, Birbhum distr.

Nitai

http://nitaidham.blogspot.com/

Map of some holy places around India

The Seven Ancient Holy Towns

Ayodhya
Mathura
Haridwar
Varanasi
Kanchipuram
Dvaraka
Ujjain

The Four Holy Dhamas

Puri (East)
Rameshvaram (South)
Dvaraka (West)
Badrinatha (North)

The Four Maha Kumbha Mela Sites

Prayaga ( Allahabad)
Haridwar
Ujjain
Nasik

Personal Reflection

What is it that makes a place sacred?
What experiences do you have of sacred places?
Are there tangible differences between a holy site and other places, or are they simply imaginary?

Holy Sites for the Four Main Denominations

Vaishnavas

Mathura/Vrindavana
Dvaraka
Badrinatha
Puri (Jagannatha Puri)
Tirupati
Ayodhya
Nathdwar
Udupi

Shaivites

Varanasi
Kedarnatha
Somnath
Rameshvaram
Chidambaram

Note: for more holy places dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva, see Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

Shaktas

Kanyakumari
Madurai
Vaishno Devi
Calcutta ( Kali Temple)

Note: there are 51 principle Shakti sites throughout India

Smartas

Puri
Rameshvaram
Dvaraka
Badrinatha

Note: these correspond to the four dhamas (most holy sites in India)

http://hinduism.iskcon.com/practice/503.htm

Also see the map of the places related to Ramayana at

http://vishvambhara-bilde.blogspot.com/2011/04/map-of-places-related-to-ramayana.html

Ganesha on the street of Loi Bazaar, Vrindavan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57498754@N08/5334278890/

svētdiena, 2011. gada 13. februāris

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in the Imlital temple, Vrindavan

http://www.vrindavan.org/CentersJPG/Pict1/GauraNitaiImliTala.html

ceturtdiena, 2011. gada 10. februāris

MUNGEER RAJ MANDIR

Mungeer Raj Mandir is the Temple of Sri Sri Radha Mohana with four Gopis: Lalita, Vishaka, Citra and Champakalata.

When the Grandfather of Srila Bhakti Vedanta Saddhu Maharaja came to Vrindavan Sri Sri Radha Mohana, Sri Krishna himself, inspired him to do something for Sri Krishna. He began to search for a beautiful place and Srimati Radharani gave her mercy and he found their home, which is nowadays called Mungeer Mandir.

http://vrindanews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-10-21T15%3A48%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=15