Monday, December 31, 2007

Changed into a woman

In order to give instructions to the fallen conditioned souls who have turned their backs to him, Krishna sometimes plays tricks. A good example is the trick he played on Narada.

Narada is an eternal servant of Krishna and Spiritual Master of Vyasa. He is such a devoted soul that he facilitates Krishna Leela through out the course of eternal time. By studying the activities of Narada you will find that he also has a bag of amazing tricks.

Once upon a time Narada went to visit Krishna, so he decided to take bath before entering the palace gates. Narada was standing in the water and to his surprise he had been changed into a woman. Amazed, he touched his long hair, his breasts, his body. He still remembered that he was Narada, the great, wise servant of God. But the longer he remained in the water, the fainter grew his memory. He became Naradi, the young woman. A young man walked along the shore. She took his hand. He led her to his home. She lived with him and bore innumerable children. Her beauty vanished. The children cried and clamoured. All the troubles of life enveloped her. She became ill, became old. She cried to God. Just then she became Narada again, the wise servant of God. Krishna stood before Narada smiling . Narada had seemingly dived into the waters of Maya, in order to show her delusive power, through which all beings are misled.

This story about Narada, who was changed into Naradi, is told commonly in India, and is very much liked. A movie has even been made of the story, and it has run a long time at a great many cinemas in the far-stretching country. The greatest film successes in India, strangely enough, used to be the ones with God's pastimes in the center.

whatever

"In the mundane plane, whatever bad or good will come to us will come according to our karma. We will not involve our Master and Lord with that."

- Srila Govinda Maharaj

Sunday, December 30, 2007

A person of little calibre

One should see the magnanimous position of a pure devotee and thus be inspired to develop spiritual attachment for Krishna. The position of Lord Krishna's servant is never to be viewed deprecatingly; Lord Krishna, the Supreme Godhead never accepts as His servant a person of little spiritual calibre. After having performed his prescribed duties for many millions of life times, leading a pious life of non violence and humility, and praying constantly and sincerely to the Supreme Lord a person is awarded the opportunity at his time of death.

One should offer Seva to him and hear the chanting of Lord Narayana's Holy name. This will certainly afford him liberation from all material bondage, only then can he be blessed to become a servant of Lord Krishna.

All the commentators of Bhagavatm have clearly indicated that the liberated souls can render full devotional service to the Supreme Lord, the performer of transcendental pastimes. Therefore the devotees position is almost equal to the Lord Himself, and the Lord always sees His devotees in a more exalted position that Himself even.

There are innumerable elogies that have been compiled since time immemorial about the divine excellence's of the pure devotees and still they are inadequate to describe them perfectly. Lord Siva, and Lord Brahma are very happy to be called Lord Krishna's servants, and Ananta Sesha is always hankering to serve Him. Although the pure devotees are almost equal to the Lord Himself, yet they are constantly wanting to serve Him in loving attachment. - BVNM

Friday, December 28, 2007

Back in the day ------- 3100 B.C

The roads, streets and lanes of Hastinapura were all sprinkled with fragrant water through the trunks of intoxicated elephants. In different places of the city there were colorful festoons and flags decorating the houses and streets. At important road crossings there were gates with golden decorations, and at the two sides of the gates there were golden water jugs. These beautiful decorations glorified the opulence of the city.

Participating in this great ceremony, all the citizens of the city gathered here and there, dressed in colorful new clothing, decorated with ornaments, flower garlands, and fragrant scents. Each and every house was illuminated by hundreds and thousands of lamps placed in different corners of the, walls, columns, bases and archways, and from far away the rays of the lamps resembled the festival of Dipavali (a particular festival observed on the New Year's Day of the Hindu calendar). Within the walls of the houses, fragrant incense was burning, and smoke rose through the windows, making the entire atmosphere very pleasing. On the top of every house flags were flapping, and the gold water pots kept on the roofs shone very brilliantly.

Krishna Book - acbsp

Sri Guru's Merciful Hand

Sri Guru is not exclusively the same as the Supreme Lord Himself, but he fully represents the essence of the whole normal potency, and embodies the most comprehensive and excellent service and favor of the Lord. As he is the fittest servitor of the Lord, he is empowered by the Lord to reinstate all misguided souls to their best interest. So, Guru is the Divine Messenger of immortal hope and joy in this mortal and miserable world. His advent is the most auspicious and happy event to the suffering animation, and can be compared to the rising of the morning star that can guide the traveller lost in the desert. A gentle touch of Sri Guru's merciful hand can wipe off the incessant tears from all weeping eyes. A patriot or philanthropist makes the problem only worse in his frantic and futile attempt to alleviate the deep rooted pain of a suffering soul, as an ignorant doctor does in eagerly handling an unfortunate patient. O the day when this poor soul realizes the causeless grace of Sri Gurudev.

B.R. Sridhar Maharaj

Big saddle and no horse.

To merely copy the outer form rather than understanding the inner substance is what is meant by imitation. We should always seek the inner substance because the material form by nature is constantly changing. If we judge something merely on the outer form presented to us, we are sure to be deceived sooner or later.

