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.

Opening of the George Harrison Memorial Garden

After the recent private opening of the George Harrison memorial Garden by Olivia Harrison (the wife of the of the late Beatle) and British TV presenters Monty Don and Peter Owen Jones, the garden is now open to the public at the grand Krishna festival held at Bhaktivedanta Manor.

During the festival of Janmashtami at Bhaktivedanta Manor, which is expected to attract over 60,000 people on Wednesday 28th August and Sunday 21st September, the devotees will be celebrating 40 years since the mansion house and estate was donated by the George Harrison. ( http://news.iskcon.org )

Bhakti-yoga means connecting ourselves with Krsna, God, and becoming His eternal associates. Bhakti-yoga cannot be applied to any other objective; therefore in Buddhism, for instance, there is no bhakti-yoga, because they do not recognize the Supreme Lord as the supreme objective. Christians, however, practice bhakti-yoga when they worship Jesus Christ, because they are accepting Him as the son of God and are therefor accepting God. Unless one accepts God, there is no question of bhakti-yoga. Christianity, therefor, is also a form of Vaisnavism, because God is recognized.

-His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
from - The Path of Perfection

Earlier this week, the first practicing Hindu to serve in the U.S. Congress, Rep.Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, took her oath with the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text of Hinduism that is turning up in more and more Oregon motels.

Manu Patel, who has lived in Salem (Oregon) since 2006 and owns the Days Inn there, has placed more than 100 copies in his motel rooms and helped other motel owners throughout the state to add about 800 copies to drawers that have traditionally held the Christian Bible.

Patel is part of the Motel Bhagavad Gita project, sponsored by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON. Last month, the group distributed about 16,000 copies of "The Bhagavad Gita as It Is," a translation prepared by one of its founders.

Patel and representatives from a nearby ISKCON temple will present copies of the Gita to representatives of the Howard Johnson Portland Airport Hotel at 4 p.m. Sunday, he said.

The Gita is 700 verses of a longer work, the Mahabharata. The Gita is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Krishna, an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu, about the soul, duty and honor.

-- By Nancy Haught, The Oregonian 

on January 04, 2013 at 10:27 AM

Please see my link on the sidebar if you would like to help place Bhagavad Gita in more hotels.

The Assumption of Mary

Roman Catholics celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. This is a day of obligation celebrated by fasting and the chanting of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Srila Prabhupada has this to say about the rosary:

Therefore, even if you accept designations like "Hindu," "Christian," or "Muhammadan," if you simply chant the name of God found in your own scriptures, you will attain the spiritual platform. Human life is meant for self-realization—to learn how to love God. That is the actual beauty of man. Whether you discharge this duty as a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muhammadan, it doesn't matter—but discharge it!

Father Emmanuel: I agree.

Srila Prabhupäda [pointing to a string of 108 meditation beads]:
We always have these beads, just as you have your rosary. You are chanting, but why don't the other Christians also chant? Why should they miss this opportunity as human beings?

Science of Self Realization - Page 137

New Audio of Srila Prabhupada from 1977

Today the Bhaktivedanta Archives released many new MP3 files of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivendanta Srila Prabhupada from 1977. Their plan is to continue releasing audio of him while working backward (next will be 1976, then 1975, etc.) until all audio files have been released. To hear these new files, which include two new lectures on Bhagavad Gita 7.1, click on the link below:

http://www.prabhupadavani.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=660:oat-table-1&catid=79:original-audio-transcriptions&Itemid=173

Bill Clinton Gets a Gita

On Thursday 14 June 2012 ISKCON devotee, Bhakta Brian, dressed as a devotee, was out distributing books on a crowded sidewalk on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California when all of a sudden former US President Bill Clinton chose him out of the crowd, walked up to him, shook his hand, and gave him a warm hug.

