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Happy Holidays

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PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from LALive.us):

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Garga Samhita
Chapter Nine Text Eleven
ittham kauravendra yaadavendrasya raamatah sarvaa vaasantikir nishaa vyatitaa babhuvuh. bhagavato balabhadrasya hastinaapuram iva viryam sucayativa hy adyaapi ca krishta-vartmanaa yamunaa vahati. imam raamasya raasa-kathaam yah shrinoti shraavayati ca sa sarva-paapa-patalam chittvaa tasya parasparam aananda-padam pratiyaati. kim bhuyah shrotum icchasi.

ittham-thus; kauravendra-O king of the Kauravas; yaadavendrasya-of the king of the Yaadavas; raamatah-from Lord Balaraama; sarvaa-all; vaasantikih-springtime; nishaa-night; vyatitaa-passed; babhuvuh.-became; bhagavatah-of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; balabhadrasya-Lord Balaraama; hastinaapuram-to Hastinaapura; iva-like; viryam-power; sucayati-shows; iva-like; hy-indeed; adyaapi-even today; ca-and; krishta-vartmanaa-by the dragged path; yamunaa-the Yamunaa; vahati-flows; imam-this; raamasya-of Lord Balaraama; raasa-ofd the raasa dance; kathaam-the narration; yah-one who; shrinoti-hears; shraavayati-recounts; ca-and; sa-he; sarva-paapa-patalam-the entirety of a great host of sins; chittvaa-destroying; tasya-of him; parasparam-mutual; aananda-padam-the abode of bliss; pratiyaati-goes; kim-what?; bhuyah-more; shrotum-to hear; icchasi-do you wish.

TRANSLATION

O king of the Kauravas, in this way Lord Balaraama, the king of the Yaadavas, spent that springtime night with the gopis. Even today the Yamuna' flows in many divided streams at that place, a testimony to the great strength, equal to that of a host of elephants, of Lord Balaraama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A person who hears or recounts these pastimes of Lord Balaraama destroys the entirety of a great host of sins and attains transcendental bliss. What more do you wish to hear?"

[Thus ends Chapter Nine of the Garga Samhita also known as Shri Raama-raasa-kridaa (Lord Balaraama's Raasa Dance).]

JOURNAL:

My closest family connection is with my older brother. He is a great guy, well to do, with a quiet Christian attitude. He supports my lifestyle and sometimes helps financially.

Back on March 31 I read Srila Prabupada's purport on SB10.2.13 where he explains how Balarama is in the Maha-mantra (see post March 31, 2014).  I also read an article online (see post April 14) which said; Balarama, who has the same original form of Krsna, is Himself a cowherd boy in Vrndavana, and He also considers Himself to belong to the ksatriya race in Dvaraka. Thus His color and dress are different, and He is called a pastime form of Krsna. I found it odd that Krishna was the younger brother instead of the older. The fact was that I had never

considered Lord Balarama and his activities.

This thought led me to thoughts of all the love I have for my older brother so, I decided to make Krishna/Balarama a focus of my meditations with the hope that I might more fully understand this rasa that both Krishna and I enjoy. I went online and found a beautiful photo of the deities in Vrndavana and, for the last few months, I have been saying my japa in front of it.

Of course, there have been many benefits to saying  japa. Since adding the photo of Krishna/Balarama, one of the more noticeable benefits has been increased feelings of thankfulness and protection, stemming from a "brotherly" love.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Garga Samhita
Chapter Nine Text 3
atha ca yaa naaga-kanyaah purvoktaas taa gopa-kanyaa bhutvaa balabhadra-praapty-artham- gargaacaaryaad balabhadrapancaangam- grihitvaa tenaiva siddhaa babhuvuh. taabhir baladeva ekadaa prasannah kaalindi-kule raasa-mandalam- samaarebhe. tadaiva caitra-purnimaayaam- purna-candro 'runa-varnah sampurnam- vanam- ranjayan vireje.

atha-then; ca-and; ya-who; naaga-kanyaah-the snake girls; purvoktah-previously described; ta-they; gopa-kanyaa-gopis; bhutvaa-becoming; balabhadra-praapty-artham-to attain Lord Balaraama; gargaacaaryaat-from Garga Muni; balabhadra-of Lord Balaraama; pancaangam-the five methods of worship; grihitvaa-accepting; tena-by that; eva-indeed; siddha-perfect; babhuvuh-became; taabhih-with them; baladeva-Balaraama; ekadaa-one day; prasannah-happy; kaalindi-of the Yamunaa; kule-on the shore; raasa-mandalam-the rasa-dance circle; samaarebhe-attained; tadaa-then; eva-indeed; caitra-purnimaayaam-on the full moon of the month of Caitra; purna-full; candrah-moon; aruna-varnah-red; sampurnam-full; vanam-forest; ranjayan-making red; vireje-shone.