Examples;

  • It looks like apple pie but does it taste like one ?
  • If they are dressed like warriors, then why do they act like little girls ?
  • He looks like a scholar but behaves like a dog.
  • He's got the car but can't drive.
  • Why do they have the position when they can't do the job ?
  • It's a copy of a copy not an original.
  • Big gun no bullets.
  • They Graduated but cheated on the exams.
  • They were appointed by rouges and thieves to guard the Gold.
  • Big saddle and no horse.
  • Lofty words with no loft.
The point is we should look deep within ourselves and not be cheated by imitation.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

The essence

A learned man takes the essence of knowledge from all places, just as a bumble bee collects honey from each and every flower. (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.18.2)

a piece of pie

The Jivas (individual living entities - spirit souls) are described as tiny bits of Internal energy. The material energy and the spiritual energy are considered to be the same thing. They are given different designations depending on the situation. For example, food. Once a piece of pie is offered to the Lord it becomes spiritualised and is no longer considered to be comprised of material energy. The substance it is made out of is the same either way. The difference is in it's function or designation. Matter and spirit in Gaudiya siddhanta is relative to the conception of the conscious entity. Atomic particles, molecules, the elements, etc, are only material in the sense of our perception of them.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Faith Is Our Real Wealth

Why does our consciousness come down and cannot have a higher conception of higher spiritual existence, but our attention is drawn to some material thing? We think some medicine, or some intoxication can help us. When I cannot raise my consciousness to the fine and higher conscious substance, then we come to seek help in the material world. "These substances will help me." It is suicidal.

We cannot manage to have a connection directly with the higher conscious substance then we come to seek some means in the lower. "With the help of that I will make advancement towards the finer consciousness. The matter will help me to understand, to acquire consciousness." We are thus faithless in the agents of that Absolute Truth, the Vaisnavas. It is due to vaishnava-aparadha, losing faith in the conscious agents of the Supreme, that we go to the material substance, "Help me!" I lose faith in the spiritual agency and the long and the short is this -- we seek shelter in a material thing and we lose our faith in the higher agency. We can't see their Grace.

So, that is the underlying position of an intoxication monger. No faith in the higher agent, that which is spiritual which is soul in character, but more aspiration to get help from the lower substance.

The scientific conception is also like that, degrading. Degrading, losing faith in the spiritual efficacy, their grace or their position, we come below standard. No faith. We cannot put faith in the devotee, the scripture, or the acharya. Disappointed we go to seek help from some atom of matter, "That will give me everything."
abhyarthitas tada tasmai stanani kalaye dadaudhyutam panam striyah suna yatradharmas catur vidhahpunas ca yacamanaya jata-rupam adat prabhuhtato 'nrtam madam kamam rajo vairam ca pancamam

Charm for the material world, dhyutam to get money very cheaply, not in the ordinary constitutional way, but by a cheating process, this is dhyutam. Panam is also like that intoxication. That is earned by black marketing, panam. The energy I can collect in an ordinary sense, I am not satisfied with that but in some black way I want to amass some energy by panam. This is the meaning of Panam. I want to get energy by unfair means. Striyah, that is raso vai sah. He is the center of all ecstasy, but we go to collect that experience of ecstasy in a very cheap way from material things. Suna is also a cheap way to develop the body. The flesh, mamsa, can be more easily utilized for the flesh in me that other vegetables.

So it is all very easy, not in a regular and proper way to preserve oneself, but in a cheap way, by cheating, we want to aggrandize ourselves.

Gold is such a substance that if one can get control over gold, he can have control over all material prosperity, the dollar, the pound, the rupee, rice, everything. If I can possess gold, I can easily get everything. This is cheating. With a small thing like gold, jata-rupam I can control the entire food chain. I can control all the necessities of the human beings. Cheap marketing, not a regular life, but in a cheating process. By these five cheating processes we can become great, so they must be given up. We must be plain, simple and truthful and live here as a bona-fide and sincere member, where we are. You are put in the jail don't try any other black things to help yourself, but sincerely give your labour as it is ruled and you will be free very soon.

When you are a criminal be a good criminal then you will be able to acquire freedom. Already you are a criminal and in the prison you are cheating others. So, lead a simple life. Do not incur any further debt, but try to pay the debt you have already incurred. With this process you will be free very soon. Not by any artificial process, but if you adopt a sincere and simple process not by diplomacy or any other thing. Simply, "I am the greatest criminal. Oh my Lord, please forgive me. Take me out. Please be gracious over me." This is the way to adopt, not any artificial means.

It is only our love for artificial things that has brought us here. In the highest ideal there is no place for diplomacy, cheating or any of these things. This is the fashion of this mayic world of misconception. To acquire anything too easily means to deceive others, but you cannot deceive God. Simply go to Him and pray that, "I am a culprit. I am so and so. Forgive me and accept me." This is a plain, simple way. Your knowledge also cannot help you, it is jnana-sunya-bhakti, pure surrender, wholesale surrender. Don't use any reason there. Don't go to plead for your own cause. Complete surrender. Don't plead in favour of yourself, rather if you have to plead, plead to the Lord that you are the most heinous. That will be more effective. This is the way. Love Divine.