Listen now to an interview with Bhakta Brian how he gave the Bhagavad-gita to this world famous celebrity:



(Originaly published by news.iskcon.com)

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)

The Peace Formula

Original page from Back to Godhead magazine,
Volume One, Number 21, Page 47, 1968
















The Peace Formula
by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

The great mistake of modern civilization is to encroach upon other's property as though it were one's own, and to thereby create an unnecessary disturbance of the Laws of Nature. These laws are very strong. No living entity can violate them. Only one who is Krishna conscious can easily overcome the stringency of the Laws of Nature, and thus become happy and peaceful in the world.

As a state is protected by the Department of Law and Order, so the State of Universe, of which this earth is only an insignificant fragment, is protected by the Laws of Nature. This material Nature is one of the different potencies of God, Who is the ultimate Proprietor of everything that be. This earth is, therefore, the property of God, but we the living entities, especially the so-called civilized human beings, are claiming God's property as our own, under both an individual and collective false conception. If you want peace, you have to remove this false conception from your mind and from the world. This false claim of proprietorship by the human race on earth is partly or wholly the cause of all disturbances of peace on earth.

Foolish and so-called civilized men are claiming proprietary rights on the property of God because they have now become Godless. You cannot be happy and peaceful in a Godless society. In The Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that He is the factual Enjoyer of all activities of the living entities, that He is the supreme Lord of all universes, and that He is the well-wishing Friend of all beings. When the people of the world know this as the formula for peace, it is then and there that peace will prevail.

Therefore, if you want peace at all, you will have to change your consciousness into Krishna Consciousness—both individually and collectively—by the simple process of chanting the Holy Name of God. This is a standard and recognized process for achieving peace in the world. We therefore recommend that everyone become Krishna conscious by chanting: HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE/ HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE.

This is practical, simple and sublime. Four hundred and eighty years ago this formula was introduced in India by Lord Sri Chaitanya, and now it is available in your country. Take to this simple process of chanting as above mentioned, realize your factual position by reading The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, and re-establish your lost relationship with Krishna, God. Peace and prosperity will be the immediate worldwide result.

I Read Banned Books

In the dream he fought hard against the mob. Always outwitting them as Billy the Kid in the Old West. Finally he was trapped by the biggest one with the knife. In desperation and sharp thinking he said, "If you come a step closer I'll wake up from this dream."

Satsvarupa das Goswami - Sanatorium



JOURNAL:

Growing up it was fashionable to read "banned books". Recently I ran across a copy of Satsvarupa das Goswami's book, Sanatorium, which was banned by ISKCON. Naturally, I have started reading it. I read his book of poetry, When the Saints Go Marching In, which is frowned on, if not banned itself, and enjoyed it very much. So now I have started Sanatorium.

S.D.G.'s writing has always been important me. I read the Japa Reform Notebook and discovered his journals early in life. He was the official biographer of Srila Prabhupada and an editor and contributing writer of Narada-Bhakti-Sutra. His textbook, Readings in Vedic Literature, is the best of its kind. I have read a lot of his work, be it poetry, instructional or fiction. I have also read his critics' complaints about him.

I myself will not judge a devotee of Lord Krishna. I know that his writing connects me to Prabhupada and Krishna, helps me with my japa and entertains me with its earthy connections. I can relate to the struggles he writes about and I don't mind him being human. In fact, it helps me.

The Queen visits the Krishna Avanti School

The Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed an eclectic mix of music and dance during their Diamond Jubilee tour of Krishna Avanti School on Thursday 29th March.

Inside the main hall which contains the deities of Krishna Balaram, Krishna Avanti School children sang Sri Krishna Caitanya, a Vaishnava song written by Narottam Das Thakur, followed by the Hare Krishna mantra. The Queen particularly appreciated the devotional music. Then the Queen unveiled a beautiful tapestry which depicted Caitanya Mahaprabhu dancing in Jarikhanda forest with the animals, a gift from the School to Buckingham Palace.

The children also recited a verse from the Siksastaka which included a translation, explaining that “in order to have peace and prosperity in society we need to imbibe three qualities: humility, tolerance and respect for all others”. Srutidharma das explained that the Krishna Avanti School is based on these values, and the Queen responded “Isn’t that wonderful!”