TRANSLATION

The previously described snake-girls became gopis and, in order to attain Lord Balaraama's association, on Garga Muni's advice followed the five methods of worshiping Lord Balaraama. In this way they became perfect. Pleased with them, Lord Balaraama enjoyed a raasa-dance with them on the full-moon night of the month of Caitra (March-April), a night when the red moon reddened the whole of Vrindaavana forest.

NECTOR OF DEVOTION
Chapter 29: Intoxication

When one becomes arrogant with false prestige due to drinking intoxicants or being too lustful, the voice becomes faulty, the eyes become swollen, and there are symptoms of redness on the body. There is a statement in the Lalita-mādhava that Lord Baladeva, intoxicated from drinking excessive quantities of honey, once began to address the ants, "O you kings of the ants! Why are you hiding yourselves in these holes?" At the same time He also addressed the King of heaven, "O King Indra! You plaything of Śacī! Why are you laughing? I am now prepared to smash the whole universe, and I know that Kṛṣṇa will not be angry with Me."* Then He addressed Kṛṣṇa, "My dear Kṛṣṇa, tell Me immediately why the whole world is trembling and why the moon has become elongated! And O you members of the Yadu dynasty, why are you laughing at Me? Please give Me back My liquors made of honey from the kadamba flower!" Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī prays that Lord Balarāma will be pleased with all of us while He is thus talking just like an intoxicated person.

In this state of intoxication, Balarāma felt tired and lay down for rest. Generally, those who are exalted personalities lie down when they feel intoxicated, whereas those who are mediocre laugh and sing during intoxication, and those who are lowly use vulgar language and sometimes cry. Such intoxication is manifested according to different ages and mentalities. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī does not describe further in this direction because there is no necessity for such a discussion.

There is another description of the symptoms of intoxication in the person of Śrī Rādhārāṇī after She saw Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes She was walking hither and thither, sometimes She was laughing, sometimes She was covering Her face, sometimes She was talking without any meaning, and sometimes She was praying to Her associate gopīs. Seeing these symptoms in Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs began to talk among themselves: "Just see how Rādhārāṇī has become intoxicated simply by seeing Kṛṣṇa before Her!" This is an instance of ecstatic love in intoxication.

Smiling Krishna

From a Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.36
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Mayapura, October 16, 1974

And that is the way of seeing. First of all, you have to see the lotus feet. Then, gradually, the thighs. And then, then... At last, the beautiful face. Therefore the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the First Canto, Second Canto, are two lotus feet of the Lord. We have to read very carefully, because we have to see, first of all, padambujam. Don't go all of a sudden to see the face of the Lord, just like the sahajiyas did. Their reading of Bhagavata means rasa-lila. Rasa-lila is the smiling of Krsna, where Krsna is personally enjoying very sweet smiling. So you don't try to see the smiling of Krsna immediately. First of all see, try to see, the lotus feet of Krsna, padambujam. Then gradually rise. When you are accustomed to see, as soon as you close your eyes, immediately see Krsna's..., then you go further. Go further. Go further. Go further. And that is Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Second Canto, Third Canto, Fourth Canto. In this way, you have to go to the Tenth Canto. Then Tenth Canto means the head. And then, in the Tenth Canto, the chapters, Twenty-nine through Thirty-five chapter, that is smiling. Don't try to see Krsna smiling immediately. Then you will be baffled. It requires qualification, and it requires time, but if Krsna is pleased, He can show His plea..., I mean, smiling immediately. That is a special favor. But the general way is to see, first of all, the lotus feet of Krsna and make your endeavor perfectly done by this sravanam kirtanam visnoh, srnvanti gayanti. This is the process.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from iskconportland.com):

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All Glories Srila Prabhupada!

Aug 28, 2013 — CANADA (SUN) — On the auspicious occasion of Srila Prabhupada's Vyasapuja. In 1896, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada made his appearance in Calcutta, Bengal. He was given the name Abhay Carana by his Vaisnava father, Gour Mohan De, whose principle desire for his son's spiritual future was for him to become a pure devotee of Lord Sri Krsna, the ultimate goal of Vaisnavism.

Srila Prabhupada exhibited all the telltale symptoms of a nitya-siddha shaktavesa avatara. Such divine Personalities are sent/chosen by The Supreme Personality of Godhead to advent in a body so as to fulfill the mission of the Lord, namely, to impart the Absolute truth to the ignorant, forgetful embodied beings in human form. Abhay Carana's ultimate destiny and mission would remain unmanifest to the unenlightened until the last few years of his life. Twenty-five years after his disappearance there are still many who are confused over His true exalted spiritual identity, even amongst those who consider themselves to be His followers.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from LALive.us):

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Today is the anniversary of

Sri Sri Nitai Sacinandana's Appearance Day

here in the Portland, Oregon area

HARI BOL!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 35-36
tat tu viṣaya-tyāgāt sańga-tyāgāc ca
avyāvṛtta-bhajanāt

tat — that; tu — and; viṣaya — of sense gratification; tyāgāt — by rejection; sańga — of (material) association; tyāgāt — by rejection; ca — and.
avyāvṛtta — uninterrupted; bhajanāt — by worship.