It is against the conception of the ontology of love that a particular material atom may give love, prema, heart's feelings. The heart can be purchased by a chemical, by using medicine I can get God?" Use this medicine and God will come to please and serve you. I am super-super God and I am giving this medicine." Never! The simple way is 'love for love.' Give yourself and you will get Him. It is simple and pure.

Surrender to the High and the High will come down to welcome you.sarva-dharman parityaja mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma suca

How comprehensive, reasonable and natural this is. "Give up everything, all engagements, and come to Me freely. I am ready to accept you anytime, at any moment. Accept that all obligation to any other thing is stopped and come to Me. I shall welcome and embrace you. All obligations are stopped. Whatsoever obligations you incur or think to possess in this world are discontinued. Only My obligation remains. Your obligation to Me is absolute and these others are all relative and temporary. They are artificial and concocted. Your obligation to Me is wholesale, pure and clear. Try to realize that."

- B.R. Sridhar Maharaj

Provided they are Pure Devotees, its OK

Multipal Gurus

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura received harinama and Kurma mantra from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Later he received mantra diksa from Srila Gaura-kisora Das Babaji Maharaja.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura received diksa from Sri Vipina Bihari Gosvami. Shortly afterwards he took full shelter of Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji Maharaja as his siksa-guru.

Narottama Das Thakura received initiation from Lokanath Das Gosvami yet he studied all the Gosvami literatures under the guidance of his siksa guru, Srila Jiva Gosvami.

Raghunath Das Gosvami received initiation from Sri Yadunandana Acarya. Shortly afterwards he accepted Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami as his siksa guru. When Sri Svarupa Damodara disappeared he took shelter of Sri Gadadhara Pandita. When Gadadhara Pandit disappeared he accepted Sri Sanatana Gosvami and finally Sri Rupa Gosvami as his siksa gurus.


Srinivas Acarya accepted the shelter of Sri Gadadhara Pandit as his siksa-guru. Later he received diksa from Sri Gopal Bhatta Gosvami. Finally he became the siksa disciple of Sri Jiva Gosvami.

In fact when we study the lives of every genuine acarya, we find that they had several gurus. Therefore in the introduction to Bhagavad Gita As It Is, AC Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaj quotes the verse "vande'ham sri guroh ("guroh" is singular, meaning diksa guru) (sri yuta pada kamalam sri gurun "gurun'' is plural indicating several siksa gurus) vaisnavams ca." Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaj himself received harinama and diksa from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, yet he claimed that Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja was his siksa-guru, as is evident from Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaj's own words.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Knowledge versus Wealth


It is related that once ten learned men approached a sadhu, and wanted to know how knowledge was better than wealth. They requested that each one of them be given a separate answer. The Sadhu answered them as follows:

1. Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets; wealth is the inheritance of the Pharaohs. As the Prophets are superior to the Pharaohs, so knowledge is better than wealth.

2. You have to guard your wealth, but knowledge guards you. Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth.

3. When knowledge is distributed it increases. When wealth is distributed it decreases. As such knowledge is better than wealth.

4. A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has many friends. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

5. A learned man because of his wider outlook is apt to be generous while a rich man because of his love for money is apt to be miserly. As such knowledge is better than wealth.

6. Knowledge cannot be stolen, while wealth is constantly exposed to the danger of being stolen. Accordingly knowledge is better than wealth.

7. With the lapse of time, knowledge gains in depth and dimensions. Hoarded coins get rusty, or cease to be legal tender. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

8. You can keep account of wealth because it is limited, but you cannot keep account of knowledge because it is boundless. That is why knowledge is better than wealth.

9. Knowledge illuminates the mind, while wealth is apt to blacken it. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.

10. Knowledge is better than wealth, because knowledge induced humanity to say to God ;We worship Thee as we are your servants, while wealth engendered in Pharaoh and Nimrod the vanity which made them claim to be Godhead.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007


Our father
(The Cause of All Causes)

Who resides in heaven
(Vaikuntha - The Spiritual Atmosphere)

Holy be thy Name
(God has hundreds and thousands of names like Krishna - Govinda etc. All names of god have transcendental potency. God and his name are non different.)

Thy Kingdom come
(Dvaraka)

Thy will be done on earth
(Gokula )

As it is in Heaven
(Goloka )

Give us this day our daily bread
(Prasadam-Lords Mercy)

And forgive us our trespasses
(Our offenses - Apa-Radha)

As we forgive those who trespass against us
(We should practice humility and forgiveness)

And lead us not into temptation
(Maya-Illusion-Ignorance)

And deliver us from evil
(Bad Karmic reactions, Birth, Death, Disease, Samsara)

AMEN
(AUM-OM, Om-Tat-Sat - Eternity Bliss and Knowledge.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Avatars of Vishnu




These ten Avatars come at key points in time to restore Dharma (Divine Law), protect the pious and destroy the demonic forces that inevitably become manifest, even after they have been defeated. Each Avatar completes the work of the previous one, and engages in their own specific pastimes. Thus, there is an ongoing continuity among all the Avatars of Vishnu.

Note: During Rama’s last days, just before His pastimes in this world were completed and He was about to go to Ayodhya, His spiritual abode, many associates came and told Him, “We all want to go with You and always be with You.” Rama replied, “In this incarnation I can only accept one Sita. Only one Sita will remain with Me. You are now so many. Go to Vrndavana and take birth from the wombs of gopis. I will manage everything there. I will fulfill all your desires.” So Krsna also came for this reason as well.