(Thanks to bhaktivedantamanor.co.uk for this article)

Notes on Cupid

Notes on "Cupid" in The Nectar of Devotion.

There is a statement in this connection that Krsna, on arriving at this age, manifested such beautiful bodily features that His restless eyes became the playthings of Cupid, and His mild smile resembled the newly grown lotus flower. The enchanting vibration of His songs became a great impediment to the young girls, who were supposed to remain chaste and faithful to their husbands.
(p.170)


As far as His flute is concerned, it is said that the vibration of this wonderful instrument was able to break the meditation of the greatest sages. Krsna was thus challenging Cupid by advertising His transcendental glories all over the world.
(p.173)


When Cupid came on one occasion to visit Lord Krsna, some devotee addressed him thus: "My dear Cupid, because you have been so fortunate as to have placed your eyesight on the lotus feet of Krsna, the drops of perspiration on your body have become frozen, and they resemble kaëöaké fruits [a kind of small fruit found in thorny bushes]."
(p.245)

ISKCON In Danger of Losing 26 2nd Avenue

A few month back, Yadunath Das treasurer of the historical 26 2nd Avenue center in New York turned to the ISKCON community for help to keep Prabhupada’s first western temple up, running and under ISKCON`s care. His reasoning was that this temple is of global concern and the worldwide ISKCON community has a stake in whether or not its bills can be paid.

Since posting his plea, unfortunately, only one devotee has stepped forward to make a monthly donation, which made losing this historical site a distinct possibility.

Yadhunath Das does not give up. "A lot of people are talking about Mukunda Maharaja’s new book, Miracle on 2nd Avenue, he says. Well, another miracle is needed now, 45 years later—one that preserves a big part of ISKCON’s heritage, where it all began, and everyone can be a part of it. Our total expenses are under $2,000 a month."

If you consider becoming a regular monthly sponsor to save 26 2nd Avenue, please contact Yadunath Das at yadunath@bhakticenter.org or go to krishnanyc.com/giving.html to create a secure subscription via PayPal. All donations are tax deductible.

(reprinted from news.iskcon.com)

Tulasi-mala Neckbeads for Those not yet Initiated

Question:I am following the four regulative principles for almost a year now, chanting 16 rounds daily, and have been wearing tulasi mala beads since around December. I read in the Vaisnava Etiquette Manual that uninitiated devotees aspiring for initiation may wear tulasi mala. I have been wearing 3 strands and now was told I should only wear one strand until initiation.

I pray I have not created an offense. Thank you for any standards guidance on this matter.

Answer by His Holiness Romapada Swami: It is not an offense, as it is but an oversight of a minor detail only due to lack of information. The principle is: a Vaishnava should adorn his body with Tilaka and Tulasi beads. It is one of the 64 items of devotional service mentioned in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. The purpose of this is to please Krishna, to purify oneself, and to remind oneself and others of Krishna. In what ways this principle is applied is a detail. It is our duty to follow the principle. While the details are not unimportant, they can vary, and are best learned from a Vaishnava whom you look up to and follow.

Far more important are the primary principles of devotional service, particularly the efforts to chant attentively and to thoroughly understand the fundamental teachings of Bhagavad-gita. Please invest your full attention and enthusiasm in these primary angas of bhakti, and the details of sadhana bhakti will fall into place automatically in time.

One need not be in undue anxiety about minor slips in details. Deliberately avoiding or minimizing the details, for the sake of convenience, or due to personal attachment / aversion is what leads to offenses. But if your attitude is one of humility and enthusiasm to learn and be corrected, that attitude is very pleasing to Krishna. What attracts Krishna is a devotee's sincerity of purpose -- which indicates the effort to closely follow all the scriptural principles, not just for the sake of rules but only for the purpose of pleasing the Lord. It is this sincerity of purpose which attracts Krishna's mercy.