TRANSLATION

One achieves bhakti by giving up sense gratification and mundane association.
One achieves bhakti by worshiping the Lord ceaselessly.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

 

I can remember Srila Prabhupada speaking about Srimati Radharani in the summer of 1966 at 26 Second Ave. in New York City.

I always remember Prabhupada on Radhastami because I received first initiation from Prabhupada on this day, September 23rd, 1966. Prabhupada’s qualifications for initiation were very easy in those days and so I could have been initiated at the first initiation in ISKCON which was on Janmastami day 1966. But I didn’t feel ready for the surrender of my so-called free activities. It seemed too much to give up and so I passed up the initiation.

But a few days after that I began to regret that I didn’t get initiated. Then I heard from one of the devotees that Prabhupada was planning to hold another initiation in two weeks on the occasion of the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. So then Prabhupada began to explain to us something about Srimati Radharani.

He said that on Janmastami we had to fast all day until midnight because Krishna is very strong and hard. But on Radhastami we would only have to fast until noon because Radharani is soft and kind.

I therefore decided that I would ask Prabhupada if I could get initiated  on Radharani’s appearance day. What had seemed too hard two weeks previously on Krishna’s birthday now seemed easier under the protection of Srimati Radharani.

 An excerpt from Srila Prabhupada’s Presentation of Srimati Radharani 

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from lalive.info):

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 13.13
viśvambhara jagannāthe ke cālāite pāre?
āpana icchāya cale karite vihāre

viśvambhara — the maintainer of the universe; jagannāthe — Lord Jagannātha; ke — who; cālāite — cause to be carried; pāre — can; āpana — personal; icchāya — by His will; cale — moves; karite — to act; vihāre — in pastimes.

TRANSLATION

Lord Jagannātha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? The Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

JOURNAL:

Today is Ratha Yatra here in Portland, Oregon.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from lalive.info):

What: Ratha Yatra
When: July 21, 2012
Where: Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon

Krsna's Eco Farm in Scotland

Lesmahagow, a quiet village founded by monks in the 12th Century is again home to monks but of a different order. In 1987 Hare Krishna monks moved into a humble property in Lesmahagow not far from Glasgow. With the motto ‘simple living, high thinking', they began to develop an ambitious program and turned the site into a state-of-the-art Eco Farm.

Many politicians, environmentalists, devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor and Hindus community representatives attended the event. They saw demonstrations of various sustainable technologies including Solar Thermal Panels, Air source Heat Pumps, Wind Turbines, and Biomass Energy Centre. The site also includes a walled garden where the monks grow vegetables and fruits, as well as greenhouses for cultivating ceremonial flowers and a play garden for children.

Scots born Prabhupada Prana das, head of the centre said, In our temple we try to live simply and in harmony with nature. The technology can be used to reduce your carbon footprint, and that's part of our philosophy. We are committed to helping people find peace, through meditation and taking care of the earth—and it's all here at the Eco Farm.

It has been a rewarding day, added Prana about the official opening ceremony, We had traditional Indian dance and cuisine blended with Scots bagpipes and banter. The level of interest in our environmental technologies and the presence of the various dignitaries has been inspiring.

I was extremely proud to be the guest of honour at the opening of the Krishna Eco-Farm, said Michael McCann MP. The monks live in the Lesmahagow community in the heart of my constituency in peace and harmony not only with nature but with the local community. The work that they have done on this Eco-Farm has many lessons for us not least of which is that with proper planning, renewable energy sources can make a valuable contribution to our communities.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. It certainly won't be my last because after the trials and tribulations of my work in the House of Commons and the constituency office visiting the Eco-Farm and meeting the wonderful people there was a great opportunity to stop, take a breath and enjoy an alternative style of life. Michael concluded.

(condensed from an original article by Radha Mohan das; Sampradaya Sun)

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.11.13
gopura-dvāra-mārgesu
krta-kautuka-toranām
citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair
antah pratihatātapām

gopura — the gateway of the city; dvāra — door; mārgesu — on different roads; krta — undertaken; kautuka — because of the festival; toraṇām — decorated arch; citra — painted; dhvaja —flags; patākā-agraih — by the foremost signs; antah — within; pratihata —checked; ātapām —sunshine.

TRANSLATION

The city gateway, the household doors and festooned arches along the roads were all nicely decorated with festive signs like plantain trees and mango leaves, all to welcome the Lord. Flags, garlands and painted signs and slogans all combined to shade the sunshine.


JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada tells us in his purport; The flags mentioned above were all painted with the picture of either Garuda or Hanumān, the two great servitors of the Lord.

Here, the flags fly as the citizens welcome Krishna to their city. Later, in Bhagavad Gita (1.20), Arjuna will ride into battle under a flag marked with Hanuman.