When any major period in the development of humanity comes to and end, the new form is prepared and the old form, as well as its civilization, is destroyed through flood, fire or both. Then there is a brief (geologically speaking) period of rest, and the new forms are brought forth and new civilizations again come into being.

Mother earth restores her health (resources and strength) during this rest period.

This is the background for understanding the Avatars of Vishnu as they appear, one by one, over long periods of time.

Everyone loves Krishna
and
Krishna loves Everyone

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Brahma's Meditation

"There exists a divine lotus of a thousand petals, augmented by millions of filaments, in the transcendental land of Goloka. On its whorl, there exists a great divine throne on which is seated Sri Krsna, the form of eternal effulgence of transcendental bliss, playing on His divine flute resonant with the divine sound, with His lotus mouth. He is worshiped by His amorous milkmaids with their respective subjective portions and extensions and also by His external energy [who stays outside] embodying all mundane qualities."

Sri Brahma Samhita Ch -5

Saturday, December 15, 2007

transmitted through amniotic fluid

Veggie Eating Begins in Womb

Dec 7, LONDON, ENGLAND (CHRONICLE HERALD) — Being raised vegetarian starts before birth.

Women can give their children a lifelong taste for healthy foods simply by eating them during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, researchers have found. "Flavors from the mother's diet are transmitted through amniotic fluid and mother's milk. A baby learns to like a food's taste when the mother eats that food on a regular basis," said Julie Mennella of Monell Chemical Senses Center, a research institute in Philadelphia.

The technique can work for a variety of vegetables. In one experiment, Mennella gave carrot juice to a group of pregnant women and to a separate group of breastfeeding women. Their babies were subsequently far keener on carrots than those born to women who had not been given carrot juice. A similar experiment with fruit showed that babies whose mothers ate raw peaches while breastfeeding were far more willing to accept them in their own food.

Making Theories

As for the difference between mental speculation and philosophical speculation, we take it that everything is known by the psychological action of the mind, so that philosophical speculation is the same as mental speculation if it is merely the random or haphazard activity of the brain to understand everything and making theories, "if's" and "maybe's." But if philosophical speculation is directed by Sastra and Guru, and if the goal of such philosophical attempts is to achieve Visnu, then that philosophical speculation is not mental speculation.

It is just like this: Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita that "I am the taste of water." Philosophical speculation in the accepted sense then means to try to understand, under the direction of Sastra and Guru, just how Krishna is the taste of water. The points of Bhagavad-gita, though they are simple and complete, can be understood from unlimited angles of vision. So our philosophy is not dry, like mental speculation.

The proper function of the brain or psychological activity is to understand everything through Krishna's perspective or point-of-view, and so there is no limit to that understanding because Krishna is unlimited, and even though it can be said that the devotee who knows Krishna, he knows everything (15th Chapter), still, the philosophical process never stops and the devotee continues to increase his knowledge even though he knows everything. Try to understand this point, it is a very good question. - acbsm

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Become Situated

Everyone is under the impression that he is of this material world, and with this concept of life, everyone is working in ignorance in different forms of life. The activities of the particular type of body are called karma, or fruitive action. All conditioned souls under the impression of the bodily concept are working according to their particular types of body. These activities are creating their future conditional life. Because they have very little information of the spiritual world, they do not generally take to spiritual activities, which are called bhakti-yoga. Those who successfully practice bhakti-yoga, after giving up this present body, go directly to the spiritual world and become situated in one of the Vaikuntha planets. The inhabitants of Vrndavana are all pure devotees. Their destination after quitting the body is Krsnaloka. They even surpass the Vaikunthalokas. The fact is, those who are always engaged in Krsna consciousness and mature, pure devotional service are given the chance, after death, to gain Krsna's association in the universes within the material world. Krsna's pastimes are continually going on, either in this universe or in another universe. Just as the sun globe is passing through many places across this earthly planet, so Krsna-lila, or the transcendental advent and pastimes of Krsna, are also going on continually, either in this or another universe. The mature devotees, who have completely executed Krsna consciousness, are immediately transferred to the universe where Krsna is appearing. In that universe the devotees get their first opportunity to associate with Krsna personally and directly. The training goes on, as we see in the Vrndavana lila of Krsna within this planet. Krsna therefore revealed the actual feature of the Vaikuntha planets so that the inhabitants of Vrndavana could know their destination.