Black Keith Dies at Age 74

Mumbai, India – On Sunday, October 23, Kirtanananda Swami, a controversial former leader in the Hare Krishna society who was excommunicated by the parent organization for serious legal and moral transgressions, passed away in India. Expelled from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1987, Kirtanananda (also known as Black Keith and Swami Bhaktipada) continued to lead a splinter group and maintained a small following of disciples, unaffiliated with the mainstream worldwide Krishna movement.

Born Keith Ham in 1937 to conservative Christian parents in Peekskill, New York, Kirtanananda was one of the first Americans to become a disciple of Hare Krishna movement founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who brought or Vaishnavism, devotion to Lord Krishna, to the west in 1965. Kirtanananda was perhaps best known for helping to found New Vrindaban, an expansive Hare Krishna farm community in rural West Virginia whose ornate Palace of Gold and large temple became a major American tourist attraction in the 1980s, and continues to attract more than twenty thousand visitors and pilgrims each year.

In 1990 the United States Federal Government indicted Kirtanananda on five counts of racketeering, six counts of mail fraud, and conspiracy to murder. He pled guilty to one count of racketeering (mail fraud) and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released early in 2004. Upon his release from prison, Kirtanananda maintained a relatively low profile.

In 2008 he permanently relocated to India. He was 74 at the time of his death.

There Are No Bachelors

"The modern, rascal civilization, they do not know actually what is the end of suffering." "They are thinking that here, this, a small span of life, say fifty years, sixty years, one hundred years utmost, if we get a nice wife, a nice apartment, a nice motor car, running with seventy miles speed, and a nice whiskey bottle, that is the purpose."
(Srila Prabhupada, February 2, 1975, Hawaii)

This was my vision of life. Even after I started on the path of devotional service this vision was so ingrained in me that I continued to live it for awhile. Back in December of last year I started down the road. At fifty-one years old and my marriage on the rocks it seemed the right thing to do.

As I look back over the last nine months I can see something of the Varnasrama-dharma in my life. As my walk with the Lord has grown more intimate I have begun to wonder if Krishna has forced me into vanaprastha; the retired life. The earmarks are there. I am over fifty and I left my wife living with her oldest son.

There is an example of this lifestyle in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.39; "Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha [grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa], at Mathurā as the King of Śūrasena. Afterwards Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira performed a Prājāpatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life." Srila Prabhupada states in his purport; The scientific system of varṇāśrama-dharma divides the human life into four divisions of occupation and four orders of life. The four orders of life as brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsī are to be followed by all, irrespective of the occupational division.

In Srimad Bhagavatam 7.12.17-24 we have a discription of vanaprastha:
(17) O King, I shall now describe the qualifications for a vānaprastha, one who has retired from family life. By rigidly following the rules and regulations for the vānaprastha, one can easily be elevated to the upper planetary system known as Maharloka. (18) A person in vānaprastha life should not eat grains grown by tilling of the fields. He should also not eat grains that have grown without tilling of the field but are not fully ripe. Nor should a vānaprastha eat grains cooked in fire. Indeed, he should eat only fruit ripened by the sunshine. (19) A vānaprastha should prepare cakes to be offered in sacrifice from fruits and grains grown naturally in the forest. When he obtains some new grains, he should give up his old stock of grains. (20) A vānaprastha should prepare a thatched cottage or take shelter of a cave in a mountain only to keep the sacred fire, but he should personally practice enduring snowfall, wind, fire, rain and the shining of the sun. (21) The vānaprastha should wear matted locks of hair on his head and let his body hair, nails and moustache grow. He should not cleanse his body of dirt. He should keep a waterpot, deerskin and rod, wear the bark of a tree as a covering, and use garments colored like fire.(22)Being very thoughtful, a vānaprastha should remain in the forest for twelve years, eight years, four years, two years or at least one year. He should behave in such a way that he will not be disturbed or troubled by too much austerity. (23) When because of disease or old age one is unable to perform his prescribed duties for advancement in spiritual consciousness or study of the Vedas, he should practice fasting, not taking any food. (24) He should properly place the fire element in his own self and in this way give up bodily affinity, by which one thinks the body to be one's self or one's own. One should gradually merge the material body into the five elements [earth, water, fire, air and sky].

This may have been possible in days of old but I can't imagine it as a lifestyle for myself. I cannot live in the forest although I do a lot of my japa there or in parks. I also practice fasting as prescribed by ISKCON. On the other hand, I miss my family and sometimes wish I could go home, so I am not very renounced. I am just another American Bachelor, and there are no bachelors in Varnasrama-dharma.

(Artwork - The Renunciation Of King Yudhisthira by Puskar Dasa)

Spiritual Morality

TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
Chapter Ten, Pages 43-44:

Although the quantity of salt in a drop of seawater is not comparable to the quantity of salt in the ocean, the chemical composition of both the drop and the ocean is the same. Similarly, whatever we have in a minute quantity is present in its fullness in Krsna (janmady asya yatah). For example, we have a propensity to steal, to take things that belong to others. Why? Because Krsna has the same propensity. Unless the propensity to steal is present in the Absolute Truth, how can it be present in us? Krsna is known as "the butter thief." But Krsna's stealing and our stealing are different. Because we are materially contaminated, our stealing is abominable, whereas on the spiritual, absolute platform the same stealing is so nice that it is enjoyable. Mother Yasoda therefore enjoys Krsna's activities of stealing. This is the difference between material and spiritual.

Some Christians I know have a hard time with statements like this. Even though they are reminded by Saint Paul (Heb.12), and many examples in the Old Testament, that the Lord disciplines His children, they still can't except the idea that "evil" is part of the plan that He created for us. They seem to want to limit God to being "good" only, and yet they agree that God, by definition, is unlimited and beyond our conception. This kind of thinking manifests itself in other ways. For example, they will agree that God is bigger than any one religion, but bulk at the idea of Krishna being God.

The so-called morality and goodness of this material world is all bad, but in the spiritual world even so-called immorality is good. This we must understand.

The Jewish prophet Isaiah seems to agree with Srila Prabhupada when he states (Is.64:6), "All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through." (TEV)

For example, to dance with the wives of others at the dead of night is immoral, at least according to the Vedic civilization. Nonetheless, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita: "There is no conception of worship better than that which was conceived by the damsels of Vrndavana." What was their conception? They wanted to love Krsna, at any risk. And this is never immoral.

"The Butter Thief" by Muralidhara Dasa
"The Lord of the Gopis" by Pariksit Dasa

Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.31,33
na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiḿ hi viṣṇuḿ
durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās
te 'pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ

ity uktvoparataḿ putraḿ
hiraṇyakaśipū ruṣā
andhīkṛtātmā svotsańgān
nirasyata mahī-tale

SYNONYMS

na — not; te — they; viduḥ — know; sva-artha-gatim — the ultimate goal of life, or their own real interest; hi — indeed; viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu and His abode; durāśayāḥ — being ambitious to enjoy this material world; ye — who; bahiḥ — external sense objects; artha-māninaḥ — considering as valuable; andhāḥ — persons who are blind; yathā — just as; andhaiḥ — by other blind men; upanīyamānāḥ — being led; te — they; api — although; īśa-tantryām — to the ropes (laws) of material nature; uru — having very strong; dāmni — cords; baddhāḥ — bound.
iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; uparatam — stopped; putram — the son; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu; ruṣā — with great anger; andhīkṛta-ātmā — made blind to self-realization; sva-utsańgāt — from his lap; nirasyata — threw; mahī-tale — upon the ground.

TRANSLATION

Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Viṣṇu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.

After Prahlada Maharaja had spoken in this way and become silent, Hiraṇyakaśipu, blinded by anger, threw him off his lap and onto the ground.