Krishna Book Ch-28 (Releasing Nanda Maharaja from the Clutches of Varuna) - AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj

Monday, December 10, 2007

lend me your ears

The keystone of success in devotion is to perfectly hear the holy words spoken by one’s spiritual preceptor. Srila Prabhupada would often say, “All that is required of you is that you lend me your ears.”
- Promode Puri Goswami

Sunday, December 9, 2007

without feeling ashamed

In 1950 a disciple (Sadananda Swami) of Bhaktisiddhanta said:

"What Prabhupad (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur) pointed at, but could not change, was the fact that the official Caitanya movement actually has nothing to do with Caitanya, and that a true follower of Caitanya is something else than a sentimental, muddled and immoral person, and that a true follower of Mahaprabhu should be able to profess himself as such, without feeling ashamed of himself and without fear that he will be put in the same category as those who wrap the mantle of the learned, the bhakta and the cult over their own social, intellectual, spiritual and moral inferiority, and as those who in the name of Mahaprabhu and His cult justify themselves while dealing with more or less obscure activities".
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami said in Montreal : " His Holiness Swami Sadananda, my German god-brother may come to see you. When he comes offer your respect by bowing down as you do unto me". He also mentioned in a letter around 1970; "I am very glad to know that His Grace Sadananda Swami has written that he plans to visit the temple this Fall. When he visits kindly give him good reception and obeisances. He is my old friend and Godbrother. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much respectful to the Godbrother of His Spiritual Master.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Get Your Own

All great sages, saints, prophets, world - teachers, avatars, powerful men, have had their own Gurus, however great they may have been. Svetaketu learnt the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreya from Yajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from Yama, Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to wise ones, observed strict Brahmacharya, practised rigorous discipline, and learnt Brahma-vidya (the science of god realization) from them.

Lord Krishna set the standard by sitting at the feet of His Guru Sandipani muni. Lord Rama had Guru Vasistha who gave Him Upadesha ( the highest knowledge ). Lord Jesus sought John to be baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan. Even Devas (celestial beings) have Brihaspati as their Guru. Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti (Lord Shiva).

A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj has said : "One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee". Gita 13.26 purport

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Old News - a catastrophic blast


ANCIENT CITY FOUND, RADIATED FROM ATOMIC BLAST

Radiation still so intense, the area is highly dangerous. A heavy layer of radioactive ash in Rajasthan, India, covers a three-square mile area, ten miles west of Jodhpur. Scientists are investigating the site, where a housing development was being built.

For some time it has been established that there is a very high rate of birth defects and cancer in the area under construction. The levels of radiation there have registered so high on investigators' gauges that the Indian government has now cordoned off the region. Scientists have unearthed an ancient city where evidence shows an atomic blast dating back thousands of years, from 8,000 to 12,000 years, destroyed most of the buildings and probably a half-million people. One researcher estimates that the nuclear bomb used was about the size of the ones dropped on Japan in 1945.

The Mahabharata clearly describes a catastrophic blast that rocked the continent. "A single projectile charged with all the power in the Universe...An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as 10,000 suns, rose in all its splendor...it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death which reduced to ashes an entire race.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati bestows his mercy to everyone

The lotus flowers of Lord Caitanya's eyes were covered with the flowing drops of honey that were His tears. The hairs of His body stood up and He trembled in ecstasy. In a voice choked with bliss He called out: Hari! Hari!

I pray that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Saci-devi, may give you all a great festival of the nectar of the transcendental bliss of pure love for Krsna.

Forked-tongued snakes may attempt to kill these very beautiful, auspicious songs with the virulent poison of criticizing their meaning or style. However, when these nectarine prayers, filled with love for the divine couple, are dipped deep into the nectar ocean of Radharani's pastimes, they will at once become restored to life.

I pray that the devotees expert at relishing transcendental mellows may decorate their thoughts with the literary graces of these songs. I pray that they may lovingly place my beautiful songs in their thoughts and minds

After composing this poem, I have offered it to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. I pray that in Their hearts they may be pleased with me, and someday allow me to directly see a little of their confidential pastimes.

The Nectarine Prayers are HERE.

Note: Please see beyond the lack of good editing, I will get to it soon. After reading these poems I felt so excited that I wanted to share them with you immediately. - AJD

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Water The Root

“By giving water to the root of a tree one satisfies its branches, twigs and leaves, and by supplying food to the stomach one satisfies all the senses of the body. Similarly, by engaging in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord one automatically satisfies all the demigods and all other living entities.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.31.14)


In ancient days everyone worshipped God. Everyone tried to satisfy Him by their actions. But nowadays everyone thinks: "It is unnecessary to serve God. Instead serving of God, we should worship and satisfy the depressed and the poor." We are now pursuing such thought, but Krsna says: "If you love Me, everyone will be served." This is the teaching of sastra

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Katyayani Vrata Nov 25--Dec 24

It is a custom and vow among the unmarried cowherd girls to worship goddess Katyayani (Durga) on the banks of Yamuna after bathing in the river. Each one beseeches Durga that she gets Krishna as her husband. While they are bathing in the River, Krishna steals their garments and stays perched on the Kadamba tree with beautiful yellow blossoms on the bank. When they find out that their clothes were stolen, they ask him to give them back their clothes. Krishna points to them that they committed an infraction against the Devatas by bathing in the river naked. To atone their sins, they have to come out and get their clothes from him, which they do. He promises them that he would be the husband for each one of them.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

One gopi said: ‘When I think of Krishna, I see His beautiful face and His lips touching the flute. I see His eyes bent lovingly on His friends and the cows and trees.’

Friday, November 23, 2007

The Power of Meditation

A grass worm confined in a hole of a wall by a bee always thinks of that bee in fear and enmity and later becomes a bee simply because of such remembrance.

With that in mind consider what krsna has to say to Arjuna:

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time continue your prescribed duty. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” (Bg. 8.7)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Modes ................ BG 14 . 15

Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent, defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.
PURPORT
By AC Bhaktivedanta Swami

When the mode of passion is prominent, the modes of goodness and ignorance are defeated. When the mode of goodness is prominent, passion and ignorance are defeated. And when the mode of ignorance is prominent, passion and goodness are defeated. This competition is always going on. Therefore, one who is actually intent on advancing in krsna consciousness has to transcend these three modes. The prominence of some certain mode of nature is manifested in one’s dealings, in his activities, in eating, etc. All this will be explained in later chapters. But if one wants, he can develop, by practice, the mode of goodness and thus defeat the modes of ignorance and passion. One can similarly develop the mode of passion and defeat goodness and ignorance. Or one can develop the mode of ignorance and defeat goodness and passion. Although there are these three modes of material nature, if one is determined he can be blessed by the mode of goodness, and by transcending the mode of goodness he can be situated in pure goodness, which is called the vasudeva state, a state in which one can understand the science of God. By the manifestation of particular activities, it can be understood in what mode of nature one is situated.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Karma Defined

Material nature itself is constituted by three qualities: the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes there is eternal time, and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control and purview of eternal time there are activities, which are called karma. These activities are being carried out from time immemorial, and we are suffering or enjoying the fruits of our activities. For instance, suppose I am a businessman and have worked very hard with intelligence and have amassed a great bank balance. Then I am an enjoyer. But then say I have lost all my money in business; then I am a sufferer. Similarly, in every field of life we enjoy the results of our work, or we suffer the results. This is called karma.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Duty of Destruction

When Lord Brahma completes the one hundred celestial years of his life, Lord Siva again performs this duty of destruction. At that time all the spirit souls enter into the body of Karanodakasayi Visnu or Maha Visnu. At the end of each day of Lord Brahma, all souls enter Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the end of Brahma’s life, even the millions of manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu enter Karanodakasayi Visnu along with the spirit souls. At the time of creation, Karanodakasayi Visnu generates innumerable manifestations of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, and at the time of complete annihilation, they enter back into his body.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

krishna wants only loving service and nothing more.

Krishna accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

One person

"If we can induce even one person to understand that our real home is in the spiritual world, if we can convince this philosophy to even a single person, that is the success of our missionary activities."

AC Bhaktivedanta Swami

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Thousands of Explanations

Krishna to Arjuna quoting the book of Yajna: "Brahma said: Well, I shall now tell you something more. With even a thousand (explanations), one that has mixed desires succeeds not in acquiring knowledge. One, however, that is resolute with pure intelligence succeeds in attaining happiness, through only a fourth share (of explanations)."

Note: Persons who hear from anybody and everybody will surely get bewildered, the teachings of the sages will remain ambiguous and abstract, however if the same persons hear from proper authorities ( parampara - the bonified spiritual master ) they will easily understand and can apply their teaching in everyday life.


ACBSP used to always say: "Just chant the holy name and be happy." - AJD

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Srimati Radharani's Kunda Appears


After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked Him, stating He was impure because of committing the sin of killing a bull, the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract this sin He should bathe in all the sacred rivers.

Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with Srimati Radharani, immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making a large hole, and called all the sacred rivers to enter into it.
Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with Srimati Radharani, immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making a large hole, and called all the sacred rivers to enter into it. They appeared before Him and formed Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama--one who is the color of a dark rain cloud).

After bathing, Krishna stated that He had become pure by bathing in Syama-kunda, but that the gopis had become impure, having sided with a demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull. Radharani, along with some of Her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole with the broken pieces. But there was no water - so Krishna laughed. The gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole with water that was passed from one gopi to another. At that time, all the sacred rivers again arrived in person and requested permission to enter into Radharani's kunda, which they did after receiving Radharani's blessing.

Links: Viswanath's 20 verses describing the holy appearance of Radha Kund.

http://www.dharmakshetra.com/articles3/The%20appearance%20Sri%20Radha%20Kunda.html

Another Radha Kund Link:

http://www.dharmakshetra.com/holy%20land/govardhana.html#Radha%20Kund

Sunday, October 28, 2007

The goddess of fortune does not leave Me.

Laxshmi (The goddess of fortune)

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.7--- The Lord continued: Because I am the servitor of My devotees, My lotus feet have become so sacred that they immediately wipe out all sin, and I have acquired such a disposition that the goddess of fortune does not leave Me, even though I have no attachment for her and others praise her beauty and observe sacred vows to secure from her even a slight favor.

Commentary by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj---The relationship between the Lord and His devotee is transcendentally beautiful. As the devotee thinks that it is due to being a devotee of the Lord that he is elevated in all good qualities, so the Lord also thinks that it is because of His devotion to the servitor that all His transcendental glories have increased. In other words, as the devotee is always anxious to render service to the Lord, so the Lord is ever anxious to render service to the devotee. The Lord admits herein that although He certainly has the quality that anyone who receives a slight particle of the dust of His lotus feet becomes at once a great personality, this greatness is due to His affection for His devotee. It is because of this affection that the goddess of fortune does not leave Him and that not only one but many thousands of goddesses of fortune engage in His service. In the material world, simply to get a little favor from the goddess of fortune, people observe many rigid regulations of austerity and penance. The Lord cannot tolerate any inconvenience on the part of the devotee. He is therefore famous as bhakta-vatsala.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Their Souls Froze


Sri Ram and Lakshmana have now departed the monkey kingdom . Their journey takes them to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, across an earthy bridge of grass and wood, constructed with the aid of animals. There, they engage in epic battles with the potent forces of the demon king Ravana in order to rescue Sita.