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.29
viṣvak sphurantaḿ grahaṇāturaḿ harir
vyālo yathākhuḿ kuliśākṣata-tvacam
dvāry ūrum āpatya dadāra līlayā
nakhair yathāhiḿ garuḍo mahā-viṣam

SYNONYMS

viṣvak — all around; sphurantam — moving his limbs; grahaṇa-āturam — afflicted because of being captured; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nṛsiḿhadeva; vyālaḥ — a snake; yathā — just as; ākhum — a mouse; kuliśa-akṣata — not cut even by the thunderbolt thrown by Indra; tvacam — whose skin; dvāri — on the threshold of the door; ūrum — on His thigh; āpatya — placing; dadāra — pierced; līlayā — very easily; nakhaiḥ — with the nails; yathā — just as; ahim — a snake; garuḍaḥ — Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu; mahā-viṣam — very venomous.

TRANSLATION

As a snake captures a mouse or Garuḍa captures a very venomous snake, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva captured Hiraṇyakaśipu, who could not be pierced even by the thunderbolt of King Indra. As Hiraṇyakaśipu moved his limbs here, there and all around, very much afflicted at being captured, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs, and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand.

JOURNAL:

I have never had much attraction to Lord Krishna's incarnation as Lord Nrsimhadeva until I went on the road and realized that I needed protection. The Lord has been kind to me and nothing truly bad has happened on my trips away from my family.
All glories to Lord Nrsimhadeva who kills the demons! May He protect us all!

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - Revising a Classic?

I was very happy when I found an original, 1968, Macmillan edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is. The book is truly a slice of history with its appreciations by Alan Ginsberg, Tomas Merton, and Denise Levertov. This edition is considered "abridged" because the publishing house thought it was a little too long. Srila Prabhupada did the editing himself. You might say it is the "essential" edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is. There is no artwork inside or on the back cover, and the author's name is given as "Swami A.C. Bhaktivendanta".

In 1970, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada published his unabridged edition; also with Macmillan.

On this blog I work mostly with the latest edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is but, every now and then, something sounds a little funny to me and I go and look up the sloka in the 1968 edition. I have seen changes that don't seem to make any difference and I have seen ones that have left me wondering what was wrong with the old version. I don't usually weigh in on this controversy because I believe that Krishna speaks through all of the editions of Srila Prabhupada's classic.

Still, I also believe that an up to date list of the changes that have been made should always be available to the reader. With this in mind - here is a link to the latest article:
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/04-10/editorials6015.htm

Prabhupada Necter - Portland, Oregon - 1972

In June of 1972, I went with the Vancouver devotees to Portland, Oregon to attend a festival with Srila Prabhupada. I was very surprised when he arrived at the temple to see that he was so small, and although apparently old, he seemed like one in the prime of youth -- proud, satisfied, content, joyful. When Srila Prabhupada went to his room, I went to the brahmacari quarters and I met his servants and shaved their heads. I had sent Srila Prabhupada a sketchbook of my cartoons and he had written to say that he enjoyed it and was sending it to BTG for publication. I had worried that my act was inappropriate, but his servants assured me that Srila Prabhupada had looked at it long and often and had laughed heartily over it, so I felt some success in my life.
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The next day on harinama, Visnujana Swami told me a story. I gave him a bottle of Coconut Spiritual Sky oil and he said, "I remember when I was just a 'big hippie.' All I had to offer Srila Prabhupada was two bottles of scented oil like this -- not Spiritual Sky but something else. And I was told that Srila Prabhupada used to keep these oils in a little drawer in his room and he used to go sometime and open the bottles and then put them back. That's how much Srila Prabhupada loves his devotee!"
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When Srila Prabhupada went off to his preaching programs, I stayed back and collected roses door-to-door for his garlands. I showed everyone at their doors a picture of Srila Prabhupada in his book. "See that man -- he's my guru; and you see this garland -- it's my job to get the flowers for these garlands." Surprisingly, everyone became equally excited by these simple words and ambled down the stairs to give me bags and bags of roses and other flowers.

-Radha Damodar dasa