Unable to countenance the repeated defeats of his armies, Ravana himself decides to face Rama in combat... ...Drums thundered in the heavens and war-songs rained upon the earth. Even then magnanimous Rama tried to save Ravana and afforded him every chance to repent. At last, he put Ravana's remaining men to the sword. The demon king rose from his lookout, a high turret straddling the castle's golden spires and piercing the majestic Sri Lankan ether. He stared into the night sky, his eyes commanding a divine audience.

The gods approached his gaze, slowly. Ravana, who fears neither death nor dharma, mocked their holy names and flouted the fears of these dithering divinities. Ravana looked out across the battle-stained field of blood. He then listed to his right, swinging his heads, ten and mighty, toward the ground. Just as his ear grazed the stone floor, he threw his body upward, arms flailing, as if to take flight. He stopped short of leaping, his foot yet upon the tower top. He was preparing for war. The lowering clouds blackened with every breath of his lungs and lowered with every dip of his ten heads. Every footfall of his war dance was a peal of thunder; every strident cry of his song was a bolt of lightning. The very sound frightened monkeys and men alike. Rama's heart pined at the very sight. Then with three claps of his twenty hands and stomps of his demon feet, all was silence. The air was static, as when it anticipates an ambuscade of lightning. The hair of all the creatures bristled and their souls froze in fear of the near future.Ravana rushed down from the turret with the speed of the wind and the force of a great wave. Rama met the charge head on, with Matali, driver of Indra, blowing the conch and directing the chariot. The clash of the two warriors stopped time, confusing the seasons and the stars alike. In that moment rocks floated in the streams and the sun rose in the west. Birds swam and the fish flew. The land was moist and sea was arid. The battle lasted only a few moments on the ground. Arrows and the battle continued in the air, warfare became divine. Ravana used Maya, illusion itself, to outwit noble Rama. But, Rama countered with Gnana, divine perception. Ravana sent snakes, Rama eagles. Rama lopped off Ravana's demon heads like figs from the banyan. The heads fell to the earth, cursing Rama and bleeding from the necks.

Finally, Rama ended the life of the demon king. Evoking the Brahmastra, a divine weapon of last resort, Rama aimed for the vulnerable heart of Ravana and sealed his ineluctable fate.Ravana fell from heaven, dead and decapitated. Rama approached the corpse, hesitating lest the demon surprise him and deliver a death-blow. Surprise was not lacking. Though Ravana was indeed dead, his blood stanched within his veins, light shone from his remaining faces. Ravana showed no signs of agony, only of serenity. He appeared not as one slaughtered but rather as one saved.

Note: By destroying the demon king Ravana, Rama does more than just deliver his animal friends and his beloved Sita. He delivers his enemy as well. Although Ravana is indeed the antagonist of the story, he possesses noble qualities that redeem him in the end. His devotion to Rama, almost a fixation, is just as faithful as that of any other character in the Ramayana. This piety is reflected in his serenity after death. His faces were cleansed of their outer dross and so showed the light of one saved. As in the case of Vali, Ravana's only hope of deliverance lay in his own death, affected by Lord Vishnu in the guise of noble Rama.



From the epic - Ramayan

Friday, October 19, 2007

a pure alloy

"Our Guru Maharaj could never accept anything but pure Vaisnavism. Many compromises have been seen in so-called Vaisnavism, but Guru Maharaj would never mix such 'alloys.' His talks were always completely straightforward, in the line of the pure, unalloyed devotion that was distributed in the world by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."
- Srila Govinda Maharaj

The cause of this great sin

"Do not blame yourself, son, for Karna's death," said Kunti. "His father, the Sungod himself, pleaded with him. He begged him to give up the wicked-hearted Duryodhana and join you. I also tried to convince him. But he would not listen. He brought his end unto himself."

Her eldest living son Maharaj Yudhisthira said: "you deceived us, mother. By hiding the secret of his birth from us. You became thus the cause of this great sin. May women never be able to keep a secret henceforth."

This is Vyasa's story of how Yudhisthira cursed all women in his anguish over having killed his elder brother.

Mahabharata-Yudhisthira's anguish.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Contents of the Gita Summarized


Bhagavad-Gita
(as-it-is)
Chapter 2

Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna full of compassion and very sorrowful, his eyes brimming with tears, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words.

The Supreme Person [Bhagavan] said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the progressive values of life. They do not lead to higher planets, but to infamy.

O son of Prtha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.

Arjuna said: O killer of Madhu [Krsna], how can I counter attack with arrows in battle men like Bhisma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship? It is better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my teachers. Even though they are avaricious, they are nonetheless superiors. If they are killed, our spoils will be tainted with blood. Nor do we know which is better--conquering them or being conquered by them. The sons of Dhrtarastra, whom if we kill we should not care to live, are now standing before us on this battlefield. Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me. I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses. I will not be able to destroy it even if I win an unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven.

Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna, chastiser of enemies, told Krsna, "Govinda, I shall not fight," and fell silent.

O descendant of Bharata, at that time Krsna, smiling, in the midst of both the armies, spoke the following words to the grief-stricken Arjuna.

The Blessed Lord said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead.

Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be. As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.

O son of Kunti, the non permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation. Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both. Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul. Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata. He who thinks that the living entity is the slayer or that he is slain, does not understand. One who is in knowledge knows that the self slays not nor is slain.

For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. O Partha, how can a person who knows that the soul is indestructible, unborn, eternal and immutable, kill anyone or cause anyone to kill?

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones. The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body. If, however, you think that the soul is perpetually born and always dies, still you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed. For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament. All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when they are annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation? Some look at the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all. O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.

Considering your specific duty as a ksatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation. O Partha, happy are the ksatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets. If, however, you do not fight this religious war, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter. People will always speak of your infamy, and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death.

The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you a coward. Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you? O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore get up and fight with determination.

Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat--and, by so doing, you shall never incur sin. Thus far I have declared to you the analytical knowledge of sankhya philosophy. Now listen to the knowledge of yoga whereby one works without fruitive result. O son of Prtha, when you act by such intelligence, you can free yourself from the bondage of works.

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear. Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched. Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.

In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination of devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place. The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the Self. All purposes that are served by the small pond can at once be served by the great reservoirs of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them. You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.

O Dhananjaya, rid yourself of all fruitive activities by devotional service, and surrender fully to that consciousness. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers. A man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, O Arjuna, which is the art of all work. The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord, and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.

When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard. When your mind is no longer disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas, and when it remains fixed in the trance of self-realization, then you will have attained the divine consciousness. Arjuna said: What are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in Transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of sense desire which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness. One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. He who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge. One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in knowledge. The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness. The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them. One who restrains his senses and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence. While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool. One who can control his senses by practicing the regulated principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord and thus become free from all attachment and aversion.

For one who is so situated in the Divine consciousness, the threefold miseries of material existence exist no longer; in such a happy state, one's intelligence soon becomes steady. One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?

As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence. Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.

What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage. A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires--that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still--can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires. A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego--he alone can attain real peace.

That is the way of the spiritual and godly life, after attaining which a man is not bewildered. Being so situated, even at the hour of death, one can enter into the kingdom of God.

End of Chapter 2
Translated from original sanskrit by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

A bad workman quarrels with his own tools

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev Goswami gives an idea how to accept what comes our way .

My karma has come to face me, to surround me, and I can’t avoid that. It is a result of my own karma, it came from within me. I must not quarrel. I must do the proper thing in dealing with that. We have to scrutinize what we thought we understood more accurately, and find out within , where am I? What is my real need? And how much is my hankering for the real thing(exclusive devotional service). All these things will be expressed. So, this is the real field of sadhana.

My sadhana, my advancement needs all these difficulties. Otherwise, we may not know what is progress.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Gauranga Potatoes

Sriman Vrndavan Das Thakur's has mentioned in his Sri Caitanya Bhagavat that: " when Sri Chaitanya (Lord Gauranga) is taking Jagannath Mahaprasad it seems that the dazzling effulgence from his body has made Lord Jagannatha also appear golden." So the color of these golden potatoes (gauranga potatoes) easily remind one of the lord and his wonderful pastimes.

Ingredients

3 potatoes (sliced or diced)
1 tbs ghee or oil
pinch of asfoetida

pinch of rosemary or oregano
pinch of pepper
pinch of turmeric
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 tbs ghee or unsalted butter
2 tbs water
salt to taste
75g hard cheese grated
1 tbs fresh parsley (chopped)


Instructions

1) Slice the potatoes and boil them for about 10 Minutes in water. Drain and put them in a
large bowl.

2) Heat the ghee or oil over a moderate flame and then add the asfoetida, saute for a few
seconds until they crackle.

3) Add the rosemary, pepper and turmeric and stir.

4) Add the sour cream, melted ghee, salt and water, whisk to make a smooth sauce and remove
from the heat.

5) Combine the sauce with the potatoes in the dish, folding in all the ingredients. Cover with a layer of grated cheese and bake in the oven at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the top turns golden.


6) Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve.

Note: Locan Das Thakur had recently completed his book titled Sri Caitanya Mangala and Vrndavana Dasa Thakura had already written a book entitled Caitanya-Mangala so this created a slight problem. To resolve this conflict the leading devotees in Vrndavana [Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Kasisvara Pandita, Haridasa Gosvami, and Anantacarya] met to discuss the situation. They decided that henceforth Vrndavana Dasa's book would be called Caitanya Bhagavata, and Locana Dasa Thakura's book would remain as Caitanya Mangala.

Sri Caitanya-Mangala is a rasatmaka-sastra [a scripture filled with devotional mellows], and Caitanya Bhagavata is a varnanatmaka-sastra [a scripture dedicated to describing the lords pastimes].